1036 
Hhe  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
WOMAN  AND  HOME 
jl 
From  Day  to  Day 
The  Petrified  Fern 
In  n  valley  centuries  ago. 
Grew  a  little  fernleaf,  green  and 
slender. 
Veining  delicate  and  fibres  tender; 
Waving  when  the  wind  crept  down  so 
low ; 
Rushes  tall,  and  moss,  and  grass  grew 
round  it. 
Playful  sunbeams  darted  in  and  found 
‘  it. 
Drops  of  dew  stole  in  by  night  and 
crowned  it 
But  no  foot  of  man  e’er  trod  that  way ; 
Garth  was  young  and  keeping  holiday. 
Monster  fishes  swam  the  silent  main, 
Stately  forests  waved  their  giant 
branches. 
Mountains  hurled  their  snowy  nua- 
Innohes, 
Mammoth  creatures  stalked  across  the 
plain ; 
Nature  revelled  in  grand  mysteries ; 
Rut  the  little  fern  was  not  of  these 
Did  not  number  with  the  hills  and 
trees. 
Only  grew  and  waved  its  wild  sweet 
way, — 
No  one  came  to  note  it  day  by  day. 
Garth,  one  time,  put  on  a  frolic  mood, 
[leaved  the  rocks  and  changed  the 
mighty  motion. 
Of  the  deep,  strong  currents  of  the 
ocean  ; 
Moved  Ihe  plain  and  shook  the  haughty 
wood 
Crushed  the  little  fern  in  soft  moist 
clay. 
Covered  it  and  hid  it  safe  away. 
Oh.  the  long,  long  centuries  since  that 
day ! 
Oh  the  agony,  oh  life’s  hitter  cost 
Since  that  useless  little  fern  was  lost ! 
T'seless!  Lost..  There  came  a  thoughtful 
man 
Searching  Nature’s  secrets,  far  and 
deep  ; 
From  a  fissure  in  a  rocky  sToo. 
lie  withdrew  a  stone,  o’er  which  there  ran 
Fairy  pencil  lings,  a  quaint  design. 
Yeinings.  leafage,  fibres  clear  and  fine, 
And  the  fern’s  life  lay  in  every  line! 
So,  I  think.  God  hides  some  souls  away, 
Sweetly  to  surprise  ns  the  last  day. 
— Mary  Rolles  Branch. 
* 
The  following  recipe  for  beet  and 
horseradish  relish  is  given  in  the  souve¬ 
nir  volume,  “Best  Ways  to  Cook  Fresh 
Vegetables,”  issued  by  W.  Atlee  Burpee 
&  Co.  It  calls  for  one  quart  of  cooked 
beets,  one  cup  grated  horseradish,  one- 
half  cup  finely  chopped  onion,  one  cup 
vinegar,  one-fom-th  cup  brown  sugar,  two 
teaspoonfuls  salt,  one-eighth  teaspoonful 
pepper.  Wash  the  beets,  boil  till  tender, 
skin  and  chop  very  fine.  Add  the  other 
ingredients,  mix  and  put.  in  glass  jar.  It. 
will  keep  a  long  time,  and  is  very  nice 
with  cold  meat,  fish  or  oysters. 
* 
WHEN  a  tight  ring  becomes  fixed  upon 
the  finger  it  is  often  possible  to  remove 
it  by  rubbing  the  finger  well  with  soap 
and  cold  water,  so  that  the  ring  will  slip 
over  it.  If  this  plan  does  not  succeed, 
a  long  piece  of  fine  twine  or  strong  thread 
should  he  wound  round  and  round  the 
spirals  close,  together  beginning  at  the 
finger  tips,  and  working  towards  the  bot¬ 
tom.  The  end  of  the  thread  must  he 
slipped  under  the  ring,  with  the  aid  of  a 
blunt  needle,  and  the  thread  is  then  un¬ 
wound.  beginning  under  the  ring,  which 
carries  the  ring  off  with  the  untwisting. of 
the  spirals  of  thread.  Sometimes,  how¬ 
ever,  a  ring  is  so  closely  held  by  a  swol¬ 
len  finger  that  it.  must  Vie  cut  off  with 
pliers.  Ill  this  case  a  thin  bit  of  card- 
hoard  must  he  slipped  under  the  ring  to 
protect  the  finger  from  injury  while  the 
cutting  is  done. 
* 
Whatever  our  personal  attitude  on 
national  or  international  questions,  there 
is  one  thing  in  which  all  men  and  women 
may  well  unite,  and  that  is  in  working 
for  the  National  Red  Cross.  We  all 
know  the  noble  work  done  by  this  organ¬ 
ization.  not  merely  in  war.  but  in  fire, 
flood  and  famine,  and  every  conceivable 
public  calamity.  Just  now  a  strong  cam¬ 
paign  is  going  on  to  increase  Red  Cross 
membership  in  this  country,  for  we  are 
far  behind  some  other  nations,  notably 
Japan.  If  your  district  does  not  have  a 
chapter,  by  all  means  send  to  the  Na¬ 
tional  Red  Cross,'  Washington,  O.  C.,  for 
information,  and  see  if  you  cannot  or¬ 
ganize.  Anyone  may  join,  man  or 
woman,  the  dues  being  one  dollar  a  year. 
After  organizing  classes  may  bo  formed, 
if  desired,  for  instruction  in  first  aid  and 
emergency  nursing:  an  authorized  course, 
extending  over  a  few  weeks,  is  given  by 
a  local  physician  and  trained  nurse.  This 
nursing  course  is  not  obligatory,  hut  ap¬ 
plies  only  to  those  who  desire  to  form  a 
The  Rural  Patterns 
In  ordering  give  number  of  pat¬ 
tern  and  size  desired.  Price  of 
each  pattern  10  cents. 
9048 — Girl’s  Coat,  10  to  14  years. 
9003 — Girl’s  Four-Piece  Skirt,  S  to  14  years. 
To  lie  attached  to  Bodice  or  to  Belt. 
9069 — Girl's  Dress.  10  to  14  years.  V.'itk 
Gninipe  having  a  V-shaped  or  Bound  Neck,  Short 
or  Long  Sleeves,  Over-bodice  with  Square  or 
round  neck. 
9059 — Girl’s  Coat,  8  to  14  years. 
9051 — Girl’s  Dress.  8  to  14  years.  With  Short 
or  Long  Sleeves,  Low  or  High  Neck. 
9041 — Girl's  Blouse  or  Gui~.pe,  1  i  to  14  years. 
9039 — Girl's  Four-Piece  Skirt.,  10,  12  and  14 
years.  With  or  without  Suspenders. 
9072 — Combination  Undergarment  for  Misses 
and  Small  Women,  10  and'  18  years. 
8291 — Infant's  Set,  One  Size,  consisting  of 
Dress  and  Two  ivttieoats.  Dress  to  l>c  made 
with  Long  or  Shdrt  Sleeves. 
9057 — Corset  Cover,  One  Size.  With  Straight 
Edges. 
9049 — Closed  Drawers,  24  to  34  waist.  With 
Inverted  Plait  or  Gathers  at  Back. 
7964 — Infant's  Plain  Slip,  One  Size. 
9031 — Combination  Undergarment,  Small  34  or 
30.  Medium  3S  or  40,  Large  42  or  44  bust.  Con¬ 
sisting  ot  Corset  Cover  hud  pellieoal  that  cun 
be  made  with  C’irculur  or  Gathered  Flounce. 
class  for  such  study.  After  taking  this 
course  those  who  pass  examination  re¬ 
ceive  a  certificate  from  the  National  Red 
Cross,  and  are  listed  at  National  head¬ 
quarters — not  as  trained  nurses,  but  as 
hospital  aids,  who  may  he  called  upon 
when  need  arises.  Each  hospital  unit  is 
composed,  in  addition  to  doctors,  of  45 
trained  nurses,  *25  active  aids  and  *-'5 
reserve  aids.  The  instruction  given  in 
this  brief  nursing  course  should  form  part 
of  every  girl’s  education,  for  it  is  adapted 
to  the  practical  needs  of  everyday  life, 
and  it  would  be  especially  useful  to  a 
farmer's  wife  or  daughter.  We  should 
like  to  know  that  the  Red  Cross  is  ex¬ 
tending  its  work  in  country  districts.  It. 
will  not  only  bring  rural  people  in  closer 
touch  with  this  great  work,  but  it  would 
we  think  encourage  interest  in  the  estab¬ 
lishment  of  a  system  of  rural  commun¬ 
ity  trained  nurses,  who  are  as  much 
needed  in  many  localities  here,  as  the 
Plunkett  nurses  in  the  Australian  “back 
blocks.” 
Seen  in  New  York  Shops 
Folding  deck  chairs  with  foot  rest 
cost  $1.04  and  $2.  the  seat  being  of  heavy 
duck  in  green  stripes  or  khaki.  They  are 
strong  ami  comfortable,  and  can  be  low¬ 
ered  to  a  reclining  position. 
Sport  collars  of  silk  poplin,  trimmed 
with  a  striped  band,  are  50  cents; 
striped  ties  to  match,  and  hat  scarfs  to 
match,  are  each  50  cents.  Hat  scarfs  of 
dotted  pongee  and  striped  poplin  are  $1 
and  $1.50.  Hat  bands  of  Roman  silk 
ribbon  are  75  cents ;  of  knitted  silk,  strip¬ 
ed  or  bordered  and  finished  with  tassels, 
50  rents  and  $1  ;  of  silk  braid  with  floral 
embroidery,  $1.50.  These  are  intended 
for  trimming  sport  bats.  There  are  many 
handsome  ribbons,  woven  to  give  an  em¬ 
broidered  effect,  for  use  as  hatbands; 
some  have  raised  Moral  patterns  that  look 
like  chenille  embroidery. 
Among  new  feather  neckwear  we  see 
ostrich  capes,  made  of  row  upon  row  of 
uncurled  ostrich  feathers,  mounted  upon 
satin,  the  cape  being  tied,  surplice 
fashion,  with  tasseled  cords.  Such  a 
cape  was  seen  for  $12.05.  A  white  mara¬ 
bou  cape  with  rolling  collar  and  wide 
satin  ties  was  $8.05.  Boas  of  white  mar¬ 
abou.  in  animal  effects,  were  intended  to 
take  the  place  of  white  fox.  being  much 
lighter  in  weight ;  price,  $11.05.  Shoul¬ 
der  capes  of  natural  marabou  lined  with 
turquoise,  coral  or  white  satin,  are  fin¬ 
ished  with  cords  and  tassels;  handsome 
models  were  seen  for  $10.05.  $12.95  and 
$15. 
A  complete  layette  or  outfit  for  the 
new  baby  costs  from  $0.05  up  at  a  spe¬ 
cialty  shop,  which  also  furnishes  a1!  sorts 
of  specially  made  clothes  for  the  ex¬ 
pectant  mother. 
White  cotton  granite  cloth  is  a  strong, 
roughly  woven  fabric  rather  like  momie 
cloth  ;  it  is  used  for  children’s  dresses.  It 
is  seen  at  sales  as  low  as  eight  cents  a 
yard.  Ramie  weave  white  cotton  is  a 
cool  fabric  for  skirts  and  dresses  20 
inches  wide;  it  is  woven  to  imitate 
ramie  linen,  and  costs  23  cents  a  yard. 
White  cotton  hedford  cord,  44  inches 
wide,  cuts  to  advantage  for  separate 
skirts.  59  cents  a  yard.  White  cotton 
mercerized  poplin.  30  inches  wide,  is  ‘14 
cents  a  yard  it  is  much  used  for  nurses' 
uniforms. 
Drying  Corn 
Will  you  reprint  recipe  for  drving 
corn  in  the  oven?  c.  H.  m. 
A  correspondent  who  described  com¬ 
mercial  drying  of  conn  last  year  told  how 
it  is  prepared  for  family  use.  not  in  the 
oven,  but  in  a  rack  over  the  kitchen 
range.  The  corn  is  gathered  when  just 
ready  for  the  table  husked,  silk  removed, 
and  is  then  boiled  or  steamed  on  the  ear. 
It  is  then  cut  off  the  cob  and  put  in  the 
drier,  which  consists  of  a  wooden  frame, 
six  inches  deep,  of  a  size  to  fit  over  the 
top  of  stove.  Tinned  wire  netting,  of  a 
finer  mesh  than  mosquito  netting,  covers 
the  bottom  of  this  frame,  the  sides  being 
solid  wood.  This  frame  is  raised  au  inch 
or  two  above  the  top  of  the  stove,  so  that 
there  is,  a  free  circulation  of  warm  air 
under  it.  I’ut  the  corn  on  the  wire  net¬ 
ting,  an  inch  or  so  thick,  place  drying 
rack  on  top  of  stove,  raised  a  little  as  ad¬ 
vised.  Turn  Ihe  corn  from  time  to  time 
to  prevent  scorching,  and  continue  the 
process  until  all  moisture  is  evaporated, 
when  the  corn  may  be  put  away  in  paper 
bags  or  cereal  cartons.  Corn  is  also 
dried  o:  t  in  the  sun,  spread  out  on  a 
muslin  sheet  stretched  in  a  quilting 
frame,  and  covered  with  mosquito  net¬ 
ting.  The  corn  dries  quite  quickly,  as  the 
muslin  stretched  in  the  frame  allows  a 
July  20,  1016. 
free  circulation  of  air.  Then,  when  fully 
dry,  the  corn  is  put  in  a  hot  oven  for  a 
short  time,  so  that  it.  may  be  sterilized 
before  putting  away.  The  corn  is  cooked, 
as  described  above,  before  cutting  it  off 
the  cob  for  drying. 
More  About  Redbugs 
As  I  live  six  months  each  year  oil  my 
plantation  on  the  Fast  Coast  of  Florida 
I  have  had  a  good  many  interviews  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rcdbug;  have  tried  all  of 
the  Department  of  Agricultures’  cures, 
given  on  page  940,  except  iodine  and  col¬ 
lodion,  also  kerosene,  gasolene,  etc.,  and 
have  found  nothing  that  would  stop  the 
intolerable  itching  except  the  following 
liniment:  Take  one  ounce  oil  of  winter- 
green,  commercial  oil  (stronger  than  true 
and  cheaper),  mix  with  three  ounces 
olive  oil.  shake  well  and  apply.  I  have 
always  found  this  to  effect  an  instant 
cure,  anil  it  is  one  of  the  very  best  lini¬ 
ments  to  keep  around.  I  should  like 
your  correspondent  in  Texas  to  try  this. 
CIIAJtLES  EDASON. 
Two  Substitutes 
When  too  long  a  time  has  been  allowed 
to  intervene  between  successive  plant¬ 
ings  of  sweet  corn  and  you  find  that  of 
that  delectable  stand-by  of  the  Summer 
table,  your  stock  is  temporarily  exhaust¬ 
ed,  a  most  agreeable  substitute  may  be 
found  in  the  use  of  field  corn  if  it  is  in 
the  right  stage.  Of  course,  it  will  not 
take  the  place  of  sweet  corn  on  the  car, 
but  to  serve  stewed  or  in  corn  puddings 
and  succotash  we  even  prefer  it  to  sweet 
corn.  It  requires  longer  cooking,  and  be¬ 
cause  of  its  tendency  to  stick  we  had  con¬ 
siderable  difficulty  in  cooking  it  until  we 
hit  upon  the  following  method  :  Start  it 
cooking  in  the  upper  part  of  tin*  double 
boiler,  adding  water,  a  little  sugar  and 
other  seasoning  to  taste,  and  later  some 
milk.  When  it  begins  to  stick  too  much 
to  he  easily  scraped  from  the  bottom, 
place  it  over  the  under  part  of  the 
double  boiler,  and  a  few  minutes’  steam¬ 
ing  will  loosen  it..  Then  remove  the  un¬ 
der  part  and  cook  as  before,  and  so  on 
until  it  is  done.  This  process  is  not  as 
troublesome  as  it  sounds,  especially  if  one 
is  busy  about  the  kitchen  anyway,  and  it 
will  he  found  to  he  the  easiest  way  of 
cooking  thick  vegetable  soups,  also. 
Auother  •substitute  that  we  have  found 
very  satisfactory  is  that  of  Summer 
squash  for  egg-plant.  We  can  often  have 
the  former  when  we  cannot  have  the  lat¬ 
ter.  and  when  cut  in  half-inch  slices, 
dipped  in  egg  and  flour  or  egg  and  cracker 
crumbs  or  cornmeal.  and  fried,  wo  think 
it  is  almost  if  not  quite  ns  good  as  egg¬ 
plant.  The  vegetable  marrow  varieties 
of  squash  being  of  such  a  uniform  shape, 
are  convenient  for  using  in  this  way,  al¬ 
though  these  varieties  have  not  found 
favor  with  us  because  of  their  tendency 
to  demand  the  whole  of  the  garden  for 
themselves.  h.  n.  t. 
Colorado  Notes 
A  chapter  of  the  W.  C.  T.  IT.  has  re¬ 
cently  been  formed  here  at  the  little  coun¬ 
try  church  center.  They  held  the  first 
meeting  after  organizing  at  our  house. 
The  day  proved  a  pleasant  one,  but  living 
so  scattered  and  at  such  a  distance  all  did 
not  reach  here  before  12.30.  The  presi¬ 
dent  was  last ;  she  lives  nine  miles  away, 
although  we  can  see  her  house  on  the 
top  of  the  slope  to  the  south.  They  had 
prepared  for  a  feast,  and  such  it  proved, 
each  one  bringing  more  or  less;  roast 
chicken  and  dressing,  chicken  pie,  potato 
and  fruit  salads,  pickles,  preserves,  peas, 
canned  peaches,  pies,  cakes,  bread  and 
butter,  coffee,  etc.  We  had  a  very  social 
pleasant  dinnertime.  Their  rule,  after 
this,  is  to  have  three  furnish  the  lunch,  of 
no  more  than ‘three  tilings,  aside  from  the 
coffee.  After  the  dishes  were  washed  the 
meeting  was  held.  Colorado  is  a  dry 
State  by  the  vote  of  the  people,  but  that 
does  not  make  it  dry.  In  Our  own  neigh¬ 
borhood  whiskey  is  brought  in  and  drank 
by  young  as  well  as  older  men.  It  is 
smuggled  in  more  ways  than  one.  It  is 
not  an  encouraging  outlook. 
A  neighbor  woman  was  here  yesterday 
and  she  picked  up  a  copy  of  “New  York 
State  Farms  For  Sale  and  Rent."  which 
we  had  recently  received.  Tears  came  to 
her  eyes  as  she  read  and  looked  at  the 
