6199. To Prevent Stair Carpets from Wearing

6199.    To Prevent Stair Carpets from Wearing. Stair carpets should always have a slip of paper put under them, at and over the edge of every stair, which is the part where they wear first, in order to lessen the friction of tho carpet against tho boards beneath. The strips should bo within an inch or two as long as the carpet is wide and about 4 or 5 inches in breadth. A piece of old carpet answers better than paper if you have it. This plan will keep a stair carpet in good condition for a much longer time than without it.

6200. To Make an AEolian Harp

6200.    To Make an AEolian Harp. Of very thin cedar, pine, or other softwood, make a box 5 or 6 inches deep, 7 or 8 inches wide, and of a length just equal to the width of the window in which it is to bo placed. Across the top, near each end, glue a strip of wood \ inch high and 1/4 inch thick, for bridges. Into the ends of tho box insert wooden pins, like those of a violin, to wind tho strings around, two pins in each end. Make a sound-hole in the middle of tho top, and string tho box with small cat-gut, or blue violin strings. Fastening one end of each string to the wooden pin in one end of the box, and carrying it over the bridges, wind it around tho turning-pin in the opposite end of tho box. Tho ends of the box should be increased in thickness where the wooden pins enter, by a piece of wood glued upon the inside. Tune the strings in unison and place the box in tho window. It is better to have 4 strings, as described, but a harp with a single string produces an exceedingly sweet melody of notes, which vary with the force of the wind.

6201. To Remove the Disagreeable Taste from New Wooden Vessels

6201.    To Remove the Disagreeable Taste from New Wooden Vessels. First scald them with boiling water, then dissolve some pearlash or soda in lukewarm water, adding a little lime to it, and wash the inside of tho vessel well with the solution. Afterwards scald it well with plain hot water before using.

6202. To Preserve Ribbons and Silks

6202.   To Preserve Ribbons and Silks. Ribbons and other silks should be put away for preservation in brown paper; the chloride of lime used in manufacturing white paper frequently produces discoloration. A white satin dress should be pinned in blue paper, with brown paper outside, sewn together at tho edges.

6203. To Make Feather Brushes

6203.     To Make Feather Brushes. Boil tho wing feathers of a turkey or chicken for 5 or 10 minutes, then rinse them in tepid water, dry them and tie them up in bunches to use in greasing pans and for brushing egg over tarts or yastry.

6204. Remedy for Frozen Potatoes

6204.    Remedy for Frozen Potatoes. In time of frost, potatoes that have been affected thereby should be laid in a perfectly dark place for some days after the thaw has commenced. If thawed in open day they rot; but if in darkness, they do not rot; and they lose very little of their natural properties.