as you can bear your hand in it, and stir in two large tablespoonfuls of the above mixture.  Put in as many white clothes as the water will cover.  Let them soak about an hour, moving them about in the water occasionally.  It will only be necessary to rub with your hands such parts as are very dirty; for instance, the inside of shirt collars and wristbands, &c.  The common dirt will soak out by means of the mixture.  Wring the clothes out of the suds, and rinse them well through two cold waters.

Next put into a wash kettle sufficient water to boil the clothes (it must be cold at first), and add to it two more tablespoonfuls of the mixture.  Put in the clothes after the mixture is well stirred into the water, and boil them half an hour at the utmost, not more.  Then take them out and throw them into a tub of cold water.  Rinse them well through this; and lastly, put them into a second tub of rinsing water, slightly blued with the indigo bag.

Be very careful to rinse them in two cold waters out of the first suds, and after the boiling; then wring them and hang them out.

This way of washing with the soap mixture saves much labor in rubbing; expedites the business, and renders the clothes very white, without injuring them in the least.  Try it.

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DESCRIPTION OF STEEL FASHION PLATE.

We challenge comparison in the design and execution, to say nothing of the accuracy, of our fashion plate.  The first is as pretty a home scene as one could wish, and the costumes are brought in naturally.  For instance, the promenade dress of the visitor, Fig. 1st.  A plain stone-colored merino, with green turc satin, a coat or martle made to fit close to the figure, with sleeves demi-width.  The trimming is not a simple quilting, like that worn the past season, as it would at first appear, but an entirely new style of silk braid put on in basket-work.  Drawn bonnet of apple-green satin, lined with pink, and, with a small muff, the dress is complete.

Fig. 2d is a morning-dress, that would be very pretty to copy for a bridal wardrobe.  In the engraving, it is represented of pink silk, with an open corsage, and sleeves demi-long.  The chemisette is of lace, to match that upon the skirt, and is fastened at the throat by a simple knot of pink ribbon.  The trimming of the dress is quilled ribbon, and the cap has a band and knot of the same color.

Fig. 3d is a mourning costume of silk, with four rows of heavily-knotted fringe upon the skirt, and the sleeves trimmed to correspond.  The figures of the children are simple and easily understood.  The pelisse of the little girl has an edge to correspond with the muff.

In the second and out-door scene, the artist has very happily given us a glimpse of sleigh-riding in the city.  The pedestrians are tastefully dressed, the first figure having one of the most graceful cloaks of the season; it is of stone-colored Thibet cloth, and is trimmed with a fold of the same corded with satin.  The sleeves are peculiar, and deserve particular attention.  The bonnet is of uncut velvet, with satin bands.