TRAVELLING AT NIGHT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18382, 28 September 1929, Page 14

TRAVELLING AT NIGHT.

I am one of those poor unfortunates upon whom the luxury of a sleeper is entirely wasted, for I wake with every screech of the brakes; or rather, I fail to go to sleep between screeches of brakes, states a London writer. There are many others of like disability, so our enforced night travel is more economically taken sitting up in an ordinary compartment. But even that can be rendered more comfortable by a little preparation and forethought. In at attache-case pack a pair of comportable bedroom slippers, not so loose as to allow the feet to get cold, but not so tight they are noticeable. Take also a light georgette to wrap around the head V.A.D. fashion—georgette because, worn double, it is still so light as to be negligible, but sufficiently dense to keep travel dust from the hair. Take further, a sponge, some soap leaves and a small towel. If there is congestion in the “washing” department in the morning, if the sponge has been made damp before departure, a perfunctory wash may be Indulged in in the carriage till one alight at the frontier of one’s destination, or is otherwise able to carry out the ablutions properly. Some smelling salts in case of train sickness, an air cushion, and some fruit to be eaten if a restaurant car meal is neither tempting nor available, are also useful stand-bys. Finally, do not forget a pair of old loose wash-leather gloves. Ungloved hands in the train not only get travelstained but uncomfortbaly dry as well DRESS PROTECTION. Dust penetrates the best of wardrobes and cupboards, and clothes hanging there certainly need some protection. Some folks retain shabby nightdresses for the purpose, and others buy fabric dress bags, but both of these are bulky, and take up a great deal too much room. The up-to-date method is to use long transparent fabric which fit over the coat hangers, and not only keep the garment free from dust, but also keep it flat and uncreased. Dresses thus protected occupy the minimum amount of space. The envelope is made of a transparency something like cellophane, but much tougher. YOUR PIANO. For cleaning the inside of the piano and freeing it from dust and fluff, the vacuum cleaner will do excellent work. It will attack the dust that has settled between the strings and the hammers without damage of their delicate adjustment. The case comes next on the list. If it has had regular attention it will need nothing more than a rub with a soft leather, but if it has not been polished for some time, then an application of a good furniture cream is essential.

Last of all, pay attention to the keys. It is inadvisable to wash them with water, for however careful one is, the water is likely to penetrate between the keys. Methylated spirits is a much better cleaner for the purpose. Use a pieje of soft clean flannel, and gently rub away the dirt on each key, black and white, has been treated separately, and finished off with another soft rubber. give the entire keyboard a final polishing with a soft chamois leather. WCIJEN STAMP DESIGNERS. Women outside the Royal circle figure so seldom on stamps that the emergence of a new one is an event. It is this that makes the modest 50 centime stamp France issued recently in honour of St. Joan of Arc of such wide general interest, but it is a poor little stamp and is no credit to the artist, engraver, or the printer. St. Joan we can match with our own warrior saint?, St. Ursula, who figures on the stamps of the Virgin Isles, states an English writer. Still keeping outside Royal circles, there are the stamps women have designed, of which the finest was the beautiful series issued by Irak, which were designed by Miss Cheeseman and Mrs C. C. Garbett, and appeared in 1923, and two of the designers of the present Irish issue are due to Miss L. Girling and Miss L. Williams.