a small minority. Few and far between are the women who would usurp
man’s place on platform or at poll; still fewer and farther apart the
advocate of woman’s right to drop her petticoat for the untrammeled
freedom of the trousers. But the great-hearted woman, yearning for
recognition as paramount forces of social regeneration—the great-minded
women taking up the problems of life and grappling with them for the
sake of their weaker sisters—these are many, confined and silenced
within the gilded bars which society is daily drawing closer and
stronger about them. This narrowing of woman’s sphere, this withholding
her from anything but a mission purely physical, is but a different form
of the old barbarism whose alleged destruction is the boast of the
present day; and the time is not far distant when the wrong must be
acknowledged and amended, or retrogression brand the age for which we so
proudly claim progression! Let the hackneyed cry of woman’s intellectual
inferiority prove its truth, conclusively, as it has not yet been
proved, or let it be silenced forever! The cranial differences existent
between the sexes, upon which the theoristic foundation of their
respective superiority and inferiority of intellect has been laid, are,
in truth, the exponents of sexual intellectual equality, science having
proclaimed them the visible proofs of that mutual dependence and
adaptability which, sexually, mind has for mind, as body for body. Let
this truth be no longer denied; let present social theories hold their
sway, and in a generation of pigmies, moral, mental, and physical, our
race, in all its glorious potentialities, must sink ignominiously into
oblivion. This is an important fact, of which society seems to have lost
sight—that upon the women of to-day and of to-morrow the coming man is
wholly dependent, type being the transmitter of type, according to its
kind. The increase of female education has naturally awakened women to a
recognition of all her latent intellectual possibilities, and hence the
growth of feminine ranks in that wide field whose battles are fought
with a weapon “mightier than the sword.” The recruits of to-day are not
all Mrs. Brownings nor George Eliots, but the world will lose infinitely
in good and strength and sweetness if the budding Adelaide Proctors and
Mrs. Burnetts are blighted by the propagation of that harsh masculine
doctrine which, stripped of its pretty sophisms, is resolved into the
bare assertion that a woman of talent is a woman unsexed! This doctrine,
false, shallow, and unjust, is the enemy with whom woman is battling
to-day.
May the pyramidal prophecy soon be verified when “all things shall be
compared in pure truth and righteousness.” Then the conflict shall be
ended and the intellectual growth of woman be revealed, the heightener,
enricher, purifier of that emotional development which is the essence of
ideal womanhood—an essence thrilling as deeply and tenderly the hearts
of the humble followers in her footsteps as it thrilled the hearts of
that greatest of woman poets, who sang:
What art can a woman be good at? Oh, vain!
What art is she good at but hurting her breast
With the milk-teeth of babes and a smile at her pain?
pointing in the zenith of her fame to the divine right of maternity as
the supreme, holiest and sweetest potentiality of womanhood.
GIVE THE BABIES WATER.
A recent editorial article in the New York Medical Record contains the
following pertinent remarks on the value of water in the treatment of
sick infants:
“With the exception of tuberculosis, no disease is so fatal in infancy
as intestinal catarrh occurring especially during the hot summer months,
and caused, in the majority of cases, by improper diet. There are many
upon whom the idea does not seem to have impressed itself, that an
infant can be thirsty without, at the same time, being hungry. When
milk, the chief food of infants, is given in excess, acid fermentation
results, causing vomiting, diarrhœa, with passage of green or
yellowish-green stools, elevated temperature, and the subsequent train
of symptoms which are too familiar to need repetition. The same thing
would occur in the adult, if drenched with milk. The infant needs no
food, but drink. The recommendation of some writers, that barley-water
or gum-water be given to the little patients in these cases, is
sufficient explanation of their want of success in treating this
affection. Pure water is perfectly innocuous to infants, and it is
difficult to conceive how the seeming prejudice to it ever arose. Any
one who has ever noticed the avidity with which a fretful sick infant
drinks water, and marks the early abatement of febrile and other
symptoms, will be convinced that water, as a beverage, a quencher of
thirst, a physiological necessity, in fact, should not be denied to the
helpless member of society. We have often seen an infant which had been
dosed ad nauseam for gastro-intestinal irritability, assume, almost at
once, a more cheerful appearance, and rapidly grow better, when treated
to the much-needed draught of water. If any prescription is valuable
enough to be used as routine practice, it is, ‘Give the babies water.’”
WORK FOR LITTLE FINGERS.
To make a pretty little pitcher, cut off the small end of an egg, then
carefully remove the yolk and white of the egg; next take a narrow strip
of colored paper and paste it around the edge of the opening, making the
paper pinked in one place so as to look like the mouth of a pitcher.
Then paste a strip around the other end of the egg so that it will stand
alone; to finish the pitcher paste on a strip of paper bent in the shape
of a handle. Cups may be made in the same manner by cutting away more of
the shell than would be cut in making a pitcher. Pretty air castles are
made by cutting egg shells in half, building the cut edges with colored
paper or cloth, and fastening to them bright colored cord or silk by
which to suspend them. These air castles look pretty when suspended from
brackets, hanging lamps, etc. The pitchers, cups and air-castles may be
improved by being ornamented with small pictures pasted on them.
* * * * *
Breakfast Cocoa, as a beverage, is universally conceded superior to all
other drinks for the weary man of business or the more robust laborer.
The preparations of Walter Baker & Co., have long been the standard of
merit in this line, and our readers who purchase “_Baker’s Breakfast
Cocoa_” will find it a most healthful, delicious and invigorating
beverage.
* * * * *
A man passes for what he is worth. Very idle is all curiosity concerning
other people’s estimate of us, and idle is all fear of remaining
unknown. If a man knows that he can do anything—that he can do it
better than any one else—he has a pledge of the acknowledgment of the
fact by all persons. The world is full of judgment days, and into every
assembly that man enters, in every action he attempts, he is gauged and
stamped.
* * * * *
If you would enjoy quiet content, drop all airs and pretenses.
* * * * *
EDUCATIONAL.
UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN VETERINARY COLLEGE,
141 WEST 54TH ST., NEW YORK CITY.
The regular course of lectures commences in October each year. Circular
and information can be had on application to
A. LIAUTARD, M.D.V.S.,
Dean of the Faculty.
* * * * *
BREEDERS DIRECTORY.
The following list embraces the names of responsible and reliable
Breeders in their line, and parties wishing to purchase or obtain
information can feel assured that they will be honorably dealt with:
SWINE.
Chester Whites.
W. A. Gilbert Wauwatosa Wis.
* * * * *
SCHEIDT & DAVIS, DYER, LAKE CO., IND., breeders
of Victoria swine. Originators of this famous breed.
Stock for Sale. Write for circular A.
* * * * *
REMEMBER _that_ $2.00 _pays for_ THE PRAIRIE FARMER _one year, and the
subscriber gets a copy of_ THE PRAIRIE FARMER COUNTY MAP OF THE UNITED
STATES, FREE! _This is the most liberal offer ever made by any
first-class weekly agricultural paper in this country._
* * * * *
LIVE STOCK, ETC.
HOLSTEINS
AT
LIVING RATES.
DR. W. A. PRATT,
ELGIN, ILL.,
Now has a herd of more than one hundred head of full-blooded
HOLSTEIN’S
mostly imported direct from Holland. These choice dairy animals are for
sale at moderate prices. Correspondence solicited or, better, call and
examine the cattle, and select your own stock.
* * * * *
LABEL
[Illustration]
Dana’s White Metallic Ear Marking Label, stamped to order with name, or
name and address and numbers. It is reliable, cheap and convenient.
Sells at sight and gives perfect satisfaction. Illustrated Price-List
and samples free. Agents wanted.
C. H. DANA, WEST LEBANON, N. H.
* * * * *
10 JERSEY BULLS FOR SALE.
All of fine quality, solid color and bk. points. Ages, from six to
eighteen months. Sons of Mahkeenae, 3290; brother of Eurotus, 2454, who
made 778 lbs. butter in a year, and out of cows of the best butter
blood, some having records of fourteen and fifteen lbs. per week. No
fancy prices.
A. H. COOLEY, Little Britain Orange Co., N. Y.
N. B.—If I make sales as formerly will send a car with man in charge to
Cleveland, getting lowest rates.
* * * * *
SCOTCH COLLIE
SHEPHERD PUPS,
—FROM—
IMPORTED AND TRAINED STOCK
—ALSO—
NEWFOUNDLAND PUPS AND RAT TERRIER PUPS.
Concise and practical printed instruction in Training young Shepherd
Dogs, is given to buyers of Shepherd Puppies; or will be sent on receipt
of 25 cents in postage stamps.
For Printed Circular, giving full particulars about Shepherd Dogs,
enclose a 3-cent stamp, and address
N.H. PAAREN,
P.O. Box 326, CHICAGO. ILL.
* * * * *
MISCELLANEOUS.
Don’t be Humbugged With Poor, Cheap Coulters.
[Illustration]
All farmers have had trouble with their Coulters. In a few days they get
to wabbling, are condemned and thrown aside. In our
“BOSS” Coulter
we furnish a tool which can scarcely be worn out; and when worn, the
wearable parts, a prepared wood journal, and movable thimble in the hub
(held in place by a key) can be easily and cheaply renewed. WE GUARANTEE
OUR “BOSS” to plow more acres than any other three Coulters now used.
OUR “O. K.” CLAMP
Attaches the Coulter to any size or kind of beam, either right or left
hand plow. We know that after using it you will say it is THE BEST TOOL
ON THE MARKET. Ask your dealer for it.
Manufactured by the BOSS COULTER CO.,
Bunker Hill, Ills.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
Greatest Offer Ever Made
SEEDS
$2.65 FOR $1.00
A COMPLETE
VEGETABLE GARDEN
ALL THE BEST VARIETIES
We claim our Seeds are Unsurpassed. Their vitality and purity being
tested before sending out. We OFFER $665.00 IN CASH PRIZES FOR 1884
Competition open to all. See Catalogue for particulars. We desire that
all may compete for these prizes, and give our seeds a fair trial,
feeling sure of MAKING A PERMANENT CUSTOMER OF EVERY PURCHASER, and to
INTRODUCE them into thousands of new homes will send free by mail on
receipt of ONE DOLLAR amounting at regular prices to $2.65, OUR SPECIAL
INTRODUCTION BOX OF SEEDS, containing large size packets of all BEST NEW
and STANDARD VARIETIES, as follows: 3 Remarkable Cabbages. _Johnson &
Stokes Earliest_, 10 days earlier than any other, _Early Favorite
Savoy_, richer than Cauliflower. _J. & S. Premium Flat Dutch_, the
standard Winter Cabbage. $80 CASH PRIZES for heaviest heads. 2 Handsome
new Beets. _Eclipse_ and _Philadelphia Perfection_, $10 PRIZE for the
best. 3 Delicious New Melons, _Golden Gem_—Musk. _Boss_, and _Sweet
Icing_—Water. $50 CASH PRIZES for best Melons. 3 Superior Onions, our
Pedigree stock. _Southport Red Globe, Extra Early Red_, and _Yellow
Danvers. Livingston’s New Favorite Tomato, New Ne Plus Ultra Sweet
Corn_, best of all: _New Lemon Pod Wax Bean. American Wonder Pea.
Philadelphia Prize Head and New Satisfaction Lettuce. Green Prolific
Cucumber. Improved Long Orange Carrot. Sugar Parsnip. New Dwarf Extra
Curled Parsley. Mammoth Etampes Bright Red Pumpkin. Early French
Breakfast Radish. New White Strasburgh Summer Radish. California Mammoth
Winter Radish. Long White Salsify. Perfect Gem Squash. New Extra Early
Munich Turnip_, and a trial packet of the _Wonderful New Welcome Oats_.
We will put in each box, FREE OF CHARGE, 3 PACKETS OF CHOICE FLOWER
SEEDS as a present to your wife, mother or daughter, in all 32 PACKAGES.
Send a $1 BILL, postal note, or stamps, in an ordinary letter, and you
will receive the box by return mail, and if not satisfied we will return
your money. 3 BOXES MAILED FOR ONLY $2.50 OUR FLOWER COLLECTION
comprising 10 PACKETS of the CHOICEST FLOWER SEEDS, each beautifully
illustrated in colors, with full directions for culture, sent postpaid
for 25c. in stamps. FIVE COLLECTIONS, $1.00. ORDER NOW, and get our NEW
AND COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE. Mailed FREE. Address,
JOHNSON & STOKES, SEED GROWERS, PHILADELPHIA.
* * * * *
[Illustration: SNOW WHITE FLOUR
MADE FROM
IMPERIAL SPRING
46 B PER ACRE
SALZER’S NEW WHEAT.]
BUY NORTHERN GROWN SEEDS,
No Seeds produce more beautiful Flowers, finer vegetables, larger crops,
than our RELIABLE NORTHERN CROWN SEEDS. Don’t buy worthless Seeds when
for less money ours are delivered FREE BY MAIL at your door.
THE FARM
New tested Wheat [5 sorts] among these Saskatchewan Fife and Imperial
French Seeds grown 800 miles north of here! Everything for farm. Wis.,
Ill., Iowa and other States will return to old time yield if our Seed
Grain is used. Try it.
—> Catalogue free.
Always say where you saw this.
J. A. SALZER,
La Crosse, Wis.
PLANTS AND ROSES,
by the 100,000.
LARGEST GREENHOUSES
in the West.
[Illustration: J. A. SALZER, La Crosse, Wis.]
* * * * *
[Illustration]
THE STANDARD REMINGTON TYPE-WRITER is acknowledged to be the only
rapid and reliable writing machine. It has no rival. These machines are
used for transcribing and general correspondence in every part of the
globe, doing their work in almost every language. Any young man or woman
of ordinary ability, having a practical knowledge of the use of this
machine may find constant and remunerative employment. All machines and
supplies, furnished by us, warranted. Satisfaction guaranteed or money
refunded. Send for circulars. WYCKOFF, SEAMANS & BENEDICT, 38 East
Madison St., Chicago, Ill.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
OUR YOUNG FOLKS
THE LEGEND OF THE STORKS AND THE BABIES.
Have you heard of the valley of Babyland,
The realm where the dear little darlings stay,
Till the kind storks go, as all men know,
And oh, so tenderly bring them away?
The paths are winding and past all finding
By all save the storks, who understand
The gates and the highways and the intricate byways
That lead to Babyland.
All over the valley of Babyland
Sweet flowers bloom in the soft green moss.
And under the blooms fair, and under the leaves there,
Lie little heads like spools of floss.
With a soothing number, the river of slumber
Flows o’er a bed of silver sand,
And angels are keeping watch o’er the sleeping
Babes of Babyland.
The path to the valley of Babyland
Only the kingly, kind white storks know.
If they fly over mountains or wade thro’ fountains—
No man sees them come and go;
But an angel, maybe, who guards some baby,
Or a fairy, perhaps, with her magic wand,
Brings them straightway to the wonderful gateway,
That leads to Babyland.
And there in the valley of Babyland
Under the mosses and leaves and ferns,
Like an unfledged starling they find the darling,
For whom the heart of a mother yearns.
And they lift him lightly and tuck him tightly
In feathers as soft as a lady’s hand,
And off with a rock-a-way step they walk away
Out of Babyland.
As they go from the valley of Babyland
Forth into the world of great unrest,
Sometimes weeping he wakes from sleeping
Before he reaches his mother’s breast.
Ah, how she blesses him now she caresses him:—
Bonniest bird in the bright home band,
That o’er land and water the kind stork bro’t her
From far off Babyland.
—_Ella Wheeler._
A CHAT ABOUT HALIFAX.
As I promised you I will try and tell you a little about Halifax.
Halifax is, as you all know, the capital of Nova Scotia, which is one of
the provinces of British North America, and thus is under the dominion
of the Queen. It is just what I should imagine a real old English city
to be—very odd and antiquated, and yet picturesquely beautiful, and
altogether a most charming place in which to spend a summer.
Never shall I forget the stroll I took alone the second morning after my
arrival. The day was one of those rarely perfect ones in July. All
nature seemed wrapped in a dreamy repose; the heat of the sun was
tempered by the soft sea breezes blowing from the grand old ocean not
many leagues away, whose roar sounded like the voice of many waters,
soothing, restful, and sweet.
It happened that my wanderings led me in to some of the older portions
of the city where the houses are many of them two hundred years old. And
such funny, queer old houses. They seemed, somehow, to have a slanting
look to them; it may have been, however, that it was because the streets
were so hilly, and such a contrast to our flat, level prairies.
Right in the midst of the city, among the stores (shops they call them)
and houses one comes suddenly upon the graveyards—some of them not now
in use, but still left there. What interested me was the flat
tombstones. When a little girl my father used to tell me of how the
children would take their dolls to the cemetery and play upon and under
the grave stones. Do I hear you exclaim, “What, play _under_ a grave
stone!” I do not wonder, for it seemed a funny thing to me, but it was
quite clear when I saw how the marble slabs were placed. Instead of
standing in an upright position, as you have always seen them, they were
laid flat and raised some distance from the ground (high enough for a
child to crawl under comfortably) by means of little marble posts. I
used often to roam through these cemeteries with a dear old gentleman
who would tell me stories of the brave young sailor boys buried there,
far away from their own loved English homes.
Halifax is one of the most strongly fortified cities in America, and at
every turn one meets the red coated soldiers in the streets—when they
are not on duty. What would interest our boys would be to see a sham
battle; the officers and soldiers all in uniform, eager and active as
for a real encounter with the enemy.
One day I went to visit the strongest fort the city contains. It is
called Citadel Hill, and overlooks and commands the harbor; which by
the way, is considered one of the finest in the world. This Citadel is
merely an immense hill, covering nearly half a mile of ground and
situated in the very heart of the city. When you have climbed to the top
you come upon a large opening, and looking down see a long flight of
iron steps leading to the ground, many, many feet below. The hill is
excavated and stored with arms and ammunition of all kinds, and great
cannons, that look so cruel. All along the outer edge of this excavation
were little rooms in which the married soldiers lived with their
families. I pitied the little children that had to live in this way,
without any home feeling—never knowing at what moment their father
might be called away, for a soldier’s life is necessarily a roving one.
This hill would make a grand coasting place in the winter, and one which
I have no doubt the little Blue Nose boys and girls often avail
themselves of. In Halifax not only the boys and girls, but the men and
women also, make much more of winter sports than we do. The large and
elegant skating rink I hear has just been opened and, the regimental
band have given a grand concert in honor of the occasion.
Snow-shoeing used to be indulged in largely, but in the city the custom
is, I believe, somewhat falling off. I do not think you Western boys and
girls could hardly imagine what odd, pretty suits the girls make to go
skating and snow-shoeing in. The one I saw was made of two large white
flannel bed-blankets, with a bright scarlet and blue border. The suit
consisted of a skirt, circular-like cloak, and cap with a long side flap
to it, which hung nearly to the shoulder. My cousin dressed herself all
up in her pretty rig and then got down her wooden snow-shoes and buckled
them on. She looked like a winter fairy all ready for an Arctic
expedition.
I must confess I could hardly understand how she could manage to walk in
the great unwieldy looking shoes, which were nearly five times as large
as an ordinary shoe, but she assured me it was great fun and easily
done.
I heard an amusing story there about a minister who wished to be
married, but who lived a long distance from the neighboring minister,
and the snow was very deep, and there was but one pair of snow-shoes.
Not wishing to wait until spring he hit upon a novel plan which was
this:
That his ladylove should stand upon the back of his snow-shoes, clasp
her arms tightly around her future lord’s waist, and thus be carried
safely to the neighboring kirk, which she accordingly did. You see this
required no real effort on the lady’s part, only, I should judge, a
great deal of pluck and nerve power, as well as love. However the story
is that they accomplished the journey in safety and were duly married.
One of the prettiest drives in Halifax can be had in a place called the
park (what we would call a park proper they call the gardens). This
park, situated in the southern part of the city and overlooking an arm
of the ocean, has twenty miles of smooth, beautiful roads winding
around, and circling in and out among the trees. The roads were made by
the soldiers, who received for their work twenty-five cents a day
besides their regular army pay. There is also another strong fort in
this park. There are, I think, nine forts, strongly garrisoned in and
about the city.
I wonder if any of THE PRAIRIE FARMER boys and girls have the same
desire that I had when living away out West, where I never saw water,
much less a ship, to go through a large ocean steamship. If you have I
hope that some day you may be able to have your wish gratified as I had
mine.
One morning my friend said, “Will you go to a concert this afternoon or
go and visit the ships?” “The ships of course,” I cried, and to the
ships we went. The “Scotia” was just in on her way from Liverpool to New
York, crowded with passengers. It was noon when we went on board, and
the long tables were being laid out in the salon. Most of the cabin
passengers were out “doing” the city so we saw only the steerage
passengers. Now I had heard much of the steerage passengers, but really
never imagined them to be such a poor, miserable looking set of beings.
They sat around almost anywhere with a plate of soup or a dish full of
other unpalatable appearing food and ate as though they did not care
much whether they lived or died. I longed to speak to the children and
the downcast looking mothers, but they were nearly all of foreign birth,
and would not have understood me if I had.
Many of the better class of passengers were in the little side rooms at
their private meals, but we only caught side glimpses of them passing
through. It was a very pleasant sensation to sit in the handsome saloon
and almost imagine yourself to be sailing, sailing away in the great
noble ship to the land of your dreams and fancies.
There are many more things of interest about this pretty city I would
like to touch upon, but I fear my space is already occupied, so will
have to say good-by for this week.
MARY HOWE.
THE LITTLE LEGISLATURES.
Most of these are in session again over the land. I do not mean those
law-making bodies which meet annually at the State capitols to undo what
they had done before, or otherwise make work for the courts and lawyers.
But I allude to those little assemblies of young folks—lads and
lasses—that weekly meet in the winter season in all the thousand and
one school-houses and rural halls throughout our country. Legislatures
did I call them? Not quite legislatures; but training schools in which
legislators are made; and it is in these that our rising youth are
qualifying themselves to govern the country that is so soon to be
theirs.
Little as we may think of it, these assemblies, under whatever name they
may be known—lyceums, societies, clubs, or “legislatures,”—are a power
in the land; they do far more than most people think in forming the
characters and fixing the opinions of the great multitude of boys and
girls who participate in them. They are to-day more numerous than ever
before, though they have been abroad in the land for more than half a
century. Many of the leading actors on the world’s stage at the present
day owe their position to the influence of one or more of these little
associations of which they formed a part in their boyhood days. The
writer of this could not count on his fingers the number of his
associates in boyhood, who have risen out of these schools to positions
of honor and trust in the country.
But there is a marked feature belonging to them now that did not exist a
half century ago, the result of a vast change that has been made in
public sentiment within that period. Then they were confined only to the
boys; now the girls participate in them almost, if not quite, as freely
as their brothers; and it must be confessed that in a great majority of
cases the result has been beneficial to both sexes. The fogyism of that
day stoutly protested that hens should not be permitted to crow, yet
they persisted in learning the art, and conservatism has been forced to
acknowledge that they can crow vociferously and to good effect. And
these institutions have proven to be good crowing schools to girls.