SPECIAL WORLD’S FAIR COMMITTEES. 
SOME OF THEIB HINDRANCES. 
AVING worked for some weeks past upon one of 
the World’s Fair committees for woman’s work, 
the writer has been enabled to see very clearly some of 
the difficulties which lie in the way of a thorough and 
fair exhibit. 
One’s constant impulse is to exclaim : “ Alas, that 
it should be the first; alas, that it should be the last 
(in our generation) Columbian Exposition ! ” For, 
utterly without experience in the special work which 
they have been called to do, doubtless every commit¬ 
tee has made mistakes—some of them vital ones. Yet, 
with no prospect of another similar opportunity be¬ 
fore them, woman’s work must suffer from these mis¬ 
takes, while the committees can have no chance to 
profit by the experience, and thus do better work in 
the future. 
One thing which may work mo6t unfairly in the 
comparison of what different States have done and 
can do seems inherent in the very nature of things : 
the different sizes of the States, and the different ways 
in which the committees have taken up their work, 
must have a great influence on the resultant showing. 
New York and New Jersey differ so greatly in size 
that they may illustrate the differences which size 
alone may make in the showing of any of the States. 
Near neighbors as they are, and both within the in¬ 
fluence of our great literary center, New York city, 
the coTparison will be reasonably fair, and, as the 
writer knows a very little about the fountain heads of 
the work in these two States, they may be used here 
for purposes af comparison. 
It lies directly on the surface so that any one may 
see, that the State of New York, having so large an 
area, must have an immense advantage over “ little 
Jersey,” simply from the fact that she has so large a 
field from which to draw. In literary work 'she has 
an especial advantage through having within her own 
borders the city which, in spite of Boston’s ancient 
prestige and present somewhat arrogant claims, is more 
and more coming to be regarded as the literary center 
of our country. One great difference that must appear 
between the exhibits of the two States in literary 
ways may be seen very readily from the lines of dis¬ 
crimination laid down. A general rule as to quality 
is a prime necessity for deciding what work can be 
accepted. New York, I believe, decided to accept only 
the work of professional writers—those who make a 
business of writing, and who receive payment for 
their work. New Jersey began her work upon the 
same lines, but soon found that the disinclination of 
many of her professionals to “ bother” with the mat¬ 
ter, and the close connection of many of them with 
the Empire State, would compress her available wcrk 
into very &mall compass. She therefore broadened 
her lines to take in all “creditable” work, whether 
professional or amateur. This, of course, can only 
mean that the general grade of the work of her women, 
as exhibited, is not likely to be so high as that of those 
States which have been able to insist on using only 
the published work of trained workers. 
Our English cousins have sometimes claimed for 
England that she can count by hundreds her men and 
women of culture who, did they but choose, could put 
forth work equal to that which any of her famous lit¬ 
erary professionals are showing. This is a safe claim, 
since in the nature of things it is impossible to dis¬ 
prove it. More modestly, possibly more truthfully, 
we may say that there may, no doubt, be occasional 
amateurs in literature in every State in our land who 
can do as good work as our professionals are doing ; 
but the general rule is that training counts more than 
all else. “ Genius is work’—work persisted in through 
many years of sun and shade, through discouragement 
and encouragement. 
Some of the difficulties encountered by the sub¬ 
committees may be illustrated by the experience of 
one of New Jersey’s county committees. A certain 
town named four women on this committee, mainly 
to act as collectors of the literary work of the com¬ 
munity. Two of them refused to serve on account of 
their having been born in New York State and of 
having already cast in their lot with the New York 
women. Their refusal was ignored, and, after much 
urging one of them met with a portion of the cen¬ 
tral committee to talk the matter over. 
“ But, my dear madam,” said the chairman of the 
committee, in considering the plea above noted, “sup¬ 
pose that every one born out of our State should in¬ 
sist upon going with her native State. Nearby New 
Jersey, at least, is but a lodging place for cosmopol¬ 
itan New York ; we should get no one. New Jersey 
certainly has a right to those who now dwell within 
her borders; no other distinction is feasible. Will 
New Jersey’s daughters scattered throughout the 
Union come home to her to make their exhibit? 
Manifestly it is impracticable. I myself, your chair¬ 
man, was born in New York, yet I feel that to New 
Jersey justly belong my services.” 
This logic was obviously unanswerable, and it was 
found upon inquiry that not only the two from the 
central committee, but every lady who had been ap¬ 
pointed in the above mentioned town were natives of 
New York State. This, of course, was purely acci¬ 
dental, yet it illustrates the point well. And this 
little difficulty in the make-up of the committee hin¬ 
dered its work inordinately, for when the question 
was finally settled, so brief was the time left for col¬ 
lecting manuscripts, old and new, that many refused 
to make an effort to do anything. 
The work of one of New York’s committees was 
hampered to some extent by the unfortunate wording 
of the circulars sent out. This circular asked for a 
list of those published articles which the writer re¬ 
ceiving it considered her best, and requested that she 
sign her name to each article.. To sign the name to 
each article when a mere list was furnished being im¬ 
possible, further correspondence became necessary in 
order to find out just what the committee desired. 
And again precious time was lost, and some grew dis¬ 
couraged and neglected to send work. 
But some committees encountered yet another snag. 
In those States where amateur work was accepted, 
there was little difficulty in securing manuscripts. 
But among those professional workers who had long 
passed the point where it could give them either 
pleasure or pride to see their names in print, yet who 
had not written books, a discouraging apathy was 
manifest. Why should they take the trouble, they 
argued, to contribute to a “ scrap book” which doubt¬ 
less not one in ten thousand of the thronging sight¬ 
seers would even know was on exhibition ? 
Thus it may be seen that the path even of minor 
committees on woman’s work has not been rose- 
strewn. Yet we may hope, for the sake of this, 
woman’s opportunity, that the work has been done 
with some degree of credit in every State. 
MYRA V. NORYS. 
EVAPORATED VEGETABLES. 
O we realize the possibilities of our evaporators? 
All fruits are now so perfectly evaporated, that 
we are almost fain to say they excel even the fresh 
fruits themselves, and by the free use of the evapora¬ 
tor, we can have the kindly help of our kitchen garden 
also the whole year around. 
In evaporating vegetables take them when in their 
prime, for as they are when evaporated, so they will 
be when served at table. 
Sweet corn is the most extensively and success¬ 
fully evaporated of all vegetables. The process con¬ 
sists of cutting the corn from the cob when just 
right for eating green, subjecting it to the bleaching 
process, then spreading it on the racks, and putting 
it into the evaporator; it will require about three 
hours to complete the drying, and then it is ready for 
use when wanted. Pack in strong paper bags, then 
there will be no danger from flies or moths. 
When wanted for cooking cover the desired quantity 
liberally with water, to soak overnight; it will then 
look like fresh, green corn. About an hour before 
dinner set it on the back of the stove, and let it heat 
slowly until boiling ; season like fresh corn. 
Winter squashes are also evaporated and when pre¬ 
pared for table can hardly be told from those just 
taken from the vines. Let them be cut in slices, 
peeled and seeded, then place them on the sieve or 
rack, (do not bleach) and put them into the evapora¬ 
tor. When dry, they will keep indefinitely, if stored 
in paper sacks, tied securely. When wanted, soak 
overnight, or boil in plenty of water; when soft, drain, 
mash and season, the same as when fresh. 
Pumpkins may be evaporated and are very nice. Cut 
into slices, peel and remove the seeds, then evaporate. 
Wh r n wanted for use, cook thoroughly, press through 
a colander, and use the same as fresh pumpkins. They 
are equally good. Evaporated pumpkins are prepared 
for market by grinding them into meal and putting 
this meal up in packages. 
Peas being good evaporated, let me nave a goodly 
quantity of these luscious vegetables Just when they 
are of the right size, gather them and evaporate. They 
should be placed upon the rack as soon as shelled, for 
they soon lose their natural sweetness when exposed 
to the air. To cook them, cover with water, soak until 
expanded to the full size, then boil until tender, sea¬ 
soning as preferred. 
Beans, when just ripe enough for shelled beans, 
shelled and dried in evaporators, are very nice. Cook 
he same as any beans. 
Tomatoes are evaporated to dryness with the skins 
on. Cook in the same condition ; and when soft, pass 
through a colander to remove skinsand aU hard pieces. 
Season as desired._ N. m. h. 
DOWN CELLAR. 
HAT, sweep your cellar with lime ? Well, I 
never, Mrs Grey! ” and the bright eyes of 
the little woman rounded with astrnishment and 
shone like stars in the semi-darkness of the cellar. 
“ Yes,” returned the lady addressed, “ I try to make 
it a rule to sweep my cellar thoroughly (under the 
benches and all, you know) with dry lime once a 
week, at least, during the spring and summer months. 
It prevents dampness and keeps it sweet, we think.” 
“ Yes,” assented the first speaker, “some one told 
me lime was good to prevent damp walls in the cellar, 
so, after I bad finished housecleaning this spring, Jack 
whitewashed the side walls thoroughly for me one 
rainy day, and I thought my cellar was going to be so 
nice; but in a little while the walls were all mildewed, 
and even pink-streaked, and the floor so wet and 
sticky, oh ! I had kept it so well aired, too.” 
“ How did you air it ? ” inquired Mrs. Grey. 
“ Why, I kept the back window open all the time, 
and even opened the door some days, but that let the 
flies in. They came in the window, too, but I put net¬ 
ting over it. Your cellar hasn’t a place open to-day 
for air, as far as I can see, and yet it is so dry and 
nice that it will give me the shivers to go down into 
my dreadful den again.” 
“ I’ll tell you how I manage my airing, if you like.” 
“ Oh, please,” (and the little woman’s eyes were 
even more eloquent that her words.) 
“ I first see that when the windows and doors are 
shut my cellar is comparatively air-tight; then I never 
open it for air until the cool of the night comes on, so 
that when I open the windows a cooler air comes in 
than the cellar air itself. If it’s a hot night, I even 
wait until morning, and then open and air for a little, 
taking care to close the windows and doors before 
the sun begins to heat the outside air, but on really 
cool, windy days I give my cellar all the air that will 
come in. I do not know,” she added, “ that I can ad¬ 
vise you to open the cellar at night at all during the 
muggy heat we shall have now for six weeks or two 
months ; for, let the evening be really cool, it often 
turns close again in the night. “ You see,” she added 
smilingly, “ I have watched this way of doing with my 
cellar for three years and-” 
“ I know,” interrupted the other, “ what is so easy 
for you now is going to be a task for me ; but it will 
be better than not trying at all, and can I come to you 
if I forget ? ” 
“ Surely you may, and you had better get a quantity 
of new, hard lime at once, (say a half hushel) and put 
it in your attic to air-slake ; it will do so very soon.” 
Her listener drew a long breath. 
“ I am going to try your way,” she said, “but my 
cellar has so many places for the air to get in.” 
“ Yes ; so did mine until Henry gave it a rainy day 
all to itself for repairs.” 
“ That is it; Jack is so busy and so tired, I haven’t 
the heart to ask him to do repairs at night. I’ll have to 
seize on a rainy day. But I’ll tell him all about it at 
dinner to-day so as to get him ready. I’m so glad I 
went down cellar with you, Mrs. Grey.” 
EMILY H. STEEDMAN. 
About the Competition. —Some of those whose young 
people have been writing the competition articles may 
wonder that no conditions were made as to age. It 
may be thought not quite fair that the work of the 
younger ones should compete on equal terms with 
those who have attained more nearly to maturity and 
thoughtfulness. But experience leads us to say that 
it is scarcely possible to handle a competition with 
absolute fairness to all who may wish to enter If the 
decision is made according to merit, considering the 
age of the writer, the temptation to falsify is placed be¬ 
fore the competitors; as is also the case if it is for¬ 
bidden to ask help from older friends. The fact that 
all were left free to ask help if they wished, made the 
competition reasonably fair to all, and we may say 
that there was a purpose in this; a hope that our 
young people might be led to consider ideas that had 
never before come to them, and that thus this compe¬ 
tition might influence their lives for good in the im¬ 
mediate future. In two weeks we hope to have in 
shape to publish, the best “ Eldest Daughter ” articles. 
The others the following week. 
When Baby was sick, we gave her Castoria, 
When she was a Child, she cried lor Castoria, 
When she became Miss, she clang to Castoria, 
When she had Children, she gave them Castoria. 
