PACIFIC ROMANCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 April 1933, Page 4

PACIFIC ROMANCE.

AUCKLANDER AND HEIRESS. Miss Marcella Gump, daughter of Mr A. L. Gump, a millionaire San Francisco art dealer, and one of the leading art connoisseurs in America, has been married down’in palmfringed Morea, Tahiti, to Llewellyn Philips, a young New Zealand engineer. The romance of the attractive society girl and her new husband began over a year ago in Papeete, where Mrs Philips was studying sculpture and native dances. The couple said it was a case of love at first sight, and the romantic background had nothing whatever to do with it.

1 Mrs Philips, who was educated in ' San Francisco and abroad, caused a ’ flurry in California society when her L engagement to Gerrard Rey de Vil- • lette, prominent Parisian “boulevardier,” was announced, but it was broken in 1927, when the 18-year-old heiress decided that it would be impossible for her to live in any other city but San Francisco. A year later she was married in San Francisco to Gilles Weill Goudchaux, of Paris, after a whirlwind courtship. The marriage, however, lasted only a few months and the couple were divorced in Paris in 1928, the wife resuming her maiden name. She returned to her CaliI fornia home in 1930, visited her family and friends and then embarked for the South Seas. Finding the tropical islands entirely to her liking, she paid another flying visit to the city of her birth, packed her belongings and returned to Papeete, where she established herself as a resident. Mr Phillips is the son of John Augustus Philips, of Papeete, Tahiti, and Heath House, Staffordshire, England. He was educated at King’s College, Auckland University College and Boston University of Technology. He is engaged in business in Morea. Mr and Mrs Gump were advised of the wedding by a. cablegram from their daughter and son-in-law.

HOLIDAY WALKING. Hikers depend on their feet for much of the pleasure of walking'. It is most important, therefore, to see that, they are kept in good condition. After a day’s walking, wash the feet first in hot. water, then in cold, and dry them thoroughly. If there is any redness due to friction, dab the spot with a. little surgical methylated spirit. Then dust with talc powder. Thin feet require larger shoes than fat ones of the same size, because the bones are not well covered, and it takes little rubbing to injure the skin. Protect them with thick woollen socks —two pairs are better than one —and a loosely-fitting shoe. Don’t set out on your first hike with darned socks. Wait until your feet are in good condition before you lake risks.

THAT PASTRY TOUCH.

There is an old saying—frequently contradicted —that cooks are born and not made, and in no other branch is this argument better supported than in pastrymaking. The sad part about “pastrycooking” is that the more you try—that is. the more you knead and roll your pastry—the worse jt, is. Too many jokes have been made about indifferent pastry, and the reason is usually an excess of zeal rather than the reverse, says Jennifer Snow in the “Daily Mail.” I once admired some excellent pastry, and the proud cook told me that she had great difficulty in making pastry in the accepted way. She discovered from her own experience how to turn failures into successes.

She did not touch her pastry at all. The right proportion of lard, or lard and butter (about six or eight ounces to the pound) was chopped into the sifted flour, the dough was mixed with a knife, and milk, not water used. Then the mixture was rolled out as lightly as possible. The result certainly justified the experiment.

In summer it is particularly necessary to remember that your pastry should be as cold as possible—unless of course you are making hot-water pastry for raised pies, and so on. Glass rolling-pins which can be filled with cold water are useful in this connection. A marble or slate slab should be used instead of a board

For most occasions, a good short crust is all you require, but for meat pies, patties, and such things, flaky pastry is better. Real puff pastry takes rather a lot of time because the butter has to be cooled and hardened between each. rolling, and unless you are very leisured it is better to buy ready-made pastry—it is very good—and use it as you want. There are all sorts of good things io be made with pastry for all meals of the day. At tea-time especially, little pastry fingers filled with jam and encrusted with sugar simply “melt away.” And with many people savoury fingers, made with a filling of anchovy fillets or grated cheese mixed with a little mustard, salt, pepper and cayenne, will be equally popu. lar.

BIRTH-STONES. The so-called “birth-stones” are deemed especially appropriate ornaments for people who were born in the months to which they respectively apply. For instance, a person whose birthday occurs in January will —so it. is said —find it lucky to wear a garnet, which means constancy. Feb1 1 uary, the purple amethyst which is . supposed to indicate sincerity. March, the bloodstone, meaning courage. April, the sapphire, rendering the wearer free from enchantment. May, the emerald, which is said to bring success in. love to those who wear it by right of their birth month. June claims the agate, meaning health. July, the ruby, which brings nobility* of mind, August, the sardonyx, which is supposed to ensure conjugal fidelity. September, the chrysolite, which keeps the wearer free from sadness. October, the opal, which is generally supposed to be unlucky, but when worn by one born in that month ensures happiness and hope. November, the topaz, which means that those who wear it by reason of their month may claim fidelity and friendship. December. the turquoise, which is supposed to bless the wearer with a prosperous life.