350 
MAY 29 
phower o t entreaties winch meets them from all 
sides and perhaps the recollection of their own 
youth, give their consent and the run begins. But 
such a dance! the girls short skirts forming a per¬ 
fect balloon as they are whirled around and around 
by their partners, whose gymnastic feats of throw¬ 
ing their reet In the air and kicking some lady In 
the side, rather hlghtens the excitement, as each 
one strives to outdo the other In agility. At half¬ 
past nine the bread 1» baked, the dance ceases, 
some one runs for a Jug of wine and the fresh- 
baked loaf la attacked with pocket-knives amidst 
Jokes and laughter, while the place Is lined to 
sutTooatlon with tobacco smoke, which does not 
seem to annoy anyone In the least. In another 
half hour each one, after helping to carry the 
loaves to the owner’s house, goes home very likely 
with feelings similar to those of our young folks 
at house-warming or carpet rag parties. For we 
hear that many a lender union lookB back for its 
commencement to a merry evening In the bake¬ 
house. 
In strange contrast to such gatherings are the 
evenings when an old person takes possession of 
the bake-house. Then all the old women of the 
neighborhood congregate and the place becomes 
a regular repository of village gossip. Little then 
hut. what undergoes a thorough process of investi¬ 
gation. From the coffee-pot, which always stands 
on neighbor so-and-so’s fire-place, down to the 
broom-stick, on which some other mysterious 
neighbor la supposed to journey to the witches ren¬ 
dezvous. But, singularly enough, nobody seems to 
think long about it. One neighbor greets the 
muoh-talked-of other neighbor In the usual friendly 
manner. Everybody appears to know they have 
been the subjects of similar tales. It seems 
to be a subject of chronic disease among village 
gossips, and theso bake-houses are Just the place 
for them. Imagine a dark night, a black low-roofed 
building, within the dim, fitful glimmer of burnt- 
down logs, shadows deepening on the wall and in 
corners, and a group of women talking In low tones 
and starting at every crackling cinder, and you 
will not wonder that the evening’s conversation Is 
wound up with some wlcrd account of ghosts and 
witches. The Germans are imaginative, and If 
the grandmother has ever been frightened by an 
oddly branched tree at night the grandchildren are 
sure It was the headless rider of some ruined castle. 
Apropos of castles, 1 hear there Is an old ruin m 
this vicinity once the fortress of a powerful count, 
and we will pay a visit to It In the coming season. 
-- 
BRIC-A-BRAC. 
The cattle on a thousand hills 
Contribute to the milkman's wealth, 
So does the water from the rills 
That's slipped into the cans by stealth. 
In England young gentlemen speak of their 
fathers as “the Governor,’’“ pater,” “ the over¬ 
seer," etc. Here we are more civilized. We say 
“ dad,” •' the boss,” or “ the old man.” In heathen 
countries they say *• father,” but they are away 
behind the age.—New York Commercial Adver¬ 
tiser, 
The poet Tennyson Is worth $1,000,000, and we 
don’t see what use there was In his writing “ Come 
not when I am dead.” They’ll be on hand, every 
one of them, when the will Is opened .—Cincinnati 
Enquirer. 
A BONO OV KVIUNG. 
" Oh, whad is dthe use of repidig ? 
Drive care ad sorrow away, 
Do-morrow dtho sud bay be shidigr, 
Aldough Id is raidig do-day." 
Theodore Martin has omitted some of the minor 
episodes of domestic life of the Queen and Prince 
Albert, which would, perhaps, have cost him his 
spurs, had he related them In his " Life of the 
Late Prince Consort." When the august pair 
were first married, although the match was one of 
love, at least on the Queen’s part, Her Majesty 
o < t!d no* a ways control her temper, and on the 
occasion oi one of those trifling quarrels which 
occur even In the best regulated famines, she 
threw a teacup at the Prince’s heart. He, exces¬ 
sively indignant, retired to his apartments and 
locked the door. 
The Queen’s anger having somewhat abated, 
she thought him sufficiently punished, and 
knocked at his door. To the question, “ Who’s 
there ?” she replied in imperious tones, “ The 
Queen.” Prince Albert did not answer, and she 
went away. By-and-bye she thought she would 
try again, and to the “Who’s there?” answered 
“Victoria,” Again there was complete silence, 
and she again retired. With the perseverance 
characteristic of a woman alarmed at the trouble 
to come, she determined to try a third time, and 
In response to “ Who’B there?" replied, sobblngly: 
“ Your own loving wife.” This brought Prince 
Albert to terms, and peace was re-established. It 
Is said there was no more teacup throwing in the 
happy family. 
Chew caramels, with false teeth in; 
Untie your shoes with mittens on; 
Throw bowers away, and try to win; 
Take passage when the train is gone. 
You may do all of these, Indeed; 
And ’ twould be nearly as surprising 
As T would be, if you should succeed, 
In business without advertising. 
A young woman from Springfield, Mass., who Is 
teaching the Indians, at Hampton, Va., was re¬ 
cently drilling a company of girls on the hymn, 
“ YTeld not to temptation,” and trying to explain 
to them the meaning of the words. Some time 
after the class was dismissed a pupil came to her 
and said, “ Me victory t" meaning that she had 
gained a vie tori’. Being asked to explain, she 
said : “ Indian girl, she big temptation to me ; I 
no yield; I fight her.”—Price Courant. 
THE BUBAL WEW-Y0BKEB. 
#or SHuntfE, 
CONDUCTED BY MISS RAY CLARK. 
BLUE FLOWERS. 
You ask which flowers I love the beBt, 
When spring calls forth her pretty train, 
And each in pretty garments dressed, 
She sends them forth o'er hill and plain f 
Give me blue flowers 
To grace my bowers, 
“ The perfect color”—heaven’s own blue, 
Meek violet, 
In emerald set., 
And glistening with the fragrant dew ; 
Or by t.ho brook. 
With dowucast look, 
The nodding harebell's fairy form 
I love to see 
Where lowly she 
Doth bend her head to meet tho storm. 
Blue flowera! Oh, givo me the fair bluo flowers, 
So pleadingly their azure eyes 
Uplook to mine at morning hours; 
Taking their color from the Bkies; 
Of heaven they learn, 
To heaven they turn 
Their opening bells at break of day; 
And heaven doth shod 
On each fair head 
And blessing on them where they lay— 
A blessing meet. 
For flowers so sweet, 
A portion of her glory bright. 
Our prayer should be, 
Oh, thus may we 
Be “ clothed upon" with robes of light. 
-- 
SIMPLE HOUSEHOLD ART. 
In nothing has our age shown more rapid 
progress than In household decoration and the 
desire to make our dally life beauttful. Not in any 
respect Is the change more striking than In the 
increased love for rich and bright colors, and 
appreciations of their glowing harmonies. 
Formerly, only the wealthy and highly culti¬ 
vated evinced such tastes, and the middle or lower 
classes either chose tho gaudiest and most glaring 
mixture of hues, or clung to sober drabs and grays 
and somber blacks as most genteel. 
Now, every eye is being subtly trained by the 
patient teaching and the open scroll of Nature 
through the flower garden. Even the narrow 
window-ledge has space enough for the boxes of 
geraniums—a dazzling mass of scarlet and green 
almost as radiant as the light that nourishes the 
blossoms Into perfection. 
The side or an old fence will support an airy and 
light tapestry of swinging morning-glories, white, 
purple and rose-colored. 
The kitchen gardens glow with the velvety 
splendors of nasturtiums, or the soberer and more 
delicate borders of thyme and parsley and other 
low-growing herbs for Bcent and savor. 
One of the visitors at the White .Sulphur Springs 
hist year went often in her rambles to the poor 
homes In the neighborhood, trying to Interest the 
people In the cultivation of beautiful flowers, and 
doubtless in one or two more years the fruits of 
her kindly lessons will be richly evident, indeed, 
one need only visit a market stall with its prettily- 
arranged vegetables, the crisp, green lettuce, the 
crimson radishes, the silvery white onions placed 
side by side, to see how rar the delight in color has 
spread and grown. 
In-doors tho change Is seen In the rich, dark 
colors of the stained floors, and the more artistic 
designs of even the least expensive carpeting. 
There is an appreciable saving of time and labor 
also in the oiled or stained floors, which can be so 
easily kept clean. 
If one is not able to afford the money needed lor 
the purchase of center carpets or rugs, they can be 
manufactured with exercises of a little taste and 
Industry. 
First of all, a strong foundation of coarse cloth— 
a coffee or salt-bag or some such strong material 
Is needed. Then the colors should be chosen and 
the pattern carefully drawn off before the work Is 
is begun. 
The outside border Is prettiest of crimson, as the 
red lights up the room and contrasts beautifully 
with the dark floor. Then dark-gray and black as 
& background (so to speak) to the brighter colors, 
and a narrow line of buff running between the two 
will often light up a pattern charmingly. 
The softer mgs are made of strips of flannel or 
cloth cut In narrow pieces three or four Inches 
long, stitched through the middle, and both ends 
turned over, leaving a fluffy, thick surface, pleasant 
to the tread of tired feet. 
This is a very simple household art, but If It 
makes home beautiful, it Is worth much. 
Perhaps the dainties arts of embroidery and 
panel-palotlng may scarcely touch the affections 
as much as that homeliest but lndescrlbie air of 
comfort and welcome which some very simple 
rooms may wear. It Is like a Bmlle of joy on a 
plain face, brightening it Into positive attraction. 
It Is astonishing when one once begins the work 
of making home beautiful how constantly material 
may be found for accomplishing it. 
Scraps of bright or dark-colored clothes, tiny 
pictures, almost anything can be used. From the 
world of wood and meadows one may gather at 
will a rich store of mosses and ferns and scarlet 
berries for all sorts of rare, picturesque grouping. 
Then It Is always safe to trust Nature with the 
delicate traceries and Intermingling of tint and 
color and finer ehade. 
By living much out-doors one learns uncon¬ 
sciously the secrets of these, although it may be 
Impossible to render a reason, the hands will grow 
more skillful, the eye and ear truer to all that is 
beautiful. n. f. m. 
-» *-■* - 
DAHLIAS. 
As everyone has some one particular flower that 
they love or prize above all others, we expect each 
one to “ sing ” the praises of their favorite. While 
Mr. Vick Is bringing his Phloxes to perfection, and 
Mr. Bliss his Pansies, and Mr. Henderson Ills 
Roses, why don’t some one grow eloquent over the 
“Dahlia.” As It Is rny particular flower, and as 
no one else seems disposed to tell of Its beauties, 
virtues, etc., 1 shall begin by telling how easily 
they are grown. 
Unlike some flowers, the very choicest double 
Dahlias bear seed as readily as the more single 
ones, and as they sport In endless varieties of color 
It is always a surprise to grow them, from seed. 
After they bloom, no trouble is experience In 
keeping the young tuberous roots over winter. 
The bloom ripens them and they remain hard 
and plump, with no more signs of decay than in 
older ones that have grown for years. 
They are very susceptible to frost, both while 
growing and when stored away, and the light 
colors more so than the darker ones. They can he 
multi piled In endless numbers as they can be dl- 
dlvlded to the single eye, which Is all that should 
be lea to each root. They also grow rrom cuttings 
readily, this Is the way the pot growD roots sold 
by our florists, are propagated. 
After years of experience In cultivating them In 
large numbers I have never kuown one to change 
color or degenerate. A good flower once. Is a good 
flower always, seedlings sometimes Improve in 
form for flve years, but they never vary thelroolor. 
They revel In a damp, rich soil, and always 
bloom better In a shady cool location, the north 
side of a building, or fence, suits them exactly. If 
damp enough; in such a location they will begin 
to bloom early lu June and last until frost. 
Of manures, cow manure well rotted seems to 
suit them best. For lawn planting, they are well 
suited as the sod may be cut and turned back, the 
plant set In and the sod turned again to Its place, 
and grass and plant both grow finely. Our finest 
specimens are grown in this way. 
For winter storing pile them up In the same 
way as potatoes and keep them from frost. There 
Is no need of packing In sand, saw’dust or anything 
else if the roots are ripe. Being very bulky it is 
something of a job to pack them in boxes. 
Maky F. McCloud. 
USEFUL HINTS. 
To Cure a Felon.—Do not put the fingers in hot 
water or put on hot poultices. Apply cold poul¬ 
tices. The third or fourth day arter a felon makes 
its appearance It should be opened with a sharp, 
penknife, making a short, deep lengthwise cut. 
This will cause it to discharge, and It may continue 
to do so for two days or more, l’ut on cold poul¬ 
tice s until the discharge stops, and keep them on 
until the wound heats, The finger or baud should 
be carefully wrapped up for two weeks afterward, 
as It will be tender. Treated in this manner, a 
felon will not deform the linger or hand, it will 
require courage to bear having a felon cut,, but In a 
short time the relief afforded by it will be so great 
as to call forth feelings of gratitude. 
A BUEFERBK. 
Old newspapers will put the finishing touch on 
newly cleaned sliver, knives and forks and tinware, 
better than anything. Rub them well and make 
perfectly dry. They are excellent to polish stoves 
that have not been blackened for a length of time. 
For polishing windows they may oe used to ad¬ 
vantage, and for linings of carpet. As all house¬ 
keepers know, iluse are but a few of the many 
ways to utilize old papers. 
Remove all dust from a garment every time It is 
worn. Black especiaUy should be treated lu this 
way. Shake It thoroughly and brush with a brush 
or old silk, or other material, being particular that 
the dust that settles In the folds is all removed. 
The wings of turkeys, geese and chickens should 
never be thrown away. This, probably, la need¬ 
less advice to country ladles, but many may not 
have utilized them In any way but that of brush¬ 
ing the stove-hearth (an established custom). An 
exchange Bays that they are excellent for clean¬ 
ing windows, and, of course, much more economi¬ 
cal than chamois. They are also useful for 
putting on paste when papering walls. Tho coun¬ 
try housekeeper will find this suggestion timely 
when about to present her walls with a new coat 
and finds, after purchasing tho paper, the needed 
brush has been forgotten and the store miles away. 
--- 
ABOUT WOMEN. 
Mrs. A. C. Bowser won the prize of one hun¬ 
dred dollars for the best poem on the Centennial 
of Na8hvllio. 
Miss Alcott entertained at Concord last week 
all the womon-siudenta of Boston University, and 
several of the professors. 
The seventieth birth-day of Mrs. Ann S. Ste¬ 
phens, the well-known novelist, was recently cele¬ 
brated by a dinner given In her honor by Edward 
Dickerson. Mrs. Stephens still seems as hale and 
hearty as an English woman of fifty. 
Stephanie, tho bride of the good and clever 
Austrian. Crown Prince, is shortly to have a fore, 
taste ol her future honors. A Vienna Musical 
Society Is going to Brussels by special train simply 
to serenade her pretty young ladyship. 
Mas. Fraser, the venerable mother of the 
bishop of Manchester, to whom, he has recorded 
himself as owing most of what he is, Intellectu¬ 
ally and morally, haa just died of paralysis. «he 
was nearly ninety. 
F elicit as von Vestvali, the lady who for twen¬ 
ty years was known and admired in Germany for 
her representations of Hamlet, Othello and other 
Shakespearean characters upon the stage, re¬ 
cently died at Warsaw. She possessed a singu¬ 
larly strong bass voice and a strong east of fea¬ 
tures. 
Mary Custer lives alone In a shanty at Sioux 
Falls, Dakota, Burrounded by books, which a care¬ 
ful education enables her to enjoy ; but she earns 
her living at a waahtub, refusing all offers of l 
higher employment, and declaring that she only 
wants to be let alone. 
Miss Louisa Alcott lias no regular study, and 
is said to be indifferent, to her surroundings when 
at work. She uses whatever pen, Ink or paper Is 
nearest, composes rapidly, and writes In a free, 
back-sloping hand, sever copying her MS., and 
rarely going back to make alterations. 
A Novel feature was recently introduced Into a 
“ Class Social” at Lasell seminary, Auburndale, 
Mass., whore all the members of the class wore 
dresses cut and made by pupils in the dressmak¬ 
ing department; and a simple supper was offered, 
prepared from knowledge acquired In the cooking 
department, presided over by Miss l’arloa. 
Mrs. Anne Thackeray Ritchie Is the mother of 
a baby son. About the little fellow, says the New 
Y'ork Tribune, will centre good wishes rroint the 
world over; for In whatever region English liter¬ 
ature Is read there will be kindly thoughts for the 
grandson the great and beloved Thackeray would 
have so rejoiced In, could he have lived to see him. 
May Agnes Fleming, the novelist, was only 
thirty-nine years of age when she died last March. 
See was a good, true woman, devoted to her chil¬ 
dren, and a prolific writer of novels, which were 
always Interesting, humane In nioitve, and free 
rrom Injurious tendencies. She will be greatly 
missed In the line of popular literature. She sup¬ 
ported and educated her children mainly, and 
managed to save out of her earnings about twenty 
thousand dollars, which Is divided among them. 
She was to have sailed on the 19th of April for 
Europe, to be absent for a while, her health hav¬ 
ing suffered for some time previous to her de¬ 
cease, though she never relinquished her work or 
her cares. 
aMratj} falling. 
A SABBATH PRAYER. 
BY MKUBY MAY. 
“ There remaiueth, therefore a rest for the people of 
God." 
Lord, I thank Thee for tho Sabbath, 
A sweet rest upon my wuy; 
Help Thou me to keep It holy, 
As becometh Thine own day. 
For this week of tender mercies, 
Showered upon me full and free, 
Let me now iu true thanksgiving’, 
Show my gratitude to Thee. 
For the week Just dawning, Father, 
Guido in righteous word and deed 
Hold my hand and lot me follow. 
Wheresoever Thou may’st lead. 
Every hour and golden moment, 
I will consecrate to Thee, 
Help me use them for Thy glory 
I am Thine while Time shall be. 
When my earthly work is ended, 
Be my dying moments blest; 
Be Thy smile as I shall enter 
The long Sabbath of Thy rest. 
-« ♦ ♦- 
A TRUE INCIDENT. 
When the Boston train came steaming’ Into the 
depot, the crowd rushed for seats. As a band of 
recruits mounted the platrorm, they shouted back 
to their friends who had accompanied them to 
the train the various slang phrases they could 
command, Interspersed with an oath now and 
then. As the train moved off they pushed each 
other Into the car, where many ladies were seated, 
including a Mrs. B— and her two boys. Then 
the oaths came out thick and fast, each one evi¬ 
dently trying to ouldo the others with profanity, 
Mrs. B— shuddered for herself and her boys, for 
she could not bear to have their young minds con¬ 
taminated by suen language. IT the train had not 
been so crowded she would have looked for seats 
elsewhere, but under tho oli’cumataneea she was 
compelled to remain where she was. 
Finally, after this coarse Jesting bad continued 
for nearly an hour, a Utfle girl, who, with her 
mother, sat In front of the party, stepped out tim¬ 
idly from her seat, and going up to the ringleader 
of the group—a young man whose countenance 
indicated considerable Intelligence—she presented 
him with a small Bible. She was a Utile, delicate, 
looking creature, only seven or eight years old, 
and as she laid the Book in his hands she raised 
her soft eyes appeaUugly to his, but without say¬ 
ing a word went back to her seat. 
The party could not have been more completely 
hushed if an angel had silenced them. Not another 
oath was heard, aud scarcely a word was spoken 
by any of them during the remainder of the jour¬ 
ney. Tho young man who received the Book 
seemed particularly impressed. He got out of the 
car at the next station and purchased a paper of 
candy for his little friend, which ho presented to 
her. He then stooped down and kissed her, and 
said that he would always Keep the little Bible for 
her sake. 
The Uttle girl’s mother afterward told Mrs. B- 
that her child had been so troubled by the wick¬ 
edness of these young men, that she could not rest 
until she had given her little Bible, which sho 
valued so highly herself .—Christian Advocate. 
-»-♦ »- 
We Uve in the midst or revelations. We are 
continually receiving what, we ordinarily call in¬ 
spirations. There Is hardly ever a complete silence 
In our souls. God la whispering to us well nigh 
incessantly. Whenovcr the sounds of the world 
die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear these 
whisperings of God. llels always whispering to 
us, only we do not always hear, because of the 
noise, hurry and distraction which life eauses as 
It rushes on. F. W. Faber. 
There is a great significance In the name “ Geth- 
semane.” 
it means “oil-press,” and Indicated that the 
