MOTHER AND HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16908, 6 December 1922, Page 10

MOTHER AND HOME.

* Choosing AYall Papers.—To-day the. cost of decorating wails is so high that it is necessary to select papers care fully and in the knowledge that they will have to be lived with for a long time. Many patterns appear charming at first, but. after a few months they get on one's nerves, and one wonders how one could have chosen them. For bedrooms particularly it is advisable to choose small, unobtrusive designs which will not get hopelessly mixed up. or resolve themselves into irritating mathematical problems when seen from a, sick-bed. Plain walls invite decorative hangings and draperies, and whereas most women can manage successful curtains and “ frills,” it is not all who can change the wall covering** at will. Suitable Tennis Garb-—lt is wise to keep special sets of underwear for tennis. The best kind of set includes a plain white silk vest or chemise, knickers on elastic to match, light sports corset and brassiere of cellular mesh, and a. very short princess petticoat of white Jap, cotton crepe, or Luvisea, trimmed with hemstitching only. Never wear undies much trimmed with lace and ribbons for tennis ; nor anything of a very flimsy nature. And see that all shoulder-straps are very strong. Those of self-material are better than ribbon ones obviously.

Beware of the Sunlight.--It- is always a mistake to hang coloured un dies out in strong sunlight : there is nothing like sunlight for taking the colour out of things, particularly from fine materials such as silks and voiles. Sunlight is excellent for bleaching white underwear and making it a. good colour ; but it only fades coloured fabrics. A point to be observed in the washing of coloured unclies is to avoid the use of strong soaps and soap powders. Always use a good mild soap, and do not have the water too hot. A tablespoonful of ammonia in the water preserves the colours wonderfully. Rinse silk undies in warm water-, voiles, particularly the more silky Ararieties, are also best rinsed in warm water, though cold does not liar in them.

The Copper Fire.—There are not a few housewives who just hate having to light a copper fire, “because it won't draw,” and they forget that the draught is quite different from that of an ordinary grate. The. coal should he put in first, and pushed to the back: then the wood should follow, and then the paper—all in a line. That’s the wav to get the copper fire going in two minutes.