Ladies’ Column.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2055, 15 April 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Ladies’ Column.

Woman’s Work.

The able woman can always find work to do, and there can be no strong accusation brought against her general inefficiency than the excuses she makes for herself. She “ was not brought up to do anything ; ” she “ never knew what it was to have to work ; ” she ‘ ‘ never expected to have to earn her own living ; ” she is “ not very good at figures ; ” she “ was not taught to sew very well ; ” she “ did not expect to have to teach ; ” she is “ slow at making change or keeping accounts : ” she is “ not used to rising early ; ” she “ thought it would do just as woll if left till to-morrow ; ” she “ thinks it is no matter ” if she does her work in a different way from that she was told ; she “ has never been accustomed to be found fault with.” And so on and on. There is no end to the self-accusing excuses. Door souls I They don't know any better, and we must pity while wc blame ; but more than wc blame them do we censure the false tenderness, the shallow reasoning, and the parental laziness, which has made grown women to be such helpless children. Don't lind fault with the world that it provides no work for women. The work is waiting, (live us the women ; the true, efficient, real women to do it. Skilled or willing labour is always in demand somewhere. “ 1 wish,” says Sara (true .Jewett, “that it were in my jmwer to persuade young giris who wonder what they shall do to earn their living, that it is really bettor to choose some business that is in the line of a woman's natural work. There is a great repugnance at the thought of being a servant, but a girl is no less a.servant to the man who owns the shop where she stands all day behind the counter, than she is where she waits upon the table, or cooks the dinner in a pleasant house ; and to my mind there would not be a moment’s question between the two ways of going out to service. The wages are butter, the freedom and liberty are double in one what they are in the other.” If, instead of tlie sham service that is given by ignorant and really overpaid servants today, sensible Australian girls who arc anxious to be taking care of themselves and earning good wages, would lit themselves to be good cooks, or in any way they found available, they would not long wait for employment, and they would bo valued immensely by their employers.

Upholstering a Chair.

A Shaker or bent-wood chair may be easily upholstered at home. The scat and back should bo covered with separate pieces, and a band extending round the seat gives the chair a handsome appearance. It should have the lower edge trimmed with fringe. If plush is used, it will not he necessary to embroider it, as the material is sufficiently handsome without. Furniture plush, the kind used, is not expensive, as it is forty inches wide, and a fair quality can bo bought for ten shillings a yard. Trim the upper corner of the back with bows of wide satin ribbon the color of the plush, and edge the band round the seat with a handsome fringe. Cloth is also pretty for covering, but will be much improved if a band of embroidery is placed in the middle of the back and seat, and the band extending round the sides should also bo embroidered. Trim the lower edge of the band with worsted fringe. A still less expensive covering is of heavy cretonne. Select a pretty pattern, and cover the back and seat of the chair, as directed for the other materials. The trimming round the sides of the seat, instead of being put on plain, should he box-plaited rather finely, as the cretonne is not so pretty when put on plain, or bettor still, if it is possible to have the pieces tluted, the effect is very much prettier. Ribbon bows may also be used for trimming if desired, and will greatly improve it. Of course the quantity of material required will be according to the size of the chair. The work is simple and will prove very satisfactory when finished, but must be neatly done to look well.

A Lesson (or Sarah.

When our young friend first left her country homo, with its quiet, simple ways, for a year iu a fashionable boarding-school, she signed her uiima “ Sarah .lane Smith,” and took no oli'enee at being called Sally. Three months later her letters came home, signed “ Sadie J. Smith. ” Six mouths elapsed, and she had become “ S. Janie Smitho.” Time rolled along, bringing in its wonderful changes, and when (lie dune days came she blossomed forth as “S. JeaunieSmythe.” Then her father hitched Ins old blind horse to the vegetable cart, and said : “ I’m goin’ ter bring that there Sal homo, an’ let ’or know that she can’t bring ojeum on the good old name o’ Smith by ringin’ in any more “ y ’ and ‘ c ’ changes on it. They can’t nobody say a word o’ harm agin my branch o’ the Smith family. I’m proud o’ it. an’ glad Tin one of ’em. 1 reckon a mouth o’ hard work iu tater time ’ll let Sary Jane know that J-a-n-e don’t spell no Jcaunie.”

RECIPES.

Slaw- Chop one heal of cabbage line, and sprinkle with Hour. Tut a small piece of butler iu the oven to melt. Salt ami pepper the cabbage and put in the pan with the butter. Mix half a teacup of cream, one egg. tahlespoonful of mustard and a teaspoon ol sugar, beat thoroughly and serve warm.

Stewed Salsify. -After scraping. boil tender and cut in pieces half an incli lons'; put in a saucepan with a teacsip of vinegar, same of water, a tablespoonful of butter ami sugar each. Season with salt, and boil just six minutes before serving in half a teacup of cream and a beaten egg.

Hoe Cake, Three spoonfuls of small hominy or grits, two of rice flour, a teaspoonful of butter and milk enough to make the mixture into a thin batter, about half a pint should do ; a saltspoon of salt. Hake on a hot griddle.