FROM DAY TO DAY. 
HE baby son recently born to the 
Countess de Castellane, daughter 
of Jay Gould, would appear to be toler¬ 
ably provided against the wintry winds, 
as his outfit contains three dozen coats. 
With eight dozen dresses and three 
dozen flannel wrappers, the infant should 
generally look presentable, and it is to 
be hoped that his teeth will come 
through in a satisfactory manner, as he 
has been presented with a string of 
diamonds and sapphires to cut them on. 
With a jewel-mounted gold porringer, a 
toilet set of silver set with diamonds 
and sapphires, and a silver bath-tub, 
this infant begins life in a very luxuri¬ 
ous manner, though it is doubtful 
whether he will have quite as much fun 
as the democratic infant who rolls 
around on the floor, and cuts his teeth 
on a hard-working mother’s thimble. 
* 
Among little household wrinkles we 
should remember that the white of an 
egg answers well in place of mucilage ; 
that small pieces of raw potato in a 
little water shaken vigorously inside 
bottles and lamp chimneys will clean 
them admirably ; that carafes and glass 
decanters may be made to look clear 
and brilliant by shaking wet shot inside 
them ; that porcelain or earthenware 
that has become dingy or stained is 
much improved by rubbing or scouring 
with salt dusted on a cloth ; and that 
when clothing has been wrinkled or 
crushed by packing, if shaken out vigor¬ 
ously and hung up or spread out in a 
hot room overnight its appearance will 
be much improved. 
# 
A wise mother says that the first les¬ 
son that she taught her babies was to 
drink from a spoon, and to open their 
mouths when told to do so. There is no 
doubt that, in serious illness, a child’s 
life may depend on obedience in these 
particulars. If the child is not ac¬ 
customed, from his earliest days, to 
allow free inspection of throat, gums 
and tongue, he will surely rebel against 
a doctor's examination, even though life 
hang in the balance. A clever doctor 
says that he dislikes to vaccinate his 
little patients, because the pain or shock 
sustained is likely to cause loss of con¬ 
trol over them. We can hardly expect 
a child to bear existing pain merely be¬ 
cause he is assured of future relief ; such 
philosophy is hard enough for adults ; 
but we may certainly lead to such an 
obedience that, When real illness comes, 
there is no struggle of will over reme¬ 
dial measures. 
HOMEMADE SOAP. 
HE following instructions are given 
in response to a question from 
Tennessee : The first necessity is a 
raised platform with converging grooves, 
whicn may carry the lye all to one 
point. Upon this is set a firm, but head¬ 
less barrel, at the bottom of which are 
placed a few sticks. Above the sticks is 
a layer of straw, or a piece of discarded 
carpet, which acts as a filter. The 
barrel is next filled with ashes, and the 
work is hastened if these are moistened 
and tamped down, as the barrel is 
filled. A depression at the top receives 
the water to be passed through the 
leach. If the lye first passed through is 
not strong enough, it is returned for a 
second leaching. The old test of lye 
was its ability to bear up an egg, it 
then being considered of full strength. 
As soon as the lye begins to flow freely, 
fire may be built under the large soap 
kettle. The clear grease, freed from 
salt, is placed in the kettle in the pro¬ 
portion of perhaps 12 pounds to a small 
barrel of lye, and thoroughly heated. 
About four gallons of the first and 
weaker lye are then added,and this is well 
boiled. From this point some continue 
by allowing the fire to go out, and add¬ 
ing cold lye of full strength, until the 
soap comes. It is, however, generally 
considered surer to keep the kettle 
slowly boiling as the lye is added. Very 
strong soap is dark colored and thin. 
To such, water is sometimes added, 
when it changes to a fine yellowish 
color and thickens, but its quality is not 
thus improved. When it is desired to 
throw this into the hard form, salt and 
resin are the usual additions, but soda 
is generally considered the best base for 
hard soap. When soft soap is imperfect, 
if salt be not at the bottom of the diffi¬ 
culty, the trouble may be caused by too 
much alkali correctly to balance the fat. 
The quality of the lye varies greatly, 
according to the fuel from which the 
ashes are produced. Most hard woods, 
aside from oak, give an ash which makes 
good, strong lye. Swamp maples and 
ashes, on the contrary, furnish a poor 
and weak lye, which will, however, 
make good soap if rightly managed. To 
use salted fat without previously trying 
it out, is to render failure almost cer¬ 
tain, as salt is the one ingredient added 
when it is desired that the lye shall 
separate from the rest of the mass. If 
the scraps and rinds are rendered, the 
salt will often settle rapidly if water be 
freely added. mi ra y. nobys. 
SEWING FOR THE SEASON. 
HE first three months of the year, 
before out-door work or distrac¬ 
tions multiply, are conveniently occupied 
by summer sewing. At Christmas, most 
of the large city stores offer bargains in 
dress lengths of cambric, percale and 
gingham, while in January and Febru¬ 
ary, we often see sales of mill remnants 
in dimity, chambray and figured swiss, 
suitable for shirt waists and children’s 
frocks. If lack of time compel one to 
buy some of the garments ready-made, 
it will be more economical to buy muslin 
underwear than outside garments. This 
is especially true of children’s garments ; 
little girls’ frocks and guimpes are al¬ 
ways excessively dear, when one looks 
at work and material. Opinions may be 
somewhat divided on the subject of 
shirt waists. The matter is simplified 
now we may use white collars and cuffs; 
these are by far the most troublesome 
part of the work, and any one able to do 
neat plain sewing may make the waist 
itself without trouble, after buying a 
good pattern. One in or near a great 
city may, without doubt, buy shirtwaists 
so cheaply that it does not pay to make 
them, if she has enough discretion and 
self-command to pick out a thing she 
needs, rather than something that 
merely appears a bargain. Already the 
large New York shops are offering sales 
of these garments, presumably last sea¬ 
son’s stock. The new ones—this season’s 
style—have a yoke in the back, often 
round, but no yoke in front. The front 
is moderately full, but the sleeves are 
very much diminished in size. In com¬ 
parison with the bishop sleeves of last 
year, they look almost clinging, with 
merely a little fullness at the top. The 
materials are much the same as last year, 
but it appears as though white would 
be especially favored for fine waists, and 
a number of pretty styles are seen in 
lawn, dimity, nainsook, cheviot and 
sheer muslins. In colored materials, we 
see the figured Madras muslins, and 
grass linens in plain, decided colors. 
Similar materials will be favored in 
summer gowns. 
It seems likely that many of the thin 
summer gowns will be trimmed with 
tucks, as they were last year, both skirt 
and waist. Tucks in the upper part of 
the sleeve, and horizontal tucks across 
the front of the waist, are becoming to 
most figures, and easy to iron. Narrow 
ruffles, also, make a pretty trimming 
for such materials as lawn, dimity, and 
grass linen. To give a really good effect, 
all the work on these ruffles should be 
done by hand. Ruffles on a muslin 
waist are much improved by a heading 
of lace beading, through which narrow 
ribbon may be run. A little girl’s frock 
of white dotted swiss, trimmed with 
ruffles headed in this way, is very dainty, 
baby ribbons of pale green, pink, or yel¬ 
low being run through the beading. 
Frozen Eggs. —Perhaps the most mas¬ 
terly manner of treating this subject, is 
not to let the eggs freeze ; but after the 
mischief is done (the shells, perhaps, be¬ 
ing cracked), the generally accepted 
method of “ drawing the frost out ” 
seems to be by immersing them in cold 
water. This plan is all right as far as 
the frost is concerned, but the quality of 
the egg is benefited very little If, how¬ 
ever, the eggs are immediately covered 
with a quantity of boiling water, when 
this is cooled, they will be found in such 
condition as to be of use in any culinary 
operation which requires the whites and 
yolks of eggs beaten together, as this 
method restores the fluidity of the yolk. 
SWEET FERN. 
No other lamp-chimneys a 
quarter so good as Macbeth’s; 
or cheap in the long run. 
You want the right shape 
besides. We’ll send you the 
Index ; free. 
Geo A Macbeth Co 
Pittsburgh Pa 
Buy a Buggy 
a carriage, a phaeton, or a vehicle of 
any sort from us and you get the bene¬ 
fit of first price, and a personal guar¬ 
antee of reliability. We sell only our 
own work, and stand responsible for 
every vehicle that leaves our factory. 
You can buy direct by mail as safely 
as you can deal with the U. S. Treas¬ 
ury. Illustrated Catalogue and price 
list free. Send for it to-day. 
The Columbus Carriage Mfg. Company, 
Box T , Columbus, Ohio. 
BUGGY WHEELS 
WITH TIRE ON. 
Don't waste money repairing old 
wheels. Getour prices. Are prepared 
to tire, box, paint and t'urnlNh 
axles tor wheel, of all Mizes. 
WILMINCTON WHEELCO. 
(401 Union St.) Wilmington, Del. 
BEFORE BUYING A NEW HARNESS 
Seudyouraddress with 2cstamp forlllus. 
Catalog, giving full description of Single 
and Double Custom Hand-Made Oak 
Leather Harness. Sold direct to consu¬ 
mer, at wholesale prices. King Harness 
Co., No. 10 Church St.. Onego, N. Y. 
i £r\ameiii?e ft 
J.LHRESCOl'Uct W 
*-* k v . - . x r 
The Modern 
DUSTLESS, ODORLESS, 
BRILLIANT, LABOR SAVING. 
Try it on your Cycle Chain. 
1 . L. PRESCOTT & CO., New York. 
DIETZ 
No. 3 Street Lamp 
HAS A SHINING RECORD 
OF 20 YEARS. 
It is offered as an effectual 
antidote for ' outer 
darkness, * and is ttior- 
oughly well made on 
scientific principles. 
It will give more light 
than any gas-burning 
lamp, do it cheaper and 
do it with kerosene (coal 
oil). 
It can be lit and regu¬ 
lated from the outside; 
can continue in business 
despite the wind; can 
and will give you entire 
satisfaction, by reason 
of its absolute relia¬ 
bility. * 
It Is but one member of 
an enormous family of 
" light goods “ that we 
build, and to whom ve 
would be glad to intro¬ 
duce you by means of 
our Catalogue, which we mail free upon application. 
If you insist upon having the very best goods 
made, your dealer will give you “ I>letz. ,, 
If you cannot obtain this Lamp of your dealer, we 
will deliver it, freight prepaid, to any part of the U. 5. 
or Canada, upon receipt of its price, viz., $6.00. 
R. E. DIETZ CO., 
60 Laight Street, New York. 
Established in 1840. 
The WHEEL 
OFTIME 
Tor all time is the.... 
Metal Wheel 
We make them in all sizes and 
varieties, TO FIT ANY 
AXLE. Any height, any 
width of tire you may want 
Our wheels are either di¬ 
rect or stagger spoke. Can 
FIT YOUR WACON, 
Perfectly without change.... 
HO BREAKING DOWN 
no drying ont.no resetting tires 
CHEAP because they endure 
Send for catalogue and prices' 
Electric Wheel Co! 
QUINCY, ILL. 
D ^ G Still King. 
THE BIT OF BITS. 
Will control the mosi 
vicious horse. 
Sale* greater than ever. 
8ample mailed XC for 6 | Afl 
Nickel, $1.50. $I>UU 
Stallion Bits 50 cts. extra. 
RACINE MALLEABLE IRON GO,, RA ^ S NE ’ 
LOW 
Metal Wheels 
with Wide Tires. Any size and 
width of tire wanted. Hubs to fit 
any axle. Saves labor. No resetting 
tires. Catalogue free. Address 
EMPIRE MEG. CO., Quincy, Ill. 
WEHAVENO AGENTS 
but have sold direct to the 
consumer for 24 years, at 
wholesale prices, saving 
them the dealers’ pro¬ 
fits. Ship anywhere 
for examination be¬ 
fore sale. Every¬ 
thing warranted. 
100 styles of Car¬ 
riages. 90 styles of Har- 
. ness. Top Buegiesaslow 
^vas $35. Phaetons as low 
_ as $55. Spring Wagons, 
No. 87}*. Surrey Harness—Price $15.00. Road Wagons, etc. Send No. 606. 
As Rood as sells for $22.00. for large, free Catalogue, shade, aprou and 
sun- 
tor $90. 
ELKHART CARRIAGE AND HARNESS MFG. CO., W. B. PRATT, Sec’y, ELKHART, IND. 
