DETROIT, MARCH 29, 1890.

 

 

THE -HOUSBHOLD---Supplement.

 

 

LIVING.

 

4‘ How to make our lives worthy the living 2”
The question haunts every day;
It colors the first blush of sunrise,
It deepens the twilight's last ray.
‘There is nothing that brings us a drearier pain
Than the thought, “ We have lived, we are
living in vain."

We need—each and all—to be needed,
To feel we have something to give
Toward soothing the moan of earth’s hunger;
And we know that then only we live
When we feed one another as we have been fed
From the hand that gives body and spirit their
bread.

'Our lives, they are well worth the living
When we lose our small selves in the whole,
And feel the strong surges of being
Throb through us, one heart and one soul.
Eternity bears up each honest endeavor;
‘The life lost for love is life saved, and forever.

-———_..._____

THE ABSORBING TOPIC .

 

It seems to be an “ off season ” for fash-
ions, so far as one may judge from the ad-
vance sheets of fashion magazines and the
conservative ideas of dressmakers. Models
are on the same general line as last year—
straight, slightly draped skirts, short, elab-
orately decorated corsagcs; loose sleeves
with high shoulder puffs. There are
rumors of a revival of flounces and
paniers, but not as yet realized. It remains
to be seen what novelties modistes may
spring upon us at Easter. This ebb tide
in the fashionable world means, presum-
ably, that a revolution is impending; what
shape it will take we cannot predict. ,

Black, gray and violet—not lavender or
purple, but the hue of the sweet wood
violet—were the popular colors during the
Lenten season, when we are supposed to
be mortifying the flesh by wearing out our
old clothes. Later, very light colors in
tan, suede, olive green, pale blue, ecru,
and the like, will prevail. Cashmere,
camel’s hair and Henrietta are standard
wear in these colors. ‘

Then comes again the great question,
How is the new dress to be made up?
Well, the more quaint and unusual the
style and combination the greater the
“success” of the costume. Yet here is
the necessity for the most careful exercise
of taste and skill in combinations of color
and ideas. Remember what is very be-
coming on one person may be horribly
unbecoming to another. Study yourself;
learn what are your weak points and what
your best ones, then plan to bring out the
one and retire the other to the background.

 

The style in which a garment is made is
quite as important as its color and texture.

Jacket fronts on bodices are as popular
as ever. But if you are short and stout, be
not tempted by their becomingness to the
tall and slender girl. Wear instead a vest
of straight or diagonal pleats, set between
revers narrowing to a point at the waist
line. High puffed sleeves on a short-
necked woman make her look as if her head
was set between her shoulders; moderate
puffs and moderately loose sleeves are best.
The favorite shape for sleeves is the mut-
ton-leg, full in the upper part of the arm
and high on the shoulder, tight and long
on the lower half. A pretty way to finish
it is to turn back a couple of inches of the
length, face it, trim with embroidery,
gimp, etc., and a close set row of small
buttons. The use of velvet and silk sleeves
will continue for spring wear at least, and
will afford us aid in making over our last
season’s dresses. Although contrasts of
color are permissible, yet it is much better
taste to have the sleeves of velvet matching
the color of the dress. Loose sleeves with
deep velvet cufis, coat sleeves with puffs
or epaulettes, and those tucked to form
puffs at shoulder and elbow are still
popular.

There’s a good deal of planning and
contriving to making over a dress, in using
the material to the best advantage. One
way in which a velvet trimmed dress may
be renewed is to sew in full fronts of velvet,
sewing it in the under arm seam, armhole
and shoulder, with fullness enough to
draw to the front in easy folds meeting
at a point across the bust, under a fancy
buckle or a bow of ribbon. This makes a
sort of jacket front, under which may be
worn a full vest or a plain waist, as de-
sired. The wide lapped Empire belts are
still fashionable; and, made of velvet, can
be used to lengthen or renew a worn
bodice. The newest models for basques
or waists dispense with many of the seams
formerly considered indispensable in fit-
ting. Or rather, the seams are in the lin-
ing, over which the outside is placed. The
back is sometimes perfectly flat and
straight. Truth compels me to say this is
not an improvement. The shapely woman
will pass muster—others need the nicely
graduated lines of seams to give a pleasing
contour to the figure. Square yokes of
velvet extend into the armholes front
and back; the edge out in deep scallops,
or straight and finished with gold or silver
braid, which by the way is a popular trim-
ming. Below the yoke the goods is

 

gathered scantily upon a fitted lining. Leg
0’ mutton sleeves of velvet or the goods are
used. The fronts of other dresses are,
made to lap to the left shoulder and side,
and fastened with invisible hooks and
eyes. Women with pretty necks will
affect collarless dresses; she whose “throat
is like the swan” will continue loyal to
high cellars. Apretty idea is to cut the
collar high enough to turn over an inch
at the top. and face it with the silk or
velvet used in combination. Capes are to
be worn, in cloth, cheviot, and later, of
lace pleated to a short yoke. White skirts
are worn only with thin light dresses;
silk and mohair, black by preference
make the fashionable colored skirts. The
old silk dress which is hardly worth
the dressmaker’s price for re-making will
cut over into a nice skirt, with a couple of
pinked frills at the foot.

A little trip round town, made especially
to ascertain “ what’s new” for the benefit
of HOUSEHOLD readers, was recently made.
Cashmere ombre is the most popular
novelty 'in cotton fabrics; it is a satteen
in shaded stripes, quite pretty, sells at 35
cents, the same price asked for French
satteens. English satteens are down to a
shilling and fifteen cents; they are imita-
tions cf the French, and look well until
they are washed. The newest ginghams
are the bordered ones, 42 inches wide, with
a border woven on one edge for trimming.
The border is a brocade design on a solid
ground. The price of these is 62 1 2 cents.
The width of the gingham makes the
length of the skirt. Other styles with
borders of woven stripes sell at 50 cents.
French ginghams differ little from the
Scotch, except in the patterns of the plaids.
Florentine cloth sells at 15 cents; it is a
cheap cotton fabric, which would make up
neatly, but undoubtly shrink and fade in
the washing. The French challis are un-
commonly pretty this season; they sell at
60 cents, 30 inches wide. One sample had
a plum colored ground strewn with white
marguerites with yellow eyes; another a
dark blue ground with same pattern; car-
nations in several shades, carelessly scat-
tered on drab, shaded brown leaves on
cream; conventional designs on tan, brown
and blue; a black tracery of interlacing
stems and small leaves on a bright cardinal
ground, were a few of the patterns noted.
The outing flannels which were so much
worn last season are seen again, this time
in plaids as well as stripes. They are said
to wash and wear well, and seem to be one
oi the most desirable cheap materials.


 

E

’2 THE' HOUSEHOLD. -‘

 

Thirteen, fifteen and twenty-five cents are
the prices.

In black wool dress goods, Henriettas,
mohair alpacas, nun’s veilings and batistes
are the leading fabrics; the mohairs, or
brilliantines, as they are variously called,
are liked because they shed dust and wear
so well, always retaining their lustre and
“nonmussible” qualities. Later, grenadines
will be made up over black silk, to take
the place of the lace dresses, though Har-
per’s Baza/r assures us lace, either net or
Chantilly, will be as popular as ever; cer-
tainly it makes richer looking costumes
than the grenadine, unless one buys the ex-
pensive novelties.

-Bonnets are small, low, and profusely
trimmed with fine flowers. Some of them
are little more than scraps of lace and
flowers, with ribbon or lace ties attached;
many have no crowns, but leave the hair
exposed. Flowers are small—heliotrope,
candytuft, violets, forget-me-nots, tiny
pansiesebecause there’s no foundation for
anything as large as a rose, for instance.
One of the new bonnets consisted of three
bands or circles, graduated in size, meeting
at the back, where the ties were attached;
these bands were covered with sprays of
heliotrope and its leaves. The young
woman who showed it to me obligingly
put it on. She had a full moon face and
a mop of frowsly hair, and the bonnet
somehow reminded me of a postage
stamp on top of a hay stack. But on a
smaller head, above a spirituelle face,
it would have been quite a different
thing. The combinations of color are
startling. Think of olive green with
blue, purple with two shades of green,
and a dark maroon with sage green
and cadet blue! One cannot help won-
dering if they are not “showcase bon-
nets,” meant not for wear, but to advertise
the trade. Yet milliners say they are for
actual use, and the more daring the colors
the more “ French ” the result. Lace bon-
nets and fine openwork straws are shown;
the latter have shirred brims of tulle or net,
and are trimmed with butterfly bows of
lace and wreaths and clusters of tiny flow-
ers. The idea is to have the bonnet as
dainty and delicate looking as possible.
Large hats are to be worn again, of lace,
of openwork straw, and of fine Leghorn;

they are to be trimmed with scarfs~ of net,
with lace and Emma, and with plumes;
all three being used in many cases.

You know that species of fungus growth
which reSembles a liberty cap on a stem—
well, the new parasols are just that shape.
They are dulllc-Siltlped, bordered with
WOVen stripes, finished with a bow of rib-
bon, or like the Grand Panjandorum, have
“ a little round button on top.”

All the new passementertes, laces and
embroideries are in vandyke points. The
laces are used as collars and cufls, in dis-
placement of the linen collars and ruchihgs
worn so long.

THAT mis-sent photograph of which El.
See. writes, having been intended for the
HOUSEHOLD Album really belongs to it,
doesn’t it? Try again, please; the Editor
has been longing for that cabinet a good
while. And El. See. herself is most cor-
dially welcomed back, and we hope to
have her for a frequent visitor.

 

WOMAN’S INFLUENCE.

“Are women to blame for all existing
evils in the world? If not then the
hand that rocks the cradle does not rule
the world.” “ Women do not license
saloon keepers; but they have moulded the
minds of men till license is demanded.”
These quotations are taken from the article
with the above title in the HOUSEHOLD of
March 8th; and I think the HOUSEHOLD
readers will agree with me that statements
so sweeping should be carefully weighed.
The mother‘s influence can as easily be
overestimated as underestimated, and the
former error is more common than the
latter. How can we account for “all
existing evils in the world ” if the “ hand
that rocks the cradle rules the world,”
without admitting that mothers are, as a
class, teachers of immorality, and as ex-
ample is a much more potent influence
than precept, must be themselves immoral?
Are we ready to admit that either of these
statements is correct? Just the reverse of
this is true; mothers, as a class, are both
moral and teachers of morality. If mothers
are delinquent in their duty it is from too
great confidence that their children will not
go astray; or from want of aproper un-
derstanding of the temptations in their
pathway. The average boy of fourteen is
practically out from under his mother’s
control. He finds that the precepts his
mother has so carefully taught him are not
the ones by which men are governed, and
while _ they are perfectly proper for a
woman they are not necessary for men.
Which has the greater influence, the
mother’s precept or the father's example?
The boy wishes above all other things to
be considered manly, and as men smoke,
drink and do many other things as bad, if
he is to be a man he must do as men do. Is
it not rather true that the father is as re
sponsible for the training of boys as the
mother for the training of girls? If the
father were to supplement the mother’s
early training by a careful oversight of his
so is, and both by example and precept
lead them in the right way, restraining
them and keeping them employed when out
of school, there would be fewer wrecked
lives in early manhood. And if to this
home training were added the father’s in-
fluence in public matters to make the larger
home—the world-pure and safe by voting
out rum and other vices, there would be
fewer pitfallsrn the pathway of youth. The
home can never be safe, however carefully
guarded, until the world is safe.

What is public work? In answer we
may name work in Sunday school, church,
missionary societies, membership in any
society, writing for the press, public speak~
ing, a profession, school teaching. or the
philanthrophies is for women “ taking the
burden of the world’s wants upon their
shoulders ” as well as their own wants. Is
all of this to be condemned? What if
women had not carried the world’s wants?
what would have been the type of our
civilization? That “women have left the
care and training of their children to ser-
vants or the schools while they bear the
burden of the world up on their shoulders,”

 

and thus “ gratify an ambition to shine in
public,” is unjust to the noble women who
are giving time and money to the effort of
making the world better, not because they‘
love home less, but because they love it
more and are alert to the manifold dangers
that beset it. A licensed liquor trafl‘lc.
has made the door yard fence the dead'
'line for children. They go beyond that at
their peril. How are mothers responsible
for the license system? Rather, mothers
are “ bringing about a state of popular
feeling which demands a more rigid enforce-
ment of existing laws, and the enactment
of prohibitory statutes.” But for the effort”
of women, our statute books would still be
disgraced with the law which made every.
girl of from seven to ten years and over the
legal prey of any man depraved enough to»
seek her ruin; and this a law made by
fathers who are the legal protectors of'
childhood! Men say that women are the
first to condemn women. Let us be just to
all women, to the overworked and worried
mothers, and to the women who are striving
to make the world safer for little feet.
' LlLLA LEE.

A PLEASANT LETTER.

 

When I had finished reading the HOUSE-
HOLD Of the 15th inst. I felt like thank--

ing Beatrix for her article on Amelia‘

Edwards’ lecture. If there’s one thing I.
do enjoy it is reading of the lives and suc.
cesses of just such women as Miss Ed-
wards. I am so glad Beatrix “takes in ”
all such good things and gives us the
benefit—those of us who are so far from the
cities We can not go and hear for ourselves-
I always enjoy anything that shows me
woman is equal in intellectual endowments.
to man.

Yes, Daifodilly, I think you must have.
lived among peculiar people, or else I have;
for I never heard of so many “ goody ”'
men before, who would put up with so
much from sisters and sisters-in-law. Most
men would have given them a “pointer ”"
as to their behavior pretty suddenly.

Beatrix told us not long ago, that salt‘
was not good to make eggs beat up, a thing.
which I learned after many trials; and now
I beg of you, don’t do as I did the first

three years I kept house, strugrle along,

with an egg-beater “warranted as good as
the Dover,” and blame the hens because
the eggs wouldn’t beat up; but be sure the
Dover is the best and will beat anything
which is beatable. No, I’m not an agent
for the Dover; but just so small an article.
may be the cause of much annoyance or‘
be “just the thing,” so I thought I’d tell.
you. The more conveniences I have in
the kitchen the more I want.

I went, saw, and came away satisfied.
that if J annette had called on Beatrix she

would have forgotten her awkwardness,
hands. feet and clothes. and enjoyed a little
chat with our kind Editor, as I did; and
you’ll never realize it if she does “ take an«
inventory ” of what you have on, which

> I’m sure she won’t do. We saw the Honest--

BOLD Album and were surprised to find
Evangeline so young. She has been “about
forty ” to me for the last six years. .

“ J. M. W.” said just what I wanted to
about the Mary Washington moveinlffiit.

 


 

THE HOUSEHOLD. 3

AN OLD FRIEND BACK AGAIN.

“ I have wandered long

From the Housanom throng

And the old familiar—”
No! I can’t say “ faces ” because, although
old friends, we have never known each
other thus. Writing of faces is a re-
minder that when I was away up north
last summer I wrote a letter and sent a
cabinet photograph to the Honsnrronn
Album, addressing it as usual. I was a
wandering planet then and did not see the
paper, so knew nothing of the result until
three months afterward, when that counter-
feit presentment appeared in my ma 1 box,
having been sent to Washington, D. C.
as “not called for” then to my old ad-
dress, and finally forwarded to where I
then was.

Well, after all my wanderings, my season
at beautiful Bay View, visiting with
friends in other parts of the State, room-
ing in one house and taking 'my meals in
another, boarding outright, etc., I have at
last settled down to genuine housekeeping
and find that the best of all ways for me,
even though 1 am all alone for my meals
and that is a new experience; but as I have
been schooling myself to the thought for a
long time I find it not so hard as I had
feared,‘ although there are some things not
so fine. Fancy a lover of fresh desserts
eating six meals from the same pie! How-
ever I have remedied that by having a
round pie tin cut in two and a flange
soldered on to each half. Now I can have
my pieces the regulation size and shape
without having the one variety last so long;
and I find that with layer cake I can bake
in two common tins, and by dividing each
one and piling up I have half of a four-
layer cake in good shape. Now if I could
get good home-made bread I should be
well equipped, but this tasteless square of
cempressed feathers yclept baker’s bread
is my abomination, and I only fall back
to that when dire necessity compels me to
do so, for the process of making one small
loaf at a time is not quite satisfactory.
Have any of the Honsnnomnns had ex-
perience in cooking for one?

Some day I’m going to write you of a
room full of curiosities that is over my head
here. Away back in 1836 the physician in
whose house I am was a missionary to the
Sandwich Islands, remaining there twelve
years; and although he is now more than
fourscore years of age, his memory is un-
impaired and his curios are well worthy of
inspection and a description.

I have taken the grandfather’s clock from
the place where he put it sixty years ago,
first fastened to a log in the pioneer home,
and when the larger, new house was built,
five years later, a full length case was
made as a part of the woodwork and there
it has stood for all these years in the com-
mon sitting-room, ticking off the hours and
noting the many family changes. I could
only bring the “ head,” but that is placed
on a bracketed shelf close up to the ceiling,
so the long pendulum swings to and fro
below, measuring of the seconds while the
gilded weights run down to the floor, and
then I draw the cords at bed time “ just as

 

of old ” the grandmother and then the
mother had done. It still keeps honest
time and is something to welcome me-home
when I have been out and, next to the
large portrait on the easel in the corner, it
is my treasure. That pictured face makes
me feel sometimes that we two are living
alone again as in the happy days, and with
my pen it is a never-failing remedy for
loneliness to

ROIIO . EL. BEE.

.WALL-PAPER. AND A QUESTION
ANSWERED.

I have enjoyed reading the HOUSEHOLD
for several years; and have been benefitted
by others’ experiences related therein from
time to time, but have never felt called
upon- to relate any of my own troubles or
pleasures until I read Mrs. Ed.’s call for
help about that dining-room paper. Hav-
ing had some experience in that line and
tried some experiments, think I can help
her. Paper hangers can succeed very well
in making paper stay on nice smooth walls
in any room but a kitchen, and there they
fail. Will enclosemy recipe and think if
she follows the directions closely, the only
trouble she will have will be in removing
the paper after once dry. To a panful of
paste made from rye flour, add the whites
of four eggs beaten a little. Wash new
plaster with strong cider vinegar, let dry,
brush the wall with the paste and let dry.
Apply paste to paper when cold or cool, it
will not soak through andwill put on with-
out a wrinkle.

.Try ammonia on alum water stains; it
will restore color where it has been changed
by lemon juice.

The information in regard to children’s
clothes in a late number of the HOUSE-
IIOLD was just what I was wishing for,
only I need a little more of it. When the
small boy wears short socks what is worn
between socks and drawers when the
weather is a little cool? and if one prefers
long stockings what colors are the most
desirable? Also, do boys between two and
three years of age wear drawers like dresses
or white ones.

Weakly lambs are putting in their ap~
pearance around the kitchen stove, and I
would like to know what Simon’s Wife is
so busy about that she does not have some-
thing to say on the subject. I can not do
it justice, but she can. s. L. P.

Sr. Jonas.

[It is “so cute,” they say, to see a strip
of soft rosy flesh between baby‘s short socks
and his drawers. The socks are preferable
for warm weather, the long stockings for
cool weather. Dark colors in long hose

are preferable for the older boys, but
Very young children wear light tints in
thn socks and long hose. Black, brown
and blue are standard. Short white
drawers are worn by boys of age named

above—En]
———"0.—--—

11‘ is so exasperating to see a cluster of
nail-holes, or one big black eyelet which
will not fill up when one is painting over
the woodwork. You can remedy this by
taking fine sawdust, making it into a thick
paste with glue and pounding it into the
hole.

 

THOUGHTS FOR THE SORROWFUL.

I have long cherished a desire to talk
with the ladies of the HOUSEHOLD. It
may be that I shall not be a welcome visi.
tor, as I am not a farmer’s wife, but the
fact of my having been a farmer‘s daughter
may possibly serve as an introduction.
My life was spent on a farm from my in-
fancy until a certain young editor persuad-
ed me to renounce farm life. I find so
many things in the columns of the Hones:~
HOLD of equal interest to all mothers, and
many an hour has been pleasantly passed,
reading the kind, sisterly letters. I want
to say just one word in reference to the
article by M. E. H. in the Housman) of,
March 15th., “It is better to go tothe
house of mourning than to the houseof
feasting." How many are there of us who
give this more than a passing thought. Let
us not, dear ladies, shrink from these visits
of duty. Last week Mr. 0— died, leave
ing hosts of friends and a broken-hearted
wife. When the death first occurs the
house is crowded with . sympathizing
friends, which is the case until after the
funeral. Then there will be a gradual
diminution of the visits; the children are
called to their several homes by their in~
dividual cares, thus leaving the mother
alone. We have now become accustomed
to the thought of Mr. C— as dead, our
visit grow less frequent, our thoughts are
occupied by our own cares, and Mrs. C——-
is practically forgotten for more cheerful
friends. We do not stop to consider that
now our calls would be more welcome
than while she was under the first great
wave of sorrow and almost paralyzed by
it. We who have suffered similar ex‘

perience know that at such a time, words,

let them be never so kind and tender, only
seem to make the wound deeper; but a
kind act, a gentle pressure of the hand will
give as much comfort as the most finished
speech. But in the weeks and months to
come, when the excited mind has had time
to analyze its terrible grief, there will
come hours of loneliness that are almost
unbearable. and we long, oh so earnestly
for some friendly call, some one to open
our heart to, but alas! no one comes, and
thus we drag out weary hours. Ah! how
well do I remember years ago when our
beautiful boy, our first born, the idolot’.
our hearts, was snatched from us; friends
and neighbors were there, many the kind
words spoken, but they fell upon unheed»
ing ears. I felt for a time that the sun
of my happiness had set forever; Ifelt that
the great cloud of anguish had forever
obscured it. But weeks after, when I had
become more calm, ahl could those same
dear friends have come then, notin a mass,
but one at a time, and spent an afternoon
or evening, or better still an hour, justat
sunset, that moment when darkness slowly
creeping on, the sudden hush of the bird
voice, the laborer seeking his home, all re-
mind us of death if we are sorrowful, of
rest if we are happy—when a friend
chanced to drop in at such a time, how I
prized it, and how I dreaded to see them
go! It helped me so much to get over that
loneliest hour of the day. But many, no

 


 

4 .

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

doubt felt their duty done, they had made
one call, had spoken words of sympathy.
Yes, they had come when there were dozens
of others to speak the same words; but
now when their visits were so hungrily
longed for, other, more cheerful, friends
were sought. To be sure it is not always a
pleasure to visit those who are always sad.
But dear friends, let us be willing to make
alittle sacrifice of our own selfish feelings,
that those words may be proven true: “ It
isbetter to go to the house of mourning

than to the house of feasting.
' MRS. D. E.

SAD MEMORIE S.

I wish to express my thanks to M. E. H.,
of Albion, for her 'sentiments and the
sympathy expressed in her article addressed
to the sick and sad in a recent HOUSEHOLD.
I must own that what she says in regard to
the feelings of those who have lost friends
describes mine exactly. My loss is that
of a SWeet little girl of only six short years.
But oh! they were long enough to endear
her so completely to us that her death has
extinguished the light in our household
forever. Although it has been nearly two
years since our precious child left our home
never to return, yet there are times now
(when my eyes rest on the vacant chair
and my ears hear not the sweet little voice)
that life to me seems a burden. But with
an unwavering faith in the promises of
60d that I shall some day meet her in the
house not made with hands, eternal in the
Heavens, and have the pleasure of spend-
hg an eternity where partings and fare-
wells, are 'not known, I take up my daily
tasks and wait for the summons from the
other shore. MRS. R. R. S.

Roms.
———...—_—

MARRIED 0R SINGLE.

 

Thanks to Molly for the extract, but
allow me to ask if marriage, nine times
out of ten, is notamatter of profit—or
saving at least. Single men marry for the
comfort and" privileges of a home; they

figure they can support a wife with the'

money they pay for room and board. The
widower feels (if not wealthy) he cannot
afford to keep and pay a housekeeper and
kitchen maid, so he thinks he will marry a
wife who will be housekeeper, kitchen
maid, seamstress and nurse combined, and
nothing to pay but her board, except a few
dollars for clothes now and then when it
is convenient for him. Women, both
young and old, marry for a home; they
arejweary of battling single-handed with

the world for a living; of course they all

choose some one they think will be pleasant
and companionable. These things are all
right, but the antecedents should be con-
sidered also. I will not go over that

ground again.

How could Molly be so cruel as to make
all the Hoosnrronu readers think I was an
old maid! I do not care; but I will tell a
little story of an acquaintance who was an
old maid. She was visiting in New York
any, where. she had many very pleasant
friends. At one house where she visited
the lady and gentleman were very nice;

but the gentleman did net treat his wife
with the politeness andconsideration which
the maiden lady thought was her due. In
company one evening they (her friends)
were bantering her'a little on old maids;
and this gentleman asked her if she did
not wish she had a husband. She replied:
“No sir, every gentleman treats me with
the greatest kindness and politeness; and
that is more than many of their wives can
say. I prefer to remain as I am.” (So do I.)
But please remember it was you, not me,
who said I had been left by the sterner sex.

In Old Hundred‘s reply and diagnosis
of “ that disease,” put “jealousy” in place
of the word “ scanda ” and you have it.

I am glad to welcome all new comers,
as well as the old ones who resume their
long idle pens. POLLY.

.—...__._..

CHAT.

 

EUPHEMIA comes to the help of Mrs.
Ed.: “ Get two or three cents worth of
white glue at the drug store; make a sizing
of it by dissolving it in hot water, dampen
your patch of new plaster with it before
putting on your paper. Put your paper
on with paste as usual and I’ll warrant it
will never come off. We replastered our
sitting room two years ago and papered in:
that way and have never noticed the least
loosening even of the edges.”

 

BESS, of Plainwell, gives quite ex-
plicit directions: “I think I can tell
Mrs. Ed. how she can make a paste
that will stick her paper tight. Take
white glue and after soaking over night,
place over the fire in a kettle, with
water sufiicient to make the amount of
paste required, when all dissolved and
boiling, thicken with flour stirred up in
cold water to the consistency of thick
starch, let boil up and remove from the
.fire. This paste should be used when
slightly warm, as it is like jelly when per-
ftctly cold. If applied to both the wall
and paper with a brush I do not think the
paper will get away. Of course you must
use your own judgment as to the quantity
of glue, but a small quantity of glue is a
great help in making any wall paper stay
where it is put."

 

EUDORA, of Brant, Saginaw 00., a new
contributor whom we hope to hear from;
again says: “ My husband thinks there is
no paper like the FARMER, andI enjoy
reading the HOUSEHOLD and find much
good advice for all. Every one seems
sohonest and sincere in their statements.
I can app aud Biddee’s sentiments; I
think if we had more such sensible women
the world would be better. I agree with
her about the discussion on etiquette.
Being a farmer’s wife my time is too
limited for style. With a family of seven
to wash for,'how could I furnish 147 clean
napkins a week? If a child is taught the
proper use of a fork and not allowed to eat
with its fingers, the napkins can be laid
away for company. I also enjoyed Fidus
Achatus’ letter. If all would heed her
advice there would be more happy homes.

 

What is the use of husband and wife

quarreling, when if they would only stop
and reason they would see how silly it is
and what a poor example to place before
the little ones. How soon the children
imitate in their tone of voice the angry
words spoken by the parents! I wonder
how many of the readers of our little paper
spend any of their time in the garden in

summer, and if any think it degrading to "

be seen with hoe or rake. I think it a
very healthy exercise. Will not some of
them please give their opinion on the sub-
ject.”

 

ON the topic of country schools, N. B.
H., of Howell, very truly says: “ Hop-
ing that this may not be too old a subject
to bring up again, I would like to say a
few words on our country schools. I think
that if farmers’ wives would take more in-
terest in them and not rely so entirely upon
what their children tell them, we would
have better schools. And in most every dis-
trict you will find there are scholars who go
to school principally to create disturbance
and annoy the teacher in every way. Then
again you will frequently hear scholars say
“ Oh, we have just a splendid time at
school; the teacher lets us do just as we
want to,” and of course we all know the
result of such a school as that. If farmers
and their wives would visit the schools
and see what their children:are doing and

learning, they would hear less grumbling _

and faultofindiug, and we would have bet-
ter schools.”

 

-—

A HOUSEHOLD Erma—M. E. H., of
Albion, says: At a recent farmers’ club
meeting I think I learned a little some-
thing valuable about pies, which I will
give the readers of the HOUSEHOLD. A
lady contributed some cherry pies, which
my husband said were the best he ever ate.
(I was not a bit disturbed over it.) She
told us she mixed the sugar and the flour
intended for the inside of the pie together,
and said her pies never run over. Itis
certain this method is conducive to the
very nicest condition of the juices of fruit
pies. Care must be taken however not to
fill the pics too full of fruit.

—_..._.__._

Contributed Recipes.

 

Pora'ro Soup—Boll eix potatoes, after
paring. tn sufliciert water to cover well.
When thorougtly done, drain ofi.’ anout one-
half the water. mashthe potatoes very fine in
tte remainder; season with plppzr. sa't and
p'erity of butter; then pour in a quart of
sweet milk; ht it reach the boiling point,
bong careful not to burn. Our chliren
1hink it a delicious dish for supper. As I
have never seen this recipe published. I con-
clude that it is' not well known. I think it
much’superior to the cammon mole of pre-

paring it. Another nice way is to chop the

raw potatoes, and season in the same way,

without mashing. but they are very apt to.

burn unless 3 eat care is taken, or they are
'ooot ed in adouble boiler. D. E.

 

Son Mousssss Chum—One cup molasses: ,

half cup sugar; two-thirds cup shmtening:
one cup buttermilk: one egg: one teaspoon-
ful ( act: of ginger. cinnamon. salt and soda:

 

flour to make middling still. Men and child-
ren like raisins in it. I. E. H.

   
    

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