The feathers of the common barn yard fowls can be used for this pur-
pose and made into handsome brushes with little trouble and expense.
Separate the various kinds, reserving the prettiest for the outside ; then
put them into tin pans and place them in a moderately heated oven to
become seasoned, but not baked. After this is accomplished take a
light hammer and flatten each quill.
If any old feather duster handles are to be found, you have a treasure ;
if not so fortunate you can easily improvise a handle from the rounds
of old chairs, or an old broom handle ebonized or stained will answer
every purpose. Have a quantity of glue prepared, and keep the water
surrounding it constantly boiling hot. With a sharp knife or saw, notch
out a series of grooves in the lower part of the handle, about an inch
apart, and with a ball of smooth hemp twine, proceed to tie on the
feathers. . Taking the handle in the left hand, dip the end into the glue,
and quickly arrange a number of the smaller and softer feathers around
the flat part, above the first groove, saturating the twine with glue ;
draw it twice around in the groove and over the feathers, having pre-
viously made a knot in the end, and fastening with a strong tack in the
very end of the handle. Keep adding rows of feathers and fastening
with twine, applying hot glue to each part until the entire is covered.
Then taking the long feathers, carefully bend them until they form a
border, gracefully curved outward, as in the regular dusters. Finally,
with a brush, apply hot glue until all the interstices are filled, then wind
with twine until quite uniform. While wet, cover quickly with plaster
of paris, using a spoon to fill in among the quills. Let it become per-
fectly dry, when the feathers will be found perfectly secure, forming a
solid mass around the handle.
Now, measure the size of the brush, cut out a piece of leather (colored)
or oilcloth large enough to cover it, and glue the edges neatly together,
first pinking out the lower part. When dry slip this band over the glued
EASTER EGGS. 49
part of the feathers, and with small gilt-headed tacks nail a band of
galoon, ribbon or cloth, pinked on both edges, over the upper part.
Thus finished the home-made brush is as neat and pretty, and certainly
as durable, as the high-priced ones sold in the stores.
EASTER EGGS.
MOTTOES AND DECORATIONS.
If mottoes are to be inscribed upon Easter eggs, let us provide our-
selves with the sharpened end of a white wax or adamantine candle.
Having first submerged the eggs in hot water, write on them with the
candle end such words or draw such figures as you fancy. The wax
or oil will serve the same purpose as what is termed a resist in the pro-
cess of printing calicoes, and prevent the dye from adhering.
Now, as we shall like our eggs of various colors, we begin with red :
For this purpose, Brazil wood and also cochineal are used, either dye
to be set with a little alum ; boil in a tin vessel. Have the dye-stuffs
well dissolved and strained from impurities before immersing the eggs,
and then, if you keep them stirring all the while, they will be painted
over evenly. ✪ Easter Eggs
Page 43 · 1 recipe record on this page
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The feathers of the common barn yard fowls can be used for this purpose and made into handsome brushes with little trouble and expense. Separate the various kinds, reserving the prettiest for the outside ; then put them into tin pans and place them in a moderately heated oven to become seasoned, but not baked. After this is accomplished take a light hammer and flatten each quill.
If any old feather duster handles are to be found, you have a treasure ; if not so fortunate you can easily improvise a handle from the rounds of old chairs, or an old broom handle ebonized or stained will answer every purpose. Have a quantity of glue prepared, and keep the water surrounding it constantly boiling hot. With a sharp knife or saw, notch out a series of grooves in the lower part of the handle, about an inch apart, and with a ball of smooth hemp twine, proceed to tie on the feathers. . Taking the handle in the left hand, dip the end into the glue, and quickly arrange a number of the smaller and softer feathers around the flat part, above the first groove, saturating the twine with glue ; draw it twice around in the groove and over the feathers, having previously made a knot in the end, and fastening with a strong tack in the very end of the handle. Keep adding rows of feathers and fastening with twine, applying hot glue to each part until the entire is covered. Then taking the long feathers, carefully bend them until they form a border, gracefully curved outward, as in the regular dusters. Finally, with a brush, apply hot glue until all the interstices are filled, then wind with twine until quite uniform. While wet, cover quickly with plaster of paris, using a spoon to fill in among the quills. Let it become perfectly dry, when the feathers will be found perfectly secure, forming a solid mass around the handle.
Now, measure the size of the brush, cut out a piece of leather (colored) or oilcloth large enough to cover it, and glue the edges neatly together, first pinking out the lower part. When dry slip this band over the glued
EASTER EGGS. 49
part of the feathers, and with small gilt-headed tacks nail a band of galoon, ribbon or cloth, pinked on both edges, over the upper part.
Thus finished the home-made brush is as neat and pretty, and certainly as durable, as the high-priced ones sold in the stores.
EASTER EGGS.
MOTTOES AND DECORATIONS.
If mottoes are to be inscribed upon Easter eggs, let us provide ourselves with the sharpened end of a white wax or adamantine candle. Having first submerged the eggs in hot water, write on them with the candle end such words or draw such figures as you fancy. The wax or oil will serve the same purpose as what is termed a resist in the process of printing calicoes, and prevent the dye from adhering.
Now, as we shall like our eggs of various colors, we begin with red : For this purpose, Brazil wood and also cochineal are used, either dye to be set with a little alum ; boil in a tin vessel. Have the dye-stuffs well dissolved and strained from impurities before immersing the eggs, and then, if you keep them stirring all the while, they will be painted over evenly.
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Easter Eggs