Women Make] the Homes Make the 
Woman And The Home. 
A RECENT item in a certain local paper concerning 
an accident which befell Mrs. John Jones’s proud 
array of canned fruit can scarcely help calling forth a 
sigh of sympathy from every woman whose busy days 
have of late had every chink filled by canning operations : 
A swing shelf, the repository of 50 cans, proved traitor¬ 
ous, and the whole were lost! Look to the safety and 
solidity of the shelves. * * * 
A writer of the day gravely says : “ Bathing the face 
daily in rain-water is an excellent way to improve the skin. 
It softens and whitens it, and acts as a tonic upon all the 
tissues.” 
Isn’t this a shrewd way of leading the livers in these 
modern and progressive times back into those darker ages 
when our forefathers and foremothers were firmly con¬ 
vinced of the necessity of washing the face in pure water 
dally ? Please note that rain water whitens the face 1 Let 
the younger generation, the boys and girls, make especial 
note of this. Hands are quite apt to become discolored ; 
it may be good for them also. 
* * * 
In the Farm Journal we note a new way of putting an 
old thought: "We do not say, ‘I thank you.’ And be¬ 
cause we do not say it, we make it difficult for our children 
to be as polite, as simply courteous, as otherwise they 
would be by nature and the imitation which is second nat¬ 
ure to all children.” 
* * # 
Margaret E. Sangster in the Interior gives a pretty 
instance of the beautiful results to be attained by a faith¬ 
ful setting of good example, which might almost seem an 
object lesson commenting on the above. “ Little Horace, 
his father and his grandCather, were all standing in a row 
on the lawn the other day, when I drove up in the phaeton 
with Horace’s beautiful young mother. As we were helped 
out, off came the three hats from the three heads, the 
courtly gray-haired man doffing his summer wide awake 
with a grace that was equaled and imitated by the little 
gentleman of four. This golden-fleeced and blue-eyed lad¬ 
die, who was a baby only the other day, never kisses 
mamma with his hat on, never forgets to pop up from his 
little chair and remain standing till she is seated, if his 
mother enters the room. He has seen his father and his 
grandfather show this beautiful deference to ladies, in 
their own home, always, and the little fellow is polite 
without an effort. He will always lift his cap when he 
says good morning to a lady ; when he opens the door, he 
will always wait for her to pass out first; when he sees 
her standing in a street car, he will rise and offer her a seat; 
and when she drops a bundle, he will make haste to pick 
it up. The whole path of good manners has been made 
smooth and plain for Horace by the gentle training of his 
nursery.”_ 
PRUDENCE PRIMROSE’S DIARY. 
A UGUST 20.—What should I have done without that 
scrap book this morning I The small boy evidently 
did not want to be amused. The extreme silence and 
solemnity with which he received all my friendly over¬ 
tures were as funny as discouraging. He would stand 
leaning on the window sill and gazing down the street 
in the direction in which his mother had disappeared. 
“ He is very fond of books and pictures,” she had said, 
and I went over to the bookcase and eyed hopelessly the 
sets of Browning, Ruskin and Macaulay in their handsome 
bindings. In a lower corner a volume purporting to be a 
“Card Album ” offered some relief. 
“That’s Cousin Grade’s Cat Iiook. I’ll show you the 
cat that took rat poison.” The small boy was at my side 
almost before I had the book in my hands ; the ice was 
broken and the question of the half hour solved ; for, as 
soon appeared, my charge was fully equal to the task of 
entertaining me for any length of time. 
This Cousin Grade had evidently laid claim to every 
pussy portrait that came In her way. There were cats 
photographed, cats lithographed, cats serious, cats comic, 
pet cats, cats abused, and the cats that went to sea on a 
cake of Ivory soap. Next the tragic comicality of the cat 
which ate the rat poison appeared four pussies in all the 
glory of spots and stripes and colored neck-ribbons on a 
set of business cards, and over the leaf were stray cats, the 
pictures clipped out from the background and arranged in 
a droll procession ending in a shower of cats graded to 
smaller and smaller till a wee kitten tumbled over the top 
of the page. No two pages were at all alike; and as for 
Pussy herself, she seemed to have as much individuality 
and diversity of expression as the album of family photo¬ 
graphs can show. 
But the queerest cats of all were on the last half dozen 
pages, where Miss Grade had evidently coaxed her friends 
to try a hand at making cat portraits. I could imagine 
the general fun and amusement that had followed when 
she put the book and a pencil Into some one’s hands and 
demanded the picture of a cat and the signature of the ar¬ 
tist. A few had done her behests prettily, most only ab¬ 
surdly, and some with their eyes shut, to judge by the 
results. 
AUG. 22.—This morning Aunt Lena took up The Rural 
and after reading a few moments, let it fall to her lap and 
sat gazing out of the window while a tender half smile 
hovered over her face. 
“ Now what have y oa read and what are you thinking i” 
I questioned; for reply she took up the paper and read, 
“ The Girls’ Side of one Question.” 
“ And the thoughts ?” 
“ I think a scrap of Morlturi Salutamus was floating 
through my thoughts,” she answered. “You remember 
that stanza, ' How beautiful is youth ?’ ” 
I shook my head and she kept on: 
how bright It gleams 
With Its illusions, aspirations, dreams ! 
Kook of beginnings, Story without End, 
Each maid a heroine and each man a friend! 
Aladdin’s Lamp, and Eortunatus's Purse. 
That holds the treasures of the universe ! 
All possibilities are in Its hands, 
No danger daunts it. and no foe withstands ; 
In its sublime audacity of faith, 
“ Be thou removed !” it to the mountain salth, 
And with ambitious feet, secure and proud, 
Ascends the ladder leaning on the cloud ! 
“ Well, don’t you think it will be grand for * Melinda ’ 
to study a profession and try to lead the boys into paths 
that will lift them up morally, physically and Intellectu¬ 
ally ? ” 
“Very.” 
“ Don’t you think she will do it ? ” 
“ Very likely, if she has good health and sufficient deter¬ 
mination.” 
Some one came in just then and that bit of Morlturi 
Salutamus had such a cheerful ring about it that I 
went to get my copy of Longfellow and read the whole 
poem. 
The more I thought of Melinda, the more Interested I 
became in her. As for the papers not making ado enough 
over the girls and their leaving the farm, I hope it will 
be long before there will be so general an exodus of farm¬ 
ers’ daughters as to cause universal regret and an Inquiry 
after remedies. In the farm house where no daughters 
are, the social side of life is so apt to become stagnant and 
dreary as the years go by. Farm life seems particularly 
to need a gentle hand and dainty touch to lend a little 
grace and prettiness to its workaday aspect. First to open 
the parlor windows every morning and keep the shutters 
just right; to put a handful of fresh flowers on the table 
and a heap of bright pillows under the maple tree by the 
door; to have young people coming and going ; a sound 
of croquet balls in the front yard ; and some one singing, 
some one running about, or going to the post office, or 
bringing in news of the doings of the neighborhood ; all 
such small things, but how “Father” and “Mother” 
would miss them if all the Melindas were away realizing 
dreams of “an independent life.” I know “Father’s” 
way of going soberly about the place and in and out at 
the back door, and never seeming to notice the laughter 
and fun ; but I can guess what helps him to be always so 
patiently content, why he carries so cheerfull »> his load of 
work and care, and from his heart returns thanks for home 
and love and good cheer. 
If Melinda must go away—and often It is the very best 
thing she can do—I beg her not to fail of sending, every 
week, a long, chatty letter, as bright and entertaining a 
letter as she can write, to gladden the household made the 
poorer by her absence. 
Our Economy Column. 
T HE old maxim. “Economy is Wealth,” has not 
proved literally true in my case. Necessity for 
economy still exists; but that I do feel rich when especially 
successful in making something of value out of what is 
apparently valueless, is a fact. 
If I buy calico for a dress, it is a good fabric, and there 
is enough of it to make an extra pair of sleeves and for re¬ 
pairs so that with little labor it can be made to do the ser¬ 
vice of two dresses of poorer quality. I do not choose to 
make two dresses where one will do as well. And so with 
housefurnishings. Parsimony is not economy in my own 
view, and therefore I do not deny myself the good things 
that God has put me in a way to earn and enjoy. Still I 
believe our household is maintained as cheaply as the 
generality of households of its size and circumstances. If 
it is not, if we do spend more money than some others, it 
is not a matter of regret, because we have the present gain 
of a (to us) pleasant, attractive home, one that ought to 
help us to become good, intelligent and useful people. If 
it has that result, we shall think we have been truly, 
wisely economical. m e. b. 
* * # 
AN old fashioned kitchen seems planned for the purpose 
of giving the “ gude wife” exercise. But no matter how 
rude the work table is, a drawer can generally be put in 
it with compartments for holding scouring-brlck, silver- 
polish and chamois skin, soap and other cleansers, a tooth 
brush for cleaning around cup and pitcher handles and 
rough surfaces, and a small sandstone which helps to 
smoothen kettles when anything adheres too hard for the 
chain dish cloth to remove. This last is hung very near 
the sink or stove, where are also hooks or nails for lid- 
lifter, water dipper, broom or whisk, small shovel, poker and 
holders for lifting hot kettles or pans. Near by is a drawer 
for tea towels and dish cloths, those in use having hooks 
on purpose for them when the weather is unfit to hang 
them on a line outside the door. 
In the evening before undressing baby, have night dress, 
blanket and diapers warm, and then be sure his feet are 
dry and warm, thus, perhaps, avoiding a midnight croup 
or later congestion and a doctor’s bill. 
Jugs and small-mouthed jars that are apt to mold in 
the cellar or catch bugs and spiders anywhere, if uncov¬ 
ered, and which get musty if tightly corked, may be kept 
nicely by tying thin muslin over the top and keeping in 
an airy loft or any upper room. 
Make dainty custards and omelets in spring only. With 
care and forethought we can live just as well by using 
each fruit and vegetable when plentiful and in season. 
One poor neighbor buys lamp oil at three cents per pint. 
Others join their forces and buy a barrel at one third that 
price, or seven or eight cents per gallon ; or five gallons at 
a rate slightly above this. 
While resting, or at odd times, I hunt up recipes, and 
watch the papers for those that will aid me In using up 
the fragments of food in ways so pleasing that it will be 
relished as fully as when first served ; also for designs for 
making over partly-worn garments for the little ones, first 
being sure they are worth it, or the time is worse than 
wasted. vesta leroy. 
* * * 
Always fold table-cloths in the ironed creases; they 
keep clean longer. Fold every day towels once while rins¬ 
ing ; when dry, fold again and press slightly with the 
hands instead of ironing. 
Make dish-cloths of partly worn towels and use plenti¬ 
fully ; there may be death in the dish cloth. Nail two 
large spools to the wall two inches apart, tack oil cloth 
above and hang the broom, brush end up. 
With care, we have few bread scraps ; none are wasted ; 
they are utilized in making “ Uncle Jacob’s” second hand 
dishes. (What has become of him and the post office 
club f) 
Milk gravies, made with all meats are economical and 
healthful. 
A pinch of soda to each half-dozen pies, improves the 
crust and lessens the amount of lard required. 
Orange and lemon vinegar, prepared from the peel, may 
take the place of essence. 
Flour, dredged in hot grease, where eggs are to be fried 
prevents popping; and in greased cake pans lessens stick¬ 
ing. 
Cook, pare, slice and evaporate large sweet potatoes; use 
small ones for pies, canning for winter use. 
When clearing the table, put scraps of butter in a cup 
for cooking purposes, and clean and fill fruit dishes, ready 
for the next meal. 
Use stove holders and hang them up by wire rings ; have 
a pincushion and nail box in the kitchen ; also wall-pock¬ 
ets for wrapping paper, strings and rolls of bandages, with 
“carron oil” for burns and varnish for cuts near by. 
Tie strings around defective fruit jars and use for dried 
corn. Buy cracked jars or crocks (they cost little) get the 
good man to hoop them, fill with heated dried fruits, and 
tie thick paper over, thereby defying worms. A large one, 
greased, is nice for raising bread; a 10 gallon one with 
wooden cover, keeps baked bread moist; it should be 
washed and aired on baking days. 
We can beef and the pork scraps and have fresh for sum¬ 
mer ; more work now is overbalanced by less then, espec¬ 
ially in unlooked for emergencies ; and Instead of remain¬ 
ing at home from church to cook dinner, we open a can of 
beef, slice and use it cold ; this, with pie, pudding and 
fruits, stewed and raw, makes a meal we enjoy, while the 
Sabbath is not so broken. I cannot conscientiously go to 
church leaving my hired girl In the kitchen over a hot 
stove to get a warm dinner ; has not she a soul to save as 
well as myself ? Give your helper an opportunity to attend 
Sunday service and to rest, and she will do better work 
through the week. 
Teach children not to “ piece” between meals; to them, 
bread alone is not enticing, unless hungry, but delicious 
then. 
Scale fish with a five cent curry comb. Silk roasting 
ears with a 25 cent fiber horse brush. 8. D. s. 
GERALDINE’S GUESTS. 
Comments of the Sterner Sex. 
W HILE the author of “ Guests as They Come to Us,” 
may have slightly overdrawn the facts to make a 
point, my own observation and experience confirm me in 
the belief that she is not far wrong. There are people in 
the world with such an imperfect sense of the rights of 
others, not to say anything of their lack of common 
decency, that they become unmitigated nuisances wher¬ 
ever they may chance to beato w their unwelcome company. 
But the question arises: How much is one obliged to en¬ 
dure from such undesirable visitors ? The claims of rela¬ 
tionship, old acquaintance, etc., may be urged, but I am 
strongly of the opinion that charity begins at home and 
that one is justified in protecting one’s self and one’s fam¬ 
ily from such imposition. 
And the Jeremiah whom Geraldine pictures as such a 
conscientious, gallant man, shows such a chivalrous cour¬ 
tesy to the disturbers of his domestic peace and quiet that 
one would be almost tempted to believe that incipient pin¬ 
ions might be discovered were it not for the needless cruel¬ 
ties to which he permitted his dear ones to be subjected. 
No wonder he said hard words to himself—he ought to 
have said them about himself; perhaps he did. Any man 
who would permit such a contemptible guest to deprive his 
overworked wife of the refreshing ride she so much needed, 
ought to have some one say some very hard things to him. 
Ugh I It makes my blood boll to think of such cool pre¬ 
sumption. Had I been in his place my wife would have 
had her ride in that new buggy though the heavens might 
fall. But Jeremiah was partially punished at least when 
he was sent to borrow a feather bed for the next terror, the 
fussy visitor. He showed strong gsod sense, too, in his 
suggestion that such paople should carry an apothecary’s 
shop with them. 
