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The Commoner.
VOLUME 12, NUMBER S
0fltr
Pnnffunfpd bv
Helen Watts Mryefo
Depar
imen t v
THE DEPAllTJH) OIIIJOI
.u.i
Norman J. Oolcnmn
, Tho busy, tiroloss hand tliat wrought
So wisely, with a Master's skill,
All work on oarth has laid aside
Tho loom of ono strong llfo Is otlll.
Tho wob, unfinished, fold away
With rovoront caro; tho broken
thread
That could not reach tho weaver's
aim,
Wind tondorly tho chief is dead.
With faithful zeal his toil has been
Prolonged boyond tho hour of rest;
Ho laborod on when sunset's Hush
Had paled and faded from tho
west.
Tho fabrics of his fashioning
Must suroly lit tho Father's plan,
Bocauso in earnestness ho strovo
For uplift of his followman.
But now tho task Is o'er for him
Who wrought with all a mastor's
skill;
Tho work of oarth is laid asido
Tho busy loom of llfo is still;
Tho wob unfinished, fold away
With rovoronco; tho broken throad
That could not reach tho weavor's
aim.
Wind tondorly tho Chief Is dead.
p Harriot Whltnoy Durbin in Col
man's Rural World.
ling in loose screws, giuing tuu imn.-
I. ll ...! r,nnnfn1 InMHni?
lllg JJOI HUMS, UUU B"ul" w.wo
over, should bo tho business of
stronger hands than thoso of the
housekeeper, and many men really
delight in such work in their spare
time, if only their attention is called
to it. Then, too, not all women have
tho mechanical temperament, and
few know when "work is really well
or satisfactorily done, in these days
so rlfo with cheating, fraud, and sub
stituting. Workmen do not have a
very groat respect for tho practical
knowledge of tho average woman.
After awhile, whon tho woman
"comes into her own," as she is
coming, very rapidly, she can tell
when "things" aro honestly done;
but fow of them can at the present
stage of "art." But of ono thing we
may bo sure only tho really good,
if fewer pieces, should be bought, and
furnishing a kitchen should not be
done at "bargain sales," except in
minor matters; and even then, the
best is nono too good, if cared for.
and fold the tucks as usual, and
stitch on right side at top of drawn
threads, then draw stitching to bot
tom of threads; keep the tension
tight and use 100 thread for rather
coarse goods, and finer for fin
goods. All kinds of garments,
sheets, and tablecloths, can thus be
hemstitched.
Fashion Notes
In tho marked reaction against
tho dross that hooks in tho back,
front-closing effects are among the
most popular of recent styles. The
real opening of the dress is often
cleverly concealed under revers at
tho side-front.
"Riittrma ovn omnlnvnd nrnfiiaoltr
and many most ornate results are
rthtnfnnrl Vv thin nlmnlA rnmHnro
VM VMW J MAAAArAW Q M -ft A t V V
One of the newest designs for
A lottor camo to my desk tho
middle of January, from southern
Toxas, filled with fresh violets and
a strong perfume of spring time. The
writer asks, "How would you like to
stop out Into your yard, as I have
Just dono, and gathor a handful of
spring violets? And wo had fresh
tomatoes and lottuco for dinner to
day. I imagine you putting in your
spare timo dealing with the fnol
problem, hunting tho fast-falling
mercury, and digging in snowbanks
to find your sidewalks." Tho "imago"
was about correct, for outside, our
part of tho country was wrapped in
a raging blizzard, with mercury well
down toward tho bulb, and tho earth
well carpeted with snow. v
"Furnishing a Kitchen"
"Ellory M." asks how much it will
cost to furnish a kitchen, UBing only
iuruiBuing8 mat Will wear and con
tinue serviceable for several years.
Tho wear of any furniture does not
depend wholly on tho quality of the
article itself. In tho hands of sorao
women, really excellent furniture will
bo ready for tho kindling pile or
scrap heap in less than a year's time,
While in tho hands of another wo
f man, the saino grade of furnituro will
last through tho rearing of a family.
do mucu aoponas upon the use (or
abuse) of it; but there aro other
factors which make for good or bad,
and ono of them is the attention
given to little repairs which oven
tho best of furnishings require. This
attention depends on the man of the
family, either to be dono with his
own handB, or attendod to by the
proper mechanic under his direction.
We all know that when n nionn f
furnituro begins to show shabby, we
aro not so careful of it as when it
was bright and now, and to Insure
our respectful consideration, the
Ealnt pot, enamel can, and varnish
rush, together with the handy glue
Sot, and a fow necessary tools, should
e brought into play. This refurbish
.. ing, tightening loosened Joints, driv-
walsts is the over-blouse or Jumper
which is so adaptable to the present
taste for combining two or moTe
materials In a dress. The Jumper
with the deep armholes is most at
tractive. One-sided effects in both skirts
and waists continue to be a notable
feature of tho Btyles. A moBt
attractive skirt is mado on the bias;
tho reversible goods, narrowly
striped or checked on one aide, no
doubt suggested this skirt, tut any
of tho other pretty striped materials
now on the market may be used, and
it will doubtless be popular for the
spring wardrobe.
Among the most attractive gar
ments are the peplum waists; not
only do waists with serco or worRtfid
frocks have these little skirts, but
tney may bo used for taffeta or other
fancy silks. There Is a considerable
diversity In the depth of the pep
lums, sleeves and manner of clos
ing; they do away with the "gap"
between waist and Bklrt which even
tho greatest care could not always
prevent. Some fronts are turned
back in revers, and suggest a short,
belted Jacket. They are very Jaunty,
and may be made very handsomely,
or plainly.
Get tho range of a reputable dealer,
and don't let him sell you something
"Just as good as the best," for a
marvellously low price; remember
that no serviceable range can be had
for fifteen to twenty dollars. Get a
good -one, plain, and devoid of nickel
trimming or enamel; for these trim
mings add both to cost and to your
toil, hiding tho poverty of the range
or imitation of one. A good,
serviceable range, which will make
cookery a pleasure, if anything will,
will cost not less than $40, and a
better one can be 'had fpr $45, and
better ones for a still higher price.
In tho matter of a cookery depart
ment, the best is none too good, for
tho health and hanniness of the
family depends beyond anything else
on good cookery. When the range
has been secured pay cash if pos
sible, and get a few dollars rebate
the next thing on. your list should be
a really good kitchen cabinet, which
is really a store room, pantry, and
kitchen closet all in one, and will
save miles of stepping for the house
wife. There are cabinets and cabi
nets; but a really good one the kind
you will want, will cost you from
$17 to $20. It will be useful, orna
mental, and satisfactory. Use the
goods boxes awhile longer until you
can stock this cabinet with necessary
utensils, and do pay cash for every
thing you buy, for your own soul's
sake. For a makeshift, the bargain
counter damaged goods and seconds
may, do; but get good, lasting
articles, if less of them. Then' give'
them good care.
Tea Poisoning
A well-known specialist in, diseases
of the mind and nervous system
says: "It would be difficult to enter
into a discussion regarding the
effects of tea drinking as regards the
nervous system; it is the habitual
use of tea, and not any particular
kind of tea, that produces deleteri
ous effects. The time comes wkeiu.
the user of tea feels a continual
craving for the stimulant, and a
larger percentage . of neurasthenia
cases are caused by the habit of ex
cessive tea drinking. Women of the
poorer classes suffer from nervous
prostration because of it; many such
women keep a pot of tea on the stove
constantly, and when they feel faint,
or a weakness, resort to the beverage
instead of foods. The beverage has
a' slow, insiduous effect upon the
nervous system, and in fact is very
similar in its effects to chronic ar
coholism. Tea taken in proper
quantities, freshly made, acts as a
stimulant to the stomach and causes
a secretion of gastric Juices, acting1
as an aid to digestion, and is bene
ficial. The harm comeB when the
drinker resorts to its use as a whim
or habit. It is not any particular
beverage in itself that is deleterious
to health, but rather the immoderate
use of it, that works injuriously to
the nervous system. It is claimed
that the greatest "harm resulting
from the use of tea results among
poor people who buy and use the
cheaper grades of tea, boiling -or,
steeping it continuously. r' t ?
For the Homo Seamstress
Good, Things to Know
In building a chimney, it is recom
mended to put a quantity of salt into
A pretty fichu is made bv cuttinc'
a large handkerchief in two diagon- The mortar witt which the inter-
" "wiHut uj euu in cue uacK, couree of brlclc Is laid. Tho effect
UUU VI 11U1U1UK YV1L11 HUII1H HlIiril.mA vrH 1 1 bin thn 4-V .lt1
' w niAA un i.iifii. all.-. I -.j ju ill ti nTrni. r
,. .. uuvu uo ttujr
The New Kitchen
It is claimed that $100 will
furnish a kitchen with all necessary
articles, and somo house-furnishing
urius oner to nt up the room with
everything needed for $50, and even
these, on the installment plan, which
makes it "so easy." Some kinds of
things can surely bo bought for these
sums; but tho purchase is not to be
recommended. It 1b better to got a
good, serviceable range with a few
vessels, and use pine boxes for
furniture until better can be ob
tained, than to fill tho kitchen with
a cheap piece of iron and enamel, a
highly varnished "cabinet," a few
showy chairs, and a stock of cheap
seconds" in the way of accessories.
lace. The lace should be deen. and
fulled on.
One of the most serviceable of
aprons is made of soft table oil
cloth. The pattern for the apron
should be plain, or pleats or gathers,
or darts. It should come well up
on tho bust, and be wide enough to
cover the skirt, nearly meeting in
the back. To go with it there should
uo uvei-aiueves, coming well up
above the elbpws; or, if preferred,
they may be shorter.
An inside pocket for a coat is
seldom found on woman's wear, yet
there are few things more necessary.
A few Inches of strong ribbon, satin,
or sateen, fashioned like an envel
ope, with a small safety pin in each
corner for fastening to the coat, will
make a serviceable pocket in Vhich
to carry the purse containing car
fare, an extra handkerchief, or
other necessaries that can not be
reached easily in tho shopping bag
or purse.
One of the economies of the home
seamstress is the covering of the
children's school books. Tahi nn
cloth, of a soft finish, (enamel cloth,
it Is sometimes called) makes an
excellent covering, and old pieces of
stout cotton or linen goods are dur
able. The goods need not be new,
as there is little strain on it; but
it should boar handling.
For hemstitching on the machine,
draw the threads as usual, turn the
hem under nearly to thA nrmor. oo.
of threads and baste evenly; then
stitch Just as close to the edge of the
uem as possiDie; men take hold of
the under part of the hem and draw
it carefully down to bottom of drawn
threads. For tucks, draw the threads
accumulation of soot in the chim
ney, for the reason that the salt in
the portion of mortar which is ex
posed will absorb the moisture on
damp days, and the soot, becoming
damp, will fall down from the walls
of the chimney, and may ne easily
removed.
For washing white plumes, if they
are of the knotted kind, they may
be dipped un and down mnontniv
lukewarm suds made of best white
soap; rinse in several waters when
they "show clean," adding to the last
one a few drops of bluing. Shako
in front of fire while drying, and
curl the ends of the barbs by hold
ing the blunt side of the knife blade
insJe left nand and drawing tho
feather carefully along its length.
Care muBt be taken not to break tho
barbs by holding too tight. Another
way is to lay the feather on a large
cloth or paper and gently rub with,
plenty of warm flour, using as much
as is needed to clean. This will not
take out the curl if rin-i,i. ,
Washing in gasoline is also good. In
any case, one must do the work carefully.
Tho Growing Child..
Because the growing child must
not bo crowded with albuminous
matter, vegetables, properly cooked
should enter largely into ha diet.
The framework of the growing body
must be. fortified by salts and these
are not contained In sufficient quani
ties in meat. Vegetables are tho
chief source of bono-forming ele
ments, and particularly of those
phosphates which constitute two-,
thirds of the composition of th
ifc
rr.
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