AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 24, 17 June 1893, Page 574

AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

Under this heading I am 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.

I have a good many letters to-day, and must go straight to them instead of indulging in any preliminary remarks. * Comfort.’—Dear child, I think you will find that a little tact on your part will soon set matters straight. Tact is the very essence of good breeding. It is the power to grasp the situation or the feelings of other people intuitively, as it were, and then to be able quietly and unobtrusively to put things right. Talk to the young people you are so anxious to reconcile, separately. Point out to each the good points of the other in a quiet, purposeless sort of way, but use tact not to let either of them find out what you are doing. Then see if you cannot, by some gentle contrivance, induce a meeting. Perhaps a little fete d-tele would speedily set matters right. You are quite sure that they do care for each other, and would be happy together !

• Felix.’ —I do not think I would be discouraged, were I you, by a girl’s no, if, as you say, you truly love her, and you think there is no one else in the way. Judging from your nice, manly letter, the young lady is refusing a fair prospect of happiness. Treat her as if you had not proposed ; be kind, courteous, and attentive, but speak no word of love. If you behave as a mere friend, she can have no excuse for avoiding your society. Having once heard words of love from you, she will always look upon you somewhat in a different light from her other male acquaintances. Your acceptance of her refusal in that quiet way will pique her. She will begin to think about you, to compare you with other men, and somehow, I feel suie, she will begin to love you. Then when she blushes at your approach, when her eyes sparkle as you speak to her, when she half-avoids, but evidently really likes your presence, take her boldly in your arms and tell her she loves you. Your name means * happy,’ and I sincerely hope you may be so.

* Anxious. —I have just received your nice little note. I can assure you I do not think you in the least a ‘ troublesome correspondent.’ I shall be pleased to send you the sketches if what you have already got is not satisfactory. A very good plan is to have the slip bodices made five inches (or more) longer than the waistline. Turn them up so as to have a hem of three thicknesses, about an inch in depth. Sew on about five or six large flat buttons ; make the petticoats to fit into a band which shall exactly correspond in width to this hem, and make button-boles in the band to fit the buttons. All the fulness of the skirts thus comes considerably below the waistline. For winter wear, you will find it an excellent plan to line your petticoat with flannelette. Face the lining at the hem with almost five inches of the petticoat material, and only bring the lining up to the beginning of the deep band, where it can be well sewn in by the machine. If the band be doubled or lined with calico the flannelette can be quite flat. The band need not be gored if buttoned on to the bodice. If carried to the waist, make it to fit exactly, and line with silesia, goring carefully so as to make it wide enough round the ankles. I couldsend you a sketch of the idea if I have not expressed myself clearly enough. Massage—which you can do yourself, is very good, also plenty of exercise. * * * * * * ‘ Housekeeper.’—Wash your lace curtains in a large bath of a little ammonia and boiled soap, well mixed with warm water. Let them soak for a few hours, then press the water out with your hands, and put them in a similar bath for the nignt. In the morning rinse very well, gently pressing any dirty spots. Do not rub them. Rinse them through blue water, pin them on sheets on the line or on the grass, starch and iron. Dear Lady Editor.—l venture to send you my opinion on the ‘ Corset Question.’ I think it is not much use telling women they may wear a corset, but not tight, for no woman I ever knew or heard of, ever admitted that hers were tight. A very sensible man used to say women would never wear corsets unless they wore them tight, as they were more in dined to increase than decrease the size of the waist, being rather bulky things themselves, and I am inclined to think he is right. For the last ten years I have not worn a corset of any kind, and the measurement of my waist is fully an inch less now than I used to get corsets for, and I am a stouter woman altogether than I was ten years ago. ‘ I have known women say repeatedly how loose they wore their corsets, and have afterwards had the pleasure of seeing them get into their loose corsets, when they have had to hold their breath and fasten one catch, then take a rest between and fasten another, and so on to the finish, when they would coolly pull the lace tighter still from the back, and then they were loosely dressed. Men have been very much to blame, but I know the sensible ones among them are not in favour of women distorting themselves, and most men are horrified at the

present state of things. For anyone who is inelined to lean forward or stoop, shoulder-straps are very useful. I think our own ribs are quite sufficient to keep us perfectly straight without the use of artificial ribs in the form of corsets. —I am, dear Lady Editor, Lover of Nature. •♦♦ * « * ‘ Cousin Ivy ’ says : • I must disagree with •• A Sensible , Old Woman” re Should people resort to artificial means to preserve their good looks! I think to a certain extent everyone should make it their study to appear as nice as possible always, especially so in the home circle, in this way: You should always have a smile of welcome for the weary home-comers after a hard and toilsome day, but if you have even one tooth out how funny you look. So many people's hair goes quite grey while they are still young in years. I do not advocate hair-dyeing, but get the very nicest way to arrange your hair and always do it that way. Find which of the many toilet soaps suits your skin and use that. Always wear the prettiest and most harmonious colours in your dress. If yon find when you go out in the air your skin gets at all rough or red use something that you are sure will keep it from getting so. I would advise everyone to eschew paints, as the strong chemicals they are composed of can only do harm to the delicate texture of the skin. I advocate a healthy, temperate life, with a cheerful, contented spirit, and I think not much artificiality need be resorted to.’