THE LADIES WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3294, 12 August 1911, Page 4

THE LADIES WORLD.

A CORONATION EPISODE

At, the Coronation of George the Third, the King complained that so few precedents were kept for their proceedings, and Lord Effingham was obliged to own that the Earl Marshal’s office had been sadly neglected; but he assured his Majesty that he had taken such care for the future, that the next Coronation, would he regulated in the •most exact order. The King had enough sense of humor to be immensely pleased with the speech, and made the Earl repeat it several times. ORCHARD HOUSE. “Orchard House,” Concord, where Louisa Alcott wrote “Little Women,” is now untenanted and dilapidated, but still shows traces of the former gifted occupants in sketches on the woodwork by “Amy.” Sixteen hundred pounds is required to buy the house and land, and the Women’s Club of Concord is taking steps to secure it as a permanent Alcott memorial. Readers of Louisa Alcott are invited to subscribe: to a fund for that object. PETS. A writer in “The Queen” has a word in season to the mistress of many pets. “Many of us,” she sa3 r s, “strike the happy medium, and can be fond of a dog or cat, and equally devoted to out friends and families. Rut some women who pet and fondle a. dog neglect their husbands and rarely or never kiss their own children. And time, thought and money are spent on these little oreati res that might be employed for a better purpose. It is good to see one’s pet dog well cared for, but why should it have a jewelled bangle? And if our children are given cotton sheets, why should a cat have a satin counterpane? Animals are a delight, but even with them we should cultivate that triple blessing, a sense of proportion.” A WELCOME REVIVAL. A welcome revival, says a Melbourne correspondent, is that, of embroidered collars and cuffs. Nothing gives a prettier or more feminine touch to the simple, well cut gown, and nothing, it may be said in passing, calls .for better design and daintier finish. The material par excellence to use as a foundation for good embroidery is handkerchief linen. On this a good design worked in plain satin stitch and eyelet work is always effective. Wallachian embroidery, which is reallv embroidery done in buttonhole stitch, is also very beautiful. Solid embroidery on a fine surface is always to he recommended, and the best Indian muslin is another admirable foundation material. The best finish for both collars and cuffs is a gimp done in crocheted linen. As variants to the entirely white collars are linen collars

showing an applique and embroidery design in color. This is often very happily carried out in dull rose on white, with a touch of black; grey and pink on white, and all shades of Dutch blue. These collars, which are frequently very large and deep, with cuffs to match, are as often seen in connection with light woollen gowns as ■with linen or cotton ones. A GLORIOUS MONUMENT. Chili and Argentina may justly claim to be the pioneers of a girowing movement towards universal Peace and Love. In one of his books, Mr Carnegie tells us how the two nations ceased to> wage war and agreed to settle their disputed boundaries by arbitration. They did so, and both conquered from a moral point of view. On the highest point of their boundary line stands a statue of Christ as Prince of Peace, cast from their discarded cannons. The pedestal bears this inscription.. “Sooner shall these mountains crumble to dust than Chilean and Argentines shall break: the peace which, at trie Foot of Christ, the Redeeemer, they have sworn to maintain.”

A REFORMER. The young woman sat before her glass, and gazed long and earnestly at tlie reflection there. She screwed up her face in many ways. She fluffed her hair, and then, smoothed it down again. She raised her eyes and loweied them ; she showed, her testh and she pressed her lips tightly together. At last she got up, with a weary sigh, and said—“lt’s no use, I’ll he some kind of a reformer.” PRECIOUS STONES. Polish people have some very quaint superstitions about precious stones, associating them not only with the months of the year, but also with the planets. j The Garnet singnifies Constancy, and is said to influence those born in January. _ , , ~ Those horn in February should wear the Amethyst, signifying Sincerity. The March stone is a Bloodstone, denoting Courage. April, Diamond, symbolic of Innocence. May, Emerald, Success in Love. June, Agate, symbolic of Health and Long Life. July, Cornelian, symbolic of Content. Augst. Sardonyx, symbolic of Conjugal Felicity. September, Chrysolite, symbolic of Wisdom. October, Opal, symbolic of Hope. November, Topaz, symbolic of Fidelity. December, Turquoise, symbolic of Prosperity. As regards the planets : Those born under the influence of Saturn should wear Turquoises. Jupiter, Cornelian. Mars, Emerald. The Sun, Diamond. Venus, Amethyst. Mercury, Loadstone. The Moon, Crystal. FLOWERS IN ART. It is interesting to note how the Old Masters loved Nature, and l introduced flowers into their masterpieces. In the National Gallery, lilies, poppies and roses are dotted over the ground in Giovanni di Pietro’s “Agony in the Garden,” strawberries in flower, daisies and forget-me-nots decorate Signorelli’s “Nativity.’’ Dendelion “clocks” are noticeable in Rephael’s “St. Catherine of Alexandre.” Shamrocks are seen in a picture of the Umbrian School. “The Baptism of Christ” ; roses, lilies and daisies in Fra Angelico’s “Adoration of the Kings.” GOLDEN RULES. Put- your flowers in very lightly, and as nearly as possible- in position as they grow. Be extravagant in foliage. Use artistically shaped glasses, suitable for the blossoms. It is the flowers that are to be displayed, not the vases. Don’t mix too many kinds of flowers together. Two, or, at the most, three, sorts are sufficient. The colors must be chosen to produce a contrast, or a soft harmony. There is a rumor that this summer will see the last of the tightly clinging sleeve and that the old-fashioned leg-o’-mutton will be revived. A noticeable feature of the- shops just, now is the array of colored stockings exposed for sale. Stripes are so popular just now that the smart woman apparently does not consider herself properly attired unless she carries stripes of some sort on the person. Hence the vogue of the striped stocking for wear with non-striped material. The week-end house is no longer a toy, says an Australian contemporary. The majority of people regard the boltday home as a place to which they are quite likely to gravitate when working days are done. Hence the improvement in their construction. In an article on the subject published recently by a well-known society some admirable hints were given for the benefit of self-supportinsr women- who are contemplating the building of the bungalow. The cupboard, so' dear to the feminine heart, is a special feature of the- week end home, and the idea of storing linen in a cupboard built near enough to the chimney to get heat fi’om it is an- eminently practical one. Permanent fitments in the same plain unpainted wood -as that used for the doors and other wood work may well take the place of separate pieces of furniture', thus greatly reducing the expense while adding to the picturesque effect.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS. To Cleanse Gold. — Wash the article in warm suddy water, to which a few drops of sal volatile have been added. Polish off with a soft rag or leather. Varnish stains on the hands are quickly removed by rubbing with metblated spirit. Apply this before washing with soap. Common yellow soap should always be bought in large quantities and kept in a warm , dry place. If it is hard before being used, ,it will last much longer. A weak solution of gum mixed with Epsom salts crystals dabbed oh. the window panes wil, produce a “frosted” effect. To keep this for any length of time give a final coating of the gum solution alone. Many condemn the use of tea in terms most unqualified, while' others assert its innocence, and go so far as to ascribe to its salubrious and extraordinary virtues. It does stimulate' the nerves, especially when drunk without cream. Bread and butter, or. a biscuit should always be taken with tea. Tea will often induce wakefulness, it is a point that cannot be denied, but it is

also said to abate a pain in the headTea, liko every other commodity, is liable to abuse. A fire which is built so as to burn downwards lasts much longer than, one laid in the ordinary way and is, accordin,gly very useful in a bedroom or sickroom, where a fire is required to fast the night through. To arrange such a fire, half fill the grate with lumps of coal the size of eggs, but place them so as to allow plenty of air space. Over the ooa-1 arrange the sticks lightly built, and over the sticks some' screwed-up sheets of paper. Lastly, arrange -a layer of cinders and coal mixed, but leave plenty of air space, and when the fire is required for-use set light to the paper. Limoeleum will look the- better and last the longer for an occasional rub over with a flannel cloth dipped in paraffin, which will remove all dirt and stains.

Cut flowers keep fresh longest if they are placed in water which has been boiled -and allowed to cool. The water should bo changed daily. A lump of vegetable charcoal at the bottom of the vase helps to keep the flowers fresh. When the flo-wers begin to droop and fade they can be easily revived by changing the water in the vase and snipping off the ends of the flower stalks by cutting them under water with sharp scissors. lodoform nowder is a useful domestic remedy, since a small pad of cotton- wool dipped into the powder and tied firmly over a wound stops bleeding and prevents the entrance of germs, which might set up a painful inflammation, or cause the formation of pus or matter. Old hair brushes which have become soft can be made hard and firm by dipping t-hom in a solution of alum.

RECIPES. Doctor’s Soup.—Pick over and wash three ounces of rice and place it in a saucepan with one quart of water. Let this cook till the water is reduced to one pint, ad a quart cf milk, a little dropped onion and celery, a pinch of salt, and a suspicion of mace. Place the saucepan on the side of the stove, and simmer the soup till the vegetables are thoroughly cooked. Before serving add a lump of butter, rubbed into half an ounce of flour, and a teaspoonfu.l of chopped parsley. Toad-in-t-he-Hole. Make a batter with one or two eggs, as for a Yorkshire pudding, and take some sausages or minced meat. Pour the batter into a well-greased pie-dish, and put in the sausages in pie-cos. first removing the skins. Bake in hot- oven for half to three-quarters of an hour; serve with some good gravy. Gold Meat Outlets.—Eight ounces of cold meat, loz of flour, loz of butter, quarter of a pint of gravy, pepper and salt, chopped parsley or onion, one tablespoonful of Worcester sauce. Make a sauce of the butter, flour and gravy; add the meat, Worcester sauce, and the parsley (finely chopped), season. Allow the mixture to cool, make into cutlets, dip into beaten egg, then into breadcrumbs, and fry in hot fat. Coffee Creams. —Dissolve ioz of leaf gelatine, a tablespoonful of -coffee essence, and 2oz of sugar in half a gill of hot water, let it cool, then, stir it gently into three-quarters of a pint of stiffly-whipped cream, continue Stirling until the cream -begins to set, then pour into- a wetted mould, turn out into a glass dish, and serve, when set. Golden Eggs. — Hard-boil three or four eggs, shell, and sprinkle them with flour. Beat up one or more raw eggs, and dip the hard ones in this. Roll'them in breadcrumbs to which add some salt, and fry a good golden brown. Serve with rich white sauce. Stuffed Potatoes. — _ Take as many largo potatoes as required; well scrub the skin, but do not peel. Then cut the potatoes in half lengthways, and scoop out sufficient of the inside in which to place a sheep’s kidney. Bind tightly together, and bake in a moderate oven for one hour and a quarter. Macaroni Pudidng.—A quarter of a pound of macaroni, one quart of milk, two eggs, 2oz of castor sugar, loz of butter. Break the macaroni into inch lengths, and boil it in water for 15 minutes. Drain off the water, and boil in the milk till tender. When cold, stir in the sugar, beaten eggs, and part of the butter. Grease a piedisli with rest of butter, turn in the macaroni, and bake till nicely browned on top This can be made plainer by omitting the eggs and butter. A flavoring can! be used. Tapioca Cream.— Soak two tablespoonfuls of tapioca in a pint of cold water for two hours; make custard with yolks of two eggs and a pint of milk; ad tapioca with sugar, or vanilla or grated lemon-rind, and boil till tender. When cooled a- little stir in whites of eggs beaten stiffly. Serve in glass dish with stewed fruitPrune Sauce for Puddings.— Stew a quarter of a pound of prunes in a little water, add a piece of lemon peel and a stick of cinnamon. When quite soft press through a wire sieve. Sweeten to taste and serve.