t HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT. AFFAIRS 4T" I Jk FEMININE ECONOMY. Is H not also a part of our extrava gant economy that mnkes women eat such queer things when they are by their lonely selves? What self-re-pecting man would lunch off a sul tana cake, a tart or an Ice? Show me the self-respecting woman who has not tione It! 'Women know how to cook some of them but none of them know V" to tat. A woman feels that to at well and substantially Is a sheer waste there Is nothing to show for It; but she would not hesitate a moment to spend even more In something that be can show. A man doesn't think twice about having a ripping good dinner; lie thinks It Is money well pent; but he would be hanged before he would buy himself an ornamental waistcoat and sustain life on a penny bun. What awful things we should at If it were not for the men! I am nre table d'hote dinners were invent d by some philanthropist to save wo men. "I cannot eat a la carte," said friend of mine In a piteous burst of confidence; "It's Jnst like ' eating money." So when her husband traTels with her he always leads her to the table d'hote. If only to preserve her from starvation. When she Is re signed to the cost she has an excellent ppetlte. I really think if it were not for men women would rap themselves In sable and point laee and starve to death. Mrs-. John Lane, in Fortnight ly Review. 1. THE PERFECT WOMAN. In a discussion among some friends cccntly we were in dispute as to the 1tur requisite qualities to be found in the finest type of woman, A. thought that these were the necessary charms: 1. A sense of religion. 2. An affec tionate disposition. 3. A high rever ence for maternity. 4. Docility of lemperament. One the other hand B. required: 1. Beauty. 2. High spirits, t. Intelligence, and 4. An affectionate .Jisposition. B. reminded A. that he tail not asked for Intelligence In his perfect womtn), and to which A. re Hied, that he didn't require It. B. fenghed this attitude of mind to scorn, and said that he knew a case at that moment In which such, a woman as A. " escribed was slowly boring hei; luis-i tond to death, and actually driving Ym from homo Ly her inanity the cay iicTng nil the harder for the hus- -oand because he realized and appre ciated the good points of his wife. A. retorted by saying that he knew a case in which such an Intelligent and high-spirited woman as B. described bad turned her home topsy turvy by knowing more than her husband did that the husband had been slowly but surely relegated to the 1 background, and the wife's "affectionate disposi tion," Jnstead of being dutifully con centrated upon h;rr husband and fam ily, had gone abroad for Its satisfac tion, and expended itself upon man 4 ml woman kind generally. The argu ment was of the sort that came to no end, and It was agreed that the ques tion would be sent to the editorial tribunal for settlement In the hope that a foTinula for "the perfect woman" might be evolved. Harper's Weekly. FRENCH MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. It is very curious but foreigners never give the French credit for do mesticity, and that is one of their greatest characteristics. Every daugh ter has laid up her money, and when she Is at a marriageable age, her friends and relations go forth and bunt for a young man about her age, and In her social set, and with her means, and a marriage Is arranged. , There are many of these girls who complain of being thrown into the arms of a stranger, but on the wholo they make admirable wives and mothers, and appear to be happy. French husbands and wives are nearly always the best of friends, looking after each other's welfare and taking the greatest interest in the bringing up and marrying off of their children. These children of the French have no courtship. The couples do not have time to learn to know each other, nor do they ever leAn to love one another vntil aftei marriage. The majority of (item enter uncomplainingly into wed lock, and take up their lives with the thought that the future is bright, and that their husbands will love them in time, which he generally does. There re no women in the world so ex tremely fascinating as the French. They have the power of making men admire them, and it seems that they can go further and make themselves loved. The lack of courtslilp never wories a French girl. She has never known the difference, nor has her another or grandparents. Her court fag day come after the ceremony, when she and her husband find that they have many thoughts in common. Although this will seem improbable, there nre very few scandals among the medium class of the French. There are few divorces, and husbands and rives seem to live happily together. WH1 PARIS REIGNS IN FASHION. "Why has Paris always reigned su preme In the domain of fashion?" This is a question which many people fcust have asked themselves, says an change. For centuries the ladies of firla have been a dominant factor in supremacy. Encouraged by them, fashion artists have flourished in ' peculiar atmosphere of that city. Constant contact with and contempla tlon of the wealth of beautiful treas ures displayed in the shops, museums, streets and theaters have constituted for the Parisian women a liberal edu cation in everything that appertains to fashion. The reason for the supremacy of Paris is not far to seek. Is not the history of France one long record of royal passions, beautiful favorites and extravagant adventuresses whose ca prices cost countless millions? For sev eral centuries women reigned supreme at court, In the drawing rooms, on the stage, everywhere. All men did her homage; her slightest whims equalled commands. Affairs of state, family honor, ' right, wrong-everythlng was Ignored to gratify her maddest ca prices. Her dress, jewelry and other personal adornments became vital questions. To-d:iy even there are ladies who can spend flOOO on a set of furs; 200 on a mantle; 250 on a gown, and pay equally high prices for other articles of toilette. This extravagance has always at tracted to Tarls the smartest talent in Europe. France long led the world in the productions of silks, sntlns, laces, velvets and all those fabrics essential to feminine attire. Dressmakers, jewelers, perfumers, were veritable ar tists, who gloried lu their work. For a long time Paris lived mainly on the creation and distribution of articles of luxury. Trobably her dressmakers stand alone in having mfle a profund study of historical costumes for re productive purposes. They found precious inspiration at the Louvre, Luxembourg, and other famous picture galleries. M. Worth wrote a big book on his profession. M. Felix often "created" at a sacrifice, for the pure love of art. Paris has always been the principal creative centre of dramatic art; the success of a new piece is often depend ent on the elegant costumes of the star actresses. Wherever the later have toured they have left In their trail, the latest conceptions of fashious. exciting the envy and desires of their foreign sisters. Again, French novelists never tire of praising the beauty, elegance and perfect taste In dress of the voiuen in Paris. Imperceptibly, cosmopoli tan women have Imbibed the notion that outside Paris there is no snlvntlon for the smart woman who yearns to incarnate the latest Ideal of the mode. QUESTION OF LININGS. Make a note that the question of colot, which is of such serious Import ance this season, has to be gone into even so far as regards . linings, and ninny novel effects nre obtained in consequence, even when the old-time materials nre used, says the Washing ton Times. The very thin transparent veilings, dark blue, dark brown, or red. nre made up over linings of the same color, and nre certainly smart and attractive, but if white or some contrasting color Is used instead an entirely different appearance is the result. Dark blue over a pale blue, red over pink, green over the palest lilac, or brown over green, all are effective, and considered smart, while most pulnr of all Is the blue over pale violet. . As can be readily understood, only the most transparent of materials look well over the contrasting linings. When the fabric Is In any way closely woven the contrast in color Is not sharp enough and an ugly, thick effect Is given that Is always unbecoming. With the fashionable skirts it is necessary to pay great attention to the1 lining or drop skirt, otherwise the gown lacks the smart appearance nowj demanded. The soft surahs and satin are preferred for linings by some dress makers, who contend thnt they fit mors1 closely around the hips than the taffeta ones. In these days there nre any num ber of soft finished taffetas that can be so arranged as to fit perfectly around the hips and yet give the all important flare. A wide circular flounce trimmed with one or two ruffles, each ruffle with a niching, will hold out the material of the skirt In much smarter fashion than will any thing else. And Just hore may a word be given to the economically disposed. White or black linings are the least expensive and the most practical in the long run, or It is much easier to freshen them when they show signs of wear. Patches can be put on, new ruffles and flounces can replace old ones, and there will not be the same difficulty about trying to find silk to match as when some fancy colot is used. A silk lining is almost a necessity for there never were so many satis factory linings to choose from, and with a silk flounce only quite a few pennies can be saved. Thin India silk or lnwn'makes a far more comfortable L waist lining than taffeta silk, and will wear better in most cases, but cannot be used if the gown be. of too trans parent a material. This rule does not apply to muslins or wash materials. There are also many new linings that nre cool and thnt ret have enough "body" not to stretch, for that is a most serious fault that will ruin the best cut waist after it has been worn two or three times. . London has succeeded la telephoning; to Rome, but the results were very un satisfactory. ' ' ' THE. NEAT KITCHEN. If the kitchen Itself is a neat, pic turesque room, with snowy curtains at the windows, neatly oiled floor, clean, glazed paper on the walls and everything comfortable and convenient, almost any servant will feel an aspira tion to keep it in that condition. AN ESSENTIAL. An oblong fish kettle of enameled trnro fiiinntil be nnrt of every kitchen outfit. The best kettles have perforat ed drainers with wire handles at tus sides, by which the fish can be lifted easily and conveniently. These kettles will be found useful for boiling green corn as well as fish.. UTILIZING! OLD CORKS. ' A clever housekeeper has coneelved the idea of utilizing old corks for a bathroom mat, which she finds very soft and warm for bare feet. Collect ing a lot of corks, she cuts them to a uniform size and squeezes them through a rather fine wire netting, the holes being just large enough to hold the corks tightly In their centres. WASHING LINENS. Linens nre worn so much this season (hat a word In regard to their care Is timely. Colored linen should be washed carefully with white soap, and if there Is fear of its losing its original color nllow a large lump of alum to dissolve In the rinsing water, then hang to dry in a shady place. The addition of gum arabic water to the starch gives a de slrable dressing without the undue stiffness which starch alone would give. FOR THE BEDROOM. Now that all wash goods are offered for sale at very small prices, the shop per Is tempted to purchase lengths of flowered organdie or dimity for bed room curtains. A charming cottage bedroom, hung with n wall paper nil huge yellow roses, was made still more charming by curtains of organdie in which the yellow rose design was re peated, but In much pnler tones. In fact, the effect was as if the roses on the walls cast their shadows on tbs sheer white curtains. The idea is worth studying and adapting to other Uower rooms. TnREE-SIDED HAMPER, One of the most useful things thnt one can have In a house is a three sided hamper for soiled clothes. It is much more satisfactory that the or dinary round or fonr-slded hamper, as It occupies less space, besides being more sightly In appearance. It is strongly built of heavy withes woven In and out and twisted around strong supports at the corners, and the front Is rounded, thus giving more room in side, without making any appreciable difference in the amount of floor space accupled. The top fits snugly and the hinges nre serviceable and strong, as are also the bandies, which nre formed of rings securely attached. L'tlen Ob lierver. W RECIPES Cold-Wnter Cake-One and one-half cups of sugar, onc-qunrter cup of but ter, one and one-half cups of flour, two eggs, one cup of water, two tea spoonfuls baking powder. Flavor with vanilla or lemon. Lentil Soup Wash carefully one cup of lentils. Cook in two qunrts of boil lug water for half an hour, or until soft, and then drain the water. Rub through a strainer, add sufficient hot milk to make the soup of the desired consistency, and season well with salt and pepper. White House Cake-Beat very thor- nughly together a cup and a hnlf of sugar, half a cup of butter and tha whites of five eggs; then add two thirds of a cup of milk, a little more than two cups of fine flonr and a ten. snoonful of almond extract. Whip tin til light and frothy and bake In a mod erate oven. Blackberry Charlotte Soak one-third of a package of gelatine in a cup of cold water for halt an hour. Have ready one pint of cream whipped to a stiff froth. Sift into it then a cupful of powdered sugar, add the gelatine and the juice of halt a lemon. Stir in one pint of fresh blackberries, which must be very ripe, and beat until stiff. Serve ice cold with whipped cream on top. Green Mountain Buns Mix a stiff batter out of three cups of milk, one of sugar and the necessary amount of flour. Add a yeast cake. Let rise for half a day, then add one cupful of molasses, one cupful of currants. teaspoonful of cinnamon, one of soda one-half of cloves, and a full cup of melted butter; use sufficient flour to make a stiff batter again, nllow it to rise over night and spread with raw egg when baked. Cocoanut Layer Cake Cream one and a half cups of sugar and one-hal cup of butter. Add a half cup of milk and one cup of freshly grated cocoa' nut. Sift In two cups of flour and two tenspoonfuls of baking powder. Fold In last the whites of four eggs. Bake In layer tins. Spread with a soft Icing made 1y mixing the whites of two egg and a cup of fresh, grated cocoa' tiut with enough powdered sugar to make it stiff. A little orange or lemea rind (rated Is an Improvement. New York City. There are ninny oc casions for which untiling Is quite so well suited as the lilted coat. ' This one Is severe in style and has nil the smart ness which comes from sueli cut while It Is absolutely becoming to girlish figures and quite simple. In the Illus tration the material is white serge stitched with belding silk, but while It Is in every way to be desired for the Immediate season, the model will also be found available for the autumn and for every fashionable suiting as well as for general wear. The coat Is made with fronts, backs and under-urm gores, and is absolutely plain. At the neck nre regulation col lar and lapels, and the closing is made Invisibly by ' mentis of a fly. The sleeves are the accepted ones that are full at the shoulders and narrow at the wrists. The quantity of material required for the medium size Is three and a half yards of material twenty-seven, two and a quarter yards forty-four or one and three-quarter yards fifty-two Inches wide. OverBklrU t Itn Worn. There is every prospect that we shall be wearing oversklrts within the com-" Ing year. The tunic skirt is being boomed by the dressmakers, and since many women have taken kindly to the Innovation, Its success is fairly well issured. The style Is very becoming to tall figures, but is not at nil n happy one for short or stout women. Dee Great Care lu Selecting, With short skirts Invading the ranks of almost every style of dress, a mis take often committed is that of hav ing every skirt in your wardrobe short. Instead of having an occasional long one for high days and holidays. And mother mistake even more encoun tered is the wearing of several tailored iklrts with exquisitely embroidered blouses, the excuse being that tbey are both white, and so should be ail right. They are not all right, by a great deal Short skirts belong, by the very nature A LATS PSSIGH BY WAY ttAKTON. Tucked ItloiiMe Walit. The blouse waist continues, and will continue, to be the favorite of the fash ionable world, mid seems to know no limit to Its variety. Illustrated is one of the newest that can be utilized both for wash imitctiuts'nnd for silks and wools, and which allows of many va riations In the trimming. In this In stance white linen Is combined with handsome embroidery and the waist Is unllned, but the trimming can be lace or banding of any sort that may be preferred, while the fitted lining will be found desirable for silk and wool materials. The waist consists of the fitted lin ing, which Is closed at the front, the fronts and the back. The tucks are so arranged as to give tapering lines to the figure at the back and to provide becoming fulness at the front while the closing of the waist Is made Invisi bly beneath the edge of the right front. The sleeves are the favorite ones which form generous puffs above smoothly fitted lower portions. There Is a regu lation stock which can be worn with a tie nud a turn-over, as in this Instance, or he made to match the trimming as preferred. The quantity of material required for the medium size U three and three- quarter yards twenty-one, three and a qnaru-r 'yards twenty-seven or two yards forty-four inches wide with one yard of all-over embroidery to trim as Illustrated. of things, to the less formal side of things; and embroidered blouses this, of course, refers to the more elab orate blouses, not the simple little ones that beloug, by rights, to morn ing and walking suits to a rather more formal side. White to Be Popular. White, the trade journals say, will be more popular next year than It baa been this or previous seasons. The buyer will, therefore, take every ad vantage of white sales In the shops. A FELLOW'S MOTHER.' j "A fellow mother." said Fred, tie wise, With his rosy cheeks and his merry eyes, "Knows what to do if a fellow gets hurt By a thump or a bruise or a fall in the dirt. ' A fellow's mother has bags and strings, Rags and buttons, and lots of things; No matter how busy she is, she'll stop To see how well you can spin your top.. "She does not care not much, I mean, li a ienow tace is not always clean; And if your trousers are torn at the knee She can put on a patch that you'd never aee. "A fellow's mother is never mad. nut oniy iorry it you are Daa; And I tell vou tliia. if vou're onlv true. She'll always forgive you, whate'er you do. "I'm sure of this," said Fred, the wise. With a manly look in his laughing eyes, 'I'll mind my mother, quick, every day; A fellow's baby that don't obey." Junior Post Expregg. THE LOST DOLL. The little seaside cottage had been put in order, the trunks had gone with the expressman, and Papa Graham was at the gate with the carriage. Even Flora Louise, Phyllis' beloved doll. Lad her cape and bonnet on, all ready to go to the station. "Let's go all round the cottage and ay a last good-by," said Phyllis, hug- ring Flora Louise In her arms. They went through all the rooms be low, and then lip-stairs to get another look at the blue ocean gleaming in the lunshlne and rolling up its white surf on the beach. Fhyllls found the window wide open. It had been forgotten. Perhaps she PICTURE Baron von Steuben, an officer in the army of Frederick the Great, drill ing the American Army at Valley Forge, in winter of J777-177S. Two more officers can be found in this picture. Mirror and Farmer. and Flora Louise could close it for mamma. Down came the window, but alas! Flora Louise somehow slipped outside to the veranda roof beneath and rolled down to the narrow railing at the edge. Poor Phyllis! She stood an instant watching the gay little heap huddled together In the sheltering angle, and then ran down-stairs as fast as she could go to tell papa about it. But papa said they must not wait another instant. Mamma had already locked the door, as soon as Phyllis was out, and she and Baby Lou were get ting into" the carriage. There was noth ing left for Phyllis to do but to climb In, too. With a long, lingering look at the speck of red cape that showed through the veranda railing, she laid her head on her mother's shoulder and cried as If her heart would break. They said she should have a new dolly jnst as soon as she should get back to town, and it camo In due sea son, and grew to be very dear to Phyllis; but she never forgot poor Flora Louise, out in the sun and wind on the veranda roof at the seaside cottage. "Next summer I shall try to get her the very first thing," she said. After a month or two the cottage was let to a winter tenant, for In the South, where Phyllis lived, people often go to the beach resorts during the Winter season. Lynn and Katharine, the little new comers, went nil through the cottage the first thing, to see what their new home wa9 like. At the front window up-stalrs they paused, as Phyllis had often done, to watch the blue ocean sparkling in the sun and rolling up its white surf on the sand. "Oh, look, Lynn!" suddenly cried Katharine. "There on the veranda roof! I wonder what it is!" "I'm going down to' see," said Lynn, opening the window wide. He let himself down carefully to the roof below, and then crept slowly down to where poor Flora Louise was huddled. "What aikardolly!" cried Katharine, as she held it safe in. her arms at the window. "Some poor little girl must have dropped her, and couldn't get her again. What fua we'll hart with r" Many a happy day had Lynn and Katharine in the little cottage and on the warm, sunny beach, and Flora Louise shared in all their good times. But she was Flora Louise no longer. "If we only knew what her name Is!" sighed Katharine. "But we'll Just have to give her another, poor little dear! It must be dreadful to be lost and not able to tell your own name. Let's call her Gertrude." So Gertrude she remained all winter. When the time drew near for leaving, mother one day gave Katharine an idea, which she was quick to share with Lynn, and after that there were busy, busy days for both. On the day they left the cottage Katharine came and gathered" Ger trude in her arms. "You dear, precious!" she murmured. "I hate aw fully to leave you. But you're going to have a delightful 'sprise some day, when the summer girl comes back." It was not Gertrude, however, but the summer girl herself who had th greatest "s'prise." The very first week In vacation ths carriage stopped at the gate again, and Phyllis looked anxiously up to th veranda railing, while Papa Grahan unlocked the door. There was no trace of Flora Louise. "What can have become of her?" thought Phyllis, as she went slowly, up the steps. i But the first sight that met her eyes as she walked Into the sitting room' was Flora Louise herself, gorgeous ia a new gown, and seated on a cunning PUZZLE. little bedstead just right for h Pinned to her dress was a little notej which read: "Dear Summer Girl The agent told us you live In this cottage every sum! mer, so I know you will be glad ts get your dolly again. We love her( too. One of us climbed out the window and got her and made her bedstead, and the other took care of her and made her new clothes. We didn't know her right name, but we hara called her Gertrude. We hope you'll have a good time with her this sum iner. Lovingly, '"-tf'-Sj "THE WINTER BOY AND GIBIi.1! Near by was a little trunk contain Ing a pink silk dress, and a dainty cloak and hat. There were also mans dainty little garments that deligutea the eye of gateful Phyllis. "What perfectly lovely winter chit dren!" cried Phyllis, when mamma ha( read her the note. "I'm going to cal my lost dolly Flora Louise Gerttudi Graham, and I'm going to askjthj agent if that boy and girl are combjjj bnck next winter, nnd if they are,' Put going to leave her here for them."-' Lily Manker Allen, ia the Youth'9 Companion. RAFT DWELLERS. On all the great lakes of China are found floating, islands which are enor mous rafts of bamboo overlaid witli earth and upholding above the surface of the water pretty houses and g'aS dens. They are, in fact, aquntio farms, bearing crops of rice and vege tables. The rich bottom mud, utilized oa an artificial soil, la extremely ferv tile . and yields bountiful harvests,' though on a small scale. ; In a country where there is such 8J lack of available land,' owing to the overplus of population, these floating plantations are most serviceablelafgtf sails being 'attached to the dwelling house as well. as to each corner of the island whenever it is desired to move about After gathering-" a crop of grain or garden truck from the surface of the lake the floating farmer casta' his nets into the waters and,' from their depth brings up a supply of fish for hia family. One of the consequences of young Alfonss's visit to England Is the birth of Iks "kidalgo" hat 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers