MOTHER AND HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18339, 16 December 1927, Page 10

MOTHER AND HOME.

Most people are agreed that, whatever career a girl may choose, she should receive a good training in housekeeping, and especially in cooking. A girl may intend to earn her livelihood in a profession or a business; it may be that she will pass all her days living in rooms, boarding-houses or hostels, or, if she becomes successful, she may be able to achieve a house or a flat of her own, with someone to cook for her and wait on her; but she can never be absolutely sure that she will not be called upon in an emergency to do some, housework and cooking. _ A knowledge of these two arts will give her tolerance when others work for her, and help her to understand the monotony of housework as well as its pleasures. Even if she is wealthy enough to have several servants, the knowledge will not be wasted, and she will find she can “run” her household better when she knows exactly how the smallest task should be performed, and the time it should take to accomplish. There are few women who have a greater knowledge and love of domestic' arts, with, perhaps, fewer opportunities of using them than Queen Mary. During the war, when she visited different hospitals—military, Y.A.D., and civilian—throughout, the country her deep interest in that very important part of t.he hospital, the kitchen,

was so well known that often and often the kitchens received a glorified springcleaning before her arrival, and proud were the kitchen workers when she bestowed her generous praise. Baby on a Journey. A long train journey is not usually a pleasure for a baby, its mother, or the other passengers in the carriage. If, however, a little trouble is taken before a journey, the baby and everyone else can travel in comfort. Seats can be booked on most long distance trains, and it is advisable to book a corner seat when a mother is taking hej* baby a journey. If possible, the journey should not be made at a time when there is likely to be a crowd. Even in the height of a holiday season there are days when the crowd is less. As a rule Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdav-s are the best days on which to travel. A hold-all is an indispensable item of luggage when a baby is travelling. In it should be placed a clean, soft rug, which should be firmly pinned to the seat and back of the seat. Over this can be pinned—with safety pins, of course—an old but clean cot sheet or a large towel, so that the mother can be sure that everything on which baby lies is perfectly clean. A little soft pillow is another necessity. Baby himself should be clad in loose, warm and light garments that, are not easily spoiled. lie should be fed before starting on the journey. As soon as the train starts his hat and coat should be

removed and, if liked, a little overall slipped on, and round him should be fixed a strong belt of some kind—-firmly-knitted reins are excellent — which must be fixed to the seat when the baby is put to sleep. Then lie should be put to bed on the towel or sheet, with his head resting on the pillow, and if it is chilly a light rug placed over him. The motion of the train will soon rock him to sleep, and he will probably remain asleep some hours. If it is a long jourqey. it may be necessary to give him a feed from hrs bottle. At the end of the journey his face aqd hands should be washed with his own damp sponge, and wiped with his own soft little towel—both these can easilv be carried in the hold-all. Then he should be dressed in his coat and hat and his bed packed up. He. will then he quite refreshed, and his mother and the other passengers will have been undisturbed all the time he has been in the train.