Take, when empty, one of the little bottles that has contained
indelible ink, such as is sold in cases, and wash and rinse it
clean. Put into it half an inch of lunar caustic; fill it up with
good vinegar, and cork it tightly. This is the marking ink.
Prepare the larger bottle that has contained the liquid used for
the first wash, by making it quite clean. Take a large tea-spoonful
of salt of tartar, and a lump of gum arabic the size of a
hickory nut. Put them into the wash bottle, and fill it up with
clear rain water, Cork both bottles tightly, and set them for two
days in the sun. The liquids will then be fit for use.
Linen cannot be marked well with durable ink unless the weather is
clear and dry. Dip a camel's hair pencil in the large bottle that
contains the gum liquid, and wash over with it a small space on a
corner of the linen, about large enough to contain the name. Dry
it in the sun, and let it alone till next day. Then take a very
good pen, acid with the ink from the smallest bottle, write the
name you intend, on the place that has been prepared by the first
liquid. This also must be dried in the sun. See that the bottles
are always well corked, and keep them in a covered box.
After the linen is dried, iron it before you write on it.