THE BUBAL NEW-YOBKEB 
and consistent with regard to personal ap¬ 
pearance will be measurably so in other 
things. 
There are many things essential which all 
may possess; If not by nature or by circum¬ 
stances. still attainable by careful personal 
cultivation. Let American farmers' wives 
who would look well at home, while giving 
necessary attention to careful toilet and neat 
apparel, remember to cultivate the charms 
goods, groceries, shoes, seeds, agricultural im¬ 
plements, musical instruments, sewing ma¬ 
chines, are bought at wholesale prices, and 
when one has purchased a piano, or orgau, or 
sewiug machine through this organization, it 
gives him a satisfying knowledge of the dif¬ 
ference between buying of the manufacturer 
or the agent. It is worth the while to save 
enough on the cost of a piano, to furnish 
your parlor handsomely, or on a sewing ma¬ 
chine, to give your daughter a term or two of 
music. If a man can save live or six dollars 
on the cost of a plow, or fifteen to twenty on 
a farm wagon, or from ten to twenty per 
cent, on the groceries used, is uot co-opera¬ 
tion worth something? In mauy countries 
there are Fire Relief Associations, in which 
the cost of insurance from fire or lightning is 
reduced to a mere fraction of that in a stock 
company. 
The report of the Chaut. Co. Patron’s Fire 
Relief Association for five years ending Jan¬ 
uary 1, 1888, shows the cost to have been but 
$1.90 for each £1.000 insured. The cost for 
three years, the time for which stock com¬ 
panies insure, is but £1.14 per $ 1 , 000 . Iheu 
we have a life insurance on the mutual plan, 
the members of which living in rural dis¬ 
tricts not subject to the contagions and epidem¬ 
ics, to which are liable, and leading healthy, 
temperate lives (for the Grange does uot fel¬ 
lowship drunkards), has of necessity a mini¬ 
mum death-rate. But however good are the 
financial advantages, of which the members of 
this order may avail themselves if they choose, 
1 think most good Patrons regard this feature 
as subordinate to the social and educational 
part. This getting awa , from the daily routine 
of toil at stated times and mingling with 
one’s neighbors and friends, many of whom 
we should never have known except perhaps 
by name, had it not been for the Grange gives 
one as it were new life, new thoughts, new 
incentives to action, and we return to our 
duties invigorated and refreshed for the 
respite wan from toil. 
To woman especially does the Grange come 
with beneficence. The work of the farmer’s 
wife is more monotonous than that of her 
husband. (She does not have the invigorating 
had been in better condition. The season was 
unfavorable, and the ground was cold and 
wet. The seed bad sufficient vitality to have 
grown tinder favorable circumstances, but as 
they were it rotted. This should be remem¬ 
bered. and the seed discarded unless a very 
good per cent, grows when tested under favor¬ 
able circumstances. JOHN m. stahl. 
that never fade; the graces that make even 
the plainest face attractive; those virtues 
that bless and gladden even the humblest 
walks of life. Let these find expression in 
gentle manners, pleasant words, deeds of 
kindness and benevolence; or, as an ancient 
writer so beautifully says, “Neither gold nor 
emeralds, nor pearls, give grace and orna¬ 
ment to a woman; but those thiugs which 
clearly express and set off their gravity, reg¬ 
ularity and modesty.” 
Ulcranj 
THE BEAUTIFUL LAND OF NOD 
Come, cuddle your bead on my shoulder, dear— 
Your bead like the golden rod— 
And we will go sal I lug away from here 
To the beautiful Land of Nod. 
Away from life's worry and burry and flurry, 
Away from earth's shadows and gloom. 
We will float off together to a world of fair weather, 
Where blossoms are always In bloom. 
Just shut up your eyes and fold your hands - 
Your hands like the leaves of the rose— 
And we will go sailing to those fair lands 
That never an atlas shows. 
On the north and west they are bounded by rest. 
On the south and east by dreams. 
'Tls the country Ideal whore nothing is real. 
But everything only sterns. 
Just drop down the curtain of your dear eyes— 
Your eyes like the bright bluebell - 
And we will sail out under star-lit skies 
To the land where the fairies dwell. 
Down the river of sleep our bapjue shall sweep 
TUI It reaches that magical Isle 
Which no man has seen, but where all have been 
And there will pause awhile. 
I will croon you a song as we float along 
To that shore that Is blessed of God. 
Then, ho! for that fair laud, we’re off for that rare 
land, 
The beautiful Land of Nod. 
—ELLA WHEELER. 
A MAN’S OPINION ON COOKING POTA 
TOES. 
The Rural has done so much toward the 
culture of good tubers that it seems meet to 
write about the cooking of them. The abomi¬ 
nable way in which tnis delicious vegetable 
is served should provoke the ire of all good 
housekeepers. 
The potato contains a very large percentage 
of water, and its best part is t wry near the 
skin, hence, to enjoy this in its superlative 
toothsomeness, the well-selected tubers should 
be thoroughly washed and baked, witli a 
quick fire. When done, crack them:— 
“And if ever you eat one, let me beg yon 
manage it just as you do an egg. Take a pat 
of butter, a silver spoon, and wrap your nap¬ 
kin round the shell, Have you seen a hum¬ 
ming bird probe the bill of a white-lipped 
morning-glory t 
Well, that’s the rest of the story!” 
Evidently Dr. Holland wrote from experi¬ 
ence, for he was raised upon a New England 
farm. The culture and eating of the best po¬ 
tatoes has interested the writer since boy¬ 
hood; aud much might be writ leu about to is 
important product. The propagation of the 
Mercer proved u blessing to those who raised 
them, and the Rose, Peach-blow, and Burbank 
have enriched a multitude. The Elephant is 
getting prominently before the public, but its 
delicate nature requires that it be kept in 
darkuess, for the sun-light is ruinous to its de¬ 
licious flavor; and the same may lie said of all 
Choice varieties. But the very best are too of¬ 
ten spoiled iu the cooking. A long experience 
proves that, “The potato should not touch 
water after being thoroughly washed.” In 
other words, they should be bake<l or steamed. 
The latter may be done with little trouble. 
Having thoroughly washed the tubers, gash 
two sides of each. (or. clip the ends.) place 
them in a wire egg-basket, if a steamer be not 
at hand. Fill the lower part of the kettle with 
water, and over this place two billets of wood 
ou which the basket eau rest. Secure the lid, 
aud put all over a quick fire. Very soon 
“good stock” will fairly "laugh in your face.” 
Let them be served immediately, and if there 
be a better way, the world should know it at 
once. d. p. h. 
bottom. It'troubled wuli greeu nee, put me 
plant under a box or barrel aud smoke with 
tobacco stems, or wash with tobacco tea, let¬ 
ting the plaut stand twenty minutes after 
washiug, tbeu riuse well with warm water, 
watch closely and repeat the operation as 
ofteu as the enemy reappear. 
If your roses are looking bad, or dropping 
their leaves, examine the underside of leaves 
with a microscope, it is probably the little red 
spider doing the mischief: wash with a strong 
suds, rinse with quit© warm water, aud keep 
the plant immersed tor some minutes if prac¬ 
ticable. Mix equal parts of wood-ashes and 
SOME BENEFITS FROM THE GRANGE, 
wise » hue showering tuai rue son may nui uw 
come too wet. it. is lack of sufficient moisture 
that causes the spider. Sponges or moss 
placed in saucers and set among plants and 
kept constantly wet is beneficial where the air 
of the room is too dry. Water should be kept 
constantly on stoves that are used for heating 
rooms, as it is best for the health of persons 
as well as plants. 
How mauy women seldom get further than 
their own doorstep, or see anyone beside the 
members of their household during winter; to 
them, what a source of comfort a few bloom¬ 
ing plants to brighten the dreary days aud 
cheer the lonely hours: and now welcome and 
needed a little change. If they could have a 
small space in these eolnmns where they could 
talk of then- flowers, just as their husbands do 
of their potatoes and corn, I believe they 
would appreciate the privilege and profit by 
it. It is next to talking with a friend to read 
other women's thoughts, eveu if we do not al¬ 
ways agree with them. lora. 
PERSONAL ADORNMENT—SOME OF ITS 
RESULTS. 
COLLAR AND JABOT. 
The materials used in our cut are velvet 
and lacc The collar is made of velvet, aud is 
lined with stiff crinoline. The front is made 
ANNIE ASHLEY, 
that may sometimes occur iu the best of 
houses, Aud, especially where for lack of 
competent “help” the wife aud mother is of 
necessity her own “maid of all work.” On the 
contrary, t.hemiud which can, undor such cir¬ 
cumstances, and does by any means bring 
order oat of confusion, uud gives well-cooked 
food in its season, has cleauly apparel, with 
the numberless comforts of a good home, that, 
mind, aided by willing hands, is the main¬ 
spring of home comfort and the magic power 
that keeps its wheels in harmonious revolu¬ 
tion. 
One writer lias already told us that “no man 
ever started poor in life, and in time built a 
tasty house for bis family, axul surrounded 
it with trees and shrubs, lawn and flower-gar¬ 
den, who had a slovenly wife.” We see tbeu 
the necessity of looking well at home. It, 
exists in the very nature of things. The 
family and the home are the basis of all social 
organization; in fact, they lie at the very 
are subordinate, 
CONDUCTED BY MISS RAY CLARK. 
on a foundation of lace or a piece of silk wide 
enough to attach the gathered lace and bow 
of ribbon. It is a very great addition to an 
evening dress. 
TREATMENT OF HOUSE PLANIS 
Somk yours ago 1 was asked, >\ u) is u* 
your house plants always look so well during 
Winter f The foliage is of a much darker, 
richer color, and the plants more thrifty aud 
healthy-looking than any 1 ever see else 
where?” A neighbor, describing her visit to 
a florist’s garden and greenhouse the other 
day, added, " But none of their greenhouse 
plants looked as well as your plants always 
Six ladies, having graduated with honors 
from the London College of Chemistry are t 
begin life as druggists. 
