i89i 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
679 
the fashion at less cost. Summer ones may 
be covered with lace or silk. I never buy 
a high priced straw, as they go out of fash¬ 
ion so soon and are only in the way after¬ 
wards. 
I like delicate tinted woolen dresses for 
summer and when they become faded or 
spotted I dye them some dark color and 
make them over with some checked or fig¬ 
ured goods or velvet. Silk and woolen 
gloves take the place of kid ones many 
times and when the fingers wear out cut 
the fingers off, hem and sew together 
between each finger. Cut off part of the 
thumb and hem it, and you have a very 
acceptable pair of mitts to slip on when go¬ 
ing to the neighbor’s for a chat. When 
my kid gloves crack or tear, I turn them 
inside out and take a piece of kid, as near 
to match as I have, and put on little patches 
with mucilage, being careful not to let the 
mucilage come too near the edge of the 
patches. * * * E. H. 
I buy in bulk as far as possible, and use 
as economically as if I bought at big retail 
prices. 
By putting a small amount of coal at one 
time on my fire, I economize fuel and the 
stove gires more heat. bessie b. 
* * * 
If 40-inch cloth instead of 36 inch is 
bought for underwear, the pieces will be 
large enough to cut children’s garments 
from. MRS s. R. H. 
A SIDE ISSUE IN DRESS REE’ORM. 
PHASE of dress reform seldom con¬ 
sidered by the reformers, Indeed en¬ 
tirely aside from their aim, engages the 
attention of a writer in Harper’s Bazar. 
That a woman may dress a turkey better 
than she can dress herself; that she may 
blend divers flavors harmoniously into a 
sauce; that she can out of simple elements 
evolve triumphs of culinary good taste in 
every sense of the word, and yet be herseif 
a dismal, unwholesome-looking object in 
this very doing, is laid down as a postulate. 
From this the writer goes on to say that it 
seems to be an article of belief with many 
cooks that personal neglect and a general 
air of untidiness are outward and visible 
signs of great culinary skill, the possessor of 
which talent is by them deemed exempt 
from the laws of neatness and order. 
Their ideas on the subject of dress, how¬ 
ever, are by no means lacking in definite¬ 
ness, but unfortunately they are confined 
to the elaboration of toilettes for high days 
and holidays, and the natural womanly 
wish to look well is perverted into a desire 
for finery as unsuitable as it is flimsy and 
flashy. Wages are freely spent on imita¬ 
tion spendors, and arrayed in sleazy silk or 
satin, glittering with jet, the head crowned 
with the very latest style of hat, the young 
woman sallies forth with the proud con¬ 
viction that she is “quite the thing.” 
In some such garb as this she often ap¬ 
plies for a situation, never dreaming that 
she thereby imperils her chances of obtain¬ 
ing a good home, so much does her attire 
repel the sensible housekeeper, who, by re¬ 
peated experience, has learned that finery 
covers a multitude of sins of omission, and 
that almost certainly there is scarcely a 
decent change of under clothing or a whole 
calico gown among the belongings of the 
gaily dressed applicant. 
There are exceptions, of course, and mem¬ 
ory dwells fondly on the merits of an ex¬ 
cellent cook who joined to her skill the rare 
virtue of appropriate, even tasteful, dress¬ 
ing while she was officially engaged. The 
neat print gown, the glossy hair and bright 
face, and cheerful readiness to do her very 
best, made visits to the kitchen most at¬ 
tractive, and it was easy to overlook the 
want of taste and judgment which gov¬ 
erned her choice of Sunday toilettes. 
In the good old times—of which one con¬ 
stantly hears—domestic servants had 
neither the temptation nor the opportunity 
to indulge in fine dress, but so long as 
cheap copies of all the fashionable goods 
are obtainable, so long probably will wages 
be squandered in the vain hope of looking 
as well as the best. It is their own money; 
they have earned it, and have the right to 
In writing to advertisers please always 
mention The Rural. 
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. 
spend it as they choose, and this is a free 
country, etc., etc. 
But If these women could be brought to see 
how greatly they would rise in the estima¬ 
tion of their employers, how much more 
likely they are to be “ healthy, wealthy and 
wise,” if they would buy and wear con¬ 
stantly only neat boots and substantial, 
suitable garments, they might possibly, 
without detriment to their independence, 
adopt the more excellent way. 
NOTES ON PRUNES AND PEACHES. 
N canning prunes I make a change by 
putting some into the cans with their 
skins on, but the daintiest are dropped into 
boiling water and skimmed out quickly, 
when the skin will come off as easily as it 
will from a tomato. If some of these peeled 
prunes are stoned, stewed for a few- min¬ 
utes in an equal weight of sugar, drained 
on a sieve and carefully dried, they are de¬ 
licious for dessert, served with raisins and 
candies. Prunes, like plums, make delight¬ 
ful jelly and marmalade, and when dried 
carefully in the ordinary way, they are 
very nice. 
Prune Roly-Poly.— Remove the skins 
and pits from some prunes, add a very lit¬ 
tle water and stew them in a granite kettle. 
When they are soft, sweeten to taste ; let 
them boil up, then remove them from the 
stove. When the fruit is cold, make a nice 
biscuit dough, roll it to half an inch in 
thickness, and spread it with the prunes 
which have been previously drained and 
mashed with the back of the spoon. Roll 
the dough as you would a jelly cake, and 
pin it in a cloth which has been wet and 
floured, leaving room to swell. Steam or 
boil until done, about 25 minutes, and serve 
in slices with sweetened cream. 
Preserved prunes are very nice with 
white of eggs, frothed and sweetened, 
heaped upon them and lightly browned in 
a very hot oven. Serve cold. They are also 
very palatable when served with a rich, 
boiled custard. 
Myra Y. Norys will find her marmalade 
making easier if she stews her peaches in 
the syrup and removes them, boiling the 
syrup down until very rich. In the mean¬ 
time wash the fruit thoroughly, and when 
the syrup is sufficiently reduced, return the 
fruit, let it heat up and it is ready for the 
pots. 
If Marmaduke should bring her some 
peaches which cling slightly, she will do 
well to halve the peaches and remove them 
from the stones before peeling. A very 
sharp, thin-edged knife should be used for 
peeling, and the same knife should never 
be used for taking out the stones. 
S. A. LITTLE. 
HOW I ROAST BEEE AT THE FARM. 
T is very inconvenient to get to market; 
but the butcher comes once a week. 
During hot weather, I purchase a large 
shoulder roast—this is juicy and low- 
priced. I bind and skewer it, place it upon 
four sticks laid across the kettle, resting It 
about six inches from the bottom. I put in 
water enough to come within about two 
inches of the roast, cook for about an hour, 
then season with salt and pepper. I add a 
little water occasionally but do not let it 
come quite up to the beef; when tender, 
I remove the sticks and let it brown in the 
bottom of the kettle. 
Next, I take it up and make a gravy of 
milk and a little flour in the roasting ket 
tie; this will be a rich brown color. For tea 
I slice the cold meat thin and garnish with 
whatever comes to hand ; radishes cut 
lengthwise are pretty with alternate slices 
of lemon; sometimes I use only a few clover 
leaves and blossoms. For breakfast I take 
the poorest pieces, chop slightly, put a piece 
of butter half the size of an egg in the 
saucepan, add the chopped beef, then pour 
over it a part of the brown gravy from 
yesterday’s dinner, and just allow it to 
boil. I serve toast with this, or sometimes 
substitute omelet or plain hash. For a 
second dinner I make a Scotch pie. For 
this, I line a deep earthen dish with cold 
boiled potatoesand beef cut thin, fill nearly 
full and season with a liberal supply of 
butter and a little salt and pepper, then I 
sprinkle flour over all and cover with a 
good flaky crust about one inch thick (add¬ 
ing a cup of stock or water before cover¬ 
ing.) Next I cut a hole in the crust and 
bake about an hour, or until the crust is 
done. I save stock to make a bowl of gravy 
to serve with this pie, and also serve tart 
apple sauce. For the third day’s dinner I 
take every bone and scrap, and the remains 
of the pie and make a soup, adding vegeta¬ 
bles, noodles or dumplings. If the crust 
remains from the pie I steam this, and add, 
just before serving. This gives us three 
days’ meals from our beef—a welcome 
change at Cloverfleld Farm. 
MRS. a. w. H. 
Following rose pink comes coral pink: 
“ The prevailing fancy for pink has brought 
Into vogue a new shade, called coral pink, 
to which yellowish tints are added that 
make it almost salmon color. It is most 
effective when trimmed with black, as in 
charming little morning dresses of lawn of 
the plain coral color, with a yoke of black 
lace and flounces edged with black purling. 
A unique touch is given to such a gown by 
a belt of wide velvet ribbon, shading from 
coral color on one edge, through golden 
brown, to bright corn-flower blue on the 
other edge. This Is softly folded around 
the waist and fastened with a chou on the 
left side. Pink coral cloths and velvets are 
being manufactured for calling dresses 
and for carriage wraps for the early aut¬ 
umn days.” So says Harper’s Bazar. 
Some foreign officials are in throes over 
the dictates of fashion. The trailing dresses 
have engaged the attention of the Supreme 
Sanitary Board of Vienna. The district 
police commissioners were asked officially 
whether dresses sweeping in the mud are 
injurious to the public health, and whether, 
if forbidden, the prohibition could be en¬ 
forced. The replies differed. One official 
suggested a special tax on trailing dresses, 
but he confessed that it would be difficult 
to collect. 
It Is reported that the ladies of Berlin ( 
who have been in the habit of riding in the* 
riding school in silk tigbts, petitioned for 
authority to appear in the Thlergarten, or 
park. In that costume, and to ride after the 
fashion of men, with one leg on either side 
of the horse. The petition was denied by 
the chief of police on the ground that the 
appearance of females in such unusual at¬ 
tire would be likely to cause a commotion 
and lead to a disturbance of the peace. As, 
however, some of the petitioners were lead¬ 
ing ladies of Berlin society, wives and 
daughters of the generals of the army, it is 
not surprising to hear that an appeal has 
been taken from the police bureau to the 
Empress herself, and high hopes are enter¬ 
tained of her acquiescence in the proposed 
reform. The tendency of human nature is 
plainly visible in the ardor with which the 
ladies to whom it is forbidden thus to ride, 
desire to follow the offending custom. 
Always get the earth to use for house 
plants, seeds, etc., during winter, just as 
late as possible before it is frozen up ; it is 
then entirely free from worms, which have 
gone down to winter quarters below the 
frost line. 
To get rid of black flies in flower pots, 
scrape off the top soil which contains the 
eggs, replacing with fresh earth. Warm 
water with camphor enough in it to curdle 
will kill all worms in pots and not injure 
the plants. 
If potting soil is well scalded with hot 
water before using, it will be free from all 
weed seeds. FLORENCE H. 
ilUsceUMwuuief Advertising, 
When writing to advertisers, please 
mention The Rural New-Yorker. 
FOR SCROFULA 
scrofulous humor 
in the blood, 
ulcers, catarrh, and 
consumption, 
use 
Ayer’s Sarsaparilla 
The most 
economical, 
safe, speedy, and 
effective of all 
blood-purifiers. 
Has Cured Others 
will cure you. 
ADVICE TO THE ACED. 
Age brings infirmities, such as sluggish 
bowel s, weak kidneys and torpid liver. 
Tutt’s Pills 
have a specific effect on these organs, stim¬ 
ulating the bowels, gives natural discharg¬ 
es, and imparts vigor to the whole system. 
GOLD MEDAL, PARIS, 1E7S. 
wTbaker & CO.’S 
Breakfast Cocoa 
from which tho excess of oil 
has been removed, 
Is absolutely pure and 
it is soluble. 
Wo Chemicals 
are used in its preparation. It 
has more than three times the 
strength of Cocoa mixed with 
Btarch, Arrowroot or Sugar, 
and is therefore far more eco- 
I nomical, costing less than one 
centacup. Itis delicious, nour¬ 
ishing, strengthening, easily 
digested, and admirably adapted for invalids 
as well as for persons in health. 
Sold by Grocers everywhere. 
W. BAKER & CO., Dorchester, Mass. 
Harvest Excursions 
At LOW RATES 
via Missouri Pacific Ry. 
and Iron Mountain Route. 
To Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas and ah 
S olnts West and Southwest. Aug. 25, Sept. 15 and 
I. Good for 30 days, with stop-over privileges. 
H. C. TOWNSEND, G. P. A., St. Louis, Mo. 
All the central- 
draft lamps 
gi ve excellent 
light; and all 
but one are 
troublesome fil¬ 
thy and smelly. 
i_j That one is the 
^ ‘ “ Pittsburgh. ” 
Would you like to read a 
primer about it? 
Pittsburgh, l’a. Pittsburgh Brass Co. 
Just Published. 
Insects and Insecticides. 
A Practical Manual concerning Noxious 
Insects and the Methods of Preventing 
their Injuries. By Clarence M. Weed. 
Profusely illustrated. Treats of all 
common Insects that affect fruits, vege¬ 
tables, ornamental plants, trees, cereal 
and forage crops ; also the insect pests 
of domestic animals and the household. 
Price, $1.25. 
SCRIBNER’S 
LUMBER 
AND 
LOG BOOK 
Over One Million Bold.— Most complete book of 
Its kind ever published. Gives measurement of all 
kinds of lumber, logs, planks, timber ; hints to lum¬ 
ber dealers; wood measure, speed of circular saws, 
cord-wood tables, felling trees, growth of trees, land- 
measure, wages, rent, board, Interest, stave and head¬ 
ing bolts, etc. Standard book in the United States 
and Canada. Illustrated edition of 1882. 35 cents. 
THE RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
Times Building, New York. 
General Advertising Rates of 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
TIME8 BUILDING, NEW YORK 
The following rates are invariable. All are there¬ 
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No Advertisement received for less than 91.00 
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