1914 . 
THE! RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Winter in the Country. 
While Winter is usually a season of 
joy to children in general it is often a 
lonely dreary season to women who live 
upon the farm. Usually the mother can 
find plenty to do to occupy her time and 
attention, but weeks and weeks of the 
same round of duties, with but little 
change, is very tii’esome, making exist¬ 
ence in the country a mere treadmill of 
wearisome tasks which must be done 
over and over again. An effort should be 
made to bring variety into the home life 
of the farm women. Home is always 
twice as sweet to one when she returns 
to it after being absent. We often gain 
contentment from going out among our 
neighbors and finding out that they, as 
well as ourselves, have rough places in 
their own lives. We take up our own 
burdens more cheerfully when we realize 
that we are not the only ones who have 
crosses to bear. We are all so different¬ 
ly situated that it is impossible to make 
out a social outline for every neighbor¬ 
hood, but in this rather remote New Eng¬ 
land town we have kept up a very pleas¬ 
ant sociability during the cold season. 
At Christmas last year we had a very 
pleasant neighborhood party, where all 
were invited, young and old. It was held 
in a large, roomy farmhouse, decorated 
with red paper, evergreens and Christmas 
bells by young girls of the neighborhood. 
Nearly everyone in the neighborhood 
came. Whist, checkers and other games 
were played. Dancing, singing and music 
were enjoyed also. Refreshments of fruit, 
candy, cake and cocoa were served. A 
sum of money had been contributed by 
different ones for the fruit and candy 
and all the ladies brought cake, so that no 
great expense was entailed upon one fam¬ 
ily. The parents enjoyed themselves as 
much as did the children ; the grandpar¬ 
ents also entered into the fun, and the 
Christmas gathering was one long to be 
remembered. 
In every neighborhood there should be 
some leading spirit in order for there to 
be genuine sociability. There initst al¬ 
ways be a leader in every imdertaking 
great or small. It is usually for the lack 
of leadership in the country that life is 
dull and unattractive. The world is full 
of pleasures right at our own doors if 
we will but step out and find them. A 
Ladies’ Sewing Circle could be organized 
which would do a world of good. The 
ladies in each neighborhood could meet 
and sew for each other. A great deal 
of work could be accomplished in an 
afternoon, and many a weary woman 
would rejoice in having her friends come 
in and help her do her work. Then 
another week they could meet with an¬ 
other neighbor, then still another, and so 
on until the round of the circle was com¬ 
pleted. Or if they did not wish to sew 
for each other, they could sew for some 
over-burdened shut-in, taking their own 
refreshments and making the day one of 
pleasure and no extra work to the hostess. 
There are always carpet rags to sew, rugs 
to braid, garments to be made, mending to 
do. Always “something to do for some¬ 
body else.” And in doing for others we 
enrich our own lives and bring to our¬ 
selves as well as to others the best and 
purest kind of happiness. 
In the early days of our country, when 
New England was striving to regain her¬ 
self after the Revolution, sociability in 
neighborhoods was very great. The com¬ 
mon hardships which each family had 
undergone had knit them together in 
bonds of friendship, so practically all of 
their work, as far as possible, was done 
in “bees.” Husking, paring, and quilt¬ 
ing bees were the order of the day, which 
brought the people together in the even¬ 
ings. Newspapers were gaining in cir¬ 
culation, and every town had its news¬ 
paper circle. They met at each other’s 
home, exchanged newspapers and read 
them aloud. To-day, when our homes 
are supplied with newspapers and maga¬ 
zines, there may not be the need of a 
newspaper circle, but would it not be of 
benefit to have the members of the maga¬ 
zine clubs, of which there are many, meet 
frequently at each other’s homos for an 
evening, instead of simply passing the 
magazines around to each other as most 
of them do? It would promote the taste 
for good literature and would do a great 
deal towards making country life attrac¬ 
tive in Winter. 
Why do not you who have leisure do 
something more than you are doing to 
76 
brighten the lives of those around you? 
You would be surprised to find out what 
you could do, if you would but try. Our 
country neighborhoods do not need to 
be the lonely places they so often are, 
if one or two in each neighborhood would 
earnestly try to do something for them¬ 
selves and for their neighbors. This is 
a good motto for each and all: 
“Let me live in my house by the side 
of the road and be a friend to man.” 
SUSAN JEWETT HOWE. 
White Oilcloth in the Kitchen 
It has been our fortune either to build 
new or make over several different kitch¬ 
ens, and in each one we have found the 
use of white oilcloth one of the most 
helpful things about them. We like a 
bright clean well-lighted kitchen, not too 
large, with a good outlook on the world; 
a cozy corner by the kitchen fire where 
the men folks can rest a bit and pick up 
their paper. In fact the kitchen is the 
most cheerful room in the home. We 
never did like wainscot; it made the 
Eighty Years of Faithful Service 
to the American Public 
room look too barnlike; then too the 
paint was hard to clean. So we took 
white oilcloth and put it on the walls, 
from the baseboard up the full width of 
the oilcloth; paste it on just like wall¬ 
paper. It makes a smooth hard wall that 
can be wiped off like a china plate. Tile 
paper is used above that, with sometimes 
a piece of moulding to finish the edge 
where the two meet. We paste it on the 
pantry shelves, and use it on the pantry 
walls as in the kitchen. The kitchen 
table and work table is covered with it, 
with several thicknesses of paper beneath 
to make it smooth. It is neat, clean, sani¬ 
tary and inexpensive, for with care it 
will last for years. In one kitchen we 
used it six years, and it was as bright 
at the end of that time as when put on. 
We have never seen it used in that way. 
Be careful to have it fit suugly around 
the window and door frames. It can be 
put over papered, boarded or plastered 
walls, with good satisfaction. F. H. 
The Shallot. —A recent query came 
to us relative to shallots, and we found 
that this little onion is unknown to a 
good many people. The name is some¬ 
times given in the markets to small on¬ 
ions or scallions, but the true shallot is 
a different plant, having small clustered 
bulbs like garlic. Its botanical name is 
Allium Ascalonicum, its name being de¬ 
rived from Ascalon in Palestine, where 
it grows abundantly. It has been culti¬ 
vated from time immemorial in the East, 
and was doubtless brought by the Cru¬ 
saders to Europe, being used in Great 
Britain in the sixteenth century. The 
shallot is milder in flavor than garlic, 
and is used quite freely in sauces, cat¬ 
sups and salads. 
The Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company has the enviable record 
of eighty nears of faithful service to the American public. Bear this in mind when you get ready 
to buy a car, for it operates as insurance of quality. 
Eighty years of faithful service is an asset of no uncertain value. 
This company held the respect of the early settlers of the western country because of 
absolutely honest merchandise in the shape of farm wagons. It established its standing 
before automobiles were known. When it embarked in the automobile business, it clung 
to the policy that? made its farm wagon business famous. And its automobiles are 
famous, for the same satisfying reason. 
You’ve got something behind you when you buy. Our standing and 
prestige constitute a bulwark of safety. Add to this the remarkably fine character of the 
Mitchell Models and your purchase is as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. Ask any farmer in 
America what he thinks of the old Mitchell-Lewis Wagon Company. Ask any one of 
thirty thousand Mitchell automobile owners what he thinks of the Mitchell-Lewis Motet 
Company. Their reputation and reliability are precisely the same. 
The Mitchell Models for 1914: 
The Mitchell Little Six—fifty horse-power—132-inch wheel 
base—36x4V£ inch tires—two or five passenger capacity - 
The Mitchell Big Six—sixty horse-power—144-inch wheel 
base—37x5-inch tires—seven passenger capacity .... 
TheMitchell Four—forty horse-power—four cylinders—120 inch 
wheel base—36x432 inch tires—two or five passenger capacity 
$ 1,895 
$ 2,350 
$ 1,595 
Equipment of all the Mitchell Models Included in the List Prices Here Given 
Electric self-starter and generator—elecric lights—electric horn—electric magnetic 
exploring lamp—speedometer—mohair top and dust cover—Jiffy quick-action side 
curtains—quick-action rain vision wind-shield—demountable rim with one extra- 
tungsten valves—double extra tire carriers—Bair bow holders—license plate 
bracket—pump, jack and' complete set of tools. Prices F. O. B. Racine. 
Racine, Wis.U.S. A. 
Eighty Years of Faithful Service to the American Public 
~~ Jleiv <sffolland “ 
Feed Mills 
are great money savers. They grind com, cobs and 
small grain perfectly. Easy to operate and built to 
last a lifetime. The cost is surprisingly low \vher 
you figure that by using one you 
Save 25% on Feed 
An examination will prove to 
you that the New Holland is the 
most substantial feed mill on the 
market. 
Write today for valuable 
catalogue and lour prices. 
NEW HOLLAND MACHINE CO., Boi 41. New HoRand. Pa, 
Save Money on Harness 
Buy custom-made, oak-tanned harness 
direct from factory at wholesale prices. 
We can save you money on any harness. 
All harness guaranteed—money back if 
you are not satisfied. 
KING HARNESS 
Will Outlive Your Horse 
All leather tested by experts. Over 31 years on 
market. Our big free catalogue illustrates over 
75 styles for all purposes—sure to show the harness 
you need. Send for it today. We also sell Horse 
Clothing and Fur Coats. Ask for Catalogue ** .” 
'KING HARNESS CO., Desk C, Rome, N.Y. 
Planet Jr 12-tooth 
Harrow, Cultivator 
* and 
~ 1 / Pulverizer 
Planet Jr 
Combined 
Hill and Drill Seed¬ 
er, Wheel Hoe, 
Cultivator, 
Rake and 
Plow 
The newest and most 
accurate Planet Jr seeder. 
Sows all garden seeds in 
hills or drills, opens the 
furrow, covers, rolls down, 
and marks next row all at 
once. lias steel frame and 
handles, and complete set 
of attachments. Light enough 
for woman’s use. 
Scientific Cultivation 
Get away from useless drudgery and 
old-time wasteful cultivating- methods in 
your family garden and on your farm. 
Use the Planet Jr and do the work of 3 to 
6 men better, quicker, cheaper. Planet 
Jrs are light, strong-, lasting. $2 to $100. 
Fully guaranteed. 
f J?j’j? P ur new 72-page illustrated catalogue of 60 
implements for all farm and garden uses. 
Write postal today. 
S L ALLEN & CO 
Box 1107V Philadelphia 
Planet Jr. 
I No. 251 £ lan f‘ Jr . 
•-.-1 Combined 
Hill and Drill Seed¬ 
er, Double Wheel 
Hoe, Culti¬ 
vator and 
Plow 
Planet Jr Single 
Wheel Hoe, 
Cultivator, Plow, 
Rake and 
Marker 
Two acres 
worked with this tool. 
A capital implement for 
large-scale gardening es¬ 
pecially. It has a steel 
frame, and complete seed¬ 
ing and cultivating attach¬ 
ments. The hoes run close 
to row without danger to 
leaves or roots. • 
a day can be’ 
Planet Jr Horse 
Hoe, Culti¬ 
vator, and Hiller 
An invaluable tool in the market-garden, 
truck and strawberry patches. Has new 
steel wheel which prevents clogging. Its 
12 chisel-shaped teeth cut out all weeds, stir 
and mellow the soil and leave the ground in 
the finest condition without throwing dirt 
on plants. 
A new Planet Jr Single Wheel Hoe that 
is light, strong and practically indestructible 
—the frame and handles are steel. It is 
completely equipped for plowing, hoeing, 
cultivating, and raking. The marking at¬ 
tachment insures rapid, economical wheel- 
hoeing. 
-itU 
Does more and better work than any other 
horse-hoe ever invented. It is light and 
easily handled, yet unusually strong. Has 
new steel wheel which prevents clogging 
with trash. Quickly adjusted to rows up to 
314 feet apart. Vine-turner attachment is 
great for many crops at last working 
