. 1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
487 
of course, also in johnny cake instead of 
flour. One must learn from experience 
how to proportion it, as it is very light, 
and the batter must he a little thicker ; 
but it is well worth trying if the cost is 
to be considered, or health, either. One 
may determine the advantage gained in 
using it, as it can be bought for 90 cents 
per 100 pounds ; also, by the length of 
time a barrel of flour will last over the 
usual time when used. As housekeepers, 
we may as well know how we stand, and 
there is no business where a little head- 
work comes in more useful. 
IDA C. GORDON. 
THE PICNIC LUNCH BOX. 
Fig. 219 almost explains itself without 
words. It invites the whole family to 
lay aside care for a day, and go upon a 
picnic. The generous size calls for the 
whole family ! The tray that tits in at 
the top tells how the dainty part of the 
lunch can be carried without “ mussing.’’ 
A PICNIC LUNCH BOX. Flo. 219. 
Such a box can be made in the home 
workshop, the handles being made from 
flat barrel hoops. They fall down at 
either end to permit the cover to be 
raised. d. w. 
HINTS ON RUG-MAKING. 
If one has worn cotton dresses, aprons, 
skirt linings, etc., she can quickly con¬ 
vert them into rugs, which look well and 
save carpets or the washing of floors. 
Tear them into carpet rags, sewing them 
hit-and-miss. Crochet them with a large 
wooden hook, using a tight double 
crochet stitch. 
1 prefer my rugs of a rectangular 
shape, as they lie more smoothly upon 
the floor than the round ones. For this 
shape, start with a chain the width you 
wish the rug, and crochet back and forth. 
The only one I ever made was a very 
large one all hit-and-miss. As I had 
many bright colors and different shades 
of drab, it was quite pretty, and did me 
very good service. 
If one wishes to make a fancier one, 
the rags may be sewed as for striped 
carpet, dividing the rags so that the op¬ 
posite ends of the rug will be alike, 
shade from black to a light drab, then a 
bright center, hit-and-miss, or striped, 
then shade from drab to black. Finish 
the ends with raveled rope or yarn 
fringe. Drab and black skirt linings 
may be used, or one can easily color 
drabs by dipping light rags into a decoc¬ 
tion of oak bark or maple leaves, or a 
weak solution of logwood dye. 
Some use cotton rags for braided rugs, 
claiming that they are better than tne 
woolen ones. 1 would not advise any 
one to make drawn rugs unless she have 
a rug machine ; drawing with a hook is 
too hard on the wrists and shoulders. 
If you wish something odd and pretty 
in the drawn-rug line, try a Chinese rug. 
Dse burlap for the foundation, and an 
oak leaf for a pattern. Mark the leaves 
close together all over the rug. Draw in 
the outline of each leaf with black, then 
till in with all sorts of colors. A crazy 
pattern, yet not hopelessly insane, you 
see. 
Did you ever see a fur rug made of 
gunny-bags or coffee sacking ? Such 
rugs look quite like fur, and with careful 
usage, will retain their good looks for 
some time. A piece of sacking of the 
desired size forms the foundation. This 
is covered with five or six-inch strips of 
sacking, which have been raveled out on 
both sides to within an inch or so of the 
center. This strip is doubled and tacked 
on the foundation. Another strip is 
tacked close to that, and so oi until the 
whole is covered. The raveled edges 
stand up like fur. Some dye them black, 
orange brown or dull green, but none is 
prettier than one which is of the natural 
color of the sacking, mary s. stklson. 
On the Wing. 
THE CRAIG COLONY AT SONYEA. 
A REFUGE AND HOME FOR THE AFFLICTED. 
[EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. I 
A State Charity. —Among all the un¬ 
fortunates who are likely to become de¬ 
pendent upon the charity of the State, 
none is more to be pitied than the epilep¬ 
tic. Epileptics are not insane, yet they 
are often herded among lunatics; their 
only other refuge is the poorhouse. Such 
sufferers may strive to maintain them¬ 
selves, but they are always shadowed by 
their affliction ; they cannot be depended 
upon, even when they have been able to 
learn some trade or handicraft. Under 
ordinary circumstances, their affliction, 
which may be described as a condition 
rather than a disease, is usually aggra¬ 
vated by lack of proper care, both moral 
and physical, causing continual deterio¬ 
ration. Doth science and humanity 
have been enlisted in the cause of these 
unfortunates, and in 1896, in accordance 
with a law passed two years earlier. 
New York State opened the Craig Colony 
for the admission of such patients. It is 
named in honor of the late Oscar Craig, 
a Rochester philanthropist, as a recog¬ 
nition of his gratuitous services in aid of 
epileptics and other dependent unfor¬ 
tunates. 
A Memory of the Shakers. —Years 
ago, the site of the Craig Colony was a 
Shaker community. Some of the old 
Shaker buildings are still in use as dor¬ 
mitories, etc., for the present colonists. 
The locality is a beautiful one ; fine roll¬ 
ing land guarded by distant hills, and 
diversified by abundant trees and limpid 
watercourses. It would be difficult to 
imagine more cheerful and restful sur¬ 
roundings, or to breathe purer air. The 
old Shakers knew the requirements of 
successful farming, too, and the land is 
capable of high fertility, The tract in¬ 
cludes 1.872 acres, of which 640 acres are 
forest land, clothed with fine trees. The 
State paid $115,000 for the property and, 
during the two years of the colony’s ex¬ 
istence, it has produced nearly 35 per 
cent of the value of this original cost. 
During the first year, the colony pro¬ 
duced 50 per cent of the cost of its main¬ 
tenance, and it is expected that, ulti¬ 
mately, the home products will equal 75 
per cent of the maintenance. Farm and 
garden will not only supply wholesome 
food, but will, also, give occupation to 
many of the inmates. 
The Buildings and the Inmates.— 
Passing through the large assembly 
room, I was shown through a sewing- 
room, where a number of women were 
at work. They were of all ages, and 
though, evidently, of varying grades of 
intelligence, there was little to distin¬ 
guish them from a group of ordinary 
working women. Yet every woman 
there, save guests and attendants, was 
overshadowed by a dreadful malady—a 
malady that, in past ages, was treated 
with barbarous exorcisms, for these are 
they who were once said to be “ griev¬ 
ously tormented by a devil.” They are 
employed in sewingof all sorts, laundry 
and other housework, but not in cook¬ 
ing. The danger of seizure, which may 
come at any moment, renders the patients 
unfit for work about the kitchen ranges. 
“ What do you do, win n one of the in¬ 
mates is taken with an attack?” the 
guide was asked. 
“We straighten the distorted limbs, 
place a thin pillow under the head, and 
try to prevent the patient from injuring 
herself, while the violence of the attack 
lasts. Both duration and violence vary 
greatly.” 
The guide was asked whether all the 
women seen are in constant danger of 
attack. 
“They are all epileptics,” was the 
answer, “but they improve so much 
MOTHERS.—Be sure to use “Mrs. Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup” for your children 
while Teething. It ia the Best.— Adv. 
here that the attacks arc likely to he far 
between. For example, one of our in¬ 
mates who has been epileptic for 12 
years, suffered from seizures at intervals 
of two weeks before she came here; 
during the past 10 months, she has had 
one seizure.” 
Dinner time came while I examined 
the big kitchens and laundry, both of 
which were arranged with an orderly 
convenience that would gladden any 
housekeeper's heart. The women were 
seen marching into their dining-rooms, 
and the bill of fare was tested by the 
visitor. Dinner that day consisted of 
stewed beef, boiled potatoes, stewed 
corn, bread and butter, rice pudding and 
milk ; every thing was excellent in quali¬ 
ty, and admirably cooked. 
Care of the Colonists. —The Peterson 
Hospital is a modern two-story building, 
designed for acute medical and surgical 
cases among the colonists; it has 26 
beds, and is fitted with a fine operating 
room, drug room and other conveniences. 
The general health of the colony is good, 
however, and few require hospital treat¬ 
ment. The average number of inmates 
in the colony was 214. The treatment 
given them, while always under medical 
supervision, is moral and hygienic rather 
than medical. Fresh air and exercise, 
cheerful surroundings and careful diet, 
are the chief factors in the treatment 
given. Many of the patients, upon en¬ 
tering the colony, are found to be suffer¬ 
ing from bromism, a condition resulting 
from continued and excessive use of bro¬ 
mide of potassium. The effect of this is 
pitiable, causing not only physical weak¬ 
ness, but also mental dullness that seems 
akin to idiocy. The bromide suppresses 
the fits, while destroying health of body 
and mind. No doubt the advertising 
quacks who assert that they cure fits, re¬ 
sort to such means to support their 
claims. Of course, the bromides are 
withdrawn at the colony, and the whole¬ 
some life substituted effects a wonderful 
change. The diet is very carefully stud¬ 
ied. Pork is entirely omitted; little 
mutton is served, and beef forms the 
main portion of the meat used. Beef 
cattle are purchased, after a scrupulous 
veterinary examination, and are slaugh¬ 
tered and dressed under the most sani¬ 
tary conditions, a modern slaughter¬ 
house being among the buildings. Fruit 
and vegetables, produced in the colony, 
are freely used, but blackberries and 
raspberries are barred, to avoid risk of 
alimentary disturbance from the seeds. 
Milk is used copiously, but it is always 
separator milk, from which the butter 
fat has been removed. In some phases 
of epilepsy, the patient is put, for a 
period, upon a diet of separator milk 
only. The skim-milk is supplied at every 
meal, in abundance, and naturally a 
large herd of cows is required. Eggs, 
also, are desirable food for the patients, 
and well-arranged poultryyards form 
part of the farm outfit. 
What the Doctor Says —The rntdi- 
cal superintendent of the Craig Colony, 
Dr. Spratling, is, of course, a specialist, 
whose experience has bten gained among 
diseased minds, as well as in studying 
ailing- bodies. On being asked whether 
it would be possible to treat an epileptic 
in his own home, in accordance with the 
system of the colony, he observed, “It 
would be possible, under proper condi¬ 
tions. One disadvantage would be the ab¬ 
sence of careful discipline which becomes 
part of the treatment here. The tendency 
of the ailment is to make the patient 
childish and, at home, he would, in 
many cases, be humored in a manner 
that w-ould be detrimental to mind and 
body. The discipline of an institution 
is of great value.” 
“ Would you think that, where an epi¬ 
leptic tendency exists, the trouble would 
be aggravated by lack of mental disci¬ 
pline, or by giving way to violence of 
temper ? ” 
“ Yes, that statement may be made of 
any disease or condition affecting the 
nervous system. Lack of moral and 
mental control is responsible for many 
physical ills. When epileptics are cared 
for among friends, pity for their condi¬ 
tion often prevents any attempt at their 
control, and the immaturity of mind 
caused by the malady is rendered worse 
by the injudicious treatment.” k. t. r. 
(To be continued.) 
CUT-PRICECARPETSALE. I 
Owing- to nn i 
overproduction I 
of Carpets, we j 
liave made greatv 
reductions for 1 
a short time 
only. j 
Our Carpet Catalogue and Special I 
Supplement, both in hand-painted I 
colors, and all matter pertaining to 1 
this extraordinary sale, ■will be mailed 1 
any one free. This is an opportunity 
not to be neglected. Dur¬ 
ing this sale, we sew Car¬ 
pets free, furnish wadded 
lining free and pav freight 
on all order-i of $9 & o er. 
4Kg“N«*w 160-png e Cata¬ 
logue of Furniture and 
everything necessary for 
housefurnishing is now 
ready to be mailed—it’s 
free. 
buys a made-to-your meas¬ 
ure All-Wool Cheviot Suit, 
expressage prepaid to 
your station. Catalogue 
and samples free. Ad¬ 
dress (exactly as below). 
JULIUS HINES & SON | 
Dept. 320 BALTIMORE, MD. fe 
W t 8A VL YOU WAUUTOSZb.OU 
}Q00. We nell Hlsrh Grade Bicycle* for Leu® 
w- a “ “than Any Other Concern in the World. 
1998 Ladle*’ or Gent’s Models, $18 op* 
t Left over of 1997 models at less than 
-oat; others at $8, $10, $19 and $1&. 
r Write for Free Illustrated Catalogue 
of Blejelea and Sundries* Address 
Dei>L 139 VICTUR MFC. CO., 90 to98 Market 8t,,Chle»«*. 
FRUIT 
EVAPORATOR “The Granger.” 
For Family 
^ Use. 
Strong—Durable. Can be applied to any stove or range 
Cheapest in the market—*3, SS5 and i#8. 
Send for free circular, 
EASTERN MANUFACTURING CO., 257 S. Fifth St., Philadelphia, Pa 
$50 Sewing Machine for $19.50. 
WITH ONE YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION TO THE R. N.-Y., $20. 
We should he sorry if any reader of The R. N.-Y. in any part of the country 
should pay $40 or $50, or even $25 or $30 for a sewing machine. We would be sorry 
because we can send him just as good a machine as is made for $19.50. The finish 
and appearance and attachments are in 
every way equal to the best machines 
made. We will send it ON TRIAL, freight 
paid, and you may return it at our ex¬ 
pense, if you are not satisfied; you shall 
be the judge yourself. We shall sell them 
at this price only to subscribers. We have 
sold thousands of these machines to sub¬ 
scribers, and we have never had one re¬ 
turned. Several families in connection 
with The R. N.-Y. have them ; that is why 
we can praise them so highly. 
For $19 50. we will send the machine to 
any subscriber, freight paid to any address 
east of the Rocky Mountains. For $20, we 
include a yeai’s subscription. After a fair 
trial, we will return the money and pay 
freight both ways, if you are not satisfied. 
We will send it for a club of 10 subscriptions at $1 each, and $15 extra. 
TilE RURAL NEW-YORKER, New York. 
