WRINKLES AND CROWSFEET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 46

WRINKLES AND CROWSFEET.

Dear Emmeline, — If you or someone versed in reading the lines of the face would kindly publish them in the Witness I think it would be the means of doing good. On January 2 there were supposed to be some 10,000 people at the Bluff— a large percentage, of courFe, being young men and young women. Of the young women, I cannot recall ever seeing bo many before having faces so much lined. This set me speculating as to the cause. " The face is the index of the mind." "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Men or women's real character is, no doubt, what most of us wish to know. And in studying the lines of the face you will learn far more of their real character than most people evidently think. — J. MThistle. [I must plead guilty to a want of knowledge as to the scientific reading of the lines of the face. The furrows on the forehead are very often attributable to the use of the curling tongs, an abomination which should in all cases be discarded in favour of the useful curling pins obtainable at any draper's for a few pence. Curling the fringe forces the puckering up of the forehead daily, and this soon tells a tale. Of course the pins are not entirely free from this drawback, but they are nothing like so mischievous as the tongs, and the latter have the further disadvantage of injuring the hair by burning it. Another fruitful cause of wrinkles is needless worrying over trifles — a habit which may be checked if the victim will but lay her mind to conquer it. The absence of drying winds and scorching heat in Otago and Southland should result in a clear complexion and a comparative absence of wrinkles if there is no special — and probably avoidable — cause for the latter. — Emmeline.] DAMSON CHEESE. Dear Emmeline, — Can you give in next week's Witness a receipe for damson cheese ? also state whether true damsons are to be obtained here. I am an old Englishman, and the damson , cheese, according to my recollection of very many years since, was put into nicely ornamented china or crockery jars, and turned out quite solid for dessert. The dam?on of the old days was a different fruit to what I have seen here, so called. It was a small dark fruit much larger at one end than the other. — Englishman. The only damson I have ever known is the little round one we get here, but it i 3 quite possible there is another variety such as that described by my correspondent. I know of two methods of making damson cheese, which are given below : — (1) Stone the damsons and put a pound of tbe fruit in a Btone jar, spread over it a pound of sugar, and repeat until the jar is full. Cover with a plate, and bake six hours. (2) Stone the damsons, add sugar to taste, and cover wibh water. Boil part of the syrup with quarter of an ounce of gelatine to each pound of fruit, addiug a few cloves, strain, add to the fruit, and pour the whole into a mould. Turn out when cold and put custard or whipped cream round it. HOME-MADE SOAP. My Dear Emmelinb, — Having had many inquiries as to the manufacture of this hcuiehold requisite, I thought the subject might possibly have special interest for some of the country readers of your paper. Years ago the process wa<? very complicated and rather tedious, but of late tbe welcome appearance of caustic soda in tins of various sizes, from lib upward p, has simplified it very much. The accompanying directions are also very explicit, and can scarcely be misunderstood. In fact, the whole undertaking is so easy tha 1 ; I wonder more housewives do not decide on soapmaking as a meana of using up their surplus fat. Taking into consideration that a kerosene tin full of the latter will only bring in 2i Gd from the collectors that go round, and that the same amount will make with the aid of a4s tin of soda about 50. b or GOlb of soap, the money saved by thus converting it is obvious. In my own household I never buy soap — I buy fat and coda instead ; and though there ja little perceptible gain on the transaction, it pays in the end, because the quality of the Eoap is superior, audit is so excellent for

the toilet, laundry, and kitchen, that I always feel repaid for the little extra trouble. Apart from this, there is in the bought soapg resin, or some other ingredient, which acts disastrously on some hands (my own amongst the number), and from what I have heard it is a common experience. At anyrate I have had reason many times to bless the advertisement of soda for soapmaking, which I first saw in Nimmo and Blair's catalogue ; and as I have carried on the manufacture for quite six years, I have ample means of judging of its merits.

The circulars sold with the ting claim that the soap can be made witJiout boiling, bat I have always found it better to boil it up again with a little water the day after mixing— as recommended in the case of failure through over-stirring — with just enough water to keep it from burning.

Ife is convenient also at this stage to turn part of it into toilet soap, which can be improved with the addition of an ounce or so of carbonate of potash and a small quantity of glycerine or honey. It can be coloured and scented with a little ingenuity, and at a small additional cost. A pretty pale blue colour may be obtained from common washing: blue — a most inexpensive item ; and where the sickly scents mentioned would add considerably to the cost, it is possible to obtain from a chemist for much less enough cheap almond scant for G'b of soap, and this quantity can be managed easily in a goodsized pot or saucepan.

In dissolving the soda in the first process care should be taken that the vapour of the lye does not get into the eyes of the person stirring it, and the jar containing it must be kept out of the way of children.

I find it convenient to melt the bulk of the fat in the washing boiler, then draw the fire out from under it, and after it has cooled sufficiently pour in the lye as directed, leaving it all in the boiler till cold.

It can be broken up carefully with a clean spade before boiling up again with water as mentioned above, and when it is in a liquid state it can be ladled out with a jug or dipper into a wooden tub, box, or any mould that may suggest itself. Hoping I have expressed myself clearly, I remain, youra truly, Sabonette. CHILDREN'S FLOWER SHOW. My Dear Emmeline, — Kuowing that you are always pleased to hear of anything that is likely to be attended by good results, I decided to send you an account of the children's flower show which was held on Wednesday, January 31, in St. John's Hall, Roslyn. It was a" very creditable affair all through, both as regards the children's exhibits and the plants kindly, lent for the occasion. Tbe hall was comfortably filled all 'the evening, and though I have not heard the exact amount received, I should imagine there would be a good margin after all expenses were paid. The proceedings began at 6 o'clock in tbe evening, but we did not get there till about 8, just in time for the singing of the children and the church choir, which reflected great credit on the precentor of the Kaikorai Church (Mr Robsrtson). A good deal of interest was displayed over the children's exhibits of pot flowers, buttonholes, and bouquets, and some of the latter were wonderfully well put together. A table to the left of tbe entrance was covered with specimens of cake of several kinds, all manufactured by the children of the Sunday school. Mr Sutherland was unavoidably absent during the evening, but I noticed Mrs Sutherland, Mrs Fulton, Mrs Bannerman, and several others who take a deep interest in tbe affairs of the church. Daring the evening a blind boy and his sister (Robert and Mary Wise) played some tunes on tbe harmonium, for which they received well-deserved praise, and it struck me at the time that something in tbe shape of a collection for them would have met I with a hearty response About half-past 9 o'clock the important matter of prize-giving came off, and occupied some little time, the classes for competition being numerous and suitably rewarded by vases and pots of flowers — amongst the latter being begonias and other choice plants well worth receiving. These had all been presented by well-wishers of the undertaking, and made quite a show of themselves. There was a tea-room as usual for those needing refreshment. Indeed, this seems to have become quite a necessity in the carrying out of such an entertainment. The charge in this instance was the very modest one of 3d for a cup of tea and a slice of good cake. I have heard a rumour to tbe effect ! that the affair is to be of greater importance next year, and that it will be open to all youthful competitors. However this may be, I cannot say, but it is impossible to speak too highly in praise of increasing the interest children naturally possess f-or flowers, which are more or less a hobby wiih us all. — Yours truly, Charline W.