The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-21
11aeas fnr dWo1nen


1t is remarkable that more women
have not turned their attention to micro
scopic work as being peculiarly adapted
TO their abilities. Among the few that
have done so Mrs. Louise Reed Stowell
has made a strong success of the work.
From the beginning of her career Mrs.
Stowell has been honored by the scien-
tifie world. She was appointed a mem
Der of the faculty of the Woodruff scien-
tiiic expedition, and was the first Ameri-
can woman elected a member of the
Royal Microscopical Society of London.
but one since has achieved to this.
On account of the great amount of her
original microscopic work she has also
been made an honorary member of the
Michigan Pharmaceutical Association, al
though women are not admitted as mem
bers. For several years she has been
President of the Northwestern Collegi-
ate Association. and in 1883 was sent as
delegate to the International Congress of
Women.
Mrs. Stowell is also we'll known in
scientific literature. She has for years
acted both as editor and contributor
to the best known publications. of a pure
'ly scientific character. She sketches in
crayon, charcoal and pen and ink. and
illustrates her articles very ~cleverly.
Mrs. Stowelrs work at the University
of Michigan lay along the lines Usually
considered the dryest and most unnat-
tractive in the whole realm OF science, as
it was almost exclusively pharmaceutical
in character. and had to do chiefly with
the study of dried roots, barks and herbs.
She managed. however. to invest even
these unpromising subjects with a living
vital interest, and during this period
wrote a series of articles upon the mi
croscopical structure of wheat and flour
that drew widespread attention.
Mrs. Stowen left the University of
Michigan to accept a position in the Ag-
rieultural Department at Washington.
She was chosen for the special purpose
of making a microscopical examination
of wheats-first. of the same variety
growing in different localities, and then
a comparison of the different varieties,
in order to ascertain, if possible. which
contained the most gluten, and which
the greatest amount of heterogeneous
products: the aim of the investigation
being to find out which varieties of
wheat were best adapted to the varying
soils in the different localities of the
United tSates.
The kernel of wheat had first to be
soaked until it was possible to cut it
with a very sharp razor into its differ
ent sections. The thin outer shell alone
is made up of some eight. different parts,
any of which is hardly to be seen by
the naked eye. This careful analysis led
TO the discovery that the infinitesimal
hairy tufts on the outer shell of the kerr
mel contain gas. and that may be the
cause--though it is not proved-of the
spontaneous combustion that occasionally
occurs where large. quantities of wheat
are stored.
Under the heading of fancy cloth
gowns houId be included the gowns made
of materials like ~etanline, canvas, cash
mere, as well as the cloths. says "Har-
per's Bazar." These light weight wool
len gowns are now considered absolutely
necessary in our climate. They are worn
in the early spring, on cool days during
the summer and then are seen again
early in the autumn. They are always
elaborate in design, and require to be
made up with considerable trimming and,
if possible. some effect of bright color.
This season th9 wood-colors and grays
are the principal colors, and the wood
colors are smadter than the grays, for
the last named iwere worn all last sum-
mer, it will bel remembered. One very
charming gown of quite an open mesh of
etamine that closely resembles one of the
ia --1o,-ao ~ oraDo, ie ,,oJa inn oxor
a silk of the same color. 1t has a wide
circular founce, and where the iounce
Joins the skirt there is a band of white
satin ribbon on which there is a braid
ing of black soutache in quite an in
tricate pattern. The back of the waist is
in one piece stretched over a fitted and
boned lining; the front of it has a de-
cided blouse, fastened at the left side,
but falling in loose jabot folds, and show
ing directly in front what looks like a
turquoise-biue taffeta waist, but which
in reality is only a front There is a
stock collar of turquoise-blue velvet,
with a belt to match, and both belt and
collar are fastened with odd buckles of
gold and jet. Buckles and fancy but
tons, by the way, are among the new
things on the spring gowns The buckles
may not buckle, and the buttons may
not be used to fasten the waist, but they
must needs be worn in order to give the
proper finish to any smart gown. All
the buttons are on the jewelled order,
with the exception of those in jet and
gold, and these have the effect of onyx,
and are not like what are generally
known as jet buttons.
So
Apropos Of that much discussed ques-
ton, the Sunday dinner, a housewife
says that she has solved the question in
her own household by having practically
no dinner at all. There came a time, :"
she says, when the masculine element
in the family revolted against. the hearty
midday meal and the very light supper
of Sunday and in an attempt to temper
the menu to their desire and the cooks
convenience. / evolved after one or two
trials. a bill of fare which has been en-
forced now for four or five years in our
family with the most satisfactory re-
suits. 1t is merely TO make the noon
meal a hearty luncheon, but on easily
prepared foods. We have bouilion and
perhaps creamed fish in the chatting dish,
with baked potatoes or some canned
vegetable. A light dessert of cake and
preserves finishes this. When the sup
per-dinner comes. at six o'clock, it IS