SEPT. 48 
with the curtain for the open hook shelves. This 
la of crimson brocaded Bilk. The hem Is finished 
with a facing of butter cup, yellow silk, from 
which spring tufts of conventional buttercups em¬ 
broidered in filoselle. 
My scrap basket trimming la made of linen 
momle cloth with a drawing outlined on it, and 
finished with narrow velvet fringe and small balls. 
A bracket which Is ornamented with quilted blue 
silk, crimson velvet and a fringe of blue crimson 
and old-gold, holds a small engraving “ From an 
Unknown Hhore ” which represents a lovely baby 
afloat on a shell. 
Another bracket has an ' 1 ace of clubs ” which Is 
made by grouping three brilliant little open Japa¬ 
nese fans stem to stem. For the rest there Is 
nothing strikingly original about the room, except 
possibly the cover of a large table which stands in 
the center. It la of crimson cloth edged with 
heavy bullion fringe of the same shade. Around 
the bolder Is inserted a broad band of crimson 
plush clOBely worked with an arabesque of gold 
colored silk. In any of the foregoing decorations 
linen and cloth and ore.wela may be effectively ex¬ 
hibited for the richer and more expensive mater¬ 
ials l have employed. 
To some It. may appeal 1 that by confining the 
banging to one of two colors, viz : old-gold crim¬ 
son, the effect is monotonous. This not at all to 
be desired result. Is obviated by the brilliant 
and varied hues of the embroideries. In another 
letter 1 may have something to say of decorations 
for napery and for Infants' bed spreads. 
Art Amateur. 
-«.«.«.- 
SMALL CONVENIENCES. 
“I must give up getting a now parlor carpet 
again this year,” said Phcbe, rather discontented¬ 
ly; “I did hope to see my way clear to pay for it 
thl9 Pall, but It seems as far off as ever.” 
“ Well," said cousin Abby, philosophically, “ just 
think how much hard work it will save you; It’s 
dreadful hard work making up a carpet.” 
“I'd be willing to undertake It for the satisfac¬ 
tion afterward.” 
•• I know,” said Abby, consolingly, 4t that it is a 
real, solid comfort to put down a new carpet, but, 
still, child, you can get a good deal of satisfaction 
out of much smaller possessions. Just give me a 
quarter to Invest for you to-day when I go Into the 
village, and see If I don’t bring back what will In 
the long run give you as much comfort as a new 
carpet.” 
Phebe was amused and a little curious to see 
what Abby would bring, so 3he handed out the 
quarter of a dollar, wltu a laugh, and told her she 
expected to be made rich ou the proceeds of that 
sum. 
Abby bad been helping around the house fer a 
week and saw what a dearth there was of small 
conveniences She walked at once to the '’live 
cent counter," a wondenul institution which has 
sprung up like magic all over the land within iho 
past two years. She remembered the handleleas 
shovel at Phebe’a house and laid out a new article 
of that description the first thing. She thought of 
her scorched fingers trying to toast bread that 
morning, and a toasting-fork was added. •* When 
Phebe has mashed potatoes onco with this wire 
potato-masher, and sees how light and nice it 
• makes them, she will never pound i hem Into a salve 
again with that, nld rolling-pin or wooden mash¬ 
er.” Then the long handled skimmer was Just 
what was wanted to dish up their big boiled din¬ 
ners. Dishing up had always been such a difficult 
business with only a saucer and fork to manage it 
with. A great Iron spoon finished out the quarter 
of a dollar; bur. there were so many userul articles 
still to be had that were so much needed that 
cousin Abby laid down another quarter and se¬ 
lected five more. 
They had a good deal or fun over the purchases, 
and when they were all hung up In handy places 
Phebe said she felt as If she had Just had a tin 
wedding. Everything came In use almost every 
day and meal. don't, know how l got along 
without them so long,"she used to say wonderlng- 
ly; "I guess you are right about them and thu 
carpet, Abby, 1 can do without that, but 1 don't 
see bow 1 1 could without these things.” 
It Is these “ llttles" that count more than one 
supposes In the wear and tear of life. Everything 
that makes labor lighter Is worth having. 
Mrs. J. E. MoC. 
THE CHILDREN OF THI8 GENERATION. 
ANNIE I,. JACK. 
It was my lot the other night, to sit ror an hour 
listening to the glowing picture drawn by a city 
young rnan of the wealth, prosperity and pleasures 
of a city life, lie talked of ills thousands and his 
tens of thousands, and filled hla audience with 
little less than awe aa ho rolled out the sentences 
that told when ho lost 815,000, and how soon ho 
re-made $25,000 m another authorized speculation. 
The country youth who tolls early and late with 
faithful diligence to help his father who Is *• not 
so strong as he used to be”—was filled with a rest¬ 
less desire to have his quiet surroundings, and try 
his chances In the busy life of the city. The harm 
of such exaggerated talk is Immense In the in. 
stance I have cited, as In many others, and it is 
only when too late that he may in some future day 
•• cio&e hl» eye" to his garish rooms, 
To drown of meadows and clover blooms." 
This 18 no fancy picture; the fact, stubborn and 
real. Is often enacted as In the home I have men¬ 
tioned. Young men and boyB with grand ideas of 
what may be, ao not take into consideration tbe 
free. Independent life they lead, the country 
pleasures they enjoy, which become luxuries orien 
In the city, the pure atr and purer food, the wealth 
of fiddaud rtvor and tree, the priceless boon of 
health, that no city person can so well enjoy, with 
many hours of leisure untrammeled by conven¬ 
tionality or sham. But the glamor of the golden 
waif is upon him. Homo, health, mother and a 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
631 
thousand associations fade and are as nothing If 
he becomes infected with tbe disease of money 
getting, and allows the glowing accounts of city 
dwellers to bias his mind. 
The young man from the city leads a charmed 
life, the cut of his coat is In the latest style, so is 
the ring on his illy hand. He will show you a 
blister if he takes an oar or a spade ror five min¬ 
utes, expressing lofty disdain of “ the country,” 
converses freely on business that involves thous¬ 
ands. All these things are enough to unsett le a 
well-balanced youth, who, while well read, and 
conversant with the latest news, and neither 
awkward nor a noor, yet feels that he Is being left 
behind in the race for wealth,the one object in life 
that appears to have any charm for the children 
of tills generation. 
-♦- 
WORLDLY MATTERS FOR GIRLS. 
Entertaining. 
“ Let’s pretend" we live In the country; It Is 
Winter; we are going to have a small company and 
we want them to have a particularly nice time, 
because we have been out frequently this Winter 
and haven’t enjoyed ourselves for various reasons. 
in the first place, let us have plenty of light, 
everything will be so much more cheerful and 
everybody will be In ao much better spirits than If 
the room Is In semi-darkness; then we will try 
and be as bright and cheery as the room We 
must be sure to Invite Tom C., because he Is so 
Jolly and witty, and Miss M , because she slugs 
and plays, and as long as she is moderate in both 
she will be an acquisition. We will Invite three 
or tour couples beside. 
We will have our refreshments early, so If there 
is any stiff ness In the company it will certainly 
pass away. 
If any of the party care for Euclrre or Whist we 
will have the cards handy; then, ir the rest of the 
company become tired of music and conversation, 
let’s propose French charades—a little or that; 
then Twenty Questions—What's my thought like 7 
Crambo, Borrow and Return, and anything else 
we can think of, and if they don’t have a good 
time it will be their own rault. 
Watermelon, archery parties, and picnics are 
just the thing now. Invite your city friends, if 
you have any, and In the Winter, if they play fair, 
they will return the compliment and give you a 
taste of city life. Miss M. I). 
ABOUT WOMEN. 
Euzajieth Stuart PHEtrs has a summer cottage 
or her own on cape Ann. she Is said to be an¬ 
noyed by the staring of vjsliors who are anxious 
to see a live authoress. 
The lesson enforces itself. Let every young lady 
heed It. MLss Tellle Mateer walked with a gentle¬ 
man at Mount Jersey, Pa,, on Sunday, and was 
burned to death by a spark or bin cigar. 
Mtss Kuza Jane Cate was recently elected a 
corresponding member of the New Hampshire 
Historical Society—the first woman who ever 
received that honor. Mtss Cate is a magazine 
writer. 
Queen Victoria ts so pleased wltn col. Chester’s 
book on the “Westminster Abbey Registers” 
that she has given him, in acknowledgment, a 
copy of Martin’s “ Lire of the Prince consort,” 
with an autograph inscription in each volume. 
aims. Jennie M’Graw FiasE, the wealthy bride 
of Professor Willard Flake of Cornell University, 
la building an elaborate new house at Ithaca. It 
Is to be of the Medina white and Ohio sandstone, 
and will cost between two and three hundred 
thousand dollars. 
Atlantic City la Interested In a musical prodigy. 
Miss Bella spencer Wlel, ten years old, who, In an 
admirable manner, plays from memory the entire 
score of “ II Trovatore,” as arranged by Gotta- 
ehalk. The young lady was taught her knowledge 
of the art at the convent of the v isitation, George¬ 
town, D. C, 
Mkb. Brown, the mother of “ Artemus ward,” 
la mentioned by the Boston Journal us a bright 
and busy old lady of seventy years, and now living 
at Waterford. Me., where her son Is hurled. She 
lias a great love for gardening. Her pride and 
affection are pleasantly shown when visitors 
come to look at the house where “ Artemus ” was 
born. 
Mrs. Mary Ci.kmmkr is the guest, fora week, 
of Mrs. Dahlgren, at her beautiful Bummer home 
on South Mountain. Tbe feeble health of Mrs. 
Clemmer’s father, who makes his home with her, 
precludes the Idea of her leaving Washington for 
an extended sojourn but her handsome house on 
Capital Hill 1 b at all seasons airy and attractive. 
-- 
HINTS. 
To Cleanse the Teeth.— A good way to cleanse 
the teeth is to dip the brush In water, rub it over 
genuine white CastUe soap, then dip In prepared 
chalk. A lady saysi “ 1 have been complimented 
upon the whiteness of my teeth, which were orig¬ 
inally auylhlug but white. 1 have used the soap 
constantly for two or throe years, and the chalk 
for the last year. There Is no danger of scratch¬ 
ing the teotb. as the chalk Is prepared, out with a 
good stiff brush and the soap It Is aa effectual as 
soap and sand on a floor,” 
Washixo tub Face.—F ew people would think 
chat there are several wrong ways of washing the 
face and hut one right Dr. Wilson’s directions 
are: “Fill your basin about two-thirds full with 
fresh water; dip your race lu the water, and then 
your hands. Soap the hands well, and pass the 
soaped hands with gentle friction over the whole 
face. Having performed this part of tho operation 
thoroughly, dip the iaco lu the water a second 
time, and rinse It completely. You may add very 
much to the luxury of the latter part of the opera¬ 
tion by having a Bccond basin ready with fresh 
water to perform a tlnal rinse.” 
Borax.— Lady readers who have not tested the 
magic properties of borax have been losing a great 
help and comfort. If once used you will never be 
without a Dottle on your toilet, table. It removes 
stains and dirt from the hands better than soap, 
and at the same time softens and smoothes the 
skin. It is apleudld for washing tho hatr, and 
will, without Injury, cloause brushes and combs 
In a tew momenta. For washing purposes It 
Bavea both soap and labor. It will extract the 
dirt from articles of delicate texture without 
rubbing, it, being only necessary t,o put the articles 
to soak with a solution of borax over night, and 
need only to be rinsed In thu morning. Two 
tablespoonruls of pulverized borax dissolved In a 
quart or water, to which water enough is added to 
cover a pair of blanketB, will cleanse them beauti¬ 
fully. It also saves great labor In washing paint. 
It Is said to drive away ants and roaches, if 
sprinkled on the shelves of safes and pantries. 
Ladies, do you want to be strong, healthy and 
beautiful ? Then use Hop bitters. 
glomestif dnntomg. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
PEN THOUGHTS FROM EVERY-DAY 
HOUSE. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
The Summer of 1880 is among the things 
of the past and Autumn is upon us. Once 
more we settle down for tbe long Winter even¬ 
ings and the busy mother begins to think of 
lingers and toes that must be covered from the 
frost, of garments that must be re-made, 
turned and enlarged or cut down for the 
younger members of the family. So life is one 
continued preparation—always looking for¬ 
ward, if our aim is right, for a brighter future, 
the only guidiDg star to our wearied souls. The 
future ' thank God we do not know Its dark side ! 
Weseeouly the brightness, und hope for the best. 
Meanwhile we must be up and doing. A slight 
tingle of frost, the comments of the children 
on stiffening grass at sunriee, the delight with 
which they bring xn the first thin crystal cake 
of ice, all serve to remind ns of duties to be 
done. The pickles must be made up, the last 
preserves packed away, and then every spare 
moment is spent in the work I have mentioned. 
In a family of girls it i6 only a duty to teach 
them to cut. and fit garments for the youuger 
ones. No matter if they do spoil a bit of cloth 
now and then, or make a garment that is not 
exact in fit, they will do better next time, and 
it la only practice that makes perfect. “I wonld 1 
give all roy Latin and Philosophy” 1 have 
heard a lady say, “If I could cut and make my 
children’s garments.' I am not one to advo¬ 
cate close application to the needle, especially 
in neighborhoods where some poorer neigh¬ 
bor may be benefited by the work given ; but 
“knowledge 19 power” in this as in every 
other department, and there is nothing in 
which economy is better seen in domestic af¬ 
fairs than In tbe sewiDg of the Inmates. I 
always feel more like this kind of work in 
Autumn. There is a quiet, settled air about 
everything and neither appresslve heat, nor 
piercing cold to influence one. While on this 
subject, I would say that no mother should 
ignore the use of flannel in all possible gar¬ 
ments for children in cool weather, a necessity 
that is not always felt, but should be in this 
variable climate. Warm, bright, woolen gar¬ 
ments are a saving every way, but ih nothing 
more than in the health of those who wear 
them. 
- • ♦ ■» - 
SUGGESTIONS ON HOUSE-BUILDING. 
Tub good “Rural” came to-day and in it 1 
see Mrs. B. is going to build a new house, and 
asks for suggestions. If possible, have a 
closet opening off from every bed-room and 
one off from the living-room. Let the closet 
doors swing outward into Ihe loom; have a 
shelf put up iu the closet over the door as long 
as you can have it uud wide enough to hold 
your band-boxes, etc. In arranging your bed¬ 
rooms have one large enough to hold two beds; 
this is especially convenient in case of sick- 
uees, or where there are small children in a 
family. One of the beds might be a three- 
quarter size. 1 have two such in my family, 
aud they are very convenient. Calculate so as 
to have plenty of room to stand up your beds, 
so that a window or even part of one will not 
bs against the bed. A window throwing light 
directly Into the eyes of the sleeper is unde>- 
sirable. If you cook and eat in separate rooms t 
have a china closet built in the wall between 
the two rooms, with doors on both sides, 60 
that you cun set the table without carrviug 
dishes from another room. If you eat iu the 
kitchen, have a cupboard built in your pantry 
with fight doors to keep dishes in. For eat¬ 
ables a movable cupboard with wire-netting 
sides and doors is best. Calculate spaces for 
your larger pieces of lurniture, so they will 
not come against windows—have a place for 
thebabv’s crib out of the way of drafts or 
strong light. Have tbe organ stand well away 
from the stove, aud, if possible, against an in¬ 
side partition wall, your writing table and 
book-case where the light will fall oyer the 
left shoulder of the writer, and your lounge 
or sofa where the little ones can play on it and 
be warm in tbe Whiter. Try to have every¬ 
thing arranged so as to save steps, and have 
the house pleasant inside. Wishing Mrs. B. 
success and pleasure in her enternrizo, I am, 
Respectfully, Mrs. H. H. Sweet. 
■-»-- 
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS FOR EVENING 
PARTIES IN THE COUNTRY. 
Saratoga Punch, (strictly temperance). Grate 
the rind of three aud squeeze tbe juice of six 
lemons; add water the same as for ordinary 
lemonade, sweeten to taste; then add six eggs, 
yelks and whites beaten separately, aud serve. 
This makeB a delicately frothy drink, which 
everybody appreciates. Pop Corn Balls. 
Have ready a six-quart panful of nicely 
popped corn; boil oue pint of New Orleans 
molasses, one-half cup of sugar, and 6 table, 
spoonful of butter, uutil It hardens wbeu 
dropped in cold water; then stir in the popped 
corn and with buttered hands work into balls, 
aud put away to cool. Saratoga Cake.—White 
part. Oue-half cupful of butter ; one and one- 
half cupfuls of white coffee sugar; oue-half 
cupful oJ sweet milk ; two cupfuls of flour; the 
whites of three eggs beaten to a froth ; a heap- 
int teaspoonful of baking powder; flivor with 
lemons; bake in two round tins. Fruit part, 
a quarter of a cupful of butter, one cup brown 
sugar, quarter cup sweet milk, oue cupful of 
flour, one-half cupful each of ralslus and cur¬ 
rants, chopped tine, two even leaspoonfuls of 
baking powder, the yelks of three eggs Rake 
in one round tin. Make icing with the whites 
of four eggs, sugar and lemon flavoring. 
Place on cake dish—in the following manm r— 
first, a layer of white, cover with icing ; then 
the layer of fruit cake, cover also with ictng; 
theu the other layer of white, cover with the 
rest of your icing. A bunch of flowers placed 
on the cake makes a pretty finish. 
Miss M. D. 
-+ o » ... 
DOMESTIC RECIPES. 
Mushrooms. 
To Broil. —Peel and wipe with flannel those 
that are large and fresh, cutting the stems 
close. Dip iuto melted butter, season with 
pepper and salt, cover and let stand from 
thirty minutes to au hour. Tben broil on a 
fine gridiron over a clear fire; butter again 
and serve at once. If you please, squeeze over 
them a few drops of lemon juice. 
To Stew. —Take small ones, of uniform 
size, rub clean and white with a wet fltnnel, 
and cut off the stalks. Put into a porcelain 
saucepan, just cover with cold water, salt, 
bring to a boil, then 6tew gently 15 minutes. 
Pour off a part of tbe water, stir in a half 
tablespoonful of flour rubbed smooth iu a 
tableBpoouful of butter, boil a minute or two, 
add three tablespoonfuis of sweet cream, draw 
to tbe back of tbe stove, stir a minute or so, 
thou serve. 
To Bake. —Wipe aud rub clcau, cutting off 
nearly all ol tbe stalk. Arrange, tops-down, 
on an earthen pie-dish, seasou with pepper and 
salt, drop a bit of butter upon each, and bake 
in a moderate oven for about thirty minutes. 
Baste several times with batter and water, 
that they may uoc be dry. Serve with drawn 
butter, to which has been added the juice of a 
lemon. 
- » » ♦ - 
To Stuff. —Skin or rub clean ten large 
mushrooms and cut off tbe stalks. Dres?, then 
chop flue eight large mushrooms and one 
eschalot. Put two small spoonfuls of butter 
in a frying-pan, let it become hot, th»n in it 
brown the chopped eschalot and mushroom. 
Seasou with pepper and Balt, and stuff the 
centers of the 10 peeled mushrooms with this 
mixture. Place on u baking dish, sprinkle 
fine bread-crumbs over all, and bake half an 
hour in not too hot an oven. Biste with a 
little melted butter and water. Good with 
lemon juice. 
To Pickle. —Use button mushrooms, clean 
with flannel, cut off stalks, throw into salted 
hot water, and boil gently 10- minutes, draiD, 
turn into a clean cloth and cover with another. 
Put into bottles, with a blade or two of mace 
and a dash of Cayenne, and cover with white 
vinegar. Seal tightly. 
Catsup.— Put alternate layers of salt and 
cleaued mushrooms iu an earthenware dish, 
using ono-fourth pound of salt to each two 
quarts of mushrooms. After six hours break 
into small bits and set where it is cool for three 
days, stirring twice a day. At tbe expiration 
of the time strain the juice and to each quait 
add one-half ounce each of ground allspice 
and ginger, a half teaspoon ful of mace, and a 
teaspoonful of Cayenne pepper. Put into an 
earthen jar, 6et into a kettle of boiling water 
and boil five hours. Take out. pour iuto a 
porcelain kettle and boil gently half an hour 
longer. Let it stand lu a cool piac«* 24 hours 
to settle. Pour off the clear liquor into small 
bottleB, cork and *eal tightly. 
-- 
The greatest appetizer, stomach, blood and liver 
Regulator on earth—Hop Bittern. 
