247 
Oic RURAL NEW-YORKER 
silk or straw, the edge sometimes being 
buttonholed. Many hats are faced with a 
contrasting color. An example is a mush¬ 
room-shaped straw of dark purple, faced 
under the brim with flesh pink. A cord 
of flesh pink was nut flat on the brim, 
about half an inch from the edge, and 
there was a wreath of flowers and foliage 
embroidered in straw and silk around the 
crown, in pink, white and dark green. 
Wide-brimmed silk hats with straw fac¬ 
ing under the brim are one of the South¬ 
ern styles, and there are also leghorn hats 
with silk crowns. A leghorn hat trimmed 
with silvery blue ribbon and a cluster of 
peaches was charming. A hat of corded 
green silk was trimmed with flat straw 
flowers of cream and yellow. The^e sport 
Farmers’ Bulletin No. 770. Mr. Wet- 
more gives the history of the canary, 
and many interesting facts about the way 
they are reared and trained in their Eu¬ 
ropean home. It is interesting to know 
what pains are taken to train these 
little birds in music. It seems that the 
best singers are reserved to be used as 
teachers. The object is to select birds 
with a soft, pleasing note. The young 
birds are put in with these experts, and 
they come to imitate their teachers un¬ 
til their voice has been properly trained. 
The birds are watched carefully, and 
A Baby Burro, American Army Mascot 
hats are just the thing for girls living in 
the country; it is not often that style and 
utility are so well combined. A “dress” 
hat of straw, trimmed sparingly with 
flowers or fruit, and a sport hat trimmed 
with straw or woolen embroidery, will 
meet the needs of all ordinary occasions. 
Sewing-room Hints. —Black and col¬ 
ored porcelain beads, the small ones such 
as are used for weaving on a bead loom, 
are often u.sed for trimming, and one can 
get a very good effect at comparatively 
small cost. A black satin waist trimmed 
with curved bands had these bands out¬ 
lined with a single line of beads, first si.x 
black, then six white, alternately, with .a 
small space between each group. These 
were quite easy to apply, the needle being 
threaded with stout black silk, and the six 
beads being slipped on the needle at one 
time, and fastened with a stitch at the 
end. A more elaborate trimming could 
be made by putting a crow’s foot of bugles 
or a little flower of other beads between 
each group of six. Frequently worn and 
shabby bead trimmings may be utilized 
in this way, taking them apart and dis¬ 
carding the shabby foundation. One 
smart gown noticed had two single lines 
of small beads, one line black aud one 
white, around each armhole and the round 
neck, the front of the waist being elab¬ 
orately beaded, and also the bottom of the 
front panel of the skirt. 
We see a good many dresses fastening 
down the back, some invisibly, and some 
with round buttons. There is also a re¬ 
turn of blouses buttoned down the back. 
Skirts are still short, but not so exag¬ 
geratedly brief, as a few months ago. 
Some of the shops offer to make gaiters to 
match i-eady-made separate skirts; solid 
colors, stripes and checks. 
Separate skirts of striped flannel, 
usually rather brightly striped, are offered 
in plain models with fancy pockets and 
buckled or buttoned belt. Such a skirt 
would please the high-school girl, and be 
smart and serviceable. 
A Bulletin on Canaries 
During the year we have 25 or more 
requests from women and children to 
tell about the care and management of 
canary birds. These bright little birds 
Canary, Reproduced from Agricultural Bulletin — 
are lively companions in many farm 
homes during the Winter, and it is sur¬ 
prising how much their owners think of 
these mu.slical little fellows. Such a 
bird entertains the entire family, and 
helps fill- the home with sunshine. All 
lovers of these bright, little companions 
will be glad to know that the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture at Washington has 
issued a bulletin on “Canaries, Their 
Care and Management.” Tt is written by 
Alexander Wetmore, and is known as 
if any of the young ones develop a hard 
or false note, they are taken out, as 
otherwise this defect might be taken up 
by the others. The bulletin is full of 
excellent advice and information. There 
are 20 pages, and practically every 
phase of the subject is covered. We cer¬ 
tainly advi.se any of our people who are 
interested in these little birds, to send 
for this pamphlet and keep it on file 
for information. 
A Baby Burro 
Here is the picture of an animal not 
often appearing in the columns of The 
R. N.-Y., albeit he is a useful fellow 
down in our distr-essed sister republic, 
whence he hails. The picture is that of a 
five-months-old burro colt, and is the 
property of Troop M, First Illinois Cav¬ 
alry. 
The boys of the troop captured this 
baby burro while the cavalry was down 
on the border near Brownsville, named 
him Villa, and brought him back to Chi¬ 
cago. He is now the regularly recognized 
mascot of the troop, but he has been re¬ 
quiring a deal of attention from the vet¬ 
erinary department. The tribe seems to 
be unable to stand even our mild Fall 
weather; he shivers out in the frosty air 
or in the cool breezes that blow off Lake 
Michigan. One or two of the animals 
that were brought to Chicago were at¬ 
tacked by pneumonia, and had to be 
nursed as if they were human babies. 
Villa now has a snug stall at Fort Sheri¬ 
dan. In this picture young Villa is mad 
because one of the troopers stripped off 
his coat, that his whole body might show 
in his likeness. j. L. graff. 
Reducing Living Cost 
I think one reason for the hi^h cost of 
living is that eveiyone is running to pack¬ 
age stuff. I see no reason wliy clean 
storekeepers should not deliver many 
things as clean if they bought in bulk. 
No doubt they would rather handle the 
package goods, but almost everything 
hills short; you ask for a pound of raisins 
or dates and you get a much less quai tity. 
Of course, it is right on the package, but 
that does not help out as you pay as 
much as you ought to for a pound. I get 
soda loose and get two pounds of just as 
good soda as though I bought a package 
for half the price. I use sour milk or but¬ 
termilk for many things, and save half 
the cream of tartar or baking powder. I 
use one-half teaspoonful soda for one cup 
sour milk, aud then use half as much 
cream of taiffar and soda and have very 
good luck. I think we should .also live 
more simply if we wish to have good 
health, and it would save much hard work 
besides. R. E. F. 
As AN aid to compiling vital stati-stics 
a card with blanks to be filled by parents 
had been given to the youngsters at 
school. The last day designated for the 
return of the cards found one chubby 
little man sobbing uncontrollably. In an¬ 
swer to the teacher’s most gentle ques¬ 
tioning as to the cause of his grief he 
wailed forth: “Oh. Miss Blank, I lost 
my excuse for being born I”— Life. 
Flour 
Facts 
Color m flour is an indication 
of its character. 
Learn to tell from the color 
of your flour whether it has 
been bleached or otherwise 
chemically treated. 
The best flour for bread, 
biscuits, or pastry is not chalky- 
white in color, but a delicate 
creamy-white. 
Learn to know this whole¬ 
some flour color. You will rec¬ 
ognize it in Pillsbury’s Best. 
The beautiful creamy-white 
color of Pillsbury’s Best flour is 
natural to good, clean wheat, 
carefully and honestly milled. 
Pillsbury’s Best flour is not 
bleached. It never will be 
bleached. 
i 
The Flour Question Settled 
‘‘Because 
Pillsbury’s Best” 
Send 10c for a copy of the famous Pillsbury Cook Book. Address Dept. F28 
Pillsbury Flour Mills Company, Minneapolis, Minn. 
