304 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
MAY 41 
§omtstit (Krouomi). 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE 
8IFTINGS FROM THE KITCHEN FIRE. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
We have just been washing sheep-skins to 
make mats. They are, when colored nictly. a 
very comfortable covering for a floor, and as our 
living-rooms are of hard-wood ash and cherry 
alternate, and oiled, we dispense with the use of 
carpets and all their dusty results. The nidus 
were rolled up fresh with a sprinkling of salt and 
saltpeter, and now we wash in strong suds to 
which is added a little kerosene and ammonia- 
When quite clean they were soaked a day in salt 
water with a little alum and thou hung to drain. 
When about half dry, we called the boys to bring 
a ladder and they nailed them, wool side iD, to a 
side of the barn where the eaves would prevent 
their being rained on. They will need some at¬ 
tention yet, for they must be rubbed well with 
alum and aaitpeter, on the skin until perfectly 
dry. Then with a blunt knife all impurities 
must be cleaned off, and they must be rubbed with 
pumice stone. The skins are afterwards trimmed 
off, the tail sometiines left on, and lined with 
coarse toweling. They are pretty, durable and 
warm, as I have found when the c^ldren curled 
down upon them t>y the fire-side some cold win¬ 
ter nights. The tag ends and clippings, if pulled 
out fine, make good fillings for chair cushion or 
sofa pillow in constant use. 
One of the problems of a household where 
there are small boys, is what to do with them iu 
rainy summer weather. They cannot sit down 
quietly in the house if they are at all healthy 
irrepressibles, and when the steady pour, pour, 
comes whore can they go ? Happy then is the 
mother who, like myself, has a husbaud whose 
forethought has fitted up a pleasant workshop 
and supplied good wood, where they can prac¬ 
tice and experiment. Something will ootne of it, 
and the natural mechanic of the family will sur¬ 
prise you with a specimen of his handiwork done 
“ all my own self.” Encourage him and praise 
his perhaps rough-edged efforts; he will do 
better next time. It is what every farmer 
Bhould have, and it is a saving of money in the 
end to purchase toolB and teach his boys how to 
use without abusing them. 
linen bag and to each pint of juice allow one 
pound of sugar; boil ten minutes, skimming as 
necessary ; pour hot into jelly glasses and stand 
the glasses in the sun as for preserves for two 
days. Miss Cbonk. 
Spring Valley. 
Strawberry^Rico Cakes- 
Boil one-half teacupful of rice; and when 
cold add the beaten yelks of three eggs; a little 
salt and one quart of new milk; then add the 
whites beaten to a froth ; flour sufficient to make 
a batter and.two teaspoonsfttls of baking powder; 
bake on a griddle and spread while hot, first 
with butter and then crushed strawberries and 
sugar; roll up neatly; cut off the ends; sprink le 
with sugar and serve. 
Strawberry Jam. 
To six pounds of fruit allow four pounds of 
sugar; remove the oaylxes ; crush and put into a 
preserving kettle and cook one-half hour over a 
moderate fire stirring constantly ; remove from 
the range and add the sugar; mix the sugar 
with the fruit, and again boil twenty minutes 
stirring as before. To tell when sufficiently 
cooked: take out a teaspoonfnl on a plate and if 
no j uioe gathers about it and it looks dry and 
sparkling, it has cooked enough. Every house¬ 
keeper should be provided with a miniature 
apple-butter stirrer for jams, &c. 
Strawberry Short-Cake. 
Sift two heaping teaspoonsfuls of baking pow¬ 
der with one quart of flour ; add one-half tea- 
onpful of butter and lard mixed; one-fourth 
teacupful of sugar ; a little salt and milk enough 
to make a Boft dough; roll out quite thin and 
bake in two pans, which should be large enough 
to allow of the cakes being cut in half, so as to 
make four layers when done; crush the fruit if 
large and spread each layer, which should be 
buttered plentifully with berries and powdered 
sugar. Eat with cream and sugar flavored with 
vanilla. 
Strawberry Sirup. 
For five quarts of fruit allow twelve pounds of 
sugar and one pint of water; Bprinkle the fruit 
with some of the sugar aud let stand over night; 
then crush the berries, strain, washing out the 
pulp with the pint of water; add the remaining 
sugar and bring to the boiliug point; again 
straiu; bottle and oork at once; keep in a cool 
place. _ t _ K * 
DOMESTIC RECIPES. 
WANTED—QUILT PATTERN. 
I should be very glad of something new in 
the way of a pattern for what is called a variety 
quilt. I do not believe in cutting up whole cloth 
to sew together again, nor have I the time, but 
if I had I should put it to a much belter use. I 
have, however, some pieces that were given me 
by loved ones who have passed on to the Bpirit 
land and I would like to preserve them by piecing 
them together into a quilt. Who can favor me 
with something more ornamental than the 
“flat-iron" shape, which is so common? If I 
spend the time to piece them, I would like some¬ 
thing that will be pretty, and well repay me for 
my labor. Mbs. Maby Olin. 
--- 
A STRAWBERRY HAPTER. 
Strawberry Sho. -Cake. 
One quart of flour; a piece of butter the Bize 
of an egg; one teaspoonful of soda and two of 
oream-of-tartar; Bweet milk to mix. Sift the 
cream-of-tartar with the flour; rub the butter 
thoroughly through the flour and dissolve the 
soda in the milk; mix soft aud bake in a flat tin; 
when done, split open, butter and Bpread thickly 
with orushed berries, cream and sugar or berries 
and sugar only; spread fruit over the top or 
cream aud sugar. 
Preserved Strawberries. 
Three-quarters of a pound of fruit and a pint 
of water to seven pounds of sugar. Put the 
sugar and water into a porcelain kettle and boil 
from seven to ten minutes according to thiok- 
ness; then add the fruit previously washed and 
drained and boil four minutoB; skim out the 
fruit; turn the sirup into tin pans and set in the 
sun adding the berries as soon as it is cool; let 
stand in the sun—protecting from insects—the 
Bunny part of two days; put into glass and screw 
down ; it is not necessary, however, to have them 
air-tight. 
Canned Strawberries. 
Fill glass cans with fresh, whole strawberries 
sprinkled with sugar in the proportion of one- 
half pound of sugar to a quart of fruit; put on 
the tops and screw dinen at once as tightly as 
possible; fill a wash-boiler with cold water, pre¬ 
viously placing some old dish at the bottom I 
have a perforated tin made to fit my boiler, 
which is a great improvement upon old plates, 
&c.—and stand in the jars. The water should be 
within two inches of the tops; when the water 
boils, note the time and boil twenty minutes ; 
draw to the back of the store ; take out the cans 
and stand on a piece of flannel; screw down 
again and as the cans cool, causing contraction 
of the glass, turn down again and again until air¬ 
tight. 
Strawberry Jelly. 
Crush the fruit and strain through a coarse 
Please give recipe for a good spring beer ? 
Maby B. 
Ans.—B oil one-half hour in two gallons of 
water, one onnoe each of spruce, hemlock and 
sarsaparilla bark, dandelion, yellow-dock pd 
burdock ; Btrain and add ten drops each of oil 
of spruce and sassafras; when cold, add one- 
half pound of light brown sngar aud a half, 
cup of yeast; let it stand over night in a jar, 
cover tight, and in the morning bottle. This 
makes a very refreshing drink when ioed and 
withal being healthy, purifies the blood and 
prevents billiouB. es i. 
Crackers. 
I noticed that a housewife wished a recipe tor 
soda crackers. I send mine, knowing it to be 
good. 
Take fourteen cups of sifted flour; a oupful 
of butter and lard mixed; a teaspoonful of .soda 
and two of oream-of-tartar; a little salt and 
about two cups of milk. Boll thin, do not 
pound; cut into BquareB and prick with a fork. 
Bake in a moderate oven. 
Egg Crackers. 
Eight eggs ; sixteen tablespoonfuls of sweet 
milk ; eight t&blespoonfuls of melted butter; 
mold with flour twenty minutes, roll thin. 
Round Crackers. 
One oup of sweet cream; one cup of water ; a 
teaspoonful of salt and flour enough to make a 
stiff batter; pound and roll one-fourth inoh 
thick. Aunt Katy - 
gUtos of % HUfti. 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
AT home, the chief political talk during the 
week has had reterence to the Florida disclo¬ 
sures, and to promises of other revelations equal¬ 
ly shameful from Louisiana. An effort Is being 
made in many quarters to belittle the odium that 
Justly belongs to the rasoals who confess them¬ 
selves the chief Instruments In perpetrating the 
frauds ; but It must be remembered that by such 
nefarious means the suffrages of the entire na¬ 
tion may at each general election be nullified by 
the dishonesty of a few knaves; the expense and 
business derangement necessitated to bring out a 
full vote neutralized ; aud the very foundation or 
the Republic weakened. If they Ued formerly, 
their proper place Is the penitentiary; It they lie 
now, public execration is their due; in either 
case they deserve little oredlt and great oppro¬ 
brium. The desire of making capital lor the 
next election may Induce Congress to investigate 
the matter,and In case the Inquiry is lull and free 
both Republicans and Democrats say they can 
make disgraceful revelations about each other— 
and very likely In this both speak the truth. 
President Hayes’ title to the oflloe will, however, 
hardly be called in question, for among the best 
authorities It seems the general opinion that that 
matter was definitely settled by the Electoral 
Committee—If not by the votes of the people. An 
effort Is being made In the Legislature of this 
State to Introduce the Meffct bell-punch register 
at any rate Into this city, but it may be defeated by 
the union of two extremes, the blatant, advo¬ 
cates of free rum, and the Impracticable sticklers 
for teetotallsm. 
There has been a good deal of talk and some 
apprehension lately about the rapid spread of 
Communism. Bands of socialists are said to be 
drilling In Cincinnati, Chicago, fit. Louts, Han 
Francisco, and some other largo towns and many 
threats of violence are reported to come from 
them. There is little doubt that the movement 
Is growing In large Cities, but la country places 
It seems to have no foothold. Thero Is much 
distress and lawlessness In the laud, and dis¬ 
tress Is alwayB anxious for a change, while law¬ 
lessness Is constantly on the outlook for a revolu¬ 
tion, and the communlstto movement Is liberal 
of promises on both there points. The new or¬ 
ganization seems to be rapidly amilatlng with 
labor societies, and later on In the year, in the 
not improbable event of another strike, not a 
little public Injury and bloodshed may result 
from the Ill-omened union. Up In Montreal, 
Orangemen and Roman Catholics are still almost 
every week piously committing a murder or two 
and any number of violent atrocities In vindica¬ 
tion of their own religious views and of the pub¬ 
lic conviction that prompt measures should be 
takeu to suppress such disgraceful exhibitions of 
Celtic pugnacity and bigotry. The Mexicans, 
having been nearly a year without a revolution, 
have just started another, several towns as well 
as some guerrilla and robber chiefs having pro- 
nunclainentoed against Diaz and In favor of 
Lerdo. No public cause Is assigned for the 
movement, but history shows that with Mexicans 
a revolution never needs a motive beyond the 
prospector plunder and change. Escobedo and 
several pettier chiefs of the defeated iaction, 
are enlisting forces In Texas, and will doubtless 
ere long cross the Rio Grande to Increase the tur¬ 
moil, unless again arrested by Uncle Sam'B boys 
in blue. Away up on the Canadian frontier Sit¬ 
ting Bull la said to be Inquisitive about the terms 
on which he would be permitted once more to 
enter the United States—peacefully this time* 
«surrender of guns and ponies for cattle and 
farming Implements” says Phil. Sheridan. The 
Great Mother is not so liberal with gifts to the 
Red Man and Brother as the Great Father^ 
while her laws are more stringently enforced, 
and her soil aud climate less conducive to the 
support and comfort of the wild hunters of the 
plains. On Wednesday May 1. John.Morrlssey 
at the time State Senator officially and gambler 
professionally, ex-congressrnan, ex-assembly¬ 
man, ex-prlzo-fighter and ex-rowdy, died at Sar¬ 
atoga much to the regret of all ola-sses in the 
community—excopt perhaps a few jealous politi¬ 
cal opponents. Without the advantages of early 
education, respectable associates or respectable 
reputation, and with the drawbacks of his row- 
dylsh, pugilistic and gambling professions, by 
sheer force of pluck, indomitable resolution, a 
good deal of rough manhoood, and a good deal 
of non-professional honesty, he had proved suc¬ 
cessful In nearly every project he took in hand, 
and won the respect, good-will and votes of 
thousands who reprobated his professional 
career. Another, noted character has also been 
cut down Dy death in the person of W.8. O'Brien, 
of San Francisco. Within a score of years or so 
he had risen from the position of a rum-seller to 
be one of the founders of the firm of Flood and 
O’Brien, the California Bonanza Kings. A quiet 
unassuming, liberal man—such Is the reputation 
the old bachelor left behind him along with about 
120,000,000. 
Last Friday, Commissioner Le Due had a pleas¬ 
ant little treat In Washington. A party of gen¬ 
tlemen who had been In India and Japan, and are 
well acquainted with foreign tea culture, plucked 
some young leaves from the tea plants In the 
conservatory of the department of Agriculture, 
deftly manipulated them and brewed some tea 
which was pronounced equal to the best from 
the Imported article. Of course, a wholesale gro¬ 
cer now offers $1 a pound for the native sort—and 
would like In this way to get his name Into print 
to secure free advertising. There is a report that 
Fenlanlsm Is again about to become troublesome 
In the event of war between Great Britain and 
Russia. Acting on the adage that "England’s 
difficulty Is Ireland’s opportunity,” and on the 
principle that If the mother can’t be whipped, 
her child at any rate can bo pinched and worried, 
a number of those bold warriors are said to be 
preparing for a raid Into Canada, but only after 
the Canadian troops are out of the way, tak¬ 
ing part In the trans-Atlautlc conflict. Uncle 
Sam, however, having pocketed $ 16 , 000,000 dam¬ 
age for England’s remlssaness in allowing her 
territory to be made a basiB for operations hos¬ 
tile to the union, is not likely to render himself 
liable to similar penalty by permitting these 
mischief-makers to annoy or Injure, from behind 
the Shelter of his broad back, the Inoffensive chil¬ 
dren of their ancestral oppressor. In prepara¬ 
tion for a tussle with England, Russia Is reported 
to be negotiating in this country for the purchase 
of a number of fast steamers to be metamor¬ 
phosed Into war vessels for the purpose of depre¬ 
dating on British commerce. Their crews will, 
so it is said, be composed mainly of Russian sail¬ 
ors, 000 of whom are reported to bave arrived In 
American waters on board the Clmbria, which 
has been chartered for a year as a Russian tran¬ 
sport, and is now off the coast of Maine. Until 
war Is actually declared, our government can 
take no action in the matter ; afterwards to pre¬ 
serve neutrality according to Its own principles, 
it Is in honor bound to take reasonable care to 
prevent the sailing of such craft. In olden wars 
•< letters of marque” used to be Issued to private 
ship-owners, authorizing them to fit out priva¬ 
teers, the crews of which were responsible only 
to the owners who paid to the Government that 
commissioned them a percentage on their cap¬ 
tures. This system was abolished by European 
nations by the treaty of Paris, In 1856. But the 
Bea may still be covered with mercantile vessels 
converted into men-of war, provided their offi¬ 
cers and crews are responsible directly to the 
Government whose commission they cruise under, 
and are bound by Its maratlme laws and regu¬ 
lations. 
On the 3rd Inst: the House passed an amend¬ 
ment to the appropriation bill, increasing the 
salary of the Commissioner of Agriculture from 
$ 3,000 to $4,600 and also increasing the compen¬ 
sation of the different officers of the department 
to the amount allowed by law. The appropria¬ 
tion for collecting Agricultural statistics was 
Increased from $5,000 to $ 10 , 000 ; that for the 
distribution of seeds from $70,000 to $75,000. 
The representatives of the nation are beginning 
to feel they can no longer entirely neglect the 
agricultural interest—the world does move, 
colored parson Jasper, of Richmond, notliwlth- 
luK- _- . - 
manufacturers of Ladles’ Suits, that use the 
Davis Vertical Feed Sewing Machine, are doing 
the sewing In the most elegant manner, and en¬ 
tirely without basting, or showing the stitches, 
by the use of very simple attachments. The In¬ 
vention and introduction of the Vertical Feed 1 b 
an invaluable addition to Sewing Mechanism. 
The old under-feed machines will be rapidly su¬ 
perseded by Wits now and more perfeet device for 
Bewing, as It is adapted to every variety of work. 
The Davis Sewfng Machine Company are building 
an addition to their large manufactory at Water- 
town, New York. 
THE MARKETS. 
PRODUCE AND PROVISIONS. 
NEW Yoke, Saturday, May 4,1878. 
BEANS AND Peas. — Reoelpts of beans have 
been unexpectedly let loose and though about last 
week’s figures are repeated sellers are not quoting 
tnem with preview* conOdehco. Mediums hnve 
merely the small spring call, buyers preferring the 
best selectod mured. Cuba promises to be abetter 
buyer of mediums, exporter* however do not follow 
late advices with animation: they would rather 
wait until there is ft decided development in tlielr 
interest. Pea beaus a better inquiry and prices are 
stiffen White Kidneys are improving with the 
Btronger I'hssfl of marrows; they take the place of 
marrows for some W. I. use Ued Kidneys steady. 
Green pen* $1.05»1.1<I. dull. Southern B. H. p as 
two bushel bag flSOwJ. Canadian peas Bkitirte. for 
late business ID bulk and bond. 
We auoteBe«n», medium choice, fl.li&al.TO; fair 
to good, H-SiYa 1.60; marrows, free to vessel $1,850 
K7 fair to good. $1-6041.75: pea. M.4DM& White 
ktoney. $1.50<cl.76: red, $i.lO®2,40; Black (Turtle 
Soup) $2.50«ji2.60. 
Beeswax. — A small trade i» In progress at 27® 
28Mc. for Western and Southern. 
Butter.—F or many year* past It has been the 
custom of dealer* in State to hold up prices until 
Western yellow compelled the’iuarking down. Ihis 
season however Is a prominent exception particu¬ 
larly as State grass butter will precede Western 
many dav B —a circumstance out of I’ommereluI rec¬ 
ord. Durtng tile past week It has scorned that sel- 
trice* fast enough or low 
for past five 
Exports, flrks. 
173,430 
148,988 
33,059 
49,388 
32,032 
lers could not reduce prices fast enough or tow 
enough to work off the liberal supplies of white. In 
fac State yellow is already moving sufficiently m 
endorse its early urrlval in quantity as sellers are 
nervous with reason. They know that Just as soon 
as pasture shades present any collected array, while 
must retreat Into doubtful quarters. Hence wo 
kIv 6 a rani?© ot prices tilt* week that are llanl© to 
fluctuate further In buyers' favor before we go to 
press. 
Comparative receipts and exports 
yearB ' Receipts, pkgs. 
June 1, '77, to May L ’78... 1.170.7® 
June 1, ’73. to May 1, ’77... I.lb0,0i>9 
June 1. ’75. to May 1, ffb... t,W.Vt3 
Judo t. ’74. to May 1, ’7o... 061.036 
June 1, "73. to May 1. ’74... 923,(IMS 
State creamery, choice 2Ka32c., other 18@20ik: half 
tubs and pal In 8©l©ctfc<l» 19yp«00** oib©r W©iBh 
best 18*1190! other. U®17. Western, creamery 
finest. 21W22C-, other. 18®20o. dairy choice 17®18o. 
Other. 12a L5c.; factory lair to prime 10.3,140. 
Receipts for the week 21,085 pkgs. 
Exports past week 2066 pkgs. 
Bhoom CORN.—Has a lighter sale. 
Quoted at 6®7Xc for hurl and short brush ; 5® 
6He. for medium green, i&bo. for red and red- 
tipped, V lt- 
CottoN has been very dull and fluctuating sharply 
closing as lollows i 
Latest price* are 10.60cfor May; 10.90@10.91c. for 
June: II 11.01c. for July : 11.08®ll.W.C. for August; 
• 10.i3®JO-74e. for September; 10.56wil0.57 for Octo¬ 
ber- 10 45mi10.47c. lor November: 10 4$® 10.40c. for 
December; 10.55® 10.570. for Jtonary; 10.84® 10,66 for 
February ; 10,74®10.77e for March, and IO.3lrtslO.Sti for 
April. 
Quotations for poor cotton are based on American 
standard of classification, and on cotton lti store 
running In quality not more than half a grade above 
or below the grade quoted. 
Wanda. Ala. Orleans. 
Ordinary. 713-16 7 13-16 7 15-16 
Strict ordinary. 8.0-16;* 8 9-16 
Good ordinary.9 0 
Strict good do.9R 9X 
Low middling.10 *0 
Strict tow iniddl Ing... .10 3-16 IJ 6-16 
Mtd d 11 d ..10 34 ION 
Good middling.11 11 
Btrict good middling..11 5-16 115-16 .. . — — , 
Middling fair.1113-16 11 13-16 It 15-16 1115-16 
Fair.12 5-16 12 5-16 12 7-16 12 7-ltt 
Stained, 
Good ordinary. 7 13-ltic- Strict ordinary. 8 9-16c.; 
Low middling. 9 l-16o.; Middling. 0 ll-18c. 
•“Cheese.—E xports for the work 21,300 boxes. A 
steady decline has been necessary all the week to 
keep the Increasing supplies sold up. The factories 
are now all at work, and larger supplies can be 
looked lor right along : wltti this in view, exporters 
except as tbey get favorable terms do not exceed 
In purchasing »otuul needs. The closing market 
is weak, and 12 the best price for fancy factories 
while stock a trifle off is decidedly under this at 
once, very good grade being available at tic. 
Frlco* are: 
For new 12e. for best lots ll®m<o. for good 
9W(iullo. for half skimmed, and 5K®7Jyc. for whole 
skimmed. Western at Il5ftgl2c. for flue: lOH'lLSC.lor 
good prime, anil 6tj fa -7c. forskunmed. 
Comparative receipts ami exports of cheese have 
been as follows: 
Receipts, Exports, 
pkgs- firkins. 
June 1st, '77 to May. 1st, ’78.fevi-i! ’‘aHiiu'hYO 
June 1st, ’76 to May. 1st. 77. 
June 1st, Tt to May. 1st. ’76. 2,,!i8 v d.' 
June l*t, ’74 to May. 1st, '75.. 1,906,510 
Exports for the woek.23,426 boxes. 
Reoelpt*, 28.893 do. 
Liverpool cattle, (old cheese) tds. 
Gold closes 10UK. 
Dkird Fruits. There has been only a 
ate Jobbing trade, with prices, however, geneiai'y 
kt peac"h«*—Fancy North Carolina 12 (ai;k:.: Cholce 
Georgia. KVa lie: good to p'fmeGeOrgaiS® 10c.,un 
peeled halves, 4Xc.; quarters, 4o. Fitted cherries, 
8 11-16 
9K 
JK 
tOtf 
10 7-16 
% 
11 7-16 
Texa 
7 15-16 
8 11-16 
9X 
MX 
10W 
10 7- 
10 * 
lVf-16 
16 
Oh,307 211 
93,235,840 
