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DETROIT, UAN'U'ARY 24:, 1887.

THE HOUSEHOLD-"Supplement. ‘

 

AT IIOIE.

 

Upon the polished silver shine

The evening lamps, but, more divine,

The light of love shines over all;

0! love that says not mine and thine,

Bnt ours, for ours is thine and mine.

They want no guests, to come between

Their tender glances like a screen,
_,And tell them tales of land and sea,

And whatsoever may betide

The great, forgotten world outside;

They want no guests, their needs must be

Each other‘s own best company.

—Long):‘ellou"

———’—...——.—___
Fen this is Love's nobility-—
Not to scatter bread and gold,
Goods and raiment bought and sold;
But to hold fast his simple sense,
And speak the speech of innocence.
For he that feeds man serveth few;
He serves all who dares be true.

—-E’merao/_¢.
——-—ooo———

UNCONGENIAL PURSUITS.

 

There is a large class of. people who are
conscious of being thoroughly dissatisﬁed
with their whole past lives and present
oppressive existence, who at the close of
each successive year, seem to have missed
the “something” which makes: life a
pleasure, and duty a joy, but who are quite
unable to deﬁne the origin of the unrest,
or to amend/its inexorable dictation. To
those who have followed a single occupa—
tion fora long term of years, perhaps a life
time, and have attained satisfactory results
in the way of increased ﬁnances, the as-
sertion presumably would be unwelcome,
even incredible, that he or she had been
allied to an uncongenial pursuit. Yet a
thorough investigation of the daily routine
of duties of those who are suffering from
prostration of the nerves, enervated ambi-
tion, or lack of resolution to meet the day’s
responsibilities with ready hand and cheer-
ful heart, usually reveals that such is the
case.

Parents, as a rule, entertain an indif—
ference toward the future prospects and
occupations of their children, which is
simply appalling to those who regard a
child’s career as of serious importance.
The rapid strides of wealth and multiplied
opportunities which its proﬂigate distribu-
tion has accrued, render it possible for
nearly all families of ordinary circumstances
to be accorded the advantages of the day.
A large per cent of the homes°both in vil—
lages and throughout farming communities
are adorned "and provided with much that
is attractive and luxurious. Musical in-
struments have become almost a necessity.
The writer knows of ten pianos within a

. most strenuous efforts will not run smooth-

_ of a neighbor as he crosses his legs and

radius of three miles in a prosperous fann-
ing neighborhood of northern Lenawee
County, and this is but a representative ex-
pression of the intelligence of the farmers
of Michigan. And yet with all the facili-
ties for learning, the mechanical improve-
ments to lighten labor, and the broadening
opportunities for the young to enter upon a
life of activity and usefulness, there is
more dissatisfaction existing among all
classes to—day than ever before, as regards
the labor which circumstances seem to have
incurred. “If I had only got started right,”
is the lament of many a weary climber as
he throws himself down at last on the tip-
top rock of success, and looks back over
the zig—zag bridle path, which was so long
and steep and stony. To get “started
right” is the shaft in the engine of life, and
if the important factor has been omitted,
the machinery upon which may revolve the

ly. “I’ve give all four of my children an
education, and not one of ’em knows’ nuff
to take care of themselves,” is the average.
summing up of the stern, parental retro-
spection of the day. It is laudably gener—
ous in these same parents to give the chil-
dren an education. If the erring offspring
could only be endowed at birth, with ex-
perience, judgment, and the enviable dis-
tinction of economical habits, there would
be no risk as to the ultimate judicious ap-
plica' ion of that education. But unfor-
tunately, discretion and maturity can only
be attained with the growth of years, and if
the inexperienced are launched on the sea
of life without a pilot, they must inevitably
run against snags. Upon entering the high
school or college, what a boy or girl needs
most, is a wise and judicial discrimina-
tion of the mental, moral and physical
abilities of their respective natures. If a
child possess a tendency to ﬁll every blank
page of all the books and pamphlets in the
house with pencil sketches, can reproduce
with surprising vividness the portrait of a
member of the family, or the listless attitude

displays the half worn rubber hanging down
at the heel, don’t thrust upon such a one
the choice of being a farmer, or starting out
in the world single-handed. Such a talent,
with a few years’ proper cultivation, will
yield to its fortunate possessor, thrice an
annual income of the best loo-acre farm in
Michigan. The artist on Puck, the most
successful illustrated paper probably in
America, received for many years a salary
of $7,000 per year, and resigned to accept
a similar position on The Judge at $10, 000

 

demand is greater than the supply for peo-
ple with ability to do the work, and if you
havea child endowed with this happy talent,
send him to an academy of design, where
he will learn the value of such an endow-
ment, the power to use it, and the proper
course to pursue in oraler to render it of
high commercial value.

Mothers often complain of the indisposi—
tion to work, freely manifested by the
“musician” of the family. “She is al-
ways at the piano,” is the current accusa-
tion of all the family and all the neighbors.
If she is always at the piano, no doubt the
daughter referred to has ample talent to
earn her living through an agreeable
avocation, and rather than oppose such in-
clination, parents would do well to consider
the importance of according every stimulant
within their power. By the study of
music one often acquires the ability to
compose, and the royalty on one successful
piece of music frequently amounts toacor-n-
fortable income. Then there are teaching
and church work, both of which are con-
genial and proﬁtable to an ardent musician.
and if she be fortunate enough to enter a
thoroughly equipped academy of music, she
will learn that “tuning" is a ﬁne art, and
commands agood salary, and much more
that will be of assistance from a pecuniary
point.

Nogl‘osser evil exists than the attempt to
dwarf the aspirations of the younger classes
by constantly afﬁrming that all branches of
business, particularly the professions. are
full to overﬂowing. With our steady in-
crease of population, rapid strides of science,
and vast resources of undeveloped states
and territories, opportunities for unlimited
advancement in every walk of life were
never so great as to-day. .
Followers of literature have always
looked upon Carlyle with envy because
of his great success in

his chosen
avocation. He was always a chronic
grumbler, everybody knew and ac—

knowledged that, and he also exalted in
the reputation of never having praised a
man living. Why one so eminently suc- ‘
cessful eculd be so crabbed and morose
was a mystery. But the recent publication
of Carlvle’s letters has solved the problem.
In writing to his brother, John Carlyle,
the great author, whom the world recognized
as supreme authority upon many subjects,
says: “I can tell you from experience that
it is a sad thing fora man to have his bread
to gain in the miscellaneous fashion which
circumstances have in some degree forced
me into; and I can not help seeing that with

 

per year. At these princely salaries the

half the expense, and one-tenth of the labor


2

,THE HOUSEHOLD.

 
 

 

which I have incurred, I might at this time
have been enjoying the comforts of some
solid and fixed establishment in one of the
regular departments of exertion, had 1 been
lucky enough to have entered upon any one
of them.”
This confession from Carlyle clearly at-
tests that his morbidness was due to the
fact that his inherent tastes recognized no
afﬁnity in the pursuits he had chosen. In
despising his work he grew to hate all man-
kind, and it was very generous of an ad-
miring world to call it “dyspepsia,” and
then shout praises to his tenacity of pur-
pose. '
“To “get started right,” to enter upon
a life-work that shall be both agreeable to
pursue, and satisfactory at its close, is the
paramount essential of those whom the
Fates have decreed must labor. And those
upon whom much of the responsibility
devolves should study the bent of expand-
ing minds, and prevent if possible the
grievous error of an ill chosen work.
PEARL DIAMOND.

___—.'..—-——
w OOLEN DRESS GOODS.

 

A correspondent who writes from North
Adams asks whether the rough, wooly
goods are the style now, whether they are
used in combination with cashmere, etc.,
for 'suits, and if combined, how they are
made. The boucle or roughfaced cloths so
very much worn last winter are not nearly
so popular this season. Ladies who had
suits made of them last year are wearing
them yet, and a well known dressmaker
says she has made up a few this winter.
But we would not advise our readers to pur-
chase such goods at this season, as by an-
other winter they will be quite passes. The
returning swing of Fashion’s pendulum is
in the line of smooth. soft twilled goods;
cashmere, _ which has been comparatively
discarded for several seasons, is again in
favor. The boucle cloths are generally
made up in combination with plain, camels’
hair and blanket cloth by preference, or
with an even stripe of plain and boucle
which comes expressly for such suits. If
our correspondent is planning a new cos-
tume we would advise a camels’ hair,
camelette, cashmere, one of the pretty
diagonal twills, which by the way, wear
like iron, or other smooth faced goods.
This, made up with the long, full straight
draperies now almost exclusively worn, and
with a velvet vest, cuffs and collar, will be
more stylish than the combination suit of
boucle cloth. An extremely pretty way to
' make such a dress is to have the basque cut
to simulate an inside vest or waistcoat,
managed by covering the fronts with the
material of the vest as far as the back or
longest dart, the material of the basque
meets at the throat in the fronts, and slopes
away over the vest, leaving a space of not
over four inches of the vest visible at the
bottom of the basque, which is cut longer
than the vest. The edges of the basque can
be ﬁnished with the narrow bead trimming
now so much worn, and the buttons should
match the trimming. A stylish method of
making the drapery is to lay six side pleats,
moderately ‘wide, meeting in the centre,
down the left side; pleat the back very full,

skirt full enough to'hang gracefully, and
drape high. well to the back, on the right
side, under full loops and long ends of
watered ribbon, of the color of the dress.
I hope I have made this plain; the drapery
is really a long, full round skirt, laid in
pleats and draped as described; there must
be ample fullness or it looks “ perfectly
horrid.” The lower skirt may be a plain
ﬂounce, hemmed, mounted on a founda-
tion skirt faced with the dress goods, and
having a few side pleats laid on the right
side, where it is revealed by the uplifted
drapery. BEATRIX.

-————oo¢-————-—
MANAGEMENT OF H ORSES BY
WOME N.

._—8—

[Paper read before the Farmers‘ Institute held
. at Lawrence. Van Buren Co., Dec. 29th. by
Mrs. Isaac Monroe.)

The subject you have given me to write
upon is one I know so little about, I fear I
cannot do it justice. But I think women
should know more about horses than we do.
How few ladies even know how to harness
or hitch a horse to the carriage. and we.
often hear men laugh about our way of
tying horses to the post; still I don’t think
many get away that are tied by ladies.
Think how much more independent a
lady can be who can care for her own horse,
especially if no help is at hand, and she
lives some distance from neighbors; if any-
thing happens to one member of the family
she can get a horse, and go for help, which
sometimes is quite necessary; and again, we
may be left with a number of horses, and
if we do not know something about them.
how can we dispose of them to the best ad-
vantage. We should know their value, and
how they have been cared for; it takes some
care to have nice horses. -

For instance, after a hard day’s work,
a horse needs a good bed, plenty of
room, not a stall so narrow or small he can-
not move without striking the wall. Give
them a good box stall and dispense with the
halter; they will feel much better the next
day, and the extra amount of work they
will do, will well pay you for your trouble.
Most ladies like a good horse to drive, and
what can be a greater pleasure and comfort
than a horse of ﬁne disposition, one that
’will respond to the call of its master or
masters; and if we give them kind treat-
ment and the best of care, they will know
our voices.

.Some men think when ladies drive they
must have an old horse, one that is apt to
faint or fall by the roadside. Now what
can be asource of greater discomfort, or the
cause of more regret than to be the unfor-

the same amount of feed and intelligent
care one might have ﬁrst class horses. I
think after a lady has the care of a horse
a while, and the horse knows her, he
would rather be in her keeping, and will
know when she takes the lines. Men will
often say, when driving behind a carriage,
“Well, I know a lady is driving that horse,
just see how she goes down hill!” But
“as the twig is bent the tree is inclined,”
and if a horse is trained to walk down hill
when being broken, he will not depart from
it just because a lady is driving.

Riding horseback should be practiced

 

let the goods come across the front of the

    

tunate possessor of such a horse, when with,

Miss Nellie Burke, the professional horse-
woman of Omaha, who is said to be per-
ectly fearless:‘she manages her horse skill-
fully and admirably, and her performances
rather throw the professional horseman in
the shade. It is certainly a great benefit to
women, for as a rule we stay in the house
too close. Riding and driving bring us
out door, give to us not only pleasure but
health; we could do some of the driving on
the farm, most of the marketing and many
errands. Driving strengthens the muscles:
trains the eye, obliges one to keep the mind
on the team and gives an invigorating ex-
citement which is healthful and pleasant.
This is my idea of horses: A perfect
physical state, which implies typical health,
a generous measure of open air, exercise.
sufﬁcient rest, food in proportion to work
and weather, less for some work in summer
than winter—less in hot weather than
cool—gentle treatment at all times, ‘with
pure air twenty-four hours of every' day.
This is the law of health for women and
horses.

—-————+o.——-—-
AND DUMB INSTITUTE

THE DEAF
. AT FLINT.

 

On the occasion of a visit to Flint, I em-
braced the opportunity to pay a long de-
sired visit to the Deaf and Dumb Institute
located there; and so, unaccompanied, I
left my friends to take a long, uphill walk,
to the buildings. After I had climbed the
hill, entered a bread gateway and followed
the winding gravel road to the main build-
ing, I found at the doorway a pleasant
young lady ready to escort me through the
school. Iwas here criticised for speaking
of this school as an asylum, and asked to
call it an institute, or school. So ignorant
was 1 that I did not even know that there
was throughout our country asign language.
but thought each word had to be spelled
with the fingers or by writing. I learned
in the ﬁrst grade that a sign indicated an
object or word, not a letter; and that the
pupils conversed as rapidly as one speaking.
Cards with pictures of all animals or
objects known to the children are shown
them, and the word naming the animal
or object is written upon the board: in
this way they learn to read. After three
years they are able to use such text books
as are used in all our schools. They recite
mostly by writing upon the beard. De-
pending as they do almost wholly upon
writing, they soon learn to write rapidly
and well. Some of the teachers went on
with their regular work of recitation in
arithmetic, grammar, etc; others con-
versed with their pupils on various topics to
show me how readily they understood; their
answers were by signs, sometimes by writ-
ing; it was very evident that a correct line
of communication had been established be-
tween them. Fifteen years ago I had made
the acquaintance of an estimable lady whose
only child was a son, then two years old,
born a mute. I thought of him, and asked
if he were there. I learned he was in the
grammar grade. As I entered the room I
was introduced toMr. Monroe, the teacher.
and said to him‘, “ I would like to see Bertie
Champion.” He told me where he was
seated and signed to Bertie that I knew

 

more. as it is a good exercise. We read of

him. He immediately signed back that he

  

 


 

if
g
. i

  
 
  

, mute. 0f the teachers in the school nearly

0

    

THE HOUSEHOLD. s

 

did not know me. I then said I knew him
when he was an infant. The teacher
signed this to Bertie by making the motion
of a rocking cradle with both arms. He
looked at me, smiled, bowed and went on
with his writing. I inquired of the teacher
what they were doing. He told me that
two weeks before he had signed to his
pupils the story of Niagara Falls, telling
them all he could about them, and then said
that at some future time he should ask them
to write the story. This was their work at
this hour. As they completed their tasks
he passed me several of their slates to cx~
amine. I was pleased with the excellent
manner in which the work was executed,
and the correctness in the use of capitals,
punctuation marks and spelling. In all I
found a sentence, or sentences, in which the
arrangement or selection of words seemed
very droll. I mentioned this fact to the
teacher. He said, “It is always so; but
did you ever stop to think that our language
is a foreign language to them?” The hour
for closing the morning session had ar-
rived, and as I stepped into the hall to
watch the children as they passed from the
school rooms into the playground, I waited
a moment to ask a few questions, when I
saw a young lady approaching. She said:
“Excuse me, but is not this the lady who
used to be —-—- “Yes, it is,” [exclaimed,
and in that moment I recognized one of my
most faithful and lovable pupils of twenty
years ago. She has been a teacher in this
Institute ﬁve years. To her I am indebted
for much valuable information concerning
this unfortunate class.

The Michigan Deaf and Dumb Institute
was founded in the city of Flint in 1854.
Over 1,050 pupils have received instruction
there; over 300 being enrolled last year.
The course of study begins with the words,
cat, dog, etc., and extends through the
work of the second year of our high schools.
There are some pupils who do not deriVe
much beneﬁt from the discipline, those who
do are allowed to remain here ten years if
necessary to complete the course. They are
then graduated and receive diplomas.

The ﬁrst school for the deaf was opened
in Paris by Abbi de l’ Epee, in 1760. He
used signs, but the sign language has been
greatly improved since. A Spanish monk,
Pedro Ponce, is the ﬁrst person on record
as .having taught a mute to speak. He
lived from 1520 to 1584. In 1778 Heinicke
established the ﬁrst articulation school in
Leipsic.

In the Flint school there is a teacher em-
ployed one hour each day to teach the deaf
to speak. 1 wish 1 had the power to de-
scribe the terrible harshness, creakiness,
hollowness and highness of tone and er
treme disagreeableness, of the voice of a

one-half are mutes. I cannot close this
brief account of this school without mené
tioning an incident which made a lasting
impression upon my mind. On Sunday
afternoon I went to communion service at
the Congregational church, and soon after
service began I recognized Mr. Bangs sit-
ting at my left and two seats in front of me.
He was the ﬁrst superintendent of the Deaf
and Dumb Institute in Flint, and success—

‘begged .me to forsake and forget him,

a man greatly beloved and respected. At
his side was seated Mr. Brown. who is a
mute, and is a teacher in the high school.
As the hymns and scripture lesson were an-
nounced, Mr. Bangs found the places and
handed the books to Mr. Brown. When
the solemn tones of prayer were heard, Mr.
Bangs’ hands told them, word by word, to
this imprisoned mind. Not by spelling or
writing, but by using both hands, repeating
each sentence as rapidly as it was spoken.
And when the old story of Jesus’ love and
suffering was told in such pathetic language,
the same medium conveyed them to Mr.
Brown, until his face lighted with the holy
love it always begets. The sacrament was
passed and they two alike were prepared to
receive it. Before the service closed it was
announced that a collection would be taken
for superannuated ministers. After the
ushers started down the aisle. Mr. Bangs
signed its object to Mr. Brown, who bowed,
drew from his pocket a half dollar and gave
it with a look of pleasure. ,_

I never realized before how entirely de-
pendent this class of persons is on some one
else. How very much of this world and
the knowledge of the things which sur-
round them, is hidden from them after
all our best endeavors in their behalf! How
great a benefactor was he, whose mind ﬁrst
conceived the idea of establishing a sign
language! How very thankful I felt that
God had opened the hearts of the people of
Michigan to make an annual appropriation
for the education and happiness of these
unfortunate persons.

Cnsnsm. F. E. W.

“‘00——
ALL FOR LOVE.

 

The old story, as old as human nature
with its vast museum of antithetical pas-
sions! Every lineament of the poor dead,
wasted, high bred face bespoke it,while the
baby—sweet bud, blighted by death’s cold
frost in the very hour of its ﬁrst unfoldment
lying there so pure and still on poverty’s
wretched bed. gave added proof to ample
evidence.

It had been a “ runaway match,” the girl
marrying one far beneath her in mental,
moral and social standing. In all externals
she had perforce come down to his level,
but that in her inner life her soul had fed
hungrily upon the dwarfed growth of cul-
ture and reﬁnement that it held within its
limits, Was evidenced by the impress that
that soul in its departing left upon the
perishing clay that had at once been its
keeper and betrayer: O, passion, cruel is
thy treacherous recoil. 0 love, evanishing
is thy ephemeral lure! With thoughtful
tenderness the hands of gentle strangers
prepared the dead mother and babe for the
last ceremonies, for she was a stranger to
us all and had only drifted in amongst us
to die, and to die quickly. _

And as we laid the babe with a rose,,a
lily and myrtle leaves upon her breast, I
queried in my heart “ Would she have said
‘Had I forseen that even this would be the
end of it all so soon, I would have married
him as I did, for’I loved him so deeply and
purely, that had an angel from Heaven

obedience would have been impossible.’ ”

 

fully carried on the school for twenty years;

of the answer, “She would have said it.”
The current literature of to-day makes
boast that girls are growing more self-re
liant, that they are developing in all ways
calculated to relieve them of the probabili-
ties of anything like a morbid sentimen-
tality, but do many facts substantiate the
statement? E. L. NYE.

FLINT. Moe——

HOUSE PLANT FERTILIZERS.

While I offer the hand of ﬂoral friend-
ship to the writer on “House Plants,” I
must beg leave to differ with her in regard
to the fertilization of the soil for plants.
Happy would it be for the ﬂorist if he 'had
but to resort to his garden to satisfy the
wants of his ﬂoral dependents. The
knowledge of the wants of each particular
genus and variety is the keynote to success
in his vocation, as well as to the horticul-
turist, farmer, stockman, beekeeper,
poultry raiser; all ﬁnd the question of
nutrition the most important of all. Our
plants are not all native to America, but are
principally from distant climates, each
having its pecular atmosphere and soil, to
which the plant is adapted in growth, and
success in growing such plants depends
on knowledge of the conditions of their
native habitat. Although the study may
seem elaborate, it is pleasant and essential
to the ﬂower lover. There are many who
will by watching and studying plants in
their care understand their needs, while
others kill with kindness or neglect, every-
thing being done in extremes. Our staunch
and much-enduring friend, the geranium, if
not a native of the soil is so well acclimated
by years of good and bad treatment, and so
nearly allied by kinship to many of our
garden plants, we may have a very good
success with it even in good garden soil.
But it smiles gratefully over the extras of
good living. I ﬁnd, as well as the ' balsam."
tropaaolum and others, although dissimilar
in appearance, its “next of kin.”
As “Josiah Allen’s Wife” would say,
“ It is a cast iron fact” that rank barn-
yard manure is unsuited to house plants,
or for direct application to any plant life;
yet when thoroughly decomposed and im-
proved by the addition of other fertilizers,
it is one of the essentials. When we
mention woods’ soil, we do not refer to
muck from swamps, but to the decayed
leaves and vegetation which when undis-
turbed, gathers by the agency of wind and
storms into little hollows, and is enriched
by washings in storms until it is one of the
best plant foods. A compost of woods soil,
sand, ashes, suds, night soil, animal manure
fermented, deodorized and thoroughly de-
composed, is an excellent manure for plants,
out of doors or in. Pansies will laugh and
wink slyly as if knowing what it will do for
(them; thedahlia, gladiolus, geranium, coleus
and rose delight in such rich applications,
and in blooming time appreciate liquid
manures in addition.
There are some plants that require less
of rich fertilizing, as Farfugz'ums, Achi-
mener; cactus, etc., prefer light soil, but
rich with vegetable manure. The very best
Farfugium I ever saw was planted in
compost from beneath the barn door and

 

Instinctively my mind felt the impress

 

bridge, where litter from hay and grain

  


 

2 THE HOUSEHOLD.

 

which I have incurred, I might at this time
have been enjoying the comforts of some
solid and ﬁxed establishment in one of the
regular departments of exertion, had 1 been
lucky enough to have entered upon any one
of them.”

This confession from Carlyle clearly at-
tests that his morbidness was due to the
fact that his inherent tastes recognized no
afﬁnity in the pursuits he had chosen. In
despising his work he grew to hate all man-
kind, and it was very generous of an ad-
miring world to call it “dyspepsia,” and
then shout praises to his tenacity of pur-
pose.

“ 0 “get started right,” to enter upon
a life-work that shall be both agreeable to
pursue, and satisfactory at its close, is the
paramount essential of those whom the
Fates have decreed must labor. And those
upon whom much of the responsibility
devolves should study the bent of expand-
ing minds, and prevent if possible the
grievous error of an ill chosen work.

PEARL DIAMOND.
____...__._._

VVOOLEN DRESS GOODS.

 

A correspondent who writes from North
Adams asks whether the rough, wooly
goods are the style now, whether they are
used in combination with cashmere, etc,
for 'suits, and if combined, how they are
made. The boucle or roughfaced cloths so
very much worn last winter are not nearly
so popular this season. Ladies who had
suits made of them last year are wearing
them yet, and a well known dressmaker
says she has made up a few this winter.
But we would not advise our readers to pur-
chase such goods at this season, as by an-
other winter they will be quite pause. The
returning swing of Fashion’s pendulum is
in the line of smooth, soft twilled goods;
cashmere, . which has been comparatively
discarded for several seasons, is again in
favor. The boucle cloths are generally
made up in combination with plain, camels’
hair and blanket cloth by preference, or
with an even stripe of plain and boucle
which comes expressly for such suits. If
our correspondent is planning a new cos-
tume we would advise a camels’ hair,
camelette, cashmere, one of the pretty
diagonal twills, which by the way, wear
like iron, or other smooth faced goods.
This, made up with the long, full straight
draperies now almost exclusively worn, and
with a velvet vest, cuffs and collar, will be
more stylish than the combination suit of
boucle cloth. An extremely pretty way to
make such a dress is to have the basque cut
to simulate an inside vest or waistcoat,
managed by covering the fronts with the
material of the vest as far as the back or
longest dart, the material of the basque
meets at the tlu'oat in the fronts, and slopes
away over the vest, leaving a space of not
over four inches of the vest visible at the
bottom of the baSque, which is cut longer
than the vest. The edges of the basque can
be ﬁnished with the narrow bead trimming
now so m'uc?~ worn, and the buttons should
match thetrirnming. A stylish method of
making the drapery is to lay six side pleats,
moderately 'wide, meeting in the centre,
down the left side; pleat the back very full,
let the goods come across the front of the

 

skirt full enough to'hang gracefully, and
drape high, well to the back, on the right
side, under full loops and long ends of
watered ribbon, of the color of the dress.

' I hope I have made this plain; the drapery

is really a long, full round skirt, laid in
pleats and draped as described; there must
be ample fullness or it looks “ perfectly
horrid.” The lower skirt may be a plain
ﬂounce, hemmed, mounted on a founda-
tion skirt faced with the dress goods, and
having a few side pleats laid on the right
side, where it is revealed by the uplifted
drapery. Basrmx.

MANAGEMENT OF H ORSES BY
WOME N .

_—é—

lPaper read before the Farmers‘ Institute held
. at Lawrence. Van Buren 0.0., Dec. 29th. by
Mrs. Isaac Monroe]

The subject you have given me to write
upon is one I know so little about, I fear I
cannot do it justice. But I think women
should know more about horses than we do.
How few ladies even know how to harness

or hitch a horse to the carriage, and we.

often hear men laugh about our way of
tying horses to the post; still I don’t think
many get away that are tied by ladies.

Think how much more independent a
lady can be who can care for her own horse,
especially if no help is at hand, and she
lives some distance from neighbors; if any-
thing happens to one member of the family
she can get a horse, and go for help, which
sometimes is quite necessary; and again, we
may be left with a number of horses, and
if we do not know something about them,
how can we dispose of them to the best ad-
vantage. We should know their value, and
how they have been cared for; it takes some
care to have nice horses. -

For instance, after a hard day’s work,
a horse needs a good bed, plenty of
room, not a. stall so narrow or small he can-
not move without striking the wall. Give
them a good box stall and dispense with the
halter; they will feel much better the next
day, and the extra amount of work they
will do, will well pay you for your trouble.
Most ladies like a good horse to drive, and
what can be a greater pleasure and comfort
than a horse of fine disposition, one that
'will respond to the call of its master or
masters; and if we give them kind treat-
ment and the best of care, they will know
our voices.

«Some men think when ladies drive they
must have an old horse, one that is apt to
faint or fall by the roadside. Now what
can be asource of greater discomfort, or the
cause of more regret than to be the unfor-
tunate possessor of such a horse, when with,
the same amount of feed and intelligent
care one might have ﬁrst class horses. I
think after a lady has the care of a horse
a while, and the horse knows her, he
would rather be in her keeping, and will
know when she takes the lines. Men will
often say, when driving behind a carriage,
“Well, I know a lady is driving that horse,
just see how she goes down hill!” But
“as the twig is bent the tree is inclined,”
and if a horse is trained to walk down hill
when being broken, he will not depart from
it just because a lady is driving.

Riding horseback should be practiced
more, as it is a good exercise. We read of

 

Miss Nellie Burke, the professional horse-
woman of Omaha, who is said to be per-
ectly fearless;‘she manages her horse skill-
fully and admirably, and her performances
rather throw the professional horseman in
the shade. It is certainly a great benefit to
women, for as a rule we stay in the house
too close. Riding and driving bring us
out door, give to us not only. pleasure but
health; we could do some of the driving on
the farm, most of the marketing and many
errands. Driving strengthens the muscles:
trains the eye, obliges one to keep the mind
on the team and gives an invigorating ex-
citement which is healthful and pleasant.

This is my idea of horses: A perfect
physical state, which implies typical health,
a generous measure of open air, exercise,
sufﬁcient rest, food in proportion to work
and weather, less for some work in summer
than winter—less in hot weather than
cool—gentle treatment at all times, 'with
pure air twenty-four hours of every' day.
This is the law of health for women and
horses.

——«o———
THE DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE
. AT FLINT.

 

0n the occasion of a visit to Flint, I em-
braced the opportunity to pay a long de-
sired visit to the Deaf and Dumb Institute
located there; and so, unaccompanied, I
left my friends to take a long, uphill walk,
to the buildings. After I had climbed the
hill, entered a bread gateway and followed
the winding gravel road to the main build-
ing, I found at the doorway a pleasant
young lady ready to escort me through the
school. Iwas here criticised for speaking
of this school as an asylum, and asked to
call it an institute, or school. So ignorant
was I that I did not even know that there
was throughout our country asign language.
but thought each word had to be spelled
with the ﬁngers or by writing. I learned
in the first grade that a sign indicated an
object or word, not a letter; and that the
pupils conversed as rapidly as one speaking.
Cards with pictures of all animals or
objects known to the children are shown
them, and the word naming the animal
or object is written upon the board; in
this way they learn to read. After three
years they are able to use such text books
as are used in all our schools. They recite
mostly by writing upon the beard. De-
pending as they do almost wholly upon

writing, they soon learn to write rapidly

and well. Some of the teachers went on
with their regular work of recitation in
arithmetic, grammar, etc; others con-
versed with their pupils on various topics to
show me how readily they understood; their
answers were by signs, sometimes by writ-
ing; it was very evident that a correct line
of. communication had been established be-
tween them. Fifteen years ago I had made
the acquaintance of an estimable lady whose
only child was a son, then two years old,
born a mute. I thought of him, and asked
if he were there. I learned he was in the
grammar grade. As I entered the room I

'was introduced to Mr. Monroe, the teacher.

and said to him‘, “ I would like to see Bertie
Champion.” He told me where he was
seated and signed to Bertie that 'I knew
him. He immediately signed back that he

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLD.

o

3

 

did not know me. I then said I knew him
when he was an infant. The teacher
signed this to Bertie by making the motion
of a rocking cradle with both arms. He
looked at me, smiled, bowed and went on
with his writing. I inquired of the teacher
what they were doing. He told me that
two weeks before he had signed to his
pupils the story of Niagara Falls, telling
them all he could about them, and then said
that at some future time he should ask them
to write the story. This was their work at
this hour. As they completed their tasks
he passed me several of their slates to ex-
amine. I was pleased with the excellent
manner in which the work was executed,
and the correctness in the use of capitals,
punctuation marks and spelling. In all I
found a sentence, or sentences, in which the
arrangement or selection of words seemed
very droll. i mentioned this fact to the
teacher. lle said, “It is always so; but
did you ever stop to thinkthat our language
is a foreign language to them?” The hour
for closing the morning session had ar—
rived, and as I stepped into the hall to
watch the children as they passed from the
school rooms into the playground, I waited
a moment to ask a few questions, when I
saw a young lady approaching. She said:
“Excuse me, but is not this the lady who
used to be —-——— “Yes, it is,” Iexclaimed,
and in that moment I recognized one of my
most faithful and lovable pupils of twenty
years ago. She has been a teacher in this
Institute ﬁve years. To her I am indebted
for much valuable information concerning
this unfortunate class.

The Michigan Deaf and Dumb Institute
was founded in the city of Flint in 1854.
Over 1,050 pupils have received instruction
there; over 300 being enrolled last year.
The course of study begins with the words,
cat, dog, etc., and extends through the
work of the second year of our high schools.
There are some pupils who do not derire
much beneﬁt from the discipline, those who
do are allowed to remain here ten years if
necessary to complete the course. They are
then graduated and receive diplomas.

The ﬁrst school for the deaf was opened
in Paris by Abbi de 1’ Epee, in 1760. He
used signs, but the sign language has been
greatly improved since. A Spanish monk,
Pedro Ponce, is the ﬁrst person on record
as .having taught a mute to speak. He
lived from 1520 to 1584. In 1778 Heinicke
established the ﬁrst articulation school in
Leipsic.

In the Flint school there is a teacher em-
ployed one hour each day to teach the deaf
to speak. I wish 1 had the power to de-
scribe the terrible harshness, creakiness,
hollowness and highness of tone and er
treme disagreeableness, of the voice of a

- mute. 0f the teachers in the school nearly

one-half are mutes. I cannot close this
brief account of this school without men;
tioning an incident which made a lasting
impression upon my mind. On Sunday
afternoon I went to communion service at
the Congregational church, and soon after
service began I recognized Mr. Bangs sit-
ting at my left and two seats in front of me.
He was the ﬁrst superintendent of the Deaf
and Dumb Institute in Flint, and success-
fully carried on the school for twenty years:

I

 

a man greatly beloved and respected. At
his side was seated Mr. Brown. who is a
mute, and is a teacher in the high school.
As the hymns and scripture lesson were an-
nounced, Mr. Bangs found the places and
handed the books to Mr. Brown. When
the solemn tones of prayer were heard, Mr.
Bangs’ hands told them, word by word, to
this imprisoned mind. Not by spelling or
writing. but by using both hands, repeating
each sentence as rapidly as it was spoken.
And when the old story of Jesus’ love and
suffering was told in such pathetic language,
the same medium conveyed them to Mr.
Brown, until his face lighted with the holy
love it always begets. The sacrament was
passed and they two alike were prepared to
receive it. Before the service closed it was
announced that a collection would be taken
for superannuated ministers. After the
ushers started down the aisle, Mr. Bangs
signed its object to Mr. Brown, who bowed,
drew from his pocket a half dollar and gave
it with a look of pleasure. 7

I never realized before how entirely de-
pendent this class of persons is on some one
else. How very much of this world and
the knowledge of the things which sur-
round them, is hidden from them after
all our best endeavors in their behalf! How
great a benefactor was he, whose mind ﬁrst
conceived the idea of establishing a sign
language! How very thankful I felt that
God had opened the hearts of the people of
Michigan to make an annual appropriation
for the education and happiness of these
unfortunate persons.

CHELSEA. F. E. W.

_———_—«._____
ALL FOR LOVE.

 

The old story, as old as human nature
with its vast museum of antithetical pas-
sions! Every lineament of the poor dead,
wasted, high bred face bespoke it,while the
baby‘sweet bud, blighted by death’s cold
frost in the very hour of its ﬁrst unfoldment
lying there so pure and still on poverty’s
wretched bed, gave added proof to ample
evidence.

It had been a “ runaway match,” the girl
marrying one far beneath her in mental,
moral and social standing. In all externals
she had perforce come down to his level,
but that in her inner life her soul had fed
hungrily upon the dwarfed growth of cul-
ture and reﬁnement that it held within its
limits, was evidenced by the impress that
that soul in its departing left upon the
perishing clay that had at once been its
keeper and betrayer: O passion, cruel is
thy treacherous recoil. 0 love, evanishing
is thy ephemeral lure! With thoughtful
tenderness the hands of gentle strangers
prepared the dead mother and babe for the
last ceremonies, for she was a stranger to
us all and had only drifted in amongst us
to die, and to die quickly. _

And as we laid the babe with a rose,,a
lily and myrtle leaves upon her breast, I
queried in my heart “ Would she have said
‘Had I forseen that even this would be the
end of it all so soon, I would have married
him as I did, for'I loved him so deeply and
purely, that had an angel from Heaven

begged .me to forsake and forget him,

obedience would have been impossible.’ ”
Instinctively my mind felt the impress

of the answer. “She would have said it.”
The current literature of to-day makes
boast that girls are growing more self-re-
liant, that they are developing in all ways
calculated to relieve them of the probabili-
ties of anything like a morbid sentimen-
tality, but do many facts substantiate the
statement? E. L. NYE.

FLINT.

._.__..._____

HOUSE PLANT FERTILIZERS.

While I offer the hand of ﬂoral friend-
ship to the writer on “House Plants,” 1
must beg leave to differ with her in regard
to the fertilization of the soil for plants.
Happy would it be for the ﬂorist if he 'had
but to resort to his garden to satisfy the
wants of his ﬂoral dependents. The
knowledge of the wants of each particular
genus and variety is the keynote to success
in his vocation, as well as to the hortichl-
turist, farmer, stockman, beekeeper,
poultry raiser; all ﬁnd the question of
nutrition the most important of all. Our
plants are not all native to America, but are
principally from distant climates, each
having its pecular atmosphere and soil, to
which the plant is adapted in growth, and
success in growing such plants depends
on knowledge of the conditions of their
native habitat. Although the study may
seem elaborate, it is pleasant and essential
to the ﬂower lover. There are many who
will by watching and studying plants in
their care understand their needs, while
others kill with kindness or neglect, every-
thing being done in extremes. Our staunch
and much-enduring friend, the geranium, if
not a native of the soil is so well acclimated
by years of good and bad treatment, and so
nearly allied by kinship to many of our
garden plants, we may have a very good
success with it even in good garden soil.-
But it smiles gratefully over the extras of
good living, I ﬁnd, as well as the balsam;
tropzeolum and others, although dissimilar
in appearance, its “next of kin.”

As “Josiah Allen’s Wife” would say,
“ It is a cast iron fact” that rank bam-
yard manure is unsuited to house plants,
or for direct application to any plant life;
yet when thoroughly decomposed and im-
proved by the addition of other fertilizers,
it is one of the essentials. When we
mention woods’ soil, we do not refer to
muck from swamps, but to the decayed
leaves and vegetation which when undis-
turbed, gathers by the agency of wind and
storms into little hollows, and is enriched
by washings in storms until it is one of the
best plant foods. A compost of woods soil,
sand, ashes, suds, night soil, animal manure
fermented, deodorized and thoroughly de-
chposed, is an excellent manure for plants,
out of doors or in. Pansies will laugh and
wink slyly as if knowing what it will do for
(them; the dahlia, gladiolus, geranium, coleus
and rose delight in such rich applications,
and in blooming time appreciate liquid
manures in addition.

There are some plants that require less
of rich fertilizing, as Farfugz'uma, Achi—
menes; cactus, etc., prefer light soil, but
rich with vegetable manure. The very best
Farfugz'um I ever saw was planted in
compost from beneath the barn door and

 

bridge, where litter from hay and grain

 


 

THE‘HOUSEHQLD.

 

driven in the barn was scattered, and no
other manure with it but that, undisturbed
and moistened by drippings from the eaves,
with the sand beneath, a soil that was just
suited to the Farfugi-um; excellent, with
some further enriching, for callies and
fuchsias, and for Chinese primroses and
Japan lilies as “goodas gold!”-

Plants require plenty of air; not cold
draughts, but what we would like for our-
selves, and in regard to cleanliness and
freedom from the ever pervading carpet
dust, we may take our own health and com-
fortas guide. Insects are sure to intrude
when plants are in too close quarters, just
as with birds or animals, and although we
may have our plants in the best condition,
in buying sometimes we may chance to get
a few insects to start with, and much
annoyance ensue. We have plant enemies,
like temptations thickly placed in the way,
as I heard a farmer remark “There is a
bug or a worm to grab every blamed thing
we plant, either under or above ground,
and if not enough in America they’re free
enough abrom to send us some.” Yes, I
say, and we’ll ﬁnd weapons that will anni-i
hilate them.

Fax-ton. Ins. M. A. FULLER (DILL).

_____..._

BRIEF: MENTION.

We have several short letters at hand
which we ﬁnd necessary to condense some-
what in order to make room for them in
this issue, doing this in preference to hold-
ing them over another week. ‘A corres-
pendent who believesin furnaces, says:

, “Some object to sitting around a hole in
the ﬂoor to get warm. Now if such people
think they can get warm faster by seeing
the ﬁrelight, an old stove might. be set in
one corner of the room in which a lighted
lamp may be placed, which will probably
answer the purpose. It seems to me that
Pearl Diamond must have overdrawn her
picture of married life, but if that is true my

name shall never be changed from
‘ TOPSY O‘D AY.

Ins. F. W. 11., of Ann Arbor, after sonic
very. kind and friendly compliments to the
Housnnonn and its editor concludes:

“1 was very much interested in Mrs.
Woodman’s essay on house plants. I fully
agree with her in regard to the reﬁning in-
ﬂuence plants have in our homes. To me
a house without plants is akin to a house
without children. I often think of what a
poor girl once told me. In going about a
strange city in search of a home, she
paused in front of a house where the ver-
anda was ﬁlled with beautiful plants, and
dehlded to go in and make known her
wants, feeling sure she would ﬁnd warm
and kind-hearts within. She was not mis-
taken.”

Man, of Flint, expresses her literary pre-
ferences as follows:

“Who does not love to read? Longfel-
low, Tennyson, and Holland are some of
my favorites. If any of the readers have
not read “Lessons in Life by a Pair of
Bands,” I advise them to get it if possible.
Pansy also is a favorite. and Mrs. Whitney.
Anti Over should read her “ We Girls” and
“Other Girls.” Received to-day a letter
from a friend in Stafford, Oregon, dated
Dec. 26th. 1886. Perhaps the readers of
the Housnnonn will be interesmd to know

that potatoes are selling there for ninety

cents a hundredweight; wheat seventy-ﬁve
cents a bushel and oats forty-two cents.
Hadbeen raining most of the time for two
weeks, and the streams in the mountains

 

were so swollen that the mail carrier lost his
horse and had to walk in that week. Crops
are looking ﬁne, no frost to hurt anything
yet. Another letter from Kansas, dated
Jan. 2, 1887, says the ground there is
frozen; and one from northern Michigan
says the bay is frozen over and good sleigh-
ing. Here my brother comes in and says
‘thermometer down to zero!’ Let’s all go
to Oregon where it is warm. I am coming
to visit Dill’s garden some time. I hardly
think it would be very attractive just now.”
.———-—...——.

KINDLINGS.

Thanks to Maybelle for her kind offer,
but I can procure a pctato ball within two
or three miles of home, and yet the ques—
tion remains unanswered. From whence
did they originate? Did the ﬁrst one come
over in the Mayﬂower, or did it sail with
Noah in the ark? Yeast cakes do not make
the genuine article.

To Anti-Over I would say, corn cobs
saturated with kerosene are decidedly non-
explosive. I know that Anti-Over is an ex-
pert with the jack-knife, as well asthe ham-
mer and saw, but where I saw the cob
kindlings, the lady of the house had to favor
her right arm on account of lameness. They

were kept in a two-quart basin on the back‘

of the kitchen table, covered with an old tin
cover; one piece used at a time. '

I have heard of a farmer’s wife not a
hundred miles from here who failed to have
the supper ready when her husband left the
ﬁeld at six o’clock, merely for the want- of
shavings. The next night ﬁnding the
situation the same, he took a bag and
marched off to town after shavings. To
such I would say where corn stalks are fed
out and tramped on, they make splendid
kindling when dry in the summer. I never
carry the kerosene can to the stove under
any circumstances, as I have no desire to
go to heaven by the kerosene route.

BESS.

.—..——.w_—._

HELP THE MOTHERS.

__..—

There has been a gre rt deal said in nearly
every HOUSEHOLD on the question of house-
work, and indeed we know it’s a great
question, for its duties seem unending to
those who are engaged therein; it is break-
fast, dinner and supper, year in and year
out, with plenty of other work between
whiles. But then, don’t it seem strange
that although many young ladies seem to
think it beneath their dignity to learn to get
a decent meal, or help their weary mother
wash and iron their tucks and rufﬂes, when
a young man comes along and asks them to
keep house for him, th'e most of them jump
at the ﬁrst chance? The new cares, house-
hold duties and trials, come upon them, and
the young wife who before marriage hardly
knew the meaning of duty, and was always
shielded by a loving mother from work or
anything which the daughter did not want
to do, cries out against housework. Truly
they are servants indeed, for the work must
be done after a fashion, and who so ﬁtted
as to enjoy working as those who know
how to work? Labor is truly a blessing, un-
less we are compelled to overwork; and let
us remember that many times when we think
we are overworked, we are overworried,
which is farworse for both soul and body.
86 girls, you who have mothers, patiently
plodding on in the kitchen, learn of them,

 

while you have them, all the helps of house-
work, and put them in practice by lighten-
ing the cares of this same mother; and in the
future when cares press close upon you, you
will be glad of the knowledge thus gained,
and the time thus improved. What is the
use of complrining that our lot seems to be
so full of labor? If our dear ones were
taken from us, and we denied the sweet
privilege of caring for them, many would
be our unavailing cries for those things at
which we now repine.

“Sometimes when our hearts grow weary.

Or our task seems very long,

W hen our burdens look too heavy.
And we deem the right all wrong,

May we, gain anew fresh courage.
As we rise and proudly say

Let us do our duty bravely,
This was our dear mother‘s way.“

Norm ADAMS. R-
.—'———m————
. WE acknowledge the receipt of a fine
cabinet photograph of “Mollie Moonshine ”
and her husband, of Old Mission. Grand
Traverse County, for the Housnnonn
album. Our thanks are also due A. L. L.
for excellent pictures of herself and her hus-
band. We have now twelve cabinet and
eight card photographs, and still cry for

“ more”
——¢w——-—

E. M. P., of Kalamazoo, desires informa—
tion on the following question: “Which is
the best, in point of work, safety and
economy, for a family of eight persons, in
the far west, where wood and coal are
scarce and high, a kerosene or gasoline
stove; and what kind?” We shall beglad to
have our correspondents reply to this in-
quiry, as the information gained will be of
beneﬁt to others, as well as to E. M. P.

—-—ooo———

STEAM HEATING.—,—The subject of heat-
ing houses by means of hot air furnaces
has been thoroughly discussed by different
members of the HOUSEHOLD; but seeing no
reference to steam heaters, I would like to
ask some one who knows of them, Or has
used one, if this method is satisfactory.

ansox. ‘ EURIE M.
—-—O—.—O———

A s'rern housekeeper says she had a gal-
lon jar of very strong butter, “ strong
enough to stop a clock,” which tasted so
badly it imparted its ﬂavor to everything it
was used in. She ﬁlled a large kettle a
third full of boiling water, put in the butter,
added a large tableSpoonful of baking soda
and a teaspoonful of sal-soda, stirrinnge-
quently until it came to the boiling point,
when she took it from the ﬁre and.put it in
a cool place to harden. She removed the
butter carefully from the water, worked a
little salt into it, and repacked it. The
grain was spoiled, but it made fairly good
cooking butter.

.—————...———_——.
Contributed Recipes.

SALLY LUNN.—0ne and a Half pounds sifted
ﬂour; one pint new milk; two ounces butter:
salt; three eggs well beaten; half cup sugar;
half cup good yeast; make into a smooth bat-
ter. Pour into well greased square tins. deep
ones are best, and when risen light, bake a

delicate brown. Cut in Squares; serve hot.
To be eaten with butter, like warm biscuit.

TEA CAKE—One quart ﬂour; one cup sour
milk; one teaspoonful soda; half pound lard ;,
half pound raisins and currents. 3011 two
inches thick; bake in quick oven; split, but~
ter, serve hot. Evsnoanrsn.

BATTLE CREEK.

 

