WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 274, 16 May 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

5 (Conducted by "Eileen"). | MEN WHO MAKE WOMEN HAPPY '! POINTS TO CONSIDER WTIEX CHOOSI ING A HUSBAND.

Which counts most in men—looks, character, business ability, or congeniality? This question, which an American newspaper recently put to its readers—a prize being offered for the best reply —revealed some interesting views of modern women on modern men. The prize was won by a lady who expressed 'herself thus:—

"There are many men of sterling character and the highest 'business ability who could not make all good women happy. There are so many little peculiarities in liuman nature which we could hardly term character, and yet that go a great way towards making others happy or miserable. It is these little traits and tastes which, according to my idea, push congeniality to the front and put character in second place, when considering ideals in husbands. When single, my ideal was not 'perfection,' hence as a married woman I am not disappointed." WANTED—CONGENIALITY. The views of the prize-winner are thus seconded by another lady:—"Through uncongeniality I have suffered much. I appreciate good qualities in a man's character, but above all sympathy and congeniality. The other good qualities, like looks, character and business ability, vanish in a man when he is of the unlovable, unsympathetic, uncongenial type. Give me a sympathetic, congenial man, and I will gladly put up with the other good or bad qualities of character he has to offer me." Here is what another advocate of congeniality says: —"A man may have an excellent character and good business ability, and yet be such a crank and so j opiniated that it is impossible to admire him; but if he had a bright sunny dis- | position, willing to meet everyone with 1 a real smile and a handshake, other peo- ; I pie will imbibe, and the whole hou.seI hold will follow him. His wife is a real I partner, and the half of his kingdom is | his; she will go through life with him I always happy. Certainly the man I j admire is the congenial one." "One plain, homely man of strong character is worth a million handsome men without," says another, who continues: "My idea of the ideal man is a man above the average height, well proportioned, broad-shouldered, a mind j as broad as his shoulders, eyes that ; twinkle with fun, grow stern and fierv j at unjustness, cruelty, dishonor, or melt J into kindness and sympathy, as occasion 1 requires; who looks upon his wife as a ( queen among women; who can give a J down-fallen fellow creature the up-lift; I can find some good in everybody. Whose religion is the golden rule. , WHERE IS HE?

There is much that will doubtless appeal to readers in these words: "A man that the Maker, God, will look upon as He did the first and say, 'lt's very good.' A man that a good, 'true Christian mother can point to, and say, 'My son, I am proud of him.' If he lives up to his mother's ideal no woman need fear to trust him."

And where is the young man who can satisfy the lady who thus describes her ideal man?—

"M-anly, Y-oung, I-intelligent, Deferential. E-ducated, A-fTectionate, L-iberal, M-oral, A-mbitions, N-eat." Apparently the lady who wrote the following is somewhat sceptical of ever discovering the ideal man: "The usual j virtues of honest industry and loyalty [ must be ingrained in him. If to all : those grand, and lovable characteristics ! I could add a masculine beauty, an easy I graceful manner, an appreciation of | music and art, and the advantages bel stowed by a liberal education and travel i 1 should say I had painted the portrait of one I have never seen except in | dreams—the ideal man." j WEDDING VEILS AND HATS. A great change is coming over the fashion in hair-dressing, and we are going back to very simple styles, giving up curls and arranging our tresses in Grecian twists. Especially is it the fashion to have the hair plainly done for a wedding, though it should be in a manner in which the bride is accustomed to arranging it. Then, with regard to the veil, a novel method of treating this was seen at a recent wedding, when the bride had ■ her hair almost completely hidden under I a little gathered cap made of tulle with lace revers turned back at the sides. I The Brussels net veil was put right over this. To go to the other extreme, a second bride looked delightful with a single string of pearls arranged in the fashionable fillet, and secured at either end with a 'tiny cluster of orange blossoms. A similar idea with a single line of diamante trimming would look equally well, but in either case the trimming or pearls would have to be stiffened with wire in order to keep them in position. We must not leave out of our consideration the bride who prefers to be married in a hat. Ido hope, however, that it will be a white one, to go with a frock of the same hue, even if of the simplest fabric. Of course nothing is nicer than -a big feather for such a hat, while the chapeau itself might be either of lace or of pliable Yedda straw, though it di.scolors dreadfully with the sun. That most desirable white feather would, however, be very expensive, and I recommend as an alternative a drapery of white Chantilly lace, with perhaps a cluster of full-blown white roses. A hi"-' bow of white tulle would also be an effective substitute. Though I was tempted to mention ribbon, I hesitate, for on most people the effect of a big white bow is somewhat 'too hard to be becoming. One more notion before concluding is to have a closely packed wreath of white roses and no other trimming. Of course the real success of the. chapeau for this most important occasion will depend on whether the brim turns up or down at exactly the right angle that best suits the wearer.

Nearly all the bridesmaids' drosses that one lias seen recently have had underskirts of clianneuse with tunics of ninon. It is better not to have any white in the bridesmaids' gowns, as they then serve both as a foil and background to the bridal toilette. Pale grey makes a delightful contrast.