&fie  RURAL.  NEW-YORKER 
1547 
Our  Second  Agricultural  Fair 
The  day  I  had  set  to  attend  the  agri¬ 
cultural  fair  dawned  cold  and  rainy. 
For  a  time  I  gave  up  to  the  blues,  but 
at  last  my  better  half  said  it  was  break¬ 
ing  away  and  if  I  thought  I  could  stand 
the  trip  we  would  go  horseback.  So 
many  accidents  with  cars,  buggies,  etc., 
make  me  feel  safer  ou  a  good  gentle 
horse  anyway,  so  I  was  soon  ready  for 
the  trip.  Sure  enough  the  sun  came  out 
but  how  the  wind  did  blow!  Owing  to 
the  inclemency  of  the  weather  the  crowd 
was  not  so  large,  but  every  one  had  a 
good  chance  to  see.  The  fair  was  held 
inside  the  commodious  high  school  build¬ 
ing,  Sulphur  Springs  Camp  Ground,  Teun. 
One  room  was  well  warmed  for  mothers 
and  babies;  in  another  warm  lunches 
were  sold:  another  was  turned  over  to 
those  who  had  brought  their  own  lunch¬ 
es  from  home.  The  prize  for  the  best 
cake  was  won  by  a  12-year-old  girl,  and 
for  the  best  loaf  of  bread  by  one  of  last 
year’s  graduates.  If  mothers  have  ever 
objected  to  their  daughters  taking  a 
course  in  domestic  science,  they  should 
attend  one  of  their  exhibits,  test  their 
cookery,  examine  their  sewing,  etc.,  and 
I  think  they  will  quickly  withdraw  their 
opposition.  They  say  “everything  comes 
to  him  who  waits.”  We  have  waited  a 
long  time  for  the  country  schools  to  take 
up  these  preparatory  studies  which  are 
proving  so  beneficial  to  the  old  farmers 
as  well  as  those  coming  on. 
One  room  contained  agricultural  ex¬ 
hibits;  the  first  thing  that  struck  my  fancy 
was  a  cornstalk  21  feet  high  and  some 
peas  with  pods  26  inches  long.  Then 
tree  budding  and  grafting  was  shown  in 
all  the  different  phases  so  plainly  that  I 
think  T  can  bud  my  own  peach  trees  in 
the  future.  Next  were  the  fruits,  pota¬ 
toes,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  pumpkins,  etc. 
The  largest  pumpkin  weighed  187%  lbs., 
the  largest  squash  was  nearly  as  tall  as 
myself.  (There  are  very  few  I  have  to 
look  up  to.)  Next  was  the  domestic 
science  exhibit  with  a  sprinkling  of  the 
housewife’s  canning  arts. 
There  was  but  little  new  in  the  way 
of  canned  goods,  some  corn  canned  on 
the  cob,  looked  tempting  but  it  was 
fresh  done,  so  could  not  vouch  for  keep¬ 
ing  quality.  Next  was  the  fancy  Work 
department.  I  believe,  had  I  been  a 
judge,  I  would  have  been  more  lavish  of 
blue  ribbons.  Tatting  and  crocheting 
were  more  in  evidence  than  embroidery. 
One  prize  winner  was  a  white  under¬ 
skirt  with  tatted  edge  on  the  flounce,  and 
rings  set  in  the  flounce.  Some  laundry 
bags  of  linen-colored  crash  embroidered 
in  red,  green  and  yellow  were  so  simple 
I  waut  to  make  some,  as  well  as  some  1 
shoe  pockets  of  the  same  material. 
Next  I  was  in  the  room  where  the 
very  air  smelled  of  old  times.  The  first 
exhibit  on  the  list  was  an  old  log-cabin 
quilt,  the  material  merinoes,  alpaca  and 
such  like,  that  but  few  of  us  have  ever 
seen  only  in  the  way  of  keepsakes.  Next 
was  a  hand-knitted  coverlet  over  100 
years  old,  then  several  colored  home- 
woven  coverlets,  from  75  to  125  years 
old.  Several  old  quilts  wore  on  exhibit ; 
one  an  ocean  wave,  another  the  “last 
rose  in  the  wilderness,”  double  Irish 
chains,  etc.  Hut  what  completely  fascin¬ 
ated  me  was  an  old  white  gown  made  by 
hand,  over  SO  years  ago,  the  small  tucks 
run  by  hand  and  the  little  rings  not 
larger  than  a  big-headed  pin  were  proof 
that  some  one  was  a  patient  worker 
with  needle  and  tatting  shuttle.  Then 
the  counter  holding  the  old-time  candle 
molds,  candlesticks,  candle  nippers, 
grease  lamps,  old-fashioned  tin  lanterns 
to  hold  candles,  two-tinted  forks,  blue 
flowered  plates,  flax  hackles,  bone  han¬ 
dled  knives  75  and  100  years  old.  Did 
you  ever  see  one  of  those  old  grease 
lamps?  They  are  low-bowled,  with  a 
handle,  and  foundation  like  a  candle¬ 
stick  ;  there  is  a  lip  something  like  a 
cream  pitcher.  A  lid  ou  top  turns  back 
to  pour  in  the  grease  and  a  twisted  rag 
string  is  put  in  the  lip  down  to  grease; 
then  lighted.  An  elbow  of  wire  comes 
up  over  the  top;  it  works  on  a  kind  of 
a  pivot  and  is  used  to  push  the  wick  up 
as  it  burns  off.  How  would  you  like  to 
work  by  one  of  the  sputtering  things?  I 
have  seen  them  made  of  grease  in  a 
saucer,  but  1  had  never  seen  those  that 
were  built  for  the  purpose  before.  All 
these  were  interesting,  and  kept  me  there 
so  long  I  had  but  little  time  for  the  poul¬ 
try,  stock,  fancy  riding  and  driving  con¬ 
tests,  and  although  weary  and  cold  when 
I  reached  home  and  found  a  clamorous 
crew  calling  “Hurry  and  get  supper 
mamma,”  I  counted  the  day  well  spent. 
MBS.  D.  b.  p. 
Saffron  Cake  and  Black  Puddings 
We  have  been  asked  for  two  English 
recipes  that,  so  far,  we  have  been  unable 
to  secure ;  one  is  saffron  cake,  the  other 
Bury  black  puddings,  as  made  in  Lan¬ 
cashire.  We  should  like  to  hear  from 
read ei-s  who  are  able  to  send  these  recipes. 
Saffron  cake  is  an  old  Cornish  dainty,  ap¬ 
parently  unknown  here;  the  black  pud¬ 
dings  are,  we  imagine,  a  species  of  blood 
sausage. 
Rye  Muffins 
Rye  bread  used  to  be  the  staple  with 
farmers  in  Northern  New  Jersey,  and  no 
doubt  in  other  localities  where  rye  was 
a  leading  crop.  It  was  wholesome  and 
nourishing,  but  needed  care  in  the  mak¬ 
ing,  as  the  dough  is  sticky,  and  rather 
troublesome  to  make  up.  The  follow¬ 
ing  recipe  for  rye  muffins  comes  to  us 
highly  recommended,  and  will  no  doubt 
be  especially  appreciated  by  those  try¬ 
ing  to  use  home-grown  rye:  Sift  togeth¬ 
er  one  cup  of  ryemeal,  one  cup  of  entire 
wheat  flour,  four  level  teaspoonfuls  of 
baking  powder,  half  a  teaspoonful  of 
salt,  and  one  fourth  a  cup  of  sugar.  Beat 
one  egg;  add  one  cup  of  rich  milk,  and 
stir  well  into  the  dry  ingredients  with 
three  level  tablespoonfuls  of  melted  but¬ 
ter.  Bake  iu  an  iron  muffin  pan  about 
25  minutes.  Heat  the  pan  upon  the  top 
of  the  range,  and  brush  over  thoroughly 
with  butter,  before  filling  with  the  bat¬ 
ter. 
Mr.  Edison9 s  Wonderful  New  Phonograph 
Sent  on  Free  Trial 
Order  NOW  for  Christmas!  ast»?ndj?g  offer— the  New 
nograph  with  the  new  Diamond  Stylus  reproducer,  and  twelve  brand  new  Diamond  Amberol 
Records  sent  to  you  on  absolutely  free  trial.  Send  no  money — just  fill  out  the  coupon  below 
tho  t0",S>at  T^11  y?u  the  complete  outfit  immediately.  Entertain  your  family  and  friends  with 
ComtavSvmT  Thel  ^you'choo^iendte' rtSSSStfSiteS  ^  ^  l° 
Send  No  Money 
Just  the  Coupon 
Only  $1=  Down 
AFTER 
TRIAL 
If  you  wish  to  keep  Mr.  Edison’s  superb 
new  instrument  after  the  free  trial,  send 
us  only  $1.00.  Pay  the  balance  of  $36  for 
the  complete  outfit  in  easy  payments  of  only  $3.50  a  month. 
Think  of  it— a  $1.00  payment,  and  a  few  dollars  a  month 
to  Pet  this  outfit  of  Mr.  EdLou's  new  phonograph  with  the  Diamond 
Stylus  reproducer,  the  Ine-likc  music— the  same  Diamond  Amberol 
Records— all  the  musical  results  of  the  highest  priced  outfits.  The 
the  br  *t  that  money  can  buy  at  very  much  less  than  the  price 
at  which  imitations  of  the  Genuine  New  Edison  aic  offered. 
After  years  of  labor  on  his  favorite  invention.  Mr. 
Edison  has  made  the  music  of  the  phonograph  true  to  life.  There  is 
no  reason,  now  — especially  since  we  make  this  rock-bottom  offer- 
why  you  should  be  satisfied  with  anything  less  than  Mr.  Edison’s 
genuine  instrument. 
Convince  yourself  first  at  our  expense. 
Get  the  New  Edison  in  your  home  on  free 
.1 
money  down,  no  C.  O.D.,  nothing  to  l 
keep  the  instrument.  Send  it  back  if  you  wish.  Or 
pay  only  only  $1.00  after  the  trial,  and  $3.50  a  month 
unUl  you  have  paid  $35.00.  Send  the  coupon  today. 
0  pay  unless  you 
;  if  yc 
F.  K.  Babson  EJiTS uSSSS™4 
8789  Edison  Block,  Chicago,  111. 
Canadian  Office  <  355  Portage  Are.,  Winnipeg,  Man. 
■■■■■■■■■■■■a  obligation  to  buy  in  sending^ tbis  coupon,  this  is  just  an  application  for  a  Free  Trial  ■■■■■■*■■■■■ 
F.  K.  BABSON,  Edison  Phonograph  Dists.,  8789  Edison  Block,  Chicago,  Ill. 
Dear  Mi%  Babson:  As  per  your  offer,  I  should  like  to  hear  Mr.  Edison’s  wonderful  new  style  phonograph  with  the 
new  Dtamond  Stylus  reproducer  in  my  own  home  on  free  trial.  Also  send  me  twelve  records.  If  I  decide  to  keep  the 
m  the  Privilegc  of  the  rock-bottom  price  of  $3b.0<>  direct  from  you  on  your  special  terms.  I  merely  agree  to  take  the  outfit  prompt- 
lit  mice  'it  vou^x«erv-e1CGthc  Sn<l  ’1*  thoroughly  satisfactory.  I  reserve  the  right  to  return  the  outfit 
at  onte  .it  your  expense.  Otherwise.  I  will  send  the  first  payment  of  $100  within  forty-eight  hours  alter  the  free  trial  or  as  soon  as  possible  in  no 
case  exceeding  one  week,  aud  wfil  IIiake  monthly  payments  thereafter  of  $3.50  for  10  months.  The  outfit  is  to  remain  your  property  until  the  la"  t 
payment  has  been  made. 
My  name _ 
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r 
How  long  a  resident  in  your  neighborhood  and  your  vicinity? — . . . . . If  there  is  any  possibility  of  changing 
your  address  during  the  next  year,  what  will  be  your  next  address? . . 
