OVER THE TEACUPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2197, 9 April 1896, Page 41

OVER THE TEACUPS.

Deab Readers,— Did I tell you of the new paper for women entitled Woman's Life, and published by George Newnes 1 How well off, and how lavishly provided with every style of periodical we "weaker vcisels " . are ! Magazines and journals of all kinds, from the purely literary class to the unadulterated " frivol " style, are prof-

fered to us in every newsagent's list, with prices us various aa their contents. Woman's Life, like many other periodicals designed for the sex, is almost aggressively loyal, and indulges- in much pleasant — and, I fear,- somewhat highly-coloured — chit-chat about' the English Royal Family. There is ; also a pege entitled " Shops and Shoppers," I which reminds me of a plan I have always desired to carry out for you. It is, I know, interesting,' but Bcarcely of practical use or real help to read charming descriptions of the season's materials and the moment's fancies which are fascinating our sisters at 11,000 miles' distance. ' y No, we want a few local hints and information, I fancy, for after all we must " cut our coat according to our cloth," and it is not go much what we wish for as what we can obtain which decides our purchases, and a shopping article founded pn local information might be of real use. One article in Woman* Life amused me very much. It dealt with " Cos* ly Toje," and gave some curious instances in point. For example, a model railway was fixed up in a nursery in New York at a cost of £100; a rocking horse, specially made for the son of an Indian prince, cost no less than £36 ; and, last bat not least, a doll's house, the bills for which ran into £50, and a doll's carriage, specially made at a cost of £12 12s. Poor little children that owned these costly toys! What would they have left to wish for 7 In childhood they would reach the sad experience that only befel Lysis in manhood. "My Ufa has burdened me with many pleasures." We think a great deal in these days of table decoration ; sometimes it seems to me decoration takes the pace of true daintiness, which for all pertaining to the table should first embrace the immaoulate purity and spotless freshness of the table linen, the scrupulous brilliance of the silver and glass ware. This was brought home to my mind very forcibly 'the other day when I saw a soiled and crumpled table cloth " decorated" with a faded length of arfc muslin, and a regiment of specimen glasses whose trails of canary creeper and nasturtium were in evoryonfii wjuv wbiio the children aya v luteiraJs .

upset a vase in hunting for a cellarette or diving for a water jag.

There is no higher beauty than the beauty of fitness, and I must quote a little paragraph from a recent " Home Notes " to show how perfectly soma one else agrees with me. " The table is the point for family reunion twice or three times a day, and nothing should be lacking that we oan do to make those meetings pleasant and cheerful. No decoration will suffice to cover untidy napary, dim glass, or only partly-chased silver."

For every-day use nothing is more charming than the lovely white table centres, lace edged and embroidered ; but where something more elaborate is desired I thought the following— also from " Home Notes "—" — very pretty :— "Pafe green Pongee silk and brown bracken fern. Lay the ferns between sheets of paper, and place under a heavy weight. When arranging the table put the green silk lengthways in soft folds, tie two sprays of bracken together, with a pretty shade of pink or yellow silk ribbon, and lay them on the green at somewhat irregular distances."

I suppose we ara not yet sufficiently near the milennium to hope even that .we may be delivered from sales of work, bazaars, and carnivals, but we can scarcely hope to ever record such a successful sale of a kiss as recently took place at a Vienese charity bazaar. On this occasion an Englishman gave sGoodolfor a Kiss from the Marchioness Pallavinoirri, and upon receiving it, handed over a £1000 Bank of England note in payment. There are fools. and foola, kisses and kisses, but this fool and his money were easily parted indeed I

Does this kiss story remind you of an old story about a young lady in Nelson, who many years ago — quite in the dark age?, in fact— rallied tho failing fortunes of a bazaar

.most successfully with the announcement — "Anyone can have a kiss that likes for a pound," whereupon a well-known and somewhat eccentric clergyman of that day, understanding the true heroism of the motive, was the first to pay his sovereign and take his kiss. Then again I saw an amusing commentary on bazaars in general, quoted the other day, when the clergyman announced from the pulpit, "We have tried every honest means to raise the money necessary for the building of our schools and failed : no coarse remains open to us but to get up a bazaar I " By the way, do you notice that coloured ink is once more fashionable ? Bat if yon use it be sure that it is of either a faint violet tint or the pale soft blue known as " Robin's egg." Since young girls are taking to black for evening wear, it is as well to remind you that there is all the difference in the world — all the difference, in fact, between becoming and unbecoming in the material chogen. A brunette in a dull black gown, such as a velvet or crepon, is deprived of all sparkle and brilliance. She requires the high brilliant lights or black satin or silk. The blonde, or auburn-haired girl, on the contrary, will find her fair complexion admirably thrown up by the soft deep black of velvet or crepon. I read of a girls' club the other day whose marriage present to a favourite member was inspired, I think, by a brilliant intuition. Each member — and there were 12 of them — presented a cushion of original make and design. Embroidered, appliqued, painted, decorated with lovely lace, the result: of th« friendly rivalry brought forth designs of the greatest originality, colour combinations, the most charming. Who would cot desire such a lovely present 1 Imagine the lovely gleams of colour from some dusky corner, the added Comfort imparted to some stiff chair, the rounded angles of some too abrupt sofa, the restful lease of the corner divan that these cushions would furnish forth. And now a practical hint and a recipe or two to finish with. Those people who cannot enjoy roast pork for fear of~ after-bilious sensations should try gently parboiling the £oint hefojs roMtiae, This eliminates ths

excessive richness and much improves the flavour, besides providing a good foundation for some rich stock. Here is a Dice recipe for a relish, or a bandy mixture for picnic eandwiches :— £lb cheo3e, loz butter, one tablespoonful beer. Pound well in a mortar, add pepper and salt to taste, press into a pot, and cover with butter to exclude the air ; it will then keep a considerable time. The mixture is very nice served hot on toast. Almond Biscuits. — To lib of lump sugar roughly crushed add 2oz of street almonds chopped (not too fine), two eggs well beaten, and a few drops essence of almonds ; mix in gradually enough flour to make the whole into a stiff paste. Flour some tins, drop the mixture on to them, and bake in a very alow oven. By the way, did you like the little pink coooanut cakes 2 I thought they were very nice. I could not give you a more seasonable recipe just now than one for green tomato chutnee— tomato soy, the Americans call it. Anyway, there are all those tiresome green tomatoes whioh will not ripen to use op, so here is a delicious and wall tried reroipa : — Two gallons green tomatoes sliced without peeling, 12 toedium-siaed onions peeled and sliced, two quarts vinegar, one quart sugar, 2oe salt, 2oz mustard, lcz allspice, 2oz ground -black pepper,,; lbs cloves. Mix all together and stow until tender, stirring often to prevent scorching. Oar cups are empty, the shadows are creeping out of the farthest corners. One almost longs that winter indeed were here, so that we might draw close around the fire. A soft rain is falling, we draw our wraps around as, and unwilling say au revoir. Emmeline.