Close all doors and windows tightly, and hold a wet blanket in front of
the fire to prevent any draught going up the chimney.
CHINA OR GLASS--TO WASH
Wash in plenty of hot soap suds; have two vessels, and in one rinse in
hot water. Turn upon waiters, and let the articles drip before being
wiped. Use linen towels for wiping.
CHINA AND GLASS--CEMENT FOR
Dissolve 1 oz. of gum-mastic in a quantity of highly-rectified spirits
of wine; then soften 1 oz. of isinglass in warm water, and, finally,
dissolve it in alcohol, till it forms a thick jelly. Mix the isinglass
and gum-mastic together, adding 1/4 of an oz. of finely-powdered
gum-ammoniac; put the whole into an earthen vessel and in a warm place,
till they are thoroughly incorporated together; pour it into a small
bottle, and cork it down for use.
In using it, dissolve a small piece of the cement in a silver teaspoon
over a lighted candle. The broken pieces of glass or china being warmed,
and touched with the now liquid cement, join the parts neatly together,
and hold them in their places till the cement has set; then wipe away
the cement adhering to the edge of the joint, and leave it for twelve
hours without touching it; the joint will be as strong as the china
itself, and if neatly done, it will show no joining. It is essential
that neither of the pieces be wetted either with hot or cold water.
CLOTHES--CARE OF
Woolen dresses may be laid out on a table and brushed all over; but in
general, even in woolen fabrics, the lightness of the tissues renders
brushing unsuitable to dresses, and it is better to remove the dust from
the folds by beating them lightly with a handkerchief or thin cloth.
Silk dresses should never be brushed, but rubbed with a piece of merino
or other soft material, of a similar color to the silk, kept for the
purpose. Summer dresses of muslin, and other light materials, simply
require shaking; but if the muslin be tumbled, it must be ironed
afterwards.
If feathers have suffered from damp, they should be held near the fire
for a few minutes, and restored to their natural state by the hand or a
soft brush, or re-curled with a blunt knife, dipped in very hot water.
Furs and feathers not in constant use should be wrapped up in linen
washed in lye. From May to September they are subject to being made the
depository of moth-eggs.
CLOTHES--TO BRUSH
Fine clothes require to be brushed lightly, and with a rather soft
brush, except where mud is to be removed, when a hard one is necessary;
previously beat the clothes lightly to dislodge the dirt. Lay the
garment on a table, and brush in the direction of the nap. Having
brushed it properly, turn the sleeves back to the collar, so that the
folds may come at the elbow-joints; next turn the lapels or sides back
over the folded sleeves; then lay the skirts over level with the collar,
so that the crease may fall about the center, and double only half over
the other, so that the fold comes in the center of the back.