HINTS ABOUT TABLE LINEN.
By M. A. Y.
In buying table linen, it is always cheapest to buy the best that one can afford, for every dollar added to the cost adds to the length of time it will give service, and when hemming a tablecloth the ravelings should be wound into a ball and saved for darning the linen. When one must economize closely, it is far better to buy the unbleached linen, and the ordinary washing and boiling will soon produce an astonishing degree of whiteness if properly done. It is a good plan to buy remnants of table linen to be used for making small cloths, and sometimes short lengths of linen can be bought at very low prices, and if care is taken in the selection to choose small patterns, these are highly satisfactory articles when finished. While we call the embroidered pieces, such as carving cloths and centerpieces, ornamental, they serve a practical purpose as well, as they are a genuine saving to the large cloth beneath, and the small white cloths may be kept clean without hard rubbing by putting them to soak over night in a strong lather of white ivory soap and warm soft water; but if there are any colors in the embroidery these pieces should be washed and rinsed as quickly as possible. The colors in the embroidery may be brightened by soaking the piece in warm water to which a little turpentine has been added, and turpentine in the starch gives an added whiteness and luster to the all white napkins and small tray cloths. When small cloths are ironed perfectly smooth and dry, place them in a box without folding, as creases will spoil the appearance of the daintiest linen.