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The Commoner.
VOLUME "5, NUMBER 20
water. To do away with the disagree.
able odor arising from boiling cab
bage, onions, etc., a very small pinch
of cayenne pepper may he used. All
vegetables should be freshly gathered
if possible, when used. Stale or
wilted vegetables can never be quite
so nicely cooked as those that are
fresh.
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A June Picture
Thcro's a cloudless sky and a stretch
of meadow,
Stippled with clover and daisy
blooms,
A farmhouse old in the orchard
shadow,
A hum of bees in the lilac plumes.
There's a cheery call from the hazy
marshes,
A tinkle o cow-bells faint and low,
The wandering brook in the sunshine
flashes,
A song of Juno in its rippling flow.
There are slender tassels o alder
swinging
In perfect time to tho perfumed
breeze,
And nesting birds In tho woodland,
flinging
Their joyous carols from budding
trees.
There's a lako's blue calm in the dis
tance lying,
With a cliff's gray turrets reflected
deep;
And green-fringed shores "where the
trees are trying
To guard for a season the lilies'
sleep.
And over all rests a golden splendor,
That hints of glories wo cannot see,
That thrills the heart with a promise
tender,
Of coming gladness In days to be.
Selected.
Home Chat
It is a difficult matter for one per
son to plan tho life of another with
assurance of any largo degree of suc
cess, owing to the differences, not
only in tho individuals, but of sur
roundings vand circumstances. It is
a hard matter for tho housekeeper
who is also wife, mother and hostess,
to systematize her work, no matter
whero the advice to Jo so comes
from, or how wise it may be. In
every household chain there are
knots and tangles in tho way of un
foreseen annoyances, hindrances and
interruptions, which seriously inter-
not need to hunt out the short-comings
of othors by which to justify their
own. Then, too, women wear them
selves out over the sewing machine
and the ironing board in order that
their children may bo "dressed like
other children," when tho children
would be far better pleased in plain
little garments that allowed them to
enjoy themselves.
Then, too, much cooking is done.
Pies, puddings, cakes and desserts are
added to the regular meal which, of
itsolf, is often too varied in kind and
quantity, when plain fruits, or .even
nothing at all, would be far more
healthful. In many instances, this
fact is recognized by the wife and
mother, but the husband irritably in
sists upon a large and varied menu,
even while complaining of its cost
in dollars and cents, I mean, for such
husbands seldom or never count (he
wife's wasted nerve-force, or the im
pairment of his own and the family's
digestive powers in summing up thej
total. Too much unnecessary ex
penditure of time and strength, as
well as money, is incurred by our
mistaken method of entertaining our
friends at table. Very few of us have
the courage to ask even the chance
guest of the moment to sit down and
share the family lunch without some
addition thereto, and for visitors es
pecially invited guests, we think an
elaborate menu is called for, princi
pally, as wo suppose, because it is
expected of us. In this way, the visits
of our dearest friends too often, be-1
come visitations, and we wear our
selves out, unnecessarily, with "much
serving," where a simple hospitality
would be better appreciated.
the house after school hours than in
running tho Btreets, learning the les
sons of idleness, to mention no worse
ones. An apprenticeship to this most
important of all trades, pr Sessions,
or businesses, whatever a knowledge
of domestic science may be called,
will discipline and develop the mind
as nothing else can, and this appren
ticeship should not be denied them.
A great deal is now beinj said about
"compulsory schooling," but the hap
piness and health of the whole human
family would be greatly improved if
an education along the lines of do
mestic economy were mayde compul
sory for the young of both sexes.
Shampooing the Hair
It is claimed that the best shampoo
for gray hair is that used by the Ger
mans. Two handfuls of bran are
boiled in about a gallon of water, and
when the liquid has been strained
and is cool, enough castile soap is
added and heated with the water to
make a thick, creamy mixture. One
ounce of borax is also added, and the
shampoo is ready for use. Rub the
watery mixture on the scalp with a
brush: or the fine-ftr tfnn mnv ho iibpTI
Jere with the smooth-running of the Wash as often as required, rinsing
Uuim;uu uuiuuiuury, ana it is in tuis, witli warm soft water and dry in the
as in other things, that "the little
xoxes spoil the vines." Advice on
this subject is easy to give, but often
Impossible to follow. We r.re told not
to over-do; warned not to cross tho
danger-line of fatigue; but, with every
thing depending on one pair of hands.
or one already distracted head, a close
discrimination between the essentials
and the non-essentials is well-nigh im
possible, and oven the essentials are
often so many and so varied as to
break one down in the consciencious
performance of them.
Still such discrimination must be
made; the list of tasks and duties
should be gone over, time after tlmn.
each tlmo eliminating one or more
item, until the "burden is fitted to the
back,"' and it Is really surprising, when
one tries it, how few things are ab
solutely necessary to tho well-being
of our family life. A gr ..t deal too
much is done through fear of the
opinion of othors; wo fear criticisms
mm uru uu urua. too much impor
tance Is attached to vhat "tbey" will
say of us, while, if wo stop to think
of it, the people who aio really worth
listening to say very li iG; they have
affairs of their own, and their good
bouko ujuuueH tnom tnat no one per
son can do everything, and jthey do
sun. Unless one's occupation renders
the scalp very ' dirty, once a month
is often enough for the shampoo.
Simplifying Our Work
It is a test of courage, as well as
of- character, to resolve to simplify
our home work, and then live up to
our resolves, and we must expect the
carpings and criticisms of a certain
class of people. But it is our own
fault if we submit to unfavorable con
ditions merely through fear of the
opfnions of people who care as little
for us as we should do for them. Look
about you, and decide for yourself just
what is of the most vital importance
to the comfort and well-being of your
family not forgetting to have a due
regard for your own welfare, and set
your limit with a broad margin, hav
ing in mind those inevitable inter
ruptions. Remember, in your "stock
taking" that you are the very heart
of the home; that the peace, comfort,
health, and harmony of the family
hinges largely upon your own condi
tion, physical and mental; that a
physically-exhausted woman is usu
ally a cross and irritable one, given
to fretting, fault-finding and nagging
and that one of the most important
duties you owe to your family is to
provide for their comfort by giving
tnem a wnoiesome, healthy and cheer
ful house-mother, and that nobody
can take bo good care of you as you
can of yourself. But in order to in
sure this care, you must have due re
gard for your own physical limits,
and not allow the family to push you
across the danger line with their
heedless'demands upon your strength.
Avail yourself of every help you can
reach, and ask for all you think you
can get.
For the Stings of Insects
Now that the picnic season is upon
us, a few helps on this subject may
be timely. Every one suffers more
or less at times from the soreness and
itching caused by the attacks of the
ever-present gnat, mosquito, or varie
ties o,bugs and other insects which
render summer outdoor life anything
but comfortable. It is said that in
sects do not trouble where aromatic
spirits or toilet vinegars are used. A
decoction of dried vervain leaves is
claimed to disgust the hungry mos
quito. The leaves may be had of the
druggist, and should be steeped as
one does tea, strained and the liquid
rubbed on the exposed parts of tho
body. Spirits of camphor, or elderberry-water
may be used. A small
quantity of solution of menthol or
campho-phenique, or of equal parts
of camphor and ammonia are said to
diminish the irritation of the sting or
bite. A touch of turpentine or coal
oil is also recommended. For bee
stings, a fresh onion or leek, cut in
two and rubbed on the spot is also
said to be good. Liquid sulphur it is
claimed, will aid where the tick has
bitten. Qne of the best things to stop
the .torture of the sc-1-tick or chig
ger is a wash in very strong soap
suds, the common laundry soap be
ing used. Or the soap may be made
into a jelly, the jelly rubbed over the
body and, then washed off with warm
water.
If our readers can give tried pre
ventives and remedies for the bites,
we shall, be glad to hear from them.
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Training the Children
In many homes, children are al
lowed to be disorderly and untidy,
causing too much picking up and
straightening out after them, when
they should be taught either orderly
habits, or to wait upon themselves
and tho house-mother. They are al
lowed to "pieco" incessantly, and the
pantry and dining room (and too
often other rooms) are always in a
state of "crumbs." Everything wears
a "mussy" look, and one is alwnvs
doing in order to undo the effect of
their untidy doings. A family of chil
dren can just as well be developed
into an array of helpers : : not, and
their training in this line should com
mence just as soon as they can under
stand what wo say to them. Even the
baby will soon "get the habit" of en
tertaining itself if we teach it to do
so. Housework is said to be tho
healthiest work in the world better
than a gymnasium for women; and if
lor women, why not for the children?
Girls (and !:oys, as well) would bo
far better employed in helping about
Vegetables
Nearly all vegetables are Improved
by being immersed in cold water for
a little while before cooking, and near
ly all are injured by boiling with
fresh meats. Water that has hniiArt
a long time is flat in taste and de
stroys the flavor of vegetables cooked
in it. The teakettle sliould be washed
out daily, and water should be fresh
ly brought to the boiling point when
used for cooking purposes. You would
hardly think of using the same vessel
twice for cooking without a washing
out, but the vessel in which we cook
our water is used in many families
day after day, week after wcok. with
no thought of scouring or cleaning
uuu mo mrty msiae or the tea ket
tle can not but affect the taste rf ,
water, and this, in turn, must Impart
its tainting to tho food which is cooked
in it. Water absorbs a great deal of
the surrounding atmosphere, and
whenever possible, freshly drawn
water should bo used for all cooking
purposes. Green vegetables should be
put over tho fire in water that has
just reached tho boiling point, and
should be slightly saltedone table
spoonful of salt to, two, qiuirts ,of
Query Box
M. R. Do you mean the "pitting?"
I am sorry I can not aid you.
Teressa. There are measuring cups
made of glass or tin, divided into
accurate portions; they are not ox
pensive. Mrs. L. Bread is served with soup;
crackers and cheese, with the salad.
If you prefer crackers with your soup
use them.
Mrs. J. C. The proportions are al
ways the same one tablespoonful of
butter and one of flour to each cup
of soup-stock. There are several
good beef extracts on the market.
Thomas T. "Finnan Haddie" is tho
haddock a kind of codfish smoked;
so named from Findhorn, Scotland,
where they are obtained in great per
fection. It is a valuable food fish.
Patsey. The colored Japanese mat
ting should be wiped off with a Tcloth
and a solution of salt and water after
each weekly sweeping. This will
check tne tenaency to grow oriiuo
and crack where most used.
Annie M. For the grass stains, be
fore washing, rub the spots thoroughly
,with soft soap and baking powder;
let the goods stand with this mixture
on it for about twenty minutes, then
wash in the usual way and bleach in
the sun.
Housewife. The tops of tho fruit
jars should be soaked in vinegar to
remove the discoloration, then
scrubbed with a clean brush until
smooth. (2) All cereals are likely
to become "webby" and wormy if kept
too long in hot weather; corn meal is
not an exception, though, under cer
tain conditions, it may remain free
for a long time.
Bessie R. To boil water Is to ren
der it flat and insipid, destroying its
AN OLD AND WKLL T1UED REMEDY.
Mrs. WinbloWu Soothing Stout lor children
teethlnsr should-Vtfrars bo iisod for children wbilo
teething, it softom tho RiiniB, allam all pain, euro?
wind chollo and 1b tho.. boat romedfiforldlarracea.
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