WOMAN'S WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14486, 28 September 1910, Page 9

WOMAN'S WORLD.

SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT BABIES. Probably most of us are superstitious upon at least one point, and mothers are particularly so with respect to their children. It is still considered an absolute necessity, in many parts of England, that a child, when first leaving the mother's room, should go upstairs before going down, otherwise it will never rise in the world. Of course it. frequently happens that the room of the mother is the highest in the house; when such is the case the difficulty is met by the nurse setting a chair and stepping upon that before she leaves the room. A similar progressive career is said to lie in the lap of the future for the child who makes its initial bow to the world on a Sunday— doubt on the principle of the better the day the better the deed. But there are numerous other superstitions relating to the first days of a baby's life which are the heritage of the mother for all time. Prosperity and long life are assured to the baby in whose hand a silver coin or a newlaid egg is placed, and the same good luck will bo the lot of the infant if it is placed in a maiden's arms before anyone else touches it. j The little one should on no account make its first public appeal out-of-doors unless it is accompanied by a small loaf of bread, an egg, some salt, and a penny. If this precaution is omitted the grown-up career of the baby will be one of poverty and distress. Good luck is supposed to hover over the baby that cries lustily during the christening ceremony. The child whose birthday falls on New Year's Day will always be lucky if a boy if a girl, she will have no luck but great beauty. The Easter baby will be free from care and want and harm. The children born on Christmas Day or All Hallow Eve (October 31) will possess the gift of second-sight, that wonderful power of looking into the future which people of the North are sometimes said to have. The child who is born on a saint's day must be called by the name of the saint, as the day must not be separated from its patron. FOREIGN* BELIEFS. In Spain the newly-born infant's face is swept with a pine bough to bring it good luck. The Spaniards also believe in determining the baby's walk in life at once. To do this they place a silver coin, a sword, a silver cross, a book, and some fruit in front of him, and let him make his choice. If he takes the coin he will go into business; if the sword, he will be a soldier; the cross, a priest; the book, a scholar; and the fruit, a farmer. They also believe that a band of gold, or silver, or even jet, put round baby will keep him from harm. The Turks put a piece of mud which has been steeped in hot water upon baby's forehead, believing that the charms which have been used in preparing the mud will protect the child. The Hindus declare that baby must be called after the name of a god, for then will the deity be flattered at the frequent use of his name, and be induced to think well of the child.

The Arabians name the child as soon as it is born, as then the tribesmen will honour it.

The Persians string amulets and necklets round baby's neck, as then the bad spirits will not touch him.

The Belgians teach their babies to make the sign of the Cross, for they believe that this will certainly outwit the deviL The Germans place honey on the baby's lips, so that, tasting of this food of the gods, he may drink in their wisdom and their gifts. The Italians send the little one out with a dog, bless him, and leave the rest to God. The peasantry of Greece firmly believe that the future of everv child is determined by the three Fates, known by the name of the Moirce. In the popular mind the trio of Fates are supposed to be three old and wrinkled women whose habitation is a mountain cave. They come simultaneously to a house where a new baby has made its appearance. When they are expected, all furniture is set aside so that their aged and tottering feet may not be hindered, and refreshments, in the shape of honey cakes, bread, and wine, are placed ready for these invisible but important guests. Money, too, is placed' for them as a bribe to get their favour for the baby, so that his future may be " one long, sweet song," the superstition being that all things good and bad are in the giving of the Fate 6. The Japanese make baby a present of dried fish and eggs to bring him good luck. The Scotch believe that baby is under a spell until he sneezes, and they take especial care of him until he has been christened, as they believe evil spirits to be specially active between birth and baptism.

PIN-ROLLS FOR TRAVELLING. After trying a number of new ideas in the matter of work-cases for travelling, there is a reversion in favour of the oldfashioned housewife, which at least always possessed the merit of containing exactly what was needed, without any superfluous hanks of silks in impossible colours, which no one ever wanted, and nail instruments, whose proper place was in the manicure box. A very useful housewife for travelling may be made of a piece of thick silk or satin ribbon, about 3in wide, lined with nun's veiling, and which contains not only a couple of reels, but needles and pins, as well as a tiny pair of scissors. Ten inches represents a good length, the ribbon and lining being bound with narrow sarcenet ribbon, and turned up at one end, so as to form a pocket for two small reels. A round piece, the size of the top of the reels, should be bound to the turnover, so that they may tuck into the pocket, while if the ribbon is sufficiently wide a thimble can be slipped in between them. A couple of pieces .of narrow ribbon at one end will provide a fastening when the case is rolled up. VAGARIES OF FASHION. According to the Sketch the fashion of ladies' shoes is tending in the direction of the buskin shape. There is no accounting for female iaste and fashion, so it is possible that this is true, but if it is the change will bo one for the worse. The buskin is something after the style - of an indiarubber golosh, and no one would say that goloshes are as beautiful as they are useful. Buskins, by the way, used to be worn by Greek tragic actors ; so that here is another example of an old fashion coming round again. The same journal published an illustration of a new place for a watch. The bracelet watch has been a familiar article for years ; but what can be said of a watch as an anklet; yet here was an illustration of one. If watches must be worn so low as this, why does not some enterprising leader of fashion set the example of having a tiny watch on the point of her shoe, to ornament the buckle? Or there might be a watch on one foot and a barometer 011 the other. THE ELIXIR OF YOUTH. The companionship of the young is of inestimable value in helping to keep a young heart and an elastic mind. Youth is infectious in its gaiety, irresponsibility, light-heartedness, and its roseate outlook 011 the world. A mistake some elderly people make, when their youthful gaiety has not faded, but ripened into autumnal maturity, is to withdraw themselves from scenes of youth and gaiety, and give themselves up to profitless regrets for the davs that are lied. These persons age rapidly, court all the miseries of crabbed age, and shun the joys of growing old gracefully. TO BOIL CRACKED EGGS. An egg that is cracked can be boiled by enclosing it in a piece of soft paper. When the paper becomes wet it adheres to the egg and prevents it from coming through the shell. This process should be successful in every case where the crack is of a moderate length.

FOR THE HAIR. A shampoo that is found excellent consist* of rain water gathered as it falls, and to this is added the yolk of a new-laid egg. Beat these ingredients together and as you are beating them whisk in half a cup of soap jelly. Spread this upon the head, rubbing it in well, and let it remain on. Then rinse the hair with fresh clear water. Save half the lotion and rub it into the hair the next day, rinsing it off in the same way. The hair will remain bright for a long time after this lotion, which acts as a tonic to the scalp. THOUGHTS. Friends are but the wider home circle* They are the parents, brothers, children of the inner nature by the soul's electionsperhaps the true rudiments on earth of the home circle which it will gather round it in eternity. Patient endurance of misfortune will alone half conquer it, while impatient murmuring does but increase the burden which we bear. How often it is difficult to be wisely charitable—to do good without multiplying the sources of evil. To give alms is nothing unless you give thought also. A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.