,,american ,,woman',s ,,home3 ,,or1     
,,principles ,,of ,,domestic ,,science2 
,,being ,a ,,guide ,,to ,,the           
,,formation ,,and ,,maintenance ,,of    
,,economical1 ,,healthful1 ,,beautiful1 
,,and ,,christian ,,homes4  ,,by        
,,catherine ,e4 ,,beecher ,,and         
,,harriet ,,beecher ,,stowe  ,,to ,,the 
,,women ,,of ,,america1 ,,in ,,whose    
,,hands ,,rest ,,the ,,real ,,destinies 
,,of ,,the ,,republic1 ,,as ,,moulded   
,,by ,,the ,,early ,,training ,,and     
,,preserved ,,amid ,,the ,,maturer      
,,influences ,,of ,,home1 ,,this        
,,volume ,,is ,,affectionately          
,,inscribed4     ,,table ,,of           
,,contents4  ,,introduction4  ,the chief
 cause of woman's disabilities and      
sufferings1 that women are not trained1 
as men are1 for their peculiar          
duties--,aim of this volume to elevate  
the honor and remuneration of domestic  
employment--,woman's duties1 and her    
utter lack of training for              
them--,qualifications of the writers of 

this volume to teach the matters        
proposed--,experience and study of      
woman's work--,conviction of the dignity
 and importance of it--,the great social
 and moral power in her keeping--,the   
principles and teachings of ,jesus      
,christ the true basis of woman's rights
 and duties4  ,i4  ,,the ,,christian    
,,family4  ,object of the ,family       
,state--,duty of the elder and stronger 
to raise the younger1 weaker1 and more  
ignorant to an equality of              
advantages--,discipline of the          
family--,the example of ,christ one of  
self-sacrifice as man's elder           
brother--,his assumption of a low       
estate--,his manual labor--,his         
trade--,woman the chief minister of the 
family estate--,man the out-door laborer
 and provider--,labor and self-denial in
 the mutual relations of home-life1     
honorable1 healthful1 economical1       
enjoyable1 and ,christian4  ,,ii4  ,a   
,,christian ,,house4  ,true wisdom in   
building a home--,necessity of          

economizing time1 labor1 and expense1 by
 the close packing of                   
conveniences--,plan of a model          
cottage--,proportions--,piazzas--,entry-
-,stairs and landings--,large           
room--,movable ,screen--,convenient     
bedsteads--,a good mattress--,a cheap   
and convenient ottoman--,kitchen and    
stove-room--,the stove-room and its     
arrangements--,second or attic          
story--,closets1 corner dressing-tables1
 windows1 balconies1 water and          
earth-closets1 shoe-bag1                
piece-bag--,basement1 closets1          
refrigerator1 washtubs1                 
etc4--,laundry--,general                
wood-work--,conservatories-,average     
estimate of cost4  ,,iii4  ,a           
,,healthful ,,home4  ,household         
murder--,poisoning and starvation the   
inevitable result of bad air in public  
halls and private homes--,good air as   
needful as good food--,structure and    
operations of the lungs and their       
capillaries and air-cells--,how people  

in a confined room will deprive the air 
of oxygen and overload it with refuse   
carbonic acid-,starvation of the living 
body deprived of oxygen--,the skin and  
its twenty-eight miles of perspiratory  
tubes--,reciprocal action of plants and 
animals--,historical examples of        
foul-air poisoning--,outward effects of 
habitual breathing of bad               
air--,quotations from scientific        
authorities4  ,,iv4  ,,scientific       
,,domestic ,,ventilation4  ,an open     
fireplace secures due                   
ventilation--,evils of substituting     
air-tight stoves and furnace            
heating--,tendency of warm air to rise  
and of cool air to sink--,ventilation of
 mines--,ignorance of architects--,poor 
ventilation in most houses--,mode of    
ventilating laboratories--,creation of a
 current of warm air in a flue open at  
top and bottom of the room--,flue to be 
built into chimney3 method of utilizing 
it4  ,v4 ,,stoves1 ,,furnaces1 ,,and    
,,chimneys4  ,the general properties of 

heat1 conduction1 convection1 radiation1
 reflection--,cooking done by radiation 
the simplest but most wasteful mode3 by 
convection 7as in stoves and furnaces7  
the cheapest--,the range--,the model    
cooking-stove--,interior arrangements   
and principles--,contrivances for       
economizing heat1 labor1 time1 fuel1    
trouble1 and expense--,its durability1  
simplicity1 etc4--,chimneys3 why they   
smoke and how to cure them--,furnaces3  
the dryness of their heat--,necessity of
 moisture in warm air--,how to obtain   
and regulate it4  ,,vi4  ,,home         
,,decoration4  ,significance of beauty  
in making home attractive and useful in 
education--,exemplification of          
economical and tasteful furniture--,the 
carpet1 lounge1 lambrequins1 curtains1  
ottomans1 easy-chair1                   
centre-table--,money left for           
pictures--,chromes--,pretty frames--    
,engravings--,statuettes--,educatory    
influence of works of art--,natural     
adornments--,materials in the woods and 

fields--,parlor-gardens--,hanging       
baskets--,fern-shields--,ivy1 its beauty
 and tractableness--,window1 with       
flowers1 vines1 and pretty              
plants--,rustic stand for               
flowers--,ward's case--,how to make it  
economically--,bowls and vases of rustic
 work for growing plants--,ferns1 how   
and when to gather them--,general       
remarks4  ,,vii4  ,,the ,,care ,,of     
,,health4  ,importance of some knowledge
 of the body and its needs--,fearful    
responsibility of entering upon domestic
 duties in ignorance--,the fundamental  
vital principle--,cell-life--,wonders of
 the microscope                         
--,cell-multiplication--,constant       
interplay of decay and growth necessary 
to life--,the red and white cells of the
 blood--,secreting and converting       
power--,the nervous system--,the brain  
and the nerves--,structural arrangement 
and functions--,the ganglionic          
system--,the nervous fluid--,necessity  
of properly apportioned exercise to     

nerves of sensation and of              
motion--,evils of excessive or          
insufficient exercise--,equal           
development of the whole4  ,,viii4      
,,domestic ,,exercise4  ,connection of  
muscles and nerves--,microscopic        
cellular muscular fibre--,its mode of   
action--,dependence on the nerves of    
voluntary and involuntary motion--,how  
exercise of muscles quickens circulation
 of the blood which maintains all the   
processes of life--,dependence of       
equilibrium upon proper muscular        
activity--,importance of securing       
exercise that will interest the mind4   
,,ix4  ,,healthful ,,food4              
,apportionment of elements in food3     
carbon1 nitrogen1 phosphorus1 calcium1  
iron1 silicon1 etc4--,large proportion  
of water in the human body--,dr4 ,holmes
 on the interchange of death and        
life--,constituent parts of a kernel of 
wheat--,comparison of different kinds of
 food--,general directions for          
diet--,hunger the proper guide and guard

 of appetite--,evils of                 
over-eating--,structure and operations  
of the stomach--,times and quantity for 
eating--,stimulating and nourishing     
food--,americans eat too much           
meat--,wholesome effects of ,lenten     
fasting--,matter and manner of          
eating--,causes of debilitation from    
misuse of food4  ,x4  ,,healthful       
,,drinks4  ,stimulating drinks not      
necessary--,their immediate evil effects
 upon the human body and tendency to    
grow into habitual desires--,the        
arguments for and against               
stimulus--,microscopic revelations of   
the effects of alcohol on the cellular  
tissue of the brain--,opinions of high  
scientific authorities against its      
use--,no need of resorting to stimulants
 either for refreshment1 nourishment1 or
 pleasure--,tea and coffee an extensive 
cause of much nervous debility and      
suffering--,tend to wasteful use in the 
kitchen--,are seldom agreeable at first 
to children--,are dangerous to          

sensitive1 nervous organizations1 and   
should be at least regulated--,hot      
drinks unwholesome1 debilitating1 and   
destructive to teeth1 throat1 and       
stomach--,warm drinks agreeable and not 
unhealthful--,cold drinks not to be too 
freely used during meals--,drinking     
while eating always injurious to        
digestion4  ,,xi4  ,,cleanliness4       
,health and comfort depend on           
cleanliness--,scientific treatment of   
the skin1 the most complicated organ of 
the body--,structure and arrangement of 
the skin1 its layers1 cells1 nerves1    
capillaries1 absorbents1 oil-tubes1     
perspiration-tubes1 etc4--,the mucous   
membrane--,phlegm--,the secreting       
organs--,the liver1 kidney1 pancreas1   
salivary and lachrymal                  
glands--,sympathetic connection of all  
the bodily organs--,intimate connection 
of the skin with all the other          
organs--,proper mode of treating the    
skin--,experiment showing happy effects 
of good treatment4  ,,xii4  ,,clothing4 

,fashion attacks the very foundation of 
the body1 the bones--,bones composed of 
animal and mineral elements--,general   
construction and arrangement--,health of
 bones dependent on nourishment and     
exercise of body--,spine--,distortions  
produced by tight dressing--,pressure of
 interior organs upon each other and    
upon the bones--,displacement of        
stomach1 diaphragm1 heart1 intestines1  
and pelvic or lower organs--,women      
liable to peculiar distresses--,a       
well-fitted jacket to replace stiff     
corsets1 supporting the bust above and  
the under skirts below--,dressing of    
young children--,safe for a healthy     
child to wear as little clothing as will
 make it thoroughly comfortable--,nature
 the guide--,the very young and the very
 old need the most clothing4  ,,xiii4   
,,good ,,cooking4  ,bad cooking         
prevalent in ,america-,abundance of     
excellent material-- ,general management
 of food here very wasteful and         
extravagant--,five great departments of 

,cookery--,bread-,what it should be1 how
 to spoil and how to make it--,different
 modes of aeration--,baking--,evils of  
hot bread4--,butter-,contrast between   
the butter of ,america and of ,european 
countries-,how to make good             
butter4--,meat-,generally used too newly
 killed--,lack of nicety in butcher's   
work--,economy of ,french butchery1     
curving1 and trimming--,modes of cooking
 meats--,the frying-pan--,true way of   
using it--,the ,french art of making    
delicious soups and                     
stews--,vegetables--,their number and   
variety in ,america--,the potato--,how  
to cook it1 a simple yet difficult      
operation--,roasted1 boiled1            
fried4--,tea--,warm table drinks        
generally--,coffee--,tea--              
,chocolate4--,confectionery--,ornamental
 cookery--,pastry1 ices1 jellies4       
,,xiv4  ,,early ,,rising4 ,a virtue     
peculiarly ,american and democratic--,in
 aristocratic countries1 labor          
considered degrading--,the hours of     

sunlight generally devoted to labor by  
the working classes and to sleep by the 
indolent and wealthy--,sunlight         
necessary to health and growth whether  
of vegetables or animals--,particularly 
needful for the sick--,substitution of  
artificial light and heat1 by night1 a  
great waste of money--,eight hours'     
sleep enough--,excessive sleep          
debilitating--,early rising necessary to
 a well-regulated family1 to the amount 
of work to be done1 to the community1 to
 schools1 and to all classes in         
,american society4  ,,xv4  ,,domestic   
,,manners4  ,good manners the expression
 of benevolence in personal             
intercourse--,serious defects in manners
 of the ,americans-,causes of abrupt    
manners to be found in ,american        
life--,want of clear discrimination     
between men--,necessity for distinctions
 of superiority3 and                    
subordination--,importance that young   
mothers should seriously endeavor to    
remedy this defect1 while educating     

their children--,democratic principal of
 equal rights to be applied1 not to our 
own interests but to those of           
others--,the same courtesy to be        
extended to all classes--,necessary     
distinctions arising from mutual        
relations to be observed--,the strong to
 defer to the weak--,precedence yielded 
by men to women in ,america--,good      
manners must be cultivated in early     
life--,mutual relations of husband and  
wife--,parents and children--,the       
rearing of children to courtesy--,de    
,tocqueville on ,american manners4      
,,xvi4  ,,good ,,temper ,,in ,,the      
,,housekeeper4  ,easier for a household 
under the guidance of an equable temper 
in the mistress---,dissatisfied looks   
and sharp tones destroy the comfort of  
system1 neatness1 and                   
economy--,considerations to aid the     
housekeeper--,importance and dignity of 
her duties--,difficulties to be         
overcome--,good policy to calculate     
beforehand upon the derangement of      

well-arranged plans--,object of         
housekeeping1 the comfort and well-being
 of the family--,the end should not be  
sacrificed to secure the                
means--,possible to refrain from angry  
tones--,mild speech most                
effective--,exemplification--,allowances
 to be made for servants and            
children--,power of religion to impart  
dignity and importance to the ordinary  
and petty details of domestic life4     
,,xvii4  ,,habits ,,of ,,system ,,and   
,,order4  ,relative importance and      
difficulty of the duties a woman is     
called to perform--,her duties not      
trivial--,a habit of system and order   
necessary--,right apportionment of      
time--,general principles--             
,christianity to be the                 
foundation--,intellectual and social    
interests to be preferred to            
gratification of taste or               
appetite--,neglect of health a sin in   
the sight of ,god--,regular season of   
rest appointed by the                   

,creator--,divisions of                 
time--,systematic arrangement of house  
articles and other                      
conveniences--,regular employment for   
each member of a                        
family--,children--,family              
work--,forming habits of system--,early 
rising a very great aid--,due           
apportionment of time to the several    
duties4  ,,xviii4  ,,giving ,,in        
,,charity4  ,no point of duty more      
difficult to fix by rule than           
charity--,first consideration--,object  
for which we are placed in this         
world--,self- denying                   
,benevolence4--,second                  
consideration--,natural principles not  
to be exterminated1 but regulated and   
controlled4--,third                     
consideration--,superfluities sometimes 
proper1 and sometimes not--,fourth      
consideration--,no rule of duty right   
for one and not for all--,the opposite  
of this principle tested--,some use of  
superfluities necessary--,plan for      

keeping an account of necessities and   
superfluities--,untoward results of our 
actions do not always prove that we     
deserve blame--,general principles to   
guide in deciding upon objects of       
charity--,who are our neighbors--,the   
most in need to be first relieved--,not 
much need of charity for physical wants 
in this country--,associated            
charities--,indiscriminate              
charity--,impropriety of judging the    
charities of others4  ,,xix4  ,,economy 
,,of ,,time ,,and ,,expenses  ,economy1 
value1 and right apportionment of       
time--,laws appointed by ,god for the   
,jews--,christianity removes the        
restrictions laid on the ,jews1 but     
demands all our time to be devoted to   
our own best interests and the good of  
our fellow-men--,enjoyment connected    
with every duty--,various modes of      
economizing time--,system and           
order--,uniting several objects in one  
employment--,odd intervals of           
time--,aiding others in economizing     

time--,economy in                       
expenses--,contradictory                
notions--,general principles in which   
all agree--,knowledge of income and     
expenses--,evils of want of system and  
forethought--,young ladies should early 
learn to be systematic and economical4  
,,xx4  ,,health ,,of ,,mind4  ,intimate 
connection between the body and         
mind--,brain excited by improper        
stimulants taken into the               
stomach--,mental faculties then         
affected--,causes of mental             
disease--,want of oxygenized            
blood--,fresh air absolutely            
necessary--,excessive exercise of the   
intellect or feelings--,such attention  
to religion as prevents the performance 
of other duties1 wrong--,unusual        
precocity in children usually the result
 of a diseased brain--,idiocy often the 
result1 or the precocious child sinks   
below the average of mankind--,this evil
 yet prevalent in colleges and other    
seminaries--,a medical man necessary in 

every seminary--,some pupils always     
needing restraint in regard to study--,a
 third cause of mental disease1 the want
 of appropriate exercise of the various 
faculties of the mind--,extract from    
,dr4 ,combe--,beneficial results of     
active intellectual                     
employments--,indications of a diseased 
mind4  ,,xxi4  ,,the ,,care ,,of        
,,infants4  ,herbert ,spencer on the    
treatment of offspring--,absurdity of   
undertaking to rear children without any
 knowledge of how to do it--,foolish    
management of parents generally the     
cause of evils ascribed to              
,providence--,errors of management      
during the first two years--,food of    
child and of mother--,warning as to use 
of too much medicine--,fresh air-- ,care
 of the                                 
skin--,dress--,sleep--,bathing--,change 
of air--,habits--,dangers of the        
teething                                
period--,constipation--,diarrhea--,teeth
ing--,how to relieve its                

dangers--,feverishness--,use of water4  
,,xxii4  ,,the ,,management ,,of ,,young
 ,,children4  ,physical education of    
children--,animal diet to be avoided for
 the very young--,result of treatment at
 ,albany ,orphan ,asylum--,good         
ventilation of nurseries and            
schools--,moral training to consist in  
forming habits of submission1           
self-denial1 and benevolence-,general   
suggestions--,extremes of sternness and 
laxity to be avoided--,appreciation of  
childish desires and                    
feelings--,sympathy--,partaking in games
 and employments--,inculcation of       
principles preferable to multiplication 
of commands--,rewards rather than       
penalties--,severe tones of             
voice--,children to be kept             
happy--,sensitive                       
children--,self-denial--,deceit and     
honesty--,immodesty and                 
delicacy--,dreadful penalties consequent
 upon youthful impurities--,religious   
training4  ,,xxiii4  ,,domestic         

,,amusements ,,and ,,social ,,duties4   
,children need more amusement than older
 persons--,its object1 to afford rest   
and recreation to the mind and          
body--,example of ,christ--,no          
amusements to be introduced that will   
tempt the weak or over-excite the       
young--,puritan customs--,work followed 
by play--,dramatic exercises1 dancing1  
and festivity wholesomely enjoyed--,the 
nine o'clock bell--,the drama and the   
dance--,card-playing--,novel-reading--,t
aste for solid reading--,cultivation of 
fruits and flowers--,music--,collecting 
of shells1 plants1 and                  
minerals--,games--,exercise of          
mechanical skill for boys--,sewing1     
cutting1 and fitting--,general          
suggestions--,social and domestic       
duties--,family                         
attachments--,hospitality4  ,,xxiv4     
,,care ,,of ,,the ,,aged4  ,preservation
 of the aged1 designed to give          
opportunity for self-denial and loving  
care--,patience1 sympathy1 and labor for

 them to be regarded as privileges in a 
family--,the young should respect and   
minister unto the aged--,treating them  
as valued members of the                
family--,engaging them in domestic      
,games and sports--,reading             
aloud-,courteous attention to their     
opinions--,assistance in retarding decay
 of faculties by helping them to        
exercise--,keeping up interest of the   
infirm in domestic affairs--,great care 
to preserve animal heat--,ingratitude to
 the aged1 its baseness--,chinese regard
 for old age4  ,,xxv4  ,,the ,,care ,,of
 ,,servants4  ,origin of the ,yankee    
term help--,days of good health and     
intelligent house-keeping--,growth of   
wealth tends to multiply hired service--
 ,american young women should be trained
 in housekeeping for the guidance of    
ignorant and shiftless                  
servants--,difficulty of teaching       
servants--,reaction of society in favor 
of women's intellectuality1 in danger of
 causing a new reaction--,american girls

 should do more work--,social estimate  
of domestic service--,dearth of         
intelligent domestic help--,proper mode 
of treating servants--,general rules and
 special suggestions--,hints from       
experience--,woman's first right1       
liberty to do what she can--,domestic   
duties not to be neglected for          
operations in other spheres--,servants  
to be treated with respect--,errors of  
heartless and of too indulgent          
employers--,mistresses of ,american     
families necessarily missionaries and   
instructors4  ,,xxvi4  ,,care ,of ,,the 
,,sick4  ,prominence given to care and  
cure of the sick by our ,saviour--,every
 woman should know what to do in the    
case of illness--,simple remedies       
best--,fasting and perspiration--,evils 
of constipation--,modes of relieving    
it--,remedies for colds--,unwise to     
tempt the appetite of the               
sick--,suggestion for the               
sick-room--,ventilation--,needful       
articles--,the room1 bed1 and person of 

the patient to be kept neat--,care to   
preserve animal warmth--,the sick1 the  
delicate1 the aged--,food always to be  
carefully prepared and neatly           
served--,little modes of refreshment--  
,implicit obedience to the              
physician--,care in purchasing          
medicines-- ,exhibition of cheerfulness1
 gentleness1 and sympathy--,knowledge   
and experience of mind--,lack of        
competent nurses--,failings of nurses-- 
,sensitiveness of the sick--,sisters of 
,charity1 the reason why they are such  
excellent nurses--,illness in the family
 a providential opportunity of training 
children to love and usefulness4        
,,xxvii4  ,,accidents ,,and ,,antidotes4
  ,mode of treating cuts1 wounds1       
severed arteries--,bad bruises to be    
bathed ,in hot water--,sprains treated  
with hot fomentation and rest--,burns   
cured by creosote1 wood-soot1 or        
flour--,drowning2 most approved mode of 
treatment--,poisons and their           
antidotes--,soda1 saleratus1 potash1    

sulphuric or oxalic acid1 lime or       
baryta1 iodine or iodide of potassium1  
prussic acid1 antimony1 arsenic1 lead1  
nitrate of silver1 phosphorus1 alcohol1 
tobacco1 opium1 strychnia--,bleeding at 
the lungs1 stomach1 throat1             
nose--,accidents from lightning--       
,stupefaction1 from coal-gas or foul    
air--,fire--,fainting--,coolness and    
presence of mind4  ,,xxviii4  ,,sewing1 
,,cutting1 ,,and ,,mending4  ,different 
kinds of                                
,stitch--,overstitch--,hems--,tucks--,fe
lls--,gores--                           
,buttonholes--,whipping--,gathering--,da
rning--,basting--,sewing--,work-        
baskets--,to make a                     
frock--,patterns--,fitting--,lining--,th
in ,silks-- ,fitted and plain           
silks--,plaids--,stripes--,linen and    
,cotton--,how to                        
buy--,shirts--,chemises--,night-gowns--,
under-skirts--,mending--,silk           
dresses--,broadcloth--,hose--,shoes1    
etc4--,bedding--,mattresses--           

,sheeting--,bed-linen4  ,,xxix4  ,,fires
 ,,and ,,lights4  ,wood fires--,shallow 
fireplaces--,utensils--,the best wood   
for fires --,how to measure a           
load--,splitting and                    
piling--,ashes--,cleaning up-- ,stoves  
and                                     
grates--,ventilation--,moisture--,stove-
pipe thimbles-- ,anthracite             
coal--,bituminous coal--,care to be used
 in erecting stoves and                 
pipes--,lights--,poor economy to use bad
 light--,gas--,oil--,kerosene-- ,points 
to be considered3 ,steadiness1 ,color1  
,heat--,argand burners-- ,dangers of    
kerosene--,tests of its safety and      
light-giving qualities-- ,care of       
lamps--,utensils                        
needed--,shades--,night-lamps--,how to  
make                                    
candles--,moulded--,dipped--,rush-lights
4  ,,xxx4  ,,the ,,care ,,of ,,rooms4   
,parlors--,cleansing--,furniture--,pictu
res--,hearths and jambs--,stains in     
marble--,carpets--,chambers and         

bedrooms--,ventilation--,how to make a  
bed properly--,servants should have     
single beds and comfortable             
rooms--,kitchens--,light--,air--,cleanli
ness--,how to make a cheap              
oil-cloth--,the sink--,washing          
dishes--,kitchen furniture--,crockery-- 
,ironware--,tinware--,basketware--,other
 articles--,closets--,cellars--,dryness 
and cleanliness imperative              
necessities--,store-rooms--,modes of    
destroying insects and vermin4  ,,xxxi4 
,,the ,,care ,,of ,,yards ,,and         
,,gardens4  ,preparation of soil for    
pot-plants--,for hot-beds--,for planting
 flower seeds--,for garden              
seeds--,transplanting--,to re-pot house 
plants--,the laying out of yards and    
gardens--,transplanting trees--,the care
 of house plants4  ,,xxxii4  ,,the      
,,propagation ,,of ,,plants4            
,propagation of bulbous                 
roots--,propagation of plants by        
shoots--,by layers-,budding and         
grafting--,the outer and inner          

bark--,detailed description of          
operations--,seed-fruit--,stone-fruit--,
rose hushes-- ,ingrafting--,stock       
grafting--,pruning--,perpendicular      
shoots to be taken out1 horizontal or   
curved shoots retained--,all fruit-buds 
coming out after midsummer to be rubbed 
off--,suckers--,pruning to be done after
 sap is in                              
circulation4--,thinning--,leaves to be  
removed when they shade fruit near      
maturity--,fruit to be removed when too 
abundant for good quality--,how to      
judge4  ,,xxxiii4  ,,the ,,cultivation  
,,of ,,fruit4  ,a pleasant1 easy1 and   
profitable occupation--,soil for a      
nursery-- ,planting of                  
seeds--,transplanting--,pruning--,filber
ts--,figs--,currants--                  
,gooseberries--,raspberries--,strawberri
es--,grapes--,modes of preserving fruit 
trees--,the                             
yellows--,moths--,caterpillars--,brulure
-,curculio--,canker- worm4  ,,xxxiv4    
,,the ,,care ,,of ,,domestic ,,animals4 

,interesting association of animals with
 man1 from childhood to age--,domestic  
animals apt to catch the spirit of their
 masters-- ,important necessities--,good
                                        
feeding--,shelter--,cleanliness--,destru
ction of parasitic vermin--,salt and    
water--,light--,exercise--,rule for     
breeding--,care of ,horses3 feeding1    
grooming1 special treatment--,cows3     
stabling1 feed1 calving1 milking1       
tethering--,swine3 naturally cleanly1   
breeding1 fresh water1 charcoal1        
feeding--,sheep3 winter treatment--,diet
 --,sorting--,use of sheep in clearing  
land-,pasture--,hedges and              
fences--,poultry--,turkeys--,geese--,duc
ks--,fowls--,dairy work                 
generally--,bees--,care of domestic     
animals1 occupation for women4  ,,xxxv4 
,,earth-,,closets4  ,deodorization and  
preservation of excrementitious         
matter--,the earth-closet--,waring's    
pamphlet--,the agricultural             
argument--,necessity of returning to the

 soil the elements taken from           
it--,earth-closet based on power of clay
 and inorganic matter to absorb and     
retain odors and fertilizing            
matter--,its construction--,mode of     
use--,the ordinary privy--,the commode  
or portable house-privy--,especial      
directions3 things to be                
observed--,repeated use of earth--,other
                                        
advantages--,sick-rooms--,house-labor--,
cleanliness--,economy4  ,,xxxvi4        
,,warming ,,and ,,ventilation4  ,open   
fireplace nearest to natural mode by    
which earth is warmed and               
ventilated--,origin of                  
diseases--,necessity of pure air to life
 --,statistics--,general principles of  
ventilation--,mode of ,lewis            
,leeds--,ventilation of buildings       
planned in this work--,the pure-air     
conductor--,the foul-air                
exhausting-flue--,stoves--,detailed     
arrangements--,warming--,economy of     
time1 labor1 and expense in the cottage 

plan--,after all schemes1 the open      
fireplace the best4  ,,xxxvii4  ,,care  
,,of ,,the ,,homeless1 ,,the ,,helpless1
 ,,and ,,the ,,vicious4                 
,recommendations of the ,massachusetts  
,board of ,state ,charities--,pauper and
 criminal classes should be scattered in
 ,christian homes instead of gathered   
into large institutions--,facts recently
 published concerning the poor of       
,new-,york--,sufferings of the poor1    
deterioration of the rich--,christian   
principles of benevolence--,plan for a  
,christian city house--,suggestions to  
wealthy and unoccupied women--,roman    
,catholic works--,protestant            
duties--,the highest mission of woman4  
,,xxxviii4  ,,the ,,christian           
,,neighborhood4  ,spirit of ,christian  
,missions--,present organizations under 
church direction too                    
mechanical--,christian family influence 
the true instrument of ,gospel          
propagation--,practical suggestions for 
gathering a ,christian family in        

neglected neighborhoods--,plan of       
church1 school-house1 and               
family-dwelling in one building--,mode  
of use for various purposes--,nucleus   
and gathering of a family--,christian   
work for ,christian                     
women--,children--,orphans--,servants--,
neglected ones--,household              
training--,roman ,catholic ,nuns--,the  
,south--,the ,west--,the neglected      
interior of older ,states--,power of    
such examples--,rapid spread of their   
influence--,anticipation of the glorious
 consummation to be hoped for--,prophecy
 in the ,scriptures--,cowper's noble    
vision of the millennial glory4         
,,appeal ,,to ,,american ,,women4       
,,glossary ,,of ,,words ,,and           
,,references     ,,introduction4   ,the 
authors of this volume1 while they      
sympathize with every honest effort to  
relieve the disabilities and sufferings 
of their sex1 are confident that the    
chief cause of these evils is the fact  
that the honor and duties of the family 

state are not duly appreciated1 that    
women are not trained for these duties  
as men are trained for their trades and 
professions1 and that1 as the           
consequence1 family labor is poorly     
done1 poorly paid1 and regarded as      
menial and disgraceful4  ,to be the     
nurse of young children1 a cook1 or a   
housemaid1 is regarded as the lowest and
 last resort of poverty1 and one which  
no woman of culture and position can    
assume without loss of caste and        
respectability4  ,it is the aim of this 
volume to elevate both the honor and the
 remuneration of all the employments    
that sustain the many difficult and     
sacred duties of the family state1 and  
thus to render each department of       
woman's true profession as much desired 
and respected as are the most honored   
professions of men4  ,when the other sex
 are to be instructed in law1 medicine1 
or divinity1 they are favored with      
numerous institutions richly endowed1   
with teachers of the highest talents and

 acquirements1 with extensive libraries1
 and abundant and costly apparatus4     
,with such advantages they devote nearly
 ten of the best years of life to       
preparing themselves for their          
profession2 and to secure the public    
from unqualified members of these       
professions1 none can enter them until  
examined by a competent body1 who       
certify to their due preparation for    
their duties4  ,woman's profession      
embraces the care and nursing of the    
body in the critical periods of infancy 
and sickness1 the training of the human 
mind in the most impressible period of  
childhood1 the instruction and control  
of servants1 and most of the government 
and economies of the family state4      
,these duties of woman are as sacred and
 important as any ordained to man2 and  
yet no such advantages for preparation  
have been accorded to her1 nor is there 
any qualified body to certify the public
 that a woman is duly prepared to give  
proper instruction in her profession4   

,this unfortunate want1 and also the    
questions frequently asked concerning   
the domestic qualifications of both the 
authors of this work1 who have formerly 
written upon such topics1 make it       
needful to give some account of the     
advantages they have enjoyed in         
preparation for the important office    
assumed as teachers of woman's domestic 
duties4  ,the sister whose name is      
subscribed is the eldest of nine        
children by her own mother1 and of four 
by her step-mother2 and having a natural
 love for children1 she found it a      
pleasure as well as a duty to aid in the
 care of infancy and childhood4 ,at     
sixteen1 she was deprived of a mother1  
who was remarkable not only for         
intelligence and culture1 but for a     
natural taste and skill in domestic     
handicraft4 ,her place was awhile filled
 by an aunt remarkable for her habits of
 neatness and order1 and especially for 
her economy4 ,she was1 in the course of 
time1 replaced by a stepmother1 who had 

been accustomed to a superior style of  
housekeeping1 and was an expert in all  
departments of domestic administration4 
,under these successive housekeepers1   
the writer learned not only to perform  
in the most approved manner all the     
manual employments of domestic life1 but
 to honor and enjoy these duties4  ,at  
twenty-three1 she commenced the         
institution which ever since has        
flourished as ,the ,hartford ,female    
,seminary1 where1 at the age of twelve1 
the sister now united with her in the   
authorship of this work became her      
pupil1 and1 after a few years1 her      
associate4 ,the removal of the family to
 the ,west1 and failure of health1 ended
 a connection with the ,hartford        
,seminary1 and originated a similar one 
in ,cincinnati1 of which the younger    
authoress of this work was associate    
principal till her marriage4  ,at this  
time1 the work on ,domestic ,economy1 of
 which this volume may be called an     
enlarged edition1 although a great      

portion of it is entirely new1 embodying
 the latest results of science1 was     
prepared by the writer as a part of the 
,massachusetts ,school ,library1 and has
 since been extensively introduced as a 
text-book into public schools and higher
 female seminaries4 ,it was followed by 
its sequel1 ,the ,domestic              
,receipt-,book1 widely circulated by the
 ,harpers in every ,state of the ,union4
  ,these two works have been entirely   
remodeled1 former topics rewritten1 and 
many new ones introduced1 so as to      
include all that is properly embraced in
 a complete ,encyclopedia of ,domestic  
,economy4  ,in addition to the          
opportunities mentioned1 the elder      
sister1 for many years1 has been        
studying the causes and the remedies for
 the decay of constitution and loss of  
health so increasingly prevalent among  
,american women1 aiming to promote the  
establishment of endowed institutions1  
in which women shall be properly trained
 for their profession1 as both          

housekeepers and health-keepers4 ,what  
advantages have thus been received and  
the results thus obtained will appear in
 succeeding pages4  ,during the upward  
progress of the age1 and the advance of 
a more enlightened ,christianity1 the   
writers of this volume have gained more 
elevated views of the true mission of   
woman--of the dignity and importance of 
her distinctive duties1 and of the true 
happiness which will be the reward of a 
right appreciation of this mission1 and 
a proper performance of these duties4   
,there is at the present time an        
increasing agitation of the public mind1
 evolving many theories and some crude  
speculations as to woman's rights and   
duties4 ,that there is a great social   
and moral power in her keeping1 which is
 now seeking expression by organization1
 is manifest1 and that resulting plans  
and efforts will involve some mistakes1 
some collisions1 and some failures1 all 
must expect4  ,but to intelligent1      
reflecting1 and benevolent women--whose 

faith rests on the character and        
teachings of ,jesus ,christ--there are  
great principles revealed by ,him1 which
 in the end will secure the grand result
 which ,he taught and suffered to       
achieve4 ,it is hoped that in the       
following pages these principles will be
 so exhibited and illustrated as to aid 
in securing those rights and advantages 
which ,christ's religion aims to provide
 for all1 and especially for the most   
weak and defenseless of ,his children4  
,,catharine ,e4 ,,beecher4              
,illustration      ,,chapter ,i4  ,,the 
,,christian ,,family4   ,it is the aim  
of this volume to elevate both the honor
 and the remuneration of all employments
 that sustain the many difficult and    
varied duties of the family state1 and  
thus to render each department of       
woman's profession as much desired and  
respected as are the most honored       
professions of men4  ,what1 then1 is the
 end designed by the family state which 
,jesus ,christ came into this world to  

secure8  ,it is to provide for the      
training of our race to the highest     
possible intelligence1 virtue1 and      
happiness1 by means of the              
self-sacrificing labors of the wise and 
good1 and this with chief reference to a
 future immortal existence4 ,the        
distinctive feature of the family is    
self-sacrificing labor of the stronger  
and wiser members to raise the weaker   
and more ignorant to equal advantages4  
,the father undergoes toil and          
self-denial to provide a home1 and then 
the mother becomes a self-sacrificing   
laborer to train its inmates4 ,the      
useless1 troublesome infant is served in
 the humblest offices2 while both       
parents unite in training it to an      
equality with themselves in every       
advantage4 ,soon the older children     
become helpers to raise the younger to a
 level with their own4 ,when any are    
sick1 those who are well become         
self-sacrificing ministers4 ,when the   
parents are old and useless1 the        

children become their self-sacrificing  
servants4  ,thus the discipline of the  
family state is one of daily            
self-devotion of the stronger and wiser 
to elevate and support the weaker       
members4 ,nothing could be more contrary
 to its first principles than for the   
older and more capable children to      
combine to secure to themselves the     
highest advantages1 enforcing the       
drudgeries on the younger1 at the       
sacrifice of their equal culture4       
,jesus ,christ came to teach the        
fatherhood of ,god and consequent       
brotherhood of man4 ,he came as the     
first-born ,son of ,god and the ,elder  
,brother of man1 to teach by example the
 self-sacrifice by which the great      
family of man is to be raised to        
equality of advantages as children of   
,god4 ,for this end1 he humbled himself 
from the highest to the lowest place4   
,he chose for his birthplace the most   
despised village2 for his parents the   
lowest in rank2 for his trade1 to labor 

with his hands as a carpenter1 being    
subject to his parents thirty years4    
,and1 what is very significant1 his     
trade was that which prepares the family
 home1 as if he would teach that the    
great duty of man is labor--to provide  
for and train weak and ignorant         
creatures4 ,jesus ,christ worked with   
his hands nearly thirty years1 and      
preached less than three4 ,and he taught
 that his kingdom is exactly opposite to
 that of the world1 where all are       
striving for the highest positions4     
,whoso will be great shall be your      
minister1 and whoso will be chiefest    
shall be servant of all4  ,the family   
state then1 is the aptest earthly       
illustration of the heavenly kingdom1   
and in it woman is its chief minister4  
,her great mission is self-denial1 in   
training its members to self-sacrificing
 labors for the ignorant and weak3 if   
not her own children1 then the neglected
 children of her ,father in heaven4 ,she
 is to rear all under her care to lay up

 treasures1 not on earth1 but in heaven4
 ,all the pleasures of this life end    
here2 but those who train immortal minds
 are to reap the fruit of their labor   
through eternal ages4  ,to man is       
appointed the out-door labor--to till   
the earth1 dig the mines1 toil in the   
foundries1 traverse the ocean1 transport
 merchandise1 labor in manufactories1   
construct houses1 conduct civil1        
municipal1 and state affairs1 and all   
the heavy work1 which1 most of the day1 
excludes him from the comforts of a     
home4 ,but the great stimulus to all    
these toils1 implanted in the heart of  
every true man1 is the desire for a home
 of his own1 and the hopes of paternity4
 ,every man who truly lives for         
immortality responds to the beatitude1  
,children are a heritage from the ,lord3
 blessed is the man that hath his quiver
 full of them6 ,the more a father and   
mother live under the influence of that 
immortality which ,christ hath brought  
to light1 the more is the blessedness of

 rearing a family understood and        
appreciated4 ,every child trained aright
 is to dwell forever in exalted bliss   
with those that gave it life and trained
 it for heaven4  ,the blessed privileges
 of the family state are not confined to
 those who rear children of their own4  
,any woman who can earn a livelihood1 as
 every woman should be trained to do1   
can take a properly qualified female    
associate1 and institute a family of her
 own1 receiving to its heavenly         
influences the orphan1 the sick1 the    
homeless1 and the sinful1 and by        
motherly devotion train them to follow  
the self-denying example of ,christ1 in 
educating his earthly children for true 
happiness in this life and for his      
eternal home4  ,and such is the         
blessedness of aiding to sustain a truly
 ,christian home1 that no one comes so  
near the pattern of the ,all-perfect    
,one as those who might hold what men   
call a higher place1 and yet humble     
themselves to the lowest in order to aid

 in training the young1 not as          
men-pleasers1 but as servants to        
,christ1 with good-will doing service as
 to the ,lord1 and not to men4 ,such are
 preparing for high places in the       
kingdom of heaven4 ,whosoever will be   
chiefest among you1 let him be your     
servant4  ,it is often the case that the
 true humility of ,christ is not        
understood4 ,it was not in having a low 
opinion of his own character and claims1
 but it was in taking a low place in    
order to raise others to a higher4 ,the 
worldling seeks to raise himself and    
family to an equality with others1 or1  
if possible1 a superiority to them4 ,the
 true follower of ,christ comes down in 
order to elevate others4  ,the maxims   
and institutions of this world have ever
 been antagonistic to the teachings and 
example of ,jesus ,christ4 ,men toil for
 wealth1 honor1 and power1 not as means 
for raising others to an equality with  
themselves1 but mainly for earthly1     
selfish advantages4 ,although the       

experience of this life shows that      
children brought up to labor have the   
fairest chance for a virtuous and       
prosperous life1 and for hope of future 
eternal blessedness1 yet it is the aim  
of most parents who can do so1 to lay up
 wealth that their children need not    
labor with the hands as ,christ did4    
,and although exhorted by our ,lord not 
to lay up treasure on earth1 but rather 
the imperishable riches which are gained
 in toiling to train the ignorant and   
reform the sinful1 as yet a large       
portion of the professed followers of   
,christ1 like his first disciples1 are  
slow of heart to believe4  ,not less    
have the sacred ministries of the family
 state been undervalued and warred upon 
in other directions2 for example1 the   
,romish ,church has made celibacy a     
prime virtue1 and given its highest     
honors to those who forsake the family  
state as ordained by ,god4 ,thus came   
great communities of monks and nuns1    
shut out from the love and labors of a  

,christian home2 thus1 also1 came the   
monkish systems of education1 collecting
 the young in great establishments away 
from the watch and care of parents1 and 
the healthful and self-sacrificing      
labors of a home4 ,thus both religion   
and education have conspired to degrade 
the family state4  ,still more have     
civil laws and social customs been      
opposed to the principles of ,jesus     
,christ4 ,it has ever been assumed that 
the learned1 the rich1 and the powerful 
are not to labor with the hands1 as     
,christ did1 and as ,paul did when he   
would not eat any man's bread for       
naught1 but wrought with labor1 not     
because we have not power to live       
without hand-work1 but to make ourselves
 an example47#b ,thess4 #c47  ,instead  
of this1 manual labor has been made     
dishonorable and unrefined by being     
forced on the ignorant and poor4        
,especially has the most important of   
all hand-labor1 that which sustains the 
family1 been thus disgraced2 so that to 

nurse young children1 and provide the   
food of a family by labor1 is deemed the
 lowest of all positions in honor and   
profit1 and the last resort of poverty4 
,and so our ,lord1 who himself took the 
form of a servant1 teaches1 ,how hardly 
shall they that have riches enter the   
kingdom of heaven6--that kingdom in     
which all are toiling to raise the weak1
 ignorant1 and sinful to such equality  
with themselves as the children of a    
loving family enjoy4 ,one mode in which 
riches have led to antagonism with the  
true end of the family state is in the  
style of living1 by which the           
hand-labor1 most important to health1   
comfort1 and beauty1 is confined to the 
most ignorant and neglected members of  
society1 without any effort being made  
to raise them to equal advantages with  
the wise and cultivated4  ,and1 the     
higher civilization has advanced1 the   
more have children been trained to feel 
that to labor1 as did ,christ and ,paul1
 is disgraceful1 and to be made the     

portion of a degraded class4 ,children1 
of the rich grow up with the feeling    
that servants are to work for them1 and 
they themselves are not to work4 ,to the
 minds of most children and servants1 to
 be a lady1 is almost synonymous with to
 be waited on1 and do no work1 ,it is   
the earnest desire of the authors of    
this volume to make plain the falsity of
 this growing popular feeling1 and to   
show how much happier and more efficient
 family life will become when it is     
strengthened1 sustained1 and adorned by 
family work4     ,,ii4  ,a ,,christian  
,,house4   ,in the ,divine ,word it is  
written1 ,the wise woman buildeth her   
house4 ,to be wise1 is to choose the    
best means for accomplishing the best   
end4 ,it has been shown that the best   
end for a woman to seek is the training 
of ,god's children for their eternal    
home1 by guiding them to intelligence1  
virtue1 and true happiness4 ,when1      
therefore1 the wise woman seeks a home  
in which to exercise this ministry1 she 

will aim to secure a house so planned   
that it will provide in the best manner 
for health1 industry1 and economy1 those
 cardinal requisites of domestic        
enjoyment and success4 ,to aid in this1 
is the object of the following drawings 
and descriptions1 which will illustrate 
a style of living more conformed to the 
great design for which the family is    
instituted than that which ordinarily   
prevails among those classes which take 
the lead in forming the customs of      
society4 ,the aim will be to exhibit    
modes of economizing labor1 time1 and   
expenses1 so as to secure health1       
thrift1 and domestic happiness to       
persons of limited means1 in a measure  
rarely attained even by those who       
possess wealth4  ,at the head of this   
chapter is a sketch of what may be      
properly called a ,christian house2 that
 is1 a house contrived for the express  
purpose of enabling every member of a   
family to labor with the hands for the  
common good1 and by modes at once       

healthful1 economical1 and tasteful4 ,of
 course1 much of the instruction        
conveyed in the following pages is      
chiefly applicable to the wants and     
habits of those living either in the    
country or in such suburban vicinities  
as give space of ground for healthful   
outdoor occupation in the family        
service1 although the general principles
 of house-building and house-keeping are
 of necessity universal in their        
application--as true in the busy        
confines of the city as in the freer and
 purer quietude of the country4 ,so far 
as circumstances can be made to yield   
the opportunity1 it will be assumed that
 the family state demands some outdoor  
labor for all4 ,the cultivation of      
flowers to ornament the table and house1
 of fruits and vegetables for food1 of  
silk and cotton for clothing1 and the   
care of horse1 cow1 and dairy1 can be so
 divided that each and all of the       
family1 some part of the day1 can take  
exercise in the pure air1 under the     

magnetic and healthful rays of the sun4 
,every head of a family should seek a   
soil and climate which will afford such 
opportunities4 ,railroads1 enabling men 
toiling in cities to rear families in   
the country1 are on this account a      
special blessing4 ,so1 also1 is the     
opening of the ,south to free labor1    
where1 in the pure and mild climate of  
the uplands1 open-air labor can proceed 
most of the year1 and women and children
 labor out of doors as well as within4  
,in the following drawings are presented
 modes of economizing time1 labor1 and  
expense by the close packing of         
conveniences4 ,by such methods1 small   
and economical houses can be made to    
secure most of the comforts and many of 
the refinements of large and expensive  
ones4 ,the cottage at the head of this  
chapter is projected on a plan which can
 be adapted to a warm or cold climate   
with little change4 ,by adding another  
story1 it would serve a large family4   
,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4  ,fig4 #a shows

 the ground-plan of the first floor4 ,on
 the inside it is forty-three feet long 
and twenty-five wide1 excluding         
conservatories and front and back       
projections4 ,its inside height from    
floor to ceiling is ten feet4 ,the      
piazzas each side of the front          
projection have sliding-windows to the  
floor1 and can1 by glazed sashes1 be    
made green-houses in winter4 ,in a warm 
climate1 piazzas can be made at the back
 side also4  ,in the description and    
arrangement1 the leading aim is to show 
how time1 labor1 and expense are saved1 
not only in the building but in         
furniture and its arrangement4 ,with    
this aim1 the ground-floor and its      
furniture will first be shown1 then the 
second story and its furniture1 and then
 the basement and its conveniences4 ,the
 conservatories are appendages not      
necessary to housekeeping1 but useful in
 many ways pointed out more at large in 
other chapters4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b
  ,the entry has arched recesses behind 

the front doors1 7,fig4 #b17 furnished  
with hooks for over-clothes in both--a  
box for over-shoes in one1 and a stand  
for umbrellas in the other4 ,the roof of
 the recess is for statuettes1 busts1 or
 flowers4 ,the stairs turn twice with   
broad steps1 making a recess at the     
lower landing1 whore a table is set with
 a vase of flowers1 7,fig4 #c47 ,on one 
side of the recess is a closet1 arched  
to correspond with the arch over the    
stairs4 ,a bracket over the first broad 
stair1 with flowers or statuettes1 is   
visible from the entrance1 and pictures 
can be hung as in the illustration4     
,the large room on the left can be made 
to serve the purpose of several rooms by
 means of a movable screen4 ,by shifting
 this rolling screen from one part of   
the room to another1 two apartments are 
always available1 of any desired size   
within the limits of the large room4    
,one side of the screen fronts what may 
be used as the parlor or sitting-room2  
the other side is arranged for bedroom  

conveniences4 ,of this1 ,fig4 #d shows  
the front side2--covered first with     
strong canvas1 stretched and nailed on4 
,over this is pasted panel-paper1 and   
the upper part is made to resemble an   
ornamental cornice by fresco-paper4     
,pictures can be hung in the panels1 or 
be pasted on and varnished with white   
varnish4 ,to prevent the absorption of  
the varnish1 a wash of gum isinglass    
7fish-glue7 must be applied twice4      
,illustration3 ,fig4 #d4 ,,closet1      
,,recess1 ,,stair ,,landing4            
,illustration3 ,fig #e4  ,fig4 #e shows 
the back or inside of the movable screen
 toward the part of the room used as the
 bedroom4 ,on one side1 and at the top  
and bottom1 it has shelves with         
shelf-boxes1 which are cheaper and      
better than drawers1 and much preferred 
by those using them4 ,handles are cut in
 the front and back side1 as seen in    
,fig4 #f4 ,half an inch space must be   
between the box and the shelf over it1  
and as much each side1 so that it can be

 taken out and put in easily4 ,the      
central part of the screen's interior is
 a wardrobe4  ,image3 ,panel screens    
,this screen must be so high as nearly  
to reach the ceiling1 in order to       
prevent it from overturning4 ,it is to  
fill the width of the room1 except two  
feet on each side4 ,a projecting cleat  
or strip1 reaching nearly to the top of 
the screen1 three inches wide1 is to be 
screwed to the front sides1 on which    
light frame doors are to be hung1       
covered with canvas and panel-paper like
 the front of the screen4 ,the inside of
 these doors is furnished with hooks for
 clothing1 for which the projection     
makes room4 ,the whole screen is to be  
eighteen inches deep at the top and two 
feet deep at the base1 giving a solid   
foundation4 ,it is moved on four wooden 
rollers1 one foot long and four inches  
in diameter4 ,the pivots of the rollers 
and the parts where there is friction   
must be rubbed with hard soap1 and then 
a child can move the whole easily4  ,a  

curtain is to be hung across the whole  
interior of the screen by rings1 on a   
strong wire4 ,the curtain should be in  
three parts1 with lead or large nails in
 the hems to keep it in place4 ,the     
wood-work must be put together with     
screws1 as the screen is too large to   
pass through a1 door4  ,illustration3   
,fig4 #f4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g4      
,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4  ,at the end of
 the room1 behind the screen1 are two   
couches1 to be run one under the other1 
as in ,fig4 #g4 ,the upper one is made  
with four posts1 each three feet high   
and three inches square1 set on casters 
two inches high4 ,the frame is to be    
fourteen inches from the floor1 seven   
feet long1 two feet four inches wide1   
and three inches in thickness4 ,at the  
head1 and at the foot1 is to be screwed 
a notched two-inch board1 three inches  
wide1 as in ,fig4 #h4 ,the mortises are 
to be one inch wide and deep1 and one   
inch apart1 to revive slats made of ash1
 oak1 or spruce1 one inch square1 placed

 lengthwise of the couch4 ,the slats    
being small1 and so near together1 and  
running lengthwise1 make a better spring
 frame than wire coils4 ,if they warp1  
they can be turned4 ,they must not be   
fastened at the ends1 except by         
insertion in the notches4 ,across the   
posts1 and of equal height with them1   
are to be screwed head and foot-boards4 
,the under couch is like the upper1     
except these dimensions3 posts1 nine    
inches high1 including castors2 frame1  
six feet two inches long1 two feet four 
inches wide4 ,the frame should be as    
near the floor as possible1 resting on  
the casters4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #i4  
,the most healthful and comfortable     
mattress is made by a case1 open in the 
centre and fastened together with       
buttons1 as in ,fig4 #i2 to be filled   
with oat straw1 which is softer than    
wheat or rye4 ,this can be adjusted to  
the figure1 and often renewed4  ,fig4   
#aj represents the upper couch when     
covered1 with the under couch put       

beneath it4 ,the coverlid should match  
the curtain of the screen2 and the      
pillows1 by day1 should have a case of  
the same4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aj4    
,illustration3 ,fig4 #aa4  ,fig4 #aa is 
an ottoman1 made as a box1 with a lid on
 hinges4 ,a cushion is fastened to this 
lid by strings at each corner1 passing  
through holes in the box lid and tied   
inside4 ,the cushion to be cut square1  
with side pieces2 stuffed with hair1 and
 stitched through like a mattress4 ,side
 handles are made by cords fastened     
inside with knots4 ,the box must be two 
inches larger at the bottom than at the 
top1 and the lid and cushion the same   
size as the bottom1 to give it a        
tasteful shape4 ,this ottoman is set on 
casters1 and is a great convenience for 
holding articles1 while serving also as 
a seat4  ,the expense of the screen1    
where lumber averages #d a hundred1 and 
carpenter labor #c a day1 would be about
 #cj1 and the two couches about #f4 ,the
 material for covering might be cheap   

and yet pretty4 ,a woman with these     
directions1 and a son or husband who    
would use plane and saw1 could thus     
secure much additional room1 and also   
what amounts to two bureaus1 two large  
trunks1 one large wardrobe1 and a       
wash-stand1 for less than #bj--the mere 
cost of materials4 ,the screen and      
couches can be so arranged as to have   
one room serve first as a large and airy
 sleeping-room2 then1 in the morning1 it
 may be used as sitting-room one side of
 the screen1 and breakfast-room the     
other2 and lastly1 through the day it   
can be made a large parlor on the front 
side1 and a sewing or retiring-room the 
other side4 ,the needless spaces usually
 devoted to kitchen1 entries1 halls1    
back-stairs1 pantries1 store-rooms1 and 
closets1 by this method would be used in
 adding to the size of the large room1  
so variously used by day and by night4  
,illustration3 ,fig4 #ab4  ,fig4 #ab is 
an enlarged plan of the kitchen and     
stove-room4 ,the chimney and stove-room 

are contrived to ventilate the whole    
house1 by a mode exhibited in another   
chapter4  ,between the two rooms glazed 
sliding-doors1 passing each other1 serve
 to shut out heat and smells from the   
kitchen4 ,the sides of the stove-room   
must be lined with shelves2 those on the
 side by the cellar stairs1 to be one   
foot wide1 and eighteen inches apart2 on
 the other side1 shelves may be         
narrower1 eight inches wide and nine    
inches apart4 ,boxes with lids1 to      
receive stove utensils1 must be placed  
near the stove4  ,on these shelves1 and 
in the closet and boxes1 can be placed  
every material used for cooking1 all the
 table and cooking utensils1 and all the
 articles used in house work1 and yet   
much spare room will be left4 ,the      
cook's galley in a steamship has every  
article and utensil used in cooking for 
two hundred persons1 in a space not     
larger than this stove-room1 and so     
arranged that with one or two steps the 
cook can reach all he uses4  ,in        

contrast to this1 in most large houses1 
the table furniture1 the cooking        
materials and utensils1 the sink1 and   
the eating-room1 are at such distances  
apart1 that half the time and strength  
is employed in walking back and forth to
 collect and return the articles used4  
,illustration3 ,fig4 #ac4  ,fig4 #ac is 
an enlarged plan of the sink and        
cooking-form4 ,two windows make a better
 circulation of air in warm weather1 by 
having one open at top and the other at 
the bottom1 while the light is better   
adjusted for working1 in case of weak   
eyes4  ,the flour-barrel just fills the 
closet1 which has a door for admission1 
and a lid to raise when used4 ,beside   
it1 is the form for cooking1 with a     
moulding-board laid on it2 one side used
 for preparing vegetables and meat1 and 
the other for moulding bread4 ,the sink 
has two pumps1 for well and for         
rain-water--one having a forcing power  
to throw water into the reservoir in the
 garret1 which supplies the water-closet

 and bath-room4 ,on the other side of   
the sink is the dish-drainer1 with a    
ledge on the edge next the sink1 to hold
 the dishes1 and grooves cut to let the 
water drain into the sink4 ,it has      
hinges1 so that it can either rest on   
the cook-form or be turned over and     
cover the sink4 ,under the sink are     
shelf-boxes placed on two shelves run   
into grooves1 with other grooves above  
and below1 so that one may move the     
shelves and increase or diminish the    
spaces between4 ,the shelf-boxes can be 
used for scouring-materials1            
dish-towels1 and dish-cloths2 also to   
hold bowls for bits of butter1 fats1    
etc4 ,under these two shelves is room   
for two pails1 and a jar for            
soap-grease4  ,under the cook-form are  
shelves and shelf-boxes for unbolted    
wheat1 corn-meal1 rye1 etc4 ,beneath    
these1 for white and brown sugar1 are   
wooden can-pails1 which are the best    
articles in which to keep these constant
 necessities4 ,beside them is the tin   

molasses-can with a tight1 movable      
cover1 and a cork in the spout4 ,this is
 much better than a jug for molasses1   
and also for vinegar and oil1 being     
easier to clean and to handle4 ,other   
articles and implements for cooking can 
be arranged on or under the shelves at  
the side and front4 ,a small            
cooking-tray1 holding pepper1 salt1     
dredging-box1 knife and spoon1 should   
stand close at hand by the stove1 7,fig4
 #ad47  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ad4       
,illustration3 ,fig4 #ae4  ,the articles
 used for setting tables are to be      
placed on the shelves at the front and  
side of the sink4 ,two tumbler-trays1   
made of pasteboard1 covered with        
varnished fancy papers and divided by   
wires1 7as shown in ,fig4 #ae17 save    
many steps in setting and clearing      
table4 ,similar trays1 7,fig4 #af17 for 
knives and forks and spoons1 serve the  
same purpose4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #af4
  ,the sink should be three feet long   
and three inches deep1 its width        

matching the cook-form4  ,illustration3 
,fig4 #ah4  ,fig4 #ag is the second or  
attic story4 ,the main objection to     
attic rooms is their warmth in summer1  
owing to the heated roof4 ,this is      
prevented by so enlarging the closets   
each side that their walls meet the     
ceiling under the garret floor1 thus    
excluding all the roof4 ,in the         
bed-chambers1 corner dressing-tables1 as
 ,fig4 #ah1 instead of projecting       
bureaus1 save much space for use1 and   
give a handsome form and finish to the  
room4 ,in the bath-room must be the     
opening to the garret1 and a step-ladder
 to reach it4 ,a reservoir in the       
garret1 supplied by a forcing-pump in   
the cellar or at the sink1 must be well 
supported by timbers1 and the plumbing  
must be well done1 or much annoyance    
will ensue4  ,the large chambers are to 
be lighted by large windows or glazed   
sliding-doors1 opening upon the balcony4
 ,a roof can be put over the balcony and
 its sides inclosed by windows1 and the 

chamber extend into it1 and be thus much
 enlarged4  ,the water-closets must have
 the latest improvements for safe       
discharge1 and there will be no trouble4
 ,they cost no more than an out-door    
building1 and save from the most        
disagreeable house-labor4 ,a great      
improvement1 called earth-closets1 will 
probably take the place of water-closets
 to some extent2 though at present the  
water is the more convenient4 ,a        
description of the earth-closet will be 
given in another chapter relating to    
tenement-houses for the poor in large   
cities4  ,the method of ventilating all 
the chambers1 and also the cellar1 will 
be described in another chapter4        
,illustration3 ,fig4 #ai4  ,fig4 #ai    
represents a shoe-bag1 that can be      
fastened to the side of a closet or     
closet-door4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bj4 
,fig4 #bj represents a piece-bag1 and is
 a very great labor and space-saving    
invention4 ,it is made of calico1 and   
fastened to the side of a closet or a   

door1 to hold all the bundles that are  
usually stowed in trunks and drawers4   
,india-rubber or elastic tape drawn into
 hems to hold the contents of the bag is
 better than tape-strings4 ,each bag    
should be labeled with the name of its  
contents1 written with indelible ink on 
white tape sewed on to the bag4 ,such   
systematic arrangement saves much time  
and annoyance4 ,drawers or trunks to    
hold these articles can not be kept so  
easily in good order1 and moreover1     
occupy spaces saved by this contrivance4
  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ba4 ,floor plan 
,fig4 #ba is the basement4 ,it has the  
floor and sides plastered1 and is       
lighted with glazed doors4 ,a form is   
raised close by the cellar stairs1 for  
baskets1 pails1 and tubs4 ,here1 also1  
the refrigerator can be placed1 or1 what
 is better1 an ice-closet can be made1  
as designated in the illustration4 ,the 
floor of the basement must be an        
inclined plane toward a drain1 and be   
plastered with water-lime4 ,the         

wash-tubs have plugs in the bottom to   
let off water1 and cocks and pipes over 
them bringing cold water from the       
reservoir in the garret and hot water   
from the laundry stove4 ,this saves much
 heavy labor of emptying tubs and       
carrying water4  ,the laundry closet has
 a stove for heating irons1 and also a  
kettle on top for heating water4 ,slides
 or clothes-frames are made to draw out 
to receive wet clothes1 and then run    
into the closet to dry4 ,this saves     
health as well as time and money1 and   
the clothes are as white as when dried  
outdoors4  ,the wood-work of the house1 
for doors1 windows1 etc41 should be     
oiled chestnut1 butternut1 white-wood1  
and pine4 ,this is cheaper1 handsomer1  
and more easy to keep clean than painted
 wood4  ,in ,fig4 #ba are planned two   
conservatories1 and few understand their
 value in the training of the young4    
,they provide soil1 in which children1  
through the winter months1 can be       
starting seeds and plants for their     

gardens find raising valuable1 tender   
plants4 ,every child should cultivate   
flowers and fruits to sell and to give  
away1 and thus be taught to learn the   
value of money and to practice both     
economy and benevolence4  ,according to 
the calculation of a house-carpenter1 in
 a place where the average price of     
lumber is #d a hundred1 and carpenter   
work #c a day1 such a house can be built
 for #afjj4 ,for those practicing the   
closest economy1 two small families     
could occupy it1 by dividing the        
kitchen1 and yet have room enough4 ,or  
one large room and the chamber over it  
can be left till increase of family and 
means require enlargement4  ,a strong   
horse and carryall1 with a cow1 garden1 
vineyard1 and orchard1 on a few acres1  
would secure all the substantial        
comforts found in great establishments1 
without the trouble of ill-qualified    
servants4  ,and if the parents and      
children were united in the daily labors
 of the house1 garden1 and fruit        

culture2 such thrift1 health1 and       
happiness would be secured as is but    
rarely found among the rich4  ,let us   
suppose a colony of cultivated and      
,christian people1 having abundant      
wealth1 who now are living as the       
wealthy usually do1 emigrating to some  
of the beautiful ,southern uplands1     
where are rocks1 hills1 valleys1 and    
mountains as picturesque as those of    
,new ,england1 where the thermometer but
 rarely reaches #ij degrees in summer1  
and in winter as rarely sinks below     
freezing-point1 so that outdoor labor   
goes on all the year1 where the fertile 
soil is easily worked1 where rich       
tropical fruits and flowers abound1     
where cotton and silk can be raised by  
children around their home1 where the   
produce of vineyards and orchards finds 
steady markets by railroads ready made2 
suppose such a colony1 with a central   
church and school-room1 library1 hall   
for sports1 and a common laundry1       
7taking the most trying part of domestic

 labor from each house17--suppose each  
family to train the children to labor   
with the hands as a healthful and       
honorable duty2 suppose all this1 which 
is perfectly practicable1 would not the 
enjoyment of this life be increased1 and
 also abundant treasures be laid up in  
heaven1 by using the wealth thus        
economized in diffusing similar         
enjoyments and culture among the poor1  
ignorant1 and neglected ones in         
desolated sections where many now are   
perishing for want of such ,christian   
example and influences8     ,,iii4  ,a  
,,healthful ,,home4   ,when the wise    
woman buildeth her house1 the first     
consideration will be the health of the 
inmates4 ,the first and most            
indispensable requisite for health is   
pure air1 both by day and night4  ,if   
the parents of a family should daily    
withhold from their children a large    
portion of food needful to growth and   
health1 and every night should          
administer to each a small dose of      

poison1 it would be called murder of the
 most hideous character4 ,but it is     
probable that more than one half of this
 nation are doing that very thing4 ,the 
murderous operation is perpetrated daily
 and nightly1 in our parlors1 our       
bed-rooms1 our kitchens1 our            
schoolrooms2 and even our churches are  
no asylum from the barbarity4 ,nor can  
we escape by our railroads1 for even    
there the same dreadful work is going   
on4  ,the only palliating circumstance  
is the ignorance of those who commit    
these wholesale murders4 ,as saith the  
,scripture1 ,the people do perish for   
lack of knowledge4 ,and it is this lack 
of knowledge which it is woman's special
 business to supply1 in first training  
her household to intelligence as the    
indispensable road to virtue and        
happiness4  ,the above statements will  
be illustrated by some account of the   
manner in which the body is supplied    
with healthful nutriment4 ,there are two
 modes of nourishing the body1 one is by

 food and the other by air4 ,in the     
stomach the food is dissolved1 and the  
nutritious portion is absorbed by the   
blood1 and then is earned by            
blood-vessels to the lungs1 where it    
receives oxygen from the air we breathe4
 ,this oxygen is as necessary to the    
nourishment of the body as the food for 
the stomach4 ,in a full-grown man       
weighing one hundred and fifty-four     
pounds1 one hundred and eleven pounds   
consists of oxygen1 obtained chiefly    
from the air we breathe4 ,thus the lungs
 feed the body with oxygen1 as really as
 the stomach supplies the other food    
required4  ,the lungs occupy the upper  
portion of the body from the collar-bone
 to the lower ribs1 and between their   
two lobes is placed the heart4          
,illustration3 ,fig4 #bb4 ,illustration3
 ,fig4 #bc4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #bd4   
,illustration3 ,fig4 #be4 ,illustration3
 ,fig4 #bf4  ,fig4 #bb shows the        
position of the lungs1 though not the   
exact shape4 ,on the right hand is the  

exterior of one of the lobes1 and on the
 left hand are seen the branching tubes 
of the interior1 through which the air  
we breathe passes to the exceedingly    
minute air-cells of which the lungs     
chiefly consist4 ,fig4 #bc shows the    
outside of a cluster of these air-cells1
 and ,fig4 #bd is the inside view4 ,the 
lining membrane of each air-cell is     
covered by a network of minute          
blood-vessels called capillaries which1 
magnified several hundred times1 appear 
in the microscope as at ,fig4 #be4      
,every air-cell has a blood-vessel that 
brings blood from the heart1 which      
meanders through its capillaries till it
 reaches another blood-vessel that      
carries it back to the heart1 as seen in
 ,fig4 #bf4 ,in this passage of the     
blood through these capillaries1 the air
 in the air-cell imparts its oxygen to  
the blood1 and receives in exchange     
carbonic acid and watery vapor4 ,these  
latter are expired at every breath into 
the atmosphere4  ,by calculating the    

number of air cells in a small portion  
of the lungs1 under a microscope1 it is 
ascertained that there are no less than 
eighteen million of these wonderful     
little purifiers and feeders of the     
body4 ,by their ceaseless ministries1   
every grown person receives1 each day1  
thirty-three hogsheads of air into the  
lungs to nourish and vitalize every part
 of the body1 and also to carry off its 
impurities4  ,but the heart has a most  
important agency in this operation4     
,fig4 #bg is a diagram of the heart1    
which is placed between the two lobes of
 the lungs4 ,the right side of the heart
 receives the dark and impure blood1    
which is loaded with carbonic acid4 ,it 
is brought from every point of the body 
by branching veins that unite in the    
upper and the lower vena cava1 which    
discharge into the right side of the    
heart4 ,this impure blood passes to the 
capillaries of the air-cells in the     
lungs1 where it gives off carbonic acid1
 and1 taking oxygen from the air1 then  

returns to the left side of the heart1  
from whence it is sent out through the  
aorta and its myriad branching arteries 
to every part of the body4 ,when the    
upper portion of the heart contracts1 it
 forces both the pure blood from the    
lungs1 and the impure blood from the    
body1 through the valves marked ,v1 ,v1 
into the lower part4 ,when the lower    
portion contracts1 it closes the valves 
and forces the impure blood into the    
lungs on one side1 and also on the other
 side forces the purified blood through 
the aorta and arteries to all parts of  
the body4  ,as before stated1 the lungs 
consist chiefly of air-cells1 the walls 
of which are lined with minute          
blood-vessels2 and we know that in every
 man these air-cells number eighteen    
millions4  ,now every beat of the heart 
sends two ounces of blood into the      
minute1 hair-like blood-vessels1 called 
capillaries1 that line these air-cells1 
where the air in the air-cells gives its
 oxygen to the blood1 and in its place  

receives carbonic acid4 ,this gas is    
then expired by the lungs into the      
surrounding atmosphere4  ,thus1 by this 
powerful little organ1 the heart1 no    
less than twenty-eight pounds of blood1 
in a common-sized man1 is sent three    
times every hour through the lungs1     
giving out carbonic acid and watery     
vapor1 and receiving the life-inspiring 
oxygen4  ,whether all this blood shall  
convey the nourishing and invigorating  
oxygen to every part of the body1 or    
return unrelieved of carbonic acid1     
depends entirely on the pureness of the 
atmosphere that is breathed4  ,every    
time we think or feel1 this mental      
action dissolves some particles of the  
brain and nerves1 which pass into the   
blood to be thrown out of the body      
through the lungs and skin4 ,in like    
manner1 whenever we move any muscle1    
some of its particles decay and pass    
away4 ,it is in the capillaries1 which  
are all over the body1 that this change 
takes place4 ,the blood-vessels that    

convey the pure blood from the heart1   
divide into myriads of little branches  
that terminate in capillary vessels like
 those lining the air-cells of the      
lungs4 ,the blood meanders through these
 minute capillaries1 depositing the     
oxygen taken from the lungs and the food
 of the stomach1 and receiving in return
 the decayed matter1 which is chiefly   
carbonic acid4  ,this carbonic acid is  
formed by the union of oxygen with      
carbon or charcoal1 which forms a large 
portion of the body4 ,watery vapor is   
also formed in the capillaries by the   
union of oxygen with the hydrogen       
contained in the food and drink that    
nourish the body4  ,during this process 
in the capillaries1 the bright red blood
 of the arteries changes to the purple  
blood of the veins1 which is carried    
back to the heart1 to be sent to the    
lungs as before described4 ,a portion of
 the oxygen received in the lungs unites
 with the dissolved food sent from the  
stomach into the blood1 and no food can 

nourish the body till it has received a 
proper supply of oxygen in the lungs4   
,at every breath a half-pint of blood   
receives its needed oxygen in the lungs1
 and at the same time gives out an equal
 amount of carbonic acid and water4     
,now1 this carbonic acid1 if received   
into the lungs1 undiluted by sufficient 
air1 is a fatal poison1 causing certain 
death4 ,when it is mixed with only a    
small portion of air1 it is a slow      
poison1 which imperceptibly undermines  
the constitution4  ,we now can          
understand how it is that all who live  
in houses where the breathing of inmates
 has deprived the air of oxygen1 and    
loaded it with carbonic acid1 may truly 
be said to be poisoned and starved2     
poisoned with carbonic acid1 and starved
 for want of oxygen4  ,whenever oxygen  
unites with carbon to form carbonic     
acid1 or with hydrogen to form water1   
heat is generated ,thus it is that a    
land of combustion is constantly going  
on in the capillaries all over the body4

 ,it is this burning of the decaying    
portions of the body that causes animal 
heat4 ,it is a process similar to that  
which takes place when lamps and candles
 are burning4 ,the oil and tallows which
 are chiefly carbon and hydrogen1 unite 
with the oxygen of the air and form     
carbonic acid and watery vapor1         
producing heat during the process4 ,so  
in the capillaries all over the body1   
the carbon and hydrogen supplied to the 
blood by the stomach1 unite with the    
oxygen gained in the lungs1 and cause   
the heat which is diffused all over the 
body4  ,the skin also performs an       
office1 similar to that of the lungs4   
,in the skin of every adult there are no
 less than seven million minute         
perspirating tubes1 each one fourth of  
an inch long4 ,if all these were united 
in one length1 they would extend        
twenty-eight miles4 ,these minute tubes 
are lined with capillary blood-vessels1 
which are constantly sending out not    
only carbonic acid1 but other gases and 

particles of decayed matter4 ,the skin  
and lungs together1 in one day and      
night1 throw out three quarters of a    
pound of charcoal as carbonic acid1     
beside other gases and water4  ,while   
the bodies of men and animals are       
filling the air with the poisonous      
carbonic acid1 and using up the         
life-giving oxygen1 the trees and plants
 are performing an exactly contrary     
process2 for they are absorbing carbonic
 acid and giving out oxygen4 ,thus1 by a
 wonderful arrangement of the beneficent
 ,creator1 a constant equilibrium is    
preserved4 ,what animals use is provided
 by vegetables1 and what vegetables     
require is furnished by animals2 and all
 goes on1 day and night1 without care or
 thought of man4  ,the human race in its
 infancy was placed in a mild and genial
 clime1 where each separate family dwelt
 in tents1 and breathed1 both day and   
night1 the pure air of heaven4 ,and when
 they became scattered abroad to colder 
climes1 the open fire-place secured a   

full supply of pure air4 ,but           
civilization has increased economies and
 conveniences far ahead of the knowledge
 needed by the common people for their  
healthful use4 ,tight sleeping-rooms1   
and close1 air-tight stoves1 are now    
starving and poisoning more than one    
half of this nation4 ,it seems          
impossible to make people know their    
danger4 ,and the remedy for this is the 
light of knowledge and intelligence     
which it is woman's special mission to  
bestow1 as she controls and regulates   
the ministries of a home4  ,the         
poisoning process is thus exhibited in  
,mrs4 ,stowe's ,house and ,home ,papers1
 and can not be recalled too often3  ,no
 other gift of ,god1 so precious1 so    
inspiring1 is treated with such utter   
irreverence and contempt in the         
calculations of us mortals as this same 
air of heaven4 ,a sermon on oxygen1 if  
we had a preacher who understood the    
subject1 might do more to repress sin   
than the most orthodox discourse to show

 when and how and why sin came4 ,a      
minister gets up in a crowded           
lecture-room1 where the mephitic air    
almost makes the candles burn blue1 and 
bewails the deadness of the church--the 
church the while1 drugged by the        
poisoned air1 growing sleepier and      
sleepier1 though they feel dreadfully   
wicked for being so4  ,little ,jim1 who1
 fresh from his afternoon's ramble in   
the fields1 last evening said his       
prayers dutifully1 and lay down to sleep
 in a most ,christian frame1 this       
morning sits up in bed with his hair    
bristling with crossness1 strikes at his
 nurse1 and declares he won't say his   
prayers--that he don't want to be good4 
,the simple difference is1 that the     
child1 having slept in a close box of a 
room1 his brain all night fed by poison1
 is in a mild state of moral insanity4  
,delicate women remark that it takes    
them till eleven or twelve o'clock to   
get up their strength in the morning4   
,query1 ,do they sleep with closed      

windows and doors1 and with heavy       
bed-curtains8  ,the houses built by our 
ancestors were better ventilated in     
certain respects than modern ones1 with 
all their improvements4 ,the great      
central chimney1 with its open          
fire-places in the different rooms1     
created a constant current which carried
 off foul and vitiated air4 ,in these   
days1 how common is it to provide rooms 
with only a flue for a stove6 ,this flue
 is kept shut in summer1 and in winter  
opened only to admit a close stove1     
which burns away the vital portion of   
the air quite as fast as the occupants  
breathe it away4 ,the sealing up of     
fire-places and introduction of         
air-tight stoves may1 doubtless1 be a   
saving of fuel2 it saves1 too1 more than
 that2 in thousands and thousands of    
cases it has saved people from all      
further human wants1 and put an end     
forever to any needs short of the six   
feet of narrow earth which are man's    
only inalienable property4 ,in other    

words1 since the invention of air-tight 
stoves1 thousands have died of slow     
poison4  ,it is a terrible thing to     
reflect upon1 that our northern winters 
last from ,november to ,may1 six long   
months1 in which many families confine  
themselves to one room1 of which every  
window-crack has been carefully calked  
to make it air-tight1 where an air-tight
 stove keeps the atmosphere at a        
temperature between eighty and ninety2  
and the inmates1 sitting there with all 
their winter clothes on1 become         
enervated both by the heat and by the   
poisoned air1 for which there is no     
escape but the occasional opening of a  
door4  ,it is no wonder that the first  
result of all this is such a delicacy of
 skin and lungs that about half the     
inmates are obliged to give up going    
into the open air during the six cold   
months1 because they invariably catch   
cold if they do so4 ,it is no wonder    
that the cold caught about the first of 
,december has by the first of ,march    

become a fixed consumption1 and that the
 opening of the spring1 which ought to  
bring life and health1 in so many cases 
brings death4  ,we hear of the lean     
condition in which the poor bears emerge
 from their six months' wintering1      
during which they subsist on the fat    
which they have acquired the previous   
summer4 ,even so1 in our long winters1  
multitudes of delicate people subsist on
 the daily waning strength which they   
acquired in the season when windows and 
doors were open1 and fresh air was a    
constant luxury4 ,no wonder we hear of  
spring fever and spring biliousness1 and
 have thousands of nostrums for clearing
 the blood in the spring4 ,all these    
things are the pantings and palpitations
 of a system run down under slow poison1
 unable to get a step further4  ,better1
 far better1 the old houses of the olden
 time1 with their great roaring fires1  
and their bed-rooms where the snow came 
in and the wintry winds whistled4 ,then1
 to be sure1 you froze your back while  

you burned your face1 your water froze  
nightly in your pitcher1 your breath    
congealed in ice-wreaths on the         
blankets1 and you could write your name 
on the pretty snow-wreath that had      
sifted in through the window-cracks4    
,but you woke full of life and vigor1   
you looked out into the whirling        
snow-storms without a shiver1 and       
thought nothing of plunging through     
drifts as high as your head on your     
daily way to school4 ,you jingled in    
sleighs1 you snow-balled1 you lived in  
snow like a snow-bird1 and your blood   
coursed and tingled1 in full tide of    
good1 merry1 real life1 through your    
veins--none of the slow-creeping1 black 
blood which clogs the brain and lies    
like a weight on the vital wheels6  ,to 
illustrate the effects of this poison1  
the horrors of the ,black ,hole of      
,calcutta are often referred to1 where  
one hundred and forty-six men were      
crowded into a room only eighteen feet  
square with but two small windows1 and  

in a hot climate4 ,after a night of such
 horrible torments as chill the blood to
 read1 the morning showed a pile of one 
hundred and twenty-three dead men and   
twenty-three half dead that were finally
 recovered only to a life of weakness   
and suffering4  ,in another case1 a     
captain of the steamer ,londonderry1 in 
#ahdh1 from sheer ignorance of the      
consequences1 in a storm1 shut up his   
passengers in a tight room without      
windows4 ,the agonies1 groans1 curses1  
and shrieks that followed were horrible4
 ,the struggling mass finally burst the 
door1 and the captain found seventy-two 
of the two hundred already dead2 while  
others1 with blood starting from their  
eyes and ears1 and their bodies in      
convulsions1 were restored1 many only to
 a life of sickness and debility4  ,it  
is ascertained by experiments that      
breathing bad air tends so to reduce all
 the processes of the body1 that less   
oxygen is demanded and less carbonic    
acid sent out4 ,this1 of course1 lessens

 the vitality and weakens the           
constitution2 and it accounts for the   
fact that a person of full health1      
accustomed to pure air1 suffers from bad
 air far more than those who are        
accustomed to it4 ,the body of strong   
and healthy persons demands more oxygen1
 and throws off more carbonic acid1 and 
is distressed when the supply fails4    
,but the one reduced by bad air feels   
little inconvenience1 because all the   
functions of life are so slow that less 
oxygen is needed1 and less carbonic acid
 thrown out4 ,and the sensibilities     
being deadened1 the evil is not felt4   
,this provision of nature prolongs many 
lives1 though it turns vigorous         
constitutions into feeble ones4 ,were it
 not for this change in the             
constitution1 thousands in badly        
ventilated rooms and houses would come  
to a speedy death4  ,one of the results 
of unventilated rooms is scrofula1 ,a   
distinguished ,french physician1 ,m4    
,baudeloque1 states that3  ,the repeated

 respiration of the same atmosphere is  
the cause of scrofula4 ,if there be     
entirely pure air1 there may be bad     
food1 bad clothing1 and want of personal
 cleanliness1 but scrofulous disease can
 not exist4 ,this disease never attacks 
persons who pass their lives in the open
 air1 and always manifests itself when  
they abide in air which is unrenewed4   
,invariably it will be found that a     
truly scrofulous disease is caused by   
vitiated air2 and it is not necessary   
that there should be a prolonged stay in
 such an atmosphere4 ,often1 several    
hours each day is sufficient4 ,thus     
persons may live in the most healthy    
country1 pass most of the day in the    
open air1 and yet become scrofulous by  
sleeping in a close room where the air  
is not renewed4 ,this is the case with  
many shepherds who pass their nights in 
small huts with no opening but a door   
closed tight at night4  ,the same writer
 illustrates this1 by the history of a  
,french village where the inhabitants   

all slept in close1 unventilated houses4
 ,nearly all were seized with scrofula1 
and many families became wholly extinct1
 their last members dying rotten with   
scrofula4 ,a fire destroyed a large part
 of this village4 ,houses were then     
built to secure pure air1 and scrofula  
disappeared from the part thus rebuilt4 
,we are informed by medical writers that
 defective ventilation is one great     
cause of diseased joints1 as well as of 
diseases of the eyes1 ears1 and skin4   
,foul air is the leading cause of       
tubercular and scrofulous consumption1  
so very common in our country4 ,dr1     
,guy1 in his examination before public  
health commissioners in ,great ,britain1
 says3 ,deficient ventilation ,i believe
 to be more fatal than all other causes 
put together4 ,he states that           
consumption is twice as common among    
tradesmen as among the gentry1 owing to 
the bad ventilation of their stores and 
dwellings4  ,dr4 ,griscom1 in his work  
on ,uses and ,abuses of ,air1 says3     

,food carried from the stomach to the   
blood can not become nutritive till it  
is properly oxygenated in the lungs2 so 
that a small quantity of food1 even if  
less wholesome1 may be made nutritive by
 pure air as it passes through the      
lungs4 ,but the best of food can not be 
changed into nutritive blood till it is 
vitalized by pure air in the lungs4     
,and again3  ,to those who have the care
 and instruction of the rising          
generation--the future fathers and      
mothers of men--this subject of         
ventilation commends itself with an     
interest surpassing every other4        
,nothing can more convincingly establish
 the belief in the existence of         
something vitally wrong in the habits   
and circumstances of civilized life than
 the appalling fact that one fourth of  
all who are born die before reaching the
 fifth year1 and one half the deaths of 
mankind occur under the twentieth year4 
,let those who have these things in     
charge answer to their own consciences  

how they discharge their duty in        
supplying to the young a pure           
atmosphere1 which is the first requisite
 for healthy bodies and sound minds4    
,on the subject of infant mortality the 
experience of savages should teach the  
more civilized4 ,professor ,brewer1 who 
traveled extensively among the ,indians 
of our western territories1 states3 ,i  
have rarely seen a sick boy among the   
,indians4 ,catlin1 the painter1 who     
resided and traveled so much among these
 people1 states that infant mortality is
 very small among them1 the reason1 of  
course1 being abundant exercise and pure
 air4  ,dr4 ,dio ,lewis1 whose labors in
 the cause of health are well known1 in 
his very useful work1 ,weak ,lungs and  
,how to ,make them ,strong1 says3  ,as a
 medical man ,i have visited thousands  
of sickrooms1 and have not found in one 
in a hundred of them a pure atmosphere4 
,i have often returned from church      
doubting whether ,i had not committed a 
sin in exposing myself so long to its   

poisonous air4 ,there are in our great  
cities churches costing #ej1jjj1 in the 
construction of which1 not fifty cents  
were expended in providing means for    
ventilation4 ,ten thousand dollars for  
ornament1 but not ten cents for pure    
air6  ,unventilated parlors1 with       
gas-burners1 7each consuming as much    
oxygen as several men17 made as tight as
 possible1 and a party of ladies and    
gentlemen spending half the night in    
them6 ,in #ahfa1 ,i visited a           
legislative hall1 the legislature being 
in session4 ,i remained half an hour in 
the most impure air ,i ever breathed4   
,our school-houses are1 some of them1 so
 vile in this respect1 that ,i would    
prefer to have my son remain in utter   
ignorance of books rather than to       
breathe1 six hours every day1 such a    
poisonous atmosphere4 ,theatres and     
concert-rooms are so foul that only     
reckless people continue to visit them4 
,twelve hours in a railway-car exhausts 
one1 not by the journeying1 but because 

of the devitalized air4 ,while crossing 
the ocean in a ,cunard steamer1 ,i was  
amazed that men who knew enough to      
construct such ships did not know enough
 to furnish air to the passengers4 ,the 
distress of sea-sickness is greatly     
intensified by the sickening air of the 
ship4 ,were carbonic acid only black1   
what a contrast there would be between  
our hotels in their elaborate ornament6 
,some time since ,i visited an          
establishment where one hundred and     
fifty girls1 in a single room1 were     
engaged in needle-work4 ,pale-faced1 and
 with low vitality and feeble           
circulation1 they were unconscious that 
they were breathing air that at once    
produced in me dizziness and a sense of 
suffocation4 ,if ,i had remained a week 
with1 them1 ,i should1 by reduced       
vitality1 have become unconscious of the
 vileness of the air6  ,there is a      
prevailing prejudice against night air  
as unhealthful to be admitted into      
sleeping-rooms1 which is owing wholly to

 sheer ignorance4 ,in the night every   
body necessarily breathes night air and 
no other4 ,when admitted from without   
into a sleeping-room it is colder1 and  
therefore heavier1 than the air within1 
so it sinks to the bottom of the room   
and forces out an equal quantity of the 
impure air1 warmed and vitiated by      
passing through the lungs of inmates4   
,thus the question is1 ,shall we shut up
 a chamber and breathe night air        
vitiated with carbonic acid or night air
 that is pure8 ,the only real difficulty
 about night air is1 that usually it is 
damper1 and therefore colder and more   
likely to chill4 ,this is easily        
prevented by sufficient bed-clothing4   
,one other very prevalent mistake is    
found even in books written by learned  
men4 ,it is often thought that carbonic 
acid1 being heavier than common air1    
sinks to the floor of sleeping-rooms1 so
 that the low trundle-beds for children 
should not be used4 ,this is all a      
mistake2 for1 as a fact1 in close       

sleeping-rooms the purest air is below  
and the most impure above4 ,it is true  
that carbonic acid is heavier than      
common air1 when pure2 but this it      
rarely is except in chemical            
experiments4 ,it is the property of all 
gases1 as well as of the two 7oxygen and
 nitrogen7 composing the atmosphere1    
that when brought together they always  
are entirely mixed1 each being equally  
diffused exactly as it would be if      
alone4 ,thus the carbonic acid from the 
skin and lungs1 being warmed in the     
body1 rises as does the common air1 with
 which it mixes1 toward the top of a    
room2 so that usually there is more     
carbonic acid at the top than at the    
bottom of a room4 ,footnote3 ,prof4     
,brewer1 of the ,tale ,scientific       
,school1 says3 ,as a fact1 often        
demonstrated by analysis1 there is      
generally more carbonic acid near the   
ceiling than near the floor4 ,both      
common air and carbonic acid expand and 
become lighter in the same proportions2 

that is1 for every degree of added heat 
they expand at the rate of #a_/dhj of   
their bulk4  ,here1 let it be           
remembered1 that in ill-ventilated rooms
 the carbonic acid is not the only cause
 of disease4 ,experiments seem to prove 
that other matter thrown out of the     
body1 through the lungs and skin1 is as 
truly excrement and in a state of decay 
as that ejected from the bowels1 and as 
poisonous to the animal system4         
,carbonic acid has no odor2 but we are  
warned by the disagreeable effluvia of  
close sleeping-rooms of the other poison
 thus thrown into the air from the skin 
and lungs4 ,there is one provision of   
nature that is little understood1 which 
saves the lives of thousands living in  
unventilated houses2 and that is1 the   
passage of pure air inward and impure   
air outward through the pores of bricks1
 wood1 stone1 and mortar4 ,were such    
dwellings changed to tin1 which is not  
thus porous1 in less than a week        
thousands and tens of thousands would be

 in danger of perishing by suffocation4 
,these statements give some idea of the 
evils to be remedied4 ,but the most     
difficult point is how to secure the    
remedy4 ,for often the attempt to secure
 pure air by one class of persons brings
 chills1 colds1 and disease on another  
class1 from mere ignorance or           
mismanagement4  ,to illustrate this1 it 
must be borne in mind that those who    
live in warm1 close1 and unventilated   
rooms are much more liable to take cold 
from exposure to draughts and cold air  
than those of vigorous vitality         
accustomed to breathe pure air4  ,thus  
the strong and healthy husband1 feeling 
the want of pure air in the night1 and  
knowing its importance1 keeps windows   
open and makes such draughts that the   
wife1 who lives all day in a close room 
and thus is low in vitality1 can not    
bear the change1 has colds1 and         
sometimes perishes a victim to wrong    
modes of ventilation4  ,so1 even in     
health-establishments1 the patients will

 pass most of their days and nights in  
badly-ventilated rooms4 ,but at times   
the physician1 or some earnest patient1 
insists on a mode of ventilation that   
brings more evil than good to the       
delicate inmates4  ,the grand art of    
ventilating houses is by some method    
that will empty rooms of the vitiated   
air and bring in a supply of pure air by
 small and imperceptible currents4  ,but
 this important duty of a ,christian    
woman is one that demands more science1 
care1 and attention than almost any     
other2 and yet1 to prepare her for this 
duty has never been any part of female  
education4 ,young women are taught to   
draw mathematical diagrams and to solve 
astronomical problems2 but few1 if any1 
of them are taught to solve the problem 
of a house constructed to secure pure   
and moist air by day and night for all  
its inmates4  ,the heating and          
management of the air we breathe is one 
of the most complicated problems of     
domestic economy1 as will be farther    

illustrated in the succeeding chapter2  
and yet it is one of which1 most        
,american women are profoundly ignorant4
     ,,iv4  ,,scientific ,,domestic     
,,ventilation4  ,we have seen in the    
preceding pages the process through     
which the air is rendered unhealthful by
 close rooms and want of ventilation4   
,every person inspires air about twenty 
times each minute1 using half a pint    
each time4 ,at this rate1 every pair of 
lungs vitiates one hogshead of air every
 hour4 ,the membrane that lines the     
multitudinous air-cells of the lungs in 
which the capillaries are1 should it be 
united in one sheet1 would cover the    
floor of a room twelve feet square4     
,every breath brings a surface of air in
 contact with this extent of            
capillaries1 by which the air inspired  
gives up most of its oxygen and receives
 carbonic acid in its stead4 ,these     
facts furnish a guide for the proper    
ventilation of rooms4 ,just in          
proportion to the number of persons in a

 room or a house1 should be the amount  
of air brought in and carried out by    
arrangements for ventilation4 ,but how  
rarely is this rule regarded in building
 houses or in the care of families by   
housekeepers6  ,the evils resulting from
 the substitution of stoves instead of  
the open fireplace1 have led scientific 
and benevolent men to contrive various  
modes of supplying pure air to both     
public and private houses4 ,but as yet  
little has been accomplished1 except for
 a few of the more intelligent and      
wealthy4 ,the great majority of the     
,american people1 owing to sheer        
ignorance1 are1 for want of pure air1   
being poisoned and starved2 the result  
being weakened constitutions1 frequent  
disease1 and shortened life4  ,whenever 
a family-room is heated by an open fire1
 it is duly ventilated1 as the impure   
air is constantly passing off through   
the chimney1 while1 to supply the       
vacated space1 the pure air presses in  
through the cracks of doors1 windows1   

and floors4 ,no such supply is gained   
for rooms warmed by stoves4 ,and yet1   
from mistaken motives of economy1 as    
well as from ignorance of the resulting 
evils1 multitudes of householders are   
thus destroying health and shortening   
life1 especially in regard to women and 
children who spend most of their time   
within-doors4  ,the most successful     
modes of making a healthful home by a   
full supply of pure air to every inmate1
 will now be described and illustrated4 
,it is the common property of both air  
and water to expand1 become lighter and 
rise1 just in proportion as they are    
heated2 and therefore it is the         
invariable law that cool air sinks1 thus
 replacing the warmer air below4 ,thus1 
whenever cool air enters a warm room1 it
 sinks downward and takes the place of  
an equal amount of the warmer air1 which
 is constantly tending upward and       
outward4 ,this principle of all fluids  
is illustrated by the following         
experiment3  ,take a glass jar about a  

foot high and three inches in diameter1 
and with a wire to aid in placing it    
aright1 sink a small bit of lighted     
candle so as to stand in the centre at  
the bottom4 7,fig4 #bh47 ,the candle    
will heat the air of the jar1 which will
 rise a little on one side1 while the   
colder air without will begin falling on
 the other side4 ,these two currents    
will so conflict as finally to cease1   
and then the candle1 having no supply of
 oxygen from fresh air1 will begin to go
 out4 ,insert a bit of stiff paper so as
 to divide the mouth of the jar1 and    
instantly the cold and warm air are not 
in conflict as before1 because a current
 is formed each side of the paper2 the  
cold air descending on one aide and the 
warm air ascending the other side1 as   
indicated by the arrows4 ,as long as the
 paper remains1 the candle will burn1   
and as soon as it is removed1 it will   
begin to go out1 and can be restored by 
again inserting the paper4              
,illustration3 ,fig4 #bh ,illustration3 

,fig4 #bi  ,this illustrates the mode by
 which coal-mines are ventilated when   
filled with carbonic acid4 ,a shaft     
divided into two passages1 7,fig4 #bi17 
is let down into the mine1 where the air
 is warmer than the outside air4        
,immediately the colder air outside     
presses down into the mine1 through the 
passage which is highest1 being admitted
 by the escape of an equal quantity of  
the warmer air1 which rises through the 
lower passage of the shaft1 this being  
the first available opening for it to   
rise through4 ,a current is thus        
created1 which continues as long as the 
inside air is warmer than that without  
the mine1 and no longer4 ,sometimes a   
fire is kindled in the mine1 in order to
 continue or increase the warmth1 and   
consequent upward current of its air4   
,this illustrates one of the cases where
 a wise woman that buildeth her house is
 greatly needed4 ,for1 owing to the     
ignorance of architects1 house-builders1
 and men in general1 they have been     

building school-houses1 dwelling-houses1
 churches1 and colleges1 with the most  
absurd and senseless contrivances for   
ventilation1 and all from not applying  
this simple principle of science4 ,on   
this point1 ,prof4 ,brewer1 of the      
,scientific ,school of ,yale ,college1  
writes thus3  ,i have been in public    
buildings1 7,i have one in mind now1    
filled with dormitories17 which cost    
half a million1 where they attempted to 
ventilate every room by a flue1 long and
 narrow1 built into partition walls1 and
 extending up into the capacious garret 
of the fifth story4 ,every room in the  
building had one such flue1 with an     
opening into it at the floor and at the 
ceiling4 ,it is needless to say that the
 whole concern was entirely useless4    
,had these flues been of proper         
proportions1 and properly divided1 the  
desired ventilation would have been     
secured4  ,and this piece of ignorant   
folly was perpetrated in the midst of   
learned professors1 teaching the laws of

 fluids and the laws of health4  ,a     
learned physician also thus wrote to the
 author of this chapter3 ,the subject of
 the ventilation of our dwelling-houses 
is one of the most important questions  
of our times4 ,how many thousands are   
victims to a slow suicide and murder1   
the chief instrument of which is want of
 ventilation6 ,how few are aware of the 
fact that every person1 every day1      
vitiates thirty-three hogsheads of the  
air1 and that each inspiration takes one
 fifth of the oxygen1 and returns as    
much carbonic acid1 from every pair of  
lungs in a room6 ,how few understand    
that after air has received ten per cent
 of this fatal gas1 if drawn into the   
lungs1 it can no longer take carbonic   
acid from the capillaries6 ,no wonder   
there is so much impaired nervous and   
muscular energy1 so much scrofula1      
tubercles1 catarrhs1 dyspepsia1 and     
typhoid diseases4 ,i hope you can do    
much to remedy the poisonous air of     
thousands and thousands of stove-heated 

rooms4  ,in a cold climate and wintry   
weather1 the grand impediment to        
ventilating rooms by opening doors or   
windows is the dangerous currents thus  
produced1 which are so injurious to the 
delicate ones that for their sake it can
 not be done4 ,then1 also1 as a matter  
of economy1 the poor can not afford to  
practice a method which carries off the 
heat generated by their stinted store of
 fuel4 ,even in a warm season and       
climate1 there are frequent periods when
 the air without is damp and chilly1 and
 yet at nearly the same temperature as  
that in the house4 ,at such times1 the  
opening of windows often has little     
effect in emptying a room of vitiated   
air4 ,the ventilating-flues1 such as are
 used in mines1 have1 in such cases1 but
 little influence2 for it is only when  
outside air is colder that a current can
 be produced within by this method4     
,the most successful mode of ventilating
 a house is by creating a current of    
warm air in a flue1 into which an       

opening is made at both the top and the 
bottom of a room1 while a similar       
opening for outside air is made at the  
opposite side of the room4 ,this is the 
mode employed in chemical laboratories  
for removing smells and injurious gases4
  ,the laboratory-closet is closed with 
glazed doors1 and has an opening to     
receive pure air through a conductor    
from without4 ,the stove or furnace     
within has a pipe which joins a larger  
cast-iron chimney-pipe1 which is warmed 
by the smoke it receives from this and  
other fires4 ,this cast-iron pipe is    
surrounded by a brick flue1 through     
which air passes from below to be warmed
 by the pipe1 and thus an upward current
 of warm air is created4 ,openings are  
then made at the top and bottom of the  
laboratory-closet into the warm-air     
flue1 and the gases and smells are      
pressed by the colder air into this     
flue1 and are carried off in the current
 of warm air4  ,the same method is      
employed in the dwelling-house shown in 

a preceding chapter4 ,a cast-iron pipe  
is made in sections1 which are to be    
united1 and the whole fastened at top   
and bottom in the centre of the warm-air
 flue by ears extending to the bricks1  
and fastened when the flue is in process
 of building4 ,projecting openings to   
receive the pipes of the furnace1 the   
laundry stove1 and two stoves in each   
story1 should be provided1 which must be
 closed when not in use4 ,a large       
opening is to be made into the warm-air 
fine1 and through this the kitchen      
stove-pipe is to pass1 and be joined to 
the cast-iron chimney-pipe4 ,thus the   
smoke of the kitchen stove will warm the
 iron chimney-pipe1 and this will warm  
the air of the flue1 causing a current  
upward1 and this current will draw the  
heat and smells of cooking out of the   
kitchen into the opening of the warm-air
 flue4 ,every room surrounding the      
chimney has an opening at the top and   
bottom into the warm-air ,hue for       
ventilation1 as also have the bathroom  

and water-closets4  ,illustration3 ,fig4
 #cj4  ,the writer has examined the     
methods most employed at the present    
time1 which are all modifications of the
 two modes here described4 ,one is that 
of ,robinson1 patented by a ,boston     
company1 which is a modification of the 
mining mode4 ,it consists of the two    
ventilating tubes1 such as are employed 
in mines1 united in one shaft with a    
roof to keep out rain1 and a valve to   
regulate the entrance and exit of air1  
as illustrated in ,fig4 #cj4 ,this      
method works well in certain            
circumstances1 but fails so often as to 
prove very unreliable4 ,another mode is 
that of ,ruttan1 which is effected by   
heating air4 ,this also has certain     
advantages and disadvantages4 ,but the  
mode adopted for the preceding cottage  
plan is free from the difficulties of   
both the above methods1 while it will   
surely ventilate every room in the      
house1 both by day and night1 and at all
 seasons1 without any risk to health1   

and requiring no attention or care from 
the family4  ,by means of a very small  
amount of fuel in the kitchen stove1 to 
be described hereafter1 the whole house 
can be ventilated1 and all the cooking  
done both in warm and cold weather4     
,this stove will also warm the whole    
house1 in the ,northern ,states1 eight  
or nine months in the year4 ,two        
,franklin stoves1 in addition1 will warm
 the whole house during the three or    
four remaining coldest months4  ,in a   
warm climate or season1 by means of the 
non-conducting castings1 the stove will 
ventilate the house and do all the      
cooking1 without imparting heat or      
smells to any part of the house except  
the stove-closet4  ,at the close of this
 volume1 drawings1 prepared by ,mr4     
,lewis ,leeds1 are given1 more fully to 
illustrate this mode of warming and     
ventilation1 and in so plain and simple 
a form that any intelligent woman who   
has read this work can see that the plan
 is properly executed1 even with workmen

 so entirely ignorant on this important 
subject as are most house-builders1     
especially in the newer territories4 ,in
 the same article1 directions are given 
as to the best modes of ventilating     
houses that are already built without   
any arrangements for ventilation4       
,v4 ,,the ,,construction ,,and ,,care   
,,of ,,stoves1 ,,furnaces1 ,,and        
,,chimneys4   ,if all ,american         
housekeepers could be taught how to     
select and manage the most economical   
and convenient apparatus for cooking and
 for warming a house1 many millions now 
wasted by ignorance and neglect would be
 saved4 ,every woman should be taught   
the scientific principles in regard to  
heat1 and then their application to     
practical purposes1 for her own benefit1
 and also to enable her to train her    
children and servants in this important 
duty of home life on which health and   
comfort so much depend4  ,the laws that 
regulate the generation1 diffusion1 and 
preservation of heat as yet are a sealed

 mystery to thousands of young women who
 imagine they are completing a suitable 
education in courses of instruction from
 which most that is practical in future 
domestic life is wholly excluded4 ,we   
therefore give a brief outline of some  
of the leading scientific principles    
which every housekeeper should          
understand and employ1 in order to      
perform successfully one of her most    
important duties4  ,concerning the      
essential nature of heat1 and its       
intimate relations with the other great 
natural forces1 light1 electricity1     
etc41 we shall not attempt to treat1 but
 shall1 for practical purposes1 assume  
it to be a separate and independent     
force4 ,heat or caloric1 then1 has      
certain powers or principles4 ,let us   
consider them3  ,first1 we find         
,conduction1 by which heat passes from  
one particle to another next to it2 as  
when one end of a poker is warmed by    
placing the other end in the fire4 ,the 
bodies which allow this power free      

course are called conductors1 and those 
which do not are named non-conductors1  
,metals are good conductors2 feathers1  
wool1 and furs are poor conductors2 and 
water1 air1 and gases are               
non-conductors4  ,another principle of  
heat is ,convection1 by which water1    
air1 and gases are warmed4 ,this is1    
literally1 the process of conveying heat
 from one portion of a fluid body to    
another by currents resulting from      
changes of temperature4 ,it is secured  
by bringing one portion of a liquid or  
gas into contact with a heated surface1 
whereby it becomes lighter and expanded 
in volume4 ,in consequence1 the cooler  
and heavier particles above pressing    
downward1 the lighter ones rise upward1 
when the former1 being heated1 rise in  
their turn1 and give place to others    
again descending from above4 ,thus a    
constant motion of currents and         
interchange of particles is produced    
until1 as in a vessel of water1 the     
whole body comes to an equal            

temperature4 ,air is heated in the same 
way4 ,in case of a hot stove1 the air   
that touches it is heated1 becomes      
lighter1 and rises1 giving place to     
cooler and heavier particles1 which1    
when heated1 also ascend4 ,it is owing  
to this process that the air of a room  
is warmest at the top and coolest at the
 bottom4 ,it is owing to this principle1
 also1 that water and air can not be    
heated by fire from above4 ,for the     
particles of these bodies1 being        
non-conductors1 do not impart heat to   
each other2 and when the warmest are at 
the top1 they can not take the place of 
cooler and heavier ones below4  ,another
 principle of heat 7which it shares with
 light7 is ,radiation1 by which all     
things send out heat to surrounding     
cooler bodies4 ,some bodies will absorb 
radiated heat1 others will reflect it1  
and others allow it to pass through them
 without either absorbing or reflecting 
,thus1 black and rough substances absorb
 heat1 7or light17 colored and smooth   

articles reflect it1 while air allows it
 to pass through without either         
absorbing or reflecting4 ,it is owing to
 this1 that rough and black vessels boil
 water sooner than smooth and           
light-colored ones4  ,another principle 
is ,reflection1 by which heat radiated  
to a surface is turned back from it when
 not absorbed or allowed to pass        
through2 just as a ball rebounds from a 
wall2 just as sound is thrown back from 
a hill1 making echo2 just as rays of    
light are reflected from a mirror4 ,and1
 as with light1 the rays of heat are    
always reflected from a surface in an   
angle exactly corresponding to the      
direction in which it strikes that      
surface4 ,thus1 if heated are comes to  
an object perpendicularly--that is1 at  
right angles1 it will be reflected back 
in the same line4 ,if it strikes        
obliquely1 it is reflected obliquely1 at
 an angle with the surface precisely the
 same as the angle with which it first  
struck4 ,and1 of course1 if it moves    

toward the surface and comes upon it in 
a line having so small an angle with it 
as to be almost parallel with it1 the   
heated air is spread wide and diffused  
through a larger space than when the    
angles are greater and the width of     
reflection less4  ,illustration3 ,fig4  
#ca4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cb4          
,illustration3 ,fig4 #cc4  ,the simplest
 mode of warming a house and cooking    
food is by radiated heat from fires2 but
 this is the most wasteful method1 as   
respects time1 labor1 and expense4 ,the 
most convenient1 economical1 and        
labor-saving mode of employing heat is  
by convection1 as applied in stoves and 
furnaces4 ,but for want of proper care  
and scientific knowledge this method has
 proved very destructive to health4     
,when warming and cooking were done by  
open fires1 houses were well supplied   
with pure air1 as is rarely the case in 
rooms heated by stoves4 ,for such is the
 prevailing ignorance on this subject   
that1 as long as stoves save labor and  

warm the air1 the great majority of     
people1 especially among the poor1 will 
use them in ways that involve           
debilitated constitutions and frequent  
disease4  ,the most common modes of     
cooking1 where open fires are           
relinquished1 are by the range and the  
cooking-stove4 ,the range is inferior to
 the stove in these respects3 it is less
 economical1 demanding much more fuel2  
it endangers the dress of the cook while
 standing near for various operations2  
it requires more stooping than the stove
 while cooking2 it will not keep a fire 
all night1 as do the best stoves2 it    
will not burn wood and coal equally     
well2 and lastly1 if it warms the       
kitchen sufficiently in winter1 it is   
too warm for summer4 ,some prefer it    
because the fumes of cooking can be     
carried off2 but stoves properly        
arranged accomplish this equally well4  
,after extensive inquiry and many       
personal experiments1 the author has    
found a cooking-stove constructed on    

true scientific principles1 which unites
 convenience1 comfort1 and economy in a 
remarkable manner4 ,of this stove1      
drawings and descriptions will now be   
given1 as the best mode of illustrating 
the practical applications of these     
principles to the art of cooking1 and to
 show how much ,american women have     
suffered and how much they have been    
imposed upon for want of proper         
knowledge in this branch of their       
profession4 ,and every woman can        
understand what follows with much less  
effort than young girls at high-schools 
give to the first problems of           
,geometry--for which they will never    
have any practical use1 while attention 
to this problem of home affairs will    
cultivate the intellect quite as much as
 the abstract reasonings of ,algebra and
 ,geometry41  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #cd4 
,fig4 #cd represents a portion of the   
interior of this cooking-stove4 ,first1 
notice the fire-box1 which has          
corrugated 7literally1 wrinkled7 sides1 

by which space is economized1 so that as
 much heating surface is secured as if  
they were one third larger2 as the heat 
radiates from every part of the         
undulating surface1 which is one third  
greater in superficial extent than if it
 were plane4 ,the shape of the fire-box 
also secures more heat by having oblique
 sides--which radiate more effectively  
into the oven beneath than if they were 
perpendicular1 as illustrated           
below--while also it is sunk into the   
oven1 so as to radiate from three       
instead of from two sides1 as in most   
other stoves1 the front of whose        
fire-boxes with their grates are built  
so as to be the front of the stove      
itself4  ,illustration3 ,fig #ce4 ,model
 ,stove ,illustration3 ,fig #cf4        
,ordinary ,stove  ,the oven is the space
 under and around the back and front    
sides of the fire-box4 ,the oven-bottom 
is not introduced in the diagram1 but it
 is a horizontal plate between the      
fire-box and what is represented as the 

flue-plate1 which separates the oven    
from the bottom of the stove4 ,the top  
of the oven is the horizontal corrugated
 plate passing from the rear edge of the
 fire-box to the back flues4 ,these are 
three in number--the back centre-flue1  
which is closed to the heat and smoke   
coming over the oven from the fire-box  
by a damper--and the two back           
corner-flues4 ,down these two           
corner-flues passes the current of hot  
air and smoke1 having first drawn across
 the corrugated oven-top4 ,the arrows   
show its descent through these flues1   
from which it obliquely strikes and     
passes over the flue-plate1 then under  
it1 and then out through the centre     
back-flue1 which is open at the bottom1 
up into the smoke-pipe4  ,the flue-plate
 is placed obliquely1 to accumulate heat
 by forcing and compression2 for the    
back space where the smoke enters from  
the corner-flues is largest1 and        
decreases toward the front1 so that the 
hot current is compressed in a narrow   

space1 between the oven-bottom and the  
flue-plate at the place where the bent  
arrows are seen4 ,here again it enters a
 wider space1 under the flue-plate1 and 
proceeds to another narrow one1 between 
the flue-plate and the bottom of the    
stove1 and thus is compressed and       
retained longer than if not impeded by  
these various contrivances4 ,the heat   
and smoke also strike the plate         
obliquely1 and thus1 by reflection from 
its surface1 impart more heat than if   
the passage was a horizontal one4  ,the 
external radiation is regulated by the  
use of nonconducting plaster applied to 
the flue-plate and to the sides of the  
corner-flues1 so that the heat is       
prevented from radiating in any         
direction except toward the oven4 ,the  
doors1 sides1 and bottom of the stove   
are lined with tin casings1 which hold a
 stratum of air1 also a non-conductor4  
,these are so arranged as to be removed 
whenever the weather becomes cold1 so   
that the heat may then radiate into the 

kitchen4 ,the outer edges of the oven   
are also similarly protected from loss  
of heat by tin casings and air-spaces1  
and the oven-doors opening at the front 
of the store are provided with the same 
economical savers of heat4 ,high tin    
covers placed on the top prevent the    
heat from radiating above the stove4    
,these are exceedingly useful1 as the   
space under them is well heated and     
arranged for baking1 for heating irons1 
and many other incidental necessities4  
,cake and pies can be baked on the top1 
while the oven is used for bread or for 
meats4 ,when all the casings and covers 
are on1 almost all the heat is confined 
within the stove1 and whenever heat for 
the room is wanted1 opening the front   
oven-doors turns it out into the        
kitchen4  ,another contrivance is that  
of ventilating-holes in the front doors1
 through which fresh air is brought into
 the oven4 ,this secures several        
purposes3 it carries off the fumes of   
cooking meats1 and prevents the mixing  

of flavors when different articles are  
cooked in the oven2 it drives the heat  
that accumulates between the fire-box   
and front doors down around the oven1   
and equalizes its heat1 so that articles
 need not be moved while baking2 and    
lastly1 as the air passes through the   
holes of the fire-box1 it causes the    
burning of gases in the smoke1 and thus 
increases heat4 ,when wood or bituminous
 coal is used1 perforated metal linings 
are put in the fire-box1 and the result 
is the burning of smoke and gases that  
otherwise would pass into the chimney4  
,this is a great discovery in the       
economy of fuel1 which can be applied in
 many ways4  ,heretofore1 most          
cooking-stoves have had dumping-grates1 
which are inconvenient from the dust    
produced1 are uneconomical in the use of
 fuel1 and disadvantageous from too many
 or too loose joints4 ,but recently this
 stove has been provided with a         
dumping-grate which also will sift      
ashes1 and can be cleaned without dust  

and the other objectionable features of 
dumping-grates4 ,a further account of   
this stove1 and the mode of purchasing  
and using it1 will be given at the close
 of the book4  ,those who are taught to 
manage the stove properly keep the fire 
going all night1 and equally well with  
wood or coal1 thus saving the expense of
 kindling and the trouble of starting a 
new fire4 ,when the fuel is of good     
quality1 all that is needed in the      
morning is to draw the back-damper1     
snake the grate1 and add more fuel4     
,another remarkable feature of this     
store is the extension-top1 on which is 
placed a water reservoir1 constantly    
heated by the smoke as it passes from   
the stove1 through one or two uniting   
passages1 to the smoke-pipe4 ,under this
 is placed a closet for warming and     
keeping hot the dishes1 vegetables1     
meats1 etc41 while preparing for dinner4
 ,it is also very useful in drying      
fruit2 and when large baking is         
required1 a small appended pot for      

charcoal turns it into a fine large     
oven1 that bakes as nicely as a brick   
oven4  ,another useful appendage is a   
common tin oven1 in which roasting can  
be done in front of the stove1 the      
oven-doors being removed for the        
purpose4 ,the roast will be done as     
perfectly as by an open fire4  ,this    
stove is furnished with pipes for       
heating water1 like the water-back of   
ranges1 and these can be taken or left  
out at pleasure4 ,so also the top       
covers1 the baking-stool and pot1 and   
the summer-back1 bottom1 and            
side-casings can be used or omitted as  
preferred4  ,illustration ,fig #cg      
,fig4 #cg exhibits the stove completed1 
with all its appendages1 as they might  
be employed in cooking for a large      
number4  ,its capacity1 convenience1 and
 economy as a stove may be estimated by 
the following fact3 ,with proper        
management of dampers1 one              
ordinary-sized coal-hod of anthracite   
coal will1 for twenty-four hours1 keep  

the stove running1 keep seventeen       
gallons of water hot at all hours1 bake 
pies and puddings in the warm closet1   
heat flat-irons under the back cover1   
boil tea-kettle and one pot under the   
front cover1 bake bread in the oven1 and
 cook a turkey in the tin roaster in    
front4 ,the author has numerous friends1
 who1 after trying the best ranges1 have
 dismissed them for this stove1 and in  
two or three years cleared the whole    
expense by the saving of fuel4  ,the    
remarkable durability of this stove is  
another economic feature4 ,for in       
addition to its fine castings and       
nice-fitting workmanship1 all the parts 
liable to burn out are so protected by  
linings1 and other contrivances easily  
renewed1 that the stove itself may pass 
from one generation to another1 as do   
ordinary chimneys4 ,the writer has      
visited in families where this stove had
 been in constant use for eighteen and  
twenty years1 and was still as good as  
new4 ,in most other families the stoves 

are broken1 burnt-out1 or thrown aside  
for improved patterns every four1 five1 
or six years1 and sometimes1 to the     
knowledge of the writer1 still oftener4 
,another excellent point is that1       
although it is so complicated in its    
various contrivances as to demand       
intelligent management in order to      
secure all its advantages1 it also can  
be used satisfactorily even when the    
mistress and maid are equally careless  
and ignorant of its distinctive merits4 
,to such it offers all the advantages of
 ordinary good stoves1 and is           
extensively used by those who take no   
pains to understand and apply its       
peculiar advantages4  ,but the writer   
has managed the stove herself in all the
 details of cooking1 and is confident   
that any housekeeper of common sense1   
who is instructed properly1 and who also
 aims to have her kitchen affairs       
managed with strict economy1 can easily 
train any servant who is willing to     
learn1 so as to gain the full advantages

 offered4 ,and even without any         
instructions at all1 except the printed 
directions sent with the stove1 an      
intelligent woman can1 by due attention1
 though not without1 both manage it1 and
 teach her children and servants to do  
likewise4 ,and whenever this stove has  
failed to give the highest satisfaction1
 it has been1 either because the        
housekeeper was not apprized of its     
peculiarities1 or because she did not   
give sufficient attention to the matter1
 or was not able or willing to          
superintend and direct its management4  
,the consequence has been that1 in      
families where this stove has been      
understood and managed aright1 it has   
saved nearly one half of the fuel that  
would be used in ordinary stoves1       
constructed with the usual disregard of 
scientific and economic laws4 ,and it is
 because we know this particular stove  
to be convenient1 reliable1 and         
economically efficient beyond ordinary  
experience1 in the important            

housekeeping element of kitchen labor1  
that we devote to it so much space and  
pains to describe its advantageous      
points4  ,,chimneys4  ,one of the most  
serious evils in domestic life is often 
found in chimneys that will not properly
 draw the smoke of a fire or stove4     
,although chimneys have been building   
for a thousand years1 the artisans of   
the present day seem strangely ignorant 
of the true method of constructing them 
so as always to carry smoke upward      
instead of downward4 ,it is rarely the  
case that a large house is built in     
which there is not some flue or chimney 
which will not draw4 ,one of the reasons
 why the stove described as excelling   
all others is sometimes cast aside for a
 poorer one is1 that it requires a      
properly constructed chimney1 and       
multitudes of women do not know how to  
secure it4 ,the writer in early life    
shed many a bitter tear1 drawn forth by 
smoke from an ill-constructed           
kitchen-chimney1 and thousands all over 

the land can report the same experience4
  ,the following are some of the causes 
and the remedies for this evil4  ,the   
most common cause of poor chimney       
draughts is too large an opening for the
 fireplace1 either too wide or too high 
in front1 or having too large a throat  
for the smoke4 ,in a lower story1 the   
fireplace should not be larger than     
thirty inches wide1 twenty-five inches  
high1 and fifteen deep4 ,in the story   
above1 it should be eighteen inches     
square and fifteen inches deep4         
,another cause is too short a flue1 and 
the remedy is to lengthen it4 ,as a     
general rule1 the longer the flue the   
stronger the draught4 ,but in           
calculating the length of a flue1       
reference must be had to side-flues1 if 
any open into it4 ,where this is the    
case1 the length of the main flue is to 
be considered as extending only from the
 bottom to the point where the upper    
flue joins it1 and where the lower will 
receive air from the upper flue4 ,if a  

smoky flue can not be increased in      
length1 either by closing an upper flue 
or lengthening the chimney1 the         
fireplace must be contracted so that all
 the air near the fire will be heated   
and thus pressed upward4  ,if a flue has
 more than one opening1 in some cases it
 is impossible to secure a good draught4
 ,sometimes it will work well and       
sometimes it will not4 ,the only safe   
rule is to have a separate flue to each 
fire4  ,another cause of poor draughts  
is too tight a room1 so that the cold   
air from without can not enter to press 
the warm air up the chimney4 ,the remedy
 is to admit a small current of air from
 without4  ,another cause is two        
chimneys in one room1 or in rooms       
opening together1 in which the draught  
in one is much stronger than in the     
other4 ,in this case1 the stronger      
draught will draw away from the weaker4 
,the remedy is1 for each room to have a 
proper supply of outside air2 or1 in a  
single room1 to stop one of the         

chimneys4  ,another cause is the too    
close vicinity of a hill or buildings   
higher than the top of the chimney1 and 
the remedy for this is to raise the     
chimney4  ,another cause is the descent1
 into unused fireplaces1 of smoke from  
other chimneys near4 ,the remedy is to  
close the throat of the unused chimney4 
,another cause is a door opening toward 
the fireplace1 on the same side of the  
room1 so that its draught passes along  
the wall and makes a current that draws 
out the smoke4 ,the remedy is to change 
the hanging of the door so as to open   
another way4  ,another cause is strong  
winds4 ,the remedy is a turn-cap on top 
of the chimney4  ,another cause is the  
roughness of the inside of a chimney1 or
 projections which impede the passage of
 the smoke4 ,every chimney should be    
built of equal dimensions from bottom to
 top1 with no projections into it1 with 
as few bends as possible1 and with the  
surface of the inside as smooth as      
possible4  ,another cause of poor       

draughts is openings into the chimney of
 chambers for stove-pipes4 ,the remedy  
is to close them1 or insert stove-pipes 
that are in use4  ,another cause is the 
falling out of brick in some part of the
 chimney so that outer air is admitted4 
,the remedy is to close the opening4    
,the draught of a stove may be affected 
by most of these causes4 ,it also       
demands that the fireplace have a tight 
fire-board1 or that the throat he       
carefully filled4 ,for neglecting this1 
many a good stove has been thrown aside 
and a poor one taken in its place4  ,if 
all young women had committed to memory 
these causes of evil and their remedies1
 many a badly-built chimney might have  
been cured1 and many smoke-drawn tears1 
sighs1 ill-tempers1 and irritating words
 avoided4  ,but there are dangers in    
this direction which demand special     
attention4 ,where one flue has two      
stoves or fireplaces1 in rooms one above
 the other1 in certain states of the    
atmosphere1 the lower room1 being the   

warmer1 the colder air and carbonic acid
 in the room above will pass down into  
the lower room through the opening for  
the stove or the fireplace4  ,this      
occurred not long since in a            
boarding-school1 when the gas in a room 
above flowed into a lower one1 and      
suffocated several to death4 ,this room 
had no mode of ventilation1 and several 
persons slept in it1 and were thus      
stifled4 ,professor ,brewer states a    
similar case in the family of a         
relative4 ,an anthracite stove was used 
in the upper room2 and on one still1    
close night1 the gas from this stove    
descended through the flue and the      
opening into a room below1 and stifled  
two persons to insensibility1 though1 by
 proper efforts1 their lives were saved4
 ,many such cases have occurred where   
rooms have been thus filled with        
poisonous gases1 and servants and       
children destroyed1 or their            
constitutions injured1 simply because   
housekeepers are not properly instructed

 in this important branch of their      
profession4   ,,furnaces4  ,there is no 
improved mechanism in the economy of    
domestic life requiring more intelligent
 management than furnaces4 ,let us then 
consider some of the principles         
involved4  ,the earth is heated by      
radiation from the sun4 ,the air is not 
warmed by the passage of the sun's heat 
through it1 but by convection from the  
earth1 in the same way that it is warmed
 by the surfaces of stoves4 ,the lower  
stratum of air is warmed by the earth   
and by objects which have been warmed by
 radiated heat from the sun4 ,the       
particles of air thus heated expand1    
become lighter1 and rise1 being replaced
 by the descent of the cooler and       
heavier particles from above1 which1 on 
being warmed also rise1 and give place  
to others4 ,owing to this process1 the  
air is warmest nearest the earth1 and   
grows cooler as height increases4  ,the 
air has a strong attraction for water1  
and always holds a certain quantity as  

invisible vapor4 ,the warmer the air1   
the more moisture it demands1 and it    
will draw it from all objects within    
reach4 ,the air holds water according to
 its temperature4 ,thus1 at fifty-two   
degrees1 ,fahrenheit's thermometer1 it  
holds half the moisture it can sustain2 
but at thirty-six degrees1 it will hold 
only one eighty-sixth part4 ,the earth  
and all plants and trees are constantly 
sending out moisture2 and when the air  
has received all it can hold1 without   
depositing it as dew1 it is said to be  
saturated1 and the point of temperature 
at which dew begins to form1 by         
condensation1 upon the surface of the   
earth and its vegetation1 is called the 
dew-point4 ,when air1 at a given        
temperature1 has only forty per cent of 
the moisture it requires for saturation1
 it is said to be dry4 ,in a hot summer 
day1 the air will hold far more moisture
 than in cool days4 ,in summer1 out-door
 air rarely holds less than half its    
volume of water4 ,in #ahch1 at          

,cambridge1 ,massachusetts1 and         
,new-,haven1 ,connecticut1 at seventy   
degrees1 ,fahrenheit1 the air held      
eighty per cent of moisture4  ,in ,new  
,orleans1 the air often retains ninety  
per cent of the moisture it is capable  
of holding2 and in cool days at the     
,north1 in foggy weather1 the air is    
sometimes wholly saturated4  ,when air  
holds all the moisture it can1 without  
depositing dew1 its moisture is called  
#ajj4 ,when it holds three fourths of   
this1 it is said to be at seventy-five  
per cent4 ,when it holds only one half1 
it is at fifty per cent4 ,when it holds 
only one fourth1 it is at twenty-five   
per cent1 etc4  ,sanitary observers     
teach that the proper amount of moisture
 in the air ranges from forty to seventy
 per cent of saturation4  ,now1         
furnaces1 which are of course used only 
in winter1 receive outside air at a low 
temperature1 holding little moisture2   
,this it sucks up1 like a sponge1 from  
the walls and furniture of a house4 ,if 

it is taken into the human lungs1 it    
draws much of its required moisture from
 the body1 often causing dryness of lips
 and throat1 and painfully affecting the
 lungs4 ,prof4 ,brewer1 of the          
,scientific ,school of ,new-,haven1 who 
has experimented extensively on this    
subject1 states that1 while forty per   
cent of moisture is needed in air to    
make it healthful1 most stoves and      
furnaces do not1 by any contrivances1   
supply one half of this1 or not twenty  
per cent4 ,he says most furnace-heated  
air is dryer than is ever breathed in   
the hottest deserts of ,sahara4  ,thus1 
for want of proper instruction1 most    
,american housekeepers not only poison  
their families with carbonic acid and   
starve them for want of oxygen1 but also
 diminish health and comfort for want of
 a due supply of moisture in the air4   
,and often when a remedy is sought1 by  
evaporating water in the furnace1 it is 
without knowing that the amount         
evaporated depends1 not on the quantity 

of water in the vessel1 but on the      
extent of evaporating surface exposed to
 the air4 ,a quart of water in a wide   
shallow pan will give more moisture than
 two gallons with a small surface       
exposed to heat4  ,there is also no     
little wise economy in expense attained 
by keeping a proper supply of moisture  
in the air4 ,for it is found that the   
body radiates its heat less in moist    
than in dry air1 so that a person feels 
as warm at a lower temperature when the 
air has a proper supply of moisture1 as 
in a much higher temperature of dry air4
 ,of course1 less fuel is needed to warm
 a house when water is evaporated in    
stove and furnace-heated rooms4 ,it is  
said by those who have experimented1    
that the saving in fuel is twenty per   
cent when the air is duly supplied with 
moisture4  ,there is a very ingenious   
instrument1 called the hygrodeik1 which 
indicates the exact amount of moisture  
in the air4 ,it consists of two         
thermometers side by side1 one of which 

has its bulb surrounded by floss-silk   
wrapping1 which is kept constantly wet  
by communication with a cup of water    
near it4 ,the water around the bulb     
evaporates just in proportion to the    
heat of the air around it4 ,the changing
 of water to vapor draws heat from the  
nearest object1 and this being the bulb 
of the thermometer1 the mercury is      
cooled and sinks4 ,then the difference  
between the two thermometers shows the  
amount of moisture in the air by a      
pointer on a dial-plate constructed by  
simple mechanism for this purpose4      
,there is one very important matter in  
regard to the use of furnaces1 which is 
thus stated by ,professor ,brewer3  ,i  
think it is a well-established fact that
 carbonic oxide will pass through iron4 
,it is always formed in great abundance 
in any anthracite fire1 but especially  
in anthracite stoves and furnaces4      
,moreover1 furnaces always leak1 more or
 less2 how much they leak depending on  
the care and skill with which they are  

managed4 ,carbonic oxide is much more   
poisonous than carbonic acid4 ,doubtless
 some carbonic oxide finds its way into 
all furnace-heated houses1 especially   
where anthracite is used2 the amount    
varying with the kind of furnace and its
 management4 ,as to how much escapes    
into a room1 and its specific effect    
upon the health of its occupants1 we    
have no accurate data1 no analysis to   
show the quantity1 and no observations  
to show the relation between the        
quantity inhaled and the health of those
 exposed2 all is mere conjecture upon   
this point2 but the inference is very   
strong that it has a very injurious     
effect1 producing headaches1 weariness1 
and other similar symptoms4  ,recent    
pamphlets lay the blame of all the bad  
effects of anthracite furnaces and      
stoves to the carbonic oxide mingled in 
the air4 ,i think these pamphlets have a
 bad influence4 ,excessive dryness also 
has bad effects4 ,so also the excessive 
heat in the evenings and coolness in the

 mornings has a share in these evils4   
,but how much in addition is owing to   
carbonic oxide1 we can not know1 until  
we know something of the actual amount  
of this gas in rooms1 and as yet we know
 absolutely nothing definite4 ,in fact1 
it will be a difficult thing to prove4  
,there are other difficulties connected 
with furnaces which should be           
considered4 ,it is necessary to perfect 
health that an equal circulation of the 
blood be preserved4 ,the greatest       
impediment to this is keeping the head  
warmer than the feet4 ,this is          
especially to be avoided in a nation    
where the brain is by constant activity 
drawing the blood from the extremities4 
,and nowhere is this more important than
 in schools1 churches1 colleges1 lecture
 and recitation-rooms1 where the brain  
is called into active exercise4 ,and    
yet1 furnace-heated rooms always keep   
the feet in the coldest air1 on cool    
floors1 while the head is in the warmest
 air4  ,another difficulty is the fact  

that all bodies tend to radiate their   
heat to each other1 till an equal       
temperature exists4 ,thus1 the human    
body is constantly radiating its heat to
 the walls1 floors1 and cooler bodies   
around4 ,at the same time1 a thermometer
 is affected in the same way1 radiating 
its heat to cooler bodies around1 so    
that it always marks a lower degree of  
heat than actually exists in the warm   
air around it4 ,owing to these facts1   
the injected air of a furnace is always 
warmer than is good for the lungs1 and  
much warmer than is ever needed in rooms
 warmed by radiation from fires or      
heated surfaces4 ,the cooler the air we 
inspire1 the more oxygen is received1   
the faster the blood circulates1 and the
 greater is the vigor imparted to brain1
 nerves1 and muscles4  ,scientific men  
have been contriving various modes of   
meeting these difficulties1 and at the  
close of this volume some results will  
be given to aid a woman in selecting and
 managing the most healthful and        

economical furnace1 or in providing some
 better method of warming a house4 ,some
 account will also be given of the      
danger involved in gas-stoves1 and some 
other recent inventions for cooking and 
heating4     ,,vi4  ,,home ,,decoration4
   ,having duly arranged for the        
physical necessities of a healthful and 
comfortable home1 we next approach the  
important subject of beauty in reference
 to the decoration of houses4 ,for while
 the aesthetic element must be          
subordinate to the requirements of      
physical existence1 and1 as a matter of 
expense1 should be held of inferior     
consequence to means of higher moral    
growth2 it yet holds a place of great   
significance among the influences which 
make home happy and attractive1 which   
give it a constant and wholesome power  
over the young1 and contributes much to 
the education of the entire household in
 refinement1 intellectual development1  
and moral sensibility4  ,here we are met
 by those who tell us that of course    

they want their houses handsome1 and    
that1 when they get money enough1 they  
intend to have them so1 but at present  
they are too poor1 and because they are 
poor they dismiss the subject           
altogether1 and live without any regard 
to it4  ,we have often seen people who  
said that they could not afford to make 
their houses beautiful1 who had spent   
upon them1 outside or in1 an amount of  
money which did not produce either      
beauty or comfort1 and which1 if        
judiciously applied1 might have made the
 house quite charming4  ,for example1 a 
man1 in building his house1 takes a plan
 of an architect4 ,this plan includes1  
on the outside1 a number of what ,andrew
 ,fairservice called curlywurlies and   
whigmaliries1 which make the house      
neither prettier nor more comfortable1  
and which take up a good deal of money4 
,we would venture to say that we could  
buy the chromo of ,bierstadt's ,sunset  
in the ,yosemite ,valley1 and four      
others like it1 for half the sum that we

 have sometimes seen laid out on a very 
ugly1 narrow1 awkward porch on the      
outside of a house4 ,the only use of    
this porch was to cost money1 and to    
cause every body who looked at it to    
exclaim as they went by1 ,what ever     
induced that man to put a thing like    
that on the outside of his house8       
,then1 again1 in the inside of houses1  
we have seen a dwelling looking very    
bald and bare1 when a sufficient sum of 
money had been expended on one article  
to have made the whole very pretty3 and 
it has come about in this way4  ,we will
 suppose the couple who own the house to
 be in the condition in which people    
generally are after they have built a   
house--having spent more than they could
 afford on the building itself1 and yet 
feeling themselves under the necessity  
of getting some furniture4 ,now1 says   
the housewife1 ,i must at least have a  
parlor-carpet4 ,we must get that to     
begin with1 and other things as we go   
on4 ,she goes to a store to look at     

carpets4 ,the clerks are smiling and    
obliging1 and sweetly complacent4 ,the  
storekeeper1 perhaps1 is a neighbor or a
 friend1 and after exhibiting various   
patterns1 he tells her of a ,brussels   
carpet he is selling wonderfully        
cheap--actually a dollar and a quarter  
less a yard than the usual price of     
,brussels1 and the reason is that it is 
an unfashionable pattern1 and he has a  
good deal of it1 and wishes to close it 
off4  ,she looks at it and thinks it is 
not at all the kind of carpet she meant 
to buy1 but then it is ,brussels1 and so
 cheap6 ,and as she hesitates1 her      
friend tells her that she will find it  
cheapest in the end--that one ,brussels 
carpet will outlast three or four       
ingrains1 etc41 etc4  ,the result of all
 this is1 that she buys the ,brussels   
carpet1 which1 with all its reduction in
 price1 is one third dearer than the    
ingrain would have been1 and not half so
 pretty4 ,when she comes home1 she will 
find that she has spent1 we will say    

eighty dollars1 for a very homely carpet
 whose greatest merit it is an          
affliction to remember--namely1 that it 
will outlast three ordinary carpets4    
,and because she has bought this carpet 
she can not afford to paper the walls or
 put up any window-curtains1 and can not
 even begin to think of buying any      
pictures4  ,now let us see what eighty  
dollars could have done for that room4  
,we will suppose1 in the first place1   
she invests in thirteen rolls of        
wall-paper of a lovely shade of buff1   
which will make the room look sunshiny  
in the day-time1 and light up           
brilliantly in the evening4 ,thirteen   
rolls of good satin paper1 at           
thirty-seven cents a roll1 expends four 
dollars and eighty-one cents4 ,a maroon 
bordering1 made in imitation of the     
choicest ,french style1 which can not at
 a distance be told from it1 can be     
bought for six cents a yard4 ,this will 
bring the paper to about five dollars   
and a half2 and our friends will give a 

day of their time to putting it on4 ,the
 room already begins to look furnished4 
,then1 let us cover the floor with1 say1
 thirty yards of good matting1 at fifty 
cents a yard4 ,this gives us a carpet   
for fifteen dollars4 ,we are here       
stopped by the prejudice that matting is
 not good economy1 because it wears out 
so soon4 ,we humbly submit that it is   
precisely the thing for a parlor1 which 
is reserved for the reception-room of   
friends1 and for our own dressed leisure
 hours4 ,matting is not good economy in 
a dining-room or a hard-worn            
sitting-room2 but such a parlor as we   
are describing is precisely the place   
where it answers to the very best       
advantage4  ,we have in mind one very   
attractive parlor which has been1 both  
for summer and winter1 the daily        
sitting-room for the leisure hours of a 
husband and wife1 and family of         
children1 where a plain straw matting   
has done service for seven years4 ,that 
parlor is in a city1 and these friends  

are in the habit of receiving visits    
from people who live upon velvet and    
,brussels2 but they prefer to spend the 
money which such carpets would cost on  
other modes of embellishment2 and this  
parlor has often been cited to us as a  
very attractive room4  ,and now our     
friends1 having got thus far1 are       
requested to select some one tint or    
color which shall be the prevailing one 
in the furniture of the room4 ,shall it 
be green8 ,shall it be blue8 ,shall it  
be crimson8 ,to carry on our            
illustration1 we will choose green1 and 
we proceed with it to create furniture  
for our room4 ,let us imagine that on   
one side of the fireplace there be1 as  
there is often1 a recess about six feet 
long and three feet deep4 ,fill this    
recess with a rough frame with four     
stout legs1 one foot high1 and upon the 
top of the frame have an elastic rack of
 slats4 ,make a mattress for this1 or1  
if you wish to avoid that trouble1 you  
can get a nice mattress for the sum of  

two dollars1 made of cane-shavings or   
husks4 ,cover this with a green ,english
 furniture print4 ,the glazed ,english  
comes at about twenty-five cents a yard1
 the glazed ,french at seventy-five     
cents a yard1 and a nice article of     
yard-wide ,french twill 7very strong7 is
 from seventy-five to eighty cents a    
yard4  ,with any of these cover your    
lounge4 ,make two large1 square pillows 
of the same substance as the mattress1  
and set up at the back4 ,if you happen  
to have one or two feather pillows that 
you can spare for the purpose1 shake    
them down into a square shape and cover 
them with the same print1 and you will  
then have for pillows for your          
lounge--one at each end1 and two at the 
back1 and you will find it answers for  
all the purposes of a sofa4             
,illustration3 ,fig4 #ch4  ,it will be a
 very pretty thing1 now1 to cut out of  
the same material as your lounge1 sets  
of lambrequins 7or1 as they are called1 
lamberkins17 a land of pendent          

curtain-top1 as shown in the            
illustration1 to put over the windows1  
which are to be embellished with white  
muslin curtains4 ,the cornices to your  
windows can be simply strips of wood    
covered with paper to match the         
bordering of your room1 and the         
lambrequins1 made of chintz like the    
lounge1 can be trimmed with fringe or   
gimp of the same color4 ,the patterns of
 these can be varied according to fancy1
 but simple designs are usually the     
prettiest4 ,a tassel at the lowest point
 improves the appearance4  ,the curtains
 can be made of plain white muslin1 or  
some of the many styles that come for   
this purpose4 ,if plain muslin is used1 
you can ornament them with hems an inch 
in width1 in which insert a strip of    
gingham or chambray of the same color as
 your chintz4 ,this will wash with the  
curtains without losing its color1 or   
should it fade1 it can easily be drawn  
out and replaced4  ,the influence of    
white-muslin curtains in giving an air  

of grace and elegance to a room is      
astonishing4 ,white curtains really     
create a room out of nothing4 ,no matter
 how coarse the muslin1 so it be white  
and hang in graceful folds1 there is a  
charm in it that supplies the want of   
multitudes of other things4  ,very      
pretty curtain-muslin can be bought at  
thirty-seven cents a yard4 ,it requires 
six yards for a window4  ,let your      
men-folk knock up for you1 out of rough1
 unplaned boards1 some ottoman frames1  
as described in ,chapter ,,ii2 stuff the
 tops with just the same material as the
 lounge1 and cover them with the        
self-same chintz4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 
#ci4  ,now you have1 suppose your       
selected color to be green1 a green     
lounge in the corner and two green      
ottomans2 you have white muslin         
curtains1 with green lambrequins and    
borders1 and your room already looks    
furnished4 ,if you have in the house any
 broken-down arm-chair1 reposing in the 
oblivion of the garret1 draw it         

out--drive a nail here and there to hold
 it firm--stuff and pad1 and stitch the 
padding through with a long             
upholsterer's needle1 and cover it with 
the chintz like your other furniture4   
,presto--you create an easy-chair4      
,thus can broken and disgraced furniture
 reappear1 and1 being put into uniform  
with the general suit of your room1 take
 a new lease of life4  ,if you want a   
centre-table1 consider this--that any   
kind of table1 well concealed beneath   
the folds of handsome drapery of a color
 corresponding to the general hue of the
 room1 will look well4 ,instead of going
 to the cabinet-maker and paying from   
thirty to forty dollars upon a little1  
narrow1 cold1 marble-topped stand1 that 
gives just room enough to hold a lamp   
and a book or two1 reflect within       
yourself what a centre-table is made    
for4 ,if you have in your house a good1 
broad1 generous-topped table1 take it1  
cover it with an ample cloth of green   
broadcloth4 ,such a cover1 two and a    

half yards square1 of fine green        
broadcloth1 figured with black and with 
a pattern-border of grape-leaves1 has   
been bought for ten dollars4 ,in a room 
we wot of1 it covers a cheap pine table1
 such as you may buy for four or five   
dollars any day2 but you will be        
astonished to see how handsome an object
 this table makes under its green       
drapery4 ,probably you could make the   
cover more cheaply by getting the cloth 
and trimming its edge with a handsome   
border1 selected for the purpose2 but   
either way1 it will be an economical and
 useful ornament4 ,we set down our      
centre-table1 therefore1 as consisting  
mainly of a nice broadcloth cover1      
matching our curtains and lounge4  ,we  
are sure that any one with a heart that 
is humble may command such a            
centre-table and cloth for fifteen      
dollars or less1 and a family of five or
 six may all sit and work1 or read1 or  
write around it1 and it is capable of   
entertaining a generous allowance of    

books and knick-knacks4  ,you have now  
for your parlor the following figures3  
,wall-paper and                         
border1444444444444444444444444444444444
444 #e4ej   ,thirty yards               
matting144444444444444444444444444444444
44444 #ae4jj   ,centre-table and        
cloth14444444444444444444444444444444444
4 #ae4jj   ,muslin for three            
windows144444444444444444444444444444444
44 #f4ge   ,thirty yards green ,english 
chintz1 at #be cents1444444444444 #g4ej 
,six chairs1 at #b                      
each144444444444444444444444444444444444
 #ab4jj                                 
,total1444444444444444444444444444444444
4444444444444444444#fa4ge ,subtracted   
from eighty dollars1 which we set down  
as the price of the cheap1 ugly         
,brussels carpet1 we have our whole room
 papered1 carpeted1 curtained1 and      
furnished1 and we have nearly twenty    
dollars remaining for pictures4  ,as a  
little suggestion in regard to the      
selection1 you can got ,miss ,oakley's  

charming little cabinet picture of      
,the ,little ,scrap-,book ,maker        
for444444444444444444444444 #g #ej      
,eastman ,johnson's ,barefoot           
,boy144444444444444444 7,prang7 #e #jj  
,newman's ,blue-fringed                 
,gentians14444444444444444447,prang7 #f 
#jj   ,bierstadt's ,sunset in the ,yo   
,semite ,valley14444447,prang7#ab #jj   
,here are thirty dollars' worth of      
really admirable pictures of some of our
 best ,american artists1 from which you 
can choose at your leisure4 ,by sending 
to any leading picture-dealer1 lists of 
pictures and prices will be forwarded to
 you4 ,these chromos1 being all         
varnished1 can wait for frames until you
 can afford them4 ,or1 what is better1  
because it is at once cheaper and a     
means of educating the ingenuity and the
 taste1 you can make for yourselves     
pretty rustic frames in various modes4  
,take a very thin board1 of the right   
size and shape1 for the foundation or   
mat2 saw out the inner oval or          

rectangular form to suit the picture4   
,nail on the edge a rustic frame made of
 branches of hard1 seasoned wood1 and   
garnish the corners with some pretty    
device2 such1 for instance1 as a cluster
 of acorns2 or1 in place of the branches
 of trees1 fasten on with glue small    
pine cones1 with larger ones for corner 
ornaments4 ,or use the mosses of the    
wood or ocean shells for this purpose4  
,it may be more convenient to get the   
mat or inner moulding from a framer1 or 
have it made by your carpenter1 with a  
groove behind to hold a glass4 ,here are
 also picture-frames of pretty effect1  
and very simply made4 ,the one in ,fig4 
#db is made of either light or dark     
wood1 neat1 thin1 and not very wide1    
with the ends simply broken1 off1 or cut
 so as to resoluble a rough break4 ,the 
other is white pine1 sawn into simple   
form1 well smoothed1 and marked with a  
delicate black tracery1 as suggested in 
,fig4 #dc4 ,this should also be         
varnished1 then it will take a rich1    

yellow tinge1 which harmonizes admirably
 with chromos1 and lightens up          
engravings to singular advantage4       
,besides the ,american and the higher   
range of ,german and ,english chromos1  
there are very many pretty little       
,french chromos1 which can be had at    
prices from #a to #e1 including black   
walnut frames4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #dj
 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #da ,illustration3
 ,fig4 #db ,illustration3 ,fig4 #dc  ,we
 have been through this calculation     
merely to show our readers how much     
beautiful effect may be produced by a   
wise disposition of color and skill in  
arrangement4 ,if any of our friends     
should ever carry it out1 they will find
 that the buff paper1 with its dark1    
narrow border2 the green chintz repeated
 in the lounge1 the ottomans1 and       
lambrequins2 the flowing1 white         
curtains2 the broad1 generous           
centre-table1 draped with its ample     
green cloth1 will1 when arranged        
together1 produce an effect of grace and

 beauty far beyond what any one piece or
 even half a dozen pieces of expensive  
cabinet furniture could4 ,the great1    
simple principle of beauty illustrated  
in this room is harmony of color4  ,you 
can1 in the same way1 make a red room by
 using ,turkey red for your draperies2  
or a blue room by using blue chintz4    
,let your chintz be of a small pattern1 
and one that is decided in color4  ,we  
have given the plan of a room with      
matting on the floor because that is    
absolutely the cheapest cover4 ,the     
price of thirty yards plain1 good       
ingrain carpet1 at #a4ej per yard1 would
 be forty-five dollars2 the difference  
between forty-five and fifteen dollars  
would furnish a room with pictures such 
as we have instanced4 ,however1 the same
 programme can be even better carried   
out with a green ingrain carpet as the  
foundation of the color of the room4    
,our friends1 who lived seven years upon
 matting1 contrived to give their parlor
 in winter an effect of warmth and color

 by laying down1 in front of the fire1 a
 large square of carpeting1 say three   
breadths1 four yards long4 ,this covered
 the gathering-place around the fire    
where the winter circle generally sits1 
and gave an appearance of warmth to the 
room4  ,if we add this piece of         
carpeting to the estimates for our room1
 we still leave a margin for a picture1 
and make the programme equally adapted  
to summer and winter4  ,besides the     
chromos1 which1 when well selected and  
of the best class1 give the charm of    
color which belongs to expensive        
paintings1 there are engravings which   
finely reproduce much of the real spirit
 and beauty of the celebrated pictures  
of the world4 ,and even this does not   
exhaust the resources of economical art2
 for there are few of the renowned      
statues1 whether of antiquity or of     
modern times1 that have not been        
accurately copied in plaster casts2 and 
a few statuettes1 costing perhaps five  
or six dollars each1 will give a really 

elegant finish to your rooms-providing  
always that they are selected with      
discrimination and taste4  ,the         
educating influence of these works of   
art can hardly be over- estimated4      
,surrounded by such suggestions of the  
beautiful1 and such reminders of history
 and art1 children are constantly       
trained to correctness of tote and      
refinement of thought1 and              
stimulated--sometimes to efforts at     
artistic imitation1 always to the eager 
and intelligent inquiry about the       
scenes1 the places1 the incidents       
represented4 ,just here1 perhaps1 we are
 met by some who grant all that we say  
on the subject of decoration by works of
 art1 and who yet impatiently exclaim1  
,but ,i have no money to spare for any  
thing of this sort4 ,i am condemned to  
an absolute bareness1 and beauty in my  
case is not to be thought of4  ,are you 
sure1 my friend8 ,if you live in the    
country1 or can get into the country1   
and have your eyes opened and your wits 

about you1 your house need not be       
condemned to an absolute bareness4 ,not 
so long as the woods are full of        
beautiful ferns and mosses1 while every 
swamp shakes and nods with tremulous    
grasses1 need you feel yourself an      
utterly disinherited child of nature1   
and deprived of its artistic use4  ,for 
example3 ,take an old tin pan condemned 
to the retired list by reason of holes  
in the bottom1 get twenty-five cents'   
worth of green paint for this and other 
purposes1 and paint it4 ,the holes in   
the bottom are a recommendation for its 
new service4 ,if there are no holes1 you
 must drill two or three1 as drainage is
 essential4 ,now put a layer one inch   
deep of broken charcoal and potsherds   
over the bottom1 and then soil1 in the  
following proportions3  ,two fourths    
wood-soil1 such as you find in forests1 
under trees4  ,one fourth clean sand4   
,one fourth meadow-soil1 taken from     
under fresh turf4 ,mix with this some   
charcoal dust4  ,in this soil plant all 

sorts of ferns1 together with some few  
swamp-grasses2 and around the edge put a
 border of money-plant or periwinkle to 
hang over4 ,this will need to be watered
 once or twice a week1 and it will grow 
and thrive all summer long in a corner  
of your room4 ,should you prefer1 you   
can suspend it by wires and make a      
hanging-basket4--,ferns and wood-grasses
 need not have sunshine--they grow well 
in shadowy places4  ,on this same       
principle you can convert a salt-box or 
an old drum of figs into a              
hanging-basket4 ,tack bark and          
pine-cones and moss upon the outside of 
it1 drill holes and pass wires through  
it1 and you have a woodland             
hanging-basket1 which will hang and grow
 in any corner of your house4  ,we have 
been into rooms which1 by the simple    
disposition of articles of this kind1   
have been made to have an air so        
poetical and attractive that they seemed
 more like a nymph's cave than any thing
 in the real world4  ,illustration3     

,fig4 #dd4  ,another mode of disposing  
of ferns is this3 ,take a flat piece of 
board sawed out something like a shield1
 with a hole at the top for hanging it  
up4 ,upon the board nail a wire pocket  
made of an ox-muzzle flattened on one   
side2 or make something of the kind with
 stiff wire4 ,line this with a sheet of 
close moss1 which appears green behind  
the wire net-work4 ,then you fill it    
with loose1 spongy moss1 such as you    
find in swamps1 and plant therein great 
plumes of fern and various              
swamp-grasses2 they will continue to    
grow there1 and hang gracefully over4   
,when watering1 set a pail under for it 
to drip into4 ,it needs only to keep    
this moss always damp1 and to sprinkle  
these ferns occasionally with a         
whisk-broom1 to have a most lovely      
ornament for your room or hall4  ,the   
use of ivy in decorating a room is      
beginning to be generally acknowledged4 
,it needs to be planted in the kind of  
soil we have described1 in a            

well-drained pot or box1 and to have its
 leaves thoroughly washed once or twice 
a year in strong suds made with         
soft-soap1 to free it from dust and     
scale-bug2 and an ivy will live and     
thrive and wind about in a room1 year in
 and year out1 will grow around         
pictures1 and do almost any thing to    
oblige you that you can suggest to it4  
,for instance1 in a ,march number of    
,hearth and ,home1 ,footnote3 ,a        
beautifully illustrated agricultural and
 family weekly paper1 edited by ,donald 
,g4 ,mitchell7,ik ,marvel7 and ,mrs4 ,h4
 ,b4 ,stowe1 there is a picture of the  
most delightful library-window          
imaginable1 whose chief charm consists  
in the running vines that start from a  
longitudinal box at the bottom of the   
window1 and thence clamber up and about 
the casing and across the rustic        
frame-work erected for its convenience4 
,on the opposite page we present another
 plain kind of window1 ornamented with a
 variety of these rural economical      

adornings4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #de4   
,in the centre is a ,ward's case4 ,on   
one side is a pot of ,fuchsia4 ,on the  
other side is a ,calla ,lily4 ,in the   
hanging-baskets and on the brackets are 
the ferns and flowers that flourish in  
the deep woods1 and around the window is
 the ivy1 running from two boxes2 and1  
in case the window has some sun1 a      
,nasturtium may spread its bright       
blossoms among the leaves4 ,then1 in the
 winter1 when there is less sun1 the    
,striped ,spider-wort1 the ,smilax and  
the ,saxifraga4 ,samantosa 7or          
,wandering ,jew7 may be substituted4    
,pretty brackets can be made of common  
pine1 ornamented with odd-growing twigs 
or mosses or roots1 scraped and         
varnished1 or in their native state4  ,a
 beautiful ornament for a room with     
pictures is ,german ivy4 ,slips of this 
will start without roots in bottles of  
water4 ,slide the bottle behind the     
picture1 and the ivy will seem to come  
from fairyland1 and hang its verdure in 

all manner of pretty curves around the  
picture4 ,it may then be trained to     
travel toward other ivy1 and thus aid in
 forming green cornice along the        
ceiling4 ,we have seen some rooms that  
had an ivy cornice around the whole1    
giving the air of a leafy bower4  ,there
 are some other odd devices to ornament 
a room4 ,for example1 a sponge1 kept wet
 by daily immersion1 can be filled with 
flax-seed and suspended by a cord1 when 
it will ere long be covered with verdure
 and afterward with flowers4  ,a sweet  
potato1 laid in a bowl of water on a    
bracket1 or still better1 suspended by a
 knitting-needle1 run through or laid   
across the bowl half in the water1 will1
 in due time1 make a beautiful verdant  
ornament4 ,a large carrot1 with the     
smallest half cut off1 scooped out to   
hold water and then suspended with      
cords1 will send out graceful shoots in 
rich profusion4  ,half a cocoa-nut      
shell1 suspended1 will hold earth or    
water for plants and make a pretty      

hanging-garden4  ,it may be a very      
proper thing to direct the ingenuity and
 activity of children into the making of
 hanging-baskets and vases of rustic    
work4 ,the best foundations are the     
cheap wooden bowls1 which are quite easy
 to get1 and the walks of children in   
the woods can be made interesting by    
their bringing home material for this   
rustic work4 ,different colored twigs   
and sprays of trees1 such as the bright 
scarlet of the dog-wood1 the yellow of  
the willow1 the black of the birch1 and 
the silvery gray of the poplar1 may be  
combined in fanciful net-work4 ,for this
 sort of work1 no other investment is   
needed than a hammer and an assortment  
of different-sized tacks1 and beautiful 
results will be produced4 ,fig4 #df is a
 stand for flowers1 made of roots1      
scraped and varnished4 ,but the greatest
 and cheapest and most delightful       
fountain of beauty is a ,ward case4     
,illustration3 ,fig #df4  ,now1         
immediately all our economical friends  

give up in despair4 ,ward's cases sell  
all the way along from eighteen to fifty
 dollars1 and are1 like every thing else
 in this lower world1 regarded as the   
sole perquisites of the rich4  ,let us  
not be too sure4 ,plate-glass1 and      
hot-house plants1 and rare patterns1 are
 the especial inheritance of the rich2  
but any family may command all the      
requisites of a ,ward case for a very   
small sum4 ,such a case is a small glass
 closet over a well-drained box of soil4
 ,you make a ,ward case on a small scale
 when you turn a tumbler over a plant4  
,the glass keeps the temperature moist  
and equable1 and preserves the plants   
from dust1 and the soil being well      
drained1 they live and thrive           
accordingly4 ,the requisites of these   
are the glass top and the bed of        
well-drained soil4  ,suppose you have a 
common cheap table1 four feet long and  
two wide4 ,take off the top boards of   
your table1 and with them board the     
bottom across tight and firm2 then line 

it with zinc1 and you will have a sort  
of box or sink on legs4 ,now make a top 
of common window-glass such as you would
 get for a cucumber-frame2 let it be two
 and a half feet high1 with a ridge-pole
 like a house1 and a slanting roof of   
glass resting on this ridge-pole2 on one
 end let there be a door two feet       
square4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #dg4  ,we 
have seen a ,ward case made in this way1
 in which the capabilities for producing
 ornamental effect were greatly beyond  
many of the most elaborate ones of the  
shops4 ,it was large1 and roomy1 and    
cheap4 ,common window-sash and glass are
 not dear1 and any man with moderate    
ingenuity could fashion such a glass    
closet for his wife2 or a woman1 not    
having such a husband1 can do it        
herself4  ,the sink or box part must    
have in the middle of it a hole of good 
size for drainage4 ,in preparing for the
 reception of plants1 first turn a      
plant-saucer over this hole1 which may  
otherwise become stopped4 ,then1 as     

directed for the other basket1 proceed  
with a layer of broken charcoal and     
pot-sherds for drainage1 two inches     
deep1 and prepare the soil as directed  
above1 and add to it some pounded       
charcoal1 or the scrapings of the       
charcoal-bin4 ,in short1 more or less   
charcoal and charcoal-dust is always in 
order in the treatment of these moist   
subjects1 as it keeps them from         
fermenting and growing sour4  ,now for  
filling the case4  ,our own native      
forest-ferns have a period in the winter
 months when they cease to grow4 ,they  
are very particular in asserting their  
right to this yearly nap1 and will not1 
on any consideration1 grow for you out  
of their appointed season4              
,nevertheless1 we shall tell you what we
 have tried ourselves1 because          
greenhouse ferns are expensive1 and     
often great cheats when you have bought 
them1 and die on your hands in the most 
reckless and shameless manner4 ,if you  
make a ,ward case in the spring1 your   

ferns will grow beautifully in it all   
summer2 and in the autumn1 though they  
stop growing1 and cease to throw out    
leaves1 yet the old leaves will remain  
fresh and green till the time for       
starting the new ones in the spring4    
,but1 supposing you wish to start your  
case in the fall1 out of such things as 
you can find in the forest2 by searching
 carefully the rocks and clefts and     
recesses of the forest1 you can find a  
quantity of beautiful ferns whose leaves
 the frost has not yet assailed4 ,gather
 them carefully1 remembering that the   
time of the plant's sleep has come1 and 
that you must make the most of the      
leaves it now has1 as you will not have 
a leaf more from it till its waking-up  
time in ,february or ,march4 ,but we    
have succeeded1 and you will succeed1 in
 making a very charming and picturesque 
collection4 ,you can make in your ,ward 
case lovely little grottoes with any    
bits of shells1 and minerals1 and rocks 
you may have2 you can lay down1 here and

 there1 fragments of broken             
looking-glass for the floor of your     
grottoes1 and the effect of them will be
 magical4 ,a square of looking-glass    
introduced into the back side of your   
case will produce charming effects4     
,the trailing arbutus or ,may-flower1 if
 cut up carefully in sods1 and put into 
this ,ward case1 will come into bloom   
there a month sooner than it otherwise  
would1 and gladden your eyes and heart4 
,in the fall1 if you can find the tufts 
of eye-bright or houstonia cerulia1 and 
mingle them in with your mosses1 you    
will find them blooming before winter is
 well over4  ,but among the most        
beautiful things for such a case is the 
partridge-berry1 with its red plums4    
,the berries swell and increase in the  
moist atmosphere1 and become intense in 
color1 forming an admirable ornament4   
,then the ground pine1 the princess     
pine1 and various nameless pretty things
 of the woods1 all flourish in these    
little conservatories4 ,in getting your 

sod of trailing arbutus1 remember that  
this plant forms its buds in the fall4  
,you must1 therefore1 examine your sod  
carefully1 and see if the buds are      
there2 otherwise you will find no       
blossoms in the spring4  ,there are one 
or two species of violets1 also1 that   
form their buds in the fall1 and these  
too1 will blossom early for you4  ,we   
have never tried the wild anemones1 the 
crowfoot1 etc42 but as they all do well 
in moist1 shady places1 we recommend    
hopefully the experiment of putting some
 of them in4  ,a ,ward case has this    
recommendation over common house-plants1
 that it takes so little time and care4 
,if well made in the outset1 and        
thoroughly drenched with water when the 
plants are first put in1 it will after  
that need only to be watered about once 
a month1 and to be ventilated by        
occasionally leaving open the door for a
 half-hour or hour when the moisture    
obscures the glass and seems in excess4 
,to women embarrassed with the care of  

little children1 yet longing for the    
refreshment of something growing and    
beautiful1 this indoor garden will be an
 untold treasure4 ,the glass defends the
 plant from the inexpedient             
intermeddling of little fingers2 while  
the little eyes1 just on a level with   
the panes of glass1 can look through and
 learn to enjoy the beautiful1 silent   
miracles of nature4  ,for an invalid's  
chamber1 such a case would be an        
indescribable comfort4 ,it is1 in fact1 
a fragment of the green woods brought in
 and silently growing2 it will refresh  
many a weary hour to watch it4    ,,vii4
  ,,the ,,care ,,of ,,health4  ,there is
 no point where a woman is more liable  
to suffer from a want of knowledge and  
experience than in reference to the     
health of a family committed to her     
care4 ,many a young lady who never had  
any charge of the sick2 who never took  
any care of an infant2 who never        
obtained information on these subjects  
from books1 or from the experience of   

others2 in short1 with little or no     
preparation1 has found herself the      
principal attendant in dangerous        
sickness1 the chief nurse of a feeble   
infant1 and the responsible guardian of 
the health of a whole family4  ,the     
care1 the fear1 the perplexity of a     
woman suddenly called to these unwonted 
duties1 none can realize till they      
themselves feel it1 or till they see    
some young and anxious novice first     
attempting to meet such                 
responsibilities4 ,to a woman of age and
 experience these duties often involve a
 measure of trial and difficulty at     
times deemed almost insupportable2 how  
hard1 then1 must they press on the heart
 of the young and inexperienced6  ,there
 is no really efficacious mode of       
preparing a woman to take a rational    
care of the health of a family1 except  
by communicating that knowledge in      
regard to the construction of the body  
and the laws of health which is the     
basis of the medical profession4 ,not   

that a woman should undertake the minute
 and extensive investigation requisite  
for a physician2 but she should gain a  
general knowledge of first principles1  
as a guide to her judgment in           
emergencies when she can rely on no     
other aid4  ,with this end in view1 in  
the preceding chapters some portions of 
the organs and functions of the human   
body have been presented1 and others    
will now follow in connection with the  
practical duties which result from them4
  ,on the general subject of health1 one
 recent discovery of science may here be
 introduced as having an important      
relation to every organ and function of 
the body1 and as being one to which     
frequent reference will be made2 and    
that is1 the nature and operation of    
cell-life4  ,by the aid of the          
microscope1 we can examine the minute   
construction of plants and animals1 in  
which we discover contrivances and      
operations1 if not so sublime1 yet more 
wonderful and interesting1 than the vast

 systems of worlds revealed by the      
telescope4  ,by this instrument it is   
now seen that the first formation1 as   
well as future changes and actions1 of  
all plants and animals are accomplished 
by means of small cells or bags         
containing various kinds of liquids4    
,these cells are so minute that1 of the 
smallest1 some hundreds would not cover 
the dot of a printed i on this page4    
,they are of diverse shapes and         
contents1 and perform various different 
operations4  ,illustration3 ,fig #dh4   
,the first formation of every animal is 
accomplished by the agency of cells1 and
 may be illustrated by the egg of any   
bird or fowl4 ,the exterior consists of 
a hard shell for protection1 and this is
 lined with a tough skin1 to which is   
fastened the yelk1 7which means the     
yellow17 by fibrous strings1 as seen at 
a1 a1 in the diagram4 ,in the yelk      
floats the germ-cell1 b1 which is the   
point where the formation of the future 
animal commences4 ,the yelk1 being      

lighter than the white1 rises upward1   
and the germ being still lighter1 rises 
in the yelk4 ,this is to bring both     
nearer to the vitalizing warmth of the  
brooding mother4  ,new cells are        
gradually formed from the nourishing    
yelk around the germ1 each being at     
first roundish in shape1 and having a   
spot near the centre1 called the        
nucleus4 ,the reason why cells increase 
must remain a mystery1 until we can     
penetrate the secrets of vital          
force--probably forever4 ,but the mode  
in which they multiply is as follows3   
,the first change noticed in a cell1    
when warmed into vital activity1 is the 
appearance of a second nucleus within   
it1 while the cell gradually becomes    
oval in form1 and then is drawn inward  
at the middle1 like an hour-glass1 till 
the two sides meet4 ,the two portions   
then divide1 and two cells appear1 each 
containing its own germinal nucleus4    
,these both divide again in the same    
manner1 proceeding in the ratio of #b1  

#d1 #h1 #af1 and so on1 until most of   
the yelk becomes a mass of cells4  ,the 
central point of this mass1 where the   
animal itself commences to appear1      
shows1 first1 a round-shaped figure1    
which soon assumes form like a pear1 and
 then like a violin4 ,gradually the busy
 little cells arrange themselves to     
build up heart1 lungs1 brain1 stomach1  
and limbs1 for which the yelk and white 
furnish nutriment4 ,there is a small bag
 of air fastened to one end inside of   
the shell2 and when the animal is       
complete1 this air is taken into its    
lungs1 life begins1 and out walks little
 chick1 all its powers prepared1 and    
ready to run1 eat1 and enjoy existence4 
,then1 as soon as the animal uses its   
brain to think and feel1 and its muscles
 to move1 the cells which have been made
 up into these parts begin to decay1    
while new cells are formed from the     
blood to take their place4 ,time with   
life commences the constant process of  
decay and renewal all over the body4    

,illustration3 ,fig4 #di4  ,the liquid  
portion of the blood consists of        
material formed from food1 air1 and     
water4 ,from this material the cells of 
the blood are formed3 first1 the white  
cells1 which are incomplete in          
formation2 and then the red cells1 which
 are completed by the addition of the   
oxygen received from air in the lungs4  
,fig4 #di represents part of a magnified
 blood-vessel1 a1 a1 in which the round 
cells are the white1 and the oblong the 
red cells1 floating in the blood4       
,surrounding the blood- vessels are the 
cells forming the adjacent membrane1 bb1
 each having a nucleus in its centre4   
,cells have different powers of         
selecting and secreting diverse         
materials from the blood4 ,thus1 some   
secrete bile to carry to the liver1     
others secrete saliva for the mouth1    
others take up the tears1 and still     
others take material for the brain1     
muscles1 and all other organs4 ,cells   
also have a converting power1 of taking 

one kind of matter from the blood1 and  
changing it to another kind4 ,they are  
minute chemical laboratories all over   
the body1 changing materials of one kind
 to another form in which they can be   
made useful4  ,both animal and vegetable
 substances are formed of cells4 ,but   
the vegetable cells take up and use     
unorganized or simple1 natural matter2  
whereas the animal cell only takes      
substances already organized into       
vegetable or animal life1 and then      
changes one compound into another of    
different proportions and nature4       
,these curious facts in regard to       
cell-life have important relations to   
the general subject of the care of      
health1 and also to the cure of disease1
 as will be noticed in following        
chapters4   ,,the ,,nervous ,,system4   
,there is another portion of the body1  
which is so intimately connected with   
every other that it is placed in this   
chapter as also having reference to     
every department in the general subject 

of the care of health4  ,the body has no
 power to move itself1 but is a         
collection of instruments to be used by 
the mind in securing various kinds of   
knowledge and enjoyment4 ,the organs    
through which the mind thus operates are
 the brain and nerves4 ,the drawing     
7,fig4 #ej7 represents them4            
,illustration3 ,fig4 #ej4  ,the brain   
lies in the skull1 and is divided into  
the large or upper brain1 marked #a1 and
 the small or lower brain1 marked #b4   
,from the brain runs the spinal marrow  
through the spine or backbone4 ,from    
each side of the spine the large nerves 
run out into innumerable smaller        
branches to every portion of the body4  
,the drawing shows only some of the     
larger branches4 ,those marked #c run to
 the neck and organs of the chest2 those
 marked #d go to the arms2 those below  
the arms1 marked #c1 go to the trunk2   
and those marked #e go to the legs4     
,the brain and nerves consist of two    
kinds of nervous matter--the gray1 which

 is supposed to be the portion that     
originates and controls a nervous fluid 
which imparts power of action2 and the  
white1 which seems to conduct this fluid
 to every part of the body4  ,the brain 
and nervous system are divided into     
distinct portions1 each having different
 offices to perform1 and each acting    
independently of the others2 as1 for    
example1 one portion is employed by the 
mind in thinking1 and in feeling        
pleasurable or painful mental emotions2 
another in moving the muscles2 while the
 nerves that run to the nose1 ears1     
eyes1 tongue1 hands1 and surface        
generally1 are employed in seeing1      
hearing1 smelling1 tasting1 and feeling 
all physical sensations4  ,the back     
portion of the spinal marrow and the    
nerves that run from it are employed in 
sensation1 or the sense of feeling4     
,these nerves extend over the whole     
body1 but are largely developed in the  
network of nerves in the skin4 ,the     
front portion of the spinal marrow and  

its branches are employed in moving     
those muscles in all parts of the body  
which are controlled by the will or     
choice of the mind4 ,these are called   
the nerves of motion4  ,the nerves of   
sensation and nerves of motion1 although
 they start from different portions of  
the spine1 are united in the same sheath
 or cover1 till they terminate in the   
muscles4 ,thus1 every muscle is moved by
 nerves of motion2 while alongside of   
this nerve1 in the same sheath1 is a    
nerve of sensation4 ,all the nerves of  
motion and sensation are connected with 
those portions of the brain used when we
 think1 feel1 and choose4 ,by this      
arrangement the mind knows what is      
wanted in all parts of the body by means
 of the nerves of sensation1 and then it
 acts by means of the nerves of motion4 
,for example1 when we feel the cold air 
on the skin1 the nerves of sensation    
report to the brain1 and thus to the    
mind1 that the body is growing cold4    
,the mind thus knows that more clothing 

is needed1 and wills to have the eyes   
look for it1 and the hands and feet move
 to get it4 ,this is done by the nerves 
of sight and of motion4  ,next are the  
nerves of involuntary motion1 which move
 all those parts of the head1 face1 and 
body that are used in breathing1 and in 
other operations connected with it4 ,by 
these we continue to breathe when       
asleep1 and whether we will to do so or 
not4 ,there are also some of the nerves 
of voluntary motion that are mixed with 
these1 which enable the mind to stop    
respiration1 or to regulate it to a     
certain extent4 ,but the mind has no    
power to stop it for any great length of
 time4  ,there is another large and     
important system of nerves called the   
sympathetic or ganglionic system4 ,it   
consists of small masses of gray and    
white nervous matter1 that seem to be   
small brains with nerves running from   
them4 ,these are called ganglia1 and are
 arranged on each side of the spine1    
while small nerves from the spinal      

marrow run into them1 thus uniting the  
sympathetic system with the nerves of   
the spine4 ,these ganglia are also      
distributed around in various parts of  
the interior of the body1 especially in 
the intestines1 and all the different   
ganglia are connected with each other by
 nerves1 thus making one system4 ,it is 
the ganglionic system that carries on   
the circulation of the blood1 the action
 of the capillaries1 lymphatics1        
arteries1 and veins1 together with the  
work of secretion1 absorption1 and most 
of the internal working of the body1    
which goes forward without any knowledge
 or control of the mind4  ,every portion
 of the body has nerves of sensation    
coming from the spine1 and also branches
 of the sympathetic or ganglionic       
system4 ,the object of this is to form a
 sympathetic communication between the  
several parts of the body1 and also to  
enable the mind to receive1 through the 
brain1 some general knowledge of the    
state of the whole system4 ,it is owing 

to this that1 when one portion of the   
body is affected1 other portions        
sympathize4 ,for example1 if one part of
 the body is diseased1 the stomach may  
so sympathize as to lose all appetite   
until the disease is removed4  ,all the 
operations of the nervous system are    
performed by the influence of the       
nervous fluid1 which is generated in the
 gray portions of the brain and ganglia4
 ,whenever a nerve is cut off from its  
connection with these nervous centres1  
its power is gone1 and the part to which
 it ministered becomes lifeless and     
incapable of motion4  ,the brain and    
nerves can be overworked1 and can also  
suffer for want of exercise1 just as the
 muscles do4 ,it is necessary for the   
perfect health of the brain and nerves  
that the several portions he exercised  
sufficiently1 and that no part be       
exhausted by over-action4 ,for example1 
the nerves of sensation may be very much
 exercised1 and the nerves of motion    
have but little exercise4 ,in this ease1

 one will be weakened by excess of work1
 and the other by the want of it4  ,it  
is found by experience that the proper  
exercise of the nerves of motion tends  
to reduce any extreme susceptibility of 
the nerves of sensation4 ,on the        
contrary1 the neglect of such exercise  
tends to produce an excessive           
sensibility in the nerves of sensation4 
,whenever that part of the brain which  
is employed in thinking1 feeling1 and   
willing1 is greatly exercised by hard   
study1 or by excessive care or emotion1 
the blood tends to the brain to supply  
it with increased nourishment1 just as  
it flows to the muscles when they are   
exercised4 ,over-exercise of this       
portion of the brain causes engorgement 
of the blood-vessels4 ,this is sometimes
 indicated by pain1 or by a sense of    
fullness in the head2 but oftener the   
result is a debilitating drain on the   
nervous system1 which depends for its   
supply on the healthful state of the    
brain4  ,the brain has1 as it were1 a   

fountain of supply for the nervous      
fluid1 which flows to all the nerves1   
and stimulates them to action4 ,some    
brains have a larger1 and some a smaller
 fountain2 so that a degree of mental   
activity that would entirely exhaust    
one1 would make only a small and        
healthful drain upon another4  ,the     
excessive use of certain portions of the
 brain tends to withdraw the nervous    
energy from other portions2 so that when
 one part is debilitated by excess1     
another fails by neglect4 ,for example1 
a person may so exhaust the brain power 
in the excessive use of the nerves of   
motion by hard work1 as to leave little 
for any other faculty4 ,on the other    
hand1 the nerves of feeling and thinking
 may be so used as to withdraw the      
nervous fluid from the nerves of motion1
 and thus debilitate the muscles4  ,some
 animal propensities may be indulged to 
such excess as to produce a constant    
tendency of the blood to a certain      
portion of the brain1 and to the organs 

connected with it1 and thus cause a     
constant and excessive excitement1 which
 finally becomes a disease4 ,sometimes a
 paralysis of this portion of the brain 
results from such an entire exhaustion  
of the nervous fountain and of the      
overworked nerves4  ,thus1 also1 the    
thinking portion of the brain may be so 
overworked as to drain the nervous fluid
 from other portions1 which become      
debilitated by the loss4 ,and in this   
way1 also1 the overworked portion may be
 diseased or paralyzed by the excess4   
,the necessity for the equal development
 of all portions of the brain by an     
appropriate exercise of all the         
faculties of mind and body1 and the     
influence of this upon happiness1 is the
 most important portion of this subject1
 and will be more directly exhibited in 
another chapter4     ,,viii4  ,,domestic
 ,,exercise4   ,in a work which aims to 
influence women to train the young to   
honor domestic labor and to seek        
healthful exercise in home pursuits1    

there is special reason for explaining  
the construction of the muscles and     
their connection with the nerves1 these 
being the chief organs of motion4  ,the 
muscles1 as seen by the naked eye1      
consist of very fine fibres or strings1 
bound up in smooth1 silky casings of    
thin membrane4 ,but each of these       
visible fibres or strings the microscope
 shows to be made up of still finer     
strings1 numbering from five to eight   
hundred in each fibre4 ,and each of     
these microscopic fibres is a series or 
chain of elastic cells1 which are so    
minute that one hundred thousand would  
scarcely cover a capital ,o on this     
page4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ea4        
,illustration3 ,fig4 #eb4  ,the peculiar
 property of the cells which compose the
 muscles is their elasticity1 no other  
cells of the body having this property4 
,at ,fig4 #ea is a diagram representing 
a microscopic muscular fibre1 in which  
the cells are relaxed1 as in the natural
 state of rest4 ,but when the muscle    

contracts1 each of its numberless cells 
in all its small fibres becomes widened1
 making each fibre of the muscle shorter
 and thicker1 as at ,fig4 #eb4 ,this    
explains the cause of the swelling out  
of muscles when they act4  ,every motion
 in every part of the body has a special
 muscle to produce it1 and many have    
other muscles to restore the part moved 
to its natural state4 ,the muscles that 
move or bend any part are called        
flexors1 and those that restore the     
natural position are called extensors4  
,illustration3 ,fig4 #ec  ,fig4 #ec     
represents the muscles of the arm after 
the skin and flesh are removed4 ,they   
are all in smooth silky cases1 laid over
 each other1 and separated both by the  
smooth membranes that encase them and by
 layers of fat1 so as to move easily    
without interfering with each other4    
,they are fastened to the bones by      
strong tendons and cartilages2 and      
around the wrist1 in the drawing1 is    
shown a band of cartilage to confine    

them in place4 ,the muscle marked #h is 
the extensor that straightens the       
fingers after they have been closed by a
 flexor the other side of the arm4 ,in  
like manner1 each motion of the arm and 
fingers has one muscle to produce it and
 another to restore to the natural      
position4  ,the muscles are dependent on
 the brain and nerves for power to move4
 ,it has been shown that the gray matter
 of the brain and spinal marrow         
furnishes the stimulating power that    
moves the muscles1 and causes sensations
 of touch on the skin1 and the other    
sensations of the several senses4 ,the  
white part of the brain and spinal      
marrow consists solely of conducting    
tubes to transmit this influence4 ,each 
of the minute fibrils of the muscles has
 a small conducting nerve connecting it 
with the brain or spinal marrow1 and in 
this respect each muscular fibril is    
separate from every other4  ,when1      
therefore1 the mind wills to move a     
flexor muscle of the arm1 the gray      

matter sends out the stimulus through   
the nerves to the cells of each         
individual fibre of that muscle1 and    
they contract4 ,when this is done1 the  
nerve of sensation reports it to the    
brain and mind4 ,if the mind desires to 
return the arm to its former position1  
then follows the willing1 and consequent
 stimulus sent through the nerves to the
 corresponding muscle2 its cells        
contract1 and the limb is restored4     
,when the motion is a compound one1     
involving the action of several muscles 
at the same time1 a multitude of        
impressions are sent back and forth to  
and from the brain through the nerves4  
,but the person acting thus is          
unconscious of all this delicate and    
wonderful mechanism4 ,he wills the      
movement1 and instantly the requisite   
nervous power is sent to the required   
cells and fibres1 and they perform the  
motions required4 ,many of the muscles  
are moved by the sympathetic system1    
over which the mind has but little      

control4  ,among the muscles and nerves 
so intimately connected1 run the minute 
capillaries of the blood1 which furnish 
nourishment to all4  ,illustration3     
,fig4 #ed  ,fig4 #ed represents an      
artery a a1 which brings pure blood to a
 muscle from the heart4 ,after          
meandering through the capillaries at c1
 to distribute oxygen and food from the 
stomach1 the blood enters the vein1 b1  
loaded with carbonic acid and water     
taken up in the capillaries1 to be      
carried to the lungs or skin1 and thrown
 out into the air4  ,the manner in which
 the exercise of the muscles quickens   
the circulation of the blood will now be
 explained4 ,the veins abound in every  
part of every muscle1 and the large     
veins have valves which prevent the     
blood from flowing backward4 ,if the    
wrist is grasped tightly1 the veins of  
the hand are immediately swollen4 ,this 
is owing to the fact that the blood is  
prevented from flowing toward the heart 
by this pressure1 and by the vein-valves

 from returning into the arteries2 while
 the arteries themselves1 being placed  
deeper down1 are not so compressed1 and 
continue to send the blood into the     
hand1 and thus it accumulates4 ,as soon 
as this pressure is removed1 the blood  
springs onward from the restraint with  
accelerated motion4 ,this same process  
takes place when any of the muscles are 
exercised4 ,the contraction of any      
muscle presses some of the veins1 so    
that the blood can not flow the natural 
way1 while the valves in the veins      
prevent its flowing backward4 ,meantime 
the arteries continue to press the blood
 along until the veins become swollen4  
,then1 as soon as the muscle ceases its 
contraction1 the blood flows faster from
 the previous accumulation4  ,if1 then1 
we use a number of muscles1 and use them
 strongly and quickly1 there are so many
 veins affected in this way as to       
quicken the whole circulation4 ,the     
heart receives blood faster1 and sends  
it to the lungs faster4 ,then the lungs 

work quicker1 to furnish the oxygen     
required by the greater amount of blood4
 ,the blood returns with greater speed  
to the heart1 and the heart sends it out
 with quicker action through the        
arteries to the capillaries4 ,in the    
capillaries1 too1 the decayed matter is 
carried off faster1 and then the stomach
 calls for more food to furnish new and 
pure blood4 ,thus it is that exercise   
gives new life and nourishment to every 
part of the body4  ,it is the universal 
law of the human frame that exercise is 
indispensable to the health of the      
several parts4 ,thus1 if a blood-vessel 
be tied up1 so as not to be used1 it    
shrinks1 and becomes a useless string2  
if a muscle be condemned to inaction1 it
 shrinks in size and diminishes in      
power2 and thus it is also with the     
bones4 ,inactivity produces softness1   
debility1 and unfitness for the         
functions they are designed to perform4 
,now1 the nerves1 like all other parts  
of the body1 gain and lose strength     

according as they are exercised4 ,if    
they have too much or too little        
exercise1 they lose strength2 if they   
are exercised to a proper degree1 they  
gain strength4 ,when the mind is        
continuously excited1 by business1      
study1 or the imagination1 the nerves of
 emotion and sensation are kept in      
constant action1 while the nerves of    
motion are unemployed4 ,if this is      
continued for a long time1 the nerves of
 sensation lose their strength from     
over-action1 and the nerves of motion   
lose their power from inactivity4 ,in   
consequence1 there is a morbid          
excitability of the nervous1 and a      
debility of the muscular system1 which  
make all exertion irksome and wearisome4
  ,the only mode of preserving the      
health of these systems is to keep up in
 them an equilibrium of action4 ,for    
this purpose1 occupations must be sought
 which exercise the muscles and interest
 the mind2 and thus the equal action of 
both kinds of nerves is secured4 ,this  

shows why exercise is so much more      
healthful and invigorating when the mind
 is interested1 than when it is not4 ,as
 an illustration1 let a person go       
shopping with a friend1 and have nothing
 to do but look on4 ,how soon do the    
continuous walking and standing weary6  
,but1 suppose one1 thus wearied1 hears  
of the arrival of a very dear friend3   
she can instantly walk off a mile or two
 to meet her1 without the least feeling 
of fatigue4 ,by this is shown the       
importance of furnishing1 for young     
persons1 exercise in which they will    
take an interest4 ,long and formal      
walks1 merely for exercise1 though they 
do some good1 in securing fresh air1 and
 some exercise of the muscles1 would be 
of triple benefit if changed to amusing 
sports1 or to the cultivation of fruits 
and flowers1 in which it is impossible  
to engage without acquiring a great     
interest4  ,it shows1 also1 why it is   
far better to trust to useful domestic  
exercise at home than to send a young   

person out to walk for the mere purpose 
of exercise4 ,young girls can seldom be 
made to realize the value of health1 and
 the need of exercise to secure it1 so  
as to feel much interest in walking     
abroad1 when they have no other object4 
,but1 if they are brought up to minister
 to the comfort and enjoyment of        
themselves and others1 by performing    
domestic duties1 they will constantly be
 interested and cheered in their        
exercise by the feeling of usefulness   
and the consciousness of having         
performed their duty4  ,there are few   
young persons1 it is hoped1 who are     
brought up with such miserable habits of
 selfishness and indolence that they can
 not be made to feel happier by the     
consciousness of being usefully         
employed4 ,and those who have never been
 accustomed to think or care for any one
 but themselves1 and who seem to feel   
little pleasure in making themselves    
useful1 by wise and proper influences   
can often be gradually awakened to the  

new pleasure of benevolent exertion to  
promote the comfort and enjoyment of    
others4 ,and the more this sacred and   
elevating kind of enjoyment is tasted1  
the greater is the relish induced4      
,other enjoyments often cloy2 but the   
heavenly pleasure secured by virtuous   
industry and benevolence1 while it      
satisfies at the time1 awakens fresh    
desires for the continuance of so       
ennobling a good4     ,,ix4  ,,healthful
 ,,food4   ,the person who decides what 
shall be the food and drink of a family1
 and the modes of its preparation1 is   
the one who decides1 to a greater or    
less extent1 what shall be the health of
 that family4 ,it is the opinion of most
 medical men1 that intemperance in      
eating is one of the most fruitful of   
all causes of disease and death4 ,if    
this be so1 the woman who wisely adapts 
the food and cooking of her family to   
the laws of health removes one of the   
greatest risks which threatens the lives
 of those under her care4 ,but1         

unfortunately1 there is no other duty   
that has been involved in more doubt and
 perplexity4 ,were one to believe all   
that is said and written on this        
subject1 the conclusion probably would  
be1 that there is not one solitary      
article of food on ,god's earth which it
 is healthful to eat4 ,happily1 however1
 there are general principles on this   
subject which1 if understood and        
applied1 will prove a safe guide to any 
woman of common sense2 and it is the    
object of the following chapter to set  
forth these principles4  ,all material  
things on earth1 whether solid1 liquid1 
or gaseous1 can be resolved into        
sixty-two simple substances1 only       
fourteen of which are in the human body2
 and these1 in certain proportions1 in  
all mankind4  ,thus1 in a man weighing  
#aed lbs4 are found1 #aaa lbs4 oxygen   
gas1 and #ad lbs4 hydrogen gas1 which1  
united1 form water2 #ba lbs4 carbon2 #c 
lbs4 #h oz4 nitrogen gas2 #a lb4 #ab oz4
 #aij grs4 phosphorus2 #b lbs4 calcium1 

the chief ingredient of bones2 #b oz4   
fluorine2 #b oz4 #bai grs4 sulphur2 #b  
oz #dg grs4 chlorine2 #b oz4 #aaf grs4  
sodium2 #ajj grs4 iron2 #bij grs4       
potassium2 #ab grs4 magnesium2 and #b   
grs4 silicon4  ,these simple substances 
are constantly passing out of the body  
through the lungs1 skin1 and other      
excreting organs4  ,it is found that    
certain of these simple elements are    
used for one part of the body1 and      
others for other parts1 and this in     
certain regular proportions4 ,thus1     
carbon is the chief element of fat1 and 
also supplies the fuel that combines    
with oxygen in the capillaries to       
produce animal heat4 ,the nitrogen which
 we gain from our food and the air is   
the chief element of muscle2 phosphorus 
is the chief element of brain and       
nerves2 and calcium or lime is the hard 
portion of the bones4 ,iron is an       
important element of blood1 and silicon 
supplies the hardest parts of the teeth1
 nails1 and hair4  ,water1 which is     

composed of the two gases1 oxygen and   
hydrogen1 is the largest portion of the 
body1 forming its fluids2 there is four 
times as much of carbon as there is of  
nitrogen in the body2 while there is    
only two per cent as much phosphorus as 
carbon4 ,a man weighing one hundred and 
fifty-four pounds1 who leads an active  
life1 takes into his stomach daily from 
two to three pounds of solid food1 and  
from five to six pounds of liquid4 ,at  
the same time he takes into his lungs1  
daily1 four or five thousand gallons of 
air4 ,this amounts to three thousand    
pounds of nutriment received through    
stomach and lungs1 and then expelled    
from the body1 in one year2 or about    
twenty times the man's own weight4  ,the
 change goes on in every minute point of
 the body1 though in some parts much    
faster than in others2 as set forth in  
the piquant and sprightly language of   
,dr4 ,o4 ,w4 ,holmes ,footnote3         
,atlantic ,almanac1 #ahfi1 p4 #dj41 who1
 giving a vivid picture of the constant 

decay and renewal of the body1 says3    
,every organized being always lives     
immersed in a strong solution of its own
 elements4  ,sometimes1 as in the case  
of the air-plant1 the solution contains 
all its elements2 but in higher plants1 
and in animals generally1 some of the   
principal ones only4 ,take our own      
bodies1 and we find the atmosphere      
contains the oxygen and the nitrogen1 of
 which we are so largely made up1 as its
 chief constituents2 the hydrogen1 also1
 in its watery vapor2 the carbon1 in its
 carbonic acid4 ,what our air-bath does 
not furnish us1 we must take in the form
 of nourishment1 supplied through the   
digestive organs4 ,but the first food we
 take1 after we have set up for         
ourselves1 is air1 and the last food we 
take is air also4 ,we are all chameleons
 in our diet1 as we are all salamanders 
in our habitats1 inasmuch as we live    
always in the fire of our own           
smouldering combustion2 a gentle but    
constant flame1 fanned every day by the 

same forty hogsheads of air which       
furnish us not with our daily bread1    
which we can live more than a day       
without touching1 but with our          
momentary1 and oftener than momentary1  
aliment1 without which we can not live  
five minutes4  ,we are perishing and    
being born again at every instant4 ,we  
do literally enter over and over again  
into the womb of that great mother1 from
 whom we get our bones1 and flesh1 and  
blood1 and marrow4 ',i die daily' is    
true of all that live4 ,if we cease to  
die1 particle by particle1 and to be    
born anew in the same proportion1 the   
whole movement of life comes to an end1 
and swift1 universal1 irreparable decay 
resolves our frames into the parent     
elements4  ,the products of the internal
 fire which consumes us over and over   
again every year1 pass off mainly in    
smoke and steam from the lungs and the  
skin4 ,the smoke is only invisible1     
because the combustion is so perfect4   
,the steam is plain enough in our       

breaths on a frosty morning2 and an     
over-driven horse will show us1 on a    
larger scale1 the cloud that is always  
arising from own bodies4  ,man walks1   
then1 not only in a vain show1 but      
wrapped in an uncelestial aureole of his
 own material exhalations4 ,a great mist
 of gases and of vapor rises day and    
night from the whole realm of living    
nature4 ,the water and the carbonic acid
 which animals exhale become the food of
 plants1 whose leaves are at once lungs 
and mouths4 ,the vegetable world        
reverses the breathing process of the   
animal creation1 restoring the elements 
which that has combined and rendered    
effete for its own purposes1 to their   
original condition4 ,the salt-water     
ocean is a great aquarium4 ,the air     
ocean in which we live is a ',wardian   
case1' of larger dimensions4  ,it is    
found that the simple elements will not 
nourish the body in their natural state1
 but only when organized1 either as     
vegetable or animal food2 and1 to the   

dismay of the ,grahamite or vegetarian  
school1 it is now established by        
chemists that animal and vegetable food 
contain the same elements1 and in nearly
 the same proportions4  ,thus1 in animal
 food1 carbon predominates in fats1     
while in vegetable food it shows itself 
in sugar1 starch1 and vegetable oils4   
,nitrogen is found in animal food in the
 albumen1 fibrin1 and caseine2 while in 
vegetables it is in gluten1 albumen1 and
 caseine4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ee  ,it
 is also a curious fact that1 in all    
articles of food1 the elements that     
nourish diverse parts of the body are   
divided into separable portions1 and    
also that the proportions correspond in 
a great degree to the wants of the body4
 ,for example1 a kernel of wheat        
contains all the articles demanded for  
every part of the body4 ,fig4 #ee       
represents1 upon an enlarged scale1 the 
position and proportions of the chief   
elements required4 ,the white central   
part is the largest in quantity1 and is 

chiefly carbon in the form of starch1   
which supplies fat and fuel for the     
capillaries4 ,the shaded outer portion  
is chiefly nitrogen1 which nourishes the
 muscles1 and the dark spot at the      
bottom is principally phosphorus1 which 
nourishes the brain and nerves4 ,and    
these elements are in due proportion to 
the demands of the body4 ,a portion of  
the outer covering of a wheat-kernel    
holds lime1 silica1 and iron1 which are 
needed by the body1 and which are found 
in no other part of the grain4 ,the     
woody fibre is not digested1 but serves 
by its bulk and stimulating action to   
facilitate digestion4 ,it is therefore  
evident that bread made of unbolted     
flour is more healthful than that made  
of superfine flour4 ,the process of     
bolting removes all the woody fibre2 the
 lime needed for the bones2 the silica  
for hair1 nails1 and teeth2 the iron for
 the blood2 and most of the nitrogen and
 phosphorus needed for muscles1 brain1  
and nerves4  ,experiments on animals    

prove that fine flour alone1 which is   
chiefly carbon1 will not sustain life   
more than a month1 while unbolted flour 
furnishes all that is needed for every  
part of the body4 ,there are cases where
 persons can not use such coarse bread1 
on account of its irritating action on  
inflamed coats of the stomach4 ,for     
such1 a kind of wheaten grit is         
provided1 containing all the kernel of  
the wheat1 except the outside woody     
fibre4  ,when the body requires a given 
kind of diet1 specially demanded by     
brain1 lungs1 or muscles1 the appetite  
will crave food for it until the        
necessary amount of this article is     
secured4 ,if1 then1 the food in which   
the needed aliment abounds is not       
supplied1 other food will be taken in   
larger quantities than needed until that
 amount is gained4 ,for all kinds of    
food have supplies for every want of the
 body1 though in different proportions4 
,thus1 for example1 if the muscles are  
worked a great deal1 food in which      

nitrogen abounds is required1 and the   
appetite will continue until the        
requisite amount of nitrogen is secured4
 ,if1 then1 food is taken which has not 
the requisite quantity1 the consequence 
is1 that more is taken than the system  
can use1 while the vital powers are     
needlessly taxed to throw off the       
excess4  ,these facts were ascertained  
by ,liebig1 a celebrated ,german chemist
 and physicist1 who1 assisted by his    
government1 conducted experiments on a  
large scale in prisons1 in armies1 and  
in hospitals4 ,among other results1 he  
states that those who use potatoes for  
their principal food eat them in very   
much larger quantities than their bodies
 would demand if they used also other   
food4 ,the reason is1 that the potato   
has a very large proportion of starch   
that supplies only fuel for the         
capillaries and very little nitrogen to 
feed the muscles4 ,for this reason lean 
meat is needed with potatoes4  ,in      
comparing wheat and potatoes we find    

that in one hundred parts wheat there   
are fourteen parts nitrogen for muscle1 
and two parts phosphorus for brain and  
nerves4 ,but in the potato there is only
 one part in one hundred for muscle1 and
 nine tenths of one part of phosphorus  
for brain and nerves4  ,the articles    
containing most of the three articles   
needed generally in the body are as     
follows3 for fat and                    
heat-making--butter1 lard1 sugar1 and   
molasses2 for muscle-making--lean meat1 
cheese1 peas1 beans1 and lean fishes2   
for brain and nerves--shell-fish1 lean  
meats1 peas1 beans1 and very active     
birds and fishes who live chiefly on    
food in which phosphorus abounds4 ,in a 
meat diet1 the fat supplies carbon for  
the capillaries and the lean furnishes  
nutriment for muscle1 brain1 and nerves4
 ,green vegetables1 fruits1 and berries 
furnish the acid and water needed4  ,in 
grains used for food1 the proportions of
 useful elements are varied2 there is in
 some more of carbon and in others more 

of nitrogen and phosphorus4 ,for        
example1 in oats there is more of       
nitrogen for the muscles1 and less      
carbon for the lungs1 than can be found 
in wheat4 ,in the corn of the ,north1   
where cold weather demands fuel for     
lungs and capillaries1 there is much    
more carbon to supply it than is found  
in the ,southern corn4  ,from these     
statements it may be seen that one of   
the chief mistakes in providing food for
 families has been in changing the      
proportions of the elements nature has  
fitted for our food4 ,thus1 fine wheat  
is deprived by bolting of some of the   
most important of its nourishing        
elements1 leaving carbon chiefly1 which1
 after supplying fuel fur the           
capillaries1 must1 if in excess1 be sent
 out of the body2 thus needlessly taxing
 all the excreting organs4 ,so milk1    
which contains all the elements needed  
by the body1 has the cream taken out and
 used for butter1 which again is chiefly
 carbon4 ,then1 sugar and molasses1     

cakes and candies1 are chiefly carbon1  
and supply but very little of other     
nourishing elements1 while to make them 
safe much exercise in cold and pure air 
is necessary4 ,and yet it is the        
children of the rich1 housed in chambers
 and school-rooms most of their time1   
who are fed with these dangerous        
dainties1 thus weakening their          
constitutions1 and inducing fevers1     
colds1 and many other diseases4 ,the    
proper digestion of food depends on the 
wants of the body1 and on its power of  
appropriating the aliment supplied4 ,the
 best of food can not be properly       
digested when it is not needed4 ,all    
that the system requires will be used1  
and the rest will be thrown out by the  
several excreting organs1 which thus are
 frequently over-taxed1 and vital forces
 are wasted4 ,even food of poor quality 
may digest well if the demands of the   
system are urgent4 ,the way to increase 
digestive power is to increase the      
demand for food by pure air and exercise

 of the muscles1 quickening the blood1  
and arousing the whole system to a more 
rapid and vigorous rate of life4  ,rules
 for persons in full health1 who enjoy  
pure air and exercise1 are not suitable 
for those whose digestive powers are    
feeble1 or who are diseased4 ,on the    
other hand1 many rules for invalids are 
not needed by the healthful1 while rules
 for one class of invalids will not     
avail for other classes4 ,every weak    
stomach has its peculiar wants1 and can 
not furnish guidance for others4  ,we   
are now ready to consider intelligently 
the following general principles in     
regard to the proper selection of food3 
,vegetable and animal food are equally  
healthful if apportioned to the given   
circumstances4  ,in cold weather1       
carbonaceous food1 such as butter1 fats1
 sugar1 molasses1 etc41 can be used more
 safely than in warm weather4 ,and they 
can be used more safely by those who    
exercise in the open air than by those  
of confined and sedentary habits4       

,students who need food with little     
carbon1 and women who live in the house1
 should always seek coarse bread1       
fruits1 and lean meats1 and avoid       
butter1 oils1 sugar1 and molasses1 and  
articles containing them4  ,many        
students and women using little exercise
 in the open air1 grow thin and weak1   
because the vital powers are exhausted  
in throwing off excess of food1         
especially of the carbonaceous4 ,the    
liver is especially taxed in such cases1
 being unable to remove all the excess  
of carbonaceous matter from1 the blood1 
and thus biliousness ensues1            
particularly on the approach of warm    
weather1 when the air brings less oxygen
 than in cold4  ,it is found1 by        
experiment1 that the supply of gastric  
juice1 furnished from the blood by the  
arteries of the stomach1 is             
proportioned1 not to the amount of food 
put into the stomach1 but to the wants  
of the body2 so that it is possible to  
put much more into the stomach than can 

be digested4 ,to guide and regulate in  
this matter1 the sensation called hunger
 is provided4 ,in a healthy state of the
 body1 as soon as the blood has lost its
 nutritive supplies1 the craving of     
hunger is felt1 and then1 if the food is
 suitable1 and is taken in the proper   
manner1 this sensation ceases as soon as
 the stomach has received enough to     
supply the wants of the system4 ,but our
 benevolent ,creator1 in this1 as in our
 other duties1 has connected enjoyment  
with the operation needful to sustain   
our bodies4 ,in addition to the allaying
 of hunger1 the gratification of the    
palate is secured by the immense variety
 of food1 some articles of which are far
 more agreeable than others4  ,this     
arrangement of ,providence1 designed for
 our happiness1 has become1 either      
through ignorance1 or want of           
self-control1 the chief cause of the    
many diseases and suffering which       
afflict those classes who have the means
 of seeking a variety to gratify the    

palate4 ,if mankind had only one article
 of food1 and only water to drink1      
though they would have less enjoyment in
 eating1 they would never be tempted to 
put any more into the stomach than the  
calls of hunger require4 ,but the       
customs of society1 which present an    
incessant change1 and a great variety of
 food1 with those various condiments    
which stimulate appetite1 lead almost   
every person very frequently to eat     
merely to gratify the palate1 after the 
stomach has been abundantly supplied1 so
 that hunger has ceased4  ,when too     
great a supply of food is put into the  
stomach1 the gastric juice dissolves    
only that portion which the wants of the
 system demand4 ,most of the remainder  
is ejected1 in an unprepared state2 the 
absorbents take portions of it into the 
system2 and all the various functions of
 the body1 which depend on the          
ministries of the blood1 are thus       
gradually and imperceptibly injured4    
,very often1 intemperance in eating     

produces immediate results1 such as     
colic1 headaches1 pains of indigestion1 
and vertigo4  ,but the more general     
result is a gradual undermining of all  
parts of the human frame2 this          
imperceptibly shortening life1 by so    
weakening the constitution1 that it is  
ready to yield1 at every point1 to any  
uncommon risk or exposure4 ,thousands   
and thousands are parsing out of the    
world1 from diseases occasioned by      
exposures which a healthy constitution  
could meet without any danger4 ,it is   
owing to these considerations1 that it  
becomes the duty of every woman1 who has
 the responsibility of providing food   
for a family1 to avoid a variety of     
tempting dishes4 ,it is a much safer    
rule1 to have only one kind of healthy  
food1 for each meal1 than the too       
abundant variety which is often met at  
the tables of almost all classes in this
 country4 ,when there is to be any      
variety of dishes1 they ought not to be 
successive1 but so arranged as to give  

the opportunity of selection4 ,how often
 is it the case1 that persons1 by the   
appearance of a favorite article1 are   
tempted to eat merely to gratify the    
palate1 when the stomach is already     
adequately supplied4 ,all such          
intemperance wears on the constitution1 
and shortens life4 ,it not infrequently 
happens that excess in eating produces a
 morbid appetite1 which must constantly 
be denied4  ,but the organization of the
 digestive organs demands1 not only that
 food should be taken in proper         
quantities1 but that it be taken at     
proper times4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ef4
  ,fig4 #ef shows one important feature 
of the digestive organs relating to this
 point4 ,the part marked ,,lm shows the 
muscles of the inner coat of the        
stomach1 which run in one direction1 and
 ,,cm shows the muscles of the outer    
coat1 running in another direction4  ,as
 soon as the food enters the stomach1   
the muscles are excited by the nerves1  
and the peristaltic motion commences4   

,this is a powerful and constant        
exercise of the muscles of the stomach1 
which continues until the process of    
digestion is complete4 ,during this time
 the blood is withdrawn from other parts
 of the system1 to supply the demands of
 the stomach1 which is laboring hard    
with all its muscles4 ,when this motion 
ceases1 and the digested food has       
gradually passed out1 nature requires   
that the stomach should have a period of
 repose4 ,and if another meal be eaten  
immediately after one is digested1 the  
stomach is set to work again before it  
has had time to rest1 and before a      
sufficient supply of gastric juice is   
provided4  ,the general rule1 then1 is1 
that three hours be given to the stomach
 for labor1 and two for rest2 and in    
obedience to this1 five hours1 at least1
 ought to elapse between every two      
regular meals4 ,in cases where exercise 
produces a flow of perspiration1 more   
food is needed to supply the loss2 and  
strong laboring men may safely eat as   

often as they feel the want of food4    
,so1 young and healthy children1 who    
gambol and exercise ranch and whose     
bodies grow fast1 may have a more       
frequent supply of food4 ,but1 as a     
general rule1 meals should be five hours
 apart1 and eating between meals        
avoided4 ,there is nothing more unsafe1 
and wearing to the constitution1 than a 
habit of eating at any time merely to   
gratify the palate4 ,when a tempting    
article is presented1 every person      
should exercise sufficient self-denial  
to wait till the proper time for eating 
arrives4 ,children1 as well as grown    
persons1 are often injured by eating    
between their regular meals1 thus       
weakening the stomach by not affording  
it any time for rest4  ,in deciding as  
to quantity of food1 there is one great 
difficulty to be met by a large portion 
of the community4 ,the exercise of every
 part of the body is necessary to its   
health and perfection4 ,the bones1 the  
muscles1 the nerves1 the organs of      

digestion and respiration1 and the skin1
 all demand exercise1 in order properly 
to perform their functions4 ,when the   
muscles of the body are called into     
action1 all the blood-vessels entwined  
among them are frequently compressed4   
,as the veins have valves so contrived  
that the blood can not run back1 this   
compression hastens it forward toward   
the heart2 which is immediately put in  
quicker motion1 to send it into the     
lungs2 and they1 also1 are thus         
stimulated to more rapid action1 which  
is the cause of that panting which      
active exercise always occasions4 ,the  
blood thus courses with greater celerity
 through the body1 and sooner loses its 
nourishing properties4 ,then the stomach
 issues its mandate of hunger1 and a new
 supply of food must be furnished4      
,thus it appears1 as a general rule1    
that the quantity of food actually      
needed by the body depends on the amount
 of muscular exercise taken4 ,a laboring
 man1 in the open fields1 probably      

throws off from his skin and lungs a    
much larger amount than a person of     
sedentary pursuits4 ,in consequence of  
this1 he demands a greater amount of    
food and drink4  ,those persons who keep
 their bodies in a state of health by   
sufficient exercise can always be guided
 by the calls of hunger4 ,they can eat  
when they feel hungry1 and stop when    
hunger ceases2 and thus they will       
calculate exactly right4 ,but the       
difficulty is1 that a large part of the 
community1 especially women1 are so     
inactive in their habits that they      
seldom feel the calls of hunger4 ,they  
habitually eat1 merely to gratify the   
palate4 ,this produces such a state of  
the system that they lose the guide     
which ,nature has provided4 ,they are   
not called to eat by hunger1 nor        
admonished1 by its cessation1 when to   
stop4 ,in consequence of this1 such     
persons eat what pleases the palate1    
till they feel no more inclination for  
the article4 ,it is probable that three 

fourths of the women in the wealthier   
circles sit down to each meal without   
any feeling of hunger1 and eat merely on
 account of the gratification thus      
afforded them4 ,such persons find their 
appetite to depend almost solely upon   
the kind of food on the table4 ,this is 
not the case with those who take the    
exercise which ,nature demands4 ,they   
approach their meals in such a state    
that almost any kind of food is         
acceptable4  ,the question then arises1 
,how are persons1 who have lost the     
guide which ,nature has provided1 to    
determine as to the proper amount of    
food they shall take8  ,the best method 
is for several days to take their       
ordinary exercise and eat only one or   
two articles of simple food1 such as    
bread and milk1 or bread and butter with
 cooked fruit1 or lean meat with bread  
and vegetables1 and at the same time eat
 less than the appetite demands4 ,then  
on the following two days1 take just    
enough to satisfy the appetite1 and on  

the third day notice the quantity which 
satisfies4 ,after this1 decide before   
eating that only this amount of simple  
food shall be taken4  ,persons who have 
a strong constitution1 and take much    
exercise1 may eat almost any thing with 
apparent impunity2 but young children   
who are forming their constitutions1 and
 persons who are delicate1 and who take 
but little exercise1 are very dependent 
for health on a proper selection of     
food4  ,it is found that there are some 
kinds of food which afford nutriment to 
the blood1 and do not produce any other 
effect on the system4 ,there are other  
kinds1 which are not only nourishing1   
but stimulating1 so that they quicken   
the functions of the organs on which    
they operate4 ,the condiments used in   
cookery1 such as pepper1 mustard1 and   
spices1 are of this nature4 ,there are  
certain states of the system when these 
stimulants may be beneficial2 such cases
 can only be pointed out by medical men4
  ,persons in perfect health1 and       

especially young children1 never receive
 any benefit from such kind of food2 and
 just in proportion as condiments       
operate to quicken the labors of the    
internal organs1 they tend to wear down 
their powers4 ,a person who thus keeps  
the body working under an unnatural     
excitement1 live faster than ,nature    
designed1 and the constitution is worn  
out just so much the sooner4 ,a woman1  
therefore1 should provide dishes for her
 family which are free from these       
stimulating condiments4  ,it is also    
found1 by experience1 that the lean part
 of animal food is more stimulating than
 vegetable4 ,this is the reason why1 in 
cases of fevers or inflammations1       
medical men forbid the use of meat4 ,a  
person who lives chiefly on animal food 
is under a higher degree of stimulus    
than if his food was chiefly composed of
 vegetable substances4 ,his blood will  
flow faster1 and all the functions of   
his body will be quickened4 ,this makes 
it important to secure a proper         

proportion of animal and vegetable diet4
 ,some medical men suppose that an      
exclusively vegetable diet is proved1 by
 the experience of many individuals1 to 
be fully sufficient to nourish the body2
 and bring1 as evidence1 the fact that  
some of the strongest and most robust   
men in the world are those who are      
trained1 from infancy1 exclusively on   
vegetable food4 ,from this they infer   
that life will be shortened just in     
proportion as the diet is changed to    
more stimulating articles2 and that1 all
 other things being equal1 children will
 have a better chance of health and long
 life if they are brought up solely on  
vegetable food4  ,but1 though this is   
not the common opinion of medical men1  
they all agree that1 in ,america1 far   
too large a portion of the diet consists
 of animal food4 ,as a nation1 the      
,americans are proverbial for the gross 
and luxurious diet with which they load 
their tables2 and there can be no doubt 
that the general health of the nation   

would be increased by a change in our   
customs in this respect4 ,to take meat  
but once a day1 and this in small       
quantities1 compared with the common    
practice1 is a rule1 the observance of  
which would probably greatly reduce the 
amount of fevers1 eruptions1 headaches1 
bilious attacks1 and the many other     
ailments which are produced or          
aggravated by too gross a diet4  ,the   
celebrated ,roman physician1 ,baglivi1  
7who1 from practicing extensively among 
,roman ,catholics1 had ample            
opportunities to observe17 mentions     
that1 in ,italy1 an unusual number of   
people recover their health in the forty
 days of ,lent1 in consequence of the   
lower diet which is required as a       
religious duty4 ,an ,american physician 
remarks1 ,for every reeling drunkard    
that disgraces our country1 it contains 
one hundred gluttons--persons1 ,i mean1 
who eat to excess1 and suffer in        
consequence4 ,another distinguished     
physician says1 ,i believe that every   

stomach1 not actually impaired by       
organic disease1 will perform its       
functions1 if it receives reasonable    
attention2 and when we perceive the     
manner in which diet is generally       
conducted1 both in regard to quantity   
and variety of articles of food and     
drink1 which are mixed up in one        
heterogeneous mass--instead of being    
astonished at the prevalence of         
indigestion1 our wonder must rather be  
that1 in such circumstances1 any stomach
 is capable of digesting at all4  ,in   
regard to articles which are the most   
easily digested1 only general rules can 
be given4 ,tender meats are digested    
more readily than those which are tough1
 or than many kinds of vegetable food4  
,the farinaceous articles1 such as rice1
 flour1 corn1 potatoes1 and the like1   
are the most nutritious1 and most easily
 digested4 ,the popular notion1 that    
meat is more nourishing than bread1 is a
 great mistake4 ,good bread contains    
more nourishment than butcher's meat4   

,the meat is more stimulating1 and for  
this reason is more readily digested4   
,a perfectly healthy stomach can digest 
almost any healthful food2 but when the 
digestive powers are weak1 every stomach
 has its peculiarities1 and what is good
 for one is hurtful to another4 ,in such
 cases1 experiment alone can decide     
which are the most digestible articles  
of food4 ,a person whose food troubles  
him must deduct one article after       
another1 till he learns1 by experience1 
which is the best for digestion4 ,much  
evil has been done1 by assuming that the
 powers of one stomach are to be made   
the rule in regulating every other4     
,the most unhealthful kinds of food are 
those which1 are made so by bad cooking2
 such as sour and heavy bread1 cakes1   
pie-crust1 and other dishes consisting  
of fat mixed and cooked with flour4     
,rancid butter and high-seasoned food   
are equally unwholesome4 ,the fewer     
mixtures there are in cooking1 the more 
healthful is the food likely to be4     

,there is one caution as to the mode of 
eating which seems peculiarly needful to
 ,americans4 ,it is indispensable to    
good digestion1 that food be well chewed
 and taken slowly4 ,it needs to be      
thoroughly chewed and mixed with saliva1
 in order to prepare it for the action  
of the gastric juice1 which1 by the     
peristaltic motion1 will be thus brought
 into contact with every one of the     
minute portions4  ,it has been found    
that a solid lump of food requires much 
more time and labor of the stomach for  
digestion than divided substances4 ,it  
has also been found1 that as each bolus1
 or mouthful1 enters the stomach1 the   
latter closes1 until the portion        
received has had some time to move      
around and combine with the gastric     
juice1 and that the orifice of the      
stomach resists the entrance of any more
 till this is accomplished4 ,but1 if the
 eater persists in swallowing fast1 the 
stomach yields2 the food is then poured 
in more rapidly than the organ can      

perform its duty of preparative         
digestion2 and evil results are sooner  
or later developed4 ,this exhibits the  
folly of those hasty meals1 so common to
 travelers and to men of business1 and  
shows why children should be taught to  
eat slowly4  ,after taking a full meal1 
it is very important to health that no  
great bodily or mental exertion be made 
till the labor of the stomach is over4  
,intense mental effort draws the blood  
to the head1 and muscular exertions draw
 it to the muscles2 and in consequence  
of this1 the stomach loses the supply   
which it requires when performing its   
office4 ,when the blood with its        
stimulating effects is thus withdrawn   
from the stomach1 the adequate supply of
 gastric juice is not afforded1 and     
indigestion is the result4 ,the         
heaviness which follows a full meal is  
the indication which ,nature gives of   
the need of quiet4 ,when the meal is    
moderate1 a sufficient quantity of      
gastric juice is exuded in an hour1 or  

an hour and a half2 after which1 labor  
of body and mind may safely be resumed4 
,when undigested food remains in the    
stomach1 and is at last thrown out into 
the bowels1 it proves an irritating     
substance1 producing an inflamed state  
in the lining of the stomach and other  
organs4  ,it is found that the stomach  
has the power of gradually accommodating
 indigestive powers to the food it      
habitually receives4 ,thus1 animals     
which live on vegetables can gradually  
become accustomed to animal food2 and   
the reverse is equally true4 ,thus1 too1
 the human stomach can eventually       
accomplish the digestion of some kinds  
of food1 which1 at first1 were          
indigestible4  ,but any changes of this 
sort should be gradual2 as those which  
are sudden are trying to the powers of  
the stomach1 by furnishing matter for   
which its gastric juice is not prepared4
  ,extremes of heat or cold are         
injurious to the process of digestion4  
,taking hot food or drink1 habitually1  

tends to debilitate all the organs thus 
needlessly excited4 ,in using cold      
substances1 it is found that a certain  
degree of warmth in the stomach is      
indispensable to their digestion2 so    
that1 when the gastric juice is cooled  
below this temperature1 it ceases to    
act4 ,indulging in large quantities of  
cold drinks1 or eating ice-creams1 after
 a meal1 tends to reduce the temperature
 of the stomach1 and thus to stop       
digestion4 ,this shows the folly of     
those refreshments1 in convivial        
meetings1 where the guests are tempted  
to load the stomach with a variety such 
as would require the stomach of a stout 
farmer to digest2 and then to wind up   
with ice- creams1 thus lessening        
whatever ability might otherwise have   
existed to digest the heavy load4 ,the  
fittest temperature for drinks1 if taken
 when the food is in the digesting      
process1 is blood heat4 ,cool drinks1   
and even ice1 can be safely taken at    
other times1 if not in excessive        

quantity4 ,when the thirst is excessive1
 or the body weakened by fatigue1 or    
when in a state of perspiration1 large  
quantities of cold drinks are injurious4
  ,fluids taken into the stomach are not
 subject to the slow process of         
digestion1 but are immediately absorbed 
and carried into the blood4 ,this is the
 reason why liquid nourishment1 more    
speedily than solid food1 restores from 
exhaustion4 ,the minute vessels of the  
stomach absorb its fluids1 which are    
carried into the blood1 just as the     
minute extremities of the arteries open 
upon the inner surface of the stomach1  
and there exude the gastric juice from  
the blood4  ,when food is chiefly       
liquid1 7soup1 for example17 the fluid  
part is rapidly absorbed4 ,the solid    
parts remain1 to be acted on by the     
gastric juice4 ,in the case of ,st4     
,martin1 ,footnote3 ,the individual here
 referred to--,alexis ,st4 ,martin--was 
a young ,canadian1 eighteen years of    
age1 of a good constitution and robust  

health1 who1 in #ahbb1 was accidentally 
wounded by the discharge of a musket    
which3 carried away a part of the ribs1 
lacerated one of two lobes of the lungs1
 and perforated the stomach1 making a   
large aperture1 which never closed2 and 
which enabled ,dr4 ,beaumont 7a surgeon 
of the ,american army1 stationed at     
,michilimackanac1 under whose care the  
patient was placed7 to witness all the  
processes of digestion and other        
functions of the body for several years4
 in fifty minutes after taking soup1 the
 fluids were absorbed1 and the remainder
 was even thicker than is usual after   
eating solid food4 ,this is the reason  
why soups are deemed bad for weak       
stomachs2 as this residuum is more      
difficult of digestion than ordinary    
food4  ,highly-concentrated food1 having
 much nourishment in a small bulk1 is   
not favorable to digestion1 because it  
can not be properly acted on by the     
muscular contractions of the stomach1   
and is not so minutely divided as to    

enable the gastric juice to act         
properly4 ,this is the reason why a     
certain bulk of food is needful to good 
digestion2 and why those people who live
 on whale-oil and other highly          
nourishing food1 in cold climates1 mix  
vegetables and even sawdust with it to  
make it more acceptable and digestible4 
,so in civilized lands1 fruits and      
vegetables are mixed with more highly   
concentrated nourishment4 ,for this     
reason also1 soups1 jellies1 and        
arrow-root should have bread or crackers
 mixed with them4 ,this affords another 
reason why coarse bread1 of unbolted    
wheat1 so often proves beneficial4      
,where1 from inactive habits or other   
causes1 the bowels become constipated   
and sluggish1 this kind of food proves  
the appropriate remedy4  ,one fact on   
this subject is worthy of notice4 ,in   
,england1 under the administration of   
,william ,pitt1 for two years or more   
there was such a scarcity of wheat that1
 to make it hold out longer1 ,parliament

 passed a law that the army should have 
all their bread made of unbolted flour4 
,the result was1 that the health of the 
soldiers improved so much as to be a    
subject of surprise to themselves1 the  
officers1 and the physicians4 ,these    
last came out publicly and declared that
 the soldiers never before were so      
robust and healthy2 and that disease had
 nearly disappeared from the army4 ,the 
civic physicians joined and pronounced  
it the healthiest bread2 and for a time 
schools1 families1 and public           
institutions used it almost exclusively4
 ,even the nobility1 convinced by these 
facts1 adopted it for their common diet1
 and the fashion continued a long time  
after the scarcity ceased1 until more   
luxurious habits resumed their sway4    
,we thus see why children should not    
have cakes and candies allowed them     
between meals4 ,besides being largely   
carbonaceous1 these are highly          
concentrated nourishments1 and should be
 eaten with more bulky and less         

nourishing substances4 ,the most        
indigestible of all kinds of food are   
fatty and oily substances1 if heated4   
,it is on this account that pie-crust   
and articles boiled and fried in fat or 
butter are deemed not so healthful as   
other food4  ,the following1 then1 may  
be put down as the causes of a          
debilitated constitution from the misuse
 of food4 ,eating too much1 eating too  
often1 eating too fast1 eating food and 
condiments that are too stimulating1    
eating food that is too warm or too     
cold1 eating food that is highly        
concentrated1 without a proper admixture
 of less nourishing matter1 and eating  
hot food that is difficult of digestion4
     ,x4  ,,healthful ,,drinks4   ,there
 is no direction in which a woman more  
needs both scientific knowledge and     
moral force than in using her influence 
to control her family in regard to      
stimulating beverages4  ,it is a point  
fully established by experience that the
 full development of the human body and 

the vigorous exercise of all its        
functions can be secured without the use
 of stimulating drinks4 ,it is1         
therefore1 perfectly safe to bring up   
children never to use them1 no hazard   
being incurred by such a course4  ,it is
 also found by experience that there are
 two evils incurred by the use of       
stimulating drinks4 ,the first is1 their
 positive effect on the human system4   
,their peculiarity consists in so       
exciting the nervous system that all the
 functions of the body are accelerated1 
and the fluids are caused to move       
quicker than at their natural speed4    
,this increased motion of the animal    
fluids always produces an agreeable     
effect on the mind4 ,the intellect is   
invigorated1 the imagination is excited1
 the spirits are enlivened2 and these   
effects are so agreeable that all       
mankind1 after having once experienced  
them1 feel a great desire for their     
repetition4  ,but this temporary        
invigoration of the system is always    

followed by a diminution of the powers  
of the stimulated organs2 so that1      
though in all cases this reaction may   
not be perceptible1 it is invariably the
 result4 ,it may be set down as the     
unchangeable rule of physiology1 that   
stimulating drinks deduct from the      
powers of the constitution in exactly   
the proportion in which they operate to 
produce temporary invigoration4  ,the   
second evil is the temptation which     
always attends the use of stimulants4   
,their effect on the system is so       
agreeable1 and the evils resulting are  
so imperceptible and distant1 that there
 is a constant tendency to increase such
 excitement both in frequency and power4
 ,and the more the system is thus       
reduced in strength1 the more craving is
 the desire for that which imparts a    
temporary invigoration4 ,this process of
 increasing debility and increasing     
craving for the stimulus that removes   
it1 often goes to such an extreme that  
the passion is perfectly uncontrollable1

 and mind and body perish under this    
baleful habit4  ,in this country there  
are three forms in which the use of such
 stimulants is common2 namely1 alcoholic
 drinks1 opium mixtures1 and tobacco4   
,these are all alike in the main        
peculiarity of imparting that extra     
stimulus to the system which tends to   
exhaust its powers4  ,multitudes in this
 nation are in the habitual use of some 
one of these stimulants2 and each person
 defends the indulgence by certain      
arguments3  ,first1 that the desire for 
stimulants is a natural propensity      
implanted in man's nature1 as is        
manifest from the universal tendency to 
such indulgences in every nation4 ,from 
this1 it is inferred that it is an      
innocent desire1 which ought to be      
gratified to some extent1 and that the  
aim should be to keep it within the     
limits of temperance1 instead of        
attempting to exterminate a natural     
propensity4  ,this is an argument which1
 if true1 makes it equally proper for   

not only men1 but women and children1 to
 use opium1 brandy1 or tobacco as       
stimulating principles1 provided they   
are used temperately4 ,but if it be     
granted that perfect health and strength
 can be gained and secured without these
 stimulants1 and that their peculiar    
effect is to diminish the power of the  
system in exactly the same proportion as
 they stimulate it1 then there is no    
such thing as a temperate use1 unless   
they are so diluted as to destroy any   
stimulating power2 and in this form they
 are seldom desired4  ,the other        
argument for their use is1 that they are
 among the good things provided by the  
,creator for our gratification2 that1   
like all other blessings1 they are      
exposed to abuse and excess2 and that we
 should rather seek to regulate their   
use than to banish them entirely4  ,this
 argument is based on the assumption    
that they are1 like healthful foods and 
drinks1 necessary to life and health1   
and injurious only by excess4 ,but this 

is not true2 for whenever they are used 
in any such strength as to be a         
gratification1 they operate to a greater
 or less extent as stimulants2 and to   
just such extent they wear out the      
powers of the constitution2 and it is   
abundantly proved that they are not1    
like food and drink1 necessary to       
health4 ,such articles are designed for 
medicine and not for common use4 ,there 
can be no argument framed to defend the 
use of one of them which will not       
justify women and children in most      
dangerous indulgences4  ,there are some 
facts recently revealed by the          
microscope in regard to alcoholic       
drinks1 which every woman should        
understand and regard4 ,it has been     
shown in a previous chapter that every  
act of mind1 either by thought1 feeling1
 or choice1 causes the destruction of   
certain cells in the brain and nerves4  
,it now is proved by microscopic science
 ,footnote3 ,for those statements the   
writer is indebted to ,maudsley1 a      

recent writer on ,microscopic           
,physiology4 that the kind of nutrition 
furnished to the brain by the blood to a
 certain extent decides future feelings1
 thoughts1 and volitions4 ,the cells of 
the brain not only abstract from the    
blood the healthful nutrition1 but also 
are affected in shape1 size1 color1 and 
action by unsuitable elements in the    
blood4 ,this is especially the case when
 alcohol is taken into the stomach1 from
 whence it is always carried to the     
brain4 ,the consequence is1 that it     
affects the nature and action of the    
brain-cells1 until a habit is formed    
which is automatic2 that is1 the mind   
loses the power of controlling the      
brain1 in its development of thoughts1  
feelings1 and choices as it would in the
 natural state1 and is itself controlled
 by the brain4 ,in this condition a real
 disease of the brain is created1 called
 oino-mania1 7see ,glossary17 and the   
only remedy is total abstinence1 and    
that for a long period1 from the        

alcoholic poison4 ,and what makes the   
danger more fearful is1 that the        
brain-cells never are so renewed but    
that this pernicious stimulus will bring
 back the disease in full force1 so that
 a man once subject to it is never safe 
except by maintaining perpetual and     
total abstinence from every kind of     
alcoholic drink4 ,dr4 ,day1 who for many
 years has had charge of an inebriate   
asylum1 states that he witnessed the    
dissection of the brain of a man once an
 inebriate1 but for many years in       
practice of total abstinence1 and found 
its cells still in the weak and         
unnatural state produced by earlier     
indulgences4  ,there has unfortunately  
been a difference of opinion among      
medical men as to the use of alcohol4   
,liebig1 the celebrated writer on animal
 chemistry1 having found that both sugar
 and alcohol were heat-producing        
articles of food1 framed a theory that  
alcohol is burnt in the lungs1 giving   
off carbonic acid and water1 and thus   

serving to warm the body4 ,but modern   
science has proved that it is in the    
capillaries that animal heat is         
generated1 and it is believed that      
alcohol lessens instead of increasing   
the power of the body to bear the cold4 
,sir ,john ,koss1 in his ,arctic voyage1
 proved by his own experience and that  
of his men that cold-water drinkers     
could bear cold longer and were stronger
 than any who used alcohol4  ,carpenter1
 a standard writer on physiology1 says  
the objection to a habitual use of even 
small quantities of alcoholic drinks is1
 that they are universally admitted to  
possess a poisonous character1 and tend 
to produce a morbid condition of body2  
while the capacity for enduring extremes
 of heat and cold1 or of mental or      
bodily labor1 is diminished rather than 
increased by their habitual employment4 
,prof4 ,j4 ,bigelow1 of ,harvard        
,university1 says1 ,alcohol is highly   
stimulating1 heating1 and intoxicating1 
and its effects are so fascinating that 

when once experienced there is danger   
that the desire for them may be         
perpetuated4  ,dr4 ,bell and ,dr4       
,churchill1 both high medical           
authorities1 especially in lung disease1
 for which whisky is often recommended1 
come to the conclusion that the opinion 
that alcoholic liquors have influence in
 preventing the deposition of tubercle  
is destitute of any foundation2 on the  
contrary1 their use predisposes to      
tubercular deposition4 ,and where       
tubercle exists1 alcohol has no effect  
in modifying the usual course1 neither  
does it modify the morbid effects on the
 system4  ,prof4 ,youmans1 of           
,new-,york1 says3 ,it has been          
demonstrated that alcoholic drinks      
prevent the natural changes in the      
blood1 and obstruct the nutritive and   
reparative functions4 ,he adds1         
,chemical experiments have demonstrated 
that the action of alcohol on the       
digestive fluid is to destroy its active
 principle1 the pepsin1 thus confirming 

the observations of physiologists1 that 
its use gives rise to serious disorders 
of the stomach and malignant aberration 
of the whole economy4  ,we are now      
prepared to consider the great          
principles of science1 common sense1 and
 religion1 which should guide every     
woman who has any kind of influence or  
responsibility on this subject4 ,it is  
allowed by all medical men that pure    
water is perfectly healthful and        
supplies all the liquid needed by the   
body2 and also that by proper means1    
which ordinarily are in the reach of    
all1 water can be made sufficiently     
pure4  ,it is allowed by all that milk1 
and the juices of fruits1 when taken    
into the stomach1 furnish water that is 
always pure1 and that our bread and     
vegetable food also supply it in large  
quantities4 ,there are besides a great  
variety of agreeable and healthful      
beverages1 made from the juices of      
fruit1 containing no alcohol1 and       
agreeable drinks1 such as milk1 cocoa1  

and chocolate1 that contain no          
stimulating principles1 and which are   
nourishing and healthful4  ,as one      
course1 then1 is perfectly safe and     
another involves great danger1 it is    
wrong and sinful to choose the path of  
danger4 ,there is no peril in drinking  
pure water1 milk1 the juices of fruits1 
and infusions that are nourishing and   
harmless4 ,but there is great danger to 
the young1 and to the commonwealth1 in  
patronizing the sale and use of         
alcoholic drinks4 ,the religion of      
,christ1 in its distinctive feature1    
involves generous self-denial for the   
good of others1 especially for the      
weaker members of society4 ,it is on    
this principle that ,st4 ,paul sets     
forth his own example1 ,if meat make my 
brother to offend1 ,i will eat no flesh 
while the world standeth1 lest ,i make  
my brother to offend4 ,and again he     
teaches1 ,we1 then1 that are strong     
ought to bear the infirmities of the    
weak1 and not to please ourselves4      

,this ,christian principle also applies 
to the common drinks of the family1 tea 
and coffee4  ,it has been shown that the
 great end for which ,jesus ,christ     
came1 and for which he instituted the   
family state1 is the training of our    
whole race to virtue and happiness1 with
 chief reference to an immortal         
existence4 ,in this mission1 of which   
woman is chief minister1 as before      
stated1 the distinctive feature is      
self-sacrifice of the wiser and stronger
 members to save and to elevate the     
weaker ones4 ,the children and the      
servants are these weaker members1 who  
by ignorance and want of habits of      
self-control are in most danger4 ,it is 
in this aspect that we are to consider  
the expediency of using tea and coffee  
in a family4  ,these drinks are a most  
extensive cause of much of the nervous  
debility and suffering endured by       
,american women2 and relinquishing them1
 would save an immense amount of such   
suffering4 ,moreover1 all housekeepers  

will allow that they can not regulate   
these drinks in their kitchens1 where   
the ignorant use them to excess4 ,there 
is little probability that the present  
generation will make so decided a change
 in their habits as to give up these    
beverages2 but the subject is presented 
rather in reference to forming the      
habits of children4  ,it is a fact that 
tea and coffee are at first seldom or   
never agreeable to children4 ,it is the 
mixture of milk1 sugar1 and water1 that 
reconciles them to a taste1 which in    
this manner gradually becomes agreeable4
 ,now suppose that those who provide for
 a family conclude that it is not their 
duty to give up entirely the use of     
stimulating drinks1 may not the case    
appear different in regard to teaching  
their children to love such drinks8 ,let
 the matter be regarded thus3 ,the      
experiments of physiologists all prove  
that stimulants are not needful to      
health1 and that1 as the general rule1  
they tend to debilitate the             

constitution4 ,is it right1 then1 for a 
parent to tempt a child to drink what is
 not needful1 when there is a           
probability that it will prove1 to some 
extent1 an undermining drain on the     
constitution8 ,some constitutions can   
bear much less excitement than others2  
and in every family of children1 there  
is usually one or more of delicate      
organization1 and consequently          
peculiarly exposed to dangers from this 
source4 ,it is this child who ordinarily
 becomes the victim to stimulating      
drinks4 ,the tea and coffee which the   
parents and the healthier children can  
use without immediate injury1 gradually 
sap the energies of the feebler child1  
who proves either an early victim or a  
living martyr to all the sufferings that
 debilitated nerves inflict4 ,can it be 
right to lead children where all allow  
that there is some danger1 and where in 
many cases disease and death are met1   
when1 another path is known to be       
perfectly safe8  ,the impression common 

in this country1 that warm drinks1      
especially in winter1 are more healthful
 than cold1 is not warranted by any     
experience1 nor by the laws of the      
physical system4 ,at dinner1 cold drinks
 are universal1 and no one deems them   
injurious4 ,it is only at the other two 
meals that they are supposed to be      
hurtful4  ,there is no doubt that warm  
drinks are healthful1 and more agreeable
 than cold1 at certain times and        
seasons2 but it is equally true that    
drinks above blood-heat are not         
healthful4 ,if a person should bathe in 
warm water every day1 debility would    
inevitably follow2 for the frequent     
application of the stimulus of heat1    
like all other stimulants1 eventually   
causes relaxation and weakness4 ,if1    
therefore1 a person is in the habit of  
drinking hot drinks twice a day1 the    
teeth1 throat1 and stomach are gradually
 debilitated4 ,this1 most probably1 is  
one of the causes of an early decay of  
the teeth1 which is observed to be much 

more common among ,american ladies1 than
 among those in ,european countries4    
,it has been stated to the writer1 by an
 intelligent traveler who had visited   
,mexico1 that it was rare to meet an    
individual with even a tolerable set of 
teeth1 and that almost every grown      
person he met in the street had merely  
remnants of teeth4 ,on inquiry into the 
customs of the country1 it was found    
that it was the universal practice to   
take their usual beverage at almost the 
boiling-point2 and this doubtless was   
the chief cause of the almost entire    
want of teeth in that country4 ,in the  
,united ,states1 it can not be doubted  
that much evil is done in this way by   
hot drinks4 ,most tea-drinkers consider 
tea as ruined if it stands until it     
reaches the healthful temperature for   
drink4  ,the following extract1 from    
,dr4 ,andrew ,combe1 presents the       
opinion of most intelligent medical men 
on this subject4 ,footnote3 ,the writer 
would here remark1 in reference to      

extracts made from various authors1     
that1 for the sake of abridging1 she has
 often left out parts of a paragraph1   
but never so as to modify the meaning of
 the author4 ,some ideas1 not connected 
with the subject in hand1 are omitted1  
but none are altered4  ,water is a safe 
drink for all constitutions1 provided it
 be resorted to in obedience to the     
dictates of natural thirst only1 and not
 of habit4 ,unless the desire for it is 
felt1 there is no occasion for its use  
during a meal4  ,the primary effect of  
all distilled and fermented liquors is  
to stimulate the nervous system and     
quicken the circulation4 ,in infancy and
 childhood1 the circulation is rapid and
 easily excited2 and the nervous system 
is strongly acted upon even by the      
slightest external impressions4 ,hence1 
slight causes of irritation readily     
excite febrile and convulsive disorders4
 ,in youth1 the natural tendency of the 
constitution is still to excitement1 and
 consequently1 as a general rule1 the   

stimulus of fermented liquors is        
injurious4  ,these remarks show that    
parents1 who find that stimulating      
drinks are not injurious to themselves1 
may mistake in inferring from this that 
they will not be injurious to their     
children4  ,dr4 ,combe continues thus3  
,in mature age1 when digestion is good1 
and the system in full vigor1 if the    
mode of life be not too exhausting1 the 
nervous functions and general           
circulation are in their best condition1
 and require no stimulus for their      
support4 ,the bodily energy is then     
easily sustained by nutritious food and 
a regular regimen1 and consequently     
artificial excitement only increases the
 wasting of the natural strength4  ,it  
may be asked1 in this connection1 why   
the stimulus of animal food is not to be
 regarded in the same light as that of  
stimulating drinks4 ,in reply1 a very   
essential difference may he pointed out4
 ,animal food furnishes nutriment to the
 organs which it stimulates1 but        

stimulating drinks excite the organs to 
quickened action without affording any  
nourishment4  ,it has been supposed by  
some that tea and coffee have1 at least1
 a degree of nourishing power4 ,but it  
is proved that it is the milk and sugar1
 and not the main portion of the drink1 
which imparts the nourishment4 ,tea has 
not one particle of nourishing          
properties2 and what little exists in   
the coffee-berry is lost by roasting it 
in the usual mode4 ,all that these      
articles do1 is simply to stimulate     
without nourishing4  ,although there is 
little hope of banishing these drinks1  
there is still a chance that something  
may be gained in attempts to regulate   
their use by the rules of temperance4   
,if1 then1 a housekeeper can not banish 
tea and coffee entirely1 she may use her
 influence to prevent excess1 both by   
her instructions1 and by the power of   
control committed more or less to her   
hands4  ,it is important for every      
housekeeper to know that the health of a

 family very much depends on the purity 
of water used for cooking and drinking4 
,there are three causes of impure and   
unhealthful water4 ,one is1 the         
existence in it of vegetable or animal  
matter1 which can be remedied by        
filtering through sand and charcoal4    
,another cause is1 the existence of     
mineral matter1 especially in limestone 
countries1 producing diseases of the    
bladder4 ,this is remedied in a measure 
by boiling1 which secures a deposit of  
the lime on the vessel used4 ,the third 
cause is1 the corroding of zinc and lead
 used in pipes and reservoirs1 producing
 oxides that are slow poisons4 ,the only
 remedy is prevention1 by having        
supply-pipes made of iron1 like         
gas-pipe1 instead of zinc and lead2 or  
the lately invented lead pipe lined with
 tin1 which metal is not corrosive4 ,the
 obstacle to this is1 that the trade of 
the plumbers would be greatly diminished
 by the use of reliable pipes4 ,when    
water must be used from supply-pipes of 

lead or zinc1 it is well to let the     
water run some time before drinking it  
and to use as little as possible1 taking
 milk instead2 and being further        
satisfied for inner necessities by the  
water supplied by fruits and vegetables4
 ,the water in these is always pure4    
,but in using milk as a drink1 it must  
be remembered that it is also rich food1
 and that less of other food must be    
taken when milk is thus used1 or bilious
 troubles will result from excess of    
food4  ,the use of opium1 especially by 
women1 is usually caused at first by    
medical prescriptions containing it4    
,all that has been stated as to the     
effect of alcohol in the brain is true  
of opium2 while1 to break a habit thus  
induced is almost hopeless1 ,every woman
 who takes or who administers this drug1
 is dealing as with poisoned arrows1    
whose wounds are without cure4  ,the use
 of tobacco in this country1 and        
especially among young boys1 is         
increasing at a fearful rate4 ,on this  

subject1 we have the unanimous opinion  
of all medical men2 the following being 
specimens4  ,a distinguished medical    
writer thus states the case3 ,every     
physician knows that the agreeable      
sensations that tempt to the use of     
tobacco are caused by nicotine1 which is
 a rank poison1 as much so as prussic   
acid or arsenic4 ,when smoked1 the      
poison is absorbed by the blood of the  
mouth1 and carried to the brain4 ,when  
chewed1 the nicotine passes to the blood
 through the mouth and stomach4 ,in both
 cases1 the whole nervous system is     
thrown1 into abnormal excitement to     
expel the poison1 and it is this        
excitement that causes agreeable        
sensations4 ,the excitement thus caused 
is invariably followed by a diminution  
of nervous power1 in exact proportion to
 the preceding excitement to expel the  
evil from the system4  ,few will dispute
 the general truth and effect of the    
above statement1 so that the question is
 one to be settled on the same principle

 as applies to the use of alcoholic     
drinks4 ,is it1 then1 according to the  
generous principles of ,christ's        
religion1 for those who are strong and  
able to bear this poison1 to tempt the  
young1 the ignorant1 and the weak to a  
practice not needful to any healthful   
enjoyment1 and which leads multitudes to
 disease1 and often to vice8 ,for the   
use of tobacco tends always to lessen   
nerve-power1 and probably every one out 
of five that indulges in its use awakens
 a morbid craving for increased         
stimulus1 lessens the power of          
self-control1 diminishes the strength of
 the constitution1 and sets an example  
that influences the weak to the path of 
danger and of frequent ruin4  ,the great
 danger of this age is an increasing1   
intense worldliness1 and disbelief in   
the foundation principle of the religion
 of ,christ1 that we are to reap through
 everlasting ages the consequences of   
habits formed in this life4 ,in the     
light of his word1 they only who are    

truly wise shall shine as the firmament1
 and they that turn many to             
righteousness1 as the stars1 forever and
 ever4  ,it is increased faith or belief
 in the teachings of ,christ's religion1
 as to the influence of this life upon  
the life to come1 which alone can save  
our country and the world from that     
inrushing tide of sensualism and        
worldliness1 now seeming to threaten the
 best hopes and prospects of our race4  
,and woman1 as the chief educator of our
 race1 and the prime minister of the    
family state1 is bound in the use of    
meats and drinks to employ the powerful 
and distinctive motives of the religion 
of ,christ in forming habits of         
temperance and benevolent self-sacrifice
 for the good of others4     ,,xi4      
,,cleanliness4   ,both the health and   
comfort of a family depend1 to a great  
extent1 on cleanliness of the person and
 the family surroundings4 ,true         
cleanliness of person involves the      
scientific treatment of the skin4 ,this 

is the most complicated organ of the    
body1 and one through which the health  
is affected more than through any other2
 and no persons can or will he be so    
likely to take proper care of it as     
those by whom its construction and      
functions are understood4               
,illustration3 ,fig4 #eg4  ,fig4 #eg is 
a very highly magnified portion of the  
skin4 ,the layer marked #a is the       
outside1 very thin skin1 called the     
cuticle or scarf skin4 ,this consists of
 transparent layers of minute cells1    
which are constantly decaying and being 
renewed1 and the white scurf that passes
 from the skin to the clothing is a     
decayed portion of these cells4 ,this   
part of the skin has neither nerves nor 
blood-vessels4  ,the dark layer1 marked 
#b1 #g1 #h1 is that portion of the true 
skin which gives the external color     
marking diverse races4 ,in the portion  
of the dark layer marked #c1 #d1 is seen
 a network of nerves which run from two 
branches of the nervous trunks coming   

from the spinal marrow4 ,these arc      
nerves of sensation1 by which the sense 
of touch or feeling is performed4 ,fig4 
#eh represents the blood-vessels1       
7intermingled with the nerves of the    
skin17 which divide into minute         
capillaries that act like the           
capillaries of the lungs1 taking oxygen 
from the air1 and giving out carbonic   
acid4 ,at a1 and b are seen the roots of
 two hairs1 which abound in certain     
parts of the skin1 and are nourished by 
the blood of the capillaries4           
,illustration3 ,fig4 #eh4 ,illustration3
 ,fig4 #ei4  ,at ,fig4 #ei is a         
magnified view of another set of        
vessels1 called the lymphatics or       
absorbents4 ,these are extremely minute 
vessels that interlace with the nerves  
and blood-vessels of the skin4 ,their   
office is to aid in collecting the      
useless1 injurious1 or decayed matter1  
and carry it to certain reservoirs1 from
 which it passes into some of the large 
veins1 to be thrown out through the     

lungs1 bowels1 kidneys1 or skin4 ,these 
absorbent or lymphatic2 vessels have    
mouths opening on the surface of the    
true skin1 and1 though covered by the   
cuticle1 they can absorb both liquids   
and solids that are placed in close     
contact with the skin4 ,in proof of     
this1 one of the main trunks of the     
lymphatics in the hand can be cut off   
from all communication with other       
portions1 and tied up3 and if the hand  
is immersed in milk a given time1 it    
will be found that the milk has been1   
absorbed through the cuticle and fills  
the lymphatics4 ,in this way1           
long-continued blisters on the skin will
 introduce the blistering matter into   
the blood through the absorbents1 and   
then the kidneys will take it up from   
the blood passing through them to carry 
it out of the body1 and thus become     
irritated and inflamed by it4           
,illustration3 ,fig4 #fj  ,there are    
also oil-tubes1 imbedded in the skin1   
that draw off oil from the blood4 ,this 

issues on the surface and spreads over  
the cuticle to keep it soft and moist4  
,but the most curious part of the skin  
is the system of innumerable minute     
perspiration-tubes4 ,fig4 #fj is a      
drawing of one very greatly magnified4  
,these tubes open on the cuticle1 and   
the openings are called pores of the    
skin4 ,they descend into the true skin1 
and there form a coil1 as is seen in the
 drawing4 ,these tubes are hollow1 like 
a pipe-stem1 and their inner surface    
consists of wonderfully minute          
capillaries filled with the impure      
venous blood4 ,and in these small tubes 
the same process is going on as takes   
places when the carbonic acid and water 
of the blood are exhaled from the lungs4
 ,the capillaries of these tubes through
 the whole skin of the body are thus    
constantly exhaling the noxious and     
decayed particles of the body1 just as  
the lungs pour them out through the     
mouth and nose4  ,it has been shown that
 the perspiration-tubes are coiled up   

into a ball at their base4 ,the number  
and extent of these tubes are           
astonishing4 ,in a square inch on the   
palm of the hand have been counted1     
through a microscope1 thirty-five       
hundred of these tubes4 ,each one of    
them is about a quarter of an inch in   
length1 including its coils4 ,this makes
 the united lengths of these little     
tubes to be seventy-three feet to a     
square inch4 ,their united length1 over 
the whole body is thus calculated to be 
equal to twenty-eight miles4 ,what a    
wonderful apparatus this6 ,and what     
mischiefs must ensue when the drainage  
from the body of such an extent as this 
becomes obstructed6  ,but the inside of 
the body also has a skin1 as have all   
its organs4 ,the interior of the head1  
the throat1 the gullet1 the lungs1 the  
stomach1 and all the intestines1 are    
lined with a skin4 ,this is called the  
mucous membrane1 because it is          
constantly secreting from the blood a   
slimy substance called mucus4 ,when it  

accumulates in the lungs1 it is called  
phlegm4 ,this inner skin also has       
nerves1 blood-vessels1 and lymphatics4  
,the outer skin joins to the inner at   
the month1 the nose1 and other openings 
of the body1 and there is a constant    
sympathy between the two skins1 and thus
 between the inner organs and the       
surface of the body4   ,,secreting      
,,organs4  ,those vessels of the body   
which draw off certain portions of the  
blood and change it into a new form1 to 
be employed for service or to be thrown 
out of the body1 are called secreting   
organs4 ,the skin in this sense is a    
secreting organ1 as its                 
perspiration-tubes secrete or separate  
the bad portions of the blood1 and send 
them off4  ,of the internal secreting   
organs1 the liver is the largest4 ,its  
chief office is to secrete from the     
blood all matter not properly supplied  
with oxygen4 ,for this purpose1 a set of
 veins carries the blood of all the     
lower intestines to the liver1 where the

 imperfectly oxidized matter is drawn   
off in the form of bile1 and accumulated
 in a reservoir called the gall-bladder4
 ,thence it passes to the place where   
the smaller intestines receive the food 
from the stomach1 and there it mixes    
with this food4 ,then it passes through 
the long intestines1 and is thrown out  
of the body through the rectum4 ,this   
shows how it is1 that want of pure and  
cool air and exercise causes excess of  
bile1 from lack of oxygen4 ,the liver   
also has arterial blood sent to nourish 
it1 and corresponding veins to return   
this blood to the heart4 ,so there are  
two sets of blood-vessels for the       
liver--one to secrete the bile1 and the 
other to nourish the organ itself4  ,the
 kidneys secrete from the arteries that 
pass1 through them all excess of water  
in the blood1 and certain injurious     
substances4 ,these are carried through  
small tubes to the bladder1 and thence  
thrown out of the body4  ,the pancreas1 
a whitish gland1 situated in the abdomen

 below the stomach1 secretes from the   
arteries that pass through it the       
pancreatic juice1 which unites with the 
bile from the liver1 in preparing the   
food for nourishing the body4  ,there   
are certain little glands near the eyes 
that secrete the tears1 and others near 
the mouth that secrete the saliva1 or   
spittle4  ,these organs all have        
arteries sent to them to nourish them1  
and also veins to carry away the impure 
blood4 ,at the same time1 they secrete  
from the arterial blood the peculiar    
fluid which it is their office to       
supply4  ,all the food that passes      
through the lower intestines which is   
not drawn off by the lacteals or by some
 of these secreting organs1 passes from 
the body through a passage called the   
rectum4  ,learned men have made very    
curious experiments2 to ascertain how   
much the several organs throw out of the
 body1 ,it is found that the skin throws
 off five out of eight pounds of the    
food and drink1 or probably about three 

or four pounds a day4 ,the lungs throw  
off one quarter as much as the skin1 or 
about a pound a day4 ,the remainder is  
carried off by the kidneys and lower    
intestines4  ,there is such a sympathy  
and connection between all the organs of
 the body1 that when one of them is     
unable to work1 the others perform the  
office of the feeble one4 ,thus1 if the 
skin has its perspiration-tubes closed  
up by a chill1 then all the poisonous   
matter that would have been thrown out  
through them must be emptied out either 
by the lungs1 kidneys1 or bowels4  ,when
 all these organs are strong and        
healthy1 they can bear this increased   
labor without injury4 ,but if the lungs 
are weak1 the blood sent from the skin  
by the chill engorges the weak          
blood-vessels1 and produces an          
inflammation of the lungs4 ,or it       
increases the discharge of a slimy      
mucous substance1 that exudes from the  
skin of the lungs4 ,this fills up the   
air-vessels1 and would very soon end    

life1 were it not for the spasms of the 
lungs1 called coughing1 which throw off 
this substance4  ,if1 on the other hand1
 the bowels are weak1 a chill of the    
skin sends the blood into all the       
blood-vessels of the intestines1 and    
produces inflammation there1 or else an 
excessive secretion of the mucous       
substance1 which is called a diarrhea4  
,or if the kidneys are weak1 there is an
 increased secretion and discharge from 
them1 to an unhealthy and injurious     
extent4  ,this connection between the   
skin and internal organs is shown1 not  
only by the internal effects of a chill 
on the skin2 but by the sympathetic     
effect on the skin when these internal  
organs suffer4 ,for example1 there are  
some kinds of food that will irritate   
and influence the stomach or the bowels2
 and this1 by sympathy1 will produce an 
immediate eruption on the skin4 ,some   
persons1 on eating strawberries1 will   
immediately be affected with a          
nettle-rash4 ,others can not eat certain

 shell-fish without being affected in   
this way4 ,many humors on the face are  
caused by a diseased state of the       
internal organs with which the skin     
sympathizes4  ,this short account of the
 construction of the skin1 and of its   
intimate connection with the internal   
organs1 shows the philosophy of those   
modes of medical treatment that are     
addressed to this portion of the body4  
,it is on this powerful agency that the 
steam-doctors rely1 when1 by moisture   
and heat1 they stimulate all the        
innumerable perspiration-tubes and      
lymphatics to force out from the body a 
flood of unnaturally excited secretions2
 while it is kill or cure1 just as the  
chance may meet or oppose the demands of
 the case4 ,it is the skin also that is 
the chief basis of medical treatment in 
the ,water ,cure1 whose slow processes  
are as much safer as they are slower4   
,at the same time it is the             
ill-treatment or neglect of the skin    
which1 probably1 is the cause of disease

 and decay to an incredible extent4 ,the
 various particulars in which this may  
be seen will now be pointed out4 ,in the
 management and care of this wonderful  
and complex part of the body1 many      
mistakes have been made4  ,the most     
common one is the misuse of the bath1   
especially since cold water cures have  
come into use4 ,this mode of medical    
treatment originated with an ignorant   
peasant1 amid a population where outdoor
 labor had strengthened nerves and      
muscles and imparted rugged powers to   
every part of the body4 ,it was then    
introduced into ,england and ,america   
without due consideration or knowledge  
of the diseases habits1 or real         
condition of patients1 especially of    
women4 ,the consequence was a mode of   
treatment too severe and exhausting2 and
 many practices were spread abroad not  
warranted by true medical science4  ,but
 in spite of these mistakes and abuses1 
the treatment of the skin for disease by
 the use of cold water has become an    

accepted doctrine of the most learned   
medical practitioners4 ,it is now held  
by all such that fevers can be detected 
in their distinctive features by the    
thermometer1 and that all fevers can be 
reduced by cold baths and packing in the
 wet sheet1 in the mode employed in all 
water-cures4 ,directions for using this 
method will be given in another place4  
,it has been supposed that large        
bath-tubs for immersing the whole person
 are indispensable to the proper        
cleaning of the skin4 ,this is not so4  
,a wet towel1 applied every morning to  
the skin1 followed by friction in pure  
air1 is all that is absolutely needed2  
although a full bath is a great luxury4 
,access of air to every part of the skin
 when its perspiratory tubes are cleared
 and its blood-vessels are filled by    
friction is the best ordinary bath4  ,in
 early life1 children should be washed  
all over1 every night or morning1 to    
remove impurities from the skin4 ,but in
 this process1 careful regard should be 

paid to the peculiar constitution of a  
child4 ,very nervous children sometimes 
revolt from cold water1 and like a tepid
 bath4 ,others prefer a cold bath2 and  
nature should be the guide4 ,it must be 
remembered that the skin is the great   
organ of sensation1 and in close        
connection with brain1 spine1 and       
nerve-centres3 so that what a strong    
nervous system can bear with advantage  
is too powerful and exhausting for      
another4 ,as age advances1 or as disease
 debilitates the body1 great care should
 be taken not to overtax the nervous    
system by sudden shocks1 or to diminish 
its powers by withdrawing animal heat to
 excess4 ,persons lacking robustness    
should bathe or use friction in a warm  
room2 and if very delicate1 should      
expose only a portion of the body at    
once to cold air4  ,johnson1 a          
celebrated writer on agricultural       
chemistry1 tells of an experiment by    
friction on the skin of pigs1 whose     
skins are like that of the human race4  

,he treated six of these animals with a 
curry-comb seven weeks1 and left three  
other pigs untouched4 ,the result was a 
gain of thirty-three pounds more of     
weight1 with the use of five bushels    
less of food for those curried1 than for
 the neglected ones4 ,this result was   
owing to the fact that all the functions
 of the body were more perfectly        
performed when1 by friction1 the skin   
was kept free from filth and the blood  
in it exposed to the air4 ,the same will
 be true of the human skin4 ,a          
calculation has been made on this fact1 
by which it is estimated that a man1 by 
proper care of his skin1 would save over
 thirty-one dollars in food yearly1     
which is the interest on over five      
hundred dollars4 ,if men will give as   
much care to their own skin1 as they    
give to currying a horse1 they will gain
 both health and wealth4     ,,xii4     
,,clothing4  ,there is no duty of those 
persons having control of a family where
 principle and practice are more at     

variance than in regulating the dress of
 young girls1 especially at the most    
important and critical period of life4  
,it is a difficult duty for parents and 
teachers to contend with the power of   
fashion1 which at this time of a young  
girl's life is frequently the ruling    
thought1 and when to be out of the      
fashion1 to be odd and not dress as all 
her companions do1 is a mortification   
and grief that no argument or           
instructions can relieve4 ,the mother is
 often so overborne that1 in spite of   
her better wishes1 the daughter adopts  
modes of dress alike ruinous to health  
and to beauty4  ,the greatest protection
 against such an emergency is to train a
 child to understand the construction of
 her own body and to impress upon her1  
in early days1 her obligations to the   
invisible ,friend and ,guardian of her  
life1 the ,former of her body and the   
,father of her spirit1 who has committed
 to her care so precious and beautiful a
 casket4 ,and the more she can be made  

to realize the skill and beauty of      
construction shown in her earthly frame1
 the more will she feel the obligation  
to protect it from injury and abuse4    
,it is a singular fact that the war of  
fashion has attacked most fatally what  
seems to be the strongest foundation1   
and defense of the body1 the bones4 ,for
 this reason1 the construction and      
functions of this part of the body will 
now receive attention4  ,the bones are  
composed of two substances1 one animal1 
and the other mineral4 ,the animal part 
is a very fine network1 called cellular 
membrane4 ,in this are deposited the    
harder mineral substances1 which are    
composed principally of carbonate and   
phosphate of lime4 ,in very early life1 
the bones consist chiefly of the animal 
part1 and are then soft and pliant4 ,as 
the child advances in age1 the bones    
grow harder1 by the gradual deposition  
of the phosphate of lime1 which is      
supplied by the food1 and carried to the
 bones by the blood4 ,in old age1 the   

hardest material preponderates2 malting 
the bones more brittle than in earlier  
life4  ,the bones are covered with a    
thin skin or membrane1 filled with small
 blood-vessels which convey nourishment 
to them1  ,where the hones unite with   
others to form joints1 they are covered 
with cartilage1 which is a smooth1      
white1 elastic substance4 ,this enables 
the joints to move smoothly1 while its  
elasticity prevents injuries from sudden
 jars4  ,the joints are bound together  
by strong1 elastic bands called         
ligaments1 which hold them firmly and   
prevent dislocation4  ,between the ends 
of the bones that unite to form joints  
are small sacks or bags1 that contain a 
soft lubricating fluid4 ,this answers   
the same purpose fur the joints as oil  
in making machinery work smoothly1 while
 the supply is constant and always in   
exact proportion to the demand4  ,if you
 will examine the leg of some fowl1 you 
can see the cartilage that covers the   
ends of the bones at the joints1 and the

 strong white ligaments that bind the   
joints together4  ,the health1 of the   
bones depends on the proper nourishment 
and exercise of the body as much as that
 of any other part4 ,when a child is    
feeble and unhealthy1 or when it grows  
up without exercise1 the bones do not   
become firm and hard as they are when   
the body is healthfully developed by    
exercise4 ,the size as well as the      
strength of the bones1 to a certain     
extent1 also depend upon exercise and   
good health4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #fa  
,the chief supporter of the body is the 
spine1 which consists of twenty-four    
small bones1 interlocked or hooked into 
each other1 while between them are      
elastic cushions of cartilage which aid 
in preserving the upright1 natural      
position4 ,fig4 #fa shows three of the  
spinal bones1 hooked into each other1   
the dark spaces showing the disks or    
flat circular plates of cartilage       
between them4  ,the spine is held in its
 proper position1 partly by the ribs1   

partly by muscles1 partly by aid of the 
elastic disks1 and partly by the close  
packing of the intestines in front of   
it4  ,the upper part of the spine is    
often thrown out of its proper position 
by constant stooping of the head over   
books or work4 ,this affects the elastic
 disks so that they grow thick at the   
back side and thinner at the front side 
by such constant pressure4 ,the result  
is the awkward projection of the head   
forward which is often seen in schools  
and colleges4  ,another distortion of   
the spine is produced by tight dress    
around the waist4 ,the liver occupies   
the right side of the body and is a     
solid mass1 while on the other side is  
the larger part of the stomach1 which is
 often empty4 ,the consequence of tight 
dress around the waist is a constant    
pressure of the spine toward the        
unsupported part where the stomach lies4
 ,thus the elastic dials again are      
compressed2 till they become thinner on 
one side than the other1 and harden into

 that condition4 ,this produces what is 
called the lateral curvature of the     
spine1 making one shoulder higher than  
the other4  ,the compression of the     
lower part of the waist is especially   
dangerous at the time young girls first 
enter society and are tempted to dress  
according to the fashion4 ,many a       
school-girl1 whose waist was originally 
of a proper and healthful size1 has     
gradually pressed the soft bones of     
youth until the lower ribs that should  
rise and fall with every breath1 become 
entirely unused4 ,then the abdominal    
breathing1 performed by the lower part  
of the lungs1 ceases2 the whole system  
becomes reduced in strength2 the        
abdominal muscles that hold up the      
interior organs become weak1 and the    
upper ones gradually sink upon the      
lower4 ,this pressure of the upper      
interior organs upon the lower ones1 by 
tight dress1 is increased by the weight 
of clothing resting on the hips and     
abdomen4 ,corsets1 as usually worn1 have

 no support from the shoulders1 and     
consequently all the weight of dress    
resting upon or above them presses upon 
the hips and abdomen1 and this in such a
 way as to throw out of use and thus    
weaken the most important supporting    
muscles of the abdomen1 and impede      
abdominal breathing4  ,the diaphragm is 
a kind of muscular floor1 extending     
across the centre of the body1 on which 
the heart and lungs rest4 ,beneath it   
are the liver1 stomach1 and the         
abdominal viscera1 or intestines1 which 
are supported by the abdominal muscles1 
running upward1 downward1 and crosswise4
 ,when these muscles are thrown out of  
use1 they lose their power1 the whole   
system of organs mainly resting on them 
for support can not continue in their   
naturally snug1 compact1 and rounded    
form1 but become separated1 elongated1  
and unsupported4 ,the stomach begins to 
draw from above instead of resting on   
the viscera beneath4 ,this in some cases
 causes dull and wandering pains1 a     

sense of pulling at the centre of the   
chest1 and a drawing downward at the pit
 of the stomach4 ,then as the support   
beneath is really gone1 there is what is
 often called a feeling of goneness4    
,this is sometimes relieved by food1    
which1 so long as it remains in a solid 
form1 helps to hold up the falling      
superstructure4 ,this displacement of   
the stomach1 liver1 and spleen          
interrupts their healthful functions1   
and dyspepsia and biliary difficulties  
not unfrequently are the result4  ,as   
the stomach and its appendages fall     
downward1 the diaphragm1 which holds up 
the heart and lungs1 must descend also4 
,in this state of things1 the inflation 
of the lungs is less and less aided by  
the abdominal muscles1 and is confined  
chiefly to their upper portion4         
,breathing sometimes thus becomes       
quicker and shorter on account of the   
elongated or debilitated condition of   
the assisting organs4 ,consumption not  
unfrequently results from this cause4   

,the heart also feels the evil4         
,palpitations1 flutterings1 sinking     
feelings1 all show that1 in the language
 of ,scripture1 the heart trembleth1 and
 is moved out of its place4  ,but the   
lower intestines are the greatest       
sufferers from this dreadful abuse of   
nature4 ,having the weight of all the   
unsupported organs above pressing them  
into unnatural and distorted positions1 
the passage of the food is interrupted1 
and inflammations1 indurations1 and     
constipation1 are the frequent result4  
,dreadful ulcers and cancers may be     
traced in some instances to this cause4 
,although these internal displacements  
are most common among women1 some       
foolish members of the other sex are    
adopting customs of dress1 in girding   
the central portion of the body1 that   
tend to similar results4  ,but this     
distortion brings upon woman peculiar   
distresses4 ,the pressure of the whole  
superincumbent mass on the pelvic or    
lower organs induces sufferings         

proportioned in acuteness to the extreme
 delicacy and sensitiveness of the parts
 thus crushed4 ,and the intimate        
connection of these organs with the     
brain and whole nervous system renders  
injuries thus inflicted the causes of   
the most extreme anguish1 both of body  
and mind4 ,this evil is becoming so     
common1 not only among married women1   
but among young girls1 as to be a just  
cause for universal alarm4  ,how very   
common these sufferings are1 few but the
 medical profession can realize1 because
 they are troubles that must be         
concealed4 ,many a woman is moving about
 in uncomplaining agony who1 with any   
other trouble involving equal suffering1
 would be on her bed surrounded by      
sympathizing friends4  ,the terrible    
sufferings that are sometimes thus      
induced can never be conceived of1 or at
 all appreciated from1 any use of       
language4 ,nothing that the public can  
be made to believe on this subject will 
ever equal the reality4 ,not only mature

 persons and mothers1 but fair young    
girls sometimes1 are shut up for months 
and years as helpless and suffering     
invalids from this cause4 ,this may be  
found all over the land4 ,and there     
frequently is a horrible extremity of   
suffering in certain forms of this evil1
 which no woman of feeble constitution  
can ever be certain may not be her doom4
 ,not that in all cases this extremity  
is involved1 but none can say who will  
escape it4  ,in regard to this1 if one  
must choose for a friend or a child1 on 
the one hand1 the horrible torments     
inflicted by savage ,indians or cruel   
inquisitors on their victims1 or1 on the
 other1 the protracted agonies that     
result from such deformities and        
displacements1 sometimes the former     
would be a merciful exchange4  ,and yet 
this is the fate that is coming to meet 
the young as well as the mature in every
 direction4 ,and tender parents are     
unconsciously leading their lovely and  
hapless daughters to this awful doom4   

,there is no excitement of the          
imagination in what is here indicated4  
,if the facts and details could be      
presented1 they would send a groan of   
terror all over the land4 ,for it is not
 one class1 or one section1 that is     
endangered4 ,in every part of our       
country the evil is progressing4  ,and1 
as if these dreadful ills were not      
enough1 there have been added methods of
 medical treatment at once useless1     
torturing to the mind1 and involving    
great liability to immoralities4        
,illustration3 ,fig4 #fb4  ,in hope of  
abating these evils1 drawings are given 
7,fig4 #fb and ,fig4 #fc7 of the front  
and back of a jacket that will preserve 
the advantages of the corset without its
 evils4 ,this jacket may at first be    
fitted to the figure with corsets       
underneath it1 just like the waist of a 
dress4 ,then1 delicate whalebones can be
 used to stiffen the jacket1 so that it 
will take the proper shape1 when the    
corset may be dispensed with4 ,the      

buttons below are to hold all articles  
of dress below the waist by             
button-holes4 ,by this method1 the bust 
is supported as well as by corsets1     
while the shoulders support from above1 
as they should do1 the weight of the    
dress below4 ,no stiff bone should be   
allowed to press in front1 and the      
jacket should be so loose that a full   
breath can be inspired with ease1 while 
in a sitting position4  ,illustration3  
,fig4 #fc4  ,the proper way to dress a  
young girl is to have a cotton or       
flannel close-fitting jacket next the   
body1 to which the drawers should be    
buttoned4 ,over this1 place the chemise2
 and over that1 such a jacket as the one
 here drawn1 to which should be buttoned
 the hoops and other skirts4 ,thus every
 article of dress will be supported by  
the shoulders4 ,the sleeves of the      
jacket can be omitted1 and in that ease 
a strong lining1 and also a tape        
binding1 must surround the arm-hole1    
which should be loose4  ,it is hoped    

that increase of intelligence and moral 
power among mothers1 and a combination  
among them to regulate fashions1 may    
banish the pernicious practices that    
have prevailed4 ,if a school-girl dress 
without corsets and without tight belts 
could be established as a fashion1 it   
would be one step gained in the right   
direction4 ,then if mothers could secure
 daily domestic exercise in chambers1   
eating-rooms and parlors in loose       
dresses1 a still farther advance would  
be secured4  ,a friend of the writer    
informs her that her daughter had her   
wedding outfit made up by a fashionable 
milliner in ,paris1 and every dress was 
beautifully fitted to the form1 and yet 
was not compressing to any part4 ,this  
was done too without the use of corsets1
 the stiffening being delicate and      
yielding whalebones4  ,not only parents 
but all having the care of young girls1 
especially those at boarding-schools1   
have a fearful responsibility resting   
upon them in regard to this important   

duty4  ,in regard to the dressing of    
young children1 much discretion is      
needed to adapt dress to circumstances  
and peculiar constitutions4 ,the leading
 fact must be borne in mind that the    
skin is made strong and healthful by    
exposure to light and pure air1 while   
cold air1 if not excessive1 has a tonic 
influence4 ,if the skin of infants is   
rubbed with the hand till red with      
blood1 and then exposed naked to sun and
 air in a well-ventilated room1 it will 
be favorable to health4  ,there is a    
constitutional difference in the skin of
 different children in regard to        
retaining the animal heat manufactured  
within1 so that some need more clothing 
than others for comfort4 ,nature is a   
safe guide to a careful nurse and       
mother1 and will indicate by the looks  
and actions of a child when more        
clothing is needful4 ,as a general rule1
 it is safe for a healthful child to    
wear as little clothing as suffices to  
keep it from complaining of cold4 ,fifty

 years ago1 it was not common for       
children to wear as much under-clothing 
as they now do4 ,the writer well        
remembers how even girls1 though not of 
strong constitutions1 used to play for  
hours in the snow-drifts without the    
protection of drawers1 kept warm by     
exercise and occasional runs to an open 
fire4 ,and multitudes of children grew  
to vigorous maturity through similar    
exposures to cold air-baths1 and without
 the frequent1 colds and sicknesses so  
common among children of the present    
day1 who are more carefully housed and  
warmly dressed4 ,but care was taken that
 the feet should be kept dry and warmly 
clad1 because1 circulation being feebler
 in the extremities1 this precaution was
 important4  ,it must also be considered
 that age brings with it decrease in    
vigor of circulation1 and the consequent
 generation of heat1 so that more warmth
 of air and clothing is needed at an    
advanced period of life than is suitable
 for the young4  ,these are the general 

principles which must be applied with   
modification to each individual case4 ,a
 child of delicate constitution must    
have more careful protection from cold  
air than is desirable for one more      
vigorous1 while the leading general     
principle is retained that cold air is a
 healthful tonic for the skin whenever  
it does not produce an uncomfortable    
chilliness4     ,,xiii4  ,,good         
,,cooking4   ,there are but a few things
 on which health1 and happiness depend  
more than on the manner in which food is
 cooked4 ,you may make houses           
enchantingly beautiful1 hang them with  
pictures1 have them clean and airy and  
convenient2 but if the stomach is fed   
with sour bread and burnt meats1 it will
 raise such rebellions that the eyes    
will see no beauty anywhere4 ,the       
abundance of splendid material we have  
in ,america is in great contrast with   
the style of cooking most prevalent in  
our country4 ,how often1 in journeys1 do
 we sit down to tables loaded with      

material1 originally of the very best   
kind1 winch has been so spoiled in the  
treatment that there is really nothing  
to eat6 ,green biscuits with acrid spots
 of alkali2 sour yeast-bread2 meat      
slowly simmered in fat till it seemed   
like grease itself1 and slowly          
congealing in cold grease2 and above    
all1 that unpardonable enormity1 strong 
butter6 ,how one longs to show people   
what might have been done with the raw  
material out of which all these         
monstrosities were concocted6  ,there is
 no country where an ample1             
well-furnished table is more easily     
spread1 and for that reason1 perhaps1   
none where the bounties of ,providence  
are more generally neglected4           
,considering that our resources are     
greater than those of any other         
civilized people1 our results are       
comparatively poorer4  ,it is said that 
a list of the summer vegetables which   
are exhibited on ,new-,york hotel-tables
 being shown to a ,french artiste1 he   

declared that to serve such a dinner    
properly would take till midnight4 ,a   
traveler can not but be struck with our 
national plenteousness1 on returning    
from a ,continental tour1 and going     
directly from the ship to a ,new-,york  
hotel1 in the bounteous season of       
autumn4 ,for months habituated to neat  
little bits of chop or poultry1         
garnished with the inevitable           
cauliflower or potato1 which seemed to  
be the sole possibility after the reign 
of green peas was over2 to sit down all 
at once to such a carnival6 to such     
ripe1 juicy tomatoes1 raw or cooked2    
cucumbers in brittle slices2 rich1      
yellow sweet-potatoes2 broad lima-beans1
 and beans of other and various names2  
tempting ears of ,indian-corn steaming  
in enormous piles2 great smoking tureens
 of the savory succotash1 an ,indian    
gift to the table for which civilization
 need not blush2 sliced egg-plant in    
delicate fritters2 and marrow- squashes1
 of creamy pulp and sweetness2 a rich   

variety1 embarrassing to the appetite1  
and perplexing to the choice4  ,verily1 
the thought must often occur that the   
vegetarian doctrine preached in ,america
 leaves a man quite as much as he has   
capacity to eat or enjoy1 and that in   
the midst of such tantalizing abundance 
he has really lost the apology1 which   
elsewhere bears him out in preying upon 
his less gifted and accomplished animal 
neighbors4  ,but with all this1 the     
,american table1 taken as a whole1 is   
inferior to that of ,england or ,france4
 ,it presents a fine abundance of       
material1 carelessly and poorly treated4
 ,the management of food is nowhere in  
the world1 perhaps1 more slovenly and   
wasteful4 ,every thing betokens that    
want of care that waits on abundance2   
there are great capabilities and poor   
execution4 ,a tourist through ,england  
can seldom fail1 at the quietest        
country-inn1 of finding himself served  
with the essentials of ,english         
table-comfort--his mutton-chop done to a

 turn1 his steaming little private      
apparatus for concocting his own tea1   
his choice pot of marmalade or slice of 
cold ham1 and his delicate rolls and    
creamy butter1 all served with care and 
neatness4 ,in ,france1 one never asks in
 vain for delicious cafe-au-lait1 good  
bread and butter1 a nice omelet1 or some
 savory little portion of meat with a   
,french name4 ,but to a tourist taking  
like chance in ,american country-fare1  
what is the prospect8 ,what is the      
coffee8 what the tea8 and the meat8 and 
above all1 the butter8  ,in writing on  
cooking1 the main topics should be      
first1 bread2 second1 butter2 third1    
meat2 fourth1 vegetables2 and fifth1    
tea--by which last is meant1 generally1 
all sorts of warm1 comfortable drinks   
served out in tea-cups1 whether they be 
called tea1 coffee1 chocolate1 broma1 or
 what not4  ,if these five departments  
are all perfect1 the great ends of      
domestic cookery are answered1 so far as
 the comfort and well-being of life are 

concerned4 ,there exists another        
department1 which is often regarded by  
culinary amateurs and young aspirants as
 the higher branch and very collegiate  
course of practical cookery2 to wit1    
confectionery1 by which is designated   
all pleasing and complicated compounds  
of sweets and spices1 devised not for   
health and nourishment1 and strongly    
suspected of interfering with both--mere
 tolerated gratifications of the palate1
 which we eat1 not with the expectation 
of being benefited1 but only with the   
hope of not being injured by them4 ,in  
this large department rank all sorts of 
cakes1 pies1 preserves1 etc41 whose     
excellence is often attained by treading
 under foot and disregarding the five   
grand essentials4  ,there is many a     
table garnished with three or four kinds
 of well-made cake1 compounded with     
citron and spices and all imaginable    
good things1 where the meat was tough   
and greasy1 the bread some hot          
preparation of flour1 lard1 saleratus1  

and acid1 and the butter unutterably    
detestable1 where1 if the mistress of   
the feast had given the care1 time1 and 
labor to preparing the simple items of  
bread1 butter1 and meat1 that she       
evidently had given to the preparation  
of these extras1 the lot of her guests  
and family might be much more           
comfortable4 ,but she does not think of 
these common articles as constituting a 
good table4 ,so long as she has puff    
pastry1 rich black cake1 clear jelly and
 preserves1 she considers that such     
unimportant matters as bread1 butter1   
and meat may take care of themselves4   
,it is the same inattention to common   
things as that which leads people to    
build houses with stone fronts1 and     
window-caps and expensive front-door    
trimmings1 without bathing-rooms or     
fireplaces1 or ventilators4  ,those who 
go into the country looking for summer  
board in farm-houses know perfectly well
 that a table where the butter is always
 fresh1 the tea and coffee of the best  

kinds and well made1 and the meats      
properly kept1 dressed1 and served1 is  
the one table of a hundred1 the fabulous
 enchanted island4 ,it seems impossible 
to get the idea into the minds of many  
people that what is called common food1 
carefully prepared1 becomes1 in virtue  
of that very care and attention1 a      
delicacy1 superseding the necessity of  
artificially compounded dainties4 ,to   
begin1 then1 with the very foundation of
 a good table3  --,bread3 ,what ought it
 to be8  ,it should be light1 sweet1 and
 tender4 ,this matter of lightness is   
the distinctive line between savage and 
civilized bread4 ,the savage mixes      
simple flour and water into balls of    
paste1 which he throws into boiling     
water1 and which come out solid1        
glutinous masses1 of which his common   
saying is1 ,man eat dis1 he no die1     
which a facetious traveler who was      
obliged to subsist on it interpreted to 
mean1 ,dis no kill you1 nothing will4   
,in short1 it requires the stomach of a 

wild animal or of a savage to digest    
this primitive form of bread1 and of    
course more or less attention in all    
civilized modes of bread-making is given
 to producing lightness4 ,by lightness  
is meant simply that in order to        
facilitate digestion the particles are  
to be separated from each other by      
little holes or air-cells2 and all the  
different methods of making light bread 
are neither more nor less than the      
formation of bread with these air-cells4
  ,so far as we know1 there are four    
practicable methods of aerating bread2  
namely1 by fermentation2 by             
effervescence of an acid and an alkali2 
by aerated egg1 or egg which has been   
filled with air by the process of       
beating2 and lastly1 by pressure of some
 gaseous substance into the paste1 by a 
process much resembling the impregnation
 of water in a soda-fountain4 ,all those
 have one and the same object--to give  
us the cooked particles of our flour    
separated by such permanent air-cells as

 will enable the stomach more readily to
 digest them4  ,a very common mode of   
aerating bread in ,america is by the    
effervescence of an acid and an alkali  
in the flour4 ,the carbonic acid gas    
time formed products minute air-cells in
 the bread1 or1 as the cook says1 makes 
it light4 ,when this process is         
performed with exact attention to       
chemical laws1 so that the acid and     
alkali completely neutralize each other1
 leaving no overplus of either1 the     
result is often very palatable4 ,the    
difficulty is1 that this is a happy     
conjunction of circumstances which      
seldom occurs4 ,the acid most commonly  
employed is that of sour milk1 and1 as  
milk has many degrees of sourness1 the  
rule of a certain quantity of alkali to 
the pint must necessarily produce very  
different results at different times4   
,as an actual fact where this mode of   
making bread prevails1 as we lament to  
say it does to a great extent in this   
country1 one finds five cases of failure

 to one of success4  ,it is a woeful    
thing that the daughters of our land    
have abandoned the old respectable mode 
of yeast-brewing and bread-raising for  
this specious substitute1 so easily     
made1 and so seldom well made4 ,the     
green1 clammy1 acrid substance1 called  
biscuit1 which many of our worthy       
republicans are obliged to eat in these 
days1 is wholly unworthy of the men and 
women of the republic4 ,good patriots   
ought not to be put off in that         
way--they deserve better fare4  ,as an  
occasional variety1 as a household      
convenience for obtaining bread or      
biscuit at a moment's notice1 the       
process of effervescence may be         
retained2 but1 we earnestly entreat     
,american housekeepers1 in scriptural   
language1 to stand in the way and ask   
for the old paths1 and return to the    
good yeast-bread of their sainted       
grandmothers4  ,if acid and alkali must 
be used1 by all means let them be mixed 
in due proportions4 ,no cook should be  

left to guess and judge for herself     
about this matter4 ,there are articles  
made by chemical rule which produce very
 perfect results1 and the use of them   
obviates the worst dangers in making    
bread by effervescence4  ,of all        
processes of aeration in bread-making1  
the oldest and most time-honored mode is
 by fermentation4 ,that this was known  
in the days of our ,saviour is evident  
from the forcible simile in which he    
compares the silent permeating force of 
truth in human1 society to the very     
familiar household process of raising   
bread by a little yeast4  ,there is1    
however1 one species of yeast1 much used
 in some parts of the country1 against  
which protest should be made4 ,it is    
called salt-risings1 or milk-risings1   
and is made by mixing flour1 milk1 and a
 little salt together1 and leaving them 
to ferment4 ,the bread thus produced is 
often1 very attractive1 when new and    
made with great care4 ,it is white and  
delicate1 with fine1 even air-cells4 ,it

 has1 however1 when kept1 some          
characteristics which remind us of the  
terms in which our old ,english ,bible  
describes the effect of keeping the     
manna of the ancient ,israelites1 which 
we are informed1 in words more explicit 
than agreeable1 stank1 and bred worms4  
,if salt-rising bread does not fulfill  
the whole of this unpleasant            
description1 it certainly does          
emphatically a part of it4 ,the smell   
which it has in baking1 and when more   
than a day old1 suggests the inquiry1   
whether it is the saccharine or the     
putrid fermentation with which it is    
raised4 ,whoever breaks a piece of it   
after a day or two1 will often see      
minute filaments or clammy strings      
drawing out from the fragments1 which1  
with the unmistakable smell1 will cause 
him to pause before consummating a      
nearer acquaintance4  ,the fermentation 
of flour by means of brewer's or        
distiller's yeast produces1 if rightly  
managed1 results far more palatable and 

wholesome4 ,the only requisites for     
success in it are1 first1 good          
materials1 and1 second1 great care in   
small things4 ,there are certain        
low-priced or damaged kinds of flour    
which can never by any kind of domestic 
chemistry be made into good broad2 and  
to those persons whose stomachs forbid  
them to eat gummy1 glutinous paste1     
under the name of bread1 there is no    
economy in buying these poor brands1    
even at half the price of good flour4   
,but good flour and good yeast being    
supposed1 with a temperature favorable  
to the development of fermentation1 the 
whole success of the process depends on 
the thorough diffusion of the proper    
proportion of yeast through the whole   
mass1 and on stopping the subsequent    
fermentation at the precise and         
fortunate point4 ,the true housewife    
makes her bread the sovereign of her    
kitchen--its behests must be attended to
 in all critical points and moments1 no 
matter what else be postponed4  ,she who

 attends to her bread only when she has 
done this1 and arranged that1 and       
performed the other1 very often finds   
that the forces of nature will not wait 
for her4 ,the snowy mass1 perfectly     
mixed1 kneaded with care and strength1  
rises in its beautiful perfection till  
the moment comes for filling the        
air-cells by baking4 ,a few minutes now1
 and the acetous fermentation will      
begin1 and the whole result be spoiled4 
,many bread-makers pass in utter        
carelessness over this sacred and       
mysterious boundary4 ,their oven has    
cake in it1 or they are skimming jelly1 
or attending to some other of the       
so-called higher branches of cookery1   
while the bread is quickly passing into 
the acetous stage4 ,at last1 when they  
are ready to attend to it1 they find    
that it has been going its own way1--it 
is so sour that the pungent smell is    
plainly perceptible4 ,now the           
saleratus-bottle is handed down1 and a  
quantity of the dissolved alkali mixed  

with the paste--an expedient sometimes  
making itself too manifest by greenish  
streaks or small acrid spots in the     
bread4 ,as the result1 we have a        
beautiful article spoiled--bread without
 sweetness1 if not absolutely sour4  ,in
 the view of many1 lightness is the only
 property required in this article4 ,the
 delicate refined sweetness which exists
 in carefully kneaded bread1 baked just 
before it passes to the extreme point of
 fermentation1 is something1 of which   
they have no conception2 and thus they  
will even regard this process of        
spoiling the paste by the acetous       
fermentation1 and then rectifying that  
acid by effervescence with an alkali1 as
 something positively meritorious4 ,how 
else can they value and relish bakers'  
loaves1 such as some are1 drugged with  
ammonia and other disagreeable things2  
light indeed1 so light that they seem to
 have neither weight nor substance1 but 
with no more sweetness or taste than so 
much cotton wool8  ,some persons prepare

 bread for the oven by simply mixing it 
in the mass1 without kneading1 pouring  
it into pans1 and suffering it to rise  
there4 ,the air-cells in bread thus     
prepared are coarse and uneven2 the     
bread is as inferior in delicacy and    
nicety to that which is well kneaded as 
a raw servant to a perfectly educated   
and refined lady4 ,the process of       
kneading seems to impart an evenness to 
the minute air-cells1 a fineness of     
texture1 and a tenderness and pliability
 to the whole substance1 that can be    
gained in no other way4  ,the divine    
principle of beauty has its reign over  
bread as well as over all other things2 
it has its laws of aesthetics2 and that 
bread which is so prepared that it can  
be formed into separate and             
well-proportioned loaves1 each one      
carefully worked and moulded1 will      
develop the most beautiful results4     
,after being moulded1 the loaves should 
stand usually not over ten minutes1 just
 long enough to allow the fermentation  

going on in them to expand each little  
air-cell to the point at which it stood 
before it was worked down1 and then they
 should be immediately put into the     
oven4  ,many a good thing1 however1 is  
spoiled in the oven4 ,we can not but    
regret1 for the sake of bread1 that our 
old steady brick ovens have been almost 
universally superseded by those of      
ranges and cooking-stoves1 which are    
infinite in their caprices1 and forbid  
all general rules4 ,one thing1 however1 
may be borne in mind as a               
principle--that the excellence of bread 
in all its varieties1 plain or          
sweetened1 depends on the perfection of 
its air-cells1 whether produced by      
yeast1 egg1 or effervescence2 that one  
of the objects of baking is to fix these
 air-cells1 and that the quicker this   
can be done through the whole mass1 the 
better will the result be4 ,when cake or
 bread is made heavy by baking too      
quickly1 it is because the immediate    
formation of the top crust hinders the  

exhaling of the moisture in the centre1 
and prevents the air-cells from cooking4
 ,the weight also of the crust pressing 
down on the doughy air-cells below      
destroys them1 producing that horror of 
good cooks1 a heavy streak4 ,the problem
 in baking1 then1 is the quick          
application of heat rather below than   
above the loaf1 and its steady          
continuance till all the air-cells are  
thoroughly dried into permanent         
consistency4 ,every housewife must watch
 her own oven to know how this can be   
best accomplished4  ,bread-making can be
 cultivated to any extent as a fine     
art--and the various kinds of biscuit1  
tea-rusks1 twists1 rolls1 into which    
bread may be made1 are much better worth
 a housekeeper's ambition than the      
getting-up of rich and expensive cake or
 confections4 ,there are also varieties 
of material which are rich in good      
effects4 ,unbolted flour1 altogether    
more wholesome than the fine wheat1 and 
when properly prepared more             

palatable--rye-flour and corn-meal1 each
 affording a thousand attractive        
possibilities--all of these come under  
the general laws of bread-stuffs1 and   
are worth a careful attention4  ,a      
peculiarity of our ,american table1     
particularly in the ,southern and       
,western ,states1 is the constant       
exhibition of various preparations of   
hot bread4 ,in many families of the     
,south and ,west1 bread in loaves to be 
eaten cold is an article quite unknown4 
,the effect of this kind of diet upon   
the health has formed a frequent subject
 of remark among travelers2 but only    
those know the full mischiefs of it who 
have been compelled to sojourn for a    
length of time in families where it is  
maintained4 ,the unknown horrors of     
dyspepsia from bad bread are a topic    
over which we willingly draw a veil4    
,next to ,bread comes ,butter--on which 
we have to say1 that1 when we remember  
what butter is in civilized ,europe1 and
 compare it with what it is in ,america1

 we wonder at the forbearance and lenity
 of travelers in their strictures on our
 national commissariat4  ,butter1 in    
,england1 ,france1 and ,italy1 is simply
 solidified cream1 with all the         
sweetness of the cream in its taste1    
freshly churned each day1 and           
unadulterated by salt4 ,at the present  
moment1 when salt is five cents a pound 
and butter fifty1 we ,americans are     
paying1 at high prices1 for about one   
pound of salt to every ten of butter1   
and those of us who have eaten the      
butter of ,france and ,england do this  
with rueful recollections4  ,there is1  
it is true1 an article of butter made in
 the ,american style with salt1 which1  
in its own kind and way1 has a merit not
 inferior to that of ,england and       
,france4 ,many prefer it1 and it        
certainly takes a rank equally          
respectable with the other4 ,it is      
yellow1 hard1 and worked so perfectly   
free from every particle of buttermilk  
that it might make the voyage of the    

world without spoiling4 ,it is salted1  
but salted with care and delicacy1 so   
that it may be a question whether even a
 fastidious ,englishman might not prefer
 its golden solidity to the white1      
creamy freshness of his own4 ,but it is 
to be regretted that this article is the
 exception1 and not the rule1 on our    
tables4  ,america must have the credit  
of manufacturing and putting into market
 more bad butter than all that is made  
in all the rest of the world together4  
,the varieties of bad tastes and smells 
which prevail in it are quite a study4  
,this has a cheesy taste1 that a mouldy1
 this is flavored with cabbage1 and that
 again with turnip1 and another has the 
strong1 sharp savor of rancid animal    
fat4 ,these varieties probably come from
 the practice of churning only at long  
intervals1 and keeping the cream        
meanwhile in unventilated cellars or    
dairies1 the air of which is loaded with
 the effluvia of vegetable substances4  
,no domestic articles are so sympathetic

 as those of the milk tribe3 they       
readily take on the smell and taste of  
any neighboring substance1 and hence the
 infinite variety of flavors on which   
one mournfully muses who has late in    
autumn to taste twenty firkins of butter
 in hopes of finding one which will     
simply not be intolerable on his winter 
table4  ,a matter for despair as regards
 bad butter is1 that at the tables where
 it is used it stands sentinel at the   
door to bar your way to every other kind
 of food4 ,you turn from your dreadful  
half-slice of bread1 which fills your   
mouth with bitterness1 to-your          
beef-steak1 which proves virulent with  
the same poison2 you think to take      
refuge in vegetable diet1 and find the  
butter in the string-beans1 and         
polluting the innocence of early peas2  
it is in the corn1 hi the succotash1 in 
the squash2 the beets swim in it1 the   
onions have it poured over them4 ,hungry
 and miserable1 you think to solace     
yourself at the dessert2 but the pastry 

is cursed1 the cake is acrid with the   
same plague4 ,you are ready to howl with
 despair1 and your misery is great upon 
you--especially if this is a table where
 you have taken board for three months  
with your delicate wife and four small  
children4 ,your case is dreadful1 and it
 is hopeless1 because long usage and    
habit have rendered your host perfectly 
incapable of discovering what is the    
matter4 ,don't like the butter1 sir8 ,i 
assure you ,i paid an extra price for   
it1 and it's the very best in the       
market4 ,i looked over as many as a     
hundred tubs1 and picked out this one4  
,you are dumb1 but not less despairing4 
,yet the process of making good butter  
is a very simple one4 ,to keep the cream
 in a perfectly pure1 cool atmosphere1  
to churn while it is yet sweet1 to work 
out the buttermilk thoroughly1 and to   
add salt with such discretion as not to 
ruin the fine1 delicate flavor of the   
fresh cream--all this is quite simple1  
so simple that one wonders at thousands 

and millions of pounds of butter yearly 
manufactured which are merely a         
hobgoblin bewitchment of cream into foul
 and loathsome poisons4  ,the third head
 of my discourse is that of ,meat1 of   
which ,america furnishes1 in the gross  
material1 enough to spread our tables   
royally1 were it well cared for and     
served4  ,the faults in the meat        
generally furnished to us are1 first1   
that it is too new4 ,a beef steak1 which
 three or four days of keeping might    
render palatable1 is served up to us    
palpitating with freshness1 with all the
 toughness of animal muscle yet warm4   
,in the next place1 there is a woeful   
lack of nicety in the butcher's work of 
cutting and preparing meat4 ,who that   
remembers the neatly trimmed mutton-chop
 of an ,english inn1 or the artistic    
little circle of lamb-chop fried in     
bread-crumbs coiled around a tempting   
centre of spinach which may always be   
found in ,france1 can recognize any     
family resemblance to those dapper1     

civilized preparations1 in these coarse1
 roughly-hacked strips of bone1 gristle1
 and meat which are commonly called     
mutton-chop in ,america8 ,there seems to
 be a large dish of something resembling
 meat1 in which each fragment has about 
two or three edible morsels1 the rest   
being composed of dry and burnt skin1   
fat1 and ragged bone4  ,is it not time  
that civilization should learn to demand
 somewhat more care and nicety in the   
modes of preparing what is to be cooked 
and eaten8 ,might not some of the       
refinement and trimness which           
characterize the preparations of the    
,european market be with advantage      
introduced into our own8 ,the           
housekeeper who wishes to garnish her   
table with some of those nice things is 
stopped in the outset by the butcher4   
,except in our large cities1 where some 
foreign travel may have created the     
demand1 it seems impossible to get much 
in this line that is properly prepared4 
,if this is urged on the score of       

aesthetics1 the ready reply will be1    
,oh6 we can't give time here in ,america
 to go into niceties and ,french        
whim-whams6 ,but the ,french mode of    
doing almost all practical things is    
based on that true philosophy and       
utilitarian good sense which            
characterize that seemingly thoughtless 
people4 ,nowhere is economy a more      
careful study1 and their market is      
artistically arranged to this end4 ,the 
rule is so to cut their meats that no   
portion designed to be cooked in a      
certain manner shall have wasteful      
appendages which that mode of cooking   
will spoil4 ,the ,french soup-kettle    
stands ever ready to receive the bones1 
the thin fibrous flaps1 the sinewy and  
gristly portions1 which are so often    
included in our roasts or broilings1    
which fill our plates with unsightly    
debris1 and finally make an amount of   
blank waste for which we pay our butcher
 the same price that we pay for what we 
have eaten4  ,the dead waste of our     

clumsy1 coarse way of cutting meats is  
immense4 ,for example1 at the beginning 
of the season1 the part of a lamb       
denominated leg and loin1 or            
hind-quarter1 may sell for thirty cents 
a pound4 ,now this includes1 besides the
 thick1 fleshy portions1 a quantity of  
bone1 sinew1 and thin fibrous substance1
 constituting full one third of the     
whole weight4 ,if we put it into the    
oven entire1 in the usual manner1 we    
have the thin parts over-done1 and the  
skinny and fibrous parts utterly dried  
up1 by the application of the amount of 
heat necessary to cook the thick        
portion4 ,supposing the joint to weigh  
six pounds1 at thirty cents1 and that   
one third of the weight is so treated as
 to become perfectly useless1 we throw  
away sixty cents4 ,of a piece of beef at
 twenty-five cents a pound1 fifty cents'
 worth is often lost in bone1 fat1 and  
burnt skin4  ,the fact is1 this way of  
selling and cooking meat in large1 gross
 portions is of ,english origin1 and    

belongs to a country where all the      
customs of society spring from a class  
who have no particular occasion for     
economy4 ,the practice of minute and    
delicate division comes from a nation   
which acknowledges the need of economy1 
and has made it a study4 ,a quarter of  
lamb in this mode of division would be  
sold in three nicely prepared portions4 
,the thick part would be sold by itself1
 for a neat1 compact little roast2 the  
rib-bones would be artistically         
separated1 and all the edible matter    
would form those delicate dishes of     
lamb-chop1 which1 fried in bread-crumbs 
to a golden brown1 are so ornamental and
 palatable a side-dish2 the trimmings   
which remain after this division would  
be destined to the soup-kettle or       
stew-pan4  ,in a ,french market is a    
little portion for every purse1 and the 
far-famed and delicately flavored soups 
and stews which have arisen out of      
,french economy are a study worth a     
housekeeper's attention4 ,not one atom  

of food is wasted in the ,french modes  
of preparation2 even tough animal       
cartilages and sinews1 instead of       
appearing burned and blackened in       
company with the roast meat to which    
they happen to be related1 are treated  
according to their own laws1 and come   
out either in savory soups1 or those    
fine1 clear meat-jellies which form a   
garnish no less agreeable to the eye    
than palatable to the taste4  ,whether  
this careful1 economical1 practical     
style of meat-cooking can ever to any   
great extent be introduced into our     
kitchens now is a question4 ,our        
butchers are against it2 our servants   
are wedded to the old wholesale wasteful
 ways1 which seem to them easier because
 they are accustomed to them4 ,a cook   
who will keep and properly tend a       
soup-kettle which shall receive and     
utilize all that the coarse preparations
 of the butcher would require her to    
trim away1 who understands the art of   
making the most of all these remains1 is

 a treasure scarcely to be hoped for4   
,if such things are to be done1 it must 
be primarily through the educated brain 
of cultivated women who do not scorn to 
turn their culture and refinement upon  
domestic problems4  ,when meats have    
been properly divided1 so that each     
portion can receive its own appropriate 
style of treatment1 next comes the      
consideration of the modes of cooking4  
,these may be divided into two great    
general classes3 those where it is      
desired to keep the juices within the   
meat1 as in baking1 broiling1 and       
frying--and those whose object is to    
extract the juice and dissolve the      
fibre1 as in the making of soups and    
stews4 ,in the first class of           
operations1 the process must be as rapid
 as may consist with the thorough       
cooking of all the particles4 ,in this  
branch of cookery1 doing quickly is     
doing well4 ,the fire must be brisk1 the
 attention alert4 ,the introduction of  
cooking-stoves offers to careless       

domestics facilities for gradually      
drying-up meats1 and despoiling them of 
all flavor and nutriment--facilities    
which appear to be very generally       
accepted4 ,they have almost banished the
 genuine1 old-fashioned roast-meat from 
our tables1 and left in its stead dried 
meats with their most precious and      
nutritive juices evaporated4 ,how few   
cooks1 unassisted1 are competent to the 
simple process of broiling a beefsteak  
or mutton-chop6 how very generally one  
has to choose between these meats       
gradually dried away1 or burned on the  
outside and raw within6 ,yet in ,england
 these articles never come on the table 
done amiss2 their perfect cooking is as 
absolute a certainty as the rising of   
the sun4  ,no one of these rapid        
processes of cooking1 however1 is so    
generally abused as frying4 ,the        
frying-pan has awful sins to answer for4
 ,what untold horrors of dyspepsia have 
arisen from its smoky depths1 like the  
ghost from witches' caldrons6 ,the      

fizzle of frying meat is a warning knell
 on many an ear1 saying1 ,touch not1    
taste not1 if you would not burn and    
writhe6  ,yet those who have traveled   
abroad remember that some of the        
lightest1 most palatable1 and most      
digestible preparations of meat have    
come from this dangerous source4 ,but we
 fancy quite other rites and ceremonies 
inaugurated the process1 and quite other
 hands performed its offices1 than those
 known to our kitchens4 ,probably the   
delicate cotelettes of ,france are not  
flopped down into half-melted grease1   
there gradually to warm and soak and    
fizzle1 while ,biddy goes in and out on 
her other ministrations1 till finally1  
when they are thoroughly saturated1 and 
dinner-hour impends1 she bethinks       
herself1 and crowds the fire below to a 
roaring heat1 and finishes the process  
by a smart burn1 involving the kitchen  
and surrounding precincts in volumes of 
,stygian gloom4 ,from such preparations 
has arisen the very current medical     

opinion that fried meats are            
indigestible4 ,they are indigestible1 if
 they are greasy2 but ,french cooks have
 taught us that a thing has no more need
 to be greasy because emerging from     
grease than ,venus had to be salt       
because she rose from the sea4  ,there  
are two ways of frying employed by the  
,french cook4 ,one is1 to immerse the   
article to be cooked in boiling fat1    
with an emphasis on the present         
participle--and the philosophical       
principle is1 so immediately to crisp   
every pore1 at the first moment or two  
of immersion1 as effectually to seal the
 interior against the intrusion of      
greasy particles2 it can then remain as 
long as may be necessary thoroughly to  
cook it1 without imbibing any more of   
the boiling fluid than if it were       
inclosed in an egg-shell4 ,the other    
method is to rub a perfectly smooth iron
 surface with just enough of some oily  
substance to prevent the meat from      
adhering1 and cook it with a quick heat1

 as cakes are baked1 on a griddle4 ,in  
both these cases there must be the most 
rapid application of heat that can be   
made without burning1 and by the        
adroitness shown in working out this    
problem the skill of the cook is tested4
 ,any one whose cook attains this       
important secret will find fried things 
quite as digestible1 and often more     
palatable1 than any other4  ,in the     
second department of meat-cookery1 to   
wit1 the slow and gradual application of
 heat for the softening and dissolution 
of its fibre and the extraction of its  
juices1 common cooks are equally        
untrained4 ,where is the so-called cook 
who understands how to prepare soups and
 stews8 ,these are precisely the        
articles in which a ,french kitchen     
excels4 ,the soup-kettle1 made with a   
double bottom1 to prevent burning1 is a 
permanent1 ever-present institution1 and
 the coarsest and most impracticable    
meats distilled through that alembic    
come out again in soups1 jellies1 or    

savory stews4 ,the toughest cartilage1  
even the bones1 being first cracked1 are
 here made to give forth their hidden   
virtues1 and to rise in delicate and    
appetizing forms4  ,one great law       
governs all these preparations3 the     
application of heat must be gradual1    
steady1 long protracted1 never reaching 
the point of active boiling4 ,hours of  
quiet simmering dissolve all dissoluble 
parts1 soften the sternest fibre1 and   
unlock every minute cell in which       
,nature has stored away her treasures of
 nourishment4 ,this careful and         
protracted application of heat and the  
skillful use of flavors constitute the  
two main points in all those nice       
preparations of meat for which the      
,french have so many names--processes by
 which a delicacy can be imparted to the
 coarsest and cheapest food superior to 
that of the finest articles under less  
philosophic treatment4  ,french soups   
and stews are a study1 and they would   
not be an unprofitable one to any person

 who wishes to live with comfort and    
even elegance on small means4  ,there is
 no animal fibre that will not yield    
itself up to long- continued1 steady    
heat4 ,but the difficulty with almost   
any of the common servants who call     
themselves cooks is1 that they have not 
the smallest notion of the philosophy of
 the application of heat4 ,such a one   
will complacently tell you concerning   
certain meats1 that the harder you boil 
them the harder they grow--an obvious   
fact which1 under her mode of treatment 
by an indiscriminate galloping boil1 has
 frequently come under her personal     
observation4 ,if you tell her that such 
meat must stand for six hours in a heat 
just below the boiling point1 she will  
probably answer1 ,yes1 ma'am1 and go on 
her own way4 ,or she will let it stand  
till it burns to the bottom of the      
kettle--a most common termination of the
 experiment4  ,the only way to make sure
 of the matter is1 either to obtain a   
,french kettle1 or to fit into an       

ordinary kettle a false bottom1 such as 
any tinman may make1 that shall leave a 
space of an inch or two between the meat
 and the fire4 ,this kettle may be      
maintained in a constant position on the
 range1 and into it the cook maybe      
instructed to throw all the fibrous     
trimmings of meat1 all the gristle1     
tendons1 and bones1 having previously   
broken up these last with a mallet4     
,such a kettle1 the regular occupant of 
a ,french cooking-stove1 which they call
 the pot au feu1 will furnish the basis 
for clear1 rich soups1 or other         
palatable dishes4 ,this is ordinarily   
called stock4  ,clear soup consists of  
the dissolved juices of the meat and    
gelatine of the bones1 cleared from the 
fat and fibrous portions by straining4  
,the grease1 which rises to the top of  
the fluid1 may be easily removed when   
cold4  ,english and ,american soups are 
often heavy and hot with spices4 ,there 
are appreciable tastes in them4 ,they   
burn your mouth with cayenne1 or clove1 

or allspice4 ,you can tell at once what 
is in them1 oftentimes to your sorrow4  
,but a ,french soup has a flavor which  
one recognizes at once as delicious1 yet
 not to be characterized as due to any  
single condiment2 it is the just        
blending of many things4 ,the same      
remark applies to all their stews2      
ragouts1 and other delicate             
preparations4 ,no cook will ever study  
these flavors2 but perhaps many cooks'  
mistresses may1 and thus1 be able to    
impart delicacy and comfort to economy4 
,as to those things called hashes1      
commonly manufactured by unwatched1     
untaught cooks out of the remains of    
yesterday's meal1 let us not dwell too  
closely on their memory--compounds of   
meat1 gristle1 skin1 fat1 and burnt     
fibre1 with a handful of pepper and salt
 flung at them1 dredged with lumpy      
flour1 watered from the spout of the    
tea-kettle1 and left to simmer at the   
cook's convenience while she is         
otherwise occupied4 ,such are the best  

performances a housekeeper can hope for 
from an untrained cook4  ,but the       
cunningly devised minces1 the artful    
preparations choicely flavored1 which   
may be made of yesterday's repast--by   
these is the true domestic artist known4
 ,no cook untaught by an educated brain 
ever makes these1 and yet economy is a  
great gainer by them4  ,as regards the  
department of ,vegetables1 their number 
and variety in ,america are so great    
that a table might almost be furnished  
by these alone4 ,generally speaking1    
their cooking is a more simple art1 and 
therefore more likely to be found       
satisfactorily performed1 than that of  
meats4 ,if only they are not drenched   
with rancid butter1 their own native    
excellence makes itself known in most of
 the ordinary modes of preparation4     
,there is1 however1 one exception4 ,our 
staunch old friend1 the potato1 is to   
other vegetables what bread is on the   
table4 ,like bread1 it is held as a sort
 of sine-qua-non2 like that1 it may be  

made invariably palatable by a little   
care in a few plain particulars1 through
 neglect of which it often becomes      
intolerable4 ,the soggy1 waxy1          
indigestible viand that often appears in
 the potato-dish is a downright         
sacrifice of the better nature of this  
vegetable4  ,the potato1 nutritive and  
harmless as it appears1 belongs to a    
family suspected of very dangerous      
traits4 ,it is a family connection of   
the deadly-nightshade and other         
ill-reputed gentry1 and sometimes shows 
strange proclivities to evil--now       
breaking out uproariously1 as in the    
noted potato-rot1 and now more covertly1
 in various evil affections4 ,for this  
reason scientific directors bid us      
beware of the water in which potatoes   
are boiled-into which1 it appears1 the  
evil principle is drawn off2 and they   
caution us not to shred them into stews 
without previously suffering the slices 
to lie for an hour or so in salt and    
water4 ,these cautions are worth        

attention4  ,the most usual modes of    
preparing the potato for the table are  
by roasting or boiling4 ,these processes
 are so simple that it is commonly      
supposed every cook understands them    
without special directions2 and yet     
there is scarcely an uninstructed cook  
who can boil or roast a potato4  ,a good
 roasted potato is a delicacy worth a   
dozen compositions of the cook-book2 yet
 when we ask for it1 what burnt1        
shriveled abortions are presented to us6
 ,biddy rushes to her potato-basket and 
pours out two dozen of different sizes1 
some having in them three times the     
amount of matter of others4 ,these being
 washed1 she tumbles them into her oven 
at a leisure interval1 and there lets   
them lie till it is time to serve       
breakfast1 whenever that may be4 ,as a  
result1 if the largest are cooked1 the  
smallest are presented in cinders1 and  
the intermediate sizes are withered and 
watery4 ,nothing is so utterly ruined by
 a few moments of overdoing4 ,that which

 at the right moment was plump with     
mealy richness1 a quarter of an hour    
later shrivels and becomes watery-- and 
it is in this state that roast potatoes 
are most frequently served4  ,in the    
same manner we have seen boiled potatoes
 from an untaught cook coming upon the  
table like lumps of yellow wax--and the 
same article1 under the directions of a 
skillful mistress1 appearing in snowy   
balls of powdery whiteness4 ,in the one 
case1 they were thrown in their skins   
into water1 and suffered to soak or     
boil1 as the case might be1 at the      
cook's leisure1 and after they were     
boiled to stand in the water till she   
was ready to peel them4 ,in the other   
case1 the potatoes being first peeled   
were boiled as quickly as possible in   
salted water1 which the moment they were
 done was drained off1 and then they    
were gently shaken for a moment or two  
over the fire to dry them still more    
thoroughly4 ,we have never yet seen the 
potato so depraved and given over to    

evil that it could not be reclaimed by  
this mode of treatment4  ,as to fried   
potatoes1 who that remembers the crisp1 
golden slices of the ,french restaurant1
 thin as wafers and light as            
snow-flakes1 does not speak respectfully
 of them8 ,what cousinship with these   
have those coarse1 greasy masses of     
sliced potato1 wholly soggy and partly  
burnt1 to which we are treated under the
 name of fried potatoes in ,america8 ,in
 our cities the restaurants are         
introducing the ,french article to great
 acceptance1 and to the vindication of  
the fair fame of this queen of          
vegetables4  ,finally1 we arrive at the 
last great head of our subject1 to wit--
 ,tea--meaning thereby1 as before       
observed1 what our ,hibernian friend did
 in the inquiry1 ,will y'r honor take   
'tay tay' or coffee tay8  ,we are not   
about to enter into the merits of the   
great tea-and-coffee controversy1       
further than in our general caution     
concerning them in the chapter on       

,healthful ,drinks2 but we now proceed  
to treat of them as actual existences1  
and speak only of the modes of making   
the best of them4 ,the ,french coffee is
 reputed the best in the world2 and a   
thousand voices have asked1 ,what is it 
about the ,french coffee8  ,in the first
 place1 then1 the ,french coffee is     
coffee1 and not chickory1 or rye1 or    
beans1 or peas4 ,in the second place1 it
 is freshly roasted1 whenever           
made--roasted with great care and       
evenness in a little revolving cylinder 
which makes part of the furniture of    
every kitchen1 and which keeps in the   
aroma of the berry4 ,it is never        
overdone1 so as to destroy the          
coffee-flavor1 which is in nine cases   
out of tent the fault of the coffee we  
meet with4 ,then it is ground1 and      
placed in a coffee-pot with a filter    
through which1 when it has yielded up   
its life to the boiling water poured    
upon it1 the delicious extract          
percolates in clear drops1 the          

coffee-pot standing on a heated stove to
 maintain the temperature4 ,the nose of 
the coffee-pot is stopped up to prevent 
the escape of the aroma during this     
process4 ,the extract thus obtained is a
 perfectly clear1 dark fluid1 known as  
caf noir1 or black coffee4 ,it is black 
only because of its strength1 being in  
fact almost the very essential oil of   
coffee4 ,a table-spoonful of this in    
boiled milk would make what is          
ordinarily called a strong cup of       
coffee4 ,the boiled milk is prepared    
with no less care4 ,it must be fresh and
 new1 not merely warmed or even brought 
to the boiling-point1 but slowly        
simmered till it attains a thick1 creamy
 richness4 ,the coffee mixed with this1 
and sweetened with that sparkling       
beet-root sugar which ornaments a       
,french table1 is the celebrated        
cafe-au-lait1 the name of which has gone
 round the world4  ,as we look to       
,france for the best coffee1 so we must 
look to ,england for the perfection of  

tea4 ,the tea-kettle is as much an      
,english institution as aristocracy or  
the ,prayer-,book2 and when one wants to
 know exactly how tea should he made1   
one has only to ask how a fine old      
,english house-keeper makes it4  ,the   
first article of her faith is1 that the 
water must not merely be hot1 not merely
 have boiled a few moments since1 but be
 actually boiling at the moment it      
touches the tea4 ,hence1 though servants
 in ,england are vastly better trained  
than with us1 this delicate mystery is  
seldom left to their hands4 ,tea-making 
belongs to the drawing-room1 and        
high-born ladies preside at the bubbling
 and loud hissing urn1 and see that all 
due rites and solemnities are properly  
performed--that the cups are hot1 and   
that the infused tea waits the exact    
time before the libations commence4  ,of
 late1 the introduction of ,english     
breakfast-tea has raised a new sect     
among the tea-drinkers1 reversing some  
of the old canons4 ,breakfast-tea must  

be boiled6 ,unlike the delicate article 
of olden time1 which required only a    
momentary infusion to develop its       
richness1 this requires a longer and    
severer treatment to bring out its      
strength--thus confusing all the        
established usages1 and throwing the    
work into the hands of the cook in the  
kitchen4 ,the faults of tea1 as too     
commonly found at our hotels and        
boarding-houses1 are1 that it is made in
 every way the reverse of what it should
 be4 ,the water is hot1 perhaps1 but not
 boiling2 the tea has a general flat1   
stale1 smoky taste1 devoid of life or   
spirit2 and it is served usually with   
thin milk1 instead of cream4 ,cream is  
an essential to the richness of tea as  
of coffee4 ,lacking cream1 boiled milk  
is better than cold4  ,chocolate is a   
,french and ,spanish article1 and one   
seldom served on ,american tables4 ,we  
in ,america1 however1 make an article   
every way equal to any which can be     
imported from ,paris1 and he who buys   

the best vanilla-chocolate may rest     
assured that no foreign land can furnish
 any thing better4 ,a very rich and     
delicious beverage may be made by       
dissolving this in milk1 slowly boiled  
down after the ,french fashion4  ,a word
 now under the head of ,confectionery1  
meaning by this the whole range of      
ornamental cookery--or pastry1 ices1    
jellies1 preserves1 etc4 ,the art of    
making all these very perfectly is far  
better understood in ,america than the  
art of common cooking4 ,there are more  
women who know how to make good cake    
than good bread--more who can furnish   
you with a good ice-cream than a        
well-cooked mutton-chop2 a fair         
charlotte-russe is easier to gain than a
 perfect cup of coffee2 and you shall   
find a sparkling jelly to your dessert  
where you sighed in vain for so simple a
 luxury as a well-cooked potato4  ,our  
fair countrywomen might rest upon their 
laurels in these higher fields1 and turn
 their great energy and ingenuity to the

 study of essentials4 ,to do common     
things perfectly is far better worth our
 endeavor than to do uncommon things    
respectably4 ,we ,americans in many     
things as yet have been a little        
inclined to begin making our shirt at   
the ruffle2 but1 nevertheless1 when we  
set about it1 we can make the shirt as  
nicely as any body2 it needs only that  
we turn our attention to it1 resolved   
that1 ruffle or no ruffle1 the shirt we 
will have4  ,a few words as to the      
prevalent ideas in respect to ,french   
cookery4 ,having heard much of it1 with 
no very distinct idea of what it is1 our
 people have somehow fallen into the    
notion that its forte lies in high      
spicing--and so when our cooks put a    
great abundance of clove1 mace1 nutmeg1 
and cinnamon into their preparations1   
they fancy that they are growing up to  
be ,french cooks4 ,but the fact is1 that
 the ,americans and ,english are far    
more given to spicing than the ,french4 
,spices in our made dishes are abundant1

 and their taste is strongly pronounced4
 ,living a year in ,france one forgets  
the taste of nutmeg1 clove1 and         
allspice1 which abounds in so many      
dishes in ,america4 ,the ,english and   
,americans deal in spices1 the ,french  
in flavors--flavors many and flue1      
imitating often in their delicacy those 
subtle blendings which nature produces  
in high-flavored fruits4 ,the recipes of
 our cookery-books are most of them of  
,english origin1 coming down from the   
times of our phlegmatic ancestors1 when 
the solid1 burly1 beefy growth of the   
foggy island required the heat of fiery 
condiments1 and could digest heavy      
sweets4 ,witness the national recipe for
 plum-pudding3 which may be rendered3   
,take a pound of every indigestible     
substance you can think of1 boil into a 
cannon-ball1 and serve in flaming       
brandy4 ,so of the ,christmas mince-pie1
 and many other national dishes4 ,but in
 ,america1 owing to our brighter skies  
and more fervid climate1 we have        

developed an acute1 nervous delicacy of 
temperament far more akin to that of    
,france than of ,england4  ,half of the 
recipes in our cook-books are mere      
murder to such constitutions and        
stomachs as we grow here4 ,we require to
 ponder these things1 and think how we1 
in our climate and under our            
circumstances1 ought to live2 and in    
doing so1 we may1 without accusation of 
foreign foppery1 take some leaves from  
many foreign books4     ,,xiv4  ,,early 
,,rising   ,there is no practice which  
has been more extensively eulogized in  
all ages than early rising2 and this    
universal impression is an indication   
that it is founded on true philosophy4  
,for it is rarely the case that the     
common sense of mankind fastens on a    
practice as really beneficial1          
especially one that demands self-denial1
 without some substantial reason4  ,this
 practice1 which may justly be called a 
domestic virtue1 is one which has a     
peculiar claim to be styled ,american   

and democratic4 ,the distinctive mark of
 aristocratic nations is a disregard of 
the great mass1 and a disproportionate  
regard for the interests of certain     
privileged orders4 ,all the customs and 
habits of such a nation are1 to a       
greater or less extent1 regulated by    
this principle4 ,now the mass of any    
nation must always consist of persons   
who labor at occupations which demand   
the light of day4 ,but in aristocratic  
countries1 especially in ,england1 labor
 is regarded as the mark of the lower   
classes1 and indolence is considered as 
one mark of a gentleman4 ,this          
impression has gradually and            
imperceptibly1 to a great extent1       
regulated their customs1 so that1 even  
in their hours of meals and repose1 the 
higher orders aim at being different and
 distinct from those who1 by laborious  
pursuits1 are placed below them4 ,from  
this circumstance1 while the lower      
orders labor by day and sleep at night1 
the rich1 the noble1 and the honored    

sleep by day1 and follow their pursuits 
and pleasures by night4  ,it will be    
found that the aristocracy of ,london   
breakfast near midday1 dine after dark1 
visit and go to ,parliament between ten 
and twelve at night1 and retire to sleep
 toward morning4 ,in consequence of     
this1 the subordinate classes who aim at
 gentility gradually fall into the same 
practice4 ,the influence of this custom 
extends across the ocean1 and here1 in  
this democratic land1 we find many who  
measure their grade of gentility by the 
late hour at which they arrive at a     
party4 ,and this aristocratic folly is  
growing upon us1 so that1 throughout the
 nation1 the hours for visiting and     
retiring are constantly becoming later1 
while the hours for rising correspond in
 lateness4  ,the question1 then1 is one 
which appeals to ,american women1 as a  
matter of patriotism and as having a    
bearing on those great principles of    
democracy which we conceive to be       
equally the principles of ,christianity4

 ,shall we form our customs on the      
assumption that labor is degrading and  
indolence genteel8 ,shall we assume1 by 
our practice1 that the interests of the 
great mass are to be sacrificed for the 
pleasures and honors of a privileged    
few8 ,shall we ape the customs of       
aristocratic lands1 in those very       
practices which result from principles  
and institutions that we condemn8 ,shall
 we not rather take the place to which  
we are entitled1 as the leaders1 rather 
than the followers1 in the customs of   
society1 turn back the tide of          
aristocratic inroads1 and carry through 
the whole1 not only of civil and        
political but of social and domestic    
life1 the true principles of democratic 
freedom and equality8 ,the following    
considerations may serve to strengthen  
an affirmative decision4  ,the first    
relates to the health of a family4 ,it  
is a universal law of physiology1 that  
all living things flourish best in the  
light4 ,vegetables1 in a dark cellar1   

grow pale and spindling4 ,children      
brought up in mines are always wan and  
stunted1 while men become pale and      
cadaverous who live under ground4 ,this 
indicates the folly of losing the genial
 influence which the light of day       
produces on all animated creation4  ,sir
 ,james ,wylie1 of the ,russian imperial
 service1 states that in the soldiers'  
barracks1 three times as many were taken
 sick on the shaded side as on the sunny
 side2 though both sides communicated1  
and discipline1 diet1 and treatment were
 the same4 ,the eminent ,french surgeon1
 ,dupuytren1 cured a lady whose         
complicated diseases baffled for years  
his own and all other medical skill1 by 
taking her from a dark room to an       
abundance of daylight4  ,florence       
,nightingale writes3 ,second only to    
fresh air in importance for the sick is 
light4 ,not only daylight but direct    
sunlight is necessary to speedy         
recovery1 except in a small number of   
cases4 ,instances1 almost endless1 could

 be given where1 in dark wards1 or wards
 with only northern exposure1 or wards  
with borrowed light1 even when properly 
ventilated1 the sick could not be1 by   
any means1 made speedily to recover4    
,in the prevalence of cholera1 it was   
invariably the case that deaths were    
more numerous in shaded streets or in   
houses having only northern exposures   
than in those having sunlight4 ,several 
physicians have stated to the writer    
that1 in sunny exposures1 women after   
childbirth gained strength much faster  
than those excluded from sunlight4 ,in  
the writer's experience1 great nervous  
debility has been always immediately    
lessened by sitting in the sun1 and     
still more by lying on the earth and in 
open air1 a blanket beneath1 and head   
and eyes protected1 under the direct    
rays of the sun4  ,some facts in        
physiology and natural philosophy have a
 bearing on this subject4 ,it seems to  
be settled that the red color of blood  
is owing to iron contained in the red   

blood-cells1 while it is established as 
a fact that the sun's rays are metallic1
 having vapor of iron as one element4   
,it is also true that want of light     
causes a diminution of the red and an   
increase of the imperfect white         
blood-cells1 and that this sometimes    
results in a disease called leucoemia1  
while all who live in the dark have pale
 and waxy skins1 and flabby1 weak       
muscles4 ,thus it would seem that it is 
the sun that imparts the iron and color 
to the blood4 ,these things being so1   
the customs of society that bring       
sleeping hours into daylight1 and       
working and study hours into the night1 
are direct violations of the laws of    
health4 ,the laws of health are the laws
 of ,god1 and sin is the transgression  
of law4  ,to this we must add the great 
neglect of economy as well as health in 
substituting unhealthful gaslight1      
poisonous1 anthracite warmth1 for the   
life-giving light and warmth of the sun4
 ,millions and millions would be saved  

to this nation in fuel and light1 as    
well as in health1 by returning to the  
good old ways of our forefathers1 to    
rise with the sun1 and retire to rest   
when the bell rings for nine o'clock4   
,the observations of medical men1 whose 
inquiries have been directed to this    
point1 have decided that from six to    
eight hours is the amount of sleep      
demanded by persons in health4 ,some    
constitutions require as much as eight1 
and others no more than six hours of    
repose4 ,but eight hours is the maximum 
for all persons in ordinary health1 with
 ordinary occupations4 ,in cases of     
extra physical exertions1 or the        
debility of disease1 or a decayed       
constitution1 more than this is         
required4 ,let eight hours1 then1 be    
regarded as the ordinary period required
 for sleep by an industrious people like
 the ,americans4  ,it thus appears that 
the laws of our political condition1 the
 laws ofthe natural world1 and the      
constitution of our bodies1 alike demand

 that we rise with the light of day to  
prosecute our employments1 and that we  
retire in time for the requisite amount 
of sleep4  ,in regard to the effects of 
protracting the time spent in repose1   
many extensive and satisfactory         
investigations have been made4 ,it has  
been shown that1 during sleep1 the body 
perspires most freely1 while yet neither
 food nor exercise are ministering to   
its wants4 ,of course1 if we continue   
our slumbers beyond the time required to
 restore the body to its usual vigor1   
there is an unperceived undermining of  
the constitution1 by this protracted and
 debilitating exhalation4 ,this process1
 in a course of years1 readers the body 
delicate and less able to withstand     
disease1 and in the result shortens     
life4 ,sir ,john ,sinclair1 who has     
written a large work on the ,causes of  
,longevity1 states1 as one result of his
 extensive investigations1 that he has  
never yet heard or read of a single case
 of great longevity where the individual

 was not an early riser4 ,he says that  
he has found cases in which the         
individual has violated some one of all 
the other laws of health1 and yet lived 
to great age2 but never a single        
instance in which any constitution has  
withstood that undermining consequent on
 protracting the hours of repose beyond 
the demands of the system4  ,another    
reason for early rising is1 that it is  
indispensable to a systematic and       
well-regulated family4 ,at whatever hour
 the parents retire1 children and       
domestics1 wearied by play or labor1    
must retire early4 ,children usually    
awake with the dawn of light1 and       
commence their play1 while domestics    
usually prefer the freshness of morning 
for their labors4 ,if1 then1 the parents
 rise at a late hour1 they either induce
 a habit of protracting sleep in their  
children and domestics1 or else the     
family are up1 and at their pursuits1   
while their supervisors are in bed4     
,any woman who asserts that her children

 and domestics1 in the first hours of   
day1 when their spirits are freshest1   
will be as well regulated without her   
presence as with it1 confesses that     
which surely is little for her credit4  
,it is believed that any candid woman1  
whatever may be her excuse for late     
rising1 will concede that if she could  
rise early it would be for the advantage
 of her family4 ,a late breakfast puts  
back the work1 through the whole day1   
for every member of a family2 and if the
 parents thus occasion the loss of an   
hour or two to each individual who1 but 
for their delay in the morning1 would be
 usefully employed1 they alone are      
responsible for all this waste of time4 
,but the practice of early rising has a 
relation to the general interests of the
 social community1 as well as to that of
 each distinct family4 ,all that great  
portion of the community who are        
employed in business and labor find it  
needful to rise early2 and all their    
hours of meals1 and their appointments  

for business or pleasure1 must be       
accommodated to these arrangements4     
,now1 if a small portion of the         
community establish very different      
hours1 it makes a kind of jostling in   
all the concerns and interests of       
society4 ,the various appointments for  
the public1 such as meetings1 schools1  
and business hours1 must be accommodated
 to the mass1 and not to individuals4   
,the few1 then1 who establish domestic  
habits at variance with the majority1   
are either constantly interrupted in    
their own arrangements1 or else are     
interfering with the rights and         
interests of others4 ,this is           
exemplified in the case of schools4 ,in 
families where late rising is practiced1
 either hurry1 irregularity1 and neglect
 are engendered in the family1 or else  
the interests of the school1 and thus of
 the community1 are sacrificed4 ,in     
this1 and many other matters1 it can be 
shown that the well-being of the bulk of
 the people is1 to a greater or less    

extent1 impaired by this self-indulgent 
practice4 ,let any teacher select the   
unpunctual scholars--a class who most   
seriously interfere with the interests  
of the school--and let men of business  
select those who cause them most waste  
of time and vexation1 by unpunctuality2 
and it will be found that they are      
generally among the late risers1 and    
rarely among those who rise early4      
,thus1 late rising not only injures the 
person and family which indulge in it1  
but interferes with the rights and      
convenience of the community2 while     
early rising imparts corresponding      
benefits of health1 promptitude1 vigor  
of action1 economy of time1 and general 
effectiveness both to the individuals   
who practice it and to the families and 
community of which they are a part4     
,,chapter ,,xv4  ,,domestic ,,manners4  
,good manners are the expressions of    
benevolence in personal intercourse1 by 
which we endeavor to promote the comfort
 and enjoyment of others1 and to avoid  

all that gives needless uneasiness4 ,it 
is the exterior exhibition of the divine
 precept1 which requires us to do to    
others as we would that they should do  
to us4 ,it is saying1 by our deportment1
 to all around1 that we consider their  
feelings1 tastes1 and conveniences1 as  
equal in value to our own4  ,good       
manners lead us to avoid all practices  
which offend the taste of others2 all   
unnecessary violations of the           
conventional rules of propriety2 all    
rude and disrespectful language and     
deportment2 and all remarks which would 
tend to wound the feelings of others4   
,there is a serious defect in the       
manners of the ,american people1        
especially among the descendants of the 
,puritan settlers of ,new ,england1     
which can never be efficiently remedied1
 except in the domestic circle1 and     
during early life4 ,it is a deficiency  
in the free expression of kindly        
feelings and sympathetic emotions1 and a
 want of courtesy in deportment4 ,the   

causes which have led to this result may
 easily be traced4  ,the forefathers of 
this nation1 to a wide extent1 were men 
who were driven from their native land  
by laws and customs which they believed 
to be opposed both to civil and         
religious freedom4 ,the sufferings they 
were called to endure1 the subduing of  
those gentler feelings which bind us to 
country1 kindred1 and home2 and the     
constant subordination of the passions  
to stern principle1 induced characters  
of great firmness and self-control4     
,they gave up the comforts and          
refinements of a civilized country1 and 
came as pilgrims to a hard soil1 a cold 
clime1 and a heathen shore4 ,they were  
continually forced to encounter danger1 
privations1 sickness1 loneliness1 and   
death2 and all these their religion     
taught them to meet with calmness1      
fortitude1 and submission4 ,and thus it 
became the custom and habit of the whole
 mass1 to repress rather than to        
encourage the expression of feeling4    

,persons who are called to constant and 
protracted suffering and privation are  
forced to subdue and conceal emotion2   
for the free expression of it would     
double their own suffering1 and increase
 the sufferings of others4 ,those1 only1
 who are free from care and anxiety1 and
 whose minds are mainly occupied by     
cheerful emotions1 are at full liberty  
to unveil their feelings4  ,it was under
 such stern and rigorous discipline that
 the first children in ,new ,england    
were reared2 and the manners and habits 
of parents are usually1 to a great      
extent1 transmitted to children4 ,thus  
it comes to pass1 that the descendants  
of the ,puritans1 now scattered over    
every part of the nation1 are           
predisposed to conceal the gentler      
emotions1 while their manners are calm1 
decided1 and cold1 rather than free and 
impulsive4 ,of course1 there are very   
many exceptions to these predominating  
characteristics4  ,other causes to which
 we may attribute a general want of     

courtesy in manners are certain         
incidental results of our domestic      
institutions4 ,our ancestors and their  
descendants have constantly been        
combating the aristocratic principle    
which would exalt one class of men at   
the expense of another4 ,they have had  
to contend with this principle1 not only
 in civil but in social life4 ,almost   
every ,american1 in his own person as   
well as in behalf of his class1 has had 
to assume and defend the main principle 
of democracy--that every man's feelings 
and interests are equal in value to     
those of every other man4 ,but1 in doing
 this1 there has been some want of clear
 discrimination4 ,because claims based  
on distinctions of mere birth1 fortune1 
or position1 were found to be injurious1
 many have gone to the extreme of       
inferring that all distinctions1        
involving subordinations1 are useless4  
,such would wrongfully regard children  
as equals to parents1 pupils to         
teachers1 domestics to their employers1 

and subjects to magistrates--and that1  
too1 in all respects4  ,the fact that   
certain grades of superiority and       
subordination are needful1 both for     
individual and public benefit1 has not  
been clearly discerned2 and there has   
been a gradual tendency to an extreme of
 the opposite view which has sensibly   
affected our manners4 ,all the          
proprieties and courtesies which depend 
on the recognition of the relative      
duties of superior and subordinate have 
been warred upon2 and thus we see1 to an
 increasing extent1 disrespectful       
treatment of parents1 by children2 of   
teachers1 by pupils2 of employers1 by   
domestics2 and of the aged1 by the      
young4 ,in all classes and circles1     
there is a gradual decay in courtesy of 
address4  ,in cases1 too1 where kindness
 is rendered1 it is often accompanied   
with a cold1 unsympathizing manner1     
which greatly lessens its value2 while  
kindness or politeness is received in a 
similar style of coolness1 as if it were

 but the payment of a just due4  ,it is 
owing to these causes that the ,american
 people1 especially the descendants of  
the ,puritans1 do not do themselves     
justice4 ,for1 while those who are near 
enough to learn their real character and
 feelings can discern the most generous 
impulses1 and the most kindly           
sympathies1 they are often so veiled    
behind a composed and indifferent       
demeanor1 as to be almost entirely      
concealed from strangers4  ,these       
defects in our national manners it      
especially falls to the care of mothers1
 and all who have charge of the young1  
to rectify2 and if they seriously       
undertake the matter1 and wisely adapt  
means to ends1 these defects will be    
remedied4 ,with reference to this       
object1 the following ideas are         
suggested4  ,the law of ,christianity   
and of democracy1 which teaches that all
 men are born equal in rights1 and that 
their interests and feelings should be  
regarded as of equal value1 seems to be 

adopted in aristocratic circles1 with   
exclusive reference to the class in     
which the individual moves4 ,the courtly
 gentleman addresses all of his own     
class with politeness and respect2 and  
in all his actions1 seems to allow that 
the feelings and convenience of these   
others are to be regarded the same as   
his own4 ,but his demeanor to those of  
inferior station is not based on the    
same rule4  ,among those who make up    
aristocratic circles1 such as are above 
them are deemed of superior1 and such as
 are below of inferior1 value4 ,thus1 if
 a young1 ignorant1 and vicious coxcomb 
happens to have been born a lord1 the   
aged1 the virtuous1 the learned1 and the
 well-bred of another class must give   
his convenience the precedence1 and must
 address him in terms of respect4 ,so   
sometimes1 when a man of noble birth is 
thrown among the lower classes1 he      
demeans himself in a style which1 to    
persons of his own class1 would be      
deemed the height of assumption and     

rudeness4  ,now1 the principles of      
democracy require that the same courtesy
 which we accord to our own circle shall
 be extended to every class and         
condition2 and that distinctions of     
superiority and subordination shall     
depend1 not on accidents of birth1      
fortune1 or occupation1 but solely on   
those mutual relations which the good of
 all classes equally require4 ,the      
distinctions demanded in a democratic   
state are simply those which result from
 relations that are common to every     
class1 and are for the benefit of all4  
,it is for the benefit of every class   
that children be subordinate to parents1
 pupils to teachers1 the employed to    
their employers1 and subjects to        
magistrates4 ,in addition to this1 it is
 for the general well-being that the    
comfort or convenience of the delicate  
and feeble should be preferred to that  
of the strong and healthy1 who would    
suffer less by any deprivation2 that    
precedence should be given to their     

elders by the young2 and that reverence 
should be given to the hoary head4  ,the
 rules of good-breeding1 in a democratic
 state1 must be founded on these        
principles4 ,it is indeed assumed that  
the value of the happiness of each      
individual is the same as that of every 
other2 but as there must be occasions   
where there are advantages which all can
 not enjoy1 there must be general rules 
for regulating a selection4 ,otherwise1 
there would be constant scrambling among
 those of equal claims1 and brute force 
must be the final resort2 in which case1
 the strongest would have the best of   
every thing4 ,the democratic rule1 then1
 is1 that superiors in age1 station1 or 
office have precedence of subordinates2 
age and feebleness1 of youth and        
strength2 and the feebler sex1 of more  
vigorous man4 ,footnote3 ,the universal 
practice of this nation1 in thus giving 
precedence to woman has been severely   
commented on by foreigners1 and by some 
who would transfer all the business of  

the other sex to women1 and then have   
them treated like men4 ,but we hope this
 evidence of our superior civilization  
and ,christianity may increase rather   
than diminish4  ,there is1 also1 a style
 of deportment and address which is     
appropriate to these different          
relations4 ,it is suitable for a        
superior to secure compliance with his  
wishes from those subordinate to him by 
commands2 but a subordinate must secure 
compliance with his wishes from a       
superior by requests4 7,although the    
kind and considerate manner to          
subordinates will always be found the   
most effective as well as the           
pleasantest1 by those in superior       
station47 ,it is suitable for a parent1 
teacher1 or employer to admonish for    
neglect of duty2 but not for an inferior
 to adopt such a course toward a        
superior4 ,it is suitable for a superior
 to take precedence of a subordinate1   
without any remark2 but not for an      
inferior1 without previously asking     

leave1 or offering an apology4 ,it is   
proper for a superior to use language   
and manners of freedom and familiarity1 
which would be improper from a          
subordinate to a superior4  ,the want of
 due regard to these proprieties        
occasions a great defect in ,american   
manners4 ,it is very common to hear     
children talk to their parents in a     
style proper only between companions and
 equals2 so1 also1 the young address    
their elders2 those employed1 their     
employers2 and domestics1 the members of
 the family and their visitors1 in a    
style which is inappropriate to their   
relative positions4 ,but courteous      
address is required not merely toward   
superiors2 every person desires to be   
thus treated1 and therefore the law of  
benevolence demands such demeanor toward
 all whom we meet in the social         
intercourse of life4 ,be ye courteous1  
is the direction of the apostle in      
reference to our treatment of all4      
,good manners can be successfully       

cultivated only in early life and in the
 domestic circle4 ,there is nothing     
which depends so much upon habit as the 
constantly recurring proprieties of good
 breeding2 and if a child grows up      
without forming such habits1 it is very 
rarely the case that they can be formed 
at a later period4 ,the feeling that it 
is of little consequence how we behave  
at home if we conduct ourselves properly
 abroad1 is a very fallacious one4      
,persons who are careless and ill-bred  
at home may imagine that they can assume
 good manners abroad2 but they mistake4 
,fixed habits of tone1 manner1 language1
 and movements can not be suddenly      
altered2 and those who are ill-bred at  
home1 even when they try to hide their  
bad habits1 are sure to violate many of 
the obvious rules of propriety1 and yet 
be unconscious of it4  ,and there is    
nothing which would so effectually      
remove prejudice against our democratic 
institutions as the general cultivation 
of good-breeding in the domestic circle4

 ,good manners are the exterior of      
benevolence1 the minute and constant    
exhibitions of peace and good-will2 and 
the nation1 as well as the individual1  
which most excels in the external       
demonstration1 as well as the internal  
principle1 will be most respected and   
beloved4  ,it is only the training of   
the family state according to its true  
end and aim that is to secure to woman  
her true position and rights4 ,when the 
family is instituted by marriage1 it is 
man who is the head and chief magistrate
 by the force of his physical power and 
requirement of the chief responsibility2
 not less is he so according to the     
,christian law1 by which1 when          
differences arise1 the husband has the  
deciding control1 and the wife is to    
obey4 ,where love is1 there is no law2  
but where love is not1 the only         
dignified and peaceful course is for the
 wife1 however much his superior1 to    
submit1 as to ,god and not to man4  ,but
 this power of nature and of religion1  

given to man as the controlling head1   
involves the distinctive duty of the    
family state1 self-sacrificing love4    
,the husband is to honor the wife1 to   
love her as himself1 and thus account   
her wishes and happiness as of equal    
value with his own4 ,but more than this1
 he is to love her as ,christ loved the 
,church2 that is1 he is to suffer for   
her1 if need be1 in order to support and
 elevate and ennoble her4 ,the father   
then is to set the example of           
self-sacrificing love and devotion2 and 
the mother1 of ,christian obedience when
 it is required4 ,every boy is to be    
trained for his future domestic position
 by labor and sacrifices for his mother 
and sisters4 ,it is the brother who is  
to do the hardest and most disagreeable 
work1 to face the storms and perform the
 most laborious drudgeries4 ,in the     
family circle1 too1 he is to give his   
mother and sister precedence in all the 
conveniences and comforts of home life4 
,it is only those nations where the     

teachings and example of ,christ have   
had most influence that man has ever    
assumed his obligations of              
self-sacrificing benevolence in the     
family4 ,and even in ,christian         
communities1 the duty of wives to obey  
their husbands has been more strenuously
 urged than the obligations of the      
husband to love his wife as ,christ     
loved the ,church4  ,here it is needful 
to notice that the distinctive duty of  
obedience to man does not rest on women 
who do not enter the relations of       
married life4 ,a woman who inherits     
property1 or who earns her own          
livelihood1 can institute the family    
state1 adopt orphan children and employ 
suitable helpers in training them2 and  
then to her will appertain the authority
 and rights that belong to man as the   
head of a family4 ,and when every woman 
is trained to some self-supporting      
business1 she will not be tempted to    
enter the family state as a subordinate1
 except by that love for which there is 

no need of law4  ,these general         
principles being stated1 some details in
 regard to domestic manners will be     
enumerated4 ,in the first place1 there  
should be required in the family a      
strict attention to the rules of        
precedence1 and those modes of address  
appropriate to the various relations to 
be sustained4 ,children should always be
 required to offer their superiors1 in  
age or station1 the precedence in all   
comforts and conveniences1 and always   
address them in a respectful tone and   
manner4 ,the custom of adding1 ,sir1 or 
,ma'am1 to ,yes1 or ,no1 is valuable1 as
 a perpetual indication of a respectful 
recognition of superiority4 ,it is now  
going out of fashion1 even among the    
most well bred people2 probably from a  
want of consideration of its importance4
 ,every remnant of courtesy of address1 
in our customs1 should be carefully     
cherished1 by all who feel a value for  
the proprieties of good breeding4  ,if  
parents allow their children to talk to 

them1 and to the grown persons in the   
family1 in the same style in which they 
address each other1 it will be in vain  
to hope for the courtesy of manner and  
tone which good breeding demands in the 
general intercourse of society4 ,in a   
large family1 where the elder children  
are grown up1 and the younger are small1
 it is important to require the latter  
to treat the elder in some sense as     
superiors4 ,there are none so ready as  
young children to assume airs of        
equality2 and if they are allowed to    
treat one class of superiors in age and 
character disrespectfully1 they will    
soon use the privilege universally4     
,this is the reason1 why the youngest   
children of a family are most apt to be 
pert1 forward1 and unmannerly4  ,another
 point to be aimed at is1 to require    
children always to acknowledge every act
 of kindness and attention1 either by   
words or manner4 ,if they are so trained
 as always to make grateful             
acknowledgments1 when receiving favors1 

one of the objectionable features in    
,american manners will be avoided4      
,again1 children should be required to  
ask leave1 whenever they wish to gratify
 curiosity1 or use an article which     
belongs to another4 ,and if cases occur1
 when they can not comply with the rules
 of good-breeding1 as1 for instance1    
when they must step between a person and
 the fire1 or take the chair of an older
 person1 they should be taught either to
 ask leave1 or to offer an apology4     
,there is another point of              
good-breeding1 which can not1 in all    
cases1 be understood and applied by     
children in its widest extent4 ,it is   
that which requires us to avoid all     
remarks which tend to embarrass1 vex1   
mortify1 or in any way wound the        
feelings of another4 ,to notice personal
 defects2 to allude to others' faults1  
or the faults of their friends2 to speak
 disparagingly of the sect or party to  
which a person belongs2 to be           
inattentive when addressed in           

conversation2 to contradict flatly2 to  
speak in contemptuous tones of opinions 
expressed by another2 all these are     
violations of the rules of              
good-breeding1 which children should be 
taught to regard4 ,under this head comes
 the practice of whispering and staring 
about1 when a teacher1 or lecturer1 or  
clergyman is addressing a class or      
audience4 ,such inattention is          
practically saying that what the person 
is uttering is not worth attending to2  
and persons of real good-breeding always
 avoid it4 ,loud talking and laughing in
 a large assembly1 even when no         
exercises are going on2 yawning and     
gaping in company2 and not looking in   
the face a person who is addressing you1
 are deemed marks of ill-breeding4      
,another branch of good manners relates 
to the duties of hospitality4           
,politeness requires us to welcome      
visitors with cordiality2 to offer them 
the best accommodations2 to address     
conversation to them2 and to express1 by

 tone and manner1 kindness and respect4 
,offering the hand to all visitors at   
one's own house is a courteous and      
hospitable custom2 and a cordial shake  
of the hand1 when friends meet1 would   
abate much of the coldness of manner    
ascribed to ,americans4  ,another point 
of good breeding refers to the          
conventional rules of propriety and good
 taste4 ,of these1 the first class      
relates to the avoidance of all         
disgusting or offensive personal habits3
 such as fingering the hair2 obtrusively
 using a toothpick1 or carrying one in  
the mouth after the needful use of it2  
cleaning the nails in presence of       
others2 picking the nose2 spitting on   
carpets2 snuffing instead of using a    
handkerchief1 or using the article in an
 offensive manner2 lifting up the boots 
or shoes1 as some men do1 to tend them  
on the knee1 or to finger them3 all     
these tricks1 either at home or in      
society1 children should be taught to   
avoid4  ,another topic1 under this head1

 may be called table manners4 ,to       
persons of good-breeding1 nothing is    
more annoying than violations of the    
conventional proprieties of the table4  
,reaching over another person's plate2  
standing up1 to reach distant articles1 
instead of asking to have them passed2  
using one's own knife and spoon for     
butter1 salt1 or sugar1 when it is the  
custom of the family to provide separate
 utensils for the purpose2 setting cups 
with the tea dripping from them1 on the 
table-cloth1 instead of the mats or     
small plates furnished2 using the       
table-cloth instead of the napkins2     
eating fast1 and in a noisy manner2     
putting large pieces in the mouth2      
looking and eating as if very hungry1 or
 as if anxious to get at certain dishes2
 sitting at too great a distance from   
the table1 and dropping food2 laying the
 knife and fork on the table-cloth1     
instead of on the edge of the plate2    
picking the teeth at table3 all these   
particulars children should be taught to

 avoid4  ,it is always desirable1 too1  
to train children1 when at table with   
grown persons1 to be silent1 except when
 addressed by others2 or else their     
chattering will interrupt the           
conversation and comfort of their       
elders4 ,they should always be required1
 too1 to wait in silence1 till all the  
older persons are helped4  ,when        
children are alone with their parents1  
it is desirable to lead them to converse
 and to take this as an opportunity to  
form proper conversational habits4 ,but 
it should be a fixed rule that1 when    
strangers are present1 the children are 
to listen in silence and only reply when
 addressed4 ,unless this is secured1    
visitors will often be condemned to     
listen to puerile chattering1 with small
 chance of the proper attention due to  
guests and superiors in age and station4
  ,children should be trained1 in       
preparing themselves for the table or   
for appearance among the family1 not    
only to put their hair1 face1 and hands 

in neat order1 but also their nails1 and
 to habitually attend to this latter    
whenever they wash their hands4  ,there 
are some very disagreeable tricks which 
many children practice even in families 
counted well-bred4 ,such1 for example1  
are drumming with the fingers on some   
piece of furniture1 or humming a tune   
while others are talking1 or            
interrupting conversation by            
pertinacious questions1 or whistling in 
the house instead of out-doors1 or      
speaking several at once and in loud    
voices to gain attention4 ,all these are
 violations of good-breeding1 which     
children should be trained to avoid1    
lest they should not only annoy as      
children1 but practice the same kind of 
ill manners when mature4 ,in all        
assemblies for public debate1 a chairman
 or moderator is appointed whose        
business it is to see that only one     
person speaks at a time1 that no one    
interrupts a person when speaking1 that 
no needless noises are made1 and that   

all indecorums are avoided4 ,such an    
officer is sometimes greatly needed in  
family circles4  ,children should be    
encouraged freely to use lungs and limbs
 out-doors1 or in hours for sport in the
 house4 ,but at other times1 in the     
domestic circle1 gentle tones and       
manners should be cultivated4 ,the words
 gentleman and gentlewoman came         
originally from the fact that the       
uncultivated and ignorant classes used  
coarse and loud tones1 and rough words  
and movements2 while only the refined   
circles habitually used gentle tones and
 gentle manners4 ,for the same reason1  
those born in the higher circles were   
called of gentle blood4 ,thus it came   
that a coarse and loud voice1 and rough1
 ungentle manners1 are regarded as      
vulgar and plebeian4  ,all these things 
should be taught to children1 gradually1
 and with great patience and gentleness4
 ,some parents1 with whom good manners  
are a great object1 are in danger of    
making their children perpetually       

uncomfortable1 by suddenly surrounding  
them with so many rules that they must  
inevitably violate some one or other a  
great part of the time4 ,it is much     
better to begin with a few rules1 and be
 steady and persevering with these1 till
 a habit is formed1 and then take a few 
more1 thus making the process easy and  
gradual4 ,otherwise1 the temper of      
children will be injured2 or1 hopeless  
of fulfilling so many requisitions1 they
 will become reckless and indifferent to
 all4  ,if a few brief1 well-considered1
 and sensible rules of good manners     
could be suspended in every school-room1
 and the children all required to commit
 them to memory1 it probably would do   
more to remedy the defects of ,american 
manners and to advance universal        
good-breeding than any other mode that  
could be so easily adopted4  ,but1 in   
reference to those who have enjoyed     
advantages for the cultivation of good  
manners1 and who duly estimate its      
importance1 one caution is necessary4   

,those who never have had such habits   
formed in youth are under disadvantages 
which no benevolence of temper can      
altogether remedy4 ,they may often      
violate the tastes and feelings of      
others1 not from a want of proper regard
 for them1 but from ignorance of custom1
 or want of habit1 or abstraction of    
mind1 or from other causes which demand 
forbearance and sympathy1 rather than   
displeasure4 ,an ability to bear        
patiently with defects in manners1 and  
to make candid and considerate allowance
 for a want of advantages1 or for       
peculiarities in mental habits1 is one  
mark of the benevolence of real         
good-breeding4  ,the advocates of       
monarchical and aristocratic            
institutions have always had great      
plausibility given to their views1 by   
the seeming tendencies of our           
institutions to insubordination and bad 
manners4 ,and it has been too           
indiscriminately conceded1 by the       
defenders of the latter1 that such are  

these tendencies1 and that the offensive
 points in ,american manners are the    
necessary result of democratic          
principles4  ,but it is believed that   
both facts and reasoning are in         
opposition to this opinion4 ,the        
following extract from the work of ,de  
,tocqueville1 the great political       
philosopher of ,france1 exhibits the    
opinion of an impartial observer1 when  
comparing ,american manners with those  
of the ,english1 who are confessedly the
 most aristocratic of all people4  ,he  
previously remarks on the tendency of   
aristocracy to make men more            
sympathizing with persons of their own  
peculiar class1 and less so toward those
 of lower degree2 and he then contrasts 
,american manners with the ,english1    
claiming that the ,americans are much   
the more affable1 mild1 and social4 ,in 
,america1 where the privileges of birth 
never existed and where riches confer no
 peculiar rights on their possessors1   
men acquainted with each other are very 

ready to frequent the same places1 and  
find neither peril nor disadvantage in  
the free interchange of their thoughts4 
,if they meet by accident1 they neither 
seek nor avoid intercourse2 their manner
 is therefore natural1 frank1 and open4 
,if their demeanor is often cold and    
serious1 it is never haughty or         
constrained4 ,but an aristocratic pride 
is still extremely great among the      
,english2 and as the limits of          
aristocracy are still ill-defined1 every
 body lives in constant dread1 lest     
advantage should be taken of his        
familiarity4 ,unable to judge1 at once1 
of the social position of those he      
meets1 an ,englishman prudently avoids  
all contact with him4 ,men are afraid1  
lest some slight service rendered should
 draw them into an unsuitable           
acquaintance2 they dread civilities1 and
 they avoid the obtrusive gratitude of a
 stranger1 as much as his hatred4       
,thus1 facts seem to show that when the 
most aristocratic nation in the world is

 compared1 as to manners1 with the most 
democratic1 the judgment of strangers is
 in favor of the latter4 ,and if good   
manners are the outward exhibition of   
the democratic principle of impartial   
benevolence and equal rights1 surely the
 nation which adopts this rule1 both in 
social and civil life1 is the most      
likely to secure the desirable exterior4
 ,the aristocrat1 by his principles1    
extends the exterior of impartial       
benevolence to his own class only2 the  
democratic principle requires it to be  
extended to all4  ,there is reason1     
therefore1 to hope and expect more      
refined and polished manners in ,america
 than in any other land2 while all the  
developments of taste and refinement1   
such as poetry1 music1 painting1        
sculpture1 and architecture1 it may be  
expected1 will come to as high a state  
of perfection here as in any other      
nation4  ,if this country increases in  
virtue and intelligence1 as it may1     
there is no end to the wealth which will

 pour in as the result of our resources 
of climate1 soil1 and navigation1 and   
the skill1 industry1 energy1 and        
enterprise of our countrymen4 ,this     
wealth1 if used as intelligence and     
virtue dictate1 will furnish the means  
for a superior education to all classes1
 and every facility for the refinement  
of taste1 intellect1 and feeling4       
,moreover1 in this country1 labor is    
ceasing to be the badge of a lower      
class2 so that already it is            
disreputable for a man to be a lazy     
gentleman4 ,and this feeling must       
increase1 till there is such an         
equalization of labor as will afford all
 the time needful for every class to    
improve the many advantages offered to  
them4 ,already through the munificence  
of some of our citizens1 there are      
literary and scientific advantages      
offered to all classes1 rarely enjoyed  
elsewhere4 ,in most of our large cities 
and towns1 the advantages of education1 
now offered to the poorest classes1     

often without charge1 surpass what1 some
 years ago1 most wealthy men could      
purchase for any price4 ,and it is      
believed that a time will come when the 
poorest boy in ,america can secure      
advantages1 which will equal what the   
heir of the proudest peerage can now    
command4  ,the records of the courts of 
,france and ,germany1 7as detailed by   
the ,duchess of ,orleans17 in and       
succeeding the brilliant reign of ,louis
 the ,fourteenth--a period which was    
deemed the acme of elegance and         
refinement--exhibit a grossness1 a      
vulgarity1 and a coarseness1 not to be  
found among the very lowest of our      
respectable poor4 ,and the biography of 
the ,english ,beau ,nash1 who attempted 
to reform the manners of the gentry1 in 
the times of ,queen ,anne1 exhibits     
violations of the rules of decency among
 the aristocracy1 which the commonest   
yeoman of this land would feel disgraced
 in perpetrating4  ,this shows that our 
lowest classes1 at this period1 are more

 refined than were the highest in       
aristocratic lands1 a hundred years ago2
 and another century may show the lowest
 classes1 in wealth1 in this country1   
attaining as high a polish as adorns    
those who now are leaders of good       
manners in the courts of kings4         
,,chapter ,,xvi4  ,,the ,,preservation  
,,of ,,good ,,temper ,,in ,,the         
,,housekeeper4  ,there is nothing which 
has a more abiding influence on the     
happiness of a family than the          
preservation of equable and cheerful    
temper and tones in the housekeeper4 ,a 
woman who is habitually gentle1         
sympathizing1 forbearing1 and cheerful1 
carries an atmosphere about her which   
imparts a soothing and sustaining       
influence1 and renders it easier for all
 to do right1 under her administration1 
than in any other situation4  ,the      
writer has known families where the     
mother's presence seemed the sunshine of
 the circle around her2 imparting a     
cheering and vivifying power1 scarcely  

realized till it was withdrawn4 ,every  
one1 without thinking of it1 or knowing 
why it was so1 experienced a peaceful   
and invigorating influence as soon as he
 entered the sphere illumined by her    
smile1 and sustained by her cheering    
kindness and sympathy4 ,on the contrary1
 many a good housekeeper1 7good in every
 respect but this17 by wearing a        
countenance of anxiety and              
dissatisfaction1 and by indulging in the
 frequent use of sharp and reprehensive 
tones1 more than destroys all the       
comfort which otherwise would result    
from her system1 neatness1 and economy4 
,there is a secret1 social sympathy     
which every mind1 to a greater or less  
degree1 experiences with the feelings of
 those around1 as they are manifested by
 the countenance and voice4 ,a          
sorrowful1 a discontented1 or an angry  
countenance produces a silent1          
sympathetic influence1 imparting a      
sombre shade to the mind1 while tones of
 anger or complaint still more          

effectually jar the spirits4  ,no person
 can maintain a quiet and cheerful frame
 of mind while tones of discontent and  
displeasure are sounding on the ear4 ,we
 may gradually accustom ourselves to the
 evil till it is partially diminished2  
but it always is an evil which greatly  
interferes with the enjoyment of the    
family state4 ,there are sometimes cases
 where the entrance of the mistress of a
 family seems to awaken a slight        
apprehension in every mind around1 as if
 each felt in danger of a reproof1 for  
something either perpetrated or         
neglected4 ,a woman who should go around
 her house with a small stinging        
snapper1 which she habitually applied to
 those whom she met1 would be           
encountered with feelings very much like
 those which are experienced by the     
inmates of a family where the mistress  
often uses her countenance and voice to 
inflict similar penalties for duties    
neglected4  ,yet there are many         
allowances to be made for housekeepers1 

who sometimes imperceptibly and         
unconsciously fall into such habits4 ,a 
woman who attempts to carry out any     
plans of system1 order1 and economy1 and
 who has her feelings and habits        
conformed to certain rules1 is          
constantly liable to have her plans     
crossed1 and her taste violated1 by the 
inexperience or inattention of those    
about her4 ,and no housekeeper1 whatever
 may be her habits1 can escape the      
frequent recurrence of negligence or    
mistake1 which interferes with her      
plans4  ,it is probable that there is no
 class of persons in the world who have 
such incessant trials of temper1 and    
temptations to be fretful1 as ,american 
housekeepers4 ,for a housekeeper's      
business is not1 like that of the other 
sex1 limited to a particular department1
 for which previous preparation is made4
 ,it consists of ten thousand little    
disconnected items1 which can never be  
so systematically arranged that there is
 no daily jostling somewhere4 ,and in   

the best-regulated families1 it is not  
unfrequently the case that some act of  
forgetfulness or carelessness1 from some
 member1 will disarrange the business of
 the whole day1 so that every hour will 
bring renewed occasion for annoyance4   
,and the more strongly a woman realizes 
the value of time1 and the importance of
 system and order1 the more will she be 
tempted to irritability and complaint4  
,the following considerations may aid in
 preparing a woman to meet such daily   
crosses with even a cheerful temper and 
tones4  ,in the first place1 a woman who
 has charge of a large household should 
regard her duties as dignified1         
important1 and difficult4 ,the mind is  
so made as to be elevated and cheered by
 a sense of far-reaching influence and  
usefulness4 ,a woman who feels that she 
is a cipher1 and that it makes little   
difference how she performs her duties1 
has far less to sustain and invigorate  
her1 than one who truly estimates the   
importance of her station4 ,a man who   

feels that the destinies of a nation are
 turning on the judgment and skill with 
which he plans and executes1 has a      
pressure of motive and an elevation of  
feeling which are great safeguards      
against all that is low1 trivial1 and   
degrading4  ,so1 an ,american mother and
 housekeeper who rightly estimates the  
long train of influence which will pass 
down to thousands1 whose destinies1 from
 generation to generation1 will be      
modified by those decisions of her will 
which regulate the temper1 principles1  
and habits of her family1 must be       
elevated above petty temptations which  
would otherwise assail her4  ,again1 a  
housekeeper should feel that she really 
has great difficulties to meet and      
overcome4 ,a person who wrongly thinks  
there is little danger1 can never       
maintain so faithful a guard as one who 
rightly estimates the temptations which 
beset her4 ,nor can one who thinks that 
they are trifling difficulties which she
 has to encounter1 and trivial          

temptations to which she must yield1 so 
much enjoy the just reward of conscious 
virtue and self-control as one who takes
 an opposite view of the subject4  ,a   
third method is1 for a woman            
deliberately to calculate on having her 
best-arranged plans interfered with very
 often2 and to be in such a state of    
preparation that the evil will not come 
unawares4 ,so complicated are the       
pursuits and so diverse the habits of   
the various members of a family1 that it
 is almost impossible for every one to  
avoid interfering with the plans and    
taste of a housekeeper1 in some one     
point or another4 ,it is1 therefore1    
most wise for a woman to keep the loins 
of her mind ever girt1 to meet such     
collisions with a cheerful and quiet    
spirit4  ,another important rule is1 to 
form all plans and arrangements in      
consistency with the means at command1  
and the character of those around4 ,a   
woman who has a heedless husband1 and   
young children1 and incompetent         

domestics1 ought not to make such plans 
as one may properly form who will not1  
in so many directions1 meet             
embarrassment4 ,she must aim at just as 
much as she can probably attain1 and no 
more2 and thus she will usually escape  
much temptation1 and much of the        
irritation of disappointment4  ,the     
fifth1 and a very important             
consideration1 is1 that system1 economy1
 and neatness are valuable1 only so far 
as they tend to promote the comfort and 
well-being of those affected4 ,some     
women seem to act under the impression  
that these advantages must be secured1  
at all events1 even if the comfort of   
the family be the sacrifice4 ,true1 it  
is very important that children grow up 
in habits of system1 neatness1 and      
order2 and it is very desirable that the
 mother give them every incentive1 both 
by precept and example2 but it is still 
more important that they grow up with   
amiable tempers1 that they learn to meet
 the crosses of life with patience and  

cheerfulness2 and nothing has a greater 
influence to secure this than a mother's
 example4 ,whenever1 therefore1 a woman 
can not accomplish her plans of neatness
 and order without injury to her own    
temper or to the temper of others1 she  
ought to modify and reduce them until   
she can4  ,the sixth method relates to  
the government of the tones of voice4   
,in many cases1 when a woman's domestic 
arrangements are suddenly and seriously 
crossed1 it is impossible not to feel   
some irritation4 ,but it is always      
possible to refrain from angry tones4 ,a
 woman can resolve that1 whatever       
happens1 she will not speak till she can
 do it in a calm and gentle manner4     
,perfect silence is a safe resort1 when 
such control can not be attained as     
enables a person to speak calmly2 and   
this determination1 persevered in1 will 
eventually be crowned with success4     
,many persons seem to imagine that tones
 of anger are needful1 in order to      
secure prompt obedience4 ,but           

observation has convinced the writer    
that they are never necessary2 that in  
all cases1 reproof1 administered in calm
 tones1 would be better4 ,a case will be
 given in illustration4  ,a young girl  
had been repeatedly charged to avoid a  
certain arrangement in cooking4 ,on one 
day1 when company was invited to dine1  
the direction was forgotten1 and the    
consequence was an accident1 which      
disarranged every thing1 seriously      
injured the principal dish1 and delayed 
dinner for an hour4 ,the mistress of the
 family entered the kitchen just as it  
occurred1 and at a glance1 saw the      
extent of the mischief4 ,for a moment1  
her eyes flashed1 and her cheeks glowed2
 but she held her peace4 ,after a minute
 or so1 she gave directions in a calm   
voice1 as to the best mode of retrieving
 the evil1 and then left1 without a word
 said to the offender4  ,after the      
company left1 she sent for the girl1    
alone1 and in a calm and kind manner    
pointed out the aggravations of the     

case1 and described the trouble which   
had been caused to her husband1 her     
visitors1 and herself4 ,she then        
portrayed the future evils which would  
result from such habits of neglect and  
inattention1 and the modes of attempting
 to overcome them2 and then offered a   
reward for the future1 if1 in a given   
time1 she succeeded in improving in this
 respect4 ,not a tone of anger was      
uttered2 and yet the severest scolding  
of a practiced ,xantippe could not have 
secured such contrition1 and            
determination to reform1 as were gained 
by this method4  ,but similar negligence
 is often visited by a continuous stream
 of complaint and reproof1 which1 in    
most cases1 is met either by sullen     
silence or impertinent retort1 while    
anger prevents any contrition or any    
resolution of future amendment4  ,it is 
very certain1 that some ladies do carry 
forward a most efficient government1    
both of children and domestics1 without 
employing tones of anger2 and therefore 

they are not indispensable1 nor on any  
account desirable4  ,though some ladies 
of intelligence and refinement do fall  
unconsciously into such a practice1 it  
is certainly very unlady-like1 and in   
very bad taste1 to scold2 and the       
further a woman departs from all        
approach to it1 the more perfectly she  
sustains her character as a lady4       
,another method of securing equanimity1 
amid the trials of domestic life is1 to 
cultivate a habit of making allowances  
for the difficulties1 ignorance1 or     
temptations of those who violate rule or
 neglect duty4 ,it is vain1 and most    
unreasonable1 to expect the             
consideration and care of a mature mind 
in childhood and youth2 or that persons 
of such limited advantages as most      
domestics have enjoyed should practice  
proper self-control and possess proper  
habits and principles4  ,every parent   
and every employer needs daily to       
cultivate the spirit expressed in the   
divine prayer1 ,forgive us our          

trespasses1 as we forgive those who     
trespass against us4 ,the same          
allowances and forbearance which we     
supplicate from our ,heavenly ,father1  
and desire from our fellow-men in       
reference to our own deficiencies1 we   
should constantly aim to extend to all  
who cross our feelings and interfere    
with our plans4  ,the last and most     
important mode of securing a placid and 
cheerful temper and tones is1 by a      
constant belief in the influence of a   
superintending ,providence4 ,all persons
 are too much in the habit of regarding 
the more important events of life       
exclusively as under the control of     
,perfect ,wisdom4 ,but the fall of a    
sparrow1 or the loss of a hair1 they do 
not feel to be equally the result of his
 directing agency4 ,in consequence of   
this1 ,christian persons who aim at     
perfect and cheerful submission to heavy
 afflictions1 and who succeed to the    
edification of all about them1 are      
sometimes sadly deficient under petty   

crosses4 ,if a beloved child be laid in 
the grave1 even if its death resulted   
from the carelessness of a domestic or  
of a physician1 the eye is turned from  
the subordinate agent to the ,supreme   
,guardian of all2 and to him they bow1  
without murmur or complaint4 ,but if a  
pudding be burnt1 or a room badly swept1
 or an errand forgotten1 then vexation  
and complaint are allowed1 just as if   
these events were not appointed by      
,perfect ,wisdom as much as the sorer   
chastisement4  ,a woman1 therefore1     
needs to cultivate the habitual feeling 
that all the events of her nursery and  
kitchen are brought about by the        
permission of our ,heavenly ,father1 and
 that fretfulness or complaint in regard
 to these is1 in fact1 complaining at   
the appointments of ,god1 and is really 
as sinful as unsubmissive murmurs amid  
the sorer chastisements of his hand4    
,and a woman who cultivates this habit  
of referring all the minor trials of    
life to the wise and benevolent agency  

of a heavenly ,parent1 and daily seeks  
his sympathy and aid to enable her to   
meet them with a quiet and cheerful     
spirit1 will soon find it the perennial 
spring of abiding peace and content4    
,the power of religion to impart dignity
 and importance to the ordinary and     
seemingly petty details of domestic     
life1 greatly depends upon the degree of
 faith in the reality of a life to come1
 and of its eternal results4 ,a woman   
who is training a family simply with    
reference to this life may find exalted 
motives as she looks forward to unborn  
generations whose temporal prosperity   
and happiness are depending upon her    
fidelity and skill4 ,but one who truly  
and firmly believes that this life is   
but the beginning of an eternal career  
to every immortal inmate of her home1   
and that the formation of tastes1       
habits1 and character1 under her care1  
will bring forth fruits of good or ill1 
not only through earthly generations1   
but through everlasting ages2 such a    

woman secures a calm and exalted        
principle of action1 which no earthly   
motives can impart4     ,,chapter       
,,xvii4  ,,habits ,,of ,,system ,,and   
,,order4  ,any discussion of the        
equality of the sexes1 as to            
intellectual capacity1 seems frivolous  
and useless1 both because it can never  
be decided1 and because there would be  
no possible advantage in the decision4  
,but one topic1 which is often drawn    
into this discussion1 is of far more    
consequence2 and that is1 the relative  
importance and difficulty of the duties 
a woman is called to perform4  ,it is   
generally assumed1 and almost as        
generally conceded1 that a housekeeper's
 business and cares are contracted and  
trivial2 and that the proper discharge  
of her duties demands far less expansion
 of mind and vigor of intellect than the
 pursuits of the other sex4 ,this idea  
has prevailed because women1 as a mass1 
have never been educated with reference 
to their most important duties2 while   

that portion of their employments which 
is of least value has been regarded as  
the chief1 if not the sole1 concern of a
 woman4 ,the covering of the body1 the  
convenience of residences1 and the      
gratification of the appetite1 have been
 too much regarded as the chief objects 
on which her intellectual powers are to 
be exercised4  ,but as society gradually
 shakes off the remnants of barbarism   
and the intellectual and moral interests
 of man rise1 in estimation1 above the  
merely sensual1 a truer estimate is     
formed of woman's duties1 and of the    
measure of intellect requisite for the  
proper discharge of them4 ,let any man  
of sense and discernment become the     
member of a large household1 in which a 
well-educated and pious woman is        
endeavoring systematically to discharge 
her multiform duties2 let him fully     
comprehend all her cares1 difficulties1 
and perplexities2 and it is probable he 
would coincide in the opinion that no   
statesman1 at the head of a nation's    

affairs1 had more frequent calls for    
wisdom1 firmness1 tact1 discrimination1 
prudence1 and versatility of talent1    
than such a woman4  ,she has a husband1 
to whose peculiar tastes and habits she 
must accommodate herself2 she has       
children whose health she must guard1   
whose physical constitutions she must   
study and develop1 whose temper and     
habits she must regulate1 whose         
principles she must form1 whose pursuits
 she must guide4 ,she has constantly    
changing domestics1 with all varieties  
of temper and habits1 whom she must     
govern1 instruct1 and direct2 she is    
required to regulate the finances of the
 domestic state1 and constantly to adapt
 expenditures to the means and to the   
relative claims of each department4 ,she
 has the direction of the kitchen1 where
 ignorance1 forgetfulness1 and          
awkwardness are to be so regulated that 
the various operations shall each start 
at the right time1 and all be in        
completeness at the same given hour4    

,she has the claims of society to meet1 
visits to receive and return1 and the   
duties of hospitality to sustain4 ,she  
has the poor to relieve2 benevolent     
societies to aid2 the schools of her    
children to inquire and decide about2   
the care of the sick and the aged2 the  
nursing of infancy2 and the endless     
miscellany of odd items1 constantly     
recurring in a large family4  ,surely1  
it is a pernicious and mistaken idea1   
that the duties which tax a woman's mind
 are petty1 trivial1 or unworthy of the 
highest grade of intellect and moral    
worth4 ,instead of allowing this        
feeling1 every woman should imbibe1 from
 early youth1 the impression that she is
 in training for the discharge of the   
most important1 the most difficult1 and 
the most sacred and interesting duties  
that can possibly employ the highest    
intellect4 ,she ought to feel that her  
station and responsibilities in the     
great drama of life are second to none1 
either as viewed by her ,maker1 or in   

the estimation of all minds whose       
judgment is most worthy of respect4     
,she who is the mother and housekeeper  
in a large family is the sovereign of an
 empire1 demanding more varied cares1   
and involving more difficult duties1    
than are really exacted of her who wears
 a crown and professedly regulates the  
interests of the greatest nation on     
earth4  ,there is no one thing more     
necessary to a housekeeper in performing
 her varied duties1 than a habit of     
system and order2 and yet1 the          
peculiarly desultory nature of women's  
pursuits1 and the embarrassments        
resulting from the state of domestic    
service in this country1 render it very 
difficult to form such a habit4 ,but it 
is sometimes the case that women who    
could and would carry forward a         
systematic plan of domestic economy do  
not attempt it1 simply from a want of   
knowledge of the various modes of       
introducing it4 ,it is with reference to
 such1 that various modes of securing   

system and order1 which the writer has  
seen adopted1 will be pointed out4  ,a  
wise economy is nowhere more            
conspicuous1 than in a systematic       
apportionment of time to different      
pursuits4 ,there are duties of a        
religious1 intellectual1 social1 and    
domestic nature1 each having different  
relative claims on attention4 ,unless a 
person has some general plan of         
apportioning these claims1 some will    
intrench on others1 and some1 it is     
probable1 will be entirely excluded4    
,thus1 some find religious1 social1 and 
domestic duties so numerous1 that no    
time is given to intellectual           
improvement4 ,others find either social1
 or benevolent1 or religious interests  
excluded by the extent and variety of   
other engagements4  ,it is wise1        
therefore1 for all persons to devise a  
systematic plan1 which they will at     
least keep in view1 and aim to          
accomplish2 and by which a proper       
proportion of time shall be secured for 

all the duties of life4  ,in forming    
such a plan1 every woman must           
accommodate herself to the peculiarities
 of her situation4 ,if she has a large  
family and a small income1 she must     
devote far more time to the simple duty 
of providing food and raiment than would
 be right were she in affluence1 and    
with a small family4 ,it is impossible1 
therefore1 to draw out any general plan1
 which all can adopt4 ,but there are    
some general principles1 which ought to 
be the guiding rules1 when a woman      
arranges her domestic employments4      
,these principles are to be based on    
,christianity1 which teaches us to seek 
first the kingdom of ,god1 and to deem  
food1 raiment1 and the conveniences of  
life1 as of secondary account4 ,every   
woman1 then1 ought to start with the    
assumption1 that the moral and religious
 interests of her family are of more    
consequence than any worldly concern1   
and that1 whatever else may be          
sacrificed1 these shall be the leading  

object1 in all her arrangements1 in     
respect to time1 money1 and attention4  
,it is also one of the plainest         
requisitions of ,christianity1 that we  
devote some of our time and efforts to  
the comfort and improvement of others4  
,there is no duty so constantly         
enforced1 both in the ,old and ,new     
,testament1 as that of charity1 in      
dispensing to those who are destitute of
 the blessings we enjoy4 ,in selecting  
objects of charity1 the same rule       
applies to others as to ourselves2 their
 moral and religions interests are of   
the highest moment1 and for them1 as    
well as for ourselves1 we are to seek   
first the kingdom of ,god4  ,another    
general principle is1 that our          
intellectual and social interests are to
 be preferred to the mere gratification 
of taste or appetite4 ,a portion of     
time1 therefore1 must be devoted to the 
cultivation of the intellect and the    
social affections4  ,another is1 that   
the mere gratification of appetite is to

 be placed last in our estimate2 so     
that1 when a question arises as to which
 shall be sacrificed1 some intellectual1
 moral1 or social advantage1 or some    
gratification of sense1 we should       
invariably sacrifice the last4  ,as     
health is indispensable to the discharge
 of every duty1 nothing which sacrifices
 that blessing is to be allowed in order
 to gain any other advantage or         
enjoyment4 ,there are emergencies1 when 
it is right to risk health and life1 to 
save ourselves and others from greater  
evils2 but these are exceptions1 which  
do not militate against the general     
rule4 ,many persons imagine that1 if    
they violate the laws of health1 in     
order to attend to religious or domestic
 duties1 they are guiltless before ,god4
 ,but such greatly mistake4 ,we directly
 violate the law1 ,thou shalt not kill1 
when we do what tends to risk or shorten
 our own life4 ,the life and happiness  
of all his creatures are dear to our    
,creator2 and he is as much displeased  

when we injure our own interests1 as    
when we injure those of others4 ,the    
idea1 therefore1 that we are excusable  
if we harm no one but ourselves1 is     
false and pernicious4 ,these1 then1 are 
some general principles1 to guide a     
woman in systematizing her duties and   
pursuits4  ,the ,creator of all things  
is a ,being of perfect system and order2
 and1 to aid us in our duty in this     
respect1 he has divided our time1 by a  
regularly returning day of rest from    
worldly business4 ,in following this    
example1 the intervening six days maybe 
subdivided to secure similar benefits4  
,in doing this1 a certain portion of    
time must be given to procure the means 
of livelihood1 and for preparing food1  
raiment1 and dwellings4 ,to these       
objects1 some must devote more1 and     
others less1 attention4 ,the remainder  
of time not necessarily thus employed1  
might be divided somewhat in this       
manner3 ,the leisure of two afternoons  
and evenings could be devoted to        

religious and benevolent objects1 such  
as religious meetings1 charitable       
associations1 school visiting1 and      
attention to the sick and poor4 ,the    
leisure of two other days might be      
devoted to intellectual improvement1 and
 the pursuits of taste4 ,the leisure of 
another day might be devoted to social  
enjoyments1 in making or receiving      
visits2 and that of another1 to         
miscellaneous domestic pursuits1 not    
included in the other particulars4  ,it 
is probable that few persons could carry
 out such an arrangement very strictly2 
but every one can make a systematic     
apportionment of time1 and at least aim 
at accomplishing it2 and they can also  
compare with such a general outline1 the
 time which they actually devote to     
these different objects1 for the purpose
 of modifying any mistaken proportions4 
,without attempting any such systematic 
employment of time1 and carrying it out1
 so far as they can control             
circumstances1 most women are rather    

driven along by the daily occurrences of
 life2 so that1 instead of being the    
intelligent regulators of their own     
time1 they are the mere sport of        
circumstances4 ,there is nothing which  
so distinctly marks the difference      
between weak and strong minds as the    
question1 whether they control          
circumstances or circumstances control  
them4  ,it is very much to be feared1   
that the apportionment of time actually 
made by most women exactly inverts the  
order required by reason and            
,christianity4 ,thus1 the furnishing a  
needless variety of food1 the           
conveniences of dwellings1 and the      
adornments of dress1 often take a larger
 portion of time than is given to any   
other object4 ,next after this1 comes   
intellectual improvement2 and1 last of  
all1 benevolence and religion4  ,it may 
be urged1 that it is indispensable for  
most persons to give more time to earn a
 livelihood1 and to prepare food1       
raiment1 and dwellings1 than1 to any    

other object4 ,but it may be asked1 how 
much of the time1 devoted to these      
objects1 is employed in preparing       
varieties of food not necessary1 but    
rather injurious1 and how much is spent 
for those parts of dress and furniture  
not indispensable1 and merely           
ornamental8 ,let a woman subtract from  
her domestic employments all the time   
given to pursuits which are of no use1  
except as they gratify a taste for      
ornament1 or minister increased         
varieties to tempt the appetite1 and she
 will find that much which she calls    
domestic duty1 and which prevents her   
attention to intellectual1 benevolent1  
and religious objects1 should be called 
by a very different name4  ,no woman has
 a right to give up attention to the    
higher interests of herself and others1 
for the ornaments of person or the      
gratification of the palate4 ,to a      
certain extent1 these lower objects are 
lawful and desirable2 but when they     
intrude on nobler interests1 they become

 selfish and degrading4 ,every woman1   
then1 when employing her hands in       
ornamenting her person1 her children1 or
 her house1 ought to calculate whether  
she has devoted as much time to the     
really more important wants of herself  
and others4 ,if she has not1 she may    
know that she is doing wrong1 and that  
her system for apportioning her time and
 pursuits should be altered4  ,some     
persons endeavor to systematize their   
pursuits by apportioning them to        
particular hours of each day4 ,for      
example1 a certain period before        
breakfast1 is given to devotional       
duties2 after breakfast1 certain hours  
are devoted to exercise and domestic    
employments2 other hours1 to sewing1 or 
reading1 or visiting2 and others1 to    
benevolent duties4 ,but in most cases1  
it is more difficult to systematize the 
hours of each day1 than it is to secure 
some regular division of the week4  ,in 
regard to the minutia of family work1   
the writer has known the following      

methods to be adopted4 ,monday1 with    
some of the best housekeepers1 is       
devoted to preparing for the labors of  
the week4 ,any extra cooking1 the       
purchasing of articles to be used during
 the week1 the assorting of clothes for 
the wash1 and mending such as would     
otherwise be injured--these1 and similar
 items1 belong to this day4 ,tuesday is 
devoted to washing1 and ,wednesday to   
ironing4 ,on ,thursday1 the ironing is  
finished off1 the clothes are folded and
 put away1 and all articles which need  
mending are put in the mending-basket1  
and attended to4 ,friday is devoted to  
sweeping and house-cleaning4 ,on        
,saturday1 and especially the last      
,saturday of every month1 every         
department is put in order2 the casters 
and table furniture are regulated1 the  
pantry and cellar inspected1 the trunks1
 drawers1 and closets arranged1 and     
every thing about the house put in order
 for ,sunday4 ,by this regular          
recurrence of a particular time for     

inspecting every thing1 nothing is      
forgotten till ruined by neglect4       
,another mode of systematizing relates  
to providing proper supplies of         
conveniences1 and proper places in which
 to keep them4 ,thus1 some ladies keep a
 large closet1 in which are placed the  
tubs1 pails1 dippers1 soap-dishes1      
starch1 blueing1 clothes-lines1         
clothes-pins1 and every other article   
used in washing2 and in the same1 or    
another place1 is kept every convenience
 for ironing4 ,in the sewing department1
 a trunk1 with suitable partitions1 is  
provided1 in which are placed1 each in  
its proper place1 white thread of all   
sizes1 colored thread1 yarns for        
mending1 colored and black sewing-silks 
and twist1 tapes and bobbins of all     
sizes1 white and colored welting-cords1 
silk braids and cords1 needles of all   
sizes1 papers of pins1 remnants of linen
 and colored cambric1 a supply of all   
kinds of buttons used in the family1    
black and white hooks and eyes1 a yard  

measure1 and all the patterns used in   
cutting and fitting4 ,these are done up 
in separate parcels1 and labeled4 ,in   
another trunk1 or in a piece-bag1 such  
as has been previously described1 are   
kept all pieces used in mending1        
arranged in order4 ,a trunk1 like the   
first mentioned1 will save many steps1  
and often much time and perplexity2     
while by purchasing articles thus by the
 quantity1 they come much cheaper than  
if bought in little portions as they are
 wanted4 ,such a trunk should be kept   
locked1 and a smaller supply for current
 use retained in a work-basket4  ,a full
 supply of all conveniences in the      
kitchen and cellar1 and a place         
appointed for each article1 very much   
facilitate domestic labor4 ,for want of 
this1 much vexation and loss of time is 
occasioned while seeking vessels in use1
 or in cleansing those employed by      
different persons for various purposes4 
,it would be far better for a lady to   
give up some expensive article in the   

parlor1 and apply the money thus saved  
for kitchen conveniences1 than to have a
 stinted supply where the most labor is 
to be performed1 ,if our countrywomen   
would devote more to comfort and        
convenience1 and less to show1 it would 
be a great improvement4 ,expensive      
mirrors and pier-tables in the parlor1  
and an unpainted1 gloomy1 ill-furnished 
kitchen1 not unfrequently are found     
under the same roof4  ,another important
 item in systematic economy is1 the     
apportioning of regular employment to   
the various members of a family4 ,if a  
housekeeper can secure the cooperation  
of all her family1 she will find that   
many hands make light work4 ,there is no
 greater mistake than in bringing up    
children to feel that they must be taken
 care of1 and waited on by others1      
without any corresponding obligations on
 their part4 ,the extent to which young 
children can be made useful in a family 
would seem surprising to those who have 
never seen a systematic and regular plan

 for utilizing their services4 ,the     
writer has been in a family where a     
little girl1 of eight or nine years of  
age1 washed and dressed herself and     
young brother1 and made their small     
beds1 before breakfast2 set and cleared 
all the tables for meals1 with a little 
help from a grown person in moving      
tables and spreading cloths2 while all  
the dusting of parlors and chambers was 
also neatly performed by her4 ,a brother
 of ten years old brought in and piled  
all the wood used in the kitchen and    
parlor1 brushed the boots and shoes1    
went on errands1 and took all the care  
of the poultry4 ,they were children     
whose parents could afford to hire      
servants to do this1 but who chose to   
have their children grow up healthy and 
industrious1 while proper instruction1  
system1 and encouragement made these    
services rather a pleasure than         
otherwise1 to the children4  ,some      
parents pay their children for such     
services2 but this is hazardous1 as     

tending to make them feel that they are 
not bound to be helpful without pay1 and
 also as tending to produce a hoarding1 
money-making spirit4 ,but where children
 have no hoarding propensities1 and need
 to acquire a sense of the value of     
property1 it may be well to let them    
earn money for some extra services      
rather as a favor4 ,when this is done1  
they should be taught to spend it for   
others1 as well as for themselves2 and  
in this way1 a generous and liberal     
spirit will be cultivated4  ,there are  
some mothers who take pains to teach    
their boys most of the domestic arts    
which their sisters learn4 ,the writer  
has seen boys mending their own garments
 and aiding their mother or sisters in  
the kitchen1 with great skill and       
adroitness2 and1 at an early age1 they  
usually very much relish joining in such
 occupations4 ,the sons of such mothers1
 in their college life1 or in roaming   
about the world1 or in nursing a sick   
wife or infant1 find occasion to bless  

the forethought and kindness which      
prepared them for such emergencies4 ,few
 things are in worse taste than for a   
man needlessly to busy himself in       
women's work2 and yet a man never       
appears in a more interesting attitude  
than when1 by skill in such matters1 he 
can save a mother or wife from care and 
suffering4 ,the more a boy is taught to 
use his hands1 in every variety of      
domestic employment1 the more his       
faculties1 both of mind and body1 are   
developed2 for mechanical pursuits      
exercise the intellect as well as the   
hands4 ,the early training of           
,new-,england boys1 in which they turn  
their hand to almost every thing1 is one
 great reason of the quick perceptions1 
versatility of mind1 and mechanical     
skill1 for which that portion of our    
countrymen is distinguished4  ,it is    
equally important that young girls      
should be taught to do some species of  
handicraft that generally is done by    
men1 and especially with reference to   

the frequent emigration to new          
territories where well-trained mechanics
 are scarce4 ,to hang wall-paper1 repair
 locks1 glaze windows1 and mend various 
household articles1 requires a skill in 
the use of tools which every young girl 
should acquire4 ,if she never has any   
occasion to apply this knowledge and    
skill by her own hands1 she will often  
find it needful in directing and        
superintending incompetent workmen4     
,the writer has known one mode of       
systematizing the aid of the older      
children in a family1 which1 in some    
cases of very large families1 it may be 
well to imitate4 ,in the case referred  
to1 when the oldest daughter was eight  
or nine years old1 an infant sister was 
given to her1 as her special charge4    
,she tended it1 made and mended its     
clothes1 taught it to read1 and was its 
nurse and guardian1 through all its     
childhood4 ,another infant was given to 
the next daughter1 and thus the children
 were all paired in this interesting    

relation4 ,in addition to the relief    
thus afforded to the mother1 the elder  
children1 were in this way qualified for
 their future domestic relations1 and   
both older and younger bound to each    
other by peculiar ties of tenderness and
 gratitude4  ,in offering these examples
 of various modes of systematizing1 one 
suggestion may be worthy of attention4  
,it is not unfrequently the case1 that  
ladies1 who find themselves cumbered    
with oppressive cares1 after reading    
remarks on the benefits of system1      
immediately commence the task of        
arranging their pursuits1 with great    
vigor and hope4 ,they divide the day    
into regular periods1 and give each hour
 its duty2 they systematize their work1 
and endeavor to bring every thing into a
 regular routine4 ,but1 in a short time1
 they find themselves baffled1          
discouraged1 and disheartened1 and      
finally relapse into their former       
desultory ways1 in a sort of resigned   
despair4  ,the difficulty1 in such      

cases1 is1 that they attempt too much at
 a time4 ,there is nothing which so much
 depends upon habit1 as a systematic    
mode of performing duty2 and where no   
such habit has been formed1 it is       
impossible for a novice to start1 at    
once1 into a universal mode of          
systematizing1 which none but an adept  
could carry through4 ,the only way for  
such persons is to begin with a little  
at a time4 ,let them select some three  
or four things1 and resolutely attempt  
to conquer at these points4 ,in time1 a 
habit will be formed1 of doing a few    
things at regular periods1 and in a     
systematic way4 ,then it will be easy to
 add a few more2 and thus1 by a gradual 
process1 the object can be secured1     
which it would be vain to attempt by a  
more summary course4  ,early rising is  
almost an indispensable condition to    
success1 in such an effort2 but where a 
woman lacks either the health or the    
energy to secure a period for devotional
 duties before breakfast1 let her select

 that hour of the day in which she will 
be least liable to interruption1 and let
 her then seek strength and wisdom from 
the only true ,source4 ,at this time1   
let her take a pen1 and make a list of  
all the things which she considers as   
duties4 ,then1 let a calculation be     
made1 whether there be time enough1 in  
the day or the week1 for all these      
duties4 ,if there be not1 let the least 
important be stricken from the list1 as 
not being duties1 and therefore to be   
omitted4 ,in doing this1 let a woman    
remember that1 though what we shall eat1
 and what we shall think1 and           
wherewithal we shall be clothed1 are    
matters requiring due attention1 they   
are very apt to obtain a wrong relative 
importance1 while intellectual1 social1 
and moral interests receive too little  
regard4  ,in this country1 eating1      
dressing1 and household furniture and   
ornaments1 take far too large a place in
 the estimate of relative importance2   
and it is probable that most women could

 modify their views and practice1 so as 
to come nearer to the ,saviour's        
requirements4 ,no woman has a right to  
put a stitch of ornament on any article 
of dress or furniture1 or to provide one
 superfluity in food1 until she is sure 
she can secure time for all her social1 
intellectual benevolent1 and religions  
duties4 ,if a woman will take the       
trouble to make such a calculation as   
this1 she will usually find that she has
 time enough to perform all her duties  
easily and well4  ,it is impossible for 
a conscientious woman to secure that    
peaceful mind and cheerful enjoyment of 
life which all should seek1 who is      
constantly finding her duties jarring   
with each other1 and much remaining     
undone1 which she feels that she ought  
to do4 ,in consequence of this1 there   
will be a secret uneasiness1 which will 
throw a shade over the whole current of 
life1 never to be removed1 till she so  
efficiently defines and regulates her   
duties that she can fulfill them all4   

,and here the writer would urge upon    
young ladies the importance of forming  
habits of system1 while unembarrassed   
with those multiplied cares which will  
make the task so much1 more difficult   
and hopeless4 ,every young lady can     
systematize her pursuits1 to a certain  
extent4 ,she can have a particular day  
for mending her wardrobe1 and for       
arranging her trunks1 closets1 and      
drawers4 ,she can keep her work-basket1 
her desk at school1 and all her other   
conveniences1 in their proper places1   
and in regular order4 ,she can have     
regular periods for reading1 walking1   
visiting1 study1 and domestic pursuits4 
,and by following this method in youth1 
she will form a taste for regularity and
 a habit of system1 which will prove a  
blessing to her through life4           
,,xviii4  ,,giving ,,in ,,charity4   ,it
 is probable that there is no point of  
duty whereon conscientious persons      
differ more in opinion1 or where they   
find it more difficult to form          

discriminating and decided views1 than  
on the matter of charity4 ,that we are  
bound to give some of our time1 money1  
and efforts1 to relieve the destitute1  
all allow4 ,but1 as to how much we are  
to give1 and on whom our charities shall
 be bestowed1 many a reflecting mind has
 been at a loss4 ,yet it seems very     
desirable that1 in reference to a duty  
so constantly and so strenuously urged  
by the ,supreme ,ruler1 we should be    
able so to fix metes and bounds1 as to  
keep a conscience void of offense1 and  
to free the mind from disquieting fears 
of deficiency4  ,the writer has found no
 other topic of investigation so beset  
with difficulty1 and so absolutely      
without the range of definite rules     
which can apply to all1 in all          
circumstances4 ,but on this1 as on      
previous topics1 there seem to be       
general principles1 by the aid of which 
any candid mind1 sincerely desirous of  
obeying the commands of ,christ1 however
 much self-denial may be involved1 can  

arrive at definite conclusions as to its
 own individual obligations2 so that    
when these are fulfilled1 the mind may  
be at peace4  ,but for a mind that is   
worldly1 living mainly to seek its own  
pleasures instead of living to please   
,god1 no principles can be so fixed as  
not to leave a ready escape from all    
obligation4 ,such minds1 either by      
indolence 7and consequent ignorance7 or 
by sophistry1 will convince themselves  
that a life of engrossing               
self-indulgence1 with perhaps the gift  
of a few dollars and a few hours of     
time1 may suffice to fulfill the        
requisitions of the ,eternal ,judge4    
,for such minds1 no reasonings will     
avail1 till the heart is so changed that
 to learn the will and follow the       
example of ,jesus ,christ become the    
leading objects of interest and effort4 
,it is to aid those who profess to      
possess this temper of mind that the    
following suggestions are offered4  ,the
 first consideration which gives        

definiteness to this subject is a       
correct view of the object for which we 
are placed in this world4 ,a great many1
 even of professed ,christians1 seem to 
be acting on the supposition that the   
object of life is to secure as ranch as 
possible of all the various enjoyments  
placed within reach4 ,not so teaches    
reason or revelation4 ,from these we    
learn that1 though the happiness of his 
creatures is the end for which ,god     
created and sustains them1 yet this     
happiness depends not on the various    
modes of gratification put within our   
reach1 but mainly on character4 ,a man  
may possess all the resources for       
enjoyment which this world can afford1  
and yet feel that all is vanity and     
vexation of spirit1 and that he is      
supremely wretched4 ,another may be in  
want of all things1 and yet possess that
 living spring of benevolence1 faith1   
and hope1 which will make an ,eden of   
the darkest prison4  ,in order to be    
perfectly happy1 man must attain that   

character which ,christ exhibited2 and  
the nearer he approaches it1 the more   
will happiness reign in his breast4     
,but what was the grand peculiarity of  
the character of ,christ8 ,it was       
self-denying benevolence4 ,he came not  
to seek his own2 ,he went about doing   
good1 and this was his meat and drink2  
that is1 it was this which sustained the
 health and life of his mind1 as food   
and drink sustain the health and life of
 the body4 ,now1 the mind of man is so  
made that it can gradually be           
transformed into the same likeness4 ,a  
selfish being1 who1 for a whole life1   
has been nourishing habits of indolent  
self-indulgence1 can1 by taking ,christ 
as his example1 by communion with him1  
and by daily striving to imitate his    
character and conduct1 form such a      
temper of mind that doing good will     
become the chief and highest source of  
enjoyment4 ,and this heavenly principle 
will grow stronger and stronger1 until  
self-denial loses the more painful part 

of its character2 and then1 living to   
make happiness will be so delightful and
 absorbing a pursuit1 that all          
exertions1 regarded as the means to this
 end1 will be like the joyous efforts of
 men when they strive for a prize or a  
crown1 with the full hope of success4   
,in this view of the subject1 efforts   
and self-denial for the good of others  
are to be regarded not merely as duties 
enjoined for the benefit of others1 but 
as the moral training indispensable to  
the formation of that character on which
 depends our own happiness4 ,this view  
exhibits the full meaning of the        
,saviour's declaration1 ,how hardly     
shall they that have riches enter into  
the kingdom of ,god6 ,he had before     
taught that the kingdom of heaven       
consisted not in such enjoyments as the 
worldly seek1 but in the temper of      
self-denying benevolence1 like his own2 
and as the rich have far greater        
temptations to indolent self-indulgence1
 they are far less likely to acquire    

this temper than those who1 by limited  
means1 are inured to some degree of     
self-denial4  ,but on this point1 one   
important distinction needs to be made2 
and that is1 between the self-denial    
which has no other aim than mere        
self-mortification1 and that which is   
exercised to secure greater good to     
ourselves and others4 ,the first is the 
foundation of monasticism1 penances1 and
 all other forms of asceticism2 the     
latter1 only1 is that which             
,christianity requires4  ,a second      
consideration1 which may give           
definiteness to this subject1 is1 that  
the formation of a perfect character    
involves1 not the extermination of any  
principles of our nature1 but rather the
 regulating of them1 according to the   
rules of reason and religion2 so that   
the lower propensities shall always be  
kept subordinate to nobler principles4  
,thus we are not to aim at destroying   
our appetites1 or at needlessly denying 
them1 but rather so to regulate them    

that they shall best secure the objects 
for which they were implanted4 ,we are  
not to annihilate the love of praise and
 admiration2 but so to control it that  
the favor of ,god shall be regarded more
 than the estimation of men4 ,we are not
 to extirpate the principle of          
curiosity1 which leads us to acquire    
knowledge2 but so to direct it1 that all
 our acquisitions shall be useful and   
not frivolous or injurious4 ,and thus   
with all the principles of the mind3    
,god has implanted no desires in our    
constitution which are evil and         
pernicious4 ,on the contrary1 all our   
constitutional propensities1 either of  
mind or body1 he designed we should     
gratify1 whenever no evils would thence 
result1 either to ourselves or others4  
,such passions as envy1 selfish         
ambition1 contemptuous pride1 revenge1  
and hatred1 are to be exterminated2 for 
they are either excesses or             
excrescences1 not created by ,god1 but  
rather the result of our own neglect to 

form habits of benevolence and          
self-control4  ,in deciding the rules of
 our conduct1 therefore1 we are ever to 
bear in mind that the development of the
 nobler principles1 and the subjugation 
of inferior propensities to them1 is to 
be the main object of effort both for   
ourselves and for others4 ,and in       
conformity with this1 in all our plans  
we are to place religious and moral     
interests as first in estimation1 our   
social and intellectual interests next1 
and our physical gratifications as      
subordinate to all4  ,a third           
consideration is that1 though the means 
for sustaining life and health are to be
 regarded as necessaries1 without which 
no other duties can be performed1 yet a 
very large portion of the time spent by 
most persons in easy circumstances for  
food1 raiment1 and dwellings1 is for    
mere superfluities2 which are right when
 they do not involve the sacrifice of   
higher interests1 and wrong when they   
do4 ,life and health can be sustained in

 the humblest dwellings1 with the       
plainest dress1 and the simplest food2  
and1 after taking from our means what is
 necessary for life and health1 the     
remainder is to be so divided1 that the 
larger portion shall be given to supply 
the moral and intellectual wants of     
ourselves and others1 together with the 
physical requirements of the destitute1 
and the smaller share to procure those  
additional gratifications of taste and  
appetite which are desirable but not    
indispensable4 ,mankind1 thus far1 have 
never made this apportionment of their  
means2 although1 just as fast as they   
have risen from a savage state1 mere    
physical wants have been made1 to an    
increasing extent1 subordinate to higher
 objects4  ,another very important      
consideration is that1 in urging the    
duty of charity and the prior claims of 
moral and religious objects1 no rule of 
duty should be maintained which it would
 not be right and wise for all to       
follow4 ,and we are to test the wisdom  

of any general rule by inquiring what   
would be the result if all mankind      
should practice according to it4 ,in    
view of this1 we are enabled to judge of
 the correctness of those who maintain  
that1 to be consistent1 men believing in
 the perils of all those of our race who
 are not brought under the influence of 
the ,christian system should give up not
 merely the elegancies but all the      
superfluities of life1 and devote the   
whole of their means not indispensable  
to life and health to the propagation of
 ,christianity4  ,but if this is the    
duty of any1 it is the duty of all2 and 
we are to inquire what would be the     
result1 if all conscientious persons    
gave up the use of all superfluities4   
,suppose that two millions of the people
 of the ,united ,states were            
conscientious persons1 and relinquished 
the use of every thing not absolutely   
necessary to life and health4 ,besides  
reducing the education of the people in 
all the higher walks of intellectual1   

social1 and even moral development1 to  
very narrow limits1 it would instantly  
throw out of employment one half of the 
whole community4 ,the writers1          
book-makers1 manufacturers1 mechanics1  
merchants agriculturists1 and all the   
agencies they employ1 would be beggared1
 and one half of those not reduced to   
poverty would be obliged to spend all   
their extra means in-simply supplying   
necessaries to the other half4 ,the use 
of superfluities1 therefore1 to a       
certain extent1 is as indispensable to  
promote industry1 virtue1 and religion1 
as any direct giving of money or time2  
and it is owing entirely to a want of   
reflection and of comprehensive views1  
that any men ever make so great a       
mistake as is here exhibited4  ,instead1
 then1 of urging a rule of duty which is
 at once irrational and impracticable1  
there is another course1 which commends 
itself to the understandings of all4    
,for whatever may be the practice of    
intelligent men1 they universally       

concede the principle1 that our physical
 gratifications should always be made   
subordinate to social1 intellectual1 and
 moral advantages4 ,and all that is     
required for the advancement of our     
whole race to the most perfect state of 
society is1 simply1 that men should act 
in agreement with this principle4 ,and  
if only a very small portion of the most
 intelligent of our race should act     
according to this rule1 under the       
control of ,christian benevolence1 the  
immense supplies furnished for the      
general good would be far beyond what   
any would imagine who had never made any
 calculations on the subject4 ,in this  
nation alone1 suppose the one million   
and more of professed followers of      
,christ should give a larger portion of 
their means for the social1             
intellectual1 and moral wants of        
mankind1 than for the superfluities that
 minister to their own taste1           
convenience1 and appetite2 it would be  
enough to furnish all the schools1      

colleges1 ,bibles1 ministers1 and       
missionaries1 that the whole world could
 demand2 or1 at least1 it would be far  
more than properly qualified agents to  
administer it could employ4  ,but it may
 be objected that1 though this view in  
the abstract looks plausible and        
rational1 not one in a thousand can     
practically adopt it4 ,how few keep any 
account1 at all1 of their current       
expenses6 ,how impossible it is to      
determine1 exactly1 what are necessaries
 and what are superfluities6 ,and in    
regard to women1 how few have the       
control of an income1 so as not to be   
bound by the wishes of a parent or a    
husband6  ,in reference to these        
difficulties1 the first remark is1 that 
we are never under obligations to do    
what is entirely out of our power2 so   
that those persons who can not regulate 
their expenses or their charities are   
under no sort of obligation to attempt  
it4 ,the second remark is that1 when a  
rule of duty is discovered1 if we can   

not fully attain to it1 we are bound to 
aim at it1 and to fulfill it just so far
 as we can4 ,we have no right to throw  
it aside because we shall find some     
difficult cases when we come to apply   
it4 ,the third remark is1 that no person
 can tell how much can be done1 till a  
faithful trial has been made4 ,if a     
woman has never kept any accounts1 nor  
attempted to regulate her expenditures  
by the right rule1 nor used her         
influence with those that control her   
plans1 to secure this object1 she has no
 right to say how much she can or can   
not do1 till after a fair trial has been
 made4  ,in attempting such a trial1 the
 following method can be taken4 ,let a  
woman1 keep an account of all she       
spends1 for herself and her family1 for 
a year1 arranging the items under three 
general heads4 ,under the first1 put all
 articles of food1 raiment1 rent1 wages1
 and all conveniences4 ,under the       
second1 place all sums paid in securing 
an education1 and books1 and other      

intellectual advantages4 ,under the     
third head1 place all that is spent for 
benevolence and religion4 ,at the end of
 the year1 the first and largest account
 will show the mixed items of           
necessaries and superfluities1 which can
 be arranged so as to gain some sort of 
idea how much has been spent for        
superfluities and how much for          
necessaries4 ,then1 by comparing what is
 spent for superfluities1 with what is  
spent for intellectual and moral        
advantages1 data will be gained for     
judging of the past and regulating the  
future4  ,does a woman say she can not  
do this8 let her think whether the offer
 of a thousand dollars1 as a reward-for 
attempting it one year1 would not make  
her undertake to do it2 and if so1 let  
her decide1 in her own mind1 which is   
most valuable1 a clear conscience1 and  
the approbation of ,god1 in this effort 
to do his will1 or one thousand dollars4
 ,and let her do it1 with this warning  
of the ,saviour before her eyes--,no man

 can serve two masters4 ,ye can not     
serve ,god and ,mammon4  ,is it         
objected1 ,how can we decide between    
superfluities and necessities1 in this  
list8 ,it is replied1 that we are not   
required to judge exactly1 in all cases4
 ,our duty is1 to use the means in our  
power to assist us in forming a correct 
judgment2 to seek the divine aid in     
freeing our minds from indolence and    
selfishness2 and then to judge1 as well 
as we can1 in our endeavors rightly to  
apportion and regulate our expenses4    
,many persons seem to feel that they are
 bound to do better than they know how4 
,but ,god is not so hard a master2 and  
after we have used all proper means to  
learn the right way1 if we then follow  
it according to our ability1 we do wrong
 to feel misgivings1 or to blame        
ourselves1 if results come out          
differently from what seems desirable4  
,the results of our actions1 alone1 can 
never prove as deserving of blame4 ,for 
men are often so placed that1 owing to  

lack of intellect or means1 it is       
impossible for them to decide correctly4
 ,to use all the means of knowledge     
within our reach1 and then to judge1    
with a candid and conscientious spirit1 
is all that ,god requires2 and when we  
have done this1 and the event seems to  
come out wrong1 we should never wish    
that we had decided otherwise4 ,for this
 would be the same as wishing that we   
had not followed the dictates of        
judgment and conscience4 ,as this is a  
world designed for discipline and trial1
 untoward events are never to be        
construed as indications of the         
obliquity of our past decisions4  ,but  
it is probable that a great portion of  
the women of this nation can not secure 
any such systematic mode of regulating  
their expenses4 ,to such1 the writer    
would propose one inquiry3 ,can not you 
calculate how much time and money you   
spend for what is merely ornamental1 and
 not necessary1 for yourself1 your      
children1 and your house8 ,can not you  

compare this with the time and money you
 spend for intellectual and benevolent  
purposes8 and will not this show the    
need of some change8 ,in making this    
examination1 is not this brief rule1    
deducible from the principles before    
laid down1 the one which should regulate
 you8 ,every person does right in       
spending some portion of time and means 
in securing the conveniences and        
adornments of taste2 but the amount     
should never exceed what is spent in    
securing our own moral and intellectual 
improvement1 nor what is spent in       
benevolent efforts to supply the        
physical and moral wants of our         
fellow-men4  ,in making an examination  
on this subject1 it is sometimes the    
case that a woman will count among the  
necessaries of life all the various     
modes of adorning the person or house1  
practiced in the circle in which she    
moves2 and1 after enumerating the many  
duties which demand attention1 counting 
these as a part1 she will come to the   

conclusion that she has no time1 and but
 little money1 to devote to personal    
improvement or to benevolent            
enterprises4 ,this surely is not in     
agreement with the requirements of the  
,saviour1 who calls on us to seek for   
others1 as well as ourselves1 first of  
all1 the kingdom of ,god1 and his       
righteousness4  ,in order to act in     
accordance with the rule here presented1
 it is true that many would be obliged  
to give up the idea of conforming to the
 notions and customs of those with whom 
they associate1 and compelled to adopt  
the maxim1 ,be not conformed to this    
world4 ,in many cases it would involve  
an entire change in the style of living4
 ,and the writer has the happiness of   
knowing more cases than one1 where      
persons who have come to similar views  
on this subject1 have given up large and
 expensive establishments1 disposed of  
their carriages1 dismissed a portion of 
their domestics1 and modified all their 
expenditures1 that they might keep a    

pure conscience1 and regulate their     
charities more according to the         
requirements of ,christianity4 ,and     
there are persons1 well known in the    
religious world1 who save themselves all
 labor of minute calculation1 by        
devoting so large a portion of their    
time and means to benevolent objects1   
that they find no difficulty in knowing 
that they give more for religious1      
benevolent1 and intellectual purposes   
than for superfluities4  ,in deciding   
what particular objects shall receive   
our benefactions1 there are also general
 principles to guide us4 ,the first is  
that presented by our ,saviour1 when1   
after urging the great law of           
benevolence1 he was asked1 ,and who is  
my neighbor8 ,his reply1 in the parable 
of the ,good ,samaritan1 teaches us that
 any human being whose wants are brought
 to our knowledge is our neighbor4 ,the 
wounded man in that parable was not only
 a stranger1 but he belonged to a       
foreign nation1 peculiarly hated2 and he

 had no claim1 except that his wants    
were brought to the knowledge of the    
wayfaring man4 ,from this we learn that 
the destitute of all nations become our 
neighbors1 as soon as their wants are   
brought to our knowledge4  ,another     
general principle is this1 that those   
who are most in need must be relieved in
 preference to those who are less       
destitute4 ,on this principle it is1    
that we think the followers of ,christ  
should give more to supply those who are
 suffering for want of the bread of     
eternal life1 than for those who are    
deprived of physical enjoyments4 ,and   
another reason for this preference is   
the fact that many who give in charity  
have made such imperfect advances in    
civilization and ,christianity that the 
intellectual and moral wants of our race
 make but a feeble impression on the    
mind4 ,relate a pitiful tale of a family
 reduced to live for weeks on potatoes  
only1 and many a mind would awake to    
deep sympathy and stretch forth the hand

 of charity4 ,but describe cases where  
the immortal mind is pining in stupidity
 and ignorance1 or racked with the fever
 of baleful passions1 and how small the 
number so elevated in sentiment and so  
enlarged in their views as to appreciate
 and sympathize in these far greater    
misfortunes6 ,the intellectual and moral
 wants of our fellow-men1 therefore1    
should claim the first place in general 
,christian attention1 both because they 
are most important1 and because they are
 most neglected2 while it should not be 
forgotten1 in giving personal attention 
to the wants of the poor1 that the      
relief of immediate physical distress1  
is often the easiest way of touching the
 moral sensibilities of the destitute4  
,another consideration to be borne in   
mind is that1 in this country1 there is 
much less real need of charity in       
supplying physical necessities than is  
generally supposed by those who have not
 learned the more excellent way4 ,this  
land is so abundant in supplies1 and    

labor is in such demand1 that every     
healthy person can earn a comfortable   
support4 ,and if all the poor were      
instantly made virtuous1 it is probable 
that there would be few physical wants  
which could not readily be supplied by  
the immediate friends of each sufferer4 
,the sick1 the aged1 and the orphan     
would be the only objects of charity4   
,in this view of the case1 the primary  
effort in relieving the poor should be  
to furnish them the means of earning    
their own support1 and to supply them   
with those moral influences which are   
most effectual in securing virtue and   
industry4  ,another point to be attended
 to is the importance of maintaining a  
system of associated charities4 ,there  
is no point in which the economy of     
charity has more improved than in the   
present mode of combining many small    
contributions1 for sustaining enlarged  
and systematic plans of charity4 ,if all
 the half-dollars which are now         
contributed to aid in organized systems 

of charity were returned to the donors1 
to be applied by the agency and         
discretion of each1 thousands and       
thousands of the treasures1 now employed
 to promote the moral and intellectual  
wants of mankind1 would become entirely 
useless in a democracy like ours1 where 
few are very rich and the majority are  
in comfortable circumstances1 this      
collecting and dispensing of drops and  
rills is the mode by which1 in imitation
 of nature1 the dews and showers are to 
distill on parched and desert lands4    
,and every person1 while earning a      
pittance to unite with many more1 may be
 cheered with the consciousness of      
sustaining a grand system of operations 
which must have the most decided        
influence in raising all mankind to that
 perfect state of society which         
,christianity is designed to bring      
about4  ,another consideration relates  
to the indiscriminate bestowal of       
charity4 ,persons who have taken pains  
to inform themselves1 and who devote    

their whole time to dispensing          
charities1 unite in declaring that this 
is one of the most fruitful sources of  
indolence1 vice1 and poverty4 ,from     
several of these the writer has learned 
that1 by their own personal             
investigations1 they have ascertained   
that there are large establishments of  
idle and wicked persons in most of our  
cities1 who associate together to       
support themselves by every species of  
imposition4 ,they hire large houses1 and
 live in constant rioting on the means  
thus obtained4 ,among them are women who
 have or who hire the use of infant     
children2 others1 who are blind1 or     
maimed1 or deformed1 or who can adroitly
 feign such infirmities2 and1 by these  
means of exciting pity1 and by artful   
tales of woe1 they collect alms1 both in
 city and country1 to spend in all      
manner of gross and guilty indulgences4 
,meantime many persons1 finding         
themselves often duped by impostors1    
refuse to give at all2 and thus many    

benefactions are withdrawn1 which a wise
 economy in charity would have secured4 
,for this and other reasons1 it is wise 
and merciful to adopt the general rule1 
never to give alms till we have had some
 opportunity of knowing how they will be
 spent4 ,there are exceptions to this1  
as to every general rule1 which a person
 of discretion can determine4 ,but the  
practice so common among benevolent     
persons1 of giving at least a trifle to 
all who ask1 lest perchance they may    
turn away some who are really sufferers1
 is one which causes more sin and misery
 than it cures4  ,the writer has never  
known any system for dispensing charity 
so successful as the one by which a town
 or city is divided into districts2 and 
each district is committed to the care  
of two ladies1 whose duty it is1 to call
 on each family and leave a book for a  
child1 or do some other deed of         
neighborly kindness1 and make that the  
occasion for entering into conversation1
 and learning the situation of all      

residents in the district4 ,by this     
method1 the ignorant1 the vicious1 and  
the poor are discovered1 and their      
physical1 intellectual1 and moral wants 
are investigated4 ,in some places where 
the writer has known this mode pursued1 
each person retained the same district1 
year after year1 so that every poor     
family in the place was under the watch 
and care of some intelligent and        
benevolent lady1 who used all her       
influence to secure a proper education  
for the children1 to furnish them with  
suitable reading1 to encourage habits of
 industry and economy1 and to secure    
regular attendance on public religious  
instruction4 ,thus1 the rich and the    
poor were brought in contact1 in a way  
advantageous to both parties2 and if    
such a system could be universally      
adopted1 more would be done for the     
prevention of poverty and vice than all 
the wealth of the nation could avail for
 their relief4 ,but this plan can not be
 successfully carried out1 in this      

manner1 unless there is a large         
proportion of intelligent1 benevolent1  
and self-denying persons1 who unite in a
 systematic plan4  ,but there is one    
species of charity which needs especial 
consideration4 ,it is that spirit of    
kindly love which induces us to refrain 
from judging of the means and the       
relative charities of other persons4    
,there have been such indistinct        
notions1 and so many different standards
 of duty1 on this subject1 that it is   
rare for two persons to think exactly   
alike1 in regard to the rule of duty4   
,each person is bound to inquire and    
judge for himself1 as to his own duty or
 deficiencies2 but as both the resources
 and the amount of the actual charities 
of others are beyond our ken1 it is as  
indecorous as it is uncharitable to sit 
in judgment on their decisions4         
,,xix4  ,,economy ,,of ,,time ,,and     
,,expenses4  ,the value of time1 and our
 obligation to spend every hour for some
 useful end1 are what few minds properly

 realize4 ,and those who have the       
highest sense of their obligations in   
this respect1 sometimes greatly misjudge
 in their estimate of what are useful   
and proper modes of employing time4     
,this arises from limited views of the  
importance of some pursuits1 which they 
would deem frivolous and useless1 but   
which are in reality necessary to       
preserve the health of body and mind and
 those social affections which it is    
very important to cherish4 ,christianity
 teaches that1 for all the time afforded
 us1 we must give account to ,god2 and  
that we have no right to waste a single 
hour4 ,but time which is spent in rest  
or amusement is often as usefully       
employed as if it were devoted to labor 
or devotion4 ,in employing our time1 we 
are to make suitable allowance for      
sleep1 for preparing and taking food1   
for securing the means of a livelihood1 
for intellectual improvement1 for       
exercise and amusement1 for social      
enjoyments1 and for benevolent and      

religious duties4 ,and it is the right  
apportionment of time1 to these various 
duties1 which constitutes its true      
economy4  ,in deciding respecting the   
rectitude of our pursuits1 we are bound 
to aim at some practical good1 as the   
ultimate object4 ,with every duty of    
this life1 our benevolent ,creator has  
connected some species of enjoyment1 to 
draw us to perform it4 ,thus1 the palate
 is gratified1 by performing the duty of
 nourishing our bodies2 the principle of
 curiosity is gratified in pursuing     
useful knowledge2 the desire of         
approbation is gratified1 when we       
perform general social duties2 and every
 other duty has an alluring enjoyment   
connected with it4 ,but the great       
mistake of mankind has consisted in     
seeking the pleasures connected with    
these duties1 as the sole aim1 without  
reference to the main end that should be
 held in view1 and to which the         
enjoyment should be made subservient4   
,thus1 men gratify the palate1 without  

reference to the question whether the   
body is properly nourished3 and follow  
after knowledge1 without inquiring      
whether it ministers to good or evil2   
and seek amusement without reference to 
results4  ,in gratifying the implanted  
desires of our nature1 we are bound so  
to restrain ourselves1 by reason and    
conscience1 as always to seek the main  
objects of existence--the highest good  
of ourselves and others2 and never to   
sacrifice this for the mere             
gratification of our desires4 ,we are to
 gratify appetite1 just so far as is    
consistent with health and usefulness2  
and the desire for knowledge1 just so   
far as will enable us to do most good by
 our influence and efforts2 and no      
farther4 ,we are to seek social         
intercourse1 to that extent which will  
best promote domestic enjoyment and     
kindly feelings among neighbors and     
friends2 and we are to pursue exercise  
and amusement1 only so far as will best 
sustain the vigor of body and mind4     

,the laws of the ,supreme ,ruler1 when  
he became the civil as well as the      
religious ,head of the ,jewish          
theocracy1 furnish an example which it  
would be well for all attentively to    
consider1 when forming plans for the    
apportionment of time and property4 ,to 
properly estimate this example1 it must 
be borne in mind1 that the main object  
of ,god was1 to set an example of the   
temporal rewards that follow obedience  
to the laws of the ,creator1 and at the 
same time to prepare religious teachers 
to extend the true religion to the whole
 race of man4  ,before ,christ came1 the
 ,jews were not required to go forth to 
other nations as teachers of religion1  
nor were the ,jewish nation led to      
obedience by motives of a life to come4 
,to them ,god was revealed1 both as a   
father and a civil ruler1 and obedience 
to laws relating solely to this life was
 all that was required4 ,so low were    
they in the scale of civilization and   
mental development1 that a system which 

confined them to one spot1 as an        
agricultural people1 and prevented their
 growing very rich1 or having extensive 
commerce with other nations1 was        
indispensable to prevent their relapsing
 into the low idolatries and vices of   
the nations around them1 while temporal 
rewards and penalties were more         
effective than those of a life to come4 
,the proportion of time and property1   
which every ,jew was required to devote 
to intellectual1 benevolent1 and        
religious purposes1 was as follows3  ,in
 regard to property1 they were required 
to give one tenth of all their yearly   
income to support the ,levites1 the     
priests1 and the religious service4     
,next1 they were required to give the   
first-fruits of all their corn1 wine1   
oil1 and fruits1 and the first-born of  
all their cattle1 for the ,lord's       
treasury1 to be employed for the        
priests1 the widow1 the fatherless1 and 
the stranger4 ,the first-born1 also1 of 
their children1 were the ,lord's1 and   

were to be redeemed by a specified sum1 
paid into the sacred treasury4 ,besides 
this1 they were required to bring a     
free-will offering to ,god1 every time  
they went up to the three great yearly  
festivals4 ,in addition to this1 regular
 yearly sacrifices of cattle and fowls  
were required of each family1 and       
occasional sacrifices for certain sins  
or ceremonial ,impurities4 ,in reaping  
their fields1 they were required to     
leave unreaped1 for the poor1 the       
corners2 not to glean their fields1     
oliveyards1 or vineyards2 and1 if a     
sheaf was left by mistake1 they were not
 to return for it but leave it for the  
poor4  ,one twelfth of the people were  
set apart1 having no landed property1 to
 be priests and teachers2 and the other 
tribes were required to support them    
liberally4  ,in regard to the time taken
 from secular pursuits1 for the support 
of education and religion1 an equally   
liberal amount was demanded4 ,in the    
first place1 one seventh part of their  

time was taken for the weekly sabbath1  
when no kind of work was to be done4    
,then the whole nation were required to 
meet at the appointed place three times 
a year1 which1 including their journeys 
and stay there1 occupied eight weeks1 or
 another seventh part of their time4    
,then the sabbatical year1 when no      
agricultural labor was to be done1 took 
another seventh of their time from their
 regular pursuits1 as they were an      
agricultural people4 ,this was the      
amount of time and property demanded by 
,god1 simply to sustain education1      
religion1 and morality within the bounds
 of one nation4 ,it was promised to this
 nation and fulfilled by constant       
miraculous interpositions1 that in this 
life1 obedience to ,god's laws should   
secure health1 peace1 prosperity1 and   
long life2 while for disobedience was   
threatened war1 pestilence1 famine1 and 
all temporal evils4 ,these promises were
 constantly verified1 and in the day of 
,solomon1 when1 this nation was most    

obedient1 the whole world was moved with
 wonder at its wealth and prosperity4   
,but up to this time1 no attempt was    
made by ,god to govern the ,israelites  
by the rewards and penalties of the     
world to come4  ,but when the fullness  
of time had come1 and the race of man   
was prepared to receive higher          
responsibilities1 ,jesus ,christ came   
and brought life and immortality to     
light with a clearness never before     
revealed4 ,at the same time was revealed
 the fatherhood of ,god1 not to the     
,jews alone1 but to the whole human     
race1 and the consequent brotherhood of 
man2 and these revelations in many      
respects changed the whole standard of  
duty and obligation4  ,christ came as   
,god manifest in the flesh1 to set an   
example of self-sacrificing love1 in    
rescuing the whole family of man from   
the dangers of the unseen world1 and    
also to teach and train his disciples   
through all time to follow his example4 
,and those who conform the most         

consistently to his teachings and       
example will aim at a standard of labor 
and self-denial far beyond that demanded
 of the ,jews4  ,it is not always that  
men understand the economy of           
,providence1 in that unequal            
distribution of property which1 even    
under the most perfect form of          
government1 will always exist4 ,many1   
looking at the present state of things1 
imagine that the rich1 if they acted in 
strict conformity to the law of         
benevolence1 would share all their      
property with their suffering           
fellow-men4 ,but such do not take into  
account the inspired declaration that a 
man's life consisteth not in the        
abundance of the things which he        
possesseth1 or1 in other words1 life is 
made valuable1 not by great possessions1
 but by such a character as prepares a  
man to enjoy what he holds4 ,god        
perceives that human character can be   
most improved by that kind of discipline
 which exists when there is something   

valuable to be gained by industrious    
efforts4 ,this stimulus to industry     
could never exist in a community where  
all are just alike1 as it does in a     
state of society where every man sees   
possessed by others enjoyments which he 
desires and may secure by effort and    
industry4 ,so1 in a community where all 
are alike as to property1 there would be
 no chance to gain that noblest of all  
attainments1 a habit of self-denying    
benevolence which toils for the good of 
others1 and takes from one's own store  
to increase the enjoyments of another4  
,instead1 then1 of the stagnation1 both 
of industry and of benevolence1 which   
would follow the universal and equable  
distribution1 of property1 some men1 by 
superior advantages of birth1 or        
intellect1 or patronage1 come into      
possession of a great amount of capital4
 ,with these means they are enabled1 by 
study1 reading1 and travel1 to secure   
expansion of mind and just views of the 
relative advantages of moral1           

intellectual1 and physical enjoyments4  
,at the same time1 ,christianity imposes
 obligations corresponding with the     
increase of advantages and means4 ,the  
rich are not at liberty to spend their  
treasures chiefly for themselves4 ,their
 wealth is given1 by ,god1 to be        
employed for the best good of mankind2  
and their intellectual advantages are   
designed1 primarily1 to enable them to  
judge correctly in employing their means
 most wisely for the general good4      
,now1 suppose a man of wealth inherits  
ten thousand acres of real estate2 it is
 not his duty to divide it among his    
poor neighbors and tenants4 ,if he took 
this course1 it is probable that most of
 them would spend all in thriftless     
waste and indolence1 or in mere physical
 enjoyments4 ,instead1 then1 of thus    
putting his capital out of his hands1 he
 is bound to retain and so to employ it 
as to raise his family and his neighbors
 to such a state of virtue and          
intelligence that they can secure far   

more1 by their own efforts and industry1
 than he1 by dividing his capital1 could
 bestow upon them4  ,in this view of the
 subject1 it is manifest that the       
unequal distribution of property is no  
evil4 ,the great difficulty is1 that so 
large a portion of those who hold much  
capital1 instead of using their various 
advantages for the greatest good of     
those around them1 employ them for mere 
selfish indulgences2 thus inflicting as 
much mischief on themselves as results  
to others from their culpable neglect4  
,a great portion of the rich seem to be 
acting on the principle that the more   
,god bestows on them the less are they  
under obligation to practice any        
self-denial in fulfilling his benevolent
 plan of raising our race to            
intelligence and virtue4  ,but there are
 cheering examples of the contrary      
spirit and prejudice1 some of which will
 be here recorded to influence and      
encourage others4  ,a lady of great     
wealth1 high position1 and elegant      

culture1 in one of our large cities1    
hired and furnished a house adjacent to 
her own1 and1 securing the aid of       
another benevolent and cultivated woman1
 took twelve orphan girls1 of different 
ages1 and educated them under their     
joint care4 ,not only time and money    
were given1 but love and labor1 just as 
if these were their own children2 and as
 fast as one was provided for1 another  
was taken4  ,in another city1 a young   
lady with property of her own hired a   
house and made it a home for homeless   
and unprotected women1 who paid board   
when they could earn it1 and found a    
refuge when out of employment4  ,in     
another city1 the wife of one of its    
richest merchants1 living in princely   
style1 took two young girls from the    
certain road to ruin among the vicious  
poor4 ,she boarded them with a          
respectable farmer1 and sent them to    
school1 and every week went out1 not    
only to supervise them1 but to aid in   
training them to habits of neatness1    

industry1 and obedience1 just as if they
 were her own children4 ,next1 she hired
 a large house near the most degraded   
part of the city1 furnished it neatly   
and with all suitable conveniences to   
work1 and then rented to those among the
 most degraded whom she could bring to  
conform to a few simple rules of        
decency1 industry1 and benevolence--one 
of these rules being that they should   
pay her the rent every ,saturday night4 
,to this motley gathering she became    
chief counselor and friend1 quieted     
their brawls1 taught them to aid each   
other in trouble or sickness1 and strove
 to introduce among them that law of    
patient love and kindness1 illustrated  
by her own example4 ,the young girls in 
this tenement she assembled every       
,saturday at her own house--taught them 
to sing1 heard them recite their        
,sunday-school lessons1 to be sure these
 were properly learned2 taught them to  
make and mend their own clothing1       
trimmed their bonnets1 and took charge  

of their ,sunday dress1 that it might   
always be in order4 ,of course1 such    
benevolence drew a stream of ignorance  
and misery to her door2 and so          
successful was her labor that she hired 
a second house1 and managed it on the   
same plan4 ,one hot day in ,august1 a   
friend found her combing the head of a  
poor1 ungainly1 foreign girl4 ,she had  
persuaded a friend to take her from     
compassion1 and she was returned because
 her head was in such in a state4       
,finding no one else to do it1 the lady 
herself bravely met the difficulty1 and 
persevered in this daily ministry till  
the evil was remedied1 and the poor girl
 thus secured a comfortable home and    
wages4  ,a young lady of wealth and     
position1 with great musical culture and
 taste1 found among the poor two young  
girls with fine voices and great musical
 talent4 ,gaining her parents' consent1 
the young lady took one of them home1   
trained her in music1 and saw that her  
school education was secured1 so that   

when expensive masters and instruments  
were needed the girl herself earned the 
money required1 as a governess in a     
family of wealthy friends4 ,then she    
aided the sister2 and1 as the result1   
one of them is married happily to a man 
of great wealth1 and the other is       
receiving a large income as a popular   
musical artist4  ,another young girl1   
educated as a fine musician by her      
wealthy parents1 at the age of sixteen  
was afflicted with weak eyes and a heart
 complaint4 ,she strove to solace       
herself by benevolent ministries4 ,by   
teaching music to children of wealthy   
friends she earned the means to relieve 
and instruct the suffering1 ignorant1   
and poor4  ,these examples may suffice  
to show that1 even among the most       
wealthy1 abundant modes of self-denying 
benevolence may be found where there is 
a heart to seek them4  ,there is no     
direction in which a true ,christian    
economy of time and money is more       
conspicuous than in the style of living 

adopted in the family state4  ,those who
 build stately mansions1 and lay out    
extensive grounds1 and multiply the     
elegancies of life1 to be enjoyed by    
themselves and a select few1 have their 
reward in the enjoyments that end in    
this life4 ,but those who with1 equal   
means adopt a style that enables them   
largely to devote time and wealth to the
 elevation and improvement of their     
fellow-men1 are laying up never-failing 
treasures in heaven4    ,,xx4  ,,health 
,,of ,,mind4  ,there is such an intimate
 connection between the body and mind   
that the health of one can not be       
preserved without a proper care of the  
other4 ,and it is from a neglect of this
 principle1 that some of the most       
exemplary and conscientious persons in  
the world suffer a thousand mental      
agonies from a diseased state of body1  
while others ruin the health of the body
 by neglecting the proper care of the   
mind4  ,when the mind is excited by     
earnest intellectual effort1 or by      

strong passions1 the blood rushes to the
 head and the brain is excited4 ,sir    
,astley ,cooper records that1 in        
examining the brain of a young man who  
had lost a portion of his skull1        
whenever he was agitated by some        
opposition to his wishes1 the blood was 
sent with increased force to his brain1 
and the pulsations became frequent and  
violent4 ,the same effect was produced  
by any intellectual effort2 and the     
flushed countenance which attends       
earnest study or strong emotions of     
interest of any kind1 is an external    
indication of the suffused state of the 
brain from such causes4  ,in exhibiting 
the causes which injure the health of   
the mind1 we shall find them to be      
partly physical1 partly intellectual1   
and partly moral4  ,the first cause of  
mental disease and suffering is not     
unfrequently in the want of a proper    
supply of duly oxygenized blood4 ,it has
 been shown that the blood1 in passing  
through the lungs1 is purified by the   

oxygen of the air combining with the    
superabundant hydrogen and carbon of the
 venous blood1 thus forming carbonic    
acid and water1 which are expired into  
the atmosphere4 ,every pair of lungs is 
constantly withdrawing from the         
surrounding atmosphere its healthful    
principle1 and returning one which is   
injurious to human life4  ,when1 by     
confinement and this process1 the air is
 deprived of its appropriate supply of  
oxygen1 the purification of the blood is
 interrupted1 and it passes without     
being properly prepared into the brain1 
producing languor1 restlessness1 and    
inability to exercise the intellect and 
feelings4 ,whenever1 therefore1 persons 
sleep in a close apartment1 or remain   
for a length of time in a crowded or    
ill-ventilated room1 a most pernicious  
influence is exerted on the brain1 and1 
through this1 on the mind4 ,a person who
 is often exposed to such influences can
 never enjoy that elasticity and vigor  
of mind which is one of the chief       

indications of its health4 ,this is the 
reason why all rooms for religious      
meetings1 and all school-rooms and      
sleeping apartments should be so        
contrived as to secure a constant supply
 of fresh air from without4 ,the        
minister who preaches in a crowded and  
ill-ventilated apartment loses much of  
his power to feel and to speak1 while   
the audience are equally reduced in     
their capability of attending4 ,the     
teacher who confines children in a close
 apartment diminishes their ability to  
study1 or to attend to instructions4    
,and the person who habitually sleeps in
 a close room impairs mental energy in a
 similar degree4 ,it is not unfrequently
 the case that depression of spirits and
 stupor of intellect are occasioned     
solely by inattention to this subject4  
,another cause of mental disease is the 
excessive exercise of the intellect or  
feelings4 ,if the eye is taxed beyond   
its strength by protracted use1 its     
blood-vessels become gorged1 and the    

bloodshot appearance warns of the excess
 and the need of rest4 ,the brain is    
affected in a similar manner by         
excessive use1 though the suffering and 
inflamed organ can not make its appeal  
to the eye4 ,but there are some         
indications which ought never to be     
misunderstood or disregarded4 ,in cases 
of pupils at school or at college1 a    
diseased state1 from over-action1 is    
often manifested by increased clearness 
of mind1 and temporary ease and vigor of
 mental action4 ,in one instance1 known 
to the writer1 a most exemplary and     
industrious pupil1 anxious to improve   
every hour and ignorant or unmindful of 
the laws of health1 first manifested the
 diseased state of her brain and mind by
 demands for more studies1 and a sudden 
and earnest activity in planning modes  
of improvement for herself and others4  
,when warned of her danger1 she         
protested that she never was better in  
her life2 that she took regular exercise
 in the open air1 went to bed in season1

 slept soundly1 and felt perfectly well2
 that her mind was never before so      
bright and clear1 and study never so    
easy and delightful4 ,and at this time1 
she was on the verge of derangement1    
from which she was saved only by an     
entire cessation of all intellectual    
efforts4  ,a similar case occurred1     
under the eye of the writer1 from       
over-excited feelings4 ,it was during a 
time of unusual religious interest in   
the community1 and the mental disease   
was first manifested by the pupil       
bringing her hymn-book or ,bible to the 
class-room1 and making it her constant  
resort1 in every interval of school     
duty4 ,it finally became impossible to  
convince her that it was her duty to    
attend to any thing else2 her conscience
 became morbidly sensitive1 her         
perceptions indistinct1 her deductions  
unreasonable2 and nothing but entire    
change of scene and exercise1 and       
occupation of her mind by amusement1    
saved her4 ,when the health of the brain

 was restored1 she found that she could 
attend to the one thing needful1 not    
only without interruption of duty or    
injury to health1 but rather so as to   
promote both4 ,clergymen and teachers   
need most carefully to notice and guard 
against the dangers here alluded to4    
,any such attention to religion as      
prevents the performance of daily duties
 and needful relaxation is dangerous1   
and tends to produce such a state of the
 brain as makes it impossible to feel or
 judge correctly4 ,and when any morbid  
and unreasonable pertinacity appears1   
much exercise and engagement in other   
interesting pursuits should be urged1 as
 the only mode of securing the religious
 benefits aimed at4 ,and whenever any   
mind is oppressed with care1 anxiety1 or
 sorrow1 the amount of active exercise  
in the fresh air should be greatly      
increased1 that the action of the       
muscles may withdraw the blood which1 in
 such seasons1 is constantly tending too
 much to the brain4  ,there has been a  

most appalling amount of suffering1     
derangement1 disease1 and death1        
occasioned by a want of attention to    
this subject1 in teachers and parents4  
,uncommon precocity in children is      
usually the result of an unhealthy state
 of the brain2 and in such cases medical
 men would now direct that the wonderful
 child should be deprived of all books  
and study1 and turned to play out in the
 fresh air4 ,instead of this1 parents   
frequently add fuel to the fever of the 
brain1 by supplying constant mental     
stimulus1 until the victim finds refuge 
in idiocy or an early grave4 ,where such
 fatal results do not occur1 the brain  
in many cases is so weakened that the   
prodigy of infancy sinks below the      
medium of intellectual powers in        
afterlife4  ,in our colleges1 too1 many 
of the most promising minds sink to an  
early grave1 or drag out a miserable    
existence1 from this same cause4 ,and it
 is an evil as yet little alleviated by 
the increase of physiological knowledge4

 ,every college and professional school1
 and every seminary for young ladies1   
needs a medical man or woman1 not only  
to lecture on physiology and the laws of
 health1 but empowered by official      
capacity to investigate the case of     
every pupil1 and1 by authority1 to      
enforce such a course of study1 exercise
 and repose1 as the physical system     
requires4 ,the writer has found by      
experience that in a large institution  
there is one class of pupils who need to
 be restrained by penalties from late   
hours and excessive study1 as much as   
another class need stimulus to industry4
  ,under the head of excessive mental   
action1 must be placed the indulgence of
 the imagination in novel-reading and   
castle-building4 ,this kind of stimulus1
 unless counterbalanced by physical     
exercise1 not only wastes time and      
energies1 but undermines the vigor of   
the nervous system4 ,the imagination was
 designed by our wise ,creator as a     
charm and stimulus to animate to        

benevolent activity2 and its perverted  
exercise seldom fails to bring a        
penalty4  ,another cause of mental      
disease is the want of the appropriate  
exercise of the various faculties of the
 mind4 ,on this point1 ,dr4 ,combe      
remarks3 ,we have seen that1 by disuse1 
muscles become emaciated1 bone softens1 
blood-vessels are obliterated1 and      
nerves lose their characteristic        
structure4 ,the brain is no exception to
 this general rule4 ,the tone of it is  
also impaired by permanent inactivity1  
and it becomes less fit to manifest the 
mental powers with readiness and energy4
 ,it is the withdrawal of the stimulus  
necessary for its healthy exercise which
 renders solitary confinement so severe 
a punishment1 even to the most daring   
minds4 ,it is a lower degree of the same
 cause which renders continuous         
seclusion from society so injurious to  
both mental and bodily health4          
,inactivity of intellect and of feeling 
is a very frequent predisposing cause of

 every form of nervous disease4 ,for    
demonstrative evidence of this position1
 we have only to look at the numerous   
victims to be found among persons who   
have no call to exertion in gaining the 
means of subsistence1 and no objects of 
interest on which to exercise their     
mental faculties1 and who consequently  
sink into a state of mental sloth and   
nervous weakness4 ,if we look abroad    
upon society1 we shall find innumerable 
examples of mental and nervous debility 
from this cause4 ,when a person of some 
mental capacity is confined for a long  
time to an unvarying round of employment
 which affords neither scope nor        
stimulus for one half of the faculties1 
and1 from want of education or society1 
has no external resources2 the mental   
powers1 for want of exercise1 become    
blunted1 and the perceptions slow and   
dull4 ,the intellect and feelings1 not  
being provided with interests external  
to themselves1 must either become       
inactive and weak1 or work upon         

themselves and become diseased4  ,the   
most frequent victims of this kind of   
predisposition are females of the middle
 and higher ranks1 especially those of a
 nervous constitution and good natural  
abilities2 but who1 from an ill-directed
 education1 possess nothing more solid  
than mere accomplishments1 and have no  
materials for thought1 and no occupation
 to excite interest or demand attention4
 ,the liability of such persons to      
melancholy1 hysteria1 hypochondriasis1  
and other varieties of mental distress1 
really depends on a state of            
irritability of the brain1 induced by   
imperfect exercise4  ,these remarks of a
 medical man illustrate the principles  
before indicated2 namely1 that the      
demand of ,christianity1 that we live to
 promote the general happiness1 and not 
merely for selfish indulgence1 has for  
its aim not only the general good1 but  
the highest happiness of the individual 
of whom it is required in offering      
abundant exercise for all the noblest   

faculties4  ,a person possessed of      
wealth1 who has nothing more noble to   
engage attention than seeking personal  
enjoyment1 subjects the mental powers   
and moral feelings to a degree of       
inactivity utterly at war with health   
and mind4 ,and the greater the          
capacities1 the greater are the         
sufferings which result from this cause4
 ,any one who has read the misanthropic 
wailings of ,lord ,byron has seen the   
necessary result of great and noble     
powers bereft of their appropriate      
exercise1 and1 in consequence1 becoming 
sources of the keenest suffering4  ,it  
is this view of the subject which has   
often awakened feelings of sorrow and   
anxiety in the mind of the writer1 while
 aiding in the development and education
 of superior feminine minds1 in the     
wealthier circles4 ,not because there   
are not noble objects for interest and  
effort1 abundant1 and within reach of   
such minds2 but because long-established
 custom has made it seem so quixotic to 

the majority1 even of the professed     
followers of ,christ1 for a woman of    
wealth to practice any great            
self-denial1 that few have independence 
of mind and ,christian principle        
sufficient to overcome such an          
influence4 ,the more a mind has its     
powers developed1 the more does it      
aspire and pine after some object worthy
 of its energies and affections2 and    
they are commonplace and phlegmatic     
characters who are most free from such  
deep-seated wants4 ,many a young woman1 
of fine genius and elevated sentiment1  
finds a charm in ,lord ,byron's         
writings1 because they present a glowing
 picture of what1 to a certain extent1  
must be felt by every well-developed    
mind which has no nobler object in life 
than the pursuit of self-gratification4 
,if young ladies of wealth could pursue 
their education under the full          
conviction that the increase of their   
powers and advantages increased their   
obligations to use all for the good of  

society1 and with some plan of          
benevolent enterprise in view1 what new 
motives of interest would be added to   
their daily pursuits6 ,and what blessed 
results would follow to our beloved     
country1 if all well-educated women1    
carried out the principles of           
,christianity1 in the exercise of their 
developed powers6  ,the benevolent      
activities called forth in our late     
dreadful war illustrate the blessed     
influence on character and happiness in 
having a noble object for which to labor
 and suffer4 ,in illustration of this1  
may be mentioned the experience of one  
of the noble women who1 in a sickly     
climate and fervid season1 devoted      
herself to the ministries of a military 
hospital4 ,separated from an adored     
husband1 deprived of wonted comforts and
 luxuries1 and toiling in humble and    
unwonted labors1 she yet recalls this as
 one of the happiest periods of her     
life4 ,and it was not the mere exercise 
of benevolence and piety in ministering1

 comfort and relieving suffering4 ,it   
was1 still more1 the elevated enjoyment 
which only an enlarged and cultivated   
mind can attain1 in the inspirations of 
grand and far-reaching results purchased
 by such sacrifice and suffering4 ,it   
was in aiding to save her well-loved    
country from impending ruin1 and to     
preserve to coming generations the      
blessings of true liberty and           
self-government1 that toils and         
suffering became triumphant joys4       
,every ,christian woman who walks by    
faith and not by sight1 who looks       
forward to the results of               
self-sacrificing labor for the ignorant 
and sinful as they will enlarge and     
expand through everlasting ages1 may    
rise to the same elevated sphere of     
experience and happiness4 ,on the       
contrary1 the more highly cultivated the
 mind devoted to mere selfish enjoyment1
 the more are the sources of true       
happiness closed and the soul left to   
helpless emptiness and unrest4  ,the    

indications of a diseased mind1 owing to
 the want of the proper exercise of its 
powers1 are apathy1 discontent1 a       
restless longing for excitement1 a      
craving for unattainable good1 a        
diseased and morbid action of the       
imagination1 dissatisfaction with the   
world1 and factitious interest in       
trifles which the mind feels to be      
unworthy of its powers4 ,such minds     
sometimes seek alleviation in exciting  
amusements2 others resort to the grosser
 enjoyments of sense4 ,oppressed with   
the extremes of languor1 or             
over-excitement1 or apathy1 the body    
fails under the wearing process1 and    
adds new causes of suffering to the     
mind4 ,such1 the compassionate ,saviour 
calls to his service1 in the appropriate
 terms1 ,come unto me1 all ye that labor
 and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give  
you rest4 ,take my yoke upon you1 and   
learn of me1 and ye shall find rest unto
 your souls4     ,,xxi4  ,,the ,,care   
,,of ,,infants4   ,the topic of this    

chapter may well be prefaced by an      
extract from ,herbert ,spencer on the   
treatment of offspring4 ,he first       
supposes that some future philosophic   
speculator1 examining the course of     
education of the present period1 should 
find nothing relating to the training of
 children1 and that his natural         
inference would be that our schools were
 all for monastic orders1 who have no   
charge of infancy and childhood4 ,he    
then remarks1 ,is it not an astonishing 
fact that1 though on the treatment of   
offspring depend their lives or deaths  
and their moral welfare or ruin1 yet not
 one word of instruction on the         
treatment of offspring is ever given1 to
 those who will hereafter be parents8   
,is it not monstrous that the fate of a 
new generation should be left to the    
chances of unreasoning custom1 or       
impulse1 or fancy1 joined with the      
suggestions of ignorant nurses and the  
prejudiced counsel of grandmothers8  ,if
 a merchant should commence business    

without any knowledge of arithmetic or  
book-keeping1 we should exclaim at his  
folly and look for disastrous           
consequences4 ,or if1 without studying  
anatomy1 a man set up as a surgeon1 we  
should wonder at his audacity and pity  
his patients4 ,but that parents should  
commence the difficult work of rearing  
children without giving any attention to
 the principles1 physical1 moral1 or    
intellectual1 which ought to guide them1
 excites neither surprise at the actors 
nor pity for the victims4  ,to tens of  
thousands that are killed add hundreds  
of thousands that survive with feeble   
constitutions1 and millions not so      
strong as they should be2 and you will  
have some idea of the curse inflicted on
 their offspring1 by parents ignorant of
 the laws of life4 ,do but consider for 
a moment that the regimen to which      
children are subject is hourly telling  
upon them to their life-long injury or  
benefit1 and that there are twenty ways 
of going wrong to one way of going      

right1 and you will get some idea of the
 enormous mischief that is almost       
everywhere inflicted by the thoughtless1
 hap-hazard system in common use4  ,when
 sons and daughters grow up sickly and  
feeble1 parents commonly regard the     
event as a visitation of ,providence4   
,they assume that these evils come      
without cause1 or that the cause is     
supernatural4 ,nothing of the kind4 ,in 
some cases causes are inherited1 but in 
most cases foolish management is the    
cause4 ,very generally parents          
themselves are responsible for this     
pain1 this debility1 this depression1   
this misery4 ,they have undertaken to   
control the lives of their offspring1   
and with cruel carelessness have        
neglected to learn those vital processes
 which they are daily affecting by their
 commands and prohibitions4 ,in utter   
ignorance of the simplest physiological 
laws1 they have been1 year by year1     
undermining the constitutions of their  
children1 and so have inflicted disease 

and premature death1 not only on them   
but also on their descendants4  ,equally
 great are the ignorance and consequent 
injury1 when we turn from the physical  
to the moral training4 ,consider the    
young1 untaught mother and her nursery  
legislation4 ,a short time ago she was  
at school1 where her memory was crammed 
with words and names and dates1 and her 
reflective faculties scarcely in the    
slightest degree exercised--where not   
one idea was given her respecting the   
methods of dealing with the opening mind
 of childhood1 and where her discipline 
did not in the least fit her for        
thinking out methods of her own4 ,the   
intervening years have been spent in    
practicing music1 fancy work1           
novel-reading and party-going1 no       
thought having been given1 to the grave 
responsibilities of maternity1 and      
scarcely any of that solid intellectual 
culture obtained which would fit her for
 such responsibilities2 and now see her 
with an unfolding human character       

committed to her charge1 see her        
profoundly ignorant of the phenomena    
with which she has to deal1 undertaking 
to do that which can be done but        
imperfectly even with the aid of the    
profoundest knowledge6  ,in view of such
 considerations1 every young lady ought 
to learn how to take proper care of an  
infant2 for1 even if she is never to    
become the responsible guardian of a    
nursery1 she will often be in situations
 where she can render benevolent aid to 
others1 in this most fatiguing and      
anxious duty4  ,the writer has known    
instances in which young ladies1 who had
 been trained by their mothers properly 
to perform this duty1 were in some cases
 the means of saving the lives of       
infants1 and in others1 of relieving    
sick mothers from intolerable care and  
anguish by their benevolent aid4  ,on   
this point1 ,dr4 ,combe remarks1 ,all   
women are not destined1 in the course of
 nature1 to become mothers2 but how very
 small is the number of those who are   

unconnected1 by family ties1 friendship1
 or sympathy1 with the children of      
others6 ,how very few are there1 who1 at
 some time or other of their lives1     
would not find their usefulness and     
happiness increased1 by the possession  
of a kind of knowledge intimately allied
 to their best feelings and affections6 
,and how important is it1 to the mother 
herself1 that her efforts should be     
seconded by intelligent1 instead of     
ignorant assistants6  ,in order to be   
prepared for such benevolent ministries1
 every young lady should improve the    
opportunity1 whenever it is afforded    
her1 for learning how to wash1 dress1   
and tend a young infant2 and whenever   
she meets with such a work as ,dr4      
,combe's1 on the management of infants1 
she ought to read it1 and remember its  
contents4  ,it was the design of the    
author to fill this chapter chiefly with
 extracts from various medical writers1 
giving some of the most important       
directions on this subject2 but finding 

these extracts too prolix for a work of 
this kind1 she has condensed them into a
 shorter compass4 ,some are quoted      
verbatim1 and some are abridged1 from   
the most approved writers on this       
subject4  ,nearly one half of the       
deaths1 ,occurring during the first two 
years of existence1 are ascribable to   
mismanagement1 and to errors in diet4   
,at birth1 the stomach is feeble1 and as
 yet unaccustomed to food2 its cravings 
are consequently easily satisfied1 and  
frequently renewed4 ,at that early age1 
there ought to be no fixed time for     
giving nourishment4 ,the stomach can not
 be thus satisfied4 ,the active call of 
the infant is a sign1 which needs never 
be mistaken4  ,but care must be taken to
 determine between1 the crying of pain  
or uneasiness1 and the call for food2   
and the practice of giving an infant    
food1 to stop its cries1 is often the   
means of increasing its sufferings4     
,after a child has satisfied its hunger1
 from two to four hours should intervene

 before another supply is given4  ,at   
birth1 the stomach and bowels1 never    
having been used1 contain a quantity of 
mucous secretion1 which requires to be  
removed4 ,to effect this1 ,nature has   
rendered the first portions of the      
mother's milk purposely watery and      
laxative4 ,nurses1 however1 distrusting 
,nature1 often hasten to administer some
 active purgative2 and the consequence  
often is1 irritation in the stomach and 
bowels1 not easily subdued4 ,it is only 
where the child is deprived of its      
mother's milk1 as the first food1 that  
some gentle laxative should be given4   
,it is a common mistake1 to suppose that
 because a woman is nursing1 she ought  
to live very fully1 and to add an       
allowance of wine1 porter1 or other     
fermented liquor1 to her usual diet4    
,the only result of this plan is1 to    
cause an unnatural fullness in the      
system1 which places the nurse on the   
brink of disease1 and retards rather    
than increases the food of the infant4  

,more will be gained by the observance  
of the ordinary laws of health1 than by 
any foolish deviation1 founded on       
ignorance4  ,there is no point on which 
medical men so emphatically lift the    
voice of warning as in reference to     
administering medicines to infants4 ,it 
is so difficult to discover what is the 
matter with an infant1 its frame is so  
delicate and so susceptible1 and slight 
causes have such a powerful influence1  
that it requires the utmost skill and   
judgment to ascertain what would be     
proper medicines1 and the proper        
quantity to be given4  ,says ,dr4       
,combe1 ,that there are cases in which  
active means must be promptly used to   
save the child1 is perfectly true4 ,but 
it is not less certain that these are   
cases of which no mother or nurse ought 
to attempt the treatment4 ,as a general 
rule1 where the child is well managed1  
medicine1 of any kind1 is very rarely   
required2 and if disease were more      
generally regarded in its true light1   

not as something thrust into the system1
 which requires to be expelled by force1
 but as an aberration from a natural    
mode of action1 produced by some        
external cause1 we should be in less    
haste to attack it by medicine1 and more
 watchful in its prevention4            
,accordingly1 where a constant demand   
for medicine exists in a nursery1 the   
mother may rest assured that there is   
something essentially wrong in the      
treatment of her children4  ,much havoc 
is made among infants1 by the abuse of  
calomel and other medicines1 which      
procure momentary relief but end by     
producing incurable disease2 and it has 
often excited my astonishment1 to see   
how recklessly remedies of this kind are
 had recourse to1 on the most trifling  
occasions1 by mothers and nurses1 who   
would be horrified if they knew the     
nature of the power they are wielding1  
and the extent of injury they are       
inflicting4  ,instead1 then1 of         
depending on medicine for the           

preservation of the health and life of  
an infant1 the following precautions and
 preventives should be adopted4  ,take  
particular care of the food of an       
infant4 ,if it is nourished by the      
mother1 her own diet should be simple1  
nourishing1 and temperate4 ,if the child
 be brought up 'by hand1' the milk of a 
new-milch cow1 mixed with one third     
water1 and sweetened a little with white
 sugar1 should be the only food given1  
until the teeth come4 ,this is more     
suitable than any preparations of flour 
or arrowroot1 the nourishment of which  
is too highly concentrated4 ,never give 
a child bread1 cake1 or meat1 before the
 teeth appear4 ,if the food appear to   
distress the child after eating1 first  
ascertain if the milk be really from a  
new-milch cow1 as it may otherwise be   
too old4 ,learn1 also1 whether the cow  
lives on proper food4 ,cows that are fed
 on still-slops1 as is often the case in
 cities1 furnish milk which is very     
unhealthful4  ,be sure and keep a good  

supply of pure and fresh air in the     
nursery4 ,on this point1 ,dr4 ,bell     
remarks1 respecting rooms constructed   
without fireplaces and without doors or 
windows to let in pure air from without1
 ,the sufferings of children of feeble  
constitutions are increased beyond      
measure1 by such lodgings as these4 ,an 
action1 brought by the commonwealth1    
ought to lie against those persons who  
build houses for sale or rent1 in which 
rooms are so constructed as not to allow
 of free ventilation2 and a writ of     
lunacy taken out against those who1 with
 the commonsense experience which all   
have on this head1 should spend any     
portion of their time1 still more1      
should sleep1 in rooms thus nearly      
air-tight4  ,after it is a month or two 
old1 take an infant out to walk1 or     
ride1 in a little wagon1 every fair and 
warm day2 but be very careful that its  
feet1 and every part of its body1 are   
kept warm2 and be sure that its eyes are
 well protected from the light4 ,weak   

eyes1 and sometimes blindness1 are      
caused by neglecting this precaution4   
,keep the head of an infant cool1 never 
allowing too warm bonnets1 nor          
permitting it to sink into soft pillows 
when asleep4 ,keeping an infant's head  
too warm very much increases nervous    
irritability2 and this is the reason why
 medical men forbid the use of caps for 
infants4 ,but the head of an infant     
should1 especially while sleeping1 be   
protected from draughts of air1 and from
 getting cold4  ,be very careful of the 
skin of an infant1 as nothing tends so  
effectually to prevent disease4 ,for    
this end1 it should be washed all over  
every morning1 and then gentle friction 
should be applied with the hand1 to the 
back1 stomach1 bowels1 and limbs4 ,the  
head should be thoroughly washed every  
day1 and then brushed with a soft       
hair-brush1 or combed with a fine comb4 
,if1 by neglect1 dirt accumulates under 
the hair1 apply with the finger the yolk
 of an egg1 and then the fine comb will 

remove it all1 without any trouble4     
,dress the infant so that it will be    
always warm1 but not so as to cause     
perspiration4 ,be sure and keep its feet
 always warm2 and for this often warm   
them at a fire1 and use long dresses4   
,keep the neck and arms covered4 ,for   
this purpose1 wrappers1 open in front1  
made high in the neck1 with long        
sleeves1 to put on over the frock1 are  
now very fashionable4  ,it is better for
 both mother and child1 that it should  
not sleep on the mother's arm at night1 
unless the weather be extremely cold4   
,this practice keeps the child too warm1
 and leads it to seek food too          
frequently4 ,a child should ordinarily  
take nourishment but twice in the night4
 ,a crib beside the mother1 with plenty 
of warm and light covering1 is best for 
the child2 but the mother must be sure  
that it is always kept warm4  ,never    
cover a child's head1 so that it will   
inhale the air of its own lungs4 ,in    
very warm weather1 especially in cities1

 great pains should be taken to find    
fresh and cool air by rides and sailing4
 ,walks in a public square in the cool  
of the morning1 and frequent excursions 
in ferry or steamboats1 would often save
 a long bill for medical attendance4    
,in hot nights1 the windows should be   
kept open1 and the infant laid on a     
mattress1 or on folded blankets4 ,a bit 
of straw matting1 laid over a feather   
bed and covered with the under sheet1   
makes a very cool bed for an infant4    
,cool bathing1 in hot weather1 is very  
useful2 but the water should be very    
little cooler than the skin of the      
child4 ,when the constitution is        
delicate1 the water should be slightly  
warmed4 ,simply sponging the body freely
 in a tub1 answers the same purpose as a
 regular bath4 ,in very warm weather1   
this should be done two or three times a
 day1 always waiting two or three hours 
after food has been given4  ,when the   
stomach is peculiarity irritable1 7from 
teething17 it is of paramount necessity 

to withhold all the nostrums which have 
been so falsely lauded as 'sovereign    
cures for cholera infantum4' ,the true  
restoratives for a child threatened with
 disease are cool air1 cool bathing1 and
 cool drinks of simple water1 in        
addition to proper food1 at stated      
intervals4  ,in many cases1 change of   
air from sea to mountain1 or the        
reverse1 has an immediate healthful     
influence and is superior to every other
 treatment4 ,do not take the advice of  
mothers who tell of this1 that1 and the 
other thing which have proved excellent 
remedies in their experience4 ,children 
have different constitutions1 and there 
are multitudes of different causes for  
their sickness2 and what might cure one 
child1 might kill another1 which        
appeared to have the same complaint4 ,a 
mother should go on the general rule of 
giving an infant very little medicine1  
and then only by the direction of a     
discreet and experienced physician4 ,and
 there are cases1 when1 according to the

 views of the most distinguished and    
competent practitioners1 physicians     
themselves are much too free in using   
medicines1 instead of adopting          
preventive measures4  ,do not allow a   
child to form such habits that it will  
not be quiet unless tended and amused4  
,a healthy child should be accustomed to
 lie or sit in its cradle much of the   
time2 but it should occasionally be     
taken up and tossed1 or carried about   
for exercise and amusement4 ,an infant  
should be encouraged to creep1 as an    
exercise very strengthening and useful4 
,if the mother fears the soiling of its 
nice dresses1 she can keep a long slip  
or apron which will entirely cover the  
dress1 and can be removed when the child
 is taken in the arms4 ,a child should  
not be allowed1 when quite young1 to    
bear its weight on its feet very long at
 a time1 as this tends to weaken and    
distort the limbs4  ,many mothers1 with 
a little painstaking1 succeed in putting
 their infants into their cradle while  

awake1 at regular hours for sleep2 and  
induce regularity in other habits1 which
 saves much trouble4 ,during this       
training process a child may cry1 at    
first1 a great deal2 but for a healthy  
child1 this use of the lungs does no    
harm and tends rather to strengthen than
 to injure them1 unless it becomes      
exceedingly violent4 ,a child who is    
trained to lie or sit and amuse itself1 
is happier than one who is carried and  
tended a great deal1 and thus rendered  
restless and uneasy when not so         
indulged4  ,the most critical period in 
the life of an infant is that of        
dentition or teething1 especially at the
 early stages4 ,an adult has thirty-two 
teeth1 but young children have only     
twenty1 which gradually loosen and are  
followed by the permanent teeth4 ,when  
the child has ten teeth on each jaw1 all
 that are added are the permanent set1  
which should be carefully preserved2    
this caution is needful1 as sometimes   
decay in the first double teeth of the  

second set are supposed to be of the    
transient set1 and are so neglected1 or 
are removed instead of being preserved  
by plugging4 ,when the first teeth rise 
so as to press against the gums1 there  
is always more or less inflammation1    
causing nervous fretfulness1 and the    
impulse to put everything into the      
mouth4 ,usually there is disturbed      
sleep1 a slight fever1 and greater flow 
of saliva2 this is often relieved by    
letting the child have ice to bite1 tied
 in a rag4  ,sometimes the disorder of  
the mouth extends to the whole system4  
,in difficult teething1 one symptom is  
the jerking back of the head when taking
 the breath1 as if in pain1 owing to the
 extreme soreness of the gums4 ,this is1
 in extreme cases1 attended with        
increased saliva and a gummy secretion  
in the corners of the eyes1 itching of  
the nose1 redness of cheeks1 rash1      
convulsive twitching of lips and the    
muscles generally1 fever1 constipation1 
and sometimes by a diarrhea1 which last 

is favorable if slight2 difficulty of   
breathing1 dilation of the pupils of the
 eyes1 restless motion and moaning2 and 
finally1 if not relieved1 convulsions   
and death4 ,the most effective relief is
 gained by lancing the gums4 ,every     
woman1 and especially every mother1     
should know the time and order in which 
the infant teeth come1 and1 when any of 
the above symptoms appear1 should       
examine the mouth1 and if a gum is      
swollen and inflamed1 should either have
 a physician lance it1 or if this can   
not be done1 should perform the         
operation herself4 ,a sharp pen-knife   
and steady hand making incision to touch
 the rising tooth will cause no more    
pain than a simple scratch of the gum1  
and usually will give speedy relief4    
,the temporary teeth should not be      
removed until the new ones appear1 as it
 injures the jaw and coming teeth2 but  
as soon as a new tooth is seen pressing 
upward1 the temporary tooth should be   
removed1 or the new tooth will come out 

of its proper place4 ,if there is not   
room where the new tooth appears1 the   
next temporary tooth must be taken out4 
,great mischief has been done by        
removing the first teeth before the     
second appear1 thus making a contraction
 of the jaw4  ,most trouble with1 the   
teeth of young children comes from      
neglect to use the brush to remove the  
tartar that accumulates near the gum1   
causing disease and decay4 ,this disease
 is sometimes called scurvy1 and is     
shown by an accumulation around the     
teeth and by inflamed gums that bleed   
easily4 ,removal of the tartar by a     
dentist and cleaning the teeth after    
every meal with a brush will usually    
cure this evil1 which causes loosening  
of the teeth and a bad breath4  ,much   
injury is often done to teeth by using  
improper tooth-powder4 ,powdered chalk  
sifted through muslin is approved by all
 dentists1 and should be used once every
 day4 ,the tooth-brush should be used   
after every meal1 and floss silk pressed

 between the teeth to remove food lodged
 there4 ,this method will usually save  
the teeth from decay till old age4      
,when an infant seems ill during the    
period of dentition1 the following      
directions from an experienced physician
 may be of service4 ,it is now an       
accepted principle of all the medical   
world that fevers are to be reduced by  
cold applications2 but an infant demands
 careful and judicious treatment in this
 direction2 some have extremely         
sensitive nerves1 and cold is painful4  
,for such1 tepid sponging should be used
 near a fire1 and the coldness increased
 gradually4 ,the sensations of the child
 should be the guide4 ,usually1 but not 
always1 children that are healthy will  
learn by degrees to prefer cold water1  
and then it may safely be used4  ,when  
an infant becomes feverish1 wrapping its
 body in a towel wrung out in warm1 or  
tepid water1 and then keeping it warm in
 a woolen blanket1 is a very safe and   
soothing remedy4  ,in case of           

constipation1 this preparation of food  
is useful3  ,one table-spoonful of      
unbolted flour wet with cold water4 ,add
 one pint of hot water1 and boil twenty 
minutes4 ,add when taken up1 one pint of
 milk4 ,if the stomach seems delicate   
and irritable1 strain out the bran1 but 
in most cases1 retain it4  ,in case of  
diarrhea1 walk with the child in arms a 
great deal in the open air1 and give it 
rice-water to drink4  ,the warmth and   
vital influences of the nurse are very  
important1 and make this mode of        
exercise both more soothing and more    
efficacious1 especially in the open air1
 the infant being warmly clad4  ,in case
 of feverishness from teething or from  
any other cause1 wrap the infant in a   
towel wrung out in tepid water and then 
wrap it in a woolen blanket4 ,the water 
may be cooler according as the child is 
older and stronger4 ,the evaporation of 
the water draws off the heat1 while the 
moisture soothes the nerves1 and usually
 the child will fall into a quiet sleep4

 ,as soon as it becomes restless1 change
 the wet towel and proceed as before4   
,the leading physicians of ,europe and  
of this country1 in all cases of fevers1
 use water to reduce them1 by this and  
other modes of application4 ,this method
 is more soothing than any other1 and is
 as effective for adults as for infants4
  ,some of the most distinguished       
physicians of ,new-,york who have       
examined this chapter give their full   
approval of the advice given4 ,if there 
is still distrust as to this mode of    
using water to reduce fevers1 it will be
 advantageous to read an address on the 
use of cold applications in fevers1     
delivered by ,dr4 ,william ,neftel1     
before the ,new-,york ,academy of       
,medicine1 published in the ,new ,york  
,medical ,record for ,november1 #ahfh3  
this can be obtained by inclosing twenty
 cents to the editor1 with the          
post-office address of the applicant4   
,,xxii4  ,,the ,,management ,,of ,,young
 ,,children4   ,in regard to the        

physical education of children1 ,dr4    
,clarke1 ,physician in ,ordinary to the 
,queen of ,england1 expresses views on  
one point1 in which most physicians     
would coincide4 ,he says1 ,there is no  
greater error in the management of      
children1 than that of giving them      
animal diet very early4 ,by persevering 
in the use of an over-stimulating diet  
the digestive organs become irritated1  
and the various secretions immediately  
connected with digestion1 and necessary 
to it1 are diminished1 especially the   
biliary secretion4 ,children so fed     
become very liable to attacks of fever1 
and inflammation1 affecting particularly
 the mucous membranes2 and measles and  
other diseases incident to childhood1   
are generally severe in their attacks4  
,the result of the treatment of the     
inmates of the ,orphan ,asylum1 at      
,albany1 is one which all who have the  
care of young children should deeply    
ponder4 ,during the first six years of  
the existence of this institution1 its  

average number of children was eighty4  
,for the first three years1 their diet  
was meat once a day1 fine bread1 rice1  
,indian puddings1 vegetables1 fruit1 and
 milk4 ,considerable attention was given
 to clothing1 fresh air1 and exercise2  
and they were bathed once in three      
weeks4 ,during these three years1 from  
four to six children1 and sometimes     
more1 were continually on the sick-list2
 one or two assistant nurses were       
necessary2 a physician was called two or
 three times a week2 and1 in this time1 
there were between thirty and forty     
deaths4 ,at the end of this period1 the 
management was changed1 in these        
respects2 daily ablutions of the whole  
body were practiced2 bread of unbolted  
flour was substituted for that of fine  
wheat2 and all animal food was banished4
 ,more attention also was paid to       
clothing1 bedding1 fresh air1 and       
exercise4  ,the result was1 that the    
nursery was vacated2 the nurse and      
physician were no longer needed2 and1   

for two years1 not a single case of     
sickness or death occurred4 ,the third  
year also1 there were no deaths1 except 
those of two idiots and one other child1
 all of whom were new inmates1 who had  
not been subjected to this treatment4   
,the teachers of the children also      
testified there was a manifest increase 
of intellectual vigor and activity1     
while there was much less irritability  
of temper4  ,let parents1 nurses1 and   
teachers reflect on the above statement1
 and bear in mind that stupidity of     
intellect1 and irritability of temper1  
as well as ill-health1 are often caused 
by the mismanagement of the nursery in  
regard to the physical training of      
children4  ,there is probably no        
practice more deleterious1 than that of 
allowing children to eat at short       
intervals1 through1 the day4 ,as the    
stomach is thus kept constantly at work1
 with no time for repose1 its functions 
are deranged1 and a weak or disordered  
stomach is the frequent result4         

,children should be required to keep    
cakes1 nuts1 and other good things1     
which should be sparingly given1 till   
just before a meal1 and then they will  
form a part of their regular supply4    
,this is better than to wait till after 
their hunger is satisfied by food1 when 
they will eat the niceties merely to    
gratify the palate1 and thus overload   
the stomach and interrupt digestion4    
,in regard to the intellectual training 
of young children1 some modification in 
the common practice is necessary1 with  
reference to their physical well-being4 
,more care is needful1 in providing     
well-ventilated school-rooms1 and in    
securing more time for sports in the    
open air1 during school hours4 ,it is   
very important to most mothers that     
their young children should be removed  
from their care during certain school   
hours2 and it is very useful for quite  
young children1 to be subjected to the  
discipline of a school1 and to          
intercourse with other children of their

 own age4 ,and1 with a suitable teacher1
 it is no matter how early children are 
sent to school1 provided their health is
 not endangered by impure air1 too much 
confinement1 and too great mental       
stimulus1 which is the chief danger of  
the present age4  ,in regard to the     
formation of the moral character1 it has
 been too much the case that the        
discipline of the nursery has consisted 
of disconnected efforts to make children
 either do1 or refrain from doing1      
certain particular acts4 ,do this1 and  
be rewarded2 do that1 and be punished2  
is the ordinary routine of family       
government4  ,but children can be very  
early taught that their happyness1 both 
now and hereafter1 depends on the       
formation of habits of submission1      
self-denial1 and benevolence4 ,and all  
the discipline of the nursery can be    
conducted by parents1 not only with this
 general aim in their own minds1 but    
also with the same object daily set     
before the minds of the children4       

,whenever their wishes are crossed1 or  
their wills subdued1 they can be taught 
that all this is done1 not merely to    
please the parent1 or to secure some    
good to themselves or to others2 but as 
a part of that merciful training which  
is designed to form such a character1   
and such habits1 that they can hereafter
 find their chief happiness in giving up
 their will to ,god1 and in living to do
 good to others1 instead of living      
merely to please themselves4  ,it can be
 pointed out to them1 that they must    
always submit their will to the will of 
,god1 or else be continually miserable4 
,it can be shown how1 in the nursery1   
and in the school1 and through all      
future days1 a child must practice the  
giving up of his will and wishes1 when  
they interfere with the rights and      
comfort of others2 and how important it 
is1 early to learn to do this1 so that  
it will1 by habit1 become easy and      
agreeable4 ,it can be shown how children
 who are indulged in all their wishes1  

and who are never accustomed to any     
self-denial1 always find it hard to     
refrain from what injures themselves and
 others4 ,it can be shown1 also1 how    
important it is for every person to form
 such habits of benevolence toward      
others that self-denial in doing good   
will become easy4  ,parents have        
learned1 by experience1 that children   
can be constrained by authority and     
penalties to exercise self-denial1 for  
their own good1 till a habit is formed  
which makes the duty comparatively easy4
 ,for example1 well trained children can
 be accustomed to deny themselves       
tempting articles of food1 which are    
injurious1 until the practice ceases to 
be painful and difficult4 ,whereas1 an  
indulged child would be thrown into fits
 of anger or discontent1 when its wishes
 were crossed by restraints of this     
kind4  ,but it has not been so readily  
discerned1 that the same method is      
needful in order to form a habit of     
self-denial in doing good to others4 ,it

 has been supposed that while children  
must be forced1 by authority1 to be     
self-denying and prudent in regard to   
their own happiness1 it may properly be 
left to their own discretion1 whether   
they will practice any self-denial in   
doing good to others4 ,but the more     
difficult a duty is1 the greater is the 
need of parental authority in forming a 
habit which will make that duty easy4   
,in order to secure this1 some parents  
turn their earliest efforts to this     
object4 ,they require the young child   
always to offer to others a part of     
every thing which it receives2 always to
 comply with all reasonable requests of 
others for service2 and often to        
practice little acts of self-denial1 in 
order to secure some enjoyment for      
others4 ,if one child receives a present
 of some nicety1 he is required to share
 it with all his brothers and sisters4  
,if one asks his brother to help him in 
some study or sport1 and is met with a  
denial1 the parent requires the         

unwilling child to act benevolently1 and
 give up some of his time to increase   
his brother's enjoyment4 ,of course1 in 
such an effort as this1 discretion must 
be used as to the frequency and extent  
of the exercise of authority1 to induce 
a habit of benevolence4 ,but where      
parents deliberately aim at such an     
object1 and wisely conduct their        
instructions and discipline to secure   
it1 very much will be accomplished4  ,in
 regard to forming habits of obedience1 
there have been two extremes1 both of   
which need to be shunned4 ,one is1 a    
stern and unsympathizing maintenance of 
parental authority1 demanding perfect   
and constant obedience1 without any     
attempt to convince a child of the      
propriety and benevolence of the        
requisitions1 and without any           
manifestation of sympathy and tenderness
 for the pain and difficulties which are
 to be met4 ,under such discipline1     
children grow up to fear their parents1 
rather than to love and trust them2     

while some of the most valuable         
principles of character are chilled1 or 
forever blasted4  ,in shunning this     
danger1 other parents pass to the       
opposite extreme4 ,they put themselves  
too much on the footing of equals with  
their children1 as if little were due to
 superiority of relation1 age1 and      
experience4 ,nothing is exacted1 without
 the implied concession that the child  
is to be a judge of the propriety of the
 requisition2 and reason and persuasion 
are employed1 where simple command and  
obedience would be far better4 ,this    
system produces a most pernicious       
influence4 ,children soon perceive the  
position thus allowed them1 and take    
every advantage of it4 ,they soon learn 
to dispute parental requirements1       
acquire habits of forwardness and       
conceit1 assume disrespectful manners   
and address1 maintain their views with  
pertinacity1 and yield to authority with
 ill-humor and resentment1 as if their  
rights were infringed upon4  ,the medium

 course is for the parent to take the   
attitude of a superior in age1          
knowledge1 and relation1 who has a      
perfect right to control every action of
 the child1 and that1 too1 without      
giving any reason for the requisitions4 
,obey because your parent commands1 is  
always a proper and sufficient reason3  
though not always the best to give4     
,but care should be taken to convince   
the child that the parent is conducting 
a course of discipline1 designed to make
 him happy2 and in forming habits of    
implicit obedience1 self-denial1 and    
benevolence1 the child should have the  
reasons for most requisitions kindly    
stated2 never1 however1 on the demand of
 it from the child1 as a right1 but as  
an act of kindness from the parent4  ,it
 is impossible to govern children       
properly1 especially those of strong and
 sensitive feelings1 without a constant 
effort to appreciate the value which    
they attach to their enjoyments and     
pursuits4 ,a lady of great strength of  

mind and sensibility once told the      
writer that one of the most acute       
periods of suffering in her whole life  
was occasioned by the burning up of some
 milkweed-silk1 by her mother4 ,the     
child had found1 for the first time1    
some of this shining and beautiful      
substance2 was filled with delight at   
her discovery2 was arranging it in      
parcels2 planning its future use1 and   
her pleasure in showing it to her       
companions--when her mother1 finding it 
strewed over the carpet1 hastily swept  
it into the fire1 and that1 too1 with so
 indifferent an air1 that the child fled
 away1 almost distracted with grief and 
disappointment4 ,the mother little      
realized the pain she had inflicted1 but
 the child felt the unkindness so       
severely that for several days her      
mother was an object1 almost of         
aversion4 ,while1 therefore1 the parent 
needs to carry on a steady course1 which
 will oblige the child always to give up
 its will1 whenever its own good or the 

greater claims of others require it1    
this should be constantly connected with
 the expression of a tender sympathy for
 the trials and disappointments thus    
inflicted4  ,those1 again1 who will join
 with children and help them in their   
sports1 will learn by this mode to      
understand the feelings and interests of
 childhood2 while at the same time1 they
 secure a degree of confidence and      
affection which can not be gained so    
easily in any other way4 ,and it is to  
be regretted that parents so often      
relinquish this most powerful mode of   
influence to domestics and playmates1   
who often use it in the most pernicious 
manner4 ,in joining in such sports1     
older persons should never yield        
entirely the attitude of superiors1 or  
allow disrespectful manners or address4 
,and respectful deportment is never more
 cheerfully accorded1 than in seasons   
when young hearts are pleased and made  
grateful by having their tastes and     
enjoyments so efficiently promoted4     

,next to the want of all government1 the
 two most fruitful sources of evil to   
children are1 unsteadiness in government
 and over- government4 ,most of the     
cases in which the children of sensible 
and conscientious parents turn out      
badly1 result from one or the other of  
these causes4 ,in cases of unsteady     
government1 either one parent is very   
strict1 severe and unbending1 and the   
other excessively indulgent1 or else the
 parents are sometimes very strict and  
decided1 and at other times allow       
disobedience to go unpunished4 ,in such 
cases1 children1 never knowing exactly  
when they can escape with impunity1 are 
constantly tempted to make the trial4   
,the bad effects of this can be better  
appreciated by reference to one         
important principle of the mind4 ,it is 
found to be universally true1 that1 when
 any object of desire is put entirely   
beyond the reach of hope or expectation1
 the mind very soon ceases to long for  
it1 and turns to other objects of       

pursuit4 ,but so long as the mind is    
hoping for some good1 and making efforts
 to obtain it1 any opposition excites   
irritable feelings4 ,let the object be  
put entirely beyond all hope1 and this  
irritation soon ceases4  ,in consequence
 of this principle1 those children who  
are under the care of persons of steady 
and decided government know that        
whenever a thing is forbidden or denied1
 it is out of the reach of hope2 the    
desire1 therefore1 soon ceases1 and they
 turn to other objects4 ,but the        
children of undecided1 or of            
over-indulgent parents1 never enjoy this
 preserving aid4 ,when a thing is       
denied1 they never know hut either      
coaxing may win it1 or disobedience     
secure it without any penalty1 and so   
they are kept in that state of hope and 
anxiety which produces irritation and   
tempts to insubordination4 ,the children
 of very indulgent parents1 and of those
 who are undecided and unsteady in      
government1 are very apt to become      

fretful1 irritable1 and fractious4      
,another class of persons1 in shunning  
this evil1 go to the other extreme1 and 
are very strict and pertinacious in     
regard to every requisition4 ,with them1
 fault-finding and penalties abound1    
until the children are either hardened  
into indifference of feeling1 and       
obtuseness of conscience1 or else become
 excessively irritable or misanthropic4 
,it demands great wisdom1 patience1 and 
self-control1 to escape these two       
extremes4 ,in aiming at this1 there are 
parents who have found the following    
maxims of very great value3  ,first3    
,avoid1 as much as possible1 the        
multiplication of rules and absolute    
commands4 ,instead of this1 take the    
attitude of advisers4 ,my child1 this is
 improper1 ,i wish you would remember   
not to do it4 ,this mode of address     
answers for all the little acts of      
heedlessness1 awkwardness1 or           
ill-manners so frequently occurring with
 children4 ,there are cases1 when direct

 and distinct commands are needful2 and 
in such cases1 a penalty for            
disobedience should be as steady and    
sure as the laws of nature4 ,where such 
steadiness and certainty of penalty     
attend disobedience1 children no more   
think of disobeying than they do of     
putting their fingers into a burning    
candle4  ,the next maxim is1 ,govern by 
rewards more than by penalties4 ,such   
faults as willful disobedience1 lying1  
dishonesty1 and indecent or profane     
language1 should be punished with severe
 penalties1 after a child has been fully
 instructed in the evil of such         
practices4 ,but all the constantly      
recurring faults of the nursery1 such as
 ill-humor1 quarreling1 carelessness1   
and ill-manners1 may1 in a great many   
cases1 be regulated by gentle and kind  
remonstrances1 and by the offer of some 
reward for persevering efforts to form a
 good habit4 ,it is very injurious and  
degrading to any mind to be kept under  
the constant fear of penalties4 ,love   

and hope are the principles that should 
be mainly relied on1 in forming the     
habits of childhood4  ,another maxim1   
and perhaps the most difficult1 is1 ,do 
not govern by the aid of severe and     
angry tones4 ,a single example will be  
given to illustrate this maxim4 ,a child
 is disposed to talk and amuse itself at
 table4 ,the mother requests it to be   
silent1 except when needing to ask for  
food1 or when spoken to by its older    
friends4 ,it constantly forgets4 ,the   
mother1 instead of rebuking in an       
impatient tone1 says1 ,my child1 you    
must remember not to talk4 ,i will      
remind you of it four times more1 and   
after that1 whenever you forget1 you    
must leave the table and wait till we   
are done4 ,if the mother is steady in   
her government1 it is not probable that 
she will have to apply this slight      
penalty more than once or twice4 ,this  
method is far more effectual than the   
use of sharp and severe tones1 to secure
 attention and recollection1 and often  

answers the purpose as well as offering 
some reward4  ,the writer has been in   
some families where the most efficient  
and steady government has been sustained
 without the use of a cross or angry    
tone2 and in others1 where a far less   
efficient discipline was kept up1 by    
frequent severe rebukes and angry       
remonstrances4 ,in the first case1 the  
children followed the example set them1 
and seldom used severe tones to each    
other2 in the latter1 the method        
employed by the parents was imitated by 
the children1 and cross words and angry 
tones resounded from morning till night1
 in every portion of the household4     
,another important maxim is1 ,try to    
keep children in a happy state of mind4 
,every one knows1 by experience1 that it
 is easier to do right and submit to    
rule when cheerful and happy1 than when 
irritated4 ,this is peculiarly true of  
children2 and a wise mother1 when she   
finds her child fretful and impatient1  
and thus constantly doing wrong1 will   

often remedy the whole difficulty1 by   
telling some amusing story1 or by       
getting the child engaged in some       
amusing sport4 ,this strongly shows the 
importance of learning to govern        
children without the employment of angry
 tones1 which always produce irritation4
  ,children of active1 heedless         
temperament1 or those who are odd1      
awkward1 or unsuitable in their remarks 
and deportment1 are often essentially   
injured by a want of patience and       
self-control in those who govern them4  
,such children often possess a morbid   
sensibility which they strive to        
conceal1 or a desire of love and        
approbation1 which preys like a famine  
on the soul4 ,and yet1 they become      
objects of ridicule and rebuke to almost
 every member of the family1 until their
 sensibilities are tortured into        
obtuseness or misanthropy4 ,such        
children1 above all others1 need        
tenderness and sympathy4 ,a thousand    
instances of mistake or forgetfulness   

should be passed over in silence1 while 
opportunities for commendation and      
encouragement should be diligently      
sought4  ,in regard to the formation of 
habits of self-denial in childhood1 it  
is astonishing to see how parents who   
are very sensible often seem to regard  
this matter4 ,instead of inuring their  
children to this duty in early life1 so 
that by habit it may be made easy in    
after-days1 they seem to be studiously  
seeking to cut them off from every      
chance to secure such a preparation4    
,every wish of the child is studiously  
gratified2 and1 where a necessity exists
 of crossing its wishes1 some           
compensating pleasure is offered1 in    
return4 ,such parents often maintain    
that nothing shall be put on their      
table1 which their children may not join
 them in eating4 ,but where1 so easily  
and surely as at the daily meal1 can    
that habit of self-denial be formed1    
which is so needful in governing the    
appetites1 and which children must      

acquire1 or be ruined8 ,the food which  
is proper for grown persons1 is often   
unsuitable for children2 and this is a  
sufficient reason for accustoming them  
to see others partake of delicacies1    
which they must not share4 ,requiring   
children1 to wait till others are       
helped1 and to refrain from1            
conversation at table1 except when      
addressed by their elders1 is another   
mode of forming habits of self-denial   
and self-control4 ,requiring them to    
help others first1 and to offer the best
 to others1 has a similar influence4    
,in forming the moral habits of         
children1 it is wise to take into       
account the peculiar temptations to     
which they are to be exposed4 ,the      
people of this nation are eminently a   
trafficking people2 and the present     
standard of honesty1 as to trade and    
debts1 is very low1 and every year seems
 sinking still lower4 ,it is1 therefore1
 preeminently important1 that children  
should be trained to strict honesty1    

both in word and deed4 ,it is not merely
 teaching children to avoid absolute    
lying1 which is needed3 all kinds of    
deceit should be guarded against2 and   
all kinds of little dishonest practices 
be strenuously opposed4 ,a child should 
be brought up with the determined       
principle1 never to run in debt1 but to 
be content to live in a humbler way1 in 
order to secure that true independence1 
which should be the noblest distinction 
of an ,american citizen4  ,there is no  
more important duty devolving upon a    
mother1 than the cultivation of habits  
of modesty and propriety in young       
children4 ,all indecorous words or      
deportment should be carefully          
restrained2 and delicacy and reserve    
studiously cherished4 ,it is a common   
notion1 that it is important to secure  
these virtues to one sex1 more than to  
the other2 and1 by a strange            
inconsistency1 the sex most exposed to  
danger is the one selected as least     
needing care4 ,yet a wise mother will be

 especially careful that her sons are   
trained to modesty and purity of mind4  
,yet few mothers are sufficiently aware 
of the dreadful penalties which often   
result from indulged impurity of        
thought4 ,if children1 in future life1  
can be preserved from licentious        
associates1 it is supposed that their   
safety is secured4 ,but the records of  
our insane retreats1 and the pages of   
medical writers1 teach that even in     
solitude1 and without being aware of the
 sin or the danger1 children may inflict
 evils on themselves1 which not         
unfrequently terminate in disease1      
delirium1 and death4  ,there is no      
necessity for explanations on this point
 any farther than this2 that certain    
parts of the body are not to be touched 
except for purposes of cleanliness1 and 
that the most dreadful suffering comes  
from disobeying these commands4 ,so in  
regard to practices and sins of which a 
young child will sometimes inquire1 the 
wise parent will say1 that this is what 

children can not understand1 and about  
which they must not talk or ask         
questions4 ,and they should be told that
 it is always a bad sign1 when children 
talk on matters which parents call      
vulgar and indecent1 and that the       
company of such children should be      
avoided4 ,disclosing details of         
wrong-doing to young and curious        
children1 often leads to the very evils 
feared4 ,but parents and teachers1 in   
this age of danger1 should be well      
informed and watchful2 for it is not    
unfrequently the case1 that servants and
 school-mates will teach young children 
practices1 which exhaust the nervous    
system and bring on paralysis1 mania1   
and death4  ,and finally1 in regard to  
the early religious training of         
children1 the examples of the ,creator  
in the early training of our race may   
safely be imitated4 ,that ,he is1 and is
 a rewarder--that he is everywhere      
present--that he is a tender ,father in 
heaven1 who is grieved when any of his  

children do wrong1 yet ever ready to    
forgive those who are striving to please
 him by well-doing1 these are the most  
effective motives to save the young from
 the paths of danger and sin4 ,the      
rewards and penalties of the life to    
come are better adapted to maturer age1 
than to the imperfect and often false   
and fearful conceptions of the childish 
mind4     ,,xxiii4  ,,domestic          
,,amusements ,,and ,,social ,,duties4   
,whenever the laws of body and mind are 
properly understood1 it will be allowed 
that every person needs some kind of    
recreation2 and that1 by seeking it1 the
 body is strengthened1 the mind is      
invigorated1 and all our duties are more
 cheerfully and successfully performed4 
,children1 whose bodies are rapidly     
growing and whose nervous system is     
tender and excitable1 need much more    
amusement than persons of mature age4   
,persons1 also1 who are oppressed with  
great responsibilities and duties1 or   
who are taxed by great intellectual or  

moral excitement1 need recreations which
 physically exercise and draw off the   
mind from absorbing interests4          
,unfortunately1 such persons are those  
who least resort to amusements1 while   
the idle1 gay1 and thoughtless seek     
those which are not needed1 and for     
which useful occupation would be a most 
beneficial substitute4  ,as the only    
legitimate object of amusement is to    
prepare mind and body for the proper    
discharge of duty1 the protracting of   
such as interfere with regular          
employments1 or induce excessive        
fatigue1 or weary the mind1 or invade   
the proper hours for repose1 must be    
sinful4  ,in deciding what should be    
selected1 and what avoided1 the         
following are guiding principles4 ,in   
the first place1 no amusements which    
inflict needless pain should ever be    
allowed4 ,all tricks which cause fright 
or vexation1 and all sports which       
involve suffering to animals1 should be 
utterly forbidden4 ,hunting and fishing1

 for mere sport1 can never be justified4
 ,if a man can convince his children    
that he follows these pursuits to gain  
food or health1 and not for amusement1  
his example may not be very injurious4  
,but when children see grown persons    
kill and frighten animals1 for sport1   
habits of cruelty1 rather than feelings 
of tenderness and benevolence1 are      
cultivated4  ,in the next place1 we     
should seek no recreations which        
endanger life1 or interfere with        
important duties4 ,as the legitimate    
object of amusements is to promote      
health and prepare for some serious     
duties1 selecting those which have a    
directly opposite tendency1 can not be  
justified4 ,of course1 if a person feels
 that the previous day's diversion has  
shortened the hours of needful repose1  
or induced a lassitude of mind or body1 
instead of invigorating them1 it is     
certain that an evil has been done which
 should never be repeated4  ,another    
rule which has been extensively adopted 

in the religious world is1 to avoid     
those amusements which experience has   
shown to be so exciting1 and connected  
with so many temptations1 as to be      
pernicious in tendency1 both to the     
individual and to the community4 ,it is 
on this ground1 that horse-racing and   
circus-riding have been excluded4 ,not  
because there is any thing positively   
wrong in having men and horses run and  
perform feats of agility1 or in persons 
looking on for the diversion3 but       
because experience has shown so many    
evils connected with these recreations1 
that they should be relinquished4 ,so   
with theatres4 ,the enacting of         
characters and the amusement thus       
afforded in themselves may be harmless2 
and possibly1 in certain cases1 might be
 useful3 but experience has shown so    
many evils to result from this source1  
that it has been deemed wrong to        
patronize it4 ,so1 also1 with those     
exciting games of chance which are      
employed in gambling4  ,under the same  

head comes dancing1 in the estimation of
 the great majority of the religious    
world4 ,still1 there are many           
intelligent1 excellent1 and             
conscientious persons who hold a        
contrary opinion4 ,such maintain that it
 is an innocent and healthful amusement1
 tending to promote ease of manners1    
cheerfulness1 social affection1 and     
health of mind and body2 that evils are 
involved only in its excess2 that like  
food1 study1 or religions excitement1 it
 is only wrong when not properly        
regulated2 and that1 if serious and     
intelligent people would strive to      
regulate1 rather than banish1 this      
amusement1 much more good would be      
secured4  ,on the other side1 it is     
objected1 not that dancing is a sin1 in 
itself considered1 for it was once a    
part of sacred worship2 not that it     
would be objectionable1 if it were      
properly regulated2 not that it does not
 tend1 when used in a proper manner1 to 
health of body and mind1 to grace of    

manners2 and to social enjoyment3 all   
these things are conceded4 ,but it is   
objected to1 on the same ground as      
horse-racing and theatrical             
entertainments2 that we are to look at  
amusements as they are1 and not as they 
might be4 ,horse-races might be so      
managed as not to involve cruelty1      
gambling1 drunkenness1 and other vices4 
,and so might theatres4 ,and if serious 
and intelligent persons undertook to    
patronize these1 in order to regulate   
them1 perhaps they would be somewhat    
raised from the depths to which they    
have sunk4 ,but such persons believe    
that1 with the weak sense of moral      
obligation existing in the mass of      
society1 and the imperfect ideas mankind
 have of the proper use of amusements1  
and the little self-control which men or
 women or children practice1 these will 
not1 in fact1 be thus regulated4  ,and  
they believe dancing to be liable to the
 same objections4 ,as this recreation is
 actually conducted1 it does not tend to

 produce health of body or mind1 but    
directly the contrary4 ,if young and old
 went out to dance together in open air1
 as the ,french peasants do1 it would be
 a very different sort of amusement from
 that which often is witnessed in a room
 furnished with many lights and filled  
with guests1 both expending the         
healthful part of the atmosphere1 where 
the young collect1 in their tightest    
dresses1 to protract for several hours a
 kind of physical exertion which is not 
habitual to them4 ,during this process1 
the blood is made to circulate more     
swiftly than usual1 in circumstances    
where it is less perfectly oxygenized   
than health requires2 the pores of the  
skin are excited by heat and exercise2  
the stomach is loaded with indigestible 
articles1 and the quiet1 needful to     
digestion1 withheld2 the diversion is   
protracted beyond the usual hour for    
repose2 and then1 when the skin is made 
the most highly susceptible to damps and
 miasms1 the company pass from a warm   

room to the cold night-air4 ,it is      
probable that no single amusement can be
 pointed out combining so many injurious
 particulars as this1 which is so often 
defended as a healthful one4 ,even if   
parents1 who train their children to    
dance1 can keep them from public balls1 
7which is seldom the case17 dancing1 as 
ordinarily conducted in private parlors1
 in most cases is subject to nearly all 
the same mischievous influences4  ,the  
spirit of ,christ is that of            
self-denying benevolence2 and his great 
aim1 by his teachings and example1 was  
to train his followers to avoid all that
 should lead to sin1 especially in      
regard to the weaker ones of his family4
 ,yet he made wine at a wedding1        
attended a social feast on the ,sabbath1
 ,footnote3 ,luke xiv4 ,in reading this 
passage1 please notice what kind of     
guests are to be invited to the feast   
that ,jesus ,christ recommends4 reproved
 excess of strictness in                
,sabbath-keeping generally1 and forbade 

no safe and innocent enjoyment4 ,in     
following his example1 the rulers of the
 family1 then1 will introduce the most  
highly exciting amusements only in      
circumstances where there are such      
strong principles and habits of         
self-control that the enjoyment will not
 involve sin in the actor or needless   
temptation to the weak4  ,the course    
pursued by our ,puritan ancestors1 in   
the period succeeding their first perils
 amid sickness and savages1 is an       
example that may safely be practiced at 
the present day4 ,the young of both     
sexes were educated in the higher       
branches1 in country academies1 and very
 often the closing exercises were       
theatricals1 in which the pupils were   
performers and their pastors1 elders1   
and parents1 the audience4 ,so1 at      
social gatherings1 the dance was        
introduced before minister and wife1    
with smiling approval4 ,the roaring     
fires and broad chimneys provided pure  
air1 and the nine o'clock bell ended the

 festivities that gave new vigor and    
zest to life1 while the dawn of the next
 day's light saw all at their posts of  
duty1 with heartier strength and blither
 spirits4  ,no indecent or unhealthful  
costumes offended the eye1 no half-naked
 dancers of dubious morality were       
sustained in a life of dangerous        
excitement1 by the money of ,christian  
people1 for the mere amusement of their 
night hours4 ,no shivering drivers were 
deprived of comfort and sleep1 to carry 
home the midnight followers of fashion2 
nor was the quiet and comfort of        
servants in hundreds of dwellings       
invaded for the mere amusement of their 
superiors in education and advantages4  
,the command we that are strong1 ought  
to bear the infirmities of the weak1 and
 not to please ourselves1 was in those  
days not reversed4 ,had the drama and   
the dance continued to be regulated by  
the rules of temperance1 health1 and    
,christian benevolence1 as in the days  
of our forefathers1 they would not have 

been so generally banished from the     
religious world4 ,and the question is   
now being discussed1 whether they can be
 so regulated at the present time as not
 to violate the laws1 either of health  
or benevolence4 ,footnote3 ,fanny       
,kemble ,butler remarked to the present 
writer that she regarded theatres wrong1
 chiefly because of the injury involved 
to the actors4 ,can a ,christian mother 
contribute money to support young women 
in a profession from which she would    
protect her own daughter1 as from       
degradation1 and that1 too1 simply for  
the amusement of herself and family8    
,would this be following the            
self-sacrificing benevolence of ,christ 
and his apostles8  ,in regard to home   
amusements1 card-playing is now indulged
 in1 in many conscientious families from
 which it formerly was excluded1 and for
 these reasons3 it is claimed that this 
is a quiet home amusement1 which unites 
pleasantly the aged with the young2 that
 it is not now employed in respectable  

society for gambling1 as it formerly    
was2 that to some young minds it is a   
peculiarly fascinating game1 and should 
be first practiced under the parental   
care1 till the excitement of novelty is 
past1 thus rendering the danger to      
children less1 when going into the      
world2 and1 finally1 that habits of     
self-control in exciting circumstances  
may and should be thus cultivated in the
 safety of home4 ,many parents who have 
taken this course with their sons in    
early life1 believe that it has proved  
rather a course of safety than of       
danger4 ,still1 as there is great       
diversity of opinion1 among persons of  
equal worth and intelligence1 a mutual  
spirit of candor and courtesy should be 
practiced4 ,the sneer at bigotry and    
narrowness of views1 on one side1 and   
the uncharitable implication of want of 
piety1 or sense1 on the other1 are      
equally ill-bred and unchristian4 ,truth
 on this subject is best promoted1 not  
by ill-natured crimination and rebuke1  

but by calm reason1 generous candor1    
forbearance1 and kindness4  ,there is   
another species of amusement1 which a   
large portion of the religious world    
formerly put under the same condemnation
 as the preceding4 ,this is             
novel-reading4 ,the confusion and       
difference of opinion on this subject   
have arisen from a want of clear and    
definite distinctions4 ,now1 as it is   
impossible to define what are novels and
 what are not1 so as to include one     
class of fictitious writings and exclude
 every other1 it is impossible to lay   
down any rule respecting them4 ,the     
discussion1 in fact1 turns on the use of
 those works of imagination which belong
 to the class of fictitious narratives4 
,that this species of reading is not    
only lawful but necessary and useful1 is
 settled by divine examples1 in the     
parables and allegories of ,scripture4  
,of course1 the question must be1 what  
kind of fabulous writings must be       
avoided1 and what allowed4  ,in deciding

 this1 no specific rules can be given2  
but it must be a matter to be regulated 
by the nature and circumstances of each 
case4 ,no works of fiction which tend to
 throw the allurements of taste and     
genius around vice and crime should ever
 be tolerated2 and all that tend to give
 false views of life and duty should    
also be banished4 ,of those which are   
written for mere amusement1 presenting  
scenes and events that are interesting  
and exciting and having no bad moral    
influence1 much must depend on the      
character and circumstances of the      
reader4 ,some minds are torpid and      
phlegmatic1 and need to have the        
imagination stimulated3 such would be   
benefited by this kind of reading4      
,others have quick and active           
imaginations1 and would be as much      
injured by excess4 ,some persons are    
often so engaged in absorbing interests1
 that any thing innocent1 which will for
 a short time draw off the mind1 is of  
the nature of a medicine2 and1 in such  

cases1 this kind of reading is useful4  
,there is need1 also1 that some men     
should keep a supervision of the current
 literature of the day1 as guardians1 to
 warn others of danger4 ,for this       
purpose1 it is more suitable for        
editors1 clergymen1 and teachers to read
 indiscriminately1 than for any other   
class of persons2 for they are the      
guardians of the public weal in matters 
of literature1 and should be prepared to
 advise parents and young persons of the
 evils in one direction and the good in 
another4 ,in doing this1 however1 they  
are bound to go on the same principles  
which regulate physicians1 when they    
visit infected districts--using every   
precaution to prevent injury to         
themselves2 having as little to do with 
pernicious exposures1 as a benevolent   
regard to others will allow2 and        
faithfully employing all the knowledge  
and opportunities thus gained for       
warning and preserving others4 ,there is
 much danger1 in taking this course1    

that men will seek the excitement of the
 imagination for the mere pleasure it   
affords1 under the plea of preparing to 
serve the public1 when this is neither  
the aim nor the result4  ,in regard to  
the use of such works by the young1 as a
 general rule1 they ought not to be     
allowed1 to any except those of a dull  
and phlegmatic temperament1 until the   
solid parts of education are secured and
 a taste for more elevated reading is   
acquired4 ,if these stimulating         
condiments in literature be freely used 
in youth1 all relish for more solid     
reading will in a majority of cases be  
destroyed4 ,if parents succeed in       
securing habits of cheerful and implicit
 obedience1 it will be very easy to     
regulate this matter1 by prohibiting the
 reading of any story-book1 until the   
consent of the parent is obtained4  ,the
 most successful mode of forming a taste
 for suitable reading1 is for parents to
 select interesting works of history and
 travels1 with maps and pictures suited 

to the age and attainments of the young1
 and spend an hour or two each day or   
evening1 in aiming to make truth as     
interesting as fiction4 ,whoever has    
once tried this method will find that   
the uninjured mind of childhood is      
better satisfied with what they know is 
true1 when wisely presented1 than with  
the most exciting novels1 which they    
know are false4  ,perhaps there has been
 some just ground of objection to the   
course often pursued by parents in      
neglecting to provide suitable and      
agreeable substitutes for the amusements
 denied4 ,but there is a great abundance
 of safe1 healthful1 and delightful     
recreations1 which all parents may      
secure for their children4 ,some of     
these will here be pointed out4  ,one of
 the most useful and important1 is the  
cultivation of flowers and fruits4      
,this1 especially for the daughters of a
 family1 is greatly promotive of health 
and amusement4 ,it is with the hope that
 many young ladies1 whose habits are now

 so formed that they can never be       
induced to a course of active domestic  
exercise so long as their parents are   
able to hire domestic service1 may yet  
be led to an employment which will tend 
to secure health and vigor of           
constitution1 that much space will be   
given in the second volume of this work1
 to directions for the cultivation of   
fruits and flowers4  ,it would be a most
 desirable improvement1 if all schools  
for young women could be furnished with 
suitable grounds and instruments for the
 cultivation of fruits and flowers1 and 
every inducement offered to engage the  
pupils in this pursuit4 ,no father1 who 
wishes to have his daughters grow up to 
be healthful women1 can take a surer    
method to secure this end4 ,let him set 
apart a portion of his ground for fruits
 and flowers1 and see that the soil is  
well prepared and dug over1 and all the 
rest may be committed to the care of the
 children4 ,these would need to be      
provided with a light hoe and rake1 a   

dibble or garden trowel1 a watering-pot1
 and means and opportunities for        
securing seeds1 roots1 bulbs1 buds1 and 
grafts1 all which might be done at a    
trifling expense4 ,then1 with proper    
encouragement and by the aid of a few   
intelligible and practical directions1  
every man who has even half an acre     
could secure a small ,eden around his   
premises4  ,in pursuing this amusement  
children can also be led to acquire many
 useful habits4 ,early rising would1 in 
many cases1 be thus secured2 and if they
 were required to keep their walks and  
borders free from weeds and rubbish1    
habits of order and neatness would be   
induced4 ,benevolent and social feelings
 could also be cultivated1 by           
influencing children to share their     
fruits and flowers with friends and     
neighbors1 as well as to distribute     
roots and seeds to those who have not   
the means of procuring them4 ,a woman or
 a child1 by giving seeds or slips or   
roots to a washerwoman1 or a farmer's   

boy1 thus inciting them to love and     
cultivate fruits and flowers1 awakens a 
new and refining source of enjoyment in 
minds which have few resources more     
elevated than mere physical enjoyments4 
,our ,saviour directs us in making      
feasts1 to call1 not the rich who can   
recompense again1 but the poor who can  
make no returns4 ,so children should be 
taught to dispense their little         
treasures not alone to companions and   
friends1 who will probably return       
similar favors2 but to those who have no
 means of making any return4 ,if the    
rich1 who acquire a love for the        
enjoyments of taste and have the means  
to gratify it1 would aim to extend among
 the poor the cheap and simple enjoyment
 of fruits and flowers1 our country     
would soon literally blossom as the     
rose4  ,if the ladies of a neighborhood 
would unite small contributions1 and    
send a list of flower-seeds and roots to
 some respectable and honest florist1   
who would not be likely to turn them off

 with trash1 they could divide these    
among themselves and their poor         
neighbors1 so as to secure an abundant  
variety at a very small expense4 ,a bag 
of flower-seeds1 which can be obtained  
at wholesale for four cents1 would      
abundantly supply a whole neighborhood2 
and by the gathering of seeds in the    
autumn1 could be perpetuated4  ,another 
very elevating and delightful recreation
 for the young is found in music4 ,here 
the writer would protest against the    
practice common in many families1 of    
having the daughters learn to play on   
the piano whether they have a taste and 
an ear for music1 or not4 ,a young lady 
who does not sing well1 and has no great
 fondness for music1 does nothing but   
waste time1 money1 and patience in      
learning to play on the piano4 ,but all 
children can be taught to sing in early 
childhood1 if the scientific mode of    
teaching music in schools could be more 
widely introduced1 as it is in ,prussia1
 ,germany1 and ,switzerland4 ,then young

 children could read and sing music as  
easily as they can read language2 and   
might take any tune1 dividing themselves
 into bands1 and sing off at sight the  
endless variety of music which is       
prepared4 ,and if parents of wealth     
would take pains to have teachers       
qualified for the purpose1 who should   
teach all the young children in the     
community1 much would be done for the   
happiness and elevation of the rising   
generation4 ,this is an element of      
education which we are glad to know is1 
year by year1 more extensively and      
carefully cultivated2 and it is not only
 a means of culture1 but also an        
amusement1 which children relish in the 
highest degree2 and which they can enjoy
 at home1 in the fields1 and in visits  
abroad4  ,another domestic amusement is 
the collecting of shells1 plants1 and   
specimens in geology and mineralogy1 for
 the formation of cabinets4 ,if         
intelligent parents would procure the   
simpler works which have been prepared  

for the young1 and study them with their
 children1 a taste for such recreations 
would soon be developed4 ,the writer has
 seen young boys1 of eight and ten years
 of age1 gathering and cleaning shells  
from rivers1 and collecting plants and  
mineralogical specimens1 with a delight 
bordering on ecstasy2 and there are few1
 if any1 who by proper influences would 
not find this a source of ceaseless     
delight and improvement4  ,another      
resource for family diversion is to be  
found in the various games played by    
children1 and in which the joining of   
older members of the family is always a 
great advantage to both parties1        
especially those in the open air4  ,all 
medical men unite in declaring that     
nothing is more beneficial to health    
than hearty laughter2 and surely our    
benevolent ,creator would not have      
provided risibles1 and made it a source 
of health and enjoyment to use them1 if 
it were a sin so to do4 ,there has been 
a tendency to asceticism1 on this       

subject1 which needs to be removed4     
,such commands as forbid foolish        
laughing and jesting1 which are not     
convenient and which forbid all idle    
words and vain conversation1 can not    
apply to any thing except what is       
foolish1 vain1 and useless4 ,but jokes1 
laughter1 and sports1 when used in such 
a degree as tends only to promote health
 and happiness1 are neither vain1       
foolish1 nor not convenient4 ,it is the 
excess of these things1 and not the     
moderate use of them1 which ,scripture  
forbids4 ,the prevailing temper of the  
mind should be serious1 yet cheerful2   
and there are times when relaxation and 
laughter are not only proper but        
necessary and right for all4 ,there is  
nothing better for this end than that   
parents and older persons should join in
 the sports of childhood4 ,mature minds 
can always make such diversions more    
entertaining to children1 and can exert 
a healthful moral influence over their  
minds2 and at the same time can gain    

exercise and amusement for themselves4  
,how lamentable that so many fathers1   
who could be thus useful and happy with 
their children1 throw away such         
opportunities1 and wear out soul and    
body in the pursuit of gain or fame6    
,another resource for children is the   
exercise of mechanical skill4 ,fathers1 
by providing tools for their boys1 and  
showing them how to make wheelbarrows1  
carts1 sleds1 and various other         
articles1 contribute both to the        
physical1 moral1 and social improvement 
of their children4 ,and in regard to    
little daughters1 much more can be done 
in this way than many would imagine4    
,the writer1 blessed with the example of
 a most ingenious and industrious       
mother1 had not only learned before the 
age of twelve to make dolls1 of various 
sorts and sizes1 but to cut and fit and 
sew every article that belongs to a     
doll's wardrobe4 ,this1 which was done  
by the child for mere amusement1 secured
 such a facility in mechanical pursuits1

 that1 ever afterward1 the cutting and  
fitting of any article of dress1 for    
either sex1 was accomplished with entire
 ease4  ,when a little girl begins to   
sew1 her mother can promise her a small 
bed and pillow1 as soon as she has sewed
 a patch quilt for them2 and then a     
bedstead1 as soon as she has sewed the  
sheets and cases for pillows2 and then a
 large doll to dress1 as soon as she has
 made the undergarments2 and thus go on 
till the whole contents of the          
baby-house are earned by the needle and 
skill of its little owner4 ,thus the    
task of learning to sew will become a   
pleasure2 and every new toy will be     
earned by useful exertion4 ,a little    
girl can be taught1 by the aid of       
patterns prepared for the purpose1 to   
cut and fit all articles necessary for  
her doll4 ,she can also be provided with
 a little wash-tub and irons and thus   
keep in proper order a complete         
miniature domestic establishment4       
,besides these recreations1 there are   

the enjoyments secured in walking1      
riding1 visiting1 and many other        
employments which need not be recounted4
 ,children1 if trained to be healthful  
and industrious1 will never fail to     
discover resources of amusement2 while  
their guardians should lend their aid to
 guide and restrain them from excess4   
,there is need of a very great change of
 opinion and practice in this nation in 
regard to the subject of social and     
domestic duties4 ,many sensible and     
conscientious men spend all their time  
abroad in business2 except perhaps an   
hour or so at night1 when they are so   
fatigued as to be unfitted for any      
social or intellectual enjoyment4 ,and  
some of the most conscientious men in   
the country will add to their           
professional business public or         
benevolent enterprises1 which demand    
time1 effort1 and money2 and then excuse
 themselves for neglecting all care of  
their children1 and efforts for their   
own intellectual improvement1 or for the

 improvement of their families1 by the  
plea that they have no time for it4     
,all this arises from the want of       
correct notions of the binding          
obligation of our social and domestic   
duties4 ,the main object of life is not 
to secure the various gratifications of 
appetite or taste1 but to form such a   
character1 for ourselves and others1 as 
will secure the greatest amount of      
present and future happiness4 ,it is of 
far more consequence1 then1 that parents
 should be intelligent1 social1         
affectionate1 and agreeable at home and 
to their friends1 than that they should 
earn money enough to live in a large    
house and have handsome furniture4 ,it  
is far more needful for children that a 
father should attend to the formation of
 their character and habits1 and aid in 
developing their social1 intellectual1  
and moral nature1 than it is that he    
should earn money to furnish them with  
handsome clothes and a variety of       
tempting food4  ,it will be wise for    

those parents who find little time to   
attend to their children1 or to seek    
amusement and enjoyment in the domestic 
and social circle1 because their time is
 so much occupied with public cares or  
benevolent objects1 to inquire whether  
their first duty is not to train up     
their own families to be useful members 
of society4 ,a man who neglects the mind
 and morals of his children1 to take    
care of the public1 is in great danger  
of coming under a similar condemnation  
to that of him who1 neglecting to       
provide for his own household1 has      
denied the faith1 and is worse than an  
infidel4  ,there are husbands and       
fathers who conscientiously subtract    
time from their business to spend at    
home1 in reading with their wives and   
children1 and in domestic amusements    
which at once refresh and improve4 ,the 
children of such parents will grow up   
with a love of home and kindred which   
will be the greatest safeguard against  
future temptations1 as well as the      

purest source of earthly enjoyment4     
,there are families1 also1 who make it a
 definite object to keep up family      
attachments1 after the children are     
scattered abroad2 and1 in some cases1   
secure the means for doing this by      
saving money which would otherwise have 
been spent for superfluities of food or 
dress4 ,some families have adopted1 for 
this end1 a practice which1 if widely   
imitated1 would be productive of much   
enjoyment4 ,the method is this3 ,on the 
first day of each month1 some member of 
the family1 at each extreme point of    
dispersion1 takes a folio sheet1 and    
fills a part of a page4 ,this is sealed 
and mailed to the next family1 who read 
it1 add another contribution1 and then  
mail it to the next4 ,thus the family   
circular1 once a month1 goes from each  
extreme to all the members of a         
widely-dispersed family1 and each member
 becomes a sharer in the joys1 sorrows1 
plans1 and pursuits of all the rest4 ,at
 the same time1 frequent family meetings

 are sought2 and the expense thus       
incurred is cheerfully met by           
retrenchments in other directions4 ,the 
sacrifice of some unnecessary physical  
indulgence will often purchase many     
social and domestic enjoyments1 a       
thousand times more elevating and       
delightful than the retrenched luxury4  
,there is no social duty which the      
,supreme ,law-giver more strenuously    
urges than hospitality and kindness to  
strangers1 who are classed with the     
widow and the fatherless as the special 
objects of ,divine tenderness4 ,there   
are some reasons why this duty          
peculiarly demands attention from the   
,american people4  ,reverses of fortune1
 in this land1 are so frequent and      
unexpected1 and the habits of the people
 are so migratory1 that there are very  
many in every part of the country who1  
having seen all their temporal plans and
 hopes crushed1 are now pining among    
strangers1 bereft of wonted comforts1   
without friends1 and without the        

sympathy and society so needful to      
wounded spirits4 ,such1 too frequently1 
sojourn long and lonely1 with no        
comforter but ,him who knoweth the heart
 of a stranger4  ,whenever1 therefore1  
new-comers enter a community1 inquiry   
should immediately be made as to whether
 they have friends or associates1 to    
render sympathy and kind attentions2    
and1 when there is any need for it1 the 
ministries of kind neighborliness should
 immediately be offered4 ,and it should 
be remembered that the first days of a  
stranger's sojourn are the most dreary1 
and that civility and kindness are      
doubled in value by being offered at an 
early period4  ,in social gatherings the
 claims of the stranger are too apt to  
be forgotten2 especially in cases where 
there are no peculiar attractions of    
personal appearance1 or talents1 or high
 standing4 ,such a one should be treated
 with attention1 because he is a        
stranger2 and when communities learn to 
act more from principle1 and less from  

selfish impulse1 on this subject1 the   
sacred claims of the stranger will be   
less frequently forgotten4  ,the most   
agreeable hospitality to visitors who   
become inmates of a family1 is that     
which puts them entirely at ease4 ,this 
can never be the case where the guest   
perceives that the order of family      
arrangement is essentially altered1 and 
that time1 comfort1 and convenience are 
sacrificed for his accommodation4       
,offering the best to visitors1 showing 
a polite regard to every wish expressed1
 and giving precedence to them1 in all  
matters of comfort and convenience1 can 
be easily combined with the easy freedom
 which makes the stranger feel at home2 
and this is the perfection of hospitable
 entertainment4     ,,xxiv4  ,,care ,,of
 ,,the ,,aged4  ,one of the most        
interesting and instructive             
illustrations of the design of our      
,creator1 in the institution of the     
family state1 is the preservation of the
 aged after their faculties decay and   

usefulness in ordinary modes seems to be
 ended4 ,by most persons this period of 
infirmities and uselessness is          
anticipated with apprehension1          
especially in the case of those who have
 lived an active1 useful life1 giving   
largely of service to others1 and       
dependent for most resources of         
enjoyment on their own energies4  ,to   
lose the resources of sight or hearing1 
to become feeble in body1 so as to      
depend on the ministries of others1 and 
finally to gradually decay in mental    
force and intelligence1 to many seems   
far worse than death4 ,multitudes have  
prayed to be taken1 from this life when 
their usefulness is thus ended4  ,but a 
true view of the design of the family   
state1 and of the ministry of the aged  
and helpless in carrying out this       
design1 would greatly lessen such       
apprehensions1 and might be made a      
source of pure and elevated enjoyment4  
,the ,christian virtues of patience with
 the unreasonable1 of self- denying     

labor for the weak1 and of sympathy with
 the afflicted1 are dependent1 to a     
great degree1 on cultivation and habit1 
and these can be gained only in         
circumstances demanding the daily       
exercise of these graces4 ,in this      
aspect1 continued life in the aged and  
infirm should be regarded as a blessing 
and privilege to a family1 especially to
 the young1 and the cultivation of the  
graces that are demanded by that        
relation should be made a definite and  
interesting part of their education4 ,a 
few of the methods to be attempted for  
this end will be suggested4  ,in the    
first place1 the object for which the   
aged are preserved in life1 when in many
 cases they would rejoice to depart1    
should be definitely kept in            
recollection1 and a sense of gratitude  
and obligation be cultivated4 ,they     
should be looked up to and treated as   
ministers sustained by our ,heavenly    
,father in a painful experience1        
expressly for the good of those around  

them4 ,this appreciation of their       
ministry and usefulness will greatly    
lessen their trials and impart          
consolation4 ,if in hours of weariness  
and infirmity they wonder why they are  
kept in a useless and helpless state to 
burden others around1 they should be    
assured that they are not useless2 and  
this is not only by word1 but1 better   
still1 by the manifestation of those    
virtues which such opportunities alone  
can secure4  ,another mode of cheering  
the aged is to engage them in the       
domestic games and sports which unite   
the old and the young in amusement4     
,many a weary hour may thus be enlivened
 for the benefit of all concerned4 ,and 
here will often occur opportunities of  
self-denying benevolence in             
relinquishing personal pursuits and     
gratification thus to promote the       
enjoyment of the infirm and dependent4  
,reading aloud is often a great source  
of enjoyment to those who by age are    
deprived of reading for themselves4 ,so 

the effort to gather news of the        
neighborhood and impart it1 is another  
mode of relieving those deprived of     
social gatherings4  ,there is no period 
in life when those courtesies of good   
breeding which recognize the relations  
of superior and inferior should be more 
carefully cherished than when there is  
need of showing them toward those of    
advancing age4 ,to those who have       
controlled a household1 and still more  
to those who in public life have been   
honored and admired1 the decay of mental
 powers is peculiarly trying1 and every 
effort should be made to lessen the     
trial by courteous attention to their   
opinions1 and by avoiding all attempts  
to controvert them1 or to make evident  
any weakness or fallacy in their        
conversation4  ,in regard to the decay  
of bodily or mental faculties1 much more
 can be done to prevent or retard them  
than is generally supposed1 and some    
methods for this end which have been    
gained by observation or experience will

 be presented4  ,as the exercise of all 
our faculties tends to increase their   
power1 unless it be carried to excess1  
it is very important that the aged      
should be provided with useful          
employment1 suited to their strength and
 capacity4 ,nothing hastens decay so    
fast as to remove the stimulus of useful
 activity4 ,it should become a study    
with those who have the care of the aged
 to interest them in some useful        
pursuit1 and to convince them that they 
are in some measure actively            
contributing to the general welfare4 ,in
 the country and in families where the  
larger part of the domestic labor is    
done without servants1 it is very easy  
to keep up an interest in domestic      
industrial employments4 ,the tending of 
a small garden in summer--the           
preparation of fuel and food1 the       
mending of household utensils--these and
 many other occupations of the hands    
will keep alive activity and interest1  
in a man2 while for women there are     

still more varied resources4 ,there is  
nothing that so soon hastens decay and  
lends acerbity to age as giving up all  
business and responsibility1 and every  
mode possible should be devised to      
prevent this result4  ,as age advances1 
all the bodily functions move more      
slowly1 and consequently the generation 
of animal heat1 by the union of oxygen  
and carbon in the capillaries1 is in    
smaller proportion than in the midday of
 life4 ,for this reason some practices1 
safe for the vigorous1 must be          
relinquished by the aged2 and one of    
these is the use of the cold bath4 ,it  
has often been the case that rheumatism 
has been caused by neglect of this      
caution4 ,more than ordinary care should
 be taken to preserve animal heat in the
 aged1 especially in the hands and the  
feet4  ,in many families will be found  
an aged brother1 or sister1 or other    
relative who has no home1 and no claim  
to a refuge in the family circle but    
that of kindred4 ,sometimes they are    

poor and homeless1 for want of a faculty
 for self-supporting business2 and      
sometimes they have peculiarities of    
person or disposition which render their
 society undesirable4 ,these are cases  
where the pitying tenderness of the     
,saviour should be remembered1 and for  
his sake patient kindness and tender    
care be given1 and he will graciously   
accept it as an offering of love and    
duty to himself4 ,inasmuch as ye have   
done it to the least of these my        
brethren1 ye have done it to me4  ,it is
 sometimes the case that even parents in
 old age have had occasion to say with  
the forsaken ,king ,lear1 ,how sharper  
than a serpent's tooth it is to have a  
thankless child6 ,it is right training  
in early life alone that will save from 
this4  ,in the opening of ,china and the
 probable influx of its people1 there is
 one cause for congratulation to a      
nation that is failing in the virtue of 
reverence4 ,the ,chinese are            
distinguished above all other nations   

for their respect for the aged1 and     
especially for their reverence for aged 
parents and conformity to their         
authority1 even to the last4 ,this      
virtue is cultivated to a degree that is
 remarkable1 and has produced singular  
and favorable results on the national   
character1 which it is hoped may be     
imparted to the land to which they are  
flocking in such multitudes4 ,for with  
all their peculiarities of pagan        
philosophy and their oriental           
eccentricities of custom and practical  
life1 they are everywhere renowned for  
their uniform and elegant courtesy--a   
most commendable virtue1 and one arising
 from habitual deference to the aged    
more than from any other source4        
,,xxv4  ,,the ,,case ,,of ,,servants4   
,although in earlier ages the highest   
born1 wealthiest1 and proudest ladies   
were skilled in the simple labors of the
 household1 the advance of society      
toward luxury has changed all that in   
lands of aristocracy and classes1 and at

 the present time ,america is the only  
country where there is a class of women 
who may be described as ladies who do   
their own work4 ,by a lady we mean a    
woman of education1 cultivation1 and    
refinement1 of liberal tastes and ideas1
 who1 without any very material         
additions or changes1 would be          
recognized as a lady in any circle of   
the ,old ,world or the ,new4  ,the      
existence of such a class is a fact     
peculiar to ,american society1 a plain  
result of the new principles involved in
 the doctrine of universal equality4    
,when the colonists first came to this  
country1 of however mixed ingredients   
their ranks might have been composed1   
and however imbued with the spirit of   
feudal and aristocratic ideas1 the      
discipline of the wilderness soon       
brought them to a democratic level2 the 
gentleman felled the wood for his       
log-cabin side by side with the plowman1
 and thews and sinews rose in the       
market4 ,a man was deemed honorable in  

proportion as he lifted his hand upon   
the high trees of the forest4 ,so in the
 interior domestic circle4 ,mistress and
 maid1 living in a log-cabin together1  
became companions1 and sometimes the    
maid1 as the one well-trained in        
domestic labor1 took precedence of the  
mistress4 ,it also became natural and   
unavoidable that children should begin  
to work as early as they were capable of
 it4  ,the result was a generation of   
intelligent people brought up to labor  
from necessity1 but devoting to the     
problem of labor the acuteness of a     
disciplined brain4 ,the mistress1       
outdone in sinews and muscles by her    
maid1 kept her superiority by skill and 
contrivance4 ,if she could not lift a   
pail of water1 she could invent methods 
which made lifting the pail             
unnecessary1--if she could not take a   
hundred steps without weariness1 she    
could make twenty answer the purpose of 
a hundred4  ,slavery1 it is true1 was to
 some extent introduced into ,new       

,england1 but it never suited the genius
 of the people1 never struck deep root  
or spread so as to choke the good seed  
of self-helpfulness4 ,many were opposed 
to it from conscientious principle--many
 from far-sighted thrift1 and from a    
love of thoroughness and well-doing     
which despised the rude1 unskilled work 
of barbarians4 ,people1 having once felt
 the thorough neatness and beauty of    
execution which came of free1 educated1 
and thoughtful labor1 could not tolerate
 the clumsiness of slavery4  ,thus it   
came to pass that for many years the    
rural population of ,new-,england1 as a 
general rule1 did their own work1 both  
out-doors and in4 ,if there were a black
 man or black woman or bound girl1 they 
were emphatically only the helps1       
following humbly the steps of master and
 mistress1 and used by them as          
instruments of lightening certain       
portions of their toil4 ,the master and 
mistress1 with their children1 were the 
head workers4  ,great merriment has been

 excited in the old country because1    
years ago1 the first ,english travelers 
found that the class of persons by them 
denominated servants1 were in ,america  
denominated help1 or helpers4 ,but the  
term was the very best exponent of the  
state of society4 ,there were few       
servants1 in the ,european sense of the 
word2 there was a society of educated   
workers1 where all were practically     
equal1 and where1 if there was a        
deficiency in one family and an excess  
in another1 a helper1 not a servant in  
the ,european sense1 was hired4 ,mrs4   
,brown1 who has several sons and no     
daughters1 enters into agreement with   
,mrs4 ,jones1 who has several daughters 
and no sons4 ,she borrows a daughter1   
and pays her good wages to help in her  
domestic toil1 and sends a son to help  
the labors of ,mr4 ,jones4 ,these two   
young people go into the families in    
which they are to be employed in all    
respects as equals and companions1 and  
so the work of the community is         

equalized4 ,hence arose1 and for many   
years continued1 a state of society more
 nearly solving than any other ever did 
the problem of combining the highest    
culture of the mind with the highest    
culture ofthe muscles and the physical  
faculties4  ,then were to be seen       
families of daughters1 handsome1 strong 
women1 rising each day to their in-door 
work with cheerful alertness--one to    
sweep the room1 another to make the     
fire1 while a third prepared the        
breakfast for the father and brothers   
who were going out to manly labor3 and  
they chatted meanwhile of books1        
studies1 embroidery2 discussed the last 
new poem1 or some historical topic      
started by graver reading1 or perhaps a 
rural ball that was to come off next    
week4 ,they spun with the book tied to  
the distaff2 they wove2 they did all    
manner of fine needle-work2 they made   
lace1 painted flowers1 and1 in short1 in
 the boundless consciousness of         
activity1 invention1 and perfect health1

 set themselves to any work they had    
ever read or thought of4 ,a bride in    
those days was married with sheets and  
tablecloths of her own weaving1 with    
counterpanes and toilet-covers wrought  
in divers embroidery by her own and her 
sisters' hands4 ,the amount of          
fancy-work done in our days by girls who
 have nothing else to do1 will not equal
 what was done by these who performed1  
besides1 among them1 the whole work of  
the family4  ,in those former days most 
women were in good health1 debility and 
disease being the exception4 ,then1 too1
 was seen the economy of daylight and   
its pleasures4 ,they were used to early 
rising1 and would not lie in bed1 if    
they could4 ,long years of practice made
 them familiar with the shortest1       
neatest1 most expeditious method of     
doing every household office1 so that   
really for the greater part of the time 
in the house there seemed1 to a         
looker-on1 to be nothing to do4 ,they   
rose in the morning and dispatched      

husband1 father1 and brothers to the    
farm or woodlot2 went sociably about1   
chatting with each other1 skimmed the   
milk1 made the butter1 and turned the   
cheeses4 ,the forenoon was long2 ten to 
one1 all the so-called morning work     
over1 they had leisure for an hour's    
sewing or reading before it was time to 
start the dinner preparations4 ,by two  
o'clock the house-work was done1 and    
they had the long afternoon for books1  
needle-work1 or drawing--for perhaps    
there was one with a gift at her pencil4
 ,perhaps one read aloud while others   
sewed1 and managed in that way to keep  
up a great deal of reading4  ,it is said
 that women who have been accustomed to 
doing their own work become hard        
mistresses4 ,they are certainly more    
sure of the ground they stand on--they  
are less open to imposition--they can   
speak and act in their own houses more  
as those having authority1 and therefore
 are less afraid to exact what is justly
 their due1 and less willing to endure  

impertinence and unfaithfulness4 ,their 
general error lies in expecting that any
 servant ever will do as well for them  
as they will do for themselves1 and that
 an untrained1 undisciplined human being
 ever can do house-work1 or any other   
work1 with the neatness and perfection1 
that a person of trained intelligence   
can4  ,it has been remarked in our      
armies that the men of cultivation1     
though bred in delicate and refined     
spheres1 can bear up under the hardships
 of camp-life better and longer than    
rough laborers4 ,the reason is1 that an 
educated mind knows how to use and save 
its body1 to work it and spare it1 as an
 uneducated mind can not2 and so the    
college-bred youth brings himself safely
 through fatigues which kill the        
unreflective laborer4  ,cultivated1     
intelligent women1 who are brought up to
 do the work of their own families1 are 
labor-saving institutions4 ,they make   
the head save the wear of the muscles4  
,by forethought1 contrivance1 system1   

and arrangement they lessen the amount  
to be done1 and do it with less expense 
of time and strength than others4 ,the  
old ,new-,england motto1 ,get your work 
done up in the forenoon1 applied to an  
amount of work which would keep a common
 ,irish servant toiling from daylight to
 sunset4  ,a lady living in one of our  
obscure ,new-,england towns1 where there
 were no servants to be hired1 at last1 
by sending to a distant city1 succeeded 
in procuring a raw ,irish               
maid-of-all-work1 a creature of immense 
bone and muscle1 but of heavy1          
unawakened brain4 ,in one fortnight she 
established such a reign of ,chaos and  
old ,night in the kitchen and through   
the house that her mistress1 a delicate 
woman1 encumbered with the care of young
 children1 began seriously to think that
 she made more work each day than she   
performed1 and dismissed her4 ,what was 
now to be done8 ,fortunately1 the       
daughter of a neighboring farmer was    
going to be married in six months1 and  

wanted a little ready money for her     
trousseau4 ,the lady was informed that  
,miss ,so-and-so would come to her1 not 
as a servant1 but as hired help4 ,she   
was fain to accept any help with        
gladness4  ,forthwith came into the     
family-circle a tall1 well-dressed young
 person1 grave1 unobtrusive1            
self-respecting1 yet not in the least   
presuming1 who sat at the family table  
and observed all its decorums with the  
modest self-possession of a lady4 ,the  
new-comer took a survey of the labors of
 a family of ten members1 including four
 or five young children1 and1 looking1  
seemed at once to throw them into       
system2 matured her plans1 arranged her 
hours of washing1 ironing1 baking1 and  
cleaning2 rose early1 moved deftly2 and 
in a single day the slatternly and      
littered kitchen assumed that neat1     
orderly appearance that so often strikes
 one in ,new ,england farm-houses4 ,the 
work seemed to be all gone4 ,every thing
 was nicely washed1 brightened1 put in  

place1 and staid in place2 the floors1  
when cleaned2 remained clean2 the work  
was always done1 and not doing2 and     
every afternoon the young lady sat      
neatly dressed in her own apartment1    
either quietly writing letters to her   
betrothed1 or sewing on her bridal      
outfit4 ,such is the result of employing
 those who have been brought up to do   
their own work4 ,that tall1 fine-looking
 girl1 for aught we know1 may yet be    
mistress of a fine house on ,fifth      
,avenue2 and if she is1 she will1 we    
fear1 prove rather an exacting mistress 
to ,irish ,bridget2 but she will never  
be threatened by her cook and           
chambermaid1 after the first one or two 
have tried the experiment4  ,those      
remarkable women of old were made by    
circumstances4 ,there were1             
comparatively speaking1 no servants to  
be had1 and so children were trained to 
habits of industry and mechanical       
adroitness from the cradle1 and every   
household process was reduced to the    

very minimum of labor4 ,every step      
required in a process was counted1 every
 movement calculated2 and she who took  
ten steps1 when one would do1 lost her  
reputation for faculty4 ,certainly such 
an early drill was of use in developing 
the health and the bodily powers1 as    
well as in giving precision to the      
practical mental faculties4 ,all        
household economies were arranged with  
equal niceness in those thoughtful      
minds4 ,a trained housekeeper knew just 
how many sticks of hickory of a certain 
size were required to heat her oven1 and
 how many of each different kind of     
wood4 ,she knew by a sort of intuition  
just what kinds of food would yield the 
most palatable nutriment with the least 
outlay of accessories in cooking4 ,she  
knew to a minute the time when each     
article must go into and be withdrawn   
from her oven2 and if she could only lie
 in her chamber and direct1 she could   
guide an intelligent child through the  
processes with mathematical certainty4  

,it is impossible1 however1 that any    
thing but early training and long       
experience can produce these results1   
and it is earnestly to be wished that   
the grandmothers of ,new-,england had   
written down their experiences for our  
children2 they would have been a mine of
 maxims and traditions better than any  
other traditions of the elders which we 
know of4  ,in this country1 our         
democratic institutions have removed the
 superincumbent pressure which in the   
,old ,world confines the servants to a  
regular orbit4 ,they come here feeling  
that this is somehow a land of liberty1 
and with very dim and confused notions  
of what liberty is4 ,they are very      
extensively the raw1 untrained ,irish   
peasantry1 and the wonder is1 that1 with
 all the unreasoning heats and          
prejudices of the ,celtic blood1 all the
 necessary ignorance and rawness1 there 
should be the measure of comfort and    
success there is in our domestic        
arrangements4  ,but1 as long as things  

are so1 there will be constant changes  
and interruptions in every domestic     
establishment1 and constantly recurring 
interregnums when the mistress must put 
her own hand to the work1 whether the   
hand be a trained or an untrained one4  
,as matters now are1 the young          
housekeeper takes life at the hardest4  
,she has very little strength1--no      
experience to teach her how to save her 
strength4 ,she knows nothing            
experimentally of the simplest processes
 necessary to keep her family           
comfortably fed and clothed2 and she has
 a way of looking at all these things   
which makes them particularly hard and  
distasteful to her4 ,she does not escape
 being obliged to do house-work at      
intervals1 but she does it in a weak1   
blundering1 confused way1 that makes it 
twice as hard and disagreeable as it    
need be4  ,now1 if every young woman    
learned to do house-work1 and cultivated
 her practical faculties in early life1 
she would1 in the first place1 be much  

more likely to keep her servants1 and1  
in the second place1 if she lost them   
temporarily1 would avoid all that wear  
and tear of the nervous system which    
comes from constant ill-success in those
 departments on which family health and 
temper mainly depend4 ,this is one of   
the peculiarities of our ,american life1
 which require a peculiar training4 ,why
 not face it sensibly8  ,our land is now
 full of motorpathic institutions to    
which women are sent at a great expense 
to have hired operators stretch and     
exercise their inactive muscles4 ,they  
lie for hours to have their feet        
twigged1 their arms flexed1 and all the 
different muscles of the body worked for
 them1 because they are so flaccid and  
torpid that the powers of life do not go
 on4 ,would it not be quite as cheerful1
 and a less expensive process1 if young 
girls from early life developed the     
muscles in sweeping1 dusting1 starching1
 ironing1 and all the multiplied        
domestic processes which our            

grandmothers knew of8 ,a woman who did  
all these1 and diversified the intervals
 with spinning on the great and little  
wheel1 did not need the gymnastics of   
,dio ,lewis or of the ,swedish ,movement
 ,cure1 which really are a necessity    
now4 ,does it not seem poor economy to  
pay servants for letting our muscles    
grow feeble1 and then to pay operators  
to exercise them for us8 ,i will venture
 to say that our grandmothers in a week 
went over every movement that any       
gymnast has invented1 and went over them
 to some productive purpose too4  ,the  
first business of a housekeeper in      
,america is that of a teacher4 ,she can 
have a good table only by having        
practical knowledge1 and tact in        
imparting it4 ,if she understands her   
business practically and experimentally1
 her eye detects at once the weak spot2 
it requires only a little tact1 some    
patience1 some clearness in giving      
directions1 and all comes right4  ,if we
 carry a watch to a watchmaker1 and     

undertake to show him how to regulate   
the machinery1 he laughs and goes on his
 own way2 but if a brother-machinist    
makes suggestions1 he listens           
respectfully4 ,so1 when a woman who     
knows nothing of woman's work undertakes
 to instruct one who knows more than she
 does1 she makes no impression2 but a   
woman who has been trained              
experimentally1 and shows she           
understands the matter thoroughly1 is   
listened to with respect4  ,let a woman 
make her own bread for one month1 and1  
simple as the process seems1 it will    
take as long as that to get a thorough  
knowledge of all the possibilities in   
the case2 but after that1 she will be   
able to command good bread by the aid of
 all sorts of servants2 in other words1 
will be a thoroughly prepared teacher4  
,although bread-making seems a simple   
process1 it yet requires delicate care  
and watchfulness4 ,there are fifty ways 
to spoil good bread2 ,there are a       
hundred little things to be considered  

and allowed for1 that require accurate  
observation and experience4 ,the same   
process that will raise good bread in   
cold weather will make sour bread in the
 heat of summer2 different qualities of 
flour require variations in treatment as
 also different sorts and conditions of 
yeast2 and when all is done1 the baking 
presents another series of possibilities
 which require exact attention4  ,a     
well-trained mind1 accustomed to        
reflect1 analyze1 and generalize1 has an
 advantage over uncultured minds even of
 double experience4 ,poor as your cook  
is1 she now knows more of her business  
than you do4 ,after a very brief period 
of attention and experiment1 you will   
not only know more than she does1 but   
you will convince her that you do1 which
 is quite as much to the purpose4  ,in  
the same manner1 lessons must be given  
on the washing of silver and the making 
of beds4 ,good servants do not often    
come to us2 they must be made by        
patience and training2 and if a girl has

 a good disposition and a reasonable    
degree of handiness1 and the housekeeper
 understands her profession1 a good     
servant may be made out of an           
indifferent one4 ,some of the best girls
 have been those who came directly from 
the ship1 with no preparation but       
docility and some natural quickness4    
,the hardest cases to be managed are not
 of those who have been taught nothing1 
but of those who have been taught       
wrongly--who come self-opinionated1 with
 ways which are distasteful1 and        
contrary to the genius of one's         
housekeeping4 ,such require that their  
mistress shall understand at least so   
much of the actual conduct of affairs as
 to prove to the servant that there are 
better ways than those in which she has 
been trained4  ,so much has been said of
 the higher sphere of woman1 and so much
 has been done to find some better work 
for her that1 insensibly1 almost every  
body begins to feel that it is rather   
degrading for a woman in good society to

 be much tied down to family affairs2   
especially since in these ,woman's      
,rights ,conventions there is so much   
dissatisfaction expressed at those who  
would confine her ideas to the kitchen  
and nursery4  ,yet these ,woman's       
,rights ,conventions are a protest      
against many former absurd1 unreasonable
 ideas--the mere physical and culinary  
idea of womanhood as connected only with
 puddings and shirt-buttons1 the unjust 
and unequal burdens which the laws of   
harsher ages had cast upon the sex4     
,many of the women connected with these 
movements are as superior in every thing
 properly womanly as they are in        
exceptional talent and culture4 ,there  
is no manner of doubt that the sphere of
 woman is properly to be enlarged4      
,every woman has rights as a human being
 which belong to no sex1 and ought to be
 as freely conceded to her as if she    
were a man1--and first and foremost1 the
 great right of doing any thing which   
,god and nature evidently have fitted   

her to excel in4 ,if she be made a      
natural orator1 like ,miss ,dickinson1  
or an astronomer1 like ,mrs4            
,somerville1 or a singer1 like ,grisi1  
let not the technical rules of womanhood
 be thrown in the way of her free use of
 her powers4  ,still1 per contra1 there 
has been a great deal of crude1         
disagreeable talk in these conventions1 
and too great tendency of the age to    
make the education of woman             
anti-domestic4 ,it seems as if the world
 never could advance1 except like ships 
under a head-wind1 tacking and going too
 far1 now in this direction1 and now in 
the opposite4 ,our common-school system 
now rejects sewing from the education of
 girls1 which very properly used to     
occupy many hours daily in school a     
generation ago4 ,the daughters of       
laborers and artisans are put through   
algebra1 geometry1 trigonometry1 and the
 higher mathematics1 to the entire      
neglect of that learning which belongs  
distinctively to woman4 ,a girl of ten  

can not keep pace with her class1 if she
 gives any time to domestic matters2 and
 accordingly she is excused from them   
all during the whole term of her        
education4 ,the boy of a family1 at an  
early age1 is put to a trade1 or the    
labors of a farm2 the father becomes    
impatient of his support1 and requires  
of him to take care for himself4 ,hence 
an interrupted education--learning      
coming by snatches in the winter months 
or in the intervals of work4  ,as the   
result1 the young women in some of our  
country towns are1 in mental culture1   
much in advance of the males of the same
 household2 but with this comes a       
physical delicacy1 the result of an     
exclusive use of the brain and a neglect
 of the muscular system1 with great     
inefficiency in practical domestic      
duties4 ,the race of strong1 hardy1     
cheerful girls1 that used to grow up in 
country places1 and made the bright1    
neat1 ,new-,england kitchens of old     
times--the girls that could wash1 iron1 

brew1 bake1 harness a horse and drive   
him1 no less than braid straw1          
embroider1 draw1 paint1 and read        
innumerable books--this race of women1  
pride of olden time1 is daily lessening2
 and in their stead come the fragile1   
easily-fatigued1 languid girls of a     
modern age1 drilled in book-learning1   
ignorant of common things4 ,the great   
danger of all this1 and of the evils    
that come from it1 is1 that society1 by 
and by1 will turn as blindly against    
female intellectual culture as it now   
advocates it1 and having worked         
disproportionately one way1 will work   
disproportionately in the opposite      
direction4  ,domestic service is the    
great problem of life herein ,america2  
the happiness of families1 their thrift1
 well-being1 and comfort1 are more      
affected by this than by any one thing  
else4 ,the modern girls1 as they have   
been brought up1 can not perform the    
labor of their own families as in those 
simpler1 old-fashioned days2 and what is

 worse1 they have no practical skill    
with which to instruct servants1 who    
come to us1 as a class1 raw and         
untrained4 ,in the present state of     
prices1 the board of a domestic costs   
double her wages1 and the waste she     
makes is a more serious matter still4   
,many of the domestic evils in ,america 
originate1 in the fact that1 while      
society here is professedly based on new
 principles which ought to make social  
life in every respect different from the
 life of the ,old ,world1 yet these     
principles have never been so thought   
out and applied as to give consistency  
and harmony to our daily relations4     
,america starts with a political        
organization based oh a declaration of  
the primitive freedom and equality of   
all men4 ,every human being1 according  
to this principle1 stands on the same   
natural level with every other1 and has 
the same chance to rise according to the
 degree of power or capacity given by   
the ,creator4 ,all our civil            

institutions are designed to preserve   
this equality1 as far as possible1 from 
generation to generation3 there is no   
entailed property1 there are no         
hereditary titles1 no monopolies1 no    
privileged classes--all are to be as    
free to rise and fall as the waves of   
the sea4  ,the condition of domestic    
service1 however1 still retains about it
 something of the influences from feudal
 times1 and from the near presence of   
slavery in neighboring ,states4 ,all    
,english literature of the world        
describes domestic service in the old   
feudal spirit and with the old feudal   
language1 which regarded the master as  
belonging to a privileged class and the 
servant to an inferior one4 ,there is   
not a play1 not a poem1 not a novel1 not
 a history1 that does not present this  
view4 ,the master's rights1 like the    
rights of kings1 were supposed to rest  
in his being born in a superior rank4   
,the good servant was one who1 from     
childhood1 had learned to order himself 

lowly and reverently to all his betters4
 ,when ,new-,england brought to these   
shores the theory of democracy1 she     
brought1 in the persons of the first    
pilgrims1 the habits of thought and of  
action formed in aristocratic           
communities4 ,winthrop's ,journal1 and  
all the old records of the earlier      
colonists1 show households where masters
 and mistresses stood on the right      
divine of the privileged classes1       
howsoever they might have risen up      
against authorities themselves4  ,the   
first consequence of this state of      
things was a universal rejection of     
domestic service in all classes of      
,american-born society4 ,for a          
generation or two there was1 indeed1 a  
sort of interchange of family           
strength1--sons and daughters engaging  
in the service of neighboring families1 
in default of a sufficient working-force
 of their own1 but always on conditions 
of strict equality4 ,the assistant was  
to share the table1 the family          

sitting-room1 and every honor and       
attention that might be claimed by son  
or daughter4 ,when families increased in
 refinement and education so as to make 
these conditions of close intimacy with 
more uncultured neighbors disagreeable1 
they had to choose between such         
intimacies and the performance of their 
own domestic toil4 ,no wages could      
induce a son or daughter of             
,new-,england to take the condition of a
 servant on terms which they thought    
applicable to that of a slave4 ,the     
slightest hint of a separate table was  
resented as an insult2 not to enter the 
front door1 and not to sit in the front 
parlor on state occasions1 was bitterly 
commented on as a personal indignity4   
,the well-taught1 self-respecting       
daughters of farmers1 the class most    
valuable in domestic service1 gradually 
retired from it4 ,they preferred any    
other employment1 however laborious4    
,beyond all doubt1 the labors of a      
well-regulated family are more healthy1 

more cheerful1 more1 interesting1       
because less monotonous1 than the       
mechanical toils of a factory2 yet the  
girls of ,new-,england1 with one        
consent1 preferred the factory1 and left
 the whole business of domestic service 
to a foreign population2 and they did it
 mainly because they would not take     
positions in families as an inferior    
laboring-class by the side of others of 
their own age who assumed as their      
prerogative to live without labor4  ,i  
can't let you have one of my daughters1 
said an energetic matron to her neighbor
 from the city1 who was seeking for a   
servant in her summer vacation2 if you  
hadn't daughters of your own1 may be ,i 
would2 but my girls are not going to    
work so that your girls may live in     
idleness4  ,it was vain to offer money4 
,we don't need your money1 ma'am2 we can
 support ourselves in other ways2 my    
girls can braid straw1 and bind shoes1  
but they are not going to be slaves to  
any body4  ,in the ,irish and ,german   

servants who took the place of          
,americans in families1 there was1 to   
begin with1 the tradition of education  
in favor of a higher class2 but even the
 foreign population became more or less 
infected with the spirit of democracy4  
,they came to this country with vague   
notions of freedom and equality1 and in 
ignorant and uncultivated people such   
ideas are often more unreasonable for   
being vague4 ,they did not1 indeed1     
claim a seat at the table and in the    
parlor1 but they repudiated many of     
those habits of respect and courtesy    
which belonged to their former          
condition1 and asserted their own will  
and way in the round1 unvarnished phrase
 which they supposed to be their right  
as republican citizens4 ,life became a  
sort of domestic wrangle and struggle   
between the employers1 who secretly     
confessed their weakness1 but endeavored
 openly to assume the air and bearing of
 authority1 and the employed1 who knew  
their power and insisted on their       

privileges4  ,from this cause domestic  
service in ,america has had less of     
mutual kindliness titan in old          
countries4 ,its terms have been so ill- 
understood and defined that both parties
 have assumed the defensive2 and a      
common topic of conversation in         
,american female society has often been 
the general servile war which in one    
form or another was going on in their   
different families--a war as            
interminable as would be a struggle     
between aristocracy and common people1  
undefined by any bill of rights or      
constitution1 and therefore opening     
fields for endless disputes4  ,in       
,england1 the class who go to service   
are a class1 and service is a           
profession2 the distance between them   
and their employers is so marked and    
defined1 and all the customs and        
requirements of the position are so     
perfectly understood1 that the master or
 mistress has no fear of being          
compromised by condescension1 and no    

need of the external voice or air of    
authority4 ,the higher up in the social 
scale one goes1 the more courteous seems
 to become the intercourse of master and
 servant2 the more perfect and real the 
power1 the more is it veiled in outward 
expression--commands are phrased as     
requests1 and gentleness of voice and   
manner covers an authority which no one 
would think of offending without        
trembling4  ,but in ,america all is     
undefined4 ,in the first place1 there is
 no class who mean to make domestic     
service a profession to live and die in4
 ,it is universally an expedient1 a     
stepping-stone to something higher2 your
 best servants always have some thing   
else in view as soon as they have laid  
by a little money2 some form of         
independence which shall give them a    
home of their own is constantly in mind4
 ,families look forward to the buying of
 landed homesteads1 and the scattered   
brothers and sisters work awhile in     
domestic service to gain1 the common    

fund for the purpose2 your seamstress   
intends to become a dressmaker1 and take
 in work at her own house2 your cook is 
pondering a marriage with the baker1    
which shall transfer her toils from your
 cooking-stove to her own4  ,young women
 are eagerly rushing into every other   
employment1 till feminine trades and    
callings are all over-stocked4 ,we are  
continually harrowed with tales of the  
sufferings of distressed needle-women1  
of the exactions1 and extortions        
practiced on the frail sex in the many  
branches of labor and trade at which    
they try their hands2 and yet women will
 encounter all these chances of ruin and
 starvation rather than make up their   
minds to permanent domestic service4    
,now1 what is the matter with domestic  
service8 ,one would think1 on the face  
of it1 that a calling which gives a     
settled home1 a comfortable room1       
rent-free1 with fire and lights1 good   
board and lodging1 and steady1 well-paid
 wages1 would certainly offer more      

attractions than the making of shirts   
for tenpence1 with all the risks of     
providing one's own sustenance and      
shelter4  ,is it not mainly from the    
want of a definite idea of the true     
position of a servant under our         
democratic institutions that domestic   
service is so shunned and avoided in    
,america1 and that it is the very last  
thing which an intelligent young woman  
will look to for a living8 ,it is more  
the want of personal respect toward1    
those in that position than the labor   
incident to it which repels our people  
from it4 ,many would be willing to      
perform these labors1 but they are not  
willing to place themselves in a        
situation where their self-respect is   
hourly wounded by the implication of a  
degree of inferiority1 which does not   
follow any kind of labor or service in  
this country but that of the family4    
,there exists in the minds of employers 
an unsuspected spirit of superiority1   
which is stimulated into an active form 

by the resistance which democracy       
inspires in the working-class4 ,many    
families think of servants only as a    
necessary evil1 their wages as          
exactions1 and all that is allowed them 
as so much taken from the family2 and   
they seek in every way to get from them 
as much and to give them as little as   
possible4 ,their rooms are the          
neglected1 ill-furnished1 incommodious  
ones--and the kitchen is the most       
cheerless and comfortless place in the  
house4  ,other families1 more           
good-natured and liberal1 provide their 
domestics with more suitable            
accommodations1 and are more indulgent2 
but there is still a latent spirit of   
something like contempt for the         
position4 ,that they treat their        
servants with so much consideration     
seems to them a merit entitling them to 
the most prostrate gratitude2 and they  
are constantly disappointed and shocked 
at that want of sense of inferiority on 
the part of these people which leads    

them to appropriate pleasant rooms1 good
 furniture1 and good living as mere     
matters of common justice4  ,it seems to
 be a constant surprise to some         
employers that servants should insist on
 having the same human wants as         
themselves4 ,ladles who yawn in their   
elegantly furnished parlors1 among books
 and pictures1 if they have not company1
 parties1 or opera to diversify the     
evening1 seem astonished and half       
indignant that cook and chambermaid are 
more disposed to go out for an evening  
gossip than to sit on hard chairs in the
 kitchen where they have been toiling   
all day4 ,the pretty chambermaid's      
anxieties about her dress1 the minutes  
she spends at her small and not very    
clear mirror1 are sneeringly noticed by 
those whose toilet-cares take up serious
 hours2 and the question has never      
apparently occurred to them why a       
serving-maid should not want to look    
pretty as well as her mistress4 ,she is 
a woman as well as they1 with1 all a    

woman's wants and weaknesses2 and her   
dress is as much to her as theirs to    
them4  ,a vast deal of trouble among    
servants arises2 from impertinent       
interferences and petty tyrannical      
enactions on the part of employers4     
,now1 the authority of the master and   
mistress of a house in regard to their  
domestics extends simply to the things  
they have contracted to do and the hours
 during which they have contracted to   
serve2 otherwise than this1 they have no
 more right to interfere with them in   
the disposal of their time than with any
 mechanic whom they employ4 ,they have1 
indeed1 a right to regulate the hours of
 their own household1 and servants can  
choose between conformity to these hours
 and the loss of their situation2 but1  
within reasonable limits1 their right to
 come and go at their own discretion1 in
 their own time1 should be unquestioned4
  ,if employers are troubled by the     
fondness of their servants for dancing1 
evening company1 and late hours1 the    

proper mode of proceeding is to make    
these matters a subject of distinct     
contract in hiring4 ,the more strictly  
and perfectly the business matters of   
the first engagement of domestics are   
conducted1 the more likelihood there is 
of mutual quiet and satisfaction in the 
relation4 ,it is quite competent to     
every housekeeper to say what practices 
are or are not consistent with the rules
 of her family1 and what will be        
inconsistent with the service for which 
she agrees to pay4 ,it is much better to
 regulate such affairs by cool contract 
in the outset than by warm altercations 
and protracted domestic battles4  ,as to
 the terms of social intercourse1 it    
seems somehow to be settled in the minds
 of many employers that their servants  
owe them and their family more respect  
than they and the family owe to the     
servants4 ,but do they8 ,what is the    
relation of servant to employer in a    
democratic country8 ,precisely that of a
 person who for money performs any kind 

of service for you4 ,the carpenter comes
 into your house to put up a set of     
shelves--the cook comes into your       
kitchen to cook your dinner4 ,you never 
think that the carpenter owes you any   
more respect than you owe to him because
 he is in your house doing your behests2
 he is your fellow-citizen1 you treat   
him with respect1 you expect to be      
treated with respect by him4 ,you have a
 claim on him that he shall do your work
 according to your directions--no more4 
,now1 ,i apprehend that there is a very 
common notion as to the position and    
rights of servants which is quite       
different from this4 ,is it not a common
 feeling that a servant is one who may  
he treated with a degree of freedom by  
every member of the family which he or  
she may not return8 ,do not people feel 
at liberty to question servants about   
their private affairs1 to comment on    
their dress and appearance1 in a manner 
which they would feel to be an          
impertinence1 if reciprocated8 ,do they 

not feel at liberty to express          
dissatisfaction with their performances 
in rude and unceremonious terms1 to     
reprove them in the presence of company1
 while yet they require that the        
dissatisfaction of servants shall be    
expressed only in terms of respect8 ,a  
woman would not feel herself at liberty 
to talk to her milliner or her          
dress-maker in language as devoid of    
consideration as she will employ toward 
her cook or chambermaid4 ,and yet both  
are rendering her a service which she   
pays for in money1 and one is no more   
made her inferior thereby than the      
other4 ,both have an equal right to be  
treated with courtesy4 ,the master and  
mistress of a house have a right to     
require courteous treatment from all    
whom their roof shelters2 but they have 
no more right to exact it of servants   
than of every guest and every child1 and
 they themselves owe it as much to      
servants as to guests4  ,in order that  
servants may be treated with respect and

 courtesy1 it is not necessary1 as in   
simpler patriarchal days1 that they sit 
at the family-table4 ,your carpenter or 
plumber does not feel hurt that you do  
not ask him to dine with you1 nor your  
milliner and mantua-maker that you do   
not exchange ceremonious calls and      
invite them to your parties4 ,it is well
 understood that your relations with    
them are of a mere business character4  
,they never take it as an assumption of 
superiority on your part that you do not
 admit them to relations of private     
intimacy4 ,there may be the most perfect
 respect and esteem and even friendship 
between then and you1 notwithstanding4  
,so it may be in the case of servants4  
,it is easy to make any person          
understand that there are quite other   
reasons than the assumption of personal 
superiority for not wishing to admit    
servants to the family privacy4 ,it was 
not1 in fact1 to sit in the parlor or at
 the table in themselves considered1    
that was the thing aimed at by          

,new--,england girls2 these were valued 
only as signs that they were deemed     
worthy of respect and consideration1    
and1 where freely conceded1 were often  
in point of fact declined4  ,let        
servants feel1 in their treatment by    
their employers and in the atmosphere of
 the family1 that their position is held
 to be a respectable one2 let them feel1
 in the mistress of the family1 the     
charm of unvarying consideration and    
good manners2 let their work- rooms be  
made convenient and comfortable1 and    
their private apartments bear some      
reasonable comparison in point of       
agreeableness to those of other members 
of the family1 and domestic service will
 be more frequently sought by a superior
 and self-respecting class4 ,there are  
families in which such a state of things
 prevails2 and such families1 amid the  
many causes which unite to make the     
tenure of service uncertain1 have       
generally been able to keep good        
permanent servants4 ,there is an extreme

 into which kindly disposed people often
 run with regard to servants which may  
be mentioned here4 ,they make pets of   
them4 ,they give extravagant wages and  
indiscreet indulgences1 and1 through    
indolence and easiness of temper1       
tolerate neglect of duty4 ,many of the  
complaints of the ingratitude of        
servants come from those who have       
spoiled them in this way2 while many of 
the longest and most harmonious domestic
 unions have sprung from a simple1 quiet
 course of ,christian justice and       
benevolence1 a recognition of servants  
as fellow-beings and fellow-,christians1
 and a doing to them as we would in like
 circumstances that they should do to   
us4  ,the mistresses of ,american       
families1 whether they like it or not1  
have the duties of missionaries imposed 
upon them by that class from which our  
supply of domestic servants is drawn4   
,they may as well accept the position   
cheerfully1 and1 as one raw1 untrained  
hand after another passes through their 

family1 and is instructed by them in the
 mysteries of good house-keeping1       
comfort themselves with the reflection  
that they are doing something to form   
good wives and mothers for the republic4
  ,the complaints made of ,irish girls  
are numerous and loud2 the failings of  
green ,erin1 alas6 are but too open and 
manifest2 yet1 in arrest of judgment1   
let us move this consideration3 let us  
imagine our own daughters between the   
ages of sixteen and twenty-four1        
untaught and inexperienced in domestic  
affairs as they commonly are1 shipped to
 a foreign shore to seek service in     
families4 ,it may be questioned whether1
 as a whole1 they would do much better4 
,the girls that fill our families and do
 our house-work are often of the age of 
our own daughters1 standing for         
themselves1 without mothers to guide    
them1 in a foreign country1 not only    
bravely supporting themselves1 but      
sending home in every ship remittances  
to impoverished friends left behind4 ,if

 our daughters did as much for us1      
should we not be proud of their energy  
and heroism8  ,when we go into the      
houses of our country1 we find a        
majority of well-kept1 well-ordered1 and
 even elegant establishments1 where the 
only hands employed are those of the    
daughters of ,erin4 ,true1 ,american    
women have been their instructors1 and  
many a weary hour of care have they had 
in the discharge of this office2 but the
 result on the whole is beautiful and   
good1 and the end of it1 doubtless1 will
 be peace4  ,instead1 then1 of          
complaining that we can not have our own
 peculiar advantages and those of other 
nations too1 or imagining how much      
better off we should be if things were  
different from what they are1 it is much
 wiser and more ,christian-like to      
strive cheerfully to conform to actual  
circumstances2 and1 after remedying all 
that we can control1 patiently to submit
 to what is beyond our power4 ,if       
domestics are found to be incompetent1  

unstable1 and unconfirmed to their      
station1 it is ,perfect ,wisdom which   
appoints these trials to teach us       
patience1 fortitude1 and self-control2  
and if the discipline is met in a proper
 spirit1 it will prove a blessing rather
 than an evil4  ,but to judge correctly 
in regard to some of the evils involved 
in the state of domestic service in this
 country1 we should endeavor to conceive
 ourselves placed in the situation of   
those of whom complaint is made1 that we
 may not expect from them any more than 
it would seem right should be exacted   
from us in similar circumstances4  ,it  
is sometimes urged against domestics    
that they exact exorbitant wages4 ,but  
what is the rule of rectitude on this   
subject8 ,is it not the universal law of
 labor and of trade that an article is  
to be valued according to its scarcity  
and the demand8 ,when wheat is scarce1  
the farmer raises his price2 and when a 
mechanic offers services difficult to be
 obtained1 he makes a corresponding     

increase of price4 ,and why is it not   
right for domestics to act according to 
a rule allowed to be correct in         
reference to all other trades and       
professions8 ,it is a fact1 that really 
good domestic service must continue to  
increase in value just in proportion as 
this country waxes rich and prosperous2 
thus making the proportion of those who 
wish to hire labor relatively greater1  
and the number of those willing to go to
 service less4  ,money enables the rich 
to gain many advantages which those of  
more limited circumstances can not      
secure4 ,one of these is1 securing good 
servants by offering high wages2 and    
this1 as the scarcity of this class     
increases1 will serve constantly to     
raise the price of service4 ,it is right
 for domestics to charge the market     
value1 and this value is always decided 
by the scarcity of the article and the  
amount of demand4 ,right views of this  
subject will sometimes serve to diminish
 hard feelings toward those who would   

otherwise be wrongfully regarded as     
unreasonable and exacting4  ,another    
complaint against servants is that of   
instability and discontent1 leading to  
perpetual change4 ,but in reference to  
this1 let a mother or daughter conceive 
of their own circumstances as so changed
 that the daughter must go out to       
service4 ,suppose a place is engaged1   
and it is then found that she must sleep
 in a comfortless garret2 and that1 when
 a new domestic comes1 perhaps a coarse 
and dirty foreigner1 she must share her 
bed with her4 ,another place is offered1
 where she can have a comfortable room  
and an agreeable room-mate2 in such a   
case1 would not both mother and daughter
 think it right to change8  ,or suppose1
 on trial1 it was found that the lady of
 the house was fretful or exacting and  
hard to please1 or that her children    
were so ungoverned as to be perpetual   
vexations2 or that the work was so heavy
 that no time was allowed for relaxation
 and the care of a wardrobe2 and another

 place offers where those evils can be  
escaped2 would not mother and daughter  
here think it right to change8 ,and is  
it not right for domestics1 as well as  
their employers1 to seek places where   
they can be most comfortable8  ,in some 
cases1 this instability and love of     
change would be remedied1 if employers  
would take more pains to make a         
residence with them agreeable1 and to   
attach servants to the family by        
feelings of gratitude and affection4    
,there are ladies1 even where           
well-qualified domestics are most rare1 
who seldom find any trouble in keeping  
good and steady ones4 ,and the reason   
is1 that their servants know they can   
not better their condition by any change
 within reach4 ,it is not merely by     
giving them comfortable rooms1 and good 
food1 and presents1 and privileges1 that
 the attachment of domestic servants is 
secured2 it is by the manifestation of a
 friendly and benevolent interest in    
their comfort and improvement4 ,this is 

exhibited in bearing patiently with     
their faults2 in kindly teaching them   
how to improve2 in showing them how to  
make and take proper care of their      
clothes2 in guarding their health2 in   
teaching them to read if necessary1 and 
supplying them with proper books2 and in
 short1 by endeavoring1 so far as may   
be1 to supply the place of parents4 ,it 
is seldom that such a course would fail 
to secure steady service1 and such      
affection and gratitude that even higher
 wages would be ineffectual to tempt    
them away4 ,there would probably be some
 leases of ungrateful returns2 but there
 is no doubt that the course indicated1 
if generally pursued1 would very much   
lessen the evil in question4  ,when     
servants are forward and bold in manners
 and disrespectful in address1 they may 
be considerately taught that those who  
are among the best-bred and genteel have
 courteous and respectful manners and   
language to all they meet3 while many   
who have wealth1 are regarded as vulgar1

 because they exhibit rude and          
disrespectful manners4 ,the very term   
gentle man indicates the refinement and 
delicacy of address which distinguishes 
the high-bred from the coarse and       
vulgar4  ,in regard to appropriate      
dress1 in most cases it is difficult for
 an employer to interfere1 directly1    
with comments or advice4 ,the most      
successful mode is to offer some1       
service in mending or making a wardrobe1
 and when a confidence in the kindness  
of feeling is thus gained1 remarks and  
suggestions will generally be properly  
received1 and new views of propriety and
 economy can be imparted4 ,in some cases
 it may be well for an employer who1    
from appearances1 anticipates difficulty
 of this kind1 in making the preliminary
 contract or agreement to state that she
 wishes to have the room1 person1 and   
dress of her servants kept neat and in  
order1 and that she expects to remind   
them of their duty1 in this particular1 
if it is neglected4 ,domestic servants  

are very apt to neglect the care of     
their own chambers and clothing2 and    
such habits have a most pernicious      
influence on their well-being and on    
that of their children in future        
domestic life4 ,an employer1 then1 is   
bound to exercise a parental care over  
them1 in these respects4  ,there is one 
great mistake1 not unfrequently made1 in
 the management both of domestics and of
 children1 and that is1 in supposing    
that the way to cure defects is by      
finding fault as each failing occurs4   
,but instead of this being true1 in many
 cases the directly opposite course is  
the best2 while1 in all instances1 much 
good judgment is required in order to   
decide when to notice faults and when to
 let them pass unnoticed4 ,there are    
some minds very sensitive1 easily       
discouraged1 and infirm of purpose4     
,such persons1 when they have formed    
habits of negligence1 haste1 and        
awkwardness1 often need expressions of  
sympathy and encouragement rather than  

reproof4 ,they have usually been found  
fault with so much that they have become
 either hardened or desponding2 and it  
is often the case1 that a few words of  
commendation will awaken fresh efforts  
and renewed hope4 ,in almost every case1
 words of kindness1 confidence1 and     
encouragement should be mingled with the
 needful admonitions or reproof4  ,it is
 a good rule1 in reference to this      
point1 to forewarn instead of finding   
fault4 ,thus1 when a thing has been done
 wrong1 let it pass unnoticed1 till it  
is to be done again2 and then1 a simple 
request to have it done in the right way
 will secure quite as much1 and probably
 more1 willing effort1 than a reproof   
administered for neglect4 ,some persons 
seem to take it for granted that young  
and inexperienced minds are bound to    
have all the forethought and discretion 
of mature persons2 and freely express   
wonder and disgust when mishaps occur   
for want of these traits4 ,but it would 
be far better to save from mistake or   

forgetfulness by previous caution and   
care on the part of those who have      
gained experience and forethought2 and  
thus many occasions of complaint and    
ill-humor will be avoided4  ,those who  
fill the places of heads of families are
 not very apt to think how painful it is
 to be chided for neglect of duty or for
 faults of character4 ,if they would    
sometimes imagine themselves in the     
place of those whom they control1 with  
some person daily administering reproof 
to them1 in the same tone and style as  
they employ to those who are under them1
 it might serve as a useful cheek to    
their chidings4 ,it is often the ease1  
that persons who are most strict and    
exacting and least able to make         
allowances and receive palliations1 are 
themselves peculiarly sensitive to any  
tiling which implies that they are in   
fault4 ,by such1 the spirit implied in  
the ,divine petition1 ,forgive us our   
trespasses as we forgive those who      
trespass against us1 needs especially to

 be cherished4  ,one other consideration
 is very important4 ,there is no duty   
more binding on ,christians than that of
 patience and meekness under            
provocations and disappointment4 ,now1  
the tendency of every sensitive mind1   
when thwarted in its wishes1 is to      
complain and find fault1 and that often 
in tones of fretfulness or anger4 ,but  
there are few servants who have not     
heard enough of the ,bible to know that 
angry or fretful fault-finding from the 
mistress of a family1 when her work is  
not done to suit her1 is not in         
agreement with the precepts of ,christ4 
,they notice and feel the inconsistency2
 and every woman1 when she gives way to 
feelings of anger and impatience at the 
faults of those around her1 lowers      
herself in their respect1 while her own 
conscience1 unless very much blinded1   
can not but suffer a wound4  ,in        
speaking of the office of the ,american 
mistress as being a missionary one1 we  
are far from1 recommending any          

controversial interference with the     
religious faith of our servants4 ,it is 
far better to incite them to be good    
,christians in their own way than to run
 the risk of shaking their faith in all 
religion by pointing out to them what   
seem to us the errors of that in which  
they have been educated4 ,the general   
purity of life and propriety of demeanor
 of so many thousands of undefended     
young girls cast yearly upon our shores1
 with no home but their church1 and no  
shield but their religion1 are a        
sufficient proof that this religion     
exerts an influence over them not to be 
lightly trifled with4 ,but there is a   
real unity even in opposite ,christian  
forms2 and the ,roman ,catholic servant 
and the ,protestant mistress1 if alike  
possessed by the spirit of ,christ1 and 
striving to conform to the ,golden      
,rule1 can not help being one in heart1 
though one go to mass and the other to  
meeting4  ,finally1 the bitter baptism  
through which we have passed1 the       

life-blood dearer than our own which has
 drenched distant fields1 should remind 
us of the preciousness of distinctive   
,american ideas4 ,they who would seek in
 their foolish pride to establish the   
pomp of liveried servants in ,america   
are doing that which is simply absurd4  
,a servant can never in our country be  
the mere appendage to another man1 to be
 marked like a sheep with the color of  
his owner2 he must be a fellow-citizen1 
with an established position of his own1
 free to make contracts1 free to come   
and go1 and having in his sphere titles 
to consideration and respect just as    
definite as those of any trade or       
profession whatever4  ,moreover1 we can 
not in this country maintain to any     
great extent large retinues of servants4
 ,even with ample fortunes1 they are    
forbidden by the general character of   
society here1 which makes them cumbrous 
and difficult to manage4 ,every mistress
 of a family knows that her cares       
increase with every additional servant4 

,two keep the peace with each other and 
their employer2 three begin a possible  
discord1 which possibility increases    
with four1 and becomes certain with five
 or six4 ,trained housekeepers1 such as 
regulate the complicated establishments 
of the old world1 form a class that are 
not1 and from the nature of the case    
never will be1 found in any great       
numbers in this country4 ,all such      
women1 as a general thing1 are keeping1 
and prefer to keep1 houses of their own4
  ,a moderate style of housekeeping1    
small1 compact1 and simple domestic     
establishments1 must necessarily be the 
general order of life in ,america4 ,so  
many openings of profit are to be found 
in this country1 that domestic service  
necessarily wants the permanence which  
forms so agreeable a feature of it in   
the old world4  ,this being the case1 it
 should be an object in ,american to    
exclude from the labors of the family   
all that can1 with greater advantage1 be
 executed out of it by combined labor4  

,formerly1 in ,new ,england1 soap and   
candles were to be made in each separate
 family2 now1 comparatively few take    
this toil upon them4 ,we buy soap of the
 soap-maker1 and candles of the         
candle-factor4 ,this principle might be 
extended much further4 ,in ,france1 no  
family makes its own bread1 and better  
bread can not be eaten than can be      
bought at the appropriate shops4 ,no    
family does its own washing2 the        
family's linen is all sent to women who1
 making this their sole profession1 get 
it up with a care and nicety which can  
seldom be equaled in any family4  ,how  
would it simplify the burdens of the    
,american housekeeper to have washing   
and ironing day expunged from her       
calendar6 ,how much more neatly and     
compactly could the whole domestic      
system be arranged6 ,if all the money   
that each separate family spends on the 
outfit and accommodations for washing   
and ironing1 on fuel1 soap1 starch1 and 
the other requirements1 were united in a

 fund to create a laundry for every     
dozen families1 one or two good women   
could do in first rate style what now is
 very indifferently done by the         
disturbance and disarrangement of all   
other domestic processes in these       
families4 ,whoever sets neighborhood    
laundries on foot will do much to solve 
the ,american housekeeper's hardest     
problem4  ,again1 ,american women must  
not try with three servants to carry on 
life in the style which in the old world
 requires sixteen2 they must thoroughly 
understand1 and be prepared to teach1   
every branch of housekeeping2 they must 
study to make domestic service          
desirable1 by treating their servants in
 a way to lead them to respect          
themselves and to feel themselves       
respected2 and there will gradually be  
evolved from the present confusion1 a   
solution of the domestic problem which  
shall be adapted to the life of a new   
and growing world4     ,,xxvi4  ,,care  
,,of ,,the ,,sick4   ,it is interesting 

to notice in the histories of our ,lord 
the prominent place given to the care of
 the sick4 ,when he first sent out the  
apostles1 it was to heal the sick as    
well as to preach4 ,again1 when1 he sent
 out the seventy1 their first command   
was to heal the sick1 and next to say1  
the kingdom of ,god has come nigh unto  
you4 ,the body was to be healed first1  
in order to attend to the kingdom of    
,god1 even when it was brought nigh4    
,jesus ,christ spent more time and labor
 in the cure of men's bodies than in    
preaching1 even1 if we subtract those   
labors with his earthly father by which 
family homes were provided4 ,when he    
ascended to the heavens1 his last       
recorded1 words to his followers1 as    
given by ,mark1 were1 that his disciples
 should lay hands on the sick1 that they
 might recover4 ,still more directly is 
the duty of care for the sick exhibited 
in the solemn allegorical description of
 the last day4 ,it was those who visited
 the sick that were the blessed2 it was 

those who did not visit the sick who    
were told to depart4 ,thus are we       
abundantly taught that one of the most  
sacred duties of the ,christian family  
is the training of its inmates to care  
and land attention to the sick4  ,every 
woman who has the care of young         
children1 or of a large family1 is      
frequently called upon to advise what   
shall be done for some one who is       
indisposed2 and often1 in circumstances 
where she must trust solely to her own  
judgment4 ,in such cases1 some err by   
neglecting to do any thing at all1 till 
the patient is quite sick2 but a still  
greater number err from excessive and   
injurious dosing4  ,the two great causes
 of the ordinary slight attacks of      
illness in a family1 are1 sudden chills1
 which close the pores of the skin1 and 
thus affect the throat1 lungs1 or       
bowels2 and the excessive or improper   
use of food4 ,in most cases of illness  
from the first cause1 bathing the feet1 
and some aperient drink to induce       

perspiration1 are suitable remedies4    
,in case of illness from improper food1 
or excess in eating1 fasting for one or 
two meals1 to give the system time and  
chance to relieve itself1 is the safest 
remedy4 ,some-times1 a gentle cathartic 
of castor-oil may be needful2 but it is 
best first to try fasting4 ,a safe      
relief from injurious articles in the   
stomach is an emetic of warm water2 but 
to be effective1 several tumblerfuls    
must be given in quick succession1 and  
till the stomach can receive no more4   
,the following extract from a discourse 
of ,dr4 ,burne1 before the ,london      
,medical ,society1 contains important1  
information3 ,in civilized life1 the    
causes which are most generally and     
continually operating in the production 
of diseases are1 affections of the mind1
 improper diet1 and retention of the    
intestinal excretions4 ,the undue       
retention of excrementitious matter     
allows of the absorption of its more    
liquid parts1 which is a cause of great 

impurity to the blood1 and the          
excretions1 thus rendered hard and      
knotty1 act more or less as extraneous  
substances1 and1 by their irritation1   
produce a determination of blood to the 
intestines and to the neighboring       
viscera1 which ultimately ends in       
inflammation4 ,it also has a great      
effect on the whole system2 causes a    
determination of blood to the head1     
which oppresses the brain1 and dejects  
the mind2 deranges the functions of the 
stomach2 causes flatulency2 and produces
 a general state of discomfort4  ,dr4   
,combe remarks on this subject3 ,in the 
natural and healthy state1 under a      
proper system of diet1 and with         
sufficient exercise1 the bowels are     
relieved regularly1 once every day4     
,habit is powerful in modifying the     
result1 and in sustaining healthy action
 when once fairly established4 ,hence   
the obvious advantage of observing as   
much regularity in relieving the system1
 as in taking our meals4 ,it is often   

the ease that soliciting nature at a    
regular period1 once a day1 will remedy 
constipation without medicine1 and      
induce a regular and healthy state of   
the bowels4 ,when1 however1 as most     
frequently happens1 the constipation    
arises from the absence of all          
assistance from the abdominal and       
respiratory muscles1 the first step to  
be taken is1 again to solicit their aid2
 first1 by removing all impediments to  
free respiration1 such as stays1        
waistbands1 and belts2 secondly1 by     
resorting to such active exercise as    
shall call the muscles into full and    
regular action2 ,footnote3 ,the most    
effective mode of exercising the        
abdominal and respiratory muscles1 in   
order to remedy constipation1 is by a   
continuous alternate contraction of the 
muscles of the abdomen1 and diaphragm4  
,by contracting the muscles of the      
abdomen1 the intestines axe pressed     
inward and upward1 and then the muscles 
of the diaphragm above contract and     

press them downward and outward4 ,thus  
the blood is drawn to the torpid parts  
to stimulate to the healthful action1   
while the agitation moves their contents
 downward4 ,an invalid can thus exercise
 the abdominal muscles in bed4 ,the     
proper time is just after a meal4 ,this 
exercise1 continued ten minutes a day1  
including short intervals of rest1 and  
persevered in for a week or two1 will   
cure most ordinary cases of             
constipation1 provided proper food is   
taken4 ,coarse bread and fruit are      
needed for this purpose in most cases4  
and lastly1 by proportioning the        
quantity of food to the wants of the    
system1 and the condition of the        
digestive organs4  ,if we employ these  
means1 systematically and perseveringly1
 we shall rarely fail in at last        
restoring the healthy action of the     
bowels1 with little aid from medicine4  
,but if we neglect these modes1 we may  
go on for years1 adding pill to pill1   
and dose to dose1 without ever attaining

 the end at which we aim4  ,there is no 
point in which a woman needs more       
knowledge and discretion than in        
administering remedies for what seem    
slight attacks1 which are not supposed  
to require the attention of a physician4
 ,it is little realized that purgative  
drugs are unnatural modes of stimulating
 the internal organs1 tending to exhaust
 them of their secretions1 and to       
debilitate and disturb the animal       
economy4 ,for this reason1 they should  
be used as little as possible2 and      
fasting1 and perspiration1 and the other
 methods pointed out1 should always be  
first resorted to4  ,when medicine must 
be given1 it should be borne in mind    
that there are various classes of       
purgatives1 which produce very diverse  
effects4 ,some1 like salts1 operate to  
thin the blood1 and reduce the system2  
others are stimulating2 and others have 
a peculiar operation on certain organs4 
,of course1 great discrimination and    
knowledge are needed1 in order to select

 the kind which is suitable to the      
particular disease1 or to the particular
 constitution of the invalid4 ,this     
shows the folly of using the many kinds 
of pills1 and other quack medicines1    
where no knowledge can be had of their  
composition4 ,pills which are good for  
one kind of disease1 might operate as   
poison in another state of the system4  
,it is very common in cases of colds1   
which affect the lungs or throat1 to    
continue to try one dose after another  
for relief4 ,it will be well to hear in 
mind at such times1 that all which goes 
into the stomach must be first absorbed 
into the blood before it can reach the  
diseased part2 and that there is some   
danger of injuring the stomach1 or other
 parts of the system1 by such a variety 
of doses1 many of which1 it is probable1
 will be directly contradictory in their
 nature1 and thus neutralize any        
supposed benefit they might separately  
impart4  ,when a cold affects the head  
and eyes1 and also impedes breathing    

through the nose1 great relief is gained
 by a wet napkin spread over the upper  
part of the face1 covering the nose     
except an opening for breath4 ,this is  
to be covered by folds of flannel       
fastened over the napkin with a         
handkerchief4 ,so also a wet towel over 
the throat and whole chest1 covered with
 folds of flannel1 often relieves       
oppressed lungs4  ,ordinarily1 a cold   
can be arrested on its first symptoms by
 coverings in bed and a bottle of hot   
water1 securing free perspiration4      
,often1 at its first appearance1 it can 
be stopped by a spoonful or two of      
whisky1 or any alcoholic liquor1 in hot 
water1 taken on going to bed4 ,warm     
covering to induce perspiration will    
assist the process4 ,these simple       
remedies are safest4 ,perspiration      
should always be followed by a          
towel-bath4  ,it is very unwise to tempt
 the appetite of a person who is        
indisposed4 ,the cessation of appetite  
is the warning of nature that the system

 is in such a state that food can not be
 digested4 ,when food is to be given to 
one who has no desire for it1 beef-tea  
is the best in most cases4  ,the        
following suggestions may be found      
useful in regard to nursing the sick4   
,as nothing contributes more to the     
restoration of health than pure air1 it 
should be a primary object to keep a    
sick-room well ventilated4 ,at least    
twice in the twenty-four hours1 the     
patient should be well covered1 and     
fresh air freely admitted from out of   
doors4 ,after this1 if need be1 the room
 should be restored to a proper         
temperature1 by the aid of an open fire4
 ,bedding and clothing should also be   
well aired1 and frequently changed2 as  
the exhalations from the body1 in       
sickness1 are peculiarly deleterious4   
,frequent ablutions of the whole body1  
if possible1 are very useful2 and for   
these1 warm water may be employed1 when 
cold water is disagreeable4  ,a         
sick-room should always be kept very    

neat and in perfect order2 and all      
haste1 noise1 and bustle should be      
avoided4 ,in order to secure neatness1  
order1 and quiet1 in case of long       
illness1 the following arrangement      
should be made4 ,keep a large box for   
fuel1 which will need to be filled only 
twice in twenty-four hours4 ,provide    
also and keep in the room or an adjacent
 closet1 a small1 tea-kettle1 a         
saucepan1 a pail of water for drinks and
 ablutions1 a pitcher1 a covered        
porringer1 two pint bowls1 two tumblers1
 two cups and saucers1 two wine-glasses1
 two large and two small spoons2 also a 
dish in which to wash these articles2 a 
good supply of towels and a broom4 ,keep
 a slop-bucket near by to receive the   
wash of the room4 ,procuring all these  
articles at once1 will save much noise  
and confusion4  ,whenever medicine or   
food is given1 spread a clean towel over
 the person or bed-clothing1 and get a  
clean handkerchief1 as nothing is more  
annoying to a weak stomach than the     

stickiness and soiling produced by      
medicine and food4  ,keep the fire-place
 neat1 and always wash all articles and 
put them in order as soon as they are   
out of use4 ,a sick person has nothing  
to do but look about the room2 and when 
every thing is neat and in order1 a     
feeling of comfort is induced1 while    
disorder1 filth1 and neglect are        
constant objects of annoyance which1 if 
not complained of1 are yet felt4  ,one  
very important particular in the case of
 those who are delicate in constitution1
 as well as in the case of the sick1 is 
the preservation of warmth1 especially  
in the hands and the feet4 ,the equal   
circulation of the blood is an important
 element for good health1 and this is   
impossible when the extremities are     
habitually or frequently cold4 ,it is   
owing to this fact that the coldness    
caused by wetting the feet is so        
injurious4 ,in cases where disease or a 
weak constitution causes a feeble or    
imperfect circulation1 great pains      

should be taken to dress the feet and   
hands warmly1 especially around the     
wrists and ankles1 where the            
blood-vessels are nearest to the surface
 and thus most exposed to cold4 ,warm   
elastic wristlets and anklets would save
 many a feeble person from increasing   
decay or disease4  ,when the circulation
 is feeble from debility or disease1 the
 union of carbon and oxygen in the      
capillaries is slower than in health1   
and therefore care should be taken to   
preserve the heat thus generated by warm
 clothing and protection from cold      
draughts4 ,in nervous debility1 it is   
peculiarly important to preserve the    
animal heat1 for its excessive loss     
especially affects weak nerves4 ,many an
 invalid is carelessly and habitually   
suffering cold feet1 who would recover  
health by proper care to preserve animal
 heat1 especially in the extremities4   
,the following are useful directions for
 dressing a blister4 ,spread thinly1 on 
a linen cloth1 an ointment composed of  

one third of beeswax to two thirds of   
tallow2 lay this upon a linen cloth     
folded many times4 ,with a sharp pair of
 scissors make an aperture in the lower 
part of the blister-bag1 with a little  
hole above to give it vent4 ,break the  
raised skin as little as possible4 ,lay 
on the cloth spread as directed4 ,the   
blister at first should be dressed as   
often as three times in a day1 and the  
dressing renewed each time4 ,hot        
fomentations in most cases will be as   
good as a blister1 less painful1 and    
safer4  ,always prepare food for the    
sick in the neatest and most careful    
manner4 ,it is in sickness that the     
senses of smell and taste are most      
susceptible of annoyance2 and often1    
little mistakes or negligences in       
preparing food will take away all       
appetite4  ,food for the sick should be 
cooked on coals1 that no smoke may have 
access to it2 and great care must be    
taken to prevent1 by stirring1 any      
adherence to the bottom of the cooking  

vessel1 as this always gives a          
disagreeable taste4  ,keeping clean     
handkerchiefs and towels at hand1       
cooling the pillows1 sponging the hands 
with water1 7with care to dry them      
thoroughly17 swabbing the mouth with a  
clean linen rag on the end of a stick1  
are modes of increasing the comfort of  
the sick4 ,always throw a shawl over a  
sick person when raised up4  ,be careful
 to understand a physician's directions1
 and to obey them implicitly4 ,if it be 
supposed that any other person knows    
better about the case than the          
physician1 dismiss the physician1 and   
employ that person in his stead4  ,it is
 always best to consult the physician as
 to where medicines shall be purchased1 
and to show the articles to him before  
using them1 as great impositions are    
practiced in selling old1 useless1 and  
adulterated drugs4 ,always put labels on
 vials of medicine1 and keep them out of
 the reach of children4  ,be careful to 
label all powders1 and particularly all 

white powders1 as many poisonous        
medicines in this form are easily       
mistaken for others which are harmless4 
,in nursing the sick1 always speak      
gently and cheeringly2 and1 while you   
express sympathy for their pain and     
trials1 stimulate them to bear sill with
 fortitude1 and with resignation to the 
,heavenly ,father who doth not willingly
 afflict1 and who causeth all things to 
work together for good to them that love
 him4 ,offer to read the ,bible or other
 devotional books1 whenever it is       
suitable1 and will not be deemed        
obtrusive4  ,miss ,ann ,preston1 one of 
the most refined as well as talented and
 learned female physicians1 in a        
published article1 gives valuable       
instruction as to the training1 of      
nurses4 ,she claims that every woman    
should be trained for this office1 and  
that some who have special traits that  
fit them for it should make it their    
daily professional business4 ,she       
remarks that the indispensable qualities

 in a good nurse are common sense1      
conscientiousness1 and sympathetic      
benevolence3 and thus continues3  ,god  
himself made and commissioned one set of
 nurses2 and in doing this and adapting 
them to utter helplessness and weakness1
 what did he do8 ,he made them to love  
the dependence and to see something to  
admire in the very perversities of their
 charge4 ,he made them to humor the     
caprices and regard both reasonable and 
unreasonable complainings4 ,he made them
 to bend tenderly over the disturbed and
 irritated1 and fold them to quiet      
assurance in arms made soft with love2  
in a word1 he made mothers6 ,and1 other 
things being equal1 whoever has most    
maternal tenderness and warm sympathy   
with the sufferer is the best nurse4    
,and it is those most nearly endowed by 
nature with these traits who should be  
selected to be trained for the sacred   
office of nurse to the sick1 while1 in  
all the moral training of womanhood1    
this ideal should be the aim4  ,again1  

,miss ,preston wisely suggests that     
persons may be conscientious and        
benevolent and possess good judgment in 
many respects1 and yet be miserable     
nurses of the sick for want of training 
and right knowledge4  ,knowledge1 the   
assurance that one knows what to do1    
always gives presence of mind--and      
presence of mind is important not only  
in a sick-room but in every home4 ,who  
has not known consternation in a family 
when some one has fainted1 or been      
burned1 or cut1 while none were present 
who knew how to stop the flowing blood1 
or revive the fainting1 or apply the    
saving application to the burn8 ,and yet
 knowledge and efficiency in such cases 
would save many a life1 and be a most   
fitting and desirable accomplishment in 
every woman4  ,we are slow to learn the 
mighty influence of common agencies1 and
 the greatness of little things1 in     
their bearing upon life and health4 ,the
 woman who believes it takes no strength
 to bear a little noise or some         

disagreeable announcements1 and loses   
patience with the weak1 nervous invalid 
who is agonized with creaking doors or  
shoes1 or loud1 shrill voices1 or       
rustling papers1 or sharp1 fidgety      
motions1 or the whispering so common in 
sick-rooms and often so acutely         
distressing to the sufferer1 will soon  
correct such misapprehensions by herself
 experiencing a nervous fever4  ,here   
the writer would put in a plea for the  
increasing multitudes of nervous        
sufferers not confined to a sick-room1  
and yet exposed to all the varied       
sources of pain incident to an exhausted
 nervous system1 which often cause more 
intolerable and also more wearing pain  
than other kinds of suffering4  ,an     
exceeding acuteness of the senses is the
 result of many forms of nervous        
disease4 ,a heavy breath1 an unwashed   
hand1 a noise that would not have been  
noticed in health1 a crooked table-cover
 or bed-spread may disturb or oppress2  
and more than one invalid has spoken in 

my hearing of the sickening effect      
produced by the nurse tasting her food1 
or blowing in her drinks to make them   
cool4 ,one woman1 and a sensible woman  
too1 told me her nurse had turned a     
large cushion upon her bureau with the  
back part in front4 ,she determined not 
to be disturbed nor to speak of such a  
trifle1 but after struggling three hours
 in vain to banish the annoyance1 she   
was forced to ask to have the cushion   
placed right4  ,in this place should be 
mentioned the suffering caused to       
persons of reduced nervous power not    
only by the smoke of tobacco1 but by the
 fetid effluvium of it from the breath  
and clothing of persons who smoke4 ,many
 such are sickened in society and in    
car-traveling1 and to a degree little   
imagined by those who gain a dangerous  
pleasure at the frequent expense of the 
feeble and suffering4  ,miss ,preston   
again remarks1 ,it is often exceedingly 
important to the very weak1 who can take
 but very little nutriment1 to have that

 little whenever they want it4 ,i have  
known invalids sustain great injury and 
suffering2 when exhausted for want of   
food1 they have had to wait and wait1   
feeling as if every minute was an hour1 
while some well-fed nurse delayed its   
coming4 ,said a lady1 ',it makes me     
hungry now to think of the meals she    
brought me upon that little waiter when 
,i was sick1 such brown thin toast1 such
 good broiled beef1 such fragrant tea1  
and every thing looking so exquisitely  
nice6 ,if at any time ,i did not think  
of any thing ,i wanted1 nor ask for     
food1 she did not annoy me with         
questions1 but brought some little      
delicacy at the proper time1 and when it
 came1 ,i could take it4'  ,if there is 
one purpose of a personal kind for which
 it is especially desirable to lay up   
means1 it is for being well nursed in   
sickness2 yet in the present state of   
society1 this is absolutely impossible1 
even to the wealthy1 because of the     
scarcity of competent nurses4 ,families 

worn down with the long and extreme     
illness of a member require relief from 
one whose feelings will be less taxed1  
and who can better endure the labor4    
,but alas6 how often is it impossible1  
for love or money1 to obtain one capable
 of taking the burden from the exhausted
 sister or mother or daughter1 and how  
often in consequence they have died     
prematurely or struggled through weary  
years with a broken constitution4       
,appeal to those who have made the      
trial1 and you will find that very      
seldom have they been able to have those
 who by nature or by training were      
competent for their duties4 ,ignorant1  
unscrupulous1 inattentive--how often    
they disturb and injure the patient6 ,a 
physician told me that one of his       
patients had died because the nurse1    
contrary to orders1 had at a critical   
period washed her with cold water4 ,i   
have known one who1 by stealth1 quieted 
a fretful child with laudanum1 and of   
others who exhausted the sick by        

incessant talking4 ,one lady said that  
when1 to escape this distressing        
garrulity1 she closed her eyes1 the     
nurse exclaimed aloud1 ',why1 she is    
going to sleep while ,i am talking to   
her4'  ,a few only of the sensible1     
quiet1 and loving women1 whose presence 
everywhere is a blessing1 have qualified
 themselves and followed nursing as a   
business4 ,heaven bless that few6 ,what 
a sense of relief have ,i seen pervade a
 family when such a one has been        
procured2 and what a treasure seemed    
found6  ,there is very commonly an      
extreme susceptibility in the sick to   
the moral atmosphere about them4 ,they  
feel the healthful influence of the     
presence of a true-hearted attendant and
 repose in it1 though they may not be   
able to define the cause2 while         
dissimulation1 falsehood1 recklessness1 
coarseness1 jar terribly and injuriously
 on their heightened sensibilities4     
',are the ,sisters of ,charity really   
better nurses than most other women8' ,i

 asked an intelligent lady who had seen 
much of our military hospitals4 ',yes1  
they are1' was her reply4 ',why should  
it be so8' ',i think it is because with 
them it is a work of self-abnegation1   
and of duty to ,god1 and they are so    
quiet and self-forgetful in its exercise
 that they do it better1 while many     
other women show such self-consciousness
 and are so fussy6  ,is there any reason
 why every ,protestant woman should not 
be trained for this self-denying office 
as a duty owed to ,god8 ,we can not     
better close this chapter than by one   
more quotation from the same intelligent
 and attractive writer3 ,the good nurse 
is an artist4 ,o the pillowy1 soothing  
softness of her touch1 the neatness of  
her simple1 unrustling dress1 the music 
of her assured yet gentle voice and     
tread1 the sense of security and rest   
inspired by her kind and hopeful face1  
the promptness and attention to every   
want1 the repose that like an atmosphere
 encircles her1 the evidence of heavenly

 goodness1 and love that she diffuses6  
,is not such an art as this worth much  
to attain8  ,in training children to the
 ,christian life1 one very important    
opportunity occurs whenever sickness    
appears1 in the family or neighborhood4 
,the repression of disturbing noises1   
the speaking in tones of gentleness and 
sympathy1 the small offices of service  
or nursing in which children can aid1   
should be inculcated as ministering to  
the ,lord and ,elder ,brother of man1   
who has said1 ,inasmuch as ye have done 
it unto one of the least of these my    
brethren1 ye have done it to me4  ,one  
of the blessed opportunities for such   
ministries is given to children in the  
cultivation of flowers4 ,the entrance   
into a sick-room of a smiling1 healthful
 child1 bringing an offering of flowers 
raised by its own labor1 is like an     
angel of comfort and love1 and alike it 
blesseth him who gives and him who      
takes4  ,a time is coming when the      
visitation of the sick1 as a part of the

 ,christian life1 will hold a higher    
consideration than is now generally     
accorded1 especially in the cases of    
uninteresting sufferers who have nothing
 to attract kind attentions1 except that
 they are suffering children of our     
,father in heaven1 and one of the least 
of the brethren of ,jesus ,christ4      
,,chapter ,,xxvii4  ,,accidents ,,and   
,,antidotes4   ,children should be      
taught the following modes of saving    
life1 health and limbs in cases of      
sudden emergency1 before a medical      
adviser can be summoned4  ,in case of a 
common cut1 bind the lips of the wound  
together with a rag1 and put on nothing 
else4 ,if it is large1 lay narrow strips
 of sticking-plaster obliquely across   
the wound4 ,in some cases it is needful 
to draw a needle and thread through the 
lips of the wound1 and tie the two sides
 together4  ,if an artery be cut1 it    
must be tied as quickly as possible1 or 
the person will soon bleed to death4    
,the blood from an artery is a brighter 

red than that from the veins1 and spirts
 out in jets at each beat of the heart4 
,take hold of the end of the artery and 
tie it or hold it tight till a surgeon  
comes4 ,in this case1 and in all cases  
of bad wounds that bleed much1 tie a    
tight bandage near and above the wound1 
inserting a stick into the bandage and  
twisting as tight as can be borne1 to   
stop the immediate effusion of blood4   
,bathe bad bruises in hot water4 ,arnica
 water hastens a cure1 but is injurious 
and weakening to the parts when used too
 long and too freely4  ,a sprain is     
relieved from the first pains by hot    
fomentations1 or the application of very
 hot bandages1 but entire rest is the   
chief permanent remedy4 ,the more the   
limb is used1 especially at first1 the  
longer the time required for the small  
broken fibres to knit together4 ,the    
sprained leg should be kept in a        
horizontal position4 ,when a leg is     
broken1 tie it to the other leg1 to keep
 it still till a surgeon comes4 ,tie a  

broken arm to a piece of thin wood1 to  
keep it still till set4  ,in the case of
 bad burns that take off the skin1      
creosote water is the best remedy4 ,if  
this is not at hand1 wood-soot 7not     
coal7 pounded1 sifted1 and mixed with   
lard is nearly as good1 as such soot    
contains creosote4 ,when a dressing is  
put on1 do not remove it till a skin is 
formed under it4 ,if nothing else is at 
hand for a bad burn1 sprinkle flour over
 the place where the skin is off and    
then let it remain1 protected by a      
bandage4 ,the chief aim is to keep the  
part without skin from the air4  ,in    
case of drowning1 the aim should be to  
clear the throat1 mouth and nostrils1   
and then produce the natural action of  
the lungs in breathing as soon as       
possible1 at the same time removing wet 
clothes and applying warmth and friction
 to the skin1 especially the hands and  
feet1 to start the circulation4 ,the    
best mode of cleansing the throat and   
month of choking water is to lay the    

person on the face1 and raise the head a
 little1 clearing the mouth and nostrils
 with the finger1 and then apply        
hartshorn or camphor to the nose4 ,this 
is safer and surer than a common mode of
 lifting the body by the feet1 or       
rolling on a barrel to empty out the    
water4  ,to start the action of the     
lungs1 first lay the person on the face 
and press the back along the spine to   
expel all air from the lungs4 ,then turn
 the body nearly1 but not quite over on 
to the back1 thus opening the chest so  
that the air will rush in if the mouth  
is kept open4 ,then turn the body to the
 face again and expel the air1 and then 
again nearly over on to the back2 and so
 continue for a long time4 ,friction1   
dry and warm clothing1 and warm         
applications should be used in          
connection with this process4 ,this is a
 much better mode than using bellows1   
which sometimes will close the opening  
to the windpipe4 ,the above is the mode 
recommended by ,dr4 ,marshall ,hall1 and

 is approved by the best medical        
authorities4  ,certain articles are     
often kept in the house for cooking or  
medical purposes1 and sometimes by      
mistake are taken in quantities that are
 poisonous4  ,soda1 saleratus1 potash1  
or any other alkali can be rendered     
harmless in the stomach by vinegar1     
tomato-juice1 or any other acid4 ,if    
sulphuric or oxalic acid are taken1     
pounded chalk in water is the best      
antidote4 ,if those are not at hand1    
strong soapsuds have been found         
effective4 ,large quantities of tepid   
water should be drank after these       
antidotes are taken1 so as to produce   
vomiting4  ,lime or baryta and its      
compounds demand a solution of glauber  
salts or of sulphuric acid4  ,iodine or 
,iodide of ,potassium demands large     
draughts of wheat flour or starch in    
water1 and then vinegar and water4 ,the 
stomach should then be emptied by       
vomiting with as much tepid water as the
 stomach can hold4  ,prussic acid1 a    

violent poison1 is sometimes taken by   
children in eating the pits of stone    
fruits or bitter almonds which contain  
it4 ,the antidote is to empty the       
stomach by an emetic1 and give water of 
ammonia or chloric water4 ,affusions of 
cold water all over the body1 followed  
by warm hand friction1 is often a remedy
 alone1 but the above should be added if
 at command4 ,antimony and its compounds
 demand drinks of oak bark1 or gall     
nuts1 or very strong green tea4         
,arsenic demands oil or melted fat1 with
 magnesia or lime water in large        
quantities1 till vomiting occurs4       
,corrosive ,sublimate1 7often used to   
kill vermin17 and any other form of     
mercury1 requires milk or whites of eggs
 in large quantities4 ,the whites of    
twelve eggs in two quarts of water1     
given in the largest possible draughts  
every three minutes till free vomiting  
occurs1 is a good remedy4 ,flour and    
water will answer1 though not so surely 
as the above4 ,warm water will help1 if 

nothing else is in reach4 ,the same     
remedy answers when any form of copper1 
or tin1 or zinc poison is taken1 and    
also for creosote4  ,lead and its       
compounds require a dilution of ,epsom  
or ,glauber salts1 or some strong1 acid 
drink1 as lemon or tomatoes4  ,nitrate  
of ,silver demands salt water drank till
 vomiting occurs4  ,phosphorus          
7sometimes taken by children from       
matches7 needs magnesia and copious     
drinks of gum ,arabic1 or gum water of  
any sort4  ,alcohol1 in dangerous       
quantities1 demands vomiting with warm  
water4  ,when one is violently sick from
 excessive use of tobacco1 vomiting is a
 relief1 if it arise spontaneously4     
,after that1 or in case it does not     
occur1 the juice of a lemon and perfect 
rest1 in a horizontal position on the   
back1 will relieve the nausea and       
faintness1 generally soothing the       
foolish and over-wrought patient into a 
sleep4  ,opium demands a quick emetic4  
,the best is a heaping table-spoonful of

 powdered mustard1 in a tumblerful of   
warm water2 or powdered alum in         
half-ounce doses and strong coffee      
alternately in warm water4 ,give acid   
drinks after vomiting4 ,if vomiting is  
not elicited thus1 a stomach pump is    
demanded4 ,dash cold water on the head1 
apply friction1 and use all means to    
keep the person awake and in motion4    
,strychnia demands also quick emetics4  
,the stomach should be emptied always   
after taking any of these antidotes1 by 
a warm water emetic4  ,in case of       
bleeding at the lungs1 or stomach1 or   
throat1 give a tea-spoonful of dry salt1
 and repeat it often4 ,for bleeding at  
the nose1 put ice1 or pour cold water on
 the back of the neck1 keeping the head 
elevated4  ,if a person be struck with  
lightning1 throw pailfuls of cold water 
on the head and body1 and apply mustard 
poultices on the stomach1 with friction 
of the whole body and inflation of the  
lungs1 as in the case of drowning4 ,the 
same mode is to be used when persons are

 stupefied by fumes of coal1 or bad air4
  ,in thunderstorms1 shut the doors and 
windows4 ,the safest part of a room is  
its centre2 and where there is a        
feather-bed in the apartment1 that will 
be found the most secure resting-place4 
,a lightning-rod if it be well pointed1 
and run deep into the earth1 is a       
certain protection to a circle1 around  
it1 whose diameter equals the height of 
the rod above the highest chimney4 ,but 
it protects no farther than this extent4
  ,in case of fire1 wrap about you a    
blanket1 a shawl1 a piece of carpet1 or 
any other woolen cloth1 to serve as     
protection4 ,never read in bed1 lest you
 fall asleep1 and the bed be set on     
fire4 ,if your clothes get on fire1     
never run1 but lie down1 and roll about 
till you can reach a bed or carpet to   
wrap yourself in1 and thus put out the  
fire4 ,keep young children in woolen    
dresses1 to save them from the risk of  
fire4     ,,xxviii4  ,,sewing1          
,,cutting1 ,,and ,,mending4   ,every    

young girl should be taught to do the   
following kinds of stitch with          
propriety3 ,over-stitch1 hemming1       
running1 felling1 stitching1 back-stitch
 and run1 buttonhole-stitch1            
chain-stitch1 whipping1 darning1        
gathering1 and cross-stitch4  ,in doing 
over-stitch1 the edges should always be 
first fitted1 either with pins or       
basting1 to prevent puckering4 ,in      
turning wide hems1 a paper measure      
should be used1 to make them even4      
,tucks1 also1 should be regulated by a  
paper measure4 ,a fell should be turned1
 before the edges are put together1 and 
the seam should be over-sewed before    
felling4 ,all biased or goring seams    
should be felled1 for stitching1 draw a 
thread1 and take up two or three threads
 at a stitch4  ,in cutting buttonholes1 
it is best to have a pair of scissors1  
made for the purpose1 which cut very    
neatly4 ,for broadcloth1 a chisel and   
board are better4 ,the best stitch is   
made by putting in the needle1 and then 

turning the thread round it near the    
eye4 ,this is better than to draw the   
needle through1 and then take up a loop4
 ,a stay thread should first be put     
across each side of the buttonhole1 and 
also a bar at each end before working   
it4 ,in working the buttonhole1 keep the
 stay thread as far from the edge as    
possible4 ,a small bar should be worked 
at each end4  ,whipping is done better  
by sewing over1 and not under4 ,the roll
 should be as fine as possible1 the     
stitches short1 the thread strong1 and  
in sewing1 every gather should be taken 
up4  ,the rule for gathering in shirts  
is1 to draw a thread1 and then take up  
two threads and skip four4 ,in darning1 
after the perpendicular threads are run1
 the crossing threads should interlace  
exactly1 taking one thread and leaving  
one1 like woven threads4 ,it is better  
to run a fine thread around a hole and  
draw it together1 and then darn across  
it4  ,the neatest sewers always fit and 
baste their work before sewing2 and they

 say they always save time in the end by
 so doing1 as they never have to pick   
out work on account of mistakes4  ,it is
 wise to sew closely and tightly all new
 garments which will never be altered in
 shape2 but some are more nice than     
wise1 in sewing frocks and old garments 
in the same style4 ,however1 this is the
 least common extreme4 ,it is much more 
frequently the case that articles which 
ought to be strongly and neatly made are
 sewed so that a nice sewer would rather
 pick out the threads and sew over again
 than to be annoyed with the sight of   
grinning stitches1 and vexed with       
constant rips4  ,if the thread kinks in 
sewing1 break it off and begin at the   
other end4 ,in using spool-cotton1      
thread the needle with the end which    
comes off first1 and not the end where  
you break it off4 ,this often prevents  
kinks4  ,work-baskets4--,it is very     
important to neatness1 comfort1 and     
success in sewing1 that a lady's        
work-basket should be properly fitted   

up4 ,the following articles are needful 
to the mistress of a family3 a large    
basket to hold work2 having in it       
fastened a smaller basket or box1       
containing a needle-book in which are   
needles of every size1 both blunts and  
sharps1 with a larger number of those   
sizes most used2 also small and large   
darning-needles1 for woolen1 cotton1 and
 silk2 two tape needles1 large and      
small2 nice scissors for fine work1     
button-hole scissors2 an emery bag2 two 
balls of white and yellow wax2 and two  
thimbles1 in case one should be mislaid4
 ,when a person is troubled with damp   
fingers1 a lump of soft chalk in a paper
 is useful to rub on the ends of the    
fingers4  ,besides this box1 keep in the
 basket common scissors2 small shears2 a
 bag containing tapes of all colors and 
sizes1 done up in rolls2 bags1 one      
containing spools of white and another  
of colored cotton thread1 and another   
for silks wound on spools or papers2 a  
box or bag for nice buttons1 and another

 for more common ones2 a hag containing 
silk braid1 welting cords1 and galloon  
binding4 ,small rolls of pieces of white
 and brown linen and cotton are also    
often needed4 ,a brick pin-cushion is a 
great convenience in sewing1 and better 
than screw cushions4 ,it is made by     
covering half a brick with cloth1       
putting a cushion on the top1 and       
covering it tastefully4 ,it is very     
useful to hold pins and needles while   
sewing1 and to fasten long seams when   
basting and sewing4  ,to make a         
,frock4--,the best way for a novice is  
to get a dress fitted 7not sewed7 at the
 best mantua-maker's4 ,then take out a  
sleeve1 rip it to pieces1 and cut out a 
paper pattern4 ,then take out half of   
the waist1 7it must have a seam in      
front17 and cut out a pattern of the    
back and fore-body1 both lining and     
outer part4 ,in cutting the patterns1   
iron the pieces smooth1 let the paper be
 stiff1 and with a pin2 prick holes in  
the paper1 to show the gore in front and

 the depths of the seams4 ,with a pen   
and ink1 draw lines from each pin-hole  
to preserve this mark4 ,then baste the  
parts together again1 in doing which the
 unbasted half will serve as a pattern4 
,when this is done1 a lady of common    
ingenuity can cut and fit a dress by    
these patterns4 ,if the waist of a dress
 be too tight1 the seam under the arm   
must be let out2 and in cutting a dress 
an allowance should be made for letting 
it out if needful1 at this seam4  ,the  
linings for the waists of dresses should
 be stiffened with cotton or linen4 ,in 
cutting bias-pieces for trimming1 they  
will not set well unless they are exact4
 ,in cutting them use a long rule1 and a
 lead pencil or piece of chalk4         
,welting-cords should be covered with   
bias-pieces2 and it saves time1 in many 
cases1 to baste on the welting-cord at  
the same time that you cover it4 ,the   
best way1 to put on hooks and eyes is to
 sew thorn on double broad tape1 and sew
 this on the frock lining4 ,they can be 

moved easily1 and do not show where they
 are sewed on4  ,in putting on linings  
of skirts at the bottom1 be careful to  
have it a very little fuller than the   
dress1 or it will shrink and look badly4
 ,all thin silks look much better with  
lining1 and last much longer1 as do     
aprons also4 ,in putting a lining to a  
dress1 baste it on each separate        
breadth1 and sew it at the seams1 and it
 looks much better than to have it      
fastened only at the bottom4 ,hake      
notches in selvedge1 to prevent it from 
drawing up the breadth4 ,dresses which  
are to be washed should not be lined4   
,figured silks do not generally wear    
well if the figure be large and         
satin-like4 ,black and plain-colored    
silks can be tested by procuring        
samples1 and making creases in them2    
fold the creases in a bunch1 and rub    
them against a rough surface of moreen  
or carpeting4 ,those which are poor will
 soon wear off at the creases4  ,plaids 
look becoming for tall women1 as they   

shorten the appearance of the figure4   
,stripes look becoming on a large       
person1 as they reduce the apparent     
size4 ,pale1 persons should not wear    
blue or green1 and brunettes should not 
wear light delicate colors1 except      
shades of buff1 fawn1 or straw color4   
,pearl white is not good for any        
complexion4 ,dead white and black look  
becoming on almost all persons4 ,it is  
best to try colors by candle-light for  
evening dresses1 as some colors which   
look very handsome in the daylight are  
very homely when seen by candle-light4  
,never be in haste to be first in a     
fashion1 and never go to the extremes4  
,linen and ,cotton4--,in buying linen1  
seek for that which has a round close   
thread and is perfectly white2 for if it
 be not white at first1 it will never   
afterward become so4 ,much that is      
called linen at the shops is half       
cotton1 and does not wear so well as    
cotton alone4 ,cheap linens are usually 
of this kind4 ,it is difficult to       

discover which are all linen2 but the   
best way is to find a lot presumed to be
 good1 take a sample1 wash it1 and ravel
 it4 ,if this be good1 the rest of the  
same lot will probably be so4 ,if you   
can not do this1 draw a thread each way1
 and if both appear equally strong it is
 probably all linen4 ,linen and cotton  
must be put in clean water1 and boiled1 
to get out the starch1 and then ironed4 
,a long piece of linen1 a yard wide1    
will1 with care and calculation1 make   
eight shirts4 ,in cutting it1 take a    
shirt of the right size as a guide in   
fitting and basting4 ,bosom-pieces and  
false collars must be cut and fitted by 
patterns which suit the person for whom1
 the articles are designed4 ,gentlemen's
 night-shirts are made like other       
shirts1 except that they are longer1 and
 do not have bosoms and cuffs for       
starching4  ,in cutting chemises1 if the
 cotton or linen is a yard wide1 cut off
 small half-gores at the top of the     
breadths and set them on the bottom4    

,use a long rule and a pencil in cutting
 gores4 ,in cutting cotton winch is     
quite wide1 a seam can be saved by      
cutting out two at once1 in this manner3
 cut off three breadths1 and with a long
 rule and a pencil1 mark and cut off the
 gores2 thus from one breadth cut off   
two gores the whole length1 each gore   
one fourth of the breadth at the bottom1
 and tapering off to a point at the top4
 ,the other two breadths are to have a  
gore cut off from each1 which is one    
fourth wide at the top and two fourths  
at bottom4 ,arrange these pieces right  
and they will make two chemises1 one    
having four seams and the other three4  
,this is a much easier way of cutting   
than sewing the three breadths together 
in bag fashion1 as is often done4 ,the  
biased or goring seams must always be   
felled4 ,the sleeves and neck can be cut
 according to the taste of the wearer1  
by another1 chemise for a pattern4      
,there should be a lining around the    
armholes and stays at all corners4 ,six 

yards of yard width will make two       
chemises4  ,long night-gowns are best   
cut a little goring4 ,it requires five  
yards for a long night-gown1 and two and
 a half for a short one4 ,linen night   
caps wear longer than cotton ones1 and  
do not like them turn yellow4 ,they     
should be ruffled with linen1 as cotton 
borders will not last so long as the    
cap4 ,a double-quilted wrapper is a     
great comfort1 in case of sickness4 ,it 
may be made of two old dresses4 ,it     
should not be cut full1 but rather like 
a gentleman's study-gown1 having no     
gathers or plaits1 but large enough to  
slip off and on with ease4 ,a           
double-gown of calico is also very      
useful4 ,most articles of dress1 for    
grown persons or children1 require      
patterns4  ,old silk dresses quilted for
 skirts are very serviceable1 ,white    
flannel is soiled so easily and shrinks 
so much in washing that it is a good    
plan to color it4 ,cotton flannel is    
also good for common skirts4 ,in making 

up flannel1 back-stitch and run the     
seams and then cross-stitch them open4  
,nice flannel for infants can be        
ornamented with very little expense of  
time1 by turning up the hem on the right
 side and making a little vine at the   
edge with saddler's silk ,the stitch of 
the vine is a modification of           
button-hole stitch4  ,mending4 ,silk    
dresses will last much longer1 by       
ripping out the sleeves when thin1 and  
changing the arms and also the breadths 
of the skirt4 ,tumbled black silk1 which
 is old and rusty1 should be dipped in  
water1 then be drained for a few        
minutes1 without squeezing or pressing1 
and then ironed4 ,coffee or cold tea is 
better than water4 ,sheets when worn    
thin in the middle should be ripped1 and
 the other edges sewed together4        
,window-curtains last much longer if    
lined1 as the sun fades and rots them4  
,broadcloth should be cut with reference
 to the way the nap runs4 ,when         
pantaloons are thin1 it is best to newly

 seat them1 cutting the piece inserted  
in a curve1 as corners are difficult to 
fit4 ,hose can be cut down when the feet
 are worn4 ,take an old stocking and cut
 it up for a pattern4 ,make the heel    
short4 ,in sewing1 turn each edge and   
run it down1 and then sew over the      
edges4 ,this is better than to stitch   
and then cross-stitch4 ,run thin places 
in stockings1 and it will save darning a
 hole4 ,if shoes are worn through on the
 sides1 in the upper-leather1 slip      
pieces of broadcloth under1 and sew them
 around the holes4  ,bedding4 ,the best 
beds are thick hair mattresses1 which   
for persons in health are good for      
winter as well as summer use4           
,mattresses may also be made of husks1  
dried and drawn into shreds2 also of    
alternate layers of cotton and moss4    
,the most profitable sheeting is the    
,russian1 which will last three times as
 long as any other4 ,it is never        
perfectly white4 ,unbleached cotton is  
good for winter4 ,it is poor economy to 

make narrow and short sheets1 as        
children and domestics will always slip 
them off1 and soil the bed-tick and     
bolster4 ,they should be three yards    
long1 and two and a half wide1 so that  
they can be tucked in all around4 ,all  
bed- linen should be marked and         
numbered1 so that a bed can always be   
made properly1 and all missing articles 
be known4    ,,xxix4  ,,fires ,,and     
,,lights4   ,a shallow fireplace saves  
wood and gives out more heat than a     
deeper one4 ,a false back of brick may  
be put up in a deep fireplace4 ,hooks   
for holding up the shovel and tongs1 a  
hearth-brush and bellows1 and brass     
knobs to hang them on1 should be        
furnished to every fireplace4 ,an iron  
bar across the andirons aids in keeping 
the fire safe and in good order4 ,steel 
furniture is neater1 handsomer1 and more
 easily kept in order than that made of 
brass4  ,use green wood for logs1 and   
mix green and dry wood for the fire2 and
 then the wood-pile will last much      

longer4 ,walnut1 maple1 hickory1 and oak
 wood are best2 chestnut or hemlock is  
bad1 because it snaps4 ,do not buy a    
load in which there are many crooked    
sticks4 ,learn how to measure and       
calculate the solid contents of a load1 
so as not to be cheated4 ,a cord of wood
 should be equivalent to a pile eight   
feet long1 four feet wide and four feet 
high2 that is1 it contains 7#h ,x #d ,x 
#d  #abh7 one hundred and twenty-eight  
cubic or solid feet4 ,a city load is    
usually one third of a cord4 ,have all  
your wood split and piled under cover   
for winter4 ,have the green wood logs in
 one pile1 dry wood in another1 oven    
wood in another1 kindlings and chips in 
another1 and a supply of charcoal to use
 for broiling and ironing in another    
place4 ,have a brick bin for ashes1 and 
never allow them to be put in wood4     
,when quitting fires at night1 never    
leave a burning stick across the        
andirons1 nor on its end1 without       
quenching it4 ,see that no fire adheres 

to the broom or brush1 remove all       
articles from the fire1 and have two    
pails filled with water in the kitchen  
where they will not freeze4   ,,stoves  
,,and ,,grates4  ,rooms heated by stoves
 should always have some opening for the
 admission of fresh air1 or they will be
 injurious to health4 ,the dryness of   
the air1 which they occasion1 should be 
remedied by placing a vessel filled with
 water on the stove1 otherwise1 the     
lungs or eyes will be injured4 ,a large 
number of plants in a room prevents this
 dryness of the air4 ,where stove-pipes 
pass through fire-boards1 the hole in   
the wood should be much larger than the 
pipe1 so that there may be no danger of 
the wood taking fire4 ,the unsightly    
opening thus occasioned should be       
covered with tin4 ,when pipes are       
carried through floors or partitions1   
they should always pass either through  
earthen crocks1 or what are known as tin
 stove-pipe thimbles1 which may be found
 in any stove store or tinsmith's4      

,lengthening a pipe will increase its   
draught4  ,for those who use anthracite 
coal1 that which is broken or screened  
is best for grates1 and the nut-coal for
 small stoves4 ,three tons are          
sufficient in the ,middle ,states1 and  
four tons in the ,northern1 to keep one 
fire through the winter4 ,that which is 
bright1 hard1 and clean is best2 and    
that which is soft1 porous1 and covered 
with damp dust is poor4 ,it will be well
 to provide two barrels of charcoal for 
kindling to every ton of anthracite     
coal4 ,grates for bituminous coal should
 have a flue nearly as deep as the      
grate2 and the bars should be round and 
not close together4 ,the better draught 
there is1 the less coal-dust is made4   
,every grate should be furnished with a 
poker1 shovel1 tongs1 blower1           
coal-scuttle1 and holder for the blower4
 ,the latter may be made of woolen1     
covered with old silk2 and hung near the
 fire4  ,coal-stoves should be carefully
 put up1 as cracks in the pipe1         

especially in sleeping rooms1 are       
dangerous4   ,,lights  ,professor ,phin1
 of the ,manufacturer and ,builder1 has 
kindly given us some late information on
 this important topic1 which will be    
found valuable4  ,in choosing the source
 of our light1 the great points to be   
considered are1 first1 the influence on 
the eyes1 and secondly1 economy4 ,it is 
poor economy to use a bad light4 ,modern
 houses in cities1 and even in large    
villages1 are furnished with gas2 where 
gas is not used1 sperm-oil1 kerosene or 
coal-oil1 and candles are employed4 ,gas
 is the cheapest1 7or ought to be27 and 
if properly used1 is as good as any4    
,good sperm-oil burned in an ,argand    
lamp--that is1 a lamp with a circular   
wick1 like the astral lamp and          
others--is perhaps the best2 but it is  
expensive and attended with many        
inconveniences4 ,good kerosene oil gives
 a light which leaves little to be      
desired4 ,candles are used only on rare 
occasions1 though many families prefer  

to manufacture into candles the waste   
grease that accumulates in the          
household4 ,the economy of any source of
 light will depend so much upon local   
circumstances that no absolute          
directions can be given4  ,the effect   
produced by light on the eyes depends   
upon the following points3 ,first1      
,steadiness4 ,nothing is more injurious 
to the eyes than a flickering1 unsteady 
flame4 ,hence1 all flames used for      
light-giving purposes ought to be       
surrounded with glass chimneys or small 
shades4 ,no naked flame can ever be     
steady4 ,second1 ,color4 ,this depends  
greatly upon the temperature of the     
flame4 ,a hot flame gives a bright1     
white light2 a flame which has not a    
high temperature gives a dull1 yellow   
light1 which is very injurious to the   
eyes4 ,in the naked gas-jet a large     
portion of the flame burns at a low     
temperature1 and the same is the case   
with the flame of the kerosene lamp when
 the height of the chimney is not       

properly proportioned to the amount of  
oil consumed2 a high wick needs a high  
chimney4 ,in the case of a well-trimmed 
,argand oil-lamp1 or an ,argand burner  
for gas1 the flame is in general most   
intensely hot1 and the light is of a    
clear white character4  ,the third point
 which demands attention is the amount  
of heat transmitted from the flame to   
the eyes4 ,it often happens that people1
 in order to economize light1 bring the 
lamp quite close to the face4 ,this is a
 very bad habit4 ,the heat is more      
injurious than the light4 ,better burn a
 larger flame1 and keep it at a greater 
distance4 ,it is also well that various 
sized lamps should be provided to serve 
the varying necessities of the household
 in regard to quantity of light4 ,one of
 the very best forms of lamp is that    
known as the student's reading-lamp1    
which is1 in the burner1 an ,argand4    
,provide small lamps with handles for   
carrying about1 and broad-bottomed lamps
 for the kitchen1 as these are not      

easily upset4 ,hand and kitchen lamps   
are best made of metal1 unless they are 
to be used by very careful persons4     
,sperm-oil1 lard1 tallow1 etc41 have    
been superseded to such an extent by    
kerosene that it is scarcely worth while
 to give any special directions in      
regard to them4 ,in the choice of       
kerosene1 attention should be paid to   
two points3 its safety and its          
light-giving qualities4 ,kerosene is not
 a simple fluid1 like water2 but is a   
mixture of several liquids1 all of which
 boil at different temperatures4 ,good  
kerosene oil should be purified from all
 that portion which boils or evaporates 
at a low temperature2 for it is the     
production of this vapor1 and its       
mixture with atmospheric air1 that gives
 rise to those terrible explosions which
 sometimes occur when a light is brought
 near a can of poor oil4 ,to test the   
oil in this respect1 pour a little into 
an iron spoon1 and heat it over a lamp  
until it is moderately warm to the      

touch4 ,if the oil produces vapor which 
can be set on fire by means of a flame  
held a short distance above the surface 
of the liquid1 it is bad4 ,good oil     
poured into a teacup or on the floor    
does not easily take fire when a light  
is brought in contact with it4 ,poor oil
 will instantly ignite under the same   
circumstances1 and hence1 the breaking  
of a lamp filled with poor oil is always
 attended by great peril of a           
conflagration4 ,not only the safety but 
also the light-giving qualities of      
kerosene are greatly enhanced by the    
removal of these volatile and dangerous 
oils4 ,hence1 while good kerosene should
 be clear in color and free from all    
matters which can gum up the wick and   
thus interfere with free circulation and
 combustion1 it should also be perfectly
 safe4 ,it ought to be kept in a cool1  
dark place1 and carefully excluded from 
the air4  ,the care of lamps requires so
 much attention and discretion1 that    
many ladies choose to do this work      

themselves1 rather than trust it with   
domestics4 ,to do it properly1 provide  
the following things3 an old waiter to  
hold all the articles used2 a           
lamp-filler1 with a spout1 small at the 
end1 and turned up to prevent oil from  
dripping2 proper wicks1 and a basket or 
box to hold them2 a lamp-trimmer made   
for the purpose1 or a pair of sharp     
scissors2 a small soap-cup and soap2    
some washing soda in a broad-mouthed    
bottle2 and several soft cloths to wash 
the articles and towels to wipe them4   
,if every thing1 after being used1 is   
cleansed from oil and then kept neatly1 
it will not be so unpleasant a task as  
it usually is1 to take care of lamps4   
,the inside of lamps and oil-cans should
 be cleansed with soda dissolved in     
water4 ,be careful to drain them well1  
and not to let any gilding or bronze be 
injured by the soda coming in contact   
with it4 ,put one table-spoonful of soda
 to one quart of water4 ,take the lamp  
to pieces and clean it as often as      

necessary4 ,wipe the chimney at least   
once a day1 and wash it whenever mere   
wiping fails to cleanse it4 ,some       
persons1 owing to the dirty state of    
their chimneys1 lose half the light     
which is produced4 ,keep dry fingers in 
trimming lamps4 ,renew the wicks before 
they get too short4 ,they should never  
be allowed to burn shorter than an inch 
and a half4  ,in regard to shades1 which
 are always well to use1 on lamps or    
gas1 those made of glass or porcelain   
are now so cheap that we can recommend  
them as the best without any            
reservation4 ,plain shades1 making the  
light soft and even1 do not injure the  
eyes4 ,lamps should be lighted with a   
strip of folded or rolled paper1 of     
which a quantity should be kept on the  
mantelpiece4 ,weak eyes should always be
 especially shaded from the lights4     
,small screens1 made for the purpose1   
should be kept at hand4 ,a person with  
weak eyes can use them safely much      
longer when they are protected from the 

glare of the light4 ,fill the entry-lamp
 every day1 and cleanse and fill        
night-lanterns twice a week1 if used    
often4 ,a good night-lamp is made with a
 small one-wicked lamp and a roll of tin
 to set over it4 ,have some holes made  
in the bottom of this cover1 and it can 
then be used to heat articles4 ,very    
cheap floating tapers can he bought to  
burn in a teacup of oil through the     
night4   ,,to ,,make ,,candles4  ,the   
nicest candles are those run in moulds4 
,for this purpose1 melt together one    
quarter of a pound of white wax1 one    
quarter of an ounce of camphor1 two     
ounces of alum1 and ten ounces of suet  
or mutton-tallow4 ,soak the wicks in    
lime-water and saltpetre1 and when dry1 
fix them in the moulds and pour in the  
melted tallow4 ,let them remain one     
night to cool2 then warm them a little  
to loosen them1 draw them out1 and when 
they are hard1 put them in a box in a   
dry and cool place4  ,to make dipped    
candles1 cut the wicks of the right     

length1 double them over rods1 and twist
 them4 ,they should first be dipped in  
lime-water or vinegar1 and dried4 ,melt 
the tallow in a large kettle1 filling it
 to the top with hot water1 when the    
tallow is melted4 ,put in wax and       
powdered alum1 to harden them4 ,keep the
 tallow hot over a portable furnace1 and
 fill the kettle with hot water as fast 
as the tallow is used up4 ,lay two long 
strips of narrow board on which to hang 
the rods2 and set flat pans under1 on   
the floor1 to catch the grease4 ,take   
several rods at once1 and wet the wicks 
in the tallow2 straighten and smooth    
them when cool4 ,then dip them as fast  
as they cool1 until they become of the  
proper size4 ,plunge them obliquely and 
not perpendicularly2 and when the       
bottoms are too large1 hold them in the 
hot grease till a part melts off4 ,let  
them remain one night to cool2 then cut 
off the bottoms1 and keep them in a dry1
 cool place4 ,cheap lights are made1 by 
dipping rushes in tallow2 the rushes    

being first stripped of nearly the whole
 of the hard outer covering and the pith
 alone being retained with just enough  
of the tough bark to keep it stiff4     
,,xxx4  ,,the ,,care ,,of ,,rooms4   ,it
 would be impossible in a work dealing1 
as this does1 with general principles of
 house-keeping1 to elaborate in full the
 multitudinous details which arise for  
attention and intelligent care4 ,these  
will be more largely treated of in the  
book soon to be published for the       
present writer1 7the senior authoress of
 this volume47 ,yet1 in the different   
departments of family labor1 there are  
certain leading matters concerning which
 a few hints may be found useful in     
aiding the reader to carry into         
operation the instructions and ideas of 
the earlier chapters of this book1 and  
in promoting the general comfort and    
convenience of families4  ,and first1   
asking the reader to bear in mind that  
these suggestions are chiefly applicable
 to country homes1 not within easy reach

 of all the conveniences which go under 
the name of modern improvements1 we will
 say a few words on the care of         
,parlors4  ,in hanging pictures1 put    
them so that the lower part shall be    
opposite the eye4 ,cleanse the glass of 
pictures with whiting1 as water         
endangers the pictures4 ,gilt frames can
 be much better preserved by putting on 
a coat of copal varnish1 which with     
proper brushes1 can be bought of        
carriage or cabinet-makers4 ,when dry1  
it can be washed with fair water4 ,wash 
the brush in spirits of turpentine4     
,curtains1 ottomans1 and sofas covered  
with worsted1 can be cleansed with wheat
 bran1 rubbed on with flannel4 ,shades  
of linen or cotton1 on rollers and      
pulleys1 are always useful to shut out  
the sun from curtains and carpets4      
,paper curtains1 pasted on old cotton1  
are good for chambers4 ,put them on     
rollers1 having cords nailed to them1 so
 that when the curtain falls1 the cord  
will be wound up4 ,then1 by pulling the 

cord1 the curtain will be rolled up4    
,varnished furniture should be rubbed   
only with silk1 except occasionally1    
when a little sweet-oil should be rubbed
 over1 and wiped off carefully4 ,for    
unvarnished furniture1 use bees-wax1 a  
little softened with sweet-oil2 rub it  
in with a hard brush1 and polish with   
woolen and silk rags4 ,some persons rub 
in linseed-oil2 others mix bees-wax with
 a little spirits of turpentine and     
rosin1 making it so that it can be put  
on with a sponge1 and wiped off with a  
soft rag4 ,others keep in a bottle the  
following mixture3 two ounces of spirits
 of turpentine1 four table-spoonfuls of 
sweet-oil1 and one quart of milk4 ,this 
is applied with a sponge1 and wiped off 
with a linen rag4  ,hearths and jambs1  
of brick1 look best painted over with   
black lead1 mixed with soft-soap4 ,wash 
the bricks which are nearest the fire   
with redding and milk1 using a painter's
 brush4 ,a sheet of zinc1 covering the  
whole hearth1 is cheap1 saves work1 and 

looks very well4 ,a tinman can fit it   
properly4  ,stone hearths should be     
rubbed with a paste of powdered stone1  
7to be procured of the stone-cutters17  
and then brushed with a stiff brush4    
,kitchen hearths1 of stone1 are improved
 by rubbing in lamp-oil4  ,stains can be
 removed from marble1 by oxalic acid and
 water1 or oil of vitriol and water1    
left on a few minutes1 and then rubbed  
dry4 ,gray marble is improved by        
linseed-oil4 ,grease can be taken from  
marble1 by ox-gall and potter's clay wet
 with soapsuds1 7a gill of each47 ,it is
 better to add1 also1 a gill of spirits 
of turpentine4 ,it improves the looks of
 marble1 to cover it with this mixture1 
leaving it two days1 and then rubbing it
 off4  ,unless a parlor is in constant  
use1 it is best to sweep it only once a 
week1 and at other times use a          
whisk-broom and dust-pan4 ,when a parlor
 with handsome furniture is to be swept1
 cover the sofas1 centre table1 piano1  
books1 and mantelpiece with old cottons 

kept for the purpose4 ,remove the rugs  
and shake them1 and clean the jambs1    
hearth1 and fire-furniture4 ,then sweep 
the room1 moving every article4 ,dust   
the furniture with a dust-brush and a   
piece of old silk4 ,a painter's brush   
should be kept1 to remove dust from     
ledges and crevices4 ,the dust-cloths   
should be often shaken and washed1 or   
else they will soil the walls and       
furniture when they are used4 ,dust     
ornaments and fine books with feather   
brushes1 used for no other purpose4     
,chambers and ,bedrooms are of course a 
portion of the house to be sedulously   
and scrupulously attended to1 if either 
health or comfort are aimed at in the   
family4 ,and first1 every mistress of a 
family should see1 not only that all    
sleeping-rooms in her house can be well 
ventilated at night1 but that they      
actually are so4 ,where there is no     
provision made for the introduction of  
pure air1 in the construction of the    
house1 and in the bedroom itself no open

 fire-place to allow the easy exit of   
foul air1 a door should be left open    
into an entry or room where fresh air is
 admitted2 or else a small opening      
should be made in a window1 taking care 
not to allow a draught of air to cross  
the bed4 ,the debility of childhood1 the
 lassitude of domestics1 and the        
ill-health of families1 are often caused
 by neglecting to provide a supply of   
pure air4  ,it is not deemed necessary  
to add much to the earlier chapters     
treating of bedroom conveniences2 but   
one subject is of marked importance1 as 
being characteristic of good or poor    
housekeeping--that is1 the making of    
beds4  ,few servants will make a bed    
properly1 without much attention from   
the mistress of the family2 and every   
young woman who expects to have a       
household of her own to manage should be
 able to do it well herself1 and to     
instruct others in doing it4 ,the       
following directions should be given to 
those who do this work3  ,open the      

windows1 and lay off the bed-covering on
 two chairs1 at the foot of the bed4 ,if
 it be a feather-bed1 after it is well  
aired1 shake the feathers from each     
corner to the middle2 then take up the  
middle1 shake it well1 and turn the bed 
over4 ,then push the feathers in place1 
making the head higher than the foot1   
and the sides even1 and as high as the  
middle part4 ,a mattress1 whether used  
on top of a feather-bed or by itself1   
should in like manner be well aired and 
turned4 ,then put on the bolster and the
 under sheet1 so that the wrong side of 
the sheet shall go next the bed1 and the
 marking always come at the head1       
tucking in all around4 ,then put on the 
pillows1 evenly1 so that the open ends  
shall come to the sides of the bed1 and 
spread on the upper sheet so that the   
wrong side shall be next the blankets1  
and the marked end always at the head4  
,this arrangement of sheets is to       
prevent the part where the feet lie from
 being reversed1 so as to come to the   

face2 and also to prevent the parts     
soiled by the body from coming to the   
bedtick and blankets4 ,put on the other 
covering1 except the outer one1 tucking 
in all around1 and then turn over the   
upper sheet at the head1 so as to show a
 part of the pillows4 ,when the         
pillow-cases are clean and smooth1 they 
look best outside of the cover1 but not 
otherwise4 ,then draw the hand along the
 side of the pillows1 to make an even   
indentation1 and then smooth and shape  
the whole outside4 ,a nice housekeeper  
always notices the manner in which a bed
 is made2 and in some parts of the      
country1 it is rare to see this work    
properly performed4  ,the writer would  
here urge every mistress of a family1   
who keeps more than one domestic        
servant1 to provide them with single    
beds1 that they might not be obliged to 
sleep with all the changing domestics1  
who come and go so often4 ,where the    
room is too small for two beds1 a narrow
 truckle-bed kept under another during  

the day will answer4 ,domestics should  
be furnished with washing conveniences  
in their chambers1 and be encouraged to 
keep their persons and rooms neat and in
 order4  ,the care of the ,kitchen1     
,cellar1 and ,store-room is necessarily 
the foundation of all proper            
housekeeping4  ,if parents wish their   
daughters to grow up with good domestic 
habits1 they should have1 as one means  
of securing this result1 a neat and     
cheerful kitchen4 ,a kitchen should     
always1 if possible1 be entirely        
above-ground1 and well lighted4 ,it     
should have a large sink1 with a drain  
running under-ground1 so that all the   
premises may be kept sweet and clean4   
,if flowers and shrubs be cultivated    
around the doors and windows1 and the   
yard near them be kept well turfed1 it  
will add very much to their agreeable   
appearance4 ,the walls should often be  
cleaned and white-washed1 to promote a  
neat look and pure air4 ,the floor of a 
kitchen should be painted1 or1 what is  

better1 covered with an oilcloth4 ,to   
procure a kitchen oilcloth as cheaply as
 possible1 buy cheap tow cloth1 and fit 
it to the size and shape of the kitchen4
 ,then have it stretched1 and nailed to 
the south side of the barn1 and1 with a 
brush1 cover it with a coat of thin rye 
paste4 ,when this is dry1 put on a coat 
of yellow paint1 and let it dry for a   
fortnight4 ,it is safest to first try   
the paint1 and see if it dries well1 as 
some paint never will dry4 ,then put on 
a second coat1 and at the end of another
 fortnight1 a third coat4 ,then let it  
hang two months1 and it will last1      
uninjured1 for many years4 ,the longer  
the paint is left to dry1 the better4   
,if varnished1 it will last much longer4
  ,a sink should be scalded out every   
day1 and occasionally with hot lye4 ,on 
nails1 over the sink1 should be hung    
three good dish-cloths1 hemmed1 and     
furnished with loops2 one for dishes not
 greasy1 one for greasy dishes1 and one 
for washing greasy pots and kettles4    

,these should be put in the wash every  
week4 ,the lady who insists upon this   
will not be annoyed by having her dishes
 washed with dark1 musty and greasy     
rags1 as is too frequently the case4    
,under the sink should be kept a        
slop-pail2 and1 on a shelf by it1 a     
soap-dish and two water-pails4 ,a large 
boiler of warm soft water should always 
be kept over the fire1 well covered1 and
 a hearth-broom and bellows be hung near
 the fire4 ,a clock is a very important 
article in the kitchen1 in order to     
secure regularity at meals4   ,,washing 
,,dishes4  ,no item of domestic labor is
 so frequently done in a negligent      
manner1 by domestics1 as this4 ,a full  
supply of conveniences will do much     
toward the remedy of this evil4 ,a swab1
 made of strips of linen tied to a      
stick1 is useful to wash nice dishes1   
especially small1 deep articles4 ,two or
 three towels1 and three dish-cloths    
should be used4 ,two large tin tubs1    
painted on the outside1 should be       

provided2 one for washing1 and one for  
rinsing2 also1 a large old waiter1 on   
which to drain the dishes4 ,a soap-dish1
 with hard soap1 and a fork1 with which 
to use it1 a slop-pail1 and two pails   
for water1 should also be furnished4    
,the following rules for washing dishes 
will aid in promoting the desired care  
and neatness3  #a4 ,scrape the dishes1  
putting away any food which may remain  
on them1 and which it may be proper to  
save for future use4 ,put grease into   
the grease-pot1 and whatever else may be
 on the plates into the slop-pail4 ,save
 tea-leaves for sweeping4 ,set all the  
dishes1 when scraped1 in regular piles1 
the smallest at the top4  #b4 ,put the  
nicest articles in the wash-dish1 and   
wash them in hot suds with the swab or  
nicest dish-cloth4 ,wipe all metal      
articles as soon as they are washed4    
,put all the rest into the rinsing-dish1
 which should be filled with hot water4 
,when they are taken out1 lay them to   
drain on the waiter4 ,then rinse the    

dish-cloth1 and hang it up1 wipe the    
articles washed1 and put them in their  
places4  #c4 ,pour in more hot water1   
wash the greasy dishes with the         
dish-cloth made for them1 rinse them1   
and set them to drain4 ,wipe them1 and  
set them away4 ,wash the knives and     
forks1 being careful that the handles   
are never put in water2 wipe them1 and  
then lay them in a knife-dish1 to be    
scoured4  #d4 ,take a fresh supply of   
clean suds1 in which wash the milk-pans1
 buckets1 and tins4 ,then rinse and hang
 up this dish-cloth1 and take the other1
 with which1 wash the roaster1 gridiron1
 pots1 and kettles4 ,then wash and rinse
 the dish-cloth1 and hang it up4 ,empty 
the slop-bucket1 and scald it4 ,dry     
metal teapots and tins before the fire4 
,then put the fire-place in order1 and  
sweep and dust the kitchen4  ,some      
persons keep a deep and narrow vessel1  
in which to wash knives with a swab1 so 
that a careless servant can not lay them
 in the water while washing them4 ,this 

article can be carried into the         
eating-room1 to receive the knives and  
forks when they are taken from the      
table4   ,,kitchen ,,furniture4         
,crockery4--,brown earthen pans are said
 to be best for milk and for cooking4   
,tin pans are lighter1 and more         
convenient1 but are too cold for many   
purposes4 ,tall earthen jars1 with      
covers1 are good to hold butter1 salt1  
lard1 etc4 ,acids should never be put   
into the red earthen ware1 as there is a
 poisonous ingredient in the glazing    
which the acid takes off4 ,stone ware is
 better and stronger1 and safer every   
way than any other kind4  ,iron         
,ware4--,many kitchens are very         
imperfectly supplied with the requisite 
conveniences for cooking4 ,when a person
 has sufficient means1 the following    
articles are all desirable3 ,a nest of  
iron pots1 of different sizes1 7they    
should be slowly heated when new17 a    
long iron fork1 to take out articles    
from boiling water2 an iron hook1 with a

 handle1 to lift pots from the crane2 a 
large and small gridiron1 with grooved  
bars1 and a trench to catch the grease2 
a ,dutch oven1 called also a bake-pan2  
two skillets1 of different sizes1 and a 
spider1 or flat skillet1 for frying2 a  
griddle1 a waffle-iron1 tin and iron    
bake and bread pans2 two ladles1 of     
different sizes2 a skimmer2 iron        
skewers2 a toasting-iron2 two           
teakettles1 one small and one large one2
 two brass kettles1 of different sizes1 
for soap-boiling1 etc4 ,iron kettles1   
lined with porcelain1 are better for    
preserves4 ,the ,german are the best4   
,too hot a fire will crack them1 but    
with care in this respect1 they will    
last for many years4  ,portable charcoal
 furnaces1 of iron or clay1 are very    
useful in summer1 in washing1 ironing1  
and stewing1 or making preserves4 ,if   
used in the house1 a strong draught must
 be made1 to prevent the deleterious    
effects of the charcoal4 ,a box and     
mill1 for spice1 pepper1 and coffee1 are

 needful to those who use these         
articles4 ,strong knives and forks1 a   
sharp carving-knife1 an iron cleaver and
 board1 a fine saw1 steelyards1         
chopping-tray and knife1 an apple-parer1
 steel for sharpening knives1           
sugar-nippers1 a dozen iron spoons1 also
 a large iron one with a long handle1   
six or eight flat-irons1 one of them    
very small1 two iron-stands1 a          
ruffle-iron1 a crimping-iron1 are also  
desirable4  ,tin ,ware4--,bread-pans2   
large and small patty-pans2 cake-pans1  
with a centre tube to insure their      
baking well2 pie-dishes1 7of block-tin27
 a covered butter-kettle2 covered       
kettles to hold berries2 two sauce-pans2
 a large oil-can2 7with a cock27 a      
lamp-filler2 a lantern2 broad bottomed  
candlesticks for the kitchen2 a         
candle-box2 a funnel2 a reflector for   
baking warm cakes2 an oven or           
tin-kitchen2 an apple-corer2 an         
apple-roaster2 an egg-boiler2 two       
sugar-scoops1 and flour and meal-scoop2 

a set of mugs2 three dippers2 a pint1   
quart1 and gallon measure2 a set of     
scales and weights2 three or four pails1
 painted on the outside2 a slop-bucket  
with a tight cover1 painted on the      
outside2 a milk-strainer2 a             
gravy-strainer2 a colander2 a           
dredging-box2 a pepper-box2 a large and 
small grater2 a cheese-box2 also a large
 box for cake1 and a still larger one   
for bread1 with tight covers4 ,bread1   
cake1 and cheese1 shut up in this way1  
will not grow dry as in the open air4   
,wooden ,ware4--,a nest of tubs2 a set  
of pails and bowls2 a large and small   
sieve2 a beetle for mashing potatoes2 a 
spade or stick for stirring butter and  
sugar2 a bread-board1 for moulding bread
 and making pie-crust2 a coffee-stick2 a
 clothes-stick2 a mush-stick2 a         
meat-beetle1 to pound tough meat2 an    
egg-beater2 a ladle1 for working butter2
 a bread-trough1 7for a large family27  
flour-buckets1 with lids1 to hold sifted
 flour and ,indian meal2 salt-boxes2    

sugar-boxes2 starch and indigo-boxes2   
spice-boxes2 a bosom-board2 a           
skirt-board2 a large ironing-board2 two 
or three clothes-frames2 and six dozen  
clothes-pins4  ,basket ,ware4--,baskets 
of all sizes1 for eggs1 fruit1          
marketing1 clothes1 etc42 also          
chip-baskets4 ,when often used1 they    
should be washed in hot suds4  ,other   
,articles4--,every kitchen needs a box  
containing balls of brown thread and    
twine1 a large and small darning needle1
 rolls of waste paper and old linen and 
cotton1 and a supply of common holders4 
,there should also be another box1      
containing a hammer1 carpet-tacks1 and  
nails of all sizes1 a carpet-claw1      
screws and a screw-driver1 pincers1     
gimlets of several sizes1 a bed-screw1 a
 small saw1 two chisels1 7one to use for
 button-holes in broadcloth17 two awls  
and two files4  ,in a drawer or cupboard
 should be placed cotton table-cloths   
for kitchen use2 nice crash towels for  
tumblers1 marked ,t ,t2 coarser towels  

for dishes marked ,t2 six large         
roller-towels2 a dozen hand-towels1     
marked ,h ,t2 and a dozen hemmed        
dish-cloths with loops4 ,also two thick 
linen pudding or dumpling-cloths1 a     
jelly-bag made of white flannel1 to     
strain jelly1 a starch-strainer1 and a  
bag for boiling clothes4  ,in a closet  
should be kept1 arranged in order1 the  
following articles3 the dust-pan1       
dust-brush1 and dusting-cloths1 old     
flannel and cotton for scouring and     
rubbing1 large sponges for washing      
windows and looking-glasses1 a long     
brush for cobwebs1 and another for      
washing the outside of windows1         
whisk-brooms1 common brooms1 a          
coat-broom or brush1 a whitewash-brush1 
a stove-brush1 shoe-brushes and         
blacking1 articles for cleaning tin and 
silver1 leather for cleaning metals1    
bottles containing stain-mixtures and   
other articles used in cleansing4       
,,care ,,of ,,the ,,cellar4  ,a cellar  
should often be whitewashed1 to keep it 

sweet4 ,it should have a drain to keep  
it perfectly dry1 as standing water in a
 cellar is a sure cause of disease in a 
family4 ,it is very dangerous to leave  
decayed vegetables in a cellar4 ,many a 
fever has been caused by the poisonous  
miasm thus generated4 ,the following    
articles are desirable in a cellar3 a   
safe1 or movable closet1 with sides of  
wire or perforated tin1 in which cold   
meats1 cream1 and other articles should 
be kept2 7if ants be troublesome1 set   
the legs in tin cups of water27 a       
refrigerator1 or a large wooden-box1 on 
feet1 with a lining of tin or zinc1 and 
a space between the tin and wood filled 
with powdered charcoal1 having at the   
bottom a place for ice1 a drain to carry
 off the water1 and also movable shelves
 and partitions4 ,in this1 articles are 
kept cool4 ,it should be cleaned once a 
week4 ,filtering jars to purify water   
should also be kept in the cellar4 ,fish
 and cabbages in a cellar are apt to    
scent a house1 and give a bad taste to  

other articles4   ,,storeroom4  ,every  
house needs a storeroom1 in which to    
keep tea1 coffee1 sugar1 rice1 candles1 
etc4 ,it should be furnished with jars1 
having labels1 a large spoon1 a fork1   
sugar and flour-scoops1 a towel1 and a  
dish-cloth4   ,,modes ,,of ,,destroying 
,,insects ,,and ,,vermin4  ,bed-bugs    
should be kept away1 by filling every   
chink in the bedstead with putty1 and if
 it be old1 painting it over4 ,of all   
the mixtures for killing them1 corrosive
 sublimate and alcohol is the surest4   
,this is a strong poison4  ,cockroaches 
may be destroyed by pouring boiling     
water into their haunts1 or setting a   
mixture of arsenic mixed with ,indian   
meal and molasses where they are found4 
,chloride of lime and sweetened water   
will also poison them4  ,fleas4--,if a  
dog be infected with these insects1 put 
him in a tub of warm soapsuds1 and they 
will rise to the surface4 ,take them    
off1 and burn them4 ,strong perfumes    
about the person diminish their attacks4

 ,when caught between the fingers1      
plunge them in water1 or they will      
escape4  ,crickets4--,scalding1 and     
sprinkling ,scotch snuff about the      
haunts of these insects1 are remedies   
for the annoyance caused by them4       
,flies can be killed in great           
quantities1 by placing about the house  
vessels filled with sweetened water and 
cobalt4 ,six cents' worth of cobalt is  
enough for a pint of water4 ,it is very 
poisonous4  ,mosquitoes4--,close nets   
around a bed are the only sure          
protection at night against these       
insects4 ,spirits of hartshorn is the   
best antidote for their bite4 ,salt and 
water is good4  ,red or ,black ,ants may
 be driven away by scalding their       
haunts1 and putting ,scotch snuff       
wherever they go for food4 ,set the legs
 of closets and safes in pans of water1 
and they can not get at them4           
,moths4--,airing clothes does not       
destroy moths1 but laying them in a hot 
sun does4 ,if articles be tightly sewed 

up in linen when laid away1 and fine    
tobacco put about them1 it is a sure    
protection4 ,this should be done in     
,april4  ,rats and ,mice4--,a good cat  
is the best remedy for these annoyances4
 ,equal quantities of hemlock 7or       
cicuta7 and old cheese will poison them2
 but this renders the house liable to   
the inconvenience of a bad smell4 ,this 
evil1 however1 may be lessened1 by      
placing a dish containing oil of vitriol
 poured on saltpetre where the smell is 
most annoying4 ,chloride of lime and    
water is also good4  ,in using any of   
the above-mentioned poisons1 great care 
should be taken to guard against their  
getting into any article of food or any 
utensil or vessel used for cooking or   
keeping food1 or where children can get 
at them4     ,,xxxi4  ,,the ,,care ,,of 
,,yards ,,and ,,gardens4   ,first1 let  
us say a few words on the ,preparation  
of ,soil4 ,if the garden soil be clayey 
and adhesive1 put on a covering of sand1
 three inches thick1 and the same depth 

of well-rotted manure4 ,spade it in as  
deep as possible1 and mix it well4 ,if  
the soil be sandy and loose1 spade in   
clay and ashes4 ,ashes are good for all 
kinds of soil1 as they loosen those     
which are close1 hold moisture in those 
which are sandy1 and destroy insects4   
,the best kind of soil is that which    
will hold water the longest without     
becoming hard when dry4  ,to prepare    
,soil for ,pot-plants1 take one fourth  
part of common soil1 one fourth part of 
well-decayed manure1 and one half of    
vegetable mould1 from the woods or from 
a chip-yard4 ,break up the manure fine1 
and sift it through a lime-screen1 7or  
coarse wire sieve47 ,these materials    
must be thoroughly mixed4 ,when the     
common soil which is used is adhesive1  
and indeed in most other cases1 it is   
necessary to add sand1 the proportion of
 which must depend on the nature of the 
soil4  ,to ,prepare a ,hot-,bed1 dig a  
pit six feet long1 five feet wide1 and  
thirty inches deep4 ,make a frame of the

 same size1 with the back two feet high1
 the front fifteen inches1 and the sides
 sloped from the back to the front4     
,make two sashes1 each three feet by    
five1 with the panes of glass lapping   
like shingles instead of having         
cross-bars4 ,set the frame over the pit1
 which should then be filled with fresh 
horse-dung1 which has not lain long nor 
been sodden by water4 ,tread it down    
hard2 then put into the frame light and 
very rich soil1 six or eight inches     
deep1 and cover it with the sashes for  
two or three days4 ,then stir the soil1 
and sow the seeds in shallow drills1    
placing sticks by them1 to mark the     
different kinds4 ,keep the frame covered
 with the glass whenever it is cold     
enough to chill the plants2 but at all  
other times admit fresh air1 which is   
indispensable to their health4 ,when the
 sun is quite warm1 raise the glasses   
enough to admit air1 and cover them with
 matting or blankets1 or else the sun   
may kill the young plants4 ,water the   

bed at evening with water which has     
stood all day1 or1 if it be fresh drawn1
 add a little warm water4 ,if there be  
too much heat in the bed1 so as to      
scorch or wither the plants1 lift the   
sashes1 water freely1 shade by day2 make
 deep holes with stakes1 and fill them  
up when the heat is reduced4 ,in very   
cold nights1 cover the sashes and frame 
with straw-mats4  ,for ,planting ,flower
 ,seeds4--,break up the soil1 till it is
 very soft1 and free from lumps4 ,rub   
that nearest the surface between the    
hands1 to make it fine4 ,make a circular
 drill a foot in diameter4 ,seeds are to
 be planted either deeper or nearer the 
surface1 according to their size4 ,for  
seeds as large as sweet peas1 the drill 
should be half an inch deep4 ,the       
smallest seeds must be planted very near
 the surface1 and a very little fine    
earth be sifted over them4 ,after       
covering them with soil1 beat them down 
with a trowel1 so as to make the earth  
as compact as it is after a heavy       

shower4 ,set up a stick in the middle of
 the circle1 with the name of the plant 
heavily written upon it with a dark lead
 pencil4 ,this remains more permanent if
 white-lead be first rubbed over the    
surface4 ,never plant when the soil is  
very wet4 ,in very dry times1 water the 
seeds at night4 ,never use very cold    
water4 ,when the seeds are small1 many  
should be planted together1 that they   
may assist each other in breaking the   
soil4 ,when the plants are an inch high1
 thin them out1 leaving only one or two1
 if the plant be a large one1 like the  
balsam2 five or six1 when it is of a    
medium size2 and eighteen or twenty of  
the smaller size4 ,transplanting1 unless
 the plant be lifted with a ball of     
earth1 retards the growth about a       
fortnight4 ,it is best to plant at two  
different times1 lest the first planting
 should fail1 owing to wet or cold      
weather4  ,to plant ,garden-,seeds1 make
 the beds from one to three yards wide2 
lay across them a board a foot wide1 and

 with a stick1 make a furrow on each    
side of it1 one inch deep4 ,scatter the 
seeds in this furrow1 and cover them4   
,then lay the board over them1 and step 
on it1 to press down the earth4 ,when   
the plants are an inch high1 thin them  
out1 leaving spaces proportioned to     
their sizes4 ,seeds of similar species1 
such as melons and squashes1 should not 
be planted very near to each other1 as  
this causes them to degenerate4 ,the    
same kinds of vegetables should not be  
planted in the same place for two years 
in succession4 ,the longer the rows are1
 the easier is the after culture4       
,transplanting should be done at        
evening1 or which is better1 just before
 a shower4 ,take a round stick sharpened
 at the point1 and make openings to     
receive the plants4 ,set them a very    
little deeper than they were before1 and
 press the soil firmly round them4 ,then
 water them1 and cover them for three or
 four days1 taking care that sufficient 
air be admitted4 ,if the plant can be   

removed without disturbing the soil     
around the root1 it will not be at all  
retarded by transplanting4 ,never remove
 leaves and branches1 unless a part of  
the roots be lost4  ,to ,re-pot         
,house-,plants1 renew the soil every    
year1 soon after the time of blossoming4
 ,prepare soil as previously directed4  
,loosen the earth from the pot by       
passing a knife around the skies4 ,turn 
the plant upside down1 and remove the   
pot4 ,then remove all the matted fibres 
at the bottom1 and all the earth1 except
 that which adheres to the roots4 ,from 
woody plants1 like roses1 shake off all 
the earth4 ,take the new pot1 and put a 
piece of broken earthen-ware over the   
hole at the bottom1 and then1 holding   
the plant in the proper position1 shake 
in the earth around it4 ,then pour in   
water to settle the earth1 and heap on  
fresh soil1 till the pot is even full4  
,small pots are considered better than  
large ones1 as the roots are not so     
likely to rot1 from excess of moisture4 

,in the ,laying out of ,yards and       
,gardens1 there is room for much        
judgment and taste4 ,in planting trees  
in a yard1 they should be arranged in   
groups1 and never planted in straight   
lines1 nor sprinkled about as solitary  
trees4 ,the object of this arrangement  
is to imitate ,nature1 and secure some  
spots of dense shade and some of clear  
turf4 ,in yards which are covered with  
turf1 beds can be cut out of it1 and    
raised for flowers4 ,a trench should be 
made around1 to prevent the grass from  
running on them4 ,these beds can be made
 in the shape of crescents1 ovals1 or   
other fanciful forms4  ,in laying out   
beds in gardens and yards1 a very pretty
 bordering can be made1 by planting them
 with common flax-seed1 in a line about 
three inches from the edge4 ,this can be
 trimmed with shears1 when it grows too 
high4  ,for ,transplanting ,trees1 the  
autumn is the best time4 ,take as much  
of the root as possible1 especially the 
little fibres1 which should never become

 dry4 ,if kept long before they are set 
out1 put wet moss around them and water 
them4 ,dig holes larger than the extent 
of the roots2 let one person hold the   
tree in its former position1 and another
 place the roots carefully as they were 
before1 cutting off any broken or       
wounded root4 ,be careful not to let the
 tree be more than an inch deeper them  
it was before4 ,let the soil be soft and
 well manured2 shake the tree as the    
soil is shaken in1 that it may mix well 
among the small fibres4 ,do not tread   
the earth down1 while filling the hole2 
but1 when it is full1 raise a slight    
mound of say four inches deep around the
 stem to hold water1 and fill it4 ,never
 cut off leaves nor branches1 unless    
some of the roots are lost4 ,tie the    
trees to a stake1 and they will be more 
likely to live4 ,water them often4  ,the
 ,care of ,house-,plants is a matter of 
daily attention1 and well repays all    
labor expended upon it4 ,the soil of    
house-plants should be renewed every    

year as previously directed4 ,in winter1
 they should be kept as dry as they can 
be without wilting4 ,many house-plants  
are injured by giving them too much     
water1 when they have little light and  
fresh air4 ,this makes them grow        
spindling4 ,the more fresh air1 warmth  
and light they have1 the more water is  
needed4 ,they ought not to be kept very 
warm in winter1 nor exposed to great    
changes of atmosphere4 ,forty degrees is
 a proper temperature for plants in     
winter1 when they have little sun and   
air4 ,when plants have become spindling1
 cut off their heads entirely1 and cover
 the pot in the earth1 where it has the 
morning sun only4 ,a new and flourishing
 head will spring out4 ,few houseplants 
can bear the sun at noon4 ,when insects 
infest plants1 set them in a closet or  
under a barrel1 and burn tobacco under  
them4 ,the smoke kills any insect       
enveloped in it4 ,when plants are       
frozen1 cold water and a gradual        
restoration of warmth are the best      

remedies4 ,never use very cold water for
 plants at any season4     ,,xxxii4     
,,the ,,propagation ,,of ,,plants4      
,this is an occupation requiring much   
attention and constant care4 ,bulbous   
roots are propagated by offsets2 some   
growing on the top1 others around the   
sides4 ,many plants are propagated by   
cutting off twigs1 and setting them in  
earth1 so that two or three eyes are    
covered4 ,to do this1 select a side     
shoot1 ten inches long1 two inches of it
 being of the preceding year's growth1  
and the rest the growth of the season   
when it is set4 ,do this when the sap is
 running1 and put a piece of crockery at
 the bottom of the shoot1 when it is    
buried4 ,one eye1 at least1 must be     
under the soil4 ,water it and shade it  
in hot weather4  ,plants are also       
propagated by layers4 ,to do this1 take 
a shoot which comes up near the root1   
bend it down so as to bring several eyes
 under the soil1 leaving the top        
above-ground4 ,if the shoot be cut half 

through1 in a slanting direction1 at one
 of these eyes1 before burying it1 the  
result is more certain4 ,roses1         
honeysuckles1 and many other shrubs are 
readily propagated thus4 ,they will     
generally take root by being simply     
buried2 but cutting them as here        
directed is the best method4 ,layers are
 more certain than cuttings4  ,budding  
and ,grafting1 for all woody plants1 are
 favorite methods of propagation4 ,in   
all such plants1 there is an outer and  
inner bark1 the latter containing the   
sap vessels1 in which the nourishment of
 the tree ascends4 ,the success of      
grafting or inoculating consists in so  
placing the bud or graft that the sap   
vessels of the inner bark shall exactly 
join those of the plant into which they 
are grafted2 so that the sap may pass   
from one into the other4  ,the following
 are directions for budding1 which may  
be performed at any time from ,july to  
,september3  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #fd   
,select a smooth place on the stock into

 which you are to insert the bud4 ,make 
a horizontal cut across the rind through
 to the firm wood2 and from the middle  
of this1 make a slit downward           
perpendicularly1 an inch or more long1  
through to the wood4 ,raise the bark of 
the stock on each side of the           
perpendicular cut1 for the admission of 
the bud1 as is shown in the annexed     
engraving1 7,fig4 #fd47 ,then take a    
shoot of this year's growth1 and slice  
from it a bud1 taking an inch below and 
an inch above it1 and some portion of   
the wood under it4 ,then1 carefully slip
 off the woody part under the bud4      
,examine whether the eye or germ of the 
bud be perfect4 ,if a little hole appear
 in that part1 the bud has lost its     
root1 and another must be selected4     
,insert the bud1 so that a1 of the bud1 
shall pass to a1 of the stock2 then b1  
of the bud1 must be cut off1 to match   
the cut b1 in the stock1 and fitted     
exactly to it1 as it is this alone which
 insures success4 ,bind the parts with  

fresh bass or woolen yarn1 beginning a  
little below the bottom1 of the         
perpendicular slit1 and winding it      
closely around every part1 except just  
over the eye of the bud1 until you      
arrive above the horizontal cut4 ,do not
 bind it too tightly1 but just          
sufficient to exclude air1 sun1 and wet4
 ,this is to be removed after the bud is
 firmly fixed1 and begins to grow4      
,seed-fruit can be budded into any other
 seed-fruit1 and stone-fruit into any   
other stone-fruit2 but stone and        
seed-fruits can not be thus mingled4    
,rose-bushes can have a variety of kinds
 budded into the same stock4 ,hardy     
roots are the best stocks4 ,the branch  
above the bud must be cut off the next  
,march or ,april after the bud is put   
in4 ,apples and pears are more easily   
propagated by ingrafting than by        
budding4  ,ingrafting is a similar      
process to budding1 with this advantage1
 that it can be performed on large      
trees1 whereas budding can be applied   

only on small ones4 ,the two common     
kinds of ingrafting are whip-grafting   
and split-grafting4 ,the first kind is  
for young trees1 and the other for large
 ones4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #fe4  ,the 
time for ingrafting is from ,may to     
,october4 ,the cuttings must be taken   
from horizontal shoots1 between         
,christmas and ,march1 and kept in a    
damp cellar4 ,in performing the         
operation1 cut off in a sloping         
direction 7as seen in ,fig4 #fe7 the    
tree or limb to be grafted4 ,then cut   
off in a corresponding slant the slip to
 be grafted on4 ,then put them together1
 so that the inner bark of each shall   
match exactly on one side1 and tie them 
firmly together with yellow yarn4 ,it is
 not essential that both be of equal    
size2 if the bark of each meet together 
exactly on one side1 it answers the     
purpose4 ,but the two must not differ   
much in size4 ,the slope should be an   
inch and a half1 or more1 in length4    
,after they are tied together1 the place

 should be covered with a salve or      
composition of bees-wax and rosin4 ,a   
mixture of clay and cow-dung will answer
 the same purpose4 ,this last must be   
tied on with a cloth4 ,grafting is more 
convenient than budding1 as grafts can  
be sent from a great distance2 whereas  
buds must be taken1 in ,july or ,august1
 from a shoot of the present year's     
growth1 and can not be sent to any great
 distance4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ff    
,this engraving 7,fig4 #ff7 exhibits the
 mode called stock-grafting2 a being the
 limb of a large tree1 which is sawed   
off and split1 and is to be held open by
 a small wedge till the grafts are put  
in4 ,a graft inserted in the limb is    
shown at b1 and at c is one not         
inserted1 but designed to be put in at  
d1 as two grafts can be put into a large
 stock4 ,in inserting the graft1 be     
careful to make the edge of the inner   
bark of the graft meet exactly the edge 
of the inner bark of the stock2 for on  
this success depends4 ,after the grafts 

are put in1 the wedge must be withdrawn1
 and the whole of the stock be covered  
with the thick salve or composition     
before mentioned1 reaching from where   
the grafts are inserted to the bottom of
 the slit4 ,be careful not to knock or  
move the grafts after they are put in4  
,pruning is an operation of constant    
exercise1 for keeping plants and trees  
in good condition4 ,the following rules 
are from a distinguished horticulturist3
 ,prune off all dead wood1 and all the  
little twigs on the main limbs4         
,retrench branches1 so as to give light 
and ventilation to the interior of the  
tree4 ,cut out the straight and         
perpendicular shoots1 which give little 
or no fruit2 while those which are most 
nearly horizontal1 and somewhat curving1
 give fruit abundantly and of good      
quality1 and should be sustained4       
,superfluous and ill-placed buds may be 
rubbed off at any time2 and no buds     
pushing out after midsummer should be   
spared4 ,in choosing between shoots to  

be retained1 preserve the lowest placed1
 and on lateral shoots1 those which are 
nearest the origin4 ,when branches cross
 each other so as to rub1 remove one or 
the other4 ,remove all suckers from the 
roots of trees or shrubs4 ,prune after  
the sap is in full circulation1 7except 
in the case of grapes17 as the wounds   
then heal best4 ,some think it best to  
prune before the sap begins to run4     
,pruning-shears1 and a pruning-pole1    
with a chisel at the end1 can be        
procured of those who deal in           
agricultural utensils4  ,thinning is    
also an important but very delicate     
operation4 ,as it is the office of the  
leaves to absorb nourishment from the   
atmosphere1 they should never be        
removed1 except to mature the wood or   
fruit4 ,in doing this1 remove such      
leaves as shade the fruit1 as soon as it
 is ready to ripen4 ,to do it earlier   
impairs the growth4 ,do it gradually at 
two different times4 ,thinning the fruit
 is important1 as tending to increase   

its size and flavor1 and also to promote
 the longevity of the tree4 ,if the     
fruit be thickly set1 take off one half 
at the time of setting4 ,revise in      
,june1 and then in ,july1 taking off all
 that may be spared4 ,one very large    
apple to every square foot is a rule    
that may be a sort of guide in other    
cases4 ,according to this1 two hundred  
large apples would be allowed to a tree 
whose extent is fifteen feet by twelve4 
,if any person think this thinning      
excessive1 let him try two similar      
trees1 and thin one as directed and     
leave the other unthinned4 ,it will be  
found that the thinned tree will produce
 an equal weight1 and fruit of much     
finer flavor4     ,,xxxiii4  ,,the      
,,cultivation ,,of ,,fruit4   ,by a     
little attention to this matter1 a lady 
with the help of her children can obtain
 a rich abundance of all kinds of fruit4
 ,the writer has resided in families    
where little boys of eight1 ten1 and    
twelve years old amused themselves1     

under the direction of their mother1 in 
planting walnuts1 chestnuts1 and        
hazelnuts1 for future time2 as well as  
in planting and inoculating young       
fruit-trees of all descriptions4 ,a     
mother who will take pains to inspire a 
love for such pursuits in her children1 
and who will aid and superintend them1  
will save them from many temptations1   
and at a trifling expense secure to them
 and herself a rich reward in the       
choicest fruits4 ,the information given 
in this work on this subject may be     
relied on as sanctioned by the most     
experienced nursery-men4  ,the soil for 
a nursery should be rich1 well dug1     
dressed with well-decayed manure1 free  
from weeds1 and protected from cold     
winds4 ,fruit-seeds should be planted in
 the autumn1 an inch and a half or two  
inches deep1 in ridges four or five feet
 apart1 pressing the earth firmly over  
the seeds4 ,while growing1 they should  
be thinned out1 leaving the best ones a 
foot and a half apart4 ,the soil should 

be kept loose1 soft1 and free from      
weeds4 ,they should be inoculated or    
ingrafted when of the size of a pipe    
stem2 and in a year after this may be   
transplanted to their permanent stand4  
,peach-trees sometimes bear in two years
 from budding1 and in four years from   
planting if well kept4  ,in a year after
 transplanting1 take pains to train the 
head aright4 ,straight upright branches 
produce gourmands1 or twigs bearing only
 leaves4 ,the side branches which are   
angular or curved yield the most fruit4 
,for this reason1 the limbs should be   
trained in curves1 and perpendicular    
twigs should be cut off if there be need
 of pruning4 ,the last of ,june is the  
time for this4 ,grass should never be   
allowed to grow within four feet of a   
large tree1 and the soil should be kept 
loose to admit air to the roots4 ,trees 
in orchards should be twenty-five feet  
apart4 ,the soil under the top soil has 
much to do with the health of the trees4
 ,if it be what is called hard-pan1 the 

trees will deteriorate4 ,trees need to  
be manured and to have the soil kept    
open and free from weeds4  ,filberts can
 be raised in any part of this country4 
,figs can be raised in the ,middle1     
,western1 and ,southern ,states4 ,for   
this purpose1 in the autumn loosen the  
roots on one side1 and bend the tree    
down to the earth on the other2 then    
cover it with a mound of straw1 earth1  
and boards1 and early in the spring     
raise it up and cover the roots4        
,currants grow well in any but a wet    
soil4 ,they are propagated by cuttings4 
,the old wood should be thinned in the  
fall and manure be put on4 ,they can be 
trained into small trees4  ,gooseberries
 are propagated by layers and cuttings4 
,they are best when kept from suckers   
and trained like trees4 ,one third of   
the old wood should be removed every    
autumn4  ,raspberries do best when      
shaded during a part of the day4 ,they  
are propagated by layers1 slips1 and    
suckers4 ,there is one kind which bears 

monthly2 but the varieties of this and  
all other fruits are now so numerous    
that we can easily find those which are 
adapted to the special circumstances of 
the case4  ,strawberries require a light
 soil and vegetable manure4 ,they should
 be transplanted in ,april or           
,september1 and be set eight inches     
apart1 in rows nine inches asunder1 and 
in beds which are two feet wide1 with   
narrow alleys between them4 ,a part of  
these plants are non-bearers4 ,these    
have large flowers with showy stamens   
and high black anthers4 ,the bearers    
have short stamens1 a great number of   
pistils1 and the flowers are every way  
less showy4 ,in blossom-time1 pull out  
all the non-bearers4 ,some think it best
 to leave one non-bearer to every twelve
 bearers1 and others pull them all out4 
,many beds never produce any fruit1     
because all the plants in them are      
non-bearers4 ,weeds should be kept from 
the vines4 ,when the vines are matted   
with young plants1 the best way is to   

dig over the beds in cross lines1 so as 
to leave some of the plants standing in 
little squares1 while the rest are      
turned under the soil4 ,this should be  
done over a second time in the same     
year4  ,to ,raise ,grapes1 manure the   
soil1 and keep it soft and free from    
weeds4 ,a gravelly or sandy soil1 and a 
south exposure are best4 ,transplant the
 vines in the early spring1 or better in
 the fall4 ,prune them the first year so
 as to have only two main branches1     
taking off all other shoots as fast as  
they come4 ,in ,november1 cut off all of
 these two branches except four eyes4   
,the second year1 in the spring1 loosen 
the earth around the roots1 and allow   
only two branches to grow1 and every    
month take off all side shoots4 ,when   
they are very strong1 preserve only a   
part1 and cut off the rest in the fall4 
,in ,november1 cut off all the two main 
stems except eight eyes4 ,after the     
second year1 no more pruning is needed1 
except to reduce the side shoots1 for   

the purpose of increasing the fruit4    
,all the pruning of grapes 7except      
nipping side shoots7 must be done when  
the sap is not running1 or they will    
bleed to death4 ,train1 them on poles1  
or lattices1 to expose them to the air  
and sun4 ,cover tender vines in the     
autumn4 ,grapes are propagated by       
cuttings1 layers1 and seeds4 ,for       
cuttings1 select in the autumn          
well-ripened wood of the former year1   
and take fire joints for each4 ,bury    
them till ,april2 then soak them for    
some hours1 and set them out aslant1 so 
that all the eyes but one shall be      
covered4  ,apples1 grapes1 and such like
 fruit can be preserved in their natural
 state by packing them when dry and     
solid in dry sand or saw-dust1 putting  
alternate layers of fruit and cotton1   
saw-dust or sand4 ,some saw-dust gives a
 bad flavor to the fruit4  ,modes of    
,preserving ,fruit-,trees4--,heaps of   
ashes or tanner's bark around           
peach-trees prevent the attack of the   

worm4 ,the yellows is a disease of      
peach-trees1 which is spread by the     
pollen of the blossom4 ,when a tree     
begins to turn yellow1 take it away with
 all its roots1 before it blossoms      
again1 or it will infect other trees4   
,planting tansy around the roots of     
fruit-trees is a sure protection against
 worms1 as it prevents the moth from    
depositing her egg4 ,equal quantities of
 salt and saltpetre1 put around the     
trunk of a peach-tree1 half a pound to a
 tree1 improve the size and flavor of   
the fruit4 ,apply this about the first  
of ,april2 and if any trees have worms  
already in them1 put on half the        
quantity in addition in ,june4 ,to young
 trees just set out1 apply one ounce in 
,april1 and another in ,june1 close to  
the stem4 ,sandy soil is best for       
peaches4  ,apple-trees are preserved    
from insects by a wash of strong lye to 
the body and limbs1 which1 if old1      
should be first scraped4 ,caterpillars  
should be removed by cutting down their 

nests in a damp day4 ,boring a hole in a
 tree infested with worms1 and filling  
it with sulphur1 will often drive them  
off immediately4  ,the fire-blight1 or  
brulure in pear-trees can be stopped by 
cutting off all the blighted branches4  
,it is supposed by some to be owing to  
an excess of sap1 which is remedied by  
diminishing the roots4  ,the curculio1  
which destroys plums and other          
stone-fruit1 can be checked only by     
gathering up all the fruit that falls1  
7which contains their eggs17 and        
destroying it4 ,the canker-worm can be  
checked by applying a bandage around the
 body of the tree1 and every evening    
smearing it with fresh tar4     ,,xxxiv4
  ,,the ,,care ,,of ,,domestic          
,,animals4   ,one of the most           
interesting illustrations of the design 
of our benevolent ,creator in           
establishing the family state is the    
nature of the domestic animals connected
 with it4 ,at the very dawn of life1 the
 infant watches with delight the        

graceful gambols of the kitten1 and soon
 makes it a playmate4 ,meantime1 its    
out-cries when hurt appeal to kindly    
sympathy1 and its sharp claws to fear2  
while the child's mother has a constant 
opportunity to inculcate kindness and   
care for weak and ignorant creatures4   
,then the dog becomes the out-door      
playmate and guardian of early          
childhood1 and he also guards himself by
 cries of pain1 and protects himself by 
his teeth4 ,at the same time1 his       
faithful loving nature and caresses     
awaken corresponding tenderness and     
care2 while the parent again has a daily
 opportunity to inculcate these virtues 
toward the helpless and dependent4 ,as  
the child increases in knowledge and    
reason1 the horse1 cows1 poultry1 and   
other domestic animals come under his   
notice4 ,these do not ordinarily express
 their hunger or other sufferings by    
cries of distress1 but depend more on   
the developed reason and humanity of    
man4 ,and here the parent is called upon

 to instruct a child in the nature and  
wants of each1 that he may intelligently
 provide for their sustenance and for   
their protection from injury and        
disease4  ,to assist in this important  
duty of home life1 which so often falls 
to the supervision of woman1 the        
following information is prepared       
through the kindness of one of the      
editors of a prominent1 widely known1   
agricultural paper4  ,domestic animals  
are very apt to catch the spirit and    
temper of their masters4 ,a surly man   
will be very likely to have a cross dog 
and a biting horse4 ,a passionate man   
will keep all his animals in moral fear 
of him1 making them1 snappish1 and      
liable to hurt those of whom they are   
not afraid4  ,it is1 therefore1 most    
important that all animals should be    
treated uniformly with kindness4 ,they  
are all capable of returning affection1 
and will show it very pleasantly if we  
manifest affection for them4 ,they also 
have intuitive perceptions of our       

emotions which we can not conceal4 ,a   
sharp1 ugly dog will rarely bite a      
person who has no fear of him4 ,a horse 
knows the moment a man mounts or takes  
the reins whether he is afraid or not2  
and so it is with other animals4  ,if   
live stock can not be well fed1 they    
ought not to be kept4 ,one well wintered
 horse is worth as much1 as two that    
drag through on straw1 and by browsing  
the hedgerows4 ,the same is true of     
oxen1 and emphatically so of cows4 ,the 
owner of a half-starved dog loses the   
use of him almost altogether2 for1 at   
the very time--the night--when lie is   
most needed as a guard1 he must be off  
scouring the country for food4  ,shelter
 in winter is most important for cows4  
,they should have good tight stables or 
byres1 well ventilated1 and so warm that
 water in a pail will only freeze a     
little on the top the severest nights4  
,oxen should have the same stabling1    
though they bear cold better4 ,horses in
 stables will bear almost any degree of 

cold1 if they have all they can eat4    
,sheep1 except young lambs1 are well    
enough sheltered in dry sheds1 with one 
end open4 ,cattle1 sheep1 and dogs do   
not sweat as horses do1 they loll2 that 
is1 water or slobber runs from their    
tongues2 hence1 they are not liable to  
take cold as the horse is4 ,hogs bear   
cold pretty well2 but they eat enough to
 convince any one that true economy lies
 in giving them warm sties in winter1   
for the colder they are the more they   
eat4 ,fowls will not lay in cold weather
 unless they have light and warm        
quarters4  ,cleanliness is              
indispensable1 if one would keep his    
animals healthy4 ,in their wild state   
all our domestic animals are very clean1
 and1 at the same time1 very healthy4   
,the hog is not naturally a dirty       
animal1 but quite the reverse4 ,he      
enjoys currying as much as a horse or a 
cow1 and would be as careful of his     
litter as a cat if he had a fair chance4
 ,horses ought to be groomed daily2 cows

 and oxen as often as twice a week2 dogs
 should be washed with soapsuds         
frequently4 ,stables should be cleaned  
out daily4 ,absorbents of liquid in     
stables should be removed as often as   
they become wet4 ,dry earth is one of   
the best absorbents1 and is especially  
useful in the fowl-house4 ,hogs in pens 
should have straw for their rests or    
lairs1 and it should be often renewed4  
,parasitic ,vermin4--,these are lice1   
fleas1 ticks1 the scale insects1 and    
other pests which afflict our live      
stock4 ,there are many ways of          
destroying them2 the best and safest is 
a free use of carbolic acid soap4 ,the  
larger animals1 as well as hogs1 dogs1  
and sheep may be washed in strong suds  
of this soap1 without fear1 and the     
application repeated after a week4 ,this
 generally destroys both the creatures  
and their eggs4 ,hen lice are best      
destroyed by greasing the fowls1 and    
dusting them with flowers of sulphur4   
,sitting hens must never be greased1 but

 the sulphur may be dusted freely in    
their nests1 and it is well to put it in
 all hens' nests4  ,salt and            
,water4--,all animals except poultry    
require salt1 and all1 free supplies of 
fresh water4  ,light4--,stables1 or     
places where any kind of animals are    
confined1 should have plenty of light4  
,windows are not more important in a    
house than in a barn4 ,the sun should   
come in freely2 and if it shines        
directly upon the stock1 all the better4
 ,when beeves and sheep are fattening   
very rapidly1 the exclusion of the light
 makes them more quiet1 and fatten      
faster2 but their state is an unnatural 
and hardly a healthy one4  ,exercise in 
the open air is important for breeding  
animals4 ,it is especially necessary for
 horses of all kinds4 ,cows need very   
little and swine none1 unless kept for  
breeding4  ,breeding1--,always use      
thorough-bred males1 and improvement is 
certain4  ,horses4--,the care which     
horses require varies with the          

circumstances in which the owner is     
placed1 and the uses to which they are  
put4 ,in general1 if kept stabled1 they 
should be fed with good upland hay1     
almost as much as they will eat2 and if 
absent from the stable1 and at work most
 of the day1 they should have all they  
will eat of hay1 together with four to  
eight quarts of oats or an equal weight 
of other grain or meal4 ,barley is good 
for horses1 and so is dry corn4         
,corn-meal put upon cut hay1 wet and    
well-mixed1 is good1 steady feed1 if not
 in too large quantities4 ,four quarts a
 day may be fed unmixed with other      
grain2 but if the horse be hard worked  
and needs more1 mix the meal with wheat 
bran1 or linseed oil-cake meal1 or use  
corn and oats ground together2 carrots  
are especially wholesome4 ,a quart of   
linseed oil-cake meal1 daily1 is an     
excellent occasional addition to a      
horse's food1 when carrots can not be   
had4 ,it gives a lustre to his coat1 and
 brings the new coat of hair out in the 

spring4 ,a stabled horse needs daily    
exercise1 as much as to trot three      
miles4 ,where a horse is traveling1 it  
is well to give him six quarts of oats  
in the morning1 four at noon1 and six at
 night4  ,thorough grooming is          
indispensable to the health of horses4  
,especial care should be taken of the   
legs and fetlocks1 that no dirt remain  
to cause that distressing disease1      
grease or scratches1 which results from 
filthy fetlocks and standing in dirty   
stables4 ,when a horse comes in from    
work on muddy roads with dirty legs1    
they should be immediately cleaned1 the 
dirt brushed off1 then rubbed with      
straw2 then1 if very dirty1 washed clean
 and rubbed dry with a piece of sacking4
 ,a horse should never stand in a       
draught of cold air1 if he can not turn 
and put his back to it4 ,if sweaty or   
warm from work1 he should be blanketed1 
if he is to stand a minute in the winter
 air4 ,if put at once into the stable1  
he should be stripped and rubbed down   

with straw actively for five minutes or 
more1 and then blanketed4 ,the blanket  
must be removed in an hour1 and the     
horse given water and feed1 if it is the
 usual time4 ,it will not hurt him to   
eat hay when hot1 unless he be          
thoroughly exhausted1 when all food     
should be withheld for a while4  ,it is 
very comforting to a tired horse1 when  
he is too hot to drink1 to sponge out   
his mouth with cool water4 ,a horse     
should never drink when very hot1 nor be
 turned into a yard to cool off1 even in
 summer1 neither should he be turned out
 to pasture before he is quite cool4    
,cows4--,gentle but firm treatment will 
make a cow easy to milk and to handle in
 every way4 ,if stabled or yarded1 cows 
should have access to water at all      
times1 or have it frequently offered to 
them4 ,clover hay is probably the best  
steady food for milk cows4 ,cornstalks  
cut up1 thoroughly soaked with water for
 half a day1 and then sprinkled with    
corn or oil-cake meal is perhaps        

unsurpassed as good winter food for milk
 cows4 ,the amount of meal may vary4    
,with plenty of oil-meal1 there is      
little danger of feeding too much1 as   
that is loosening to the bowels and a   
safe nutritious article4 ,corn-meal     
alone1 in large quantities1 is too      
heating4 ,roots should1 if possible1    
form part of the diet of a milch cow1   
especially before and soon after        
calving2 feed well before this period1  
yet not to make the cow very fat2 but it
 is better to err in that way than to   
have her come in thin4 ,take the calf   
away from the mother as soon as it      
stands tip1 and the separation will     
worry neither dam nor young4 ,this is   
always best1 unless the calf is to be   
kept with the cow4 ,the calf will soon  
learn to drink its food1 if two fingers 
be held in its mouth4 ,let it have all  
the first drawn milk for three days as  
soon as milked2 after this1 skimmed milk
 warmed to blood heat4 ,soon a little   
fine scalded meal may be mixed with the 

milk2 and it will1 at three to five     
weeks old1 nibble hay and grass4 ,it is 
well also to keep a box containing some 
dry wheat-bran and fine corn-meal mixed 
in the calf-pen1 so that calves may take
 as much as they like4  ,in milking1 put
 the fingers around the teat close to   
the bag2 then firmly close the          
forefingers of each hand alternately1   
immediately squeezing with the other    
fingers4 ,the forefingers prevent the   
milk flowing back into the bag1 while   
the others press it out4 ,sit with the  
left knee close to the right hind leg of
 the cow1 the head pressed against her  
flank1 the left hand always ready to    
ward off a blow from her feet1 which the
 gentlest cow may give almost without   
knowing it1 if her tender teats be cut  
by long nails1 or if a wart be hurt1 or 
her bag be tender4 ,she must be stripped
 dry every time she is milked1 or she   
will dry up2 and if she gives much milk1
 it pays to milk three times a day1 as  
nearly eight hours apart as possible4   

,never stop while milking till done1 as 
this will cause the cow to stop giving  
milk4  ,to tether a cow1 tie her by one 
hind leg1 making the rope fast above the
 fetlock joint1 and protecting the limb 
with a piece of an old bootleg or       
similar thing4 ,the knot must be one    
that will not slip2 regular fetters of  
iron bound with leather are much better4
  ,a cow should go unmilked two months  
before calving1 and her milk should not 
be used by the family till four days    
after that time4  ,swine4--,the filthy  
state of hog-pens is allowed on account 
of the amount of manure they will make  
by working over all sorts of vegetable  
matter1 spoiled hay1 weeds1 etc41 etc4  
,this is unhealthy for the family near  
and also for the animal4 ,the hog is1   
naturally1 a cleanly animal1 and if     
given a chance he will keep himself very
 neat and clean4 ,breeding sows should  
have the range of a small pasture1 and  
be regularly fed4 ,they need fresh water
 constantly1 and often suffer for lack  

of it when they have liquid swill1 which
 they do not like to drink4 ,all hogs   
should have a warm1 dry1 well-littered  
pen to lie in1 away from flies and      
disturbance of any kind4 ,they are fond 
of charcoal1 and it is worth while      
frequently to throw a few handfuls where
 they can get at it4 ,it has a very     
beneficial effect on the appetite1      
regulates the tone of the stomach and   
digestive organs1 and can not do any    
harm4 ,pigs ought always to be well fed 
and kept growing fast2 and when being   
fattened1 they should be penned always1 
the herd being sorted so that all may   
have an equal chance4 ,it is well to    
feed soft corn in the ear2 but hard corn
 should always be ground and cooked for 
pigs4  ,sheep4--,in the winter1 sheep   
need deep1 well-littered1 dry sheds1 dry
 yards1 and hay1 wheat1 or oat straw1 as
 much as they will eat4 ,they should be 
kept gaining by grain regularly fed to  
them1 and so distributed that each gets 
its share4 ,corn1 either whole or       

ground1 or oil-cake meal1 or both1 are  
used for fattening sheep4 ,they will    
easily surfeit themselves on any grain  
except oil-meal1 which is very safe feed
 for them1 and usually economical4      
,strong sheep will often drive the      
weaker ones away1 and so get more than  
their share of food and make themselves 
sick4 ,this must be guarded against1 and
 the flock sorted1 keeping the weaker   
and stronger apart4  ,sheep are very    
useful in clearing land of brush and    
certain weeds1 which they gnaw down1 and
 kill4 ,to accomplish this1 the land    
must be overstocked1 and it is best not 
to keep sheep on short pasturage more   
than a few weeks at a time2 but if they 
are returned after a few days1 it will  
serve as good a purpose as if they were 
to be kept on all the time4 ,sheep at   
pasture must be restrained by good      
fences1 or they will be a great         
nuisance4 ,dog-proof hedge fences of    
,osage orange are to be highly          
recommended1 wherever this plant will   

grow4 ,mutton sheep will generally pay  
better to raise than merinos1 but they  
need more care4  ,poultry4--,few objects
 of labor are more remunerative than    
poultry1 raised on a moderate scale4    
,turkeys1 when young1 need great care2  
some animal food1 dry1 warm quarters1   
and must be kept out of the wet grass1  
and kept in when it rains4 ,as soon as  
fledged1 they become very hardy1 and1   
with free range1 will almost take care  
of themselves4 ,geese need water and    
good grass pasture4 ,ducks do very well 
without water to swim in1 if they have  
all they need to drink4 ,they will lay a
 great many eggs if kept shut in a pen  
until say eight o'clock in the morning4 
,if let out earlier1 they wander away1  
and will hide their nests1 and lay only 
about as many eggs as they can cover4   
,it is best to set duck's eggs under    
hens1 and to keep young ducks shut up in
 a dry roomy pen for four weeks1 at     
least4 ,fowls need light1 warm1 dry     
quarters in winter1 plenty of feed1 but 

not too much4 ,they relish animal food1 
and ought to have some frequently to    
make them lay4 ,pork or beef scrap-cake 
can be bought for two to three cents a  
pound1 and is very good for them4 ,any  
kind of grain is good for poultry4      
,nothing is better than wheat           
screenings4 ,early hatched chickens must
 be kept in a warm1 dry1 sunny room1    
with plenty of gravel1 and the hen      
should have no more than eight or nine  
chickens to brood2 though in summer1 one
 hen will take good care of fifteen4    
,little1 chickens1 turkeys1 and ducks   
need frequent feeding1 and must have    
their water changed often4 ,it is well  
to grease the body of the hen and the   
heads of the chicks with lard1 in order 
to prevent their becoming lousy4  ,hens 
set about twenty days1 and should be    
well fed and watered4 ,cold or damp     
weather is bad for young fowls1 and when
 they have been chilled1 pepper-corns   
are a good remedy1 in addition to the   
warmth of an inclosed dry place4  ,the  

most absorbing part of the ,woman's     
question of the present time is the     
remedy for the varied sufferings of     
women who are widows or unmarried1 and  
without means of support4 ,as yet1 few  
are aware how many sources of lucrative 
enterprise and industry lie open to     
woman in the employments directly       
connected with the family state4 ,a     
woman can invest capital in the dairy   
and qualify herself to superintend a    
dairy farm as well as a man4 ,and if she
 has no capital of her own1 if well     
trained for this business1 she can find 
those who have capital ready to         
furnish--an investment that well managed
 will become profitable4 ,and1 too1 the 
raising of poultry1 of dogs1 and of     
sheep are all within the reach of a     
woman with proper abilities and training
 for this business4 ,so that if a woman 
chooses1 she can find employment both   
interesting and profitable in studying  
the care of domestic animals4           
,bees4--,but one of the most profitable 

as well as interesting kinds of business
 for a woman is the care of bees4 ,in a 
recent agricultural report1 it is stated
 that one lady bought four hives for ten
 dollars1 and in five years she was     
offered one thousand five hundred       
dollars for her stock1 and refused it as
 not enough4 ,in addition to this       
increase of her capital1 in one of these
 five years she sold twenty-two hives   
and four hundred and twenty pounds of   
honey4 ,it is also stated that in five  
years one man1 from six colonies of bees
 to start with1 cleared eight thousand  
pounds of honey and one hundred and     
fifty-four colonies of bees4  ,the      
raising of bees and their management is 
so curious and as yet unknown an art in 
most parts of our country1 that any     
directions or advice will be omitted in 
this volume1 as requiring too much      
space1 and largely set forth and        
illustrated in the second part4 ,when   
properly instructed1 almost any woman in
 the city1 as easily as in the country1 

can manage bees1 and make more profit   
than in any other method demanding so   
little time and labor4 ,but in the modes
 ordinarily practiced1 few can make any 
great profit in this employment4  ,it is
 hoped a time is at hand when every     
woman will be trained to some employment
 by which she can secure to herself an  
independent home and means to support a 
family1 in case she does not marry1 or  
is left a widow1 with herself and a     
family to support4     ,,xxxv4          
,,earth-,,closets4   ,in some           
particulars1 the ,chinese are in advance
 of our own nation in neatness1 economy1
 and healthful domestic arrangements4   
,in ,china1 nota particle of manure is  
wasted1 and all that with us is sent off
 in drains and sewers from water-closets
 and privies1 is collected in a neat    
manner and used for manure4 ,this is one
 reason that the compact and close      
packing of inhabitants in their cities  
is practicable1 and it also accounts for
 the enormous yields of some of their   

crops4  ,the earth-closet is an         
invention which relieves the most       
disagreeable item in domestic labor1 and
 prevents the disagreeable and          
unhealthful effluvium which is almost   
inevitable in all family residences1    
,the general principle of construction  
is somewhat like that of a water-closet1
 except that in place of water is used  
dried earth4 ,the resulting compost is  
without disagreeable odor1 and is the   
richest species of manure4 ,the expense 
of its construction and use is no       
greater than that of the common         
water-closet2 indeed1 when the outlays  
for plumber's work1 the almost          
inevitable troubles and disorders of    
water-pipes in a house1 and the constant
 stream of petty repairs consequent upon
 careless construction or use of        
water-works are considered1 the         
earth-closet is in itself much cheaper1 
besides being an accumulator of valuable
 matter4  ,to give a clear idea of its  
principles1 mode of fabrication1 and    

use1 we can not do better than to take  
advantage of the permission given by    
,mr4 ,george ,e4 ,waring1 ,jr41 of      
,newport1 ,r4 ,i41 author of an         
admirable pamphlet on the subject1      
published in #ahfh by ,the ,tribune     
,association of ,new-,york4 ,mr4 ,waring
 was formerly ,agricultural ,engineer of
 the ,new-,york ,central ,park1 and has 
given much attention to sanitary and    
agricultural engineering1 having        
published several valuable works bearing
 in the same general direction4 ,he is  
now consulting director of ,the         
,earth-,closet ,company1 ,hartford1     
,ct41 which manufactures the apparatus  
and all things appertaining to it--any  
part which might be needed to complete a
 home-built structure4 ,but with        
generous and no less judicious freedom1 
they are endeavoring to extend the      
knowledge of this wholesome and         
economical process of domestic sanitary 
engineering as widely as possible1 and  
so allow us to present the following    

instructions for those who may desire to
 construct their own apparatus4  ,in the
 brief introduction to his pamphlet1    
,mr4 ,waring says3  ,it is sufficiently 
understood1 by all who have given the   
least thought to the subject1 that the  
waste of the most vital elements of the 
soil's fertility1 through our present   
practice of treating human excrement as 
a thing that is to be hurried into the  
sea1 or buried in underground vaults1 or
 in some other way put out of sight and 
out of reach1 is full of danger to our  
future prosperity4  ,our bodies have    
come out of our fertile fields2 our     
prosperity is based on the production   
and the exchange of the earth's fruits2 
and all our industry has its foundation 
in arts and interests connected with1 or
 dependent on1 a successful agriculture4
  ,liebig asserts that the greatness of 
the ,roman empire was sapped by the     
,cloaca ,maxima1 through which the      
entire sewage of ,rome was washed into  
the ,tiber4 ,the yearly decrease of     

productive power in the older grain     
regions of the ,west1 and the increasing
 demand for manures in the ,atlantic    
,states1 sufficiently prove that our own
 country is no exception to the rule    
that has established its sway over      
,europe4  ,the large class who will fail
 to feel the force of the agricultural  
reasons in favor of the reform which    
this pamphlet is written to uphold1 will
 realize1 more clearly than farmers     
will1 the importance of protecting      
dwellings against the gravest annoyance1
 the most fertile source of disease1 and
 the most certain vehicle of contagion4 
,nevertheless1 ,mr4 ,waring thinks that 
the agricultural argument is no mean or 
unimportant one1 and says3  ,the        
importance of any plan by which the     
excrement of our bodies may be returned 
to our fields is in a measure shown in  
the following extract from an article   
that ,i furnished for the ,american     
,agricultural ,annual for #ahfh4  ,the  
average population of ,new ,york        

,city--including its temporary          
visitors--is probably not less than     
#a1jjj1jjj4 ,this population consumes   
food equivalent to at least #cj1jjj1jjj 
bushels of corn in a year4 ,excepting   
the small proportion that is stored up  
in the bodies of the growing young1     
which is fully offset by that contained 
in the bodies of the dead1 the          
constituents of the food are returned to
 the air by the lungs and skin1 or are  
voided as excrement4 ,that which goes to
 the air was originally taken from the  
air by vegetation1 and will be so taken 
again3 here is no waste4 ,the excrement 
contains all that was furnished by the  
mineral elements of the soil oil which  
the food was produced4 ,this all passes 
into the sewers1 and is washed into the 
sea4 ,its loss to the present generation
 is complete4  444 #cj1jjj1jjj bushels  
of corn contain1 among other minerals1  
nearly #gjjj tons of phosphoric acid1   
and this amount is annually lost in the 
wasted night-soil of ,new-,york ,city4  

,footnote3 ,other mineral constituents  
of food--important ones1 too--are washed
 away in even greater quantities through
 the same channels2 but this element is 
the best for illustration1 because its  
effect in manure is the most striking1  
even so small a dressing as twenty      
pounds per acre1 producing a marked     
effect on all cereal crops4 ,ammonia1   
too1 which is so important that it is   
usual in ,england to estimate the value 
of manure in exact proportion to its    
supply of this element1 is largely      
yielded by human excrement4             
,practically the human excrement of the 
whole country is nearly all so disposed 
of as to be lost to the soil4 ,the      
present population of the ,united       
,states is not far from #ce1jjj1jjj4 ,on
 the basis of the above calculation1    
their annual food contains #bjj1jjj tons
 of phosphoric acid1 being the amount   
contained in about #ijj1jjj tons of     
bones1 which1 at the price of the best  
flour of bone1 7for manure17 would be   

worth over #ej1jjj1jjj4 ,it would be a  
moderate estimate to say that the other 
constituents of food are of at least    
equal value with the other constituents 
of the bone1 and to assume #ej1jjj1jjj  
as the money value of the wasted        
night-soil of the ,united ,states every 
year4  ,in another view1 the importance 
of this waste can not be estimated in   
money4 ,money values apply1 rather1 to  
the products of labor and to the        
exchange of these products4 ,the waste  
of fertilizing matter reaches farther   
than the destruction or exchange of     
products3 it lessens the ability to     
produce4  ,if mill-streams were failing 
year by year1 and steam were yearly     
losing force1 and the ability of men to 
labor were yearly growing less1 the doom
 of our prosperity would not be more    
plainly written1 than if this slow but  
certain impoverishment of our soil were 
sure to continue4  4444 ,but the good   
time is coming1 when 7as now in ,china  
and ,japan7 men must accept the fact    

that the soil is not a warehouse to be  
plundered--only a factory to be worked4 
,then they will save their raw material1
 instead of wasting it1 and1 aided by   
nature's wonderful laws1 will weave over
 and over again the fabric by which we  
live and prosper4 ,men will build up as 
fast as men destroy2 old matters will be
 reproduced in new forms1 and1 as the   
decaying forests feed the growing wood1 
so will all consumed food yield food    
again4  ,with the above brief extract1  
we shall cease using marks of quotation1
 as the following information and       
statements are appropriated bodily1     
either directly or with mere            
modifications for brevity1 from the     
little pamphlet of ,mr4 ,waring4  ,the  
earth-closet is the invention of the    
,rev4 ,henry ,moule1 of ,fordington     
,vicarage1 ,dorsetshire1 ,england4  ,it 
is based on the power of clay1 and the  
decomposed organic matter found in the  
soil1 to absorb and retain all offensive
 odors and all fertilizing matters2 and 

it consists1 essentially1 of a          
mechanical contrivance 7attached to the 
ordinary seat7 for measuring out and    
discharging into the vault or pan below 
a sufficient quantity of sifted dry     
earth to entirely cover the solid ordure
 and to absorb the urine4  ,the         
discharge of earth is effected by an    
ordinary pull-up similar to that used in
 the water-closet1 or 7in the           
self-acting apparatus7 by the rising of 
the seat when the weight of the person  
is removed4  ,the vault or pan under the
 seat is so arranged that the           
accumulation may be removed at pleasure4
  ,from the moment when the earth is    
discharged1 and the evacuation is       
covered1 all offensive exhalation       
entirely ceases4 ,under certain         
circumstances1 there may be1 at times1 a
 slight odor as of guano mixed with     
earth2 but this is so trifling and so   
local1 that a commode arranged on this  
plan may1 without the least annoyance1  
be kept in use in any room4  ,this      

statement is made as the result of      
personal experience4 ,mr4 ,waring says3 
,i have in constant use in a room in my 
house an earth-closet commode2 and even 
when the pan is entirely full1 with the 
accumulation of a week's use1 visitors  
examining it invariably say1 with some  
surprise1 ',you don't mean that this    
particular one has been used6'   ,,how  
,,to ,,make ,,an ,,earth-,,closet4  ,the
 principle on which the earth-closet is 
based is as free to all as is the earth 
itself1 and any person may adopt his own
 method of applying it4 ,all that is    
necessary is to have a supply of        
coarsely sifted sun-dried earth with    
which to cover the bottom of the vessel 
to be used1 and after use to cover the  
deposit4 ,a small box of earth1 and a   
tin scoop are sufficient to prevent the 
gravest annoyance of the sickroom4 ,but1
 of course1 for constant use1 it is     
desirable to have a more convenient     
apparatus--something which requires less
 care1 and is less troublesome in many  

ways4  ,to this end1 the patent         
invention of ,mr4 ,moule is applicable4 
,this comprises a tight receptacle under
 the seat1 a reservoir for storing dry  
earth1 and an apparatus to measure out  
the requisite quantity1 and throw it    
upon the deposit4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 
#fg4  ,the arrangement at the mechanism 
is shown in ,fig4 #fg4 ,a hopper-shaded 
reservoir1 made of galvanized iron1 is  
supported by a framework at the back of 
the seat1 which rests on the framework  
a1 a4 ,connected with the handle at the 
right-hand side1 there is an iron lever1
 which operates a movable box at the    
bottom of the reservoir1 and causes it  
to discharge its contents directly under
 the seat4 ,when the handle is dropped1 
the box returns to its position1 and is 
immediately filled preparatory to       
another use4  ,the hopper-shaped        
reservoir is supported by two pivots1   
and has a slight rocking or vibrating   
motion imparted to it by each lifting of
 the lever4 ,this prevents the earth    

from becoming clogged1 and insures its  
regular delivery4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 
#fh ,,the ,,pull-,,up ,,apparatus4  ,the
 construction is more clearly shown in  
,fig4 #fh4  ,in this figure1 ,a is the  
vibrating hopper for holding the earth4 
,its capacity may be increased to any   
desired extent by building above it a   
straight-sized box of any height4 ,it is
 not unusual1 in fixed privies1 to make 
this reservoir large enough to hold a   
supply for several months4 ,as the earth
 is dry1 there is no occasion for the   
use of any thing better than common pine
 boards in making this addition to the  
reservoir4  ,b is one side of the       
wooden1 frame by which the hopper is    
supported and it may be made of one inch
 pine or spruce4  ,c is a box of        
lacquered or galvanized iron1 without   
either top or bottom4 ,it moves on two  
pivots1 one of winch is shown on its    
exposed side4 ,in its present position1 
its upper end opens into the hopper1 and
 its lower end is dosed by the          

stationary board over which it stands4  
,when the handle is pulled up1 the      
lever1 which is connected with the box1 
jerks it rapidly up1 so that its back   
side closes the opening of the          
reservoir1 and its bottom opens to the  
front4 ,in its movement it discharges   
its contents of earth forward under the 
seat4 ,when the handle is dropped1 the  
box returns to its natural position1 and
 is charged again4  ,d is one of the    
pivots--a corresponding one being on the
 other side--by which the hopper is     
supported1 and on which it vibrates4  a1
 a1 a1 a1 a1 a1 are the parts of the    
framework1 the dimensions of which in   
feet and inches are given4  ,the only   
essential part not shown is an          
earthen-ware pan without a bottom1      
similar to the pan of a water-closet1   
only not so deep and with a larger      
opening1 which is attached to the under 
side of the seat1 and which in a measure
 prevents the rising of dust1 and       
conducts the urine to the point at which

 the most earth falls4 ,this is the     
least important part of the invention1  
but it has a certain advantage4  ,the   
self-acting apparatus is more           
complicated1 and persons wishing it     
would do best to apply directly to the  
,company4   ,,the ,,ordinary ,,privy4   
,in the circular published by the       
,earth-,closet ,company1 the following  
directions are given3  ,illustration3   
,fig4 #fi4--;,commode1 #c ft4 #c in4    
high1 #a ft4 #aa in4 wide1 #b ft4 #b in4
 deep4  ,an ordinary fixed closet       
requires the apparatus to be placed at  
the back of1 and in connection with1 the
 usual seat2 the reservoir for          
containing the earth being placed above 
it4 ,under it there should be a chamber 
or vault about four feet by three wide1 
and of any convenient depth1 with a     
paved or asphalted bottom1 and the sides
 lined with cement4 ,should there be an 
existing cesspool1 it may be altered to 
the above dimensions4 ,into this the    
deposit and earth fall1 and may remain  

there three1 six1 or twelve months1 and 
continue perfectly inodorous and        
innoxious1 merely requiring to be       
occasionally leveled by a rake or hoe4  
,if1 however1 it should be found        
impossible or inconvenient to have a    
vault underneath1 a movable trough1 of  
iron or tarred wood1 on wheels1 may be  
substituted4 ,in this case1 it will be  
advisable to raise the seat somewhat    
above the floor1 to allow the trough to 
be of sufficient size4  ,by one form of 
construction1 7the 'pull-up1'7 the      
pulling up of a handle releases a       
sufficient quantity of the dry earth1   
which is thrown into the pit or vault1  
covering the deposit and completely     
preventing all smell4 ,by another1 7the 
'self-acting1'7 the same effect is      
produced by the action of the seat4 ,the
 apparatus may be placed in1 and adapted
 to1 almost any existing closet or      
privy1 and so arranged that the supply  
and removal of earth may be carried on  
inside or outside as desired4  ,the     

following is taken from the company's   
circular3  ,in the commode1 the         
apparatus and earth-reservoir are       
self-contained1 and a movable pail takes
 the place of the chamber or vault above
 described4 ,this must be emptied as    
often as necessary1 and the contents may
 be applied to the garden or field1 or  
be allowed to accumulate in a heap under
 cover until wanted for use4 ,this      
accumulation is inodorous1 and rapidly  
becomes dry4 ,the commode can stand in  
any convenient place in or out of doors4
 ,for use in bedrooms1 hospital wards1  
infirmaries1 etc41 the commode is       
invaluable4 ,it is entirely free from   
those faint1 depressing odors common to 
portable water-closets and night-stools1
 and through its admission one of the   
greatest miseries of human life1 the    
foul smells of the sick-room1 and one of
 the most frequent means of             
communicating infection1 may be entirely
 prevented4 ,it is invariably found     
that1 if any failure takes place1 it    

arises from the earth not being properly
 dry4 ,too much importance can not be   
attached to this requirement4 ,the      
earth-commode will no more act properly 
without dry earth1 than will a          
water-closet without water4  ,these     
commodes are made in a variety of       
patterns1 from the cottage commode to   
the more expensive ones in mahogany or  
oak1 and vary in price accordingly4     
,they are made to act either by a       
handle1 as in the ordinary water-closet1
 or self-acting on rising from the seat4
 ,the earth-reservoir is calculated to  
hold enough for about twenty-five times2
 and where earth is scarce1 or the      
manure required of extraordinary        
strength1 the product may be dried as   
many as seven times1 and without losing 
any of its deodorizing properties4  ,if 
care be taken to cast one service of    
earth into the pail when first placed in
 the commode1 and to have the commonest 
regard to cleanliness1 not the least    
offensive smell will be perceptible1    

though the receptacle remain unemptied  
for weeks4 ,care must also be taken1    
that no liquid1 but that which they are 
intended to receive1 be thrown into the 
pails4  ,the pail used in the commode is
 made of galvanized iron1 and is shaped 
very much like an ordinary coal-hod4 ,it
 has a cover of the same material1 and  
it may be carried from an upper floor   
with no more offensiveness than a hodful
 of common earth4  ,fig4 #gj represents 
a cross-section of the commode1 and will
 enable the reader more clearly to      
understand the construction and         
operation of the apparatus4  a is the   
opening in the seat2 b1 the pan2 c1 the 
pail for receiving the deposit2 d1 the  
hopper for containing the earth supply2 
e1 the box by which the earth is        
measured1 and by which it is thrown into
 the pail when moved to the position e' 
by the operation of the pull-up2 f1 a   
door by which the pail is shut in2 g1   
the cover of the seat2 h1 the cover of  
the hopper2 i a platform which prevents 

the escape of earth from e4             
,illustration3 ,fig4 #gj ,,how ,,to     
,,use ,,the ,,earth-,,closet4  ,under   
this head1 the circular issued by the   
original ,london company contains the   
following3  ,the first requirement for  
the proper working of the earth-closet  
is earth perfectly dry and sifted4      
,earth alone is proved to be the best   
deodorizer1 and far superior to any     
disinfectants2 but where it is difficult
 to obtain earth abundantly1 sifted     
ashes1 as before stated1 may be mixed   
with1 it in proportion of two of earth  
to one of ashes4  ,as the first         
requirement is dry earth sifted1 and as 
this is usually thought to be a great   
difficulty in the way of the adoption of
 the dry earth system1 the following    
remarks will at once remove such an     
impression4  ,the earth-commode and     
closet1 if used by six persons daily1   
will require1 on an average1 about one  
hundred weight of earth per week4 ,this 
may be dried for family use in a drawer 

made to fit under the kitchen range1 and
 which may be filled with earth one     
morning and left until the next4 ,the   
drawer should reach to within two inches
 of the bottom bar of the grate4 ,a     
frame with a handle1 covered with fine  
wire-netting1 forming a kind of shovel1 
should be placed on this drawer2 the    
finer ashes will fall through1 mixing   
with the earth1 whilst the cinders will 
remain on the top1 to be1 from time to  
time1 thrown on the fire4  ,of course1  
the most economical method is to provide
 in the summer-time a winter store of   
dry earth1 which may be kept in an      
out-house1 shed1 or other convenient    
place1 just as we lay in a winter store 
of coals4  ,,things ,,to ,,be ,,observed
   ,let one fall of earth be in the pail
 before using4  ,the earth must be dry  
and sifted4  ,sand must not be used4    
,no 'slops' must be thrown down4  ,the  
handle must be pulled up with a jerk1   
and let fall sharply4   ,,repeated ,,use
 ,,of ,,earth  ,concerning the value and

 use of the product of the earth-closet1
 the following is copied from the       
,london company's circular4 7,it will be
 noticed that reference is made1 to the 
repeated use of the same earth4 ,when   
the ordure is completely dried and      
decomposed1 it has not only lost its    
odor1 but it has become1 like all       
decomposed organic matter1 an excellent 
disinfectant1 and the fifth or sixth    
time that the same earth is passed      
through the closet it is fully as       
effective in destroying odors as it was 
when used for the first time1 and of    
course each use adds to its value as    
manure1 until it becomes as strong as   
,peruvian guano1 which is now worth     
seventy-five dollars per ton4 ,in fact1 
it may be made so rich that one hundred 
pounds will be a good dressing for an   
acre of land47  ,if the closet is over a
 water-tight cesspool or pit1 it will   
require emptying at the end of three or 
six months4 ,the produce1 which will be 
quite inodorous1 should be thrown1      

together in a heap1 sheltered from wet1 
and occasionally turned over4 ,at the   
end of a few weeks1 it will be dry and  
fit for use4  ,if the receptacle be an  
iron trough or pail1 the contents should
 be thrown together1 re-dried1 and used 
over again1 four or five times4 ,in a   
few weeks they will be dry and fit for  
use2 the value being increased by       
repeated action4 ,the condition of the  
manure should be much the same as that  
of guano1 and fit for drilling4  ,the   
inventor of the earth-closet1 ,rev4 ,mr4
 ,moule1 says3  ,it was to this point   
7the power of earth or clay to absorb   
the products of the decomposition of    
manure7 but particularly to the repeated
 action1 and consequently the repeated  
use of the same earth1 that ,i first    
directed the attention of the public4 ,i
 then pointed out3 ,first4 ,that a very 
small portion of dry and sifted earth   
7one and a half pints7 is sufficient by 
covering the deposit1 to prevent        
fermentation1 7which so soon sets in    

whenever water is used17 and the        
consequent generation and emission of   
noxious gases4 ,second4 ,that if within 
a few hours1 or even a few days1 the    
mass that would be formed by the        
repeated layers of deposit1 be          
intimately mixed by a coarse rake or    
spade1 or by a mixer made for the       
purpose1 then1 in five or ten minutes1  
neither to the eye or sense of smell is 
any thing perceptible but so much       
earth4444 ,when about three cart-loads  
of sifted earth had thus been used for  
my family1 7which averaged fifteen      
persons17 and left under a shed1 ,i     
found that the material first employed  
was sufficiently dried to be used again4
 ,this process of alternate mixing and  
drying was renewed five times1 the earth
 still retaining its absorbent powers   
apparently unimpaired4 ,of the visitors 
taken to the spot1 none could guess the 
nature of the compost1 though in some   
cases the heap which they visited in the
 afternoon had been turned over that    

same morning 444  ,it is only in towns1 
where the delivery1 stowage1 and removal
 of earth is attended with cost and     
difficulty1 that any artificial aid for 
drying the compost would be desirable4  
,on premises not cramped for space1 the 
atmosphere1 especially with a glass roof
 to the shed1 will act sufficiently     
fast4  ,you may by means of it 7the     
earth system7 have a privy close to the 
house and a closet up-stairs1 from      
neither of which shall proceed any      
offensive smell or any noxious gas4 ,a  
projection from the back of the cottage1
 eight feet long and six feet wide1     
would be amply sufficient for this      
purpose4 ,the nearer three or four feet 
down-stairs1 would be occupied by the   
privy1 in which1 by the seat1 would be a
 receptacle for dry earth4 ,the 'soil'  
and earth would fall into the further   
five or four feet1 which would form the 
covered and closed shed for mixing and  
drying4 ,up-stairs1 the arrangement     
would be much the same1 the deposit     

being made to fall clear of every wall4 
,through1 this closet the removal of    
noxious and offensive matters in time of
 sickness1 and of slop-buckets1 would be
 immediate and easy2 and if the shed    
below be kept well supplied with earth1 
all effluvium would be almost           
immediately checked4 ,as to the trouble 
which this will cause1 a very little    
experience will convince the cottager   
that it is less instead of greater1 than
 the women generally go through at      
present1 while the value of the manure  
will afford an inducement to exertion4  
4     4     4     4     4     4     4   
4     4  ,the truth is1 that the        
machinery is more simple1 much less     
expensive1 and far less liable to injury
 than that of the water-closet4 ,the    
supply of earth to the house is as easy 
as that of coals4 ,to the closet it may 
be supplied more easily than water is   
supplied by a forcing-pump1 and to the  
commode it can be conveyed just as coal 
is carried to the chamber4 ,after use1  

it can be removed in either case by the 
bucket or box placed under the seat1 or 
from the fixed reservoir1 with less     
offense than that of the ordinary       
slop-bucket--indeed1 7,i speak after    
four years' experience17 with as little 
offense as is found in the removal of   
coal-ashes4 ,so that1 while servants and
 others will shrink from novelty and at 
first imagine difficulties1 yet many1 to
 my knowledge1 would now vastly prefer  
the daily removal of the bucket or the  
soil to either the daily working of a   
forcing-pump or to being called upon    
once a year1 or once in three years1 to 
assist in emptying a vault or cesspool4 
,to the above complete and convincingly 
apt arguments and statements of fact1 we
 do not care to add any thing4 ,all that
 we desire is to direct public attention
 to the admirable qualities of this     
,earth ,system1 and to suggest that1 at 
least for those living in the country   
away from the many conveniences of city 
life1 great water power1 and mechanical 

assistance1 the use of it will conduce  
largely to the economy of families1 the 
health of neighborhoods1 and the        
increasing fertility and prosperity of  
the country round about4     ,,xxxvi4   
,,warming ,,and ,,ventilation   ,there  
is no department of science1 as applied 
to practical matters1 which has so often
 baffled experimenters as the healthful 
mode of warming and ventilating houses4 
,the ,british nation spent over a       
million on the ,house of ,parliament for
 this end1 and failed4 ,our own         
government has spent half a million on  
the ,capitol1 with worse failure2 and   
now it is proposed to spend a million   
more4 ,the reason is1 that the old open 
fireplace has been supplanted by less   
expensive modes of heating1 destructive 
to health2 and science has but just     
begun experiments to secure a remedy for
 the evil4  ,the open fire warms the    
person1 the walls1 the floors and the   
furniture by radiation1 and these1      
together with the fire1 warm the air by 

convection4 ,for the air resting on the 
heated surfaces is warmed by convection1
 rises and gives place to cooler        
particles1 causing a constant heating of
 its particles by movement4 ,thus in a  
room with an open fire1 the person is   
warmed in part by radiation from the    
fire and the surrounding walls and      
furniture1 and in part by the warm air  
surrounding the body4  ,in regard to the
 warmth of air1 the thermometer is not  
an exact index of its temperature4 ,for 
all bodies are constantly radiating     
their heat to cooler adjacent surfaces  
until all come to the same temperature4 
,this being so1 the thermometer is      
radiating its heat to walls and         
surrounding objects1 in addition to what
 is subtracted by the air that surrounds
 it1 and thus the air is really several 
degrees warmer than the thermometer     
indicates4 ,a room at #gj degrees by the
 thermometer is usually filled with air 
five or more degrees warmer than this4  
,now1 the cold air is denser than warm1 

and therefore contains more oxygen4     
,consequently1 the cooler the air       
inspired1 the larger the supply of      
oxygen and of the vitality and vigor    
which it imparts4 ,thus1 the great      
problem for economy of health is to warm
 the person as much as possible by      
radiated heat1 and supply the lungs with
 cool air4 ,for when we breathe air at  
from #af to #bj degrees1 we take double 
the amount of oxygen that we do when we 
inhale it at #hj to #ij degrees1 and    
consequently can do double the amount of
 muscle and brain work4  ,warming by an 
open fire is nearest to the natural mode
 of the ,creator1 who heats the earth   
and its furniture by the great central  
fire of heaven1 and sends cool breezes  
for our lungs4 ,but open fires involve  
great destruction of fuel and           
expenditure of money1 and in consequence
 economic methods have been introduced  
to the great destruction of health and  
life4  ,of these methods1 the most      
popular is that by which radiated heat  

is banished1 and all warmth is gained by
 introducing heated air4 ,this is the   
method employed in our national         
,capitol1 where both warming and        
ventilation are attempted by means of   
fans worked by steam1 which force in the
 heated air4 ,this is an expensive mode1
 used only for large establishments1 and
 its entire failure at our capitol will 
probably prevent in future any very     
extensive use of it4  ,but the most     
common mode of warming is by heated air 
introduced from a furnace4 ,the chief   
objection to this is the loss of all    
radiated heat1 and the consequent       
necessity of breathing air which is     
debilitating both from its heat and also
 from being usually deprived of the     
requisite moisture provided by the      
,creator in all out-door air4 ,another  
objection is the fact that it is        
important to health to preserve an equal
 circulation of the blood1 and the      
greatest impediment to this is a mode of
 heating which keeps the head in warmer 

air than the feet4 ,this is especially  
deleterious in an age and country where 
active brains are constantly drawing    
blood from the extremities to the head4 
,all furnace-heated rooms have coldest  
air at the feet1 and warmest around the 
head4 ,it is also rarely the case that  
furnace-heated houses have proper       
arrangements for carrying off the       
vitiated air4  ,there are some recent   
scientific discoveries that relate to   
impure air which may properly be        
introduced here4 ,it is shown by the    
microscope that fermentation is a       
process which generates extremely minute
 plants1 that gradually increase till   
the whole mass is pervaded by this      
vegetation4 ,the microscope also has    
revealed the fact that1 in certain      
diseases1 these microscopic plants are  
generated in the blood and other fluids 
of the body1 in a mode similar to the   
ordinary process of fermentation4  ,and1
 what is very curious1 each of these    
peculiar diseases generates diverse     

kinds of plants4 ,thus in the typhoid   
fever1 the microscope reveals in the    
fluids of the patient a plant that      
resembles in form some kinds of seaweed4
 ,in chills and fever1 the microscopic  
plant has another form1 and in small-pox
 still another4 ,a work has recently    
been published in ,europe1 in which     
representations of these various        
microscopic plants generated in the     
fluids of the diseased persons are      
exhibited1 enlarged several hundred     
times by the microscope4 ,all diseases  
that exhibit these microscopic plants   
are classed together1 and are called    
,zymotic1 from a ,greek word signifying 
to ferment4  ,these zymotic diseases    
sometimes have a local origin1 as in the
 case of ague caused by miasma of       
swamps2 and then they are named endemic4
 ,in other cases1 they are caused by    
personal contact with the diseased body 
or its clothing1 as the itch or         
small-pox2 or else by effluvia from the 
sick1 as in measles4 ,such are called   

contagious or infectious4 ,in other     
cases1 diseases result from some unknown
 cause in the atmosphere1 and affect    
numbers of people at the same time1 as  
in influenza or scarlet fever1 and these
 are called epidemics4  ,it is now      
regarded as probable that most of these 
diseases are generated by the           
microscopic plants which float in an    
impure or miasmatic atmosphere1 and are 
taken into the blood by breathing4      
,recent scientific investigations in    
,great ,britain and other countries     
prove that the power of resisting these 
diseases depends upon the purity of the 
air which has been habitually inspired4 
,the human body gradually accommodates  
itself to unhealthful circumstances1 so 
that people can live a long time in bad 
air4 ,but the reserve power of the body1
 that is1 the power of resisting        
disease1 is under such circumstances    
gradually destroyed1 and then an        
epidemic easily sweeps away those thus  
enfeebled4 ,the plague of ,london1 that 

destroyed thousands every day1 came     
immediately after a long period of damp1
 warm days1 when there was no wind to   
carry off the miasma thus generated2    
while the people1 by long breathing of  
bad air1 were all prepared1 from having 
sunk into a low vitality1 to fall before
 the pestilence4  ,multitudes of public 
documents show that the fatality of     
epidemics is always proportioned to the 
degree in which impure air has          
previously been respired4 ,sickness and 
death are therefore regulated by the    
degree in which air is kept pure1       
especially in case of diseases in which 
medical treatment is most uncertain1 as 
in cholera and malignant fevers4        
,investigations made by governmental    
authority1 and by boards of health in   
this country and in ,great ,britain1    
prove that zymotic diseases ordinarily  
result from impure air generated by     
vegetable or animal decay1 and that in  
almost all cases they can be prevented  
by keeping the air pure4 ,the decayed   

animal matter sent off from the skin and
 lungs in a close1 unventilated bedroom 
is one thing that generates these       
zymotic diseases4 ,the decay of animal  
and vegetable matter in cellars1 sinks1 
drains1 and marshy districts is another 
cause2 and the decayed vegetable matter 
thrown up by plowing up of decayed      
vegetable matter in the rich soil in new
 countries is another4  ,in the         
investigations made in certain parts of 
,great ,britain1 it appeared that in    
districts where the air is pure the     
deaths average #aa in #ajjj each year2  
while in localities most exposed to     
impure miasma1 the mortality was #de in 
every thousand4 ,at this rate1          
thirty-four persons in every thousand   
died from poisoned air1 who would have  
preserved health and life by            
well-ventilated homes in a pure         
atmosphere4 ,and1 out of all who died1  
the proportion who owed their deaths to 
foul air was more than three fourths4   
,similar facts have been obtained by    

boards of health in our own country4    
,mr4 ,leeds gives statistics showing1   
that in ,philadelphia1 by improved modes
 of ventilation and other sanitary      
methods1 there was a saving of #cbcg    
lives in two years2 and a saving of     
three fourths of a million of dollars1  
which would pay the whole expense of the
 public schools4 ,philadelphia being    
previously an unusually cleanly and     
well-ventilated city1 what would be the 
saving of life1 health1 and wealth were 
such a city as ,new-,york perfectly     
cleansed and ventilated8  ,here it is   
proper to state again that conflicting  
opinions are found in many writers on   
ventilation1 in regard to the position  
of ventilating registers to carry off   
vitiated air4 ,most writers state that  
the impure air is heavier1 and falls to 
the bottom of a room4 ,after consulting 
scientific men extensively on this      
point1 the writer finds the true result 
to be as follows3 ,carbonic acid is     
heavier than common air1 and1 unmixed1  

falls to the floor4 ,but by the         
principle of diffusion of gases1 the air
 thrown from the lungs1 though at first 
it sinks a little1 is gradually         
diffused1 and in a heated room1 in the  
majority of cases1 it is found more     
abundantly at the top than at the bottom
 of the room1 though in certain         
circumstances it is more at the bottom4 
,for this reason1 registers to carry off
 impure air should be placed at both the
 top and bottom of a room4  ,in         
arranging for pure air in dwellings1 it 
is needful to proportion the air        
admitted and discharged to the number of
 persons4 ,as a guide to this1 we have  
the following calculation3 ,on an       
average1 every adult vitiates about half
 a pint of air at each inspiration1 and 
inspires twenty times a minute4 ,this   
would amount to one hogshead of air     
vitiated every hour by every grown      
person4 ,to keep the air pure1 this     
amount should enter and be carried out  
every hour for each person4 ,if1 then1  

ten persons assemble in a dining-room1  
ten hogsheads of air should enter and   
ten be discharged each hour4 ,by the    
same rule1 a gathering of five hundred  
persons demands the entrance and        
discharge of five hundred hogsheads of  
air every hour1 and a thousand persons  
require a thousand hogsheads of air     
every hour4  ,in calculating the size of
 registers and conductors1 then1 we must
 have reference to the number of persons
 who are to abide in a dwelling2 while  
for rooms or halls intended for large   
gatherings1 a far greater allowance must
 be made4  ,the most successful mode    
before the public1 both for warming and 
ventilation1 is that of ,lewis ,leeds1  
who was employed by government to       
ventilate the military hospitals and    
also the treasury building at           
,washington4 ,this method has been      
adopted in various school-houses1 and   
also by ,a4 ,t4 ,stewart in his hotel   
for women in ,new-,york ,city4 ,the     
,leeds plan embraces the mode of heating

 both by radiation and convection1 very 
much resembling the open fireplace in   
operation1 and yet securing great       
economy4 ,it is modeled strictly after  
the mode adopted by the ,creator in     
warming and ventilating the earth1 the  
home of his great earthly family4 ,it   
aims to have a passage of pure air      
through1 every room1 as the breezes pass
 over the hills1 and to have a method of
 warming chiefly by radiation1 as the   
earth is warmed by the sun4 ,in addition
 to this1 the air is to be provided with
 moisture1 as it is supplied out-doors  
by exhalations from the earth1 and its  
trees and plants4  ,the mode of         
accomplishing this is by placing coils  
of steam1 or hot water pipes1 under     
windows1 which warm the parlor walls and
 furniture1 partly by radiation1 and    
partly by the air warmed on the heated  
surfaces of the coils4 ,at the same     
time1 by regulating registers1 or by    
simply opening the lower part of the    
window1 the pure air1 guarded from      

immediate entrance into the room1 is    
admitted directly upon the coils1 so    
that it is partially warmed before it   
reaches the person3 and thus cold drafts
 are prevented4 ,then the vitiated air  
is drawn off through registers both at  
the top and bottom of the room1 opening 
into a heated exhausting flue1 through  
which the constantly ascending current  
of warm air carries it off4 ,these      
heated coils are often used for warming 
houses without any arrangement for      
carrying off the vitiated air1 when1 of 
course1 their peculiar usefulness is    
gone4  ,the moisture may be supplied by 
a broad vessel placed on or close to the
 heated coils1 giving a large surface   
for evaporation4 ,when rooms are warmed 
chiefly by radiated heat1 the air can be
 borne much cooler than in rooms warmed 
by hot-air furnaces1 just as a person in
 the radiating sun can bear much cooler 
air than in the shade4 ,a time will come
 when walls and floors will be contrived
 to radiate heat instead of absorbing it

 from the occupants of houses1 as is    
generally the case at the present time1 
and then all can breathe pure and cool  
air4  ,we are now prepared to examine   
more in detail the modes of warming and 
ventilation employed in the dwellings   
planned for this work4  ,in doing this1 
it should be remembered that the aim is 
not to give plans of houses to suit the 
architectural taste or the domestic     
convenience of persons who intend to    
keep several servants1 and care little  
whether they breathe pure or bad air1   
nor of persons who do not wish to       
educate their children to manual        
industry or to habits of close economy4 
,on the contrary1 the aim is1 first1 to 
secure a house in which every room shall
 be perfectly ventilated both day and   
night1 and that too without the watchful
 care and constant attention and        
intelligence needful in houses not      
provided with a proper and successful   
mode of ventilation4  ,the next aim is1 
to arrange the conveniences of domestic 

labor so as to save time1 and also to   
render such work less repulsive than it 
is made by common methods1 so that      
children can be trained to love         
house-work4 ,and lastly1 economy of     
expense in house-building is sought4    
,these things should be borne in mind in
 examining the plans of this work4  ,in 
the ,cottage plan1 7,chap ,,ii4 ,fig4   
#a17 the pure air for rooms on the      
ground floor is to be introduced by a   
wooden conductor one foot square1       
running under the floor from the front  
door to the stove-room2 with cross      
branches to the two large rooms4 ,the   
pure air passes through this1 protected 
outside by wire netting1 and delivered  
inside through registers in each room1  
as indicated in ,fig4 #a4  ,in case open
 ,franklin stoves are used in the large 
rooms1 the pure air from the conductor  
should enter behind them1 and thus be   
partially warmed4 ,the vitiated air is  
carried off at the bottom of the room   
through the open stoves1 and also at the

 top by a register opening into a       
conductor to the exhausting warm-air    
shaft1 which1 it will be remembered1 is 
the square chimney1 containing the iron 
pipe which receives the kitchen         
stove-pipe4 ,the stove-room receives    
pure air from the conductor1 and sends  
off impure air and the smells of cooking
 by a register opening directly into the
 exhausting shaft2 while its hot air and
 smoke1 passing through the iron pipe1  
heat the air of the shaft1 and produce  
the exhausting current4 ,the            
construction of the exhausting or       
warm-air shaft is described on page #fc4
  ,the large chambers on the second     
floor 7,fig4 #ab7 have pure air         
conducted from the stove-room through   
registers that can be closed if the heat
 or smells of cooking are unpleasant4   
,the air in the stove-room will always  
be moist from the water of the stove    
boiler1  ,the small chambers have pure  
air admitted from windows sunk at top   
half an inch2 and the warm1 vitiated air

 is conducted by a register in the      
ceiling which opens into a conductor to 
the exhausting warm-air shaft at the    
centre of the house1 as shown in ,fig4  
#ag4  ,the basement or cellar is        
ventilated by an opening into the       
exhausting air shaft1 to remove impure  
air1 and a small opening over each      
glazed door to admit pure air4 ,the     
doors open out into a well1 or recess1  
excavated in the earth before the       
cellar1 for the admission of light and  
air1 neatly bricked up and whitewashed4 
,the doors are to be made entirely of   
strong1 thick glass sashes1 and this    
will give light enough for laundry work2
 the tubs and ironing-table being placed
 close to the glazed door4 ,the floor   
must be plastered with water-lime1 and  
the walls and ceiling be whitewashed1   
which will add reflected light to the   
room4 ,there will thus be no need of    
other windows1 and the house need not be
 raised above the ground4 ,several      
cottages have been built thus1 so that  

the ground floors and conservatories are
 nearly on the same level2 and all agree
 that they are pleasanter than when     
raised higher4  ,when a window in any   
room is sunk at the top1 it should have 
a narrow shelf in front inclined to the 
opening1 so as to keep out the rain4 ,in
 small chambers for one person1 an inch 
opening is sufficient1 and in larger    
rooms for two persons1 a two-inch       
opening is needed4 ,the openings into   
the exhausting air flue should vary from
 eight inches to twelve inches square1  
or more1 according to the number of     
persons who are to sleep in the room4   
,the time when ventilation is most      
difficult is the medium weather in      
spring and fall1 when the air1 though   
damp1 is similar in temperature outside 
and in4 ,then the warm-air flue is      
indispensable to proper ventilation4    
,this is especially needed in a room    
used for school or church purposes4     
,every room used for large numbers      
should have its air regulated not only  

as to its warmth and purity1 but also as
 to its supply of moisture2 and for this
 purpose will be found very convenient  
the instrument called the ,hygrodeik1   
,footnote3 ,it is manufactured by ,n4   
,m4 ,lowe1 ,boston1 and sold by him3 and
 ,j4 ,queen  ,co41 ,philadelphia4 which 
shows at once the temperature and the   
moisture4 ,a work by ,dr4 ,derby on     
,anthracite ,coal1 scientific men say   
has done much mischief by an unproved   
theory that the discomfort of furnace   
heat is caused by the passage of        
carbonic oxide through the iron of the  
furnace heaters1 and not by want of     
moisture4 ,god made the air right1 and  
taking out its moisture must be wrong4  
,the preceding remarks illustrate the   
advantages of the cottage plan in       
respect to ventilation4 ,the economy of 
the mode of warming next demands        
attention4 ,in the first place1 it      
should be noted that the chimney being  
at the centre of the house1 no heat is  
lost by its radiation through outside   

walls into open air1 as is the case with
 all fireplaces and grates that have    
their backs and flues joined to an      
outside wall4  ,in this plan1 all the   
radiated heat from the stove serves to  
warm the walls of adjacent rooms in cold
 weather2 while in the warm season1 the 
non-conducting summer casings of the    
stove send all the heat not used in     
cooking either into the exhausting      
warm-air shaft or into the central      
cast-iron pipe4 ,in addition to this1   
the sliding doors of the stove-room     
7which should be only six feet high1    
meeting the partition coming from the   
ceiling7 can be opened in cool days1 and
 then the heat from the stove would     
temper the rooms each side of the       
kitchen4 ,in hot weather1 they could be 
kept closed except when the stove is    
used1 and then opened only for a short  
time4 ,the ,franklin stoves in the large
 room would give the radiating warmth   
and cheerful blaze of an open fire1     
while radiating heat also from all their

 surfaces4 ,in cold weather1 the air of 
the larger chambers could be tempered by
 registers admitting warm air from the  
stove-room1 which would always be       
sufficiently moistened by evaporation   
from the stationary boiler4 ,the        
conservatories in winter1 protected from
 frost by double sashes1 would          
contribute agreeable moisture to the    
larger rooms4 ,in case the size of a    
family required more rooms1 another     
story could be ventilated and warmed by 
the same mode1 with little additional   
expense4  ,we will next notice the      
economy of time1 labor1 and expense     
secured by this cottage plan4 ,the      
laundry work being done in the basement1
 all the cooking1 dish-washing1 etc41   
can be done in the kitchen and          
stove-room on the ground floor4 ,but in 
case a larger kitchen is needed1 the    
lounges can be put in the front part of 
the large room1 and the movable screen  
placed so as to give a work-room        
adjacent to the kitchen1 and the front  

side of the same be used for the        
eating-room4 ,where the movable screen  
is used1 the floor should be oiled wood4
 ,a square piece of carpet can be put in
 the centre of the front part of the    
room1 to keep the feet warm when sitting
 around the table1 and small rugs can be
 placed before the lounges or other     
sitting-places1 for the same purpose4   
,most cottages are so divided by        
entries1 stairs1 closets1 etc41 that    
there can be no large rooms4 ,but in    
this plan1 by the use of the movable    
screen1 two fine large rooms can be     
secured whenever the family work is     
over1 while the conveniences for work   
will very much lessen the time required4
  ,in certain cases1 where the closest  
economy is needful1 two small families  
can occupy the cottage1 by having a     
movable screen in both rooms1 and using 
the kitchen in common1 or divide it and 
have two smaller stoves4 ,each kitchen  
will then have a window and as much room
 as is given to the kitchen in great    

steamers that provide for several       
hundred4  ,whoever plans a house with a 
view to economy must arrange rooms      
around a central chimney1 and avoid all 
projecting appendages4 ,dormer windows  
are far more expensive than common ones1
 and are less pleasant4 ,every addition 
projecting from a main building greatly 
increases expense of building1 and still
 more of warming and ventilating4  ,it  
should be introduced1 as one school     
exercise in every female seminary1 to   
plan houses with reference to economy of
 time1 labor1 and expense1 and also with
 reference to good architectural taste2 
and the teacher should be qualified to  
point out faults and give the           
instruction needed to prevent such      
mistakes in practical life4 ,every girl 
should be trained to be a wise woman    
that buildeth her house aright4  ,there 
is but one mode of ventilation yet      
tried1 that will1 at all seasons of the 
year and all hours of the day and night1
 secure pure air without dangerous      

draughts1 and that is by an exhausting  
warm-air flue4 ,this is always secured  
by an open fireplace1 so long as its    
chimney is kept warm by any fire4 ,and  
in many cases1 a fireplace with a flue  
of a certain dimension and height will  
secure good ventilation except when the 
air without and within are at the same  
temperature4  ,when no exhausting       
warm-air flue can be used1 the opening  
of doors and windows is the only resort4
 ,every sleeping-room without a         
fireplace that draws smoke well should  
have a window raised at the bottom or   
sunk at the top at least an inch1 with  
an inclined shelf outside or in1 to keep
 out rain1 and then it is properly      
ventilated4 ,or a door should be kept   
opened into a hall with an open window4 
,let the bed-clothing be increased1 so  
as to keep warm in bed1 and protect the 
head also1 and then the more air comes  
into a sleeping-room the better for     
health4  ,in reference to the warming of
 rooms and houses already built1 there  

is no doubt that stoves are the most    
economical mode1 as they radiate heat   
and also warm by convection4 ,the grand 
objection to their use is the difficulty
 of securing proper ventilation4 ,if a  
room is well warmed by a stove and then 
a suitable opening made for the entrance
 of a good supply of out-door air1 and  
by a mode that will prevent dangerous   
draughts1 all is right as to pure air4  
,but in this case1 the feet are always  
on cold floors1 surrounded by the       
coldest air1 while the head is in air of
 much higher temperature4  ,there is a  
great difference as to healthfulness and
 economy in the great variety of stoves 
with which the market is filled4 ,the   
competition in this manufacture is so   
stringent1 and so many devices are      
employed by agents1 that there is       
constant and enormous imposition on the 
public and an incredible outlay on poor 
stoves1 that soon burn out or break1    
while they devour fuel beyond           
calculation4 ,if some benevolent and    

scientific organization could be formed 
that would1 from disinterested motives1 
afford some reliable guidance to the    
public1 it probably would save both     
millions of money and much domestic     
discomfort4  ,the stove described in    
,chapter ,v4 is protected by patents in 
its chief advantages1 but this has not  
restrained many of the trade from       
incorporating some of its leading       
excellencies and claiming to have added 
superior elements4 ,others will inform  
any who inquire for it1 that it is out  
of market1 because later stoves have    
proved superior4 ,should any who read   
this work wish to be sure of securing   
this stove1 and also of gaining minute  
directions for its use1 they may apply  
to the writer1 ,miss ,c4 ,e4 ,beecher1  
#fi ,west #chth ,street1 ,new-,york1    
inclosing #be cents4  ,she will then    
forward the manufacturers' printed      
descriptive circulars1 and her own      
advice as to the best selection from the
 different sizes1 and directions for its

 use1 based on her own personal         
experience and that of many friends4    
,should any purchases be made through   
this medium1 the manufacturers have     
agreed to pay a certain percentage into 
the treasury of the ,benevolent         
,association mentioned at the close of  
this volume4  ,there is no more         
dangerous mode of heating a room than by
 a gas-stove4 ,there is inevitably more 
or less leakage of the gas which it is  
unhealthful to breathe4 ,and proper     
ventilation is scarcely ever secured by 
those who use such stoves4 ,the same    
fatal elements of imperfect ventilation 
with its attendant horrors of disease1  
extravagant wastefulness of material1 of
 fuel1 of labor1 of time1 and of        
destruction to the apparatus itself1    
seem concomitants of all ordinary stoves
 and cooking arrangements of the present
 day1 unless those who use them are     
constant and unremitting in the exercise
 of intelligent watchfulness1 guarding  
against these evils4 ,and in view of the

 almost inevitable stupidity and        
carelessness of servants1 who generally 
have charge of such things1 and the     
frequent thoughtlessness even of        
intelligent women who manage their own  
kitchens1 the writer believes she is    
doing a public service by offering her  
own experience as a guide to simpler1   
cheaper1 and more wholesome means of    
living and preparing the family food4   
,,xxxvii4  ,,care ,,of ,,the ,,homeless1
 ,,the ,,helpless1 ,,and ,,the          
,,vicious4   ,in considering the duties 
of the ,christian family in regard to   
the helpless and vicious classes1 some  
recently developed facts need to be     
considered4 ,we have stated that the    
great end for which1 the family was     
instituted is the training to virtue and
 happiness of our whole race1 as the    
children of our ,heavenly ,father1 and  
this with chief reference to their      
eternal existence after death4 ,in the  
teachings of our ,lord we find that it  
is for sinners--for the lost and        

wandering sheep1 that he is most        
tenderly concerned4 ,it is not those who
 by careful training and happy          
temperaments have escaped the dangers of
 life that ,god and good angels most    
anxiously watch4 ,for there is more joy 
in heaven over one sinner that repenteth
 than over ninety and nine that went not
 astray4  ,the hardest work of all is to
 restore a guilty1 selfish1 hardened    
spirit to honor1 truth1 and purity2 and 
this is the divine labor to which the   
pitying ,saviour calls all his true     
followers2 to lift up the fallen1 to    
sustain the weak1 to protect the        
tempted1 to bind up the broken-hearted1 
and especially to rescue the sinful4    
,this is the peculiar privilege of woman
 in the sacred retreat of a ,christian  
home4 ,and it is for such self-denying  
ministries that she is to train all who 
are under her care and influence1 both  
by her teaching and by her example4  ,in
 connection with these distinctive      
principles of ,christ for which the     

family state was instituted1 let the    
following facts be considered4 ,the     
,massachusetts ,board of ,state         
,charities1 consisting of some of the   
most benevolent and intelligent         
gentlemen of that ,state1 in pursuance  
of their official duty visited all the  
,state institutions1 and held           
twenty-five meetings during the year    
#ahfg-h4 ,by these visits and consequent
 discussions they arrived at certain    
conclusions1 which may be briefly       
condensed as follows4  ,no state or     
nation excels ,massachusetts in a wise  
and generous care of the helpless1 poor1
 and vicious4 ,the agents employed for  
this end are frugal1 industrious1       
intelligent1 and benevolent men and     
women1 with high moral principles4 ,the 
pauper and criminal classes requiring to
 be cared for by ,massachusetts are less
 in proportion to the whole number of   
inhabitants than in any other state or  
nation4 ,yet1 admirable as are these    
comparative results1 there is room for  

improvement in a most important         
particular4 ,the report of the ,board   
urges that the present mode of          
collecting special classes in great     
establishments1 though it may be the    
best in a choice of evils1 is not the   
best method for the physical1 social1   
and moral improvement of those classes2 
as it involves many unfortunate         
influences 7which are stated at large37 
and the report suggests that a better   
way would be to scatter these           
unfortunates from temporary receiving   
asylums into families of ,christian     
people all over the ,state4  ,it is     
suggested in view of the above1 that    
collecting fallen women into one large  
community is not the best way to create 
a pure moral atmosphere2 and that       
gathering one or two hundred children in
 one establishment is not so good for   
them as to give each child a home in    
some loving ,christian family4 ,so of   
the aged and the sick1 the blessings of 
a quiet home1 and the tender1 patient   

nursing of true ,christian love1 must be
 sought in a ,christian family2 not in a
 great asylum4  ,in view of these       
important facts and suggestions1 it may 
be inquired1 if the great end and aim of
 the family state is to train the       
inmates to self-denying love and labor  
for the weak1 the suffering1 and the    
sinful1 how can it be done where there  
are no young children1 no aged persons1 
no invalids1 and no sinful ones for whom
 such sacrifices are to be made8  ,why  
are orphan children thrown upon the     
world1 why are the aged held in a       
useless1 suffering life1 except that    
they may aid in cultivating tender love 
and labor for the helpless1 and         
reverence for the hoary head8 ,and yet1 
how few children are trained thus to    
regard the orphan1 the aged1 the        
helpless1 and the vicious around them6  
,great houses are built for these       
destitute ones1 and all the labor and   
self-denial in taking care of them is   
transferred to paid agents1 while       

thousands of families are thus deprived 
of all opportunity to cultivate the     
distinctive virtues of the ,christian   
household4  ,in this connection1 let us 
look at some facts recently published in
 the city of ,new-,york4  ,the writer1  
,rev4 ,w4 ,o4 ,van ,meter1 says in his  
report3  ,the following astounding      
statistics are carefully selected from  
the ,reports of the ,police1 ,board of  
,health1 ,citizens' ,association1 and   
more than twelve years' personal        
experience4  ,he then gives the         
following description of a section of   
the city only a few rods from the stores
 and residences of those who count their
 wealth by hundreds of thousands and    
millions1 many of them professing to be 
followers of ,christ3  ,first1 we see   
old sheds1 stable lofts1 dilapidated    
buildings1 too worthless to be repaired1
 lofts over warehouses and shops2       
cellars1 too worthless for business     
purposes1 and too unhealthy for horses  
or pigs1 and therefore occupied by human

 beings at high rent4--,second1 houses  
erected for tenant purposes4 ,take one  
near our ,mission1 as a fair specimen of
 the better class of 'model' tenant     
houses4 ,it contains one hundred and    
twenty-six families--is entered at the  
sides from alleys eight feet wide2 and  
by reason of another barrack of equal   
height1 the rooms are so darkened1 that 
on a cloudy day it is impossible to sew 
in them without artificial light4 ,it   
has not one room that can be thoroughly 
ventilated4  ,the vaults and sewers     
which are to carry off the filth of one 
hundred and twenty-six families have    
grated openings in the alleys1 and      
doorways in the cellars1 through which  
the deadly miasma penetrates and poisons
 the air of the house and courts4 ,the  
water-closets for the whole vast        
establishment are a range of stalls1    
without doors1 and accessible not only  
from the building1 but even from the    
street4 ,comfort here is out of the     
question2 common decency impossible1 and

 the horrid brutalities of the          
passenger-ship are day after day        
repeated1 but on a larger scale4  ,in   
similar dwellings are living five       
hundred and ten thousand persons1       
7nearly one half of the inhabitants of  
the city17 chiefly from the laboring    
classes1 of very moderate means1 and    
also the uncounted thousands of those   
who do not know to-day what they shall  
have to live on to-morrow4 ,this immense
 population is found chiefly in an area 
of less than four square miles4 ,the    
vagrant and neglected children among    
them would form a procession in double  
file eight miles long from the ,battery 
to ,harlem4  ,in the ,fourth ward1 the  
tenant-house population is crowded at   
the rate of two hundred and ninety      
thousand inhabitants to the square mile4
 ,such packing was probably never       
equaled in any other city4 ,were the    
buildings occupied by these miserable   
creatures removed1 and the people placed
 by each other1 there would be but one  

and two ninths of a square yard for     
each1 and this unparalleled packing is  
increasing4 ,two hundred and twenty-four
 families in the ward live below the    
sidewalk1 many of them below high-water 
mark4 ,often in very high tide they are 
driven from their cellars or lie in bed 
until the tide ebbs4 ,not one half of   
the houses have any drain or connection 
with the sewer4 ,the liquid refuse is   
emptied on the sidewalk or into the     
street1 giving forth sickening          
exhalations1 and uniting its fetid      
streams with others from similar        
sources4 ,there are more than four      
hundred families in this ward whose     
homes can only be reached by wading     
through a disgusting deposit of filthy  
refuse4 ',in one tenant-house one       
hundred and forty-six were sick with    
small-pox1 typhus fever1 scarlatina1    
measles1 marasmus1 phthisis pulmonalis1 
dysentery1 and chronic diarrhea4 ,in    
another1 containing three hundred and   
forty-nine persons1 one in nineteen died

 during the year1 and on the day of     
inspection1 which was during the most   
healthy season of the year1 there were  
one hundred and fifteen persons sick6   
,in another 7in the ,sixth ,ward1 but   
near us17 are sixty-five families2      
seventy-seven persons were sick or      
diseased at the time of inspection1 and 
one in four always sick4 ,in fifteen of 
these families twenty-five children were
 living1 thirty-seven had died4'  ,here 
are found the lowest class of sailor    
boarding-houses1 dance- houses1 and dens
 of infamy4 ,there are less than two    
dwelling-houses for each rum-hole4 ,here
 are the poorest1 vilest1 most degraded1
 and desperate representatives of all   
nations4 ,in the homes of thousands     
here1 a ray of sunlight never shines1 a 
flower never blooms1 a bird song is     
never heard1 a breath of pure air never 
breathed4 ,a procession of vagrant and  
neglected children that in double file  
would reach eight miles1 living in such 
filth1 vice1 and unhealthful pollution2 

all of them ,god's children1 all        
,christ's younger brethren1 to save whom
 he humbled himself1 even to the        
shameful death of the cross6  ,meantime1
 the city of ,new ,york has millions of 
wealth placed in the hands of men and   
women who profess to be followers of    
,jesus ,christ1 and to have consecrated 
themselves1 their time1 and their wealth
 to his service4 ,and they daily are    
passing and repassing within a stone's  
throw of the streets where all this     
misery and sin are accumulated6  ,so in 
all our large cities and towns all over 
the land are found similar1 if not so   
extensive1 collections of vice and      
misery4 ,and even where there are not   
such extremes of degradation1 there are 
contrasts of condition that should give 
us pause4 ,for example1 in the vicinity 
of our large towns and cities will be   
seen spacious mansions inhabited by     
professed followers of ,jesus ,christ1  
each surrounded by ornamented grounds4  
,not far from them will be seen small   

tenement-houses1 abounding with         
children1 each house having about as    
many square yards of land as the large  
houses have square acres4 ,in the small 
tenements1 the boys rise early and go   
forth with the father to work from eight
 to ten hours1 with little opportunity  
for amusement or for reading or study4  
,in the large houses1 the boys sleep    
till a late breakfast1 then lounge about
 till school-time1 then spend three     
hours in school1 stimulating brain and  
nerves4 ,then home to a hearty dinner1  
and then again to school4  ,so with the 
girls3 in the tenement-houses1 they1 go 
to kitchens and shops to work most of   
the day1 with little chance for mental  
culture or the refinements of taste4 ,in
 the large mansions1 the daughters sleep
 late1 do little or no labor for the    
family1 and spend their time in school1 
or in light reading1 ornamental         
accomplishments1 or amusement4  ,thus   
one class are trained to feel that they 
are a privileged few for whom others are

 to work1 while they do little or       
nothing to promote the improvement or   
enjoyment of their poorer neighbors4    
,then1 again1 labor being confined      
chiefly to the unrefined and            
uncultivated1 is disgraced and rendered 
unattractive to the young4 ,one class is
 overworked1 and the body deteriorates  
from excess4 ,the other class overwork  
the brain and nerves1 and the neglected 
muscles grow thin1 flabby1 and weak4    
,notice also the style in which they    
accumulate the elegances of civilization
 without even an attempt to elevate     
their destitute neighbors to such       
culture and enjoyment4 ,their expensive 
pictures multiply on their frescoed     
walls1 their elegant books increase in  
their closed bookcases1 their fine      
pictures and prints remain shut in      
portfolios1 to be only occasionally     
opened by a privileged few4 ,their      
handsome equipages are for the          
comfortable and prosperous--not for the 
feeble and poor who have none of their  

own4 ,all their social amusements are   
exclusive1 and their expensive          
entertainments are for those only who   
can return the same to them4  ,our      
,divine ,master thus teaches1 ,when thou
 makest a feast1 call not thy kinsmen or
 thy rich neighbors1 lest they also bid 
thee again1 and a recompense he made    
thee4 ,but when thou makest a feast1    
call the poor1 for they can not         
recompense thee2 for thou shalt be      
recompensed at the resurrection of the  
just4 ,again1 our ,lord1 after          
performing the most servile office1     
taught thus3 ,if ,i1 your ,lord and     
,master1 have washed your feet1 ye ought
 to wash one another's feet4  ,in all   
these large towns and cities are women  
of wealth and leisure1 who profess to be
 followers of ,jesus ,christ4 ,some of  
them1 having property in their own      
right1 live in large mansions1 with     
equipage and servants demanding a large 
outlay4 ,they travel abroad1 and gather 
around themselves the elegant           

refinements of foreign lands4 ,they     
give1 perhaps1 a tenth of their time and
 income 7which is far less than was     
required of the ,jews71 for benevolent  
purposes1 and then think and say that   
they have consecrated themselves and all
 they have to the service of ,christ4   
,if there is any thing plainly taught in
 the ,new ,testament it is1 that the    
followers of ,christ are to be different
 and distinct from the world around     
them2 a peculiar people1 and subject to 
opposition and ill-will for their       
distinctive peculiarities4  ,of these   
peculiarities demanded1 humility and    
meekness are conspicuous3 ,come and     
learn of me1 for ,i am meek and lowly1  
and ye shall find rest4 ,now1 the grand 
aim of the rich1 worldly1 and ambitious 
is to be at least equal1 or else to rise
 higher than others1 in wealth1 honor1  
and position4 ,this is the great        
struggle of humanity in all ages1       
especially in this country1 and among   
all classes1 to rise higher--to be as   

rich or richer than others--to be as    
well dressed--to be more learned1 or in 
more honored positions than others4     
,this was the very thing that made      
contention among the apostles1 even in  
the company of their ,lord1 as they     
walked and disputed who should be the   
greatest4 ,and ,jesus sat down and      
called the twelve1 and said unto them1  
,if any man desire to be first1 the same
 shall be last and servant of all2 and  
he that is least among you shall be     
great4  ,at another time1 the ambitious 
mother of two disciples came and asked  
that her sons might have the highest    
place in his kingdom1 and the other     
disciples were moved with indignation4  
,then the ,lord taught them that the    
honor and glory of his kingdom was to be
 exactly the reverse of this world2 and 
that whoever would be great must be a   
minister1 and who would be chief must be
 a servant2 even as the ,son of ,man    
came not to be ministered to1 but to    
minister4  ,again1 he rebuked the love  

of high position and the desire of being
 counted wise as teachers of others3 ,be
 not ye called ,rabbi1 neither be ye    
called ,master2 but he that is greatest 
among you shall be your servant1 and    
whosoever exalteth himself shall be     
abased4  ,then1 as to the strife after  
wealth1 into which all are now rushing  
so earnestly1 the ,lord teaches3 ,lay   
not up for yourselves treasures on      
earth4 ,whosoever of you forsaketh not  
all that he hath can not be my disciple4
 ,sell that ye have1 and give alms2     
provide yourselves with bags that wax   
not old--a treasure in heaven that      
faileth not4 ,to the rich young man1    
asking how to gain eternal life1 the    
reply was1 ,sell all thou hast1 and give
 to the poor1 and come and follow me4   
,when the poor widow cast in all her    
living she was approved4 ,when the first
 ,christians were filled with the ,holy 
,ghost1 they sold all their possessions1
 to be distributed to those that had    
need1 and were approved4  ,and nowhere  

do we find any direction or approval of 
laying up money for self or for         
children4 ,a man is admonished to       
provide sustenance and education for his
 family1 but never to lay up money for  
them2 and the history of the children of
 the rich is a warning that1 even in a  
temporal view1 the chances are all      
against the results of such use of      
property4 ,we are to spend all to save  
the world2 ,for this we are to labor and
 sacrifice ease and wealth1 and we are  
to train children to the same           
self-sacrificing labors2 ,all that is   
spent for earthly pleasure ends here4   
,nothing goes into the future world as a
 good secured but training our own and  
other immortal minds4 ,thus only can we 
lay up treasures in heaven4  ,there is a
 crisis at hand in the history of       
individuals1 of the church1 and of our  
nation1 which must inaugurate a new     
enterprise to save the whole world4     
,there must be something coming in the  
,christian churches more consistent1    

more comprehensive1 more in keeping with
 the command of our ascending ,lord--,go
 ye 7all my followers7 into all the     
world1 and preach the gospel to every   
creature2 he that believeth shall be    
saved1 and he that believeth not shall  
be damned6  ,it is in hope and          
anticipation of such a revival of the   
true1 self-denying spirit of ,christ and
 of his earnest followers1 that plans   
have been drawn for simple modes of     
living1 in which both labor and economy 
may be practiced for benevolent ends1   
and yet without sacrificing the         
refinements of high civilization4 ,one  
method is exhibited in the first        
chapters1 adapted to country residence4 
,in what follows will be presented a    
plan for a city home1 having the same   
aim4  ,the chief points are to secure   
economy of labor and time by the        
selection and close packing of          
conveniences1 and also economy of health
 by a proper mode of warming and        
ventilation4 ,in this connection will be

 indicated opportunities and modes that 
thus may be attained for aiding to save 
the vicious1 comfort the suffering1 and 
instruct the ignorant4 ,fig4 #ga is the 
ground plan1 of a city tenement         
occupying two lots of twenty-two feet   
front1 in which there can be no side    
windows2 as is the case with most city  
houses4 ,there are two front and two    
back-parlors1 each twenty feet square1  
with a bedroom and kitchen appended to  
each3 making four complete sets of      
living-rooms4 ,a central hall runs from 
basement to roof1 and is lighted by     
skylights4 ,there is also a ventilating 
recess running from basement to roof    
with whitened walls1 and windows opening
 into it secure both light and air to   
the bedrooms4 ,on one end of this recess
 is a trash-flue closed with a door in  
the basement1 and opening into each     
story1 which must be kept closed to     
prevent an upward draught1 causing dust 
and light articles to rise4 ,at the     
other end is a dumb-waiter1 running from

 cellar to roof1 and opening into the   
hall of each story4 ,four chimneys are  
constructed near the centre of the      
house1 one for each suite of rooms1 to  
receive a smoke-pipe of cast-iron or    
terra cotta1 as described previously1   
with a space around it for warm air2 and
 this serves as the exhausting-shaft to 
carry off the vitiated air from parlors1
 kitchens1 bedrooms1 and water-closets4 
,in each kitchen is a stove such as is  
described in ,chapter ,,iv41 its pipe   
connecting with the central cast-iron or
 terra cotta pipe4 ,the stove can be    
inclosed by sliding doors shutting off  
the heat in warm weather4 ,these kitchen
 stoves1 and a large stove in the       
basement to warm the central hall1 would
 suffice for all the rooms1 except in   
the coldest months1 when a small terra  
cotta stove1 made for this purpose1 or  
even an ordinary iron stove1 placed by  
one window in each of the parlors1 would
 give the additional heat needed2 while 
fresh air could be admitted from the    

windows behind the stove1 and thus be   
partially warmed4  ,this exhibits the   
essential feature and peculiarity of    
,mr4 ,leeds's system of ventilation1    
before described4 ,fresh air1 admitted  
at the bottom of a slightly raised      
window1 is to enter below a window-seat 
which projects over the stove2 the air  
being thus warmed before entering the   
room4 ,the flue of the stove is seen 7in
 the finished corner of ,fig4 #ga1 which
 is a model for the four other suites of
 rooms on each floor7 running along the 
wall to the front chimney1 which also   
receives the corresponding stove-flue   
from the nearest window in the adjoining
 parlor3 the same arrangement being     
repeated at the back of the house4      
,this1 the two front and back chimneys  
are for the heating and ventilating     
parlor stoves2 the four central chimneys
 for cooking1 heating1 and ventilation4 
,when possible1 in a large building1    
steam generated in the basement heater  
will be found better than the parlor    

stove4 ,in this case1 the room will be  
heated by the coil of steam-pipe        
mentioned before2 the slab covering it  
being the window-seat1 or guard1 under  
which the cool fresh air is conducted to
 be warmed before passing into the room4
  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ga ,diagram of  
living quarters4 ,fig4 #gb shows one    
side of the parlor1 giving a series of  
sliding- doors1 behind which are hooks1 
shelves1 and shelf-boxes1 as described  
earlier in the book4  ,illustration3    
,fig4 #gb4  ,the recess occupied by the 
sofa stands between these two closets4  
,in case the room is used for sleeping1 
the double couch on page #cj might be   
substituted for the sofa1 serving as a  
lounge by day1 and two single beds by   
night4 ,the curtain hanging above can be
 so fastened by rings on a strong       
semi-circular wire as to be let down    
while dressing and undressing1 as is    
done in some of our steamboats4 ,pockets
 and hooks on the inside of the curtains
 may be made very useful4               

,illustration3 ,fig4 #gc4  ,fig4 #gc    
represents another side of the same room
 where are two large windows1 each      
having a cushioned seat in its recess1  
7although one may be occupied by a      
stove1 as described above47 ,a          
study-table with drawers or both the    
front and back sides furnishes large    
accommodations for many small articles4 
,fig4 #gd represents a third side of the
 same room1 with sliding doors glazed   
from top to bottom to give light to the 
bedroom and kitchen4  ,illustration3    
,fig4 #gd4  ,the fourth side appears on 
the ground plan 7,fig4 #ga47 ,the       
ottomans and a few chairs will complete 
the needful furniture4  ,by means of    
forms1 shelves1 and shelf-boxes1 the    
kitchen1 could hold all stores and      
implements for cooking and setting      
tables1 on the method shown page #cd4   
,the eating table is close to the       
kitchen and sink1 so that few steps are 
required to bring and remove every      
article4 ,thus stove1 sink1 cooking     

materials1 the table and its furniture1 
are all in close proximity1 and yet1    
when the inmates are seated at table1   
the sliding-doors will shut out the     
kitchen1 while the bad air and smells of
 cooking are earned off by the          
ventilating exhaust-shaft4  ,the bedroom
 has a bath-tub and water-closet4 ,the  
tub need not be more than four feet     
long1 and a half-cover raised by a hinge
 will1 when down1 hold wash-bowl and    
pitcher1 when the tub is not in use4    
,around the bedroom high and wide       
shelves and shelf-boxes near the ceiling
 serve to store large articles2 and     
narrower shelves with pegs under them   
for clothing1 protected by a curtain1   
furnish other conveniences for storage4 
,the trash-flue serves to send off      
rubbish1 with but few steps1 and the    
dumb waiter brings up fuel1 stores1 etc4
 ,each bedroom must be provided with a  
ventilating register at the top1        
connecting with the warm foul-air flue  
in the chimney4  ,for a family of four  

persons1 one parlor1 with its kitchen   
and bedroom1 couches and side closets1  
would supply all needful accommodations4
 ,for a larger family1 sliding-doors    
into the adjacent parlor1 its appended  
kitchen being arranged for another      
bedroom1 would accommodate a family of  
ten persons4  ,a front and a back       
entrance may be in the basement1 which1 
can be used for family stores1 each     
family having one room4 ,a general      
laundry with drying closets could be    
provided in the attic1 and lighted from 
the roof4  ,such a building1 four       
stories high1 would accommodate sixteen 
families of four members1 or eight      
larger families1 and provide light1     
warmth1 ventilation1 and more comforts  
and conveniences than are usually found 
in most city houses built for only one  
family4 ,here young married persons with
 frugal and benevolent tastes could     
commence housekeeping in a style of     
comfort and good taste rarely excelled  
in mansions of the rich4 ,the spaces    

usually occupied by stairs1 entries1    
closets1 etc41 would on this plan be    
thrown into fine large airy rooms1 with 
every convenience close at hand4  ,in   
one of our large cities is to be found a
 ,christian lady who inherited a        
handsome establishment with means to    
support it in the style common to the   
rich4 ,in the spirit of ,christ she sold
 all that she had1 and gave to the poor1
 by establishing a ,home for            
,incurables1 and making her home with   
them1 giving her time and wealth to     
promoting their temporal comfort and    
spiritual welfare4 ,was this doing more 
than her duty--more than the example and
 teachings of ,christ require8  ,suppose
 several ladies of similar views and    
character in one city1 having only      
moderate wealth1 and leisure1 unite to  
erect such a building as the one        
described1 in a light and healthful part
 of the city of ,new ,york1 and then    
should take up their residence in it1   
and from the vast accumulation of misery

 and sin at hand on every side1 should  
select the orphans1 the aged1 the sick1 
and the sinful1 and spend time and money
 for their temporal and spiritual       
elevation2 would they do more than the  
example and teachings of ,christ enjoin8
 ,or would their enjoyment1 even in this
 life1 be diminished by exchanging a    
routine chiefly of personal             
gratification for such self-denying     
ministries8 ,it was for the joy that was
 set before ,him through the everlasting
 ages that our ,lord endured the cross1 
and it is to the same supernal glories  
that he invites his followers1 and by   
the same path he trod4  ,here it        
probably will be said that all rich     
women can not do what is here suggested1
 owing to multitudinous claims1 or to   
incapacity of mind or body for carrying 
out such an attempt4 ,it will also be   
said that there are many other ways for 
practicing self-denial besides selling  
our homes and taking a humbler style of 
living4 ,this is all true4 ,but we are  

told that there are greatest and least  
in that kingdom of heaven where the     
chief happiness is in living to serve   
others1 and not for self4 ,those who can
 not change their expensive style of    
living1 and are obliged to spend most of
 their thoughts and wealth on self and  
those who are a part of self1 will be   
among the least and lowest in happiness 
and honor1 while those who take the low 
places on earth to raise others will be 
the happiest and most honored in the    
kingdom of heaven4  ,there are many     
residences in our large cities where    
women claiming to be ,christ's followers
 live in almost solitary grandeur till  
the warm season1 and then shut them up  
to spend their time at watering-places  
or country resorts4 ,the property       
invested in such city establishments1   
and the income required to keep them up1
 would secure ,christian homes to many  
suffering1 neglected1 homeless children 
of ,christ1 who are living in impure    
air1 with all the debasing influences   

found in city tenement-houses4          
,meantime1 the owners of this wealth are
 suffering in mind and body for want of 
some grand and noble object in life4 ,if
 such could not personally live in such 
an establishment as is here described1  
by self-denying arrangements and        
combination with others they could      
provide and superintend one4  ,our minds
 are created in the image of our ,father
 in heaven1 and capable of being made   
happy1 as his is1 by the outpouring of  
blessings on others4 ,and when we are   
invited by our divine ,lord to take his 
yoke and bear his burden1 it is for our 
own highest happiness as well as for the
 good of others4 ,and whoever truly     
obeys finds the yoke easy and the burden
 light1 and that they bring rest to the 
soul4 ,but those who shrink from the    
true good1 to live a life of            
self-indulgent ease1 will surely find   
that mere earthly enjoyments pall on the
 taste1 that they perish in the using1  
that they never satisfy the cravings of 

a soul created for a higher sphere and  
nobler mission4  ,the ,bible represents 
that there is an emergency-a great      
conflict in the world unseen-and that we
 on earth1 who are ,christ's people1 are
 to take a part in this conflict and in 
the fellowship of his sufferings1 to    
redeem his children from the slavery of 
sin and eternal death2 and there is the 
same call to labor and sacrifice now as 
there was when he commanded1 ,go into   
all the world and preach the ,gospel to 
every creature4  ,but is not the larger 
part of the church--especially those who
 have wealth--practically living on no  
higher principles than the pious ,jews  
and virtuous heathen8 ,are they not     
living just as if there were no great   
emergency1 no terrible risks and danger 
to their fellow-men in the life to1     
come8 ,are they not living just as if   
all men were safe after they leave this 
world1 and all we need to aim at is to  
make ourselves and others virtuous and  
happy in this life1 without disturbing  

anxiety about the life to come8 ,and is 
the training of most ,christian families
 diverse from that of pious ,jews1 in   
reference to the dangers of our         
fellow-men in the future state1 and the 
consequent duty of labor and sacrifice  
in order to extend the true religion all
 over the earth8  ,one mode of avoiding 
self-denial in style of living is by the
 plea that1 if all rich ,christiana gave
 up the expensive establishments common 
to this class and adopted such economies
 as are here suggested1 it would tend to
 lower civilization and take away       
support from those living by the fine   
arts4 ,but while the world is rushing on
 to such profuse expenditure1 will not  
all these elegancies and refinements be 
abundantly supported1 and is there as   
much danger in this direction as there  
is of avoiding the self-denying example 
of ,christ and his early followers8     
,they gave up all they had1 and were    
scattered abroad1 preaching the word2   
and was there any reason existing then  

for self-denying labor that does not    
exist now8 ,there are more idolaters and
 more sinful men now1 in actual numbers1
 than there were then2 while teaching   
them the way of eternal life does not   
now1 as it did then1 involve the loss of
 all things and deaths often4           
,moreover1 would not the fine arts1 in  
the end1 he better supported by         
imparting culture and refined tastes to 
the neglected ones8 ,teaching industry1 
thrift1 and benevolence is far better   
than scattering alms1 which often do    
more harm than good2 and would not      
enabling the masses to enjoy the fine   
arts and purchase in a moderate style   
subserve the interests of civilization  
as truly as for the rich to accumulate  
treasures for themselves in the common  
exclusive style8  ,suppose some         
,protestant lady of culture and fortune 
should unite with an associate of       
congenial taste and benevolence to erect
 such a building as here described1 and 
then devote her time and wealth to the  

elevation and salvation of the sinful   
and neglected1 would she sacrifice as   
much as does a ,lady of the ,sacred     
,heart or a ,sister of ,charity1 many of
 whom have been the daughters of princes
 and nobles8 ,they resign to their      
clergy and superiors not only the       
control of their wealth but their time1 
labor1 and conscience4 ,in doing this1  
the ,roman ,catholic lady is honored and
 admired as a saint1 while taught that  
she is doing more than her duty1 and is 
thus laying up a store of good works to 
repay for her own past deficiencies1 and
 also to purchase grace and pardon for  
humbler sinners4 ,if this is really     
believed1 how soothing to a wounded     
conscience6 ,and what a strong appeal to
 generous and ,christian feeling6 ,and  
the more terrific the pictures of       
purgatory and hell1 the stronger the    
appeal to these humane and benevolent   
principles4  ,but how would it be with  
the ,protestant woman practicing such   
self-denial8 ,for example1 the lady of  

wealth and culture1 who gave up her     
property and time to provide a home for 
incurables--would her pastor say she was
 doing more than her duty8 and if not1  
would he preach to other rich women who1
 in other ways1 could humble themselves 
to raise up the poor1 the ignorant1 and 
the sinful1 that they are doing less    
than their duty8  ,is it not sometimes  
the case1 that both minister and people1
 by example1 at least1 seem to teach    
that1 the more riches increase1 the less
 demand there is for economy1 labor1 and
 self-denial for the benefit of the     
destitute and the sinful8  ,protestants 
are little aware of the strong          
attractions which1 are drawing pious and
 benevolent women toward the ,roman     
,catholic ,church1 ,to the poor and     
neglected3 in humble life are offered a 
quiet home1 with sympathy1 and honored  
work4 ,to the refined and ambitious are 
offered the best society and high       
positions of honor and trust4 ,to the   
sinful are offered pardon for past      

offenses and a fresh supply of grace for
 all acts of penitence or of            
benevolence4 ,to the anxiously          
conscientious1 perplexed with           
contentions as to doctrines and duties1 
are offered an infallible pope and      
clergy to decide what is truth and4     
duty1 and what is the true              
interpretation of the ,bible1 while they
 are taught that the faith which saves  
the soul is implicit belief in the      
teachings of the ,roman ,catholic       
,church4 ,all this enables many1 even of
 the intelligent1 to receive the other  
parts of a system that contradicts both 
common sense and the ,bible4  ,meantime1
 a highly educated priesthood1 with no  
family ties to distract attention1 are  
organizing and employing devoted1       
self-denying women1 all over the land1  
to perform the distinctive work that    
,protestant women1 if wisely trained and
 organized by their clergy1 could carry 
out in thousands of scattered ,christian
 homes and villages4  ,in the           

,protestant churches1 women are educated
 only to be married2 and when not       
married1 there is no position provided  
which is deemed as honorable as that of 
a wife4 ,but in the ,roman ,catholic    
,church1 the unmarried woman who devotes
 herself to works of ,christian         
benevolence is the most highly honored1 
and has a place of comfort and          
respectability provided which is suited 
to her education and capacity4 ,thus    
come great nunneries1 with lady         
superiors to control conscience and     
labor and wealth4  ,but a time is coming
 when the family state is to be honored 
and ennobled by single women1 qualified 
to sustain it by their own industries2  
women who will both support and train   
the children of their ,lord and ,master 
in the true style of ,protestant        
independence1 controlled by no superior 
but ,jesus ,christ4 ,and in the ,bible  
they will find the ,father of the       
faithful1 to both ,jews and ,gentiles1  
their great exemplar4 ,for nearly one   

hundred years ,abraham had no child of  
his own2 but his household1 whom he     
trained to the number of three hundred  
and eighteen1 were children of others4  
,and he was the friend of ,god1 chosen  
to be father of many nations1 because he
 would command his household to do      
justice and judgment and keep the way of
 the ,lord4  ,the woman who from true   
love consents to resign her independence
 and be supported by another1 while she 
bears children and trains them for      
heaven1 has a noble mission2 but the    
woman who earns her own independence    
that she may train the neglected        
children of her ,lord and ,saviour has a
 still higher one4 ,and a day is coming 
when ,protestant women will be trained  
for this their highest ministry and     
profession as they never yet have been4 
,,xxxvii4  ,,the ,,christian            
,,neighborhood4   ,the spirit of        
,christian missions to heathen lands and
 the organizations to carry them forward
 commenced1 in most ,protestant lands1  

within the last century4 ,the writer can
 remember the time when an annual       
collection for domestic missions was all
 the call for such benefactions in a    
wealthy ,new-,england parish2 while such
 small pittances were customary that the
 sight of a dollar-bill in the          
collection1 even from the richest men of
 the church-members1 produced a         
sensation4  ,in the intervening period  
since that time1 the usual mode of      
extending the ,gospel among the heathen 
has been for a few of the most          
self-sacrificing men and women to give  
up country and home and all the comforts
 and benefits of a ,christian community1
 and then commence the family state amid
 such vice and debasement that it was   
ruinous to children to be trained in its
 midst4 ,and so the result has been1 in 
multitudes of cases1 that children were 
born only to be sent from parents to be 
trained by strangers1 and the true      
,christian family could not be exhibited
 in heathen lands4 ,and as a ,christian 

neighborhood1 in its strictest sense1   
consists of a collection of ,christian  
families1 such a community has been     
impossible in most cases among the      
heathen4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ge      
,when our ,lord ascended1 his last      
command was ,go ye into all the world1  
and preach the ,gospel to every         
creature4 ,for ages1 most ,christian    
people have supposed this command was   
limited to the apostles4 ,in the present
 day1 it has been extended to ,include a
 few men and women1 who should practice 
the chief labor and self-sacrifice1     
while most of the church lived at ease1 
and supposed they were obeying this     
command1 by giving a small portion of   
their abundance to support those who    
performed the chief labor and           
self-sacrifice4  ,but a time is coming  
when ,christian churches will under     
stand this command in a much more       
comprehensive sense2 and the ,christian 
family and ,christian neighborhood will 
be the grand ministry of salvation4 ,in 

order to assist in making this a        
practicable anticipation1 some          
additional drawings are given in this   
chapter4 ,the aim is to illustrate one  
mode of commencing a ,christian         
neighborhood that is so economical and  
practical that two or three ladies1 with
 very moderate means1 could carry it    
out4  ,a small church1 a school-house1  
and a comfortable family dwelling may   
all be united in one building1 and for a
 very moderate sum1 as will be          
illustrated by the following example4   
,at the head of the first chapter is a  
sketch which represents a perspective   
view of the kind of edifice indicated4  
,on the opposite page 7,fig4 #ge7 is an 
enlarged and more exact view of the     
front elevation of the same1 which is   
now building in one of the most         
,southern ,states1 where tropical plants
 flourish4 ,the three magnificent trees 
on the drawing heading the first chapter
 are live-oaks adorned with moss1 rising
 over one hundred feet high and being   

some thirty or more feet in             
circumference4 ,nearly under their      
shadow is the building to be described4 
,illustration3 ,fig4 #gf4  ,fig4 #gf is 
the ground plan1 which includes one     
large room twenty-five feet wide and    
thirty-five feet long1 having a bow     
window at one end1 and a kitchen at the 
other end4 ,the bow-window has          
folding-doors1 closed during the week1  
and within is the pulpit for ,sunday    
service4 ,the large room may be divided 
either by a movable screen or by sliding
 doors with a large closet on either    
side4 ,the doors make a more perfect    
separation2 but the screen affords more 
room for storing family conveniences1   
and also secured more perfect           
ventilation for the whole large room by 
the exhaust-flue4  ,thus1 through the   
week1 the school can be in one division1
 and the other still a sizable room1 and
 the kitchen be used for teaching       
domestic economy and also for the       
eating-room4 ,oil ,sunday1 if there is a

 movable screen1 it can be moved back to
 the fireplace2 or otherwise1 the       
sliding--doors may be opened1 giving the
 whole space to the congregation4 ,the  
chimney is finished off outside as a    
steeple4 ,it incloses a cast-iron or    
terra cotta pipe1 which receives the    
stove-pipe of the kitchen and also pipes
 connecting the two fireplaces with the 
large pipe1 and finds exit above the    
slats of the steeple at the projections4
 ,thus the chimney is made an exhaust   
shaft for carrying off vitiated air from
 all the rooms both above and below1    
which have openings into it made for the
 purpose4  ,two good-sized chambers are 
over the large lower story1 as shown in 
,fig4 #gg4 ,large closets are each side 
of these chambers1 where are slatted    
openings to admit pure air2 and under   
these openings are registers placed to  
enable pure air to pass through the     
floor into the large room below4 ,thus a
 perfect mode of ventilation is secured 
for a large number4  ,illustration3     

,fig4 #gg4  ,on ,sunday1 the            
folding-doors of the bow-window are to  
be opened for the pulpit1 the           
sliding-doors opened1 or the screen     
moved back1 and camp-chairs brought from
 the adjacent closet to seat a          
congregation of worshipers4  ,during the
 week1 the family work is to be done in 
the kitchen1 and the room adjacent be   
used for both a school and an           
eating-room4 ,here the aim will be1     
during the week1 to collect the children
 of the neighborhood1 to be taught not  
only to read1 write1 and cipher1 but to 
perform in the best manner all the      
practical duties of the family state4   
,two ladies residing in this building   
can make an illustration of the highest 
kind of ,christian family1 by adopting  
two orphans1 keeping in training one or 
two servants to send out for the benefit
 of other families1 and also providing  
for an invalid or aged member of        
,christ's neglected ones4 ,here also    
they could employ boys and girls in     

various kinds of floriculture1          
horticulture1 bee-raising1 and other    
out-door employments1 by which an income
 could be received and young men and    
women trained to industry and thrift1 so
 as to earn an independent livelihood4  
,the above attempt has been made where1 
in a circuit of fifty miles1 with a     
thriving population1 not a single church
 is open for ,sunday worship1 and not a 
school to be found except what is       
provided by faithful ,roman ,catholic   
nuns1 who1 indeed1 are found engaged in 
similar labors all over our country4    
,the cost of such a building1 where     
lumber is #ej a hundred and labor #c a  
day1 would not much exceed #abjj4  ,such
 destitute settlements abound all over  
the ,west and ,south1 while1 along the  
,pacific coast1 ,china and ,japan are   
sending their pagan millions to share   
our favored soil1 climate1 and          
government4  ,meantime1 throughout our  
older ,states are multitudes of         
benevolent1 well-educated1 ,christian   

women in unhealthful factories1 offices1
 and shops2 and many1 also1 living in   
refined leisure1 who yet are pining for 
an opportunity to aid in carrying the   
,gospel to the destitute4 ,nothing is   
needed but funds that are in the keeping
 of thousands of ,christ's professed    
disciples1 and organisations for this   
end1 which are at the command of the    
,protestant clergy4  ,let such a truly  
,christian family be instituted in any  
destitute settlement1 and soon its      
gardens and fields would cause the      
desert to blossom as the rose1 and      
around would soon gather a ,christian   
neighborhood4 ,the school-house would no
 longer hold the multiplying worshipers4
 ,a central church would soon appear1   
with its appended accommodations for    
literary and social gatherings and its  
appliances for safe and healthful       
amusements4  ,the cheering example would
 soon spread1 and ere long colonies from
 these prosperous and ,christian        
communities would go forth to shine as  

lights of the world in all the now      
darkened nations4 ,thus the ,christian  
family1 and ,christian neighborhood     
would become the grand ministry1 as they
 were designed to be1 in training our   
whole race for heaven4  ,this final     
chapter should not close without a few  
encouraging words to those who1 in view 
of the many difficult duties urged in   
these pages1 sorrowfully review their   
past mistakes and deficiencies4 ,none   
can do this more sincerely than the     
writer4 ,how many things have been done 
unwisely even with good motives6 ,how   
many have been left undone that the     
light of present knowledge would have   
secured6  ,in this painful review1 the  
good old ,bible comes as the abundant   
comforter4 ,the ,epistle to the ,romans 
was written especially to meet such     
regrets and fears4 ,it teaches that all 
men are sinners1 in many cases from     
ignorance of what is right1 and in many 
from stress of temptation1 so that      
neither ,greek nor ,jew can boast of his

 own righteousness4 ,for it is not by   
works of righteousness that we are to be
 considered and treated as righteous    
persons1 but through a faith that works 
by love2 that faith or belief which is  
not a mere intellectual conviction1 but 
a controlling purpose or spiritual      
principle which habitually controls the 
feelings and conduct4 ,and so long as   
there is this constant aim and purpose  
to obey ,christ in all things1 mistakes 
in judgment as to what is right and     
wrong are pitied1 even as a father      
pitieth his children1 when from         
ignorance they run into harm4 ,and even 
the most guilty transgressors are freely
 forgiven when truly repentant and      
faithfully striving to forsake the error
 of their ways4  ,moreover1 this tender 
and pitiful ,saviour is the ,almighty   
,one who rules both this and the        
invisible world1 and who from every evil
 still educes good4 ,this life is but   
the infant period of our race1 and much 
that we call evil1 in his wise and      

powerful ruling may be for the highest  
good of all concerned4  ,the ,blessed   
,word also cheers us with pictures of a 
dawning day to which we are approaching1
 when a voice shall be heard under the  
whole heavens1 saying1 ,alleluia--the   
kingdoms of this world are become the   
kingdoms of our ,lord and of his        
,christ1 and he shall reign forever and 
ever4 ,and a great voice out of heaven  
will proclaim1 ,behold1 the tabernacle  
of ,god is with men1 and he shall dwell 
with them1 and they shall be his people4
 ,and ,god himself shall be with them1  
and be their ,god4 ,and ,god shall wipe 
away all tears from their eyes2 and     
there shall be no more death1 neither   
sorrow1 nor crying2 neither shall there 
be any more pain2 for the former things 
are passed away4  ,the author still can 
hear the echoes of early life1 when her 
father's voice read to her listening    
mother in exulting tones the poet's     
version of this millennial consummation1
 which was the inspiring vision of his  

long life-labors--a consummation to     
which all their children were           
consecrated1 and which some of them may 
possibly live to behold4    ,o scenes   
surpassing fable1 and yet true6         
,scenes of accomplished bliss6 which who
 can see1   ,though but in distant      
prospect1 and not feel   ,his soul      
refreshed with foretaste of the joy6    
,rivers of gladness water all the earth1
   ,and clothe all climes with beauty2  
the reproach   ,of barrenness is past4  
,the fruitful field   ,laughs with      
abundance2 and the land once lean1   ,or
 fertile only in its own disgrace1      
,exults to see its thistly curse        
repealed4    ,error has no place3       
,that creeping pestilence is driven     
away2   ,the breath of ,heaven has      
chased it4 ,in the heart   ,no passion  
touches a discordant string1   ,but all 
is harmony and love4 ,disease   ,is not3
 the pure and uncontaminate blood       
,holds its due course1 nor fears the    
frost of age4     ,one song employs all 

nations2 and all cry1   ',worthy the    
,lamb1 for he was slain for us6'   ,the 
dwellers in the vales and on the rocks  
,shout to each other2 and the           
mountain-tops   ,from distant mountains 
catch the flying joy2   ,till1 nation   
after nation taught the strain1         
,behold the measure of the promise      
filled6   ,see ,salem built1 the labor  
of a ,god6   ,bright as a sun the sacred
 city shines2   ,all kingdoms and all   
princes of the earth   ,flock to that   
light2 the glory of all lands   ,flows  
into her2 unbounded is her joy1   ,and  
endless her increase4 ,thy rams are     
there1   ,nebaioth1 and the flocks of   
,kedar there2   ,the looms of ,ormus and
 the mines of ,ind1   ,and ,saba's spicy
 groves pay tribute there4    ,praise is
 in all her gates3 upon her walls1      
,and in her streets1 and in her spacious
 courts1   ,is heard salvation4 ,eastern
 ,java there   ,kneels with the native  
of the farthest west2   ,and ,athiopia  
spreads abroad the hand1   ,and         

worships4 ,her report has traveled forth
   ,into all lands4 ,from every clime   
they come   ,to see thy beauty1 and to  
share thy joy1   ,o ,zion6 an assembly  
such as earth   ,saw never1 such as     
,heaven stoops down to see6   ,footnote3
 ,cowper's ,task4     ,,an ,,appeal ,,to
 ,,american ,,women ,,by ,,the ,,senior 
,,author ,,of ,,this ,,volume4   ,my    
honored countrywomen3  ,it is now over  
forty years that ,i have been seeking to
 elevate the character and condition of 
our sex1 relying1 as to earthly aid1    
chiefly on your counsel and cooperation4
 ,i am sorrowful at results that have   
followed these and similar efforts1 and 
ask your sympathy and aid4  ,let me     
commence with a brief outline of the    
past4 ,i commenced as an educator in the
 city of ,hartford1 ,ct41 when only the 
primary branches and one or two         
imperfect accomplishments were the      
ordinary school education1 and was among
 the first pioneers in seeking to       
introduce some of the higher branches4  

,the staid1 conservative citizen's      
queried of what use to women were       
,latin1 ,geometry1 and ,algebra1 and    
wondered at a request for six recitation
 rooms and a study-hall for a school of 
nearly a hundred1 who had as yet only   
one room4 ,the appeal was then made to  
benevolent1 intelligent women1 and by   
their influence all that was sought was 
liberally bestowed4  ,but the course of 
study then attempted was scarcely half  
of what is now pursued in most of our   
colleges for young women1 while there   
has been added a round and extent of    
accomplishments then unknown4 ,yet this 
moderate amount so stimulated brain and 
nerves1 and so excited competition1 that
 it became needful to enforce a rule1   
requiring a daily report1 that only two 
hours a day had been devoted to study   
out of school hours4 ,even this did not 
avail to save from injured health both  
the teacher who projected these         
improvements and many of her pupils4    
,this example and that of similar       

institutions spread all over the nation1
 with constantly increasing demand for  
more studies1 and decreasing value and  
respect for domestic pursuits and       
duties4  ,ten years of such intellectual
 excitement exhausted the nervous       
fountain1 and my profession as a        
school-teacher was ended4  ,the next    
attempt was to introduce ,domestic      
,economy as a science to be studied in  
schools for girls4 ,for a while it      
seemed to succeed2 but ere long was     
crowded out by ,political ,economy and  
many other economies1 except those most 
needed to prepare a woman for her       
difficult and sacred duties4  ,in the   
progress of years1 it came to pass that 
the older ,states teemed with educated  
women1 qualified for no other department
 of woman's profession but that of a    
schoolteacher1 while the newer ,states  
abounded in children without schools4   
,i again appealed to my countrywomen for
 help1 addressing them through the press
 and also by the assistance of a brother

 7in assemblies in many chief cities7 in
 order to raise funds to support an     
agent4 ,the funds were bestowed1 and    
thus the services of ,governor ,slade   
were secured1 and1 mainly by these      
agencies1 nearly one thousand teachers  
were provided with schools1 chiefly in  
the ,west4  ,meantime1 the intellectual 
taxation in both private and public     
schools1 the want of proper ventilation 
in both families and schools1 the want  
of domestic exercise which is so        
valuable to the feminine constitution1  
the pernicious modes of dress1 and the  
prevailing neglect of the laws of       
health1 resulted in the general decay of
 health among women4 ,at the same time1 
the overworking of the brain and nerves1
 and the cramming system of study1      
resulted in a deficiency of mental      
development which is very marked4 ,it is
 now a subject of general observation   
that young women1 at this day1 are      
decidedly inferior in mental power to   
those of an earlier period1             

notwithstanding their increased         
advantages4 ,for the mind1 crowded with 
undigested matter1 is debilitated the   
same as is the body by over-feeding1    
,recent scientific investigations give  
the philosophy of these results4 ,for   
example1 ,professor ,houghton1 of       
,trinity ,college1 ,dublin1 gives as one
 item of protracted experiments in      
animal chemistry1 that two hours of     
severe study abstracts as much vital    
strength as is demanded by a whole day  
of manual labor4 ,the reports of the    
,massachusetts ,board of ,education add 
other facts that1 in this connection1   
should be deeply pondered4 ,for example1
 in one public school of eighty-five    
pupils only fifty-four had refreshing   
sleep2 fifty-nine had headaches or      
constant weariness1 and only fifteen    
were perfectly well4 ,in this school it 
was found1 and similar facts are common 
in all our public and high schools1     
that1 in addition to six school-hours1  
thirty-one studied three hours and a    

half2 thirty-five1 four hours2 and      
twelve1 from four to seven hours4 ,and  
yet the most learned medical men        
maintain that the time devoted to brain 
labor1 daily1 should not exceed six     
hours for healthy men1 and three hours  
for growing children4  ,alarmed at the  
dangerous tendencies of female          
education1 ,i made another appeal to my 
sex1 which resulted in the organization 
of the ,american ,woman's ,education    
,association1 the object being to       
establish endowed professional schools1 
in connection with literary             
institutions1 in which woman's          
profession should be honored and taught 
as are the professions of men1 and where
 woman should be trained for some       
self-supporting business4 ,from this    
effort several institutions of a high   
literary character have come into       
existence at the ,west1 but the         
organization and endowment of the       
professional schools is yet incomplete  
from many combining impediments1 the    

chief being a want of appreciation of   
woman's profession1 and of the science  
and training which its high and sacred  
duties require4 ,but the reports of the 
,association will show that never before
 were such superior intellectual        
advantages secured to a new country by  
so economical an outlay4  ,let us now   
look at the dangers which are impending4
 ,and first1 in regard to the welfare of
 the family state1 the decay of the     
female constitution and health has      
involved such terrific sufferings1 in   
addition to former cares and pains of   
maternity1 that multitudes of both sexes
 so dread the risks of marriage as      
either to avoid it1 or meet them by     
methods always injurious and often      
criminal4 ,not only so1 multitudes of   
intelligent and conscientious persons1  
in private and by the press1 unaware of 
the penalties of violating nature1      
openly impugn the inspired declaration1 
,children are a heritage of the ,lord4  
,add to these1 other influences that are

 robbing home of its safe and peaceful  
enjoyments4 ,of such1 the condition of  
domestic service is not the least4 ,we  
abound in domestic helpers from foreign 
shores1 but they are to a large extent  
thriftless1 ignorant1 and unscrupulous1 
while as thriftless and inexperienced   
housekeepers1 from boarding-school life1
 have no ability to train or to control4
 ,hence come antagonism and ceaseless   
worries in the parlor1 nursery1 and     
kitchen1 while the husband is wearied   
with endless complaints of breakage1    
waste of fuel and food1 neglect1        
dishonesty1 and deception1 and home is  
any thing but a harbor of comfort and   
peace4 ,thus come clubs to draw men from
 comfortless homes1 and1 next1 clubs for
 the deserted women4  ,meantime1        
domestic service--disgraced1 on one     
side1 by the stigma of our late slavery1
 and1 on the other1 by the influx into  
our kitchens of the uncleanly and       
ignorant--is shunned by the             
self-respecting and well educated1 many 

of whom prefer either a miserable       
pittance or the career of vice to this  
fancied degradation4 ,thus comes the    
overcrowding in all avenues for woman's 
work1 and the consequent lowering of    
wages to starvation prices for long     
protracted toils4  ,from this come      
diseases to the operatives1 bequeathed  
often to their offspring4 ,factory girls
 must stand ten hours or more1 and      
consequently in a few years debility and
 disease ensue1 so that they never can  
rear healthy children1 while the        
foreigners who supplant them in kitchen 
labor are almost the only strong and    
healthy women to rear large families4   
,the sewing-machine1 hailed as a        
blessing1 has proved a curse to the     
poor2 for it takes away profits from    
needlewomen1 while employers testify    
that women who use this machine for     
steady work1 in two years or less become
 hopelessly diseased and can rear no    
children4 ,thus it is that the          
controlling political majority of       

,new-,england is passing from the       
educated to the children of ignorant    
foreigners4  ,add to these disastrous   
influences1 the teachings of free love2 
the baneful influence of spiritualism1  
so called2 the fascinations of the      
demi-monde2 the poverty of thousands of 
women who1 but for desperate            
temptations1 would be pure--all these   
malign influences are sapping the       
foundations of the family state4        
,meantime1 many intelligent and         
benevolent persons imagine that the     
grand remedy for the heavy evils that   
oppress our sex is to introduce woman to
 political power and office1 to make her
 a party in primary political meetings1 
in political caucuses1 and in the       
scramble and fight for political        
offices2 thus bringing into this        
dangerous melee the distinctive tempting
 power of her sex4 ,who can look at this
 new danger without dismay8 ,but it is  
neither generous nor wise to join in the
 calumny and ridicule that are directed 

toward philanthropic and conscientious  
laborers for the good of our sex1       
because we fear their methods are not   
safe4 ,it would be far wiser to show by 
example a better way4  ,let us suppose  
that our friends have gained the ballot 
and the powers of office3 are there any 
real beneficent measures for our sex1   
which they would enforce by law and     
penalties1 that fathers1 brothers1 and  
husbands would not grant to a united    
petition of our sex1 or even to a       
majority of the wise and good8 ,would   
these not confer what the wives1        
mothers1 and sisters deemed best for    
themselves and the children they are to 
train1 very much sooner than they would 
give power and office to our sex to     
enforce these advantages by law8 ,would 
it not be a wiser thing to ask for what 
we need1 before trying so circuitous and
 dangerous a method8 ,god has given to  
man the physical power1 so that all that
 woman may gain1 either by petitions or 
by ballot1 will be the gift of love or  

of duty2 and the ballot never will be   
accorded till benevolent and            
conscientious men are the majority--a   
millennial point far beyond our present 
ken4  ,the ,american ,woman's ,education
 ,association aims at a plan which its  
members believe1 in its full            
development1 will more effectually      
remedy the wrongs of woman than any     
other urged on public notice4 ,its      
general aim has been stated2 its details
 will appear at another time and place4 
,its managers include ladies of high    
character and position from six         
religious denominations1 and also some  
of the most reliable business men of    
,new ,york4 ,any person who is desirous 
to aid by contributions to this object  
can learn more of the details of the    
plan by addressing me at ,no4 #fi ,west 
,thirty-eighth ,street4 ,but it is      
needful to state that letters from those
 who seek aid or employment of any sort 
can not be answered at present1 nor for 
some months to come4  ,every woman who  

wishes to aid in this effort for the    
safety and elevation of our sex can do  
so by promoting the sale of this work1  
and its introduction as a text-book into
 schools4 ,an edition for the use of    
schools will be in readiness next fall1 
which will contain school exercises1 and
 questions that will promote thought and
 discussion in classrooms1 in reference 
to various topics included in the       
science of ,domestic ,economy4 ,and it  
is hoped that a previous large sale of  
the present volume will prepare the     
public mind to favor the introduction of
 this branch of study into both public  
and private schools4 ,ladies who write  
for the press1 and all those who have   
influence with editors1 can aid by      
directing general attention to this     
effort4  ,all the profits of the authors
 derived from the edition of this volume
 prepared for schools1 will be paid into
 the ,treasury of the ,a4 ,w4,e4        
,association1 and the amount will be    
stated in the annual reports4  ,the     

complementary volume of this work will  
follow in a few months1 and will        
consist1 to a great extent1 of receipts 
and directions in all branches of       
domestic economy1 especially in the     
department of healthful and economical  
cooking4 ,the most valuable receipts in 
my ,domestic ,receipt ,book1 heretofore 
published by the ,harpers1 will be      
retained1 and a very large number added 
of new ones1 which are healthful1       
economical1 and in many cases           
ornamental4 ,one special aim will be to 
point out modes of economizing labor in 
preparing food4  ,many directions will  
be given that will save from purchasing 
poisonous milk1 meats1 beers1 and other 
medicated drinks4 ,directions for       
detecting poisonous ingredients in      
articles for preserving the hair1 and in
 cosmetics for the complexion1 which now
 are ruining health1 eyesight1 and      
comfort all over the nation1 will also  
be given4  ,particular attention will be
 given to modes of preparing and        

preserving clothing1 at once economical1
 healthful1 and in good taste4  ,a large
 portion of the book will be devoted to 
instruction1 in the various ways in     
which women may earn an independent     
livelihood1 especially in employments   
that can be pursued in sunlight and the 
open air4  ,should any who read this    
work wish for more minute directions in 
regard to ventilation of a house already
 built1 or one projected1 they can      
obtain his aid by addressing ,lewis     
,leeds1 ,no4 #aaj ,broadway1 ,new ,york 
,city4 ,his associate1 ,mr4 ,herman     
,kreitler1 who prepared the             
architectural plans in this work        
relating to ,mr4 ,leeds's system1 can be
 addressed at the same place4           
,,catharine ,e4 ,,beecher4  ,,new       
,,york1 ,june #a1 #ahfi4                
,,appendix4  ,,glossary ,,of ,,such     
,,words ,,and ,,phrases ,,as ,,may ,,not
 ,,easily ,,be ,,understood ,,by ,,the  
,,young ,,reader  ,many words not       
contained in this ,,glossary will be    

found explained in the body of the work1
 in the places where they first occur4  
,action brought by the ,commonwealth3 ,a
 prosecution conducted in the name of   
the public1 or by the authority of the  
,state4  ,albumen3 ,nourishing matter   
stored up between the undeveloped germ  
and its protecting wrappings in the seed
 of many plants4 ,it is the flowery part
 of grain1 the oily part of poppy seeds1
 the fleshy part in cocoa- nuts1 etc4   
,alcoholic3 ,made of or containing      
alcohol1 an inflammable liquid which is 
the basis of ardent spirits4  ,alkali1  
7plural1 alkalies37 ,a chemical         
substance1 which has the property of    
combining with and neutralizing the     
properties of acids1 producing salts by 
the combination4 ,alkalies change most  
of the vegetable blues and purples to   
green1 red to purple1 and yellow to     
brown4 ,caustic alkali3 ,an alkali      
deprived of all impurities1 being       
thereby rendered more caustic and       
violent in its operation4 ,this term is 

usually applied to pure potash4 ,fixed  
alkali3 ,an alkali that emits no        
characteristic smell1 and can not be    
volatilized or evaporated without great 
difficulty4 ,potash and soda are called 
the fixed alkalies4 ,soda is also called
 a fossil or mineral alkali1 and potash 
the vegetable alkali4 ,volatile alkali3 
,an elastic1 transparent1 colorless1 and
 consequently an invisible gas1 known by
 the name of ammonia or ammoniacal gas4 
,the odor of spirits of hartshorn is    
caused by this gas4  ,anglo-,american3  
,english-,american1 relating to         
,americans descended from ,english      
ancestors4  ,anther3 ,that part of the  
stamen of a flower which contains the   
pollen or farina1 a sort of mealy powder
 or dust1 which is necessary to the     
production of the flower4  ,anthracite3 
,one of the must valuable kinds of      
mineral coal1 containing no bitumen4 ,it
 is very abundant in the ,united        
,states4  ,aperient3 ,opening4          
,archaology3 ,a discourse or treatise on

 antiquities4  ,arrow-root3 ,a white    
powder1 obtained from the fecula or     
starch1 of several species of tuberous  
plants in the ,east and ,west ,indies1  
,bermuda1 and other places4 ,that from  
,bermuda is most highly esteemed4 ,it is
 used as an article for the table1 in   
the form of puddings1 and also as a     
highly nutritive1 easily digested1 and  
agreeable food for invalids4 ,it derives
 its name from having been originally   
used by the ,indians as a remedy for the
 poison of their arrows1 by mashing and 
applying it to the wound4  ,articulating
 process3 ,the protuberance or          
projecting part of a bone1 by which it  
is so joined to another bone as to      
enable the two to move upon each other4 
,asceticism3 ,the state of an ascetic or
 hermit1 who flies from society and     
lives in retirement1 or who practices a 
greater degree of mortification and     
austerity than others do1 or who        
inflicts extraordinary severities upon  
himself4  ,astral lamp3 ,a lamp1 the    

principle of which was invented by      
,benjamin ,thompson1 7a native of       
,massachusetts1 and afterward ,count    
,rumford17 in which the oil is contained
 in a large horizontal ring1 having at  
the centre a burner which communicates  
with the ring by tubes4 ,the ring is    
placed a little below the level of the  
flame1 and from its large surface       
affords a supply of oil for many hours4 
,astute3 ,shrewd4  ,auricles3 7,from a  
,latin word1 signifying the ear17 the   
name given to two appendages of the     
heart1 from their fancied resemblance to
 the ear4  ,baglivi1 7,george73 ,an     
eminent physician1 who was born at      
,ragusa1 in #affh1 and was educated at  
,naples and ,paris4 ,pope ,clement      
,,xiv41 on the ground of his great      
merit1 appointed him1 while a very young
 man1 ,professor of ,anatomy and        
,surgery in the ,college of ,sapienza1  
at ,rome4 ,he wrote several works1 and  
did much to promote the cause of medical
 science4 ,he died ,a4,d4 #agjf4  ,bass1

 or bass-wood3 ,a large forest-tree of  
,america1 sometimes called the          
lime-tree4 ,the wood is white and soft1 
and the bark is sometimes used for      
bandages4  ,bell1 ,sir ,charles3 ,a     
celebrated surgeon1 who was born in     
,edinburgh1 in the year #aggh4 ,he      
commenced his career in ,london1 in     
#ahjf1 as a lecturer on ,anatomy and    
,surgery4 ,in #ahcj1 he received the    
honors of knighthood1 and in #ahcf was  
appointed ,professor of ,surgery in the 
,college of ,edinburgh4 ,he died near   
,worcester1 in ,england1 ,april #bith1  
#ahdb4 ,his writings are very numerous  
and have been1 much celebrated4 ,among  
the most important of these1 to general 
readers1 are his ,illustrations of      
,paley's ,natural ,theology1 and his    
treatise on ,the ,hand1 its ,mechanism  
and ,vital ,endowments1 as evincing     
,design4  ,bergamot3 ,a fruit which was 
originally produced by ingrafting a     
branch of a citron or lemon-tree upon   
the stock of a peculiar kind of pear1   

called the bergamot pear4  ,biased3 ,cut
 diagonally from one corner to another  
of a square or rectangular piece of     
cloth4  ,bias pieces3 ,triangular pieces
 cut as above mentioned4  ,bituminous3  
,containing bitumen1 which is an        
inflammable mineral substance1          
resembling tar or pitch in its          
properties and uses4 ,among different   
bituminous substances1 the names naphtha
 and petrolium have been given to those 
which are fluid1 maltha1 to that which  
has the consistence of pitch1 and       
asphaltum to that which is solid4       
,blight3 ,a disease in plants by which  
they are blasted1 or prevented from     
producing fruit4  ,blonde lace3 ,lace   
made of silk4  ,blood heat3 ,the        
temperature which the blood is always   
found to maintain1 or ninety-eight      
degrees of ,fahrenheit's thermometer4   
,blue vitriol3 ,sulphate of copper4     
,blunts3 ,needles of a short and thick  
shape1 distinguished from ,sharps1 which
 are long and slender4  ,booking3 ,a    

kind of thin carpeting or coarse baize4 
,botany3 7,from a ,greek word signifying
 an herb17 a knowledge of plants2 the   
science which treats of plants4  ,brazil
 wood3 ,the central part or heart of a  
large tree which grows in ,brazil1      
called the ,caesalpinia echinata4 ,it   
produces very lively and beautiful red  
tints1 but they are not permanent4      
,bronze3 ,a metallic composition1       
consisting of copper and tin4  ,brulure3
 ,a ,french term1 denoting a burning or 
scalding2 a blasting of plants4         
,brussels1 7carpet37 ,a kind of         
carpeting1 so called from the city of   
,brussels1 in ,europe4 ,its basis is    
composed of a warp and woof of strong   
linen threads1 with the warp of which   
are intermixed about five times the     
quantity of woolen threads of different 
colors4  ,bulb3 ,a root with a round    
body1 like the onion1 turnip1 or        
hyacinth4  ,bulbous3 ,having a bulb4    
,byron1 7,george ,gordon17 ,lord3 ,a    
celebrated poet1 who was born in        

,london1 ,january #bc;d1 #aghh1 and died
 in ,missolonghi1 in ,greece1 ,april    
#ahth1 #ahbd4  ,calisthenics3 ,from two 
,greek words--kalos1 beauty1 and        
sthenos1 strength1 being the union of   
both4  ,camwood3 ,a dyewood1 procured   
from a leguminous 7or pod-bearing7 tree1
 growing on the western coast of        
,africa1 and called ,baphianitida4      
,canker-worm3 ,a worm which is very     
destructive to trees and plants4 ,it    
springs from an egg deposited by a      
miller that issues from the ground1 and 
in some years destroys the leaves and   
fruit of apple and other trees4         
,capillary3 ,a minute1 hair-like tube4  
,carbon3 ,a simple1 inflammable body1   
forming the principal part of wood and  
coal1 and the whole of the diamond4     
,carbonic acid3 ,a compound gas1        
consisting of one part of carbon and two
 parts of oxygen2 fatal to animal life4 
,it has lately been obtained in a solid 
form4  ,carbonic ,oxide3 ,a compound1   
consisting of one part of carbon and one

 part of oxygen2 it is fatal to animal  
life4 ,burns with a pale1 blue flame1   
forming carbonic acid4  ,carmine3 ,a    
crimson color1 the most beautiful of all
 the reds4 ,it is prepared from a       
decoction of the powdered cochineal     
insect1 to which alum and other         
substances are added4  ,caseine3 ,one of
 the great forms of blood-making matter2
 the cheesy or curd-part of milk2 found 
in both animal and vegetable kingdoms4  
,caster3 ,a small vial or vessel for the
 table1 in which to put vinegar1        
mustard1 pepper1 etc4 ,also1 a small    
wheel on a swivel-joint1 on which       
furniture may be turned in any          
direction4  ,chancellor of the          
,exchequer3 ,in ,england1 the highest   
judge of the law2 the principal         
financial minister of a government1 and 
the one who manages its revenue4        
,chateau3 ,a castle1 a mansion4         
,chemistry3 ,the science which treats of
 the elementary constituents of bodies4 
,chinese belle1 deformities of3 ,in     

,china1 it is the fashion to compress   
the feet of female infants1 to prevent  
their growth2 in consequence of which1  
the feet of all the females of ,china   
are distorted1 and so small that the    
individuals can not walk with ease4     
,chloride3 ,a compound of chlorine and  
some other substance4  ,chlorine is a   
simple substance1 formerly called       
oxymuriatic acid4 ,in its pure state1 it
 is a gas of green color1 7hence its    
name1 from a ,greek word signifying     
green47 ,like oxygen1 it supports the   
combustion of some inflammable          
substances4 ,chloride of lime in a      
compound of chlorine and lime4  ,cholera
 infantum3 ,a bowel-complaint to which  
infants are subject4  ,chyle3 ,a white  
juice formed from the chyme1 and        
consisting of the finer and more        
nutritious parts of the food4 ,it is    
afterward converted into blood4  ,chyme3
 ,the result of the first process which 
food undergoes in the stomach previously
 to its being converted into chyle4     

,cicuta3 ,the common ,american hemlock1 
an annual plant of four or five feet in 
height1 and found commonly along walls  
and fences and about old ruins and      
buildings4 ,it is a virulent poison as  
well as one of the most important and   
valuable medicinal vegetables4 ,it is a 
very different plant from the           
hemlock-tree or ,pinus ,canadiensis4    
,clarke1 7,sir ,charles ,mansfield17    
,dr43 ,a distinguished ,english         
physician and surgeon1 who was born1 in 
,london1 ,may #bhth1 #aghc4 ,ha was     
appointed physician to ,queen ,adelaide1
 wife of ,king ,william ,,iv41 in #ahcj1
 and in #ahca he was created a baronet4 
,he was the author of several valuable  
medical works4  ,cobalt3 ,a brittle     
metal1 of a reddish-gray color and weak 
metallic lustre1 used in coloring glass4
 ,it is not easily melted nor oxidized  
in the air4  ,cochineal3 ,a color       
procured from the cochineal insect1 7or 
,coccus cacti17 which feeds upon the    
leaves of several species of the plant  

called cactus1 and which is supposed to 
derive its coloring matter from its     
food4 ,its natural color is crimson2    
but1 by the addition of a preparation of
 potash1 it yields a rich scarlet dye4  
,cologne-water3 ,a fragrant perfume1    
which derives its name from having been 
originally made in the city of ,cologne1
 which is situated on the river ,rhine1 
in ,germany4 ,the best kind is still    
procured from that city4  ,comparative  
anatomy3 ,the science which has for its 
object a comparison of the anatomy1     
structure1 and functions of the various 
organs of animals1 plants1 etc41 with   
those of the human body4  ,confection3  
,a sweetmeat2 a preparation of fruit    
with sugar2 also a preparation of       
medicine with honey1 syrup1 or similar  
saccharine substance1 for the purpose of
 disguising the unpleasant taste of the 
medicine4  ,cooper1 ,sir ,astley        
,paston3 ,a celebrated ,english surgeon1
 who was born at ,brooke1 in ,norfolk   
county1 ,england1 ,august #bc;d1 #agfh1 

and commenced the practice of surgery in
 ,london1 in #agib4 ,he was appointed   
surgeon to ,king ,george ,,iv4 in #ahbg1
 was created a baronet in #ahca1 and    
died ,february #abth1 #ahda4 ,he was the
 author of many valuable works4  ,copal3
 ,a hard1 shining1 transparent resin1 of
 a light citron color1 brought          
originally from ,spanish-,america1 and  
now almost wholly from the              
,east-,indies4 ,it is principally       
employed in the preparation of copal    
varnish4  ,copper1 ,sulphate of3 ,see   
,sulphate of copper4  ,copperas3        
7,sulphate of iron or green vitriol17 a 
bright green mineral substance1 formed  
by the decomposition of a peculiar ore  
of iron called pyrites1 which is a      
sulphuret of iron4 ,it is first in the  
form of a greenish-white powder or      
crust1 which is dissolved in water1 and 
beautiful green crystals of copperas are
 obtained by evaporation4 ,it is        
principally used in dyeing and in making
 black ink4 ,its solution1 mixed with a 

decoction of oak bark1 produces a black 
color4  ,coronary3 ,relating to a crown 
or garland4 ,in anatomy1 it is applied  
to arteries which encompass the heart1  
in the manner1 as it is fancied1 of a   
garland4  ,corrosive sublimate3 ,a      
poisonous substance composed of chlorine
 and quicksilver4  ,cosmetics3          
,preparations which1 some people        
foolishly think will preserve and       
beautify the skin4  ,cream of tartar3   
,see ,tartar4  ,curculio3 ,a weevil or  
worm1 which affects the fruit of the    
plum-tree and sometimes that of the     
apple-tree1 causing the unripe fruit to 
fall to the ground4  ,cuvier1 ,baron3   
,the moat eminent naturalist of the     
present age2 was born ,a4 ,d4 #agfi1 and
 died ,a4,d4 #ahcb4 ,he was ,professor  
of ,natural ,history in the ,college of 
,france1 and held various important     
posts under the ,french government at   
different times4 ,his works on ,natural 
,history are of the greatest value4     
,cynosure3 ,the constellation of the    

,lesser ,bear1 containing the star near 
the ,north ,pole1 by which sailors      
steer4 ,it is used1 in a figurative     
sense1 as synonymous with pole-star or  
guide1 or anything to which the eyes of 
many are directed4  ,de ,tocqueville3   
,see ,tocqueville4  ,diamond cement3 ,a 
cement sold in the shops1 and used for  
mending broken glass and similar        
articles4  ,drab3 ,a thick woolen cloth1
 of a light brown or dun color4 ,the    
name is sometimes used for the color    
itself4  ,dredging-box3 ,a box with     
holes in the top1 used to sift or       
scatter flour on meat when roasting4    
,drill3 7,in husbandry17 to sow grain in
 rows1 drills1 or channels2 the row of  
grain so sowed4  ,duchess of ,orleans3  
,see ,orleans4  ,the ,east1 and the     
,eastern ,states3 ,those of the ,united 
,states situated in the north-east part 
of the country1 including ,maine1 ,new  
,hampshire1 ,massachusetts1 ,rhode      
,island1 ,connecticut1 and ,vermont4    
,elevation1 7of a house37 ,a plan       

representing the upright view of a      
house1 as a ground-plan shows its       
appearance on the ground4  ,euclid3 ,a  
celebrated mathematician1 who was born  
in ,alexandria1 in ,egypt1 about two    
hundred and eighty years before ,christ4
 ,he distinguished himself by his       
writings on music and geometry4 ,the    
most celebrated of his works is his     
,elements of ,geometry1 which is in use 
at the present day4 ,he established a   
school at ,alexandria1 which became so  
famous that1 from his time to the       
conquest of ,alexandria by the          
,saracens1 7,a4,d4 #fdf17 no            
mathematician was found who had not     
studied at ,alexandria4 ,ptolemy1 ,king 
of ,egypt1 was one of his pupils2 and it
 was to a question of this king1 whether
 there was not a shorter way of coming  
at geometry than by the study of his    
,elements1 that ,euclid made the        
celebrated answer1 ,there is no royal   
path to geometry4  ,equator or          
equinoctial line3 ,an imaginary line    

passing round the earth1 from east to   
west and directly under the sun1 which  
always shines nearly perpendicularly    
down upon all countries situated near   
the equator4  ,evolve3 ,to throw off1 to
 discharge4  ,exchequer3 ,a court in    
,england in which the ,chancellor       
presides1 and where the revenues of and 
the debts due to the king1 are          
recovered4 ,this court was originally   
established by ,king ,william1 7called  
the ,conqueror17 who died ,a4,d4 #ajhg2 
and its name is derived from a checkered
 cloth 7,french echiquier1 a            
chess-hoard1 checker-work7 on the table4
  ,excretion3 ,something discharged from
 the body1 a separation of animal       
matters4 ,excrementitious3 ,consisting  
of matter excreted from the body2       
containing excrements4  ,fahrenheit1    
7,gabriel ,daniel37 ,a celebrated       
natural philosopher1 who was born at    
,dantzig1 ,a4,d4 #afhf4 ,he made great  
improvements in the thermometer1 and his
 name is sometimes used for that        

instrument4  ,farinaceous3 ,mealy1      
tasting like meal4  ,fell3 ,to turn down
 on the wrong side the raw edges of a   
seam after it has been stitched1 run1 or
 sewed1 and then to hem or sew it to the
 cloth4  ,festivals of the ,jews1 the   
three great annual3 ,these were1 the    
,feast of the ,passover1 that of        
,pentecost1 and that of ,tabernacles2 on
 occasion of which1 all the males of the
 nation were required to visit the      
temple at ,jerusalem1 in whatever part  
of the country they might reside4 ,see  
,exodus #bh3ad1 #ag2 #cd3bc2 ,leviticus 
#cc3 #d2 ,deuteronomy #af3af4 ,the      
,passover was kept in commemoration of  
the deliverance of the ,israelites from 
,egypt1 and was so named because the    
night before their departure the        
destroying angel1 who slew all the      
first-born of the ,egyptians1 passed    
over the houses of the ,israelites      
without entering them4 ,see ,exodus #ab4
 ,the ,feast of ,pentecost was so called
 from a word meaning the fiftieth1      

because it was celebrated on the        
fiftieth day after the ,passover1 and   
was instituted in commemoration of the  
giving of the ,law from ,mount ,sinai on
 the fiftieth day from the departure out
 of ,egypt4 ,it is also called the      
,feast of ,weeks1 because it was kept   
seven weeks after the ,passover4 ,see   
,exodus #cd3cb2 ,leviticus #bc3 #ae-ba2 
,deuteronomy #af3 #i1 #aj4 ,the ,feast  
of ,tabernacles1 or ,feast of ,tents1   
was so called because it was celebrated 
under tents or tabernacles of green     
boughs1 and was designed to commemorate 
their dwelling in tents during their    
passage through the wilderness4 ,at this
 feast they also returned thanks1 to    
,god for the fruits of the earth after  
they had been gathered4 ,see ,exodus    
#bc3 #af2 ,leviticus #cc3 #cd-dd2       
,deuteronomy #af3ac2 and also ,st4 ,john
 #g3 #b4  ,fire-blight3 ,a disease in   
the pear and some other fruit-trees1 in 
which they appear burnt as if by fire4  
,it is supposed1 by some to be caused by

 an insect1 others suppose it to be     
caused by-an over-abundance of sap4     
,fluting-iron3 ,an instrument for making
 flutes1 channels1 furrows1 or hollows  
in ruffles1 etc4  ,foundation muslin3 ,a
 nice kind of buckram1 stiff and white1 
used for the foundation or basis of     
bonnets1 etc4  ,free ,states3 ,a phrase 
formerly used to distinguish those      
,states in which slavery was not        
allowed1 as distinguished from ,slave   
,states1 in which slavery did exist4    
,french chalk3 ,a variety of the mineral
 called talc1 unctuous to the touch1 of 
greenish color1 glossy1 soft1 and easily
 scratched1 and leaving a silvery line  
when drawn on paper4 ,it is used for    
marking on cloth1 and extracting        
grease-spots4  ,fuller's earth3 ,a      
species of clay remarkable for its      
property of absorbing oil1 for which    
reason it is valuable for extracting    
grease from cloth1 etc4 ,it is used by  
fullers in scouring and cleansing cloth1
 whence its name4  ,fustic3 ,the wood of

 a tree which grows in the ,west-,indies
 called ,morus tinctoria4 ,it affords a 
durable but not very brilliant yellow   
dye1 and is also used in producing some 
greens and drab colors4  ,gastric3      
7,from the ,greek ,transliterated3      
gasths1 gaster1 the belly17 belonging or
 relating to the belly1 or stomach4     
,gastric juice3 ,the fluid which        
dissolves the food in the stomach4 ,it  
is limpid1 like water1 of a saltish     
taste1 and without odor4 ,geology3 ,the 
science which treats of the formation of
 the earth4  ,gluten3 ,the glue-like1   
sticky1 tenacious substance which gives 
adhesiveness to dough4 ,the principle of
 gelly1 7now generally written jelly47  
,gore3 ,a triangular piece of cloth4    
,goring3 ,cut in a triangular shape4    
,gothic3 ,a peculiar and strongly-marked
 style of architecture1 sometimes called
 the ecclesiastical style1 because it is
 most frequently used in cathedrals1    
churches1 abbeys1 and other religious   
edifices4 ,its principle seems to have  

originated in the imitation of groves   
and bowers1 under which the ancients    
performed their sacred rites2 its       
clustered pillars and pointed arches    
very well representing the trunks of    
trees and their in-locking branches4    
,gourmand or ,gormand3 ,a glutton1 a    
greedy eater4 ,in agriculture1 it is    
applied to twigs which take up the sap  
but bear only leaves4  ,green vitriol3  
,see ,copperas4  ,griddle3 ,an iron pan1
 of a peculiarly broad and shallow      
construction1 used for baking cakes4    
,ground-plan3 ,the map or plan of the   
floor of any building1 in which the     
various apartments1 windows1 doors1     
fire-places1 and other things are       
represented1 like the rivers1 towns1    
mountains1 roads1 etc41 on a map4  ,gum 
,arabic3 ,a vegetable juice which exudes
 through the bark of the ,acacia1       
,mimosa nilotica1 and some other similar
 trees growing in ,arabia1 ,egypt1      
,senegal1 and ,central ,africa4 ,it is  
the purest of all gums4  ,hardpan3 ,the 

hard1 unbroken layer of earth below the 
mould or cultivated soil4  ,hartshorn1  
7spirits of37 ,a volatile alkali1       
originally prepared from the horns of   
the stag or hart1 but now procured from 
various other substances4 ,it is known  
by the name of ammonia or spirits of    
ammonia4  ,hemlock3 see ,cicuta4        
,horticulturist3 ,one skilled in        
horticulture1 or the art of cultivating 
gardens3 horticulture being to the      
garden what agriculture is to the farm1 
the application of labor and science to 
a limited spot1 for convenience1 for    
profit1 or for ornament--though implying
 a higher state of cultivation than is  
common in agriculture4 ,it includes the 
cultivation of culinary vegetables and  
of fruits1 and forcing or exotic        
gardening as far as respects useful     
products4  ,hydrogen3 ,a very light1    
inflammable gas1 of which water is in   
part composed4 ,it is used to inflate   
balloons4  ,hypochondriasis3            
,melancholy1 dejection1 a disorder of   

the imagination1 in which the person    
supposes he is afflicted with various   
diseases4  ,hysteria or hysterics3 ,a   
spasmodic1 convulsive affection of the  
nerves1 to which women are subject4 ,it 
is somewhat similar to hypochondriasis  
in men4  ,ingrain3 ,a kind of carpeting1
 in which the threads are dyed in the   
grain or raw material before            
manufacture4  ,ipecac3 7,an abbreviation
 of ipecacuanha7 an ,indian medicinal   
plant1 acting as an emetic4  ,isinglass3
 ,a fine kind of gelatin or glue1       
prepared from the swimming-bladders of  
fishes1 used as a cement1 and also as an
 ingredient in food and medicine4 ,the  
name is sometimes applied to a          
transparent mineral substance called    
mica4  ,jams3 ,a side-piece or post4    
,kamtschadales3 ,inhabitants of         
,kamtschatka1 a large peninsula situated
 on the north-eastern coast of ,asia1   
having the ,north ,pacific ,ocean on the
 east4 ,it is remarkable for its extreme
 cold1 which is heightened by a range of

 very lofty mountains extending the     
whole length of the peninsula1 several  
of which are volcanic4 ,it is very      
deficient in vegetable productions1 but 
produces a great variety of animals1    
from which the richest and most valuable
 furs are procured4 ,the inhabitants are
 in general below the common height1 but
 have broad shoulders and large heads4  
,it is under the dominion of ,russia4   
,kerosene3 ,refined ,petroleum1 which   
see4  ,kink3 ,a knotty twist in a thread
 or rope4  ,lambrequin3 ,originally a   
kind of pendent scarf or covering       
attached to a helmet to protect and     
adorn it4 ,hence1 a pendent ornamental  
curtain over a window4  ,lapland3 ,a    
country at the extreme north part of    
,europe1 where it is very cold4 ,it     
contains lofty mountains1 some of which 
are covered with perpetual snow and ice4
  ,latin3 ,the language of the ,latins  
or inhabitants of ,latium1 the principal
 country of ancient ,italy4 ,after the  
building of ,rome1 that city became the 

capital of the whole country4           
,leguminous3 ,pod-bearing4  ,lent3 ,a   
fast of the ,christian ,church1 7lasting
 forty days1 from ,ash-,wednesday to    
,easter17 in commemoration of our       
,saviour's miraculous fast of forty days
 and forty nights in the wilderness4    
,the word ,lent means spring1 this fast 
always occurring at that season of the  
year4  ,levite3 ,one of the tribe of    
,levi1 the son of ,jacob1 which tribe   
was set apart from the others to        
minister in the services of the         
,tabernacle1 and the ,temple at         
,jerusalem4 ,the priests were taken from
 this tribe4 ,see ,numbers #a3 #dg-ec4  
,ley3 ,water which has percolated       
through ashes1 earth1 or other          
substances1 dissolving and imbibing a   
part of their contents4 ,it is generally
 spelled lye4  ,linnaeus1 7,charles37 ,a
 native of ,sweden1 and the most        
celebrated naturalist of his age4 ,he   
was born ,may #acth1 #agjg1 and died    
,january #aath1 #aggh4 ,his life was    

devoted to the study of natural history4
 ,the science of botany1 in particular1 
is greatly indebted to his labors4 ,his 
,amaenitates ,academicae 7,academical   
,recreations7 is a collection of the    
dissertations of his pupils1 edited by  
himself1 a work rich in matters relating
 to the history and habits of plants4   
,he was the first who arranged ,natural 
,history into a regular system1 which   
has been generally called by his name4  
,his proper name was ,linne4  ,lobe3 ,a 
division1 a distinct part2 generally    
applied to the two divisions of the     
lungs4  ,loire3 ,the largest river of   
,france1 being about five hundred and   
fifty miles in4 length4 ,it rises in the
 mountains of ,cevennes1 and empties    
into the ,atlantic ,ocean about forty   
miles below the city of ,nantes4 ,it    
divides ,france into two almost equal   
parts4  ,london ,medical ,society3 ,a   
distinguished association1 formed in    
#aggc4 ,it has published some valuable  
volumes of its transactions4 ,it has a  

library of about #dj1jjj volumes1 which 
is kept in a house presented to the     
,society1 in #aghh1 by the celebrated   
,dr4 ,lettsom1 who was one of its first 
members4  ,louis ,,xiv43 ,a celebrated  
,king of ,france and ,navarre1 who was  
born ,september #eth1 #afch1 and died   
,september #ast1 #agae4 ,his mother     
having before had no children1 though   
she had been married twenty-two years1  
his birth was considered as a particular
 favor from heaven1 and he was called   
the ,gift of ,god4 ,he is sometimes     
styled ,louis the ,great1 is notorious  
as a period of licentiousness4 ,he left 
behind him monuments of unprecedented   
splendor and expense1 consisting of     
palaces1 gardens1 and other like works4 
,lumbar37,from the ,latin lumbus1 the   
loin17 relating or pertaining to the    
loins4  ,lunacy1 writ of3 ,a judicial   
proceeding to ascertain whether a person
 be a lunatic4  ,mademoiselle3 ,the     
,french word for miss1 a young girl4    
,magnesia3 ,a light and white alkaline  

earth1 which enters into the composition
 of many rocks1 communicating to them a 
greasy or soapy feeling and a striped   
texture1 with sometimes a greenish      
color4  ,malaria3 7,italian1 mal_/aria1 
bad air17 a noxious vapor or exhalation2
 a state of the atmosphere or soil1 or  
both1 which1 in certain regions and in  
warm weather1 produces fever1 sometimes 
of great violence4  ,mammon3 ,riches1   
the ,syrian god of riches4 ,see ,luke   
#af3aa-ac2 ,st4 ,matthew #f3bd4 ,mexico3
 ,a country situated south-west of the  
,united ,states and extending to the    
,pacific ,ocean4  ,miasms3 ,such        
particles or atoms as are supposed to   
arise from distempered1 putrefying1 or  
poisonous bodies4  ,michilimackinac or  
,mackinac3 7,now frequently corrupted   
into ,mackinaw1 which is the usual      
pronunciation of the name17 a military  
post in the ,state of ,michigan1        
situated upon an island1 about nine     
miles in circuit1 in the strait which   
connects ,lakes ,michigan and ,huron4   

,it is much resorted to by ,indians and 
fur-traders4 ,the highest summit of the 
island is about three hundred feet above
 the lakes and commands an extensive    
view of them4  ,midsummer3 ,with us1 the
 time when the sun arrives at his       
greatest distance from the equator1 or  
about the twenty-first of ,june1 called1
 also the summer solstice1 7from the    
,latin sol1 the sun and sto1 to stop or 
stand still17 because when the sun      
reaches this point he seems to stand    
still for some time1 and then appears to
 retrace his steps4 ,the days are then  
longer than at any other time4          
,migrate3 ,to remove from one place to  
another2 to change residence4  ,mildew3 
,a disease of plants2 a mould1 spot1 or 
stain in paper1 cloths1 etc41 caused by 
moisture4  ,militate3 ,to oppose1 to    
operate against4  ,millinet3 ,a coarse  
kind of stiff muslin1 formerly used for 
the foundation or basis of bonnets1 etc4
  ,mineralogy3 ,a science which treats  
of the inorganic natural substances     

found upon or in the earth1 such as     
earths1 salts1 metals1 etc41 and which  
are called by the general name of       
minerals4  ,minutiae3 ,the smallest     
particulars4  ,monasticism3 ,monastic   
life2 religiously recluse life in a     
monastery or house of religious         
retirement4  ,montagu1 ,lady ,mary      
,wortley3 ,one of the most celebrated   
among the female literary characters of 
,england4 ,she was daughter of ,evelyn1 
,duke of ,kingston1 and was born about  
#afij1 at ,thoresby1 in ,england ,she   
displayed uncommon abilities at a very  
early age1 and was educated by the best 
masters in the ,english1 ,latin1 ,greek1
 and ,french languages4 ,she accompanied
 her husband 7,edward ,wortley ,montagu7
 on an embassy to ,constantinople1 and  
her correspondence with her friends was 
published and much admired4 ,she        
introduced the practice of inoculation  
for the small-pox into ,england1 which  
proved of great benefit to millions4    
,she died at the age of seventy-two1    

,a4,d4 #agfb4  ,moral ,philosophy3 ,the 
science which treats of the motives and 
rules of human actions1 and of the ends 
to which they ought to be directed4     
,moreen3 ,a kind of woolen stuff used   
for curtains1 covers of cushions1 bed   
hangings1 etc4  ,mortise3 ,a cavity cut 
into a piece of timber to receive the   
end of another piece called the ,tenon4 
,mucous3 ,having the nature of mucus1 a 
glutinous1 sticky1 thready1 transparent 
fluid1 of a salt savor1 produced by     
different membranes of the body1 and    
serving to protect the membranes and    
other internal parts against the action 
of the air1 food1 etc4 ,the fluid of the
 mouth and nose is mucus4  ,mucous      
membrane3 ,that membrane which lines the
 mouth1 nose1 intestines1 and other open
 cavities of the body4  ,muriatic acid3 
,an acid composed of chlorine and       
hydrogen1 called also1 hydrochloric acid
 and spirit of salt4  ,mush-stick3 ,a   
stick to use in stirring mush1 which is 
corn-meal boiled in water4  ,nankeen or 

,nankin3 ,a light cotton cloth1         
originally brought from ,nankin1 in     
,china1 whence its name4  ,nash1        
7,richard37 ,commonly called ,beau      
,nash1 or ,king of ,bath1 a celebrated  
leader of the fashions in ,england4 ,he 
was born at ,swansea1 in ,south-,wales1 
,october #hth1 #afgd1 and died in the   
city of ,bath1 7,england17 ,february    
#c;d1 #agfa4  ,natural ,history3 ,the   
history of animals1 plants1 and         
minerals4  ,natural ,philosophy3 ,the   
science which treats of the powers of   
nature1 the properties of natural       
bodies1 and their action one upon       
another4 ,it is sometimes called        
physics4  ,new-milch cow3 ,a cow which  
has recently calved4  ,newton1 7,sir    
,isaac37 ,an eminent ,english           
philosopher and mathematician1 who was  
born on ,christmas day1 #afdb1 and died 
,march4 #bjth1 #agbg4 ,he was much      
distinguished for his very important    
discoveries in ,optics and other        
branches of ,natural ,philosophy4 ,see  

the first volume of ,pursuit of         
,knowledge under ,difficulties1 forming 
the fourteenth volume of ,the ,school   
,library1 larger series4  ,night-,soil3 
,human excrement1 so-called because     
usually removed from privies by night4  
,non-bearers3 ,plants which bear no     
flowers nor fruit4  ,northern ,states3  
,those of the ,united ,states situated  
in the northern and eastern part of the 
country4  ,ordinary3 ,see ,physician in 
ordinary4  ,oil of ,vitriol3 7sulphuric 
acid1 or vitriolic acid17 an acid       
composed of oxygen and sulphur4         
,oino-mania3 ,a disease of the brain    
produced by excessive use of alcoholic  
stimulants2 derived from two ,greek     
words1 oinos1 wine1 and mania1 madness4 
,the same disease sometimes arises from 
overuse of tobacco and other stimulants 
of the nerves4  ,orleans1 7,elizabeth   
,charlotte de ,baviere7 ,duchess of3    
,second wife of ,philippe1 the brother  
of ,louis ,,xiv41 was born at           
,heidelberg1 ,may #bfth1 #afeb1 and died

 at the palace of ,st4 ,cloud1 in       
,paris1 ,december #hth1 #agbb4 ,she was 
author of several works2 among which    
were ,memoirs and ,anecdotes of the     
,court of ,louis ,,xiv4  ,ottoman3 ,a   
kind of hassock or thick mat for        
kneeling upon2 so-called from being used
 by the ,ottomans or ,turks4  ,oxalic   
acid3 a vegetable acid1 which exists in 
sorrel4  ,oxide3 ,a compound of a       
substance with oxygen1 though not enough
 oxygen to produce an acid2 for example1
 oxide of iron1 or rust of metals4      
,oxidize3 ,to combine oxygen with a body
 without producing acidity4  ,oxygen3   
,the vital element of air1 a simple and 
very important substance which exists in
 the atmosphere and supports the        
breathing of animals and the burning of 
combustibles4 ,it was called oxygen from
 two ,greek words1 signifying to produce
 acid1 from its power of giving acidity 
to many compounds in which it           
predominates4  ,oxygenized3 ,combined   
with oxygen4  ,pancreas3 ,a gland within

 the abdomen just below and behind the  
stomach1 and providing a fluid to assist
 digestion4 ,in animals1 it is called   
the sweet-bread4  ,pancreatic3          
,belonging to the pancreas4  ,parterre3 
,a level division of ground1 a          
flower-garden4  ,pearlash3 ,the common  
name for impure carbonate of potash1    
which in a purer form is called         
,saleratus4  ,peristaltic3 ,contracting 
in successive circles2 worm-like4       
,petroleum3 ,rock oil1 an inflammable1  
bituminous liquid exuding from rocks or 
from the earth in the neighborhood of   
the carboniferous or coal-bearing       
formation4  ,phosphorous3 ,one of the   
elementary substances4  ,physician in   
,ordinary to the ,queen3 ,the physician 
who attends the ,queen in ordinary cases
 of illness4  ,pitt1 ,william3 ,a       
celebrated ,english statesman1 son of   
the ,earl of ,chatham4 ,he was born ,may
 #bhth1 #agei1 and at the age of        
twenty-three was made ,chancellor of the
 ,exchequer1 and soon afterward ,prime  

,minister4 ,he died ,january #bc;d1     
#ahjf4  ,political ,economy3 ,the       
science which treats of the general     
causes affecting the production1        
distribution1 and consumption of        
articles of exchangeable value1 in      
reference to their effects upon national
 wealth and welfare4  ,pollen3 ,the     
fertilizing dust of flowers1 produced by
 the stamens and falling upon the       
pistils in order to render a flower     
capable of producing fruit or seed4     
,potter's clay3 ,the clay used in making
 articles of pottery4  ,prairie3 ,a     
,french word1 signifying meadow4 ,in the
 ,united ,states1 it is applied to the  
remarkable natural meadows or plains    
which are found in the ,western ,states4
 ,in some of these vast and nearly level
 plains1 the traveler may wander for    
days without meeting with wood or water1
 and see no object rising above the     
plane of the horizon4 ,they are very    
fertile4  ,prime ,minister3 ,the person 
appointed by the ruler of a nation to   

have the chief direction and management 
of the public affairs4  ,process3 ,a    
protuberance or projecting part of a    
bone4  ,pulmonary3 ,belonging to or     
affecting the lungs4  ,pulmonary artery3
 ,an artery which passes through the    
lungs1 being divided into several       
branches1 which form a beautiful network
 over the air-vessels1 and finally empty
 themselves into the left auricle of the
 heart4  ,puritans3 ,a sect which       
professed to follow the pure word of    
,god in opposition to traditions1 human 
constitutions1 and other authorities4   
,in the reign1 of ,queen ,elizabeth1    
part of the ,protestants were desirous  
of introducing a simpler1 and1 as they  
considered it1 a purer form of church   
government and worship than that        
established by law1 from which          
circumstance they were called ,puritans4
 ,in process of time1 this party        
increased in numbers and openly broke   
off from the church1 laying aside the   
,english liturgy1 and adopting a        

service-book published at ,geneva by the
 disciples of ,calvin4 ,they were       
treated with great rigor by the         
government1 and many of them left the   
kingdom and settled in ,holland4        
,finding themselves not so eligibly     
situated in that country as they had    
expected to be1 a portion of them       
embarked for ,america1 and were the     
first settlers of ,new ,england4        
,quixotic3 ,absurd1 romantic1           
ridiculous2 from ,don ,quixote1 the hero
 of a celebrated fictitious work written
 by ,cervantes1 a distinguished ,spanish
 writer1 and intended to reform the     
tastes and opinions of his country-men4 
,reeking3 ,smoking1 emitting vapor4     
,residue3 ,the remainder or part which  
remains4  ,routine3 ,a round or course  
of engagements1 business1 pleasure1 etc4
  ,to ,run a seam3 ,to lay the two edges
 of a seam together and pass the        
threaded needle out and in1 with small  
stitches1 a few threads below the edge  
and on a line with it4  ,to ,run a      

stocking3 ,to pass a thread of yarn1    
with a needle1 straight along each row  
of the stocking1 as far as is desired1  
taking up one loop and missing two or   
three1 until tie row is completed1 so as
 to double the thickness at the part    
which is run4  ,sabbatical year3 ,every 
seventh year among the ,jews1 which was 
a year of rest for the land1 when it was
 to be left without culture4 ,in this   
year1 all debts were to be remitted1 and
 slaves set at liberty4 ,see ,exodus    
#ba3b3bc3aj2 ,leviticus #be3b1 #c1 etc42
 ,deuteronomy #ae3ab2 and other similar 
passages4  ,saleratus3 ,see ,pearlash4  
,sal ammoniac3 ,a salt1 called also     
muriate of ammonia1 which derives its   
name from a district in ,libya1 ,egypt1 
where there was a temple of ,jupiter    
,ammon1 and where this salt was found4  
,scotch ,highlanders3 ,inhabitants of   
the ,highlands of ,scotland4  ,selvedge3
 ,the edge of cloth1 a border4          
,improperly written selvage4            
,service-book3 ,a book prescribing the  

order of public services in a church or 
congregation4  ,sharps3 ,see ,blunts4   
,shorts3 ,the coarser part of wheat     
bran4  ,shrubbery3 ,a plantation of     
shrubs4  ,siberia3 ,a large country in  
the extreme northern part of ,asia1     
having the ,frozen ,ocean on the north1 
and the ,pacific ,ocean on the east1 and
 forming a part of the ,russian empire4 
,the northern part is extremely cold1   
almost uncultivated1 and contains but   
few inhabitants4 ,it furnishes fine     
skins1 and some of the most valuable    
furs in the world4 ,it also contains    
rich mines of iron and copper1 and      
several kinds of precious stones4       
,sinclair1 ,sir ,john3 ,of whom it was  
said1 ,there is no greater name in the  
annals of agriculture than his1 was born
 in ,caithness1 ,scotland1 ,may #ajth1  
#aged1 and became a member of the       
,british ,parliament in #aghj4 ,he was  
strongly opposed to the measures of the 
,british government toward ,america1    
which produced the ,american            

,revolution4 ,he was author of many     
valuable publications on various        
subjects4 ,he died ,december #bast1     
#ahce4  ,sirloin3 ,the loin of beef4    
,the appellation sir is the title of a  
knight or baronet1 and has been added to
 the word loin1 when applied to beef1   
because a king of ,england1 in a freak  
of good humor1 once conferred the honor 
of knighthood upon a loin of beef4      
,slack3 ,to loosen1 to relax1 to deprive
 of cohesion4  ,soda3 ,an alkali1       
usually obtained from the ashes of      
marine plants4  ,to ,spade3 ,to throw   
out earth with a spade4  ,spermaceti3   
,an oily substance found in the head of 
a species of whale called the spermaceti
 whale4  ,spindling3 ,shooting into a   
long1 small stalk4  ,spinous process3 ,a
 process or bony protuberance1          
resembling a spine or thorn1 whence it  
derives its name4  ,spool3 ,a piece of  
cane or reed or a hollow cylinder of    
wood1 with a ridge at each end1 used to 
wind yarn and thread upon4  ,stamen1    

7plural1 stamens and stamina37 ,in      
weaving1 the warp1 the thread1 any thing
 made of threads4 ,in botany1 that part 
of a flower on which the artificial     
classification is founded1 consisting of
 the filament or stalk1 and the anther1 
which contains the pollen or fructifying
 powder4  ,stigma1 7plural stigmas and  
stigmata37 ,the summit or top of the    
pistil of a flower4  ,style or ,stile3  
,the part of the pistil between the germ
 and the stigma4  ,sub-carbonate3 ,an   
imperfect carbonate4  ,sulphate1        
,sulphates1 ,sulphites3 ,salts formed by
 the combination of some base with      
sulphuric acid1 as ,sulphate of copper1 
7blue vitriol or blue stone17 a         
combination of sulphuric acid with      
copper4 ,sulphate of iron3 ,copperas or 
green vitriol4 ,sulphate of lime3       
,gypsum or plaster of ,paris4 ,sulphate 
of magnesia3 ,epsom salts4 ,sulphate of 
potash3 ,a chemical salt1 composed of   
sulphuric acid and potash4 ,sulphate of 
soda3 ,glauber's salts4 ,sulphate of    

zinc3  ,white vitriol4 ,sulphuret3 ,a   
combination of an alkaline earth or     
metal with sulphur1 as ,sulphuret of    
iron1 a combination of iron and sulphur4
 ,sulphuric acid3 ,oil of vitriol1      
vitriolic acid4  ,suture3 ,a sewing2 the
 uniting of parts by stitching2 the     
seamor joint which unites the flat bones
 of the skull1 which are notched like   
the teeth of a saw1 and the notches1    
being united together1 present the      
appearance of a seam4  ,tartar3 ,a      
substance1 deposited on the inside of   
wine casks1 consisting chiefly of       
tartaric acid and potash4  ,cream of    
tartar3 ,the crude tartar separated from
 all its impurities by being dissolved  
in water and then crystallized1 when it 
becomes a perfectly white powder4       
,tartaric acid3 ,a vegetable acid which 
exists in the grape4  ,technology3 ,a   
description of the arts1 considered     
generally in their theory and practice  
as connected with moral1 political1 and 
physical science4  ,three-ply or triple 

ingrain3 ,a kind of carpeting1 in which 
the threads are woven in such a manner  
as to make three thicknesses of the     
cloth4  ,tic douloureux3 ,a painful     
affection of the nerves1 mostly those of
 the face4  ,tocqueville1 7,alexis de37 
,a celebrated statesman and writer of   
,france1 and author of volumes on the   
political condition1 and the            
penitentiaries of the ,united ,states1  
and other works4  ,trachea3 ,the        
windpipe1 so named 7from a ,greek word  
signifying rough7 from the roughness or 
inequalities of the cartilages of which 
it is formed4  ,truckle-bed or          
,trundle-bed3 ,a bed that runs on       
wheels4  ,tuber3 ,a solid1 fleshy1      
roundish root1 like the potato4         
,tuberous3 ,thick and fleshy2 composed  
of or having tubers4  ,tucks1           
7improperly ,tacks73 ,folds in garments4
  ,turmeric3 ,the root of a plant called
 ,curcuma longa1 a native of the        
,east-,indies1 used as a yellow dye4    
,twaddle3 ,idle1 foolish talk or        

conversation4  ,unbolted3 ,unsifted4    
,unslacked3 ,not loosened or deprived of
 cohesion4 ,lime1 when it has been      
slacked1 crumbles to powder from being  
deprived of cohesion4  ,valance3 ,the   
drapery or fringe hanging round the     
cover of a bed1 couch1 or other similar 
article4  ,vascular3 ,relating to or    
full of vessels4  ,venetian3 ,a kind of 
carpeting1 composed of a striped woolen 
warp on a thick woof of linen thread1   
,verisimilitude3 ,probability1          
resemblance to truth4  ,verbatim3 ,word 
for word4  ,vice versa3 ,the side being 
changed1 or the question reversed1 or   
the terms being exchanged4  ,viscera1   
7plural of viscus37 ,organs contained in
 the great cavities of the body1 the    
skull1 the abdomen1 and the chest4      
,generally applied to the contents of   
the abdomen4  ,vitriol3 ,a compound     
mineral salt of a very caustic taste4   
,blue ,vitriol1 sulphate of copper4     
,green ,vitriol1 see ,copperas4 ,oil of 
,vitriol1 sulphuric acid4  ,white       

,vitriol1 sulphate of zinc4             
,waffle-iron3 ,an iron utensil for the  
purpose of baking waffles1 which are    
thin and soft cakes indented by the iron
 in which they are baked4               
,wash-leather3 ,a soft1 pliable leather 
dressed with oil1 and in such a way that
 it may be washed without shrinking4 ,it
 is used for various articles of dress1 
as undershirts1 drawers1 etc41 and also 
for rubbing silver1 and other articles  
having a high polish4 ,the article known
 in commerce as chamois or shammy       
leather is also called wash-leather4    
,welting-cord3 ,a cord sewed into the   
welt or border of a garment4  ,the ,west
 or ,western ,world4 ,when used in      
,europe1 or in distinction from the     
,eastern ,world1 it means ,america4     
,when used in this country1 the ,west   
refers to the ,western ,states of the   
,union4  ,western ,wilds3 ,the wild1    
thinly-settled lands of the ,western    
,states4  ,white vitriol3 see ,zinc4    
,wilton carpet3 ,a kind of carpets made 

in ,england1 and so called from the     
place which is the chief seat of their  
manufacture4 ,they are woolen velvets   
with variegated colors4  ,writ of       
lunacy4 ,see ,lunacy4  ,xantippe3 ,the  
wife of ,socrates1 noted for her violent
 temper and scolding propensities4 ,the 
name is frequently applied to a shrew1  
or peevish1 turbulent1 scolding woman4  
,zinc3 ,a bluish-white metal1 which is  
used as a constituent of brass and some 
other alloys4 ,sulphate of ,zinc or     
,white vitriol2 ,a combination of ,zinc 
with sulphuric acid4