Women! s Realm

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12750, 4 January 1936, Page 10

Women! s Realm

NOTES, NEWS and HINTS

By “ Marie ”

A TRUE VICTORIAN WOMAN WHO LEFT £120.000 Extraordinary " "discoveries were made recently in a house in South ensington, Lonodn, following the death of a wealthy nincty-oight-year-old spinster, Miss Eva Mackintosh, of ;Queen. Anne’s Gate Place. She is believed to have left about £I2O,OCR. Lawyers who went to the house found five-pound notes in odd places —on. mantelpieces, under plates. Miss Mackintosh, who came of a famous family and was a kinswoman of The Mackintosh of Mackintosh, lived with'a' middle-aged companion, two servants, a dog and a thirty-vear-old parrot. The companion, Mrs. I’V M. Lytle, Is*’-still living in)the house- She said to a “Sunday Ex-, press’ ’ representative:

“Miss Mackintosh was a true Victorian. She- clung to the customs of her young days. Every morning she drove in the park in her horse and (carriage. She disliked motor car-s. Indeed she disliked most modern inventions.

“She disapproved of- women who used lipstick or smoked. She hated wjreless and the telephone and would not have then in the house. Feopje who came to visit her had to write or present themselves formally as they did, in Her youth. She had the habit of leaving money about, but not in any great sums. “Her greatest characteristic was h'er love of animals. She was. a Fallow of the Zoological Society and used to visit the zoo regularly, ■ Polly, her parrot, is at least 30 years ojd. and was with her when' I joined her more than 20 years ago. , , , . < “Most of her money, I believe, will go to. institutions which .deal-jyith the. eare of animals. And this’ house, where? she lived ,for so much of her. life! is to he converted into modern flats. Her beloved horse and carriage will, he* sold.

I DEAL LOW COST HOMES

DEST.GHED BY BRITISH WOMEN

BRISTOL, Rec- 1

British jyojnen engineers’ ),conception of an idea) ..small house is now on view here. .’-It- was deplaned open i'3r centlyVhy the Countess .of. Westmorland. ’■ ■>. The house Is designed to he a practical as well as “idea)” house. It Iras been built as a model .£IOO,O home with, three bedrooms and tyo living rooms; under ibe direction of the Electrical Association for Women, to demonstrate how modern devices for saving the housewife, unnecessary labour can he incorporated in-an inexpensive home, , v , ■ Labour-saving devices are the chief feature of tin's all-electric house. The ivomen sponsors declare tlmt they have set out to disprove, that.cleanliness and comfort are expensive, and to show the: housewives of Britain just bow much labour saving pan he squeezed into _a £100 : 0 house. DRYING .ROOM OUTSIDE There is a refrigerator* of. 2 cub. ft. capacity.' The furniture in the kitchen is built in..) A wet washing day is no worry, for outside, under cover, is an electric drying-room where the clothes can hang hidden from rain.

• A special ventilating system on latest American lines, dispensing with the numerous visible ventilators, .still often seen in. British houses, has been

incorporated. It is - claimed ' that throughout the house every item is. of. the finest ■'obtainable Both in construction and in choice of equipment the aim has also been, so it is said, to. obtain the highest efficiency’ without sacrificing design. ... WOMAN’S POINT OF VIEW. “Thete are! still many * unsolved household problems, npd it is not claimed that the house. at. Bristol is perfect,” the Electrical Association for Women declares- “But.it shows at least, something of what can be obtained in modern design and equipment in a hoK’SjS. .whieli costs only a moderate sum.” .

.Credit for. the idea of building such a house’ is gjven to Mrs. 4- J.. Newman, (chairman of, the association’s Bristol .branch. She.it was who suggested that the woman’s point of- view should be stressed,in. a model house.

LITTLE LAYER CAKES. Take 2 eggs, 3oz sugar, 2oz flour, For the almond paste 2oz ground almonds, 2 oz castor sugar, 2oz icing sugar, ", egg-white-as required, apple green coloring, orange essence, apricot- jam.

For the butter icing, 1 oz butter, 2 oz icing sugar, orange etl,en.ee, cochineal, ohoc.ojate cats’,tongues. r Grease a linking sheet anil line with buttered paper to stand just- above the sides. Put the sugar and eggs into a basin and whisk together until, very tlii.cß and creamy and free, from , dark streaks of egg. When sufficiently whisked sift the flour and fold, in very lightly. Put this, .into the prepared tin ■ and spread evenly ; then hake, in a- hot oven until light and spongy. Turn it. on tq a, sugared paper and lpl; it cool. , The Almond Paste.—Sift the icing and mix with the castor sugar, and ground almonds. Beat up thg, egg white,slightly and add enough ,to make a. (Stiff .paste. Half of it, will probably be sufficient. Flavor with orange essence and polor with apple green coloring. '• Roll put and stamp into,small oval shapes.

The Butter Icing.—Beat the butter and sifted icing sugar to a soft ci;eam and flavor with orange essence. Add only 1 or 2 .drops of, cochineal to make the palest pink tint. „ ! -

To jEihape. and Decorate the Cakes. —Stain)) the. cakes, into oval shapes using the same cutter as for the almond paste. Spread with apricot jam and sandwich two together, with a lay., er of almond paste in the centre. Decorate the , top with butter icing, forcing it through, a- Rubbon-patterned icing tube, and arrange a cat’s tongue along .the centre. ’ If these are- too Ipng cut. a pipce from the centre and arrange it standing up between the two ends,- , V . - ,

SEWING UTNTS

Wbfin very fine material is stitched on the- machine -it has a tendency to pucker .in places, thus. spoiling the effpet, of tjie garment. To ~prevent this,- pjac.e a piece ,of;plain white paper under the material, and stitch through the paper... Tear the paper away after the .stitching is: done,. Lace may be much better joined by lapping one pje.ee ..over the other and sewing detyn fiat, .than ))y making, a Fi'ench spam. ,-jf. cay.e is, taken, to match the pattern, the lace can be joined in this wav without- the. joining showing. If hemstitching is sent out to he done, use thread of a contrasting color. to.niqrk the lines where the work is to be done. Th? parts will not Re overlooked as readily as if they are outlined, in the .same color.

. If puttipg put from paper patterns is done ,on the dining-room table leave the asbestos fable mat on the table top. , Cutting can lie done on this, and there is no danger , of damaging the polished. table top with scratches., .. ,

When a new spool of thread persists in breaking continually when threaded on the sewing machine remove, the spool and place it in a small box right in under the usual place for it. Lpave,the machine threaded. and go on with the stitching allowing the spool to rattle, and roll about in the box at will. After the first few layers of thread have been removed put the spool back to'its usual place, arid there will be no further trouble.

String buttons of each size and pattern oh stout- thread before putting them into the button box. This will save time when- hunting for, buttons to' replace lost- ones. . If you want- to make "a particularly good job of blanket- stitching, make dots with the ruler where each stitch Js, to be placed. Lav the ruler along the edge of the material and, with, a sharp pencil, make dots at each quarter of an inch, or at the desired spac-

ing. ' . • When crocheting an edge on linen or cotton material that is quite tightly woven, considerable difficulty is encountered in forcing the crochet hook .through the material: , With an ,unthreaded needle stitch along, the edge pf the material with the, machine, making, the stitch long. Fasten the prochcted edge through the hole the machine needle made.- They will be regularly spaced and will make, the york neater as well ns .easier,’

,Alrs. Newman,declares that she fplt • ..... - that while great strides .have been (jiirtain rings can be sawn on in this made in,city planning, and .whjle new ] a )j ollr . s aving• way. Turn' down the blocks of flats'are. b ( eing.,equipped with of th * cur t a in to the .desired the latest .apparatus, for. saving work an( j a t intervals mark the posiaiid giving , cpnpprt, the sprall house- Jj { gatherings. Thread a ring on holder with only moderate, means has 0 f narrow tape about in been -almost .fgrgoffen. Tlie Wpmfin’.s g ,' tu e)- under the hem and machine : House, she declares, is aimed for the as c ] ose to the edge as possible. The suburban and the country are thus'sewn on with the one person.” stitching of the seam.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS An old hose should not lie thrown away. Block up one end with a cork, pierce small holes about every two feet, lay hose along the edge of n border or across the lawn, turn on the tap and the watering will go on while you are doing other things. To clean enamel saucepans when stained, rub well with coarse salt, then wash with hot water in which a little soda has been been dissolved. To revive withered flowers put the stalks into boiling water and leave until the water is cold, then cut the ends off. and put the flowers into fresh cold water.

To keep the colours from fading in print dresses add a little vinegar to rinse water.

Save scraps of bread, dry thoroughly in the oven, then with a rolling pin roll very finely, . These .will always be on hand tor preparing cutlets and fish.

"When washing hair brushes put .ope teaspoon <jf' liquid ammonia with a pint of warm water; shako. the brushes in it until white, then rinse in cold water and stand on end in the sun to dry.

MAKE POTATOES ATTRACTIVE:

Potatoes are not always very “exciting,” because it- is difficult to make them attractive hv ordinary boiling. It is worth spending a little time on them, and this is what you can do :

For Mashed Potatoes put into boiling water and cook as fast ns possible. Drain and heat over a low fire with a little milk (cream}' if possible), and add butter and pepper to taste. Creamed: Boil potatoes in their skins, peel and chop coarsely. Make a. good white sauce flavoured with mace and seasonings, and heat the potatoes in it. They should be served very hot. Browned: Cook some potatoes in their skins, peel and chop coarsely. Mix with salt, pepper, a little chopped parsley, and if liked .some chopped onion. Fry in half a gill of bacon fat, Press to one .sick’ to make a. cake, and brown on both sides-

DELICIOUS. CAKES

A Cake for the Children.—Take A 1 b. of ihufter, -Jib. flp-ir, 4bz. castor 1 sugar. Jib. sultanas, Jib. glace charries, Jib. mixed peel, a. pinch of mixed spice, 2 ounces of ground almonds and 4 eggs. Beat the butter fo a cream and mix it with the sugar, fruit, ground almonds and spice. Separate the whites of the eggs from the volks, beat well, then mix with other ingredients, alternately, beating all tlip while,. Line a cake tin, with, thick brown paper, put in the, mixture and bake .for, two hpurs ip a moderately hot oven. , ...

Icing.—Take lib. icing sjignr, juice of $ lemon,., jhe whites of 2 eggs. Siftthe icjng sugar ,frpm hupps, acid jemon ,juicp and wliites, pf eggs (well beaten), coat the. cake. evenly with this, using, a. knife flipped jn hot water, lepve to spt and get hard. ..It may be decorated rqqn.cj the edge with silver .cachop.s .befope .ffje,, icing %ets, but the final' decoration, f,or thi-s ca)>e is twp fluffy, toy chicks,, onp in,a little paper, top., ij;at i and < .t)i<?., l ,otJier in, a paper boiinet with a tiny. feather, in froijf. Tbey, shpjuld he .fixed, on .fancy crackers, to wi}jfiji tuffs,of gj-een tinsel paper ,ar,e f.astcjie<3 fo resemble grass..' . . ....

A Delicious AlmoncJ Cake. —Take Goz. each of 'putter and sugar, beqt. to a crcopi j add ,4 egg? well beaten; add Jib. currapts, JJb. candied pepl, sift in Jljp. flour, l v ,teasp,OPn of., baking powder; jnix well, together. In i aJ)r other, .basin mix ,jlb. eaph ground almonds and .castor sugar, 2 .eggs,, a few dyops;- almond essence. Line the cake . tin wjth buttered, paper, p.ut in Jjnlf tlje cake mixture, then, almond pasj;e, tljen c.oyer wi*k the other, cajeo mixture and. .bake, for a.hqpt two hour?, -, ' .1...... I A ; r :

A, Rich Cake.—Take lib. sugar, lib. butter, lib. currapts, lib- rai?ins, .9 eggs, lib J.empq pppl, aout J doz. dried figs, Jib.,almonds, (blanched ..find,, put fine), 1 nutmeg, essenep. of lemon, 8 oz. .self-i'nisjpg. flppr, 1 wine-glass -of brand,y> Beat the butter ,and sugar •to ,a, -crpajp, | add the yolks of the eggs, well beatep, then gradually th.e fruit, .etc., lastly the whites .of eggs, beaten to stiff fyoth, .the.n .the flour, well. <sifted., ..A little mace,improves the, fjayquf. Eajce four lioprs. (■ A fijipajl, |lich Cake- - Take .Alb- paeft of curxppts, .sultanos raisins, butter, sugar, lOpz- flpur,..4qz. citron peel, ,2 oz. each of,,almonds, date?, or, .figs (chopped); 6 eggs,..,) giil,of. brandy, or sherry; 1 teaspoon of caramel. Beat the sugar and butter to a cream, add the caramel and eggs one at a time, add the other ingredients, then the!flour, aijd lastly thp brandy. Jjakc in a hot oven, for the first,ten.minutes then gradually decreasing the Jje.at for three, hours. ~- ... , : -

Tp Brqwn Cakes-—To -brown cakes nicely., Try. the fpllorying. Jflacg , a basin of ,co|d. lyafer in, the oven just before,the .cakes,re ,pttt ; in,. tljis prevents. thenr ajo,d .fip the sapie time give?, then) ,a Ipyely brpyn surface which makes, th.ejn .lpok.: apeptising. ..- ...... .. ...

YQIJNp ANDOLD. IN WIGS 'LpNDQIj, Nov. 30 : Scores of smart wpmen in. London wegr wigs—vojing women besides ,pld. Some have..four or .five of different colours,, all made of natural hair .“for every-day; wear.” IVIoi ; wigs arg bping worn by women to-day..that.at any -time .since, '.say, |he Jiegency period. And fewer by men. • ~ , Chief reasons(a) Birth oft the Jjp-. lief that, gentlemen prefer. ■ blonde? ; and (bv repel)t birth of the-bplief.that perhaps gentlemen don't- lijye..blondes inch -a lot-after all (platinum • fyair is rapidly goipg out-of fashion). Those are facts given this..week bv, a West End' >yig-maker.■ Air.. J... S. Spanns. He said: “TJiere have never been so many wigs for women as now-. No .fteyer. . You see there is now .not so much demand for honde. hair,, anfl .women, w|iilp they are growing it qqf come to. me for wigs to wear meantime. Nowadays avigs .for women are made ?p well that no .one, not .even me. can tell. Thpy.aro of real hair and each strand ig separately .attached.”