Notes  In  Passing. 
DELSARTIANS,  Physical  Culturists  and  Dress  Re¬ 
formers:  these  stand  together  over  against  the 
multitude  of  women  who  are  wedded  to  the  corset.  To 
these  the  makers  of  reform  garments  especially  appeal; 
and  that  they  are  a  rapidly  increasing  class,  the  al¬ 
ready  almost  numberless  makes  of  reform  underwear 
testify. 
It  looks,  too,  as  though  there  were  a  multitude  of 
women  who  had  not  yet  made  up  their  minds  whether 
“  to  reform  or  not  to  reform.”  Advertisers  are  keen 
after  their  natural  prey,  womankind,  and  they  may  be 
as  apt  to  catch  them  with  chaff  as  with  any  thing 
else. 
For  instance,  Delsarte  is  just  now  the  catch-word. 
A  short  time  ago,  an  agent  of  the  “  Delsarte  ”  corset 
called  and  begged  to  explain  the  merits  of  the  said  in¬ 
strument  of  torture.  According  to  the  agent  and  the 
circular,  this  exponent  of  advancing  ideas  was  “a 
support  both  light  and  strong,  giving  freedom  in  all 
motion  and  elegance  of  shape.”  No  mischievous  pres¬ 
sure  had  this  model,  but  an  inner  brace  which,  “while 
giving  a  natural  contour,  preserves  the  shape  of  the 
corset.  ” 
When  the  shape  of  the  woman  and  the  shape  of  the 
corset  differ  so  materially  as  is  usually  the  case,  it  will 
readily  be  seen  that  to  preserve  the  shape  of  the  corset  is 
of  the  utmost  importance.  This  end  is  gained  if  our 
memory  serves  us,  by  about  30  bones,  and  in  part  by  a 
busk  an  inch  and  a  half  wide  on  either  side!  It  was 
flexible  over  the  hip;  there  was  the  one  grain  of  wheat 
in  all  the  chaff. 
We  have  an  idea,  not  yet  well  defined,  of  trying  one 
of  these  “  reformed  ”  articles  on  a  steel-ribbed  form 
such  as  dress-makers  use.  If  after  a  year’s  trial,  the 
natural  shape  of  the  form,  and  that  of  the  corset  are 
both  preserved,  we  shall  feel  that  it  was  truly  a  case 
in  which  “  steel  met  steel  ”  instead  of  soft  yielding 
flesh  and  movable  bones  and  cartilages. 
It  is  very  much  the  fashion  among  those  who  deride 
all  manner  of  dress  .  reform,  to  assert  that  none  but 
beautiful  women  can  wear,  and  none  but  expert  dress¬ 
makers  can  make,  the  Jenness-Miller  and  other  gowns 
claimed  to  be  exponents  of  good  sense  and  artistic 
taste.  Judy  Jones  makes  a  good  point  in  affirming 
that  these  gowns,  when  made  by  unskilled  hands,  are 
quite  as  near  the  original  models  as  are  ultra-fashion¬ 
able  gowns  of  the  regular  unreformed  type,  when  made 
by  equally  unskilled  hands. 
The  opinion  of  a  disinterested  observer  on  the  ques¬ 
tion  of  dress  reform  was  accidentally  obtained  the 
other  day.  Mrs.  W.  wears  the  Jenness-Miller  garments 
in  all  their  fullness  of  reform  and  artistic  grace.  The 
good  English  body  who  sweeps  and  dusts  for  Mrs.  W. 
and  for  several  of  Mrs.  W.’s  neighbors  as  well,  re¬ 
marked  in  the  Chief  Cook’s  hearing  that  they  must 
have  very  queer  styles  where  Mrs.  W.  comes  from  : 
“  Hall  ’er  waists  are  so  short,  and  ’er  dresses  so  hodd.” 
The,  changes  have  been  rung  on  “  Baby  land  ”  and 
“  Babyhood,”  etc.,  until  one  would  think  that  there 
was  no  room  for  more.  But  lo  !  a  genius  has  appeared, 
to  whom  it  has  occurred  to  start  a  tiny  magazine  with 
simply  the  name,  “Baby.”  Vol.  1,  No.  1,  shows  “the 
latest”  photograph  of  Baby  McKee.  “  To  aid  mothers 
to  steer  clear  of  the  Scylla  of  child-worship  and  the 
Chary bdis  of  child  neglect”  appears  to  be  the  aim  of  the 
new  candidate,  which  is  well  printed  on  good  paper, 
and  closes  with  “  Gossip  from  Baby  land. 
Letters. 
ONE  of  the  pleasantest  features  of  the  holiday  time 
is  the  arrival  of  the  holiday  letters.  Friends 
who  are  silenced  during  the  remainder  of  the  year  by 
burdens  of  care  or  sorrow,  or  who  do  not  have  the 
habit  of  writing  easily,  will  usually  try  to  find  time  to 
send  a  Christmas  letter,  and  tnere  is  no  gift  which 
touches  a  tenderer  chord  than  this. 
Few  of  us  write  so  many  letters  as  we  should.  There 
are  so  many  tired,  sad  toilers  on  life’s  journey,  who 
would  feel  their  hearts  warmed  by  a  cheery  letter  for 
weeks  after  its  reception.  Why  do  we  not  remember 
this  and  write  more  such  letters?  Have  you  never 
pined  for  just  such  a  visitant  ?  and  in  case  it  came 
when  you  most  needed  it,  do  you  remember  how  you 
blessed  the  writer  ?  How  thankful  you  were  that  your 
friend’s  environment  differed  so  widely  from  your  own, 
and  that  she  gave  you  such  clear  glimpses  of  her  sur¬ 
roundings  ?  Even  the  homeliest  details  were  welcome  ; 
you  enjoyed  the  new  lamp  which  had  just  been  bought 
for  the  sitting-room,  as  though  it  were  your  own,  and 
you  could  almost  smell  the  delicious  odor  of  the  cake 
which  she  said  she  had  just  taken  from  the  oven.  If, 
by  chance,  she  mentioned  a  book  which  you  had  read 
together,  you  took  down  the  volume  and  read  a  chap¬ 
ter  or  two,  or  a  few  marked  passages  and  grew  young 
again  because  of  the  associations  brought  up. 
There  is,  of  necessity,  a  great  deal  of  isolation 
about  farm  life  and  it  is  intensified  by  our  carelessness 
in  matters  of  correspondence.  There  is  no  use  in  say¬ 
ing  that  we  do  not  have  time  to  write,  for  few  of  us 
can  endure  constant  work,  and  there  is  no  relaxation 
pleasanter  than  writing  a  chatty  letter  when  one  is  in 
the  mood.  The  excuse  that  it  costs  too  much  is  also  a 
vain  delusion,  for  if  one  wrote  a  letter  every  day  the 
expense  would  scarcely  exceed  $10  in  these  days  of 
cheap  postage  and  stationery. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  make  a  good  letter  writer  from 
an  adult  who  had  no  taste  that  way.  He  finds  it  hard 
to  write  as  he  speaks.  His  sentences  are  stiff  and 
pedantic,  and,  though  his  flow  of  language  may  be  ex¬ 
cellent  in  conversation,  it  ceases  when  he  attempts  to 
put  it, on  paper.  The  teaching  must  begin  in  child¬ 
hood.  The  pupil  should  be  required  to  write  the  events 
of  each  day  in  his  own  language,  the  teacher  not  criti¬ 
cizing  too  closely  at  first,  and  always  giving  a  clear 
reason  for  every  criticism.  This  course  would  serve 
two  important  ends.  It  would  develop  a  habit  of  close 
observation,  while  training  the  child  to  express  his 
thoughts  clearly  and  naturally  in  writing. 
It  is  not  necessary,  however,  to  wait  for  a  new  gen¬ 
eration  to  be  taught,  to  get  a  great  deal  of  pleasure 
out  of  letters.  Just  try  the  experiment  of  writing  one, 
and  see  what  pleasure  it  will  give  to  you  and  to  the 
person  addressed.  In  the  first  place,  supply  yourself 
with  good  pens  and  ink  which  flows  freely.  Buy  nice, 
smooth  paper,  neither  too  thick  nor  too  thin,  with  en¬ 
velopes  which  fit  it.  Select  some  one  to  whom  a  letter 
is  sure  to  be  welcome,  and  do  not  write  as  though  you 
were  a  martyr,  or  as  though  your  letter  was  to  be  sub¬ 
jected  to  criticism  ;  but  just  tell  the  items  of  interest 
about  yourself  and  your  surroundings  which  you  are 
sure  your  friend  would  be  glad  to  know.  Ten  to  one 
you  will  be  surprised  to  find  what  an  interesting  letter 
you  have  written,  and  your  friend  will  rejoice  over  it 
in  a  way  which  would  astonish  you. 
Bright,  friendly  letters  go  so  far  towards  keeping  up 
our  interest  in  humanity.  They  make  life  so  much 
more  worth  the  living.  I  believe  that  half  the  insanity, 
which,  it  is  said,  affects  women  on  the  farms  more  than 
anywhere  else,  would  be  prevented  if  we  wrote  more 
letters  and  consequently  received  more.  Uncle  Sam 
is  doing  all  he  can  towards  this  end.  Postage  has 
been  greatly  reduced,  and,  now,  if  we  ask  persistently, 
I  think  he  will  give  us  a  free  delivery  of  mails,  which 
means  a  great  deal  to  most  farmers.  For  the  greater 
part  of  my  life  the  post  office  was  five  miles  from  us, 
and,  in  case  of  storms,  that  meant  a  week’s  delay  with 
mails.  A  little  push  and  activity  a  dozen  years  ago,  a 
little  pleading  in  high  places,  and  a  post  office  was  es¬ 
tablished  50  rods  from  our  door  with  tri-weekly  mails. 
Not  many  months  later  saw  a  daily  mail  each  way,  a 
convenience  which  can  scarcely  be  estimated. 
A  free  delivery  of  mail  is  far  more  important  to 
farmers  in  general  than  a  lower  rate  of  postage,  and  I 
trust  that  the  agricultural  societies  and  the  farm  papers 
will  push  this  matter  vigorously.  s.  A.  little. 
The  World  of  Women. 
The  German  Empress  is  having  a  small  model  house 
for  an  artisan  built  which  is  to  cost  $750,  in  the  hope 
that  her  example  may  be  followed  by  others.  Both 
the  Emperor  and  Empress  are  in  favor  of  small  houses 
instead  of  flats  for  the  poor. 
Annie  R.  Chittenden,  of  Osceola,  la.,  has  patented 
a  road-cart  which  is  designed  to  support  the  weight  of 
the  occupants  on  the  axle,  relieving  the  animal  of  all 
strain,  and  obviating  the  disagreeable  jar  frequently 
found  in  carts  as  now  constructed. 
From  Chicago  is  reported  the  formation  of  a  woman’s 
baking  powder  company  that  has  been  incorporated 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $250,000.  The  company  is  com¬ 
posed  of  Christian  Temperance  Union  women,  and 
they  expect  not  only  to  run  the  concern  on  strict  busi¬ 
ness  principles,  but  also  to  use  only  the  purest  mate¬ 
rials,  and  to  have  the  work  done  entirely  by  women. 
At  the  Cincinnati  Technical  School  girls  are  per¬ 
mitted  to  take  all  the  classes  in  manual  training,  if 
they  desire.  Two  of  its  graduates — Julia  Bedinger 
and  Lucy  Mary  Riggs,  of  Kentucky — are  not  only 
learned  in  architectural  and  mechanical  drawing,  but 
are  also  experts  in  the  use  of  carpenter’s  tools,  and  are 
practically  familiar  with  the  intricacies  of  steam  ma¬ 
chinery. 
An  exchange  states  that  less  than  a  year  ago  the 
editor  of  that  bright  little  magazine,  the  Doll’s  Dress¬ 
maker,  who  conceals  her  identity  under  the  most  suit¬ 
able  pen  name  of  “Jennie  Wren,”  started  her  venture 
in  this  unique  literary  field.  This  month  it  takes 
50,000  copies  to  supply  the  demand  for  the  little 
monthly, 
Miss  Sara  Bodtker,  of  Chicago,  was  awarded  the 
prize  for  a  design  for  the  seal  for  the  Board  of  “  Lady 
Managers”  of  the  World’s  Fair.  Of  the  designs  sent 
in,  seven  were  selected  by  the  Board  and  sent  to 
Augustus  St.  Gaudens,  of  New  York,  who  decided  in 
favor  of  Miss  Bodtker.  The  design  represents  the  flag¬ 
ship  of  Columbus,  and  beneath  it  the  coat  of  arms  of 
the  United  States.  There  is  one  star  for  each  member 
of  the  Board  of  “  Lady  Managers,”  and  a  laurel  wreath 
intended  to  be  emblematic  of  success. 
In  an  address  delivered  by  Mrs.  Palmer  before  the 
recent  convention  of  State  Boards,  she  said,  in  regard 
to  the  exhibition  of  woman’s  work  at  the  forthcoming 
Columbian  Exposition,  that  no  attempt  would  be  made 
to  separate  women’s  work  from  that  of  men.  But  in 
the  Woman’s  Building,  in  the  central  gallery,  will  be 
grouped  the  most  brilliant  achievements  of  women 
from  every  country  and  in  every  line  of  work.  Exhibits 
will  be  admitted  only  by  invitation,  which  will  be  con¬ 
sidered  the  equivalent  of  a  prize.  No  sentimental  sym¬ 
pathy  for  women  will  cause  the  admission  of  second- 
rate  objects,  as  the  highest  standard  of  excellence  is  to 
be  strictly  maintained. 
An  interesting  trio  are  Mrs.  Mary  Cobb  Hocher  and 
her  two  sons,  of  Stamford,  Ky.,  who  all  three  matri¬ 
culated  at  the  Kentucky  University  not  long  ago. 
They  expect  to  take  the  entire  college  course  together. 
Mothers  whose  children  are  getting  beyond  them  in 
attainments  may  find  much  food  for  meditation  in  this 
instance  of  one  mother’s  determination  to  keep  up.  A 
college  course  is  not  the  only  way  to  do  it. 
It  is  reported  that  an  Exchange  for  Women’s  Work 
has  been  opened  by  the  ladies  of  the  American  colony 
in  Paris  on  the  plan  of  the  exchanges  in  this  country. 
American  pies,  cake  and  other  special  ties  are  provided, 
a  circulating  library  has  been  organized,  and  once  each 
week  musical  matinees  are  given  by  the  best  artists 
under  the  patronage  of  the  ladies  who  are  interested 
in  the  enterprise. 
A  few  days  ago,  a  luncheon  was  given  by  Mrs.  M.  V. 
Terliune  (Marian  Harland)  in  honor  of  the  twenty-first 
anniversary  of  the  publication  of  her  book,  “  Common 
Sense  in  the  Household.”  Messrs.  Chas.  Scribner  made 
the  interesting  statement  that  more  copies  of  this  book 
have  been  sold  than  of  any  book  ever  published  by 
Scribner’s  Sons. 
The  prospectus  of  the  Homemaker  for  1892  contained 
a  fling  against  the  woman  who  supposes  the  ordinary 
housekeeping  duties  to  comprise  all  that  is  included  in 
home-making,  presumably  aimed  at  Mrs.  Terhune. 
The  above  facts  seem  to  show  that  to  the  great  major¬ 
ity  housekeeping  is  in  a  very  large  degree  home-mak¬ 
ing,  and  the  woman  who  makes  good  housekeeping  a 
large  part  of  her  teaching,  is  thus  vindicated  in  some 
measure. 
The  Chicago  Woman’s  News  tells  of  a  group  of  six 
Washington  women  who  meet  once  a  month,  and  in 
full  dress  toilets  partake  of  dinners  at  the  home  of  one 
of  the  number,  after  which  the  ones  called  upon  by  the 
hostess  must  rise  and  talk  at  least  five  minutes  upon 
some  topic  of  interest  or  respond  to  a  toast.  No  prep¬ 
aration  is  allowed,  the  object  intended  being  the  culti¬ 
vation  of  the  art  of  impromptu  and  graceful  speaking 
in  response,  controversy,  or  acknowledgment. 
Some  months  ago  all  the  papers  of  the  country 
spread  an  item  to  the  effect  that  Mrs.  John  Logan,  in 
connection  with  several  other  prominent  women, 
was  about  to  start  a  sort  of  normal  training  school 
The  hypophosphites  of  lime  and  soda 
combined  with  cod-liver  oil  in  Scott’s 
Emulsion  improve  the  appetite,  promote 
digestion,  and  increase  the  weight. 
They  are  thought  by  some  to  be  food  ; 
but  this  is  not  proved.  They  are  tonics  ; 
this  is  admitted  by  all. 
Cod-liver  oil  is  mainly  a  food,  but  also 
a  tonic. 
In  Scott’s  Emulsion  the  cod-liver  oil 
and  hypophosphites  are  so  combined  as 
to  get  the  full  advantage  of  both. 
Let  us  send  you  a  book  on  careful 
living  ;  free. 
Scott  &  Bow.ve,  Chemists,  132  South  5th  Avenue,  New  York. 
