THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Augu.st 17 
bio 
Woman and Home ] 
From Day to Day. 
Takin’ things easy—that’s the trick 
That’s hardest of all to learn; 
This world keeps steppin’ along so quick 
An’ dodgin’ at every turn 
'i'hat we close our ears to the lazy 
song 
'That Summer is singin’ the whole day 
long, 
An’ we get to thlnkin’ it’s wholly 
wrong 
To be takin’ things easy. 
Takin’ things easy, with duty done. 
An’ never a thought of fear 
When the shadows close at the set of sun 
An’ the moon an’ the stars draw near— 
q'he real reward that man kin claim 
In the search fer wisdom an’ wealth 
an’ fame 
Is the chance, some time, without risk 
of blame. 
To be takin’ things easy. 
—Washington Star. 
* 
Cheap little whisk brooms are very 
useful about the kitchen. One should 
always be kept for no other use than 
sprinkling clothes; others for cleaning. 
There is nothing better than the whisk 
broom to clean a hoi’seradish grater. 
The useful chain dishcloth is now much 
improved from its first estate, being 
mounted upon a firm handle, which en¬ 
ables it to be used with greater ease. As 
a pot scraper, however, nothing else 
equals the humble clam shell. 
• 
A USEFUL undergarment at all sea¬ 
sons, but especially in early Fall, when 
sudden chilly days come, is a woven un¬ 
derwaist which comes in cotton, thread 
or wool. It has a high neck and long 
sleeves, fits like a glove, has but little 
bulk, and is a very useful extra gar- 
merut, when additional warmth is re¬ 
quired. Many women wear the woven 
underwaist in place of an ordinary mus¬ 
lin corset cover, during the Winter. 
* 
Barley water, which in our youthful 
mind was usually associated with mea¬ 
sles, hard colds, and similar afflictions, 
is now frequently served as a luncheon 
drink, though it is more popular in Eng¬ 
land than here. Very thin, well iced, 
and flavored with lemon, it is decidedly 
refreshing. To make It, put a heaping 
tablespoonful of barley into an earthen 
bowl, and cover with two or three 
quarts of boiling water; allow it to 
stand until cold, drain off, and add 
lemon juice and sugar to taste. Grated 
nutmeg is also used by some. Currant 
water is another refreshing drink that 
is easily prepared. Simmer a pint of 
the fruit in a quart of water sweetened 
with a tablespoonful of powdered sugar. 
Cool and Strain, and serve with cracked 
ice, a slice of lemon, and a few fresh 
currants. _ 
• 
Masculine critics often assert that 
many a woman conspicuous for great 
virtues obscures them all by the small 
faults that do much to create friction in 
family and social life. She will work 
herself to a shadow for those she loves, 
and then turn her well-cooked meal to 
apples of Sodom by her complaining 
tongue. She will deny herself some 
longed-for pleasure for the sake of her 
church, and then quarrel with a well- 
meaning sister because of a fancied lack 
of recognition at the sewing society. It 
is a spirit which makes misery in the 
home and carping unfriendliness 
abroad; which turns love’s duty into 
bondage, and renders friendship an irk¬ 
some burden. We all know such women 
—women whose virtues are all qualified 
with one little “if.” If such a woman 
could only realize that she owes, both 
to her own household and to the 
stranger within her gates, not merely 
the work of her hands, but also that 
most excellent gift of charity, which 
includes all the finer graces of mind and 
heart! If sweet serenity and cheerful 
patience seem foreign to her nature, she 
may at least assume these virtues, 
though she has them not. A martyr is 
not a very cheerful companion unless, 
like Saint Perpetua, she can wreath her 
martyrdom with roses. 
* 
A New Jersey reader asks us to re¬ 
peat the recipe for canning small cu¬ 
cumber pickles, given in The R. N.-Y. 
last year. She says that she tested this 
recipe and can vouch for its excellence. 
It is as follows: Wash the little cu¬ 
cumbers, rubbing off the prickly points. 
Cut the stem when gathering; do not pull 
out, as that is likely to break a piece 
out of the fruit. Leave the stem about 
3885 one size 
half an inch long. Pack the cucumbers 
into a two-quart glass jar, put a large 
spoonful of salt on top, shake it down, 
fill the jar with cold water, screw on 
the cover, and set away for 24 hours. 
Then pour off the brine, fill the jar with 
cold vinegar, screw the top on tight and 
put away in the cellar. In October or 
November, if the vinegar looks white 
at the top, pour a little off and replace 
with fresh. 
* 
At this season grass stains are a fre¬ 
quent annoyance on the children’s 
clothes, being often unaffected by ordi¬ 
nary washing. They will dissolve in 
alcohol, however, and, if used imme¬ 
diately, ammonia and water will often 
wash them out. Where the color of the 
fabric may be affected, it is said that 
molasses, or a paste made of soap and 
cooking soda, may be spread over the 
stain, and left for several hours, or the 
stain may be kept moist in the sunshine 
until it begins to turn brown, and then 
washed out. Fruit stains, which are 
among the Summer trials of the house¬ 
keeper, should always be treated while 
fresh, or they may become indelible. 
An old method is still the best one for 
their removal; stretch the stained part 
over an earthen dish, and pour boiling 
water upon the stain until it disappears. 
When the stain is old and set, acid or 
Javelle water may be needed to stir it. 
The Rural Patterns. 
In spite of fashion’s changes, an in¬ 
fant’s wardrobe remains much the same, 
the long cloak and cap being essential. 
The pretty little models given are 
adapted to all seasons and to a variety 
of materials. In the original the coat is 
of cream Bedford cord with silk em¬ 
broidered frill, the cap of white India 
silk with bands of embroidery worked 
on the same material, but cashmere, 
China silk, ribbed silk and poplin can 
all be used for the coat; and the cap 
can be made of swiss, batiste or any 
similar material, with embroidery or 
lace as preferred. The coat is made with 
a yoke body, from which falls the full 
long skirt, and bishop sleeves, with 
straight bands at the wrists. As shown, 
it includes both the deep cape and hood 
and is finished with a turn-over collar. 
but the hood can be omitted if desired. 
The cap includes a small round crown 
and head portion and is trimmed with 
quillings and held by means of ribbon 
ties. ’I’o cut this coat, 2% yards of ma¬ 
terial 44 inches wide will be required, 
with or without hood, 5% yards 21 
inches wide with hood, 5^4 yards with¬ 
out; to cut the cap, % yard in any 
width with 1% yard of ruffling. The 
pattern No. 3885 is cut in one size only; 
price 10 cents from this office. 
The graduated circular fiounce gains 
in popularity as the season advances, 
and has the merit of being singularly 
graceful as well as smart. The admir¬ 
able skirt shown is shaped with five 
gores and fits with perfect smoothness 
over the hips, while it flares freely at 
the lower portion. The two flounces 
include just the amount of fullness re¬ 
quired by fashion. The original is made 
of embroidered pongee, but all the sea¬ 
son’s materials are suitable. Thin goods, 
such as mohair swiss, dotted swiss and 
grass linen are charming when so made 
and hung over a separate foundation, 
while both silks and wool are well 
adapted to the style. The skirt is cut- 
full length and can be used plain or 
with a single flounce when desired. To 
cut this skirt for a woman of medium 
size, 10% yards of material 21 inches 
wide, 10% yards 27 inches wide, 9% 
yards 32 inches wide, or six yards 44 
inches wide, will be required. The pat¬ 
tern No. 3881 is cut in sizes for a 22, 24, 
26, 28 and 30-dnch waist measure; price 
10 cents from .this office. 
Warm Weather Comfort. 
The two things that add most to our 
comfort at this season are shade trees 
and ice; and yet comparatively few 
farm homes are well supplied with both. 
The lack of these things is perhaps felt 
most keenly by the busy housewife, 
much of whose time is spent in the 
heated kitchen, and whose afternoon 
nap (should she find time for such a 
luxury) is taken in a darkened bedroom. 
What wonder that under such condi¬ 
tions, the farmer’s wife grows nervous 
and irritable, and shudders at the 
thought of such a life for her daughters? 
The farmer lives in the open air, accord¬ 
ing to nature’s laws; and too often his 
wife’s life is quite the reverse. This is 
both wrong and unnecessary. With 
plenty of shade, much of the so-called 
housework may be done in the open air; 
and ice cream and sherbet may take the 
22 to 32 waist 
place of puddings and pies, greatly to 
the enjoyment of the entire family. 
Every farmer’s wife should insist upon 
having these things for her comfort, 
and her husband will thank her for it. 
Often the things that require most per¬ 
suasion before the head of the house at¬ 
tends to them, are the very things he 
takes most pride in, once they are done. 
We have found that a shed on the 
north side of a building, boarded high 
enough to prevent the sun shining in, 
but allowing a free circulation of air 
beneath the roof, makes an excellent ice 
house, also that snow between the 
blocks is preferable to sawdust. When 
we built our new house a few years ago, 
we were cautioned not to set shade trees 
too thickly, lest in a short time the lawn 
should present a cluttered appearance. 
but from our own experience, we have 
decided that the better way is to set 
plenty of trees, and whenever one is 
noted a nuisance, cut it down. It Is easy 
to decide now, where shade trees arc 
most needed, and quite as easy to forget 
all about it, when the time for planting 
arrives. It is not so much from lack 
of time as lack of thought that these 
things are so often neglected, for do we 
not find time for National holidays, ex¬ 
cursions, fairs and so forth? I do not 
think I am lacking in patriotism when 
1 suggest that decorating our grounds 
with native American trees, shrubs and 
vines would be a pleasant and profitable 
way of observing Decoration Day, and 
that gathering up unsightly rubbish for 
a big bonfire would be a commendable 
manner of celebrating the Glorious 
Fourth. The birthdays of the Father of 
his Country and the Great Emancipator 
both occur at just the proper time for 
packing ice, and if thus employed, we 
should eat and drink to their memoiy 
oftener than we ever have done. We 
all wish our children to feel that 
“there’s no place like home,” and the 
best way we have ever found for im¬ 
pressing this upon their minds is to 
have some truth in it. Too many grown 
people, as well as children, seem to 
think that good times are not to be had 
at home; and that to celebrate any holi¬ 
day, one must necessarily go some¬ 
where, and indeed many homes present 
such a cheerless aspect that we do not 
wonder that this feeling prevails. 
On a certain country road are two 
homesteads, which no one can pass 
without being struck by the contrast 
between them. The first has a large, 
handsome, modern house that would do 
credit to a city street, but the grounds 
surrounding it are rough, uneven and 
overrun with weeds. The blinds are 
closed, and a stranger might imagine 
the place uninhabited. This, however, 
is not the case. There are no shade 
trees or vines ro subdue the burning 
heat of the Summer sun; and as the 
front rooms are seldom used, naturally 
the blinds are very rarely opened. To 
see this beautiful house, surrounded by 
nature’s waste, is a sight to make an 
angel weep. I am told that the owner 
went beyond his means in building, and 
has been “hard up” ever since. The 
next house is small and plain, but has 
broad vine-covered piazzas, and is sur¬ 
rounded by beautiful shade trees and a 
well-kept lawn. The piazzas are fur¬ 
nished with homemade lounges, with 
plenty of plain cotton-covered pillows, 
wall pockets for newspapers and maga¬ 
zines, and small inexpensive stands. In 
shady places on the lawn are comfort¬ 
able seats, and a plain table with white 
oilcloth-covered top. Under the trees 
hang hammocks and swing chairs, made 
of smooth painted barrel staves. These 
are very comfortable, and almost inde¬ 
structible. With a gasoline range on 
the back porch, this family practically 
lives out of doors during the hot wea¬ 
ther; thereby saving much scrubbing, 
sweeping and dusting. I always think 
of this place as an ideal home, and such 
a home is within the reach of every 
farmer’s family; but shade trees are not 
grown in- a single year; therefore the 
sooner they are set the better. 
MARION LAWRENCE. 
Schools, gymnasia, bathing-houses, 
recreation-piers, libraries, model tene¬ 
ments, better food, ventilation, improv- 
e<l sanitary conditions, and the like, are 
all of value in their place; but that 
which makes men and women for God 
and humanity, and the better service of 
their land and age, is first of all the 
personal touch of some strong and ten¬ 
der hand in the home. “God setteth the 
solitary in families,” wrote the Psalmist 
long ago. Let us respect His order and 
follow His way. “Home, Sweet Home” 
is said to have been written by a life¬ 
long wanderer who never had one. It 
is an immortal Witness to the deep and 
inextinguishable hunger of the human 
heart.—Bishop Potter. 
