DOMESTIC REALM

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10728, 27 October 1928, Page 10

DOMESTIC REALM

CLOTHES FOR THE LITTLE ONES. words’ of advice for aia. Gone are the days- of the multiplicity of garments for a little girl. "It was once believed that little, hoys were half the trouble, to dress of little girls. This is certainly not the case to-day. A little, boy will presumably wear a vest, in .summer a .shirt with'Wttle knickers braced. Tyrolean fashion over the shirt. This undoubtedly is tlie easiest method of dressing him. An alternative is to have a little shirt fastening on to the little trousers by a series of buttons. AVitli a little girl the vest holds good, and if it is not considered desirable to have little knickers fastening to the vest or bodice, a fine compromise is effected with little camiitnickers buttoning on the shoulders and fastening at the waist in the ordinary way. This may be one of the items readily made at home from a good pattern. The fabric may be chosen in the case of the older children to match the little frocks.

In thinking, by the way, of artificial silks, it is wise when purchasing them to remember that there are some which must not be subjected to a very hot- iron or boiling water. Tricot artificial si'lks are frequently of this order: moreover they should be allowed to dry in the open-air rather than by a hot fire. Artificial silk of this kind lias on the other hand the virtue of being practically fadeless, and treated properly all artificial sfiks wash repeatedly and well, keeping their bright isilkiuess to the end

Artificial side is often woven with threads of wool or cotton, and the alliance is valuable for hard-wearing qualities and warmth. Woollies need no introduction l'or every mother knows them as the stanu-bv of the nursery, their one drawback being in the direction of shrinking. The only maxim' to be observed on this subject is,' buy of the best and see that nurse really understands the simple but fine art of washing, and hanging them. They will want little pressing if this is carried out. .. Woollies must not be washed in tepid water or they will thicken and become a bad color. Of course?; Too hot water is as bad. Before all, they must be quickly washed in comfortably hot water" with a well-dissolved flake soap. They want rinsing in hot water, too, squeezing and carefully pulling out into shape before being iiuug out in the air the right .way of the garment to correct any tendency to stretching and elongation. In loosely knitted things sleeves should' be folded back on to the line, and the same ‘applies to woolly overalls. Stockings'may usefully be pegged by the heel and the toes if space, permits. This helps the feet to dry quickly, and prevents shrinkage. THE HAPPY CHILD. NEVER IDLE FOR A MOMENT. Healthy, normal children never want, to be idle. Even sub-normal, apathetic children with a little stimulation can become wonderfully active. In a free atmospherej where the child can express his thoughts, there is only one thing which will cause him anxiety, and that is not to know what he is to do next. The first essentials for a happy, well-balanced child are outlets lor his amazing amount of energy. A young child must have plenty of space to move about in. If he has to sit quietly at a desk he requires a certain mental energy to repress his natural movements. This is ai perversion of energy—a sapping ol vitality which could be more profitably applied to the work iu hand. Incidentally, the child adopts an erroneous attitude to any spontaneous movement in school. associating “goodness’’ with sitting quite still and “badness” with physical activity.

'Then there is the question of individual differences. Tin’s is taken for granted in adults: yet the older systems demanded that all little children should do things in exactly the same Avay. Some- children work quietly and placidly, moving very little. The more A-igovous child works quite as well, but there is no purpose served by spoiling his interest in’ his occupation by constantly reminding him to bo quiet. Give him plenty of material to occupy himself—freedom, to move, fresh air and sunshine, and the normal child Avill he perfectly happy. It is always a matter for comment- on the part of visitors to an individually Avorked class thati the children are so busy. They haVe no time to speak to the grown-ups as a rule. A Kav (usually boys.) may say, “See; this!” but. having received the desired admiration, Avill proceed, taking no more notice of the visitor.

TESTED RECIPES.

HAVE YOU TRIED THESE?

Steak With Celery-—lib of Jean steak, half a. bead of celery, 1 onion, 1 tomato, loz butter or dripping, lov hour, l pint of Avater. Fry onion, lift into casserole, fry steak on both sides, put on top of the onion, brown flour, add Avater, still till it boils, mince celery and -slice tomato, lay on top of steak, pour gravy over, cook sloAvly in the oven for two hours.

Treacle Butterscotch.—l'cup biwn sugar, 1 cup treacle or golden syrup, -J cup Avater, j cup. butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix the sugar, treacle and water, and cook,' stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking, stirring as little as possible, until a temperature of 290 deg. F. is reached (brittle Avlien tried m cold Avater). Remove from the fire, add the butter and vanilla; pour into buttered pans m a thin layer; mark into squares before the mixture cools.

Savoury Puffs. —Make, potato pastrv as follows : Ony pound potatoes (Aveighed after cooking), Jib flourVlJlb butter, salt and pepper,, 1 tfgg, milk u required. 'Boil or bake _ potatoes in skins, mash.’.while hot with fork and season. Add a raw egg and beat till smooth and free from lumps. In another bowl put flour, rub in butter, then kind AVith potato mixture, working to a paste. Add, if necessary, a little milk; unless the potatoes axe. mealy it will not! he necessary. When cold turn onto, a board Avell floured and roll out for. use from :}in to 4m. thick. Gut into rounds oil one .side, put some mince or cold meat with .a, little 'bacon just moistened with gravy; leave a. margin of 4in or i»or<* round edge, fold over the other half and press firmly together, then crump edges Avith fork. Brush over Avith al little liquified .dripping ,butter jor beaten egg and bake in a quick oven about 20 minutes until nearly browned. A filling of cold fish Arfth a little sauce furnishes another variety.

Household Hints

By "MARIE"

j HOUSEHOLD HINTS. | DIVERSITY OF SUBJECTS. | To make a substitute for cream, stir a dessertspoon of flour into a pint of new milk, taking care that it its perfectly smooth. Simmer for a few minutes to take off the raw taste of the flour, then heat well the yolk of an egg, and stir gently bito the

milk. i When the garbage tin is emptied, I put in a newspaper, sprinkle it with i sulphur, and set fire toit.. Flies will ■ never come near it. ... '• 1 Before, washing woollen articles, it i s a good plan to sew together any buttonholes. This will prevent them i stretching and becoming too large for the buttons. | When a bottle, or tumbler is §hat- . tered on the floor, collect the splinters in a thin layer of absorbent cot-ton-wool, moistening it, and putting it. on the surface where the tiny pieces lie. Wads of moistened tissue- • paper are a fair substitute for cotton : wool.

To remove tar from clothed, place a pad of blotting paper under the spot, and rub ,the tarred spot with lard. Wlieu tuo tar has dissolved, clean thoroughly with petrol. To remove grass, stains irom llannol, make a solution of equal parts of glycerine: and yolk of “egg; it should remain on the stain an hour before washing. When a rubber hot waver bag springs a leak, melt an old fruit jar rubber ring until it is soft, and spread on with a knife. Tins will also satisfactorily repair leaks m pan-s, buckets, tubs, etc. When putting u cake-mixture into small tins, dip, the spoon into hot water each time before putting bite the mixture, which.will then slip eas-

ily from the spoon. Berry-stains can be removed from table-linen or clothes by soaking a piece of bread in cold water and placing it at once on the spot. A cup of black coffee to which has been added two teaspoons ol - lemonjuice will often relieve a bilious headache. When the glass stopper ol a scent or bath-salts bottle is inclined to stick, smear a trace of vaseline on the tight-fitting collar and work the stopper around m the socket. Wipe clean. If this is done to each new bottle, stoppers will never give trouble.

If fish is to bo kept a few days, mix a pint of vinegar in three, quarts ol water, and when quite boding put m the fish for two minutes, just to ■>cald it. and hang in a cool place. To freshen a lettuce put a small teaspoon of borax in a ol water and steep for five.minutes. To untie knots, place the knot on a table and gently. hammer with a wooden article tor a second or two, reversing the knot as you do so Then insert the closed points of a small pair of scissors, gradually open them, and the knot will come out. When making small children’s playaprons or frocks keep any suitable lengths of the Jolt-over material for making ribbons to tic back the hair. An umbrella must be perfectly dry before it is folded. Otherwise the ribs will rust <uiid the cover rot. The best way to remove the stains of fruit or vegetables from the hands to rub them well with, lemon juice

nd powdered borax. On no account

US:.' soap. Glasses which have become stuck can be separated if the lower one is pur into a basin of warm water, and the top glass tilled with cold, water. To remove paint from woollen or silk fabrics, saturate the spots with turpentine. After a few hours rub the cloth between tbe fingers, and tin.' paint will crumble olf without injuring the material. When washing towels, toilet covers. or any other article with a fringe, shake it well before hanging out to dry, and also two or three times while it is drying. This will prevent the fringe from matting together, and will save the labor of nulling or combing nut. Painted walls should be cleaned while tlicv are wet with steam, wipe off the steam with a clean soapy cloth. The Cleaning of Carpets.— A dusty carpet may he I tetter cleansed by being rubbed over with warm ' water and household ammonia than by sweeping. By. the latter process the dust is only temporarily disturbed and settles again on the carpet. Shabby. Oilskins. Thoroughly cleanse oilskins with soapy water. When dry, rub vaseline all over the surface with a piece of flannel. Hus treatment will give old a rowlease of life, making them "waterproof for many years.. . Cleaning Leather - covered Chairs. —They should be rubbed briskly with a pad dipped in a little splint and afterwards polished with yolk of egg, well beaten up and used sparingly, a nice gloss being achieved hy a hard rub with a clean duster. Electric light shades can he washed! hut the lamp must 'be, dusted very gently with a silk duster, care being taken not to jar or damage/ the filaments,. Wheat washing, a" .white woollen sweater be sure that it is thoroughly rinsed in several waters to remove soap, otherwise it will become yellow. . , . II is a good idea when cooking a chicken or game in the oven to roast it in the usual way until it is nicely browned, then turn the hack upwards, and leave it until done. In this way the gravy will run into the breast, and make it soft and deliciously tender.. 1 Equal quantities of paraffin and vinegar make a. good and cheap furniture polish; he sure to shako the bottle before using. , , ' Coal Economy.—Coal dust packed ill strong paper bags and .moistened with water in which a little saltpetre lias been dissolved will keep a fire alight when it is not required for cooking.. ~ To Tighten C'ane Seats—lf the tops apd bottoms of cane seats which' are beginning to sag are scrubbed with hot, soapy water, then rinsed and dried in the open air, the can©; will shrink and become quite taut. , , , A slimy coat 'collar can bo clean eel by sponging with a cloth moistened with ammonia or vinegar; Pull stockings into shape while damp; they last longer if they are hot ironed. .-. ,

Itain spots on clothes eaiV bo removed by-placing a clean, on tbe material and pressing it with a 1 moderately warm iroh. , ; I 'Only half the quantity of sugar will be required to sweeten stewed fruit if it'is added after cooking and not duriiig the. process, ?, 1 For dn-tv paint or a discolored bath there 'is; nothing like' paraffin ; ,for making the dirt disappear, and white enamel bedsteads -.aw* best- cleaned with a clean white cloth lightly dipped in paraffin. The. paraffin . must be Well rubbed off, and then the bedstead washed in warm , water and soap, vyi; Steel that is rusty should be cleaned with a cut onion and left a day. Vftcr-v-ards it can be polished, either