Jht RURAL NEW-YORKER 
717 
“As Good as New”—The Old Sewing 
Machine 
Many an old sewing machine is dis¬ 
carded when a little repairing would give 
it an added lease of usefulness. A sew¬ 
ing machine used over 30 years was so 
rejuvenated that its owner does not care 
for a new one; in fact, would not ex¬ 
change the old for some of the new ones. 
The machine had reached a place where 
the thread broke almost constantly, where 
the belt slipped, and one day in the midst 
of rushing sewing, that must be done in 
an allotted period of time, it stopped— 
refused utterly to go. It had run heavily 
for some time, had once or twice had a 
momentary period of balking and stop¬ 
ping. but upon this occasion it simply 
could not be made to go. A man on the 
place Avho understood machinery looked 
it over, cleaned the running gear with 
kerosene, and then oiled it largely. In 
this identical machine and in most others 
there are holes for oiling, where the ma¬ 
chinery is not visible, notably, on the 
bar at the right hand of machine. In 
these openings oil was poured freely, 
probably a teaspoonful or more. It was 
not long before the wheels began to “go 
’round.” A new belt was put on and 
fitted properly. The steel plate under 
the machine needle was removed and the 
dirt beneath it extracted. It was amaz¬ 
ing how full this space was of tine dirt 
that had been accumulating for years. 
Last. but. not least, a new shuttle was 
bought for something like a quarter of a 
dollar, and the old machine worked like 
magic. No new machine was wanted, 
and the expense of repairs did not exceed 
$1, not counting the time, which at $1 
an hour would not have brought the bill 
to more than .$2 or $3. Anyone who can 
run a sewing machine can do what was 
done to this old machine. It does not 
require an expert.. The machine has been 
in use eight or ten years since that over¬ 
hauling, and seems fit for another decade 
or two. One thing forgotten in the list 
of repairs was the thin strip of steel that 
controls the tension. This had been worn 
thin by constant thread rubbing until 
it was about as sharp as a razor, and with 
the renewal of this it stopped the thread 
breaking from the top, and the new shut- 
tle stopped the thread cutting at the base. 
So well did the machine work that a 
new half-dozen bobbins were bought for 
about 25 cents, and thus equipped time 
and labor were saved by not having to use 
the same bobbins for all kinds of thread. 
Many an old and some not very old 
sewing machines sound about like thrash¬ 
ing machines when they run. These 
could be taken from the stand, the ma¬ 
chine part, and soaked in kerosene (yes, 
it would take enough to cover them, but 
it could stand and settle afterwards and 
be used for other cleaning purposes if 
economy is the s'ogan). If the running 
gear should be soaked a few hours in 
kerosene, to clean it thoroughly, then re¬ 
place it and use oil freely, especially in 
the places where the machine parts are 
hidden, th*se machines would again run 
easily and with much less noise. 
There are so many good attachments 
for sew ing machines. The agents come 
and show r us what the new machines will 
do and we are amazed, but some of us 
forget that these old machines came 
equipped with many useful devices, only 
we’ve half forgotten about them. (let 
a new book of instructions for running 
\our especial kind of machine and try 
it out and learn what it will do. I wiil 
not attempt to say just what your ma¬ 
chine may accomplish under skilful 
manipulation, but there are few that will 
not do 100 per cent more than their 
usual operator causes them to do. One 
thing we notice when ari operator comes 
trying to sell a new machine, while he 
<'i es wonders and the machine works like 
clockwork, he has all his materials pre¬ 
pared just exactly right, and mostly all 
scarcity cotton goods, that can be handled 
with the least trouble. Mach small piece 
for binding, hemming, frilling, puffing, is 
pressed absolutely smooth, and he has 
had so much practice that every stitch 
is well set and the work beautifully done. 
Here is a lesson for the seamstress to do 
perfect work, prepare perfectly for it. 
Do not be satisfied with anything short of 
perfection. Every stitch well set, and 
seams even. A great deal can be done 
without basting, but when basting is 
needed it should be firm and exact. 
Some baste or simply turn all hems, 
but with a good sewing machine many 
hems can be made much more perfectly 
on the machine than by hand turning. 
Use your attachments and learn just 
what can be done. There is a hammer 
that turns the tiniest kind of hem, and 
with this hemmer is a slit place, through 
which a lace edge can be handled, and 
sewed on right with the hemming. It 
needs a little practice, but the work is 
beautifully done when done right. One 
reason why women do not use attach¬ 
ments more is because they need careful 
adjusting. We have seen hemmers dis¬ 
carded because they “just wouldn’t turn 
the edges in,” and why not? Because 
they were not adjusted just right or be¬ 
cause the material was not held just 
right in feeding it to the hemmer. Just 
a little practice would enable one to save 
a great deal of time in (he aggregate. 
One may gather by simply making the 
stitch long and under tension loose, and 
then draw up the under thread as de¬ 
sired. There are attachments to bind, 
to sew on and gather at the same time, 
and many other things. If you do your 
family sewing get acquainted with your 
sewing machine, and instead of the work 
being a burden it will be a delight. Any 
work well done is delightful. 
In using any attachment, prepare all 
the work needed to be done with that 
especial piece, so that it may all be done 
without changing attachments. Also bo 
sure your bobbin has enough thread on 
to finish that especial work, as it is not 
so easy to put in a fresh bobbin with an 
extra attachment on the machine. A lit¬ 
tle forethought and a renewed machine, 
together with renewed energy, will ac¬ 
complish wonders. 
BOSK SEEK YE- MII.I.ER. 
Baby’s Box Bed 
Having read several times in the paper 
about a baby box, I thought perhaps my 
plan of box would help some busy mother. 
We bought an ordinary sugar box and 
nailed straight boards on each corner. 
The boards were fitted neatly together 
and given several coats of white paint. 
Then we pulled pink sateen tightly around 
the box and legs, allowing about 12 in. 
to turn in at the top. The width of the 
sateen would not allow it to reach clear 
to the floor, but we did not mind that, as 
the legs were painted. Then we draped 
white cheesecloth over the sateen. This 
gave it a very delicate appearance. Large 
pink bows of ribbon on each side would 
add to the attractiveness if one cared to 
use them. Then we made a big mattress 
to fit the inside of the box and filled it 
with soft marsh hay. Over this we put 
a pad about three inches thick, filled 
with cotton and tied every here and there. 
This raised baby just high enough to keep 
him from rolling out. and still gave him 
plenty of fresh air. A pink and white 
blanket and a pink covered wool comfort 
completed it. The bed stood so squarely 
on its feet and was heavy enough to keep 
the little girl from upsetting it, and still 
she could peep in at baby. It was easily 
moved from one place to another, and 
saved me many trips upstairs to the crib. 
The best part of it all was that when baby 
was in his bed T felt perfectly safe. The 
Embroidery Designs 
t *. ; ■ 
723 
3* 
... x 
. i «■ £ . t ; . 
723. Design for a border in cross-stitch 
style. Transfer 20 cents. 
expense is practically nothing, and I’m 
sure that any mother who ever had one 
would not want to be without it again 
for the tiny baby. When baby outgrows 
the box. the outside covering can be taken 
off. washed and one side of a crib com¬ 
fort made from the sateen, or it could be 
put away for future use. The mattress 
should be emptied and put away. The 
box can be left with the legs on. put in 
the attic, and books, quilts or anything 
else packed away in it. MRS. F. j. b. 
Oklahoma Notes 
Our farm women have become greatly 
interested in canning and preserving of 
fruits and vegetables, and there are thou¬ 
sands upon thousands of jars of all sorts 
of fruits, berries and vegetables canned 
every year. Our farm population has 
not yet fallen into the habit of depending 
on commerce for the every-day necessities 
of life, but are largely following the old 
rule of producing the bulk of the food 
supnlies on the farm. Meat and lard 
products, milk and butter, poultry and 
eggs, vegetables, potatoes and fruits are 
largely grown at home. Thus situated 
our common class have not felt the sting 
of growing expenses, and the cutting 
down of farm profits as some have. No 
country or section of country can be more 
prosperous than its farm population is, 
and under present conditions our pros¬ 
perity necessarily depends on our ability 
to make the farm self-supporting. 
How many of our fathers and mothers 
would rejoice for a chance to return, for 
a while at least, to that sweet, simple 
home life of our childhood. How beau¬ 
tiful to have the children gather around 
the fireside at night, every one content 
and happy. Children dressed comfort¬ 
ably. neatly and, I dare say, decently, a 
thing' which can hardly be said of the 
masses of young people today. At pres¬ 
ent I am living in a small college 1 town, 
one with snlendid State schools, and have 
the opportunity of studying the prevail¬ 
ing styles of dress from many sections of 
our own State, as well as others, and to 
a plain, thoughtful mother like myself 
it seems that both from a standpoint of 
health and decency our present styles of 
dress have reached the limit. No wonder 
more and more girls are going down as 
physical wrecks and victims of tubercu¬ 
losis every year. The sheerest garments 
are worn- Summer and Winter, and no 
attention is given to the health question. 
Skirts go higher and waists low. until 
very little material is required. Prices, 
however, have not been reduced as they 
should, and since most girls now buy 
ready-made clothing, the manufacturer is 
coining a nice profit. Is the trend of the 
times leading us back to the time when 
our girls and women will return to the 
neat, serviceable garments made by them¬ 
selves? If so, the present perplexing 
problems will not have been in vain. 
LILY KEEP YORK. 
ECI I,™ FACTORY 
C ET your shoes direct from factory at 
VJ maker’s prices and save dollars on your 
shoe bills Honest, well-made solid shoes 
at. a saving of $2.00 to $3.00. Absolute guar- 
anteo of satisfaction or money back at once. 
Thousands of pleased customers. C 
business years old; successful be¬ 
cause built on square 
dealing. Two of our 
newest sty I es for ladies 
pictured hero. Style* A* 
of Genuine Black Kid 
with new cross-over 
straps. Good weight 
sole, perforated toe, 
solid Cuban heel. Style 
*B’ genuine dark browo 
Genuine 
KID 
Our 
3 
.39 
Postpaid 
calfskin. Rubber Heel; 
neatly perforated; shapely 
and smart. 
Choi 
33* 
our 
ice 
nnw. 
We 
We Guarantee 
that these shoes are 
made by us, that 
they will give 
you satisfac¬ 
tion, or your 
money back. 
Genuine 
Calfskin 
.39 
'■^Postpaid 
FREE —Our New Big 
Catalog, full of amazingvalues in 
•hoes and clothing. SendforitNOW. 
Quickstep Shoe Company 
Department 20 Boston, Mass. 
COFFEE 
A lbs. of Best *1 OH 
** SAN BO.♦■•Mm. 
Pure Coffee Ground or Bean) 
Sent Parcel Post, Free Delivery 
within 300 miles. Add extra: 
postage for longer distances. : : 
MONEY HACK IF NOT SATISFIED 
JAMES VAN DYK CO 
50 BARCLAY ST., N. Y. 
100 Van l>yk Stows in TO cities. 
ASPIRIN 
Name “Bayer” on Genuine 
Beware! L 11 less you see the name 
“Bayer” ou package or ou tablets you 
are not getting genuine Aspirin pre¬ 
scribed by physicians for twenty-one 
years and proved safe by millions. Take 
Aspirin only as told in the Bayer pack¬ 
age for Colds, Headache, Neuralgia, 
Rheumatism, Earache, Toothache, Lum¬ 
bago, and for Pain. Handy tin boxes of 
twelve Bayer Tablets of Aspirin cost few 
cents. Druggists also sell larger pack¬ 
ages. Aspirin is the trade mark of 
Bayer Manufacture of Mouoaceticacid- 
ester of Salicylicacid. 
BUY 
PLAYSUITS 
DIRECT from 
FACTORY 
" Jfc-\ For boys and girls—Stand- 
all Playsuits cover them all 
over—a rough and ready 
A garment for the wear and 
lear of a full day’s play. 
We guarantee every garment 
* 7 against ripping and imper- 
fectiorrs. Save money by 
buying direct from factory. 
. a We manufacture overalls 
for grown-ups, too. Send 
for samples of material and 
complete catalog with prices 
and measurement blanks. 
= _ Standish & Alden, Inc. 
’) Box 677, Dept. 109 
IBST HAVERHILL, MASS. 
illlllllllll WOMANS FRIEND IllllllltllS 
= 
power WASHER 
a Real 
Power Washerbullt especially 
for your needs to be run by a 
gasoline engine or electric 
Power. Write for Free Catalog showing other 
Styles, alHO special introductory oiler. 
BLUFFTON MFG. CO. Box B5 BLUFFTON,’O 
■niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiHiiimiiiiiiiuiiiiiiin: 
“Dish Toweling” 
Direct from Mill 
16 yds. dI best quality 11-inch, checked Co ton 
Dish Toweling sent Postpaid lor Two Dollars 
U.S. Officers Silk Poplin 
Olive Drab Shirts 
Only two to a customer. Th»* can¬ 
not lie duplicated at $3.00 apiece 
and are warranted to bo fast color, 
two largo pockets with buttons 
and flap. 
PAY THE POSTMAN 
Send no money. Just send your 
name, address and size. Your shirts 
will be sent by return mail. Pay 
postman $3.75 and postage on 
arrival. SIZES : 14 to 18. 
U. S. BLANKET CO., Dept. 53, 45 W. 34th St., New York 
Kill Rats Way 
In France the World’s greatest Iab- 
oratory has discovered it germ that 
kills rats and miee by science. Ab¬ 
solutely safe. Cannot harm human 
beings, dogs, cats, birds, chickens or 
clears dwellings and outbuildings, with no 
it is called Danysz Virus. 
Cletour free book on rats and 
I ■ Cw DUUli mice, telling about V in US 
and how to get some. 
P. H. Virus, Ltd., 121 West 15th Street, New York 
“TURKISH TOWELS” 
Mill Seconds that are Good Value 
We will send you POSTPAID FOR KOUlt DOLLARS 
Our special Bundle] of Assorted Towels—Retail Value 
Five Dollars. 
Full Value Guaranteed 
Money Back if Dissatisfied 
STERLING TEXTILE MILLS, Clinton, Mass. 
Clear Baby’s Skin 
With Cuticura 
Soap and Talcum 
Soap,Ointment,Talcum ,26c.e very where. Forsamples 
address: Cuticura Laboratories, Dept. D, Malden. Mast 
WHITING-ADAMS 
BRUSHES 
VULCAN RUBBER CEMENTED 
The kind with perfect mechanical construction 
and highest gr;.de bristles and badger hair. 
They never shed hairs, cannot come apart, and 
wear for many years. Perfectly sterilized. Put 
up and sold in sanitary individual packages. 
Infection cannotoomefrom them. 
Send for Illustrated Literature 
JOHN L. WHITING-1. J. ADAMS CO., Boston. U.S. A. 
Brush Manufacturers for Over 110 Tears and the 
Largest iu the World 
ii tor mi in tin 
:: -■ -i 
When you •write advertisers mention The R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a 
quick reply and a “square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
