MARCH 28 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
2©y 
“THE WIFE’S CO OPERATION.” 
Dear Rurat, Will you allow me a little 
space in your most valuable journal, merely 
to say a few things suggested to my mind by 
reading an article from the pen of Esther 
Allen in your issue of Jan. 31, “ The Wife’s 
Co-operation.” Thi3 article pleased, yea, 
delighted me, and 1 join her in all the sensi¬ 
ble things she has said. Yes, Mr. Editor, 
i, too, have grown impatient and indignant 
when reading the thousand and one articles 
upon the importance of a wife’s co-operating 
with her husband and teaching the women to 
save, to economize, &c. Why, sir, if l had 
the making of a dictionary, I would leave 
that hideous word, “ Economy,” out, and 
every other word that savored of the same 
meaning. Yon cannot pick up a paper pub¬ 
lished in all the land, bat what you will find 
a tirade upon woman's extravagance, and 
crying out, “ Tench them economyetc. Oh, 
if ire women would be induced to “ Econo¬ 
mize, what a happy, yea, thrice happy peo¬ 
ple we would he,” Men would ever find 
their pockets plethoric with the great need¬ 
ful—would always be ready to stand treat to 
a friend to whatever perchance their delicate 
tastes might suggest, cigars, oysters, wines, 
etc., and have a good time generally. 
As for me I have uo objections to this mil- 
lenium on the part of the lords of ovation, 
us they style themselves, provided it be not 
at a wholesale sacrifice of, (now don’t be 
frightened) woman's rights. Yes sir, I am 
for woman’s rights out and out. But 1 would 
like to be allowed to define these rights, and 
1 doubt jf there is a sensible man or woman 
that would object. 
I want my rights at home—no meddling or 
interfering in rny housekeeping matters, as 
when I shall bake or when I shall brew, I do 
not wish to bo asked every time 1 require a 
little money for the numberless little tilings 
that go to make the sum total of good house 
keeping, “ where is the twenty-five cents I 
gave you f” (perhaps a month ago.) Again, 
when perchance some morning ut the break¬ 
fast table you should say to the great head 
of the house, that it would be well for him 
to look after replenishing tlio larder, that so 
and so is out. I do not want him, with sur¬ 
prise and horror to lift those eyes (which 
should in my view of woman’s rights) never 
yield ot her than looks of love and kindness, 
sparkling in anger and in a voico-like distant 
thunder, exclaim, “ Is it possible ! It was 
only a short time since 1 sent home the thus 
aud so; there must surely be something 
wrong.” This, too, when the wife has the 
work to do and perhaps a sick child to look 
after, striving to make, her home a comfort 
to her husband, pridiug herself on the beau¬ 
tiful white, light rolls she so proudly places 
on her table for his enjoyment, and last, 
though by no means least, the light, spongy, 
hot buckwheat cakes he so much delights in, 
which, while he sits and enjoys, she bakes 
and hands him hot from the griddle. 
Oh, selfish man I how inconsistent and in¬ 
considerate art thou. 
Now, Mr, Editor, I will not say that all of 
the above is from observation on my part; 
and 1 must think that every wife and 
mother lias more or less of such in life, al¬ 
though she may have a model of a good 
husband ; and right here I'll tell you a secret. 
1 think I have as good as the best, but 1 don’t 
dure tell him, it might spoil him in the fu¬ 
ture ; but he will never suspect me being the 
author of this, and you won’t tell. I’ll not 
tax your readers longer on this subject 
though I could say much more. Sister E. A. 
will accept my thanks, hoping to hear from 
her again. s. j. t. 
-♦♦♦- 
RECIPES FROM MRS. BROWN. 
Having seen so much said in the columns 
of the Rural New-Yorker about buck¬ 
wheat cakes, I thought I too must contribute 
my little mite of knowledge on the subject, 
that is, if Mr. Editor does not consider it 
overdone already. We do not consider them 
unhealthy in the least, if eaten with good 
butter and sirup. My method is this :—Take 
a penny’s worth of good yeast, adding salt 
and warm water (after the first mixing use 
cold water instead of warm), and flour, a 
tablespoonful of Indian meal ; mix as much 
as you will need according to the size of your 
family, every time calculating to have no 
more than a pint of batter left for the next 
raising. Having too much left over is too 
often the cause of sour and indigestible 
cakes. Set them in a cool place In the morn¬ 
ing, add half a cup of sweet milk, not more 
than half a teaspoon of soda dissolved in a 
^ - - _ 
little hot water ; let stand ten or fifteen min¬ 
utes, when it is ready for baking. As a 
matter of course, they will not be very good 
the first morning, but will continue to im¬ 
prove every morning until they are as near 
perfect, as buckwheat cakes need be. Good 
flour is necessary for good cakes. As soon 
as breakfast is over, mix up your next morn¬ 
ing’s supply, treated in this wav you will 
never see water standing on the top of your 
batter, and if you are short of bread for 
dinner (which is often the case) or you re¬ 
ceive unexpected company, your cakes are 
always ready. After dinner yon can again 
mix up enough for breakfast ; but remem¬ 
ber to mix with cold water and never set 
them too near the stove but rather in the 
further end of a warm room, and then there 
is no necessity for sour cakes. Try it lady 
friends, and report. 
How to Make Good Yeast Cukes. —Take, 
a couple of quarts of good hops, a large 
handful of catnip, put all loosely in a bag 
and boil in three quarts of water until the- 
strength is all extracted ; then squeeze the 
bag well to extract all the strength of the 
hops and catnip ; then pour the hot liquor 
on as much com meal as it will nicely wet up, 
leaving it very still'; add two tablespoons of 
salt. When just lukewarm, add one pint of 
yeast or four good yeast cakes, stirring all 
well together ; set in a warm place to raise ; 
when light, mold into cakes and dry near 
the stove; do not let them freeze before they 
arc dry ; turn them every morning until 
dry, then put into paper bags and tie closely ; 
they will be found far superior to the yeast 
cakes found at the stores, making much 
sweeter bread, minus the sour taste aud 
smell. Mrs. H. 8. Brown. 
-*«.«- 
DOMESTIC BREVITIES. 
Hard Soap.—It is an easy matter for 
housekeepers, when making up their soap in 
the spring, to make a supply of hard soap 
also ; and it is very convenient as well as 
economical. I send rny way of doing it. Take 
four pails of soap in a large kettle, stir in two 
quarts of salt, and let it stand over nigty;, 
t hen put a fire under the kettle and simmer 
it a half hour, and leave it till the uext day. 
The soap will then be in a thick crust on the 
top and the ley at the bottom. Remove the 
soap, empty the kettle, and then return your 
soap and put in another quart of salt, a pail 
of soft water, aud part uf a. pail of weak lye 
from the leech ; boil this half an hour, then 
leave it to harden again. The object of the 
last boiling is to cleanse and whiten the soap. 
It can bo cut into any desirable shape as it is 
removed Horn the top. The pieces should be 
left on a board a few days to dry ; and the 
longer it is kept the better it is. This is nicer 
to use than the common yellow bar soap and 
it has the recommend, which all soaps do not 
have, that we know what it is made of.— 
Farmer’s Wife. 
odes and Dflaitnei[s. 
SPRING MATERIALS. 
The light basket cloth used in spring 
wraps, especially in the English jackets that 
have very generally displaced other outside 
garments, is also found in camels’ hair goods 
for dresses and polonaises. While it has a 
very heavy look, it is porous and exceedingly 
cool. It is found a yard and a half wide for 
$2, A lighter goods, similar in texture, is 
basket, serge, which comes in a variety of 
colors, for yO cents a yard. Black alpacas arc 
now staple goods. The old brands, the 
Beaver and Buffalo, arc still among the best. 
Newer varieties have a large admixture of 
silk, and are very glossy and rich in look. 
They will scarcely* wear as well as the heavier 
goods. Indeed, the best article for wear ol' 
this species of goods is Brilliantine. It is of 
warm texture, but makes up handsomely. 
Alpacas range from 75 cents to $1,50, 
Foulard silk in solid colors—as dark blue, 
gray and brown—is among the most de¬ 
sirable goods for spring. A very fashionable 
style of making them is what the French 
call en c arnaien, or In shades. Two or more 
tintsarc used which, mingled with an artistic- 
eye, are very beautiful. This same style will 
prevail in other materials. Other foulards 
have blocks, spots, and running vines in 
delicate patterns, which are made up with 
plain colors the sliade of the ground. Mexi- 
eaine is anew material in square bars, min 
gled with lace-like stripes. It is very odd, 
and to be used in polonaises over silk skirts. 
Batistes arc also seen in fancy patterns to be 
used for the same purpose. 
The introduction of lace stripes is the fea¬ 
ture of many of the new goods. In no 
material is it prettier than in a very light 
goods which will take the place of pique; 
thin lace stripes alternate with a plain satin 
stripe, or a stripe ornamented with vines. 
Price <55 cents. Another similar goods, in 
ecru, has the alternate stripes ornamented 
with white, raised dots and figures, and is i 
altogether one of the prettiest fabrics of the 
season, at 50 cents a yard. 
For lighter wear with silk skirts there is i 
the old, striped Chambery gauze, as silky and i 
beautiful as ever. The fashion remains about < 
the same : white grounds with tinted satin 
stripes, though occasionally varied by bro¬ 
caded figures all of ouo tint, to be used as i 
polonaise over silk of the same shade. 
HOW TO MAKE THEM. 
Each week tends more and more to decide 
the style which is to reign, subject of course 
to individual modifications. The Henri Trois 
costume at present is the most popular. The 
idea of these costumes is to present some¬ 
thing of the same stately* elegance of that 
period. Waists are long, shoulders high, 
skirts scant, and the Medici ruff completes 
the principal features. The frout of the cor¬ 
sage is cut with a very long waist, though 
not so long as has been seen in some of the 
polonaise suits. The sides fall in long, 
square pieces. 'Die back is made in a basque; 
from below lull the panier puffs of t he skirt. 
This part of the dress can be varied to suit 
the wearer’s taste. The sleeve, however, is 
fixed and gives character to the whole dreas. 
A large puff is placed on the shoulder, ar¬ 
ranged us stiffly as possible, with the free 
edge standing above the shoulder ; no falling 
ruffle marks the lower part of the puff. The 
sleeve is quite tight and may be puffed about 
the elbow. The Medici ruff is very full and 
low, with thick ruches of crepe lisse or tulle 
iuside. The corsage should fit as perfectly 
as possible, sloping out from the hips, not 
running down as If to a point. 
Pretty camels’ hair walking suits are made 
with loose jackets, embroidered in wool; wit h 
short over dresses reaching just below the 
knee, hanging In kilt, plaits ; the lower edge 
is embroidered like the jacket. Other suits 
have a kill:pleated apron and fall in long 
drapery in t he back. Drosses for walking 
and traveling are made quite short. The 
waists have revers vests, square pockets, and 
look as jaunty and mannish as possible. 
Outside wraps for traveling, says a Paris 
letter, are short tulmus, with a high Medic* 
ruff about the neck. 
The English embroidery is very popular, 
it is introduced on woolen and cotton goods. 
Flouncing in Hamburg [embroidery is very 
pretty and inexpensive on white percales 
and pique, French embroidery is too heavy 
and tears too easily for common wear. 
Pointed hoods are seen on some street cos¬ 
tumes. The Idea is a pretty one, but the 
hoodB arc decidedly ruinous to the form, as 
they give a round-shouldered appearance. 
These pointed hoods in wraps are exceedingly 
nice. The most delicate summer wraps are 
made of bias strips of creamy yellow cash- 
mere and yak lace inserting, with a hood in 
the back- The front falls in long tab ends. 
Yak lace is in great demand. In fringes, 
batiste, raw silk and all goods of the same 
shade, it trims more handsomely than any 
other description of trimming. 
NOVELTIES. 
The longBcnrfs of guipure net arc almost 
universally worn about the neck. They are 
three yards long and edged with guipure 
lace. Still later they will also lie used as 
sashes. Spanish bloude, which is not bo ex¬ 
pensive, is used in the same way. The new 
esl thing is the scarf of whiteSpanish blonde, 
which is to be worn in the summer as scarf- 
aud sashes. They will also bo of tulle. The 
favorite veil is dotted with black beads; u 
strip a quarter of a yard wide is ample ; the 
edge is left raw, instead of being finished with 
lace. Crepe lisse frills are the softest and 
prettiest for the neck. They should lie very 
full. The double frill, coming up high and 
close about the neck, is exceedingly stylish. 
The frills are often trimmed with white jet. 
Fine white organdy in triple box-plaits are 
very becoming to persons of a delicate com¬ 
plexion. 
Colored collars of batiste, linen and percale 
will be worn with dresses of the same hue. 
The plaited standing collar, with turn over 
ends, is Brill in vogue. The Valenciennes 
jabot is used for dress ; it is arranged in alL 
manner of fanciful designs. The shell trim¬ 
ming, however, is the p> etbiest). 
White muslin ties, with borders of colored 
silk, are worn. Handkerchiefs have colored 
silk borders to match. Black thread barbes 
are worn over colored silk ties, with good 
effect. 
The large Trianon fans are about to be sup¬ 
planted by a medium size, as might be ex¬ 
pected. While satin funs with painted flow¬ 
ers as a bouquet on one side, with trailing 
vines extending beyond the center, is the 
favorite design ; the carving of the sticks 
carries out the same idea. Sprays of fruit 
1 are often employed, and even embroidery. 
Jnfonnation. 
“IS IT TRUE.” 
In Rural New Yorker of Jan. 24, your 
interesting correspondent, under the head of 
“ Daily Rural Life,” evidently recommends 
the substitution of “thin cotton socks” as 
more comfortable than “ thick woolen socks 
for winter wear,” and a bettor preventive of 
cold feet. Now, with all due deference, I 
beg leave to dissent from the opinion of the 
writer, aud in imitation of himself on a 
former occasion, to ask. respectfully, “ Is it 
true l” As to the “ good, thick boots and cork 
soles,” they have really nothing to do with 
the question, as they can be worn equally as 
well in one case as in the other, and are to 
ho recommended. But the issue is simply 
this :—“Thill cotton socks,” vs . “ thick wool¬ 
en socks,” for winter wear. Now, Mr. Editor, 
1 unhesitatingly give my verdict in favor of 
the iatter, and am willing to give a reason or 
two “ for the faith that is in me.” 
First, from experimental knowledge, hav¬ 
ing tried and fully tested both kinds, long 
before the article of your correspondent was 
written. 
Second; reason and philosophy sustain my 
position, 1 think. 
Wool, fur, hair, &c., are animal substances, 
which are non-conductors of heat, and are 
wisely provided by nature to clothe and pro¬ 
tect the bodies of the animals furnished with 
them. Flax, cotton, hemp, <fcc., are pmely 
vegetable in their character, and if not in 
reality conductors of heat are, at the best, 
but imperfect non-conductors, as any one 
can determine by placing his hand upon them 
in a cold room. Widen, therefore, is the 
bettor adapted to assist the body in retaining 
the animal heat, judge ye * 
Fora person whose feet are apt to perspire 
freely, and whose occupation isnminiy with¬ 
in doors, perhaps cotton may be most com¬ 
fortable. ,Su also with ouo who may he 
troubled with any cutaneous disease, which 
prevents his wearing any woolens next the 
skin. But as a rule, for those whose duties 
require much exposure to tin- frosty air, 
especialy by standing or walking oh tlio 
frozen ground or in snow, let me strongly 
recommend the use of “good, thick woolen 
socks.” Clinton. 
-- 
GLUE AS A HEALING REMEDY. 
J. A. Field of Racine, Wisconsin, sends the 
following to a New York scientific journal. 
The information may prove valuable in many 
emergencies " For the last twelve or four¬ 
teen years 1 have been employed iu a shop 
where there arc over three hundred men at 
work ; and, as is the case in all shops of this 
kind, hardly a day passes but one or more of 
us cut or bruise our limbs. At first there 
were but few wlm tumid their way to my 
department to have their wounds bound up; 
but after a while it became generally known 
that a rag glued on a flesh wound was not 
only a speedy curative, but a formidable 
protection against further injury. I was 
soon obliged to keep a supply of rags on 
hand, to be ready fur any emergency. 1 will 
here cite one among many of the cases cured 
with giue. 
“A man was running a boring machine, 
with an inch and a quarter auger attached ; 
by Home means the sleeve of Ins shirt caught 
iu the auger, bringing his wrist in contact 
with the bit, tearing the flesh among the 
muscles in a frightful manner, Tie was con¬ 
ducted to my department (the pattern shop), 
and l washed the wound In wurui water, and 
glued around it a cloth, which, when dry, 
shrunk into a roundish shape, holding the 
wound Light and firm. Ouce or twice a 
week, for three or four weeks, I dressed the 
wound afresh, mid it was well. The man 
trover lo-t an hour’s time in consequence. 
The truth of this statement hundreds can 
testify to. 1, of course, use the best quality 
of glue.” 
-♦ - 
HARMLESSNESS OF HYDRATE OF 
CHLORAL. 
In an article reviewing the evidence which 
from l ime to time has been brought forward 
tor and against the use of hydrate of chloral 
as a therapeutical agent, the editor of The 
Journal of Chemistry declares it as his opin¬ 
ion that it is a perfectly safe article for any 
intelligent physician to employ; that it pro¬ 
duces a, sound, refreshiiig sleep, when used 
in cases of nervous wakefulness, leaving the 
brain and digestive organs in a perfectly 
normal condition ; that there is no organ or 
function of the system disturbed by it, even 
when its u?e is long continued ; and that it 
has the singular property of not losing its 
therapeutical influence when persistently 
employed the some dose given to the same 
patient, for a period of nearly three years, 
having invariably produced the same refresh¬ 
ing sleep each night. The editor of The 
Journal asserts, however, that it is useless 
and improper to give the agent, to relieve 
pain—it being only valuable as a hypnotic 
m slcepnessucsa unattended by pain—and 
that the dose employed by many physicians 
is insufficient?; ten grains have “usually but 
little influence upon an adult, twenty often 
fail to produce sleep, but thirty or forty 
seldom fail—medium doses being better at 
first, to be repeated as required. 
