f’458 
JULY 8 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
to any of them, will receive courteous and 
prompt attentions. 
St. Git-man is eight miles south of Sibley, on the 
same railroad. It has 100 population, one Btore, 
(Farnsworth <fc Wyatt), a lumber yard, grain deal¬ 
er, shops, etc.; Its surroundings are nch and pro¬ 
ductive. 
Rock Rapids Is the county seat of Lyon County, 
on the western hank of Rock River, and on an¬ 
other Division or the C. St. P. M. and o. R. R. it 
has nearly ooo population; ample church priv¬ 
ileges, and educational advantages, a good local 
paper, two flouring mills, rully fso.noo hanking 
capital, good stores, well-stocked hotels, shops 
and energetic, enterprising Inhabitants. They 
need a tow mill, and from the increased quantity 
of flax, we should think an oil mill would also pay. 
Here we received valuable aid from J. Shade 
County Treasurer, and real estate dealer. M. W. 
Dickinson, his deputy, the Bank of Rock Rapids, 
and the Lyon County Bank, both dealing In real 
estate, and from .T. F. Eccleston, attorney and 
real estate dealer, to all of whom we extend a 
hearty "thank you.”—Continued next week. 
BRIC-A-BRAC. 
TUK LIVELY MOSQUITO. 
A well-known member of the "art preserva¬ 
tive,'’ rythmical ebullitions from whose pen occa¬ 
sionally appear In the Bee, has been having a llt- 
tie severe experience with that lively bird, the 
mosquito, and this Is how he gets even with him : 
The pesky creature* comes at nlp-ht, 
Ae soou :i« 1 blow nit my light. 
Anon he lights npon my face. 
And. picking out a tender place, 
inserts his bill beneath the skin. 
Then sucks the liquid freely in. 
Down goes tuy hand with a " kerslap,” 
\b be. begin, my blood to lap. 
But ho escapes upon the wing, 
And in the air I hear him sing, 
bre long 7 get into a doze. 
But soon I feel hiui on my nose— 
Then quietly I set a trap, 
With the fond hope Ills bead to “ tap.” 
Of my intent full well ho knows 
(While (fitting there in calm repose), 
And quick up to the colling goes. 
Surcharg’d with blood drawn from my nose. 
Another charge he makes with “ vim,” 
And I eBsay to capture him; 
But, with all my hearty slapping. 
Cannot catch the creature " napping! ” 
It’s no use ! try as I will, 
I cannot rid me of his bill I 
So on my pillow keep quitestili. 
While of my blood he takes his fill 
In my dreaoiH I see him lipping 
The sanguine incal he'd been sipping; 
And, while much pleased he seemed to be. 
He laughs a laugh of fiendish glee; 
And sitting there upon the wall. 
With bloody bill and red eye-hall. 
He makes my heart with horror swell, 
As he gives forth his fiendish yell! 
NO SECRETS FROM SCIENCE, 
The doctor arrives at the hospital to make his 
dally visit of Inspection, and receives the ticket of 
a new patient, “ X, musician In German band ; 
pulmonary consumption.” 
He proceeds to the patient’s bedside, surrounded 
by his admiring class. 
“ Well, my good fellow, you spit blood, don’t 
you V f 
“ Yes, doctor. I—” 
“That’lldo; we k ow all about It. And you 
have cold sweats at night, eh ?” 
“ Yes, sir, and—’’ 
“ I fancy now that by occupation you are a mu¬ 
sician 7” 
“ Yes, I play—” 
“Be silent, You belong to a brass band, and 
you have exerted yourself—have fairly blown your 
lungs awaypufling Into your Instrument. Gen¬ 
tleman, you perceive that sickness has no secrets 
from science. What Instrument do you play upon, 
my good man 
“ The cymbals, sir,” 
Consternation on the doctor’s part, and amuse¬ 
ment of the students. 
MOTHER’S CLOCK. 
A tooth Bat on a Bofa wide, 
Within a parlor dim; 
The maid who lingered by hi8 side 
Was all the world to him. 
What brought the glad light to his eye— 
That cadence to his tone t 
Why burns the lamp of love so high, 
Though midnight's hour bath flown ? 
The dock above the glowing grate 
Has stopped at half.past ten; 
And, long as that young man may wait, 
It will not 8trike again. 
The artful maiden knows full well 
What makes the clock act so. 
And why no earthly rower can tell 
The time for him to go. 
—Springfield Republican. 
A young lady was married in Louisville the 
other day. and a newspaper account of the event 
was headed, “ Mated In May.” The New York 
Graphic supposes that "Joined In June," and 
“ Attached in Auguai”wlli be the late of those 
who come later m the season. It Is to be hoped 
that " separated In September” will be needed In 
no case. 
HOW THEY SWEAR. 
The river says, I’ll be dammed. 
The f tocklhg says, I’ll be darned. 
1 he furnace says, I’ll be blasted. 
The doctor says. Plague take It. 
The teacher says, Well, that's cool. 
The scholar Bays, I’ll be switched. 
The preacher says, Mt rcy on us. 
The farmer says, Land sakes. 
The lawyer says, hold up your right hand. 
The mei chant says, By the prophetB. 
The newspaper man never swears—that lg. 
** ONLY IN FUN." 
He knelt at the feet of his charmer 
And clasped her soft hand In his own ; 
He talked in a way to alarm her. 
Of love lint her heart wan of stone. 
Her " nay” to his suit wne surprising. 
For he had considered her won. 
“ Ah well," be exclaimed, quickly rising, 
” You know J was only In Din.” 
And shortly he left, when she. sighing. 
Said slowly, “ Ah ! what have I done— 
Comeback, oh, my love, 1 am dying - 
’Twas I, not thyself, was in fun." 
— Norristown Herald. 
Jur Sfionwi. 
CONDUCTED BY MISS RAY GLARE. 
ORCHARD WEDDING. 
[From Mary yiapes Dodge’s now Book of Poems.] 
There’s a wedding in the orchard, dear, 
I know it by tbo flowers; 
They’re wreathed on every bough and branch 
Or falling down in showers. 
The air ts in a mist. I think, 
And scarce knows which to be 
Whether all fragrance clinging close, 
Of bird-song, wild and free. 
And countless wedding Jewels shine. 
And golden gilts of grace; 
I never saw such wealth of aim 
In any shady place. 
It seemed I heard the fluttering robes 
Of maidens clad in white. 
The claspinir of a thousand hands; 
In tenderest delight. 
While whispers ran among the boughs 
Of promise ami praise; 
And pluyful loving messages 
Sped through the leaf-lit ways. 
Then were there ewayiugs to and fro; 
The. weeds a-tiptoe rose, 
And sang the breeze a sudden song 
That sank to sudden close. 
And Just, beyond the wreathed aisles 
That end agaiost the blue. 
The raiment of the wedding choir 
And priest came shining through. 
And though I saw no wedding guest, 
Nor groom, nor gentle bride; 
I knew that holy things were asked. 
And holy love replied. 
THE INFLUENCE OF GOOD B00K8. 
MAY MAPLE. 
Just how many times my mother had given me 
lessons upon making beds I know not; but often 
and often had she told me that the right side of 
the sheets must face each ot her, aDd that f ho under 
sheet must cover the top and sides ot the bed and 
be nicely tucked down all around; In this way the 
bedding would be kept clean mach longer than If 
the sheets were put on in a careless, hap-ha/.ard 
manner. The blankets were to be spread on 
smooth and square, with only the drapery of the 
counterpane and pillows visible when the work 
was completed. But in my childish haste the 
sheets were not unfrequentiy put inside out, the 
broad hem ornamenting the foot of the bed, the 
quilts hung one below another, shingle fashion, 
while the corners draped the floor m anything but 
a graceful and tidy manner. 
It mattered not how often I was told of my foil 
lugs, or how many times I was made to do tuy 
work over again, the lessons were all unheeded In 
less than a week and must be repeated. When I 
was nearly, or quite, twelve years old, my mother 
gave me a small book which she had received as a 
gift when a child. I had long desired to know the 
contents of this book, which 1 knew was one or 
her treasured keepsakes, but when l had asked to 
read It she had always put me off wlth,“Whenyou 
are old enough to appreciate its lessons, you sUall 
have It for your own. ” It was a happy day to mo 
when she considered me "old enough.” I took 
the book from her hands and hastened away to 
my favorite "reading ro .m,” which was In the top 
or an old plum tree In the garden, where birds and 
breezes were welcome companions. Very soon I 
was deeply engaged In the story of "Anna and 
Lizzie,” which, as I remember It now, so many long 
years after, consisted of two characteristic little 
girls who lived with an aunt. Of course, one of 
them belonged to the “ goody-goody ” clabe, and 
kept everything about her room and person in the 
most perfect order. Her bed was always made as 
11 In a mold, without a wrinkle In Bheet or quilt, 
and the sheets " faced together ” as my mother 
a disappointed nnsiiAND. 
Thirty days after a Michigan man got a divorce 
from his wife to marry one with a handsomer face, 
the woman fell heir to $2S7,oon. You bet that ex- 
husband feels like a man with a jumping tooth¬ 
ache. 
AMERICAN COURTSHIP. 
Who ain I ? I'm Miss Midget’* beau; 
Arp, twenty: uaum. T. TompkyiiH Know. 
Dreas, nobby; travel on my cheek. 
And earn sly dr liars in a week. 
Who is Miss Mid vet 7 Khe’s a blonde; 
Of cream and candies she is fond ; 
Likewiwe of mo, is sweet sixteen; 
Can | day a piano, is a queen. 
Do I intend to marry ? Why 
Of course I do. that is when i 
Get rich, and yet, ’most any day, 
My fate and I may run away. 
What would we liveon ? Well, my i>lan 
Would be to board with her old nuui- 
He couldn’t see ns starve and T 
it onld be bis partner, too. Bye-bye ! 
— H. C. Dodge. 
had so long and patiently tried to teach me to 
spread mine; her clothes were always kept In re¬ 
pair by her own tiny hands; her ribbons were 
neatly rolled and kept In a box; sbe never failed 
to find her gloves or her handkerchief In their 
proper place; In fact, the author had portrayed 
Anna as a paragon. Ot course, everybody loved 
her and praised her for her fine qualities. 
Lizzie was more like myself, a little hoyden, care¬ 
less to an extreme, with ouly occasional streaks or 
neatness. And no amount, of precepts, gentle or 
otherwise, had any lasting effect. Finally, their 
aunt, proposed to make a party for the little girls 
at a given time. During the week that intervened 
each should have the entire control of her own 
room and wearing apparel, and no censure or 
praise would be given to either till the day of the 
party, when each child should receive the reward 
of her doings. For two or thee weeks Lizzie’s room 
with all Its appurtenances looked as well as 
Anna's. But after that, she began to fall lu her 
duties, particularly about t he bed, which was too 
often spread up hastily, the quilts lying In folds 
from corner to corner, the sheets peering out at 
the foot of the bed, tho pillows tossed carelessly as 
near the center of the bod as they were to the pol¬ 
ished headboard, also showing marks of dust gath¬ 
ered from the floor where they had been thrown 
while the bedding was left to air. 
At last the day of the party arrived and the girls 
were called to their aunt's room to don the new 
party dresses, which they now beheld for the first, 
time. Anna’s was of pure white muslin with 
beautiful lace trimmings and blue ribbons. While 
careless lizzie was the possessor of a dark calico 
dress runted at the neck and sleeves with the 
same. But during the afternoon she seemed to 
forget, her mortification of the morning, for she 
had a Bunny nature and could laugh and play as 
well in her homely calico ns could her cousin 
Anna In her more costly India mull. But when 
the little girls and their guests were called to tea, 
Lizzie was given a table by herself with soiled 
napery arid wooden dishes that held some brown 
bread, batter and apple sauce, while Anna and 
the visitor were directed to scats at the large table, 
that was covered with the finest white linen cloth 
and set with china and glass dlsnea, well filled 
with white bread and golden butter, frosted ca lces 
and rich preserves, oranges, nuts and candles. 
This was a little too much for Lizzie, and when 
auntie explained lo all why she bad made such a 
contrast., Lizzie burst Into tears and at once left 
the table and the room. Of course, according to 
the author, this treatment effected an immediate 
cure with the little hoyden, and she was ever 
after as orderly as her cousin Anna. 
1 really do riot have much faith In such sudden 
cures of long established maladies; but the little 
story made a marked impression on my mind, and 
I began to gradually mend my ways. About this 
time 1 read " Miss Ophelia's Lesson to Topsy,” od 
making beds, and the two stories added to my 
mother’s patient teaching taught me at last how 
to make a bed properly. And though many years 
have passed since then, I seldom do this work 
without thinking of careless Lizzie, Topsy and 
mother. So 1 say, give the little folks books that 
are likely to make the best Impressions, and that 
they will have occasion to rejoice over all the 
days of their lives for the good lessons taught 
therein. 
ETIQUETTE. 
WniLE not pretending to any extensive knowl¬ 
edge on the subject of etiquette, I am tempted to 
reply to " Rural Sister.” 
In the strictly fashionable world there Is often 
much stress laid on very small points, and only 
they who make a study of social etiquette can be 
armed for every detail. 
Politeness la the same the world over; etiquette 
varies greatly m different localities, a courteous,' 
well-bred young lady will always appear with pro¬ 
priety, or If she violates any rule of local etiquette, 
the deed will not be very shocking. A considera¬ 
tion for the feelings of those around her will al¬ 
ways suggest the proper thing to do, or at any rate 
will lead her to do what she does with a natural¬ 
ness and genuineness that will make the act or 
words Aer own, and the effect what she Intended 
It to be, independent of any arbitrary rules. 
It la Impossible to write out a code of laws per¬ 
fectly applicable to every occasion, and general 
rules must always be modified by common sense 
to suit, the various times and conditions. 
in announcing or Introducing a guest, It the 
company is seated around the room In a row, Bllent 
and awestruck with anticipation, or fearful of 
making some jtiux pas, or Immovable and un¬ 
speakable for some unknown reason, it, Is very 
well to take the stranger around and give an In¬ 
troduction lo each one, although It seems to me— 
to an easily embarrassed person—a uselessly try¬ 
ing experience, and I always prefer being Intro¬ 
duced here and there (luring the evening, when 
and where I can have an opportunity ot saying 
something more than the stereotyped Introductory 
phrases. If the company Is Bent-lble and group 
about conversing with some degree or animation, 
It la easy for the hostess to Introduce the stranger 
with ease both to herself and guests. 
Rural sister asks, “ Is It. strictly improper for a 
lady to thank a gentleman tor his company ; la It 
proper tor a lady to thank a gentleman tor his 
attentions ?” 1 do not understand her distinction 
ot the difference between "company ” and " at¬ 
tentions.” l am also too old-fashioned to believe 
that every act of politeness from a gentleman Is to 
be taken as a matter of course by the recipient, 
nor do I like the uttltude which I have known 
many young ladles to lake, which asserts compla¬ 
cently that their society sufficiently repays any 
trouble which a friend may take for them. I^et. 
common sense be the basis of all rules and the 
young woman will not take It for granted that 
every gentleman she meets is ready to sacrifice 
himself at any cost for her sake. Let her accept a 
kind offer to see her home from a party some cold 
night, and when he has taken the long walk to 
leave her safe on her own doorstep, be he young 
ot old, T cannot see why It Is not better to take It 
as a friendly service and acknowledge it in a 
graceful manner, rather than by a lack of thanks 
of any sort to assume that she is so charming and 
he so charmed that anything more Is superfluous. 
Undoubtedly there are many times when direct 
thanks would be out of place, but, tbe true woman 
win seldom be at a loss to express her appreciation 
of kindness, her enjoyment of the drive or even¬ 
ing’s pleasure, while the fact of her not taking It 
as something due, or expected, would make It 
easier and safer for the friend, or prompt more 
marked attention It he wished to be considered 
more than friend. 
It Is Impossible to lay down rules suitable for all 
persons. In this age of forward youth It would 
hardly be safe to propound as a law wbal. would 
be perfectly right, for the well-meaning, well-bred 
womanly girl. It is better to be too backward 
than too forwarl, and It depends greatly on her, 
what she Is and with what propriety she conducts 
herselt, whether she should "Invite a gentleman 
to call." It she can entertain him with sensible 
conversation, and bo free from all manner of silli¬ 
ness, she may invite her friend to call, and 
when he comes let the family enjoy the pleasure 
of hts society also. 
If there is one object at which nobody ever falls 
to laugh, it is at the woman who courts attention, 
who Is constantly " throwing herselt at some.one.” 
She Invariably loses what she covets by overdoing 
tho matter, tor modesty and true womanliness 
gain more real admlrutlou than boldness and for¬ 
wardness, which may seem to carry the day. 
As for the last question, 1 never think ot refus¬ 
ing to acknowledge the salutations ol my friends 
who dally pass by my windows, because some panes 
of glass are between me and them! 
I am not, as I have said, one of the " wise ” ones, 
but l have ventured to give my opinions. 
«he must be very judicious and discreet who 
never commits even a slight error In matters which 
must be left often to one’s own Judgment, but Bhe 
who Is guarded by self-respect and true womanly 
reserve will not make mistakes which cannot be 
readily forgiven and overlooked. r. b. 
-- 
OUR TRAVEL8. 
VALENA. 
Arriving at New York upon the eve of election 
day, we saw numberless bonfires In the streets, 
upon the outskirts of the city. These fires, though 
of no groat magnitude, were emblematic of the 
pal riot lo love for our country burning in the 
hearts of her boys. Leaving the cars we proceeded 
to the house Stewart built," For Women.” it Is a 
largo Iron structure, painted dark ; it has an ele¬ 
gantly furnished parlor and a well filled library ; 
but falling to be profitable for the purpose for 
which it was built, It has been turned into a hotel. 
We could not but think It a monument turned into 
an Exchange for making money. 
Business calling the Professor to another part of 
the city, the following morning, wo concluded to 
go to the house In which Sam Slick sloped forty 
years ago. Saw here the window “ with a stun 
cut wreath,” through which, Sam said “ he looked 
out ot to view the metropolis.” We looked for B. 
Bobbet and Joslah Allen’s wife, ktiowlu K this was 
the hotel where they " put up, ” and in this build¬ 
ing where " Joslah’s wife offered to help Mrs. 
Astor wash the dishes.” But a little way from 
this building is the grave of charlotte Temple, 
the story of whose life we read and cried over 
when a child. 
The “ Society ot Mechanical Engineers'’ having 
their meeting at this time, It was our good for¬ 
tune to meet many eminent mechanical men and 
listen to Beveral very valuable papers on mechani¬ 
cal subjects. in machinery Ihore la a fascination 
ihat but few can resist, even though they may 
not understand Us principles. We all, like Toddy, 
" want to see the wheels go round.” We went to 
the Fair of the American Institute, visited several 
Art Galleries, the Decorative Art Rooms, "The 
Rural New-Yorker” and some oilier popular peri¬ 
odical offices. We became very much Interested 
in some pen sketches, and have tried our hand at 
sucU work with gratifying results, sometimes, 
by bringing to notice such little things an Inspira¬ 
tion is caught which works Itself lulu a name. I; 
is my belief that genius ofien lies dormant until 
some circumstance lights the fire. Therefore It 
should be our pleasure to exhibit and explain 
whatsoever handiwork we cau, whenever an op¬ 
portunity offers. Although not caring to copy the 
thing seen, It may awaken suggestions which, if 
wrought out, may possess merit and Ingenuity. 
We are learners and the more knowledge we 
have with ability to make good use of It, the more 
valuable we arc to our family, our neighbors and 
all with whom we may associate. People say “ he 
la gifted,’’when they mean he has seen and learned 
a great deal, and lias the ability to do as well as 
talk. 
Prizes are offered In decorative designs and 
wood engraving. These prizes are won by those 
whose lertlle brain and skillful hands have 
wrought the most orlgtual and artistic work. 
Generally they are the Inquiring minds whose ob¬ 
servations have been quickened lu childhood and 
guided Into channels where brain-work and hand¬ 
work are combined harmoniously. One who has 
the opportunity to travel, has an opportunity to 
see much that la valuable. He can compare the 
work of many good workers and become, to quite 
an extent, a proper Judge of artistic work, if he 
Is a reader, he can easily learn to whom to look 
for standard work, and thus lay up a store of much 
that Is valuable. Our tastes are improved by 
comparison ; we see an ordinary piece ot work and 
if we have never seen better, to us It is good. We 
view a fair painting, and lr our eye has not been 
cultivated by seeing those superior to it, to us it is 
exquisite, although the coloring is crude. 
But it takes a well-balanced mind to know 
