JUNE 30 
4K 
for Women 
CONDUCTED BY MISS KAY CLARK. 
HOW TO SPEND THE EVENINGS. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
One of the subjects suggested in the wo¬ 
man’s department seems to touch so closely 
all country homes that I cannot refrain from 
adding my mite toward giving hints to others 
from my own experience, as to spending the 
“evenings.” Though Winter was not men. 
tioned. I suppose it. is at this season that any 
thought is required as to passing the time, for 
in the long, long hnmmT evenings bedtime, 
comes all too soon in our own household. But, 
of all the dreary times I think November is 
the dreariest! The days are so short, one is 
hardly ready for the enthusiasm of Christmas 
preparations, and the Autumn days have 
closed in with cold, dark nights, often success¬ 
fully followed by rain, rain, dashing on the 
windows, the wind howls in the chimney, and 
we are faiu to turn our attention to something 
that will divert the mind. Our ow n family is 
no criterion to go by, as among so many, with 
elder sisters to help it is more favored at the 
present time than in the past. I w ill however 
give the Winter routine. Sunday evening, an 
hour or two is given to singing and Bible les¬ 
sons. Monday, drawing one hour with the 
eldest sister, afterward an hour to the pastime 
of painting or coloring pictures, Tuesday t 
French class with papa, and w riting compo¬ 
sitions. Wednesday singing class, w ith sister, 
and lessons in music. Thursday, Geography 
with papa, one country at a time, visiting it 
and talking about, learning all bearing on it, 
particularly. Friday, “Club night” so called 
in which w e all take part. The “Medley Club” 
lias been established over ten years in our 
household, and each member learns a piece to 
recite, and keeps it a secret. A programme is 
made out and given to the president who is 
duly elected every month. He or she reads off 
the author’s name instead of the members. 
For instance, if you learn a poem by Tennyson, 
the president will call out, “ Mr. Tennyson,’’ 
and the member rises, and with a bow pre¬ 
faces his poem, with, “Mr. President, Ladies, 
aud Gentlemen,” We think this good training 
for all the children. At the same time the 
compositions, w ritten through the week are 
read in the form of a paper called, “ The 
Home Circle,” each member taking turns iu 
editing, and often very spicy critical editorials 
are wTitteii for the benefit of all. 
Saturdays is newspaper evening, when the 
papers are to be particularly looked over be- 
before laying aside in the old pile. I 
think a weekly club is of great advantage in a 
family. But 1 look back on the time when 
the children were small, and yet wanted to sit 
up and enjoy' the light and warmth of those 
Winter evenings. I think that music stands 
first iu the way' of enjoyment, for if one mem¬ 
ber of a family can play, and the children 
have fair voices it. is a source of improvement 
as well as amusement. Taking turns reading 
some very interesting book is also pleasant— 
but it must be entertaining, or will become 
tedious. 1 remember once trying to read 
“The Old Bed Sandstone” to the children and 
almost quenched their dawning interest, in 
Geology by an overdose, of what they could 
not understand. And for grown-up people 
who read let me advise that care l>e taken of 
the eyes, always reading with the light shin¬ 
ing over the shoulder from behind, if you 
wish to preserve the sight. This is necessary 
too for children who in l eading aud writing 
arc generally anxious to have the light in 
front, and dose to their faces. I alw ays pity 
children set down at night to do long si mis, 
when they are sleepy and tired, as mueh as I 
do the mothers wdio stitch with worn-out. eyes, 
the extra braid on frock or coat. The study 
of natural history is very fascinating, not only 
for young people, but for any one who takes 
au interest in the wonders of science, and col¬ 
lections of shells or ferns, mosses, flowers, min¬ 
erals or insects, that are secured in Summer, 
can be studied out in Winter and prove in¬ 
structive. I remember once having two toy 
books that contained the history of English 
kings aud queens—with questions and answers. 
In the course of time it became torn aud failed 
to please the children. I put it away for a 
year, then cut out. all the gay pictures, and the 
questions and answers, put them in a box 
pnnted “History Muddle” on the lid, and 
show'ed them how to make a game of it, ana I 
do not know of anything bought In the shops 
that ever had the same interest and amuse¬ 
ment. 
And if 1 had a family all boys, 1 would make 
stocking darning, (that inevitable evening 
pastime of nmnymothers) a part of the routine 
w hich would lie useful to them when far from 
mother’s needle. Each boy should darn one 
hole—only one, and a small reward for the 
Lest work would make it as mueh a privilege 
THE RUBAI. NEW-YORKER. 
as Tom Sawyer’s fence that all the boys w anted 
to whitewash, w hen they imagined he didn’t 
mean to let, them. I know that winter even¬ 
ings are often very dreary, if one is not an ar¬ 
tist or a musician or a scientist, or bound up 
in the spring sewing. There are perhaps no 
lectures or concerts, or socials, all is quiet and 
monotonous. But get books, go without 
many other things but have the current liter¬ 
ature, the words of the best men of our day. 
Ask husband or son or daughter to read to 
you, get, acquainted with the authors, learn 
to enjoy the beauties of the articles together, 
and with an extra lamp and perhaps a little 
fruit on the table to eat when the voice gets dry 
and husky, you w ill find the winter evenings 
pass quickly enough. 
And I believe in little social gatherings too, 
not the kind that gather all together in one 
night and “ have it over with,” as return for 
hospitality received, for these are sure to fail, 
but a few' that oue knows are congenial, and 
that will not overcrowd us. This foster 
friendliness among neighbors, and if rightly 
managed need not be much trouble or expense. 
I do not like to assert that farmers are not as 
a cluss, social, but I think much might be done 
in every village, by a more united act.iou to 
make things pleasant iu each home and fire¬ 
side. The youth at the end of the nineteenth 
century is not content to follow the plow all 
Summer and sleep by the fireside through the 
Winter evenings, and always w'hen I have 
laughed over Low ell’s poem of the ‘ Courtin’’ 
1 have in my heart pitied “Huldy,” who sat 
“pann apples” w hile her “ma” was “sprinklin 
elo’es agin tomorror’s ironin." 
I have no doubt the kitchen was a very 
pleasant, place though there was “ half a cord 
o’ wood ” in the fireplace and the “ crooknocks 
hung ” in the chimney. But I am sure Zekcl 
if he loved her must have pitied her too, 
when that fine moonlight night he “crep up 
unbeknown, 
An peeped iu thru the winder 
An there sat Huldy all alone 
With no one uigh to hinder.” 
Let us hope that for the rest of her days she 
did not spend her evenings in apple “parin’* or 
follow the footsteps of her “Mu” and sprinkle 
clothes so late. Give up the evenings for im¬ 
provement and recreation. Let young aud 
old enter into the spirit of making the most of 
the time spent around a happy fireside and 
there will be no cause to regret, it, for the 
work will go on more bravely from “sun to 
sun,” and the memory will live long in after 
years, when the life paths diverge. 
THE CORONATION OF THE CZAR. 
I thought perhaps a brief account of oue 
of the grandest and most magnificent cere¬ 
monies ever witnessed would lie of interest to 
the lady readers of the Rural; so I have 
written the following condensed description 
of the Coronation at Moscow, which, con¬ 
trary to the expectations of many, took place 
successfully on Sunday, May 27th. It was 
accompanied with all the splendors Russia has 
at, her command, w hose sources are almost un¬ 
limited. Americans can have but little idea 
of tbLs magnificence, because much of it is the 
accumulation of centuries. 
I may perhaps be pardoned for thinking 
that we are apt to lay aside the little of ancient 
jewelry or silver we may come into possession 
of liecause it is ancient, and would be con¬ 
spicuous, We must have the stones reset, aud 
the sdver, which we acknowledge to be purer 
and better than is bought to-day, melted and 
made into such articles as are at present in 
style. 8o there is small chance of Americans 
ever looking upon jewels, silver, or embroid¬ 
ery, that can count their birthday’s by the 
hundreds. 
The coronation occurred iu the Cathedral of 
the Assumption, and the preparation for it was 
made on Saturday evening by the Emperor 
and Empress, attending Divine service in the 
Church of the Saviour, At half-past eight, on 
Sunday morning all the court dignitaries, and 
others who were to take part in the cere, 
monies, were in the places assigned to them in 
the Cathedral. At ni.iu all the bells in Mos¬ 
cow rang out, and at the head of the stair¬ 
case appeared the master of ceremonies dressed 
in scarlet and gold, and others iu black and 
gold, followed by gentlemen of the Court of 
various rank, together with t he Court officials; 
the Grand Duchesses of the realm, foreign 
officials in full uniform, each having a lady 
leaning on his arm, After a pause of a quar¬ 
ter of an hour, the air was rent by a sudden 
burst of cheering, the roll of drums, aud the 
deafening roar of the multitudinous bells. 
Then entered the great peers of State, bearing 
the Imperial insignia, regalias and coronation 
robe, which they deposited on richly worked 
cushions upon t lie throne platform. Also the 
superb canopy of gold, surmounted by ostrich 
plumes of the Imperial colors, white, black 
and yellow’, was laid at the foot of the throne. 
Their Majesties then arrived at the Cathe¬ 
dral door, and on reaching the altar where 
they kissed the sacred images and received the 
Holy water, stood with their backs to the 
throne. The Emperor wearing the dark green 
and gold embroidered uniform of a general, 
with high riding boots, the chain of St. An¬ 
drew sparkling on his breast. 
The Metropolitan of Novgorod then ap¬ 
proached the illustrious pair and required the 
Emperor to read aloud the Orthodox Creed. 
After this, was put on the gorgeous Iiujxjrial 
mantle which was presented to him on two 
elegant cushions; it was made of cloth of gold 
bordered with ermine. He then received his 
crown, which he himself placed on his head, 
took his sceptre in his right hand and the 
globe of empire in his left, seated •himself on 
his throne, leaving the Empress standing. 
After remaining a few minutes motionless, 
he laid aside his sceptre aud globe, com¬ 
manded the Empress to approach; which she 
did aud knelt, before her consort, on a cushion 
of crimson velvet embroidered with gold. 
The Czar then removed his crown from his 
head, touched the forehead of the Empress 
with the diadem, aud replaced it On his head. 
Then her own crown was presented to the 
Czar by' the dignitary who had been carrying 
it, and he placed it on the head of the Em¬ 
press, the four ladies of honor coming forward 
to fix it securely. The robe of the Empress 
was in cloth of silver embroidered with silver, 
and worked by hand. The lengt h of train was 
six yards from the waist, aud its weight (58 
pounds. Over this during the ceremony, the 
Empress was arrayed iu a mantle similar to 
that worn by the Emperor. It. was of purple 
velvet lined with ermine, and on the centre of 
the back was embroidered the Imperial eagle. 
She was then invested by the Czar with the 
Imperial Mantle and the Collar of St, Andrew, 
w'lnch was also adjusted by the maids of 
honor. After which she rose, and both re¬ 
seated themselves on their thrones. 
The Archdeact >n then recited the styles aud 
titles of the Czar, and intoned several verses. 
Full peals were mng out ou all the hells, 
artillery salutes were fired, and during this, 
the clergy tendered their congratulations to 
the Emperor without leaving their places. 
After the thunder of the cannon had ceased, 
the Emperor knelt and l ead aloud the prayer 
for the occasion followed ly one from the pre¬ 
lates, during which every soul in the cathedral 
knelt excepting the Emperor, w ho stood erect 
without his crown, as the subject of this 
solemn and universal supplication. A mass 
followed, aud then the Emperor went forward 
to perform his part in the religious ceremonies, 
which were solemnly grand and impressive, 
closing with the taking of communion. The 
Emperor, now crowned Czar of all the 
Russias, passed out of the cathedral wearing 
crown and mantle, holding the globe and 
sceptre, followed by the Empress, and she in 
turn by one of the most magnificent pro¬ 
cessions that ever met the human eye. The 
State dinner aud illumination of the city ou 
that same evening, the court ball with the 
splendor attending it, and the several days of 
congratulations, make this coronation one of 
the most imposing ever witnessed. May the 
prayer offered for him be fulfilled,aud he prove 
a ruler long to lie remembered for his humanity 
toward the millioiis he controls, and by the 
making of such laws as can lx* held sacred and 
obeyed, because they are right and ennobling. 
X. 
FLOWERS AND GRAPES. 
Bagging Grapes.—A neighbor gave us 
some young vines five years ago, and for two 
seasons they had borne grapes, but w r e had 
never had u chance to test their quality, for 
the turkeys took them all long before they 
were ripe. Last year the vines—now grown 
large—hung full of fruit, and Hope decided 
the turkeys should not have it: so as soon as 
they came around to “spy out the laud,” ad¬ 
monishing her tbut it w as time to do some¬ 
thing, she took an old ironing sheet and tore 
it up in pieces of suitable size, aud Grandma 
soon run them up into bags, oue for eaeli 
bunch of grapes. A coarse thread was run iu 
the top for a draw-string, aud with this t hey 
were tied fast to the vines. There was some 
laughing at the odd appearance, but Hojri 
laughed last, for when ripened—aud they 
w r ere no later thuu usual—the grapes were 
found to be perfection; certainly as lair and 
as lme as out door grown Concords could be. 
Wc believe in bagging, and it we cannot get 
paper bags wo can got rags. 
Weht Window.— After arranging the plants 
saved for parlor adornment, in the bay win¬ 
dow lost Full, there was found to be a surplus, 
some that were too pretty to bloom unseen, we 
thought, so taking possession of the only win¬ 
dow that could be spared—we don’t believe in 
filling them all up with plants—it was soon 
made a thing of beauty. Though it was a 
west window, partly shaded by a verandah, 
yet everything grew and bloomed luxuriantly. 
A solid btuud, umde saw-buck fashion, with 
crossed legs joined together by a narrow shelf, 
was made by the“liandy” man. The top,a wide, 
rough board two feet long, was covered with 
enameled cloth, and a lambrequin of burlap 
fringed, and embroidered with scarlet yarn, 
was tacked around the edge. The legs were 
oiled and varnished, and lol we had something 
pretty and graceful with but. little expenditure 
of time or money. On this stand were placed 
the plants—three pots of Call as, four Gera¬ 
niums and tw'o of Primroses; the Geraniums 
were chosen for their foliage—“Happy 
Thought,” ‘Mountain of Snow” and “Cloth of 
Gold,” with a “General Grant” to furnish 
brilliancy, and wo had it all Winter. Four¬ 
teen Lilies bowed their beautiful heads to the 
setting sun, and Primroses and other blooms 
were innumerable. On the shelf were little 
pots of pink and white Oxalis, a Heliotrope 
and Kenilworth Ivy—can you imagine how 
beautiful it all was? We think our success 
was due iu great, measure to charcoal—the 
dirt being covered w ith it au inch in depth. 
Mary Mann. 
Design for Linen or Burlap.—Fig. 352. 
Domestic (£conom^ 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
AUNT MABBY’S HOUSEHOLD TAHKS. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
It w*as the first w T eek of July when Aunt 
Mabby came over one afternoon to help me 
with some extra sewing. “For I know,”she 
said, “ that in a house like yours there is al- 
ways so much to do to get a stitch put in for 
every one.” 1 stemmed a few red currants 
just before tea, and sprinkled them with sugar 
putting them on a glass dish to be served with 
cream. The acid of the currant is wholesome 
and some of our family prefer currants to 
strawberries. One of the girls came in to show 
us a wart that troubled her, aud Aunt Mabby 
recommended touching it lightly with carbolic 
acid, and washing it with carbolic soap. We 
had quite a laugh over the story she told us of 
baking some cakc.and after finding it had sunk 
when cooked; she broke it up finely with a 
fork, put in two more well beaten eggs with a 
little flour, and baked it over with success iu 
the rising, though it wasn’t n first-class fruit 
cake: she said, it was “thinned out,” We 
discussed the subject of soaking vegetables iu 
cold w'ater for a long time before cooking, and 
decided from experience that it was injurious. 
It. takes the starch out of potatoes, and the 
sweetness out of any other vegetable, making 
them soft and flabby. Little Mar}- Ray came 
iu during the afternoon andrin the course of 
conversation she asked—“llow is it that when 
one firet gets a recipe the cake is better than 
ever afterward ?” 
“ Ah !” said Aunt Mabby, “it is just because 
you do not know the quantities uud are care¬ 
ful in measurements to follow the directions 
given. But after aw hile you get careless, and 
trust to your own judgment, and ore not so 
successful. I think every farmer’s wife should 
have weights aud scales in her pantry; then 
exactness can lie reached without trouble.” 
“ Wasn’t it funny,” said Mary “to hear the 
minister on Sunday tell the people to take off 
the storm windows of the church.” 
“ It reminded me,” said Aunt Mabby, “ of 
David’s saying: ‘1 would to be a door-keeper,’ 
for iu that position he could get a breath of 
fresh air w hen there was none to be had in the 
pews. No wonder the people were drowsy 
breathing such impure air, und that many of 
the hearers complained of headache. 1 think 
bad air is the greatest evil of our day, and 
especially in the churches, and other large as 
seinbly rooms. It. is enough to make people 
try how little they can breathe when the church 
door is locked, the windows burred, and all 
the impure breathings bottled up for the next 
Sunday, as soon as the last worshipper goes out. 
“ It is just the same with bed-rooms,” said 
1 ; “ some people seem to thiuk, because the 
air isn’t thick enough to cut. with u knife, it is 
clean enough to breathe, and they go on in¬ 
haling the unwholesome atmosphere without 
airing bed or bedding.” 
1 hud just bought, a new carpet and Aunt 
Mabby stayed to help me make it up, while 
we discussed the merits of the various sorts. 
1 think that Brussels carpet is as cheap iu the 
end us iugraiu, for it lasts longer and does not 
