I 
American Agriculturist, July 28,1923 61 
Rocking-Chair Shopping Easiest For Farmer Women 
A Stay-at-Home System Described by Mabelle Robert —Other Simplified Home Making Suggestions 
W HEN the family wardrobe needs 
replenishing, I sit down at my desk 
and make a list of what must be had 
and the amount I can spare for it all. 
Then I get out all of my catalogues—I 
usually have about a dozen from the 
larger mail-order houses—also a pencil 
and some cards for taking notes. Those 
cards, by the way are saved from the 
layers of shredded wheat biscuits as 
they are very handy for taking notes. 
On a separate card for each catalogue 
I write headings: page, catalogue 
number, name of the article, price and 
information. Under each heading as I 
look over the catalogues, I mark down 
the data on articles I want. 
When I finish with all the books and 
all the articles desired are looked up, 
by carefully going over the cards and 
comparing prices and values, I decide 
by a, process of elimination where I 
shall send for my goods. It is then a 
simple matter to make out the order by 
referring to the card of the chosen 
catalogue for page, and number of each 
article. When the order is completed I 
go over it very carefully again, to be 
positive that I am not leaving out any 
necessary information as to sizes, colors 
and proper numbers. 
Study Before You Order 
Many people object to mail-order 
buying because they “want to see what 
they y re paying for.” A careful study 
of the descriptions will usually enable 
one to visualize the articles, for the 
companies certainly describe their 
goods as to materials, colors and 
weights, better than the average store 
clerks. 
It will help anyone to read descrip¬ 
tions of various cloths, for instance, 
both from catalogues and magazine ar¬ 
ticles; study not only about the goods 
you know, but about those which are 
merely a name to you. Most companies 
handle the various standard goods, 
known everywhere by the trademark, 
“Fruit of the Loom” cotton, “Meritas” 
oil-cloth; Kleinert’s rubber goods; and 
many others which are all so well ad¬ 
vertised that their names alone guaran¬ 
tee satisfaction. 
There are, also, different standard 
goods made for each mail-order com¬ 
pany, and bearing its trade-mark. 
Those are exactly described as to qual¬ 
ity and are usually as good as the ones 
mentioned above. In the catalogue of 
one of the largest mail-order companies, 
the extreme fairness and clearness of 
the description is noticeable. ' In the 
hosiery “department” for instance, the 
exact percentage of wool is given in 
each style. It is seldom one can learn 
that in a store! A stocking may be 
called part-wool and have but ten per 
cent of wool in it. 
Last Christmas one of my gifts to 
“himself” was a pair of suede leather 
lamb’s wool-lined driving mittens, pur¬ 
chased by mail. About tbe same time 
a friend bought a pair exactly like mine 
in a men’s furnishing store in our near¬ 
est town. But hers cost six dollars and 
fifty cents, while I paid only two-fifty. 
Ever since I began keeping house, my 
shopping has been nearly all done by 
mail; and in all my buying for my hus¬ 
band and myself and two babies, there 
has been just one instance-when I re¬ 
turned goods because not satisfied. 
Think Over Your Needs 
It is always a good plan to decide as 
nearly as possible on quality of articles) 
and price one can pay, before looking 
over the catalogues at all. As a mat¬ 
ter of fact, I work out those things in 
my mind, while I wash dishes or sweep. 
For example, the youngster’s winter 
hose, shirts, and bands. In our cold 
northern winters, wool is necessary to 
keep the little bodies protected, but 
all-wool goods will shrink and is not 
as long-wearing as some with a per¬ 
centage of cotton. Therefore, I decide 
on getting those garments that are a 
third or perhaps one-half cotton. Like¬ 
wise, the cloth for my husband’s winter 
work shirts will be more durable and 
just as warm if reinforced with oot- 
ton. . 
It always pays to buy the better 
qualities, so far as one’s purse allows. 
There .is so much satisfaction in feel¬ 
ing sure that our purchases are really 
good, dependable, and lasting. Buy 
for quality rather than looks, but 
preferably have both. 
In buying wash-goods, it is wiser to 
pay the extra few cents per yard and 
get something that is guaranteed wash¬ 
able and non-fading. Notice too, about 
the width of piece goods. There are 
, several widths of outing, or cotton flan¬ 
nel, for example; the narrowest, about 
twenty-two inches is a good width for 
diapers; the second width, about 
twenty-seven inches, is right for most 
all children’s wear; while the widest, 
about one-yard is best for nightgowns 
and like use. 
Send Money Carefully 
The hints I have given will apply quite 
as well to buying directly from the 
stores irr your nearby towns, but you 
will certainly help avoid dissatisfac¬ 
tion when buying by mail. The Post 
Office money order is about the best 
way of sending pay for goods. It is 
cheaper and handier than registering 
your letter. Cash, stamps, and en¬ 
dorsed checks in an unregistered letter 
go at sender’s risk, and it is an unwise 
way of doing business. 
It seems as if the advantages of mail 
order buying are legion! It means a 
saving of time, money and nerves; it 
offers goods, machinery and everything 
for home and family; It gives a big 
choice of styles and prices for those 
who buy ready-made clothing, and a 
wonderfully alluring assortment of ma¬ 
terials and colors for the home- 
sewers; while the styles give the home- 
seamstress many an idea on the little 
attractive touches for dresses and chil¬ 
dren’s wear. 
FOR YOIJR SUMMER CANNING 
A suggestion for a home-made steam 
cooker comes from Mrs. Leon H. Lewis 
of Prattsburg, N. Y. She writes: 
The peanut butter that grocers sell 
in bulk comes in twenty-five pound tin 
containers, which when cleaned out 
make ideal cookers in which to do your 
coldpack canning. Punch two or three 
tiny holes in the top with a shingle nail, 
so that there will be no danger of a 
steam explosion. If you do not have 
any inexpensive wire can holders, an 
old tin cover can be used as a false bot¬ 
tom. Four quart jars can be processed' 
at once and that usually is as many 
cans as the busy housewife cares to 
prepare at one time. It also has the ad¬ 
ditional advantage over the clothes boil¬ 
er of occupying a very small space on 
the stove. 
HARDY PERENNIAL PINKS 
I have had evidence this summer that 
these old favorites have not been for¬ 
gotten. I mentioned them in a few 
articles and was swamped with in- 
CLOTHES THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR COMFORT 
I NSTEAD of saying “be 
carefulthe mother of 
the youngster who wears 
No. 1815 can say “Go 
as far as you like!’’ A 
romper like this is ideal 
for hard play or the quieter 
amusement on very hot 
days. Put in sleeves if you 
like, but small son or 
daughter will prefer it 
without. 
No. 1815 cuts in sizes 
2, 4 and 6 years. Size 4 
takes 1% yards 36-inch 
material, with 1% yards 
ruffling. Pattern 12c 
(stamps preferred). 
E VERY woman finds a 
middy blouse comforta¬ 
ble and No. 9567 has 
style too. The band at the 
bottom makes it fit well at 
the hips and the smart 
applied yoke gives it a real 
sailor effect. The collar and 
tie are in regulation style 
too. 
No. 9567 cuts in sizes 
34, 36 4 38, 40 and 42-inch 
bust measure. Size 36.takes 
3 Vi yards 36-inch material, 
with 101,4 yards of braid. 
Price 12c. 
U NDERNEATH the 
romper is No. 1619. 
a dainty “undie” for any 
little girl. The youngster 
who is learning to dress 
herself will find this has 
the fewest bothersome but¬ 
tons of any suit she ever 
had, while she will also love 
its comfort and freedom. 
Pattern No. 1619 
cuts in sizes 2, 4, 6 and 8 
years. Size 4 takes 1 yard 
of 36-inch material. Pric 
12c. 
T HE three-tiered skirt is very 
popular this year. No. 1722 
combines it with the long waist¬ 
line and thus achieves a model 
which would be becoming to the 
woman with a full figure. It is 
shown in figured voile, with plain 
for trimming. 
No. 1722 cuts in sizes 36, 38, 
40, 42, 44 and 46 inches bust 
measure, and size 36 requires 4 
yards of 40-inch material with 3/7 
yard contrasting and 3 yards of 
ribbon. Pattern 12c. 
P LEATS are decidedly “it.” Side 
pleats are most becoming to the 
matron, who finds the all-around 
sort trying. No. 1822 very clev¬ 
erly lengthens the pleat panels and 
also shows a neck line and blouse 
fulness which are graceful features. 
No. 1822 comes in sizes 36, 
38, 40, 42, 46 and 48-bust meas¬ 
ure. Size 36 takes 4% yards 40- 
inch material, with a % yard strip 
for vest and 3% yards binding. 
Pattern 12c. 
To Order: Be sure your name, address,-pattern numbers and sizes are 
clearly written. Send order with proper remittance to Pattern Depart¬ 
ment of the American Agriculturist, 461 Fourth Avenue, New York City. 
You want a summer catalogue, don’t you? It is 10c and well worth the 
money. 
quiries. I had neglected to say that 
they were catalogued under the name 
“Dianthus” and readers could not find 
them. Dianthus Plumarius is the old 
clove-scented garden pink, and of re¬ 
cent years these have been improved or 
added to until we can get finer colors 
and have varieties that bloom during 
the summer instead of in the spring 
alone. Then a new type, Dianthus All- 
woodii, blooms from spring until fall. 
All the hardy pinks can be grown from 
seeds and fall is the ideal time to sow 
them. August gives plenty of time for 
them te get strong little plants by 
winter, but they may be sown as late 
as September. A cold frame or protect¬ 
ed bed should be provided and the seeds 
sown in rows four inches apart and 
kept clean. They are left in the seed 
bed until spring when they are set out 
where wanted. Do not hesitate to grow 
them by the hundreds for they can be 
slipped in almost everywhere, and you 
will find very few of your seedlings not 
worthy a place, for, unlike most hardy 
perennials, you don’t have to grow a 
hundred to get one good one.— Lewis 
Cobb. 
The Brown Mouse 
{Continued from page 59) 
I guess he’s only prejudiced against 
seeming to give up his old notions.” 
“Paw says he’ll be on hand prompt,” 
said Raymond. “But he had to be 
p’swaded right much. Paw’s proud—- 
and he cain’t read.” 
“Sometimes I think the more people 
read the less sense they’ve got,” said 
Newton. “I wish I could tie dad up! 
I wish I could get snakebit, and make 
him go for the doctor!” 
The boys crossed the ridge to the 
wooded valley in which nestled the 
Simms cabin. They found Mrs. Simms 
greatly exercised in her mind because 
young McGeehee had been found play¬ 
ing with some blue vitriol used by 
Raymond in his school work on the 
treatment of seed potatoes for scab. 
“His hands was all blue with it,” 
said she. “Do you reckon, Mr. Newton, 
that it’ll pizen him?” 
“Did he swallow any of it?” asked 
Newton. 
“Nah!” said McGeehee scornfully. 
Newton reassured Mrs. Simms, and 
went away pensive. He was in rebel¬ 
lion against the strange ways grown 
men have of discharging tteir duties 
as citizens—perhaps a proof that Jim 
Irwin’s methods had already accomp¬ 
lished much in preparing Newton and 
Raymond for citizenship. At present, 
however, the new wine in the old bot¬ 
tles was causing Newton to forget his 
filial duty, and his respect for his 
father. He wished he could lock him 
up in the barn so he couldn’t go to the 
school election. He wished he could be¬ 
come ill—or poisoned with blue vitriol 
or something—so his father would be 
obliged to go for a doctor. People got 
dreadfully scared about poison—New¬ 
ton mended his pace, and looked hap¬ 
pier. He , looked, in fact, more like a 
person filled with deviltry, than one 
yearning for the right to vote. 
“I’ll fix him!” said he to himself. 
(Continued next week) 
One housewife says a small magnet 
is the handiest thing around the 
kitchen. She uses it to collect spilled 
tacks, and with a piece of string on 
it she recovers many a small metal part 
of stove or aink that would otherwise 
be lost 
Before you decide to paper that 
dingy room, try sweeping down the 
walls with a clean broom, finishing them 
off with a dry cloth. It may save you a 
papering bill. 
Cuticura Soap 
-AND OINTMENT-— 
Clear the Skin 
Soap,Ointment,Talcum, 26 c. e ve ry w here. Fopsamples 
ftddreaa: Cntlcora L»bor»tarl«» ,D«pt. U, Malden, Mait. 
