The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)(about) |
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Wednesday 10 September 1913
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2 corrections, most recently by lynnwalsh - Show corrections
WOMEN TO WOMEN.
"THE BOTTOM DRAWER."
By VESTA
Every girl who is anticipating her wed- ding day has her "bottom drawer," or "glory-box," as it is sometimes called, filled with a store of the odds and ends which to feminine eyes count for so much in the home. The bottom-drawer habit is not an Australian idea; it exists all over the world. In Germany every girl expects to be married some day, as a matter of course, for arrangements to that effect are family affairs. Connected with such traditions as these are the interests of the home, and so the daughters of families in all degrees of rank begin when they are mere children to accumulate stores of house linen. Previous generations of 'hausfraus ' spun their own flax, and wove their own linen, which was afterwards made into napery of endless durability. To-day Germany, like other nations, has manufacturing centres, where woven linen is produced at popular rates, and so home industries are spoiled by cheap competition. But the thrifty habits still live, and German girls con- tinue to put by stores of napery and da- mask, which they embroider and mark with great skill.
Preparing the contents of the "glory box", according to Australian ideas, is fascinating work. When once the engagement is an nounced, even though the heroine of the occasion be a hopeless needlewoman, she sets to work to make a collection although she has to purchase every article at the nearest department store. There are so many things wanted in a house - trifles which cost but little if bought one at a time, but run into a startling total if purchased together. It is here that the bottom drawer plays an important part. Not for one moment must this colleelion of odds and ends he confused with the trousseau or outfit of clothes, that comes under the jurisdiction of the parents or guardians, whereas the "glory box". is a purely per-
sonal affair, to which friends and relations are not only allowed but are expected, to contribute. If the engagement lasts any time over a year, the accumulation of d'oyleys, traycloths, and such delightful ac- cessories by an industrious girl becomes a valuable assortment. Here is a hint to brides-elect. Procure a note-book, not too small a one, and jot down in it all the little and big things required in a well conducted household. Big things, heavy furniture, and the like cannot well find places in the treasure-box but, at the same time, it is a good plan for both the man and the maid to save all their copper coins and small silver in order to purchase some piece of furniture which to thom seems most desirable. In one case a wage-earning girl and her fiance made a plan to save all their odd pence with the result that at the end of their two years engagement a handsome sideboard costing £14, was achieved.
Household linen requires a box to itself; there arc so many things included under this head, and it is not every girl whose parents or friends are able to equip her with a complete set. Anyway, towels, sheets, pillowslips, and pretty bcdspreads never come amiss to a housekeeper, and no girl will ever regret when she is married hav- ing collected a liberal supply in her bot-
tom drawer. Dusters, polishing cloths and dish towels, too must not be omitted; while a good number of washing cushion covers will be found a boon. Give the kitchen a thought for every girl is not given a "kitchen tea", and in these days of expensive aluminium and high class enamel ware she who lays in a supply of saucepans, kettles and pots and pans, to say nothing of the smaller items such as cooking forks, patty-pans, and rolling pins, and, above all, the indispensable mincing machine, will be thankful when the wed- ding time comes that she has saved herself so much worry and money.
In America the ' hope-box' is in insti-
tution among wage-earning girls who begin life with the same idea as the Germans, that is to say, that marriage is a definite object of their existence. One often reads of the "hope-box" in American magazines without exactly realising what it is. It is practically the same as a bottom drawer
only in one case the collection of odds and ends only has hopes of ever using them whereas the proud proprietor of the bottom drawer has her destiny pretty well in sight.
THE EXIGEI.CIES OT DKESS
How difficult it is m these days to dress well-that is to say, suitably-on all oc casions lins fact is becoming in creasingly obvious to almost all women, one may be all right nine times, but the tenth finds tis hopelessly wrong IJiat distress ing statement so often heard, 1 have ab solutely nothing to w e ir in-toad of bemj, the subject for amusement on the part of the ignorant male pet-on, should be re ceived with silent sympathy, for it contains a deep truth, and one that all of us ean echo in our hearts Wheie is the woman who ha3 not hud to say the same thing not once but over and over again Here we are at a time of j eai when the problem of clothes is puzzling the majority of women It is too late to buy anything but sprang garments, but the weather demands that we should cling io those gowns and suits that liave been in eonstant use suiec .pul oi May last Naturally enough they aie -boum signs of the btorm and stress of foul oi -tve months hard wear, and m bundi eds ot cases many of the costumes of which the owners are so utterly tired of have done duty last winter as well Ibeie wts i time when one coat and skirl, one tftet
noon gown, ' one new and one renovated evening gown were all that the ordinary, town-dwelling woman required But those days aro gone Now it is consideied coi
rcct, if not indispensable, to have clothes for every separate occasion and sport, and, in accoidanco with the f islnon of the horn, the majority of these clothes are of a veij fragile nature How then is the the woman of modélate means to chess suitably w ithout
'out-running the constable ' lins is a problem that ta_.es clever management to solve To buj clothes hapha_atd, spend jng proportionately lar^e sums on the needs of the moment and on passing fashions, is to court aisastei Lier) worn in who wants to dress well must eonsitlei ecu ously all the cii-cumstunccs of bei hie, bel occupations, and hei surroundings and re member what sort of clothe» she li is lound most useful m the past bemal countiy
living women luve wiitlcn telling ot then troubles in this diicetion when paynig their annual Show" visit to Alclbounio One cortespondent says, aftei asking foi sug_e_ tions as to hei summer outfit - lins year I am not coming to tow n loi J know I um impressionable where pretty clothes no con cerned, and juBt now money is too sr tree for extravaganecs Last veal 1 cane home with a trunk, ul of dainty fioel s shoes and hats, for which I have little ot no u«c and I suppose they will be out of date ni a couple ol years I am sure no eily living women who con see the well diosseil shop windows every day aie tempted hie we from the back blocks are w hen in town
Tor all women, town or countrj dwellers alike, the coat and bkirt is the most eeono mieal weai, and lccoiding lo the latest de velopmcnts of fashion there is nothing to Buggcst u perpetual series of tailor mades Lven those who aie most devoted to the severe stjle of drissmg must have lnteivnls when they yeain foi the mole frivolous tv pe of garment _nd ho today we can haye cither the lu-ht urge oi tweed co it and skirt on bliictlv tailor made lines oi elbe there is the jauutv coatee and skirt to match of crepe de ehine satin cbumeuse or even of nmon and as a compromise lo eithei of these come the wonderful cotton ci.ecls which successfully emulate the best of woollens and silks Tor msl ince, cotton 'spong cloths ind ratines arc in the fcooil mi ilitie» (2/0 ot -/li pci double width y lid)
lu moie sttiofîeloij loi Mimniei than the infinitely mote expensive ones mil the colouib ne excellent Hie newest idei is to li ive the co itee of btocaded cotton sponge elotli while the si nt is of the same coloui, land of the sime material, only pattern
less At Iii bl it did not bcem as though 'these brocaded eottons were e,oing to be ,in (.milli fuvout foi they iveic i itlici rcimnisecnt ii the old lime lorry quilts 'but since vc have teen it made up ils novel
-harm and smart effect have been quickly i realised We AVere told that Sicilian-, lusties, and otlici tentures of that class would again lie in fuioui this Rummer, but there are no signs jet of any decided Aogue in that direction Dut rtsildas arc even more attractive than before, and anyone tv no has once worn lins eminently satis factory material will not have any doubts m choosing it again
In conclusion one can only come back, to where Ave begin 1 hua it Avould BCem that for this season, at nil} rite, the solution of the question of economic and suitable at
_A OAIlIJIMí PARTY
FROCIC.
A _V15W COATBlä AID
SKIIIT.
lire foi ill occnsions rests Avith the coat and fckirt, which m mart} of its neu jirc sentuiciitb is quite within the capabilities of the clevei imitent diessmaUcc, lor there
no need foi the stretching and bhiinl. ¿ and pri.ßinii which are the point, in icii tailoring winch need expert (-1.ill
GENERAL HINTS
\ KI QUI-Sl
In Hie Issue of -UMist 20 lu Women to Women
column V Hollier who d cn bed bor*-If as having be m a trained illina f,av details of an infant s livcttc uni «lu mentioned that f-he em 1 roidcrcd tin neck m I >okt of small \oiIe dres^s willi lue -titelt Would Mit lindlv send in ic spouse t« bc\t.nl correspondents cither a small sample or a dtscription of tin. stitch and HIL method ot working to \csla
J*0 TRUN IN NLIfàlNG
battle Bloff-oni (Lnroa) is KLCII on becoming n nurse and wishes to Know where nile can obUiin truning Thi Melbourne the \ If red the Chit dren s, the 4uet.ii \ictorn the Vustin, **t \ in
cent's ind the Ilomn'opithic. luvmiuils arc the recognised training «-linois in HIL metropolitan am and tin same iipplits to any of tht public hosp i ta la in (he eountn There iß alw i;s a demand for the services of qualified nurses, who moat how ever show Hie -ertiilcalo of the \ 1 dorian Trilned nurses Association lina ia issued to all candi
dites who Imc passed the necessary examinât io na while in training nt um of Hie recognised hosp!
tuts The usual lnetho»! of taking up iiutBmg is iiret to decide on which hospital to attend lhc> oil stand on the sume fooling hut naturally Hie nurse who is trained at a large central institution obtains more ; a ried experience, though the work la much harder and in one instance the courue ia longer At the Melbourne Hospital the course is four years while nt the other-* three years ia Mifliciuit ihe leading central hospital« in moat of the other Stutts insist on the four j. irV course ind tiio Melbourne Hospital iiuthontics Omi it best to leen m line with them \fter li mug de cided which it is dudnd to enter, applieition Bhould It made to Hu matron who will forward
fonn to be Ulled in Dieu the applicant must tit until sent for mid she musí be re ulv to go at faliort notice lite Women & Hospital ia a mid Aifcn school, where the nuises who have ulreadv liulitlcd bj passing their examinations at other i ospiuls receive u spécial course of nursing 1 n lou our is being made by the committee of the Womens Hospital to get the Rojal \ ictoria -Trained Nurses Association to grant special ccr tificatcs for nurses who are whollj trained lit tin hospital, but as vet tin point lus not Iwcii llnally decided Jf such ii concession should he granted it is likclv tint the course would extend over two years but the training would not be a general one, but onh for mldwifcr. fhe fees picinium and rcmunention \iry at the different hospitals, but the matrons will be able to fcive the informa tion There is no difficult v for im intelligent girl over 21 to be a mtrsc onlv H meays hard work
and patience,
ID1AS JOH V I10M1
I-Hen Barnim' (North Guitón) aaks for advice tbout tre bin Id ui g ind furnishing of a (¡niall house for heisclf une' J family oi gruwn children two bovsand two ^irls all of these bellin uigecirneis Hci idea is to eitler bin lund and p 13 rent na pur ebi e mon ¡ for the house or cl*e to pay a de po it for the house and land, mid then buy on the lent purclnte sjstctn Hut 1 llui 'S innin doc* not *-a> how much she i«. prep ned to become liable for while acquiring 1 house in this manner, and with out uni knowledge on this point it is hard to sug kcst an> st>le 1 or iti-tamc a ulla to cost al>out i-)00 without land would be quite 1 difierent home from'one costing that sum with lund in eluded Hut in anv ease, if 1 were building a small house I would make an effort to work out some of the minor schemes which st md for comfort in the home I would have one big living room rather Hum u small (lining room and a drawing 01 front room I would Ime the kitchen and scullery and pantij is well equipped is possible and so arranj, d that all cooking and washing up could be done in the scullery in order that the kitchen could be kept nice inourh for u«o a«. 1 breakfast room I would have the walls of these rooms painted or else hung with 1 self coloured paper und I would hive a ( ft dido or surround of either cheap iioorrlotb or else tile white tiled American cloth w Inch is general ly used for cov enng tables and shelves us well is shop counters This cloth cm 1 e j astcd to the walls like paper, and is as easy to keep clean is the tiles for which it is au admirable substitute \a for the furniture of such a home it would be a« simple and as pl_.ni
outline is possible I would like oak blackwood chairs with rush scats One or two easy chairs those of Hie cushioned seagrass are inexpensive and in good taste and a comfort able Chesterfield touch would be a good begin nmg for in\ sitting room 1 would have a fairlj largo table where moils could be servid and so combine two apartments Hut so much depends on the sum von have for furnishing md also there is individual preference in such matters to
be conviden d
* GC T>\\
Mrs. lennie (Wycheproof) is anxious to know how und when to organise egg du\ to be held at the Stite school, m aid of tin locil hospital
\B far as 1 tan find out, all dependa upon how the fan It. arc living in your district In .omc phees the season when eggs arc most plentiful is latei than in others, BO that point \nu must decide >ourscl\cs Then the next thing in to iirrinnc with the head master of the school for a special di> and advertisements a» to Hu exact date aro placed for a week or two before in the principal frhop windows, and at the hospital Care should be taken tint .armen in the outlvlng districts are notified In fact vou cannot advertise the scheme too muel and a i,ood idei is to offer a small prize to the t'rl or bo> who bnngs the largest number The j,reat thing ÎR to urousc public interest and then your lisk will be a fairl>
light one
TO i MM COU- BAJIS
' \ T- C H informs ' Tink Hose * (Winnambool) that the method of painting golf balls is as follows -tust remove all the old paint with a fairly fitiong solution of caustic sodi and water (This is xen bad for the hands so he careful ) "When the lilis ire cUancd anil dried thev should he painted with golf hill punt, which is obtainable at am sports depot or shop The method of minting them is to roll them in the paint between ¡he bare palms of the hinds Three coats with intervals of 21 hours between each application, are required Go'f soip remoxes the paint from the
hands
POON Ml PUNTJMi
"Uli ' (Ballarat) deslíes to know what aro tho ingredients for making the lints used in Mete-
or poon di painting
ASPMtAGDS FERN
Beth" (Tallangatta A nllex} as]« if nnv reader can tell her how to make her asparagus grow
I presume she means ornamental asparagus not the edible variety a>> she savs it is set in pots on the verandah where it is iairlv sheltered In an> case
it is beginning to dry up, and Beth wonders if the
frost has affected it
PIAS Hil PLAQUJJS
' Plaster ' (Sorrento) would be glad of the »for mitton how to mix plaster of pans for postcard
.laques
Marie (Colat) wishes to know how to make tin plister of pins pi iques in which post card8 arc
inset 1
\ SH\11D\ MWU-LPirCL I 4 Ignorant' (Swan Hill) would be pleased if unjone can tell her how to clean and poliah an old cedar mantelpiece tint is vciy scratched und has
dusL filled crevices
IO POLISH SnLIT.S
' \ \\ \ ' (Albert Park) would like to know how to clean mutton fMt shells I used to get a beautiful polish on them by using hydrochloric acid (spirits of salts) diluted with a little water
Use ÜB olil toothbrush, nnd be «.arçlul not io gd Uiu puro acid on your liaudg.
SUGGI-KTION FOR A PARTY.
"í_oimRíT" oaks for puçfrcsHon» for the nmel entertainment of about forty guests ot n twenty llrst birthday party. Dancing anti rard panics have already been arranged for. Perhaps one of the competition Rame« which arc so popular might lio acceptable. You can buy cards already printed willi n scries of questions. Such as these ia the Rame of Nations (every answer has to end with that ter* initiation) or the weddin? of the. flower*, and so on. A key is given to all the quulloiu, nnd this, of courso, must not leave the possession of the director of the competition» Any of the city gtaUonera
stock .hese pam« which are alwn)B amusing \ prire should N given for the inoHt successful com petitor If I .einiger would prefer details of an original guessing (»anio on the receipt of a stamped and addressed envelope, the détails will he for warded lo print ibent in this page would pro buhly mein that sonn of the guests would come with the prcpnnd answers Invitations for a party should precede the entertainment U> three weeks, or at least a fortnight
fiOVERNSil-M HOUSE VISIPING BOOK
G II Neale (ht hildi) wislies to know the cor rect time to write her name in the visitors' book at Government House, in ordtr to ensure an invita tion to the annual garden pnrtj \t> there are two Government JIoui.es, and jon do not differentiate, I presume j ou mean both of them A victors book is kept al Hit lodge at the entrance to each residence, and it is ivailablc every wee!
rfiv, but although Invitations are issued prcttv freelv to the annual fut Mile« 1 cannot sav that the mere fict of writing ones name ucrcnorilv mein1, that one is subsequent) v honoured bv an in viUtion The visitor«;' book at State Government House will be available tis usual during the absence of the Governor and I ad} fuller
A VWW 1 It STALU
"lurv * (Maffri) asks for hints eowerning the arrangement of a (lower stall for a gankn fete Hie best pim is tn have a 1mllow stand nude cither circular or squire, and with high posts *it inter vals, so that overhead decorations ran he arranged It is a good pim to have small shelves on each post in order to hold pot pi mt« lu fact, lhere is no limit to the develop»» nt of n. prcttv flower stall
The nason for iccomuirndmg a hollow stand is that the scheme of decoration can be worked out to bester eff.ct when some of the saleswomen can be inside the stall A good supph of hird} pot plant1; such as palms aspidistras, flowering boiouias and graceful innidcn hair, usual lv sell more qtiicklv than delicate hot house ferns Qiun titles of IOOM flowers are eas} to dispo e of, but »nade-up bouquets and ppnivs ire us a rule, difll cult to get rid of but succe33 in this direction de ponds on the cajoling arts of the "silos ladies " \t Melbourne garden fete1» bunelus of gum foliage are in great demand, but if the fete is a countn affnir thtv probablv would be superfluous Little bundles of heed lings and girden herbs «re an excellent idea, and also packets of garden »-eeds \ vtiftarm hung stall, with assistants in mauve fruel s, white aprons, and knots of blatk vtilvet ribbon, would unie a channin,, betting for the well arranged plants and
flowers
\ COAT OF *!«!<=
"Bishop" has a coat of arms, the crest worked in vivid colours in silk on canvas, and asks for a suggestion is to how it may be utilised \ aereen is not w uited How would it do to have tile work mounted and .ovcrod with glass and then to have it inset on the dining room or stud} door? If the colours are too bright for the in terior of the room, the design might look veo handsome and effective on the hall side of the door f should have it reillj M.t into the wood, not merely hung on
BORER IN HJRVITUni
"Subscriber" asks for a remedy for insects which she desenlies as white ants in her furniture K table und piano in affected by them The pept von describe is»the borer, not white auto, md it is most difficult, if not impossible to endi cat«. Of course, the piano is a bcrious matter 1 once got rid of them Dr at least 1 suspended their operations m a wieker chair for some >ears by using boiling water In fact, J practically boikd the chair in the copper Get a svrmgc with the finest possible nowie, and inject 1 ero sene or turpentine \nolhtr remedy is to stuft up the tim holes Avith powdered alum, and to
seal it with wax Kilt the trouble is that the rests get right into the centre of the wood Tur m ture experts declare there is no positive remedy
Perhaps some readers of this page may know of
seme buccessful treatment
K BLD SinlNG ROOM.
"Phtev" (South Yarra) has a bedroom which she is anxious to convert into a bed sitting room with a piano Unfortunitely, she is handicapped with a good mun} disadvantages, such as a con gloinento colour scheme and, having to consider scrioual> addition ii cxpcii-ics However, she is prepared for same expenditure Hie walls aro blue green,with a darker green frieze, and in which i red shade of purple* is introduced The carpet is of autumn tints, mostl} brown and the paint work white The apartment has to hold a walnut piano I agree with the idea of having a stretcher bed, which can be used as a couch in the daj
time, aud I would suggest a blue-green patterned erctotmc or linen, with a cream background, only | tot one well covered I have seen a cretonne with
i elosel} set pattern of haves, with an occasional I ml, that was channing, but it was rather expen sive Bul no doubt vou could get one cheaper and just as effective I should have one couch cushion blue, one green und one brown, so as to continue vour enforced eolour scheme It would help to look as if the effect was planned, and not nr lut ran \ou say the curtains arc lace If pos pjble, I would In nish them, and have short ones of «ream Sicilian or chalvs, with a border of the couch cretonne, and on outer line (or piping) of brown, and have the half curtain of deep cream .Madras or elbe white spotted muslin, with a frill of the same Hie panel o/ mirror would do splendidly for the dnssirig glin, and you could have the cheat of drawers (if not too high) with i broad sheet of wood laid on the top for a dress ing table I buggest this btcause the drawers arc useful to put brushes md tombs in and in any case a woman can always And homcthmg to put in such a useful pieec of furniture I would have the wood widei and longer than the chest, and for this a cream cm«, with a band of the ero tonne to match the curtains would go well
Could vou turn the piano and drape the back with n straight falling curt nu to harmonise with the room I fiel sure von could got ii liphter hh ide of broun that would go with the dull chocolate shade und give it lite I must f~u I would like the marble mantelpiece and woodwork painted cream Jt is not n difficult task ,to uehieve, and, when done bv in amateur, the actuil cost of the paint is but little The chairs would not be difll cult to manage 1 would substitute the old gold cushion for a brown or blue green one ind would cover the other with the cretonne, or, perhaps, vou could effect an exchange with a friend
AJÎ PTVALID T\BLL
Tills Innlid table has the merit of being simple both to adjust and to make It is the invention of a lad} who had to spend most of her life lung
doun, and she found it answer admiribly al) pur poses for which n sick person inav need i table
TO CLFAN lEVTIILHS
"Counirx Woman" (Yarragon) asks for the best method or drv cleaning fe ithcrs xvhich have been in a pillow for a considerable time The onh waj I 1 now of IH to put thom into a fair!) warm oven Personal!) I have found the I eat thing to do is to wash them in an old pillow rise in a big tub of wann water, and then put them case and all, through the wnnger, and dn them in the
tun on a still du)
HOW IO Si HU HI s\H
' \oung Wife tNnmurkph) wants to knim how io serve n three cour*, dunn i-soup pnultrv und ham ioa«t mutton and desert \ j,oi_i deil de penda on whether >ou have an efficient houbcmaid or if the meal I" a homelv om where the pacing is done tv those at table With a good house maid the soup is served in a tureen, and eich help ing is passed by her to those sitting at tibie If there is no maid a gool plan is to pour the soup into a heated jug and just before summoning the guests, rour i small qumtitv into the soip platea xvhich lavo leen prevlouai) heated lind put it
rach place Kt the nc\t tourse the poultn and | ham would be placed at the head of the table,
uniera there is a Iirt»c party when the task of caning the hnin would be underUkcn by a mern l»cr of the famil) JTie mutton would be put ot the other end of the table an 1 the vegetables should be pawd io each gua* b> the maid If, however, this is not convenient, the xrgetables like the ham, can be dispensed by someone at the table If there is a sweet course, the dishes should be placed at either end of tim table i or dessert the fruit should le prettil) arranged and placed about the table, and a dessert plate together with fruit knife and spoon is set 1 efnrc i ich guest who helps himsrU as he chooses. I »»ger howls are optional If used, the) should be placed on a tiny do)lc> in the centre of each deswrt ula te Nut crackers should accompanv am dMies ot almonds or wal
nuts
Î Wr LW W \TI R
"Tired ' (Vorth Melbourne) wants to know if any reader of "Women to Women knows how to make javelle water, used for tiking stains out of
linen
BMCh ANT PIAf-U
"Tam maker' (rilihlon) h peslered with small black ants in ciipboirds lardrr , and storerooms lins Is a common trouble in Uti* tonnlrv und one difficult to deal with, for what U eflicieious in on** district fails in anj other Powdering Hu shelve« with powdered bora* (not horaeie uci I) is found b) some to answer sphndidlv Pcrhapb some conn try reader ma) lie able to help lam mafcer
LTIQI ITTI
' Katoomba ' a**l s should jRoplo «linke hands when gloved. 2 Hoes utaioin pirmit of i mm wearing a metal w itchchaiu with evening dress' 1 Is it a breach of etiquette for a person to moisten the flnj-crs when turninj, over the leaves of a book? Io the flr«t question t must wv I see no objection It would be absurd for people to wait until the gloves were removed No 2 Well dressed men do not wear walchchiilns with evening dre«s As for moistening the fingers to turn over the leaves of a book the habit Is unpleasant us well as uniijgiemc No well bud perron would dreum of doini, sucli a thing
V I)LB\TMU.l. POINT
M h S ' (Northcote) savs thal -he undeMands that on being introduced to a. stranaer on entering t room that oin bows Hut when leaving tim room, she asks is a how sufficient or t-lum Id she then shake hinds? 1 think a «otuI deil depend.«, on whether after the introduit" n you ure drawn into conversation If yon luv. *puit i phat-ant half hour or so chittlmr it would le ehurli h ju_t to bow, except, of course the departure is hurried On the other hand, it would be quite unneces-cirv lo t-hake hands with a stronger whom >ou wen no better acquainted with after m hour or no than you were when entering the room These matters usuallv settle themselves at the time
S1AYPOW DANC1
.Teacher (Ballarat) asks for directions for training girls for a Mfivpolc dance and she also desires to 1 now what apparatus is required, and how many girls should pirticipatc I am afraid 1 could not describe to j nu the evolutions of the Maypole dance It would be too compll
catcd A thick pole about 10ft or 12ft high, and quantities of plain colourrd muslin arc rp quired I should sa), roughly Bpcaking, about sit yards to each girl >. ou can make up a Ma) pole dance with am even number of dancers eighteen, I should think, would make a good
group
A DUSY CANA»AS CUSIÍ10N
"One In Doubt" (Campaspe) is cmbroi lerlng a daisy canvas cushion, and asks if perlim* would be a suitable thread for working 1 should think it would do ex. ellentl) How would xou like black flowein with y.llow centres alternntrd with white ones, also vviHi vollow centres? Almost all the new fancywork lins a predominating touch of black introduced in some way or another
THE WARDROBE
TO ni'NO\Arr A SHA ruoch
* Constant Subscriber ' (Healesville) has a shot blue and rose pi nit silk dress mude last summer which she wants to renovate and take into da ii) wTHr l'hère Is not much difference in the cut of a last j ear s dress to this and so the best chinge von can make, as fur as 1 can sec is bv an over dress 1 tltlul von might t_ct n new effect bv using brown ninon or marquisette nnd lia vi tig one of the driped tunic Without seeing the material it is hard to sav tvhat colour would contrast well I ailing I rown, vou might have blue to harmonise oi perhaps a dull shade mauve would be pretty Tlie bodice would be covered with the same colour
as the skirl and I would suggest loose over , hleevci You do not sa) what trimming is already on )our dress but in an) case 1 would take it I all off, and get fre«h so as to mut e the renovation
complete
TO Ct/FW nr.ACK \K.-VE1
'A W X (\lbert Park) has tried to clean a black velvet gown with petrol an I also ha« rubbed it with muslin and bv doing this has made white marks on the nap I am o I raid that IWIIM. a pro fessional cleaner cm do nnvthtng then is no home treatment In )onr cae over reulouen^ss his proved fatal
x CHILDS I ROCK
Mamba' (St kilda) lends a pattern of skirt wide embroidered muslin which she wants to make into a froek for her little girl of I She asks how to make it of two va rd s Candidlv I thin! the embroidery rather old in design for such a little girl It Is so ven open However the piettiest stvle is to allow the embroiderv lo hang not very full from a niacyar voke and sleeves The voke should be cut eo as to give a high waisted effect and it the join a line of bending is placed and through it a ribbon is run und .9 tied in a bow and ends it the left side
RKMODrUlNÖ A DIU-.SS
' Fconomie ' (Benalla) has i mvv blue silk dress which is made in the stvle of a few veirs ago The skirt is plain and full and has faded sliRhflv The bodice is tucked bael and front md has in insertion )oke The sie« es are long and niched She wants to know how she cm
remodel it The first thing js to unpick even seam of Hie skirt and press each width with a
sllghtlv dfimp cloth and hot iron Then obt.in, a skirt piltern on up to date lines but without anv drnperv I-a\ the best pic« s ot the silk on this and so mike a good foundation It is quite possible there will be no fade marks on the wrong, side Then I would get fuir jarda of naxv bim
mnon marquisette oc thin cotton xoile md make I a tunic overdress* As I do not know tour height or figure I cannot recommend anv drape I effect
but should you like it it is always best to arrange I It more to the feet than towards the bin« In an> cii^f )0u might lene the left side nf the tunic longer than the other, and experiment with looping it up As for the bodice von ma) luve I enough left from the skirt to make an entirely
new foundation which I should coxer with the I same material as the overdress. 1 would tucl the back from neck to waist and in the front several inches from the shoulder and tben irrange the draperv in the crossed over fichu effect which i> so much worn I should ndvl*c 1 plain fine net collar and voke and perhaps n litth» Bulgarim trimming or Orient ii emhroiderv outlining the A
front but this addition must be underneath the I
transparent blue over draperv The fane) for I veiling imhroidcrv and Ince Is strong« r than ever Hie newest sleeves are quite long The) are slit to the elbov uni n frill of net is Inserted in the opening and nifPes of the same fill nearly to the I finger-tip" Other sleeves are verv wide at the armholr bnt are without am "nthcrcd fnllnes? These fall to the elbow, and a lace cuff that is nnrrow in depth but wide In width falls just below Without si-flint, the drc«a I cannot sa) for certain I but it 1* quite likelv if Hie silk is in good condl
tlon, that von could get a plain narrow short .ikirt and a htUe coatee bodice It would take clever management, but would bo smart
.N ivi \vrs cow N
"Country Woman" (îarragon) asks xvhnt riionld bo the length of in infant s gown It is a matter of taste The fashion for long robes is coming back again md some of the shops which specialise in labv clothes ure showing thom very long indeed Twent) seven inches is the proper length for those of the shorter kind tor a duatcoat about four and a. hilf *ard«> of i/iln material
and five of 4tin
KITCHEN AND PANTRY.
1 Bittern ' sends the following collection or re cipes -
Cold Pish -Cold mutton cut In verx thin slices sprinkled light.) with finelv sliced raw onion a little pepper aud'salt Allow this to stand for 110 minutes in a mixture of best olive oil and
vinegar
Fricassee 1 Cold "Mutton -Cut up cold mutton into dice add pepper ami salt nnd roll in flour with some grated nutmeg Bolt some milk to gcther with 1 sprig of thyme remove thyme and mix the meat. Le, with the boiled milk Make very hot and serve on nppets of toast
Mineo anv sort of cold meit, and mix with cold potatoes mashed with a liberal supplv of milk \dd some chopped up onion and pepper and salt Mix altogether with more milk, or stock and bake In a pledMi in 11 moderate oven *Jbe mi\
turc must be moist
Devilled Meat-Some thin slices of underdone beef nibbed with must ird and cavenne p ppcr Dip into batter made with a little flour one beaten (gg, milk and salt Trv a delicate brown In cleir hot dripping Another method of using under dore beef is to cut it In thick slices and sprinkle with pepper and 'alt and roll in drv flour and STV until brown Then fn some tlunlv slieed onions and serve on the steaks together with some graw Bittern al o supplies a. method for malnng pot-k pio cases -Ghf stamp3 out round pieces of pastrv and presses them into *-happ on the base of a pickle bottle She removes euch ease as it Is moulded and leaves it to become firm for filling 1 ach case is then covered with a round
of pa stn
x Ml xSURlNG BVSÍV
I The measuring basin which is illustrated ia one that most cooks will find vei) useful for the marks on the outside indlnte the quintltv of liquid or dr) imiterials It ia particularly handy
In the making of jellies and custards, when the directions &0, ' tiring up the quantity to a pint or quart," as ma\ be
SCOTCH SHOItmilEAD
"Join ' (Cobden) want« it recipe for re .1 Scotch shortbread Tile following is highly recommended
-Sib of flour, Jill butter. Jib castor «usar (not ¡coing sugar), lor. tweet almonds, and a few strips of candied organge-pcol Heat butter to a cream, gradually dredge in the flour, add the sugar anl ehopped almonds Work the paste until It Is quite t-mooth and divide Into six pieces Put each cal e on i hiicet of paper, and roll the paste out square to the thiekncH of shout an inch I'ineh It on all sides prick it «ill ami ornament Mith stnps of candied peel i'ut cake* into a moderate o\cn, ind bake foi half an hour
"SOU DUN l'LDUIV,
"Sojcr ' supplies the following recipe for Snow don pudding, as asked for last week -lo/ lluelv
chopped beef suet, -Ol' breadcrumbs .07 cabtor sugar, -oz raisins (stoned and hah ed), loz crystallised cherries (halved), loz ground nee, 1 eggs, 2 tahlespooufuls milk, some grated lemon ) eel, 2 tablespoonfnls apricot or other jam, J tea sroonful of cinnamon if liked pinch of "salt Method Decorate the bottom and _idis of a but ter mould with tin halved raisins and ehernes l'ut «hat is left Into a basin with all the other dry ingredients beat eggs, and mix with milk and jam, and ntlr them III with the breadcrumbs, _c. Heat well into the prepared mould, cover «ith but tcrcd paper, and steam li hours
A UEbKSTÏ Viv, l'UDDINO
"i Countrj Woman' (Yarragon) asl s for a recipe foi hcefstelk pudding Chop flnrlv Ho? suet and mix «Uli a cup and a half of «elf raising flour, add enough water to make a fairly -titi
dough, and roll out on a well floured board. Cat a pound and a half of steak into smallish pieces, and wash and clean two Fhoep's kidneys and cut them up also Line a pudding basin with the suet paste, leaving enough for the top Put in the steak and Kidney, pepper and salt, and half AU the basin with water, then put a lid of crust (rather thicker than that with which yon have lined the bario, and tie a well floured pudding cloth over tlic top Do not tie tlds down too tight, as the crust will ripe i little Pat into a saucepan of boiling watir and keep it going stcadilj for two and a half to three hours
BORW Ml\TUItt
' Middle Park" asks for the recipe of the soft soap and borax mixture so frequently mentioned in thli page Two talib-i.poou.uIt. of soft soap, and one of powdered bora\ Put these into a
saucepan with a dipper of water Wien melted,
mix In a bucketful of cold waiter Let the articles to be cleaned soak in this for half an hour, then ruisc thoroughlv in cold water
VA\CY nuTTtn.
"Wattle ^all^y, (Girgarre, 1 ) would like to know how to do up butter into fanciful designs, such as leaves and (lowen. I do not know if there if an) special ncthod I am under the Impression that to arrange butter with any degree of elabora tlon depended on natural]} clever fingers. How« ever, if an. technical uki!) is required, perhaps
some expert dajrjwoman will kindly supplv the
informa ti on
PLUM S\GO PUDDING,
"Oassie * (Armada).} sends the recipe for plum rago pudding, as follows -1 cup of breadcrumbs, one of milk, one of raisins, one of sugar, four tablespoons sago (soaked for some hours or over night in the milk), half a teas poon ful soda, JJ tea spoonfuls butter es-ente of lemon, and a pinch of salt Mode-Sïflen the butter, and mix with sugar the other ingredients, add other in gredtents, and steam in butter, d basin for _!¿ boura One eg¿ improve», and, when need, less milk Is required
rrtcui FLI1-.
"Aunt" (Gippsland) asks for a reliable lecipc for cream puffs The following is an admirable one - Three-quarters of tumbi* r of cold water, To*, flour, 3o/ buttci, J eggs Let water and butter come to a boil Mir in flour gmtlv When smooth break In the eggn one bv one unt>eatcn Mix thoroughly
Bake In i moderate oven for l> minutes, and do not opiii the door often, especia) 1> tit Ural When conked the\ t-houhi be perfect)j elr> und crisp Split open and fill with beaten cream flavoured with vanilla Dust with powdered taigar This will make about a doyen puff- I btv will keep (without cream) for .oriM weeks if placed in nu airtight tin
HOW IO ST \ RD I SKI It fe
if I S (Northcott) asks how to prevent starch from spreading wheh doing up »hirts Hie usual method is to damp well tin linen surrounding the part to be starched
STICki PUDDINO
"PiiTzled" wants to know whv simple steamed puddings made vv itliout eggs Mime times turn out stickv and uncooked looking when at other times they arc spongy and light She measures the ingrc dicuts laircfidlv, and puts a greased paper under the lid of the pudding mould I fan tv the trouble lies in steaming the pudding in too much water It fthould not be mon than three inches deep I never pnt a lid on mj puddings, but merely a treated paper Thev arc nlwavs successful
\._VMV nan STALER
This ingenious fish scnltr ia a practical little Affair wblch makes the task of cleaning fish less
objecHonable Bv its use the scales do not fly over the table, and it also saves the unpleasant
odour from the hand"
COI.D CORNI D Bl 11 ^
I D M Robertson forwards the following hint for using cold corned beef -Put the beef thro igh a mincing machine and mix with rice 01 inaca roni boiled without silt fatcam the mixture in a well buttered basin f should think the addition of a little tomato "anec would make this eren
better
* K M>W li xPOT STRMM R
Ihe tea pot strained as shown in the illustration Is dc_sfril>cd bv those who sell it In the Melbourne shops to he the hc6t on the market It is intended for use in teapots of all kind*, even in those which
are supplied with a grating nt tbp entrance of ihe spout Tlie strainer is fixed bv means of a metal inserter that is sold with the outfit
THE TOILETTE
x CUR1 tOll IHNDRUI I
4 Maru (Colac) T-ks for a recipe io prevent dandruff from accumulât mu in hei lorn? hair It is miking her hair thin and dead looking In cither of Hu st rt medics -I quat pints of luv
rum und pure olivi oil or else a solution of one hi aped tabh spoonful of horatio icid and a pint of boiling water W hen this ii cooled put in a gill of olive oil und i few diops of rosi water or livendrr water to perfumi It in order to give the hur a glos«v look rub m with voke of egg and sonic lemon juUc about half an hour before washing it SubsequentIv nnee in lukewarm water, and then lu warmer w itcr in which lump
borax his been dKsolvid
-»GHOOLGIHI S tOIH LR1
4 Schoolgirl" (Bunilla) who is la venrs old, osks how she should dress her hair \ parting docs not suit her \s voiir hair IB long j ou should plait ii. in two tails with i bow on either I should brush it straight from the forehead, and tn to loosen it at the ears or else try drawing it np to the crown of the head md tx-ing it there with a big ribbon bow an 1 then plaiting m one long plait \ou sec 1 eau onlv tell vou how the inn jon t j of schoolgirls in Melbourne are doing their hair "ion rareh sec anv other hut blark hair ubbons except for ver) little girls Have jou tried a side* parting. That is even more popular than the centre one
TFNDLR Pt IT
' Fconomic" (Benalla) complain« of corns on the .oles of her feet, which are also very tender Have xou tried painting with strong tincture of iodine9 It cvcutuall) itlves relief, but takes time Squat e toed shoes with rubber soles and low heel* also rubbered rcllcv e tender feet, w hieb should be bathed ever) da) with warm water and boracit acid, and the stockings should he changed at the same Unie, and the feet dusted with powdered