WOMAN’S WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 19020, 15 August 1925, Page 20

WOMAN’S WORLD

[By DIANA.]

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “ Margaret.”—Blackheatls_ generally denote an unhealthy condition of the skin. They may be treated in various ways. Steam the skin with very hot water and a little borax; wipe over gently, and rub in some lanoline. The next morning the blackheads will easily press out. Or you may try this: Dip thick Turkish towelling in very hot water and envelop the face in it till cool, for about fifteen minutes. Do this night and morning till the skin clears. Look after your health; eat plenty of fruit, hot many sweets; and sleep with the windows wide open. Attention to health will prevent them recurring. (b) Consult a good toilet establishment about making your hair grow, also for keeping its good color. “ Antonio.”—Queries will be answered next Saturday. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL. Mrs Le Cren has gone to Christchurch for about three weeks. Miss Jean Nicholson is out of town : for a short holiday. The little girl friends of Miss Vakla Brown spent a very pleasant afternoon at the Savoy on Saturday, August 1, where a dainty afternoon tea was served, the table looking very pretty with spring flowers and a little novelty in the shape of a Victorian doll for each child. Mrs Acton Adams gave a delightful little dance at her home on 'Wednesday night. The hostess wore a very hand-: some gown of black with steel bead-1 ing. Ten officers came along, as well | as Mrs Mills, Mrs Don. Reid, Misses Stock, Le Cron, Milne, Higgins (Na-1 pier), B. Reid, A. Bisset, Oram, and! Anderson (Christchurch). Mr and Mrs J. J. Clark last night gave another of their_ delightful informal dinners,_ which_ is a feature of their entertaining this year. The guests invited were Admiral Marvell, Captain Howe, and three other officers, Mr and Mrs Tapley, Mr and Mrs R. Hudson, Mr and Mrs K. C. Reynolds, ! Mrs T.' Brown, Mrs Primmer, Miss Hauham. Miss H. Hazlett, and Mr G. L. Denniston. Since fashion decided to do away with pockets in women’s clothes, life for many has consisted in solving the problem of where to carry that vital necessity of life—a handkerchief, and the problem has been solved mostly by losing it. The latest place for it_ is the garter. The new models,_ which have been designed for wear with the knee-length skirts, are made of silk to match the color of one’s frock, and each garter is provided with a tight elastic loop through which to pass one’s handkerchief. When not actively _ m use, the handkerchief serves as a kind of decoration to the garter. Paris frocks show that quite seven out of ten are either green or have touches of some shade of green about them. For morning, sports, afternoon, and evening gowns green is the predominant color. The Vicomtessc Jacques de Sibour had bought a charming sports model in a kind of pea-soup green and black check, very smart; and yet another green she invested in before returning to America was an afternoon frock of dark moss green that suited her so well, for she is dark has a charming bright color. Among evening frocks one or the prettiest was a bright jade green and silver ono. With it was worn a long silver tissue cloak lined throughout with soft green chiffon velvet, and finished with a small collar and cuffs of dark brown sable.

The degree of D.Sc. was conferred on Miss Annie Cannon, of Harvard University, at Oxford, recently. Miss Cannon is one of the comparatively small group of women who have won distinction in the field of astronomy. Miss Ethel Hulbalt, warden of _ the Royal Victoria College, M'Gill University, Montreal, and Miss Lillian Faithful!, late principal of Cheltenham Ladies’ College, received the honorary M.A. degree. It is a gracious act on the part of the University of Oxford to recognise the services not only of distinguished members of its own colleges, but of women who, like Miss Cannon, have achieved success in different departments of learning or public work.

The Women’s Chib dance given at the Tudor Hall on Wednesday in hpnor of the visiting officers was all that could be desired. Indeed, the unanimous verdict was “ one of the best ever held.” The Tudor Hall was beautifully decorated, and the two enormous flags (the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes) gave an added air of distinction. The long mirrors on the pillars are most effective, besides giving one a chance of fleeting glances! The supper and music, too, were of the best, and it is im wonder that all were loth to leave, even though it was already Thursday morning. On every side one hears eulogistic comments on our overseas com ms, and one feels that a visit of this sort is of high educational value. There’s nothing like jolly social mixing to make good friends. The two hostesses who received the guests were Mrs Tom Ross (in a handsome gown of black and silver) and Mrs Hutchison (in charming brocade with fur trimming). Others present included .'dr- Vi akeliekl Holmes (in pale pink), Mrs Blues (in black and gold), Mrs Martin (in black), Mesdames Herbert (blue georgette over flame), Battersby (pink silk), Carr (black), Holmes (blue brocade), Bullough (gold shades), Eastgate (green), Munroe (black duchesse satin), Chance (pink georgette), Oldham (black and lace), Haggitt (heliotrope), Easton (black panne velvet), Callan (black and silver), Priest (black velvet and lace). Stevenson (soft pink and fur), Williams, Wilson, A. C. Stephens (pale shades), Salmon (black with Oriental trimming). Macassey (beige), Spedding, Misses Martin (flame georgette). i Editn Howes (flame color), Fyfe (red velvet), King (yellow silk), Hooper (in black), K. Salmond (black), N. DaJrymple (green charmeuse), I). Watson (green), M. Salmond (pink), Aslin (pink* georgette and fur), L. Smith (pink satin), Hazlett (blue), Theomin (silver brocade), M'Gill (black velvet), Milne (pink), M. Blorafield (green and silver). Service (black silk), De Beer (black), G. Shiel (red and gold), M'Queen (-white). Park (black and silver), Heywood (silver tissue and lace), Anscombe (white), Sawyer (pink silk), Finch (blue and silver), Dr Lilian Storms (black velvet). The evening closed —or perhaps it would be more correct to say the new day was ushered in—with the singing of ‘ The Starspangled Banner ’ and ‘ God Savo the King.’

Most of us are interested in fostering the memory of our men who fell in tho Great War. Among memorials none deserves more help than the window at St.' Paul’s, and to augment the funds various citizens have organised a sale and entertainment. These will be held next Wednesday and Thursday at the Burns Hall—in the afternoons and evenings. On Wednesday evening Mr Ernest Drake will give a concert, while Thursday night’s enter-

tainment will take the form of ‘ Lore and the Law,’ by Mr and Mrs A. Gard’ner. It is hoped that as many as possible will attend. THE RIGHT RECIPE. Peanut Butter.—One pound peanuts, one tablespoon butter. Shell peanuts, ! put them through the mincer .three ! times, or till it torms a smooth paste. : Thou tie down in small jars. Delicious I with drv biscuits, toast, or sandwiches. I A White Sauce Hint.—lf a white 1 sauce gets discolored in the malting, I add a few drops of caramel to tint it a pretty brown, or a raw beaten egg I to make it yellow, or a drop or two | of cochineal or green vegetable color- | ing according to which color seems most suitable to the dish it is to be used with. Egg Drink. —One egg, one tablespoon sherry, one teaspoon sugar, one teacup milk. Break the egg, add to it the wine and sugar, and heat well together with a fork, but do not make too frothy. Heat the milk in a small j saucepan, and when it is almost boiling pour it on the egg, stirring all the time. Servo hot. The wine may be omitted if preferred; the yolk of egg only may bo used, and soda water may be used instead of milk. Invalid Jelly.—Jellies made in this way are much more nourishing for invalids than those made from the jelly | tablets bought in the shops. Take one ounce of gelatine, six ounces of lump sugar, one egg, nearly half-pint of cold water, and a quarter-pint of lemon or orange juice. Rub the sugar on to the rind of the fruit, then put into a sauce--1 pan with the water, sugar, and gela- | tine. When quite dissolved add the I strained lemon or orange juice, let it j come to the boil, then remove it from the fire. Well beat the egg in a basin, I and then pour the jelly on slowly, stirj ring all the time. Leave it for a few minutes to cool, then pour it into a wet mould, and turn into a glass dish when quite cold. TEA-TABLE TALK. One of the most interesting educational experiments is that now in process at Rendcomb College, near Gloucester and Cheltenham. Some years ago Mr Nod Wills bought the fine mansion at Rcdcomb and founded a unique scholastic instilutioii. His idea was to give boys from the elementary schools (what wo here call the Government schools) some of the advantages of the famous English public schools. There are over forty-five boys from the State schools, who mix on equal terms with boys of the highest social standing. Of course, to get the best results, this sort of mixing can. only be done at a boarding school, and so Redcomb College takes no day pupils. The outer clothes woiff by all boys, irrespective of money supplied, are provided by the college, so that conk’s son and duke’s son are not distinguishable to the eye. Another innovation is that masters and wives are easily accessible, and are treated with freedom and friendliness. A Form VI. boy will walk in unannounced and ask the head’s wife to do certain commissions for him, just as naturally as he would ask his mother. The present head is Air Simpson, an old Rugby boy and master, a former inspector of schools under the_ Board of Education, and the author of ‘An Adventure in Education.’ The curriculum is that of an ordinary good secondary school, with this difference: that Greek is taught to nearly all boys above a certain ago. To Air Simpson Greek is to bo preferred to Latin, as giving equal mental training, but a finer literature and art. Every boy must learn some craft or manual work, so that he may be fitted to take up this typo of work later if he wishes to. There is no prefect system, the discipline of the school being largely in the hands of the boys themselves. The head master appoints boys to certain duties, and a miniature school parliament sees to the rest. The various committees and officials are elected by the boys, such as finance committee, banker, auditor, inspector of nuisances, games committee, and so on, the post of clerk of duties (the most important hoy in the school) being decided by tlm bead. This clerk has to remind 1 boys of their duties each day The boys make their own beds, clean their boots, mid take turns to serve at table—an innovation indeed for England I One of the best parts of the training lies in learning the use and value of money. The amount of money that a boy brings from home is limited. The college supplies the rest, so that boys can provide out of their own incomes what is wanted for games, recreation, newspapers, etc. The Finance Committee prepares estimates to be laid before the general meeting, and necessary taxes arc levied for the necessary expenditure. A new budget is prepared each term and thoroughly discussed. ju fact, everything is done to prepare hoys to be good citizens in the future, and to ifcix with each other in a truly democratic fashion. THE FLEET’S VISIT. Miss Wallace is certainly doing her share in the way of looking after the naval visitors hero. On Thursday night she invited 100 of them to her dance at the Early Settlers’ Hall, and, judging by their happy and very warm faces, the sailors enjoyed every minute of it. I

Tho shed at the wharf which has boon transferred into a room for the use of our visitors is proving a great attraction, and once again on Thursday night tho place was filled. The hostesses on this occasion were members of tho Otago 'Women’s Club, and included Mesdames Blues, Hutchison, Ross, Gilkison, Loudon, Ramsay, Oldham, -Dourly, Carr, Williams, and Wilson, Misses Martin, Dalrymple, Ansoombo, Glondinning, and Allan. During the evening Mr Allan Young recited to tho great amusement of those present, and one of the sailors also gave a very good item. _ Tho rest of the evening was spent with music and

dancing. , The Allen Hall was the scene of much festivity on Thursday night, when numbers thronged in as _ the guests of Professor Strong, Dr Lilian Storms, Miss M'Gill, Miss Wells, the Home Science alumna?,, and the Home Science senior students. The quests of honor wore naturally the_ American officers, and so popular did they prove themselves to bo that one felt one would like to meet many more. The room was most appropriately_ decorated in red, white, and blue, _ with a fine tree in the centr9 hung wdth numerous little silk stars and stripes, while the back of the stage was draped with two handsome flags, the Union Jack and the American one. Professor Strong (professor of home science), Mr Morrell (Vice-Chancellor of the University), Miss Stevenson (on behalf of the alumnre), Dr Storms, Mrs Morrell, and Miss M'Gill received the guests at the door, and at once one felt thoroughly at home. The proceedings opened with a speech of welcome from the University by Mr Morrell; then Professor Strong spoke, stressing the great value of such a visit, which must tend to create friendship, after which Captain Gay answered in a humorous speech on behalf of the officers present. A splendid musical programme was arranged

Reports of social functions will bo welcomed for this column, ** Diana ” win also answer all reasonable questions relating to the home, cookery, domestic science, and any topic of interest to her sex. But - each letter or report mart boar the writer's name and address as a guarantee of genuineness, and questions that do not permit at a puhlk cannot bo answered. Questions should bo concisely put sod the writer’s nom de plume eleariy written.

OLD-FASHIONED NOTIONS,

as follows‘ The Star Spangled Banner ’ and ‘ Our University,’ by all present; items by the University sestet, which made such a hit at the recent capping; vocal solos by Mrs Evans, Miss Mollio Vickers, and Mr L. North; items by the Otago Women’s Club’s Glee Club; and plenty of incidental music by the Women’s Club orchestra (Misses I. White, Hanham, M'Grogor). The overseas visitors were quite taken with the “ haka.” Among those present were Dr and Mrs Fitchett, Brand Mrs Marshall Macdonald, Mr and Airs Renfrew White, Professor and Mrs Hewitson, Mr and Mrs T. Ross, Mr and Mrs J. S. Ross, Professor and Miss Benson, Dr and Mrs Strain, Mr and Mrs Grinling, Professor and Mrs Ramsay, Dr and Mrs Thompson, Dr and Mrs Falconer, Mr and Sirs Pels, Mr and Sirs A. Cameron, Mr and Mrs Skinner, Dr and Sirs O’Neill, Mr ancl Mrs H. Chapman, Rev. and Mrs H. B. White. Mcsdames 0. M'Kellar, Dunlop, Barrowclough, Fitzgerald, Primmer, Ewing, Dunlop, Leech, S. M Park, Theomin, Taverner, Wakefield Holmes, Misses Fyfe, Ross (2), Rule (2), Vallango, Do Beer (2), Milne, Todhuntor, Whyte, Dr Marion Whyte, Dr Taylor, Dr Rose, Dr Bell. LUCKIEST WEDDING DAY. OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS. Of all human customs round which superstitions cling none, perhaps, has a greater number and variety than marriage (writes W. C. Slunro, in the ‘Weekly Scotsman’). In every age and clime marriage superstitions have been prevalent, and some of our own queer beliefs in regard to the ceremony have come down to us from very early times.

Take, for instance, the custom of regarding May as an unlucky mouth for marriages, which still has some strength, as shown by the fact that there are far fewer marriages in May than during any other month of the year. Two thousand years ago tho Romans had an equal aversion to it. But why should June be considered tbo luckiest month for weddings,_ with October coming a good second in popularity P And why should special happiness await those who marry when the moon is at the full, or when sun and moon are in conjunction? Friday is held to be the unluckiest day of tho week to set the wedding bells a-ringing, except in Scotland, where, as everybody knows, it is quite a favorite day for marriages. Sunday, on the other hand, has always been a day of good omen for wedding couples ever since the earliest days of Christianity. FORTUNATE DAYS FOR WEDDINGS.

But, as luck-bringer, no day, it is said, can compare with the 4th of June, especially if it should fall on a Sunday, its nearest rival being the 9th of October. Each month, too, according to the superstitious, has its own days of good omen for wedlock. Thus in January there are no less than seven lucky days—the Ist, 2nd, 4th, sth, 7th, 10th, and loth. September has two—the 6th and 7th—-as also October, when the dates are the 6th and the 9th.

Many brides would never dream of being present in the church when their banns are read ; for, according to the old belief, this is simply inviting disaster. Local superstititions as to banns are numerous and quaint. In Perthshire, for instance, it is considered extremely unlucky to have the marriage announcement proclaimed at the end of one quarter and have the ceremony itself take place at tho beginning ot the next.

The sneezing of a cat foretells much good fortune to the bride who hears it the day before her wedding; while to see a strange cat on the same day is likewise a harbinger of prosperity. But to dream of fairies on the eve of “ the day ” is the most propitious sign of all. The wise bride, should she desire to avoid misfortune on her honeymoon, will wear on her wedding day “ something old and something now, something borrowed and something blue”— although nobody can say just why this should ho so important! Above all, let her beware of wearing aught of vellow, for this betokens fickleness; while green, the sign of jealonsy, is also to be avoided.

The bride who believes in these queer observances must take a hand in making her own wedding gown or her bride’s cake, else misfortune will surely follow. Nor can she, without risk of il-luck, see herself in a mirror after she is completely dressed for the altar. She should be careful to_ leave off a glove or some such little article ere she takes a final peep at herself in the glass. One of the most widely known marriage superstitions is that which presages ill-luck to the girl who ventures to “try on” a bridal gown without having any immediate intention of getting married.

A HINT FOR THE BRIDEGROOM. If the bride finds a spider on her wedding dress, or passes a dog or cal on her way to the church, she can face wedded life with the knowledge that it is likely to be happy and prosperous. The first to kneel at the altar, whether bride or bridegroom, will bo the first to fall ill: and when leaving the church the bride should be careful to put her right foot foremost, and on no account to allow anyone to speak to her husband before) herself. _ If she docs she is sure to lose his affection later on. To enter the church by one door and leave by another is said to be an almost certain forerunner of misfortune. If the wedding is to bo a success the ring must be of gold, and nothing else. -No other metal, either loss or more valuable, will do. To break or lose the

ring Is an unlucky omenj while, should it slip off the finger of the bride, either by accident or forgetfulness, the newlywedded pair may prepare for trouble in the near future. ■ ■ . , Among all these superstitions there Is one of serious import to the bridegroom. If on the wedding day the bride drops her handkerchief and he picks it up for her he may expect to bo “ bossed ” by her throughout their whole married life.. The average bridegroom, however, will, no doubt, prefer to take his chance or that rather than start off with a failure in politeness. girls who mix their drinks. “DREAD OF "APPEARING OLD FASHIONED.” “ Some girls have a dread of appearing old fashioned. _ They would rather drop their homo principles than not be in the swim.” Following the warning given to licensees by Mr Joseph Hunter, chairman of the Licensing Bench, to exercise care in serving drink to girls, this striking comment was made in an interview with a member of the Liverpool Women’s Police Patrol by the ‘ Weekly Post.’ “■While the difficulty of collecting facts makes it impossible to be definite,” the policewoman continued, we feel that a good deal of drinking goes on amongst quite young girls. “ There is no longer the sense of shame in entering a public-house. They think it is rather clever and modern. “ Often when a girl drinks too much the trouble all began with a ‘ soft ’ drink. This leads to a port wine, and then the girl is tempted to mix her drinks still more dangerously. Her companions, very often young men, lead her on and treat it as a joke- - A police court missionary said that the number of cases of drunkenness and disorderly behaviour among young girls was not abnormally high for a big city. There was an average of about six a week, excluding habitual offenders. MODERN BLUE-STOCKINGS. One of the minor results of the admission of women to university degrees has been the increased number of girl students in the reference departments of the libraries of our university towns.Edinburgh, in common with othercountries, has been called upon to answer to the demands of the woman undergraduates, says the ‘ Scotsman.’ A casual glance at the quiet room upstairs in the head library of the cjtywill give the unmistakable impression that the extent to which the facilities offered by the institution are taken advantage of approaches the fullest possible. This is especially so In the mornings and in the evenings, when the reference department may be_ foundacting as an adjunct to the universitylibrary. There is no romniaint on this ground. Students of both sexes are,in fact, encouraged by the authorities.The sight, however, of so many girl

students, who axe sometimes In the majority, poring over tomes which, to all appeal's nee, are extremely dull, is an amazing one. The old conception of the bluestocking, if it ever had any foundations in reality, aa it may possibly have had in the early days or female emancipation, has now completely vanished. The light garments, the bobbed_ andi shingled hair, and the fashionable “cloche” or the more summer-like straw sun hat of these young students contrast strangely with the learned books they peruse. The attractivelooking girl who has just left has been studying Lamb’s ‘ Hydrodynamics ’ and 1 The Theory of Sound.’ She has also taken out a volume of the ‘ Philosophical Magazine ’ and books on 1 Physical Optics/ ‘Anatomy,’ and ‘Radioactivity.’ The books made an imposing array around her, and her notebooks are most probably crammed with vain-, able pencilled extracts from these works. As far as the number of books go, she was the most avid reader of the day of this inquiry, and one of the most serious. Yet there was nothing in her appearance to suggest this.