MINTWOOD’S CONVERSAZIONE. 
Dyeing, Boy’s Costume, Etc.—Mrs. T. 
fcf., wishes to know if a light brown empress 
clot h can bo colored a dark wine, and if the 
brown must be extracted before coloring; 
and how to dress a little boy, three years old, 
in pants or dresses? Directions for color¬ 
ing accompauy dye packages. The color of 
the goods is usually extracted, I believe, be¬ 
fore boiug dyed a different color. Keep 
your boy in dresses another year. 
About Drawing.—“A Grateful Subscri¬ 
ber writes as follows:—“Can you inform 
me respecting the best instruction book for 
landscape and perspective drawing, or could 
you give in the Rural New-Yorker a few 
lessons upon perspective drawing? Al¬ 
though a farmer's wife I have a class of 
misses in drawing and have found the Ru¬ 
ral New-Yorker a nice copy book for 
simple subjects, and which will answer for 
several weeks yet.” 
There arc a dozen or more works upon 
Perspective Drawing, nil of which, perhaps, 
are equally good and equally bad, and none 
of which t he Rural can recommend over 
another. Your bookseller will probably 
oblige you by allowing yen to examine such 
as he may have on bis shelves. There is an 
English work, “ Burchett's Linear Per¬ 
spective,” which is very highly recommend¬ 
ed, at least by English artists. It may be 
had at this office by remitting $3.50. Draw¬ 
ing is uu art every child should study, and 
ought, to be a feature of all public schools. 
But the manner in which it is commonly 
taught in the country, both in schools and 
private classes, is false from the outset. A 
child may make drawings from copies, and 
continue to do so until gray, and never be¬ 
come an artist. Instead of giving your girls 
something to copy, place before them actual 
objects, beginning wit h the simplest forms 
lirst, sucll as a cube, a cylinder, cone, hex¬ 
agon, vase, hook, bottle, leaf or flower. If 
the}' succeed in making a correct represen¬ 
tation of a cube after a week’s trial, they 
are worthy of encouragement, and may 
proceed to draw the succeeding objects 
mentioned, varying their position as the 
pupil’s capabilities develop, it requires a 
disciplined pencil to draw well even so com¬ 
mon and simple a thing as a chair. 
Traveling Toilet.—VYe. give (see page 85) 
an illustration of a beautiful traveling suit. 
Dress of maroon colored woolen tissue. The 
skirt trimmed with two gathered flounces, 
headed with a deep trimming composed of a 
largo gathered ruche. .Second skirt very 
short; in front, forming a puff' at the back, 
and raised on each side by a gathered ruche. 
Bodice with waistcoat in front and postil¬ 
lion jacket at the back. White cloth paletot, 
trimmed with black velvet., with braid, and 
with a mixed black and white fringe. Blue 
velvet hut, with feather thrown over the 
back, and falling at the side. 
ART OF SHAVING. 
As men continue to 6huve and to bo 
shaved (a practice which some regard as 
unnatural and uudesirablo) we transfer to 
our columns the following brief essay upon 
shaving which is from the pen of so celebra¬ 
ted an authority as Mr. Mechi : 
“ Never fail to well wash your beard with 
soap and water and to rub it dry, immedi¬ 
ately before you apply the lather, of which 
the more you use, and the thicker it is, the 
easier you will shave. 
“Never use warm water, which makes a 
tender face. In cold weather place your 
closed razor In your pocket or under your 
arm to warm it. The moment you leave 
your bed (or bath) is the best time to shave. 
“ Always wipe your razor clean, and strop 
it before putting it away; and always put 
your shaving-brush away with the lather 
on it. 
“ The razor (being only a very fine saw,) 
should be moved in a sloping or sawing 
direction, and held nearly Hat to your face, 
care being taken to draw the skiu as tight as 
possible with the left hand, so as to present, 
an even surface, and to throw out the beard. 
“The practice of pressing on the edge of a 
razor in stropping it soon rounds it; the 
pressure should be directed to the back, 
which should never bo raised from the strop. 
If you shave from heel to point of the razor, 
strop it from point to heel; but if you begin 
with the point in shaving, then strop it from 
heel to point. 
“If you only once put away your razor 
without stropping it. or otherwise perfectly 
cleaning the, edgo, you must no longer ex¬ 
pect to shave well and easy, the soap and 
dantoso soon rust the fine teeth and edge. 
“ A piece of soft plate-leather should al¬ 
ways bo kept with razors, to wipe them 
with.’’ 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-fOBKIB. 
ODDS AND ENDS. 
Footstool with Hot-Water Tin.—On 
page 85 we give two illustrations of this 
comfort-giving device. The framework of 
the stool is of polished wood, and so ar¬ 
ranged as to contain a hot-water tin, the 
movable top being stuffed and coveted with 
woolen rep. Over this is fastened an orna¬ 
mental cover of dark brown cloth, embroid¬ 
ered in applique, lilted with fur. or kitted 
pieces of cloth to imitate fttf, dud trimmed 
with brown fur. The top of the stool is also 
edged with fur. 
Good Biscuits.—I herewith send you a 
recipe for making good biscuits, in answer 
to a “ Young Housewife,” in RuralNew- 
Yorker of Dec. 30, such as graced our table 
on New' Year’s day, and are fit to grace the 
table of a queen:—Three pints of the best, 
wheat flour; one pint of cream (sweet or 
sour); ouc pint sweet milk; ono teaspoon 
salt; oue teaspoon soda; two of cream tar¬ 
tar ; mix very soft, and bake in a quick 
oven. 1 kuow nothing about “ litviN Broth¬ 
ers’ Yeast Cakes.” 1 have excellent bread 
from Twin Brothers’ Yeast Cakes. One 
cake will make two loaves; set the sponge 
with water at night; in the morning mix 
with warm, sweet milk, set to rise, mold 
in loaves, let. rise again, and hake.— Mrs. H. 
8. OttMkW, .V. 
Pudding Items, — To prevent pudding 
boiled in a cloth from sticking to the bot¬ 
tom of the pot, put a plate or saucer in the 
bottom. All boiled puddings should be 
plunged in boiling water. To serve a boiled 
pudding at once, plunge it into cold water 
very quickly, when the bag will slip off 
easily. 
Pudding-eating is an English custom, and 
although bountifully indulged in there, 
where the atmosphere is heavy, should ho 
very sparingly Indulged in here, where the 
atmosphere is light and clear. Manual la¬ 
borers, who toil in the open air, can eat 
heavy puddings with impunity, when in¬ 
door workers would find difficulty in digest¬ 
ing them. 
When to Use Certain V ego tables and 
Sauces.—Potatoes are good with all meats. 
With fowls they should be mashed. Car¬ 
rots, parsnips, turnips, greens, and cabbage 
are eaten with boiled meats. Beets, peas, 
and beans are appropriate with either 
boiled or roasted meats. Mashed turnip is 
good with roast pork. Tomatoes are good 
with every kind of moat, but especially with 
roast. Apple sauce with roast pork. Cran¬ 
berry or currant sauce with beef, fowls, 
veal and hum. Currant jelly is used by 
many persons with roast mutton. Pickles 
aro good with all roast meats, and capers or 
nasturtiums with boiled lamb or mutton. 
Horseradish and lemons are excellcut with 
veal. 
LITERARY ITEMS. 
Beauregard is writing notes ou Pollard's 
“Lost Cause.” 
M. D. Landon will write a. biography of 
Artemus Ward. 
A son of Nathaniel Ha wthorne is eugaged 
writing a long story. 
Justin McCarthy sketches John Ruskin 
in the February Galaxy. 
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore has retired 
from the Woman's Journal. 
Tiie Fisk-Mum field love letters have been 
added to current literature. 
A larger ball is wanted for the Academy 
of Sciences at Peabody, Mass. 
Dr. Bellows’s memorial of the lute II. 
T. Tuckerntan is to be published. 
Tile new editfou of Newman Hall’s 
“ Come t.o Jesus ” is t he 1,554th. 
Mr. J. A. Cockerel is to become Editor- 
In-Chief of the Cincinnati Enquirer. 
The Overland Monthly lives and thrives, 
in spite of the loss of Mr. Bret Ttarto. 
Miss Tiiackeray has been at work sev¬ 
eral years on a novel culled “ (>ld Kensing¬ 
ton.” 
Alfred B. Street, the poet, has a clerk¬ 
ship in the Secretary of State’s office at 
Albnuy. 
Celia Thaxteh, who has published a 
volume of poems, is called “ The Poet, of 
t he Shoals.” 
Franklin's Birthday was observed in 
Concord, N. II., in this city, and in several 
places West. 
“The Life and Adventures of Brigham 
Young” has been brought, out at a Liver¬ 
pool theater. 
Theodore Parker wanted lecturers to 
be more generous of t houghts and more 
stingy of words. 
W ill M. Carleton has charge of the col¬ 
umns of the Detroit Weekly Tribune. lie 
is writing a series of farm sketches for it. 
STeu) publications. 
In the Fields lignin with Prof. Gray ! 
STANDARD 
Botanical Text Books, 
By ASA GRAY, M. D. Fisher Prof. Harvard University. 
MORE EXTENSIVELY IN USE THAN ALL 
OTHERS COMBINED. 
This justly e el etna led writs Of Text Hunks presents the 
latest, and most neenrnte Principles of 
lk>toideal Science. 
HOW PLANTS GROW. Tho most charming Ele¬ 
mentary Scion Mile Text I’.uok ever published. Fully 
Illustrated. Price, s I. i -j. 
THE HCHOOL AND FIELD Rook. The moat 
thorough, practical, mid Ijoat, adapted work for class 
use published. Recommended by the moat emi¬ 
nent Professors und Touchers in tiie country. Price, 
iS'J.AO. 
I.chmoum and Mniiunl.00 
Srrnoturnl lluinny. . 3 ,10 
Ulfend Terms offered for Introduction. Samples of 
any of the above, fur examination, will be forwarded 
by mail on receipt of price. 
Send for full Descriptive Circulars. 
IVISON, BLAKEMAN, TAYLOR & CO., 
138 & i io Grand Street, y. 
How the Chinese Cook Rice,—A stew 
pau with a close fitting cover is chosen. 
Over the top of the pan is placed a piece of 
white muslin, large enough to allow it to 
hang down in the pan, without touching 
the bottom. Into the sack so formed, place 
the rice; pour over it two cupsfullof water, 
and put ou the top of the stew-pan, so as to 
hold up the muslin bag inside, and fit it 
tight all around. Place the pau cm a slow 
fire, and the steam generated from the 
water will cook the rice. Each grain, it is 
stated, will come out of the boiler as dry and 
distinct as if just taken from the boiler. If 
the water boils away, before the rice .is 
done, more may be added. The cooking 
must be slow and moderate. 
“ We nre Inclined to believe that more downright 
good literature is crowded between the covers of 
THE GALAXY than any other American magazine 
can boast of .”—Chicago Times. 
“ There is not a dull page between its covers.”— New 
York Times. 
“ The variety of its contents, their solid worth, their 
brilliance and their great interest, mako up a general 
character of great excellence for every number.”— 
Post, Boston. 
The Leading Newspapers all Pronounce 
THE GALAXY 
THE BEST AND MOST ABLY EDITED 
AMEEIOAN MAGAZINE, 
A Very Nice Snow Custai'd.— To oue 
quart of milk take four eggs; set milk on 
the top of the stove, in a clean vessel; tbon 
separate the eggs; beat whites into a stiff 
froth; when the milk is Ecaldiug hot, slip 
the whites on top of the milk, turning them 
onoe gently, so that they will uot cook, theu 
lift them out aud dish; whip up the yolks 
with two tablespoonfuls of sugar; pour into 
the milk, stirring rapidly all the time it is 
scalding. The very moment it comes to the 
boiling poiut, lift it off—if it boils it will 
curdle. When it cools sufficiently, pour into 
a float dish, with any kind of flavoring; then 
put the froth on top, and it will be delicious. 
—Marion, Pittsfield, N. Y. 
To Color Red with Analine.—Take a 
double handful of wheat brail, pour somo 
scalding water over it and let it settle; pour 
it off and then rub in the analine and sim¬ 
mer it over the fire one hour; take it out 
aud dry it and then let it simmer one-half 
hour in urine. The color will not rub off.— 
Martha. 
Who would not give $4 for sucli a 
magazine tor a Year f 
SHELDON & COMPANY, 
New 'STorli. 
T he iie.st family periodicals. 
THE ATLANTIC! MONTH LV, $ I. 
OUR YOUNG FOLKS, 
EVERY SATURDAY, *5. 
Published by 
JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO.. 
RonI on. 
Yb'~ Send fur full Prospectus, and for Catalogue of 
Standard Works by lirst American und English 
a uthors. 
UHEli! SUM) FOR A Sl'ICUlMICiV. 
4 A full Catalogue of pur Standard, Miscellaneous 
and Illustrate.I Juvenile Rooks, or specimen num¬ 
bers of Oliver Optic's Magazine, sent by mall free. 
LEE A SHEPARD, Publishers, Huston, 
LEE, SHEPARD A DILLINGHAM, 
No. IN Gruen St., New Vorlc. 
where a complete stock or all publications may bo 
pdUnd, 
T JK EE SF.EDS, BOOKS, A". Sample packages 
of Mammoth Corn. White Norway Oats. Alsike 
Clover, and copies of the American Stock Journal, 
sent, free to all who send Stamps to pay postage. Ad¬ 
dress N R Royer A Co., Parkersburg. Chester Co., Pa. 
8? 
New Jpnblicrt lions. 
THE 
Winy flYBNIHG MAH 
Best Family Weekly 
in the World. 
$9.5o a Yoar. 
TO SUBSCRIBERS. 
On the Orst of January, 1872. the publication of a 
weekly edition of T1IB NEW YORK EVENING 
MAIL was begun under most encouraging auspices. 
It. has been a success from the start, because It pos¬ 
sesses peculiar features that make it especially desir¬ 
able us a newspaper for 
FAMILY READING. 
No other existing weekly contains such a varie¬ 
ty of 
Attractive and Original Corre¬ 
spondence 
from all parts of the world. Including letters from 
London by Justin McCarthy and F. W. Chesson; from 
Paris, by Francis S. Saltus; from Berlin, Vienna and 
Romo; from Washington, by Col. R. J. Hinton : from 
Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago und other places of im¬ 
portance. 
In Its 
LITERARY AND ART 
DEPA RTM ENTS 
it is stronger than any other family weekly. 
A FIRST-CLASS SERIAL STORY 
from advanced sheets furnished by the author of ' A 
House of Curds” from England. This will be one of 
the most interesting stories published during the year. 
It is entitled “ A Golden Sorrow.” 
Besides these features there will bo contributions 
from such writers as “ Howard Glyndou,” ” Sophie 
Sparkle, “Anchor,” and other well known corre¬ 
spondents of Thk daily Evening mail. 
There will also be a 
for the Ladies, and 
Ad Airicnltnral Department. 
REVIEWS of the events of the week—foreign 
and domestic, political and religious, artistic and 
literary, dramatic and musical, etc.—will be carefully 
prepared. 
VERY LIBERAL PREMIUMS 
are offered to subscribers, singly or in clubs. Each 
subscriber will receive ono of Prang's Chromes 
Worth Two Dollars, 
or four-fifths of the subscription. To clubs of five 
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and five WATER COLOR CHR0M08. worth $1G. 
To clubs of ten will be sent Chromos worth $32. 
Liberal Cash Premiums to Postmasters and others 
getting up Clubs. 
Supplied by all News Dealers through tiie American 
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DAILY EVENING MAIL 
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New York, 
