CURRENT GOSSIP

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 184, 30 April 1924, Page 3

CURRENT GOSSIP

“Dominion” Office, Wellington, April 30. rUAT with the Fleet festivities, an unexpected day’s racing, the strike, and a few other unconsidcred distractions, 1 very nearly forgot all about you dear people this week, and I had visions of a distracted printer flying about tearing his hair and uttering what should really be quite unutterable things. JJ hen all this naval, and social, and industrial turmoil is over, Wellington will seem strangely quiet. But not for long, because by that time the winter season’s round of events will be in full swing. Sometimes I wonder what it would really be like to idle gracefully and restfully, not as one of the doers, but as a looker-on. As the poet puts it-.— “J poor life this, if, full of care, One has no time to stand and stare !” Strenuously, MARGOT.

Mistress: ‘‘l don’t know what your master will say, Jane—his favourite vase.” Jane: “Oh, mum, I would have willingly broken everything else.” — “The test of sound education lies less in what we know and more in the use we are making of our knowledge.” —“Atlantic Monthly.’' IT ‘6 'A From morning to night the woman interested in the comfort of her family is continually confronted with little household cares. There is a way of showing how these can be entirely removed or materially reduced. Let us take the ordinary routine of a household _ First there is the rising and dressing in the morning—a not altogether pleasant commencement when the days are dark and cold. To leave i a warm bed and dress in the cold atmosphere of the bedroom or the ivy region of the bathroom is not an inviting experience. A fire in your, bedroom entails considerable work in ciearing the ashes from overnight and laying and lighting the fire again, if you are a loser of comfort you will have gas fires in your house, for by turning on a tap and applying a match, cold and discomfort are immediately banished. Ask the Wellington Gas Co. for particulars. H 'Z “How long before she’ll make her appearance?” “She’s upstairs making it now.”-— “Royal Gaboon.” "S’ 'S’ 'B' Why look unlovely? Looks usually account for the fact that some women are escorted to parties while others are merely “seen home.” A woman’s face may have lines upon it, or lines about it—never both. If you are in Wellington, spare rime amidst your activities to call at the Boudoir Camille. If you can spare but five minutes, seek expert advice concerning the best beauty regime for you. The Boudoir Cbtni/c. third floor Mandels’ Buildings, Willis Street. » ■>' G Keep an emergency shelf, wot to be touched or tampered with for ordinary purposes; if you take out any article, replace it as soon as possible. Of course, things won’t keep for ever; so you must exercise common sense. You can stock this shelf as your housekeeping allowance permits —not necessarily all at once. I should include: (1) Preserved soup in some form — tinned or desiccated; if you maintain a stock-pot, you can then always have a savoury hot soup handy. (2) Tinned fish in some form—salmon, sardines, a pot of bloater or of anchovy paste. (3) Tinned meat —a small tongue, some corned beef. (4) Small jar of pickle, small bottle of proprietary sauce, bottle of thick salad dressing, tin of curry powder, bottles of tomato sauce, and of anchovy sauce. (5) Tin of custard powder, tins of preserved pineapple, peaches, pears, or apricots. With the above reserve you are safe, anyhow. Whatever hour he come, the stranger won’t starve. But, even for the unexpected guest, don’t fall back on your reserve unless needs must. Instead, make use of fresh materials, odds and ends which you already have in hand, and which can be prepared speedily from simple ingredients. I am presuming that you will not bo destitute of. or can easily procure at short notice, apples, bananas, onions, lemons, tomatoes. parsley, eggs, cheese, milk (fresh or tinned).

Ttowntrees’ Chocolate with new flavours and fillings, at the “Wattle,” Windsor ’’uildings. Willis Street.

Fish Custard.—Treat fish as above ; season with salt and pepper, and place in a'pie-dish. Make a dessertspoonful of flour into a smooth paste with a little milk, add the rest of a teacupful of milk and one beaten egg; pour over fish. Sprinkle small bits of butter and a few drops of anchovy sauce on top. set in moderate oven till thoroughly set, and slightly browned.

A certain amount of latitude is allowed in the choice of evening shoes, but, whatever happens, they must bo very smart and good. Flesh-coloured hose can be worn with any shoe, and that is what Gladys Cooper, famous beauty and actress, advocates. Lindsays’, Ltd., Lambton Quay, have a smart and extensive choice of the most fashionable and up-to-date evening footwear —platL num grey satin, satin handworked with oxidised silver thread, has a sandal strap and high French heel—the same model comes in leaf brown satin with gold trimming. Zulrika gold crepe is used for a shoe with a high-fitting front ornamented with a gold Sphinx cabachon. The silver crepe shoe has a well deserved popularity, and a model with three bars and silver kid trimmings is finished with buttons set with brilliants. Several models in black are exceedingly smart. —A triple revue bar shoe is in plain black satin, and also in _ rich brocade. Another black shoe is in satin with ankle bar fastened with brilliant buttons. This is only a few of the very beautiful footwear for evening and cabaret wear. Brocaded shoes, bronze, patent leather, kid, and satin in many shades are to be had.

Varnished or japanned trays should never be washed with boiling water — no soda should bo used. A cloth dipped m paraffin rubbed lightly over the surface will remove the. dirt and will not bring off the varnish. Polish afterwards with a cotton cloth. (2) A few drops of methylated spirit on a piece of flannel will take out the spots or white marks. Merely touch the parts ; do not rub ; use sparingly and very gently. (3) The process <>f making candied peel is quite simple. The peel, whether that of oranges or lemons, must bo sound and fresh. Cut into convenient sized pieces, and soak in slightly salted water for two or three days. Then drain off the water and place the peel in a lined saucepan with just enough water to covet it. bring to the boil, and simmer until tho peel is tender but not broken. Drain again, and put the peel in a basin. Measure 11b. of granulated sugar and half a pint of cold water to each six skins—whole skins. Boil together for a few minutes, then allow to coot.

“Lights are the night-eyes of the house. The house that is skilfully lit gives one golden welcome in the hall, white and pink gaiety in the living rooms.”—“Vogue.”

A glimpse of the evening gowns at Castel-Jaloux gives a good idea of what is correct wear for this season’s festivities. These frocks have just arrived from Paris, and practically all show the slim silhouette. Shot apple green taffetas and velvet in the same tone makes a charming gown banded with wide Kolinsky fur. Au original model is of black chiffon velvel appliqued on to cream georgette in a. bold design—tho effect is very striking. Blue in all shades is fashionable wear at present, and a frock of pervanche blue morocain lias many fine knife pleatings to beautify it. Brilliant cerise georgette is used fpr a draped gown which has some French hand embroidered wool flowers on the front of the sash belt. A large sized frock suitable for dinner and theatre wear is of soft brown georgette exquisitely embroidered with different shades of brown beads giving a tortoiseshell effect. Blue again is used for a frock, this time in a turquoise shade, and the sleeveless gown is heavily beaded in a very beautiful design with crystal bugles. 8- . "8 8First Cannibal: “The chief has hay fever.”

Second Cannibal: “Serves him right; we warned him not to eat the grass widow.”

A little girl answered tho telephone one day and was surprised to hear her father’s voice. She burst into tears. “ ‘What’s the matter, darling?’ asked her mother.’

“ ‘Oh, mummy/ she sobbed, ‘how on earth shall we ever get poor daddy out of that little bole?’”—‘‘Home Chat.” r , S -a- . Creamed Cheese.—Scrape some cheese m thin flakes into a bowl; when it is three parts full, fill up with fast-boil-ing water, cover with a saucer, stand the howl on the stove for about ten minutes. Then pour off the water and the cheese will be found like thick cream at tho bottom. Have ready hot buttered toast upon a hot dish; spread the cheese on this, and servo at once.

*■ The busy man and woman can have a daintily-served luncheon at the Chocolate Bowl, Willis Street. 'd\ (a Shop assistants are reminded by a clever American writer (Miss Edith Johnson), in “To Women of tho Business World”), that they can do their firm great injury by a contemptuous attitude towards shabbily-dressed customers, who come in for small purchases. Some millinery sellers in London require this admonition. “May I try on some of your new spring hats?” a friend of mine asked the other day, approaching a queenly figure. “I suppose you want something about three guineas?” said tho saleswoman. “No, I thought about 355.” “We have nothing at that price here at all. Go into the next room; you may see what you want there,” said the stately one. The customer wandered about) for a .few minutes, and wandered out. _ A smart seller would have taken her into the next room and left her in charge of a colleague.

“Vicar (remonstrating witji old William regarding his wife’s illness): ‘But why wait until Monday week before getting the doctor?’ “William: ‘Well, zur. it’ll be forty year cootn next Monday week since, ’er ’ad ’im afore.’ ” —“Loudon Opinion.”

Something very new in the way. of nut-crackers and nut-pickers is offering at J. R. McKenzie’s. We all know that elusive piece of nut that is so hard to get out of the shell. The nutpicker is a clever invention. Xhe set, nicely packed in a wooden box, makes a cliarining present—for twelve aud sixpence. Six pickers in a box are seven and six. Single oues are one and sixpence each, and the nut-crackers are from one and six to three shillings each.

She was a really sweet-looking woman, and she wanted something for Teddy. After she had gone through the toy stock and worn the clerk to a frazzle, she admitted that she was stumped. “You see.” she said, “Teddy is three years old, and it is difficult for me to know just what he would like. When he was a puppy I could buy him balls and things like that, but he does not seem to care for them any more." And then the worm turned. “Whv don’t you buy him a nice silk nighty, tied with a blue ribbon ” the clerk asked, sweetly. But the fond mother didn’t get it at all. “Oh. ho has all those things,” she replied.—-“ Argus” (Seattle). -8 V » Woollen combinations for children two to five years at Mrs. Smith’s, 88 Willis Street. Children’s outfitting of all kinds. o A “And what are you going to bo when you grow up?” “After I’ve been a parson to please mother and a judge to please father, I’m going to America to be a bootlegger.”—“Punch.” “S’ The visit of the fleet finds the big mail order house of James Smith, Ltd., making extensive preparations to welcome the many country customers who will bo in town. The specialised Mail Order Service this firm offer has found a definite place in the shopping arrangements of thousands of country folk, whose place of abode “lies far from the madding crowd.” Visitors will find the new showrooms (which I am told are the largest in the city), covering 13,500 square feet of space, of special interest. A showing of the very latest in evening frocks, sequin over frocks, velour coats, and costumes demonstrates the ability of James Smith, Ltd., to supply the highest grade quality goods at an exceptionally low price. The Country Order Manager will be pleased to see any of the firm’s old or new customers when in town,and personally take them over the premises. 8- 'S’ '8 “Tho American taste for sweets and syrups is extraordinary. At an hotel in Edinburgh an American couple at tho table at which I breakfasted spread marmalade on their bacon.” —“Daily Mirror.” 8- . Pastry baking in an electric oven is a comparatively simple matter. A two-crust pie requires about thirty minutes, and an open tart about eight minutes, and, as in other baking, the latter half of tho time the control is off. The handling of paste as little as possible and as cold as can be is a very great help in the making of good

pastry. The fat used is going to determine the texture of the crust. Lard makes a soft crust, butter a crisp crust, and the high temperature the satisfactory finish. This is a good apple pie: Line a deep pie plate with pastry, heap high with sliced apples. Dredge with sugar, dot over with butter, add a few drops of lemon juice, and sprinkle of nutmeg. Cover with pastry, decorate and trim off. Place pie in oven. Heat oven to 400. Turn upper unit “off.” Use lower unit “high” twenty minutes and “off’ fifteen minutes. Because the Hot-point Hughes Electric Range gives better results than any other range, because it gives these results with less work than any other cooking method —it deserves a place of honour in every well-ordered home. National Electrical and Engineering Company of N.Z. are tbc agents.

“A clerical friend who was persuaded to examine a class in Scripture the other day greatly enjoyed the following howler: ‘Why was Joseph let out of prison?’ he asked. ‘Because he had done his time,’ was the answer.” —- “Morning Post.”

“On wireless tho official ha,nd has hitherto lain like a dead weight We hope to seo it lifted.—“ Daily Graphic.” 's 8

“If English bacon is to drive out the foreign article, the farmer nyist understand that the majority of 'the British public no longer like fat bacon.” —“Daily Mail.” 8- 3-

Midi choice is apparent to me in the fashioning of the new evening gowns, and there is more variety than ever in the matching of colours and fabrics. Miss Samson, Colonial Mutual Buildings, has some new evening frocks which have just arrived from Home, and they are distinctly original. A pale henna georgette veiling gold tissue has a bouffant effect in tho skirt which is composed of alternate bands of tissue and georgette. The waist is finished with a girdle of elaborate hand-made fruits in tissue and silk. Another frock of tissue, this time in silver has a deep godet frill from the waist of blue georgette glimpsing an underskirt of tissue which has a spray of French flowers sewn on flat. For the jeune fille there is an ideal frock of shell pink taffetas, pouched over the hips, and with a band of silver lace round the. foot of tho skirt worked with half circles of tissue rosettes. A handsome and elaborate gown of black chiffon velvet with a bordered overdress of silver metal lace has on the bodice embroideries in grey silk and silver metal bugles. The frock is draped to the left side, forming a short train.

One of the ugly habits not uncommon amongst children is that of biting the mills. To begin with, nail-bitmg is, in the great majority of cases, a sign gf nervous instability. For this reason, apart from any other, tho habit deserves attention, for tho nervous system is of such overwhelming importance all through life that anything which directs attention to it in childhood should have very careful attention. In more drastic days the child who bit its nails was put down as badtempered, and there was a certain truth in the classification, for much that passes for bad temper—and much that is really nothing else—has its origin in nervous conditions. There are ether causes of the habit, of course. Imitation is one of them, for many children are simply little mirrors which reflect the doings of those around them, and a nurse or governess who has this objectionable habit will often suggest it to a child. The pity is that suggestion in the opposite direction is not so potent! At the same time, the nervous condition should always be thought of, and if a child shows any other signs of trouble originating in the same way—such as excitability, fretfulness, wakefulness at night, and so on —special precautions should be taken in ordering the daily routine, to ensure plenty of rest, of fresh air by day and by night, of good plain food, and freedom from mental strain. This may seem to attach undue importance to what is, after - all, a simple if unpleasant childish trick; but if, as so often happens, the habit is merely a symptom, it is obviously on the nervous system that attention should be focused.

When winter comes—that is the time when the informal woollen suit is appreciated and gives one a comfortable cosy feeling and appearance. They can be worn morning and afternoon, and always look smart and trim. George and Doughty are making a speciality of these winter suits, and are showing some most attractive models. A very new style is in French wool in a wide make of large patterned knitting, at forty-three and sixpence, and the coats have a flair. Some close knit suits are in charming shades of green—almond and nile, and have trimming of brush wool on skirt and coat. Two original suits have a ribbed skirt of plain colour with short, smartly-cut coats of narrow horizontal stripes in many harmonising shades, with plain kiiit collar, cuffs, and girdle. These are in grey and tan effects. One of the newest models just out is in mushroomcoloured wool with close-fitting neckband and hip belt, fastened with very large wool buttons. A good wap coat is in platinum grey and has a much Haired skirt to it, trimmed with diamond shaped insets of pearl blue and blue and grey buttons. This firm has a very large assortment of woollen suits from twenty-five shillings.

“I like to be alone. The soul of a journey is liberty, perfect liberty—to think, feel, do just as one pleases. Would even my best friend have let me stay out all night on tho roof of that Sahara hotel at the edge of the desert, without bothering the life in me about catching cold, without people thinking me mad?”—“Time and Tide.”