Apple Blossom Queen

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 248, 31 July 1937, Page 4

Apple Blossom Queen

Japanese Festival

the Imperial Cherry Blossom FesA tival, in Japan, when the land is gay with wonderful blooms, the Emperor and Empress receive guests in a palace garden shimmering with cherry blossom. All over Japan, wherever the lovely tree flowers, crowds of men, women and children make merry in its honour. There is another Flower Festival, rather more interesting, perhaps, to British folk. It takes place in the Annapolis Valley, or Land of Evangeline, in Nova Scotia, where homage is paid to Apple Blossom. The valley dreams for a while among pink clouds. Apple blossoms seem to be everywhere—trails of pink against the sky, pale rose branches stretched overhead, tiny petals falling to earth, or floating on the breeze. Miles and miles of apple blossom, millions of trees there are in this place, which is regarded as the biggest apple-tree belt in the British Empire. At this time, in the Land of Evangeline, the people make merry. A fete is arranged at which there is an Apple Blossom Queen, dressed in white, who looks like a princess from a fairy tale. She has a throne set among the apple trees and is crowned with due ceremony by the Premier of Annapolis Valley. Children sing as the crown is placed upon the head of the Apple Blossom Queen, and her courtiers bow and pay homage. In reality, they are paying homage to the beauty and the promise of the trees which, in a few months’ time, will be laden with good fruit for export and for home consumption. After the coronation of the Blossom Queen, there is dancing and more song. Imagine the scene—the procession among the trees, slanting sunbeams, the p.ink glow of flowers, the blue sky, the breeze that sighs its never ending song. Gravely the children salute the Queen, and she—a Sovereign for one day—is dainty as the [lowers overhead. ; Tn the everyday routine the holiday ] brings diversion. As the hard-working men and women stand under the falling aetals of the apple blossom, their fancies \ take flight to regions beyond the daily round. They feel the stir of new im- < pulses, they forget for a time that life j s a serious struggle, and give themselves , ip entirely to the joy of the moment and £ :he beauty of the scene. \ ffeibaudi. 1 This peculiar name stands for a famous 3erlin institution, Mecca of all German lousewives who wish either to gain ad;ice on the best of several household t lids they contemplate buying, or to see t low to bring their household economy 1 ip-to-date. } Each room of the large building is i riven over to a separate display. In the tlectrical department, T saw a miraculous f ron which, turned upside down, will r ioil a kettle of water or heat a pair of urling-tongs! Next door is the gas a epartment, and next to that a large oom given up to the interests of country P ottage dwellers who have to light with t] 11, and cook and heat bath water with is rood. * a

Talking of baths, there is a new porcelain model, now being fitted up in many of the modem bathrooms. Apparently full-size, the sides are slightly blocked in to leave only a narrow channel for the feet and ankles, thus saving a remarkable amount of hot water. There are, too, refrigerators worked with gas or electricity, which keep things hot in one compartment and cold in another. ' For the country housewife, whose home lacks running water, there is a useful kitchen table with zinc-lined drawers that are really two shallow sinks, one for washing and the other for draining the soiled dishes stacked on the table. And there is an adjustable ironing board which can be lowered so that you can iron sitting down if you like. The room reserved for cleaning materials contains useful tips, everything having been tested and guaranteed not to injure fabrics, metals or wood. Hints on Hair Beauty. In these days of permanent waving and frequent “settings,” the actual health and beauty of the hair may be overlooked. A little brilliantine patted on to neatly waved and curled hair can often pass for natural brightness, but it is better to have the real thing. Do not use setting lotion too freely, nor too frequently: It clogs the pores at the hair roots, thus hindering free and healthy circulation. Every night the scalp should be thoroughly “pinch-massaged.” Shake the hair free, comb it thoroughly, and if there is dandruff, use a fine comb, too. Starting at the crown, take small pieces of the scalp between the forefinger and thumb of each hand and pinch, gently but firmly. Go over the whole head with this massage. Pour a little cleansing lotion into a saucer, dip the finger tips of each hand into it, and massage the scalp with small rotary movements. Comb the hair into waves, sprinkle a little of the lotion on the brush and work with gentle and firm strokes over the surface—do not brush the scalp, as the massage is enough. Finally, pinch the hair into deeper waves and smooh it lightly with a silk handkerchief. One piece of good advice, which is often ignored on account of its “messiness,” is to massage the scalp thoroughly with olive oil on the night before it is shampooed and set. Fair hair is better treated with almond oil or glycerine, as the olive oil tends to darken it. Original Curtains. When worried about matching up curtains with bedspreads it is worth while to remember that a second spread may be the way out of the difficulty. The woven or printed border is a help when it comes to planning curtains. Cut off the top border to gather up into a valance frill or to make the pelmet, then cut the remainder down the centre, and you will have a pair of curtains, each bordered at the base and along one side. If taste inclines to crisp taffeta but the purse is discouraging, ask for the type that is used for covering eiderdowns. It is hard-wearing, very moderate in price, and produced in delightful shades.