THE FRENCH FAMILY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 27 September 1924, Page 18

THE FRENCH FAMILY

<Bv PATLINK COURLANDKR.) The very m orels ‘‘Trench I* amity conjure up a picture ot somethin, solid; something riveted by temveu Lions, affections and legal protection The I'rench t'amily hangs togethe more solidly than the swarming bees and Ss as businesslike as they in it outlook on life. The French boys am girls changed much during the war they are allowed «* great deal mop freedom in minor matters, and pla: more outdoor games than their parent ever dreamt of. The poet who m rote : ** In Franco the children have ; bonne, Their clothes arc always tight 1; done, And these impediment - combined Produce a sober frame ot mind ’’ is uo longer unite correct, but if, in 'lead of clothes, he would siibstitun •parental authority.” and niauug* not to interfere with the metre, then would bo every reason tor us to ex claim “ How true!” FRENCH FRUGALITY. I'apa and Mam an n« v<*r lei go th« purse strings; nor th**ir right to voice in every family council ; nor tip pleasure of going without things -■ that their children may have ali th< more. The children's children eom< in for their share, and often a Frenel family consists ot three goneiation Irving together for the sake <» economy, and for the ramificatiou o the social walls round the family. TRIUMPHANT AG E. In the lower middle classes, it i quite usual for the grandparents t' have the entire upbringing of tin grandchildren, while both parents can a little more than is needed. ’I hi ■ lattie extra ” is put away tor a do for the daughter anti a start in lit« lor the son, and is presently added t< iluo grandparent’s Uttle hoard Am so the tale rolls on ” as the bln hoardings say, but. it dot's not roll a: lar as it would in England or America for the French head of a la mile ha: more frugal ideas of wealth and like! to retire from business at the age o fifty or so. and thenceforward dovot< himself entirely to the family, all tin available members of which he like: to keep in a little house on the Alarm or in Normandy if ne is a Northerner and, probably, in Provence it he is < Southerner. This passion for protecting his o\t t family makes a constant point of ar gument between the French and Eng lisk. The Frenchman, whose logic r proverbial, argues that ir everyone provided for his own family, then would he no need for charity, anti h< shrugs his shoulders at the English man with the ever-open hand ready u give to endless funds, but who doe; not even provide a dot for his da ugh tea's, and who makes his >ons begin ai the beginning—and end there too, tin less they are ambitious. The same urge which makes tlv French father save money to protec the future of his family makes hin build a aortal wall round it tn protec the present. Only relations and . as the dinner table, and even the’' few intimate friends penetrate a- fai would not dream of penetrating with out formal invitation.

HAIR CARE IN SPRING. EXTRA ATENTTOX AND TREATM ENT NEC ESS AR Y. Unless n little extra attention is given to the scalp during the early ilays of spring there is apt to Ik* a heavy loss of hair during the following autumn. APPLYING A TONIC. Whether the hair be greasy or dry a ton?c should be applied regularly every night for three or four weeks, with at least ten minutes’ massage of t he. fccalp. This stimulates the roots irid gives the hair renewed vitality. In the morning the scalp should be massaged with die tips of the fingers just moistened with a. little warm water The scalp should not be allowd to become wet. The water is merely used to moisten slightly the fingertips, so as to make it easier to apply the massage. The average woman’s hair suffers from a lack of sufficient ventilation, for •veil at night u is generally >.» tightly Waited that it is impossible lor the lir to circulate through it. Once a v.eek. for an hour at least, the hair ■should be allotted to hang perfectly tou&c, *o that it may have a thorough

„! -pr-n.l'tlJt U;" nir ..n I. sunny .In, \\ h.-n no s_o.cJ. ii is iivnilnhtn she should sii nt on open j ho' nvn” "ml''improve" "the ! urmvth. Inn will nriuhron its rolour j and make it. light and silky. (.’LIPPING AND SINGEING. 'l«> increase the growth at least half an inch should be clipped off the hair: in the cum* of vow long liajr an inch till do no harm. Singei,,.' B l< > recommended tthc, the hair is very •" "hi.!. ..ns tire srissors will | probably not reach the shorter porTROUBLE. lies in your otvn imagination, and 1 .Marcus Auivli i>. 1 !iis was tic view ol Marcus Aurelius and it is exactly the view ol theichoanahsts tu-dav. W.- take a little child on our knee, to administer comlon ; hut lirst of all l we get Itiiti to •oiifide in u-. • \V dun's ! the trouble. s '” uo ask. M Imn lie has told us. we deal with the trouble, explaining here, adjusting there. And tin little child slips from our knee, and into the sunshine, eompletelv in tunc with the infinite. But there is no to adjust things for us. We ran only he eompletelv h ippv v- h''U we fie in tunc, and yet ir it. is "in own trouble that we have to face and conquer before uo , an reach that -•'<;ing it prepurn tor\ to eliminating ii from our mind altogether. It i- *our trouble. *’ In a wav. uo on jov it.- Wo do not want "a leaser thing it: a tie of it. Wo like to tLink ourselves unique in run -nfferino. Wo should bo louclv without tin- feeling of silent martyrdom. And all the time the greater par:, of this trouble lie-. a- Marcus Aurelius tells us. in our imagination. All the time. too. it is holding us back I from getting on with our work in the world. We become, introspective and wrapped up in ourselves and our suffering. Wo hate the idea of meddling with it and pulling it asunder, and find that. per. imps, after all. there is nothing much there. \\\- can prove to the little child that his trouble is non-ex is-tont. but it is a far harrier thing to step out into the sunshine ourselves. W M CHILDREN’S FOOD IN SUMMER. The- modern mother, with her een?e of food values, realises that it a child is to be healthy it requires a. totally different food in summer than it does in the winter. No longer does it need soups and gravies, suet puddngs and lots of hot milk- Neither u- require so much sugar. At the some time, diet should not go to the other extreme and consist only of fruit and vegetables and no other nourishing fend The bodv requires nourishment, but l.ut much heat as in the wmlm The food given to a child should l,e light but good. Instead of porridge hr breakfast. egg> should he frequently, and if they are cooked m different w ays—boiled one day, scram-

l‘tc'l nnothry. pnar-hed another, and ..II the r-tijid will nnr tir- ..f 'lien Bnnana.' with r-ream. or stewed frui end - renin nr linked apple- and plonjt\ of I.read and butter, also nmk< I Rood breakfast dishes. 1, a middle | mo; nine lunch i« taken, an apple or at ! "range, or a stick ot chocolate wit! I a bisr-iut. will be quite eufFicient. Fo, dinner ii-h i- ox.-elk-nt. A little meal simuid he i.rovidcd, Imt not ton much Instead, lei reg. tables and salad lip ■ire largely. A child is sure to enjov I'nr a change. vegetarian liineli. sue ms cauliflowers with whin- same, a dis’ i ,;t ’ gre-'n fleas hoik-d in milk am | ■ " ■■■n oath bread and 1, niter, or brum ! I ”' ans with parsley -.nice. Salad cm Imely is good. If a fliild will not yu ii readily, turn the iniieli into a picnit one in the garden, and have ere-s 'el l no. or tomalo sandwiehes. thee.se dishes, too. are admirable, and. ol colir-c. poultry, e-p.-riallv boiitd fowl 1- very g. 0,1 or .liilrlren. For ore, ts : iv. pb nty .. r -,ewe,l t rnit and ei.sta, | « ream. Junket and blancmange and , lailk jellies should take the place c. "me substantial puddings, although rn o and other milk puddings should not bo neglected altogether. Home-made lemonade „• orangeade is very good for children, hut acid drinks of the 1 ' a no.' should not be g iv, or Til raid ~t takes, provides truit salads or n ’ .-b iruii tor tea mil at Iredtimo milk with eh- eclat.;, and bi-euits. j FOR THE PiCNTC BASKET. ■ an « 'u.m'm'nw i 1-ivniv basket. I'ut into a basin 1 lb Hour. -J ~z ground ginger. teaspoonlul baking piw.lrr. Mix well then work in with the tin. s "r 'l>rve tablespoonful .7 gohien flour'd “"Hi""’ |J '' St h «'«>' « "ellbake. T,e t . the ’’oven ” be'" verv" hot” ' «'.-i. reduce beat so that b,Fruits eo .k slowly. IN THE KITCHEN. A good way ol using up a quantity ot eobt potatoes is to make potato puffs. Ala-U the potatoes adding sufficient tlnppmg (one egg) to bind together, .’ll oI, L anf l cut into rounds, four inches across and half an inch thick, i lace on each round a little finelvininced meat or fish, highly seasoned, ami a small lump of dripping (size of a mm. Place a layer of potato on the top. flour both sides, and fry in boiling fat to a golden brown. Drain, place in a di>h and sprinkle with chopped parsley FOR EARLY SUNBURN, i M itli the return of bright days sunburn will trouble many women who spend much time out of doors. To preyent and also to cure the painful redeeming of the skin there is nothing bettor than oatmeal water. This is quite • as.ly made in this way: to one pint void water add a teacupful of th«finest oatmeal. Allow the mixture t I>r or lour hours and Born- the liquid tl»r...i_>u f irii . rmislin rm.l keep ill a Well-stoppered hot.rl* I I"* «'Mer may I.- IIM d . reelv, | ter coining in.