We had one of these lying around our house in the 1950s. It was never consulted as far as I know. I have never used the 'removing shininess' hint on page 298: 'If the seat of the trousers begins to look shiny, try rubbing it with a flannel dipped in turpentine. An alternative method is to rub it gently with very fine emery paper, and then to rub it over with a warm silk handkerchief'.

This nondescript book used to sit on a bookshelf in the hall in the house where I grew up. It was rarely touched. I remember picking it up once or twice as a child and then putting it back again. I have never had distemper symptoms, I have never lightened black paint or had a need for loose covers. I have never tried to look cheerful