tabs being as long as you please, ami of all 
shapes from square ends to those like the 
swallow tail of a gentleman’s dress coat. 
Rosettes are also used. 
Bnbv Bonnet* nml Clonks. 
A Mother, Elkhorn, Wis.—Baby bon¬ 
nets and cloaks are made mostly of white 
Thibet, or merino. The bonnets are genuine 
little bonnets, fitting snugly about the face, 
made of a piece something like the shape of 
a half circle, gathered on the round edge to 
fit about the neck, and with a full cape four 
or five inches deep. They are trimmed with 
rosettes of narrow satin lutestring, Valen 
ciennes lace, pipings of white satin; inch 
wide satin ribbon in loops and bows, and 
white fringe. Some are covered with silk 
slowly one-half hour. I think they are very 
nice done up in this way. 
Cheap Sponge Cake. 
One cup of white sugar, one egg, butter 
the size of a walnut; beat together; then 
take one cup of sweet milk, add one-half 
teaspoonfnl soda, two cups flour, one tea¬ 
spoonful of cream of tartar; flavor with 
anything you wish; mix well, and bake in 
pie pans twenty minutes.—B. i. s. 
cmttific ant> ffitsrfnl 
amtstit (Irenown 
anmrs 
USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC NOTES, 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 
CONDUCTED BY MABY A. E. WAGER, 
Gun Cor Balloon*. 
Procure a glass jar with a tight fitting 
Cover with a hole in the center, Fill two-, 
thirds full of strips of good new zinc; put in 
enough water to cover this; then pour in 
enough sulphuric acid to make the water 
boil. Fasten the balloon tightly around the 
top of the jar so the gas cannot escape while 
generating.— l. e. k. 
BY MINTWOOD. 
FEATHER BEDS 
AVaii-rproof Clonk*. 
Julie P. M.—From four and a-half to five 
yards waterproof cloth are required for a 
cloak with deep cape, sleeves and hood. 
The goods come in various colors—in navy 
blue, in green and black, in gold, and gray 
with black, in plaids, and best of all, in 
The Challenge Taken Up. 
I must give M. A. E. W. this credit: 
though she has not the knack of “ sweeten¬ 
ing bitter things,” she has an admirable tact 
in hardening soft things. She challenges 
any woman, “ghoul or human, Christian or 
heathen,” to rise up in defence of feather 
beds. I accept her challenge, and favor 
her with the information that I live in 
a Christian land, and am decidedly hu¬ 
man, which latter may account for my 
zeal in defending that. “ Nuisance.” 
In the first place I cannot help think¬ 
ing that if she had spent her girlhood 
on a farm among a dozen or more 
geese, and had been required four or 
five times during the year to allow 
herself to be bitten black and blue and 
green by the iudignant. ganders in pro¬ 
cess of picking, she would value feath¬ 
ers more highly. 
In the next place, if she could look 
upon that beautiful, snowy drift, with¬ 
out a desire to try the luxury of a 
feather bed, she must have a stronger 
will to resist temptation than did the 
son of green Erin, or green son of Erin 
(as you like it, sir,) who paid his land¬ 
lord a dollar to sleep in a feather bed, 
and obtained the worth of his money 
by ripping open that “ bag,” crawling 
in and finished his freak by scattering 
the contents about the room. Perhaps 
tluit would not be-so very pleasant, but 
I am glad the mode is not customary. 
Then to think ol going to bed after a 
hard day’s work, and spend an hour or 
two rooting around like pigs in a hay¬ 
stack, till you are tired enough to sleep 
on a bare board, trying to make a nest 
to fit in a mattrass! No; if I wished 
to avoid “ bumming around ” for tear 
the “folks” would bear me, I would 
not, under any consideration, remove 
the feather bed. 
Talk about fashion, economy and 
healtii! As for health, I could name JJ 
a great many people who have lived to I|| 
a good old age, and always slept on HI 
feathers. I am of the opinion that Mi 
fashion has more to do with the preraa- Mi 
ture deaths in our population than ill 
feather beds. To deal fairly with my Hll 
opponent, however, if the feather beds §j| 
she disparages so vehemently, are the fa 
nasty, lifeless, lumpy “ bags of feathers,” |S 
to be found in the city, and many ==? 
places in the country, I heartily co¬ 
incide with her. They are a disgrace 
to the name, and worthy of a more dcs- “ 
peratc grab than she recommends. 
Fashion and economy, of course, 
must be considered by us all, but the 
new proverb is, Economy, in some 
cases, makes fashion, and necessity 
makes economy. This is a good rule, and 
one that would work well in more cases 
than one. 
Geese to grow feathers, and women to pick 
them, are not plenty enough to keep every 
family in our country supplied with five or 
six good, lively beds apiece, so without any 
discredit to those concerned, economy makes 
the fashion. But I don’t approve of the 
fashionists and economists trying to keep 
their whiffletree off of the wheel by coaxing- 
people to abolish feather beds. For my part, 
the most beautiful picture of “ Repose ” for 
me to look at some winter night, when I am 
cold and sleepy, is “ Grandma’s high bed 
and the climax of the enjoyment is myself in 
the middle. A. 
How I Made Sweet Pickles. 
I took the rind of some watermelons, the 
nice, thick rind, (we’ve had lots of water¬ 
melons,) and cut all the soft red carefully 
Southem Black Oak Bark. 
J. C. Bukgett asks some one to give 
him a description of this oak, the bark 
of which is used for dyeing purposes; 
also tell where there is a market for it. 
New Style Cabinet Organ, Resonant. 
The accompanying illustration rep¬ 
resents one of the new style Mason & 
Hamlin Cabinet Organs in Resonant 
Cases, which arc said, by our best mu¬ 
sicians, to surpass all previous instru¬ 
ments of the class. The tone is more 
clear, full and melodious, and patents 
have been granted Mason & Hamlin 
for the improvements contained in 
them. It will bo observed that the 
form of the instrument is very elegant 
and graceful. 
The Mahon & Hamlin Ougan Co. 
add another new and large manufac¬ 
tory to their facilities this fall, which 
will increase their capacity for produc¬ 
tion to two hundred per week, or ten 
thousand per annum. The demand 
for their instruments is large from Eng¬ 
land, and considerable from other for¬ 
eign countries. At, home the reputa¬ 
tion for their work, as the best, is thor¬ 
oughly established. They announce 
this week a new Illustrated Catalogue, 
with reduced prices. The address of 
the Company is 596 Broadway, N. Y. 
Cf^mET 
No Sueli Thing a* fthcap Slik. 
The U. 8 . Economist says■“ A visit 
to a silk mill discloses the fact that 
there is no such thing as cheap silk, 
any more than there is cheap gold. It 
is true that we liml sham silks and dol¬ 
lar jevvely in the market, and both bear 
J exactly the same relation to the origin¬ 
al. An ounce of pure silk is worth its 
_ weight in silver, all over the civilized 
Jg globe. Italian silk is the best, not only 
because it is finer, but because it ‘ works 
* better,’ and consequently causes less 
waste. It is often raised from the eggs 
of Japanese worms; and it is curious 
that such worms, when working on 
Italian soil, make exactly the same 
quality of silk as their brother Italian 
IS worms. Tilts, however, is probably be- 
' cause they are all fed on the same food 
3 —the leaves of the Italian mulberry. 
In old-fashioned days, before our Eu¬ 
ropean forefathers understood the per¬ 
fection of roguery in dyeing, they, 
too, had an itching to make a pound of 
silk weigh something more by artificial 
means; so while the young girls were 
spooling the silk for 1 filling in,’ they dipped 
their fingers in a preparation of oil and lamp 
black. By this means two ounces or more 
were added to the pound. When they hap¬ 
pened to get on so much that the boxes 
which held the fabric were oiled, these silks 
were pronounced ‘ oil-boiled.’ To-day there 
are clerks in the store who will talk to us 
about ‘oil-boiledsilks,’ adding that ‘ this kind 
of silk wears.’ After the silk is dyed, a little 
oil is sometimes used for softening purposes, 
but anything additional is a positive injury 
to the silk. When twice the necessary 
weight of dye is added, the silk is depreci¬ 
ated just half in value. If thrice is added, 
the silk is depreciated threefold.” 
How to Hot a Force I*limp. 
My house stands about, two hundred and 
forty feet from the surface of the river, at an 
elevation of about forty feet from said sur¬ 
face. I design forcing up water for house 
and garden purposes with one of West’s 
patent force pumps. Shall I set the pump 
down at the river, which is very accessible, 
and force the water up the elevation by 
hose or pipe into reservoirs ? or shall I set 
the pump on the river bank twenty-five feet 
above the tide ? or shall I set it at my house ? 
I would like the opinion of some one who 
has had experience in this way of raising 
water; or, if some one can, suggest a more 
economical wav of obtaining large supplies 
of water.—W. H. 8 ., Collingwood , Ya. 
The parties who manufacture and sell the 
pump referred to, should be able to give the 
required advice. 
A Speaking Machine. 
Fabek’s speaking machine is attracting 
attention in Germany, It pronounces each 
letter distinctly, and even laughs and sings. 
During a performance at Berlin, a slip of 
paper containing the words, “ Long Live 
King William of Prussia!" was handed 
to Mr. Faber, and correctly pronounced by 
the machine, whereupon there was a groat 
deal of applause. 
MASON &c HA.MIj tlSPSi NEW SX’YXjIC CABINET OUGAN, 
ie outside rind. Then white and black. More of the latter is made embroidery arid 
;h square, and weighed up than of any other colors. For an outside short ostrich phi 
ill it was quite soft. I wrap and protection, those devoid of any re- b Q,') ]( !| s 11 H! ^ ( l ' | ‘ ||( 
When it was done, I lieviug color are host. For a “ dressy ” made with the 1 
inner into a deep dish affair, some line the cape and hood with deep round capt 
Lway. Then I weighed bright-colored flannel, allowing the color to skirt faced with 
, and put, in the kettle, show for a border. Some trim with bands 
inegar. This was the of galloon, while others choose waterproof C| . 0 ., s 
lids of rind I had. It with a stripe woven in t,ho edge for Lrim- teriai used is u 
alnute, and then I put ming. But no trimming is needed. The merino, made I 
t it boil five minutes. English waterproof, in the beat quality, is $3 waist and sleeve 
I added a tablespoon- per yard. The American waterproof, at » deep round oil 
*1.50 to *1.75 par ym^i, goad enough for C w Tte"rrtag “ 
ought I did very well, anybody, and will do any amount of invnlu- Rejected 
r twelve years old; but able service for years. For school girls they rather usk advice 
the lady who gave mo are Indispensable; also for boys. Indeed, a jiVnrily y yo, 
he said she thought it long sacque overcoat for boys, with a turban brother. After t 
one.— Jenny Ford. made of waterproof, are decidedly “jolly” fv’^mi'who'nl'oi 
- for holiday expeditions and rainy days. in return, si 
if Cake ” o. i.i , ., . i rejected my profl 
K Strong black tape or braid, to stay and cover came mxiuiiin ted 
good cake, and not the seams, guttapercha buttons, and a yard P It 
i egg, one cup of sugar, 0 f strong rubber cord for hood and ends of motion, and si mi 
f S° ur > six Ww.WBr slcevcS) constitute the “ findings ” coninfe mis nrn 
r. If you use baking Shaded Suits. Has she any rial 
ig teaspoonful; if not, f). Q.—You can repair your brown tVfGmnmMilhGor 
did of soda and one of empre8g c ] olll an( ] b ] ue merino dresses, by separation, ’ 
flavoring.— Allie and trimming the brown with a lighter shade of Your eonfhh 
_ goods of the same material, and the merino breaking of lit 
ditto. Nearly all the suits of any color save trolhcd does no 
black are made of two, and even three differ ’ l 'dy I hat she 1< 
ent shades. For instanceAt a late opening, R^cxhTwiUimit 
where a great variety of very elegant walk- c - m |‘ particular s 
ing suits were shown, two or three different lion, No. To 
shades of blue, of green, of brown, of fawn, events. If she 
of stone, of garnet, of wine color, etc,, form- ‘ s !l u ‘ u .° ' voni!l 
, , i r .i man. A lew m 
ed as many several suits. In some cases the mia |q v 0 f u„, < 
darkest shade formed the body of the dress, nian< >pt, will yie 
and the lighter shades the trimming; while tunity to plead 
the reverse was seen in others. there!—this foi 
,, ■ t heart, is fixed < 
llreHM Trifilminor*. ^ 
Bows of two shades of the dress, or three, ai ‘ H j vitality of < 
as the case may be, (although the third shade morrow, and f« 
is used in small quantities, serving as piping doubt on her pa 
or edge to the next darker shade,) are exten- decision of hers 
sively used on suits at intervals on the "'^‘d bo any tin 
flounce heading, the waist, sleeves, wraps, way ,| lllt you al 
etc. Basques are, mostly, of the postillion bu i nothing mo 
skirt order, with two divisions, the two back straws—you un 
CONTRIBUTED RECIPES, 
Good Rusk*. 
If Nettie will take two ounces butter, 
four ounces sugar, two eggs, one teacupful 
light dough, raised with bop yeast, and mix 
with flour till it will not stick to the hand, 
and when thoroughly light, roll out with the 
hands and put on tins; when very light, 
hake fifteen or twenty minutes, she will have 
about two dozen good rusk. If not right the 
first time, try again. 
Bleaching .Sheeting. 
If the Ohio lady will try the recipe for 
“bleaching sheeting,” on page 175, Vol. 21 , 
of Rural New-Yorker, she will find it to 
work as admirably ns I have; but like dye¬ 
ing, must have plenty of water to work the 
cloth well, or some places may not get fully 
bleached.—L. A. C., BaUlwinmlle, N. Y. 
To Take Grease Out of Silk. 
Minnie Lyon wishes to know how to 
take grease out of silk. Procure some pul¬ 
verized French chalk of t he apothecary ; rub 
on the spot; bang in a dark place, and the 
grease will disappear.— Jennie L. 
Recipe for Tomato Preserves. 
■ Take of good ripe tomatoes, such a 
, quantity as you wisli to preserve, pare 
them, cut them in quarters, (if large ones,) 
! place them in a stew pan with a little water, 
so they will not burn; being a very juicy 
^ fruit, they require to be cooked until the 
L juice is nearly all out; then add white sugar 
K -v —one pound to each pound of fruit; cook 
Domestic Inquiries. — “Industry” asks some 
one totell her whore tatting can be disposed of. 
“ Dracos" asks: “ What will restore musty cider 
casks to their original sweetness? An early re¬ 
ply and inexpensive method will greatly oblige.” 
Fall Whitewashing. -Remember that a little 
indigo added to the whitewash gives to the wail 
an agreeable blueish tint. 
