MOTHER AND HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16353, 16 February 1921, Page 9

MOTHER AND HOME.

Ibo beauty of woman has now been geometrically diagnosed. According to the old Greek way. the head was generally reckoned as about one-eighth of the height, but ibis only applies to tail people. The following proportions however, are given bv a scienbeauty of all nations, and these differ slightly from the Greek standard: '• The height should be seven and a half times the length of the head, ten times the length of the face, nine times the length of the hand, and the leg four times the length of the head. The shoulders should be two heads wide, and. when standing erect, perfectly formed legs should touch at the knees, ihe caires, and the ankles.” MEASURING BEAUTY. In addition to these, we. have the following measurements, which artists generally recognise as a standard of beauty: The stretch of the thumb and middle finger should measure the length of the face ; the thumbs and same lingers should encircle the neck, while the thumb and middle finger should just go round the wrist. The arm. hanging down, should reach exactly half-way down the side, and the foot, which should be well arched, should be about, six and one-third times that of the height. STARCHED LINENDo not put away for any length of time linen that lias l>een starched. It is apt to crack. Rinse the articles quite tree from starch, dry, and fold up in blue paper. 'The latter prevents them from turning yellow. 11 E-USING ST A RCH. Alter you have finished starching, if you set the basin or bon 1 aside until the sediment settles, and pour off the water and leave the white substance for a day or two, it will harden into crystals again, and can be used repeatedly.

TIME-SAVING TIME. Much time and labour in preparing new potatoes for cooking may be saved iu the following manner. Place the potatoes in a pail with a little water: then stir round and round briskly with a fairly stout stick for a few minutes. When the water is poured off it will be found that most of the skin has been removed, and the little that remains is so loosened that tho .job inay be completed in a few minutes. LA MP-GLASS CLEA NI NG. Smoky lamp-glasses are very difficult to clean satisfactorily, as the black soot is hard to remove. To do this easily, plunge the lamp-glass into warm vinegar and water to which a little salt has been added, then polish with tissue paper. COAX THE INVALID. It is not the easiest thing in the world, even with the. best possible intentions, to call on invalids and leave them the brighter and the better for Hie visit. Indeed, there arc many people who should be forbidden the house in time of sickness, and amongst these arc the out grp ken people—Tho candid friends—who believe they hare a mission in life to speak the truth, tlie whole truth, and nothing but the truth .arid who overlook the fact that the truth ought not. to he spoken bluntly in all places and at all times. They forget, too, that an invalid is in an abnormal state and is mentally unfit to hear many things which in an ordinary state of health would not affect him or her in the slightest. Their nerves are all on edge, and they must be coaxed, and comforted, and humoured, just as if they were sick childrenDON’T STORE MEDICINE. It is a mistake to store up half-bottles of medicine on the off chance that they may be required again, for in the course of weeks or months the- chemical changes which invariably take place might so alter the natu.ro of tho mixtures as to render them harmful. One is reminded in this connection of the frugal old lady who insisted that her servants should finish the remainder of her bottles of medicine so that nothing thould be watted. WASHING WHITE CUflte Ail white clothes that are to be washed should be steeped in clear cold uuter for about .twelve hours or more. This process loosens the dirt, and so makes the labour of washing much easier. No soap and no soda should ho put into the steeping water, as it often turns clothes a bad colour. The first tlimg when this is done is to rub thoroughly the articles to be washed, either in the ftcepilig water or in lukewarm water. Hot water or soap should

uot, he used at this stage, else all the dm loosened by (he soaking will work into the material, and i bis is the cause oi discolouration. J.IGHT I.C\CH VALUEIf children breakfast at evht or hail-past they should bo gireu a cup ol milk and a biscuit before starting tor a morning walk, if tho midday moat range that tho children's din Vo'- sin, il be given at twelve o'clock, ami in tics case tho biscuits need uot bo given. DYEING MADRAS jUU.ILMN. .Shako the curtains so as to ftee them trout dust, then soak in clear told water. Next wash lightly in worm, soapy water until perfectly clean, and rtnse twice in cold water. Dir}- thoroughly, then make a strong solution < t tea, and souk the curtains m this leaving them ill to steep overnight, and covering over the pan -it wilt ■ t t.i 0 y arc placed. Squeeze out sn ntlv next day. place the curtains i.ctwec.’i’ c. a of brown ptijx-r, and pre.se" '• should be ironed whilst damn \ a starch should be used.