Around-the-world cook book

A good cement can be made by mixing powdered rice with a little cold water, slowly adding to it boiling water, till the right consistency is obtained, then pour into a saucepan, and boil it for a minute. This paste is almost transparent, and is well adapted for fancy paper-work, for which a strong and colorless cement is required. CEMENT FOE BROKEN GLASS Plaster of Paris, mixed into a paste with white of egg makes a strong cement for mending broken glass or china. Another excellent cement is made as follows : Into a small bottle press as much isinglass as will fit in; then pour in, by degrees, unsweetened gin, which will gradually dissolve the isinglass, if the bottle is kept in a warm place. CHINESE CEMENT Orange shellac (broken small), 4 ounces, Rectified spirits, 3 ounces. Digest together in a warm place till dissolved, then apply to the broken parts and these will adhere so that should the article break again it will break in another place. The mixture should be about the consistency of molasses. It is good for mending porcelain, glass, fancy-works, jewelry, etc. WATERPROOF GLUE Waterproof glue may be made from 3 parts gum shellac, and 1 part india rubber; these being dissolved separately, in ether, under the influence of heat, and the two solutions afterward mixed and kept for a time in a sealed bottle. Water, either hot or cold, and most acids and alkalies will have no effect on this glue. LACQUER FOR TOILET SILVER Methylated spirits, 1 pint. Shellac, 1 ounce. Put the shellac in a bottle and dissolve with the methylated spirits, cork the bottle tightly, and let it stand for 24 hours, then pour off the clear liquid. Heat the metal slightly, and paint the solution over it with a camel's-hair brush. Any metal ornament may be lacquered in the same way. A little of this solution may be added with good results to the powder ordinarily used to clean silverware. PAINTING BRASSWORK WITH SHELLAC If brass chandeliers, stair rails, and so forth, are painted with a coating of shellac, they will long keep their polish. While the fixtures are still bright and fresh they should be given a coating of white shellac, such as is used by painters. The best quality of shellac should be used, and applied with a camel's-hair brush. In the case of brasswork that is not fresh, it should first be thoroughly scoured and polished, and dried with a soft cloth, then carefully painted, avoiding too wet a brush, as that will make streaks, or look smeary. When properly painted with shellac, the beds, chandeliers, etc., will not need attention for a long time. TO CLEAN TAENISHED SILVER Water, 1 gallon, Cyanid of potassium (fused), 1 pound. This preparation is used by a noted firm of silverware manufacturers. The same proportions made in smaller quantities will be of great use, as the cleaning fluid may be kept and used any number of times. Dip the silver and leave it entirely covered for 4 or 5 minutes, then wash off with cold water, then with hot water, soap and sponge, then with cold water again, wipe dry, with a soft cloth, and polish with chamois and jeweler's rouge. TO CLEAN ALUMINUM