Part 11

When you deal a card that cannot be placed on the corner families in succession, place it on the sides of the square, between the foundation cards, as three of clubs, and nine of spades, eight of diamonds, king of hearts, and one can be placed in the centre of the square, as the ace of diamonds; these five cards are called the reserve forces, and on these you can place any card in downward succession (suits need not be followed), which cannot be used on the towers. For instance, if you deal off the deuce of hearts, or any other deuce, place it on to the three of clubs; or any eight, place it on to the nine of spades; or king, place it on to the ace, so on; but with every card turned, first look at your foundation cards, or towers; never lose an opportunity to build up these. All cards that cannot be played on to the four towers or the five reserve cards, may be placed on one side as stock.

Whenever any one of the five reserve corps cards are vacant from being used to build up the towers, or a vacancy made by being able to place reserve cards on the other reserve corps, replace from the stock, and by taking a card from the stock, a desirable card to use on the towers may be freed.

The great skill of this game consists in the judicious arrangement of the reserve corps; if you have two top cards on different piles, of the same value, you should carefully consider on which pile it is best to place the card dealt of proper value, for future use.

If you can complete your towers in the first play, without shuffling your stock, you have gained a great victory; the stock can only be shuffled and played over once. If the towers cannot then be built, the game can be commenced anew. Sometimes the cards deal out so perversely that even skilful play and patience cannot build the towers.

=THE TOILET.=

There are many boys and girls who pride themselves on their utter disregard of their personal appearance, most fully comprehending the old phrase “that beauty unadorned is adorned the most,” or perhaps think it a mark of genius to appear so occupied with study as to neglect their person. Such boys and girls are repulsive to both God and man. One of the first laws Nature teaches us, is perfect cleanliness. Look at the birds and squirrels; indeed, all wild animals are taught by instinct to take a daily bath, if possible. Tame animals are less cleanly than wild ones in their habits, as far as our observation goes. They look to man to cleanse them. But God teaches the untamed beast and bird laws of cleanliness. Look at the woods! God sends the rain to wash them, and the winds to sweep them, and the sun to brighten them. The Creator of all gives to every boy and girl the mind to know how to take good care of their own persons, and if they neglect the laws of health, just so sure will come bodily suffering. Besides, it is a Christian duty, as well as a social duty, of every boy and girl, to make the most of all their personal attractions, and to preserve every agreeable quality they may have been endowed with, to the latest period of their lives. _It is not vanity_. It is a duty we all owe to ourselves, and we owe it to others. Habits rightly formed in youth will often prolong life, and add tenfold to any personal attraction.

We trust all boys and girls who read this book, will not pass over this chapter on the toilet. We will try and give them some useful hints and recipes.

In the first place, every boy and girl, no matter how young, should strive to make their sleeping and dressing apartment attractive. _Perfect neatness_ is an _essential_ quality in every room. Never leave any article of clothing on a chair, table, or floor, which can be either neatly folded and placed in a drawer, trunk, or closet shelf, or hung on some nail placed for that purpose. Never leave a draw partly open. We once knew a young girl who was always leaving her drawers open, and articles of dress hanging from them. One Christmas, before a room full of friends, she received from the Christmas tree a little bureau, with every drawer partly open, and things hanging out of each drawer. Of course it was soon known to all _why_ she received such a gift. That lesson she _never_ forgot. We must confess it also cured us of the careless habit of leaving drawers partly open. We hope our young friends will take this lesson to heart, and profit by it.

When you rise in the morning, always (even if you can afford plenty of servants), throw the clothes of your bed carefully over the foot-board, or some chair, to give your bed a sufficient chance to be well aired--a most necessary requisite for health. Before leaving your room, even in midwinter, open your window. Never allow your bed to be made till thoroughly aired. Though you are not blessed with even a competency, you can make a plain room attractive. A few pictures on the walls, and by covering a plain pine toilet table with pretty, cheap chintz, and exercising a little ingenuity in making pretty articles of furniture out of old boxes. But always be a foe to all dust; keep a dusting cloth at hand. After washing, if you cannot have a chambermaid, arrange your washing apparatus neatly, and carefully spread your towels to dry, if clean. There are so few, comparatively, in America, who can afford the constant attendance of servants, we desire all boys and girls to learn how to care for themselves.

1.--THE BATH.

In olden times, in this country, baths were but little used. It was considered a luxury but few could possess. Now there is scarcely a decent house built without a bathroom. In England and France, “there was a time when many ladies had a most hydrophobiacal dread of water; they thought it injured the delicacy of the complexion. Their ablutions often consisted in wiping the cheeks with a cambric handkerchief, dipped in elder flower or rose water.”

A daily bath is now the rule rather than the exception, and its effect is admirable. A cold bath, from sixty to seventy degrees, is, to most persons, the most health-giving and invigorating process one can undergo; but beyond its invigoration, it is of no essential service in cleansing the skin. No one can preserve a purely clean skin by the use of cold baths only, though the purifying effect is increased by the use of rough towels, which help to remove the impurities from the surface of the skin. The skin is constantly throwing off fine dust like scales, and these, blending with other foreign matter, stop up the pores, and prevent the skin from performing its natural functions.

Therefore soap should be used, because the alkali in it assimilates with the oily exudations of the skin, and removes impurities.

It has been said that soap is calculated to irritate the skin, and injure the complexion. It is not true, according to our knowledge. Some of the most beautiful complexions we ever saw were washed with soap daily. Great care should be taken that the soap is of a _good quality_.

If any unpleasant sensations are experienced after its use, it is easily removed by rinsing the skin with water slightly acidulated with lemon-juice.

Once a week a warm bath, at about one hundred degrees, should be used, with plenty of soap, to be sure and cleanse the skin from all impurities. Sea-water baths are invigorating, but not cleansing--a warm bath is required after a short course of them. The same remark applies to sea-salt baths, now much used. The friction of coarse towels is very beneficial. Shower baths are not generally desirable, as but few constitutions can bear them.

Milk baths and perfumed baths are absurdities, which a very few silly women indulge in; but nothing equals pure salt water.

Of late years the practice of taking Turkish baths has been introduced. Doubtless these baths are the best in existence for a thorough cleansing of the pores of the skin. But no one should venture to take them, except after having first had medical advice, or those who possess strong constitutions; for there are states of health to which they would be injurious in the highest degree. We consider them a great luxury.

We also recommend, most heartily, the sponge bath for daily use. Use a large circular sponge.

It is always best, before taking any bath, to wet the top of the head; boys and men can wet the sponge, and, holding their heads over the bath-tub, thoroughly souse their heads and necks. It prevents the blood rushing to the head suddenly. A hair glove is excellent to rub the body. Boys and men should exercise with the dumb-bells after their morning bath; it increases their muscular strength.

In all our directions with regard to the bath, it must be borne in mind that we only refer to those who are in a moderately sound state of health; otherwise their medical attendant should be consulted. Sea-bathing is admirable to all those who can bear it; but persons of a bilious temperament, or with heart disease, and even some with apparent health, may suffer serious ill consequences from a single bath. Some constitutions cannot bear the plunge into any cold water. All who have a quick reaction from a sea-bath and cold water bathing are benefited. The delicious glow it gives is most charming. We have known many young, vigorous persons suffer from sea-bathing; but it was their own fault, from remaining in the water too long; ten minutes is sufficient.

2.--COMPLEXION.

We will only give a few words of advice, as an assistance in the preservation of the complexion.

Rise early, and go to bed early. Take a plenty of exercise. Keep the pores of the skin open by perfect cleanliness. Be moderate in eating and drinking. Do not often frequent crowded assemblies, and _shun cosmetics, and washes for the skin_. We will give a few harmless recipes. But most of the powders and washes used dry up the skin, and in the end make it rough.

Be careful always in washing to wipe your skin dry, particularly your hands; rub them briskly for some time. If hands are left moist after washing, they will chap, crack, and become red. Honey is excellent to rub over chapped hands, or anoint them with cold cream or glycerine before retiring to rest.

If you desire to make your hands delicate, wash them in hot milk and water for a day or two; on retiring to rest rub them with palm oil, and put on gloves; wash them well in the morning. Lime water, lemon-juice, or sour milk will remove the sunburn from hands. Above all, keep the nails scrupulously clean.

It is repulsive to see a lady or gentleman, however well-dressed they may be, with nails in any degree shady. We were once, in travelling, impressed with the beauty of a young lady sitting near us. We spoke of her to a young gentleman sitting by us. He exclaimed, “Look at her hand! did you ever behold such a little black row?” She had just drawn off her glove, and diamonds glistened on her taper fingers; yet “that little black row” cast a shade over her beauty.

The nails should be pared only once a week, after washing, as the nail is then soft. Round them nicely at the corners, and press the cuticle at the bottom of the nail carefully down with the towel after washing. Never bite your nails. It gives a stumpy appearance to the nail. Also, never scrape the nail; it makes them wrinkle.

Warts young people are sometimes troubled with; the best cure is to purchase a stick of lunar caustic,--which is sold in a case or holder,--dip the end in water, and touch the wart twice a day; cut away the withered part before applying the caustic a second time.

There are two kinds of freckles. “Cold freckles” are constitutional, and we do not know of any remedy. “Summer freckles” are caused by the winds and the sunshine. The cause assigned for this is, that the iron in the blood, forming a junction with the oxygen, leaves a rusty mark where the junction takes place. The obvious cure is to dissolve the combination. We have had given to us several recipes which are said to be excellent. We will give the best of them.

3.--RECIPE TO CURE FRECKLES.

Into half a pint of milk squeeze the juice of a lemon, with a spoonful of brandy, and boil, skimming well; add a dram of rock alum.

4.--A CURE FOR FRECKLES.

Scrape horse-radish into a cup of cold sour milk; let it stand twelve hours, strain, and apply two or three times a day.

5.--A CURE FOR FRECKLES.

Mix lemon juice, one ounce; powdered borax one quarter dram; sugar, half a dram; keep a few days in a glass bottle, then apply occasionally.

6.--A CURE FOR PIMPLES.

Many of our young people are much troubled with an eruption upon the face. It often proves a great annoyance to them; but there is a simple remedy, which, if it does not effect a complete cure, will obviate the trouble in a great degree, without the least injury to the health or skin.

To one grain of corrosive sublimate add one ounce of rose water; filter, and apply twice a day.

7.--HAIR.

It is impossible for a lady to possess anything that so adds to her charms as a good head of hair. “It is a crown of beauty.” This accounts for the enormous amount of advertisements of infallible hair tonics and restorers. Beware of such advertisements. We will give you some few simple and most essential rules to preserve the hair. Also some recipes (easily and cheaply made) of the most excellent pomatums. The skin of the head is delicate, therefore especial care should be taken in brushing the hair, and in keeping the scalp as clean as possible. The brush should be of moderate hardness. The hair should be separated, in order that the head itself may be well brushed, as by so doing the scurf or loose skin will be removed; if suffered to remain it becomes saturated with perspiration, and weakens the roots of the hair, causing it to fall off. To retain a beautiful head of hair, it ought to be brushed twenty minutes in the morning, and ten minutes when dressed in the middle of the day, and a like period at night. In brushing or combing it, begin at the extreme points; and in combing, hold the portion of hair just above that through which the comb is passing firmly, so that if it is entangled, it may drag from that point, and not from the roots. We have known the finest heads of hair ruined by careless combing and breaking the hair.

It depends upon the nature of the hair whether pomatum is required. Those whose hair is naturally oily and glossy need nothing to make it so; but dry hair requires it. Pure salad oil, scented, is excellent, and bear’s grease. An excellent pomade is made of beef’s marrow, after it is clarified; take six tablespoons of the marrow, heated, and six tablespoons of scented castor oil, to one tablespoonful of brandy or rum. Stir these ingredients half an hour, until it is beaten to a cream; then place it in your jars.

8.--CARROT POMADE.

This is another excellent recipe. Two thirds beef’s marrow, one third leaf lard unsalted, one carrot grated fine, simmered together for two or three hours.

These pomades should be applied with the hand or a soft brush, and rubbed into the hair thoroughly. Be careful and not oil the hair often, for an over oiled head is offensive. It is well to rub the hair at night with a piece of flannel, so that the oil used in the day may be removed. Every month the hair should be shampooed. A few drops of ammonia in rain water will cleanse it well; put the whole hair into the solution, and wash it; then cleanse it with clear milk-warm water, and clip all the ends of the hair without fail. Every split end will, if not cut off, deaden the hair. Another good cleansing recipe is, one ounce of powdered borax, a small bit of camphor, dissolved in a quart of boiling water. With any recipe for cleansing, the hair must be rinsed thoroughly with clear spring water. All boys and gentlemen should wash their heads all over, hair and all, every morning, and wear ventilated hats. Gentlemen become bald sooner than ladies from wearing close hats so much.

9.--BANDOLINE.

A French recipe, is excellent--because it is harmless--to use in dressing hair to keep back any refractory locks.

_Recipe._ Simmer one ounce of quince seed in a quart of water, forty minutes; strain cool, add a few drops of scent, and bottle, corking tightly.

Another way of making “Bandoline” is with Iceland moss. Take a quarter of an ounce, boiled in a quart of water, and a little rectified spirits added, so that it may keep.

A weak solution of isinglass is the only curling fluid that is harmless.

10.--COLD CREAM.

Is excellent for a lip salve. The recipe is a pint of sweet oil, half an ounce of spermaceti, and two ounces of white wax, melted together over the fire and scented; or take a pint of oil of sweet almonds, one ounce of white wax, half an ounce of spermaceti, and half a pint of rose water, beat to a paste.

11.--RECIPE FOR CAMPHOR ICE.

Half a cake of white wax, a good inch of a pure spermaceti candle, a piece of camphor as large as an English walnut, a tablespoonful of sweet oil, mix and simmer all together; if too soft, add more wax, if too hard, add more oil. This is excellent to use in cold weather for lips and hands.

This being prepared for a home book, we give a few recipes for the use of the toilet, which we know are good.

We will give one more most excellent recipe for a cooling and healing salve.

12.--CUCUMBER SALVE.

Half a pound of pure lard unsalted, a heaping quart cup of cucumbers sliced as for eating; let them simmer an hour, so as not to boil, then strain into cups.

13.--TO LOOSEN STOPPERS OF TOILET BOTTLES.

Let a drop of pure oil flow round the stopper, and stand the bottle near the fire. After a time tap the stopper with the handle of a hair brush; if this is not effectual, use a fresh drop of oil, and repeat the process.

14.--TO REMOVE A TIGHT RING.

When a ring happens to get tightly fixed on a finger, take a piece of common twine, soap it thoroughly, and then wind it round the finger as tightly as possible. The twine should commence at the point of the finger, and be continued till the ring is reached; the end of the twine must then be forced through the ring. If the string is then unwound, the ring is almost sure to come off the finger with it.

15.--HAIR WASH.

As much borax as a pint of hot water will absorb, three tablespoonfuls of best olive oil, twenty drops of almond essential oil. This recipe we recommend most heartily. It must be well shaken before using.

16.--A CURE FOR POISON.

Sweet oil is a cure for the poisonous bite of serpents, spiders, &c.; also for being poisoned by ivy and dogwood. Bathe the part bitten or affected, and take a teaspoonful internally. If a horse is affected, it will require eight times as much to affect him. All persons sensitive to poison whenever they visit the woods, on their return should wash hands and face in vinegar and salt, and take camphor inwardly.

=HOME READING.=

The subject of reading cannot be omitted in a work devoted to the interests of the home. Books have such a large share in developing and sustaining the home life, that their influence can hardly be exaggerated. At the same time it is not possible, in a comprehensive work like this, to treat of the subject as its importance demands. We can only throw out a few general hints, which may be suggestive to some.

In the first place, we would say to all young persons into whose hands this book may come, _read something daily_. And by this we mean, not the careless looking through a novel for the amusement of a leisure hour, but the faithful, thorough mastery of another’s thought. It is of less consequence that that thought should be new, or specially valuable, than that the habit should be formed of intelligent reading. A poor book well read will usually teach a young person more than a good one read carelessly. We are not saying, let it be understood, that a book should always be read from beginning to end; there is a habit of quick perception of the general tone and value of a book, which, to a student in search of facts for special use, is of the greatest assistance; but this comes later. The power of attention and concentration should first be gained. And for this purpose, secondly, it is important that you should _form an opinion of what you have read_. Never lay aside a book until you can state intelligibly the author’s purpose and meaning in it, and how far, as it appears to you, that purpose has been attained. It is an excellent plan to write a short abstract of the plot of a story, or the facts of a biography; but whether this is done or not, do not be contented to let what you have read pass through the mind like water through a sieve. Compel everything to yield you some tribute of suggestion, if not of direct instruction. Do not be satisfied with anything less than a definite opinion; if you are in the wrong, the correction of a maturer mind will help you to judge more truly the next time.

_Do not confine yourself to one kind of reading._ If you are fond of novels, that is no reason why you should read them exclusively. Perhaps acquaintance with a different class of books may develop a taste for them; at anyrate you cannot afford to read entirely for amusement. It is neither our province nor our wish to condemn novel-reading; the excessive practice of it will, we believe, be best checked by acquaintance with books of greater value. There are histories as varied in incident as any novel. There are books of travel which combine the romance of adventure with the instruction of facts. There is poetry in all its forms, without some knowledge of whose best examples your education cannot be considered even passable. The fact is rather that there is so much of each class, which a cultivated person is expected to be familiar with, that the great difficulty is in selection. In order that you may divide your time profitably among these different studies, it is well to take the advice of some competent person as to _what is the best book for your purpose on a given subject_. In this manner you will save much time and patience, while if you take up the first book on the topic in question which comes to hand, you may, by an injudicious choice, lose your interest in the whole matter. On any historical question, for instance, it is better to read at first an author who gives a concise and general view of the events of the period, and afterwards those entering more minutely into details. It is well, too, before intrusting yourself to the guidance of any historian, to ascertain the estimation in which he is held by competent critics, that you may thus understand how to separate the truth from exaggeration and special pleading.

_Have several kinds of reading for every day._ Do not give yourself up entirely to one class of books at a time, or you will either tire of them, or your judgment will become confused in regard to them. It is well to have some book of history, or travels, or metaphysics, another on religious subjects, and a third for entertainment simply--a _good_ novel, if possible.

In this way much more knowledge is gained without fatigue, than when the mind is kept exclusively to one theme.

_Committing to memory a few lines every day_, is a habit which cannot be too strongly urged. It need not be made a tedious matter, by giving up one’s whole time and attention to it as a study; it can best be done when walking, or sewing, or engaged in household work, and will become, after a little, a pleasure instead of a task. Besides the daily acquisition of something worth remembering, there will be gained also a power quite as valuable, of observing the characteristics and style of various authors, the delicate differences of words, and the construction of sentences. It may safely be said that those writers who have been most celebrated for beauty and perspicuity of style, have owed this, in no small degree, to the early habit of committing to memory the works of the best authors.