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Household Conveniences (VENTILATOR There is in these)
A VENTILATOR. -There is, in these days, line upon line and precept upon precept upon the subject of ventilation. Every chimney ought to have two flues -one for smoke and the other for ventilation. The form of ventilator represented in cut is neat and inexpensive, and fits a space in a chimney large enough to take in an ordinary stove-pipe. FLOWER POTS. - Take common red clay flower pots, scrub them until all spots are removed and they are of one color. Then get a package of silhouttes and paste them not too thickly over the pot. Then give a coat of varnish. They are quite ornamental, and when suspended by a red cord they make a very nice hanging basket. In a handsomely or even a moderately well furnished room the plain red pots seem shabby.
A FOLDING TABLE.-A folding table is very useful in small houses, and even in large houses for many purposes. The accompanying cut represents a form which is simple, convenient, and easily made by any carpenter. It folds up compactly when not in use, and when needed may be instantly unfolded and is ready for use. When an extra table is needed in making up clothing, etc., such a piece of furniture is invaluable, and when not in use it does not occupy valuable space and get in everybody's way. KNIFE AND SPOON BOX. - Knives and spoons ought to be daily counted and put away in box kept for the purpose. The cut represents a strong box, made of tin japanned on the outside, an apartment on one side for. knives and forks and on the other for spoons.
The lids fit closely and are held in place by a hasp. This insures their keeping dry and free from dust, a matter of considerable importance to the tidy housewife. B A A CONVENIENT ASH BOx. -This can be made of cheap lumber, and of a size that the lumber at hand will cut without waste; seven feet in length by three feet in width, and four feet high, may answer in most circumstances. A lid, A, is provided occupying nearly one-half of the top, as shown in fig. 1, and also a side door B, used for removing the ashes. Two strips of board are fastened within and lengthwise of the box, upon which the sifter or sieve rests as it is shaken, as shown in vertical view, upper figure.
The sieve, which is an ordinary one, costing perhaps twenty-five cents at the store, has a long handle fastened to it; with this the ash box and sifting apparatus is complete. The advantages claimed for this ash box are: The ashes can be sifted without making any dust, as when the lid is closed the whole is confined within the box. The ashes and sieve are kept from exposure to storms, and the latter is always in, place and ready for use. It dispenses the for use. It dispenses with a disagreeable looking heap of ashes often found on exhibition the year round, and lastly it is cheaply and easily made. As the structure is of wood, care should be taken that there be no live coals among the ashes when they go to the ash box. A coat of paint will add to the appearance of this useful and economical article A CRUMB BRUSH AND PAN. -The cut represents a very neat and convenient crumb brush and pan for cleaning the table of crumbs after each course. neat table is one of the accompaniments of a good dinner, and the debris of one course should be removed before the next makes its appearance. The curved form of the brush makes it easy to gather up the crumbs and sweep them into the pan.
COAL VASE.- This furnishes a neat receptacle for the coal-hod, which slides to its place inside, completely out of the way and out of sight, and for the poker, shovel and tongs, and is withal a very neat article of furniture. The box is made of heavy tin, japanned and neatly ornamented. No living room is quite complete without an open fire, and no open fire is quite complete without one of them.
A UNIQUE UMBRELLA STAND. - Go to a plumbing or pottery shop and buy a common red tile, such as used for drains, about six inches across and three feet long. Paint it black, two or three coats if necessary; then get a large supply of Japanese scrap pictures. Cover the tile pretty thickly with these, and give coats of varnish until the flowers and figures have the raised appearance sometimes seen on china. Then get a large earthen pieplate or meat platter; paint it black and cover all but the middle of the dish with scrap pictures in the same manner, and varnish. When all is perfectly dry, set the tile in the dish. Then get a small bottle of liquid gilding, and with a small camel's-hair brush gild the edge of the dish and top edge of the tile. The tile. whole stand, when done, will cost about four dollars, and will be very unique and beautiful.
A CHILD'S PEN. - It is not only troublesome but very dangerous for small children just able to toddle about and get into mischief, to be free to go where they please. The mother, if she has the care of the house, can not safely leave the child for a moment.
The pen, which the cut represents, is a perfect protection for the child. It is too high to climb over, it moves at pleasure as the child walks about on the floor, and the mother is comparatively free to leave it and attend to other work. With a warm flannel blanket G G on the floor and playthings, it will amuse itself a long time, A cheaper substitute may be made of a light dry-goods box without, bottom, with casters attached, and a box with bottom in with blankets in bottom is an excellent place to put a child, when the mother is necessarily absent for a short time. It is safe from harm, even if it does cry. SUBSTITUTE FOR CASTERS.-Casters on heavy chairs, tables, bed-steads, etc., are always getting out of order, and are very destructive to carpets. A substitute, which is a vast improvement in every respect, is a polished half-globe of steel, with a screw projecting from flat side. This screw is turned into the bottom of the chair-leg, and the rounded and polished surface rests on the floor or carpet, and the chair is moved with ease and with almost no wear to carpets.
A SPARK GUARD. - Half the pleasure of an open fire is lost if there is not some protection against sparks that are more prone to fly out on the carpet than they are to fly upward. Guards are now made to fit any shape or size of opening in the fireplace, and are a perfect protection against sparks, while not materially shutting in the heat or affecting the draft. The frame is made of woven wire, and is lined with gauze wire.
INEXPENSIVE NAPKIN RINGS. -Cut a piece of canvas the size of a napkin ring, only larger, so that when stitched together one end may overlap the other and be cut in points or scollops. Work the canvas with beads, worsted or silk, as fancy may dictate, leaving space for first name or initials.
Line the canvas with silk-covered cardboard and bind the edges with bright ribbon to harmonize with the embroidery. A pretty Christmas gift, and one with which the girls can busy their fingers. WEATHER STRIPS. - It is often desirable to close the crevices of doors and windows with weather strips. There is now made, and kept for sale at all rubber stores, a strip which is well represented in the engraving, half an inch wide, ready for tacking to the edges of doors or sash. It is made of a narrow rubber sheet, curved over to form a cushion, and sewed to a thin strip of tin. Through the tin strip tacks are driven two or three inches apart, fastening the strip to the edge of a door or sash, and the elastic cushion effectually shuts out the air, while not interfering with the use of either door or window. It is sold in lengths of twenty-five to fifty feet, coiled as shown in right hand cut, and is sent by mail post-paid anywhere at about five and a half cents a foot. Plenty of fresh air is necessary to health, but it is well to be able to control the currents and take them in when and where they are wanted.
WIRE FLOWER STAND. - There are few ladies who are willing to forego the pleasure of having growing plants or flowers in living rooms, and any contrivance that makes the care of them less burdensome, that disposes of them in a more compact space, out of the way of the men folks, most of whom care more for comfort than flowers, is worthy of consideration. There are many designs in flower stands now made in wire, very strong and durable, and yet light, neat and convenient. All are set on strong castors, so as to be easily moved, and the form represented here is so planned that all the plants may be easily turned to the light on all sides. It also gives room for a large number of plants in a small space.
POLISHER AND STAND. -A small neat stand, made of coppered iron, with a surface of emery (three extra emery pads go on with each) for cleaning starch, etc., from flat irons.