NOTES FOR WOMEN

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16643, 13 November 1925, Page 2

NOTES FOR WOMEN

SOCIAL NOTES. One of the passengers on the Shaw, Savil, and Albion Co.’s boat ,the Osterlev, which arrives in Sydney to-day, is Miss Ysobel Amies (IP Armes). She is coming to visit her sister, Mrs Sliel ford-Bidwell, of Thames. Miss Armes, who was a personal friend of the late Lord Kitchener, was senior surgical nurse at his hospital at Lydd—the base where the big guns were tested. Also owing to her fluent knowledge of both French and German she has made many hazardous trips to prison camps. Miss Armes will be remembered by scores of New Zealand soldiers as having thrown open her house, “The Croft,” Searcale, Cumberland, for the use of the wounded from New Zealand. Hundreds of letters of sympathy were received last May and June by Miss Armes on the sudden death of her mother from bron-cho-pneumonia from soldier friends in the Dominion. Miss Armes was a singer of renown having received instruction from the late Paolo Tosti—whose song “Good-hve,” was always demanded by audiences in England for an encore from her. A severe nervous breakdown having necessitated a change, Miss Armes is coming to the Dominion to prove- the truth of the wonderful accounts her sister has written to her of the glorious climate and marvellous scenery of New Zealand. QUEEN ELIZABETH’S SILK STOCKINGS. Few houses are richer in memories of Queen Elizabeth than the Marquess of Salisbury’s home at Hatfield. The old Palace of Hatfield, of which part is still standing, was the royal nursery for the children of King Henry VIII., and first the home and then the prison of the Princess Elizabeth until her accession to the throne on the death of her sister Queen Mary. The Morning Post in an article on the subject of Elizabethan relics, gives the following description of some of the possessions of Queen Elizabeth still in existence at Hatfield. ELIZABETH’S SMALL FEET.

There is a pair of yellow silk stockings beautifully knitted with a twisted silk, like a rather fine purse twist of the present day. The foot part is plain, and the rest a diamond pattern, the back has a fancy open-work seam. The tops are finished with a broad yellow sarcenet ribbon. The Queen's feet were small; she would have taken a modern size 3 shoe! Her first taste for silk stockings was formed on January Ist, 1559, when Prince John of Sweden came to offer his New Year’s greeting to her Majesty, and on that occasion Mistress Montague, her Majesty’s silk-woman brought for her a gift a pair of black silk stockings. These the Queen wore for several days, and so. pleased was she with them that

Items of social interest and topics relating to the home are invited. Communications must be accompanied by the name and address of the writer. Notices of engagement must be signed by one at least of the principals, or by some responsible person, as a guarantee of genuineness.

she sent for Mistress Montague and asked her “from whence she had them and if she could help her to any more?” Another account says that she destroyed her cloth hose, saying she would onlv wear silk in future. LEATHER RIDING-COAT. Another exhibit is a riding coat worn by the Queen. "This garment, which is of great weight, has the body part made of undyecl leather ,half an inch thick, with sleeves of the same but much thinner, in order to ollow of free movement. The front is laced from top to bottom through small holes punched at equal intervals. The skirts of the coat are very full, with a most fashionable modern flair. The sleeves are buttoned at the wrists by six plaited silk buttons, the buff colour of the leather, The whole is lined with red taffeta. A GARDEN HAT. Her Majesty’s garden* hat shows a distinct resemblance in general appearance to the fashions of to-day, coupled with an attention to detail of which the modern milliner is entirely guiltless. This very elaborate head-gear is made of cane for a foundation, carefully tied into shape, and the spaces afterwards most ingeniously woven in with finest straw in a lace-like pattern eviderntly founded on the Italian rcticella lace, then just becoming so modish in Europe. The hat is lined with the Queen’s favourite red taffetas. MOTHER AND HOME. Few housewives know that iron rust may be removed from white dresses by rubbing the spot with a ripe tomato, covering it with salt, letting it dry in the sunlight, and finally washing the garment in clear, warm water.

To Clean Window Blinds.—This is a good way to clean buff or creamcoloured window blinds. First remove any trimmings, and wash them in hot, soapy water, then rinse them in borax water, and press them on the wrong side with a hot iron. Next bake some flour in a dish in the oven; lay the blind flat on a table, dust it with a clean cloth, then clip a piece of flannel in tjie flour, and rub the blind evenly with it. Take fresh flour and flannel when soiled. Polish the blind with a clean, soft cloth, sew on the trimmings again, and replace it in the window.

Soap Economy.—All scraps of soap, whether of the household or toilet variety, slmld he saved. Scraps of household soap can be converted into a soap jelly and used for cleaning purposes. Scraps of toilet soap should be stored in a clean jam par. When the jar is full place it in a saucepan of water, and let the water continue boiling until the soap melts, stir well, and add a lew drops of scent, such as lavender, eau-de-Cologne, or orris-root. Then pour the soap into a mould and allow it to set. When quite cold remove it, and you will find you have quite a nice cake of soap.

To Make Starch.—Boiled starch is generally used for all ordinary purposes, and is made by mixing the starch to a smooth paste with cold* water, and then adding boiling water, stirring all the time. It is essential that the water should be boiling, for it is only boiling water which will burst the starch grains and thicken the mixture. For thick starch, to four tablespoonfuls of starch should be added a quart of boiling water, and the quantities should be increased in proportion. The rule is that 0 the thinner • the material the thicker the starch. For example, muslin requires a. much thicker starch than table linen. The boiled starch should be diluted until it is quite liquid for table linen. The starch should be kept hot until the garments are ready. Then soak them in the starch and put them loosely through the wringer. Hot Irons must always be used when ironing the starched garments. Before putting anything hot into a glass dish, place the dish in a cold, damp cloth, and there will be no danger of its cracking. Jam Making.—When fruit is plentiful every housewife who has the opportunity should make jam for winter use. Buy good, sound fruit. Bo very careful to use only dry and not overripe fruit, and see that your sugar is of the very best quality, otherwise it will spoil the flavour and prevent the jam keeping. Copper is the best material for a. preserving pan; the next best is a cast-iron enamelled stewpan. Tin should never be used. When the jam is made pour it into clean, very dry jams, cover them with parchment paper lids, and keep them in a cool, dry place. WOMEN THE WORLD OYER. JOHN BROWN AND DACGHTER S Lady Rhondda, wklio is well-known in England and abroad, as director of manj r important companies, and who has played no small part in the world of affairs, was one of the leading speakers at the recent conference of women held at Wembley. In a speech that attracted widespread attention, she urged fathers to take their daughters into partnership as they would their sons. There should, she declared, be more names reading, “John Brown and Daughters,” instead of “John Brown and Sons.” Lady Rhondda herself was trained in business by her father, who was one of the rich coal-owners of Wales. JN THE FIELD OF MATRIMONY— Margaret Kennedy, musician and author, is about to explore another field, for her engagement is announced to Mr. David Davis, a brilliant barrister, who was formerly secertary to Mr. Herbert Asquith. Miss Kennedy’s novel, “The Constant Nymph,” is the subject of'perhaps the most consistent publicity given to modern fiction. AMONG THE STARS— Astrology has entered into a new lease of life in the present generation and the old “science” has many thousan Is of adherents in every civilised country. A feminine “star gazer,” Miss Belle Bart, who has an international reputation, is the director of the American Academy of Astrology, and recently visited Paris to place her deductions as to the solution of France’s present problems before the

INTO THE PASTOne of a little group of women who are doing valuable scientific work, at tlieir own expense, Miss D. A. M. Bate has recently been making investigations in Palestine, on behalf of the ritisli Museum. The object of the visit is to investigate recent discoveries and to help to determine the remains of the fossil mammals of the glacial epoch. Miss Bates has been engaged on similar work in Cyprus, Crete, and, other Mediterranean islands. A JAPANESE REFORMER— Miss Matsouka is one of the prominent Japanese women who have, paradoxically, gone abroad in order to help their country more. When quite young she decided to devote her life to the betterment of conditions for the women of her country, and, with the consent of her father, went to America where she became an expert in social science. She hopes, in the future, to combine the best of the old, with the newer ideas in building up Japanese life. FOLLOWER OF MUSSOLINI— The first woman Fascist has made her appearance in America. On a recent visit to Italy, Mrs John Adams Drake was received by Signor Mussolini, and expressed fervent admiration for the Roman dictatorship. She is president of an Italian relief society, and has been honoured by the Pope and the Italian Government.