OCT 2S 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
723 
is best to mend them before they go into the 
wash for divers reasons, viz., they will ravel; 
you cannot get the cloth to match so nicely 
after it has been wet and ironed; and if it has 
to be patched the new cloth will not show if 
is all washed together and ironed smooth. 
Then it takes no longer, or not quite so long, 
to mend before as afterward, and the dress is 
not musfed in the process. 
I presume young folks will think my direct 
tions are rather fussy, but let me tell you, my 
dears, that old age brings wisdom, and expe¬ 
rience is the best teacher; and it often pays 
better to profit by other’s experience than it 
does to learn by one’s own. But I have not 
forgotten how I used to feel when T was yo mg, 
and thought that what l did not know was 
hardly worth knowing. That was years ago, 
and I have been thankful to accept the wls 
dom of older heads, and have been heartily 
ashamed of my ignorance and presumption 
If one could only take up the experience ot 
gray heads and use it, and improve upon it 
our whole lifetime, what a wise generation of 
people the world would be! Well, that cannot 
be. Wisdom and experience generally die 
with their possessor, unless, indeed, they have 
been so fortunate as to make their murk in the 
world so indelible that the world recognizes 
that it is better for their having lived in it. 
Grandmother. 
NOTE3 FROM THE FAIR. 
AN ARGUMENT FOR PILLOW SHAMS. 
certainly undeserved, for a lady who spent 
much time in Europe 30 years ago, exactly 
described as in use there all the elaborately 
constructed covers of the present day, and at 
that time they were quite unheard of on this 
side of the ocean. They may now be aban¬ 
doned by French ladies but they have not al¬ 
ways been “above using pillow shams.” 8. s. T. 
(Will the writer of this please send her ad¬ 
dress to us again? Eds.] 
The Fair season has just closed and in re¬ 
sponse to the invitation given in the Rural 
I have something to say about what I saw 
there. Fine weather has given us very suc¬ 
cessful fairs this year. I always come home 
with a greater respect for masculine humanity 
than I had before. I see so many men carry¬ 
ing small children in their strong arms and 
sheltering tl em tenderly from the pressure of 
the crowd or from the keen Autumn air, while 
their more fragile wives follow along leading 
some of the older ones who are not old enough 
to be trusted to navigate safely alone. Coun¬ 
ty Fairs might with propriety be termed 
Farmers’ Reunions. There the hard working 
men and women renew their acquaintance 
each year with those who live rui!e3 away, 
and whom they would never find time to meet 
elsewhere. The social feature is one of the 
best points of our fairs. Among the exhib¬ 
its I noticed a washing machine, but if it would 
do effective work it seemed to need a strong 
man to operate it; a serious objection to most 
machines. Few men can adapt machinery to 
woman’s work because it is out of their line. 
When they cun we shall have stoves invented 
whose doors can be opened without a shovel 
full or more of ashes falling out. 
The greatest annoyance to exhibitors is the 
lack of classification, but so varied are the ar¬ 
ticles brought that it a different thing to man¬ 
age. For instance in the Youth’s Department 
neat, little card board toilet sets had to be 
judged along side of the same articles of fret 
saw work, about as consistent as to judge 
carriages and lumber wagons together. 
A gentleman remarked to me that it had 
alwaj'S been a wonder to him how quickly 
Floral Hall was cleared at the end of the 
Fair. In the course of half an hour all the 
ornamental work, quilts carpets, plants, pic¬ 
tures, fruit, vegetables, dairy products all dis¬ 
appear as if by magic. It waB easily and 
quickly done because each one took away 
their own; a very good example of what may 
be accomplished by concerted effort. 
Aunt Rachel. 
directions for knitting a boy’s scarf? Some¬ 
thing that will not be so heavy as the crochet 
stitch we use in men’s scarfs. M art E. Cole. 
Where can I get a point-laae instruction 
book, and what is the price of one? J. M. s. 
A ns, —AtMme. Guerney’s, No. 6 East 14th 
street, New York City. D> n't know the price. 
ABOUT WOMEN. 
It is unfortunate that the pretty pillow 
covers used so generally should ever have 
been called “ shams ” for they do not in any 
sense merit the name, being pillow spreads 
answering the same purpose ns bed spreads. 
“Dust heavy, rarely washed, often old and 
splintered, abominable shams,” may be “pin¬ 
ned over soiled cases,” by an untidy house¬ 
keeper, but that is no argument against them, 
any more than we should give up the use of 
bedsteads, because careless people allow them 
to become filled with bugs. Notone sober man 
in a thousand is so “head-wearied ” that it is 
too gTeat an exertion to toss the sham over 
the foot or head of the bed as my husband 
does if I have not already removed them 
The plan of cases rufiled and ornamented I 
have tried to my entire satisfaction, for to 
have them look at all neatlv they must be 
changed every day which involved such a 
waste of time, labor, and material that it was 
soon abandoned. It is difficult to see where 
the “volumes of misery—all told of weariness, 
impatience, and aocrimlrfating words,” as¬ 
sumed to be caused by pillow shams, are to be 
abated by advice to ornament real cases with 
“tucked, embroidered, rutiled or laced ends" 
which make so much more work both for the 
mistress and servant whose veracity need not 
be doubted when she testifies against them. 
The implied slight in the expression that, 
pillow-shams are essentially American is 
Next Winter Mrs. Stewart will entertain 
in her white marble palace for the first time 
in eight years. 
Two ladies of the China Inland Mission, 
Mrs. Brountun and Miss Kerr, have traveled 
through the province of Hunan, Western 
China, where no foreign ladies have ever 
been before. 
That a woman should have been appoiut?d 
a professor on the staff of a medical college 
which aims at being the highest in the United 
Btates, is a fact of which the advocates of fa 
male medical education may be proud; and 
the circumstance that it has been chronicled 
with approbation by the talented correspon¬ 
dent of a medical contemporary which ha^ 
hitherto almost ignored the existence of fe 
male colleges is a fact that will not be a little 
gratifying to those who seek to promote tht 
cause of medical education among women. 
American Silk Dress. —The silk dress to 
be presented to Mrs. Garfield by the American 
Women’s Self Culture Association is probably 
one of the most remarkable of recent manu 
facture. It was exhibited lately at Philadel' 
phia, and is f he very first silk dress made from 
the cocooDS of American silkworms. The raw 
silk was grown in 14 States of the Union by 
26 families. It was reeled on a Yankee reel, 
and manufactured in New Jersey. It is said 
to challenge, in the quality of the silk and the 
manner of manufacture, comparison with the 
product of Lyons’ looms. 
It is not surprising that a medical school of 
high standing should be established in New 
York, itsobject being to raise the standard of 
medical knowledge amongst those physicians 
already in practice. The coume of study is 
to consist of clinical teaching and demonstra¬ 
tions, in contradistinction to lectures. The 
medical faculty consists, with one exception, 
of men eminent in the departments of medi¬ 
cine which they will have to teach. The ex¬ 
ception is, that one chair—that of the Diseases 
of Children—is filled by a lady, Dr. Mary 
Putnam Jacobi. Whatever opinion may be 
expressed respecting this innovation, there 
can be but one as to the fitness of this lady for 
the position in question. Dr. Mary P. Ja¬ 
cobi’s skill in treating the diseases of children 
is acknowledged by the medical profession, 
and her instruction in this department will 
be a welcome addition to the excellent course 
of study which will be provided. 
Some time ago Princess Edward of Saxe- 
Weirnar, observing the trouble which often 
awaited the wives of soldiers sent home from 
foreign countries, determined to establish a 
small home at Portsmouth where free lodgings 
would be given to any of the soldiers’ wives 
who, on reaching that port, might not have 
any friends or home to go to. A small house 
very near the harbor was taken, furnished 
and fitted-up by the Princess, who was assisted 
in the benevolent scheme by several who were 
interested in the welfare of these women, the 
tradesmen at Portsmouth being among those 
who help very materially. A matron is in 
charge of the premises, which are arranged 
in a suitable manner for the requirements of 
the inmates. Upon the arrival of any ship 
with soldiers' wives, Princess Edward is often 
upon the spot to superintend any arrange¬ 
ments, and as many as need it are received at 
the home, where they remain till passed on to 
their permanent destinations. It is impossible 
to estimate the benefit of this work when 
women and children arrive, often sick and ill, 
after a long voyage, with no definite place to 
rest in. Not long ago one afternoon saw 
12 women and 30 children hospitably enter¬ 
tained, and the gratitude expressed well re¬ 
pays Princess Edward for the trouble she has 
had in establishing the home. 
CORRESPONDENTS CORNER. 
Dear Rural; —Will you please tell me how 
to dye feathers? I have some tips of differ¬ 
ent colors that I wish to dye black. The di¬ 
rections that come with Leamon’s Aniline 
Dyes give no directions for dyeing feathers. 
Should the dye be used boiling hot? and 
should they be dipped in any solution to set 
the dye previous to dyeing. Please answer 
and oblige. M. c. s. 
Can any of our lady friends give this cor¬ 
respondent information upon this sub¬ 
ject?—E ds. 
Will some lady give through the Rural 
Homeward Bound. (Illustrated Art Notes.]— Flo. 985. 
Domestic Cccmonuj 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
DOMESTIC RECIPES. 
PRUNE PUDDING. 
One pound of prunes, one quart of milk, six 
eggs, eight large tablespoonfuls of sifted flour, 
a little salt. Wash the prunes and let swell 
in hot water until soft. Drain, take out the 
stones, spread on a dish nnd dredge with flour. 
Take a little of the milk and mix the flour 
smooth with it. Beat the eggs very light, add 
to the mixed flour; pour in the rest of the 
milk, add the prunes, stir all together, pour 
into a buttered dish and steam two-and-a half 
hours. 
SWEET POTATO PIE. 
Select those potatoes which you know to be 
dry and mealy. Boil, pare and mash very 
smooth. To a quart of the potatoes add a 
quart of rich new milk, three eggs, nutmeg or 
cinnamon, a little salt and sugar, to taste. 
Bake with an undercrust. 
FRENCH FRIED POTATOES. 
This is an excellent way to use up small 
potatoes. Pare the little ones, cut in half, 
then quarter. Put into a wire frying basket 
and cook in hot fat for 10 or 12 minute*. 
Drain,sprinkle with salt and serve. Economy. 
BOILED CABBAGE. 
Select a firm cabbage, boil until tender and 
let get perfectly cold. Then chop fine, add 
two beaten eggs, half a cup of milk, a table¬ 
spoonful of butter, and season with pepper 
and salt. Mix well, press tightly into a 
buttered baking dish, cover, bake half an 
hour, uncover and bake 15 minutes longer. 
Turn on to a hot dish, pour over a cup of 
drawn butter and send to table. A. E green. 
SNOW—FOR DESSERT. 
A quait of rich milk, four good tablespoon¬ 
fuls of corn-stareb, whites of four eggs, a cup 
of powdered sugar, a spoonful of butter, 
lemon or vanilla and a little salt. Bring the 
milk to a boil,stir in the starch which bas been 
wet up to a thin paste with a little cold milk, 
cook until it thickens, add sugar, (careful not 
to burn bottom of dish), draw to the back of 
the range, stir all the time, let stand five 
minutes longer, turn out and beat in the 
butter. Stir occasionally until cold, then 
beat in the whites which should be whipped 
to a stiff froth, flavor, turu into a wet mold 
and set in a cool place. Make the day before 
you wish it. Long Island. 
RAISED DOUGHNUTS. 
At night, take one quart of flour, two cups 
of sugar, a piece of butter the size of an egg, 
a teaspoon of cinnamon, a pint of new warmed 
milk, two-thirds of a cup of good home-made 
yeast and a little salt. Stir the butter to a 
cream. Mix the sugar, flour, salt and cinna¬ 
mon together, drop the butter in, pour the 
yeast upon it, then the warm milk and stir 
until you have a soft dough. Set where it is 
warm over-night. In the morning sift a tea¬ 
spoonful of soda with a pint of flour and beat 
the whites of three eggs until stiff and the 
yelks until frothy. Add the yelks thou the 
whites to the light dough, w r ork in the flour 
and let rise again. Roll out, cut into rounds 
or squares three-quarters of an ineb thick; 
let rise 20 minutes and drop into hot fat. Keep 
turning to cook evenly. New Jersey. 
STEAMED 8QUA8H. 
Cut into convenient pieces, take out seeds 
and fibers, pare off the rind, put into a steamer 
over clear water. When tender, lay a few of 
the pieces at a time in a clean bowl and 
squeeze to get rid of water: mash smooth, re¬ 
turn to the saucepan, add a spoonful or two 
of cream, a little butter with salt and pepper 
to make palatable. When heated, dish. 
orange pudding. 
One quart of milk, a cupful of cracker dust, 
five eggs, a large cupful of sugar, half a cup 
of butter, juice of two oranges and grated 
rind of one. Turn the cracker dust into the 
milk, put over the fire and slowly heat, stir¬ 
ring until fully swelled, add the sugar, butter 
and rind, then the beaten yelk, then the 
whites whipped stiff and last the orange juice. 
Turn into a buttered pudding dish and bake 
three-quarters of an hour. If baking too fast, 
cover so that the top will not get too deep a 
brown. Boston Cook. 
CLEARING COFFEE. 
After browning the coffee, let it cool so 
that it can be handled easily, then stir through 
the batch the white of an egg. This will he 
sufficient for a p'Mind of coffee and is prefer¬ 
able to putting the egg in the pot, especially 
when eggs are high. 
CANNING RHUBARB. 
For two years past, at oar county fair, 
there has been rhubarb exhibited, canned in a 
way which to me was a novel one. I inquired 
of the lady who canned it her mode, which is 
as follows: She cut the stems the length of 
the jar (Mason’s was used) and packed them 
in, then pumped cold water over them, sealed 
in the usual way, and kept in a cool place. 
Those who have eaten of it pronounce it 
superior to that cooked before canning. 
Mary E. Cole. 
-» «• ♦- 
QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 
BONED TURKEY. 
WILL you please give plain directions for 
boning a turkey 1 I have made the attempt 
several times and fai'ed. mrs. e. X. B. 
Ans.—T he boning of a turkey or a fowl 
requires practice, and you cannot hope to be 
successful with your first or second attempts. 
We append Miss Parloa’s plain and concise 
directions, which we cannot improve upon: 
Get a turkey that has not been frozen (freez¬ 
ing makes it tear easily). See that every part 
is whole; one with a little break in the skin 
will not do. Cut off the legs, in the joints, 
and the tips of the wings. Do not draw the 
bird. Place it on its breast, and with a small, 
sharp boning knife, cut in a straight line 
through to the bone, from the neck down to 
that part of the bird where there is but little 
flesh, where it is all skin and fat. Begin at 
the neck, and run the knife between the flesh 
and the bones until you come to the wing. 
Then cut the ligaments that hold the bones 
together and the tendons that hold the flesh 
to the bones. With the thumb and fore-finger 
jiress the flesh from the smooth bone. When 
you come to the joint, carefully separate the 
ligaments and remove the bone. Do not try 
to take the bone from the next joint, as that 
is not in the way when carving, and it gives a 
more natural shape to the bird. Now begin at 
the wish-bone, and when that is free from the 
flesh, run the knife between the sides and the 
flesh, always using the fingers to press the 
meat from the smooth bones, as, for instance, 
the breast-bone and lower part of the sides. 
Work around the legs the same as you did 
around the wings, always using great care at 
the joints not to cut the skin. Drawing out 
the leg bones turns that part of the bird inside 
out. Turn the bird ovor, and proceed in the 
same manner with the other side. When all 
is detached, carefully draw the skin from the 
breast bone; then run the knife between the 
fat and bone at the rump, leaving the small 
bone in the extreme end, as it holds the skew¬ 
ers. Carefully remove the flesh from the 
skeleton, and turn it right side out again. Rub 
into it two table-spocnfuls of salt and a little 
pepper, and fill with dressing. Sew up the 
back and neck and then the vent. Truss the 
same as if not boned. Take a strong piece of 
cotton cloth and pin the bird firmly in it, 
drawing very tight at the legs, as this is the 
broadest place, and the shape will not be good 
unless ibis precaution be taken. Steam three 
hdhrs, and then place on a buttered tin sheet, 
which put in a baking pan. Baste well with 
butter, pepper, salt and flour. Roast one 
hour, basting every ten minutes, and twice 
with stock. When cold, remove the skewers 
and strings and garnish. 
Horalord’" Acid Fliospliate, 
For the III Effects of Tobacco. 
Dr. C. A. Fernald, Boston, says: “I have 
used it in cases of impaired nerve function 
with beneficial results, especially in cases 
where the system is affected by the toxic 
action ot tobacco."— Adv. 
