Housekeeper.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 695, 29 September 1909, Page 7

Housekeeper.

KITCHEN WRINKLES. In blowing out a candle hold it aloft and blow upwards. This will prevent scattering of the grease. In a mixture of two ounces of salt to a pint of water good eggs will be found to sink, whilst indifferent ones will always float. After ironing linen place it near a good fire or in the sun until perfectly dry, as the garments will be stiffer than if left to dry slowly. Potatoes baked in their skins will always come out dry and mealy if a small piece be cut off one end to allow the steam to escape in the cooking. Instead of keeping parsley in water, which often turns it yellow, put it in air-tight jar in a cool place; this will keep it fresh for some time. New iron, such as a new range, etc., should always be very gradually heated at first. After it has become inured to the heat it is not nearly so likely to crack. The following is a hint worth knowing: When baking scones or cakes, if the soda is dissolved in a little boiling milk it will prevent any chance of disagreeable lumps so often found in scones, etc. A very good way of cleaning the hands when they are dirty, more especially in cold weather, is to rub a little pure lard well all over them, then wash with soap and water in the ordinary way. If this is done the hand? will not be nearly so likely to crack.

WOMEN AS COMMERCIAL TRAELLERS. Various associations connected with the grocery trade are said to be somewhat exercised at the present time as to the numbers of women now engaged as commercial travellers in the lighter branches of the provision department. At a recent meeting of one of these societies a member made the surprsing statement that in the North of England there are quite a hundred of these "ambassadresses of commerce" —if the expression may be feminised —upon the road, and that they are chiefly engaged in selling such wares as jellies, soup, extracts, biscuits, tea, and soap. SYMPATHY WITH RED-HAIRED GIRLS. Anew social club, the only one of its kind in the world, will be opened in London within the next few weeks. Its members will be exclusively redhaired girls, it is to be called the Titian Society, and to have for its motto Honi soit qui mal y pense. The founder and organiser of this novel association is Mme. de Perrot, the French lecturer, who has explained the aims and ambitions of the Titian Society. "I am doing this," she said, "because I have a great sympathy with red-hair-ed girls. They are nearly always misunderstood —if not actually disliked—and consequently they do not get fair play. I have made a study of red-hair-ed girls, and I am convinced that they are extraordinarily sensitive, and are, therefore, of a higher artistic temperament than their less conspicuous sisters.

"Why there should be such a preju»dice against red-haired women I am at a loss to understand. Yet there is a very strong prejudice, and this is more noticeable in France and Germany than in England. The objects of our society," continued Mme. de Perrot, "is to provide amusement, social intercourse, and mutual respect. It is not a matrimonial society, and any member who gets married will have to leave the club, because she will have accomplished woman's greatest ambition, and will no longer need our help and sympathy. "The subscription will be quite nominal, and the only credentials I require of members are a good temper and refinement.

GAMES FOR CHILDREN'S PARTIES. Here are some indoor games that our young - readers might try : Chopsticks.—The children are each provided with two unsharpened lead pencils, a small dish, and a larger dish, which contains peas and aniseed balls. The object of the game is to transfer, by aid of the pencils, the peas and aniseed balls from one dish to the other. Floating Pins. —Each child is provided with a basin of water and some pins, which they endeavour to make float on the water. Only those which are floating at the end of five minutes to be counted. Word Making.—The children are given paper and pencil and told to make as many words as they can from some given word. Authors. —Titles of a dozen books are written on paper. The children write on slips provided the name of the authors. The books selected will, of course, depend on the age of the children.

A PLAIN PUDDING. How to use up remains of breed, which usually accumulate largely in the average household in an appetising manner is generally welcome information to the house-wife. Here, then, is a recipe, for a nice bread and ding. Take one quart of breadcrumbs, soak them in cold water, drain and press them dry. afterwards mixing with them in a basin one cupful of golden syrup or molasses, one tablespoonful of melted butter, a cup-and-a-half of stoned raisins—or a mixture of raisins, washed currants and citron —one teaspoonful each of ..cinnamon and cloves, and half a teaspoonful of nutmeg. The mixture should be rather stiff. Steam it for two hours, turn it out of the basin or mould, dry it in the oven, and serve with sweet sauce.

TO BRICHTEN THE LIFE OF AN INVALID. The priceless gift of health is hardly sufficiently appreciated while one has it, but when invalidism comes, either to ourselves or to those about us, it is then that we can rate health at its true value. Minor troubles of life affect us less if we realise the wealth we possess in rood health, and th« advantage we hold, even though we may be victims to monetary reverses and other bitter disappointments,

over those whose health is broken down.

What to do to make the life of an invalid really happier and brighter is a question to which many of us would gladly know the answer; and the answer must depend, of course, on the tastes of-the invalid, the nature of the illness, and other little points. A book-rest may be just the thing to bring comfort to the sick person, or a nice reading lamp may solve the question satisfactorily. An invalid I know of, when asked the other day what she would best like in the way of a gift, chose the very charming present of canaries. Now, this is a gift that few people would think of offering, but is one that mav be just the very thing to cheer an invalid better than anything else. Loneliness is a hard thing to fight up against, and it is loneliness that so many invalids naturally suffer from. The companionship and cheeriness of singing birds will charm away a good deal of the sting of loneliness ; the fact of "life" about on« means so much, and something to tend and care for may turn out the best tonic possible for one who imagines herself to be of no future use in the world. If the voice of the canary or any other song bird would jar upon the nerves of the invalid, then love-birds, or other such pretty creatures that do not raise their voices in song, can, of course, be substituted.