OVER THE TEACUPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 43

OVER THE TEACUPS.

„ Dear Rijadbbs,— Let me begin by directing your attention to the domawhat tardy fulfilment of a promise made long ago, in regard to keeping you posted up in the new music. You will find a list of songs and some new waltzes contained in a paragraph further on in my letter. I should like in addition to remind you of the "Trilby Gavotte," by Miss Annette Wilson, mentioned in last week's society column. -

What shall we discuss first thia afternoon 7 The evenings close in so quickly^ now, and are so keen and frosty, that it seems as though all our subjects must be but brief. Let us then glance through the magazines first, and see what there is of special interest. Well, in view of the yearly inoreasing number of young girls who leave our shores

to pursue a fuller and richer course of study in foreign conservatories or studios, I shall tell you of a very interesting article in the March number of the Leisure Hour—" Homes and Clubs for Women in Faris» " is tho title, and tbe illustrations which accompany the letterpress are very charming. The pictures of Dr Uvans's home for students, " LafayetteHouse, Rue de Pompe," and of Miss Leigh's home, No. 77 Avenue Wagram, together with portraits of the founder and principal of this latter institution, give a, delightful impression of comfort and refinement. The Lafayette House is for richer students, and they enjoy complete freedom, but very reliable introductions are necessary to gain admittance in the first Instance. Many students of music make their home here. ' It is interesting to note that the cabalistic letters Y.W.C.A. form an open sesame of help and kindliness in gay and beautiful Paris no less than in steady-going antipodean little Dunedin. The association has its location at "2G Rue da Fanberg St. Honore*. and charges from Bfr to lOfr per week (6s lOd to 8s 4d) for lodgings. On Sundays a free lunch ia offered to any work girl who will come, while the Bible is read to many a poor girl who does not hear a word of English from Sunday ta Sunday." Then, too, I have been reading, aTso in the. Leisure Hour, a very interesting series of articles on the British Museum. Ah, me, how such articles do make one long for wings I The old. MSS., tbe wonderful pamphlets that find their home on these 39 miles of book shelves 1 What would we not give to be within' practicable proximity to these treasures 7 Still piowling through the magazines, I came upon the following— ia it greed, or snobbishness, or hero worship 7—" The owner of Charles Dickens's house (whioh is shortly to be renovated) . . . advertised that the wooden railings which the great author erected to keep hia little ones away from his study, in order that he might work unmolested, were for sale, and. would make an interesting ornamentation, for a cosy corner seat I The owner added that the Jsitchen floor on which Grip used to hop about might also, be had." In the pages of another periodical I found a new employment for women suggested, and no doubt the idea will be both feasible and lucrative for women in older countries than our own. It is the mending of valuable china in such a thorough and artistic manner as to almost defy detection. A light touch in manipulating the broken pieces and an artifctic eye, so that the exact shade may be chosen for colouring the cement used, would, of course, be indispensable no less than patience and intelligence. Suoh artistic work, it is suggested, would find its market not only in the service of the rich, but in buying from tbe rag-and-bone men valuable but broken china, and patching it up for sale once more to a less distinguished class than the first possessors. Again, a woman really skilful in such work would be almost sure of employment among dealers in old curios, costly china, &o. The writer of the article quotes the experience of a lady friend of her own who " makes a good income out of it. She mends rare old china for her customers, and also buys it brokea sometimes almost to atoms, whioh »he cleverly patches up into a saleable condition." Now I have quoted this, not as a suggestion for our own employment, but just for the curious and involuntary glitnpsa it gives us of the terribly keen search for something, anything, everything, that the thousands of waiting women in older countries can find to do to " keep the wolf from, the door." How clearly, too, this suggestion for employment reminds us of the extremes of position and circumstance— the wide golf that yawns between the possessors of these priceless articles of vertu and the workers who are thankful only to mend them 1 But our own treasured knick.-knacks,*Bn-deared to us bj association with thos«*we love — they get broken sometimes, and here » a simple cement for repairing them : Take h*lf an ounce of: gelatine, soak ia a' little water for 12 hours ; if any water remains, pour it off,, and add to the swollen; gelatine half au ounce glacial acetic acid (tube procured from' a chemist;) ; the cement will probably need warming a little before using. " 'Tis a far cry to Lochaber," and a long leap in thooght from " doctoring up " broken shina to doctoring the burns and scalds, whioh even in well-managed nurseries sometimes afflict meddlesome little fingers and. resslsas little feet. Still I cannot forbear giving, you, thia simple recipe fora lotion to keep in yoar medicine cupboard. ■ ; Dissolve m boiling watec aamuch Bpaom salts as it will take up ; let it get coal ; bottla.off and keep it in readiness, for use, taking care to label the bottle, " Solution forburna or tc*ld*s." When aa accident of this kind occurs wet some old linen rag with the solution, and place id on the injured surface. Do not remove the cloth when the moistnee is exh*uited, but keep it wet while still on, and continue the treatment for four or five hours. Now, ]U3t for a moment: before we- say . good-bye lot us be frivolous and think of dres»> Why ara so many of you clinging to the out-of-date fashion of wearing your hats flaring- at tbe back of your heads 7 I have' oa one or two occasions reminded you that tbe mere fact of the altered style of hair- ; dressings indicates how the hats should be worn. Ho wevec, listen to this: "Do let me ! urge you ta accept as gracefully as may be the vogue of tilting the hat well forward over th& face. This fashion no longer stands upon the order of its coming ; it has come, and tbe woman who values a smart appearance will make no further straggle against it," with which quotation I shall proceed 6o my music note, and then' say farewell. Among the songs I am sure you would like 11 The flight of ages," wards by Waatberiy, music by Bevan; "Crossing the bar," wordsby Lord Tennyson, music by Piccolommf; " For all eternity," words by Herbert, musia by Msscheramj "The forge and tha bell," words by Weatherly, music by Stephen Adams; "The 1 children's home,"" words by Weatherly, music by Cowen. Then for those among you who affect a lighter style at song, and who admire " The little Alabama coon " (%nd it is pretty); here are the names of come very cunning little songs by the same composer, Hattie Starr: "Go to sleep, my honey," •' Somebody loveg me,'* " Two little Japanese dolls." The two last are especially pretty and quaint. "For all eternity ''and "The children's home" have

| tha first a- violin accompaniment, and th« second an harmonium obblgato, and youknotr] how these backgrounds, if I may call them ttb, add to the effect of a song 1 . Moat of the song* ' are published in three or four different keys to ' suit different voices, and in writing from fchjp oauntry it is always desirable to mention what range is< desired, D» you desire at oomic gong as weir? Then try " I don't wanf to play in your yard," by fl. W. Petrie. And a few waltzes 7 Well, here are three fairly pretty ones, but they are all by the same composer, so I'd only choose one out of the three if I were you, and my own ohoica would fall on one of the first two, both of which are founded on songs: "Ramemblr me no more," "The swallow*," "Scarlet poppies*" by Charles Stephano. Now, my dear readers, I should like to hear from you if this new deDarfcure is likely to prove useful or helpful to you. If it only brings forth half as many kind expression* of approval as our " Chats on Books " I shall fsel more than repaid for the time and trouble involved. In oonclusion, I purfltfc the same plan whioh some of you have founa useful with' the book?, and give you the actdresses where you may be sure of getting any mu»io I mention : The Dresden, Begg and Oo.V, and Braithwaifce'a Aroadt MuaiO department, all in Prinoes street, Dunedin. Emmelinb.