WOMAN’S WORLD.

Wairarapa Age, 7 October 1936, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

PERSONAL ITEMS. Mrs. G. C. Williams and Miss Joan Williams, Te Parae, have returned from a visit to the South Island. Mr. and Mrs. J. Berney, Pownali Street, who have been visiting Pukerua Bay, have returned to Masterton. Miss B. Kummer, Cole Street, is spending a few days at Eastbourne. Miss E. McKenzie, Khandallah, Wellington, is staying with her sister, Mrs. R. L. McLaren, Roberts Road. Mr. and Mrs. Beale, late of Martinborough, have taken up their residence in Renall Street. Miss Joyce Kummer, Rangiora, is visiting Palmerston North. Mr. and Mrs. Carter, Third Street, have been spending a holiday at Titahi Bay. Miss Margaret Low, Essex Street, has returned from a visit to Pukerua Bay. A party was given by Mrs. H. L Williams at her residence in Hickson Street, Featherston, to farewell Mrs. Adamson, who is leaving Featherston to reside in Otaki. Mrs. Adamson, who has lived in Featherston for a number of years, has always been a keen sup porter of the Croquet Club. Mrs. W. E. Wakely, speaking on behalf of the Wairarapa Croquet Association, expressed regret at losing such a keen player. Supper was provided, after which Mrs. Williams presented Mrs. Adamson with a dish as a token of the esteem in which she was held. During the evening euchre was played by those present. PRACTICAL WINDOW-BOXES. LONDON BLOSSOMS FORTH. If you own a window-box you are certainly in the fashion this summer, writes an overseas correspondent. The Duchess of York has now adopted this decorative idea at 145, Piccadilly, and has black boxes filled with blue azaleas —blue is such a cool, refreshing colour for hot days, she thinks. Lady Lawson painted her window-boxes the same stone shade as the walls of the house, and they hold ferns and other green, leafy things. Mr. Beverley Nichols left his boxes their plain natural wood, and, needless to say, the stocks and wallflowers blooming so gaily there were brought up from that famous thatched cottage in the Huntington countryside! Instead of filling the boxes with soil and planting the flowers, most people now have the woodwork deep enough to come to the rims of the flower-pots they put inside. This solves the watering problem and the contents can be changed quickly and easily to look attractive all the year round. LIGHTING WISDOM. HOW TO SELECT YOUR LAMPS. Good lighting is more important than ever in these days of overworked eyes, and if you are moving into a new home it is worth while to make a careful study of the light system. Remember, when selecting the lamps, that the lower the number of watts the less the consumption. Usually, 40-watt lamps are sufficient for the average bedroom and hall. The kitchen and living room should have the best lighting, with not less than 60 watts (with additional lighting over sink, and possibly a table lamp in the living room), while the corridors can do with about 25 watt, and the lavatory 15.

Another point not often realised is that the colours of walls and ceilings have a material effect on the artificial lighting, as certain colours reflect a much higher proportion of light than others. For instance, most greens are bad light reflectors, with a percentage of 38 with light shades and only 18 with darker ones, whereas golden yellow gives as high as 80 per cent.

For the kitchen, the best form of inexpensive lighting is the ordinary ceiling pendant with enclosed bowl, and clear lamp. If the lamp is not screened from view, “pearl” or ’‘opal” ones must be used, to prevent eyestrain. HOUSEHOLD HINTS. To remove red ink stains, the article in methylated spirits containing a few drops of ammonia. After five minutes, wash slowly in a cold, thick solution of soapy water and then rinse in tepid water. The easiest way of keeping grates free from rust is to mix the blacklead with methylated spirits and turpentine, about equal parts of each. This gives a brilliant gloss when polished. For brass and Copper, a mixture of oil and rottenstone, applied with a piece of leather and rubbed bright with a clean chamois, will give a good polish. Have you an old felt hat that you 4 can no longer wcart You can make excellent use of it for a floor polisher. You simply wrap it round a brush. Also, small discs of the felt can be glued to the bottoms of chair legs instead of fixing casters. Such pads will save the wear of your floor coverings considerably, and stop that irritating “scrape” when a chair is moved. Rust ean be removed from metal if the article is placed in vinegar overnight. If ordinary black-lead is mixed with equal parts of vinegar, a very bright polish can be obtained on stoves. A little vinegar diluted with water makes a pleasant and effective gargle and mouth wash. A good furniture polish can be made with equal ports of salad oil and vinegar.