RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32361, 29 July 1970, Page 23

RANDOM REMINDER

ANOTHER CUP?

Some little time ago it was our pleasure to report on the American who, after serving in Antarctica, was in Christchurch before his return home, and who asked a New Zealand friend to reveal the ancient secrets of tea-making. They were explained to him by his friend’s wife, but he found it difficult to understand the term “tea cosy” until one was shown to him, and it was impressed upon him that it was nothing more complicated than “a teapot with a sweater on.” When the American

reached home, he had with him a good many souvenirs from this part of the world—from Australia, a digger hat, a boomerang, some toy koala bears and a kangaroo skin. And from New Zealand, a tea cosy. His friend’s wife’s only one. The arrival of this piece of equipment in Washington evidently aroused much interest among members of his family. His wife was so impressed by the simple beauty of the thing that she sent a card to the Christchurch woman, thanking her for the gift of her “knitted garment”

and she included in her message a sketch of herself, with the tea cosy on her head. Some of the missionaries years ago used to have similar difficulty in persuading the natives to put their gifts to their proper uses. But it is clear that in Washington, the woman with the tea cosy is probably enjoying a quick move up the social ladder. And the Christchurch woman? She thinks that at last, opportunity has knocked on her door. She is about to set up a business to export teapot sweaters to the United States.