WOMAN’S WORLD.

Evening Star, Issue 16608, 15 December 1917, Page 4

WOMAN’S WORLD.

i i IByJViVA.] 'Viva" will in x this column answer all reasonable . questions relating to the home, cookery f domestic ccononiy, and any topic of interest to her sex. But each latter must bear the writer's bona fide name and address. No notice whatever will be taken of anonymous correspondences Questions should he concisely put, and the writer’s nom ds plume clearly written.

ANSWERS TO CORESPONDENTS.

“ E-'nice.”—(a) Have given recipes asked or. (b) 5 always use Karitauo ointment, irccurable at any chemist’s. It is excel,cnt.

'* 999.’*—Decline to discuss tlio *uatte*. You had better consult a- specialist. “ Olive M."—Thanks for your appreciative letter and .jam recipes. They’arc most acceptable.

HOUSEHOLD RECIPES. —War Time Christmas Cakes.—

Gingerbread.—Required: lib flour, -[lb , butter or margarine, -fib sugar, Mb golden syrup, -]oz ground ginger, 20 7, candied peel, hali-teaspoonful carbonate of seda, 2 eggs; a little milk. Less ginger can he used if you do nob like very hot things. Sieve into a basin the flom - , ginger, carbonate of soda, and a pinch of salt. Next cut the peel into thin shreds, and add it to the other ingredients. If liked, one or two ounces of sweet almonds may be added ; they are an improvement, though not necessary. They must first bo skinned, and then shredded. To skin, put in a pan with warm water to cover them, and let them boil for a few minutes, when they will slip easily out of their .skins. Next melt the ■butter in a small pan, then add to it the sugar and golden syrup. Let the sugar dissolve, but tako great care that it does not boil, or the mixture will turn into toffee. Make a hole in the middle of the flour and pour in'the sugar, etc. When that is partly mixed in, and has cooled slightly, add the beaten eggs, having first made sure they aro good; mix all well together, adding, if necessary, a little milk. The mixture should just be" able to rim off the spoon. Pour it into a greased bakingtin lined with two layers of greased paper. Tho paper should come about 2in above the » top of the tin. This quantity makes a k nice large cake. Put it in a square bakingH tin, as it is easier to pack. Bake in a moderate oven for about an hour, or until skewer stuck into tho middle of it will no out quite clean and free from moisHBk.lV- If it is at all sticky, put the cake in tho oven for. a little longer, but watch it_ carefully. IE the outside of the cake begins to darken before the inside is cooked, lay a sheet of paper across the :op. When baked, take off the paper, and put the cake on-a sieve until cold. If you 'want to make several cakes, double" or treble tho.quantity, but you must not forget to double or treble each item. Soda Cake.—lf you want to make this still nicer, add four ounces of raisins or sultanas, chopping them first. Required: Ouq pound, of flour, quarter of a pound of moist sugar, three ounces of butter or margarine, four ounces of currants, one ounce of candied peel, two eggs, half a teaspoonful of carbonate of soda, a pinch of salt. Well butter two cake tins. Mix together the flour, sugar, and salt. Rub tho butter lightly in, as for pastry, then add the currants, having first cleaned and stalked them, and the chopped peel. Beat the eggs, and stir them lightlv into the other ingredients.. Lastly, add the carbonate of soda, after dissolving it in a little milk, and add enough sweet milk, or, what is ’better, buttermilk, to make the whole into a stiff ’dough. Half fill the cake tins with the mixture. Bake in a hot oven for about three-quarters of an hour, or until a skewer when stuck into it come* out quite clean. A Hain Frnit Cake.—Required: One pound ot sour, half a pound each of margarme._ sugar, and currants, four ounces eaoh of glaco cherries, chopped raisins, and mixed--peel. The grated rind of two oranges and lemons, four half an ounce of mixed spice, two teaspoonfuls of ■ .baking powder, half a level teaspoonful of sat, one gill and. a-half of milk. Lino a ® with three layers of greased paper, bhghtlv warm the margarine, then beat it whh the sugar until like whipped cream. Beat in the eggs one -at a time; sieve together the flour, spice, salt, and baking powder Mix together the cleaned currants, chopped peel, quartered cherries, or thopped raisins, and the grated orange iud lemon rinds. Add tho flour, etc., - lightlv to the egg mixture, then stir in the fruit, blending all thoroughly, and lastly add the. milk. Mix with great care. *nd turn the mixture into the tin. Stand the tin on a baking tin covered with half an inch of salt or sand, to prevent tho cake from burning underneath, and take it m a moderately-hot oven for about two hours and a-half. When beginning to . color, Lay gome paper across the top to . lessen the nsk of the surface becoming too dark before the interior is cooked through. A Very Easily Made Icing.—This is a ver\ nice icing; it can be laid on smoothly and left plain, or covered with a plain layer, and then have a decoration pined on it. Required: One pound and a-half of good icing sugar, the whites of four rgirs, the ]ince of two lemons. Rub the n-mg sugar through a hair sieve to make sure there are no Jumps in it. Make a '■l'T m 1 ,-?-T n !T e ’ a V < ? strain the lemon Yi hlsk ,j le ' v}lifces of tho eggs to a hi,lit froth, add some of this to the 6 lemon puce, and with a wooden spoon stir them gradually mto the sugar. The consistency of the icing is very important. If it is thin, any pattern made on it will blur ; 1 to ° stl tf) it will bo difficult to spread smoothly on the cake. If too thin, add more sieved icing sugar; if too this*, more lemon jmco or white of egg. The icing OTll 4, *> e beaten with a wooden spoon 13 as this whitens it. Putting Icing on tho Cake.—Before putting on the icing, cut the top of the cake level, paring off any burnt parts. It is generally best to turn the cake over, so that what was the bottom part becomes the top Then invert a dinner plate and put Iho cake on it. Spread a thin laver of the royal icing over the cake, smoothing it with a broad-bladed knife dipped in hot wator. Let this layer dry in a warm place, then put on a second one. Smooth tins also with a knife dipped in hot water, and then leave till the next day. If there is any icing loft over, cover it with a piece of wet muslin or paper to prevent it from drying. Next day decorate the cak n piping on any-icing you have left in a pretty pattern you may want to use. . Almond Icing.—'Required: One pound met a-half of ground almonds, one pound and a-half of castor or idng sugar, the •T, oSL c leraon Juice, and vanilla. Put _ the sugar and almonds in a basui; if icing sugar, it should be sieved first. Mix them well together, add lemon juice, vanilla, and whisked whites of eggs to make all into a stiff paste. Seo that it is nicely flavored, and knead it very thoroughly. Then spread and press it evenly over the sides and top of the cake, taking care to keep the upper edge sharp and the sides flat. Let this icing dry before putting on the one before described. Leave until next day. , Mock Almond Icing.—Take a quarter of a pound of fine white breadcrumbs, a quarter of a pound of icing sugar, 0110 small teaspoonful of almond flavoring, and enough white of egg to form it into a stiff mixture. vSpread this mixture on the rake, and dry exactly as for ordinary icing, then pour clear icing over it. It 13 a splendidly successful economy. HINTS. . - ,!■ —War Economies.—

. Instead of Butter.—You will find this in excellent substitute if you cannot afford' butter and do not care for margarine: Use equal parts of beef dripping (bought at & ham and beef shop) and margarine. It is excellent. When making Christmas sweets for which whipped cream is needed, add the white of an egg to each gill of cream, and whip the two together. It makes it look so much more than it really is. •’ No Eggs.—When eggs are dear, do not use them-in a boiled pudding.. When mixing add just a little milk in place of the eggs directed in the recipe, and then boil nr steam the pudding for a couple of hours longer than the usual time. It you ever use tinned milk, do not jat- it straight from the tin into the tea.

Mix it tip in a, jug with enough boiling water to thin it down to the consistency of ordinary .-milk, and it will go much favthor than when used from the tin.

Try simmering entrants, sultanas, and raisins in a little water- for a quarter of an hour before adding them to puddings or cakes, and you will find that they taste much nicer, and one dpes not need to use so manv.

SOME PAGEANT. I have boon permitted to make the following extracts from the letter of a Dunedin lady, now visiting America, who enjoyed the privilpgo of-witnessing the great pageant held in New, York on October 6 in aid of the-American Red Cross fund:— Dear , I was one ■ of the lucky people who saw the original performance (detailed below)pwJicu.it was given in the private opeh-air theatre at Mr Roland Conklin, one of Hie magnates of tins great city. You can imagine what a great sight it was when I mention that the most famous players in New York worked upon it. There was nothing lacking in the way of color scheme, dressing, or effect, and the initial performance was the means of raking in 75,000d0l (£15,000) clear. That is something like a record “ house.’’ The pageant is still (October 26) running in the city. 1 have not witnessed a second perofrmance myself, because I wanted to keep the memory of that wonderful open-air - performance, with its perfect natural background. Those who have seen it in all its elaborateness tell mo it is most thrilling. Last night Sir Forbes Robertson spoko'the chief lines. - , . Even-body here is keen about the war, but they haven’t realised its real significance—'not a- little bit. The food experts are going about their work in a very business-like way, and placards arc to be seen everywhere enjoining the people to exercise the utmost wire in the matter of food supplies. Huge .sums are being raised for all kinds of war- activities—e.g., the Y.M.C.A. are out to raise four million dollars, and the Women's C.A. hope to get 35 millions! The War Commission have determined that they will profit by the experience of other countries in the matter of camps, and they have systematically arranged for the co-operation of everv social and religious agency in the land. After the Y.M.C.A. the Y.W.C.A. jiavo probably the biggest shaye of the work. Wc have quite a. small army of our secretaries working in France, and two in Russia.

All social roads in New York yesterday led to the National Red Cress pageant at tho Rosemary open theatre, and more than 5,000 persons witnessed the spectacle, which proved to he ono of the most elaborate dramatic events ever staged out or doors in this country. A film was made of the production, a.nd it will bo shown all over the world. This pageant was the personal offering of the foremost players on the American stage, several hundred

“ pros ” and society girls taking part in the various episodes. "* Nature also contributed largely to the success of the undertaking, for the spectacle was unfolded against a background of natural beauty that would be hard to surpass, and under ideal atmospheric conditions. The sun went under tho clouds during the Russian episode, but this only added to the realism of the scene, and the purplish mist from Long Island Sound, which rose as the afternoon waned, afforded an appropriate setting for tho symbolic pictures. —King. John in Royal Barge.— A lagoon, with bluish-cast waters, divided tho natural stage from the amphitheatre, where swans swam in roval leisure, where beautiful maidens and fiei'cclooking Tritons disported in symbolic scenes, and where King John came sailing in his royal barge. There were manv theatrical surprises throughout the performance. A waterfall gushed fortli from the rocks under a picturesque stone bridge, dining the Italian episode, and at the close of '.the first part a curtain of steam and mist rose 30ft into the air. behind which a change of settings was made. There were thrilling moments also, especially when one of the six chargers in the French episode came near plunging itself and rider into the lagoon. One of the most effective scones was when Jeanne D’Arc (represented by ina Claire), alone on tho stage, as a simple shepherd girl, listened to the voices. While the spectators wore assembling, coming by motor and special _ train, Lieutenant John Philip Sousa led his Great Lakes Naval Training Station Band of 250 men on the rockclad green overlooking the great amphitheatre. Boy Scouts escorted dowagers and debutantes down the stoop incline, and pretty society girls and actresses, in Red Cross garb, sold programmes.

—Orchestra Hidden in Trees.— , An orchestra of 50 pieces, selected from the Symphony Society of New York, and conducted by David* Mamies and Victor Kolar, played on a rocky prominence, concealed by Romanesque pine and poplar trees, for the pageant. There was much enthusiasm during the scenes that tapped the assembly's patriotism. Mr Henry P. Davison, chairman of the Red Gross r War Council, viewing the pageant from one of the 250d0l boxes, declared it to I>3 the most magnificent lie had ever witnessed, Welcome Genius of Enlightenment.—It was 2.50 when the action of the first part, a series of symbolic scenes illustrating the achievements of the allied nations, commenced, ■ Tho stage was set with a great central altar. In the prologue the pupils of Florence Fleming Noyes, in tilmv costume and bare feet of the Greek vestals, danced in welcome to the Genius of Enlightenment, impersonated by Edith Wynne Matthison, whoso fine voice rose clear"as a bell. Invoking the powers of earth and of the skies, sho dedicatee! the altar to peace. Then came the first episode, the Flemish, in which Douglas J. Wood appeared as tho Hetald. Ethel Barrymore, as Flanders, entered with her escort, followed by the four cities, Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, and Louvain, with Kitty Gordon, Margaret Moreland, Adelaide Prince, and Aliy© Tell as the leading figures. Tho Italian episode, with Paul Chaffin as Director, was fraught with symbolism. The gigantic figure of the Alps, Dr Montgomery Irving, poised on tho stone bridge, re.eased the. waters of the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, symbolised by Annette Keilennann and Josephine. Drake, who swept through the lagoon, both with two vast tails, the former in a net of gold. Meantime a huge tanner of tapestry revealed a. group of historic personages— Ernest Lawford as Dante, Reginald Mason as Giotto, and Frank Craven as Lorenzo di Medici, who bowed tho knee to Italy, represented by Clara, Joel, and then deposed each a symbolic subject upon the altar, as Flanders had deposited the symbol of’the fleece. Irene Fenwick appeared as the Herald.

—English Episode Colorful.— The English episode was colorful and dignified, with action, too, when King John tried to destroy and then craftily signed the Magna Charta. Xorman Trevor was Herald, and George Backus a statelv King. Marjorie Wood appeared as the Queen, Maclyn Arbuckle as Fit/, Walter and Lumsden as Hare, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Frederic Truesdall and Frank Keenan were also in the Royal group. Of course, the great, Charter was also placed upon the central aKhr. There was a riot of color and action in the Russian episode, of which Mrs John Alden Carpenter was tiro director. When John Barrymore as the Tyrant, on a palanquin supported by slaves, passed sentence upon the fugitive, impersonated by George M. Smithfield, at the village fair, the effect was like a Bakst frieze. A.religious procession, with a quartet of men’s voices, added to the realism. The peasant dancers were from Adolph Bolm’s company. Grant Stewart was the Herald, and Alexander Carr and Barney Bernard the Cossacks. The French episode wap one rollectintr gorgeous luxury and staged' by Be.n AJi Haggin. The familiar fi’tory of Jeanne d’Axc was told with power and beauty, after Eugene O’Brien had appeared as the Herald.

—The Drawing of the Sword.—

The “ Drawing of the Sword,” the second part, was a dramatic statement of the Allies’ cause in the war. Alice Fischer recited the prologue, then Truth (Blanche Yorska), Liberty (Gladys Hanson), and Justice (Howard Kyle) took their places in the high court, before which the allied nations plead tlieir cause. First, .Serbia, typified by Tyrone Power., then, Belgium.

with her orphaned children and stricken people. Ethel Barrymore, as Belgium, clad in black, feelingly pleaded her cause, and to her defence came England, with E. IT. Sothern as the leading figure, and France, represented by Rita Jolrcet. The cry of Armenia {Helen Ware) was heard, and Eva Le Galhenne sprang fortli as the new Russia when the haughty leader of imperialism (Richard Bennett) was overthrown. Japan, Roland, Portugal, and Rumania made their appeal. Then came the climax when Liberty and Justice called to America, and the great assembly rose to its feet when 1 Marjorie Rambeau, with a detachment from the Fighting Sixty-ninth, entered and saluted her .allies, pledging her sword to their common cause, while the hills rang with the strains of ‘ The Starspangled Banner.’

The board of patrons and patronesses included 200 prominent men and women of society.

THE D.I.C. GIRLS’ PATRIOTIC CLUB Held its final meeting for the rear 1917 at the Savoy Lounge on Wednesday even-, ing last. 1 was permitted to see how these pleasant and profitable evenings are spent, and feel quite certain that if others could be accorded the same privilege many such clubs would be started in businesshouses in our City. A cosy drawing room, crowds of girls (there were 70) all busily chatting, winding wool, knitting, when*, at a quarter to eight, the acting-president, Miss Lawrence, opened proceedings with the following few remarks : —“ Girls, —It gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome so many members upon this om- eighth meeting. The committee especially wish for . good results this evening to "enable ns to send a good hamper of Easter eggs to any New Zealand soldiers on active service in the East, especially those boys who are enduring so much in -Mesopotamia and Palestine. . . [Forty names were handed in. and the proceeds from the evening, augmented by a collection from the men in the shop, "came to £7 7s.] I have a letter to read from Miss Button, with whom the idea of this dub originated, and who was our president until laid aside by a severe illness ;

“‘Dear Girls. —This is the last meeting of the club for the year 1917. I had. honed to he with you. but am not. yet well enough to leave the house. As" it is possible that before the club opens I may have left Dunedin, I take the opportunity of Fending yon a message. . . . Although the sadness of this great war was responsible for the formation of our club, its outcome has been a mutual understanding and comradeship, because of the object we all had nearest om- hearts —that of doing onr little bit to cheer the brave men who have fought and are fighting still for ns on the battlefields. I shall take away with me pleasant and lasting memories of those evenings we have spent together—of the work yoii have done. Your spirit of unselfishness ami tho bravo fight you have made when sorrow and loss came so suddenly to you (a number of the girls have lost relatives) fills one with admiration of the girls of the D.I.C. . . . While much has been accomplished during the year, there is much to bo done, in the future, girls, and the end of the war is not yet in sight; but I know you will “keep on keeping on ” until the long-looked-for and victorious peace is proclaimed. ... A happy new year and success to the D.I.C. Girls’ Patriotic Chib.’ ”

Continuing, Miss Lawrence said : “I entreat you all to rather increase your work than let the output he less than in these first few months. Wc must never forgot that the comforts we enjoy arc due to the heroic sacrifices made by enr boys, who are enduring and sometimes paying tho highest price." Although it is a rule of the chib that no one except an employee of the D.I.C. can he a "member, the committee have decided, with your approval, to make one exception, and to make Miss Button a life member. (Carried unanimously.) “ We will now proceed with the programme, arranged by the Misses Guy and .Jeffreys. It breathes of Christmas from the carols to the scone from ‘Dickens,’ and* while we are enjoying it, our thoughts and good wishes wing themselves to the boys, with the hone that this Christmas time they may enjoy some of the brightness of the season, and that that of 1918 may be spent in more congenial ■ surroundings. ’ ’ While the judging of the competitions was proceeding Father Christmas (impersonated by a junior member) sold his wares—home-made sweets —and swelled, the funds by 275. The results of the competitions were as follow Lucky soldier, a safety razor, won by Miss* Guv, to be sent to Sapper Donaldson, of the 12th Reinforcements. Flower competition (prize, 11b tin of sweets packed for posting), won by Miss Cherry., Prizes for contributing most items at evenings were awarded to the Misses Guv and

Ida Smith, who each received a pipe and two tins of tobacco; while a special presentation of tobacco was made to Miss Ellis, the capable and popular pianist. A gold-mounted fountain pen was the award won by Miss Crosbio, who had done the most work. The prizes were distributed by Miss Simpson, who mentioned that this time tho committee were indebted to the firm’s country travellers—Messrs Truan. Triggs_, M‘Lay, and Griffon—for the valuable gifts. After cheers were given for the boys, Miss Button, and the travellers all present joined in singing the soldiers’ hymn, thus fittingly bringing to a close a splendid season of useful endeavor worthy of imitation for so great a cause.

A SENSIBLE DEPARTURE. The Railway Department is to bo congratulated on having at last realised that the travelling arrangements, so far as the comfort of women is concerned, have been far from what they should have been. The intention is to place midway between the first and second class carriages on the northern trunk expresses a special coach which shall ho devoted exclusively to women. For seats therein a small additional charge is to be made for booking, and a female attendant will bo on duty to perform such acts of service as invalids, nursing mothers, and women travelling with families always need when making Jong journeys. Tho innovation has been Jong demanded, and has been slow in coming. That it will meet a vefy pressing want is beyond question, and if sanitation •and comfort be made tho main studies, as they should be, it will not be long before public opinion declares in favor of-the experiment being extended to tho Southern trunk lines. Anyone who has witnessed the crowded state of om- trains at the holi(lay season, as J have done frequently, will marvel with mo that it has taken the authorities so many years to reccpnisc that a practice followed on all the great railway systems of the Old World, of the L nited States, and Canada (especially tho workl-lamous C.P.R.) was worthy of" trial here.

W bile on this topic, may I suggest tnat the railway management will net neglect, as 13 too often done at this season, to provide on every train a supply of clean uater for drinking purposes. 1 am not exaggerating m the slightest degree when 1 dcc.aro that I have witnessed on country trams scenes that were anything but creditable to the railway authorities, resulting com disregard of tho amenities of ordinary hto. It is no lilting answer to sav, as T nave heard officials do, that tho times arc out ot joint, and that there are not sufficicnt men available, to look alter such matters when everyone is on the rush. The tact that the users of the railways aro now compelled to pay extra fares and arc domed many privileges that they have enjojed for years is quite a sufficient hardship without compelling them to travel over long distances in "heated ami dusty carnages where not a drop of dean water is to be had "for love or money. I have frequently seen a mother surrounded hv four or five children whoso tongues were pavciiod, yet tho. water reservoir, if not actually empty, held a fluid that was not fit for any human to drink. That’s the sort of thing that ought not to he tolerated any longer.