!'JAN. 24 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Jfor ©lomcit. 
DESCRIPTION OF CUTS. 
Illustration No. 23 represents an evening cos- 
tume and a suit for every-day wear. We presume 
“ Rural" readers with appreciation and Ingenuity, 
■will be able to adapt the styles to their use. Any 
material suitable for the two modes may be used 
for tbelr construction. 
No. 26. 
Nos. 24 and 25—Front and Back of Paletot.— 
No. 24 showing the front of paletot. Is of black fancy 
cloth, trimmed with skunk fur and hone buttons. 
No. 25, showing the back, Is of diagonal cloth, orna- 
m anted with buttons. 
No., 26 Fashionable Gloves.— The Illustration 
gives a pretty style of glove for evening wear. 
They are of black kid, finished at the top with 
black lace over white. 
No. 27, Cravat-Bow and Ruffle.— This pretty 
bow and ruffle Is composed of Bretonne lace, made 
on a muslin foundation. 
THE WOMENS' LETTERS. 
I think the letters of the ladles In the Rural of 
Dec, 27; very Interesting. The question of “ Mar¬ 
guerite" In reference to the chewing of tobacco 
and Us use In any manner, has often occurred to 
my own mind I also would like to have the 
question solved. M y oldest, boy is seven years old 
and l dread his learning to smoko and chew Just 
as much as I do any vice that men are addicted to. 
Ills father smokes, but. t hope my boy never will ; 
and right hero 1 would ask the ladles If they have 
ever seen a man who was in the habit of using 
tobacco, have a handsome or oluuuly-looklng 
mouth v l never nave ; for it spoils both lips, teeth, 
and breath, tills deadly noxious weed. Boys loftrh 
to smoke because they think It smart and manly, 
although their first efforts In that line maybe 
attended with all the nausea of sea-sickness. The 
lady who allowed her little one to suck the “ old 
man’s pipe,” under the impression that It would 
help him, must never havo studied any of the laws 
of hygiene or health, she had more forbearance 
towards t,he “ old man's whim," than 1 would have 
had. I'm afraid that “ con temp lible old pipe” 
would have graced the lire about the time 1 found 
my child Imbibing Us vile contoats. With all due 
deference and respect towards "old folks," I must 
say that, a good many of them are full of “notions" 
quite as useless as Unit of the “horse shoe" nailed 
over the door for ‘good luck," the breaking of a 
mirrror portending coming death or misfortune, 
and hundreds of other such “moonshine Ideas," 
that 111 accord with the light of this 19th century. 
No. 24. 
What a splendid thrilling story “ In Folly’s Net” 
is. Poor Jean was severely punished lor the folly 
ol filrtaUon. 
I am glad to see that there la a plea made by ono 
of your correspondent 8 for the "old maid ” lor they 
are a class that are generally pretty roughly han¬ 
dled, and T fully agree with t.ho writer, that. It, la 
far better to live peaceably In single blessedness or 
wretchedness—w blchever you may choose to call 
It—than to be the slave or a tyrant, or the poor 
down-trodden wife of a drunkard. How do you 
suppose a man would feel to come home and find 
his wile drunk, or perhaps “ smashing up the fur¬ 
niture," for pastime, as some men do. why then 
It would be terrible ? Yet there are thousands of 
wives to-day who (though far superior to their 
drunken husbands), have to stand and live through 
this misery day after day, becoming mothers with 
the dread that their children will follow In their 
father’s footsteps, or hoping that perhaps his ex¬ 
ample may he a warning to them In later years. I 
believe In marriage for all, as it. is ordained of God, 
hut far better die unwed than to live for years tn a 
literal “ purgatory.” The sentiments expressed 
by the writer on “ cbemlloons " have my wannest 
approval, for I have a perfect abhorance of “cor¬ 
sets they are the bane of women ’b lives. I would 
not be hired to wear one; my daughter never 
shall, while she remains under my control. I had 
a music scholar once (a girl about 16 years old), 
who was always and Is still complaining of con¬ 
stant headaches. She wears a corset tightly 
laced, and Just think what a small amount of sense 
!itirarg Upsttllang. 
CONQUERED, 
CHAPTER II. 
(■Continued from rise 845.) 
“ Poor man 1” said the young lady, compassion¬ 
ately. “ He need not he afraid that we shall In¬ 
trude upon him it he so positively declines any 
sympathy. Time must effect bis cure; but you 
will not, I hope, refuse this fruit and game our 
housekeeper has packed up for your use and his. 
Flossy 1” 
Her gentle call brought the child to her side 
directly. She was a pretty, fair-hatred little girl 
about eight or nine years old, and there was some¬ 
thing In her face so familiar to Mrs. Weddell, that 
she studied It, Intently. 
“ Your sister, ma'am ?" 
“ No; a little cousin, who was to have spent her 
holidays at school, and, finding that she was not 
very happy In the prospect, wo persuaded her 
governess to let her come Into Sussex with us. 
Flossy, darling, I want Mrs. Weddell to hear how 
sweetly my birdie can warble. Will you 3tng to 
her one of the songs your brother taught you 7” 
. itt 
i 
Ill 
«! 
ax/St 
No. 
her mother musi. have, when she wanted her child 
to tie the strings to the bedpost, and pull tighter. 
I reasoned with the girl and took down my Physi¬ 
ology to show her the shapes as nature and fash¬ 
ions made them. but. she preferred the waist that 
looked us If the being were about, to snap In two, 
but ’tls almost useless to say more on tins subject. 
So long as Ills the •* fashion" for women to try and 
look as It they had no digestive organs whatever. 
Just so long will the majority ot women sacrifice 
themselves to this merciless “ Moloch," I expect 1 
have tried the readers patience with tills long, 
rambling letter, so adieu, wishing to alia “ llappy 
New Y'ear,” peace and success dull ng the year of 
our Lord, 1880. Mrs. W. J. G. 
Watervllle, Kan. 
-- 
Mrs. Hayes’s attire at the New Year reception 
at the White House, will be matter or Interest to 
female readers. Her dress was ot white brocaded 
satin, wrought with gold threads. The V shaped 
front of the waist wua filled In with laoo and her 
sleeves were of duchess lace with embroidery of 
seed pearls. The court train ot satin was long 
and squure; rose buds were worked upon It with 
threads of gold. The plulu white satin petticoat 
was trimmed with bias rolds of satin divided by 
a fringe of gold and pearls. Broad bands ot gold 
embroidery separated the pemiooat from the 
court train, in her hair she wore a silver comb 
a nd on her neck a pendant—a cameo head of the 
President set In diamonds. 
- »« ♦ - 
A little three-year old. whose mother was 
mlxtug a simple cough medicine for him, watched 
the process, and asked if It was good. He was 
permitted to taste, and exclaimed: "It’s awful 
good, mamma, I Let’s keep it au for papa /” 
. 23. • 
The child colored shyly, but obeyed, and In 
flute-Uke tones sang “Chime again, beautiful 
bells," unconscious that she had any auditor be¬ 
sides the delighted Mrs. Weddell and Katrine 
Wyllts, whom she had already learned to love 
very dearly. 
There was a little hush tn the cottage after the 
child finished her song; for Mrs. Weddell was 
susceptible to sweet sounds, and was wiping 
away a stray tear; and then Miss Wyllls rose to 
go, and Flossy, repaid for Uer melody by the pro¬ 
mise ot tabby’s prettiest kitten, tripped away be¬ 
side her. 
The tenant of Mrs. Weddell’s parlor was pacing 
It restlessly when she peeped in at him after her 
guests had departed. 
“ Was that child brought here to mock—to defy 
mo?” he demanded, fiercely. “Was It done for 
fear I should not have learned that she too had 
gone over to the enemy ?” 
“ nave the singing been too much for your poor 
head 7" Inquired Mrs. Weddell, with an air of 
concern. “Well, now, i ain't no Judge myself; 
but I thought It, beautiful. However. I’ll tell the 
little dear she mustn’t make such a noise again." 
“Nonsense I You’ll uoc do any such thing,” he 
answered, recovering himself. *' Let her sing a 3 
much as she likes, t am glad to knosv that she is 
so happy. Heaven bless her,” 
“Butyou said-” 
Pshaw 1 I was quoting a passage from one of 
the poets, that was all." 
“ Was that poetry now ?—a bit out of a battle- 
piece?" 
“ Yeg, Mrs. Weddell; the ory of an^overcharged 
61 
soul worsted In the battle of life. Remember you 
are not to check that child’s Innocent happiness; 
and remember also that you are not to speak of 
me. Say that I am much the same, or that the 
pain Is more Intolerable than ever; It will he the 
truth—the sad, serious truth.” 
CHAPTER III 
BESIEGED. 
Katrine Wyllts and little Flossy came to the 
cottage again In the course of a few days; tout 
this time they had a bevy of merry companions, 
lively girls, whoso laughter and chattering warned 
the solitary writer to turn his key before they 
were half-way up the garden. 
NO. 27. 
“ Don’t look terrified at such an inv&Mon! We 
are friends, not enemies," cried the tall, black- 
eyed, stately Brenda, as Mrs. WeddelL who had 
fallen asleep over her knitting, opened her eyes 
and stared at the bright vision of smiling girl- 
faces and well-dressed figures about her chair. 
“8lt still—oh! do sit still!” implored Bessie 
Tresham, her sister, who had artistic tastes. 
“ You'll make such a charming picture. I must 
sketch you just as you are. Wasn’t it lucky I in¬ 
sisted on bringing ray book and pencil 7” 
•• I can knit, so give me your work," cried petite, 
piquante Madge Renton, possessing herself of the 
stocking. “ Flossy, my darling, be our pretty page, 
and find seats for us. If Mrs. Weddell doesn’t 
object, we mean to stay and talk to ber. Not all 
at once, you know, because that would not be 
giving each other fair play." 
with the aid of a stool and .an old box, the 
whole party were accommodated, and Bessie 
commenced her sketch ol their half-disconcerted, 
hair-flattered hostess, who now found breath to 
utter a protest. 
•* You don't mean to say you're going to put me 
Into a big pitcher like you have up at the house t 
Let me get my tother cap on first, and then I won’t 
mind it a bit." 
But the laughing girl seized and brought her 
back to her chair. 
“ No, ludeed, we like you just as you are," the 
artist Insisted. “Fold your hands on your lap, 
ana look as placid as you did when we came in. 
Can t you go to sleep again If we are very silent 
for five minutes? Or If Flossy would sing and lull 
you off -where is she 7” 
Yes. Flossy, who sat on the rug at Katrine's 
feet cuddling tabby and the kittens, was quite 
willing, and aa she warbled her stmple. old fash¬ 
ioned sonvs, the carefully modulated voices of her 
companions took up the strain ever and anon, and 
made the harmony more complete. 
Then Katrina, at Brenda’s urgent entreaty, sang 
tn the rich plain' ive contralto that always thrilled 
her hearers, and never more than now, a quaint 
No. 25. 
carol with a refrain that breathed of peace and 
gooJ-wtll; and as she sang, the head of the listener 
in the parlor drooped on his folded arms, and the 
Ups he had been augrlly knawing, quivered with 
pain not unmlngied.wltn remorse. 
