MARCH 48 
if nr Mantra. 
CONDUCTED BY MISS RAY CLARK. 
An impertinent busybody Importuned a young 
lady with the question, “ What shall I say to 
people who ash me It you are going to be mar¬ 
ried?” “ Say the truth,” the girl promptly replied. 
“ Yes, and what Is truth ?” continued the ques¬ 
tioner, eagerly. “ That you know nothing about 
it,” was the conclusive ieply. 
CORRESPONDENT'S CORNER. 
I send an Illustration ot one of my silk patch- 
work blocks, desired by “ A New Subscriber." Of 
course no two blocks are alike. The block, as 
shown In Fig. 16T. Is thirteen Inches square, and 
the key to the figures wilt Indicates the color 
of the 6llks used. If *• New subscriber ” actually 
begins a quilt, she will finish It In a short time, as 
It Is very fascinating employment. m. w.-f. 
Dear Miss Ray: 
Please excuse me for not sending the cat-stltch 
sooner, but I have been quite busy since I re¬ 
ceived the Rural. 
I think l worked my sister’s sacque In coral- 
stltch, but the others 1 saw were worked In cat- 
stltch. 
I should have said that the narrow striped bed- 
UckLng is the prettiest foundation for a sacque. 
The cat-stltch is the oue represented at the bot¬ 
tom ot Fig 70S, and is the one usually used to lay 
open seams in flannel, it must be worked from 
you to get it right. 
The stitch at the top is goral, or feather (l think 
coral is the more correct name). This must be 
worked towards you. The center one Is double¬ 
coral, or double-fealher sutch, but it Is not suit¬ 
able for working bed-ticking. 
1 shall try to tell you before long how to make 
lovely rugs, something, l think, entirely new to 
many of the Rural sisters. mbs. w. v. a. 
Mrs. R. S. will please notice this answer to her 
Inquiry. Also please send address to Rueal s of¬ 
fice. H. C, 
every moaeraceiy difficult piece on a wind Instru¬ 
ment requires.” 
Where there Is a family of several girls, or of 
boys and girls, very dellghttul little orchestras can 
be formed, by each one learning to play upon a 
different instrument (always leaving out the 
piano l). 
There is no Instrument of the orchestra, except¬ 
ing, perhaps, the heavier bass, whtch a woman 
cannot play successfully, and upon some of these 
Instruments Mr. Lanier thinks that women, be¬ 
cause of their superior daintiness, would make 
In order to h9 a beautiful talker, one must pos-j 
sess a cultivated voice, a well stored mind, pro- ! 
duced either by reading, travel, or observation, 
and the ability to express one’s self fluently and 
elegantly. 
Any woman who can do this, has the accom¬ 
plishment par excellence of all accomplishments. 
FIG. 166. 
She can amuse, Interest, entertain, and also in¬ 
struct those about her, with a delight that Is In¬ 
finite in its range. 
Society never wearies of her—she is the center 
of attraction; she possesses the charm which nev¬ 
er grows old nor stale. Moreover, her great pos¬ 
session is In and of herself, and her delight In 
being able to express her thoughts and feelings in 
a fitting way, la very great 
Beauty, art and science have their fascination, 
but none ot them equal that of a beautiful talker 
who has music In her voice, grace In manner and 
gesture, and eloquence In expression. 
When Washington sat to Gilbert Stuart for the 
famous Stuart portrait, he had Miss Chew of 
Germantown, often accompany him, as her con¬ 
versation, he said, brought out his best expression. 
The fame of Madame de Steel's wonderful con¬ 
versation will m all probability outlive the fame 
of the best pianist that ever lived. 
Next to being a beautiful talker, I place the 
gift ot beautiful singing. The two are very nearly 
allied In the effect produced upon others, and have 
much in common as an accomplishment which 
gratifies the possessorof It. There is a charm in 
a charming voice falling from the llp3 of a woman 
especially, that la beyond all measure, when the 
words she speaks are truly mated to the voice that 
utters them. But the plauo-the dreadful piano, 
and the still more dreadful thrumming — the 
money wasted-the time wasted—the misdirected 
abilities—the back aches and the head aches, and I 
might, well add we ear aches, that are the out¬ 
come every year of the piano and r he music les¬ 
son ! la there not something better girls for the 
than all that ? 
I Imagine I am as fond of instrumental music as 
most people, and I had my day at piano thrum¬ 
ming ; but it was a comparatively short one. 
The sound of singing and of music Is dellgntrui 
In a home, and serves a noble purpose, but only 
when It Is a natural and an agreeable expression 
of feeling. A girl who goes singing through the 
house like a bird, pouring out a flood of gay and 
bright, song, ts like a rose In mid-winter ; but The 
girl who Is asked to play, who watts to he urged a 
little, and who goes through her score mechani¬ 
cally, or precisely as some one has taught her, 
who can make a great deal of noise and boh her 
bands about on the keyboard In a way that her 
rustic auditors think “ perfectly splendid." Noth¬ 
ing, to the ear of an Intelligent lover of music can 
be more dismal, and nothing, perhaps, to the soul 
of the girl less enjoyable. Poor thing, I say! Had 
It not been for the Juggernaut piano, Bhe might 
have learned to draw beautifully—an exquisite 
accomplishment—to have learned to talk well, or 
perhaps to Bpell and write’ well, or to have 
cultivated flowers to such an extent both Indoors 
and ouvof-doors as to have delighted the eyes and 
noses too, of hundreds of people, and had the 
keenest sort of happiness, herself. 
To young people who have an Irrepressible taste 
for musical study, there is but one bit ot advice— 
to go ahead. 
People who have a decided bent for any thing, 
know by the best sort of knowledge, what they 
should do. 
It is for the average girl for whom l plead; the 
girl who has no special talent for music, but 
spends her youth at the piano, because she, or her 
friends think It Is fashionable, or “ nice,” or be¬ 
cause some other girl is learning to play, who will 
be as sorry a failure as herself, and who might. It 
the same amount of money were expended In her 
behalf, as the piano and all Its belongings cost, be 
developed into a really fine, useful and accom¬ 
plished woman. 
Neither do I think, because the piano has al¬ 
ready been bought, that the girl must learn to 
play on It, when It Is evident that to make her 
- 
FIG. 163. 
“ practice ” Is distasteful and Irksome. It Is like 
eating an unwholesome dish of food for the sake 
ot “ saving ” It. 
To girls who are waiting, hoping, longing and 
planning for a piano, I want to say “Don’t.” 
Think about It all around. Think ot the room It 
will take up in the house and—In your time 1 Think 
of the money It will cost. Tblnk what a heavy 
thing it. is to move about. Think how carerully it 
must be cared tor. Think how, of all accomplish¬ 
ments it la the most common. Think or the never 
ceasing practice, ot the constant outlay of money 
It will entail, then think ot other things that 
might, serve you and yours vastly better. 
Perhaps it may not be amiss to tell you that if 
you wish to study music for the sake ot being 
fashionable, that It ts quite the rasblon now Ku¬ 
misses and young ladles to learn to play the violin, 
HER SYSTEM. 
EDGERTON. 
There lived, in Uaytt not very loutr gone by— 
I could not tell you whom, if I should try— 
A lady, who wan worthy, kind and good, 
And alt domestic arts well understood -, 
Her oooklnv, alwaytt iBtuptlu* to the taste. 
She took great pride In doing, free from waste; 
She'd set a dinner lit for any king. 
From bam and eggs, or some such simple thing; 
She had a way, peculiarly her owu, 
Of always doing well whate’er she done; 
She took groat pride in always being neat. 
As well as spreading toothsome viands to eat. 
Her fav’rtte hobby, all through life, had been 
To keep her house as shining as a pin. 
“ A very model.” she at length was termed. 
And all her ways were patterned, taught and learned— 
“ A place for everything,” she'd say with grace, 
“ And everything exactly iu its place.” 
But all In valu her systematic plan. 
Since she was wedded to a careless man; 
He’d tell bis wife, with blandly smiling face. 
That for everything had special place, 
The only trouble being, that he forgot, 
And ne’er agalu could recollect the spot. 
He’d scatter helter-skelter, here and there, 
And leave hla traps a lying everywhere. 
At length she bit upon a happy plan 
By which she thought to cure a careless man j 
She kept a bag of most capacious size, 
Hune In a certain spot, hid from his eyes, 
And in it dropped his little odds and ends. 
As he would toss them to the careless winds. 
And thought, forsooth, at soma convenient time. 
She'd empty out, and shame him of his crime. 
But he. more cunning than she’d ever thought. 
Had watched the woman well, till he found out 
Where she, as stealthily as any oat 
Had carried off and hidden, this or that. 
“ Aha!” said he ," this system suits me well, 
I’ll not be bothered any more to tell 
Where anything may be I chance to quest, 
For here, I find my lady's hidden nest!” 
And any article he chanced to lack. 
He'd go and gobble it from out the sack. 
The upshot of her system, we are told, 
Was, beintr left with jimt the boo to hold. 
[This is how Mary Wager-Fisher’s plan worked at 
our housed 
DESCRIPTION OF CUTS. 
FIG. 1T0. 
CONCERNING PIANOS AND GIRLS. 
more successful players than men. This Is espe¬ 
cially so in playing the flute, and, one might also 
reasonably suppose, in playing the violin. So If 
any member ot the family must play the piano, let 
It be one of the boys, who has no desire to Increase 
the size of his cheBt. But it you have the gift ot 
song—a singing voice—learn to slug as beautifully 
as possible. A beautiful singer la worth a thousand 
pianists, and a beautiful talker is still better. Re¬ 
member that; and remember, too, that however 
lacking In money or advantages you may be, that 
you can do much yourself towards making of your¬ 
self a fine talker. 
MRS. GARFIELD. 
Locrktia Garfield— now mistress of the Exec¬ 
utive mansion, Is the daughter-of an Ohio farmer. 
The public Is not Informed that she spent her 
girlhood In reading trashy novels. In curling her 
hair or In hemming rufitos for her petticoats. But 
It Is informed that she learned latln. and learned 
It so thoroughly that years after she prepared her 
sons (In latln) for college. 
Although a thorough going housekeeper, the 
moi her ot quite a family of children, and always 
obliged to economize (for the Garfield’s are not 
rich) she has kept her mind bright with reading 
and study, and herse lf an Intelligent companion 
for her husband. It Is worth while for our young 
famerlnes to consider the possibilities that lie In 
their own future, and to ask themselves If they 
are spending the golden hours ot their youth In 
such a way a8 will best fit them for positions of 
eminence and usefulness. 
Mary Wager-Fisher. 
fig. 169. 
FIG. 166.—DRK8S FOR LITTLE GIRL FROM FOUR TO 8IX 
YEARS OF AG B. 
The dress Is of dark-green plaid, with hood lin¬ 
ing, cuffs and sash, of red satin. 
Figure 167, Key to figures 1, black and white 
check. 2, salmon. 9, green check. 4, satin—pink 
and white stripe. 6, dark brown. 6. lavender and 
white. 7. black, 8, light green. 9, sky-blue, my 
mother’s wedding frcck. 10 , cherry. 11, stiver. 
12, green and black check, is, bottle-green. 14, 
black velvet. 13, scarlet velvet. 16, navy-blue. 
17, striped gray. 18, violet satin. 19, black and 
white check. 20, brocaded white ribbon. 21, plum. 
22, gray. 
FIG. 169.—MUFF WITH 8AC. 
This muff la of black embossed velvet, with 
pointed drape of velvet, embroidered with silk or 
beads and edged with fringe; the sao is of black 
satin, trimmed with deep black lace. 
FIG. 170.—BORDER : CROSS-STITCH AND DRAWN 
THREADS. 
FIG. 174.—BORDER EMBROIDERY. 
This border 1 b suitable to be worked over a 
Joining of two materials; a braid Is placed ex¬ 
actly over the join; the long and knot stitches on 
each side may either be worked In silk or wool. 
MAKY WAGBft-riSHEH. 
This border is suitable to be worked on orash, 
art canvas, or coarse linen. The cross stitch is 
worked with colored Andalusian wooL The 
method of working over the drawn threads is 
clearly shown In the Illustration. 
fig. 171.—border: cross-stitch. 
This border Is worked In cross-stitch with col¬ 
ored cotton or marking filoselle. A few back 
stitches are also employed. It la suitable to be 
worked round dollys, table-covers, serviettes, etc. 
Fia. 172 .—Evening cap and Collar. 
The cap is composed of Breton lace, ornamented 
with a bouquet of flowers, and fastened at the 
back with a bow ot ribbon. Collar ot fine checked 
muslin, embroidered with crimson and blue silk, 
and edged with lace. 
Fig. 173.—Cravat. 
The cravat Is of old-gold satin, edged with two 
rows of black lace, embroidered with gold ; It is 
gathered at the hack and front of throat, and Is 
fastened under a bow of narrow ribbon. 
I have a great deal of sympathy with the young 
woman who, wheu naked if she played the piano, 
replhd: “No, Heaven be thanked!” and I wish 
that there were a great many more who felt in a 
like way, for tho piano has really become a na¬ 
tional grievance, and the harm it has done Intel¬ 
lectually, socially and esthetleally Is imcalculable. 
Now that piano playing has become bo common 
that people are satiated with it, and are turning 
to other occupations and accomplishments for 
their daughters, It In to bo hoped that the greatest 
accomplishment possible to a woman will receive 
the attention It deserves. I refer to the art of 
talking well. 
I Huppose It would not be an exaggeration to say 
that not one-twentieth of all the women ana girls 
in the country who owu a piano, or are “dying” 
to possess one, oan be credited with speaking the 
English language beautifully, so that It Is a de¬ 
fight to listen to them. 
FIG. 167. 
heard tho usual praises that music teachers in¬ 
dulge In regarding my talent for music, I sang a 
little; that is i made a noise of varied sounds. But 
l very quickly perceived that with all the musical 
advantages possible, I should never be anything 
better than a fifth or sixth rate player to say 
nothing of singing, and 1 wisely concluded It was 
not worth the trouble. 
And what or the thousands of young girls, who 
from the age of six to sixteen are placed at the 
piano and are absolutely forced to practice rrom 
one to four hours a day, whose girlhood la con¬ 
sumed in an almost profitless task, unless It may 
be satisfying the vanity of foolish an short-sight¬ 
ed parents. Is it not most pltllul ? 
the flute, the oboe, the harp, the clarinet, the 
bassoon, the kettle drum. 
Of wind instruments, Mr. Sidney Lanier, who is 
an authority on the subject, says:—*• No one at all 
acquainted wltn this subject will undervalue the 
benefits to female health to be brought about by 
the systematic use of wind Instruments. Out 
of personal knowledge, the writer pleases himself 
often with picturing how many consumptive 
chests, dismal shoulders ana melancholy spines 
would disappear; how many rosy cheeks would 
blossom ; how many erect forms would delight the 
eyes which mourn over their drooping—under;the 
stimulus of.those long, equable and generous in¬ 
spirations and respirations which the execution of 
