brick should be dry, and powdered
fine, and the knives should not be wet after cleaning, but merely wiped,
with a dry clean cloth. To make the handles smooth, wipe them with a
cloth that is a little damp, being careful not to touch the blades, as
it will tarnish them. Knives look very nice cleaned in this manner, and
the edge will keep sharp. Ivory-handled knives should never have the
handles put into hot water, as it will turn them yellow. If, through
misuse, they turn yellow, rub them with sand paper. When Bristol brick
will not remove rust from steel, rub the spots with sand paper or emery,
or else rub on sweet oil, and let it remain a day; then rub it off with
powdered quicklime. To keep steel utensils (that are not in constant
use) from contracting rust, clean them thoroughly with Bristol brick,
wipe them on a perfectly dry cloth, and rub them over with sweet oil,
and cover them with brown paper, so as to exclude the air. Knives and
forks should be wrapped up in brown paper, each one by itself.

431. _Preservatives against the ravages of Moths._

Moths are very apt to eat woollen and fur garments early in the summer.
To keep them from the garments, take them late in the spring, when not
worn, and put them in a chest, with considerable camphor gum. Cedar
chips, or tobacco leaves, are also good for this purpose. When moths get
into garments, the best thing to destroy them is to hang the garments in
a closet, and make a strong smoke of tobacco leaves under them. In order
to do it, have a pan of live coals in the closet, and sprinkle on the
tobacco leaves.

432. _To destroy Cockroaches, Ants, and other household Vermin._

Hellebore, rubbed over with molasses, and put round the places that
cockroaches frequent, is a very effectual poison for them. Arsenic,
spread on bread and butter, and placed round rat or mouse holes, will
soon put a stop to their ravages. Quicksilver and the white of an egg,
beat together, and laid with a feather round the crevices of the
bedsteads and the sacking, is very effectual in destroying bugs in them.
To kill flies, when so numerous as to be troublesome, keep cobalt, wet
with spirit, in a large shallow plate. The spirit will attract the
flies, and the cobalt will kill them very soon. Black pepper is said to
be good to destroy them--it should be mixed, so as to be very strong,
with a little cream and sugar. Great care is necessary in using the
above poisons, where there are any childr