NEW YORK FOOD MARKET REPORT.

A semi-monthly Report of the Food Market of New York-of which the first instalment was given in GOOD HOUSEKEEPING for February 6th-will be continued regularly hereafter. It is made from actual examination of the different city markets by one who is thoroughly competent for the work.

This report will take timely note of all novelties, give the quality and price of all staple articles, with such details as may be of interest to all who are interested in providing for the family table. It will include all kinds of fish and shell fish; meats; poultry and game; butter, milk and eggs; vegetables and fruit, noting the condition of each of these departments-prices of goods, etc., with the view of giving all interesting particulars for the supply department of the Household. There are, of course, variations among the diferent markets of the country, but it would be idle to attempt to give a detailed account of the different ones. In marketing, as in everything else, "all the world goes to New York," and the New York market gives tone to other markets, in the matter of food supply and price, as it does in the commercial world.

Our Food Market Report is a novelty, which we think, has never before been attempted in print in the full detailed form in which we give it, and it cannot fail to be both desirable and useful to the readers of GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.

FIFTEEN CENT BUTTER.

An error of the types in GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, No. 19, which put down the figures for butter at 45 cents for three pounds, instead of 75, has brought many inquiries to Catherine Owen as to where butter could be had for fifteen cents. A foot-note correction on page 224 of this issue will tell our anxious readers the simple story of what a deal of trouble one little figure will make. The editor of the Delaware Weekly Morning News of Wilmington, Del., not only puts his fingers hastily into the fifteen cent butter dish, but gets "his foot in it." Upon reading the column of figures in which the fatal error had place, he says: "The writer thus shows that she has no knowledge of the running prices in the markets within one hundred miles of Wilmington, whatever she may know of other localities,”—that is to say what few markets there may chance to be outside of "one hundred miles of Wilmington." But the News makes a good point in this connection, when it says that “The secret of economical housekeeping is common sense, a thrifty nature, a good managing head, and an interest in the task," and when its editor sees that he has jumped into the arena of stricture and criticism hastily, we have no doubt he will walk out again, smiling and serene, with the passing remark that "accidentally loaded" is an excuse for "accidental discharge."

STATE DINING AT WASHINGTON.

The etiquette, formalities and decorations of a State Dinner at the Executive Mansion in Washington, are matters of interest to every American, and touch so closely upon the upper stratum of the Higher Life of the Household, that we have for publication in our next issue, a carefully prepared and appreciative chapter of the last State Dinner at the White House, a representative of GOOD HOUSEKEEPING having been favored with an opportunity to prepare the paper from actual life and not from hearsay or newspaper gossip. The paper will be illustrated with an initial letter-sketch of the White House, a fine view of the State Dining Room, one of the President's private Dining Room, and a ground plan of the White House, all of which are given for the first time in the interesting form in which this will appear in GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.

TO BE READ OF ALL MEN.

If each copy of GOOD HOUSEKEEPING that goes out to the world fortnightly should chance to have as many readers as does the one which goes to our Troy, N. Y., correspondent, as mentioned in our "Cozy Corner" department on page 213 of No. 20, we should now have one hundred and fifty thousand interested and edified readers of each issue. Be that as it may, however, we have abundant evidence of the gratifying fact that GOOD HOUSEKEEPING is one of the best and most thoroughly read publications of the time. The absorbing interest that is being exhibited in The Higher Life of The Household, is the most promising chapter in the Book of Life As It Should Be Read, which an advanced humanity is reading, in the Year of our Lord 1886.

PRANG'S VALENTINES.

Messrs. Prang & Co., whose holiday cards are household words the world over, have also a fine variety of St. Valentine cards, possessing the same merits of art and sentiment as their holiday publications. The publications of Messrs. Prang, of whatever kind, have an elevating tendency, and are devoid of the coarse and crude elements which appear in so many of the cheaper Valentine cards. In getting Prang's, one is sure to "get the best."

ETCHERS AND ETCHING.

It is not unusual among the uninitiated to hear the term etching applied to pretty little vignettes drawn with the pencil or pen. This is incorrect; etching is not an effect, but a process. To produce an etching the artist takes a plate, usually of copper, and coats it with a preparation of wax and other ingredients. Upon this ground he draws his subject with a sharp pointed instrument in such a manner that each scratch will expose the copper, and in exactly the same manner as if he were making a pen drawing. He then immerses the plate in dilute nitric acid, to the end that the uncovered portion or scratched lines may be bitten or eaten into by the acid. This is a rude description of the process, but there are many modifications and peculiar methods used by individual artists. The most important of these is what is known as Dry Point, the effect of which is to give a velvety richness, when printed, to certain portions of the work.

The printing of an etching is an operation requiring much artistic skill, as the plates depend largely for their effect upon the manner in which they are inked. It is for this reason that many etchers print their own plates. The prints are made on drawing paper and vellum paper, but proofs are usually drawn on paper imported from Japan, made principally from the cocoons of the silk-worm. Etchings, unlike steel engravings, can not be printed in very great numbers, and have a commercial value of from ten to one hundred dollars, and even more. While we must admit that we have no namesto put into competition with the two or three great reproductive etchers of Europe (that is, those who reproduce well known paintings by means of etching), perhaps in no country in the world has more original, free, creative etching been produced than in the United States. Among the number of men who have done good work in this direction is J. A. S. Monks, the etcher of several well known plates, such as In an Old Pasture," "The Hill-Side,' "The Mountain Top," etc.; the premium plate for the Magazine of Art, and plates in the published collections named respectively "American Etchers" and "Recent American Etchings."

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Mr. Monks' last work is a plate, 11 by 81⁄2 inches, made for Messrs. Procter & Gamble, and printed on Japanese paper. The subject is a flock of sheep in an old pasture, with farm buildings in the distance; the time of year, early spring, indicated by the group of lambs in the foreground, and the leafless trees in the distance; the time of day, in the gloaming, just before nightfall. There is an air of expectancy about the sheep, as though they were awaiting the coming of the shepherd, and felt some anxiety on account of their offspring. Mr. Monks is well and favorably known for his excellent drawing of sheep. The plate is full of poetry, and the movement and grouping are both alike excellent.

Fish has become so scarce in the large food depots since my last report, that it is not exaggerating to state that there will be a fish famine, unless the weather permits the smacks to again reach the fishing grounds. There has been no Oregon salmon, owing to the interruption of transportation, consequently frozen Restigouche salmon has advanced to 40 cents a pound for middle cuts and 35 for inferior ones; a small number of green Penobscot salmon appeared last week in market and were purchased by caterers at fancy prices. Shad from St. John's river have appeared for the first time containing roes; these cost 80 cents each, while brick-shad sell for 75 cents. Long Island smelt and Long Island flounders have been the most desirable fresh-caught pan-fish, the former bringing 25 cents a pound and the latter 12 cents. Shrimps, which have not been on the benches for some time, have been taken off Long Island lately; they are $1.50 a gallon, the same price as prawns and scallops, the latter being extremely scarce. Green turtle is out of market; southern dealers report large losses in turtles that have been frozen in transportation. Lobsters are very scarce and 20 cents a pound. Rock crabs have disappeared and frozen summer crabs cost $1.50 a dozen; picked crab meat is very satisfactory at this season for salads, croquettes and devilling; it is 40 cents a pound. Frogs' legs that are refrigerated are 50 cents a pounds. A Long Island trout weighing eight pounds was sent to Fulton market this week; it brought" its weight in gold." Whitebait are in very short supply and 40 cents a pound. Hardshell crabs bring $3 a hundred. Frozen Spanish mackerel are 35 cents a pound; fresh mackerel cost 12 cents each. Live cod is 8 cents, market cod is 7 cents and cod steaks are 121⁄2 cents a pound. Haddock is 8 cents and halibut 25 cents a pound. Striped bass bring 35 cents and pan bass 25 cents a pound. Eels cost 16 cents, and frost fish or tom cods are 10 cents a pound. Red Snapper is from 15 to 18 cents a pound. Large, white perch are 15 cents and small ones are 122 cents a pound. Southern terrapin bring $18 a dozen; diamond-back terrapin, whose name indicates only that they are selected for size, cost from $30 to $48 a dozen. Bluefish, small and frozen, are 18 cents a pound. Fresh-caught whitefish bring 20 cents and frozen ones 18 cents a pound. Pickerel are 15 cents a pound. Oysters and clams remain as last quoted.

SALTED AND smoked fish.

The scarcity of fresh fish causes an increased demand for preserved kinds, which arrive in large packages, and are exceedingly tempting. A marked feature in our markets is the improved supply on salt fish stalls, many varieties of pickled delicacies appearing that, in former times were only cured by the housewife, and were never offered in markets. New, Nova Scotia smoked salmon is 50 cents a pound; salt salmon is 20 cents a pound. Finnan Haddies cost 12 cents a pound. Extra, "No. 1," shore mackerel are 20 and 25 cents each. Smoked halibut and extra smoked shad are 20 and 25 cents a pound; smoked sturgeon is 20 cents a pound. Imported Yarmouth bloaters and kippered herrings cost 60 cents a dozen. Salt cod is 8 cents and boneless cod is to cents a pound. Dutch herring bring 50 cents a dozen. Salted tongues and sounds are 15 cents a pound; salted shad-roes, a great delicacy at this season for breakfast dishes, are 25 cents a pair. English sprats are 10 cents a bunch. Pickled lobster cost 25 cents a pound; and is used considerably for salads.

MEATS.

Carcasses of hot-house lamb weigh 22 pounds, and cost $18. This lamb is being cut in quarters unusually early this season, indicating a demand for it by families; hindquarters cost $6, and forequarters $4.50. Beef and mutton is now prime, especially saddles of the latter, which bring 22 and 25 cents a pound. Veal is the dearest and poorest meat in market; sweetbreads sell for from 50 cents to $1 a pair, according to size; porter house steaks and roasts bring from 25 to 28 cents a pound; sirloin steaks are 22 cents, and sirloin roasts are 25 cents a pound; rib roasts are 22 cents a pound, and round steak is 18 cents; English mutton chops are 22 cents; lamb and loin chops are 25 cents; and veal chops are also 25 cents a pound; veal cutlets are 30 cents a pound, and filet veal is 28 cents; breast veal is 18 cents a pound; shoulder of mutton is 10 cents; leg of mutton is 18 cents; hindquarter is 16 cents, and forequarter is 122 cents a pound; leg of lamb is 18 cents; hindquarter of lamb is 16 cents, and forequarter 14 cents; lamb racks are 22 cents, and mutton racks, 16 cents a pound. Corned beef costs from 8 to 16 cents a pound; stewing beef is 12 cents a pound; legs of beef bring 75 cents; shins of beef are 50 cents; filet of beef costs 75 cents a pound; Chicago beef filets, weighing from 4 to 8 pounds, are 35 cents a pound; beef for à la mode is 18 cents a pound. Fresh pork is 12 cents a pound; roasting pigs have declined to $2.50 and $3 each.

POULTRY AND GAME.

Incubated chickens are sent in small lots from New Jersey and Long Island. These have improved materially in quality since last season, when dealers complained that they could not be fed satisfactorily without an "old hen mother." They weigh this year, two pounds to the pair, are fat, and in good demand for broilers, selling for $1.50 a pair, the same price as are state and Philadelphia broiling chickens. A veteran poulterer declares he has not in forty years known turkeys so low-priced in this market; prospects are, however, that they will advance. There are four kinds of turkeys in market; from Rhode Island comes the first quality, which are 20 cents a pound; state turkeys cost 18 cents; New Jersey, 15 cents, and western turkeys, which are excellent, only 122 cents a pound. Ducklings bring 20 cents; mongrel ducks also 20 and ducks 15 cents a pound; mongrel geese cost 25 cents; geese 15 cents, and goslings, 20 cents a pound. Squabs are large and fat but dearer during February, when pigeons do not breed, than at any other time; they cost $6 and $7 a dozen. Philadelphia capons are 25 cents a pound. Partridges, grouse, quail, woodcock and rabbits have vanished from market; doebirds are also out of season. English snipe, ptarmigan and Canada bunting are brought forward to fill the gap in game lists. Antelope and bear meat are 25 cents a pound. Wild turkeys are 25 cents a pound; wild pigeons bring $2.75 a dozen; English snipe are $4.50 a dozen; black birds cost 50 cents a dozen; frozen reed birds are $1.50 a dozen; English pheasants bring $4.50 a brace; brant ducks are $2 a brace; greenwing teal, wood, mallard, black and black-head ducks are $1 a brace; canvass-back ducks are $4.50 a brace, and red heads are $1.75 a brace. Brant ducks at present weigh as much as canvas-back's but lack the "celery flavor." Ptarmigan are $1 a brace.

BUTTER, EGGS, CHEESE.

Butter churned from new milk is in market, costing from 35 to 38 cents a pound, which is also the price of Western creamery butter; unsalted butter has advanced within a month from 50 to 65 cents a pound; there is a great deal of roll butter in market-most of it is very poor, being a mixture of many manufactories-it sells for from 20 to 28 cents a pound; cooking butter costs from 16 to 23 cents a pound. Fresh packed eggs, laid within a week or ten days, are arriving in good quantities from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio and Maryland. In each barrel there are 70 dozen eggs packed in straw; cases of eggs of the same quality contain from 30 to 35 dozen; these eggs retail for 30 cents a dozen; new-laid eggs are 40 cents a dozen; imported eggs, which have come in such quantity as to reduce the price of domestic eggs, are "limed," and these are sold from 12 to 15 for 25 cents. Domestic cheese brings from 6 to 10 cents a pound for that made from skim milk; full cream cheese is 14 cents a pound; imported cheese has not altered since last quotations.

VEGETABLES.

Growers in Southern districts, where vegetables are raised for this market, predict a late crop of tender greens, the present one being damaged. These growers are active in replanting. Florida cucumbers are 5 and 10 cents each; hot-house cucumbers cost from 25 to 50 cents each. Hot-house tomatoes bring 75 cents a pound; Florida tomatoes cost 40 cents a quart. Spinach is 25 cents a half peck. Havana string beans are

35 cents a quart. Sweet potatoes, from Virginia and New Jersey, are 20 cents a half peck; from Delaware, they bring 25 cents a half peck. Spanish onions are 5 cents each. Domestic Brussels sprouts bring 25 cents a quart; those imported are 60 cents a quart. Cauliflowers bring from 10 to 50 cents each. French artichokes are 25 cents each; Jerusalem artichokes cost 10 cents a quart. Radishes are 5 cents a bunch. Lettuce costs from 7 to 10 cents a bunch. Parsnips cost from 10 to 15 cents a dozen. The best potatoes are 30 cents a peck, and from $2.25 to $2.50 a barrel. Hot-house asparagus is from 65 to 75 cents a bunch. Hothouse rhubarb cost 10 cents a bunch. Squash are 15 and 20 cents each. Cranberries are 10 and 15 cents a quart. Fresh okra is 75 cents a hundred. Water cresses are 15 cents a quart. Oyster plant is 10 cents a bunch. Celery is 12 and 15 cents a head. Mushrooms are $1 a pound.

FRUIT.

Mediterranean mandarin oranges cost 50 cents a dozen, or $1.50 a box of 3 dozen, which are put up in boxes, each orange being rolled in tinfoil; mandarin oranges from Florida bring from 60 cents to $1 a dozen; Indian river, Florida oranges cost from 60 to 75 cents a dozen; Tangerine oranges are the same. Havana pineapples bring 50 and 75 cents each. California pears sell for from $1.25 to $3 a dozen. Malaga grapes cost from 30 to 75 cents a pound; 3 pounds of Catawba grapes cost 40 cents; Concord grapes are 7 cents a pound; there are no hot-house grapes in market at present. Yellow bananas are 40 cents a dozen; red bananas are from 50 to 60 cents a dozen. Hot-house strawberries bring $6 a quart. Lady apples are 20 cents a dozen; Newtown pippin apples are nearly exhausted, those offered are $8 a barrel, and 60 cents a dozen; Baldwin and Greening apples are keeping satisfactorily,-they cost from $2.25 to $2.50 a barrel; cooking apples are 50 cents a peck.

crimson and gold. The ceiling is a lighter tint still. Three large windows looking south over the intervening gardens, the Potomac and the monument, and two looking west into the conservatory, have green brocade curtains with looped side drapery and lambrequins, over lace. The one nearest the corridor is seen in the illustration, together with the large mahogany framed mirror surmounting the long sideboard, a wall ornament-a plaque of hammered brass-and the marble mantel and mirror at the extreme western end of the room. The green figured carpet here has seen long service. The side-board, mantelpiece and mirrors are duplicated, so that the reflections from the superb crystal chandeliers, second only to those in the East room, mingling with those of the eight candelabras upon the table, seem to create an endless succession of vistas on every hand.

The mahogany table, five and a half feet wide, can be made sufficiently long to accommodate thirty-six guests, and half as many more if converted into a double T by end wings. On one memorable occasion Mrs. Hayes entertained sixty-two young ladies at a luncheon party, a greater number than have ever been seated together in that room, at any other time.

Glancing along the table, we find that the service used at the first and second courses is that decorated by Mr. Davis at the instance of Mrs. Hayes. It represents American scenery, figures, fish, foliage, fruits and flowers, painted directly from nature. We are informed that the Haviland's, who furnished the set, paid the artist $3,000 for his decorative work, which was all they received from the government, though their own outlay was not less than $17,000. As a compensation therefor they were allowed to make duplicate sets of some portion of the original, and sold many dinner services at the rate of $1,200 for 125 pieces. They had been sufficiently far-sighted to know the publicity this transaction would give them, far exceeded all they might lose.

Beside each plate were grouped six Bohemian wine glasses, a cut glass tumbler and carafe, and a champagne glass. The pepper stands were silver and the salt holders glass with golden shovels. Each plate was covered with the fantastic foldings of a damask napkin, the alternate ones containing a large corsage bouquet, no two alike. One was a dainty cluster of Marshal Neil roses; another of Bon Silene; another of Lilies of the Valley. They were tied with a broad white satin ribbon with long streamers. One end of each was crossed diagonally with the blue and the red; on the other appeared a fine etching of the White House and grounds, with a gilt-lettered date of the day underneath. A long corsage pin with round gilt head, lay also beside the bouquet, and a card bearing the name of the guest, surmounted by a golden eagle and its accompanying stars. The other alternate set of plates, held for each gentleman, only a boutonniere of green with a single rosebud, and the card with his name, by the side of a short white satin ribbon also bearing the name, and the eagle in gilt.

Down the center of the table extended a narrow mirror lake with raised side pieces, bordered with smilax and white blossoms. Directly in the middle rode the ship of state, at anchor, a yard long, formed of pink and white carnations with masts and rigging of smilax. There were tall stands of parti-colored flowers; four lighted candelebra of silver and as many of glass, and high gilt stands covered with flower-filled cornucopias at either end, quite hiding the view down the length of the table. Interspersed among the decorations were conserves, bonbons and hot-house fruits, and two triumphs of the confectioner's art in the shape of fancy moulds of jelly, upborne by large swans and eagles of white sugar. There were flowers everywhere. They overflowed the mantels, rippled along the walls, breaking the lines of the parallelogram, and made deep bays of greenery, islanded with

PRESIDENTS' PRIVATE DINING ROOM.

mantels of that room were concealed by solid bands of greenery, edged with the leaves of the pointsetta. Out of these rose the odorous spikes of the hyacinth, in which were intermingled the rich hues of orchids, roses, violets and carnations. All the window recesses of the East room were filled with small pyramids of plants, and the mantels and tables of the other parlors, all held their quotas of floral wealth; those in the blue and silver room, in holders and baskets of silver.

The decorations of these dinners are usually indicative of the profession of the guests. For instance, at the last diplomatic dinner, the principal floral ornament consisted of an immense ball, representing the globe, formed of blossoms. Sea and land, countries and islands were made of different flowers. The whole was not less than four feet in diameter, and was suspended from the pillars over the dining table. In that given to the Justices, the scales of Justice were formed out of red and white carnations with a dove resting on the beam.

The invitations,-on engraved forms, the names filled in with pen,-had set the hour at half-past seven, and by the time the house was ready, the servants and ushers in their places and the Marine band stationed in the vestibule, the carriages began to arrive. It may be stated here that the following form of invitation has been in use since the days of Washington: