WOMEN AND THE HOME

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18786, 15 June 1929, Page 22 (Supplement)

WOMEN AND THE HOME

TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES. MOTOR TROUBLES AND TEHESR CURE. Few Eyes are Perfect. Few people realise that the ball of the eye itself has no expression, but that. the controlling muscles, which are interwoven with a veritable network of nerves, respond to the most subtle changes of thought, and reflect, as in a mirror, worry, anxiety, fatigue, ill-health or suffering of any nature. Comparatively few eyes are perfect. This is not surprising when we take into consideration the fact that the eye is the most overworked and abused organ of the body, often doing duty sixteen or more hours daily without Test. The changes that ensue in weakened or inflamed eyes are due largely to failure of ( circulation of the blood; when the circulation is re-established, the eyes will respond and become stronger in a very short time. Good Circulation. , Most minor eye troubles can be corrected by doing daily physical exercises which will stimulate a forceful circulation through the entire body and particularly through the vital organs, and by supplying the blood with plenty of fresh oxygen through deep breathing. Attention must be given also to the selection of food; the system must be supplied with ample nourishment, for the health of the eyes depends upon the health of the body. On the other hand, the condition of the eyes influences the general health to a marked degree; nervousness, headaches, dizziness and many, other minor ills are often due to some slight refractive error. Change the Focus. When the eyes are in constant use, the focus should be changed frequently. This can be accomplished by first closing the eyes and completely relaxing all muscles through and about them, and then slowly opening them very wide, focussing them on something at a distance, choosing, if possible, some dark object. Close the eves again, relaxing the muscles as before, and repeat the opening and closing movements until there is a sense of strength through all the surrounding muscles and nerves. If this simple exercise is made a daily habit it will be a wonderful help to good eyesight. The eyes should be washed m the morning as regularly as the face is washed; for this purpose it is well to have at hand a weak solution of extract of witch-hazel and rosewater. AMERICAN CREAM PUFFS. Boil together very slowly half a pint of water and quarter-pound of butter. ! Stir in, gradually, half a pound of ' sieved flour; beat thoroughly and allow the mixture to boil for a few minutes. Turn out of pan; allow to cool; beat in the yolks of three eggs and then the whites (previously beaten i very stiff). When all ingredients are ! well blended, take spoonsful of the preI paration and drop on a greased paper; I put on a baking sheet and bake in a hot oven for twenty minutes. Split I open and fill with jam or cream, or a mixture of the two,

AS WE PROGRESS. THE PATHWAY OF FASHION. f (By DIANA DANE.) One of the most piquant new features of present-day fashions is the basque-coatee Smart women wear ordinary coatees on every possible occasion, of course, but it has taken this unobtrusive little garment to rouse them to real enthusiasm. The coat is severely simple, and is usually expressed in some plain, lightweight fabric, but the basque flutes away from the natural waistlint with such amusing old-world “ suddenness ” that women in search of quaint, individual fashions have been quite unable to resist it. A sleeveless coatee like this will be found invaluable for giving new life to a partly-worn printed slik frock; and one with long sleeves, worn wtih a striped, check, or plaid skirt, will provide a very smart and distinctive morning suit. In the latter case, collar and cuffs to match the skirt should be added. “ Slimming ” Styles. Spiral lines are wonderfully helpful to the woman who desires to create an impression of slimness when she is not exactly of sylph-like proportions. Both frocks and coats are treated in th : 3 way by one famous designer, and the results are very gratifying. A Nile-green satin evening gown, for instance, is fashioned to mould the figure

from shoulders to below the hips, whence it flares .to the ankles. The “ moulded ” part is composed ot strips

. the material sewn together to take a spiral line, and the slender effect thus achieved has to be seen to be believed. The length of the dress helps, too, for it" is generally conceded that the new long models are a boon and a blessing to the well-developed woman. Lace Flounces. Another fascinating evening frock demonstrated the charm of fine black Icfce mixed with figured chiffon. The frock itself was materialised in black chiffon showing a vague design in green and pale yellow; it was cut straight and slim to the hips, whence the skirt flared peacock-fashion, dipping to the ground at the back. A deep transparent black lace, flounce looked exquisite on this flaring skirt, and a deep transparent yoke of similar lace, coming several inches over the upper arms, lent an almost regal air to the bodice. The neck of this model was cut almost to the base of tl j throat, and the complement, as it were, of this uncommon high neck-

line, was provided by long, tight-fit-ting sleeves finished with narrow lace ruffles. Another model worth considering by the not-too-slim woman!

Th® Übiquitous “ Dip.” All dance frocks dip either at the back or at the sides. Older women

like the back-dipping line; the younger generation, on the other hand, prefer the short back and front and the deeply dipping sides—a mode which is especially dainty in chiffon and net, and extremely piquant in moire and taffetas. Some very youthful frocks dip into a deep point in front and look most effective about it!

l iquant Plaids. By the way, plaids are right back again; not for entire dresses, but for skirts and accompanying kerchiefs. I fell in love with a cheery little Tartan ■f ffetas skirt, circular, moderately short, and fitted into a very neat hipyoke. It was worn with a pale green crepe blouse, which had deep Tartan cuffs reaching in points to the elbows, and a sonsy Tartan kerchief arranged round the neck and tied loosely on the shoulder. FELT FLOWER POSIES. The latest and prettiest thing in flower posies for wear in a tailored coat buttonhole is the bunch of felt blossoms with wool-worked centres. The materials needed for their fashioning are very few ancf simple felt of various colours, coloured wools, sharp scissors, needles, and fine wire. Forget-me-nots may be suggested by narrow strips of pale blue and pale pink felt, rolled tightly and racked in place at the ends of limp green felt “ stalks.” The centres of the flovters

are worked in soft yellow wool, while the shape of the green felt leaves may be copied from natural forget-me-not foliage. Very fine wire will hold together the cluster of blooms with their surround of leaves. Poppies look best when made about three inches in diameter. The petals of a real poppy will serve as a pattern from which to cut the scarlet felt, and the centres rhould be of soft black wool, fluffed out to resemble those cf the natural flowers. Any flowers that take your fancy may be copied after a little practice. Rosebuds in various colours are easy to make, and their delicate shades will go well with most costumes. The rosebud itself is made of a narrow strip of felt, rolled tightly into a circle, fixed with a “xup ” of green felt, and attached to a green felt stem. A moss-rose bud may be suggested by means of working the ‘‘cup ” in green wool, which is afterwards brushed up to look like moss.

NOVELTIES FOR THE NURSERY. A nursery sponge calculated to attract the most refractory of nursery folk is a novel “singing bird” in gay colours. It is modelled solidly from rubber sponge of varying tints—yellow for the canary, green for the leaves, and brown for th<j rock on which the ; bird rests. When compressed in the hand the sponge emits a squeaking apology for a song, which is sure to delight the tinies and make the nightly bath a special treat. Luggage specially designed for children is another interesting novelty. Xhis is not toy luggage, but comprises 1 actual replicas of every kind of case and bag used by aXults. Everything is made on a scale proportionate to the size of the owner’s clothes, and the set includes a circular cloth hat case, an attache case, a leather trunk, and even an elaborate wardrobe trunk, with compartments for separate garments. This diminutive travelling kit is made in various attractive colours. SOMEONE WHO CARES. There’d be happier smiles on this weary old earth, if to love—true and tried—we accorded full worth; there’d life’s despairs, if we thanked the fates oftener for someone-who-cares! Though most that life offers be just second-best, when there’s someone-who-cares, what matter the rest! No ills can engulf us, of mind or of heart, if there’s someone to love us, “till death us do part! ” The flower of illusion may fade at our feet; but love blossoms ever, enduringly sweet; the rose of reality answers our prayers, . when they’re whispered with faith—and with some-one-who-cares ! CHICKEN CREAM. TO BE SERVED HOT OR COLD. Ingredients; One cupful of finely minced cold chicken remains; two egg yolks; half a cupful of cream or evaporated milk; one tablespoonful of flour and milk thickening; a little grated nutmeg; half a teaspoonful of salt. _ Mix all the ingredients well, turn into a buttered mould, and steam for nearly two hours. If preferred, -the nutmeg may be omitted, and a tablespoonful of minced parsley added. A WONDERFUL FURNITURE POLISH. This is a French-polisher’s recipe which produces the most gratifying results with a minimum expenditure of “elbow grease.” Once tried out, it always finds a permanent place on the housewifery shelf. Take half a gill of methylated spirit, half a gill of turpentine, half a gill of linseed oil, half a gill of vinegar, and one-quarter of a gill of paraffin oil (no more)—all of which can be put into one bottle by your oil-and-colourman. Then get twopennyworth of “butter of antimony” from the chemist’s, $n a poison bottle. This is the all-significant ingredient that imparts the high-lights, so to speak. Shake all well together, and use sparingly.

AN ARTIST FROM RUSSIA. (By E. M. ALMEDINGEN). “And what do you do?” I asked curiously. The tall, slightly lame man of about thirty had rather interested me by his burning assertion that “no man need go to the wall if he has an ounce of sense’’ and, further, that “no man is a tool unless he chooses to make himself one.” I met him on a steamer, crossing from Barcelona to Naples, and I knew him to be a Russian refugee. “What do I do?” he smiled. “They call me an artist! You are staying at Naples, aren’t you? Won’t you come to my den and I'll show you my work.”

I went to his “den." There were pictures. Landscapes, most of them. Dreamy, misty, northern motifs in greys and soft browns and tender blues. Northern, with a touch of almost Japanese love for miniature detail. Fans there were, and fire-screens, and those lovely little things of sky and tree and water, just the right size to stand on your writing table. “Of course, they are perfectly lovely,” I said. “You would not find it difficult to get rid of them.”

He smiled, and brought a lot of old letters out of an ancient chest. I looked at them, but then I peered at the pictures. His ingenuity simply beat me. Old letters from Russia they were! When the exchange “went bust” and a rouble was a mere nothing, and you counted things in millions, it cost you about four such millions to send a letter abroad. But the stamps, for a time at least, belonged to the old world when a rouble was a rouble and had 100 copecks to it. So that you had reams and reams of stamps to stick on to a single letter. A mere envelope was not enough. You added sheets of newspaper sometimes. I remembered it all quite well. Those letters were not easily forgotten. And the old stamps were lovely in their tints: dreamy misty blues, tender browns, rose hues of many grades. Not all of them would be smudged by postmarks; they would make glorious splashes of colour. . . . I peered again at the pictures, and then looked at the artist. “Whatever they are made of,” I said, “they are beautiful, and your gospel of success certainly answers in your case.” He shrugged his shoulders and muttered something about an ounce of sense. I was not sure, though! He was an artist born.

YOUR RUGS IN ORDER. VARIOUS TREATMENTS FOR VARIOUS SENDS. - (By A HOUSEWIFE). Different kinds of rugs require different treatments. Light weight cotton rugs may be washed in a tub of soap suds, but they must be rinsed thoroughly to keep their colour. Turning the hose on them, or dashing pails of water over them, is sometimes the easiest and most effective way of rinsing, unless you can place them under running water. If the rug is folded lengthwise and rolled up loosely until the water is drained out of it, then hung over the line to finish off, it will not have creases in it when dry. If it is too narrow to fold easily, roll it up and set the roll on end to drain; then hang it by the edges to the line. Badly Soiled Woollen Rugs. Other rugs and carpets, when badly soiled, may be placed on a table and scrubbed with a heavy lather of soap and water. As soon as a section is scrubbed clean, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and change the rinsing water immediately it becomes discoloured. This is a thorough method of cleaning, but it must be done carefully, otherwise it may cause the rugs to shrink or change colour. This process should not be employed for very thick pile rugs, unless they can be thoroughly and quickly dried. Moisture left in' the pile may rot the threads. To Keep Matting Clean. Matting should be swept with a soft brush, occasionally wiped with a slightly damp cloth, or, best of all, cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Water is likely to discolour floor coverings of this land and must be used sparingly, if at all. When taken out of doors for more thorough cleansing, the matting should be laid flat on the grass and swept or vacuum-cleaned on both sides; never beat or shake it. RESTFUL SLEEP. Everyone knows that the perfect health of the mind arid body is impossible unless a sufficient time is spent in restful sleep every night. Eight hours of sleep is the amount that one is supposed to have at night, but few of us succeed in snatching so long from the hours of work and recreation. Some people can manage very well with an average of six hours a night; others require at least seven hours, but it would be better if we all aimed at getting the regulation eight hours of sleep. Many people go to bed, not to sleep, but to lie awake and worry, to toss restlessly from side to side in a vain endeavour to solve the problems that have eluded them all day. Those who have the most active minds require the greatest amount of sleep, and every means should be taken to banish worrying thoughts and induce restful sleep. Heavy meals late at night should be avoided, so should work np to the last minute before bedtime. Some people cannot sleep if they have any excitement at night; others sleep better after taking a brisk walk. Nibbling a biscuit if one is hungry, or taking a hot drink I when in bed, brings sleep in some cases. A hot bath is also recommended, but perhaps nothing is so effectual as taking a few deep breaths when

one is lying in bed, stretched at fuH length, and then letting all the limbs and muscles relax completely. Try this next time you cannot sleep. A comfortable bed is a great aid to. restful sleep. A spiral spring bed is the best, with a good hair mattress. Have your mattresses re-made and re-covered at regular intervals so that not only are they kept perfectly clean but they are not allowed to sag or beoome “bumpy" or otherwise uncomfortable Pillows must be soft, but do not have too many. A bolster alone is really better for the spine. Bedclothes must be warm but not heavy. An eiderdown quilt is preferable to several blankets. See that the under-6heet is absolutely taut and the upper sheet and blankets well tucked in. A NURSERY PUDDING. It is sometimes a little difficult to think of a pudding that is nourishing, easy to make and quick to cook, inexpensive, and at the same time will be liked by children. When we find a pudding that satisfies all these requirements, we are apt to serve it again and again until everyone gets tired of the sight and taste of it. Children are especially fond of variety. The following pudding is one that will appeal to them, and to mothers and nurses also on account of its nourishing properties. It is called Dutch Pudding, and to make it you will require 3oz rice, 3oz currants, lioz candied peel, 1 pint milk, 2oz suet, loz sugar, i teaspoonful nutmeg, 1 egg, pinch of salt. Wash the rice well and put it into a double saucepan with the milk. Allow this to cook until the rice has absorbed the milk. Meanwhile chop the suet, clean the currants and mix these ingredients with the sugar. Beat them all in with the rice, adding the egg and nutmeg at the last. Pour into a well-buttered pie-dish

and bake in a slow oven for three-quar-ters of an hour.

When polishing furniture wring out a cloth in hot water and wipe over the polished surface before applying the cream. The result will be a high polish that will not show finger marks If you have no time to let soup stand until it is cold to remove the fat, a quick method of removing it while the soup is hot is to pour it through a perfectly clean cloth which has been thoroughly soaked in cold water; The fat will remain in the cloth, and the soup will be as clear as if it were removed when cold. When yolks of eggs are not required for immediate use, put them in a basin and cover them with cold water; plr a plate on the basin to exclude the and stand in a dark, cool place uni wanted. Teacups, no matter how carefully they may be washed, sometimes get dark stains at the bottom. These are caused by the action of the tannin in the tea. Salt slightly moistened will remove these stains, but in the case of very fine china it is wiser to use powdered v/hiting instead of salt, as it will not scratch the china.