LIFE’S LITTLE WANTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 2 December 1926, Page 4

LIFE’S LITTLE WANTS.

Better Telephone Book. A correspondent writes: “Each evening when 1 read your column, “Life’s Little Wants,” lam reminded of a small want of my own, and so I am waiting to air my grievance that the threes! and fives in our telephone book are too much alike. Yesterday I had occasion to ring a number with a mix- . tine of threes and fives, and after several unsuccessful attempts I at last got the right one. I told-my friend how I disliked her number, and’ she replied:; “Oh, that is always* happening. 1 get so many wrong rings that I often think L'll have to get my number changed.' One can imagine that “at the end of ifm perfect day” one of “life’s little wants” develops into a mighty big > nuisance. * * * * Tasty Dishes. A 14th-century meal was served recently in Paris by the chef, AI. P. Alontagne. The menu was from the recipe -book of Taillevent, chief cook to Kings* of France in the 14th century, - and was composed of strange . though tasty dishes. Everything was prepared and served in the manner of the 14th century, the only modern note the dress of the guests. The uncarpefed floor' of the room was strewn with scented foliage, and the guests sat at table on oaken settees. Thefe were no plates, forks, spoons, or serviettes. The tablecloth was pleated in such a way that it hung in front of each gflest so that lie could uso it to wipe liis mouth or fingers'. Each guest had a wooden 'platter. The dishes and decanters were of old pewter. The first. was eel pasty, with hard-boiled cloves, saffron and rissoles of marrow. Hippocras, or spiced wine, and red and white claret, were Served with boiled thistle, roots and stuffed hare and salad. Old red wiiies of Auxerre and Carcassonne accompanied these two dishes. Various kinds of roots and also leeks, served with spiced sauce and garlic, -formed a vegetable course, which was followed by light pastries, pear pie and cream cakes, with which still Champagne and Judancon wine were drunk. Finally came apples, pears, grapes and plums, with spiced wine and sweet wine from Cyprus. **'•»** Singing and Elocution. A policy that has much to commend it is that of the teaching of children in Schools singing and elocution. The latter is particularly important in that it imparts to the child the knowledge of how to speak properly. At some schools, “affectation,” and not English, is taught ,with the result- that one hears a twang even worse than Cockney. A weakness in many of the public private schools' is 1 the poor taught. Children Should not be in-’ strueted to speak . unnaturally, and it should be impressed upon them that affectation in speech is bad form. Alasterton is noi exception to other centres in the .matter of the -wrong instruction given children on how to pronounce words, but it is! probably not so general because most of the teachers'place an intelligent interpretation upon how English should be spoken. * * * * Service to Community. Alasterton is probably richer than, any town of its size in New Zealand in the matter of possessing residents willing to give their services free towards assisting charitable or other worthy objects. 'The amount of money collected in Alasterton in aid of the funds of schools, public Societies, and so on, would .doubtless surprise many people were the. total figures available. No laudable bbject is passed by without a substantial measure of support beinjM accorded to it., The shop days of ous schools and local institutions is ev-

idence of this. The fete of the Beautifying Society on Saturday will undoubtedly provide further evidence of gratuitous service and free giving. The concert to be staged in aid of the funds ot the Methodist Children’s Home next v week is another example of the Splendid spirit of service given in aid of a worthy object, Mrs Jenkins and Miss. E. Jenkins having devoted ' considerable 'time to the training of the children, and being assisted by other ladies in. minor' details. It is examples such as these that make us realise what fine citizens Masterton possesses. *■ * * * Something Cheap. Among visitors to the Wanganui Horary Club’s luncheon on Monday was a Rotarian from Aberdeen, Scotian?!, who conveyed the fraternal greetings of his home club to the Wanganui . Club. “Aberdeen gets an awful name for being mean,” he said, “.but I might point out that fraternal greetings cost nothing.” (Laughter.)