?KE RURAL «EW«V©BI£Re 
to a town meeting, and afterwards discuss it 
with them, step by step, thus giving them 
an object-lesson in civil form. Get town 
documents, an old warrant, for instance, and 
talk over each phrase and item. The science 
of government is discussed in these text¬ 
books, but, more than that, and of far more 
importance, the sacred obligations of citizen¬ 
ship are enlarged upon. The position and ob¬ 
ligations of the citizen of a State are plainly 
enforced. 
His rights and duties are clearly defined, 
and it is impossible for a conscientious and 
patriotic teacher to handle these themes be¬ 
fore a class of bright boys and girls, without 
making them feel that it is a noble and sacred 
thing to be an American citizen. 
If, in all our schools, are taught the relations 
and obligations of State and citizen, it will 
go far toward removing the present blindness 
and ignorance of the voting classes. Boys 
and girls will grow up educated not to scorn 
or slight their responsibilities as American 
citizens. If anything stamps a young man as 
empty-headed and weak-kneed, it is to hear 
him prate of political corruption and brag of 
his indifference to public affairs, boasting of 
being too clean to dabble in politics. It is 
like calling himself too clean to go and help bis 
old mother cut of a mud-puddle into which 
she had fallen. 
I never hear a young man speak in that 
way without wishing be could be left to the 
tender mercies of a mob or a commune. 
One corrective of this false, unmanly, and 
un-American foppishness is this early train¬ 
ing in the common schools. It is a good 
theme for family reading. Get a text-book, 
fathers and mothers, aud in these long winter 
evenings read aloud and talk it over with the 
children, fitting them yourselves for the days 
aud the duties that are to come. 
BEAUTIFYING THE COMPLEXION. 
w 
RITING of fine complexions, Harper’s 
Bazar says that a clear,fresh complexion 
gives a look of cleanliness to the person pos¬ 
sessing it, and the practice of cleanliness will 
best accomplish this result, as there is no 
beautifier equal to the daily tepid bath. But 
any water will not do,and hard water is almost 
worse than none. If not naturally soft, it 
should be made so with ammonia or borax. 
That wonderful old lady, Diana of Poitiers, 
who persisted in being beautiful at such an 
unreasonable age, is said to have used no cos¬ 
metic but a daily bath of rain-water. This is 
a wonderful preserver and freshener of the 
complexion, but at the present day it is a 
somewhat inaccessible remedy, [Not to the 
country girl.— Ed.] • A handful of bran to 
a basin of water has a very cleansing and 
softening effect, and oatmeal is equally good. 
As frequent a change of underclothing as 
possible also is a decided beautifier of the 
complexion, and this luxury, once indulged 
in, is not easily given up. 
A salt bath, too, is excellent: and it is not 
necessary to go to the sea shore for it, as a 
few cents’ worth of rock-salt will supply the 
luxury for a month. A good-sized lump dis¬ 
solved in a basin of water is all that is needed 
for a single application. Besides invigorating 
the system, this bath is said to freshen the 
complexion and restore the appearance of 
youthfulness. One certainly “feels good” 
after it. 
Many simple purifiers, greatly in vogue two 
generations ago, when cosmetics were con¬ 
sidered “sinful,” have lost none of their active 
virtues. Among these old-fashioned remedies, 
a tablespoonful of sulphur, with as much mo¬ 
lasses as is needed to mix it, taken every 
otner morning tor a week, and then, with an 
interval of three days, resumed again for 
another week, has quite a magical effect on a 
muddy or eruptive skin. Cream-of-tartar is 
also good: milk, if it does Dot disagree with 
the stomach, is a very beautifying beverage; 
and grape juice, pure and simple, gives the 
loveliest of tints, because it makes the purest 
blood. 
A glass of hot water, as near to the boiling 
point as can be tolerated, taken about an hour 
before each meal, helps greatly to keep the 
complexion in order; and half a lemon may 
be added if desired, but no sugar. Powdered 
charcoal is often efficacious. A teaspoonful 
mixed with water should be taken three 
nights in succession, and then followed by 
citrate of magnesia to remove it from the sys¬ 
tem. 
Prevention, however, is always better than 
cure: aud a proper or improper diet is sure to 
tell upon the complexion. 
OLD-FASHIONED HOUSES. 
we cannot all have sunny windows. It seems 
to me that the old-time builders must have 
had an especial spite against the sun, since 
they managed so cleverly to shut him out of 
so many farm-houses. In many sitting-rooms 
into which he would send his rays if possible, 
the builder has sunk the porch into the house 
five or six feet, seemingly to guard against 
his entrance. 
I once lived in one of those old-time houses 
where, if the architect had studied to that 
end, he could not have shut “Old Sol’’out 
more completely. The house was low and 
rambling, with low eaves, and surrounded by 
trees. The only sunny room in it was the 
kitchen, and that was small and blazing with 
heat from the stove and sun together. The 
other liviDg-rooms had all of their windows 
to the north. If there happened to be a 
sunny window, it would brighten a closet or 
pantry. Windows everywhere except in the 
right place! My plants had a sorry time of 
it in that house. There was one window in 
the sitting room that opened into a kind of 
alcove formed by the upright and wings, 
where the sun straggled in for a half hour 
each day. There I kept my poor starved 
plants. It was the dream of my life then to 
have windows cut through in every available 
place. Even a “sunk-in” porch would have 
been a treasure in that house. I should have 
had it inclosed with glass immediately, and 
transformed into a mimic conservatory. 
Why will people go on living in such houses 
year after year, when a little deft carpenter 
work done here and there would make such a 
change, and render their rooms so cozy and 
bright? Aside from this, the injury done to 
a person’s eyes while sewing or reading in 
these dark, old-fashioned rooms, is no small 
amount, as I can testify from experience. I 
w ish the careful housekeepers that we read 
of, who keep the blinds closed, or the shades 
drawn down to beep the sun from fading their 
carpets, could exchange windows with some of 
their sun loving sisters. 
Here are two of my stand-by cake recipes. 
They are reliable and never disappoint me. 
CUSTARD LAYER CAKE. 
Four eggs beaten with two cups of sugar 
until light, one half cup of sweet milk, two 
tablespoonfuls of butter, more if melted, 
three heaping teaspoonfuls of baking powder, 
two cups of flour. Flavor with lemon. 
CUSTARD FOR THE ABOVE. 
Take one cup of milk, one tablespoon ful of 
corn starch dissolved in it and brought to 
a boiling heat, and the yelk of one egg to 
color it. Sweeten and flavor with lemon. 
Let cool and put between the cakes while 
they are warm. 
MARBLE CAKE. 
Light part: one and a half cup of white 
sugar, one-half cup of butter, one-half cup of 
sweet milk, one-half teaspoonful of soda, one 
teaspoonful of cream-of-tartar, whites of four 
eggs, two and a half cups of flour. Flavor 
with lemon. 
Dark part: One cup of brown sugar, one- 
half cup of molasses, one-half cup of butter, 
yelks of four eggs, one-haltcup of sour milk, 
one half teaspoonful of soda, two and a half 
cups of flour, one teaspoonful each of nutmeg 
aud cinnamon. fanny fletcher. 
FOR POLISHING FURNITURE. 
water, if milk cannot be spared. Into this, stir 
the two-thirds of a cake of yeast dissolved, a 
teaspoonful of salt, and, having beaten it 
thoroughly, knead it hard and place it in a 
pan, covered, where it will keep warm all 
night. In the morning, work it into three 
large loaves, put into deep iron pans iwell 
buttered) and let it rise again. Then turn 
each loaf out of the pan on to the molding 
board, and knead it lightly and rapidly, using 
no more flour than is required to keep it from 
sticking to the board. Return to the pans, 
have ready a little dish of melted butter and 
brush each loaf over with it, using a bit of 
soft muslin. This will prevent a bard, thick 
crust from forming. In 15 or 20 minutes, it 
will be ready for baking. Put it into a hot 
oven, and, if the top is in danger of scorching, 
cover with a thick paper or light tin cover. 
Do not put anything heavy upon it, for doing 
so will make it sodden. When done, turn out 
upon a clean linen cloth, and cool it before 
putting it in jars. 
For our tea rolls which we bake between 
our bread makings, I use one quart of milk 
heated to the boiling point, and add to it one 
teaspoon ful of salt, two dessertspoonfuls of 
lard, and two of granulated sugar. I let 
stand till it is lukewarm, then add the one- 
third of a cake of compressed yeast, dissolved 
in a little tepid water. I mix it in a soft 
sponge in the morning about eight o’clock, let 
rise and work it over, kneading it bard. I 
let it rise again, and turn it out on the mold¬ 
ing board, working it lightly and rolling it 
out as for biscuit. 1 cut it with a biscuit- 
cutter and put a small lump of butter on top 
of each roll, folding over and pressing to¬ 
gether. I now place the rolls in a deep bak¬ 
ing tin, brush the top with butter, and let 
them rise once more, then bake about 20 
minutes in a hot oven. When done, I have 
ready a little milk and sugar, to be washed 
over the crust. These are excellent. 
MRS. C. S. SPEAR. 
A very nice screen of ebonized wood stand¬ 
ing in a back parlor, had become defaced with 
white paint by having the door opened against 
it. Upon inquiry at a furniture store as to 
what could be done to restore it, I was told to 
rub all the spots, the way' of the grain of the 
wood, with finely pulverized pumice-stone 
and oil—any furniture oil—and then polish 
with a soft, dry cloth. I followed directions 
and, to my delight, the screen looked like new. 
So I went through the house, and found many 
articles of furniture that needed attention, 
and which now shine resplendently. 
M. A. PETERSON. 
BREAD FROM ROLLER PROCESS FLOUR. 
N OTH [NG adds more to the “cheeriness” of 
a sitting-room in winter than a sunny win¬ 
dow full of plants and flowers, What a pity 
HOW CRANBERRIES ARE COOKED AND SERVED 
AT THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
• 
Look over carefully, rejecting the imper¬ 
fect ones. Wash and drain, turn into a 
granite-iron-ware kettle, add water to half 
cover, cover tightly and cook until tender. 
When cool, press through a wire sieve—being 
careful to press every particle of pulp through 
—sweeten with granulated sugar, and boil 
slowly 15 or 20 minutes. Stir often to prevent 
burning. Turn into a flat dish of such size 
that the cranberries will be about an inch and 
a quarter in depth. When firm, cut into 
cubes and serve two or three, according to 
size, in small dishes. The effect is pleasing if 
the cubes are served in gilt-banded, white 
china. 
Veils of good size are now worn. 
Fringe is again coming to the fore. 
Corduroy has been fashionable goods for 
gowns this winter. 
We seem to have taken up the French fad 
of wearing flowers upon our winter bonnets. 
gUi$ccUanrau$ gUmtising. 
Don't begrudge 15 or 20 minutes a day to 
brushing the hair. W e know from experL 
ence that, if persevered in, it has a wonder¬ 
fully subduing effect upon coarse, harsh hair. 
AYER’S CHERRY PECTORAL is the 
best of all cough cures. It allays inflamma¬ 
tion of the throat and speedily removes irri¬ 
tating mucus from the bronchial passages. 
Airs. L. P. Cutler, 47 North Washington 
sq.. New York City, says : “When I was a 
girl of 17 I had a cough, with profuse night 
sweats, and AVer’s Cherry' Pectoral cured 
me. I have recommended this preparation 
in scores of similar cases.” 
Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral, 
Prepared by Dr. J.C. Ayer & Co., Lowell, Mass. 
Sold all by Druggists. Price »1; six bottles, 
My method of making bread with com¬ 
pressed yeast and roller-process flour is very 
simple and quite different from the way of 
making bread of home-grown wheat,for which 
we fouud potatoes indispensable. For my 
family of seven persons, I use two-thirds of 
a cake of compressed yeast, leaving the re¬ 
mainder for making milk-rolls the next day. 
We make bread and rolls three times a week. 
About eight o’clock in the evening, I prepare 
a pan of flour, sifting aud warming it. Have 
ready three pints of new milk, or milk anfl 
The Original. Beware ol Imitations. 
AWARDED HIGHEST PRIZE AND ONLY 
W.R&CO’S 
IMPROVED 
BUTTER 
COLOR 
IF YOU REALLY WISH 
to use the very best Butter 
Color ever made; one that 
never turns rancid, always 
gives a bright, natural color, 
and will not color the butter¬ 
milk. ask for Wells, Richard¬ 
son $-Co's, and take no other. 
Sold everywhere. 
More of It Used than of 
ail other makeB combined 
Send for our valuable circu¬ 
lars. Wells. Richardson 
A Co., Burlington, Vt. 
<*The Gladstone” 
BROWN’S FRENCH DRESSING 
LAMP 
is the finest lamp In the 
world. It gives a pure, 
soft, brilliant white 
light of 85 candle 
power,— a marvelous 
light from ordinary 
kerosene oil! 
Seeing is Believing 
A “ wonderful lamp” 
it Is indeed. Never 
needs trimming, never 
smokes nor breaks 
chimneys, never 
“smells of the oil;” 
no gumming up, no 
leaks, nospuctenng.no 
climbing of the flame, 
no annoyance of any 
kind, aud cannot ex¬ 
plode. And besides 
all these advantages it 
gives a clear, white 
light, 10 to 20 times 
the size and brilliancy 
of any ordinary house lamp ! Finished in either 
Brass, Nickel, Gold or Antique Bronze. 
Send postal card for illustrated price list. Single 
lamps at wholesale price, carefully boxed and sent 
by express. EiyGet ourprices “ Seeing is believing.” 
Address GLADSTONE LAMP CO., , 
10 East 14th St., New York. 
MUSIC 
■ 11 w without the aid of a teacher. Rapid, 
SELF correct. Established 12years. Notes, 
TAUCHT. chords, accompaniments, thorough I 
bass laws. etc. Stamp for Music Journal. Circulars 
free. G. S. KICK MUSIC CO„ 24S State St.,Chicago. 
BRIGHT, ACTIVE AGENTS WANTED 
to sell the Rich Book 
i 
DELIGHTFUL STORIES” 
Or Home Talks out ot the Wonderlnl Book. 
This work contains 100 Delightful Narativesof the 
most wonderful occurrences in the Sacred Volume, 
very attractively Illustrated. Success of agents is 
astonishing. One lady has sold nearly 3,000 copies 
alone. Low Price. Big Terms to Agents. Apply to 
HUBBARD BROS., Philadelphia and Chicago. 
, GRINDSS 
Graham Flour A Corn,.inthe 
CCHlNDMILUfXsr 
_ _ d? w lOGper cent, more made 
In keeping Poultry. Also POWER MILLS and 
FARllFEED HILLS. Circulars and testimonials 
sent on application. W ILSON BROS. Easton. Pfc 
$200 
6IVEN AWAY/”’ 
I Spanish King On¬ 
ions grown from seed procured 
from us. Full particulars tree. Ad¬ 
dress THE HOUSEKEEPER, Minneapolis, Minn. 
RAZORS ** 0 POCKET KNIVES 
If you have forgotten the name of the firm adver- 
“sin- - "-*’ — ! ‘--‘ 
Using Razors and Pocket Knives by mail, write at 
once to ALL1NG A LODGE, Madison, Ind. 
AGENTS 
:ere 
and farmers with no experience make $2.50 an 
sxpenei _ 
hour during spare time. J.V. Kenyon, Glens Falls, 
N. Y., made 818 one day, §76.50 one week. 
So can you. Proofs and catalogue free. 
J. E. Shepahd & Co.. Cincinnati. O. 
ROUGH-COATED COLLIES. 
Pups sired bv our best stud dogs, full pedigreed, 
aud entitled to registry. Prices Dow. Personal 
inspection requested. 
W. ATEEE BURPEE <fc CO.. 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
T| 
t JFARMS and MILLS SOLD 
Hand exchanged. Free Catalogue. 
J&. B.CHAFFIN AC0. .Richmond, Vs 
Prtfln.RYF my Lover, Good-Bye, A 
VA V/ V/ l# ■ D I Cl WdW iwNCga, sMgSfc mt tuusd ITtcka, 1» Me 
ga n n TiW ia au^ *-~ l —la twit e, C«fet*lC*adCtt^Coiua2Hi^OUah 
99 
Sample Style* of Hidden Xame and 
8 ,!h Fnoge Card*. SUgkt of Haod Tricks. lUnvaUoo*. *>.*!.-Pnv 
iI«l ConsikimtnA G x me*, arvi Sow you ran make f !0 » dav at No®*. All 
il««. Conundrum*. Gxrnea, tn4 bowtoa c- . _ . - - _ 
ros si HT.XP- HOMS AND YOUTH, CADIZ. OHIO. 
s 
END for free Catalogue of Books of Amusements 
Speakers. Dialogues.Gymnastics Fortune Tellers, 
Dream Books. Debates. Letter Writers, Etiquette, 
etc. Lick & Fitzgerald, IS Ann St„ New York. 
MEDAL, PARIS EXPOSITION, 1878, 
Highest Award New Orleans Exposition. 
General Advertising Rates of 
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