MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1923, Page 8

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

ngj*- ■ MEWJS AND NOTES. “The most important article of baby's clothing is Jus pocket handkerchief ; if he uses a handkerchief from his birth he will avoid most of his troubles in life.” This insistence upon the handkerchief is part of the medical creed —as far as children are concerned—of Dr Octavia Lewin, medical officer of the Soho, Strand, and Malfair Maternity and Child Welfare Centres of the City of Westminster Health Society (states the “Westminster Gazette’). Every child, says Dr .Lewin, should have a. handkerchief fastened by a button to the left, breast pocket. This teaches it to bow the head when it blows its nose-—which is the correct attitude for that, particular operation. Some of the childish complaints consequent upon nasal, neglect are anaemia, running ears, earache, deafness, lassitude, headache, frequent colds, coughs, sore throats, loss of appetite, night terrors, eye delects, sleeplessness, and lack of vitality. 'l’he latest cure for the “blues’ is the “blues.” This is not a new development in homeopathy—it is just the latest dance which (a trifle relined on the way over) has just arrived from Paris (states the “Westminster Gazette”). It was demonstrated before the congress of the Imperial Soviet} of Dance Teachers in London—and may not be as easy as it looks. It is a mixture of waltz and fox trot in about equal proportions, danced to fox trot music, played at funeral niai’cn speed. If looked very charming—but nobody explained why it is called tin* “blues.” The need for some recognised qualification for dance teachers was emphasised by Major Cecil Taylor, president of the society, who denied “wild statements” which have been made criticising modern public dancing. Dancing in England, he said, was never bettor. It was an art —and not a romp. Comparing modern with -mnnarativelv ancient dances, he voiced

comparatively ancient aance», nv vuiu.u the opinion that ten fox trots were less fatiguing than one set of lancers as danced a dozen years ago. But he considered four hours’ dancing twice a week, enough for most people. A recent book, written by Sir AY. M. Flinders Petrie, upon life in ancient Egypt, is a mine of information on the administration, morality, commerce, housing, and private life of the ancient Egyptians, states an exchange. Ihe eirliest marriage contract known from Egvpt. we art* told, is of 59f) B.C. A curious marriage contract of ('optic limes is quoted : “Since God willeth that we should unite one with the other in righteous wedlock, after the manner of every free man and every wise woman ; therefore, 1 have given thee 16s in gold as a bridal gift, that thou mayest come and enter my house as a five woman. And for my part I will not neglect thee more than as it were mv own body. Neither shall I be able to put thee forth without a cause having legal ground. But should I wish to pul thee forth. I will pay 70s for the matter.” Education was looked upon as a special duty of affection. . . • ‘‘Of the XlVth dynasty there was a tradition that all children born on the same day as the heir wore b> be brought up with him. Tin l number is staled to have been 1700.” “In the NXVIth dynasty Amasis made a, Law that every .man must annually make a declaration of his means ol subsistence ; unless this were satisfactorily done, hit (amid be executed.

The manager of a big London store, before engaging a promising shop-as-sistant, first makes him or her smile. Other things being well, the applicant's late hangs finally upon the quality oi bis or her natural smile, states an English exchange. in the gymnasium of the London School for 'training in Retail Distribution at Westminster, hangs the motto: ‘‘lt takes sixty-five muscles of the lace to make a frown, and 13 to produce a smile. Why waste energy?” The school has been at work for six months, and the training is founded on the results of an inquiry to find out what are the qualities of a .rood salesman. Customers were asked what attracted them most in a salesman : salesmen and women were asked what was their ideal ; and buyers and managers were asked what was most prominent in a good salesman. The collective answer was—lntelligence, Interest, Courtesy. The student is therefore taught, among other things, the value of tact, sympathy, patience, sincerity, “manner,” personality, power of observation, optimism. Miss Winifred James, known as a writer of pleasant stories, is appearing in a new role in a little shop with a picturesque sign in Fulham Road, London, IS.W. For many years Miss James has been interested in little

homes which working women, particularly, set up for themselves. .She has pondered over the contrivances which exist for making one-room home pretty and comfortable, ami has invented some herself. A London “Daily Chronicle” representative visited the shop, which is to be known as A Place of Your Own,” and found .Miss .James had contrived in one room a little home which may he taken to represent the desires of the many business women with whom Miss James has talked over the small-home problem. Hung with cheerful curtains, a fitted recess constitutes the washstand. Here, also, an invention on the lines of a big tape measure gives out a cord which, strung across to a hook on the opposite side of the room, makes a drying line to be used when the room is unoccupied. A cretonne-covered chair has a, hinged seat, which makes an unexpected hat-box. Little clips hanging in the wardrobe, which is also disguised by cretonne curtains, holds the brushes and brooms. These are covered by voluminous silk bonnets, so that (hey can be neighbours L> delicate dresses with impunity. A kitchen table is covered by an elegant, cloth when it becomes the drawing room table. When meals are to be cooked in (he Dutch oven which is used in front of a- gas stove the cloth is re-

moved from the table, and a sheet- ol enamelled tin takes its place. On this, food can be prepared with cleanliness, and Ihe I races easily removed when the workaday room has Io be. transformed into a lounge. During the day the couch bed is turned into a divan, with the help of a <-o\ei o bright cloth. Bright pictures iroin colour magazines base been plain y framed lor the walls.