Bellefonte, Pa., April 12, 1895. AN EASTER PRAYER. BY MINNA IRVING. Within the dusky pew I knelt And breathed a rich perfume, For pear at hand the altar steps Were banked with snowy bloom. And while the people's prayers arose Like incense sweet to God, From underneath my drooping plumes I watched the lilies nod. I gazed upon their golden hearts, Their perfect whiteness rare, Their slender stems of clearest green, And prayed a little prayer. "Twas never found in £ny book, Or said in any cell And from my soul it bubbled np Like water from a well. “Dear Lord,” I said, “when I am dead And done with grief and pain, if thou from ont the narrow grave Shouldst call me forth again So live once more, oh let me then A spotless lily be Within the church on Easter morn To blossom, Lord, for Thee !”’ AN INNOCENT OFFENDER. Millinery in the town of Dunham was a poor business. Winter bonnets were made to do for several seasons, while summer hats were done over from year to year, until their age and shape became doubtful. There was little extravagance in the matter of dress in Dunham, and this little was not encouraged. Mrs. Fraser had a new bonnet from Bangor each spring. A few of her privileged friends always | made a call upon her to look at it, to be able to make the necessary annual | alterations in their own millinery. { The one establishment that did a] thriving business was the corner store, | where groceries and dry-goods were sold. Mr. Timothy Fraser was the proprietor, and also the village post master. The mail was brought by the coach running between Bangor amd Cherryfield ; the rumble of its wheels, and the sound of the brake as it came: down High Hill, were the signal for the villagers to turn their steps toward the corner. Mr. Fraser read over the names in- scribed upon the different letters and papers, and those present were expect- ed to call “Here,” and come forward to claim their property. Mail not claimed was put inside the glass-case, which contained a small selection of ribbons, pens, razors, and men’s neck- ties. One spring morning, just after the arrival and distribution of the West- ern mail, Mr. Fraser was seen tacking a neat white card upon one of the posts that sapported the front of the store. “Is that a notice for school-meetn’?” inquired Joseph Phipps, coming a lit- tle nearer in order to read the inscrip- tion, which ran : MRS. LOUISA CARTER ANNOUNCES TO THE LADIES OF FRANKLIN AND NEIGHBORING TOWNS THAT SHE HAS A FINE ASSORTMENT OF MIL- LINERY. OLD HATS RETRIMMED. PRICES REASON- ABLE. Brarmsper Hotel, FranNkwiy, “No; it’s millinery. There's a wom- an moved into the old Blaisdell Hotel in Franklin, and opened in mil- linery. She forwarded me this card,’ bein’ as I was P. M. here, and asked | me to put it in a conspicuous place.” Mr. Fraser always abbreviated his: official title. ‘Now I should calkilate that would attract notice ?” he add- | ed, stepping back, and looking toward Mr. Phipps inquiringly. : “I should say so,” responded that person. He had found his glasses, and was reading the card slowly, but with evi- dent admiration. “Land! I mustn't let Mis’ Phipps hear of this,” said the old man, with a wink at Mr. Fraser. “Shouldn’t get the use of the horse this spring if she gets scent of a milliner in Franklin,” “Oh, the women folks is sure to hear | of it. My wife she’s thinkin’ of drivin’ up there this afternoon. She has sent away for bonnets afore now ; but she thought she'd drive up and see what she had. She was a-sayin’ she thought of askin’ Mis’ Phipps if’t was so she could leave to go along with her ; so I reckon your wife's got wind of it.” Early that afternoon Mrs. Fraser and Mrs. Phipps were driving along the Fraoklin road. Their progress was slow, as the frost was not yet out of the ground, and the road was rough and hubby. The strong wind trom the sea came in over the pasture-land, and along each side ot ‘the road the green buds of the alders were beginning to show. “We don’t seem to have very for- wardin’ weather this spring,” said Mrs. Fraser. She was a woman with 2 great respect for her own opinion, and eyedithe horizon almost reprovingly as she spoke. “Well, now, it seemed to me this was a master fine day,” responded her companion. “It's a regular weather--breeder, that's what t is,” ascented Mrs. Fra- ger. “The wind 's been backin’ and haulin’ all day.” “Dreadful poor land up this way, ain't it ?” remarked Mrs, Phipps. “It’s hard enough to get a livin’ in Dun- bam, but I've always teen thankful I didn’t live in Franklin.” “Mis’ Lyman and Nancy Ham- mounds went up vesterday. Mis’ Ly- man was in this morning to bring home my rug-frames, and she said Nancy was pleased as Peter to see the millinery. Nancy ain’t hada bonnet in the memory of man, but Mis’ Ly- man eaid ehe really believed she'd get one this year.” aid Both women ‘chuckled contentedly, and Mrs. Fraser went on : “Mis’ Lyman says that this Mis’ Carter's a very unice-appearing woman ~—quite genteel. She told her that her Phipps. folks were Portland people. Her hus- | well as you do, Mis’ Carter,” said Mrs. band goes to sea, so she kinder drifted : Fraser. a into millinery.” “Capting, I s’pose 2” ventured Mrs. like, William may buy, and settle | b i down. Iife,” responded the milliner. “Yes, I 'pose he is, though I don’t seem to recall as Mis’ Lyman men- tioned it ; but it’s likely.” The Blaisdell Hotel was a two-story house. On one side of the entraace was the office, and in one of the win- dows of the room on the other side were a number of untrimmed hats swinging from a line, and several small pyramids of colored ribbons. Mrs. Fraser carefully got out of the wagon, and then helped Mrs. Phipps out. “I declare, I be clumsy. ain't I?” said Mrs. Phipps, as she reached the ground. As they went up the steps, a tall, thin woman opeoed the door, and said : “Walk right in, ladies. Perhaps you would like to see something in millinery ?” “Well, I shouldn’t wonder if we would. Iam Mis’ Fraser from Dun- bam, Mis’ Carter, and thisis Mis’ Phipps. We drove up for the ride, and to see what you had.” “I’ve had several ladies from Duun- ham,” said the milliner, as she went behind thetable thatserved as a coun- ter ; “two real pleasant ladies came up yesterday. Had you any color in mind, Mis’ Fraser, that yon thought of havin’ on a bonnet?” “No ; I dunno as'l have. I thought perhaps I'd try on some, and eee how they looked.” “I've just trimmed a very stylish bonnet, though Ido say it,” said Mrs. | Carter, with an apologetic simper. “Perhaps you'd like to try it on, Mis’ Fraser,” holding up a black felt with purple flowers, “Well, I never thought as purple would become me. It always seemed as though dark red was more suitable ; still, perhaps purple would be a change.” “I declare toit, Mis’ Fraser,” said Mrs. Phipps, admiringly, as Mrs. Car- ter adjusted the bonnet, “if you hadn't tried that boanet on first, I should be tempted to get it myself!” Mrs. Fraser looked at the bonnet in the small glass before which she stood. “I b’lieve I should like it better without that purple. If you'd put a dark red in place of it, I guess I'd take it. The change was decided upon, and Mrs. ‘Carter said she would send the bonnet down before Saturday; and Mrs. Phipps and Mrs. Fraser returned home in good spirits. “I think I shall go up the last of the week, and take up my bonnet, and have it livened up a little,” said Mrs. Phipps, as she bade Mrs, Fraser a grateful good-by. On her second visit Mrs. Phipps and Mrs. Carter became more friendly. “I do like you Dunham ladies,” said Mrs. Carter, as she tried on Mrs. Phipps's old bonnet newly trimmed with dull magenta-colored ribbon. “You are all so social-like that I feel more to home with you. Then, though I wouldn't have you mention it, the Dunham ladies are so much more tasty. I declare, when I drove down with Mis’ Fraser’s bonnet, I thought I would like to settle myself in Dun- ham—while William is away, that is.” Mrs. Phipps considered the matter, and talked it over with Mr. Phipps, and when she went after her bonnet told Mrs. Carter that if she really wanted to come to Dunham she could board with her. “You can use the west room for your millinery-shop, and have the chamber over it to sleep in, and it shai't cost you more'n what's right. You can see how well you do in Dunham, and pay accordin’, Mrs. Carter's perpetual smile deep- ened, and her thin, worn face brighten- ed visibly. “You're sure I won’t be in your way, Mig’ Phipps ?” she asked anxiously. “You see, my husband’s away, and I’m sort of a lone woman, he makes such long voyages; and bein’ as I hadn't any children, or any settled home, I sorter took up millinery again.” Mrs. Phipps was conscious of a cer- tain pity for the woman. “I declare, Joseph, I feel sorry for Mis’ Carter,” she said that evening, “though why, I can’t say. She the wife of a sea capting, and makin’ mon- ey hand over fist, and we just scrapin’ along on a Dunham farm. Well, it’s 80 I’ve a roof over my head, I'm thank- ful to say.” “Her husband's a sea captain, is he?” inquired Joseph. “Land sakes ! of course he is,” aun- swered Mrs. Phipps, impatiently. “Goes on long voyages ; there's months at a time when she don’t know where he is.” “I can’t see as that’s any great gain,” said Joseph ; ‘but maybe ’t is.” The millinery business flourished, and Mrs. Phipps received the three dollars each week that had been agreed. upon. “Seems a good deal of money to take, Mis’ Carter ; but if it should be go that business drops off, as it proba- bly will, I'll make it right with you.” The neighborhood was greatly pleas ed with Mrs. Carter. Not only did her bonnets meet with favor, but she be- came a'person of some social conse quence. authority upon dress, and Dunham She was deferred to as an prided itself upon the possession of the milliner in three townships. Mrs. Carter always spoke of her hus- band as William, and referred to him so often that gradually the neighbor- hood began to feel well acquainted with the absent sailor, and spoke of Captain Carter as an old friend and neighbor, bis vessel had arrived in Portland, and that he ‘was coming to Dunham, the news of his visit was the principal topic of conversation. terested that the captain should be ! pleasantly impressed with the village. | ea stove. “What be you a-doin’ When Mrs. Carter heard They all felt in. “I hope your husband will like us as all its bearings with the neighbors, =o that a number of suitable places for a prosperous retired sea captain to pur- chase were waiting his inspection. about his coming. orderin’ people about, and to high liv- in’; and Mis’ Carter has told me he cook I” she said to her husband. captain business from the fust. You've self on this captain affair, and cooked Phipps, accusingly. *“Just tend to that “Yes, I hope he will ; for if he does He's about tired of a seafarin’ | p Mrs. Fraser discussed the subject in Mrs. Phipps felt a little anxious “These sea captings are so used to was particular about his cookin’, very. | o Land knows if he’ll touch anything I | “Guess he don’t get no better food | 4 than you'll giye him, judgin’ from the way you're preparin’ for him,” respond- | ; ed Joseph, loyally. The old stage came swinging down High Hill, and pulled up at the cor- ner store. The mail-bag was thrown out upon the platform, and the driver climbed down after it, and opened the | rickety door. “Hare we'ere?”’ inquired a bluff voice, and in a moment more a short, stout man, with a reddish face, climb- ed awkwardly out, and pulled a large bundle out after him. i He stared about for a moment, then picked up his bundle, and trotted into the store. The worn clothes, the wool- en muffler wound about his neck, and the bundle, seemed to indicate that he was one of the many wayfarers going through to some seaport town. “Goin’ to Machias ?'’ inquired one of the villagers, as the man seated him- gelf near the large stove. But he did not answer, and after a little the idlers left him puffing sturdily away at a short, black pipe, and went home. Later on, however, Mr. Fraser, by the offer of a new brand of tobacco, won bis confidence, and. with but few in. terruptions, the men talked until near- ly twilight. The lamp was lighted in Mrs. Phipps's sitting-room, the shades were drawn, and Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Phipps were sitting down before a brightly blazing fire. It wasa time for confidence, and Mrs. Carter had been moved to tell the romance of her ife. : Mrs. Phipps listened half fearfully. “And you actually run away with him! It’s like a book. But’t was lucky for you, Mis’ Carter, that it hap- peued to be such 2 good man as the capting.” Mrs. Carter sighed. “I feel to say that [I've had much to be thanktul for, Mis’ Phipps. You've been a friend to me ; I sha’n’t forget it.” “Now, Mis’ Carter, it's been a plea- sure to have you here; and if the cap- ting should decide to buy a place here, I hope it ’ll be handy, eo you can ran in often.” A heavy rap at the outer door, fol- lowed by a series of kicks, disturbed their conversation. “Land!” exclaimed Mrs. Phipps, jumping up. “What on earth is that ? I b’lieve the storm-door’s blowed in.” “It's William,” said Mrs, Carter, in a hushed, appealing voice. Mrs. Phipps looked relieved. “I g’pose sea captings get kinder used to rousin’ around, and forget about noise ; but let him right in, Mis’ Carter——don’t keep him a-standin’ out there,” for the kicks were coming fast and furious. Mrs. Carter paused a moment, with her hand on the door. “Mis’ Phipps, I hain’t ever told you—" “Don’t tell me nothin’, Mis’ Carter, till yon open that door. The poor cap- ting 'll be worn out knockin.’ So the door was opened, and the burly, red-faced passenger of the coach staggered in. His wife's timid greeting was overshadowed by Mrs. Phipps's’ more hearty welcome. “I declare, capting, we're right down glad you've come. Joseph ’Il be right in, and I’ll goand seeabout some supper for you.” “Captain—captain 2’ responded the man, a8 he unwound his scarf, and threw hishat on the floor. “Who's captain ? But Mrs. Phipps had fluttered into the kitchen, where Joseph eat smok- ing peacefully. “The capting’s come, Joseph. Just liven up that fire a mite, while I get something for him to eat. He did make a waster noise at the door; most frightened me.” . 8 from his comfortable seat as he re- t moved his pipe from his mouth and began to speak. “I hain't took much stock in this talked and planned and plumed your- and saved all the decent victuals for him, and I hain’t said nuthin’. “Now, Joseph, just because I wa'n’t willin’ to have all the mince-pies eat { up, you act this way,” responded Mrs. | o e fire.” “I hain’t a-actin’ no way. I'm just a | 8 milliner to live. you a present of it. to me, Mis’ Phipps, and I feel to be thankful, for I've seen considerable trouble ; and I don’t blame you for feel- in’ as you do about William. You've treated him well, too. faults, Mis’ Phipps, but he means well.” not. neither of you. that riles me, though I can’t rightly remember as you ever give us reason to think he was a capting. I really be- lieve that meand Mis’ Fraser started it, though we meant well enough, land knows. Seemed a sort of compliment- like to about no bonnet for me. I two winters ago, and I ain’t in no need for another.” that Pnipps ?’" inquired Mrs. Phipps, half ngrily. “He's a human critter, and he must e buogrier than all possess. He'll robably relish some o’ that cookin’ you've been so careful about,” said Joseph, putting in another stick. ‘He won’ t get no hot victualg, I can tell you. Some bread and cold meat is all he'll set down to in this house to- night,” said Mrs. Phipps. But ber heart relented, and when William was called to supper, the ta- ble was abundantly spread. A certain coolness in Mrs. Phipps’s manner, and a full stop in the millin- ry business, convinced Mrs. Carter hat Dunham was not the place for a And as William was 0go in a few weeks on another voy- age, she decided to return to her folks n Portland. “You see,” 't ain’t as if William was a captain,’ she confided to Mrs. Phipps, who listened with an evident though unspoken protest ; “although he has a responsible position, still he’s rather tired of 2 seafarin’ life, and perhaps by another year he might decide to remain on land.” “Like as not,” replied-Mrs. Phipps. “I'm a-goin’ to trim you the hand- somest yelvet bonnet that there’ll be n this town, Mis’ Phipps, and make You've been kind He has his “Like as not, Mis’ Carter; like as I ain’t got the fust thing against It's the capting part But don’t you bother had one you. Nevertheless, on the Sunday follow- ing the departure of the Carters, Mrs. Phipps came to church wearing a bon- net that almost restored to Mrs. Car- ter the affection of her Dunham cus- tomers, and made them feel that a part of the glory of their native town had gone with the milliner. “Poor critter I" said Mrs. Phipps, reflectively, as she putthe bonnet care- fully away. woman as ever was, and she hated to go. She acted real generous, too, giv- in’ me this bonnet and all her remnants. I declare to it, ii she'd only told me, before that miser’bul man come, just what his work was, I'd ‘a’ made it pleasant for ’em, and kept’em here as long as they'd stayed. Poor critter ! I b'lieve I was to blame for something or rother in this capting business, but I can’t rightly see wha’t was now,” in the— Century Magazine. “She was a well-meanin’ ALICE TURNER. Easter Eggs. Their Use Has Come Down Through Ages to the Present Time. The use of eggs on Easter day, some- times called Pasche, or paste eggs, has come down to the present time, writes Jane Searle in an article on “Easter and Easter Customs,” in the April “ Ladies’ Home Journal" held by the Egyptians as a sacred em- blem of the renovation of mankind after the Deluge. them to suit the circumstances of their history asa type of their departure from the land of Egypt. Eggs were The Jews adopted They were also used in the feast of the Passover. Hyde, in his description of Oriental sports, tells of one with eggs among the Christians of Mesopotamia on Eas- ter day, and 40 days afterward : “The sport consists in striking their eggs one against another, and the egg that breaks is won by the owner of the one that struck it. egg is pitted against the winning egg, and so on till the last egg wins all the othere, which their respective owners shall before have won.” Immediately ‘another In Germany, sometimes instead of eggs at Easter, an emblematic print is occasionally presented. One of these is preserved in the print-room of the British Museum. Three hens are repres sented as upholding a basket, in which are placed three eggs ornamented with representations illustrative of the Res- 3 : urrection : over the center egg the Joseph's chair was well tilted back | ! Ly against the wall, and he did not move ‘Agous Dei,” with a chalice repre- enting faith ; the other eggs bearing be emblems of charity and hope. SS ————————— Tax Burdens Borne by Cuba. It is little wonder Cuba frequently re- volts against the government of Spain. The island people are taxed very heavi- ly for the support of the foreign gov- rnment, and get little in return through Government: Taxation without epresentation has been a fruitful cause f resolution and rebellion in all In all Spain takes about $30,000,000 year out of Cuba, which, in addition times. is.” Mrs. Phipps reached out one hand toward the table for support : “I don’t believe it,’, she said. “Well Fraser.” Joseph felt he had created the desir- ed impression, and now allowed his complications with one of the great chair to rest its front legs on the floor, | powers that will secure the independence and began puttinglwood into the kitch- , it's what he told Timothy | hardship. remindin’ you how I've always eaid [| to the cost of its own government, is a didn’t take no stock in his bein’ a cap- | heavy burden. There is a stamp tax on tain, and he hain’t, “Joseph Phipps, I do b’lieve you're | bills ot exchange and legal documents. crazy !" “Perhaps I be ; but he’s been at the | guest. Merchants must pay $1 for the corner store since noon, that miserable | first Page of ih bets, gd 3 critter has, and he hain’t even a sail]. | Cents for each additional page. e on!) “Perhaps youll tell me what he is, then,” said Mrs. Phipps, with sarcastic emphasis. “Well, I don’t mind tellin’ you : he's ! a cook on a barkantine, that's what he | all drafts, checks, promissory notes, | Hotels are taxed 5 cents a day for every | tight little island also charges $1 admis- | sion fee for every passenger that lands | on its soil, and exacts another dollar ‘ from him before he can get out again. Such exactions are outrageous. If they were necesfary to maintain the government machinery of the people | they might be borne with good will, but . when nearly all the revenues are ex- | ported to Spain to support an army to keep Cuba in subjection it isa galling It will be a piece of good | fortune for the Cubans when Spain be- comes involved in. some international of Cuba. of, Joseph ~~ ——Read the WATCHMAN. An Easter of Ye Olden Time. BY REV. THOMAS P. HUGHES, D. D. Easter has ever been regarded as the great festival of the Christian year. In addition to its being the anniversary of the Lord’s resurrection, the circum- stances of its occurring in the spring of the year, when nature awakes to new life, may be sufficient to account for its world wide popularity. The observance of Easter is connect- ed with the history of Christianity itself. And while there has never been any difference of opinion among Christians as to the general observance of the fes- tival, in the early church the Asiatics ' kept the feast on the day of the Jewish Passover, while the Western’ Christian observed it on the first Sunday after the Passover. Hence arose a great dispute in the sec- ond century, and victor, the Bishop of Rome, excommunicated those churches which did not keep it onthe Sunday. The controversv was brought before the council of Nicea, in the year A. D. 825, and it was decreed that Easter Day should be kept on the Sunday following the Jewish Feast of the Passover, which Passover is kept on the fourteenth day of the Jewish month Nisan. At the same time, to prevent all uncertainty, it was made a rule of the church that the full moon next to the vernal or spring equinox, should be taken for the full moon in the month of Nisan, and the 21st of March be accounted the vernal equinox, consequently Easter Day is al- ways the Sunday following the full taoon which falls on, oris next after, the 21st day of March. The day is still known as Pascha in the Easter church, as well as in the var- ious churches of Europe, the English title of Easter being probably derived from the old Saxon word ‘‘Oster,” Spring. Some scholars have suggested that it has its origin in the word Hastre, the name given to the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn. For the church took the pagan philosophy and make it the buckler of faith against the heathen She took the pagan Sunday and made it the Christian Sunday. And she took the pagan Eastre and made it the Chris- tian Easter. But it would seem more probable that as the Pascha, or ancient Easter, was celebrated in the spring of the year. the Anglo Saxons knew the Pasha pop- ularly as the Oster, or spring festival, just as in the same way Lent is derived from the old Tentonic word Lenz, “Spring,” simply because the forty days fast occurs in the spring of the year. “In the olden time’ the annual re- turn of Easter was observed with great festivities. The custom of distributing The ‘‘pace” or ‘pascha’” egg, was universal ; indeed it was one of the most popular features of the Easter ob- servance. The egg was regarded sas symbolical of renewed life among the ancient Egyptians Persians, Greeks and Romans, and even in the present day, the Parsees of Bombay distribute red eggs at their spring festival. The early Christians seem to have adopted this cus- tom to the teachings of Haster. In me= diasval times Easter eggs were solemnly blessed by the priest and distributed among the people. The eggs were boil- ed very hard in water, colored with red biue or violet dyes with inscription or landscapes traced upon them, and they were offered as Easter gifts. On Easter Monday, the clergy and the boys united in tossing balls, instead of eggs, and we are told that the bishops and deans even took the ball into the cathedral, and at the beginning of the autiphone commenced to dance, throw- ing the ball to the choisters, who threw it back to each other. After services they retired for refreshments, when a gammon of bacon, eaten in abhorrence of the Jews, was a standard dish, with a tansy pudding symbolical of the bitter herbs of the Passover. In Dorsetshire, England, even until quite recently the parish church clerks used to carry white cakes to every house as Easter ofterings, and in return for these cakes they received a gratuity. In the parish of Biddenham, in Kent, these is an ancient endownment for the distribution, on Easter afternoon, of cakes among the poor. In the early church, the service on Easter Day was said standing. It was also the custom, in primitive times, for Christians to greet each other on Easter morn “Christ is risen ;” to which those who were saluted answered ‘‘He is risen indeed and hath appeared unto Simon.” This practice is still retained in the Greek church. When slavery existed in"the Christian Church, it” was the time to give to the Christian slaves their freedom. And by a round of festivities and popular sports, the people endeav- ored to emphasize the fact that Easter Day was as the people called it, the Dominica gaudii, or the Sunday of Joy. —Home and County Magazine. ——The appeal for aid for the strik- ing coal miners differs from appeals to the public that are made on behalf of those concerned in labor disputes. The coal miners have a strong case. No class of our working population has more arduous occupation, shutting it out from the enjoyments of life common to the laboring class generally. The demands they make are reasonable, and have peen conceded as such by many employers. So far their action in con- ducting their struggle for living wages has been law-abiding and orderly. Public sympathy is very largely with them, and it should take practical shape. The families of the miners are in want of the necessities of life. Help them. —“Mamma, is it true that they wear snowshoes in Alaska ?”’ “Certainly, Teddie.” “Don’t they melt when they get in the house 2?” ——Spinster—You have a woman's corner, I believe. Editor— Yes, scorner is in the left. ma'am, the woman second room to the I ———————— EASTER INVITATION. BY FRANCES F. P. CHACE. Forth little flowers from out hi¢ing places ! Come let us see all your sweet, pretty faces— Fragrant young hyacinths, tulips and roses, Graceful white lilies, and baby-faced heart’s- ease. Beautiful Easter demands your attendin To organ loft, chancel and altar ascending, There to tell sweetly of God's loving care, While sinful mortals are pleading in prayer. For and About Women. Miss Fanny Edwards, the girl evan- gelist, of Louisville, Ky., is reported to have saved 1000 souls in Ohio and Indi- ana. She is eighteen years of age, and lets her long hair hang down over her shoulders. One of the things which do not char- acterize spring gowns is the shoulder flounces of last year. If you have an old gown with fluffy ruffles or pleatings over the shoulder, take them off and make them into bretelles or revers, any- thing which will give the flat, pasted ef- fect to the top of the shoulders—an ef- fect which a flounce of any kind de- stroys. But whatever you do, before you decide to be fashionacle this spring, pause and reflect that to do, so you must have seven yards of hair-cloth in your skirt, and that the cheapest is 69 cents a yard. Those who desires to know how to get rid of moths in carpets, and how to stay rid of them, brings up a puzzling ques- tion. Light is really the best preven- tive. A room well lighted and carefully swept once in two or three weeks will seldom be infested with moths. They are creaturesof darkness. The best way to get rid of them when ance established is to lay a well dampened cloth on the carpet, and then run a hot flatiron over it. The hot steam destroys the moths. Run the iron slowly and lightly over, so as not to press down the pile of the car- pet. Eternal vigilance is the price of security. The small hats are more universally becoming than the bonnets. Some have the brim turned off the faces and bend in and out, and have also a colored band or some colored flowers inside the brim resting on the hair, in an exceed- ingly becoming fashion. There is no one set style to be followed, the cockade hat being the starting point, as it were. An extremely pretty hat of one of the smart milliners is of the finest black open work straw, turned sharply up at one side, with a black aigrette and rhinestone buckle. The hat itself is quite flat in the crown, but the trim- ming is put on to give a high, full ef- fect. At the back, so arranged as to rest on the knot of hair, are two large bunches of most natural looking bluets. Another hat is of light brown straw, something on the plan of a sailor, but a fresh water sailor, in that it savors very little of anything severely nautical, and will be sadly out of place on any sailing expedition. It is trimmed with pink roses and black velvet, roses on the crown and underneath the brim, so na- tural that they look like the genuine flowers themselves. This is an axquisite hat for a young girl, but would be very unbecoming to an older woman. The Easter fashion parade -this year will have somewhat the appearance of a flowershow. Capes will be worn with a ruche of flowers about the neck. Elaborate street costumes are being made with berthas of flowers, and the oddest thing in town is the tailor-made gown with a vest and stock collar of spring blossoms. One seen recently, says the New York World, was of wood-brown broadcloth, with a tight-fit- ting bodice made with a vest of violet satin. The satin was used merely as a foundation, and was completely covered with artificial violets. It was also an adjustable affair, being fastened to the broadcloth bodice by means of gilt but- tons. Flowers are to be seen on all the fashionable hats. and fiower muffs will be much the vogue during the spring. Lace flowers are another fad of the hour. There is no summer material that has a greater fascination for the ordinary woman than dotted mull. It used to be all white, and it was very tempting then. One car buy such exquisite morn- ing gowns of thc alluring stuff. A lovely one trimmed with fine white lace had a broad sailor collar run with sev- eral rows of pale blue baby ribbon and tied at the waist with broad blue satin ribbons. Some people make it up into morning jackets that are very sweet and fresh looking. A plain Swiss waist is some- times made with dotted net sleeves, a fancy which is quite in keeping with the present fashion of having the sleeves of a different material from the rest of the dress. A pretty Swiss blouse, with a yoke laid in three box plaits, and bordered with a narrow lace flounce. Thesleeves are dotted mull and reach just below the elbows, where they are finished with a narrow ruffle of lace. But the dotted mulls are not all white this season. There are blues and greens and coffee colors which are very pretty and not very expensive. One white mull with blue stripes was made up in- to a shirt waist. It was laid in box plaits and had a stock collar with blue rosettes, and was sold for $3.50. That wonderful complexion which has made Patti envied by other women of every country is not retained without care, The woman who is responsible forit is a complexion specialist. She says: Mme. Patti cares for her com- plexion in this way: In the morning she tubs a little genuine olive oil soap on a soft cloth, moistened with tepid water, and upon that puts a little Patti rose cream, in order to counteract the natural effect of injury to the skin from impurities in the water. “Then she washes her face asany other woman would, with a Turkish toweling face cloth, and puts on a little powder to complete the ablution. * This she repeats after drlving, or whenever her face needs cleansing. At night, washing in the same manner, she after anoints her face with cream, which re- mains on during the night and causes the impurities of the skin to exude. When sending an order for any soap, cream or powder she always adds, ‘Please omit scent.’ She understands that if she were to take care of her face for a week and then neglect it for several days she would lose the effect of all her labor and a long time to coax back the dainty texture of her skin. { A stylish, quiet gown that could be worn by a young girl or by a mation is of white pipue, made with a Norfolk basque. There are three plaits in front and two in back. large sleeves and a turnover collar. With this suit are worn a belt of black belting, jet buckle and black De Joinville tie.