AS SEEN THROUGH WOMAN’S EYES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XXII, 2 June 1900, Page 1049

AS SEEN THROUGH WOMAN’S EYES.

WOMEN WITH CURIOUS DISTINCTIONS.

There are several women living’ to-day who, although they have not exactly won name and fame by accomplishing any great work, have gained a certain amount of notoriety by some unique achievement. Mrs Ann Fletcher, of Langton, Spilsby, has distinguished herself in a manner which no other lady has ever done, or probably will do. She has stood sponsor to 100 babies. The little hamlet of Langton has only bout 200 inhabitants, and, needless to say, it has taken Mrs Fletcher some years to accomplish the above remarkable feat. She is, in fact, the recognised sponsor, and no one in that neighbourhood would think of having a child baptised unless Mrs Fletcher was there to place it in the minister’s hands. Seven times married in fifteen years! This performance must surely form the world’s record for multiple widowhood. Senora Rey Castillo is the lady who holds the unique distinction of having had seven husbands, and strange to say, each of her consorts met with an unnatural death. The first fell out of a carriage; the second took poison by accident; the third perished in a mining accident; the fourth shot himself; the fifth was killed while hunting; the sixth met his death by dropping from a. scaffold; and the last was drowned. Senora Castillo has now decided to remain a widow. It is doubtful if there is another lady in the world, other than Mrs Ann Smith, of Worcester, who can boast of having lived in a- caravan for over 100 years. This old lady—who, by the bye, is now 109 years of age —has travelled in her caravan for the last century. hawking chairs, brooms, pots and pans, and various other household commodities, principally in the counties of Worcester, Gloucester. Hereford, and Northampton. She is a veteran smoker, having been accustomed to the weed from her earliest days. She is probably the oldest woman in Great Britain ; her daughter, a Mrs Fletcher, who also lives in the caravan, being over 70 years of age. Although not a woman of great wealth, Mrs Rosa Blackwell has been created owner of the thriving town of David, on the St. Louis and San Francisco Road. The story of how this distinction was conferred upon her is a most curious one. Mrs Blackwell is a. half-breed, having Cherokee blood in her veins, and part of the land—to be exact, 4,000 acres — on which the town of David now stands, belongs to this particular tribe of Indians, but was rented from them by Mrs Blackwell’s husband, a white man. He in turn tried to make money by inviting people to settle there, selling them the land in lots at five dollars each. This the Indians naturally objected to, and in so forcible a manner as to cause Mr Blackwell to leave the neighbourhood in a somewhat hasty man ner. As the whites still continued to settle there, however, the Cherokees brought an action for trespass against them, intrusion on such land being a violation of both Federal and Indian law. The judge declared against the whites, and threatened to confiscate their property. They at once had it transferred to Mrs Blackwell’s name, the Cherokees agreeing to this, she having Indian blood in her veins. Therefore, she now has the rightful ownership of everything in the citv of David.

NURSERY HINTS.

Children at Play.—Few motheis realise how much their children’s future health and happiness and eha racter depends upon their play time. As long as they are in the nursery, play time and how it is used, are even more important than lessons. How many n marring fault in a girl or a young man is traceable direct to these early days? How many a disease or physical weakness has its first seeds sown then? No healthy child is by nature sedentary. They are, or should be.

never still. Watch even the tiniest infant and see how it is ever on the go; see its little hands opening and closing, its little toes a-work; even its little face constantly grimmacing. And as they grow older try and fancy the distance, in proportion to their size, that they crawl or toddle or run when at play. It is immense. Why, all day long they are full of activity. And so it should be. Nature teaches them to seize every opportunity of exercising their little muscles, adapting and developing them for their several purposes. Encourage this activity. Nothing is so good for a child. Never on any account restrain it. See that all its clothes give free scope for easy movement, that it is not in any way hampered by them. Light, warm, loose garments of materials that won't spoil, and that can easily be washed, are what a young child should always wear. Oh, don’t sacrifice the little mite on the altar of appearance, decking it out in stiff starched things and sashes that cause it exquisite discomfort and cause nurse to be ever calling on it to stop ruining its clothes. On first signs of listlessness or absence of desire to romp and active play, be sure something is amiss, ami find out what. It is not a child’s normal state. Don’t overlook it. It may be a very grave symptom. See that the day nursery or play-room is a bright, fresh, airy room, into which the sain streams, in which there is plenty of ventilation, but which is absolutely free from draughts. In summer, of course, let even the youngest babes roll in the grass and romp in the hayfield. The more sun and fresh air they get —so long as you avoid sunstroke on the one hand and giving cold on the other—the better. At play, too, a. child’s character and special talents come out more than at any other time. Always let an elder person be present when children are playing’, not merely for safety’s sake, but to observe them and note them. Let them play quite naturally without interfering, unless they want you to. Let them go their own sweet little ways, but watch them always, and check any little faults that appear; encourage any special bent. A word in time will save years of trouble later on. Selfishness, deceit, cruelty—all the most unpleasant faults that are so ineradicable in later life —may so easily be cured by a. word in season, and it is when children are playing that the first signs of these vices make their appearance. Nothing is so good for children as the society of other children, as long, of course, as the other children have no special vices or faults which your, little mite would be apt to learn. Nothing "brings children out” so much as being with others of about their own age. It cures them of peevishness, slyness, and prevents their growing up narrow, vain and selfish. This is why only children are seldom really nice people. Children are very quick to learn from others of their own age. and the exchange of ideas among the nursery members of two families is very good for them. If a child shows any particular gift encourage it. The little chap who spends his time with his bricks may one day be a great architect, or the small thing who devotes, her days to dosing her dollies may become a successful lady doctor, if only you help ori the wishes of fortune at the auspieiou.i moment. The art of “minding” children at play is quite a gift. Have you never noticed how with some people children will play quite readily and frankly, or will go on with their own play undisturbed by the presence of such a person, whilst with, others the very fact of their Iw-ing by seems to throw a wet blanket on the whole life of the nursery? One gren i think is not to appear to be observing. Half the fun of a. game with dolly is gone when there is a “gallery.” whilst, the most imaginative little boy will pause in haranguing his invisible army if he sees you watching him. Other children, again, simply won’t play unless their elders take part. This is not good for them. It leads to spoiling and to conceit. If a child really will not play without your assistance confine yourself to the teaching of n new game or the initiation of a romp.

STRANGE WEDDING GIFTS.

Not infrequently wedding gifts are the outcome of jealousy, spleen, or malice. A well-known author received on his marriage from a rival man of letters a scrap-book containing a collection of all the adverse criticisms his works had ever received; while i popular artist was on a similar occasion presented with a set of elementary works upon self-instruction in drawing and painting. Unusually vexatious was the gift received from his neighbours by an infirm octogenarian who had wed a pieasure-loving woman more than fifty years his junior. It took the form of a large bra ss cage, “intended"—so ran the subscriber’s note—“to restrain the wayward flights of a giddy young wife who has married a decrepit old .001 for his money.” “I willingly countenance your marriage with my daughter," wrote a physician to his prospective son-in-law, “conditionally on your accepting as a wedding present her mother. As a wife she has not been a success; as a mother-in-law she is at least problematical. At all events, I can endure her temper no longer, and as she expresses a wish to live with her daughter I am sending her along by the next train." In due course the lady arrived, and has lived with the young con file ever since. Some wags thought they would play a joke on an English vicar, a man of an exceedingly meek and retiring disposition, who regarded all athletic sports with an unfavourable eye. So. on the occasion of his marriage, they sent him a set of boxing gloves and a copy of “Boxiana.” But the reverend gentleman rose to the occasion; he accepted the present with warm thanks, sold it, and distributed the money gained thereby among his poor parishioners.

TWO WOMEN.

There an- two women whom well 1 wot. And one is clever and one is not. One labours her livelihood to gain, With a “really almost masculine brain,” Ami the skilful work from her ready pen Has won applause from the world of men: And the labels she wears in the social mart Are “brilliant" and “witty" and “keen” and smart. Anti one just gets by the sunniest smiles And the most transparent of feminine wiles The things she wants from her own liege lord. By whom she is petted and quite adored; And if there are other much coveted ends. She hr.s always a host of obliging friends Who are more than delighted to be of use To “such a dear little helpless goose.” There* are 1 wo women whom well I wot. And one is clever and one is—not. Beatrice Hanscom in the* “Century.” © © © HOW TO MAKE MANY KINDS OF ( A K E. Lady readers of the “Graphic" who are fond of cake making should 1 ry the following recipes which I have selected specially for them. ONE EGG ('AKE. Sift one pint of Hour with one and half teaspoonfuls baking powder and

a piece of butter the size of an egg, one cupful sugar, and a sprinkle of salt. Rub butter and Hour together. Mix half pint of milk and one well beaten egg, and add it to the flour; mix quickly into a smooth batter. Beat for two minutes, flavour either with vanilla or lemon. Bake in a buttered and floured square pan in a medium-hot oven. When /done remove. When cold mix a half cupful powdered sugar with one tablespoonful lemon juice. Spread this over the rake and let it stand till cold.

PINEAPPLE ( AKE. Sif* two cups of Hour with one and half teaspoonfuls baking powder. Wash • half cupful tnitter in cold water. Put the butter and one cupful powdered sugar in a bowl and stir to a cream. Add two eggs one at a time, and two yolks, flavour with one teas poo nf nl vanilla. Add last, alternately, three-quarters of a cupful milk and the sifted Hour. Bake in two medium-sized jelly tins to a fine golden colour in a slow oven. When done turn the cake out of pan, and when cold peel and grate a ripe pineapple. Sweeten with sugar to taste. Lay one of the layeis on a plate, cover with half the grated pineapple, then put over some whipped (‘ream. Put on the other layer, cover the top with the remaining half of the grated pineapple and whipped cream, and serve at. once. Note that the [lineapple should not he put between the layers until just about to serve, otherwise it will soak too much ir the cake. i'k; ( AKE. Sift two cups Hour with one and a half teaspoonfids baking powder; stir one heaping tablespoonful butter with one cupful powdered sugar to a cream; add the grated rind of half a lemon and the yolks of two eggs; heat the whites of two eggs to a stiff froth and add them alternately with the flour and three-quarters of a cupi2ul milk. Butter two square pans and line the bottoms with paper; pour in the mixture and bake in a medium hot oven. In the meantime place half pound well washed figs in a saucepan, add half cupful of water and the juice of one lemon, and cook til] soft; then add two tablespoonfuls sugar. Remove, and when cold put the figs between' the two layers and dust the top with sugar. CHOCOLATE CREAM CAKE. One cup sugar, half cup milk, one and a half cups sifted flour, with one teaspoonful baking powder, one tablespoonful butter and two eggs; stir the butter and sugar to a cream, then add the eggs one at a time stirring a few minutes between each addition; next add the sifted flour and the milk alternately. Bake in two paper lined jelly tins in a hot oven. In the meantime prepare the cream. Boil three-quarters cupful milk, add half tablespoonful butter, two tablespoonfuls grated chocolate, half cupful sugar and one tablespoonful cornstarch wet with a little cold water, stir and boil for a few minutes. Remove from fire, add the yolk of one egg and half teaspoonful vanilla extract, when cold lay one of the cake layers on a. flat dish and spread half of the chocolate mixture on top of it, put on the other layer, spread over the top the remaining chocolate cream and decorate the top with slud led walnuts, or the cream may all be put between the two layers and the top dusted with sugar or glazed with chocolate glaze.

© © ©

NEW PROFESSION FOR WOMEN. A MENDING ESTABLISHMENT. A woman of refinement, gifted with clever fingers, hit upon a mending sclieme, that, in her case, has proved successful as a means of livelihood. With few friends, no relations, and a pride that would not have accepted charity had it been offered, she, a widow, was suddenly thrown on her own resources. There were three little children and herself, so it was out of the question for her to seek work that should take her from them and from home, even for a few hours daily. Pood and rent, to say nothing of clothing, had to be furnished somehow, and after long and anxious thought she decided to take in mending. She knew she could do this perfectly and tin* idea came to her through a chance thought suggested on reading

the war news—“ However do the so—diets manage to do their mending in camp?” Though the answer was patent: “They go ragged!” and was given in many of the soldiers' letters published, the suggestion proved valuable. She went about her business methodically. A small advertisement was drawn up, calling attention to her novel business, and this was sent to the local press. She next had some circulars printed that set forth her business in greater detail, and a boy was hired to distribute these amongst all Ihe shops and offices where young men and clerks were employed. Not content yet, she sat down and wrote dainty notes to all the mothers of large families she knew of. stating her terms for mending, which were only fxl per hour. Then she waited. The first week brought a few orders, which she executed with infinite pains. The money earned was not much, but it made a beginning. Week by week brought more work and more pence, until she had more mending to do than she could manage. She would refuse none of it, however. As soon as the orders grew beyond her, she thought ot a fresh scheme that would not only be a tremendous help to her business if it proved feasible, but be the means of training girls to be good housewives in future days. It proved feasible when tried. She changed the name of her establishment. which had been '‘Mending Office.’’ to “Mending School,” and announced by newspaper advertisement and by circular that plain mending in all its branches was taught for a very small fee in afternoon and evening classes. By going to the mistresses of the neighbouring girls’ schools, she obtined the names of many respectable mothers of elder girls. She visited these mothers, and. in due course, obtained a good class of pupils. The schoolmistresses were glad of the aid thus indirectly rendered them in their sewing lessons, and they helped her willingly in the matter of recommending her mending classes to their elder girls; the mothers were more than pleased to pay the nominal fee to have their girls taught a thoroughly practical system of mending in the best way, besides being assured that they were kept out of mischief for a couple of evenings in the week. The same girls only came twice a week for a ten weeks’ course. Many of them, however, took a second course, so pleasant did this energetic mending mistress contrive to make her evenings. She still keeps on her classes, and has the upper standard girls of several schools regularly, as the successions of girls ascend from the fifth to the seventh class. She pushes her trade with energy by her well-worded notes to mothers. Young men in lodgings hand their garments over to her, certain of receiving them back in right order. Sometimes only a button or two is needed, and then a few minutes will each bring in a penny, thus making her average of pay good. By a careful system of ticketing, the are not mixed, and no mistakes are made in returning them to their proper owners.

DONG ENGAGEMENTS.

■ " Ga-tlier ye rose bucks wliile ye may, Oiu idue is still a-ltying.” A long eugagemeut is a trying Mung: n, is irse tile last page nliere "J: inis is Uie only worn, .Lake the failing eua iaiii on the last ant —all liuisneu, all over, the actors vanished, the gutter past, tne drama accomplished, the liguits out. Nothing remains but empty seats and a hollow, resounding blacKiiess, full of the echoes of the past. t>o the girl who faces life as a fiancee, but with no prospect of becoming a I ride for many a year, has need of ail h , courage, line little pleasurable excitements of social lite, the talking over new masculine acquaintances with the other girls. Will they be nice'' Will they join the club? Do they ride ? Do they give dances ? What are these things to her? What does she care if they will dance, or play tennis, or join the club? She does not care a jot. What is it to her if the introduction be obtained or not? She shares none of the interest the other girls take in strangers. No; she has made her choice —she is appropriated; she is, as it were, an outsider in the daily events of life, and the girls make her feel that they consider her so, for .she fancies they don’t seem so anxious to receive her into their little coteries and share their secrets as formerly. On this subject one frequently hears two opinions. One asks: “Is it fair for a girl to waste the best years of her life in waiting for a man who may never be able to maintain her in comfort?” To which the answer is: “No, it’s not fair; she ought to be having her chance with the rest of them, and not to be tied up to that odious man.” Whilst others again, say: “ Isn’t it hard on a man whose only fault is lack of means, and who would make an estimable husband, to be prevented asking for the girl he loves because he can’t, marry- at once?” Yes. it is hard on such a man: and

yet the girl, when engaged, often tiuds it hard on her too. 11 the man thinks he has any chance, and if the girl is made of the right siuit she should be given the chance as to whether she will wait willingly, or take whatever other chance the years may bring. It may be time brines no other lovers to her feet, and she will say dolefully: “Ah, if Jack had only spoken, how cheerfully i would have waited! Together we would have fought the daily fight, and gladly, too, for each other’s sake.” While Jack, who was a faint heart, develops into a musty, crusty old bachelor, reflecting sometimes between the walnuts and the wine, upon the girl he might have won had Kate smiled more kindly on him in his early days. Yes, the girl should have her ehance; yet she Should reflect very seriously cn the step she conteniiplates; for a long engagement, with all its ups-and-downs, its hopes and fears, its expectations ami disappointments, is wearying on body' and mind, and iges a girl more than many' years of wedded life. For it may ehance that love not very strongly-rooted at first would bud and bloom if the dual life were begun in a reasonable time; while on the other hand the tender seed may not be vigorous enough to stand the strain of prolonged absence, of few letters, of uncertainty and delay, so she droops and pines, and the letters come to an end. and we hear it said: “Ah, I never expected anything else! I was quite sure they would never marry.” Yet when Jack comes home in after years, rich and influential, she may stifle a sigh of regret that she had not exercised :i little patience.

WOMEN INVENTORS

Formerly it was said, and with apparent justice, that women lacked the inventive faculty. That they do not possess it in such a high degree as men do is quite possible, but at the present time women have invented

so many things of value to the world at large that it seems as if they had only to share more generally in the educational advantages of men to be their equals in this field so long considered exclusively theirs. In England. perhaps, women are generally content with inventions of domestic value, but in America they are more aspiring. A certain Miss Maggie Knight has amassed a large fortune from various inventions, among which is a most complicated machine for the making of rein forced-bottom paper bags. Mrs Green, the wife of one of Washington's most distinguished officers, invented the cotton-gin. a machine which is of immense value and importance* in the industrial world. Mrs Manning. a New Jersey lady, invented a reaper and mower, which was improved upon a. few years later and patented by Mrs Elizabeth Smith. Another American lady, a Californian, invented a baby’s perambulator, which has realised altogether about £ 10,000.

Amongst the most remarkable of women’s inventions is that of Mrs Mary B. Walton, for deadening the sound of railway carriage wheels. She lived near the elevated railway in New York, and was much disturbed by the sound of the constantly passing trains. Many great mechanical engineers had tried to find a remedy for the excessive noise, but without ,any success. It remained for Mrs Walton to invent something, and her appliance, proving perfectly successful, was adopted by the elevated railways, greatly to the advantage of the general public and to the inventor herself —in more ways than one.

Women evidently have brains capable even of great inventions, and the old reproach of their luck of inventive power ought now to be forgotten. Mr Edison, the great inventor and electrician, has a great opinion of women as machinists. He says that women acquire more fine sense about

machinery in one minute than most men do in a life-time. High praise this from such a man! But lie means it. for he employs about a hundred women workers, for he prefers them as machinists for the delicate details of his electrical inventions.

\\ RAP UP.

It is most necessary to wrap up warmly when going to or coming from any evening entertainment, ami this is too frequently overlooked by girls. Before leaving their roojn they should carefully cover their necks and arms with a soft woollen shawl underneath their cloak, which should be warm, and. if possible, fur-lined. The head should also be enveloped with a warm hood or shawl, and no part must be left unprotected. The same precautions are necessary when standing in a cold or draughty room, and tin* body should never be allowed to cool down, but be covered immediately the dance is over. Snow-shoes or goloshes should always beworn over the dancing shoes if there is a walk, however short, ahead of one, unless walking boots have been substituted.