MATTERS FEMININE.

Waipa Post, Volume VIII, Issue 370, 27 November 1914, Page 4

MATTERS FEMININE.

NOT SO AWFUL, Complications are bound to arise where a deaf man is concerned. Th« one in this story was being married,' and the parson asked the usual question : "Do you take this woman for your lawful wife?" "Eh?" said the deaf man.

"Do you take this woman for .youf lawful wife?" This time a bit louder. The groom seemed to get angry. " "Oh, I don't know," he said; "she ain't so awful. I'vp seen wus than her that didn't have as much money." DELETERIOUS DIET *FOR THE YOUNG CIHLD. For a child under three years 0/ age, the following articles of food are improper under all circumstances: — Ham, sausages, pork in all forms, salt fish, corned beef, dried beef, goose, duck, game, kidney, liver and bacon, and meat stews.

Cabbage raw or fried onions, raw celery, radishes, tomatoes (raw or cooked), beetroots and carrots. All hot bread and all sweet cakes, particularly those containing dried fruits and th6se that are heavily frosted. All nuts, dried fruits, all tinned or preserved fruits, and pastry of every description. YOUR AFTERNOON BLOUSE. Short Sleevei and a V-Snapad Naek. Here is a simple but smart blouse for afternoon wear tq be made in spotted net, muslin, or cii'ffon. It is pret.

tily trimmed with guipure lace. The front crosses over slightly, and fastens with small black velvet bows. The Vshaped neck is finished with a frill of lace or chiffon, and the elbow sleeves are trimmed to match. The quantity of material required is three yards.

NAIL-CUTTING LORE. The old finger nail formula, from early Saxon times, reads as follows: Cut them on Monday, cut them for health. Cut them on Tuesday, cut them for wealth. Cut them on Wednesday, cut them for a letter. Cut them on Thursday,, cut them for something better. Cut them on Friday, you cut for a wife. Cut them on Saturday, cut for a long life. Cut them on Sunday, you eut them for evil. For all of that woek you'H be ruled by* the devil. .Another version changes the last two lines to the beginning: "A man had better - ne'er been horn, Than have his nails on Sunday shorn." The finger nail growß about two inches a year. EASIER LIVES FOR WIVES.

There have been many attempts in recent years to dimmish the strain upon woman in the home, caused' by the over-growing servant difficulty; and one of the boldest is now being essayed in New York. A large block of' flats is being erected in which, provision will be r made not only for cooking, and •house-keeping, but also for the common care of children. Every kind' of labor-saving device, will bo employed, and thus it is hoped to- giv« wives an easier life. The strain on the woman is undoubtedly severest in the Dominions and in the United States, where servants are scare and' absolutely unprocurable. The wife in. such conditions has too often to be ber own "general."' At one and the same time she may have to attend to a largo: family of children and to the work of a house* hold'; so that she is tasked' to the uttermpst in body and mind : . Any system of organising tlie household 1 whichwould: relieve her of' part of her onerous' duties would thus be an immenseboon. In England th> movement' towards the co-operative organisation of the home has made less progress; becausethese servants Oicn< still 1 be procured. Btit with the growing disinclination of girls for service tlie problem' on. the American side of the ocean is bpcom-' ing a serious one. Perhaps the best hope for the woman lies in the cheapening of the cost of . electricity and * general extension of its application' to household work. It can supply heat without any fires to re-lay or grates to clean, and, as the devices' shown' at the Ideal Homes Exhibition have proved, it is capable of acting as a vory serviceable maid-of-all-work.