Chapter XI: Preface (11)

Children are particularly liable to convulsions at the period of
teething, small pox, measles, and other eruptive diseases; sometimes,
also, from external causes, such as strait clothes, bandages, &c.
When they proceed from any of these, bathing the feet, or the
whole body, in warm water, of 92 or 94 degrees, and administering a
mild clyster, will almost immediately relieve them. To shorten the
duration of the fit, cold water should be poured over the face and
neck, whilst the rest of the body is in the bath.

The return of convulsions is to be prevented only by the removal of
the cause of the existing irritation; but, in general, when the body
is kept carefully open, there will be little reason to fear a return.

INWARD FITS.

In these fits the infant appears as if asleep, the eyelids however
are not quite closed, but frequently twinkle and shew the whites
turned upwards. The muscles of the face are sometimes slightly
distorted, the mouth having the appearance of a laugh or smile. The
breath is sometimes very quick, and at others stops for a time;
whilst the eyelids and lips are alternately pale and dark. The infant
startles on the least noise, and sighs deeply, or breaks wind. This
relieves him for a little, but he soon relapses into a doze. Whenever
the above-mentioned symptoms are observed, it will be right to awaken
the infant, by stirring or otherwise, and to rub its back and belly
well before the fire, until wind escapes. At the same time it will
be proper to give half a tea-spoonful of drink or pap, containing
two drops of oil of anise or caraways. As soon after as possible, a
purgative of castor oil, or a grain or two of calomel (according to
the age,) with two or three grains of rhubarb, is to be given, to
empty the bowels of whatever crude matter may occasion the disorder.

THE RICKETS.

This disorder affects the bones of children, and causes a
considerable protuberance, incurvation, or distortion of them. It may
arise from various causes, but more particularly when proper care has
not been taken with children: when they have been too tightly swathed
in some parts, and too loose in others; keeping them too long in one
and the same position; and not keeping them clean and dry. Sometimes
it may proceed from a lax habit, and at others from costiveness.

It usually appears about the eighth or ninth month, and continues
till the sixth or seventh year of the child’s age. The head becomes
large, and the fontanelle keeps long open; the countenance is full
and florid; the joints knotty and distorted, especially about the
wrists; less near the ancles. The ribs protuberate, and grow crooked;
the belly swells; a cough and disorder of the lungs succeed; and the
child moves but weakly, and waddles in walking.

_Regimen, &c._

The regimen should be light and properly seasoned; the air dry and
clear. Exercise and motion should be encouraged, and bandages,
as well as instruments, contrived to keep the limbs in a proper
situation; but care should be taken that they be so formed as not to
put the child to pain, or restrain it too much.

Cold sea-bathing is of infinite use; after which friction should be
used, and the child placed between two blankets, so as to encourage
perspiration. The back should be well rubbed with opodeldoc, or good
old rum, every night.

A few grains of ipecacuanha or calomel may occasionally be proper,
and chalybeates are also very serviceable.

A decoction of Peruvian bark is also good with red wine: and should
be used with moderation in the forenoon and after dinner.

DISTORTION OF THE SPINE.

Examine the child’s back-bone frequently and closely, and on the
slightest trace of any distortion wash the same with brandy every
morning and night, and pay the strictest attention to the child’s
keeping a straight posture; both sleeping and waking; and if it can
be bathed from time to time, it will be advisable.

RING WORM AND SCALD HEADS.

It is well known that these disorders, which are in many respects
similar, are contagious; therefore, no comb or hair-brush used by a
child affected by them is to be used by another child, either in a
school or in the same family. Nor should the hat or cap of such a
child be worn by any other.

_Treatment._

Let the hair be removed carefully with a razor, dipped
frequently in olive oil; and afterwards apply the following
lotion by means of fine linen, and cover the whole or
part of the head with it.

Take of liquor of acetated lead, 2 drams,
distilled vinegar, 6 drams,
sulphuric æther, 2 drams,
rain water, 1 pint.
Mix.

This lotion should be kept occasionally applied in the night
as well as in the day, and an oil-silk cap should be fitted
close to the head, and worn continually.

_Ointment for the same._

Take of spermaceti ointment, 1 oz.
tar ointment, 1 oz.
powdered angustura bark, 3 drams.
Rub the whole well in a marble mortar, and apply to the
parts affected.

_Alterative Medicines._

In six cases out of ten, this disease is aggravated by a
scrofulous taint of the system; and, when this is the case,
the following alterative medicine accelerates the cure.

Take of oxide of zinc,
precipitated sulphur of antimony, each 9 grains,
resin of guaiacum,
extract of bark,
extract of hemlock, each 2 scruples.
Mix, and form into 20 pills.

To Children from six to ten years of age, give one pill
night and morning; under six years, half a pill night and
morning, mixed in raspberry jam.

Instead of the above, one grain of calomel may be given
going to rest, and repeated every night; also the use of salt
water externally and internally, as an alterative, has been
found very useful.

In all cases the bowels ought to be kept open, and the
diet should consist of wholesome and nutritive food; avoiding
fish and salt meats. Cleanliness, and an occasional use
of the warm bath, will likewise be of service.

HOOPING COUGH.

In this complaint, next to occasional vomiting, the daily use of
the warm bath is most useful. Bleeding may sometimes be useful, to
prevent inflammation of the internal membranes, or cupping between
the neck and shoulders. Gentle antimonial emetics should be given
repeatedly, because the symptoms are always relieved when the child
vomits.

_Parisian Remedy._

Take of sulphuret of potass,
tincture of fox-glove, each, 1 dram,
extract of liquorice root, 2 drams,
almond emulsion, 6 oz.
gum arabic powder, 3 drams.
Mix.

A dessert-spoonful to be given to a child from three
to six years of age; a table-spoonful from six to ten;
two dessert-spoonsful from ten to fifteen; and two
table-spoonsful from fifteen to twenty; three times a day.

_Embrocation for Hooping Cough._

Take of emetic tartar, 2 drams,
boiling water, 2 oz.
tincture of cantharides, 1 dram,
oil of wild thyme, 3 drams.
Mix.
A dessert-spoonful to be rubbed upon the chest every
night and morning.

_Regimen, &c._

A frequent change of air is exceedingly useful in hooping cough,
particularly short voyages at sea; at the same time flannel is to
be worn next the skin. Young children should lie with their heads
and shoulders raised; and when the cough occurs, they ought to be
placed on their feet and bent a little forward, to guard against
suffocation. The diet should be light, and the drink warm and
mucilaginous.

THE CROUP.

The CROUP is a disease peculiar to children, and generally fatal, if
care is not taken in the commencement. It commonly approaches with
the usual signs of a catarrh, but sometimes the peculiar symptoms
occur at the first onset; namely, a hoarseness, with a shrill ringing
sound both in speaking and coughing, as if the noise came from a
brazen tube. At the same time there is a sense of pain about the
larynx, and some difficulty of respiration, with a whizzing sound
in inspiration, as if the passage of air was diminished; which is
actually the case. The cough is generally dry, but if any thing is
spit up, it is a purulent matter, sometimes resembling small portions
of a membrane. There are also a frequent pulse, restlessness, and an
uneasy sense of heat. The inside of the mouth is sometimes without
inflammation, but frequently a redness, and even a swelling exist.
Sometimes there is an appearance of matter on them like that rejected
by coughing.

_Remedies._

As soon as possible a brisk emetic should be administered for the
purpose of freeing the patient from the coagulable lymph which is
already secreted. Topical bleeding, by means of leeches, should
immediately succeed, and the discharge be encouraged. As soon as it
diminishes, a blister, sufficiently large to cover the whole throat,
should be applied, and suffered to lie on for thirty hours or longer.
The steam of warm water should be inhaled, and the bowels should be
evacuated by calomel.

As soon as the emetic has operated sufficiently, opium may be
administered, by which means the breathing will in general be soon
relieved; but should it become more difficult in the course of a few
hours, the emetic is to be again repeated, and after its operation
the opium again employed. This practice is to be alternately used
till the patient is out of danger, which will, in general, be in the
course of three or four days. The child should be kept nearly upright
in bed.

Children, until the age of six years, are liable to be attacked by
BILIOUS FEVER, which is gradually developed, by irregularity in the
bowels, which are either too costive, or too much relaxed.

On its first appearance, the child becomes peevish and fretful, his
lips are dry, his hands hot, accompanied by shortness of breath,
pains in the head, and quickness of pulse, which beats from 110 to
112 in a minute; he shows an unwillingness to stir or speak, starts
in his sleep, and has a loathing for food. The stools have often
a mucous and slimy appearance; some children are affected with
delirium, others dull and stupid, and many are for a time speechless.
Several slight accessions of fever take place in the course of the
day, during which the child is usually drowsy; in the intervals
of these paroxysms he appears tolerably well, though, at times,
unusually peevish.

These symptoms are more or less prevalent for eight or ten days,
when suddenly a more violent paroxysm of fever will ensue, preceded
by a shivering fit, and sometimes an incessant vomiting of bile. The
pulse rises to 140; the cheeks are flushed, the child’s drowsiness
increases, and when awake, he resorts to picking at the skin of the
nose, lips, and eyes, to a most painful degree.

This species of fever is mild at the commencement, slow in its
progress, and very uncertain in its event. The desire for food is
destroyed, and the child will take neither aliment nor medicine. The
stools are changed from their natural appearances, being sometimes
black, and smelling like putrid mud; and at other times they are
curdled, with shreds of coagulable lymph floating in a dark green
fluid.

_Treatment._

The first thing, is to cleanse the stomach by a few grains of
ipecacuanha, and soon afterwards to administer some active purgative.
For restoring the healthy secretions of the bowels, nothing is
so efficacious as small and often repeated doses of calomel and
scammony, (¾ of a grain of the former to 1¼ of the latter,)
followed up after some hours by a solution of Epsom salts in an
infusion of senna, or by a dose of castor oil. When the stomach is
very irritable, small quantities of chalk mixture, with a few drops
of laudanum, are to be given alternately with the above-mentioned
purgatives.

If the head is much affected, leeches should be applied to the
temples, and if the stomach will not retain the medicine, from three
to six leeches should be applied to the upper part of the belly, or
right side; and after this a blister, if necessary. The warm bath
will prove useful after the stomach and bowels are properly cleansed.

_Tonic Powder._

To obviate debility, when the fever has abated, the following
tonic powder is recommended.

Mix together 2 drams of powder of cascarilla,
24 grains of rhubarb, and
1 scruple sub-carbonate of iron.
Divide this into 24 papers, one to be taken morning and
evening.

_Regimen and Diet._

The child should likewise be sent into the country as soon as
possible, and be allowed every reasonable amusement, to dissipate the
peevishness which is an invariable consequence of a severe attack of
this disease. The diet, for a time, should be light and nourishing;
as jellies, isinglass and milk, veal broth, and beef tea. The drink
may be whey, and toast and water.

THE UNDER NURSE.

Is chiefly engaged in attending to the senior children, and is entirely under the controul of the head nurse. She assists in getting them up in the morning, washing and dressing them; attends them at their meals and takes them out for air and exercise, and performs or assists in the performance of all the duties of the nursery, while the head nurse is chiefly engaged with the infant child.—Wages 10 to 12 guineas.

THE NURSERY MAID.

The Nursery Maid is generally a girl who does the household work of the nursery, and attends the children when they go out for the air, &c. carrying such of them as may be required.—Wages 6 to 10 guineas.

THE GOVERNESS, or GOUVERNANTE.

As many mothers have an aversion to public education for their daughters, the system of PRIVATE INSTRUCTION, by a respectable and well-educated female, is very generally adopted, in many families of moderate fortune, and in all of rank and opulence. Hence there is a constant demand for females of genteel manners, and finished education, at salaries which vary according to qualifications, and number and age of pupils, between 25_l._ and 120_l._ per annum, and often improved, on certain great length of service, by some provision for life.

Teachers in seminaries, half-boarders, educated for the purpose, and the unsettled daughters of respectable families of moderate fortune, who have received a finished education, are usually selected for this important duty; and the engagement is made either through an advertisement in the newspapers, or by agents who arrange between the parties for a moderate fee. But, in general, families apply to the governesses of public seminaries, who have young women in training for these employments.

The qualifications, of course, are various, and may vary with the age of the pupils. Good temper, and good manners, with a genteel exterior, are indispensable: for more is learnt by example than precept. Besides, the governess who desires to be on a footing with the family, ought to be able to conduct herself in such manner, as never to render an apology necessary for her presence at family parties.

In addition to a thorough knowledge of the ENGLISH LANGUAGE, and to the power of being able to write a letter in a graceful and accurate style, the governess ought to be moderately acquainted with the FRENCH LANGUAGE; and it would be an advantage if she knew something of ITALIAN, as the language of music. She ought also to be able to play on the PIANO FORTE, so as to give the first lessons, and to superintend the practice directed in the lessons of a master; and in cases where great perfection is not desired, to render a master unnecessary. If she can perform on the harp or guitar, these instruments will qualify her to accommodate her instructions to various tastes. It will be also expected that she shall be able to teach the elements of DANCING, at least, the steps and ordinary figures of fashionable practice. Nor ought she to be ignorant of the useful art of ARITHMETIC, the constant exercise of which, will so much improve the reasoning powers of her pupils. NEEDLE-WORK of various descriptions, from the plain to the ornamental, will, as matter of course, be expected; and there can be no reason why she should omit to introduce to her pupils the geographical copy books, and other elementary books of GEOGRAPHY, by Goldsmith; and the familiar keys to the POPULAR SCIENCES, published by Blair and Barrow, such as the Universal Preceptor, the Class Book, the Grammar of Natural Philosophy, the Key to General Knowledge, by Barrow, and other superior works of the same kind, the selection of which, will distinguish her good sense: while the answering the questions, and filling up the copy books on the admirable Interrogative System, will be the means of incalculable advantage to her pupils, and a source of infinite gratification to their parents. The branches of ELEGANT LITERATURE are also within her reach, in such books as Aikin’s Poetry for Children, and Pratt’s Selection of Classical Poetry; and if she chooses to expand their intelligence, she can provide them with Blair’s Belles Lettres, Shaw’s Nature Displayed, (a book which ought to be found in every family,) and with a pair of globes, a microscope, and a telescope. DRAWING is also so essential an accomplishment, that its constant exercise should be kept up by means of Hamilton’s Elementary Examples, or those of Chalons and Calvert.

No young persons who are born to the enjoyment of fortune, and destined to fill any stations in society with credit and advantage, ought to have these accomplishments and sources of knowledge withheld from them; and the governess who contents herself with mere personal attainments, without at the same time addressing instruction to the MIND of her pupils, and who lays before them old-fashioned books, and obsolete systems of knowledge, compromises her own character, and sacrifices through their lives, the interests, welfare, and reputation, of her pupils.

In the sub-division of time, prolonged application is wearisome, and too frequent renewals are irksome. The best time for learning is in the morning before breakfast, and one hour and a half, or two hours, between seven and nine, will always be worth the three hours, which should be industriously passed, between eleven and two. The rest of the day should be devoted, in fine weather, to EXERCISE and AMUSEMENTS in the open air; and in bad weather to such amusements as induce exercise, of which, dancing, the skipping-rope, and dumb-bells, should form a part, and certain games which are practised in genteel society, as chess and cards, may be advantageously introduced in winter evenings.

Religion, morals, and temper, should be specially studied, and the essays of Mrs. Chapone, and Mrs. Hannah More, Barrow’s Questions, his School Bible, and School Sermons, with Blair’s or Enfield’s Sermons, are suitable auxiliaries. Bad habits should be watched and corrected, and graceful ones, cleanliness and neatness of person, be stimulated. Blair’s Governess’s Register of Study and Conduct, will prove an excellent auxiliary. Superstitions, and vulgar faith in dreams, signs, omens, fortune-telling, and other weaknesses of mind, should be constantly exposed.

A governess, influenced by these practices and principles, will entitle herself to live on a footing with a family, when there are no special parties; and she must possess good sense enough not to intrude on that domestic privacy, and personal independence, which, without offence, is often desirable. Her own apartment, or that of her pupils, ought to be at once the scene of her pleasure and amusement, and if she mingles with the parties of the families, she must, of course, not make herself too familiar with the domestic servants.

Thus conducting herself with propriety, and identifying herself with the growing minds and affections of her pupils, she may secure their personal friendship to the end of their mutual lives, and if their moral feelings are not blunted, she may calculate on their gratitude in her old age, or if she survive them, in their last will.

THE UPPER HOUSE MAID.

In large families, where there is much work, two or more house maids are kept, but as the Upper House Maid has generally the superintendence and responsibility of all, we shall include their principal labours under one general head.

The UPPER HOUSE MAID should be fully competent to undertake the management of all the household business of a gentleman’s family; and to be perfectly qualified for her situation, she ought to have been previously initiated in the capacity of _Under House Maid_.

In most families she has the care of all the household linen, bed and table linen, napkins, towels, &c. which she also makes and keeps in repair, and besides cleaning the house and furniture, and making the beds, she washes her own clothes, and has sometimes to assist the laundry-maid in getting up the fine linen, washing silk stockings, &c. instead of the lady’s maid; but these latter are considered as rather _extra_ labours, and are not, in all families, deemed a necessary part of the house maid’s business. She also cleans all the coal skuttles in use above stairs, and all the kettles used for warming water in the dressing-rooms, &c. When there are dinner parties the house-maid washes up the plate and china.

The house-maid, in a regular family, will find it necessary to rise about five o’clock, and her first business will be to open the shutters of the usual family sitting-rooms; as the breakfast-room and library, whence she clears away all the superfluous articles that may have been left there, and prepares for cleaning the stoves, fire-places, and hearths, by rolling up the hearth rugs, carefully carrying them out to be shaken, and then laying down a piece of canvas, or coarse cloth, to keep the place clean, while she rakes out the ashes, takes them up, and brushes up the fire-place. She then rubs the bright bars of the stoves, and the fire-irons, first with oil, and afterwards with emery-paper, No. 3, or with brick-dust, till clean and bright—and, finally, with scouring-paper; and this should be done in the summer time, particularly when the stoves may have acquired spots for want of constant use.

The backs and sides of the fire-places are next to be brushed over with black-lead, and then rubbed dry and bright with a hard brush kept for the purpose.

The fires are next lighted, and the marble hearths washed with flannel, dipped in a strong hot lather of soap and water, which must be cleaned off and wiped dry with a linen cloth;—the marble chimney pieces need not be thus cleaned above once or twice a week.

Common free-stone hearths may be scoured with soap and sand and cold water, and afterwards rubbed dry with a clean house cloth.

By this time the footman will have done all his work in the pantry, and have rubbed all the tables, chairs, cellerets, and other mahogany furniture, and cleaned the brass and other ornaments, the mirrors, looking-glasses, &c. in these rooms, when the carpets are to be swept, on ordinary occasions, with a carpet mop to take off the flue, lint, and dust; or more thoroughly, once a week with a long hair-brush or carpet-broom, first having strewed them over with damp tea-leaves, (see receipt for scouring and cleaning carpets.) The sides of the carpet are then turned up all round the room, and the dust on the floor swept away, or, occasionally, the floor scoured with soap and water. The carpet is then turned back again; the chairs and other furniture dusted singly, and removed from the middle of the room, where they were cleaned to their proper places.

The window curtains and hangings may not require to be shaken and dusted every day, but the dust on the windows should be removed with a long hair-broom, and the cobwebs or any dirt on the ceiling, and in the corners of the room, must be sought for and removed.

Every thing being adjusted in the rooms for the reception of the family, the house-maid next opens the shutters of the dining-room, and drawing-room, where she and the footman regularly proceed with their respective business in the manner above mentioned. The house-maid with the fires and fire-place, floors, carpets, &c. scouring, washing, brushing, and dusting them; and the footman, rubbing and cleaning the mahogany furniture, looking-glasses, and other articles in his department, till all is made quite clean, and the rooms are fit for the reception of the family.

At an appointed time she repairs to the dressing-rooms of the master and mistress, and others in use, empties the slops, replenishes the ewers and water-carofts with fresh spring and soft water, and fills the kettles for warm water—cleans up the fire-places, lights the fires, brushes the carpets, sweeps the rooms, dusts the furniture, and puts the rooms in order before the lady’s-maid and valet come to make their arrangements previous to the rising of their superiors.—Having done these, she sweeps down the principal stair-case and goes to her breakfast.

As soon as the best bed-rooms and dressing-rooms are at liberty, she repairs thither, puts out the fires, or not, according as the weather is,—throws open the windows, (or the doors only, in unfavourable weather) to air the rooms, and the beds; opens all the beds, throws the bed-clothes off, on the backs of chairs, placed at the foot of the bed, shakes up each bed, and then proceeds to her other business in the rooms, in order to give as much time as can be spared for airing the beds. Meanwhile, she cleans up the fire-places, again, lays the fires to be ready when wanted, and having washed her hands and put on a clean apron, she makes the beds. (In this business she is usually assisted by the under house-maid, as it requires two persons to make a bed well.) This done, she mops or brushes the carpets, to clean off the flue or feathers and dust,—sweeps out the rooms, rubs and dusts the furniture, supplies the ewers and carofts with clean water, and then retires; leaving the rooms properly arranged against the coming of the lady’s-maid and valet to prepare for their master’s and mistress’s dressing, previous to their going out.

She next proceeds to the other bed-rooms—opens the windows and makes the beds—empties the slops—cleans out the rooms, rubs and dusts the furniture, and puts them in proper order.

Having finished all the bed-rooms, the stair-cases, landings, and passages, will next claim her attention, which are also to be swept, the carpets brushed or swept, and the floor-cloths rubbed over with a clean wet flannel, and wiped dry with a clean house-cloth. On the appointed general cleaning days, the floor-cloths must be scoured with warm soap suds, and afterwards wiped dry, with a clean linen cloth.

On the general cleaning days also, which are usually Tuesdays and Saturdays, every branch of the household work must be thoroughly done, in the best manner;—the rooms are then to be scoured instead of being merely wiped or swept;—the carpets are to be well brushed or taken up to be beaten or shaken;—the stoves and fire-places brightened and cleaned with particular care;—the marble hearths and chimney-pieces scoured;—the mahogany furniture and the brass or other ornaments in the best rooms, and the mirrors and looking-glasses cleaned, with more than ordinary attention;—the bed-furniture, window-curtains and hangings well shaken, whisked and brushed: in short, the best practical methods for thoroughly cleaning the whole house, must be resorted to on that day.

If the house maid rise in good time, and employ herself busily, she will get every thing done above stairs in time to clean and make herself comfortable for dinner, about one o’clock; after which she will attend to her needle work, under the direction of the housekeeper. About four, in the winter, the fires in the dressing-rooms are to be lighted—the slops emptied—clean water supplied, (hot and cold) and the dressing-rooms again dusted and cleaned, preparatory to the lady and gentleman dressing for dinner. While the family is at dinner, the dressing-rooms must be again prepared; and in the evening the shutters of the bed-rooms and dressing-rooms must be fastened—the curtains let down—the beds turned down—the fires lighted, and the rooms put into proper condition for the night. Wages from 12 to 16 guineas a year.

TO CLEAN CARPETS.

First well beat and brush the carpet,—then to a gallon of water add
eight potatoes grated, and with this liquid wash it slightly over
with a sponge, which will not only clean it but restore it to its
original beauty when dry. Or, after it has been well beaten and
brushed, put an ox gall into a pint of water, wash the carpet over on
the right side, and it will have the same effect.

TO SCOUR CARPETS, HEARTH-RUGS, &c.

Rub a piece of soap on every spot of grease or dirt; then take a
hard brush dipped in boiling water, and rub the spots well. If very
dirty, a solution of soap must be put into a tub, with hot water,
and the carpet well beat in it, rinsing it in several clean waters,
and putting in the last water a table-spoonful of oil of vitriol, to
brighten the colours.

TO DUST CARPETS AND FLOORS.

Carpets should not be swept with a whisk-brush more than once a week;
at other times sprinkle tea-leaves on them, and sweep carefully with
a hair-broom, after which they should be gently brushed on the knees
with a clothes’-brush.

TO CLEAN ALL SORTS OF METAL.

Mix half a pint of refined neat’s-foot oil, and half a gill of
spirits of turpentine; wet a woollen rag therewith, dip it into a
little scraped rotten-stone, and rub the metal well. Wipe it off with
a soft cloth, polish with dry leather, and use more of the powder. If
steel is very rusty, use a little powder of pumice with liquid, on a
separate woollen rag, first.

TO RESTORE HANGINGS, CARPETS, CHAIRS, &C.

Beat the dust out of them as clean as possible, then rub them over
with a dry brush, and make a good lather with Castille soap, and rub
them well over with a hard brush, then take clean water and with it
wash off the froth; make a water with alum, and wash them over with
it, and when dry, most of the colours will be restored in a short
time; and those that are yet too faint, must be touched up with a
pencil dipped in suitable colours; it may be run all over in the same
manner with water colours mixed well with gum water, and it will look
at a distance like new.

TO CLEAN PAPER HANGINGS.

Cut into eight half quarters a stale quartern loaf: with one of these
pieces, after having blown off all the dust from the paper, to be
cleaned by means of a good pair of bellows, begin at the top of the
room, holding the crust in the hand, and wiping lightly downwards
with the crumb, about half a yard at each stroke, till the upper
part of the hangings is completely cleaned all round; then go again
round with the like sweeping stroke downwards, always commencing each
successive course a little higher than the upper stroke had extended,
till the bottom be finished. This operation, if carefully performed,
will frequently make very old paper look almost equal to new. Great
caution must be used not by any means to rub the paper hard, nor to
attempt cleaning it the cross or horizontal way. The dirty part of
the bread too must be each time cut away, and the pieces renewed as
soon as necessary.

TO WHITE WASH.

Put some lumps of quick-lime into a bucket of cold water, and stir
it about till dissolved and mixed, after which a brush with a large
head, and a long handle to reach the ceiling of the room, is used to
spread it thinly on the walls, &c. When dry it is beautifully white,
but its _known cheapness_ has induced the plasterers to substitute
a mixture of glue size and whiting for the houses of their opulent
customers; and this, when once used, precludes the employment of
_lime-washing_ ever after; for the latter, when laid on whiting
becomes yellow.

White-washing is an admirable manner of rendering the dwellings of
the poor clean and wholesome.

TO PRESERVE POLISHED IRONS FROM RUST.

Polished iron-work may be preserved from rust by a mixture not very
expensive, consisting of copal varnish intimately mixed with as much
olive oil as will give it a degree of greasiness, adding thereto
nearly as much spirit of turpentine as of varnish. The cast iron-work
is best preserved by rubbing it with black-lead.

But where rust has begun to make its appearance on grates or
fire-irons, apply a mixture of tripoli with half its quantity of
sulphur, intimately mingled on a marble slab, and laid on with a
piece of soft leather: or emery and oil may be applied with excellent
effect, laid on with a spongy piece of the fig-tree fully saturated
with the mixture. This will not only clean but polish, and render the
use of whiting unnecessary.

TO CLEAN MARBLE.

Take verdigris and pumice-stone, well powdered, with lime newly
slacked. Mix with soap lees, to the consistence of putty. Put it in a
woollen rag, and rub the stains well one way. Wash off with soap and
water. Repeat, if not removed.

TO CLEAN FLOOR-CLOTHS.

Sweep them and wipe them with a damp flannel, after which wet them
all over with milk, and rub them till bright with a dry cloth.

N. B. Floor-cloths should be chosen that are painted on fine cloth,
well covered with colour and perfectly dry. The durability of the
cloth depends greatly on these points, and particularly on its having
had time for the paint to get quite dry. Old carpets answer extremely
well, if painted and hung up to season some time, before they are
laid down for use.

TO CLEAN LOOKING-GLASSES.

Remove fly stains or any other soil from the glass with a damp cloth,
then polish with a woollen cloth and powder-blue.

TO TAKE SPOTS OF GREASE OR OIL OUT OF BOARDS.

Drop a few drops of oil of turpentine on the spots and rub it hard
with your finger; this will dissolve the grease, and make it mix with
the soap (or suds) and water when the room is washed.

_Another Way._

Mix together fuller’s-earth and soap lees, and rub them on the
boards. Let the mixture dry, and then scour it off with strong soft
soap and sand, or use lees to scour it with. It should be put on hot,
by heating the lees.

TO EXTRACT LAMP OIL, &C. OUT OF STONE OR MARBLE HALLS, &C.

Mix well together a pint of strong soap lees, some fuller’s earth,
well dried, and a little pipe-clay, powdered fine; lay it on the part
which is oiled, then put a hot iron upon it till dry. If all the oil
come not out the first time, repeat it, and rub it well in. By doing
it two or three times it will come out.

THE UNDER HOUSE MAIDS.

Are entirely under the direction of the Upper House Maid, and are chiefly employed in cleaning and scouring the stoves and grates, scouring the coal skuttles, kettles, and fire-irons, beating and cleaning the carpets—scouring the floors, stairs, and passages;—washing the dishes when there is company, &c. &c.; besides assisting to make the beds, and carrying up the coals and water. In the afternoon, evening, or at leisure time, they are engaged with the _Upper House Maid_ at their needle-work, in making and mending the household, bed and table linen,—mending stockings—washing and mending their own linen, and occasionally, assisting in the laundry. When there is no still-room-maid, the Under House Maid has to wait at table in the house-keeper’s room. Wages 10l. to 12l. per year.

THE SERVANT OF ALL WORK.

In small families where only one female servant is kept, the servant of all work will be required to do all the work of the house, which in large establishments is very properly divided into several departments.

This description of servant is usually taken from the industrious and labouring classes of the community, who are bred up with a view to the situation, having no other prospect or dependence; and are taught, from their earliest age, to assist in the management of the house, the care of the younger children, preparing the meals, making the beds, scouring, washing, and in every other branch of domestic business:—In short, no girl ought to undertake, or can be qualified, for such a situation, who has not been thus bred up. And if, in addition to these preparatory qualifications, she comes from a sober, well-disposed family, and is of a tractable disposition, there can be but little doubt of her acquiring the good-will of her master and mistress, of qualifying herself for a superior service, and of finally succeeding in her sphere of life.

She will receive her first instructions from her mistress, or probably from the former servant, as to the peculiarities of the house, and will very soon, with attention, become versed in all.

Industry and cleanliness, with a determination to be useful, and to please, will speedily overcome all difficulties.

To rise early is indispensably necessary. “Those who would thrive, must rise by five.” And, recollect, that “the servant who begins her work late, will have to run after it all the day, but will never overtake it.”

Every morning, the first business will be to light the kitchen fire, brush up and clean around the grate and fire-place, take up the ashes, sweep the floor and hearth, and having made all quite clean, rinse out the tea-kettle, and set it on the fire, with clean spring water, preparatory to the family breakfast; and also another kettle to heat water for household purposes. She next takes the tray, carpet-broom, hair-broom, hearth-rug, a clean dry duster, and the basket or box, containing the brushes, rags, leathers, brick-dust, scouring-paper, and other things for cleaning the grate and fire-place, and proceeds to the parlour, or sitting-room, to get that in order, before the family comes down to breakfast. She begins there by clearing away the candlesticks, dirty glasses, and such other things as may have been left there the preceding night. She then rolls up the hearth-rug, so that no dirt or dust may drop from it, as it is carried out to be shaken; she next turns back the carpet, with the drugget, baize, or other covering, if any, and lays down a piece of canvas, or coarse cloth, to keep the place clean; after which she rakes out the ashes from the grate, takes them up, and brushes up the dust and dirt; then rubs the bright bars of the grate, and the fire-irons, with emery paper, No. 3, or brick-dust; or if there be very fine steel stoves, fenders, &c. they should be first rubbed with oil, then with emery, till clear and bright, and afterwards with scouring paper, which is an excellent article to use every second or third day in summer-time, when stoves are not in constant use, as it will take off all the spots they may have acquired.

After the stove and fire-irons are cleaned, and the back and sides of the hearth are washed over with black-lead mixed with water, and rubbed dry and bright with a hard brush, light the fire, and proceed to wash the marble hearth.

For this purpose, take a piece of flannel dipped in a strong, hot, lather of soap and water, and having washed off the dirt, wipe it dry with a clean linen cloth. The jambs and chimney-piece need only be cleaned thus, once or twice a week, or as the custom of the family may be. Soap and sand, with cold water, will answer for washing free-stone hearths, &c. which must be afterwards wiped dry with a clean house-cloth. The next business will be to clean the brass locks, finger-plates, and other brass furniture; for which see the receipt.—If the locks are stiff, or hang, put a very little sweet oil on the bolts with a feather; the same ought to be done occasionally to the hinges, latches, bolts, and locks of every door in the house. A few minutes thus employed, when necessary, will prevent most of the disagreeable noises of creaking hinges, rusty bolts, and useless locks.

For the finger-plates, and other brass ornaments about the room, you must have pieces of pasteboard, with holes cut in them of the size of the respective articles, to prevent soiling or rubbing the door or furniture to which they are fixed.

The carpet next requires attention; this must generally be swept with the carpet-mop, to clean off the lint and dust, but, occasionally with the carpet-broom, or long hair-broom, first strewing it over with a few damp tea-leaves, (which should always be saved for the purpose, when the tea-things are washed up.) Then remove the chairs, and other furniture, to the middle of the room, turn up the sides of the carpet, and sweep up all the dust and flue round the sides of the room before replacing the carpet.

Always rub and dust the chairs, tables, and other mahogany furniture, in the middle of the room, and return them to their places, one by one, as you finish them; this will prevent your scratching or soiling the walls or wainscot. The window-curtains and hangings may not require to be shaken and brushed every day, but the windows should be brushed with the long hair-broom, and cobwebs and other filth, on the ceiling, and upper corners of the room, should be occasionally sought for, and removed. When she has swept the room, and rubbed and dusted the furniture, she must dust the window-frames, ledges of the wainscot, and doors, chimney-pieces, glass, china, and other ornaments, and having seen that every article is in its proper place, stir the fire, and taking all her brushes, &c. leave the room perfectly clean, and fit for the reception of the family at breakfast. She next proceeds (if the parlour be up stairs) to sweep and dust the stairs, which she does one by one, sweeping the dust from each into the dust-pan, and afterwards dusting the windows and balustrade as carefully as she had done the room.

She should also sweep the passage in the same way. The floor-cloth in the passage, for the daily cleaning, need only to be swept and rubbed with a damp flannel first, and afterwards with a dry one. The steps, at the front door, should be cleaned every morning, after the passage is swept out, and the street-door and the knocker, &c. must be cleaned or polished. The kitchen stairs also, and the steps at the back-door, if any, are to be cleaned. Above all, the kitchen must now be put in order.

She then washes her hands and face, and puts on a clean apron, &c. so as to be cleanly before the parlour bell rings for breakfast. Directions for setting out the breakfast table will be found in the Instructions to the Footman, as well as for dinner, lunch, tea, &c.

As soon as the family is seated at breakfast, she throws open the bed-room doors and windows, and uncovers the beds to be aired, and placing the bed-clothes across a chair at the foot of the bed, leaves them in that state till breakfast is finished, when she proceeds to make the bed.

On going down, she takes the slop-pails, night-candlesticks, and the water-ewer and carofts to be filled with fresh water, and brought up again immediately, lest they should be wanted. When she goes up after breakfast, if there have been fires, the fire-places must be swept up, the fires laid, and before she makes the beds, she should wash her hands and put on a clean apron. Every bed should be well shaken daily, and the mattresses turned, at least, once a week. The head of the bed, the curtains, vallance, &c. will often require attention; when they should be brushed with a whisk-brush, and well shaken, the bed-side carpets having been first taken up. After she has made the beds, and before the carpets are laid down again, the chairs, glasses, and other articles of furniture in each room are to be properly rubbed and dusted, and the floors swept clean. The sleeping rooms being thus prepared, and the stairs swept down, she will scarcely have occasion to go up again till evening, when she turns down the beds, lets down, or draws the curtains, and puts the rooms in order for the night.

At intervals, she will, perhaps, be called to bring coals for the parlour fire, in the winter time; (see directions to the footman;) but, in addition to this, little will occur to take her from the regular routine of the morning’s work, till the preparation for dinner requires her attention. She will find ample instructions for the care of the kitchen and larder, and for dressing dinners, under the directions to the cook.

If she is required to wait at table, she will find instructions for the purpose in the directions to the footman. After the dishes, &c. and the cloth and table-cover are removed, when there is no company present, her mistress will, perhaps, require her to bring a piece of cloth, with bees’-wax on it, and a hard furniture brush, to rub the dining-table, and take out the stains of the hot dishes.

When all things are set right in the parlour, as her mistress may direct, she will get her own dinner, (which she will contrive to keep as warm as circumstances will allow;) meanwhile the water must be heating to wash the dishes, and all the kitchen utensils, which being washed, and the several articles (particularly the tinned ones) wiped out clean and dry, they are to be put away, always in their proper places, in the cleanest and nicest order, and fit for immediate use.

This done, she is to make up the fire, (having due regard to the very expensive article of coals) and put on the kettle for tea. The kitchen is next to be set to rights, and every article in and about it is to be made quite clean, and disposed in perfect order. In fact, the cleanly and orderly state of the kitchen ought, at all times, to claim her utmost attention, as it is there that all the food of the family is prepared, and nothing does, nor, indeed, can, more deservedly contribute to the good character of a servant, than the well-regulated state and cleanly appearance of her kitchen.

The situation of a servant of this denomination is, as we have seen, one continued round of activity, but industry becomes habitual, and she will reap the benefit of it throughout life. To be content is the main thing, and others, seeing her good tempered, and disposed to be happy, will study to make her so; while experience and habit will greatly contribute towards it, by daily rendering the routine of the service more familiar, and consequently, more easy.

There are times, however, when the regular course of business will be interrupted. Once a week is the appointed day for a thorough scouring and cleaning, viz. Saturday. But even this day is rendered less formidable by an attentive servant, and by a little charitable consideration in the mistress, (which is generally the case) who will contrive that there shall be less of the ordinary business of the family to be done on that day than on any other. The maid will, perhaps, manage to get the bed-rooms thoroughly scoured on Friday. This should be done as early in the day as possible, and in the winter, fires should be made in the rooms, in order that they may be quite dry and safe by bed-time. For cleaning calico and other bed-furniture, and for scouring rooms, see Head House-Maid. The Sitting-room, and the spare rooms, if any, instead of the usual every-day cleaning, should now be thoroughly cleaned, the floors scoured, the grates, hearths, chimney-pieces, carpets, curtains, and furniture rubbed, scrubbed, dusted, and otherwise cleaned in the best manner; the kitchen, it is presumed, is already clean—_always clean_; the pots, pans, kettles, and every other culinary utensil being _always cleaned as soon as done with;—scoured, wiped out dry, and put away in their proper places, fit for use at a moment’s notice_. However laborious the work of the Saturday may appear, it is but getting up an hour or two earlier, and setting about it with a good heart, and all the extra business of the house, in every part, is completely finished, and you sit down, in the evening, to tea, rejoicing that all is comfortable, and in order.

Another, and more laborious deviation from the regular routine of family business is—the appointed “_Washing-day_,” which is, indeed, a day of bustle and activity; perhaps the only one that can be called a hard day’s work, from one washing-day to another. But, here also, if the intervals between the washings be long, a washer-woman will be hired, and the mistress will probably lend her aid, in sorting the clothes, getting up the small linen, ironing, &c.

In proportion to the arduous and active duties of a situation, is the satisfaction to be enjoyed from a regular and attentive discharge of those services: hence no servant has it in her power to render herself and her employers more comfortable, than the maid of all work. By a methodical division of her time, she is enabled to keep in order every apartment in the house, from the kitchen to the attic, all of which may be accomplished without any extraordinary effort on her part: and while she thus promotes the comforts of her master and mistress by her industry and regularity, they will not be backward in rewarding those meritorious qualities. Wages from 8 to 12 guineas.

TO LIGHT AND MANAGE A PARLOUR FIRE.

There is more art, perhaps, and more economy than is considered
necessary in making well, and managing a fire.

First rake out all the ashes, quite clean, leaving in the bottom of
the grate a few light cinders, through which the air, from beneath,
may pass freely; upon these lay shavings, or waste paper, and then
the wood, the smaller pieces under, of course, and the whole crossing
each other promiscuously, and in all directions; throw cinders
behind, and some at the sides, to fill out the grate, and in the
front, betwixt the bars, put small knobs of fresh coals, with some
larger knobs at top, and a little small coal behind, but not so much
at first as to prevent a draft of air through the grate at the top.
The fire, thus prepared, may be lighted with a match, and will kindle
well of itself, whilst the ashes are taken up, and the fire-place
cleaned. When it is found necessary to blow a fire, do not thrust the
nose of the bellows between the bars, but keep it at an easy distance
from the fire, and rather below the centre of the fire, that so,
the air may be dispersed around to a considerable distance in front
of the fire. When you stir a fire, always put the poker between the
second and third bars.—After you have stirred the fire, rake out the
ashes at the bottom of the grate, and sweep up the hearth.

THE LAUNDRY MAID.

This Servant washes all the household and other linen belonging to her employers, and is assisted, generally, by the housemaids; or the house maids, kitchen maids, and scullery maids wash for themselves. All the men servants find their own washing, except the footmen’s aprons and jackets.

The foul linen is given out to her on Monday morning, and returned clean, on Friday night or Saturday morning.—Wages from 8l. to 15l. a year.

Two ounces of pearl-ash, to a pound and a half of soap, will make a considerable saving. Soda, by softening the water, saves a great deal of soap. It should be dissolved in a large jug of water, some of which should be poured into the tubs and boiler, and when the lather becomes weak, add more.

The use of soft soap, saves nearly half in washing.

Good new hard soap contains full half of oil, one-third water, and the rest soda.

TO MAKE TOWN-WASHED LINEN WHITE.

In large towns, where linen cannot be exposed to the air and sun upon
the grass, let it be steeped, for some time before it is washed, in a
solution of oxymuriate of lime. Let it then be boiled in an alkaline
ley. Linen or cotton thus treated will not become yellow by age.

TO TAKE OUT IRON MOULDS FROM LINEN.

Hold the iron mould on the cover of a tankard of boiling water, and
rub on the spot a little juice of sorrel and salt, and when the cloth
has thoroughly imbibed the juice, wash it in ley.

TO SCOUR THICK COTTON COUNTERPANES.