hats this season, because they can so easily have what they want--big or
little, plain or decorated, as they please. For a person with dark hair,
gold braid loosely put around the edge of a velvet capote is very
becoming. Bunches of tips are worn much more than the long, drooping
plumes, though both are fashionable; while birds--sometimes as many as
three on a hat--are often preferred to either. We notice upon the street
a great many elegantly dressed ladies with but a single band of wide
velvet ribbon fastened somewhat carelessly around the bonnet and tied in
a bow under the chin. Unique it may be, but undoubtedly the taste of the
wearer, would be the verdict of the passer by. In fact, one can scarcely
be out of the fashion in the choice of a bonnet or hat, but care should
be taken that it be just the thing for the wearer, and that it be
properly put on.
I firmly believe in the doctrine that "good clothes tendeth toward
grace." What woman can not talk better when she knows she looks well?
She can then forget herself and lose all self-consciousness, which is a
state most devoutly to be desired by all women--particularly our young
women. So, girls, study your costumes, especially the "superfluities,"
or "furbelows," as they are wont to be called; make yourselves look as
pretty as you possibly can--and then forget yourselves.
I wish all our lady readers might have been here the holiday week, for
the stores were perfect bowers of beauty. It was a pretty sight in
itself to watch the crowds of happy-faced children, with their little
pocket-books in their hands, at the various counters buying presents for
father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Children always enjoy Christmas
more when they can make, as well as receive, presents. So I hope all our
little readers were made happy by both giving and receiving.
I am sorry I could not give you a more satisfactory talk on the
fashions, but our space is limited this week. I hope the ladies will not
forget that our "Household" department is open to them, and that they
will contribute anything that may be of interest to the others.
MARY HOWE.
A KITCHEN SILO.
The farmer's wife in the Netherlands has long been using a sort of a
silo. Probably she had been doing so for long years before M. Geoffrey
began experimenting with preserved stock food in France. The Netherland
housewife's silo consists of an earthenware jar about two feet tall.
Into one of these jars in summer time she places the kidney bean; in
another shelled green peas; in another broad beans, and so on. Making a
layer about six inches deep in each. She sprinkles a little salt on top
and presses the whole firmly down. Then she adds another layer and more
salt. She leaves a light weight on top to keep all well pressed down and
exclude the air, in the intervals between pickings for often the harvest
of a single day will not fill the jar. When full, she puts on a heavier
weight, and covers all with brown paper. She thus has green vegetables
preserved for winter. The ensilage is said to be "more or less good,
according to taste."
* * * * *
CHICKEN SALAD: Two common sized fowls, one teacup of good salad
oil, half a jar of French sweet mustard, the hard-boiled yolks of ten
eggs, half a pint of vinegar, one teaspoonful of cayenne pepper, eight
heads of celery, one teaspoon of salt or a little more if required. Cut
and mix the chicken and celery and set away in a cool place. Mash the
eggs to a paste with the oil, then add the vinegar and other things, mix
thoroughly, but do not pour it over the salad until about half an hour
before serving, as the celery may become wilted.
* * * * *
SOFT GINGERBREAD: One cup butter and two cups sugar well worked
together, three eggs well beaten in, one cup New Orleans molasses, one
cup good sweet milk and five cups of flour into which has been stirred
one teaspoonful baking powder, not heaped, two tablespoonfuls ground
cinnamon and one tablespoonful ground ginger. Bake in small dripping
pans not too full, as they will rise.
* * * * *
Mixture of two parts of glycerine, one part ammonia, and a
little rose water whitens and softens the hands.
* * * * *
OUR BOOKS.
BOOKS FREE!
Good books are valued by intelligent men and women more than silver and
gold. They are treasures in every home. They are to the mind what light
and heat are to plants. They
_STORE THE MIND WITH USEFUL KNOWLEDGE_;
the mind directs the hands. An intelligent man has an advantage over one
who is ignorant, whether he is a farmer, or mechanic, or merchant, and
is surer of success in his occupation. Think how
_LOSSES OF TIME AND MONEY MAY BE SAVED_
by having some book at hand containing just the information desired in
some line of the rural industries. We offer an excellent opportunity for
any one to obtain BOOKS FREE for himself or family, and also for
societies, farmers' clubs, and associations to make additions to a
library, or to start one.
These books comprise standard works, and the latest and best books for
Farmers, Stockmen,
Dairymen, Fruit-Growers,
Gardeners, Florists,
Poultrymen, Apiarists,
Silk-Culturists, Housekeepers,
Architects, Etc., Etc.
THE PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING COMPANY will give to any person,
association, or club, who will obtain and send subscribers to THE
PRAIRIE FARMER (including both new subscribers and renewals), at the
regular price of the paper ($2) each, any of the books contained in our
Book List on the following terms:
For THREE subscribers, books to the amount of $1.50.
For FOUR subscribers, books to the amount of $2.00.
For FIVE subscribers, books to the amount of $2.50.
For SIX subscribers, books to the amount of $3.00.
For SEVEN subscribers, books to the amount of $3.50.
For EIGHT subscribers, books to the amount of $4.00
For TEN subscribers, books to the amount of $5.00.
_FOR TWELVE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND UPWARD_,
A DOLLAR'S WORTH OF BOOKS FOR EVERY TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS SENT AT $2.00
EACH.
All books given under these offers will be delivered at our office, No.
150 Monroe street.
If it is desired that they shall be forwarded by express, they will be
packed and delivered at the express office by us, the receiver to pay
cost of carriage.
Sent by mail to any part of the United States or Canada, the postage
will be seven cents on each dollar's worth of books.
It is necessary that parties to whom the books are given shall remit us
the postage before the books are sent.
* * * * *
A Dictionary Free!
This is no catchpenny affair, but a valuable lexicon. It is the popular
AMERICAN DICTIONARY,
on the basis of Webster, Worcester, Johnson, and other eminent American
and English authorities. It contains over 32,000 words, with accurate
definitions, proper spelling, and exact pronunciation; to which is added
a mass of valuable information. It is enriched with 400 illustrations.
REMEMBER,
every subscriber at the regular price of THE PRAIRIE FARMER
gets this Dictionary FREE, if preferred to our commercial map.
* * * * *
HERE IS ANOTHER.
ROPP'S CALCULATOR
And Account Book for 1884.
This is the most useful thing in the way of a memorandum book and
calculator ever issued. It is a work of nearly 80 pages of printed
matter and an equal number of blank leaves, ruled, for keeping accounts.
The contents include a vast array of practical calculations, 100,000 or
more in number, arranged for reference like a dictionary, so that a
farmer or business man may turn to the figures, and find the answer to
any problem in business.
There are three kinds. We use No. 3. Full leather; assorted colors, with
flap, slate pocket, and a renewable account book, ruled with divisions
or headings especially adapted to farmers' use. The retail price of
this book in leather is $1. We will send it FREE to every
subscriber to THE PRAIRIE FARMER who sends us $2. Or we will
send THREE copies of No. 1, the cheaper issue.
* * * * *
AND YET ANOTHER.
AMERICAN ETIQUETTE AND RULES OF POLITENESS.
It is the latest and best standard work recommended and endorsed by all
who have read it. The acknowledged authority. Beautifully and
appropriately illustrated; handsomely and substantially bound. It
contains 38 chapters, treating on all subjects relating to etiquette. We
send this book--plain edition, to any subscriber desiring it who sends
$2.00 for THE PRAIRIE FARMER year, or for two subscribers to
THE PRAIRIE FARMER at $2 each, we will send American Etiquette
bound in English cloth, burnished edges.
Our large and varied premium list will be issued in a few days. Send for
it.
* * * * *
MISCELLANEOUS.
TO PRESERVE THE HEALTH
Use the Magneton Appliance Co.'s
MAGNETIC LUNG PROTECTOR!
PRICE ONLY $5.
They are priceless to LADIES, GENTLEMEN, and CHILDREN with WEAK LUNGS;
no case of PNEUMONIA OR CROUP is ever known where these garments are
worn. They also prevent and cure HEART DIFFICULTIES, COLDS, RHEUMATISM,
NEURALGIA, THROAT TROUBLES, DIPHTHERIA, CATARRH, AND ALL KINDRED
DISEASES. Will WEAR any service for THREE YEARS. Are worn over the
under-clothing.
CATARRH, It is needless to describe the symptoms of this nauseous
disease that is sapping the life and strength of only too many of the
fairest and best of both sexes. Labor, study, and research in America,
Europe, and Eastern lands, have resulted in the Magnetic Lung Protector,
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asked by others for remedies upon which you take all the chances, and WE
ESPECIALLY INVITE the patronage of the MANY PERSONS who have tried
DRUGGING THE STOMACHS WITHOUT EFFECT.
HOW TO OBTAIN This Appliance. Go to your druggist and ask for them. If
they have not got them, write to the proprietors, enclosing the price,
in letter at our risk, and they will be sent to you at once by mail,
post paid.
Send stamp for the "New Departure in Medical Treatment WITHOUT
MEDICINE," with thousands of testimonials,
THE MAGNETON APPLIANCE CO.,
218 State Street, Chicago, Ill.
NOTE.--Send one dollar in postage stamps or currency (in letter
at our risk) with size of shoe usually worn, and try a pair of our
Magnetic Insoles, and be convinced of the power residing in our Magnetic
Appliances. Positively _no cold feet where they are worn, or money
refunded._
* * * * *
CLUB RATES.
To Our Readers.
THE PRAIRIE FARMER is the OLDEST, MOST RELIABLE, and the LEADING
AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST, devoted exclusively to the
interests of the Farmer, Gardener, Florist, Stock Breeder, Dairyman,
Etc., and every species of Industry connected with that great portion of
the People of the World, the Producers. Now in the Forty-Second Year of
its existence, and never, during more than two score years, having
missed the regular visit to its patrons, it will continue to maintain
supremacy as a STANDARD AUTHORITY ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO AGRICULTURE
AND KINDRED PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES, and as a FRESH AND READABLE FAMILY
AND FIRESIDE JOURNAL. It will from time to time add new features of
interest, securing for each department the ablest writers of practical
experience.
THE PRAIRIE FARMER will discuss, without fear or favor, all topics of
interest properly belonging to a Farm and Fireside Paper, treat of the
most approved practices in AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, BREEDING, ETC.;
the varied Machinery, Implements, and improvements in same, for use both
in Field and House; and, in fact, everything of interest to the
Agricultural community, whether in FIELD, MARKET, OR HOME CIRCLE.
IT WILL GIVE INFORMATION UPON THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, WESTERN SOILS,
CLIMATE, ETC.; ANSWER INQUIRIES on all manner of subjects which come
within its sphere; GIVE each week, full and RELIABLE MARKET, CROP,
AND WEATHER REPORTS; PRESENT the family with choice and INTERESTING
LITERATURE; amuse and INSTRUCT THE YOUNG FOLKS: AND, in a word, aim
to be, in every respect, AN INDISPENSABLE AND UNEXCEPTIONABLE FARM and
fireside COMPANION.
Terms of Subscription and 'Club Rates':
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TWO COPIES, " " " 3.75
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one to Club getter 16.00
TWENTY " " sent at one time, and
one to Club getter 30.00
Address
The Prairie Farmer Publishing Co.,
Chicago. Ill.
* * * * *
SELF CURE FREE
Nervous Lost Weakness
Debility Manhood and Decay
A favorite prescription of a noted specialist (now retired.)
Druggists can fill it. Address
DR. WARD & CO., LOUISIANA, MO.
* * * * *
OUR YOUNG FOLKS
A TALK ABOUT THE LION.
We wonder how many of THE PRAIRIE FARMER boys and girls have
seen the lion, "king of beasts," as he is called. Perhaps not all of you
as yet, though many of you doubtless will as the years roll on--and, by
the way, you will find that the older you grow the more quickly will
they speed away. So be careful in this, the beautiful springtime of your
lives, to so cultivate and make ready the garden of your minds that the
coming manhood and womanhood may not only find you with well developed
arms and limbs and muscles, ready to face the world and to help lift
some of its burdens, but also with a mind that has kept even pace with
the body--because of constant _growth_.
We think we will have to depart from our usual natural history articles
some day, and have a talk with the boys and girls on this subject of
growth--growth in its largest, broadest sense, the mind, soul, and body
all growing together into the stature of a perfect man.
But to return to the lion. This animal is the largest of the cat family
and is found, only in Asia and Africa. The Asiatic lion is not so large
nor so fierce as the African, and has a much smaller mane. The mane of
the African lion is long and thick, and gives the animal a very noble
appearance; the female, however, has no mane. The lion is always of one
color, that is, without spots or stripes, generally tawny, though the
mane is dark sometimes nearly black. The lion gets its full growth when
seven or eight years old, and lives usually about twenty-five years,
though some have been known to live much longer in menageries.
These animals see much better in the night than in the day, so they
generally hide away during the day and search for food in the gray dawn
of the morning. They feed chiefly on antelopes, zebras, giraffes, and
wild cattle. It is said that the lion rarely attacks man, only in cases
of extreme hunger; indeed, they seem somewhat afraid of man. Dr.
Livingstone says that when the lion meets a man in daylight it will stop
two or three seconds to stare at him, then turn slowly round and walk
off a few steps, looking over its shoulder, then begin to trot, and when
at last he thinks he is no longer seen will bound away like a hare. The
Doctor says also, that the roar of the lion is very like the cry of the
ostrich, but the former roars only at night, however, while the latter
cries only by day.
Did you not think it wonderful when you saw for the first time, perhaps,
a keeper walk boldly into the lions' cage, when in their natural state
they are so very fierce and wild? Well, we think it is wonderful,
although the keepers tell us that they are easily tamed.
In ancient times they were used in many more ways than they are now.
Hanno, the Carthaginian general, had a lion to carry his baggage, and
Mark Antony often rode through the streets of Rome in a chariot drawn by
lions. A short time ago we read a story of a slave named Androclus, who,
while hiding away from his master in the deserts of Africa, cured a lion
of lameness by pulling a thorn out of its foot. The slave was afterward
caught, carried to Rome, and condemned to be eaten by the wild beasts.
He was thrown into a lion's den, but the beast, instead of killing him
fawned upon him and showed the greatest delight at seeing him; Androclus
was surprised to find that it was the same lion whose foot he had cured
in the desert. The Emperor, it is said, was so much pleased at the sight
that he gave the slave his pardon, and presented him also with the lion,
after which he used to lead the great beast tamely through the streets,
held simply by a little chain.
In modern times, also, lions have been known to exhibit strong
friendship for man. In 799, two lions in the Jardin des Plantes (Garden
of Plants), at Paris, became so fond of their keeper that when he was
taken sick they gave signs of the greatest sorrow, and when he recovered
and came back to them they rushed to meet him, roaring with joy,
meanwhile licking his hands and face.
Perhaps you have read of Theodorus, King of Abyssinia (he killed himself
in 1868), who used to keep several tame lions in his palace and treated
them almost like dogs.
Travelers tell us, too, that these great animals often show fondness for
other animals, as, for instance, an old lioness belonging to the Dublin
Zoological Gardens was taken sick, and was greatly annoyed by the rats.
At last a little terrier dog was put into the cage, but was received by
the lioness with a surly growl; finally when the old animal saw the
little dog could kill her enemies, the rats, she coaxed him to her, and
petted and fondled him, so that they soon became great friends.
The lion is a mammal of the order carnivora, or flesh-eating animals.
The word lion comes from the Latin leo, Greek leon, lion.
Would you like me to tell you next week about a bear I saw upon the
hills of Nova Scotia, near the scene of Longfellow's beautiful
Evangeline, a few months ago?
MARY HOWE.
A JACK-KNIFE GENIUS.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: William Yohe claims to be the champion
jack-knife artist of the day, although he was born in St. Louis and not
Yankeedom. A reporter heard of this professional lacerator of pine
sticks and sought him out. It was not until the inside of an unused
Methodist church at Kirkwood, this county, was reached that Mr. Yohe and
his knife was cornered. The knife was slashing cigar-boxes to pieces at
railway speed when the reporter opened up with: "Are you the man who
makes an automatic world's fair and St. Louis Exposition with a knife?"
"No, that isn't what I call it. I am making what I call the Missouri
Pacific and Strasburg Cathedral Automatic Wonder, with the Golden Ark of
the Covenant. It will contain over 180,000 pieces and will have 1,100
moving and working figures."
All around the gaunt and dismantled church were piles of cigar-boxes and
laths and myriads of nicely-carved pieces of wood, apparently portions
of models of buildings. The whittler was a small man, with keen eyes and
ready tongue and about thirty-six years of age. In the course of an
hour's conversation he said in substance: "I didn't know that I was
anything extra of a whittler until about 1869, when, in a small way, I
made some models. I was in Texas working at millwrighting. The first
large piece I ever made was a model of a Bermuda castle. Afterward I
made Balmoral Castle, Bingen Castle, Miramar Castle, and the Texas State
Capitol at Austin. Solomon's Temple contained 12,268 pieces and had
1,369 windows. It is now on exhibition in Texas. The Austin Capitol
Building has 62,844 pieces and 561 moving people. Every room and
department in the building was given, with all the officers and
legislators. Everybody was represented, down to the man sawing wood in
the basement for the furnaces. All the figures were moved by a wooden
engine, which was run by sand falling on an overshot wheel. I made this
piece at odd moments in 1881.
"I have just hired this church and begun steady work. I shall sleep and
eat in this church until about May 1, next. The material? Yes, it does
take considerable. I have already used up 967 cigar boxes and 300 laths.
It will take in all 1,800 cigar boxes, 500 laths, and 500 feet of
lumber. The cigar boxes I get for one cent each. I used no tools except
my knife."
* * * * *
Little Johnny Botts found a garter snake in the park the other
day and he brought it home and hid it in the piano. When his sister's
young man opened the instrument that evening to play "For Goodness Sake"
he thought he had 'em and yelled like a Piute on the war-hath. They
won't believe in Johnny's innocence somehow, and his father said that
after dinner he'd attend to his case. When the family sat down to table
Johnny solemnly entered the room in his stocking feet and carrying a
pillow which he placed on his chair before sitting down. "What new
monkey shine is that?" growled old Botts. "S-s-s-h, pa," said Johnny
anxiously; "I was playing fireworks with Billy Simson this afternoon and
I swallowed a torpedo." "Did, eh?" "Yes, and if anything should touch me
kinder hard I might go off and all bust up."
* * * * *
THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS
in prizes is offered by the YOUTH'S COMPANION for the best
short stories either for boys, for girls, humorous stories, or stories
of adventure, to be sent them before May 20th, 1884. The terms and
conditions of the competition are issued in a circular--for which all
who desire to compete are invited to send.
* * * * *
Sin is very much like the ordinary North American mule. It may
be very tame and docile at the front, but in the rear there is always a
sly kick hidden away and you'd better be on your guard.
OUR BOOK TABLE
BOOKS RECEIVED.
ARIUS THE LIBYAN: AN IDYL OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH. Author unknown. NEW
YORK: D. Appleton & Co. CHICAGO: Jansen, McClurg & Co. 12mo. Cloth.
Price, $1.50.
This is a romance of the church in the latter part of the third and the
beginning of the fourth centuries. The scene is laid near Cyrene, A.D.
265. It is an exquisitely written idyl of primitive Christian life, and
can not fail to attract a great deal of attention, especially now that
the public mind is being turned in the direction of early church
history. It deals in a powerful, yet simple, manner with that subtle
question, the Trinity of the Godhead, and gives the reader many new
thoughts in connection with it. The characters portrayed awaken an
unusual degree of interest, being as they are, persons eminent in
history, both secular and religious. As one follows the story to its
close he can not but agree with the author, that Arius, the hero and
arch-heretic of the Nicene age, was "one of the grandest, purest, least
understood, and most systematically misrepresented characters in human
history." The latter portion of the book brings out, prominently, the
real character of Constantine, stigmatized by Arius as "that unbaptised
pagan, the flamen of Jupiter." The noble plan of the book and the grave
importance of the questions that agitate the characters, combine to make
it a valuable production to both believer and skeptic.
THE ORGANS OF SPEECH. By G.H. Von Meyer, Professor In Ordinary of
Anatomy at the University of Zurich. NEW YORK: D. Appleton &
Co. CHICAGO: Jansen, McClurg & Co. 12 mo. Cloth. Price $1.75.
This book is the forty-sixth volume in the international scientific
series, and needs no better introduction than the well-known name of the
author. The subject of the organs of speech and their application in the
formation of articulate sounds is treated in a masterly and exhaustive
manner. The object of the author has been not merely "to enter into the
field of discussion upon the various modifications of sounds, * * but to
bring forward a sufficient number of examples in confirmation of the
laws explained," in which purpose he has most admirably succeeded. The
work contains forty-seven wood cuts, and will be a valuable addition to
any library. We would recommend it especially to teachers of vocal music
and declamation.
FIFTY YEARS' RECOLLECTIONS. By Jeriah Bonham PEORIA, ILL.: J.W.
Franks & Sons. Sold by subscription.
This is a carefully compiled work, giving the author's observations and
reflections on the historical events of Illinois for the past fifty
years, it also gives very interesting and full biographical sketches of
many of the prominent men who have, during this time, figured in the
affairs of the State, so far as Mr. Bonham's personal acquaintanceship
and recollections extend. The sketches, condensed, yet complete, of the
sixteen Governors of Illinois, from Shadrach Bond, the first Governor,
down to the present time are especially interesting. The book will be
enjoyed by the old settlers of the State on account of its personal
reminiscences, which are all true, not drawn from the imagination.
* * * * *
The Youth's Companion, Boston, is another famous, and deservedly so,
American juvenile publication. It has attained an immense circulation.
Among its contributors are a score or more of the most talented American
authors. It is edited with great care and ability. See advertisement on
another page.
* * * * *