MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Damcstty (Bcouonur. 
TALKS TO HOUSEKEEPERS. 
BY BF.ECII WOOD. 
In housekeeping, more than in any other 
calling, systemization tends to render labor 
effectual, and its routine smooth and easy. 
To have a place for everything, and every- , ' 
thing in its place ; to have an order for every- | 
thing, and everything in its order; to have • 
a regular plan for the work of each day, and 
of each hour of the day; to have a hill of fare 
for each meal, and a set time for rising, work¬ 
ing, eating and resting, will save much blus¬ 
ter and worry, much expenditure of strength 
and patience, which, in this day of physical ( 
weakness and inability, is a great object to ' 
be obtained. There may be occasional or , 
many incidents to break in upon your regu- I 
lar order, but do not let every trivial circiim- | 
stance, as a call from a friend or a neighbor, | 
or an inclination to do something else than i 
the labor appointed, change the time or t he ] 
plan of your work. 
Next to systematizing labor is its manage¬ 
ment. Have your work, and the place there- i 
for, arranged as conveniently as possible; I 
have as many labor-saving machines as pos¬ 
sible. Do not be parsimonious in this matter; 
it is better to have your kitchen furnished 
well and conveniently, than to have costly 
carpets, pictures and mirrors in your parlor. 
One is to gratify pride, to please the eye and 
to call forth the praise of neighbors and visit¬ 
ors ; the other is for the saving of life, health 
and strength. Which is the more important, 
think you ! Never take two strips when one 
will do as well; never lifl fifty pounds when 
the lifting of ten will do just as well, and per¬ 
haps better in the end ; never do two hours’ 
work to accomplish the labor of one ; never 
do your hardest work in the latter part of 
the day ; do that which requires the greatest 
amount of mind and muscle in the morning, 
when you arc, or should be, fresh and vigor 
ous from your previous night’s rest, and per¬ 
forin your lighter tasks in the afternoon, 
when you are apt to begin to grow weary. 
IN PREPARE FOR COMPANY, 
look more to their comfort and entertain¬ 
ment than to your reputation as housekeep¬ 
ers. If they are true friends, or have much 
regard for you, they will rather have plain 
fare, and know that you are enjoying their 
society, than to fare sumptuously and be en¬ 
tertained in elaborate style, and know that 
you are anxious and worried and that their 
presence is a burden to you. if they are of 
that class who visit you merely for the sake 
of criticising or commenting upon your house¬ 
hold arrangements and manner of living, or 
for their own personal gratification, it were 
better that you should give them a short, cut, 
and not entertain them at all. * 
It lias always seemed to i ne that the social 
relations of civilized people, and especially of 
women, were strange inconsistencies. A 
woman, or a company of women, about to 
visit, a neighbor for an afternoon must send 
word a day or two beforehand, that there 
maybe previous cooking, bakingahd fussing, 
or be left alone in the parlor to entertain 
themselves as best they can, while the one 
with whom they intended to have a social 
chat is bustling about in the kitchen in a 
great heat and hurry to prepare 06 many and 
as rich and costly cakes and nicknacks for 
them as they could prepare for her ; not that 
she cares for such things herself—she would 
much rather have a little time for rest and 
sociability ; uot that she thinks her visit¬ 
ors have come for the purpo.se of getting 
something to eat (though there are many 
who, taking advantage of social customs, 
visit for that very purpose), but because it is 
a foolish, sinful practice among people, to see 
which can outdo the other in such matters. 
If word is received by a family that near and 
dear friends or relatives from a distance are 
about to visit them, instead of planning and 
arranging their work so as to have time for 
conversation and intellectual communion the 
whole household is thrown into a great worxy 
and excitement in regard to the furnishing 
and arranging of rooms, and to the quality, 
quantity and style of edibles that shall be 
put upon their table ; and instead of being in 
a pleasant, social mood to receive their guests 
when they arrive, perhaps after a tiresome 
journey, they are worn out with their exer¬ 
tions to make an outside show that, had they 
the. time, they have no disposition nor ability 
for social intercourse, ami the visit that was 
looked forward to with many anticipations 
of pleasure and profit, proves to be a sad dis¬ 
appointment to one party, and a burden and 
vexation to the other. 
1 do not wish to be understood as advocat¬ 
ing slackness or indifference in regard to 
these things : so far as is consistent with our 
duties and circumstances, we should attend 
to the personal wants and comforts of our 
guests ; but the concocting of rich articles of 
food, that were better never to be eaten, to 
the exclusion of pleasant cheer, the scrupu¬ 
lousness in regal'd to style in preparing and 
furnishing rooms, to the exclusion Of the 
home-feeling, for the sake of not being out¬ 
done by our neighbors, is altogether wrong, 
and productive of much evil. Besides the in¬ 
jury done our social natures, there is too apt 
to be, on such occasions, an overtaxing of the 
strength of housekeepers, wives and mothers. 
-■ - 
THE HOUSEWIFE. 
This useful and convenient article is repre¬ 
sented, both closed and open, in Fig3. 1 and 2. 
The outside may be of velvet moire, of any 
dark color ; or Panama canvas may be sub- 
luv/u. x uc'j uuu mug ill uomi, luuoo 
< igure . from the nock, with greut, square 
stitutod, worked in Russian embroidery with 1 pockets, and simply trimmed—often having 
silks of various colors. The size is 11 inches but silk rovers and buttons, or sometimes with 
long and 5 inches wide. It will be seen by tl wide velvet, or siLk, band up the front, or 
Pig. 1 that the end which turns over is sloped slightly double-breasted. The back is half 
atlesi Hint Dftmraers. 
SPRING WRAPS. 
Tmc polonaise is still the popular style of 
garment. There are so many reasons tocom- 
mend it to our favor that it will be difficult 
to supersede it, although we hear much of 
different styles of wraps. Of these a species 
of Dolman is a favorite fashion. It is made 
of cashmere, lined with silk, and trimmed 
with yak lace and passementerie, mixed with 
jot. In place of the sleeves used this winter, 
there are scarf or mantle ends ; this style is 
quite stately, is best worn by tall persons, 
and has altogether a more mature air t han 
the rather jaunty wraps which have pre¬ 
vailed of late. The original Dolman comes in 
light, spring cloths, embroidered and trimmed 
with fringe ; if made of cashmere, embroid¬ 
ered or trimmed with yak inserting and 
lane. The sack with cape is entirely 
out of fashion, as it was becoming to 
but few figures. 
The styles for the polonaise are va¬ 
ried. Borne modistes insist that there 
will he a return to the Princesso or 
Gabrielle style of tight-fitting gar¬ 
ments, and forms designed to give 
greater elegance to the figure are de¬ 
signed. Others claim that t he loose, 
square, coat-shaped polonaise will pre¬ 
vail, and it must be said that the hand¬ 
somest garments are of this descrip¬ 
tion. They are long in front, loose 
from the nock, with great, square 
pockets, and simply trimmed—often having 
but silk rovers anil buttons, or sometimes with 
a wide velvet, or silk, band up the front, or 
to a point, and fastened with a loop over u 
button, from which hang two tassels of the 
color of the lining and cord. Fig. 2 shows 
the arrangement of the inside. The lining is 
of blue, or any contrasting satin, over an in¬ 
ner silk lining to match ; is quilted at the 
end, and forma three pockets, in two of 
which various divisions are made for scissors, 
crochet needles, thimbles, &e. The pocket 
that occupies the. whole width at the eud is to 
hold cases for various numbers of cottons or 
colors of silks; also papers of needles and 
cards of buttons. The pointed end would 
be better with leaves of flannel or merino for 
loose needles, or otherwise the quilted satin 
will fray out. The edges are finished with a 
cord, or, if made of canvas, with narrow satin 
ribbon. 
- “ 
RANK FLAVOR IN MUTTON. 
Allow me to suggest that perhaps it is 
due neither to the wool nor the entrails, but 
possibly to the breed, management, and 
more particularly to the feed of the sheep. 
Mutton, particularly in the summer months, 
Fiul rk 2. 
is used extensively here as an article of food, 
and is free from rank flavor,though butch¬ 
ered in the usual way ; and it tastes no more 
like that of the East, than buffalo does like 
Short-horn beef. C. G. B. 
Cimarron, New Mexico. 
--- 
DOMESTIC BREVITIES. 
Good Biscuit .—One quart of flour, one 
tablespoonful baking powder, butter the size 
of a walnut; use water ; don't mix stiff; 
bake quick.— E. a. m. 
Ginger Cookies.—Om cup sugar, one of 
molasses, one. of butter, lard, or drippinas, 
one-half cup water, and one tablespoon soda, 
and one ginger. 
tight, with n seam down the middle and no 
side seams, belted in with a bow, and ends at * 
the side or back, and lightly draped. An- { 
other style, made of cashmere or a light vu- 1 
rScty of camels’ hair, designed especially for 
summer wear, has ribbon bows up the front, 
mingled with lace. The back is looped very 
high in the center, showing the dress-skirt 
elaborately trimmed in the back breadth. 
The sleeves are always coat shaped, with a 
large square cuff and buttons. 
Wo have mentioned materials for polonaise 
of camels’ hair and eaalumere. A new mate¬ 
rial is vieligne, a pale gray, the natural color 
of the wool; It comes a yard anda-half wide, 
and costs $d. For summer wear there is an 
other light material, very much like Turkish 
toweling, but It Is very thin. The ground is 
ecru, varied by stripes of solid colors, and 
will, doubtless, be very fashionable ; it is 
called Etruscan cloth. The plain ecru, with¬ 
out stripes, stylishly made and trimmed with 
black velvet bows, will be the most elegant. 
MATERIALS. 
For summer morning and promenade cos¬ 
tumes batiste retains popularity. There is 
plain batiste at 25 cents a yard ; striped with 
white, black and brown, '35 cents a yard, 
while liner bal is to is sold at a dollar. Em¬ 
broidered batiste costumes, which are quite 
expensive, are trimmed with a number of 
small rutiles, 1 udia wash silk is very beauti¬ 
ful for summer wear. It is light ecru in 
shade, will trim beautifully with color, or 
black velvet, and is very soft and beooming. 
Price, $1 a yard. 
Different kinds of linon are known as Tua- 
son cloth, with open stripes, 55 cents ; Havana 
cloth, 75 cents, and wash linen, 45 and 55 cts. 
Prettily made, nothing could be more suit¬ 
able for summer and traveling wea r. In cot¬ 
ton goods there is French unwashed cam¬ 
bric, a yard wide, with white ground, mot¬ 
tled in color, with deeper stripes at the edge 
for trimming ; it is 35 cts. French cambrics, 
in solid colors, are seen, but we do not think 
any but the blue will be worn. Blue lineu 
cambric and percale suits will tie more pop¬ 
ular and handsomely trimmed than ever. 
Other wash materials are generally striped, 
either in black or in faint shades. Decided 
colors arc very unfashionable ; the faintest 
tints prevail; these soften and refine the 
complexion, and may bo so effectually min¬ 
gled as to produce the most striking contrasts. 
These morning costumes should be made with 
a deep Spanish flounce on the under skirt, a 
loose-belted polonaise, wit h a large sailor col¬ 
lar and square pockets. Plain whites will he 
trimmed with embroideries and lace; piques, 
with embroideries. 
COSTUMES. 
A model for a black silk costume had the 
under skirt trimmed with two quillings, 
lined with blue silk ; there was no other 
trimming, and the lower row was six inches 
froip the bottom. The polonaise was faced 
for four inches, on the under side, with blue 
silk, and so draped as to reveal the silk up 
one side, and at intervals in other parts of 
the skirt ; a strap, caught by two buttons, 
marked the back where the fullness is gath- 
j ered in. The effect of the costume was very 
fine, but it is impossible to describe it at 
length. 
DINNER DRESSES. 
The corsage of dinner dresses should be 
square or surplice, with a high-standing frill 
of lace. The sleeves should be Marie Antoi¬ 
nette—that is, tight to the elbow, and fin¬ 
ished with a ruffle and lace. Vests of Cluna 
crape and Valenciennes, or muslin and lace, 
are often worn outside. Jet pelerines, which 
are small, sleeveless bodices, made entirely 
of jet fringe, arc very fashionable abroad. 
Demi train is all. that is necessary in length, 
and wo take occasion to remark that the 
best Eurasian dressmakers are making walk¬ 
ing costumes to clear the ground ; bo no one 
need be beguiled into thinking that the demi 
trains on Broadway bear the sanction of 
Fashion. 
HATS. 
We have nothing new to remark in the 
shape of bonnets and hats, but will say that 
blue is the color most used. Pale-blue facing 
the front In bows, and blue feathers, with 
lace and pale flowers, ore the most fashion¬ 
able. A novelty is double-faced ribbons—one 
side blue, the other black. 
Among the loveliest flowers are sprays of 
that old-fashioned pink flower, the Flowering 
Almond, which is a most perfect representa¬ 
tion, and mingles well with th/a blue. 
SUIT TOR BOYS. 
From a Berlin fashion paper we copy the 
engravings illustrating a suit for boys (front 
and back view) four to six years of age, to be 
found on page 20i>. It is made of blue cloth. 
It is recommended to cut the lining first to 
fit the child, and then from the patterns thus 
made cut the cloth for the suit. It may be 
trimmed as the fancy of the maker may sug¬ 
gest, the illustrations showing one mode. It 
is a very pretty style, we think. 
Industrial ^ocicftes. 
WHAT SOCIETIES ARE DOING. 
New Jersey State Board of Agriculture.—The 
first regular meeting of this new organization 
authorized bv the Legislature of the Stale of 
New Jersey,was held at the State House, Tren¬ 
ton, March 5. Governor Pakkjdk Is President of 
t.lia Board, and Prol'. Guo. II, Cook, Secretary. 
'Hie members of the Hoard arc ns follows: Three 
professors of the State Agricultural College, 
chosen by the faculty ; three from the Board of 
Visitors to the State Agricultural College and 
one member each from and chosen by the State 
and County Agricultural Societies. The Execu¬ 
tive Committee of the Board are selected by it. 
and are as follows: Win. M. Force, llenry K. 
Howe. Prof. Geo, Atherton mid 1‘. T. Quinn, 
with the President and Secretary. Tim object 
of i his organization Is to collect from practical 
sources Information relating to the Agriculture 
and Horticulture of the State in all their de¬ 
part meats, for publication ami distribution by 
the State. The Board holds three meetings 
during the year. One lu June at the State Ag¬ 
ricultural Farm at Now Brunswick, one in 
September, on the Statu Fail'Grounds at Wav- 
t, ly during the Fair, and one in March at. 'fron¬ 
ton, an a winter meeting. There arc uiib-com- 
mlt ires consisting of men informed on special¬ 
ties, from whom reports are annually expected. 
This Is a hopeful start, lor Now Jersey and indi- 
r:'!os Mint her agriculturists are progressive and 
wlde-nwnko. 
Buck* Cm, Penn.. Ag. Hoc. Officers elect for 
1KW: Pros. Mokes Kasthiiun of Bolebury. 
Vice Pus. John Buckfan, Lower-Makefield. 
lire. .See. Henry Darlington, Doylosbown. 
Cor. Sec. Robert [Costburn, Lowor-Makelield. 
Treoiti Joalah 11. Smith, Newtown. Maunders, 
.1 Paul Knight. Southampton : David Sattor- 
thwaite. Falls; Edmund S. Atkinson, Wrights- 
toivn; Wm. C. Blnckfan, Koleburv ; Oliver H. 
Holcomb, Newtown township; Robert K. Tom¬ 
linson and Samuel C. (/adwnllader, Vppcr-Make- 
Uold; Edward Taylor, Lnwer-Mitkolield ; Timo- 
Ihv Pickering and Isaac H. Hllburii, Newtown 
Borough. Oh as. <*- Knight, and David Me Null’, 
Northampton ; Jam. « YV. New hold and llenry 
r\ Parry, Middletown; L>. Wynkoop Me Nair, 
Buckingham. 
Western N. Y. Ag. itferli, Mid Driving I*arU 
Anh’ii. 'I'lds is the name of a new organization 
recently effected at Rochester, stock to the 
amount of over $100,000 having been subscribed. 
The officers elect are: Pis.idt nt —Gkokoe J. 
Whitney. I’\rst. Vice-President -Patrick Bar¬ 
ry. Second do., I 1 .. B. Parsons. sei'ieUvry — John 
K. G»rn-isee. Treasurer —Charles II. Chapin. 
[toned of liinutoth tiro. J. Whitney, Patrick 
Barry, P. M. Bromley, John It. Oarretsee, Jarvis 
Lord, D. It. Barton, M. F. Reynolds, B. I,. Shel¬ 
don, S. M. Spencer, C. F. Burrell, Janies Vick, 
N. B, Ellison, E. BIohs Parsons, O. W. Moore, 
Caleb H. Mason. 
St, I.<mi is International Industrial Ivx posi¬ 
tion. A company has been formed in St. Louis 
for the purpose of a permanent (we suppose a 
perpetual) exposition. Mr. Thomas Allen has 
been clmsen President. 
W abash t o. III. Vg. Roc.—Officer for 1773: 
President .Ikkkmiait Fox. Viev-Pn trident— Se¬ 
bastian Heller- Secretory—D. McCllntic. Trcas- 
iw-er— A. C. Edgar. Fair at Mt. Carmel, Sept. 
30 -Oct, 3. 
Green t o., Win., Ag. Sue.—Officers for 1873: 
J’res. T. II. Eaton. Ffcz-Dre#.—F. Mitchell. 
See. —W. W. Wright,Monroe, Two*.— W. Brown. 
I'ntronN of Husbandry lit Illinois.—It is as¬ 
serted that nearly 200 Granges of this Order have 
already been organized in Illinois. 
Vernon Co., Wt*., Ag. Hoc.—Officers for 1873: 
Pres. — F- K. Van WAdosiiu. Sec.— G. W. Au- 
S zum, Vlroqua, 
