0M® 
NOV. 22 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
7§7 
iat ©tomtit. 
CONDUCTED BY MISS FAITH RIPLEY. 
I would like to have Mrs. Galpln write an article 
on music. If she will, ana I would also like her to 
express her opinion of Mason’s Technics. Having 
been a teacher for fifteen years, she can. of course, 
write most Intelligently about this system, and I 
know of no subject more likely to Interest Rural 
New Yorker ladles than that of musical methods, 
for many of them are piano performers. J ices. 
THE BEE. 
course, rule the size of the triangular pieces, which 
are cut and fitted to it. No. 7 shows an embroidered 
border for the edges; and No.6the mode of fit¬ 
ting one of the sides with elastic straps to hold 
lastly “In velocity” or very fast. The different 
kinds of touch “ plain legato,” “mildstaccato” and 
“ elastic” are fully described and illustrated. In 
the book there ape practical exercises, consisting 
altogether, of the scale of C. played In forty-five 
varieties of time, and with forty-five ways of ap¬ 
plying the accent; a treatise on the relation of 
the mind to playing; one hundred varieties of 
Rhythm m which music may be written. Seventy 
two-finger exercises which furnish a tremendous 
amount of hard work tor those who are willing 
to encounter It. Scales In all varieties of motion 
and arrangement and an exhaustive study of ar¬ 
peggios. These last are served up In all approved 
styles. 
A thoroughly drilled player may, In fact, acquire 
the ability to play a piece of fair difficulty never 
before seen, with ease, and hy Mr. Mason’s method 
the pupil la “ thoroughly drilled.” One peculiarity 
of this system Is that the scholar Is taught to play 
even scales and arpeggio exercises with expres¬ 
sion; a something of Incalculable benefit in train¬ 
ing the fingers to follow the Impulses of the mind 
or the tas .e. Of course, all this Is the barest out¬ 
line of the “Technics.” A circular gtvlug full 
particulars may he obtained of Oliver Dltson & 
Co. of Boston, who publish the hook. 
L. S. UAOKEB. 
A POOR MOTHER. 
“ I wish you ,ioy.” Her lips put; on a nmile 
To mock tbe woeful shadow in her eyes. 
"Nay. I have no mind to blame you—tears and sighs 
\Von’t make a word, but only the surprise— 
So sudden! Let me breathe a little while. 
Lancer of the golden belt! 
Errant knight in ladles’ bower ! 
I have caught thee fairly now, 
Hid within this lotus flower. 
Ivory palace meet for thee 
Boon companion of the light! 
Drowned in nectar tliou shalt be 
Tiny Clarence of delight! 
Holden youth, beware! beware ! 
Tctueh not, taste not, lest ye die— 
From this wanderer of air 
Learn forbidden sweets to fly. 
that It should be of the best quality, superior In 
finish, and of the latest and most fashionable de¬ 
signs. The gold is from 14 to 18 karats fine, ac¬ 
cording to the art icle, It would not be serviceable 
If It were finer. It all comes from one establish¬ 
ment, that of Henry C. Haskell, one of our prom¬ 
inent manufacturers, and It Is fully guaranteed In 
every respect. The lady’s cross, (premium No. 15) 
Is a light, graceful design, with a delicate tracery 
of bright gold on a hack ground of Roman gold. 
The white spots in the Illustration are highly 
polished buttons of gold that stand out in relief 
against the darker co’ored gold. Any one sending 
the Rural a club of twenty-three subscribers will 
receive this cross. 
The lace pin shown In the accompanying engrav- 
of ribbon and bows at the cornel’s. The back hows 
form the hinges; the front the fastenings of the 
box. Boxes of this kind are often prettily orna¬ 
mented with leaves, grasses, sea-weed and decalco- 
manle pictures. 
NOS. 6 TO T W0BK-TABL8 STA ND. 
The frame for the pretty little stand must he 
purchased. The foundation may be of cloth, velvet, 
silk, or satin. The bight of the frame must, of 
to ask her If she ever met with or heard of Ma¬ 
son’s Pianoforte Technics ? I have myself studied 
music for many years, and gone through scores 
of exercise books, hut in my estimation Mr. Mason's 
Technics are Incomparably tho best and most 
systematic arrangement of scale and arpeggio exer¬ 
cises I ever saw. There are In all about two hun¬ 
dred different exercises, which can be multiplied In¬ 
to thousands hy the pupil. They (.the exercises) are 
to be learned slowly, then played rapidly, and 
the tannic acid so Injurious to the digestive or¬ 
gans, is retained In the grounds. It Is claimed 
further that there la a saving of at, least one-third 
of the coffee, an absence of the bitter, tannic acid 
flavor, perfect freedom from grounds or settlings, 
and the production of a decoction, invigorating and 
tonic In Its effects, and of a delicious flavor. 
To this last I bear willing testimony, and I may, 
with further experience, be able to certify to all 
that is claimed for the pot. I am now glad to 
recommend It to Rural readers, confident that it 
has sufficient merit to be worthy of their atten¬ 
tion. h. A. B. 
New York. 
No. 4. 
dery. A scroll in braid or embroidery ornaments 
the middle of each drape. 
No. 3.— BOOK-MARKER. 
The foundation Is of dove-colored ribbon, the 
cross Is worked In fine silver thread, and the for¬ 
get-me-not flowers and foliage in their natural 
cotton-reels and pln-cushlon. The second sides 
are shown In No. 5. The third Is also Indicated; 
It consists of a hag as large as the section will ad¬ 
mit of Its being, with a slide of elastic In the top. 
This bag Is to hold small pieces of work, and a reel 
“ See, dear,—'twaw only yesterday 1 thought, 
Looking abroud, the world seemed green and glad. 
I thought, God’s given me this—the kindest lad, 
The dearest child that woman ever had— 
And health and hands, I envied no one aught. 
" My life was full ; my heart went beating fast 
With pride, with hope, with mother’s happiness. 
I held both hands above it, to repress 
Great thrills of Joy. O God ! I could not guess 
How brief a time my counted wealth would last. 
“ I knew you loved her f Child, I never knew, 
I saw you walk and talk, and dauce.and Jest, 
It seemed but foolish pastime at best,— 
You were both wo young, I made no test 
Nor question of the future for you two. 
“ Hush-hush ; forgive me. I must weep or die! 
Still, dear, I bless you ! Through these blinding tears, 
I greet you bravely, beyond doubts and fears. 
For all the happiness of coming years, 
I greet the mau ; but oh, my boy, good-bye!” 
DESCRIPTION OF CUTS. 
The premium list Issued hy the Rural New- 
Yorker this year contains a number of pieces of 
handsome Jewelry selected mainly for Its suita¬ 
bleness for presents. Great care has been taken 
lng Is premium No. 10 and Is given for a club of 
sixteen. The artistic effect of the chasing Is en¬ 
hanced hy using gold of two colora, light and 
dark. These lace pins are extremely popu¬ 
lar because they can be used In an ornamental 
way for various parts of a lady’s toilet, and in 
selecting one we think we have secured the 
prettiest design shown this season. 
We have also chosen several kinds of rings, one 
of which, premium No. 7, Is here shown. The ring 
f ls a band of gold tied in a true 
love knot, and depending from 
It is a horse shoe, (typical of 
good luck). These bangle rings, 
as they are called, are very 
fashionable In New York, and 
we have here presented one of 
the latest and most popular 
styles. Tills ring Is presented 
for a club of seven subscribers. 
Nothing prettier or more suitable for presents 
could he found than these premiums, and it 
requires so slight an effort In proportion to 
the reward given, that we should suppose Rural 
ladles would be quite w illing to make It, and se¬ 
cure at least one Christmas gift practically with¬ 
out any expenditure of money. 
No. 1.— JKWKI^OASK. 
The case is made of a plain deal box. Any old 
box will do for the purpose. It Is padded and 
lined with purple velvet. The covering Is purple 
cloth, embroidered with rose colored marking floss 
In eross-stiteh. To keep the design even, canvas 
must he tacked over the cloth und the stitches 
worked over It. The threads of the canvas may 
be drawn wnen the work is finished. 
No. 2.— jardiniere. 
The framework Is of bamboo. These frames are 
sold at most fancy-work shops, with a tin tray to 
No. 6. 
of cotton Is placed at the top. The sections are 
sewn at the top to the stand, and are tied at the 
bottom with hows of ribbon. 
STUDYING EXERCISES BY METHOD. 
I am glad to see that the question of music- 
lesson taking Is being discussed In the Rural. 
Mrs. Galpln, l think, offers the true explanation 
when she says that the parents are at fault In 
the matter of pupils neglecting exercise practice. 
If parents could only he brought to see the 
folly of hurrying children through pieces before 
they are conversant with the rudimentary 
parts of piano playing, there would he fewer In¬ 
different performers. Children who have been 
at school three or four quarters are not expected 
“ But marriage la not death! you'U love me still ? 
A little—yes—with such love as may spread 
In overflow beyond your child’s bright l*sad. 
Your wife’s fair eyes. Ah no—the past lies dead— 
And time goes on, and Nature has her will. 
colors. The marker Is lined when the work Is fin¬ 
ished, and a silver fringe completes It. 
No. 4.—crystal box for trinkets. 
Materials: Pieces of window-glass; glue; white 
paper; ribbon Inch broad; sewing silk of the 
same color. Have the glass cut by a glazter to the 
size you desire the box to be. When cut, bind the 
separate parts with white paper firmly glued on; 
next cover the paper with ribbon, which must be 
glued on. When It has become firmly fixed, sew 
the separate parts together. Finish with a ruche 
A New Coffee-Pot.—I think there are not quite 
so many kinds of Coffee-Pots as of Washing-Ma¬ 
chines, but the number is Increasing. The last 
presented to my notice Is called the “ Blanchard 
improved Coffee-Pot,” and is sold by the Blanchard 
Food Cure Co. of this city. In this pot the coffee 
Is cooked hy the passage of steam through It, boil¬ 
ing water being placed Immediately beneath a 
vessel containing cold water. The cold water con¬ 
denses the steam containing the aromatic part of 
the coffee, and returns tt to the water below This 
admits of boiling the coffee eight or ten minutes— 
thus setting free all the caffering, while it Is claimed 
to Interpret Shakespeare or Longfellow and yet 
It would be no more unreasonable to expect them 
to do so than It Is to require a music pupil of a 
quarter or two to properly play a “piece.” The 
school pupil has the advantage too, of being able 
from the start to use her voice with very much 
more ease than the piano scholar can her fingers. 
Edna, Houghton has very properly decided to 
begin with scales and arpeggios and I would like 
No. 3. 
No. 1. 
