DETROIT, AUGUST 31., 1888.

 

 

THE HOUEEHOLD-"Supplement.

 

 

WHAT RULES THE WORLD.

 

They say that man is mighty,
He governs land and sea.
He wields a mighty scepter
O’er lesser powers that be;
But a power mightier, stronger,
Man from his throne has hurled,
“ For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.”

In deep, mysterious conclave,
’Mid philosophic minds,
Unraveling knotty problems.
Bis native forte man finds;
Yet all his “ics” and “isms "
To heaven’s four winds are hurled,
“‘ For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the worl .”

Behold the brave commander,
Staunch mid the carnage stand,
Behold the guidon dying,
With the colors in his hand.
.Brave men they be, yet craven,
When this banner is unfurled,
“ The hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world."

Great statesmen govern nations,
Kings mold a people‘s fate,

But the unseen hand of velvet
These giants regulate.

'The iron arm of fortune
With woman’s charm is puried,

“ For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world."

—Amoricau Israelite.
——....—-——.
PICNIC GOSSIP.

 

The “Farmers’ Picnic,”——-doesn’t that
title suggest everything free, large and
comfortable, in short, a good time gener-
ally? Beholding the multitude assembled,
the large grove and surrounding fields thick
with horses and wagons, I was led to in-
quire what portion of the United States
participated in the picnic at Pleasant Lake,
and was informed two counties. I fear this
may seem to the reader a small fraction of
our country, but there were a great many
present. Some estimated the number at
four thousand, others much higher. Our
eyes are still weary from gazing through
the mists of dust, and over the shining
waters of the lake. Not only man, but all
the world was dust. We walked in it, we
breathed it; our handkerchiefs and pockets
were filled with it; we ate it,—in brief, we
received a baptism in our native element.
But we are progressing slowly. and there is
.a great deal to be seen to-day in Vanity
Fair. '

Here we shall meet many of our old
friends from other towns, see what sort of
husbands they have, comment generally on
their appearance and affairs; the young ladies
will criticise each others’ beaux in the
most delightful manner, the old ladies will

 

gossip and prophesy about the young couples
as they swing the babies in the hammocks,
which thread the grove like a net-work,
even down to the blue waters of the lake.
The little girls arepromenading by twos and
threes, arm in arm. How full of interest
are tiny things for the young, wondering
eyes! It seems to me wonder is the finest
attribute of childhood; a beautiful guide,
before it so many and fine mysteries unfold.
Strange, sweet influence! I have seen it in
the eyes of a woman, too, as she looked
into the face of her lover, and it seemed a
marvelous grace as of childhood lingering
round her. But there’s Mirah C— “ that
used to be,” she’s Mrs. now. She
is trying to quiet a fractious youngster of
about three years’ sturdy growth, who is
tired of picnicing. She is thinner than of
yore, but has the same kind smile and
sensible manner. Her husband is at least a
foot too tall for her, and I wonder if she
doesn’t know his pantaloons are much too
large? Of course that thought never sug-
gested itself to him, for men never (1’) think
of personal adornment, unless, indeed, it
be the matter of a mustache. I had a friend,
who in absence raised a vigorous beard;
sort of a rainbow over his mouth, only it
was all red, and young forests on the sides
of his face. Itold him Ididn’t think it
improved his appearance, whereon he said
“Women were full of whims, and in the
face of them wouldn’t listen to reason.” It
was a tender subject. Indeed, it quite
broke up our friendship!

How does it happen that “everybody
knows young D— disappointed Miss
B-—”? I didn’t, and when some friends
of the young lady were pathetically con-
versing about the “disappointment,” I
asked, in what did he disappoint her?
“Why, in marriage,” one of them replied.

“She didn’t marry him, how can she be
disappointed in marriage?” I questioned.

“Well, in love, then,” the lady replied.
“ Disappointed in love? I must say that’s
impossible,” I persisted. “She may be
disappointed in man, nothing unusual; but
not inlove. That’s not in harmony with
the philosophy of loving.”

“You don’t mean to say,” said she, cast-
ing upon me a look which signified, You’re
very inexperienced and unfeeling, “that
there is philosophy in love?”

“Certainly I do,” I replied. “There is
blindness in it, and them is intense emo-
tion, but there’s a great deal of philosophy
in it; there’s the keenest criticism, and the
finest cemparison.” 1 do not mean to say
woman’s philosophy is so cold that she may
not gather her love and fold it in her pray-

 

 

ers, that she will not against all the world’s
scorn wear it as a diadem; but I do claim
love is so grand and beautiful a spiritual
development, it is not dependent for ex-
istence upon any human being proven faith-
less. The lives we love develop our love—
natures, and about these human centres
love glows, thrills, radiates, and is glorified.
I don’t mean to say, either, that woman’s
philosophy is man’s, or that one woman’s
philosophy is in harmony with another’s.
I have heard men, and women, too, say
they could find happiness with any one of
half a dozen or more whom they could love,
if the one most desired could not be pos-
sessed. This commends itself as the truly
wise philosophy. You who think there is
but one man or woman in the world, con-
sider its sustaining power in the midst of
disappointment!

But there’s young Smart in a boat, just
pushing off with his sweetheart Mary B——.
He is tugging away at the oars—a cigar in
his mouth, won’t he be entertaining?-—and
nearly knocked off his lady’s hat by running
against a placard standing in the water
announcing a dance on the island.

Sarah Simper looks on, and sneeringly
remarks something to the pompous dandy by
her side. My dear simpleton, I soliloquized
within myself. don’t put on airs. I hap-
pen to know your “dear fellow ” borrowed
three dollars of my father to give himself
and you to-day’s pleasure.

“Look at that trio,” said a friend at my
elbow. Iturned and saw a carriage with
three occupants. One rather contracted
seat, one girl on each side, Mr. Selflove
taking two-thirds of the seat out of the
middle. Query: What compensation had
the girls for such discomfort?

Conscript Fathers! I wonder if our sires
used to do this way? I’ve beenlookingthem
over to-day, and—may be I’m pessimistic, I
hope I am, when I say I fear their boys
won’t equal them. Haven’t I cause to
doubt? Here’s a knot of intelligent farm-
ers talking just behind me, and one of
them says, “I tell you, fair dealing and
honest labor have gone out of fashion. If
a man should say he wanted to do a good
day's work for an honest price, we’d all
think he ought to go to Kalamazoo.”

There’s a good old~fashioned steadfast-
ness, and the stamp of genuine honesty
about many of the old farmers which invites
this “ piece of my mind;” they strike me as
more attractive, generally, than their sons.
There’s young Snogs, I’d like to see his
ears boxed, making eyes over the lemon<
ade counter at the pretty waiter-girl. What
does he consist of but big, bulging black

 


.:-L-r.aa,v_»i....\. “a, ,. m. r

.‘r:

THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

eyes, white teeth, witha drooping mustache,
and a watchchain? '

“But, now “just a word” for the
farmers’ girls; they’re not “altogether
lovely.” Here’s Miss Pink. She’s a
stranger to every one around, but some
how we learn that “we have three hundred
acres;” that “we” think we are very
pretty, etc., is also strongly impressed upon
us, but most of us are sufficiently ancient
in opinion torecall the old adage, “ hand—
some is” etc.

There is always one spectacle of exceed-
ingly sorrowful import at public gatherings.
the young wives grown so old and worn in a
few years; as though their hearts and brains
had ached until the life in them was weary.
They are victims, sacrificed upon an altar
from which long ago the scant gilding of
love has worn off. Heaven! Is it not cruel
that woman, who pleads as for her life that
the man she loves be pure and loyal in
nature, she who: enfolds in her being love
fraught with the beauty of holiness as the
inspiration of her joy and her suffering,
she,—“ Well, she would marry him,” they
say. Ah, cruel strife, cruel judgment of
“ Vanity Fair” I wonder, is marriage “a
lottery?”

There was an address; I have not for-
gotten it, though omitting to mention the
fact before. Prof. Willets, of the Agricul-
tural College, spoke on agriculture and land-
tenure. It was excellent, though heard by
few, and by them not without disturbing

elements. There were—shall I tell?—for--

tune wheels, liquor salesmen, notto men-
tion lemonade counters, auctioneering, etc.,
none too remote from the speakers’ stand.
It would seem where the well-to-do farmers
of several counties were assembled, the ex-
penses of the organization might be met
without the aid of some of the aforesaid
“concerns.” But “let us have no meander-
ing.” Prof. Willets claimed that “land and
air and water were man’s right by nature,
but as every right has its limitations, this
has also. As yet, but one-tenth of the land
on the globe is under cultivation. When we
find land occupied, we will pass on. We,
here in Michigan. have passed on. There’s
a great deal of talk now about dividing up,
but it is mostly by men who wouldn’t own
a farm twenty-four hours if they had one,
and men you couldn’t hire to stay on a
farm and do a day’s work. No, we will
not divide up just yet, we’ll pass on.” He
told us of the origin of the farmhouse.
Back in the old Roman and Grecian times,
land was owned by the state, and rented
out now to this family, now to another. As
the friends died, they were buried on the
rented land, and the family bringing yearly
their libations of grain and fruit to the
grave, said we ought to have a home here,
and the state agreed. So sprang up the
home, with its sweet influences. In speak-
ing of the size of farms, he asked his hearers
if one hundred and sixty acres were not all
a man needed, or could successsfully cul-

‘ tivate. Said we should beware how we

gave land to corporations, “for they never
die.” “ If you hold a thousand acres, your
children will distribute it. The people will
get at it.” He mentioned the fact of
several immense grants to individuals being
demanded, and in time occupied by the

people. As for individuals, the penalty
for trying to hold too much is the loss of
all. A man no s‘ooner climbs his garden
fence than he has to take a partner, and his
horses or cattle, tenants and hired men are
partners who take their pay as they go, and
the farmer has whatever is left.

He noted the value of personal superin-
tendence, quoting as true today Aristotle’s
saying: “The best manure is a man’s own
foot.” He stated fifteen years as the
longest time of successful producing on
'very large farms, the large farms of Dakota
showing decreasing powers now, after ten
years of cultivation. He also noted the
sterility of the land once a part of large
plantations in the east and south. Among
other facts, he said it took the virility and
strength of one acre of land to make a man.
He called attention to one thing of which a
good deal will be said in the next ten or
fifteen years, viz., that a man has no right
.to sell his farm for more than he gave , or
thereabouts, showing the fallacy of this
argument by saying: “While a man does
not own the land, he does own the im-
provements, and if you farmers who came
to Michigan when the the blows of your ax
fell noiseless in the forests, can sell your
farms for every day’s work and every dollar
you’ve put in them, you’d better complete

the bargain before the day closes.”
LnsLm. S. M. G.

--—-—-—.+e.—~———-——»

DIVORCE, AND WHY?

When we look over the records of the
courts, who is not unpleasantly impressed
by the number of divorce cases there
docketed, and the numerous instances
where the alleged cause is too puerile. Yet
the number granted is a large proportion of
those asked for. Many marry and live
together a few months only, then one or
the other sues for divorce, alleging cruelty,
abuse or some other “ taking term.” Very
likely the other is by this time tired of the
marriage tie, no defense is offered, and they
go free.

At other times a few years intervene be-
tween marriage and divorce, and a number
of little children are added to the reasons
that should keep the parents, true to their
marriage vows. But, alas, nothing can
stand in the way of human desires. “ Betsy
and I are out,” and nothing but divorce,
absolute and untrammeled, will satisfy. Is
it not strange that people will so very
blindly rush into what should be a life
union at least, with so little knowledge of
each other’s character, habits, temperament
or appetites, that disgust will so soon fol-
low on the marriage unity?

A lady, happily married, once told me
that her mother said to her, while she had
the proposal under consideration; “Well,
my girl, marry him if you think best, and
if you find you can’t get on with him, come
back to mother.” I verily believe many
pronounce the marriage vow with the
mental. reservation “until divorce do us
part,” instead of death. While the divorce
laws are so liberal and so laxly administered,
we will probably see no improvement, but
rather the reverse. When a young couple,
after a reasonable length of acquaintance
and opportunity of ascertaining each other’s

 

anMcedents and characteristics, with

mutual respect and esteem, enter into the
marriage relation, with an expectation of
fulfilling its requirements and responsi-
bilities, we may reasonably expect a goodly
share of happiness to result; and if each,
recognizing their own short-comings and
infirmities, will accord to th} other the
forbearance they themselves need, their
union may prove a foretaste of heaven, even
if fortune frown instead of smile.

My friend suggests that love was not
mentioned as a necessary element in a
happy marriage. If by love is meant that
fiery, passionate attraction that attaches to
the person only, without reference to char-
acter or habits, blind or oblivious to every-
thing but the idol, 1 would say better leave
it out altogether. A much milder form of
affection, founded on a solid respect and
esteem for the other’s virtues and enduring
qualities, will develop into a far deeper and
more lasting love than this blind ephemera,
that will burn itself out with possession,
and turn into disgust when the practical
duties of life destroy the glamour of fickle
fancy. This may be termed heretical, but
I believe there are many very happy mar-
ried couples where neither married their
first fancy, and many who did so marry who
hopelessly wail its consummation.

When young people marry, knowing
that one or the other have habits that will
be likely to cause unhappiness, the old
maxim that “as one makes a bed they must
lie upon it,” is very fitting. If a young
man marries a girl whom he knows to be
careless in dress, or disorderly in habits, of
an idle disposition, prone to gad and gossip,
he has no reason to complain if his house is
ill-kept, and his children and himself
neglected.

Ifa young woman, in spite of warning
persists in marrying a man already wedded
to tobacco or strong drink, she has no
right, when these things fill her home with
trouble, to invoke the aid of the law to
punish the bigamist. She took the second
place with knowledge of the prior attrac-
tion, and should abide the consequences.

In many cases, I believe the knowledge
of the ease with which the law will unyoke
the married, incites them to feel its cares
a burden, and provokesa tendency to throw
them off, instead of patiently bearing them.
It also encourages license in thought and
act. Does it not strike home to every one
how soon divorce is followed ‘by the
marriage of one or the other of the parties,
generally the one prosecuting the suit. If
separation of person and division of prop-
erty could be decreed between incom-
patibles, without privilege of re—marriage, I
believe many would find their chains less
galling, and divorce courts would have less
business.

To me, the worst feature of this divorce
business is to see old people, with hair
whitening for the grave, who have raised
large families, find out at that late date that
they are incompatible. and drag their
grievances through the mire of a divorce
court. Ah me! It seems to me that What-
ever develops so late in life, might be borne
for the sake of the happy past, for the few
years yet to come. If people must separate
it should be found out earlier in life.

 

Divorce is necessary to protect the de~

 

mums-tug:

H-mt-j-Hnmlz-me phoneme

UvrnH-HHAAHHCTQCCTHd


 

 

  

luded, misguided and wronged, but the
door should be double-barred, and all
avenues to it be strongly picketed; none to
be permitted release except those who, in-
nocent themselves, were the victims of
wrong, oppression or folly so unbearable
that mercy and justice combine in coun-
selling the breaking of the fetters, and
letting the oppressed go free.

INGLESIDE. A. L. L._

—.——oo~————
WHY YOUNG MEN FEAR TO
WED.

 

I saw in the HOUSEHOLD a few weeks
ago an article entitled “Why Girls Dread to
Marry.” As I had never observed any par-
ticular fear or reluctance to marry on their
part, I read the reasons given with con-
siderable curiosity. As it is often said that
young men are not so willing to marry as
they once were, but seem contented to
struggle along in “single-blessedness,” I
thought perhaps some of the girls might be
interested in knowing why young men
dread to marry. Wild Rose seems to in-
sinuate a good many girls wish they had
not married; I suppose, though, it has
never occurred to her that a young man
may sometimes have occasion to wish the
same thing.

In the first place, a young farmer who
has to make a beginning with but little
property, don’t stand much show with even
farmers’ girls, along with the clerks in the
stores, or the young doctors and dentists in
the village, who put all their earnings on
their backs and “stand off ” the landlady
for board. And then, when a poor young
man marries, his wife is not contented with
what he can give her, but wants to
have things just as they were at home, all
the comforts accumulated in her parents’
lifetime; and to satisfy her, he often goes in
debt against his judgment, and when he
does so, soon learns that “debt is danger.”

I have heard it said girls run a great risk
when they get married. But I never heard
anybody mention a man’s risks in the same
venture. I think he has a few. What
guarantee has he that she will prove to be
the good-tempered, industrious, economical
girl he thought she was before he married
her? How does he know she can “cook
like mother did;” and just as like as not if
he questions her ability at the pie business,
she will pack up her things and go “ home
to ma,” with a long story of how he abused
her. How can he tell she will not insist it
is her right to carry the purse and give him
a reluctant shilling now and then, accord-
ing to the new gospel of women’s rights?

How is a young man going to find out
whether the girl he thinks he would like to
marry will not look like an animated rag-
bag in a year, with hair in a perpetual halo
of curlpapers, holes in her stockings and

. one button to a shoe? If she “ rather likes
the smell of a good cigar” before marriage,
the chances are ten to one she will drive
him out of the house and off the farm if he
wants to smoke afterwards. Probably she
Will snub all his old friends, and give them
to understand she has no use for them, and
keep the house full of her own folks. And
if he does not do just as she wants him to,
She goes off into a fit of sulks and will not

T’HE HOUSEHOLD.

times about all the rest he gets from scold-
ings and complainings. And this little
anecdote, which I found in one of our
papers, is “ just about the size of it” in an-
other respect, too: “AGhinaman is talk-
ing to himself as he irons. Picking up a
shirt giving evidence of being well cared
for, he says: ‘ Bachelor. Him landlady flix
him.’ Picks up another, buttonless, ripped,
and frayed at the wrists: ‘Him mallied
man.’ ” . I

There are two sides to this matrimonial
matter, and the disappointment is not al-
ways on the girls’ side. I think young
men ought to be very careful what sort of
girls they choose; and think well of it before
they decide to give up the freedom and
comfort of single life and take up the
troubles of matrimony.

YOUNG-MAN-AFRAID-OF-THE-GIRLS.
._..__...__.
FOR THE GIRLS.

 

Piano covers are out of style. The
latest is a .richly embroidered mat, to
cover the top of the piano when closed, or
lie across the cover when open. These
mats are very elegant, richly embroidered,
and also very expensive. The patterns are
costly, even though the work be done at
home. In place of the square cover so long
in vogue, scarfs are used on pianos and
cabinet organs. The ends are embroidered
or otherwise embellished, and finished with
fringe.

Gather some of the cat tails and their long,
lance-like leaves, and appropriate some of
the oats and barley from the barn for the
adornment of the parlor and sitting room.
Press the leaves of the cat-tails, and fasten
them with the latter, upright on the wall
behind a large mirror or picture, or above
a bracket in acorner. The oats and barley
can be disposed in graceful clusters at any
convenient point on the walls, undera bow of
ribbon. They are very pretty if crystalized
with a light coat of alum crystals. Dried
grasses, ferns, cat-tails, etc., the crimson
plumes of the sumac, and an evergreen
bough or two, arranged in ahigh jar in a
corner of the room, make a pretty and un-
conventional ornament. An old stone
churn, decorated in the prevailing manner,
is a good receptacle.

A pretty mantel lambrequin is composed
of different colored plushes, five pieces
forming the whole. Let the centre piece be
of the sage green, about sixteen inches deep,
finished with fringe of the same shade. On
either side are pieces of old gold plush about
six inches deep, finished with a heavy gold
fringe of old gold silk, a finger’s length
deep, and below a. similar fringe of deep
wine color. Next to these on either side
are pieces of deep wine color the same
length as the centre piece, and about
twelve inches deep, and finished with the
wine—colored fringe. The end pieces are of
old gold of the same width and finished as
those in front. Gilt crescents are used on
the points, and each piece may be orna-
mented with embroidery in blue and gold.
Of course “the girls” understand this pat-
tern can be duplicated in other materials
and different colors.

Young ladies who can obtain broad strips

 

5peak to him for two days—which is some-

  

 

3

as you can get them. On square visiting:
cards, mark the days of the week and dates,
copying from any calendar, or an almanac.
Put a card on each bark panel, some in the-
centre, some diagonally, others in a corner.
Insert them by cutting with a sharp knife
two slits in the bark, not clear through,
but just enough to allow a layer to be lifted.
and the card slipped in to secure it. Then,.
if you have any skill with the brush, paint a,
snow scene for January, brown birds flying:
across a winter sky for February, crocuses-
for March, hepaticas and anemones for'
April, apple bloom for May, and so on,
giving each month some flower peculiar to it.
October claims the chrysanthemum, Novem..
ber may have autumn leaves, and December
holly berries. To the girl who can paint,
the birch bark, dried under a weight, with.
papers between the sheets, holds many
possibilities. She can make cards for any'
occasion, shaving paper holders, blot ting;
book covers, napkin rings, etc., and the-
strips, fastened to what picture framers.
call “backing,” can be joined together to
paint tall hollyhocks, spikes of gladiolus
or golden rod for wall decoration. Some
clever pen-and-ink work can be done on.
this bark also.

Palm-leaf fans, ornamented with drie(r
flowers and grasses, are a pretty decoration
for walls. The fan can be placed neara
mirror, half hidden behind a picture. or'
arranged. above the folds of the portiere, in:
fact, wherever it relieves the eye by inter-A
rupting the monotony of a straight line..
The palm leaf should be painted with gold.
or bronze tincture, and then the grasses
tied on to it with a large, stylish bow of a.
pretty shade of satin ribbon.

.._....___.
SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS._

 

A handsome table spread is made of" a'
material called Madras. It can be pur-
chased at from fifty to seventy cents a yard,

fifty-two inches wide. Select a pattern
with a dark cream ground partly covered
with a large figure. .A yard and a half will
make a good-sized cover. Outline the patv
tern with gold tinsel and catch it down with
white thread. Then line the spread with.
old gold surah or satteen; finish the edge-
with tinsel and tack a fancy tassel on each.
corner..

To make alettercase, cut out of stiff paste.
board two heart-shaped pieces; cover with

gilt paper and paste a scrap picture in the

center of one. Bore a couple of holes in the

top of each piece and join them with a.

piece of silk pleated like a fan and glued

on the inside of each part. Draw a ribbon:
through the holes to hang it up by, and ‘2
finish with bows of the same on the front

and also one at the top. The ribbon should ,
be of the same color as the silk that they ‘
are joined with.

Mrs. E. S. McL.’s washing method has -»
stood the test, and I acknowledgeit to be '
superior to the old way. I use-anlittle”
soapine to soak the clothes in, and think it

a great help. But I believe that soft soap

may be used with the same satisfying re"

sults. I prefer to rub the badly soiled

clothes before boiling and I think it .the best.

way. I sincerely hope that none of our;

 

of birch bark, can make very dainty calen-
dars of them. Cut twelve sheets, as large

HOUSEHOLDERS are so wedded to their old.
ways that they will fail to give this a.trial,,.


4:

THE HOUSEHIOLD.

 

for it is such a labor-saving way. When
taking the clothes in, fold them as you put
them in the basket; they will iron so much
nicer.

A simple thing, but one that saved me
much washing, is a creeping dress for the
baby; it can be made of almost any of the
baby’s Old dark slips; run a cord in the bot-
tom hem, and tie above the knees (tuck the
skirts in).

A very useful apron for washing and
scrubbing is made of the back of a cast-off
gossamer circular. PEARL.

Gnnnmran.

____.‘..——————
130st FOR GIRLS.

 

All topics seem allowable in the HOUSE-
HOLD, so I will introduce my favorite one—
books.

This vacation I have had the opportunity
of reading several, and one of- the best is
“ Boots and Saddles,” by Elizabeth Custer.
It is full of fun, and yet gives a good de-
scription Of the life of a cavalry regiment in
Dakota. The fact that Mrs. Custer, the wife
of the commanding officer, is a Michigan
woman, adds to the interest. The books by
)Iarlitt, translated from the German by Mrs.
Wister, are very good reading. “The Old
Mam’selle’s Secret ” is the best of the series.
My old favorites are Miss Alcott’s works.
What girl has not laughed over Jo’s and
Laurie’s pranks, and sympathized with
Polly, the “ old-fashioned girl,” in her
struggle to earn her own living and help her
brothers and sisters ? Miss Alcott’s girls
and boys grow to be real friends. We love
Rose in “ Eight Cousins,” and are glad that
she helped her boy-cousins to become manly
and true. A delightful book for girls is
“What the Seven Did,” by Margaret Sid-
rney. Itis the story of what a club of girls did

, one vacation, and the fun they had doing it.
‘ “Three Vassar Girls Abroad,” is both in-
~ structive and entertaining. The girls take
:as their motto, “ There are two kinds of
girls, those who flirt and those who go to
'Vassar College,” and live up to it nobly.
But when it is finished one longs to read
“Three Vassar Girls in England,” and the
privilege to do so has not yet been mine.

I might keep on through columns and not
mention all the splendid books written for
girls, while I dare not even attemptto speak
‘of those which do not come strictly under
that head, and yet help and teach us so
.much.

A year’s subscription for a good magazine
is the very nicest kind of a present, for the
receiver is pleased every time a new number
arrives. The best magazines for children are
Harper’s Young People, St. Nicholas, and

'Wide Awake, which always have something
which will interest the big folks as well as
the little ones. For older people, Harper’s
.Hagazine is generally considered the best,
but the Atlantic and Century are both
splendid.

Perhaps I will tell about some good books

already furnished. The recipe says:
“ Prepare the fruit as for jelly; use one pint
of sugar to three pints of juice. Boil a
few minutes. Bottle and seal while hot.
Dilute with water when needed for use.”

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

 

 

WHEN a wash-boiler begins to rust and is
still too good to cast aside, make a good sized
bag of strong muslin or Old bed—ticking, put
the clothes to be boiled into it, and so save
them from rust.

 

THE old rubber rings which have done
duty one season on fruit cans can be renew-
ed for further use by soaking them in strong
ammonia water. It renders them pliable and
elastic. The expense of new rubbers, how-
ever, is not very great, and they are safer.

 

New iron kettles should be boiled out
with wood ashes and cold water before
using. Skillets, griddles, etc. should be
greased well, and allowed to burn at once
or twice, before food is cooked in them.
ACCORDING to The Horn Miller, com-
meal kept in any quantity in the ordinary
store-room or kitchen atmosphere is apt to
become spoiled. Even the grocers do not
care to keep any large supply on hand. It
will retain its sweetness a long time if a
rough block of white Plymouth marble be
put in the keg.

 

A NEW invention promises to revolution-
ize the process of curing meats as soon as it
becomes better known. This is smoked salt,
by means of which the usual smoking is
made unnecessary. The salt is smoked in-
stead of the meat, and by its use the flavor is
readily imparted to the meat, with much less
trouble than by the usual process of smoking.

 

Tm: insect pests round ahouse are one of
the greatest nuisances of hot weather. But
copperas placed round the holes where cock-
roaches abound will drive them away; and
hot alum water poured into the cracks by
which any insects enter will make them
leave.

If the pantry shelves are washed
with a strong solution of alum the little red

we cannot grant such requests, but will
in preference, send if possible a copy of the
desired number. But we would urge those
of our readers who are interested in the
HOUSEHOLD to keep the numbers as they
are issued, believing they will be found use-
ful for reference in many cases; and that
the benefits gained will be much greater
than the slight trouble involved. Our
recipes are principally tested formulas fur-
nished by experienced cooks, and .the sug-
gestions and labor—saving methods such as
are practiced by good housekeepers. Often
reference is made to previous issues, and
those who keep a file can trace back the
allusion and often profit through it. The
Editor’s articles on prevailing fashions wil
be found reliable, plain and sensible, al‘
ways up with the styles, and suitable to the
people who read the Fume. Moreover,
at the end of the year, the 52 “little
papers” make a nice volume, which can be
bound at home or at the printer’s, and
which no woman need be ashamed to add
to the family library. By all means keep
the HOUSEHOLD.

.—_—...—————-

Useful Recipes.

 

PEACH BUTTER.——TO twelve pounds of fruit
allow four pounds of sugar and a pint of
vinegar. Boil over a steady fire till it is like
jam, stirring constantly at the last to prevent
burning.

 

PEACH J AM-—AuOW one-third the weight of
the fruit in sugar, put on the fire, boil gently
and steadily until sufficiently thick. stirring
frequently, and skimming as necessary. It
may require two hours’ boiling. Imperfect
fruit can be used for jam. and for peach but-
ter.

 

PEACH Pansnnvns.-—Pare the peaches. re-
move the stones, and lay the halves in layers
in a porcelain lined kettle. with an equal
quantity Of sugar. Let stand over night. In
the morning boil the fruit—skimming it when
necessary, till it begins to look transparent,
when it is done.

 

Swnn'r PICKLED moans—The fruit may
be pared or the fur brushed off, used whole
or halved and the pits removed, as preferred.
Weigh the fruit when prepared, allow half the
weight in sugar, and a pint Of vinegar and
a tablespoonful of whole spice to each pound

ants will abandon them.

 

make it palatable.

 

for boys next time, for boys need the right

kind of literature quite as much as girls.
‘ E. 0.
Pour HURON.
———-—«O———'
GRAPE Winn—We are in receipt of a

recipe for unfermented wine, for S. A. G.,

too freely.

______...___..

 

which does not materially differ from that

LEMONADE is something that is us-
ually made on the happy-go-lucky prin-

ciple. But there is 4 a right way to
make it, and the right way
the best. Place on a platter two level table-

Spoonfuls of sugar for each lemon; wipe the
lemons, and roll them over the sugar till
enough oil is extracted to flavor it slightly.
Pour the sugar into a pitcher; squeeze into it
the juice of the lemons, add two tablespoon-
fuls Of water to each lemon, stir tillthe sugar
is dissolved, strain to remove seeds and bits
of pulp, and add enough ice-cold water to
Lemonade is one of
the most refreshing and healthful drinks
one can use in summer; we can hardly use it

WE are constantly in receipt of requests
to reprint this, that Or the other recipe or
article, because the applicant has lost the
issue of the HOUSEHOLD containing it, or
for some such reason. Generally speaking,

of sugar. Boil the sugar and vinegar together.
skimming carefully; when it is clear put in
as many peaches as will float, boil till the
begin to soften, skim out, and when all the
is peaches are cooked put in the spice and boil
the syrup till it thickens. Put the peaches in
jars, pour the hot syrup over them and seal.

The above are furnished by Miss Juliet
Corson, the well-known writer on domestic
topics.

 

WATEBMELON Pennants—Cover the bot-
tom and sides of a kettle with grapevine
leaves, put in a layer of rind, having cut off
the outside green part, and another layer Of
leaves. In each layer put a small piece of
alum, cover with leaves and put a wet towel
over the top and water enough to cover well;
let them simmer an hour, then take them out
into a dish. Make a syrup of a. pound of
sugar and a pint of water to a pound Of rind.
When the scum ceases to rise put in the fruit
and let it simmer a half hour; then take it
out on a dish and let the syrup simmer an
hour. Put in the fruit again and simmer an-
other half hour. Take it all out and let it
stand till morning. Then pour off the syrup
and boil until thick as honey and pour over
the rind in a jar. Season with ginger or
whatever you prefer.

 

    

 

 

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