In preparing coon and squirrel hides for caps, sheepskins and
goatskins for rugs and lambskins for coats and vests the hides
HOUSEHOLD RECIPES 227
may be nibbed with alum and saltpeter. Then they are folded
with the flesh sides together^ rolled tightly and stored in a dry
place a week. The flesh side is then nibbed down with a damp
cloth dipped in rotten stone until it becomes smooth and acquires
a polish.
Bleaching and Re-sizing Straw Hats
Mix the juice of 1 lemon with 1 tablespoonful of sulphur and
apply this thick paste with a brush to the hat. It is best to re-
move the hat band before the mixture is applied. Rub the paste
into the straw, then rinse by moistening the brush in clear
water, taking care not to use any more water than is necessary
to remove all the paste. If the straw hat is flimsy, re-size by
beating up the white of an egg and applying this to the straw
with a fine brush.
Waterproofing Leather
An old-fashioned recipe for waterproofing leather is to melt
by gentle heat 4 ounces of raw linseed oil, 5 ounces of boiled lin-
seed oil, 4 ounces of suet and 4 ounces of beeswax. This is ap-
plied to the leather while warm. A simple method is that of
rubbing the leather with equal amounts of mutton tallow and
beeswax.
Removing Furniture Blemishes
To remove white spots from varnished surfaces which have
been caused by water, fill a small basin with tepid water and
add several drops of household ammonia to it. Dip a soft cloth
in this, wring quite dry and apply to the unsightly places. It
may take three or four applications to remove every trace of
whiteness. When they disappear, rub the surface gently with
furniture polish.
White stains on dining room tables made by hot dishes may
be removed by being covered with baking soda. A hot iron is
held near, taking care that the wood is not scorched. Repeating
this process two or three times and rubbing the surface with
furniture polish will usually restore the desired appearance.
When scratches appear on furniture or woodwork, go over the
surface with a cloth moistened in furniture polish to see if the
228 THE FAEM COOK AND EXILE BOOK
dye in it will make the scratch invisible. Another method
which may be used is to apply a small amount of water color for
wood to the scratch, using a shade which matches the finish of
the wood.
Highly polished surfaces which are marred by hairlines or
tiny cracks may be improved by being rubbed from day to day
with a cloth moistened in oil, 1 part lemon oil to 2 parts of
boiled linseed oil.
Bruises or dents may be removed with water and heat. Take
four thicknesses of blotting paper and dip in water. When the
superfluous water has dripped away, place the paper over the
bruise and hold a hot flat or electric iron near it. The heat
and moisture cause the wood to expand. More than one treat-
ment of this kind may be required to remove a large dent. After
removing the blotting paper, lay a cloth moistened in linseed oil
on the surface. Several hours later, remove it and polish with
a solution made by combining equal parts of turpentine and lin-
seed oil.
Removing Floor Blemishes
Page 109
Presented as published in 1923. 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
In preparing coon and squirrel hides for caps, sheepskins and goatskins for rugs and lambskins for coats and vests the hides
may be nibbed with alum and saltpeter. Then they are folded with the flesh sides together, rolled tightly and stored in a dry place a week. The flesh side is then rubbed down with a damp cloth dipped in rotten stone until it becomes smooth and acquires a polish.
Bleaching and Re-sizing Straw Hats
Mix the juice of 1 lemon with 1 tablespoonful of sulphur and apply this thick paste with a brush to the hat. It is best to remove the hat band before the mixture is applied. Rub the paste into the straw, then rinse by moistening the brush in clear water, taking care not to use any more water than is necessary to remove all the paste. If the straw hat is flimsy, re-size by beating up the white of an egg and applying this to the straw with a fine brush.
Waterproofing Leather
An old-fashioned recipe for waterproofing leather is to melt by gentle heat 4 ounces of raw linseed oil, 5 ounces of boiled linseed oil, 4 ounces of suet and 4 ounces of beeswax. This is applied to the leather while warm. A simple method is that of rubbing the leather with equal amounts of mutton tallow and beeswax.
Removing Furniture Blemishes
To remove white spots from varnished surfaces which have been caused by water, fill a small basin with tepid water and add several drops of household ammonia to it. Dip a soft cloth in this, wring quite dry and apply to the unsightly places. It may take three or four applications to remove every trace of whiteness. When they disappear, rub the surface gently with furniture polish.
White stains on dining room tables made by hot dishes may be removed by being covered with baking soda. A hot iron is held near, taking care that the wood is not scorched. Repeating this process two or three times and rubbing the surface with furniture polish will usually restore the desired appearance.
When scratches appear on furniture or woodwork, go over the surface with a cloth moistened in furniture polish to see if the
dye in it will make the scratch invisible. Another method which may be used is to apply a small amount of water color for wood to the scratch, using a shade which matches the finish of the wood.
Highly polished surfaces which are marred by hairlines or tiny cracks may be improved by being rubbed from day to day with a cloth moistened in oil, 1 part lemon oil to 2 parts of boiled linseed oil.
Bruises or dents may be removed with water and heat. Take four thicknesses of blotting paper and dip in water. When the superfluous water has dripped away, place the paper over the bruise and hold a hot flat or electric iron near it. The heat and moisture cause the wood to expand. More than one treatment of this kind may be required to remove a large dent. After removing the blotting paper, lay a cloth moistened in linseed oil on the surface. Several hours later, remove it and polish with a solution made by combining equal parts of turpentine and linseed oil.
Removing Floor Blemishes