OF INTEREST Kid Kelts. Kid belts, in exactly the right shade, beautifully made and stitched, worn witli rough cloth gowns, are charm ing. A Present Stylo of Grandmother. Where are the pretty old ladles gone? We see no one now with soft white , hair matching the snowy wool with which dainty hands, surrounded by V ruffles of lovely Mechlin, etc., made comforts for the poor. One looks in vain for such a figure In the fireside chair, surrounded by loving relatives. !- Instead we have developed a padded, painted, "toupeed" grandmother. We read with amazement that ancient ♦ dames (of whose age the "Peerage" makes no secret) wear white satin and silver or much be-rufiicd white muslin. May it not be that this extraordinary •dislike to age may have much to do with the independence of young people nowadays? What child would take Its childish griefs to our present style of grandmother?— London Truth. A Blind Telephone Olrl. The remarkable adaptability of the human machine is well exemplified in the case of a blind telephone operator at Mattoon, 111. According to the Elec trical World, Miss Abbie Downing, a blind girl of twenty-three years, who began as an operator of a telephone exchange, recently within throe weeks became the most expert operator the company ever had. She handles n board for sixty telephones and also has charge of n toll station of which she personally keeps the books. She locates n call on the board by the sound of the "drop" or by running her nimble fingers over the exchange board. She graduated from the In dianapolls School for the Blind In 1893, and can cook, sew by hand or machine, do fancy work, and is an ac complished musician. She is the only blind telephone operator In the coun try. An English Woman Farmer, One of England's foremost farmers is a woman, tho Hon. Mrs. Murray Smith. On her estate, Gurnley Hall, Leicestershire, she raises some of the finest Jersey cattle that are bred any where. She is an early riser, and is up and about among her men as soon as the sun is In sight. She attends to all the details of tho management of her estate. All of the Improvements which can contribute to the well-being ■of the animals are made at her discre tion. She sees that they have the best |~ of food and the most comfortable \ quarters. As the result they have taken many prizes. One cow, Lorina, which carried off the milking prize at Tring and the butter certificate at the Bntli and West of England show, gives 000 gallons of milk yearly. Mrs. Smith's rule Is not to keep any cow which yields less than 600 gallons of milk a year. She herself attends to nil of her correspondence and the rec ord-keeping in connection with the ani mals. Tho Hunting Woman. The modern Englishwoman is among the boldest, best and most confident l-idcrs to bounds. She comes to the meet in iter sailor hat, perhaps—cer tainly if she finds it more comfortable —a covert coat, long boots, and a habit cut short to tiie ankles—a mere apron of a tiling which does not pretend to conceal her breeches, and Is, on foot, the ugliest and most indecent dress I ever worn by a woman, but is accepted If- as a matter of course because of its " practical utility. By a curious contra diction, however, the same woman who walks about the stable yard among the grooms in her habit without shame would not be seen in the equally use ful and much more graceful linicker boeker costume worn for the bicycle by women everywhere in France. The hunting woman would not sac rifice her day's sport for any other plensure on earth. But it means more than the chase to her; it means glow ing downs, radiant with color, the beauty and sweetness of earth, tho balsamic perfume of pure nlr, and Itealtli and strength. After hours in the saddle she will return to the hall, and bathe and dress and dine and dance till midnight; and then be up again, keen as the north wind for more exercise, nud fresh as the new w day.—Collier's Weekly. Warned Attulnat MarrTlng Germans. William E. Curtis declares in the Chicago Record-Herald that while many American girls who have mar ried German officers have spent their lives regretting it, some of the hap piest and most popular women in Ger many are American wives of native husbands. It all depends upon the man. Germans seem to prefer Amer ican wives when they can get them. Attractive American girls who go to Germany to spend the winter, to study languages, music or art, or for other reasons, are sure to have offers of marriage, particularly if they have money, usually from the dashing young army officers who make up so large and so important a part of soci ety in the German cities. "But every American girl who is subjected to tills temptation should understand that the servants of a household have more legul protection than their mistress, who has no rights M at all," says Mr. Curtis. "When ■ woman marries a German husband sh<j surrenders every right and privilege that women In other countries possess. The laws of the empire do not give her any protection. For that reason the American Ambassador and the Consuls of the United States in Ger many always warn American girls against marrying Germans until they are fully informed as to the situation." Soft Colors Klcndod. The blending of soft colors Is more beautiful than ever in the printed crepes and silks and handsome bro cades. Exacting tastes will be charmed with a new soft silk in old ivory and pale green with a trailing rose design. Wild clematis over a delicate green surface marks another snmple. There are silks of high lustre, deepening from faint cream to rich yellow, that bear daintiest pompadour designs. Rich velvets, in plain, corded and fancy effects, swell the list of fashion able wintei' fabrics and are used not only for separate, fancy waists, but entire costumes. A black velvet with tiny white specks at close intervals over It is attractive for a dressy street gown, while a hunter's green or royal blue with white dots is equally appro priate and stylish. Black and white striped velvets with the stripe in grad uated widths suggests modish skirts to be worn with fancy waists for semi formal occasions.—The Delineator. PosovdoiV Chap If there is anything prettier than an auburn-haired woman in a black suit with chinchilla, the average observer doesn't know it. One of South Dakota's largest orch ards is owned and cared for by a wom an. It covers 130 acres and has yield ed 10,000 bushels of apples. The women of South Park, Chicago, have formed an improvement associa tion to clean the filthy streets which have failed to receive the proper at tention. Miss Julia Morgan, of San Francisco, lias just completed her studies at the Beaux Arts in Paris, and is the first woman who has been graduated from that famous Institution. Maryland is one of the old-time States that refuses women lawyers freedom to practice their profession. The Baltimore Sun makes n strong ap peal for a change In the law. Mies Mary Bldwell Breed Is now dean of women in Indiana University, a position recently created. She is a Pennsylvanian and a graduate of Bryn Mawr and the Pennsylvania College for Women, at Pittsburg. Mrs. Humphrey Ward is a mistress of Spanish, French, Italian and Ger man. Her knowledge of Spanish lit erature is such that when only eigh teen she was asked to adjudicate in a Spauish-essuy competition. Women pilots are by no means un known In America's coast towns. -In San Pedro Harbor, California, Miss Vincent, formerly of Marblebead, Mnss., is a most successful one. She is making a good living and hopes to rise in her profession. Mrs. Lena Behrens, of Ohio, is a wholesale saddlery dealer. She is a graduate of a school of pharmacy, and her knowledge of chemistry was so valuable to her husband in testing met als that she gradually worked into the business. She is now a widow and Is sole manager of the large factory. Two college women of Brookline, Mass., are making a success of a laun dry run on strictly scientific and eco nomical principles. The clothes are "sun dried" and bleached, and by a series of experiments the foreman has tested all the latest contrivances and processes for bettering the quality of the work. Ajp r sffrne>~ Mirolr velvet is much used for hand some evening gowns. The season's designs in negligee are noticeable for their elegance and elab oration. Green is a favorite color for coats for little girls, particularly in velvet. An ecru lace collar, beaver fur or er mine forms tiie trimming. Velvet ribbons are now seen with velvet on both sides. The centre is in solid color with striped edges combin ing the centre color and white. The most fashionable hat for small girls is a big flat silky haired beaver, trimmed with feather pompons and im mense bows with long streamers. Hand-knit woolen jackets to wear for extra warmth under outside wraps are more loosely woven than the ma chine-made garments, cling to the figure, and are not bulky. Low dressing for the hair has madij possible horseshoe shaped combs. The comb proper goes down into the coil of hair, and drooping from it on either side are the ends of the shoe whic encircle it. The modish hat pin is topped with a pear-shaped pearl or round topaz or amethyst framed in gun metal. Crys tal beads with setting of guu metal are used for some of the long chains, for which there is a decided liking just now. The high novelty in belts is a waist band formed of thin white leather, laid In folds. Some are so high as to bo almost a corselet, others are about three inches wide. The buckles are higli and narrow, and sometimes are both in front and at the middle of the back. AFFAIRS The Secret of Good Tea. Few housekeepers remember, as they should, that when It is necessary to dilute strong tea it should l>e done with water at the l>oiling point. The poor flavor of ten, made strong at first and then reduced, such as Is too often served at receptions and "at homes," is usually caused by the addition of hot, not boiling, water to the first Infu tilon. A lesson in this matter may be had from the Russians, who serve the most delicious tea in the world, and who prepare It first very strong, raak ing it almost an essence of tea. This is diluted to the strength wished, with water kept boiling in the samovar. This water is not allowed to boil and reboil, but is renewed as needed. Freshly boiled water Is Insisted upon by all connoisseurs in teamaklng. To Make Cocoa. Cocoa Is really a delicious beverage if properly made, but in nine cases out of ten it is spoiled in the process. The secret in preparing a cup of cocoa lies in adding no more of the powder than is essential. The milk which is used to make it should not be diluted if the cocoa is to be nutritious aud pal ntable. Not more than half a teaspoon ful of cocoa should be used to the cup, and it is absolutely unnecessary to first mix the cocoa with a little milk or water, as most people are In. the habit of doing. After you have put the milk In a double boiler on the fire, sprinkle the cocoa on the top of the milk, and as soon as the latter is lukewarm stir in the cocoa, which will dissolve Im mediately. Cocoa does not mix well in a cold liquid, and it will lump In milk that is too hot. Boiling cocoa for from five to ten minutes improves Its taste and aroma.—American Queen. The Itlakint; of Puddings. Only the best materials should be used for making puddings, and about the same rules observed in their prep aration as for cake making. The flour should be slf*-xl, the eggs beaten sep arately the ,<elks strained and the whites added last. A pinch of salt improves all puddings. Steaming Is the most wholesome method of cooking a pudding. Put on over a vessel of cold water, and do not uncover while cooking, else the pud ding will be heavy. A pudding that is to be baked must be put into the oven as soon as mixed. If It cooks too fast It will become watery. Many cooks prefer using molds or basins for boiled puddings, but they will be much lighter if boiled in a cloth and allowed plenty of room to swell. This cloth or bag should be made of very firm cot ton drilling, tapering from top to bot torn with rounded corners. The seams should be stitched and felled and the edges hemmed. Sew a piece of stou* tape to the seam about a finger's length from the top. It must be kept scrupu lously clean by washing in clean water, squeeze dry then dredge the inside (the right side) with flour. Turn the pudding mixture into it, tie secure ly and drop Into a kettle of boiling water. It should be kept entirely cov. ered with water, and never stop boil ing throughout the time allotted for cooking. When done, plunge for a mo ment into cold water, then untie the string, turn back the cloth, slide the pudding on the serving dish and send to the table at once.—The Ladies' World. Dipping fish into lemon juice before cooking Is said to keep the fish white. Rub a little butter on the fingers and on the knife when seeding raisins, to avoid the stickiness. If curtains are allowed to dry be fore being starched, they will last clean quite a month longer. The old-fashioned knit table matg are again.in great demand, aud often seen on well appointed tables. An omelet smothered in a cream sauce thick with chopped olives aud mushrooms is delightful for a Sunday night supper. To vary the salad flavorings, sweet marjoram, rosemary, sweet basil, thyme, finely minced tarragon, or chervil, may be introduced. The English fashion of baking pump kin as well as mince pies in individual shells is preferred by many to a larger pie, which has to be cut in segments. Spanish sweet peppers and onions added to beef and potato hash give variety to the dish. Serve on slice of toast with a poached egg on the top of each. A thick paring should be taken from cucumbers in order to remove the bit ter portion lying directly under the skin. A very thick slice should, for the same reason, be removed from the stem end. Gold decorations, unrelieved by any coloring, on an ivory tinted back ground, are very smart for table ware, usually in bordered effects, both band like and of lace pattern design, with medallion centre. A scientific author claims that it is a mistake to clean brass with acid, as it soon becomes dull after such treatment. Sweet oil and putty pow der followed by soap and water are said to brighten brass or copper, as well us anything else. THE REMINISCENT MAN. What would we do for things to read about our public men? How could we learn their boyhood traits and how they acted then? How could we know their whims and fads and other little things About them, were it not for what a cer tain person brings? All hail the chap who fills that gap in wise Dame Nature's plan, The one who's always in our view the Reminiscent Man. 110 tells us of our Presidents, and what they did and said, Or what they didn't do or say, as we have often read; He cites remarks of heroes bold, long ere they burst to fame, Which plainly show they were designed to bear an honored name; He knows the pages of the past—no other person can Dig up as many facts as docs the Remin iscent Man. Sometimes he is the man who's styled the Old Inhabitant, And he can tell when Colonel Bluff went out and laid a ha'nt; And then, again, he is the man who bat tled side by side With Major Blood, and now he tells about it with much pride; Or else he had a jury seat when Lawyer Chugg was young- All this the Reminiscent Man has ever on his tongue. Perchance he used to fish along with Mr. Officeseek, And when that man's a candidate he tells it by the week; He holds the wise reporter up and fills him full of tales — The news may stop, but, after all, the R. M. never fails, Somebody ought to write a book about the talky clan — The hunch of peonle who make up the Reminiscent Man. —Josh Wink, in Baltimore American. Granddad—"What makes you look so unhappy, Willie?" Willie—" 'Cause nobody never calls me good unless I'm doing something I don't want to do." —Motherhood. The self-made man is easier known Than any other snob. Because he is so quick to own He's well pleased with the job. —Philadelphia Record. The Mother—"My daughter has been used to the tenderest care, to the ut most sympathy, and to unflagging guardianship. I trust this will be con tinued." The Suitor—"l hope so. I'm sure."—Detroit Free Press. Automobilist "Say, I want this mask changed. It doesn't cover my face enough." Clerk—"Rut's it's the regular thing." "Can't help that. I find that the people I run over are apt to recognize me."—Life. "Mr. Gallant, you are something of a student of human nature," began Miss Bewehus, coyly. "Ah, but now," he interrupted, flashing his bold, black eyes upon her, "I am a divinity stu dent."—Philadelphia Press. The youthful politician is A man of promise great, His promises are numerous now; And still accumulate. —Washington Star. "I heard a good definition of 'weath er' to-day," he suggested casually. "What was it?" she asked unsuspi ciously. "Weather," he replied, "is the most feminine thing in nature." And yet she didn't laugh. Chicago Post. Aunt Hannah "Oh, I don't think Amanda would do such a mean thing as that. I have always heard people say Amanda was generous to a fault." Uncle George—"When the fault hap pens to be hers, she is; not otherwise, not otherwise."—Boston Transcript. Papa "See that spider, my boy, spinning Ills web. Is it not wonder ful? Do you reflect that, try as he may, no man could spin that web?" Johnny—"Wliat of it? See me spin this top! Do you reflect, try as he may. no spider could spin this top?"— Tit-Bits. "I suppose," said the physician, smiling and trying to appear witty, while feeling the pulse of a lady pa tient, "I suppose you consider me an old humbug?" "Why, doctor," replied the lady, "I had no idea you could as certain a woman's thoughts by merely feeling her pulse."—Chicago Tribune. "I suppose, of course," remarked the society reporter at the Struckoil-Jimp sou wedding, "the bride's diamonds and the lace on her waist were hand ed down from her great great-grand mother." "Well, hardly," exclaimed old Struckoil, indignantly. "I'd have you know everything on her as she stands was bought brand new for the occasion."—Brooklyn Eagle. Elephant Catcher Needed. Aii elephant catcher rather than a cow catcher seems to be needed iu India. Ou the railroad between Ben gal and Assam, according to the Rail road Gazette, as the superintendent oi' the line was making an inspection trip, while passing through the great Nambar forest, the train came to a stop with a jolt that threw the travelers out of their berths. The train had run into a herd of wild elephants which were trotting down the track, the last of which laid both hind legs broken ! and was thrown into the ditch, while the engineer counted seven others which got away. This is not the first time that wild elephants have got on the track, and ordinary fences and cattle guards are uo protection.—Sci entific American. uito a Difference. A British Columbia lawyer was pass ing along the street, carrying under his arm a law book in circuit binding, when he was accosted by a self-right eous individual: "Ha! Mr. Blauk. and where are you going to preach I to-day?" "I don't preach; I practice," I replied the lawyer.—Argonaut. Using tile Old Strawberry Bed. 'An excellent location for a garden next year is uu old strawberry patch plowed under. Strawberry beds are usually well manured, and the leaves shade the soil in summer; hence there is more or less increase in humus. The bed should be plowed under very early lh the spring and the plot well covered with fine stable manure, which should he worked into the soiL Chemical Combinations in the Soli. Chemical combinations are ever oc curring in the soil. This fact is sup ported by experiment and observation. There is a loss of nitrogen by chemi cal reaction, and also a gain from other combinations. Every manure heap suffers loss of volatile ammonia that might be saved by the use of substances for absorbing it, or it may be changed to other forms. As water absorbs ammonia it serves to prevent loss under many conditions. Obtaining a Permanent Sod, On a field which it is desired to get Into a permanent sod, we would not sow oats at all. As the result of ob servation we are satisfied that it is a mistake to seed a grain crop with grass seeds; and we are satisfied tha.t this is especially so iu the South, where the object is to get a good stand of grass. There may be some excuse for it when the grass crop is the prime consideration. Grain seeds shaded by a graia crop, especially if the crop is heavy, are so much shaded and so weakened In their growth by the stronger root growth of the grain crop, that at best, they make hut a poor showing when the grain is cut off. In the South the harvesting of the grain crop is done at a time when the power of the sun is greatest, and the result too often is that the grass, deprived of shade and in a weak con dition, is burnt up. Seeded alone, the grass seeds make a vigorous growth from the start, and are inured to the power of the sun, and able to with stand its scorching rays without suf fering. We have seen a crop of grass so raised that made an excellent crop of hay the first year, and went into the winter able to withstand the frost without damage.—The Epitomlst. Wild Gross. What Is enclosed grass? It must have come in with grass seed last year, and this year has come up since hay ing, and is now dry and blowing over everything. There are many acres of It. Answer: This is Panicum capll lare, commonly called witch grass. It has also received the name of "tumble weed" in some places, in allusion to the method of its dissemination, the stems breaking from the root and panicles tumbling and rolling about in the wind, scattering their seeds wher ever they go. It is a late grass, and a common one in cultivated fields and in gardens. It is also very variable In size and iu its degree of hairiness and general appearance.—The Country Gentleman. Save Your Own Sends. Why not save your seeds? It Is wiser, better, cheaper, and adds ma terially to the pleasure of gardening. You desire the best. To secure that, select the best of that which suits you the best. There is a great diversity of taste; some prefer one form or color, another quite a different one. This is an individual matter, and in no way affects the principle. We all have our preferences as to species. We all want the best defined of a given type. To secure this result, se lection is necessary, and selection means choice. It means the most vig orous plant that produces the flower or vegetable best suited to your taste. Save the seeds from such for future use. Great care is required to make' the selection valuable. After a choice of plants is made, the first flowers should not he allowed to seed, as tliey are never so perfect as those that come later. If the second flowers are all that can he desired, if they are im provements over those of previous j'ears, carefully remove all the un developed buds oil the plant, so as to give the blooms the full strength of the plant for the ripening of their seed. This is the way all new varie ties are produced, and the way that others may he. If a flower shows the slightest change of color or marking, it Is a sure indication ol' a new variety. From this plant save the most marked, even though tile flowers in other re spects luny not he desirable. Save the flower for seed that shows the greatest change, and do not trust an other to bloom until that seed is rip ened. Follow this up for a few years and a variety may he produced of more money value than the cost of the whole garden during those years. CHINESE DOCTORS. Tnvtient For tlie Degeneracy of Native l'liyslciuu*. Although medicine is a smnll science, yet it concerns tlie lives of men. The Tso Cliunn says: "Unless a doctor be longs to the third generation of doc tors in his own family we should not take his medicine." Fan Wenkung in his youth had an ambition to help the world and often remarked: "If I cannot be a good statesman I will be a good physician." Su Hsuankung in his old age studied the healing art and when he saw a good prescription copied it with his own hand, saying: "This is nlso away to give life to men." In the Hau dynasty we had Ch'ang Yui, Chang Chung-ching and Hua T'o, in the Chin dynasty Ko Hung, in the Tang dynasty Sun Ssumao. All these were famous physicians and left some writings behind them. Alas! how the present race of doc tors has degenerated. How many of them trade on the ignorance of their patients, quite forgetting that though they may deceive men they cannot escape the eye of the gods. Tseng Kuof an heard that in the West all physicians must pass a stringent examination in the science and art of medicine before they are allowed to practice. Hence their patients rarely suffered death under the hands of doc tors. This is the very antipodes of the entire absence of law and control of physicians in China, where anybody with or without a smattering about pulses, etc., can hang out his shingle and begin practice. Individual govern ors have tried occasionally to examine physicians. But the Government should take it in hand. At present lhe number of Chinese who have confi dence in Western medicine is very small, but increasing especially amoug intelligent men. Although hospital's cannot suddenly be called into being, yet a beginning should bo made by compelling aspirants in the medical art to pass regular examinations, and only on receiving uiplomas to begin operations.—Shen Pao. WISE WORDS. Fearing leads to fretting. Tall trees need deep roots. Tiny hands make mighty links. Uniformity is not essential to unity. The heedless life will not be weed less. Fretfulness is the cause cf Tearful ness. Diversities in truth are not divergen cies. Conduct shows the content of char acter. Every act has a cause and is a cause. Sincerity is the one great secret of success. Better be a poor man than a rich machine. It takes a great man to escape unde served glory. The most needy man is always my nearest neighbor. No duty is too small to embrace the sublimest principles. The true furniture of life is made in the factory of drudgery. It is the touch of selfishness in our ambitions that turns them to sin. If you cannot have what you prize it is a good thing to prize what you have.—Ram's Horn. Sanitation in tile Middle Ages. The Greeks and Romans paid special attention to the physical culture of their youth, to public water supplies and baths, and Athens and Rome were provided with sowers early in their history. During the Middle Ages san itation received a decided check. Ig norance and brutal prejudice prevailed and tills was the most unsanitary per iod in history. Most European towns were built compactly and surrounded by walls. The streets were narrow and winding, and light and air were excluded. The accumulation of tilth was frightful. Stables and houses were close neighbors. The dead were buried within the churchyards or with in the churches. Wells were fed with polluted water. All conditions were favorable for the spread of Infectious diseases, and in the fourteenth century alone the Oriental or bubonic plague— the Black Death of recent historians— carried off a fourth of the population of Europe, Tho birth rate was much less than the death rate normally. The cities had to bo continually repopulated from the country. These sentences from a review in Science of new works on sanitation in our own times illustrate, by provok ing a comparison, the improvement in our day. Courtesies of Life. The Toronto Sun comments on the allegation that people are losing their democratic dignity! An instance is cited of certain ladies of the smart set at Vancouver entering the royal ship and carrying off as souvenirs anything they eouhl lay tlifeir hands on, and even clipping the trimmings of the royal bed room with scissors. Such an offense is virtually theft, end too gross a form of misdemeanor to be termed an indignity. The in stance, however, causes us to ask, "Are we losing whatever considera tion and regard for others that we ever had?" It should not be forgotten, as it too often is, that life is made pleas ant, not by great things, but by the little acts of kindness. A timely word of encouragement or comfort, a pleas ant smile, in fact, a thousand little considerations for the comfort of oth ers, which cost the bestower nothing, all go to make the world brighter. Not only this, but they return to tlie foun tains to enrich the nature by which they are so benignly prompted.—Lon don (on 4) Advertiser.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers