Richmond Democrat

HOUSEHOLD NOTES.

To Clean Black Cassimere.—Wash in hot suds, with a little borax in the water, rinse in very blue water and iron while damp on the wrong side.

For a Sprain—The white of an egg into which a piece of alum about the size of a walnut has been stewed until it forms a jelly is a fine remedy for sprains. It should be laid over the sprain on a piece of lint and changed as often as it becomes dry.

When putting away the silver tea or coffee pot, which is not used every day, lay a little stick across the top under the cover: this will allow fresh air to get in and will prevent mustiness; it will then be ready for use at any time, after having first been thoroughly rinsed with boiling water. Nothing is better to clean silver with than alcohol and ammonia; after rubbing with this take a little whitening or a soft cloth and polish it this way; even frosted silver, which is so difficult to clean, may be easily made clear and bright.

An inexpensive but appetizing pickle is made as follows: Slice one peck of green tomatoes and nine large onions; scatter one teacupful of salt over them; cover with water and let them stand all night; in the morning drain and boil in weak vinegar. Then take four quarts of vinegar of good strength, two pounds of brown sugar, two ounces of white mustard seed, two tablespoonfuls each of ground allspice, cloves, cinnamon and ginger, half a teaspoonful of red pepper. Boil together half hour. The tomatoes, if a little too near ripe, will not need boiling quite so long.

Footstools and Ottomans.—These may be manufactured out of old boxes, peck or half bushel measure, or long store boxes. Nail old bagging loosely on the top, leaving one side open until you have filled it evenly and plumply with cotton, hay, moss or "excelsior" (a kind of popular shaving made expressly to pack furniture in). Then nail the canvas very tightly all around the sides and over the top, and match the furniture. Cover the edges with gimp or fringe. Nail a piece of oilcloth over the bottom to make it slide easily over the carpet when moving it. The top may be fastened by a piece of strong leather or hinges to one side of the box and stuffed, and covered and trimmed as described previously: thus not only the footstool or ottoman is secured, but a box for work and pieces, or anything required. In this case there should be castors on the bottom to move it without trouble when filled.

Oyster Kromeskys.—Patboil a dozen oysters in their own liquid, remove their beards, strain the liquid, and cut up the oysters into small dice: melt a piece of butter in a saucepan, and stir in a pinch of flour, add the oyster liquor and the minced oysters, salt and pepper to taste, a little grated nutmeg, and a pinch of chopped parsley; take the saucepan off the fire, and stir in the yolk of one egg with the juice of half a lemon. When the mixture is quite cold, divide it into twelve portions; cut some slices of parboiled fat bacon as thin as possible to the size of one and one-half by two and one-half inches: wrap each portion tightly in a piece of bacon. When they are all done dip them in batter and fry them in plenty of hot lard to a light brown color. Drain well from fat in front of the fire, and serve with fried parsley.

During the last ten years, and under adverse circumstances, the products of the sugar, cotton and rice lands of Louisiana have equaled in value the products of all the gold and silver mines in the United States.