346 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[September, 
The shame of woman’s dress is too great to be 
borne in silence longer, and cultivated women in 
the most intelligent circles are diligently searching 
for a better way. Ladies of different cities are 
consulting together over this important matter—a 
healthful, untrameling, and beautiful costume for 
women. I have read the essay that Miss Eliz¬ 
abeth Stewart Phelps presented to the New Eng¬ 
land Woman’s Club, afterwards published in the 
Independent; also the report of the chairman of 
the Dress Committee appointed by that club, and 
I am very glad about it all. 
Economizing Space. —A line from “Aurora 
Leigh ” pops into my head as I write “economiz¬ 
ing space” after speaking about woman’s dress— 
something that Romney said to Aurora, I believe, 
about leaving her room to swing her “ ample 
skirts of womanhood.” 
Our ample skirts have long required more room 
to swing without fretting their wearers by their 
constant catching and brushing things over when 
we find ourselves in narrow quarters. 
Some of my readers may find it necessary to live 
in few and rather crowded apartments. In such a 
case they appreciate the tricks that enable them to 
keep their comforts and conveniences about them 
without being too much cluttered up in their 
arrangements. 
Closets or wardrobes are sometimes extempor¬ 
ized by turning piano or organ boxes up on end 
and giving them a curtain door, with a shelf or two 
if there is room. I have seen a large dry-goods 
box set up on legs, bringing it up high enough for 
convenience, and leaving space underneath and be¬ 
hind the curtain drawn in front of it, to keep 
boots and shoes. I have seen a pretty toilet table 
made of an empty barrel set right end up, and cov¬ 
ered with a semicircular board cushioned and 
draped neatly so as to conceal the barrel, which 
was packed with clothing not needed at that 
season. 
Trundle-beds are not entirely out of use, and 
they may be made to do excellent service. I re¬ 
member now that Miss Beecher recommends them 
in her “American Woman’s Home.” They may 
shove under a large bed the long way of the bed, 
or may shove in from the side. They arc easily 
made even by unskilled carpenters who have any 
knack in that line. The legs must be very short, 
and on castors. It is convenient to have the 
trundle-bed made long enough for a grown person. 
Then mamma and the baby can occupy it, while 
papa does his best to keep another child upon the 
higher bed covered during the night. Fathers 
learn to appreciate a mother’s cares while engaged 
in that way. The trundle-bed must not be made 
up and shoved under too early in the morning. 
The bedding must be well aired first. Such a bed 
should not be used if the room is very small and 
close. The more persons sleeping in the room the 
more fresh air is needed. I wish every human be¬ 
ing could have a whole bed in a large private room, 
at least when desired; but it can not be so, and I 
am glad we have such nice extension lounges. We 
have them in various styles, and can have a tidy 
lounge for the day’s use turned into a large com¬ 
fortable bed for the night. Ours only cost four 
dollars, and pulls out like the one described in the 
Agriculturist lately. It has an open-work head- 
board and foot-board. A movable screen to use 
with it is desirable ; but we will speak of that again. 
Iffoojt-Sliirts. —Several correspondents have 
written to show how wall-baskets of various kinds 
can be made out of the springs of hoop-skirts, and 
some have kindly sent us drawings, We have seen 
these baskets frequently, and do not regard them 
highly. They, when at their best, look “hoop- 
skirty,” and as there are several better ways of 
making wall-baskets we do not reproduce the de¬ 
signs. A wall-basket to hold newspaper, or even 
waste-paper (which no wall-basket should be used 
for), should have an air of solidity and strength 
which those made of skirt wire can never present. 
Whatever pains maybe taken with them, they look 
light and flimsy, as they really are. We must 
await some other suggestions. 
"Who is to Blame? 
Nobody is to blame. Yes, everybody is to blame. 
In fact, this question, as usually asked, is a 
foolish one. 
Good sense dictates that we should seek out the. 
cause of each disaster, and by correcting the fault 
there prevent repeated trouble. But this disposi- i 
tion to hunt out some particular individual and 
heap upon him the responsibility for any catas- j 
trophe is somewhat diabolical. No honest-hearted 
man or woman believes that “a blunder is worse 
than a crime.” Search out the exact weak spot if 
you choose. Point out the precise mistake upon 
which the disaster turned, but treat it as a simple 
mistake, remembering that “ to err is human; to 
forgive divine.” 
Have you seen how the blaming disposition 
works in a family ? It sets every one upon the de¬ 
fensive, even the youngest child who can talk 
plain. “I didn’t do it!” “I didn’t!” they ex¬ 
claim as soon as any accident happens. Then each 
begins to criminate some one else. Whew! 
These are the fumes from the “pit.” Home and 
heaven are not at all alike where the blaming 
spirit is rampant. 
See those children running around the corner of 
the house to giggle and dance unheard and unseen. 
“Good!” says one, “father broke it himself!” 
“ Careless child ! ” says another, mimicking his 
father’s tones and manner. “ He ought to have his 
ears boxed, to make him more careful,” says a 
third. And these children are supposed to be un¬ 
der excellent “government,” they are so obedient 
and respectful to their father’s face. They only 
bide their time. Contempt and bitterness rankle 
in their hearts, and as soon as they dare, won’t 
they “ show him ” ? Every little blunder of theirs 
is pouuced upon, and the little victims are blamed 
unmercifully. They learn to watch their critics 
with savage eagerness to discover faults and mis¬ 
takes that may equal their own. 
It doesn’t pay. We all make mistakes. We all 
do mischief when we don’t mean to. When Brid¬ 
get, the cook, or when pinafored Mamie breaks one 
of your best dishes, you may be sure she is 6orry, 
and her penitence is about in proportion to the 
largeness of your forgiveness. The more 6ure she 
is that you will not love her less, the more she is 
grieved to give you trouble. 
Don’t ask “ who is to blame ? ” Sometimes you 
may ask “How did it happen ?” but usually it is 
quite as effective to gather up the pieces, only 
saying that you are “ sorry, but it can not be 
helped now; ” and then you may say cordially, 
“I am sure you will try to be more careful after 
this.” At least try this way, and watch as you 
have opportunity the results of these two methods. 
Rell. 
i . ■«♦ • ■ « ! O — > m u 
Work for the Girl who Expects to Marry. 
Almost all young girls, I fancy, expect to have 
husbands and families some day. Why should 
they not ? That is a part of their true woman 
nature; and I, for one, think it a pity that such a 
wholesome hope should so often fail of fulfillment. 
It is only a part of a woman’s mission on earth, to 
be sure, to fill the position of wife and mother, but 
it is a part that is secondary to no other part. 
Marriage is by no means a state of unmixed happi¬ 
ness. Almost all married women pass through 
severe trials of one kind or another, but there arc 
usually some very precious compensations. 
I mean the girl who is “engaged,” of course; 
but any remarks I am about to make need not ex¬ 
clude those maidens to whom the “ possible he ” 
has not yet appeared. These latter need not go 
very briskly about the preparation of their wedding 
trousseau just yet, nor need the engaged damsels if 
they are already well clothed. It is a pity and a 
shame for a young woman to weary and vex herself 
over ruffles and folds, and tucks and trimmings, 
I for weeks and months before her wedding-day. If 
she will avoid the vulgarity of a “splendid” pub¬ 
lic wedding, she can escape a world of trouble in 
the millinery line. About all that I have no par¬ 
ticular advice to give. I want to speak of some¬ 
thing more important, and I will tell what first set 
me to thinking seriously about it. 
I went to visit a dear old school-mate for a few 
days. We had been very intimate as school-girls,. 
and now we were both engaged (at least tacitly), 
and we talked together about our hopes and plans. 
My friend displayed to me her treasures in the way 
of a wedding outfit. She was a teacher, and Was 1 
earning and doing everything herself, and I waa 
amazed at the amount of work she was doing. 
Counterpanes, bed-quilts, carpeting, clothing, and 
in every possible “ odd moment ” elaborate tatting,, 
which was then “ the rage.” It had never occurred 
to me to get “ such a ready ” as that. Neither of 
us expected to be married very soon, and I was ju6t 
going on with my general after-school-day educa¬ 
tion and employments, but was lialf-unconsciously 
engaged in taking notes, especially of domestic 
life. I had not thought of making a particle of 
trimming. After I left my friend her case worried 
me, and several months afterward I summoned 
courage and told her just how it all seemed to me. 
I thought she was wearing out her health and frit¬ 
tering away her mind, so that I feared her lover 
would find that they had not been keeping pace 
with each other when next they met, and would 
have reason to feel disappointed in her. I begged 
her to read good practical books on physiology and 
hygiene, and learn first of all to take care of her 
health; and then to take time for reading and 
broad thinking, and fit herself to be an intelligent 
companion for the best kind of a husband. My 
friend thanked me for the letter, but said it came 
too late, as what I feared had already come to pass. 
I know those girls who toss their heads and de¬ 
clare that they are never going to marry—not they. 
Well, then don’t, my dears, until you are so in¬ 
clined. But it will do you no harm—on the con¬ 
trary, much good—if you, along with the girls who 
do expect to marry, will fit yourself to live the life 
of a healthy, sensible, useful woman—and that is 
the best outfit for a happy marriage. Learn to 
support yourself in some way. Learn how to take 
care of yourself and others, whether 6ick or well, 
and value skill in all housewifery arts. If you 
will also 6tudy the natures and needs of children, 
you may one day be very thankful that you did so. 
Do you want a rule for happiness in married 
life ? I know of none better than this, Let each try 
to make the other happy. In other words, “ Study 
the things that make for peace.” Rell. 
-■ ■ » m - 
Washing Milk Dishes or “Tin Things.”— 
I was somewhat exercised in mind by directions 
that I lately read in a farmer’s paper for washing 
dishes. The writer bids us wash our milk-pans, 
etc., first with boiling suds, then rinse them in 
boiling water, and then “ wipe them with a damp 
cloth.” She says she can not tell the reason, but 
6lie finds that if tin things are wiped with a per¬ 
fectly dry cloth “there is a stickiness left behind 
which soon becomes a sourness.” I think I can 
tell her the reason. It is because the cheesy part 
of the milk has been scalded on to the tin, and is 
only taken off (aud but partially then, I am afraid) 
by the cool, damp wiping cloth. I think that most 
good housekeepers prefer to wash the milk-pans 
first in a water below scalding heat. It is very 
common in good dairies to wash them first in cold 
water (which does not remove the cream) then in 
hot suds (which does), and then in a clear hot 
water rinse, wiping them or setting them in the hot 
sun. Since reading the article referred to I have 
tried it many times, and have never found that the 
cleanest and driest of wiping cloths left any sticki¬ 
ness behind; but I never wash dishes in scalding 
water. I see people pile their dirty dishes into the 
dish-pan and pour boiling water over them, and I 
feel sure that there will be some “ stickiness left 
behind.” Warm water, but below the scalding 
heat, is best, unless your dishes are soiled princi¬ 
pally by fat and butter. Everything but grease 
scalds on instead of off. Anna. 
