The Draught Excluder is the most perfect one I have
ever met with, for it can be fixed inside the door as well
as outside. It is simply a roller covered with plushette, the
ends being covered with felt and therefore quite noiseless ;
they are supported in slotted brackets, which have merely
to be screwed to the door and the roller rises and falls
along its whole length. If the floor be uneven this draught
excluder accommodates itself to the unevenness, and if a
mat be in its way it will rise and pass over it. Any one can
put it up.
Dust and Dirt Shields. — These are shields made three-
cornered in shape, which fit closely and neatly over any
corner, preventing the accumulation of dust and dirt ; they
are most useful on staircases, and are made of lacquered
brass or nickel plate, but may be painted over to match
any colouring. They are also most useful for corners of
wardrobes, cupboards, presses and boxes. They require
but little fixing as they are designed to fit perfectly on
all sides, and a great advantage is that they are very
cheap.
Safety Folding Window-Cleaning Chair. This is a chair
which is secured to the window-sill by a strong steel rod,
which passes through two screw eyes screwed into the silL
on which the chair is seated firmly, and the cleaner has
4
50
THE housewife's REFEREE
both hands free to use. When done with, the steel rod is
drawn out of the screw eyes and the back folded over upon
the seat, the chair can then be easily moved and packed
away in a small compass. Another of these appliances is
an ingenious arrangement of bolts on the top and bottom
sashes by which the windows are brought right into the
room. These are called N. A. P. windows. There is
still another kind, called the Victoria Safety Appliance,
which consists of a kind of portable balcony made in
iron to fit the windows, and secured by a couple of iron
bars resting against the inside of the window, while the
frame itself is supported by the window-sill, making
danger impossible. They are made in two heights — one
to use when sitting to clean windows, the other higher,
so as to protect the cleaner when standing. They are
easily adjusted, and I consider every house should be supplied
with one or other of these appliances.
Kerosene — Its Uses. — Oil-cloth is much brightened if
rubbed with kerosene. Iron and polished steel, knives, etc.,
may be kept from rusting by wiping them over before
putting them away with a cloth which has been soaked
in a little kerosene. Kerosene brightens silver. Lamp
chimneys cleaned with newspaper which has been dipped in
kerosene look much clearer than when washed in any other
way. In washing clothes a tablespoonful of kerosene
greatly helps the rubbing. Kusty flat irons should be
rubbed with kerosene. Dirty paint is best cleaned by
rubbing with a cloth wetted with kerosene. It is also
good for sore throats : pour some on flannel and wrap the
throat round with it. It also heals cuts and chilblains.
FIRE
" To be forewarned is to be forearmed."
In every household there exists a possibility that a fire may
take place from one cause or another, and it is most
necessary that every house should be prepared for such
a fearful catastrophe; consequently there should always
FIRE
51
Page 33
Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The Draught Excluder is the most perfect one I have ever met with, for it can be fixed inside the door as well as outside. It is simply a roller covered with plushette, the ends being covered with felt and therefore quite noiseless ; they are supported in slotted brackets, which have merely to be screwed to the door and the roller rises and falls along its whole length. If the floor be uneven this draught excluder accommodates itself to the unevenness, and if a mat be in its way it will rise and pass over it. Any one can put it up.
Dust and Dirt Shields. — These are shields made threecornered in shape, which fit closely and neatly over any corner, preventing the accumulation of dust and dirt ; they are most useful on staircases, and are made of lacquered brass or nickel plate, but may be painted over to match any colouring. They are also most useful for corners of wardrobes, cupboards, presses and boxes. They require but little fixing as they are designed to fit perfectly on all sides, and a great advantage is that they are very cheap.
Safety Folding Window-Cleaning Chair. This is a chair which is secured to the window-sill by a strong steel rod, which passes through two screw eyes screwed into the silL on which the chair is seated firmly, and the cleaner has
THE housewife's REFEREE
both hands free to use. When done with, the steel rod is drawn out of the screw eyes and the back folded over upon the seat, the chair can then be easily moved and packed away in a small compass. Another of these appliances is an ingenious arrangement of bolts on the top and bottom sashes by which the windows are brought right into the room. These are called N. A. P. windows. There is still another kind, called the Victoria Safety Appliance, which consists of a kind of portable balcony made in iron to fit the windows, and secured by a couple of iron bars resting against the inside of the window, while the frame itself is supported by the window-sill, making danger impossible. They are made in two heights — one to use when sitting to clean windows, the other higher, so as to protect the cleaner when standing. They are easily adjusted, and I consider every house should be supplied with one or other of these appliances.
Kerosene — Its Uses. — Oil-cloth is much brightened if rubbed with kerosene. Iron and polished steel, knives, etc., may be kept from rusting by wiping them over before putting them away with a cloth which has been soaked in a little kerosene. Kerosene brightens silver. Lamp chimneys cleaned with newspaper which has been dipped in kerosene look much clearer than when washed in any other way. In washing clothes a tablespoonful of kerosene greatly helps the rubbing. Rusty flat irons should be rubbed with kerosene. Dirty paint is best cleaned by rubbing with a cloth wetted with kerosene. It is also good for sore throats : pour some on flannel and wrap the throat round with it. It also heals cuts and chilblains.
FIRE
" To be forewarned is to be forearmed."
In every household there exists a possibility that a fire may take place from one cause or another, and it is most necessary that every house should be prepared for such a fearful catastrophe; consequently there should always
FIRE