FEMININE REFLECTIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 86, 2 July 1927, Page 19

FEMININE REFLECTIONS

WHEN I AM OLD BY MRS. AOBIE HARGRAVE. How many articles have already been written showing us how to keep young, in spite of the tale told me so remorselessly by the years? Here is one in praise of being old? I do not mean old long before the time, as were our great-grandmothers, those poor dears who were forced into a protracted state of seniority with the birth of their sixth or seventh child, who were scarcely allowed a life of their own from the time they first put on a wedding ring, and who, if they did not marry young, were considered beyond it at 30! Not that, but old when age is legitimate, wh'en it is undeniable, and when disguises, however clever and expensive, only accentuate its presence. Just comfortably, happily old, that’s what I am thinking about. Grandma’s Lipstick Grandmama donning her pearls, real ir artificial, using her lipstick, going nut to fight an unceasing battle against —what? Is it boredom she is so afraid of, the company of her own thoughts and memories, or only that every other grandmama is doing it, so that she can't be left out of the fashion? She can’t be the only old lady . . . Deep down in my heart I keep the portrait of an old lady, a slender, elegant creature, a little silk shawl round her slight shoulders, always dressed in black, a widow’s cap nearly covering her parted white hair. Except when she put on a bonnet I never saw her without that soft framing of her white, long-stringed cap. She had grace, she had above all things dignity; the many sorrows of her long life were written in fine-drawn lines upon the delicate beauty *of her face. No pretence there, no make-up. An air of waiting she had—for something better. Y’et an air of quiet contentment while she waited. Interest she kept, alive and quick, in other people’s doings, especially in those of the younger generation with whom she was greatly popular. The Haven It was so peaceful to drop in to see her! Such a safe, tender-hearted, understanding repository for youthful hopes and fears! My grandmother! While a thousand other faces have come and gone, lier’s remains unspoilt. How long am influence lasts if it is the right one! After all the years since she slipped gently out of life, it is surely the portrait I have tried to sketch here that makes me look forward to my ‘‘bit of old” instead of dreading it? The time when books, old favourites and new discoveries, a pleasant fire to sit by, a little garden to wander in, an old friend or two to visit me, some young voices to gladden me, will fill my days to overflowing—if I “am spared.” I honestly hope I shall be spared! Why should only youth be enjoyed Everything in turn has its rights and its charm, if more of us would believe it. I cling firmly to this belief. WATCH YOUR STEP! (By DOROTHY DEE.) Do you realise that the way you walk is an index to your character? The sloven will slouch; the careless will shamble, while the cheery, spontaneous little person trots! It’s up to you to make your walk indicative of an interesting and attrative personality., Brace your shoulders lift up your head and lift up your feet, and you will find your brisk walk makes you feel brisk, then, from merely feeling brisk, your whole outlook will improve both mentally and physically! Never shuffle through life either on your feet or in your mind—and watch your shoes! They will tell you clearer than any mirror how you walk and what defects you must improve. If your tees go first, you “scuff” along without lifting up your feet; it is almost certain that your whole figure droops like a half-emyty potato sack, and your head hangs like a dead flower on a stem. An Exercise You will need drill, both mental and physical, and for the former you cannot do better than make up your mind to look life in the face, and get the best out of it, no matter how fate treats you. For the latter, place a stick through your Elbows, behind your back, with your hands clasped loosely in front, and do the goose step up and down your room each day for so long as you can spare. If the sides of your shoes wear out. vou walk on the sides of your feet instead of the soles. Either you are too careless to use your members as you should, or your are suffering .from some weakness of the foot ligaments, and must seek advice. In a modified form, the wearing down of your heels badly on one side, points to the same Cll Ankle weakness, or dropped instep, is responsible for much bad walking, and a pad to wear in your shoes, will, at the cost of a few shillings, both improve your walk, lengthen the lite of your shoes, and cure foot tiredness. Well-worn shoes should wear in tne centre of the sole, where, naturally, most of the work should fall, and heels ought to wear down evenly. Shoes to Choose Tight shoes make everyone walk badlv, but too loose shoes give a sloppiness to the daintiest walk. Now- ■ adavs. with half sizes obtainable in almost every make of shoe, it is very i easy to choose a well-fitting pair. Very thin soles are bad. for you must remember foot comfort is essential to a good carriage, and that a good carriage is essential to an attractive, personality. . Here is a new exercise to mipiove vo r> r-;age and “foot work” at the same time. v .o-u- in enamel, tall can. or something unbreakable, in case of accidents, remove your shoes and stockings, and balance the can on one shoulder, placing the tips of the fingers of that arm on* the edge of the shoulder, not supporting the can at all with your hand. Place the other hand on your hip and walk round the room alternately flat on your feet, an on your toes. Change shoulders occasionally. You will find vour head takes a natural upward tilt j without the fixed look given by a book ion the head. If boiling Water is poured over prawns and they are allowed to cool j for a few minutes they will be very easy to shell. .'Hen tiles in a fireplace become . r itched or shabby, clean them with polish and they will look like new.

TO-MORROW AT THE MILLINERS By JOAN ROSSITER. Square is the word which mos ’ aptly describes the shape of many o ‘ the “good” hats designed for next sea l son—square in the sense that they an as broad as they are high. They an nearly all of felt, though fine velour: * and fancy velvets are equally adapt > able to this design; flat ribbon band: , and ornaments are the popular trimmings, and their narrow brims art made to droop, some falling into a zig 1 zag line. The crowns are deep, and the mos chic have little scraps of ribbon placet here and there. For instance, . a fla' “shoe” of multi-coloured corded ribboi covering .the left side is probably matched by a tiny triangle of ribboi at the top of the right side of the tal Very little trimming is seen, whethei the hat be of satin, straw or the everpopular felt. But the amount of space in the height of the hat is used for al] manner of insertions. A conventional sprinkling of “leaves” in contrasting felts is inserted into the crown of one new model displayed in a West End shop, and strips of bright colours are arranged in sets of three on another felt model. The milliner likes to work gold and silver threads in and out of the brims, while the

threads are often stitched, at random, all over the front of the broad crowns. The new hats are undoubtedly broader than were la.st season’s models. Maybe the designers are heeding the medical opinion, recently expressed, which maintains that toque-shapes, “built” on tight fittings, are injurious to the scalp and hair. A really dressy “cap” is fashioned from quilted satin. A mannequin showed how suited to shingled heads such a style can be, when, at a dress parade of Fashions of To-morrow, she wore a satin hat in shades of orange and flame. Orange satin was thickly quilted to make the deep band which fitted snugly around her head, and a “tammy” crown of flame velvet was rolled around the top. A pearl pendant glistened delightfully on the orange satin. Large, sweeing shapes, reminiscent of “vagabond” styles, are designed for those whom they suit. But it is thought that something more “fluffy” will, next season, be preferred i:o the definite, hard outlines of the larger hats. So far as straws are concerned, it is expected that a hard, shiny type, dented and creased, will be favoured. Beige will be seen in the new millinery, but apart from this pale colour, the richer shades are to be considered “the thing.” These will include purples, bright blues, as well as an extensive range of reds.

J-j ART IN ENAMEL By ANN SIVER | One of the newest and most fascinst | ating hobbies is that of enamelling: on of ! wood. L _ The materials are few and simple. L - e and in a very short time Liny woman re with a leaning toward art. and decors ration., may produce charming effects. t_ Candlesticks, powder bowls, cigarette boxes, pin trays, and numberless other novelties in colours, varying from the ~e glistening orange on a kingfisher’s r_ breast to the sombre hues of a pine forest, may be created to brighten and ' 3 t harmonise with every scheme of deni coration. A box, enamelled in a deix sign of your own, will make a delight,n ful present for a friend, y To begin the work, you will need a n few soft paint brushes, a fiat one for 11 ground-work and three or four others, of varying thicknesses, for decoration. »r The enamels you may obtain in small •- tins from any ironmonger. :e A word of warning—get good enamels 1] manufactured by reputable firms; poor quality enamels will only bring poor results and your time and money will e be wasted. The number of different n colours that you buy will necessarily t depend on the type of work you ine tend doing, but three colours will be r enough to start with; a dark colour s for backgrounds and two lighter ones, e * for contrast.

, The articles for decoration are the . same as those used for poker-work. r In choosing', see that .the wood is uni- . formly white and free from knots and ? other imperfections. , The background is first applied, and , the enamel painted evenly over the s wood with the flat brush, just as it comes from the tin. The brush should j be well filled, and long-, sweeping i strokes used, care being taken to keep 3 the surface free from streaks. The 3 work should then be set aside to dry 3 thoroughly. I When dry, if necessary, a second ,• coat of background should be painted ! on, and if a supreme finish is desired, t the first coat should be rubbed down 3 with fine emery, paper before the second . coat is applied over it. The decora- ? tions in the second colour are applied directly on the background, plenty of i enamel being used. ■> Patterns should be simple; light, 3 floral effects or geometrical designs are ’ best. The little oval dabs that one » used to make at school by pressing the c side of the brush on the paper may be used with great effect, t Beautiful results can be produced by , “spatter-work.” This is done by dipping an old tooth brush in the paint - and drawing the blade of a pen-knife , across the bristles, thus spattering the 1 work, with liny specks of colour. Of - course, due precautions should be - taken to protect surrounding articles from this miniature rainstorm.