one end, turn it down, make a knob about the size of a cherry-stone, and with dry yellow, color the tip of it. For the petals, use double white wax. Of figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 cut three petals of each size; of 6, 7 and 8 cut six of each; pass them through the arrowroot as directed for the narcissus. Then lightly rub a small portion of yellow on each petal just above the pointed part; it must be very little and very light in color. All must be thus colored except the largest (fig. 8). Lay petals (fig. 2) in your left hand, with the colored part uppermost; press them with the little finger of the right hand to form them into shape, pinch them slightly together at the top; then place them upright in a triangle round the knob, taking care that they are sufficiently closed at the top to prevent the knob showing inside. Proceed in the same way with figures 3 and 4; press fig. 5 with the fingers, but do not pinch it at the top. Take fig. 6, lay it on the hand, this time with the colored part downwards, press upon one side of the petal with the finger, then the ather, placing the top of the finger quite on the top of the petal, and bringing it downwards, press the pin a little way up the centre of the petal from the pointed part upwards, and on the side which is colored. This is the row which commences that part of the flower which is turned backwards. Place on three petals in a triangle, with the colored side uppermost, and laying backwards instead of upright as before. Put the three remaining petals on in the divisions left by the arrangement of the first three. No. 7 must be pressed in the same way. Begin the row by placing on one petal in any of the spaces of the last row, miss the following space, put another petal in the next, miss the next

space again, and put a third petal in the next space; this will be three petals out of the six; and place on the remaining three of the same size in those divisions or spaces which are left by this arrangement. Be very careful to keep your flowers perfectly round. Press No. 8 as the others, and place on three in a triangle, then the other three; mind the petals do not come, each one evenly, behind those of the last row; by looking at the back of the flower you will easily see where they are needed. Cut the calyx (fig. 1) in light green doubled wax, slightly tinge it round the edge with brown, lay it in the hand the brown side downwards, hollow it with the finger, slightly mark it across with the pin a little above the point, place on three in a triangle, then the other three. Mind, in putting on the calyx, not to press down the rounded part, but fix it on by that part across which you pressed the pin. Stalk the flower smoothly. Fig. 9 is the size for the leaves; they may be cut smaller if preferred. I have given the largest size. Cut them in the darkest green wax for the fronts and olive green for the backs. Rub the fronts lightly with a bit of flannel, to make them shiny; press them, as directed in the last number; fasten them on to the stalk of the flower, in the position shown in the engraving of the formed flower.

Those who find a difficulty in obtaining leaves. to vein from in winter, and are not lucky enough to possess a conservatory, can easily procure at a florist's as many leaves as they want for a few pence. The camellia leaves, if kept in water, will last fit for use some weeks.

Take care that all the petals in this flower are well pressed on, and worked firmly on with the pin.

WOOLLEN CARPETS.

These winter comforts are now being laid aside as the season opens for cool, clean matting and polished floors. The amount of dust of which our houses are relieved in this process is suggestive. May not this way of covering our floors, more prevalent in America than any where else, cause a great deal of mischief? The atmosphere of a living room so furnished, every one who enters bringing a little fresh dust and at each step raising what is already there, cannot possibly be as pure as if the floor was bare and wiped every day. And that this in-door dust, freighted with atoms of wool, is a very different thing to the lungs from the dust of the highway, is self-evident. Look attentively at the floating motes made visible by a stream of sunshine-that arch revealer of evils-and your wonder will be that those who breathe all day an air so clogged with impurities, do not go into a consumption forthwith.

"I think that in the future something will be found to take the place of carpets," said a lady whose exquisite housekeeping, the result of wisdom to plan and skill to compass every desirable comfort, gives weight to any thought she may have upon the subject. What this substitute may be, is not so easy to say. The warmth, and quietness, and convenience of a carpet tacked down in autumn to remain through the cold weather, everybody knows; but whether we do not pay dearly for these benefits is a matter for reflection, whether the impaired vitality of the air in living rooms, resulting from this cause does not go far to account for the difference in strength between women of the present day and their grandmothers. In the early times of the country, carpets were rare. Our ancestors had many privations, but the pure, life-sustaining air they breathed made hardship light and privation unfelt. Better the bare simplicity of their ways, than our multiplied inventions for ease and luxury, if these modern improvements, while apparently pleasant, are to go on insidiously taking the zest out of life. At some enlightened future day, when the problem of warmth and ventilation in northern climates shall be solved, it will seem incredible that men were at the same time so lavish for upholstery and art, so niggardly for that on which the enjoyment of it all depends. But until people emerge from barbarism, the ornamental will be preferred to the useful.

The universal use of woollen carpets has something to do with the modern difficulty of getting housework done. It used to be a healthful employment to take care of a house. If there are

ASTONISHING BARBARISM.

We cut the following from one of the very latest London magazines:

A lady, dating from Edinburgh, and who incloses us her card, writes as follows, begging us to invite correspondence on the important subject: "I have been abroad for the last four years, during which I left my daughter at a large and fashionable boarding-school near London. I sent for her home directly I arrived, and having had no bad accounts of her health during my absence, I expected to see a fresh, rosy girl of seventeen come bounding to welcome me. What then was my surprise to see a tall pale young lady glide slowly in with measured gait and languidly embrace me? When she had removed her mantle I understood at once what had been mainly instrumental in metamorphosing my merry romping girl to a pale, fashionable belle. Her waist had, during the four years she had been at school, been reduced to such absurdly small dimensions that I could easily have clasped it with my two hands. How could you be so foolish,' I exclaimed, as to sacrifice your health for the sake of a fashionable figure?' 'Please don't blame me, mamma,' she replied; I assure you I would not have voluntarily submitted to the torture I have suffered for all the admiration in the world.' She then told me how the most merciless system of tight-lacing was the rule of the establishment, and how she and her forty or fifty fellow-pupils had been daily imprisoned in vices of whalebone drawn tight by the muscular arms of sturdy waiting-maids, till the fashionable standard of tenuity was attained. The torture at first was, she declared, often intolerable; but all entreaties were vain, as no relaxation of the cruel laces was allowed during the day under any pretext except decided illness. But why did you 'As soon not complain to me at first?' I inquired. as I found to what a system of torture I was condemned,' she replied, 'I wrote a long letter to you describing my sufferings, and praying you to take

me away; but the lady principal made it a rule to revise all letters sent by or received by the pupils, and when she saw mine she not only refused to let it pass, but punished me severely for rebelling against the discipline of the school.' 'At least you will now obtain relief from your sufferings,' I exclaimed, for you shall not go back to that school any more.' On attempting to discontinue the tightlacing, however, my daughter found that she had been so weakened by the severe pressure of the last four years, that her muscles were powerless to support her, and she has therefore been compelled to lace as tight as ever, or nearly so.. She says, however, that she does not suffer much inconvenience now, or indeed after the first two years, so wonderful is the power of Nature to accommodate herself to circumstances. The mischief is done; her muscles have been, so to speak, murdered, and she must submit for life to be encased in a stiff panoply of whalebone and steel; and all this torture and misery for what? merely to attract admiration for her small waist. I called on the lady principal of the establishment the next day, and was told that very few ladies objected to their daughters having their figures improved-that small waists were just now as fashionable as ever, and that no young lady could go into good society with a coarse, clumsy waist like a rustic-that she had always given great satisfaction by her system, which she assured me required unremitting perseverance and strictness, owing to the obstinacy of young girls, and the diffieulty of making them understand the importance of a good figure. Finding that I could not touch the heart of this female inquisitor, who was so blinded by fashion, I determined to write to you and inform your readers of the system adopted in fashionable boarding-schools, so that if they do not wish their daughters tortured into wasp-waisted invalids, they may avoid sending them to schools where the eorsetscrew is an institution of the establishment."

"Lynn, Mass., March 16, 1867.

"DEACON & PETERSON: "DEAR SIRS :-I received the Machine on Saturday last, and it is now in complete running order. The magazines I received to day. Your great generosity deserves especial commendation from me, and a full share of patronage from the public. Your magazine is all that could be desired, the fashions being much better adapted to the style of Boston ladies than those of any other magazine in the States. My subscribers are all satisfied. I am satisfied, and trust you will be when I send my next year's club.

"Yours truly,

"LAURA L. PHILLIPS. "P. S.-I forgot to acknowledge the receipt of a beautiful engraving, which is well worth the price of subscription for the "Lady's Friend,”

"New Liberty, Iowa, Feb. 17th, 1867. "MESSRS. DEACON & PETERSON:-I received your favor of January, and am only happy in expressing the admiration I feel for your magazine. I consider it the best ladies' book in existence-just

such a magazine as an American mother would proudly place in her child's hand, and triumphantly point to the literature of loved America. The engraving more than repays all the trouble; but when I call to mind that very useful article (Clothes Wringer) which came to hand February 9th, I can truly feel myself under obligations. If the prayer of one of Iowa's children could insure you a boundless circulation, it would assuredly be yours. "Very truly,

"HATTIE SACRIDER."

"Pawtucket, R. I., March 20th, 1867. "DEACON & PETERSON:-I write to thank you for the beautiful teapots, which came safe to hand on Monday. Every one that has seen them says that they are splendid. Likewise the books and engraving came safe. I heartily thank you for the gentlemanly manner in which you have fulfilled your engagements with me. I can truly say that my sewing-machine, after one year's trial, is all that I could ask. I would not be willing to part with it if I could not procure another. The engravings gave perfect satisfaction. I feel well paid for my efforts, and another year I hope I can do more for you. Respectfully,

MRS. A. G. BUCKLIN."

SUNSHINE.

"There is a vital relation between sunshine and a vigorous human being. Seclusion from sunshine is one of the greatest misfortunes of civilized lite. The same cause which makes potato-vines white and sickly when grown in dark cellars, operates to produce the pale, sickly girls that are reared in our parlors. Expose either to the direct rays of the sun, and they begin to show color, health and strength.

"When in London, some years ago, I visited an establishment which had acquired a wide reputation for the care of those diseases in which prostration and nervous derangement were prominent the use made of sunshine. The slate roof had been symptoms. I soon found the secret of success in removed and a glass one substituted. The upper story was divided into sixteen small rooms, eash provided with lounges, washing apparatus, etc. The patients, on entering each his little partment, removed all his clothing, and exposed himself to the direct rays of the sun. Lying on the lounge and turning over from time to time, each and every part of the body was thus exposed to the life-giving rays of the sun. Several London physicians candidly confessed to me that many cases which seemed only waiting for the shroud were galvanized into life and health by this process."-DIO LEWIS.

A VERY SUPERIOR STORY.-"Joyce Dormer's Story," now running through the columns of Tax SATURDAY EVENING POST, belongs to the higher kind of fiction-that which while enchaining the interest satisfies the intellect, embodying as it does the latest and best thoughts of superior minds. Coming in instalments every week, we know from our own experience it is a rare feast. We very much prefer this way of reading a story; the greatest possible amount of pleasure is got out of it.

THE POST also contains weekly selections from the best foreign and domestic sources, which we think unrivalled alike for interest and variety. And the amount of beautiful poetry which it lays before its subscribers in the course of the year is