AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 44, 4 November 1893, Page 382

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 of the paper only, and address to the Lady Editor.

' A New Arrival.’—l can quite sympathise with your annoyance that your summer gowns have gone astray on the voyage out. I fear they have been landed at some wayside port, as you say you broke your journey so frequently. We have not a Madame Elise, it is true, but from all I have heard you will find you can get the latest Parisian styles and fit at Madame Verney’s, 123, Lambton Quay, Wellington. As you want your summer gowns at once, I think you might safely entrust them to this lady. She says in her circular that she has been with Worth in Paris, and you will fully appreciate what that means—and with Madame Mathilde, of London. Those ladies who have already patronised Madame Verney seem very well satisfied with her style, fit, and charges. As you say, there is a certain charm about a properly-made Parisian or good London gown which cannot, usually, be acquired outside those two cities, except from a dressmaker who has studied in those schools.

‘A Lady Speaker.’—Your question made me smile. It is such an evidence of the rapid advance recently made by women. There should be no after trouble with the throat when giving a course of addresses. We all know the chaim of a beautiful voice when accompanied by clear and distinct enunciation. These two factors in effective delivery are frequently of even more value than the subject-matter of a discourse. It seems very strange that, of all arts, the art of voice production in speaking is that which receives the smallest amount of attention. No one would dream of performing on any instrument in public, or singing in public, without adequate training ; yet the beautiful organ of the voice in speech is almost entirely uncultivated, and that not only by the rapidly forming army of women speakers, but also by all classes and grades of men speakers. The result to themselves is disastrous. The complaint, or rather condition of throat absurdly called ‘ clergyman’s sore throat,’ but which with greater appropriateness might be termed • speaker’s sore throat,’ overtakes all who violate nature’s laws in this matter of voice use. There should be nothing approaching local fatigue from using the voice continuously for an hour or two, provided the manner of production be not faulty. A clear, resonant, telling voice may be acquired by the use of exercises having a physiological basis, and distinct enunciation can be learnt by everyone who will take a little trouble. With this knowledge to start with, women speakers may feel confident of escaping the many ills that follow in the wake of faulty voice production, and those whose voices have broken down may take heart of grace, for there is not only relief from present suffering but hope of renewed usefulness in the futuie.

•Pussie.’ —A wooden pole for your window curtains would not look nice. Get a brass rod. Tan blinds edged with macrame lace are very chic. For the bedroom have cretonne curtains which can be washed. A clean, light pattern looks best. The eider-down to go on the bed shonld also be covered with the cretonne, and add a five-inch frill all round it. For ease in washing—which is essential now-a days when one has to do so much of one’s housework oneself—make the cover like a large pillow-case to take off and on with buttons, which the frills will hide.

• Novice.’—Many people leave their homes in the summer and I should think a capable and reliable lady caretaker, who would see that the rooms are kept properly aired, etc., would be a great boon. You would not get much pay, free lodging, with perhaps vegetables and milk and firing. It all depends on the work you would be expected to do.

• Enquirer.’—l have written to the address given in your letter.