THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2724, 1 February 1910, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

HOME HINTS

USES OF KEROSENE

Kerosene .(usually called by the indefinite name of “Paraffin” in English periodicals), as an agent for house-clean, nig, does not always receive the attention it deserves. There is no household adjunct more useful than this one for assisting the housewife in those operations which require “elbow-grease.” Windows, when well-dusted first, should bo next rubbed ever with a kerosene rag. Specks and marks will disappear with marvellous speed, and the polish left on the glass is remarkable. In frosty weather, such glass will not so readily be rendered cloudy and steamy, and in hot weather flics (the worst enemies to a window as regards cleanliness) will refuse to walk over the glass. They detest the smell. The sam e remark applies to mirrors. Moths also avoid kerosene, which is destructive to their eggs. When wardrobes and boxes arc turned out it is well to wash the corners and cracks and crevices out by means of a clean paintbrush dipped in kerosene,. then the clothes-niotli will turn away from laying its eggs to s-ne’k more congenial quarters. "Thus woollen articles and precious furs may be saved from the destructive. razor-mandibled moth.maggot. Woodlice and similar insects also refuse to inhabit kerosene-washed furniture. Ancient chairs and other articles may be first cleansed from dust, then washed in kerosene. This will preserve the wood from al] blight, sind enhance its natural polish wonderfully. By brisk rubbing thereafter the polish obtained is better than that got from the customary beeswax and turpentine with the same amount of elbow-labor. Moreover, the odour of kerosene evaporates quite as quickly as does that of turpentine. The one is a vegetable, the other a mineral product, and this is the essential difference between the two, whose polishing capacities are alike. 'Die enamel of a bath often gets stained, and then son]) .and water seem to refuse the usual cleansing office, for these will not bring out the mar!:.'-. But kerosene will bring them out immediately, leaving the enamel like -new.

It is a first-ciass solvent, and this is the secret of its power over specks and stains. Even in the matter of clothes its uses are not ended, to: kerosene applied to stains on linen acts magically in bringing them out. Many washerwomen put a small quantity in their boilers, as it makes the linen emerge exquisitely white and clean.

NOTES. M. Fallieres made the following remark lately, at the onening of the central offices of the French Secular Education League:—“l desire with all my heart the realisation of the ideal of legal equality between the sexes. Hath, orto, owing to the nature of our laws, inequality has existed between men and women. Well, I trust it will disappear. Why should there be any distinction as regards status and salary between men teachers and women teachers?” 'Phis is especially interesting, as the French President seldmns gives his personal opinion on any burning question of the moment. Lady St. Holier tells an amusing story in “Harper’s.” She says: “I only once spoke to Lord Palmerston, and it was at a concert at Apsley House just after I came out. It was very crowded, but there were some empty seats in front, and I was told by my mother to go and sit forward, as there was no room beside her. I found myself next to an old gentleman who was very kind to me, and told mo about the music, and talked to me on a variety of subjects. I had not- the slightest idea who he was, but thought him ouite delightful. On rejoining my mother, who was sitting among some friends. I got dreadfully chaffed and laughed at for sitting next to the Prime Minister and .having! all his attention and not knowing who he was. I remember at the time being struck by t-lic fact that 1 never heard anyone with such a boyish laugh, and my perfect ignorance of 'u's personalitv bad evidently amused him very much.”