soften the leather.

INCOMBUSTIBLE DRESSES.

By putting an ounce of alum or sal ammoniac in the _last_ water in
which muslins or cottons are rinsed, or a similar quantity in the
starch in which they are stiffened, they will be rendered almost
uninflammable; or, at least, will with difficulty take the fire, and
if they do, will burn without flame. It is astonishing that this
simple precaution is so rarely adopted. Remember this and save the
lives of your children.

HOW TO FRESHEN UP FURS.

Furs when taken out in the fall are often found to have a mussed,
crushed-out appearance. They can be made to look like new, by
following these simple directions: Wet the fur with a hair-brush,
brushing up the wrong way of the fur. Leave it to dry in the air for
about half an hour, and then give it a good beating on the right side
with a rattan. After beating it, comb it with a coarse comb, combing
up the right way of the fur.

NOVEL DRESS MENDING.

A novel way of mending a woolen or silk dress in which a round hole
has been torn, and where only a patch could remedy matters, is the
following: The frayed portions around the tear should be carefully
smoothed, and a piece of the material, moistened with very thin
muscilage, placed under the hole. A heavy weight should be put upon it
until it is dry, when it is only possible to discover the mended place
by careful observation.

TO RENEW OLD CRAPE.

Place a little water in a tea-kettle, and let it boil until there is
plenty of steam from the spout; then, holding the crape in both hands,
pass it to and fro several times through the steam, and it will be
clean and look nearly equal to new.

TO RAISE THE PILE ON VELVET.

To raise the pile on velvet, put on a table two pieces of wood; place
between them, bottom side up, three very hot flat-irons, and over them
lay a wet cloth; hold the velvet over the cloth, with the wrong side
down; when thoroughly steamed, brush the pile with a light wisp, and
the velvet will look as good as new.

TO CLEAN KID GLOVES.

Make a thick mucilage by boiling a handful of flax-seed; add a little
dissolved toilet soap; then, when the mixture cools, put the gloves on
the hands and rub them with a piece of white flannel wet with the
mixture. Do not wet the gloves through. Or take a fine, clean, soft
cloth, dip it into a little sweet milk, then rub it on a cake of soap,
and rub the gloves with it; they will, look like new.

Another good wa