6241. To Remove Clinker from Fire Brick

6241.    To Remove Clinker from Fire Brick. When the fire bricks have become covered with clinkers which have fused and adhered, they may be cleaned by throwing oyster or clam shells into the fire box when the fire is very hot, and allowing the fire to go out. The clinkers will generally cleave off without the use of much force the next morning. From 2 quarts to 1/2 peck will be sufficient for most stoves, and the operation can be repeated if some of the clinkers still adhere. Salt sprinkled on clinker adhering to fire brick will also loosen it.

6242. To Preserve Carpets

6242.     To Preserve Carpets. It is very advisable in laying down carpets at first, to cover the floor beneath them with large sheets of paper, so as to prevent the dust from rising between the boards. A carpet lasts longer by adopting this precaution.

6243. To Prevent Injury to Kid Gloves from Excessive Perspiration

6243.      To Prevent Injury to Kid Gloves from Excessive Perspiration. Persons who wear kid gloves in hot weather, and who perspire freely, will find that injury to the gloves will be prevented by applying ordinary corn starch to their hands (dry) before drawing on their gloves. Pulverized soap-stone will answer the same purpose.

6244. The Art of Easy Shaving

6244.     The Art of Easy Shaving. The following is the substance of the instructions of the celebrated Mr. Mechi on this subject : Never fail to well wash your beard with soap and cold water, and to rub it dry, immediately before you apply the lather, of which the more you use, and the thicker it is, the easier you will shave. Never use warm water, which makes a tender face. In cold weather, place your razor (closed of course) in your pocket, or under your arm, to warm it. The moment you leave your bed (or bath) is the best time to shave. Always wipe your razor clean, and strop it before putting it away; and put your shaving-brush away with the lather on it. The razor (being only a very fine saw) should be moved in a sloping or sawing direction, and held nearly flat to your face, care being taken to draw the skin as tight as possible with the left hand, so as to present an even surface, and to throw out the beard.

6245. To Hone a Razor

6245.    To Hone a Razor. The surface of the hone must be perfectly level. The razor should be held flat on the hone, and the back never raised, or it will induce a round or thick edge. Draw the razor from heel to point, alternating the sides at each stroke, and the action always against the edge. When the edge is wiry and thin enough to turn, strop it on a coarse strop, drawing the edge occasionally over the thumb nail, until tho edge is smooth, then finish on a fine strop, and the palm of the hand.

6246. Strop for Razors

6246.    Strop for Razors. There are many kinds of razor strops formed of leather glued on a wooden holder. These are apt, in time, to round the edge of the razor, by allowing the blade to bed itself or sink in tho leather. The best is a strip of Russia leather, strained as tight as a drum on a curved or bowed piece of wood.