HITHER AND THITHER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 4, 6 January 1939, Page 2

HITHER AND THITHER

For the Newest Hats The latest mode in women’s hats does away with the ugly elastic band which is at present an important part of the tiny hat fashioned to sit perched on top of the head. The band gripped the back of the head, and was all that existed to keep the hat in position. Now, Paris has a better idea. She never lacks a good one for long, and her newest hats have network on the crown. To the crown is attached an attractively mounted comb which, when the hat is on, is put through the network and into the hair. That keeps the hat in position.

Dog Characters for Opera Two of the characters which are appearing at Sadler’s Wells in the new production of Wagner’s opera, “Tannhauser,” are insured for £3150. They are Pyrenean mountain dogs which appeared in the hunting scene of Act 2. Lovely white creatures, which stand 6ft. on their hind legs, they have an ancestry which dates back to 100 B.C. Their names are Kop and Bastienne. There are only 12 other dogs of the same breed in Britain, and six of those are the offspring of Kop and Bastienne. Madame Harper-Trois Fontaines, of Amersham, their owner, used “Tannhauser” to get the breed better known. The two dogs, which had special kennels fixed up for them beneath the stage, weigh 2 J cwt. each. For Brides Remember the back of the bride’s and bridesmaids’ dresses will be most in evidence during the church ceremony; be certain that the cut and fitting are beyond reproach. If the bride means to enter the church veiled (which is true to tradition and a charming custom) the headdress should be so designed that when the veil is lifted and thrown back the general effect will still be attractive. Good rule for bouquets—think of your height. Tall, slim brides can carry long graceful sheaves. Shorter ones look better with more formal posies. The chief bridesmaid takes the bride’s bouquet and gloves (if worn) when the procession has reached the chancel and the service is to begin. She retains these till the vestry, when they are handed back for the final procession from the church. Well-known firms making wedding cakes will often undertake to despatch pieces to friends, for small extra charge. At the reception, guests are received first by the bride’s parents, then the bridegroom’s parents, then the newly-wed couple, behind whom stand the bridesmaids. Brides beware. Sometimes the engagement ring is slipped on to the right hand to J£ave the proper finger free for the wedding ring. Bift with many wedding-day handshakes this will leave a sore third finger. Where presents are displayed, make sure the accompanying cards are placed with each. A list should be displayed somewhere of larger presents such as furniture, cheques, etc.

I Origin of the Thimble I The history of ordinary everyday j articles makes most interesting readI ing, and even the humble thimble has quite a “past.” The modern thimble dates from 1684, when a goldsmith, Nicholas Renchoteen, of Amsterdam, sent one as a birthday present to a lady friend with the dedication, “To my jrau Van Rensclaer, this little object, which I have invented and executed as a protective covering for her industrious fingers.” The invention proved such a success that all who saw the thimble tried to obtain one, and the goldsmith had enough to do to supply them. An Englishman named John Lotting brought a specimen home with him and made many thousand copies of it. At first thimbles were rather costly, and only well-to-do people could afford them, but afterwards, when made of lead and other common metals by machinery, they became very cheap. Their use came as a great relief to all who had much sewing to do. The Dutch fingerhat. or finger-hood, became in England the “thumb-bell,” from its belllike shape. It was originally worn on the thumb to parry the thrusts of the needle. Some of the thimbles of the Far East are very costly. Wealthy Chinese ladies have .thimbles carved out of mother-of-pearl, and sometimes the top is formed out of a single precious stone. Thimbles with an agate or onyx mounted in gold are often seen, as well as thimbles encrusted with rubies. The Queen of Siam has a thimble in the form of a lotus bird, with her name exquisitely worked in tiny diamonds round the margin.