WOMAN'S WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16357, 11 October 1916, Page 10

WOMAN'S WORLD.

WOMEN AFTER THE WAR. Mr. H. G. Wells, in his record utterances on lie future of women after the war, is inclined to believe that they will give up finery to a great extent, go soberly clad, and assume grave and serf-, ons manners. One may hopo that tins transformation will not come too suddenly about, for there are quite enough serious and dull people already in this island of ours, without the whole feminine population giving up its sense of humour, its buoyancy of spirit, and its inclination towards pink ribbons. It is as clear as daylight that our soldiers— everyone is » soldier nowadays—will suffer no deterioration in the outward appearance of their womenkind. Whatever may be going to happen after the war, this gigantic conflict, and all its horrors, produces a craving, among returning soldiers, fdr gaiety, prettiness, and charm, for wreaths of roses and slippers of gold. This is why the shop windows of 'London are still ablaze with wine-colour and topaz, with the green of shallow seas and the blue of fair heavens. BUTTERMILK LOTION. After long exposure to sun, dust, and biting winds there is a strong desire to wash the face with cold water. This should not be done. Wipe off the superfluous dust with a soft towel, and then rub the face gently with a little pure cold cream or lanoline, using a piece of soft rag. Rub face, neck, and ears with this, and you will be surprised at the amount of real dirt so removed. Next wipe off the cold cream, and wash the face with buttermilkslightly wanned if possible. You will experience a delightful feeling of cleanliness, and your face will be perfectly free from smarting or soreness. NEW STITCHINOB. Cording is a very popular trimming, and you can make the cord you wish to cover any size by taking twine and twisting it and doubling back until the required thickness is arrived at. An easy way to twist the cord is to fasten one end to the bobbin wind on the sewing machine and have the other held tight and run the machine. There is a new stitch for trimming garments that is every effective and is really not difficult to do. For the bobbin, instead of thread, use an embroidery silk of the desired colour, and then stitoh on the wrong side .of the garment, so that the heavy bobbin thread makes the stitching, FRECKLES. « The little pigmented patches winch appear on the neck, forearms, and face of some people—generally young people— from exposure to the sun, which we speak of as freckles, are best left untreated, since they usually disappear of their own accord during the winter. As one gets older they disappear even in the summertime. In exceptional cases, however, where they are so numerous as to be actually disfiguring*, they may often be removed by applying twice daily a solution containing two grains of perchloride of mercury in an ounce of almond emulsion. This should be continued until the skin is reddened, when zinc ointment should be applied.' AN ANCHOR. , It is asserted, as a logical conclusion, that the great increase in the number of divorces of late years haa been largely due to the fact that women are not as dependent as their grandmothers were. With the knowledge and ability to encompass her own support, the woman of to-day is not disposed to put up with conditions that are unsatisfactory in the marriage relation. Ibis class, too, make good as wage-earners in a larger percentage than is true of the general run of their sex. The conclusion is growing that woman's , chief business in life is to be busy about something— do with her might, and professionally, not in a lackadaisical, amateurish way, whatever her hand finds to do—be it home-keeping or blacksmithing, nursing or engineering. The homemaker often finds that she must buy the flour, as well as make the bread, and a* " vocation" or a trade is an .anchor to windward for the most home-loving of women. TRIFLES SHOW CHARACTER. The girl who means to> get on must take a pride in her work. Her aim must be to do it in just the best way possible. If it is merely preparing letters for the

post, these will be neatly folded and the stamp set on square. It may be that at first she is given dull, uninteresting, mechanical work. But even dull, mechanical work is important, for on the accuracy with which letters are filed, records kept, and so on, depends the work of those in higher positions. But however beneficial it may be to commence at the foot of the ladder, it is not necessary to stay there. To work with a steady purpose in view, taking every chance as it offers, is a very different thing from the restless changing from one post to another adopted by some girls. This last does not make for success, and is usually the sign of an unsatisfactory worker. Some girls, too, stand in their own way by making trouble for themselves. They seem to think they are conferring a favour in coming into business life at all, instead of being there to give honest service in return for money paid. . PERSONALITY. Personality, in whatever circumstances, is always a vital force. Queen Victoria in a cottage would probably have ruled the village. Personality exercises a vast influence, and is not the prerogative of great people. Without it, the front rank can never be reached, but on the other hand its complete fulfilment is only possible where it is combined with the power to achieve and attain. " ORDERS." Talking of fashions, there is much chagrin in army circles at the recent order | forbidding the Charlie Chaplin moustache. It was so youthful and becoming, that ; little piece of fluff. The elderly secondlieutenants are especially incensed at its abolition. The young ones, of course, can afford not to mind, although the full moustache—"covering the whole of the 1 upper lip" as the official notice has itwill be much more difficult for some of the baby-subs to grow. It is amusing to note that this description, "the Charlie Chaplin," did actually occur in "Orders," usually so dignified and nncolloqnial a document. LOVE LETTERS. All through the ages, the favourite vow : of lovers has been their desire to fight I and shield from harm those that they loved— now the love,rs of our day are putting their vows to the test. Can't you imagine in the years to come i how these bundles of love letters of the ' great war will he tenderly taken out oi 1 desk or drawer and read over again? i They will be records that any woman " may be proud of,- apart from sentimental ; reasons, for they will testify to a love that was willing to fight and even die for i those that it held deaf. i

MORE INITIATIVE NEEDED. Perhaps the average business woman needs to show more initiative in her work, thereby proving the interest she takes in it. But this does not mean upsetting the whole routine* of an office before she baa been there a week. She, without tonsuiting anyone, rearranged a file cabinet, containing reference papers of all kinds, so that no ono but herself knew where to find anything! Slip certainly showed initiative, but of a too pronounced character. Had she waited until she knew her work and then presented a well-thought-out scheme for the better storage of the papers, it might have proved to be tho first step towards promotion in that ofSre. As it was, her " initiative " told against) her.