BRIC-A-BRAC. 
[X PICTURE IK SIX MINUTES. 
A private letter received from an American 
gentleman In Paris gives an amusing account of a 
picture painted in six minutes. Says the letter: 
“ We were at the cafe Chantant the other 
night. It is a building somewhat larger than the 
Corcoran Gallery of Art. It Is a great place for 
music, songs and dances. There was one very 
amusing feature. During one Of the enlre'actes 
they brought on an artl3t who was hilled to paint 
a marine view In six minutes all finished for 
hanging (the picture, not the artist). 
“ The canvas was brought on. 
“ Out came the artist, a quiet, nervous-looking 
young man of aboift thirty years of age. 
“ nis colors were all upon the pallette, and his 
brushes were all In his hands. 
“ ‘ Attention !' sang out the director. 
“ The artist seized a large brush. 
“ At a signal the orchestral band 3truck up a 
clashing, maddening, nervous waltz. 
41 As the first note was sti uok the artist dashed 
a mass of yellow upon the upper part of the can¬ 
vas. Then a bit of blue, then white, a dash of 
purple shadow, and then, with a quick twirl of a 
clean brush, a dark blue sea la dashed In against 
the horizon. 
“ Two minutes gone. 
“ The waltz goes on faster and faster. The 
brush keeps time. A huge rock is sketched In 
with burnt 8l8nna and black. A lighthouse with 
a vermllllon range light Is dropped upon the top 
of the rock. 
“ Clash, crash, ene, two, three, a boat under 
full sail Is thrown Into the dim distance. Clash, 
crash, one, two, three, and another boat is dashed 
In. Light upon the water Is thrown In with a 
free, steady hand. A huge brush then carefully 
blends the edges or the masses, and, with a pro¬ 
found bow, the artist turns to a cheering audi¬ 
ence, gratified, that he Is through on time. 
“ And the wonder is that the picture Is start¬ 
lingly good In Its broad effect. It Is strong and 
clear. The colors are good, and not muddlly 
mixed. It was as good a novelty as I ever saw 
at any show, and It beats all how It amuses the 
French people." 
ANTONY'S ORATION OVER CASSAB. 
[The Text from which Shakspearc wrote hti Ver¬ 
sion .] 
Friends, .Romans, countrymen! Lend me your 
ears; 
I will return them next Saturday. I come 
To bury Cwsar, because the times are hard 
And his folks can’t afford to hire an undertaker. 
The evil that men do lives after them, 
In the shape of progeny that reap the 
Benefit of their life insurance. 
So let it be so with the deceased. 
Brutus hath told you Cicaar waB ambitious; 
What does Brutus know about it? 
It is none of his funeral. Wouid that it were! 
Here, under leave of you, I come to 
Make a speech at denar's funeral. 
lie was my friend, faithful aud Just to me; 
Ho loaned me five dollars once when I waa in a pinch. 
And signed my petition for a post-office. 
But Brutus should wipe off his chin. 
Ciosar hath brought many captives homo to Rome 
Who broke rocks on tho streets until their ransoms 
Did the general coffers fiil. 
Whou that, the poor hath cried, Caasar hath wept, 
Because it did'ut cost anything', and 
Made him solid with the masses. [Cheers.] 
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff, 
Yet Brutus says bi> waa ambitious. 
Butus is a liar aud I can prove it. 
You all did see that on the Lupercal 
I thrice presented him a Kingly crown 
Which thrice he did refuse, because it did not fit him 
quite. 
Was this ambitious! Yet Brutus says he was ambi¬ 
tious, 
Brutus is not only the biggest liar in the country, 
But a horse thief of the deepest dye. f Applause.] 
If you have tears, prepare to shod them now. [Laugh¬ 
ter.] 
You all do know this ulster, 
I remember the first time ever CoBsar put it on, 
It was on a summer’s evening iu his tent. 
With the thermometer registering ninety degrees in 
the shade. 
But it was au ulster to bo proud of, 
And cost him seven dollars at Marcus Swartzmeyer’s, 
Corner of Fulton and Ferry streets, sign of the red 
flag. 
Old Swartz wanted forty dollars for it. 
But finally came down to seven dollars because it was 
Csssar! 
Was this ambitious? If Brutus says it was 
He is a even a greater liar than Mrs Tilton ! 
Look! iu this place ran Cassius’ dagger through! 
Through this the aun of a gun of Brutus stabbed. 
And, whan ho pluokod his cursed steel away, 
Mark Antony how the blood of Caasar followed it! 
TCheors aud cries of “ Give us something on the 
Silver bill!’’ "Hit him again!’’ etc.J 
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts, 
I am no thief, as Brutus is, 
BrutUB is a monopoly in all that business, 
And if he had his deserts, ho would bo 
Iu the Penitentiary, and don’t you forget It! 
Kind friends, sweet friends, I do not wish to stir you 
up 
To such a sudden flood of mutiny, 
And as it looks like ram 
The paU-bearcrs will proceed to place the coffin in the 
hearse, 
And we will proceed to bury Caesar, 
Not to praise him, [Oil City Derrick. 
The portrait of Mrs. Slddons Is said to be the 
only one ou which Sir Joshua Inscribed his name, 
as if content to risk hla claims to the admiration 
of future ages on this single example of his 
matchless skin, it, was written on the part of the 
drapery, and on looking at the picture in its fin¬ 
ished sl ate, Mrs. Slddons stooped down to exam¬ 
ine what she supposed to bo a piece or classic 
embroidery,bur, whichshefoimd to be Sir Joshua s 
signature. She turned to the artist, on remarking 
the circumstance, and Reynolds Immediately ob¬ 
served: "I could uot lose tho honor which this 
opportunity offered mo of transmitting my name 
to posterity on the hem of your garment,” 
Jfcr (Slomcti, 
CONDUCTED BY MISS FAITH RIPLEY. 
THE LETTER. 
Break into beautiful blossoms, 
O buds of the sunuy May, 
And sing my robin aud bluebird, 
Your sweetest carol to-day— 
For my love has written a letter. 
And the world is all in tune— 
He is coming along with the roses 
In the'fairest days of June. 
I am counting tho days between us— 
I am counting the moments and hours. 
Telling my beads, like a solemn nun, 
On a rosary of flowers; 
For he said, when the buds of the roses 
Are flashing iu royal red. 
He is coming to claim a promise, 
(I wonder what I have said?) 
Break into songs aud blossoms, 
O birds aud buds of spring : 
Lillies, scatter your fragrance. 
And Bweoter. song-birds, sing. 
And skies, drop golden sunshine 
On the beautiful days of June, 
For my love is comingio see me. 
Aad the world i6 all In tune. 
[Rosemary Leaves. 
-- 
THE HOUSEKEEPER’S PRUNING SHEARS. 
J. E. M’CONAUGHLEY 
“Sarah Jane” said Aunt Margaret solemnly 
“ I am surprised to see you iron a sheet In that 
manner, after your bringing up!” 
“ It is as fresh and as sweet as a rose, auntie ” 
said Sarah, folding it up with an atr or satisfac¬ 
tion. “if I did Iron It only on one side, Is not 
that white enough to suit, you.” 
“Ido not find any fault with your washing, 
but I think your ironing might he Improved, l 
waa taught to lrou a 3heet as nicely as l would 
a hem-stitohed handkerchief." 
“You did your duty by me, Aunt Margaret, 
I will always hear witness to that. But I think 1 
have improved on your system. I have learneda 
Judicious system of slighting things that may 
very well be slighted" 
“What a word fora housekeeper! Why it is 
the rankest heresy I ever heard In that line of 
business. To slight anything was never so much 
as named by capable women In my day.” 
“ It Is a good system for all that,” said Sarah 
placidly. Perhaps It was well for her that she 
was not Aunt Margaret's little girl any more. 
She smiledas she dimly recalled sundry boxed 
ears In olden times, s.vthe reward tor 4 ' slighting” 
according to the standard or that thorough¬ 
going women. 
“ I think it a very great art to learn what may 
he slighted to advantage. It gives you more 
time and strength to lay out on things that you 
wish to do the very best you can. For instance, I 
make everything as clean aatlie best soap, water, 
machine aud sunshine cau do it. Then I Iron as 
well as I can all the starched clothes and the 
table linen, and pass over more lightly and swiftly 
all the coarser tilings. Plenty of pieces 1 only 
Iron on one side. The stockings 1 do not Iron, 
but smooth them out aud roll them together In 
pairs. It Is a poor foot that cannot Iron lls own 
stocking. Now, really. Mint Margaret, is not 
this better than wasting precious hours In such 
works of supererogation as Ironing tea towels 
as carefully as.the baby’s bibs. When there aro 
so many good book3 and papers in the world to 
read, so many kind triundsto run In and visit 
fora half hour, and so many sick neighbors, at 
times, who need a bowl of dettetons broth, or 
a saucer of Jelly. How could I waste my time so, 
when all these duties are so pressing nearly 
every day. 
I ttatter myself that I am a very thorough 
housekeeper In my way, and I hold myself In 
readiness for Improvement all the time. But 1 
desire never to advance backwards. You may 
Inspect my house from garret to collar and 1 
shall not blush; but you may not agree with me 
on all my points. Still I can give you a good 
reason for them. Auntie. I have good health and 
strength, and It Is uot half so hard now I have 
learned judiciously to lop off work wheu It can 
very properly he done. Indeed I think if every 
weak and weary woman would go through her 
affairs (metaphorically) with a pair of pr uni ng 
shears, and snip off the useless things here and 
there that so waste her life powers, she would 
wake up to find herself a now woman In a few 
weeks. Look at one little item, ruflles or no 
ruffles for baby: what a dLfferenco that makes 
with the iroutng table In tho course of a twelve¬ 
month I I make pretty, flat trimmings of cambric, 
stitched at the edges, and her llttlo aprons take 
no longer to Iron than a pocket h indkerehier. 1 
couslder my laundry work in all my gettings and 
makings, and that Is one place where I save by 
my pruning shears." Of course Auntie only saw 
in this talk another Illustration of tUe degoaeraey 
of the times, but just now the baby woke up and 
that 
Quits ended the conversation.” 
TALK ABOUT MY JEWELS.-No. 3. 
BY MARGUERITE. 
A very proud and thankful mother was I when 
I was able to hold a little daughter of my own 
In my arms. How tenderly my heart went out to 
the little spark of life; what good, noble and pure 
things I desired for her. 
Cousin Lily came in one day to see her and re¬ 
joice with us over our jewel; and,;whlle looking 
down upon her fondly, she exclaimed: “Isn’t It a 
pity she had to be born a sinner 7" I think It 
was the first time that I had ever thought that 
my child would sin. Of ccursa I was aware that 
other people's did. Since then, my heart has re¬ 
echoed her words a thousand times, for the 
months were few before we discovered that baby 
was self-willed, l well remember one evening, 
she commenced a battle with the ‘’Sandman,’’ 
and would not yield to his mystic influence. I 
became tired of holding her, sol fixed her little 
bed as comfortably and Invitingly as I could, and 
told her she must He ,still and go to sleep. She 
would not. I punished her. She cried and yelled 
and kicked, and writhed as If In great agony and 
pain. I was puzzled and called Papa from the 
store. The moment he came In, he said: “Why, 
my little girl is very sick! Wo must have some 
warm water Immediately.” Very soon the little 
feet were placed in the bath-tub where she ex¬ 
ecuted an impromptu dance for a few seconds and 
then was quiet. Papa gave her a dose of pepper¬ 
mint, and wrapped her lna blanket. After this, 
she was kissed and petted until she was asleep: 
For days after Papa would remark “ How very 
sick my little gill was tho other night!" 
I do not remember her having a similar at¬ 
tack for some time. It occurred when I was 
vlslllng at father’s. It was her bed time, 
but she did not believe it. 1 carried her to 
my room by main force, and put on her 
night dress. Again she rolled and writhed as 
If the little body was suffering extreme pain. 
I untte declared “ she must be sick,” and Mamma 
surely thought she acted like lt,‘.ao a dose of pare¬ 
goric was hastily given her, which quieted her In 
an instant. 
The next morning I asked my mother if she 
thought Gertie wa3 sick the night before, or was 
It only an exhibition of naughtiness. A smile 
played around the corners of her mouth as she 
answered, “I think It was the latter.” How my 
heart cried out for wisdom then a3 It has often 
since. 
If our lives are pure, If our faith Is strong, and 
It we hold up the Cross to our children, and by 
prayer and teaching, show them the infinite love¬ 
liness of our Saviour’s character, we may find 
some tribulation In this world, hut there will be 
more or joy; and we will at last awake where 
the light from the Sun of Righteousness will rest 
upon us eternally. 
-♦ ■» ♦- 
A SERMON TO GIRLS ON COOKING. 
Cooking-classes have been popular among 
fashionable young ladles of late years ; but there 
Is no cooking-class which quite equals la Its 
opportunity for excellent Information that 
which you may find at home. Presuming that I 
am talking to a girl who has just left school, I 
advise you to make use of your leisure in taking 
lessons from your mother. There lsan absolutely 
-r.icndtd tooling of Independence In knowing how 
to make perfectly light, sweet, substantial 
bread. Then try your hand at buseults, muffins, 
corn bread, toast, and all the different forms into 
which bread-stuffs may be blended. Toast seems 
a simple thing enough, hut Is frequently so 111 
made that It does uot deserve the name. Gruel, 
a necessity of the sick-room, Is orten a hopeless 
mystery to women who have no Idea of how 
it Is evolved from the raw material. After 
you have mastered the bread question, try moats 
and vegetables. 
Any bright girl who can comprehend an equa¬ 
tion, or formulate a syllogism, can overcome the 
difficulties which beset her when learning to 
cook. Lucent syrups, golden cakes, delicately- 
browned bread, quivering jellies, melting creams, 
and the whole set of material things glorified, be¬ 
cause made for love's sake, and for the good of 
one’s dear ones, are fit expressions for any wo¬ 
man. Tho charm of this accomplishment lies In 
the fact that It Imparts tc Its owner a gratifying 
sense of power; It bestows on her, too, the power 
of blessing and resting those she loves best. 
Wherever the cook goes she takes her welcome 
along, one may tire of the sweetest singing, of 
the loveliest poetry, of the finest painting, and of 
the most witty conversation, but of cooking never. 
Yet l would be sorry to have you contented to he 
only a cook, only a domestic machine. That Is 
not my meaning or Intention. Be art 1st, poet, in¬ 
ventor, and well-bred woman; be the most and 
the best that you can and add, as a matter of 
couse, ability to keep house well and to do all 
that good housekeeping Includes.—5. 8. Times. 
WOMEN’S INFLUENCE. 
B. C. I>. 
A writer In the Women’s column of May isth, 
refers to the highest officer In our land, as having 
always been “guided and controlled” by his 
wife, as If that were a merit In them both. On 
general principles la this so 7 Our impressions of 
Georgk Washington are, that he was a man of 
patriotism and integrity, that although his wife 
was a wise counsellor and companion, yet the 
qualities which make his name now revered were 
his own, and not merely the result of his wife’s 
lufluence. 
Besides Is not a person who Is so very suscepti¬ 
ble to good lntlnenoes as liable to come under the 
power of evil associations? How can men of 
fixed principles bo so unstable. Men who can 
stand alone and do battle firmly for the light are 
the men that l believe in. as to t he other women 
referred to In the same article, who have labored 
a life-time to bring their interior husbands Into 
power, they might have employed their time to 
better advantage, World'y honor won In that 
way is truly "empty.” If mothers would so 
train their children as to develop an intelligent 
conscience and a firm determination to adhere to 
tho right, at all hazards, when they became men 
they could play a manly part tn the world with¬ 
out depending ou the Influence of their wives to 
uphold them. Tho Influence of a good wile to 
restrain her husband from evil, or to confirm the 
well-disposed In the right path, Is not to he 
despised. Let us hear more about noble rock- 
rooted qualities inherent la the heart of man : 
where these are wanting, “Influence” only 
makes a man’s weakness more conspicuous. 
WEDDED LOVE. 
-A. TJRXJJE IN Cl DENT. 
STARR MORRIS. 
" Make tho bed easy, Mr. B." said old Uncle 
Abe, to the undertaker who waa preparing the 
coffin for his aged wife. “ Make the bed soft and 
easy, for her old boaes are tender aud soft, and a 
hard bed will hurt them.” 
He forgot for a moment—that old, gray-Ualred 
man, that she was dead ; that the old bones had 
done aching forever. 
Sixty-four years had she walked by his side, a 
true and loving wife. Sixty-four years! Just think 
of It., In this age of divorce I 
Sixty-four years had they dwelt under tho same 
roof-tree; together shared the same joys and the 
same sorrows of life; together mourned over tho 
coffin of their llret-born; together rejoiced In the 
prosperity of their sons and daughters, and now 
she had left him alone. No wonder he forgot. 
Her loving hands had so long eared for him, fo 
he had been the feebler of the two. 
“ Until death do us part,” said the marriage 
service that had united them, so many years ago. 
Death had parted them,but the love still survived. 
Tenderly had ho cared for her all these years! 
and now tenderly did he watch the making of 
the last bed of this still loved wife. 
He had ravely breasted the storm of life with 
her by his side, but now that she was gone he 
could not live, and in a few days they laid him 
by her side. 
FERNS AND FLOWERS. 
s. u. R. 
The month of June Is the best time to gather 
ferns for winter trimmings or decorations. They 
are dow perfect in form, and far prettier than 
when large and rank ; the color Is brighter, and 
Insects have not m3de flaws in the leaves; an¬ 
other thing, they are smoother and dry quicker. 
If those who make a habit of gathering them 
would only try to secure them early, they would 
never delay until rail again. 
Mosses, too, gathered now, will take a brighter 
color than If left till the pests come. It Is a pleas¬ 
ant recrealion to gather them, and they make the 
walls or a room pleasant and bright during the 
bleak winter. 
Somo green leaves, too, ought to be saved as 
they look pretty mixed In with the gay autumn 
colors, and make a cheerful contrast In the trim¬ 
ming or rooms. 
Flowers tor Herbariums are beatulful now, 
and one can secure a greater variety than If they 
commence gathering them later In the season. 
They are not as liable to mold, or become dull, as 
when pressed when the weather is warmer. Just 
try It one year, and mark the difference. 
“TOO LATE.” 
Most of us have learned by hitter experience 
how rnueh of pain and sorrow those two little 
words can express, and It is because I would spare 
some of the Rubai ladles the pain of disappoint¬ 
ment that 1 venture to remind them that the 
time Is drawing near for the close of the " Cricket’’ 
offer. Those who want to possess themselves 
of this popular lit tle clock have no time to lose. 
It is superfluous tor me to draw attention to the 
excellencies of this time-piece, the favorable opin¬ 
ion with which the publisher has regarded It from 
the hrst, has been enthusiastically endorsed by 
all who have receivedoue, us can be very readily 
ascertained by reference to the letters published 
under “Whattheyaay of it.” All that remains 
for me to do la to urge my friends of the Rural 
to so time their order a3 to escape being “too 
late.” 
---- 
ITEMS FOR CORRESPONDENTS. 
Miss Lilt Gordon, Keokuk, Iowa.—Take your 
dark purple silk for an underskirt, and for an 
overdress buy purple embossed grenadine, It 
comes at six dollars per yard; ten yards will be 
sufficient. For trimmtng use plplugs or cordlngs 
of light blue silk. I send you by mail cut ot a 
suitable polonaise, pattern of It costs 30 cents. 
Mamie Brown, Alleghany Co., N. Y.-Ladles use 
small gilt pins to fasten the outside cuffs. They 
can be purchased at 50 or GO cents per pair, either 
plain or enamelled. 
Mrs. L. Bates, Platt Co.. 111.—A pair of French 
gilt earrings—an arrow with a pearl la crown¬ 
setting, a pretty and unique design—I can buy for 
5 U cents. Thc-y are cUaste-looklng, and better for 
your purpose than a more expensive pair. 
Sirs. Sarah Lifpincott, Venango Co., Pa.— Ex¬ 
cellent quality of French lace, a finger wide, can 
be bought for 35 cents per yard. At least ten 
yards will he required to trim your basque and 
overskirt. 
Dear Friends:—As there was a wood stain 
called for, I send the foliowiug which I have used 
many times and know to he good. 
Cheap Wood Stain in Imitation of Black- 
Walnut.—mlx burnt umber, with the best of 
cider vinegar, to the consistency oi thin paint, 
apply with a paint brush to the wood; when per¬ 
fectly dry*, go.over with a coat of common furni¬ 
ture varnish, when that 13 dry, another Is needed 
to make aloe, durable work. 
Choked Caraas.— Take of due-cut, tobacco 
enough to make a bail as large as a hen’s egg. 
Dampen with molasses MU it, adheres closely. 
Elevate the animal’s head, pull out the tongue, 
and crowd the ball as far down the throat as pos¬ 
sible. In fifteen minutes It will cause vomiting, 
and the apple or potato will come up. Beebe. 
