Why Girls and Roys Should Learn to Draw.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 57

Why Girls and Roys Should Learn to Draw.

After the war there promises to be much change in education, and parents, above all, are realising the need for thinking out some of the aspects of this all-important question. Among the most useful subjects which must not be left out comes drawing. And both boys and girls stand in real need of it, as it provides the only systematic eye-training available. ' No explanation is needed to show that being able to "see straight" is of first importance in practising every craft. Without it the joiner and machine-maker cannot possibly become skilled workmen in the real sense of the word : nor can the tailor or dressmaker hope to cut garments accurately. Even housewifery will suffer—mats and carpets will always look untidy, and pictiu-es will ihang crookedly. In office routine, again, the straight-seeing eye will dema/nd well-finished, neat typescripts, and "tidy" work generally. Oolour-tralning is also an immense advantage In many occupations. It is essential in afl trades dealing with coloured goods, such as dress materials, wall-papers, carpets, and household draperies. Even In

such work as dentistry a keen eye for tone and shade makes all the difference between success and failure. The writer knows of a recent case where a dentist supplied two porcelain "crowns" of a decidedly bluo coat where all the natural teeth were of an unalterably yellow tinge. As such "crowns" are supposed to last a life-time, the dentist's inartistic work remains a permanent record against him. That is an example of the unexpected •ways in which eye-training —or the lack of it—makes itself felt. And one has only to be on the look-out to see the same- kind of evidence on every hand. For this reason money spent on drawing and colour lessons is unmistakably well spent, though the child may never produce anything worth framing or hanging. In fact, the useful

not the "accomplishment" aspect of such lessons is the side to be encouraged. Ilinfs nv.il &ti aires nous. Salt put on an ink-stain freshly made will loosen the mark. Add a tablespoonful of rice flour to your pastry to make it light. A little vinegar placed m the rinsing water on washing day will prevent the hands from becoming rough and chapped. When boiling new potatoes add a few sprigs of mint to the water. When dishing up, sprinkle with a little chopped paisley mixed with melted butter. When kitchen towels wear thin lay two of the same size one upon the other, machine the edges together, and Stitch diagonally across.

Wet umbrellas should never be left open to dry, as the silk stretches while damp and is liable to split. The right method is to close a wet umbrella and stand it handle downward to drain.

Always put scrubbing brushes to dry with the bristles face downward. This lengthens their lives considerably, as if dried the other way the water soaks into the wood and rots the bristles. To preserve rubber heels, scrape all grit and mud out of them when cleaning tho boots. Grit and small stones wear out the rubber as it revolves on the screw, making it fall off long before the heel is worn out. Soak brooms and brushes occasionally; so treated,- they will last very mu'ch longer. Hot water cans should bo turned upside down after use. Otherwise, the little drop of water left in the can causes rust, and so a hole follows.

Before using lemons, scrub them thoroughly, then grate off the yellow rind. Mix with an equal quantity of sugar, and keep in air-tight tin. The grated rind can be used for flavouring cakes, custards, and anything for which lemon extract would be used. This is economical, amd the flavour is much more delicate.

When you are raking the ashes from a grate, hold a sheet of newspaper in front with the left hand, while you rake with the right. In this way a draught is created, and the dust blows up the chimney instead of out into tho room. When making mint sauce, pour two tablcspoonfuls of boiling water over the chopped mint and sugar 10 minutes before adding the vinegar. This greatly improves the flavour.

When "fitting" little children, if possible, let them stand in front of a mirror. If they can see what you are doing in the looking-glass, it will keep their attention and they will be more likely to stand still. To beat an egg quickly, break the egg into an ordinary glass tumbler. Place a piece of tissue-paper on top. Hold it firmly down all round to keep out the air. Place the other hand on the top of the paper, and shake the tumbler vigorously two or three times. The egg is then ready for uso without further effort, and is as well beaten as if whipped for 10 minutes. If your scissors do not cut cleanly, and it is noti convenient to send them to be ground, take a common glass bottle and make several attempts to cut the neck in two. The hard flint will turn back the edges of the steel, and tho scissors will then be found to cut almost as well as if they had been ground. The neck of a wine glass will serve equally well.

Where screws are driven into' soft wood and subjected to considerable strain they are very likely to work loose, and it is often very difficult to make them hold. In such cases the use of glue is profitable. Make the glue thick; immerse a stick about half the size of the screw and drive it home as quickly as possible.