 

ll rum
‘ s.»\\"’
j.

7’;
/ .
9
x
,,
'l
. i
l
‘ /
'l
[4
14»
7
4
a
I
,,_
//

a. '///

\

 
DETROIT, MARCH 2, 1886.

 
TJHIE HOU§EH©LD===§uppllemento

 
THE GOOD HOUSEKE'EPER.

 
How can I tell her?
By her cellar,
Cleanly shelves and whitened wall;
I can guess her
By her dresser;
By the back staircase and hall.
And with pleasure
Take her measure
By the way she keeps her brooms;
Or the per ping
At the “ keeping ”
Of her back and unseen rooms.
By her kitchen‘s air of neatness,
And its general completeness;
Where in cleanliness and sweetness,
The rose of order blooms.
-—-Lester Leigh.

————ooo-———-—

EARLY SPRING FASHIONS.

The woodchuck came out of his burrow
on Candlemas Day, beheld the goodly
proportions of his shadow, and concluded
to retire for another nap, which proceed-
ing on his part causes the weather-wise to
prophesy six weeks of continued cold
weather. Notwithstanding this indica-
tion that the famous “ backbone of win-
ter” is not yet broken, our city merchants
several weeks ago displayed in their win-
dows their ﬁrst importations of spring
cottons in dress-goods, which were speed-
ily purchased by those provident ladies
who make Lent truly a penitential season
by doing up their spring sewing along
with the forty days’ fast. Aside from the
temptation to purchase to those who are
subject to inspirational attacks of “thim‘
ble fever,” is the fact that these ﬁrst sup-
plies are generally choicestin pattern and
quality, and cannot be duplicated later in
the season, being “imported French
goods,” if the glib-tongued salesman may
be credited. The most elegant patterns
are those having small. ﬁgures on a solid
ground, though there are some pieces
displayed which present the advantages
of large pattern and small price. A large,
showy ﬁgure cuts up too much in ﬁtting
to be desirable; decapitated birds, bisect—
ed leaves and ﬂoricuiturai fractions give
a waist a patchy look, hence we ﬁnd the
small ﬁgured goods the favorite. Stripes
are promised us in the durable Scotch
ginghams, as a variation to the bars and
checks so long worn. Alth’)‘lgl1 plain
goods is shown to be made no with the
ﬁgured, in buying a new dress most la-
- dies prefer to purchase of the ﬁgured, and
in another season. if necessary, remodel
by the aid of the plain.

We have already the a“. sauce sheets of
the new styles of makingup, in which

 
we ﬁnd both plain and pleated skirts, and
short and long draperies. Many skirts
are plain and round; where pleats are
used they are wide and shallow. The
round jacket promises to be very popular,
being ﬁgured for both wool and cotton
goods, and vests are universally worn in
consequence, either plain or soft and full,
the latter being most becoming to slender
ﬁgures. Revers extending from the collar
to the waist line are a new feature on
some of these jacket basques. Round
waists, shirred, tucked andpleated, are to
be more worn than last summer. Polo-
naises, with full fronts shirred on the
shoulders, and half belts of ribbon sewed
in at the under arm seam, are also shown,
to be worn over old silk or wool skirts.
Rufﬂes and ﬁounces, unless of embroidery,
have seen their best day, and tucks are
taking their innings; while embroidery
still retains its grip. In dresses trimmed
with embroidery, however, a new depar-
ture is observed; the plain goods forms
the draperies, while the embroidered is
used almost entirely for the lower skirt.
The eﬁect is such, in white, that an un-
sophisticated observer might believe the
belle had forgotten to put on her dress
and was disporting herself in her petti-
coat.

Velvet will be much used in conjunc-
tion with wash dresses the coming sum—
mer, as bretelles, collars, cuffs, belts and
sashes. A set of these in black velvet
may be worn with white, pink and pale
blue dresses, and give a very dressy and
stylish air to a limited summer wardrobe.
With round‘waists the sash is almost in-
dispensable. There will be an attempt to
introduce low linings for muslin and
lawn gowns, and as a pretty throat and
shoulders gain added beauty through the
semi-transparency of such material, no
doubt it will prevail. Fashion decrees
the coat—ﬁtting sleeves “must go,” yet
her mandate is most reluctantly obeyed.
Some of the new sleeves are plain and
close ﬁtting to half way above the elbow,
where they are slightly gathered in the
lengthwise seams to make fullness across
the upper arm. Another style which
promises to ﬁnd favor with those having
plump arms, is loose and somewhat ﬂow-
ing at the wrist, and snugly ﬁtting the
upper arm.

The new material
velvet as vest, collar, etc., for new
wool dresses, is watered silk, the
moire antique of our grandmothers. It is

not so warm and 'heavv-lookingas velvet
Moire and satin stripes alternating make
very pretty vests.

to replace

 
Cnﬁ‘s, lately banished from My Lady’s
toilette table, are again restored to favor,
and also the lace frills at the wrists of
dressy costumes. Dress collars are still
abnormally high, and the linen collars
which still prevail for street and ordinary
wear are correspondingly altitudinous.
The jet collars which have been described
in these columns are quite as fashionable
as ever, and now often have the addition
of a network or fringe of beads on the
lower edge.

Ribbons are to be used in great profu—
sion on all thin dresses, including sum-
mer silks. Those with ~picot or purled
edges are preferred, especially when gro-
grain or in watered effects. They are worn
as dog collars, with three loops and a
forked end, fastened at the left side. The
elbow sleeves will have a bracelet with
sunilar loops, and a fr-ill of lace below.
Cravat and belt bows are also worn, and
some sleeves have ribbon loops for their
only trimming. forming a cuff crossed by
astrap on the inner arm, with hanging
ends below. Rosettes of loops, and bows
and ends crushed together to form a rose
shape, are also stylish.

———_...____

A FARMER’S BILL OF FARE.

 
Have the housekeepers who read the
HOUSEHOLD ever tried having a bill of
fare, to be diﬂferent every day, yet every
week the same? I have, and ﬁnd it a
great help, as it takes time to decide what
shall be cooked.

Last summer my husband built a large
barn, and we boarded the hands; as we
could not afford the additional expense
of keeping a girl to help me, I was
obliged to make every moment count.
We had ten or twelve in the family
nearly all summer, and they required
something hearty to eat. Do you re—
member when you ﬁrst went to house—
keeping how hard it was to think of any-
thing to get for dinner? I remember
thinking, “Oh, if mozher were only here
to tell me what to get!" I could get it; the
hardest part was to decide what to have.

Iknew that it would require a good
deal, so I prepared for it in the fall and
winter, by canning mince meat, tomatoes
and corn, and packed several hams. We
had a good supply of garden vegetables,
beans, melt, anti ﬁsh, besides having
plenty of eggs, butter and milk.

We always have pancakes for break-
fast the year round; wheat in summer,
and buckwheat in winter, with maple
syrup. We haveagood sugar bush on

 
2

THE H OUSEH OLD.

 
our farm and always make enough syrup
to last us until sugar-makin g comes again.

So I decided to have my bill of fare for
dinners only; picking up the suppers
partly from something that might be left
from dinner. I wrote the bill of fare for
the week, plainly, on a piece of paper

and tacked it on the wall over the table
in the kitchen. Of course I added lettuce,
radishes and other early garden products
as they came in season; the same bill of
fare lasted from the ﬁrst of April until
the last of August, by merely changing
from old vegetables to new, as the season
advanced.

For young housekeepers it would be a
good plan to try it; perhaps I will send
you mine, if you wish, some future day.
' AUNT LUCY.

_-_....___.

A SOUPHERN BLIZZARD.

Tell me not again in song or story,
bright tales of the balmy south, where
winter is unknown. Until now I be—
lieved that where cotton grew no snow
ever £211, but like many another rosy
mist this fancy has faded, leaving me to
face the sordid fact of a regular northern
snow storm that prevailed eighteen
hours, blocking the street cars, making
of business people unhappy pedestrians.
As I trudged through the cold drifts
heaped over the curb stones they seemed
only an addition to the huge installments
of cotton bales that have lined the same
streets almost every day since last
November. Indeed we were not at all
prepared for your northern blizzards as
they followed fast, one upon the heels
of another. At ﬁrst we huddled close to
the grate, heaping on bituminous coal,
watching it in a dazed and hopeless way,
asso many dollars and cents going up
the chimney. As the thermometer
dropped down to eight degrees below
zero we submitted withagroan to the
next inevitable, put down a large square
of oil cloth in one corner, brought in the
gasoline stove and most of the “ kitchen
things” preparatory to living altogether
in the one room that we use as a sitting
room during the day, and by unfolding
the lounge, metamorphose into a sleeping
apartment at night. We are now even
reconciled to using the drawers of the
dressing case for dishes and cold victuals.
The latter are not kept long in stock.
The many shivering tramps who travel
along our street appear to prefer ringing
the bell of our unpretentious cottage, to
soliciting eatables from the occupants of
the mansions all around us. I have a
theory regarding this ill‘favored element
in which all the arguments of cool
judgment cannot shake my faith.

“ 0 ye, who sunk in beds of down
Feel not a want but what yourselves create,
Tuink for a moment on his wretched fate
Whom friends and fortune quite disown."

We have been having Moody and
Sankey with us for a few days. We were
able to attend the 8 A. as. services, by
going without any breakfast. We could
not miss this opportunity of getting
some ﬁrst class religion. The rapidly
dissolving snow formed rills, rivnlets
and brooks that crept through the streets
in all directions, glistening in the mellow

MMON.

sunlight saucily as any legitimate stream.
Being navigable for craft as large as No.
5 overshoes, we courageously forded all
in our way to the cars, and were soon
seated at the feet of the renowned
evangelists. I had expected more elo-
quence, greater erudition from Mr.
Moody, butyou know one humble sin—
ner should not presume to criticise what
the whole world says is wonderful. Mr.
Sankey’s singing ﬁlled us and thrilled
us, and we are prepared to say to the
multitude. you must go and hear Moody
and Sankey the ﬁrst opportunity. The
Southern people are too phlegmatic to be
swept into a great revival by three days'
preaching. But they are nearly all
church members, and to my mind unusu-
ally consistent. I have never been in
any place where so many men attended
church and were active workers.

We are growing to like Memphis very
well, and as time advances hope to send
pleasing pictures of our‘adopted home.
This is a great commercial centre. A
vast amount of business is compassed
every day. The Mississippi River is at
present full of floating ice, impeding
travel by boat to some degree, but we
peep over our lofty bluffs complacently,
knowing that no rise of this mighty
stream can ever reach our dwellings.

DAFFODILLY.
Mnurnrs, Tenn.

-———--OOO-—-—

WHITI WORMS IN THE SOIL.

 
I notice that the only cause given by
ﬂorists for the presence of white worms
in ﬂower pets, is overwatering and in—
sufﬁcient drainage, making the soil sour
and become unhealthy. I would also
name the probable presence of some rank
fertilizer, used in watering or potting.
This condition is unfavorable to plant
life and growth, even if worms did not
appear; but as they do, the next study is
how to destroy them. Soot is an ex—
cellent fertilizer and stimulant, as well
as rather unhealthy for worms, and will
correct the acid of the soil, rendering it
more nourishing to othe plants. I have
great conﬁdence in nyretkrum roseum as
an insecticide, and no doubt Mrs. Setter-
lee’s plan is excellent. The sulphur ends
of matches put into the soil will destroy
the worms, but not invigorate the plants.
Unless the roots are tender or succulent,
I think white worms do little harm; but
when soot used liberally or lime water
sparingly, does not make a decided im-
provement, I should turn out the ball
and set in a dish of tepid water, shake
gently until the roots are clear, then
rinse. and after thoroughly cleaning the
pot rinse it with lime water and care-
fully re-pot the plant in good prepared
soil, as I have frequently described here.
Then set in the shade, sprinkle the
foliage often, but very little at the roots,
afteragood soaking when the potting
is done. We must not forget to give the
foliage plenty of water at all times, either
by vapor or sprinkling. or both, and add
a little rich soil occasionally, even if

room must be made for it by removing
some of the old.

 
Plants should not be set in too large

 
pots. Turn out the ball sometimes be—
fore watering, and see if it is pot bound,
or if all is well with the roots. Good
thrifty plants are very pleasant com-
panions, but sickly, toomuch-doctored
ones, in sour, mal-oiorous soil, are worse
than none at all, for there is no doubt
that it is the exhalations from such pots
of soil that give rise to the opinion that
plants are injurious to health, when the
earth itself does whatever harm is done.
I am fond of plants, but the garden is
my greatest delight;Ilong for the rt.L
freshing breath of spring, and the ex-
hiliarating garden work. I nearly envy
the residents of the Golden State, who
are now at that very work I am so eagerly
anticrpating. I learn from a corres—
pondent that in Galeta, 09.1., fruit
trees and garden ﬂowers are in bloom,
and spring and its seasonable work fairly
inaugurated. In offering my seeds this
spring I feel more than ever conﬁdent of
giving satisfaction, which I sincerely de-
sire. I hope to see the time when every
home in the land, and every school-
ground, will have its ﬂower garden.
MRS. M. A. FULLER.
.—___Q”_—_
A CHAT ABOUI‘ iFAVORII‘E
AUTHORS.

Fair-rem

 
It would take a whole afternoon to
name then all, so I will mention afew
that I especially like, and of course
Longfellow must head the list. What
can be more exquisite than some pas-
sages in Evangeline!

‘ ‘Sat the lovers apart and whispered, beholding
the moon rise '
Over the pallid sea. and silvery mist of the
meadows,
Silently, one by one, in the inﬁnite meadows of
Heaven,
Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots’
of the angels."
it *- =l= ‘vF 1‘ * * 3 S
“Something there was in her life incomplete, im-
perfect, unfinished;
As if a morning of June, with all its music and

sunshine,
Suddenly pausei in the sky and fading slowly
descended,
Into the east. again from whence it late had
. arisen."
# * ‘l‘ * i =3 3 ll: #

“Talk not of wasted affection, affection never

was wasted,

If it enrich n.“ the heart of another. its waters
returning

Back to their springs, like the rain, shall ﬁll

‘ them full of refreshment.

That which the fountain sends forth, returns
again to the fountain."

In “The Courtship of Miles Standish,”
where was there ever another such a
friend as John Alden, putting all his
beautiful dreams and hopes aside, mak—
ing “All his life henceforth a dreary,
tenantless mansion,” saying

"Let not him that putteth his hand to the plow
look backward;
Though the plowshare out through the ﬂowers
of life to its fountains;
Though it pass o'er the graves of the dead and
the hearts of the living.
It is the will of the Lord."

How much we may learn, if we will, in
Whittier’s “ Among the Hills!" Have we
not all been in just such a “ best room "

“ Stiﬁlng with cellar damp, shut from the air,
In hot midsummer; bookless, pictureless,
Save the inevitable sampler hung
Over the ﬁre-place, or s mourning piece,
A green-haired woman. teeny—checked, be—
neath impossible wil ows ."
If t * a! a! t It 4' t
“ And in sad keeping with all things about then,
Snrili. querulous women, sour and sullen men,
Untidy, loveless. old before their time,
With scarce a humsn interest save their own

Monotone“ round of small economies,

 
THE HOUSEHOLD

3

 
Or the poor scandal of the neighborhood.

Blind to the beauty everywhere revealed,
Trending the May- ﬂowers with regardless feet;
For them the song sparrows an-t the bobolink
Sang not, nor wind made music in the. leaves;
For them in vain October’s holoeaust

Burned gold or crimson over the hills.
Church-goers, fearful of the unseen powers,
But grumbling over pulpit-tax and pew rents,
Saving. as shrewd economists, their souls

And winier’spork w:th the least possible out-

lay

or salt and sanctity."

And we have also seen the home that
is contrasted with this in the poem; the
farm life made beautiful and attractive
by acultured woman; with such grace
and dignity performing the everyday
tasks that they seemed no longer homely.
I like to read this poem; I like to shut
the book and repeat it softly to myself,
for it is so real. “My Psalm” I es—
pecially like:

“All as God wills, who wisely heeds,
To give or to withhold,

And knoweth more of all my needs
Than all my prayers have told.
Enough that blessings undeserved
Have marked my crring track—

That where so—e’r my feet have swerved
Iiis chastening turned me back—
That death seems buta covered way

Which opens into light
Wherein no blinded child can stray
Beyond the Father’s sight.
That care and trial seem at last
'i hrough memory’s sunset air
Like mountain ranges, overpast
In purple distance fair—
That all the jarring notes of life
Seem blending in a psalm—
And all the angels of its strife
Glow rounding into calm.
And so the shadows fall apart
And so the west winds play,
And all the windows of my heart
I open to the day.”

My volume of Jean Ingelow is pretty
well worn, it falls open easily at any
page. In the poem “Divided:”

“ And yet I know past all doubting. truly:-
A knowledge greater than grlcl' can dim-
I know, as. he loved he will love me duly—
Yea, better—o'en better than i love him.
And as I walk by lhe vast calm river,
The awiul river. so dread to see,

I say "l‘uy breadth uni thy depth forever
Are bridged by his thoughts that cross to
me. ' ”

“ The Letter L,” “ A Cottage in a
Chine,” “ Songs of Seven,” “ The Four
Bridges,” are all favorites. I like Burns
very much: don’t you think these lines in
"Tam O'Shanter " are so true:

“ For p‘easurcs areiike poppies spread,

We seize the ﬂower, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snowﬂake in the river

A moment white—then lost forever;
0: like the lowly rainbow’s hues
Evanishing among the stems,

0r like the borealis race

That ﬁlls, ere you can point its place.”

Dickens Ilike to hear read aloud. Who
can refrain from crying over " Little
Nell”; or “Paul” in “ Dombey and Son,”
or laughing over “ Bairy Gamp?”
Dickens understood human nature pretty
well. I like his poem, “ The Children.”
"0h, there’s nothing on earth half so holy

As the innocent heart of a child.

They are idols of hearts and of households;
They are angels of God in disguise;

His sunlight still sleeps in their tressea,

His glor, still gleams in their eyes.

on, theae truants from home and from heaven
They have made me more manly and mild,

And I know how Jesus could liken
The kingdom of God, to a child."

I have read a number of Wilkic Collins’
books. I must name Grace Aguilar's
“Vale of Cedars ” and "Days of Bruce ;"
Currer Bell’s works; George Eliot’s
"Adam Bede,” “Mill on the Floss,”
Victor Hugo’s “Toilets of the Sea.” Oh,
I wish I never had anything more dif-
ﬁcult to do than read, and tell who I
like and who I do not. Half the com-
dortI have is in thinking over what I

 
have read, for household duties and the
care of little ones ﬁll in my time pretty
well. When we were all at home, an
older sister used to read aloud; it was her
favorite pastime, and as she was a
splendid reader. the book was tenfold
more interesting. That is the way Iread
all of Dickens’ books. and Burns’ poems.
There are so few who can read Burns
well. Has any one belonging to our
HOUSEHOLD read “Ramona?" Ihave seen
it noticed by the press as equal to “Uncle

Tom’s Cabin.”
Barran- Cnnnx. EVANG ALIN E .

——*..———-

THE TOOTHPICK QUESTION.

 
I was glad to see in the HOUSEHOLD,
Jan. 26, 1886, this language “ Our corres-
pondent is justiﬁed in her condemnation
of the ‘toothpick craze.” It should be
discouraged, for it is certainly very un-
reﬁned. Iwould as lief dine in aden-
tist’s room, with the dentist engaged in
his practice, or have a clean spittoon on
the table, as to have toothpicks there,
for they suggest the same thing, the
cleaning of the mouth. I have traveled
considerably and mingled in what may
be called reﬁned society, but I have
never seen toothpicks on the tables or in
sight on the tables of cultivated and re—
ﬁned families, or at the ﬁrst class hotels,
The custom may have originated in cheap
restaurants, where horsemen get together
and chat with kindling wood in their
mouths, but anywhere I see it I turn my
face away in disgust. And I have seen
men and women at dinners and teas,
after eating and the toothpicks were
passed around, all go into the exercise of
picking their teeth as though they
thought it was a custom among the most
reﬁned, and were elevated a little above
their neighbors, who has not discovered
the aesthetic nature of the practice.

ALTER-i.

HOWELL. ____.»___

TRAINING SCHOOLS.

 
“Does it pay to educate the girls?" is a
question that Beatrix has more than once
asked in these columns. Thus far no one
to my knowledge has attempted to an-
swer. I have always intended to answer,
but lest I might fail to make my meaning
clear to the comprehension of all have
desisted and deferred. The time has at
last arrived when I think I can be under-
stood, with the aid of an extract from a
letter received from a friend, who went
to Worcester, Mass, last October, for the
purpose of placing her two oldest sons——
who were ready for college—in a techni-
cal school there, said school being called
an “Institute of Industrial Arts." I wish
to preface the quotation with a little ex—
planatory note:

This mother is an educated, brave, sen-
sible woman; one who recognizes
the relative values of learning
and labor, of industry and happiness.
And this is why she thus virtually super-
intends the education of her sons, while
their father, a man of wisdom like unto
her own, is at the antipodes doing service
in a branch of Uncle Sam’s navy. What
she says in regard to the school is this:

 
“ The examination for admission to the
Technical Institute did not take place till
January 27th. The boys spent their time
till then in reviewing their studies and
taking private lessons in French of one of
the professors at the Institute. At the
examination they were successful, and
were admitted without ‘conditions.’ The
class was limited to 33 on account of
space in the work-room, and 54 candi-
dates presented themselves for examina—
tion, so we consider our boys quite for-
tunate in being among the successful
ones. The students spend a certain num-
ber of hours in shop practice each day,
besides their lessons, which gives them
a good practical education. They com-
bine theory and practice. I don’t know
as I have told you that our boys have en—
tered the class of Mechanical Engineers.
They practice in the wood room until the
end of this year—in J hue—and next year
work in iron at the machine shop.
‘Washburn machine shop’ is a part of
the school, and the articles made there by
the students are sold in the markets; so
you see their work has to be well done.
Besides this, they give them a good edu—
cation, such as they give in any college.”

“Well,” you say, “that’s all very good,
indeed. but I fail to see that it has any-
thing to do with ‘the question,’ since it
does not so much as recognize the fact of
‘ the girls” existence.” Here’s where I
make my point: It is just as essential to
the peace, prosperity and consequent
happiness of the human family that we-
man’s work be done by the most skillful
and an :cessful methods as that man’s
work should thus be done. Men recog—
nized and accepted this fact, as far as it
pertains to themselves and their work.
years ago. and set the ball rolling so vig-
orously that the b3}; may soon be able to
acquire in school a thorough practical
knowledge in any art, selence, calling or
vocation that he may choose to serve.
But ”the girl” can as yet only learn in
school those things that have caused Be-
atrix to ask, “ Does it pay to educate our
daughters?”

My answer to this question is: It does
not pay, in any sense of the word, to “ed-
ucate” a girl in any way that excludes a
thorough and practical knowledge of
house and home keeping. If along with
this she acquires “accomplishments,”
a trade or profession, and the logic of
deep and high erudition, so much the
better; but for the good of the world, for
her own happiness, and for the sake of
happiness and prosperity in the home she
is ever so eager to win and to preside
over, let her learn to treat every domestic
duty as a familiar and well beloved
friend.

This is a problem towhich I have given
much thought and study. 1 can see but
one way by which to bring it to a suc-
cessful solution, and that is, make a prac-
tical knowledge of housekeeping and
home-making a part of the girl's school
education—in the same way, that is, by
corresponding methods, by which the boy
gets a practical knowledge at school 0!
agriculture or of mechanical engineering,
or or any other calling or profession he

 
.
1%

é
4.

 
4: I THE HOUSE‘HOLD.

 
may choose. This can be done. It is
possible. It is eminently desirable. It is
wise to make it practicable. And I have
faith to believe that the day draws
near when it will be said, “ It is done.”
For women are waking to the import—
ance of the idea—more—in r'nany places
and in various ways they are working out
the foundation stones of this some-time-
to-be undetachable part of our common
school system, which as yet—like our
glorious republic—is only in its infancy.

E. L. NYE.
Bonn-m-rnr-Hnns.

__.__§.*————
THOUGHTS 0N OTHEBS’ OPIN-
IONS.

The Fauna of Feb. 16th has just ar—
rived and I hasten to endorse the sentir
ments of Mollie Moonshine regarding
"rest."

I am sorry to differ with Pearl, but if
the inﬂuence of Harper’s Young People
tends toward making the children whoop.
ing Indians, then I fear the mother may
join the band and whoop with them; for
I confess I enjoy it just as much as they
do, from its artistic frontispiece clear
through to the letters written from Eng-
land. Ireland, Germany. Australia, India,
Siam, and the islands of the sea. I for
one say long live such publications for
our young people.

Pearl may be able to supply all the
needs of her little girl and yet put those
quarters in the bank for her; that is a
subject which gives me very little trouble
with my children; the present “needs”
take all the quarters. Do not misunder-
stand me, I do not say ” wants;” I do not
attempt to supply them; but children
really need so much beside something to
wear and aplace to eat and sleep. There
are so many aids to education outside of
the school room that I ﬁnd myself as it
were standing waiting for the next quar-
ter to put in an appearance. I feel that
in this way my children will have—when
they attain their majority—a bank ac-
count which no scapegrace can run away
with by marriage, neither will the bank
fail.

A. R. will ﬁnd at the drug stores a prep-
aration for blackboards—at least we
have it here-which dries immediately, is
entirely different from paint, and is quite
cheap. Mas. W. J. G.

HOWELL.
HH—

THE HUSBAND’S WORK IN THE
HOUSE.

 
There is little doubt that most hus-
bands would be glad if their wives would
learn “how to rest.” It is not pleasant to
see the buoyant spirits droop, the beauty
fade, and the charm that only health and
hopefulness can impart, vanish under the
pressure of care and toil. I read many of
the household departments in papers of
this and other States, and it seems to be
just now the prevailing idea that these
little savings of steps and small slights of
work would make everything easy for the

housewife. I endorse the notion of sav- ,

ing every step possible, and all modes of
diminishing labor; and yet I think that

 
which will save most strength is what a
woman does that should never be consid-
ered a part of her work or necessary for
her to do at any time, as we all know well
if one begins while young and strong to
bring water, split kindlings, gather vege-
tables—well, there would be quite a 11st of
things that most of us have done in the
beginning easily, that when drawbacks
on health are experienced. prove burden
some indeed. Men as arule have help;
women do sometimes, but oftener hare
none at all; and if one, or any of the men
folk would see that water and everything
necessary for ﬁres is at hand and all the
rough work done to begin the day that
calls heavily on the strength of the weak-
est and most burdened one on the farm, a
step would be taken in the right direction.
But if women wait for some men to put
on their “ thinking cap ” to render need-
ful assistance they may know the pleas-
ure of waiting; so it is better to manage
to convince the husband in the beginning
that it is positively for his interest to do
his part before taking up a paper to read.
Self denial is well in its proper place, but
self—immolation on the altar of man’s
selﬁshness is not likely to be appreciated,
and is no wise commendable.

I would like to say to “M” that I think
instead of its being the mother‘s fault
when daughters do not conduct them-
selves properly in the presence of young
men it is the willful disobedience of the
daughter; and in that case an unﬁlial
daughter would be quite likely to endeav-
or to make her mother the scape-goat
of her youthful follies. This advice too is
" cheap and plenty more at the same
rate.”

About cyclamen: In purchasing these
bulbs we may not get those quite mature
enough to bloom, as seedlings must be
two years old before they will give ﬂow-
ers; or there may have been mismanage—
ment in potting. It requires rich loam
in a small pot, with soot or charcoal as
drainage, and the crown of the bulb not
covered; the pot should not be placed in
the window until the leaves are well
grown and buds appear. I advise C. E.
if there are no more signs of blooming,
to let the bulb remain as it is, it well pot—
ted, and in the spring repot and plunge in
the border in a shady place until Septem-
ber. They are charming ﬂowers and not
particularly difﬁcult to manage. As with
most seedling window plants the greatest
care is while they are yet seedlings, as
there are insect pests ready for such
tender fare. Although the contrary is
frequently asserted, cyclamen bulbs
will not only ﬂower more than the ﬁrst
and second ycars,but many others be sides,
with no deterioration but rather improve-
ment; and so with gloxinias and many
others that have been considered beyond
ordinary culture; when once their req uire-
ments are well known I ﬁnd they Call be
enjoyed outside of a greenhouse.

MRs. M. A. FULLER.
W

A FRIEND says tell the lady inquiring

about papering painted ceiling to paste

Fins-rox .

it over with cheese cloth ﬁrst, and she‘

will ﬁnd it will paper nicely—OLD Scuoor.
TEACHER.

 
BY the Dayton, Ohio, Daily Herald, we
see our “ I. F. N.,” Mrs. B. N. Beaver, of
that city, is conducting the department of
the Herald devoted to the interests of
the W. C. T. U. The Dayton Union is
endeavoring to establish a home, restau-
rant and training school, broad in scope
and practical in its purposes, which shall
aid working women in the direction that
is most beneﬁcial, giving them a home in
case of need, training in their duties, and
moral support and countenance. It is a
good work; we hope the citizens of Day—
ton will appreciate its importance, and
give it liberal support.

.___...___

FLEDA, of Manchester says: “ Having
been denied the privilege of reading the
HOUSEHOLD the past year, it comes to me
this year like an old friend and compan—
ion, long absent, but not forgotten. We
can all proﬁt by the good advice, the
cheering suggestions and wise counsel of
the contributors. This has been a dreary
winter; scarcely a week of sunshine, with
dark lowering skies, and chilling winter
blasts. But the never-ending household
duties have kept me busy, with scarcely a
moment of leisure to look out of doors.
The story of the “ toiling farmer‘s wife ”
has been told in prose and poetry so often
that we can scarcely realize the facts un-
less we are placed there ourselves by cir
cumstances over which we have no con-
trol. Yet ‘ Life is what we make it,’ and
there are ‘ rifts in the clouds ’ whicn the
sunbeams illumine at all times.” Fleda
must pardon the omission of her recom-
mend of a certain article; we cannot give
it so much free advertising.

____..,__._..

Contributed Recipes.

PASTE FOR WALL PAPER.—-I send L. K. a
recipe for paste that I have tried many times,
and always without fail: One gallon of soft
water, a pint of rye ﬂour, and one ounce of
alum, dissolved; mix together cold and set on
the stove until it nearly boils, stirring frequent-
ly. Cool before applying. It should be thin
as milk, so, if necessary, thin with hot soft
water. MRS. M. A. F.

an'rox.

 
Temrnnarton, of Woodside, sends the fol-
lowing, which she credits to her mother:

Summits—For shirts, collars and cuffs in
cold weather, when starch freezes and spoils
the looks of the articles when hung on a lincto
dry, just wash and dry them, then dip in cold
starch. spread on jour ironing board, with a
clean cloth spread ova-r them, and rub with a
hot iron till nearly dry; then dip in cold starch
as usual, roll up a while, and iron as you al-
ways do.

TOMATO Carson—Can the tomatoes in the
usual Way, and when you open the cans in the
winter, ldku any quantity and season with salt
to suit the taste; then add cloves, cinnamon,
cayenne pepper, a little vinegar, and a little
sugar. It is the best you ever tasted.

 
FLOWER SEEDS FOR 1886

 
FRESH SEEDS TRUE T0 NAME

ready for the Spring Trade. Mixed packets of
Aunual, Perenu-al. Everlasting or Herb seeds,
10 Cent, torso to: 25 cents. Order from list in
Housanorm 12f February 23rd. Six packets, ex.
cepr. wher ; price is named, 25c: 13 for 50¢, and30
for 31. Collections for b-..~ginners, 15 varie ice for
50 cents . Sena one cent stamp for price :ist.
MRS. M. A. FULLER,
gBox 297, Fenton, Mich.

um" m ..