735 
MOV. 46 
ed down to a single page, which Includes a car¬ 
toon on the labor question. 
St. Nicholas for Notkmbkr.— Begins the sixth 
volume of the magazine with seventy-two pages 
and fifty two pictures filled with enchantment 
for the boys and girls. 
Two new serials begin In this number. One 
for boys, Is by Prank R. Stockton and has the in¬ 
viting title A Jolly Fellowship. Its first Install¬ 
ment describes the voyage of two boys to one of 
the Southern States, where the scene of the story 
Is laid; and tho seven telling Illustrations are by 
James E. Kelly. Further on In the number the 
youngsters will find a short biographical ac¬ 
count of Frank It. Stockton, with a portrait, 
which will pleasantly satisfy their curiosity as to 
this favorite author. The other serial for girls, 
is by Katharine D. Smith, and this first part has 
three pictures: two of them, by Frederick Dlel- 
man, are unusually flue. 
Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge, the editor, hersolf 
contributes to this number the poem entitled 
A Mistake, Illustrated by Addle Lcdyard ; and a 
paper called Monkeys and Dogs to the Front, giv¬ 
ing a lively account of some remarkable trained 
dogs and monkeys, with fourteen oapltal pic¬ 
tures by L. Hopkins. 
One of San Francisco's ourtou3 new wire-cable 
railroads is described and thoroughly Illustrated 
under the title Towed by Rail, the ploturee being 
from photographs taken especially for this arti¬ 
cle. 
There are flvo oomplete short stories, all Illus¬ 
trated. The first one, A Boy'# Service, tells of 
the daring of a hoy hero of the Vaudols moun¬ 
tains, during the religious persecutions carried 
on by I.ouls xiv. of France; the Illustration, by 
Sol Eytlnge, is used as the frontispiece to the 
number. Next comes Who Told? by Sarah Winter 
Kellogg, a story for girls with a fine picture by 
Walter Shlrlaw. Then rollow, at intervals: 
Handsome Hans, the history of a brave and 
beautiful war hoise, with a floe illustration by 
Kelly; Tho most thoroughly Educated Young 
Lady In Miss Neal’s School, a Thanksgiving story 
by Hope Lertyard; and The Poor Relations, a tale 
of the wonderful achievements of a shrewd and 
lucky dwarf with a picture by Geo. F. Barnes. 
Among the other attractions of the number, 
besides poems by Lucy Larcom. c. P. Cranch 
and others are: The Three Wise Men, some funny 
verses humorously Illustrated by Hopkins; The 
Magician's Lesson, a Bhort and striking play by 
G. B. Bartlett; the usual large-print pages for the 
youngest readers: and Jack-ln-the-Fulplt. and 
the other departments. 
Harper's Magazine for November beautifully 
concludes a beautiful volume. The number 
opens with a bright Utile paper describing a Free 
Kindergarten in New York City, with exquisite 
pictures by Miss Curtis, of real children Involved 
In the enchantments of Froebel’s wonderful sys¬ 
tem. The same number contains a very Interest¬ 
ing and attractively illustrated paper by Henry 
W. Elliott on Wild Babies, from Alaska to the 
Gulf. The quaint style of Abbey’s Illustrations 
has had no better Illustration than In the Fire- 
Wizard, which Mrs. Helen S. Conant has happily 
rendered from an old Gorman ballad. With the 
slDgle exception of the paper on David Teniers- 
fifth In the series of Old Flemish Masters—the Il¬ 
lustrated articles In this number are all Ameri¬ 
can. Mr. Benjamin's .description of the Sea 
Islands off our South Atlantic coast Is full of In- 
tereaUug legend and romance, associated with 
this unique congeries of Islands, and Is accompa¬ 
nied by twenty-four beautiful illustrations. 
John Muir contributes to this number an ex¬ 
ceedingly Interesting and well Illustrated paper 
on the New sequoia Forests of California. 
Edwin p. Whipple’s paper, some Recollections 
of Rufus Choate, will not disappoint the large 
number of readers who have been looking forward 
to its publication. 
Black's Macieod of Dare and Hardy? Tho Re¬ 
turn of the Native—are continued; and there arc 
two excellent short stories, The Angellque’B No¬ 
vitiate, by Kate i\ O&good, and The Thousand 
and Third Night, by G. 1). narrow. 
TYof. Taylor Lewis’s The Power and Pathos of 
Euripides—a posthumous paper—will prove of 
especial Interest to all readers who admire the 
strong examples furnished by ancient classical 
literature. 
The Editorial Departments are as interesting 
aud entertaining as usual. 
Atlantic Monthly for November opens with 
an admirable paper on the Nationals — their 
Origin and their Alms. The second installment 
or Home Life of the Brook Farm Association is a 
most entertaining chapter. Presidential Elec¬ 
tions contains some timely suggestions. W. D. 
Howells gtves five chapters of his new serial, The 
Lady of tho Aroostook. CUas. Egbert Craddock’s, 
The Star of tho Valley, Is as artistic a story as wo 
have seen for many a day. The Contributors’ 
club (one of the most attractive features of this 
magazine) 1s as bright aud entertaining as usual. 
SltwANKARA, TUE ISLAND OF SHELLS, a finely 
Illustrated paper In Lipplncott’s Magazine, for 
November, well repays a careful perusal as also 
does Geo. Keenan’s Unwritten Literature of Cau¬ 
casian Mountaineers. Through winding Ways, 
a delightful serial by Elleu \V. Olney, will be en¬ 
joyed by all lovers of good literature. The bright, 
little Biory, Deserted, contains an account of a 
SOBg-and-danoe entertainment, given under tho 
most, extraordinary circumstances, and to a most 
peculiar audience. Music In America Is a dis¬ 
criminating article, in which the author does lull 
justice to whatever ability we, aa a nation, pos¬ 
sess In that line. The After-Dinner Speech of 
the Baroness Contaletto. Is a capital bit or satire, 
la fact, so good do we think It, that wo moan to 
give all Rural readers an opportunity to Judge 
of It for themselves. A carefully prepared paper 
on The Harvesting-Ants of Florida (Illustrated), 
will interest the professional as well as the 
amateur naturalist. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Jfot ©lomcn. 
OOND70TED BY MISS FAITH RIPLEY. 
THEN, NOW AND HEREAFTER. 
MA.BOARET b. habvet. 
I. 
Oh, preolonn heart 1 
Thon Irnowest when ray spirit drooped In pain. 
And gently thou didst bid me hope strain. 
My wearied soul. 
Like gladdened lark, with sudden thrill did rise. 
And soar to Ihe blue heaven of thine eyes. 
Their wondrous light 
Seemed like the gold through azure poured at morn,— 
And where the alnger’e lost, the song is born. 
And sweet the strain. 
Or ringing Jubilant, the humble bird 
Cares only that the skies and sun have heard. 
XL 
Long years have passed. 
And now my soul, like tired lark, doth soar 
To warm blue skies and golden sun no more. 
Her notes are hushed. 
Beside her ruined neat , ’mid leaves and mold, 
Alone ahe cowers in the damp and oold. 
But still a Mag 
Is quivering faintiy, though her to oe ia dumb. 
And gome glad day a flood of Joy will come. 
For once again, 
Like gladdened lark, my longing soul shall rise 
And soar to the blue heaven of thine eyes. 
■■ ■. - 
LETTERS FROM A COUNTRY GIRL.-No. 8. 
MAEGAJtST B. HABVET. 
On Dress. 
Men, In describing the toilets of poor young 1a- 
dleB, aud womeu who have never had to fix over 
their old clothes, In doing the same thing, write 
something like this: “ By her taste she had made 
the cheap goods so beautiful that her appearance 
could scarcely have been improved had she been 
arrayed In the most costly fabrics.” 
To those wUo don’t know, this sounds pretty. 
There is something attractive In the idea of a 
young girl’s own loveliness lending grace to poor 
materials,—but, alas, the simple idea is all there 
Is of It. It Is Impossible to dress well without 
good materials, first of all and always. I grant 
that the main beauty of a dress la in the making, 
—that common materials, made up with taste 
and care, will please the eye,—but this Is not all. 
The question Is ” What is worth thl3 trouble?” 
Cheap goods have nothing but their external ap¬ 
pearance to depend upon for effect, so they need 
to bo well made up If made up at all. And then, 
when you have expended time and strength and 
anxiety and skill upon them, Uow long will you 
have anything to show for your pains? Rain 
streaks, damp shrinks, dust discolors, beyond 
remedy, and what Is almost a work of art 
amounts to nothing because of its flimsy founda¬ 
tion. 
On the other haud, good materials, by their In¬ 
trinsic value, are able to Bustuln themselves, no 
matter now plainly made. Gotten up simply, 
they arc still elegant; elaborately, well worth 
tbe trouble; Injured to any extent short of de¬ 
struction, they are capable or being restored; 
and, finally, they lastlngood condition, until, per¬ 
haps, you are tired ot them. 
Moat persons desire good materials for better 
wear, but are In the habit of purchasing Inferior 
articles for everyday use. But I think this la a 
mistake. 1 know mat, cheap now Is always very 
dear ut last. Resolve always to have some fabric 
with a good, honest name appended. I don’t in¬ 
clude calico In the class cheap goods Calicoes 
ginghams, chlut/es, percales are solid and relia¬ 
ble, of one pure material, and qn to all they pre¬ 
tend to be, filling a place that not hing o.-sc could 
take. They can be made nicely, they wear well, 
they <’in bo renorated easily, and look pretty as 
long aa they hold together. But half-wool pop¬ 
lins, mixed <terbcjc*, low-priced bourotten, cotton 
velvets. Imitation laces, are worthless. To at¬ 
tempt anything satisfactory with them Is pour¬ 
ing water through a slevp, and to make & show 
with the most elaborate arrangement of any of 
them, Is acting a falsehood. I know iv young 
lady who Is always well-dressed, and yet she 
spends almost nothing lor her clothes. She buys 
little, but takes care of what she has, and saves 
the pieces. Aud this Is somewhat the way In 
which she manages. 
She needs a dress. By saving her money she 
gets a handsome black silk, but sho knows that 
for tho next five years she won’t get another qpst 
dress, so this must be taken care or. By different 
arrangements of laces, neckties, flowers, gloves, 
etc., she wears this same dress to church, at, wed¬ 
dings, parties, concerts and everywhere. With her 
coat and plalu gloves and collar, It auawers for 
the street; with a handsome ruche and Jewelry, 
flowers, white kid gloves, and elaborately-arrang¬ 
ed hair, It Is full dress, and so ou, ad injlntlum. 
It co.it her considerable at first, but ralu doesu’t 
hurt It, dirt glances off It, It can bo easily match¬ 
ed, aud can be kept In repair, and because she al¬ 
ways has something available, she doesn’t have to 
buy any ordinary dresses to eke out her ward¬ 
robe, and almost before she knows It, she has, 
with her usual resources, saved enough to buy a 
handsome cashmere. 
Tho pieces left from her silk trim It, and she 
enu often wear the polonaise with the silk under¬ 
skirt. And for over two years, winter and sum¬ 
mer, (with, In the greatest heat, a white body or 
two) she has needed nothing else as regards 
solid dresses. Either ot her skirts serves as a 
foundation for a culteo, percale or linen overdress, 
while the haudsomest white may be worn over 
her silk. So far go Jd. But more. Her tlster gets 
tired of her name redlngote, and she altera and 
wears It over her silk, and with cardinal ribbon 
It Is gorgeous. 
When it comes to more extended renovations, 
she finds sh9 has chosen wisely. She replaces 
fringe on her silk overskirt with guipure lace, 
which has been lying In a drawer several years. 
Her cashmere polonaise Is not of style. She can¬ 
not, at present, afford any new material. Bo, ot 
t.he body sho makcB a bascule; of the underskirt, 
sponged and pressed, an overskirt; and with the 
rest, a sham skirt. Out of the lower part of the 
polonaise, with contriving and twisting, she 
makes a pretty dolman, and t rims It with the 
fringe off the silk, which, beautiful when pur- 
ebas-rd, Is still good. 
After a while, from the dolman she gets a 
sacque, trimming It. with folds ot the never-fall¬ 
ing silk, replacing the now worn-out fringe with 
the guipure from the other dress, which, mean¬ 
while, has undergone another renovation and la 
like a different dross with Its dainty knlfe-plalt- 
lngs, while the casatnere Is again made over. In 
hata, tho same process. Within lour years she 
purchased Just two hats—a complete silk volvot, 
and an unt,rimmed black straw. But, every win¬ 
ter sho has a handsome velvet bonnet, and every 
summer a styllsn, quiet hat. The same velvet In 
winter covers different buckram frames; In 
summer trims the same modified hat. The same 
beautiful ostrich tips, recurled by her own fin¬ 
gers, adorn botn, hanging dlfferenily perhaps, 
and the distinction between the hate of different 
seasons lies mainly In a simple wing or spray of 
flowers. 
As for coat3, the cashmere receives a coarse 
flannel lining for winter. A year or two before, & 
little walking jacket oc clotn nearly threadbare, 
took on new youth by a border of rich fur, and 
when the young lady can afford fitting cloth for a 
new basque, she will reduce the coBt of the com¬ 
pleted garment by making it herself and putting 
this same fur upon it. 
She could tell you many little things. One is, 
don’t buy any pronounced fdBhlonable goods un¬ 
ices yon have plenty of money. A handsome 
bourette costs as much as a handsome silk, yet 
goes out of style In a season or two, while silk 
never does. Another Ia it Is a mistake to aup- 
pose that dresses made with overskirts and ruf¬ 
fles are extravagant. They endure refurblsUlnga 
impossible for dresses so plain aa to show all 
parte. Ana It Is well to consider everything, 
even buttons, ribbons, etc. smoked pearl but¬ 
tons, (or instance, never wear out, and can be 
used over and over again, upon all sorts of ma¬ 
terials. The same with black gros-graln ribbon— 
Its variety of uses Is perfectly marvelous. In 
feathers, remember that breasts and bands never 
get out of curl; that real ostrich lips never crack 
like made tips. For under clothing, It pays best 
also to have neat, white pearl buttons, for they 
last a lifetime. Good, all-wool materials are the 
only ones Mat dye hleely. Collars, cuffs and 
handkerchiefs should bo of tho very best quality. 
Above all, avoid cheap ruches, Gloves, neckties 
and shoos are the most expensive articles, yet 
even hero much may be saved. In gloves, for 
spring, summer and autumn. It Is best, for ordi¬ 
nary wear, to have Mem of >oM(e (not dark) lisle 
’lirend. The former wash beautifully, the latter 
fid not. This same youDg lady, whose best kids 
are always exquisite, has worn, day arter day, 
from May till October, one pair of white, four- 
button, thread gloves, washing Mem every other 
day and mending Mem often, always having 
her toilet neatly finished. In ties, with one 
real black guipure and one white Valenciennes, 
u lady may be well provided for during many 
years, brightening her toilet by combining 
wlM either a little knot of ribbon or flowers. 
With wash goods for everyday, cashmere for 
petter, silk for best, with litt le variations accord¬ 
ing to fancy, any girl may get along comfortably. 
But, If she still needs another dress for going out 
In Me morning, for traveling, tor chilly weather, 
the next beat thing to an old cashmere, Is a sort, 
all-wool (te tytgo. Though this latter is a material 
becoming to nobody, It may be made to look well 
by accessories, and it. Is, Itself, substantial, ser¬ 
viceable, and almost lmp.ssible to sell or crum¬ 
ple. 
Though l hope most ladles will have a little 
more vark ly than the one alluded to above, still 
no one knows until she tries what may be accom¬ 
plished on a little. The girl described actually 
has gone on and looked well, in tUe manner 
pointed on,, for ovwr live years. Perhaps, If all 
of Me little shifts were known to the public, 
no woman would think herself pier,—happy 
thoughts, such as buying flue cambric remnmis, 
here and there, to make a white dress, the whole 
costing about two dollars; trimming a Jiuket 
with the pieces of an old parasol; letting down 
tho wide hem of a pair of gloves, stitching Me 
edge neatly and working butum-holes, to make 
Mem two Inches longer; blackening a belt with 
shoe-blacking; and many, many little devices, 
producing great results In effect. 
I re-lterate, never buy poor materials. \V hat 
could this girl have done with her almost empty 
purse had she not had the remains of fitting fab¬ 
rics upon which to exorcise her taste and skill ? 
And when 1 say that it is every lady’s duty to be 
well-dressed, I am very sure that l set no impos¬ 
sible task. 
-» ♦ » . 
WHY SHOULD NOT FARMERS BE LEGIS¬ 
LATORS I 
H. B. N. 
Last week, l was Invited to attend a Gr nge 
picnic at one of my neighbor's. The day was line- 
one of those soft, balmy September days, that 
we read about but seldom enjoy. About one 
hundred lu all, were gathered together, to enjoy 
the good things which each had donated, and to 
talk over the bouutUul crops which Me good 
Father had vouchsafed to Mem. It was a beau¬ 
tiful sight. The tables spread beneath the grei n 
trees and loaded with the handiwork of the 
Mrlfty housewives and as I looked upon the 
scene, 1 thought, lu all the world where 
could we find such a picture of independence 
and true enjoyment aa among the farmers? 
They are really the men who rule Me world; 
sturdy, honest and upright, and I wondered 
while locking Into their Intelligent faces, why It 
was that our Congress was not composed of such 
men. Truly, tney are the representative men of 
our nation;—and could we but have such to make 
cur laws liiBtead of the dissipated, broken down 
politicians, our country would not be in the con¬ 
dition it is. it wouil not, cost us millions yearly 
to send men to Congress who do little else but 
get drunk, quarrel and bring disgrace upon us. 
I noticed that t here was a much larger attend¬ 
ance at the Grange picnic than at the Farmers’ 
Club, and came to the conclusion that It was the 
good Mings to eat which attracted them, and 
thought, perhaps It might be well for the ladles to 
donate edibles to the club. Tbe theory that the 
nearest way to a man's heart 19 through his 
stomach Is a correct one, and perhaps some of 
our male members might be coaxed Into perform¬ 
ing tbelr duty by the promise of cakes aud coffee. 
Our fair came off on the 35th and 26th of Sep¬ 
tember. Tho ladles deserve a great deal of credit 
and the gentlemen came up at tho last hour much 
better than w e expected. Our fruit being cut off 
this year made quite a difference In the general 
appearance or Mings, and all are looking for¬ 
ward to 1879, when we hope for a better display. 
Each and every one concerned deserves credit 
for the part they have taken, and I would like to 
add that my neighbor who owns Me hogs does not 
belong to the Grange or Fanners' Club, nor had 
he anything to do with Me fair, but he has kept 
his hogs shut up for several weeks. 
Bonnie Repose, 3ept. 29th. 
-♦» » 
FINISH IT OFF. 
MBS. J. M. U'O. 
“ I am tired ot the sight of this drees PheDe, 
I.have had It around unfinished so long. I made 
fully three-fourths of It Me day I got It, for I was 
full of enthuslam over tho business then and If 
1 had kept right on should have finished It the 
next day, and have had the use of It all this warm 
weather. I laid it aside, however, to settle on the 
question ot sleeve Dimming and hav* not yet 
quite decided. It will seem like an old dress to 
me, when I first wear It, I want It, too, this very 
day, but i hate to touch It.” 
“ MUly, don’t Indulge yourself m notions that 
way. Thread a needle and go to work. It Is 
only one seam after another one button-hole 
after another, and so on until the whole 1s done. 
Make a fair start and conquer your disinclina¬ 
tion, and Men Me dress ts as good as done. 
There is a delusion and a snare In this putting 
off until’you feel like It.' There Is nothing so 
hard aa bringing up Me arrears of werk Mat 
ought to have been done before. If you cannot 
do It, becauss you are woary or 111, that settles 
the question. Wo who are own masters must 
make ourselves do a great many little tasks that 
wa feel no affection for. It is the only way to 
keep squarely abreast with work. 
This purring off ttablt grows rapidly, and fol¬ 
lows one Into every department. The fact that 
we do not like to do a particular thing comes to 
be thought a sufficient reason tor letting It lie 
over. Fanny L. always detested stocking darn¬ 
ing, and l have known her to crowd a drawer 
full of those that needed mending, until Bhe had 
not one good pair to put on; Men she wsb forced 
to begin Me darning business lu earnest. There 
Was nothing she liked better, t han to get a little 
bee of us together la her room and provide us 
each with a darning needle and cotton and set us 
to work. But it was a very poor way ot man¬ 
aging, and l sometimes wonder how she gets 
along now tnat there ure little toes to darn for. 
Come, MUly. now for that cambric suit of yours. 
ir you will give me an old paper I will cut you a 
pretty cuff pattern that I know will suit you. I 
took It In at a glance as a lady was passing my 
window. First, 1 marked It down on a piece of 
paper, and theu cut away until l had It to suit. I 
like it very much, and have modified It In several 
ways 6lnce tor different dresses. Tfie wrist of a 
dress Is so small you can afford to make a very 
elaborate trimming for It and not feel that you 
waste much Uine either; yet Me finish there and 
about the neck, give a style to the dress hard to 
accomplish otherwise. 
Whatever you do, dear. tlni3h it. off once for all. 
Iron It out and hang it lu your wardrobe and see 
It you do not get a good night’s sleep. Take my 
rule, MUly, anil see If It does not bring you a 
great amount of peace and comfort In Mis matter 
ot sewing. Alway s finish a piece ot work at the 
earliest moment you can. Stick to It until it is 
done. Of course, when over-wearied, you must 
rest; but pick it up agala at the very next onance 
you get. lu this way I kiep well beforehand 
wlM my sewing, though as you know very well, 
It Is nut a slight enterprise.” 
- 
TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS.-No. 8, 
KOSE QEnANIOSI. 
Phantom Bouquet*. 
In a previous article 1 gave directions for Me 
de.lcate process or prepanug skeletonized leaves. 
Those wnose expertenoms were successful may 
be glad of a few nines regarding mounting. 
ui course, steins muse oe improvised, and of 
these Mere are two kinus. The first are made ot 
line wire, covered with white wax; Mo second, 
widen ure my favorites, are of atmple white 
crochet cotton, suffened wfih starch and gum- 
arabic. When dry, it is KuQlcienUy pliable for 
Mo purpose, and dlffereuc sizes may be employed 
for vine, twig and tondru. 
if a wreitiu Is to oe made, procure a back¬ 
ground of fine brack velvet- F,x it firmly and 
buiOuUil.Y to its place, and Chen skJJtuliy gum Me 
parts to I heir places <o complete Me design. 
A cross Is most effective as a receptacle for 
those airy products, in covering one, always cut 
tue velvet bias, so Mat Me folds may be more 
easily drawn out. 
lus-3ador black, white velvet or white frosted 
plusu may be used with good effect, in either 
case all should be immediately securefifrom dust 
and air by a covering of glass. 
