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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1910)
WBfGjVrf5 The Commoner. VOLUME 10; NUMBER 3 -m y nr jpv'i .. jm i r -w Conducted 3P" sHteIen Watts Wty x epanmm The Siunincr Girl's Grievances Tlio Bummer 1b ended. Tho season Was cold at tho seaside, you know; Tho weather perhaps was tho reason That nono of us captured a beau. Tho mon found it cool in the city, And brokers woro blue, it is thought; So wo lost overy chanco (what a pity!) And no dashing follow was caught. And nothing is done in tho "Wintor In town, with gay talk an.d fine clothes; "Despite our most charming endeavors Tho men just refuse to propose. . ut when you walk out by tho water, And moonlight falls soft on, tho shoro, Tho primmest and plainest of daughters Some masculine heart will adore. But tho coats and tho hats were all lacking; No possible captive was seen; And some gray-haired old maids were taunting Us of it. Now, wasn't that mean? Another such year would bo awful, For what are lino feathers and clothes, And moonlight, and starlight and seashore, If girls are not furnished with beaux? Harper's Magazine. ment, by a regularly organized corp of skilled workers, will yet dawn upon tho world, and tho individual woman will have time and strength to make a home for her family with out killing herself with worry. Household Cares Tho luxuries which, ono by one, havo como to the family, the multi tudinous things (hat are required to mako homes attractive, the modern houses which havo their mountain ous stairways to worry weak backs, aro all things which havo combined to mako housekeeping a drudgery, and tho intelligent minds of Ameri can women are rebelling constantly. Tho remedy lies in simplifying home life; in leaving out of houses the numberless traps that aTo hard to get, harder still to keep clean, and of no earthly good wherever they are. Women need to know so much that they do not know, and can not learn whilo they fret and worry over the superfluities and shams that the "fashions" even in housekeeping, de mand of them. They try to do their best, working early and late, saving hero, spending there not always do ing the wisest in either; they try to emancipate themselves from tho thralldom put upon them by "con ditions," but they begin at the wrong end of tho task. In these days, houses aro not adapted to home making; they aTe planned by mon, not women, and the man's idea of house-building is to get the largest number of houses on tho smallest possible space, so more houses can he put upon what is sr.ved. To over come the inconveniences, women in troduce troublesome furnishings, and many things aro demanded by "fashion" which tho family purse can not afford. If a simpler style of living wero tho "fashion," how soon the burdens would drop away from the bent shoulders, tho com plaining and fault-finding cease, and the family purse allow of pleasures undreamed of now! Wo need not go back to the dug-out, tho cave, or tho cabin; tho old-timo flro-placo cookery may still bo a dream, and first-class cooking arrangements may still be installed; but the time, It is Tho Opening of tho Schools It is claimed by some of our most progressive educators that our chil dren can not read, and many of them can not spell, no matter how heavily they may be "crammed" in other branches. Ono of tho most serious defects in the present conduct of schools is said to be the fact that the children aro not taught to read, and that they do not understand what they attempt to read. In many cases, it is said that tho teachers, them selves, can not read clearly and in terestingly, making the proper pauses and emphasis. It is true, too, that children aro not taught tho care ful shades of meaning of words, or that certain words alone may be used for certain things or ideas, either singly or in connection with other words. In the homes, tho practice of reading aloud, by one member of tho family, for the entertainment of the others, has fallen into disuse; or, if still continued, the reading Is made largely from, somo popular work of fiction. If the family were supplied with good, instructive books, and tho older ones, properly the fathers and mothers, should bo able to mako the work interesting land Instructive to tho younger ones Dy explaining ana illustrating, to gether with the discussion of the topics treated of in the schools, the child would get a clearer Idea of what education means, and all would bo benefited. As tho school season is now opened, it would bo well to plan for this during tho long even ings soon to follow. Lessons learned under tho home lamp aro more ele vating than thoso tho street lamp shines upon. Care must bo taken when fitting and putting the pieces together, particu larly when using thin materials, as an unlined waist has nothing to hang upon and keep it in position except tho collar-band. The waist-band must bo depended upon for the rest, so both the collar and waist-band must have careful attention. A woman who is at all clover with her needle can make much pretty neckwear from a few scraps of fine lawn and lace, or embroidery. The bows, jabots and front ruffles are so easily imitated from the illustrations in the many woman's magazines that one with even ordinary ability can have plenty of them at small cost. It is full time to begin to fill the "Christmas box," and many dainty pieces of embroidery or fanpy-stitch-ing can now be made at odd times and laid away for the holiday season. The ten-cent stores carry many really valuable little things that may be picked up whenever one has a "spare dime," and it will come useful. Floral Talks Parents would do well to visit the schools and see for themselves wheth er the children are getting what they aro sent for. Many a child Is ac counted "dull" because he has a dull teacher; there are multitudes of poor teachers, and tho fault of dullness is very often but a reflection from the teacher. Not every one who takes up teaching as a profession is fitted for such, either by nature or education. For tho Sewing Boom When Insertion of laco or em broidery aro used on tho shirtwaist between groups of tucks, It will bo more economical if the pattern is pinned on tho piece, and tho fronts and back cut out before tho Insertion is sewed on. In this way will be avoided tho waste of laco or em broidery when tho neck and arm holes are cut out. When basting the insertion on, baste through to the right sido of the material and Btitch by machine on each side of the em broidery. Then cut tho material from under tho insertion, leaving about one-eighth of an inch on each side to turn back and stitch down so it will not fray when washed. The sleeves, cuffs and collars of all the lingerie waists should be trimmed in tho sanio way. When cutting out tho waist, the thread of the material at both the A floral writer says the average woman is like the drinking man: every autumn she swears off from excesses, but each recurring season finds her with broken vows and crowded windows. And crowded windows mean unclean and unhealth- ful conditions. Now is the time to decide what you are going to try to keep through the dark days, for plants must .be potted and gradually accustomed to the artificial condi tions of the house before the frost forces them indoors. Keep all potted plants clean; a dirty plant, like a dirty person, is the first to become infected or at tacked with insects. If scale, or mealy bugs are found, set to work at once to free them from the foul pests. Shower tho foliage, and scrub the pots; keep all dead leaves picked off, and trim the plant into shapeli ness. Keep a close look out for the early frost it never sends in Its card, but delights in "surprise" parties. More plants are lost in early winter through carelessness than at any other season. Palms, rubber plants, hydrangeas, and nearly all potted shrubs need a rest during the year, and this should be,gin about October or November. Let them severely alone while resting. Let the inter vals between waterings be long. Remember it is not the cold of winter usually that kills shrubbery and plant life, but the alternate freezing and thawing, which throw tho roots out of the soil and expose them to tho weather. The best mulch for most hardy plants is coarse barnyard manure, all the tfetter if it is partly rotted. Spread a blanket of this several inches thick over the bulb bed, and over tho hardy her baceous plants. Some of our vegetables make fine house plants; beets, turnips, carrots, horseradish, parsley, and such things make fine foliago plants, and tho foliage may be used as table garnishes. reaching to the knees; for older girls from ten to twelve, the skirt just covers tho knees; after that ago they reach the ankles. Sailor blouseB with plaited skirts will be a favorite stylo for girls and misses. For boys, nothing has yet dis placed tho Russian blouse suit, tho jacket suit worn with flannel or wash blouso and knee pants. Long trous ers aro only for boys in their teens. Tho slender figure with the nar row skirt is "the fashion" at present. The number of gores differ so that a model can be secured to suit any width of material, .and to suit any taste. The "hobble," or girt-in skirt will not appeal to all tastes. The slightly open neck will bo worn throughout the autumn and winter, finished with either a flat band or a frill; it has proved so com fortable that women will not willing ly let.lt go. Over-sleeves are in great favor, and the undersleeve can bo terminated at the elbow, or contin ued to tho wrist, as desired. Yokes, plaits and panels remain the characteristic features of tailor made garments; the center-front panel is still in vogue. The peasant waist, without seam at the shoulder, the fitting of the waist being done by a single seam under the arm, is much liked. The shirt-waists intend ed for wear with the long coats are very plainly made. There is little change in the shirtwaist, the only difference being the use of embroid ery, of high or low necks and of varied sleeves. Small foot plaitings are used on tailor-made skirts, headed by bands. Long coats are made of heavy rough, mannish goods, tweeds, homespuns, and the like; they may be wprh either high or open at the neck. Adversity's Lesson " ' ! A writer has said, "Poverty to many of us, represents tie acme of human misery, because we confuse it with pauperism, which is a con dition vastly different. Pauperism means dependence, while poverty may mean merely the doing without various unnecessary articles to which we have grown accustomed, or to .which we have aspired, and which we have come to regard as the very 'bread of life. And you will notice," we never are very grateful for bread until it is taken from us; so that a touch of poverty Is one of sweet ad versity's sharpest lessons a sort of mental mustard plaster, which is very beneficial. We may have left us everything else but the one thing wo once held so lightly, but now that one thing withheld seems to us more desirable than anything else in the world. Let us learn to take thank fully the good things that fall to our hand, and be grateful for them, and learn through doing without, how very much we should have cherished that which is taken from us." center front and center hack must hoped, when the cb-oporativo kitchen, run Btralght; this must bo strictly as wen as other household manage- observed when creasing tor tucks.. From tho Stylo Boole Serge, rough or smooth surfaced, either In solid colors or stripes, are the best materials for school dresses, but if warm underclothing is worn, any of the cotton or linen wash goods may be worn. Dresses for the tiny girls up to eight or ton, accord ing to b1zq4 aro made quite short, just "Tho Littlo Ant" -' "A Reader" sends us the follow ing: "Scientists have made a study of the little ant, and the stories they tell of their intelligence and skill belittle human generals in war or modern machinery in peace, and leave us our self-respect only as they incidentally illustrate our ability to comprehend such genius. But these great students fall to give us a few habits of the ant. For one thing, the ant is recklessly fond of being eaten. Before the picnic table can bo spread he will be mixing himself freely with the sugar; he will be in the cells of the bread, bathing in tho milk, lost in tho melting butter and, In fact, whatever wo are to eat, he will be a part thereof. He seems bound to get at the Inside facts of human nature, hut he is equally eager to get on tho outside. One diTTU-w will go down a man's neck, whilo another division counter-marches ug jj t i :uriMj1.Jk&'i;j tAt IMm 4WttUMilLiL . rxi..iu li,.BMjiA.i Ofc&uLfla mHfilfiiiBH uW...