J^aliic of System in Household IVor/c 



15 



by arrangement, even without the opportunity 

 of active exertion. We could point to one 

 lady, who was for years confined to her room, 

 and yet during these long years continued to 

 manage her large household in such a manner 

 that it became a model to the neighbourhood, 

 and a pattern to all who aimed at excelling in 

 household management. In conclusion, we 

 would adopt the plan of the famous orator of 



old, who, when asked what was the first quali- 

 fications of an orator, answered, Delivery ; 

 when asked the second and the third, still 

 answered, Delivery. So we, if asked the first 

 qualification for a housewife, would answer, 

 viethod ; and what the second, method ; and 

 the third, also method. So powerful the effects, 

 so wonderful the working of this simple but 

 invaluable principle ! 



PET DOGS. 



WE are desirous to bring ''Magenta's" 

 excellent litde book on " The Treat- 

 ment of our Domesticated Dogs" under the 

 notice of our readers. It has been recently 

 published by Messrs Blackwood & Sons, and 

 no one who loves a canine pet should be with- 

 out it. As the best way of recommending 

 " Magenta's " book Ave take the following 

 remarks from it : — 



DIET FOR PET DOGS. 



As to diet, the caution most necessar}^ to 

 give to lovers of these interesting animals is 

 not to overfeed them. One meal in twenty- 

 four hours is quite sufficient, and it is the 

 practice now to limit the composition of that 

 one meal to bread or rice and gravy for small 

 house-pets that get little or no exercise. 



Hot food or drinks are injurious to dogs. 

 AVe formerly allowed such scraps of skin or 

 fat as might be found on the plates at din- 

 ner, to be mixed up with potatoes or other 

 vegetable and bread; the dogs' meal, no 

 matter how many they were, was always 

 prepared after our own dinner, and served 

 to them in their respective corners of the 

 room, while we waited to see that there was 

 fair play amongst them. 



Our pets never knew the chami of that 

 cr)' of " Cat a meat," so deeply interesting 

 to the distinguished foreigner who, on his 

 return to his own country, daily lamented 

 the absence of the useful individual who in 

 England, for the small sum of threepence, 

 used to provide him with a luxurious din- 



ner, whicli even the daint}' cofelettes de 

 ehei'al could not replace. A\"e ha\'e had 

 our doggies eating two and two off the 

 same plate, without a grumble, the cat 

 sometimes admitted to a share with either 

 party; but we were mostly honoured with 

 her company when she happened to have 

 remarked fish cooking. 



The less animal food dogs get the better ; 

 its use has much to do with the foul breath 

 and heavy smell so commonly complained of 

 as accompanying the most petted of these 

 creatures. 



Dogs that are kept from meat are also less 

 liable to distemper and fits. 



They thrive remarkably well on rice and 

 gravy, light unsweetened puddings, vegetables 

 (not used exclusively), and in some cases fish ; 

 but the last, besides the danger from the 

 bones, disagrees with some members of the 

 race. So does milk occasionally, though sup- 

 posed to suit all dogs. 



One of ours, that came into our possession 

 when of mature age, used to have most violent 

 bilious attacks ; and it was only after obser- 

 vation had fixed on milk as the unquestion- 

 able cause of them, and it had been withdrawn 

 from use, that he ceased to be troubled with 

 them. 



These evidences of the delicacy of the 

 animal's stomach, causing individuals among 

 them to reject certain kinds of food or medi- 

 cine that agree perfectly with others, de- 

 monstrate the necessity for the person who 

 attempts to doctor a sick dog being as much 



