The complete Indian housekeeper & cook

Another import.ant work of the bearer is making the beds, excepting, of course, those in the ayah’s charge. It may generally be asserted that no native servant has the faintest idea how to make a bed, and therefore those mistresses who desire to make their guests comfortable will do well to give at least one practical lesson on this subject, insisting on the mattress being turned, the sheets evenly spread and separately tucked in, and the pillows well shaken up. An Indian bed too often consists of a hard felted surface, with more than .a suspicion of crumbs, and covered by frantically crooked sheets and blankets, which Housekeeper and Cook 6i the slightest movement reduces to chaos, while a sudden turn lets them loose in disastrous avalanche on the floor. Recipes for the Rearer. 1. Armenian Cement. — Half oz. isinglass soaked in water till soft. Strain, add 2 oz. spirits of wine, and dissolve with gentle heat. Dissolve j oz. selected mastic pearls in 2 oz. spirits of wine. Mix both solutions whilst warm. Powder 1 drachm gum-ammoniac, and mix on a slab with enough solution to damp it through. It will then incorporate with the rest of the solution if stirred over gentle heat. Strongest cement known. It will join polished steel. 2. Ants, to keep from Tables, &c.— Tie a rag dipped in castor oil round the legs of the table or cupboard. 3. Ants, White, to keep away. — Tar the floor with thin tar. Infallible, and cleanly. Indigo in the concrete is said to be efficacious. 4. Brass Work, to clean. — Cut a lime in half, rub over the brass, wash the article thoroughly in soap and water, dry and polish. One teaspoon of sulphuric acid mixed in quarter of a pint of water, and used instead of the lime, is still better. Sapolio and Brookes’ soap also do well, but Putz pomade is the best. 5. Brass Work, Benares, to restore the Gold Colour. — Coat the ornament with a paste of powdered sal-ammoniac and water. Heat over, or rather in, a slow charcoal ash fire, rub dry, and polish with bran. 6. Brass Work, to preserve untarnished. — Coat lightly with pale paper varnish. 7. Bottle Wax. — One lb. resin melted with I lb. suet and 4 lb. shellac. 8. Bottle Paste or Dextrine. — Wet 2 oz. arrowroot with 2 oz. cold water. Soak 80 grains gelatine in 14 oz. water for one hour. Bring to the boil. When the gelatine is quite dissolved, add the arrow-root, and boil for four minutes. Pour into a bowl to cool. When nearly cold, add 1 oz. spirits of wine, in which G drops of pure glacial carbolic acid have been mixed. Stir well, bottle, and cork. It will keep for months. 9. Carpets, to remove Ink Stains.— Wash, if possible, while still wet, with fresh, hot boiled milk. Sponge again and again with hot water. Time and patience must be plentifully used. A weak solution of oxalic acid may be tried if the stain is very dark, but the risk of injuriiifr the colour is very great. It is, however, possible to re-dye the injured portion, with a result certainly preferable to a black spot. 10. Chairs, to prevent the Leather from Cracking. — Hub with white of egg beaten thin with water. 11. Chimneys, to prevent Cracking. — Set in a pan of cold water, and gradually heat to boiling point. Let the chimneys remain in the water till cold.