74 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
FEB i 
while convenient fashion allows one also to 
carry a grandmotherly bag drawn up by 
strings, either to correspond with the 
dress, or else of some simple dark color. 
We see more made of black satin or surah 
than anything else, sometimes embroidered 
or trimmed with passementerie, but quite 
as often plain. They are often 15 to 18 
inches deep, counting the frill at the top, 
above the draw-string, and about 10 to 14 
inches wide. A very good plan is to line 
the bag with chamois, with a silk lining at 
the top, coming to just below the draw¬ 
strings. The bag may be left plain, or it 
may have-at the bottom a band of silk or 
jet passementerie, either with or without 
fringe. A bag like this is an exceedingly 
handy thing; it will hold a lot of small 
packages without looking lumpy, and one 
may carry one’s dinner or one’s groceries in 
it without the general public being any 
the wiser. 
A VERY useful garment for one’s winter 
wardrobe is a chamois jacket. It is quite 
an expensive thing to buy; but it is really 
easy to make, and two good-sized skins 
will make one without sleeves for a person 
of ordinary size. It should be made like 
a plain fitting waist, with one seam down 
the middle of the back, and one dart in 
each of the front pieces. It need not be 
made in more than four pieces, two front, 
and two back. The neatest way is to make 
the pieces just the size to fit, and then 
bind the edges with tan-colored ribbon. 
Join them together by firmly over-handing 
with silk, and bind the jacket all around 
with ribbon. Fasten with hooks. It may 
be lined with thin flannel if desired. Some 
of the nicest of these jackets are both lined 
and covered with thin black silk, prefer¬ 
ably surah. They are extremely conveni¬ 
ent to put on under a tight wrap, when ex¬ 
tra warmth is desired; they will prevent 
one from taking cold by changing from a 
padded wrap to a cloth jacket. They are 
made with sleeves, but these can be worn 
only under a dress waist, for they are like 
the buckskins worn by dandies of the last 
century, which the wearers had to be shaken 
into. The chamois jackets with sleeves are 
to be worn under the basque in severe 
weather when no other outside wrap than 
a fur cape is worn. These wraps, though 
jaunty and fashionable, are not nearly 
warm enough over the arms for really cold 
weather, so the girls are trying all sorts of 
schemes to avoid catching cold. Some have 
the full sleeves of their walking dresses 
lined with chamois, but of course these 
cannot be worn in the house. Another 
scheme is to have a pair of stockinet 
sleeves, which were put on under the 
basque, and pinned at the shoulders to the 
underwaist. It is said—let us whisper it— 
that many a poor but ingenious girl man¬ 
ufactures these sleeves out of a pair of old 
black stockings with the feet cut off. The 
idea is to wear the jaunty cape over a trim 
bodice, so that it shows the costume, with¬ 
out any other wrap. Of course it looks ab¬ 
surd on a very cold day, but most of the 
women we see thus attired are not nearly 
so chilly as they look. We knew one 
young woman who always wore a tight, 
jaunty little cloth jacket, even in the cold¬ 
est weather. She never seemed cold, and 
when we asked how she did it she said her 
plan was to wear a jersej underneath, with 
half a dozen thicknesses of newspaper 
basted in place across the chest, both back 
and front; it kept out the cold admirably, 
and was a very cheap substitute for a 
heavier wrap. 
THE CHILDREN’S VOICES. 
P AND AN US. 
I ONCE heard a teacher of vocal music 
say : “ Every one can sing, and when 
1 hear a person say he can’t, I always de¬ 
cide that he has never tried.” At the time 
when I heard that remark, I questioned its 
truth very promptly, and was almost 
ready to contradict it flatly ; but after con¬ 
sidering it carefully, I find that it is not 
such an impossible assertion after all. 
Why should we not all be able to sing? 
Are not musical tones caused by the action 
of the breath on the vocal organs ? And is 
it not by the same action that we speak ? 
We all can talk; why can’t we all sing? 
Why, it is as natural for a little child to 
sing when it is playing by itself, as for it 
to go to its mother when it is hurt. Truly, 
its voice is not always sweet, but that is 
because the child has not been taught how 
to uae.it. 
How much we could swell the notes of 
thanksgiving, or help to tell the joyous 
tidings of Christmas and Easter if we 
would only try to use the voice God has 
given us. Perhaps your voice has been 
used so little that now you really cannot 
learn to sing. At least, then, try to teach 
your children. The first great warning to 
bear in mind is, not to let the child sing 
too loud. To do so is not only distress¬ 
ing to the listeners, it also ruins the voice. 
If you have not been placed in a position 
where you have occasion to notice these 
things, you would be surprised to find how 
many children’s voices are entirely ruined 
before they reach the age of 12 years; and 
if the matter is investigated, I believe we 
shall find that three-fourths of those voices 
are spoiled by straining them to sing loud. 
Young children should never be allowed 
to sing solos in public. 
Another cause of cracked voices is letting 
children sing notes that are too high for 
them. A child’s voice has a comparatively 
small compass, and until it has been gradu¬ 
ally trained to higher notes, it is ruinous to 
attempt them. If you are too busy for any¬ 
thing more, you can at least encourage the 
children to sing to you while you are busy 
at your work, and you can caution them 
not to sing too loud or too high. If you 
have time to teach them a little more than 
this, teach them, fi r st, to practice the musi¬ 
cal scale, calling the notes by their names, 
do, re, mi, etc. It is well to vary this prac¬ 
tice by changing the key, and also by call¬ 
ing the notes by number, 1, 2, 3, etc., or by 
calling them by letter, a, b, c. 
Another good exercise is to draw in a 
deep breath, and while you allow the breath 
to pass out slowly, sing the lowest note 
that you can easily reach, using the syllable, 
ah. In the same way, ascend and descend 
the scale. Vary the exercise by using the 
syllable oh < r cc. It is well to accompany 
this exercise with harmonizing chords on 
the piano, as it is very easy to get a little 
off the key. 
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE 
PAPERS ? 
OLIVE E. DANA. 
F IRST of all, read them. Miss Willard, 
you know, complains that women do 
not read the newspapers, and that even the 
newsboys are aware of it, and do not ex¬ 
pect women to buy their wares. There is 
reason in her protest, and her sisters would 
do well to heed it, and follow her own ex¬ 
ample. That broad, calm, intelligent out¬ 
look which so few women have, and which 
stamps its possessor as with the mark of 
royalty, comes with the knowledge and 
comprehension of the world’s larger affairs. 
So I say, first, read the papers, as soon 
after their issue as possible, but some time, 
at all events. Read the whole of the paper, 
and especially the news columns, for that 
is just the part of it many women neglect 
and all need to scan. Read leisurely and 
thoughtfully, taking time, if possible, to 
look up places you cannot locate, and to in¬ 
form yourself as to matters that are not 
clear or intelligible to you. Ask questions, 
if need be, about perplexing statements. 
Most men are willing to explain public 
affairs, and such topics are good to start 
discussion, wholesome and lively, around 
the dinner-table, or beside the evening 
lamp. 
A daily is out of the question in many 
farm-houses, either because of the cost, or 
on account of the distance from the post- 
office or news stand. But the weekly 
serves one as well, in many respects. One 
gets in that accurate information of the 
important events of the last few days, with 
no misleading head-lines, and few mistaken 
statements. The cream has risen when the 
weekly comes out. It is a pity if one will 
not appropriate it. The “News of the 
Week,” in the “Rural” columns, care¬ 
fully read, will keep one informed of what 
is going on at home and abroad. 
Having read them, pass your papers, if 
practicable, to some one who needs and 
cannot have them. They will bear one 
or two leadings and still be in good condi¬ 
tion for binding or other preservation. If 
one does not care to file them for future 
reference, most papers yield something in 
the form of cuttings for scrap-books or the 
scrap envelope. 
It is well to have a regular time for look¬ 
ing over the papers and cutting out valu¬ 
able bits, and it is far better to take them 
often and a few at a time, that it may be a 
pleasure, not a task. 
It is 'when they are past all these uses 
and literally waste papers, that the real 
perplexity begins, and the newspapers be¬ 
come a burden to the housewifely con¬ 
science. 
Yet there are many uses to which they 
may be put, even now. A large newspa¬ 
per will often save scrubbing or sweeping. 
Put one over the table where you clean 
lamps, or clean your vegetables, or rub 
silver. Lay one on the rug when the ashes 
are to be taken up. Let one catch the bits 
of kindling when the fire is re-made. 
Spread one where there is danger that 
flour may be spilled, or cloth cuttings 
scattered. Use two or three when the stove 
is blacked. It is so much easier to shake 
and fold a newspaper, or to burn it at once, 
than to'remove the vexing litter in any other 
way. And when they have served all pos¬ 
sible uses, and still accumulate, get to¬ 
gether a goodly pile of them, and some day 
get the man of the house, or the hired man, 
or the children, to wheel them into the 
field and make abon-fire of them. 
GOLDEN GRAINS. 
S YDNEY SMITH advised men to look 
downwards as well as upwards in 
human life. Though many have passed us 
in the race, there are many we have left 
behind. Better a dinner of herbs and a 
pure conscience, than the stalled ox and 
infamy. 
People who get lonesome realize what 
poor company they are. 
Said Tuoreau : Be resolutely and faith¬ 
fully what you are, be humbly what you 
aspire to be. Be sure you give men the 
best of your wares, though they be poor 
enough and the gods will help you to lay 
up a better store for the future. Man’s 
noblest gift to man is his sincerity, for it 
embraces his integrity also. 
He who is false to the present duty, said 
Henry Ward Beecher, breaks a thread in 
the loom, and will find the flaw when he 
may have forgotten the cause. 
Sydney Smith hasgivenusthe following 
recipe for making every day happy: When 
you rise in the morning, form a resolution 
to make the day a happy one to a fellow- 
creature. It is easily done ; a left-off gar¬ 
ment to the man who needs it, a kind word 
to the sorrowful, an encouraging expression 
to the striving, trifles in themselves as 
light as air, will do it, at least for the 24 
hours ; and if you are young, depend upon 
it, it will tell when you are old, and if you 
are old, it will send you gently and happily 
down the stream of human time to eterni¬ 
ty. By the most simple and arithmetical 
sum, look at the result: You send one per¬ 
son, only one, happily through the day— 
that is 365 in the course of the year; and 
supposing you live only 40 years after com¬ 
mencing that course of medicine, you have 
made 14,600 human beings happy, at all 
events for a time. Now, is not this simple ? 
It is too .short for a sermon, too homely for 
ethics, too easily accomplished for you to 
say: “ I would if I could.”. 
ONE cannot too soon forget his errors and 
misdemeanors, says Thoreau. To dwell 
long upon them is to add to the offense. 
Not to grieve long for any action, but to go 
immediately and do freshly and otherwise, 
subtracts so much from the worry; else 
we may make the delay of repentance the 
punishment of the sin. 
Dr. Spring remarks that it is a poor re¬ 
lief from sorrow to fly to the distractions 
of the world; as well might a lost and 
wearied bird, suspended over the abyss of 
the tempestuous ocean, seek a resting-place 
on its topmost wave, as the child of sorrow 
seek a place of repose amid the bustling 
cares and intoxicating pleasures of earth 
and time. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps says 
there are a great many duties, and we 
have to balance their claims as best we 
can. It will not do always to choose our 
favorites. 
Says Carlyle Nothing ever happens 
but once in this world. What I do now I 
do once and forever. It is over, it is gone 
with a still eternity of solemn meaning.... 
Domestic Ccowomij 
CONDUCTED BY MRS. AGNES E. M. CARMAN. 
“it matters hut little where you live, 
In country, or city, or town, 
rd like to ask you if you ever tried 
To run a rumor down ? 
The sailing is easy enouqh at first. 
You smile as you onward go; 
But all at once at a certain point, 
Nobody seems to know.” 
CRITICISM. 
C RITICISM is thought by many people, 
especially those of naturally critical 
tempers, to prune down and refine the 
faults of those to whom it is applied, if 
justly administered bv onein authority over 
the offender, be it child or adult. Theory 
reasons that it cuts the feelings and causes 
the fault to be remedied if only through 
fear of further criticism ; beside touching 
the pride which is stung by the 
reproof. But how about the feelings 
brought up by this criticism, even though 
it may be argued that it is launched with 
the intention of improving the person ? 
Children are often very sensitive and re¬ 
served. It always awakens my tenderest 
sympathy to see a little one trying silently 
to overcome the pain caused by a sarcastic re¬ 
buke given perhaps thoughtlessly, by a busy 
parent or worn-out teacher. Would it not 
be better if the fault had been gently 
pointed out and the reproof kindly admin¬ 
istered, thereby gaining the love and grati¬ 
tude of a pure heart ? A remark or conver¬ 
sation which has occurred in childhood is 
sometimes remembered through life, com¬ 
ing up from time to time causing either a 
thought of gratitude or remembrance of 
childish grief. While it is acknowledged 
that a kind word has often changed for the 
better the life of some unfortunate, I cannot 
remember hearing of a case in which sar¬ 
casm has ennobled or encouraged one who 
had been weak. Criticism in regard 
to one’s friends is another matter. I 
have hitherto considered it as coming 
from a parent or superior to one under his 
charge. A real, true critical judgment of 
one’s self or one’s affairs is rarely relished 
by the most intimate friend. Human 
nature has an innate love of flattery. In 
different persons it takes different forms, 
still it is there though many are uncon¬ 
scious of it. Often when a candid opinion 
is asked it is not really wanted, but a con¬ 
firmation of one’s own decision is desired 
and will be more graciously received. We 
have all known good, true-hearted persons 
to be universally disliked because of a criti¬ 
cal disposition and a disposition to give an 
outspoken opinion of things as they first 
suggest themselves to the mind. By these 
remarks I do not mean to encourage that 
insincerity which is so often found among 
disappointed, ambitious or narrow-minded 
natures; but only to suggest that all criti¬ 
cism when called forth be uttered consider¬ 
ately and as if fearful of wounding another’s 
feelings and at the same time the real 
opinion may be given ; for to conceal one’s 
mind when a knowledge of it would really 
help another is false kindness. What is 
really objected to are the sarcastic remarks 
which come naturally to the lips of some 
on the least provocation and which often 
cause suffering to sensitive natures: Char¬ 
ity in speech, especially among women, is 
one of the noblest and most lovable of all 
virtues. In all the reproofs given by our 
Saviour while upon earth not one could be 
termed sarcastic, but all are spoken in a 
tone of sad reproach. His last command¬ 
ment was : “ Love ye one another.” And 
surely kindness of speech shows a loving 
heart|whicli has the power to do much good 
and may be the means of saving the soul 
of some one with whom it comes in contact 
“VIOLET LOWELL.” 
NELL’S TWO SERMONS. 
444 'T'HE shadow of a great rock,’ was 
JL part of the text, grandma,” 
and Nell went on untying her veil before 
the great old fashioned glass in grandma’s 
room. 
“And was it a good sermon, dear ? ” 
“ Oh, yes ! so good—one of Mr. Hatha¬ 
way’s best. I know you wouldjhave enjoy¬ 
ed it.” 
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