Is the educated daughter a better daughter in the 
home life ? What is the object in the education ? We 
would like the parents’ views and also the daughters’ 
on these questions, based on theory and facts. 
? 2 ? 
“ So when a Rood man dies, 
For years beyond our ken 
The llRht he leaves behind him lies 
Upon the paths of men.” 
At the death of a great and good man, the news¬ 
papers present a review of his life ; for the people re¬ 
gard a public man as something of their own, and the 
interest taken in his personal affairs is not prompted 
by idle curiosity ; it comes from the kinship that love 
knits between those who may never have seen each 
others’ faces. Who among us does not feel the death 
. of President Carnot when we read of .him as a man ? 
Greatness is always forgotten in the presence of good¬ 
ness, the only enduring thing. The following is from 
Harper’s Bazar: 
Web there ever anything more pathetic than Madam Carnot’s letter, 
in the same paper that announced the marderof her husband, written 
the day before to the Mayor of Lyons ? “ Monsieur the Mayor,” It 
said, “you are a physician. I beg of you to watch a Utile over my 
husband, who came back from one of his last Journeys very much ex¬ 
hausted. Be so good as to see that he docs not walk too much, does 
not stand more than two hours at a time.” And so on, with a list of 
recommendations, BO that the anxious wife might shadow the hus¬ 
band, whose health had been delicate, even while he was away from 
her, with her devoted care. The few lines revealed so much of the* 
two characters In their simple words. The President, absolutely for¬ 
getful of self, entirely absorbed In duty; the wife, ever thinking for 
him, her life lost In his as his was In that of his country. 
^ S g 
The question as to whether mothers have more in¬ 
fluence over their daughters than those of past genera¬ 
tions is one of great importance. Our symposium this 
week contains opinions that conflict. We are opti¬ 
mistic on the woman question, and agree with those 
who believe that the mother’s influence is growing 
stronger. Woman’s relation to woman has been much 
criticised. There is a jealousy in many hearts which 
makes the criticism just. The spirit of rivalry is too 
often the judge in differences between mother and 
daughter as in other relations. The argument, “ that 
is what I did and had when I was a girl, and that is 
good enough for you,” does not proceed from a wise 
and loving mother, and will scarcely convince either 
a sensible or foolish daughter. That work has crowded 
the time for sympathy and confidence out of mothers’ 
hearts, is a point well made by M. V. P. Mrs. Gifford 
submitted the question to a W. C. T. U. gathering and 
gives us the concurrence of 20 women. This places 
t .e weight of opinion on the affirmative side. 
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER. 
ARE MOTHERS LOSING OR GAINING IN THEIR INFLUENCE ? 
Do mothers of to-day seem to have less Influence over and less hold 
on their daughters than the mothers of the past 7 Have you noticed 
a change In these relations 7 How do the mothers and daughters of 
the present time dllTer from those of a quarter of a century ago 7 
American Mothers Too Liberal. 
I would attribute the fact that mothers have less 
influence mainly to this cause : The mothers of half 
a century ago were mostly of foreign birth, and con¬ 
sequently, were stricter and more severe than mothers 
of the present. mrs. e. b. 
Outside Attractions Are Blamed. 
I have not given the subject much thought. In my 
own case, of two daughters, the elder left home early 
in life ; the younger is still with me, a comfort and 
companion. I hold an influence over her for good. I 
think, as a general thing, however, with so many 
towns and cities springing up, and so many business 
houses that employ girls or young women, that our 
daughters of to-day are led away, and in the glitter 
and show of city life, they are passing away from the 
influence and hold of their mothers, mrs r. a. w. 
Early Discipline Decides the Mother’s Influence. 
I have been pained to observe the unnatural rela¬ 
tions existing between mothers and daughters. It is 
a lamentable and widespread fact, not confined to 
country life, but as prevalent, if not more so, in the 
towns. In my day, mothers and daughters were com¬ 
panionable, confiding—mother first and her sanction. 
The daughter was light-hearted, happy. How sad the 
change; now mother is not consulted, her wishes 
neither obtain hearing nor carry weight. She is the 
last one to be informed of a joy or sorrow. Events 
and circumstances that vitally concern the interests 
and consequent well-being of the daughters, are con¬ 
fided to others—never to be carried to the mother. 
This complex state of affairs, has caused many 
moments of reflection. I can trace it only to the 
utter absence of early discipline ; besides, the age is 
fast—progressive—and woman’s advancement has kept 
pace ; but why it should culminate in this unhappy 
phase, is beyond my ken—it is the inevitable logic of 
events. The subject is a fruitful one and could be 
elaborated at length by an able mind, mrs w b r. 
How Mother Loses Her Influence. 
“ Yes ! I will go to Asbury Park with Joe ; mamma 
doesn’t want me to, but I do about what I please. 
She works all the time, indoors or outdoors, and 
she thinks that I should be happy working, too ; but 
I’m not, and I will have some fun.” These are the re¬ 
marks of a farmer’s daughter, showing the lack of 
influence of and sympathy for her mother. 
The farmer’s wife, with few exceptions, leads the 
busiest life a woman can. Her family is nearly always 
large, it is almost impossible to get good help, her 
field of labor is unlimited. The extra hired men come 
in the hottest weather, her “ city relations” visit her 
at that time, milk is most plentiful then and flies are 
most troublesome. She struggles with heroic courage 
to get her work done. She finds time for nothing but 
work. Her mind is occupied entirely with plans for 
her work. Work stares her in the face. She does all 
she can when she provides meals for the visitors ; all 
the pleasures of entertaning are left to her daugh¬ 
ters ; she has become so used to this state of affairs 
that she looks for nothing different. She imagines 
that she does her duty by her daughter when she 
sends her to school; when she arranges for her to 
visit her city friends ; when she gets her dresses. She 
has no time for sentiment. She has learned the lessons 
of life, but her rich experiences are forgotten and of 
no value to her daughter. Hence, Maud goes else¬ 
where with her confidences, and relies on some one 
who may be either helpful or harmful for advice. 
What wonder the mother has lost her influence ? 
Maud is not at fault; mothers must make the family 
Clothespin Japs. Fig. 124. 
harmony and sweetness of home relations come first, 
and work come second. They must keep ahead of 
their daughters; they must make themselves neces¬ 
sary ; they must inspire confidence ; they must re¬ 
member how important trivial things once seemed to 
them ; they must use the parlor as well as the kitchen. 
Mothers and daughters must be companions. No one 
should understand Maud’s desire for “some fun” ps 
her mother ; no one should as tenderly lead her over 
dangerous places; no one should be as sympathetic, 
as tender. Until a girl is married, she needs her 
mother. She is unsafe without her. m. v. p. 
Good Influences Gain by Culture. 
The experience and observation, which would amount 
to actual knowledge, of any one person, are necessarily 
very limited, and consequently of small value. I had 
a decided opinion as far as personal environments al¬ 
lowed, but I wished to have that opinion either con¬ 
troverted or affirmed. So I submitted the proposition 
at a W. C. T. U. gathering, where about 20 ladies, most 
of them mothers, were assembled, and every woman 
expressed a belief that there is more confidence, more 
familiarity, less reserve, and consequently a stronger 
influence and a firmer hold upon the daughter by the 
mother to-day, than when they were young. I was 
gratified at this unanimous expression of opinion, as 
it was entirely in accord with my own. It may be 
that we live in a favored locality ; that the influence 
of the Grange, more than 3,000 strong in this county, 
and the Chautauqua Assembly, with its mothers’ meet¬ 
ings and the opportunities 
which it affords for a 
broad, general culture, 
have favorably modified 
general conditions ; at 
least, that is what may 
justly be expected. 
Of course, these educat¬ 
ing influences come di¬ 
rectly to only a part of 
the mothers and daugh¬ 
ters ; but, like yeast, 
they cause a ferment 
which helps to leaven the 
whole mass. I believe daughters, as a rule, are more 
intelligently educated, both at home and at school; 
that more mothers make companions of their daugh¬ 
ters, teach them the sacred mysteries of their own 
being, and due regard for the laws of health. They 
can do this because they themselves better understand 
these things. Old and young mingle more together 
than formerly, in society, at parties and picnics, in 
church and missionary work, to the evident benefit of 
all. More of the world belongs to the girls of to-day; 
opportunities are multiplied, the outlook is broadened, 
and by just as much as there is enlarged freedom for 
development for any human being, by just so much is 
society the gainer ; for liberty, freedom and individu¬ 
ality, encircled by the golden rule of love, are essen¬ 
tials to the development of every human being. 
Chautauqua County, N. Y. eliza c. gifford. 
NEW USE FOR CLOTHESPINS. 
ROM the Household we get the following bright 
idea : “A most comical device, which is used for 
holding open the pages of a music book, may be made 
of two clothespins, enameled in a deep cream shade, 
which are dressed with Japanese sleeves, waist and 
crossed ribbon tying in a bow at the back. (See Fig. 
124.) Cut out with a penknife at the sides of 
the head something that will serve to look like ears, 
and then paint eyes, nose and mouth with an outline 
fringe of hair in front, and glue at the back a long 
pigtail made from strands of black linen thread 
braided. Mount the two clothespins on a thin ruler, 
which has been enameled with cream colored paint, 
and gild it with Chinese characters. Slip the pins 
over the top of a music book, one on each side, and 
you will find that the little .laps can make themselves 
of practical use. 
“All sorts of queer little figures are made up for 
the same purpose, and little old women dressed in 
caps and spectacles of bent wire, children in Kate 
Greenaway hats and wide neck frills, students in caps 
and gowns. Red Riding Hoods in red caps and hoods, 
are all shown. Only the upper part of the costume 
as far as the waist is made, the clothespin showing 
below this. It is an odd fancy, as ingenious as it is 
practical.” 
A HALF HOLIDAY. 
WO little girls sitting where the warm sunshine 
of early spring shone on the broad doorbtep, 
and the mother just inside busy with the week’s 
mending, one foot on baby’s cradle rocker. Through 
the half-open window this came to the mother’s ears: 
“Too bad I And I know the arbutus is just out 
beautiful, and it’s so nice up there; but mother never 
goes with us, does she, like other mothers does ? ” 
“I wonder why?” said the other voice. “Don’t 
you s’pose she ever remembers when she was a little 
girl ? ” 
“Yes, but it’s always sewing, or baby; and we want 
her, too, don’t we ? ” 
“ Don’t you think she would go this once ; only this 
time ? ” 
It must have been a shake of the head for answer, 
for there was only silence. The mother looked down 
at the crowded mending basket for a full minute, 
then through the window, through the bright spring 
sunshine to the woods beyond the long winding lane. 
In fancy, she saw the tiny pink flowers half hidden 
by green moss and brown leaves. 
Down into the basket went thimble, needle and 
half-mended garment; softly she crept to the window 
for a look at the faces below, and 10 minutes later 
was whispering to the astonished children, ‘' Come ! 
It’s just the day for a good run after the arbutus and 
moss,” checking the shout of joy and astonishment 
with, “ Hush ! don’t wake baby, for Bridget is to care 
for him, and we are sure he will be good if he sleeps.” 
Round the comer and through the bars into the lane, 
and how the little tongues did run, and did’nt they 
enjoy the happy time, one on either side of mother, 
Highest of all in Leavening Power.—Latest U. S. Gov’t Report 
ABSOLUTELY PURE 
