FIRESIDE CONFIDENCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 92, 18 April 1929, Page 3

FIRESIDE CONFIDENCES

CONDUCTED BY RUTH ROWLANDS DAINTY ANKLES Dear Ruth Rolands, —My work causes me to stand most of the day and my ankles sometimes swell and become tired. What is the best way to make them slender‘d As soon as you get home rest your feet. Sit or lie with your feet raised. When sitting normally, exercise the ankles by moving the foot round from the ankle in different positions. Do this regularly or it will not benefit you. If you are a very busy person this can be done while sitting on the trim seat, or at meal times. This, with a daily massage of about five minutes morning and evening will bring into use muscles which are not so often used, and strengthen them against the strain of long standing. Alassagc and brisk rubbing are best after having soaked the ankles in hot water for a while. Exercises of standing on your toes with your heels well raised wiil also help to give the • beautiful ankh's desired. Do this whenever you can. — Ruth Rolands

WHERE SHALL I SIT?

Dear Aliss Rolands.—Next week am to be a guest at a wedding a which I know the bride and bride groom equally well. Would you pleas tell me where I should sit in th church? The friends of the bride should s’, on the left hand side of the aish while those of the bridegroom tak the right. Since the bride’s mo’hc is the hostess. I should advise you L take your place among the guests o; the left side; although I am sur ( » n objection would be ised if you desii cd to sit with any of your friends <>i the opposite side. Ruth Rolands.

DRIED APPLES

Dear Ruth Rolands, —We have a large quantity of apples, and I shoiH'. be pleased to have a suggestion fur preserving them. Why nut dry them? Nothing coul.l be simpler. Peel the apples and cut them in thin slices. Place on wire trays .'n a very slow oven allowing the door to remain slightly oi>cn so that th<» laokturo may escape. When perfectly dry, pack the apples in grease proof paper and keep in air tight tins or jars.—Ruth Roland,

A BROTHER’S INFLUENCE

Dear Ruth Roland, —You- may consider it strange for a boy to write to you, but the circumstances warrant it.

1 am twenty years of age, and unfortunate enough to have lost my mother. Aly father is often away from home, so 1 feel responsible for my sister who is just fifteen. Bhe can manage quite well at home, but I do not know how to care for her socially. She has a girl friend who is much oiocr, and whom I consider is not oi the best type of friend. Joan, my sis ter, has not her head Hied with thoughts of boys; and I’d like to keep her as she is. I am a little afraid to issue even mild orders for fear our brother and sister friendship may be harmed. How could I get her to change this girl friend without seeming to interfere? You know as well as I that Nature abhors a vacuum so get to work and think what kind of girl friend yhi would choose for Joan, then do your best to introduce"her before any efl’oit is made to gradually eliminate the former. Alost things in nature come about gradually, so follow it out yourself. Be sure that the new choice is really a better one. If Joan does not already belong to a Girl Guide Company, try to persuade her to join one. You could encourage her by rewards for the passing of tests and so on. Is there not some woman whom your mother knew, who could win Joan's affection, and thereby influence her? You yourself can do much. Take her out with jou to good entertainments or to visit where you know the kind of person -would be. Be interested in what she may have to say to you, and tactfully guide. Now, is that enough?

UNGRATEFUL PATIENTS

MADAM, —I have been invited to live with and care for a sick relative. This, I have been doing for some time, and I am doing my utmost for her. Lately, however, my relation seems to have tired of me and wants another relation in my stead. Shou.d she come, there would soon be frequeni quarrels and my cousin would then turn her out too. In order to serve my cousin, I have given up my own home and sold my furniture and I feel unable to face the expense of a new home just now. There are times when I feel I cannot stand the strain of my cousin’s pettiness any longer, yet I have every right to the shelter nere when I’ve given up so much to come to her. "What do you think? There come times to us all when we are so surrounded by our own worries that we can sec no way out of the fog. I have had experience of crotchety sick people, and do not envy you your position. But take heart, and stay by your patient, for in times of sickness, even the best natures are liable to be disagreeable, and find fault in the kindnesses done for them. Try for just a short time to put yourself in your cousin’s position; and how would you endure the suffering? Probably you will marvel at the brave face she puts on over her pains. You should too, remember, that every little burden borne for someone else, is adding moye to your own character. When things 'appear very black, follow the Guide Law and sing. Ere long yon will not worry that someone else may usurp your place, for you wouldn’t leave for anything. Your endurance of all your cousin’s whims and fancies is probably being noticed by others who arc trying to model their lives by yours.

A HOLIDAY FOR MOTHER

Dear Ruth Rolands, —This year I have gone away to training college amt I have been home for the Easter vacation. Although I should love to do so, I cannot afford to come home for the term holidays, unless I ask help from home. This could not be given me, as mother and father have all they can do to keep and educate the rent of the family. I would like to -• am some extra money to send my mother away at Christmas for a much-needed rest. Can you suggest how I may do it? I am willing to try almost anything Since you are a teacher I fake it yon know how to do many kinds of hand-

work. Choose one which appeals to you—let us say raffia work or cane work —and for a small outlay, begin to make a basket or a tray. Afeanwhilo canvas your friends for orders. If you arc very good at dainty fancy work, it may bo possible to get an order for handwork from some big store; but have a specimen of your work ready to show. Perhaps yon have other talents which could be used to bring in a few shillings. Y'our two term holidays should yield you most. I would suggest making application to your Home Service Bureau. It should not be difficult to get some position like, that of nursemaid or a light domestic work. This would always give you an opportunity to study children from a different angle from the school. It would also be quite a change from your studies—and a change is often equal to a Test. I admire vour idea of wanting to send your mother for a holiday. Few families realise how much mothers are in need of this rest.