THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
843 
idoi 
WisconsinTraveling Libraries 
Wisconsin is rich in libraries. The 
very extensive city libraries of Milwau¬ 
kee and other cities are patronized and 
appreciated by the student body and ur¬ 
ban residents generally. Even country 
towns in the older settled portions of 
the State support very respectable li¬ 
braries. These, however, reach only the 
city and town people. The thousands 
of families in the pine woods of north¬ 
ern Wisconsin and in other remote re¬ 
gions, miles from a railroad, are not 
benefited by these libraries. The piti¬ 
fully scant supply of literature available 
in these regions, has led certain large- 
hearted people to establish traveling li¬ 
braries. The first of these was set In 
motidn in 1896. In that year J. H. Stout, 
a wealthy lumberman of Dunn Co., Wis., 
purchased 500 volumes of good books, 
and accepted from his neighbors hun¬ 
dreds of copies of magazines, etc. These 
were divided into 16 lots, each put up in 
a strong case with a shelf, double doors 
with a lock and key, a record of the 
books and copies of the rules, etc. The se 
miniature libraries were then sent to 
points in Dunn Co., each accompanied 
by the following letter from Mr. Stout: 
You may have the use or these libraries 
under certain conditions. You must form 
local library associations of responsible 
people, and elect a secretary to represent 
you In dealing with me, and a librarian to 
deal with you. You must agree to have 
the books well cared for, and to keep 
them in a convenient place where every 
resident of the neighborhood who uses the 
books carefully, can get them without 
cost. Persons who misuse the books or 
destroy them, must pay proper penalties. 
When most of the readers have read as 
many of the books as they wish, the li¬ 
brary may be exchanged for another. For 
each library sent you will pay a fee of $1. 
In consideration of this fee I will pay all 
transportation expenses for the first li¬ 
brary, and all the expenses of furnishing 
the libraries, repairing the books and keep¬ 
ing up the supply of blanks. 
It is needless to say that these were 
gladly received and tihe demand for 
more became so urgent that Mr. Stout 
soon sent out 20 more libraries under 
similar conditions. Following this lead, 
others have started similar libraries in 
other sections, until at the present time 
215 are in operation. These are all un¬ 
der the supervision of the Wisconsin 
Free Library Commission, a body 
created by legislative enactment in 1895. 
The Commission is composed of five 
members and its duties are to “give ad¬ 
vice and counsel to all free libraries in 
the State, and to all communities which 
may propose to establish them, as to the 
best means of establishing and adminis¬ 
tering such libraries, the seieotion of 
books, cataloguing and other details of 
library management.” 
A wide range is covered in the selec¬ 
tion of books. Biography, travel, fic¬ 
tion and juvenile literature, all of the 
highest order, are selected. Eggleston, 
Scudder, Dickens, Conan Doyle, Scott 
and Louisa Alcott are some of the names 
one meets in looking over a catalogue. 
The libraries are located mainly in 
farmhouses and country stores. They 
are, without exception, well receivetl and 
patronized. Each is in charge of a li¬ 
brarian, who requires the patrons to ob¬ 
serve certain regulations, similar in 
many respects to those of city libraries. 
For instance, a book may be retained 
but two weeks without renewal or the 
payment of a fine. The borrower is li¬ 
able in full for the loss of a book or 
damage to the same. The books sent 
out in the earlier libraries were mainly 
light literature. In the lat^r ones these 
have been replaced in part by more 
solid reading, in the endeavor to create 
a taste for the best. It is probably too 
early yet to judge definitely of the 
merits or demerits of the system, but 
the tendency so far is all in the right 
direction. 
The location of the libraries as indi¬ 
cated on an outline map of the State in 
the oflice of the secretary shows them 
as clustered mainly about the points of 
origin, that is near the homes of Mr. 
Stout and others in the pine woods re¬ 
gions, but a few are seen straggling 
into the southern part of the State, and 
one within 20 miles of cultured Madison. 
Fifty dollars covers the entire expense 
of one of the libraries and there is but 
little doubt that within a few years 
thousands will be in operation. 
PKEDEKIO CltANEElELD. 
The Rural Patterns. 
Golf capes are very serviceable as 
extra wraps, especially when driving. 
The model shown is simple and tasteful, 
made of double-faced cloth simply 
stitched; but plain cloth with hood 
alone or with cape and hood silk lined 
is also in vogue. The cape is seamless 
and closes at the front with buttons and 
buttonholes. The hood folds becoming¬ 
ly over the shoulders. At the neck is a 
turn-over collar of the cloth. To cut 
this cape for a girl six years of age VA 
yard 50 or 56 inches wide will be re¬ 
quired. The pattern No. 3988 is cut in 
sizes for girls of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years 
of age; price 10 cents from this oflSice. 
A cap and muff to match are pretty 
and useful. The pretty little models 
shown are made of velvet cord in Na¬ 
poleon blue, with an edge of chinchilla 
fur, but all velvet, velveteen, corduroy, 
heavy silk and soft cloths are appro¬ 
priate, and ruchings of silk or net may 
take the place of the fur. The little cap 
fits snugly and is drawn in at the back 
edge to fit the circular crown. The 
neck frill is gathered and seamed to the 
lower edge, but can be omitted when 
preferred as shown on figure. Attached 
to the lower edges are ties which are 
bowed beneath the chin. Soft siik or 
satin is used for lining. The muff is 
simply constructed and can be easily 
made. Over the satin lining the material 
is arranged and both stitched together 
some distance from the edge to form a 
casing, through which elastic is inserted 
to draw up to the proper size. The 
frilled edges thus formed are trimmed 
with fur, but may be plainly finished if 
preferred. Bows of ribbon, animal 
heads and tails may be added if a more 
3988 Girl’s Golf Cape. 
P to 10 vears. 
elaborate muff is desired. To cut this 
cap and muff for a child two years of 
age 1% yard of material 20 inches wide, 
% yard 44 or 50 inches wide will be re¬ 
quired, with 1% yard of fur for edging 
and one yard of silk for lining. The 
pattern No. 3990 is cut in sizes for chil¬ 
dren of 1, 2, 4 and 6 years of age; price 
10 cents from this office. 
Rural Recipes 
Hungarian Chicken.—Clean and cut 
up a large chicken as for fricassee, put it 
in a small pan with two ounces of but¬ 
ter and two onions cut into small pieces. 
When beginning to color add two ounces 
MOTHERS.—Be sure to use“Mi‘s.Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.—Adt?. 
of flour, mix well with your other in¬ 
gredients. Moisten with one cupful of 
milk, add a teaspoonful heaping of salt, 
one-eighth of pepper, two cloves of pep¬ 
percorns, ditto of bay leaves, and tie all 
together. Boil very gently, skim off the 
grease, remove the spices and serve. 
Fried Cornmeal Puffs.—Mix one- 
fourth teaspoonful of salt and one- 
fourth teaspoonful of soda with one cup¬ 
ful of fine white cornmeal and scald it 
with boiling hot water, adding it gradu¬ 
ally until the meal is all wet and 
swollen, not at all soft, but barely damp 
enough to hold it together. Cover it and 
let it stand over night. In the morning 
3990 Child’s Muff and Cap 
1,2,4 and 6 years 
stir in two eggs, the yolks and whites 
beaten separately. The mixture should 
be a soft dough, not thin enough to 
spread when dropped on the pan, and as 
meal varies in its thickening quality, it 
will be well the first time to add the egg 
gradually, lest the mixture be too soft. 
Take it up in small spoonfuls and drop 
into a kettle of hot fat and when brown 
turn like doughnuts. 
The Girl on the Farm 
It seems to me that there is no way 
in which a young woman can earn 
money with so little outlay of time and 
strength as in keeping bees. I have 
found from my own experience that 
there is no comparison in the amount 
of work involved between poultry rais¬ 
ing and work in the apiary. The lack 
of knowledge need not keep one from 
trying it if she will study some good 
work on the subject, such as Root’s A 
B C of Bee Culture. The more one 
studies this subject the more interested 
she will become, and not only are you 
able to furnish your own table with 
an abundance of pure honey, which is 
the most delicious and healthful of all 
sweets, but your friends will be glad 
of the opportunity to buy any surplus 
that you may have to sell. The fact 
that bees do not require any care 
through the Winter is one that recom¬ 
mends itself to any woman who has 
tried keeping poultry. From the time 
they are put into their Winter quarters 
in November, until the warm April 
days tell us that it is time to bring 
them out into the sunshine, we need 
hardly give them a thought. I have 
often wondered why this subject has 
not been discussed in The R. N.-Y. from 
a standpoint that would interest the 
wives and daughters of the farmers 
and fruit growers in this healthful and 
profitable way of earning a little extra 
money. mbs. w. s. w. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal”. See our guarantee 8th page. 
The best lamp 
in the world is not 
best, without the 
chimney I make 
for it. . , 
Macbeth. 
My name on every one. 
If you’ll send your address, I’ll send you 
tlie Index to Lamps and their Chimneys, to 
tell you what number to get for your lainji. 
Machictii, Pittsburgh. 
BARGAINS IN 
Fruit Packages, 
Berry, Grape, Peach, Crate.s, 
Tilts, Baskets, etc. 
Our mltla must dispose of surplus stock. Buy your 
supplies early. 
COLES & COMPANY, 
109 & 111 Warren Street, Now York. 
SAJV JOSE SCALE. 
And Other Inieoti can be Controlled by Using 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Tobacco Soap No. 6. 
Kegs, 60 lbs. ea., &^c. lb. ^ Bbl., about 376 lbs., 4e. lb 
Kegs, 100lbs. ea., 5o. lb. Bbls., about 436 lbs.,8Wo.lb 
Kegs, 170 lbs. ea., 4^c. lb. 
Barge quantities Special Bates. Send for Circulars. 
JAMBS GOOD, 937 N. Front St., Pblladelphia, Pa. 
House and Carriage Mats a Bargain. 
Mohair yarn, assorted colors, good size, double 
fringe, six pounds average. Price, 50 cents; 14 sent 
prepaid for $.5. Satisfaction guaranteed. 
S. llABTI.EY, Avonla. Pa. 
\ ^ Prlni;e C*rdi, Lovo, TianspArent, E** 
IA M m cort & AcqualoUnoe Cardi, New Puxzlee, 
* • ■ New OatnoM, Premium Artlolea,fta Pineal 
Sample Book of Vlalting A Hidden Name 
Oarda, Biggeat Catalorae. Bead 2o. atamp 
foraU. OHIO OAEB CO., CADIZ, OHIO. 
DRILLING 
Machines 
Over 70 sizes and styles, for drilling either deep or 
shallow wells In any kind of soil or rock. Mounted 
on wheels or on sills. With engines or horsepowers. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic can 
operate them easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLfAMS BKOS., Ithaca, N. I. 
BUBEROID 
POULTRY-HOUSE 
ROOFING 
As a water-proof covering for Poultry-1 
I Houses, KUBBUO'llbas no equal. Keeps 
the houses cool during the warm weather, 
and warm in Winter, and the chicks dry and | 
I comfortable. The sun cannot melt it. 
THE STANDARD PAINT CO., 
100 William Street, 
NEW YORK. 
MAKING 
SAUSAGE 
i.s easy work for the owner of an Ihiterim.se Food 
Chopper. \on could chop a whole hog without 
getting tired. More than pays for itself in one 
week’s work. Makes fine mince meats, 
hash, sausage meat, Hamburg steak, &c. 
The Enterprise 
Chopper 
Meat & 
Food 
Is useful every day in tho year in every 
o left-over meats and vegetables. 
Sola at ail hardware, houso furuishlny^ and department 
stores. 35 styles and sizes, hand and power. 8end 1 cents 
» . IS oyer gets out of order; can bo cleaned Instantly, 
for tho “Enterprising llonsekeepcr”—contains 200 receipts. 
THE ENTERPRISE MFC. CO. OF PA., Philadelphia, Pa. 
