IFEBRUAR5T 14, 1908
The Commoner.
11
fullness. Housekeeper (Minneapo
lis, Minn.)
Rattling Windows
On stormy, or windy nights, such
as we have frequently on cold wintry
nights, the rattling of a loose sash
'will occasion much loss of sleep, and
in order to prevent the noise, it is
'only necessary to insert a bit of
wood at the side of the sash. This
iwooden 'stop" may be made slightly
wedge-shaped, and lightly driven in
the opening as far as required to
keep the sash steady. The head of
the wedge may be tied with a bit
of twine and fastened to the side of
the window, so it will always be in
place. All loose boards, and shut
ters should be tightened up wherever
located, as this will prevent one of
the most troublesome annoyances of
the stormy winter night.
The Window Garden
If the soil in the pots has a dead,
putty-like feeling to the fingers, no
plant will grow in it.
When flower buds appear, give
weak manure water once a week,
with sunshine suited to the plants.
Water only thirsty plants; give
them all the water they want, then
wait until they ask for more. Over
watering brings on water-dyspepsia,
and kills with sour soil.
The thin, greenish moss that de
velops only on water-sick soil is a
symptom of a disease that will kill
every root that is confined in it. Re
pot with fresh, healthy soil.
Over-watering can not be too often
inveighed against; it is the bane of
the window garden, and causes un-
TWtold trouble. Watch the drainage,
"; Mfithat it does not get clogged.
Turn the plants daily to keep them
from growing lop-sided, unless .out
side show is preferred. Set a bowl
or bucketful of boiling hot water
under the plant table, or among the
jjjtfX'i-jM.plants, to send its moisture through
m&$! the air.
In rich soil, the variegated trades
cantias are prone to revert to the
plain green type. German ivies re
quire a rich soil, and more heat and
water than tradescantias. Either of
these makes lovely veranda vines;
but the finest vines for the purpose
are ivy geraniums.
The abutilon is fine for either the
Window in winter or the veranda in
summer, blooming freely either place.
It grows rapidly, is easy to care for;
not too much root room, good, por-
WISB CLERK
Quits Sandwiches and Coffee for
Lunch
The noon-day lunch for the De
partment clerks at Washington, is
often a most serious question.
"For fifteen years," writes one of
these clerks, "I have been working
in one of the Gov't. Departments.
About two years ago I found myself
every afternoon, with a very tired
feeling in my head, trying to get
the day's work off my desk.
"I had heard of Grape-Nuts as a
food for brain and nerve centres, so
I began to eat it instead of my usual
heavy breakfast, then for my lunch
instead of sandwiches and coffee.
"In a very short time the tired
feeling in the head left me, and ever
since then the afternoon's work has
been done with as much ease and
pleasure as the morning's work.
"Grape-Nuts for two meals a day
has worked, in my case, just as ad
vertised, producing that reserve force
and supply of energy that does not
permit one to tire easily so essen
tial to the successful prosecution of
one's life work." "There's a rea
son." Name given by Postum Co.-, Battle
Creek, Mich. . Read the "Road to
Wellville," in pkgs.
ous soil moisture, with good drain
age. Shower often, and givo a warm,
sunny situation.
Give potted plants plenty of fresh
air, let them have good light and,
on bright, warm days, set them out
on the veranda for an hour or two
in the warmest part of the day. Sea
son them gradually to bear the outer
air, keeping tho room cooler by de
grees. This will prevent insects.
The Garden
Have you "made garden" yet? The
garden should be done on paper, at
the fireside, before tho seeds are
ordered; but if you have neglected
this, send for the seedsman's cata
logue as soon as possible, and when
it comes, hold a family council, study
directions for preparing tho ground,
making the beds and selecting the
seeds, giving special heed to instruc
tions for planting and cultivating.
Plan your garden so that most of
the work may bo done by the horse
and plow, or tho hand cultivator.
Select reliable, tried sorts of vege
tables and fruits for tho main crop,
and plant enough to supply the table,
with a goodly surplus for canning,
drying and pickling later on. For
the winter supply, there may be a
later sowing.
Try a few seeds of the novelties;
if several neighbors should send for
one variety each and exchange seeds,
a goodly start might be had for a
small amount.
If you have not started a fruit gar
den, begin now. Look over the ad
vertising pages and see the offers of
reliable seedsmen, many of whom
offer "collections" of plants, mailing
size, which are well worth consider
ing. If given care, nearly all these
plants or roots will live, and oven if
a few do die, you will get your mon
ey's worth. A half loaf is better
than no bread, .you know, and it is
just as easy to raise fruit bushes or
vines in the fence corners as to raise
sumach, wild brambles and poison
ivy. Even one at a time is a start.
Do not delay, for the seed-time is
at your door.
If you are a village woman, you
can have many things in the way of
flowers that your busy country sister
must do without; but the country
sister may have much if she sets
her head to it. Plant perennials, and
set out flowering shrubs where you
can see the beauty while at your
work. Many hardy shrubs can be
grown from the seeds, blooming the
second year. Fill your life with
beauty; plan for the sunshine, and
then work for the plans.
Effects of Cigarette Smoking
Dr. Marden, in Success, has this to
say to the boy beginning the use of
the cigarette: "The whole tendency
of the cigarette nicotine poison In
the youth is to arrest development.
It is fatal to all normal functions. It
blights and blasts b'oth health and
morals. It not only ruins tho facul
ties, but it unbalances the mind, as
well. Many of the most pitiful cases
of insanity in our asylums are cig
arette fiends. It creates abnormal
appetites, strange longings, undefined
desires, discontent, uneasiness, ner
vousness, irritability, and, in many,
an almost irresistable inclination to
crime. In fact, the moral depravity
which follows the cigarette habit Is
something frightful lying, cheating,
impurity, loss of moral courage and
manhood, a complete dropping of
life's standards all along the line, are
its general results."
Magistrate Crane, of New York
City, says: "Ninety-nine out of a
hundred boys between the ages of
ten and seventeen years who come
before me charged with crime have
their fingers disfigured by yellow
cigarette stains. I do not care to
pose as a reformer, but it is my
opinion that "cigarettes will do more
than liquor to ruin boys. When you
have arraigned before you boy who
are hopelessly deaf through tho ex
cessive use of cigarettes, boys who
have stolen their sister's f-arnings,
boys who absolutely refuse to work,
who do nothing but gamblo and Mlc-al.
you can not help seeing that there
is some direct cause, and a great deal
of this boyhood crime is, to my mind,
easily traced to tho deadly cigarette.
There is something in the poison of
the cigarette that seems to got into
tho system of tho boy and to destroy
all his moral fiber."
Cigarette smoking is no longer
simply a moral question. Tho great
business world has taken it up as a
deadly enemy to advancement and
achievement, and many leading busi
ness firms, all over tho country, have
put tho cigarette on tho prohibition
list. Anything which benumbs tho
senses, deadens the sensibilities, and
dulls tho mental faculties Is a dead
ly enemy, and nothing will do this
more quickly than tho cigarette.
Physical Culture Magazine.
Notes for the Sewing Room
Trim tho white Merge or mohair
suit with faney-weavo white ilk
braid.
A tiny cushion with a loop of tapo
sowed to one end, and tho loop
slipped over tho spindle whero tho
spool stands is a convenience for
needles and pins.
Run tho table linen odgo through
tho henimer of the unthreaded sew
ing machine, and hand-hem after
wards. The hem will be turned neat
ly and evenly.
Cut basting threads at short inter
vals in order to draw out without
pulling the threads of the fabric. Two
Hhlrrings are better than one on a
gathered edge.
Latest Fashions for Readers of
The Commoner
193G Ladies' Shirt-waist, tuckad In
box-plait offoct. A pretty stylo for
linen or thin flannel. Suvon slzos, 32
to 44.
rtS5W
2234 ohis' Dress, with plaited skirt
and a Bcparatc gutmpo. Hrlght col
ored serge combined with black velvet
Is pretty for this model. Four sizes,
0 to 12 years.
2228 Misses' Five-Gored Plaited
Skirt. Mohair or sorgo aro . suitable
materials for this model. Three sizes,
13 to 17 years.
2223 Toadies' Work Aprons, over
sleeve and Cap. Cross-barred gingham
or dimity Is pretty for this set. Three
sizes. Small, medium and large.
2241 Ladies' Tucked Waist with
High or Low Neck, three-quarter
length sleeves and body lining. Suit
able for both afternoon and evening
wear. Six sizes, 32 to 42.
2248 Girls' Apron, with Gabrielle
Front and with or without the Bre
tellea. Five sizes, 4 to 12 years.
2241
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2240 Infants' Cold Feet Gown. Can
ton or Vlyilla Flannel are the best ma
terials for this gown. One size.
2219 Ladles' Chaflng-DIsh Apron, to
be made of Handkerchiefs or other
squares. One size.
8219!
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signs are practical and adapted to the homo dressmaker. Full direc
tions how to cut and how to make the garments with each pattern. Tho
price of these patterns 10 cents each, postpage prepaid. Our large cata
logue containing th,e illustrations and descriptions of 1,000 seasonable
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making full of helpful and practical suggestions in the making of your
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In ordering patterns give us your name, address, pattern number
and size desired.
Address THE COMMONER, Pattern Dept., Lincoln, Neb.
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