Any special plan, anything about the house that I discover requires attention, or any list of materials desired, are noted on this board. I then dismiss the matter from my mind. Each morning I look it over carefully, erasing anything that has been disposed of or passed by, place on it any new record necessary, and note the special duties of the day or week. In this way I am reminded of the many duties of my housekeeping without being unduly burdened with them.
If more conscientious housewives would try this plan, I think there would be fewer nervous women. It is the carrying of the multitudinous duties of housekeeping in the memory long before they are actually performed that proves so burdensome.
An Improvised Coat Closet
In a house having no hall or place to hang the coats and hats in common use, I recently saw a very clever improvised closet. The frame was made of wood and stained oak; it was about five feet high, and fitted into a corner back of the dining-room door, being about four feet across the front and three feet deep. Over this frame green burlap was tacked smoothly with fancy brass-headed nails. The entire front opened out like a door. The top was covered to make it dust-proof, and a piece of stout canvas formed the floor. Around the inside stout cleats were attached to the framework, into which hooks were placed for the clothing.
In another house similarly restricted one corner of the dining-room was made equally convenient, but not so well protected from the dust, by placing on the wall several racks for the clothing. To hide this a large screen was placed about it, also having hooks upon the back.
Neither arrangement in any way disfigured the room, and a great deal of running up and down stairs was saved.
A. M. A.
Pickles Without Heat
Pack sound, clean vegetables in a stone jar, a layer of vegetables and salt; do not be sparing with the salt. Let these remain at least two days. Rinse well in cold water. Press out carefully all the water. Cover with vinegar, let stand over night, then press this vinegar out. Put the vegetables in a jar and pour over it the following: Two quarts good cider vinegar, three pounds brown sugar (light), a good handful, each, of whole cloves and cinnamon bark, one-half pound celery seed, one-half ounce tumeric, one-eighth pound ground mustard, one-half pound white mustard seed. Dissolve sugar, mustard and tumeric well, pour over vegetables, let stand over a week before beginning to eat. Cabbage, onions and cucumbers are the vegetables used. Be sure the cabbage is white and firm; split the cucumbers and slice the onions. This is not heated or cooked.