LADIES’ GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 65

LADIES’ GOSSIP.

Great admiration was excited in Berlin at the diamonds which Queen Mary wore at the German Imperial wedding. The Cullinan diamonds, known as the “Lesser stars of Africa,” although they cannot boast of a history dating centuries back, can give points both for size and beauty to most Royal gems, no matter how long their pedigree or how numerous the crowns which they have adorned. The Archduchess Isabella, who was married in February last year to Prince George of Bavaria, from whom she ran away during the honeymoon, has since the annulment of the marriage become a hospital nurse. She is now undergoing training at the Rudolffiner House, one of the large Vienna hospitals for the poor, and will afterwards join the Keci Cross organisation, says the Mail correspondent. Among the host of New York s spring brides, the palm for originality is unanimously accorded to Miss Katherine Pi 1 1" ritt, who the other day became Mrs Harold H. Deeming. The couple were married in the studio of the bride s parents, and the keynote of the. ceremonj was unconventionality. The bridegroom wore a ' smoking-jacket of white vicuna finished with white satin, and his trousers were adorned with broad stripes of white silk at the sides. The bride wore a longtrained, sleeveless mediaeval gown of white satin charnieuse, elaborately trimmed with ropes of pearls, and a cap similarly ornamented. She had no orange blossoms or bouquets. Her robe concealed her figure when she stood, but revealed it at every movement, and was declared by the 600 fashionable guests to be superbly beautiful. The studio was illuminated with thousands of candles instead of electric lights, and the walls were draped with Oriental hangings. The conventional orchestra, playing the familiar wedding march, was superseded by eight girls in Greek costume, who sang a Swedish -wedding march and selections from Greig and others. There were no bridesmaids. Thirty-three girls in a straight line of descent without the birth of a ooy was marked recently when a daughter was born to Mr and Mrs Silas W. Jackson, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This baby is the 11th daughter of the 11th daughter of an 11th daughter. The record of the mother, grandmother, and great-grand-mother, none of whom ever gave birth to a boy, is perhaps the only one of its kind in the world, or, at least, that portion where vital statistics are kept. The “Woman’s Court’’ inaugurated in Chicago has proved a great success. Convinced that there were many cases in which a woman would prove a better arbitrator with her own sex than a mere man. Judge Pinckney appointed Miss Marv Barteline to take over all essentially, feminine cases. She has proved most successful in dealing with wayward girls or those who “never had a chance.” No men are admitted to “Judge” Barteline’s court when cases of this class, are being dealt with, the probation officers, court bailiffs, clerks, and official stenographers and reporters being all women. They are looking for the perfect baby in America. You might have thought that there was no need for that. 'lhe difficulty of some us is that there are so many perfect babies. Speaking generally, all the babies of our acquaintance have that distressing quality. As for classifying them or setting one above the other, such an enterprise seems to invite the most awful consequences. Who is there so bold that she would dare to face the mother whose sweet child .received anything less than full marks ? To be sure we have in this country baby shows whereat skilled persons, daring, award prizes for efficiency to this guileless babe or that. But if a vague memory serves, these festivities do not follow the precedent of cattle shows and give a prize to the “best animal exhibited.” There is no champion baby. In fact, the very baby show recognises the impossibility of a complete order of merit. The moment you venture beyond the most general estimate you go to disaster.

Woman Sd«h lumse-lteeper

Mrs Joynson, the only woman light-house-keeper in England, has just retired. She has spent 20 years of her life .n the lighthouse at Hale, on the banks of the Mersey, having been for the last four years, ever since the death of her husband, its otficial keeper.

Mrs Joynson has spent many anxious times during the four years in which so many lives depended upon her vigilance and care. Let alone the duty of keeping the guiding lights burning during the whole of the night, on manv occasions she has had to ring the fog-bell for nearly seven hours at a stretch. • Once she experienced a fortnight’s fog without a break, and during this time she kept watch with unrelaxing vigilance.

The authorities have done their utmost to persuade the brave lighthouse-keeper to retain her position, hut she is going to give it up for the sake of her children. She leaves her post with honour, and is known all over England as the heroine of the Mersey.

Women House. Inspectors,

It is only lately that Germany has awakened to the realisations of the importance of house inspection. In 1907 the first women were appointed in Germany—in Baden —at the suggestion of the Verein of Educated Women and Women Students, their duties being to examine and report upon the condition of small houses. Gradually other cities are following this example, appointments having been made in Mannhem, Carlsruhe, and Heidelberg. In Regensberg, a woman holds an official ar.pointment as inspector of houses. Bielfield has for a long time been under the inspection of a woman, whoso duty it is to report upon cases of drunkenness. The most important task of the woman inspector is to explain to ignorant people that light and air are absolutely necessary for the maintenance of health, and that hist as much atten-

tion must be paid to them as to the provision of food and drink. One of the most interesting duties is that of explaining the laws of natural hygiene, and the surprise of many of those untutored women is frequently expressed when they realise that by keeping their houses clean, in cases of illness infection is prevented, and so money that would have had to be spent on drugs is saved for housekeeping purposes.

The Bridal Veil.

The bridal veil ie evidently of Eastern origin, being a relic of the bridal canopy held over the heads of the bride and bridegroom. Among the Anglo-Saxons a similar custom existed ; but if the bride was a widow it was dispensed with, says the Family Doctor. According to Sarum usage, a fine linen cloth was laid upon the heads of the bride and bridegroom, and was not removed until the Benediction had been said. The old British custom was to use Nature’s veil unadorned —that is, the long hair of the bride, which was so worn by all brides. Royal, noble, and simple. Only then did everyone behold the tresses of maidenhood in their entirety and for the last time, as after marriage they were neatly dressed on the head. Among some the tresses were cut and carefully stowed away on a woman becoming a wife. It was customary in Russia for village brides to shear their locks on returning from church.

Political Salons.

A writer in the Woman at Home discusses the question of the "likelihood of the political salon becoming once more fashionable, and seems to think the present time a very opportune one. If to-day (she says) the political salon were revived in London the difficulty would not be in finding a lady possessed of the many gifts necessary for such a Eosition, but the selection-.-from out the irge number of claimants, of the one who, by popular accord, would be adjudged the most thoroughly qualified aspirant for the honour. In the Conservative ranks a host of names arise, but none more suitable than Lady Londonderry, who possesses -in a marked degree much personal charm, is mistress of Londonderry House, and honoured by the intimate friendship of the King and Queen. The Marchioness of Lansdowne has also entertained a great deal for her party, and Lansdowne House has already been the scene-’of many large political gatherings; the Duchess of Devonshire, the bearer of an historic name, rvho has the -example of a great ancestress to follow ; and the Duchess of Westminster, by reason of her treasurefilled home, Grosvenor House. These are only a few out of the long list which contains also many prominent names of ladies who have rendered political services to their party, and who are the wives of younger members. Nor do we lack a number of beautiful women to compare with the immortal beauties Romney, Lely, and Gainsborough have immortalised. Lady Castlereagh, Lady Howard de Walden. Lady Percy, and the youthful Lady Stafford can compare with any of them. On the Liberal side it is pleasant to think that to-day, despite the pessimists who talk of the intellectual greatness of our country as if it were a thing of the past, there are many ladies equally gifted with any in the past, and as anxious to advance the interests of their party.

The wife of the present Prime Minister, Mrs Asquith, by reason not alone of her position, but of her high intellectual qualities, could again draw together round her a circle as brilliant as those in Georgian times. Lady Allendale, Lady Craven, and Mrs Lulu Harcourt have already come forward as notable hostesses. Lady Crewe, possessed wealth, and chatelaine of Crewe House, whose family on both sides for generations have lived in the atmosphere of politics and literature, might again without effort become as famous as any of the ladies of the past. Good looks are also plentiful on the Liberal side, and out of a great number Lady Chesterfield, Lady Beauchamp, and Mrs Winston Churchill would make a trio fit to grace any assembly. Hints and Sutriresfions. Cheese, when become dry, may be freshened by being placed in hot water for a few minutes. Tie a piece of lemon on a corn every night for five nights, and it will generally cause it to drop out. When boiling potatoes add -just a little sugar as well ns salt. They are far more floury than if only salt is added. Very sour fruit will Like less sugar to sweeten if a little bi carbonate of soda is also added. If meat should become at all tainted or sour in the night, washing it in a weak solution of Condy’s fluid will restore it to freshness. To make cabbage digestible, when half boiled pour off the water and place in fresh boiling water When black silk begins to get shabby and dull-looking, try sponging it over with the water in which potatoes have been boiled. It freshens the silk up wonderfully. Here is a good recipe for neuralgia.— Light a piece of newspaper, blow out the flames,'and inhale the smoke through the nostrils. In five minutes the pain will have entirely disappeared. If you get your hands stained, try rubbing them Avith olive oil and castor sugar. If rubbed well in the stains will come out when the hands are washed. Users of oil lamps often complain of their lamps smoking, and want a remedy. Dip the wick in vinegar for a few hours, and allow it to dry. It will never smoke again. When making pastrv which is to be eaten cold, use milk in the mixing and it will keep short and crisp much longer than if it were mixed in the usual way with water. To remove match-marks from painted walls, rub first with a slice of lemon and

then with a clean cloth dipped in whiting. Then wash off the surface with warm water and soap, and wipe with a clean cloth wrung dry. An easy way to get rid of fruit stains on linen is to smear them over with some pure glycerine. Leave the linen for an hour, and then wash in warm, soapy water. Repeat a second time if necessary. Try using a little vinegar instead of water to moisten stove polish. You will find that you will get a brilliant polish with half the usual amount of trouble.

In making chair-covers ahvays tack the pieces together, and then fit it on inside out. It is so easy to make alterations when the seams are on the outside, and in this way much time and trouble are saved.

In ironing garments on which there are hooks and eyes, care should be taken not to press the nooks together so that they have to be prized open in order to use'again. The best way to prevent this is to place a folded towel underneath the part on which the hooks are sewn. When ironed on the folds of the towel the hooks will come out as good as new. Lemons may be kept a long time without becoming dry if nut into a jar of water with a lid. The water should be changed once a week if the lemons are to be kept long. When used, they will be quite as firm as when fresh, and, if anything, more juicy. An excellent way of cleaning brass fiower-pots or trays is to rub them well with a piece of lemon ; then pour boiling water over them, and finally polish with a soft, dry clotip You will find that the. lemon will remove all the stains from the crevices in the brass.

When a splinter has been driven deep into the hand it can. be extracted without pain by steam. Nearly fill a widemouthed bottle with hot water, place the injured part over the mouth of the bottle, and press it lightly. The suction will draw the flesh down, and in a fevy minutes the steam will draw out the splinter. To free the hands from disagreeable odors such as that of onions, cod liver oil, etc., mix a little ground dry mustard with warm water, and wash the hands well with it. The saucers of scales or vessels used in cooking can be freed from odors bv the same method.

There' is nothing more soothing for either a burn or a scald than the white of an egg. It is contact with the air which makes a burn so painful, and the egg acts as a varnish and excludes the air completely, also preventing inflammation.

To Tan White white shoes begin to look grey and shabby, they can be made a good brown by applying saffron. Mix 10 drops of saffron with three teaspoonfuls of olive oil. -Ulean the shoes well before applying the mixture, as all dark spots' will show. Apply with a piece of flannel. After two coats the shoes will look like new.

In Russia they infuse tea in a porcelain cr earthen teapot, and drink it from glass tumblers so an nettled that there is no danger of the hot liquid breaking them. Their tea is always made of water at the first boiling—an important matter. The tea brewed in the teapot is made ouite strong, but the tea-glasses are but onethird filled with this tea, and then filled up with boiling water. This gives a delicate, fine-flavoured "lass of tea. Linoleum treated in the following manner lasts dean and bright for weeks, without anything more than a daily rub over with a dry duster: Get three pennyworth of oak varnish and a pennyworth of turpentine, mix together, and naint thinly over the surface with a varnish brush. This gives a beautiful polish, without being slippery, and if linoleum is treated in this way when new it will never get shabby. If you want your table linen to look nice and glossy/but not to be too stiff, don't starch it at all. Let the things dry thoroughly, then dip them in hot water, and run through the wringer. Fold smoothly, and roll in dry cloth for a few hours. Then iron with really hot irons, and the linen will take on a beautiful gloss. Remember that too much furniture polish is just as bad for the furniture astoo little. Very little indeed is required, only just enough to thinly cover the surface of the furniture. The real secret of