AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 182, 1 August 1923, Page 12

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

HINTS OF USE TO THE HOUSEWIFE. An excellent way of dealing with scratches on polished or varnished wood is to soak a cloth in linseed oil and then piece this on the mark. Leave this on for a day, or even longer if necessary, and then rub the part with a soft cloth. HOW TO UUOK BACON - . It is said that in an institution not a hundred miles from the city some trouble was caused through complaints being received about the way the food was cooked. An investigation was made and it came out that the storm centre ranged about the way the bacon was cooked. All tastes had to be catered for and the Scotsmen complained that the bacon wns not half-cooked, they liked it cooked to a crackle. Then when the tastes of the Scotsmen were catered for the Knglishmen complained that the bacon was cooked to a cinder and there was no nourishment left in it, they liked it just cooked and no more. The Irishmen did not care so much how the bacon was cooked so long as it had a bit of gravy with it, whioh they could mash their potatoes .in. It seemed a small matter to those who were in control of the kitchen, but it was not so easily rectified as it looked, and the only solution was to cook the bacon for the different nationalities in different pans. What the fcnghshmen said to the Scotsmen was I that they could not understand why I porridge which had only had about j three stirs and was not half-boiled wae I eaten with relish by the Xorth Country J ioik. and yet their bacon had to be i rooked berond all reason; and then the I Scotsmen retaliated that the English ; people boiled their porridge till it was "Kβ a pudding, and then had to use sugar to maka it palatable, while they ate half-cooked bacon. The Iriehuien looked on in wonder at the nature of IJ c dispute, and the spokesman said that their chief concern was that the potatoes were just cooked enough to ! Jwve a bone in them. "We have to go ... *? fundamentals," said the chef, and the cook who can cook a bit of bacon or a potato to perfection is the .person, who succeeds in t.he kitchen." ; and then as a]l afterthought he added, j and a took who can make a good plat* lof porr.d ? e is worth a recommendation. I Sf° P 1 eat fancy Aishes. not .knowin X I Sγ , ' tLov «• properly cooked or not. rm. everyone knows about porridge and W , *? a J> ota t<><«, not to mention the good old British plue puddii*."

NEW NECK LINES. The very newest neck line for evening wear emanates from aPris, and is really a thing of beauty. It is a very low oval, quite a change and moat graceful. For the day one may disguise the neck line with fantastic lingerie effects, wide cape collars, cowl-like hoods, or demure fichus. LINOLEUM SCRATCHES. Scratches on linoleum may be gently rubbed with a piece of typewriting eraser. In the caae of printed oilcloth brisk rubbing with a cloth soaked in olive oil will go a long way towards removing the mark. No matter how badly silver and plated articles may be scratched, it is possible to remove the marks with a paste formed of olive oil and putty powder. The paste should be rubbed gently over the marks and they will then speedily disappear. TORTOISESHELL BEADS. The newest and prettiest trimming for beige-coloured lace dresses introduces a medley of square, oval and round beads made of tortoiseshell glass that are sewn flatly on to the lace, forming bands of trimming that are often four or five incites in depth. Sometimes the whole of the bodices of these lace dresses have the pattern of the laoo picked out in this manner, a double strand of large round tortoiseshell beads finished with a big square buckle ornament of the same bolding the pouched effect at the waist in place. Necklaces of the new glass tortoiseshell beads and large gipey ornamental drooping earrings to match are worn with such toilettes. Beige-coloured suede shoes are trimmed with tortoiaeshell buckles of the new minute or large oval description.

Other novelties made of this tortoiseshell glass are slave bangles and hatpins —the latter being much in request for decorating brown and putty or beigecoloured hate.