LADIES’ GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 65

LADIES’ GOSSIP.

Ladv readers will be interested to learn that in a ease at oieemvidi. -Mr Svmmons, the magistrate, remarked that he wished working men would try the experiment of doing the housekeeping for a week. They often said. "Whatever my wife does with the money i can't think. He himself tried the experiment for one week, and he was very much astonished. If a man tried it he would realise the difficulty a woman had to make both ends meet. The Prussian Minister of Railways, as a consequence of many complaints, has issued an ordinance requesting the employees, especially their lady employees, to be more polite in their intercourse with the public. With regard to the ladies, their main faults appear to be too great an addiction to knitting, crocheting, and the preparation of tea and coffee when the public is impatiently waiting to be supplied with railway tickers. Some years ago, adds the Chronicle Berlin correspondent. similar complaint was made about the ladies employed in the post offices and at the telephones; but energetic measures were taken by the Government to ston this nuisance, and it has now become a pleasure to transact business with female post office assistants. The teetotal hospitality of Mr Bryan (America’s Secretary of State), over which Americans are now taking sides, would not have suited good Queen Bess. For wherever Elizabeth went there ale had to go also. Strong ale. One recalls the trials of her host, the Earl of Leicester, ns expressed in a letter from Hatfield to Lord Burleigh : —“There is not one drop of good drink for her here. W e were fain to send to London and Kenilworth and divers other places where ale was; her own beer was so strong as there was no man able to drink it.” And one quart of this “excellent wash’’ of good strong rdo for breakfast, we are told, put the Queen in good spirits for the start of the day’s work. •—lt is recorded that enccia! attention is being bestowed upon the fabrication of beautiful garters, which are worn single

and not in pairs. They are made of soft fold network like the meshing of gold ags, and are studded with stones more or less precious. If the skirt is cut up the side to a considerable height, the garter is worn just below the knee —its position, in any case, is one where it will be visible. The jewelled garter is considered in smart circles to make a charming finish, and there are some rather' elaborate specimens in silk and satin gathered upon elastic. A jewelled buckle or other ornament is thrust in the middle of the bow.

Clergymen's Daughters. Many Have Become Famous.— In looking over the long list of women who have made their names known all over the world, it is surprising to see that many of them were brought up in the vicarage, daughters of clergymen and preachers of the Gospel, The* Brontes, for instance, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, who all made a- name for themselves in the literary world, were the daughters of the Rev, Patrick Bronte, of Thornton, in the parish of Bradford, where they were born, while Charlotte Bronte’s friend, Mrs (Tasked, the well-known author of “Cranford,” was the daughter of William Stevenson, who preached at Doblane. Another famous woman writer, who was also a clergyman's daughter, was Jane Austen, who was born in 1775 at the parsonage of Steventon, in Hampshire; whilst coming a little nearer to our own times, wo find -that Mrs Lvn

Linton, the novelist, Harriet Beecher Stowe, the writer of “1-nele joins Cabin." Frances Ridley Havergal, the poet and hymn writer, Olive Schreiner, the well-known African novelist, and the daughter of the Rev. Vaughan Palmer. “John Strange Winter,” were all the children of clergymen. Catherine Booth, the well-beloved wife of the late General Booth, was a clergyman’s daughter, as was also Mrs Ballington Booth, who has done so much in the evangelisation of America. Susannah Weslev. the noble mother of noble so net, John 'and Charles Wesley, and Mary Motfat, the wife of David Livingstone and partner in all the hardships which the great missionary explorer endured, were tlie daughters of clergymen. Perhaps it is unknown to most people that Mrs W oodruw Wilson is a parsons daughter, and u is a striking fact that she is the seventh daughter of a clergyman to reign as first lady in the land at the White House. The famous actress. Airs Langtry, was the daughter of a Dean oi Jersey, while the Misses Violet and Irene Vanbrugh, the clever sisters so well known on the stage, are daughters of the Rev. Reginald H. ” Barnes, Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral. rnutiliseil Opportunities. The following extract from The Gentlewoman, though written of course for Englishwomen, contains a useful reminder to us in New Zealand not to neglect our public duties While we cannot be accused of neglecting to use our vote at the political polls, we are only just beginning to realise that we can, and should, take our places on hospital boards and school boards, where a woman’s experience and a woman’s point of view may be so useful. Considering the insistence with which large numbers of women, both nor.-mili-tant and militant, seek to extend the area of endeavour it is astounding (says The Gentlewoman) to discover the apathy which exists among the great mass of the women of the country in regard to the opportunities which are already open to them to do practical good to the com-

munity. The statistics published in connection with the -voting for a Board of Guardians in a large provincial town show that of the women who were entitled to vote only two-fifths went to the poll, and even this proportion had to be taken after a great deal of persuasion. This is the more regrettable for the reason that women are uniquely fitted for a great number of the administrative duties which belong to local government. So much of the work is really in the character of housekeeping. The purity of the food supply and the cleanliness of our streets and houses are matters which women are daily concerned with in their own families. Women are now qualified to vote for the County Council, Town Council, Urban District Council, Eural District Council, Parish Council, and Board of Guardians, and are also entitled to sit on all these bodies. Let ns take County Councils alone, and see how many matters come specially within the province of women. These include the employment of children, street trading (which may be prohibited for girls under 16), prevention of cruelty to children, the probation of offenders, the supervision of midwives, and the control of education (elementary, technical, and secondary). Apart from the voluntary work which would necessarily have to be performed by women of wealth and leisure, public service offers a fine field for salaried effort. Women can earn good salaries as sanitary inspectors, factory inspectors, inspectors of midwives, school inspectors, infant life protection visitors, health visitors, and numerous other posts.

I There is tlnis a vast- field of unexploited ■ endeavour which Iras only been touched ; as yet- by women, and it is almost a tragedy to think that the intelligence of large bodies of women should be devoted | to the pursuit of something which the ! majority evidently do not- want when so | many opportunities for beneficial work on ■ behalf of the community lie at their very door. li i sits a ml Suggestions. Hold onions under water when peeling ; them and you will not weep. | Inkstains can be removed from carpets j with oxalic acid and blotting paper. Cold water is much better than warm j for scrubbing boards, as it, does not sink 1 into the wood, and dries very quickly, i To Cure a Sprain.—-Bathe the affected i part in hot vinegar and water. A hot ! bread poultice often prevents a- swelling, j For Weak Eyes.—Weak eyes that ache ! when exposed to the glare of the sun, i especially on the sea, should be treated | with cold water compresses. 'these are j folded on the closed lids, and ease the | aching at once. j ' When bailing fowls or fish, add to the | water in which they are boiled the juice I of half a lemon. This will make them beautifully white. If only a few drops of onion juice are required for flavouring, cut a slice from the root end of the onion, and press it against a grater with a rotary movement. When you have a torn buttonhole, stitch a piece of closely-woven tape to the underside. Now sow the edge of the button- ! hole to line and cut through the tape. Buttonhole-stitch the edge in the usual j manner and it will never tear again, i When cleaning the range, add half a I dozen drops of turpentine to the black lead; stir well and use, and a brilliant polish will reward the worker. Tills method also serves to prevent the stove from rusting when not in use. German Mustard.—This is a very old recipe, and it h-ae a great advantage over many home-made condiments—it will keep for a long time. Mix together thoroughly eight teaspoonfuls of dry mustard, four

teaspoonfuls of salt, four teaspoonfuls of castor sugar, two saltsjioonfuls of cayenne, the juice of a raw onion, and enough malt vinegar to make it to the consistency of ordinary mustard when mixed for the table. Put this into small jars, cork them, and seal them down. To sweeten butter Avhich has grown strong, melt the butter and skim it; then put into it a piece of toast, free from any burn. In a lew minutes the butter will lose its offensive taste and smell, which the toast will have absorbed. An easy method of cleaning lamp chimneys is to hold the glass over the spout of'the kettle of boiling water until it becomes well steamed, then polish with a clean, dry cloth, and the glass will be beautifully bright. Sometimes the pastry at the bottom of jam tarts and custards becomes very heavy after cooking. To prevent this brush the beaten white of an egg over the pastry before placing the jam or custard on. This makes it crisp, and none of it is wasted. Descriptions of balls, etc., must bs endorsed by either the Witness correspondent for the district or by the secretary of the ball committee. The MS. of any correspondents who do not comply with this rule ‘ will bo sent to the secretary for endorsement prior to appearing.—ELlZAßETH. To ensure publication in the forthcoming issue letters should reach the Witness office if possible on Saturday night, but on no account later than Monday night. MASONIC BALL. The annual ball in connection with Lcdjje Celtic Xo. 477, S.C., was held in Victoria

Hall on Friday, July 25. The grand march was led off by R.W.M., Bro. AV. J. Thompson ami Mrs Thompson, being preceded by four pipers. The D.G.M., Worshipful Bro. D. Cooke, was also present. Over 100 couples were iu attendance, and dancing was kept up until 2.80 a.m. The duties of AI.CVs wore left in the hands of Bros. Robb, Ovens, Handle, and Johnson. The catering, which was all that could be desired, was left in tlie capable- hands of Air Kroon, whilst the decorations, which were rather unique were carried out by Messrs M‘Gratli. The music was supplied by Yates’ Band. Special cars had been arranged for. Following are the names of many of the ladies present and drosses worn:—Mrs J. Abbott, saxe blue satin trimmed with chiffon and sequin; Miss V Andrews, heliotrope satin, chiffon’ overdress; Airs Alioo, black silk; Mrs -\ F Brown grey paik-tt© silk, silver cm broidery; Ails Allan Boyd, black dnehesso silk, sequin and jet trimming; Airs Bunting, grey silk frock and overskirt of same, ed/'ed v -ith narrow grey silk braid, and bodice° trimmed with band-embroidered bead design; Alisa Crombie, pale pink silk, overdress pale blue muon; M-ss T. Cromar, white silk, trimmed ribbon and pearls; Airs De Clifford, pale pink silk, overdress ninon; Miss F. Cullen, pale pink; Aliss Vance Duncan, princess embroidered robe; Alias J. Duncan, voile cream pearl bangle trimmings; Miss J. Frame’ voile trimmed with silver bugles •’ Aliss French, pale blue ninon relieved wHh pink and blue brilliants, gold and silver In-a’d trimming; Aliss F. G. French, pale pink satin, overdress marquisette, similar shade pink roses, ami -silver trimming; Aliss AL Gold, cream satin, silk braid trimming; Aliss May II clean, pink silk; Miss II eon an, pale blue silk, dewdrop net; Airs J. C. Henderson, black silk trimmed cream lace, silver facings; Aliss Hooper, heliotrope muslin, panel of gold net, tunic edged heliotrope satin, bodice deep yoke of gold net; Airs F. Johnson, pale pink merveilleux silk, ret overdress worked with, silk and seed pearls; Mias Kelly, pink satin, guipure lace; Alisa AL Kelly, spangled chiffon over cream silk; Aliss N. Kelly, white satin, white ninon tunic, pink rosebuds; Miss Af-'bel Lyons pale blue violet, overdress Indian lace - Miss A. Murray, striped voile, silver bugle trimmings; Mrs A, AlTvor, cream corded Indian silk trimmed with cream silk insertion- Afrs D. Al'Lennan, black, ninon overdress; AIGs ATKcnzie, pale blue satin, panel front of silk embroidery, tunic -trimmed with silver passementerie, and bodice with cross-over panels of _ silk embroidery with yoke of chiffon; Alias I’. ALKinlay, pale pink, cln.-r----meuse satin; Alisa Kelson, pule gtten satin’;

Miss Ida Xettlefold, cream crystalline, lace bodice, silver trimmings; Mrs Wm. Ovens, white chiffon taffetta silk; Mrs C. Ovens, cream silk voile relieved with pale bine; Miss Alice Ovens, silk voile; Mrs Poattie, silk evening dress; Miss A. Terry, pale bine crystalline silk ; Miss Beattie, grey silk, pearl trimmings; Miss Peeve, white duchesse. satin with overskirt of white ninon trimmed with white and silver bead fringe; Miss M. Kenwick, white, silk; Miss Riley, white satin relieved with heliotrope and silk lace; Mrs P. R. Robb, salmon satin trimmed with beaded ninon, black medallions, and lace; Mrs C. J. H. Robertson, sear., black brocho satin relieved with silver; Mrs C. R. H. Robertson, ivory satin; Miss J. Rosa, cream; Miss Shaw, cream floral ninon, overskirt of same edged with deep bands of cream satin and bordered with silver and bead Lingo; Miss A. Simpkinson, orange satin; Miss Violet Simpkinson, orange satin, overdress of chiffon; Mrs W. P. Sutton, cream silk, radiants; Miss J. Stark, old gold satin trimmed with black ninon and overlace; Mrs Taylor, charmeuse of pink with Oriental trimming; Miss Tcbay, pale pink ninon over silk trimmed with fine lace and seed pearls, and handsomely embroidered in silk; Miss Thompson, cream lace over cream satin; Mrs W. J. Thompson, cream silk marquisette over cream silk, with pearl trimmings; Miss 8. Thompson, cream silk taffetta- trimmed with cream lace; Miss Turner, pale blue merveilleux; Miss D. Walton, cream; Mrs R. L. Wilson, heliotrope silk, silver spangled overdress; Miss E. Wright, cream, crystalline with overbodice of silk, lace trimming. DANCE AT GIMMERBURN. Thursday evening, the 17th, will be long remembered by the residents of Ginnnerburn and surrounding districts. One of the most enjoyable dances ever held in, the district was given on that night by the ladies of the Gimmerburn hockey team. The night, although cold, was clear and bright. Largo numbers of young and old assembled from Ranfurly and surrounding districts. Between •JO and 50 couples took part in the dancing, and all seemed to have a good time. ■ Mr Helm acted in the usual manner as M.C., and the music was supplied by Moor brothers. At an interval an excellent supper v. as handed round by the ladies of the hockey team. During the evening several songs were rendered, and greatly appreciated by all present. Dancing was kept up till early morning. Great credit is due to the young ladies of the hockey team for the manner in which things were carried out Amongst those present were:—Mias Eenshaw, who wore a biscuit-coloured gown relieved with green; Miss Morgan, tussore silk with fringe; Miss Roberts, white muslin trimmed with pink; Miss M. Shae, white muslin; Miss Mawhinney, blue dress; Miss X Shae, cream crystalline; Miss M. Kearney, pink satin with overall beaded chiffon; Miss L. Millar, white crystalline with beaded trimming ; Miss C. Reid, pink crystalline; Miss Frances, cream relieved with black; Miss K. Kearney, pink cropoline relieved with black; Miss E. Riddland, cream dress; Miss D. Kearney, biscuitcoloured shantung; Miss J. Shaw, pink silk; M iss Bleach, blue silk; Miss E. Paterson, white muslin; Miss Howell, navy blue; Miss G. Horo, silk striped muslin; Miss Elsio Voir, pink silk trimmed with silk insertion; Miss M. Armour, white crystalline trimmed with Maltese lace; Miss Hazard, cream relieved with red; Miss Effic Weir, heliotrope crystalline: Miss M. Scott, blue crepe da chine; Miss Helm, blue striped lustre; Miss Lindsay, blue silk; Miss A. Cleugh, pink embroicled muslin with headed trimming; Miss A.Dougherty, tussore silk; Miss A. Scott, white muslin; Miss K. Mulholland, cream dress with beaded trimming; Miss 3. Dougherty, navy blue; Miss D. Cleugh, pink embroidered muslin with beaded trimming; Miss K. Dougherty, cream; Miss R. M'Erlane, tussore silk: Miss D. Kerr, blue nun’s veiling ; Mrs Devon, white silk; Miss C. M’Erlane, grey dress,. WEDDING AT ST. JOSEPH’S CATHEDRAE. A quiet and very pleasing wedding was solemnised in St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Monday morning, when the marriage took place of Miss Grace Sutton (third daughter of Mr and Mrs John Sutton) to Mr Fred Herbert Stokes, both of Dunedin. The bride, who was given away by her father, was handsomely dressed in’ a neat blue costume, trimmed with cream lace, and carrying a, shower bouquet. The bridesmaid was a sister of the bride (Miss Molly Sutton). Mr H. Spencer-Salt fulfilled the duties of best man, and Mr Barrington Waters officiated at tho organ. Tho Rev. Father Buckley conducted the ceremony.