THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 65

THE WEEK.

This column is supposed to give some account of anything of interest to womenfolk that has been happening in town through the week. The event of surpassing interest at present is still the strike; but I absolutely decline to write anything more about the strike. It is getting on

one’s nerves to suet an extent that the only thing to do is to trust the powers that be, and leave the whole thing out of one’s conversational repertoire unless absolutely necessary, which is not a very easy matter, as the talk always reel’s round to it, no matter in what direction it may have started off, just as the weathercock veers round to the prevailing wind. Still, I intend to try to keep it out of this column, or what remains of it, for this week, at any rate. The next prevailing topic of conversation has been the weather; but, here again, I know of several people who have placed that- subject under strict taboo in their homes. The chorus of growls inside did not tend to elevate spirits already depressed by the drip of the rain and the shriek of the wind outside, which have been the pnncipal features of our summer so far, and one comes to the conclusion that the only way to treat the idiosyncrasies of the climate was to regard them with silent contempt. Whether it was a result of this, I don’t know; but there was a marked improvement at the end of last week. Just a trifle too much ■wind still, perhaps; but there has been sun-, lots of lovely, real hot- sun for two or three days, and Princes street suddenly burst into the gaiety of cotton frocks; while as for the Caledonian Ground on Sunday, when the Royal Artillery Band was playing—well, you know how everybody likes to get into their light dresses if there is the slightest opportunity, and here was the first really hot fine Sunday there has been this summer, and there was the special attraction to draw the crowd together; so you can imagine what the scene was like. If there had been a sudden real, good thunder-shower, the result would have been heartbreaking. But- there wasn t; so it is no use supposing anything so dreadful, and we will try to believe that the weather is not going to pay us any more horrid tricks for a long time now, so that we can put it out of our minds altogether, along with the other topic referred to above, and look ahead to pleasant things. It is about time we looked ahead a little. Do you know that Christmas will be here in a month! Do I hear someone say, “Horrors!”? Somehow it generally does seem to come all too swiftly, and finds us more or less unprepared. There is always so much that we meant to get done “before Christmas”; for, with the children’s holidays coming on, there won t be much chance afterwards. And there will be Christmas supplies to see to, and Christmas presents to plan and prepare. Some people make a terrible burden of the latter, which, I think, is such a pity. Giving and receiving ought both to be. a pleasure; but how can they be if we go about groaning at the number of Christ mas presents that we have to send off? If yon cannot afford much of either time dr money, then cut down list relentlessly-; and- yon can then give your whole energies to the few, and enjoy the process. The best way is to make a list beforehand of the people that yon really and truly want to give presents to, and opposite their names jot down any idea as it occurs to you. You can take note of the fact that Aunt Mary lost her purse the other day and would be very glad of a new one; or that Gladys badly wants a handbag to go witlv-her new costume; or that:Harold has lately taken to collecting literature on the subject of aviation. It will help you to remember, too, that the last time' you showed Uncle John round the garden'he very much admired a certain plant which vou possessed and he did not, and you could, perhaps, manage to give him a bit of it instead of some new book, which may be very interesting in itself, but doesn’t happen to appeal to him. It is the thought that is put into a gift which makes it appreciated, rather than its intrinsic worth. If you are clever at making little gifts they will have a value of theiv own, and, besides, in this way you can make the sum you have been able to set aside for presents go much further, which is something of a consideration this year, when nobody will have much to spend owing to—that troublesome occurrence which I - have vowed I will not mention. Those lovely floral ribbons, of which the shops are so full just now, would make the prettiest bags for wearing with light dresses, or in the evening. I have seen them made into double-hags, with a cord drawing them up at the neck, and they should be lined with silk to make them stronger. Then, anyone with clever fingers might make odds and ends of muslin? lace, and ribbon into some of those little collars and ties, of which every girl likes to possess several, but which make such a hole in her dress allowance if she is always buying them. Only, yon must carefully bear in mind here the personal tastes of the recipients. Even the children can make things with a little help and direction—shaving balls, rnatch-scratchers, and calendars of white or coloured card with a pretty little picture of some kind cut out and pasted on them, as well as the calendar of the months. Very pretty little calendars, made expressly for sticking on the home-made article, can be had at some of the stationers. Perhaps you have a hoy who is keen on photography. Then give him an order for some pretty views in your neighbourhood, or of your house, mount them or green or brown art paper, and Easte on each of the little calendars I ave mentioned, and you have a number of pretty and useful presents, which have as well a little personal touch that makes them doubly interesting. If a girl ie a good hand 'at making sweets, she could adopt a novel way of conveying her Christmas greetings by sending round little boxes of them. She might be able to collect some pretty sweet-boxes beforehand, or nlain cardboard boxes would look quite nice when tied up with baby-ribbon. Of course, there are always books to fail back on. Nearly everybody likes some kind of book, anil the bookshops offer an. almost bewildering choice. If you can get hold of Arnold Bennett’s books on “Howto Dive on Twenty-four Hours a Hay,” “The Human Machine,” and “Mental Effoiency,” you will find, they make excellent gifts for

men, always difficult people to suit. Then have you ever thought how much appreciated a letter may be at this season? Perhaps there is someone with whom you once were friends, and then, when distance separated you, your correspondence somehow dropped off, and neither of you likes to begin again. Christmas makes an excuse for writing, and the letter may mean the renewal of a pleasant friendship. Or you may be able to think of one or two people with somewhat lonely lives —people to whom you could hardly send a present, but to whom a pleasant, cheery letter, with its message of good-will, would come as a gift from the gods. It is not too late yet to try this plan for friends at Home as well as hero, provided the mails are not any further disorganised by—you know what. Flowers, too, if one is lucky enough to possess a garden, can be most welcome bearers of Christmas greetings to those who cannot grow 7 them for themselves. There ought to be plenty of them to spare this year. All the roses are bursting into bloom already, and all the shrubs are blossoming in a wonderful way—masses of rhododendrons everywhere, and the cabbage trees are quite weighed down by their heavy-scented blossoms. People say that their blooming in this way presages a hot summer. I should think it was more likely to mean that there had been a mild winter. However, we shall see. Dear me, I had forgotten that I wasn’t going to talk about the weather; but don’t you think I have managed very well to avoid mentioning—oh, well, never mind! ’ ELIZABETH.