IN GRANDMOTHER’S DAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN GRANDMOTHER’S DAYS.

I way taking tea with a dear o(d lady of ninety years of age.a few days ago, and. you can imagine my surprise when, after the meal, the maid brought in some' hot water and a small towel. The dear old lady smiled .and, noticing: (my 'astonishment, laid down the towel. . „ “Have you never seen this done ? she - asked.

I admitted that I hadn’t. '•‘Oh',” she went on, as she took up some of the delicate china and commenced to wash it in the extra large slop-basin, “When I was a girl, the best china was never allowed to leave the .drawing-room., I have done, this little bit of washing-up all my life.” She concluded the task, and the maid carefully replaced the,rose-coloured teacups and plates in the corner cupboard. “So that is why the slop basin is so big?” I said. - , “Yes,” answered my hostess, “and that is why there is so much old china ■in the. world to-day. We looked after our<' treasures in the old days. We didn’t trust them to the tender mercies of our maids, however careful they may have been.”