GENERAL TOPICS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 April 1928, Page 17

GENERAL TOPICS.

A NEW PORTIA. For the first time in the history of the University of 'Copenhagen, a woman lawyer has been awarded the gold medal for the best- legal thesis. The successful candidate was Fro'ker Karen Johnsen, whose work on the development of the laws of property in Denmark, was preferred above that o ,r a number of inale candidates. WOMAN CIVIL ENGINEER, The American Society of Civil Engineers has broken new ground in accepting as a full member Miss Elsie Eaves, a graduate of Colorado University. Atiss Eaves, who gained notability by her extensive and fine work in both indoor and outdoor engineeing, is the first woman to be given voting privileges in the society. TO STIFFEN FLIMSY FABRICS. An excellent stiffening agent for such materials ns fine organdies and muslins is gum ara'bic crystals dissolved in hot water in the proportion of two ounces to a quart of water. A “till weaker solution gives just the right stillness to fine silks. But it must bo weak enough only to give thenecessary "weight" to the fabric; otherwise the texture is spoiled. UNE XPECTED TEATIME VISITORS. Most housewives know what it is to ■have surprise visitors calling—and no cake for tea. Here is a well-tried and proven recipe for delicious little gateaux that require only five minutes' cooking. Mix well together in a basin two eggs and three tablcspoonfuls of caster sugar. Add, slowly and gradually, four tablespoonfuls of flour, a pinch of salt, and baking powder, together with a few drops of lemon es seuee. Dust a sheet of white paper with sugar, and drop the mixture on it, in finger shapes, by spoonfuls. Sprinkle with sugar, and bake in a hot oven for five minutes. Lift off the paper, spread with raspberry jam. and press two fingers together. These little sponge fingers are magically' light —and quite delicious in flavour. A HUMANE RESOLUTION.

The Auckland branch of the National Council of Women recently passed the following resolution, to be forwarded to the Dominion executive of the N.C.W.: "That in order to induce sufferers from mental disease to seek treatment at an early stage, the function of the magistrates should be confined to seeing that the legal requirements are complied - with; it is unnecessary and undesirable that magistrates should have to make decisions upon purely medical questions. That patients should not be sent to prison or prison -cells prior to com initial, and that suitable quarter-: should be provided at the general hospitals for flic reception, examination, and, where necessary, the certification of mental eases." POTATO 'SURPRISES. One of the difficulties of the young housewife is to find different methods of using up cold meats in such a way as to give variety to the menu. Stews are not always popular, but Potato Surprises are usually appreciated and can be quite easily prepared. Scrub four fairly large potatoes and bake - them in their jackets. When cooked, carefully cut off a small piece at. the end of each and scrape out almost the whole of the inside. Mash :his, and add two ounces of butter, a dessertspoonful of parsley, two ounces of finely-chopped cold meat, one tea spoonful of sauce, pepper and salt, to taste. Mix thoroughly with quarter of a pint of milk and refill the potato skins with the mixture. It will bo found that although additions havebeen made to the original filling it. issnll quite possible to get it all into •lie jackets. Fasten the ends on with beaten egg and cook for .10 minutes. Serve hot with.gravy. EMBROIDERED LTNEN Among the new linen designs come the new afternoon teasels, where the linen is embroidered to match the tea si l vic-e, says a Parisian correspondent. Sometimes there is an allover design, and in other cases just the corners of cioth and napkins ar eembroiderod. and in yet. others still there is -only a border design. Then there are the por- ; ft ctly darling new sets of sheets fir the children’s -cots. They are in finelinen, white or tinted in a pale colour And on them is embroidered all the favourite nursery- rhyme people. Each sat contains a complete story, While in one more expensive set there is castle of fine drawn thread work surrounded :by dozens of little soldiers. The soldiers have uniforms embroidered in brilliant colours which stand out strikingly against the pale background. WHEN FLOWERS ARE SCARCE. During the expensive floral months when blooms are at a premium, more and more artificial flowers are being used to decorate rooms and tables. Once upon a time the suggestion of 'artificial flowers at once conjured up visions of erinkled-paper atrocities in ■crude colourings. But the artificial flowers of the moment are exquisite replicas, made by masters of their craft, in silk and felt, glass and shell — even wooden flowers are being used for effective decoration. A well-known London hostess, who is renowned for her originality, had her dinner table if-coutlv decorated with amber bowls filled w>th Polyanthus in all their varied and lovely colourings. These flowers were made -of felt and velvet— - glorious splashes of colour reflecting in -the pons'll wood, and they had even been delicately perfumed to further the illusion that they had- been culled that morning.