ON THE MENACE OF HOME-BAKERY.

["Women can bake bread if they will. It is much easier than trimming hats."—"Housewife," in "The Daily News."]

Aminta, be not led away

By words that sanguine women say;

Though simpler be the baking bread

Than trimming gear for your fair head,

Let your concern remain, I ask,

The sterner and the nobler task.

The nobler task: I'll tell you why.

Shall Bloggs, our baker, wilt and die

For loss of trade, his brood of eight

Left destitute and desolate?

And must I perish 'neath the stress

Of culinary frightfulness?

No, dear. The millinery art

Is where I'd have you play your part;

For, though your hats may work intense

Despite on my aesthetic sense,

Whatever pain their crudeness brings

At least I needn't eat the things.