English and French cookery

Stove Polishing. — One of the saddest eyesores in any home, and one over which the quick-eyed British matron grieves not a trifle, is a rusty-brown, dull-looking firegrate. For this the housemaid or wife gets blamed, but the fault is not always hers. To ensure brilliancy where blacklead is relied upon — and what, let us ask, looks nicer than a brightly-polished fireplace or stove in which one’s resemblance can almost be seen? — an article of undoubted merit must be used. Such is not always to be had, especially at the smaller oilshops and grocers. Competition and the eagerness to keep pace with the ‘ stores ’ in price, has brought into the market innumerable inferior black leads, the use of which leads to grumbling and discontent. Perhaps altogether there are half a dozen satisfactory articles. The housekeeper may therefore be glad to know of one that will never fail. We allude to the 1 Nickel Silver ’ make, which amply justifies its name. Washing. — Where starch is used by the housekeeper in preference to any of the modern, and sometimes not very reliable, substitutes, it is essential to procure a sound article, much rubbish being now sold by grocers and oilmen. There are several valuable starches, Kingsford’s Oswego, for example, which has been used at home for years, gives unfailing satisfaction. It is extremely economical — 2 ounces dissolved in 1 quart of water will starch a dozen shirts, or two or three dozen smaller articles well — and is free from all injurious adulterations. It can be applied in either of the two following ways : (1) Dissolve thoroughly in a little cold water, and add boiling water to the desired consistency ; (2) dissolve in luke-warm water, and add cold water. In Avery’s Household Coffee-Mill can he obtained at any Co-operative Store, or from any Ironmonger, or of tho manufacturers in London and Birmingham. Price packed in cardboard box, 8s. each. 18G either case it must he used thin, and well rubbed into the fabric. Equal in importance in laundry-work to a good starch is an efficient blue, without which that whiteness and brilliant appearance so discernable in really well-washed lace and linen can neither be obtained nor preserved. There are at most two or three A 1 blues in the market competing with many execrably bad ones. These latter represent exactly so much irritation and vexation of spirit as most young housewives have learnt to their cost. All this petty annoyance and grumbling might be saved, however, if laundresses would invariably use one good blue and refuse others. Seemingly the most satisfactory article all round is Johnson’s ‘Royal Palace,’ used in the Queen’s laundry at Balmoral. Those who have tested this make for a long while declare that linen which has been put away in a fit condition will retain its whiteness for many months, and our own experience entirely confirms this view. DOMESTIC REQUISITES. Coffee Mill. — This article is indispensable in household management— to some housewives is, perhaps, the most indispensable. Nearly