The record-union., 1897-09-05

The oil stove is a great convenience
and comfort in the hot months, when
1t does away with the long-cont1nued
heat of coal. Two small ones are to
be recommended rather than one OF
larger size. They are moved more
easily. and both burners can be used
better.
A hostess Of a country house wished
to give some sort of entertainment late
" for guests who were spending a few
days in her mountain retreat with her
She also wished to have the affair
unique and sufficiently curiosity-pro-
voxing to bring out the neighborlng
cottagers in the hot weather, which dld
not conduce to visiting. So she evolved
a rustic tea that was a picnic under
another name; and yet that seemed De
fitting the woody nook where her sum-
mer is passed, and was beautifully re-
freshing to every sense. In the nrsC
place the charming home was thrown
wide open as to doors and windows
and lavishay decorated with lmeinnse
banks everywhere of all the wild and
gay weeds now in blossom. These are
marvelously effective in such quantities
as We're here employed. There were
iewelweed and sweet clover, chlcory,
sumach, bouncing Bet, and Wild mus
tard The tea tables were set under
the trees and were literally wreathed IN
blossoms They bore ice tea. delicious
chocolate, peanut and sardine sand
witches, orange marmalade ice-one OF
the most delicious of frozen dainties-
and peach ice cream, with small cakes
of delightful taste, but of home manu-
facture Although the hostess was far
away from any possibility Of cater
er's help. she wisely deemd it best to
have her refreshments rather more sub
stantfaI than a biscuit and tea, or a
sweet wafer and an ice, for those who
came some distance. The entertainment
consisted of singing, playing on various
Instruments, and a few appropriate
recitations. The company were all
called upon in carrying out the pro-
gramme, and cheerfully consented.
A dining-room that is finished in an
tique oak with a plain timbered cell
ing. is happily embellished by the ad-
dition of a broad frieze of rich-colored
tiles set above the high wainscoting.
The. modern florist is assiduous in his
efforts to secure a novelty in the pre-
sentation or the arrangement in dec
grafton Of flowers. Some of his ideas
are convertible to the amateur use AL
a recent very grand entertainment the
entrance hall was decorated with gon-
dolas and sledges filled with one-color
blossoms, while pictures were soildly
framed in the leaves and flowers. There
were groups of fresh, green plants eV-
erywhere. the staircase was arched
with flowers, and the balusters twined
into a complete bank of bloom. The
ballroom, hung with brOcade, was
trimmed heavily in orchids of the pre-
vailing shade of the hangings. In the
concert-room were harps and Tyres OF
the gorgeous trumpet-vine. The chan
deliers were festooned with clematis,
and the supper table was sprinkled
with pond lilies, while in the center of
the table was a pyramid of ice. Flow
ers are often, now, sent away in rustic
hampers eolored to match or contrast
with the contents The lid may be
thrown back to disclose a tin-lined in
terror full of beauty and fragrance; a
of pink has tiger lilies, one of red the
crimson rambler rose. An opened fan
of moss on a silver rim covered with
the small blossoms is another design,
while photographs framed with flow
ars are popular.
Bananas are the latest fruit to lend
their flavor to that refreshing drink
which under the generic name of cup"
takes on many specific qualifications.
Banana cup is made from the pulp of
three not over-ripe bananas, rubbed
through a fine wire sieve. Add the
grated rind of half a large lemon and
the juice of one lemon and one orange;
pour over this half a pint of boiling
water and put in a cool place for sew
eral hours. When quite cold, stir we'll
together, sweeten to taste, add a wine
glass of sherry, a siphon of soda water
and a few Jumps of ice.
The delicate woman who is being mi
tiated into the mysteries of wheel will
find a. preparation of whiskey and
quinfne most efficacious for use after
riding. Not only as a panacea for ach-
ing muscles is il satisfactory, but it al
so serves as an excellent tonic, if we'll
rubbed into the skin, for the strength
ening OF weak members suddenly called
upon TO do much unwonted duty. The
proportions are sixteen grains of Quin-
inc dissolved in pint of whiskey. Clear
alcohol is only in a less degree excel
lent for this purpose, either to use in
the water of the bath or directly upon
the person. Both the quinine mixture
and the alcohol will serve triple pur-
pose, that of a preventive of cold, a
pain alleviator, and a tonic.
During this season, when light dress
ing and more or less unconventional
picnic-eating come into collision, many
a woman is in despair at the frequent
sight of q grease pot-a bit of divert
ed mayonnaise or chicken, perhaps-on
so delicate a fabric that she hesitates
about applying any liquid. even that
usual remedy of all material i'll, naph-
tina. These sufferers may be glad To
learn that corn-starch viii remove
grease most effectually. Rub a little
fresh. dry corn-starch into the soiled
place, and it viii at once begin the pro-
cess of absorbing the grease. Brush
the first used off carefully from the
garment, and proceed, in the same way.
with more, until the Disagreement has
entirely disappeared.
It is a reflection on the dengeneracy
of the times that the modern man and