BEAUTFUL ENGLISHWOMEN.

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

BEAUTFUL ENGLISHWOMEN.

As I walk about London nowadays I cannot help feeling that Englishwomen are really very attractive creatures states a writer in a London magazine. Tall and blonde, or small and brunette, they are a delight to the somewhat critical eye of one who has lived eight years in New York and Washington—the home of lovely ladies. Pick up a newspaper and look at the pictures of lovely mannequins, young Amazons of the tennis-courts and golf links, or slim, fearless sportswomen of the hunting field. Watch the business girls on their way to office and shop; trimly clad and brightly mackintoshed in rainy weather, they are a sight of which any city might be proud. Many of the saleswomen in the West End shops are beauties, with that rather aloof manner which is most irritating to the shopper at times, but vastly becoming to the young woman. Anyway, I had the surprise of my life. I have seen the most startingly lovely women since I came back to England; and, of course in addition to their physical charms, they have delightful voices. The “Talkies” have been a revelation as to how horrible a trans-Atlantic voice can be, even issuing from the lips of a Follies beauty! Yes, I am thoroughly proud of my countrywomen of to-day. I think they have improved amazingly in the last ten years. TABLE DECORATIONS. Have you ever thought out a black and white scheme of table decoration? Unusual for a table, perhaps, but remarkably effective. White flowers, of any variety, liberally interspersed with asparagus fern, should be arranged in black vases or bowls. Silver candlesticks carry tall candles, and are topped with white shades, on which are jolly little silhouetted figures in black. Black china, which is not unusual nowadays, completes the scheme. The table may look a little cold till your guests arrive, but the moment bright dresses are added to the general effect the change is magical. Table-mats of bevelled plate-glass are a novelty which makes for a charming new decorative scheme, they are laid flat upon the polished table-top, and one corner of each mat is decorated by an enormous tassel of coloured silk, which hangs from the table. Menu-holders, candlesticks, and candle-shades should, of course, tone with the tassels, and if you do not quite like the idea of the entire absence of linen, square mats in the same colour could be used beneath the glass mats. CHOOSING FOOTWEAR. There are Just one or two points you should pay attention to when choosing footwear. One is that too large shoes are just as bad for the feet as too small ones. You should have a glovelike fitting when shoes for special occasions are your choice. When it comes to heavy brogues for golfing or rough country wear, select an easier fitting or you will rue the day. Choosing footwear is like choosing frocks. The fact that you like a frock does not mean that you are going to look your best when wearing it. Buy shoes that give you comfort, taking time to chose them. For if your feet are uncomfortable, then everything is wrong. Walking in badly-fitting shoes, besides bruising your feet, crushing your toes into unnatural positions, encouraging corns, and ingrowing toe nails, tires your whole body, fosters wrinkles, and, by throwing your body out of gear, brings backache and other aches too numerous to mention. NOTHING NEW. People who believe that superfluous flesh is a modern problem will be surprised to hear that the Saxons had their remedies before the coming of the Normans. Plantain leaves boiled in vinegar, the whole added to wine and taken at night fasting, were a favourite remedy. A complete course extended over three weeks. A prettier recipe was waterlily seed pounded with wine.