EVERYDAY TOPICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 42, 13 November 1907, Page 3

EVERYDAY TOPICS.

WOMEN SCIENTISTS. Scientists from all parts of the world attended thei opening reception at tho Institution of Civil Engineers, Westminster, in connection with tho centenary celebrations of tho Geological Society of London. Tho reception was held by tho society's venerable president, Sir Archibald Geikio. Notablo among tho delegates were about 40 women — mostly young, prepossossing, and fashionably attired—including Miss Hortha Sollas, D.Sc. of Oxford, translator of tho great geological work ' "Suoss" ; Miss Igerna B. J. Sollas,, B.Sc. Oxford, who has made Valuable contributions to the knowledge of tho earth's surface; Miss Dorothea M. A. Bate, known for her'researches in Cyprus; Miss Margaret Crosfiold arid Miss Helen 'Drew, successful investigators in South Wales; and Miss Elles and Mrs. Shakcspear, of Newnham; Miss M. Helcy and Miss 1. L. Slater, each of whom has written usefully on geological subjects.

TRADE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. Apropos of this subject, it is interesting to noto tho progress that is being mado in tho Manhattan Trade School for Girls—an establishment quite unique in its character. Established just five years ago, it has, says an American contemporary, in this short time attained an international reputation as one of the most important and successful efforts yet made to enable a girl to outer into tho industrial life of the nation as a worker. Realising that a very large number of girls must cam their livings as soon as they leavo school, and that many of the evils incidental to women's work aro directly traceable to tho inefficiency of the workers themselves, it aims to rccoivo theso girls and take thorn as apprentices as soon as they leavo school. It provides, first, a training that will mako hor skilled in a specific trado as quickly as her individual abilities will allow. Second, a training which will enable hor to so adapt herself as to bo able to cbango from the trado which she has specialised, to other trades allied to it without loss of cflicioncy. Third, a iroininp to fit her mentally and physically to

copo with actual conditions of shop life; and fourth a trning that enables her to understand her relation to her employer, the relation of her work to others, and tho relation of industry to tho life of a nation. POT POURRI. 'J'hqro is an'unfailing charm about pot pourri. You recognise it directly you outer a room in which its subtle fragrance is a factor. Now that tho timo of roses is upon us, it is well to reiii"ml>"r that the fragrant early arrivals mako tho best for pot pourri. The petals, gathered just before ihcy fall, should be dried in a shady room, in company with a few sprigs of rosemary and lomon scented verbena, a handful or so of lavender buds, and an equal quantity of jessamine and sweet pea blossoms. These should bo stirred from timo to time till dry. The leaves are then put in a jar. The next thing is to stir in among thorn two ounces of powdered cinnamon, two ounces of cloves, two ounces of orris root, an ounco of yellow sandalwood and a pound of salt. This forms a foundation, to which may be added more dried rose leaves all through the season. An occasional stir is always good for pot pourri. If it gets too dry, a sprinkling of salt, and a fow drops of can do cologne will restore its fragrance. Good pot pourri is always saleable at bazaars and elsewhere, while few things constitute a more generally acceptable present. UNLOVELY COLOURS. It is odd, how a colour, unlovely in itself, will carry a gown far abovo tho commonplace. No apologist can say much in favour of molo as a colour. It is a dark greenish grey, something the colour of a wet iguana. At the moment it is the dernier cri where smartness is concerned. ' It gives a judicious wcaror a cachet no delicato shades of pink, blue, or green could do. At a big ball given recently in London, ono of the most noticed gowns was of a very fino mole-coloured net, embroidered with large and small sequins exactly matching tho material. Tho sequins had a dull surface, and were slightly irridese'ent. The brilliant sequin is slowly passing out. A gown that flashes with every movement of-its wearer may be a thing of beauty in itsetf. it is rarely becoming, however, since it robs eyes, skin, and hair of brightness. To return to the mole-coloured gown. The one in question was full and softly draped, and had a quaint littlo close-fitting bodice of molo velvet, very closely .embroidered with sequins, and a borthc and sleeves of tulle, all_ matching. For tooled, embroidered. and jewelled belts mole-coloured leather is much in demand, while, gloves and evening shoes 111 mole-coloured suede are worn with several varieties of groy gowns. When a mole-coloured belt of soft suede is completed by a real tortoiseshell buckle, its owner has a possession on which to congratulate herself. THE AUSTRALIAN GIRL. An Austrian lady, who recently passed through Melbourne, gives .her impressions of the Australian girl, as follows:—"Most of the girls I met struck me as being so" extremely businesslike. Whatever they said or did was definite, and no timo was wasted in getting to the point of the matter in hand. I noticed tho samo qualities in tho officials when travelling' either by train or tram. They wero alert, and willing, and did not demand extortionate gratuities. It was the same everywhere I v.'cnt in Australia, but I noticed it more particularly where .women were omploycd. At the theatres, restaurants,' shops, or private houses, tho girls'who waited on mo wore quiet and'attentive, and pleasantly interested in what they wero doing. But I must confess that tho lack of'proper deportment struck me as being a matter of great regret. An ordinary Australian girl, in a white, frock, and a shady hat, is so far as attractive as any girl could wish to bo, hut sho misses a great deal liv her bad carriage and walk. Most of the girls aro tall and slender, but they round their shoulders and lean too far forward trom tho waist when walking. In the Viennese schools great stress is laid upon keeping the chin up, and tho disfiguring habit of stooping is overcome. The tearoom girls walk bettor than any other girls in Melbourne, so 1 suppose the carrying of trays has a good clfect on personal bearing. Speaking of tea rooms brings mo to express surprise that there are no cafes in the heart of your city, whore people could enjoy themselves in tho hot summer nights without spending miuh money,"