LADIES' COLUMN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13863, 27 March 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN.

Social Doings for the Week

(By Gliellie.) • Sirs Arthur El worthy is. visiting Palmerston North. Mi's Westmacott (Glenavy) is staying at Ettrick. Bank. Mrs and Miss Frere (Ashburton) arc the guests of Mrs M.. J. Ivnubley, Sarah street. _. , Miss Rubi Seddon wasr the guest of honour at several teas given; iti A\ ellingtou this week, on account.,ol Jier departure for England and the Continent.

Mr Timaru Rhodes, soil of Mrs Dr. Thomas, . arrived in Timani from England: on the 19th. Hi". and Mrs Thomas have issued invitations for a dance in the Assembly Rooms on April 14th, in honour of Mi- Timaru Rhodes. , . .

. Her Excellency Lady Plunkot was . unfortunately indisposed during her r recent visit to Wellington. She had -■ looked forward to presenting the prizes , won at Trentham, having .for a jnumber .of years taken the greatest ihr terest iVi volunteering,' arid is hon- " orary colonel of the Anniri Mounted ' Rifles, North Canterbury. .. ■ _ .. .. . r Miss Jessie Maclachian, .the/ Scottish l prima donna, Jias . announced her intention of visiting New Zealand and f Australia in about five years' time. .The J- visit will ' be' private', to enable lier; to '' pay a round of visits to her numerous y friends. . "Miss Maclachian (who in ¥' private- lifc> is ,yMns: Buchanan), will; 5 / probably be -accompanied by her only % son, who at present is studying at • v Edinburgh University. 5 Y V To-day, the- ladies branch of St.. John Ambulance Society will make an appeal to the people of South Canter- . bury for funds to carry on-the noble and' useful work that they have so much at heart. The people of, Timaru have always responded enthusiastically ! .i to worthytappeais, and I am sure they k- will require- no speei al; pressure to-day to respond to the call.: The ladies who r; have taken ..the. responsibility of carrying out and assisting;:?t the campaig^ deserve the liigliest praise .for -the humanitarian spirit that prompts theni to embark on the very arduous"duties to ; street collecting, necessary for funds to '- equip apnlianoes to relieve the suftering. Ambulance Saturday is aii an- - 5; nual day through N6w Zealand, notf ablv in the larger centres, aud. needless, 3- to'say; it is the means 5 has of getting assistance. To-day, I i believe, is the first Ambulance Saturday ' yet held in Timaru, and I am sure the - people will not allow their progressive : 'reputation to be in doubt. i The Cinderella dance given by Mrs > Curtis in the Assembly Rooms on W'eds nesday evening last was a very enjoys able function. Mr? Hurdley supplied ' excellent music, and the catering was under the direction of 'Mr 'A. Budd. Although the atmosphere was a trifle > warm, it did not interfere with the coms fort of the guests. Mrs Curtis wore a - becoming gown of black and lyhite ' striped silk. Miss .Glover, pale grev voile trimmed with black velvet and l cream lace. Miss Rita Glo.vcr, cream > voile r. over ? green..., Miss -Finch, • pretty 1 frock of palc pink : mousse}ine. ; with touches of green. Miss Beswick, white muslin and lace with pale blue bows. : Miss Renfree, pale blue silk. Miss i Auld, cream frock. Miss ■ Poiitifex, i wisteria ninon and creani lace. Miss ' Young, white mousseline and lace. .: Miss Calder, white muslin frock. Misses Grant (2), white mousselin. Miss Gardiner, pale pink muslin. Miss Charters, ' cream frock. ' ( r ; Mrs and' Miss Hall-Jones first ap- . pearance in London, society was at a dinner given in their honour at the Savoy restaurant after their . arrival "England.'The Earl a" Countess of Clancarrv, the Hon. : Adniirar Sir' TSdmund " and Ladv Fremantle, Sir John and Lady Moody, Sir Lambert Ormsby and Colonel Boynton. Several New Zealand ladies have beAi through a London season, including' Mrs Seddon and four of her daughters, Lady and Miss Ward, Colonel and. Mrs Chaytor, Marlborough, and the Misses VavasoUr, "Ugbrooke," Marlboro : The South Canterbury Jockey Cl'ib ; were favoured with delightful w.eathcr for their autumn:meeting- Oil- Wednesday aijd Thursday of this week. The ' attendance was not quite Up to expectations; the autumn meeting, somehow seems to be less popular ■ than tb® spring meeting. Several'. leading people were absent, including Mrs Arthur Elworthy, who is at Palmerston North at present. I noticed some ' tasteful toilettes worn, on Wednesday, principally tailor-made costumes : m striped and tweeds. The hats were very smart indeed, very wide and shadv, and wings being prominent tor the trimming. The present fashionable season has been more important than previous; ones. Quite. 4 number of afternoon at homes have been given, and there have been some fashionable wedding and farewell teas- and. .bridge,parties to departing-people,:-, therefore • new frocks have been seen to advantage. Mrs Percy Elworthy was daintily .gowned, iu, white- embroidered, linen, and wore- a pretty maiive liat With violets. Mrs Herbert Elworthy, 'olive green' cloth, white ostrich feathei boa, purple hat. Mrs E. M. Arthur,: myrtle green cloth, white ostrich ■feather boa, green hat trimmed with violets and wings. Miss Mcßeatli, -light grey costume, large grey and reel ■liat Misses Raine, smart costumes ot cream souple cloth, high domed hats Miss Joan Raines' being trimmed with cream and pink roses. Mis k'»>tl son <Tcy tailor-made costume, hand somely braided, cream satin vest embroidered, cream hat with black ostrich plumes. Mrs Bristol, black voile trained gown, trinimed-with lace, h\wk and white toque. Miss Bristol, white dress Miss Howell, lovely frock of green eolienne, with deep yoke of cream lace, cream and green picture hat. Mrs Loughnan, blue ancl uhlte striped taffetas, large black Thomas, dark blue gown, black ai d white hat. Miss Rhodes, cream cJotl . Mrs Arthur Courtis, bottle green clc, embroidered white, J lor-made : postumes of ■ daik « tweed: Miss Burns, dark green sfc "Pf l tweed, smart hat with black and white wings- . | THE SERVANT PROBLEM. i HAS FRANCE SOLVED IT? ' (Bv Louise I'renchO ' Mv -French" friends laugh at _our Servant Problem. ' They shrug their shoulders over the misdemeanours of "Mary Jane," and the delinquencies of '-James." : ' , "Whv not keep a, bonne onlj . asked Yvonne vivaciously,. when a friend hid- been grumbling about her housemaid and cook. "1 ou have but a small house. See. And she vouchsafed to explain how one capable maid could quite easily do theprovided tlie mistress gave a... little help in the mornings. - 1 saw Lucy's eyebrows go up. Lucy is an ordinary middle-class matron, with an ordinary-sized house, -and'twoordinary servants, yet she always looks worried and distressed.

"Oh, those servants againJL"-.js ; .liQr

Hence, when Yvonne suggested that slie-should try one instead of two she was naturally amazed. Except to give the. daily orders, I suppose Lucv never enters the kitchen, and certainly she would never think of interfering, with the; household work itself. Yet how different it is, in French middle-class lionies, where one good general, or " bonne," is- the usual thing. The Frenchwoman takes a pride iu her home, and thinks no part of the work beneath her, while as a rule misti-nss and maid work m complete harnionv With each other. ■ ■

I1E1? PERQUISITES. The "bonne" rises eaily, the light ,JM'o"ch breaklast . is, soon disposed of then " Marie" picks up her marketmg. basket and sallies forth on what is the most important errand of the day. - A consultation is held between mistress and maid; they decide what shall lie bought , and " Marie " sets

She is scrupulously honest; she woulc] never rob her mistress of a sou, but she aiid " Madame'' know that certain perquisites are hers, and no are raised anent these. If ilarie change to another butcher nri. " ICa n l ?e .quite as. good, the pi.ice will remain ; ;the same, but the Butsher'No 2 SSf t !Mi " ! be " ec - * er ™

o Kie I.rench; "- bonne " .selects.' every-thing-herself ,- she does not trust to the tradesman, and she knows that' by doing „iie marketing slie is saving her s pocket-as ;well ,as "reflecting u edit ,on since the meals she piepares will be made with the best of e>eiything Sh visits the market instoad of the shops, as heire she has a better choice of goods, particularly egetaliles, butter, and eggs, and these U ' leo ; "' e us # iiiuch more freely in place of meat in France than here. Y tte ? e nough a meal is quite the subject of conversation in France, even Monster " throwing in his word. But tlie I'vench domestic really prides herself on? her cooking; she loves to be praised; and her mistress knows.it. nqr does .she forget to do .so at the right minute. ' - b

VLL , Y ONE 0F THE FAMILY. : ; Marie's" honest face flushes with pride: "Madame's" guests have'heard that she is a treasure; she retires to lier kitchen; beaming all over,, resolved to surpass herself the next' time. What though there are extra plates and dishes with company. "Madame" appreciates her services. Is that not ample? , l".d (, ed, I'e.re 1 thiuk lies the real secret of the success of the servahfc question in France. The French servant is not treated as a menial; she is esteemed a worthy member of tlie household, one of the family,' in fact ; and opinion is sought and deference paid "t'6 her suggestions in a. way that is almost unknown here.

What giiistress, for. instance, would think of asking, her ' " general " the style of snibeking she thought would suit best little Miss Margery's blouse? But in France such a thing" would not be thought odd. \ l Marie gives her opinion, and often helps to fashion the garment ; _ is. invited ■to assist in the family consultation when the annual holiday is contemplated; she criticises her mistress's wardrobe, asks her advice when she wishes to; buy new clothes, antl. in short, considers herself " one of the family."

USEFUL HINTS

For removing finger marks from miriois, put a lew diops of ammonia on a- moist ciorn aiid rub the blurs with it. Mirrors which are specked should be washed with cold water, and polished with a cloth dipped in alcohol. When ah egg has been boiled too long it can be softened instantly again by lifting the pan off the fire, 'quickly placing undeffr the tap, and allowing a good stream of cold water to pour'oyer . .-The; Sudden shock - from < hot to ' coId"-linis the curious effect of softening the egg.

When a. \yall is. so soft and loose that a nail driven into it for a picture or ia bracket will not hear the weight of. the latter, it may easily be remedied. Mix a little plaster of Paris in »i-tea'cup with some water. Scoop out a small hole in the wall with a screwdriver, fill it with the plaster, and then

insert the nail gently. : It will set quite hard in a minute or -so, and the nail will then be perfectly secure. When chromos require cleaning, remove all dust with a . feather brush, and-wipe carefully with a soft chamois skin, or fine linen cloth, very slightly dampened. If a little spotted or dull, a drop of oil oil the chamois will remove it. If the varnish is dull -or rubbed off, rc-varnish. with thin mastic varnish. Like oil paintings, it is not desirable to hang chromos in a dark room; but never expose them to the clrect rays of the sun. ;;

Cheese is a very valuable article of diet,: containing a. large amount of nourishment at a small cost. Unfortunately, it is not very easily digested by persons of sedentary habits. Cooked cheese is more easily digested than uncooked cheese, and this digestibility is further increased by the addition of apinch of - bi-tarbonate of. potash to every dish cooked. The. bi-carbnate; of potash not only makes the cheese more easily digested, but it replaces the valuable.'potash salts which are left behind in the wliey when the cheese is made. Camphor will. not stop the ravages of moths in carpets after the insects have cominenced eating. : Nor will they , then pay any regard to the pre-sence',-of,-cedar or tobacco. A good wax in-which to kill them is to'take a coarse; crash towel aud wring it put of- clean- water, spread it smoothly on the: carpet, and then iron it dry with a- good hot iron, repeating the operation oil all suspected places, and those, least used.? The prbcess does not injure tlie 'pile or colour 'of the carpet in the least; and it is not necessary to press hard, heat and steam being the. agents, and they do the work effectually ou worms and eggs. , The labour of-boot cleaning may be greatly 'decreased by the;; use of a little glycerine: 1 Brush the boots free from dust, then rub the glycerine well into the leather with n-j cloth. Let . them nearly dry,' and 'brush with a soft brush. If the boots have been blackened, it will give them an excellent polish; if not, it will give tjiem the appearance of newness.. They will be fourid : to keep their polished state for at least three or four days by simply brushing them occasionally. It not only keeps them a good colour, but makes them soft and comfortable. No blacking is required.

WEARERS OF GEMS. No turquoise ought ever to be exposed to the action of soapy water, as ' when ; the hands are washed. Tlie best'turquoise gems are of a, delicate tint of blue, but if a turquoise ring is kept on the hand when washing, in; a few months, sometimes in a few weeks, the blue stone changes to a dingy green, loses its lustre, and becomes worthless as a; gem.

No gems ought ever to be exposed to hot water. Opals generally lose their fire, and, sometimes crack in water even no hotter, than the hand will bear, arid "perhaps that is one reason why the opal is considered an unlucky stone.

Pearls require to be carefully looked after. A pearl is nothing but carbonate of lime, and vinegar or any otlier acid will eat. off the polish in a fe.w ininutes. . , All coloured gems are litble to fade a little- on exposure to the r sunlight, and when not*in use 'should be kept in the dark.

WHY JAPANESE GIRLS ARE ; PRETTY. It is said o fthe dainty little Japanese woman that she is a past mistress of all arts of beauty, and the culture cjf: prettiness, health, and freshness, is quite, a rite with her. . One .of hi&r secrets of beauty, and one which endows her with that attractive air of exquisite neatness, is the ..marvellous cai^s" she; bestows ' oii her ..garments.. - Slie riiay wear a silk gown /that' is iages Jplfl, 4 bnt it is so beautifully kept: tlia:t s it-a'ppcars ever fresh and nncreased.' ■

One rarely sees stout Japanese girls or matrons. They are very careful of their slender forms, and this is liow they keep them slim: They never eat rich foods and confections. They are -up at sunrise, and the daily bath is a religion; for of all women in the world, the Japanese are devotees of the tub. An hour is devoted every day to a very careful toilet by. the humblest little woman in Japan, and for the art of an innocent " making-up" she has imperfect genius. The care she bestows on her hair is remarkable, and it is brushed and dressed with an. infinite care, scented and rolled off lior white, wide forehead- —a typical Japanese beauty—in softest, smoothest rolls, guiltless of curls and kinks. The Japanese girl's hair always grows low on the forehead, and this is' one of the reasons why ■ it lends itself so charmingly to the quaintly becoming national coiffure. Her complexion is more of a rich olive than anything else; but her skin is very clear and soft; and the? coritrast afforded by "the dusky hair; kept purposely dark by applications of scented oil, .and the' flashing teeth", bleached to. snowy whiteness, makes the Japanese woman a beauty a decided and piquant little beauty, too. .