AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 17, 23 April 1892, Page 436

AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

Under this heading lam very pleased to reply to all queries that are genuine and helpful to the querist and others. Kindly write on one side oj the paper only, and address to the Lady Editor. What a man wants to say : •Dear Lady Editor,—May I crave your indulgence for a few words on an important point. I gather from various hints in this column that you are a sensible individual. Now I appeal to you as such. lam a business man, knocking about the city all day in and out of my office. All this time 1 am compelled to wear a well-fitting, warm coat, boots which suit the fashion rather than my feet, and, for a good part of the time, a most uncomfortable hard hat. I cannot indulge in an easy chair ora prolonged pipe. I must talk, whether I will or not—on business, of course—l must put up with people who will talk extraneous rubbish when I am trying to write an important letter for the fast departing mail, or who buttonhole me when I am hurrying oft to catch the whistling train, or the ’bus which has just started, and whosedriver, not having eyes in the back of his bead, professes to be unable to see my pursuing figure. Hot and tired I reach home. “Be quick, dear,” says my wife. “ I have put out your dress clothes and a clean shirt, ready for the opera. Dinner will be served in five minutes.” I long in vain for my loose coat, easy chair, soft slippers, pipe, and paper. I dress, dine, and rush off to catch another ’bus back to town, and sit, warm and weary, through a performance which I should thoroughly enjoy if I might only go to it in my loose coat and slippers. Can you not use your influence to allow us poor men to escort our ladies in unconventional and comfortable attire? — I am, dear madam, vours faithfully, ‘ A Society Martyr. I am really sorry for you, but surely in this free country, men may dress as they please. Why should you not wear a loose coat in business hours, a soft felt hat, and easy boots? Dame Fashion may growl, but she cannot enforce compliance with her senseless mandates I must own that the dress-circle does look better filled with what is considered appropriate evening costume for ladies and gentlemen. Still, those who live at some distance from the Opera House have certainly a very good excuse to offer for appearing in morning dress. Choeun a son gout, say I. Let not him that is bound by society’s trammels condemn him that putteth comfort before fashion. Maggie E.—l do not approve of cosmetics at all. Washing the face in warm water morning and evening, abstaining from pastry and sweets, eating plenty of ripe, good fruit, and taking sufficient exercise in the open air are all excellent for the complexion. But as there are many who cannot follow this prescription—and perhaps you are one of these—l will give you the recipe for a pure cosmetic, which is called ‘Milk of Roses’:—Valencia almonds, one pound, two ounces ; bitter almonds, two ounces. Blanch and beat well with white castile soap, finely scraped. Then make a cieam of roses of oil of almonds two ounces; white wax, two drams, and spermaceti, one-half ounce. Dissolve and add rose water in sufficient quantity. Pour off the water and add to the mixture of almonds and soap. Beat all together and add gradually rose water, five quarts, strain through cloth and add rectified spirit, one quart; and otto of roses, one dram. Mix all thoroughly together. Bertha. — I am glad you * read this column with interest.' Do not worry about your dimples. Some people think them fascinating ; they certainly give a delightful roguishness to the face. You cannot ‘ fill them in.’ Why, indeed, should you ? Mrs B—l am afraid there is no redress for you unless you can prove that your husband has been guilty of actual personal violence. Many a wife has to submit to sneers and insolent remarks, and keep her grievances to herself. Can you not try to seem not to care for his rudeness, and by gentle answers or by silence, blunt the edge of his wrath? On the other hand, a meek wife is sometimes bullied, when if she once made a bold stand and refused to submit to rude orders, and would not listen to any remarks unless politely addressed, she would astonish her husband, and compel politeness from him. But without knowing more of the circumstances I cannot suggest anything, except that you possess your soul in patience.

Red Gold. - Pray accept my sincere congratulations. You say your betrothal ring is a ruby, and want to know if it is a good omen. First I must tell you that it rests very much with you whether it is so or not. Be true, loving, and faithful, and the stone in your ring will matter little. But the ruby has always been a favourite love-token, and is found in many old betrothal-rings. It is supposed to have the power of driving away bad dreams, to make the wearer forget all evil, expel sadness and evil spirits, and keep you in good health. Then, it is said to bring a blessing from heaven to the young wife and never make her forgetful of her husband’s devotion. When he is in trouble the ruby will grow dark, its brilliancy returning after the danger has passed. The virtue of charity is attributed to the ruby; it belongs to the month of December; and an old, old tradition tells us that a very large ruby hung in the ark, amt gave light to Noah and his family while they remained there.

A correspondent writes asking me how to pronounce the name of Lord Onslow's youngest son, Huia. I will make an attempt to spell it for you phonetically. I think if you follow this exactly, laying the emphasis on the first syllable, you will attain a correct native pronunciation. Whoo-e yer. lam always very pleased to be of service to my correspondents.

How calm the mind, how composed the affections, how serene the countenance, how melodious the voice, how sweet the sleep, how contented the whole life is of him that neither deviseth evil mischief against others nor suspects any to be contrived against himself ! And, contrariwise, how ungrateful and loathsome a thing it is to abide in a state of enmity, wrath, dissension, having the thoughts distracted with solicitous care, anxious suspicion, and envious regret !