WORLD'S WORLD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19034, 11 June 1924, Page 9

WORLD'S WORLD

Or interest is the coat-trock pictured which features a three-tier skirt with spiral trimming of Interlaced braid or ribbon. Ot silk marocain 4 i yards wili neeJad. A NEW DEVICE. Not every woman who has admired and coveted the charming table-linen which has a thread-line of bright colour introduced is aware that this pretty effect may be Quite easily produced by the amateur needlewoman. To achieve it the edges of the cloth are marked off into equal divisions from which points the lines are to run. At each point two threads of the linen are drawn, care being taken to leave one undrawn. One end of the middle thread is drawn out for an inch, and a coloured thread long enough to run across the cloth is tied to it in a small, not too tight, knot. Then the opposite end of the white thread is held firmly and the cloth puckered up upon it very gently, so as not to break the thread, and finally the white thread is drawn through bringing the coloured one attached to it, which will take its place in the cloth as if woven in its texture. Should the carrying thread break, the coloured one must be knotted to another and a second attempt made, but if the precaution is taken not to introduce too thick a twist of colour for the strength of the white thread success is certain. VARIETY IN BEDSPREADS. Monotony in the home is just as ranch to be deplored as monotony in dress, and is just as easily avoided if a little thought be taken. Of course, we cannot change our furniture at intervals. but we can change the accessories, which will make all the difference to the appearance of the room. A variety of coverings for the bed is a delightful way of introducing change and colour, and quite charming bedspreads can be made with very little expense. Chintzes, cretonnes, casement cloths are all inexpensive, and they can be the basis of many schemes. One of the most admired spreads I have made is fashioned in a “bird” design chintz of mauves and blues. I have given it a deep border of blue Roman satin, and narrow bands of the same material divide the cover into three panels lengthwise, and they also serve the purpose of covering the joins, for, of course, the width of chintz does not permit of making the quilt in one piece. In another case I reversed the order, The bedspread itself is made of Roman satin, and given a deep border of cretonne. In the four corners I have applied a large floral design, which I cut out from the cretone. WASHABLE QUILTS. An easily-washed quilt is a necessity for the children’s room, and to meet this requirement I choose a heavy crash in a pretty shade of reseda green. I had the edges hemstitched at the machine shop, and in each corner embroidered a childish design in pretty shades of pink, blue, and mauve washing embroidery cotton. Silk rep is another material which makes up most successfully for this pur pose,or, if cost is a consideration, a good poplin can be substituted. Another material that can be pressed into service is heavy weight shantung or ninghai. which can bo bought dyed in a large range of delicate and fascinating colours. The judicious use of black is the basis of many successful furnishing schemes, and for that reason many people cling to it. Black furnishing satin is not very costly to buy, and if someone in the house is clever at that much-practised art of pen-painting, a very beautiful bedspread can be produced. The edges should be finished off with cord, and each of the four corners weighted with a heavy tassel. It always gives a charming finish to the bed to provide for show use in the daytime a bolster covered with material to match the bedspread. It should be made with a drawn up frill at either end, long enough to hang gracefully over the edges. With this in use, of course, the white pillows are hidden for the time being.

CASTOR OIL FOR CORNS.

Some of you may perhaps remember that that on various occasions, I have advised castor oil for softening the hard skin on the sole of the foot. The information was given me by a soldier during the war, who had suffered the utmost misery while marching, wearing the hard heavy boots which were the primary cause of the trouble. He had been advised to pour a good quantity of strong Castor oil (that used by vets.) into his boots. This he did, with the result that the skin was softened, and he walked in comparative comfort.

Since that time, I have been told that the same oil is an excellent cure for hard and painful corns. I believe the correct treatment is to soak a piece of cotton wool in the oil, and bind it over the corn, repeating it ever night after washing or bathing the foot in hot water. If this soaked cotton wool treatment is adhered to for some days, one can quite understand that the corn becomes softened. But there must be perseverance; it is no use to apply the oil just once if the corn is to be cured in this way, a little trouble should not be objected to. There are numerous corn cures on the market, but it may possibly happen that a particular sufferer lives in a remote district far from a chemist’s shop, and this is where the homely Castor oil comes in very handy. Farmers, no doubt, keep a good supply of the oil for cattle purposes. For soft corns, however, a little dusting powder of zinc and boracic powder, mixed and dusted well between the toes, is very good—cooling and healing.

Prominent is the short coat of which our artist shows a winsome example at the left. In a face cloth 2J yards will suffice which will be inexpensive even when finished with a fur collar. Silk stitcliery—or knots—with a single ribbon-tie fastening completing a graceful garment. A luxurious frock of cloth has much knife pleating in evidence. This rather elaborate frock is beyond the average home dressmaker so should be produced by a professional. BEAUTY FROM HERBS. In the time of Cleopatra and Helen of Troy beauty potions, to which marvellous properties were attributed, were made from flowers and herbs, and were eagerly sought after by the would-be beauties of those days. Many of these recipes have been handed down to us and there is no doubt that they are beneficial, for our grandmothers, who used them regularly and to whom the modern beauty specialist and her up-to-date methods were unknown, often preserved the beauty and freshness of their complexions till an advance age. The camomile flower, the most renowned and one of the oldest known beautifiers, is used both as a beverage for clearing the complexion and as a lotion for softening and whitening it. As a lotion it is also credited with astringent properties and is used very largely for closing enlarged pores and toning up relaxed muscles. As a beverage the camoihile tea should be taken the last thiug at night. It is made in a similar way to ordinary tea. Three or four of the dried flowers are placed in an earthenware teapot and half a pint of boiling water is poured over them. They are then allowed jo “draw” for five minutes and the tea is poured off and sweetened with a lump of sugar. As a lotion the camomile preparation is made slightly stronger; about five of the dried flowers are placed in a bowl and half a pint of boiling water poured over them. The bowl is then covered for about 10 minutes and when the lotion has slightly cooled the skin is sponged with a small pad of cotton wool.

The homely parsley also has beautifying properties. If the skin is dark and dingy-looking, to whiten it make a parsley lotion and use it regularly for a week or two. Take a handful of parsley, wash it well, place it in a small saucepan with a pint and a-half of boiling water and boil slowly for a quarter of an hour. Then strain through muslin and add 10 grains each of powdered alum, powdered borax, and pulverised camphor. Dab over the skin with a pad of cotton wool.

Light-weight French velour would make this modish coat. The artistic use of pleating combined with two smart ornamental fastenings add distinction. By the way, the shops show the loveliest clasps Imaginable this winter! Many are Inspired by the Luxor diecoverles, others reflect Indian and Chinese art,

HOUSEHOLD HINTS. To remove stains from silver.— Stains on silver caused by egg or vinegar should be rubbed with a little salt. Medicine stains can be removed by rubbing lightly with a lemon, and washing it, as usual, iu hot, soapy water. To get rid of Mildew.—Mildew is another frequent stain. It is caused by clothes being put away when damp. If the mildew marks are fresh they also can be removed by being sprinkled with lemon juiee. In * some cases it may be found necessary to put salt on the stain, and then rub the lemon well in before placing the material in the open air. Another way to get rid of mildew marks on clothes is to rub the stains with soap, cover the soap thickly with French chalk, and put the article in the open air. Sprinkle water over it as it dries. If the stain is not then removed repeat the process until the spot has vanished. Wash and dry the article in the usual way afterwards. Greasy sponges.—When a sponge becomes greasy, soak it for several hours in warm water to which a little ammonia has been added, or in strong salt and water. Rinse in cold or tepid water. To Take Castor Oil.—Hot milk is a good medium in which to give children castor oil. Take a large wine-glass, fill one-third with hot milK, put in the castor oil, then pour over it enough milk to fill the glass. If the child can be induced to drink all wrthout stopping the taste of the oil will not be detected. To Clean Muddy Shoes.— Clean the soles and welts of the boots and shoes of all mud and dust, well drying the soles. Warm about 2oz castor oil and apply before - a fire; use a small brush, working the oil well in the welts and soles, and taking care not to touch the uppers. When the oil has soaked in. give two further applications and stand the boots and shoes for twenty hours. They will keep fresh for a single eoat applied every ten days will ensure a water-tight sole during the most inclement weather. Do not treat suede-leather shoes in this way. To Clean Patent Leather Shoes.— Clean them with French harness polish, which you can buy at any saddler’s or harness-maker’s. Rub on lightly, then oplish with a piece of soft woolly cloth. Besides making them shine beautifully, this prevents them cracking. Dip fresh eggs in boiling water, and keep them in it will you count twenty, they will keep fresh for a long time. A tcaspoonful of cold water added to the white of eggs will cause them to whip more easily and quickly. To prevent brown sugar becoming lumpy keep it in ah open jar or canister in a cool place. When ivory handles become discoloured they can be restored to their former whiteness by rubbing them with turpentine. Sprinkle a little salt in the bottom of the frying-pan before frying, and' then the stove will bo quite free from grease splashes. Bad stains on enamal pans and dishes can be removed by rubbing them with a mixture of soap and bathbrick. To remoxo fruit stains, cover tne spot with powdered starch and let it remain on for about two hours. Then rub it off. and you will find that the stain will have disappeared, unless it is an unusually bad one. If the stain has dried into the cloth, rub each side of the spot with yellow soap over which spread a paste made of starch and cold water. Rub the paste well in, and put the article in the open air. To Clean a Burnt Saucepan.—A burnt saucepan should never be filled with water containing soda, which causes the pan to burn again the next time it is used. Fill the pan with salt and water, and let it stand for a few hours, after which let the water boil slowly. The burnt particles will then come off without difficulty.

TO SAVE THE BUTTONS. Renewing the buttons on shirts and other articles of personal wear takes up quite a large slice of the time of every housewife. A simple means of getting over this difficulty of broken buttons is as follows: Remove the buttons from the garments and in their places make a series of buttonholes. On a wide, strong piece of tape sew the buttons at corresponding intervals and slip them through the buttonholes just made. They may be removed then for washing. Of course, this suggestion applies only to shirts, the backs of children’s petticoats, or other articles where there is a series of buttons in line.