Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1898 — WOMAN HOME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WOMAN HOME

IMPROVIDENT MARRIAGES. THE beginning of debts and difficulties lies in “Improvident marriages.” Happily they~are less popular than they were, says an exchange. Still one hears apparently sane middle-aged men and women carping at the Increased prudence and forethought of the young men and women of to-day. We were romantic! says some worn-worried lady, who has hardly known an hour’s freedom from care since the days of that honeymoon which was also quickly metamorphosed into a vinegar moon of a never-endi»s» description. She still, however, congratulates herself on having been romantic, thtiugh It is paten* to her friends and acquaintances that her romance has not been a success. There are very few peopte possessed of the temper, nerves, disposition or ability which would enable them to marry happily, and manage successfully. on a small income. There are acertain set of young men and young women who are able to make themselves happy on very little. Low living and high thinlflng contents many superior beings; but among the upper classes this tone of mind is distinctly rare. It requires a peculiarly exwUent, cheerful, strong, clever person, who is willing to forego all the luxury to which he or she has been accustomed, aud yet be honestly happy and content to have only the necessaries of life and do without its amusements. It is true a great many men and women are obliged to forego all pleasure and luxury; but they betray such discontent and annoyance at their fate that they are far from being pleasant companions! Moreover, their Ignorance of the domestic arts and sciences renders their homes remarkably uncomfortable. Fancy Work. The melon seed bag is one of the latest fancies. It is prertrty work and makes a pretty bag for handkerchiefs, opera glasses or anything one wishes. The bag illustrated is made of muskmelon seeds and steel beads, and a glance at the small illustration will give an idea as to the manner of stringing the beads and so as to form the network. They are strung on strong silk, and a string of twenty seeds separated from each other by alternating

steel beads forms the foundation of the not, which widens about ten rows as shown In itihe two lower rows of No, 2, them continues in dusters of three 'melon seeds as shown in upper part of No. 2. The bag proper is made of satin or velvet, any shade, twelve inches long and fourteen inches wide, gathered Irmly together at the bottom, has a leading two inches deep at the top, there the draw-string may be of pretty ibbon or silk cord. To Get Rid of a Doable Chin. Sat as little -flesh forming food as I,visible and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Bread and pastry should be left almost entirely out of the diet; also iny food of an oily nature. Take plenty <»f long walks, avoid easy chairs and soft cushions and be as active and energetic as possible. Pat the chin with the backs of the fingers for about five or ten minutes each time after washing it, and you will find your weight gradually being reduced and your double chin disappearing. The process of reducing superfluous flesh should always be gradual; otherwise unsightly wrinkles will take the place of plumpness. Girl* Bay Boy** * hoes. The latest idea of the girl of the period is the wearing of boys’ shoes and boys’ gloves. Heavy projecting sole, broad-toed footgear Is all the rage. So, too, are thick gloves, whose fingers never taper. The athletic, energetic, outdoor game-plurlmg girl is the fashion. The boots md gloves built for her have a cut of their own that Is anything but feminine along the old lines. Some clever person discovered that these boots and gloves were Identically the same as those sold for boys, material, cut and oil. . . s L, Incompetency. Long and load Is the outcry among women of the better classes for profitable occupation, and many are the complaints from all quarters at the lack of lucrative employment, To the superficial observer the complaints appear to be just, and the outcry laudable; It Is only when yocscratchbelow the surface of the trouble that you become acquainted with its real nature. From those who have Interested themselves

sufficiently to make careful inquiry into the subject, we learn that in the majority of cases where female industry has been tried it has been “found wanting.” The “lady in reduced circumstances” who has expressed the commendable desire to do anything that may come to hand, has often been proved ignorant of the commonest duties of everyday life, and though professedly anxious and ready to acquire these, she has brought so little system to bear on her efforts that they have invariably been fraught with either loss to her employer or injury to her own health. An Antumn Model.

Fome Queer Finaer-rinss. Rings have been made for almost all purposes. Thus we find cramp-rings, said not only to cure cramp, but to prevent Its return; amulet-rings, infallible protectors against the “evil-eye;” astronomical, dial and zodiacal rings; gar-ter-rings and puzzle-rings; rings for novitiates taking the veil; rings for dip- ’ lomats signalizing the official standing ! of the wearer; rings for poets, pilgrims, 1 lawyers and clerics; squirt and poison ; rings, made so that they could contain I vegetable poisons of the most deadly : kind, which could be injected by slightly scratching the skin of the person whose hand the wearer grasped; whistle and key rings, both ttheful; mottoriugs, by means of which lovers gave vent to their passions; and love-knot rings and gemel-rings, the last made of two or three links intertwined, which could be joined together in such a manner as to form one ring.—Woman’s Home Companion. Women Upholsterers. The frequent advertisements seen in the public prints of the visiting upholstress, if the word may be permitted, indicate that this class of workers 'is being considerably recruited. It seems to offer an excellent field for the industry of women not yet classified in other pursuits. A number of the technical institutes have classes where the work is regularly taught, and as the field Is still comparatively unoccupied, the prospect of fair success is good. The work of making over a mattress is not in the least bard for a woman, and knowledge of the opefttion is easily obtained. Other legitimate work of the ' upholsterer is also quite within her strength and skill after very slight experience. A Housekeeper** Record. The average housekeeper finds that her memory is shortest when it comes to the dally planning of meals. Her frequent cry that she cannot think of anything to order never seems to be suggestive to her of its own remedy. She orders every day the round of family living, and if when the process is over she would arrange in a little book the cibef dishes that have appeared on the table during the twenty-four hours, she will find that sfhe quickly accumulates a valuable memorabilia. Classify them breakfast, luncheon, dinner; substantials and deserts. A housekeeper who practices’this plan will be amazed to discover how the useful simple dishes escape her memory without it. Ther Secret of Beauty. The secret of beauty is health, and thdfee who desire to be beautiful should do all that is possible to restore their health if they have lost it, or to retain it if they have it still. To possess a fresh complexion and bright eyes, even to have white hands and a graceful figure, you must be well, and to be well you must take plenty of exercise, eat proper food, and not too much of it, and do your best to be cheerful and look on the bright side of everything. Health, and the happiness which comes with it, are the true secrets of beauty. The Lock Bracelet. One sees a good many bracelets of the chain and lock variety on fhir wrists nowadays. The war Is responsible for this. Many a soldier boy has marched away carrying a tiny key hid den away In his pocket. The handsomest of the bracelets are heavy gold chains with a sparkling diamond Mt in the locks. A Daintjr Sachet. An excellent perfume, which will retain .its properties for a long time, can be made in the following way: Potted to a powder one ounce each of dores, caraway seed, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon and Tonquin beans; also, as much ofrij root as will equal the weight of all the foregoing ingredients.

THE MELON SEED BAG.