FROM DAY TO DAY. 
How many of our housewives use a 
whisk broom for sprinkling clothes ? It 
is a great convenience, and does the work 
far better than the fingers. 
* 
A hygienic vegetable stand is an Eng¬ 
lish novelty, which offers a useful sug¬ 
gestion for housekeepers whose storage 
room is limited. It consists of a square 
wire bin, having a high back, on which 
are three other sloping bins, suggestive 
in shape of newspaper racks. The open- 
meshed wire permits one to notice 
whether any of the vegetables are de¬ 
caying, and it can always be kept sweet 
and clean. 
* 
An electric scrubbing machine is one 
of the newest labor-saving devices. It 
is intended for use in one of the great 
office buildings,where the scrub-woman’s 
wages amount to a considerable item. 
The machine is quite heavy, running on 
rubber-tired wheels, with three revolving 
brushes, which are pressed into position 
by a spring attachment. The machine can 
be operated by attachment to an electric- 
light wire, and the force of the brushes 
keeps it moving, so that the operator 
has to do little beyond guiding it. 
* 
We have received a good many com¬ 
ments on the subject of working dress 
for women. All our farm housewives 
believe in the necessity for neat and 
suitable clothes, during their daily work. 
Here is a comment from a reader in 
Pennsylvania suggesting that the farmer 
himself needs more education in neat¬ 
ness than his wife : 
Having read with interest the articles on dress 
for working women, I beg leave to ask a few 
questions of the readers of The R. N.-Y. Does 
the ordinary farmer, as a rule, notice how his wife 
and daughters are dressed when doing their 
daily work ? If he does, does he care how they 
look ? Or does our broad land contain more 
farmers who take more pride in their wives’ and 
daughters’ dress and appearance than they do 
in their horses and colts ? I hold that women, on 
the farm, generally are more particular in their 
dress than men. For example, observe the men 
at one of the sales which are usually held now, 
or at a barn raising. They are always more un¬ 
tidy in their dress than the women, and certainly 
deserve the derisive appellation of “ hayseed.” 
Tell me, have the women yet earned, or do they 
deserve, such a reproach on their dress, or man¬ 
ners, in comparison with the men ? The only 
derisive name, or approach to one, is the ex¬ 
pression one sometimes hears, “She looks like a 
farmer’s wife.” Let the men keep in the pro¬ 
cession with the women, and there would be no 
need for slighting comment from town dwellers 
concerning either sex. 
* 
One of the great conveniences of mod¬ 
ern shopping is the ability to purchase 
either skirts or waists readymade, sep¬ 
arately or together. The separate waists 
came first, and their extensive use natur¬ 
ally resulted in a call for separate skirts, 
which are now furnished in every con¬ 
ceivable material, from cheap serge to 
rich silk-lined brocade. The fact that 
separate waists are not “goingout” is 
shown by the experience of one great 
New York firm, which received in one 
consignment 2,000 French waists. They 
were elaborately made, retailing at from 
$22 to $40 each, but they were all sold, 
and the order duplicated, in an incred¬ 
ibly short time. Most of the imported 
waists are very elaborately trimmed 
with narrow tucks, made horizontally, 
vertically, diagonally, and in fact, in 
every way that the dressmaker’s in¬ 
genuity can suggest. While the necks 
are still elaborately trimmed, we do not 
see the bow at the back, after the style 
of last year, but some bow, loops or 
cravat is worn in the front. Cravats of 
cream-white Liberty silk, or of lace or 
muslin, are very much worn, although 
they look a little incongruous with heavy 
winter coats. 
Little receptacles for collar buttons or 
similar trifles made in the shape of a Con¬ 
tinental cocked hat, were noted in a 
window full of paper decorations Wash¬ 
ington’s Birthday week. They were 
formed of a small round box, about two 
inches wide and one inch deep, fastened 
to a disk of heavy paper an inch larger, 
all around, than the box. The disk was 
bent up against the box in three places, 
so as to look like the brim of a three- 
cornered hat, while, at one side, were 
stiff little paper plumes fastened by a 
rosette. The national colors were used, 
the box being white, while the hat brim 
was blue on one side and red on the 
other. Boxes covered with crape paper 
are made in great variety, a pretty 
style being made in a heart shape. 
These are two inches deep and about six 
inches in diameter. The foundation is 
of pasteboard, covered with red crape 
paper put on smoothly, a little frill of 
the same finishing the edge of the top. 
The box is lined with the same paper, 
the bottom having a single thickness of 
cotton batting, sprinkled with sachet 
powder and covered with the paper, to 
form a little pad. Some of these heart- 
boxes have a slender handle covered with 
twisted paper, and decorated with a 
bunch of red paper Carnations. 
A FARMER’S WIFE’S SOLUTION OF 
THE HIRED-HELP PROBLEM. 
So far as the help indoors is concerned, 
I feel that I have no great cause for com¬ 
plaint. I rarely engage help when I 
am able to be about the house. When 
it has been necessary to procure a sub¬ 
stitute, we have, in most cases, been par¬ 
ticularly fortunate in procuring good, 
willing, trusty help. I believe in paying 
good, liberal wages, all a girl can earn, 
also that it is our duty to treat her 
kindly, allowing her to sit at our table, 
enjoy the comforts and. as much as pos¬ 
sible, the privileges of our home. 
My husband teaches school through 
the Fall and Winter, which necessitates 
keeping a hired man to look after the 
stock and things about the farm. With 
us, it is not an easy matter to find a 
capable man, whose manners are pleas¬ 
ant about our home, and one whom 
we are not in constant fear of poisoning 
and polluting the minds of ou: growing 
boys. When such a man is found, my 
husband has it specified in the bargain 
that he shall be ever ready to lend a 
helping hand indoors as well as out. He is 
to turn the washing machine and wring¬ 
er, bring tubs and wash water, put out 
clotheslines, and empty slops after wash¬ 
ing, etc. This lightens the burdens of 
one of the hardest days in the week. We 
pay him good wages, have his clothes 
washed, ironed and mended just the 
same as the rest of the family. He sits 
at our table, and has a warm, cozy room 
of his own, provided with a good bed and 
othei necessary and convenient articles 
of furniture. In return, we demand re¬ 
spect and cheerful obedience to our 
wishes. 
I have been, for some time, in poor 
health, but am blessed with a kind hus¬ 
band who appreciates my efforts and 
does all he can to lighten the burdens 
that would otherwise fall heavily on not' 
overstrong shoulders. Four little boys 
gladden our household, and since their 
infancy, have been taught to wait upon 
themselves and save mamma many a 
weary step. They have been taught the 
importance of having a place for every¬ 
thing and having everything in its place, 
a lesson which cannot but be a blessing 
to them all the way through life, en¬ 
abling them to know for themselves 
where to find their books, toys, clothing, 
etc., without calling on mamma or 
turning the house upside down to find 
the desired article. They have been 
taught to wipe dishes, set the table, sew 
on their missing buttons, repair their 
broken-down suspenders, polish their 
shoes, dress the younger brothers, and 
many other things equally useful and 
helpful. Each has his little chores set 
apart for him to perform, thus avoiding 
as much as possible the many little con¬ 
tentions which might arise under other 
circumstances. They fill the wood-box, 
bring in the kindlings, feed the chickens, 
bring small pails of water for the reser¬ 
voir, and at the same time, learn their 
little lessons of duty and responsibility. 
The farmer’s wife who does the work 
necessary for a large family, entertains 
all the uncles, aunts, and cousins, from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific, must not ex¬ 
pect a vast amount of time for reading, 
recreation or fancy work. I do not think 
it the duty of any farmer's wife to devote 
all her time and strength to her work or 
family. I would say take time occasion¬ 
ally to make a bit of pretty fancy work 
to brighten up the home. I f you have 
flowers, steal out among them for a few 
minutes, or if you have an instrument, 
sit down and play or sing—both if you 
can. Music and flowers do much towards 
driving away care, and resting our tired, 
worn-out nerves and bodies. When you 
return to your duties, everything will 
assume a different aspect, and more can 
be accomplished than if you had re¬ 
mained toiling away at your post. 
If the husband and wife are partners, 
then why not work in partnership ? 
Should the husband kindly offer to do 
the churning, or draw a pail of fresh 
water, don't fail to let him do so, and 
don’t fail to express your gratitude and 
appreciation for such favors. Perhaps 
you may some day turn the grindstone 
for him to sharpen his ax or the mowing- 
machine knives, or mend your arms-full 
of grain bags which might otherwise be 
thrown aside and new ones bought in 
their stead. Or, in the absence of the 
husband or hired man, how often could 
you put the shivering stock in the barn, 
or lead the thirsty, faithful horses to the 
water tank, feed the pigs, etc. ? I do not 
consider it beneath the dignity of a 
farmer’s wife to do any or all of these 
things. Let not the dividing line between 
man's and woman's work be too closely 
drawn. 
1 do my housework, whenever possible, 
with the help of my husband and child¬ 
ren, in preference to keeping hired help. 
I do not expect to accomplish everything 
all in one day, but do all I can, striving 
to do what most needs doing to-day, and 
leaving the rest until the morrow or 
some more convenient time. I do my 
own work, because I esteem it a labor of 
love ; because I love my family, my home 
and its surroundings, and take pleasure 
in making it as pleasant and comfortable 
as possible ; because I know the tastes, 
likes and dislikes better than any one 
else ; because we understand each other's 
dispositions, temperaments and short¬ 
comings, and can in this way avoid many 
jars and misunderstandings that might 
arise with hired help about the home. 
I prefer to do my own work because I 
feel a freedom and independence in so 
doing that those never feel who must de¬ 
pend on others to do for them. 
MRS. A. R. PHILLIPS. 
other interesting notes of interest to 
her, also the little gems that often 
float around in newspapers, she will, 
after a time, have something that will 
be of great interest to her to read in 
after years, and the doing of it will be a 
very pleasing occupation, aunt rachkl. 
Alcoholism in Nursing Mothers. —In 
a recent number of a journal devoted to 
the diseases of children, it is said that a 
case was narrated a short time ago of an 
infant that suffered from grave symp¬ 
toms through alcoholic indulgence on 
the part of the wet nurse. This nurse, 
doubtless, thought that, by indulging 
freely in alcoholic stimulants, she was 
not only giving pleasure to herself, but 
at the same time doing her duty by the 
baby. The belief is still widespread that 
a generous allowance of alcohol is neces¬ 
sary for the production of breast milk 
in sufficient quantity and quality. The 
superstition has been handed down from 
generation to generation, and is hard to 
kill. It is superfluous to say that it is 
quite an erroneous one ; certainly, nurs¬ 
ing mothers should partake of a liberal 
diet, but stimulants are not a necessary 
part of it. In some cases, perhaps, the 
use of alcohol in moderate quantities is 
indicated, but, as a rule, it is unnecessary 
as well as harmful. If the milk is not 
so plentiful as it should be, the mother 
should eat plenty of farinaceous food 
and good butcher’s meat, and drink 
cow’s milk. 
m New 
_ Ideas in j§j 
P Fancy M 
| Work If 
24 plain and fancy stitches. 
Embroidery, Knitting, Cro¬ 
cheting, and the new knot in 
hemstitching, in the March 
Ladies’ Home Journal 
How to dress well, the best 
fashions for moderate cost, 
also in this number. 
**“Send 25 cents for a three 
months’ trial subscription. 
One Dollar a Year 
The Curtis Publishing Company 
Philadelphia 
G ood eyes are precious 1 Send stamp for valuable 
ill’d book, How to Preserve Vision from Infancy to 
Old Age. A revelation. Gardiner Co., 695 B’way, N.Y. 
SEND FOR A BICYCLE 
High Grade ’98 Models, *14 to *40. 
GREAT CLEARINC SALE of ’97 and >96 
models, best makes, *9.?i» to *18. Sent on 
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each. “Wanderings Awheel,” a souvenir 
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MEAD CYCLE CO., 293 Avenue K.. Chicago. 
ODDS AND ENDS. 
Speaking of thrift, a German girl told 
me that, in the old country, when chil¬ 
dren go out to play, they have a little 
bag on the arm, and are instructed to 
pick up and deposit therein every feather 
they see on the ground. They are taught 
to save from their cradles. 
If every woman who begins to keep 
house would procure a scrap-book and, 
at odd moments, paste in the marriages 
and obituaries of her near friends, and 
NEW BECKER 
Washing Machine. 
A fair trial will convince the most 
skeptical of its superiority over ali 
other Machines. County rights for 
sale. Agents Wanted. Circulars free 
N. G. BAUGHMAN, York, Pa. 
High 
Arm 
64 West Van Boren 
TRY IT FREE 
for 30 days in your own home and 
save 110 to 125. No money In advanee. 
*00 Kenwood Machine for 92X.00 
*60 Arlington Hack Inc for *18.60 
Singer* (Made by us) *8, *11.60, *16 
and 27 other styles. All attachment* FKKK 
We pay freight. Buy from factory. Save 
agents large profits. Over 100,000 la nee. 
Catalogue and testimonials FKKK. 
Write at once. Addrat* (In rail). 
