196 CARPETS MAY BE EFFECTUALLY WASHED IN COLD SOAP SUDS. gany, the whole being nearly covered all over with a stuffing of straw or flock, and usually with a spring seat of the commonest description. A little better stuffing for the seat and no spring is much preferable if it can be obtained. The usual covering is American leather cloth, and the prices run from 15s. to 30s., according to size and finish. If covered with real leather they are from 25s. to 40s. With mahogany rim round the head, and a little more substantial, the prices are about one-third more. 1242a. Questionable Easiness. -The peculiar defect of most of the common cheap chairs, known by the questionable name of " easy," is that they are not long enough in the seat from back to front, and are therefore too small for full-grown people. The consequence is, that there is a tendency for the front part of the surface of the CROMWELL CHAIR. 70s.; in real leather from 80s. to 90s. Though the frame of such a chair is, in itself, a valuable consideration, the value of the finished article depends upon the quality of the stuffing, good horsehair being better than any kind of springs. 1244. Couches.-The practical de COUCH. fect of the commonest couches is that they are too narrow, and almost useless for comfort on that account. The narrowest width that can be chosen with any chance of satisfaction is 21 inches. is impossible to quote prices, as the qualities and values are so various. SCRUB EVERY BEDSTEAD IN EVERY PART BEFORE PUTTING IT UP. It THE GRAND RULE FOR ALL HOUSE WORK IS SYSTEM. 1245. Sofas. - The old-fashioned sofa, as strictly so-called, has so much gone out of fashion, with its head and pillow at each end, that one is very seldom offered for sale now. The disappearance of sofas need not be regretted. They are heavy, lumbering, costly, and occupy more room in proportion than the accommodation obtained. By universal consent they have disappeared in favour of the less costly and more convenient substitutes. 1246. Second-Hand Furniture. -This is a subject that is well worth the attention of all who are interested in furniture generally. 1247. Dearer than New.-When second-hand furniture is infested, it is unquestionably dearer than new, as most readers will fully appreciate. There is another sense in which such goods may be dearer than new. Many acute shopkeepers, relying upon the ignorance of their customers, boldly ask prices for very scrubby and inferior articles that are fully equal to the proper prices of new; and inexperienced people, not suspecting the fraud practised upon them, and believing that better things are beyond their reach, are sometimes persuaded to make unwise purchases accordingly. 1248. Better than New.-Secondhand furniture, when sound and apparently in good condition, is often better than new, because it may be confidently accepted as well-seasoned, concerning which there may be a wellgrounded suspicion that new, and especially cheap furniture, may warp or otherwise deteriorate rapidly in use. This being well known by experienced people, there are shopkeepers who stain and otherwise doctor up cheap new things to make them appear to be second-hand. 197 1250. Rash Biddings. Many persons, on attending a furniture sale, are apt to be induced to bid much higher prices than the lots are really worth. It is notorious that there is scarcely a sale where some things do not sell for more than the price of the article when new. Careful comparison of the lots with the prices quoted for corresponding articles in previous pages cannot fail to be advantageous. 1251. Criterion of Value.-All things considered, it is unreasonable to give at an auction sale more than half the price when new. Any advance upon that should never be indulged in except under the pressure of immediate need, and any considerable advance upon half price will generally be found a bad bargain. 1252. Carpets, etc.- When carpets and upholstery goods that are much worn are offered, it is a notorious fact that they usually fetch much more than their value. IN THOROUGH CLEANING, COMMENCE AT THE TOP OF THE HOUSE. 198 CANDLES IMPROVE BY KEEPING A FEW MONTHS. all events, they may dispense with, under the supposition that they are getting a great bargain, when, in numerous cases, the fact will turn out to be the reverse. People are apt, too, to be made discontented with their own homes, when viewing the luxurious furniture of some neighbour, without considering that it may have been brought to the hammer in consequence of a course of extravagance; and they who furnish handsomely are often tempted to show what they possess, and are hence induced to invite company, and to involve themselves in expense in the gratification of a spirit of ostentation. It is therefore better, in the majority of cases, to purchase at a shop that can be relied upon for what is necessary, than to devote time to a sale in the hope of buying it cheaper, as it frequently turns 1258. Fall of Hammer.-When the auctioneer has signified his accept-out that it is (condition considered) ance of a bidding by striking his hammer in the usual way, the highest bidder is immediately committed to the purchase, and is liable to be sued for the money, if not exceeding £10. When the amount exceeds 10, the purchaser is not bound, until the auctioneer or his clerk has written a memorandum of the sale, for the amount bid. either bought dear, or not secured at all, and that temptation has also induced expenditure which is needless, and which would otherwise never be thought of. Even where the article is obtained by a bidding, and the price may not be high, it is more than likely that some defect is afterwards discovered which impairs what seems at first to be a great bargain. Another objection to buying at auctions, is that many articles so bought are likely to be unsuitable to go with others obtained from another source. Hence mahogany gets mixed incongruously with walnut; chairs of different kinds which would look passable enough in different rooms, become ridiculous by contrast; blues, reds and greens, get mixed up with pink, mauve and amber, and a room so furnished eventually has the uncomfortable appearance of a broker's 1259. Money Down.-If there is a condition of sale that the bidder shall pay a deposit, the auctioneer may immediately re-sell unless the deposit is paid; if the deposit is so paid the bidder is entitled to the stipulated time wherein to pay the remainder of purchase money, subject to forfeiture of deposit upon neglect to pay. Where there is no condition about deposit the auctioneer is entitled to require the whole of the purchase money to be immediately paid, and is entitled to re-shop. sell upon neglect to pay. 1260. Some Caution with Reference to Auction Sales, especially to inexperienced people, will not be superfluous. There is nothing more detrimental to the interests of young housekeepers than a hankering after auctions. Persons are apt to bid for things they do not want, or, at These are matters worthy of due consideration, but, for all that, furniture sales often create opportunities which must not always be despised, for those whose judgment enables them to act with discretion. One observation, in conclusion, may be made with certainty. Pieces of furniture of con⚫ siderable value, such as a large dining table, can almost always be bought to advantage at a sale. ECONOMY IS ITSELF AN INCOME. PERSONAL DISCIPLINE DURING INFANCY, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY LIFE, INCLUDING ETIQUETTE, PARTIES, BALLS, RECEPTIONS, Etc. 1261. Legitimacy.-If a child is born within a day or an hour after the marriage of its mother, it is in law born in wedlock, and it is, therefore, legiti mate. 1262. Great Mortality amongst Infants. The very great number of deaths of children under the age of five years, should of itself suffice to caution every mother, and every one in charge of infants, to spare no care or pains to guard their tender charges against the numerous ills to which they are subject. 1263. Newly-born Infants.The infant's body, at birth, is covered to a greater or less degree with a soft cheesy-looking substance, upon which neither tepid water alone, nor that and soap, have influence in the way of causing its removal. 1264. Washing of Infants.The best thing to use for the purpose of cleansing is lard, and before the child is placed in the bath, the whole body should be smeared over with it, when it will be found that the cheesy substance then readily yields, and is removed by the sponge or flannel and warm water. In some cases a wellwhisked egg will serve instead of lard. 1265. The Navel String. -The putting up of the navel string should engage special attention. For this purpose a piece of soft old linen should be taken and a hole cut in the centre. Through this hole the navel string should be drawn (notice being taken while doing so that there is no bleeding from the end), and the lower part folded up against the other, so as to be brought into contact with the child's abdomen. The cord will thus lie between the two folds of the linen. It is maintained in position by means of the binder. 1266. Babies' Binders. - The binder should be made of thin flannel about five inches wide, and of sufficient length to encircle the child's body once and a half. It must on no account be drawn too tight. 1267. Babies' Caps.-The head is better to be kept bare. Caps are apt to prove overheating, and as it is necessary to have an infant's head kept cool, it will be better to allow it to remain uncovered, provided there be no exposure to draught. The 1268. Rest for Mothers. necessity for rest of the mother in the horizontal position after a birth cannot be too strongly insisted upon, and the fact that so little regard is paid to it renders it all the more necessary to impress every mother with right views regarding its importance. It will be a good rule for every mother to observe not to leave her bed till the ninth or tenth day. She may then be allowed to lie upon a couch or sofa till the end of a fortnight, after which she may be allowed to move about upon the same landing for another week. TRUSTING SERVANTS TO BUY IS TO TEMPT THEM TO BE DISHONEST. 200 BE STRICT IN KEEPING ENGAGEMENTS. 1269. Suckling of Infants.- | cup of tea or coffee, with toast; a basin As this part of maternal management is one of very great importance, and yet one that is but little understood, we would direct our readers to a careful perusal of the few practical hints that may be thrown out in connection with it here, believing that, if acted upon, they will be the means of conferring lasting benefit upon their offspring, and will tend to maintain their own health strong and vigorous. 1270. Milk Pains. The first signs of milk in the breasts are usually accompanied by pain, and sometimes by feverishness, but such symptoms speedily pass away on the milk being drawn off by the child. 1271. Mother's Milk.--The first milk is darker than that which follows it. In colour it is yellowish. It is called colostrum, and is supposed to have a purgative effect upon the child. 1272. Putting to the Breast.It is unwise to put the child frequently to the breast when there is no milk, as the child at last becomes disappointed, and may afterwards refuse to take the breast at all. In attending to this, however, the opposite extreme of not putting the baby to the breast even once during the first day or two must be avoided. 1273. Mothers and Men.-It is the mother that makes the man- that is, the future of every child depends more upon the mother than upon any one else. There are other elements of development and other personal influences, but the primary element-the chief personal influence-is that of the mother. For this reason no words can too much express the importance of mothers having intelligent as well as affectionate regard for those they are privileged to give birth to. of good beef-tea, with breadcrumb or toast, may be taken for dinner. Tea may be again taken in the afternoon, along with bread or toast, as may be preferred; and for supper the patient may take a basin of arrowroot and milk. 1275. Judgment in Nursing.The best time to give the child the breast is when it awakes out of sleep, and on its hunger being appeased it will generally again fall asleep without further trouble. The practice which some have of allowing the child to fall asleep with the nipple in its mouth before putting it in its cot, is one to be avoided. A practice of this kind very soon becomes a habit with the child, nished to find how great a hold it has and the mother herself may be astotaken upon it, and how difficult is the task, even in a short time, of getting the child to fall asleep without the nipple in its mouth. If 1276. Unseasonable Stimulants. -For the first few days after a birth stimulating fluids and solids are liable to be highly dangerous, and not infrequently lead to fatal results. fluid stimulants are taken, as they sometimes are, upon the recommendation of a friend, and perhaps contrary to, or at any rate without the sanction of, the medical attendant, they are frequently productive of harm; so that she who refrains from their use, unless ordered by her medical attendant to act differently, will be doing that which is calculated, generally speaking, to bring about a speedy and safe recovery. 1277. Seasonable Stimulants. -The sound dictum that generally forbids stimulants to mothers during the first month or thereabouts after childbearing, does not apply to the period after recovery. On the contrary, as the infant grows and requires more nourish1274. Diet during Nursing.-ment, the nursing mother, in addition Diet of the mother is also diet to the infant. For the first two days after the birth, the diet should be for the most part fluid, and may consist of a basın of bread and milk for breakfast, or a to abundance of wholesome food, especially plenty of mutton and beef, should have regular allowances of good sound beer, porter being preferable, free from tartness, as the least tendency to sour. HOPE FOR THE BEST AND PROVIDE FOR THE WORST |