DEC <10 
S2S 
THE RURAL MEW-YORKER. 
are as likely to injure themselves by injudi¬ 
cious bathing as by personal uncleanliness, and 
there is doubtless ranch justice in his remarks. 
A person who indulges (?) in very cold baths 
in spite of unpleasaut after-effect*, under the 
mistaken impression that he is consulting the 
laws of health thereby, will be laying the traiu 
for many future ills. Whena person finds thata 
cold bath always leaves a fit of shivering, which 
is not removed by a vigorous rubbing, it is 
very evident that the system is not sufficiently 
robust to withstand the chill. Dr. Coan ad¬ 
vises a vigorous rubbing with a flesh crush or 
rough towel, as a substitute for the cold bath; 
lining, of course, a warm hath for cleanliness. 
Dr. Goan speaks of the rubbing as taking 
place of the bach entirely, but somehow that 
does not, seem cleanly. 
* * * 
The care of skin, teeth, and hair is very im¬ 
portant— amatter of duty in fact, aud it can¬ 
not be too early impressed upon children. 
Perhaps one of the hardest things in the world 
is to make school-boys take proper care of 
their teeth. It should be a rule that no child 
old enough to perform his own toilet should 
have breakfast until his teeth are cleaned. It 
would save a good many dentist’s lulls in the 
future. As for the complexion, the only rule 
to be given is t-o avoid cosmetics of all kinds; 
they are a snare aud a delusion. During the 
summer, when the skin is apt to tie greasy, 
harmless, astringent washes may be used, aud 
in the winter a nightly application of rose¬ 
water and glycerine will prevent chapping 
and roughness. Rut such beautiflers l?) as 
powd°r and the like are to be rigorously es¬ 
chewed, though they are becoming commoner 
every day, even among women who ought to 
be too refined for this most uncleanly habit. 
only have inherited his literary tendency 
from bis mother, who, although “a great 
reader,” from lack of opportunity and culti¬ 
vation never rose higher than Mrs. South- 
worth. With the majority of readers it is a 
question of light—very light—literature or 
nothing. Auy one who longs for Aeklison and 
Shakespeare will not be tempted to read 
trashy books, merely by the fact that they 
are easy to get; for one capable of reading 
Shakespeare, could not read dime novels. 
The factory girl who crams her silly head 
witli weak love stories, at least somewhat 
broadens her view of life, and while she is for 
the moment transput ted fiom her bare garret, 
if the book be not demoralizing, who shall say 
what impulses toward a higher and better life 
she may receive? “At any rate,” says n writ¬ 
er, “reading of any sort kills ennui, which is 
the mother of crime in many a being who 
never heard the word.” 
The worst we have to fear is from such 
writers as Zola, and iu America the author of 
“As in a Looking-Glass,” and “A Modern 
Circe,” which latter are unfortunately not 
assailable by the police. Whether or not we 
are now drifting in that direction is a matter 
well worth study. It is a peculiar circum¬ 
stance that, the English ami French have 
changed places in their style of literature. 
In the days when Kmollet and Wycherley 
were the delight of the English, tbo French 
stage was comparatively moral, and Tele- 
maque and Paul and Virginia wore more read 
than any novels. At the present day the 
standard novel writers of the English invaria¬ 
bly have respected inuoeence nml purity, 
while Flaubert and Zola have achieved a far 
wider popularity than De Stael, Chateaubri¬ 
and or Cberbuliez. 
I have a friend, no small part of whose daily 
labor is the dispatching of six small children 
to school, and I am never so ready to acknowl¬ 
edge her a pearl among women as when I 
see the patience and forethought and skill 
which she expends upon those six lunch box< s. 
She has a theory that u basket soon becomes 
permeated with the odors of food, ami they 
carry small tin boxes which are scalded and 
aired at once upon their return, and in conse¬ 
quence are fresh and sweet for the next day. 
She keeps on band a quantity of w. xed or 
oiled paper aud the ,Tapanise paper napkins, 
which are light and inexpensive and can be 
thrown away after using, although with care 
they will last several days. No pastry or rich 
cakes are ever provided, nor any ham or 
oth°r salt sandwiches which occasion thirst 
that perhaps cannot be conveniently quenched 
during the session. Great attention is paid to 
the bread which, of course, firms the staple 
article. It is always light, sweet, and whole 
some, and never more than two days old. If 
cold baked chicken, turkey, or fresh beef, 
mutton, or v* al are not on hand, she some¬ 
times makes sandwiches of hard-boiled eggs, 
sliced aud seasoned, Auy meat that is used is 
always chopped fine, and tastefully seasoned, 
and a very tliiu crust is shaved from the sand¬ 
wich after’it is doubled together. Oue or two 
tiny home-made gherkin pickles are occasion¬ 
ally added, and when celery is in season, two 
or three crisp, white stalks are sprinkled with 
water, dusted with salt, and wrapped iu the 
waxed paper. Sometimes sandwiches are 
made with cottage cheese, well mixed or 
moistened with sweet cream. Brown bread, 
spread with jelly or jam, forms the nearest 
approach to a dessert with sometimes a slice 
of a wholesome luncheon cake. 
The following is her formula for brown 
bread, aud it is always moist nml sweet. Put 
oue quartof yellow corn-meal in a large earth- 
eru bowl and Scald with sufficient boiling wa¬ 
ter to thoroughly moisten it. After standing 
until it becomes lukewarm mix with it one 
cup of rye meal, oue of yc-ast, three-quarters 
Of a cup of molasses, a little salt, and enough 
lukewarm water to make it a rather thin 
dough. Stir well together and turn into a 
Puttered baking-pan. Cover with a cloth and 
let it rise in a warm placp. When the top 
begins to /'rack bake slowly and steadily, and 
do not cut it until it is 1M hours old. This 
makes ouly two small loaves, and is made 
every other day. 
Meat bread may be a new idea, but it is a 
good one. Make as for ordit ary white bread, 
allowing oue pound of finely-chopped raw 
beef to two pounds of flour. The meat must 
be sprinkled with salt. It will almost entire¬ 
ly disappear during the making and baking 
process, but ifs nutritious qualities will re¬ 
main. 
A nice luncheon cake, of which too large a 
slice need not be given, is made by mixing to¬ 
gether half a pound of butter with oue of 
sugar; five eggs well beaten, a scant pound of 
flour; one gill of milk, and flavoring 1o taste. 
The white of one of the eggs may be left out 
for icing. 
A di licious ginger-bread, that almost made 
me wish l was a child again, is made as fol¬ 
lows: Beat together a quarter of a pound of 
butter with a like amount of brown sugar, 
add one gill ot sour milk, a pint of molasses, 
three beaten eggs, two tablespoonfuls of giu- 
ger.and half ns much each of allspice and cin¬ 
namon. Dissolve a scant teaspoonful of bak¬ 
ing soda in ibe milk, and stir in as much flour 
as will make a batter as for cake—about one 
aud a lmlf pound. When nearly done, 
brush over the top with a little beateu egg 
mixed with milk. Return to the oven and 
finish the baking. 
A raised raisin cake is very nice. Ret a 
sponge with a gill of yeast; three-fourths of a 
pint i f water and flour, letting it stand until 
light. Add half a pound of melted butter, 
half a pound of sugar, six ben ten eggs, one 
pound of sepded raisins and the juice and 
grated riud of one lemon. Knead in flour 
lightly until you have a soft dough. Let it 
get light, mold into loaves and let it stand an 
hour in buttered pans before baking. 
Perhaps some of the mothers in Israel who 
read the Rural will like to give further hints 
on this important subject. palmetto. 
“IN PLAIN SIGHT.” 
A GAME that used to be very popular at 
our house, was played by hiding some small 
object “iu plain sight,” and those who hunted 
for it ofteu spent minutes in the search before 
their eyes would light, upon the tiling that had 
not, been out of sight all the time. 
This game often comes to my mind when at 
work in the kitchen, and emphasizes the fact 
that everything there should have a place and 
be kept in it,. The lid lifter has an especially 
annoying way of being mislaid when urgently 
wanted, if it has no place especially its own. 
The broom is behind some door, we know, 
when we are ready to use it, and 
of course it is soon found, but the habit¬ 
ual frown of annoyance has been growing a 
little deeper while the search went on. The 
dish-pan is sometimes iu one closet and some¬ 
times in the other, of the two iu the kitchen, 
and the same is true of the pans and pails used 
there. The di-sb-cloth has four different nails 
from which in turn it looks down while we 
search in three or four other places where it, 
sometimes lodges, lawful enough places too 
for a dish-elotb, but the use of one place only 
would save anxious hunting, and be much 
more convenient than putting it, and every¬ 
thing else somewhere, iu plain sight. 
The hurry-skurry is continued in a family 
that consents to hunt things up every time 
they' are wanted. Where is this, and that.and 
the other thing, is shouted, demanded, whined 
aud snarled, asked pleasantly aud asked de¬ 
spairingly, making altogether a continual va¬ 
riety in the atmosphere of the household. But 
it is such a discordant variety wo can imagine 
the helpless articles themselves watching the 
many hunts, and wishing for voices to say 
“Here lam iu plaiu sight, can’t you see me?” 
A. B. 
Waste Paper Basket. Fig. 471'. 
KITCHEN TALKS. 
ANNIE L. JACK. 
When I get into my cosy corner in the 
kitchen, with the children, the cat, and the 
canary, I am often tempted to read the Rural 
straight through, when I ought to be darning 
the stockings: and as the sun is shining 
brightly upon me this November day, and the 
fair, clear frosty air keeps me indoors, I have 
read all the weighty arguments on the woman 
question, and poor Charity’s grievances, nml 
the lengthy article that ends with a curious 
classifying of old maids (put into capi 
tills) with "antagonists of American home 
life.” And 1 protest against such au asser¬ 
tion, for the unmarried girls of my acquaint¬ 
ance are, many of them, keeping together and 
building up home life for themselves, or those 
who need them, and they me not exceptional; 
and as every girl cannot marry if the census 
i u correct, it, is uufair to misjudge them from 
that standpoint. And reudiug “Chats By the 
Way,” that are always interesting, and give 
au editor full liberty. I quite agree with the 
writer as to the “high moral purpose” there is 
in blacking the stove; but writing will not 
change facts, and without murmuring about 
it, or even earing that her fingers are “stub¬ 
bed” a youug girl, unless very obtruse, 
must feel the result of roughened us 
age, unless she resolves never to touch the 
floss silks, or other recreations that are 
considered necessary to her resting hours, 
or, in fact, any work requiring a delicate 
touch. There are hundreds of young girls 
who never get lieyoud the calm, evtn tenor of 
their ways; there are thousands who do the 
duty that lies nearest, even while they know 
that they have higher powers. For talk as 
we may of the “dignity of labor” and bring¬ 
ing our work up to us, instead of going down 
to it, there is the mark of overwork, of many 
cares, ou the faces of nearly all the country 
girls and women oue meets. For the work is 
so multitudinous, so crowding, so imperative, 
that the “must be” too often crowds out the 
“may be.” 
And though accepting with patieneeaud hu¬ 
mility their position, and knowing it to be as 
good as their talents can command, the fact 
of stubbed fingers aud chapped hands still re¬ 
mains, whether one bides them or glories m 
them. It reminds me of a little hit of perfect 
When Baby was slelc. we nave her Cantoris 
When she was a Child, she cried for Cantoris 
When she became Miss, she clung to Castorla 
When she had Children sh« gave them Castorla 
ABOUT WOMEN. 
T^pUlE voting women of Kansas have adopted 
1 a badge of orange-colored ribbon,after the 
sun-flower, the flower of their State. Mauy 
women suffragists all over the country are 
wearing this little emblem, much as do the 
adherents of the W. C. T. U. wear the white 
ribbon token. 
Several women in Auburn are on the regis¬ 
try as voters, having taken the oath required 
by law of challenged persons. 
Dr. Livermore-Potts who has been lectur¬ 
ing at Chickeriug Hall, New York City, 
during the past week or so. is an American 
lady. She is a native of Philadelphia, and 
comes of an old Quaker family. She gradu¬ 
ated from the Women’s Medical College of 
that city in 1-S53L 
Dr, Livermore-Potts has. for some time 
past, hecu making a lecturing tour, both iu 
this couut ry and in England. She was well 
received in London; many of the nobility, 
and even some of the Royal family being 
noticeable iu her audiences. 
She speaks in a clear voice, and distinctly, 
so much so that she can be heard all over the 
house, Her lectures are both eutertaiuing 
and instructive. Dr. Potts has a strong, 
sweet face; is graceful and of a dignified 
bearing. She dresses iu rich, quiet, becoming 
costumes. Her diamonds are said to be the 
envy of mauy of fashions leaders. (And yet, 
notwithstanding, men say that women who 
are strong-minded dress like guys and are 
unfeminine.) dora harvey. 
OUR LITERARY TENDENCY. 
SELMA CLARE. 
Careful observers have made it a matter 
of grave discussion, whether the free library 
system, aud cheap literature do more harm 
than good. Colonel Higgmson is sure they do 
more good than harm. That we are more 
largely and generally a reading people than 
we w'ere fifty years ago, goes without saying, 
in the face of the immense amount of litera¬ 
ture printed and sold. Much of it, doubtless, 
were better unwritten, to say nothing of its 
being printed and sold, but as Rome was not 
built, in a day, so you cannot educate a nation 
up to Shakespeare aud Milton in a general ion. 
The boot-black who sits on his box patiently 
awaiting a customer would not read Buckle 
or George Eliot if there were no other books 
in the world, and the question resolves itself 
into this: Is the “Phantom Bride,” or 
“The Rover’s Revenge,” better mental food 
than none, or the muling of it a better and 
less degrading occupation than the mischief 
that Ratan would unquestionably find for his 
idle miud aud hands? I think, yes. Provided 
the books have nothing absolutely immoral in 
them, he is iu a measure training hia nund. 
Not the highest- form of culture I will admit, 
but better than noibing. and bis children who 
will undoubtedly not be booth lucks, will he 
the better for it. and will seek literary food 
in higher channels. The brightest lad of my 
acquaintance, a youth who will certainly 
make his mark in the world of letters, could 
GOLDEN GRAINS. 
Fill, brief or long, my granted Rpau 
Of life with love to Thee and man; 
Strike when Thou will the hour of rest, 
But let my last days be my best.— Whittier... 
T.W. Higginson compares a farm at night¬ 
fall with a village of living tilings, all sinking 
into slumber iu their own way. 
Nothing more degrades one’s thought than 
habitual companionship with the coarse aud 
ignore lit... 
The Springfield Republican says the kind of 
education wjiieh does not develop manliness 
and womanliness and habits of self-help and 
helpfulness is a kind of education that does 
not educate..... 
Henry J. Raymond said: “There are very 
few things iu this world worth getting angry 
about, aud they are precisely the things that, 
angir does not help”. .... 
Latimer says: “As every lord giveth a 
certain livery to his servants, charity is the 
livery of Christ. Our Saviour, who is the 
Lord above all lords, would have His ser¬ 
vants known by their badge, which is love.” 
More gentb ness, more sympathy, more con¬ 
sideration, more knowledge of character, 
more real respect for one another, are needed 
in all the relations of life. Something of tbo 
old chivalry needs to be revived. 
“You were a nice, quiet, little boy in Sun¬ 
day-school this morning, Bobby,” said the 
minister. “I was very much pleased.” “Yes,” 
replied Bobby, “pa said that it I’d behave my¬ 
self in Sunday school, I needn’t go to church.” 
The Rutland Herald tells of a brother in 
prayer-meeting iu a neighboring town, the 
other night, who prayed for the absent “who 
were prostrated on beds of sickness and sofas 
of wellness.”... 
“Is it a strong congregation?” asked a man, 
respecting a body of worshippers. “Yes,” was 
the reply. “How many members are there?" 
“Seveuty-six.” “Seventy six! Are they so 
very wealthy?” “No; they are poor.” “How, 
then, do you say it is ft strong church?” 
“Because,” said the gentleman, “they are 
earnest, devoted, at peace, loving each other, 
aud striving together to do the Master’s 
work. Such a congregation is strong, whether 
composed of five or five hundred members,” 
Domestic Cconoimj 
CONDUCTED BY MRS. AGNES K. M. CARMAN. 
LUNCHEON FOR THE SCHOOL CHIL¬ 
DREN. 
There is an old adage that “school is a 
hungry place,” and my own school days, 
although far in the dim past, remind me that 
school children, especially those who live in 
the country and walk some distance to their 
school, are generally famished by the time the 
noon hour arrives. Now-a days it is too often 
tbo custom of parents to give children money 
with which to buy their lunch, and as this 
must be done at ft village variety store, it is 
expended in candy, cake, and pickles or in 
something equally iujunou-. 
