WOMEN'S REALM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 116, 16 May 1906, Page 8

WOMEN'S REALM.

ABOUT "AT HOMES;" " • Brie' is theglad season' <tf "the year, when that dread scourge, the at-home, is rampant in our midst. • An at-home is an assemblage of people who do not know each other, do not want to know each, other, and wiil take very good care not to know each, other 'a« soon- as' the affair has blown over. .It is one of the rules of. the game that you shall wear your, best clothes with sueb an assumption of ease that people will be gulled into .the belief that you wear clothes like, that every day. One swallow cannot make a summer; hut three guests and a hostess can make an at-home—and very often do.

To be really successful, an, at-hbme should average two people and a- part of a chair-to every square yard of floorspace. If the hostess can fill the room so "tightly that* the casements bulge out under the strain arid become bow-win-dows, she is made happy for life. As the poet might have'observed if he had only thought of it at the time, "There is no place like an at-home" —but the nearest approach to it is a parrothouse in full blast and working overtime. There is no noisier place on earth than an at-horae. unless it is the cardroom of a- ladies' whist club.

•Everybody suffers from atrhomes nowadays: it is every whit as fashionable an ailment as bridge or golf. Social prosperity is marked by three, degrees; positive, ' afternoon tea; comparative, ati<«ne; superlative, reception/ Afternoon teas are nowadays served solely for the delectation of the rector and his wife, while you have to be Royalty or an actress* to be able to hold a reception without being accused of expanded cranium. But everyone is as free to have an at-home as they are to have measles, and, consequently, there is as steady a run on at-homes as there is-on. a bank when the depositors hear that the cashier has embarked on an unexpected journey to Portland,- via South America and the extradition court.

Some people are born to at-homes, some people achieve at-homes, and some have at-homes thrust upon them. I qualify under the last clause. I derive no more satisfaction from attending an at-home than I would from meeting my tailor just as I emerged from the bank. But there! I am rather exclusive in my friendships, and other people are so frightfully stuck : up and unnaturally particular, that., between the two. I do not get bidden to at-homes in quantities large enough to do any harm.

Men. are mere straphangers at an athome. The ladies, like -waiters, carry every thing before, them. Men attend athomes merely on sufferance, or because they are part, of the- household furniture. Round the room, at a typical athome, you -will see a, dado of* stiff, unthawed matrons. Each one looks severely critical, as if she were annoyed with herself for coining to such a place, but was too polite to show it. -A congealed group of girls occupies the centre of the room, each individual maiden furtvely examining. the hats of the other maidens and wondering where they bought them, so that she might avoid the place. Here and there are promiscuous groups of ladies waiting to say "good-bye*. to the hostess. Round the piano lingEr dreamy-eyed maidens, .who are ■hoping that they wflf be asked to sing. They are apprehensively watched by other maidens, who devoutly hope that the dreamy-eyed maidens will not be asked to sing. And scattered about, at intervals as rare those which separate the currants in the ha'penny bun of commerce, you will see men unsuccessfully trying to look as if they always looked like that when they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

If you go to a small at-home, you secure very little refreshment, because you feel morbidly conscious that everyone is counting the slices of bread-and-butter you consume, and that the hostess will ask you into the nest room'the moment that you , have devastated your third slice of cake. If you visit a big at-home you will fere still, worse, for you will be jammed straightway into the draw-ing-room, and find it impossible to enter the tea-room unless you have the gliding powers of an eel in a bucket of oil. Instead of sitting quaffing tea at your ease, you will have to stand and listen to people singing. This will evolve a feeling of discontent in you. for you will feel .sure that you "could sing ever so much better if only you were allowed te try.

Some people converse at at-homes, but the; majority merely talk. The matrons talk' in mysterious undertones about servants. Servants furnish much raw material for discussion. And the worse the servant the better the discussion. For some inco-jrtpreliensible reason every woman likes to prove that she; harbours a servant several degiees more villainous than her neighbour's handmaid. The sum total of girls' talk at at-homes usually consists of what she said to him, and what he said to her. Sometimes an unexpected silence falls upon the room, and then you will overhear a female voice plaintively decrying the iniquitous and 'lestructive habits of laundries. And, of course, all the ladies talk about clothes at regular intervals—about twice every, three minutes. I hardly thought this fact needed mention—that is why I havi not mentioaed it before.

The density of the modern at-home leads to awkward possibilities. You Way. either find yourself irrevocably wedged ne?rfc to old Mrs. Jones, who dislikes you intensely, and does not shrink from informing people of the fact; or else you may discover that you are inextricably jammed into a corner with Miss Brown. Many years ago you proposed to Mips Brown, and she rejected you with a lignt-heartediiess was akin to ribaldry, whereupon you declared sadly that you would never ;marry anyone else, but would live and die a pathetic old white-haired bachelor. Consequently, the first thing Miss Brown does, on beholding you at her mercj', fa to asli after your wife and send her love to the children, and remind you that you are getting quite bald. A woman always remembers,what a, man merely recollects;—"FM.H.." in "The Penny Magazine. ,, /, MANY USES TOR AMMONIA. A little ammonia in tepid water -will soften and. cleanse the skin. Door plates should be cleansed by rubbing with a cloth wet in ammonia and water. If the colours have been taken out of silks by fruit stains, ammonia will usually -restore the colour. To brighten carpete, wipe them with warm water, to -which; has been added "a few drape of ammonia. ; One or two taWespoonMs of itnmonia to ftjail of wmter will ck*» iriafam* W&{

• >A' few • drops-in efwinj— j water, applied carefully, will leaoJJ spots from paintings and cromos. Grease spots may be takes oat of gQw hats, felt, or woollen garments luted ammonia. Lay soft whit* pope* over and iron with a hot-iree. '--'■ - :^p* Silver may be kept bright by rnbtiu I with « soft flannel saturated •wiS ? ■ spirits of ammonia. Old brass may ht made like new in the same way. Aftejv wards scrub the brass with » brmhs rinse in clear water. ,• " ■ '"'. ■ Yellow etaics left by sewing macjung oil on white may be removed hy nib. bing the spot with a cloth wet with am. monia before washing with. soap. Equal parts of turpentine and umbo. nia will take paint out of clothing, ere» if hard and drj. Saturate the spot v often as nucesary and wash off vitfe warm soapy water. ' . " Put a teaspoonful of ammonia in a quart of water, wash your hnuhei aaj combs in this, and all grease wflldk, appear. Shake and dry in the open tit Flannels and blankets will keep soft and white, and will not shrink, if wtih. Ed with a tablespoonful of ammonia ta the first water. One teaspoonful of ammonia to a tea* cupful of water will dean gold or suW jewellery. A few drops of clear aqua ammonia, rubbed on the under-side of diamonds, will clean them immediately making great brilliancy. ' , % TESTED RECIPES. RASPBERRY TOAST. Thin slices of bread are cut in the crust removed, and then delicately toasted. When they are buttered spread with a thick layer of raspberry jam, end on top of the jam a little heap of whipped cream, sweetened and flavoured SAVOY EGGS. Butter some very small fancy mouldy sprinkle the in sides with finely chopped ham, parsley, pepper, and salt. Break an egg into each and stand the moulds in a stewpan with a little boiling,watir. Steam them very slowly till the while of the egg is set. Have ready- some rounds of buttered toast, and turn a savoy egg on each, and between then put very thin rolled rasters of bacoe. KIDNEY PATTIES. Chop the kidney into small pice*§, with equal parts of very fat loin : of veal. Season with pounded mate and. pepper and salt to taste. I»ine/tt* patty pans with {rood pastry and put! the mixture in., and then cover with pastry. These ingredients may be-put into a basin lined with suet paste, and then covered by pulling the paste over. Boil for two hours. When the lid is cut and fixed on it is apt to let,in thfl ■ water, and also to lose the gravy. CATCFS " ■ ■"■ '•,■*-'. —M Orange Sandwich.— Two teacup*: flour, rub in a tablespoon butter, addone and a-half cups sugar, a teaspoon-; ful cream of tartar, and half a •spoon soda, the grated,rind and juie*i of an orange. Mix with three well-beaten > eggs and a littla milk, bake in sandwich tins or flat dish. Cornflower Rusks.—Two ounces butter, four ounces sugar, beat to a.cream,/ add two eggs, mix one teaspoon baking v powdejp with two ounces flour, and ; four ounces cornflour, add to other u< i . gredients, bake twenty minutee, in a flat; tin, then cut into fingers and return tax . ,oven to brown;< ■-. ■ •■-. ■ ■•■•. ~ Lemon Straws..—Three ounces ftwr, , ?? one and a-half ounce butter, rub well together, then add two ounce sugar, grated 3 rind and juice of lemon, mix into stiff paste with one beaten egg, roll out, cut into shapes, bake in sharp oven,'brush with milk and sprinkle castor sugar over them. > ~ • .-^ Rice Cake.—Three ounces butter creamed with three ounces sugar, one t egg, mix a quarter pound each flour and: ground rice with half a teaspoon baking powder, mix all together with a littlevanilla essence, bake about an hour «r: three-quarters. Snaps.—Three cups flour, ■ one cmv sugar, one teaspoon each ground ginger, baking soda, and cinnamon, melt a quarter pound lard or butter with same quantities each of treacle and syrup, and two tablespoons warm water. Mix: into stiff paste, roll out, cut into shapes/and bake in moderate oven. . "-,'• . Shortbread.—One pound of . i ounce ground rice, half a pound butter, and a quarter pound sugar, mix into etiff paste, roll out, pinch, edges .all : round, place on each a bit of peel, and. bake in a moderate oven on buttcrei paper till a light brown. _. .-> HOUSEHOLD HOTS. When buying tinned food look whether the head of the can is concave. A bulgilfappearance indicates decomposition.,' ■ To keep ice in a sick room wrap it ii" a flannel, and then in many folds, of newspapers; lay it on a cloth tied over;a large bowl to keep it put of 'the water.; You may also do this by laying it o> a wire rack placed in a pan. To- break.■«•'' bits without noise press a huge pin against a corner of the ice. Wash thtpieces clean in fresh water. , Cough Reliever.—Squeeze a large deaa: handkerchief out of water and place to a wad on the pillow of the patient a*:: inch or two from his nose, so he Joan ia* > | hale the moisture. He will ' || cease coughing in 15 minutes; While | this treatment may not cure a congV | it will ensure a good nighi's rest t* I many a sick child and tired mother. . I A Knife Tidy.—A good * * I for keeping, knives, forks, and tatte* : 1 spoons in is a pocket tacked. <m» tl>« pantry door. Make this of - Amiri** cloth, and line with red flannel^'•*:' baize, stitching small divisions tie'ftp 6 each article. The flannel will abw* all moisture that may be left on. w< articles. ; How to Wash White Silk.—WW? washing a white silk blouse or diijl , * : silk frock, remember to add a liM* methyla,ted spirits to the water'Vi*.Y which it is rinsed, for this will; ; h«J*/';f to prevent the silk from turning yeHoe.- . The silk will also iron much mW!' easily, and when it is dry will Ipp* ! ; equal to new. - 1 ... After Peeling Onions. —The odour ;*|: onions will entirely disappear from |l hands if, after peeling them, you *™*"> a your hands for a moment or two in tw ; fl smoke that arises from brown-p»P* when it is burning. After eating ' brush the teeth with common salt, o**» pknty of it. Dried Peas.—Green peas are dried follows:—Shell the peas, put thee * boiling water, and boil for five miiatA Drain, then spread out in shallow and dry in the sun, or near the sWt., When dry, store away in paper bagfc «* 1 a dry place. The peas should be soa|S-' ; -' before using; then boiled in.'■•*•■*■ 4.Lamp Chimney s.—Washing lamp ■ tieys is a waste of 'time. "' ■ them over the steam from a boiling 'r£f:, H kettle, then rub them off with a «fl ■ newspaper folded up into a wad, •"4 B lastly, with a soft cloth, and thqj||gj||| ■ be ail that can be deeired, iSOIIWI ■ jqafcHM-Mwige ocitiJe. _ . • : ■