To Clean Silk Stockings.—First wash the stockings in the usual manner, to take out the rough dirt. After rinsing them in clean water, wash them well in a fresh soap liquor. Then make a third soap liquor, which color with a little stone-blue; then wash the stockings once more, take them out, wring them, and particularly dry them. Now stove them with brimstone, and draw on a wooden leg two stockings, one upon the other, observing that the two fronts or outsides are face to face. Polish with a glass bottle. The two first liquors should be only lukewarm, but the third as hot as you can bear your hand in. Blondes and gauzes may be whitened in the same manner, but there should be a little gum put in the last liquor before they are stoved.
To Take out Mildew from Clothes.—Mix some soft soap with powdered starch, half as much salt, and the juice of a lemon, lay it on the part with a brush, let it be exposed in the air day and night, until the stain disappears. Iron-moulds may be removed by the salt of lemons. Many stains in linen may be taken out by dipping linen in sour buttermilk, and then drying it in the sun; afterwards wash it in cold water several times. Stains caused by acids may be removed by tying some pearlash up in the stained part; scrape some soap in cold, soft water, and boil the linen till the stain is out.
Bleaching Straw.—Straw is bleached, and straw bonnets cleaned, by putting them into a cask into which a few brimstone matches are placed lighted. The fumes of the sulphur have the effect of destroying thecolor, or whitening the straw. The same effect may be produced by dipping the straw into the chloride of lime dissolved in water.
To Wash Mouseline-de-Laine.—Boil a pound of rice in five quarts of water, and, when cool enough, wash in this, using the rice for soap. Have another quantity ready, but strain the rice from this and use it with warm water, keeping the rice strained off for a third washing which, at the same time, stiffens and also brightens the colors.
To Bleach a Faded Dress.—Wash the dress in hot suds, and boil it until the color appears to be gone; then rinse it and dry it in the sun. Should it not be rendered white by these means, lay the dress in the open air, and bleach it for several days. If still not quite white, repeat the boiling.
Indelible Marking Ink, without Preparation.—1½ drachms nitrate of silver (lunar caustic), 1 ounce distilled water, ½ ounce strong mucilage of gum arabic, ¾ drachm liquid ammonia; mix the above in a clean glass bottle, cork tightly, and keep in a dark place till dissolved, and ever afterwards. Directions for use:—Shake the bottle, then dip a clean quill pen in the ink, and write or draw what you require on the article; immediately hold it close to the fire, (without scorching) or pass a hot iron over it, and it will become a deep and indelible black, indestructible by either time or acids of any description.
Mixture for Removing Ink Stains and Iron-Moulds.—Cream of tartar and salts of sorrel, one ounce each; mix well, and keep in a stoppered bottle.
To Wash Hair-Brushes.—Never use soap. Take a piece of soda, dissolve it in warm water, stand the brush in it, taking care that the water only covers the bristles; it will almost immediately become white and clean; stand it to dry in the open air with the bristles downwards, and it will be found to be as firm as a new brush.
To Clean Head and Clothes-Brushes.—Put a table-spoonful of pearl-ash into a pint of boiling water. Having fastened a bit of sponge to the end of a stick, dip it into the solution, and wash the brush with it; carefully going in among the bristles. Next pour over it some clean hot water, and let it lie a little while. Then drain it, wipe it with a cloth, and dry it before the fire.
Lola Montez in her "Arts of Beauty" gives the following receipts for complexion, hair, &c:—
For the Complexion.—"Infuse wheat-bran, well sifted, for four hours in white wine vinegar, add to it five yolks of eggs and two grains of ambergris, and distill the whole. It should be carefully corked for twelve or fifteen days, when it will be fit for use.
"Distill two handfuls of jessamine flowers in a quart of rose-water and a quart of orange-water. Strain through porous paper, and add a scruple of musk and a scruple of ambergris."
To give Elasticity of Form.—
"Put the fat, oil, and wax into a well glazed earthen vessel, and let them simmer over a slow fire until they are assimilated; then pour in the other ingredients, and let the whole gradually cool, when it will be fit for use. There is no doubt but that this mixture, frequently and thoroughly rubbed upon the body on going to bed, will impart a remarkable degree of elasticity to the muscles. In the morning, after this preparation has been used, the body should be thoroughly wiped with a sponge, dampened with cold water."
For the Complexion.—"Take equal parts of the seeds of the melon, pumpkin, gourd, and cucumber, pounded till they are reduced to powder; add to it sufficient fresh cream to dilute the flour, and then add milk enough to reduce the whole to a thin paste. Add a grain of musk, and a few drops of the oil of lemon. Anoint the face with this, leave it on twenty or thirty minutes, or overnight if convenient, and wash off with warm water. It gives a remarkable purity and brightness to the complexion.
"Infuse a handful of well sifted wheat bran for four hours in white wine vinegar; add to it five yolks of eggs and two grains of musk, and distill the whole. Bottle it, keep carefully corked fifteen days, when it will be fit for use. Apply it over night, and wash in the morning with tepid water."
Tooth-Powder.—
"These should be thoroughly mixed and used once a day with a firm brush.
"A simple mixture of charcoal and cream of tartar is an excellent tooth-powder."
To Whiten the Hand.—"Both Spanish and French women—those, at least, who are very particular to make the most of these charms—are in the habit of sleeping in gloves which are lined or plastered over with a kind of pomade to improve the delicacy and complexion of their hands. This paste is generally made of the following ingredients:—
"Take half a pound of soft soap, a gill of salad oil, an ounce of mutton tallow, and boil them till they are thoroughly mixed. After the boiling has ceased, but before it is cold, add one gill of spirits of wine, and a grain of musk.
"If any lady wishes to try this, she can buy a pair of gloves three or four sizes larger than the hand, rip them open and spread on a thin layer of the paste, and then sew the gloves up again. There is no doubt that by wearing them every night they will give smoothness and a fine complexion to the hands. Those who have the means, can send to Paris and purchase them ready made.
"If the hands are inclined to be rough and to chap, the following wash will remedy the evil.
For the Hair.—"Beat up the white of four eggs into a froth, and rub that thoroughly in close to theroots of the hair. Leave it to dry on. Then wash the head and hair clean with a mixture of equal parts of rum and rose-water."
"Honey-Water.—
"All these ingredients should be mixed together, and left about fourteen days, then the whole to be filtered through porous paper, and bottled for use.
"This is a good hair-wash and an excellent perfume."
"To Remove Pimples.—There are many kinds of pimples, some of which partake almost of the nature of ulcers, which require medical treatment; but the small red pimple, which is most common, may be removed by applying the following twice a-day:—
"To Remove Black Specks or 'Fleshworms.'—Sometimes little black specks appear about the base of the nose, or on the forehead, or in the hollow of the chin which are called 'fleshworms,' and are occasioned by coagulated lymph that obstructs the pores of the skin.They may be squeezed out by pressing the skin, and ignorant persons suppose them to be little worms. They are permanently removed by washing with warm water, and severe friction with a towel, and then applying a little of the following preparation:—
"The warm water and friction alone are sometimes sufficient."
"To Remove Freckles.—The most celebrated compound ever used for the removal of freckles was called Unction de Maintenon, after the celebrated Madame de Maintenon, mistress and wife of Louis XIV. It is made as follows:—
"First dissolve the soap in the lemon-juice, then add the two oils, and place the whole in the sun till it acquires the consistence of ointment, and then add the oil of rhodium. Anoint the freckly face at night with this unction, and wash in the morning with pure water, or, if convenient, with a mixture of elder-flower and rose-water.
"To Remove Tan.—An excellent wash to remove tan is called Crème de l'Enclos, and is made thus:
"Boil the whole, and skim it clear from all scum. Use it night and morning.
"A famous preparation with the Spanish ladies for removing the effects of the sun and making the complexion bright, is composed simply of equal parts of lemon-juice and the white of eggs. The whole is beat together in a varnished earthen pot, and set over a slow fire, and stirred with a wooden spoon till it acquires the consistence of soft pomatum. This compound is called Pommade de Seville. If the face is well washed with rice-water before it is applied, it will remove freckles, and give a fine lustre to the complexion."
Footnotes:[A]For further particulars, see chapter onBridal Etiquette.[B]"The Sick-Room," by Dr. A. T. Thomson.[C]Dr. Combe.[D]Dr. Combe.
[A]For further particulars, see chapter onBridal Etiquette.
[A]For further particulars, see chapter onBridal Etiquette.
[B]"The Sick-Room," by Dr. A. T. Thomson.
[B]"The Sick-Room," by Dr. A. T. Thomson.
[C]Dr. Combe.
[C]Dr. Combe.
[D]Dr. Combe.
[D]Dr. Combe.
Transcriber's Note:Minor punctuation errors (e.g. missing, misprinted or misplaced punctuation) have been corrected without note. Inconsistent hyphenation (e.g. ball room, ball-room; bon-bons, bonbons), spelling (e.g. visiters, visitors) and capitalization (e.g. neroli, Neroli) have not been corrected.Many of the "Receipts" are nearly identical. This has not been changed.The following changes were made to the text:p. 31: admissable to admissible (black lace mittens are admissible)p.44and45: soiree to soiréep. 45: oclock to o'clock (Thursday evening next, at 8 o'clock)p. 137: left to right (On the upper right hand corner of your envelope)p. 160: violincello to violoncello (a piano, violin, and violoncello)p. 203: á to à (à troistemps)p. 204: missing "of" added (the most graceful of dances)p. 214: guaze to gauze (with a gauze of a different color)p. 221: kneedles to needles (needles should be of the smallest size)p. 235: extra close quote removed (entered that house.)p. 244: extra "the" removed (in the highest and lowest classes)p. 260: returnes to returns (she returns from her bridal tour)p. 278: double quotes to single quotes ('Appetite,' says Dr. Combe, 'revives after repose.')p. 305: extra "a" removed (containing a mixture in equal portions)p. 307:CrémetoCrème(Crème de l'Enclos.)p. 318: extra "of" removed (four ounces of butter)p. 326: inpair to impair (impair the color)p. 339: Crême to Crème (is called Crème de l'Enclos)p. 340: acquired to acquires (till it acquires)
Minor punctuation errors (e.g. missing, misprinted or misplaced punctuation) have been corrected without note. Inconsistent hyphenation (e.g. ball room, ball-room; bon-bons, bonbons), spelling (e.g. visiters, visitors) and capitalization (e.g. neroli, Neroli) have not been corrected.
Many of the "Receipts" are nearly identical. This has not been changed.
The following changes were made to the text:
p. 31: admissable to admissible (black lace mittens are admissible)p.44and45: soiree to soiréep. 45: oclock to o'clock (Thursday evening next, at 8 o'clock)p. 137: left to right (On the upper right hand corner of your envelope)p. 160: violincello to violoncello (a piano, violin, and violoncello)p. 203: á to à (à troistemps)p. 204: missing "of" added (the most graceful of dances)p. 214: guaze to gauze (with a gauze of a different color)p. 221: kneedles to needles (needles should be of the smallest size)p. 235: extra close quote removed (entered that house.)p. 244: extra "the" removed (in the highest and lowest classes)p. 260: returnes to returns (she returns from her bridal tour)p. 278: double quotes to single quotes ('Appetite,' says Dr. Combe, 'revives after repose.')p. 305: extra "a" removed (containing a mixture in equal portions)p. 307:CrémetoCrème(Crème de l'Enclos.)p. 318: extra "of" removed (four ounces of butter)p. 326: inpair to impair (impair the color)p. 339: Crême to Crème (is called Crème de l'Enclos)p. 340: acquired to acquires (till it acquires)
p. 31: admissable to admissible (black lace mittens are admissible)
p.44and45: soiree to soirée
p. 45: oclock to o'clock (Thursday evening next, at 8 o'clock)
p. 137: left to right (On the upper right hand corner of your envelope)
p. 160: violincello to violoncello (a piano, violin, and violoncello)
p. 203: á to à (à troistemps)
p. 204: missing "of" added (the most graceful of dances)
p. 214: guaze to gauze (with a gauze of a different color)
p. 221: kneedles to needles (needles should be of the smallest size)
p. 235: extra close quote removed (entered that house.)
p. 244: extra "the" removed (in the highest and lowest classes)
p. 260: returnes to returns (she returns from her bridal tour)
p. 278: double quotes to single quotes ('Appetite,' says Dr. Combe, 'revives after repose.')
p. 305: extra "a" removed (containing a mixture in equal portions)
p. 307:CrémetoCrème(Crème de l'Enclos.)
p. 318: extra "of" removed (four ounces of butter)
p. 326: inpair to impair (impair the color)
p. 339: Crême to Crème (is called Crème de l'Enclos)
p. 340: acquired to acquires (till it acquires)