GIRLS OF LONG AGO. LUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

GIRLS OF LONG AGO. LUCE.

When her father decided, to spend six pounds on her training, Luce was almost overcome. She trembled at the knees, wondering whether she would ever be worthy of six pounds worth of learning! And such a wonderful new trade! Why, she might get to Coiu’t if she were lucky. .'Her mother took Luce to Mistress Vau Gobber. The Dutch lady smiled broadly, slipped the six golden ’coins into a leather pouch, and told Luce that if she arrived late-in the morning she might expect a clout over the head.

Very excited, Luce entered a large room where she saw another girl of her own age—she was fifteen—a few young men, and some older people. These were Mistress Van .Gobber’s pupils, and they were busy at different tables on which were piled quantities of cambric and wire, bowls of starch were on the tables, too, and there was a smell of hot irons. One young man came up to Mistress Van Gobber with a beautifully starched ruff in his hand, and Luce wondered whether she would ever be able to make so lovely an object. Yes, she was to learn to cut, and fold, and crimp, and' starch the sb new ruffs which had come from Holland, and which Queen Elizabeth had taken up with right good will. Now Luce had a good eye, nimble fingers, and a determination to get her six pounds’ worth of knowledge, and,- as Mistress Van Gobber took a fancy to the girl, she let out her secret. “If you cannot obtain starch,” she said, “use the starchy substance found in the, root of the wild arum—lords and ladies you call them. It will blister your hands, for it burns;> but it costs nothing, my girl.” ' One day, as Luce was leaving Mistress Van Gobber’s house, a gentleman leaned out of a magnificent coach, and offered her a pair of gloves. Luce hesitated a moment, then bobbed down and accepted the gift. “Tis a bribe, of course,” she thought. “But it shows how anxious the Court ladies and gentlemen are to have properly cut ruffs. That was Lord Breadford, and this glove is a token that he wishes to obtain my service.” Inside the glove Luce found three gold pieces and the next day her mother struck a bargain for her with my Lady Breadford —for the ruff had become such a rage that those who could make an elegant one could also make a fortune. A GOOD CATCH. A man keeping a poultry farm had a notice up: —“Eggs For Sale.” After a time he" gave up eggs and went in for horses. He still used the same sign by leaving out one letter. How did he do it ? Answer: —He covered up the first letter E. And so the sign read: G (ee) G (ee) 6 For Sale. « » * « One of the most terrible examples of reckless driving is a woman at work with a hammer and some nails,