Ladies' Columns

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4565, 5 November 1937, Page 3

Ladies' Columns

HEALTH. DIET IN THE WARM WEATHER. One great difference between winter and summer is in our fluid needs. In cold weather our skin is almost bloodless, and there is little perspiration going on except under violent exercise. In other words, the body is conserving its heat by limiting the loss from the surface. In summer the body makes every endeavour to get rid of surplus heat by means of the skin. The surface blood-vessels are dilated and the loss by radiation is encouraged. In addition, the surface of the skin is kept moist, and there is a free evaporation of perspiration from the surface. This acts in the jsame way as the wet surface of a water-bottle. A normal diet for our hot weather should consist of lean meat, fish, chicken, salads, fruit and vegetables of all kinds. Fatty foods and boiled puddings should be avoided and the quantity of sugars, bread and butter, and cakes reduced. Fluids should be taken freely. The best of these are water, weak tea, orange, lemon, or other fruit juices. Tea is especially refreshing, because, being taken hot, it causes action of the skin, with consequent surface cooling. The total quantities of food consumed should be less than in cold weather, and it is better to take four light meals than two or three heavier ones. Milk is quite a suitable food, as it contains its calories in an easily digested form, and has a large percentage of water. Ice creams and iced milk drinks are sufficiently nourishing to form a meal, and are a good hot weather food for adults and children. NEEDLEWORK. When crocheting edges on underclothes, it is much more economical to crochet the edging on to a wide tape. It can then be used several times. Tape tied to a safety pin will go through a curtain more quickly, and with less danger of tearing them than if a bodkin is used. Dry coffee grounds make an excellent stuffing for pin cushions and the pins and needles will never rust. When corset steels work out of the casing, instead of sewing them in again, pull them out several inches, smear them with seccotine and replace them, pressing them firmly. There will be no more trouble. An easy way to copy embroidery is to place a piece of paper over the embroidery and rub well with a spoon. A reproduction of the design will appear on the paper in a short time. When crocheting, put a safety pin through the last stitch and fasten the pin, then, when the work is taken up again there will be no slipped stitcheß. Wire paper clips will save tacking if used to hold the two sides of material together when sewing. WOMEN GIVE LEAD. FOR WORLD PEACE. PAN-PACIFIC CONFERENCE. A vivid description of the atmosphere of the recent Pan-Pacific Women's Conference was given to the "Sydney Morning Herald" by Dr. Isabel Randall-Colyer, an Australian delegate, upon her return. "Women of 14 nationalities have given a lead for world peace," she said. When women of the East meet women of the West, shake hands, and set out with one fixed purpose in mind, in a spirit of goodwill and friendly co-operation, they have some definite work in mind to do —and there are few, if any, idle moments from then on. There is something attempted—something done usually that is well worth while.

So at this, the fourth triennial PanPacific Conference, we have met again to rivive old international friendships; to create, if possible, fresh bonds of understanding, and further cemenl ties already made. World Peace. The object of these gatherings is to give delegates of some 14 different nationalities an opportunity to meet and pool past and present experiences, to discuss freely, without fear of misunderstanding among themselves, the many similar problems from which all women more or less suffer, concerning such vital questions as family hygiene, socialised health, population pressure, technique of educating public opinion, standards of living, and, nlost important of all, ways and means for promoting world peace. No easy task this, with the tragic background of war clouds to right and left. Yet these women placidly went about their various tasks as if. with but one intent—to learn as much as possible in a short time, to do the best they could, no matter how trying the circumstances beyond their immediate horizon.

Looking down from the balcony of the Vancouver Hotel for the past two weeks, it resembled for all the world a hive of very busy bees, the gay frocking of the more Oriental sisters lending the romantic effect of flowers in some old-world garden, as splashes of national colour brightened the scene.

Just to look down upon this motley gathering of mixed races was in itself a lesson in racial differences. There were contrasting varieties of dress and fashion, to say nothing of the differences of colour and facial expression—the keen interest and excitement of the bustling American women, bundles of papers and programmes or reports tucked in businesslike fashion under their arms, then the quiet, serene, stately-looking women of China, taller than many of us expected to find, with manners so courteous and speech so perfect that their English put some of us to shame, for they never use slang in China, we are told, with a smile from gleaming teeth. Little Japan looks on with sad, wistful, penetrating eyes, and says little, but appears to be thinking a great deal. The mental poise and outward calm and fine sterling executive abilities of the progressive little president, Mrs. Tsune Gauntlett, were the admiration of us all.

Then the strong, practical worth of our own Australian and New Zealand women, whose voices were ever and anon heard when discussions arose on some question of economic or educational importance. They were well to the fore, and astonished many by their preparedness and general ability. I heard some Canadians remark—that Australians were congress-minded, and seemed to know their way about —also they were travel-minded and easy to get on with." It was not difficult to be friendly in such ideal surroundings, and in so beautiful a setting—Vancouver gave of her best.

Many refreshing interludes were sandwiched in between the more serious considerations of congress, and it was at cheery and informal gatherings such as these that many felt the true international worth of these gatherings. Human nature is much the same all the world over, and our wants are very similar, irrespective of colour, race, or creed, and, if we can continue the Pan-Pacific conferences and enlarge our field of interest and vision, working always towards a wider horizon, a greater spirit of friendship and international understanding in the Pacific then our efforts will not have been in vain.