272 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Domestic (gcotiomp, 
CONDUCTED 3Y EMILY MAPLE 
SIFTINGS FROM THE KITCHEN FIRE. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
April ie in ono of her sullen moods to-day, for 
the sky is dark and lowering ; a mingled snow and 
rain drips from the leaden clouds and the birds 
hide shivering in the evergreens, while we stir 
up tho kitchen lire to a brighter blaze. The 
boys have made bird homos of hollow logs, and 
carried out sheaves of grass seed and grain to 
feed tho feathered friends that have returned too 
early to their last summer haunts. It is a good 
deed for tho birds, aud teaches our children to 
be kind-hearted, aud to act as protectors, instead 
of destroying the pretty songsters. So tame 
were they diuiug the last storm that they came 
into workshop aud barn, and dew about un¬ 
molested. Very flue has been the weather lately 
and we have been thinking seriously of house- 
cleaning. Yet experience proves to me that it is 
often wrong to trust to the first fine days of a 
season, which are often followed by a cold rain. 
Tho rooms cleaned will gather dust, flies are 
necessary, and tho work has often to bo done over 
again. I find it a bettor plan to spend tho time 
attending to tho spring outfit of clothing, pack¬ 
ing away unnecessary garments with camphor 
in paper hags that are impervious to mothB, 
and looking over and lengthening the chil¬ 
dren's ololbos, often found too small after 
their winter's vigorous growth. Then, when in 
early May the settled warmth is an assured fact, 
an extra hand to help aud plenty of soft water, 
soap, and ammonia will take off easily the 
smoke and dust stains that will accumulate, and 
the fresh sweet air can penetrate to the heart of 
every room. 1 do not fiud this generally un¬ 
pleasant task half so grim aud odious as it is 
portrayed. A little system—the fact of begin¬ 
ning and finishing one part at a time—creates 
very little family disturbance and quite involun¬ 
tarily, as the double windows are taken off and 
the cool green blinds take their plaoe, I find my¬ 
self singing a stanza of Whittier’s beautiful 
poem: 
" The west winds blow, unci sinking low 
I hear tho Kind streams run; 
The windows of my soul I throw 
Wide open to the biji.” 
One summer tho ants found their way to a 
certain cupboard whore sweets were kept and, 
for tho benefit of tho lady who inquired in the 
Rural for a remedy aH well as of others so 
troubles], 1 will give my plan of proceeding. 
When house-cleaning the next season I removed 
everything and washed the shelves and Bides of 
the cupboard with clean water ; then went over 
the ground again with a wator in which red pep¬ 
pers had been boiled to which was added a little 
ammonia and carbolic acid. Tho doors were left 
open awhile before wo put anything in, and as a 
precaution, 1 placed frequently a fresh bone on 
the shelves to attract them and kept ot t such 
things as sugar for that season. Hat the ants 
never returned. If they had they would have 
gathered on the bone and could easily have been 
destroyed by scalding. Carbolic acid is very 
useful but needs to be in experienced hands on 
account of its burning nature. It is a good dis¬ 
infectant and can be used in many ways during 
the period of house-cleaning. I hope ail the 
ladies who read the Rural keep a scrap book iu 
which tho good things floating iu newspapers 
may he kept. I would say for their information 
that any starch left over from tho washing is 
just as useful as a paste made on purpose and 
save- time when a few choice pieces are on hand 
and in danger of being mislaid. 
SHIRT IRONING. 
In looking over some back numbers of the 
Rural, I noticed an article on shirt ironing by 
“ One Who Tries to Learn,” asking for sug¬ 
gestions, or the experience of others. Thinking 
my method superior and less laborious, 1 most 
willingly give it Dissolve two large table¬ 
spoonfuls of starch in one quart of cold water ; 
let stand and settle; turn that w T ater off carefully, 
which removes tho gummy substance which is 
the principal cause of the iron sticking. Then 
add a very little fresh water, sufficient to make 
it thin enough to pour into boiling water, let¬ 
ting it boil up nicely, and to one pint of starch 
add a teaspoouful of kerosene oil. Starch your 
goods, letting them dry before ironing; then 
sprinkle the same as other clothes. If wished 
very stiff, dip them again into the starch, When 
ready to iron, rub a little beeswax on the iron 
and wipe thoroughly on a piece of clean paper. 
Smooth shirt-bosoms evenly, rubbing them with 
a clean dry cloth before ironing, or a damp ono 
if too dry. I have no trouble with the iron stick¬ 
ing to the goods siace I have learned to dissolve 
the starch iu cold water and pour it off be¬ 
fore using. The same holds good for cold starch 
which I uso as often, adding a pinch of salt in¬ 
stead of the kerosene oil. I trust those who try 
this will be as much benefited as myself. 
Yates Co., N. Y. Mrs. Mary Olin. 
-*-M-- 
ANT EXTERMINATOR. 
Please accept a perfect ant exterminator of 
either tho large or small black or the red. 
Spread plentifully upon the shelves in closets 
visited by ants common sail, also filliug all 
orovioeB in wall or wood-work. As the salt will 
adhere to anything placed upon it, I spread 
newspapers over it. After a short time the salt 
becomes damp; you may then put on fresh paper 
but do not remove the salt during warm weather. 
Jellies, custards, cake, sugar in fact nothing 
will tempt them to forage where salt is plenti¬ 
fully sprinkled. Tho above I know from ex¬ 
perience. Mrs. M. G. B. 
Sandusky. 
--- ,,, 
QUERIES ANSWERED. 
Please furnish mo with a No. 1 recipe for 
Mock Turtle Soup ? May I also hope for diieo- 
tions for preserving natural flowers so that they 
will retain their color and form ? I would like 
to commence with roses, lilies and some of our 
lovely wild flowers. Mrs. M. G. B. 
Anh.—N o. 1. The following recipe for Mock 
Turtle Soup I think you will And very good. 
Glean and wash one largo oalf’B head and two 
pig’s feet; put to boil iu four quarts of water 
—the kettle must be covered tightly throughout 
—until the meat will Blip from the bones of the 
head. Select enough of the fatty parts from 
the cheeks and top of the head to flii a teacup 
and with the brains sot aside. The meat from 
the head should he reserved with the brains 
until the next day. Chop the tongue very flue 
and with the selected fat add to the stock. 
Season with pepper, salt, majorara, thyme, 
cloves, mace, allspice and nutmeg. Simmer for 
two hours longer, removing the bones of tho 
feet when the flesh falls from them. Then take 
from the lire, pour into an earthen dish and set 
aside until the next day. One-half hour before 
dinner remove as much of the grease as desira¬ 
ble, boil, strain and add the reserved meat cut 
into little squares. Thicken with a tablespoon¬ 
ful of browned flour rubbed smooth in a little 
water. Five minutes before removing from tho 
Are add the force-meat balls made as follows : 
Rub to a paste in a bowl the yelks of four hard- 
boiled eggs gradually adding tho brains, a 
tablespoonful of melted butter and a little salt. 
Mix with this two well-beaton eggs and with 
floured hand form into little balls the sizo of a 
small marble. As the soup is dished add aTarge 
claret-glass of sherry wine aud the j uioe of one 
lemon. Three piuts of this soup are amply 
suflioieut for ten persons, Or oven more. 
No. 2.—Many flowers may be preBorved for 
months by dipping oarofully when gathered in 
limped gum water; when draiued they can bo 
arranged in a vase when their shape and oolor 
will be preserved long after they are dry. 
Another method to preserve natural flowers is to 
dip them into molted paraffine, quickly with¬ 
drawing them. The paraffiue should only be 
hot enough to maintain its fluidity. Hold the 
flower by its peduncle and move about an 
instant to get rid of air bubbles. The flowers 
should be fresh-cut and free from moisture. 
ftos of f|x ®M. 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
The sensation of the day is the confession of 
Mrs. Tilton that the charge mads by her husband 
with regard to her and Honry Ward Beecher, is 
true. Beecher has explicitly denied that she wua 
guilty, as she now alleges. The unrortunate 
woman has so often made charges and afterwards 
retracted them and contradicted herself, twice 
under oath, that this confession Is robbed of the 
force It would have had, if the woman’s conduct 
and wordB had not been so unsatisfactory. Prob- 
ably no further legal steps will be taken In the 
matter. Those who have believed Beecher inno¬ 
cent, will, as a rule, continue to regard him as 
the victim of a foul conspiracy’, whereas those 
who have thought him guilty will be confirmed 
in that conviction. Beecher and Tilton are both 
now on lecture tours, the former In rural New 
fork, tbo latter out West. Rumors are contra¬ 
dictory about Mr, and Mrs, Tilton living together 
again; and It would be hazardous to venture an 
opinion on the future conduct of such erratic 
people. Tla unfortunate that this hideous scan¬ 
dal should be reopened to the detriment of public 
morality. 
Blair’s bill to test the Presidential title was In¬ 
troduced In the lower House of Coneress on tho 
15th, and referred lo the Judiciary Committee 
where it will probably remain without any action 
being taken on it. A shipboard of colored emi¬ 
grants has left Charleston, South Carolina, for 
Liberia, Africa, and the movement Is rapidly 
spreading throughout the State. It Is partly a 
religious movement, fostered by hopes of great 
worldly advantage in the growing colony. Should 
It prove successful It will certainly injure those 
sections of the South from which It will draw the 
laborers who now do all or nearly all the field¬ 
work. More Indian outrages are reported from 
Western Texas, where the adherents of Lerdoare 
reported to be actively exciting trouble on the 
frontier, with a view of disturbing the friendly 
relations at present existing between Mexico and 
this country. A political sensation was caused 
about the middle of the week by the publication 
In a New York paper, of an alleged Interview with 
Senator Oonkllng. The brilliant, New York states¬ 
man handled the President, Cabinet, their con¬ 
duct and policy without gloves; but although 
tho thing was Spicy reading. It turns out to bn 
only one-half true, as Conkljng dentes a great 
deal of It although he does not specify which 
parts are false. An amendment to the House 
bill with regard to Gen. Shields has been made In 
the Senate adding the names of Gen. Grant and 
other meritorious officers no longer In the public 
service to the name of Shields, to be placed on tho 
retired list of the army with pensions. The whole 
thing was a mere political dodge to escape the 
odium of preferring Field to Shields as door¬ 
keeper. There has boon a great deal of shooting 
an over the country this week—principal cause, 
Intermeddling criminally with other men’s txv 
longings In the shape of wives, daughters and 
sisters. At Coal Creek, ind., there has been a 
bloody miners’ riot between white and colored 
workmen—three killed, a number of others more 
or legs severely wounded. 
Large shipments of horses are being made on 
most or tho steamers leaving this port for 
England, ostensibly for tramway purposes 
mainly, but many believe iu part at least 
for cavalry use. Fernando Wood Insists that 
his tariff bill looking inwards freer trade, win 
have a majority of 23. Senator Blaine has made 
a vigorous speech against the measure before a 
frlendlj audleneo at (-hosier, Pa. Allover the 
country there is much talk about Immediate re¬ 
sumption of gold payments, some banks, in 
most of the States, are already redeeming their 
own notes in gold, and several factories have 
paid their hands In the same coin. The move¬ 
ment Is far more general West than East, for 
money-changers are loath to give up their pick- 
lags and percentages, and the East is their 
stronghold. A vigorous effort Is being made 
in Congress to reimposo tho Income tax; Income 
is certainly better able to pay than poverty. 
Thero Is a fresh rumor that ex-Governer Fenton 
will be nominated Instead of Gen. Arthur as 
collector of tills port. Another fight between 
Conkllng and the administration with the odds 
this time in favor of the latter. Just now (April 
21 and 22 ) a fearful snow-storm and flood are 
making things uncomfortable In tho Blaok Hills, 
and moreover hostile I ndlans have put In an ap¬ 
pearance. 
Over the water political affairs are still intri¬ 
cately confused. There la yet a vast amount of 
talk about the possibility of preserving peace and 
a good deal of vigorous action looking to the prob¬ 
ability or war. The fact. Is that the season has 
hardly yet arrived for commencing military move¬ 
ments, and both England and Russia are strain¬ 
ing every nerve to get their forees and supplies In 
an efficient condition, to bespeak the favor of pub¬ 
lic opinion and to Isolate each other, while each 
of them Is doing Its utmost to secure the friendly 
neutrality or gain the actual support of other na¬ 
tions. The Czar has succeeded In raising among 
his own subjects a considerable loan, fresh enlist¬ 
ments are swelling Ills armies, depleted regiments 
are scut home, ostensibly with a view to rest, but 
really to recruit their thinned ranks from the 
new levies; princes, nobles aud peoplu are rais¬ 
ing funds io fit out a swarm of privateers to prey 
on the rich fleets of British merchantmen that 
whiten the ocean with their sails or darken the 
air with their smoke In every part of the navi¬ 
gable globe; and all the while the Muscovite 
resolution Is growing stronger to keep a tenacious 
hold ou the advantages secured at the cost of 
Muscovite treasure aud Muscovite blood. In En¬ 
gland public opinion seems to have petrified Into 
a firm determination to protect, even at tbe risk 
of a bloody war, tbe vast Interests which elevate 
to the rank or ft rirst-rate Power tho narrow area 
of the Britlsn isle, and wmen the nation sees seri¬ 
ously menaced by the results of the late conflict. 
The people remember that In ail late continental 
ware in which their country has been Involved, 
although she may have been Isolated ror a time, 
hor mighty financial resources and the broad 
grounds of European safety and welfare on which 
her action has been, as a rule, based, have ulti¬ 
mately won to her side powerful allies by whose 
assistance she lias always finally triumphed. 
Meanwhile, at the same time that she is Indus¬ 
triously increasing her forces at home and fitting 
out a fleet which can sweep the seas, not only of 
the Russian flag, but even of the combined fleets 
of the world, she is summoning to her aid tho 
dusky legions of British India as well as her ar¬ 
dent children from the distant colonies of Canada 
and Australia. With the exception of a few Radi¬ 
cal soreheads, all her people are milled, and the 
royal family are as enthusiastic In their support 
or all measures tending to maintain British hon¬ 
or and British Interests as the most thoughtless 
shopman who draws hla Inspirations from the 
political doggreL* of the streets and the music, 
halls. Bismarck has still hopes or a peaceable 
issue to the present complications, and while 
trying to clear the way for the meeting or tho 
long-deferred Congress, Is urging the simultane¬ 
ous withdrawal of tho English fleet from tho Boa 
of Marmora and of tho Russian army from the 
neighborhood of Constantinople. Such a mea¬ 
sure would prevent the mutual exasperation aris¬ 
ing from the proximity of discordant elements, 
and the possibility of this exasperation finding 
vent in some hostile action that might Inevitably 
hasten tho dreaded crisis. Each party at first 
agreed to this measure In order to throw tbe 
blame of an outbreak on the other, but when It 
came to actually carrying the thing into action, 
each has discovered numerous difficulties In the 
way of Its performance, for each Is afraid that 
thereby Its rival might, secure some advantage. 
Roumanla and Russia arc still at loggerheads. 
Tho former has concentrated her forces along the 
Carpathian mountain range so that the Russians 
cannotcut them off from Austria'; the Muscovites 
have occupied nearly the whole of Bessarabia 
and the ohlof strategical points throughout the 
whole country. Gen. Todelben has succeeded tho 
Grand Duke Nicholas In command of the Musco¬ 
vite forces at San Stephano, and the latter la 
about to return to St. Petersburg. A strong anti- 
Russian feeling Is sprtngfDg up in Servla, and 
that, State will remain neutral, it possible, in any 
tuturo coni,let. Austria Is still on the fence; 
Russia Is making large concessions to her; Eng¬ 
land Is promising larger. As usual, Austria Is sure 
to decide solely according to hor own Interests. 
Grand preparations are being made lo Paris 
for the opening of the French Exhibition on the 
llrstofMay. The American department Is In an 
advanced stateot construction; a majority of tho 
exhibits are already placed, and despite the tardy 
action of Congress, our countrymen have so vig¬ 
orously exerted themselves, that our display 
will well represent the advanced poslilou of the 
country In industry and the arts as well as Its In¬ 
exhaustible resources. Upwards of loo.oooopera¬ 
tives In the cotton and woolen roJllh of England 
a re on a strike against a reduction of io per cent, 
on their scanty wages. Roth employers and hands 
deem equally determined and a long period or 
Giro distress Is not Improbable, in Russia there 
Has been an emute ot medical students and social¬ 
ists; 3000 students took pail In It In Moscow; 
L 2 were killed; a large number wounded and 
still more taken prisoners who will doubtless 
swell theranks ol Siberian exiles. It, was a move¬ 
ment oi Nihilists, a sect or rather political or¬ 
ganization, which has Its secret members La 
every rank of Russaln society, and whose ten¬ 
ants arc confined to a belief that the whole order 
of society, as at presant constituted, should be 
overthrown; that there la no hereafter; no 
spiritual existence ” no nothing” except the pres¬ 
ent world, and that this Is sadly In need of be¬ 
ing set right, 
♦ ♦ »■ - ■ - 
VARIOUS. 
Uortchakoff is In his 82d year—beating Lord 
Palmerston, who died In harness at so. 
Twenty-six gardeners are employed In the Vat¬ 
ican gardens. The number during the temporal 
power was forty-five. 
The shipment of <500,000 pounds of buffalo hides 
from Fort Worth, Texas, this spring, indicates 
the extent of the winter’s slaughter on the plains. 
Castle Gandolfo, near Albano, has been pre¬ 
pared tor the reception of the Pope, but, unless 
the weather grows unusually hot, he has decided 
to pass the summer at his post, In the Vatican. 
An organ of the tobacco trade asserts that if 
the tobacco consumed annually, about 4 , 000 , 000 ,- 
000 pounds, could be made Into a roll ;two luobes 
In diameter, In would encircle the world sixty 
times. 
in tho province of Nassau, Prussia, the common 
nettle has been treated like hemp, and is found to 
yield fibre quite as durable and as fine as silk. 
Factories have consequently been started for Its 
manufacture. 
President Win. orton of the Western Union 
Telegraph died In New York City on Monday, 
April 22d, at 11 A. M. Cause, apoplexy, Mr. 
Orton wus the most widely known and lniluentlal 
man In this country In the business to which he 
lias devoted most signal abilities. 
The Berlin llousewlie’s Union seems to have 
been a great success. It supports a newspaper 
for the discussion or all housekeeping questions, 
a. co-operative store, which supplies 4,000 families 
and an agency tor servants, which In the past 
four years has supplied ir .,000 persons with p laces 
A free negro woman was kidnapped in Cincin¬ 
nati twenty-five years ago by a slave dealer, and 
sold Into slavery In Kentucky, where sho remain¬ 
ed until tho close oi the war. Recently she sued 
Sheriff Ward of Little Rock, tho kidnapper, for 
* 15 , 000 . A long and closely-contested trial re¬ 
sulted in a verdict for $ 6 , 000 . 
The British “oommerce destroyer,” Shah, 
which so sadly battered the Peruvian Ironclad 
last year, hoe gone homo to be recoppered. She 
Is said to be more than a match in speed and 
armament «or any two Russian cruisers In tbo 
Pacific. In case of a war it is thought that she 
will make short work of tho Russo-Amerlcan 
“ privateers,” should any such bo launched. 
During the thirty-six years of Its existence the 
Income tax has brought Into the coffers of Great 
Britain and Ireland the sum of 012(56,000,000, or 
$1,826,000,000 In {fold. The highest rate—Is. 4d. on 
the pound—was in 1HG6-7, the years following tho 
Crimean war. The lowest In 1876, was 2d., while 
the present tax, tncludlng the Increase from the 
“ six million” vote, Is only 6d. (about 2 per cent.) 
ou Incomes above jC160. 
Tho late Lord I.cl trim who was lately murdered 
In Ireland, did not go In for popularity. A few 
years ago he advertised for some ono to fill up 
the vacancy in his Donegal agency, Three hun¬ 
dred applicants wrote to Mm, and In answer to 
one of thorn ho said that he wished to appoint a 
military gentleman used to shooting natives In 
Australia and New Zcland, as he wanted a whole¬ 
some lesson given to tho tenants on Ms estate. 
