Dear Heloise: I had an important document that I needed to keep handy, so I put it on top of a pile of papers in my long desktop drawer. Minutes later, I went to retrieve it, but it was missing. Simply gone!

It took me a bit to figure out that it must have slipped over the back of the drawer and, of course, landed on the floor. But it was not there either! This desk drawer, unlike many, had a panel under it where things could get lost forever. Unfortunately, the whole drawer had to be removed to get underneath it.

Now that I’m aware of that panel, I’m on a quest to check under similar drawers in the house. Who knows what treasures are going to be found! — A Reader From Connecticut

CURSIVE SOUND OFF

Dear Heloise: I just read comments from a retired teacher in your column. I am going on 83 years old, and I am outraged that our local schools in Miamisburg, Ohio, did not teach my grandchildren how to read and write cursive. Their ages are now 24, 18 and almost 17. If I write them a note or anything else without printing it, they struggle to read it, even if I wrote very carefully.

I have so much family history that I am putting together, including very old letters and even some information on the back of ancestors’ pictures. They will never be able to read them because of the stupidity of some so-called educators. I believe that local schools are starting to bring back the teaching of cursive finally, but the damage has already been done to my grandchildren.

Fortunately, many other schools across the nation did not subscribe to such foolishness and never stopped teaching cursive writing, nor phonics for reading. — Mary Carter, Miamisburg, Ohio

SCUFFED SHOES

Dear Heloise: I have a pair of dressy flats in a sort of silvery black color. I noticed that they had become scuffed and looked worn, with some of the color getting muted. It occurred to me to try putting some petroleum jelly on them. I was astounded at the difference! They were almost as good as new — no black polish needed! — Karen Greding, Thousand Oaks, California

REMOVING STAINS FROM THERMOSES

Dear Heloise: I saw that using powdered dish soap helps to clean stains off thermoses, pots and pans. Another way to clean glass thermoses easily is to spray some window spray in the thermos, enough to slosh around, and it pretty much cleans itself. I’ve been doing this for many years. — J.H., via email

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

Dear Heloise: I am reacting to your “Porch Pirate” reader hint in a recent column in the Villages Daily Sun. It’s great for neighbors to look out for neighbors’ properties, but the decline in honesty and increase in theft and looting in America is appalling.

Let’s all recall the “thou shalt not steal” commandment and work for what we have. If one is truly poor, government assistance and churches or charities can help. If you steal to buy drugs, please go to rehab. Make America a good, safe place to live again and love thy neighbor. — Ellen Cora, The Villages, Florida

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.