Lets Go Gossiping

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3251, 5 November 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

Lets Go Gossiping

(By Miss Mary Tellis.—Special Service to The Waipa Post.)

WOMEN'S INTERESTS : THE HOME. HELPFUL HINTS.

FASHIONS.

YOU—AND YOUR COLOUR,

When the pale, grey-haired woman is beginning to plan her clothes to be worn at the seaside or in the country, or even on warm days on her own verandah in her town, she must choose those colours that will impart that desirable bluish-white cast to her hair and bring a delicate touch of colour to her cheeks.

Many mature women feel that it is not dignified to wear bright colours, especially for sports, and in this respect I cannot I can say, however, that even the woman who would shun a dress of all one brilliant colour should be willing to use bits of brightness. One may be fifty, but one need not look seventy !

So now for the colours which, if used with discrimination, will enable the grey-haired woman to emerge as a pleasing and distinctive individual. Light yellowish green, light brick, orchid, or dark grey green. The last two colours mentioned look particularly well with blue eyes. Now fo* those colours that are harmful either to her hair or complexion, or even to both: Dark (bottle) green, red, burnt russet, yellow, violet, orange, or strong blue. Fortunately the time when an allblack dress was considered the only correct costume for the mature woman has passed, and she need no longer subdue much of her physical charm by such sombre means. White alone, even in its creamy shades, is a little too colourless for this type, and will look much better. r, of lavender or turquoise blue is used for contrast. *

BEAUTY.

THE CLAY-PACK FOR BEAUTY

An occasional clay-pack is most refreshing. It helps to get rid of blackheads and clears and beautifies the complexion; also, it keeps the face young-looking, tightening -all the muscles, and so preserving the contour. You can make the pack very cheaply at home by mixing the lightly beaten white of ah egg with enough Fuller's earth (about half a 2d packet) to make a thin paste. Open the pores thoroughly by leaning over a basin of very hot water and sponging the face for several minutes. Then fasten a cloth or a towel nun-wise over the head to protect the hair from the pack. Starting at the chin and working upward, with a lifting movement that will help any sagging muscles, cover your face with the paste, leaving only the lips, eyelids, and round the eyes free. Lie back on an easy chair or couch, and relax completely, while the pack dries and tightens, making your skin tingle somewhat as the blood-vessels under it are stimulated. In 15 or 20 minutes the paste will have dried and cracked. Remove it gently with a cloth moistened in warm water. Apply cold cream very sparingly, let it remain a minutei then remove any not absorbed.

HEALTH. THE PILL-BOX. Obesity, or over-stoutness, develops when the intake of food is excessive and the output of energy diminished. Excess of sugar and starchy foods is responsible for this condition. During middle age obesity occurs usually as the result of the endocrine glands being disordered. Diet must be restricted. Try dry meals. Do not drink with food. Avoid potatoes and new bread; in fact, all cereals and sugars. Lean meat, and salads served with lemon juice, and steamed green vegetables are essential. The heaviest meal must be taken at midday. Tea should be unaccompanied by scones and cakes. Gluten biscuit, cheese, and fruit will be sufficient for the evening repast. lObesity may lead to heart trouble, and should be carefully watched. Those who are middle-aged can be treated with thyreoid gland, but i't must be under the guidance of their doctor; otherwise serious trouble may ensue, when the remedy will be worse than the disease. Finally, moderate exercise is necessary, such as walking or physical jerks. Bending to touch the toes and circular movements for the trunk will help to tone up the flabby muscles and reduce the girth. Remember that Violent exercise must be .avoided at any cost.

THE HOME. RUBBER FURNITURE. Cushions filled with sponge rubber are unpuncturable, and do not require inflating; easy chairs have no springs to break, while mattresses never need shaking up, yet cannot possibly become lumpy. "Wall panelling and carpets of rubber can be washed, brushes have no bristles to fall out, pails have no sharp edges, yet even all these by no means exhaust thie ways in which rubber can be used in the home. For some time now pneumatic upholstery has been in use in the car, but chairs and mattresses are quite

a new development in the use of rubber.

The old-style cushions of the airbag type have now been entirely superseded by two new methods, which are both remarkably efficient. The inflated kind has a series of tubes inside an outer cover, and so the weight is borne equally by the tubes in that part of the cushion. Consequently, the tendency to side-roll, which was such a disadvantage of the old-fas-hioned air-cushion, is prevented altogether; and in upholstery, when the settee sinks in the middle, instead of requiring new springs it is merely pumped up again. Sponge rubber is used in the other type, and this is unpuncturable and does not require inflating. When rubber furniture is covered with a gay cretonne it is indistinguishable in appearance from more convenient styles, while the comfort and wear are wonderful. Mattresses of this material are thoroughly hygienic, and though they never need re-making they remain perfectly soft and resilient. THE LAUNDRY. AIDS TO WASHING. It is wonderful to note the many useful aids to washing that are on the market, and if the question of equipment is tackled in a businesslike way the outlay to buy it need not be prohibitive. Of course, if you can arrange to fix up a disused scullery or outhouse as a wash-house, all the better. A gas-heated copper is a wonderful labour-saver. It can be used to boil the clothes and also to heat the supply ofl hot water* A plentiful supply of the latter is essential, obtained in this way or by some other up-to-date method, such as a gas-heated geyser or a boiler fired by wood or coke. A very useful alternative to a copper is a small clothes boiler that will stand on" the top of the range or on a gas-boiling ring. The boiler looks like a big bucket, but inside there is an upright tube through which the hot water rises, passing out in jets through a metal rose fixed at the top. The hot-water sprays play with force on the clothes, making them clean and white.

When actually washing the clothes rubbing is necessary, and the hands can be saved by using a hand-suction washer. There are various kinds on the market, and in each case when the suction washer is pressed down on the dottle's, water is [forced in strong jets through the clothes, driving out the dirt. A hand-scrubber saves the knuckles, and one can be bought with revolving rollers on a slightly corrugated metal surface. Both patterns are fixed to a convenient handle, and are easy to use. The problem of drying the clothes is solved by a sensible airer, and the housewife has the choice of several excellent designs. There is the umbrella airer for indoor and outdoor use. It is especially useful because if used out of doors, and a shower should come on, it folds up, clothes and all, just like an umbrella. Other designs open out to give many feet of airing space, and yet fold up compactly when not in use to be packed away in a cupboard. Yet another admirable airer consists of slats of wood that rest on arm supports that can be clamped to a mantelpiece or a shelf. The ceiling airer, worked by pulleys, is an invaluable kitchen filament, for the airing rods can be lowered to arrange the wet linen and then raised toward the ceiling, out of the way. A mangle is a great boon, but sometimes the housewife shrinks from, investing in one because of the bulk. For fairly small garments a table mangle with rubber rollers is obtainable; it can be clamped on the back of a strong chair. The rubber rollers are an advantage because they will not damage even the finest fabrics. Sprinkling is aided by a little metal rose that fits like a cork into any bottle. Ironing is a task that is less fatiguing if convenient ironing boards are used. One that clamps securely to a table and needs no support on the other side is useful, as it folds flat when not in use. When small garments and jumpers, etc., are ironed, a sleeve-board is a great help. GENERAL. A WRITING BUREAU. A writing bureau is an expensive affair; also, it may take up more room than is convenient. Yet some sort of bureau is a veritable necessity; hence we use ingenuity. The ordinary window affords a way of contriving a home-made but quite effective bureau. All that are needed I are two wooden " pedestals " with shelves for books; and, hinged to fall across these pedestals; a wooden flap, If the window has a narrow seat, this seat will serve as an additional shelf. If a hinged arrangement is not liked, then two wooden runners could be contrived each side of the pedestals, and the table top could rest upon them and be remloved at will. JUST CHIMNEY POTS. Before the verandah was a concrete yard with not an inch of soil—and.yet she wanted to grow a few roses. But

the local builder would sell four chim-ney-pots. So, filled with good soil, the queer-looking things were installed outside the house in the concrete yard, and in due course suitable roses were planted therein. In time the roses ramped luxuriantly right up on the narrow sloping roof of this verandah. So, after all, wit solved the problem, and loving care ensured roses all the summer. AN EASY WAY TO CLEAN OVERALLS. Steep the overalls over-night in water to which has been added a large cupful of paraffin oil. Afterwards wash them in hot suds, then rinse in clean water. If the overalls are blue, use dark-blue water, and allow them to lie in it for half an hour, afterwards hanging to dry. For brown overalls use a saltspoon full of permanganate of potash crystals in the last rinsing water, and allow to soak for half an hour. Treated in this way overalls will always keep a good colour.