-470 
April 6, 
Woman and the Home 
From Day to Day. 
CATKINS. 
Of many a flower of famous note 
The Summer weaves her pall; 
I give my love to one remote 
And less inclined to fall: 
The catkin in his yellow coat 
And gray fur over all. 
He comes a champion unafraid. 
Though Winter rule the land, 
When never a primrose lights the glade 
Nor a violet scents the hand, 
Or ever a cowslip ball is made 
Or the Crocus hollow scanned. 
He comes to hedgerows bare and black 
And breaks them into joy; 
With a tuft of yellow atop the stack 
For every breeze to toy; 
He carries a Winter coat on bis back 
With the merry heart of a boy; 
He goes before the leaves are green 
Or the cuckoo loud in May ; 
And children love his olive sheen 
Of silver-suited gray, 
For he is catkin-soft for a queen, 
And he grows above their play. 
When merry roses sway and float 
And beckon from the wall. 
And breezes bend the lily’s throat 
And hollyhocks grow tall— 
I mind me of the yellow coat 
With gray fur over all! 
—The London Spectator. 
* 
Those who find rhubarb alone too 
tart for their taste may stew prunes 
with it. Soak the prunes and stew 
gently in very little water, cooking the 
rhubarb separately with sugar; then 
put the two together and heat, but do 
not cook so as to boil the prunes to 
rags; serve like other rhubarb sauce. 
A few figs cut up and stewed with the 
rhubarb will also give a pleasant flavor. 
* 
Many of the Spring hats are notice¬ 
able for the simplicity of their trim¬ 
ming—nothing more than some little 
upright cockade or monture standing 
erect in front. A favorite model in the 
first straw hats is a derby shape with a 
round crown and straight brim, the 
trimming being merely a stiff made 
feather directly in front. There are also 
a good many rather large, flat-crowned 
shapes. Bright cerise is a favorite 
color, both for entire hats and for trim¬ 
mings. 
* 
The. Melbourne (Australia), Aus¬ 
tralasian says that the frugal methods 
of a well-conducted poultry farm were 
rather puzzling to the city man. He 
noticed that all the egg-shells from 
kitchen and breakfast table were saved, 
and, having been crushed up, were 
mixed with the fowls’ food. Knowing 
nothing of the merits of lime, shell- 
grit, and all that sort of Leghorn detail, 
it struck him as a particularly cute idea 
•‘By Jove,” he said, “that is not a bad 
notion. You keep giving them back 
their own shells, and they’ve got to fill 
’em again.” 
* 
We hear frequently of egg-stealing 
dogs, but a feline egg thief is more un¬ 
usual. A correspondent of “Our Dumb 
Animals” tells about her pet, a fat, lazy, 
good-natured cat witn a fondness for 
eggs. Sir Tom was detected in the 
kitchen recently on a table watching an 
unopened bag of eggs. “Stepping back 
noiselessly,” writes the owner, “we saw 
him cautiously tear the bag with his 
teeth and claws, stopping every little bit 
to listen. Finally the opening was large 
enough for him to get out an egg by 
gentle little pats. He held the egg in 
his mouth, jumped to the floor, rolled 
his prize about gently until he got it 
into position, and then bumped it against 
the table leg until it broke. Then he 
enjoyed his feast.” 
* 
With the present smooth close-fitting 
skirts, the underskirt must be fitted as 
carefully as the dress, and it should not 
be gathered up with a draw-string, but 
closed with flat buttons or snap 
fasteners. If one has soims good white 
THE RURAk NEW-YORKER 
cambric petticoats of old-fashioned 
widths, it will pay to make them nar¬ 
rower. One can take enough out of a 
full embroidered flounce to make a 
corset cover and thus make of the skirt 
a one-piece combination. One ingenious 
economy was to take a breadth out of 
a rather full China silk princess slip, 
the waist part being worn through, and 
make a new waist from the material re¬ 
moved. Whatever may be said of the 
appearance of the fashionable outline, 
there is a good deal of comfort in these 
lightweight skirts, to say nothing of the 
economy of material. When we com¬ 
pare a pleated 23-gore skirt of five or 
six years back with a trim light two 
or four-gored pattern of to-day, we feel 
that we are progressing towards san¬ 
ity—and yet our critics are not happy! 
At present we are threatened with pan¬ 
niers and draped effects, probably out 
of deference to the weavers who com¬ 
plain that scant patterns are ruining 
their trade. __ 
“Charity Sweetheart.” 
Regarding our old and valued friend 
and contributor, Mrs. Annie L. Jack, 
her daughter writes: 
“Will you tell The R. N.-Y. readers 
that ‘Charity Sweetheart’ went into the 
other world while in the midst of life 
here, without a moment of pain or a 
sigh scarcely, and while planning work 
for the coming Summer. She passed 
away February 15. She enjoyed so 
much some of the letters that came to 
her from readers; and was talking of 
her next article the afternoon she went. 
She had been connected with The R. 
N.-Y. for 30 odd years.” 
The following words of appreciation 
come from readers: 
Having been for many years a reader 
of “Woman and the Home” and 
“Charity Sweetheart’s” letters, I learned 
to look for them. Of late I missed 
them and wondered. It was with al¬ 
most a sense of personal loss that I read 
of her death. M. B. w. 
Michigan. 
Mother and I were both so sorry that 
dear, helpful “Charity Sweetheart” was 
gone. We shall miss her so much, and 
The R. N.-Y. household has cause to 
mourn so illustrious a member. I fancy 
that 1 feel much as Grand Army men 
do when one of the old guard drops 
out. What a weary void her going must 
leave in the home where she meant so 
much! A. m. T. 
Connecticut. 
Keeping Preserves and Jellies. 
Can any of your readers inform me the 
best way to take care of preserves, jellies, 
jams, marmalade, etc., during the hot 
weather? What is the best temperature to 
keep them in, and is it possible to improve 
upon a good dry cellar? H. a. a. 
Any place that is cool, dark and dry 
is desirable for keeping preserves, etc. 
Our own practice is to keep them in a 
dry cellar. Dampness is decidedly 
harmful; so is a fluctuating temperature. 
Light has a tendency to bleach the 
color of some canned fruits, such as 
strawberries and -raspberries, so we 
would either wrap in paper or keep the 
jars in covered boxes. The ideal place 
of keeping these things is a ventilated 
dark closet in the cellar, where there is 
no danger of frost, but a generally even 
temperature.__ 
Cooking Tongues and Sounds. 
Can you tell. us how to prepare for the 
table “tongues and sounds?’’ I believe these 
are tongues and brains of cod. Some of 
our New England friends, especially those 
of Cape Cod, can probably tell us. They 
are put up in a “kit” like salt herring. 
j. l. p. 
The following recipe for tongues and 
sounds comes from “down East”: Soak 
in warm water for several hours to 
freshen them, and scrape to remove 
skin. Cut in small pieces and beat 
slowly in water. Prepare a white sauce, 
drain the tongues and sounds, put on 
toast, and pour the white sauce over 
them; garnish with hard-boiled eggs. 
Some cooks heat in milk, and then 
thicken this with flour and butter. An¬ 
other way is to prepare as before and 
put in a baking dish, cover with white 
sauce, scatter bread crumbs over the 
top, and bake until brown. 
Keeping Cider Sweet. 
I noticed in T he R. N.-Y. some time 
last year a recipe for keeping cider 
sweet. It may be a good one, although 
I have never tried it, but give my 
method, which I have tried and proved 
very successfully. Melt flowers of sul¬ 
phur in a pan on a stove, take a muslin 
cloth, dip it in the melted sulphur and 
make a wick. Split a stick and place 
cloth match in the split. As soon as the 
cider is made see that your container is 
perfectly clean; have everything in 
readiness, turn barrel or container with 
the bunghole down, light the cloth 
match, stick it in the bung hole and let 
it remain till the fumes begin to come 
out. Turn the barrel up, do not let the 
fumes out. Place funnel in the hole, 
keep a cloth tight around the outside of 
the funnel, keep the funnel full of cider, 
and let the air come up through the 
cider in the funnel. When you are 
through close up the barrel airtight and 
leave it alone for at least three days 
before drawing any out. Keep the cider 
in a cellar if possible. I wish some of 
the R. N.-Y. family would try this and 
report results to the paper. 
J. L. THORNTON. 
Warfare Against Moths. 
I want to tell “Distracted” what keeps 
me free from moths. In the Spring, I 
open all the closets, drawers and boxes 
in a room; unfold any woollen articles 
which may have been folded. Then I 
place a small tin pieplate on a brick in 
the middle of the floor, and put on it 
a sulphur candle which can be bought 
for five cents at the druggists. After 
closing tight the windows, and stopping 
the keyhole, I light the sulphur and 
leave the room. By the end of 24 hours 
you can enter the room and ventilate. I 
have also used in somewhat the same 
way carbon bisulphide. Then in the 
Spring, when I put away the woollen 
clothes, each suit goes into a moth-proof 
calico bag and hangs in the garret or 
store-room; and each woollen article is 
folded in an old sheet or bit of old mus¬ 
lin. In this way 1 am very rarely 
troubled with moth-eaten garments and 
am. free from the awful odor of moth 
balls, which do no good anyway. Kero¬ 
sene or gasoline put along the crack of 
the floor at the mopboard with a ma¬ 
chine oil can, will kill any stray eggs 
there. mrs. w. h. h. 
Egg Soup.—This is very nourishing, 
and will be found excellent for children 
or convalescents, where nourishing food 
is needed. Put four tablespoonfuls of 
rice in a quart of good stock and let 
simmer slowly for half hour. Pres* 
through a sieve and return to kettle; 
add half teaspoon of salt and saltspoon 
of pepper. Beat the yolks of two eggs, 
add a little of the hot soup, and then 
put the mixture in the kettle. Stir for 
few minutes, but do not boil. Serve 
with squares of toasted bread. 
CANNING 
Home 
Outfits 
Steam Pres¬ 
sure Boilers 
for canning fruits of 
all kinds—corn, peas, 
string beans, pump¬ 
kins, tomatoes,/ 
fish, pork and beans,L_ 
etc. Small size fits*^/ 
on cook stove like an ordinary kettle. Factory 
sizes have fire box, soldering outfit, lifting 
crane, etc., complete. Canning is as easy as 
cooking eggs or boiling potatoes if you have 
the right apparatus. Our booklet 
"SECRETS OF THE CANNING BUSINESS” 
tells the whole story. It is free, also our 1912 
Catalog. Farmers save $100 each year in gro- 
Orchdrdists and vegetable gardeners 
make from $500 to 
$1000 yearly from fruit 
and vegetables that 
otherwise would go to 
waste. Write now. 
Wholesale Prices 
to Farmer Agents 
and Dealers 
Northwestern Steel 
& Ironworks 
"3$31i 118 SPRING STREET 
I r ■ ; EAU CLAIRE. WIS. 
eery bi 
For the Farm 
I Shop or suburban home/ 
I Turn a switch and flood , 
I your premiseswith brilliant 
j electric light Complete 
I outfits in eluding engine,.dynamo, 
I switchboard, storage batteries, 
I etc., $250 up, according to 
I number of lights desired. Cheap- 
I er to operate, handier, cleaner 
1 and safer than any other light. 
| W rite for particulars. 
THE DAYTON EtECTRICAL 
. MFG. COMPANY 
123/ St. Clair St., Dayton, O. 
l Largest Mfrs. of Ignition ' 
I and Lit ’ 
ighting Apparatus 
llusii ’ 
tho 
Exclusively "in 
>U.S. 
LIGHT FOR YOU 
No smoke, no dirt, no amen, 
no deadly carbide, no tearing up 
of walla or floors. Complete gM 
plants that you can Install In an 
hour‘s time. 500 styles to select 
from. Costa cent an hour fos 
400 candle-power. Write foi 
catalogue. Agents wanted. 
American Gas Machine Co., 164 Clark St., Albert Lea, Mi*. 
Cheap Running Water Supply for Farm and 
Home. Costs nothing to operate—give8 all year 
round -unning water supply to all parte of your 
home, barn, stables, troughs, etc. If you live 
near a spring or flowing stream install a 
NIAGARA HYDRAULIC RAM 
More comfort for your family—better for 
your stock—saves labor. Doesn't need 
attention—can’tgetoutoforder. Prices 
really low. Free booklet. 
NIAGARA HYDRATTLICENGINE00 
P.O.Box 1008, Chester, Pa. 
THE COAT THAT KEEPS OUT ALL THE RAIN 
$3.- Everywhere. 
A. J. TOWER CO. BOSTON 
TOWER CANADIAN LIMITED. TORONTO 
Strawbridge & Clothier, Philadelphia’s Representative 
Store, will send free a copy of their Spring and Summer 
Fashion Catalogue to any address. 
Thousands of good merchants all over the country sell Strawbridge & 
Clothier Suits, Coats, Skirts, Linens, Upholstery Material, Underwear, 
Hosiery, and Dress Fabrics. We prefer that you buy of your local dealer 
if he carries our goods—and he should if he handles merchandise of quality 
and distinction. 
For the Catalogue, address Strawbridge & Clothier, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
In writing, please mention this paper 
