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FROM DAY TO DAY. 
In the place of the ordinary pillow¬ 
casing muslin we can now buy pillow¬ 
case tubing, which is woven together at 
the sides, so that there are no trouble¬ 
some side seams to sew up. The end 
seam and hem are all the sewing re¬ 
quired. 
* 
While we believe that a woman who 
understands the chemical changes pro¬ 
duced by heat ought to bake a better 
cherry pie than she who regards “ luck” 
as an important factor in cookery, it is 
a noticeable fact that women of wide 
general education often find themselves 
very much at sea among the household 
mysteries. Then we often blame the 
higher education of women, declaring 
that it unfits a woman for domestic life, 
which is just as reasonable as if we were 
to blame a good cook because her knowl¬ 
edge of cooking did not give her a taste 
for the higher mathematics. If we 
occupy the decade from eight to eighteen 
in fitting a girl for some profession in 
which domestic economy has no part, 
we can hardly wonder if she feels little 
interest in home affairs. She has never 
been taught to regard them as important 
in her own case ; they are simply the 
things mother always attends to. 
* 
It is evident, from the courses in 
domestic science now offered, not alone 
in technical schools, that we are grow¬ 
ing to a higher appreciation of such 
work. Still, the best part of such train¬ 
ing is in the hands of the mother, aDd 
she is delinquent in her duties if she 
omit such education. When a child 
begins to “ help mother” as soon as her 
baby hands can carry a tiny duster or 
brush, to make wonderful cakes with a 
pinch of mother’s dough, and to make 
strangely-cut frocks for the dolls from 
mother’s patches, the course of domestic 
science is like seed upon a well tilled 
soil. But if she has always looked upon 
housework as something to be slurred 
over and crowded into the background, 
all the domestic science in the world 
cannot fit her for a well-balanced home¬ 
maker. 
* 
The use of the sewing machine, though 
the greatest of boons to women, has cer¬ 
tainly lessened our readiness to do good, 
plain work. Indeed, the sewing of our 
grandmothers is almost a lost art. Think 
of Rosamond, in Middlemarch, deciding 
that all the ruffles in her wedding outfit 
must be double-hemmed. Think of a 
shirt-bosom and ruffles, stitched to 
threads with the exactness of a machine. 
By the time the writer was 12 years old, 
she had cut out and stitched, with pains¬ 
taking care, a boy’s shirt, the bosom and 
cuffs backstitched, two threads forward 
and two threads back, the selvedge seams 
overhanded with stitches two threads 
deep and two threads apart. A set of 
girl’s underwear was the next thing, all 
stitched with equal exactness and, after 
that accomplishment, the use of the sew¬ 
ing machine was allowed. The work 
seemed a great trial to the little fingers, 
but its benefit has often been felt in later 
life, and although handmade underwear 
is now an absurdity for a busy worker, 
the neatness and dexterity gained by 
such work is a valuable accomplish¬ 
ment. A great deal of the poverty of 
the very poor in great cities is due to the 
thriftlessness of mothers who do not 
know how to make the best of the lim¬ 
ited means at their disposal, and much 
discontent and unhappiness among those 
of moderate means is due to the same 
cause. So we have reason to bless any 
thought, suggestion, or movement to¬ 
wards greater comfort in the homes that 
make the nation. 
A DOMESTIC SYMPOSIUM. 
THE TRAINING OF OUR DAUGHTERS. 
Do you give your daughters a regular course 
of instruction in sewing and general housework, 
or do you allow them merely to “pick up” such 
knowledge ? Do you give the girlB some personal 
responsibility in the management of the house ? 
Do you insist upon thorough practice in sewing 
by hand, in addition to the use of the sewing 
machine ? Does the prevailing system of educa¬ 
tion for girls give much opportunity for instruc¬ 
tion in sewing and housekeeping ? Are we not 
lowering our conception of domestic science by 
crowding this work—the life-work of most women 
—into a subordinate place in our educational 
plan ? What plan have you found most effectual 
in interesting young girls in such work ? 
Doctor, Nurse and Teacher in One. 
Women living in cities do not feel the 
lack of knowledge so much as farmers’ 
wives do, who must teach our children 
nearly everything. We cannot call upon 
a skilled physician, nurse or teacher 
when the case demands it. I often wish 
I had spent a year in a hospital, an¬ 
other in a kindergarten, and taken a 
course in domestic science before marry¬ 
ing. 
My daughters are mere babes, but 
already I am planning for their future 
training. It is one of my hobbies that 
girls should be taught the best and 
easiest ways of doing all work pertain¬ 
ing to home-making, and above all, 
should never be allowed to think it 
drudgery, but rather that it is women’s 
highest work, and worthy of their best 
efforts. So much of the health and hap¬ 
piness of a family depends upon food 
and its preparation, that I cannot see 
how mothers can allow their daughters 
to go into homes of their own with only 
a little “ picked up” knowledge of the 
work before them. 
While regretting that my little farmer 
girls would not be able to attend a 
kindergarten on reaching the proper 
age, it occurred to me that I might have 
a little class at home ; teach them to 
sweep, dust, set table, wash dishes, cook 
and sew, all in play ; have little brooms, 
dust-pans, dishes, tables, gay dusting 
caps, white aprons and caps for cook¬ 
ing, perhaps little songs to accompany 
the work—anything to make these plain 
duties seem pleasant. This is only a 
“ thought germ”, and I have two years 
to fit myself for the work. 
When my daughters are old enough 
to work, I wish to have them feel that 
certain things rest entirely upon them ; 
for instance, they shall have the plan¬ 
ning and preparation of certain meals, 
and if successful, they shall be given 
due credit. Girls like to feel that their 
work is of some importance—just “help¬ 
ing mother” does not always call forth 
their best efforts—I remember that from 
my girlhood days. Although I never 
had any taste for sewing, I am glad that 
my mother understood it well, and in¬ 
sisted upon my performing a daily task 
in that line. 
Cooking was always a fascinating 
work for me. To concoct dishes which 
are healthful, palatable and economical, 
is the most agreeable work I can do. I 
trust that one of my daughters will 
inherit a taste for this work ; if so, she 
shall take a course in domestic science 
after she has got beyond my teachings. 
If she never uses such knowledge in a 
home of her own, there will be a chance 
somewhere, in a cooking school or some 
one’s home. 
It is only when girls become wives 
and mothers that they realize how much 
knowledge it requires to do their duty 
in that line. Then it is too late to learn 
except by sad experience, but mothers 
can certainly see that their daughters 
have a practical knowledge of home¬ 
making, which includes cooking, sew¬ 
ing, nursing, care of a house, etc. 
MARY S. STELSON. 
An Early Beginning Needed. 
Having no daughters of my own, I 
must draw on the experience of my 
mother’s daughter ; that ought to be of 
some value, because it has been tested 
by time, and I am so well satisfied with 
the theory and practice that, had I girls 
to train, they should profit by it. 
Sewing was a regular branch of my edu¬ 
cation ; a good maiden aunt drilled me 
thoroughly in over-and-over, felling, 
hemming and stitching, and the care of 
my own apparel, from stockings upward, 
gave me a useful knowledge of darning. 
I began sewing so young—children are 
generally born industrious—that it never 
seemed irksome to me, and I remember 
taking much innocent pride in keeping 
all things in order, and a lofty scorn and 
pity for other girls who did not always 
look neat. Faithful Scotch Janet of the 
kitchen taught me to knit and to net, but 
rather resented having me mess about 
her domain ; so I never became very pro¬ 
ficient in practical housework at home, 
and suffered for my ignorance accord¬ 
ingly when I became a housekeeper my¬ 
self. 
Certainly, every girl, no matter what 
her station in life may be, should have 
regular teaching in all branches of house¬ 
hold science. No study is more interest¬ 
ing or important, or will bring better 
results. I do not think any special effort 
to interest girls in such work is neces¬ 
sary, if an early beginning is made. 
Where there are several daughters, each 
should have some particular work for 
which she is especially responsible, tak¬ 
ing turns, as I am told they do in Shaker 
settlements, cook one week, chamber¬ 
maid the next. This plan works well, 
and sometimes develops particular skill. 
It seems to me that girls are too much 
crowded nowadays. They have so many 
school studies to learn at home, that 
there seems little time for household 
work, and bicycling, tennis and other 
outdoor pleasures use up most of the 
odd minutes at their command ; from 
these they come in weary, and lounge 
and dawdle away the rest of their leisure. 
Perhaps, if work and play were more 
systematized, there might be time found 
for domestic economy; if it cannot be 
found, it must be made, or the maiden 
will rue it some time. 
I believe most heartily in what is 
called higher education ; send your girl 
to college if you can, but before she goes, 
be sure she has some practical knowledge 
of household science. Country girls used 
to be supposed to know more of house¬ 
work than their town sisters ; but I see 
quite as much inefficiency on the farm as 
elsewhere. Slop-shop calico wrappers 
take the place of the neat homemade 
print dresses we used to see, and as they 
are generally ragged after a few days’ 
wear, with no pieces to mend with (and 
sometimes no “ know-how”), they look 
draggled and untidy, and make me wish 
the days of cheap (?) clothing were over, 
and that there were more old-fashioned 
girls with skill enough to make their 
own work-dresses. mary mann. 
Interest the Mother First. 
I have not given my daughter a regular 
course of instruction, but we have 
worked together through the years. It 
has been “helping mother”, and it may 
be in this I voice the experience of some 
other mother. Perhaps it would have 
been better for my daughter, had I given 
regular instruction instead of letting 
her learn by watching me in cooking, 
sewing, etc.; still I find in absence or 
sickness,, the household wheels roll 
smoothly on under her hand. 
I do not think the prevailing system of 
education leaves us mothers very much 
time for home teaching. Our girls are 
“ so tired ” by Friday, nay, I would bet¬ 
ter say, Saturday night, for the weekly 
essay claims a part of that so-called 
holiday, we mothers feel more inclined 
to indulge them in a long breath that 
does not savor of book, or pencil, rather 
than setting them at household tasks, 
however good it may be for them in 
after life. 
As to instructing our daughters in 
sewing, when my girl was quite a little 
tot, she begun fashioning clothes for her 
doll. Quite astonishing garments they 
were at first, as to style of cut and the 
stitches, but as the years went on, that 
all mended, and somewhere in the house, 
there stands a well-filled doll’s trunk— 
dainty skirts, waists, hats, bonnets, 
toques, etc.—all laid aside, and daughter 
cuts by larger patterns, and standing 
before the glass fits them herself, and 
makes and trims hats for her own wear 
as well as mine. 
As to interesting our daughters in all 
that pertains to house and home work, 
it seems to me the best way to be in¬ 
terested in all that yourself. Enter 
heartily into all their plans of change, 
even if it does jar on your settled ways. 
Let them make fig cake, even if you do 
like jelly better. Let them ice it with 
confectioner’s sugar, notwithstanding 
you always have used powdered sugar 
and white of egg. Above all, keep the 
house atmosphere cheerful; commend 
their efforts, and blame seldom; it were 
better never than too much. 
EMILY H. STEEDMAN. 
Mother, who has been an invalid for 
years, remarked the other day, that it 
was not the woman who attempted to do 
all and be all, and continually worked 
beyond her strength, who got the credit 
of being a “ smart” woman, as the time 
surely came when these intense ambi¬ 
tions burned out youth, life and strength, 
and their owners were partially or en¬ 
tirely “laid on the shelf ” for the rem¬ 
nant of their days—faded, sick and worn. 
Then the ones who had never been noted 
for anything in particular, show in the 
foreground, well, strong, young-looking, 
and every one is ready to exclaim, “What 
a smart, well-preserved woman ! ” Do 
you see the point ? Perhaps it is worth 
considering. 
Man never is, but always to be blest.* 
“How often we see it exemplified, but 
fail to take it to ourselves,” said a dear 
old lady to me recently. “ 1 thought 
when William and I began life that, 
if we ever got the farm paid for and 
could breathe free of debt, I should be 
perfectly happy. We struggled along, 
year after year, working hard and prac¬ 
ticing rigid economy, always looking 
forward to that happy time when we 
should owe no one and could please our¬ 
selves. At last it came, but we were 
both middle-aged, the children were 
married and in homes of their own. A 
few short years, and William was gone 
to his long home, and I am left with 
the consciousness that those long years 
of toil and struggle were the happy 
years of my life and his—only wonder¬ 
ing that we could not realize it while we 
were passing through them.” 
SWEET FERN. 
HALL’S 
Vegetable Sicilian 
HAIR RENEWER 
Beautifies and restores Gray 
Hair to its original color and 
vitality; prevents baldness; 
cures itching and dandruff. 
A fine hair dressing. 
R. P. Hall & Co., Props., Nashua, N. H. 
Sold by all Druggists. 
