THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
345 
downy lnclptency to Its Anal departure in snowy 
dignity from the stage of life. Then follows a 
number of very amusing anecdotes and poems 
with which we are more or less familiar from the 
dally press. The book Is one which can be taken 
up In moments of relaxation, eDjoycd thoroughly, 
and put down without regret. 
Pr nj , l*rof ”h"V* on thft TT9n 01 Microscope. 
Prof. Phin makes a very clever little book, In 
which the lucid explanations on t he use of the 
microscope are Just what are needed to stimulate 
an interest in the use of this most entertaining of 
scientific Instruments. The directions for secur¬ 
ing aDd mounting objects are explicit, and appro¬ 
priate Illustrations Impress the text on one's mind. 
The uses of the microscope are manifold, and we 
can not call to mind any scientific Instrument 
that will 30 pleasantly unlock the mysteries of 
nature and so easily convert an Indifferent ama¬ 
teur Into an ardent, student. 
Surly Tim, nml Other Stories. Rr Frances 
IIougsuN Run nett. New York: Scribner Arm” 
shook AC'o. Pages 270; *1.26. ’ Arra ’ 
Thib Is a collection of Btorlps which have been 
published at. different times In Scribner’s Maga¬ 
zine. The tit les are“ Surly Tim,” a Lancashire 
story, “l,e Monsieur Do La Petite Dame,” “Es¬ 
meralda,” Smbtuukstr’s “ One Day at Arle,” “ l.o- 
dusky,” •• Seth." The highest praise we can be¬ 
stow on t hese stories Is to say of them that they 
are worthy of Mrs. Burnett. The title of the 
hook Is calculated to convey a wrong Impression, 
as one would be apt to Infer from It that the book 
was for and about children. 
Rallies' portfolio. 
CONDUCTED BY FAITH RIPLEY. 
LOVE’S EMBLEMS. 
BY ANNUS L. JACK. 
You are lilr« t.ba Violet, I wrote in epring’. 
The first sweet offering the earth can bring-; 
Always so hopeful of brighter hours— 
Earliest, sweetest, best loved of flowers. 
The first to greet, cany you ever be, 
Yes, like tho Violet you seem to me. 
You are like the Rose, I said in June, 
When hearts and blossoms seemed keeping tune; 
So bright, so gay, Love’s own dear flower, 
That breathes of many a vanished hour. 
Lightly T said it. Ah 1 sweet to me. 
You are like a Rose, and will always be. 
You are like the Pansy, sweet, said I 
As I spoke in the autumn that sad “good-bye■” 
When the snow rails softly white and chill. 
They bud ami bloom and are faithful still; 
Faithful and true as you seem to be, 
Constant in sunshine and storm to roe. 
Ton are like the Fir trees, dear, said I; 
And lior loving glances questioned why. 
When the elms and maples are leafless seen 
Th.y brighten December with living green.’ 
All the year round have you seemed to mo 
Like winter’s best landmark, an evergreen tree. 
-♦-*-*-_ 
DRESS MATERIALS HOSIERY. 
ITEMS. 
Lovers of fine books will bo glad to learn that 
J. B. Ltpplncott, ft Co. are about to Issue a sub- 
erbly Illustrated quarto treating of “The Rhine," 
uniform with the elegant volumes “India’’’ 
“ Rome ” and “ Italy ” Issued during the past two 
years. 
The International Review for November con¬ 
tains lion. John Jay’s answer to the recent final 
action or thoN. Y. Historical Society on Motley’s 
Appeal to History. The same number con¬ 
tains a Sound to the memory of Motley by 
Bryant, other articles of luterest to tho public 
will be Hamcrton’s Twelfth Art Letter. An 
original criticism by a Frenchman, Chart. Glndrez, 
on the lust Salon, in which Thiers andMacMohon 
are described from an artist's standpoint, a 
very valuable article on Islam and tho ottoman 
Empire, by a Chaplain In the United States 
Navy. General James H. Wilson’s Criticism of 
Dr. Mali tn's Critical History of the Civil War. 
Horace White on the Present Phases ot tho Cur¬ 
rency Question, etc. etc. 
The November-D.-cumber Number of The North 
American Review contains the following articles • 
Resumption of Specie Payments, by Hugh 
McCulloch, Judge w. d. Kelley, Gon. Thomas 
Ewing, David A. Wells, Joseph 8. Ropes and 
Secretary Sherman; Cavelier do la Salle by 
Francis Park-man ; The War In the East, by Gen. 
George rt. McClellan; Tho Functions or r T nbelief 
by Thomas Hitchcock; The Southern Question’ 
by CharlesGayarre ot Louisiana; Michel Angelo 
and Buonnarrotl Archives, by T. Adolphus Trol- 
lope; America In Africa, by Gilbert Haven• The 
Situation m France, by a Paris Resident How 
s-hall the Nation regain Prosperity? by David A 
Wells; The Ultramontane Movement In Canada^ 
by Charles Lindsey; Contemporary Literature,' 
This number Is published by James R. Osgood ft 
Co., Boston. The Review In the future will bo 
published by D. Appleton ft Co., New York. 
Littell's Living Aok for ISIS.—’Tho success of 
this sterling periodical Is owing to tho fact that 
It enables one, with a small outlay or time and 
money, to keep pace with the best t hought and 
literature cl the day. Hence its importance to 
every American reader. The ablest living cun- 
tributora to periodical literature are represented 
in its pages, some of whose names win be found 
In the prospectus published In another column. 
It has always stood at the head or its class, both 
In the quality and quantity 0 f tho reading fur¬ 
nished ; and m fact It affords, or Itself, so thorough 
anil complete a compendium of whar, is of Imme- 
dtate Interest or permanent, value la the literary 
world as to render It an Invaluable economizer of 
lime, labor and money, m the multitude ot peri¬ 
odicals of the present time,—quarterlies, monlh- 
llesand weeklles,-such a publication has become 
almost a necessity to every person or family do- 
siring to keep well Informed lu the best literature 
of the day. 
The November Number of The American 
Naturalist comes In good season, and la full or 
interesting articles. Prof. Allred Russell V,nl- 
lace ’ 8 paper on “The Colors of Animals and 
Plants ” comes first, and occupies more than 
twenty pages of tho magazine, c. V. r.Rey 
traces the destructive “Locust tho scourge of 
many a hard-working farmer—from Us home In 
the Rocky Mountains to the banks of tho Missis- t 
slppl. A. 8. Packard, jr, compares the “ Glaciers i 
of the Pacific Coast,” which heretofore havo re- c 
celved slight notice, with those of the Atlautlc H 
Coast. The recent publications relating to t 
Nat ural History are briefly reviewed. Seventeen r 
pages are devoted to “General Notes” on ( | 
Botany, Zoology, Anthropology, Geology, Geo- p 
graphy and Microscopy, giving the latest dts- \ 
coveries, and much interesting information on e 
each of these tranches ot Natural Science, c 
General Scientific News, Proceedings of Societies, u 
and notices of other Scientific Serials conclude 
an unusually good number of this valuable maga- n 
zlne. 
Of all the novelties in cloths, tho stylish bou- 
mu- is the most popular, and it would be hard to 
Imagine a more elegant costume than a combina¬ 
tion of bourettc cloth, shot with cardinal, white, 
Or green, and silk; but the prices are somewhat 
Discouraging. They range from $1.75 to $ 5.00 
P< r .Vftrd, -according to quality, the width Doing 
uniform, <41 -is inches.) The lower-priced grades 
arc all wool, tho others a mixture of wool and 
silk. To those who are tired of plain blue, green 
and brown, and who have the means to indulge 
their tastes, the fancy bourette Olf’-ra a very desi¬ 
rable novelty. Armure ptquo and basket arrnure 
two lets pretentious but very proity all wool 
fabrics, cost $1,000*1.(0 per yard, respectively 
and are 45 inches in width; a good quality of 
basket cloth can be bought for 37)^ ccnte. Cash¬ 
meres and merinos being cast, temporarily in the 
shade by the showy Imported cloths, aro offered 
at extremely low prices. Lupin’s cashmere, 36 
Inches in width being marked down to 56 cents, 
and Golden Fleece M erlno, same width, to as cents 
These goods, as well as the more costly ones are 
manufactured in all the new and desirable shades, 
American Imitations of houvette and annures 
come at *1.150*1,26, AS Inches wide. In Rllks, tho 
American brand lu Just, now the favorite and tho 
prospects arc it will shortly run the imported 
article out of the market. 
Nearly all of the New York stores supply sam¬ 
ples of goods on application, so that ladles Hying 
out of town can make their own selections and 
aro not compelled to trust to the taste of another 
person. 
Tn fancy hosiery, solid colors are most, fashlona- 
bR, but Stripes still retain tllelr hold on the pop¬ 
ular taste. Prices range from 45 cents to fi 25 
per pair, according ro finish and qualify. Those 
ladles whoso means win not admit of their pur¬ 
chasing silk stockings for grand occasions will 
Dud a very desirable substitute In lisle thread, 
tsoma beautiful ones—open-work and embroi¬ 
dery— are offered at from $1.20 to $8 00 per pair, 
in lower grades, Balbifgans range from 33 cents to 
Si.oo. iron frames, warranted, 25 cents. For chil¬ 
dren, there ure.irnported option hose, solid colors, 
at. 33c. to 70c., and in woolen, plain and ribbed, 
28 cents to 60 cento. In ladles’ sizes, woolen stock¬ 
ings range from 2S Cents. Good quality of cash- 
mere (merino) hose costs *l,23@$i.75 per pair, in 
merino undervesto, those in which the seams are 
sewed instead of woven, can be bought as low as 
40 cents. The regular made goods range from 
* 1.00 to * 3 . 00 . Messrs. Altman ft Co., Nineteenth 
street and Sixth-avenue supplied above informa¬ 
tion as to prices, ftc. F K 
ters and calls and presents were for another girl, 
who never had a wedding? 
Who is always ready to entertain an unwel¬ 
come visitor, or leave to another an agreeable 
one; to go, Or stay at home, as may best suit the 
convenience and wishes of 1 he party; to under¬ 
take the disagreeable task of smoothing matters, 
which youth and inexperience havo turned, and 
generously to take all tho blame; In fact, to be 
snubbed almost every way, and yet, be helpful, 
gentle, and sweet,? 
This friend can como to us and stay without 
having to “sceto her family,” and without a men¬ 
tion of the pretty, locked-up apartments with 
their dainty appointments, where things stay m 
order a ml conspire to make Just the dearest, quiet- 
est retreat when we are tired of every place else. 
Wo c!in give this friend our confidences without 
fear of their being shared by a husband and his 
boon companions; and Sbo can glvo us a heart 
full of sympathy and love, undivided by family 
friends—If, Indeed, love is less for being divided. 
Il ls surely a gracious dispensation that gives 
to any place two or three large-hearted Christian 
maiden ladles, kindly disposed toward sowing so¬ 
cieties, temperance organizations, concerts, pub¬ 
lic libraries, missionary work, and conventions 
of all kinds, for l bey can bear the heavy load 
triumphantly, while their married slat,era faint 
beneath the added burden. By reason or their 
age they are free from shyness, and removed from 
misunderstandings with young men and have 
much influence with them In leading them 10 - 
wf ida higher, holler life. Does not St. Pact, 
give such women a beautiful commendation when 
he says that, “The married woman socketh how 
shn nifty please her husband ; but tho unmarried 
woman careth for the things of the Loup, that, 
she may be holy both In body and In spirit?" Be¬ 
side, the unmarried woman has the blessed privi¬ 
lege (enough to balance want of husband and of 
child) or caring for her aged parents, making 
their last days sunny, comfortable, easy days. 
According to a Scotch custom, ono girl roust al¬ 
ways bo left at home, and this girl may count 
herseir happy that rriendly fates h„vo left her 
there to be shielded from the unknown wln.dkand 
storms on the sea of Matrimony, is not this a 
faithful picture of the ordinary old mu Id? If It 
does not represent all, it, does many, and may 
more, or tho thirty-five such women whom I 
have had the good fortune to know, thirty-four 
are very useful, and tho other Is a mutu; a con- 
slderablo number are teachers, and their knowl¬ 
edge of tho world, extensive reading and ripe ex¬ 
perience make them rare treasures lu the pro¬ 
fession. 
ot the aforesaid thirty-five, at least twenty- 
eight, arc Intelligent and agreeable, seventeen arc 
beautiful and accomplished women, and not one 
Is the gossiping meddler which tho term “old 
mnhl” suggests. Why then, use tho mime which 
has In it, a derisive sound? Dues such an epithet 
scorn applicable to Mary Lton, who gave up tho 
thought of marriage or aoy self Indulgence, that 
she might carry forward her noble Idea of the 
grand Inst itution at Mt. Holyoke? is It honoring 
a Queen whose reign was long and useful, despite 
her pm sonal faults, to refer to Queen Elizabeth as 
on “ old maid ?" Dons such a phrase, which hints 
of slang, befit the brilliant and muoh-admtrcrt 
PnoBiiE Cary, or her sweet and tender sister 
Alice, whose memory Is as fragrant as her songs 
arc familiar ? And may not the sweetness of many 1 
of these lives have been wrought out of their sor- j 
low, though only the beauty is known and ro- 1 
tnombered, as in reading “ Paradise Lost” wo for- , 
get that the poet was blind, and in listening to 1 
iiEKTfiovKN'a harmonies, seldom think of the deaf 1 
musician! 
a substitute for “fire-water" other than tea, cof¬ 
fee or water? Why not waive total abstinence 
for the present at least and preach temporal. 
If a lithe of the effort, spent, hi getting up conven¬ 
tions and preparing memorials was directed 10 
encouraging the production of native, pure wines 
and to dealing vigorously with those who manu¬ 
facture the vile OOhcoctloos sold la liquor mou • 
li. seems to me much practical good would bo 
accomplished Why not, try t he experiment of 
establishing reading rooms In which good cheap 
wines win bo sold? I am convinced some such 
method must, ho adopted 10 reach not, only tho o 
who are confirmed Inebriates but thorn also who 
have but Just started ou the downward road. 
Eventually men may be trained to regard 
liquor drinking as a “crime against, their own 
souls,' but, that time Is far distant. Meanwhile 
what Shall wo do to save them from the perm 
clous effects of tippling? France and Spain 
afford examples of tho result ol' making pure 
wine a common beverage. Drunkenness is un¬ 
known among these nations. Would it not bo 
well to allow lilts fact to hftve some weltrld win, 
us when wo tiro devising means for the salvation 
of the drunkard ? “ an Inquirer.” 
---»»+-- 
THOSE MEN. 
Am glad that Jacquelina lias read tho “men 
folks ” a little lecture. They need it 1 Men faith¬ 
fully promise to take c iru of Muir wiv, and 
shield them from life’s storms. Fkkpmik r clasps 
An0buna In,his arras, mid vows most vchoment* 
)y to protect her, to stand between her ami spite, 
ful fate—aud Anqklina trusts her future to tho 
keeping or the boastful youth. Do>Um sequel 
provo him to bo the redoubtable prut ctor lm 
would tin,vo her believe? Look at tho army or 
palo raced, over-burdened, dlaheariened-lotiking 
married women, for answer—Do they show any 
evidences of having been “protected?” 'I iio 
tu st, kindness 0110 could U 1 most ol them would 
be, to protect the women from their fcelf-consti- 
tuted “ prelectors," viz., I heir husbands. Do f 
assert that men aro Intention Uty cruel ? Noth¬ 
ing of the kind. The trouble Is, t hey urn deplor¬ 
ably ignorant,. Why they can’t take proper enro 
of their own bodies and-souls, and niey nave t,no 
assurance, in tho face or this, to assume the rulo 
of “protector." Why aren’t they lioutsl, about 
if. The most of them don’t know more than a 
kitten about Inking care of a wile and children. 
They Luke more intelligent care of their stock, 
Lhan they do of their families, Let’s organize a 
society for tho reformation of husbands and 
fathers. 
One Who Can Take Cake of IIeiujIsi f. 
---♦♦♦- 
HOW AMERICAN WOMEN ABUSE THEIR 
HUSBANDS. 
TEMPERANCE 
OR TOTAL ABSTINENCE, 
WHICH? 
Tr I remember aright It was In 180S that the 
first temperance convention was held tn this 
.State, and .since that date what has been accom¬ 
plished? We havo it from temperance advocates 
themselves, that drunlmiwss is on the increase. 
Rather a bad showing after seventy years or agi¬ 
tation. Can It bo that me methods are at fault v 
L. A. B.— You can make quite a pretty looking 
evening dress of your black silk by covering it 
with black tullo. Drape the tulle and ornament It 
with clusters ot"cardinal and tea roses. The 
effect Is very stylish. 
Mrs. E. Shaw.— Silk cloaks are certainly ele¬ 
gant-looking, but unless you can afford to buy the 
best quality of silk you will find some one of tho 
handsome cloths a much more satisfactory in¬ 
vestment. 
•--- 
THE USEFULNESS OF “OLD MAIDS.” 
by zena. 
as tho subject Implies, tho usefnlaess Is undls- 
putedfas much so as that, of foreign ministers, 
magazines or scissors. Nobody claims that we 
could Dot do without them, but everybody feels 
so nevertheless. What could take the place ot 
the cheery, kindly, convenient, maiden aunt, who 
counsels the father, rescues the mother rrom a 
despair of work, makes balls tor the boys, dolls 
for the v I ids, and carries sugar-plums for the baby 7 
When sickness and trouble, like an armed force, 
come suddenly up. n us, to whom do we look with 
confidence, tor prompt reli.forccment—who binds 
up the wounded and cares for the dead ? 
Who lovingly prepares our sisters, cousins, and 
nelccs for their bridal ceremonies, wit hout, seem¬ 
ing to remember other palmy days, when the Iet- 
No ono can deny that Intemperance Is a great 
evil, and one which needs prompt measures tor 
checking it. I question, though, judging by re¬ 
sults whether tho “ temperance movement, ” |s 
likely to prove effective lu suppressing it. What 
would I recommed 1 Not being a professional 
reformer, 1 don’t know as 1’vo any theory to 
advance for the redemption of drunkards, only, 
looking at the matter from the standpoint, of an 
uuprcjudlced spectator, It seems to mo that an 
immense amount of energy is being misspent lu 
this struggle with int emperance. 
The church In limes not so very olden, insisted 
on divorcing cheerfulness and pleasure from 
religion. Life was too solemn, too big with 
spiritual Import to spend any portion of it, in 
being happy. Men, nevertheless, Insisted on 
bolDg amused, In spite of the maledictions of 
priests and they went where entertainment was 
Offered. The church finding opposition worso 
than useless, 0 . compromise of the matter was 
made aud to-day we find almost all kinds or 
entertainments given In churches with the Sanc¬ 
tion of religious societies. Gan not temperance 
people Learn something from the church in this 
particular 7 History proves that, men m all ages 
arid lu all dimes have taken stimulants lu one 
lorm or another, aud tho prospects arc that they 
will continue to do so for some time 10 come, it 
Is liaruly to be expected that whole peoples will 
turn from the seductive Influence of the wine¬ 
glass and take kindly to water at t he bidding of 
the reformer. 
Would it not be advisable to offer some sort of 
Da. Theodore Curistlieb, tho German “ tvm- 
gelioal” whose sweetness and light, so took cap¬ 
tive the rest of the evangelicals at thealllunco 
meeting In New York some years ago, lias round 
a serious blot, upon our ClYlIlzalion In tlm great 
republic. Pror. Chrlsllleb confided to a recent 
American visitor that, lie had great fears for tho 
future or our nation because “ th© spirit of Christ,” 
was not hero. Pressed to explain bis meaning, 
he did not clto any of those financial or social 
scandals that make its uneusy, but “seriously 
declared that on mora thau one Occasion ho had 
heard an American married woman say to her 
husband, ‘Dear, will you bring mu my shawl ?’ 
and the husband had brought it l" and further 
that ho had seen a man come homo and find his 
ulto sifting In tho De.it chair 01 the parlor, and 
not, only did she not, ri.se to get, hl.s dressing-gown 
and slippers, but she (lid not rise at all, and lot 
film find his own chair u: well us other comfort J , f 
These were tho things that, tills profound pro¬ 
fessor, nawed after the love of Christ, found to 
evidence a dangerous lurk of that Artlelo in riio 
United States, it is hard to overestimate iho 
value of this well-weighed criticism from ;■« eml- 
nenr. a source, based us It is, ou undeniable tact a. 
The female woman in this country tin : unques¬ 
tionably urrived at a degree of Individualism 
which places lur In many tilings on a level with 
man. She cannot bo depended upon to get out of 
bed at l o’clock of a winter morning to make a 
lire and get breakfast, while her lord and master 
takes a beauty nap, with anything like the eer- 
taluty that she once could. She won’t oat tho 
chicken’s gizzard while there’s any breast left,— 
no, nor afterward, either. She objects to fill her 
husband’s pipe and “ start” It with a few gentle 
puffs, as any professor’s spouso ought to. She 
opens her husband’s letters on the same ground 
that, he opens tiers. A man has no right hereto 
whip Lis wire, or to harness he r to a plow, as tho 
German farmers do. In fuej, It’s getting so in enr 
coumry thala wlfohas almost ns many rights** 
a husband, and tho conviction Is slowly galrdng 
ground that marriage Is a matter of mutual ser¬ 
vice and attention, wp owe Professor cnrtsuieb 
something for bringing tills to our notice, llo 
may have stopped us on the brink of a precipice, 
as It were.— SprlnyjleUl Republican, 
8 elden reproduces an anecdote In Illustration 
of the advantage of fair speech. It, k 10 this 
effect:—A certain Spanish nobleman, when ho 
was dying, was lohl by his confessor how Satan 
torment ed tho wicked who went to hell, tips ho 
did to work him to repentance, i he dying man 
replying, called the devil my lord. “1 hop., my 
lord the devil Is nor. so cruel," ejaculated he. ills 
confessor reproved him. “Excuse me, father," 
said tho Don, “tor calling him so. i know uot, 
Into wliat hands I may lull, and ir I happen Into 
his, I hope ho will use me tho better for giving 
him good words!" 
