□ Now some woman comes forward with 
this explanation of man’s superiority, 
which g-ives the glory to woman : Man 
has become what he is solely by his 
efforts to win woman’s favor. Woman 
has chosen the best specimens of mas¬ 
culinity, and thus perpetuated the best. 
Woman at first was superior, but by this 
process of selection, she has perfected 
man. Isn’t it about time to let that 
question alone, whether it is settled or 
not ? It doesn’t concern us as individu¬ 
als, which sex is superior, because we 
all know that there is only a small pro¬ 
portion of “ best” in eHher sex, and, 
therefore, our individual excellence is 
not proved by the fact that we belong to 
the superior sex. Let’s cry quits, and 
discuss a more sensible subject. 
* 
Some of the subjects which we com¬ 
monly discuss are sensible enough, but 
the way we discuss them, is anything 
but sensible. We are not even serious 
when talking of most serious subjects. 
When the Chief Cook asked for advice on 
the subject of young people “keeping 
company,” she supposed that there would 
be enough good advice given to put at 
rest the perplexed minds. Ilut, no. 
There may have been a great deal said 
about it, but not having telephone con¬ 
nection with our readers, we are unable 
to record the wisdom that did not 
seek pen and ink for expression. Of 
course, you can joke the young folks, or 
maybe scold a little. Now have you no 
ideas on the subject that will be really 
helpful? Surely the fathers and mothers 
of The R. N.-Y. family are not the kind 
who merely criticise and command their 
children. Young folks will some day 
need to be masters of themselves and 
their actions, and by reasoning with 
them, we may guide them into the right 
way. _ 
WHAT SHALL OUR PLEASURES BE? 
I.ET THE LEISURE BE SPENT IN SOME 
RESTFUL, SENSIBLE WAY. 
W HILE riding across country this 
summer, I chanced to pass a very 
unpretentious farmhouse, where I saw a 
wonderful sight. On a line in the front 
yard, showing off grandly aga’nst green 
grass and fruit trees, were 15 handsome 
bed quilts, all apparently new and un¬ 
used, cut and pieced with great care and 
geometrical precision. There were 
cubes, hexagons, small triangles and 
larger ones, stars, crescents and chains, 
in bewildering numbers. Many of these 
pieces were not more than two or three 
inches across, and the amount of woman’s 
work that they represented when fin¬ 
ished, was dreadful to contemplate. 
“Why di-eadful,” you may ask, “ if the 
work was well done ? ” Because they 
were done by a farmer’s wife, who, of 
all women in the world, cannot afford to 
spend her time in cutting cloth into tiny 
bits for the purpose of sewing them to¬ 
gether again, when good, whole cloth 
will answer the same purpose, and very 
pretty quilts, indeed, may be made, after 
choosing attractive designs and color¬ 
ings, either by tying with a contrasting 
color of wool, or stitching in the sewing 
machine, which may be quickly done. 
An easier and better way, is to buy 
pretty, colored blankets and white woven 
quilts, which look new every time they 
are washed. 
Aly companion said that if that woman 
had only taken the time that she spent 
on those quilts, and, for each stitch 
taken, had written one word of her best 
thoughts to send out among her fellows, 
what an amount of good she might have 
done. While I thought that if she had 
no gift in that line, could she not have 
done some sewing for poor little mother¬ 
less children, who often look so ragged 
and uncomfortable ? 
The Necessity of Outings. 
As to the matter of outings, farmers’ 
wives are too likely to think that they 
biscuits were baked and a plump chicken to be cleared away. The well is also in 
roasted on the lower grate of the oven, the wood-house, and the water is brought 
while potatoes and squash occupied the by an easy-working pump. 
, . , , . ,, . . upper one. In a kettle on top of the Corner cupboards and corner closets 
cannot indulge in them. This is a wrong ^ ^ . • v, * 
1 ^ xy, ^ /i . oven, turnips were boiled, and water for are a great convenience, occupying but 
conclusion ; for the farmer’s wife needs ’ u- ’ 
... , 1 jr 1. coffee; then the coffeepot was put in 
diversion as much as any one. if she ’ ^ 
. , „ 1 i. 1 the place of the teakettle. The table 
may not purchase a fine outht, and take ^ 
, . A • 1 XT, i was spread with snowy linen, pretty 
an expensive car or steamboat ride, that ^ . 
, . 1 A china, silver and glass, gifts from the 
IS no reason why she should not have a ’ & > o 
. , , 1)1 • A! “ old home ” friends. The chicken, done 
rest and change. Blanning of course, . 
... 1 A to a turn, with a dish of rich, thickened 
must be done long beforehand, and per- ’ 
, • A 1 1 ^ gravy, baked potatoes, squash and turnip, 
haps a woman who is not half as com- & ? 'i 
^ _‘A-_,1 I_ 1__ A 
little room, but paying their cost in 
saving steps. 
Washing machines and wringers are 
really greater blessings than sewing ma¬ 
chines to the ordinary housekeeper. The 
to a turn, with a dish of rich, thickened next best thing is a good dishwasher, 
gravy, baked potatoes, squash and turnip, and is the one thing I covet. The ad- 
, , j A A 1 1 , 1 A flaky biscuits and Jersey butter formed vertisement of the Mary Jane dish- 
petent, engaged to take her place at , a • i t at. a>o 
t t, jT Ai 1 the substantial part of the dinner; cab- washer is somewhat misleading ; the $3 
home. Her family may not be nearly so ^ ... ... x , i-% xi 
, , 1 ... . . 1 A Ai bage chopped fine and seasoned with machine is not large enough for the 
comfortable while she IS away, but they e ii , tx • i i 
will appreciate her all the better when sugar, salt and vinegar, and just before ordinary farii 
she returns, and home will be all the ^ 
dearer for the rest from homely duties ^ delicious salad, size for pans a 
, 1 . ,A A- Coffee accompanied the dessert of pie, A loving apj 
I or d/ sjioi t X1.IU6. ^ Ai 
.. , , , A • -A cake, cheese and fruit. The friends pro- will lighten tl 
For pity s sake do not invite a woman ’ . a i. • 
. . . . , A I TA A nounced it a success, and all enjoyed the of machinery, 
to go to a picnic for a rest ! It may do > j ./ 
very well for the other members of the 
family, but for the busy housewife and 
machine is not large enough for the 
ordinary farmhouse. It is only calcu¬ 
lated for the table ware. The proper 
size for pans and pails, costs $5. 
A loving appreciation of our endeavors, 
will lighten the labor more than oceans 
MAY MAPLE. 
mother to prepare her family for such 
an outing, is generally much more tire¬ 
some than to stay at home and work. If 
all go together, let it be in as free a 
fashion as any man, with no care as to 
the refreshments at the end of the trip, 
and far enough away for a complete 
change of scenery and thought. Then 
picture outside the little house with its 
one stove, and that a base burner. 
Nebraska. mbs. fred. c. .Johnson. 
FOR SAVING STEPS. 
O N the grounds at our county fair 
were many pieces of machinery 
that help to lighten the labors of the 
«t- 
A PAIR OF OLD SHOOS ! From Life. Fig. 307. 
in her busiest hours or her leisure, let housekeeper on the farm ; but in a 
her be careful that her employment and 
her enjoyment tend to the uplifting and 
betterment of herself and others ; then 
her soul will continue to grow instead of 
secondary way, for they were all agri¬ 
cultural implements—all made to do work 
that without them would cost the house¬ 
keeper many hours’ cooking for nu- 
AN ARRAY OF APRONS. 
“ TVT OVV, Aunt Nell,” said Susie, a young 
JIN g-irl of 17, “ what shall I make 
for Christmas this year ? I’ve time and 
fingers, but not much money.” 
“ Why don’t you make aprons ? ” said 
Aunt Nell. “ They are always conven¬ 
ient to make, and prove acceptable 
gifts. Come look in my apron drawer 
and see my treasures ! This one is very 
useful,” picking up a blue and white 
gingham, “ and is particularly pretty 
because the cross stitch is worked in 
blue instead of white. The pattern of 
leaves is broad and not much work to 
make. It was sent me by a young niece 
in California, and was her first fancy 
sewing. Her mother thought that she 
could not teach her to sew, she was so 
aukward with her needle; but I think 
the trouble was that she did not begin 
to teach her when she was small.” 
‘ ‘ Some of the stitches are rather 
crooked. Auntie ! ” 
“ Yes, but it was a difficult task for 
her to make it, and I prize it on that 
account. ” 
“ What a pretty apron that is, made 
llCi OUUI VYlli LU Hiuw iiiouccxu. Kjx xxx<xxx y xxA/u.io v.,v.fv./xvxxx^ , , . i j j ‘x 
^ J ) X. . J AV With antique insertion and edge ; and it 
becominer dwarfed by petty surround- merous hired men, for weeks and months ... .. . . 
® j j ^ ^ . . cannot take more than a yard of cross¬ 
ings. CLARA T. SISSON. Over a broiling stove. But not one single , , ..-•An?) 
® barred muslin for it all.” 
- piece of machinery for women s work, ^ . . • . a 
... . ......n.r- . .. -x . “ The crocheting was sent me in a let- 
IN A PRAIR E HOME. was exhibited. ,, . . x. .. .... x 
IN A PRAIRIE HOME. 
A GOLDEN sunset threw its bright 
rays over the vast prairie. It was 
beautiful to look upon, but it foretold the 
coming of one of the wind storms that 
sweep with such relentless fury over 
these prairies, and it brought a sigh 
from the lone watcher at a window in 
a little house which tried to nestle among 
some scrubby Box elders and cotton 
woods. It was a dreary, home sickening 
picture, so bare and bleak, so level and 
monotonous. 
“ Oh ! I wish we could go back to the 
dear old hills and valleys, where there 
are brooks and springs and the trees— 
yes trees. These stunted, scrubby 
things are poor substitutes for the 
beautiful trees of the East. And I could 
have flowers once more, and all the fruit 
I wanted.” Thus thought little Mrs. 
Armstrong as she waited for the coming 
of her husband for supper. “ And it is 
almost Thanksgiving,” she mused. “ If 
we could only have a friend or two to 
dinner, how nice it would be ! But how 
could I cook a Thanksgiving dinner with¬ 
out a cooking stove,” and she looked at 
the beautiful base burner with oven, 
which did the cooking and baking for 
just “ us two ” all right. “ And it’s such 
a treasure ; it keeps us so comfortable. 
Wonder if I can’t manage some way. It 
won’t seem half so lonesome if some one 
is here.” 
And so the matter was talked over 
when husband came in. He encouraged 
the idea, as he knew to some extent the 
lonely feeling of his wife. Fruit cake 
and mince pies were baked some days 
before, and on Thanksgiving morning 
, f. , , , barred muslin for it all. 
piece of machinery for women s work, ^ . , • . a 
^ , „ _ , “ The crocheting was sent me in a let- 
was exhibited. x . x. • • ai. n wt a 
ter from another niece in the I ar West. 
The construction of farmhouses is the and I made the apron to fit the edge. I 
one great drawback to lessening labor for it better the more I use it.” 
Mrs. O planned a little conven- 
Oh, what a shame that the outline 
2 h in red is not a fad now ! Where 
ience in the cellar way, which she prizes stitch in red is not a fad now ! Where 
because it saves so much running up and did you get that pretty one ? It cannot 
down stairs at each meal. It is only a short, be new, yet it is scarcely worn at all,” 
broad shelf which comes far above the said" Susie, as she took up a. white apron 
lower step. She goes down cellar from worked in red, with a crocheted fan 
the farther end of the pantry. To the edging on the bottom. 
right, as one goes into the pantry from “ jjy you remember Cornelia, who 
the kitchen, is a small delivery window, worked for me four years ? The girl sat 
and just inside is the short, broad shelf, up in the cold when the rest of the family 
on which may be placed all the left- were asleep, and surprised me with it on 
overs from the table. When everything Christmas. It was a love gift, and I am 
is in place, the little window is closed, a always careful of it.” 
curtain drawm, and everything is where 
And is this a Christmas apron, too ?' 
it will be cool and free from dust and asked Susie, holding up a dainty bit of 
flies. sheer muslin. 
Mrs. H prizes her convenient wood- “That is my latest,” answered her 
box, which saves her much annoyance aunt; “ and I have measured it and 
and sweeping. The wood-house is at- studied it, for I intend to make one my- 
tached to the kitchen, and the stove sets self.” 
close to the partition. The box is kept 
Then tell me how to do it,” coaxed 
filled and a small door opens through the Susie. 
partition close to the stove, so that she “Take two yards of fine muslin or 
has only to open the door for wood, and linen lawn, something heavier than 
there are no tracks or wood scattering swiss, cut from one side, strings and 
Highest of all in Leavening Power.—Latest U. S. Gov’t Report 
Powder 
ABMLUTEEV PUBE 
