THE WOMAN'S WOULD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11059, 10 May 1899, Page 3

THE WOMAN'S WOULD.

LONG V. SHORT ENGAGEMENTS. I I am often asked whether I approve of long j engagements. Certainly I do, if they ran-. not be short; but I approve of the short ! ones far more. | This does not necessarily mean that tho ! time of previous acquaintance is short also. I The longer the better for that. | Of course in some cases a long engagement i is almost, inevitable. A man may find him- \ self in a position in which he has committed ■ I himself to betraying his love for a girl, and j j he must go on to say more. i I He cannot marry for years. He tells her | so honestly, and gives her her choice whether slie will wait for him or 110. If she cares for him, and is a brave girl , with any spirit, she will take his offer, and j then elect to wait. ; I It is brave and sensible, for she faces the ' j fact that lie is the man who is best, worth : . spending her life with, and that, if she can- : j not marry him, she does not want to marry ! ! anyone else. ' 1 1 She accepts the waiting, and she is wise in j doing so. but it is as well if she will face all j that it entails. I I For a :i ig engagement is a. wearying I thing. It calls for much pationce and' unselfishness and courage, or it will make both . those who have entered into it very full of 1 I regret. _ j | No girl till she lias tried it can realise how ; 1 (hat lull'; period of probation wears upon the ' mind and the endurance. When the thing is new. it is delightful; then the novelty wears off, and the trial begins. I TOILET HINTS. ' To Prevent the Faco looking Greasy.— a few drops of tincture of benzoin and rosewater to the water in which you wash your face, then dust- lightly with oatmeal, and finish by rubbing the face with a bit of soft chamois-leather. Any chemist will mix the benzoin and rosewater in the correct proportions for you. To Make the Hair Dry and Fluffy.—Try this lotion: One ounce of eau dc Cologne, two ounces of rectified spirits of wine, half an ounce of bicarbonate of soda, and six ounces of distilled water. For Perspiring Hands.—Rubbing them several times a day with the following lotion may do good: Kau de Cologne, fourteen parts: tincture of belladonna, three parts. If they are not very bad, simply dusting th"m well over with oatmeal after washing | may remove the unpleasantness. DRESSING THE HAIR. Though the "Geisha" mode of dressing the hair is adopted by many for evening wear there are still a great many ladies who cling to the graceful and becoming style of j (Ire-sing the hair rather low down on the [ reck. (hie only had to look round the stalls of a fashionable audience at the theatre to Ibe convinced of this fact. Mrs. Patrick | Campbell, Miss Julia Neilson, and her [ (-banning cousin, Miss Lily Hanbury, when 1 in the stalls of the theatre, adopt this dainty 1 mode above all others. Gossamer butterfly 1 bows are worn by those who prefer tho hii/h mode of hail-dressing, while a rose, or oilier flower, is arranged partly in the front ' and partly at the side by those who wear their hair dres-ied almost on the nape of the neck. THE SECRET OF THE QUEEN'S MARVELLOUS HEALTH. Mtuw.vs of Her Majesty's subjects frequently wonder how it is that tho Queen, despite her 80 years, possesses so much vivacity and alertness, both of mind and body. Apart from the fact that Her Majesty naturally possesses a wonderful constitution, her vivacity and cheerfulness are largely duo to Iter frequent association with children and young people. Her grandchildren, especially the children of the late Duke of Albany and the children of Princess Beatrice, are Her constant companions, and their Royal grandmother, regardless of the cares that encompass a crown, enters into their amusements and sports with interest. Who has not heard, for instance, of Her Majesty, when driving out in the neighbourhood of Windsor or Balmoral, ordering street performers and itinerant trainers of wild animals to give "command'' performances for the amusement of the Royal grandchildren? The keen sense of humour which the Queen possesses to a remarkable degree also largely prevents the inroads of age becoming apparent. Ponderous and lachrymose women invariably age rapidly, and Her Majesty always accepts misfortunes with cheerful resignation, and regards things from their brightest aspect. The Queen's fondness for out-of-door life is one of the main secrets of her unimpaired health. "Fresh air and plenty of it." is Her Majesty's motto, and to such an extent is this rule carried out that visitors to the Royal palaces, Balmoral in particular, frequently wonder how she can manage to exist in an atmosphere of perpetual draughts. Even at night, in the coldest weather, the Queen's bedroom window is always open.

j THE TABLE. I The Pnom Way to Make Tea.-For tho ! tea, be sure that the water is boiling for the first time; water that has been in tho i kettle all day never makes as good tea as | the fresh-boiling water. The water has an immense amount to do with the tea. Tho tea-pot should be rinsed with boiling water, the tea put in; a teaspoonful for each person and one over is a fair allowance. Wet the tea, filling the pot throe parts fall, leave it for three minutes, then more water may be added and the tea poured out. The tea is better and stronger when comparatively little water is used to w«t it, mom being added when it has drawn sufficiently. For coffee, allow a teaspoonful of ground coffee to each breakfast-cupful of water. When pouring- it out, put three parts of hot milk to one part of coffee. How to Buy akd Boast Beep.—About six to seven pounds of sirloin will make a nice small joint. In olioosing it select a short piece with a good undercut. Sirloin with a thick line of gristle just under tho fat betokens old meat, and, consequently, not so good. Very yellow suet indicates that the animal has been fed on oil c:ikes, and the meat is not of so delicate a flavour! Most people prefer beef rather underdonered, but not raw and purple. Six pounds will take about an hour and a-lialf to roast in a good, hot oven. It should be well basted, and the cook must not neglect to remove the wooden skewer fastening it together before sending it to table. Stewed Veal.For stewed veal take two pounds of neck of veal, carrots, onions, two slices of lean bacon, a bunch of herbs, pepper and salt, bottled or fresh peas. Cut the veal into cutlets, trim these, and put the trimmings into a stewpan with a small piece of butter. Fry the cutlets a nice brown colour on both' sides, add tho bacon, vegetables, and seasoning, and about a pint of boiling water; stew slowly for two hours. When done, strain the gravy and flavour it with tomato sauce and ketchup. Have ready the peas, put them in the centre of the dish, place the cutlets round and border with mashed potatoes. GENERAL NOTES. To Remove Wrinkles.—One fluid ounce of tincture of gum benzoin; add 7 fluid ounces of distilled rase water and io7, of glycerine; place with 2oz of juice of onion, 2oz of white lily, 2oz of honey, and Zoz of white wax in a new tin pan and leave in a warm place till the wax is melted, Take Cake of Your Bktoiies.— that are choked with dust, hair, and threads cannot be expected to do their work properly. They must be kept clean if you want them to do so. To Make Shoes Waterloo?. Before the shoes are worn, melt a little beeswax, add an equal quantity of sweet oil; warm the soles, and rub the beeswax in til! the leather ceases to absorb it. Don't let it touch the kid, or you will haT» difficulty in making it shine. To Sweeten Rancid Butter.— the butter thoroughly, first with now sweet ! milk, and then with cold water. Add a | little salt. Afterwards press the butter j with your hand or a cloth till all milk and water are removed, pat it dry with a clean cloth, wrung first out of scalding and then out of cold water, and store for use. It, should be used as soon as possible, or it i j may go rancid again. v I To Clean Furniture.—' The best plan is i to sponge off all dirt with a little yinegsr-and-water, and then polish'with turpentine in which enough beeswax has, boss dissolved ito make it as thick as cream, ... . I ' >■■ ■ ■ :'>ll i? :