AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue VII, 18 August 1894, Page 166

AT HOME WITH THE LADY EDITOR.

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

‘ G. R. Dickson.’ —I have made inquiries about the lawn tennis question, and think you will find the following manual answer all your requirements, ‘ Lawn Tennis, by H. W. W. Wilberforce, secretary A.E.L T.C.’ In the All England series the price is Is, and you can order it at Messrs Wildman and Lyells,’ Shortland-street, Auckland. There is a large number of books at this price describing all sorts of games. The initials at the end of the secretary’s name stand for ‘ All England Lawn Tennis Club,’ so the author should know something about the work. I play tennis myself, and if anything puzzles you should be glad to help, or get it explained by some competent authority. Have you a grass ground, or cinder or asphalt courts? The latter enable players to enjoy tennis when cold weather makes the game really acceptable. In summer it is fearfully hot work. The book will probably give price of gear. No. 2 Query: In Auckland the policemen wear a cuff when on duty, and I fancy they do in Wellington and Napier. However, I shall be very glad if someone in these two cities will kindly write to me and inform me. A post card would be quite sufficient, and will be gratefully received.

‘ Busy Bee.’—Your question ‘ How can I make my kitchen look pretty and tasteful ?’ seems answered by a very nice description given of what I should imagine is just what you want, viz., a place to cook in, but very habitable also. The description was given by a practical lady at the- Woman’s Congress. She, like you, had to do all her own work, and consequently, had to spend mnch of her time in the kitchen. This was a room whose old floor had been covered with neat oilcloth in imitation of blue and grey tiling, its woodwork and walls painted and tinted to correspond ; little dressers arranged with a display of blue and white pottery ; ’ the sparing furniture of the room by skilful manipulation all brought into the blue and grey symphony ; pretty chintz curtains hung at the windows ; the blue and grey agate and porcelain were tastefully arranged, and every detail of the apartment made to satisfy the most artistic taste. Here are two suggestions that go hand in hand, and it would appear that their careful consideration might solve the servant problem. Twochief objections that the woman of intelligence and breeding has to undertaking the domestic labour of her house are—first, the absorption of her time in drudging, manual labour ; and second, the distasteful, if not unsavoury surroundings of the average kitchen. Civilization and invention are rapidly doing away with the first disadvantage. With the present improvements in gas and gasoline and kerosene ranges, and the thousand and one little time saving contrivances in the way of improved implements, improved food compounds, and the improved cooking utensils by which roasting and boiling and baking carry themselves to a successful issue almost without attention, it is a poor manager who cannot with an actual expenditure of time not exceeding three hours make ready the prescribed three meals and prepare them so that they will be appetizing, wholesome, and present a sufficiently varied bill of fare.

‘Little Ruby.’—lam truly sorry for your warts. Yes, they are a great disfigurement. Here are three suggestions for cures. They are not my own, but are taken from a first class paper. In England we cured our warts by continued applications of the milk of the common dandelion. Caustic is the first suggestion, and should be persevered with. Another remedy is to moisten the warts with vinegar, cut as much off them as possible each day, and apply a little powdered alum. It is generally advisable to take some cooling salts, such as Lamplough’s Pyretic Saline, if one is troubled with these disfigurements. Sometimes a wart may be cured by steeping it in castor oil several times a day, or by rubbing constantly with a raw potato, or painting with lemon juice. I know one authority who says this treatment is successful Take a slate and have it calcined in the fire, then reduce it to powder, and mix with strong vinegar. Rub the warts with this wash. Of course you must understand the necessity of continuing for weeks together with one treatment before it will be marked with success, paring oft' as much of the excrescence as possible without pain.