1799. Domestic Hints (Tea Made Best with Boiling Water).

_Why should the water poured upon tea be at the boiling point?_

Because it requires the temperature of boiling water to extract the peculiar oil of tea.

1800. Domestic Hints (First Infusion Best).

_Why does the first infusion of tea possess more aroma than the second?_

Because the first infusion, if the water used is at the boiling temperature, takes up the essential oil of the tea, while the second water receives only the bitter extract supplied by the tannic acid of tea.

1801. Domestic Hints (Sky-Blue for Fair People).

_Why does a head-dress of sky-blue become a fair person?_

Because light blue is the complementary colour of pale orange, which is the foundation of the blonde complexion and hair.

1802. Domestic Hints (Brighter Colours for Dark People).

_Why are yellow, orange, or red colours suitable to a person of dark hair and complexion?_

Because those colours, by contrast with the dark skin and hair, show to the greater advantage themselves, while they enrich the hue of black.

1803. Domestic Hints (Light Green for Fair Complexions).

_Why is a delicate green favourable to pale blonde complexions?_

Because it imparts a rosiness to such complexions--red, its complementary colour, being reflected upon green.

1804. Domestic Hints (Light Green Unfavourable for Ruddy Complexions).

_Why is light green unfavourable to ruddy complexions?_

Because it increases the redness, and has the effect of producing an overheated appearance.

1805. Domestic Hints (Violet Unfavourable for All).

_Why are violet draperies unfavourable to every kind of complexion?_

Because, reflecting yellow, they augment that tint when it is present in the skin or hair, change blue into green, and give to an olive complexion a jaundiced look.

1806. Domestic Hints (Blue Unsuitable for Brunettes).

_Why is blue unsuitable to brunettes?_

Because it reflects orange, and adds to the darkness of the complexion.

1807. Domestic Hints (Blue Veils for Complexion).

_Why do blue veils preserve the complexion?_

Because they diminish the effect of the scorching rays of light, just as the blue gla.s.s over photographic studios diminishes the effect of certain rays that would injure the delicate processes of photography. [1]

[Footnote 1: "Housewife's Reason Why," containing upwards of 1,500 Reasons upon every kind of Domestic Subject. London: Houlston and Sons. 2s. 6d.]

1808. Fancy Needlework.

Although there is a continual change in designs and materials for fancy needlework of every description, the fundamental principles on which this kind of work in all its various branches is executed remain the same. These are carefully, though briefly set forth in the following series of instructions on this subject.

1809. Instructions in Crochet.

1810. Popularity of Crochet.

Perhaps no kind of work has ever attained such popularity as _Crochet_. Whether as a simple tr.i.m.m.i.n.g, as an elaborate quilt, or as a fabric, almost rivalling Point Lace, it is popular with every woman who has any time at all for fancy work, since it is only needful to understand the st.i.tches, and the terms and contractions used in writing the descriptions of the different designs, to be enabled to work with ease the most beautiful pattern that ever appeared in crochet.

1811. St.i.tches used in Crochet.

These, with their abbreviations, are:

Ch., chain st.i.tch; S., single crochet; Dc., double crochet; L., long st.i.tch; Double and treble long.

1812. Chain St.i.tch, ch.

Hook the cotton into a loop, and keep on looping the cotton through a previous st.i.tch till a succession of chains are made to form a foundation.

1813. Single Crochet, S.

This occurs only in working designs; the hook is inserted in a st.i.tch, and the cotton is pulled through that and the cotton which is on the hook at the same time; it thus makes a close tie.

1814. Double Crochet, or Dc.

With cotton on the hook insert the latter into a st.i.tch, draw the cotton through; there are now two loops on the hook, take up the cotton on the hook, and with cotton again upon the hook draw it through the two loops.