\\\\\\\\

i {

 

 

 

DETROIT, AUGUST 25, 1888.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

For the Household.
THE FA [Bill 312‘s SOLILOQ U Y .

 

The sun was declining be ‘ ind the hills
At the close of a beautiful day.

The day of the mont'i was the seventeenth,
And the month of the you was May:

The sky was arrayed in its gayest gown
Of delicate pink and blue.

While the earth with its liel is of growing grain
Was gorgeous in beauty too.

The farmer had finished h's work for the day.
The stock had all been fed.

The supper was eaten and cleared an :13.
And tr e little ones were in bed.

The farmer was seated with p’pe in men 1‘
By the side of the kizc‘uen lire.

For the evenings were somewhat chilly yet.
Albeit the days wer .- mild.

Silently sit'ing and sucking away.
Not a word to anyone said.
But his mind was at work the‘ his tongue was
not
O’er a. ditficu‘t problem indeed.
A problem that some wood think odd enough.
But to him! ah, he never could see
The affirmative side of the following w )rds:
“ Are my daughaers of much useto me?"

“ Two grown up daughters have I." he thought.
“ Women a‘mo-st. it seems.
Ye t, neither of them seems to bring in a cent.
Tho‘ both are far into their teens.
They can spend the earnings my hands have
wrought,
0 yes! that' , quite easily done;
But the thing of it is when they‘re needing new
clothes
Why don t they try and earn some.

‘ To be srre they help my wife with the work,
But Ithink she could do it alone.
Although she does look a trifle pale.
But working makes people strong.
They can play the piano and sing, 0 yes!
For the neighbors that happen in.
1 don’t know but that I am proud of them
When they‘re aske . again and again.

“ Well, and there‘s the family sewing.
I believe my wife has said.
They save her a deal or hiring.
By sewing themselves. instead.
And the village to ks all count on them
To help Wlth their doings and such.
And to tell tl e truth. without them
I’m thinking they couldn‘t do much.“

“ And then too. the house and its fixings
Are sort of ‘ kept up ' by them.
Fo- wt haul them the mother and 1
light drift Into old fashion d plans.
I’ve been judging too harshly I reckon.
The worth of our girls, to see
If I couldn't find some way or other
That my daue hters arn‘t much use to me."
Cox‘conn. B. M. F-

—___....______

THE FARMER‘S WOES.

i saw in a recent issue of the Faauan a
report of the discussion, ata Farmers’ Club,
of the following question: “ Are the agri-

 

cultural interests and the farmer properly
represented in the legislative bodies of this
country.” It is not this question i desire to
discuss. but the views or the sneakers, as
briefly reported. One gentlemruclaimed
they Were not proper y more-entail. laws
being made by lawyers. who work for the
moneyed intercSts. if the farmer is
properly represented. who” the fruit?
votes for the lawyers these
obnoxious laws. Ourpmi‘essious sud c-nn-
mercial classes are c 7-n~:* ‘tDiif,’ bin; recruit-
ed by drafts from the agricultural classes-
Tne farmer is contiriuxily grumbling that
his sons will not: stay on the firm; nix-'1) we
find him educating: the}:
(and putting a. niortgrtgw on tin? farm to do
it) because he knows they .vi‘i have a bait-or
chaucewt’ advancemem. if he clause to
exert his influence and train his sons to it
proper understanding of me Dealt-l of the
agricultural interest, he. could, beyond the
shadow ofadoubt, through his own vote
and theirs. control the “ balance of newer"
and become a dominant factor in legislation.

To enact wise laws, laws which shall do
justice to all classes and industries. a legis—
lative body must include representatives of
all the interests in the Sate. Teen each
acts as a check upon the other to prevent
class legislation, or injustice to Olle indus-
try-through laws framed to protect another.
There must ba business men of broad views
who can comprehend the effects of. laws
upon trade. lawyers, to see that statutes are
constitutional and binding, farmers and
manufacturers to look after the needs of
their respective interests.

But when it comes to elec:ion what do
we see! Nominate a farmer for representa-
tive in our State Lvigislature. and the votes
of the farmers in his district defeat him, in
nine cases out of ten. in favor of sour:
windy orator from the city who thinks cab-
brges grow on trees and (1 HM care a snap
of his finger about the “agriculturil in-
terests”—-after he gets elected. Farmers
almost invariably vote on party lines; it is
the Democrat. or the Republican, 0: the
Prohibitiouist, who gets the votes, no? the
one of their number who could represent
them uuderstaudiugly. A wool-growing
district sends a man to Congress who says
wool isa minor industry in his Szate, al-
though it ranks iourth in production among
its sister States. It is enough for thefarm )r
if the man he is asked to vote for belongs
on his side of the political fence, and has a
ready tongue and the reputation of being " a
sharp teller.” And one great reason why
farmers will not vote for a farmer is
through what looks to me suspiciously like

not
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v
’1‘! .,
11116!)

V1111}

in the Offlii‘éoiiJHS

.1

 

an igro“le jealousy because he is preferred
before Wm; he has grown up among them.
he is 19:; better than they think they are
themselves, and “ he's getting too Big-feel-
lug,” so they *vu {2-3.3 his) a»: the polls to
take the conceit out of him. Any person

ax all. conversant. ssize the p‘nlil,i':11h’-St0ry
oi ifs S ? kiluw" this is true, and that
i 1:) one good 1.12:1, TL”) would have

r: s? l ~ ‘ ‘ . on: fluid?) a . L :usiug,

_,' «1'..-.3Jinstediu Hie house

37.2.2: girccozs zoo-2.! to be

 

.- lit. . .c 4:- ' or Legislature by a
h. n . l. n :11 2211 support their

.~: 51:275." 1» mascot-av

. Mann 1-:
:izx. t':1";rv.'i.i have no 52.30;! to .?..-.:'lpi.1-iu.
s: ,r:;’.: ’i‘ue remedylies in
‘re ouiy.

._. , .3 .1
in 43 1-42.;

   

x. .. - a
gaunt), “.1- an.

‘ -.
-',L I't?

1211 aricm mums the worst oil of
auy 1:511:15 uz‘ pimple in the world? How
sin-.1: ii igzi xii armors, with their high rents.
ill-if their out lands and
Aui'rlcau, lnziian and Australian competi-
tion in wheat. wool and meat production?
ll 1w about French agriculture, where the
iatmor‘s holding would not make a.
potato patch for an American, yet a whole
family mile: live on the returns; and Ger-
m-iny. where the able-bodied men go int-o
the arm r and women till the fields and live
on black bread and cabbage? Is the Ameri-
can iarmer “ worse off ” than these? Would
he exchange places with any one of them?
Is he not rather the was most to be envied
among agriculturists? The truth is, the
farmer thinks he has a hard time because
he does not know how other people are com-
pelled to live.

A late resident of this city who came
here from England and was very loyal in
his att .chmrnt to his native country. after
a number of years’ residence here mid a
visit to his old home. On his return, his
friends of course were anxious to learn his
impressions of the condition of. agricultural
and live—stock interests in England. and
what comparisons he would make between
that country and his adopted home. Asked
if he would retur-i there to live he replied:
“ If her majesty Qreeu Victoria were to
offer me as a free gift the finest farm in her
royal dominious i would say ‘ I thank your
Gracious Majesty most humbly, but I very
much prefer to return to America.’ ” And
th at iscthe way nearly every foreigner feels
who comes here willing to work. Poor as
they may be in their own land, poor as they
may be here, they find themselves infinitely
better off here; and the fact that none will
willingly return proves clearly that they are
aware of their better prospects.

There are fewer business failures among

-.. v”);-
t rod...”

'v'v' 02' .

lift“:

 

.3... ‘13”

 


 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

FOR THE GIRLS.

A correspondent of Women’s Work tells
the girls some of her secrets. as follows:
“You can have a pretty gilded rocker at
anexpense of twenty-live cents, and you
need not trouble to sandpaper and scrape
the paint off, either. Pour some varnish
into an old teacup, adding a little turpen-
tine. spread a couple of newspapers on the
kitchen table, and give part of the chair a
thin coat of varnish. In a few minutes,
wuen the varnish is '1‘ tacky.” not dry, put
on the bronze and with a bit of chamois
rolled up in a ball, rub lightly back and
forth till evenly covered. .

“In a few hours put on another 0 oat of
varnish and bronze, and then the third one,
then it will not rub oil.”

A home made screen can be manufactured
with alittle work and small expense, and is
useful in the kitchen to keep the heat of
the tire from the worker. and in many other
piacesin the house: Fasten two clothes-
racks together with hinges: cover the panels
thus made with common cotton cloth. cut as
wide as the panels. tack firmly at the bot-
to;..; then stretch tightly over the frame and
faster.- securely at the botmm on the other
side: also fasten the cloth firmly to the sides.
Now till the whole with a thin coat of glue
size, this causes the Cutton to shrink and
makes the frame work very Solid, also giv-
ing ante»: surtace to work upon. (i'l over
the frame with black Shellac and rub to a
sort srlrtaite with emery cloth. You can
then (heal-ate in any way preferred. Pretty
wall paper. used tor dado and frieze, with a
plain Spice between. which may he covered
with olive. dark red. sage green, or any
color of paper preferred. A pretty ceiling
paper wrth gilt stars is not bad.

Birth bark pictures are very pretty for
home decoration. Take a nice smooth
sheetot hark any size desired. and fast-en
firmly with anticilage to a piece of thin card-
board: decorate with the brush or arrange
pressed autumn leaves and terns upon it. in
any way desired. ’retty tramos for pic~
tures of this kind are made by cutting from
thin, unplaned boards pieces the size de
sired, and gluetogetner. At each corner,
or. it the frames are large, at equal dis-
tances apart, arrange. groups of tiny acorns
in their cups and glue firmly to the frames,
and gild the whole. The unplaned wood
when gilded gives the appearance of rough
gilt. «Cornucopias made of bark bound
with ribuon decorated with autumn leaves
and turns and filled with dried grasses are
rather pretty. Place at the points pretty
bows of ribbon, to the ends of which at-
tach tinv gilded acorns in their cups. An-
other pretty recept .ele tor dried grasses is a
round cox any depth and width desired,
covered with bark, ornamonwd in fronta
little above half way with a lumen of pine
or hemiock burrs glued on firmly. varnished
or brunt—d. or both. AI. the bottom at the
bunch 1: fastened a hrotd satin ribbon bow,
from me ends of which fall small burrs.
The bottom and top are finished by broad
bands of ribbon. The width of the ribbon
depends upon the size of the box. A pretty
ornament for the front or this box instead
of the burrs is a small bunch of dried
grasses tied with a bow of ribbon. The

.

 

burrs at the. ends of the. ribbon may be
fastened by small brass-headed tacks.
These are only a few of the things for
which birch bark can be used, and as it
serves the purpose of perforated cardboard,
the making of one article will suggest the
making of another.

 

«oo-

CUCUMBER PICKLES.

 

 

A. I). Grover, of Ann Arbor, desires to
know how to put up cucumbers in salt
brine, and also in liquor, making what is
known as " whiskey pickles.”

For the small quantity usually put up for
home consumption, as good a way as any is
to wash the cucumbers and pack them in
alternate layers with plenty of salt which
soon forms a brine, which preserves them
until needed, when they are freshened by
several days’ soaking in water changed
daily, and put into vinegar. When large
quantities are pu". up. they are thrown—
after being washed—intuit weak brine in
which they remain two or three days, then
put into a barrel or cask and covered with
strong brine. They should be covered with
acloth weighted to keep them under the
brine.

We have no directions for putting up
cucumbers in liquor. nor are we able to
obtain any. The “ whiskey pickles” of
commerce. are, we think, put down in brine
at first, and alter t‘reshsning, put into white
wine. vinegar. which gives the sharp tang.
A recipe which we find in an exchange is
as follows: “ Take one quart of good
alcohol to four quarts of water; put the cu-
cumbers in fresh from the vines, after
wiping them with a wet cloth, or washing
and draining them. Keep in a warm place
until tit for the table; then keep in a cellar
or other cool place.”

If any of our readers can furnish other in-
formation, Mr. Grover will be glad to re-
ceive it.

———-——-«o——-—

COOKING POTATOES.

Our potato crop was brought into the

cellar last night, and as quite the largest
share of them are about the size of marbles,
thequestion before the house now is, how
are they to be disposed of?
- As I understand the bulk of the crop
throughout the State is in much the same
condition, perhaps a few ideas exchanged
on the methods of preparing them for the
table mizht be mutually beneficial.

The very smallest are the best eating if
nicely cooked and served hot; that is nec-
essary to any potato to have it in its prime.
When 1 have enough time at my disposal to
do so. 1 sort out the little ones and fill a
large dinner pot. boil quickly, pour off the
water and allow the potatoes to cool, then
take 011 their jackets, as grandma would say,
and set them in the refrigerator or a cool
place. it will be. but little trouble to put a
quantity in the spider, with sulii alent butter
or pork drippings and salt to season, and
tried brown, they are really delicious. I
have known of several families who bought
small potatoes on account of the difference
in price between them and large ones, and
used them principally in that way.

The next larger grade can be washed
clean and baked in a quick oven. lt wlil

 

take but afew minutes to bake them, and
they should be sent to the table direct from
the oven; but of all things a gritty baked
potato is—well, bad enough, so be sure they
are above reproach.

Last spring when we had potatoes
through all the grades of good, bad and in-
diflerent, the ladies of our Farmers’ Club
took up the subject and we received some
good ideas. One member said she could
make soggy potatoes really palatable by
boiling quickly and removing from the fire
just as soon as they were done, then pour
off the water and mash well with plenty of
seasoning. The point was to not allow
them to cook a moment after they were
tender, to absorb water.

Another member gave directions for
baking, which I have tried and found very
nice. Pare large potatoes, cut in quarters
or eighths, fill a pie tin or dripping pan,
sprinkle with pepper, salt and bits of but-
ter or drippiugs and bake quickly. This
makes a nice supper dish.

Wnen potatoes are scarce I mix small
pieces of moist bread with warmed over
potatoes, let them brown, and it is not bad
at all.

After a. season of substitutes for potatoes
in the shape of pancakes, johnny cake,
fried bread, gems and what not, we are
ready to receive with gratitude and make
allowance for the genuine article even if
they are SMALL POTATOES.

Gnass LAKE.

————+.+————-
Useful Reerpes.
.___‘.._.

SALT MACK eunn wr'm CREAM Sauce—Wash
and soak s‘mackerel over night. In the
morning put into a baking dish and pour
over one pint of milk. Bake twenty minutes.
Remove; strain the milk: melt one table-
spoonful butter, add one tablespOOnful flour
and pour on the hot milk: add one saltspoon-
ful pepper and pour over the mackerel.

 

Sruwnn Tenacious—Pour boiling water
over the tomatoes and then remove the SKlflS.
Cut the tomatoes into pieces. rejecting any
hard or green parts; put them in a porce-
lain-lined or granite pan: add, one slice of
onion and simmer gently for thirty minutes,
stlrrlnrr occasionally with a wooden spoon.
When done add three ounces of butter to
every quart of tomatoes: season with salt and
pepper to taste. Do not add flour or bread.
as they destroy the flavor and color. The
gentle cooking in an uncovered vessel will
evaporate the liquid until the tomatoes will
be the proper consistency without thicken-
ing. Violent heat destroys the dellclous flavor
of this half fruit, half vegetable, so when you
cook them be most careful to use only mod-
erate heat.

PEAR MARMALADE ——Welgh. pare, halve,
and core as many ripe mellow peers as you
desire to use. Put them into a preserving
pan. cover them with water, and simmer gen-
tly until they are tender. Lift them out of the
water and boil the liquid for an hour with the
skins and cores of the peers. Strain it.
Make a syrup of it by by boiling a pound and
a half of sugar for every two pounds or' fruit.
Let this syrup boil until it will stiffen when a
small quantity is poured upon a plate. Stir
the pears into the syrup and boil all together
for a few minutes. Turn the marmalade in-
to jars, cover in the usual way and store in a
cool, dry place. This is an English recipe.

 


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01"

M w... --_.__..__.....A», “A-.._a_.#_.___... a“ W. A ..

 

 

 

DETROIT, AUGUST 25, 1888.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

For the Household.
TEE FA RM 812‘s SULILOQ UY.

 

The sun was declining be ' ind the hills
At the close of a beautiful day.

The day of the mont'i was the seventeenth,
And the mouth of the year was May:

The sky was arrayed in its giyest gown
Of delicate pink and blue.

While the earth with its ilel is of growing grain
Was gorgeous in beauty too.

The farmer had finished h's work for 2hr day.
The stock had -.‘1] been fed,

The supper was eat-2n and cleared an «iv.
And ti 9 little ones were in bed.

The farmer was seated with p‘pe in moo :-
By the side of the klECllell tire.

For the evenings were somewhat chilly yet.
Albeit the days wer - mild.

Silently sit'iniz and snolzing away,
Not a word to any one said,
But his mind was at work tho‘ his tongue was
not
O’er a difficult problem indeed.
A problem that some wood think odd enough.
But to him! ah, he never could see
The affirmative side of the following w )rdS:
“ Are my daughzers of much useto me?"

“ Two grown up daughters have I." he thought.
“ Women a‘most, it seems.
Yr t, neither of them seems to bring in a cent.
Tho‘ both are far into their teens.
They can spend the earnings my hands have
Wrought.
0 yes! that‘ J quite easily done;
But the thing of it is when they‘re needing new
clothes
Why don t they try and earn some.

‘ To be sure they help my wife with the work.
But Ithink she could do it alone,
Although she does 10 air a trifle pale.
But workin,y makes people strong.
They can play the r-iano and sing, 0 yes!
For the neighbors that happen in.
I don’t kuo av but that I am proud of them
When they‘re aske . again and again.

" Well, and there‘s the family sewing.
I believe my wife has said.
They save her a deal 01 hiring.
By sewing themSelves. instead.
And the village to ks all count on them
To help w-th ih9il' doings and such,
And to tell ti e truth. without them
I’m thinking they couldn‘t do much."

“ And then too, the hause and its fixings
Are sort of ‘ kept up ’ by them.
FO‘ wi hou‘. them the mother and 1
light drift into old fashio at d plans.
I‘ve been judging too harshly I reckon.
The worth of our girls, to see
If I couldn't find some way or other
That my daughters arn‘t much use to me."
Con‘conn. B. M. F-

_—_...____.

THE FARMER’S WOEB.

I saw in a recent issue of the Fanuan a
report of the discussion, ate Farmer-8’ Club,
of the following question: “ Are the agri-

 

cultural interests and the farmer properly
represented in the legislative bodies of this
country.” It is not this question I desire to
discuss, but the views 01' the speakers, as
briefly report-ed. One. gentleman claimed
they were not properly l’EDl‘C-t‘llii'd. laws
being made by lawyers. who W-rl'k for the
money-3d interests. if tile farmer is not
preperly represented. whom the fruit? II:
votes for the lawyers Wllv moire these
obnoxious laws. 0le professions and C-Jlfl-
mercial classes are c 7219* inily bin: re bruit
ed by drafts from the :tgliCiiliuifnl classes-
Tne farmer is continually grumbling that
his sons will not: stay on the firm; :1 -‘u we:
find him educating their in Hm probed-.3315

 

   

(andp‘ltlir‘ig a mortgage-.31! the farm to do
it; because he lil‘lm’l'é the}; will have a batter
chsncewt advancement. if he (‘llill‘i‘ to
exert his influence and {ruin his Sons to a
prOper understanding of the n.:~.3fir~ of the
agricultural interest, he could, heroin {the
Shauow ofadoubt, throizzh his own we:
and theirs. control the “ balance of power"
and. become a dorninant factor in legislation.

To enact wise laws, laws which shall do
justice to all classes and industries. a legis—
lative body must include representatives of
all the interests in the Sate. 'I‘oen each
acts as a check upon the other to prevent
class legislation, or injrstice to one inclus-
try through laws framed to protect another.
There must b3 business men of broad views
who can comprehend the effects of laws
upon trade, lawyers, to see that. statutes are
constitutional and binding. farmers and
manufacturers to look after the needs of
their respective interests.

But when it comes to elemlnn what do
we see! N omin-rte a farmer for represent-a—
tiv_e in our State Legislature, and the votes
of the farmers in his district defeat nim, in
nine cases out of ten. in favor of sum:
windy orator from the city who thinks cab—
biges grow on trees and don’t care a snap
of his finger about the “agriculturri in-
terests”—-after he gets elected. Farmers
almost invariably vote on party lines; it is
the Democrat, or the Republican, 0: the
Prohibitionist, who gets the votes, not the
one of their number who could rem-“sent
them understandiugly. A woof-growing
district sends a man to Congress who says
wool isa minor industry in his State, al-
though it ranks tourth in production among
its sister States. It is enough for thefarmer
if the man he is asked to vote for belongs
on his side or‘ the political fence, and has a
ready tongue and the reputation of being ” a
sharp teller.” And one great reason why
farmers will not vote for a farmer is
through what. looks to me suspiciously like

. ohm.

 

an igro“le jealousy because he is preferred
before ”Wu; he has grown up among them.
he is 12:,» better thin they think they are
themselves, and " he’s getting too big-feel-
ing,” so they lvn n 3'13 him a): Clli‘ polls to
take the conceit on: of him. Any person
conversant, with the p'tiliiicll history
0 1:?s S? liiluw'v this 2., true, and that

run:- lilfii‘r one goo-"l :.l 3.1, vino airfield have

 

   

or ii; reprexerrel l2: puissrioh a . l. insing,
1r. :‘.I:z,'i'llil):l'.l43 ";,'.-,~::;-..ilin:;‘:a3dit; me house
o. «' frlztaifir. ‘lVien auras wall to be
r r- “up”; 1'} C no ‘ or Legislazm‘e by a
g n . .:, a ..l . :t-il stigma-rt their
3.3.1394.» in .nic ‘2: ..: 37:23." rvjn'riasenta—
:l*.'.:, :5»: WM hey-.1: no :. 430:1 to .-nplain.
ql tbs-3 gray Lag: a: ,::._.s. "be remedy lies iii
1113': :3 ; blurb, or ‘1 linre only.

.217»: Amaricur 3mm we the worst oil of

   

. or" pimple in {he world? How
ii ;.;;i ill antlers, with their high rents,
ill-ill“ 1; .5, their worn out lands and
Am ~r1can, Milan and Australian competi-
tion in Wheat. wool and meat production?
11w about French agriculture, where the
iarmNr’s little holding would not make. a
potato pale-21 for an American, yet a whole
family 1111133 live on the returns; and Gen
m-iny. where the able-bodied men go into
the arm 7 and women till the fields and live
on black breavi and cabbage? Is the Ameri-
can farmer “ worse oil ” than these? Would
he exchange plAceS with any one of them?
Is he not rather the man most to be envied
among agriculturists? The truth is, the
farmer thinks he has a hard time because
he does not know how other people are com-
pelled to live.

A late resident of this city who came
here from England and was very loyal in
his. attachment to his native count ry, after
a number of years’ residence here paid a
visit to his old home. On his return, his
friends of course were anxious to learn his
impressions of the condition of agricultural
and live—stock interests in England, and
what comparisons he would make between
that country and his adopted home. Asked
if he would return. there to live he replied:
“ If her majesty Qieen Victoria were to
offer me as a free gift. the finest farm in her
royal dominhuzs I tvr-iiid say ‘ I thank your
Gracious. Maj-arty most humbly, but I very
much prefer to raturn to America.’ ” And
th at isthe way nearly every foreigner feels
Who comes here willing to work. Poor as
they may be in their own land, poor as they
may be here, they find themselves infinitely
better oif here; and the fact that none will
willingly return proves clearly that they are

  

aware of their better prospects.

There are fewer business failures among

.11P~~MI

 


  

 

 

 
   
   

THE HO USEHOLD.

 

farmers, proportionately, than among any
other class of people; and real estate is
everywhere classed as the safest of securi-
ties. Too total mortgage indebtedness on
all the farms of Michigan in 1887 was
nineteen per cent on their assessed valua-
tion; in England, as long ago as 1876, the
farms were mortgaged for fifty-eight per
cent of their total value! Not one Ameri-
can farmer out of two hundred is compelled
to mortgage his farm for money to meet its
current expenses. He puts that adhesive
plaster upon it to pay for the luxuries; for
more land to make himself “land poor;”
for the expensive implements the agent
flaiters him intobuying; because he must
build as big a barn or as fine a house as a
neighbor who has money in the bank; be-
cause he goes into the Bohemian oats or
Red Line wheat business, or undertakes to
get ahead of a “ patent right ” sharper.

There is no one thing more noticeable by

the person who observes with careful eye
the progressive movement of all ranks and
classes, than the fact that the farmer of to-
day is a broader—minded, more intelligent,
better- educated man than was the farmer
of twenty-five years ago. And what has
made him so? What, but the influence of
the tide of advancement that has carried
him along in its wake, giving him advan-
tages and privileges his father could not
secure. How many of us would care to go
back to those “good old days,” when the
crops were put in by oxen and gathered
with sickle and scythe, the days of stage-
coaches and post-boys carrying letters de-
manding twenty-five cents postage and
newspapers telling the events that happened
six weeks or two months ago? What
makes the farmers’ market but a “live
town,” and where do you find a live
town but where those great arteries of trade,
the railroads, throw their gleaming belts of
steel around it? What is a farm twenty
miles from a. railroad worth, anyhow? and
what takes a farmer “out of the woods”
quicker than the coming of the iron horse?
There is no law to prevent a man from
gathering his crops after antique methods
and dressing in homespun, an’ it please him,
but where will he rank among his brother
farmers even though his farm be unmort-
gaged?

What men would do for a scapegoat were
it no: for women and their fashions, a
gracious Heaven only knows. Nowl will
venture the assertion, and defy any mas~
culine grumblerto disprove my words, that
three-fifths of the farmers’ wives of a town-
ship do not average, in five years, over an
annual expenditure of fifty dollars for e very
article of dress, from shoe~buttons to hair-
pins, which they wear. And in the name
of justice, if the hard working farmer’s Wife,
who toils more hours than does her liege
lord and master, does not earn and is not
entitled to an average of. a dollar a week
for her work, what 2's it worth? If her
poor little bills for calico and millinery are
tobe grumbled over as the cause of her hus-
band’s business misfortunes, she better
throw up her situation and come into town
where she can earn her board and three
dollars a week, not work nearly as hard,
and follow more fashions than she ever saw
or heard of on the farm. BEATBIX.

 

 

IN THE HOME .

 

It is always interesting to me to learn
the home-life of people, to see what those
I meet are, what they do, and what
they read at home. In my journeyings
about I am surprised at the few persons
among the intelligent classes who read
much, or anything, beside their newspaper.
The political newspaper and the religious
newspaper abound. I do not know which
is the worst; but, in truth, people should re-
flect on what the author of that fine work,
“The Intellectual Life,” says, that but a
very small portion of the newspaper is
worth reading, and we should find that and
waste no time over the rest.

The lover of fine literature, who has felt
his being enlarged on finishing some great
work, is familiar with the exaltation of
mind experienced, and his resolve to dig
deep in the intellectual mines and store up
their wealth of thought. Yet what we ac-
complish seems to me finely illustrated in
Rider Haggard’s story of “Solomon’s
Mines,” where the travelers at last enter
the mine and discover about them a won-
derful wealth of diamonds. Yet if I re-
member correctly, but one of the number
succeeded in getting to the foot of the
mountain with any of the precious stones.
and he in retaining but a few of the smaller
gems. ,

I have entered many homes and house-
holds new to me, and the joys and miseries
of the home-life to be seen have impressed
me deeply. The wealth and the poverty of
the life within these little worlds of being
is not to be seen at once, but the discerning
heart soon sees the undercurrent and feels
its throbbing ebb and flow. There seems
gathered and combined forces which shape
human destinies; here are developed the
wonderful powers of the soul to bless or to
blight. others. The home presents, as it
were, a picture of the life within it. In its
surroundings and belongings it indicates
the taste and ability of its inmates, and
their inner life flows out in light or shadow
over it all. The hams-story is the history
of the world. it has always seemed to me
that those who were born and who have
grown to man and womanhood surrounded
by the beautiful in nature, with her daily
benediction of beauty and peace resting
upon them, would be beautiful in charac-
ter and fine in sympathy. But I find it is
not so. There is a deeper secret in life, a
more subtle power which builds up the
pure and lofty in soul amidst unlovely sur-
roundings and proves environment a
secondary condition to nobility of mind. ‘

Some of the old homes seem just as they
must have been thirty years or more ago,
and the children have grown up in the
homes and faith of their fathers, attending
the old stone schoolhouse and the little
church, never having traveled one hundred
miles from home. One feels in some of
these homes as though he were living several
centuries ago. Somhow the old house with
its ancient belongings and crumbling walls
seems illy adapted to the young beginning
their wedded life together. As the young
birds build their nests when they mate and
have their song because they have their
nests, so it seems right and beautiful that

 

the young should begin their new life in a
new home sacred to the future of united
hearts, where each may give the true ex-
pression of taste and character. We like
to leave our impress upon the world; we
like to feel that we are building, and there
is no purer pleasrire for human hearts than
the building of the beautiful kingdom called
home, the gathering together, as opportu-
nitv and fortune permit, those little things
which the thoughtful heart and dear hands
can accomplish to make home charming.

I wonder if parents often think that a
child may feel actual pain because of want
of beauty in the home? If they know the
ancient and worn articles of furniture which
might be easily replaced by modern pieces
are real “thorns in the flesh?” If parents
could feel the jarring influence which comes
to the young and beauty-loving nature from
the broken chair, the worn couch, or the
tumbling fence, would they not see that
these things were changed? So many
shadows fall, so many tears must dim the
eyes, should not all needless causes of pain
and discord be removed? It seems to me
the home should be made so dear by grace
of life and beauty of surrounding that the
heart will cherish and cling to it through the
years, as a sweet and joyous memory
springing up like a gracious fountain. ,

There seem so few families who think of
gathering alibrary as the years of home
life glide by, and the growing children are
seeking amusement and knowledge, their
tastes developing and characters being
moulded by associations and reading. And
it is so easy to keep the young from per-
nicious reading by pie cing pure and whole-
some books within their reach. I have
seen “ East Lynn ” in several homes recent-
ly, and having plenty of leisure have oc-
cupied most of the day in reading it. From
its popularity I had supposed it to be a
novel of the sensational sort and probably
shallow. but I was not prepared to find the
story so replete with vulgar exaggeration,
stupidity, and untruth. The mind is con-
tinually repelled by its inconsistencies and
the finer emotions pained and shocked by
its superficial painting or‘ the most sublime
and terrible passions of the human soul.
The young and susceptible mind should be
guarded from the influence of such books as
from vicious companions; for the reading
of a book is simply an introduction to its
characters and a familiar acquaintance with
their principles and actions. The more one
sees of the world and the more one thinks,
the stronger must be his sense of. the un-
development of the masses of humanity.
Yet the good and pure in human lives will
blossom out under kindly influences, and a
good book is like a helpful hand to the
s Lt‘l'lé gling life.

There is another great need in many
homes, closer sympathy and more unselfish
love between husbands and wives. There is
too much indifference, sucha lack of the
insniration of love which makes home the
dearest spot on earth, lightening the load
of labor and making daily duties daily
pleasures. Many hearts are weary in the
daily toil, for want of some of the tender-
ness of the old days, just for want of the
sunlight of the heart shining in the every
day life. The gentle touch upon the aching

  

  
  
  
     
  
   
   
 
   
  
  
  
   
    
    
   
    
    
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
  
    
     
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
    
   
   
  
     
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
    

 


 

 

  

'head, the simple clasp of the wedded hands,
the glad, quick glance of the eye, the kiss
at parting, all seem forgotten, or sadder
still, were they never known?

Life is justified alone by love. The
sweep of sorrow and the rack of pain would
give just cause for complaint, did not the
crown of love sweeten and glorify the bit-
terness of existence. And one may well
marvel that many strive so feebly for the
crown. The daily life grows wearisome
and dull, and tired feet stumble and bleed
in the dim ways. The fact is early learned
that life is “a great bundle of little things.”
Its happiness lies in the little joys spring-
ing along the pathway, in the daily graces
and tenderness, in the helpfulness of the
little kindnesses bestowed just when the
heart is needy. s. M. G.

Srnaonsn, N. Y.

.-——.—..¢..__._._

'THE FERRY EXPERIMENT GARDENS,

It had been some time, a couple of years,
since I had visited the experimental gardens
of the Ferry Seed Company on Woodward
and Ferry Avenues in this city, which are
under the supervision of Prof. W. W.
Tracy. And so, last Saturday afternoon,
in company with a friend I took an upward
bound car, and after a twenty-minute ride
along this tree-lined avenue, left the cars
where a big patch of verbenas and another
of sweet peas gave promise of better things
beyond. But the gate through which I had
entered on former visits was barred by a
great stone evidently put there to stay; an-
other and smaller gate bore a rusty padlock
as its coat of arms, and although I could
have climbed that fence. I really did not
think it would be proper, right there on the
Avenue. Some flower-loving pilferer had
broken a board of the fence separating this
lot from its neighbor; thither two determined
women took their way and crawled through
the hole in a very undignitied but expedi-
tious manner, and though a regiment of
soldiers in livery of pale green, each with a
“black seed” shako on his head, stood
mustered in martial order in our way, we
passed through their ranks, over the soil
which yielded to the foot like a velvet (311‘-
pet, past the patient toilers gathering seeds,
who regarded us with evident suspicion,
and " all over Robin Hood’s barn ”——if
anybody knows now much territory that
covers—till at last, at his pleasant home
on Ferry Avenue, we found the guardian
genius of the place.

By the opening of Ferry Avenue, a re-
arrangement of the trial plats was made
necessary; the most important of these are
now on that aVenue, instead of Woodward,
as heretofore. Here are grown and tested
all the novelties sent out by various seeds-
men, with a view to a careful and practical
estimate of their actual value. All the
seductive and glowing adjectives of the
catalogues are ignored and the seeds grown
“on their merits.” I should like to con-
vey some idea of the care and system under
which this is done. For instance, the first
thing one observes is the rows of tomatoes
grown next the fence and guarded from the
predaceous small boy by two rows of very
business-looking barbed wire, whose numer.
ous bristling points seemed calculated t’o

 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

make eager youth pause and bethink itself.
The tomatoes are grown on trellises, in
regular rows, and at the head of each row
is a stake with a number upon it. A cor-
reSponding number in Prof. Tracy’s note
book gives the name of the variety, by whom
sent, date of planting, and any other in-
formation regarded necessary. Over one
hundred varieties of‘tomatoes alone are
thus being tested. Among them was a
recent novelty, the Mikado, whose great
size would attract attention, but whose ir-
regular form and deficient flavor debar it
from becoming a desirable market variety.
“ Many people,” said Prof. Tracy, " think
if a tomato is good size and good form,
smooth and firm, it is agood sort. But
there is a great deal of difference in the
flavor of the different sorts, and we pay
particular attention to this quality.” The
White Apple is a new and peculiar sort,
being when ripe a clear greenish white,
and having a very pretty shape and good
flavor. The tree tomato looked more like
a potato vine than anything else, and seems
too late to be a sure crop; it was just in
bloom. Other vegetables are grown in the
same painstaking manner.

But the flowers! Fancy a space as large
as an ordinary house, covered with Lz'lz'um
auratum and the glowing spikes of the
gladiolus (which you must pronounce
gladiolus, not gladiolus), pink, rose-hued,
pale yellow‘ soft rich carmine, and fiery
two-edged swords of flaming scarlet. A
great gold-banded bumble-bee was plunging
head first into one ruby throat and then
another, and backing out with an angry
buzz of disapproval, as though disappointed
in his search for a supper. The unsold
bulbs of the great stock held for the spring
trade are planted out here and allowed to
fulfill their mission of loveliness. Here are
300 varieties of asters, just budding, which
promise a rarely beautiful sight and a grand
study in a couple of weeks. Only one
sort was as yet in bloom, “ Queen of the
Hills,” not as fine as later varieties, which
will have an opportunity to assimilate
August’s sunshine. We were shown a bed
of coleus plants, the product of: one paper
of Ferry’s seeds, and it was very interesting
to observe the many fine plants produced,
some of which were quite unique in marking
and color. A yellow poppy—~the yellow
rather inclining to orange—was another
novelty to me; it seems to hold its petals
better than the ordinary red ones, which
rully justify the poet’s words,

“ * *_ * * like poppies spread.
ion seize the tlorvu , its boom is shed."

Here I saw for the first time the salpi-
glossis in bloom, and admired it for the
delicate pencilling of its flowers. If: you
ever grow petunias, don’t be chary of them;
grow them in a bed by themselves and let
them Sprawl around and over it and tangle
themselves up at their own pleasure; you’ve
no idea how effective they are, thus grown.
We quite agreed with Prof. Tracy in won»
dering why the beautiful, hardy, every way
desirable perennial phlox is not more gen-
erally raised; it has now almost as many
kinds of “eyes” as Phlox Drummondt'z',
and in its infinite variety is charming in
the garden and useful in floral decorations.

But the sweet peas! Here the pink-and-
whlte Painted Lady held her court. “ The

 

 

3

a

secret of growing this beautiful flower,” said
our cicerone, as he paused by a tall hedge of
mixed sorts and began Shipping off the pink
and purple heads remorselessly, “is to get
them in early. They are the first thing we
plant. Plant them in trenches, rather
deeply, cover them several inches deep and
then keep filling in the trench as they ad-
vance in growth."

We then paid a visit to the children’s
pets, some fine Angora and lop-cared rab-
bits. One black and white fellow boasted
a pair of ears which measured 17% inches
from tip to tip. The pretty Angora rabbit
had on his summer suit; in winter he wears
for so long that it drags on the ground, and
when curled up to sleep must look like a
big ball of down: his eyes were a lovely
carnelian pink. And perhaps we were not
envied the great bouquets we bore away as
souvenirs of our call, as we rode down town
again! Even the hardened baseball cranks
who boarded the car at Brady St. had ad-
miring glances for the glowing masses of
beauty and perfume. BEATRIX.

—————w_-

FRUI I‘ CANS.

 

A lady who had employed many hired
girls once said to me: “I always learned
something myself from even the poorest of
them.” I never open a can of fruit, of
late, without thinking of the remark, for a
very unsatisfactory girl taught me some-
thing about that process that has never yet
failed me, and that was to run a case knife
around between the metal top and the rub-
ber, using not the point of the knife, but
the flange next to the handle.

I think the cause of fruit failing to keep
well, is often that the lip on the edge of the
metal top is bent or turned up so that it does
not press the rubber firmly. For the last
two years 1 have taken a hammer and gone
aroui d the top, tapping the lip down evenly
after it was screwed on. and have had no
losses. There seems no danger of breakage,
as the rubber is between the hammer and
the glass. It never pays to use doubtful
rubbers, as new ones cost less than a cent
apiece, and an old can with a new rubber
is just as good as anew one. Those who
keep much fruit over from year to year can
keep it in shape to use the oldest first by
havinga lead pencil handy, and marking
the year on the t0p at the time of canning;
it is easily scoured olf for next season.

\Vasnmnron. EL SEE.

————...—____

C, of Paw Paw, answers “ Martha’s ” in-
quiry relative to keeping whole tomatoes as
follows: “ Put sound ripe ones in not very
strong vinegar; they will keep until June.
When wanted for the table drain them,
place in sauce dishes and eat with sugar.
They are delicious.”

W

DEAR LADIES, if you do not wish “so
much Beatrix” in your HOUSEHOLD, you
must take up your pencils in self-defense.
The Editor is after the absentees. A. H. J ..
Mrs. Fuller, M. E. H., Aurora, M. E. F., J.
G. A., Mrs. W. J. G., X. Y. Z., and
many others who make us occasional calls,
are requested to come again. Many have

expressed a hope that Ruth Curtis would
write again, a wish the Editor most cor-
dially seconds.

  


  
  
 
 
   
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
 
  
  
 
   
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 

"-nvr‘ . .~ . -.«... 1,.

 

 

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

A WOM AN’S GLORY.

 

1 wish those middle-aged or elderly
women .whose once dark locks have been
frosted by the tender touch of Time, could
or would realize how much-«how very much
better they look when they discard the wads
of dead gray hair which never match their
own, and wear just their legitimate looks.
The false tresses deceive no one; even a
child can see that all that mass of rough,
faded hair cannot possibly grow on a head
where the silver threads are so thin that the
scalp is plainly discernible, and it does
look “ horrid.” lf the wearer could but see
herself once with others’ eyes, she would be
content with the covering nature has left
on her head, no matter how scanty. A
small loose coil of cne’s own hair, or a
French twist, which is popularly supposed
to require only three hairs, a single small
puii held *in place by a jet hairpin, is not
only more conicrtable, but much more
fashionable and stylish, not to mention
suitable and better-looking, than a switch
which evidently has been transplanted.
How often we see an elderly woman with
her own soft gray hair twisted into a little
hard round “nub,” and sun-minded by a
huge twist which is not even “ second cousin
thrice removed” in color! Now don’t do
it. It looks “just awful." Brush out
your own hair and arrange it loosely and
look respectable. If there is a bald spot to
be hidden, or you feel your head is quite
out of proportion to the infinitesimal knot
of hair, get your tasty daughter or grand-
daughter to fashion you a dainty cap—a
morsel of white lace and pale tinted ribbon,
for white lace looks much more handsome
on gray hair than black-for wear when you
are out in society.

Shirley Dare, a popular writer on toilet
topics, says to keep the hair from falling
out nothing is better than the old fashioned
remedy, tincture of sage and rosemary.
Even plain sage tea is good. The applica-
tion should be made daily, and an oilskin
cap worn to prevent rapid evaporation.
Use no animal fats of any kind on the hair;
castor oil scented with lavender is the best
dressing; even it should be used sparingly.
She recommends the water in which potato
pairings have been boiled as good to keep
dark hair from fading with age. Wet the
comb in the water and draw it through the
hair. Use the brushagcod deal, but not
with too much force, if you want nice hair;
and clip the forked ends once a month.
People who have thin, line. fragile hair
should avoid all alkali washes—no borax,
ammonia, soda, etc; the coarse, strong hair
can hear them, but silky hair is burnt and
destroyed. Soap bark, two quarts of boil-
ing water poured on a teaspoonful of this
bark, and used warm (is an excellent wash
for the hair, better than any other. Apply
with a shampoo brush to the scalp, parting
the hair and applying along the line of the
parting.

Why, too, I wonder, do red-haired girls
consider their locks a misfortune? Titian
loved to paint that bright aureole about his
ideal heads. Auburn hair is almost always
associated with a delicate complexion—or
one which would be delicate if well treated,

girl with dark brown or black eyes, or with
those reddish-hazel eyes which are said to
“match” such hair, has the makings of a
peculiar beauty about her, if nature has been
fairly kind in the matter of features and
figure. And even the “ strawberry blonde”
and the “terra cotta girl” can be pictur-
esque if they will only study the colors
which they wear, to tone and harmonize
their high coloring. The sandy-haired girl
with pale blue eyes and florid complexion is
morally certain to think she must wear
blue, a color which makes her eyes look
faded, and intensifies the brightness of her
hair and complexion. 1f blue is worn at all
it should be of the palest possible tint. or of
a bus so dark as to be almost black. Red
and pink ought never to be worn, they
highten the undesirable coloring. Olive and
sage green, almost any shade of gray, and
seal brown can be worn by a red-headed
with good effect. Especially is seal brown
effective with hair of atawny yellow-red.
Black is always becoming, especially the
softness of velvet or lace. A black dress
may be brightened by a few touches of al-
most any color, if carefully managed; let it
appear as the lining of a panel or revere, as
a piping or tiny pleating, anywhere except
near the face. Cream white is more be-
coming than dead white.

Black velvet with white or pearl gray
plumes constitutesa becoming bonnet; so
also does grey or smoke color. A wide
brimmed lace hat, which casts the hair into
shadow, is always becoming, but never
allow the milliner to put in a red rose or a
blue bow, it ruins the effect. A tawny yel-
low, somewhat after the color of those ox-eyes
in the meadow, will be a rare combination
with some hair. Do not try to keep the
hair smooth by the use of pomades, etc.
Let it ripple and wave and get rough and
catch the sun in its meshes, and be sure, if
you only dress with taste in harmonious
colors, those jealous girl rivals who spite.
fully call you "red-head” behind your
back, will be really in their hearts envying
you those maligned tresses.

____«.____ BEATRIX.

THE DOMESTIC HARNESS.

 

The foreman came in the other day and
said: “Those new collars are gelling the
horses’ shoulders, there’il have to be some
pads for them,” so the proper amount of
cash was handed over for the purchase and
there was no farther trouble. Is it not just
that way with our own work harness? If
we stay in the kitchen, cooking and clean-
ing, from daylight till dark, does not the
harness wear out our nerves, our patience,
and leave as unmistakeable marks as those
on the horses’ shoulders’ The short to
keep a spotless kitchen floor and work-table,
glistening tin wear and polished stove is
making many a woman old before her time;
and still we feel that we must be clean
though our backs break and our feet are too
painful for steady locomotion, because some
one might think that we were “ slack.”
So the harness is gelling. Only yesterday
I had worked steadily for nine hours in the
kitchen, except just the time of eating
meals, and the harness was all the time be-
coming more irksome, yet the floor was not

 

and abright. quick wit. An auburn haired

 

lamentable condition, and if I left the
room there was a heavy plaid shirt cut out»
and lying on the machine ready to be made:
but just then that was not the right kind
ofa pad. Tired feet could not be rested by
running a sewing machine, and work of any-
kind would not be rest, so I sat me down
gilding. I‘know Evangeline is shocked, but
the pad was not as expensive as the one
needed for the horses while it had even a
better effect. For a time I had not a care or
a trouble. I was wholly absorbed in my
pastime and it was, for that reason, a per--
foot rest. At other times the pad was two
or three chapters of “ Ben Hur,” or a drive
of a few miles, or a letter, but it does not
matter so much what the pad is if it only
entirely removes the pressure; then. after a
few hours of change. the harness will fit us
as easily again as though it had not c’iafed.
But do not try to make us think that loving
our work will make our kitchens cool and
comfortable during these sultry days, or
that we will stay there, from choice, any
longer than we are obliged to.

Wasnmsron. EL SEE.

 

-—-———-—~.w

JANNETTE is anxious to know whether
any of the HOUSEHOLD people are using the
Davis Swing Churn, advertised in the
FARMER; and if so, what are its advantages
and what its disadvantages. as compared
with barrel churns. An early answer will
oblige her.

._.__..._‘w—-———-

Useful Recipes.

 

Fro Pasrn FOR Carin—One pound figs.—
three-fourths coffee cup sugar; one-half cup
water. Chop the figs, then cook with the
sugar and water until thick as paste.

 

PICKLED Omens—Select small white on-
lons; peel, and boil for ten minutes in equal
proportions of sweet milk and water. Draini
and pour spiced vinegar over them at once.
Use ne allspiee; it darkens the onions.

RIPE Cucumnnn Swear Plexus—Pare
twelve large cucumbers and remove the pulp:
cut them into strips two inches wide and four
inches long. Take two pounds of sugar; one
pint :vlnegar: one ounce cinnamon and one-
half ounce of cloves; boil and skim: cook the
cucumbers in this till tender, take them out
and bo:l the liquid fifteen m‘nutea, then pour
over the cucumbers.

 

Fox GRAPE Jnrmv.—Pic‘r the grape} when
they are about to turn. Place them in a
stone jar set in a kettle of boiling water. Let
the grapes cook in this way until they are
thoroughly soft. Strain them through a thin
strainer. Allow a pound of granulated sugar
to every pint of juice. Put the juice in a
porcelain preserving kettle and boil rapidly
for twenty minutes. When the juice is put
in the preserving kettle. put the sugar which
has been measured out into a tin pan and
place in the oven that it may be heating while
the grape juice is boiling. At the end of the
twenty minutes add the hot sugar to the
juice. Stir in till it is dissolved. which will
be in an instant. Let the whole boil up once,
and till jelly bowls, which should stand ready
in a pan of warm water. When the jelly is
cold it will be found fine and arm, and a
beautiful pale green in color. Cover it with
papers dipped in alcohol and seal up with a
second paper. using the white of an egg as a.
mucllage.

 

clean, the windows were in the same