A New Year’s Letter.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 931, 3 January 1890, Page 4

A New Year’s Letter.

* A Happy New Year to you all.’ These words so offc.repeated, echoed from year to year with more or less sincerity, are never stale or unprofitable, for somehow the mere utterance of the wish seems to cause a warm heart-glow to speaker and hearer, and induces a broader-minded interest in the affairs of the world and of other people. The season would be valueless indeed did it not enlarge our sympathies and make us think kindly of our fellow-creatures and suit the action to the thought. New Year reflections are not always of the gayest type to people past their youth. Each year as it passes carries with it some hope unfulfilled, some illusion dispelled, and so rendering life a little less bright to ourselves. Therefore vim should try to make it all the brighter to the young, whose period of oare and sorrow will come all too quickly. Do you remember years ago, we, the girls of the period, used to commence the year with a series of resolutions for little private reforms, solemnly enter them in a diary, and feel very good indeed for a longer or shorter term of weeks commenourate with our temperament. Some of us would fill a page with resolutions of so sweeping a character that a Baint would find it difficult to live up to them. We would record in the blackest of ink, our intention to be less frivolous, Belfinb, ill-tempered, and other things that poor human nature is prone to. And that was usually the end of it, for after a struggle for a week or two to follow the rules, and the inevitable slips that would occur, the book was laid aside and forgotten, till once again the New Year came round, reviving the old feelings, and, conscience-stricken, a fresh page was turned, and another attempt made. The age has outgrown that little foolish custom, but I doubt whether the world is any better or worse socially now, than in the days when e New Year resolutions ’ were common.

However, Ido not intend to moralise. The holiday season is hardly the fittest time for lecturing ; rather would I talk of something conducive to extra good spirits, or give a friendly hint for personal or domestic comfort;. I was asked the other day a question as tio freckles, ‘ horrid freckles ’ as the unlucky possessor termed them. I suppose it ie somewhat of a trial to have too sensitive a skin, liable to tan and freckles. There is an old and comforting saying that * the girl who freckles easily is always lovable;’ but I can afford more tangible comfort than that, for a friend tells me a sure remedy for the annoying spots. As I have no sufferer in my own house to experiment upon, I simply * tell the tale as it was told to me.’ Mix some sulphurous—not sulphuric—acid with a little glycerine and touch the spots occasionally ; you will find them disappear without injury to the skin. This remedy is so simple that it is worth trying.

A lady writing in the * Lady’s Pictorial ’ asks, ‘ Why should women during the hot weather imprison their hands in gloves ? The custom is expensive, uncomfortable, and in a slight degree unhealthy, for the tight glove often prevents free circulation. If the hands were left uncovered they might acquire a coating of tan ; but this is neither unoom. fortable nor unbecoming, ar.d is one of the few luxuries within the reach of all. Gloves as a protection from cold are rea-onabJo enough, but in hot weather we incline to the opinion of the negro scluier who, when he was first promoted to the dignity of gloves and shoes, said, 1 Barracky for footy bad ennff; barracky for handy, tooey bad.’ What ao .you think of tbe suggestion to discard hand covering ? I fancy you will agree with me that one ef the marks of a lady’s breeding is the care she takes of her hands at home and abroad, and that nothing could atone for the absence of gloves out of doors. One need not wear tight gloves, nor even confine oneself to kid ; indeed, silk ones ore far more comfortable and sanitary, and fo.tunately at the present time fashion deems that they take the place of kid if one chooses on all occasions. Therefore why incur the risk of discolouration from the sun, and the certainty of vulgarit}- ? Time and again in these pages has been published the method I use to preserve summer fruit for winter use. Now, I glean from a recent American exchange'tbe beat way to deal with fruit to be preserved dry ; for instance, peaches. Select the largest and best clingstones, dip each into boiling water, when the skin can be easily removed by a rub with a towel ; split and remove the stone.. . Make a syrup in the proportions of a pouud of white sugar to a pint of water, put in the peaches and allow them to come to the boil, when the fruit must immediately be taken out, drained and put upon tin trays, and kept in the sun for four days. The result is something very like crystallised fruit. You can utilise the sides of bright kerosene tins as trays, for washing in soda and water will remove all trace of the oil. Putting the tin ou a hot stove will softeu the soldier and enable you to flatten out the tins if you do not care to cut them. Pears, apricots, aud large plums can be dried in the same way. I want to remind you that the ‘ Exchange ’ is open, and that, by contributing to it, each individual may do much to help others in many domestic difficulties. Do not be diffident in writing your experiences, and a 3 you enjoy the page assist your sisters to enjoy it still more, aud so keep the ball rolling. Once more a Happy New Year to you all, from Elise.