1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
5o3 
another, leaving a long, unsightly stitch 
on the wrong side. Ugly, frowsy ends 
should never be left visible. To avoid 
knotting the thread, take two tiny 
backstitches in an open figure, near the 
starting point. This secures the thread 
as well as a knot, and being worked 
over afterward, becomes invisible. Where 
a number of stems and tendrils termin¬ 
ate in large figures, finish the stems and 
tendrils first, so that all threads may be 
fastened in the large figures to be worked 
over. To begin at the end of a tendril, 
take two tiny back stitches on its line 
near the extreme end, and then work 
back over these two stitches. To fasten 
the thread in large figures, part the 
stitches and take several backstitches 
under them in the linen ; then pass the 
needle several times through the figure 
under the silk stitches, and when cutting 
the thread, draw it a little taut, clip 
close to the figure, and the clipped end 
disappears under the stitches. If these 
AN EMBROIDERY CASE. Fig. 228. 
simple rules be followed, no signs of the 
thread fastenings will be visible. 
M. LANE GRIFFIN. 
HOUSEHOLD HINTS. 
Tea stains may be removed from linen 
by pouring boiling water, to which have 
been added a few drops of ammonia, 
over them. Fresh fruit stains may be 
treated in the same manner. 
The cover of fat over broth or soup 
should not be lemoved until the soup is 
ready for use. It prevents decomposi¬ 
tion. 
Never allow a baking-powder mixture 
to stand before it is cooked after the 
liquid is added. The gas will pass off, 
and the mixture will be heavy. 
On the Wing. 
THE CRAIG COLONY AT SONYEA. 
A REFUGE AND HOME FOR THE AFFLICTED. 
( Concluded .) 
[editorial correspondence.] 
The Colony Farm. —The number of 
male patients at the colony is in excess 
of the women. They are of all ages and 
conditions, and represent a great variety 
of occupations. Some of them had 
learned trades before coming to the 
colony ; others are rendered almost help¬ 
less by their infirmity. The farm and 
garden are expected to supply occupa¬ 
tion for a good many of them. The first 
aim of the farming operations is to sup¬ 
ply the needs of the colony. Where 
there is a surplus, there is no thought of 
entering the market in competition with 
ordinary farmers; such surplus will be 
disposed of only to other State charities. 
During the year ending October 1, 1897, 
we find, among the farm products, 2,573 
bushels of wheat, 2,296 bushels of oats, 
2,000 bushels of potatoes, 2,800 bushels 
of corn in the ear, 10,021 gallons of milk, 
2,006 pounds of lamb, 692 pounds of 
mutton, 35,890 pounds of beef, 1,247 
pounds of pork, 600 bushels of apples, 
and 19.2 tons of corn for canning. The 
garden produced 1,539 bushelsof carrots, 
1,065 bushels of beets, 1,563 cabbages, 
2,000 bushels of turnips, 3,474 musk- 
melons, and a great variety of other 
products. A large quantity of corn, 
peas and tomatoes was canned for Winter 
use. This work was not done on the 
place, materials being taken to a nearby 
canning factory. Fruits are, however, 
put up in glass upon the place. Notic¬ 
ing the model piggery, which is adjacent 
to the slaughterhouse, Mr. Stone, the 
steward, was asked the reason for keep¬ 
ing these animals, since pork is barred 
from the colony rations. 
“ There is a great deal of table refuse 
in such an institution as ours, and by 
using it, we can produce a large quantity 
of pork very cheaply. We aim to avoid 
waste at any point, and the food sup¬ 
plies are very carefully managed. Still 
there is a certain amount of refuse, 
which is best turned into pork. This, 
being forbidden food to the epileptics, is 
disposed of to other institutions.” 
“ Your farm and garden products seem 
to make a fine showing.” 
“ Yes,” responded Mr. Stone. “Some¬ 
times some of the farmers tell me that 
they don’t understand how it is possible 
for us to produce as much as our yearly 
statement shows. They forget that, in 
an institution like this, every potato, 
every cabbage, and every basket of fruit 
must be accounted for. Many a farmer 
would be surprised at the showing made 
by his farm if he kept a strict account of 
every thing he uses. Most of them merely 
account for the things they sell, and pay 
no attention to the products consumed 
in the family, which may amount to more 
than half their maintenance.” 
The colony is extending its area in 
fruits and vegetables, these lines of hor¬ 
ticulture being very necessary for the 
subsistence of the colony, and also form 
an excellent field of work for the colo¬ 
nists. There is, also, the opportunity 
for developing large areas of fine past¬ 
ure, which will enable the keeping of 
more stock, both cattle and sheep. 
The Farm Buildings, stables, barns, 
piggery, granary, poultry houses, etc., 
comprise what is known as the Farm¬ 
stead Group. Additions are now being 
made to these buildings ; the accommo¬ 
dations will be sufficient for 26 horses, 
80 cows, and 400 sheep. There is, also, 
a sewage house where the waste matter 
is treated in accordance with a system 
in use among most large institutions. 
All the sewers discharge into a series of 
tanks in this building, where the waste 
receives a chemical treatment which 
deodorizes it and renders it innoxious. 
Solids and liquids are then separated, 
the solids being composted for manure, 
while the liquid flows into a series of low 
gravelly plots. These sewage beds have 
been planted to cabbage with excellent 
results, the product being of most luxuri¬ 
ant growth. The sanitary disposal of 
sewage is a most important feature in 
all public institutions, and the immunity 
from epidemic disease at Sonyea is testi¬ 
mony to the excellent system there 
maintained. This subject is not always 
given proper care or thought in farm 
homes and communities. 
Children in the Colony. —It is hard 
enough to see adults suffering, but sad¬ 
der still to see children, on whom are 
thus visited the sins of their fathers. 
Since Craig Colony opened, 76 of the 
patients admitted have been under 21 
years of age. Children under 10 are not 
received, but the greatest hope of amelio¬ 
ration is among young epileptics, and 
this class is in urgent need of care. The 
managers of the colony are anxious to 
obtain better accommodations for the 
younger colonists ; their association with 
the adults is objectionable in many ways. 
School is carried on in an old school- 
MOTHERS.—Be sure to use “Mrs. Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup ” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.— Adv. 
house built during the Shaker occupancy 
of the colony, but the accommodations 
are very limited. A valuable feature, 
recently added, is a school of manual 
training, where the boys are instruct d 
according to the Sloyd system. It is re¬ 
markable to see the progress made in 
wood-working within a short time and, 
in addition to the manual dexterity thus 
obtained, the work is of great mental 
benefit. The Sloyd school is housed in 
the new Industrial Building, which also 
contains the printing office, carpenter 
shop, blacksmith, etc. The work done 
in these trades will prove a most useful 
feature of the colony. Mattresses are 
made by the inmates, and some of the 
furniture, an increase of this latter work 
being projected. Assistance is, also, given 
by patients in the blacksmith shop, 
though this work, obviously, could not 
be done by patients alone. In consider¬ 
ing the increase of employments in which 
the patients may be engaged, we must 
remember that economy of production is 
not the only point to be considered here. 
Healthful employment is a part of the 
treatment, and must be provided. 
Where the Patients Come From.— 
The inmates of the Craig Colony are all 
persons liable to become a public charge. 
Some of them were born in the shadow 
of their malady; with others it is a 
development of later years. Where their 
hereditary influences are known, it is 
usually seen that they represent a class 
that is always represented in pub¬ 
lic institutions. Alcoholism, insanity, 
phthisis, tuberculosis, or what doctors 
call a neuropathic history, usually ap¬ 
pears in the family annals. Sometimes 
accident or injury is given as a responsi¬ 
ble cause; the excesses of a dissipated 
life form another and a frequent cause. 
But many of these sufferers are born 
with weakened fiber of body and mind; 
the lack of moral stamina adds to their 
unhappy state. With the adults, actual 
cure of the malady seems rare, though 
they are very greatly relieved by the 
treatment given at the colony. It would 
appear impossible to assert that any 
patient is actually “ cured ” of epilepsy; 
but the life at Craig Colony effects such 
a transformation that the danger of 
attack is reduced to a minimum. 
Admission of Patients. —Craig Colony 
is designed as a home for indigent epi¬ 
leptics, residents of the State of New 
York. Under the laws of 1894, the super¬ 
intendent of the poor, in each county, is 
required to furnish annually to the 
State Board of Chai'ities a list of any 
epileptics under his jurisdiction. If any 
such persons are liable to become a pub¬ 
lic charge, it is the duty of the local 
authorities to place them in Craig Colony. 
In the admission of patients, preference 
is always given to poor and indigent 
persons, or to the epileptic children of 
poor parents. The supervisors of any 
county from which patients are received 
are required to furnish the sum of $30 
annually for each patient, to provide 
clothing. 
The intention is, as before stated, to 
make the colony self-supporting as far 
as possible, but until this is achieved, 
the State furnishes means, which must 
not exceed $250 annually for each pa¬ 
tient. While indigent patients have the 
preference, the colony will admit pri¬ 
vate patients when there are sufficient 
accommodations, such persons paying 
for care and maintenance. This class of 
patients is not greatly desired, however. 
From the Colonist’s Standpoint.— 
Seated on the broad, shaded piazza, with 
its varied view of hill and valley, was a 
woman of middle age. She held a 
lengthy strip of fine cheesecloth, from 
which she was drawing threads with 
much dexterity. The visitor inquired 
about her work, to learn that she was 
cutting surgical bandages which must be 
cut to a thread, to avoid irregular ravel¬ 
ing. Some remark was made on the 
beauty of the scene, and the worker said 
enthusiastically that it was a heavenly 
spot. Soon she spoke quite freely of the 
colony, as viewed by a colonist. 
“ You don’t know what it is,” she said, 
“ to have that shadow on you, making 
you a danger to yourself and your friends. 
I used to live out, and had good places, 
but my trouble kept growing on me, and 
then no one would keep me. My own 
folks are decent people, and would try 
to help me, but they couldn't have me 
around, frightening the children when I 
was took—besides, it wasn’t safe. Many’s 
the time I’ve been burned falling against 
the stove, or cut against the furniture. 
Then they kept me at a hospital in New 
York City—that’s where I learned to 
make these bandages—but they couldn’t 
keep me, and I came here. We’ve none 
of us much hope of ever being like other 
folks, so long as we’re in this world, but 
here we have a beautiful place to stay 
in, and when our sickness comes on us, 
we get the right care. It’s hard to be 
born like this, but I’m thankful to have 
a place to live in. without being a trou¬ 
ble to the folks around me. Besides, I’m 
surely gettingbetter,” and she continued 
to draw out the threads with an air of 
hopefulness that was not without pathos. 
E. T. R. 
1898 
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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, New York. 
