Clean brushes and hang them up. Brasses and Silver. — These must be cleaned in the kitchen. The commercial preparations for cleaning brass all contain an acid. If this is not neutralized or removed, the metal will quickly tarnish. Therefore, after cleaning rub the articles thoroughly with whiting. See also the section on 230 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE " Cleaning," in the chapter on The Kitchen. Except in a moist climate, brass once properly cleaned will keep clean for a long time. For the weekly cleaning of silver only hot water to which a little ammonia has been added, and soft cloths or a chamois for drying and polishing, are necessary. Whiting should not be used oftener than once a month. For this monthly cleaning cover the table with newspapers. Wash the silver in hot suds and dry it thoroughly. Put some whiting in a saucer, mixing it to a paste with dilute ammonia. Eub this mixture on the articles to be cleaned, with a soft cloth. Put each on the paper to dry. When perfectly dry rub off the whiting with a clean, soft cloth, using a soft brush for the chasing, and the chamois for the final polish. If the silver is properly washed and dried each day, it will seldom be necessary to clean it. Method. — Will the daily cleaning and airing of the din- ing room keep it in good order ? Why not ? In cleaning a room what must be shut? What open? Why? ■ What would you do first ? Why ? What utensils will you need for this ? (Put on the black- board the word Utensils, and write under the articles given.) What next? Why? Continue in this fashion until the process, its order, with reasons and utensils, have all been given. Give the children practice, under criticism, if possible. After some practice, require them to make a list of the order of cleaning and of the utensils necessary. THE DINING ROOM 231 Table Manners There are three ways to teach the subject : — (1) By example. (2) By precept. (3) By eternal vigilance. And all three ways must be employed to accomplish the object indicated, viz., automatic good breeding, based on quick intelligence and a kindly heart. Obviously the grade teacher has comparatively small opportunity to do this work, but she can make a beginning, which most mothers will gladly supplement, or she may in her teaching supplement what many mothers have already begun. Let her establish in conversation that the basis of good manners is deference to the comfort of others. Then make these facts clear to all : — Consideration of others' demands on the part of the child. (1) That she should offend neither the eye nor the ear. Therefore, she must be (a) scrupulously clean; (b) erect in her bearing, neither lolling against the chair nor resting her elbows on the table; and (c) above all eat quietly and slowly. In this connection the following details of customary etiquette may be taught : — Spread the napkin across the lap, do not tuck it in at the neck. Drink from the side of all spoons, never from the front. Soup should be swallowed quietly from the side, and not the end of the spoon. Do not tip the soup plate. Break bread into a smaller piece. Do not bite mouthfuls from it. Do not play with either the food or the table utensils. 232 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE Wipe the lips before drinking. - (2) That she should lighten the duties of the carver.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Clean brushes and hang them up. Brasses and Silver. — These must be cleaned in the kitchen. The commercial preparations for cleaning brass all contain an acid. If this is not neutralized or removed, the metal will quickly tarnish. Therefore, after cleaning rub the articles thoroughly with whiting. See also the section on " Cleaning," in the chapter on The Kitchen. Except in a moist climate, brass once properly cleaned will keep clean for a long time. For the weekly cleaning of silver only hot water to which a little ammonia has been added, and soft cloths or a chamois for drying and polishing, are necessary. Whiting should not be used oftener than once a month. For this monthly cleaning cover the table with newspapers. Wash the silver in hot suds and dry it thoroughly. Put some whiting in a saucer, mixing it to a paste with dilute ammonia. Rub this mixture on the articles to be cleaned, with a soft cloth. Put each on the paper to dry. When perfectly dry rub off the whiting with a clean, soft cloth, using a soft brush for the chasing, and the chamois for the final polish. If the silver is properly washed and dried each day, it will seldom be necessary to clean it. Method. — Will the daily cleaning and airing of the dining room keep it in good order ? Why not ? In cleaning a room what must be shut? What open? Why? ■ What would you do first ? Why ? What utensils will you need for this ? (Put on the blackboard the word Utensils, and write under the articles given.) What next? Why? Continue in this fashion until the process, its order, with reasons and utensils, have all been given. Give the children practice, under criticism, if possible. After some practice, require them to make a list of the order of cleaning and of the utensils necessary. Table Manners There are three ways to teach the subject : — (1) By example. (2) By precept. (3) By eternal vigilance. And all three ways must be employed to accomplish the object indicated, viz., automatic good breeding, based on quick intelligence and a kindly heart. Obviously the grade teacher has comparatively small opportunity to do this work, but she can make a beginning, which most mothers will gladly supplement, or she may in her teaching supplement what many mothers have already begun. Let her establish in conversation that the basis of good manners is deference to the comfort of others. Then make these facts clear to all : — Consideration of others' demands on the part of the child. (1) That she should offend neither the eye nor the ear. Therefore, she must be (a) scrupulously clean; (b) erect in her bearing, neither lolling against the chair nor resting her elbows on the table; and (c) above all eat quietly and slowly. In this connection the following details of customary etiquette may be taught : — Spread the napkin across the lap, do not tuck it in at the neck. Drink from the side of all spoons, never from the front. Soup should be swallowed quietly from the side, and not the end of the spoon. Do not tip the soup plate. Break bread into a smaller piece. Do not bite mouthfuls from it. Do not play with either the food or the table utensils. Wipe the lips before drinking. - (2) That she should lighten the duties of the carver.

Handbook of domestic science and household arts for use in elementary schools