THE HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11229, 25 November 1899, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE HOME.

A PRETTY TABLE DECORATION. Somebody has called the cabbage just a rose in green, but what do you think of the two in this combination? Choose a cabbage, as perfect- a specimen as you can get, with the leaves all just nicely opening. Outline each leaf with pink roses, cutting the stems ,rather short. Place a knot of buds and leaves in the heart of the cabbage, as it were, at the centre, and place the whole in a flat plateau of green, cutting the stalk flat so that it will stand even. The effect is really very good, and it takes some time ere the humble origin of the novel jardiniere is revealed. HOME-MADE SWEETS. For all sweet-making use either an iron of porcelain-lined kettle. Granulated sugar is preferable: sugar candy should never be stirred while boiling. Cream of tartar should never be added until the syrup is boiling. Butter should be put in when the sweet is nearly done. Soda and flavours to be put in as you take the syrup from the fire. Two cups of light-Brown sugar, four tablespoonfuls of golden syrup, two tablespoonfuls of vinegar, two tablespoonfuls of water, and a quarter of a cup of butter. Boil until it is brittle in water; pour into pans and let cool. Two cups of sugar, two tablespoonfuls of water, and a piece of butter the size of an egg. Boil without- stirring until it hardens on a spoon. Pour on buttered plates to cool. THE CARE OF CHILDREN. If you have to look after your children yourself, don't let them sit up late, as a general rule, on any terms. You need and ought to have some time to yourself for rest and recreation; and it will be bad for the children as well as for you if you do not get it. The important thing is to get your thoughts directed into fresh channels, or in time you will find it difficult to think or talk of anything except the house and the children. To promote children's appetites there is no better plan than to give them plenty of outdoor exercise—fun and frolic make them regular in their habits—and diet only upon plain, nourishing food, and they will seldom, if ever, complain of a lack of appetite. If children are fed upon rich or highlyseasoned foods, or are allowed to eat between meals, it is hopeless to expect them to have an appetite for their proper meals. Sickness is the most expensive nuisance in the world, and the best way to make children happy and good is to keep them well. Don't allow them to study too much, and especially keep them from reading sensational stories. Where there is a houseful of small children anvthing like perfect system is almost impossible, yet a great deal may be accomplished by training the children in orderly ways, teaching them to wait on themselves, and making them useful as far as can be done. There are babies on record who sleep, eat, and play by rule, but the average baby is by no means such an accommodating personage, and upsets a house fearfully. No rules can be made to fit everyone, and each mother must lay down those which seem best in her own eyes. Don't make a practice of powdering the baby every day after bis bath. Pat him thoroughly dry with a soft cloth, and no powder will be needed. Powder is permissible only to soothe or cool sore places temporarily, for accidents or emergencies, and should be carefully washed off at the next, bathing. Fuller's earth is the best powder to use. The nervous, sensitive child, with a hungry little heart that yearns for sympathy and love, is often made bitter by neglect; while the boisterous, stubborn little fellow, inclined to be selfish and overbearing, is foolishly indulged till he rules the household. Don't forget that kindness and sympathy are absolutely necessary to a nervous and sensitive child if he is to be made happy. Never allow your admiration for attractive children to make you spoil them. Children are quick to observe and note that their smart sayings are appreciated, and nothing spoils a child sooner than an air of conscious smartness. Never be ashamed to tell a child you don't know the answer to any special question, and, above all, never get impatient of the questioning, that is Nature's way of making instruction easier for you. Losing your patience may, after a time, mean losing your child's love, and you can't afford to do that. Never give lessons in deceit. Little happens in the home that children do not notice, and thev naturally imitate your example. Be polite and considerate, if you expect them to be so. A rude, pert child is usually an attempted copy of a pattern he has seen. Remember, example is better than precept. TOILET HINTS. Girls who go to business daily often find that the water provided in the lavatories is so hard that to use it makes their skin rough and uncomfortable. In this case get ' a bottle of elderflower-water, damp a soft handkerchief with it, and wipe your face with it instead of washing it. This will remove all dirt without making the skin rough. If the nails crack and split it is a sure sign that the general health needs attention. A little good cold cream well rubbed in at night after washing will improve them but the only real remedy is to improve your general health. Bathing the feet and legs nightly for a few minutes in hot water, in which some sea-salt has been dissolved, often gives relief. Afterwards rub briskly with a rather rough towel, and when dry rub the soles of the feet with a slice of lemon. The lemon juice softens and makes them less tender. Almond oil suits some skins far better than cold cream, but only the very best should be used. Rub a little into the face at night after washing, massage it well in, and wipe off any surplus oil that the skin will not absorb with a soft rag. This treatment also helps to ward off wrinkles. A slice of lemon used occasionally instead of soap for washing the face often improves a greasy skin wonderfully. Rub well with the lemon, then thoroughly rinse, first in tepid water, and then in cold. Dry thoroughly, and give a final rub with a soft, clean chamois-leather. If vour face feels sore'and uncomfortable after being out in the wind, nib a little cold cream well in directly you come indoors. Leave it on for ten minutes, then wipe off and bathe your face—first with warm water, and then with cold. Dry thoroughly, and give a final rub with a soft chamois-leather. A little of the following rubbed into your hands nightly after washing will keep them smooth and soft, and help to make them white : Two ounces of glycerine, 2oz rosewater, loz of spirits of camphor, andljoz ol simple tincture of benzoin. Put half a pound of pure lard in half a pint of cold water, and heat till the water boils. Let cool and pour off the water. Repeat three times in the same way, using fresh water every time. After cooling the ' last time take the cake of lard from the top of the water and beat in with it a loz bottle of glycerine and cucumber. Store in pots and tie down till required. TO ENAMEL TRAYS. Sat you have a shabby tray, and wish to make it look like new, the first thing to do is to get rid of the old cracked enamel. To this end scrub the tray well with a hard brush and hot water and soda. When dry rub it first with coarse and then with finer sandpaper. During the process the tray, must stand on a perfectly fiat surface to avoid bending it in any way, also to insure perfect' smoothness. When all the Japan has given way to this friction; scrub the tray again with hot water and soda, dry it thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth, and apply the paint or the enamel. The least . dampness will prevent the enamel from setting; and be sure you don't use it to" thick, else it will look smeary.