WOMAN'S WORLD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10598, 29 October 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

WOMAN'S WORLD.

Beauty in the Kitchen. Considering how easy it is to look pretty when engaged m household labors, it is strange that so few women attain this result. A properly cut princess apron in a becoming color is not only as pretty a garment as any woman 'could wish for, but it- throws a wonderful halo of domesticity and femininity about her. Yet women will sacrifice its possibilities for the kimono, which, uhilo a pretty little affair in its place, cannot look "pretty in the wrong place, or retain any prettinoss at all after being worn a while in the kitchen. . A dusting cap, too, may be a thing of beauty. Caps that recall Dutch pictures may bo bought, and worn with a pretty apron they give a, subtle charm to the plainest woman. The rest of tho working costume should consist of a short skirt and shirt waist. The latter can be low m the neck and short in tho sleeves, and, worn with a fascinating Dutch collar, may be as becoming as any ball gown.

'Care of the. Hands. Never cut tho cuticle round the nail, as is • too frequently done, but press it down with an orange wood stick. Pumice, says Health, should never be used on the hands. A bit of lemon will answer the same purpose without malting the fingers rough and calloused, as tho pumice docs. . To whiten the .hands rub them first with lemon juice and afterwards with dry salt. This is specially good when after preserving the hands are stained with fruit. After the application of lenion and salt, they should bo rinsed immediately in lukewarm water, and well dried. A good emollient for nails may be mado by heating together one- ounce each of spermaceti, olivo oil, oil of sweel almonds, and ten drops of oil of geranium or • lavender. This makes a soft cream that tho fingers may. be dipped and held in.

1 • Crace and Fencing. Lawn tennis still claims crowds of devotees in spite of tho toil,it extorts in the shape of flushed faces and a generally exhausted appearance. Why tennis should' be taken so seriously one can't imagine. I (writes an export) behove it was first meant as a pleasant way of taking excicise; now, it is a bipathless business to which one's whole attention must be given. So it is with 'all our games —the word is a misnomer. Unless one can play a game really well, almost scientifically, one is told if. is better not to play at all. Fencing is productive of much grace, and I strongly recommend all girls to take some'lessons. There is a perceptible difference, on tho tennis couit, for example, between the girl who can fence and the girl who has merely goiiCj-in for calisthenics. The latter is usually, heavier in running, and has not the; agility of the fencer. And, as grace is a great asset-to a woman, let us'acquno it say-we.

' Child Marriages in India. A Blue 'Book* -on the population of India" contains some striking statistics j<rising-out-of the- custom-of child 'mar-na«-e.- Out of the total population of nearlv 'we have 'nearly 25.000,000 married under .the age- of 20 (census.of 1901)*- Of these o\ci 360,000 arc undei-'ftlie age of five, have t ncso fitrures :

The very early marriages are- mostly 'in , the nature' N of*parental contracts or en- I gagemeutst"'' f' j ,' ' Lamp Shadss> Lamp-shades form no small part of the equipment of either a sitting or

dining room, for no one dreams of lettine the hard glare of either an incandescent gas or electric burner permeate the corners of a room. Of course, fancy shades are no new notion, but for a long while it was imagined that they were only appropriate to kerosene lamps; whilst now that gasaliers are so constructed that the light may he turned down in the room, instead of flaring up to the ceiling, the adoption of the ornamental silk shade is fast becoming universal. The elaborate affair ot crinkled paper, representing a giant chrysanthemum or an immense rose, is now supplanted by a much simpler arrangement of flowered silk or muslin, drawn tightly over a compact wire frame. In some cases square silk scarves, such as are used for millinery purposes, are found very graceful. A square opening is cut in the centre, and the hole fitted to the "collar" of the frame, and the four corners hang like those of a well-stretched handkerchief. A deep bead fringe is the only finish. As the light filters through the artistic pattern of the silk it is softened, but not too much deadened for prac-. tical purposes. Among the ready-made shades now obtainable in the shops the newest are designed to imitate stained glass, and are. wonderfully effective. They are made of what appears to be cardboard, and the irregular lines of the leaden headings are marked in black; while the actual pattern, represented - shows through in delightful transparency when properly lit tip. These shades are particularly suitable for card tables, and are to bo got m sizes appropriate to either candles or overhead lamps. It would be perfectly easy for deft fingers to copy them, but it would be necessary to have a model, for a" written description could not possibly convey the exact idea.

Unnecessary Teeth. To persons who have spent much money and endured much pain to preserve''their teeth, and expect still to spend and endure in that cause, it may be cheering to -hear from a recent speaker at the odontological section of the British Association, that teeth are really quite unnecessary. The speaker told of a toothless relative who masticated his food perfectly with his gums, but" added that mastication was not necessary, since our foods could now be minced and shredded beyond the powers of the most efficient mastication. The only real value of teeth to the civilised human being, he said, was their contribution to the attractiveness of the human countenance, and that, he admitted, outweighed a good many other considerations.

Hair Ornaments. Hair ornaments have become more and more elaborate. Most elaborate of all is a'swathing of lace. This ought to be of-real lace, not'too thick, and of a rather hold pattern. When such an ingenious decoration grows popular, and is composed of imitation lace, there is every chance that it will bo ridiculous. For, while a swathing, something after .the style* of the silk handkerchief worn by the Italian woman, looks very well-when daintily done, something similar carried out carelessly will look absurd". A pretty fashion is a 'light piece of tulle, in shades of green, blue," rose, or, indeed, in any color desired." Over this is put- an open trellis ot metal or iewelled work, and a ro'sette at,the side finishes the ornament. A couple of upstanding loops done in' iewelled discs look .very- well, and are held by a h'ght" rope' of the sameC The craze for rosettes has been carried into hair decoratipns, Jor some of the new designs arc ,wreaths composed of chiffon rosettes done in pretty colors, and finished with a large one to catch the whole together'. '

Hand-painted Ha'ts. A welcome innovation has been introduced by an American designer, who offers hand-painted hats as a change from the flower pnd plume laden erections women ha\e ior so long worn. An important tejtuie of this new style of trimming is that it enables designers

to study the contour of the face and head, and encourages them to devise something that will afford outline.

Brevities

A piping of striped silk heads many lace collars. ' Handles of white wood come on umbrellas even as they did on sunshades. •Wine colors are chosen largely for millinery. ' The top brim is of one shade, the lacing of another, and trimmings of still paler hues. .

Plain linen collars and ties are to he supplemented by plain linen cuffs for tailor-made suits. Some smart afternoon gowns have rever facings and cuffs of white suede. Heavy wraps for the autumn have leather-lined pockets and cuffs. Flaring bows of black velvet give a seasonable appearance to some summer straw hats. Big silk ties- to wear, with linen collars have ends finished with Persian silk. Serge hats take fancy or tailor trimmings, according to their form. • Littlo ladder bows of velvet in colors to harmonise with the, gown- look extremely smart on some guimps of. lace a pint, of boiling milk. Season it to taste and boil it up together.

Age. Under 5 y 5 to 10 y. 10 to lo \ 15 to '20 y