"The Distaff." [From the "Queen."]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2119, 6 February 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

"The Distaff." [From the "Queen."]

Dntss ami Dressmaking. — One of tho great difficulties of the day is assuredly to have materials made up and dresses renovated. We have been at some trouble in order to advise satisfactorily on this point. At the present time many garments are in hand undergoing renovation, among them somo Indian shawls, which are transformed into evening mantles with small sleeves, the back plaited and the front adapting itself to the figure. They are mostly lined with some of Liberty's soft silks quilted. Among a variety of dresses we noted two or three that had assumed a new form One was a wedding gown which had had a tang train. Now the front was composed of satin and figured velvet cut in scallops ; tho back was short enough for dancing, with a plaited drapery and small flounces ; it had completely altered its appearance. A soft silk of ecru ground, with a tiny brocade in reseda more than half worn out, had had the best portion of it made into back and side drapei ies over a skirt of plaited ecru lace — another thorough transformation. A tea gown of a useful type was made of d-»rk blue stamped velveteen, with a front breadth of soft silk, and only lace at the neck and cuffs by way of trimming. A cloak made in tweed, was long, covered the dress well, had short sleeves, and velvet collars and cuffs ; but it boasted of a decided and good novelty —where each sleeve was put into the clo ik there vva3 a pocket which in no way interfered with the arm, and was perfectly secure against pickpockets. A tussore was remade after it had been cleaned: on one side a grenat \el\et panel had been introduced, matching the collar, revcrs, and cuffs. The skirt opened over this panel, and was draped at the back with a long loop of velvet ; the other .side fell straight, and the back was puffed. A black silk, draped at the sides of the skirt with beaded cord and tassels, and stripes of handsome beading down the front. The bodice was decidly new in its arrangement ; there was a full lace vest gathered to a long point in front, and over this was a long lacing of cord twisted round large jet buttons furnished with hooks, on the principle of the fasteners on a man's shooting boots. A brown and white striped zephyr had been made up with a tunic of plain brown linen, bordered with two rows of lace, a really serviceable cotten dress which keeps dean and looks well all the summer. A pretty dress in beige mousseline de lame had a full gathered skirt all round, with Ion? ends of velvet on one side ; a full bodice, with a Swiss velvet bodice .and braces, also velvet sleeves. Epaulettes are certainly coming in again. Aproxs. — Aprons are coming in again, slowly but surely, the real old-fashioned, comfortable black silk apron, large and square, well coveriug the front breadth of the gown, but more prettily trimmed than thoy used to bo of old, with a flounce of blace lack and black lace pockets. At Waterloo House they are showing some pretty aprons made of woollen lacecream genorally — maie up with plush, striped in green, red, nnd biscuit, the bib a small portion of the same bordered with lace. Another is made bib and bkirfc of black satin, bordered with Astrakan; another in blue satin, with lace* frillingd. In all theselthe bibs are hardly longer thin your hand, widening on the bust and narrowing towards the waist. Black lace over coloured satin, and caught up with long looped bows, is a favourite style. A spotted hand, kerchief apron in specially to be recommended for hou<=e keeping purpose.*, made with a knitted front and the bib cut diagonally, the whole bordered with lace, and a jaunty bow of ribbon placed on the pide. There i* a great deal of style in the way these additions to dress are put on, but they cert duly .are valuable little adjuue.ts, tho more dressy ones coverting a sombre toiletto into a smart one very quickly. — Canterbury Press. Scjw.ii SuoßTßrtEAU.— lib fine flour, Jjlb good bitter, fine sug-ir, lpmon juice if liked. Place all the above on a pastry board in a cool placp, and knead together with the hani ; when well incorporated form into a round or square cake as desired, pinch up thu ediros, iind mark the surface with si fork : hake in a cool oven. Some pns* comfit.s on the top, some ice tho cuke when cold. It can also be baked in small thin eak^s if de-sired.—-"Economy " will nnd the secret of making Scotch shoitbread is in not rolling the pa^to out, and in squeezing all tho water out of the butter. Mix lib of flour nnd a -£lb of sifted tugnr together. Take Alb of butter, pqueezo every drop of water out, and beat it into a ere tin, add then the flour and Kiisrar, and knead the ingredients with the fiuaer*. Pla°e it in .i well- buttered tin, and press it flat all over find well into the corners with your knuckles. Prick it in lines with the prongs of a foi k, and ornament the edsre" with the fork, stick on comfits and thin slices of lemon peel, and bike in a moderately hnt oven for three-quarters of an hour. Ifc must be carefully watched for fear of getting burnt. Skmolixa Soup (Potagc dc semwh.)--Havo one quart of well-flavoured stock boiling fast on the fire. Take in one band some of the coarsest semolina that can be procured, and slowly strew it in the stock, which is to be continuously stiired with a spoon held with the other hand. One handful will be sufficient for the above quantity of srook, but more may be used according to the thickness the soup is desired to be. Keep on stirring for a few minutes, when the soup will be seen to thicken, and it is then ready. A lady inventor, from San Francisco, of a baby carriage i« said to have received no less than fourteen thousand dollars for her patent for this prambulator. The paper pail, invented by a Chicago lady, also produces a large income ; while the gimblet point acrew, which was the idea of a little girl, has realised millions of dollars to its patentees.

Strange, if True. — When the recent war scare was on, it was asserted that the Russians had a large fleet which could swoop down to the Pacific easily, and that the vessels were protected from attack in the harbour at Vladivostock, north of China, and could not be taken by British ironclads, as the harbour was protected by torpedoes. The following \ rather singular story is vow published : — A correspondent of the Novae Vreniya at Vladivostock has provoked a sensation in Russian naval circles by disclosing the following incident : — A few weeks ago the German steamer China set oat for Port Possieft, unaware that the harbour was closed by a double row of torpedoes, which had been placed there during the war scare in the spring. On its arrival the boat stationed to warn off vessels was not in its place, and the German captain did not observe the red flag hoisted on shore, where also the naval picket was absent. Two or three people observing the danger into which the vessel was running, shouted out, "Mini! mini!" (Mines! mines !), but the captain did not realise what they meant until close to the first torpedo barrier. It was then too late to reverse the engines, and amid a panic among the passengers on board he decided to trust to luck and steam full speed ahead. A terrible pause followed, succeeded by a feeling of astonishment when the steamer was seen to have traversed both rows of submarine mines, and to be calmly making her way into the harbour. The torpedoes were supposed to be of the best quality, received from Russia last spring, and they were laid down by experienced officers who had reported that it was impossible for even the smallest fishing smack to enter the harbour without being blown to pieces. At St. Petersburg it is not believed that the officers bungled in laying them down, but those ashore had purloined the gunpowder from the torpedoes and replaced it with sawdust.