LADIES’ GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 50

LADIES’ GOSSIP.

FLOWER CIRDLES. One of the pretty fancies in vogue for evening and dance frocks is girdles and belts of flowers. Those with out-spread petals as poppies, marguerites, camellias and poinsettias are chiefly used with roses in rather less favour. Each blossom »s usually separated from its neighbours by a leaf or a piece of diamente. The style is particularly effective with velvet gowns of dark shades. A STAY-AT-HOME COUPLE. One would think it impossible to find a man and woman who have led a long and activo life in a densely populated part of the United Kingdom, yet who have never travelled by train, yet such is stated to be true of Mr and Mrs King, who have just celebrated their golden wedding. They have never been in a train, nor been out of Southend further than seven miles. MILL-GIRL MAGISTRATE. The factory girl of to-day may he a magistrate to-morrow. She can follow the example of Airs Elizabeth A. Higson, who works in a Lancashire mill and sits on the Bench to administer justice. The wife of a Stalybridge tram-driver, Mrs Higson is extremely popular with her fellow workers and neighbours. She has a genius for smoothing over troubles and worries, and many a daughter and mother owe a debt of gratitude to her for her help and advice. Everyone is proud of the honour conferred upon her. Although she is a J.P., Mrs Higson is not going to desert her loom. THE DETECTIVE WIFE. “I have often gone home late at night and found my wife entertaining criminals,” said ex-Superintendent Frank Forward, ■who on retirement from the police force was presented with a cheque, an illuminated address, and a casket of cutlery at Brighton Town Hall. “When we were first married she often helped me in my detective work, and has helped me to effect the arrests of numerous desperate criminals. She was never afraid, but kepc them interested till I arrived. I am one of those men who never object to seeing their wives with other men—it was usually a catch for me.” WOMEN’S DOCS. To judge by the varieties of dogs exhibited at the late show of the Ladies’ Kennel Association, the modern woman is tending towards a more masculine taste in dogs. The pampered toy-dogs which men dislike so much were indeed still to be seen there in frilled and cushioned “kennels,” but such genuine and serviceable dogs as the Samoyede, the Arctio sleigh-puller, the Alsatian wolf-hound, and homely British Tetrievers, bull-dogs, and Airedales were more prominent. The self-

Reliance which goes with this sterner laste in pets also showed itself in another Innovation; women judges were in t. majority, and their decisions were generally characterised by knowledge and thorough- | ness. SEMI-INVALIDS BACK ACAIN. “I-am getting back all my semi-invalids again,” said a London West-end physician. ‘“During the war I lost them all. They were too busy to bother about their ailments. But now it is different. Time hangs heavy on their hands and they are developing all their old complaints. He or she, it is more often she, is not very fit. There is nothing radically wrong, but *he has aches and pains—headache or neuralgia. She always feels tired and listless. She does not enjoy her food. She is a bundle of nerves. Many of these cases can be cured only by constant occupation. Hard physical work is often the best thing for them, or some mental stimulus that prevents them from brooding over their symptoms. The semi-invalid cannot be cured by medicine.” BRITISH-MADE BABY DOLLS. Some British toy-manufacturers are now making a specialty of life-like baby dolls. Some of the newest are life size, with fully jointed, unbreakable bodies and limbs, porcelain heads, with eyes that open and shut, and even loose tongues. They are turned out in various styles of dressing and coiffure. And though they represent the high-water mark in baby-doll production, the prices are even lower than continental makers are quoting, with the balance of exchange so much in their favour. HINTS AND SUCC ESTI ONS. , Rubber hot-water bottles should be slightly inflated and rubbed over with glycerine during the summer months; then they can be stored away without fear of the rubber perishing. If the oven does not get hot very quickly take out the trays and scrape them thoroughly; then scrape the whole of the inside of the oven. Wash thoroughly with soda water and, when dry, give it a coat of whitewash made with a little size. After this attention the oven will get hot twice as quickly. ' If suet is melted in the oven and put into jars it will keep any length of time. The suet is much easier to chop if treated in this way. Puddings will keep better if they are made with suet that has been melted in the oven. A large, clean marble boiled in milk, porridge, custards, sauces, etc will automatically do the stirring as the liquid cooks. Any chance of burning will be prevented, and also the fatigue of constantly stirring. It saves time, as by this means the cook can be attending to several things at once, instead of having to give her whole time and attention to one. New kid gloves sometimes split the first time they are tried on. This can be pre vented by placing them between the folds of a damp towel for an hour or two before they are worn. The damp stretches the kid, so that the gloves will give to the required shape without splitting. There is nothing better for cleaning light-coloured satin straw, burnt straw, and tagel hats than warm milk, in wliicn ia dissolved a pinch of carbonate of soda, lightly brushed in with a toothbrusn, taking care not to wet the straw too much. Dry quickly. If ostrich feathers or tips have become straight from having been in the rain or heavy dew, hold them in front of, but not too near, a clear fire for a few minutes. While holding in this position, quickly paint the back of the stem with liquid glue, and let it dry while still holding bent. If a white blouse is stained under the arms, put it to soak for half an hour in warm water, to which a little ammonia has been added. Use no soap, as soap merely sets the stain. Wring out, and f the mark has not gone, squeeze a little lemon-juice on to it, and rinse in clean warm water. Afterwards wash in the ordinary way.