FES. 28 
domestic (C'janomn. 
i i ' o 
ECONOMICAL GIRLS. 
i - 
Did you ever see a modern young woman 
who was trained iu Domestic Economy, Mr. 
Editor ? (or a modern young man who knew 
the meaning of the word economy ?) I am 
about 31 years old, yet in my whole life I 
have not met four girls who understood how 
to practice domestic economy in its broadest, 
and best sense. The trouble is that so many 
good people mistake economy for parsimony. 
Thero is as much difference between the two 
as between a Rose and a Sunflower ! 
“ Mary said to me to-day, as I was re-seat- 
ing a good pair of pants for one of my boys, 
“1 never find it economical to do such a 
thin? ; besides, it's a bother. Such pants as 
those go into my rag-bag and are cut up into 
carpet rags or given to some poor family.” 
41 But,” I said, " those pants arc good yet; 
Joe has worn out the scat on the school- 
house benches ; this new seat will make 
them last just twice as long as otherwise, 
and, re-seated, they are as good as a new 
pair.'’ 
“ Yes, but I never have any pieces ; Sam’s 
clothes are all bought ready-made and of 
course no pieces like them come into iny 
hands.” 
“ In such case, the moment t'aey begin to 
break through, I put a strong piece of cloth 
on the inside and dam them down. They 
last almost equally well as if re seated. But 
after I once get a pattern that fits, I buy the 
cloth and cut and make my boy’s pants ray- 
self. I save nearly fifty per cent, of expense 
by so doing, leaving out of consideration the 
economy of having pieces with which to 
repair them.” 
"O I haven’t patience for such fussing 1” 
“ But I have, and iiud as much pleasure 
saving (or earning) money in this way as in 
any other. What I save helps me to pay 
g~od prices for good hired help which I have 
little difficulty in obtaining so long as 1 pay 
well and treat them as T should want to be 
treated in the same position. I will not have 
any other than intelligent help In the house ; 
and I find it economical to pay far such.” 
I give you this little scrap of conversation 
as a sample of what almost daily occurs in 
my sitting loom, relative to household econ¬ 
omy. There is such a went of calculation, 
so much effort to economise when it does 
not pay to do so, and such wasteful extrava¬ 
gance when a little careful forethought 
might save far more than it would cost to 
have needed conveniences, that I ana often 
wondering why some good, sensible woman 
does qot start a school aiul teach Domestic 
Economy. Why, sir, 1 don’t know a, half- 
dozen girls, eighteen years old, who know 
enough to cut and make their own under¬ 
clothing, to say nothing of their fathers’or 
brothers’ shirts! Think what helpmeets 
they will be to their husbands ! Is it. any 
wonder that so many good-hearted girls are 
doomed to the unnatural life of “Old Maids” 
when men know that they cannot, be help¬ 
meets i And, mind you, I have found out, 
from the manner hi which the merits of 
. these girls are discussed in my presence, 
that men do know tuelr real acquirements. 
How they found out I cannot say, unless 
these girls aro iu the habit, (a, many girls are) 
of boasting I ow little they know about 
work 1 
O we do ..eed training schools for girls in 
Domestic Economy, or mothers who hava 
force, nerve and good sense enough to insist 
that their girls shall learn when young what 
will bo useful to them when they become 
wives and mothers ! Esther Allen. 
-- 
A FEW WORDS FOR ESTHER ALLEN. 
Mr. Editor :--I beg a little space in your 
columns, to have a talk with Esther Allen, 
concerning her article, “ Time Wasted in the 
House,” which appeared in the Rural New- 
Yorker Jan. 24. I was much interested iu, 
and fully coincided with, the views therein 
set forth, viz., time and labor saved by sys- 
| tematizing the work, it was an excellent 
article, and 1 heartily commend it to all our 
Rural sisters. 1 object, however, to the 
last few sentences, as being harsh and un¬ 
kind. They were these “ I have no sym- ! 
pathy whatever, Mr. Editor, for overworked 
farmers’ wives. It is of tener their own fault 
than otherwise. Such women are always 
foolish, and gene rally silly simpletons, who 
deserve no better fate.” Now, Bister Esther, 
I wish to know if von truly meant what you 
said. I 4 ' so, I ask you to stop and consider ; 
look more closely into their cases and see 
wherein their circumstances differ from your 
own, and if you would not, were you in their ! 
MOOBE’S BUBAL NEW-YORKER. 
places, become worn out with overwork. 
But first I protest against such appellations 
as “ foolish ” and “ silly simpletons,” as being 
wlioly inapplicable to the class of women in 
question. They might do to use when speak¬ 
ing of the 44 butterfly ” class of women ; but 
these do not work, hence do not concern us 
here. Another class are also exempt from 
this discussion, the constitutionally lazy; 
bear in mind these never overwork. They 
settle down to what they call 11 solid enjoy¬ 
ment,” and smile placidly at the accumula¬ 
tion of work staring them in the face. Wo 
leave them in their tilth and content, and 
turn to the class who work beyond their 
strength, in consequence of which their 
health gives way, and many are laid in un¬ 
timely graves. 
It may be that you are blessed with per¬ 
fect health ; if so, thank God for it, and re¬ 
member with sympathy the many farmers’ 
wives, who, with pains and achewhich I 
truly hope yon may never suffer, struggle 
through the family work with genuine self 
sacrificing heroism. This class may be di¬ 
vided int o two kinds—the one whom force of 
circumstance dooms to her sad fate; the 
other reaches it, through ignorance. 
I will mention a few things which, though 
seemingly small, add very materially to the 
weight of care and labor. You w ill admit, 
with me, that a poorly-planned kitchen is 
very inconvenient. To bring fuel and water 
four or five rods, would be no small task, 
especially on wash days, and to do without 
washer and wringer would make work much 
harder and consume more time ; yet many a 
farmer’s wife is obliged to do without 
cither, because of limited means or limited 
soul in her husband. For the same reasons 
she is obliged to do without the extra needed 
help, when extra work has to he done, and 
many have not even one domestic, but the 
one pair of hands does all. City cousins, with 
thoughts only of self, not Infrequently im¬ 
pose. on the good-natured country folk for 
the summer. Sickness iu the family, or a 
large load of unexpected guests (that’s the 
way they usually come in the country!) 
breaks in a little, on the usual systematic 
routine of labor, and something in that day’s 
planning has to be crowded into the next. 
Now, if the woman who struggles through 
those difficulties becomes worn out, docs 
she deserve your contempt, or sympathy ') 
Because she is overworked shall we call her 
a “silly, foolish simpleton ?” 
There are some who commence the life of 
a farmer’s wife with little knowledge of its 
work, To them economy of tune or any¬ 
thing else is an enigma. The fault, may be 
their own, or that of their mothers. Do you 
say such an one is deserving of her fate and 
your derision when you see her wasting her 
strength in awkward endeavors to do the 
best she knows ? Be long as she. shows the 
heart and will to work, do not laugh at her 
Ignorance, even though it be scarcely ex¬ 
cusable while such a paper as our dear. Ru¬ 
ral is iu priut from whose column devoted 
to “Domestic Economy” she could gain in¬ 
valuable knowledge, that found its way there 
from the able pen of you, Esther Allen, 
and many others like you. Do all you can to 
scatter the Rural into such homes as these, 
and continue your advice and experience, 
a few encouraging words and sympathy. 
Sympathy, liko soothing balm, heats the 
wounded heart and lighten - toil. Bympat hy, 
like a strong cord, bind- heart to heart and 
nation to nation. Sympathy, like a jewel, 
adorns the heart of man, making him more 
CmusT-like. O, dear Sister Esther, let not 
this precious jewel grow dim in your pos¬ 
session, bnt keep it polished, that it may flush 
its rays over God’s wide creation, entering 
the darkened homes and hearts of all his 
suffering ones who shall lift up tired bauds 
and thank him for the love and sympathy 
fchej found iu you, Edith V. H. 
-o~*~«- 
PHOTOGRAPH FRAME. 
(See ill ustration, page 111.) The foundation 
is a piece of straight card-board with a 
straight, piece of- the same glueu on at the 
hack to forma support. The whole is first 
ileatly covered with brown, glazed paper, and 
after wards ornamented with fir cones, beech 
nuts, &c. These must be carefully cleaned 
in water with u brush, and kept soft so they 
can be sewed on to the foundation. When 
the cone-work is finished the back should be 
covered with velvet. Brush it over with 
good copal varnish. A good idea is to touch 
some ot the leaves with gold and silver leaf. 
-- 
Cleaning Porcelain*. — A lady says that 
the best method that she has ever tried to 
clean a browned porcelsin kettle is to boil 
peeled potatoes in it, when the porcelain 
will be nearly as white as when new. 
Pities anil Iflanneits. 
LATE FASHION NOTES. 
One of the most marked features in the 
present fashions is noticeable in skirts. The 
tendency is to unite the overskirt and the 
under and to introduce as much variety as 
possible in the trimming. We will notice a 
few of the newest, stylesPuffed skirts are 
very much worn. The front breadth is 
puffed loosely down the seams, and hangs 
over a plaited flounce, its edge bordered with 
fringe, The back breadths are flounced to 
the waist. First there is generally a deep 
Spanish flounce and above a number of small 
flounces. Instead of the flounces the square 
Medici overdress, fastened in plainly at the 
belt, hangs very low on the sides and is 
united in the back with a full pnnior sash, 
loosely drailed. Six perpendicular puffs may 
be made extending to the back breadth. Iu 
the shirring between the puffs strips of vel¬ 
vet, piping or jet galloon maybe introduced. 
The flounces are arranged only on. the back 
breadth, in all the various ca prices that are 
introduced, or the punier sash, caught in 
large puffs with bows, may be used. This 
mode of uniting the two portions of dress, 
while very pretty, is also very convenient. 
When overdresses are woru, with the excep¬ 
tion of the Greek overdress falling diagonally 
across the front of the dress, the tunic is 
short. The skirt trimming is brought up at 
least to the knees and the drapery is gathered 
back to a sash in the buck. 
Flounces aro never alike. The plain gath¬ 
ered flounce is finished with the French 
hem—that is, the edge is turned up on the 
right side and caught with blind stitches. 
Great care is required to preserve the hem 
loose and even, but when done nicely it is 
far prettier than binding. Plaited flounces 
and gathered are very generally alternated. 
Occasionally a full, narrow side plaiting is 
placed on the bottom, and above the large 
box-plaited flounces, finished with a puff. 
Always the flounces in the back mid front 
are different. A deep side-plaited flounce in 
front, is sometimes graduated to the hack 
breadth, on which flounces are gathered to 
the waist. Deep flounces, with shin’s form¬ 
ing puffs, are often seen. In velvet these are 
very pretty. A camels' hair flounce, with 
core's run in forming puffs, will trim a silk 
skirt to wear with a camels’ hair polonaise. 
Bide plaited flounces in worsted and thin 
materials are lined with foundation net, and 
a tape passing underneath holds the folds in 
place. Old flounces may be removed when 
worn at the edges hy cutting them off and a 
j bias baud of silk put on like a hem. 
Basques arc cut longer in front and shorter 
in the back. The lengths of the front are 
varied—the point which is square or rounded 
is always longest. Postilion basques are no 
longer worn. The square, flat basque 
trimmed with straps like a hussar jacket is 
very stylish. The large, full ruches about 
the neck are worn, and the Medici ruff, Full 
| ruffles of black lace with a crepe lisso frill 
inside,standing close about t he neck,arc more 
| becoming t,o most persons than any other 
' mode of trimming about the neck. 
Sleeves are closer than ever. A new style 
Isthe Hem i Quatre sleeve, which has a puff 
about the arm-hole and a standing ruffle on 
the shoulder. No ruffles fall from the puff 
over the arm. as was formerly worn. The 
cuff is not worn unless very close ; newer 
and more chaste arc bauds of trimming and 
jet gall on, which arc placed straight around, 
extending to the elbow. A crepe INse frill 
falls over the hand. Other sleeves are made 
with ft succession of puffs to the- elbow. In 
party or wedding dresses the under part of 
the sleeve is of the material of the dress : the 
upper part consists of tulle puffs separated 
by bias bauds. 
Polonaises are, of course, still worn for 
the street, but they are taken iu and made 
to fit the figure more closely. They are also 
very long and give the idea of convenience 
' and comfort rather than style. There are 
fewer pauiers and puffs, more moderate 
pockets and cuffs, smaller and quieter but 
t lbs. Cut jet buttons are still worn, but 
smoked pearl are prettier, ami covered molds, 
embroidered, arc prettier still. Tortoise 
shell buttons, plain and carved, have been 
introduced. The newest, style of polonaise 
extends in front in square, plain pieces al¬ 
most to the bottom of the skirt. Bilk sashes, 
lined with the material of the polonaise and 
left raw ><t the end, are used. 
A return to printed colors is announced, 
and the reign of the faded tints and the 
bronzes, peacock greens, blues and kindred 
tints, is said to bo over. In confirmation of 
this there are produced the greatest varie¬ 
ties of grays and browns, which are to be 
the prevailing colors. 
Fine striped silks are introduced in tho 
greatest profusion. They come in grays, 
browns and black for street wear, and ia tho 
most delicate blues, greens, lavenders and 
pinks, for summer wear at the watering 
places. Black grounds with wide white 
stripes and broken bars in clusters are also 
seen. These silks arc very cheap, ranging 
from 75 cents to $1.25. 
The most, popular quality of silk is the fine 
grain—the yros grains are rarely seen. It is 
predicted that the old-fashioned taffeta will 
soon resume its old place, it is so light and 
cool for summer wear, and shakes off tho 
dust. Very good silks can be bought for less 
than $2. 
Embroidered silk costums are more fash¬ 
ionable than any other, but much more ex¬ 
pensive. Tiic English embroidered walking 
costumes will continue in favor. They are 
now worn iu woolefl goods, and will still 
later appear in batiste. 
BASQUE WITH SACHET. 
This basque (see illustration, page 141) is a 
very pretty addition to the evening toilette 
of a young lady. It is made of organdy or 
linen cambric, and trimmed with lace in¬ 
sertion. Tho sachet straps and belt are 
made over colored silk. 
THE WEAR OF THE BRAIN. 
The notion that those who work only -with 
their brains need less food than those who 
labor with their hands, has been the cause of 
untold mischief. Students and literal y men 
have often been the victims of a slow starva¬ 
tion from their ignorance of the fact that 
mental labor causes greater waste of tissue 
than muscular. According to careful esti¬ 
mates, three hours of hard study wear out 
Lho body more limn a whole day of hard 
work at the anvil or on the farm, —“ With¬ 
out phosphorus, no thought,” is a German 
saying; and the consumption of that essen¬ 
tial ingredient, of the brain increases in pro¬ 
portion to the amount of labor which the 
organ is required to perform. This wear and 
tear o? the brain arc easily measured by care¬ 
ful examination of the salts in the liquid ex¬ 
cretions. The Importance of the bruin as a 
working organ is shown by the amount of 
blood it receives, which is proportionately 
greater than that of any other part of the 
body. One fifth of the blood goes to the 
brain, though its average weight is only one- 
fortieth of the weight of the body. This 
fact alone would be sufficient to prove that I 
brain-workers need more food and better 
food than mechanics and farm laborer 3 - 
Boston Journal Of Chemistry. 
-♦♦♦--— 
CURED BY DRINKING BLflOD. 
Mention was made recently of a gentleman 
in a very feeble state of health who had been 
for some time at the Butchers’ Abattoir in 
Brighton for medical treatment, simply 
drinking half a tumberful of warm blood 
twice a day, This course the gentleman— 
Mr. C. H. Stickney, who is willing that his 
name shall appear—has followed untd a week 
ago. having been there ten weeks, and during 
that time gained ten pounds in we ight, and 
to use his own words, “ My appetite is good ; 
I sleep well and feel like a new man, and I 
am soon to commence business again in Bos¬ 
ton.” He also says there are ton or twelve 
others there, drinking the blood, ail of whom 
are gaining under this treatment. One gen¬ 
tleman from Boston, a consumptive, so feeble 
that it was with difficulty ho could get to 
this abattoir, is now able to handle an axe 
skilfully enough to 44 knock down a bullock.” 
A city lady who has been sick six years 
stricken with paralysis, is improving wou 
; dorfuliy by thi.-. “ blood cure.” A gratifying 
feature of this cure is that it is “ without 
money and without price.” 
— ♦ » »- 
Chilblain Remedy. —When chilblains man- 
I ifest themselves, the best remedy not only 
for preventing them ulcerating, but over- 
! coining the tingling, itching pain and stimu- 
I luting the circulation of the part to healthy 
action, is the liniment of belladonna, two 
j drains ; the 1 nr. incut, of aconite, one dram; 
carbolic acid, ten drops ; to collodion flexile, 
! one ounce : painted with a emuol’s-Iiair per.’ 
Oil over their surface. When the chilblains 
vesicate, ulcerate, or slough, it is better to 
omit tho aconite, and apply the other compo- 
■ nents of the liniment without it. The collo¬ 
dion flexile forms a coating or protecting 
film, which excludes the air, while the seda¬ 
tive liniments allay the inflation, generally 
of no trivial nature/ 
