WOMAN'S PAGE

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 125, 21 May 1932, Page 6

WOMAN'S PAGE

WEEKLY ARTICLES ON MATTERS FEMININE Specially Written for the “ Press ”by a Leading Sydney Expert. (Copyright.) ''**■

FASHIONS COLOUR SUPERSTITION From down the ages certain colours have been allotted to young end old. Quito why, no one has ever explained. For instance, why were lavender and grey ever chosen as the most suitable colours for old ladies with grey or white hair? Very occasionally these colours are becoming, but in the great majority of cases they arc not. The pale skins so usual in older women, need something more definite, brighter or darker than dainty pastel colours to bring out its best qualities. A soft, deep maroon is a beautiful colour about an old face. The red is so soft that it is not harsh, and its richness and warmth are reflected in the colourless face above it.

The type of women who probably give grey their popularity as wear for the old must have hail’ that is either pure white or a clear grey. There must be none of the yellow, or greenish, or brown shades, so usual in whitening or greying hair. Again, the complexion must be fair, smooth, and fine, with absence of the sandy, sallow or ruddy hue. Since grey is a “large colour” the woman who wears if must be slight and slender. Browns in general are colours that should be avoided by women with white or grey hair. Navy blue, and many other of the deeper shades of blue, are good. Black and white together are usually becoming, while grey is deadening. Of recent years the elder women have discovered that 'white, alone, is becoming and very gradually it is becoming more popular. Cream white is the tone to choose, rather than a dead white. BEAUTY MAKING- MOST OF OURSELVES The wise woman who cares for the perfection of her face follows certain definite rules. These rules must be adapted to one’s personal needs, but the basis is always the same. For instance, to preserve the skin: Each night, before putting your face on your pillow you must banish every little particle of dirt and make up. Use warm water.plenty of good superfatted soap, and your two hands to rub the lather well all over your face. Pay special attention to nooks and crannies; that is, the little crevices all round your nose and the cleft of your chin. Then rinse off this lather; treat yourself to another ’basin of warm

water and repeat tho treatment. This is advisable because autumn and winter dirt is apt to bo sticky. Now dry your face well and gently pat and rub in a liberal supply of good skin food. Let it absorb for a few minutes, wipe off tho excess and so to bed.

Next morning, sponge your face in warm water with a final dash of cold to close the pores, and then dry it. The next step you must take must depend upon the kind of skin you possess. If it is fine and dry, use pure cold

cream, just a trace and tnon wipe it off with a facial towellotte and powder lightly. If your skin is inclined to greasiness yon can improve it wondei fully by spraying on a good tonic, lofion. Witchhazel is very good and a few drops of simple tincture of benzion and rose-

water is an excellent alternative. Then powder.

HEALTH

MRS. EVERYWOMAN’S EXERCISE

The world goes a long way round in search of exercise. It is the quest of the present age: “ Develop the muscles, expand the lungs, keep fit.” Conscious action, conscientiously used, and conscientiously studied —and dearly bought, often in terms of time and money.

Enid used to be a keen sportswoman. She regretted having to give up her games when she married.. Nevertheless she really feels amazingly fit now —and no wonder, for she takes a terrific amount of exorcise. Take the housewife’s average morning work. Rake out the fire, fetch the sticks and wood. Wash up, clean saucepans, with a strong circular sweep of the arm. Make a bed, turn the mattress, shako up pillows. Sweep the floors, scrub tables, polish silver, and brass. Wash duster and cloths —a good deal of rubbing required. Whore is the ‘ 'punch-ball ” compared

with this? What is skating to polish-

ing the floor of a fifteen-foot room? Or, swinging on the parallel bars to rubbing up furniture till it shines like a mirror?

And the element of danger, so near to the heart of sport, is not absent. Sit astride a top-storey window and lean well out to clean the upper panes. Peril dances in the background and that narrow margin between danger and disaster grows thinner as the washleather rises higher.

No football field has seen a scrum compared with tho bargain basement of a white sale. Rand wick pales beside the race to enter when the doors are opened. The explorer—keenest sportswoman of all, perhaps—will travel across the world in search of new experiences. But what of one who makes bread for the l first time? The hazard of it, with no guide but the light of day and a small inner voice. No familiar footprints to follow, for every batch is, as it were, a new batch and may turn out utterly unlike the last. It is one the knees of the gods and in the oven the die is cast. Enid does not recognise all this and it's just as well, for if she began to think of it she would do her work with a conscious muscular movement which would spoil it all. It is the natural action, as unstudied as a dog chasing a rat, that is the secret of the healthfulness of housework. But she is beginning to think that tho “sportswoman’s place is the home,’’ she feels so extraordinary fit. THE NURSERY BABY’S EYES Baby’s eyes arc the doctor’s first care when baby comes into this world; and all through infancy wo must be on guard against any injury or overstrain to these delicate organs. During the first two or three weeks of baby’s life he. bears the light badly. We must accustom him to it by degrees or we may lay the foundation of future trouble.

Never have a white lining to baby’s pram-hood, or a white canopy. If tho latter is light in colour, line it with soft green. A small baby has little power of turning its head into a fresh

position and will lie for a long time staring helplessly at the brightness above it. On .sunny days, tho cool side of a tree or large scrub is better for baby’s eyes than a canopy, when he lies in your garden. Every day baby’s eyes should be bathed with warm boracic lotion; one teaspoonful to a pint of boric is the right strength. It is really easier to keep it ready mixed in a bottle and to pour a little into a egg-cup, stood in a small saucepan of hot water before you begin undressing baby—then it will be the right warmth when wanted. A separate piece of absorbent cotton should be used for each eye, and burnt after use. Baby’s eyes should be bathed from the inner corner outwards, and you may need to turn his head a little so that the water runs d,own his cheek, not towards his nose. Be very conscientious over any sign or inflamation or .sticky discharge. Use boric solution several times during the day, smear a little vaseline around the lids at bedtime, and keep baby carefully protected from draughts and cold winds. If you don’t see an improvement, in a day or two be sure the doctor has a look at baby. This is particularly important during- the first two months. Quito early in: life baby may develop a squint. Don’t listen to the people that will tell you that he will grow out of it. More probably he will grow into it, if left to his own devices. Take him immediately to the doctor. THE HOME WHAT DO I ASK OF MY HOME? Surely the answer will be: “Comfort for the man and myself. Beauty which we can share with friends, a background for all the drama of life we shall play together, and Leisure to enjoy all these things.” In planning your home then, think of comfort -and beauty and leisure and buy the things that will give them. Beds with good springs, roomy easy chairs, shelves for your books, cupboards for odds and ends and stores, good cooking and cleaning utensils. In choosing furniture, wood that does not need a very high polish is a saver of time and labour; for instance, you can rub an oak table over with a ragdipped in linseed oil and vinegar in two minutes, while a mahogany table will take quarter of an hour to polish. Armchirms covered in tapestry upholstering get dirty dusty and worn and cost six or seven pounds to recover: while armchairs of wood and cane, with loose cushions, last a lifetime. Brass and steel fenders take many minutes of your time —oxidised copper or wooden ones only need the touch of the oil and vinegar rag to make them

bright as over. Carpets, unless you have a vacuum cleaner, fill your room with dust —rugs on a stained and polished, floor can be taken outside and shaken in a few minutes.

But perhaps it is in the kitchen that the. inexperienced housewife wastes most energy and labour. She should have no white -wood surfaces, for instance, to need back-breaking scrubbing; her tables should bo covered with zinc, if she can afford it; if not. with good quality American cloth. Her cooking table should be near the stove and near to that should be a shelf with all the things she needs in cooking. Near to the sink should be shelves for saucepans, etc., and for her cleaning things. Above the sink should be a plate-rack .