A PAGE FOR WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6450, 22 February 1908, Page 5

A PAGE FOR WOMEN

?ITOSiI who travelled from town to the Half, Valley Horticultural .Society’s flower si*>w on Wednesday, were well rewarded for their dusty, hot journey by the eight’of the largo, cool

drills hod filled *witli its (lower-laden, tables. The coutro of the hall was occupied, by Mr Chapman'H exhibit—a wealth of colour in crimsons, rich dark reds and purples, offset by green foliage, pot plants, and maiden hair lerns. while on each side were tabu's to the numbej of thirty or forty exhibits. faring sweet a moiling bloHsonu-i in all the goigcous colours of late summer—dahlias, a lew la.(o ro*ea, «weet peas, commie, and many ipof. plants and ferns, in Iho vegetable exhibit, a cucumber, Itttn ™ length (think of it, housewives!! that would do three ordinary jueals. reposed 1,. Hide heaps of large well-iilkd pea pods, huge vegetable marrows ami colobt,,il cabbages. >ot off by the rad of to/naiois aim iiiiKjiic in size and quality, and the yellow of melons and pumpK ins.

'JVa win; served on yellow flower dcfyjj'jilci tables behind a white lattice work, <1 (‘<iped with i'reeimry. enclosing tho stage. A bevy oJ preuy iiivla in while, wiio were good-mi Lured enough Pj give their lime and their energy toWM , d* serving the gm-sts and making tin' show tho siiircf-ri that it always is, dispensed tho tea, under tho direction of Mrs Chapman and Mrs JoliflV. Among Lhom were tho Missis Lee. Allport, Hayward. Cullender fl-h, Price. Bodmin, • Junes, Ris-Tralt, Yated, and Matthews.

Many prettily decorated tables were ordered for tho competition, Mrs M. M. I’care© and Mrs P. M.. Andrews taking oaoli a first prize, Miss Whitten and M rs Bunny were second, and Miss 0. Spilman highly commended.

Mrs Chapman wore a beautiful gown in a lovely shudo of pale poriwinkle blue chill on talihta, mado en kimono, with rich laco and an inner vest of velvet uf a darker shade embroidered with gold. With this frock she wore a picture hat of tufleta in tho same shade, lined with velvet, turning smartly up at one side and carrying a long sweeping plume in tho same shade of blue and several choux of tho silk. Mrs Joliffe wore a white frilled muslin frock, a white scarf patterned with heliotrope llowors, and a white lace hat/with a mob crown encircled with blue velvet. Mrs David Nathan wore a very smart tailored suit of black and green striped cloth, braided aud bound with black soutache. Her close fitting toque was of black cloth, with two outspreading wings shading from dark green to white. Airs 'u 1 . Nathan, grey silk voile, with a cream laco vest, a white feather boa, and a white cloth toquo with pink roses. Mrs Jacob Joseph, a black and white striped inouesoUiio do* sole; on kimono, bound with black velvet and having touches of turquoise blue velvet. Her hat, of drawn taffeta, in dark green tones, carried many loops of the silk. Miss Jacob Joseph wore a white lingerie frock, inset with loco and embroidered, and a ’‘cloche" hat bearing masses of mauvo and groan wheat. Miss Klsi© Jacob Joseph a smart white cloth tailor-made, and a "cloche" hat carrying a profusion of white stocks and red and white roses. [Mrs Milward, grey and white striped coat and. skirt, brown hat with brown chiffon draping and a brawn blumo. Mrs Lacry. cinamon brown silk voile and cream lace, smart tus can chip hat with a wreath of pink roses and a long white fleathjor. Afina Stott, grey and whit© striped tailor-made tuscan picture hut with a black osprey and large white roses. Airs John Bluudoli, handsome black silk gown, black toquo with a white plume. Miss Boulton, pretty white ailk frock with lace, hat of silk with a "mob" crown of pompadour silk. A very smart gown of grey silk worn by a handsome dark woman was notiooabiy smart, .with its bob tassels, touches of blue velvet and real lace yoke and vest. A charming Leghorn hat massed with green grasses and yellow aud white marguerites and long black kid gloves completed her toilette.

Mrs lidward Riddiford. the Misses Eiddiford, aud Miss Humphries, leave in March for Busland.

Mrs H Hayward, of "Waiwotu,” Lower iXutt, pave a largo "At Home" to about sixty guests hist week. Tea was served in the dining-room and breakfast-room, the tables being decorated with yellow coreopsis, whit© daisies and autumn loaves. Tho hostess wore a smart black silk voile gown mounted over glace, with beautiful white laco and a black picture hat with graceful feathers. Among tho many present were Mrs Poaroo, Miss Lukin, Miss .Foster, Mrs and the Misses Callender, Miss Seddon. -Him) Dennett, Miss Drummond, Mr and Mia) Miriams, Mr and Mrs Deere, Mrs Jaoknon, Mr and Mrs "Dykes, Mr Kingdom, Mr and Mrs Chapman, Mr and Mrs Izard, Mrs Tringham, Mr" and Mis JCirkcaldie, Miss Finch, Mr and ALrs DlUot, Airs Foster, Mi- liarthampe, Mr and Mrs Mill, Miss Lee, Mi«i Allport, Miss Stuart-Forbes, Miss Johnston, Miss Wilson, Mrs Fitchett, Mrs Mason, Mrs and Miss Matthews, Mrs McLean. Mb's Vallance, Mrs Heaton, Mi's Darraud, and Mrs Jackson.

Very pleasant and cool were the Hon. Chas. Johnston's grounds at Knrori last Saturday, lent for a garden party in aid of tho building fund of St. Mary's Anglican Church, a good number- of P«<plu taking advantage of tho opportunity to wander along the drives and shady paths and to linger under tho trees watching the tennis and bowling. Tea was served on benches under tho w shade of tile trees by Mesdames Hayes, 'Valors, Nowcombe, Donald, and ffudsi. Among the visitors wore Mrs and Kd, ! sf> Hoauohamp, Mr Waters, Mrs W. shoi Hovin. Airs Arthur Duncan, Mrs oatt; ;goraJ<l, Mrs and .Mass Gavin, Mrs folio ’.Miss Caldwell, Miss Davies, Miss ward tarns. Mis fisher, Mrs Hay, Mrs ■is. en. Airs Dickerson. Dalgv in rs A- C- Rhodes and Miss wethore -* ll aJO accompanying the viceheifers ! party 011 their tri P Stewart empty r- a -nd the Otago Sounds. The 28s. f*!> '.rhai leaves for Stewart Island mi r. , id ay.

WHAT WOMEN WEAR. SOME OF THE FASHIONS. ’-This seasons ovoning drosses are said : to beggar description. Tho fashionable gowns at present are unusually aitiedic, | Bivins full value to tho graceful curves] of tho figure. Most of tho skirts fit; olosely to tho hips and show tho rippling fullness from there down. Skirts that; Haro at tlio bottom are the perfection! of grace, anil arc made to cling closely, at tho hips and thou start with a very' full flare. Embroideries of ribbon, andj

glistening metal threads arc did met features of many exquisite evening gowns of- neutral coloured tulles. imagine a emfmoidiM-id übHi 'green’ivk-s-s, lu a, shade reminiscent of <mld Ireland's sham rock, steed pailetlcv. forming a lattice work up Mm h'-m of each of the three flounces, of which the graceful, braining *ki.ri is composed, the roses apparent Iv climbing quite naturally up Urn glittering lattice-work. The bodice, of course is on suite. with more roses and pailetM»s. Very daring is a frock of mauve- chiffon velvet made e.n Prinmss. with a slightly draped corsage. while a round Ihe shoulders are clustered the palest shell pink loses, aid at intervals peep small tufts of sea-green tulle, the shirt being aim adormd with' the .same decoration. This -effect in description sounds odd, but in reality the combination if the eolours are properly chosen is beautiful. One of fashion’s small extravagances is I lie placing of lace upon lace, in turn mounted over Liitcrihiings of chiffons and linings of silk. A gown of all over Valenciennes lace, with heavy motifs of eream chmy app I {quid throughout the whole gown has a. remarkably rich appearanee, and not enough that‘lace shall l>e lovely In itself, but it mud be beautified with band-work, Hm motifs having a tracing of hea.v-v pink floss, ami spotted with french dote. Underneath is worn a chiffon slip of Mm same colour as Iho embroideries. ’Hie tinbd lace gown is one of the newest things in e.vening frocks. The tint must be carefully chosmi and nothing crude admitted into the colour scheme. A dress of pale groy luce over clouds of chiffon to match., with iiia.ny frills of it round the hem, the laco lightly cmbrrddt red with brilliants and M.cel bonds, is an example of a thoroughly .successful gown. Tho sartorial world of Paris appeXrs mad on the subject: of braid. In ;II witl-hs, from the widest to the nanowo. t, it is on nearly every costume, from, tic severe tailored to tho elaborate afternoon reception gown. Silk braids, wodlea braids, hair braids, arc all used. Nor docs It end here; it is also employed, combined with the finest hand embroidery, in the ornamentation, of such. de.U.■ato fabrics as tulle, mull muslin, and Lice. The newest /of white blouses are of tulle or ' finest batiste, embroidered and braided with tine silk soutache braid.

Alost day skirts fit closely over tho hips, with the waist line shortened a little at the back in the manner that is so enchantingly becoming. A method much in favour with a great Parisian designer is to give graceful length of lino by running a line of lace insertion down each side of tho back of the skirt and on each side of the front. These lines of laco are glorified by handwork lavishly displayed in a manner so individual that it is impossible to describe. Indeed, in these days of ultra-refinement of taste and the demand for originality, only -an artist can make a success in tho cut of gown building, for “building" it most assuredly is.

In the first winter models shown it appeared as though all Japanese effects were to bo entirely laid aside, but the time is long past, when tho designers could make absolute laws, and the demand for the pretty and graceful lines of the seamless shoulder draperies has resulted in many lovely adaptions of these harmonious lines. A large waist appears much smaller with the soft, full Ixdice -'la-aping above it, now in favour, while worn with a small waist they are said to bo bewitching. Now- shaped and closely fitting un-dersleovos accompany tho seamless shoulder and largo Japanese sleeve effect, the latter being admirably fitted for concealing defects of thinness or flatness under tho arms, at the same time giving a fuller appearance to tho figure.

The latest Paquin judgment is that gowns must absolutely follow the lines of the figure, after tho mode of tho eighties, when women prided themselves ou their "shape !” •So closely was it then revealed that it was not considered "proper” to appear on tho street without an outside garment of some sort. Corse tie res are said to be busy inventing a now corset to suit these new demands. Tho waist, they toll us, must never to larger than twenty-two inches. Tho new corsets are, of course, higher and staffer than those wo have ruminated in for the past several yeans.

The very newest thing in bridesmaids’ frocks was demonstrated at a fashionable London wedding quite recently. Seven bridesmaids attended the bride, all gowned in Dutch drosses of pale apricot yellow satin. ■ Tho skirts were hemmed with sable, and they carried huge sable muffs and wore quaint Dutch caps. One of tho most important uses of fur this season is in tho form of a trimming fur on coats of either short-haired fur or cloth. Many have cuffs, as well as collars, of the fur, but tho long hair at tho hand, however, is apt to have a somewhat clumsy appearance unless skilfully treated. , Many of tho newest muffs show- the lower portion hanging on natural, in scallops, a largo head being placed in the centre of tho bottom. Muffs are flat and broad. Tho throworor scarf is still a favourite though not an new as some of tho stole collars built out on tiro shoulders, in wider shape, with a head and tails at each shoulder. ,

NOTES FOB GIBLS. If you have chipped a small piece of leather off the heel of your evening shoe* try carefully pasting it over with black sticking plaster, instead ox buying new hook. Try doctoring black sued© gloves with an equal mixture of ink and olive cii, and if there is a hole trf sticking plaster. or try gumming on a now pices of suodo in tho inside of the giovo. Try embroidering “clocks'" on. plain black cotton stockings and seo what a fine effect may bo had for very little expenditure. Cheap white net put on very full, inset and frilled with lace, k very fine for evening underskirts if mounted over u sateen kilted uudorflounce. Cheap corsets trimmed with a bit of lace such as is left over from other sowing, and few knots- of ribbon look wonderfully well. Tiny muslin, bags filled with orris roots placed among linen and underclothing impart a sweet perfume to tho wardrobe. Remember that a good rubbing and polishing will make an old shop look like new.

I Fresh belts, collars, ties, gloves and shoes are an absolute necessity to the girl who would be well-dressed. An irreproachable hat, good shoos and gloves worn with a plain frock are worth any amount of elaboration of frills worn with an indifferent hat, ’and shoddy gloves and shoes.

LONDON FASHIONS. j DEESS UP TO DATE. The many smart weddings that have taken place in Tendon during the last fortnight (ways a writer in a London paper) have afforded opportunities for studying smart afternoon costume. VeJvet is as popular as over, and it is interest in g to notice the various modes adopts! liv the fashionable milliners in relieving the bodices of those drosses with hico embroidcry, and sometimes far. U is al flio making of a gown to liavo a smart front. Sometimes this is in rich satin with chenille or _ ribbon embroidery, in which a few jewelled ornaments are introduced. A very lovely front is cream satin embroidered in India with Uttlo rosew and forget-me-nots in (lie narrowest jK*wibJc ribbon, the slums in dull bronze and tho leaves in page green. Here and there among the clusters of flowers is a Louis Seize trellis work in silver. This front is finished off round the neck with sohic lovely old lace laid on flat,’ and with, a small bow of the same lace in front. Hero is a capital way of using up odds wind ends of x>rccious old lace. HUSH LACE STILL F ASIIIONAIiLE. Another front was made of white glace silk, covered with lush lace, two bands of which made in die front a little ladder of tiny biacK velvet bows. The collar was covered with the lace, run through at the basu with black velvet, and caught with a small diamond stud in the front. Irish, loco, 1 may remark,' us ad lad Lion a bio as ever, both in me real and tno imitation vaa ictics. Even the latter is rather espunsave wheat it is of a hue quality. It is now again the fu-slueii to wear IToms with frills of lace straight across. On a slight figure nothing looks better than this, Tiie frills should not be full; at the >amo time there should be nothing skimpy about them. A very pretty dro.-rs seen in Bond street the other day was composed of emerald green velvet, trimmed with silky black mohair braid and fitted with a front of soft coloured lacc. This rose high in the neck, and wms held by the new “Tryune” supporters, which have tmOicicnt stillness to servo the* purpose without the sharp points which are so extrcmioly inconvorticait. With this dress was worn a long stole of grey squirrel fur, which

•vent most admirably with the bright, vivid tone of green. Another charming dress was carried out in brown camel hair or vicuna, very soft and fleecy, skirt plain, Ixdico going in folds from the waist across tho shouldera. In this instance the Ixdico was mado of pale Eton blue .flannel, lightly braided in brown the same colour as tho dro-.s. The hat was pale blue felt trimmed with brown feathers and one pale blue tip. The fur in this case was sable. There is a great charm in a costume wliich has been carefully thought out in the matter of colour. FILET LACE. * Tt may puzzle our readers a little when filet lace is mentioned, so it may lx? as well lo explain that it is a very fine, square method not on wliicJi tho design is either darned or applied. This net is enormously used on bodies by the smart, and even with tho wannest winter gowns somotliuo6 . completely forms tho bodice. With a grey cloth skirt the bodice is made of filet net, embroidered In grey chenille, black chenille, and a few steel beads. Bound the waist, and for some inches above it, a very wide folded belt of velvet in a darker tone of grey than the doth is swathed towards the front, and there fastened with invisible hooks and eyes in a deep point. lam particular in describing this belt, as it is one of those convenient kinds which need no buckle. Buckles sometimes behave with propriety, but too often they allow the sharp prongs which arc- a necessary part of their construction to stick out aud catch on anything floating near them, perhaps oven upon the hand of their proprietress. VELVET AND FILET NET.

A velvet gown, in a vivid tone of Saxo blue, and trimmed with silver tucks round tho hem, has a filet net bodice over paler blue silk. The net is embroidered iu what may be called Chinese tones of blue, several different shades, such as aae seen on real Oriental china. It is edged with two or three rows of very narrow gold lace, and the sleeves arc finished in the same nurnaar. The belt in this instance is gold tissue lined with palo blue. The whole of tho front is filled in with tucked gold net lined with pale blue silk, and embroidered in small, figures with gold thread. A purple cloth gown, in a tone approaching to mulberry, has a band of filed not round tho skirt lined with ■rhododendron pink, and sewn with conventionalised flowers i:n Russian crossstitch, tho colours mulberry, purple, kindred tones, with dull, lustre less green leaves, the flowers being in floss silk. Tho bodice in this case is cloth, very much cut away in front, the rest being filled in with a silk front or blouse, in bright rhododendron pink, with many little, drooping, tinkling on-ma-mente in silk cord, and small tassels, less than an inch in length, formed of twisted chenille in the various colours ot tho embroidery.

THE WORTH OF APPETITE. Hunger does mat originate from the stomach alone, but is a cry of all th© tassußs in the body which need replacement of worn-out substances. Appetite, •however, is a mental attribnte which regu bites to a great extent the -action of the glands which secrete the digestive juices. When appetite or the desirous mental anticipation of food is aroused, a nervous stimulus passes along the nerves which supply the salivary glands. This stimulus causes an active secretion of the saliva, which bears a very important part in the digestion of all starchy foods. At the same time other stimuli along the nerves that govern the digestive glands in the stomach walls start the active secretion of the gastric juice. Experiments have shown that if food be placed in an animal's stomach through a tube the more presence of food in the stomach will stimulate into action the gastric digestive glands, but this secretion will be much lees complete than it would have been had the appetite been acting as well. Useful stimuli te the digestive glands may reach the brain (on their way to the gbiuds) through the special senses of sight, smell, taste, or even hearing, and these facts should be made use of when ono is arranging a diet for an invalid or person, with a jaded appetite and feeble digestion.

To clean water bottles and decanters, mix together half a gill of vinegar and a handful of salt. Shake well in the decanters to be cleaned, and no matter how discoloured this treatment has been tried and found successful.

A WOMAN OF FASHION. HOW SHE SPENDS THE DAT. AN EXACTING PEOGEAMMEa ("Doily Mail”). N The following interesting pen picture of the day's work and play of a Parisla a woman of fashion is founded upon details supplied to "Jc Sails Tout” by some of th© most prominent "Queen© of Fashion” in Paris. The way a pretty and fashionable woman spends her time nowadays is entirely different from what It was fifty years ago. To be convinced of this, road, for instance, the "Chroniques” of Vicomto de Launay (Mmc. de Girardin), or the novels of fcalzac describing the "fashionables” of Ills time. The budget of an elegant woman of that period, for her entire maintenance,would hardly be sufficient to-day for the purchase of three gowns and four hats. The Parisian lady of 1830 put on, when she got up, a pretty lace cap, and went to join her children in the study, for she supervised ‘their instruction and was altogether a most tender mother. Today the complications of the morning make maternal effusions difficult, if not impossible. When the tender mother of to-day has taken her bath, after she has been suitably rubbed down, massaged, manicured, pedicured, .curled, ondulahed —that is, after ha-sing gone through the export hands of at least half a dozen personsshe dresses and goes for the morning walk.

And eo with all tho other items of the day. The only occupation common to both tho modern lady and the lady of 1830 is card-playing —lansquenet in days gone by; bridge to-day' HAPPY DAYS WHEN HATS WERE CHEAPER.

“If women are fond of playing cards/" Mme. do Girardin used to say, “it is because they are unable to keep up a conversation/" Let us be more fair to them. There are “salons" where plays and where one talks. There are oven salons where one plays and talks. Instead of;xlieemssing hotly the latest novel by Georges Sand, ono talks about the latest poem of the Comtesse de Koailles. Intellectuality is not on the wane, in spite, of a certain dullness and sluggishuess/a kind of cerebral numbness, which has recently come under the notice psychologist doctors, who, it .may be mentioned, severely declare that overmotoring produces this menial paralysis. Those were happy days when neatly pulled up stockings were the acme of elegance, and when Milo, de la Touche, the then most famous milliner, sold her finest bonnets for thirty shillings. We have now i Jie .£lO hat, which may require feathers from a hundred birds for its trimming. The modern Parisian lady's morning is overburdened. The elegant lady of to-day devotes to hygiene the greater part of the morning; then goes out for a stroll. She walks, because it is good for her complexion and also for her slaudernc&s.

Many ladies ride and look charming under their three-cornered hut, which had at last replaced the horrible top-hat. A few of the fashionable “inondaincs' play diabolo, but the majority take a walk, which is often shortened in order that an electric bath or a light bath may be taken before luncheon. This luncheon is a simple affair: eggs, "white 0 meat (v<H, chicken, etc.), vegetables, and stewed fruit. The ladies who 1 follow! the latest "regime o 'take “decorticated" vegetables, paps, macaroni with milk and sugar, rice or oats with cream, ■and they drink a small, very small, quantity of milleral water. -Above all, no cakes, no sweats, no entremets. As a matter of fact tiro fashionable lady of to-day oats the food that would suit a baby of eleven months! FAMOUS DOCTOR'S BON-MOT.

A famous French doctor, one of (lie • greatest living: specialists for stomach (diseases, was recently approached by a lady who complained' about her digestion. ' "What shall I do, doctor? "Madame,-I am willing to prescribe a special regime to you, but I am. afraid you will follow it.”' I "What do you mean?” I "Well, you see, women nowadays obey •their doctors ■ "You complain of this?” 1 ! "Indeed, 1 do. lltgiincs are seldom' a success, and the consequence is that •wo can no longer use Lire old excuse : ‘lf •you had only followed my prescrip-! tions!’” pi After luncheon, fifteen minutes of per-; feet rest and immobility. . No - sleep.; This immobility is chiefly meant to die- \ tend tho muscles of the face. i Then come the calls, shopping—and the; daily visit to the dressmaker. The : isocne at the drossm-aker’s, nt 'the famous ; ’"couturier,” as he is called in Paris, has, jlxven described a hundred times. All | languages are spoken in his salons. The; spectacle is typical of the age. j The door of a salon opens. One perceives a white shoulder, a bodice is being fixed on a bust, the effect of costly laces, ■on. a skirt is carefully tried. One hears i timid reproaches or enthusiastic oxpres-j .done of.approval. At the beginning of the season many I Indies spend hours in tnwe salons. One ; elegant American lady spends the day., the ■ whole-■ day, with the "couturier.” A footman brings her luncheon—a wing of chicken, some'fruits, and a flask of Cyprus. 1 This habit of several -society ladies of remaining from morning till night at the .dressmaker’s has suggested to the latter rtho idea of organising buffets where one i lean lunch, take tea, and ail confection-1 •cries. ■ • }

Another belle always taker her pet dogs with her to the dressmaker, and during the day a groom brings special mineral waters for them, for her ladyship fears the microbes for her dogs as .much as for herself! ' ' The patience of the "vendensos is amazing. They are also expected to ,-kr.ow a great deal about the customers. One customer is a princess, another ■ a queen, a third a lending actress. The way of addressing, the tone of the voice, •has to vary accordnig to the standing of (the lady. This archduchess is here incognita, and her presence must not bi betrayed: this other person has only, just obtained a title, and it would not do to call ber ■o-dy “Madame.” Blunders must at all [costs be avoided. Etiquette is strict, and a mistake similar to that of an actress who once asked a prince, heir to a throne, How is madame your mother?” would never be foreiven. , . The ladv, after all this, then goes to some theatrical rehearsal or to the races, j then comes tho tea hour at ono of the I leading hotels or at the great confectioner’s; this is followed by a drive in a motor-car. HOW BRIDGE HAS KILLED CALLS. Calls are few- One pays fewer and ‘fewer visits. Bridge has killed them.

Bridge is played even at receptions! If the brijjiant ‘Talkers” of 1830 came back to this world they would not rocogimo it. . . Tho evening meal, the "diner, is a more elaborate and important affair than tho luncheon. The regime is totally abandoned at night! After the "diner” tho fashionable lady goes to the theatre. Balls are scarce, but those that take place arc very sumptons affairs. * To bo perfectly true, it must be added that all "mondaines” do not keep strictly to the programme given here. Many devote much of their time to their children, and many are interested in art. Many read books worth reading and cat roast beef and solid chops, and many, too. look charming without wearing hats worth TIO. / • Fashion is a tiring . goddess to worship. A. voting mondaine, exhausted by constant visits to tho drwemakor, milliner, and others, with hor pretty head bent under the weight of an inimens© over-feathered hat, taid the other dav, "When, oh I when will itjje the fashion not to follow the fashion t

EECIPES. STEWED RABBITS. Soak two young rabbits all night in cold water, with a tablespoon! ul 01 vinegar added. This will draw out all tho blood. Out them into pieces of tlio size desired, always rejecting about wo inches of tho tail end of the back, as this piece has a strong flavour. Wash well and dry. Cut up two onions into rings, and put in pan with boiling water to. cover; allow to boil two or three minutes; then strain and add to onions a small piece of dripping and the rabbits. Fry with the lid on, occasionally moving'them so that they will not burn. Add water, two or three ounces of ham, iu pieces, and a. large apple, peeled and cut up. When half done season to taste. When, cooked remove tho meat into a disb and thicken the gravy with flour and pour over. DIPLOMATIC PUDDING. Tiro moulds' will he necessary: an ornamental quart Tin Mould and a Main Tin to fit loosely inside the first. Materials: one pint of clear Wine Jolly, one pint ’of cream, six maccaroon and a few candied cherries and greengages for decoration. Arrange cherries cut in halt and slices of tho greengages at the bottom of the mould to form a pattern, cover with jelly and leave to set. Then place the plain mould on this foundation and fill the sides with candied fruit and jolly, allowing the liquid to set between each course. Next day remove tho plain mould, loosening Uio (in with a hot cloth, fill the cavity with tiie whipped cream, previously enriched with the macaroons pounded fine, and set with half an ounce of gelatine dissolved in the smallest possible quantity of hot water. To serve, loosen tho shape with a hot cloth as before and turn deftly on a. crystal : dish, GERMAN CARE. Three-quarter lb flour, lib butter, lib line sugar, 4 eggs. Jib mixed peel. Jib .sultana raisins, 1 teaspoonful essence ot ‘lemon, 1 teaspoonful baking powder. Put tho butter and sugar in a basin, and beat it till perfectly white with a wooden spoon. Beat eggs till very light, and stir them in, mixing them thoroughly; add the flour gradually, then add lhe ; fruit, also tho baking ponder and flavouring. Bake for one hour. "When tho cake is cold ice it with Jib. of icing sugar mixed with the white of an i gg. JELLY FOR CAKES INSTEAD OF | jam'. I The juice of two oranges and one; lemon, one cup of sugar, and one _of ' water. Boil together. When boiling add ono.largo tablespoonfnl of cornflower blended with a very little water. Turn out. When nearly cold put on the cakes instead of jam, with a little icing I and some cocoanut sprinkled on top. HALF-HOLIDAY PUDDING. ; Six 07. flour. 3oz, suet, 3oz sugar, 2oz currants, 2oz sultanas, loz candied peel,, 1 egg, a 1 itle milk, half teaspoonful Ink- , inpr powder, nutmeg. Mix all tho ingredients, rather moist. Grease; baking tin, land bake from 'thirty-five to forty minutes. When done cut in squares, :nd .serve with icing sugar. WALNUT CAKE.

Ono 11> fteur. lib fib walnuts. \r I’H-V. milk, 6 cms fib sugar. grated j rind of lemon, If teaspoonfuls of baking ‘powder. Sift‘tho flour and baking well, together on a paper, creamf>n buffer and sugar, add to them tbos : volkfi of the eirtrs. liar© the walnuts' I ready shell *1 and broken in small pieces, I stir tl&m into the batter, etc., add ; Ir-mon rind and essence of vanilla, beat ! all together, and then sift in the I flour, adding a little milk to prevent it being ‘too stiff. Last of all stir in quickly and lightly the whites of the- ■ eggs beaten stiff. Line a cako-tin with. , well-greased paper, half fill with tho. | rnixt'ira. and bake in moderate oven ; one hour- and n-half. Turn out on a j sieve to cool. Then spread with soft icing. Halve a few scatter on too while the icing is still soft, and allow it (o cool before using. j LITTLL CASKS A LA DUCHESS MARIE. I Bring I pint of milk to th©*boil. with | loz castor sugar; stir in Itez of ground ! ricn that has been mixd with a gill of rose water. Stir till it boils; add two beaten yolks of eggs. Stir over fire till quite ‘ hot. but do not boil; add one tabScsPooaful of anricot jam, and rub through a sieve. Partly fill some cuslard glasses .with this mixture, then put a layer of strawberries or some chopp'd preserved apricot, then fill with flavoured 'whipped cream. Cover the ton with brown chopped almonds, and servo cold. . SCIIAXJM PUDING. Eight obutter, cups'milk. Bozs. flour, 10 eggs, Bozs sugar 12 macaroons. Bind of 1 lemon grated. Boil milk and butter then add flour carefully, boil till stiff; when, cold, add yolks of eggs and whites beaten te stiff froth. Butler a mould and sprinkle with browned bread crumbs, a layer of dough and a layer of macaroons till full. . Steam for hours. Serve with the following sauce: 1 teacup white or red wine, 1 teacup water, bring to the boil, sugar to taste, thicken with a little cornflour., GALATINE OF BEEP.

This is a delicious cold beef if prepared as foil ws:—Put lib of beef steak and three-quarters of a pound of streaky bacon twice through the mincing machine. Mix with this half a pound of breadcrumbs, two beaten eggs, a tea-spoonful-'of pepper, two teaspoonfuls of salt, and a grated nutmdg. Fiprm in the shape of a thick sausage, tie very tightly in a cloth, and boil slowly for two liours. Turn out while hot; when cold brush over with glaze and ornament with chopped aspic jelly. Chop the remainder of the jelly and put it in little heaps round the meat with bunches of watercress between each. Ket-p in* a cool place till served.

GOOD TASTE FOR NOTHING. This is the title of an article in th<v Christmas numtor of “Good Housekeeping/' In which the writer upbraids the modern woman for her lack of taste and her ignorance of the fitness of things. Ho describes amusingly a number of women, at a dinner-table. The sensible woman, who sat at the head of the table and carved like a man, wore a large buff cameo of some Vemis and Adronis subject—showing a mind too lofty to notice what she put on. It accorded bad*ly with her trim cut tweed, made nose and eyes seem smaller by contr-iist, and curving into the rolls of her chin, brought out another series of defects by parallelism. Then caino the school teacher, “with an owl dangling from hip wa/toliohain, because she had been, in Athens, and a George Washington hat* chot cut of wood from the Holy Land, presumably because she had been to Coney Island”; and iho rich woman, who owned manj’ valuable diamonds set in various ways, which she had bought a s investments; and the poor woman, “who had no business there and called attention to lie!’ poverty by the imitation diamonds in her ears; tine type that spends all efforts trying to imitate the more fortunate, and so remains doubly poor/ 5 Thou tire girl from tho * School, of Acting, who wanted to play wore pearls as big as Crown jewels, and a lot of cheap blue beads round her long neck, their big circles making hop malicious mouth seem a straight one.

These women, declares tho writ-' or, would have been ashamed to ileveal thick- deficiency by conversing on ' subjects of which they know nothing, but ; were not at all nubia inod of wearing their ignorance, nufl of appearing grotesque. The barbarian would relate liis ornaments to the natural lines of his body; these women wore bordered by the flotsam and jetsam, of their lives—the tangle of pincushion, bargain counter, and buiroan drawer. The incongruities which appear in rq many women’s costumes arc not lino result of dearness or cheapness, for good taste costs nothing—except time and on re. Good taste is as much a question of education ns any other quality. It can be cultivated by considering the uncoilsidered trifles, by studying our likes and dislikes till wo understand their relation to universal principles, by disregard! ng tho stupidities of fashion, and by cultivating confidence in oneself. Self-confi-dence is a very important. element; it may load you into glaring mistakes, but it eaves you from that negative "refinement” which is fatal to advancement in taste. .

The first question to Wuskod in buying any article is its use, its appropriateness to the wearer and the occasion, and its 1 relation to the other”objects with which it will be associated. Things which may possess an intrinsic beauty of their owii become ridiculous when surrounded by incongruities. Never buy anything because it is old or odd, unless' you hove some special uso for.it; and, above all, never buy tilings that ore merely grotesque., The craze for little, weird animals'; golliwogs, aiid the like, is a. deadly menace to ant and* good taste. Why women who want to collect such mon*. Btrositios is inexplicable; and yet hundreds do. It is considered a sign of 'Originality by some, but surely such absurdities as toy pigs and hideous «ipc.l could only attract childish minds. Generally theso absurd articles niaaquerddo as charms; they are supposed to bring luck, but each year the luck cluihgeij to something else, in aider to sell a new toy. Tiie latest Parisian fad is au animal’s head of movable mechanism as an umbrella handle. , , While talking to a friend a rabbit-may'suddenly ran its ' rod tongue out at you, or a monkey wink the other oyc. It is all very well for wealthy women to indulge in these playthings, but unfortunately tho fashion '.spreads to the woman who can only have one umbrella. For a rich woman to spend her money on new-fangled monstrosities, which she can throw onray in a week, is a foolishness; for a poor woman to buy ’ hideous novelties which she will have.to keep long after tho novelty lias worn off,-'and "only the hidcousness .remains, is a positive criipe. Cultivate yonrr good- taste. Don’t bo afraid of making mistakes at first, they are inevitable in all upward growth; and by degrees tiie feeling,for harmony and appropriateness will become instinctive, and it will be as natural for yon to exercise good taetf in your choice as at is for you to speak grammatically or to jdanco inrtimo. . ,

WEDDINGS. DEWITT—ABRAHAM. At All Saints' Church, Palmerston North, on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Francis Hewitt, third son. of Captain Howitt, ,P.N., wart married to Miss Abraham, -oldest daughter of Mr 11. S. Abraham. Thio service, which was fully choral, wan conducted by tire llev. C. C. Harper, and the church had been tastefully dooomiod for tho occasion. The gathering wart tlie largest of, its kind held for a long time, guests being present from liuwko'rt Bay, Eaiigitikei, Wairarapa, and oven still further afield. The bride was given -away by her father, and wore a beautiful gown of white f*atin, exquisitely trimmed with old laco arid heavily embroidered with silver in a design of true .lover knots ; yoke *md sleeves of fin© fioniton, and point lace. Her veil was of very old honildu laoc, a. family heirloom. Amongst the jewellry she wore was a fine blue enamel and pearl pendant, a gift of tho bridegroom, alia a pearl star, a gift from her parents. The bride was abiended by six bridesmaids. Misses Marjorie, Ethel, Sylvie, and Sybil Abraham, Miss Hewitt and Mies Wilton. The frocks wore of ,silk muslin made in pinafore ■ stylo over cream net blouses, mnd- a very charming rainbow effect was given by the dresses varyi?jg in colour. They wore smart hats of glace silk with big rosettes and white feathers and carried rose pink bouquets. Miss Dorothy Abraham, a younger sister of the bride, was also in attendance, wearing a pretty frock of white taffeta and net, trimmed ' With Valenciennes lace, and a lace cap * with one blue streamer. Mrs it. S. - Abraham, mother' of the bride, wore a lovely gown of white lace over chiffon with .applique panels of black lace, and a smart toque of shaded pansies. Mrs J. D. Tt. Hf’wilt, mother of the bridegroom, wore block glace call: drews* pink embroidered cupe de chine scarf, Mack bonnet trimmed with«white tullo and wliite strings. Mrs L. A. Abraham, aunt of the bride, was in a pale blue taffeta silk dross pal© sblue scarf, black bat v.hh ostrich’plume©. Miss Cecil© Hull, cousin of the bride, wore a lovely gown of pale heliotrope taffeta, with a blouse of Irish crochet, large hat of Manila straw with ro:-cr>and hyacinths. ■ v fiho carried a hclitrop© ihonquet. ’ Mrs Arthur Bussell wore a lovely Darin gown of black lace over while glace, fcTnart black toque. Mrs Mimro, chiffon ■voile faun taffeta

nil !i (on-).l', of bill". f'lia-W ‘-b-.-iw lint trimmed will. iw. Ml v* 1.1.1 CM.,:.11. i■ I oi while In— with I. al■ o! c rise Inf.-In- ; l ' l: ;V;U ,,, bnV;,v : 'V;u,.-Hl i (llwkrt ««*•). wi'i-h lonehiVi.f i'.in-u'v.-lv.-l ; lint of whro n-t. ;< ml pin I. ro -- . . . \li,., J| —.ln on (Wellington;, t rotrjc of .... (Vil.-’ I,iron.. hat of pin- tali-la, with ninl -in v-iii.ii 1 hern 11 r i.f.. Mir.s May Mnnro, dui/dy while eh-ilfon L'lli-ln -. lu.—l'.i Inti of while silk. Who n.n.l pii.lv , n.-;i■ Ile s mill while cork's fen- ' ''r.i'i-s 111- Willi... Ui/i. Ins frock wil.li JovoIv embro-lemd ii. n-n ion;-;; p- rl winkle I,ln- Inti, wil.h ni ! ml ‘ 'I hi"- room. Mr 11. 11. I'. Did'liford m-ted ns best inn, l ninl M-,.1- Horn— Hewitt, K. D. -M.rn limii. n.ml l\ > lliggiawm Mt xrwnio. 11 ',"’nll 1.1 it.-I- of liemil] fill wedding gifts ...-re oil - View HI i.he I,illin.nl room, and -fi.-1u.1i.1 n .1 I ; room Slide from H,e bride’e pitrunW. mill n h.-iiTOOin mljl.e iv-in 111- imreiil- of Un- bridegroom. I,r-nl.r„-l -1,-r', fiom l.li- bride's riders, .'iiii—r mtv ire from Mr itn.l -Mrs l.ionel ADi-almm, silver fen, service from iJ.e .lire, 1./,-, of Abraham nn<l Williams, Lid., of knives nn.l forks from (he ntnli of binlin in mid William... I.l< • The bridegroom's ;-i ft - to the Wxle included n peurl rink', diamond mid sapphire rill-, opal rillk'. pearl ami inrun..in- neekl.ire. i-.ioorl and In I'M noise penilni,,;., ihi rI brooch. pearl ttmi diamond hrooeh m.d I-i is i't.y broo-h. Tim hr ides travel ling dress was a, white eon I; mull skirt, bine velvet eollar an<l cull's embroidered with gold. Among those pre.-enf nf Uio reception wore; -Mr ami Aim If- -I- Uiddilord, J. |’|. |i. Strang. -Alec. Williams, Bunny, Monudes. If. I ixiper. T.loyd. ,fno. Davis, A. MacDonald, Watson. I’. Shn, O. U’lllin.ms, W. Sin eg, Mfllnr.ly, W. Lee.lin- I*, Horbiii, .1. AI. Johnston, Dorritt, Harden, lltiiikins, N. (lorfon. McRae, Snow, .1. I'acwi.t. (>• Cooper, lloliniM, I*’. I- Jackson, I>. tl. Riddiiord, Ain; ('■ra.wfiml, Bin-be.r, f.loldinghiim, Bai-rand. Ilulfon, Smifli, D. -I- Wilde, Wald.-gra-ve, I:'. O'lt. Loughnan, TJ. Sleveiis (look. 11 iteli ins. I). Aformid, Fonwtcr. I'rntt. K. Lovett. Man roe. S'. Baldwin, AT. Cohen, liariijeoal. Dr mid Mm Wilson. Dr mid Mrs Stowe, Dr and Airs Willis. Dr. Mm and Miss OM'-nen, Dr nml Mm I'lihmni. Colonel and Airs (iorliin, (.laptain and Mrs Hewitt. Aliases Wilsmi (J), Good. Ilarniroaf, Kelly, AlcTrin iiitii, V. Smi Hi, kTiiser, JI a adva-ide, AI 11 u -sell. Uowiel., Snow, Afiinrne, Barrand. Wald,-grave, Bolton Wood, ITigeinson. Mm and Miss Dmpson, Slack. Messrs linml. 11. I’rnl I, Wither. K. Wilvi,a. D. Willi-. Iliggj nso n, ih William..— Mkinairalti Daily Times.” GA.MAtTE—AtcLEOD. A very pretty wedding, and one that, fronted much interest, was ceiehruled In the Presbyterian Church. Martins horouk'h. on tlie inth inst,. by the Dev. James Afr Caw. The contracting parties were Mr .fumes flam in ie. nf Deaf hr rstou, mily son of Afr .fumes Oaimnie, of Cave, Da nterbiirv, and Mim ATaggie Afebeod. ■eldrsf dangliter of Mr .Alex. MeT.eod. of niendryiirwlc I’nhaoa. The bride was handsomely gowned in creiun cashmere, Hie bodice trimmed with guipure insertion and sprays of orange blossoms. A wedding veil and a bouquet of cream roses e-,nnleted a most becoming costume, r Plie chief bridesmaid (Miss Afin»iie Ifm-neD) wore cream Sicilian, with silk trimmings and (idle hat. Two niece.; of the bride (.Miss Nellie Tinwti.n «ml Alisa .Margaret AteDood; attended her, attired in cream silk dressas with leghorn Iml.s. The bridegroom was attended bv Air Charles AtcDcnd. as best man, lin'd (ho bride wan kdven away by her father. AOs* Tsa Sharp presided at the organ. The church was beautifully decorated by .the bride’s friends. At 'the conclusion of the ceremony, a large company of guests retired to the Town frail, where a sumptuous wedding breakfast was partaken, being catered for by Air D. AI. Lister. Atr Norman Ate Lend, in the Highland fashion, on his father’s behalf, welcomed the guests. Tliq Rev. ,T. AloCaw proposed the toast of the newly married couple.— "Wairanipa Daily News.”