NOTES FOR WOMEN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 1894, 29 November 1923, Page 2

NOTES FOR WOMEN.

When a woman has nerves you might as well make up your mind to give her whatever else she wants.

"I die adoring God, loving my friends, not hating my enemies, and detesting superstition."—Voltaire, a few hours before his death.

The Christmas number of the Ladies' Mirror is just to hand, and is one of the best numbers ever issued of this popular publication. There are 80 pages of illustrations and reading matter, every part of which is of interest to ladies. There are some splendid nature and scenic studies, which form a supplement to this fssue, and altogether the printing and get up of the publication is a credit to all concerned.

Many a feminine wardrobe contains an odd skirt that would do admirably well for a country walk if a coat would be found to complete a walking-suit ensemble. Some of the big stores have solved the problem in delightful hiplength coats of broche velours, very moderately priced, and in a great range of colours, that includes beaver, nigger tan, navy, almond<-green, grey, and black. Many an "odd" check or striped skirt could take on a new lease of life as a smart walking suit, thus supplemented. Women would do much more walking—and there is no finer exercise, especially for our sex—if they gave a little of the thought they expend on their "town' wardrobe to sartorial walking equipment. If you do feel like a country walk, it is nice to know that you need not don your "posh" tailleur.

If one can afford very little for a bathing cap it is best to select one of simple design, and some of the most charming are those looking just like brocade, but without further ornamentation whatever. The girl who really loves sea-bathing and diving will choose a cap equally becoming, but less decorative. Tight-fitting black caps with appliqued flowers in white and various vivid colours are smart and pretty.

A quaint idea that has become the vogue of late with regard to children's frocks is for a mother to have a frock made for her small daughter that is a replica of her own, the only difference in the ensemble being that of the freakish little hat with which she tops the little frock. This idea is seen in a practical form at all the seaside and country resorts this summer, and when the mother is young and gracious, and the material and style of the dresses chosen is not too complicated, the effect is rather charming. In any case it is quaint enough to last at least through the season. Sailor suits, both for girls and boys, are very popular just now, but one rarely sees them on children younger than six or seven years. For the very tiny ones there are pale pink and pale blue linen frocks, finished with hand-embroidery, a fresh-looking collar of lace or spotted muslin, or a nursery rhyme motif appliqued on (for the girls), and, for the boys there are wee pants in the same delicate shade of linen, and little Romney blouses finished with a pleated frill down the front, or else plain little jumper blouses that are not tucked in at, the waist so as to allow the future citizen a maximum of movement for his games.

Miss Alice Muriel Astor, daughter of Lady Ribblesdale, has just become complete mistress of her own fortune, which may amount to £2,000,000. Under the will of her father, Colonel John Jacob Astor, who lost his life in the Titanic, Miss Astor was to receive the principal of a trust fund of five million dollars, with accrued interest, when 21. Her birthday has arrived, but the exact amount of the fortune is unknown until the executors of the estate, Mr James R. Roosevelt and Mr Douglas Robinson, cousin and brother-in-law of ex-President Roosevelt, have made an accounting.

Arguments in favour of sterilisation of the mentally unfit and some degree of State regulation of marriages attracted attention at the closing sitting of the British Medical Association's Conference at Portsmouth. Dr E, A, Gibons, of'the Grosvenor Hospital for Women, Westminster, urged that the only effective way of dealing with the problem of the mentally unfit was to sterilise them so that they could not propagate their kind. Such a step would be to the interest of the State, and the only reason advanced against it was the sentimental one of not interfering with the liberty of the subject. A necessary corollary would be a State certificate of marriage, because sterilisation would only become necessary when the mentally unfit contemplated marriage. In some cases a postponement only of the marriage would be necessary, but the feeble-minded and those who were likely to have mentally defective children could be sterilised before a marriage certificate was granted. Sterilisation should be given a fair trial, extending over many years, for it might be that it would not provide the final solution of the problem. FIRST AID IN THE HOME. Some children, like Rebecca Rowena's brother, are perpetually damaging themselves in some way or another. It behoves a parent, therefore, to know what to do when a bang and a bump is heard from the nursery and a tearful voice demands "Mother."

If the accident is a cut on the hand, .arm or leg, do remember to wash it really well before applying a bandage. It is not sufficient just to dab on some ointment, for you may be assisting it to heal when all the time there is dirt inside. Thoroughly wash the cut first in warm water, to which has been addled a little good antiseptic; then cover with boracic powder and bandage. Never, on any account, cover a cut with adhesive plaster; medicated lint is the only plaster that should be used, and this can be kept in place with strips of adhesive. If the cut is very deep and bleeds profusely, a doctor should be summoned immediately, in case a vein or artery lias been severed. A burn should be treated immediately with carroii oilj or ordinary olive makes a fair substitute. Failing either, it is best to cover the burn with Hour, as it is expedient to shut out the air as quickly as possible. Sprains and strains arc of frequent occurrence in a family of growing children. A good deal of the pain and after-effects can be obviated if the part sprained is instantly plunged in very hot water. If the part is a shoulder or knee, very hot fomentations should be applied, after which the place should !

be rubbed firmly with a good linament. But remember, whatever the accident may be, if sickness or fainting follows, the doctor must be summoned at once. It does not imply a gloomy outlook on life to have' a first-aid outfit always ready. Lint, bandages, cotton-wool, safety-pins and boracic are essential things; not only will they save many a doctor's bill, but they will make the ordinary home accidents less to be dreaded. HOW TO MAKE A LACE "WHEEL" Teneriffe lace is easily made by anyone with neat fingers. It can be worked in white or in coloured thread to match the household linen, frocks, blouses, or lingerie it is to adorn. All good fancy-work shops now stock the special frames, dull-pointed needles, pins and thread, for Teneriffe lace-making, and they are quite inexpensive. Buy the best quality thread; it gives your work a smooth, even finish. One of the prettiest and simplest designs is the Teneriffe wheel, made as follows: Place the wheel frame on a small, hard cushion, and into the 52 holes round the wheel's edge put the lace pins, leaving about one-eighth of an inch of the pin not pushed in. Attach the thread firmly round one pin head and lead it across wheel to the pin exactly opposite, so that the thread forms the diameter of the wheel. Continue to draw the thread firmly, but not too tightly, round each pin head, working from side N to side of the wheel and pushing down each pin head as the thread is put round it. When all the pins are done in this way, take the special needle, with a fairly long thread, and with it tighten the threads where they cross each other at centre of wheel. Then darn round centre three or five times, taking care not to raise the same thread in two adjacent rounds. Slip the needle up a short distance towards the outer edge of the wheel and make another circle. This is formed by drawing four threads together and knotting them with the threaded needle, continuing like this Slip needle up again, this time almost to pin heads, and form final circle by knotting with needle two threads, one from each pin, the knots close to the pin heads.

When this final circle is made, fasten off thread, knotting securely, under wheel, and carefully remove all the pins. The wheel is then a perfect lace medallion, ready for insertion in fine hand-made lingerie. For the many more intricate wheels and insertions in this lace, it is advisable to consult a pamphlet on Teneriffe lace-making, which will give diagrams showing the work at different stages, HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Removing a Blockage. Occasionally a block occurs in the waste pipe leading from the lavatory hand-basin owing to the accumulation of grease and other matter. Here is a quick way of removing tho blockage when a special contrivance is not at hand. Let the basin be about half full of water and then take a small washingup mop and work this up and down violently just above the waste pipe. This sets up a pumping action which sooner or later, will bring the material that is causing the block up into the basin. By adopting this simple plan it is usually possible to avoid calling upon the services of a plumber. White Embroidery. When working on white embroidery in warm weather it is often difficult to avoid soiling the material with the hands. At such times it is a good plan to dust the hands occasionally with fuller's earth. This will prevent marks appearing en the work, and at the same time impart coolness to the skin.

Cleaning Gold Chains

To clean gold chains, put into a wide-mouthed bottle or jar half-filled with warm soap suds . Add a teaspoonful of ammonia, and shake well. Rinse in clear water, and dry in jeweller's sawdust or rouge. The Beach Work Bag. When taking needlework out of doors on to the beach or into the meadows, the problem centres round the scissors, which are so awkward to carry, so apt to get lost. Perfect folding scissors, with flexible steel loops, which disappear in the most ingenious manner when the scissors are closed, may now be bought, complete with leather case, for a small sum.

TO CLEAN SUEDE GLOVES. Expert cleaning of suede gloves is an expensive business; for it is proverbial that once they have been cleaned they are quickly soiled again. It is possible to cut out this expense and to clean the gloves quite efficiently at home. You simply add a quarter of a pound of powdered white soap and a quarter of an ounce of lemon oil to a pound of powdered pipeclay, rubbing the ingredients well together, and putting the preparation in store for a while. When it is "seasoned," make a small quantity into a creamy liquid by the addition of a little water.

The glove requiring cleaning should be placed on the hands, and the creamy paste rubbed well over them, just as if you were washing them in the ordinary way with soap and water. Let the gloves get thoroughly dry; then brush off the resultant dried powder, and it will be found that all dirt disappears with it. Light kid gloves that are only slightly soiled may be cleansed Avitli fine oatmeal. Put a little of the oatmeal into a basin and then place the gloves on the hands. Rub them thoroughly with the meal, paying special attention to any parts that are marked.