Ladies' Column. [Edited by "Clio." FEMININE CHIT-CHAT. The Shut-In Society.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 54, 31 August 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

Ladies' Column. [Edited by "Clio."

FEMININE CHIT-CHAT. The Shut-In Society.

rhe Editress will be glad to answor any questions pertaining to fashions oi cookery. fashi6n~notbs. Table Ornamentation.—A pretty decoration, lately contrived by a bandy woman, was as follows: —She procured twelve stioks of the same length and circumference, and these she covered with lead paper, first cutting small pieces from the paper, and sticking this over the thorn's, And then covering the remaining spaces, using paste or thin gum for the prooess. When the stioks had dried, they were tied in groups of three to form little tripods, and. finished off with a bow of ribbon in a bright artistic shade and of fairly narrow width. Next, she suspended somo tiny baskets in the centre underneath the tripods, 1 fitted with little pots for flowers. In placing these on tho table they were arranged around a pot with ferns in the centre, and with still . smaller' . ones than' this k between' them. Another pretty effect gained with these twiga is to imitate coral with them, painting them coral red, going carefully over the rough, wooden surfaces, and using ribbons of the same.oolour to tie the twigs together. We have never reaohed the stage of wearing suoh bright colours as at present. The very brightest green, blue, pink, yellow, puce, and magenta are seen on the latent fashion plates from Paris, and the more embellishment that can be added to these the better. For instance, a handsome dress of green oldth'has a wide panel Ist into the skirt at the right side and deep cap pieced at the top of tho large puff sleeves of bright pink cloth, an embroidered network in black and white over it. Collar and belt clasp passementerie and pearl buokles. Collarette of Combined Materials.—The collarette is of heavy patterned guipure, with all inter-spaces of the pattern out out, and this applique to a foundation of white or coloured silk; this is cut in the outline of the lace and edged with accordionpleated chiffon; velvet, the same in tone as the silk foundation, drapes the collar. Neok Ornament of Eibbon and Velvet. — Collar band of fur on which ribbon bows are mounted), these having loops to .stand out at each aide of the neck, and long loops and ends to droop over the bust. Felt is the material of whioh many of the new toques are made. ,A white felt toque-looks delightful resting on>a few folds of black velvet, with a jet wing rising at one side. A pretty, small hat is of re>eda green velvet with a full frill of coppercoloured velvet at the side, through whioh a couple of quill feathers in copper and green are thrust. Spangle Embroidery. — Spangle embroidery is a richly effective ornamentation that can be applied to a large variety of articles. Table covers of coloured serge or oloth may be made exceedingly handsome with a broad border or corners worked in spangles, with a little crinkled bullion or gold thread, and spangles sewn around the extreme edge to dangle from it. For this no other pattern is necessary, a seqpin or stone being sewn on for a star centre at regular intervals, not too far apart, and the sequins sewn on around these in the regular order of stars. This main pirt of the work being done, stems and branches are worked in between, to whioh elongated spangles are Bewn to represent leaves or fern fronds. Worked in this way, table centres are also very muoh favoured, and are greatly_ enhanced with the addition of beetle wings, with their beautiful green shading, and boss spangles and coral sprays, the former in colour to match. Bordered by bullion fringe, they have a heading of boss spangles to this. Some charming cosies are adorned with wheat ears and marguerites formed of spangles, the stalks tjed with embroidered bows of ribbon worked in gold thread. Pretty covers for work baskets are ornamented with the work, and it makes capital photograph frames, blotter covers, and the like. Large surfaces are not to be overlooked in this wise either, for mantel borders and curtains are frequently so treated. The mantel border should be a straight-hanging strip, and the decoration in the style of stiff, upstanding flowers, with a fair amount of ornamental stitching introduced. For ourtainß, a band of contrasting material is sewn to the bottom, and a pattern similar to that on the mantel worked, with a slight effeot of sunflowers scattered over the surface of the rest of the curtain. In recommending this spangle embroidery it should be mentioned that artistic workers do not choose for their operations the glittering discs in'gold and silver, and aniline dyed, that gives a gaudiness and glitter to the work that is by no means enriching, while sacrificing every claim to the artistic The lands used are those with embossed surfaces, when they are no longer obstrusive, and can be worked up with bullion thread and silk, and sometimes an appropriately added jewel here and there, *a most satisfactory effects to the oriticising eye. Bosses make ideal borderings and centres to floral schemes of the embroidery, one of large size making the immediate centre, and others group around it before the petals of the flat spangles are added. Corn marguerites, ferns, and foliage are well adapted for the designs requited. Before beginning to work with spangles they should have a hole for the needle to pass through pierced in them. This is easily done by plaoing the spangle on a hard surface and piercing it with a steel pin as close to the edge as can safely be done. The best, silk for the purpose is strong in make and sold in strands. The special kind is called horsehair. - v Girl's Evening or Dancing Frock. —Extra quantities of fulness are allowed on the frook to allow its being utilised for danoing, or to be accordion pfeated. It has a square yoke out out in round outline at the neok and to whioh the full skirt is sewn around the top edge, meeting the full guimpe, which, according to taste, may fill the space at the neck. As a framing to this, a full frilling falls all round the round neok outline. The sleeves consist of large puffs set over coat sleeves, the puffs finishing with frillings just above the elbow. The fastening of the frook is made at the back. To make the frook of material 27 inches wide for a girl of six years it will require 8} yard*; for 10 years, 10f yards; and for 14 years, 14J yards.

Motto—"Help One Another." The object of our Sooiety is to enable "Shut-in" invalids to receive a little brightness and comfort from the outside world in the shape of letters, papers, and books. I have a number of airily "Free-helpers" ready to help in this work, and any "Shut-in" may, be corresponded with on communicating by letter to "Olio," E.L.0., Evkhujo Post. There is no subscription, no committee, no fuss, and no publioity. Several persons have asked me, to send for papers, magazines, etc, for our " Shutins,'' but, I xagrjßt to say, I am unable to do so. They can be either left at the EvraraoPost, or "Olio," o/oMrs. Innes, No. 20, Oriental Bay. I acknowledge, with grateful thanks, on behalf af our Shut-ins, a year's number of "The Sketch" from "A Friend"; and "The Judge," also from "A Friend." They are most acceptable. The institution of Medical Talks to the boys in the Boys' Institute is an excellent move. Everyone is the' bettor fpr knowing the struoture.and functions of the human body—the masterpiece of the Creator. Our boys should be most grateful to those gentlemen who are trying to make them manly, helpful, self-reliant, good men. The Sooiety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is doing good work. Our Inspector is ever on the watch, and, lam glad to see, is wise as to proseoution. It is a mistake to prosecute in every case, as often the oruelty is done from want of thought, and a word of kindly warning is all that is needed. Too muoh prosecution does no good to the Sooiety. At a recent meeting of the Southern Cross Sooiety, Lady Stout read an interesting and lucid paper on the objeots of the Society. If the members carry out these objeots — and no doubt they will—the Society will prove a great boon to both men and women. Space will not allow me to dilate on Lady Stout's speeoh, but the points that atruok me forcibly were that women who claimed equal wages with men, should be as competent as to work; that women should not enter Parliament till their political education was further advanced; and that women should sit on Sohool Boards, Hospital Boards, etc; and that women should so educate .themselves as .to.assist men, by their advice and sympathy, : and be a true help-mate "tou man lii'his ihopes, oares, sorrows and aspirations; that .whatever the other qualifications of a man 'elected to represent us, his oharacter should be pure and nonourable, and his aims high. iThese are the salient points of the address, and I go with them heart and »oul, and ,wi»h , the Southern Gross. Sooiety .every