three wineglassfuls of lemon-juice through a sieve; beat nine eggs,
yolks and whites, strain them also, and add them to the lemon-juice,
with one-quarter pound of powdered loaf-sugar, a glass of white wine,
and half a wineglass of water, with a little grated lemon-peel. Mix
all together, and put the ingredients into a sauce-pan on the fire,
stirring it until it becomes thick and of a proper consistence.
ALMOND CUSTARD.--Boil in a pint of milk, or cream, two or three bitter
almonds, a stick of cinnamon, and a piece of lemon-peel pared thin,
with eight or ten lumps of sugar; let it simmer to extract the flavor,
then strain it and stir it till cold. Beat the yolks of six eggs, mix
it with the milk, and stir the whole over a slow fire until of a proper
thickness, adding one ounce of sweet almonds, beaten fine in rose-water.
PLAIN CUSTARD.--To one quart of cream or new milk, add a stick of
cinnamon, four bay leaves and some mace; boil them altogether a few
minutes; then beat well twelve eggs, sweeten them, and when the milk
is cold, stir in the eggs, and bake or boil it till of a proper
consistency, and perfectly smooth. The spice can be omitted, and four
or five bitter almonds used in its place.
Centre-Table Gossip.
FEMALE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
_Not_ BY MRS. CHAPENE.
LETTER-WRITING.--We are very sorry to confess the humiliating fact
that, notwithstanding the number of editions of the "Complete
Letter-Writer" that have been issued, and the quantity of female
seminaries scattered through the country, very many of our sex are
not elegant correspondents. We do not mean by this that they spell
incorrectly, fold awkwardly, or seal _splashingly_--this last has
been in some measure corrected by the introduction of self-secured
envelopes; but, nevertheless, a letter may have its round periods and
distinctly marked paragraphs, yet be destitute of the pith and marrow
of a really agreeable epistle.
Letter-writing is generally complained of as a bore, or ridiculed as
a school-girl weakness, yet it is the medium of much pleasure and
happiness, and, as such, should always be a favorite occupation with
our sex especially, who have ever been distinguished as excelling
in the art. If it is a bore to send kindly messages, to interchange
lively criticism upon popular music or reading, to record excellent
or earnest thoughts, the writer can have very little to say, and that
little might as well be left altogether, in nine cases out of ten. The
tone of such a correspondent would be frivolous, trifling, gossiping,
and no doubt the shafts of mischief, intended or careless, wing her
words. We commend to such a lady the laconic and affectionate epistle
of the French wife to her husband, if so be she must needs write at
all: "_Je vous écris parceque je n'ai rien à faire; je finis parceque
je n'ai rien à dire._ I write to you because I have nothing to do; I
finish because I have nothing to say." This would, at least, be common
honesty, and a harmless, if not satisfactory communication.
Letter-writing, in its happiest aspect, is, as we have said, a pleasant
interchange of thought, and may be made the medium of usefulness and
happiness. If every idle word we speak bears witness against us,
every thoughtless sentence written must have double weight. Spirited
narratives of passing events, a summer day's tour, even of domestic
incidents, clever criticisms, or suggestions, hearty good wishes, or
the offering of sincere sympathy, these can never offend charity or
good taste; but to write because it is expected of us is a tiresome
hypocrisy no one should feel bound to keep up, out of which mischief to
ourselves or others is almost sure to arise.
AMATEUR GARDENING.
A NEW METHOD FOR HASTENING THE BLOWING OF BULBS.--The following liquid
has been used with great advantage for this purpose: Sulphate or
nitrate of ammonia, four ounces; nitrate of potash, two ounces; sugar,
one ounce; hot water, one pint; dissolve and keep it in a well-corked
bottle. For use, put eight or ten drops of this liquid into the water
of a hyacinth glass, or jar, for bulbous-rooted plants, changing the
water every ten or twelve days. For flowering plants in pots, a few
drops must be added to the water employed to moisten them. Rain-water
is preferable for this purpose.
CITY GARDENS.--In winter, city gardens have generally a very gloomy
appearance. The greenhouse plants, which, during summer, made a
brilliant show in the open ground, have been blackened by frost, and
present that appearance of ruined beauty which it is always so painful
to contemplate. In many gardens, the pelargoniums (geraniums) and other
greenhouse plants, which have stood out during the summer in the open
ground, are suffered to remain till they are quite killed by the frost,
and are then taken up and thrown on the waste heap to rot with the dead
leaves, mowings of grass, and other vegetable refuse, in order that,
in due time, they may form vegetable mould for other plants to grow
in; but, in some cases, it is desirable to preserve the old plants of
the scarlet geraniums during the winter, in order to procure a finer
display of flowers early in the following season. When this is the
case, the plants are taken up, and the earth being shaken from their
roots, they are laid in a dry, shady, airy place, generally in the back
shed of the greenhouse; or hung up with their heads downwards for a
week or ten days. Each plant should afterwards be carefully examined,
and cleansed from all decaying matter, and the branches pruned back to
about four or five buds or eyes, the roots being shortened accordingly;
after which the plants should be either potted in small pots, or laid
in rows in a cellar with their roots covered with dry sand. Where the
cellar is not sufficiently dry, they may be put into a spare room,
passage, or shed, where the frost cannot penetrate, and where they are
kept till spring.
At this season, if the frost will permit, the beds in city gardens may
be dug over, that the earth may be ameliorated by the influence of the
air.
PARLOR WORK.
The pleasant old fashion of centre-table work has been revived, except
in New York City, perhaps, where, save in some secluded circles, every
one seems bent on disproving the preacher's proposition: "To everything
there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
In the busy whirl of the metropolis, there is little leisure for
domestic enjoyment. It is not even known when sleeping is accomplished;
and eating, at least the one comfortable meal they allow themselves,
is crowded between daylight and dark, at "blind-man's holiday." But in
Boston and Philadelphia, in all sober country towns and villages, where
pleasant society can be had, the work-basket makes its appearance upon
the round-table once more, and chit-chat is stimulated by busy hands.
Nice plain sewing, not so fine as to injure the eyes, nor so large as
to encumber either the workwoman or visitor, is always a graceful,
womanly resource. It does not distract the attention, and many
wearisome stitches may be set unconsciously, thus lightening hours
devoted to real task work. We would not advise embroidery as an evening
occupation, for the reason that, in most cases, it is a strain upon
the eyes, to be felt sooner or later. Embroidery is, nevertheless,
very fashionable just now; cotton embroidery for infants' shirts
and petticoats; for pocket-handkerchiefs, and the bands and sleeves
of underclothes. The patterns are, in general, points or scallops,
enriched with eyelets or dots in rows, stars or diamonds; sprays, light
wreaths, and even the elaborate work to be found at Bradbrook's, where
a single garment, with an embroidered yoke, is valued at $13, are also
in use. Worsted embroidery is chiefly used for flannels, sacques, and
skirts, or blankets for infants. Silk is also chiefly fashionable in
the wardrobes of children, their dresses, tunics, sacques, and cloaks.
For older persons, it is nearly superseded by the use of broad braids,
ribbons, and galoons as trimmings.
Worsted knitting is a favorite and appropriate branch of parlor
industry. Opera shawls are very fashionable the present season, a plain
centre, with a band of white, or some contrast on the two sides, and
a border of points or scallops in the principal color. Rigolettes, or
worsted caps, of every description, for evening wear, carriage boots,
half handkerchiefs or spencers, to be worn beneath cloaks and shawls,
infants' shirts, socks, sacques, and aprons, are included in the ample
list. For many of these, directions will be found in the "Lady's Book"
from month to month, and novelties are always in preparation for our
centre-table circle. Crochet and ornamental netting, slippers, chairs,
and ottomans of worsted work, are still in vogue.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
"MISS J. H."--The yarn required is called Saxony, and comes numbered.
For infants' shirts, 60 is the best; that is, if you knit closely,
and use moderately sized bone or wooden needles; they stretch very
much in washing. "Split zephyr" will not wash as well, although it may
look whiter and softer at first. They can also be made, if more easily
procured, from any fine domestic worsted or yarn, such as used to be
saved in New England for "best stockings." To wash an infant's knit
shirt or robin requires peculiar care.
Dip it in hot soapsuds, as hot as the hand can bear, and squeeze it out
repeatedly. Rinse in clear water of the same temperature. Then iron or
press it; but, when nearly dry, pull it into the required shape, taking
great care to stretch it down, not crosswise, or it will shrink in
length so as to be useless. It will thus look like new again.
"MRS. S. LAWTON."--It is best, in teaching a servant to wait, to have
her take all the silver first upon a tray of convenient size. It saves
from jar and breakage, and scratches the silver less. For instance, in
removing soup, she should take the spoon of each person from the right,
and then the plates can be piled smoothly and quickly upon the tray in
her second round. So of the knives and forks in the second remove. The
tray should then be cleared for the reception of the castors, salts,
etc., which should at once be set in the china closet, if convenient,
as it is useless trouble and exposure to breakage to have them placed
upon the side-table, in the midst of china and glass that has been used.
"ANNIE."--It is best to have the magazines bound at once; they are apt
to get loaned and spoiled, besides giving trouble in assorting, if kept
over a year. It is safest to file any magazine or paper intended for
binding, just as soon as every one has read it. The volumes can be done
neatly for about seventy-five cents apiece.
"A YOUNG CONTRIBUTOR" should bear in mind the oft-repeated rule
that manuscripts are to be written only on one side of the leaf. In
all conversations, the remark of each person must have separate and
distinct quotation marks, and, in general, form a separate paragraph.
By attending to a few simple rules, she will be much more likely to
find favor in the sight of editors, who are accustomed to judge of the
merit of an article by the very style of a manuscript, the unpractised
writer betraying him or herself in minor points on the very first page.
"A SUFFERER" should keep a list of all her books and magazines. It is
never well to trust too much to the honesty of acquaintances in the
matter of books and umbrellas. A bachelor friend of ours invariably
inscribed his name in full on the margin of some central chapter, with
this Scriptural hint below: "_The wicked borroweth and payeth not
again_."
"MRS. S." will receive her box in good season. The mitts were very hard
to find, as they are quite out of date, except for very old ladies.
"MRS. T. M."--The shoes were noticed a year or more ago; they are black
silk, quilted in diamonds, the sole also lined with cotton wadding. For
invalids or old persons, they are the best shoes we know.
"MISS ELIZA G.," of Macon.--The music is selected, and waits the
promised opportunity.
Fashions.
NOTICE TO LADY SUBSCRIBERS.
Having had frequent applications for the purchase of jewelry,
millinery, etc., by ladies living at a distance, _the Editress of the
Fashion Department_ will hereafter execute commissions for any who
may desire it, with the charge of a small percentage for the time
and research required. Bridal wardrobes, spring and autumn bonnets,
dresses, jewelry, bridal cards, cake-boxes, envelopes, etc. etc.,
will be chosen with a view to economy, as well as taste; and boxes or
packages forwarded by express to any part of the country. For the last,
distinct directions must be given.
_Orders, accompanied by checks for the proposed expenditure, to be
addressed to the care of L. A. Godey, Esq., who will be responsible for
the amount, and the early execution of commissions._
_No order will be attended to unless the money is first received._
Instructions to be as minute as is possible, accompanied by a note
of the height, complexion, and general style of the person, on which
_much depends_ in choice. Dress goods from Levy's or Stewart's, bonnets
from Miss Wharton's, jewelry from Bailey's, Warden's, Philadelphia, or
Tiffany's, New York, if requested.
DESCRIPTION OF STEEL FASHION PLATE FOR JANUARY.
_Fig. 1st._--Dinner and carriage-dress, the skirt a light taffeta
silk, with nine narrow flounces, pinked on the edge. Body of a basque
pattern, in royal purple velvet, trimmed with a fall of black lace.
Scarf of India pattern, in bright colors. White uncut velvet bonnet,
with fall and strings of embroidered ribbon. Small winter sun-shade,
of pale dove-colored silk. A carriage-cloak is thrown over the whole
figure in the open air.
_Fig. 2d._--Dress for receiving New Year's calls. A white grounded
silk, the skirt elegantly woven with a pattern of full-blown roses and
foliage in blue. Plain white body and sleeves, finished with broad
bands of blue embossed velvet. Pearl ornaments. The hair slightly
puffed, and dressed with lappets of blue and gold ribbon, intermingled
with golden leaves.
CHITCHAT UPON JANUARY FASHIONS.
We are constantly inquired of if there are no new styles for dressing
the hair, and, in response, give wood-cuts that have recently made
their appearance in the fashionable world abroad. They are very
elaborate, perhaps too much so for ordinary everyday use, where plain
bands and twists are still in vogue. For parties, however, we give No.
1.
[Illustration: No. 1.]
The front hair is parted horizontally on each side of the forehead
into three distinct divisions, each of which is turned back and forms
a roll. These _rouleaux_ may be made either of the hair alone or by
rolling it on small silk cushions, covered with hair-colored silk. In
front, they are divided by _bandeaux_ of Roman pearls.
[Illustration: No. 2.]
No. 2 is the same headdress at the back, the hair being entwined with
the pearls very low on the neck, and fastened by two pearl-headed pins,
of an antique bodkin pattern.
No. 3 is still a different style, more in accordance with the taste of
our grandmothers, especially the small flat curls on the temples. A
light plume is entwined with the Grecian braid at the back of the head.
[Illustration: No. 3.]
We give these, as we have said before, more from their novelty than
grace. For ordinary wear, plain bands on each side the temple, drawn
out wide where the size and shape of the head admit of it, are
principally seen. The back hair is formed into a French twist flat to
the head, around which the rest is disposed in a close circle, either
twisted, roped, or braided, leaving the smooth twist displayed in the
centre. "Roping" the hair is done by dividing it in two equal parts,
and twisting one over the other, a kind of round braid, taking its name
from the resemblance it bears when smoothly managed to a hempen rope or
cable.
Speaking of which reminds us that hair ornaments were never more
worn than now. Several very beautiful stands of designs have been on
exhibition in the Crystal Palace, some of them quite plain, suitable
for mourning, others richly set with gold, enamel, and even precious
stones. Among the more costly we have described in our foreign
correspondence, is a set recently completed in Paris for a foreign
princess. It consists of a necklace, bracelet, and ear-rings. The
hair is said to be that of a celebrated Spanish beauty, very dark,
and wrought into small globes resembling beads of various size. These
globes are transparent, and are wrought in a style of such exquisite
delicacy that they seem to be made of the finest lace. They are
clustered together like drooping bunches of grapes, and between each
bunch there is a small tulip formed of diamonds. The ear-rings consist
of pendent drops, formed of hair beads, with tops consisting of diamond
tulips. Hair ornaments similar to these are made with pearls, gold,
or silver, in place of the diamonds; fortunately for people who like
tasteful jewelry, and are _not_ foreign princesses.
Two bracelets, made for a wealthy English lady, are also described,
and, as there is a mania for this description of ornaments, we copy
it for those ordering hair-work from a distance, or who are curious
in these matters. One, made of very fair, soft, glossy hair, is in
the form of a serpent, having the rings on its back, distinctly
marked by a peculiar method of plaiting the hair. This serpent is
represented as creeping gracefully on a long reed leaf, made of green
enamel in natural shades, the head being studded with emeralds. The
other bracelet consists of a flat band, formed of plaited hair of
various shades, and the shades so disposed as to intersect each other
transversely, forming a kind of chequered pattern. Five medallions
are affixed to this band, each opening by a spring in the manner of
a watch-case, and within are a name and date, or any inscription
appropriate to those whose tresses have formed the memento. For plain
bracelets, there is the round elastic band, fastened by a broad gold
band or link, to which is attached a single medallion, inclosing hair
too short to be braided. Two of these bands, twisted or roped together,
make a heavier bracelet. There is another, inclosing a steel spring,
having the head or tail of a serpent in gold, and thus appearing to
coil about the wrist; a common device, but one we do not much fancy.
Brooches are made in the form of knots, bows, clasps, etc. Plain flat
rings, with a gold band just wide enough for initials, or fastened by
a tiny gold knot or buckle, are great favorites, and make a simple,
tasteful love-token. Pendents for bracelets or brooches, in every
shape, are worn, and tipped with gold, lyres, harps, baskets, acorns,
etc. etc., all of fairy-like delicacy and proportions. Ear-rings
in globes, as described above, acorns, harps, baskets, etc., are
also worn. The Swiss style, once thought so tasteful--flat flowers,
feathers, landscapes, and funeral urns, pictured on a white ground, and
set as cameos--are almost entirely out of date.
The changes of the present month in outside garments are by no means
important. More furs are seen of the usual variety, from ermine and
sable down to the equally comfortable Siberian or gray squirrel and
fitch. The tippets are giving place almost entirely to the large round
capes of twenty years ago; muffs are still small, and cuffs worn as
much as ever. Velvet and cloth circular, or Talma cloaks, are again in
favor, of several new varieties in trimming. Some of them consist of
two and three capes, one above the other, like the horseman's cloak
capes, once so fashionable for gentlemen. The favorite trimming which
has replaced the narrow velvet ribbons of last year is broad satin
galoon of different patterns. Beaver bonnets for children, at Oakford's
and Genin's, are trimmed principally with satin bands and plaited satin
ribbons, making a glossy contrast. We consider beaver as most suitable
for the little people. Satin and velvet are the favorite materials for
ladies' hats, and close plumes will be worn as much as ever, feathers
being used in inside trimming for the brim, mixed with knots of ribbon.
DESCRIPTION OF CHILDREN'S DRESSES.
(_See Cuts in front of Book._)
_No. 1._--Boy's skirt and jacket of dark cashmere, the latter open,
with a front in imitation of a vest, of pale buff kerseymere. Plain
linen collar and undersleeves, with a small ribbon necktie.
_No. 2._--Street coat of dark green pelisse cloth, trimmed with velvet
to correspond, suitable for a boy from three to six years old.
_No. 3._--Little girl's dress, with basque and tunic skirt, trimmed
with scalloped frills of the same material. Short pantalettes, with
narrow tucks.
_No. 4._--Dress and loose sacque jacket, of embroidered fawn-colored
cashmere; the sleeves have a deep cuff, and, for cold weather, a plain
plaited muslin chemisette may be worn to protect the neck.
FASHION.
The Toilet.
MILK OF ALMONDS is used to bathe the face, and is made thus: Bruise
some sweet almonds in a mortar, and add water by slow degrees, in the
proportion of a pint to twenty or thirty almonds; put to this a piece
of sugar, to prevent the separation of the oil from the water, rubbing
assiduously. Pass the whole through a flannel, and perfume it with
orange-flower water.
TOOTH POWDER.--Mix together equal parts of powdered chalk and charcoal,
and add a small quantity of Castile soap. These produce a powder which
will keep the teeth beautifully white.
A COOLING WASH FOR THE HANDS AND FACE.--A correspondent writes: "The
following has been used in my family some years: An equal quantity of
ammonia and soap liniment, one teaspoonful in the water."
WARTS.--These are got rid of in various ways. Some tie a thread round
their base; but a better plan is to have a piece of thick paper, with
a hole cut in it, the size of the wart; this is put over the wart, and
then every morning a drop or two of the strongest acetic acid should
be dropped through the hole upon the wart. If this do not succeed,
dropping oil of vitriol (sulphuric acid) in the same way will answer.
HOW TO MAKE TRANSPARENT SOAP.--Equal parts of tallow soap, made
perfectly dry, and spirits of wine, are to be put into a copper still,
which is plunged into a water-bath, and furnished with its capital and
refrigeratory. The heat applied to effect the solution should be as
slight as possible, to avoid evaporating too much of the alcohol. The
solution being effected, it must be suffered to settle; and, after a
few hours repose, the clear supernatant liquid is drawn off into tin
frames of the form desired for the cakes of soap. These bars do not
acquire their proper degree of transparency till after a few weeks'
exposure to dry air. The soap is colored with strong alcoholic solution
of ochre for the rose tint, and turmeric for the deep yellow.
TO MAKE COURT-PLASTER.--Stretch tightly some thin black or
flesh-colored silk in a wooden frame, securing it with packthread or
small tacks. Then go all over it with a soft bristle brush, dipped in
dissolved isinglass or strong gum-arabic water. Give it two or three
coats, letting it dry between each. Then go several times over it with
white of egg.
TO CLEAN FOUL SPONGE.--When very foul, wash them in dilute tartaric
acid, rinsing them afterwards in water: it will make them very soft and
white. Be careful to dilute the acid well.
TO KEEP SILK.--Silk articles should not be kept folded in white paper,
as the chloride of lime used in bleaching the paper will probably
impair the color of the silk. Brown or blue paper is better--the
yellowish smooth India paper is best of all. Silk intended for a dress
should not be kept in the house long before it is made up, as lying
in the folds will have a tendency to impair its durability by causing
it to cut or split, particularly if the silk has been thickened by
gum. We knew an instance of a very elegant and costly thread-lace veil
being found on its arrival from France cut into squares (and therefore
destroyed) by being folded over a pasteboard card. A white satin dress
should be pinned up in blue paper, with coarse brown paper outside,
sewed together at the edges.
[Illustration: THE LATEST FASHIONS.]
* * * * *