Abergavenny Chronicle

TALKS ON HEALTH. By A FAMILY DOCTOR. FAITH CURES. U'L1 confusion of thought still persista on the s'LLbject of faith curea. H a Ntan has a sharp bit of grit in his eye it is not much good trying' absent treatment ot prayer or suggestion or Christian Science. You can tell a man who is tormented with an innamed eye that it is all his imagina. tion. smd if onlv he would read the Bible he would be quickly restored to health, only my advice to you is to get out of his way before he has time to kick you. The weak point in a'l methods of cure unrecognised by the medical profession is that the so- j-illed heater does not know whether he M dealing with an imaginary ill or a physical complaint. He offers to cure everybody, and he adopts the same method whether the patient has cancer of the stomach or an imaginary colly-wobblee of the inside. The hea-Ier u not dishonest enough to offer to re- store an arm that has been amputated, bu< he is quite equal to onering to cure a case of disease where the central nervous system has been jimt as effectually destroyed as ihe .unputa.ted arm. The cruelty and the wicked- ness of the healer are apparent w here a patient had gall-etones which could be lifted out by a skilled surgeon and thrown in the du.stbin, while they are kent in the body to c.tuse pain and mffpring all the time the "treatment" is going on. -:0:- "ALL IMAGINATION." I The people who are cured by faith are often rather cranky. A man may walk into a healer's room and say, "Ob, I have got such a ghastly headache,' and the healer replies. Oh, no you haven't; it's all imag- ination-' The man sayci. "You are quite rig-ht, my headache has gone. I am quite cured, good morning." Well, that man can- not have much initiative or will-power. He will get some other cranky complaint soon after. We have to make up our minds that it is a tunny world and that there arc some funny peonie in it. Always listen t* a crank's story of how he was completely cured of paiu in the back by absent prayer; it is interesting as a human document, and givef you an insight into the character of the individual you are dealing with; but do not place too much credence in his story nor agree with him when he calls his cure stupendous and miraculous. ——————.0 :—————— t THE ME;T:L SIDE. I We meet with men whoeo condition M a combmation of physical, disease and mental depression. A man may auS'er from cancer of the liver and melancholy. Hg sits at home with his head against the wall and groans out, "Oh, what a shocking thing it is to have cancer." That in his daily occupation. Along comes a Christian Scientist and smacks him on the back and tells him there ta nothing the matter with him, he ought to f ped big days in useful employment; he ought to try and forget hM own ills in try- ing to make others happy; he must not fill the world with his own ego The world is beautify; the spring is 'here. Come and have a at the theatre: read good book.s. cig anything rather than groan with your head against the wall; it only make. a casty. greasy spot on the wall-paper. And so the Christian Scientist helps the man to dMiriss melancholy. A!! honour to him for it. If no one elt?e has the aense to do it we must c3,H in a. but anyone with a brain would do the came thing. Well, people say. "Look at that. now; la4it week Mr. Blank W'J.S sitting with hl-; he,.d againot the wall. and now, since he became a Christian Scientist he has cone about doin? all sorts of kind things." The man's I!fp ha, been im- proved by removal of the mental side of the complaint, but, of course, he dies of his cancer at the end of a few months. A. REMEDY FOR "NERVES." Ons great remedy for nervea*" would 00 atLallround increase in emciency. We all ought to do our work better and the world would soon be full of smiles. Poor father M exarated because mother's cooking is too T.vfu!. Mcther M driven crazy because the "moter's .help" she has engaged has about m much br<un as a rabbit. Poor Percy !s annoyed beyond a)! endurance; he wa.nt€<t to look his !)(.'tit when he was taking Gertie out, and the washer-woman has qpent his linen home in a disgraceful condition. The taxicab drivers goo cut of their way to insult everybody, and if a taxi is needed in a hurry in a cas.e of iHness they take a special delight ,n trouble. A SELF-IMPOSED BURDEN. I We are losing our better feelings; the idea of willing and cheerful service is eva- porating, and the consequence is I am called in to see both Mr. and Mrs. Brown and all the little Browns, who are eunering from ja,(ied nerves. This burd"l of grumpmess is aetf-impcsed. We ought to make an effort and throw it off. The worst expression I :know is, "I can't help your troubles." In future you wiM p!ea..e .ay. "What can. I do to help your troubles? And then we shall blave moTe smiling faces and fewer doctors' bills. Long ago you promised to keep me in tea and tobacco if evor I had to go in the workhouse. But I warn you, I must ha.ve everybody's work dom better. Please everybody and you will find yourself pleased. SORES ON THE SCADP. I If ever the scalp gets infecbed with soree, } the hair should be en t gl:rt. It will soon I grow again. Litt'e girls look quite nice with short hair, ..nd it will grow stronger after it has been cut. You must not try to keep long. ma.tted'hair deem; it is very dif. jicult. if net hopeles?. The discharge from the sores tanglea the hair and allows the germs to grow. No sooner is one sore healed than another appears. The only thium is a good shampoo night and mornicg. Soap and water ia a better remedy than any applica- tion. If you put any ointment on, you must wash the old ointment off every morning before you put the fresh ointment on. ? ? V, 0 N M ITI I 0 ?! 1L1'i 1 0 ?< 0 The child's na-ils should be out short; otherwise she will scratch the &ore8 during slæp and then scratch her arm and start a sore on the arm. If thick scabs form they must nrst be soaked in hot water and then removed with the Made of a pair of scis. aoT-a It is useless to put ointment on the scabs; the -seat of the h-ir.-n i" under the eca-bs. Great care mu.t bo taken with any linen that comes in contact w.th the sore places. A dirty pillow-rove: may re-mfect a healed sore, or it may infect a second child Towels, caps, hats, I and bonnets must al! oe caref.iHy watched ? The c?S s should be I?'? with a piece of ?a??blinen. No cMM.h? ou? ever bea? -1 -was h a b l-o linen. 10wed to wear another childs hat at school or even to put it <? ? t-?. ?? ? want oar clean child?n .infected with the dirty cape of children whose mothers are not sc careful as ours. I

Fifteen terrorists have been. condemned to :eath. at Budapest. American Labour leaders have repudiated tad condemned B,)ihevi,iT-n. Lord AUenbv and the Milner Commission ;pent half-an-hour with the Sait.u of F- y p t L C C tram faræ are not to be increased without further ccn.ideratMn. To rai? allowances cf pre-war pensionen to the po?t-war ?cale T.-ould c.o?t ?,1?,000 far the nrst year. Lendon h 1?6 ital- are honing 2.892 f. ever tHid 1,711 diphtheria, patients. Milk M unobtainable in PetroST&d. M Monier, a former French Premier, whoøe redone with Bolo Pasha led to his ..ppearaJlce befcre a Court of luq uiry. is d<:ad.

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER. I I MR. BUNNY'S BRIGHT IDEA. I The snow lav white upon the ground, The sun sunk down in flames of red, And all the httie wood-folks sig'hed— "It's very cold to-night," they said. But c'ever Bunny made a Sre. The wood-iolks came from every side And clustered round to warm their toea. "This ia a good idea! they cried. PEGGY S CHRISTMAS PARTY, Peggy wa<g going to a party, and Nursa was dressing her in a new muslin frock, and white shoes and stockings, and her best petticoat with lace round the bottom. But although she loved parties, Peggy was not quite happy, for Elizabeth. Tier ltttle sister, nad a bad cold and was not able to go. Poor Elizabeth cried dreadfully when. she heard she could not go, and Peggy felt quite mL<erab)e at the thought of leaving her all a!on)C. However. Nurse said Elizabeth would soon cMeer up after Peggy had gone. So Peggy started off with Jane. the housemaid, hoping that Elizabeth would soon leave oB crying. It was a beautiful party. There was a conjurer, and a magic tautern, and crackers, and iced cakes, and bisects with pink sugar on them for t&a, besides all sorts of other nice things And after tea they had danc. ing, and played at hide-and-seek, and blind- man's-buS. and hutit-the-sipper, and kLss- in-the-ring: and then, just before the party .i n'shed, there was a wonderful Christmas tree. with Father Christmas him&eH stand ing beside it Everybody had a present, and Peggy had a. lovely doll with real hair, that opeued and shut it<5 eyes. If it had not been for poor Elizabeth, Peggy thought she would never have en- joyed a party so much before. Eliza.beth when Peggy got home; but the next morning Peggy hurried to get dressed, for she had thought of a plan to make up to Elizabeth for missing the party. When she was ready she took the doll and ran off to the nursery. Then she nid behind a screen and waited for Elizabeth. Soon Ehza'betSi came in. "Peggy, Peggy, where are you?" she cried. Peggy did not gay anything, hut she he)d the doli round the screen so that Eliza- beth couid see it. "Oh! Oh! what a tovely doll! cried Eliza.betth "It's for you, Elizabeth dear," said Peggy, coming round from behind the screen. .Eliza.beth gave a scream of delight, and her face shone with happiness And all that dav she was perfectly happy. She dressed and undres&ed the doll. bathed it; combed its h.a'ir: pretended that it war, ill and put it to bed, got it up again and took it for a walk roujid the nursery ta.bte; gave it a doU's tea party, and even took it to bed wit-h her when she went to sleep that nIght. "I like having dolls better than gOing to parties," she gaid as she cuddled down witfh the doll in Ler arms. So then Peggy felt quite pleased and com- fortable agajn. HOW THE THIEF WAS PCNISHED. Th,s Mouse was eating up All Flarmer Jones's corn, When by a htt]e 'Browme came And čal.gbt him. one fine morn. "Hallo I" cried h€. "This will not do—— He pu!Ied with all hm mIg-ht; And :\lou,;je had a. nasty falt, Which really served hun nght! ARCHIE AND THE AURORA. I It v-a.9 when Archie and Gertie were Bpending- their C)hnstma-) holidaY-ii wibh tncir grandipa:cllb. that Archie got the splendid idea of going to iind the Aurora Borealis. Now, as everybody knows, the Aurora Borealis is a gica.t and dancing light that na-mes along tee northern nights in winter, a.nd is very wonderful and strange to see. Archie hc.d read all about it in a book 'his Uncle Charles had given him. called Na- ture for the Young." So one afternoon, without saying anything to anybody, Archie and Gertie sllpped out of the house by the side door in order to go and find tba Aurora. As it would take a good time to get there, Archie took some provisions with him. All explorers did that, because food! was not easy to find as you went farther north. He hnd a .stick of chocolate, a banana, and a leather .bootlace. The Book of Nature s-ajd that the Esquimaux often ate raw hides when they had nothing eke to e-at. That w;> why Arc hie was sure that the bcotlace would come in handy Later on. Gertie did not carry food. but she carried an umbrella "L.4,qtead- Archie did his best to make her leave it behind, because, he said, explorers never carried umbrellas: but Gertie wa-< (Jb-.jnàtc. They took Toby the d'o- with them, because explorers always had do-, They crept through the shrubberies and out into the fields beyond. Archie knew) that wa-s the direction in whidh to go be- cause of the vane on the top of the stables. On the other gide of the nelds they came to a lane. They went along this for some time. and then it twisted to the right and seemed to stop going north. So Archie took to the com'mon, which stretched away and away northwards, and seamed to have no end. The ground had a light covering of enow when they started, and as soon as they were I well out' upon the common the snow began to fn.11 again Archie said they must be 'getting near the polar regions now, because of the cold. and that soon they would see the Aurora, shining in the north; but though they went on and on, there was no sign of any light, and it grew darker as the after- noon passed by. And the snow came down thicker and thicker. Soon even Archie ihad to confess tba.t li-e had lost his way. He was feeling rather frightened, though be wouldn't let Gertie know it for worlds. And they were both of them dreadfully sleepy in their legs. To make it worse, Toby ran off, and though they called and called he did not come back. After a time, Archie said they must make a. camp. And then it was that Gertie's urn-. brell'a proved useful; for when it was put up it made .a sort of tent. and the wind built up the snow against it. It seemed to get colder and colder; and the snow' fell faster and faster. Archie thought that very soon they would be quite covered op m it—"Like the Babes in the Wood and the robins' leaves," he said to himself. He was dreadfully afraid, too, that they would fall asleep; an d tha.t, as he knew, waa a fatal thing to do if you were lost in the snow. So he did his very best to keep Ger. tie awake; but it was very hard work for she was beginning to got very sleepy. The later it grew the more frightened they became. Then suddenly some large ajiima.! bounded into sight, and poor Gertio screamed aloud in terror, because she was sure it was a woM. But fortunately it was no wolf, but the faithful Toby. and close behind him were their grandparents and the oardener. Af!ter that Archie never tried to find the Attrora agajn.

Clothe,s-Children-Cookery. I U=i> HOME DRESSMAKING. I I A SIMPLE BUT CHARMING EVENING I FROCK, t I have arranged this week for a sketch of a very smart but simple dance frock; but before beginning to tell vou how the dresa is made, let me describe to you the actual frock from which the sketch was made. It 'may give you some ideas when you begin to ..Ie your own dress The origin:? of the sketch was carried out in pale sunlight- yellow satin beaute, the skirt and over- bodice alone being made of the satin. The under-bodiM, with it" short Magyar beeves. was made of Georgette in a still pa.ler shade of the yeHow, whi)st the tunic. or pannier aides, which give the fashionable suggestion J < iz tj !< b V, cn 4 o Q )J <<j .4 < 9 K ic cD <n y tJ 14 <a a m > -< M dt of width, about the hips, were also made of the Georgette. Under corsage acd tunic sidee, were alike trimmed with love'y shimmering embroi- deries worked in pail- lettes, bead: and tiny artificial jewels -jn tones of pa!e rose, mauve, jade green, and faint blue. inter- mingled with gold and sHver, and w;th various metallic threads. THE MATERIAL. The Hr&t question in making the frock i s that of materiai. This design would look well carried out in sattin, charmeuae, taf. fetas, brocade, crepe d e Chine, eoJienae, crepe meteor, velvet, or Liberty satin, whilst the sleeves. under corsage and tunic sides might be worked out in tulle, Georgette, n i n o n chiffon, lace or net. For design you will need 3 yards of 38in. wide material; 2t yards of 40in.wide materia-1 for the un- derbodice and tunic; and I yard of 36in. wtde stuff for a Imjng bodice. ihig uning, by the way, is nicest made of wide net. THE PATTERN.—There are four pattern pieces in the skirt and bodice part of this pattern, and four in the vest, sieves, and tunic, all of which are quite eaBY to cut. Before cutting out, however, lay the pattern against you, and make any little alterations that may be necessary. It is easier and more satisfactory to do thia 'n. the pattern than in the cut-out garment. Remember that no turnings are allowed for in the pat- tern, therefore you should leave about -in. on all seam edges, and ample material wher- ever a hem has to be turned up. THE CUTTING OuT.—Begin with the frock itself. Fold the material so that the sel- vedges come together, and lay the pattern upon it, as showu in the diagram, arranging that the straight edge-t of the bodice front, skirt back, and skirt front come to the fold of the material. Now fold the tunic material in the same way, and lay the pat- tern pieces upon it, as in the diagram, and arranging that the inner edge of each tunic comes to the fold of the etuS. Then cut out the lining/using the bodice pattern, but cutting out a dart at each side where the dotted lines come. THE MAKING.—Begin with the lining. Joia together the under-arm and shoulder seams, overcast a.nd press them. Face up the right side of the back opening with a nat facing, and put a wrap facing on the left side. Sew on .Dreas studs or hooks and eyea as fasteu- [Refer to H. D. 318.] ings. Now go on with the skirt. Stitch the side seame, press them well, and overcast the edges very neatly. Now cut down the middle of the back to & depth of about 9in. to form the placket. Face the right side of this placket opening with a flat facing, and put a wrap facing on the left side. Sew on hooks and eyes or pres&-stude,, to correspond with the f&stenings of the bodice lining. Now pin the top of the skirt over the edge of the lining,bodice. slip them on ma.ke any I HOV TO OBTAIM ./1 Paper Pattern of the above FROCK. II Filt )0 thi* form and tend !t. with remittance in ttamps. to Mt9S LJSLE. 8. La Belle Saavage, J LO?JDON. E.C 4. Vrite clearly. Name _————- AddreM < PATTERN No. 318. PAPER PATTERNS. Price 9d. each. post free. PATTERNS cut to special measore. 1/6 each. MISS LISLE will be pleated to receive suggestion,, and to illustrate designs of jteoerai use <o the HOME DRESSMAKER I, little alterations that may be necessary, and turn the bottom of the skirt up to the right length. Remember that the top of the skirt must be left Sin. above the tine of the waist. Now turn up the bottom of each tunic on to the right side. nrst making sure that the bottom of each tunic is absolutely straight, and sew on the trimming in such a way as to cover the turned-up edge. Gather the top of each tunic, pin the top of the skirt, try on, correct, and sew. Now cut in net or chiffon at lining for the vest. and similar Mnings for the Magyar sleeves. Line the vest with the chiffon, turn over the top edge of the right side, and put on the trimming, in the ga-mo way as on the tumc. Mark the centre of the lining bodice, pin the vest into place, and sew down each side. Tack the Magyar sleeves over the linings, and then tack up the under-arm and sleeve seams. Gather the waist. Sli;p these Magyar pieces over the bodice lining, pin the waist edges together, and try on, making any altera- tions necessary. Sew the Magyar seams, turn in the raw edges to meet. and run together along the edges. Turn up the sleeve edges on to the right side, and put on the trimming. Slip these Magyar pieces over the lining again, turn in the front and back edges, and catch down here and there to the lining. Ma.kp the waist gathers nrm. Hem the lower edge of the skirt. Tack up shoulder and side seams and fit the bodice. Stitch and press the seams. Face up the back edges of the bodice with a flat facing on the right side and a wrap facing on the left, and fasten with press-atudg or hooks and eyes. Turn in the edges of neck, arm- holes, and waist, and face with narrow, crossway bands of the stuff. Slip the bodice over the lining, and slip-stitch the neck over lining and vest. Slip stitch the tower edge over the top of the skirt.

Primroses are in bloom at Pontypool, Men. Belgian miners decided on general strike. For four tramway-cars East Ham is pay- ing .82,100 each. Given to a Red Cross sale by the King, a bottle of port wine fetched .E14 at Bishop's Stortford, Herts. Only 445 soldiers are now in penal servi- tude. In memory of Lieut. F. Youens, V.C., and forty old boys who fell. the Royal ¡ Grammar School, Wycombe. Bucks, is to build swimming baths.

1 S MOTHER AND HOME. 1 ? ? Useful and Economical Hints on Domestic Management. <=:. i Life is far too hurried now-a-days, so accept the advice to "undress leisurely." After removing the clothing do not n!ace it carelessly on chair or Boor, but shake it out and spread or hang it so that the air may reach it freely during the night. Spend at leaat five minutes brushing the hair. Sit down to do it. This is a wonderful soother of tired heads and nerves. Bathe the face, the hands, and the feet. E6pecially give the feet a warm footbath. This carrier away the im- purities excreted during the day, and pre- venta their re-absorption during the night. It also tends to draw the b.'ood from the head, and thtts relieve pressure or distension of the blood-veasels there. SoBB LlPS. I At this time of year children frequently suffer from sore lips. Often it is found that when a child gets a cold little pimples wiU form round the corners of the lips, and the lipe themselves grow dry and sore. A little powdered alum should be dusted on to the sores, this also serving to cure ulcers in the mouth, which usually accompany such ail- ments. LiP SALVZ. ) Take -,Ilb. hard marrow, and melt it over a slow Rre; as it dissolves gradually pour the liquid marrow into an earthenware pan, then add to it an ounce of spermaceti and a small portion of alkanet root to colour it well. Simmer these ingredients over a <;low lire for ten minuter, then strain the whole through a piece of musUn, and while hot stir into it a teaspoonfu! of the balsam of Peru. Pour it into the jars in which it ia to remain. It will then set and become fit for use. HARE-Lir ) These deformities are present at .birth, and it is not ,possi'b'e for the mother to re- move them by any domestic remedies. Surgical operations can. now be performed, by which ca&es of hare-lip ard cl&ft palate can be moderated. Ag-ain, in the case of tongue-tie, a lit)1 fold of membrane holds the tongue down and prevents the baby from sucking properly, while speech may be affected in later life if something is not done. Ha.ppily the operation is easily per- formed by a doctor, who with one little snip of the surgical scissors severs the membrane. It should not be dl)'\e by mother or nurse, but left to the doctor. To CLEAN WINDOW BLINDS. { To clean yellow window blinds, stretch a table, and with a urudh go carefully over with powdered bath-brick until quite clean. This will make the blind, however much soiled, look new, c'wing to the bath- brick being the shade required, and also & powerful cleaner. It is far superior to washing, and cannot causa any shrinking. To CLEAN SiLK BLOUSES, t Put about half a pint of petrol into a bowl, then put the .blouse in., the patrol will do the rest by drawing out all the dirt. After it has been in about five minutes take out, and hang in the air, where it will dry and all smell be remove in a few minutes, aLM) it will not require to be ironed. CLEANING BLACK FABBJC8. I ? Everyone haa. or wants, a blaek gown I nowadays, and" such* materials 'as'serge, cheviot, cashmere, henrietta, etc., &re easily cleaned. First remove the greaee spots with naphtha, and rememiber that this fluid is very explosive when exposed to either light or nre. Make a lather of warm soapsuds, using a good, not strong, soap and a tea. spoonful of .borax to evexv two quarts of water. Into this dip. the articles up and down and wash between the hands; then wring gently and pat partly dry; hang in the shade, and when nearly dry iron on the wrong side with a modierattely warm iron. MENDING A BUTTONNOM IN LiNEN. ) The article mu&t be washed to free it from stiSening, then with a. fine needle and cotton neatly draw the broken ends together, and on the underside stitch a tiny strap of narrow ta.pe across to make it stronger, taking care not to let the stitches show through. Remove the broken threads, and work the buttonhole round again. Make a strong bar at the weak end by taking the needle under and over three or four times, and buttonhole closely. BAGS FOR BROOMS. I I Flannelette bags made to nt me orooma aire most usetful. A airing should be run in each and tied round the handle of the broom. Thus covered, the broom will be most useful for sweeping down walls, high wardrobes, &nd even polished &ocrs. KEEP VEGETABLES DRY. j Veg°etables should not be kept in water when -fresh, or refreshed by sprinkling them with water (as is often practised) umtil they are to be uaed; the Savour is thereby greatly injured. It ia. only when they have become Raccid tha.t they should be immersed in water, to restore their crispness before they are cooked, otherwise they wiU be tough and unpalatable. TO KEEP BISCUITS. I Biscuits should be kept air-tight in a warm, dry ptace; .but if they have lost their criapncaa this may be restored by placing in a moderate oven for a few minutes. STOWED HADDOCK. I Trim off the fins and tail from a good- sized smoked haddock, and place it in a fry- img-pan, skin side down; dust it well with Sour, then pour on a gill of milk, and eover the fish with boiling water. Add a knob of dripping or butter, cover the whole with a plate, and stew it for 15 minutes. This dish served very hot makes a tasty breakfast or supper dainty. A. COMFORTABLE BED. I Get your mattress made in two parts of equal sizes, or one square and a shorter piece, together forming the complete mattreas. By turning the square round each time you change the bed, you can avoid wearing the mattress into holes. Then, after a while, remove the odd piece from the bottom to the top of the bed, and push the square to the foot. This arrangement will enable you to keep your bed always even and comfortable. WASHING A SiME ScÂRP j II M&ke & tepid suds, and soften it with I borax. Let the scarf aoak for a few minutes,  and then squeeze it between the handa. Binae in tep)d water, and iron while damp..I Sawdust and ordinary glue will fill up ugly cracks in a wooden noor. Equal parts of ammonia and whitening make a fine mixture for cleaning nickel ornaments and furnishings. Varnished wood ia best cleaned with cold t<;a strained from the leaves. If very dirty, a little warm soap and water may be used, but only to remove the outer dirt; the tea will not injure the varnish in any way. To make breadcrumbs quickly, cut the soft part from a stale loaf and tie up in a soft muslin bag. Then gehtly rub it with the hands for a few minutea. The crumbe will be fine enough for all requirements. To make a duetbin sanitary, burn a couple of newspapers or two or three hand- fuls of straw in them each time they are emptied. Let the name rush out, and it 'will remove every trace of grease or damp, and render the dustbin as clean as a new one, and quite free from any unpleasant smell. When moths have got into a piano the best means of ejecting them is to make up tt mixture of turpentine, benzoline, and oil of lavender, and squirt this inside the instrument by means of a scent-spray or any small syringe. Use seven parts of benzoline to one of turpentine, and add a few drops of the lavender—one drop to each ounce will be ample. An easy way to skin a beetroot without bleeding it and causing it to lose colour ia to put it in cold water, as soon as it is cooked. Then draw the hand gently down the beetroot, and the skin will drop off without trouble. When washing nanncls. be aure that tha water is warm, but not too hot. Never rub 3oap on nanne! goods. U¡.;o so:)psuds, and tdd a tablespoonf))! of ammonia to each ?aHon of water. This al)borl)s all grease and perspiration, and also prevents shrinking. Potatoes that arc inclined to turn dark in boiling may be rendered white by the addi- tion of a few dro pH of vinegar to the water. In addition, the orthodox plan of swinging the sauce-pan in the open air after draining away the water may be adopted. BEFORE PUTTINC FBUIT INTO A CAKE I Warm it and nour weH, and do not stir the cake much a.fter the "fruit has been added, otherwise it wiU sink to the bottom. ICED CAKES. Iced cakes or tarts when returned to the oven after icing. require only sufficient heat to harden tho sugar. To TURN OUT JELLY. I To turn jelly out of a mould euccessfulty without any dinlculty, fill the mould with cold water; 'W-t it staud until the jelly is made and nearly cold. Then pour olf the water, and ?1 the mould with the nearly cold jeHy. It will turn out without any trouble. When beating white of egg, be sure that the plate i<9 perfectly dry. It the process is carried out in the open air it will be very quickly accomplished. SOME USEFUL RECIPES. MADEIRA CAKES.—Tttke a. quarter-pound each of butter and lard, and cream it with half-pound of sugar; add four and five tableapoonsful of milk. Beat all together slightly, and mix well. Sift II:b. of flour and one teaspoonful of baking-powder, and stir in. Bake in a papered cake-tin, leaving room for rising, for about It hours, 'and lay ft couple of strips of peel on top. ForovERS.—Beat one egg until light, add half-pint of milk and a pinch of salt, and gradually beat this into half-pound of nour. Bake in little tins in a very hot oven for 15 or 20 minutes. Eat hot for breakfast, split open and .buttered. PouK AND Api'LE PiE.—Cut the pork in thin slices, and season thebe with pepyer, ea-lt, and grated nutmeg. Fill a pic-dish with alternate layers of these, and of apples which have been pared, cored, and sliced. Add a little sugar for sweetening, and as much white wine as will moisten the con- tents of the diah, and place two or three good-sized lumps of butter upon the top. Cover the whole with a good crust, and bake in a. hot oven for H hours. JELLY PowDEns.—This is an excellent re. cipe for making jellies without fruit; lib. of powdered gelatinc. 4lb. powdered sugar, 2oz. tartaric acid. quarter-ounce of oil of lemon; mix them thoroughly together. To one pint of boiHng water add 5oz of this powder, stirring unfit it is dissolved, then put in a cool place to set. SALMON Pm.—Get a tin of salmon, frea the flesh from skin and bone. and divide it into small pieces; season to taste with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Margarine a pie-dish, and cover the bottom with a layer of pota- toes that have been mashed with hot milk; now put another good layer of salmon, and cover the top with a layer of potatoes; moisten with a little of tne hot milk, make the top of the pie rough with a fork, place it in a brisk oven, and bake until quite hot through and the surface is slightly browned. Serve in tho same dish. SAVOURY LivER. Cut Italf-pound of calves' liver into thin slices, ao&k in cold water for three minutes, dry well, dredge with flour seasoned with salt and butter or margarine, coat with batter made with maize nour, and tfry golden brown. Fry two minced shallots in a little buffer, add half- pint good gravy, and two cloves. Boil up, add the liver, repeat, and fierve sprinkled with chopped parsley on a very hot dish, with potatoes mashed with a fork and built up like a mountain. ORANGE CAKE3.—Beat 2oz. of butter and 2oz. of sugar to a cream; mix together 4oz. self-raising flour and the grated rind of one orange. Well beat the eggs and add alter- nately with the flour mixture the butter and the augar. Add a few drops of essence of orange, and beat thoroughly. Half-nil little patty-pans with the mixture, and bake in a fairly quick oven. SHORT CpusT PASTE.—For any kind of mea.t pie or fruit tart. Rub quarter. pound of butter or lard into lOoz. eeli- rising nour, and maJce into rather stiff with half a glass of water. Add a pinch of salt, let it stand 10 minutes, then give i< two turns, and it wiU be ready for use. D< not let it stand.

f THINGS THOUGHTFUL We refuse sympathy and intimacy with p?opi?, aa if we waited for some better sym- pathy and intimacy to come. But whenca and when? Tomorrow will be like to-day. I Life waBtes itself while we are preparing t< live.—Emerson. I CHRISTMAS GREETINGS. May the "end of a- perfect day" be your< When the evening stars appear, And may every day be a perfect day To the end of a perfect year. When a body likea a body Better every year, Then a body sends a body Wiahea full of cheer, Hearty wishes, happy wishes, Like the wishes here, When a body likes a body Better every year. There are near friends and dear frienda And friends just for a day; There are new friends and true friends And friends across the way; There are warm frienda and cold friends, And baahful frienda and bold frienda, But beat of all are old friends Whose friendship comes to stay. To man is given the dimcult double tasTc &f raising his soul heavenwards, and satisfy- ing his material wants, just as the chamoia climbs upward as he feeds; or of weaving his earthly into his future life, as the moon, though revolving round the earth, neverthe- less journeys round the sun.—Jean Pau! Richter. Ridicule never killed an important trutn. Persecution never finally suppressed it.—G. H. Lewee. I A GOVERNING FACT. No matter what the subject of the dispute be; but what placo we give it in our minds- for that governs our concern and resent- ment.—William Penn. I THREE FIRST THINGS. A great scholar in Scotland aaid that there are only three thing's which hold the hearts of the people of GMat Britain- prayer, Nacrinoe, and immortality. These are three of the supreme things of life. When life becomea earnest and serious smal! things and unworthy intcresta aink into the background. KEEPING IN LOVE. To keep in love is a business of importance to which both man and wife must bring kindness and goodwill- The true life-story coiomencea at the altar.—R. L. Stevenson. GOOD HOPES. L- .<jiy, wuy i?pine, my pensive fnena, At pleasures slipped away? Some stern Fates will never lend And a.11 refuse to stay. I see the rainbow in the sky, The dew upon the g'ra.ss, I see them, and I ask not why They glimmer or they pass. With folded arma I linger not T6 call them back; 'twere vain; In this, or in some other apot, I know they'll shine again. ? -W. S. Landor. SPRINGS OF SORROW. There should be in the heart inexhaustible springs of sorrow for bereavements of a cer- tain kind. It is not, indeed, through virtue or mental courage that one recovers from a great aiBiction. One weepa in bitterness, one is touched to the heart. But, then, one is so weak or so fri.voloua that one allows oneself to be consoled.—La Bruyere. The hand on the hoe may tally with human dignity as well as the hand on the sword. The aim of both is one-to become tables whereon God can write.—Ibsen. OFFERINGS. Such costly treasure the wiae men gave To the Baby in Palestine; Burnished gold, which mayhap some slave Unearthed from a sunless mine; Myrrh and frankincense, rare and fine; Nothing of theirs too good or sweet To lay at the Baby's feet. What do we oCcr our Lord in heaves? Frankincense of holy thought? Wrongs forgiven seventy times seven, Loving kindness rendered for naughty Deeds precious aa gold the Magi brought! Nothing of oura too costly or sweet To lay at His wounded feet. —Mary Newmarch Prescott. [ FRUIT-BEARING. If there be no fruit, then is everything a f failure. The garden itself is a gwden for this. For this it was bought and walled about; for this it is dug and dressed. The gardener works and watches for this. For this the 6ced was nown, the tree was planted; for this, weeding and pruning a.nd everything else has been done. For this the rains have faMen, and for this the sun has ehonc. The seasons have succeeded each other for this. For this, all the life of the tree hae been at work; roota have grasped the earth; leaves have drunk the dew; the sap has crept up; and blossom and bud have all been for fruit. If there be no fruit, then everything is a failure— everything.—Mark Guy Pearse. THE CLIMB TO FAME. Ah! who can tell how hard it is to Climb The steep where Fame's proud temple shinea afar; Ah! who can tell how many a soul sublime Has felt the influence of malignant star, And waged with Fortune an eternal war; Checked by the scog of Pride, by Envy's frown. And Poverty's unconquerable bar, In lifos low vale remote has pined alone, Then dropped intb the grave, unpitied and unknown? —James Beattie. BE PREPARED. We moralise when it is too late; nor ia< there anything more silly than to regret. One event makes another; what we antici- pate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happeua.—Disraeli. HOPE. There is a very close connection between purity and hope, and the man who cannot vanquish all his enemies at once, and the man who is surrounded by things which depress and discourage, can often find relief in hope, when faith does not help him; that serene, sublime, all-transforming spirit, that finer and more delicate form of faith which looks not to the present, but to the future-not to what I am, but to what 1 shall be some day; not to what is, but to what all these things that are will lead to when God'9 own work is accomplished.— W. T. Davison. It is a good and safe rule to sojourn la (:very ptaco as if you meant to spend your ? Hfe there, npver omitting an opportunity of doings a Hndnpss. or sneaking a true word, j or making a friend.—Ruskin.

Two men were kitted in an explosion at blast furnaces at Blaenavon Works, Mon. Telegraphic communications between France and Germany has been resumed. Five Canadian soldiers sentenced in con- Bection with the Epsom riota have been re- leased. Unheard of since November 8, the Grimsby trawler, with a crow of ten, has been gtven up as lost. Australia's new Parliament will probably consist of 37 Nationalists, 28 La.bour mem- ? bora, and 10 farmers. At a secret Conaistory the Pope ncmi- nated seven new Cardinals. J

Mercantile seamen will rank as ex-service men for cut-of-work pay. To help from 800 to 1.000 naval war orphans a. year for ten years, the Navy League has &et aside £86,000 from ihs over- seas MUcf funds. Policemen are required to regulate queuea outride Wsst End toy shops. Mr. Chamberlain hopes it will not be neceasary to issue notes lower than lOa. 32,000 children of St. Pancras are to have a peace treat at 6id. per head. Mr. "Pussyfoot" Johnson is atill out of' actMMi.