TOPICS FOR WOMEN SOME NEW NOTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 150, 22 December 1938, Page 27 (Supplement)

TOPICS FOR WOMEN

SOME NEW NOTIONS

"Christmas comes but once a year," and though at an early age we all have thought this visitation of festivity only too rare, as the years pass it loses a little of its cordial jollity and becomes a time of responsibility and cares. Arranging for holidays, parties, and the dispatching of numerous gifts and cards seems to require almost endless preparation. Even the most .methodically-minded woman sees with concern the days speed by and realises that the hoardes rof friends and relatives to be remembered by gifts, cards, calendars, or eatables has not diminished, but seems to have increased since last year. PRESENTS, PAPER AND STRING. So she selects suitable gifts, gathers them around her and writes out a list, filling in 'by the name of each recipier\t the present intended for him or her. If she is methodically-inclined the woman who has resolved to devote some time to the tasteful parcelling of

seasonable offerings will have rolls of cellophane paper, a pile of chastely white and unruffled tissue paper (for those conservative friends of the older generation who dislike gaudy glitter), reels of sparkling paper ribbons, balls of brilliant frosted string, tags, labels, and many boxes in all shapes and sizes to cope with the growing pile of Christmas gifts. Even so, who is proof against that cold ague that besets one.'when, having done up a parcel with utmost taste, therv dawns the awful realisation that the price tag had not been removed from the gloves intended for Auntie Emm. A frantic search amongst paper, labels, the blotter, and tangle of string and decorative stickers printed with the legend "A Merry Christmas" reveals no ticket bearing the figure 4s lid. Grimly the parcel is undone, the gloves shaken out, but no price ticket is be found. The packer reflects bitterly that she must have cut it off without remembering, and ties up the parcel again. Then there is that awful moment when some malignant imp tips up the ink and a stream of the black fluid goes over everything, leaving a hastily blotted imprint on paper, seals, boxes, and those handkerchiefs that were the next item for dispatch. Finally, when boxes that were too small or too large have been cut to fit, fragile articles that rattled ominously in their containers have been protectively padded, when , the paper dwindles and the string gives out, when the beaming visage of Father Christmas, robins, and snow have nauseated the packer to positive -loath- ! ing, then, and only then, the completed I pile of neatly wrapped packages is a i most cheering sight. HOLIDAY REVELS. When the invitation says fancy dress, ; don't say in exasperation, "you've got me there!" and let the kiddies go in i their ordinary party clothes. Cherish I the carnival Christmas time for them by dolling them up in some fancy finery. Even rushed for time as you !are, a little ingenuity and your child ! may even come proudly home with a ' prize for the originality or charm of fher costume. An old evening frock, stitched here, pinned there, will make

a splendid Kate Greenaway dress that a little girl will love, bonnet, ballet shoes, mittens, and be-frilled pantaloons (pyjama pants to those in the

CATERING FOR CHRISTMAS

secret), and she will be as pretty as a picture.

Little boys fancy themselves as pirates or buccaneers, something bold and bad so be sure not to outfit the apple of your eye as a gnome, cupid, or daisy flower unless he is very, very young and unselfconscious.

Entertaining at this time of year? is quite the gayest, blithest, and best way of letting your friends enjoy themselves at your expense—which, by the way, may be the cheapest yet most enjoyable way of repaying many invitations accepted throughout the year.

Because at Christmas time your abode, whether country home or cottage by the sea is gorgeously colourful with newly received gifts, an array of cards on the mantelpiece, and bright decorations, your board . and bill of fare brilliant with attractive tinsel or flower arrangements and enticing eatables, because of all this, an attractive air of celebration is apparent and needs only a little, more effort to sustain. The buffet meal as a means of inexpensive entertaining, is a simple art. It means that chicken, turkey, and the like are not essential when tongue, ham, and attractive savouries are as equally acceptable land more easily arranged and served. Lettuce, tomatoes,, fruit, and simply prepared - vegetable salads are, no ex- | travagance. Long cool drinks are the order of the day—when every day is a holiday—and you won't need to indulge in a refrigerator just because you plan to do some Christmas entertaining. A huge block of ice that keeps drinks, as cold as cold may be delivered at your door for as little as ninepence. For those friends whq drop in, casually to wish you the season's greetings a welcome drink must .always be on hand. Sherry is the accepted beverage, but many will appreciate the hostess who" has delicious fruit juice drinks; or iced coffee to offer as well. The most "tasty fruit juices come in. tins nowadays. Thus v they can be put on; the ice before friends are expected but' need not be used unless the occasion demands. When people call but stay for an impromptu meal nothing is quite so inspired on the hostess's part as American hot dogs, just saveloys tucked in bread rolls with a dash of mustard to make "em hot! Stuffed eggs, sardines, haricot beans in tomato sauce on toast, lashings of bread and cheese and beer are good and cheap yet make a party go %nd you: will always be remembered for the originality and piquancy of your taste and cleverness. CAKES IN CHRISTMAS DRESS, With these few parlour tricks up your, sleeve and, a stand by of an enormous Christmas cake, a few plum puddings, and mince pies to provide the necessary festive fare, you, dear lady, will never be caught out.

Just a word about the cake, though. In spite of the warm weather, ideas for frosting your cake may just freeze up on you. Already almond iced and then snowed over with a thick layer of royal icing the problem of what to use as a final adornment is simply solved when once you have seen the intriguing- little figures, houses and trees, wreaths of. artificial flowers, holly and mistletoe that the shops have to show for little cost.

When icings grow dry, brittle, and sugary it is often the storage that is at fault. To preserve the freshness of the cake and icing ijt should be wrapped up carefully in special white bakers' paper "between times" and placed in an airtight box in a dry, cool place. But of course, I forgot, you may be one of those clever, clever people who have posted off all your gifts, packed all your traps, and are already enjoying the sea, sun, and air while you bid dull care begone and get down to a really carefree worryless holiday far from the madding crowd.—M.R. *