Newspaper Page Text
MARCH 22, 1902
THE SUNNY SOUTH
SEVENTH PAGE
In Woman's Realm
Edited by Mrs
of Thought and Home
Mary E Bryan
«>
4
4
Talks on Timely Topics
^ROCHESTER, N. Y., corre
spondent writes enthusiast
ically of the manual train
ing feature of the public
schools in that citV The
pupils are turning out
beautiful work, the tools
HH and other facilities being of
the very best. The chil-
dren in the first, second,
third and fourth grades
work in clay, paper, card-
board, wood and curie weav-
ing. As the aim is to bring
n .sc the larger coordinations of brain
and hand, the articles made are simple
and quickly unished. In the fifth and
ixth grades the pupils weave baskets
;n,d rugs and make portfolios and various
articles out of leather, cloth and wood.
In the seventh, eighth and ninth grades
the pupils are furnished with work
benches and elaborate tools of fine steel
in which they work in leather, brass, cop
per, tin. Venetian iron and several kinds
of wood.
Men - Too Retiring”
In England the movement to make room
lor women in politics and in the profes
sions of law, medicine, science, etc., is
said to be steadily growing, with little
opposition and less assistance from men.
Seemingly, more interest on the part of
men would please the women, as, at the
recent annual meeting of a society for
promoting the election of women guar
dians, one of the speakers a woman-
said: "One of our complaints against the
men is that they are a tittle too retir
ing.”
lieutenant Tholps, who was present,
gallantly replied:
••Where women arc so capable of doing
work, it would be superfluous for us to in
tervene.”
Some Instrutlve Southern Books
Several correspondents have asked:
"Tell us of some good new r books (not
novels) by southern writers that may be
profitably read aloud in the home.”
In the way of pleasant and profitable
Vending, few newly published books equal
• Georgia: Land and People,” by Miss
Frances Letcher Mitchell, a cultured and
charming woman of Athens, Ga. Al
though the book is a history and reliable
in all its details, it is so graphically writ
ten that even the devotee of light reading
will find it entertaining. It is attractive
ly published, and should be in the library
of every home. It is a text-book in some
of tile best colleges in the south.
Another pleasant, instructive book is a
History of Virginia, by Mary Tucker Ma
gi;), who wrote a number of books for
children. Mrs. Fry. formerly of Atlanta,
now living in Chattanooga, has written a
unique history of Tennessee in rhyme.
The verses are. of course, not all poetry.
No poet, living or dead, <*>uld infuse
poetical animus into statistical facts, hut
It was a reallv wonderful achievement :o
give a full and faithful history of a stale
in verse. Rhyme catches hold on the
memory more readily than prose.^ The
rs-ok is handsomely brought out. Nature
studies are now the fashion and we have
IWM'.V delightful book* «lr'ut birds, trees,
flowers and animals. Some of our best
writers and teachers are giving them ut
most attention to inspiring a living in
terest lor these, our kindred in the hum
bler orders of life. One of the best and
newest of the books of nature study is
••Out Among the Animals,” by Mrs. Eva
Williams Malone, of Knoxville, Tenn. The
book is profusely illustrated and consists
of charmingly told stories about animals,
birds and insects, in which information is
conveyed in such a lively, often humor
ous fashion, that the young folks (and
adults, too, for that matter) may laugh
while they learn. The hook is neatly
bound and handy in size-price 75 cents
"The Art of Housekeeping” is a per
fect compendium of household knowledge
put in entertaining form The author Is
Mrs >f;irv Stuart Smith, wife of Pro-
fessor'Smith, of the University of Vir
ginia personally. Mrs. Smith is a finished
L-pe of the Virginia gentlewoman. A
sense that the writer is to the manor
horn, pervades the book, and a certain
-race and beauty is given to the most
commonplace details of housewifery
Fvervthtng pertaining to the making of
a beautiful, well ordered home is contain
ed m this little 10-cent volume, which is
published in neat lithographed covers by
George Munro's Sons-a firm which is a
benefactor to lovers of books who h.ue
no" fat purses, since it not only publishes
at cheapest rates the novels^ the be..
wo°rkTof c^ssical and standard English
authors, together with a senes of (10-
cent) books of instruction in the modern
languages—French. Spanish. German,
etc.
A District Where There are None
But Women
arc no more Amazons In the world
but In Russia there is a district wholly
administered and -during most of the ti ™
exclusively inhabited by women It is
.. province of Sinotenski, some to or -0
square^mhes in extent. Every abb-bodied
emigrates in the spring to seek-
work in neighboring towns and districts
ami remains away for nine months of the
“ Tn *beir absence the women eul-
fivate the fields, hold court and manage
incn.1 affairs generally, under the presi
dency of a woman mayor. Just before
nie-htfall file women assemble in a sort
Of Club house and play games until a
late hour. Notwithstanding their lore
for amusement, the community is pros-
disorder is unknown and it is one
of the best conducted portions of the
empire. The czarina takes an interest in
it, and is proud of iU
Writing -True Stories^
_ Once when the writer happened to he
• ,hZ editorial office of a leading maga-
a"ne a man called and offered the editor
a manuscript, saying: “It is agood >
„ I, true in every detail.
a " Then' I am afraid it will not suit. '
replied the. editor. “A true story is rarely
8 Every Writer has encountered the well-
nprson who thinks to do him h,
"by relating the story of his life, or
Ihat of some friend, saying: "Now here s
material for a fine story,” not realizing
lt i r . easier to imagine tan
characters and incidents of a story
th‘an to reproduce these from real life,
tn tho ea.se of fiction a writer outlives
Ws plot—and then the plot really creates
Characters, since these must act or
be* 3 passive at certain points, must speak
J! be Vnt, mako a sacrifice or draw
£ -k from one. Th£ only work, then, for
the writer 1? to fill up the minor details
_ as to make a consistent whole.
When the characters and incidents are
4 m the writer is hampered by facts.
•■These are not always pliable enough to
I? fashioned so as to fit smoothly into
♦be framework of the story and the re-
cnu L^hat there is a sense of incon
gruity and Hack of harmony.
• So-called ••historical novels” are popu
lar in proportion.. to the latitude given
the Imagination in depicting characters
and incidents, and the reality given to
the background and the atmosphere of
the story. Let a writer but catch the
spirit—the elemental words of the time
hf portrays—and it will net much matter
about minor features.
♦
Let us Idealize Our Work
“Work is nob'le; work is holy,” sings
tho poet Lowell. “Get work; it Is bet
ter than what you work to get.” says
Elizabeth Browning; but notwithstanding
aill this praise of work the fact remains
that it is often distasteful. We say to
ounselves: “I would not mind doing
work that was congenial, but this—why,
this is nothing but drudgery.”
It is quite natural to think of some
kind of labor as beneath us and be
littling. but we should strive against tak
ing this view of it. Let us try to ideal
ize our work, and in this way make it
good for us, spiritually as well as physic
ally. if it is house work, think of it
as being done for the comfort, health and
well-being of those we love. Then we may
recall the truth that housekeeping is
really one of the line arts; that it calls
for the exercise of brains, requiring fore
thought, reasoning and ingenuity, in or
der that it may be done well, and wifil ts
little waste 'of time, strength and money
• -s possible. Work well and intelligently
done cannot become more drudgery. It
is a pleasure to exercise mental facul
ties and an additional pleasure to know
tliat this produces satisfactory results.
A successful teacher of scientific cook
ery tells how she manages to elevate her
instructions to her class and ennoble
the work. She says: ‘T try- to make my
girls sec the infinite pains which Great
Nature has taken in producing the mate
rial they are manipulating. Then i say
to Them: 'Now. ought not you to treat
this material with respect? Ought not
you to feel the responsibility of being
the one to give it the final, finishing
touch?’ ”
Take the -loaf of bread, for example,
what pictures might fill the mind while
making up the flour and molding the loaf
or the biscuit! Pictures of the sowing,
the growing, fhf ~ reaping of the grain,
fragments of the parables and poem- that
have been written about seed time and
harvest, about the green, wind rippled
sea of wheat, the swarthy reapers of the
golden grain. The world's best artists
have painted these scenes. Around the
homely cornbread poets and painters have
thrown a halo of beauty. Sydney La
nier’s most beautiful poem has "Coni”
for its subject, and there are few things
in nature so graceful and stately as a
field of corn—rank after rank of tall
stalks, tasseled and plumed like warrior
kn ights.
Every vegetable, every edible, has a his
tory and a poetry of its own, and the
preparing of these for the table is not an
ignoble employment. By thinking of :he
aesthetic side of the work it is possible
to idealize it in our minds and lift it
above the sense of drudgery.
*
Pat.t.i at Sixty
The great diva is f»0 years ofld. This
suggests wrinkles, dim eyes, faded com
plexion, impaired teeth, loss of vivacity.
But none of these terms apply to Patti.
She is still daintily- pretty. To an inter
viewer she said a short while ago; “I
feel as young as T did twenty-five years
ago. Here I am, for any- one to see in
broad daylight—no paint, no dye. no gold
in teeth, no false hair—sound throughout.
Let people try- my method for them
selves.”
Then she proceeds to tell what her
method is: She did not begin in of her
own accord. She confesses that she was
indolent and would never have taken
the trouble. It was her brother in law
and prospective manager—Strakosch—
who made Patti. She had inherited her
dead mother’s delicate constitution, and
she had a voice whose wonderful possibil
ities Strakosc.h was quick to discern. ITe
determined to make of her the first singer
in the world, and he knew that to be this
required a sound phy-sical organization.
His first precept was: “Keep the mind
clear of worry, and the body clear of
unnecessary fowl and live with perfect
regularity and moderation.” She says:
“I was made to retire every night at 8,
and rise in the morning at 6; then to work
steadily one way or another. Work con
sisted of practice, walk and exercise. My
meals were a little roast meat, fruit, eggs
and milk. He never allowed mo to touch
candies of any sort, nor tea, coffee, wine,
beer or starchy foods. I was encouraged
to drink water freely. ‘Water,’ he used
to say. ‘washes the body- free from all
bad humors.' It was very hard on me
at first, as I was unused to disciplin'd
of any kind, but soon I grew accustomed
to the routine work and diet.
“Strakosch used to argue that animals
lived on nuts and .fruits. To him I was
nothing but an • animal. He reared a
thoroughbred singer on the same lines
he would a thoroughbred horse. T became
accustomed to it. My- appetite was satis
fied. my time occupied, and I had no
craving for anything that was not useful
or necessary.
"When I grew up and went on tours
I was kept to the same routine. My
hour of retiring was now late—li o’clock,
but T went to bed regularly at that hour.
1 got up at 8. 1 exercised daily and
stuck to plain food and plenty of air
and water. I continued to prosper though
doing such arduous work. " -
“As I increased in years I acquired more
judgment. I continued bo follow the pre
cepts of my manager. becau=e of the joy
of feeling well, free from disease, always
nimble, vigorous and never blue. The
temptation to drink champagne and eat
spiced dishes was not wanting in a career
like mine, but every time I followed the
lead of friends in this respect I could
detect signs which my mind interpreted
perfectly as a warning of danger.
“To be healthy is the natural state. In
nine cases out of ten, disase is punish
ment for Indiscretion or excess. Every
time one is ill a part of remaining youth
is squandered. Every recovery, whether
of a headache or of pneumonia, is accom
plished by a more or less exhausting ef
fort of tlie vitality.
“Digestion improper and surplus food is
a constant drain on the system. Very-
little food will suffice to keep the body in
strength. I have found fruit the best
and cheapest. I know a family of gigan
tic blacksmiths—three oi them—who have
never eaten anything but milk, dried tigs
and nuts. , . , .
"Health is youth. Losing one s hair is a
disease; the stiffening of the joints is a
disease, the wrinkling of the skin is a
disease, but these afflictions are so gen
eral that we are deluded into believing
thev are inevitable.”
&
Miss Maude Adams gets $2,000 by a bill
which has just passed congress and gone
to the court of claims. During the civil
war Miss Adams’ grandfather, who lived
in Tiffin, Ohio, shipped horses and mules
to the northern army-. These fell into the
hands of the confederates. The heirs put
in a claim to wcevor the loss.
Kentucky Girl Is Fiddling; Her
Father Into Congress
A FEW weeks ago
Oongr -e s s m a n
Charles K. Wheeler,
of Paducah,occupied
a large space in ti\,
public eye of the
nation. At present
it is a townswoman
of Mr. Wheeler—the
daughter of a man
who wants to suc
ceed him in congress
—who stands where
the political lime
light burns bright
est. Her name is
Lotta Greenup, and
she has become, of
a sudden, the cen
tral figure in thi-
most unique politi
cal campaign the
south has seen since
the days of Bob
Taylor’s fi d d 1 ing
tour of Tennessee.
She is trying to lift
her father into con
gress on the tip of
her violin bow,and a
great many well-in
formed folks here
about think she is
g$-ng to succeed.
Miss Lotta Green
up is as modest a
little maiden aslives
in Kentucky. Her
father, George W.
Greenup, wants to
go to congress. One
.lay last week he hit
on the idea of tak
ing his daughter
with him to one of
his speaking ap
pointments. T h e
young lady is an ac
complished violinist,
ai\i Mr. Greenup,
who is green in pol
itics, hut ripe in horse sense .and knowled ge of human nature, figured that the
sight of a pretty girl playing a violin would be sure to draw people who would stay
to hear him speak. Besides he didn’t kn ow as many of .the voters in the district
as his opponent did. lie wanted t > get ac quaint- d. He succeeded. Mr. Greenup is
seeing the crowds he hoped to sec and hi s daughter has fiddled her way to fame.
The stumping tour is the most talked of thing in the counties composing the dis
trict. and Miss Greenup has suddenly become a popular idol among tlie sturdy
farmers of this section. Meanwhile, her f other is harvesting substantial results.
IRWIN S. COBB.
Women and the Home
With the Household
ITY it is that the gorgeous a baby in the nurse’s arms, completed
picture described by Rom- j the household. After greeting my future
ulus of our receiving Oom | rupih
Paul in the white house
at the nation's capital was
only a mirage of his fer
tile brain. 1 think every
one of us would accord a
warm welcome to the
grand old chief of the little
republic which is making
and bestowing a compassionate
glance upon the baby, fretful and deli-
j cate and none too kindly treated by the
| impatient young nurse, 1 went up to my
| room. This was a small chamber directly
j over Mrs. Clark s—the steps leading up
1 from her room.
| “I thought you’d nit he afraid near
| me,” said my kind hostess as I sur-
! veyed the neat little apartment with sat-
the world wonder at its i istaclion.
The next dn
desperate struggle for self
against o(f
being Saturday, I spent
stemmed American Beauty roses with lh(
exception of Queen Mab, who carried
a wreath of laurel?
Stately men in brilliant uniforms, dip -
mats and foreign envoys decorated with
glittering stars and orders, lined tho
room on either side. All eyes were turned
to the door. “They are exacting some
great personage—perhaps Prince Henry.”
was my thought. But, at this moment,
the expected guest entered, and I savr no
royal insignia, only a grave, pale old
man in plain citizens’ dress. But t:
dignity of grief and high purpose v, s
little hoard of treasures. Cindy, the
tin- United - nurse, brought the baby up to see me
government
whelming numbers.
Prince Henry’s late visit t
States was not made to us. The south i ust as 1 ' vas removing the paper cover-
was not in it—soil or Heart; but if Kru- j ln ° from my last blue and gold volume
ger should come to our shores as came j of Tennyson.
Kossuth—the exiled champion of Hun- ! ” Y <>u ain’t skeery, is you?”
gurian freedom—just fifty years ago.
the morning unpacking and arranging my | on his brow, and I knew in an instant
that this was Oom Paul—the grand . d
president of the South African republic—
Why. no: what is there to fear?”
“Didn't hear no cu’ious noises last
night?" rolling up the whites of her
eyes and evidently expecting an affirma
tive.
“No. 1 fell asleep at once and heard
me this morn-
invitation of congress and in a United
States vessel of war, the south would
feel the touch that makes us all akin,
and welcome the sad old chief with hos
pitable warmth.
But we are a world-power now. We j nothing till you called
wage wars of conquest and affiliate with
empires. We do not put ourselves out
of the way to encourage struggling re
publics. The little South African state
must work out its own destiny, it will
fail, of course. It cannot hold out
"Have you been in dar?” pointing to
a closed door opposite the fireplace.
With an involuntary shudder I looked
round. “Of course not.” I sa(W. wonder
ing what revelation would follow, for
against such odds, but failure is not the 1 Uinely seemed in a communicative mood.
hard-
Miss Lotta. Greenup
CHILD who lias once tasted
th s sweets that flow from
making tilings pre'ty and
useful with his or her own
? bauds will never more fall
into habits of pure idleness.
Parents should have an
an eye to this in the pur
chase of toys and the en
tire make up of the chil
dren’s play room. Some
toys capitally illustrate
scientific purposes.What an
education is there, for in
stance, in the possession of a printing
press, bracket saws, or good tool chest,
and, for girls, a well-furnished work
box.
Dolls should never be given up and
the present tendency of little girls to dis
card them at a very early agt should he
gently but firmly checked. By sewing
for their doll babies, girls acquire a d -x-
terity in the use of their needles to be
learned in no other way, and by fitting
their doll’s clothes they often become
skilled dressmakers. Notwithstanding the
large part the sewing machine plays in
making garments, we know that fine
handwork retains its place in the mar
ket, and is now very much in demand.
Encourage the older children to’make
frames for the pr tty inexpensive pictures
that should plentifully adorn their play
room. A hoy may make a neat frame
out of pine wood, and his sister may help
him gild or oil it. Rustic frames made of
acorns, mosses or shells glued upon a
foundation of pasteboard are beautiful if
tastefully arranged. Th ■ collecting of
requisite materials for these is a further
inducement to their manufacture. We
should welcome every call that takes us
into the woods, for rambling through
them is a delightful way to lay up a
good stock of health and strength.
A Simply Made Doll House
A doll house that afforded constant en
tertainment for the little girls of a house
hold, was nothing more than a large box
laid on its side and partitioned off into
rooms Tt was papered inside and out
side. had windows Inserted by cutting a
rectangular hole and fastening in the
glass by means of tacks, strips of paper
and paste. A curtain hung down in front
—portiere fashion—when the children left
off playing and was easily disposed of
when they were ready to lift it and dis
close their doll house treasures to any
little friend who came to visit them.
To contrive furniture for this doll
house is stimulating to the girls and her
brother’s Inventive powers, and such fur
niture is more prized by th un than that
purchased at a shop. Children cannot
too early he thrown on their own re
sources. and encouraged to construct lit
tle articles hv means of simple tools.
MARY STUART SMITH.
Charlottesville, Va.
Spring Cleaning
March Is usually the month selected
for the muoh-dreaded|. yet most neces
sary. spring cleaning. Mops, scrubbing
brushes and whitewash pails are pot beau
tiful objects to contemplate, nor is mad-
ame in a mop cap and a cover-all apron a
fascinating personality, hut the end in
this case justifies the means and the end
is health, comfort, economy and beauty.
Mrs. Mary Stuart Smith, whose book,
“The Art of Housekeeping,” is a recog
nized authority in such matters, says:
AA’hitewashed walls, which are prefer
able to papered ones because of their
superior healthfulness and cheapness of
renewal, sfiould receive a fresh coat of
wash or he newly kalsomined. If walls
are papered, wipe off the entire surface
with a soft, dry cloth. You will be
amazed to see the amount of dirt that
it removes, hitherto imperceptible to the
eye.
Wash windows with Sapolio and after
warm water in which washing soda has
been dissolved; rinse with clean w#’in
water and wipe dry with clean cloths.
Wash windows with Sapolia and after
wiping dry polish with newspapers. Re
place winter curtains with madras or
with transparent white ones.
Previous to this heavy winter rugs and
carpets should he taken up. well beaten,
lightly sprinkled with spirits of turpen
tine, tightly rolled' up and put in closets,
the pr dty, cool India straw matting tak
ing their place, unless the floor is oiled or
stained, when light rugs only will be
needed: Where carpets must be' replaced,
they should bp well beaten, then brushed
and wiped off on the right side with
warm water and soap, to which if a lit
tle ox gall from the butcher's be added,
or some saltpeter, the colors will ho much
brightened.
Every bedstead should he taken apart,
dusted thoroughly, then washed well with
strong carbolic soap suds, using an old
tooth brush for the seams and springs,
wiped dry and annolnted either with
quicksilver beaten up with white of an
egg. or with a mixture of turpentine and
benzine, or simply with Persian insect
powder, using a feather or very small
brush for tlio seams and close places.
Household Letters
some New. Good Novels for Girls
When a girl's mind is developing she
is peculiarly susceptible to impressions.
A wrong one made at this time will im
print itself deeply into the mental con
sciousness and remain there through life.
It is fcolish to imagine that a healthy,
natural girl will turn exclusively to pro
saic works. If she did this, it would
mold her mind in a one-sided fashion,
most undesirable. But all novels are
by no means warping to the morals or
trashy, and a waste of time to read.
There are plenty of delightful works of
fiction that are wholesome and uplifting
In their influence. As a recent instance,
there is “Mrs. AViggs of tlie Cabbage
Patch." by Alice Hegan. No one could
fail to love the happy-hearted, unselfish
heroine and all her little Wiggses. No
one could help being bettered by this
study of a cheerful, appreciative spirit,
looking on the gray mists op life witN a
sunny glance that paints a rainbow upon
them. This story is helpful and uplifting,
besides being most entertaining, having
humor and pathos cleverly blended.
Th°n there is Shan Bullock’s “Irish
Pastorals,” stories that paint the mo-
j notonous lives of the poor class of Ire-
I land in soft, yet strong, colors. From be-
| ginning to .ml Mr. Bullock makes friends
: for his characters and endears himself
to every thoughtful, clean-hearted reader.
Another good recent novel for girls is
! “The Making of a Marchioness,” by Mrs.
j Burnett, which depicts vanity and self
ishness as so unlovable that a reader
would surely wish to eradicate such ten
dencies in herself.
Too much reading is more injurious than
too little. One impression crowding on
another is like a windy war of blossom
ing peach branches. In the end the
blooms are scattered and the result is
but little fruit.
To properly expand the mind, exercise
and rest should alternate. Reading
should he followed by quiet reflection on
what has been read. This impresses it
on the memory with all its lessons of life
or its expression of facts.
Girls of themselves cannot he expected
to choose their hooks wisely or to em
ploy the best methods in reading. It is
the mother's part to guide and advise
them in this matter just as much as it
was her part to teach the child to take
its first steps and to say its infant prayer.
Many mothers fail to pay attention to
the mental food on which their daughters
are nourished, partly through indiffer
ence, hut chiefly because they are too
much burdened with household duties or
social obligations.
But no duty should he paramount to
that of fashioning and directing the minds
of young daughters, fitting them to lead
useful lives and to be the mothers of
noble men and women. L. B. W.
Atlanta, Ga.
Dr. Lvman Abbot was the chief figure
at a dinner given in his honor the other
r.ight by the publishers of The Outlook,
which he edits. There were present Dr.
Edward Evarett Hale (Unitarian), Bishop
Potter (Episcopalian). Father Doyle
(Catholic) and Dr. Lorimer (Baptist).
measure of merit, thank heaven
fought failure is a noble thing.”
AVe women at least, who always sym
pathize with the under dog. will feel our
hearts go out. to the gallant Boers wlv-n
their flag is furled above a "lost cause.”
Yet there is call for sympathy on the
other side. So many of England's host
and travest have fallen—officers far out
numbering private soldiers in proportion,
since the Britisli blue blood hold
nrdly to shun exposure, and always leads
in a tight. “England expects every man
to do his duty” is their simple, pathetic
faith. So it is that many bereaved moth
ers of the Vere do Veres are weeping
with the Bridgets and Marys of the peas
ant class.
War is a dreadful thing. Women, all
the world over, should pray unitedly for
the day to home when—
"Well.
now an exile from his country.
A stringed band, hid among flowering
plants, began to play "Hail to the Chic!'”
and President Roosevelt stepped forward
and gave the Boer chief a hearty hand
shake, and Mrs. Roosevelt, smiling sw■>
ly, extended her hand. Then, with looks
of radiant welcome, our Household <\tie i
and her friends came forward; our Mab,
holding out the laurel wreath, placed it
on the rugged brow of the old hero, ail
the fair Household ladies flung their
roses at his feet.
All at once the band struck up "Dixie,”,
and I saw President Roosevelt turn a
startled look on Secretary Hay. who
frowned a little, but the president smiled
the next instant, remembering his south-
better not look in dar. Dark • ern descent and his Georgia mother.
I as midnight in dar at 12 o'clock in de
| daytime; de ain’t no window to dat room
i an' dais de only door right dar. Aunt
Emily say dey is ghostes in dar. You
j see. missis' two daughters. Miss Lucy
; ' n ‘i Miss Sr liie, bofe died when dev v. is
\ oung ladies, an' right in dar. Missis
put all dey close dey used to wear, dey
1 white ball dresses all of satin an’ lace,
w- 1 an dey leetle white slippers. Aunt Em
ily say you c’n hear ’em dancin’ in dar
mos any night, an' de tap,, tap of dent
leetle high heel slippers jes lak dey use
to dance. Den dar was young Mars Will! Roddey, Julia Finch
an Mars George bofe went to de war. an’ 1 Mura Dunn—pshaw!—
hoff
Gloriously rose the inspiring strains of
“Dixie” and Oom Paul’s grim mouth re
laxed into a smile. Then I seemed to
rise and begin to float away from tho
scene, despite my efforts to remain. T ■
music grew fainter, the lovely faces
shone like far stars through a mist, hut
ad the Householders seemed to be ho . -
ing in stately minuet fashion before < tom
Paul. I could see our Mab. Carrie Ma
honey and Josephine Davidson, Minnio
Lee Arnold. Fineta, Margaret Richard,
Nannette, Honor Bright, Maearia. T--- i
Marie Henson,
I cannot begin evert
; is dey uniforms full of bullet holes, wid
j blo..d stil on ’em an' dey swords
hangin by dey sides. Aunt Emily say
! mos’ any night you c’n hear deni sol-
! diers marching an’ dey swords er clang-
“The drum shall throb no longer, and j ing jes lak dey use to when dey march
the battle flag be furled j off to de war. Lordy," and Cindy cast
In thi- parliament of man, the federation j such an apprehensive look around I
of the world." | Lah wa V expected to see tlie shadowy
| troop march forth from that phantom-
Wc have a varied entertainment today, haunted room.
Fineta’s gh( st story lias such a happy | “An’ you see dis
e got killed at Shiloh, an' right in dar i to name them all. There are—how m
are there, dear mater?
ending that we forgive the malicious
ghost. If the Household had known of
Margaret Rb hard's birthday many good
wishes and 'ittle tokens would have been
sent. Margaret is right. We should not
quarrel with the years or dread to see
their milestones. If we use them wisely,
they will be friends, giving us more than
they take away. Some one says:
“She had made
The best of Time; and Time returned
The compliment, and treated her gen
teelly.”
Tessa Roddey takes the womanly and
conservative view about society and clubs.
Next week we have a letter from a
noted club woman showing how much
such organizations have done for women.
“Some Good Novels for Girls" is a time
ly letter from one who is a k 'only discern
ing reader. By the way. Mrs. Burnett
has published a sequel to “Tne Making of
a Marchioness,” in which the heroine is
said to he a “sweet and noble woman.”
J am glad to hear It. 1 do not admire
all df Mrs. Burnett's work. Her first
book—“That Lass o'f Lourie’s"—strong
and simple—was. to me, her best. The
“Lady of Quality" was neither good nor
pleasant reading.
Margaret Richard says the only fault
she finds with the Household is there is
not enough short poems. There are—or
should be—three this time, Dolores’
“Two Cities,” that ought to have fol
lowed Samoth’s letter, “A Monument of
GemS,” by Mrs. Pine, and “Burning Okl
Letters,” suggested by Tessa’s advice.
MAB.
♦
Clubs and Society Vs. the Home
We all rejoice to see the south forging
so rapidly to the front in wealth, poli
ties, literature and education. But while
we are proud of her progress in these
things, we would bog of southern women
to keep an eye on the home and see
that its anchor is not loosened by this
swift moving tide.
The women of today are factors in
civilization. They move with the current
of progress. They have many interests
outside their homes, and these interests
are generally of a kind either to aid self
development or to benefit others. But
the duty to home and children is para
mount.
Many mothers leave their children too
much to tlie care of servants, who are
sometimes too young to have such a
charge intrusted to them, and sometimes
they are old in wickedness, coarse
grained. often immoral, utterly unfit to
put the stamp of their personality on
the tender, waxlike mind of the child.
Usually these mothers are fond of their
children; they really desire to care for
them rightly, but the world has so many
claims on their attention that some
thing must be neglected. While they pay
calls, attend club meetings and church,
and charity societies, and entertain
guests, the children suffer because of un
desirable association, and their eager,
young minds absorb unwholesome food.
T do not condemn society; it is the
cement, of civilization. I do not find fault
with clubs: they are the timekeepers of
woman’s progress, but I would not have
these interfere materially with the far
more important business of home-keep
ing and training children.
You will find, too, that in the club the
most influential member is she who best
fulfills her duties to the home and who
is most conscientious in her relation as
wife, mother, daughter or sister. Butter
flies have no weight in organized work
anti the inefficient home-keeper is usually
the fifth wheel In the club.
TESSA W RODDEY.
The Ghost of the Dark Room
She
Since our good “Queen Mab" hopes that
“Detective's” ghost story will elicit oth
ers, 1 relate this just as to41 me.
A poor little orphan dependent upon my
own efforts for support, I obtained a po
sition as teacher in a strange country
neighborhood. Driving up to m.v hoarding I found myself transported to a "spacious*
house, I was not at all prepossessed \v | h brilliantly lighted room, where the shim
mer of lightsingcLq.-h.o’S shrdlu iinn n
,'hile. Now, whar's
its mar?”
“Dead. I suppose.”
“What, dis here chile. Why, its mar
ain t a bit more dead ’n you is. She's
in de ’sylum. 'Fore she got so had dey
use to shet her up in dar. Aunt Emily
say she know Miss Jane seed de ghostes
what made her scream lak dat. an'
:ay mos’ any night you c'n hear her
srreamln’ in dar yet. ’Pear lak Mars
Bob wouldn t keep his wife in dar, but
i ig r ht in dar is where she staid till she
got so bad dey sent her off. Lordy. I'd
she be skeery if I se close to dat room
as you is of nights. But I must he goin’,
now. Jes come up to tell ;fiu missis !s
havin’ de kerridge rubbed up. say she
gwine to take you to church tomorrow.
Next Saturday you have to go to a dinin’
at Colonel Bland’s. Dey sho is quality
folks. Aunt Emily say you is quality,
too. Aunt Emily can tell quality folks
des de qjlnute she lays eyes on ’em. Sho
is a good thing you ain’t skeery."
At ith my new duties in the school room,
time passed too rapidly to permit of any
indulgence in I 'indy's “skeeriness ” At
times, though, t recalled her vivid recital
with a creepy feeling as the clock chimed
the midnight hour, and I rose to put the
morrow s well studied lessons aside. I
avoided, too. passing any nearer that door
than necessary. However, if the ghosts
danced or marched “in dar.” they did so
very silently.
1 bad few companions, and gladly wel
comed the acquaintance of Miss Mason,
a frequent visitor at The Cedars, but
was somewhat chagrined to learn that
our friendship was barred by her jeal
ousy. Cindy confided one day.
"Miss Mason been spectin’ to marry
Mars Montrose ever since ’fore he come
back from college.”
lo me. Mr. Clark was ever kind and
courteous, but as for Cupid, he was at
tlie north pole. Miss Mason repelled my
proffered friendship with perceptible cold
ness and 1 had to be content with my
books and pupils. As the vacation drew
near, I really began to regret having to
leave them. Just the week before school
closed Miss Mason came to spend the
night with .Airs. Clark. Wishing to read
a new volume of “Festus," I went to mv
room early. Soon becoming absorbed I
roused l>v the clock strikin**’ *i*>
There was a solemn hush over all the
house. Suddenly, l was sure I heard a
noise In the haunted room. \A r hirling
round, I saw the door wide open and
the room alight with a dim phosphores
cent; glow. From out the shadows there
advanced upon me a tall, black robed
figure with outstretched arms.
One piercing scream, and i knew no
more. \\ hen i recovered consciousness
it was to find Mr. Clark’s arms proteet-
ingiy around me. My brow and cheek
covered with his kisses. I heard him sav
ing m cola, stern tones:
“Miss Mason, you were cruel, cruel to
frighten her so. What if you had killed
her?”
"Pooh, who knew she was such a cow
ard?" was the only reply he received
I never saw Miss Mason again. When
1 opened my eyes she was gone. Bent
upon me was the intent gaze of Mr
Cia rk.
"1 have loved you a long time, Claire ”
lie said, as I struggled to free myself •’!
was only waiting till you returned home
to tell you ”
In our sunny home there is no haunted
chamber, no “cu’ious noises,” only the
sweet singing of birds from year to year,
and I have never yet had cause to regret
having been frightened by one ghost
FINETA.
♦-
The Household Receives a Distinguish-
ed Personage In “No Man’s Land” '
Good morning, dear Queen Mah and
fair ladies of the Household court! My!
how lovely you al! looked at the recep
tion last night! AA’hat reception? Ah,
pardon me. T forgot—it was only an illu
sion. But it was gorgeous! Permit me to
tell you about it.
I sat in my easy chair beside a cosy
little fire at nightfall, listening dreamily
to the rain pattering against the pane,
when all at once objects began to swim
mistily before my eyes, and, presto! I
my new home. The house amid its un
canny surroundings—an old-fashioned
ante-bellum residence half concealed by
cedars and live oaks—was as gloomy look
ing as the haunted house of Usher. En
tering by the back way. for the front
doors were seldom opened, I was glad to
find the interior more pleasing.
Mrs. Clark, a kind old lady, very small
and stoop-shouUltred. met me. There
was an air of unmistakable refinement
about her, but her face was pale and
her blue eyes dim with suffering. I was
introduced to Mr. Montrose Clark, thi
youngest and only unmarried son, polite
and courteous; but apparently wholly ab
sorbed in solicitude'for his mother. A
group of Mrs. Clark's grandchildren, one tulle, each carrying a cluster of long-
mer of silks and the flash of jewels and
bright eyes so dazzled me that it was
some time before I realized that this was
the famous blue room in the white house
in AVashington city, and that the strong
faced man and the graceful lady by him
standing at the upper end of the room
were President and Mrs. Roosevelt.
But who was the dark-eyed lady at
Mrs. Roosevelt’s left hand, the lady in
flowing white silk with a coronet of
pearls on her broad brow. and who
were the beautiful ladies grouped about
her? A\ r ho but our Household queen
and her court ladies, the matrons In
rich evening silks and the girls in white
Che benedicts and baoh*-lnr« of th oir-
were there—dignified Lolen Bryan,h
gene Edwards. Samoth. Detective. . l
Man, L. L. A*, and merry little 18
Heartsill, the jester of th.- Househol
court.
It was a fine scene, hut it soon reect d
from view and there was my litt!•: room
hack again, the fire burning low and mt
a living thing in sight hut the cat
Maybe it was “nil a dream.” but if i
reception never was, I shall alwa s tl
it ought to have been.
“Old Maid,” your letter was splendid.
Have you forgotten Romulus? Nan
nette. T enjoyed" going with you in f
on that trip to Buffalo, via com- hel.o
Gotham and grand Niagara. Mary T<
pleton, 1 sympathized with j
experiences. Fineta. Margaret Ri< h
Honor Bright. Tessa Roddc . j
Finch. Zula Cook—I enjoyed vo r
very much. Indeed, all the" Housi 1 :
writers are bright and entertaining. r
would like to see a letter from Mrs
N. Harben, of Dalton, w
pressive of true woman!'- sweetness.
With love to all. I am the old Pmfl
friend of the Household,
ROMULUS.
Celebrating a Birthday
Dear “Mab” and Household Friends: rt
has recently' been my pleasure to v
brate a. birthday—which one I shall i t
say—one so kindlv and generous 1 y
membered by those wfin love me he.st
that my heart is all athriil with gladn.
and gratitude. One who knows my Invo
of flowers and who is herself devoted ro
them gave me a jar of white hyacinths
in bloom that filled my room for more
than a week with their sweet fragr.in
Then they were gathered, a few at the
time, and sent into other homes to carry
to other hearts their message of cheer.
My breakfast was brought to my bedsid->
on a new. shining waiter, the gift , ?
one who is absent, but not forgetful.
Two hooks and a year’s subscription to
a magazine were among my cherish, d
remembrances, all of which created in
me a wish to he worthy of such kindness.
Having enjoyed so much this birthday,
and remembering so many happy ones in
the past, it was with pity for future
generations, if the prophecy should come
true that I read in a recent issue of The
Sunny South, this sentence quoted from
the pen of some disciple of the nor
th,night philosophy: "The tim- will c me
when children will not b<» allowed t ,
celebrate their birthdays; when they . ”
know that by thinking themselv- .
they will remain young, and that th
will cease to grow old when thee
to believe in old age."
I believe it is true that the hi ar; n< d
never grow old; that by I >oking •
future ever with hope and faith, and
holding to ideals as high and tr is
those cherished in youth, the n an of - ’
may he as young in spirit as th> lad f
20. He may say of himself,
young man has said: “1 am not 80 y. =
old, hut 80 years young.' The man \
has it in him to experience this p -rpetu !
heart-youth, if such it may he
not afraid of the milestones of his life.
He is certainly not among tho- wh i
would not allow their children to cell
brate their birthdays for fear it von 1
remind them that they ar, gr wing
This perennial youth that h-- onovs. e ;
that every man may enjoy who wi’I, w a
not brought about by his having >st
sight of his birthdays, hut b\ his Iru
felt that they •are sign posts on tho
path that leads to happi] ess
from it. For, after all, we are old only
when we feel we have left all gladness
behind us, no matter how few m Ik .v
many birthdays we have known and cele
brated.
AA’e should not forget that , very ago
has its joys; that just as surely as w
leave some behind us we go forward
to meet others. This is. 1 think, the mis
take that ages the hearts of men and
women more than all else. They cling to
the shadow of something that was ,
source of joy in the past and fail to
see the hands that beckon to brighter,
fairer pathways.
As a child I loved my dolls. AVh- n
ether children expressed the wish to in-
grown and to wear long dresses and
do up their hair, 1 shook my head. There
was nothing, it seemed, that could t ike
the place of my beloved dolls. A’et they
could not satisfy always; and the day
came when T thought it not treason to
lay them aside, and when oth' r things
brought even more happiness than they
had brought.
Childhood has -ts sorrows as well as
its joys—sorrows very real to the heart
of the child—though some speak of child
hood as a season of unalloyed pleasur .
Just as I enjoyed things then that would
not give pleasure now. so T suffered things
that would not grieve me today So it
is with us all, and so it Is with every
age of life. And thus the passing from
one milestone of life to another does not
seem to me a step from youth to old
age. nor from joy to sorrv-;o. but a step
from joy to joy. and from sorrow to sor
row. Both belong to our past, find !> ■ fi
may be expected to belong to our fu
ture.
And as for the celebration of birthdays
—it neither makes us old nor keeps us
young. But it gives us opportunity for
expressing our love for one another in
appropriate greetings anil 'fkens, and
strews the pathway of life with sweet
and oleasant memories.
I for one hope the day will never come
“when children will not he allowed to
c«l«brate their birthdays.”
MARGARET A. RICHA\’D.
Columbia. S. C.