THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
BRIC-A-BRAC. 
HAMLET TO THE PLATERS. 
Speak the speech, I pray you, 
A* I pronounced it to yon, trippingly on the tongue; 
But if you mouth it, as many of our players do, 
I had as lief Couut Joannes had spoko my lines. 
Nor do not saw tko air too muoh 
With your hands and feet, 
After the fashion of a wind-mill, or Brother Talmadge, 
But use all gently. Oh. it offends me to the soul 
To see a robustious, periwl«--pated fellow 
Tear a passion to tatters, to very raws. 
And mop the etago with it, so to speak. 
Be not too tame, either, 
But let discretion be your tutor, I 
As it is much cheaper than to take lessons 
Of a professor of elocution. 
Suit the action to the word, and vtce versa, 
And get your work in in some kind of style. 
Anything overdone i» from the purpose of playing, 
tv hose end is to hold, as 'twere, the mirror 
Up to nature, that for herself she may see 
How her clothes fit, and ascertain 
If there is auy powder in her ears or eyebrows. 
A speech overdone, or come tardily off. 
Though it make tho gods lu the oock-loft laugh. 
Can not but make those in the parquette 
Or dresB circle grieve, the censure 
Of one of whom must, in your allowance, 
O’erwelgh a whole theater of others, 
For they pay from $l to 81.60 each. 
O there be players that 1 have seen play, 
Not to speak it profanely. 
That, neither having the accent of Christians, 
Nor the gait of Christian, Pagan or man. 
Have so strutted ancl bellowed— 
And I do not by any meau» 
Refer exclusively to Dr, Landis— 
That I have been tempted to go out to the box-offlee 
Murder the treasurer, recover my money. 
And set fire to the building. oil CUy Derrick. 
GOOD COMPLEXIONS. 
In writing of Madame Rachel and her victims, 
the London Medical Examiner take 3 occasion to 
point out the silliness of those women who think 
that there Is any artificial method of preserving 
the beauty of the complexion by enamelling and 
such like proceases. It says that the complexion 
is dependent on the quality and quantity of the 
blood in the skin, and the condition of the cells of 
the skin through wbich the blood is seen. The 
way to ensure having a proper quantity of healthy 
blood in the skin Is to rise early, to be much in 
the open air, especially during the hours of sun¬ 
light, to a void over-heated, artificially lighted, un- 
ventllated rooms, and to retire early to rest. To 
keep the cells which protect the sktu In a natural 
state, all that la necessary 13 to wash the surface 
of the body with soap and water only, or, in the 
case of some delicate skins, winch the alkali of 
most soaps irritates, with wafer alone. Whoever 
will attend to these directions will do all that can 
be done to preserve, as all ought to try and pre¬ 
serve, their skin In the most healthy and, there¬ 
fore, beautiful condition. 
THE BEE KEEPER’S ASSOCIATION. 
Come where the clover jg kissed by the suu : 
Come where the honey-bees drowsily hum; 
Come where ibe bumble-bee, happy old thing,' 
Brings up the boys with a stiug-a-ling ting ! 
Precious old bumble bee, bird of my youth. 
Sharper thy tail than the arrows of truth; 
How oft, when the school-boy steps into your realm, 
You knock him stout-blind with a touch of your helm. 
How oft when tho picnioing children of men 
Sit down at the door of your grass-covered den. 
You will kick a big man ’cross a ti n-acre lot 
By the lift of your foot when it’s heated red-hot. 
Far worse thnQ the candidate’s buzzing to me 
Was the petulant buzz of a boy-bating- bee; 
Appalling to men aud to gods was the sight 
When a barefooted boy got a bumble-bee bite. 
Bee of the bumble, like memory’s chimes. 
The notes of your bagpipe call up the old times • 
And still boyish hearts, light as birds on the wing 
will howl when you tinkle its sting-a-ling ting. 
—Hawkeye. 
FAFER BOTTOMS FOR IRON SHIPS. 
After getting used to paper car-wlieels, we 
need not be surprised to learn tuat a new coating 
for the bottoms of Iron ships consists or brown 
paper attached by a suitable cement. It Is the 
Invention of Captain F. Warren, of England, and 
the substance he proposes to use Is a preparation 
or papier-mache. It Is stated that weeds and 
barnacles will not adhere to paper, and that the 
special cement by which tho paper is secured 
may be applied cold, but It hardens under water. 
Is unaffected by comparatively high temoerature, 
ancl possesses great tenacity. A plate thU 3 pro¬ 
tected on one side has been Immersed for six 
months, with the result that tho protected side 
was found clean, while the unprotected metal 
was covered with rust and shellfish. 
LITTLE JOHNNIE’S “PIECE” ON OWLS. 
Wen you como to see ’em close they got onie big 
eyes, but weu you feel ’em with yur ttDgers, 
which t.hay bites, you find thay havo only got Jest 
enuf int)at to hold there fethers together. Once 
there was a man thot be would like a owl for a 
pet, so he loie the bird man to send him the best 
one in the shop; but when it was brot home he 
look at It and skowee/.ed it, but It didn’t suit. So 
the mau he rote a letter to the bird man. and 
said ; “ Dear sir: T take my pen In hand to Inform 
>ou I'll keep the owl wich you have sent, tho it 
ain’t like I wanted, but wen It Is ded you must 
make me a other, with little eyes, cos I sposo 
hese Is bout No. 12’s, but It I pay you the same 
owl” 68 mebby J0U can afford to put In more 
‘ Hail, gentle Spring ! etherial mildnceB. hail 1” 
J hua quoth tho poet, and his prayer prevailed, 
I'or scarcely had he tuned his lyre to slug 
Before the weather altered, and It hailed. 
i' avorite song of the baker—" l kuoad thee 
every hour.” 
^or ®outfit. 
COND TOTED BY MISS FAITH BIFLEY. 
THE SOFT, WHITE HAND. 
I've seen them sitting side by side— 
A lady fair, of gentle mien, 
And he in strength of manly pride— 
In many a gay and glittering scene. 
And sometimes, when from harp and band 
Do thrilling floods of music stream, 
I've seen her little, soft, white hand 
A moment on bis shoulder gleam 
And oft, at home, when passing by. 
An he reclines in hla arm-chair, 
I've seen her little, soft hand lie 
Unheeded on his shining hair. 
But oftenest, when they’re alone— 
For hearts like here are pure and shy— 
Her little, soft hand seeks his own, 
Alas! unnoticed there to lie. 
He loves her! Yes; but love of man 
“ Is of his life a thing apart ”; 
He cannot, as a woman can. 
Enshrine an idol lu his heart. 
Love is, with him, a pleasant hour 
Snatched from the ardor of the day 
Enjoyed as perfume of a flower, 
Aud then as lightly cast away. 
Ho dreams not of the longing there, 
In her much-lovlog, trusting breast. 
That makes her life one yearning prayer, 
So mutely, touchingly expressed. 
A prayer that, if he love her yet 
With that sweet love of early years. 
In mercy never to forget 
That hidden lave nukes hidden tears. 
And O, it yet may come to this; 
That all of earth at his command 
He’d give for that one transient bliss— 
The vanished touch of that soft hand ! 
A NEW MOVE. 
Manv ladles would doubtless like occasionally 
to express an opinion or offer a suggestion to the 
Rural readers It they felt assured that their 
communication would be welcome, and It there 
was a nook reserved for them. I propose to give 
up the three columns of this department once a 
month to any such letters which subscribers may 
send, itsball be called the Women’s Club, and 
It will “ meet ” the first week in every month. AU 
lady subscribers may consider themselves mem¬ 
bers. The object of the club Is the Interchange of 
opinions and the discussion of any and all topics 
likely to Interest women, acd If tho ladles wLll do 
what they can, “ the club ” cau be made most use¬ 
ful. For example, Mrs. A. possibly has discovered 
an expeditious way of doing many little house¬ 
hold tasks which younger or less enterprising 
hous?keepers would bo glad to learn. Mrs. B. 
may know the newest stitch In embroidery, 
another may have evolved a new style of under¬ 
garment, a third, an extensive and discriminating 
reader may be able to give some valuable bints on 
what and how to read; again a lady would per¬ 
haps Ilka to exchange patterns of fancy articles or 
clothes for flower seeds or books, or—a dozen 
other things, and In so large a family as tho 
Rural there will be some who will be glad to 
respond to sfch requests. Tho first meeting of 
the club will come off In Rural of 7Ui Septem¬ 
ber, and I shall hope for a goodly representation 
of members. 
All letters Intended for the club should be ad- 
dresaed “Women* Club, care RuralNew- Yorker, 
New York," If any readers do not fully under¬ 
stand the atms aud proposed workings of the 
club, I shall be very happy to reply to any In¬ 
quiries on the subject. Faith Riplst. 
--- 
SHOES AND SLIPPERS. 
French heels are necessary to a fashionable 
pair of boots, and are seen upon the majority of 
them, and It Is difficult to flnd ready-made, a pair 
of English walking boots—those with low heels 
and broad soles. 
French kid, usually so popular, gives way thl 3 
season to fnncy-cloth tops or patent-leather 
vamps. This is the result of the popular style of 
cloth dress goods, and tho prevailing caprice of 
customers for matching In all their accessories 
from tho parasol to the boots. All shades of cloth 
aro employed,such as very dark blue, brown, plum, 
green, the new deep claret or wine shade, and all 
tho gradations of gray, and the recently intro¬ 
duced beige and mvanne colors. In mixed Cloth 
there arc the small-checked English effects, and 
the black-aod-whlto shepherd's-plaid or check. 
The latter, and black alone are very popular for 
general use, with any costume; but the other 
shades go to mulch certain costumes of the same 
colors. Frequently a lady la obliged 10 take to 
her hoot-maker some of her costume, cloth, which 
roll may bo of a peculiar shade and not to stock, 
and have her boots made to order. 
A change lu tho buttoned boots is being at¬ 
tempted. It consists lu making the closing 
straight down from tlm top, instead of curving it 
dowu to the front of the Instep, as usual. This 
method preserves a pretty, unbroken outline over 
thB instep, and the buttons are not aa apt to press 
into the foot. 
In slippers, a few changes may be noted. The 
large rosette has been replaced by three or four 
bows of narrow velvet, each bow held to an elas¬ 
tic strap by a buckle of steel, and each strap 
crossing the Instep from side to 6ldeof the slip¬ 
per. These slippers ure very low cut at the toe, 
and high and pointed at the heel, and arc kld- 
llued. When but one bow is used, it is square in 
cfiect, small lu size, and confined by a larger 
buckle than those used on the strap-bows. 
Another kind, lined with fancy kid, is sloped 
from the vamp and quarter to the side of the sole 
at the Instep, and at the junction of the two a 
sandal strap of kid crosses the Instep. They 
have a quaint, antique effect that is very pretty, 
but are suitable only for chamber wear. Others 
or the same use have red or bine morocco vamps 
ornamented with pricked patterns or applique 
of ot her colors, or cf undressed calf or kid skin. 
Low shoes are mostly buttoned, and are either 
all kid, or cloth and kid, or patent-leather. A few 
have ttes, but these are not considered as stylish 
a3 those having four buttons. Like high shoes, 
they are principally made with round or box toes 
and have Freench heels. 
Fancy high and low shoes have sandal straps 
across the anlile and foot, and button through 
the ends of the straps at ono side. They are suit¬ 
able only for tne bouse, and to bo effective, re¬ 
quire to bo worn over gay stockings. 
Children's shoes are the same as they have 
been for a number or years, and are made with an 
extremely low heel or else a Bpring heel. Kid 
and morocco In black, bronze, buff, blue, white 
and pink comprise the assortment. Slippers are 
not as much worn by children as formerly, but 
those seen, have the ankle strap extending from 
the back of tbo heel. 
For good, honest service for children as well as 
adults, dealers recommend straight-grained or 
pebbled goat shoes, and as the reputation of this 
material stands a practical test, there can be no 
doubt of Its superior durability. French kid, how¬ 
ever, has established Itself as the popular leather 
for fine shoes, and will, undoubtedly, continue to 
hold Its place as long as shoes are made, though 
now and then the tide of favor may be, as at pres¬ 
ent, disturbed by a temporary acceptance of an¬ 
other material. 
--- 
ITEMS FOR CORRESPONDENTS. 
BT THE EDITOR. 
L. H. K„ Bridgeport, Conn.—You do not state 
how your dress is made now and I can hardly tell 
how it would be be3t to remodel It. I will, how¬ 
ever, describe a few of the latest styles suitable 
for your material, and you can perhaps get a hint 
which may help you. 
Make skirt with a front gore, two gores at each 
side and a back-breadth, aU of which, extend 
only to the knee. To them Is sewed a planing 
that forms the remainder of the skirt. The upper 
' portion of the skirt may be made of Silesia or 
cambric. The plaiting may be of cashmere or of 
silk. It Is well in most cases to fasten the plaits 
underneath with a tape, so as to stay their folds. 
The front of the overskirt Is a wide apron fitted 
to tho belt by darts. The back-breadth is a long, 
straight piece, the edges of which are turned 
back, forming revers which may be faced wltb 
silk. The basque, completing the costume, la 
buttoned at the back. Tbe side-backs are of 
silk, and corresponding side-fronts are similated 
with silk facings. Till sleeves are coat shape 
and are furnished, at the wrists, with tiny silk 
ouffs la revers shape. 
‘ Another costume, which promises to be extreme¬ 
ly popular, is known as the Princess Toilette. 
The polonaise to this costume la made of plain 
cashmere and silk, and buttons the whole length 
of tho back, which Is fitted by side-backs and side- 
back gores. The central portions aro of cash- 
mere, the slde-back3 of silk, and the remainder of 
the garment or cashmere. This style of combina¬ 
tion Is now ea regie, and is adapted to all sorts of 
material—from the richest to tne least expensive— 
unless a vest is U3ed at the front, lu which event 
t he back Is left plain. The front Is plainly fitted 
by two bust darts at each side of tho center, 
which is cut on a fold of the goods. 
No decoration Is required upon this polonaise, 
but trimming may be added If desired. The 
sleeves are close, and may have deep cuff-facings 
of silk. The skirt is made of silk and cashmere. 
It is six-gored, and falls just f ir enough upon the 
ground at tho back to produce a graceful sweep, 
and may be trimmed with plaltlngs or bounces of 
silk. 
In a third costume, the skirt 13 four-gored. The 
trimming at the foot is easy of accomplishment, 
especially if the plaits are made with a machine. 
Box-plaits, alternate with clusters of side-plaits. 
Three rows of stitching, confine the upper half of 
the trimming, while the lower half falls loosely. 
The front ot the overskirt consists of a deep fattier 
smoothly fitted over tho hips by short darts, and 
slashed up the center to a point about half-way 
between the belt and the lower edge. The back 
Is merely a plain breadth, whose upper edge is 
closely gathered, and with the front is seamed to 
a belt, which fastens at the center of the back. 
Above the top of the slash, four upturned plaits 
are laid In the back edge of the (ahller, while 
three downward-turning plaits are arranged In 
the adjacent edge of the back, after which both 
portions aro joined in a seam a little below the 
lowest plait—a basque, with vest, completes this 
costume. The ladles costume, published In Rural 
of July 27 , would be also suitable for j nr material. 
Wraps still continue to be worn, and you might 
make ope out of year dolman. Some end at the 
waist, others have tabs, which either hang down 
or are crossed and fastened with a band. They 
are trimmed with lace, silk, grass, Clair de lime, 
or worsted fringe beaded, plain or embroidered 
galloon. 
It you prefer a coat, there 1s a walking coat 
with vest which would probably please you. The 
vest may be made of silk. It Is sewed Into the 
shoulder aud under-arm seams. Tho ooat itself 
has coquettish box pockets, buttou-trlmmed, up¬ 
right laps Inserted into the folds of tho back, a 
rolling collar, lapels and mousquetaire cuffs. This 
la an elegant garment. Its edges are all faced to 
the linings, and there Is buckram stiffening In tbe 
breasts, cuffs, collar, etc., to the dainty shape. 
One button may close tt upon the breast. 
A correspondent wauls to know how to make 
an afghan. Will some of our ladles furnloh the 
desired information? 
“BUGS” AGAIN. 
Take a teaspoonful of quicksilver and beat It 
up with the white of an egg—it takes some little 
time to mix It thoroughly; apply to the bedstead 
and around the corners of the room, with a hair 
pencil or a feather;; the next day there will be 
no bed-bugs in tbe room. 1 have used It in a log 
house for the last eight years and have never 
been troubled with bugs since I commenced using 
II * E. W. W. 
-- 
AS YOU GO ALONG. 
J. E. M’C. 
“ That la the first time I ever saw anyone stop 
in the midst of Ironing to mend clothes,” said 
Lucy. “ I should not think you would get along 
very fast If you made a practice of It.” 
“That is one of my labor-saving plans,” 3 aid 
Eunice, briskly pushing her needle back and forth 
through a drllled-eyod button. “ In the first 
place, I am taking a moment’s rest in this cool, 
sitting-room, which will refresh me, so I can work 
all the faster when I go to the ironing-table 
again. Then taking a few stltchea now lu theso 
articles I liavg laid over a chair back to be mend¬ 
ed, will save handling them all over a second 
time, and very likely having them piled up in my 
work-basket a day or two. You see 1 have every* 
thing handy in thl3 little basket, even to a needle 
threaded with white and another with black 
thread. If a button is off, it takes but a minute 
to sew it on anew, if 1 put tbe articles away la 
the drawer, and thus have to go after them and 
mend them, it win add considerably to the 
amount of work. It will seam to add stilt more, 
for these little arrears of work are always the 
hardest to bring up. They are like little debts. I 
manage to do a good deal of work as / go along, 
that does not exactly belong to the work In hand. 
You may not think it very systematic, but It 
suits me. My system is to get my work done 
wltb as much dispatch as I can, and It it might 
not suit Mrs. Grundy to see me leave my wash- 
tub and take a basin or clean suds and wipe off a 
cupboard door, it does not disturb me at all. The 
cupboard door Is clean, and it gives me pleasure 
every time I look towards It. That of itself is a 
rest, and a stimulus to help me ou faster with the 
washing. I need not keep thinking, “there, I 
must wash that door when I am through with 
my clothe*. There is nothing that succeeds like 
success, and every fresh success, with the house¬ 
keeper, is the foundation of a new one. Because 
hers is a war against dirt and disorder 13 no rea¬ 
son why she should not be fairly entitled to her 
laurels. I sboutd like to have you find any enemy 
more persistent or more powerful. 1 mink one 
who comes off victor is entitled to all the honor 
and glory she can get. 
1 There, Lucy, see how that pile of mending is 
reduced, and I am rested, and the Irons have 
como up to a good heat, aud I have taught you a 
good lesson, you will surely admit, so I am ready 
for work again, md feel that I have saved Instead 
of wasted time.” 
■*- - t 
HAIR-PIN RECEIVER.. 
LORETTA E. TURNER. 
Take a square (about six Inches) of sliver card¬ 
board, and work it in some simple pattern—scar¬ 
let zephyr contrasts well with the sliver board. 
Close It to form a cylinder, having first made a 
foundation of pasteboard, stuffed with sea-grass 
or some coarse stuff. Work the card-board over 
and over at the edge with the zephyr, where It la 
closed and crochet a covering ror each, and in 
close stitch single zephyr. Then take split 
zephyr, crochet four stitches, turn, and in going 
back wrap the zephyr around the rore-flnger on 
your lert hand six times, slip it off and knit It Into 
your stitch; crochet the four stitches in this way, 
then turn and crochet back plain. Repeat the 
loops, and continue in this way until you have a 
ruebo long enough to go around ono end of the 
receiver; then bind It off, and make another for 
the other end. The ruche la to be sewed on to 
the cover where the crochet ends meet tbe card¬ 
board. Finish with cord and balls. The balls 
are made quite expeditiously by winding over a 
silver fork. Then tie between the center tines, 
with a stout string, slip off, and trim to your sat¬ 
isfaction. A large ball with three May ones just 
below it, is very pretty, when one wishes to be 
very elaborate. 
---- 
SOME SWEET-SMELLING TOILET HINTS. 
Diamond Tooth PowDEB.-Preclpttaced chalk, 
3 pounds; Powdered myrrh, 4 ounces; Powdered 
sugar, 1 pound; Powdered white cast lie soap, S 
ounces; oil of wtntergreen, sufficient. 
Portugal Cologne. —oil of oraoge peel, 3 
ounces; Oil of lemon, 2 ounces; oil 01 bergamot, 
1 ounce; Oil of rose, 2 drops; Alcohol, l gallon. 
Heliotrope Sachet Powder.— Powdered orrl 3 
root, 1 pound: Vanilla beans, 4 ounces; Benzoin, 
l ounce; Musk, 5 grains; Civet, 15 grains ; OU of 
rose, 10 drops; OU of bitter almonds. 10 drops. 
Musk Sachet Powder.— Powdered orris root, 
2.1$ pounds; Grain musk, so grains; Oil of rose, so 
grains. 
White’s Eau de Cologne.— 011 of bergamot, l 
ounce; Oil of lemon, 2 ounces; oil of orange, 2 
ounces; OU of rosemary, 1 ounce. OU of noroll! 2 
drachms; oil of rose geranium, 4 drachms; 011 of 
clove, 2 ounces; Extract of mask, 1 ounce' 
Orange, flower water, 1 pint; Alcohol, 1 gallon. 
French Lavender Water.— Alcohol, s gallons ; 
Oil of lavender, 16 ounces; oil of bergamot, s 
ounces; Oil of lemon, 4 ounc Q s; ou of clove, 1 
ounce; Oil of rose, l ounce; Extract of musk, s 
Ounces Extract of ambergris, 2 ounces. 
* --- 
Tee Morristown Herald Insists that no aim 
llkosto hold a girl baby in his arms until she is 
17 years old. 
