Abergavenny Chronicle

TALKS ON HEALTH. By A FAMILY DOCTOR. THE ARCH OF THE FOOT. The foot is a tripod; the weight of the Ivody i", borne on three ]>omt.s—the ball of the big toe, the ball of the little toe, and the heel. If you look at the impression made by a wet foot on tho oilcloth you will see a blob for the front part of the foot add a blob for the heel. but what I want you to look at most attentively is the strip that connects the toe-blob with the heel- blob. In a healthy foot this strip is quite narrow; in a flat foot the strip is as broad as the foot; in an intermediate case the strip is broader than the normal shape in varying degree. The width of this strip gives the measure of the falling of the arch. By taking an impression at different times the successive states of the arch may be known, and from this information it may be learnt whether the foot is remaining the same or g-tting worse. The arch of the foot on the inner side is maintained in two way?—the strong ligaments of the foot bind the bones together z;1 to form an arch; the arch cannot sink so long as the ligaments form tie-beams and supports. The other way is by the leaders that come down from the front and back of the leg; these leaders are attached to muscles, and it follows that w<?a k muscles will conduce to falling of the arch. WHAT CAN BE DONE? I Now, there is no way of relieving the pressure on the aren; we must walk on our feet; if we could walk on our hands we should not get Sat foot. If I weigh twelve stone the arches of mv feet have to sustain that weight. The only way tQ relieve the pressure is to sit down as much as possible; but we cannot all get a sitting-down job. However, something may be done in the way of choice of work. A lad with a tendency to fLt-foet would not be passed as a recruit into the police force; he would be wise to choose a trade that involved as little stand- ing as possible—perhaps a tailor or boot- maker. If a man weighs sixteen stone his feet would be very much obliged to him if he would reduce himself to twelve stone. .But there you are, most of us have to walk about on our feet, and what can be done to strengthen the o-ch? It must not be for- gotten that the muscles and ligaments of the foot are nourished by the blood, and that the richer the blood the stronger the foot. Treatment of flat-foot often resolves itself into treatment of the general health. The autemic, feeble voting woman with aching feet would probably be relieved if she could get a good holiday in the country and build herself up. --1" EXERCISE FOR THE MUSCLES. I The muscles of the calf must be exercised to give them more strength to do their work. After about three hours' work the muscles go on strike; they cannot manage anv more. But if they are made an inch or two bigger round by exercises they will cheerfully bear a whole dav. Therefore we must do tjip-toe exercises, dance on tip-toe, work the ankles in every direction—back- wards and forwards. and also sideways. The feet and calves must be rubbed with turpentine liniment to make the circulation brisker. O THE CHILD'S FEET. I Little children sometimes have flat feet when they begin to walk. This is not be- cause start to walk too soon, but be- cause the arch is net .strong enough—a dif- ferent matter. I recommend the 0 following simple plan. The child's ankles are turned in; very well, we miiat turn them out. So have a strip cf leather s'.vn along the in- ner side of the shoes or boots; the effect of this is to rake the inner side of the foot, and it brings the ankle straight. In a few weeks the feet will have grown straight, and all will be well. The strip may be half an inch thick; it must o-ilv extend half- way across the sole, and it is wedge-shaped on section and gets thinner towards the outer side. Steel arches for the foot are of some value; the aim of the surgeon is always to encourage Nature fo do her own work. If you can improve the arch of the foot by the methods I have mentioned it is far more satisfactory than wearing any form of apparatus. O I THE AGES OF FLAT FOOT. I There are three ages at which you muat be on the look-out for flat-foot. The first re infancy, when the child first begins to bear in f an?c w h ei h e c h .,c- its weight on its feet; the second is at the age of fifteen to seventeen, when the lad starts work and may have to lift heavy weights, and when his growing system de- mands so much nourishment that it does not always get its full supply and the third is from forty-five to fifty, when the elasticity of limb is beginning to fail. If you want to know if you have flat foot, try the wet foot- mark on the oilcloth and then go to your doctor for advice. O TEE OLD SUBJECT. I Once again the dear old subject of teeth is before the public. I see the Government have received a report on it now. Well, I have tried hard enough, as my readers know to their cost. For ten years and more I have advocated the care of the teeth as a r e (-- f the t,?e4, h as a matter of national importance. Have you read the Commission's report? Have you learnt how unscrupulous quacks pull out sound teeth in order to get the money for false ones; how labouring men with no skill and dirty instruments break people's jaws; [ how ignorant, unqualified practitioners give cocaine in a careless and dangerous fashion, and all the rest of the scandals? You are a long-suffering lot. o i A DENTAL POLICEMAN. I I am glad the Government are taking the question up. The people are very slack and apathetic, and they are too ignorant to know what is good for them. They must be compelled to have their children's teeth attended to, and when the children are gynwn up we must have a dental policeman l to inspect them. How pleasant it is to think, dear reader, that you and I are so sensible. Without any fuss, we just go quietly to the dentist every six months, and our teeth are beautiful, white, and clean; our digestions are sound, our tempers are good, and our smiles are becoming. Three cheers for our noble selves, and may every- body soon be like us! NASAL AFFECTIONS. A simple catarrh that blocks up the nose mav be treated by simple remedies. But a blocking of the nose by some irregularity in the bones or bv a tumour must be remedied bv an operation. The covering of the bones on the inside of the nose is called the mucous membrane. Sometimes, vhon cold ias followed cold every 'winter for years, this membrane mav be so swollen as to cause a form of polvpin. No lotions and no vigorous use of the handkerchief will remove such a condition; the superabundant tissues must be taken away by operation. -0: AN OEDINARY POLYPUS. An ordinary nasal polypus is generally more or ]" pear-shaped; it 1:lci a narrow stalk, and it can bo removed by cutting through the stalk hy means of a loop of wire passed over the polypus and drawn tight. It is a great relief to have a bulging polypus thrown in the dust-bin. Polypi sometimes grow again, and, for that reason, a periodical inspection of the ncse is neces- sary. Another form of obstruct ;on is the result of injury. Most men havo had a punch on the "nose at seme time or other. It may have been on some forgotten occa- gion in boyhood's happy days. The pI lirty- wall between the two flictes of the nose ehould be straight; a punch on the nose "buckles it; it bulges toward*- one side and may completely block it. This condition* again, can bo remedied in only one way.

HOME DRESSMAKING. I I A COSY AND SIMPLE PETTICOAT FOR I WINTER WEAR. At the present moment, one of the most urgent necessities in the nursery is the pro- vision of warm and comfortable underwear for the rapidly approaching winter, if, in- deed, such an important task iia. not already been put in hand. Small children, like old people, are very sensitive to sharp changes of temperature, and, consequently, should be protected from such changes by suitable and adequate clothing, otherwise there will be a nursery history of constant chills and colds, if nothing worse. Now, in spite of all clothing faddists, nothing is so warm and comfortable for winter wear in our damp and chilly English climate as underclothing made of all wool material, or of some fabric in which there is a high per- centage of wool. Vests, combinations, and one petticoat, at least, should be made of such materials, whilst the ideal is to have the small child's underwear entirely made of an all wool or mostly wool fabric. I [Refer to H. D. 314.] I Our sketch this week shows a very pretty petticoat, suitable for a small girl of from 2-10 years, and has been specially designed for such materials as we have just been speaking of. It is a charming little garment, and, a very important point, is extremely easy to make, so easy, indeed, that even the most inexperienced worker may embark upon it with complete confidence of success. THE M-ATFRIAL.-As I have already Baid, the best material to choose for this petti- coat is an all-wool fabric, such as flannel, nun's veiling, or cashmere, or a stuff with a high percentage of wool in it, each as Viyella, Aza, union, pyjama flannel, etc. Failing these, wincey, flannelette, and similar fabrics may be used, but they are not really so warm and comfortable as the other materials. In any case, you will need Ii yards of material for a child of from 4-6 years. THE PATTERN.—There are only two pieces in this pattern, a front and a back—you could not well have anything simpler. Be- fore cutting out try the pattern against your child, and make any little alterations t. that may foe necessary. Tou will find it easier and more satisfactory to do this in the pattern than in the cut-out garment. Do not forget that the turnings are not allowed for in the pattern, therefore you j should leave about Jin. on the seam edges, j and plenty of material round the neck, arms, and at the bottom for the hem, the scalloping, or whatever finish you give the garment. THE CUTTING OUT.-Fold the stuff in such a way that the selvedges come together, and lay the pattern upon it, as shown in the diagram, arranging the straight edges of both front and back to come to the fold of the material. When you have cut out the front you would be wise to mark it, as front and back are so very much alike. THE MAKING.—Join together the under- arm and shoulder seams. In the case of an all-wool material you should run the seams up and herring-bone the fells. In other fabrics you may join the seams together by French sewing, or you may run them up and fell them by hand. Having joined the seams, out open the back down the centre from the top to a point about lOin. below it. Now face up this placket with two strips of material about lin. wide. Face up the raw edge on the right side with a neat flat facing, but put a wrap facing on the left side. This wrap facing should project about gin. beyond the actual edge. Make button- holes on the right side and sew buttons on the left side. Now trim the petticoat. To make it like the sketch you must stamp the neck, armholes, and lower edge -with-trans- fer scalloping, choosing a smaller scallop for the neck and armholes than for the bottom of the petticoat. The stamped scallop should be padded with embroidery cotton, and then closely buttonholed with washing silk, or with closely twisted embroidery cotton. If you prefer it you can finish neck and arms with a narrow hem and lower edge with a broader. hem, and feather-stitch all the hems. Or you can hem the edges and trim the outer edge of each hem with lace. Some of the newest petticoats shown this year have the edges bound with strong washing silk, crepe de Chine, or satin, which is fre- quently of a contrasting colour to the petti- coat. Thus white petticoats have hems of pale pink or blue, whilst coloured models have white or cream coloured hems. I A NEW FUR ARRANGEMENT. I One or two of the most exclusive furriers in the West-End are showing a now fur stole of distinctly original type. This stole, or, rather, collarette-for strictly speaking it is more closely allied to the latter than to the former, is cut with very wide sleeveis of the kimono type. Th-ese sleeves are of about three-quarter length when the arm is stretched out, but are so loose that when the arms are bent to slip into the muff they slip down over the wrists, making the collarette extremely warm and comfortable. These cosy little garments are carried out in various furs—usually of the long-haired type—and are beautifully lined with char- meuse or Georgette, usually in a prettily contrasting colour. r

I HOV TO OBTAIN II Paper Pattern of the above PETTICOAT, Fill in this form and send it, witb remittance In II stamps, to MISS LISLE, 8, La Belle SauTait, LONDON. E.C. 4. 1 Write clearly. Name Address 1 [ PATrERN No. 314. I PAPER PATTERNS, Price 9d. each, post free. I PATTERNS cut to special measure, 1/6 each. MISS LISLE will be pleased to receive suggestioas and to illustrate designs oi jteocral use to the HOME DRESSMAKER. )

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER. t THAT TEMPTING APPLE PIE. One day Mumsie Pig made a fine apple pie, And till ready to cock it she put it up high; But Piggy and Wiggy discovered it there, And to get it they simply climbed up on a chair. Soon they cut it and greedily ate the wet paste, For thev said 'twas a shame such a good pie should waste. But Mumsie Pig caught them and put them to bed, And for dinner they'd physic and water and bread. THE STOLEN NECKLACE. It was a wonderful box which vassili Mujac opened when Carla offered him her silver piece. Inside were all sorts of rare and beautiful things—things that sparkled and glittered and tiione. The silver piece had been given to her by an English lady because Carla had shown h^r the wav to the caves. Carla would never go into them herself, even when mad tourist people tried to persuade her. The caves were all very we :or tLe bats and the owls, and the creatures that were fond of the dark. But the children believed that all the Numbo-Jumbos and the Ges- serilies lived there too, whoso necks were so long that they could twist round a corner ancf bite you in h?f when you ,east expected it, which was a mtle startling- The children never saw the English lady again, and fully believed that the Numbo- J umbos had caught her and eaten her up. After a half-hour of talk and caggling, Carla persuaded old Vassili Mujac to let her have the coloured necklace of polished stones. She could not wait till she got home, but must put it on at once, to s how her brother and sister how expensive she looked. In a lonely part of the road a tall ragged man jumped from behind a pi'e o' stones. The children screamed and ran. But that was no good. The man had seen the neck- lace on Carla's neck, and, in spite of her struggles and cries, he tore it away from her. Just then a troop of soldiers came gallop- ing along the road. The robber was so frightened that he rushed away over the little bridge that hangs over the Black Gorge. But the little bridge had a bad place in the middle, I and when the robber reached it he fell through-down, down- into the deep gorge. But the necklace was caught half-way down upon a bush, and hung there glitter- ing and sparkling like drops of rainbow-like dew in the sun. One of the soldiers climbed down and brought it back to Carla. The robber, he said, was not worth bringing back, because he lay quite dead at the bot- tom of the gorge. Carla thought it served him right. Then some of the soldiers took the child- ren home, so that if they met any more robbers they should come to no harm on ac- count of the beautiful polished stone neck- lace. Carla's little brother loved soldiers, with their gay uniforms and their swords and their fine galloping horses; so you can imagine how pleased he was "I wish you were robbed every day, Carla," he said, but Carla only shuddered. NAUGHTY JOE. The doctor's dog, whose name was Joe, Was fond of wandering to and fro. A string eff sausages one -lay This sinful puppy bore away; They trailed behind him as he an, And after came the butcher's man. Four brave police pursued the pup, Surrounded him, and took him up; They captured, too, the chain of meat, To make the evidence complete. FLOTSAM THE SEAGULL. It was a dark night, black as ink, and the coastguards could see nothing. And the smugglers were a-smuggling tor all they were worth. And considering they had titty- eight kegs of brandy, a hundredweight of tooacco, and five thousand yards 01 best French lace, you will see that altogether they were worth a very great deal indeed. All these valuable things they were un- loading from the lugger and carrying secretly up to the great cave at the top of the cliff, which the coastguardsmen never could find out though they often tried verj hard to discover it. Well, just a-s they were in the middle of it all, there came along good old Ben Busky and caught them at it. And as he wa., friends with the coastguards, the smugglers I set upon him and caught him before he could get away. He fought bravely, but all to no purpose, for there were twenty of them, very iierce and savage, just as strong as they cpuld be, and as briny as the sea When they had knocked him down and bound him hand and foot, they carried him half-dead to the cave in the cliff. And then poor Ben knew that his days were num- bered, that they would surely kill him slowlv, inch by inch, when they had time to attend to it. Now, vou raust know that Ben had one tried friend, and this was his tame seagull Flotsam, who never would or did leave him either by day nor yet by night! Ben had found the poor bird on the shore with a broken le, ,and had taken him home and saved hislife. He had made him a very fine wooden leg, and Flotsam found it I nearly a.,2 useful as an ordinary leg. When Flotsam saw the smugglers attack his master, he was very angry indeed. He flapped his wings in their faces and pecked at their eyes, and did everything he could to help Ben against them. But what could one poor bird do against twenty fierce smugglers? Then he flew round and round high up in the air uttering wild and terrible screams And the coastguards heard him above the thunder of the sea. But they were used to hearing the seagulls scream, and so they did not mind. But when presently there came a sharp tapping at the window, and they found Flotsam outside, they knew that something-must, be wrong. And then Flotsam flew off a little way, and came back, and flew off again, scream- ing all the time as loudly as ever ho could. So then the coastguardsmen decided to follow him. And so Flotsam led them to the secret cave high up on the cliff; and, after a desperate fight with the smugglers, they rescued Ben Busky just in time. T'hey took great numbers of the smugglers prisoners, and carried them away with them to be locked up, so that they couldn't go on smuggling any more. The other smugglers who escaped took a boat and went out to sea, and stayed float- ing about on the stormy ocean all niaht be- cause they were much too frightened- to come to land again. So that is why Flotsam was made a mtm- her of the coastguard service, and wears a fine peaked cap. and a telescope under his left wing, and the smugglers go in fear of him every night of their lives! He can see better than any of the men. and he can liy in the air over their heads and discover all sorts of things. He's a person to be feared, is Flotsam

The Duke of Rutland has decided to sell nearly all his Haddcn estate, in Derbyshire, of 30,000 acrcs. Haddon Hall is not in- cluded. Constabulary raided the printing offices of "The People," a Sinn Fein weekly news- paper recently started in Limerick. A mili- tary engineer dismantled vital parts of the machinery. There were no arreste. A fox was hunted in the principal park of Walsall. It was first seen by some youths, and .after taking cover in a shrubbery, was caught. There are still 44,700 railway wagons under the control of the War Office in France. More than 19,000 of them belong to British railway companies, and are being returned as rabidly as circumstances permit.

I ? MOTHER AND HOME. ? Useful and Economical Hints on Domestic Management, Vi=i> ? ? ? ? I A:: will not be omi.. this week in regard to the care of the feet by discrimina- tion when purchasing footwear. "People would find less difficulty with ready-made shoes," says an experienced salesman, "if they would stand up to fit them on, instead of sitting down. Nine persons out of ten, particularly ladies, want a comfortable chair while they are fitting a shoe, and it is with the greatest difficulty you can get them to stand for a few minutes even after the shoe is fitted. Then when they begin walk- ing about, they wonder why the shoes are not so comfortable as they were at first trial. A woman's foot is considerably smaller when ske sits in a chair than when she walks about. Exercise brirgs a larger quantity of blood into the feet, and they swell appreciably. The muscles also require certain space. In buying shoes this fact should be borne in mind." SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SHOES. I Never try to wear a shoe that is too small for you, nor one that is not a good fit for your foot. By good fit is meant one that fits sufficiently snug not to wrinkle, nor to allow your foot to slip around in the shoe, yet loose enough to allow plenty of ease and comfort; with square toes, low, broad heels, and particularly from three-quarters to one inch longer than you could wear, if you allowed your big toe to go to the end of the shoe. A long shoe gives a more graceful effect to the foot, is more comfortable, and laste longer. Be careful not to run your shoes over at the heel or sides; this is the ] result of carelessness, and can easily be prevented. TEST FOR DAMP SHEETS. I When in doubt as to the bed beingMamp, put a hand-glass between the sheets for few minutes. If it is damp the surface of the glass will show. This should always be done when travelling, as damp beds have laid the foundation for many diseases, To CUT A GLASS BOTTLE. I If you want to break off a glas3 bottle or I jar quite evenly, soak a piece of string in turpentine, tie it round the jar exactly where you want to break it, and fill to just I that point with cold water. Then set fire to the string, and the glass will snap off all I along the heated line. To PREVENT DUST. I I Grass cut while the dew is still upon it is I excellent to use in place of tea-leaves when sweeping carpets. It prevents the dust from rising and gives the carpet a beautifully fresh appearance. After sweeping, all furni- ture should be first dusted with a damp cloth, then polished with a dry one. r To REMOVE SPOTS FROM SILK, I Most spots can be removed from silk by spirits of turpentine, but care must be taken to see that the dye is fast. It is as well to experiment first on a spare piece of the fabric. Failing this, powdered French chalk, mixed to a mustard-like consistency wi-,h lavender-water, should be rubbed into the stain, left till caked, and a hot iron-laid on a sheet of blotting-paper-finally passed over the top. I SAVES GAS. I I A piece of sheet-iron the size of the top I of the stove will cost but a few pcnce? and I will effect a great saving in gas, as two or I three saucepans can be kept simmering with I Dnly one jet alight. WATERPROOFING BOOTS. I Boots and shoes intended for rough wear during the winter months can be made waterproof if treated in the following way. Melt together two parts of beeswax and one part of mutton fat. Apply to the leather at night and leave for twenty-four hours. Then wipe off with a soft flannel. When first blacked the boots will not polish easily, but if the blacking is sparingly applied and allowed to remain on a few minutes they will take a good gloss after being cleaned once or twice. FOOTWEAR FOR CHILDREN. I Start the little ones off right; see thai baby's first stockings and shoes do not re- ;train his feet in the slightest way, and dc not let children wear shoes that are run down on one side. This will cause "bandi- uess" and other defects. WHEN MIXING MUSTARD. I Add a little drop of salad oil to mustard when it is being made. Not only will it im- prove the taste, but it will keep it fresh for days. CRACKED DISHES. I If cracked dishes are .boiled in enough milk to cover them for about forty-five minutes the cracks will glue together and become invisible, and the dishes will stand almost as much usage as when new. WATERED MILK. I In order to detect watered or "chalked" milk, dip a knitting needle in the bottle for a few seconds. If the milk forms in a large drop at the bottom of the needle it is pure; if watered, it will run down quickly and arop in several small drops. MUD STAINS ON UMBRELLA. I Rub a mud-stained umbrella with a rag I dipped in methylated spirit, and the stains I will disappear. To CLEANSE EMBOSSED LEATHER. I Embossed leather can be cleansed with turpentine applied with a soft cloth. This removes the stains, but slightly stiffens the leather, which must be made pliable again by being rubbed briskly with crude oil. Use a very little oil, and go over the piece with one of the clean cloths upon which no oil has been put, as care must be taken to get all the surface greacje off to prevent soiling the clothes. CLOUDY MIRRORS. I Cloudy mirrors should never be seen in ft house. Rub them with a cloth wrung out of cold water and dipped in dry whiting. and then polish them with a dry duster, and they will bring you credit instead of dis- grace. To CLEAN WHITE ENAMELLED FURNITURE. I To clean white enamelled furniture, re- move all dirty marks with a flannel dipped in. methylated spirit. Then wash at once with tepid water, to which has been added a little line oatmeal. Never use soap or soda. The application of a soft dough-ball, tc which has been added a few drops of strong ammonia, cleans the paper very well. A little vinegar kept boiling on the stove while onions or cabbage are cooking will keep the smell from going through the house. When you want a jelly to set quickly stand the mould in a strong mixture of soda and salt water for about an hour. The jelly will then turn out as firmly as if it had been made the previous day. Often, when cooking, a knife will be used to cut an onion, and the smell will remain for a long time unless something is done to prevent it. Draw the knife through a raw carrot once or twice. This will remove the odour. For decanters that have become stained by wine a very good method is to pour a little vinegar in them, and also add about a teaspoonful of salt. Allow this to stand for a while, shaking it occasionally, and then wash with clear water. If a new broom is soaked in hot water in which a handful of salt has beea thrown, it will toughen the bristles and make the broom wear much longer. Copper bowls and vases should never be cleaned with ordinary paste or powder. If they are washed in warm soap and water and polished with a chamois leather, this should prove sufficient. If they get very dirty, a paste of whitening and oil is good. Egga are too dear to use for binding pur- poses, but the following substitute serves quite well: Mix a tablespoonful of golden syrup in half > a pint of warm milk. This quantity equals four eggs, and can be used to bind puddings or cakes. One should bear in mind that lesp sugar must be used, as the ayrup itself is sweetening. A WORN STAIR CARPET. I A worn stair carpet may be much Im- proved by having the surface darned with a rug wool. Match the colour carefully, and the improved appearance of the carpet twill delight you. HEALTHFUL ODOURS. I The healthfulness of people who breathe air bearing the cdours of resinous trees hae long been known. The smoke from the burning of resinous wood has very powerful disinfect- ing properties, and that also in moderate degree is healthful to inhale. The carbonic acid gas found in all smoke is poisonous, but that ia heavier, and remains near the ground, while the upper strata of air carry the resinous odours. German doctors now prescribe creosote, or oil of emoke, made by burning the wood of the eucalyptus tree, as a preventive of disease. SWEEPING THE SICK ROOM. I How untidy a sick room can soon b, and how annoying the dust of sweeping is to the patient, is known to all who attend patients. To remedy this put a little ammonia in a pail of warm water, and with a mop wrung as dry as possible go all over the carpet first. This takes up all the dust and much of the loose dirt. A broom will take what is too large to adhere to the mop and raise no dust. With a dust cloth well sprinkled go over the furniture, and the room is fairly clean. ASTRINGENT MOUTH WASHES. When the gums are spongy and receding, an astringent mouth wash is generally necessary, otherwise the teeth are apt to become loose. Here is a recipe which will be found both pleasant and efficacious :-Tinc- ture of orris root, 6drs.; lavender water, 2drs.; tincture of cinnamon bark, 4drs.; tincture of cinchona bark, 4drs.; eau de Cologne, 2oz. Add half a teaspoonful to half a tumblerful of water to rinse out the mouth twice a day. Another equally effica- cious and pleasant preparation, called violet mouth wash, is composed of tincture of orris root, 4oz.; essential oil of almonds, 1 drop; otto of roses, 1 drop; salicylic acid, 4grs.; proof spirit, 2oz. It should be used in the same proportions as in the preceding recipe. To PICKLE ONIONS. Remove the outside skin of small onions and throw into salt water; let stand for about three or four days, changing the water once or twice. Then put them into a jar, sprinkle with salt, cover with boiling water, and closely cover the jar and place aside to cool. When quite cold pour off the water and pack into bottles or jars, adding a little sliced ginger and mustard seed. Take some strong vinegar and boil, and whilst hot fill the vessels up and well cork and seal. SOME USEFUL RECIPES. CRUMBED POTATOES.—Wash lib. of pota- toes, scrape them, and boil until tender Drain and cut each into halves; season witk salt and pepper. Melt two tablespoonsful ol bacon fat, pour it on to a hot plate, dip the potatoes into it, brush them over, and thet toss them in freshly-made breadcrumbs Place them on a greased baking-tin anc bake in a quick oven for about 15 minutea When brown dish up neatly in a pile on < hot dish. Serve hot. MUTTON HOT-POT.-Cut some cookec mutton into slices and season with salt anc pepper. Boil one breakfastcupful of rice foi twenty minutes, drain and dry. Place i thick layer of rice at the bottom of a pie. dish, then some slices of meat, and covei with sliced tomato. Repeat these layers finishing up with rice. Pour wer some gooc gravy, dot with bits of dripping, and bak4 slowly for about one hour. As the riC4 absorbs the gravy, add a little more fron time to time. No potatoes are required witl this dish. SUET DUMPLINGS.—Chop 4oz. of suet, put into a basin with 5oz. of flour, 26z. of fine breadcrumbs, and a teaspoonful of salt (level). Stir all well together, beat an egg on a plato, and add to it about six table- spoonsful of milk, and put it by degrees into the basin. Stir all well together, divide it into six dumplings, and tie them separately, previously dusting the cloth with flour. Boil for an hour. If these are first allowed to get cold, then cut into slices and fried, it makes a good second dish. The above will make a good boiled pudding. Boil for about two hours in an earthen mould with the addition of another egg, a little sour milk, and then serve with any- kind of jam or stewed fruit.c.

THINGS THOUGHTFUL Watch your thoughts.—Buddha, Whilst a man confideth in Providence, he should not slacken his own exertions.— The Sanskrit. For I know That he who is not lost, tut gone before. Is only waiting till I come; for death Has only parted us a little while. And has not severed e'en the finest strand In the eternal cable of our love; The very strain has twined it closer still, And added strength. -F. R. Havergal. The conflict of the future lies not between Tory and Radical, but between believer and unL-,eliever,-Carlyle. WHEN I GROW UP. I mean to have the toy shop man Stop just as often as he can. New toys grow tiresome soon, you know, And then one's friends do break them so! High ho! What bliss will fill my cup When I grow up! When I grow up! A LITTLE LEARNING. "A little learning" is only (and then always) "a dangerous thing when we are not aware of its littleness. "A little learn- ing is a dangerous thing," and yet it is what all must attain before they can arrive at great learning; it is the utmost acquisi- tion of those who know the most, in com- parison with what they do not know. The field of science may he compared to an American forest, in which the more trees a man cuts down, the greater is the expense of wood he sees around him.—Whately. THE PROBLEM OF LIFE. the last result of the creative thought, Through countless forms in. ordered sequence brought Moulded in beauty, man at last appears, Formed from the dust, yet native to the spheres. Erect he stands, Imperial, God-like, Free, Linking the dust he treads with Deity. -R. P. D. Pity and fairness are two little words which, carried out, would embrace the utmost delicacies of moral life.-George Eliot. PROVIDENCE. > It was really hope and belief rather than his poor little wooden ships that carried Columbus across the ocean. The Queen of Spain furnished the gold, but it was a mightier Sovereign who sent the vision and guided the results. He is a strange reader of history who fails to find Providence on every page of earth's strange story. Alae! we make A ladder of our thoughts, where angels step, But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high re- solves Look down upon our slumbering acts. -L. E. Landon. All our dignity consists in thought. Thereby must we elevate ourselves; not by space and time, which we cannot fill. Let us then strive to think well; this is the prin- ciple of right conduct.—Pascal. A GREAT IDEAL. For the present distress I know but one rule applicable both to those who have found Christ and those who hope that they may find him. It is this. Act up to that which is purest, have faith in that which is truest, judge always by that which is highest, reach forward to that which is noblest. This is the revelation of God to most of us-until He vouchsafes more light. And the law which is holy and just and good shall not condemn us in the final judg- ment of the Great Assize.—Bishop Frod- sham. — The happiness of your life depends on the character of your thoughts.Marcus Aure- lius. I JOYOUS TOIL. The glowing sky smiles on the snow-clad earth Whose weal depends on sunshine and on cloud. It uses each that all may be endowed With what is needful from their very birth. Come count your children in a mood of mirth, Nor let your minds with anxious care be bowed; May help sustain and help the thought- less crowd, For any man despair is void of worth! What tho' the glowing sky yields but the snow Or alternates the sunshine and the rain You cannot choose; now take just what is "sent" Thus helping nature banish all your woe. You cannot lose, you've everything to gain, I By letting days of Joyous Toil be spenti I M. There is always room anywhere in the world for a holy thought.—Drummond. INTELLIGENT SPIRITUAL HFE. I. Whatever in religion is not of intelligence is blind mummery. The only true ortho- doxy conceivable is the orthodoxy of pure intelligence. Any other kind of orthodoxy is baneful heterodoxy. Sane Christianity is an intelligent appeal to the individual mtel- ligence to lead a spiritual life on the great model exhibited by the Founder, or it is of no account or worse than of no account. This is the length and breadth, the height and depth of sane Christianity. No spiritual salvation seems to be attainable by any man but through intelligence and good conduct- Full spiritual enfranchisement is only achievable through the play of the intellect. -David Graham. All thoughts of ill;—all evil deeds, That have their roots in thoughts of ill;- Whatever hinders or impedes The action of the nobler Will; l All these must first be trampled down 1 Beneath our feet, if we would gain In the bright fields of fair renown The right of eminent domain -Longfellow., MIXED BLESSINGS. No blessing comes unalloyed 'here below. There is ever a cankerworm in the rose; a dactyl is sure to be mixed up with a spondee in the poetry of life; and as Homer sings, there stand two urns, or crocks, be- side the throne of Jove, from which he doles out alternate good and bad gifts to men, but mostly both together.—Father Prout. THE LOVED AND LOST. Oh, the anguish of that thought, that we can never atone to our dead for the stinted affection we gave them, for the light answers we returttfed to their plaints and pleadings, for the little reverence we showed to that sacred human soul that iived so close to us, and was the divinest thing God had given us to know.—George Eliot.

( At Matlock outlying parts of Lea. Hurst Estate, the homo of Florence Nightingale. were sold by auction, and over £6,000 was realised. The South Wales Coal Owners' Associa- tion passed a strongly-worded re-olution against the Government proposal to ilinit profits on coal to 18. 2d. per ton. Aged 74, and in failing health, Mr. J roes Faithfull, of Acton, is resigning the position of a bellringer and steeple-keeper at St. Mary's Parish Church, Acton, after 54 years' service. Owing to heavy rainfall and the thawing of the snow, parts of Loch I.emondside are nooded