i98 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
MarcK 
From Day to Day. 
TUB SHAMROCK. 
When April rains make flowers bloom 
And .Tohnny-jump-ups come to light, 
And clouds of color and perfume 
Float from the orchards pink and white, 
I see my shamrock in the rain. 
An emerald spray with raindrops set 
Like jewels on Spring’s coronet, 
So fair, and yet it breathes of pain. 
The shamrock on an older shore 
Sprang from the rich and sacred soil. 
Where saint and hero lived of yore 
And where their sons in sorrow toil; 
And here, transplanted, it to me 
Seems weeping for the soil it left; 
The diamonds that all others see 
Are tears drawn from its heart bereft. 
When April rain makes flowers grow 
And sparkles in their tiny buds. 
That in June nights will overblow 
And fill the world with scented floods. 
The lonely shamrock in our land—• 
So fine among the clover leaves— 
For the old Springtime often grieves; 
I feel its tears upon my hand. 
—Maurice Francis Egan. 
* 
Ordinary pork sausage, smoked in bags, 
makes a desirable change, and keeps well. 
Pack the sausage meat in small bags of 
coarse, strong muslin, the size selected be¬ 
ing that most convenient for slicing; 
small salt sacks, well washed, may answer. 
Close the bags, and then smoke, just like 
ham, the amount of smoking depending 
on the family taste. When us split 
down the seam of the bag for conveni¬ 
ence in cutting the slices, and fry like 
ham. 
* 
Baked split peas will make a pleasant 
variation from baked beans; the peas are 
equally nutritious and also cheap. Rub 
a large baking dish with onion. Turn 
into this a pint of split peas soaked until 
soft. Chop a large onion very fine and 
spread over the top of the peas with pep¬ 
per and salt. If you have left over gravy 
or stock pour it over the mixture. If not, 
cover with water, spreading over all 
bacon cut into the thinnest possible slices. 
Bake in the oven for two hours and add 
a little boiling water if the peas get too 
dry. 
* 
Mixed linen suitings are appropriate for 
shirt waist suits. They are a combination 
of linen and cotton, woven like a cham- 
bray,with little flecks of white, the body of 
the fabric being shown in various shades 
of blue, green, pink, gray, brown and 
lavender. The material is 28 inches wide, 
15 cents a yard. Mercerized checked cot¬ 
ton taffeta was familiar last year; it costs 
25 cents a yard. Being mercerized in the 
yarn it retains its sheen, and is woven like 
a silk taffeta, and makes up very well. 
This year, in addition to the two-color 
checks, it is shown in three-color checks, 
which are very pretty. 
* 
The new Spring Eton suits have a cir¬ 
cular skirt and elbow or three-quarter 
sleeves; the jacket is usually double- 
breasted, with inlaid silk collar. Of course 
the elbow sleeves have been worn all 
Winter, no matter what the weather, and 
the style is too pretty to give up at a sea¬ 
son when warmer weather makes it more 
appropriate. The new Spring jacket suits 
are shown already at from $13 or $15 to 
$85 ; linen Eton suits from $10 to $65 ; 
shirt waist suits from $4.50 to $27.50. In 
our vicinity a dressmaker charges $6 for 
making the plainest cotton shirt waist 
suit, and $4 for making a plain silk waist. 
A plain woolen dress costs $10 to $12 
for making alone, while the making of a 
more elaborate one, of silk or wool, with 
drop skirt, or an elaborate muslin, costs 
$18 to $25. At these prices for making, 
with the additional risk of poor 
fit or defective work (for expen¬ 
sive dressmaking is not necessarily good), 
it is no wonder that the demand for 
readymade garments constantly increases; 
q woman of modest means, who is 
unable to do all her own sewing, cannot 
afford to go to the average dressmaker in 
the vicinity of New York. A dressmaker 
who does really satisfactory work is never 
without customers, especially if she goes 
out by the day, but here she expects $2 
to $2.50 a day—more in special cases— 
and this again amounts up very rapidly. 
Wherever it is possible we like to do our 
own sewing; with good patterns and the 
use of good judgment the results fully pay 
for the energy expended, but a woman 
who is already overburdened should not 
add too much of this to her other duties. 
Worn-out clothes are more easily renewed 
than worn-out body and nerves. 
* 
One of the first of the Spring greens, 
pushing its way through the moist ground 
as soon as the March sun warms it, is the 
marsh marigold, swamjp buttercup, or 
cowslip, as it is wrongly called in some 
localities—for the name cowslip belongs 
to certain members of the Primrose fam¬ 
ily, while the marsh marigold (Caltha 
palustris) is of the Crowfoot family. The 
young plants of this Caltha are boiled for 
greens, usually with the addition of a bit 
of pork; they are excellent and whole¬ 
some. The showy yellow flowers of this 
marigold form our earliest Spring bou¬ 
quets. There is a less innocent plant 
pushing its way through the swampy 
ground or along the edges of the brook 
at the same time, the false hellebore or 
Indian poke, which is so distinct in ap¬ 
pearance from the marigold that no one 
< uld possibly confuse the two. and yet 
a case was reported where all the mem¬ 
bers of a household were poisoned 
through gathering the young leaves for 
greens, mistaking them for marigolds. 
The false hellebore (Veratrum viride), 
also known as wolfsbane, devil’s bite, and 
half a dozen other names, has broad oval 
strongly plaited leaves, clasping the stem 
like a sheath at the bottom; they have 
an attractive fresh green as they push up 
in the Spring, but they are entirely dis¬ 
tinct from the roundish or kidney-shaped 
leaves of the buttercup or marigold. 
The most dangerous part of this plant is 
the root, but all parts contain poisonous 
alkaloids. The leaves are very acrid and 
burning when fresh, and are thus likely to 
be avoided by browsing animals. The 
seeds are said to prove fatal to hens. As 
it attains its growth the false hellebore is 
a lusty plant two to seven feet high, with 
a large loose terminal cluster of yellowish 
green flowers from May to July. It is 
really a handsome plant, but there is no 
place for it about the farm; it should be 
destroyed wherever found, in swampy 
meadows, along brooks, or in the borders 
of damp woods. 
Herbs In the Garden. 
One of the most satisfying possessions 
to the woman who loves to work in the 
garden is a bed of herbs. This bed, when 
once started, proves a joy for some sea¬ 
sons, as most of the herbs live year after 
year. So the care of a small bed is not a 
matter of hard labor. The herb to be 
planted most largely is sage. A five-cent 
paper of seed will give one more plants 
than she needs. I sowed the seed in 
boxes in the house, transplanting to the 
garden when all danger of frost was 
past. Late in the Summer I begin to 
gather my sage, clipping a goodly leaf 
here and a tender shoot there, and cutting 
the flower stalks as soon as they appear. 
By so doing the strength is kept in the 
leaves. The sage I dry as quickly as pos¬ 
sible ; then it is packed in an airtight 
can. The choicest leaves, if kept by them¬ 
selves, thoroughly dried and then pow¬ 
dered, can be packed in small glass jars, 
with screw tops. These neatly labeled 
prove very attractive gifts at holiday time 
to friends who are housekeepers in the 
town. Sweet marjoram, thyme and Sum¬ 
mer savory are all raised as easily as is 
sage. These herbs also, aside from being 
useful in one’s own household, help swell 
the list of simple Christmas offerings. An 
herb bed gives a threefold pleasure to its 
possessor. First is. the pleasure gained by 
working among “green things growing,” 
then comes the reward of having strictly 
clean fresh herbs to use in all their pun¬ 
gency and strength, and finally the hap¬ 
piness of having homemade gifts when 
money is not to be had for this purpose. 
Last year I sowed a plot with lavender, 
planning some dainty and useful sachets 
for the linen closets of friends. But, alas, 
the seed failed to germinate. However, 
I think the trial worth repeating, as lav¬ 
ender bags would surely add to my store 
of simple gifts. Speaking of sachet bags, 
how many have ever dried the fragrant 
blooms of the Sweet clover for this pur¬ 
pose? The perfume is delicate and last¬ 
ing. I have some Sweet clover, three 
years old, which has not yet lost its fra¬ 
grance. The stems and leaves I do not 
dry, as these have a rank odor. 
HELEN C. ANDREWS. 
A Good One-egg Cake. —Two cups sifted 
flour, two teaspoons baking powder, one 
scant teaspoon salt, one rounded table¬ 
spoon butter or lard, one cup sugar, three- 
quarters cup sweet milk. One egg, sea¬ 
son to taste. First, mix the .baking pow¬ 
der thoroughly through the flour, then 
the shortening; add the milk and lastly 
the egg. The dough will be thin, but the 
cake will not fall, unless there is too much 
shortening. I often pour into my cake 
pan one-half of the dough—then sprinkle 
over it cinnamon until it completely cov¬ 
ers the dough—and pour over it the other 
half. Trv it. It will bake in half an 
hour with a moderately hot oven. If the 
directions are carried out you will have 
a good cake. mrs. a. b. hayes. 
Eton suits will be fashionable this 
season—Paris predicts It. Be styl¬ 
ish—send for samples of material 
for this suit, make your selection, 
send us your measurements, and 
we will make you a suit and guar¬ 
antee you a perfect fit. perfect sat¬ 
isfaction in everyway, or promptly 
refund your money. We take ail 
the risk. Reflect that it is 
Macy’s making this state¬ 
ment, the leading Dry Goods 
and Department store of New 
York, the largest establish¬ 
ment of its kind under one 
roof in this country. This suit 
is made of black, dark and 
light blue, dark and light 
green, tan, gray and Red 
Panama Cloth, and in blue 
and white,gray and white,tan 
and white and black and white 
mixtures. We want to strong¬ 
ly, deeply, impressone facton 
you—Suits are offered for less 
money, but they are not such as 
wewouldmake. No suit of 
this character, of reliable 
materia), reliably made, 
properly cut, can be sold 
for less, and no other house 
does sell such a suit for less 
than 25% to 33% additional. 
Our 500 page illustrated Spring 
and Summer Catalogue and en¬ 
cyclopaedia of New York fash- 
ons and household supplies, all at Macy prices, now ready. Sent 
FKEE on request. Write for it NOW, AddreBS Room 011. 
R. H. MACY & CO, 
Broadway New York 
Buy your clothing di¬ 
rect from the mill Cut 
out the dealer’s profits. 
Get two suits for the 
price of one. All wool 
suits and overcoats 
MADE TO ORDER 
handsomely trimmed 
and guaranteed to give 
satisfaction. Many pat¬ 
terns to choose from. 
Men’s woo. Suits 
MADE TO ORDER 
Clothing 
Made I 
to Order 
at the 
Mill I 
Save Half | 
$ 7 : 5 ° to $15:50 
Ladies’ 
Spring 
Dress 
Patterns 
hi all 
Shades 
Women’s dress goods 
direct from the mill to 
the wearer at wholesale 
prices. All the newest 
styles and colors. Chev¬ 
iots, Broadcloths, Bril- 
liantines, Panamas, 
Henriettas, Shepherd’s 
Checks, Mohairs, Silk- 
downs. Every yard guar¬ 
anteed. EXPRESS CHARGES 
PAID. Write for samples 
and catalogue. 
CLEN ROCK WOOLEN MILLS. 
203 Main St., Somerville, N. J. 
(ORNISH 
PIANOS 
AND 
ORGANS 
TWO YEARS' CREDIT IF NEEDED 
Simple as A B C to furnish your home with a beautiful High- 
Grade Cornish Plsno or Organ, on a plan of payment arranged 
to meet your convenience. Special terms. Wo can satisfy any 
honest person and save 
FIRST 
PAYMENT 
Balance at your own 
convenience. 
one-half what agent, 
and dealers charge. Ev¬ 
erybody has the benefit 
of ourFactory pricesand 
can buy on any tormsin 
reason. Wo will shipany 
Piano or Organ on 30 
days' trial. Freightpaid 
—no money In ad- 
. . , - - vonce. Goods shipped 
at our risk and safe delivery guaranteed. Payment cemmences 
after one month s use in your own home. Wo do not make or sell 
cheap, trashy flood*.hutonlytheoldreliableCornishPianosand 
Organs. High Grade, First Class. Warrantedfortwenty-fiveyears. 
Distance is no objec¬ 
tion. We ship promptly 
everywhere. We have 
250,000 satisfied patrons. 
If you want to buy a first-class 
Piano or Organ at factory cost we 
invito you to write to us to-day 
for our remarkable collection of 
AIDS TO PURCHASERS. 
FREE 
1. The Beautiful Cor¬ 
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printing, color and design. 
2. A set of colored and 
embossed Miniature Pianos 
and Organs. 
3. Our unique registered 
reference book—5,000 recent 
purchasers’ names and ad¬ 
dresses— some that you 
know. 
4. Our plan to givo every 
purchaser 86 FREE muslo 
lessons —the most success¬ 
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All these FREE if yon write AT ONCE and mention this magailne. 
REMEMBER!!! ^ 
‘ ‘ FIRST 
PAYMENT 
Balance $5 a month or 
at your con venlence . 
Wo mak© here in our own 
largo and complete Fac¬ 
tories in beautiful North¬ 
ern New Jersey, the 
World-renowned Cor¬ 
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and Organs. We employ 
hundreds of skilled me¬ 
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public the tinest Pianos and Organs in America. You can'i act 
a Cornish if you don’t 
come to us direct, and if 
you do we insure your satis¬ 
faction by our iron-clad 
bond backed up by a Mil¬ 
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and Property. 
PER 
MONTH 
On Our Easy Pay¬ 
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Don't think of buying 
elsewhere—Get the Cor¬ 
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(ORNISH (0. 
Washington, New Jersey 
Established 50 Years 
Use It a Month 
FREE 
We will ship this 
piano to any re¬ 
sponsible person 
for 30 days’ trial, 
test, and comparison with any other piano 
at any price. If it pleases you, buy it; 
if not, the trial costs you nothing. This 
piano is a beautiful instrument, cased in 
finest oak, walnut or mahogany, and its 
design and finish are duplicated in few 
$600 pianos. Tone is superb, action the 
finest French repeating, 7 i-y octapes. 
Our price is $165 cash. Can be bought 
by small monthly payments. 
No piano for less money can be safely 
guaranteed for so long a time. We have 
been selling pianos for forty years, and our 
guarantee of quality goes with every piano. 
Your old piano or organ taken in ex¬ 
change at a liberal allowance. 
We sell this piano at a wholesale price 
—because direct from our factory. 
Ask your Bank about our responsibility. 
Write for illustrated piano book. It 
explains how we eliminate all risk from 
piano-buying by mail. 
C. J. HEPPE & SON, 
6th and Thompson Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. 
TELEPHONES 
FOR FARMERS’ LINES 
Bay from the manufacturer. Build 
your own lines. Bookof instructions 
for 10c.in stamps. Write nearest office- 
THE NORTH ELECTRIC CO. 
153 St. Clair St.,Cleveland, O. 
440 Maine St., Dallas, Texas. 
