746 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
NOV 40 
therefore, not voluminous nor his fortune 
massive. He confesses to being poor, or, at 
least, not rich. He is a conscientious writer, 
and makes careful and full prepara¬ 
tion before sitting down to a literary task. 
His first volume of poems was published 
anonymously, about 35 years ago. His criti¬ 
cisms are characterized by great sympathy 
and sincerity. Home criticisms by him of 
United States citizens abroad, published here 
lately, have given a flippant press texts and 
occasiou for fliugsand laughter at his expense. 
He is reported as having confessed that his 
opinions wore in this case hasty, partial, based 
on rumor and readiug, rather than on personal 
observation, and probably unjust. We are 
too great a people now to cringe or get angry 
at these criticisms from anybody, and too 
magnanimous not to recognize in Matthew 
Arnold the greatest literary character that 
has visited our shores in many a year. His 
coming ought to do us good, and it will cer¬ 
tainly increase the demand for his books. His 
first lecture here was to a large audience in 
New York—reserved scats IS—subject,“ Num¬ 
bers.’ 1 Ho is Closely confined to his manu¬ 
script, has a weak voice, and is “no orator as 
Brutus is.” 
WHAT CHILDREN THINK OF “HOW 
MAMMA LOOKS.” 
CONDUCTED BY MISS BAY CLARK. 
It is every woman’s duty, to hoi-sell' and 
those about her, to look as well as she can on 
all occasions; more especially at home, ns it is 
there she spends much of her time, and there 
the dearest earthly ties are formed. 
How often does the mother think there is no 
need of changing her dress, as there is no one 
to see her but the children, or even husband. 
Do not think for one moment that those little 
eyes do not notice if you are not neat and tidy. 
They may not speak of it, but they are uncon¬ 
sciously, perhaps, comparing you with some 
prettier neighbor. They will realize the fact 
some day, and it will lessen t heir respect for 
you, for children like to see their mother well 
dressed. 
I remember once reading something which 
illustrated this. A lady one morning remark¬ 
ed to her servant that “she would not dress 
up to-day, ns her husband would not be home 
to dinner, and there was no one but the chil¬ 
dren to see her.” A bright little boy and girl 
were playing in the room, and, hearing the 
remark, the boy turned to his sister and said : 
“ Mamma will not dress up to-day because 
papa is not coming home, and we hav-e not got 
company; but Harry's mamma always dresses 
up, and looks pretty, whether she has company 
or not.” On hearing this the mother changed 
her miud. 
doing to her room she dressed herself neatly 
and prettily, and returned to the nursery 
where the children were still playing. As 
she entered the room they excla imed, “mamma 
is pretty now, prettier than Harry’s mamma,” 
“and better too, for his mamma gets cross and 
scolds but our mamma does not,” said Charlie, 
“Are you going away f” asked the little girl— 
a sudden fear taking possession of her. “No, 
dear," said her mother, “1 am going to stay* 
at home and play- with my- little children.’ 
“ How nice ! and momma is so pretty.” 
She had eclipsed her rival, and she inwardly 
resolved that she would never again neglect 
her toilet because no one but the children 
would see her. 
I think that children know and observe 
more than they get credit for. How much 
pleasanter for a lmsbaud when he comes in 
from his work, to find a neat looking, cheerful 
wife, as well as home. And a house, however 
tidy, is uot complete unless the housekeeper is 
tidily dressed. 
When a little girl, I remember a neighbor 
who was very careless of her personal appear¬ 
ance, and many times when 1 would happen 
to go there, she would ran, thinking it was 
some one else; but when she found it was only 
a little girl, would return to the room. Mothers, 
do not neglect your appearance, because none 
but the children will see you. It. will only 
take a few minutes and a little extra efforton 
your part, and they will think much more of 
you. And insist upon your daughters’ looking 
as well if only your own family are goiug to 
see them, as if they expected a special friend. 
M. B. LAUTHEtt. 
“LEAVIN’ TH’ OLD HOME.” 
A Farm Bai.i.ai>. 
BY T. n. LA MOILLE. 
LcRviu* th' old home, Sally, 
For <b* new one ou th’ hill, 
Tho’ til' new one Is much nicer, 
We’ll love th’ old (dace still; 
Do you remember, Sally, 
The SprliiR-dny when I hoed corn 
Back o' your dad’s pouch orchard. 
Fenced in with i sage thorn? 
I heard you stagin' lu tli* orchard: 
Tho’ I couldn’t make out th' words. 
I allowed you b at th’ concert 
Of all them sintOn’ birds. 
Do you remember, Sally. 
That day I told yon so? 
An’ tho' you tensed me awful, 
You didn't say, flatfooted, “No!” 
To apple-bees an’ huskln’s 
I tell you wa’n’t I proud 
To have th' prettiest gal there 
Pick me out o’ th’ hull crowd ! 
An' then that very Winter, 
Th’ timber here I hauled; 
An’ It thawed th’ day o' tli' raisin’ 
O’ th* house that "ours” we called. 
That Spring brought us our wedditi’— 
Then your hair was brown, my dear 
But now It’s sort o' silvery 
From th’ snows o’ many a year. 
THE WAY OF THE HUMORIST, HARD 
The humorist needs to make his attacks 
from ambush. This is difficult to get. He is 
too generally announced or expected to be 
funny. His reputation is his first foe to be 
overcome. So the humorous column is not 
always where the laugh comes iu. Frequent¬ 
ly this is owing to no fault of the fun, but to 
either the stupidity of tho reader or to his 
resistance. He sees the heading “ Humorous,” 
and hardens his icy crust against attack. He 
will be taken only by violence. Forewarned 
he is forearmed. He cannot be surprised. 
Only a crushing force that, will break 
through his rigid coat of mail and reach his 
interior rislbles can make him laugh. 
Laughter-comiK'lling wit is therefore usually 
of the dry kind, often issuing from a face and 
manner positively grim and expressionless, 
which high tens the surprise with which it is 
received and the force of its explosive power. 
Bucli a face not only gives no uotice of what 
is coming, but expresses little or no apprecia¬ 
tion of its own humor. In this respect it is just 
the opposite of the funny column of the news¬ 
paper whose heading tells the reader of the 
coming attempt to tickle him. 
The managers of funny columns remind us of 
tho Yankee who, out of funds among strangers* 
advertised himself as a teacher of the art of 
whistling. His school gathered, paid the 
tuition in advauce, curious anduinusod at the 
novel idea of a whistling school. The master 
was something of wag. and soon had his class 
in good humor; but when he came to business, 
and with a tremendous flourish and serious 
manner gave the preliminary order: “Prepare 
to pucker!” not a pupil could pucker to save 
his fee or bis life. Successive efforts ended in 
more laughter, iu failure and disorganization, 
during which the Yankee left, town with the 
fees. 
The humorist is iu danger of posing before 
the public and saying “Prepare to laugh,’’ 
when there is no laugh in them. He becomes 
at once ridiculous and pitiable. For the wit. 
who is constantly setting the laugh going is 
only laughed at when his hearers cease to 
luugh with him. Wit, humor, to be of the 
first order, must have spontaneity, and come 
without labor, strain and creaking of stage 
machinery. 
And yet there is often supplied by an 
audience at u circus, a comic lecture or a 
minstrel performance an enthusiasm which is 
transmitted from one to another until stale 
jokes and platituilos pass for wit, and the 
laughter becomes literally catching and up¬ 
roarious. This, of course, does uot uccord 
with the rule that men will not laugh if told 
to do so. It Is one of those exceptions that 
prove the rule. People go to such places to 
be amused. They want, to be tickled, and 
therefore doll' their icy coats of'mail They 
do their resisting at home or in tho private 
attack where they are too busy, careworn or 
dignified to laugh much. 
It, is safe for the story-teller and wit to cul¬ 
tivate, iu matter and manner, surprises-take 
people off guard. By no means preface fun 
by saying, ** It’s awfully funny,” “ I know it’ll 
make you laugh," etc. Such a course is un- 
phihisophieal and silly. 
-- 
Origin ofthkTkbm Masher —The newly- 
imported slung word “ musher,”is said to be 
of Gaelic origin. It is derived from the 
Gaelic maim —pronounced masher —and sig¬ 
nifies fine, handsome, elegant, and was origi¬ 
nally applied in derisiou to a dandy- upetil- 
maitre. It. is the exact equivalent, of beau, in 
which sense it is employed by thousands, who 
use it vulgarly, without suspicion of its appro¬ 
priateness or antiquity. 
Leavin’ th’ old home, Sally, 
For th* new one on th’ hill. 
Though tb’ new one Is much nicer, 
We'll love tli’ old place still! 
MATTHEW ARNOLD. 
This distinguished essayist, critic and poet 
recently arrived in New A'ork, with his wife and 
daughter. He expects to remain here several 
months and lecture here and elsewhere. He 
will study our educational system and visit 
educational inst itutions of various grades. He 
is said to have studied and mastered tills sub¬ 
ject in England as no other Englishman has 
d<me, and to have large faith in the power of 
education t,o elevate the masses and save the 
State. 
He is the eldest sou of Dr. Thomas Arnold, 
of Rugby, familiarized to us by thatcharming 
book, Tom Brown at Rugby. He was born 
at Laleham, near Staines, Middlesex, Dec. 24, 
1832, and is, eonsequ mtly, nearly 61 years old. 
He lias been long married, and has several 
grown-up children. He is said early to have 
felt some annoyance at being known and 
spoken of merely as Dr. Arnold’s son. He felt 
the moviugs in himself of something indi¬ 
vidual and distinct, and soon began to do 
something to show it. His father’s influence 
over him was great, and moved him to a life 
of high aspiration, pure morals and earnest 
work in tho cause of education and Christiani- 
ty. He was educated at Winchester and 
Rugby, and when 38 years old was elected 
Scholar of Baliol College, Oxford. Four years 
later he obtained the Newdegate prize, and a 
year later was chosen Fellow of Oriel College. 
All these were testimonials of merit and hard 
work. At 39 years of age he was appointed 
an inspector of British schools, and at 35 was 
elected Professor of Poetry at. Oxford, a com¬ 
pliment deserved and highly appreciated by 
him. The Government lias twice sent him to 
the Continent to investigate the condition of 
education there. His reports are able ar.d in¬ 
teresting, and show that he has a very favor¬ 
able opinion of the schools of France uudGer¬ 
many^ especially of the preparatory institu¬ 
tions in France. 
llis life heretofore has been very quiet and 
studious, given to observing and writing, but 
otherwise uneventful. His writings are re¬ 
markable for their pure, terse style and the 
freedom and clearness with which he treats 
the loftiest and most difficult themes. His 
liberality in theology has been thought by 
mauy theologians loose drifting. He has, 
indeed, like many thoughtful men, a religion 
of his own, which certainly cannot, be called 
orthodox. He believes, or rather feels, thut 
there is some sort of creative power behind 
the universe, though he does not claim to have 
any notion of what, that power may be. He 
has as much faith, however, in dogmatic 
theology as he has in most of the political and 
moral schemes of his countrymen for the 
amelioration of the woes of the world. lie 
seems to lie an intellectual dissenter and horn 
objector. Still, while a poet, he is not oblivi¬ 
ous to the practical; he perceives the driftand 
consequence of events more clearly than the 
politicians, who seldom look below the surface 
for the great undertow of history. 
He gave up his Oxford Professorship some 
years ago He lias spent the most of his time 
iu educational and literary work in Loudon, 
lie is reported as being very simple iu man¬ 
ner—a true Englishman of the upper-middle 
class, from which he believes the best brain 
and brawn come. Ho studies and thinks 
much more than he writes; his works are, 
A LITTLE TALK ABOUT FASHION. 
The windows of our city establishments are 
ablaze with the splendors of goods, displayed 
for street costumes and for evening toilettes. 
It would seem as though Dame Fashion hud 
climbed as high on the hill Beautiful as was 
possible. 
The combination of two contrasting colors, 
or shades of one color, is the pronounced style, 
and the goods used in the combination are ac¬ 
cording to the depth of one’s purse. The most 
elegant costumes an* made of either plain, 
figured, or striped velvet, and silk or satin. 
One suit, we saw was made of dark green otto¬ 
man silk with panels of embossed velvet— 
durk green figures on a red ground; basque 
and back drapiugs of overskirt of the same 
material. 
Another one was made of brown satin, and 
striped velvet, the ground of the velvet, being 
orange color, and tho stripes brown. These cos¬ 
tumes are certainly wonders of beauty, but 
they are not within the reach of the masses. 
However, for those loss fortunate there are 
very tasty and stylish materials, at a moder¬ 
ate price. A handsome suit is made of dark 
gray ottoman cloth, (which is a repped goods, 
coming into the market within the year, and 
is only a revival nf an old style, and one 
which gave the best satisfaction when it was 
worn,) and trimmed with gray velvet u shade 
darker than tho goods, or else with a dark 
wine color, which is cut in the shape of palm 
leaves; the edges are turned down once, 
and basted, and are put on the dress with a 
blind stitch. 
The front of tho overskirt is trimmed with 
them, and also one side of the back, as is 
shown iu our cut. 
The drapery beiug caught up with pom¬ 
pons, the same color as the velvet, smaller 
palms ire put on the sleeves and around the 
collar. This is one of the most stylish of 
costumes. Gray is coming into vogue once 
again, though it is not a becoming color to 
stout figures, as it has tho effect of increasing 
their size. There are some very handsome 
plaids, of bright colors, which are suitable for 
young people. One style is a large block au 
inch aud a-half square, the one red and the 
Other dark green. It is made wit h a basque, 
and trimmed with green ribbon velvet, across 
the overskirt, and on the flounces, which are 
side plaitod. This costume is completed 
with a green velvet hat, profusely trimmed 
with green and rad ostrich tips. But after 
all, there is nothing neater or more genteel 
than a suit of black, either cashmere or otto¬ 
man, and velvet or velveteen, which we seo 
in some of the most noted fashion journals is 
pronounced to be the goods for street, wear, 
having silk velvet for the drawing room. 
The new brands of velveteen, Arcadia and 
Nonpareil, especially, are guaranteed to keep 
their color, and are produced in all shades. 
OCTOBER—NOVEMBER. 
One of Mrs. Campbell’s mottoes asa heading 
for a week iu her little,” Housekeeper's Year¬ 
book” is—“A fresh mind keeps the body fresh. 
Take in the ideas of to-day; drain off those 
of yesterday; as for to morrow, time enough 
to consider it when it becomes to-day.” 
It sounds quite pretty as a motto; but. read¬ 
iug it this October day, 1 feel that it cannot be 
acted upon iu a woman’s kingdom. We must 
consider to-morrow. Cold weather is fast 
approaching; already the chill breath is upon 
us. The children must have warm under¬ 
clothing provided, the house must lie put iuto 
winter order, fruits and flowers are to be gar¬ 
nered, vegetables stored and closets looked 
over. Stockings and socks are a thought of 
dismay, and warm jackets and coats loom in 
the near future. So wo must take thought of 
to-morrow. October is often in Northern 
climes, a month of rare beauty, with richness 
of foliage no other season can imitate. Wo 
find the last flowers the brightest, because we 
so soon must lose them; the lari, apple and 
pear that swing upon the tree at the month’s 
close are the most toothsome, aud the grape 
that has ripened to perfect sweet mss ou a hid 
den branch is thoroughly appreciated; and at, 
the month’s bright ending we have the Vigil 
of All Saints, or Hallowe'en, us the Scotch 
folk delight to call it. And happy is that 
lassie who by crackling fire, with nut and 
apple, discovers if her love be true, or by 
some wonderful charm, dreams of her future. 
Yts; we must, take thought, for to-morrow. 
It is the panacea for many sorrows to be able 
to look forward with hope to a brighter 
future. ANNIE L. JACK. 
