MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1933, Page 9

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

ITEMS OF INTEREST

REVOLT AGAINST RETINUES.

BRIDESMAIDS ARE BANNED

This autumn’s brides arc contemplating a sensational step. I -J■ - ; tend to abolish bridesmaids ('u t“Marianne Mayfayre” in the Louden ■Daily Telegraph’)- ' This is the auti climax to Lie - ding pageants cf recent winch have become famed foi then long and picturesque processions The reason for this new attitude is that “bridesmaids cause so much trouble; they never want the same thing.” Another argument in tavom of weddings without bridesmaids is that unnecessary expense is avoided. A great many autumn brides are attracted by the idea of having just a maid of honour to attend them, and focussing all the interest on the bralal gown. This type of wedding will be at least as popular as the alternative plan oi having a. letinue composed solely of pages. It will be a season of striking wed-ding-dress fashions. Bridal ti ains will be of such length and splendour that they provide a fitting substitute for a procession. One autumn bride will have a gown of a new cloth of silver which is as heavy as a coating satin. It will look all the more stately for its severely tailored lines and will extend lor twenty-five feet. An idea for the veil which will also acquire added importance in the new scheme is to have it of tulle appliqued with old lace a foot wide. Huge semi-circular veils will be most fashionable.

The maid of honour idea has been tried out very successfully at two recent weddings of importance in London and the country.

The grey wedding will be an autumn vogue. A London dress designer was busy yesterday creating the first of the pale grey bridal gowns, which will be severely simple, and worn with a matching veil.

DUCHESS OF YORK

LONDON, October 13

Lady Cynthia Asquith, in her book “The Married Life of the Duchess of York,” mentions the wonderful companionship and exploits of Princess Elizabeth and her grandfather, the King. She also records that American dressmakers regard the Duchess of York as being the prettiest Royal lady in Europe, and send representatives to study her dresses at important functions.

Lady Asquith relates that the Queen, stooping over a cot in which Princess Elizabeth lay, once said; I wish you were more like your dear little mother!”

STORING HOT WATER BOTTLES.

Frequently hot water bottles which are put away for the summer mopths are discovered when they are taken out of store again, to be hard or to have perished. This is often du? to the fact that they were not stored with sufficient care. Before rubber hot water bottles are put away they should be treated with weak soda water. Fill the bottle with the solution and shake it well. Then empty and dip the whole bottle into the soda water. Finally dry it thoroughly befoie wrapping up and storing for the summer. After this treatment the hot-water bottles may be left for months without fear of perishing or hardening. HOUSEHOLD HINTS The general rules for the choosing of meat are that the flesh should be undimmed and not permanently dented by the impress of one's finger, and that the fat should be firm. The surest way of testing emt'’!'; eggs is by putting them in a basin of cold water. The eggs that rise and float about near the top arc not fresh enough to use. Tea made with boiling milk instead of water will be found very nourishing for invalids. Pour milk upon the leaves, allow it to stand for three minutes, and then pour off. Keep a piece of strong brown paper, folded about four - times, under the door mat. This prevents grit working through and spoiling the linoleum or flooring. Grease spots on leather should be rubbed with a which has been dipped in ammonia.’l’o clean a greasy bottle, half-fill il with sawdust moistened wilh water, and shake well.

BEAUTY OP THE FOOT. Returning from his travels a quarter of a century ago, the late Sir Fredciick Treves, 'writing as an eminent surgeon, expressed the opinion that the adult human fool was seldom an c'bject of beauty. At that time he was probably right, a.t any rate as regards boot and shoe wearing countries (writes the Medical Corisspondent of the London ‘‘Daily Telegraph”). But among the beneficent, movements of the last few years, and particularly of the current summer, has been a marked emancipation from the conditions chiefly responsible for this lack of beauty. Feet have become more visible than ever before; thanks largely to the widespread teaching of Greek dancing Io children, they have been a common sight, bare in the country, and lightly sandalled in town. It is a freedom to bo welcomed, both from tho point of view of health and aesthetics. The human foot that bus been allowed full play for its natural elasticity is seldom ugly, and often beautiful. The reflex results, too, of its unconfined activities are not restricted to the foot itself. There is a muscular response to it throughout the body that is equally graceful and beneficial; and it is sincerely to be hoped that this re-discovered freedom will not. be conventionally discarded. In scores of homes this summer sandals have been kicked off and feet gone bare. And there is every reason why such a healthy and comfortable custom should be continued even during the winter months. PAROA W.I.

At the monthly meeting of the Paroa Women’s Institute, visitors from Gladstone W.I. were present. Mrs Langley demonstrated organdie petal work, and Miss Hayden demonstrated tatting. Mrs Muir was the winner of the guessing competition. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses Mesdames Dyke and Gage.

BATH MAGIC To most of us a bath spells water, a big piece of soap, a sponge, and a Icofah. But there are several ways of making a bath not only interesting but of beautifying value. An Epsom Salts bath, for instance, will help you definitely to slim, and also combat rheumatism. All that is needed is a handful of salts to a bath, and there are some cheap Epsom salts which sell at about a shilling for 71b. -These are just right for bathing purposes. . . , + It should be borne in mind that salts of anv kind should be dissolved in a jugful of water and then added to the bath. If they are thrown loose into the bath they invariably damage the enamel. If you are “nervy” and do not sleep well, try a warm herb bath at bedtime. n , You will need a handful of hops, another of camomile flowers, and an ounce of lavender flowers. Tic all together in a muslin bag and pour over them a quart of boiling -water. Allow to stand for an hour' before your bath, then add the herbs-and solution to your bath water. A simple and soothing bath for heal spots and skin, irritations is easily obtained by dissolving four ounces of bicarbonate of soda in a bathful of water. The old-fashioned mustard bath is most useful for colds. For an adult person, two level tablespoons of dry mustard should be smoothed to a paste with cold water and added to a hot bath. A starch and oatmeal bath leaves the skin beautifully soft and helps to whiten it as well. To prepare, mix a. cupful of fine oatmeal with half a cunfiil of powdered starch and tie up : n‘a muslin hag before adding to the water. If you wish to impart a faint perfume to the bath, add half an ounce of powdered orris root. Another ■■ kin softener is a pine and ammonia bath, and this is also a 'delicious balh lor fatigue and aching limbs. Ask your chemist to make up ilm following solution: —Liquid ammonia. loz, oil of pine jtoz, soap spirit _’oz. water to make up to Goz. You must shake this mixture well before using, and add two tablespoonfuls to a warm bath.