MATTERS FEMININE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 1014, 6 October 1917, Page 3

MATTERS FEMININE.

'EXERCISE FOIt THE ANKLES. To keep the ankles slim and graceful, walk on tip-toe every night, while dressing and undressing, and this will give buoyancy of movement that helps t'p preserve the ideal of youth. Point the toes down to tha most extreme limit, and move the foet up and down in this wny several times, and the exercise will help to prevent cold feet, as well as giving additional grace of movement. HOT WEATHER HINTSThose who have to sew or handle white work in hot weather know how quickly hot hands soil it. Dust them lightly over with fullers' earth, and that trouble is ended. A substitute for an ioed bandage for anyone who is ill in hot weather is to make a compress, or lotion, of half a pint of milk mixed with the same quantity of spirits of wine. It is extremely coldA room looks cooler and more inviting if ferns and green-leaved plant* are in plenty. Carrot-seed—the short•ooted variety;—planted an inch deep n flower pots and kept moist will grow luxuriantly, and give a most pleasaat ()\>et. Plant a succession. | Another "trick" is -to moisten a sponge, and fill the holes with canary •>eed,- and then suspend it, keeping it moist. It will soon become a picturesque green ball. THE "MADAME MATRON" COSTUME. Matrons sometimes complain of tke few models they have to choose from specially designed to suit their style and requirements, whereas the ydungtr women seem liberally supplied with pictorial ideas for dresses for all occasions. The Madam* Matron will be found very becoming - to stout figures, the lires of the design being- good arid the whole ensemble quite dignified

rookiiiif. For this dress I surge** any r-f the new sponge cloth or serge materials. The bodice is joined to the skirt beneath the silk or velvet waistband. Each front is cut in two parts, the right one crossing ,to th« lf-Ft and meeting the line of the skirt panel. A vest trimmed with button* and applications of embroidery decorate each front. Sleeves are long- and might be finished with ruffles of lace. The plain panel skirt has for-its sole trimming- a shaped strap of material adorned with four buttons.

PRETTY-SHAPED FINGERS.

Everyone likes to see a little girl with prettily-shaped fingers. If she in herits broad, flat fing-er-tips from father or mother much may be done while she is a tiny baby to improve'the shape of the little fingers. While baby is being- nursed, or is taking her bottle, let the mcjther gently but regularly compress jthe finger-tips, and stroke them toWards. the ends. This will have to be done with great regularity, and several times day, while the child is youag enoug-h to allow the moulding to be done. The skin at the base of the nails should be very carefully kept pushed back, so that the little half-moon may always be seen. As soon as the child is old enoug-h she may be taught to care for her own nails, arid if it is made a regular part r/. the toilette she-'wil not consider ft Any more trouble, or think of neglecting it, any more than she would of not washing her face in the morning; Everything depends on an early, start in the right direction.

Ml IRESSING IN JAPAN.

Hairdressingr is an elaborate study in Japan. Thus, ' girls of eight or nine wear their hair in a bow at the back, wound round with red crepe, the front being- left bare, except for two locks dantrling- at the side; and the marriageable damsels comb their tresses high in front, and arrange them either in the shape of a butterfly or a" half-opened fan. A widcw looking- out for a second spouse twists her locks round a'long- shell hairpin, placed horizontally across the hack of the hea* 1 , while she who vows to remain faithful to the d°ar departed, cuts her hair shoic, and combs it plainly back without any parting:.