LADIES’ COLUMN.

Thames Star, Volume LX, Issue 16959, 4 December 1926, Page 2

LADIES’ COLUMN.

NO HUSBAND CREED OF A QUEER SECT. Dressed in the fashion of 50 years •ago, a young woman with a peach-like ooinplexion, turquoise blue eyes, and nut-brown hair, twisted round her head in innumerable, small plaits, walked along a lane in the Sussex weald recently to attend a meeting at the Dependent Church (says a woman correspondent from London). She might have served as a model of a Dicken’s heroine. She loked as if Nature had designed her for love and laughter, with a dash of wistful tenderness and sentiment. But in the course of a talk we had together, she said : “J. am not interested in theatres, picture houses, fashions, games, or men. When my day’s work is done T devote my leisure to prayer and the service of others.

“T. belong to the Dependents. We think it better that men and women should not marry. lam fond of children. But we think it better not to incur the grave responsibility of bringing souls into the world. That is why we do not regard the birth of a child as an occasion for rejoicing. “If we knew for certain that a baby would grow up in the love of God, we might think differently. But who knows the fate of the soul of a baby ?” With serious eyes the lovely young woman put this question to me with passionate sincerity. Then she bowed modestly, took the arm of another young woman, clothed like herself in a short, tight-fitting black jacket, long skirt, and black bonnet,'and went on her way to church. Loxwood is more than 10 miles from Horsham, the nearest town. But in this remote village are gathered together some 100 men and women from various parts of England. They alre here to take part in a service which, beginning yesterday will not end until to-morrow night. Theirs is possible the most austere form of faith to lie found outside of monasteries and convents. “They put no bar on our members.” “They are not forbidden to play games, for instance. But none of them do. They admit husbands and wives, but the unmarried who join them never wish to marry.” ✓ The Dependents were founded 70 years ago by John Sirgood, the village cobbler, who lies buried in the graveyard attached to the small brick and tile church. There are no headstones above the graves, but the resting placo of the founder is marked with a small oak tree

There iare seven churches scattered throughout the country, hut the head church is here, and the leader is Mr Harry Ay]ward, who has closed his village stores for two days in order To devote himself to the long service. I attended the section of the ser vice which began at half-past two Mr. Aylward, a large Bible in front ol him, sat in the centre of a long bench facing the congregation. The Dependents believe music other than that of their own voices to bo unseemly, and they sang hymns with great energy, but without any agreement as to the key. There is no prearranged form of worship. Anyone may speak. I was told that if I liked to speak my words would be heartily welcomed. As 1 "'as the only woman present with short hair, and as 1 was a little conscious of the reproving eyes of the bonnetted women 1 left the church after the first hymn, which went on for a very long time. Loxwood is well accustomed to the austere men and women of their village who belong to this ascetic sect, and to the visiting Dependants. “We have nothing but good to say of them,” said the village postmaster. “They aren’t always so mournful looking aS you see them to-day,” the chauffeur of the car which brought mo from Horsham remarked. “You should just see how they brighten up when "there’s a funeral.’ I had charge of a funeral party not long ago, and you would have thought it was a wedding, the way they laughed and sang.”

WHEN YOUlt LOCKS ABE SILVER

The most important point is preserving the sheen of silvered hair is to choose the right shampoo when you come to wash it. Here is one you can make for yourself. It is used by a celebrated silver-haired beauty. Strain the three whites from the yolks of three eggs, beat them to a froth with three tablespoousful of warm water, a teasponoful of powdered borax, and a teaspoonlul of white curd soap finely shredded. Keep .on beating till the soap is dissolved, then use. Rinse the hair till the water runs clear away, adding a slight squeeze of the blue-bag to the last rinsing water Dry the scalp well with a towel, then dry the hair in the open air when possible, or by fanning. If you dry it in front of the fire it has a tendency to turn la yellowy-grev, which is an ugly shade. Everyone whose hair is grey longs

for it- to turn a glorious silver that nothing but Nature can give. But even that all too rare silver can be spoilt if you use certain tonics. _ Nothing must ever be applied to silvery locks that will spoil their hue. So be content to rub a little tfhite vaseline into the scalp if you’re troubled will dandruff. If you happen to want anything to give it more sheen, smear a little toilet paraffin over your hairbrush before brushing your hair. Only use a very little and see that your brushes are always scrupulously clean. Give your hair a nightly drill. Just before going to bed comb any fringe or short hairs over your face, and brush briskly for five minutes, finishing by pressing the brushes through the hair till their brustles touch your scalp. Then part hair down the centre and brush, taking care that the brushes touch the scalp each time. Brush with firm, even strokes from the parting right down to the ends of the hair. Then part the back of the hair and brush in the same way, then tho sides, and so on until every bit of your scalp has been treated. At least one a week give your hair, unloosened if long, a sun bath or an air bath, if there’s no sun. Never keep your hat on any longer than ne cessary. When your locks are silver you must treat them kindly. - They will rep'H-y you well if you take care ol them.—Women’s Weekly.