" Before commencing to iron next day, an ironing blanket
must be spread on the table, and a clean sheet over it, and
fastened firmly down. The iron-holder should have a
middle lining of leather and the irons must be hot. Have
a clean, old handkerchief beside you, and pass it backwards
THE LAUNDBY
57
and forwards over each article before ironing it, then pass
the iron Hghtly over the surface of the cuff or collar on the
wrong side and then on the right until it is perfectly stiff
and dry, and ready to wear. When all the articles have
been ironed, take each one separately, pass a wet flannel
over first on the right side and then on the wrong, then
pass a piece of dry linen over it exactly in the same way,
and proceed to use the polishing iron, which must be heated
ve7*y hot and passed quickly and firmly with strength over
the surface of the article on both sides till the required
polish is obtained. This process completed, each collar and
cuff should be taken separately, held in the left hand and
turned round with the iron pressed to the right, which will
form it to the circular shape of the neck or wrist. They
should then be put into an oven, or on an old dish placed
near enough to the fire for the heat to reach them.
" To starch a shirt, the front should be taken by the
hands and gathered into plaits from either side, handling it
in such a way as to prevent all other parts of it coming in
contact with the starch. The fronts and cuffs having been
dipped in the starch, they should be rubbed between the
hands to press the starch through the linen. The band of
the shirt must not be starched. After the shirts have all
been starched, the bodies must be damped, the sleeves laid
straight and each one rolled up singly, then laid in a
basket and put in a cold place till next day. They must
then be ironed. Fold the shirt down the centre of the back,
and iron on both sides smoothly ; double the fronts in the
same way, and iron them without touching the starched
parts. Next, iron the yoke without creasing the body of
the shirt, then the band, now the wristbands and sleeves,
and finally the front, which must be ironed over a shirt
board or a piece of felt. The cuffs and fronts must then be
wet and polished as described before."
To Wash Blankets.— The water should never be above
luke-warm. If there are any greasy spots on the blankets
use a little benzine, or any soiled spots, rub a little soap on
them. Wash all old blankets first, then prepare fresh
water for the new ones, as they contain oil and must be
perfectly rinsed. Blankets must be soaked in abundance
of luke-warm soapsuds, in which there are two table-
58
THE housewife's EEFEREE
Page 38
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
" Before commencing to iron next day, an ironing blanket must be spread on the table, and a clean sheet over it, and fastened firmly down. The iron-holder should have a middle lining of leather and the irons must be hot. Have a clean, old handkerchief beside you, and pass it backwards
and forwards over each article before ironing it, then pass the iron lightly over the surface of the cuff or collar on the wrong side and then on the right until it is perfectly stiff and dry, and ready to wear. When all the articles have been ironed, take each one separately, pass a wet flannel over first on the right side and then on the wrong, then pass a piece of dry linen over it exactly in the same way, and proceed to use the polishing iron, which must be heated very hot and passed quickly and firmly with strength over the surface of the article on both sides till the required polish is obtained. This process completed, each collar and cuff should be taken separately, held in the left hand and turned round with the iron pressed to the right, which will form it to the circular shape of the neck or wrist. They should then be put into an oven, or on an old dish placed near enough to the fire for the heat to reach them.
" To starch a shirt, the front should be taken by the hands and gathered into plaits from either side, handling it in such a way as to prevent all other parts of it coming in contact with the starch. The fronts and cuffs having been dipped in the starch, they should be rubbed between the hands to press the starch through the linen. The band of the shirt must not be starched. After the shirts have all been starched, the bodies must be damped, the sleeves laid straight and each one rolled up singly, then laid in a basket and put in a cold place till next day. They must then be ironed. Fold the shirt down the centre of the back, and iron on both sides smoothly ; double the fronts in the same way, and iron them without touching the starched parts. Next, iron the yoke without creasing the body of the shirt, then the band, now the wristbands and sleeves, and finally the front, which must be ironed over a shirt board or a piece of felt. The cuffs and fronts must then be wet and polished as described before."
To Wash Blankets.— The water should never be above luke-warm. If there are any greasy spots on the blankets use a little benzine, or any soiled spots, rub a little soap on them. Wash all old blankets first, then prepare fresh water for the new ones, as they contain oil and must be perfectly rinsed. Blankets must be soaked in abundance of luke-warm soapsuds, in which there are two table-
THE HOUSEWIFE'S REFEREE