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DETROIT, JUNE 20, 1891.

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

For the Household.
BABY'S JOURNEY.

 

BY ELIZABETH DIMON PRESTON.

 

Baby is going to Slumberland;
Wish him a journey fleet;

No more, we hope. ’till morning light
Will one those eyes so sweet.

Let’s count the milestones. one by one.
Our little boy will see

As the Express for Slumberland
Flies swift by house and tree.

Ah ha. we’ve reached the first one:
On it. in letters clear

“ 1 m. a nod” is written plain;
Now doesn't that seem queer?

The second is a dimpled smile;
The third is only “ snore.”

While by the fourth we’re made aware
That baby’s journey‘s o’er.

~-—-—*_

A MODERN MANSION .

 

I had recently the Opportunity of in-
specting the interior of a very hand-
some residence in this city, fitted up
with all the modern conveniences in
the most complete style and latest
fashion. The drawing and reception
rooms and the library are not yet
decorated or furnished, and I shall re-
serve a description of those apartments
until a future occasion, and tell you,
this time, about the “living part” of
the home, the kitchen and its adjuncts.
A family of three persons will occupy
this residence, hence while it is not
by any means the largest, it is yet
probably the most complete, substan-
tially built and well equipped residence
on the fine avenue on which it stands.
It is amply large enough for the family
and servants, and to allow the exercise
of hospitable instincts toward company.

It is heated by natural gas, lighted
by both gas and electricity, has electric
bells, speaking-tubes, telephone, seven
bath and toilet rooms, a closet for
every bedroom and a few extra ones,
and a contrivance by which, by pressing
a button, the electric light can be turned
on or out after a person is comfortably
tucked up in bed. The carving of the
drawing room and the great staircase,
painstakingly done by hand, is ex-
quisite, but as I aim to describe these
later, I ,shall begin with the dining-
room, a commodious apartment in the
rear of the drawing room and com-
municating with the main hall, which
has, like the hall, a fine oak ceiling,

 

and walls covered with light terra cotta
in a material resembling Lincrusta
Walton. It is lighted by two large
windows between which is the mantel,
an imposing creation with stained glass
in the background, and which I think
must be in cathedral style for it re-
minded me of the pictures of shrines
so common in Catholic countries, and
which here must be dedicated to the
god who presides over good dinners.
The sideboard is built into the room,

'and like it, done in oak, and the dining-

room chairs are of oak upholstered in
leather, with a larger chair with arms
for the host.

From this room a door opens into a
passage communicating with the
kitchen, and next this door is another
leading into the butler’s pantry. Here,
behind sliding glass doors, are ranged
the silver and the fine dishes. I saw a
handsome set of decorated china, a
dainty after-dinner coffee set, a Haviland
ice cream set in old rose, and lots of
other pretty things. Beneath this cup-
board are drawers for table linen,
towels, etc. On the other side is a
marble-topped shelf where carving is to
be done, an inclined shelf and recessed
bowl with faucets for hot and cold
water, where the precious and costly
china is to be washed. Under this is an
enclosed place for wines, where they
may be cooled for serving, etc.

Next is the kitchen, a good sized
room with a big range at one side,
having over it a hood to collect and
carry away odors of cooking. In this
room was a dial-like arrangement—
having too many “hands” for a clock,
however, and when the bell was rung
at front or side door or in the library or
upstairs rooms, one of the little pointers
on this dial was swung out of line and
indicated in what room or at which
doer the bell had been rung, thus saving
the servants many steps.

Off the kitchen was the refrigerator,
which was built into one end of a small
room having a cabinet for spices, and
shelves for articles of daily need. The
refrigerator has two compartments, and
the cold air can be sent into one or
both as desired. The ice is put in from
the outside, saving all muss and trouble.
From the kitchen and opening off a
small hall leading out doors, is a large
closet fitted up with shelves to receive
the kitchen flotsam and jetsam, the

 

brooms, mops, dustpans, pails, kettles,
etc., which usually adorn a kitchen.

There is a cellar or basement under
the whole house, and its rooms areal-
most good enough to live in. Nice
cement floors, good smooth walls, plenty
of light and air—there are many poor
folks who have not half as good a place
to lay their heads. Here some of the
intricate system by which the house is
warmed and lighted is seen; not much,
only a few lines of blaCk piping. Here
is the laundry, with its stationary por-
celain-lined tubs to be filled and
emptied by the turn of a faucet; the
laundry stove, built especially to ac»
commodate flat-irons, and in which
natural gas is used. A clothes-shute
extending to the upper floor obviates
the necessity of hampers for soiled
linen and the pilgrimage through the
house to collect it. There is a drying-
room with radiator to heat it, where
clothes may be dried in bad weather.
A vegetable cellar is conveniently ans
ranged for such stores; and there is a
place for coal if any is wanted. The
master of the house has a office fitted
with desk, chairs, etc., where hecan
receive the men who have business
with him.

I forgot to mention, in their proper
connection, the store-room, arrangfl
to hold sugar and flour barrels, tea.
boxes, coffee and kindred supplies; and
the commodious linen closet, yet to be
stocked.

The house must be literally honeyh
combed with wires and pipes. The
modern mansion is a miracle of human
skill and ingenuity, and its construction
calls for a mind trained to the highest
proficiency in builders’ architecture
and art. The erection of an ordinary
dwelling house where no gas, wateror
furnace are to be provided for is a
simpler task than to build the city man’s
stables, which are lighted by electricity
with water in every stall, and a wire
by means of which the master in his
study may give orders to the coachmm
in his apartments in the carriage house.
A speaking tube from Madame’s apart-
ments on the second floor front-enables
her to give orders to the cook inthe
kitchen without seeking a personal in-
terview.

There is no country in the world where
the homes of the well-to—do are so
beautiful and convenient as in ours. In

 


 

2 .

The Household.

 

the grand manorial halls of England’s
nobility, the bedroom candle lights the
family to repose, and grates and fire-
places are relied upon to furnish the
warmth required to make the great
rooms habitable. Even English inns
are, except a few of the metropolitan
hotels, lacking in the comforts and
conveniences which our third rate
houses afiord in this country, while
travelers’ tales amusingly set forth the
novel situations and absence of “ accom-
modations” required by the American
Mist. We have one compensation
forbeing “new;” we are “up to the
times.” BEATRIX.

EXPERIENCE WITH AN INCUBATOR.

 

Having washed, baked bread, attend-
d‘ to the chickens, put surplus cases out
fluvsome of my bees, prepared dinner,
and the dishes washed, I have decided
that I have done all I wish to, so will
take pen and ink and paper and the
last magazine out under the maples and
read, write and rest the remainder of
the time before supper, as we farm
people say.

1 am pleased that Zipp tried my way
of washing. I know she will continue
hwash that way, if she will try it a
fin" more times. I took my washing
out doors in the shade, as it was so very
warm in the house, and could not help
but think how much easier it is for me
to wash now than it used to be when I
Ribbed twice, boiled, sudsed, rinsed,
lined and starched them.

In answer to Zipp's inquiry as to
whatf use for a weight to press the
clothes smooth, will say that I use the
flhtirons if I am not using them. I have
a piece of railroad iron that I use when
Pam going to use the flatirons. Last
Monday I washed and ironed in the
brenoon and went visiting in the after-
noon. Perhaps I better make a little
explanation here. My mother came
Home with us the evening before to stay
a week, and as we wished to go to
several places, I had to plan my work so
that I could go and not neglect too
much that oughtto be done, so “ Grand-
ma done up all the work in the ‘house
and got dinner,” as Louie told his
papa when he came in to dinner, and
6‘Mamma just washed and ironed,so that
we could go down to Aunt Dora’s.”
Speaking about grandma makes me
think. I wonder how many little boys

-and girls are blessed with as many as
our first boy had. He had six grand-
mothers living when he was born, and
two grandfathers. Two of the grand-
mothers have died since. My brother’s
little boy had seven grandmothers and
fanr grandfathers, all own blood rela-
tions.

I read with interest all answers for
the lady who inquired about the ar-
rangements of the new house. El. See.
has my sympathy in her bereavements.
My thanksto Bess for telling how to
make bread with potato ball yeast. I

 

I
wonder if Brhe is to be a victim of

matrimony this summer? It seems to
be as prevalent as 1a grippe. Thanks
to Mary for telling us about soldering;
I purchased an ir0n and the acid, put
in the strips of zinc, and now I can do
my own mending, and for my neighbors
also, if they wish me to.

In answer to Mrs. W. S. S. would
say the hen is an incubator, “The
Improved Excelsior.” It has a tank
for water over the eggs and is heated
by a kerosene lamp made especially for
it, and which comes with the incubator.
I have had good success with it; this is
my third season with it and I like it
as well or better than I did at first. It
will hatch again this week. The in-
cubator with brooder for 200 chickens
cost me $40. The incubator without
brooder would only have been $25.
0f the 1-78 eggs that I put in 120
were hens’ eggs, 58 were turkey eggs:
26 were for my husband’s sister, as she
did not have hens that wanted to set.

When they had been in nearly two.

weeks I tested them, to make room for
dishes to place sponges in the trays of
egg, and every one of hers tested out;
that is, none contained chicks, or tur-
keys rather. As she had some under
hens I was anxious to hear from them
to know what luck she had with them.
When I did hear felt better, although
Iknew it was no fault of mine or the
incubator either. She did not get a
single turkey from the settings. I
tested out nine and broke one turning
it, leaving 110 from which I hatched
97 chickens. Of the 32 turkey eggs two
tested out, leaving 30, from which were
hatched 28 turkeys, but two were dead
in the shell. This is better success
than I ever had with hens. Fifteen or
twenty minutes’ time morning and
evening, with an occasional look at the
thermometer that is on the eggs in
the trays, is all the care it needs. If
I wake up in the night I get up and
see that it is not too warm for the eggs;
it is not really necessary, but I can
sleep better if I know that it is all right.
I will cheerfully answer all questions
in regard to it. BUSY BEE.
HASTINGS.

 

WHAT SHALL OUR BOYS READ?

 

This is an important question for
parents to consider, and on their view
of it the moral and intellectual welfare
of their sons in a great measure de-
pends. It is a peculiar trait of Ameri-
can boys to want to read something; they
have already decided to do so, and are
quite positive in their decision they
will read; what shall it be is one of the
vital questions of the hour.

One who has given but little atten-
tion to the subject would be surprised
to learn what an influence a boy’s read-
ing matter has over his mind. His
ideal of greatness and goodness is
measured by the characters of which
he reads. If the hero of the story is of

 

low character, it will not cause the
moral feelings of the boy to rise any
higher; if he has greatly distinguished
himself in any particular direction,
whether good or bad, the boy is ambi—
tious to do likewise. If he reads such
books as the lives of Washington or
Lincoln, he aspires to that which is
great and good, noble and true; if he
reads dime novels about wild and reck-
less adventures on the western frontier,
he wants to be a “Buffalo Bill” or a
“Prairie Ranger.”

How often we read newspaper reports
of boys who “struck out” for the west,
stealing a ride on some freight train,
and when arrested and returned to
their parents, cheap revolvers and dime
novels were found to be a part of their
luggage! But such is the effect of this
kind of reading.

There are several classes of writers
that should be specially guarded
against; one class is those who with fine
literary talent smooth over the moral
defects of their heroes, either by
speaking of them in a humorous way,
or by making it appear that it was the
influence of others that made them bad
and therefore not their fault. Any
book that leads the reader to think that
the author of an evil deed is not re-
sponsible for it, is dangerous for boys
to read. The moral coloring that the
writer gives to the subject of his story
is pretty sure to be the one the youth-
ful reader takes on.

And what perhaps is equally as
dangerous is a work written in such a
way as to excite the sympathy of the
reader in favor of a bad character.
Sympathy is easily excited and will
often carry a person away when an
appeal to his reason or judgment
would not move him. This is especially
the case with the young, whose sym-
pathies are warm and active and judg-
ment undeveloped.

Any book that gives a false impres—
sion of real life should be avoided. The
boy who reads such is apt to form mis-
taken ideas of people and things, and
when he comes into actual contact with
them and finds out that his notions are
false and impracticable it causes disap-
pointment and loss. It is quite im—
portant that when a boy is gathering up
astore of knowledge he should learn
things just as they are, that he should
see them in their true light. Boys will
run against stubborn facts more or less
all through life, and the better they are
acquainted with them the better they
are prepared to make the best of such
contact.

Books that will help boys develop
reason, good sense, practical ideas, and
help form habits of industry and
economy are what is needed. Also
those that will help mold the moral

character in the right shape. We

want good boys as well as bright ones.

Smart men who were not good men

have ever been a curse and expense to

our country. W. S. BARBER.
Essa: Gnamwoon.

 

 


 

 

The Household.

8

 

TRUST IN PROVIDENCE.

 

Grandpa seems to advise the sick to
trust in Providence and put less faith
in doctors, nurses and medicines. Trust
in Providence is a very beautiful motto
—sounds sort of lofty and high-minded;
but I’ve noticed that when we come
right down to the plain every-day facts
and ways of living it is a great deal
safer to do a good deal of personal
hustling for what you want. “God
helps him who helps himself,” strikes
me as a better maxim to live by than
“Trust in Providence,” even if we add
the old woman’s saving clause—“ till the
harness breaks. ” I’ve noticed the “ Trust
in Providence” people are usually
those who avoid personal exertion in
the interest of their health, and expect
Providence, “working through the
minds of the rich and charitable,” as
they will say, to do those things for
them which by rights they should do
for themselves. If trusting in Pro-
vidence will cure the grippe I don’t
see why equal faithshould not set a
broken leg, but I never heard of such
an instance.

If we can trust Providence to cure
:us when we are sick, Without the aid of
means to that end, why not trust the
same power to bring up our children
for us, without the anxious care and
thought and training we bestow to give
them an early impetus in the ways of
truth and right? Seems as if I have a
faint recollection that Grandpa’s ideas
-on bringing up children are not
grounded on an absence of personal
effort on part of parents, but that he
strongly advised the judicious use of
that tangible persuader, the rod.

I do believe in faith in the wise guid-
ance and direction of an over-ruling
Providence; but as faith without works
. is no good, believe in doing all we
possibly can to help ourselves and com-
pass what we desire, and having faith
that after we have done our best. the
outcome will be, so far as we are con-
cerned, the Divine will. But so many
of our misfortunes and afflictions, and
so much of our unhappiness, are the re-
sult of our own errors, neglect or sin
that we have no right to make Provi-
dence responsible for the consequences.
Punishment follows every violation of
law; we can not trust in Providence to
save us from the results of our own
acts.

To my notion, the man who when ill
will not use the best known means to
recovery, is as foolish as the farmer
who scatters seed on a half-tilled field
and “ trusts Providence ” to send him a
bountiful yield. Providence will not
do it; “as a man sows so shall he reap,”
.and in the same fashion the sick man
may get well, but he needn’t flatter
himself he is too valuable a man to be
spared from earth “just yet, or that
Providence is especially concerned in
prolonging his existence, but simply
that he was not dangerously ill and that

 

nature’s forces, could ac-
complish a cure.

Don't sit down and “trust” alone,
but “get a hustle on yourself” and
both “trust” and work. Thus shall

you “ get there.”

unaided,

BRUNEFILLE.

.w—

INQUIRIES ANSWERED. ‘

“A Greenhorn,” who writes from
Brighton, propounds several questions
on etiquette which are answered below.

“Yes ma’am” and “No ma’am” are
not now considered “good form.” A
simple yes or no, when followed by an
explanatory or other statement, is suf-
ficient. When a direct assertion or af-
firmative or negative reply is made, the
name of the person addressed is pro-
perly added, as “Yes, Mrs. Brown.”
Sir and Madam are used in addressing
elderly persons. It is easy, with a little
practice, if one has a ready wit, to make
replies without the tiresome iteration
of “yes mum,” “yessum” and. “yes
mom.”

The gentleman is always introduced
to the lady. The only exception to this
rule is in case of an aged man of high
rank or great achievement to whom
young ladies are sometimes presented;
but in all cases which will occur in an
ordinary person’s life, the man is in-
troduced to the woman.

The gentleman should take his cue
from the lady in the matter of hand-
shaking. It is her prerogative to take
the initiative. If she does not extend
her hand, he should not offer his; if she
does he shouldbeready for the courtesy.
And “What should the gentleman
say?” He can say there was a frost last
night, or it’ll be a fine day tomorrow
if it doesn’t rain, or he can get red in
the face and tell her he’s “awful glad
to git interdooced;” or pass it off with
abow anda “very glad to have the
honor,” and enter at once into a chat
about something apropos to the time
and place.

People who “perform the ceremony
of introduction” would be entitled to
the blessings of the introduced if, in
addition to pronouncing names distinct-
ly, they would, when possible, give an
inkling of the tastes or interests of
those for whom they thus pave the
way to acquaintance. If Miss Brown
is musical or artistic, ora stranger from
another town, or if Mr. Smith is some
particular Smith who has traveled or
read or lectured, the statement of this
at the mement of introduction opens
the way for a conversation, if either
has the wit to seize upon it, which puts
both at their ease and often leads to the
discovery of mutual friends or kindred
tastes, and not infrequently to per—
manent friendships. And one of the
times when one feels like exclaiming
with the old lady, “For Heaven’s sake
say something, if it isn’t so smart!” is
when introduced to a shy young man
who promptly but briefly responds
“Yes mom” to all you say, and ab-

 

solutely decline to venture a remark on
his own responsibility. It’s easier to
carry on a conversation with a parrot.
Ease of manner in company is only
gained by a determination to conquer
native bashfulness, and the first step
is to forget all about yourself and
try to be as pleasant and agreeable as
you can. Then closely observe the
manners of those who have had social
advantages and do not be afraid to
imitate them.

A correspondent at Dexter inquires
if there is an Old Ladies’ Home in De-
troit, and if so, what are the require-
ments for admission.

There is the Thompson Home for
Old Ladies, an institution founded and
endowed by Mrs. David Thompson, of
this city, which is probably the Home
our correspondent has heard about. I
do not know how many inmates it can
accommodate, but am told the applica-
tions for admission largely outnumber
the number of rooms at the disposal of
the management. It is a pleasant home;
a safe and happy retreat for the home-
less women who have seen better days
or have been left alone in the world
with but little means of support. The
requirements are that the candidates
shall be ladies by birth and breeding,
and as they live together in one family
this is quite essential to harmony. An
entrance fee is required, and this is
$300 or $500. Those who seek the shelter
of the Home must also pass over to it
any property, over and above the en-
trance fee, which they may possess.
Each inmate also furnishes her room if
she is able to do so. The old ladies
assist in the lighter part of the house-
keeping, I am told, and they also make
a good deal of fancy work and many
knitted and crocheted articles which
are sold at bazars, or at their annual
merry-making, “Founder’s Day," and
on other occasions. There is also an
age limit, which Ibelieve is sixty years;
none are admitted younger than that
age. Preference is given to residents of
this city. BEATRIX.

 

OUR BOYS AND OUR NEIGHBORS.

 

We are either queer or our neigh-
bors are. We live some little distance
from town, and when we go there make
it an invariable practice to ask all the
neighbors we happen to see if they
wish to send for anything. It often
saves them a trip to the city for some
little article; yet there is but one neigh-
bor in the whole lot who will return the
kindness without being' requested to do
so, and then it sometimes seems to be
quite a task. We always get the mail
for the neighbors and are glad to do so.
I asked one of our neighbors to get our
mail one day, and on his return he said:
“ No mail for you, Beckey.” The next
day I went to town and found eleven
letters at the office for us. He had
simply forgotten to inquire for us. How
much better it would be if people would

 


 

4:

The Household.

 

perform these little acts of kindness
that are so little trouble to them, yet
such a kindness to others! Are we
queer, or are our neighbors?

We have a couple of boys, sixteen and
eighteen years of age, who cause us
much anxiety. They are as brightas
the average country boys and are great
readers, yet they turn their attention
in a wrong direction as far as their
reading is concerned. We take seven
papers—religious, political and agri-
cultural. As soon as the papers come
from the office the boys are anxious to
get hold of them, and the first thing
read is the stories. It seems to bea
task for them to read an article on the
best methods of raising wheat or stock,
yet they will devour a dime novel at a
single sitting. If they can get hold of
such books as “ Monroe the Detroit De-
tective,” “Chicago Jack the Burglar,”
or“ Montana Bill the Scout,” they are
the most contented lads in Michigan;
and I do believe if the house was on fire
they would want to finish the chapter
at least, before putting it out. We tell
them how much mo1e important it is
to store their minds with useful
knowledge than to fill up on such trashy
nonsense, that they may just as well
become useful, intelligent men as to
be ditch-diggers; but it seems to be
good'advice “ wasted on the desert air.”

Will some of the good readers of the
HOUSEHOLD please tell us how to
manage these lads? .

LANSING. AUNT BECKEY.

-——oc.—-——-
AN ECONOMICAL COOK.

“How to.‘ Make 3. Chicken Last 9.
Week”'was the attractively economical
heading Of an article in one of our late
exchanges. Of course I at once paused
to -.learn5l1‘ow this feat was to be. ac-
complished. It reminded me of the
homeopathic principle of. infinite sub-
division of matter, which assigns to the
drop of medicine in a glass Of Water
and a drop of this dilution put into an-
other, glass of water, and to a drop- of
this in still” another, all the medicinal
virtues of the first tincture. There was
a family of four, and the first day they
ate. baked chicken with dressing and
gravy. The father and the daughter
each gota drumstick; the hired man
drew 8. Wing. (My recollection of hired
men, as I knew them ten years ago, is
that theyrarg' much more apt to eat a
whole chicken than be satisfied with
one wing!) The second day the gravy
made dumplings; the daughter made a
hearty meal of the heart (presumably
the hired man struggled with the
gizzard), the white and dark meat
being “nicely sliced and heated in a
pan of hot butter.” The third day
these slices still figure “on a small
platter,” while the “odd bits” (prob-
ably the liver) made a chicken pie.
The fourth day the chicken pie is
warmed over by steaming it. The
fifth those “odd bits” and cold slices

- are made into “delicate chicken cro-

 

 

quettes (and “delicate” they must be
indeed!) For the sixth day, “ the bones
are powdered, put into a cheese-cloth
sack in a granite kettle of cold water,
and a delicious soup is the result, such
as no one can imagine until she has
tried it.” I should think not! But is it
chicken soup, or bone soup a la cheese
cloth to which the victims of this
attenuated fowl are served? You would
think “imagination can do no more,’
and that the skeleton having been re-
duced to powder and well boiled, there
was an end of this reductio ad absurdum.
But no. Like the inexhaustible oil and
meal of the widow’s store, there’s al-
ways enough left for the foundation of
another meal, and the remainder of the
soup is thickened as a gravy and poured
over biscuit for the seventh day’s break-
fast! 'There you are; seven consecutive
days of chicken! How a family must
thrive on such rich, abundant fare—and
how mad it makes any woman who
ever spread a table for hungry men to

read such arrant nonsense! ‘
BEATBIX.

 

CHAT.

 

In looking over my old HOUSEHOLDS
this morning in search of a cake recipe
I came acress an article entitled
“ When Are Your Happiest Moments”
and it occurred to me that my happiest
moments arewhen my children are all
in bed asleep and out of mischief. I
find it no small item to keep them out
of mischief, as I have seven of them, all
boys, not a girl among them. Beatrix
said she was happiest when the north-
east pigeonhole of her desk was full of
HOUSEHOLD copy, so I thought I would
venture .to write, thinking perhaps the
pigeonhole might not be crowded very
full, as housecleaning has been going
the rounds again.

I would like to ask what has become
of E. S. B., for I want to thank her for
her bread recipe. I have used it ever
since it was first published; and I find,
as she forewarned us, that the bread-
box is in a chronic state of emptiness,
but I do not have any poor bread or any
bad flour. Some of my neighbors are
always finding fault with the flour,
but I think the trouble is with the
breadmaker. I would like to tell you
how many loaves of bread I made last
year; I kept count, but I dare not for
fear you will doubt my word.

I would like to thank Busy Bee for
her method of washing. It looked like
a lazy woman’s way, so I thought I
would try it, but it proved entirely
satisfactory. Washing is my one big
day’s work; nine of us to wash for and
my two hands to do everything!

Amonox. EVERGREEN.

 

I'am‘one of the readers of the HOUSE-
HOLD and take much pleasure in it.‘ I
am a little girl twely’e years old} SOme
girls think they are young ladies‘ at
twelve, but my niamina says I am
nothing but a little girl-.- I do not" go

 

to school this summer. We live on a,
farm one mile west and north of Linden.
Papa takes the FARMER and he thinks

he can not get along without it.

LINDEN. M. C. K.

 

‘ In answer to Mrs. W. J. G.’s query I
would say that I supposed that it was
thoroughly understood by the modern
reading public that by poetic license
many things are allowable in writing
poetry that would be simply absurd in
prose writing or in conversation. If
Mrs. W. J. G. has undertaken the task
of correcting the world of productions

from the pen of amateurs like myself, 'I '

fear she has before her sufficient em-
ployment for a long; and patient life-
time. ' She might perhaps question the
exact fidelity to truth'of the produc-
tions of even noted Writers—Meredith’s
“Lucile,” Byron’s“ Beppo,” or Moore’s
“ Lalla Rookh.”

CLARA BELLE souruwnnn.

HARD SOAP

MARSHALL.

 

 

' Isn’t it about time to harden, up on:
HOUSEHOLD soap question? If so, this
is the way we have done it for some
years. past with very .good success:
Make the same as soft soap. When
done add to four pailsful of soap one
pailfu1 of rain water; then add four
quarts of salt and stir it well. This
Will whiten the soap and cause it to
separate and rise to the top of the
kettle and form a hard cmst. When
cold cut it up in pieces of suitable size
and put in a dry place for future use.

‘ W. 8. B.

 

A SUBSCRIBER at Holt, Ingham 00.,

writes us as follows: “Will some
reader .of the HOUSEHOLD please tell
mehow to prepare small cucumbers in
open jars ready fortable use so they.
will the year round?” g This is rather-
vague,'but we presume she wishes to
know how to make cucumber pickles
that will keep, without packing the
cucumbers in salt and going through
the tedious process of freshening. And
on this supposition, will some Of our.
housekeepers speak up promptly?

Useful Rocipou.

 

- Bnonnn Tommns.—Select a number of
perfectly ripe and sound tomatoes, taking
care thatthe skin 1s not broken. After wip-
ing them clean, cut of! a thin slice from. the
stem end of each, and take out the hard core
from the center. Then set them close to-v
gather on the wire broiler, keeping the out
side level on top; cover the out side with salt
and pepper; and place the broiler over a hot'
fire of live coals. Do not close the lid of the:
broiler upon them. Now let them cook

steadily until thorough] done—occupying
about twen minutes. he salt and pepper.
are absorbed? by the juice, which assumes a
fine reddish brown color and 01113195 aflavor
of unequaled uality. Remove them from
the broiler wit a broad fork, passing the
prongs under, so as to 'a'void breaking or.
overturning. . They msy'be served either in-

the skins or with the latter removed. With

any farm of meat, vegetable, or brand, there
is no sauce. foreign or home-made. which.

can be compared with this simple, inexpen-

. sive dish.