January, 1913 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



35 



How about our charitable impulses? During the coming 

 year make them a part of our constitution, part of our rela- 

 tion to our fellow creatures. This should bring consolation 

 and should make us generous of our dignity and of our treat- 

 ment of others. 



Have you thought that it takes a fine quality of heroism 

 to live as one should live? Do not forget that one of the 

 characteristics of this kind of heroism is persistency; in 

 spite of all rebuffs keep to your chosen idea and do not hope 

 or long for sympathy, but rather hold yourself above the 

 need of any. You may be 

 the only one conscious of 

 heroic effort, but that fact 

 will be a means for 

 strength. Resolve to find 

 one thing in each day to be 

 grateful for, one thing of 

 which you may well be 

 proud, and one thing over 

 which you can smile. Hide 

 your disappointment be- 

 hind these daily discov- 

 eries, and they will at 

 least be easier to bear. 

 This is a form of heroism, 

 and not a day looms in 

 which such heroism may 

 not be called into use. 



In this rushing, driving 

 life we are forced to live, 

 self-preservation should 

 ever be kept in mind. One 

 helpful resolution, and one 

 most difficult to stick to, is 

 this : Determine that you 

 will not waste your energy. 

 You simply cannot have 

 nervous force for the very 

 essentials of life if you 

 squander it upon the things 

 of a lesser importance. 

 Just look over the days of 

 the year as they pass, and 

 see if there are not many 

 times when nerve-force 

 was wasted. How many 

 times we have fretted over 

 a stalled trolley-car, a 

 friend who has failed to 

 keep an appointment, or a 

 train just slipping away 

 from us. 



Such circumstances come 

 into every life, every day, 

 and we are inclined to 

 chafe over them. Un- 

 fortunately, we are the 

 victims, for greater nerv- 

 ousness is ours as a natural result, and all this is reflected 

 upon those with whom we are associated. It would be 

 much simpler and more economic to refrain, and we should 

 soon discover in ourselves the habit of self-control, as we 

 gain any habit by trying for it. This effort would add to our 

 poise, and the energy saved could be turned to better 

 things. 



I am a bit disposed to scold at what I call the worry- 

 habit of women. Most men take a more philosophical view 

 of things, but women devote a serious percentage of their 

 lives to fussing about what really never takes place. What 

 an excellent resolution it would be to try to compel these 



TWO LUNCHEON DISHES 



By MARY H. NORTHEND 



wild nerves of ours to relax. To compel the body and the 

 mind to relax. Just try laughing at household trials instead 

 of crying. 



What one does is a matter of one's own choosing, and in 

 it lies one's force or weakness. We have so much more 

 kindness in us than is ever spoken; why not make a change 

 and voice more of the kind thoughts which come to each 

 one of us? It would be bread cast upon the waters, the 

 benefit of which, returning to us each day, would make our 

 hearts merry and our feet light. This should be a resolu- 

 tion of this year 1913, and 

 by no means the least im- 

 portant one, for we are 

 never happy in taking 

 things for granted, we like 

 to be told over and over 

 again the same old story 

 of duty. 



A suggestion for serving eggs and macaroni. The eggs are placed in 



the center of the dish and the macaroni, cut in short pieces, around it, 



with parsley as the decoration 



An attractive way to serve steamed oysters is to place them in the center 

 of a mound of hot, boiled rice, with a row of tiny peppers and parsley 

 at intervals as decoration. Melted butter should be poured over the 



oysters 



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A PRACTICAL TREAT- 

 MENT OF AN ABAN- 

 DONED FARMHOUSE 



( Continued from, page 7) 



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around it has been placed 

 a curbing to be covered 

 with vines later on, which 

 will, of course, add to its 

 beauty. 



Beyond this is a Per- 

 gola which is new. This 

 is to be covered with 

 Rambler Roses, and in 

 two years' time will prob- 

 ably be in a state of per- 

 fection. It now serves 

 the purpose of hiding 

 rough land farther on. 

 At the side of the house 

 is another most attractive 

 Pergola, which is still too 

 new to show what it will 

 be later on. Behind this 

 is the garden from which 

 the flowers for the table 

 are cut, the vegetable 

 garden being still farther 

 on, near the stables. 



The lawns about the 

 house are worthy of 

 special mention, being 

 kept in a thoroughly 

 good condition. It is 

 also a remarkable feature 

 to note what has been 

 done in this first year 

 garden. Following the 

 line of the fence, as far as the swimming pool, there has 

 been laid out a five-foot wide garden where Annuals and 

 Perennials have been mingled. At every fence post vines 

 of various kinds have been placed, Rambler Roses of all 

 varieties and colors, and Clematis being very much in evi- 

 dence. These young plants show rapid progress and in 

 many cases have partially covered the posts. It is the in- 

 tention of the owners to plant for bloom, and especially, 

 succession of bloom, replacing undesirable plants by new 

 ones, carefully choosing varieties that blossom profusely and 

 are of suitable tints, so that the color scheme may always be 

 in harmony with other details of the landscape design. 



