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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 4 (July 1, 1936)

For The Handy Man Or Woman Rejuvenating Furniture

For The Handy Man Or Woman Rejuvenating Furniture.

Perhaps your dining-table is old and worn, or fairly new but marked by hot dishes—however it may be, it does not please you. You envy the fine gloss of Mrs. Next-Door's furniture. I asked my Mrs. Next-Door, and she said she kept the shine on it by rubbing up with a very little ordinary floor polish.

Here is how to re-do your diningtable. First, with fine sandpaper wrapped round an easily wielded block of wood, remove all the old stain. Of course you know to work the way of the grain. Now apply stain of the required shade and leave until dry. Rub in linseed oil with a very soft rag or cotton-wool pad—rub it in thoroughly. Last of all apply varnish, or shellac dissolved in methylated spirits. Apply very evenly, working always in the same direction (with the grain) and being careful not to have too much at the edges lest “tears” be formed. Leave to dry for several days away from dust.

An old bedroom suite may be given quite a modern appearance by painting. I saw one elderly duchesse given a beauty treatment. The knobs on the top corners of the mirror, and the old brass handles of the drawers were removed. The holes left by the screws were filled with plastic wood which was later sandpapered flat. Putty could be used instead of plastic wood, but is liable to shrink. Bakelitc knobs were screwed in to replace the old handles.

A small tin of lacquer in the chosen shade, and a paint-brush, did the job. The mirror was unhinged and its frame painted separately. A piece of cardboard was held at the edge of the glass to prevent splashes of paint. One coat was found sufficient, even for the bakelite knobs, and the owner of the paint looked covetously at a perfectly good oak-bedstead, but was finally prevailed on to leave it and transfer her attentions to an old cane chair, which suddenly became a possession of some value. New curtains and cushions transformed what had been a drab room.

Health Notes. Food.

In the last issue of this Magazine, we promised to take up the subject of Food in our next, so we start off with a brief explanation regarding the necessity of food. Why do we eat?

Continuous throughout life, the cells of the body undergo a process of breaking down, and building up; a process known to scientists as Metabolism. To maintain these processes at a normal level, food and oxygen are required. In the process of breaking down of cells, impurities are formed which are passed into the blood stream, carried to the lungs, and here exhaled as carbon dioxide. We then breathe in oxygen in the air which purifies the blood and through this medium is carried to all parts of the body to take part in combustion and the generation of heat and energy.

We ingest food which, in the process of digestion is broken up into minute particles, and then absorbed into the blood stream for distribution to all the tissues of the body. Remember that these processes are going on continuously even when the body is at rest, but then in a lesser degree than when the body is active. We partake of a meal, then set about our work, the strength and energy for which is provided by the proceeds of that meal in conjunction with the oxygen which we have breathed in. Now when the proceeds become exhausted, nature creates that hungry feeling which we call appetite, and we then require further provision for the needs of the body. Hence the necessity for a regular supply of suitable food is obvious. Let us stress the word “suitable,” as the ingestion of unsuitable food leads to indigestion, and lays the foundation for all sorts of bodily disorders and maladies.