DISH-TOWEL RACK.—­Nothing adds more to the ease and facility with which the frequent dish-washings of the household may be accomplished than clean, well-dried towels.  For quick drying,—­an item of great importance if one would keep the towels fresh and sweet,—­the towel rack represented in the cut, and which can be made by any carpenter, is a most handy device.  When not in use, it can be turned up against the wall as illustrated.  It is light, affords sufficient drying space so that no towel need be hung on top of another, and projecting out from the wall as it does, the free circulation of air between the towels soon dries them.

[Illustration:  Dish-Towel Rack.]

KITCHEN BRUSHES.—­These useful little articles can be put to such a variety of uses that they are among the chiefest of household conveniences.  They are also so inexpensive, costing but five cents apiece without handles and seven cents with handles, that no housewife can afford to be without a supply of them.  For the washing of dishes with handles, the outside of iron kettles, and other cooking utensils made of iron, they are especially serviceable.  The smaller sizes are likewise excellent for cleaning cut glass ware, Majolica ware,—­in fact, any kind of ware with raised figures or corrugated surfaces.  For cleaning a grater, nothing is superior to one of these little brushes.  Such a brush is also most serviceable for washing celery, as the corrugated surface of the stalk makes a thorough cleaning with the hands a difficult operation.  Then if one uses a brush with handle, ice water, which adds to the crispness of the celery, may be used for the cleaning, as there will be no necessity for putting the hands in the water.  A small whisk broom is also valuable for the same purpose.  Such vegetables as potatoes, turnips, etc., are best cleaned with a brush.  It makes the work less disagreeable, as the hands need not be soiled by the process, and in no other way can the cleaning be so well and thoroughly done.

[Illustration:  Vegetable Brush.]

All brushes after being used should be carefully scalded and placed brush downward in a wire sponge basket, or hung up on hooks.  If left around carelessly, they soon acquire the musty smell of a neglected dishcloth.

TABLE TOPICS.

The kitchen is a chemical laboratory, in which are conducted a number of chemical processes by which our food is converted from its crudest state to condition more suitable for digestion and nutrition, and made more agreeable to the palate.—­Prof.  Matthew Williams.

Half the trouble between mistresses and maids arises from the disagreeable surroundings to which servants are confined.  There is no place more dismal than the ordinary kitchen in city dwellings.  It is half underground, ill-lighted, and unwholesome.  What wonder, then, in the absence of sunlight, there is a lack of sunny temper