1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
4o7 
be put down. Hygienic reasons forbade 
the putting down of carpets in sleeping 
rooms. Then occurred the opportunity 
to secure an excellent quality of hard¬ 
wood flooring at a very reasonable price, 
though in regard to this, we did not fully 
realize that the cost of hard-wood floors 
consists in the labor of putting them 
down more than in the cost of the 
material. We were influenced, also, by 
the idea that hard-wood floors and rugs 
are more attractive in appearance than 
carpets. 
Disadvantages of Bare Floors. 
The floors are hard to keep clean. 
Every particle of lint or dust that falls 
upon them, is magnified, and rendered 
painfully conspicuous. The least parti¬ 
cle of mud brought in upon the feet, 
smutches them in a way to make the 
housewife shudder and hasten for her 
mop ! Our floors were finished in oil 
rubbed into the grain. Where the great¬ 
est wear comes, the floors soon get dry, 
and turn light colored, making the floor 
of a room uneven in color. If the floors 
are varnished, the gloss soon wears oft', 
except about the edges and under tables, 
and the floor looks dull and unattractive. 
If wax is used, the floors are likely to be 
dangerously slippery, I would judge, 
though we have not had experience with 
this kind of finish. 
Hard-wood floors are dreadfully noisy. 
If there is a baby in the house, and his 
majesty is taking a nap, the rest of the 
family must retire out-of-doors, or go 
on tip-toe. If one is made nervous by 
noises, he would better avoid such floors, 
for every movement over them, and 
every movement of chairs or other fur¬ 
niture, is sure to be followed by an echo¬ 
ing report. 
Hard-wood floors must be washed fre¬ 
quently, and must not be washed with 
soap and water, else the oil will be re¬ 
moved from the grain, and the surface 
be made rough and unsightly. We find 
that a mixture of water and kerosene 
(about one-third of the latter), with a 
little powdered borax in it, is the best 
for washing purposes ; but at present 
prices for kerosene oil, this wash is 
rather expensive. Then, too, the floors, 
or such portions of them as receive the 
most use, must occasionally be wiped up 
with a cloth wet in raw oil, to remove 
the dry look. In fact, one must be more 
or less of a slave to her hard-wood floors. 
They are very nice in the summer, being 
much cooler than carpeted floors, and 
they are especially desirable in sleeping- 
rooms ; but where one does her own 
housework, the care of them will be 
found somewhat of a burden, I am 
afraid, though sweeping such a floor is 
much, very much, easier than sweeping 
a carpeted floor. 
On the whole, I fancy that, if we were 
building again, every room in the house 
would have a soft-wood floor, and the 
kitchen floor would be painted. d. 
A FEW DON'TS. 
D ON’T in your zeal of house clean¬ 
ing, forget your own personal ap¬ 
pearance. Some one has wisely said 
that women “ don’t groom themselves 
enough.” Is it true ? You owe some¬ 
thing to yourself, for the sake of others, 
and it is a woman’s first duty to look 
just as well as she can, at all times. A 
tired woman is not an attractive object, 
at any time, every one knows; neither 
does she, as a rule, get very much sym¬ 
pathy, as a little feeling will always 
rise in the minds of the family, that it 
is, in a way, her own fault, and she need 
not hurry so, and make herself and every 
one else uncomfortable. 
A writer has pleasantly said, “It is 
not so much the number of years we live 
as the way we live them.” Don’t let 
worry and care fill your face with 
wrinkles, and crowd out the dimples and 
smiles. Don’t look on the dark side al¬ 
ways ; try to find the right side before 
you say anything about it to any one. 
Don’t tell your personal matters to any 
one ; let your friends take you on trust, 
and know only the best in you and yours. 
Don’t be a martyr and magnify every 
little trouble ; get the best of it if possi¬ 
ble, and smile it away. The mother’s 
face is the home barometer; if she 
frown the weather at once becomes 
threatening, and the family see every¬ 
thing through blue glasses, but if she 
begin the day with smiles, the sky 
clears, the blue glasses are replaced by 
the rose-colored ones, and it is sunshine 
all day. 
Don’t try to do too much outside work 
and home work at the same time ; try to 
feel how much better it is to get a nice 
supper at home, and have your family 
happy and comfortable, than to work 
twice as hard, and spoil your best dress 
getting up a church supper, and waiting 
on people whom you care very little for, 
or who care little for you. It is pleasant 
to meet one’s friends socially sometimes, 
of course, and to have some time for 
enjoyment; but don’t make the mistake 
of so many of trying to crowd so much 
into your life that there is no room for 
enjoyment. sarau isham coit. 
PATTERNS FOR R. N.-Y. READERS. 
Write the order for patterns separate 
from other matter, give bust measure 
and pattern number, and inclose 10 cents. 
Each pattern is complete with instruc¬ 
tions for cutting the garment and put¬ 
ting together. 
6770. Ladies’ Tucked Yoke Waist. 
seeing the blackberries he has toiled over 
the woods and pastures to pick, brought 
on the table in the form of a rich and 
melting pie ? And huckleberries, too ! 
What is better? Will some one try my 
cream crust and report ? mart burwell. 
Drying the Hands. —“ Do you know,” 
said a young girl who visits me fre¬ 
quently, “ that I never knew how to 
wipe my hands till I watched you?” 
“ Do tell me,” said I, “for I can’t imagine 
how my way could differ from yours.” 
“Well,” said she, “I noticed that no 
matter how often you had occasion to 
wash your hands, you wiped them so 
vigorously, and each finger and thumb 
separately.” Can it not be possible that 
this lack of “knowing how,” in even so 
small a matter as drying the hands, is to 
blame for the neglected, unseemly look 
so many children’s hands have ? It takes 
only a few seconds, and once a habit, it 
is done involuntarily. sweet fern. 
PEN POTPOURRI. 
It I am weak ami you are strong’, 
Why then, why then, 
To you the braver deeds belong ; 
And so, agaiu, 
If you have gifts and I have none, 
If I have shade and you have sun, 
’Tls yours with freer hand to give, 
’Tis yours with truer grace to live ; 
Than I, who giftless, sunless stand 
With barren life in hand .—Varlotta Perry. 
....Emerson: “A character is like an 
acrostic or Alexandrian stanza—read it 
forward, backwaid or across, it still 
spells the same thing.” 
The quality and reputation of an organ 
decide its price. You want the best 
quality, but you cannot afford to pay 
an extra price for “ name ” alone. In 
quality there is a wide range. 
The cheapest organs are 
utterly worthless. Others, 
costing a trifle more, are 
practically worn out in 
three or four years. The 
best materials insure an 
absolute guarantee of a 
quarter-century of service. 
That is what you secure in an | 
ESTEY ORGAN 
But you pay nothing for “name.” Yet 
the name of “Estey” has been a house¬ 
hold word with lovers of music for the 
last half-century. Few names are so 
closely associated with the musical his¬ 
tory of America. Before purchasing an 
organ, will you not send for our large 
Illustrated Catalogue, sent free? 
ESTEY ORGAN COMPANY 
Brattleboro, Vt. 
If you accept a substitute, 
you must not fuss because 
its not as good as genuine 
HIRES Rootbeer. 
Made only by The Charles K. Hires Co., Philadelphia. 
A 25c. package makes 5 gallons. Sold everywhere. 
Linen Etamine in Persian design on 
ecru ground, is here attractively devel¬ 
oped over fitted linings of rose-pink silk. 
The stock bow, belt and rosettes that 
form the decoration are of olive green 
velvet. The full fronts are gathered and 
arranged low on the lining fronts, that 
close invisibly in the center. The seam¬ 
less yoke is sewed permanently to the 
right, and finished to close invisibly on 
the left shoulder, arm’s eye and under¬ 
arm seams. The back fits smoothly 
across the shoulders, gathers adjusting 
the fullness at the waist line. A belt is 
worn around the waist, a standing collar 
finishing the neck, over which the stock 
is tied in a bow at the back. The sleeves 
are of medium width, cluster tucks 
forming epaulets near the top. A cluster 
of four tucks completes the wrists above 
the facing. The fitted linings may be 
omitted if preferred. Pattern No. 0770 
is cut in sizes for 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 
inches bust measure. 
ODDS AND ENDS. 
Cream Pie Crust. — May I protest 
against a too sweeping denunciation of 
the whole family of “ Pie,” even when it 
is made by such an undoubted authority 
as Mrs. Borer ? What objection can any 
one find to a crust made of good, sweet 
cream? Nothing more—a small spoon¬ 
ful of salt and flour to roll out. When 
filled with custard or good pumpkin, 
what is more wholesome, even for a 
child to whom a piece of pie is an unfail¬ 
ing treat ? What boy does not appreciate 
MOTHERS .—Be sure to use “Mrs. Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup ” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.— Adv. 
-Bishop R. S. Foster: “Woman is 
the greatest institution in the world, 
and the new woman is only coming on 
in the natural order of life. The way is 
opening for her on all sides.” 
-Ida Kays in Womankind : “ The re¬ 
peating of children’s speeches in their 
hearing is a very common error, and 
disastrous alike to the pert, forward 
child or the retiring, sensitive one.” 
....Mary Chisholm Foster in The 
Cjiautauquan : “ Civil authorities are 
far in advance of the church in the scien¬ 
tific and practical care and culture of 
young children. This fact is becoming 
apparent to some earnest primary teach¬ 
ers in the church, and they are inquiring 
for methods. It is not more method 
that is needed, but more intelligent con¬ 
secration to this serious work, together 
with a knowledge of how to use the best 
appliances for a development of the 
threefold nature of the child.” 
W E WILL send samples of three of the most use¬ 
ful and best-selling small articles upon receipt of 
15c. to any Rural New- York kb boy who wants an 
agency. J. A. Cross Novelty Co., Fultonville, N. Y. 
DR. B. W. HAIR S 
ASTHMA CURE FREE 
A dollar bottle and Practical Treatise on Asthma and 
Hay I ever sent free to any asthmatic who will pavex- 
pressage. I»r . B. W. II .4.1 It, I)ep t Cincinnati,!!. 
Wanted-An Idea 
Who can think 
of some simple 
thing to patent? 
3t your Ideas; they may bring you wealth. 
Write JOHN WEDDERBURN & CO., Patent Attor¬ 
neys, Washington, D. C., for their *1,800 prize offer 
and list of two hundred Inventions wanted. 
U/FFKI V yearly, no experience re- 
IILUVLI (juircd, failure impossible; our 
scheme a new one; particulars tree. Address 
S.S.Wilre Co. Box .1:108, Boston,Mass. 
BILLHEADS, LETTERHEADS, 
ENVELOPES, CIRCULARS. ETC. 
Printed Promptly. Reasonable Prices. 
FERRIS PUBLISHING COMPANY, ALBANY. N. Y 
&tti£rellanpou$ 
In writing to advertisers, please always ment lo 
Tub Rural New-Yorker. 
- 
Beauty’s bane is^ 
the fading or falling of 
the hair. Luxuriant ^ 
tresses are far more to the 
matron than to the maid whose casket 
of charms is yet unrifled by time. 
Beautiful women will be glad to be 
reminded that falling or fading hair 
is unknown to those who use 
Ayer’s Hair Vigor. 
SPRAYING CROPS: Why, 
When and How to Do It. —By Prof. Clar¬ 
ence M. Weed. Illustrated. 
This little book tells in plain, understandable 
English, just wbat the ordinary farmer and fruit 
grower most needs to know. It describes all the 
insecticides and fungicides used in spraying; all 
the principal appliances used ; tells when to 
spray; what precautions to observe ; describes 
the insects and fungi against which it is neces¬ 
sary to guard; in fact, is a complete, condensed, 
convenient handbook on the whole subject. Price 
in stiff paper covers, is but 25 cents, postpaid. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets. New York 
BEFORE BUYING A 
NEW HARNESS 
, Send your address, with 2 cent stamp, 
! for Illustrated Catalogue, giving full 
, description of Single and Double Cus- 
_ .loin Hand-Made Oak Leather Har¬ 
ness. Sold direct to the consumer, at wholesale prices. 
KIND HARNESS CO.,N«».10C’hu!-eh8t., Owego.N.Y. 
DIRECT-UM BIT. 
Best Combination Bit made. 
Severe or Easy. 
as you want It. 
Sample mailed, XC *1.00. 
Nickel *1.50. 
RACINE MALLEABLE IRON CO., Racine, Wis. 
“A” tirade, *44. 
Style, Finiah. 
BUGGIES, PHAETONS, SURRIES, WAGONS, 
CARTS, HARNESS, SADDLES, BICYCLES, &e. 
At factory prices. Our record for the past eight years is the beat guar¬ 
antee that we turn out the finest, strongest and lowest priced vehicle* 
in the world, for the money. All work guaranteed. Sena for our beau¬ 
tifully illustrated Catalog for 1896. Price* in plain figure*. Offices, sales¬ 
rooms, factories : Court St. Alliance Carriage Co. Cincinnati, O. 
™4a.t00. 
Durability. 
Permanently cared by osing DR. WHITEHALL’S RHKl'HATIC CURE. The latest, sorest an best. Sample sent frea 
on mention of thi* Magazine. The Dr. WhltehaII Megrlmlne Co,, South Bend, Ind, 
