i89i 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
drudgery enough that must be done, let us 
resist the temptation to do the non essential. 
Thin, washable goods were formerly con¬ 
sidered the coolest for summer wear, but 
this has been proved a fallacy, light-weight 
flannels and serges being fully as comfort¬ 
able and more serviceable. They are made 
in beautiful combinations of delicate tints, 
in stripes, cl ecks, plaids and figures, and 
although they neither crumple nor retain 
the dust as readily as cotton fabrics, they 
laundry nicely. 
The woven under garments are a de¬ 
cided saving in sewing and are much more 
comfortable than muslin garments, bub I 
do not approve of combination suits for 
children under eight years of age, for the 
reason that the lower garments are far more 
apt to become soiled than the upper ones, 
and if both are in one it necessitates re¬ 
moving the entire clothing to make a 
change and also causes unnecessary wash¬ 
ing. 
A muslin skirt-and-drawers waist, shaped 
by an under arm dart and seams and 
shoulder seams, and closed at the center of 
the back with buttons and button holes, is 
a most comfortable and convenient gar¬ 
ment. If trimmed at the armholes and 
neck, no other upper garment is necessary. 
It should be faced to the depth of two 
inches at the bottom, and buttons 
sewed at the center of the front, 
at the under arm seams, and mid¬ 
way between these seams and the center of 
the back and front, both at the top and 
bottom of the facing. The former are for 
holding the skirts, the latter for the 
drawers. If it is desired to have the waist 
fit more closely, make a single bust dart at 
each side of the front. 
Do not provide white skirts for wear with 
any but white dresses. Flannels, serge and 
alpaca make handsome little skirts wten 
decorated with feather stitching or braid, 
and fancy ticking or seersucker are very 
durable. It is not well to have any skirts 
with waists attached for summer wear. 
Children’s dresses should never be mada 
tight-fitting, but while I insist on simplicity 
of style I would certainly have them pretty 
and stylish and well fitting. 
It costs no more to buy handsome ma¬ 
terials than ugly ones, and if neatly fitted 
and finished with some kind of trimming 
at the neck no other ornamentation is ne¬ 
cessary for every-day dresses. The quaint, 
grandmotherly styles still continue in 
vogue for little girls, and certainly none 
were ever more becoming. 
Plenty of plain, long sleeved aprons 
should be in every child’s wardrobe, but 
avoid making elaborate ones that are as dif¬ 
ficult to iron as a dress. 
Full-sized cut-paper patterns can be had 
for children of all ages, and an ingenious 
mother can cut several different garments 
from one pattern by making a few 
changes. 
An economical woman who makes her 
children’s garments cannot invest a dollar 
more wisely than in subscribing for one of 
the practical fashion magazines, which not 
only give explicit descriptions of the styles 
illustrated, but many other helpful sugges¬ 
tions. KATHERINE B. JOHNSON. 
New York. 
PRUDENCE PRIMROSE’S DIARY. 
ARCH 30—May Maple’s pretty remL 
niscence, in a late Rural, of the 
frail, young school teacher going away 
among the hills for a winter, goes to prove 
one thing, if not the necessity of good air 
in the sleeping room, namely, that a change 
of locality, even if there be no improve, 
ment of the conditions, often shows wonder¬ 
fully beneficial results to the health. But 
over against the vitiated air of that un¬ 
ventilated little chamber must be set such 
items as vigorous exercise in a bracing at¬ 
mosphere, going to and from school in all 
weather with brisk walks up hill and coast¬ 
ing and skating, no doubt. Best of all, her 
good hostess made her happy and content. 
And who does not know the tonic of upland 
air ? I know a quaint old farm house, 
20 miles back among the hills, whose at¬ 
mosphere it makes me like a new creature 
to breathe ; yet people about there are no 
Please mention The R. N.-Y. to our adver¬ 
tisers. 
When Baby was sick, we gave her Castorla, 
When she was a Child, she cried for Castorla, 
When she became Miss, she clung to Castorla, 
When she had Children, she gave them Castorla. 
healthier than those In my own town. We 
seem to be made creatures of change: 
fresh surroundings, a change of food, new 
thoughts—how they brighten and build us 
up. A permanent home with occasional 
excursions abroad seems to give the best 
development. 
April 3 —The attractive seed catalogue 
is again with us in force. Time was when 
I pored over the respective lists of novelties 
and dreamed of a garden ablaze with annu¬ 
als. Now grown wiser and lazier, I aim 
only to keep up my assortment of old favor¬ 
ites—sweet peas, nasturtiums, pansies and 
mignorette and maybe indulge in an ex¬ 
periment as to how some pretty stranger 
will take to our soil and styleof gardening; 
and to have the pleasure of watching the 
first buds unroll, all interest to see what 
sort of flower will be disclosed. Last season 
I raised dahlias from seed. They germin¬ 
ated readily and blossomed well in the fall 
though I did not give them as rich a soil or 
such generous care as they would probably 
have liked. A packet of Torenia fournieri 
seed gave us a potful of lovely lavender and 
purple flowers in bloom all the fall and 
early winter ; but an exceptionally cold 
night caught it upstairs and freezing put 
an end to its beauty. Though an annual, I 
had intended to cut it back, hoping to get a 
second season of bloom. 
April 10—Coming in and finding me 
ironing velvet on a flatiron turned upside 
down in the top of a large pitcher, LePere, 
laughingly quoted from an old song: 
If you wane to bake a hoecake 
I’ll tell you how to do It. 
Put the cake upon your foot 
And hold the tire to It. 
I am not sure about the hoecake; but I 
know that my plan is a very good one to 
take the creases from old velvet. Spread a 
wet cloth over the hot iron and draw the 
velvet, face up, gently back and forth over 
it. It is well to have quite a large strip of 
old cotton as it dries rapidly and by sliding 
it along one need not stop to wring it out 
so often. A light brush can be used to help 
the steam lift the nap if it is badly matted. 
Creases can be taken from ribbons in the 
same way without giving them that limp, 
ironed look. 
Connecticut. 
LUNCHEON TIME AT SCHOOL. 
AVING a little business to do with 
the teacher down at the cross¬ 
roads, lately, and not wishing to disturb 
her during school hours, I went to see her 
at the noon recess. I was a little late and 
found she had gone to her boarding house 
for dinner, so I awaited her return, in the 
meantime studying human nature in the 
pupils, most of whom were disposing of 
the luncheon they had brought from their 
homes, too far away to return for their 
dinner. Two chubby little tots in one cor¬ 
ner were extending the variety of their 
bills of fare by exchanging bites of each 
other’s food. They made a pretty picture, 
each,trying to outdo the other in generosity 
—“Bite bigger, Billy,” said one; “Take 
more, Bess,” said the other. 
One sallow-faced young Miss, wearing a 
gay worsted gown and dainty frilled apron, 
ate, with much gusto, a quarter section of 
mince pie, followed by doughnuts and 
pickles. This was the sum of her noon¬ 
tide refreshment, and she eyed, with great 
disdain, a rosy-cheeked little dameel in a 
dark calico, who was contentedly munch¬ 
ing her plain bread and butter and baked 
apples. 
Some boys were evidently badly pressed 
for time, as they did not stop to chew their 
food at all—simply “bolted” it. A lively 
conversation among several older pupils on 
the subject in hand caught my ears : “My 
mamma says I can have anything I want for 
lunch if I’ll only put it up myself,” said 
one; “My mother says pork, and pie, and 
pickles will ruin my complexion,” pro¬ 
claimed another; number three voiced his 
wish in “I wish I had a good, strong cup of 
coffee—I’ll have it when I get home”; whi e 
the next protested “ ‘Uncle Doc’ says chil¬ 
dren ought never to drink tea and coffee 
while they’re growing if they mean to 
keep steady nerves.” But the coffee-lover 
answered, “Well, I’m thankful that I 
haven’t an ‘Uncle Doc’ to tell me what I 
must eat and what I mustn’t, and I don’t 
believe It makes any difference, anyway.” 
Just at this point the teacher returned, 
but after my errand with her was done and 
I was on my way home, that last bit of the 
conversation I had heard drifted back to 
me and I resolved to ask The Rural 
mothers and sisters who put up school 
lunches what food goes into their lunch- 
baskets, and whether they think it “makes 
no difference.” Will they tell me, please ? 
JUDY JONES. 
SOME PETS NOT SO DESIRABLE. 
S we live in the woods of Washington, 
of course there are bears, deer, wild 
cats and cougars about. The other night 
we heard our cat howl as if in great terror. 
I opened the door just in time to see a 
large wild cat run across the road. The 
cat came in the house and we could not 
coax her to go out that night, and she 
looked f rightened all the rest of the evening. 
A few evenings ago we heard a noise in 
our wood shed, and running out saw a 
beautiful little animal feasting on our salt 
pork. I ran up and was going to try to 
catch it; husband cried out, “ Keep back!” 
and I was glad afterwards that I had done 
so, for the pretty little animal was a skunk I 
We saw a lovely coon in the wood shed one 
night, and husband said we would set a 
trap for it and If we caught it we could 
make a pet of it. He made a box trap, and 
two nights afterward we had an animal in 
the box. We peeped through the cracks 
and were quite sure we had a nice little pet 
there; but husband was pretty sure it was 
a skunk, although it was so dark in the 
box that we could not see well. He put 
the box on a sled, took it down to the 
water, and put box and all into the latter, 
and then,—Oh, dear, it was awful I and 
that horrid man brought box, skunk and 
all back to the house and boldly marched 
through the sitting-room and kitchen, and 
set the box down in the wood-shed. I 
threatened to ship him to England to his 
mother; but he just laughed. 
Washington. aunt mabel. 
SWEET APPLES AS A LUXURY. 
N my father’s orchard we have a Summer 
Sweeting, a Fall Sweeting, and aSweet 
Russet for winter use. The Russets grew 
better as the season advanced. The first 
two trees were great bearers and kept us in 
baked apples from July till winter. When 
I saw how fond of our Sweet Russets many 
of our friends were, I wondered why so few 
sweet apple trees were found in the average 
orchard. When we moved to our own 
farm, in the old orchard we found two 
TalmaD Sweet trees, and then we learned 
what a luxury a good supply of winter 
sweet apples may be. I think if the de¬ 
mand for sweet apples is small, it is because 
people have never learned how delicious 
they are. I have yet to learn of a better 
fall apple than the Porter. 
For 13 years we have lived where no apple 
tree flourishes excepting the crab. As I 
think of the barrels of apples that filled our 
cellar when Massachusetts was our home, 
I wonder why we made so little use of the 
raw fruit on the table; why we thought 
our fruit must be made into pies, and pud- 
diDgs, and sauces; and I think I would 
make more use of fruit in the natural state 
if I lived there now. 
Most people who buy apples cannot have 
them so abundantly as those who raise 
them, and is not that one reason why there 
is less demand for sweet apples ? Baked 
apples are so nice and a farmer can dispose 
of so many of them. 8. e. h. 
Color* do. 
#U0mRULeaui8i gulvmimfl. 
In writing to advertisers please always 
mention The Rural New-Yorker. 
CONSUMPTION 
in its 
early stages 
can be cured 
by the prompt 
use of 
Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral 
It soothes 
the inflamed tissues, 
aids expectoration, 
and hastens 
recovery. * 
Dr» J. C. Ayer & Co. 
Lowell, Mass. 
IF YOU HAVE 
Malaria or Piles, Sick Headache, Costive 
Bowels, Dumb Ague, Sour Stoinaeh and 
Belching; if your food does not assimilate 
and you have no appetite, 
Tutt’s Pills 
will cure these troubles. Price, 25 cents. 
NEW KODAKS 
“ You press the 
button , 
we do the rest 
bB Keren New 
Style* and Size* 
JB all loaded with 
Transparent 
Films. 
For sale by all 
Photo. Stock 
TIE EASTMAN COMPANY, ROCHESTER, 1,1, 
Send for Catalogue. 
GOLD MEDAL, PARIS, 1878. 
GERMAN 
11 Sweet Chocolate. 
The most popular sweet 
Chocolate in the market. 
BmUf It is nutritious and palat- 
ra/n™ able; a particular favorite 
fflff It |« with children, and a most 
IIU II If l!'ll excellent article for family 
11 lull II IlH Served as a drink, or 
h jjn 1 || A K 11 eaten as confectionery, it 
IB /I] j J 11 * l is a delicious Chocolate. 
| aljjjl ! J The genuine is stamped 
upon the wrapper, S. Ger¬ 
man, Dorchester, Mass. 
Sold l*y Grocers everywhere. 
W. BAKER & CO., Dorchester, Mass. 
GENUINE PHILADELPHIA. 
300,000 IN THE FIELD. 
VPHIiaiffiriPHIA ^ — 
LawnMower^@f 
Hand Sizes, 10 to 20 Inches. 
Both Open and Solid Cylinders. 
Pony and Horse, 30 and 36 Inches. 
Lawn Sweepers and Grass Edgers. 
GRAHAM, EMLEN & PASSMORE, 
(>31 Market Street, Philadelphia, I*a. 
D’ye see those 
skates ? The Pitts- 
f \ burgh lamp is 
ahead. It gives 
magnificent light. 
It is easy to 
S^^^^^care for. 
It keeps itself clean—all 
but wiping. 
Send for a primer—can’t 
tell it all here. 
Pittsburgh, Pa. PITTSBURGH BRASS Co. 
PAINTroJjfs 
DIXON S SILICA GRAPHITE PAINT 
Water will run from it pure and clean. It covers doable 
the surface of any other paint, and will last four or five 
timeslonger. Equally usefnlforanyironwork. Send for 
circulars. Jos. Dixon ckucidlk Co., Jersey City, N. J. 
General Advertising Rates of 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
TIMES BUILDING, NEW YORK 
The following rates are invariable. All are there¬ 
fore respectfully informed that any correspondence 
with a view to obtaining different terms will prove 
futile. 
Ordinary Advertisements, per agate line (this 
sized type, 14 lines to the Inch).30cents. 
One thousand lines or more,within one year 
from date of first Insertion, per agate line. 25 “ 
Yearly orders occupying 10 or more lines 
agate space.25 “ 
Preferred positions .25 per cent, extra. 
Reading Notices, ending with “Adv.,” per 
line, minion leaded.75 cents 
No Advertisement received for les* than !§1.00 
for each insertion. 
Terms of Subscription. 
The subscription price of the Rural New Yorker Is 
Single copy, per year.$2.00 
* “ Six months. 1.10 
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Germany, per year, post-paid. $3.04 (12s. 6d.) 
France. 3.04 (16& fr.) 
French Colonies. 4.08 (29J^ fr.) 
Agents will be supplied with canvassing outfit on 
application. 
Entered at the Post office at New York City. N. Y. 
as second-class mall matter. 
