Heart and Home Chats

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 748, 22 August 1929, Page 5

Heart and Home Chats

Anne Releadpe

By

Miss Anno Rutledge will answer letters in this column every Thursday. An accomplished writer, an ardent feminist , a student of human nature and a wide traveller, she is writ fitted for the task. Those who have problems and lack a confidante to help in their solution may with confidence write to Miss Rutledge, whose knowledge will be placed at their disposal. A sympathetic woman, she will assist those who stand in need, of assistance. Communications for Miss Rutledge should be addressed to THE SUN office.

TWO STRINGS. ONE “BEAU” ! Dear Miss Rutledge,— I am 35 years old in average circumstances, and feel quite friendly I toward an accomplished and practical i woman of 35. In many ways we have j the same outlook upon life, and someI times 1 feel urged to ask her to be- | come my wire. Unfortunately this ! desire is not always so strong, as I i also am acquainted with an attractive and pretty girl 19 years old, who obviously is attracted by me. While now and again I enjoy the tonic of the young girl’s company, she naturally knows nothing of business affairs and her conversation often is absolutely empty. Yet l am sure she would do her best to look after me, if I were so minded. Perhaps a thought from you might help me to choose between them, as it’s about time 1 got married, and I would appreciate a comfortable home. D.N AXSWER If you must choose between these two friends, I consider that from your meagre pen pictures of the respective characteristics, you would have more peace and comfort with the woman of 35. But surely you can make up your own mind upon such a matter! At your age there should be no doubt about the right girl if you feel drawn spiritually and physically toward her. However, a warning at this stage might be useful. You know the qualities of your friends fairly well, so later on, if you marry one of them, don’t expect the impossible. Don't expect the flapper to be the mental companion you would like, and don’t expect her to be satisfied with a quiet home life, when in all probability she will desire dances and frivolity. So many marriages are doomed to failure just because the man or the woman thinks that human beings with their likes and dislikes, virtues and frailties, can be remodelled “overnight” after the honeymoon. Oh! If only people would think calmly and give marriage the same careful consideration as a big business deal. An unhappy side to misfit marriages is that there is usually the right mate near at hand, but unbalanced thoughts are responsible for much blindness. ANNE RUTLEDGE. HIS FEET TURN OUT! Dear Miss Rutledge.— 1 am seeking your valued advice regarding a love affair of mine. I have been friendly with a young man who is a farmer, comfortably off> possessing good personality. Don’t think it ridiculous of one, but he is afflicted with feet which turn out at an angle very much more than is usual. Now this young man has

askecl me to become his wife, and I would accept him were it not for the deformity of his feet. Do you think I have sufficient grounds for refusal or do you think that medical attention could rectify this error? SERIOUS. ANSWER. If you really love this man. such a deformity as you mention should not stand in the way. It is auite possible that a ! specialist could alter the awkward angle of the feet, but you would need to be ! tactful in the way you approach the sub- ! jeet. Your letter reminds me of the unselfish love of the many wonderful women who have married unsightly and afflicted men. Who could forget the girls who became life companions, of scarred and blinded men—victims of the World War? Would anyone challenge that such women, exalted with superb faith and service, are not happier than those who cannot visualise something of their real heritage, and acknowledge nothing more than that which will decay as sure as night follows day? The quality and harmony of the mind is more important than mere physique, and if you are guided by this you will ultimately find happiness. ANNE RUTLEDGE. THE STALWART DOOR-KEEPER Deal' Miss Rutledge,— 1 often have that unfortunate position of being a money collector and door-keeper at a dance hall. And doorkeepers have their problems, believe me. What would you do in the event of a person or persons failing to abide by the rules (after a number of warnings) ? Is it within my power to ask those persons to leave the hall, and if they do not go, is it within my power to put them out, or is it necessary to call the police? In the event of such persons going or being put out, is it necessary to refund to them their admission fee? If a person attends at the beginning of a dance quite sober, and before the end he becomes quite drunk and a nuisance in the hall—through alcohol provided by himself, and not procured on the hall premises'—is it within my power to put him out and is it necessary to refund his money? A.B.C. ANSWER I consider that you should display a prominent notice setting out the requirements of the hall management. If dancers disregard this and cause a nuisance, those in charge should politely request them to leave the hall. I do not advise you to call the police unless the pleasure of the other dancers is absolutely disrupted. If any of the dancers become under the influence of liquor and prove themselves a nuisance to others. I should certainly have them ejected by a policeman. In such a case I would not refund the price of admission. ANNE RUTLEDGE. ANSWER TO ‘■PAT" I think that your friend’s judgment is correct. Your parents would have every right to object to him, and it is both unwise and thoughtless of you to disregard them in the matter. Tell them about your friendship jvithout delay. Be guided by their ideas as to the outcome of the situation, and don’t be misled or | misguided. ANNE RUTLEDGE. I

MOTHS IN CARPETS Dear Miss Rutledge,— Can you tell me what to do when moths get into carpets? I have some very -good ones and am disturbed by these pests causing much trouble to the edges. L.K. ANSWER Treat your carpet as follows: —Put into a pail half a gallon of boiling water and a quarter of a pound of rock ammonia. Take a large square house-flannel and put it into the pail, leaving the ends hanging over the sides. Pick up the dry ends and wring the flannel. Place on the carpet and iron dry with a very hot iron. Go all over the carpet like this, and no moths eggs will come to life. To avoid moths in your carpet, sweep every two or three weeks with crushed rock salt. This will also brighten the colour. ANNE RUTLEDGE.

AIDS FOR AMATEURS Hints which will be invaluable to those who are not experienced in housekeeping. It is often impossible to find just the right wool to mend ‘'heather mixture” socks, golf-stockings, pullovers, etc. So buy several cards of wool in plain colours, matching as nearly as possible the prevailing shades in the article to be mended. Then darn as usual, but vary the wools and use short lengths, so that the colours become nicely intermingled. The result will please you! * * « Make cinnamon toast the American way next time you want something special for tea —and hear the cheers! Toast and bread on one side only: then butter the other side and spread quite thickly with a mixture of two parts castor sugar and one part ground cinnamon well mixed first. Put tire toast under the grill again (sugared side up) until the sugar is melted and the mixture turns a delicious brown. Serve as hot as possible. * * V When you have forgotten to renew your nail-polish, use lemon-juice instead. Squeeze a little on each nail, let it dry. then polish as usual with a pad or a silk hankie. When roasting a joint, the meat keeps beautifully moist if It is cooked on a grid-iron in the baking-tin, with two cupfuls of cold water in the tin. Also this way the fat from the joint does not get overheated or smoke unpleasantly. If you have a tortoiseshell slide it is apt to become dull through constant wear. But a drop or two of sweet oil rubbed on with cotton-wool gives it a beautiful polish. After oiling, wipe dry and polish finally with a ch:|nois leather. The polish lasts well, and can be renewed at intervals. It is splendid for all tortoiseshell articles. An old-time remedy for neuralgia is to pour half a teaspoonful of neat brandy into the palm of the hand and sniff it up the nose on the side where the pain- is. '