es should ever be boiled or scalded. If you get from a shop a
slip for testing the durability of colours, give it a fair trial by
washing it as above; afterwards pinning it to the edge of a towel, and
hanging it to dry. Some colours (especially pinks and light greens),
though they may stand perfectly well in washing, will change as soon
as a warm iron is applied to them; the pink turning purplish, and the
green bluish. No coloured article should be smoothed with a _hot_
iron.

[A GAMBLER AND A SWINDLER ARE NEAR NEIGHBOURS.]

2255. To Renovate Silks (1).

Sponge faded silks with warm water and soap, then rub them with a dry
cloth on a flat board; afterwards iron them on the _inside_ with a
smoothing iron. Old black silks may be improved by sponging with
spirits; in this case, the ironing may be done on the right side, thin
paper being spread over to prevent glazing.

2256. Black Silk Reviver (2).

Boil logwood in water for half an hour; then simmer the silk half an
hour; take it out, and put into the dye a little blue vitriol, or
green copperas; cool it, and simmer the silk for half an hour. Or,
boil a handful of fig-leaves in two quarts of water until it is
reduced to one pint; squeeze the leaves, and bottle the liquor for
use. When wanted, sponge the silk with this preparation.

2257. Restoring Colour to Silk (3).

When the colour has been taken from silk by acids, it may be restored
by applying to the spot a little hart's-horn, or sal volatile.

2258. To Remove Water Stains from Black Crape.

When a drop of water falls on a black crape veil or collar, it leaves
a conspicuous white mark. To obliterate this, spread the crape on a
table (laying on it a large book or a paper-weight to keep it steady),
and place underneath the stain a piece of old black silk. With a large
camel's-hair brush dipped in common ink go over the stain, and then
wipe off the ink with a small piece of old soft silk. It will dry at
once, and the white mark will be seen no more.

2259. To Remove Stains from Mourning Dresses.

Boil a handful of fig-leaves in two quarts of water until reduced to a
pint. Bombazines, crape, cloth, &c., need only be rubbed with a
sponge dipped in this liquor, and the stains will be instantly removed.

2260. Wax.

Wax may be taken out of cloth by holding a red-hot iron within an inch
or two of the marks,