ft 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. JAW 31 
A very few with a world of energy and 
“cheek,” make the business a success and 
continue in it, changing from one firm to an¬ 
other, as brighter opportunities arise. But 
the advertiser is pretty certain to make some 
profit from all who engage with him, either 
by the sale of “outfits” alone, or by the gain on 
these and on the “orders” taken by the agent 
before he abandons the business. Just as in 
the case of “rolled gold,” advertisements of 
this kind are “all right,' provided the readers 
know that the thing really offered is very dif¬ 
ferent indeed from the thing apparently of¬ 
fered. 
To Many Inquirers.— We do not recom¬ 
mend the Eagle Baking Powder Co.,of Cleve¬ 
land and Ashtabula, Ohio. This firm offers 
$9(J0a year and expenses. The outfit is “free, * 1 
provided 14.87 are sent, to he returned when 
the sales of the goods amount to 850. As to 
“salary” and “expenses” see what is said 
above. Very likely the “outfit” isn’t worth a 
quarter of the deposit demanded; and it is not 
improbable that the “goods” will prove so in¬ 
ferior that the agent wall not sell $50 worth be¬ 
fore be is too “tired” to make auv more effort. 
Then this precious “Company,” which is too 
insignificant to be known to the mercantile 
agencies, will have cleared the profit on the 
“outfit” and on any “orders” the agent may 
have sent in. In any case, it is false to call 
the “outfit” “free." for the cost of it will be 
deducted from the “salary,” alias, the “com¬ 
mission,” just as the cost of the glassware 
given “free" with tea or coffee in some gro¬ 
cery stores, is really added to the price of the 
goods bought. This “deposit” dodge is, very 
naturally, a favorite with sharpers. 
We cannot recommend Sloan & Co., Cin¬ 
cinnati, Ohio ; nor the American Farmer, 
Chicago Sheldon R. Hopkins of this city, 
publisher of “Home Science,” is likely to send 
all of his magazines that are paid for. Twice 
already we have stated that we do not recom¬ 
mend John McDonough, who advertises guns 
in this city He has “desk room” in a little 
office at the number in Broadway from which 
be advertises. The Farmer’s Ledger, Cincin¬ 
nati, Ohio, is as arrant a humbug as the 
“Ocean to Ocean,” which advertizes from the 
same place. This concern is trying to swindle 
its “subscribers” out of 48 cents each. Well, 
1,000 dupes at 443 cents a head, are worth £400 
in the aggregate a wretched herd that de¬ 
serve small puty for having been fleeced by so 
flagrant a fraud. 
We have several times already said here 
that the offer to present 500 stem-winding 
watches to the first 500 subscribers to the 
Poultry Keeper, of Chicago, is merely a bait 
for simpletons. Will the P, K. distribute the 
same sort of watches as the “perfect time¬ 
keepers” of the Illinois Agriculturist, of 
the same place—worth five cents each — 
or are the first 500 subscribers—the prize¬ 
winners—all engaged on the paper? Certain 
it is that the expectant prize-winners will be 
duped as badly as were those of tue Farm, 
Field and Stockman, owned by the same par¬ 
ties, last year. 
for H)omm 
CONDUCTED BY MISC RAY CLARK. 
“WOMAN’S USEFULNESS.” 
Notwithstanding “Ann Others” protest, I 
solemnly declare that I am a woman and a 
real, live grandmother, with five bright, lovely 
children who own me as their dear grand¬ 
ma. 1 have had six children, and all but one 
of them have grown up to be men aud women, 
and that one is, and always will be my baby, 
“safe in the Saviour’s fold.” Now, I know 
all about the paths that women tread, tor i 
have been footsore and weary in my journey, 
for a cloud darkened my home. But 1 always 
tried to keep the sunshine warm and bright 
for my children, and my highest ambition 
aud happiness was to see them become good 
men and women, and i burned the midnight 
lamp to write and earn money to clothe and 
educate them, and fit them to become a bless 
iug to the world. I aspired to make my 
mark, but that mark was to be my children. 
To see them respected and good was my aim, 
and by God’s grace I succeeded, too. 
I do not subscribe to the doctrine that'a 
woman is a slave. If she has intellect, she 
will improve it; if she has genius, she will 
cultivate it; there are plenty of opportunities 
for the exercise of her mental faculties, aud 
in our country intellect is recognized and ap 
preciated without regard to gender. The 
greatest heroines are not those women who 
have aspired to stand on the pedestal of Fame, 
and set their mark high in the clouds; but 
they are those, who by accidental circum¬ 
stances entirely, were brought into a sphere 
of action in which they never had thought of 
entering. Ambition, to be great and famous, 
viill never ensure success. Opportunity is 
what is needed, and I am orthodox enough to 
believe that it is not in men (or women either) 
to direct their steps, for “Man proposes and 
God disposes.” Did Joan of Arc iu her girl¬ 
hood try to be famous? Did Florence Night¬ 
ingale try to carve her name on the tablets of 
history? No! thrice no! Circumstances alone 
gave them the wreath of immortal fame. 
I am happy that. Miss Ann did pick up the 
glove, and as she holds it, let her defend it, 
and, if she can, instance a single case where a 
woman has ever been better or happier for 
walking in hy-patbs in search of glory. Wo¬ 
man’s sphere is as wide as humanity, but it is 
by uature a different one from the masculine 
sphere. Let her 1 do good as she lias opportu¬ 
nity,” but let her borne be ber kingdom and 
let ber reign in loving hearts. 1 am not 
“cantankerous,” if I am getting old; I like 
girls to be bright, smart and intelligent, audit 
they have a desire to be educated, l have no 
objection; but I do not want to see them 
aspire to wearing their brothers’ boots, aud 
if boys and girls have the right bringing up, 
the boys will uot eat more than Ibeir rightful 
share of the apples, if they did that. I have 
had a pretty good chance to study human na¬ 
ture, and I believe that to be contented is the 
happiest lot that can befall a person, and uot 
covet what is not yours nor ever can be. 
GRANDMOTHER. 
RAMBLING TALKS. 
THE GUEST CHAMBER.—TOBACCO. 
In the guest or spare chamber, always have 
a copy of the Bible in large, clear type, also a 
few beoks or magazines. I once passed a few 
days, the Sabbath included, with a friend. 
Not knowing the customs of the family on 
that day I arose early, as usual, and waited 
tbree-and one half long hours before break¬ 
fast was announced with nothing but medita¬ 
tion to employ my time. Then, again, the 
useful guest finds it pleasant to put finishing 
touches to the room, anti a hand broom aud 
dust pan to gather up dust or little bits of 
thread, a duster, so nice aud clean as to require 
a bit of paper pinned on to desguate its use, 
and a good sized piece of cotton, colored or 
white, tucked iD the handle of the slop jar, 
will be readily understood and appreciated; a 
friend has on u corner table a small, firm 
basket, with cover, in which are pins, needles, 
bodkin, boot and glove buttoner, knife, pen¬ 
cil, thimble, a spool each of black silk, black 
cotton and white, a box of hairpins, emery 
bag, scissors, etc., for the use of her transient 
guests. Then too a corn broom in those cute 
little fancy cases now in vogue, is very useful. 
A square of oil cloth in front of the toilet 
stand may save your carpet from spots. A 
hand glass is indispensable. A spare news¬ 
paper to use while combing the hair. These are 
little things but, “moighty convaneyant." Va¬ 
cate one or two bureau drawers for the use 
of your guest, and see that there are spare 
nails in the closet also. Sometimes a mattress, 
unless it be of hair, is found too hard to 
sleep upon, and feathers too warm. To obvi¬ 
ate the difficulty, place the feather bed on top 
and on it a piece of straw matting, over that 
a folded sheet or thin quilt, and the bed will 
be very comfortable and coo). 
Mothers, see to it that your boys are not 
learning to smoke cigarettes, or even ferns. 
It is thought by them to be manly. Are they 
copying from father? I have seen small boys 
of from seven to twelve years of age, behind 
stores, and in by paths, guided aud encour¬ 
aged by older lads, trying to smoke; even 
searching for the little, burnt ends of cigars 
thrown away by no one knows who. This 
habit of using tobacco is on the increase, aud 
is alarming, aud iu view of this fact, what is 
the outlook for the rising generation? Will 
they be men of sturdy frames, iron nerves, 
and strong intellect, or enervated iu body 
and mind, an easy prey to sickness and strong 
drink? See what a steady growth the habit 
has hadl Not but a few years since, a woman 
seen walking or riding with a gentleman who 
was smoking, would be judged immediately 
to be a 'fast woman,” Then, gentlemen 
smoking, and passing a lady on the street re¬ 
moved the cigar. Now, (with but few excep¬ 
tions, aud iu every case I have noticed of late 
these exceptions have been foreigners gerer 
ally Irishmen), oven the pipe is retained in 
ihe mouth, during the conversation, aud we 
must breath the vile odor. We condemn the 
person who poisons the water we drink; has 
he more right to pollute the air we breathe? 
YV hat more revolting then to make an inquiry 
of a man who, before he can possibly reply, 
must raise his chin up in the air that the pooj 
of tobacco juice (cauuot afford to wholly lose 
the dainty morsel) may not ruu out before he 
replies? Aud how any pure minded, refined 
woman can be married to a man whose breath 
is tainted with tobacco, whose garments are 
saturated with its smell is one of the mysteries. 
And women are partially to blame for its ex¬ 
tensive use, on all occasions. It does not seem 
so bad a habit in our friend, our lover, our hus¬ 
band, and the dear souls never dream it is 
really so offensive to us, because we make but 
slight objection, if any. But settiug aside the 
matter of taste, it is detrimental to health. 
Physicians tell us the habitual tobacco user is 
harder to cure when stricken down with sick¬ 
ness, because the Mood is vitiated aud the 
whole system enervated by the narcotic poison. 
We women must speak as we think about 
it, and protest against its use. Above all 
watch the boys that the indulgence docs not 
become a fixed habit. Beatrice Bee, 
A CHEERFUL SPIRIT. 
EMMA C. STOUT. 
“Oh dear! we’ll not get to go to the woods 
to morrow. What will we do all day? It 
will be dreadful long after being disappointed 
this way,” said little Nellie. 
“Let to-morrow take c-are of to morrow,” 
sang Nellie's blue eyed mamma, “never pic¬ 
ture to yourself au unhappy to morrow, dear 
I have something pleasant in store for us to¬ 
morrow, that perhaps I would not have 
thought of but for the raiu.” 
“What is it?” looking up with the first 
bright expression she had worn since the rain 
drops began to patter on the roof. 
“Well, you know what a boy Herbert is for 
collecting all kinds of specimens, and his 
boxes in bis room are crowded full, so we will 
surprise him by giving him the wardrobe 
opening from the sitting-room here for a cab¬ 
inet. The little window in the corner will 
give us plenty of light. We will empty the 
shelves to morrow, paper them with that 
pretty paper left from your room, and ar¬ 
range all bis specimens iu good order. Then 
when we go to the woods and the river wo’ll 
have a place waiting for our leaves, grasses 
shells aud stones ” 
“Oh! mamma, you’re always thinking of 
something nice. I wanted to be real cross all 
the afternoon, or rush off to toy room and cry 
with vexation; but I’ll not now, for we will 
have such a nice time planning for our work 
to morrow,” said Nellie. 
“Yes,” auswered mamma, “aud, Nellie, T 
wish you would always learn to think of 
something pleasant whenever you are tempt¬ 
ed to be cross. There’s always a bright side 
if you’ll look long enough for It •” 
"I’ll try. mamma," she said softly, “I know 
I do worry you often with my cross fits.” 
I bad watched this conversation with great 
interest, for the child’s sullen moods had often 
annoied me since I bad been visiiing in the 
family.. But the mother's course was a very 
wise one—persistency cheerful and dropping 
a word of advice when she thought it would 
be rightly appreciated. Any thoughtful 
mother can see what effect this talk would 
have had if the advice bad preceded the pleas¬ 
ant plan proposed it is well worth the time 
and cure of every parent to slowly and 
steadily assist their children in forming good 
mental and moral habits, and we surely could 
bestow no better legacy than that of a cheer¬ 
ful spirit. 
Doinfstic Cjcmtumi) 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY MAPLE. 
PITHS. 
If the children want pets, pray indulge 
them, but iDsist upon their taking sole charge 
of them as well as giviDg them the best of 
care. 
Never talk of a child’s peculiarities before 
it; never let it hear its beauty or ugliness 
spoken of. The greatest charm of childhood 
is its forgetfulness of itself. 
Men are often considered to be selfish; but 
how shall we classify the woman who expects 
a man to slave his life out that she may live a 
life of useless idleness or comparative idleness? 
In cooking, the leas savory a viand is 
in itself, the more necessary it is that the 
absence of flavor should be compensated for, 
as far as possible, by careful and skillful pre¬ 
paration. 
Dress is, aDd always will be, a fair out¬ 
ward index of the mind within. One's dress 
should always be suitable to the occasion—let 
this bo the first consideration—and as becom¬ 
ing as possible, for it is every woman’s duty 
to look ber best. 
A lady who has seen much of society states 
that, as a rule, plaiu girls marry sooner than 
handsome ones. When asked why, she said 
that it was maiuly owing to the tact of the 
homely girls and the vanity and want of tact 
on the part of the men “The plain girls 
flatter the men, and so please tbeir vanity, 
while the handsome girls wait to bo fluttered 
by the men, who haven’t the tact to do it.” 
According to this, an ugly girl has only to 
sufficiently tickle the vanity of the man she 
has fixed upon, to have him straightway offer 
her his heart and worldly possessions. 
Dress waists cut either square or V-shaped 
?n the neck are popular. They may be filled 
in with lace or illusion, gathered full at the 
neck, and finished with a full standing frill. 
This style is particularly becoming to women 
with long necks. 
The crinoline is on the increase—so say 
foreign authorities. 
The odder one’s jewelry is at the present 
time, the more fashionable it is. 
Happy the woman who is gifted with “tact.” 
Where is the simplicity iu women's attire, 
that fashion promised us early in the season? 
CROCHET LACE. 
We received as a Christmas gift several 
yards of crocheted linen lace from “Aunt 
Em,” who designed as well as crocheted it. 
At our request she has sent the following di¬ 
rections for making it, which she says are 
without, error, as she made a scallop and 
wrote down each row as she crocheted it. 
Chain of 20 stitches, turn. 
First row, one double crochet on the third 
chain stitch, and on each of the following 
twelve stitches; makiDg thirteen d. c.; two 
cb., two d. c. in the third ch. stitch; two eh , 
two d. c in last chs.: turn. 
Second row. five chain, two d. c under first 
two ch,; twocb,, two d c. under second two 
ch.; two ch., thirteen d. c. over thirteen d. c. 
of last row; turn. 
Third row, three ch,, thirteen d. c. over 
thirteen in last row; two ch., two d. c. under 
first two ch. of last row; two ch., two d. c. 
uuder next two ch.; two ch., two d. c. under 
five ch. of last row; turn. 
Fourth row. Fivech., two d. c. under first 
two ch.; two ch.. two d. c. under second two 
ch.; two ch., two d. c. under the third two 
cb.; two ch., thirteen d. c. over thirteen; 
turn. 
Fifth row. Three ch., thirteen d. c. over 
thirteen; two cb., two d. c. under the first 
two ch.; two ch., two d. c. under the second 
two oh ; two ch,, two d. c. under third two 
ch.; two ch., two d. c. under five ch ; turn. 
Sixth row. Five ch., two d. c. under first 
two ch,; two ch., two d. c. under the second 
two ch.; two ch., two d. c. under the third 
two cb , twoch , twod. c. under ihe fourth two 
ch ; two ch.now commence to make a <1. c. over 
the first of the thirteen d. o', but do not 
draw the thread through the last two loops ■ 
continue thus with the thirteen d. c. and 
there will be fourteen loops on needle; 
diaw the thread through all of them at ouce, 
draw close, make one ch., tighten well; three 
cb. fasten into first rib between rows; three 
ch. fasten to next rib; there will be five of 
these three chs., fasten last one to top of first 
row; turn. 
Seventh row. One ch.—one single crochet 
T HE “IVORY” is a Laundry Soap, with 
all the fine qualities of a choice Toilet 
Soap, and is OO 44-100 per cent. pure. 
Ladies will find this Soap especially 
adapted for washing lares, infants’ clothing, 
silk hose, cleaning gloves, and all articles of 
fine texture and delicate color, and for the 
varied uses about the house that daily arise, 
requiring the use of soap that is above the 
ordinary in quality. 
For the Bath, Toilet or Nursery, it is pre¬ 
ferred to most of the Soaps sold for toilet 
use. being purer and much more pleasant 
and effective, aud possessing all the desirable 
properties of the finest unadulterated White 
Castiie Soap The I\ory Soap will “float.” 
The cakes art so shaped that they may bo 
used entire for general purposes, or divided 
with a stout thread (as illustrated into two 
perfectly formed cakes, of convenient size 
for toilet use. 
Tin- price, compared to the quality and 
tin size of the rakes, makes it tlio cheapest 
Soap for everybody and every want. Try it. 
BOLD EVERYWHERE 
