EDITOR'S EDITORIAL CHIT- CHAT . A WORD ABOUT INDIGESTION.- Dyspepsia, or indigestion,is a common American disease . We cat too much, as a people, and take too little invigorating exercise, and as a consequence pay the penalty of dyspepsia, as may be seen in our comparatively sallow complexions, and is felt by tens of thousands of us in headaches, nervousness, and other ailments. Every physician knows that indigestion is the canse of half the minor diseases to which he is called to administer. It results from various causes besides those we have mentioned. Grief, anxiety, hard study, indolence, excessive drinking, and smoking, improper food, imperfect mastication from loss of teeth, and over-feeding are the causes which usually occasion dyspepsia ; the most common of all being the use of spirituous liquors, and the habit of bolting the food. When mastication is imperfectly per formed the appetite is not so soon satisfied, and the result is, the patient continues eating, and the stomach becomes distended before he is conscious that he has had enough. Now, however, he regrets his hearty meal, as the organ, from its loaded condition, gravitates downward ; or, as it presses upward, preventing the descent of the diaphragm, and thereby obstructing his breathing, he feels considerable discomfort, and expresses himself at a loss to understand why it is he should feel such a sinking sensation, such a fluttering at his chest, after taking food. " At one time," he will exclaim, " I could eat anything; but now the slightest thing seems to disagree with me." A dilated stomach, in consequence of over-feeding, is the secret of his discomfiture, and accompanying this he may have actual pain at the pit of the stomach; he may suffer from waterbrash, or flatulence, with a torpid condition of bowels, and palpitation. Or, in addition to all this, he may be afflicted with great depression of spirits amounting to melancholy, may have the fear of sudden death, or even be disposed to suicide. Now what is the cure ? In the treatment of dyspepsia medicines can be of but little avail if the patient cannot be induced, in the first place, to depart from the habits which have been the cause of his illness. If mental emotion, anxiety, or close application to study or business be the cause, change of air, fresh scenery, and agreeable society will do much for the patient ; but if his symptoms be attributable to late hours, the luxurious table, the vitiated atmosphere of the theatre and the ball-room, he must forsake these baneful associations, at least in part, ere he can hope to derive any benefit. In a word, he must live according to the laws of nature. So must a woman, too, if she would escape dyspepsia. We say women also, for in this country the sex, perhaps, suffers more from this evil than man.
TABLE . A NEW STYLE OF TUNIC has been introduced that can be worn indiscriminately, no matter whether the dress be high or low. The material of the tunic is China crepe ; the front describes a round tablier, and at the back it forms a double panier, the whole being bordered with black velvet, and either fringe or guipure; a bodice is sewn to the tunic; it is low and square, and a wide band of black velvet replaces the berthe; short sleeves, edged with black velvet; black velvet sash, with a bow at the side, and a large velvet bow fastening up the panier. The same style is also made in white China crepe, with cross-cut bands of white gros grain, ornamented with gimp. TO MAKE LINEN WHITE.-The washerwomen of Holland and Belgium, who get up their linen so beautifully white, use refined borax as a washing-powder instead of soda, in the proportion of a large handful of borax-powder to al nt ten gallons of boiling water; and they save in soap nearly half. For laces, cambrics, etc., an extra quantity of the powder is used . Borax being a nentral salt, does not in the slightest degree injure the texture of the linen ; it softens the hardest water, and, therefore, it should be kept on every toilet-table. It is advantageously used for cleansing the hair, and is an excellent dentifrice.
NO ADVANCE IN PRICE.-The Manistee (Mich.) Times says of this Magazine :-" It has steadily adhered to its original price, while a 1 others have advanced." This is true. While most of the other magazines advanced, during the war, from three to four dollars, " Peterson" maintained its old price of two dollars. That it has not declined in merit, but on the contrary, improved, anybody can see by comparing the numhers for 1869 with those before the war. That it is better, at two dollars, than others at a higher price, can be verified by placing it side by side with those others. OUR COLORED PLATES OF THE FASHIONS, remember! are engraved on steel, and not on wood, as are the fashionplates of most other magazines. Compare our plates with these elsewhere and you will see their immense superiority. If we gave colored wood-cuts, instead of these costly steel plates, we could save thousands of dollars annually. But we are determined to make and keep " Peterson" the best Magazine of its kind, in every particular, no matter what the cost.
WE HAVE RECEIVED from Turner Brothers & Co., 808 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, copies of " Pendennis," " The Virginians," " Philip” and “ Esmond," forming part of a new edition of Thackeray's works, published by Fields, Osgood & Co., Boston. The style is similar to that of " Charles Reade's novels," issued by the same house. The price is BLACK VELVET ORNAMENTS are very fashionable, this fall, $1.25 a volume. on dresses of every description. They came in, first, as trimYOU CANNOT BEGIN TOO EARLY to get up clubs for 1870. mings on white piques. They are now used on white woolen toilets, such as those made of thick, white serge, when the In our next number we shall print our new Prospectus, petticoat is trimmed with flounces separated by black velvet Meantime, rely on this, we shall give more for the money, bands. At the extreme edge of the tunic a row of Thibet and of a better quality, than any other lady's magazine. fringe is sewn, which fringe is likewise headed with a line "Peterson" has never disappointed its patrons, and is not of black velvet. The small paletot corresponds in style with going to begin now. the rest of the costume. Nothing can be prettier than these "NO BETTER PUBLICATION."-The Alexandria (Minn.) Post black velvet trimmings, when used with taste and discretion. says of this Magazine :-" It is astonishing what an amount cravats SASHES are still fashionable. Very pretty little of information of importance to the family is conveyed to are made to match the sashes. Velvet and lace are the thousands of homes each month by this Magazine. There trimmings in vogue. is no better publication in the country for the family." 308
