The record-union., 1897-06-13

In buying for the home, even in the
most limited direction, there is no rea-
son why threadbare conventlonallty
need be levied upon. In selecting such
a trifle as a matchsafe, for example, one
may secure for a half dollar long,
imitation old silver case, something like
an antiquated snuff-box, but rather
longer and narrower. if a real one is
out of the question. This is pretty and
quaint, and will prove an ornament
among other carefully selected bric-a-
brac, as we'll as serve the useful pur-
pose for which it is intended.
Notwithstanding the continued edicts
against the throwing Of rice over the
departing bride and groom, wedding
feaSts continue to be rounded off with
this stupid ceremony. If it were mere
ly stupid and disagreeable it might still
be tolerated, but only last week in an
Eastern city the bridal couple narrowly
escaped serious injury by the fright of
their horses, startled by the sudden
shower of rice thrown by stalwart
and unthinking usher. The driver was
unable to control them and they ran a
long distance, being stopped finally by
a collision with a lamppost. Fortunate
ly no more serious accident than a Sc
we're fright to the occupants of the car
riage. a broken harness and a shatter-
ed wheel resulted, but this happy de-
noument of what promised at one mo-
ment to be a frightful catastrophe was
not the fault of the stalwart usher. He
i,11xv h n 10rpainjf0 fp
tragedy. Prettier reading is that tell
ing of the happy thought of a
company of bridesmaids at re-
cent New York wedding. The gifts of
the bride to the friends who attended
her We're vari-colored parasols of gauze,
and of these the re cipients in their turn
made clever and appreciated use.
knowing the brides aversion to the
rice throwing necessity CD of the cere-
mony, these girls determined to protect
her, which they did by ranging them
selves in two lines at the critical mo-
ment, quickly spreading their parasols
and forming a gauZe canopy, under
which the bride ran riceless to her car
riage.
The following recipe comes direct
from a skillfuI New England house
keeper who presumably knows how
brown bread, that invariable accompan-
iment to baked beans, should be made.
Mix together two teacupfuls of rye
flour, half a cupful of cornmeal, three
quarters of a cup of molasses, three
cups of sour milk, and one and half
teaspoonfuls of soda. Boil four hours.
F'roebel long ago discovered that oc-
cupation was the keynote to a child's
happiness. Bearing this in mind, a
mother may help herself almost un-
limitedly in the care of her children,
particularly on a journey, which chill
dren often make a serious trial to their
guardians. A pencil and a pad of paper
have proved the best sort of nurse
maids to one mother on many an other
wise difficult railway trip with her lit
tie son. In Hudson River train the
other day another mother was noticed
converting the restless fatigue of her
young pair, a boy and girl, into con-
tented and happy occupation with the
aid only of timetable map. 1t was a
sufficiently large affair when opened to
show a dozen States, and the ingenious
woman improvised a game which COM
pletely absorbed her charges. Each in
turn selected a city, the other endeavor-
ing to discover it's whereabouts, the
mother letting the child who had not
chosen guide her hatpin as a pointer
over the map, the other child following
its course with the significant words
hot" and cold as the location of
the place selected was approached or
the game was kept up with unabated
interest on the part of the children.
Peals of laughter and exclamations of
eager excitement greeted the hating
progress of the improvised pointer 1t
is safe to say that mother will see that
a timetable map is in her travelling bag
every time she sets out on a journey
with her two active youngsters. The
same principle may be Drofited by for
rainy days in the summer outing. Some
simple. easily carried games or devices
for children's entertainment will be
found invaluable. A pack of cards and
n box of gay beads have proved the
most prolific of entertainers on rainy
day in a farmhouse.
Very effective in a. straight pair of
stairs is an openwork balustrade of
some dark metal-bronze. if possible
with the wings, forepaws and head of an
erect griffin for a newel-post. The whole
arrangement in a hall that is not other
wise quaint is, too. more in keeping than
the modern antique affairs of many
landings and intricate windings.
ST have had practical lesson says a
mother, ''in the value of good school
luncheons. For three years we have
lived so far from the school which my
son attends that he has been obliged TO
take his luncheons. l fancied I was
very particular about preparing them,
but, as every mother knows. the regu-
larity with which they have to be fixed
breeds finally an indifference that is al
most voluntary. Last fall we moved so
close to the schoolhouse that my son.
who is now 10 years old. came home daily
to his midday meal. This spring he
reaches it robust and hearty as he was
on our return from the country in the
autumn. He has not had a cold all win
ter, which again has not been true for
several winters. l attribute this bet
tered condition of his health entirely to
the fact that he has had a comfortable
noon meal all through the winter. l am
prepared now," she laughed, that !
have come out on the right side, to go
about preaching the value of good
luncheons for schoolchildren. Seriously, y
she went on, 1--WE mothers do not half
b0 hun