Hindu Women.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 44

Hindu Women.

A Hindu woman's life, and Indeed that of her husband, ia bound up in the hopes of having a son. According to the Brahmin religion, a man can with certainty escape hell if he has a son living at the time of his death. Where a woman doea not give birth to a son in 11 years her hutband must cast her asidß and choose another wife by whom he may possibly have a son. A girl has a miaorable time of it all her life. Ouly at night is a mother allowed to Mas or caress her child. The boya are allowed to roam at will ; but the girls must remain indoors and can only get out at long intervals for short periods. At six years of age the child is married— that is, the first wedding ceremony takes place. It ia 'more of a formal betrothal, but with nil the binding of a genuine weddiag. The child must now remain indoors and her face must be hidden fivm all men. If (the U the daughter of a cast-oil wife;— that in, one who for 11 years has borne no son— she has to Buffer many persecutions, which eventually lead her to almost any evil or sin. At 12 years of age the husband, too often a very old maD, comes to take the child to his home. Often the child does not wish to go, and ahrieka while she vainly attempts to escape from the messengers sent to bring her to the waiting tinnfanO. When the husbnad

dies, the wife Is shut tip in a room, sometimes for years, where she sees no one. Her imprisonment depends on the oaprics of the mother-in-law. As a widow, however, she is in disgrace, and the sooner she dies the better for her. It is bad lack to look into her face first on arising in the morning. What to Do and How to Do It. Keep a bowl of oatmeal on the washstand, and after washing the hands, dry them in the meal. The skin will be kept white and smooth, and less liable to chap* by this process. If an iron holder is attached with a long string to the band of the apron while you are cooking, it will save many burnt fingers and scorched dish towels. Yellow stains left on white oloth by sewing machine oil can be removed by rubbing the spots with a oloth wet with ammonia before washing with soap. Kerosene oil is the best of furniture polishes. It cleanses, makes a floe polish, and preserves from the ravages of insects. HalE a teaepoonful of sngar will nearly always revive a dying fire, and it is always a safe thing to use for this purpose. Fat will not burn if it has something to do, so if it -has to be left idle for a few minutes put a crust of bread or a slice of raw potato into the pot or pan. An excellent cologne may be made with £bz oil of beigamot, £ z oil of lemon, oil of orange,' £.z oil of English lavender, of neroli, and one quart of alcohol. Shake the bottle several times a day for four or five days. Do not mend a kid glove with sewing Bilk, for the silk cuts the kid and shows the mend more plainly, while fine cotton thread gives a much more satisfactory result. If a glove is torn, put a piece of silk of corresponding nhade under the torn part, baste carefully so as not to reveal the stitches on the right side, and then draw up the rent with cotton thread. Soap tree bark makes an excellent cleaning fluid for removing spots from men's clothing or any kind of black goods. Pat lOd worth of powdered bark in one quart of soft water and let it steep an hour or more. Strain through a fine oloth into a quart jar and add two tablespoonfuls of alcohol to it. Use a soft brush on a piece of black cloth to rub the soiled places. Soap used on the hair is apt to make it brittle. If any is to be used, tar soap ie the best, and after using rinse the hair in several waters in which a little powdered borax has been dissolved. A few drops of tincture of beDzoln in a bowl of water is an admirable tonic for the face. The benzoin whitens the skin and prevents it from wrinkling. Do not put a coat or dress away with dust in the folds or pleats. Shake the garment well, and brush with a soft wbhk broom, for dust is never so easily removed as at first. A teaspoonful of the best whieky added to a cup of beef tea for an invalid is an excellent way to give a stimulant. This ib especially good for any one recovering from inflaet;za. For oleaning tinware there is nothing better than dry flour applied with a newspaper. First wash the tin in hot soapsuds, wipe thoroughly dry, and then scour with flour and well- crumpled newspaper. 07 Descriptions 0/ ball«, So., must be endoned bj either the Witness correspondent, for the dlstrlot or by the secretary to tho ball committee. Tho JfS. of any correspondents who do not ooinply with this rule will be sent to the secretary for eudorsomeat prior to appearing. — KMMKMNK. To ensure publication in the forthcoming issue, letters should reach the Witness office if possible <v Saturday nighl, but on no account later that Monday night. WAITAHUNA LKAP YEAR BALL. Dkau Emmelink,— The leap year ball held on F<i<lay evening last, sth intt., pissed off most f>uccessfully. The hall looked bright and co-y, the erstwhile bare walla being almost c^nceakd with greenery and clusters of chrysanthemums, whilst Urge native shrubs or an occasional portiere decorated the doorways. •Fla.^s, however, were the principal decoratioD," with a blight banner here and there 'arranged in pendant style, tho effect being heightened by a number of Ohine.-e lanterns. Miss Trayes noted as MO., and porfoinied her duties charmingly. She wore a black dress ric ly trimmed with black lace, beeves of green f-i'k : Mies Murray (the piesident, and also the belle) wore a soft creamy costume daintily trimmed with lace and contrasting Tuscan ribbon ; Miss Sutherland (secretary) also wore cre^m, tha bodice and sleeves draped with cream lace relieved with pink ribbon, trained skirt; Miss Wall, a lovely cornflower blue drill trimmed with swansdown and chiffon, gold ornaments ; Mms Ferris, pretty cream costume, cream lace, and blue bows ; Miss K. Wall, white silk, heliotrope ribbons ; Miss Neil, cream with silver girdle and bangle, black and gold fan ; Miss Sutherland, cream crepon ; MissTinaSu htrland, black, green silk sleeves veiled in black lace ; Miss Oudaille, pink silk relieved with white lace and ribbon, pearl necklet; Miss Bsvrtletr, silk costume, black lace ; Miss Ryan, brown skirt, cream bodice ; Miss M'Murtrie (Milton), grey, with coffee-coloured lace ; Miss Auld pule green, white insertion ; Miss M'Kenzie, dark skirt, pink cambric blouse; Miss Williamson, dark skirt, blue blouse trimmed with white lace ; Miss Hammond, pink crepon, velvet sleeves ; Miss Chant, blue velvet; Miss Davidson, cream and pale blue ; Mis 3 Sanders, black ; Miss Carr, green veiled in white; Miss Fair, pale green fisherman's net ; Miss Curtin, black, pink silk sleeves ; Miss Andewon, black with red silk rleeve*; Misses Craig, grey skiits, cambric blouses ; Miss L Wall, white ; Miss N. Auld, white ; Miss M'Kenzie, tweed ; Mitß Brown, (Palmerston), black, red sleeves and yoke ; Misa RjMn (West,), black trimmed with pink silk and white lace ; Mrs Murray, brown cashmere ; Mrs Eilice, terra cotta ; Mva Watson, brown with brown satin ; Mrs Nolan, cream costume ; Mrs W. Ryan, olive green velvet, cream lace ; lira Crai?, black ; Mr* Oudaille, black ; Mra West, dark costume. Many other prrtty dresses were worn, but limited space prohibits their mention. Miss Thompson and Mr M'Kenzie supplied the music (violin and piano), assisted at inteivals by Miss Ou'laille and Mr Murray. Songs were also rendered at intervals. I had almost forgotten to mention the supper table, which was nicely equipped, and the catering was creditable to the MeEsn Auld Bros.— Veronica.,

bachelors' ball at kaiwera. Dear Emmeline,— The bachelors of Kaiwera held their annual ball at tha school o,n Friday, 29th ult. The affair- proved a great success, the only fault being the size of the building, which was altogether too small for the number who attended. The school was prettily decorated for *be occasion by Mr C. Bennett, ana there was no

lack of music, including Mr Duncan Cameron with the bagpipes >»nd Mr F. M. Dawson with the violin. Mies Craig, from Mataura, also assisted occasionally on the violin. This l»dy it an excellent player, and is the fir«t lady performer to play dauca music before a Kaiwera audience. Mr G. Johnstone assisted on the violin. Songs were con'tributedJby Messrs Clark, Hope, and Wilson, and a couple of recitation! wore given by Mr Peter Eadie, which were much appreciated. The following is a description of some of the dresses worn :— Miss Mac Nee, white satin bodice and toll* skirt, crimson flowers ; Miss Gract Smith, stylish crimson velvet costume with cream lace sleeves ; Miss Josephine Smith, black velvet dress, paleblue trimmings; Miss Craig, pale pink figured BRt«en, lace trimmings; Miss Sarah Craig, pick figured Bateen, black trimmings; Mi*s Manson looked exceedingly well in black' rhher'a net relieved vrith butter coloured ribbons; Miss Agnes Manson, pretty grey dress, bbek lace and jet trimmings ; Miss Elliott, black silk skirfr, pretty pale blue nun's veiling blouse trimmed with satin ; Miss M. J. Elliott, black velvet skirt, cream blouse trimmed with satin, and crimson flowers ; Miss Quertier, electric blue skirt, black velvet sleeves, cream figured satin vest ; Mibs M'Kay, dark green dress, pretty white lace collarette } Mi»3 CJark, navy blue dress: Mws O*in?rcn, black dress, lace collarette ; Mist Lindley, white dress, pale blue ribbons ; Miss Eadie, navy blue diagonal serge, white lace ; Mrs Reid, becoming gown of shaded brown zephyr cloth, velvet trim* rmnga ; Mrs Clements, handsome black crrprm ti immed with jet, whits laca collarette ; Mrs Bnvmar, navy blue skirt, pale blue blouse ; Mra Valentine, brown cashmeve, velvet trimmings ; Mrs Lindley, black skirt, navy blue figuredsateen blouse.— Tbilby.