THE LADIES' BOOK OF USEFUL INFORMATION. 

 COMPILED FROM MANY SOURCES. 

 London, Ont. : LONDON PRINTING & LITHOGRAPHING CO. (LTD. ) 1896. 

Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year1897, on behalf of the unnamed author, by P. J. Edmunds, at theDepartment of Agriculture. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

 Preface. 

To the ladies of America is this little work, “THE LADIES' BOOK OFUSEFUL INFORMATION, ” dedicated. It is a book written expressly forwomen. This book is full from cover to cover of useful and necessaryinformation for women. Never before has so much knowledge with whichwomen should be acquainted been printed in one book. It is a perfectstorehouse of useful facts. Almost every lady spends many dollarsevery year for cosmetics, medicines, household articles, etc. , whichthis book would save her. 

This is a book which every lady should have, and which every mothershould place in the hands of her daughters as they come to years ofunderstanding. Every girl of twelve and upwards should read thisvaluable work. 

Many books costing from three to five dollars do not contain half theinformation contained in this work. Everything described in thispreface is taught in this book. 

It teaches ladies the secret of Youth, Beauty, Health. 

The first chapter teaches all about Personal Beauty. 

Every lady desires to be beautiful, and it is the duty of every womanto be as attractive as possible. All may enhance their charms and belovely by following the directions of this book. Few persons know howto improve their natural looks so as to captivate, charm, and win theadmiration of those whom they meet. This book tells the wonderfulsecret—all the ancients ever knew, and all that has been discoveredsince. It teaches how to wonderfully improve the person in loveliness. The real secret of changing an ordinary looking person into one ofgreat beauty makes this book of great value. Nature does something forus, but art must make the perfect man or woman. 

If you desire bright, melting eyes, a clear, soft, rose-tintedcomplexion, beautiful hands and graceful figure, well-developed andperfect, use the knowledge which you will find in this book. 

It teaches how to acquire a beautiful, delicate loveliness whichcannot be surpassed, and which can be retained to a very late age. Bymeans of this teaching a woman of thirty-five or forty can easily passfor a girl of twenty-five. 

It teaches how to conceal the evidence of age, and how to make themost stubbornly red and rough hands beautifully soft and white. Remember that “THE LADIES' BOOK OF USEFUL INFORMATION” does not teachthe use of paint and powder, which is injurious to the skin, but howto make the _cheek glow_ with health, and the _neck_, _arms_ and_hands_ to rival the lily in whiteness. It teaches how to cure GreasySkin, Freckles, Pimples, Wrinkles, Blackheads, Crow's-feet, Blotches, Face Grubs, Tan, Sunburn, Chapped Hands, Sore Lips, etc. 

It teaches how to cure and prevent redness and roughness, and to makethe skin soft, smooth, white and delicate, producing a perfectlynatural appearance. It teaches how to cure and refine a coarse skin, so that it will be clear and white. 

It tells what has never before been published: How to restore a fair, rosy complexion to its original freshness, after it has become sallowand faded. This is a wonderful secret, and is sure in its results. Itwill also cause those who have always been pale to have beautiful, bright, rosy cheeks, and the eyes to be brilliant and sparkling. 

It teaches how to have soft, white and attractive hands, even thoughcompelled to do housework. Every lady desires to have nice hands, andall may do so by following the directions of this book. The mostcoarse, rough, red hands will, by following this teaching, becomebeautifully delicate and white, and it causes very little trouble tocare for them. 

It teaches how to care for the hair so as to improve the growth and tohave a beautiful and luxuriant head of hair; how to keep the skin ofthe scalp healthy, to cure Dandruff, to prevent the hair falling, andto have it of a nice glossy hue. 

It teaches how to have clear and brilliant eyes, with beautiful, long, drooping lashes; also, how to cure sore and weak eyes. 

It teaches how to care for the teeth so as to have them white andsound, telling how to treat those that are decayed, and how to preventthe decay of sound ones. 

It teaches how to have beautiful ripe red lips, and how to cure soreand chapped lips. 

It teaches how to cure Warts, Corns, Bruises, Sprains, Cold Feet, BadBreath, etc. 

It teaches how to bleach, purify and whiten the most stubbornly red, rough skin, so that it will be beautifully clear and white; and acomplexion that is naturally passable will be admired by all who seeit after being treated as here described. 

The second chapter teaches: The different human temperaments; how totell to which temperament you belong yourself, and also thetemperaments of those whom you meet;

The fortunate and unfortunate days of the month, and their importanceat the hour of birth;

Important advice to females regarding their thirty-first year;

How to know whom you will marry;

The signs of a good genius;

All about Electrical Psychology, or PsychologicalFascination—Mesmerism;

How to make persons at a distance think of you (this is a purelynatural phenomenon);

How to win the affection of the person of the opposite sex whom yousincerely love. There is no black art about this, but merelypsychological attraction, and by its use you can win the love of theperson whose affection you desire. 

When you desire the “love” of any one whom you meet, you can veryreadily reach him if you observe the directions here given. 

Chapter three is a special chapter for young women, on a specialsubject, and contains advice which every young lady should study. 

It teaches them: What marriage is, and explains how highly injuriousit is to entertain low ideas regarding it;

How a young lady should act in the presence of young men;

What a girl should do when a prospect of marriage occurs. 

It tells some of the most prolific sources of matrimonialdifficulties, and how to remedy them;

What ladies should do who desire that their husbands should be amiableand kind;

What attentions are due to you _as a lady_. 

Cautions against the failing of young ladies making themselves toocheap. 

Tells what “woman” is formed to be. 

Warns against indiscretions before marriage, and teaches that underall circumstance a lady will be looked to to resist any advances, andmaintain her purity and virtue. 

Tells what is the nature, naturally, of young women;

How a young woman should act when receiving the attentions of a youngman;

How you will know when the young man whom you _should marry_ presentshimself to you;

What a man needs a wife for, and how to qualify yourself for theposition;

About misunderstandings in early married life;

How a young mother feels towards her first-born. 

Tells the good influence of virtuous love;

What young people should know before they become engaged. 

Chapter four teaches about Love and Marriage; the attraction of thesexes for each other; what love is; what causes it; individual loves;fondness for cousins; different kinds of love; flirtation; the objectof marriage; should marriage be for life. 

Chapter five: When to Marry—How to Select a Partner on RightPrinciples. 

Treats of the proper age to marry; which marriages are the most happy;which are the most productive of handsome children; how nature assistsart in the choice of partners; the attributes of a handsome couple, etc. 

Chapter six: Sexual Intercourse—Its Laws and Conditions—Its Use andAbuse. 

There is an alarming and increasing prevalence of nervous ailments andcomplicated disorders that could be traced to have their sole originin the ignorance, which is so universal, of the laws of these organs. 

This chapter teaches all about sexual morality; how men and womenshould live; the law from the age of puberty to marriage; the law ofmarriage; what a man who truly loves a woman will do; a true union;how women are protected; the false and the true sense of duty; what isthe most powerful restraint from evil. 

The above is discussed in a chaste, simple, manner, and should be readby every lady. There is nothing impure in this book from beginning toend, but subjects in which women are woefully ignorant are discussedin a plain, moral manner to which no objection can be raised. 

Chapter seven: Marriage. 

What marriage is; how far back the marriage tie has existed; polygamy, what it is; monogamy, what it is; polyandry, and what it is; marriagecustoms; the basis of a happy marriage, etc. 

Chapter eight: Pregnancy—Labor—Parturition. 

Perhaps there is no more eventful period in the history of woman thanthat in which she first becomes conscious that the existence ofanother being is dependent upon her own, and that she carries aboutwith her the first tiny rudiments of an immortal soul. 

This chapter explains all the signs of pregnancy; the changes thattake place in the face and neck; the suppression of the monthly flow;changes in the breast, etc. 

Then it gives a sure test for the detection of pregnancy. It tells howa pregnant woman should live during the period of gestation. 

Childbirth is not necessarily either painful or dangerous. It can beaccomplished easily and safely and with comparatively no pain byfollowing the directions given in “THE LADIES' BOOK OF USEFULINFORMATION. ”

Numerous instances are known where ladies who had previously sufferedwith severe labor in childbirth have, by attending to the directionshere given, been delivered of fine, healthy children with comparativeease. 

No mother who has attended to the teaching here given but has blessedthe knowledge of it, and it has saved many a young mother muchneedless terror. 

It tells all about the ailments that almost always torment womenduring the trying time of pregnancy, making life itself seem a burden. 

These troubles are: Morning Sickness, Toothache, Palpitation of theHeart, etc. It shows that there is no necessity for women suffering asthey almost invariably do during this time; but that these troublesmay be overcome by simple, safe remedies which are described in thisbook, and which may be safely taken by the patient. 

It tells all about the medicine which is taken by the Indian women ofNorth America during the period of gestation. It is well known thatthe women of these tribes suffer very little during childbirth, and itis almost all due to the effects of this wonderful medicine. 

The recipe for this medicine, “Parturient Balm, ” was obtained from anIndian doctor, and is given in this book, together with instructionsas to how it is to be taken. 

This chapter alone is worth the price of the book to any lady. Everymother, and everyone who ever expects to become a mother, shouldcarefully study the above chapter, as it may be the means of savingher much pain and suffering. 

The same chapter explains all about a case of labor; the signs thatshow when labor has commenced; what to give to help the patient; thedifferent kinds of pains; the length of time between the pains; thelength of time the pains should last, etc. ; the taking of the childfrom the mother; how to care for the child; the taking away of theafterbirth; what to do in case of flooding; how to relieve afterpains, etc. 

It also explains what “Abortion” is; what causes abortion; what causespremature labor; the difference between the two; symptoms ofthreatened abortion, and how to prevent the same if possible; what todo for miscarriage, and to try and prevent it, etc. 

The ninth chapter teaches all about: Menstruation—Change ofLife—Falling of the Womb, etc. Tells the time of life at which themenses should appear. 

Every mother should watch her young daughter as she nears thiscritical time. The health for many years to come depends to a greatextent on how a girl passes this period. This chapter tells all thesymptoms of the near approach of the monthly flow. It shows a motherhow to care for her daughter, and to see that she has proper attentionduring this time. 

It tells the age at which the periodical flow should commence; thesymptoms of its approach; how a girl should be treated at this time;how to cure Chlorosis, or Green Sickness; how to relieve and curepainful and suppressed menstruation, etc. 

If the instructions of this book are followed in cases like the above, it will save many young girls much needless suffering. 

This chapter also treats on: Whites, or Flour Albus, and Falling ofthe Womb. 

Many delicate women suffer great agony through these two distressingcomplaints. This chapter describes all the symptoms of thesecomplaints, and gives simple, safe remedies for them. A lady caneasily attend to herself and avoid exposure. 

It also treats on Change of Life. 

By the phrase “Change of Life, ” or “The Critical Period, ” weunderstand the final cessation or stoppage of the menses. This chapterexplains all about this trying time, the symptoms of its appearance, and the ages at which it usually occurs. 

With proper care this period may be safely passed, and a happy andcomfortable old age be spent. All the dangers incident to this periodare described, and how to successfully combat them. 

Chapter ten: Collection of valuable Medical Compounds. 

Any of the formulas in this chapter will be readily filled by yourdruggist. Each recipe will give an article which is the _very best_thing that can be used for the disease which it is recommended tocure. 

The first is “Magic Kidney and Liver Restorer. ”

Most people are afflicted to some extent with Kidney and Livertrouble. This medicine is a sure cure. 

Do you have: A frequent headache over the eyes; A susceptibility to chills and fever; A bitter or oily taste in the mouth; A sour stomach; A complexion inclined to be yellow; A great depression of spirits; Specks before the eyes, and flushed face; A done-out, tired feeling;

besides many other symptoms too numerous to mention? If you have, youare afflicted with Kidney and Liver complaint, and should use “MagicKidney and Liver Restorer. ” This great remedy will do away with allthese disagreeable symptoms, and will make you feel like a new person. It is a splendid spring medicine, cleansing the blood and purifyingand toning up the system. 

Another formula given is “Dyspeptic Ley. ”

This is a _sure, certain_ cure for dyspepsia. It never fails. 

The symptoms of dyspepsia are: Feeling of weight in the stomach; Bloated condition after eating; Belching of wind; Nausea; Vomiting of food; Water brash; Pain in the stomach; Heartburn; Bad taste in the mouth in the morning; Palpitation of the heart; Cankered mouth; loss of flesh; Fickle appetite; depression of spirits; Lack of energy; headache and constipation. 

If you have _any or all_ of the above symptoms, then you are afflictedwith Dyspepsia, and should endeavor to obtain relief. “Dyspeptic Ley”is a certain cure. It is easily prepared, and should be taken byeveryone who is afflicted with any of the above distressing symptoms. 

The same chapter tells how to cure Ague, Intermittent Fever, Neuralgia, Sick Headache, Neuralgic Headache, Rheumatism, Dysentery, Epileptic Fits, Hysteria, Bleeding of the Lungs, Coughs, BowelComplaint, Scrofula, Worms, Sore Eyes, Cholera, Piles, Warts, Corns, Deafness, Inverted Toe-nail, etc. 

All these diseases are described, together with the best method oftreating them. 

Chapter eleven teaches how to Prepare Nourishment for the Sick Room. Very few people know how to prepare nourishment for the sick. Thischapter teaches how to prepare a great number of nourishing dishes. Every lady should know how to prepare food for the sick, as at sometime or other there is almost certain to be sickness in every family. There are over forty recipes given in this chapter for food for thesick and convalescent. 

Chapter twelve describes things Curious and Useful. 

It tells: How to get clear of mosquitoes; how to get rid of bedbugs;to obtain fresh-blown flowers in winter. By this process the buds offlowers can be gathered in summer and autumn and kept until thewinter, when they can be used as required. The flowers open and are asbeautiful as though fresh plucked from the garden. Any one canunderstand the process, as it is very simple. 

Also: How to transfer all kinds of pictures on to glass—a very prettyart; how to prevent horses being teased by flies; how to prevent flieslighting on to windows, pictures, mirrors, etc. ; to render paperfireproof; to render boots waterproof; how to extract the essentialoil from any flower; how to take leaf photographs; to curedrunkenness; to make different kinds of perfumes; to write secretletters, etc. ;

To prepare flowers so that their beauty will remain unimpaired foryears. Roses and other flowers can be had to last for years by thisbeautiful art. The process is very easy, and the directions are sosimple that a child may follow them. 

Chapter thirteen treats of Home Decoration. 

It teaches how to arrange a house so as to furnish it cheaply andharmoniously. It gives complete instructions for every room—Hall, Parlor, Library, Dining-room, Bedrooms, etc. , and attends to everydetail. This is a splendid guide to all who wish to make their homeattractive. 

Chapter fourteen teaches all about caring for House Plants. It tellsthe right temperature to keep them in; the proper soil for potting;how to make plants grow luxuriantly; how to have plenty of blossoms;to keep plants without a fire at night; to destroy bugs androse-slugs; to raise plants with the least trouble; the best varietiesof plants to raise, etc. 

It tells how to preserve autumn leaves so that they can be bent in anyform desired, and so that they will retain their color. 

It tells how to prepare skeleton leaves—a very pretty amusement. 

Chapter fifteen is devoted to The Laundry. 

It tells: How to make washing fluid; to take out scorch; to makeplain, fine, and coffee starch; to make enamel for shirt bosoms, sothat any housekeeper can do them up as nicely as they do at thelaundry; to clean velvets and ribbons; to take grease out of silks, woolens, paper, floors, etc. ; to take out fruit stains; to take outiron rust and mildew; to wash woolen goods and blankets so that theywill not shrink, etc. 

The sixteenth chapter teaches how to do all kinds of Stamping. 

In this chapter are given full instructions for wet and dry stamping;for making stamping powder; how to mix white paint for dark goods, anddark paint for light goods; it tells how to prepare all the necessaryarticles for stamping; how to prepare transfer paper; how to transferany pattern you may see; how to make a distributor; how to enlargedesigns; how to prepare all kinds of stamping powder; how to do Frenchindelible stamping; what kind of a brush to use; and how to care forpatterns. If the directions here given are followed the stamping willalways be satisfactory. 

Chapter seventeen teaches how to do Bronze Work. 

Bronzing is the latest improvement in wax work, and if properly madecannot be detected from the most expensive, artistic bronze. It isused for table, mantel and bracket ornaments, and may be exposed todust and air without sustaining the slightest injury. It can be dustedlike any piece of furniture, and makes a very desirable, inexpensiveornament. The colors it is made in are Gold, Silver, Copper, Fire, andGreen Bronze. Among the articles described are a vase in bronze, amotto in bronze, a floral basket in bronze, animals and birds inbronze, statuary in bronze, flowers and leaves in bronze. 

The art of making each of the above articles is carefully described sothat any one can follow the directions. 

The art of Decalcomania is also taught in this chapter. This is usedupon almost everything for which ornamentation is required, such asCrockery, China, Porcelain, Vases, Glass, Bookcases, Folios, Boxes, Lap desks, Ribbons, etc. It is a very pretty art, and is much admired. 

Chapter eighteen gives twelve recipes for articles needed in everyhousehold. It will tell you how to save a large percentage ofhousehold expenses, and also how to have a great many of the articlesyou use in your daily housework of a superior quality, vastly betterthan the ones you are using at the present time. 

It is a fact not generally known, that a great many of the articlesused in daily household work cost little more than one-tenth of theprice the consumer pays. We purpose to show the readers of this bookhow to have, in most instances, better articles than those they buy, for a small percentage of the cost. To do this, we have, by our ownpersonal investigation, gathered a number of valuable recipestogether, and have paid for the privilege of using them. 

We give in “The Ladies' Book of Useful Information” twelve recipeswhich have never before been published, and which, if you oncepossess, you will never wish to be without, as they are truly valuablesecrets. 

The list is as follows: Healing salve; Magnetic croup cure; Wormelixir; Brilliant self-shining stove polish; Wonderful starch enamel;Royal washing powder; Magic annihilator; I X L baking powder; Electricpowder; French polish or dressing for leather; Artificial honey. 

It also contains a list of all the poisons and their antidotes. Itdescribes the symptoms of poisoning and how to proceed in each case. 

 CONTENTS. 

 CHAPTER I. 

Teaches all about Personal Beauty. Every woman desires to bebeautiful, and every woman may enhance her charms and be lovely byfollowing the directions of this book. Few persons know how to improvetheir natural looks so as to captivate, charm, and win the admirationof those whom they meet. This book tells this wonderful secret—allthe ancients ever knew, and all that has been discovered since. Itteaches how to wonderfully improve the person in loveliness. The real_secret_ of changing an ordinary looking person into one of greatbeauty makes this book of great value. Nature does something for us, but art must make the perfect man or woman. If you desire bright, melting eyes; a clear, soft, rosy-tinted complexion; beautiful hands;and graceful figure, well-developed and perfect, use the knowledgewhich you will find in this book. 

It teaches how to conceal the evidence of age; how to make the moststubbornly red and rough hands beautifully soft and white. Rememberthat “The Ladies' Book of Useful Information” does not teach the useof paint and powder, which is injurious to the skin, but how to makethe cheek glow with health, and the neck, arms, and hands to rival thelily in whiteness. It teaches how to cure Greasy Skin, Freckles, Wrinkles, Pimples, Blackheads, Crow's-feet, Blotches, Face Grubs, Tan, Sunburn, Chapped Hands, Sore Lips, etc. It teaches how to cure andprevent redness and roughness, and to make the skin soft, smooth, white and delicate, producing a perfectly healthy and naturalappearance. It teaches how to cure and refine a coarse skin, so thatit will be clear and white. 

It teaches how to have soft, white and attractive hands, even thoughcompelled to do housework. Every lady desires to have nice hands, andall may do so by following the directions of this chapter. 

It teaches how to care for the hair so as to improve the growth and tohave a beautiful and luxuriant head of hair; how to keep the skin ofthe scalp healthy; to cure dandruff; to prevent the hair falling, andto have it of a nice color. 

It teaches how to have clear and brilliant eyes, with beautiful, long, drooping lashes. Also, how to cure sore and weak eyes. 

It teaches how to care for the teeth so as to have them white andsound, telling how to treat those that are decayed, and how to preventthe decay of sound ones. 

It teaches how to have beautiful ripe red lips, and how to cure soreand chapped lips. 

It teaches how to cure Warts, Corns, Bruises, Sprains, Cold Feet, BadBreath, etc. 

The following formulas for Toilet Preparations are all given in thisbook. They are vastly superior to the much-advertised cosmetics whichflood the market. Your druggist will fill any of these recipes for avery small sum, and you will always have a superior article. Each ofthese preparations will do exactly what is claimed for it. 

The following is a list of what is given in the first chapter: Lotionto remove freckles and tan; To expel freckles; Cleopatra's FreckleBalm; Lemon Cream, for sunburn and freckles; Wash to prevent sunburn;Grape lotion, for sunburn; Pate Axerasive of Bozin, to soften andwhiten the skin; To remove red pimples; To remove black specks orflesh-grubs; Preparation for whitening the face and neck (bleaches andwhitens the skin); To cure profuse perspiration; Cleopatra's Enamelfor whitening the hands and arms; To cure freckles, and parched, roughskin; To purify the breath; To bleach and purify the skin of the faceand neck; To permanently remove black specks or flesh-worms; Frenchface-wash (purifies and brightens the complexion); To remove pimples;Kalydor for the complexion—for pimples, freckle-tanned skin, or scurfon the skin; To improve the skin; Wash a la Marie Antoinette (gives abeautiful brilliancy to the complexion); Liquid Rouge (harmless), aperfect imitation of nature; Milk of Roses, a cosmetic; CircassianCream; Toilet Vinegar; Bloom Rose; Certain cure for eruptions, pimples, etc. ; To clear the complexion and reduce the size of theface; To cure and refine a stippled or blotched skin; To cure andprevent wrinkles; Wash for wrinkles; To remove wrinkles; How to havebrilliant, beautiful eyes; To cure weak eyes; To improve theeyelashes; To cure weakness of eyes; How to have beautiful eyelashes;To cure watery and inflamed eyes; To strengthen the sight; What to dofor nearsightedness; How to have a beautiful mouth and lips; To makelip salve; French lip salve; German lip salve; To care for the teeth;To cure toothache; Premium tooth powder; Feuchtwanger's tooth paste;Fine tooth powder; Rye tooth powder; To cure foul breath; To havewhite and beautiful teeth; For decayed teeth; To remove yellow colorfrom teeth; Camphor paste; Powerfully cleansing dentifrice;Infallible cure for toothache; Mixture for decayed teeth; To whitenand beautify the teeth. 

How to have soft, white and beautiful hands; How to care for thehands; Bleaching lotion for the hands (renders them beautifullywhite); To remove stains from hands; To make the hands white anddelicate; Remedy for chapped hands; To whiten coarse and dark-skinnedhands; To cure red hands; Almond paste for the hands; To care for thenails. 

To cause the skin to become satin-smooth and to smell like violets. 

To cause those who have lost the bloom and fairness of early youth toregain them. 

How to care for the hair; How often to wash the hair; To improve thegrowth and luxuriance of the hair; To make the hair glossy; To impartcurliness or waviness to the hair when it is naturally straight; Onchanging the color of the hair; To have elegant hair; Wild Rosecurling fluid; To cause the hair to grow very thick; Lola Montez haircoloring; Hair Restorative; For bald heads; Excellent hair wash; Tocure baldness; Stimulants for the hair; The golden hair secret; Forkeeping the hair crimped or curled in summer; To bleach the hair; Forimproving the hair; Pomade for preserving the hair; To make the hairgrow and to prevent it from falling; To make the hair grow quick; Washfor scald heads, etc. 

Powders and their use: Boston Burnet powder for the face; Queen Besscomplexion wash. 

 CHAPTER II. 

Treats of miscellaneous matters: The human temperaments—How manythere are—What they are; How to tell to which temperament you belong. 

The fortunate and unfortunate days of the month; Days of the week, andtheir importance at the natal hour. 

Important advice to females. 

To know whom you will marry. 

The signs of a good genius. 

Electrical Psychology, or Psychological Fascination. 

Mesmerism. 

How to make persons at a distance think of you. 

How to win the love of the person whom you love. 

 CHAPTER III. 

A special chapter for young women: On marriage; What young women lookforward to; What it is best to do when a prospect of marrying occurs;What a husband looks for; What marriage affords; On making yourselfcheap; How to protect yourself; About courtship; Care of yourcharacter; How easily men are led astray, and how cautious you shouldbe; What state of life is most honorable; Important points for yourconsideration; To make a husband happy; Nature of young women; Onattracting the attention of young men; Young man's part; Young woman'spart; Parents' wishes; How young men act in female company; Modesty;Courtship; On near relations marrying; On dress; What men need wivesfor; A mother's pleasure at the birth of her first child; Howdifferently girls and boys are constituted; What young people shouldstudy before they become engaged. 

 CHAPTER IV. 

Love and marriage; The attraction of the sexes for each other; Whatlove is; What causes love; Individual loves; Fondness for cousins;Different kinds of love; Flirtation; Monogamy; Polygamy; The specialobject of marriage; Should marriage be for life. 

 CHAPTER V. 

When to marry; How to select a partner on right principles; Very earlymarriages; The best age to marry; When marriages are most happy; Theattributes of a handsome couple. 

 CHAPTER VI. 

Sexual Intercourse—Its laws and conditions—Its use and abuse: Aprevalent error; The law of sexual morality; What men expect; How menand women should live; Age of puberty to marriage; The law ofmarriage; What a man who truly loves a woman will do; A true union;Seduction; How women are protected; The false and the true sense ofduty. What is the most powerful restraint from evil. 

 CHAPTER VII. 

Marriage: What marriage is; How far back the marriage tie has existed;Polygamy—What it is; Monogamy—What it is; Polyandry—What it is;Marriage customs; The basis of a happy marriage. 

 CHAPTER VIII. 

Pregnancy—Labor—Parturition: The signs of pregnancy; The changesthat take place in the appearance; How soon after conception thesechanges take place; The period of gestation; Changes in the breasts;What causes labor; How labor may be rendered safe and easy; What thediet should consist of; The period of quickening; How to relieve thetoothache, cramping of the legs, palpitation of the heart, morningsickness, etc. , with which pregnant women are liable to be troubled;Sure test for the detection of pregnancy; Parturient Balm, a veryimportant medicine; Abortion; Premature labor; The cause of abortion;Symptoms of threatened abortion; What to do for a threatened abortion;What to do for miscarriage; To prevent miscarriage. 

 CHAPTER IX. 

Menstruation: The time of life at which it should appear; Signs ofapproaching puberty; Duty of mothers; Delayed and obstructedmenstruation—What to do for it; Chlorosis, or green sickness—What todo for it—What it is caused by; Too profuse menstruation—How totreat it; Painful menstruation, or menstrual colic—How to treat it;Amenorrhœa, or suppressed menstruation—What causes this, and howto treat it. 

Cessation of the menses, or change of life: Very important advice isgiven as to the way in which the patient should treat herself, which, if followed, will be of great benefit. 

Falling of the Womb: What causes it, and how the patient should betreated. 

Leucorrhœa—Whites—Flour Albus: What this disease is; What causesit; How to relieve and cure it. 

 CHAPTER X. 

Collection of valuable Medical Compounds: Magic kidney and liverrestorer; Hop bitters; Alterative or liver powders; Anti-dyspepticpills; Dyspeptic ley (sure cure for dyspepsia); Ague pills; Certainremedy for ague or intermittent fever; Fever powders; Ague drops;Pills for neuralgia; Sick headache pills; Anodyne headache pills;Rheumatic pills; Pills for dysentery; Epileptic pills; Pills forasthma; Hysteric pills; Pills for neuralgia; Cure for bleeding of thelungs; Cure for consumption; Cough syrup; Soothing cough mixture;Expectorant tincture; Sure remedy for bowel complaints; Cordial forsummer complaint; Scrofulous syrup; Eyewater; Tincture for rheumatism;Worm elixir; Dr. Jordan's cholera remedy; Pile ointment (sure cure);To cure warts and corns; Cure for deafness; Cure for invertedtoe-nail. 

 CHAPTER XI. 

Things for the Sick Room. Tells how to prepare the following articlesfor the sick and convalescent: Barley water; Sage tea; Refreshingdrink for fevers; Arrowroot jelly; Irish moss jelly; Isinglass jelly;Tapioca jelly; Toast; Rice; Bread jelly; Rice gruel; Water gruel;Arrowroot gruel; Beef liquid; Beef tea; Panado; French milk porridge;Coffee milk; Drink for dysentery; Crust coffee; Cranberry water; Winewhey; Mustard whey; Chicken broth; Calves'-foot jelly; Slippery elmjelly; Nutritive fluids; Gum acacia restorative; Soups for theconvalescent; Eggs; Milk for infants; Water gruel. 

 CHAPTER XII. 

Things Curious and Useful: To get clear of mosquitoes; To get rid ofbedbugs; To obtain fresh-blown flowers in winter; To increase thelaying of eggs in hens; The art of transferring on to glass; Toprevent horses being teased by flies; To prevent flies lighting onwindows, pictures, mirrors, etc. ; To make leather wear forever; Toprepare waterproof boots; To render paper fireproof; To curedrunkenness; To cure laziness; To take leaf photographs; To make lampwicks indestructible; To make different kinds of perfumes; To writesecret letters; To preserve flowers. 

 CHAPTER XIII. 

Home Decoration: On furnishing a house; How to furnish the Parlor, Library, Dining-room, Hall, Chambers, and Kitchen; Telling the properway of arranging each room tastefully and economically. 

 CHAPTER XIV. 

How to Care for House Plants: How to succeed with plants; A goodcollection of plants; To kill the spider; To start slips; To keepplants without a fire at night; To kill rose-slugs; On wateringplants. 

To prepare autumn leaves and ferns; To prepare skeleton leaves; Prettyhanging baskets. 

 CHAPTER XV. 

The Laundry: To make washing fluid; Gall soap; For washing woolens andfine prints; To take out scorch; To make bluing; To make coffeestarch; To make flour starch; To make fine starch; Enamel for shirtbosoms; To clean articles made of white zephyr; To clean velvet; Toclean ribbons; To take out paint; To remove ink stain; To take outfruit stains; To remove iron rust; To take out mildew; To washflannels in tepid water. 

 CHAPTER XVI. 

How to do your own Stamping and make your own Patterns: The articlesneeded for stamping; To make perforated patterns; To enlarge designs;To stamp; To make blue powder; To do French indelible stamping; Tomake paint for stamping; The proper brush to use; To make adistributor; To care for patterns. 

 CHAPTER XVII. 

Bronze Work: What bronze work is; The articles required for doingbronze work; The art of making a vase in bronze; A motto; A floralbasket; Copper bronze statuary; The art of making exotic leaves; Tomake leaves and flowers, etc. ; Decalcomania—The uses to which it maybe put. 

 CHAPTER XVIII. 

A chapter of useful things to know. How to prepare: Healing salve;Magnetic croup cure; Worm elixir; Brilliant self-shining stove polish;Wonderful starch enamel; Royal washing powder; Magic annihilator; I XL baking powder; Electric powder; French polish, or dressing forleather; Artificial honey. Table of poisons and their antidotes. 

 THE LADIES' BOOK OF USEFUL INFORMATION. 

 CHAPTER I. 

 PERSONAL BEAUTY. 

 Treating of the Care of the Skin, Hair, Teeth, and Eyes, so as to have each arrive at the highest degree of beauty of which each is capable. 

A great object of importance, of care to every lady, is the care ofher complexion. There is nothing more pleasing to the eye than adelicate, smooth skin; and besides being pleasing to the eye, is anevidence of health, and gives additional grace to the most regularfeatures. The choice of soaps has considerable influence in promotingand maintaining this desideratum. These should invariably be selectedof the finest kinds, and used sparingly, and never with cold water, for the alkali which, more or less, mingles in the composition of allsoaps has an undoubted tendency to irritate a delicate skin; warmwater excites a gentle perspiration, thereby assisting the skin tothrow off those natural secretions which, if allowed to remain, arelikely to accumulate below the skin and produce roughness, pimples, and even eruptions of an obstinate and unpleasant character. Thosesoaps which ensure a moderate fairness and flexibility of the skin arethe most desirable for regular use. 

Pomades, when properly prepared, contribute in an especial manner topreserve the softness and elasticity of the skin, their effect beingof an emollient and congenial nature; and, moreover, they can beapplied on retiring to rest, when their effects are not liable to bedisturbed by the action of the atmosphere, muscular exertions ornervous influences. 

The use of paints has been very correctly characterized as “a speciesof corporeal hypocrisy as subversive of delicacy of mind as it is ofthe natural complexion, ” and has been, of late years, discarded at thetoilette of every lady. 

The use of cosmetics has been common in all ages and in every land. Scripture itself records the painting of Jezebel; and Ezekiel, theprophet, speaks of the eye-painting common among the women; andJeremiah, of rending the face with painting—a most expressive termfor the destruction of beauty by such means. For the surest destroyersof real beauty are its simulators. The usurper destroys the rightfulsovereign. 

That paint can ever deceive people, or really add beauty for more thanthe duration of an acted charade or play, when “distance lendsenchantment to the view, ” is a delusion; but it is one into whichwomen of all times and nations have fallen—from the painted Indiansquaw to the rouged and powdered denizen of London or Paris. 

Milk was the favorite cosmetic of the ladies of ancient Rome. Theyapplied plasters of bread and ass's milk to their faces at night, andwashed them off with milk in the morning. 

As a cosmetic, milk would be harmless, but we doubt its power ofimproving the skin. As a beverage, no doubt, it whitens the complexionmore than any other food. 

But before we speak of improving the complexion, it will be well toexplain to our readers the nature and properties of the skin. 

This is what an American physician has recently told us about it:—

 THE SKIN—ITS BEAUTY, USES, CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT, ETC. 

Every person knows what the skin is, its external appearance, and itsgeneral properties; but there are many of my readers who may not beaware of its peculiar and wonderful construction, its compoundcharacter, and its manifold uses. It not merely acts as an organ ofsense, and a protection to the surface of the body, but it clothes it, as it were, in a garment of the most delicate texture and of the mostsurpassing loveliness. In perfect health it is gifted with exquisitesensibility, and while it possesses the softness of velvet, andexhibits the delicate hues of the lily, the carnation, and the rose, it is nevertheless gifted with extraordinary strength and power ofresisting external injury, and is not only capable of repairing, butof actually renewing itself. Though unprotected with hair, wool orfur, or with feathers or scales, as with the brute creation, the humanskin is furnished with innumerable nerves, which endow it with extremesusceptibility to all the various changes of climate and of weather, and prompt the mind to provide suitable materials, in the shape ofclothing, to shield it under all the circumstances in which it can beplaced. 

The importance of the due exposure of the body to daylight or sunlightcannot be too strongly insisted on. Light and warmth are powerfulagents in the economy of our being. The former especially is anoperative agent on which health, vigor, and even beauty itself, depend. Withdraw the light of the sun from the organic world, and allits various beings and objects would languish and gradually lose thosecharms which are now their characteristics. In its absence, thecarnation tint leaves the cheek of beauty, the cherry hue of the lipschanges to a leaden-purple, the eyes become glassy and expressionless, and the complexion assumes an unnatural, cadaverous appearance thatspeaks of sickness, night and death. So powerful is daylight, sonecessary to our well-being, that even its partial exclusion, or itsinsufficient admission to our apartments, soon tells its tale in thefeeble health, the liability to the attacks of disease, and the pallidfeatures (vacant and sunken, or flabby, pendent and uninviting) oftheir inmates. Even the aspect of the rooms in which we pass most ofour time, and the number and extent of their windows, is perceptible, by the trained eye, in the complexion and features of those thatoccupy them. So in the vegetable world—the bright and endlesslyvaried hues of flowers, and their sweet perfumes—even their veryproduction—depend on sunlight. In obscure light plants grow lanky andbecome pale and feeble. They seldom produce flowers, and uniformlyfail to ripen their seeds. In even partial darkness the green hue oftheir foliage gradually pales and disappears, and new growths, whenthey appear, are blanched or colorless. 

The best method of keeping the skin clean and healthy, by ablution andbaths, may here be alluded to. The use of these, and the washing ofthe skin that forms part of the daily duties of the toilet, appear tobe very simple matters, but writers on the subject differ in opinionas to the methods to be followed to render them perfect cleansers ofthe skin. Some of them regard the use of soap and water applied in theform of lather with the hands, and afterwards thoroughly removed fromthe skin by copious affusions, rinsing or sluicing with water, orimmersion in it, as the best method. This is probably the case whenthe skin is not materially dirty, or its pores or surface obstructedor loaded with the residual solid matter of the perspiration or itsown unctuous exudation and exuviæ. To remove these completely andreadily, something more than simple friction with the smooth hand isgenerally required. In such cases the use of a piece of flannel orserge, doubled and spread across the hand, or of a mitten of the samematerial, will be most ready and effective. Friction with this—firstwith soap, and afterwards with water to wash the soap off—will befound to cleanse the skin more thoroughly and quickly than any othermethod, and, by removing the worn-out portion of its surface, toimpart to it a healthy glow and hue that is most refreshing andagreeable. This effect will be increased by wiping and rubbing thesurface thoroughly dry with a coarse and moderately rough, but not astiff, towel, instead of with the fine, smooth diapers which are nowso commonly employed. At the bath, the fleshbrush usually providedthere will supersede the necessity of using the flannel. 

The small black spots and marks frequently observed on the skin in hotweather, particularly on the face, generally arise from theaccumulation of the indurated solid matter of the perspiration in itspores. When they assume the form of small pimples (_acne punctata_), and often when otherwise, they may be removed by strong pressurebetween the fingers, or between the nails of the opposite fingers, followed by the use of hot, soapy water. 

The subsequent daily application of a weak solution of bichloride ofmercury—as in the form commonly known as Gowland's lotion—or ofsulphate of zinc, will completely remove the swelling, and generallyprevent their re-formation. 

=Eruptions= are too well known to need any lengthy description here. They are usually classified, by writers on the subject, into:animalcular eruptions, or those due to the presence of animalcula(minute acari) in the scarfskin, which occasion much irritation, andof which the itch furnishes a well-marked example; papular eruptions, or dry pimples; pustular eruptions, or mattery pimples, of which someforms are popularly known as crusted tetters; scaly eruptions, or drytetters; and vesicular eruptions, or watery pimples. 

The treatment of all of the above, except the first, in simple cases, where there is not much constitutional disarrangement, consists mainlyin attention to the general principles of health, cleanliness, exercise, food, ventilation, and clothing. Occasional doses of mildsaline aperients (Epsom salts, cream of tartar, or phosphate of soda, or of sulphur combined with cream of tartar) should be taken, and warmor tepid bathing, preferably in sea-water, or, if not convenient, rainwater, frequently had recourse to. Stimulants of all kinds should beavoided, and the red meats, ripe fruits, and the antiscorbuticvegetables should form a considerable portion of the diet. Lemonade, made by squeezing the juice of a lemon into a half-pint tumbler fullof water, and sweetening with a little sugar, should be frequently andliberally taken as one of the best beverages in such cases. To relievethe itching and irritation (except in the pustular, crusted, andvesicular varieties), brisk friction with a fleshbrush or a fleshglovemay be employed. The parts should also be wetted with an appropriatelotion after each friction or bath, or the use of soap and water. 

In all the scaly eruptions, iodide of potassium internally, andioduretted or sulphuretted lotions or baths are invaluable. In many ofthem of a malignant or obstinate character, as _Lepra Psoriasis_, _Lupus_, etc. , small doses of solution of arsenite of potassa (liquorarsenicalis; the dose, from 3 to 5 drops, gradually and cautiouslyincreased to 7 to 9 drops, twice a day, after a meal) prove highlyserviceable. In the forms of psoriasis popularly called baker's itch, grocer's itch, and washer-woman's itch, the application of ointment ofnitrate of mercury, diluted with ten or twelve times its weight oflard, has been highly recommended. A course of sarsaparilla is also inmost cases advantageous. 

The small, hard, distinct pimples—“acne, or acne simplex” of medicalwriters—that occur on the forehead, and occasionally on the templesand chin, generally yield to stimulating lotions, consisting of equalparts of strong vinegar, or spirit, and water, or to weak lotions ofsulphate of zinc, assisted by occasional doses of cooling laxatives, as the salines, or a mixture of sulphur or cream of tartar. 

=Freckles=, or the round or oval-shaped yellowish or brownish-yellowspots, resembling stains, common on the face and the backs of thehands of persons with a fair and delicate skin who are much exposed tothe direct rays of the sun in hot weather, are of little importance inthemselves, and have nothing to do with the general health. Ladies whodesire to remove them may have recourse to the frequent application ofdilute spirit, or lemon juice, or a lotion formed by adding acetic, hydrochloric, nitric, or sulphuric acid, or liquor of potassa, towater, until it is just strong enough to slightly prick the tongue. One part of good Jamaica rum to two parts of lemon juice or weakvinegar is a good form of lotion for the purpose. The effect of allthese lotions is increased by the addition of a little glycerine. 

The preceding are also occasionally called “common freckles, ” “summerfreckles, ” and “sun freckles. ” In some cases they are very persistent, and resist all attempts to remove them while the exposure thatproduces them is continued. Their appearance may be prevented by thegreater use of the veil, parasol or sunshade, or avoidance of exposureto the sun during the heat of the day. 

Another variety, popularly known as cold freckles, occur at allseasons of the year, and usually depend on disordered health or somedisturbance of the natural functions of the skin. Here the onlyexternal application that proves useful is the solution of bichlorideof mercury and glycerine, or Gowland's lotion. 

=The Itch=—“psora” and “scabies, ” of medical authors; the “gale” of theFrench, —already referred to, in its common forms is an eruption ofminute vesicles, generally containing animalcula (acari), and of whichthe principal seats are between the fingers, bend of the wrist, etc. It is, accompanied by intense itching of the parts affected, which isonly aggravated by scratching. The usual treatment is with sulphurointment (simple or compound) well rubbed in once or twice a day; aspoonful (more or less) of flowers of sulphur, mixed with treacle ormilk, being taken at the same time, night and morning. Where theexternal use of sulphur is objectionable, on account of its smell, asulphuretten bath or lotion, or one of chloride of lime, may be usedinstead. In all cases extreme cleanliness, with the free use of soapand water, must be strictly adhered to. 

The small, soft discolorations and excrescences of the skin, popularlycalled moles, may be removed by touching them every second or thirdday with strong acetic or nitric acid, or with lunar caustic. Ifcovered with hair they should be shaved first. 

=Extreme paleness= of the skin, when not symptomatic of any primarydisease, generally arises from debility, or from the languidcirculation of the blood at the surface of the body; often, also, frominsufficient or improper food, want of outdoor exercise, and the like. The main treatment is evident. Warm baths, friction, and stimulatinglotions and cosmetics may be here employed, together with a course ofsome mild chalbeate (as the lactate, protophosphate, orammonia-citrate of iron) and hypophosphate of soda. 

=Roughness and Coarseness= of the skin, when not depending on anyparticular disease, may be removed or greatly lessened by dailyfriction with mild unguents or oil, or by moistening the parts, nightand morning, with a weak solution of bichloride of mercury containinga little glycerine. 

=Rashes and redness= of the skin, of a common character, often arisefrom very trifling causes, among which indigestion, suppressedperspiration, irritation, and the like, are the most frequent. Nettlerash or urticaria, so called from the appearance and tinglingsensations resembling those caused by the sting of nettles, in somepeople, is very apt to follow the use of indigestible and unwholesomefood. It is usually of short duration and recurrent. The treatmentconsists in the administration of mild saline aperients, and, insevere cases, of an emetic, particularly when the stomach is stillloaded with indigestible matter. These should be followed by copioususe of lemonade made from the fresh expressed juice. The patientshould be lightly but warmly clothed during the attack, and exposureto the cold, or to draughts of cold air, should be carefully avoided. The further treatment may be similar to that noticed under“eruptions. ” To prevent the recurrence of the attack, theobjectionable articles of food, and any other known exciting causes, must be avoided. Red rash, red blotch, or fiery spot, a commonconsequence of disordered health, a sudden fit of dyspepsia, and, infemales, of tight lacing, and rose rash, false measles, or roseola, having commonly a similar origin to the preceding, for the most partrequire the same treatment. 

=Scurf=—“furfur or furfura”—is a formation depending on the naturaland healthy exfoliation of the skin on every part of the body on whichhair or down grows, but most extensive and observable on the scalp, onaccount of the abundance and darker color of the hair there. Scurfiness, or excessive scurfiness, is the result of morbid action, and may be treated by the frequent use of the fleshbrush or hairbrush, ablution with soap and water, and the use of mild stimulating, astringent, or detergent lotions. 

=Scurvy=—“scorbutus” of medical writers—is a disease which, even inits incipient and early stages, when its presence is oftenunsuspected, is most injurious to the skin and complexion. It usuallycommences with unnatural sallowness, debility, and low spirits. As itproceeds, the gums become sore, spongy, and apt to bleed on theslightest pressure or friction; the teeth loosen, and the breathacquires a fœtid odor; the legs swell, eruptions appear ondifferent parts of the body, and at length the patient sinks undergeneral emaciation, diarrhœa, and hemorrhages. Its chief cause isimproper food, or, rather, the absence or insufficient supply of freshmeat and vegetables in the diet; to which cold, humidity, want ofexercise and fresh air may be added as secondary ones. Hence itsfrequent, fatal visitations formerly on shipboard, and its stilloccasional occurrence in ill-victualled ships during long voyages. Thetreatment mainly consists in adopting a liberal diet of fresh animalfood and green vegetables, with ripe food and an ample allowance ofmild ale or beer, or lemonade made from the fresh expressed juice, asbeverages. In serious cases, tonics, as quinine and steel, should alsobe administered. 

=Wrinkles= and looseness of the skin depend chiefly on the attenuationof the cutis or true skin and the reduction in the bulk of theunderlying surfacial portions of the body. They cannot be regarded asa disease of the skin; but are the result of long continued badhealth, anxiety and study, and of general emaciation and old age. Cleanliness, nutritious food, vigorous outdoor exercise, agreeableoccupation of the mind, and an equable and happy temper, retard theirformation. Whatever tends to promote the general health and toincrease the bulk of the body, and particularly the disposition of fatin the cellular tissues, also tends to remove them and to increase thesmoothness and beauty of the skin. The free and frequent use of warmwater and soap, followed by the daily use of mild, stimulating, cosmetic lotions or fomentations, or friction with warm oil of a likecharacter, and cod-liver oil internally, is all that art can do forthe purpose. 

=Excoriations=, in popular language, are those cases of sorenessproduced by chafing under the arms, behind the ears, and in thewrinkles and folds of the skin generally. They occur chiefly ininfancy, and in stout persons with a delicate skin, who perspireexcessively. Extreme cleanliness, and carefully wiping the parts dryafter washing, with the subsequent use of a little violet powder, orfinely powdered starch, or French chalk scraped or grated very fine, dusted over the parts once or twice a day, will generally remove themand prevent their recurrence. 

 WASHES FOR THE FACE. 

We do not approve of face washes, but as some ladies will use them, werecommend the following as harmless: Dampen with glycerine temperedwith rose-water, then powder with the finest magnesia. It imparts acharming whiteness. 

Less harmless, but more frequently used, is to procure five cents'worth of bismuth, of flake white, and of powdered chalk; mix with fivecents' worth of rose-water. Great care must be taken to wash off thispreparation before retiring to rest, as the bismuth is of a hurtfulnature. 

=To Remove Freckles. =—Freckles are of two kinds: Those occasioned byexposure to the sunshine, and consequently evanescent, are denominated“summer freckles”; those which are constitutional and permanent arecalled “cold freckles. ” With regard to the latter, it is impossible togive any advice which will be of value. They result from causes not tobe affected by mere external applications. Summer freckles are notdifficult to deal with, and with a little care the skin may be keptfree from this cause of disfigurement by using either of the followinglotions:—

First: Scrape horse-radish into a cup of sour milk, let it standtwelve hours, strain, and apply two or three times a day. 

Second: Into half a pint of milk squeeze the juice of a lemon, with aspoonful of brandy, and boil, skimming well; add a dram of rock alum. Apply freely. 

=Magic Lotion for Removing Freckles. =—Dissolve three grains of borax infive drams each of rose-water and orange-flower water. A splendid andharmless remedy is equal parts of pure glycerine and rose-water, applied every night and allowed to dry on the skin. 

=To Remove Freckles and Tan. =—Tincture of benzoin, one pint; tinctureof tolu, one-half pint; oil rosemary, one-half ounce. Put oneteaspoonful of the above mixture in one-quarter pint of water, andthen with a towel thoroughly bathe the face. Do this every night andmorning. 

=To Expel Freckles. =—Finely powdered nitre is excellent. Apply it tothe face with the finger moistened with water and dipped in thepowder. 

=Cleopatra's Freckle Balm. =—A splendid article. Venice soap, one ounce;lemon juice, half ounce; oil of bitter almonds, quarter ounce;deliquidated oil of tartar, quarter ounce; oil of rhodium, threedrops. Dissolve the soap in the lemon juice, then add the two oils, and put the whole in the sun till it acquires the consistency ofointment, and then add the oil rhodium. Anoint the freckly face atnight with this balm, and wash in the morning with pure water. 

=Lemon Cream for Sunburn and Freckles. =—Put two spoonfuls of sweetcream into half a pint of new milk, squeeze into it the juice of alemon, add half a glass of genuine French brandy, a little alum andloaf sugar; boil the whole, skim it well, and when cool it is fit foruse. 

=Wash to Prevent Sunburn. =—Take two drams of borax, one dram of Romanalum, one dram of camphor, half an ounce of sugar candy, one pound ofox-gall. Mix and stir well together, and repeat the stirring three orfour times a day until it becomes transparent; then strain it throughfiltering or blotting paper, and it will be fit for use. Wash the facewith the mixture before you go into the sun. 

=Grape Lotion for Sunburn. =—Dip a bunch of green grapes in a basin ofwater; sprinkle it with powdered alum and salt mixed; wrap the grapesin paper, and bake them under hot ashes; then express the juice, andwash the face with the liquid, which will remove either freckles, tanor sunburn. 

=To Soften and Whiten the Skin—Pate Axerasive of Bozin. =—Thiscelebrated perfume has the distinction of being highly commended bythe French Royal Academy of Medicine. It is better for toilet use thansoaps, which contain alkali. 

Take powder of bitter almonds, eight ounces; oil of the same, twelveounces; savon vert of the perfumes, eight ounces; spermaceti, fourounces; soap powder, four ounces; cinnabar, two drams; essence ofrose, one dram. Melt the soap and spermaceti with the oil in a bathwater; add the powder, and mix the whole in a marble mortar. It formsa paste which softens and whitens the skin better than any soap. 

=To Remove Red Pimples. =—Sulphur water, one ounce; acetated liquor ofammonia, quarter ounce; liquor of potassa, one grain; white winevinegar, two ounces; distilled water, two ounces. 

=To Remove Black Specks or Flesh-worms. =—Squeeze them by pressing theskin, and then wash with warm water and rub well with a towel. Thenapply the following lotion: Liquor of potassa, one ounce; cologne, twoounces. 

=Preparation for Whitening the Face and Neck. =—For bleaching andpurifying the skin of the face and neck, making them beautifullysmooth and white: Terebinth of Mecca, three grains; oil of sweetalmonds, four ounces; spermaceti, two drams; flour of zinc, one dram;white wax, two drams; rose-water, six drams. Mix in a bath water, andmelt together. After washing, before retiring (use water as hot as canbe borne), anoint the face and neck freely with this preparation. 

=To Cure Profuse Perspiration. =—Bathe the hands, feet, and parts of thebody where the perspiration is greatest, with a cold infusion ofrosemary and sage, and afterwards dust the stockings andunder-garments with a mixture of two drams of camphor, four ounces oforris root, and sixteen ounces of starch, the whole reduced to a finepowder. Put the mixture in a coarse muslin bag, and shake it over theclothes. 

=Cleopatra's Enamel for Whitening the Hands and Arms. =—One ounce ofmyrrh, four ounces of honey, two ounces of yellow wax, six ounces ofrose-water. Mix well together the wax, honey and rose-water in a dishheld over boiling water, and add the myrrh while hot. Rub this thicklyover the skin before going to bed. 

=To Cure Freckles and Parched or Rough Skin. =—Take one ounce of sweetalmonds, or of pistachia nuts, half a pint of elder or rose-water, andone ounce of pure glycerine; grate the nuts and put the powder in alittle linen or cotton bag, and squeeze it for several minutes in therose-water; then add the glycerine and a little perfume. Use it bywetting the face two or three times a day. This is a gratefulapplication for a parched, rough skin, and is good for the removal offreckles. It should be allowed to dry thoroughly. When it feels pastyor sticky it may be washed off with a little warm water without soap. 

 TO PURIFY THE BREATH. 

There is nothing more disagreeable to people with whom we associatethan for them to be able to detect a bad odor from our breath when intheir company. Yet a great many are afflicted in this way. Thefollowing will purify and sweeten the breath: Chlorate of lime, sevendrams; vanilla sugar, three drams; gumeratic, five drams. Mix wellwith warm water to a stiff paste, and cut into lozenges. Take alozenge occasionally. 

 TO BLEACH AND PURIFY THE SKIN OF THE FACE AND NECK. 

A celebrated physician gives the following as a good skin bleacher andpurifier: Half a pint of skim milk; slice into it as much cucumber asit will cover, and let it stand an hour; then bathe the face, neck, and hands. Wash them off with clean soft water when the cucumberextract is dry. If the skin is rough from exposure to the wind, anapplication of buttermilk at night, washed off with fine carbolic soapin the morning, will make the skin smooth and natural. 

=To Permanently Remove Black Specks or “Flesh-worms. ”=—Sometimes littleblack specks appear about the base of the nose, or on the forehead, orin the hollow of the chin, which are called flesh-worms, and areoccasioned by coagulated lymph that obstructs the pores of the skin. They may be squeezed out by pressing the skin, and ignorant peoplesuppose them to be little worms. They are permanently removed bywashing with very warm water, and severe friction with a towel andthen applying a little of the following preparation: Liquor ofpotassa, one ounce; cologne, two ounces; white brandy, four ounces. 

=French Face Wash Purifies and Brightens the Complexion. =—Take equalparts of the seeds of the melon, pumpkin, gourd, and cucumber, poundedtill they are reduced to powder; add to it sufficient fresh cream todilute the flour, and then add milk enough to reduce the whole to athick paste. Add a grain of musk and a few drops of the oil of lemon. Anoint the face with this, leave it on twenty or thirty minutes, orover night if convenient, and wash off with warm water. It gives aremarkable purity and brightness to the complexion. 

Or, try this; splendid. —Infuse a handful of well-sifted wheat branfor four hours in white wine vinegar; add to it five yolks of eggs andtwo grains of musk, and distill the whole. Bottle it, keep carefullycorked for fifteen days, when it will be fit for use. Apply overnight, and wash in the morning with tepid water. 

=To Remove Pimples. =—There are many kinds of pimples, some of whichpartake almost of the nature of ulcers, which require medicaltreatment; but the small red pimple, which is most common, may beremoved by applying the following twice a day: Sulphur water, oneounce; acetated liquid of ammonia, one-quarter ounce; liquor ofpotassa, one grain; white wine vinegar, two ounces; distilled water, two ounces. These pimples are sometimes cured by frequent washing inwarm water and prolonged friction with a coarse towel. The cause ofthese pimples is obstruction of the skin and imperfect circulation. 

=To Remove Tan. =—_Creme de'l Enclos. _—New milk, half a pint; lemonjuice, one-quarter ounce; white brandy, half ounce. Boil the whole andskim it clear from all scum. Use night and morning. 

=A Cosmetic Bath. =—Take two pounds of barley or bean flour, eightpounds of bran, and a few handfuls of Borage leaves. Boil theseingredients in a sufficient quantity of spring water. This bothcleanses and softens the skin in a superior manner. 

=Kalydor for the Complexion. =—For pimples, freckle-tanned skin, orscurf on the skin. Take emulsion of bitter almonds, one pint;oxymuriate of quicksilver, two and one-half pints; sal ammoniac, onedram. To be used moderately by means of a sponge, after washing theface and hands with pure soap and warm water. 

=To Improve the Skin. =—Take two ounces of Venice soap and dissolve itin two ounces of lemon juice. Add one ounce of the oil of bitteralmonds and a like quantity of the oil of tartar. Mix the whole andstir it well till it has acquired the consistence of soap, and use itas such for the hands. The paste of sweet almonds, which contains anoil fit for keeping the skin soft and elastic and removingindurations, may be beneficially applied to the hands and arms. 

=Wash a la Marie Antoinette. =—Gives a beautiful brilliancy to thecomplexion. Take half a dozen lemons and cut them in small pieces, asmall handful of the leaves of white lilies and southernwood, andinfuse them in two quarts of cows milk, with an ounce and a half ofwhite sugar and an ounce of rock alum. These are to be distilled inpalneum mariæ. The face at bedtime is to be rubbed with this liquid, and it will give a beautiful luster to the complexion. It is a safeapplication, and its effects are certain. 

=Liquid Rouge. =—Harmless—a perfect imitation of nature. For ladies whowish to use a little artificial bloom the following is recommended. Aliquid rouge to produce a perfect imitation of the colors of nature isprepared as follows: Add to a pint of French brandy, half an ounce ofbenzoin, an ounce of red sandalwood, half an ounce of Brazil wood andthe same quantity of rock alum. Cork the bottle carefully, shake itwell once a day, and at the end of twelve days it will be fit for use. The cheeks are to be lightly touched with it. 

=Milk of Roses. =—This is a cosmetic. Pound an ounce of almonds in amortar very finely; then put in shavings of honey soap in a smallquantity. Add enough rose-water to enable you to work the compositionwith the pestle into a fine cream; and in order that it may keep, addto the whole an ounce of spirits of wine, by slow degrees. Scent withotto of roses. Strain through muslin. Apply to the face with a spongeor a piece of lint. 

=Circassian Cream. =—This celebrated preparation is made, according to apublished recipe, in this way: Castor oil, one pint; almond oil, fourounces; liquid potassa, three drams; essence of bergamot, oil ofcloves, and oil of lemon, in equal quantities; and about a dozen dropsof otto of roses. 

=Toilet Vinegar. =—Add to the best malt vinegar, half a pint of cognacand a pint of rose-water. Scent may be added, and if so, it should befirst mixed with the spirit before the other ingredients are put in. 

=Bloom Rose. =—This is a preparation of carmine for the face and lips. Take a quarter of a dram of carmine and place it in a phial with halfa dram of liquid ammonia; keep for a few days, occasionally shakingthe mixture; then dilute with two ounces of rose-water, to which halfa dram of essence of roses has been added. Draw off and keep a week orten days, then apply with the corner of a soft handkerchief, takingcare that if the color is too bright it is reduced by means of purewater. 

=Certain Cure for Eruptions, Pimples, Etc. =—Having in numerousinstances seen the good effects of the following prescription, I cancertify to its perfect remedy: Dilute corrosive sublimate with the oilof almonds, apply it to the face occasionally, and in few days a curewill be effected. 

=To Clear the Complexion, and Reduce the Size. =—It is essential thatthe blood should be cleansed. Take a teaspoonful of powdered charcoal, mixed with water or honey, for three successive nights, then use aseidlitz powder to remove it from the system. It acts splendidly uponthe system and purifies the blood; but under no circumstances must thephysic be neglected to carry the chemicals from the system; if not, ill effects are certain to follow. 

=To Cure and Refine a Stippled or Blotched Skin. =—A small dose ofteraxacum every other night will most materially aid in refining theskin. It is a month's or six weeks' job to accomplish the desiredresult. You must also wear a mask of quilted cotton, wet in coldwater, over night. Do not get discouraged, for it is worth thetrouble. 

 TO CURE AND PREVENT WRINKLES. 

=Pomade d'Hebe. =—This pomade is used for the removal of wrinkles. Tomake: Melt white wax, one ounce, to gentle heat; add juice of lilybulbs, two ounces; add honey, two ounces; rose-water, two drams; andotto of roses, a drop or two. Use twice a day. 

=Lotion for Wrinkles. =—Beautifies the face, preserves the freshness ofyouth, and gives a beautiful brilliancy to the skin. Take the secondwater of barley, one pint, and strain through a piece of fine linen;add a dozen drops of the balm of Mecca; shake it well together untilthe balm is thoroughly incorporated with the water, which will beeffected when the water assumes a whitish or turgid appearance. Beforeapplying, wash the face with soft water. If used once a day, thislotion will beautify the face, remove wrinkles, preserve the freshnessof youth, and give a surprising brilliancy to the skin. 

=Wash for Wrinkles. =—Take two ounces of the juice of onions, two ouncesof the white lily, two ounces of Norboune honey, and one ounce ofwhite wax; put the whole into a new earthen pipkin until the wax ismelted, then take the pipkin (crock) off the fire, and continuestirring briskly until the mixture grows cold. This should be appliedon going to bed and allowed to remain on till the morning. 

=To Remove Wrinkles. =—To one fluid ounce of tincture of gum benzoin addseven fluid ounces of distilled rose-water and one-half ounce ofglycerine. Bathe face, neck, and hands with it at night, letting itdry on. Wash off in the morning with a very little pure white castilesoap and soft water. This is a famous cosmetic, and has been soldunder various names. It is an excellent remedy for tan, freckles, andsunburn also. 

 HOW TO HAVE BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL EYES. 

Beautiful eyes are the gift of nature; but even those of the greatestbeauty may owe something to the toilet, while those of an indifferentkind are very susceptible of improvement. We entirely discountenanceany tampering with the eye itself, with a view to giving it luster orbrightness. The sight has often been injured by the use of belladonna, preparations of the calabar bean, eyebright, and other substanceshaving a strong effect on the eyes. But without touching the eyeitself, it is possible to give the effect of brightness, softness, etc. , by means of the eyelids and eyelashes. Made-up eyes are by nomeans desirable, and to many are singularly displeasing; but the samemay be said of made-up faces generally. Some ladies are, however, persuaded that it adds to their charms to give the eyes a long, almondshape—after the Egyptian type—while very many are persuaded that theeye is not seen to advantage unless its apparent size is increased bythe darkening of the lids. Both these effects are produced by kohl, ablack powder, which may be procured at the chemist's, and is mixedwith rose-water and applied with a camel's-hair brush. 

=To Cure Weak Eyes. =—It is well to have on the toilet table a remedyfor inflamed eyes. Spermaceti ointment is simple and well adapted forthe purpose. Apply at night, and wash off with rose-water in themorning. Golden ointment will serve a like purpose. Or, there is asimple lotion made by dissolving a very small piece of alum and apiece of lump sugar of the same size in a quart of water. Put theingredients into water cold and let them simmer. Bathe the eyesfrequently with it. Sties in the eyes are irritating and disfiguring. Foment with warm water; at night apply a bread and milk poultice. Whena white head forms, prick it with a fine needle. Should theinflammation be obstinate, a little citerine ointment may be applied, care being taken that it does not get into the eye, and an aperientshould be tried. 

=To Improve the Eyelashes. =—Many people speak highly of this secret. Trim the tiny points slightly, and anoint with this salve: Two dramsof ointment of nitric oxida of mercury, and one dram of lard. Mix thelard and ointment well, and anoint the edges of the eyelids night andmorning, after each time, with milk and water. This will restore thelashes when all other remedies fail. It is not known in this country, and is a valuable secret. 

=To Cure Weakness of Eyes. =—Sulphate of copper, fifteen grains;camphor, four grains; boiling water, four ounces. Mix, strain, andwhen cold make up to four pints with water. Bathe the eyes night andmorning with a portion of the mixture. 

=How to Have Beautiful Eyelashes. =—The effect of the eyes is greatlyaided by beautiful eyelashes. These may be secured to a certain extentby a little care, especially if it is taken early in life. The extremeends should be cut with a pair of small, sharp scissors, care beingtaken to preserve the natural outline, not to leave jagged edges. Attention to this matter results in the lengthening of the lashes. Dyeing them is another expedient often resorted to for increasingtheir effect. A good permanent black is all that is needed, and forthis use Indian ink. As an impromptu expedient to serve for one night, a hairpin held for a few seconds in the flame of a candle, and drawnthrough the lashes, will serve to color them well, and with sufficientdurability. It need scarcely be added that the hairpin must besuffered to grow cold before it is used, or the consequence may bethat no eyelash will be left to color. Good eyebrows are not to beproduced artificially. It is possible, however, to prevent those thatare really good from degenerating through neglect. When wiping theface dry after washing, pass a corner of the towel over the forefingerand set the eyebrows in the form you wish them to assume. And whenoiling the hair, do not forget to oil the eyebrows also. 

=To Cure Watery and Inflamed Eyes. =—Foment frequently with decoction ofpoppy heads. When the irritation and inflammation occur, a teaspoonfulof cognac brandy in four ounces of spring water may be used three orfour times in the course of the day as a strengthening lotion. 

=General Care of the Eyes. =—The eyes, of all the features, standpre-eminent for their beauty and ever-varying powers of expression, and for being the organs of the most exalted, delicate and useful ofthe senses. It is they alone that “reveal the external forms of beautyto the mind, and enable it to perceive them, even at a distance, withthe speed of light. It is they alone that clothe the whole creationwith the magic charms of color, and fix on every object the identityof figure. It is the eyes alone, or chiefly, that reveal the emotionsof the mind to others, and that clothe the features with the languageof the soul. Melting with pity, or glowing with hope, or redolent withlove, benevolence, desire, or emulation, they impart to thecountenance those vital fascinations which are the peculiar attributesof man. ” “And when the mind is subdued by fear, anxiety or shame, oroverwhelmed by sorrow or despair, the eyes, like faithful chroniclers, still tell the truthful story of the mental disquietude. And hatred, anger, envy, pride, and jealousy, ambition, avarice, discontent, andall the varied passions and emotions that torment, excite or depressthe human soul, and find a resting place in the human breast, obtainexpression in the eyes. At one moment the instruments of receiving andimparting pleasure, at another the willing or passive instruments ofpain, their influences and changes are as varied and boundless as theempire of thought itself. ” Through their silent expressions the mindreveals its workings to the external world in signs more rapid and aspalpable as those uttered by the tongue. It is “the eyes alone thatstamp the face with the outward symbol of animation and vitality, ” andwhich endue it with the visible “sanctity of reason. ” The eye is, indeed, the chief and most speaking feature of the face, and the oneon whose excellence, more than any other, its beauty depends. 

Theories have been based on even the peculiar color of the eyes. Thus, it is said that dark blue eyes are found chiefly in persons ofdelicate, refined or effeminate mental character; light blue eyes, andmore particularly gray eyes, in the hardy and active; hazel eyes, inthe masculine, vigorous, and profound; black eyes, in those whoseenergy is of a desultory or remittent character, and who exhibitfickleness in pursuits and affection. Greenish eyes, it is asserted, have the same general meaning as gray eyes, with the addition ofselfishness or a sinistrous disposition. These statements, however, though based on some general truths, and supported by popular opinion, are liable to so many exceptions as to be unreliable and valueless intheir individual applications. 

Shakespeare is said to have had hazel eyes; Swift, blue eyes; Milton, Scott, and Byron, gray eyes. Wellington and Napoleon are also said tohave had gray eyes. 

A beautiful eye is one that is full, clear, and brilliant; appropriatein color to the complexion, and in form to the features, and of whichthe connected parts—the eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows, which, withit, in a general view of the subject, collectively form the externaleye—are also beautiful, and in keeping with it. 

To increase the beauty and expression of the eyes, various means areoccasionally had recourse to, nearly all of which, except those hereinmentioned in connection with the eyelashes and eyebrows, are notmerely highly objectionable, but even dangerous. Thus, somefashionable ladies and actresses, to enhance the clearness andbrilliancy of their eyes before appearing in public, are in the habitof exposing them to air slightly impregnated with the vapor of prussicacid. This is done by placing a single drop of the dilute acid at thebottom of an eyecup or eyeglass, and then holding the cup or glassagainst the eye for a few seconds, with the head in an inclinedposition. It has also been asserted, and I believe correctly, thatcertain ladies of the demimonde rub a very small quantity ofbelladonna ointment on the brow over each eye, or moisten the samepart with a few drops of tincture of belladonna. This producesdilation of the pupil, and gives that peculiar fullness and anexpression of languor to the eyes which, by some, is regarded asexceedingly fascinating. The use of these active medicinals in thisway must be manifestly injurious; and when frequent, or long continuedor carried to excess, must necessarily result in impaired vision, ifnot in actual blindness. 

The following means of repairing and restoring the sight, which hasfor some time been going the round of the press, being based onscientific principles, may be appropriately inserted here:

For nearsightedness, close the eyes and pass the fingers, very gently, several times across them outward, from the canthus, or corner nextthe nose, towards the temple. This tends slightly to flatten thecorner and lens of the eye, and thus to lengthen or extend the angleof vision. The operation should be repeated several times a day, or atleast always after making one's toilet, until shortsightedness isnearly or completely removed. For long sight, loss of sight by age, weak sight, and generally for all those defects which require the useof magnifying glasses, gently pass the finger, or napkin, from theouter angle or corner of the eyes inward, above and below the eyeball, towards the nose. This tends slightly to “round up” the eyes, and thusto preserve or to restore the sight. It should be done every time theeyes are washed, or oftener. 

 TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL MOUTH AND LIPS. 

The beauty of the human mouth and lips, the delicacy of theirformation and tints, their power of expression, which is only inferiorto that of the eyes, and their elevated position as the media with thepalate, tongue, and teeth, by which we communicate our thoughts toothers in an audible form, need scarcely be dilated on here. The poettells us that:

 “The lips of woman out of roses take The tints with which they ever stain themselves. They are the beautiful, lofty shelves Where rests the sweetness which the young hours make, And which the earnest boy, whom we call Love, Will often sip in sorrow or in play. Health, when it comes, doth ruddiness approve, But his strong foe soon flatters it away! Disease and health for a warm pair of lips, Like York and Lancaster, wage active strife: One on his banner front the White rose keeps, And one the Red; and thus with woman's life, Her lips are made a battle-field for those Who struggle for the color of a rose. ”

A beautiful mouth is one that is moderately small, and has awell-defined and graceful outline; and beautiful lips are gracefullymolded, neither thick nor thin, nor compressed nor lax, and that areendowed with expression and are tinted with the hues of health. 

The ladies of Eastern nations commonly heighten the hue and freshnessof their lips by means of cosmetics, a practice which in WesternEurope is only adopted on the stage, and occasionally by courtesansand ladies of the demimonde. 

Chapped lips most frequently occur in persons with pale, bluish, moistlips and a languid circulation, who are much exposed to the wind orwho are continually moving from heated apartments to the external air. East and north-east winds are those that generally produce them. Theoccasional application of a little cold cream, lip salve, spermacetiointment, or any other mild unguent, will generally prevent them, andremove them when they have already formed. A still more elegant andeffective preventive and remedy is glycerine diluted with about twiceits weight of eau-de-rose, or glycerinated lip salve or balsam. 

The moist vesicular eruption of the lips, referred to above, may alsogenerally be prevented by the use of glycerine, or any of thepreparations just mentioned. After its accession, the best treatmentis to freely dust the affected portion of the lips with violet powder, finely powdered starch, prepared chalk, or French chalk or talcreduced to an impalpable powder by scraping or grating it. 

The following formulas of preparations are all valuable forbeautifying and preserving the beauty of the lips:—

=White Lip Salve—No. 1. =—Take half a pound spermaceti ointment, liquify it by the heat of warm water, and stir in one-half dram nerolior essence de petit-grain. In a few minutes pour off the clear portionfrom the dregs (if any) and add twenty drops of oil of rose. Lastly, before it cools, pour it into jars. 

=Lip Salve—No. 2. =—This indispensable adjunct to the toilet is made bymelting in a jar, placed in a basin of boiling water, a quarter of anounce each of white wax and spermaceti; flour of benzoin, fifteengrains; and half an ounce of oil of almonds. Stir till the mixture iscool. Color red with two-penny worth of alkanet root. Splendid forkeeping the lips healthy and of a beautiful crimson color. 

=French Lip Salve. =—Lard, twenty-six ounces; white wax, two ounces;nitre and alum in fine powder, of each one-half ounce; alkanet tocolor. 

=German Lip Salve. =—Butter of cacao, one-half ounce; oil of almonds, one-quarter ounce; melt together with a gentle heat, and add six dropsof essence of lemon. 

 THE CARE OF THE TEETH. 

The influence which the teeth are capable of exercising on thepersonal appearance is usually known and admitted. 

The teeth have formed especial objects of attention, in connectionwith the toilet and cosmetic arts, from almost the earliest ages ofthe world to the present time. History and tradition, and theresearches of archæologists among the remains of the prehistoricnations of the East, show us that even dentistry may trace back itsorigin to a date not very long subsequent to the “confusion oftongues. ”

We are told that the ancient Welsh took particular care of theirteeth, by frequently rubbing them with a stick of green hazel and awoollen cloth. To prevent their premature decay, they scrupulouslyavoided acid liquids, and invariably abstained from all hot food anddrink. 

Europeans pride themselves on teeth of pearly whiteness; but manyAsiatic nations regard them as beautiful only when of a black color. The Chinese, in order to blacken them, chew what is called “betel” or“betel nut, ” a common masticatory in the East. The Siamese and theTonquinese do the same, but to a still greater extent, which renderstheir teeth as black as ebony, or more so. As the use of themasticatory is generally not commenced until a certain age, the commonpractice is to stain the teeth of the boys and girls with a strongpreparation of it, on the former attaining the age of ten or twelve. 

Keeping the lips apart and breathing through the mouth instead of thenose, and, particularly, sleeping with the mouth open, are habitswhich are very prejudicial to the teeth and gums. In this way themouth forms a trap to catch the dust and gritty particles floating inthe atmosphere, which soon mechanically injure the enamel of the teethby attrition. 

On the subject of cleanliness in connection with the teeth and mouth, it may be said that the mouth cannot be too frequently rinsed duringthe day, and that it should be more particularly so treated after eachmeal. Pure cold water is the best for the purpose. It not only cleansthe teeth and mouth, but exerts a tonic action on the gums, which warmwater, or even tepid water, is deficient in. When cold water cannot betolerated, tepid water may be employed, the temperature being slightlylowered once every week or ten days until cold water can be borne. Every one who abhors a fœtid breath, rotten teeth, and thetoothache, would do well to thoroughly clean his teeth at bedtime, observing to well rinse the mouth with cold water on rising in themorning, and again in the day once, or oftener, as the opportunitiesoccur. With smokers, the use of the toothbrush the last thing at nightis almost obligatory if they value their teeth and wish to avoid theunpleasant flavor and sensation which teeth fouled with tobacco smokeoccasion in the mouth on awakening in the morning. 

As to tooth powders or pastes to be used with the brush, the simplestare the best. Plain camphorated chalk, with or without a little finelypowdered pumice stone or burnt hartshorn, is a popular and excellenttooth powder. It is capable of exerting sufficient friction under thebrush to ensure pearly whiteness of the teeth without injuring theenamel, whilst the camphor in it tends to destroy the animalcula inthe secretions of the mouth, whose skeletons or remains constitute, aswe shall presently see, the incrassation popularly called “tartar. ”Recently-burnt charcoal, in very fine powder, is another excellenttooth powder, which, without injuring the enamel, is sufficientlygritty to clean the teeth and remove the tartar from them, andpossesses the advantage of also removing the offensive odor arisingfrom rotten teeth and from decomposing organic matter. The charcoal ofthe heavy hardwoods, as lignum-vitæ, boxwood, oak, are the best; andthese, as to quality, range in the order given. Still more valuable asa dentifrice is areca nut charcoal, which, besides possessing theproperties of the other vegetable charcoals in an eminent degree, hasvaluable ones peculiar to itself. 

Some dentists, and some persons in imitation of them, in order towhiten the teeth, rub their surfaces with hydrochloric acid, somewhatdilute; but the practice is a most dangerous one, which, by a fewrepetitions, will sometimes utterly destroy the enamel and lead to therapid decay of all the teeth so treated. Should the teeth be muchdiscolored, and ordinary tooth powder prove ineffective, a littlelemon juice used with the brush will generally render them perfectlywhite. It should only be employed occasionally, and the mouth shouldbe well rinsed with water afterwards. A little of the pulp of anorange, used in the same way, is also very effective and safe, as arealso ripe strawberries, which may be either rubbed on the teeth withthe fingers or applied with the brush. The last form, perhaps, thevery best natural dentifrice known. Besides possessing singular powerin whitening and cleaning the teeth and rapidly removing tartar, theydestroy the offensive odor of rotten teeth and impart an agreeablefragrance to the breath. 

The importance of a judicious attention to the teeth, in connectionwith health, cleanliness, and personal comfort and appearance, cannotbe too often alluded to and enforced. 

It is no exaggeration to say that, taking the whole community, thereare few, very few, who clean their teeth, or even wash their mouths, once a day. With the masses the operation, if performed at all, isconfined to the Sabbath day, or to holidays; whilst refined, educated, and cleanly persons regard the operation of cleaning the teeth as adaily duty, as necessary as washing the face and hands. The dirty andvulgar—the two words are here synonymous—wholly neglect it, and toooften even consider it as unnecessary, effeminate, and absurd. Theconsequences of the careless performance, or the neglect, of thisreally necessary personal duty are not long in being developed. Passing over the degradation of the other features, the offensivenessof the breath, often to a degree which renders the individualuncompanionable, and the unfavorable impression which, like othermarks of uncleanliness, they convey of the taste and habits of theirpossessor, as the immediate effects of habitually neglected and dirtyteeth, let us look at the more distant, but not less certain, ones:—

In cases of ordinary toothache, even severe ones, chewing a smallpiece of really good pellitory will often give relief in a fewminutes. Chewing a piece of strong, unbleached Jamaica ginger willoften do the same in light cases. The celebrated John Wesleyrecommended a “few whiffs” at a pipe containing a little caraway seedmixed with tobacco as a simple and ready means of curing thetoothache. I can bear testimony to the fact that in some cases itsucceeds admirably. 

Scarcely anything is more disagreeable, and in marked cases, moredisgusting, than fœtid breath. It is unpleasant to the person thathas it, and it renders him unfit for the society of others. The causeof stinking breath may generally be traced to rotten teeth, diseasedstomach, or worms. When the first are the cause, the teeth should bethoroughly cleansed and then “stopped” in the manner alreadyindicated; or, when this is impracticable, the offending tooth, orteeth, may be removed and replaced by artificial ones. When thiscannot be done, or is inconvenient, the evil may be greatly lessenedby the frequent use of an antiseptic tooth powder, areca nut charcoalor camphorated chalk. Dirty teeth, even when quite sound, always moreor less taint the breath. When a foul or a diseased stomach is thecause, mild aperients should be administered; and if these do notsucceed, an emetic may be given, scrupulous cleanliness of the teethbeing observed, as in the former case. When worms are the cause, wormmedicine, under medical direction, will be necessary. 

=To Cure Foul Breath. =—When bad breath is occasioned by teeth, or anylocal cause, use a gargle consisting of a spoonful of solution ofchloride of lime in half a tumbler of water. 

=To Have White and Beautiful Teeth. =—An article known as “The Queen'sTooth Preserver” is made as follows: One ounce of coarsely powderedPeruvian bark, mixed in half a pint of brandy for twelve days. Garglethe mouth (teeth and gums) with a teaspoonful of this liquid, dilutedwith an equal quantity of rose-water. Always wash off the teeth aftereach meal with water. Also, twice a day, wash the teeth with the ashesof burned bread—bread burned to ashes. 

=For Decayed Teeth. =—There is nothing better than two scruples of myrrhin fine powder, one scruple of juniper gum, and ten grains of alum, mixed in honey. Apply often to the teeth. 

=To Cure Toothache. =—Take equal parts of camphor, sulphuric ether, ammonia, laudanum, tincture of cayenne, and one-eighth part oil ofcloves. Mix well together. Saturate with the liquid a small piece ofcotton, and apply to the cavity of the diseased tooth, and the painwill cease immediately. 

=Premium Tooth Powder. =—Six ounces prepared chalk, one-half ouncecassia powder, one ounce orris; mix well. 

=Mouth Pastilles for Perfuming the Breath. =—First: Extract ofliquorice, three ounces; oil of cloves, one and a half drams; oil ofcinnamon, fifteen drops. Mix, and divide into one-grain pills. 

Second: Catechu, seven drams; orris powder, forty grains; sugar, threeounces; oil of rosemary (or of cloves, peppermint, or cinnamon), fourdrops. Mix, and roll flat on oiled marble slab, and cut into verysmall tablets. 

=Feuchtwanger's Tooth Paste. =—Powdered myrrh, two ounces; burned alum, one ounce; cream tartar, one ounce; cuttlefish bone, four ounces; droplake, two ounces; honey, half a gallon. Mix. Reduce the proportion fora small quantity. 

=Fine Tooth Powder. =—Powdered orris root, one ounce; Peruvian bark, oneounce; prepared chalk, one ounce; myrrh, one-half ounce. Mix. 

=To Remove Offensive Breath. =—For this purpose, almost the onlysubstance that should be admitted to the toilet is the concentratedsolution of chloride of soda. From six to ten drops of it in awineglassful of spring water, taken immediately after the operationsof the toilet are completed. 

In some cases, the odor arising from caries is combined with that ofthe stomach. If the mouth be well rinsed with a teaspoonful of thesolution of the chloride in a tumbler of water, the bad odor of theteeth will be removed. 

=Rye Tooth Powder. =—Rye contains carbonate of lime, carbonate ofmagnesia, oxide of iron, manganese, and silica, all suitable forapplication to the teeth. Therefore, a fine tooth powder is made byburning rye, or rye bread, to ashes, and grinding it to powder bypassing the rolling-pin over it. Pass the powder through a sieve, anduse. 

=Camphorated Chalk. =—This favorite tooth powder is easily made. Take apound of prepared chalk, and with this mix two drams of camphor veryfinely powdered, and moisten with spirits of wine. Thoroughly mix. 

=To Remove the Yellow Color from Teeth. =—Take of dry hypochlorite oflime, one-half dram; red coral, two drams. Tincturate and mixthoroughly. This powder is employed in the following manner: A newbrush is slightly moistened, then dipped in the powder and applied tothe teeth. A few days after the use of this powder the teeth willacquire a beautiful white color. 

=Camphor Paste. =—Take one ounce of oil ammoniac, four drams of camphor. Let the above be very finely powdered, then mix it with sufficienthoney to make it into a smooth paste; triturate it until entirelysmooth. This is a most excellent paste for preserving and beautifyingthe teeth. 

=Preservative Tincture for the Teeth and Gums. =—Take four drams ofcamphor, one ounce of tincture of myrrh, one ounce of tincture ofbark, and one ounce of rectified spirits of wine; mix them, and put 30or 40 drops in a wineglassful of water. Pour a little of this uponyour brush before you apply it to the powder, and when the teeth areclean, wash the mouth, teeth, and gums with the remainder. It will inordinary cases prevent toothache. 

=Powerfully Cleansing Dentifrice. =—Take fine powder of pumice stone, four drams; fine powder of cuttlefish bone, four drams; add onescruple of subcarbonate of soda. Mix them well together, color andscent according to taste, and then pass it through a fine sieve. 

=Infallible Cure for Toothache. =—Take alum, reduced to an impalpablepowder, two drams; nitreous spirits of ether, seven drams. Mix, andapply them to the tooth. This is said to be an infallible cure for allkinds of toothache, unless the disease is connected with rheumatism. 

=Mixture for Decayed Teeth. =—Make a balsam with a sufficient quantityof honey, two scruples of myrrh in fine powder, a scruple of gumjuniper, and ten grains of rock alum. A portion to be appliedfrequently to the decayed tooth. 

=To Whiten and Beautify the Teeth. =—Take gum tragacanth, one ounce;pumice stone, two drams; gum arabic, one ounce; cream of tartar, oneounce. Dissolve the gums in rose-water, and adding to it the powder, form the whole into little sticks, which are to be dried slowly in theshade, and afterwards kept for use. Use on the brush like soap. 

 HOW TO HAVE SOFT, WHITE AND BEAUTIFUL HANDS. 

There are very few beautiful hands, but to make the hands beautifulrests, with scarcely an exception, with the possessor. Now thatchiromancy has become so fashionable as to be a part of a great manyentertainments, it is very desirable that the hands should present anattractive appearance. A soft, white, delicate hand, with neatly-keptnails, forms an important factor in a pleasing personal appearance, and is something any man or woman may possess themselves of with alittle care. Of course it goes without saying, that requisite isperfect cleanliness of both the hands and nails. The best and purestsoap should be used, and when soft water cannot be obtained, a fewdrops of ammonia, or a little borax, should be added to the water inwhich the hands are washed, and they should always be thoroughlydried. A lotion of one ounce glycerine, one ounce rose-water, tendrops of carbolic acid, and forty drops of hamamelis, is excellent touse on the hands before they are dried each time they are washed. 

Persons who do housework should wear the India rubber gloves which aremade for the purpose and can be purchased in any size for from $1. 00to $1. 25 as they are with or without wrists. 

Rubbing the hands once or twice a day in oatmeal tends to whiten themand make them soft and flexible. 

The following bleaches the hands and arms and makes them beautifullysoft and white:—

=Bleaching Lotion. =—Bitter almonds, ten ounces; iris powder, one ounce;pulverized horse-chestnut, two ounces; essence of bergamot, one dram;carbonate of potash, two drams; mix. Use on the hands after washing, and on retiring for the night. 

Five grains of chloridated lime in a pint of warm water will whitenthe hands and remove all stains, but as this is not always quiteharmless to a delicate skin, it is perhaps better to remove stainswith a cut of lemon, and use the preparation given above for whiteningthem. 

Tight lacing and tight sleeves, and even tight shoes, will cause thehands to be an unsightly red, for which no lotion or care is a remedy. If, however, all the clothing is worn so as to allow a freecirculation, and the directions which have been given are regularlyand constantly followed, any hand will become white, supple anddelicate—a pleasure to both possessor and beholder; and it is reallyworth the care, which after a little time becomes a fixed habit and sois scarcely noticeable, to have such hands. 

=To Make the Hands White and Delicate. =—Should you wish to make yourhands white and delicate, wash them in hot milk and water for a day ortwo. On retiring to rest, rub them well over with palm oil, and put ona pair of woollen gloves. The hands should be thoroughly washed withhot water and soap the next morning, and a pair of soft leather glovesworn during the day; they should be frequently rubbed together topromote circulation. Sunburnt hands should be washed in lime water orlemon juice. Should they be severely freckled, the following will begood to use: Take of distilled water, half a pint; sal ammoniac, halfa dram; oxymuriate of quicksilver, four grains; divide the two last inspirit, and gradually add the water to them; add another half pint ofwater, mix well together, and it is ready for use. It should beapplied as often as desirable, with a piece of soft sponge. Ifrose-water is substituted for distilled water, the effect ispleasanter. 

=Remedy for Chapped Hands. =—The simplest remedy is the camphor ball, tobe obtained of all chemists. Powdered hemlock bark put into a piece ofmuslin and sprinkled on the chaps is highly recommended. Or, wash withoatmeal, and afterwards rub the hands over with dry oatmeal, so as toremove all dampness. It is a good thing to rub the hands and lips withglycerine before going to bed at night. A good oil is made bysimmering: Sweet oil, one pint; Venice turpentine, three ounces; lard, half a pound; beeswax, three ounces. Simmer till the wax is melted. Rub on, or apply with a rag. 

=To Cure Red Hands. =—Wash them frequently in warm, not hot, water, using honey soap and soft towel. Dry with violet powder, and againwith a soft, dry handkerchief. Take exercise enough to promotecirculation, and do not wear gloves too tight. 

=Almond Paste for the Hands. =—Take one pound of sweet almonds, one-quarter of a pound of bread crumbs, one half a pint of springwater, one-half a pint of brandy, and the yolks of two eggs. Pound thealmonds with a few drops of vinegar or water, to prevent them oiling;add the crumbs of bread, which moisten with the brandy as you mix itwith the almonds and the yolks of eggs. Set this mixture over a slowfire, and stir it continually or it will adhere to the edges. 

=Almond Paste for Chapped Hands= (which will preserve them smooth andwhite). —The daily use of the following paste will keep the handssmooth and white: Mix a quarter of a pound of unsalted hog's lard, which has been washed in common, and then in rose, water, with theyolks of two fresh eggs and a large spoonful of honey. Add as muchpaste from almonds (well pounded in a mortar) as will work it into apaste. 

=General Remarks. =—The human hand, regarded either with reference toits ingenious construction and usefulness, or to its beauty, standsalone, in its superlative excellence, in the whole animal world. In nospecies of animal is the hand so wonderfully formed and so perfectlydeveloped as in man. 

To preserve the delicacy and beauty of the hands, some little care, and more than that which is ordinarily bestowed on them, is required. Foremost in consideration must be the subject of cleanliness. Dirtyand coarse hands are no less marks of slothfulness and lowbreedingthan clean and delicate hands are of refinement and gentility. Topromote softness and whiteness of the skin, mild emollient soaps, orthose abounding in oil or fat, should alone be adopted for common use;by which means the tendency to contract chaps and chilblains, androughness from drying winds, will also be lessened. The coarse, strongkinds of soap, those abounding in alkali, should be rejected, as theytend to render the skin rough, dry and brittle. Rain, or soft, wateris the best natural water for washing the hands, as it cleanses themmore rapidly and completely than ordinary hard water, and with the useof less soap. It may be advantageously used tepid, or even warm; buthot water should be avoided. Distilled water, when obtainable, ispreferable to even rain water. In the absence of these, water thathas been boiled and allowed to settle and cool may be employed. Withhard water the hands are cleansed with difficulty, and though it maybe readily softened by the addition of a little soda, such an additiontends to make the skin of a delicate hand somewhat hard and rough. Ifhard water must be used to wash with, the only harmless substance thatcan be conveniently added to it is a little good powdered borax. Thiswill also cause it to exert a genial action on the skin. Oatmeal andwarm water used every night and morning as a wash will whiten andsoften the roughest and darkest hands. 

=Coarse, Red, Dark-Skinned Hands= may be whitened by the occasional useof a few grains of chloride of lime, with warm water, in the mannermentioned above. 

=Roughness of the Hands=, induced by exposure to cold and drying winds, may, in general, be removed by the use of a little powdered pumicestone with the soap in washing them. The subsequent application, particularly at night, of the above lotions, or of two or three dropsof almond or olive oil, well rubbed in, will usually effect the objectcompletely. 

The hands may be preserved dry for delicate work by rubbing a littleclub moss (lycopodium), in fine powder, over them. So repellent isthis substance of moisture, that if a small quantity of it besprinkled on the surface of a basin of water, the hand, by a littleadroitness, may be plunged to the bottom of the basin without becomingwet. 

Excessive moisture or perspiration of the hands without obvious causeis generally indicative of debility, or disordered stomach, andrequires corresponding treatment. Frequently washing the hands inmoderately cold water often proves a local remedy for theinconvenience. The addition of a few grains of alum, sal ammoniac, orsulphate of zinc, or of a teaspoonful of vinegar, to the water greatlyincreases its efficacy. Extremely delicate and susceptible personscannot always bear the excessive perspiration of their hands to bethus suddenly lessened, and therefore some discretion should beexercised by them in their attempts to check it. 

=The Finger Nails= require special attention if we desire to preservethem in their highest condition of beauty and usefulness. To keep themclean, the nailbrush and soap and water should be used once or oftenerdaily, as circumstances demand. Once a day at least, on wiping thehands after washing them, and whilst they are still soft from theaction of the water, the free edge of the scarfskin, which, if notattended to, is apt to grow upward over the nails, should be gentlyloosened and pressed back in a neatly rounded form, by which theoccurrence of cracks and sores about their roots (agnails, nailsprings, etc. ) will be prevented, and a graceful, oval form, ending ina crescentlike space of white, will be ensured. The skin, as a rule, should never be cut, pared, picked or torn off, as is commonly done, and the less it is meddled with, otherwise than in the way justmentioned, the better. The ends or points of the nails should be paredonce every week or ten days, according to the rapidity of theirgrowth, which somewhat varies with the season of the year and thehabit of the individual. This is best done with a sharp penknife ornail-knife. Scissors are less convenient for the purpose, and have thedisadvantage of straining and distorting the nails during the process. 

The length and shape of the nails, both for beauty and use, shouldexactly correspond with the tips of the fingers. Nails extendingbeyond the ends of the fingers are vulgar, clawlike, and inconvenient;whilst if shorter, particularly much shorter than the fingers, theyare unsightly and of little use, and cause the tips of the fingers tobecome thick and clumsy. Biting the nails should be avoided as a dirtyand disagreeable habit, and one utterly destructive to their beauty, strength, and usefulness. 

To remove stains and discolorations of the nails, a little lemon juiceor vinegar and water is the best application. Should this fail, a fewgrains of salt of sorrel, oxalic acid, or chloride of lime, eachdiluted with warm water, may be applied, care being taken tothoroughly rinse the hands in clean water, without soap, afterwards. Occasionally a little pumice stone, in impalpable powder, or powderedcuttlefish bone, putty powder (polisher's peroxide of tin), may beused along with water and a piece of wash-leather, flannel, or thenailbrush, for the same purpose. The frequent use of any of thesesubstances is, however, injurious to the healthy growth, strength, andpermanent beauty of the nails. The common practice of scraping thesurface of the nails cannot be too strongly censured, as it causesthem to become weak and distorted. Blows on the nails, and, indeed, violence to them in any form, also distorts and marks them. 

The ladies of Oriental nations commonly dye the nails; and amongstmany savage tribes the same practice is adopted, and is not confinedto the gentler sex. Amongst Western Europeans, and Americans, whiteand regularly-formed nails are alone esteemed. 

=Chapped Hands= are common among persons with a languid circulation, whoare continually “dabbling” in water during cold weather, andparticularly among those with a scrofulous taint, who, without thelast, expose their ungloved hands to bleak, cold winds. The bestpreventives, as well as remedies, are the use of warm gloves out ofdoors, and the application, night and morning, of a little glycerine, diluted with twice its weight of water, or a little cold cream, spermaceti cerate, salad oil, or any other simple unguent or oil, which should be well rubbed in, the superfluous portion being removedwith a towel. This treatment will not only preserve the hands from theeffects of cold and damp, but also tend to render them soft and white. Deep chaps which have degenerated into sores should be kept constantlycovered with a piece of lint wetted with glycerine or spread withspermaceti ointment, the part being at the same time carefullypreserved from dirt, cold, and wind. It is said that a once favoriteactress, celebrated for the beauty of her hands, even when in the“sere and yellow leaf, ” covered them nightly with the flare of a calfor lamb, with the fat attached, over which was drawn a glove or mittenof soft leather. The application of a little glycerine or fattymatter, in the way just indicated, would have been equally effective. 

=Warts=, like chilblains, are too well known to require description. They chiefly attack the hands, and particularly the fingers, butsometimes occur on other portions of the body. They may be removed byrubbing or moistening their extremities every day, or every other day, with lunar caustic, nitric acid, concentrated acetic acid, or aromaticvinegar, care being taken not to wash the hands for some hours after. The first is an extremely convenient and manageable substance, fromnot being liable to drop or spread; but it produces a black stain, which remains till the cauterized surface peels off. The secondproduces a yellow stain, in depth proportioned to the strength of theacid employed. This also wears off after the lapse of a few days. Theothers scarcely discolor the skin. 

=To Cause the Skin to become Satin-smooth, and to Smell like a bunch ofViolets. =—Any one using the following preparation will be noted forthe fair softness of her complexion and the delicate perfume whichemanates from her person. For ladies who like perfume, and care for asatin-smooth skin, the following is an invaluable toiletpreparation:—

Have your druggist mix for you one ounce tincture of orris, one ouncetincture of benzoin, ten drops oil of neroli, and ten drops oil oflemon. To use this perfume, add a tablespoonful of it to about a pintof warm water. It will turn as white as milk, and the real perfumewill be given off, whereas while in the bottle it has anything but apleasing odor. Now, after your bath, just take a soft cloth and goover yourself with this milk, dry thoroughly, and you will smell likea bunch of violets. The perfume may be altered to suit you, or you mayadd any handkerchief extract, but don't omit the benzoin, for that iswhat gives permanence to the perfume and softness and smoothness tothe skin. 

=To Cause Those Who have Lost the Bloom and Fairness of Early Youth toRegain Them. =—Many ladies who as young girls were fair with a lovelyrosy bloom, lose these beauties very early in life; very many do thisat twenty, or very little later, and become sallow and heavy-eyed, thus losing their principal charm. Now, this is very easily remedied. Go to your druggist and ask him for some iron pills and for somesimple purgative to take with them. Get from him directions for takingboth, and take strictly according to his directions. In a very shorttime you will again be fair and rosy and your eyes bright andsparkling; in fact, you will seem to have renewed your youth, and, indeed, you will feel like another person, so light-hearted will youbecome, in addition to your return of beauty. 

 THE HAIR. 

=Its Estimation, Structure, Growth, Management, Etc. =—The hair is notonly invaluable as a protective covering of the head, but it gives afinish and imparts unequalled grace to the features which itsurrounds. Sculptors and painters have bestowed on its representationtheir highest skill and care, and its description and praises havebeen sung in the sweetest lays by the poets of all ages. Whether inflowing ringlets, chaste and simple bands, or graceful braidsartistically disposed, it is equally charming, and clothes withfascination even the simplest forms of beauty. 

 O wondrous, wondrous, is her hair! A braided wealth of golden brown, That drops on neck and temples bare. 

If there is one point more than another on which the tastes of mankindappear to agree, it is that rich, luxuriant, flowing hair is notmerely beautiful in itself, but an important, nay, an essential, auxiliary to the highest development of the personal charms. Among allthe refined nations of antiquity, as in all time since, the care, arrangement and decoration of the hair formed a prominent andgenerally leading portion of their toilet. The ancient Egyptians andAssyrians, and other Eastern nations, bestowed on it the mostelaborate attention. The ancient Jews, like their modern descendants, were noted for the luxuriance and richness of their hair and the carewhich they devoted to it. Glossy flowing black hair is represented tohave been the glory of the ancient Jewess, and in her person to haveexhibited charms of the most imposing character; whilst the chastenessof its arrangement was only equalled by its almost magic beauty. Norwas this luxuriance, and this attention to the hair, confined to thegentler sex, for among the pagan Orientals the hair and beards of themales were not less sedulously attended to. Among the males of Judahand Israel, long flowing ringlets appear to have been regarded ashighly desirable and attractive. The reputed beauty and the prodigiouslength and weight of the hair of Absalom, the son of David, asrecorded in the sacred text, would be sufficient to startle the mostenthusiastic modern dandy that cultivates the crinal ornament of hisperson. Solomon the Wise, another son of David, conceived the beautyof hair sufficiently dignified to express figuratively the graces ofthe Church. 

The hair, though devoid of sensibility and unsusceptible of expressionunder the influence of the will and the ordinary mental feelings, likethe mobile portions of the face, and though it may be popularlyregarded rather in the light of a parasitic growth than as anessential portion of the body, is capable of being affected by thestronger emotions and passions, and even of aiding their expression inthe features. Who is there that, at some period or other of his life, if only in childhood, in a moment of sudden terror or horror, has notexperienced the sensation popularly described as “the hair standing onend?” Or who is there that, at some time or other, has not witnessedthe partial erection of the hair in children or females under likeviolent emotions, or seen the representation of it in sculptures orpaintings? Those passions, so aptly styled by Gray the “vultures ofthe mind, ” frequently affect with wonderful rapidity the health ofboth the body and the mind, which wreck the hair soon sympathizes withand shares. Instances are recorded in which violent grief in a fewweeks has blanched the hair and anticipated the effects of age; andothers in which intense terror or horror has affected the same witheven greater celerity, the change having occurred in a few days oreven in a few hours. 

Besides daily attention to the hair, something else is necessary toinsure its cleanliness and beauty and the perfect health of the skinof the head from which it springs. For this purpose the head shouldbe occasionally well washed with soap and water, an abundance of waterbeing used and great care being subsequently taken to thoroughly rinseout the whole of the soap with the water in which the head has beenwashed. The water may be either tepid or cold, according to thefeelings or habit of the person; and if the head or hair be veryscurfy or dirty, or hard water be used, a few grains of soda (notpotash or pearlash) may be advantageously added to the water. Thiswill increase its detersive qualities. After the hair has been washed, which should be done quickly, though thoroughly, it should be freed asmuch as possible by pressure with the hands and then wiped with asoft, thick towel, which should be done with care, to avoid entanglingit. After laying it straight, first with the coarse end of thedressing comb and then with the finer portion, it may be finallydressed. 

In ordinary cases once every two or three weeks is often enough towash the hair and head. The extreme length of ladies' hair willsometimes render the process of washing it very troublesome andinconvenient. In such cases the patient and assiduous use of a clean, good hairbrush, followed by washing the partings and the crown of thehead with soap and water, may be substituted. 

The occasional washing of the head is absolutely necessary to preservethe health of the scalp and the luxuriance and beauty of the hair whenmuch oil, pomatum or other greasy substance is used in dressing it. 

Medical writers have frequently pointed out the ill effects of thefree or excessive use of oily or greasy articles for the hair; buttheir warnings appear to be unheeded by the mass of mankind. Someobject to their use altogether. There are, however, exceptions toevery rule, and some of these exceptions are noticed elsewhere in thisvolume. The ill effects referred to chiefly occur from their beingused when not required, and in excess, and are aggravated by theneglect of thorough cleanliness. 

To improve the growth and luxuriance of the hair, when languid ordefective, the only natural and perfectly safe method that can beadopted is to promote the healthy action of the scalp by increasingthe vigor of the circulation of the blood through its minute channels. For this purpose nothing is so simple and effective as gentleexcitation of the skin by frequent continued friction with thehairbrush, which has the convenience of ease of application andinexpensiveness. The same object may be further promoted by theapplication of any simple cosmetic wash or other preparation thatwill gently excite or stimulate the skin or exercise a tonic action onit without clogging its pores. Strong rosemary water or rosemary tea, and a weak solution of the essential oil of either rosemary or gardenthyme, are popular articles of this kind. They may be rendered morestimulating by the addition of a little ammonia or a little spirit, orboth of them. The skin of the head should be moistened with these oneach occasion of dressing the hair, and their diffusion and actionpromoted by the use of a clean hairbrush. Aromatized water, to which avery little tincture or vinegar of cantharides (preferably the former)has been added, may also be used in the same way, and is in highrepute for the purpose. When the skin is pale, lax, and wrinkled, astringent washes may be used. Strong black tea is a convenient andexcellent application of this kind. When the skin and hair are dry, and the latter also stiff and untractable, a little glycerine is anappropriate addition to each of the preceding washes or lotions. Theoccasional use of a little bland oil, strongly scented with oil ofrosemary or of origanum, or with both of them, or with oil of mace, orvery slightly tinctured with cantharides, is also generally veryserviceable when there is poorness and dryness of the hair. When thehair is unnaturally greasy and lax (a defect that seldom occurs), theuse of the astringent washes just referred to, or of a little simpleoil slightly scented with the essential oil of bitter almonds, willtend to remove or lessen it. 

All the articles named above promote the glossiness and waviness ofthe hair, and are also among the simplest, safest, and bestapplications that can be employed when the hair is weak and begins tofall off. 

To impart some degree of curliness or waviness to the hair when it isnaturally straight, and to render it more retentive of the curlimparted to it by papers or by other modes of dressing it, variousmethods are often adopted and different cosmetics employed. The firstobject appears to be promoted by keeping the hair for a time in astate intermediate between perfect dryness and humidity, from whichdifferent parts of its structure, being unequally affected in thisrespect, will acquire different degrees of relaxation and rigidity, and thus have a tendency to assume a wavy or slightly curly form, provided the hair be left loose enough to allow it. For this purposenothing is better than washing the hair with soap and water, to whicha few grains of salt of tartar (carbonate of potash) have been added;or it may be slightly moistened with any of the hair washes mentionedin the last paragraph, in each half-pint of which a few grains of thecarbonate (say ten or twelve), or a teaspoonful of glycerine, hasbeen dissolved. The moistened hair, after the application of thebrush, should be finally loosely adjusted as desired with thedressing-comb. The effect occurs as the hair dries. When oils arepreferable to hair washes, those strongly scented with the oil ofrosemary, to which a few drops of oil of thyme or origanum may beadded, appear to be the most useful. 

To cause the hair to retain the position given to it in dressing it, various methods and cosmetics are commonly employed. When thearrangement is a natural one and the hair healthy and tractable, thefree use of the hairbrush will usually be sufficient for the purpose. When this is insufficient, the application of a few drops of oil, or, better still, moistening the hair with a little simple water, willeffect the object satisfactorily. In very elaborate and unnaturalstyles of dressing the hair, and to cause it to remain in curl or toretain its position during dancing, or violent exercise, bandoline andcosmetique or hard pomatum are the articles commonly employed infashionable life. Mild ale or porter has a similar effect, and isoften substituted for the preceding expensive cosmetics. The frequentuse of any of these articles is objectionable, as they clog up thepores of the skin and shield both it and the hair from the genialaction of the atmosphere, which is essential to their healthy vigor. They should, hence, be subsequently removed by carefully washing thehead with a little soap and tepid water. Their use may be tolerated indressing for the ballroom, but on no other occasion. Simple waterskillfully employed, as noticed elsewhere, is the best and safestmixture, and under ordinary circumstances is amply sufficient for thepurpose. 

The practice of artificially changing the color of the hair, andparticularly of dyeing it, has descended to us from remote antiquity, and though not so common in Western Europe as formerly, is still farfrom infrequent at the present day. This might be inferred from themultitude of nostrums for the purpose continually advertised in thenewspapers, and from the number of persons who announce themselves aspracticing the art, even though the keen and experienced eye did notfrequently detect instances of it, as it now does, in the hair andbeards of those we see around us. The recent rage after light auburnor reddish hair in fashionable life has, unfortunately, greatlymultiplied these instances. The consideration of the subject, however, in its ethical relations does not come within the province of thepresent work, and I shall confine myself to pointing out how the colorof the hair may be changed in the safest and most satisfactorymanner. 

To change the color of the hair various methods and preparations areemployed. The principal of these are intended to darken it, butsometimes the contrary is aimed at. Whichever object is desired, it isnecessary that the article or preparation employed to carry it out benot of a caustic or irritant nature, capable of injuriously affectingthe delicate skin to which it is applied, or that it may be liable tocome in contact with, as is the case with many of the nostrums vendedfor the purpose. Some of the substances that necessarily enter intothe composition of hair strains and hair dyes, or that are used inconnection with them, possess these objectionable properties in a highdegree, and can, therefore, only be safely employed in a state ofproper dilution and combination. If any doubt exists respecting suchan article, it is a wise precaution to regard it with suspicion and totest its qualities before applying it for the first time. This may bedone by placing some of it on the soft skin of the inner side of thewrist or fore-arm, and allowing it to remain there as long, and underthe same conditions, as it is ordered to be left in contact with thehair or skin of the head or face. In this way the injury or loss ofthe hair, sores, and other serious consequences that too often followthe use of advertised and ill-prepared hair dyes may be generallyavoided. 

To gradually darken the shade of the hair on these principles, provided its normal sulphur be still secreted by the hair-bulbs and bestill present in its structure, it will, therefore, generally besufficient to occasionally employ a weak solution of any of the mildersalts of iron as a hair wash. The menstruum may be water, to which alittle spirits and a few drops of oil of rosemary to increase itsstimulating qualities have been added. In applying it, the head beingfirst washed clean, care should be taken to thoroughly moisten thewhole surface of the hair and the skin of the head with the wash; andits absorption and action should be promoted by the free use of aclean hairbrush. Wine is the favorite solvent for the iron; ale andbeer are also sometimes so employed. Most of the fashionableferruginous hair washes also contain a few grains of acetate of copperor distilled verdigris, the objections to which have been alreadypointed out. 

The daily use of oil or pomatum, with which a few grains of carbonateof lead, lead plaster, or trisnitrate of bismuth, have been blended byheat and careful trituration, has generally a like effect on the hairto ferruginous solutions; so also has a leaden comb, but its action isvery uncertain. None of these last are, however, safe forlong-continued use. Atrophy of the scalp, baldness, and even localparalysis, have sometimes, though rarely, been caused by them. 

When the normal sulphur of the hair is absent, or deficient, thepreceding substances fail to darken the hair. In this case the desiredeffect may often be produced by also moistening the head, say twice aweek, with water, to which a little sulphuret of potassium orhydrosulphuret of ammonia has been added. 

When it is desired to dye or darken the hair more rapidly, as in a fewhours, or even a few minutes, plumbite of lime, plumbite of potassa, or nitrate or ammonia—nitrate of silver—is usually employed. Thefirst is commonly produced by the admixture of quicklime with oxide oflead (litharge), carbonate of lead, or acetate of lead. Theseingredients should be in appropriate proportions, but very generallythe reverse is the case in those of the shops. 

It may be laid down as a rule that when the lime is in greaterproportion than about two to one of the oxide, and to thecorresponding equivalents of the other substances mentioned, or whenthe lime has not been prepared in a proper manner, the compound is notsafe, and very likely to prove injurious to the skin and hair-bulbs, and perhaps to act as a depilatory. The effects of these lead dyesarise partly in the way previously described and partly by directchemical action between the sulphur of the hair and the lead whichthey contain, sulphuret of lead being formed in the surfacial portionof the hair. It is on the last that their more immediate effectdepends. If there be no sulphur in the hair, they will not darken it. After the necessary period of contact, they should be gently butthoroughly removed from the hair and skin by rubbing them off with thefingers, and by the use of the hairbrush, the head being then washedclean with tepid water. Should the tint imparted by them not be deepenough, or be too fiery, it may be darkened and turned on the brown orblack by moistening the hair the next day with a very weak solution ofsulphuret of potassium, or of hydrosulphuret of ammonia. 

None of the compounds of lead stain the skin, an advantage which hasled to a preference being given to them by many persons who are clumsymanipulators, and to the more extensive use of them than of other hairdyes. 

The salts of silver above referred to are more rapid in their actionas hair dyes than those containing lead. It is only necessary to washthe hair quite clean and free from grease, then to moisten it with aweak solution of one of them, and, lastly, to expose it to the light, to effect the object in view. Sunlight will fully darken it in a fewminutes, but in diffused daylight it will take two or three hours, orlonger, to acquire the deepest shade. To avoid this delay andinconvenience, the common practice is, a few minutes after applyingthe silver solution, to moisten or wet the hair with a solution ofsulphuret of potassium, or of hydrosulphuret of ammonia. The effect isimmediate, and the full depth of shade which a silver solution of thestrength employed is capable of imparting is at once produced. A fewminutes later and the hair and skin may be rinsed with tepid water, gently wiped dry, and the hair finally adjusted with the comb. Theeffect of its application, its rapid action, and the satisfactorynature of the effect produced, all tend to render a solution ofnitrate of silver the favorite hair dye of those who have sufficientskill and steadiness of hand to use it properly. 

It will be useful here to inform the inexperienced reader that allsolutions and compounds which contain nitrate of silver stain the skinas well as the hair, if they be allowed to touch it. These stains maybe removed, when quite recent, by rubbing them with a piece of rag orsponge wetted with a weak solution of potassium, of hydrosulphuret ofammonia, or of iodide of potassium; but as this is attended with sometrouble and inconvenience, the best way is to avoid the necessity ofhaving recourse to it. The hairdressers commonly adopt the plan ofsmearing hard pomatum or cosmetique over the skin immediatelysurrounding the hair to be operated upon, in order to protect it fromthe dye. By very skillful manipulation, and the observance of dueprecautions, the hair may be thoroughly moistened with the silversolution without touching the adjacent skin; but this can only be donewhen the hair of the head is under treatment by a second party. 

In reference to the tone and shades of color given by the substancescommonly employed to dye the hair, it may be useful to state that theshades given by preparations of _iron_ and _bismuth_ range from darkbrown to black; those given by the salts of silver, from a finenatural chestnut to deep brown and black, all of which are rich andunexceptional. The shades given by lead vary from reddish-brown andauburn to black; and when pale or when the dye has been badly appliedor compounded, are generally of a sandy, reddish hue, often far fromagreeable. However, this tendency of the lead dyes has recently led totheir extensive use to impart that peculiar tint to the light hair ofladies and children which is now so fashionable. Other substances, hereafter referred to, are, however, preferable, as imparting a morepleasing hue. 

The reddish tint produced by lead, as already hinted, may be generallydarkened into a brown, more or less rich, by subsequently moisteningthe hair with a weak solution of either sulphuret of potassium orhydrosulphuret of ammonia. 

The favorite compounds for external use in baldness, and, perhaps, themost convenient and best, are such as owe their stimulating quality tocantharides or Spanish flies, or to their active principle, cantharidine. This application of these drugs has received thesanction of the highest medical authorities, both in Europe andAmerica. The leading professional hair-restorers now rely almostexclusively on cantharides, and all the more celebrated advertisednostrums for restoring the hair contain it as their active ingredient. 

Oils and pomades, very strongly impregnated with the essential oil ofgarden thyme (origanum) and rosemary, and lotions or linimentscontaining ammonia with a like addition of these essential oils, probably come next in the frequency of their use as popularrestoratives of the hair in actual and incipient baldness. 

=To Have Elegant Hair. =—Every girl should have thick, magnificent hair. It is essential to clip the ends of the hair once a month after achild is four years of age. Ammonia and warm water is an excellentwash for the hair and scalp, and gives life and vigor to it when allother articles fail. 

=Wild Rose Curling Fluid. =—Take two drams (avoirdupois) dry salt oftartar; (carbonate of potassa) powdered cochineal, half dram; liquorof ammonia and spirit de rose, each one fluid dram; glycerine, one-fourth ounce; rectified spirit, one and one-half imperial fluidounces; distilled water, eighteen ounces; digest with agitation for aweek, and then decant or filter. The hair to be moistened with it, andthen loosely adjusted. The effect occurs as it dries. 

=To Cause the Hair to Grow very Thick. =—One of the most powerfulstimulants for the growth of the hair is the following: Take a quarterof an ounce of the chippings of alkanet root, tie in a scrap of coarsemuslin, and suspend it in a jar containing eight ounces of sweet oilfor a week, covering it from the dust. Add to this sixty dropstincture of cantharides, ten drops oil of rose, sixty drops of neroli, and sixty drops oil of lemon. Let this stand twenty days, closelycorked, and you will have one of the greatest hair-invigorators andhair-growers that this world has ever produced. 

=Lola Montez Hair Coloring. =—This celebrated woman published thefollowing, and claimed that it was as harmless as any preparation thatwould really color the hair: Ten grains of gallic acid, one ounce ofacetic acid, one ounce of tincture of sesgurichloride of iron. Dissolve the gallic acid, sesgurichloride, and add the acetic acid. Wash the hair with soap and water; when dried, apply the dye bydipping a fine comb in it and drawing through the hair so as to colorthe roots thoroughly. Let it dry, then oil and brush well. 

=Hair Restorative. =—Four drams oxide bismuth, four drams spermaceti, four ounces pure hog's lard. The lard and spermaceti should be meltedtogether. When nearly cool, stir in the bismuth and perfume. Preventsthe hair from turning gray, and restores gray hair. 

=For Bald Heads. =—A most valuable remedy for promoting the growth ofthe hair is an application, once or twice a day, of wild indigo andalcohol. Take four ounces of wild indigo and steep it about a week orten days in a pint of alcohol and a pint of hot water, when it will beready for use. The head must be thoroughly washed with the liquid, morning and evening, application being made with a sponge or softbrush. 

Another excellent preparation is composed of three ounces of castoroil, with just enough alcohol to cut the oil, to which add twentydrops tincture of cantharides, and perfume to suit. This not onlysoftens and imparts a gloss to the hair, but also invigorates andstrengthens the roots of the hair. 

=Excellent Hair Wash. =—Take one ounce of borax, half an ounce ofcamphor; powder these ingredients very fine and dissolve them in onequart boiling water. When cool the solution will be ready for use. Dampen the hair frequently. This wash effectually cleanses, beautifies, and strengthens the hair, preserves the color, andprevents early baldness. The camphor will form into lumps after beingdissolved, but the water will be sufficiently impregnated. 

=To Cure Baldness. =—Cologne water, two ounces; tincture of cantharides, two drams; oil of lavender or rosemary, of each ten drops. Theseapplications must be used twice a day for three or four weeks, but ifthe scalp becomes sore they may be discontinued for a time or used atlonger intervals. 

When the hair falls off, from diminished action of the scalp, preparations of cantharides are excellent. The following will causethe hair to grow faster than any other preparation: Beef marrow(soaked in several waters, melted and strained), half a pound;tincture cantharides (made by soaking for a week one dram of powderedcantharides in one ounce of proof spirit), one ounce; oil of bergamot, twelve drops. 

=Stimulants for the Hair. =—Vinegar and water form a good wash for theroots of the hair. A solution of ammonia is often used with goodeffect for the same purpose. For removing scurf, glycerine dilutedwith a little rose-water will be found of service. Any preparation ofrosemary forms an agreeable and highly cleansing wash. The yolk of anegg beaten up in warm water is a most nutritious application to thescalp. A very good application is made in this way: Take an ounce ofpowdered borax and a small piece of camphor and dissolve in a quart ofboiling water. The hair must afterwards be washed in warm water. Manyheads of hair require nothing more in the way of wash than soap andwater. The following recipe will strengthen the hair and prevent itsfalling out: Vinegar of cantharides, half an ounce; eau de cologne, one ounce; rose-water, one ounce. The scalp should be brushed brisklyuntil it becomes red, and the lotion should then be applied to theroots of the hair twice a day. 

=The Golden Hair Secret. =—The rage for light, gold color, or even redhair, which has prevailed for some time, has led to various expedientsfor procuring it. Many ladies have sacrificed fine heads of hair, andin place of their own dark tresses have adopted light wigs; but theprevailing absurdity has been the use of strong alkalies for thepurpose of turning dark hair light. This is the purpose of theausicomus fluid, which may be procured of any hairdresser; but we warnour fair readers that the use of these products is apt to bedisappointing. They certainly will turn black to a brick-dust hue, butthe color is often disagreeable. It is apt to present itself inpatches in different hues, and the effect on the hair is terrible—itoften rots and crumbles away. In place of this absurd practice, werecommend the following as available for trying the effect for dresspurpose: Procure a packet of gold powder of the hairdresser. Haveready a very weak solution of gum and water, and one of the smallperfume vaporizers now in use. When the hair has been dressed, sprinkle it with gum and water by means of the vaporizer and thenshower on the gold powder. It may be put on thick enough to hide thecolor of the hair, and owing to the gum it cannot be danced off. Theeffect by artificial light is beautiful. 

=For Keeping the Hair Crimped or Curled in Summer. =—A quarter of anounce of gum tragacanth, one pint rose-water, and five drops ofglycerine; mix and let stand over night. If the tragacanth is notdissolved, let it remain half a day longer; if it is thick add morerose-water and let it remain for some hours. If then it is a smoothsolution, nearly as thin as glycerine, it is fit for use. Dampen thehair before crimping or curling. 

=To Bleach the Hair. =—It has been found in the bleaching of hair thatgaseous chlorine is the most effectual. The hair should be cleaned forthat purpose by a warm solution of soda and washed afterwards withwater. While moist it is put into a jar with chlorine gas introduceduntil the air in the jar looks greenish. Allow it to remain on fortwenty-four hours, and then, if necessary, repeat the operation. 

=A New French Remedy for Baldness. =—Croton oil, one of the best Frenchremedies for baldness, is employed by simply adding to it oil orpomade, and stirring or agitating the two together until admixture orsolution is complete. The formula adopted by the eminent Frenchphysician who introduced this remedy, and who speaks in the mostconfident and enthusiastic way of the success attending its use, is:Take croton oil, twelve drops (minims); oil of almonds, four troygrains. Mix. A little is to be well rubbed on the scalp twice a day. Soft down, we are assured, appears in three weeks. 

=For Improving the Hair. =—_Palma Christi oil for thickening the hair_:Take one ounce of Palma Christi oil, add oil of lavender or bergamotto scent it. Let it be well brushed into the hair for two or threemonths, particularly applying it to those parts where it may be mostdesirable to render the hair luxuriant. This is a simple and valuableoil, and not in the hands of any monopolist. 

=To Dye the Hair Flaxen. =—We have heard the following is effective:Take a quart of lye prepared from the ashes of vine twigs, briony, celandine roots, and tumeric, of each half an ounce; saffron and lilyroots, of each two drams; flowers of mullein, yellow stechas, broom, and St. John's wort, of each a dram. Boil these together and strainoff the liquor clear. Frequently wash the hair with the fluid, and itwill change it, we are told, in a short time to a beautiful flaxencolor. 

=A Powder for Preserving the Hair. =—The following powder has the nameof facilitating the regeneration of the hair and strengthening itsroots. Still more valuable properties have been ascribed to it, suchas that of rousing the imagination to vigorous efforts andstrengthening the memory—delightful properties if they could berealized by such simple means. Take an ounce and a half of red roses;a small quantity each of calamus aromaticus (sweet-scented flag), andof the long cyperus; an ounce of benzoin; six drams of aloes (the woodof); half an ounce of red coral, and the same quantity of amber; fourounces of bean flour; and eight ounces of the root of Florentine iris. Let the whole be mixed together and reduced to a very fine powder, towhich add a few grains of musk. This powder is to be sprinkled on thehair in the same manner as hair powder is generally used, and, havingremained for a time embedded with the hair, to be removed by means ofcomb and brush; and to be occasionally applied and removed. It is saidto regenerate the hair and strengthen the roots, and to possess theproperties which are above enumerated. 

=To Make the Hair Grow and to Prevent It from Falling. =—The followingrecipes are selected from a work published some years ago in Paris, entitled “Manuel Cosmetique des Plantes”:—

Take the roots of young vines, the roots of hemp, and young cabbages, of each two handfuls. Dry, and then burn them. Make afterwards a lyewith the ashes. Before the head is washed with this lye it must berubbed with honey, and continue both for three successive days. Thiswill not only make the hair grow, but restore it upon bald places, under certain habits and constitutions of body. Pulverize some parsleyseed, and use it as hair powder for three nights at the commencementof the year, and it will prevent your hair from falling. 

=To Make the Hair Grow Quick. =—Dip, every morning, the teeth of yourcomb in the juice of nettles, and comb the hair against the grain. 

=Mixture for Shampoo. =—Bay rum, one pint; tincture of cantharides, onedram; carbonate of ammonia, one half dram; salts tartar, one halfdram. Mix. 

=To Prevent the Hair Falling Out. =—Boxwood shavings, six ounces; proofspirit, twelve ounces; spirits of rosemary, two ounces; spirits ofnutmeg, one half ounce. Mix. 

=Wash for Scald Heads. =—Take one half ounce of sulphate of potassa, onepint of lime water, one ounce of soap liniment. Mix, and apply to thehead two or three times a day. 

 POWDERS AND THEIR USES. 

The powders usually sold by druggists are injurious to the complexion, owing to harmful ingredients. If a powder is perfectly pure, amoderate use of it will not harm the complexion, but if it is impureit soon causes the face to turn sallow and yellow. The following isperfectly pure, and is a splendid article, giving a lovely, refinedcomplexion:—

=Boston Burnet Powder for the Face. =—Five cents' worth of bay rum, fivecents' worth of magnesia snowflake, five cents' worth of bergamot, five cents' worth oil of lemon; mix in a pint bottle and fill up withrain water. Perfectly harmless, and splendid. 

=Queen Bess Complexion Wash. =—Put in a vial one dram of benzoin gum inpowder, one dram nutmeg oil, six drops of orange-blossom tea or appleblossoms; put in half a pint of rain water, and boiled down to aspoonful, and strained; one-pint of sherry wine. Bathe the facemorning and night; it will remove all flesh-worms and freckles, andgive a beautiful complexion. Or, put one ounce of powdered gum benzoinin a pint of whisky. To use: Put in water in washbowl till it ismilky. 

 FLESH-WORMS—TO CURE. 

Black specks on the nose disfigure the face. Remove by washingthoroughly in tepid water, rubbing with a towel, and applying with asoft flannel a lotion made of three ounces of cologne and half anounce of liquor of potash. 

 TO WHITEN THE SKIN AND REMOVE FRECKLES AND TAN. 

Bathe three times a day in a preparation of three quarts water, onequart alcohol, two ounces of cologne and one of borax, in proportionof two teaspoons mixture to two tablespoons soft water. 

 CHAPTER II. 

 TREATING OF MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 

=The Human Temperaments. =—By these are meant certain types, forms orconformations of the human body, each known and distinguished from theother by certain characteristics, which enable those who are familiarwith these peculiarities to readily distinguish one temperament fromthe others. The existence of the temperaments is believed to dependupon the development of certain parts or systems in the body, and eachis accompanied by different degrees of activity of the brain, andcorresponding difference in the talents and manifestations of theindividual. They are four in number, viz. : Nervous, Sanguine, Bilious, and Lymphatic. When the brain and nerves are predominant, it is termedthe _nervous_ temperament; if the lungs and blood vesselsconstitutionally predominate, the _sanguine_; if the muscular andfibrous systems are in the ascendency, the _bilious_; and when theglands and assimilating organs are in the ascendency, it is termed the_lymphatic_ or _phlegmatic_. 

First: The nervous is indicated by fine, thin hair, small muscles, thin skin, pale countenance, brilliant eyes, with great quickness andsensitiveness to impressions, and is really the mental or intellectualtemperament. 

Second: The sanguine is known by a stout, well-defined form, a fullface, florid complexion, moderate plumpness, firm flesh, chestnut orsandy hair, and blue eyes. This is the tough, hardy, workingtemperament, excessively fond of exercise and activity, and a greataversion to muscular quiescence and inactivity, and consequentlyaverse to books and close literary pursuits. 

Third: The bilious is indicated by a thin, spare face, dark skin, black hair, firm flesh, moderate stoutness, with rough, harsh, andstrongly marked features. This temperament gives great will, elasticity, and powers of endurance, and, when combined with thenervous, is the great, efficient, moving temperament in the greatevents of the world. 

Fourth: The lymphatic is indicated by paleness, roundness of the form, softness of muscle, fair hair, sleepy, half-closed eyes, and a dull, sluggish, inexpressive face. In this temperament the brain and allother parts of the body appear to be slow, dull, and languid, and thewhole body little else than one great manufactory of fat. Thesetemperaments, however, are rarely found pure, but mixed or blended inan almost endless variety of ways, producing the ever-varyingpeculiarities of human character and intellect. 

 THE FORTUNATE AND UNFORTUNATE DAYS OF EACH MONTH. 

 FORTUNATE. 

In January, six days—the 1st, 2nd, 15th, 26th, 27th, and 28th. In February, four days—the 11th, 21st, 25th, and 26th. In March, two days—the 10th and 24th. In April, five days—the 6th, 15th, 16th, 20th, and 28th. In May, three days—the 3rd, 18th, and 31st. In June, five days—the 10th, 11th, 15th, 22nd, and 25th. In July, three days—the 9th, 15th, and 28th. In August, six days—the 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 19th, and 25th. In September, five days—the 4th, 8th, 17th, 18th, and 23rd. In October, five days—the 3rd, 7th, 16th, 21st, and 22nd. In November, three days—the 5th, 14th, and 20th. In December, six days—the 15th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, and 25th. 

 UNFORTUNATE. 

In January, seven days—the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st. In February, seven days—the 3rd, 7th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 17th, and 23rd. In March, eight days—the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 28th, and 29th. In April, two days—the 24th and 25th. In May, five days—the 17th, 20th, 27th, 29th, and 30th. In June, eight days—the 1st, 5th, 6th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 18th, and 24th. In July, four days—the 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 18th. In August, two days—the 15th and 16th. In September, two days—the 9th and 16th. In October, six days—the 4th, 9th, 11th, 17th, 27th, and 31stIn November, four days—the 3rd, 9th, 10th, and 21st. In December, two days—the 14th and 21st. 

 DAYS OF THE WEEK—THEIR IMPORTANCE AT THE NATAL HOUR. 

A child born on Sunday shall be of long life and obtain riches. 

A child born on Monday will be weak and effeminate. 

Tuesday is more unfortunate still, though a child born on this daymay, by extraordinary vigilance, conquer the inordinate desires towhich he will be subject; still, in his violent attempts to gratifythem, he will be in danger of a violent death. 

The child born on Wednesday will be given to a studious life, andshall reap great profit therefrom. 

A child born on Thursday shall attain great honor and dignity. 

He who calls Friday his natal day shall be of a strong constitution, and perhaps addicted to the pleasures of love. 

Saturday is another ill-omened day; most children born on this daywill be of heavy, dull, and dogged disposition. 

 IMPORTANT ADVICE TO FEMALES. 

It has often been observed, and experience has shown the observationto be a true one, that some event of importance is sure to happen to awoman in her thirty-first year, whether it prove for her good or it besome evil or temptation; therefore we advise her to be circumspect inall her actions. If she is a maiden or widow, it is probable she willmarry this year. If a wife, that she will lose her children orhusband. She will either receive riches or travel into a foreign land;at all events, some circumstance or other will take place during thisremarkable year of her life that will have great effect on her futurefortunes and existence. 

 THE MAGIC RING. 

=To know whom you will marry, and what kind of a fate you will havewith them. =—Borrow a wedding ring, concealing the purpose for whichyou borrow it; but no widow's or pretended marriage ring will do—itspoils the charm; wear it for three hours at least before you retireto rest, and then suspend it, by a hair off your head, over yourpillow; write within a circle resembling a ring, the sentence from thematrimonial service beginning with, “_with this ring I thee wed_, ” andround the circle write your own name at full length, and the figuresthat stand for your age; place it under your pillow, and your dreamwill fully explain whom you are to marry, and what kind of a fate youwill have with them. If your dream is too confused to remember it, oryou do not dream at all, it is a certain sign that you will never bemarried. 

 PHYSIOGNOMICAL SIGNS OF A GOOD GENIUS. 

A straight, erect body, neither over tall nor short, between fat andthin. The flesh naturally soft. The skin neither soft nor rough, but amedium between. The complexion white, verging to a blush of redness. The hair between hard and soft, usually of a brown color. The head andface of a moderate size. The forehead rather high. The eyes manly, big, and clear, of a blue or hazel color. The aspect mild and humane. The teeth so mixed that some are broad and some narrow. A subtletongue, and the voice between intense and remiss. The neck comely andsmooth. The channel-bone of the throat appearing and moving. The backand ribs not over fleshy. The shoulders plain and slender. The handsindifferently long and smooth. The fingers long, smooth, and equallydistant. The nails white, mixed with red, and shining. The carriage ofthe body erect in walking. 

 ELECTRICAL PSYCHOLOGY, OR PSYCHOLOGICAL FASCINATION. 

The most easy, sure and direct mode to produce electro-psychologicalcommunication is to take the individual by the hand, in the samemanner as though you were going to shake hands. Press your thumb withmoderate force upon the _ulnar nerve_, which spreads its branches tothe ring and little finger. The pressure should be nearly one inchabove the knuckle, and in range of the ring finger. Lay the ball ofthe thumb flat and particularly crosswise so as to cover the minutebranches of this nerve of motion and sensation. When you first takeyour subject by the hand, request him to place his eyes upon yours, and to keep them fixed, so that he may see every emotion of your mindexpressed in the countenance. Continue this pressure for half a minuteor more, then request him to close his eyes, and with your fingersgently brush downward several times over the eyelids, as thoughfastening them firmly together. Throughout the whole process feelwithin yourself a fixed determination to close them, so as to expressthat determination fully in your countenance and manner. Having donethis, place your hand on the top of his head and press your thumbfirmly on the organ of individuality, bearing partially downward, andwith the other thumb still pressing the _ulnar nerve_, tell him, _Youcannot open your eyes!_ Remember that your manner, your expression ofcountenance, your motions, and your language must all be of the samepositive character. If he succeed in opening his eyes, try it once ortwice more, because impressions, whether physical or mental, continueto deepen by repetition. In case, however, that you cannot close hiseyes, nor see any effect produced upon them, you should cease makingany further efforts, because you have now fairly tested that his mindand body both stand in a positive relation as regards the doctrine ofimpressions. If you succeed in closing the subject's eyes by the abovemode, you may then request him to put his hands on his head, or in anyother position you choose, and tell him, _You cannot stir them!_ Incase you succeed, request him to be seated, and tell him, _You cannotrise!_ If you are successful in this, request him to put his hands inmotion, and tell him, _You cannot stop them!_ If you succeed, requesthim to walk on the floor, and tell him, _You cannot cease walking!_ Asso you may continue to perform experiments, involving muscular motionand paralysis of any kind that may recur to your mind, till you cancompletely control him in arresting or moving all the voluntary partsof his system. 

 MESMERISM. 

If you desire to mesmerize a person, who has never been put in thatstate, nor in the least affected, the plan is to set him in an easyposture and request him to be calm and resigned. Take him by bothhands, or else by one hand and place your other gently on hisforehead. But with whatever part of his body you choose to come incontact, be sure to always touch two points, answering to the_positive_ and _negative_ forces. Having taken him by both hands, fixyour eyes upon his, and, if possible, let him contentedly and steadilylook you in the face. Remain in this position until his eyes close. Then place both your hands on his head, gently pass them to hisshoulders, down the arms, and off at the ends of his fingers. Throwyour hands outward as you return them to his head, and continue thesepasses till he can hear no voice but yours. He is then entirely in themesmeric state. When a person is in the mesmeric state, whether putthere by yourself or someone else, you can awake him by the upwardpasses, or else do it by an impression, as follows: Tell him, “I willcount _three_, and at the same instant I say _three_ I will slap myhands together, and you will be wide awake and in your perfect senses. Are you ready?” If he answers in the affirmative, you will proceed tocount “One, two, three!” The word three should be spoken suddenly, andin a very loud voice, and at the same instant the palms of the handsshould be smitten together. This will instantly awake him. 

 HOW TO MAKE PERSONS AT A DISTANCE THINK OF YOU. 

Let it be particularly remembered that “faith” and concentration ofthought are positively needful to accomplish aught in drawing othersto you, or making them think of you. If you have not the capacity orunderstanding to operate an electric telegraph battery, it is no proofthat an expert and competent person should fail in doing so. Just soin this case; if faith, meditation, or concentration of thought failyou, then will you also fail to operate on others. First, you musthave a yearning for the person you wish to make think of you; and, secondly, you must learn to guess at what time of day or night, he maybe unemployed—passive—so that he may be in a proper state to receivethe thought which you dispatch to him. If he should be occupied in anyway, so that his nervous forces were needed to complete his task, his“human battery, ” or thought, would not be in a recipient or passivecondition, therefore your experiment would fail at that moment. Or, ifhe were under heavy narcotics, liquors, tobacco, or gluttonousinfluences, he could not be reached at such moments. Or, if he wereasleep, and you operated to effect a wakeful mind or thought, youwould fail again at the moment. To make a person at a distance thinkof you (whether you are acquainted with him or not, matters not), Iagain repeat, find out or guess at what moment he is likely to bepassive—by this I mean easy and careless; then, with the most ferventprayer or yearning of your entire heart, mind, soul, and strength, desire he may think of you. And if you wish him to think on anyparticular topic in relation to you, it is necessary for you to pressyour hands, when operating on him, on such mental faculties of yourhead as you wish him to exercise towards you. This demands a meagerknowledge of Phrenology. His “feeling nature, ” or “propensities, ” youcannot reach through these operations, but when he thinks of you (ifhe does not know you, he imagines such a being as you are) he caneasily afterwards be controlled by you, and he will feel disposed togo in the direction where you are, if circumstances permit and he ishis own master, for, remember, circumstances alter cases. I said youcannot reach his “feeling, ” but only his “thinking, ” nature, truly, but after he thinks of you once his “feeling nature, ” or propensities, may become aroused through his own organization. In conclusion on thistopic, let me say that if you wish the person simply to think of you, one operation may answer; but, on the contrary, if you wish him tomeet you, or go where you are, all you have to do is to persevere, ina lawful and Christian manner, to operate, and I assure you, in thecourse of all natural things—that is, if no accident or veryunfavorable circumstances occur—he will make his way towards you, andwhen he comes within sight, or reaching distance of you, it will beeasy to manage him. 

 HOW TO CHARM THOSE WHOM YOU MEET AND LOVE. 

When you desire to make any one “love” you with whom you meet, although not personally acquainted with him, you can very readilyreach him and make his acquaintance, if you observe the foregoinginstructions in addition to the following directions: Suppose you seehim coming towards you, in an unoccupied mood, or recklessly orpassively walking past you, all that remains for you at that moment isto concentrate your thought, and send it into him as before explained, and, to your astonishment, if he was passive, he will look at you, andnow is your time to send a thrill to his heart, by looking himcarelessly, though determinately, in the eyes, and praying him, withall your heart, mind, soul, and strength, that he may read yourthought and receive your true love, which God designs we should bearone another. This accomplished, and you need not, and must not, waitfor a cold-hearted, fashionable, and popular Christian introduction;neither should you hastily run into his arms, but continue operatingin this psychological manner, not losing any convenient opportunity tomeet him at an appropriate place, when an unembarrassed exchange ofwords will open the door to the one so magnetized. At this interview, unless prudence sanction it, do not shake hands, but let your mannersand loving eyes speak with Christian charity and ease. Wherever orwhenever you meet again, at the first opportunity grasp his hand in anearnest, sincere, and affectionate manner, observing at the same timethe following important directions, viz. : As you take his bare hand inyours, press your thumb gently, though firmly, between the bones ofthe thumb and the forefinger of his hand, and at the very instant whenyou press thus on the blood vessels (which you can before ascertain topulsate) look him earnestly and lovingly in the eyes, and send allyour heart's, mind's, and soul's strength into his organization, andhe will be your friend, and if you find him not to be congenial, youhave him in your power, and by carefully guarding against evilinfluences, you can reform him to suit your own purified, Christian, and loving taste. 

 CHAPTER III. 

 A SPECIAL CHAPTER FOR YOUNG WOMEN. 

 MARRIAGE. 

Advice upon this subject is very much needed. I am assured that it isa subject not often talked of in families—at least, as it ought tobe—nor is it much alluded to in the pulpit, and the result is thatyoung people commonly get their notions about it from those only alittle older than themselves, and who therefore know but little morethan they do, or from those who form their opinions from the abusethey see of it and so hold degrading and unworthy ideas respecting it. Sometimes all that is known about it amounts to this, that it is adelightful thing to be married. 

It is quite true that it often is, and always ought to be, delightful;still, you know it is frequently the reverse. You cannot, then, be toocautious in the matter. 

Nothing can be more orderly, right, proper, and holy than marriage. Itis not, however, quite so simple an affair as you may fancy. Everygood thing (and this is one of the best) requires some effort toobtain it, and unless you take the right course you must not expect tosucceed. 

You may often see a young woman who, from not entertaining correctviews on the point, is certainly taking a wrong course, her endeavorsbeing rather to make what she considers a good match than by acquiringkind and orderly habits to qualify herself to become worthy of aworthy husband. 

That the best things are liable to the greatest abuses is notorious, and from the lamentable fact that marriage is often abused we mayfairly infer its pre-eminent worth. In truth, there is nothing morevaluable. It is, then, highly injurious to entertain low notionsrespecting it, and men who indulge in loose conversation on thesubject are likely at the same time to think meanly of women. Bewareof them, and if you hear them expressing such opinions in yourpresence, withdraw from them at once as unworthy of your company. Never fear but they will respect you the more for the rebuke. 

Of course you are looking forward to settling happily, and will doyour best for that purpose. On this let me remark that all happiness(that is, all that is genuine, and therefore worthy of the name) comesfrom connection with the one great source of all good, and He hasfreely and fully provided all the means necessary for our being happy, both here and hereafter. He has placed each of us where it is best forus to be, and in the circumstances that are best for us at the time, and this applies to you and to me now. Howsoever much appearances maybe to the contrary, He cares as much for each of us as if we were thesole objects of His care. It is only by doing our duty in humbledependence on His assistance, which He never withholds, that we can behappy. It behooves you, then, to consider well what is your duty, inorder that you may do it and may enjoy the blessings He is so ready tobestow. I hope you may have been a loving and dutiful daughter, anaffectionate sister, and a faithful friend; then you may have goodground of hope for the future. 

 WHEN A PROSPECT OF MARRIAGE

occurs you cannot do better than consult your mother, aunt, or otherdiscreet relative that has your welfare at heart, from whom you mayreasonably expect the best and most disinterested advice; and this itwill be well for you to be guided by. Women of mature years can judgefar better than you whether a man is likely to make a good husband. You should likewise quietly and cautiously make your own observationsamong your married acquaintances, especially where you believe thereis a comfortable and happy home. You will doubtless find that to avery great extent this happy home depends on the wife's management andeconomy. Very often it happens that when two husbands have the sameincome, with the same number of children, there will be comfort in theone home and discomfort in the other. Now, there must be a reason forthis, and you should endeavor to find it out and profit by the lesson. It is said “Cleanliness is next to godliness, ” and truly the value ofcleanliness cannot be overrated. In point of time, it should go beforegodliness, for where there is not cleanliness there can hardly begodliness; and the health of body and mind are greatly dependent onthese two. Moreover, where can there be complete happiness withouthealth?

One of the most prolific sources of matrimonial difficulties is thelack of knowledge on the part of wives of the duties of housekeeping. In these days there are a hundred young ladies who can drum on thepiano to one who can make a good loaf of bread. 

 YET A HUNGRY HUSBAND

cares more for a good dinner than he does—as long as his appetite isunappeased—to listen to the music of the spheres. Heavy bread hasmade many heavy hearts, given rise to dyspepsia—horrid dyspepsia—andits herd of accompanying torments. Girls who desire that theirhusbands should be amiable and kind, should learn how to make goodbread. When a young man is courting, he can live well at home; or, ifhe has to go a distance to pay his addresses, he usually obtains goodmeals at an hotel or an eating-house; but when he is married and getsto housekeeping, his wife assumes the functions of his mother or hislandlord, and it is fortunate for her if she has been educated so asto know what a good table is. Those who are entirely dependent uponhired cooks make a very poor show at housekeeping. The stomachperforms a very important part in the economy of humanity, and wiveswho are forgetful of this fact commit a serious mistake. 

You know full well that most young men—and most young women, too—aredesirous of marrying and having a family; but they do not sufficientlyconsider that it is God who gives them this desire, and that for thewisest of purposes; not only that this world may be peopled, but alsothat its inhabitants may be prepared for heaven. 

Nothing is more certain than that

 MARRIAGE AFFORDS

the fairest opportunities for preparing for a better world. In it wehave others dearer than ourselves to think about and provide for; andin doing so, we have often to practice that very useful virtue, self-denial. Let me here impress upon you most deeply, that it is onlyby making others happy that we can become happy ourselves. The angels, we may be assured, are happy, because they are always actively good;and for a similar reason it is that God himself is infinitely happy. If you try to secure you own happiness by any other means than afaithful discharge of your duty to God and your neighbor, you willcertainly fail. 

I dare say you will find that

 YOUNG MEN ARE FOND OF YOUR COMPANY, and of paying you every polite attention, and you, as a right-mindedwoman, are well pleased to be so treated. It is due to you _as awoman_. Now, each of them is, or ought to be, looking out for a wife, and it is well that you should know this. It is, too, more importantthan you perhaps are aware, that you should be carefully making yourown observations, so that when the time arrives for one of them to askyou to become his wife you may not be taken by surprise, but may knowhow to act on the occasion. 

Let me caution you here against a failing that is common among youngwomen. I mean that of making themselves too cheap. They feel flatteredby the attentions paid to them, and are not sufficiently aware thatmany young men are fond of indulging in flattery; and such, if theyfind a young woman weak enough to be pleased with it, will perhapsplay upon her feelings and gain her affections without having anyhonorable intentions towards her. 

As a protection against such, I recommend you to have a proper respectfor yourself, and to consider with what object or purpose you receivetheir attentions. If you respond without an object, you may be doingthem wrong; if you accept them when they have no right intentions, youallow them to wrong you. For this purpose consider well what youare—a human being intended for an eternity of bliss. God has made youa woman; and, believe me, as there is no fairer, so there is no noblercreature than woman. She is formed to be her husband's helpmate andthe mother of his children, and the all-important work of trainingthese for heaven depends mainly upon her. Great, then, is herresponsibility; but God has given her the requisite love and power todo her duty with satisfaction and delight. He has placed you in thisbeautiful world that by doing your duty as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend, you may become fitted to enter His heavenlykingdom. 

During your courtship let me entreat you to be very careful andcircumspect. There is no period of life that can compare with thisdelightful season. It is, or should be, full of sunshine and sparklingwith the poetry of life; but alas! to many it is the opposite. A wantof judgment—a momentary indiscretion—has not only blotted out thisbeautiful springtime of life, but has marred, darkened, and blightedthe whole of the after lifetime. 

No maiden can, under any circumstances, place her character in thehands of any man before marriage. No matter how sincere the love, howardent the protestations, how earnest or plausible the pleadings, youmust not, you cannot, surrender your honor. You must preserve yourprudence and virtue; it is only by possession of these that you cankeep

 THE LOVE AND RESPECT OF YOUR LOVER. 

Be firm, be circumspect; a rash word or a false step may extinguishforever all your bright hopes and prospective joys. Even should yourlover redeem his promises and take you to be his wife, thisindiscretion, or crime, will surely hang over you like a curse, creating discord, trouble, and sorrow, the greatest portion of whichwill fall to your share. 

You must know that young men, however amiable, worthy or honorablethey may be, may, in a moment of intense excitement, commit a sin thatin their calmer moments they would not be guilty of for worlds. 

But under all circumstances you will be looked upon to resist anyadvances, and maintain your purity and virtue. No matter how high thetide of passion may run in unguarded moments, and set in againstheaven and against society, the terrible and painful ebb will surelyfollow and leave you stranded forever on the bleak and barren shore ofyour earthly existence. 

 THERE IS NO STATE OF LIFE MORE HONORABLE, useful, and happy than that of a wife and mother. There must and everwill be inequalities of station, but happiness is equally attainablein them all. To be happy, however, you must be good. Of course, I donot mean absolutely good, for “there is none good but One”; but I meanthat you should be relatively good, and should aim at becoming betterand more innocent as you advance in life. Now, you cannot respectyourself unless you know that you are worthy of respect; and if you donot respect yourself, you cannot expect that anybody else will; and insuch case you will not be worthy of the love of any good man, and nonesuch will be likely to pay court to you. If, however, you take theright means, in which I include prayer for divine guidance, you willhave the respect and friendship of all your acquaintances, and then inGod's own time, and, let me add, without your seeking it, the man whomyou can make happy will present himself and propose to make you hiswife, if it be God's will that you should become one. 

Here are two very important points for your consideration: First, thatit should be your constant endeavor to

 MAKE YOUR HUSBAND HAPPY;

and, second, that before you consent to marry him, you shouldascertain that he has those qualifications that will secure yourhappiness. It most nearly concerns yourself that you do your duty toGod and your neighbor at all times, so that it becomes your habit; andyou will find it much easier, and safer, too, to do it every dayrather than on only particular occasions; for this would require aspecial effort, and for the time, perhaps, put you into a state ofexcitement, which, in all probability, would be followed by adepression of spirits. What you should rather aim at is a uniformlycheerful state of mind, resulting from a conscious and confidentdependence on Providence. If your husband knows from experience thatsuch is your character, he cannot fail, provided he be worthy of you, to be content and happy. 

 IT IS THE NATURE OF YOUNG WOMEN

to be affectionate, and it is pleasant and usual for them to haveseveral dear friends, enjoying more or less of their confidence. Amongthese may be included some of their male acquaintance. Now, while theymay esteem each of these as they would a dear cousin, they should knowand act upon the knowledge that it is only to _one_ they can givetheir unlimited confidence and individual affection as a wife. It isthe height of cruelty and wickedness for either a man or a woman totrifle with another's affection. Such base conduct has cost many ayoung woman her health and peace, and even her life, and cannot, therefore, be too much depreciated and avoided. 

Let me, then, advise you to be

 VERY CAUTIOUS

before you allow a young man to pay you such marked attentions as maylead to marriage. It is not, you know, to terminate in seven years, like an apprenticeship or a commercial partnership, but it is anengagement for the life of one of the parties. I want you, then, toprofit by the experience of others, too many of whom enter intomarriage from light and low considerations, and not to settle in lifetill you, and also your friends, see that there is a reasonableprospect of your securing happiness, as well as comfort and arespectable position. 

When a young woman has property or expects it, or is possessed ofsuperior personal attractions, she should be especially prudent in herconduct towards the numerous admirers which such qualificationsusually attract. No woman should allow herself to accept theattentions of any man who does not possess those sterling qualitieswhich will command her respect, or whose love is directed to herfortune or beauty rather than herself. On such a one she can place noreliance, for should illness or misfortune overtake her she may findherself deprived of that love which she had valued as the greattreasure of her life. Possessed of this, she feels that earthly richesare but of secondary importance, and that the want of them can nevermake her poor. 

Moreover, a worthier man than any of her interested suitors may have asincere respect and affection for her, but be kept in the backgroundby the overzealous attention of his rivals. Still, if she hassufficient self-command to patiently and calmly investigate theirgeneral private character, she may find reason to decline their suit, and may discover that the more modest and retiring youth is the onethat is deserving of her love. 

While on this subject, let me caution you against the foolishaffectation which some girls practice in order to attract theattention of young men. In their company be natural in your manners, open and friendly and ready to converse on general subjects; notappearing to expect that every one who pays you the ordinarycourtesies of society is going to fall in love with you. This mode ofbehavior, which is more common with those who are vain of their beautythan with others, frequently leads to such young women being moreneglected than their less pretending sisters; for prudent young men, who are impressed with the necessity of a right decision in theall-important step of marriage, instinctively shrink from those whoseem unwilling to give them a fair opportunity of judging whethertheir hearts and minds are as attractive as their persons. 

You may innocently admire many a young man for the noble qualities Godhas bestowed upon him, without at all entertaining the idea eitherthat he would make you happy as his wife, or you him as your husband. Thank God we are constituted of such different temperaments that allmay find suitable partners without clashing with each other's tastes, if they will only be content to watch and wait. 

It is the part of a young man to _watch_, to be actively desirous ofmeeting with a suitable partner. In doing this, his firstconsideration should be to seek for such a one as he can make happy;not to look primarily for beauty, fortune, wit, or accomplishments—thingsall very good in themselves, but by no means constituting theessentials of happiness. If he is influenced by pure and simplemotives, he will not find, or expect to find, more than one that cansatisfy his desire, and he will not be in much danger of exciting theenvy or the rivalry of his companions. 

On the other hand, it is becoming in a young woman to

 WAIT PATIENTLY

till, from the assiduous and respectful attentions of a young man, shecan have no doubt that he is in earnest, when, and not before, she mayfreely give him her company, and with every expectation of a happyresult. Be assured that no sensible young man is ever attracted by ayoung woman whom he sees on the lookout for a lover; he is more likelyto think meanly of her, and to avoid her society. 

It may, however, happen that a young man makes the offer before theyoung woman knows enough of him for it to be right for her to acceptit, and before he, on his part, ought to take the step. In such caseit would be well for her, even supposing she is inclined to like him, to tell him that he has taken her by surprise, and that she cannotthink of entering on so important a subject without consulting herfriends, to whom she accordingly refers him. It would then become herduty to intimate to him that, although his attentions are agreeable tothem, he must wait a while, till, from further acquaintance, they areenabled to judge whether it will conduce to the mutual happiness oftheir daughter and himself for her to accept the offer he has sokindly made. 

But it is not only young men who

 ARE APT TO BE HASTY

in these matters. It is, as is well known, not uncommon for parents, especially mothers, very soon after a young man has begun to payattention to their daughter, to give him to understand that they wishto know his intentions in reference to her. By such proceedings ayoung man may be taken aback, and either hurry into a match, whichturns out unhappily, or be led to withdraw from a union which mighthave resulted in the happiness of all the parties concerned. 

That your parents should wish you to be married is only natural, especially if their own marriage has been a happy one. It will begratifying to them to see a worthy young man paying attention to you, and most probably they will let things take their own course. Marriageis too important a matter to admit of being hastened. 

There are, I am aware, unwise parents, who, from various motives, willthrow obstacles in the way of young people who are desirous of comingtogether. Some are so selfish as to be unwilling to part with theirdaughter, preferring their own happiness to hers. Others are so sillyas to think no ordinary man good enough for her, and therefore, ifthey had their own way, would have her to become an old maid. Fortunately, such shortsighted people are not infrequently outwitted. 

If your parents are, as I hope they are, reasonable in their views andexpectations, one of the chief concerns of their life will be thepromotion of your happiness, and it behooves you to pay the utmostdeference to their opinion; and should they, from circumstances theybecome aware of, deem it advisable that you should either postpone oreven break off an engagement, they will doubtless give you suchweighty reasons as will justify you in acting on their advice. Where, however, as sometimes happens, they unwisely refuse their consent totheir child's marriage at a time when she well knows from her ownfeelings, and also from the sanction she receives from the opinion oftrustworthy and judicious friends, that she would be making a realsacrifice were she to comply with their wishes; if, I say, under suchcircumstances she acts disobediently and marries the man she loves, more blame attaches to the parents than to herself, and the soonerthey forgive her the better. 

It is very common for young men, when going into the company of youngwoman, together with their best dress to put on their best behavior;in fact, to assume a character which is not their natural one, but farsuperior to it. 

Some hold the opinion that

 “ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR. ”

To me it appears there cannot be greater folly and wickedness than foryoung people who are thinking of marrying to attempt to deceive eachother. What is the good of it? A very short period of married lifewill entirely dispel the illusion. I suppose people of the world maythink it fair to overreach one another in their dealings, saying“everyone for himself. ” They have no intention of seeking to promotethe other's happiness; present gain is all they want. But a marriedpair, to be happy, must

 RESPECT AND ESTEEM, AS WELL AS LOVE, each other; and this cannot be attained except by the constantendeavor to _be_ as well as to _appear_ true and good. 

That young men should behave well in the presence of women is onlynatural and right; none but a fool would do otherwise. But you, longbefore thinking of marrying, should take all fair means to learn whatis the general conduct and habits of your male acquaintance in theirfamily circle and with their daily connections. “Are they good-humoredand kind—able to bear the troubles they meet with? Are theyindustrious, frugal, temperate, religious, chaste? Have they had theprudence to insure against sickness and death?” Or, on the other hand, are they addicted to drinking, smoking, betting, keeping late hours, frequenting casinos, etc. ? Your mother and other prudent friends willassist you to find this out. Those who do not come up to the properstandard, however agreeable they may be as acquaintance, certainlycannot make good husbands. In company of such, it behooves you to bewell on your guard, and accept no attention from them. Should youmarry such a one, you would be sure to be miserable. 

While, however, it is quite right that you should be careful about thecharacter of the young man who is paying court to you, it is of farmore importance to you that you should be careful about your own, andthis whether you marry or not. Indeed, a chief object in our beingplaced in this world is that we may acquire good habits, and so befitted to associate with the just made perfect in heaven!

Be very guarded in your actions and demeanor. Cultivate purity ofheart and thought. 

No woman is fit to become a wife who is not perfectly modest in word, deed, and thought. No young man, who is worth having, would everentertain the thought for a moment of taking the girl for a wife whois habitually careless in her conversation and displays a levity inher manners. Young men may like your free and hearty girls to laughand talk with, but as to taking one for a wife, let me assure you theywould not tolerate the idea for a moment. 

You may at times be unavoidably compelled to hear a vulgar word spokenor an indelicate allusion made; in every instance maintain a rigidinsensibility. It is not enough that you should cast down your eyes orturn your head, you must act as if you did not hear it; appear as ifyou did not comprehend it. You ought to receive no more impressionfrom remarks of this character than a block of wood. Unless youmaintain this standing, and preserve this high-toned purity of manner, you will be greatly depreciated in the opinion of all men whoseopinion is worth having, and you deprive yourself of much influenceand respect which it is your privilege to possess and exert. 

 COURTSHIP, AFTER ALL, IS A MOMENTOUS MATTER. 

After taking all the counsel that may be offered, you must at last, ina great measure, rely on your own judgment. Within a few short monthsyou have to decide, from what you can see of a man, whether you willhave him in preference to your parents, friends, and all others thatyou know, to be a life companion. What can you do? How shall youjudge? How arrive at a correct conclusion? My dear young girl, thereis only One who can assist you. He, in His mercy to your helplessnessand weakness, has given to every virtuous and pure-minded woman awonderful, mysterious, and subtle instinct; a peculiar faculty thatcannot be analyzed by reason, a faculty that men do not possess, andone in which they do not generally believe. At this all-importantperiod, this eventful crisis in your life, this womanly instinctguides and saves you. You can feel in a moment the presence orinfluence of a base, sensual, and unworthy nature. An electric-likethrill animates you, and you are naturally repulsed from him. Whenyour suitor is a man of incongruous temper, ungenial habits, and of amorose and unsympathetic disposition, this same precious, divineinstinct acts, and the man feels, though he cannot tell why, that allhis arts and aspirations are in vain. It will seldom be necessary foryou to tell him verbally of his failure; but should such a one blindlyinsist upon intruding his attentions, do not hesitate to tell himkindly but firmly your decision. Should your suitor be one who isworthy, who will make you happy, this same blessed instinct willwhisper in your soul the happy news. From the first interview there isfrequently thrown around the maiden a peculiar, undefined spell; shewill feel differently in his presence, and watch him with other eyesthan she has for the rest of men, and in due time, when he shall askher to decide upon the question which shall seal the temporal andeternal destiny of two human souls, she will gladly respond, giving inloving trustfulness that which is the most precious, the most enviablething on earth: a maiden's heart, a woman's love. 

Many persons, of both sexes, however amiable and pure their minds maybe, should conscientiously abstain from marriage. This applies to allwho have a tendency to consumption, scrofula, insanity, or any otherof those diseases which are so frequently transmitted to offspring. This very important matter is not sufficiently known, and therefore isnot attended to as it ought to be; hence the great amount of sicknessand early death among children. 

The tendency to inherit qualities is very evident in the case ofdrunkards, whose children are often inclined to practice the vice oftheir parents. The children of the blind, and of the deaf and dumb, are also liable to be afflicted as their parents were. These facts gofar to show that it is literally true that the sins of the fathers arevisited upon the children. It is, however, gratifying to know—andthere are many well-attested cases to prove it—that whereas thechildren born to a man while he was addicted to drunkenness weresimilarly addicted to that vice, those born after he gave up hisvicious indulgence, and by that means improved his bodily health, werefree from the evil tendency. 

One strong reason

 WHY NEAR RELATIONS SHOULD NOT INTERMARRY

is that, as the same general tendencies prevail in families, when theparents are nearly related they are very likely to have the same eviltendency, whatever that may be; and, therefore, there is a greatprobability that their children will also have the same, but morestrongly developed, and, consequently, the difficulty of theirovercoming it will be much increased. 

How plainly, then, is it the duty of those about to marry, as well asof those who are married, to strive to their utmost, with God's help, to overcome disorderly habits of every kind; for, be assured, it isonly by such means they can hope to be blessed with good and healthychildren, and thereby contribute to their own happiness, and at thesame time to the improvement of the race as subjects both of thisworld and of heaven. 

As it is by no means certain that you will marry, and the time maycome when it will no longer be convenient to your parents to supportyou, it will be good for you, keeping these contingencies in mind, toqualify yourself to earn your own maintenance by some honest industry. You will then have a right feeling of independence, and not be temptedto marry, as too many young women do, not from the true principle ofsincere affection, but mainly for a living. They may thus obtain acompetence, and jog on comfortably, but they have no right to expectthat genuine happiness which I recommend you to aim at. When, too, yousee so many left widows, with small families, and, as we say, totallyunprovided for, you will become sensible of the soundness of theadvice I am offering you. As the Lord's tender mercies are over allHis works, it is evident, from what is occurring around us, thattrouble and adversity are better suited to the state of some people, to prepare them for their eternal destination, than any amount ofprosperity would be. The poor are no less His children than the rich, and he cares equally—that is, infinitely—for them all. It iscertainly wise, then, to be prepared to meet adversity, should Hesuffer it to come upon you. 

Again, suppose you should not have any suitable offer of marriage, such as you would feel it your duty to accept, you are not on thataccount to be disheartened, and fancy yourself overlooked byProvidence. 

Single life is evidently the best for some persons; they escape manytroubles which perhaps they would find it very hard to bear. There aremany ways in which single people can lead a useful life, and be

 AS HAPPY AS THE DAY IS LONG. 

No one that is actively useful can be unhappy. What do you see aroundyou? Many, I admit, who are not so happy as we should like them to be;but in most cases, if we could fully investigate the matter, it wouldperhaps be found to have arisen from their thinking too much aboutthemselves and not enough for others. But, on the other hand, it notinfrequently happens, when a woman is left, and sees that the supportand welfare of herself and children depend on her own exertions, sheis enabled to so successfully put forth her energies and to employ hertalents which, till she needed them, she hardly knew she possessed, asto surprise both herself and the most sanguine of her friends. 

Now, it must be confessed that we are fallen creatures, and thereforeprone to evil. We are consequently always in danger of going wrongand forming bad habits, but our Heavenly Father watches over us at alltimes and gives us power to “refuse the evil and choose the good. ” Weare, I know full well, too much inclined to yield to evil influences;still, as we always have divine aid if we implore it, I am not surethat, on the whole, it is not as easy to acquire good habits as badones. This much is certain, that whichever we acquire, they are likelyto remain with us and are not easily to be got rid of. 

Among the subjects deserving attention as affecting our happiness isone on which, perhaps, I am not entitled to say much. I refer todress. Now, I hold it to be a duty for people to dress well—that is, according to their position, means, and age; and this not so much fortheir own sakes as for the sake of giving pleasure to others. It is, Iadmit, difficult to determine how much of one's income should bedevoted to dress, but I think few will deny that at present dressoccupies too much time, attention, and money. For my own part, Iconfess I am most affected by female dress, and although certainly Ilike to see women well dressed, and would rather see them a little toofine than slovenly, I am often pained at witnessing the extravaganceand, to me, ridiculous taste exhibited. Whenever I see a handsome andexpensive dress trailing in the dirt, I regard it as culpable wasteand in bad taste, and when I see it accidentally trodden on I am notsorry. I am inclined to believe that many women can hardly find timeor opportunity to perform any useful duty; they have quite as much asthey, poor things, can do to take care of their dress. I also believe(and this is the serious point of the matter) that many a young man isdeterred from soliciting a maiden in marriage by knowing that hismeans would not enable him to let her dress as he is accustomed to seeher, and this is doubtless one of the many reasons why so many of bothsexes remain unmarried. I hold, too, that whatever forms an obstacleto marriage has a tendency at the same time to obstruct the entranceto heaven. 

I will now allude to some of the duties which will devolve upon you asa wife; and recollect that it is on the faithful discharge of theseduties that your happiness, here and hereafter, mainly depends. Alllabor is honorable, and you know who it is that says, “My Fatherworketh hitherto, and I work. ” Being married, you must make yourhusband feel

 “THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME. ”

His business will probably take him from home most of the day, and itshould be your care, as I doubt not it will be your delight, to see tohis comfort, both before he starts and when he returns. It maysometimes happen in his fighting the battle of life that he has toencounter much that is unpleasant, and he may return home depressed. You will then have to cheer him, and be assured no one can do it soeffectually, so pleasantly—aye, and so easily—as yourself. 

It is not to sweep the house, and make the bed, and darn the socks, and cook the meals, chiefly, that a man wants a wife. If this is allthat he needs, hired help can do it cheaper than a wife. If this isall, when a young man calls to see a young lady, send him to thepantry to taste the bread and cake she has made. Send him to inspectthe needlework and bedmaking; or put a broom into her hands and sendhim to witness its use. _Such things are important_, and the wiseyoung man will quietly look after them. But what a true man most wantsof a true wife is her companionship, sympathy, courage, and love. Theway of life has many dreary places in it, and a man needs a companionto go with him. A man is sometimes overtaken with misfortune; he meetswith failure and defeat; trials and temptations beset him; and heneeds one to stand by and sympathize. He has some stern battles tofight with poverty, with enemies, and with sin; and he needs a womanthat, while he puts his arm around her and feels that he has somethingto fight for, will help him fight; that will put her lips to his earand whisper words of counsel, and her hands to his heart and impartnew inspirations. All through life—through storm and throughsunshine, conflict and victory, and through adverse and favoringwinds—man needs a woman's love. The heart yearns for it. A sister'sor a mother's love will hardly supply the need. Yet many seek fornothing further than success in housework. Justly enough, half ofthese get nothing more; the other half, surprised beyond measure, havegot more than they sought. Their wives surprise them by bringing anobler idea of marriage, and disclosing a treasury of courage, sympathy, and love. 

And I would here caution you against giving way to littlemisunderstandings in early married life. Sometimes trifling matters, for want of some forbearance or concession on one side on the other, perhaps on both sides, accumulate into serious results. Thesedifferences might be avoided by married partners studying each other'speculiarities of character, with the aim of mutually correcting, in akindly spirit, any wrong tendency or temper which may sometimes showitself. Should you find you have inadvertently given pain to yourhusband, do not rest until you have ascertained the cause of hisdisquiet and succeeded in allaying the unhappy feeling. The earnestdesire to please each other should by no means terminate on thewedding day, but be studiously continued through married life. Eachshould always endeavor to think the best of the other, and instantlyreject every thought that might tend to weaken the bond of mutualpreference and perfect trust. 

If he be wise, he will leave the housekeeping entirely to you; histime and attention can be better employed elsewhere. To enable you todo this wisely, you should, long before you marry, become familiarwith the quality and prices of articles of consumption, and where theycan best be obtained. Every wife should be able to cook well, whethershe has to do it herself or not. Health and good humor greatly dependupon the food being of good quality, well cooked, and nicely servedup. She should also be able, if needful, to make and mend her own andchildren's clothes. 

Too much importance cannot be attached to cleanliness. Men may becareless as to their own personal appearance, and may, from the natureof their business, be negligent in their dress, but they dislike tosee any disregard in the dress and appearance of their wives. Nothingso depresses a man and makes him dislike and neglect his home as tohave a wife who is slovenly in her dress and unclean in her habits. Beauty of face and form will not compensate for these defects. Thecharm of purity and cleanliness never ends but with life itself. Theseare matters that do not involve any great labor or expense. The use ofthe bath, and the simplest fabrics, shaped by your own supple fingers, will be all that is necessary. These attractions will act like amagnet upon your husband. Never fear that there will be any influencestrong enough to take him from your side. 

An experience of many years of observation has convinced me that wherea pure, industrious, and cheerful wife meets her husband with a brightsmile on the threshold of her dwelling, that man will never leave thehome for any other place. 

As all people are liable to illness, every young woman should aim atbeing an efficient nurse. In case of illness, it is now generallyadmitted that good nursing is of more value than medicine. To a sickhusband, a little gruel or other trifle prepared and given by hiswife's own hands will confer much more benefit than if prepared andgiven by another. Should it happen to you to fall ill, you may expectyour husband to do his best; but you must not be surprised if he isnot your equal in that department. Nursing is one of the many usefulthings which women can do better than men. A practical knowledge ofnursing will enable you to be useful beyond your own family, and willenhance your value as a neighbor. 

You have often, I trust, experienced the pleasure of serving othersfrom disinterested motives, and found that the pleasure has beendeeper and purer when you have engaged in doing good to those whocould not make you any return. This you have found to be the casewherever you have had charge of a baby—one of those little ones ofwhom the Lord says: “Their angels do always behold the face of myFather which is in heaven. ” You have perhaps been surprised to findhow easy it was to perform such a duty, and let me assure you that youmay always expect to find it easy to perform your duty in that stateof life to which it shall please God to call you. He never requiresanything from any of His creatures beyond what He gives them power todo. He is no hard task-master. You have only to look to Him and doyour best, and then you may safely leave the result in His hands. 

Of all God's creatures, I know no happier one than a young mother witha good husband and a healthy baby. I say a _healthy_ baby, for thatimplies healthy parents, especially a healthy mother. She may justlyfeel proud that God has intrusted a young immortal to her care, andshe should at all times bear in mind that it is His gift. While it ison all hands considered honorable to hold a commission from thePresident, and to fill a high office, contributing to the welfare ofmany people, a mother may feel her office at least as honorable, seeing she has intrusted to her the rearing and training of animmortal being, and that she holds her commission direct from the Kingof Kings. For, recollect, it is only by God's blessing that shebecomes a mother; for such is the present state of society that manyvery worthy married people have not the privilege of offspring, although they are intensely fond of children and seem to have no otherearthly want. They may, nevertheless, be very useful, and thereforehappy, in a different sphere, by the adoption of nephews and nieces orin some similar way. 

 AT THE BIRTH OF HER FIRST CHILD

there is opened in the mother's heart a new well of love, such as shehad not known before; and although she may fancy that this is allspent upon her babe, it is not so, for she loves her God, her husband, and everybody else better than ever. The father, too, is similarlyaffected; he also has a warmer love for his wife and for all hisconnections. 

A similar idea is well expressed by Möhler, a German writer, who says:“The power of selfishness, which is inwoven with our whole being, isaltogether broken by marriage, and by degrees love, becoming more andmore pure, takes its place. ” When a man marries he gives himself upentirely to _another_ being; in this affair of life he first goes outof himself, and inflicts the first deadly wound on his egotism. Byevery child with which his marriage is blessed, nature renews the sameattack on his selfhood, causes him to live less for himself, andmore—even without being distinctly conscious of it—for others; hisheart expands in proportion as the claimants upon it increase, and, bursting the bonds of its former narrow exclusiveness, it eventuallyextends its sympathies to all around. 

Whenever a mother is supplying her baby with the food which God has sowisely provided for it, or is ministering to any other of its numerousand increasing wants, she may feel that everything she does for it ispleasing to her Heavenly Father and has its immediate reward in thedelight she experiences in the act. 

I can fancy that when a mother has washed her baby, and before shedresses it has a good romp with it, smothering it with kisses, callingit all the beauties and darlings and pets and jewels she can think of, and talking any amount of nonsense at the top of her voice—the babyall the while cooing, chirping, or even screaming with delight—atsuch a time, I say, I can easily fancy that the angels are looking onapprovingly and enjoying the scene. And why not? “Of such is thekingdom of heaven. ”

From the time that an infant first becomes conscious of its wants, andlong afterwards, it looks to its mother to supply them all, fullybelieving her able to do so. She is, in fact, in place of God to it, and it would be well for many of us if we trusted our Heavenly Fatheras simply and as fully as the infant does its earthly mother. 

Those who know no better, when they see a mother patiently watchingher sleeping babe, might wonder that she does not feel the want ofcompany. She has, however, company that they know not of, and of whicheven she herself may not be conscious. If only our eyes were open, wemight see that she is not the only one that is so engaged—thatangels are also occupied in watching the babe and in supporting her. I entirely agree with Dr. Watts, where, in his “Cradle Hymn, ” he makesthe mother say:

 “Hush! my babe, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed. ”

You probably know the beautiful Irish superstition that when a babysmiles in its sleep the angels are whispering to it. 

“Before I became a father, I took little or no interest in babies; Irather thought them troublesome things. But the arrival of one of myown wrought a great change in me. It enlarged at once my views and myheart, and I had higher and stronger motives to exertion. My interestin them has not yet begun to weaken, and I have no reason to think itever will. ”

Girls are differently constituted from boys. God makes the intellectpredominate in males, and affection in females. Accordingly, a littlegirl early shows a love for a doll, regarding it quite as her baby andnever taking into account that it is not alive. She has many of amother's cares and anxieties, as well as pleasures, about it; indeed, as many as she is then capable of. It is a constant source ofamusement and employment to her. In all this we may plainly see thehand of Providence. It forms a suitable introduction to some of theinteresting and important duties which will devolve on her if itshould be His good pleasure for her to become a mother. 

You will, I dare say, readily see the object I now have in view. It isthat I wish to impress on you how desirable it is that you should takeevery opportunity of becoming acquainted with the habits and wants ofbabies, and the best way of managing them. The more you have to dowith them the more you will like the labors, and the easier and moredelightful it will become. It is fair that, before you have childrenof your own, you should get your knowledge as to the management ofthem by experience with other people's. I take it for granted you willat all times do your best for them. You will then have but littlecause to fear accident; and if accident should happen, as with allyour care it sometimes will, you will have more confidence in yourpowers, and will be more likely to do what is best at the moment, thanif you were unused to children. Much of the disease and early deaththat happens among children arises from the ignorance of the mothers, who, however, are much more to be pitied than blamed in the matter. They had never been taught their duties toward their futureoffspring. 

Few mothers are, perhaps, sufficiently aware of the great influencewhich their manners, habits, and conversation have upon the tenderminds of their children, even from birth. The child should grow upwith a feeling of reverence for its parents, which can only be thecase when wisdom, as well as affection, is exercised in its bringingup. Hence the necessity of the mother fitting herself, both_intellectually_ and _morally_, for her sacred office, that the childmay become accustomed to yield perfect obedience to her wishes, from aprinciple of love, and may acquire, as it advances in life, the habitof yielding a like obedience to that which is right. 

As you well know that you are not perfect yourself, you must beprepared to find that your husband has also his imperfections, and itis no unimportant part of your duty to help him to get rid of them. Indeed, it is one of the highest uses of marriage for each partner toassist the other on the journey to the heavenly Canaan. But before youattempt to point out a fault in him, consider how you had best proceedso as to attain your object; for unless you adopt a judicious mode, and an affectionate as well as earnest manner, you may do as much harmas good. You must also carefully watch your opportunity; for whatwould be favorably received at one time and under certaincircumstances, might under other circumstances give offence andaltogether fail of the good effect intended and hoped for. You do notknow how powerful you may be for good to your husband. There is muchtruth in the saying, “A man is what a woman makes him. ”

Previous to your marriage it will be expedient for you not to giveyour lover that full and unlimited confidence which it will be yourduty—and your inclination, too—to give him when he becomes yourhusband. I refer chiefly to family and other private matters, not toanything he ought to know to enable him to judge of your character andposition. Many unhappy marriages have been brought about through theyoung woman letting it be known that she has “great expectations. ” Aworthless fellow may, in consequence, have succeeded in winning herhand. 

There is another point to which I must just allude before concludingthis address. It is doubtless the order of Providence for marriage totake place, when possible, on our arriving at years of maturity. But Iwould guard you against the evil results of _too early_ marriage, before either body or mind is perfectly matured. We scarcely needconsult either medical or moral science to satisfy ourselves on thisby no means trifling point. We may find in society too many sadinstances of such immature and indiscreet unions. The minds of youngpersons should be expanded by a certain amount of experience in theworld before entering upon engagements involving so many momentousduties. 

In your daily walks abroad, if you examine the countenances of thoseyou meet, you will doubtless be led to conclude that there is a greatdeal of disease and misery in the world; but judging from my ownobservation, I think you will find that the greater number of personsexhibit signs of health and happiness. Much of the disease, and miserywith which the world is afflicted is the direct result of themisconduct of the individuals themselves; but no little of it isattributable to their parents, who have neglected or violated God'slaws of health, their misconduct thus affecting their descendants tothe “third and fourth generation. ” I cannot, therefore, too muchimpress upon you the importance of your honestly trying to find outany bad habits to which you are inclined, with a view to getting ridof them, one by one, and supplying their place by good habits. Bypursuing this course you will not only do much for your own happiness, but also for that of your children, if God should bless you with afamily. Children, you know, are often striking likenesses of theirparents, and in their minds and habits they likewise often resemblethem. You should strive, then, to be good—not from mere self-love andthat you may get to heaven, but because your duty to others requiresit. 

Earl Granville, when laying the foundation-stone of the AlexandriaOrphanage, in England, thus expressed himself in reference to thegreat value of children: “Few will deny that a child is 'aninestimable loan, ' as it has been called, or refuse to acknowledge, with one of our greatest poets, that the world would be a somewhatmelancholy one if there were no children to gladden it. ” Children, more than any other earthly thing, equalize the conditions ofsociety—to rich and poor they bring an interest, a pleasure, and anelevation which nothing else that is earthly does. 

Now, young people, before they think of engaging themselves, shouldclearly know each other's peculiar views of religion; because if theydiffer seriously on this point there is danger of it interfering withthat full confidence which is so essential to happiness. 

 CHAPTER IV. 

 LOVE AND MARRIAGE. 

The attraction of the sexes for each other, though based upon the dualprinciple of generation which pervades the living world and which hasits analogies in the attractive forces of matter, yet pervades thewhole being. 

 LOVE IS NOT MERELY

the instinctive desire of physical union, which has for its object thecontinuation of the species—it belongs to the mind as well as to thebody. It warms, invigorates, and elevates every sentiment, everyfeeling; and in its highest, purest, most diffusive form unites us toGod and all creatures in Him. 

 ALL LOVE IS

essentially the same, but modified according to its objects and by thecharacter of the one who loves. The love of children for theirparents, of parents for offspring, brotherly and sisterly love, thelove of friendship, of charity, and the fervor of religious love, aremodifications of the same sentiment—the attraction that draws us toour kindred, our kind; that binds together all races and humanityitself, resting on the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. It is but natural that this love should vary in degrees. Attractionsare proportional to proximity. Family is nearer than country; weprefer our own nation to the rest of the race. 

Each individual has, also, his own special attractions and repulsions. There is love at first sight and friendship at first sight. We feelsome persons pleasant to us; to be near them is a delight. Generallysuch feelings are mutual—like flows to like, or as often, perhaps, differences fit into each other. We seek sympathy with our own tastesand habits, or we find in others what we lack. Thus the weak rest uponthe strong, the timid are fond of the courageous, the reckless seekguidance of the prudent, and so on. The sentiment of

 LOVE FOR THE OPPOSITE SEX

—tender, romantic, passionate—begins very early in life. Fathers anddaughters, mothers and sons, have a special fondness for each other, as, also, have brothers and sisters; but the boy soon comes to admiresomeone, generally older than himself, who is not a relation. Verylittle girls find a hero in some friend of an elder brother. 

 FONDNESS FOR COUSINS

generally comes more from opportunity than natural attraction, thougha cousin may have very little appearance of family relation. The lawappears to be that free choice seeks the diverse and distant. Astranger has always a better chance with the young ladies of anydistrict than the young men with whom they have always beenacquainted. Savages seek their wives out of their own tribe. 

It is my belief that naturally (I mean in a state of pure andunperverted nature, but developed cultivated, and refined byeducation) every man loves womanhood itself, and all women so far asthey approximate to his ideal; and that in the same way every womanloves manhood, and is attracted and charmed by all its gentle, noble, and heroic manifestations. By such a man, every woman he meets isreverenced as a mother, sister, daughter, or, it may be, cherished ina more tender relation, which should be at first, and may alwaysremain, free from any sensual desire. Such love may have many objects, each attracting the kind and degree of affection which it is able toinspire. Such love of men for women, and women for men, may be freeand will be free just in the degree in which it is freed from thebondage of sensual passion. 

 SUCH LOVE HAS A DIRECT TENDENCY

to raise men above the control of their senses. The more of such loveone has and the more it is diffused, the less the liability to sinkinto the lower and disorderly loves of the sensual life. 

The idea that every attraction, every attachment, every love betweenthe sexes must lead to marriage—that no love can be tolerated butwith that end in view—is a very false and mischievous one. Itdeprives men and women of the strength and happiness they might havein pure friendships and pure loves, and it leads to a multitude offalse and bad marriages. Two persons are drawn together by strongattractions and tender sentiments for each other who have no moreright to be married than if they were brother and sister, but who havethe same right to love each other. But their true sentiments for eachother, and consequent relation to each other, are not understood bythose around them and perhaps not by themselves. They are urged by themisapprehension of others, by their expectation, by ignorant gossip, by the prejudice of society, based upon low and sensual estimates oflife, to marry; they find that they must either marry or lose thehappiness they have in each other's society, and they make theirrevocable mistake. 

When it is understood that there are

 OTHER LOVES

than that of marriage; when the special attraction that justifiesunion for life, and the begetting of offspring, is discriminated fromall the other attractions that may bring two souls into very near andtender relations to each other, there will be more happiness in theworld and fewer incomplete, imperfect, and, therefore, more or lessunhappy, marriages. Nothing can be more detestable than that playingwith fire which goes by the name of

 FLIRTATION;

but there are men and women who have the happiness of living and ofbeing tenderly and devotedly loved by persons of the oppositesex—loved purely, nobly, happily—without injury and with great good. When such loves are accompanied by perfect trust in the goodness, purity, truth, and honor of the beloved, there can be no jealousy, nodesire for selfish absorption, no fear of deprivation of any right. There is no reason why a husband or a wife should limit the range ofpure and spiritual affection to near relatives. 

 THE MAN WHO CAN LOVE

a sister as sisters are often loved, may love in the same way, or aspurely, any woman who might be his sister. As men and women learn topurify their lives, the world will grow more tolerant and love willbecome more universal. The tender and fervent exhortations to mutuallove to be found in the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament arenow almost without a meaning. But they had a meaning to those to whomthey were addressed, and when we are better Christians, and bring ourlives to the purity of Christian morality, they will have a meaning tous and we shall learn that, in a sense we have not dreamed of, God isLove. 

 IN THE HUMAN RACE ALL CIRCUMSTANCES POINT TO MONOGAMY

as the lawful or natural condition. Males and females are born inalmost equal numbers. If there are two or three per cent. More ofmales than females, the risks of life with males soon make the numbereven. Therefore, as a rule, no man can have more than one wife withoutrobbing his neighbor. 

_Polygamy_ is therefore a manifest injustice, and may become the mostgrievous of all monopolies. 

Children are the most helpless of all young creatures and require thecare of parents for the longest period. The care of a husband for hiswife, and of a father for his child, is an evident necessity. Theproper care and education of a single child should extend over atleast fifteen years, and that of a family may reach to thirty years, or throughout the greatest part of an ordinary life. During allperiods of pregnancy, childbearing, nursing, and the education andcare of a family, every woman has a right to the sympathy, sustaininglove, and constant aid of her husband. No man has a right to desert orleave helpless, or even dependent upon others, except in extraordinarycases, the mother of his children. 

Marriage, like celibacy, should be a matter of vocation. 

 THE SPECIAL OBJECT OF MARRIAGE

is to have children; the co-operating motive is that two persons drawnto each other by a mutual affection may live helpfully and happilytogether. A selfish marriage, for its merely animal gratifications—amarriage in which strength, health, usefulness, often life itself, aresacrificed to sensuality and lust—is a desecration of a holyinstitution, and somewhat worse in its consequences than promiscuousprofligacy, for the consequences of that may not fall upon one'schildren and posterity. 

There are many persons who have no right to marry. There should be akind and amount of love that will justify and sanctify such arelation. There should be a pure motive and the fixed intention ofmaking the relation what it ought to be to husband, wife, andchildren. There should be a reasonable assurance of the power toprovide for a family. There should be that amount of health, thatfreedom from bodily and mental disease, that physical and moralconstitution which will give a reasonable prospect of children whoselives will be a blessing to themselves and to society. 

When there is deformity of body, or an unhappy peculiarity of temperor mind liable to be inherited, people should not marry, or if theylive together, should resign the uses of marriage. People shouldconscientiously refrain from propagating hereditary diseases. Personsnear of kin are wisely forbidden to marry, for there is in such casesthe liability of imperfect generation—the production of blind, deaf, idiotic or insane offspring. 

 SHOULD MARRIAGE BE FOR LIFE?

As a rule, undoubtedly. Every real, proper, true marriage must be. Ittakes a lifetime for a husband and wife to make a home and rear andeducate and provide for a family of children. But what if people makemistakes and find that they are not suitably married? These aremistakes very difficult to remedy. If a man, after deliberately makinghis choice of a woman, ceases to love her, how can he honorablywithdraw from his relation to her, and enter upon another, WHEN SHE STILL LOVES HIM, and is ready to fulfill her part of the contract? Laws cannot verywell provide for mistakes. If the distaste for each other be mutual, and both parties desire to separate, a separation may of course bepermitted; but it is a serious question whether two such persons cango into the world and find new partners, with justice to the rest. Thelaw which permits of no divorce certainly bears hard upon individualcases; but if it leads to greater seriousness and care in forming suchrelations, it may be, on the whole, the best thing for society that itshould be strictly observed. 

 CHAPTER V. 

 WHEN TO MARRY—HOW TO SELECT A PARTNER ON RIGHT PRINCIPLES. 

The proper age to marry is a somewhat vexed question, but needlesslyso, because that age varies much, according to temperament and othercircumstances relating to the individual. Although after puberty thesexual organs are capable of reproduction, yet it by no means followsthat they should be used for that purpose. Their early activity isintended for the perfection of the body and mind, and not for thecontinuation of the species. 

 VERY EARLY MARRIAGE, therefore, should be avoided, because the nervous force expended inamative indulgence is imperatively required in both sexes fordeveloping the physical and mental faculties. The zoösperms producedby the male in the first years of puberty are inferior in power andless capable of producing healthy offspring than those of matureyears. The early germs, also, of the female are less fitted forfecundation than those that appear later in life; nature evidentlyintending these early efforts to be used on the individuals themselvesin building up their bodies, strengthening their minds, and preparingthem to reproduce their species in maturer years. There is a seriousday of reckoning for early indulgence; for precocious persons (unlesstheir constitutions are as powerful as their desires) who give way totheir passions at their first exactions, barter their youth for theirenjoyment, and are old and weary of the world at an age when people ofmore moderate habits are only in the meridian of pleasure andexistence. 

 GENERALLY THE BEST AGE TO MARRY, where the health is perfect, is from twenty-one to twenty-five in themale and from eighteen to twenty-one in the female. As a general rule, marriages earlier than this are injurious and detrimental to health. Men who marry too young, unless they are of cold and phlegmaticconstitution, and thus moderate in their conduct, become partiallybald, dim of sight, and lose all elasticity of limb in a few years;while women in a like position rarely have any bloom on their cheek orfire in their eye by the time they are twenty-five. And all profoundphysiologists agree that from the same cause the mental facultiessuffer in the same ratio. 

A medium, however, is to be observed. It is not well to defer tillmiddle age the period of connubial intercourse; for too tediousspinsterhood is as much calculated to hasten the decay of beauty astoo early a marriage. Hence, there is rarely any freshness to be seenin a maiden of thirty; while the matron of that age, if her life hasbeen a happy one, and her hymeneal condition of not more than tenyears' standing, is scarcely in the heyday of her charm's. And thesame rule will apply with equal force to the other sex; for, after thefirst prime of life, bachelors decay and grow old much faster thanmarried men. 

The rich are qualified for marriage before the poor. This is owing tothe superiority of their aliment; for very nutritious food, and theconstant use of wines, coffee, etc. , greatly assists in developing theorgans of reproduction; whereas the food generally made use of amongthe peasantry of most countries—as vegetables, corn, milk, etc. —retards their growth. Owing to this difference of diet, thedaughter of a man of wealth, who keeps a good table, will be asadequate to certain duties of married life at eighteen as the daughterof a humble peasant at twenty-one. Singular as it may seem, it is nonethe less true, that love novels, amorous conversations, playing parlorgames for kisses, voluptuous pictures, waltzing, and, in fact, allthings having a tendency to create desire, assist in promoting pubertyand preparing young persons for early marriage. Those who reach thisestate, however, by artificial means and much before the naturalperiod will have to suffer for it in after life. 

The female who marries before the completion of her womanhood—thatis, before her puberty is established—will cease to grow and probablybecome pale and delicate, the more especially if she become pregnantsoon after marriage. A person who is thus circumstanced will also beliable to abortions and painful deliveries. 

 MARRIAGE, UNLESS

under very peculiar circumstances, should not take place until two orthree years after the age of puberty. Many instances could be cited ofthe injurious effects resulting from not observing this rule. The caseof the son of Napoleon I. Is a notable instance, who, at the age offifteen or sixteen, began his career of sexual indulgence, which endedhis life at the early age of twenty-one years. He was an amiable, inoffensive, and studious youth, beloved by his grandfather and thewhole Austrian court; and though the son of the most energetic manthat modern times has produced, yet, from his effeminate life, hescarcely attracted the least public attention. 

Let me, therefore, advise the male reader to keep his desires inleading-strings until he is at least twenty-one, and the female not toenter the pale of wedlock until she is past her eighteenth year; butafter these periods marriage is their proper sphere of action, and onein which they must play a part or suffer actual pain as well as theloss of one of the greatest of earthly pleasures. 

 MARRIAGES ARE MOST HAPPY

and most productive of handsome and healthy offspring when the husbandand wife differ, not only in mental conformation, but in bodilyconstruction. A melancholy man should mate himself with a sprightlywoman, and _vice versa_; for otherwise they will soon grow weary ofthe monotony of each other's company. By the same rule should thecholeric and the patient be united, and the ambitious and the humble;for the opposites of their natures not only produce pleasurableexcitement, but each keeps the other in a wholesome check. In the sizeand form of the parties the same principles hold good. Tall women arenot the ideals of beauty to tall men; and if they marry such, theywill soon begin to imagine greater perfections in other forms than inthose of their own wives. And this is well ordered by nature toprevent the disagreeable results which are almost certain to grow outof unions where the parties have a strong resemblance. 

For instance, tall parents will probably have children taller thaneither, and mental imbecility is the usual attendant of extreme size. The union of persons prone to corpulency, of dwarfs, etc. , would haveparallel results; and so, likewise, of weakly and attenuated couples. The tall should marry the short, the corpulent the lean, the cholericthe gentle, and so on, and the tendency to extremes in the parentswill be corrected in the offspring. 

Apart from these considerations, there are reasons why persons of thesame disposition should not be united and wedlock. An amiable wife toa choleric man is like oil to troubled waters; an ill-tempered onewill make his life a misery and his home a hell. The man of studioushabits should marry a woman of sense and spirit rather than oferudition, or the union will increase the monotony of his existence, which it would be well for his health and spirits to correct by alittle conjugal excitement; and the man of gloomy temperament willfind the greatest relief from the dark forebodings of his mind in thesociety of a gentle, but lively and smiling partner. 

However, in some particulars the dispositions and constructions of

 MARRIED PEOPLE MUST ASSIMILATE

or they will have but few enjoyments in common. The man of full habitsand warm nature had better remain single than unite his destinies witha woman whose heart repulses the soft advancements of love; and thesanguine female in whose soul love is the dominant principle shouldavoid marriage with a very phlegmatic person, or her caresses, insteadof being returned in kind, will rather excite feelings of disgust. Thus the discriminations to be made in the choice of a partner areextremely nice. 

Nature generally assists art in the choice of partners. Weinstinctively seek in the object of our desires the qualities which wedo not possess ourselves. This is a most admirable arrangement ofProvidence, as it establishes an equilibrium and prevents people fromtending to extremes; for it is known that unions of dwarfs arefruitful of dwarfs, that giants proceed from the embrace of giants, and that offspring of parents alike irritable, alike passive, alikebashful, etc. , inherit the prominent qualities of both to such adegree as to seriously interfere with their prospects in the world. 

It has another advantage. Through its means “Every eye forms its ownbeauty”; hence, what one person rejects is the _beau ideal_ ofanother's conceptions, and thus we are all provided for. 

In fine, with man as with animals, the best way to improve the breedis to cross it, for the intermarriage of like with like and relativewith relative not only causes man to degenerate, but if the systembecame universal would in time bring the human race to a terminationaltogether. 

A male or female with a very low forehead should carefully avoidmarriage with a person of like conformation, or their offspring will, in all probability, be weak-minded or victims to partial idiocy. 

The system of crossing is so perfect that marriages between persons ofdifferent countries are likely to be pleasant and fruitful. Speakingon this subject, an English writer says: “The Persians have been soimproved by introducing foreigners that they have completely succeededin washing out their Mongolian origin. ” And the same author adds tothe effect that in those parts of Persia where there is no foreignintercourse the inhabitants are sickly and stunted, while in thosethat are frequented by strangers they are large and healthy. 

To make what is called

 “A HANDSOME COUPLE, ”

the female should be about three inches less than the male, and theparties should be proportionately developed throughout their system. 

 “A WELL-FORMED WOMAN, ”

says a modern physiologist, “should have her head, shoulders, andchest small and compact; arms and limbs relatively short; herhaunches apart; her hips elevated; her abdomen large and her thighsvoluminous. Hence, she should taper from the center, up and down. Whereas, in a well-formed man the shoulders are more prominent thanthe hips. Great hollowness of the back, the pressing of the thighagainst each other in walking, and the elevation of one hip above theother, are indications of the malformation of the pelvis. ”

From the same writer I take the following, which is applicable here. It is very correct in its estimates of beauty in both sexes:—

“The length of the neck should be proportionately less in the malethan in the female, because the dependence of the mental system on thevital one is naturally connected with the shorter courses of thevessels of the neck. 

“The neck should form a gradual transition between the body andhead—its fullness concealing all prominences of the throat. 

“The shoulders should slope from the lower part of the neck, becausethe reverse shows that the upper part of the chest owes its width tothe bones and muscles of the shoulders. 

“The upper part of the chest should be relatively short and wide, independent of the size of the shoulders, for this shows the vitalorgans which it contains are sufficiently developed. 

“The waist should taper a little farther than the middle of the trunk, and be marked, especially in the back and loins, by the approximationof the hips. 

“The waist should be narrower than the upper part of the trunk and itsmuscles, because the reverse indicates the expansion of the stomach, liver, and great intestine, resulting from their excessive use. 

“The back of woman should be more hollow than that of man; forotherwise the pelvis is not of sufficient depth for parturition. 

“Women should have more extended loins than men, at the expense of thesuperior and inferior parts, for this conformation is essential togestation. 

“The abdomen should be larger in woman than in man, for the samereason. 

“Over all these parts the cellular tissue, and the plumpness connectedwith it, should obliterate all distinct projection of muscles. 

“The surface of the whole female form should be characterized by itssoftness, elasticity, smoothness, delicacy, and polish, and by thegradual and easy transition between the parts. 

“The moderate plumpness already described should bestow on the organsof woman great suppleness. Plumpness is essential to beauty, especially in mothers, because in them the abdomen necessarilyexpands, and would afterwards collapse and become wrinkled. 

“An excess of plumpness, however, is to be guarded against. Youngwomen who are very fat are cold and prone to barrenness. 

“In no case should plumpness be so predominant as to destroy thedistinctness of parts. ”

A male and female formed on the above models would be well matched andhave fine children. 

 CHAPTER VI. 

 SEXUAL INTERCOURSE—ITS LAWS AND CONDITIONS—ITS USE AND ABUSE. 

There is an increasing and alarming prevalence of nervous ailments andcomplicated disorders that could be traced to have their sole originfrom this source. Hypochondria, in its various phases, results fromthe premature and unnatural waste of the seminal fluid. Then speedilyensues a lack of natural heat, a deficiency of vital power, andconsequently indigestion, melancholy, languor, and dejection ensue;the victim becomes enervated and spiritless, loses the very attributesof man, and premature old age soon follows. 

 IT IS A PREVALENT ERROR

that it is necessary for the semen to be ejected at certain times fromthe body; that its retention is incompatible with sound health andvigor of body and mind. This is a very fallacious idea. The seminalfluid is too precious—nature bestows too much care in its elaborationfor it to be wasted in this unproductive manner. It is intended, whennot used for the purpose of procreation, to be reabsorbed again intothe system, giving vigor of body, elasticity and strength to the mind, making the individual strong, active, and self-reliant. When kept asnature intended, it is a perpetual fountain of life and energy—avital force which acts in every direction, a motive power whichinfuses manhood into every organ of the brain and every fiber of thebody. 

 THE LAW OF SEXUAL MORALITY

for childhood is one of utter negation of sex. Every child should bekept pure and free from amative excitement and the least amativeindulgence, which is unnatural and doubly hurtful. No language isstrong enough to express the evils of amative excitement and unnaturalindulgence before the age of puberty; and the dangers are so greatthat I see no way so safe as

 THOROUGH INSTRUCTION

regarding them at the earliest age. A child may be taught, simply as amatter of science, as one learns botany, all that is needful to know, and such knowledge may protect it from the most terrible evils. 

The law for childhood is perfect purity, which cannot be too carefullyguarded and protected by parents, teachers, and all caretakers. Thelaw for youth is perfect continence—a pure vestalate alike in bothsexes. No indulgence is required by one more than the other—for bothnature has made the same provision. The natures of both are alike, andany—the least—exercise of the amative function is an injury to oneas to the other. 

 MEN EXPECT

that women shall come to them in marriage chaste and pure from theleast defilement. Women have a right to expect the same of theirhusbands. Here the sexes are upon a perfect equality. 

On this subject, Dr. Carpenter (physiological works) has written likea man of true science, and, therefore, of true morality. He lays itdown as an axiom that _the development of the individual and thereproduction of the species stand in an inverse ratio to each other_. He says: “The augmented development of the generative organs atpuberty can only be rightly regarded as _preparatory_ to the exerciseof the organs. The development of the _individual_ must be completedbefore the procreative power can properly be exercised for thecontinuance of the race. ” And in the following extract from his“Principles of Human Physiology, ” he confirms my statement respectingthe unscientific and libertine advice of too many physicians: “Theauthor would say to those of his younger readers who urge the wants ofnature as an excuse for the illicit gratification of the sexualpassions, 'try the effects of _close mental application_ to some ofthose ennobling pursuits to which your profession introduces you, incombination with _vigorous bodily exercise_, before you assert thatappetite is unrestrainable and act upon that assertion. ' Nothing tendsso much to increase the desire as the continual direction of the mindtoward the objects of its gratification, whilst nothing so effectuallyrepresses it as a determined exercise of the mental faculties uponother objects and the expenditure of nervous energy in other channels. Some works which have issued from the medical press contain much thatis calculated to excite, rather than to repress, the propensity; andthe advice sometimes given by practitioners to their patients isimmoral as well as unscientific. ”

 EVERY MAN AND EVERY WOMAN, living simply, purely, and temperately—respecting the laws of healthin regard to air, food, dress, exercise, and habits of life—not onlycan live in the continence of a pure virgin life when single, and inthe chastity which should be observed by all married partners, but bestronger, happier, and in every way better by so living. 

Chastity is the conservation of life, and the consecration of itsforces to the highest use. Sensuality is the waste of life, and thedegradation of its forces to pleasure divorced from use. Chastity islife; sensuality is death. 

 FROM THE AGE OF PUBERTY TO MARRIAGE

the law, is the same for both sexes—full employment of mind and body, temperance, purity, and perfect chastity in thought, word, and deed. The law is one of perfect equality. There is no license for the malewhich is not equally the right of the female. There is nophysiological ground for any indulgence in one case more than in theother. No man has any more right to require or expect purity in thewoman who is to be his wife than the woman has to require and expectpurity in her husband. It is a simple matter of justice and right. Noman can enter upon an amative relation with a woman, except inmarriage, without manifest injustice to his future wife, unless heallow her the same liberty; and also without a great wrong to thewoman, and to her possible husband. 

It is contended that the sins of men against chastity are more venialthan those of women, because of the liability of women to havechildren. But men are also liable to be the fathers of children, whoare deeply wronged by the absence of paternal care. The child has itsrights, and every child has the right to be born in honest, respectable wedlock, of parents able to give it a sound constitutionand the nurture and education it requires. The child who lacks theseconditions is grievously wronged by both father and mother. 

 THE LAW OF MARRIAGE

is, that a mature man and woman, with sound health, pure lives, and areasonable prospect of comfortably educating a family, when drawn toeach other by the attraction of mutual love, should chastely andtemperately unite for offspring. The sexual relation has this chiefand controlling purpose. The law of nature is intercourse forreproduction. Under the Christian law, marriage is the symbol of theunion of Christ with the Church; husband and wife are one in the Lord;they are to live in marriage chastity, not in lust and uncleanness;and there cannot be a more hideous violation of Christian morals thanfor a husband to vent his sensuality upon a feeble wife; against herwishes and when she has no desire for offspring and no power to givethem the healthy constitutions and maternal care which is their right. 

The law of Christian morality is very clear. It is the sexual unionfirst and chiefly for its principal object. It is for the husband torefrain from it whenever it is not desired; whenever it would behurtful to either; whenever it would be a waste of life; whenever itwould injure mother or child, as during pregnancy and lactation. 

 A MAN WHO TRULY LOVES A WOMAN

must respect and reverence her, and cannot make her the victim of hisinordinate and unbridled, selfish and sensual nature. He will be ever, from the first moment of joyful possession to the last of his life, tender, delicate, considerate, deferent, yielding to her slightestwishes in the domain of love, and never encroaching, never trespassingupon, never victimizing the wife of his bosom and the mother of hisbabes. We have romance before marriage, we want more chivalry inmarriage. 

This is not the world's morality, yet it seems to one the world mustrespect it. This, high and pure Christian morality is not alwaysenforced by Christian ministers, some of whom yield too much to humansensuality and depravity, instead of maintaining the higher law ofChristian purity, which is but nature restored or freed from itsstains of sin. The world requires that unmarried women should bechaste, while it gives almost unbridled license to men. A girldetected in amours is disgraced and often made an outcast. In youngmen such irregularities are freely tolerated. They are “a littlewild”; they “sow their wild oats”; but open profligacy, the seductionof innocence, the ruin of poor girls, adultery, harlotry and itsdiseases do not hinder men from marrying, nor from requiring thatthose they marry should have spotless reputations. It is not for amoment permitted that women in these matters should behave like men, and a pure girl is given to the arms of a wasted debauchee, and herbabes are perhaps born dead, or suffer through life with syphiliticdiseases, while she endures a long martyrdom from disordered, diseased, and unrestrained sensuality. For the unmarried, young men, soldiers, sailors, and all who do not choose to bear the burdens of afamily, society has its armies of prostitutes—women like others, andmore than others, or in less reputable fashion, the victims of theunbridled lust of men. They are everywhere tolerated as

 “NECESSARY EVILS, ”

and, in some places, protected or regulated; and, from economical orphilanthropic considerations, or both, combined efforts are made tofree them from the contagious diseases which for some centuries havebeen a curse attending this form of the violation of the laws ofnature—one of the consequences of lust which is the divorce of thesexual instinct from its natural use and purpose. 

The Christian

 LAW OF MARRIAGE, as set down in the Holy Scriptures, and defined by the best writers onmoral theology, is in harmony with nature, in consonance with thehigher nature of man. “God hath set the earth in families. ” Adulteryis a sin, because it disorders that divine arrangement. Fornication isa sin, because it prevents pure marriages. Prostitution is a sin, because it is a sacrifice of women, who might be wives and mothers, tothe selfish lusts of men. All useless indulgence is a waste of life, and a kind of suicide. In a pure marriage union, men and women unitethemselves with God in acts of creative power. The progress ofhumanity depends upon individual development and the conditions atgeneration and gestation. With culture and a harmonized development, we acquire a higher and more integral life. When two parents are intheir highest condition and in

 A TRUE UNION

with each other, the child combines the best qualities of bothparents. When parents are not in the unity of a mutual love, the childmay be inferior to either parent. The intensity of mutual love tendsto the reproduction of the best faculties of both parents in thechild. When men or women are exhausted or diseased the racedeteriorates. Health is therefore one of the conditions of progress. 

“It is all very fine, ” I shall be told, “to talk of purity andchastity; but we must take men as they are. How are you going to makemen pure and chaste, and respectful of the purity of women? How canyou get men with strong amative propensities to live like anchorites?”

How can you get men to do anything right, or refrain from any wrongthing? There are three motives—fear of punishment, hope of reward, and sense of right or the principle of duty. The first of these is thelowest, but often the most effectual; the second is higher, andappeals to hope and the love of happiness; the third, the highest ofall motives, pure and unselfish as the love of truth, as inmathematics, acts on noble minds with great power. Men of realconscientiousness love the right for its own sake. They are just fromlove of justice; pure from a sense and love of purity. They love good, and God as the source of all good; and do right, not from fear orhope, but from pure love. 

We must appeal to all motives. Men refrain from theft and otherdishonest conduct from the dread of disgrace and punishment, becausethey see that “honesty is the best policy, ” and from a sense ofjustice and regard to the rights of property, or a sense of honorwhich makes a mean action impossible. By similar motives great numbersare restrained from drunkenness and other vices. Children are to berestrained from impurity by the fear of the terrible consequences ofunnatural indulgence in causing disease and pain, by the hope of apure, healthy and happy life of love in manhood and womanhood, and bya sense of the beauty and holiness of chastity and the sacredness ofthe functions by which the race is recreated and preserved. Thereligious feelings that our bodies are to be kept pure, healthy, andholy in every way as the temples of the Holy Ghost cannot be too earlyinstilled into the infant mind, which is open to the highestsentiments of veneration, devotion, and heroic religion. In youththere are the same motives. Indulgence in solitary vice isself-destructive of all that youth most values—a profanation of hisown body. 

 SEDUCTION

is a desecration of what he should hold in the most tender reverence. To the young man, womanhood should be sacred, and every woman, mother, sister, beloved of the present or the future, should never be wrongedby one thought of impurity. In this matter instinct goes with right. The inward voice supports the outer law of morality. Before men canbecome bad, their instinctive modesty must be broken down. Unless verybadly born, with disordered amativeness, hereditary from a diseasedand lustful parentage, they must be perverted and corrupted beforethey can act immodestly and impurely. 

 WOMEN ARE PROTECTED

by a strong public sentiment around them. They have the dread ofdisgrace. For them to yield to their own affectionate desires, or thesolicitations of a lover, is a fall, is ruin. They have the hope of aloving husband, a happy home, and the respect of society. And in womanpassion has commonly less force, and the sentiment of modesty andpurity more power. Women are weak in yielding to solicitation, giving

 EVERYTHING FOR LOVE;

but we see how protective of female virtue are these motives to vastnumbers. 

Men can perfectly restrain the sensual part of their natures wheneverthey have a strong motive to do so. A child would be simply mad whowas not controlled by the presence of father, mother, and persons herespected or feared. Young men have no difficulty when they are in thecompany of pure women. They are in no trouble when their lives arefull of mental and muscular activity, and particularly if their habitsof eating simply and temperately, of refraining from heating andexciting stimulants, and sleeping in cold beds and fresh air, are suchas health requires. There needs but the strong will to live purely inany one, and at any age, the will that comes from the high motives ofconscience and religion, or all motives combined. A strong sense ofwhat is just and right controls even the motions of our bodies andactions which seem to be involuntary. A man who has a vivid sense ofthe right and duty of refraining from sensuality, and preserving hisown purity of mind and body and the chastity of all women, will do soeven in his dreams. When the will is right, all things are soonbrought into its subjection. The mind controls the organization, andthe life forces are directed into other channels. A strong man, fullof

 LIFE AND LOVE, can safely hold a virgin in his arms, and respect her virginity, if hehave but the motives and the will to do so. If he be pure in hiswill, how can he commit impurity? If a woman be sacred in his eyes, how can he profane her? It is not that men have not the power ofrestraint, the power to do right; it is that they lack the motive. They have lost the sense of right; they are even impelled to do wrongby the pressure of opinion around them. Boys and young men are driveninto libertinage by the ridicule of their companions. Vice isconsidered manly. They seek sensuality in an evil emulation, as theylearn to smoke, or gamble, or drink; and, later on, vanity has oftenmore to do with excess than the force of lust. Young men seduce girlsthat they may boast of it. They keep mistresses because it is thefashion. They exhaust themselves because they wish to give a high ideaof their manly powers. Even in marriage, women are injured and havetheir health destroyed by yielding weakly, or from

 A FALSE SENSE OF DUTY, to a husband whose own motive is the desire to acquit himself manfullyin what he considers his marital duties. Men and women are, inthousands of cases, wretched victims to what they imagine to be thewants or expectations of each other. A man, ignorant of the nature ofwomen and the laws of the generative function, goes on in a process ofmiserable exhaustion, to please his wife. She submits, sometimes inpain, often in disgust, weariness, and weakness, to what she dare not, from

 LOVE OR FEAR, refuse. Men have to know what is right and to will to be right. Thiswill is omnipotent. God helps those who have the will, who have eventhe desire, to do right. 

If the presence of those we fear or reverence, respect or love, restrain us from sin and stimulate us to right action, faith in theexistence and presence of God and angels, and the spirits of thedeparted, must have a more powerful and pervading influence. No onewho really believes in the existence of a Supreme Being, no one who isstrongly impressed with the reality of a spiritual life, can go ondoing what he knows to be wrong. A religious faith is therefore themost powerful of all restraints from evil and incitement to good. 

 CHAPTER VII. 

 MARRIAGE. 

 WHAT IS MARRIAGE?

Marriage is in law the conjugal union of man with woman, and is theonly state in which cohabitation is considered proper andirreprehensible. The marriage relation exists in all Christiancommunities, and is considered the most solemn of contracts, and, excepting in Protestant countries, it is regarded as a sacrament. Insome countries its celebration falls under the cognizance ofecclesiastical courts only, but in the United States it is regarded asmerely a civil contract, magistrates having, equally with clergymen, the right to solemnize it, though it is usually the practice to haveit performed by a clergyman and attended with religious ceremonies. Marriage, as a legalized custom, is of very ancient origin. It isdoubtful whether even the primitive man was not governed in theintercourse of the sexes by some recognition of the union beingconfined to one chosen one. No greater promiscuity can certainly besupposed than occurs in the lower animals, where pairing is the law. The nobler animals, as the lion, elephant, etc. , never have but onemate, and even in case of death do not remate. As men advanced, civilcodes were inaugurated and certain protection given to the choice ofthe parties. The earliest civil code regulating marriage, of which wehave any account, was that of Menes, who, Herodotus tells us, was thefirst of the Pharaohs, or native Egyptian kings, and who lived about3, 500 years before Christ. The nature of his code is not known. 

The Biblical account extends further back, but it does not appear thatany laws existed regulating marriage, but each one was allowed tochoose his wife and concubines, and it is supposed that common consentrespected the selection. Next, Moses gave laws for the government ofmarriage among the Israelites. The early Greeks followed the code ofCecrops, and the Romans were also governed in their marital relationsby stringent laws. In fact, the necessity of some law regulating theintercourse between the sexes must have become very apparent to allnations or communities at a very early period. It certainly antedatesany legal regulations with regard to the possession of property. It isvery probable that every community did by common consent afford toeach male one or more females, and the presumption is that such choiceor assignment, as the case may have been, was respected by commonagreement as inviolable. It is doubtful if ever promiscuity was thelaw or privilege with any community of men, even in their primitivestate. The possession of reason is antagonistic to such a belief; andman was most probably elevated above the beast by the faculty ofreason in this respect as in others. Promiscuous indulgence is alwaysevidence of debauchery, and a departure from that natural course whichis prompted by an innate sense of propriety characterizing mankind. The law is very indefinite with regard to what constitutes a legalmarriage. It is an unsettled question, both in England and thiscountry, whether a marriage solemnized by customary formalities aloneis legal, or if one characterized by the mere consent of the partiesis illegal. The latter has been held as legal in some instances inboth countries. Kent, in his “Commentaries, ” lays down the law that acontract made so that either party recognizes it from the moment ofcontract, and even not followed by cohabitation, amounts to a validmarriage, and also that a contract to be recognized at some futureperiod, and followed by consummation, is equally valid. It isunfortunate that the law is so undecided in this respect. Thedecisions arrived at, for or against, were not dependent upon anyrecognized law, but seem to be influenced by the character of thecases, either for favor or discountenance. As long as the lawrecognizes cohabitation legal only in marriage, it seems to me that ifconsummated under consent of the parties to bear marital relationswith each other, or promise of marriage, the act should beunhesitatingly pronounced as the equivalent of a valid marriage in allinstances. If cohabitation is only a marital prerogative, the lawshould not stultify itself by recognizing it as possible to occur inany other relation. If either of the parties is married, the lawdefines it as adultery, and very properly defines the punishment. Itis necessary to the progress of the age that some such principleshould be recognized in common law so as not to subject the decisionof the question to the individual opinion of any judge. It would atonce obviate the confusion of sentiment now held in regard to it andbesides arrest the decision in test cases from mere caprice of thetribunal. It is certainly as correct a principle as any in common law, and would, in its operations as a statute law, be free from injustice, and capable of doing much good. 

 POLYGAMY—WHAT IT IS. 

Polygamy is a state in which a man has at the same time more than onewife. It has existed from time immemorial, especially among thenations of the East. The custom was tolerated by the laws of Moses, and, in fact, no positive injunction against it is found in the wholeof the Old Testament. It is questionable whether more than one wasrecognized as the _bona fide_ wife, the others simply being wives byright of concubinage. But if polygamy was in its strictest sense thelegal custom, it soon grew unpopular, for no trace of it is met in therecords of the New Testament, where all the passages referring tomarriage imply monogamy as alone lawful. The custom has been almostuniversal in the East, being sanctioned by all the religions existingthere. The religion of Mohammed allows four wives, but the permissionis rarely exercised except by the rich. 

In Christian countries polygamy was never tolerated, the tenets of theChurch forbidding it, though Charlemagne had two wives, and Sigbertand Chilperich also had a plurality. John of Leyden, an Anabaptistleader, was the husband of seventeen wives, and he held that it washis moral right to marry as many as he chose. 

In England the punishment of polygamy was originally in the hands ofthe ecclesiastics. It was considered a capital crime by Edward I. , butit did not come entirely under the control of the temporal power untila statute of James I. Made it a felony, punishable by death. GeorgeIII. Made it punishable by imprisonment or transportation for sevenyears. 

It is the offspring of licentiousness, and its advocates merely wishto give legal color to licentious habits. Every student of historywill find that as soon as a nation became morally depraved, polygamywas practiced, and that monogamy was the rule in all countries trulycivilized. 

Polygamy has, of late years, been most shamefully revived andoutrageously practiced in face of law by the Mormons. They claim it asa religious duty, and defend the system by claiming that unmarriedwomen can in the future life reach only the position of angels whooccupy in the Mormon theocratic system a very subordinate rank, beingsimply ministering servants to those more worthy, thus proclaimingthat it is a virtual necessity of the male to practice the vilestimmorality in order to advance the female to the highest place inheaven. 

Mormonism is a religion founded by Joseph Smith, who was born inSharon, E. V. , Dec. 23rd, 1805, and killed at Carthage, Ill. , June27th, 1844. 

It is a most singular fact that a sect like the Mormons could havebeen established in a country peopled with such law-abiding people asof the United States, and maintain a system of marriage, antagonisticto the law and religion of the land. Neither could they have done soif they had not possessed two great virtues, temperance and industry. It is to be hoped that the legal process now instituted for itsabolition will effectually remove the blot from the nationalescutcheon. 

The “Oneida Communists” are essentially polygamic, although they haveno marriage system. They do not marry, and ignore all marriage codes. Cohabitation is under no restrictions between the sexes. Marriage isalso not observed among the “Shakers. ”

 MONOGAMY—WHAT IT IS. 

This is the conjugal union of a male with one female only. We haveseen that monogamy was coequal with civilization, and that mostprobably the majority of the males had but one wife, even amongpolygamic nations. Universal polygamy is practically impossible, thescarcity of females and the poverty of the males forbidding it. Theexcess of females is not so great in any country as to allow to eachmale more than one wife, except the male portion is depleted by longand disastrous wars. Monogamy has done more for the elevation of thefemale than any other custom of civilization. The rich could onlyafford to practice polygamy, and should the poor imitate the exampleit would necessarily subject the wives to a state of serfdom. In theeconomy of nature it is designed that the male should be the protectorof the female, and that by his exertions the provision of food andraiment should be secured. In polygamous nations the female has notattained that social state that she has reached in countries where themale is entitled to but one female as his wife. Woman's highest sphereis not in the harem or zenana, but in that dignified state in whichshe is the sole connubial companion of but one man. It is debasing toher nature, and subversive of her dignity in the rank of humanity, tomake her the equal only with others in the marital union with onemale. She becomes only the true, noble and affectionate being when sheis conscious of a superiority to others in the connubial companionshipwith her accepted one. The female bird chirps but for her single mate, and she is pugnaciously monogamic, as well as virtuous, allowingneither male or female at or near her home. The spirit of independenceshe gains by being the mate of but one male gains for her the victoryover the intruders. 

The physical and mental welfare of the female is also dependent uponmonogamic marriage. We have demonstrated that temperate indulgence isconducive to the sanitary condition of the sexes, and that absoluteabstinence is opposed to the designs of nature. It is also evidentthat the male is not endowed with greater power, vigor or capacitythan the female; therefore, confinement or limitation of the congressto the companionship of one male with one female, as in monogamicmarriage, gives the healthy balance to the marital union. Thepolygamic husband must either suffer from the consequences ofexcessive indulgence or his wives from poverty of sexualgratification; probably both would be the case. 

 POLYANDRY

is equally as proper as polygamy, yet it never in the history of manobtained a foothold. The system is more logical than polygamy, becausethe wife's dependence would be distributed between two or morehusbands, in which case she would be better insured against povertyand her support would be guaranteed by greater probability. 

We have now described the history and aspect of the two customs, andwill conclude the subject by remarking that a man is morally andphysically entitled to but one wife, and that a plurality is a greatwrong to the female and in total opposition to the ordinance ofnature. Wherever polygamy is the custom the female is held in slavishsubjection. It only prospers in proportion to the ignorance of thesex. Intelligent and civilized woman will always rebel against suchdebasement and servitude. 

 MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. 

It would probably be interesting to many to describe the marriageceremonies observed by different nations, but to enter into adescriptive detail would occupy too much space. It is sufficient tosay that while some wives are wooed and won, others are bought andsold; while in some countries the husband brings the wife to his home, in others, as in Formosa, the daughter brings her husband to herfather's house, and he is considered one of the family, while thesons, upon marriage, leave the family forever. In civilized countries, the ceremonies are either ministerial or magisterial, and are more orless religious in character; while in others, less civilized, thegaining of a wife depends upon a foot-race, in which the female hasthe start of one-third the distance of the course, as is the customin Lapland. In Caffraria, the lover must first fight himself into theaffections of his ladylove, and if he defeats all his rivals shebecomes his wife without further ceremony. Among the Congo tribes, awife is taken upon trial for a year, and if not suited to the standardof taste of the husband, he returns her to her patents. In Persia, thewife's status depends upon her fruitfulness; if she be barren, she canbe put aside. In the same country they have also permanent marriagesand marriages for a certain period only—the latter never allowed toexceed ninety years. 

In fact, the marriage ceremonies differ in nearly all countries. To ussome may appear very absurd, and yet our customs may be just asamazing to them. It matters but little how a conjugal union iseffected so long as sanctioned by law or custom and it obligates theparties, by common opinion, to observe the duties pertaining tomarried life. 

 THE BASIS OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE. 

The state of conjugal union should be the happiest in the whole of theexistence of either man or woman, and is such in a congenial marriage. Yet in the history of very many marriages contentment or happiness ispalpably absent and an almost insufferable misery is the heritage ofboth parties. It is therefore important that previous to the maritalunion the parties should take everything into consideration thatfore-shadows happiness after marriage, as well as everythingcalculated to despoil conjugal felicity. 

The first requisite of congenial marriage is love. Without beingcemented by this element the conjugal union is sure to be uncongenial. It is the strongest bond, the firmest cord, uniting two heartsinseparably together. Love for the opposite sex has always been acontrolling influence with mankind. It is the most elevating of allthe emotions and the purest and tenderest of all sentiments. It exertsa wonderful power, and by its influence the grandest human actionshave been achieved. Of what infinite worth it is to either sex to becompensated with a worthy and satisfying love, and how ennobling tothe impulses and actions it is to bestow the sentiment upon one worthyto receive and willing to return. 

 LOVE IS THE MAINSPRING

that regulates the harmony of conjugal life, and without it there is avoid in the machinery, productive only of jars, convulsive movement, and a grating and inharmonious action. The soul yearns for love andto love, and unless the desire is compensated human life is a blankand becomes a purposeless existence. Love ever stimulates the good andsuppresses the bad, if kept in a proper channel and guided by pureaffections. 

Another requisite of a happy marriage is health. No person has a moralright to engage in wedlock who cannot bring to his partner theoffering of good health. 

Another consideration is _evenness of temper_. In the wooing dayseveryone is a lamb, and only becomes the howling wolf after marriage. Circumstances that ruffle the temper in the presence of the intendedare but like the harmless squib, but would become like the explosivetorpedo in his or her absence or in after-marriage. Quarreling causedby matrimonial differences is the most frequent cause of infelicity, and most of it is caused by an innate irate temper of either husbandor wife. 

The _tastes_ should not be dissimilar. Some of them may beunimportant, but others are a fruitful source of disagreement. Thesocial wife will never be contented with the unsocial husband, and thegay husband, though his gayety may not be commendable, will alwaysaccuse his wife if she lacks a social disposition to a great extent. The religious wife will never excuse a tendency to irreligion in herhusband, and though he may be far from being immoral, she is unhappyif he does not participate in her devotions. The one devoted tochildren will never be happy with one having a natural repugnance forthem. In this way we might multiply facts illustrative of theimportance of an investigation into the similarity of taste previousto marriage. Great love, however, overcomes almost every obstacle. 

 THE PARTIES SHOULD BE NEARLY OF ONE AGE. 

The husband should be the elder. The union of the old husband to theyoung wife, or the reverse, is seldom a happy one. It is seldom thatsuch a marriage occurs in which the incentive is not the wealth ofeither of the parties. 

Marriages are usually contracted to gratify various desires, as love, fortune or position. The results are more truthfully stated by aneminent divine in the following:

“Who marries for love, takes a wife; who marries for fortune, takes amistress; who marries for position, takes a lady. ”

To a man there is but one choice that he can rationally make, amarriage of love. My female readers, I hope, will decide rather to weda husband than the master or the elegant gentleman. 

A little foresight, a little prudence, and a little caution willprevent in most cases the entrance into a marriage which, by the verynature of the alliance, is certain to be an unhappy and improper one. 

 CHAPTER VIII. 

 PREGNANCY—LABOR—PARTURITION. 

Perhaps there is no more eventful period in the history of woman thanthat in which she first becomes conscious that the existence ofanother being is dependent upon her own and that she carries aboutwith her the first tiny rudiments of an immortal soul. 

 THE SIGNS OF PREGNANCY

are various. Many females are troubled with colic pains, creeping ofthe skin, shuddering, and fainting fits immediately on conceptiontaking place. Where such symptoms occur immediately after connection, they are a certain indication of impregnation. 

 A REMARKABLE CHANGE

takes place in the face in most cases, varying in time from three daysto three months. The eyes are dull and heavy, and present a glassyappearance; the nose pinched up; the skin becomes pale and livid, andthe whole countenance appears as if five or ten years' advance in lifehad been taken at a single step. 

Another important and remarkable sign, and one the most to be reliedon, is an increase in the size of the neck. This often occurs at avery early period, and many females, by keeping a careful dailymeasurement of the neck, can always tell when they are pregnant. 

A suppression of the menstrual flow is another strong presumptivesign. It is true a partial flow of the menses often occurs afterpregnancy, from the lower part of the womb, but when the flow issuddenly stopped without any apparent cause, pregnancy is generallythe predisposing cause. 

 SOON AFTER CONCEPTION

the stomach often becomes affected with what is called morningsickness. On first awaking, the female feels as well as usual, but onrising from her bed qualmishness begins and perhaps while in the actof dressing retching and vomiting takes place. 

This symptom may occur almost immediately after conception, but itmost frequently commences for the first time between two and threeweeks after. Now and then it is experienced only during the last sixweeks or two months of pregnancy, and subsides about the time themovements of the child begin to be felt. 

 CHANGES IN THE BREAST

are generally considered as strong signs of pregnancy. When two monthsof pregnancy have been completed, an uneasy sensation of throbbing andstretching fullness is experienced, accompanied by tingling about themiddle of the breasts, centering in the nipples. A sensible alterationin their appearance soon follows, they grow larger and more firm. Thenipple becomes more prominent, and the circle around its base alteredin color and structure, constituting what is called the areola, and aspregnancy advances milk is secreted. 

 THE PERIOD OF GESTATION, at which these changes may occur, varies much in different females. Sometimes, with the exception of the secretion of the milk, they arerecognized very soon after conception; in other instances, particularly in females of a weakly and delicate constitution, theyare hardly perceptible until pregnancy is far advanced or even drawingtoward its termination. 

The changes in the form and size of the breasts may be the result ofcauses unconnected with pregnancy. They may enlarge in consequence ofmarriage, from the individual becoming stout and fat or fromaccidental suppression of the monthly flow. 

The changes which take place in the nipple, and around its base, areof the utmost value as an evidence of pregnancy. 

 ABOUT THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH WEEK

after conception has taken place, if the nipple be examined it will befound becoming turgid and prominent, and a circle forming around itsbase, of a color deeper in its shade than rose or flesh color, slightly tinged with a yellowish or brownish hue, and here and thereupon its surface will be seen little prominent points from about tento twenty in number. In the progress of the next six or seven weeksthese changes are fully developed, the nipple becoming more prominentand turgid than ever, the circle around it of larger dimensions, theskin being soft, bedewed with a slight degree of moisture, frequentlystaining the linen in contact with it; the little prominences oflarger size, and the color of the whole very much deepened. 

Calculations of the

 DURATION OF PREGNANCY, founded upon what has been observed to occur after casual intercourse, or perhaps a single act, in individuals who can have no motive to tellus what is false, are likely to be correct. The conclusion drawn fromthese is, that labor usually, but not invariably, comes on about 280days after conception, a mature child being sometimes born before theexpiration of the forty weeks, and at other times not until that timehas been exceeded by several days. A case is on record where thepregnancy lasted 287 days. In this case the labor did not take placeuntil that period had elapsed from the departure of the husband forthe East Indies, consequently the period might have been longer than287 days. 

 CHILDBIRTH IS A NATURAL PROCESS, and however complicated and painful habits or disease have made it, yet the work must be left to nature. Any efforts to assist or hurrymatters will only end in harm. The only cases where interference isjustifiable is where her powers are exhausted or some malformationexists or malpresentation occurs. When labor is about to commence, thewomb descends into the bottom of the belly and the motions and weightof the child will be felt much lower down than usual. If in a naturalposition the head will fall to the mouth of the womb and press uponit. This drives forward the membranes which retain the water at theorifice, and at the proper moment they break and labor then commences. 

Labor is caused by involuntary contractions of the uterus andabdominal muscles. By their force the liquor amnii flows out, the headof the fœtus is engaged in the pelvis, it goes through it, and soonpasses out by the valve, the folds of which disappear. These differentphenomena take place in succession and continue a certain time. Theyare accompanied with pains more or less severe, with swelling andsoftening of the soft parts of the pelvis and external genital parts, and with an abundant mucous secretion in the cavity of the vagina. Allthese circumstances, each in its own way, favor the passage of thefœtus. 

It is proper here to remark that parturition is not necessarily eitherpainful or dangerous. It is well known that women in an uncivilizedstate suffer very little pain or disablement in bringing forthchildren. Generally neither pregnancy nor labor interrupt the ordinaryavocation of the mother, except for an hour or two at the birthitself. The suffering and debilitating influences that often attendchildbirth now are caused by our unnatural modes of living andnonattention to the laws of health. Numerous well-authenticatedinstances are known where women who had previously suffered withsevere labor in childbirth have, by attention to health and diet ashere shown, been delivered of fine healthy children with comparativeease. 

From the

 BEGINNING OF PREGNANCY

more than ordinary care should be used in taking regular exercise inthe open air, being careful to avoid fatigue and overexertion. Duringthe whole period of pregnancy every kind of agitating exercise, suchas running, jumping, jolting in a carriage, and plunging in coldwater, should be carefully avoided, as well as the passions being keptunder perfect control. 

 THE DIET

must chiefly consist of fruits and farinaceous food, as sago, tapioca, rice, etc. In proportion as a woman subsists upon aliment which isfree from earthy and bony matter will she avoid pain and danger indelivery; hence, the more ripe fruit, acid fruit in particular, andthe less of other kinds of food, but particularly of bread or pastryof any kind, is consumed, the less will be the danger and sufferingsof childbirth. Nearly all kinds of fruit possess two hundred timesless ossifying principle than bread or anything else made of wheatenflour. 

Honey, molasses, sugar, butter, oil, vinegar, etc. , whenunadulterated, are entirely free from earthy matter. Common salt, pepper, coffee, cocoa, spices, and many drugs are much worse thanwheaten flour in their hardening and bone-forming tendency, and shouldtherefore be avoided. The drink should be tea or lemonade made withwater, soft and clear, and, when practicable, distilled. 

No mother who has adopted this mode of living but has blessed theknowledge of it, and it has saved many a young mother from needlessterror. 

In the third month of pregnancy, but not before, the belly begins toenlarge or swell, and gradually increases in size till the full termof pregnancy is completed. Between the sixteenth and twentieth weekthe womb rises up into the belly, and the motion of the child is felt, which is called

 QUICKENING. 

The first time a woman is with child this sensation of quickening islike that of a bird fluttering within her; at other times she feels atickling or pushing sensation, or the child gives a kick or a jump, and this, too, with so much energy as to move the petticoats, a book, or any light article she may have in her lap. 

It is important to remember these symptoms, and the order in whichthey occur: first, cessation of the menses; second, morning sickness;third, swelling and darting pains in the breast, and dark color aroundthe nipples; fourth, gradual enlargement of the abdomen or belly;fifth, the movement of the child. 

In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, if these symptoms are presentthe woman is pregnant. Pregnant women are generally affected withheartburn, sickness of a morning, headache, and that troublesomedisease, toothache, which accompanies pregnancy; all of which mayusually be avoided by keeping the bowels gently open with seidlitzpowders, caster oil, or pills of rhubarb, which should be takenoccasionally, either alone or in combination with colocynth and soap. A clyster made of warm soapsuds will often be sufficient if repeatedevery few days; or senna and manna; and if there is any aversion totaking medicine, give some simple articles, such as roasted apples, figs, prunes, or anything that will quiet the stomach and preventcostiveness of the bowels. 

 THE TOOTHACHE

often complained of by pregnant women, and which may occur at anyperiod, is seldom relieved by extraction, having its seat in theadjacent nerves of the face or jaws, and is neuralgic. The teeth oughtnot to be drawn during pregnancy, unless urgently required, but shouldbe relieved by applying hot fomentations to the face, as a camomilepoultice. Rubbing the jaw externally with spirits of camphor orlaudanum, or applying mustard plasters or blisters behind the ears, will afford relief. 

 THE CRAMPS OF THE LEGS. ETC. , in pregnancy, caused by the pressure of the enlarged womb on thenerves, are often troublesome, but not attended with any danger, andmay be speedily relieved by a change of posture, and friction, orrubbing with opodeldoc, spirits of camphor, or hot whisky and salt. Palpitation of the heart occurs frequently, and usually about theperiod of quickening. In general, it is the result of a disorderedstomach and may be relieved by attention to diet and moderate doses ofmagnesia and Epsom salts, of equal quantities. 

 THE PALPITATION OF THE HEART

may be produced by a morbid state of the nerves, and is then termedhysterical. Attention in all such cases should be paid to the diet, air, exercise, etc. , with the view of improving the strength, thebowels being kept open by mild means. All exciting or agitatingsubjects should be carefully avoided, and the mind of the pregnantwoman kept calm and tranquil; for the mind, in the early stages ofpregnancy, exercises the most powerful influence over the childthrough life; and how many peculiar traits of character have beenindelibly fixed upon their offspring from these exciting causes isevident in many families. 

When the palpitation occurs from the state of the nerves, as beforedescribed, producing uncomfortable feelings, a teaspoonful of thetincture of castor or asafœtida, with an equal quantity of compoundspirits of lavender, mixed in a little water, will seldom fail toafford relief, which may, if necessary, be repeated on its recurrence. 

 MORNING SICKNESS

is one of the most painful feelings attendant on the pregnant state, and it is one of those which medicine commonly fails to relieve. A cupof camomile or peppermint tea, taken when first awaking, and sufferingthe patient to be still for an hour, will frequently alleviate thedistressing sickness; but should it recur during the day, and if thesemeans fail, two or three teaspoonfuls of the following mixture shouldthen be taken either occasionally or, when the vomiting and heartburnare more continual, immediately after each meal:

Take of— Calcined magnesia, One dram; Distilled water, Six ounces; Aromatic tincture of rhatany, Six drams; Water of pure ammonia, One dram. 

Mix. The anxiety and sometimes despondency of mind—in other words, lowness of spirits—to which pregnant women are more or less liablegreatly depends on the state of their general health and the naturaltemper and character of the individual; but it can be greatlyaggravated, and may often be excited by circumstances or officiouspersons. Let me, then, urge upon you the _important necessity_ ofkeeping the mind as tranquil and cheerful as possible, particularlyduring the first four months of pregnancy. A judicious course of thiskind will produce the most beneficial and well-balanced mind in thechild; while, if the contrary, a desponding and nervous temperament, with many other peculiarities, will be the consequence. 

 SURE TEST FOR THE DETECTION OF PREGNANCY. 

M. Nauche has found that the urine of pregnant women contains aparticular substance, which, when the urine is allowed to standseparates and forms a pellicle on the surface. M. Enguiser, from anextensive series of observations, has confirmed the fact, andascertained that kisteine, as this particular substance has beencalled, is constantly formed on the surface of the urine of women in astate of pregnancy. The urine must be allowed to stand for from two tosix days, when minute opaque bodies are observed to rise from thebottom to the surface of the fluid, where they gradually unite andform a continuous layer over the surface. This layer is so consistentthat it may be almost lifted off by raising it by one of its edges. This is the kisteine. It is whitish, opalescent, slightly granular, and can be compared to nothing better than the fatty substance whichfloats on the surface of soups after they have been allowed to cool. When examined by the microscope, it has the aspect of a gelatinousmass without determinate form; sometimes cubical shaped crystals arediscovered on it, but this appearance is only observed when it hasstood a long time, and is to be regarded as foreign to it. Thekisteine remains on the surface for several days; the urine thenbecomes turbid, and small opaque masses become detached from thekisteine and fall to the bottom of the fluid and the pellicle soonbecomes destroyed. 

The essential character of the urine of pregnancy, then, is thepresence of the kisteine; and the characters of the pellicle are sopeculiar that it is impossible to mistake it for anything else. Apellicle sometimes forms on the surface of the urine of patientslaboring under phthisis, abscess, or disease of the bladder, but maybe easily distinguished by this circumstance, that it does not form insuch a short time as the kisteine, and that in place of disappearing, as this last, in a few days, it increases in thickness and at last isconverted into a mass of moldiness. There exists, likewise, a verymarked difference between its mucous aspect and that of kisteine; adifference which is difficult to describe, but which is easilyrecognized. 

Kisteine appears to exist in the urine from the first month ofpregnancy till delivery. It has even been recognized in the urine of afew gravid animals. 

 “PARTURIENT BALM, ”

_For Rendering Childbirth Easy and Less Dangerous—A very ImportantMedicine. _

Take blue cohosh root, four ounces; lady's-slipper root and spikenardroot, of each one ounce; sassafras bark (of root) and clover, of eachhalf an ounce. Bruise all, and simmer slowly for two hours in twoquarts of boiling water. Strain, and add one pound of white sugar. 

Dose: A wineglassful twice a day for two weeks or a month previous toexpected confinement, for the purpose of rendering parturition, orchildbirth, more easy. 

Should be taken by every pregnant woman. 

 ABORTION. 

Abortion, or miscarriage, means, in plain language, a woman losing herchild previous to the seventh month of her pregnancy; that is, beforeits due time. When this occurs after that period it is called

 PREMATURE LABOR. 

Miscarriage involves pain and weakness in addition to the loss ofoffspring, and is often a severe trial to the maternal constitution. It may occur at any period of pregnancy, but particular stages aremore liable to the accident than others. These are generallyconsidered to be about the time of the first menstruation afterconception; again at the twelfth week, and toward the seventh month;and the liability is increased at those times which correspond to themenstrual period. When abortion has once taken place it is more likelyto occur again, and some have so strong a tendency to it that theynever go beyond a certain stage, but then invariably miscarry. 

 THE CAUSE OF ABORTION

may exist in the constitution of the female herself, being the resultof weakness and irritability, or of an overfull habit or a diseasedcondition of the womb; or the fœtus, or child, may die or bedeficient in development, when it is cast off like a blighted fruit. Suckling after conception has taken place is not infrequently a causeof miscarriage. Active diseases occurring during pregnancy, such asfevers, severe inflammation, eruptive fevers, etc. , are almost certainto occasion the expulsion of the uterine contents. Continueddiarrhœa and the action of strong purgative medicines, particularlythe aloetic, are dangerous. This is a very good reason for those whoare pregnant avoiding all quack aperient medicines; they almost allcontain aloes, and may be very injurious. All undue exertion oragitation of body or mind, sudden jerks or jumps, riding on horsebackin the early stage, or in a shaking carriage in the latter stages ofpregnancy, may any of them bring on miscarriage. To these may beadded: exertion of the arms in doing anything on a level above thehead; costive bowels and straining consequent therein; sexualindulgence, or, in plain language, too much connection with yourhusband; and luxurious habits. Those who have once suffered fromabortion ought to be extremely careful during succeeding pregnancies, and all ought to bear in mind the possibility of the occurrence. 

 THE SYMPTOMS OF THREATENED ABORTION

vary with the constitution. In the strong and plethoric it is oftenpreceded by shivering and febrile symptoms and by a feeling of weightin the lower bowels. In the weak there is languor, faintness, flaccidity of the breasts, general depression, and pains in the backand loins. Intermittent pains, and discharge of blood from thepassage, tell that the process has begun. If miscarriage occurs withinthe first month or two after conception, the process may beaccomplished with so little inconvenience as to escape notice and bemistaken for a menstrual period. More generally, however, the severityof the pain and an unusual clotted discharge of blood render the caseevident. The pain, the discharge, and, at the same time, the danger ofan abortion, are in proportion to the advancement of the pregnancy. When a miscarriage goes on, the pains increase in force and frequency, and continue, with discharge of blood, fluid or in clots, until theovum, or first formation of the child, is expelled; after which bothbecome moderated till they cease altogether and the red flow givesplace to a colorless one. It is very important that those inattendance upon the patient should examine every clot that comes away. If large, tear it in pieces, that they may ascertain whether thecontents of the womb are expelled or not, for there is no safety orrest, where miscarriage is progressing, till it has taken place andeverything is cast off. 

 AS SOON AS A FEMALE

experiences threatenings of abortion she ought at once to retire tobed, upon a mattress, and keep perfectly quiet till every symptom hasdisappeared. Sometimes this simple measure, _promptly adopted_, issufficient to avert the threatened evil. If there is much feeling offullness, and the patient is of full habit generally, eight or a dozenleeches may be applied to the lower part of the bowels; if there isfever, saline medicines may be given, such as the common effervescingdraft of carbonate of soda and tartaric acid or lemon juice; or, ifthe bowels are much confined, seidlitz powders, assisting the actionby cold clysters, if necessary. When the pains are severe, particularly in the weak and irritable, twenty or thirty drops oflaudanum should be given, and may be repeated in a few hours if thesymptoms are not improved. In the case of profuse discharge, thepatient should be kept very lightly covered, movement avoided, andevery article of food or drink given cold, or iced if possible, provided the vital powers are not excessively reduced. Cloths dippedin cold or iced water should also be applied to the lower part of thebody and frequently changed. Acid drinks, with cream of tartar, may befreely given. Ten or fifteen drops of elixir vitriol may be given in awineglassful of water every two or three hours. Should slightfaintness come on, it is better not to interfere with it, but useoutward remedies—camphor, cold water, vinegar, etc. —as they maybesalutary. If it reaches to an extent to threaten life, stimulants, asbrandy and water, and others, must be had recourse to. Profuse andcontinued discharge, though it may not threaten life, must occasion aweakness which will take a long time to overcome, and which mayultimately, if not properly attended to, promote the development ofother diseases of the womb. 

 IF THE FLOODING IS PROFUSE

and uncontrolled by the means before mentioned, one grain and a halfof sugar of lead may be given every two or three hours, and washeddown with a drink of vinegar and water, to which, if there is muchpain, add from five to ten drops of laudanum. 

Pieces of linen or cotton cloth should be soaked in a strong solutionof alum, or a decoction of oak bark; and then well oiled; with thiscloth plug the passage or birthplace; or, some of this astringent washmay be thrown up with a syringe. 

But, during the time and after miscarriage, the general strength mustbe supported by a strengthening diet, such as soups, meat, etc. , avoiding stimulants as much as possible. Nevertheless, in some caseswine or malt liquors may be necessary in convalescence, or whenrecovering, and if so may be assisted by tonic or strengtheningmedicines, such as contain mineral acid. Bark or iron are generallygiven as the most appropriate remedies. The bowels will, in somecases, require strict attention, as indeed they do throughout, and forthis purpose castor oil is a good medicine, or clysters of cold ortepid water are most useful. A teaspoonful of Epsom salts dissolved inhalf a pint of water, either cold or slightly warmed, to which addfifteen drops of elixir vitriol, forms a most excellent and mildpurgative, which should be taken before breakfast. In all cases wherethe constitution of the woman has a tendency to miscarriage orabortion, a quiet state of mind should be observed, avoiding allviolent exertions, particularly lifting heavy weights. Theseprinciples of treatment are to be kept in mind in the management ofmiscarriage:

The first, to prevent it, if possible, by rest, opiates, etc. 

The second, to allay pain, moderate the discharge of blood, and tosave and support the strength of the patient. 

The third, when abortion must take place, to expedite the separationof the ovum and free the contents of the womb. This is generally doneby simply occasionally drinking cold water, and in difficult cases, ifnecessary, by the administration of spurred rye. The dose is a stronginfusion or tea given every twenty or thirty minutes until the desiredeffect is produced, as long as the stomach will bear it. 

The health of pregnant females should at all times be an object ofgreat care and interest; and they should be impressed with theconviction that while

 BEARING THE FIRST CHILD

they may, by proper care and attention, lay the foundation for theirfuture health and that of their offspring; while by neglect andimprudence in this matter, they may not only enfeeble theirconstitution, but entail upon their children an inheritance ofinfirmity and disease. 

Miscarriage, or abortion, which includes all cases in which deliverytakes place before the sixth month, seldom occurs without beingpreceded, or accompanied, or followed, by a morbid discharge of bloodfrom the womb, which is commonly known by the name of _flooding_. Abortion, or miscarriage, takes place with the first pregnancy, andduring the first two months; therefore, great care should be observedduring this period, as any cause which either destroys the life of thechild in the womb or brings on morbid or premature contractions inthat organ may induce miscarriage. Coughing severely, or vomiting, ablow or fall, or a misstep leading to an effort to prevent falling, may, and does frequently, result in miscarriage; and this having onceoccurred, it is, without proper care, exceedingly liable to be thecase again at the same period of a subsequent pregnancy. The sameresult may follow any vivid moral impression; for fright, or mentalexcitement by passion, or witnessing any accident, will be found oftento end in miscarriage. In some healthy females, however, it occurswithout any other cause than mere fullness of blood. A bleeding fromthe womb is often in such cases a first symptom of abortion, andshould be attended to as early as possible before it goes to anyconsiderable extent. The amount of flooding, in most cases, is inproportion to the early period of pregnancy at which it takes place, for in the latter months there is seldom much blood lost. But thereare cases in which pregnant women will lose blood repeatedly from thewomb and yet not miscarry, but these are very rare cases. 

In most cases, the occurrence of a woman's flooding between the firstand fourth months, unless very slight, or quickly relieved, is usuallyfollowed by a miscarriage; but as soon as the child and its membranesare both expelled by the contraction of the womb the flooding soonceases. In many such cases it is often very difficult, and sometimesimpossible, to deliver the afterbirth and membranes, which remain andfinally pass off after putrefaction has taken place, resulting in longand offensive discharges from the womb, and which, unless treated bythe most skillful management, frequently result in many internalmischiefs of a serious character, such as ulcers, cancers, etc. 

In all cases, those who are constitutionally disposed to abortion, orhave a tendency to miscarriage, should take great care to preserve aquiet state of mind and to avoid all violent exertion; and all activepurgatives should be avoided, and exposure to great heat or cold, during the time of gestation or pregnancy. 

When the miscarriage has really taken place, and the fœtus, orchild, is expelled, together with the contents of the womb, the sameprecautions should in general be observed as in childbirth. 

 TO PREVENT MISCARRIAGE, when it is threatened, or on the appearance of the first symptoms, thepatient should lie down and be as quiet as possible; live on verylight diet; bowels be kept freely open; and an injection of thirtydrops of laudanum should be given in half a pint of slippery elm tea. Should flooding be present, cold lemonade should be drank freely, andcloths wet with cold or ice water applied to the thighs and lower partof the birthplace, which should be repeated until the flooding isrelieved. 

 MEANS OF PREVENTING ABORTION. 

To prevent abortion, women of weak or relaxed habit should use solidfood, avoiding great quantities of tea, coffee, or other weak orwatery liquors. They should go soon to bed and rise early, and takefrequent exercise, but avoid fatigue. They should occasionally takehalf a pint of the decoction of lignum-vitæ, boiling an ounce of it ina quart of water for five minutes. 

If of a full habit, they ought to use a spare diet and chiefly of thevegetable kind, avoiding strong liquors and everything that may tendto heat the body or increase the quantity of blood; and when thesymptoms appear, should take a dram of powdered nitre in a cup ofwater gruel every five or six hours. 

In both cases the patient should sleep on a hard mattress and be keptcool and quiet; the bowels should be kept regular by a pill of whitewalnut extract or bitterroot. 

 CHAPTER IX. 

 MENSTRUATION. 

Though this is not a disease, but a healthy function, and as, fromvarious causes, derangement of the function occurs, it is proper thatit should be perfectly understood. Menstruation is the term applied tothe phenomenon that attends the rupture of what is called the_Graafian follicles_ of the ovaries and the discharge of an ova, oregg. It is a bloody discharge from the female genitals; not differingfrom ordinary blood, excepting that it does not coagulate, and in itspeculiar odor. The blood comes from the capillaries of the womb andvagina. 

 MENOPHANIA, OR THE FIRST APPEARANCE

of the menses, is usually preceded by a discharge of a fluid whitishmatter from the vagina, by nervous excitement, and by vague pains andheaviness in the loins and thighs, numbness of the limbs, and swellingand hardness of the breasts. The first appearance is an evidence ofcapacity for conception. It generally appears about the age offourteen, but varies from nine to twenty-four years. In warm climateswomen begin to menstruate earlier and cease sooner than in temperateregions; in the cold climates the reverse of this holds as a generalrule. The manifestations of approaching puberty are seen in thedevelopment of the breasts, the expansion of the hips, the roundedcontour of the body and limbs, appearance of the purely femininefigure, development of the voice, and the child becomes reserved andexchanges her plays for the pursuits of womanhood. 

More or less indisposition and irritability also precede eachsuccessive recurrence of the menstrual flux, such as headache, lassitude, uneasiness, pain in back, loins, etc. The periods succeedeach other usually about every twenty-eight days, although it mayoccur every twenty-two, twenty, eighteen, fifteen, or thirty-two, thirty-five, or forty days. The most important element is theregularity of the return. In temperate climates each menstrual periodordinarily continues from three to six days, and the quantity lostfrom four to eight ounces. The menses continue to flow from the periodof puberty till the age of forty-five or fifty. At the time of itsnatural cessation the flow becomes irregular, and this irregularity isaccompanied occasionally by symptoms of dropsy, glandular swellings, etc. , constituting the _critical period_, _turn_ or _change of life_;yet it does not appear that mortality is increased by it, as vitalstatistics show that more men die between forty and fifty than women. 

It should be the

 DUTY OF EVERY MOTHER

or female in charge of a child in whom age or actual manifestationssuggest the approach of puberty to acquaint her with the nature of hervisitation and the importance of her conduct in regard to it. Sheshould be taught that it is perfectly natural to all females at acertain period, and that its arrival necessitates caution on her partwith regard to exposure to wet or cold. The author has made theacquaintance of the history of many cases of consumption and otherdiseases which were directly induced by folly and ignorance at thefirst menstrual flow. The child is often kept in extreme ignorance ofthe liability of womanhood occurring to her at a certain age, and, hence, when she observes a flow of blood escaping from a part, thedelicacy attached to the locality makes her reticent with regard toinquiry or exposure; she naturally becomes alarmed, and most likelyattempts to stanch the flow by bathing or applying cold water to thepart, thus doing incalculable mischief. 

This purely feminine physiological function should be well studied andunderstood by all females. At least, they should know that thephenomenon is a natural one, liable to disorder, and that the bestinterests of their general health demands care and prudence on theirpart to maintain regularity, etc. , of the flow. Disregard of such aduty will surely entail much misery. 

 DELAYED AND OBSTRUCTED MENSTRUATION. 

When the menses do not appear at the time when they may naturally beexpected, we call it delayed or obstructed menstruation. It is, however, of great importance to know whether a girl is sufficientlydeveloped to make it necessary for the menses to appear, although shemay have reached the proper age. As long as the girl has not increasedphysically, if she has not become wider across the hips, if herbreasts have not become enlarged, and if she experience none of thechanges incident to this period, an effort to force nature ispositively injurious. In this case a general treatment will be calledfor. She should be required to exercise freely in the open air, retireearly to bed and rise at an early hour in the morning. She should notbe allowed to be closely confined to school, if attending. Her dietshould be generous but free from all rich food, which will disorderthe stomach. If, however, she is fully developed, and she suffers fromtime to time from congestions of the head, breast or abdomen, it willbe necessary to interfere. The following are symptoms which willgenerally be found in these cases: Headache, weight, fullness, andthrobbing in the center of the cranium and in the back part of thehead; pains in the back and loins; cold feet and hands, becomingsometimes very hot; skin harsh and dry; slow pulse, and notinfrequently attended with epilepsy. 

 TREATMENT. 

It is well for the patient, a few days before the period, to take awarm hip bath or foot bath twice a day, and at night, when retiring, to apply cloths wet in warm water to the lower part of the abdomen. 

The bowels should be kept open by some mild catharsis, as castor oilor a pill of aloes. If there is pain and fullness of the head duringthe discharge, or before it, use the following:

 Tincture of aconite leaves, Two drams; Tincture of belladonna, One dram; Tincture of cantharides, One dram; Morphia, Three grains; Simple syrup, Quarter ounce. 

Mix. Dose: One teaspoonful three times a day. If the pain is severe itmay be taken every two hours. 

Between the monthly periods, if the system is weak, the following maybe taken:

 Precip. Carbonate of iron, Five drams; Extract of conium, Two drams; Balsam Peru, One dram; Alcohol, Four ounces; Oil wintergreen, Twenty drops; Simple syrup, Eight ounces. 

Dose: Two teaspoonfuls three times a day. Shake the mixture beforeusing. 

 CHLOROSIS, OR GREEN SICKNESS. 

This disease generally occurs in young unmarried females who are weakand delicate. It manifests itself about the age of puberty, and isaccompanied by feeble appetite and digestion. There is no menstrualdischarge, or else it is very slight. 

It is caused by innutritious food and residence in damp andill-ventilated apartments. It may be hereditary, all the females ofthe family being liable to the same disease. Those who drink largelyof tea, coffee, diluted acids, bad wines, and indulge in tight lacing;are predisposed to this disease. Among the exciting causes may bementioned disturbing emotions, unrequited love, homesickness, depression of spirits, etc. When we take into consideration the factthat the cause of the disease is impoverishment of the blood, thetreatment will not be difficult. 

 TREATMENT. 

Exercise freely in the open air; protect the body from chilliness withwarm clothing and plenty of it. The patient should sleep on a mattressin a well-ventilated room. The diet should be nourishing without beingstimulating. It is important that the habits should be regular, andthe mind kept cheerful by society and innocent amusements. Before themedical treatment is commenced the exciting causes of the disease mustbe removed. A complete change must be made in the existence of thepatient. If she is confined closely at school, she must be removed; ifshe is inclined to confine herself to the house, send her to thecountry. Picture to her the danger she is in by the continuance ofsuch a life; give her plenty of outdoor exercise. The mental and moralcauses are the most difficult to remove, but a change of scenery andnew friends will do much towards it. For those who are shut up infactories, or who work all day in a stooping position, a change ofemployment must be made. A bath of tepid water in the morning, followed by a brisk rubbing, will be beneficial; also the frequent useof the sitting-bath, and the sponge bath in the evening. Activeexercise should precede and follow all baths. During menstruation allapplications of water should be omitted. The following remedies arerecommended by a famous Philadelphian doctor. They are to be taken onalternate days; that is, take No. 1 one day, No. 2 the next day, etc. :

No. 1. —Precip. Carbonate of iron, five drams; extract of conium, twodrams; balsam Peru, one dram; oil cinnamon, twenty drops; simplesyrup, eight ounces; pulverized gum arabic, two drams. Mix. Dose: Twoteaspoonfuls three times a day, every other day, after meals. Shakebefore using. 

No. 2. —Tincture of nux vomica, one dram; syrup iodide of iron, oneounce; simple syrup, four ounces. Mix. Dose: One teaspoonful threetimes a day, every other day, after meals. 

Another treatment is as follows:

Clear the bowels with the following mixture: Sulphate of magnesia, oneounce; nitrate of potash, ten grains; extract of liquorice, onescruple; compound infusion of senna, five and one-half ounces;tincture of jalap, three drams; spirit of sal volatile, one dram. Mix. Dose: Two or three tablespoonfuls at a time, at intervals of two hoursuntil an effect is produced. This is to be followed by sulphate ofiron, five grains; extract of gentian, ten grains. Make into threepills and take a pill twice a day, with the compound aloes or rhubarbpill every night. 

 PROFUSE MENSTRUATION—MENORRHAGIA:

By menorrhagia we understand an immoderate flow of the menses. Thereis no fixed amount of blood which is lost at the menstrual period, butit varies in different women. It will average, however, from four toeight ounces. The quantity discharged may be estimated by the numberof napkins used. Each napkin will contain about half an ounce, or onetablespoonful, so that eight napkins would contain four ounces;twenty, ten ounces; etc. In some females the discharge may beexcessive without impairment of the general health. 

Some females are predisposed to uterine hemorrhages, from a relaxed orflabby state of the texture of the uterus. Frequent childbearing, abortion, high living, too prolonged and frequent suckling, may induceflooding. Among the exciting causes we may mention overexertion, dancing, falls, lifting heavy weights, cold, and mental excitement. 

 TREATMENT. 

The patient must lie down on a hard bed, and abstain from allstimulating food and drinks. The room should be cool and she should belightly covered with bedclothes. Soak the feet in warm water, and ifthe flowing is excessive apply cloths wrung out in vinegar and waterto the lower bowels. The hips must be elevated higher than the head. Only in extreme cases should plugging be resorted to. This may bedone by pieces of linen, about four inches square, thrust into thevagina until it is full, and a bandage applied between the legs. Coldhip baths and vaginal injections of cold water will be beneficial whenthe hemorrhage is slight. 

Use also the following:

 Diluted sulphuric acid, Two drams; Syrup of orange peel, Two ounces; Cinnamon water, One ounce. 

Mix. Dose: A teaspoonful in a wineglassful of water two or three timesa day. 

If there is much pain administer the following every two or threehours:

 Morphia, Quarter grain; Cayenne, Four grains; Rosin, Four grains. 

Mix. Give in blackberry syrup. 

 PAINFUL MENSTRUATION—MENSTRUAL COLIC—DYSMENORRHEA. 

Dysmenorrhea means a difficult monthly flow, and is always preceded bysevere pains in the back and lower part of the abdomen. It is causedby taking cold during the period; fright, violent mental emotions, obstinate constipation, sedentary occupations, smallness of the mouthand neck of the womb. Females subject to this trouble are generallyrelieved by marriage. The symptoms are severe bearing-down pains inthe region of the uterus, like labor pains; restlessness, coldness, flashes of heat, with headache; aching in the small of the back, lowerpart of the abdomen, and thighs; the discharge is scanty, and containsshreds of fiber and clotted blood. 

 TREATMENT. 

The patient should immediately go to bed and cover up warmly. Stimulating food and drinks should be avoided. Use a warm foot bathand sitting-bath, with hot poultices of hops or cloths wet in hotwater applied to the abdomen. 

In the interval of the menses, take active exercise, with a tepid hipbath three nights in the week, injecting some of the water high up inthe vagina. Keep the bowels open by a pill of aloes and myrrh, andtake a small teaspoonful of the volatile tincture of guiacum threetimes a day, in water. On the approach of the period, take thefollowing at night:

 Calomel, Three grains; Opium, One grain. 

In the morning a dose of caster oil, and on the appearance of themenses, the Dover's Powder and mixture as before. Repeat thistreatment, in each interval, until permanently relieved. 

The following is recommended by an eminent physician, to be taken afew days before the period:

 Acetous tincture of colchicum, Three drams; Magnesia, One dram; Sulphate of magnesia, Three drams; Distilled mint or cinnamon water, Four ounces. 

Mix. Dose: A small wineglassful every two or three hours until itoperates. This should be preceded the night before by a small dose ofblue pill. 

 SUPPRESSION OF THE MENSES—AMENORRHŒA. 

By suppression is meant a disappearance of the menses after they havebecome established, and may be either acute or chronic. It is causedby cold caught during the flow, by exposure to night air or by wettingthe feet; fear, shocks, violent mental emotions, anxiety, fevers andother acute diseases. Chronic suppression may be either a consequenceof the acute, or caused by delicate health; also, from diseases of theovaries or womb. It may also be occasioned by an imperforate hymen, inwhich case it must be cut open by a physician. 

 TREATMENT. 

When the suppression is caused by some disease in the system, thatdisease must be cured before the menses will return. For suddensuppression, use the warm sitting-bath or foot bath. Apply cloths wetin warm water to the lower part of the abdomen, and drink freely ofwarm water. If the suppression is chronic and the patient is delicate, in the interval between the menses use the shower or the full bath ofcold or tepid water, rubbing the body briskly with a coarse towel, especially around the abdomen, loins, and genital organs. 

As soon as the discharge has ceased, a warm hip bath will generallybring it on. If there is much inflammation of the uterus give thefollowing:

 Tincture aconite leaves, Two drams; Sweet spirits of nitre, One ounce; Simple syrup, Three ounces. 

Dose: One teaspoonful every two or three hours. 

If the discharge cannot be brought on, wait until the next period. Afew days before the term the bowels should be freely opened and keptopen until the period for the discharge has arrived. A pill of aloesand iron is one of the best that can be given. Give from one to threepills daily. If there is no evident reason for the discharge notappearing, such as pregnancy, inflammation of the neck of the womb, and the woman is suffering from the suppression, use the following:

 Caulophyllin, One dram; Extract aconite, Eight grains; Aloes, Ten grains; Sulphate of iron, Ten grains. 

Make into forty pills. Dose: Two or three pills, taken night andmorning. 

The remedies should always be taken a few days before the periodarrives for the menses. If the chronic suppression is the result ofany acute disease, the health must first be re-established, otherwiseit would be wrong to force the menses. When this has been done, immediately before the return of the period a warm hip bath should betaken every night for six nights, and one of the following pills takenthree times a day:

 Fresh powdered ergot of rye, Fifty grains; Barbadoes aloes, Twelve grains; Essential oil of juniper, Twelve drops. 

Make into twelve pills with syrup or mucilage, washing down each pillwith a cupful of pennyroyal tea. 

 CESSATION OF THE MENSES—CHANGE OF LIFE. 

By the phrase, “change of life, ” or, the critical period, weunderstand the final cessation, or stoppage, of the menses. It usuallytakes place between the ages of forty and fifty, although in somecases it may occur as early as thirty, and in others not until sixty. However, we can expect the change about the forty-fifth year. 

The symptoms will vary according to the constitution of the woman. Insome the change occurs by the discharge gradually diminishing inquantity; in others, by the intervals between the periods beinglengthened. A woman may pass this period without having any moreunpleasant symptoms than an occasional rush of blood to the head, or aheadache. Others, however, may have very severe symptoms arise, whichwill require the care of an intelligent physician. These disagreeablesensations should receive a careful consideration and not be hushed upwith the reply that these complaints arise from the “change of life”and will vanish whenever that change takes place. The foundation ofserious trouble may be laid which will make the remainder of herexistence a burden and cut short a life which might have beenconducted to a good old age. While this change is in progress, inprobably the majority of cases there is more or less disturbance ofthe health. It is sometimes quite impossible to say exactly what isthe trouble with the patient, except that she is out of health. Thefollowing are some of the symptoms which may arise: Headache, dizziness, biliousness, sour stomach, indigestion, diarrhœa, piles, costiveness, itching of the private parts, cramp and colic of thebowels, palpitation of the heart, swelling of the limbs and abdomen, pains in the back and loins, paleness and general weakness. 

 TREATMENT. 

Eat and drink moderately; sleep in airy, well-ventilated rooms;exercise daily in the open air, either by walking or riding; avoidviolent emotions; shun exposure to wet, stormy weather, wet feet, etc. 

Keep the bowels regulated with the following:

Mercurial pill, one grain; ipecac powder, one-half grain; compoundrhubarb pill, three grains. Mix for a pill to be taken every night. 

Or, one ounce of hicra picra, or powdered aloes with castella, mixedin a pint of gin, which should stand for four or five days, afterwhich a tablespoonful in a glass of water may be taken every morningor second morning, as the case may be. 

If the patient is large and fleshy, of full habit, the following isrecommended:

Sulphate of magnesia, one and one-half ounces; compound infusion ofroses, five ounces; cinnamon water, one ounce. Mix, Dose: Twotablespoonfuls once a day. 

If there are nervous symptoms prominent, give valerianate of zinc, eight grains; tincture of valerian, two drams; orange flower water, three and a half ounces; syrup of red poppies, two drams. Mix. Dose: Atablespoonful every six hours. 

 FALLING OF THE WOMB

 _(Prolapsus uteri). _

Falling of the womb is simply a sinking down of the organ, and may beso slight as not to be noticed or so great that the organ willprotrude between the legs through the external opening. It is not adisease of the womb itself, but of some of its supports. 

So long as the vagina retains its natural size and the ligaments arebut two and a half inches long the organ will not be displaced. Whatever tends to relax and weaken the system may cause the complaint. The muscles of the abdomen which support the intestines being weakenedfrom any cause will allow the intestines to press down upon the womband its ligaments, and, in consequence of this constant pressure, theygive way. Another cause is too early exercise after childbearing. Flooding and leucorrhœa, or whites, if allowed to continue for along time, will produce it; in delicate females, continued running upand down stairs, also tight lacing, dancing, leaping, and running, particularly during the period of menstruation, when the womb isincreased in weight by the blood contained in it. The use of medicinesto loosen the bowels, which is very common among many, is stillanother cause of the disorder. 

Most females who are troubled with falling of the womb think that itis necessary to a cure that they should wear some kind of a support tothe abdomen. These supporters, however, do a vast amount of harm, forby being worn tightly around the abdomen they increase the pressure onthe bowels, thus forcing down, more and more, the womb and itsappendages. All that is necessary is to raise up the womb to itsnatural position, and use an instrument that will keep it in place. This instrument is called a pessary. This pessary is a ring or hollowcup-shaped globe, made of gold, silver, ivory, wood or gutta-percha, and is placed in the vagina or birthplace, thus supporting the womb. The cold hip bath should be used once a day, at the same timeinjecting cold water into the vagina with a syringe. Lie down as muchas possible, and avoid becoming fatigued. Apply cold bandages to theabdomen on going to bed. 

If the womb has descended to the external orifice it is oftennecessary to restore it to its natural position by pressing it upwardand backward by a finger or two pressed into the vagina. If theprocess be accompanied with pain, the vagina should be well washed byinjections of thick flax seed or slippery elm bark tea for a day ortwo before the astringent washes are used. 

Avoid tight corsets and heavy skirts, suspend the under-garments fromthe shoulders and not from the waist, as is usually done. Use plainvegetable diet, and avoid tea, coffee, spirituous drinks, and allsensual indulgences. Allow the clothes to be loose. These things mustbe attended to closely. The diet should be plain and nourishing, butnot stimulating. 

Use an injection of an infusion of white oak bark, geranium, or asolution of alum, in the proportion of one ounce to the pint of water. If there is inflammation of the womb, this must be subdued beforeusing the pessary. Give tincture of aconite, compound powder of ipecacand opium, with injections of an infusion of hops and lobelia, or aninfusion of belladonna. 

If there is heat and difficulty in passing water, drink an infusion ofmarsh mallow and spearmint. If the patient is weak, give the followingtonic:

Sulphate quinine, twenty-five grains; citrate of iron (soluble), thirty-five grains. Make into twenty-four powders. Take a powder threetimes a day, after each meal, in sweet wine. 

 LEUCORRHŒA—WHITES—FLOUR ALBUS. 

The word leucorrhœa is derived from two Greek words, and meansliterally a “white discharge. ” It is also known as “flour albus, ”“whites, ” and “female weakness, ” and consists of a “light colorlessdischarge from the genital organs, varying in hue from a whitish orcolorless to a yellowish, light green, or to a slightly red orbrownish; varying in consistency from a thin, watery, to a thick, tenacious, ropy substance; and in quantity from a slight increase inthe healthy secretion to several ounces in the twenty-four hours. ”This discharge generally occurs between the ages of fifteen andforty-five, seldom during infancy or old age. When it occurs in youngfemale children, it will not infrequently be produced by the presenceof pinworms in the vagina, which make their way there from the rectum. There will be intense itching of the parts, and the worms can beremoved with a small piece of cloth, after separating the lips. 

This disease may be either acute or chronic. The acute form generallyresults from taking cold, and is simply a catarrhal inflammation ofthe mucous membrane lining the vagina. The chronic form is but acontinuation of the acute, and is generally caused by the acute stagehaving been neglected or improperly treated. Ulceration of the neck ofthe womb sometimes results. There are two forms of leucorrhœa:Vaginal leucorrhœa, when the discharge comes from the walls of thevagina; and cervical leucorrhœa, when the discharge proceeds fromthe neck of the womb. 

Causes: Taking cold from sitting on the ground, or exposure of theneck and shoulders; over sexual excitement, and sexual intercourse;tight lacing; piles, miscarriages, and abortions; displacements of thewomb; purgatives, improper articles of diet; warm injections, orinjections of any kind; late hours, etc. It may also be hereditary. 

 TREATMENT. 

The treatment, to be successful, requires that the patient shouldfirst be placed in a favorable condition. Anything which tends toexcite the disease must be avoided, as dissipations, late suppers, etc. The diet must be plain and nourishing without being stimulating, and be taken regularly. Exercise, short of fatigue, will bebeneficial. The clothing should be warm and worn loosely, especiallyabout the waist. Water is of great importance in the treatment of thistrouble. The sitting-bath may be used every day, and injections ofcold or tepid water should be used three or four times a day, according to the severity of the discharge. 

An injection of weak green tea will be found good in some mild cases, as also sweet cider or a weak solution of alum. 

One of the best tonics is the muriated tincture of iron, of which taketwenty or twenty-five drops in half a tumbler of water three or fourtimes a day. An excellent injection is made by taking three drams oftannic acid and an ounce of alum, dissolving in a quart of water, andinject one-third three times a day. The bowels should be kept open byRochelle or Epsom salts, or seidlitz powder. When there is greatdebility of the organs, or when the disease has been brought on byexposure to cold, pregnancy, abortions, etc. , the following will befound very successful:

Tincture of aloes, two ounces; muriated tincture of iron, four drams. Mix. Dose: Thirty-five drops in water three times a day. At the sametime use the following injection: Sulphate of zinc (white vitriol), two drams; sugar of lead, two drams. Mix in one quart of water, anduse one-fourth for each injection. 

 CHAPTER X. 

 COLLECTION OF VALUABLE MEDICAL COMPOUNDS. 

Do you have— A frequent headache over the eyes? A susceptibility to chills and fever? A bitter or oily taste in the mouth? A sour stomach? A complexion inclined to be yellow? A great depression of spirits without known cause? Specks before the eyes, and flushed face? A done out, tired feeling?

Besides many other symptoms too numerous to mention? If you have youare affected in your liver and kidneys, and should do something forit. The following preparation, “Magic Kidney and Liver Restorer, ” actson these organs and, when diseased or out of order, restores them to ahealthy state. Everyone should keep a bottle of this preparation inthe house, as it is an invaluable medicine. Splendid to take in thespring to tone up the system:

 MAGIC KIDNEY AND LIVER RESTORER. 

 Two ounces of alcohol; One and a half ounces of glycerine; One ounce of liverwort; Three hundred and twenty grains of saltpetre; Forty drops of wintergreen. 

Steep the liverwort in a quart of water down to half the quantity, then throw in the other ingredients while hot. Dose: One tablespoonfulabout four times a day. 

 HOP BITTERS. 

 One ounce mandrake root; One ounce gentian root; One ounce dandelion root; One ounce buchu leaf; One ounce sarsaparilla leaf; One ounce blackberry leaf; One ounce hops. 

Infuse in cold water, three quarts, two or three days. Add a pint ofwhisky, and bottle. Dose: A teaspoonful three times a day. 

 ALTERATIVE, OR LIVER POWDER. 

Take podophyllin and sanguinaria, of each ten grains; leptandrin, twenty grains; white sugar, forty grains. Triturate or rub the wholewell together in a mortar and divide into twenty powders, and take onenight and morning. If they operate much on the bowels take but one aday. 

_Uses:_ Valuable in liver complaint, torpidity of the liver, and as analterative to act on the secretions of the system generally. Acomplete substitute for blue pill and free from any danger. 

 HEPATIC AND ALTERATIVE POWDER. 

Take equal parts, say of each half an ounce, of finely powdered blueflag root, bloodroot, May apple root, golden seal root, andbitterroot. Mix all together and pass through a fine sieve. Dose: Asan alterative and to act on the liver and secretions, from two to fivegrains two or three times a day. 

 CATHARTIC AND LIVER PILLS. 

Take podophyllin, sixty grains; leptandrin and sanguinaria, ipecac andpure cayenne, each thirty grains. Make into sixty pills with a littlesoft extract of mandrake or dandelion. This is the best pill that canbe used as a cathartic and liver pill and to act on the secretionsgenerally. As a purgative the dose is from two to four pills for agrown person, and as an alterative and substitute for blue mass and toact on the liver, one pill once a day or every other day. 

 ANTI-DYSPEPTIC PILLS. 

Take Socotrine aloes, two drams; colocynth, gamboge, rhubarb, andcastile soap, each one dram; cayenne, thirty grains; oil cloves, thirty drops. Make into one hundred and twenty pills with extract ofgentian or dandelion. Dose: For dyspepsia, inactive liver orcostiveness, one or two pills once a day; as a cathartic, three tofive pills at a dose. This is a splendid pill. It cleanses thestomach, gives tone and energy to the digestive organs, restores theappetite, excites the liver and other secretory organs, withoutcausing any debility. 

 ANOTHER ANTI-DYSPEPTIC PILL. 

Take Quevenne's powdered metallic iron, forty grains; rhubarb, twentygrains; extract of nux vomica, one grain. Triturate well in a smallmortar, so as to mix them perfectly, and make into twenty pills withextract of boneset or gentian. Take one pill before each meal. This isone of the best anti-dyspeptic pills known. 

 DYSPEPTIC LEY. 

Take hickory ashes, one pint; soot, three or four ounces; boilingwater, two quarts. Pour on in a suitable vessel or crock, stir, andlet stand, over night, then pour off clear and bottle. Dose: Half ateacupful three times a day, and if too strong weaken with water untilpalatable. A sure remedy for dyspepsia. 

 AGUE PILLS. 

Take quinine, twenty grains; piperine, ten grains; Dover's Powder, tengrains; cayenne, ten grains. Mix, pulverize, and make into twentypills with a little gum arabic or extract of gentian or boneset. To betaken at the rate of one pill an hour when there is no fever, orduring intermission, until twelve pills are taken, the balance to betaken on the third day or next well day. Good as a remedy for thechills or fever and ague. 

 CERTAIN REMEDY FOR THE AGUE OR INTERMITTENT FEVER. 

Take quinine, twelve grains; ipecac and cayenne, of each six grains;pulverized opium, three grains. Make into twelve pills withprecipitated extract of Peruvian bark, or if you cannot get this, useeither extract of dogwood or boneset, sufficient to form into pillmass. Two or three pills to be taken every two or three hours, duringthe well day or intermission, till all are taken. A very certain andeffectual remedy for the ague or intermittent fever. 

 FEVER POWDER. 

Take finely pulverized gum myrrh, bloodroot, and lobelia seed, oripecac, of each half an ounce; gum camphor and nitre, of each twodrams. Pulverize, mix, and rub well together in a mortar, and bottlefor use. Dose: Three to five grains every hour of two during fever. Good to allay the excitement, act on the skin and promoteperspiration; also a good expectorant powder in coughs, colds, pneumonia, and oppressed breathing. 

 AGUE DROPS. 

Take quinine, twenty grains; water, one ounce; sulphuric acid, twentydrops. Mix in a vial. Dose: A teaspoonful every hour or every twohours during the well day till all is taken. A certain cure for theague, or chills and fever. 

 SICK HEADACHE PILLS. 

Take Socotrine aloes, gamboge, and castile soap, of each one dram;ipecac and scammony, of each thirty grains; oil of anise, thirtydrops. Make into sixty pills with a little mucilage, gum arabic orextract dandelion. Dose: One to three pills. Useful in sick headache, habitual costiveness, dizziness, sour stomach, and indigestion, andmay be used whenever a good vegetable cathartic is needed. For anattack of headache, take three pills, and repeat in three hours if thefirst does not operate. Will invariably give relief. 

 ANODYNE HEADACHE PILLS. 

Take extract of hyoscyamus, thirty grains; extract stramonium, tengrains; quinine, twenty grains; morphine, two grains. Mix well andmake into twenty pills, adding a little powdered liquorice root, orany other innocent powder, if necessary, to thicken the mass. Thepills are one of the best remedies known for nervous headache, neuralgia in the face or head, toothache and nervous and neuralgicpains in any part of the system, that I have ever used. Dose: Onepill, for a grown person, and may be repeated every two or three hourstill relief is obtained. The extract of belladonna may be used insteadof the stramonium, in the same proportion, with equally good effect. 

 RHEUMATIC PILLS. 

Take jalap, colchicum seeds, and gum guaiac, of each one dram. Pulverize and mix veil, and make into sixty pills with extract of pokeroot (or berries). The dose is one or two pills three or four times aday. Good in all cases of chronic rheumatism, neuralgia, sciatica, andthe like. 

 ANOTHER FOR SAME. 

Take macrotin and pulverized gum guaiac, of each one dram;podophyllin, ten grains. Make into sixty pills with extract of pokeroot. Dose: One pill two or three times a day. An excellent pill forrheumatism and neuralgia. 

 PILLS FOR DYSENTERY. 

Take rhubarb, ipecac, and castile soap, each thirty grains; pulverizedopium, fifteen grains. Make into thirty pills with mucilage, gumarabic, or any other suitable substance. Dose: One pill every three tosix hours for diarrhœa and dysentery. After three or four are takenthey should not be taken oftener than once in six hours. 

 ANOTHER FOR SAME. 

Take leptandrin, forty grains; rhubarb, twenty grains; morphine, fourgrains. Mix, and triturate well in a mortar so as to mix perfectly, and make into twenty pills with mucilage of gum arabic. Dose: Indysentery and diarrhœa, one pill every six to twelve hours. Two orthree pills are generally sufficient to cure any ordinary case, ifgiven during the early stage. They may be relied on in all cases andstages of bowel diseases, and especially in dysentery. A second pillmay be given three hours after the first, a third six hours after thesecond; after that not oftener than once in twelve hours, and nevermore than one pill at a time. 

 EPILEPTIC PILLS. 

Take sulphate of zinc, sixty grains; rhubarb and ipecac, each thirtygrains; cayenne, sixty grains. Make into sixty pills with extract ofhyoscyamus. Dose: One pill night and morning for one week, then leaveoff for a week, and then resume again, and so on every other week. Animportant remedy, and has cured many cases of epileptic fits whentaken in the early stages. 

 PILLS FOR ASTHMA. 

Take powdered elecampane root, powdered liquorice root, powdered aniseseed, and sulphur, of each one dram. Make into ordinary sized pillswith a sufficient quantity of tar, and take three or four pills atnight on going to bed. This is an admirable remedy for asthma andshortness of breath. 

 HYSTERIC PILLS. 

Take asafœtida and carbonate of ammonia, of each one dram;pulverized opium and macrotin, of each thirty grains. Melt the firsttwo articles over the fire, and then stir in the others. Mix well andmake into sixty pills. Dose: One or two pills, in cases of hystericfits, every two or three hours; also good in female nervous attacksand spasmodic affections. 

 PILLS FOR CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. 

Take pulverized skunk cabbage root, two drams; pulverized extract ofliquorice, one dram; sanguinaria and macrotin, of each thirty grains. Make into large sized pills (say from eighty to one hundred) with asufficient quantity of tar, and take one pill from three to six timesa day, and continue for several weeks if necessary. One of the bestremedies known for chronic bronchitis, and what is sometimes called“clergyman's sore throat. ”

 PILLS FOR NEURALGIA. 

Hyoscyamus, extract of, one dram; extract of aconite, thirty grains;macrotin, twenty grains; morphine, five grains. Make into forty pills, thickening the mass, if necessary, with a little powdered liquorice orginger. Dose: One pill every three hours till relief is obtained. Goodin neuralgia and all severe nervous pains. 

 BLEEDING AT THE LUNGS. 

Eat freely of raw table salt, or take a teaspoonful three or fourtimes a day of equal parts of powdered loaf sugar and rosin, or boilan ounce of dried yellow dock root in a pint of milk. Take a cupfultwo or three times a day. 

 FOR CONSUMPTION. 

Take a teaspoonful of the expressed juice of horehound (the herb) andmix it with a gill of new milk. Drink it warm every morning. Ifpersevered in it will perform wonders. 

 COUGH SYRUP. 

Take horehound herb, elecampane root, spikenard root, ginseng root, black cohosh, and skunk cabbage root, of each a good-sized handful. Bruise and cover with spirits or whisky, and let stand ten days; thenput all in a suitable vessel, add about four quarts of water andsimmer slowly over a fire (but don't boil) for twelve hours, or tillreduced to about three pints, then strain and add one pint of strainedhoney, half a pint each of number six, tincture lobelia, and tincturebloodroot (the vinegar or acetic tincture of bloodroot is the best)and four ounces of strong essence of anise, and you will have one ofthe best cough syrups known. Dose: A tablespoonful three to six timesa day, according to circumstances. Good in all kinds of coughs andincipient consumption. 

 SOOTHING COUGH MIXTURE. 

Take mucilage of gum arabic, oil of sweet almonds, syrup of balsamtolu, and wine of ipecac, of each one ounce; tincture of opium, halfan ounce. Dose: For a grown person, one to two teaspoonfuls as oftenas required. 

 COUGH MIXTURE. 

Take extract of liquorice, one ounce, powdered; nitrate of potash(saltpetre) and muriate of ammonia, of each two drams. Dissolve inhalf a pint of boiling water, and when cool add wine of ipecac, syrupof balsam tolu, and essence of anise, of each one ounce. Dose: From ateaspoonful to a tablespoonful several times a day. An excellentremedy for bronchitis, colds, and catarrhal coughs. 

 EXPECTORANT TINCTURE. 

Take pulverized lobelia (seed or herb), powdered bloodroot, andpowdered rattleroot (black cohosh), of each three ounces; alcohol andgood vinegar, of each one pint. Digest for ten days or two weeks, thenstrain or filter and add four ounces each of wine of ipecac andtincture balsam of tolu and one ounce strong essence of anise. Aportion of honey may be added if preferred. Dose: One to twoteaspoonfuls repeated as often as circumstances require. Highly usefulas an expectorant in coughs, colds, and all affections of the lungs. 

 COMPOUND TINCTURE OF MYRRH. 

Take best gum myrrh, eight ounces; cayenne, balsam of fir, andnutmegs, of each one ounce; good brandy, two quarts. Bruise the solidarticles, and let stand two weeks to digest (shake it once or twiceevery day), then strain or filter. Or, it may be made for immediateuse by putting the whole in a stone jug and placing this in a warmsand bath or in a vessel of boiling water for twenty-four hours, shaking frequently. Dose: A teaspoonful is an ordinary dose for agrown person. Good in colic, pains in the stomach and bowels, diarrhœa, headache, sick stomach, and wherever a powerful stimulantis indicated. It is also valuable as a wash or external applicationfor sprains, bruises, and foul ulcers and old sores. It is apreparation that no family should be without. 

 SURE REMEDY FOR BOWEL COMPLAINTS. 

Take half an ounce bruised turkey rhubarb and half an ounce saleratus, steep or simmer slowly for fifteen minutes in a pint of water, strainand add a teacupful of white sugar, and heat again to dissolve; thenadd sixty drops oil of peppermint dissolved in one ounce of alcohol. Dose: From a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful every hour till relieved. An excellent remedy for diarrhœa, dysentery, and especially adaptedto the bowel complaints of young children. 

 CORDIAL FOR SUMMER COMPLAINTS. 

Take cloves, allspice, and cinnamon bark, of each half an ounce; whiteoak bark, one ounce. Bruise all, and boil in one quart of water downto half a pint; strain, add four ounces white sugar, dissolve bymelting, then add half as much good brandy as there is of the liquid. Dose: One, two or three teaspoonfuls three to six times a day oroftener, according to age and urgency of symptoms. An infallible curefor cholera infantum, or summer complaints of children, and for allbowel complaints. 

 SCROFULOUS SYRUP. 

Take yellow dock root, two pounds; stillingia root and bark ofbittersweet root, of each one pound. Boil slowly in three or fourgallons of water down to three quarts; strain, and add six pounds ofwhite sugar. Dose: Half a wineglass three times a day. A valuableremedy for scrofula, and all scrofulous skin diseases, as tetter, herpes, leprosy, and the like; also a valuable alterative in allconstitutional diseases. 

 EYEWATER. 

Take half an ounce each of green tea and lobelia herb, and tincture afew days in four ounces of alcohol and water, equal parts. Aninvaluable eyewater for weak eyes and all kinds of sore and inflamedeyes. Use it two or three times a day. 

 TINCTURE FOR RHEUMATISM. 

Take pulverized gum guaiac and allspice, of each four ounces;bloodroot, pulverized, two ounces; pearlash, one ounce; fourth proofbrandy, one quart. Let stand and digest three or four days, shaking ittwo or three times a day. Dose: A teaspoonful three or four times aday, in a little milk, syrup or wine. An almost infallible remedy forrheumatism. 

 WORM ELIXIR. 

Take gum myrrh and aloes, of each one ounce; saffron, sage leaves, andtansy leaves, of each half an ounce. Tincture in a pint of brandy fortwo weeks, and give to children a teaspoonful once a week to once amonth as a preventive. They will never be troubled with worms as longas you do this. 

 DR. JORDAN'S CHOLERA REMEDY. 

Take gum guaiac, prickly ash berries (or double as much bark of theroot), cloves, and cinnamon bark, of each two ounces; gum camphor andgum myrrh, of each one ounce; gum kino, half an ounce. Reduce all to acoarse powder and add to one quart of best French brandy. Let it standten days or two weeks to digest, shaking the bottle two or three timesa day to keep the ingredients from becoming impacted at the bottom;then strain and press out, and then take oil anise and oil peppermint, of each two drams; alcohol, four ounces. Mix the oils and alcoholtogether in a bottle and shake well till they are cut, then add to theformer, and it is ready for use. Dose: From one to two teaspoonfulsevery five, ten, fifteen or thirty minutes, according to the urgencyof the symptoms. In cholera it should be given frequently, and ifthere are nausea and vomiting small doses are preferable; a singleteaspoonful every five minutes till urgent symptoms are checked, thengive it less frequently. It should always be given alone, unmixed withanything else. In ordinary diarrhœa, one or two teaspoonfuls takenonce an hour will be sufficient. It is also an excellent remedy forcolic and pains in the stomach and bowels, and will generally settlethe stomach very soon in case of vomiting or nausea. It should alwaysbe kept in the house. Where it is needed for immediate use, it may bemade in an hour or less by using alcohol instead of brandy and byboiling all in a stone jug, uncorked, by placing the jug in a vesselof boiling water, shaking or stirring frequently. 

 PILE OINTMENT. 

Take say a teacupful of hog's lard, put in a flat or pewter dish, andtake two bars of lead, flattened a little, and rub the lard with theflat ends and between them till it becomes black or of a dark leadcolor. Then burn equal parts of cavendish tobacco and old shoeleatherin an iron vessel till charred. Powder these and mix into the lardtill it becomes a thick ointment. Use once or twice a day as anointment for the piles. An infallible cure. 

 WARTS AND CORNS. 

The bark of the common willow burnt to ashes, mixed with strongvinegar and applied to the parts, will remove all warts, corns, andother excrescences. 

 DEAFNESS. 

It is seldom that the power of hearing once entirely lost can ever berestored, and not always that even partial deafness can be cured, though it may often be relieved. Partial deafness is frequently owingto the accumulation and hardening in the ear of the ear wax, which maygenerally be remedied by dropping into the ear such articles as arecalculated to soften, relax, and stimulate. For this purpose thefollowing preparations are recommended as the best:

Take sulphuric ether, one ounce, and add to it one dram pulverizedcarbonate of ammonia. Let it stand a few days to form a solution. Ifit does not all dissolve, pour off carefully the liquid from thedregs, and of this liquid drop into the ear once a day from three tosix drops. The patient should lay his head upon the opposite side atthe time, and remain in that position a few minutes to allow theliquid to penetrate. This preparation is highly recommended, and ifpersevered in will, it is said, overcome almost any partial deafnessor greatly relieve it. 

 ANOTHER. 

Take pure olive oil, say one ounce, and half an ounce each of thetincture of lobelia and tincture of cayenne. Mix; and from a warmteaspoon drop into the ear four to six drops of this twice a day, shaking the vial well always before using it. This is relaxing, softening, and stimulating, and in all ordinary cases will answer thepurpose. Turkey oil (or grease) is said to be still better than oliveoil and may be used instead of it in this preparation. The followingremedy, long kept a secret, is said to be infallible where it ispossible for anything to effect a cure:

Take a common eel, remove the skin and intestines, and hang it upbefore the fire and let the oil drip into a pan or vessel. When donedripping, bottle the oil, and of this drop into the ear once a day ortwice a day five or six drops from a warm teaspoon. I have heardremarkable accounts of the efficacy of this remedy, and doubt not butit is good. I believe it has never been published but once before. Thesecret was obtained with some difficulty from an old negro. 

 INVERTED TOE-NAIL. 

This is a very troublesome and often painful affection. The edges orsides of the nail are disposed to turn down and grow into the flesh, giving rise to inflammation, ulceration, and often great pain andsuffering. The best remedy I have ever known in this difficulty is toscrape with some sharp-pointed instrument, as the point of a penknife, a sort of groove or gutter in the center of the nail lengthways fromthe root to the end. It must be scraped down to near the quick, or asthin as it can be borne. This renders the nail “weak in the back, ” sothat it will gradually and ultimately turn up at the sides until theedges come above and over the flesh. Continue this as fast as the nailgrows out and grows thicker, and you will eventually succeed ingetting the nail in its proper shape and position. It will be properto poultice if there is much inflammation, and also apply healingsalve. If ulceration, bathe the part also occasionally with tincturesaloes, myrrh, and opium, equal parts mixed. —_Gunn's DomesticPhysician. _

 CHAPTER XI. 

 THINGS FOR THE SICK ROOM. 

Many people are ignorant of what constitutes good, nourishing, refreshing food and drink for sick people. The following dishes areall palatable and nourishing, and are very refreshing to an invalid. Every one should have these recipes for “Things for the sick room”:

 BARLEY WATER. 

Pearl barley, two ounces; boiling water, two quarts. Boil to onequart, and strain. If desirable, a little lemon juice and sugar may beadded. This may be taken freely in all inflammatory and eruptivediseases: measles, scarlet fever, small-pox, etc. 

 RICE WATER. 

Rice, two ounces; water, two quarts. Boil one hour and a half, and addsugar and nutmeg to suit the taste. When milk is added to this itmakes a very excellent diet for children. Should the bowels be tooloose, boil the milk before adding. 

 SAGE TEA. 

Dried leaves of sage, half an ounce; boiling water, one quart. Infusefor half an hour, and strain. May add sugar if desired. Balm, peppermint, spearmint, and other teas are made in the same way. 

 A REFRESHING DRINK IN FEVERS. 

Boil one ounce and a half of tamarind, two ounces of stoned raisins, and three ounces of cranberries in three pints of water until twopints remain. Strain, and add a small piece of fresh lemon peel, whichmust be removed in half an hour. 

 ARROWROOT JELLY. 

Stir a tablespoonful of arrowroot powders into half a cupful of coldwater, pour in a pint of boiling water, let it stand five or tenminutes and then sweeten and flavor it to suit the taste. 

 IRISH MOSS JELLY. 

Irish moss, half an ounce; fresh milk, one and a half pints. Boil downto one pint. Strain, and add sugar and lemon juice sufficient to giveit an agreeable flavor. 

 ISINGLASS JELLY. 

Isinglass, two ounces; water, two pints. Boil to one pint; strain, andadd one pint milk and one ounce of white sugar. This is excellent forpersons recovering from sickness, and for children who have bowelcomplaints. 

 TAPIOCA JELLY. 

Tapioca, two large spoonfuls; water, one pint. Boil gently for anhour, or until it appears like a jelly. Add sugar, wine, and nutmeg, with lemon juice to flavor. 

 RICE JELLY. 

Mix a quarter of a pound of rice, picked and washed, with half a poundof loaf sugar and just sufficient water to cover it. Boil until itassumes a jellylike appearance; strain, and season to suit the tasteand condition of the patient. 

 GRAPES. 

In all cases of fever, very ripe grapes of any kind are a beneficialarticle of diet, acting as both food and drink and possessing soothingand cooling qualities. They are also extremely grateful to everypalate. 

 TOAST. 

To make a most excellent toast for a reduced or convalescent patient, take bread twenty-four or thirty-six hours old, which has been made ofa mixture of fine wheat flour and Indian meal and a pure yeast battermixed with eggs. Toast it until of a delicate brown, and then (if thepatient be not inclined to fever) immerse it in boiled milk andbutter. If the patient be feverish, spread it lightly with cranberryjam or calves' foot jelly. 

 RICE. 

In all cases where a light and nice diet for patients who have been orare afflicted with diarrhœa or dysentery is required, rice, inalmost any cooked form, is most agreeable and advantageous. It may begiven with benefit to dyspeptics, unless costiveness accompanies thedyspepsia. To make rice pudding, take a teacupful of rice, and as muchsugar, two quarts of milk, and a teaspoonful of salt. Bake, with amoderate heat, for two hours. Rice flour made in a batter and bakedupon a griddle makes a superb cake; and rice-flour gruel, seasoned tothe taste, is most excellent for the sick room. 

 BREAD JELLY. 

Boil a quart of water and let it cool. Take one-third of a common loafof wheat bread, slice it, pare off the crust, and toast it to a lightbrown. Put it in water in a covered vessel and boil gently till youfind, on putting some in a spoon to cool, the liquid has become ajelly. Strain and cool. When used, warm a cupful, sweeten with sugar, and add a little grated lemon peel. 

 RICE GRUEL. 

Ground rice, one heaping tablespoonful; water, one quart. Boil gentlyfor twenty minutes, adding, a few minutes before it is done, onetablespoonful of ground cinnamon. Strain and sweeten. Wine may beadded when the case demands it. 

 WATER GRUEL. 

Oat or corn meal, two tablespoonfuls; water, one quart. Boil for tenminutes and strain, adding salt and sugar if desired by the patient. 

 SAGO GRUEL. 

Sago, two tablespoonfuls; water, one pint. Boil gently until itthickens; stir frequently. May add wine, sugar, and nutmeg, accordingto taste. 

 ARROWROOT GRUEL. 

Arrowroot, one tablespoonful; sweet milk and boiling water, each onehalf pint. Sweeten with loaf sugar. This is very good for childrenwhose bowels are irritable. 

 TAPIOCA. 

Tapioca is a very delightful food for invalids. Make an ordinarypudding of it, and improve the flavor agreeably to the desire of thepatient or convalescent by adding raisins, sugar, prunes, lemon juice, wine, spices, etc. 

 BEEF LIQUID. 

When the stomach is very weak, take fresh lean beef, cut it intostrips and place the strips into a bottle with a little salt; place ina kettle of boiling water and let it remain one hour; pour off theliquid and add some water. Begin with a small quantity, and use in thesame manner and under similar circumstances as beef tea. This is evenmore nourishing than beef tea. 

 BEEF TEA. 

Cut one pound of lean beef into shreds, and boil for twenty minutes inone quart of water, being particular to remove the scum as often asany rises. When it is cool, strain. This is very nourishing andpalatable, and is of great value in all cases of extreme debilitywhere no inflammatory action exists, or after the inflammation issubdued. In very low cases a small teaspoonful may be administeredevery fifteen or twenty minutes, gradually increasing the amount givenas the powers of life return. In cases of complete prostration, afterthe cessation of long exhausting fever it may be used as directedabove, either alone or in conjunction with a little wine. 

 PANADO. 

Put a little water on the fire, with a glass of wine, some sugar, anda little grated nutmeg; boil all together a few seconds, and addpounded cracker or crumbs of bread, and boil again for a few minutes. 

 FRENCH MILK PORRIDGE. 

Stir some oatmeal and water together; let the mixture stand to clear, and pour off the water. Then put more water to the meal; stir it well, and let it stand till the next day. Strain through a fine sieve, andboil the water, adding milk while so doing. The proportion of watermust be small. With toast this is admirable. 

 COFFEE MILK. 

Put a dessertspoonful of ground coffee into a pint of milk; boil aquarter of an hour, with a shaving or two of isinglass; let it standten minutes, and then pour off. 

 RESTORATIVE JELLY. 

Take a leg of well-fed pork just as cut up, beat it and break thebone; set it over a gentle fire, with three gallons of water andsimmer to one. Let half an ounce of mace and the same of nutmeg stewin it. Strain through a fine sieve. When cold, take off the fat. Givea coffee cup of this three times a day, adding salt to the taste. Thisis very valuable in all cases of debility where animal food isadmissible. 

 DRINK IN DYSENTERY. 

Sheep's suet, two ounces; milk, one pint; starch, half an ounce. Boilgently for thirty minutes. Use as a common drink. This is excellentfor sustaining the strength in bad cases of dysentery. 

 CRUST COFFEE. 

Toast slowly a thick piece of bread cut from the outside of a loafuntil it is well browned, but not blackened; then turn upon it boilingwater of a sufficient quantity, and keep it from half an hour to anhour before using. Be sure that the liquid is of a rich brown colorbefore you use it. It is a most excellent drink in all cases ofsickness. 

 CRANBERRY WATER. 

Put a teaspoonful of cranberries into a cup of water and mash them. Inthe meantime boil two quarts of water with one large spoonful of cornor oat meal and a bit of lemon peel; then add the cranberries and asmuch fine sugar as will leave a smart flavor of the fruit; also awineglassful of sherry. Boil the whole gently for a quarter of anhour, then strain. 

 WINE WHEY. 

Heat a pint of new milk until it boils, at which moment pour in asmuch good wine as will curdle and clarify it. Boil and set it asideuntil the curd subsides. Do not stir it, but pour the whey offcarefully, and add two pints of boiling water with loaf sugar. 

 ORANGE WHEY. 

Milk, one pint; the juice of an orange with a portion of the peel. Boil the milk, then put the orange into it and let it stand till itcoagulates. Strain. 

 MUSTARD WHEY. 

Bruised mustard seed, two tablespoonfuls; milk, one quart. Boiltogether for a few minutes until it coagulates, and strain to separatethe curd. This is a very useful drink in dropsy. A teacupful may betaken at a dose, three times a day. 

 CHICKEN BROTH. 

Take half a chicken, divested of all fat, and break the bones; add tothis half a gallon of water, and boil for half an hour. Season withsalt. 

 VEGETABLE SOUP. 

Take one potato, one turnip and one onion, with a little celery orcelery seed. Slice, and boil for an hour in one quart of water. Saltto the taste, and pour the whole upon a piece of dry toast. This formsa good substitute for animal food and may be used when the latterwould be improper. 

 CALVES'-FOOT JELLY. 

Boil two calf's feet in one gallon of water until reduced to onequart. Strain, and when cool skim carefully. Add the white of six oreight eggs, well beaten; a pint of wine, half a pound of loaf sugar, and the juice of four lemons. Mix them well, boil for a few minutes, stirring constantly, and pass through a flannel strainer. In somecases the wine should be omitted. 

 SLIPPERY ELM JELLY. 

Take of the flour of slippery elm, one or two tablespoonfuls; coldwater, one pint. Stir until a jelly is formed. Sweeten with loaf sugaror honey. This is excellent for all diseases of the throat, chest, andlungs; coughs, colds, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, etc. Itis very nutritious and soothing. 

 NUTRITIVE FLUIDS. 

Following will be found directions for preparing three nutritiousfluids, which are of great value in all diseases, either acute orchronic, that are attended or followed by prostration; debility, whether general or of certain organs only; derangement of thedigestive organs, weak stomach, indigestion, heartburn or sourstomach, constipated bowels, torpidity or want of activity of theliver, thin or poor blood. These fluids are highly nutritious, supplying to the blood, in such a form that they are most easilyassimilated, the various elements which are needed to enrich it andthus enable it to reproduce the various tissues of the body that havebeen wasted by disease. In cases where the stomach has become soweakened and sensitive that the lightest food or drinks cannot betaken without causing much uneasiness and distress these fluids areinvaluable. They strengthen the stomach and neutralize all undueacidity, while at the same time they soothe the irritation by theirbland and demulcent qualities. When carefully and properly prepared, according to the directions following, they very nearly resemble richnew milk in color and consistency, while their taste is remarkablypleasant. Care should be taken that all the ingredients are of thebest quality. Soft water must be used in all cases. Fresh rain wateris to be preferred, but spring water may be used if perfectly soft. Hard water will cause the fluids to be of a yellow color, and if themilk is old they are apt to separate:

 FLUID NO. 1. 

Put a pint of new milk (the fresher the better) and two pints of softwater, in a vessel perfectly free from all greasy matter, over a slowfire. Rub two even teaspoonfuls of superfine wheat flour and twoteaspoonfuls of carbonate of magnesia, together with a little milk, into a soft batter, free from lumps; add this to the milk and water assoon as they begin to boil. Boil gently for five minutes—_nolonger_—stirring constantly. Pour into an earthen or glass dish tocool, adding at the same time two teaspoonfuls of loaf sugar and oneteaspoonful each of saleratus and table salt, rubbed fine. Stir untilcold. The fluid must not be allowed to remain in a metallic vessel ofany kind, and it must be kept in a cool place. 

 FLUID NO. 2. 

Put one pint of fresh milk and two pints of soft water in a vesselover a slow fire. Rub together with a little fresh cream into a softbatter, free from lumps, one tablespoonful each of good sweet ryeflour, ground rice, and pure starch; which add to the milk and wateras soon as they begin to boil. Boil for five minutes, stirringconstantly. Remove from the fire and add three teaspoonfuls of loafsugar and one teaspoonful each of saleratus and table salt. Observethe same precautions as in No. 1. 

 FLUID NO. 3. 

Put in a vessel, over a slow fire, one pint of fresh milk and twopints of soft water. When they begin to boil, add one tablespoonful ofwheat flour, two tablespoonfuls of pure starch, and two teaspoonfulsof carbonate of magnesia, rubbed, together with a little milk into asoft batter, free from lumps. Boil gently for five minutes, stirringconstantly. Pour into an earthen vessel to cool, and add oneteaspoonful of the best gum arabic dissolved in a little warm water, one teaspoonful each of saleratus and table salt, and onetablespoonful of pure strained honey. Stir until cold. The sameprecaution must be observed as in preparing No. 1. 

 DIRECTIONS. 

One half pint or less of these fluids may be taken at a dose, and atleast three pints should be taken during the day and the amountgradually increased to two or three quarts. Commence with No. 1 anduse two weeks, then use No. 2 for the same length of time, after whichNo. 3 is to be used for two weeks. Continue their use as long asnecessary, taking each for two weeks before changing. In all thediseases mentioned above, the use of these fluids, in connection withproper remedies, will insure a speedy restoration to health. 

 GUM ACACIA RESTORATIVE. 

Take two ounces of pure white gum arabic (procure the lump, thepowdered is very apt to be adulterated), pulverize it well, anddissolve by the aid of a gentle heat in a gill of water, stirringconstantly. When it is entirely dissolved, add three tablespoonfuls ofpure strained honey. Let it remain over the fire until it becomes ofthe consistency of a jelly. The heat must be very gentle, it must notboil. If desirable, flavor with lemon or vanilla. This will be found avery pleasant article of diet for a weak stomach. When the articlesused are pure it will be transparent and of a light golden color. Thiswill be borne by the weakest stomach when everything else is rejected. _It is highly nutritious. _

 MALT INFUSION. 

Infuse one pint of ground malt for two hours in three pints ofscalding water. The water should not be brought quite to the boilingpoint. Strain; add sugar, if desired; flavor with lemon juice. This isan excellent drink in inflammatory fevers, acute rheumatism, etc. 

 PEAS. 

Take young and fresh shelled green peas, wash them clean, put theminto fresh water, just enough to cover them, and boil them till theytake up nearly all the water. This dish, if prepared according todirections, and eaten warm, will not harm any invalid, not even onesuffering from diarrhœa. 

 MILK. 

In some cases where a milk diet is advisable, owing to the peculiarcondition of the patient's stomach it will cause distress. This isfrequently the case where there is undue acidity. In such cases, letit be prepared in the following manner and it will be found to setwell: Take a teacupful of fresh milk, heat nearly to boiling; dissolvein it a teaspoonful of loaf sugar; pour into a large sized tumbler, and add sufficient plain soda water to fill it. Prepared in the abovedirected manner it will be free from all unpleasant effects. 

 SOUPS FOR THE CONVALESCENT. 

To extract the strength from meat, long and slow boiling is necessary;but care must be taken that the pot is never off the boil. All soupsshould be made the day before they are used, and they should then bestrained into earthen pans. When soup has jellied in the pan, itshould not be removed into another. When in danger of not keeping, itshould be boiled up. 

 EGGS. 

In cases of extreme debility, eggs are most excellent. They shouldnever be boiled hard. The best way to prepare them is to beat themwell with milk and sugar. When it will be appropriate to the case, addsome fine pale sherry wine. 

 MILK FOR INFANTS. 

Fresh cow's milk, one part; water, two parts; sweeten with a verylittle loaf sugar. When children are raised by hand it is alwaysnecessary to dilute the milk. As the child advances in age theproportion of water stated above may be gradually lessened. 

 WATER GRUEL. 

Corn or oat meal, two tablespoonfuls; water, one quart. Boil ten orfifteen minutes, and strain. Add salt and sugar to suit the taste ofthe patient. This should be used freely during and after the operationof cathartic medicines. 

 CHAPTER XII. 

 THINGS CURIOUS AND USEFUL. 

 TO GET CLEAR OF MOSQUITOES. 

Take of gum camphor a piece about one-third the size of an egg andevaporate it over a lamp or candle, taking care that it does notignite. The smoke will soon fill the room and expel the mosquitoes. 

 HOW TO GET RID OF BEDBUGS. 

Bedbugs cannot stand hot alum water; indeed, alum seems to be death tothem in any form. Take two pounds of alum, reduce it to a powder—thefiner the better—and dissolve it in about four quarts of boilingwater. Keep the water hot till the alum is all dissolved; then applyit hot to every joint, crevice and place about the bedstead, floor, skirting or washboard around the room, and every place where the bugsare likely to congregate, by means of a brush. A common syringe is anexcellent thing to use in applying it to the bedstead. Apply the wateras hot as you can. Apply it freely, and you will hardly be troubledany more that season with bugs. Whitewash the ceiling with plenty ofdissolved alum in the wash, and there will be an end to their droppingdown from thence on to your bed. 

 TO OBTAIN FRESH-BLOWN FLOWERS IN WINTER. 

Choose some of the most perfect buds of the flowers you wouldpreserve, such as are latest in blowing and ready to open. Cut themoff with a pair off scissors, leaving to each, if possible, apiece ofstem about three inches long. Cover the end of the stem immediatelywith sealing wax, and when the buds are a little shrunk and wrinkledwrap up each of them separately in a piece of paper perfectly cleanand dry and lock them up in a dry box or drawer, and they will keepwithout corrupting. 

In winter or at any time when you would have the flowers blow, takethe buds at night and cut off the end of the stem sealed with wax andput the buds in water wherein a little nitre or salt has beendiffused, and the next day you will have the pleasure of seeing thebuds opening and expanding themselves and the flowers display theirmost lively colors and breathe their agreeable odors. 

 TO INCREASE THE LAYING OF EGGS IN HENS. 

Pulverized Cayenne pepper, half an ounce, to be given to one dozenhens, mixed with their food every second day. 

 THE NEW AND BEAUTIFUL ART OF TRANSFERRING ON TO GLASS. 

Colored or plain engravings, photographs, lithographs, water colors, oil colors, crayons, steel plates, newspaper cuts, mezzotints, pencil, writing, show cards, labels, or, in fact, anything. 

 DIRECTIONS. 

Take glass that is perfectly clear (window glass will answer), cleanit thoroughly; then varnish it, taking care to have it perfectlysmooth; place it where it will be perfectly free from dust; let itstand over night, then take your engraving, lay it in clear wateruntil it is wet through (say ten or fifteen minutes), then lay it upona newspaper, that the moisture may dry from the surface and still keepthe other side damp. Immediately varnish your glass the second time, then place your engraving upon it, pressing it down firmly, so as toexclude every particle of air; next, rub the paper from the back untilit is of uniform thickness, so thin that you can see through it, thenvarnish it the third time and let it dry. 

These transferred pictures make lovely ornaments for table, bracket, mantel, etc. 

 MATERIALS FOR MAKING THE VARNISH. 

Take two ounces balsam of fir to one ounce spirits of turpentine. Apply with a camel's-hair brush. 

 TO PREVENT HORSES BEING TEASED BY FLIES. 

Boil three handfuls of walnut leaves in three quarts of water; spongethe horse (before going out of the stable) between and upon the ears, neck, and flank. 

 TO PREVENT FLIES LIGHTING ON WINDOWS, PICTURES, MIRRORS, ETC. 

No fly will light on a window or other article which has been washedin water in which garlic has been boiled. 

 TO MAKE LEATHER WEAR FOREVER. 

Let it receive as much neat's-foot oil as it will take. If regularlyrepeated every three months, leather so treated seems to be imperviousto outward action and will last for years. 

 TO RENDER PAPER FIREPROOF. 

Whether the paper be plain, written, printed, or even marbled, stained, or painted for paper hangings, dip it in a strong solution ofalum water and thoroughly dry it. In this state it will be fireproof. 

 TO PREPARE WATERPROOF BOOTS. 

Take three ounces of spermaceti and melt it in an earthen pot over aslow fire; add thereto six drains of India rubber cut into slices, andafter it dissolves add of tallow, eight ounces; amber varnish, fourounces. Mix it, and it will be ready for use immediately. 

 TO CURE DRUNKENNESS. 

Keep the patient for one week freely dosed with figwort. This is asure cure. 

 TO CURE LAZINESS. 

Give the patient an occasional dose of ferri. The sulphate of ferri isthe best. It acts on the liver and vital organs, and is a sure curefor laziness. 

 TO EXTRACT THE ESSENTIAL OIL FROM ANY FLOWER. 

Take any flower you like, which stratify with common salt in a cleanglazed pot; when filled to the top, cover it well and carry it to thecellar; forty days afterwards put a crape over a pan and empty thewhole to strain the essence from the flowers by pressure. Bottle thisessence, and expose it for four or five weeks in the sun and dew ofthe evening to purify. One single drop of this essence is enough toscent a whole quart of water. 

 TO TAKE LEAF PHOTOGRAPHS. 

A very pretty amusement, especially for those who have just completedthe study of botany, is the taking of leaf photographs. One verysimple process is this: At any druggist's get an ounce of bichromateof potassium. Put this into a pint bottle of water. When the solutionbecomes saturated—that is, the water has dissolved as much as itwill—pour off some of the clear liquid into a shallow dish; on thisfloat a piece of ordinary writing paper till it is thoroughlymoistened, and let it dry in the dark. It should be of a bright yellowcolor. On this put the leaf, under it a piece of black soft cloth andseveral sheets of newspaper. Put these between two pieces of glass(all the pieces should be of the same size) and with springclothespins fasten them together. Expose to a bright sun, placing theleaf so that the rays will fall upon it as nearly perpendicular aspossible. In a few moments it will begin to turn brown; but itrequires from half an hour to several hours to produce a perfectprint. When it has become dark enough, take it from the frame and putit into clear water, which must be changed every few minutes until theyellow part becomes white. Sometimes the veinings will be quitedistinct. By following these directions it is scarcely possible tofail, and a little practice will make perfect. 

 TO MAKE LAMP WICKS INDESTRUCTIBLE. 

Steep common wicks in a concentrated aqueous solution of tungstate ofsoda, and then dry thoroughly in an oven. 

 TO MAKE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PERFUMES. 

 BALM OF A THOUSAND FLOWERS. 

Deodorized alcohol, one pint; nice white bar soap, four ounces. Shavethe soap when put in; stand in a warm place till dissolved; then addoil of citronella, one dram, and oils of neroli and rosemary, of eachone-half dram. 

 FRANGAPANNI. 

Spirits, one gallon; oil of bergamot, one ounce; oil of lemon, oneounce: Macerate for four days, frequently shaking; then add water, onegallon; orange flower water, one pint; essence of vanilla, two ounces. Mix. 

 JOCKEY CLUB. 

Spirits of wine, five gallons; orange flower water, one gallon; balsamof Peru, four ounces; essence of bergamot, eight ounces; essence ofmusk, eight ounces; essence of cloves, four ounces; essence of neroli, two ounces. Mix. 

 LADY'S OWN. 

Spirits of wine, one gallon; otto of roses, twenty drops; essence ofthyme, one-half ounce; essence of neroli, one-quarter ounce; essenceof vanilla, one-half ounce; essence of bergamot, one-quarter ounce;orange flower water, six ounces. Mix. 

 UPPER TEN. 

Spirits of wine, four quarts; essence of cedrate, two drams; essenceviolets, one-quarter ounce; essence of neroli, one-half ounce; otto ofroses, twenty drops; orange flower essence, one ounce; oil ofrosemary, thirty drops; oils of bergamot and neroli, each one-halfounce. Mix. 

If you wish to make a small quantity of any of the above perfumes, usesmall quantities of the ingredients, preserving the same proportions. 

 TO WRITE SECRET LETTERS. 

Put five cents' worth of citrate of potassa in an ounce vial of clearcold water. This forms an invisible fluid. Let it dissolve, and youcan use on paper of any color. Use goose quill in writing. When youwish the writing to become visible, hold it to a red-hot stove. 

 TO PRESERVE FLOWERS SO THAT THEIR BEAUTY WILL LAST FOR YEARS. 

Make a strong solution of gum arabic, two ounces of the gum to onepint of boiling water; shake until dissolved; then take your flowersand immerse in the solution, taking care that every part is well wetwith the solution. When dry, repeat the operation. Do this threetimes. Flowers treated thus will last for years. 

 CHAPTER XIII. 

 HOME DECORATION. 

The chief features to be observed in house furnishing are color, form, and proportion. All stiffness of design in furniture should beavoided. Do not attempt to match articles, but rather carry out thesame idea as to color and form in the whole. It is not _en règle_ tohave decorations in sets or pairs; the arrangements should all be donewith odd pieces. Every room in the house should be arranged foroccupancy, having nothing too good for use, and the judicioushousewife will follow a medium course and adopt no extreme of fashion. 

The style and arrangement of the furniture should correspond with thesize of the room, with a due regard to the place a piece of furnitureor ornament will occupy. The order of arrangement in furnishing issubject to individual taste, but the following suggestions may not beinappropriate:—

In decorating a dining-room, deep, rich tones should be used; adrawingroom or parlor should have bright, cheerful shades; in alibrary use deep, rich colors, which give a sense of worth; asleeping-room should have light, pleasing tints, which give a feelingof repose. 

 THE HALL. 

The hall being the index to the whole house, due care should thereforebe given to its furnishing. Light colors and gilding should beavoided. The wall and ceiling decorations now mostly used are in dark, rich colors, shaded in maroons or deep reds. Plain tinted walls andceilings in fresco or wainscot are also frequently used. The latestshades of wall paper come in wood colors, dark olive-greens, stonecolor, and grays, in tile, arabesque and landscape designs, and withthese are used a corresponding dado and frieze. 

A tile or inlaid floor is the most appropriate, but if circumstancesdo not admit of one of these, a floor stained a deep wood-brown, baseboard and moldings to correspond, may be substituted; when Indiamattings and rugs may be used. 

The colors now in vogue for hall carpets are crimson or Pompeiianreds, with small figures of moss-green or peacock-blue. The prevailingshades of the walls and floor should be incorporated in the staircarpet. 

If the hall is narrow, none but the most essential pieces of furnitureshould be used; but if wide enough, there may be a lounge placedagainst one of the walls, an old-fashioned clock of the cuckoo styleset in a quiet corner, two high-backed chairs upholstered in leather, a table, an umbrella-stand placed near the door, a jardinière filledwith tropical plants set near the foot of the stairway, and a hallmirror with a deer's head and antlers placed above it and a wooden ormarble slab underneath. The slab should be covered with a Roman scarf, allowing a fall of twelve inches at each end. The hatrack must alsofind a place. Family portraits or a few well-selected pictures areappropriate for these walls. 

If the door-lights are not stained glass, lace shades in designs ofbirds, cupids, and garlands of flowers are used; also, etchings invarious colors and designs are worked on different fabrics. Crimsonsilk shades lined with black netting are very desirable, as the lightpenetrating through them fills the hall with a rich, subdued glow. 

 THE PARLOR. 

The furnishing of the parlor should be subject to its architecturalfinish. The first things to be considered are the walls and floor. Theformer may be decorated in fresco or papered, according to individualtaste and means. The prettiest styles of parlor paper are light tintsof gray, olive, pearl, and lavender grounds, and in small scrollpatterns, panels, birds, and vines, finished in heavy gold traceries, with dado and frieze to correspond. 

The styles of carpet mostly used are Brussels, Wilton, tapestry, andAxminster. A tapestry carpet in light canary ground, with clusters oflotus, or begonia leaves, makes a charming background to almost allthe colors generally used in upholstery. 

In selecting the furniture, the first thought should be given to itstrue worth. Chairs and couches should be chosen for comfort ratherthan for style. They should be of solid make, easy, graceful, and ofgood, serviceable colors and materials. The most serviceable woods toselect in frames are ebony, oak, walnut, cherry, and mahogany. Theseframes are finished in different styles—plain, carved, inlaid, andgilt—and are upholstered in all shades of satin, plush, rep, silk, and damask. These come at prices within the means of a slender purse. That slippery abomination in the shape of haircloth furniture shouldbe avoided. The latest design in parlor furniture is in the Turkishstyle, the upholstery being made to cover the frame. Rich Orientalcolors in woolen and silk brocades are mostly used, and the trimmingsare cord and tassels or heavy fringe. 

Formerly the parlor appointments were all in sets or pairs, but thisfashion is no longer observed, as the most tastefully arranged parlorhas now no two pieces of furniture alike; but two easy-chairs placedopposite each other are never out of place. Here may stand anembroidered ottoman, there a quaint little chair, a divan can takesome central position; a cottage piano, covered with some embroidereddrapery, may stand at one end of the room, while an ebony or mahoganycabinet, with its panel mirrors and quaint brasses, may be placed atthe other end, its racks and shelves affording an elegant display forpretty pieces of bric-a-brac. 

Marble-topped center-tables are no longer in use. Tables in inlaidwoods, or hand-painted, are used for placing books or albums on. Asmall, airy-looking table, elaborately mounted in gilt, may stand neara window or wall. The mantel mirror, with its beveled edges and smallracks arranged on each side, looks very effective when decorated withpretty oddities—ferns, grasses, and pieces of old china. A jardinièrefilled with living plants and placed near a bay window makes anelegant ornament. Care should be taken in arranging that the room benot over-crowded. There should be a few good pictures or paintedplaques mounted in plush hung on the walls; a portrait may be placedon a common easel and draped with a scarf in old gold or peacock-blue, and tiny lambrequins, painted or embroidered, may hang beneath abracket supporting a bust or flower-vase. 

An embroidered scarf with fringed ends may be placed on the back of achair or sofa in place of the old lace tidy. A sack made of smallpieces of bright-colored plush or silk in crazy work may be flungacross the table, the ends drooping very low. The mantelpiece may becovered with a corresponding sash, over which place a small clock ascenterpiece and arrange ornaments on each side—statuettes, bannerets, flower-holders, small Japanese fans, pieces of odd china, paintedcandles in small scenes, may all find a place on the mantel. 

Window curtains of heavy fabric, hung from brass or plush mountedpoles, may be gracefully draped to the sides, while the inner laceones should be hung straight and be fastened in the center with someornament or bow of ribbon corresponding in shade to the general toneof the room. The straight shades next to the glass may correspond intone to the outside walls or window-facings; but this is a mere matterof taste. White or light-tinted shades, finished in etching or narrowlace, are always in vogue. 

The dado shades are the latest innovation in window decoration. Thesecome in all colors, from the lightest to the darkest shades, with dadoin tile, arabesque and fresco patterns, finished in lace, fringe, andbrasses. 

Portières (curtain doors) have superseded folding doors. These shouldbe in shades to contrast with the general blending of the colors inthe room. The fabrics mostly used are India goods, but they may be ofany material, from expensive tapestries, satins, and plushes, toten-cent factory cottons. The curtains, if made from striped tapestryand Turcoman, will give the finishing artistic touches to almost anyroom, but the last softening polish comes only from the genialpresence of trailing and climbing vines. 

 THE SITTING-ROOM. 

The sitting or everyday room should be the brightest and mostattractive room in the house. Its beauty of decoration should not beso much in the richness and variety of material as in its comfort, simplicity, and the harmony of its tints—the main features being thefitness of each article to the needs of the room. In these days of somany advantages much can be done in adornment by simple means. 

The wall papers mostly used come in grounds of cream, amber, rose, pale olive, fawn, ceil blue and light gray, with designs and traceriesof contrasting hues. 

The carpet, if in tapestry, looks more effective if in grounds of palecanary or light gray, with designs in bright-colored woodland flowersand borders to match. The new ingrain carpets, with their prettydesigns and bright colors, are very fashionable for rooms that aremuch used. 

Whatever may be the prevailing tint of the carpet, the window curtainsshould follow it up in lighter tones or contrast with it. The curtainsmay correspond with the coverings of the chairs, sofa, mantel andtable draperies in color and fabric. If the furniture is of wicker, bamboo or rattan, the curtains should be of Japanese or any kind ofOriental goods. Curtains of muslin (either white or tinted), gay-colored chintzes, lace or dotted Swiss muslin, looped back withbright-toned ribbons, look very pretty and are appropriate for thesitting-room at almost any season. That clumsy structure called thecornice, for putting up curtains on, has happily given place to themore light and graceful curtain pole. 

One large table, covered with a pretty embroidered cloth, should beplaced in some central location for a catch-all. A low divan, with apair of square, soft pillows, may stand in some quiet nook; a rocker, handsomely upholstered, with a pretty tidy pinned to its back; alarge, soft easy-chair; a small sewing-chair placed near a table; anda bamboo chair, trimmed with ribbons, will be tastefully arranged inthe room. Window stands and gypsy tables may be draped with some richfabric, the surrounding valance being caught up in small festoons andfastened with bows or tassels, finished around the edge of the tablewith cord or quilted ribbon. 

If the furniture is old or in sets it can be covered with differentpatterns in cretonne or chintz, which not only protects the furniturebut breaks up the monotony and lends a pleasing variety to the room. ATurkish chair is a grand accessory to the family room. This may bemade by buying the frame and having it upholstered in white cottoncloth and covering it with a rich shade of cretonne, finishing it withcord and fringe. 

A foot-rest frame can be made in the same way and covered with a pieceof homemade embroidery, finishing it off with a cord or narrow gimparound the edge. Homemade easels, screens, and pedestals may be madeout of black walnut, and when stained and draped look exceedinglypretty. An old second-hand cabinet may be bought at a trifle, and whenpolished up may be set in a corner on which to display some pieces ofbric-a-brac. 

If the house has no library, the sitting-room is just the place forthe bookcase. 

With house plants in the windows, a room of this character, withfloods of sunshine, makes a most attractive and comfortableliving-room. 

 THE LIBRARY. 

The walls of the library should be hung with rich, dark colors, thelatest style in wall paper being a black ground with old gold andolive-green designs. 

The carpet comes in Pompeiian red, with moss-green and peacock-bluepatterns. Statuary and the best pictures should find a place in thelibrary. The library table should be massive and the top laid withcrimson baize. There should be a few high-backed chairs, upholsteredin leather, a reading-chair, soft rugs, foot-rests, a mantel mirror, afew mantel ornaments, and the _piece de resistance_—the bookcase. Inlarge libraries the bookcases are built in the wall. It is quite invogue to hang curtains on rods in front of bookcases instead of doors, but we think the old style is the best, inasmuch as the books may beseen and the glass doors exclude the dust. 

Heavy curtains of raw silk, Turcoman, and canton flannel, with a fullvalance at the top, are used for the window drapery. 

 CHAMBERS. 

The walls of bedrooms should be decorated in light tints and shadings, with a narrow rail and deep frieze. Most housekeepers prefer rugs andoiled floors to carpets, but this is a matter of individual taste. Rugs are as fashionable as they are wholesome and tidy. Thesefloor-coverings should be darker than the furniture, yet blending inshade. If carpets are chosen they should be the lightest shades and inbright field-flower patterns. Avoid anything dark and somber for thesleeping-room. Pink and ceil blue combined are very pretty, scarletand gray, deep red and very light blue. Dark blue with sprays of lilyof the valley running through it is exceedingly pretty for bedrooms. Dark furniture will harmonize with all these colors, but the lightershades are preferable. Cretonnes in pale tints and chintzes inharmonizing colors are used for light woods. Square pillows ofcretonne on a bamboo or wicker lounge are very pretty. Canton mattingis often used, either plain or in colored patterns. 

Formerly the bed-coverings were spotlessly white, but the profluenttide of color has included these also. The coverings now in vogue are:Nottingham lace, darned net, applique, antique lace, and Swiss muslin. These are used over silk and silesia for backgrounds, and areexceedingly pretty, with pillow shams to match. Cretonnes, chintzes, dimities, and silk in crazy work and South Kensington patterns arealso used. 

Cheese cloth, bunting, Swiss muslin, cretonne, and Swiss curtains areused for window drapery. These may be trimmed with the same fabric orantique lace. They are hung on poles above the windows and draped backwith ribbons. 

The appointments of a bedroom are a low couch, a large rocker, a smallsewing-chair, a workbasket, footstools, a toilet table prettily drapedwith muslin, or a dressing-case, brackets for vases, flowerpots, a fewpictures, small table, hanging shelves for books, etc. , and the bed. 

The washstand should have a full set of toilet mats, or a large towelwith a colored border may be laid on it; also, a splasher placed onthe wall at the back of the stand is very essential. A screen is avery desirable part of the bedroom appointments. A rug should beplaced in front of the bed and dressing-case. 

 THE DINING-ROOM. 

The dining-room should be furnished with a view to convenience, richness, and comfort. Choose deep, rich grounds for thewalls—bronze-maroon, black, Pompeiian red, and deep olive—and thedesigns and traceries in old gold, olive or moss-green, with dado andfrieze to correspond. Or, the walls may be wainscoted with oak, walnut, maple, etc. Some are finished in plain panels, with differentkinds of wood; others, again, are elaborately carved, with fruit, flowers, and emblems of the chase. 

The floor is the next point for consideration. It may be of tile orlaid in alternate strips of different colored woods, with a border ofparquetry. Rugs or carpets may be used on these floors or dispensedwith, according to taste. If a carpet is used, the dark, rich shadesfound in the Persian and Turkish designs should be chosen. 

The window drapery should be those deep, rich colors that hold theirown despite time and use—the pomegranates, rich crimsons, dark blues, dull Pompeiian reds, and soft olives. These curtains may be hung onpoles, and should fall in heavy folds to the floor, then looped backwith a wide embroidered dado. 

Screens of stained glass are now used in the windows. They are bothuseful and ornamental, for they exclude the strong rays of the sun, and the light filtering through them beautifies the room with its manymellow hues. 

Dark wood should be used for the furniture. The chairs should bechosen in square, solid styles, and upholstered in embossed or plainleather, with an abundance of brass or silver headed nails which areused for upholstering leather and add much to the substantialappearance of the articles. 

The dining-table should be low, square or bevel cornered, heavilycarved, and when not in use should be covered with a clothcorresponding in shade to the window drapery. 

A buffet may stand in one corner for the display of ceramics ordecorated china. The sideboard should be of high, massive style, withshelves and racks for glassware and pieces of china. 

A few pictures—two or three fruit pieces and one or two plaques ofstill life—are appropriate. 

A case of stuffed birds, a few large pots of tropical plants, and afernery are in keeping with the dining-room appointments. A three-leaffolding Japanese screen should not be forgotten; also, a lamp shade ofantique lace, lined with crimson silk, is very desirable. 

 THE KITCHEN. 

It is a remark too often made that this or that “is good enough for aservant. ” If all knew that unpleasant surroundings made unpleasantservants and ill-prepared meals, we think more pains would be taken tohave pleasant and comfortable kitchens. There should be a pleasantwindow or two through which fresh air and floods of sunlight may come, a few plants on the window sill, a small stand for a workbasket, aneasy-chair that the servant may “drop into” when an opportunityoffers, the walls painted or calcimined with some cheerful tint, and ageneral air of comfort pervading the whole kitchen. —_The Popular ArtInstructor. _

 CHAPTER XIV. 

 FLORAL. 

 HOW TO CARE FOR HOUSE PLANTS. 

Plants that require a high or low temperature or a very moistatmosphere and plants that bloom only in summer are undesirable. Procure fresh sandy loam, with an equal mixture of well-rotted turf, leaf mold, and cow-yard manure, with a small quantity of soot. Inrepotting plants use one size larger than they were grown in. Hard-burned or glazed pots prevent the circulation of air. Securedrainage by broken crockery and pebbles laid in the bottom of the pot. An abundance of light is important, and when this cannot be given itis useless to attempt the culture of flowering plants. If possiblethey should have the morning sun, as one hour of sunshine then isworth two in the afternoon. Fresh air is also essential, but cold, chilling drafts should be avoided. Water from one to three times aweek with soft, lukewarm water, draining off all not absorbed by theearth. 

 DO NOT PERMIT

water to stand in the saucers, as the only plant thriving under suchtreatment is the calla lily; and even for these it is not necessary, unless while blooming. Dust is a great obstacle to the growth ofplants. A good showering will generally remove it, but all thesmooth-faced plants (such as camellias, ivies, etc. ) should becarefully sponged so as to keep the foliage clean and healthy. 

 PLANTS SUCCEED BEST

in an even temperature, ranging from sixty to seventy degrees duringthe day and from ten to twelve degrees lower at night. If troubledwith insects, put them under a box or barrel and smoke from thirty tosixty minutes with tobacco leaves. 

 FOR THE RED SPIDER

the best remedy is to lay the plants on the side and sprinkle well orshower. Repeat if necessary. If manures are used, give in a liquidform. 

Some of the plants most suitable for parlor culture are: Pelargoniums, geraniums, fuchsias, palms, begonias, monthly roses, camellias, azaleas, oranges, lemons, Chinese and English primroses, abutilons, narcissus, heliotrope, petunias, and the gorgeous flowering plant, _Poinsettia pulcherrima_. Camellias and azaleas require a coolertemperature than most plants, and the Poinsettia a higher temperature. Do not sprinkle the foliage of the camellia while the flower buds areswelling or it will cause them to droop, nor sprinkle them in thesunshine. They should have a temperature of about forty degrees andmore shade. By following these rules, healthy flowering plants will bethe result. 

A good way

 TO START SLIPS

is to partly break off the slip (but do not entirely sever it from theparent stock), leaving it hanging for ten or twelve days; then removeand plant in a box of half sand and half leaf mold and it will be wellrooted in a week. Do not water too freely or the slip will rot. 

If house plants are watered once a week with water in which is mixed afew drops of ammonia they will thrive much better. Sometimes smallwhite worms are found in the earth—lime water will kill them. Stir upthe soil before pouring it on, to expose as many as possible. Forrunning vines, burn beef bones and mix with the earth. 

 TO KEEP PLANTS WITHOUT A FIRE AT NIGHT. 

Have made, of wood or zinc, a tray about four inches deep with ahandle on either end, water-tight. Paint it outside and in, put ineach corner a post as high as the tallest of your plants, and it isready for use. Arrange your flowerpots in it and fill between themwith sawdust. This absorbs the moisture falling from the plants whenyou water them and retains the warmth acquired during the day, keepingthe temperature of the roots even. When you retire at night spreadover the posts a blanket or shawl, and there is no danger of freezing. 

 SURE SHOT FOR ROSE-SLUGS. 

Make a tea of tobacco stems and a soapsuds of whale oil or carbolicsoap; mix and apply to the bush with a sprinkler, turning the bush soas to wet the under as well as the upper part of the leaves. Apply, before the sun is up, three or four times. 

 TO PREPARE AUTUMN LEAVES AND FERNS. 

Immediately after gathering take a moderately warm iron, smear it wellwith white wax, rub over each surface of the leaf once, applying morewax for each leaf. This process causes leaves to roll about as whenhanging on the trees. If pressed more they become brittle and remainperfectly flat. Maple and oak are among the most desirable, and may begathered any time after the severe frosts; but the sumac and ivy mustbe secured as soon after the first slight frost as they become tintedor the leaflets will fall from the stem. Ferns may be selected anytime during the season. A large book must be used in gathering them, as they will be spoiled for pressing if carried in the hand. A weightshould be placed on them until they are perfectly dry; then, exceptingthe most delicate ones, it will be well to press them like the leaves, as they are liable to curl when placed in a warm atmosphere. Thesewill form beautiful combinations with the sumac and ivy. 

 TO PREPARE SKELETON LEAVES. 

When properly prepared, skeleton leaves form a companion to thescrapbook or collection of pressed ferns, fronds, etc. This is atedious operation and requires skill and great patience to obtainsatisfactory results. Some leaves are easier to dissect and makebetter specimens than others, and, as a rule, a hard, thin leaf shouldbe chosen; that is, when a special variety is not required. 

Among those which are skeletonized most successfully are the Englishivy, box elder, willow, grape, pear, rose, etc. They should begathered during the month of June, or as soon as the leaf is fullydeveloped. The leaves should be immersed in a vessel of rain water andallowed to remain till decomposed. When this takes place, press theleaf between pieces of soft flannel, and the film will adhere to theflannel, leaving a perfect network. Dry off gradually and clean thespecimen with a soft hair pencil. Place between folds of soft blottingpaper, and when perfectly dry place in your collection. 

 TO BLEACH THE LEAVES, dissolve one half pound of chloride of lime in three pints of rainwater, strain, and use one part of the solution to one of water. Forferns, use the solution full strength. When perfectly white remove toclear water, let stand for several hours, changing water two or threetimes, float out on paper, and press between blotting paper in books. 

In mounting use mucilage made of five parts gum arabic, three partswhite sugar, two parts starch, and very little water; boil and stirtill thick and white. 

 HANGING BASKETS. 

A correspondent of the _Gardener's Monthly_ tells of a new style ofhanging basket made of round maple sticks about one inch in diameter, eight inches in length at the bottom, increasing to fourteen at thetop. In constructing, begin at the bottom and build up, log-cabinfashion; chink the openings with green moss and line the whole basketwith the same. These are easily kept moist, and the plants droop andtwine over them very gracefully. A good way to keep the earth moist ina hanging basket without the trouble of taking it down is to fill abottle with water and put in two pieces of yarn, leaving one endoutside. Suspend the bottle just above the basket and allow the waterto drip. This will keep the earth moist enough for winter and save agreat deal of time and labor. Plant morning glory seeds in hangingbaskets in winter; they grow rapidly and are very pretty. —_Buckeye. _

 CHAPTER XV. 

 THE LAUNDRY. 

 TELLING OF A GREAT MANY USEFUL AND LABOR-SAVING PRACTICES FOR THE LAUNDRY. 

 TO MAKE WASHING FLUID. 

Bring to a boil one pound of sal soda, half a pound of unslaked lime, a small lump of borax, and five quarts of water. Let cool, pour off, and bottle. Use one teacupful to a boiler of clothes. This issuperior. 

 GALL SOAP. 

For washing woolens, silks, or fine prints liable to fade. One pintbeefs gall, two pounds common bar soap cut fine, one quart boilingsoft water; boil slowly, stirring occasionally until well mixed. Pourinto a flat vessel, and when cold cut into pieces to dry. 

 TO TAKE OUT SCORCH. 

If a shirt bosom or any other article has been scorched in ironing, lay it where bright sunshine will fall directly on it. It willentirely remove it. 

 BLUING. 

Take one ounce of Prussian blue, one-half ounce of oxalic acid;dissolve in one quart of perfectly soft rain water. Insert a quillthrough the cork of the bluing bottle to prevent waste or putting toomuch in clothes and you will be pleased with the result. One or twotablespoons of it is sufficient for a tub of water, according to thesize of the tub. Chinese blue is the best and costs twelve and a halfcents an ounce, and the acid will cost three cents. 

 COFFEE STARCH. 

Make a paste of two tablespoons best starch and cold water; whensmooth stir in a pint of perfectly clear coffee, boiling hot; boilfive or ten minutes. Stir with a spermaceti or wax candle. Strain anduse for all dark calicoes, percales, and muslins. 

 FLOUR STARCH. 

Have a clean pan or kettle on stove with one quart boiling water, intowhich stir three heaping tablespoons flour, previously mixed smooth ina little cold water; stir steadily until it boils and thereafterenough to keep from burning. Boil about five minutes, and strain, while hot, through a crash towel. The above quantity is enough for onedress, and will make it nice and stiff. 

 TO MAKE FINE STARCH. 

Wet the starch smooth in a little cold water in a large tin pan, pouron a quart of boiling water to two or three tablespoons of starch, stirring rapidly all the while; place on stove, stir until it boilsand then occasionally. Boil from five to fifteen minutes, or until thestarch is perfectly clear. Some add a little salt or butter or purelard or stir with a sperm candle; others add a teaspoon of kerosene toone quart of starch. This prevents the stickiness sometimes soannoying in ironing. 

Cold starch is made from starch dissolved in cold water, being carefulnot to have it too thick. Since it rots the clothes, it is notadvisable to use it. 

 ENAMEL FOR SHIRT BOSOMS. 

Melt together, with a gentle heat, one ounce white wax and two ouncesspermaceti. Prepare in the usual way a sufficient quantity of starchfor a dozen shirt bosoms, put into it a piece of this enamel the sizeof a hazelnut. This will give your clothes a beautiful polish. 

 TO CLEAN ARTICLES MADE OF WHITE ZEPHYR. 

Rub in flour or magnesia, changing often. Shake off and hang in theopen air a short time. 

 HOW TO CLEAN VELVET. 

Invert a hot flatiron, place over it a single thickness of wet cottoncloth, lay on this the velvet (wrong side next the wet cloth), rubgently with a dry cloth until the pile is well raised, take off theiron, lay on a table, and brush it with a soft brush or cloth. 

 TO CLEAN RIBBONS. 

Dissolve white soap in boiling water; when cool enough to bear thehand, pass the ribbons through it, rubbing gently, so as not to injurethe texture; rinse through lukewarm water and pin on a board to dry. If the colors are bright yellow, maroon, crimson or scarlet, add a fewdrops of oil of vitriol to the rinse water; if the color is brightscarlet, add to the rinse water a few drops of muriate of tin. 

 TO TAKE OUT PAINT. 

Equal parts of ammonia and spirits of turpentine will take paint outof clothing. Saturate the spot two or three times, and then wash outin soapsuds. 

 TO REMOVE INK STAIN. 

Immediately saturate with milk, soak it up with a rag, apply more, rubwell, and in a few minutes the ink will disappear. 

 TO TAKE GREASE OUT

of silk, woolens, paper, floors, etc. , grate chalk thick over thespot, cover with brown paper, set on it a hot flatiron and let itremain until cool; repeat if necessary. The iron must not be so hot asto burn paper or cloth. 

 FRUIT STAINS. 

Colored cottons or woolens stained with wine or fruit should be wet inalcohol and ammonia, then sponged off gently (not rubbed) withalcohol; after that, if the material will warrant it, washed in tepidsoapsuds. Silk may be wet with this preparation when injured by thesestains. 

 TO REMOVE IRON RUST. 

While rinsing clothes, take such as have spots of iron, wring out, dipa wet finger in oxalic acid and rub on the spot, then dip in salt andrub on and hold on a warm flatiron, and the spot will immediatelydisappear; rinse again, rubbing the place a little with the hands. 

 TO TAKE OUT MILDEW. 

Wet the cloth and rub on soap and chalk, mixed together, and lay inthe sun; or, lay the cloth in buttermilk for a short time, take outand place in the hot sun; or, put lemon juice on and treat in the sameway. 

 TO WASH WOOLEN GOODS. 

Many woolen goods, such as light-colored, heavy sacques, nubias, etc. , may be washed in cold suds and rinsed in cold water. The garmentsshould be well shaken out and pulled into shape. 

 TO WASH FLANNELS IN TEPID WATER. 

The usefulness of liquid ammonia is not as universally known amonghousewives as it deserves to be. If you add some of it to a soapsudsmade of a mild soap it will prevent the flannel from becoming yellowor shrinking. It is the potash and soda combined in sharp soap whichtend to color animal fibers yellow; the shrinking may be partially dueto this agency, but above all to the exposure of the flannel while wetto the extremes of low and high temperature. Dipping it in boilingwater or leaving it out in the rain will also cause it to shrink andbecome hard. To preserve their softness, flannels should be washed intepid suds, rinsed in tepid water, and dried rapidly at a moderateheat. —_Buckeye. _

 CHAPTER XVI. 

 HOW TO DO YOUR OWN STAMPING AND MAKE YOUR OWN PATTERNS. 

In the following chapter are given full instructions for dry and wetstamping, explaining how to make stamping powder, how to mix whitepaint for stamping dark goods and black paint for stamping lightgoods. 

The articles necessary are a sheet of writing paper and a piece oftransfer paper. The transfer paper can be made by rubbing white paperwith a composition consisting of two ounces of tallow, one-half ouncepowdered blacklead, one-quarter pint linseed oil, and sufficientlampblack to make it of the consistency of cream. These should bemelted together and rubbed on the paper while hot. When dry it will befit for use. 

In order to make a perforated pattern of any engraving, procure apiece of writing paper larger than the design to be traced and put apiece of transfer paper on the writing paper, then place both sheetsdirectly under the engraving and pin the three sheets together at oneend, having the transfer paper between and dark side facing thewriting paper. You then take a quill with a fine point (a knittingneedle will do nicely) and without leaning too hard go over all theoutline of the engraving. You must be careful not to press yourfingers on the engraving, as this would cause a deposit of powder thesame color as the transferring paper on the writing paper. Now removethe transfer paper and you have the design accurately traced and thepattern is ready to be perforated. Lay a couple of folds of velvet orfelt on the table, place the pattern on this, and with a needle ofmedium size or tracing-wheel prick out the pattern, being careful tofollow the outline closely and make the perforations quite close. 

 MECHANICAL ENLARGEMENT OF DESIGNS. 

The simplest way is to enlarge by the eye, as the artists do. Onemethod is to divide the whole design into squares and rule off thepaper to be enlarged in corresponding squares of larger size. Eachportion within the square is then exactly reproduced, copying theportion in the smaller square. For embroidery designs especially weshould think this would be very good. 

 DRY STAMPING. 

This is done by a process known as pouncing. The process is asfollows: Place the pattern (rough side up) on the material to bestamped, placing heavy weights on the corner to keep it from slipping;then rub the powder over the perforations with the pouncet ordistributor described below till the pattern is clearly marked on thematerial. This can be ascertained by lifting one corner of the patternslightly. Then remove the pattern carefully, lay a piece of thin paperover the stamping and pass a hot iron over it. This melts the gum inthe powder and fastens the pattern to the material. The iron should beas hot as possible without scorching the cloth. Should the heat changethe color of the material, iron it all over. Do not do any stamping bythis process on a hot or damp day if it can be avoided. Keep thepowder in a cool, dry place. In stamping with light-colored powder, the best way to fasten it is to hold the back of the cloth against thestovepipe or the face of the iron. French stamping is better, however, for all dark materials. To take the powder up on the distributor, havea tin plate with a piece of woolen cloth glued on the bottom, sprinklea little powder on the cloth, and rub the distributor over it, takingcare to shake off all the powder you can—enough will remain to stampthe pattern clearly. 

 TO MAKE A DISTRIBUTOR. 

Take a strip of fine felt almost an inch wide (a strip from an oldfelt hat is as good as anything), roll it up tightly into a roll, leaving the end flat, and rub the end over a piece of sand paper tomake it smooth and even. 

 TO MAKE BLUE POWDER. 

Take equal parts of gum damar and white rosin and just enough Persianblue to color it. Mix well together. 

Other colors are made the same, using for coloring chrome yellow (forlight-colored powder), burnt sienna, lampblack, etc. Black powder isimproved by adding a little blue to it. 

 TO MAKE WHITE POWDER. 

Take one ounce white lead; half ounce gum arabic, in the impalpablepowder; half ounce white rosin, in the fine powder. All well mixed. 

 SUPERIOR DARK BLUE POWDER. 

One ounce white rosin; one half ounce gum sandarac; one half ouncePrussian blue, in fine powder. Mix all thoroughly. 

 FRENCH INDELIBLE STAMPING. 

This is the best process for all dark materials; in fact, this and theblue powder are all that will ever be needed. By this process a kindof paint is used instead of powder, and a brush instead of a pouncet. Place the pattern on the cloth, smooth side up if you can (thougheither side will work well), weight the pattern down as in stamping. Rub the paint evenly over the perforations, and it will leave thelines clean, sharp and distinct. After the stamping is done, thepattern must be cleaned immediately. This is done by placing thepattern on the table and turning benzine or naphtha over it to cut thepaint and then wiping the pattern dry on both sides with an old cloth, or, better still, with common waste—such as machinists use to cleanmachinery; this is cheap and absorbs the paint and naphtha quickly. Hold the pattern up to the light to see if the holes are all clear; ifthey are not, wash it the second time. Do not use the pattern forpowder immediately after it has been washed; let it dry a short time, otherwise the moistened gum will clog the perforations. 

 TO MAKE THE PAINT. 

Take zinc white, mix it with boiled oil to about the thickness ofcream, add a little drying, such as painters use. Keep in a tin pail(one holding about a pint is a good size); have a piece of board cutround, with a screw in the center for a handle, to fit _loosely_ intothe pail; drop this on the paint and it will keep it from drying up. Add a little oil occasionally to keep the paint from growing toothick, and it will always be ready for use. 

 THE BRUSH. 

Take a fine stencil brush (or any brush with a square end), wind ittightly with a string from the handle down to within one half inch ofthe end; this will make it just stiff enough to distribute the paintwell. Keep the brush in water, to keep it from drying up, taking careto wipe off the water before using. 

 THE CARE OF PATTERNS. 

New patterns, before being used, should be rubbed over on the roughside with a smooth piece of pumice stone; this wears off the burr andmakes the stamping come out cleaner and finer. When patterns are solarge that they have to be folded, iron out the creases before usingthem. After using the patterns for powder stamping, snap the patternto shake the powder from the perforations. After using the patternsfor paint stamping they should be washed thoroughly with naphtha untilthe perforations are all perfectly clear. Keep the naphtha away fromthe fire. After the pattern has been washed, do not use it for powderuntil it has had time to thoroughly dry, otherwise it will gum up theholes and spoil the pattern. 

If these directions are carefully followed the stamping will always besatisfactory. —_Popular Art Instructor. _

 CHAPTER XVII. 

 BRONZE WORK. 

Bronzing is the latest improvement in waxwork, and if properly madecannot be detected from the most expensive artistic bronze. It answersfor table, mantel, and bracket ornaments, and may be exposed to dustand air without sustaining the slightest injury. It can be dusted witha feather duster like any piece of furniture, and is a very desirableand inexpensive ornament. 

The colors required in bronze are: Silver bronze, gold bronze, copperbronze, fire bronze, and green bronze. 

 THE ART OF MAKING A VASE IN BRONZE. 

For instruction, let us take a vase to be finished in copper bronze. First the vase must be molded. The casting material is one part wax, one part spermaceti, two parts mutton tallow. Melt the three articlestogether and color with burnt umber. Have a coil of fine hair wire, cut into one-half inch lengths, and when the mixture is melted to theconsistency of thick cream stir in the cut wire by degrees until thereis a sprinkling of it throughout the mixture; then pour into theelastic mold and let stand till perfectly cold and solid; then loosenthe sections of the mold and take it out. Should any of the ends ofthe wire project, they can be cut with a pair of sharp scissors. Trimthe seams caused by the sections of the mold; then take a piece ofsoft flannel cloth, dip it in the refined spirits of turpentine andpolish the vase with it, after which it is ready for bronzing. 

Take copper bronze No. 4000, and with the tinting brush bronze thevase evenly, and polish it with a soft piece of white silk. Now takeanother brush and with copper bronze No. 6000 give it the last coatThe vase is now ready for draping. The most simple drapery is an ivyvine. Take an embossed ivy leaf (or embossed muslin leaves, as theyare named), lay a fine wire along its midrib, leaving two or threeinches of wire for stem; cover the leaf with brown sheet wax, pressthem together well with the finger and thumb to make the wax adhere tothe leaf, get the impression, and hold the wire firmly; then layanother piece of wax on the under side, press the edges together andcut away the superfluous wax, leaving the edge plain (the ivy leaf isnot serrated), cover the wire stem with wax and the leaf is ready forbronzing. Rub both sides with turpentine, give one coat of bronze No. 4000, then the last coat of bronze No. 6000. When all the leaves arefinished, weave them into a spray, grading them from large to smalltill the end of the vine is reached, then bronze and drape around thevase in an easy, natural way. 

The natural fall leaves, pressed, make pretty draperies for thesekinds of vases. Sprays of mixed leaves, oak leaves and acorns, smallmaple leaves, the holly leaf and berry, mixed ivy and fern leaves, andmany other kinds of leaves and vines are equally pretty. 

 THE ART OF MAKING A MOTTO IN BRONZE. 

Take a box frame of the ordinary motto-frame size (gilt face) and lineit with either crimson or royal purple velvet, and it is ready for anydesign. The word “Welcome” is the simplest to begin with. Take a thickblotting pad, lay it on a table, rub some arrowroot or rice power overits upper surface, and lay a sheet of either calla or pond lily wax, _extra thick_, on this powdered surface. Select the style of letterpreferred; German text is very appropriate for the motto “Welcome. ”Cut the pattern letters out in pasteboard, or any kind of thick paper, if tin letter-cutters are not convenient. 

Begin with the letter W. Lay it on the sheet of wax and cut out thewaxen letter after the pattern with a penknife previously dipped inwater. Next cut the E, and so on till the seven letters are cut out, care being taken to powder the blotter every time a new sheet of waxis laid on. Lay the back of the box on the table, having melted glueready, and with a camel's-hair brush apply a small portion of it tothe back of each letter as it is set in its relative position, pressing it gently against the velvet with the palm of the hand. Theletters should be set an inch apart, and when all on the frame shouldbe set away until the glue is thoroughly dry and the waxen lettersadhere firmly to the velvet, then they are ready for ornamenting. Thisis done in various ways, and all depends on the artist's taste, but afew suggestions may not be amiss. 

Take a two-inch fern-cutter and cut the ferns out of double sheet wax;then bronze them as directed on both sides, either with gold or silverbronze. Begin with draping the letter W. Take the stem end of the fernleaf and with the bead end of the curling-pin fasten it to the lowerside of the letter; then turn it over and fasten it down in themiddle, letting the point turn outward. Set the ferns on the lettersin such a way as not to obscure their form, _i. E. _, the form of theletters. If the motto is made in white wax it should be frosted withdiamond dust. 

A pretty style of motto is clasped hands in the center, of pure whitewax, surrounded with sprays of fine flowers and buds, finished in firebronze. 

Another style of motto is a vase in the center, from which vines indifferent colors of bronze run. Green, fire, and copper bronzingshould have a light background; silver and gold bronzing should have adark background. 

 THE ART OF MAKING A FLORAL BASKET IN BRONZE. 

Take a medium-sized basket (chip or any solid substance), brush itwith glue on the inside, fill it with moss, and set it away to drytill the moss is stuck to the basket. The moss should be raised in thecenter in the form of a mound. Have the wax sheeted in carmine. Makethe center of the basket in roses, rosebuds, and carnations, as theyare the most durable. Mold the petals over the embossed muslin petalsand bronze them with fire bronze—Nos. 4000 and 6000—as previouslydirected. Drape the basket and the handle in smilax, having the waxfor the smilax sheeted in chrome green; then mold over the embossedmuslin leaves, bronze in green bronze, and drape loosely. Such abasket makes a pretty table ornament. 

 DIRECTIONS FOR BRONZING. 

All kinds of ornaments may be made in bronze—small animals, fish, shells, birds, statuary, etc. The mixture for casts should be the sameshade as the bronze used. 

Fish may be bronzed in silver, gold, and copper bronze; shells insilver, copper, gold, and some may be tinted with fire bronze on theexterior of the shell, but the interior of almost all shells must betinted with paint; dogs in zinc, silver, and copper; birds in almostany shade. 

 GREEN BRONZE STATUARY. 

Prepare the mixture in chrome green No. 1. A little rosin may be addedand a thick sprinkling of cut wire. Trim the object and rub withspirits of turpentine, then apply the green bronze—the two numbers, as directed. 

 COPPER BRONZE STATUARY. 

Prepare the mixture in burnt umber and proceed as directed. 

 BRONZING STATUETTES. 

Statuettes, or any object in plaster of Paris, may be made to resemblebronze by first rendering the plaster nonabsorbent with drying linseedoil and then painting it with a varnish made by grinding waste goldleaf with honey or gum water. 

Another method is by first painting the article, after it has beenrendered nonabsorbent, of a dark color made of Prussian blue, yellowochre, and verditer, ground in oil. Before this becomes quite dry, bronze powder of several colors should be dusted on those mostprominent parts which may be supposed to have worn bright. Plastercasts may also be made to resemble bronze to a certain extent bymerely brushing them over with graphite, which is a brilliantblacklead. 

 METHOD OF MAKING EMBOSSED MUSLIN LEAVES. 

Take a piece of green muslin or calico and size it well withisinglass, then take the natural leaf, lay the sized piece of muslinover it on the under or veined side of the leaf, let the muslin remainon it till almost dry and the impression is set; then with a pair ofsharp scissors cut the muslin around the leaf, either plain orserrated. 

The impression may be taken of any leaf or flower in this way. The useof muslin leaves tends to make the work more durable and is found veryconvenient for the artist. 

 THE ART OF MAKING EXOTIC LEAVES. 

The begonia rex makes a beautiful parlor plant. Five or seven leavesmake a nice-sized plant: Select five or seven healthy begonia leavesof different sizes, as no two leaves of the rex are of one size on thesame plant. Cut the leaves closely off the stem and immerse them in asolution of cold water and castile soap. Leave them in this twelvehours before using. Melt the wax to the consistency of cream, inchrome green, permanent green, dark olive-green, and verdigris-green. Now take a leaf out of the soapsuds and lay it on a marble slab, keeping the under surface or veined side uppermost; then with acamel's-hair brush lay on the melted wax in different shades, following the shades of the natural leaf. The soapsuds having made theleaf transparent, all the shades and spots can be plainly seen on theveined side, which is the side the waxen leaf has to be formed on. Thebelt of light green over the silvery markings of the leaf should beput on with verdigris-green. Begin the leaf in the center and continueon each side of the midrib till the edge is reached and the leaf has athick coating of wax. Then lay a wire along the midrib or center ofthe leaf, fasten it in the wax by pressing, care being taken to leaveit long enough for eight or nine inches of stem. Wire must also belaid on all the side ribs or veins leading to the midrib. These smallwires are all brought to the center wire and laid evenly by its sidetill they all come to the stem, where they are all twisted around itto form one long, thick stem. Give the leaf another coating of darkolive-green wax (this covers the wires), then finish with a thincoating of burnt umber tinted with Vandyke brown, and the undersurface of the leaf is finished. Remove the natural leaf from thewaxen and tint the veins lightly with carmine. Brush a little carmineloosely on the darkest shade in the center of the leaf, and before itsticks blow off as much as possible, when enough will be left to giveit that reddish-green tint peculiar to the begonia rex leaf. The nextis to finish the silver belt or silvery leaf-markings midway betweenthe center and the edge of the leaf. This strip must be rubbed withspirits of turpentine; then with the tinting brush apply a coating ofsilver bronze (Nos. 4000 and 6000), care being taken that the bronzedoes not scatter over the leaf. Now the leaf is finished. 

If the work is done according to directions, the waxen leaf will be atrue copy of the original. Continue in the same way till all theleaves are made, then wax the stems and run them through the begoniastemming, when they may be arranged in their natural growing manner ina flowerpot filled with moss; or, if preferred, the flowerpot may befilled with wax, in _terre-verte_ green, and the stems must be placedin it before the wax gets hard. 

 HOW TO MAKE BEGONIA STEMMING. 

Procure the bristles of a very young pig, five or six weeks old. Afterwashing, put them in a very strong solution of chloride of lime andlet them remain in it till whitened; then rinse well in warm watertill free from chlorine. Color them while damp, some in differentshades of green and some in different shades of brown. After thebristles are ready, the next thing is to make the stemming. Take asquare piece of cambric and fasten it in a stretcher, then give it athick coating of mastic varnish, and when the varnish is dry cut thecambric on a true bias into straight strips of different widths, froman inch to two inches, and half a yard in length. Lay one of thesestrips on a table or some smooth surface, add another coat of varnish, then cover it with glaucous green flock, care being taken to leave anarrow margin bare on one side to lap under the other when the pipingis being made. Dip the bristles in mastic varnish, sprinkle themthickly over the flock, and leave for twenty-four hours to dry; whenthoroughly dry, revarnish the bare edge, and turn it in underneath theother edge, thus forming the strip into a pipe, ready to receive thewire stems of the leaves. Brown and crimson flock may be used. 

For begonia rex, use crimson flock; for the rubra, use glaucous flock;and for the palmata, use brown flock. Very good stemming may be madeby tinting canton flannel, which has a very long nap or pile. 

 GERANIUM LEAVES—ROSE GERANIUM. 

This leaf is of a dark chrome green. Prepare the wax in two shades, dark chrome green and light; immerse the leaves in soapsuds for sixhours; take out of the soapsuds and lay it on the marble slab. Asthere is neither shading nor marking on the leaf, all that is requiredis to give it a coat of dark chrome green, thick enough to prevent thewires from showing; then lay the wires over the veins and coat themover with a light shade of green. Remove the natural leaf, and as thetexture of the rose geranium leaf is rather rough, rub it over withgreen flock mixed with hair powder. The stems may be left in differentlengths. 

The best directions that we can give for the tinting and marking ofleaves is to copy from nature. The cyclamen leaf is well adapted forthe practice of marking and tinting. 

The leaf of the pond lily, lotus, canna, maranta, rubber tree, magnolia, camellia, orange, and all leaves which have a waxy surface, should either be varnished or bronzed. 

All kinds of leaves may be made by the foregoing directions. —_PopularArt Instructor. _

 DECALCOMANIA. 

This is another name for a style that has been in vogue for anindefinite, period of time, and comes under the head of transferring. It is almost superfluous to mention the variety of purposes to whichdecalcomania may be applied, as it can be transferred upon everythingfor which ornamentation is required, and the variety of designs whichare printed especially for it is so great that something may easily beprocured to suit the taste of the most fastidious. 

A few of the articles that may be decorated can be mentioned by way ofshowing what a variety this style of ornamentation will embrace: Allkinds of crockery, china, porcelain, vases, glass, bookcases, folios, boxes, lap desks, ribbons, dresses, etc. The method of transferringbeautiful designs is so simple, and all the materials requisite forthe art so easily procured, that it brings it within the means ofeveryone. Flat surfaces are more suitable than concave or convex onesfor this style of decorating, for when the surface is curved thedesign has to be cut to accommodate the shape, and in this way isoften spoiled unless done by the most careful and skillful hand. Thematerials required are cement, copal varnish, designs, a duck-quillsable, and a flat camel's-hair brush. 

Cut your designs neatly with a small pair of scissors, apply thecement by means of the sable to the article to be decorated, place onyour design and press equally over its entire surface to exclude theair; dampen it a little and keep pressing equally so that the designmay adhere firmly in every part. When the cement is sufficiently drydampen again with water (a little more freely) and remove the paper. Be careful in manipulating this process, or you will remove some ofthe colored part with it. If such should occur, instantly replace itas well as you are able, or, if you have a knowledge of Orientalpainting, your panacea will be in that. You can retouch with thesecolors and bring it back nearly to its original beauty. In case youhave no knowledge of Oriental painting, match the colors as nearly aspossible with water-color paints, allow time to dry, and varnish withcopal. 

Sometimes the cement becomes too thick for use. It may be restored toits proper flowing consistency by placing the bottle in a bed of warmsand, and can then be applied while warm. If you apply your design toa dark groundwork, it would be desirable to give your picture acoating of Winsor and Newton's Chinese white. The reason for this isthat some parts of the picture are semi-transparent, and these wouldlose their brilliancy if transferred directly upon a dark backgroundwithout first painting. 

 TO TRANSFER ON WOOD. 

Dissolve some salt in soft water, float your engraving on thesurface—picture side uppermost—and let it remain about an hour. Thescreen, box or table on which you wish to transfer the design shouldbe of bird's-eye maple or other light-colored hardwood, varnished withthe best copal or transfer varnish. 

Take the picture from the water, dry a little between blotters, placethe engraving—picture side downwards—on the varnished wood andsmooth it nicely. If the picture entirely covers the wood after themargin has been cut off so that no varnish is exposed, lay over it athin board, on which place a heavy weight, and leave it fortwenty-four hours. If you wish but a small picture in the center ofthe surface of the wood, apply the varnish only to a space the size ofthe picture. Dip your finger in the solution of salt and water andcommence rubbing off the paper; the nearer you come to the engravingthe more careful you must be, as a hole in it will spoil your work. Rub slowly and patiently until you have taken off every bit of thepaper and left only the black lines and touches of your picture on thewood, in an inverted direction. Finish up with two or three coats ofcopal varnish. 

 TO TRANSFER ON SILK. 

Apply a coating of mastic varnish to the design and allow it to dry;then with a brush wash the paper surrounding the design carefully;this removes from the paper the preparation, which would otherwisesoil the silk. Apply a second coating of the same varnish, and whenthis is slightly dried place the design upon the silk or other fabricto be decorated, and with the roller press it well down. With thebrush wet the back of the paper covering the design, when the papermay be at once lifted off. Another method is to cut out the designcarefully and cover it with a thin coating of mastic varnish, and layit upon the silk or other fabric (which should be dampened) and rollthoroughly with a rubber roller; dampen the back of the paper with thebrush and lift it off as previously directed. 

 TO MAKE WAX FLOWERS. 

The following articles will be required to commence waxwork: Twopounds white wax, one quarter pound hair wire, one bottle carmine, onebottle ultramarine blue, one bottle chrome yellow, two bottles chromegreen No. 1, one bottle each of rose pink, royal purple, scarletpowder, and balsam fir; two dozen sheets white wax. This will do tobegin with. Now have a clean tin dish, and pour therein a quart or twoof water; then put in about one pound of the white wax and let itboil. When cool enough so the bubbles will not form on top it is readyto sheet, which is done as follows: Take half of a window pane, 7 × 9, and, after having washed it clean, dip into a dish containing weaksoapsuds; then dip into the wax, and draw it out steadily and plungeit into the suds, when the sheet will readily come off. Lay it on acloth or clean paper to dry. Proceed in like manner until you haveenough of the white; then add enough of the green powder to make abright color, and heat and stir thoroughly until the color is evenlydistributed, then proceed as for sheeting white wax. The other colorsare rubbed into the leaves after they are cut out, rubbing light orheavy according to shade. 

For patterns you can use any natural leaf, forming the creases in waxwith the thumb nail or a needle. To put the flowers together, or theleaves on to the stem, hold in the hand until warm enough to stick. Ifthe sheeted wax is to be used in summer, put in a little balsam of firto make it hard. If for winter, none will be required. 

You can make many flowers without a teacher, but one to assist in thecommencement would be a great help, though the most particular thingabout it is to get the wax sheeted. The materials I have suggested canbe procured at any drug store, and will cost from $3. 00 to $4. 50. 

 CHAPTER XVIII. 

Dear lady subscriber, if you are a housekeeper, or ever intend to beone, this chapter will more than repay you for what you have given forthis book. It will tell you how to save a large percentage of yourhousehold expenses, and also how to have a great many of the articlesyou use in your daily household work of a superior quality—vastlybetter than the ones you are using at the present time. 

It is a fact not generally known that a great many of the articlesused in daily household work cost little more than one-tenth of theprice the consumer pays for them. We propose to show the ladies of ourgreat Continent how to have, in most instances, better articles thanthose they are in the habit of purchasing, and at a small percentageof the cost. To do this, we have, by our own personal investigation, gathered a number of valuable recipes together, and have paid for theprivilege of using them. Remember, these are not common recipes, but afull explanation of the manufacture of different articles needed inevery household; and they combine the embodied wisdom of practical andsuccessful men and women of the past and present. 

We give in this chapter a number of recipes which have never beforebeen published, and which, once possessing, you will never wish to bewithout, as they are truly marvelous discoveries. The first threeevery mother should have; the remainder no housekeeper should bewithout. 

No. 1 is

 HEALING SALVE. 

This salve heals all sores, chaps, cuts, bruises, sore lips, chafedlimbs, roughness, etc. It is invaluable as a healing ointment and maybe applied to the tenderest skin without injury, and yet it will healthe most painful sores. A three-ounce box will only cost you tencents, and the directions are so plain that a child can follow them. 

_Recipe:_ Take one ounce of sweet oil, one-half ounce of camphor gum, and one-half ounce of mutton tallow. Melt all together over a slowfire, and stir continually until cold. 

_To use:_ Rub on part affected at night; wash off in the morning withwarm water and castile soap. 

No. 2 is

 MAGNETIC CROUP CURE. 

This is the best remedy for croup ever discovered. It will saveparents much trouble and anxiety. With this remedy all that isnecessary is (if you have any fear of croup on putting your child tobed) to take a piece of brown paper large enough to cover the throatand chest and spread it with the ointment and put across the throatand lungs; place over that several thicknesses of flannel so as tokeep the stomach warm, and keep in place with a string or bandage. Putthe child to bed, and you need have no fear of croup that night. Thisointment is also excellent for cuts, bruises or sores. Twelve centswill make enough to last a year, even if you use it frequently. 

_Recipe:_ One-half pound of lard, quarter of a pound of raisins, quarter pound of fine cut chewing tobacco. In the morning place thetobacco in a tin can and cover it with water; set it on the stove andlet it cook and boil all day, replacing the water when it isnecessary; then squeeze all the juice from the tobacco. The nextmorning chop your raisins, put them in the tobacco water and cook welltill noon; then again squeeze the raisins out of this water. Now tothis water add the lard and let them simmer together until the wateris evaporated. Now the croup remedy is ready for use. On putting thechild to bed, if you fear an attack, take a piece of brown paper largeenough to cover the throat and chest and spread it over with theointment and put it across the throat and lungs. Place over that andtie several thicknesses of flannel; put the child to bed, cover upwarmly, and you need have no fear of croup that night. 

If taken with croup unexpectedly, on hearing the cough, spread a pieceof brown paper with the ointment and lay it across the throat andchest; then heat flannel as hot as can be borne and lay over thepaper; change in about ten minutes for another hot cloth. If no fireis on while waiting for it, heat cloths on a lamp chimney. As soon asyou get the stomach covered and warm, give a teaspoonful of meltedbutter; repeat the dose in five minutes. 

No. 3 is

 WORM ELIXIR. 

The best remedy for worms known. No mother should be without it. Also, if given occasionally it is a splendid preventive. Children will neverbe troubled with worms who are given a dose of this once a month, orfortnight. 

_Recipe:_ Take gum myrrh and aloes, of each one ounce; saffron, sageleaves, and tansy leaves, of each half an ounce; tincture in a pint ofbrandy two weeks, and give to children a teaspoonful once a week toonce a month as a preventive. They will never be troubled with wormsas long as you do this. 

 WORM VERMIFUGE. 

Make a strong decoction of sage, two parts; wormseed, one part;strain, and add sugar enough to make into candy, and let the child eatof it. Infallible. 

No. 4 is

 BRILLIANT SELF-SHINING STOVE POLISH. 

This is one of the greatest inventions of the age. It has been theresult of a large amount of study on the part of the inventor toperfect a polish that would work easily and satisfactorily in aperfectly dry state, thereby obviating the disagreeable task of mixingand preparing. A good stove polish is an absolute necessity in everyfamily. To be assured that this is the best you need give it only onetrial. Now, remember, first, that this polish requires no water ormixing like the various cake and powder polishes; second, that it isself-shining and no labor is required; and third, that it has no equalin the world. 

Below are the recipe and directions for preparing this polish. You canprepare enough in ten minutes to last a year. A box holding two ounceswill cost but three cents. 

_Recipe:_ Get from the hardware store plumbago (blacklead), pulverizeit finely and it is ready for use. 

_Directions for use:_ Use a damp woolen rag, dip in the polish andapply to the stove; then rub with a dry cloth, and a most beautifulpolish will appear. 

No. 5 is

 WONDERFUL STARCH ENAMEL. 

For polishing shirt bosoms, collars, cuffs, lace curtains, etc. , putting on the same gloss and hard pearl finish as when bought at thestore new. Every lady should use the wonderful enamel for thefollowing reasons: It enables an ordinary ironer to compete with anylaundry; it makes the clothes clear and white; it makes clothes ironsmoothly, and prevents the iron sticking; it makes old linen looklike new; and it saves a woman many hours' hard work each week. It iseasily made, and five cents' worth will last an ordinary family sixmonths. 

_Recipe:_ Melt half a pound of refined paraffine wax in a tin pan overa slow fire. When melted remove from the fire and add twenty drops ofoil of citronella. Take a tin pan and oil with sweet oil, put the panon a level table, and pour in enough of the hot wax to make a depth ofan eighth of an inch. When cool, but not cold, cut in pieces about thesize of an ordinary candy lozenge. Lay them aside to cool, but do notlet them touch each other. 

_Directions for use:_ To a pint of boiling starch stir in one cake. Use starch while warm. 

No. 6 is

 ROYAL WASHING POWDER

—the laundress' assistant; warranted not to injure the finest fabric. No acid; no potash. In the wash room it saves time, labor, expense, muscle, temper, and hands. The clothes will come out cleaned andwhite, without wear or tear or rubbing on washboards, therefore willlast twice as long. For housecleaning it is unequaled. One girl canwash more clothes, paint, walls, windows or floors in a day withperfect ease with this powder than she could in four days with hardlabor, soap, and scrubbing brush, and the paint will look new andbright. It only requires to be tested to be appreciated. Packages ofone pound will only cost seven cents. 

_Recipe:_ Mix any quantity of soda ash with an equal quantity ofcarbonate of soda crushed into coarse grains. Have a thin solution ofglue or decoction of linseed oil ready, into which pour the soda untilquite thick. Spread out in a warm apartment to dry. When dry shake upwell and pack away for use. Use as other washing powders. 

No. 7 is

 MAGIC ANNIHILATOR. 

Removes all kinds of grease and oil spots from every kind ofwearing-apparel—such as coats, pants, vests, dress goods, carpets, etc. —without injury to the finest silks or laces. It will shampoolike a charm, raising the lather in proportion to the amount ofdandruff and grease in the hair. A cloth wet with it will remove allgrease from door knobs, window sills, etc. , handled by kitchendomestics in their daily round of kitchen work. For cleaning silver, brass, and copper ware it cannot be beaten. It is certain death tobedbugs, for they will never stop after they have encountered theMagic Annihilator. It is useful for many other things. A quart bottlecosts about ten cents. 

_Recipe:_ To make half a gallon, take aqua ammonia, one pint; softwater, one-half gallon; best white soap, one-half pound; saltpetre, one ounce. Shave the soap fine, add the water, boil until the soap isdissolved, then add the saltpetre, stirring until dissolved. Nowstrain, let the suds settle, skim off the dry suds, add the ammonia, and bottle and cork at once. 

_Directions for use:_ For grease spots, pour upon the article to becleaned a sufficient quantity of the Magic Annihilator, rubbing wellwith a clean sponge and applying to both sides of the article. Uponcarpets and coarse goods where the grease is hard and dry use a stiffbrush and wash out with clear cold water. For shampooing, take a smallquantity, with an equal quantity of water; apply to the hair with astiff brush, brushing into the scalp, and wash out with clear water. For killing bedbugs, apply to the places they frequent. 

No. 8 is

 I X L BAKING POWDER. 

An unsurpassed article. Can be relied on for strength and purity. Somany of the baking powders sold contain injurious substances and arealtogether unreliable. This powder can be relied on for strength andpurity. It produces the most delightfully white, light and flakybiscuits. For cakes it is unsurpassed. Try it and be convinced. Thispowder is composed of the very best and purest substances, andtherefore is perfectly wholesome. Any lady can prepare enough in a fewminutes to last her six months. It will only cost a trifle—notone-quarter of what you would have to pay your grocer for the sameamount. 

_Recipe:_ Take one pound of _tartaric_ acid (in _crystals_), one andone-half pounds bicarbonate of soda, and one and one-half pounds ofpotato or corn starch. Each must be powdered separately, well dried bya slow fire, and well mixed through a sieve. Pack hard in a tin, orpaper glazed on the outside. Buy the articles from a druggist. 

_Directions for use:_ For biscuits, pie crust, johnnycake, etc. , usethree teaspoonfuls to one quart of flour or meal; for cakes, twoteaspoonfuls to a teacup of flour. Mix well with the flour. 

No. 9 is

 ELECTRIC POWDER. 

This is one of the best articles on our list—something that everyhousekeeper needs. It is used for gold, silver, plated ware, Germansilver, copper, brass, tin, steel, window glass, or any material wherea brilliant luster is required. To make two ounces costs but threecents, and it is the best article of its kind known. 

_Recipe:_ To one pound best quality whiting add one-half pound creamtartar and three ounces calcined magnesia. Mix thoroughly together andstore away for use. 

_Directions for use:_ Use the polish dry, with a piece of cantonflannel moistened with water or alcohol, and finish with the polishdry. 

No. 10 is

 FRENCH POLISH OR DRESSING FOR LEATHER. 

This is a grand article. All that is necessary is to have your bootsclean and apply this dressing with a sponge. The boots appear like thevery best French leather. Much hard work is saved, as no brushing isrequired. To make a quart vessel full will only cost about twentycents. 

_Recipe:_ Mix half a pint of the best vinegar with a quarter pint ofsoft water; stir into it one ounce of glue (broken up), two ounceslog-wood chips, one-sixteenth ounce of finely-powdered indigo, one-sixteenth ounce of the best soft soap, one-sixteenth ounce ofisinglass. Put the mixture over the fire, let it boil ten minutes ormore; then strain, bottle and cork. When cold it is fit for use. Applywith a sponge. 

No. 11 is

 ARTIFICIAL HONEY. 

Equal to bee honey, and often mistaken by the best judges to begenuine. It is palatable and luxurious. All persons are more or lessaware that honey should be used in every household, and it would be soif every family could have it at a very moderate price. As ahealth-establishing nutriment in the chamber of the invalid, and as adelicious luxury for the well, honey cannot be too highly recommended. Any one using this honey regularly will find that he is strengthenedand refreshed by it. He will have greater energy and if at allinclined to dyspepsia will find himself greatly helped. This honeycosts but eight cents per pound to prepare, and our directions are sosimple a child ten years old can follow them. 

_Recipe:_ Take two ounces of slippery elm bark and put into threequarts of warm water and let it stand four hours; strain and add eightpounds of white sugar; boil four minutes; then add one pound of beehoney while hot. Flavor with a drop of the oil of peppermint and adrop of the oil of rose. 

 * * * * *

Any lady will readily see what a saving the possession of the aboverecipes may cause in her household expense. Thus, you can get a tencent box of stove polish for three cents, a twenty-five cent packageof washing powder for seven cents, a twenty-five cent box of starchenamel for five cents, etc. Any of the articles contained in the listwill take but a short time to prepare a large supply. 

 POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 

The first thing to do in a case of poisoning is to cause the ejectionof the poison by vomiting. To do this, place mustard mixed with salton the tongue and give large quantities of lukewarm water; or, ticklethe throat with a feather. These failing, instantly resort to activeemetics, like tartar emetic, sulphate of copper or sulphate of zinc. After vomiting has taken place with these, aid it, if possible, bycopious draughts of warm water until the poison is entirely removed. Of course, if vomiting cannot be induced the stomach pump must beemployed, especially if arsenic or narcotics have been taken. Thefollowing table may be useful for emergencies:—

 POISONS. ANTIDOTES. Acids, Alkalies: Soap and milk, chalk or soda. Alkalies, Vegetable acids, vinegar, oil in abundance. Alcohol, Common salt, moderately. Arsenic, Send for the doctor and his stomach pump. Antimony, Oak bark, strong green tea. Baryta or lime, Epsom salts, oils, magnesia. Bismuth, White of eggs, sweet milk. Copper, White of eggs, strong coffee. Gases, Cold douche, followed by friction. Iodine, Starch, wheat flour in water. Creosote, White of eggs, sweet milk. Lead, Strong lemonade, Epsom salts. Opium and other narcotics, Emetics, cold douche, and heat. Phosphorus, Magnesia in copious draughts. Zinc, White of eggs, sweet milk. Mad-dog bite, Apply fire in some form to the wound, thoroughly and immediately. Bite of insect, Ammonia, applied freely. Bite of serpent, Same as for mad dog, followed by whisky to intoxication. 

The foregoing are the more common and more important poisons and theirantidotes. —_Buckeye. _

 TURKISH LOTION. 

_The New and Wonderful Discovery for Beautifying the Skin. _

Gives to a woman of forty the fresh, bright complexion of a girl. Nomore wrinkles, crow's-feet or sallowness. 

Turkish Lotion completely cures freckles, pimples, blackheads, molesand superfluous hair, tan, greasy skin, blotches, redness, sore orchapped lips, chapped and red, rough hands; and, best of all, completely eradicates and prevents wrinkles, crow's-feet, andsallowness. 

Turkish Lotion creates a perfect complexion. 

After using Turkish Lotion for a short time a lady's skin will be asexquisitely soft and velvety, as clear and pure, as that of a littlechild. It is not an artificial cosmetic, but a cleansing, refining, whitening tonic. It feeds and nourishes the skin, preventing andbanishing wrinkles, crow's-feet, and sallowness. It is perfectlyharmless and composed of the purest ingredients. 

Turkish Lotion is invaluable to every lady. It conceals the evidencesof age. By its use a lady of middle-age will have the charming, freshlook of a girl. Every womanly woman desires to appear fresh andyouthful as long as possible, thereby making herself the wonder of herown sex and the admiration of the opposite. By using this lotionaccording to directions every lady may have a fresh, rosy tintedcomplexion of exquisite pearly fairness, free from wrinkles, crow's-feet, and sallowness. 

One application will make the most stubbornly red and rough handsbeautifully soft and white. 

Turkish Lotion is not a paint or powder, but a new and greatdiscovery—a cleansing, healing, whitening tonic that causes the cheekto glow with healthy action of the skin, and the neck, arms and handsto assume an exquisite pearly whiteness. By its use all redness androughness is prevented and the skin is beautified and rendered soft, smooth, and white, thereby imparting a delicate, refined lovelinessimpossible to describe. Any lady using Turkish Lotion will present afresh, youthful, natural appearance, with a pearly, rose-tintedcomplexion that is positively bewitching. It is without doubt the bestface lotion ever discovered, being as it is a medicated lotionpossessing healing qualities. Many ladies are troubled during coldweather with sore lips, rough, parched skin, and chapped hands uponthe slightest exposure. By moistening at night with this wash theparts affected, all soreness and roughness will be completely curedand the face and hands will be as delicately soft and smooth as thoseof a little child. 

No one need suffer any longer from any defect of the skin. 

 * * * * *

_Recipe for Turkish Lotion:_ To one fluid ounce of tincture of gumbenzoin add seven fluid ounces of distilled rose-water and one-halfounce of glycerine. 

_Directions for use:_ Bathe face, neck, and hands with Turkish Lotionat night, letting it dry on. Wash off in the morning with a verylittle pure white castile soap and soft water. If the water is hard, add a very little dissolved borax. This will prevent and cure greasyskin, freckles, tan, wrinkles, pimples, blackheads, crow's-feet, blotches, sunburn, chapped hands, sore lips, rough skin, etc. 

_To Cure Sallowness:_ Use as above directed, and ask your druggist forsome good iron tablets. Take as directed. In a short time yourcomplexion will be beautifully white and rose-tinted. 

_To Remove Hairy Moles and Superfluous Hair:_ Procure prepared pumicestone from your druggist; cut the hair as close as possible to theskin, dip the pumice in cold water and rub on the part on which thehairs grow, commencing gently at first (as it may cause slightirritation of the skin), then gradually increase the friction. Afterusing the pumice stone, anoint freely each time with Turkish Lotion. Do this twice daily, and it will surely remove superfluous hair. 

Always, after using Turkish Lotion, rub gently with the hands untilthe skin becomes dry. This will remove and prevent wrinkles andlines. 

 INDEX. 

 PAGE. Almond paste for the hands, 48Apt to be hasty, 80All is fair in love and war, 81Age to marry, the best, 99Age of puberty to marriage, from the, 107A happy marriage, the basis of, 118Abortion, 128Abortion, the cause of, 129Abortion, means of preventing, 133Amenorrhœa—suppression of the menses, 140Alterative, or liver powder, 147Anti-dyspeptic pills, 147Ague pills, 148Ague drops, 149Anodyne headache pills, 149Arrowroot jelly, 157Arrowroot gruel, 159Autumn leaves and ferns, to prepare, 181Articles of white zephyr, to clean, 184Artificial honey, 205

Breath, to purify the, 31Bleach and purify the skin, to, 31Bloom rose, 34Brilliant, beautiful eyes, how to have, 35Beautiful eyelashes, how to have, 36Beautiful mouth and lips, to have a, 39Bleaching lotion, 47Baldness, to cure, 61Bleach the hair, to, 63Boston Burnet powder, 65Birth of the first child, 89Bleeding at the lungs, 151Barley water, 157Bread jelly, 159Beef liquid, 159Beef tea, 160Bedbugs, to get rid of, 166Bleach the leaves, to, 181Bluing, 183Blue powder, to make, 188Brush, the, 189Bronze work, 191Bronzing, directions for, 193Bronzing statuettes, 194Begonia stemming, to make, 195Brilliant self-shining stove polish, 202

Cleopatra's freckle balm, 29Cure profuse perspiration, to, 31Cleopatra's enamel, 31Cure freckles, to, 31Cosmetic bath, a, 32Certain cure for eruptions, 34Clear the complexion, to, 34Cure and refine a blotched skin, to, 34Cure and prevent wrinkles, to, 34Cure weak eyes, to, 36Cure watery and inflamed eyes, to, 37Care of the teeth, the, 40Cure foul breath, to, 44Cure toothache, to, 44Camphorated chalk, 45Camphor paste, 45Cure red hands, to, 48Coarse hands, to whiten, 49Chapped hands, 51Cause the skin to become satin-smooth, to, 51Cause the bloom of youth to return, 52Cause the hair to grow, to, 60Charm those whom you meet, to, 72Courtship a momentous matter, 83Conception, 121Change, a remarkable, 121Changes in the breast, 122Childbirth a natural process, 123Cramps of the legs, etc. , 126Chlorosis, or green sickness, 137Cessation of the menses—change of life, 141Cathartic and liver pills, 147Certain remedy for ague, 148Consumption, for, 151Cough syrup, 152Cough mixture, 152Compound tincture of myrrh, 152Cordial for summer complaints, 153Coffee milk, 160Crust, coffee, 161Cranberry water, 161Chicken broth, 161Calves'-foot jelly, 162Chambers, 176Coffee starch, 183Copper bronze, 194

Decayed teeth, for, 44Decayed teeth, mixture for, 46Dye the hair flaxen, to, 63Days of the week—their importance, 68Duration of pregnancy, 123Diet, the, 124Detection of pregnancy, sure test for the, 127Delayed menstruation, 135Duty of mothers, 135Dyspeptic ley, 148Dr. Jordan's cholera remedy, 154Deafness, 155Drink in dysentery, 161Drunkenness, to cure, 168Different kinds of perfume, to make, 169Dining-room, 177Do your own stamping, how to, 187Dry stamping, 188Distributor, to make a, 188Dark blue powder, 189Decalcomania, 196

Eruptions, 24Extreme paleness, 26Excoriations, 28Eyes, to cure weak, 36Eyes, to care watery and inflamed, 37Eyes, general care of, 37Eyelashes, to improve the, 36Eyelashes, to have beautiful, 36Elegant hair, to have, 60Electrical psychology, 69Early marriage, 99Everything for love, 111Expectorant tincture, 152Eggs, 165Extract the essential oil from flowers, to, 168Enamel for shirt bosoms, 184Exotic leaves, 194Electric powder, 205

Freckles, 25Freckles, to remove, 29Flesh-worms, to remove, 30French face wash, 32French lip salve, 40Fine tooth powder, 44Finger nails, the, 49French remedy for baldness, 63Fortunate and unfortunate days, 67Fondness for cousins, 95Flirtation, 96False sense of duty, 112Falling of the womb, 143Fever powder, 149French milk porridge, 160Fluid, No. 1, 2, and 3, 163Fresh-blown flowers in winter, 166Flour starch, 184Fine starch, 184Fruit stains, 185Flannels, to wash, 186Floral basket in bronze, 193French polish for leather, 205

German lip salve, 41Golden hair secret, the, 62Gestation, period of, 122Gum acacia restorative, 164Get rid of bedbugs and mosquitoes, how to, 166Gall soap, 183Grease, to take out, 185Green bronze, 193Geranium leaves, 196

Hands, chapped, 51Hair, the, 52Hair restorative, 61Hair, to bleach, 63Hair, to dye flaxen, 63Hair, keeping curled and crimped, 63Hair, powder for preserving, 64Hair to make grow quickly, 64Hair falling out, to prevent, 65Human temperaments, the, 66How to charm those whom you meet, 72Hop bitters, 146Home decoration, 171House plants, to care for, 179Healing salve, 200

Itch, the, 17Improve the skin, to, 33Improving the hair, for, 63Important advice to females, 68Inverted toe-nail, 156Irish moss jelly, 158Isinglass jelly, 158Iron rust, to remove, 185I X L baking powder, 204

Kalydor for the complexion, 33

Lemon cream, 29Lip salve, white, No. 1, 40Lip salve, No. 2, 40Love and respect, 77Love and marriage, 94Leucorrhœa, whites, flour albus, 144Laziness, to cure, 168

Milk of roses, 33Mouth pastilles, 44Mixture for shampoo, 64Mesmerism, 70Marriage, 73Married people, 102Monogamy, 116Marriage customs, 117Morning sickness, 126Menstruation, 134Malt infusion, 164Milk for infants, 165Magnetic croup cure, 201Magic annihilator, 203

Necessary evils, 109Nutritive fluids, 162

Preparation for whitening the skin, 30Pimples, to remove, 32Pomade d'Hebe, 34Preservative tincture for the teeth, 45Powder for preserving the hair, 64Polygamy, 125Polyandry, 117Pregnancy, labor, parturition, 121Parturient balm, 128Premature labor, 128Pills for asthma, 151Pills for chronic bronchitis, 151Pills for neuralgia, 151Pills for dysentery, 150Pile ointment, 155Panado, 160Prevent horses being teased by flies, 167Prevent flies lighting on windows, pictures, etc. , 167Poisons and their antidotes, 206

Rouge, liquid, 33Rye tooth powder, 45Red hands, to cure, 48Rough hands, to cure, 49Rheumatic pills, 150Rice water, 157Refreshing drink, a, 157Rice, 158Rice jelly, 158Rice gruel, 158Restorative jelly, 160Render paper fireproof, to, 168Royal washing powder, 203Rashes and redness, 27

Skin, the, 22Scurf, scurvy, 27Soften and whiten the skin, 30Soft, white hands, 46Sexual intercourse—its laws and conditions, 105Seduction, 110Soothing cough mixture, 152Scrofulous syrup, 153Sago gruel, 159Scorch, to take out, 183

Turkish lotion, 207

Wrinkles, 28Wrinkles, to remove, 35Wrinkles, lotion for, 35Wrinkles, wash for, 35Wash for scald heads, 65Whiten the skin, to, 65Warts, 51Waterproof boots, to prepare, 168Worm elixir, 201Wonderful starch enamel, 203

 TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Obvious typographical errors have been fixed. See below for thedetailed list. 

page 11—typo fixed: changed 'Decalcomanie' to 'Decalcomania'page 14—typo fixed: changed 'Feuchwanger's' to 'Feuchtwanger's'page 15—typo fixed: changed 'Montey' to 'Montez'page 27—typo fixed: changed 'expoliation' to 'exfoliation'page 31—typo fixed: changed 'pitachia' to 'pistachia'page 32—typo fixed: changed 'skum' to 'scum'page 39—typo fixed: changed 'domimonde' to 'demimonde'page 43—typo fixed: changed 'opreation' to 'operation'page 44—typo fixed: changed 'Teuchwanger's' to 'Feuchtwanger's'page 45—typo fixed: changed 'Talk' to 'Take'page 51—typo fixed: changed 'particulary' to 'particularly'page 59—typo fixed: changed 'strengh' to 'strength'page 72—typo fixed: changed 'magnitized' to 'magnetized'page 72—typo fixed: changed 'through' to 'though'page 90—typo fixed: changed 'bady' to 'baby'page 93—typo fixed: changed 'elevaton' to 'elevation'page 101—typo fixed: changed 'eighteeth' to 'eighteenth'page 102—typo fixed: changed 'probabilty' to 'probability'page 106—typo fixed: changed 'Carpentar' to 'Carpenter'page 122—typo fixed: changed 'preceptible' to 'perceptible'page 128—typo fixed: changed 'increase' to 'increases'page 153—typo fixed: changed 'rhubard' to 'rhubarb'page 155—typo fixed: changed 'corbonate' to 'carbonate'page 191—typo fixed: changed 'tupentine' to 'turpentine'page 202—typo fixed: changed 'diagreeable' to 'disagreeable'page 206—typo fixed: changed 'flower' to 'flour'