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- By Sandy Neilly
- Editorials are supposed to be related to the business at
hand, which in our case is antiques, so I'll spare you the details
of these past 10 weeks of struggling with computer issues. Apparently
it's time to upgrade a few essential things I use to put this
paper together.
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- If I were an adventurous sort when it came to technology,
this could be an exciting prospect. I'm not. In fact, I kind
of liked how everything worked and have always been a believer
in the adage that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Well, it's broke, so it looks like I'm about to embark on another
learning curve - somewhat reluctantly.
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- Now for the business at hand; newspapers. I've come across
a wonderful old magazine (missing its front cover) from about
1910. In this publication, which is chock full of stories, photos
and illustrations, is an article entitled New Uses for Old Newspapers.
Here, in lieu of a proper editorial, (blame it on the Mac) are
some rather useful circa 1910 tips on what to do with your old
newspapers before you put them out for recycling:
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- "In how many homes are there piles of old newspapers,
taking up valuable space until they can be disposed of to the
rag-and-bone man or given to the dustman! Did the housewife but
realize it, she has at hand a valuable means of lessening labour
in house cleaning.
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- Here are a few ways in which newspapers may be utilized and
money outlay avoided.
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- As a substitute for the felt usually laid under carpets or
rugs, they not only preserve the material of the floor covering,
but prevent draught to the feet through the cracks between the
boards.
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- Wads of folded papers laid on each stair and kept in place
by a couple of nails, form an excellent pad, and will prolong
the life of a stair carpet and deaden the sound of footsteps.
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- Standing at cooking or ironing table tires the feet, especially
if the floor be tiled. Try a pad of newspapers as a mat and the
relief of the aching feet will surprise you. If about a dozen
or 18 papers are folded to the size required and tied round with
string to keep them in position, such a mat will last quite a
long time.
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- When washing up, the remains of food on dishes, knives, (and)
cooking pans can be removed by giving them a quick rub with a
piece of newspaper, thus rendering the actual washing-up process
far simpler.
Newspaper as a polisher for mirrors and windows is excellent
and will save many pennies in the purchase of leathers. The paper
should be crumpled up into a soft ball and after slightly dampening
the glass, should be rubbed on its surface with a circular motion.
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- When packing away furs or woollens, wrap them in newspaper
and well cover the final articles in the box with the same. Moths
do not care for printers' ink and studiously avoid such protected
articles.
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- An impromptu coat hanger may be contrived in a few minutes
by rolling up a paper into a flat, thick roll, which should then
be tied in the middle with string and a loop made by which to
stand it up.
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- Newspaper gives warmth, too, as ardent play-goers who wait
long hours on the cold pavement have discovered, for many are
the news-sheets bought for standing mats on cold nights.
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- Caught unawares by the cold piercing wind when wearing a
light coat, one can do worse than slip a newspaper inside the
coat, over the chest.
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- Failing the proper white lining paper, clean newspapers need
not be despised for lining cupboard shelves and drawers. Care
must, of course, be taken that in all cases mentioned the papers
are perfectly clean."
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- There it is in a nutshell. I realize that many of you recall
using newspaper for many of the aforementioned purposes, and
possibly still do. My mother often mentioned that when she and
her siblings were children they would use newspapers as insulation
for their rubber boots in the winter. I also remember occasionally
getting fish and chips wrapped in newspaper . . . and even making
paper dolls, the kind that were all joined together if you cut
them out properly.
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 My favourite part
of the article, however, is an illustration which shows a lady
kneeling on a carpet and laying newspaper beneath. On her head
is a hat made from - you guessed it - newspaper. “A cap
for keeping the hair from dust when housecleaning is also easily
made.”
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- Well, there you go. Why did I never think of that?
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- I think I might try some of the tips above, but maybe with
the National Post or Globe and Mail. (The other paper that surfaces
around here a lot, namely the Wayback Times, is far too useful
a tool for the antique aficionado to use it as a hat.)
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- Summer was a bit of a bust, weatherwise, so here’s hoping
for some beautiful autumn days. Personally, I think it’s
the best and most beautiful time of the year and I’ve already
noticed many maple trees changing colour. The calendar is just
packed with great shows to attend and there’s always an
abundance of fine antique shops and great auctions to visit.
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- If you need to talk to me over the next seven weeks, chances
are you’ll find me right here learning new computer programs.
(Issue 79 could be very interesting.) Also, after losing my email
with Xplornet.com for several days last week, I am listing my
alternate email, waybackmac@gmail.com,
so you can keep those cards and letters coming!
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- Thanks for reading. See you next issue.
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