LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 51

LADIES' GOSSIP.

—News of the death of Lady Reay has been received with general sorrow in the Border Counties, where she was well known and much liked. She was tho widow of Alexander Mitchell, M.P. for Stow, and inherited large estates from him, owning Carolside, in Berwickshire, and Laidlawstiel, in Selkirkshire. She married Lord Reay in 1877, and they had constantly resided in Scotland, except during the period ho was Governor of Bombay. Carolside is on the Leader, and is a delightful river place. Lady Reay had taken a prominent part in the social life of Roxburghshire since her husband's appointment to tho Lord Lieutenancy of the county, in which she owned the estates of Hawkesnest and Colmslie. —Colonel R. G. Burton, in the United Service Magazine, points out that the East appears to have been more productive of women warriors, who have fought and led troops on tJie field of battle in comparatively recent times, than the West. Thus the presence of women in the Russian ranks has been reported, and "there was more than orie skilled female sniper among the Turks in Gallipoli." Colonel Burton shows, moreover, that the history of India furnishes many remarkable instances of the exploits of female warriors in whom the Mahratta race was especially prolific, for the ladies of those warlike people have ever been celebrated for both robustness of intellect and physical courage. They were generally of noble birth, and consequently provided leaders rather than troopers. Many instances of their powers are recorded, and attention is also drawn to the fact tliat 1857 produced several famous female warriors, including the celebrated Rani of Jhansi, whom Sir Hugh Rose considered to be the bravest and most skilful of the rebel leaders who opposed him in Central India in 1858. —The Duchess of Marlborough is always to the fore in many sorts of useful activities. In old days she worked hard against the sweating system, and also did much for prisoners' wives in their sadness and poverty. Like most Americans, she reads and thinks, and has travelled widely. She is interested in art, and her collection of miniatures includes one of Mary Queen of Scots and an exquisite picture of Marie de Medici. At one time she went in for Blenheim spaniels, the traditional dog of the Churchills, but she seems now to prefer the still rarer Pekingese variety. —Lady Heleir'"Stewart-Murray was recently married to her neighbour, Mr David Alexander Tod, the wedding being a very quiet one. For many years Lady Helen has been the right hand of her father, the Duke of Atholl, and she enjoys quite unusual popularity in her part of Perthshire. She visits* much among the peoplo a,nd is i one of the very few (perhaps the only) ladies of her rank who have a knowledge of the Gaelic tongue. This has enabled' her to collect at first hand a most interesting array of Gaelic folk-songs and folk-lore, and it is hoped that these may be published some day. Her mother, who died 14 years ago, was one of the beautiful daughters of Sir Thomas and Lady Louisa Moncreiffe, most of whom married brilliantly, and her aunts include the still lovely Georgiana Lady Dudley. The elder sister of Lady Helen, Lady Dorothea, became the wife of BrigadierGeneral Harold Ruggles-Brise 21 years ago, and the younger is Lady H-veJyn Stewart-Murray. Mr Tod resides at Braehead, Dunkeld. A party of war-stained heroes was tramping out of Victoria station (writes a London corespondent) looking with curious eyes on the old familiar sights. Behind thorn followed a French girl, accompanied by a- Belgian soldier. Suddenly she 'disengaged her arm from her companion's, • and running forward, touched the tunic of the rearmost Tommy. "Pardon, m'seu" she said, "but would you mmd that 1 should scrape a piece of—the—earth from your knapsack?" The big soldier brought his left heel up with a click, his face beaming in a mixed expression of wonder and humour. "Miss," he replied gallantly, as far as I am concerned you are welcome to the whole jolly lot." " I only wish for a tiny piece." She explained, picking oil a small chunk-of coagulated earth and water. "Yon see," she continued, producing a little purse, and depositing her treasure within the middle compartment, it is so Ion"- a time that I left my beloved country, and" now whenever I feel so lonely I can just take a peep—and thank And Tommy added without a moment s hesitation': "We'll win you more than that before we've finished,'Miss, and don't you forget it."

Carp, of the *"yps. Defective sight is a drawback at any age and whatever work one may do. Even leisure cannot bo thoroughly enjoyed with-«s-out good sight, either with or without glasses. It as the greatest mistake, from every point of view, not to wear glasses as soon as one feels the need of them. The rin-ht glasses will preserve the sight for many years. Do not wear any glasses which 'happen to be handy—they may actually injure your sight without your finding it out until too late. It is a very good plan to give the eyes a few minutes' rest several times a day. Turn your head from the light and close the eyes—that's all. It makes such a difference to them—keeps them useful and bright and free from tired lines. "Crow's feet" are the surest sign that the eyes are being misused in some way. _ A'daily wash with an eye-bath (obtainable at the chemist's) is also of wonderful benefit. A boracic acid solution is the best lotion for bathing the eyes—and many people recommend cold tea. The eye-balls should not be rubbed with the knuckles on awakening—or when washing the face. The less pressure put on the eyes at any time the better, and if massage is ever resorted to in order to keep the eyelids firm it should be done with tho lightest possible touch.

How to Pronounce It. WEMYSS. There was a young poet in Weniyes "Who cried, "Oh, how awful it semyss! When asleep late at night Lovely poems I write, And I publish them, too —in my drcmysa.

WARWICK. There was a young lady of Warwick Who lived in a castle histarwick. On a damp castle mould She contracted a cold, And the doctor proscribed paregarwick. Hints and Suoaestions. To Clean Chamois. —To clean chamois use lukewarm water, to which a pinch of soda has been added. Rub the chamois well with soap, and wash as you would any other garment. The secret of having it soft after washing is to rub well between the hands, and pull into shape before it is thoroughly dry. Keep milk fresh by adding to each pint, as soon as it comes' from the dairy, two small lumps of sugar, and cover the basin with muslin. If, when ready to cook a pudding, you find the milk slightly acid, add a saltspoonful of bi-carbonate of soda dissolved in a little water. This will pre vent curdling. Should the milk be quite sour, use it to make batter. It is excellent for this purpose. Blowflies are one of the greatest pests of the larder in warm weather, and can only be kept out by the most scrupulous cleanliness; even then one or two will occasionally get in and very speedily do a gerat deal of mischief if there are fresh

joints or poultry, or even fresh fish. Creosote (obtainable from the chemist) is the thing most disliked by the ,blowfly, and will do no harm in the pantry. Moisten a rag with it and hang it up or spray the shelves with it, and the blowfly will speodily take his departure. How to Mark Linen or Underclothing.— Sheets are usually marked in the centre and about a foot from the hem, pillow cases in one corner on the right side, towels at one corner, and tablecloths at one corner two-inches above the hem. Serviettes are marked at one corner, nightdresses are marked with the initials rust below the opening of the neck, chemises in same way. Any garment with a band is marked on the 'band at the right side. Stockings at top on a piece of white tape attached. To Clean Paint and Varnish.—Add one tablespoonful of salts of tartar to half a bucketful of warm' water. Wash the paint with a clean rag dipped in this, using no soap, and it will remove.every speck of dirt. ranse in clean, warm water and dry with a chamois. This is a painter's recipe, and a very, good one. Fire Economy. —Keep in your coal cellar, an old box or pail. Into this put all sifted cinders, small coal, and other refuse. A lump of coal and a couple of shovelfuls of this will keep the kitchen fire in for hours at a very small cost,' No need to use special quantities. If there is little rubbish use a" larger proportion of coal, and put in a few ashes, too. Do not throw away a shoe lace because the tag has pulled oii' —they are becomingmore expensive every day. Instead, soften a bit of black sealing wax and press it carefully around the' end of the lace, shaping it to a point. This will make a satisfactory substitute 'for the metal tag, and may be easily renewed if it does not outlast the life of the lace. If you have an aspidistra, don't wash the leaves. Instead, rub very gently with a clean duster every two or three days. It's a much better plan than washing, and far less messy. If the plants have been very neglected and are simply grimed with dust, wipe the dirt off with a sponge and warm water before you begin the dusting

plan, but unless they really are very dirty the washing is quite unnecessary. Cleaning Varnished Wood. — Place a week's tea-leaves in a pail, and pour over them a quart of boiling water. Leave for one hour, then strain and bottle. This liquor is excellent for cleaning varnished wood and linoleum, and when used for cleaning windows or mirrors makes them shine like crystal. In putting up heavy curtains care should be taken that they are an eighth of an inch from the ground, otherwise they will not hang satisfactorily. Carpets are an item that must be expensive if they are to last and look well. Better be content with plain felt, matting, or cork carpet, rather than spoil the look of a house with cheap carpets that are soon shabby. It is no economy to buy cheap modern furniture. Really solid, well-made furniture bought second-hand, even if old- ! fashioned, costs no more, and will prove better value than jimcrackery. Washing Flannels.—The secret of success in flannel washing is the avoidance of hot water and excess of soap, or alkali. 1 The amount of washing-powder or soft soap to be used must depend upon the | hardness of the water, as hard water re- ; quires more of a.softening agent than rain I water, which needs scarcely any* The I water used must not be more than luke- ' warm, and the lather should be made by ; dissolving soap in a jug of hot water | instead of rubbing the soap on the garments. Flannels should never be rubbed. If they are squeezed and kneaded in the lukewarm lather they will keep soft and

elastic till they are worn out, nor win they shrink if 'they are dried as soon as they are Avashed at a heat which will not cause a steam to rise from them.