BABY RAIMENT

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 171, 7 April 1923, Page 15

BABY RAIMENT

Royal mothers have always ordered for their babies garment trimmings of the lace made in their own countries. Baby lace it was called, a fine bobbin kind, made in this country in Bedfordshire villages; or there would be a call for narrow Lille or Valenciennes, so infantinely simple and charming as insets and ruffles. Buckinghamshire lace, so light and pretty and excellent for washing; Homton, of a richness most superb; point d’Alencon, magnificently splendid, «Il in their time have trimmed the garments of royal children born to England and to France, writes Mary -Howarth in the “Daily Mail.” There is in the archives of our Royal Family a very beautiful Honiton lace christening robe, worn by Queen Victoria’s first-born son, our King Edward, and by his son also. And still those who study lace and love it for its wondrous beauty chronicle the superb sot of point d’Alencon made for the layette of the longed-for heir of Napoleon 111 and his Empress. This treasured child’s nurses had aprons trimmed with the same lace; he slept under a coverlet of it, and a dozen robes decked with it, as well as a christening frock, cloak, and cap to match, all a filmy dream of needle-point. Perambulator luxury, say those who ponder these points, has helped the embargo against long and elaborate robes and immensely splendid cloaks, which at one time were considered a well-dowered infant’s due.

What an imposing spectacle was presented when his majesty rhe baby, clad in robes sweeping almost to the ground and wearing also a mantle, tremendously rich, of velvet or satin, cashmere or silk, fringed, lace edged, and embroidered, with a bonnet of equal grandeur, was borne on a ■ stately nurse’s arm, to take the air! Until such times as it was safe to consign him to the perambulator, which happened when he was really too heavy for feminine arms to support, this is how he was shown off to an applauding world. Then came the bassinette perambulator, hung on springs so excellent that jar his spine the most uneven pavement cannot, and into it baby at almost his tiniest is now 'bundled, wrapped in a shawl of super-comfort. There, lying on a mattress specially contrived, with a pillow for his head, a hot-water bottle for his feet, and a protecting canopy over all, he almost lives out of doors, a very independent and undoubtedly happy young person.

SCENTED BALLS. A delightfully fragrant ball is made in this way. Choose rather a small orange which is not too soft- Then get a number of cloves and push the pointed ends of these through the rind of the orange in Various places. Put the whole thing into a slow oven, and, as tho rind dries, it shrinks so that tho cloves are held firmly in place. The ball, when dry, gives out a delicious fragrance, especially when it is warmed by holding between tho hands. These balls are very good for putting amongst clothes that are stored away. Not only will they impart a fragrance, but they will also keep the moth at bay.