GOSSIP FOR LADIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10670, 3 June 1895, Page 2

GOSSIP FOR LADIES.

(Canterbury Time s.) Should bachelors be taxed ? In Illinois people are evidently of the opinion that they should bo, and a Bill baa been introduced i, to the Legislature to this effect. The theory on which it is based is that the man who fails by his own negligence, intention, or anything yon please, to do his part in the preservation of society and the propagation of tho race, deserves to be punished, and the best way of punishing him is by making him pay a fine. The fine is to be levied according to a man’s possessions, so that a millionaire bachelor would very materially add to the public treasury when hauled up and punished for his crime. If the fine is not paid, the man may be imprisoned for a term of not less than three months, nor more than a year. If, however, he proves to the satisfaction of the Court that he has made no fewer than three attempts to become possessed of a wife, 'the fine or imprisonment may be remitted. The Bill has yet to become law, and may never do so, but its presentation shows the trend of public opinion in that State at least. It is said that there was a brief discussion concarning the Bill on the day of its introduction, and a bachelor member of the Legislature was rallied somewhat by his fellow members, who ssid that if the measure became law he would probably be the first victim of it. He replied that he would cheerfully comply with its provisions, as he considered bachelorhood a luxury, the same as the possession of a yacht or a fine house.

Here are two simple and pretty methods of decorating a window that hasa depressing or unpleasant outlook. The first of these has become very popular in Paris, and is being largely adopted in English houses. The whole window is fitted in the inside with a lattice of white weed. On a shelf are arranged pots of ivy or other trailing greenery which is then trained over the lattice work, and gives a very cool effect for a summer room. A method of decorating the window, and of giving it the appearance of stained glass is simplicity itself. A geometrical design is drawn in pencil on drawing paper, and coloured with water colours. Then tho design in transferred to tho glass itself, and painted in with oil colour and a bog’s hair brush. The imaginary loaded divisions on the window should be painted with ivory black. Care must be taken not to use iiako white on any account, and the paim. must be kept sufficiently thin ly the use of turpentine. The effect ia said to be remarkably good if tho colours and design are well chosen, and the black Hues carefully aud cleanly denoted.

I chanced the other day on such a good definition of the word " hospitality " that I must repeat it hare, and I do it tho more readily since it was given by a women. “ I take the word in its most liberal sees?,” uho said, “ I try to make my family my guests three times a day.” This ia exactly what the daily meeting of tho family at mealtime should be—an opportunity for exchanging tho gentla courtesies and solicitous attentions that add eo greatly to the refined amenities of life. This is, of course, impossible if. the food is badiy prepared, or the table appointments are soiled and stained, or carelessly arranged. A table, even the plainest, should always have spotless linen, sparkling glass and a few flowers 5 and if a bit of dainty embroidery can be added, tho house-mother has done much towards raising the standard of behaviour, to say nothing cf the good taste of her family. All this should not be reserved merely for state occasions when “company” is expected, but should be ia evidence every day. And this should be carried out even in the poorest homo; the little giris should be taught early to arrange the flowers and to take pride in helping the mother to make the family table as pretty as the simple means at her disposal will permit. Table manners are the next thing, and every thoughtful mother will agree as to the importance of this part of their children’s education. New Zealand children have much to learn in this respect, and they cannot be taught too young. Silence in eating and drinking, deftpess in passing dishes, and attention to .the needs of one’s neighbours can always bo insisted on, and would effect a great improvement in the habits of colonial children.

Everlasting scrap-books give a good deal of pleasure to the little folks, both in the homes, schools, and hospitals, so a few suggestions for making these during the long winter evenings, may be useful:— First procure some pieces of glazed calico in various colours, which are likely to blend with ordinary coloured scraps, &c. Cut these lengths of calico into a convenient size to form a book when folded in half. Arrange the book so that no two consecutive leaves are of one colour, and stitch firmly together. Make the covers of two pieces of. cardboard, the same sizs as the leaves of the book, and paste with coloured calico on each side, so as to make it very durable. Sew the cover on to the

book, using fine string. With paste or starch covet the pages as far as possible with pictures, cards, and colour scraps. Ornament the cover with strips of coloured paper, scraps, &c., and, when it is dry, varnish. If these scrap-books ate kept till Christmas, and then given away, they will afford infinite pleasure to the maker as well as to the recipient. Some philosopher has been discussing the shape of women’s mouths recently, and has endeavoured to classify them. He finds that no woman with a small or redlippad mouth is ever remarkable for anything save intellectual dulneas an ungenerous disposition. “ Give me,” he says, "the woman that is not fashion’s slave, and I will show you a wide mouth, with rather full and pink lips covering square, strong teeth;” and if she is hospitably inclined there will bo little semi-circular lines about the corners of the lips that curl up when their owner laughs. It is the fashion just at present for young women to hold their lips ever so lightly apart. This is supposed to give a wondering, wistful expression, youthful as well; but your thin-lipped woman, who is always a self-centred creature, can never teach her lips this trick. Women who are much given to fads and sudden friendships always show the middle of the upper lip lengthened to a little point. Beautiful mouths, this pessimistic man believes, are rarer than formerly; while among women the intellectual mouth is frequently noted; and touching the question of the kiesable mouth, he asserts it is a temptation seldom brought in one's way. There is a delightful irony about a short article in the Gentlewoman which will, I am sure, amuse many. It is an account of the latest development among men. According to its writer, darning parties for men have been started at Home, and—have been found successful. A certain lady noticed, or found out, that quantities of men in London throw away their stockings and socks directly a hole appears in the toe or heel, merely because they have nobody at hand to do a bit of darning for them. And this philanthropist, cut to the heart at such woeful waste of good material, promptly set to work to remedy matters. She organised these darning parties, and on the card of invitation, she wrote, "Ye who attend bring all your old socks with you.” When the men arrived they were ranged in a neat and expectant row around the room, provided with darning needles and yarn, and set busily to work to learn the whole art of darning. It is said that they took very kindly to their new occupation, and that they made rapid progress. After this we may expect men to emulate each other in their use of the needle in a way that will be touching to see. How they will preside over the mending basket after the. evening lamp has been lit, or ait peacefully down to their embroidery, or bend moustaches and beards over the delicate mysteries of tatting, crochet or knitting I At first the sight will appear strange to us, but wo will soon get accustomed to it, nay, we may even come at last to see its appropriate pioturesqueness. Du Mauriet’s" Trilby” is answerable for a new craze that has sprung up among Parisian and London women. They have awakened to the faot that a real live human foot may be a charming object to look at, so they are actually having their foot modelled in marble for the edification of their friends—but only, of course, if that member happens to be a beautiful one. A few well-known actresses are already exhibiting casts of their feet the windows of the art shops, and it is qnite probable that the portrait painter may soon find a formidable rival in the foot sculptor. Yet after all, he need not greatly fear that bis occupation may go. for the modeller has brought home a truth that will be startling enough to these ladies. It is that the woman of to-day does not possess good-looking feet. It would be a wonder if she had, and though we have long suspected that this was the case, yet a more conclusive proof was required. This the modeller gives, and the ungainly excrescences and perverted outlines that too often reveal themselves under his art, ought to convince their owners better than any amount of argument of the folly of wearing shoes that axe built on conventional rather than on natural lines of beauty.

Not only is the foot, when unspoiled by tight or badly fitting shoes, a beautiful thing, but it also indicates the character of its owner. Among the Arabs of South Persia, for instance, a people that usually wear sandals, the feet are found to play a very : significant part in character-reading. A palmist who has reduced the result of hia observations to a kind of science, has a great deal to say on this subject, A few of the leading points that determine temperament may be given. For instance, if the big toe is elevated or raised above the others when the'foot is placed flat on the ground, it is generally accepted as a sign of ambition, and desire for power and position. Both Sarah Bernhardt and Louise Michel have this sign. If, however, the big too clings to the others, it denotes submission to authority, and the owner is usually too indolent mentally to assert herself. If the second toe io longer than the others, it denotes an artistic temperament, with sentimentalism, romance, and imagination. If, however, the large too is broad and strong, the tendency towards idealism will be checked by a large amount of practical sense. In the purely artistic foot, the little member of the five should curl upward, the arching upwards denoting a passionate nature. Most mothers, I suppose, have discovered how difficult it is to train the appetites of .their children. Very often they will persistently refuse certain wholesome dishes, and no amount of persuasion will induce them to overcome their scruples. Sometimes, however, if denied these dishes they actually . can bo made to change their mind and come round to their mother's way of thinking. We generally desire the thing that seems beyond our reaob, and with children this tendency is even stronger than amongst adults. As an iastanceof her success when working on this plan, one mother, writing to a contemporary, tells how her little daughter, a strongwilled, sweet-tempered cbild of two and a half years, began’ to refuse her porridge, over which there was a daily straggle. She was brought to the family table for breakfast, and, as usual, would take but a taste of the objectionable food. She was then told that she could not have it the next day, and, childlike, she wanted it. This met with positive refusal, and eo on for a few days. B«h time she wished for it the more, and at last was allowed to have it, Wheu she grew tired of it again the same plan was adopted. Bread-and-butter suppers were refused in the same way, but a compromise of toast was made with bread-and-butter when there was no fire. A little tact in giving new articles of food will often moke them a treat, whereas a sensitive, nervous child will not even taste of them if they are urged upon it without previous words of preparation.