358 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
May 1 ? 
From Day to Day. 
This fashion’s a whimsical sort of a sprite; 
Her ways, 1 confess, are too much for me, 
quite! 
Lavlnia, sixty years ago, 
Was dressed In the height of the style, 
you know, 
The pride of her fond relations; 
Yet Mabel smiles at the quaint little miss, 
With her frock like that, and her shoes 
like this— 
As some one at Mabel will smile, I wis, 
When the dress that to-day she is proud 
to wear 
Belongs with the hoops and the powdered 
hair 
And the patches of past generations! 
But this Is the question that puzzles me; 
The rose’s frock is the same, I see. 
With the trimming of dew upon it. 
That roses wore in Lavinia's day: 
And the tulip’s petticoat, striped and gay, 
Is made in the same old-fashioned way; 
And never a change, for a hundred years. 
In the cut of the marigold's gown appears, 
Or the shape of the sweet pea’s bonnet! 
Yet nobody says that the flowers look 
queer. 
Pray can you explain to me why, my dear? 
—Margaret Johnson, in St. Nicholas. 
* 
One of the novelties for trimming is 
undulated black ribbon velvet, which in 
half-inch width costs about 18 cents a 
yard. This may be used effectively on 
either skirts or waists. 
* 
Some new houses are built with ver¬ 
min-proof pantries, lined throughout 
with sheet iron, which is painted like 
an ordinary wall. There is no risk of 
rats or mice in such a place. 
* 
The president of Leland Stanford 
University says that you can’t fasten a 
five-thousand-dollar education on a 
fifty-cent boy. A misfit education is a 
good deal like a misfit garment; it di¬ 
rects undesired attention to the defects 
of the wearer. 
* 
Finely sifted coal ashes form an old- 
fashioned scouring material, but none 
the less effectual, especially for steel 
utensils. The dry ashes, kept in a bak¬ 
ing powder can conveniently near the 
sink, will be found useful on nickel, 
brass or steel, rubbing the ashes on 
with a damp cloth, and polishing after¬ 
wards. 
* 
White madras is proving one of the 
prettiest and most popular fabrics for 
blouses, assuming many forms that hide 
its identity completely. It is figured and 
striped, sometimes looking like damask, 
sometimes like figured piqud, for its fig¬ 
ures often appear on a ribbed back¬ 
ground. It is so distinct from madras 
as formerly known that one can scarcely 
consider it the same fabric. Complete 
blouse suits of white madras are ex¬ 
tremely pretty, and are more easily 
laundered than piquA The price varies 
from 25 to 75 cents a yard, apparently 
more according to the place it is bought 
than to its actual value. The higher- 
priced weaves are usually in so-called 
“exclusive” patterns, but there is an 
ample choice in handsome designs at 25 
cents. White madras waists of good 
quality cost, readymade, from $2 to 
$4.50, so there is quite a margin of sav¬ 
ing for the woman who can choose her 
material wisely, and then make it up 
herself. 
• 
Some of the most serviceable under¬ 
skirts for Summer wear are mercerized 
cotton (lawn or cambric in black and 
white stripes, having an accordion- 
pleated flounce finished with a little 
black ruffle at top and bottom. Striped 
lawn makes a very useful underskirt for 
hot weather, and the material may often 
be bought very cheaply at special sales. 
A gored skirt, having a flare flounce 
with ruffles at top and bottom, is a use¬ 
ful pattern White underskirts are 
again in vogue, disputing favor with the 
handsome silk ones, but colored cotton 
is made up so handsomely, and gives 
such satisfaction in the wearing, that it 
cannot be displaced. A few years ago 
there was little choice in such garments, 
readymade, except in thick seersucker 
or dark sateen; now there is infinite va¬ 
riety in material, color and make, rang- 
4060 . Misses’ Sliirt Waist, 
12 to 16 Years. 
ing in price from 50 cents to $5. Where 
price must be considered home making 
is an advantage, not so much in consid¬ 
eration of the material as of the work 
put in it In underwear, as in children’s 
clothes, the quality of the workmanship 
shows its cheapness sooner than the 
quality of the material. 
The Rural Patterns. 
The girl’s waist shown is of white 
mercerized duck, and is unlined, though 
the pattern provides for lining if de¬ 
sired. It closes at the back and has two 
deep pleats stitched to yoke depth only. 
To cut this waist for a miss 14 years of 
age, 3% yards of material 21 inches 
wide, 2% yards 27 inches wide, two 
yards 32 inches wide, or 1% yard 44 
inches wide will be required. The pat¬ 
tern No. 4060 is cut in sizes for misses 
of 12, 14 and 16 years of age; price 10 
cents from this office. 
The woman’s tucked waist is made of 
white Persian lawn, with a finish of 
beading run with black velvet ribbon, 
and is unlined; but silk and wool fabrics 
are more satisfactory made over the 
fitted foundation. The lining is snugly 
fitted and closes with the waist at the 
center back. The front of the waist 
proper is tucked at the upper portion to 
give a triple-pointed yoke effect, and 
again at the waist to simulate a pointed 
girdle; but the backs are tucked for 
their entire length to give a tapering 
effect. The sleeves are elbow length; 
but can be made long and the deep cuffs 
added when preferred. The upper por¬ 
tions are full, and soft puffs are formed 
at the elbows, but between the two the 
sleeves are tucked to give a close fit. 
The neck as shown is collarless, but the 
stock can be added when desired. To 
cut this blouse in the medium size, three 
yards of material 21 inches wide, 2 y 2 
yards 27 inches wide, 2 y 2 yards 32 inches 
wide, or two yards 44 inches wide will 
be required. The pattern No. 4064 is cut 
in sizes for a 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40-inch 
bust measure; price 10 cents. 
The Household Congress 
Children’s Clothes. —To the busy 
mothers of many active children I would 
say try making kilts and dresses of blue 
denim; they are neat, pretty and wear 
astonishingly well. If the lighter weight 
cloth is chosen they will not be hard to 
wash, as the dirt is all on the surface. 
I made three kilt suits for my four-year- 
old boy, and he has worn them every 
day for eight months, and there is not a 
hole in them yet He is a child for 
whom dirt seems to hare a great affinity, 
and brush and nails a particular spite. 
For my baby boy of 18 months I made 
Mother Hubbards with shoulder ruffles 
and finished neck, sleeves, ruffles and 
bottom of dress with two or three rows 
of white stitching. One of the little 
girl’s dresses has ruffles on neck, shoul¬ 
ders and sleeves of varying widths made 
of the edge of the cloth with the white 
selvage for trimming. mrs. m. h. h. 
Ohio. 
Washing Dress Goods. —In washing 
woolen goods use soap bark. Soak 10 
cents’ worth in warm water over night, 
and then strain. Add this to the water 
iQ which the goods are to be washed, and 
after washing rinse in clean warm water. 
Wring well, hang up to dry. Iron when 
nearly dry, on the wrong side. Black 
goods can be successfully washed In 
ammonia water, a tablespoonful of am¬ 
monia to a pailful of water. l. j. t. 
A Visiting Club. —We have solved the 
visiting problem in our neighborhood in 
a manner entirely agreeable to all. We 
have a visiting club, in which 15 or 20 
take part, and which meets once In two 
weeks. Neighbors are not very near 
each other here, and some are too old, 
too indolent or too otherwise engaged, 
so the “club” does not include many 
families. We meet at a different house 
each time, and enjoy ourselves with 
music, singing, speaking and gossiping 
about our daily cares and pleasures, our 
poultry, our flowers, the newest book 
we have read, the various things we are 
doing or hope to do. Amusing games 
are sometimes introduced by the young¬ 
er ones, and we have pleasant picnic 
parties in Summer. A charming lake is 
only a few miles from us, and there we 
4°(>4- Tucked Blouse. 
32 to 40 Bust. 
have boating and fishing and lovely 
walks and views. Here we can rest and 
enjoy ourselves all day, and go home at 
night feeling that it is good to live, 
ready to take up our duties again, 
strengthened and refreshed. 
Michigan. linda w. m’neil. 
Canning Rhubarb. —It will soon be 
time to secure pie plant for Winter use. 
1 skin it, cut into inch pieces, put in a 
preserving kettle, and let it come to a 
good boil all through, without a particle 
of sugar. It will keep perfectly. When 
you wish to open it for use, take one 
cupful of sugar for a pie, and it will be 
like the fresh pie plant. For a small 
family, the pint cans are much better 
for any fruit. s. 1 . c. 
Rhode Island. 
Who wrote 
Macbeth? The 
wise woman who 
got into some lamp 
trouble or other. 
My name on every one. 
If you’ll send your address, I’ll send you 
the Index to Lamps and their Chimneys, to 
‘.ell you what number to get for your lamp. 
Macbeth, Pittsburgh. 
■. 
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The Best 
Farmer’s Garments 
made anywhere are Keystone 
Union-Made Overalls and Pants. 
Two garments like this, with 
coats to match, costing less than 
82 a suit, will clothe a farmer 
neatly one year. Ask for lots 56, 
67 or 58, in stripes—or if you 
prefer blue, lot 18. With each 
suit a 6 months’ Diary and 
Time Book free. If your 
dealer will not furnish Key¬ 
stone goods, send his name, 
and we’ll supply you. 
Cleveland & Whitefiill Co. 
Newburgh, N. Y. 
TRIM MAEK KKGI8TKUKD. 
H 
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1002 Models, $9 to $15 
1900 & ’01 Models, best makes, $7 to $11 
500 Second-hand Wheels 
all makes and models, good as new, 
$3 to $8. Great Factory Clearing Sale 
at half factory cost. Tires,equipment, 
& sundries, all kinds, % regular price. 
RIDER AGENTS WANTED 
in every town to ride&exliibitsampie 
1802 model. Agents make money fast. 
A BICYCLE EREE distributing 
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MEAD CYCLE c6. 
STEEL ROOFING 
FREIGHT CHARGES PAID BY U$ 
Strictly new, perfect. Semi - Hardened 
nVfilnWlPi Strictly new. per _ 
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liest Itonlbig, Siding or Coiling you cun uho. 
No experience necessary to lay it. An 
ordinary hammer or hatchet the only 
tools you need. We furnish nails free 
and paint roofing two sides. Conies 
either fiat, corrugated or “V” crimped. 
Delivered free of all charges to all points 
in the U. S..east ol the Mississippi River 
and North of the Ohio River 
AT $2.25 PER SQUARE 
Prices to other points on application. A square means 100 
square feet. Write for free Catalogue No. 57 
CHICAGO HOUSE WRECKING C0..W. 35th and Iren Sts., Chicago 
All the world’s a stage. Elgin 
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Elgin Watches 
are the world’s standard for pocket time¬ 
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guaranteed by the world’s greatest watch 
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ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH CO. 
Elgin, Illinois. 
