Part 47

THE CARE OF SILVER, GLASS, ETC.--If silver is well washed in hot water containing a few drops of ammonia, and carefully dried with a fine, soft towel, it will keep bright for a long time without other cleaning. If special cleaning is necessary, try the following: Place the silver in a pan of hot water, then with a soft cloth, soaped and sprinkled with powdered borax, scour the silver well; afterward rinse in clear cold water, and dry with a clean cloth. If a more thorough cleaning is needed, apply moistened Spanish whiting with a silver brush and soft flannel, afterward polishing with dry whiting and chamois skin. Frequent scouring should be avoided by careful washing, as too much rubbing wears out plated ware and dulls the best of silver. Silver ware and plate which is not in ordinary use can be kept from tarnishing by varnishing with collodion, a solution of gun-cotton in ether. The articles should be carefully brushed in this colorless varnish with an elastic brush, taking care that the entire surface is covered. The film of collodion will protect the underlying metal from the action of the sulphurous vapors to which is due the blackening of silver.

Tinware which has become blackened may be made to look bright and shining again by rubbing with a damp cloth dipped in sal-soda. Afterward wipe dry. Sand soap or sapolio may be used for the same purpose.

Cut-glass ware which has become in any way blurred or tarnished can be restored by polishing it with a soft piece of newspaper. First rub well with a piece slightly moistened and afterward repeat the process with dry paper. Rubbing with a soft brush dipped in fine, soft whiting is another method often employed for the same purpose. Cut-glass water-bottles dim or stained on the inside are best cleaned by rinsing with dilute muriatic acid, then carefully rinsing several times in clear cold water to remove all trace of the acid, which is a poison.

All fine china should be handled carefully in washing and drying. There will be less danger of breakage if the china is gradually heated by allowing it to stand in a pan of warm water before being put into hot water. The same is true of all table ware, and is of especial importance in cold weather.

Brass faucets and other brass or copper articles may be cleaned by rubbing with whiting wet with aqua ammonia.

Yellowed ivory handles may be restored to their original whiteness by rubbing with sandpaper and emery; mineral soap or pumice stone may be used for the same purpose. Nice table cutlery packed away for a season may be kept from rusting by covering the metal portion with a thin coating of paraffine. Rust may be removed from steel by scouring with emery and oil; but if there is much corrosion, some weak muriatic acid will be needed. This, however, will take some of the metal with the rust, and must be washed off quickly.

Trays and japanned goods should never have boiling water poured over them, as it will make the varnish crack and peel. If a tray is badly soiled, wet with a sponge moistened in warm water and soap, and rub with a dry cloth; if it looks smeary, dust on a little flour and rub again. Marks and scratches may sometimes be removed by rubbing with a flannel cloth dipped in sweet oil.

CARE OF THE TABLE LINEN.--Much of the attractiveness of the table depends upon the linen used; if this is not well cared for, the finest table ware cannot make up for the defect.

Stains upon table linen made by acids and vinegar may be removed by simply washing in clear water; berry stains are easily taken out by pouring boiling water over them; peach stains are best removed by soaking for some time in cold water and then washing with soap before allowing warm water to touch them. Chlorine water or a solution of chloride of lime will remove fruit stains, and vegetable colors. Coffee stains rubbed with a mixture of warm water and the yolk of egg, are said to disappear when the mixture is washed off with clean warm water. Sour buttermilk well rubbed into the material, dried in, and afterward washed out in several waters, is said to be effectual in removing tea stains. All stains should be removed as soon as possible after being made, and always before putting the linen into the wash.

In washing table linen, housekeepers should remember that hard rubbing is the worst wear which it can receive. If soaked over night, a gentle squeezing will usually be quite sufficient to remove all soil, or if a little borax (a handful to ten gallons of water) or household ammonia in the proportion of two tablespoonfuls to a pail of water be added, two or three hours' soaking will suffice. Care should also be taken in hanging and fastening properly upon the line. Fold the cloth over the line six or eight inches at least, and in such a manner as to keep the thread straight, and fasten with three or more clothes pins. Table linen is often sadly frayed at the corners by being pinned so that all strain comes upon the corners, and if left to whip in the wind, is soon ruined. Napkins in summer are much nicer if dried upon the grass. Only the merest trifle of starch, if any, should be used for table linen.

Table linen should be taken from the line while still damp, folded evenly lengthwise with the selvage together, then folded lengthwise again, rolled tight, and wrapped in damp towels so that the outside will not become dry, and ironed the same day. The irons should be heavy and as hot as possible without danger of scorching, and the board should be well padded with several thicknesses of flannel. Iron the linen in single folds, keeping a damp cloth over portions which will not be immediately reached. When the entire surface has been ironed, fold evenly lengthwise and with the selvage edges toward the ironer, again go over the entire upper side; then fold with the just completed portion inside, iron again, and so continue until the whole is ironed and folded. Both napkins and tablecloths are ironed in this way. They should be thoroughly dried with the iron and well aired before being laid away, in order to bring out the patterns well and to give them the desirable glossy finish.

Colored table linen should be washed in tepid water containing a little powdered borax, which serves to set the color. Very little, if any, soap should be used. Rinse in tepid water containing a small quantity of boiled starch; dry in the shade, and iron while yet damp.

Table linen should be carefully darned at once when it begins to wear and become thin, and may thus be preserved for a long time. When new, it should be washed before being made up, and the threads raveled or drawn, so as to make the ends exactly straight. Napkins should be washed before being cut apart. When not required for regular use, the linen should be folded loosely, and laid away without ironing in some place where it will not be subjected to pressure. When needed, it can be quickly dampened and ironed.

THE GARBAGE.--What to do with the waste accumulating from preparation of foods is a question of no small importance. The too frequent disposition of such material is to dump it into a waste-barrel or garbage box near the back door, to await the rounds of the scavenger. Unless more than ordinary precautions in regard to cleanliness are observed, such a proceeding is fraught with great danger. The bits of moist food, scraps of meat, vegetables, and other refuse, very quickly set up a fermentative process, which, under the sun's rays, soon breeds miasm and germs; especially is this true if the receptacle into which the garbage is thrown is not carefully cleaned after each emptying.

A foul-smelling waste-barrel ought never to be permitted under any circumstances. The best plan is to burn all leavings and table refuse as fast as made, which may be done without smell or smoke by opening all the back drafts of the kitchen range, and placing them on the hot coals to dry and burn. Some housekeepers keep in one end of the sink a wire dish drainer into which all fruit and vegetable parings are put. If wet, the water quickly drains from them, and they are ready to be put into the stove, where a very little fire soon reduces them to ashes. All waste products which cannot well be burned, may be buried at a distance from the house, but not too much in one spot, and the earth should be carefully covered over afterward. Under no circumstances should it be scattered about on the surface of the ground near the back door, as heedless people are apt to do.

If the table refuse must be saved and fed to animals, it should be carefully sorted, kept free from all dishwater, sour milk, etc., and used as promptly as possible. It is a good plan to have two tightly covered waste pails of heavy tin to be used on alternate days. When one is emptied, it may be thoroughly cleansed and left to purify in the air and sunshine while the other is in use. Any receptacle for waste should be entirely emptied and thoroughly disinfected each day with boiling suds and an old broom. This is especially imperative if the refuse is to be used as food for cows, since the quality of the milk is more or less affected by that of the food.

TABLE TOPICS.

A woman cannot work at dressmaking, tailoring, or any other sedentary employment, ten hours a day, year in and out, without enfeebling her constitution, impairing her eyesight, and bringing on a complication of complaints; but she can sweep, cook, wash, and do the duties of a well-ordered house, with modern arrangements, and grow healthier every year. The times in New England when all women did housework a part of every day, were the times when all women were healthy.--_Harriet Beecher Stowe._

The best ways are commonly the easiest ways and those that give most comfort to the household. _Know how_ is a great labor-saving invention, on which there is no patent.--_Sel._

Who sweeps a room as for God's law Makes that and th' action fine.

--_George Herbert._

A YEAR'S BREAKFASTS & DINNERS

What to get for the family meals is frequently a most perplexing problem, especially when one remembers the many important points that should enter into the arrangement of the daily bill of fare. A well-arranged menu should be composed of articles which supply the requisite amount of food elements for proper nutrition, palatably prepared. These should be adapted to the season and also to the family purse. There should be an agreeable and pleasing change from day to day, with never too great variety at one meal, and no incongruous association of foods that do not harmonize, upon the same bill of fare. The amount of time and strength available for the preparation of the meal must also receive consideration. The problem would be easier of solution could one select her menu wholly from fresh material each time; but in most households the odds and ends and "left-over" foods must be utilized, and if possible compounded into dishes that will not have the savor of yesterday's breakfast or dinner.

The making of a bill of fare offers opportunity for thought and study under all circumstances; but it is often particularly difficult for the housewife long accustomed to the use of foods of a different character, to make up a menu of hygienic dishes properly adapted to all requirements. For such of our readers as need aid in this direction, we give in this chapter bills of fare for fifty-two weeks' breakfasts and dinners. Not that we presume to have arranged a model dietary which every one can adopt,--individual preferences, resources, and various other conditions would preclude that,--but we have endeavored to prepare a list of menus suitable for use should circumstances admit, and which we trust may be found helpfully suggestive of good, hygienic living.

We have given meats no place upon these bills of fare, as we wished

## particularly to illustrate how good, substantial menus of appetizing

variety can be provided without their use; but such of our readers as desire this class of foods will have no difficulty in supplementing the bills we have arranged by adding such meats as accord with their tastes and purses, while our chapter on Meats will give them all needed information as to their preparation.

In arranging the bills of fare it has been presupposed that the housewife has provided herself with at least a moderate allowance of canned or dried vegetables and fruits during their season, for use throughout the year. Effort has also been made to suggest an ample variety of seasonable and wholesome articles and to make provision for any probable left-over foods; and to illustrate how by planning and thinking beforehand the same material may be used to form the base of two different dishes for successive days, enough of which for both may often be cooked at the same time, thus economizing in time and fuel.

No particular year has been taken, as we desired the menus to be adapted to all years, and as no dates could be given, we have taken even weeks, ending each with a Sabbath menu, beginning with the first month of the year.

A third meal, if desired, whether it be luncheon or supper, should, for health's sake, be so simple in character that we have not deemed it necessary to give bills of fare. Breads, fruits, and grains, with milk, cream, and some simple relish, tastefully served, offer ample provision for a healthful and nourishing repast.

No mention has been made of beverages upon the bills of fare. If any are used, hot milk or caramel coffee are to be preferred. Cooked fruit, either fresh, dried, or canned, is desirable for every meal, but the kind--as also of the fresh fruit upon the breakfast bill--may be arranged according to individual preferences and resources. The use of cream, sugar, and other accessories should be suited to circumstances.

It is intended that croutons be served with the soups, and in arranging the variety of breads, an effort has been made to provide one of harder texture for use with grains and other soft foods. The wafers mentioned are the whole-wheat and gluten wafers manufactured by the Sanitarium Food Co., which by many families are considered more convenient for general use as a hard bread than the crisps, sticks, etc., which upon some of the menus are designed for the same purpose.

Less variety may be used, and changes made to suit the taste and circumstances of those providing and partaking of the meals; but whatever is subtracted should still leave upon the bill of fare the more nutritious articles, like grains, whole-wheat bread, and other foods rich in nerve and muscle forming elements.

Whether the housewife follows the bills of fare given with such modifications as are best suited to the needs of her household, or provides some of her own choosing, she will find it a great saving of vexation and trouble to make them out for several days or a week ahead, at one time, rather than from day to day or from meal to meal. She can then plan her work and her resources so as the more nearly to make "both ends meet," and can provide a more varied fare, while if changes are needed, they can be easily made by substituting one article for another, as circumstances demand.

In the arrangement of her menus she will find it well to select first the grain and breads to be used, since being among the most nutritious of all foods, they may well form the chief and staple food, around which all other articles upon the bill of fare are grouped. If the grain chosen be rice, farina, or one largely composed of starch, the remainder of the menu should include some foods rich in nitrogenous elements, such as macaroni, whole-wheat or Graham breads, the legumes, eggs, etc. If the choice of grain be one containing a high percentage of nitrogenous material, less of this element will be required in the accompanying foods. As an aid in determining the nutritive value of any given food substance, the following table, presenting the results of the chemical analysis of the more common articles used as food, which we have compiled from the most recent scientific authorities, will be found helpful:--

TABLE SHOWING THE NUTRITIVE VALUES OF COMMON FOOD SUBSTANCES.

(1)Water. (2)Albuminous elements. (3)Starch. (4)Grape Sugar. (5)Cane Sugar. (6)Free Fat. (7)Free Acid.

GRAINS. FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Wheat, Poland 13.2 21.5 61.9 X 1.5 X Mich. White 12.8 11.6 71. X 1.3 X " Diehle 12.2 13.8 72.2 X X X Japanese 12.4 16.5 65.1 X 1.6 X Rye, Winter 8.7 11. 74.6 X 1.9 X German 8. 14. 78. X X X Barley 24. 10.5 66.7 X 2. X So. Russian 4. 12.7 70.9 X X X Oats 12. 10.7 58.3 X 7.8 X Corn, Flint 13.1 10.2 68.5 X 4.8 X Dent 13.4 9.4 68.5 X 5. X Sweet 13.4 11.4 62.7 X 7.8 X Rice 12.6 6.7 78.5 X .9 X Millet 11.8 10.5 68.2 X 4.2 X Buckwheat 12.7 10. 71.8 X 1.4 X Iceland Moss 16. 22. 36.3 X 1.4 X

FLOUR. FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Graham 13. 11.7 69.9 X 1.7 X Wheat 11.6 11.1 75.4 X 1.1 X Rye 13.7 11.6 69.7 X 2. X Barley 14.8 11.4 71.2 X 1.5 X Oat 7.7 15.1 67.2 X 7.1 X Corn 14.2 9.7 69.5 X 3.8 X Buckwheat 13.5 8.9 74.3 X 1.6 X Bean 10.3 23.2 59.4 X 2.1 X Pea 11.4 25.2 57.2 X 2. X Banana 14.9 2.9 77.9 X .5 X Arrowroot 18. X 82. X X X

BREADS. FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Barley 12.4 9.4 64.4 4.7 1. X Whole Wheat 13. 8.7 60. 4. 6. X White 45.1 5.3 46. 2.3 .8 X Rye 42.3 6.1 46.9 2.3 .4 X Swedish Speise 12. 10. 72.3 3.1 1.6 X Brod Zwieback, White 13.3 8.5 73.3 1.8 1. X Rye 11.6 9.3 67.2 3.6 1. X Macaroni 13.1 9. 76.8 X .3 X Manna 15.3 1.9 18.1 49.[2] X X

FRESH FRUITS. FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Apple 84.8 .4 X 7.2 X .8 Apricot 81.2 .5 X 4.6 X 1.2 Blackberry 86.4 .5 X 4.1 X .2 Banana 73. 1.9 X X .6 X Cherry 79.8 .7 X 10.2 X .9 Cranberry 89.6 .1 X 1.5 X 3.3 Currant 84.7 .5 X 6.4 X 2.3 Grape 78.2 .6 X 14.3 X .8 Gooseberry 85.7 .5 X 7.1 X 1.4 Pear 83.2 .4 X 8.2 X .2 Prune 81.2 .8 X 6.2 X .8 Plum 84.9 .4 X 3.6 X 2.5 Peach 80. .7 X 4.5 X .9 Raspberry 85.7 .4 X 3.9 X 1.4 Strawberry 87.6 1.1 X 6.3 .5 .9 Whortleberry 78.4 .8 X 5. X 1.6

DRIED FRUITS. FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Prune 29.3 2.3 .2 44.5 .5 X 2.7 Pear 29.4 2. 10.8 29.1 .4 X .8 Apple 27.9 1.3 5.6 42.8 .8 X 3.6 Cherry 49.8 2. X 31.2 X .3 X Raisin 32. 3.4 X 54.6 X .6 X Fig 31.2 4. X 49.8 X X X Date 33. 9. X X 58. X X

NUTS. FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Chestnut 7.3 14.6 69. X X 2.4 X Walnut 7.2 15.8 13. X X 57.4 X Hazelnut 7.1 17.4 7.2 X X 62.6 X Sweet Almond 6.2 23.5 7.8 X X 53. X Peanut 6.5 26.3 1.8 X X 46.2 X Cocoanut 46.5 5.6 8. X X 35.9 X

Syrup 24.6 X X 26.2 44.9 X X Honey 20.6 .8 X 72.8 1.8 X X

VEGETABLES. FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Carrot 85.8 1.2 X X .3 X Winter Cabbage 80. 4. X 1.2 .9 X Red Cabbage 90. 1.8 X 1.7 .2 X White Cabbage 90. 1.9 X 2.3 .2 X Spinach 38.5 3.5 X .1 .6 X Celery 84.1 1.5 X .8 .4 X Head Lettuce 94.3 1.4 X X .3 X Potato 75. 2.2 X X .2 X White Turnip 92.5 1.5 X X .2 X Beet 87.5 1.3 X X .1 X Sugar Beet 71.6 2. X 12.6 .5 X Parsnip 82. 1.2 X X .6 X Sweet Potato 71.8 1. X X .2 X Cucumber 95.2 1.2 X 1. X X Asparagas 93.7 1.8 X .4 .3 X Cauliflower 90.9 2.3 X 1.2 .3 X Melon 90.4 1. X 2.2 .3 X Squash 90.3 1.1 X 1.4 .1 X Onion 86. 1.7 X 2.8 .1 X Pumpkin 90.3 1.1 5.1 1.5 .1 X Tomato 92.4 1.6 X 2.5 .3 1.8 Peas, green, garden 78.4 6.4 12. X X .5 X small 10.3 24.6 52.6 X 3.5 X African 6.5 23.4 57.8 X 6. X green shelled 12.7 21.7 57.7 X 1.9 X Beans, field 13.5 25. 48.3 X 1.7 X French or Kidney 11. 23.7 55.6 X 2.2 X white 15. 26.9 48.8 X 3. X Lima 9. 21.9 60.6 X 1.6 X String beans 88.7 2.7 5.5 1.2 .1 X Lentils 12.3 25.9 53. X 1.9 X German 11.7 33. 30.3 X 8.7 X

MILK AND BUTTER. Milk FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) Sug. (6) (7) Mother's milk 89.2 .9 X X 5.4 3.2 X Cows' " 86. 4.1 X X 5.2 3.9 X Cream 66. 2.7 X X 2.8 26.7 X Swedish Butter 13.8 .6 X X .6 84.4 X French " 12.6 X X X .2 86.4 X Cheese, Stilton 32. 26.2 X X 34.5 3.3 X Skimmed milk 88. .4 X X 3.8 1.8 X Buttermilk 88. 4.1 X X 3.6 .7 X Milk of Cow 58. 1.7 X 2.8 X 35.2 X Tree

MEATS. FOOD SUBSTANCES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Lean Beef 72. 19.3 X X X 3.6 X Lean Mutton 72. 18.3 X X X 4.9 X Veal 63. 16.3 X X X 15.8 X Pork 39. 9.8 X X X 49.9 X Poultry 74. 21. X X X 3.8 X White Fish 78. 18.1 X X X 2.9 X Salmon 77. 16.1 X X X 5.5 X Entire Egg 74. 14. X X X 10.5 X White of Egg 78. 20.4 X X X X X Yolk of Egg 52. 16. X X X 30.7 X

(8)Pectose. (9)Non-Nitrog. Substances. (10)Salts. (11)Cellulose. (12)Propor. Carbon to Nitrogenous. (13)Total Nutritive Value.

GRAINS. FOOD SUBSTANCES (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) Wheat, Poland X X 1.9 X 2.9 86.8 Mich. White X X 1.6 1.7 6.2 85.5 " Diehle X X 1.8 X 5.2 87.8 Japanese X X 1.5 2.9 4. 84.7 Rye, Winter X X 2.3 1.5 6.9 89.8 German X X X X 5.5 92. Barley X X 2.6 3.8 6.5 82.2 So. Russian X X 2.4 X 5.5 86. Oats X X 3.3 17.9 5.2 86.7 Corn, Flint X X 1.4 1.7 7.1 84.9 Dent X X 1.5 2.2 7.8 84.4 Sweet X X 1.8 2.9 6.1 83.7 Rice X X .8 .5 11.8 86.9 Millet X X 2.8 2.5 6.9 85.7 Buckwheat X X 1.9 1.7 7.3 85.6 Iceland Moss X X 1.4 2.9 2.6 81.1