NOTES FROM ALL PARTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1929, Page 17

NOTES FROM ALL PARTS.

Mrs. Travers, widow of General Janies Travers, an Indian Mutiny V.C., celebrated her 100th birthday at her, home, Bridge of Allan, Scotland, recently, and among the letters of congratulation she received was one from the King and Queen of England. Mrs. Travers’ younger brother, the late Major-General Donald Macintyre, was awarded the Victoria Cross in 187'2 for gallantry-in the expedition against the Looshais, while other members of her family, have also rendered distinguished military service.

At least one Melbourne family has solved the “going out” problem at night. In Russell Street a well-equipped motor caravan, containing a family of four (the parents and two young children), pulled into the parking area, and, while father paid his parking fee, mother began to undress the children.’ A few minutes later they were tucked in their hammocks, and, having drawn the blinds and closed the door securely, father and mother went off to the theatre. Somewhere about 11 o’clock they drove off with their mobile home.

Mrs. Selina Cossgrove, of Christchurch, relict of Lieutenant-Colonel D. Cossgrove, V.D., the first Chief Scout of New Zealand, whose death took place last week, was well-known throughout the Dominion for her interest in Boy Scouts, Girl Peace Scouts and military affairs through her husband’s long and close association with them. While living at Westport she initiated the 'Scou.ting scheme for boys and girls, and did much toward the establishing of the Gladstone Memorial Ward for women in the Westport Hospital, and later at Tuahiwi was active in training the women and girls of the Maori pah in home science and hygiene. It was this work that suggested to her the idea of forming the organisation later widely known throughout New Zealand, . South Africa, Australia and the United States of America as the Girl Peace Scouts. The Peace Scouts were the forerunners of the existing Girl Guides, which movement was formed on almost identical lines to those of the parent organisation. When the North Canterbury Mounted Rifles were formed in 1899, with her husband in command, Mrs. Cossgrove organised the corps ambulance section, and, in recognition of her efforts, was appointed ambulance sergeant in charge. During several camps she and Mrs. W. Uru, wife of Mr. W. Uru, M.P., organised the camps’ hospital sections, and received high encomiums from the medical officers for their care of and attention to the sick.

Miss 0. Crichton Imrie, recently from London and South Africa, where she did propaganda work and publicity for New Zealand, as well as Empire products, has just received the appointment as representative. for the combined primary products of New Zealand in the Orient. This will mean a complete tour of Japan, China, the Philippines, Java, the Federated Malay States, Borneo, Burma, India and Celyon. Miss Imrie’s work, for New Zealand products has been greatly appreciated by the producers* and at one event given in her honour, the host declared “that their correspondence would prove that it was entirely through Miss Imrie’s personal interposition that they were put in touch with the big buyers of England and elsewhere that had helped considerably in the development of their and other New Zealand industries When Miss Imrie finishes her.tour of the Orient she will have preached the gospel of New Zealand products, around the whole world. # # *. . . *

There are not many women vice-con-suls in the world, and what there are aie mostly Americans. Miss Lucille Atcherson was the first woman of the United States to be admitted to the diplomatic service. Miss P. M. Field became viceconsul at Amsterdam in 1925, and acted in . that capacity until quite recently, when she designed to undertake industrial research work for the U.&.A. National Broadcasting Company, and another American, Miss.F. E.. Willis, is vice-consul at Valparaiso, Chile. . # * o *

One of the most decorated women in the Empire is Lady Guggisberg, C.8.E., once Decima Moore, a musical comedy star. She was responsible for founding several women’s army seryicle/Oiganisations, soldiers’ comfort schemes and remembrance movements. Her husband, who is now Governor of British Guiana, was formerly Governor' o fthe Gold

Coast, where Lady Guggisberg spent part of her time exploring. *#* # , . The United States has long been at the head of the very few countries where women have been allowed to take any shrre in their countries’ diplomatic representation abroad. Two recent appointments in this direction are Miss Nelle B. Stogsdall, who was appointed vice-consul at Beirut, Syria, and Miss Margaret Warner, who became vice-con-sul at Geneva. A Storm in Sout'. Africa. „

Miss Greta Broad (Dunedin) recently arrived in London from South Africa, where she spent about three months, writes a London correspondent. She went to the Victoria Falls, and enjoyed some canoeing on the Zambesi. Alto; gether she had many pleasant experiences during her travels in South Africa, and she found much to interest her in Rhodesia. At Durban Miss Broad experienced a terrific hailstorm, one such as had never been known there before. H ilstones were larger than tennis balls, and they played havoc with all tiled roofs, People who were in motor-cars had to flee for safety to save their cars from being battered in. Every tiled roof • was ruined, and windows were broken everywhere. The aftermath was a scene of desolation. There was not enough tiles in Africa to repair the damage, so temporary resort was made to galvanised iron and tarpaulins. Miss Broad travelled to England with the British scientists who had been meeting South Africa. . She says they were a “cheery lot and joined in everything, so the voyage was an exceptionally pleasant one.” Miss Broad is staying with' relatives in ; North London, and she hopes to be on this side for a considerable time. Why Pavlova Jazzed.

“Yes,” declared recently Mme. Anna Pavlova, the world’s greatest classic dancer, “I have danced jazz—l, who hitherto have .looked down scornfully upon modern dances, and condemned them as being ungracious and, indeed, a disgrace to the fine art to which I have devoted the whole of my life. I thought that I should be able to dance jazz in secret. But, 10, and behold! It might be thought that a fresh international crisis were threatening. It would appear, that everybody who has eyes with which to read now knows that Anna Pavlova has been seen dancing a fox-trot. I have received hundreds of telegrams, letters, and inquiries: Why? Why did I do it? They all ask the same question. Because recently in Vienna I joined in the happy throng of dancers, that does not mean to say that my convictions have changed. Not less firmly than heretofore I still unconditionally disapprove of the horrible writhing motions which nowadays are would appear that everybody who was witnessed on each and every dancing floor. They have degraded the art to which I am so passionately .devoted, to something grotesque, repulsive even; and the white race has lowered itself io lend support to something which many negroes themselves regard as revolting and unfit for the amusement of decent people. Yet jazz is not entirely without charm. Some of its forms are considerably more graceful than others; and they could Be made even more agreeable, both to the dancer and the onlooker, if they were only always danced really well, with poise, certainty, agility and smoothness. These modern dances have a 'catchy’ rhythny; the jazz music is gradually losing its . old barbaric forms; and, an important point, the dances are easy to learn.”. .

I WHEN WASHING BRUSHES. ■ Expensive brushes are often ruined by > ‘ i careless washing. Bristles, both hair? and f/L; fibre, require special treatment to frea them from all traces of . dirt and grease. If strong washing powders or bleacher t&J are used there is always a grave danger of the fibres or bristles, etc., losing their fLJ characteristic stiffness and becoming soft' . and useless. . . ' • ? For washing all kinds of brushes following method should prove of values. Dissolve sufficient white curd soap in a bowl of hot water to make a good lather.-. ing solution. Then add a few drops ot- t concentrated ammonia. Immerse ..the bristles in the mixture and move about fairly vigorously. .‘- 1 -.L'-i;/ On no account should the handles be wetted, otherwise serious damage may ki* done to the wood, metal, tortoiseshell or ivory. If the last-named material comes in contact with a strong soap dr alkaline'? solution it is inclined to assume an objectionable yellow colour. Finely, polished or veneered woods are adversely affwted by steam, being inclined to lose their beautiful finish. It is sometimes advis*. ;.' ; able to wrap a piece of flannel round the „ brush handle and back, in order to pre- '.“gfvent any possibility of damage. ' In'the case of very greasy brushes, a dessertspoonful of borax should be added hty to the soapy water. Some people use ordinary washing soda, but borax is. .ft - Ji: milder .and safer alkali. ; J •<.; After cleaning the bristles, hair dr fibres, the brush should he rinsedin three- qJchanges of warm water, then left in a -lW warm place to dry. Bleached or white bristles -can be ‘ soaked' in a little diluted hydrogen peroxide to freshen and renew their’ ; appearance. This well-known chemical is .-.y& a perfectly safe bleach and has no ‘ -- injurious effect upon even the most deli- '

■cate material. ■ ; < To clean the brush handle and back is • ■ | a simple and yet important task. Wood may be rubbed with a spot of linseed oil < and then polished. For ivory and tor-, s,;. toiseshell a little methylated spirit helps < to enhance their beauty. The best way to clean metal, such as the new art T silver, oxidised silver and gold, is to use a really good silver polish and rub with. a piece of chamois leather. /

RECOMMENDED RECIPES, / yj . BISCUITS ARE ATTRACTIVE. . ’ '■ .*■ ,'p Good home-made biscuits are a'very attractive item of - the afternoon tea : or supper menu, and following are sbmo inexpensi’ e recipes. They usually re* quire a quick oven, and are best .pipecd on the middle shelf. . ft’ ft ft ft 1 ’■ Ginger snaps.—llb flour, Jib treacle, Jib brown sugar, £lb butter, ioz gin.-: _ ger, 12 drops essence, 1 teaspoon car*. ' bonate .of ’ soda. Mix treacle in fdiii?T,< tablespoons of boiling water. Mix all - together to a stiff dough. Roll out, and ? cut in small round rings. ' . ? .'. r \ ■ ■ « S # <■- . ’ Coconut biscuits.—Mix together 4oz . flour and the same of cornflour. Rub • „ into this 3oz butter. Add 4oz castor . sugar, 3oz dessicated coconut,, and a teaspoon of baking powder. Mix-with 2 eggs, roll out, cut into shapes with .. a fancy cutter, and bake in a moderate . oven. •' ■■■-.;■ ; <■' -- Princess bisefiits. —Cream Ooz butter, working in a similar quantity of castor.- - sugar, and beat in the yolks of two eggs singly, adding lastly the whit - mixed to a foam. , Dredge .in (still beating) gib dried and sifted flour., a. , teaspoonful cf bruised caraway seM, and J teaspoon' grated lemon pee!. ■ H. too dry to roll out, mix with a little milk, and finally form mto triangles about l-Bth inch thick, bake m a moderate oven.. ; . ....