Question and answer advice columns were used for household suggestions, where they appeared as tips shared between friends. Women wrote to the local newspaper asking to publish a question, in hopes that another reader would respond. Later, an answer might be printed with the original question, where readers could cut out and save the instructions.

The Champaign Cider recipe (not to be confused with Champagne Cider) called for mixing apple cider with light brown sugar, followed by many months for the process to complete. This recipe was reprinted from a previous issue of "The Country Gentlemen, an American Agricultural Magazine" (NY), which ran from 1831 to 1955. The recipe appeared along side home remedy advice from "Aunt Addie."