RESOLUTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7047, 8 February 1910, Page 4

RESOLUTIONS

SOME IDEAS OF A PLAIN COUNTRY WOMAN. Many of us have still to learn that the common things arc the best things, and that when we are fretting after more than jnst plain food and clothing, just natural sloop and rest, just good digestion and shelter from tho elements, we are fretting after extras that people are supposed to get for themselves. I sometimes believe that appreciation is better than genius, hotter limn ownership, and better than any of the “extras” that life affords. Society is fairly choking with people who lack this precious gift; some of tho people you envy most are actually suffering for want of it. • I know this seems (ho most aggravating thing about it —to see them have what you could bo much better appreciate 1 In making a list of compensations for poor folk 1 always place, first, joy in labour. Tho .pleasure of scouring a table or polishing a lamp chimney or a tumbler ; the satisfaction of keeping a clean tea-towel or making a loaf of soft, white bread. Do not imagine I am speaking from sentiment. My voice comes to you from the kitchen, not from the lecture platform nor the pulpit. I know whereof I speak, and with 'authority I place joy in labour as tho first blessing of povertyafter tho common blessings of life which we all know are no respecters of money or class. Deafness comes to the millionaire; the deformed or idiotic ' child comes to Princes and Kings; fatal disease and domestic unhappiness lurk in palaces and fine mansions. After joy in labour—considering family affection a matter of course—l place books. as the great compensation of poverty. A good and interesting book is a gift of God, and nobody is so poor that he cannot have books to read. I -recall Emily Dickinson’s thrilling words describing the reading of a book: "He ate and drank the precious words. His spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor,Or that his frame was dust.’’ GOOD BOOKS. ■ Just such a joy as this a good book may bring to a poor home and make it a rich one. You can 'give your children no greater treasure than an appreciation of a good book; This sounds like, a trito saying, but what if we took ti'ite sayings more' to heart? Dp we not all mistreat the plain truths of life as we neglect the best gifts of life? Why not Bve by the trite sayings and see how we come out? Contentment, happiness, understanding of life, the true philosophy of existence, are all arrived at by the simple application of world-old truths to our individual case. The sum and substance of happiness is condensed in an expression like': "If you can’t have what you like try to like what you have.” Why, then, do we toss such bits of wisdom about like footballs, spurning the lesson, joining in the silly sneer: “Oh, it’s awfully easy to preach?” I admit that it is much easier to-preach than to practice, and X should know, having cried both. But the think to do this year is’ to put in practice the plain maxims of the simple life. First of all, not to fret. To try - to realise how much of our striving, has been ’for tho benefit of outsiders. There'are always some people before whom wo feel it necessary to keen up appearances. Stop, it. Decide what it is that brings most happiness to us and our housemates, and do it immediately and with great joy. If it is a good dinner- cook it and be glad of the chance; it it is a cheerful and cleanly place to sit down and talk and read, or play games or tell stories to the children, get, busy at ones In the coziest place you have and make it’clean and wholesome. There is a.sweet, artistic effect, very popular jnst now in tho houses of rich and poor, which may he achieved in the barest room in the world if only a clever woman is there with broom and scrubbing-brush, with willing needle and thread and with a brave and cheerful heart. The hare floor, the little sash curtain, the ten-ccnt blue pitcher or bowl on the shelf, the clean-scoured, table, the glistening crockery aiad tinware—all of these things can make up a living-place full of hearteome suggestions... Much of the misery of . poverty is due to despondency and laziness among women. The woman is the, home, and tho early heme life makes or mars the man or woman. CONTEMPT OF FENEBT. Another resolution we must make is to' look with proper contempt' upon finery. I ’don’t know who ' invented ' fiq'ery— the devil, maybe—but tho women. are his victims, , and. it is so silly -of them. I don’t see why ■ they can’t ■ Outgrow it! X 'can understand a little bit how A woman who moves in fashomahle society might care. for finery, because there is a standard (a terribly pitiful one, wnen wo come to think about it) which she is expected to keep up; but why the wives of poor (men should covet the flimsy, things they see in the shops is beyond mo. Wo admit that it is hut a (natural feminine craving. So long as we admit that we admit that women axe fools. I can see how no woman, might wish to look - dowdy, and why any woman, would object to going on tho street in garments of ungainly cut and shoddy texture; but why a woman whose husband • works for a small salary should wish to go out in clothes which make her neighbours wonder where she got them is more than I can understand. I think most young women have a natural passion tor colour. I doubt whether this is an artistic passion: it ’is more like a barbaric taste. I love colour myself. I love it in flowerbeds, in the autumn woods, in soft pillows on tho sitting-room lounge, in the little girls’ hair ribbons, and on young cheeks and in sparkling eyes and sweet lips, but I do believe that women will outgrow their passion tor decking out their bodies id all colours of tho rainbow. Oh, that we could start an organised campaign against cheap finery, and all finery is cheap at any. place! All the trappings and ornaments wo see displayed in shops and 'stores are more trash. THE ONLY REAL GIRIBVANGE.

The only real grievance that .■woman Iran against life is that she is not ©aid for her service in actual cash. Work for work's flake and service 'as its own reward, are real things and never to be depreciated, but wage is part of the joy of labour, and the wife’s wage should be made more tangible to her understanding. How quickly she would outgrow her foolish and pettish passion for finery/tonco, aho saw herself a .recognised worker, with, her own bank; account I As it is, she sees herself in.most>cases eub-' servient to ’’him,” a bondwoman' working for board and clothing, dependent upon “his” generosity for her "spending money." I. think this ‘is a foolish expression, in dtself suggestive of extravagance, but most women are extravagant, and made so, I verily believe, by a perverse passion fostered by our wrong and foolish customs regarding the wife's position in 'thb financial world. ■ He only is a slave .who complains. Thisi is'something w - e are so prone to forget, and our near surrounding is

something we ore so inclined to despise. We can do one or two things with our surroundings: either rise in our might and change them or break away from them, or simply, glorify them by the dignity of our 'presence. The dignity of a noble woman in a ipoor home is like the grace of God in the 'faces of the humble, a glory the old masters have triad to paint or carve on fancied faces of the Christ. Before such celestial illumination all the wealth of the world is bs worthless junk; and we have a chance to bring this shining into our humble-living-rooms, and'yet wo fret for opportunity to do great things, and cherish a bitterness over being poor ! But we, shall do'so no longer, because with the resurrection of the year our souls ; shall be lifted to the - light of understanding and We shall touch our homely tasks with the hand of genius and they shall ,be beautiful, rt ’ THE’CHILD. -.... Our new year resolutions would be incomplete without, a reiteration of Our opportunity with the child. B rief are the neven years in.which tho child is to receive his meat lasting impressions. Shall they be cheap ones? Sad .ones? Dull ones? iHeaven forbid! And a child world is so easily made! The little souls ore so alert for joy. and - it is so easy, to make them know that “father’s , a .nobleman 1 —mother’s a queen!” They ‘never ’know that Mrs 80-ond-So's house is nicer than ours unless wo tell them. They axe always ready to believe that mother is best and dearest, and , that .her house, her gown, her dinner, are best of all. Let the spirit light the gray day for you -as ■it wishes .to. The plainer the surroundings the more chance for its shining. Stir up tho fire and put the kettle on, and-I hope the . children are coming home from school, for mine are gone and my. heart aches for lost opportunities. Although, thanje God, some angel led, me by the hand when ' they were little .(and'made ~mo light our home with smiles ‘ for them; made me bury my griefs and join in their plays; made me people their world . with beautiful and .pleasant things—not purchasable things, my 'dear, for there was no money bo spend—hut with priceless things' which' all 'may . gain just by making resolutions—and keeping them!— Ladies Homo' Journal.’’

Good dressing is an art requiring the careful and constant study of all ladies having a social status to maintain. All snob ’ ladies will be interested in the authoritative styles produced by Hayward, the Ladies’ Tailor, of 291. Lambton quay. This eminent sartorial artist is now showing Autumn and Winter Fata rics of the very latest. Wanted ladies to use Bland’s Vegetable Hair Dye. 3s 6d ; guaranteed harmless - no greenish shades. Solo agent. Mrs Hay'hittlo, 268, Lambton quay. ton. ■ Wo have three months of summer weather to get yet. and one is surprised to find new summer millinery just given away at Mrs Mathewson’s. Lambton quay Ton get such a smartlytrimmed hat there for 8s lid, and those at 12g 6d are good enough for tho moat dressy, occasions. The sale is only for ton days, so wise people will buy early. W'eddings—Bride’s and Bridesmaid’s Bouquets, Sprays, Baskets, and other artistic floral* devices for birthdays, .presentations, hon voyage, etc. Choicest flowere only used. Miss Murray, ViceBegal Florist, 36, Willis Street. , • ’Bridal Debutante Presentation Hand Bouquets ill all newest styles. Ladies’ Dress and. Hair Sprays. Gentlemen’s coat flowers. Birthday offerings. Miss Prebble, the Floral Depot, 51, WilUs street. * HINTS ABOUT TOUR HAIR AND HOME TREATMENT. ■ If your hair is falling, faded, or grey, do not worry. Miss Milsom’s wonderful treatment and preparations will not only restore to life and lustre, but positively cure dandruff and diseases of the scalp. Treatments from 3s Gti. Shampooing, Race Massage, Manicuring, 'Clipping,' Hairdressing done and taught. HairWork of every description. Electrolysis, rainless and permanent. King’s Chambers. Willis street (nest Empire Hotel). Telephone 814.