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Evening Star, Issue 19658, 10 September 1927, Page 20

:[By DIANA:

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

“Housewife.”—(a) Here is the recipe for lemon honey:—To each lb of sugar allow 4 lemons, 4oz of and 4 eggs. Beat the eggs, add the juice of the lemons, butter, and sugar. Stir gently in a double saucepan or a jug standing in a pan of water. Cook slowly until it thickens, then put it in jars, as for jam. (b) Spiced buns may bo made as follows, though there are quite a number of suitable recipes:— The ingredients are Jib chopped dates, 2oz chopped walnuts, 2Joz butter, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of hot water, g cup of flour, J cup sugar, J cup chopped peel, J teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Cream the butter and sugar, add the beaten egg, then the baking soda dissolved in the hot water, and lastly add the other things. Tne whole must make a fairly stiff mixture. Take out in roughly heaped teaspoons, and' put on a cold oven tray. Bake in a moderate oven for 10 to ISinin.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

The many friends of Mr and Mrs Sutherland Ross will be glad to hear of their return after a visit to Great Britain. Miss M'Georgo has gone with the 2nd Columba Girl Guides in camp at Karitano. On Wednesday Mrs Oram, of Highgate, gave a jolly party for next week’s bride, Miss F. Barnett. • The engagement is announced of Pearl, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs W. K. Goodson, Alma, North Otago, to Edwin Charles, cider son of Mrs E. Powell, Christchurch. Miss V. Reynolds was hostess this week at a very pleasant bridge party at !ter homo, when her guests included

Mi - s P. C. Hoisted, Mrs E. Macassey, Mrs Gallaway, Mrs I). Ramsay, Mrs A. Fisher, and Miss Orbell. Two New Zealand women have just accomplished a feat that called for much pluck, endurance, and foresight. These are Mrs Sandford, of Auckland (New Zealand’s famous aviatrix), and Miss Stella Christie, of Thames. Nine months ago they decided to motor round Australia, and now they have returned full of adventures, which include chats with aborigines in the far north. They plan next a motor trip from the Capo to Cairo. It was unfortunate that the weather was so unkind on Wednesday, for it was on that day that the Early Settlers’ Association gave their first dance, with the idea of stimulating the interest in the descendants of the pioneers m the werk of the fociety. Incidentally, too, funds arc needed to pay off the cost of the Art Gallery building, now to be used as an extension of the Early Settlers’ Museum. However, those who did attend had a thoroughly good time. Sirs G. A. Bishop, who has been in Christchurch for six weeks, returned by Thursday’s express. The engagement is announced of Lois, only daughter of Mr and Mrs W. L. Colvin, Dunedin, to Robert, youngest son of Mr and Mrs R. H. Simons, Kqslyn. A very successful ball, arranged by the staff of Messrs Chas. Begg and Co., Ltd., was held in the Pioneers’ Hall. A committee of employees was in charge. Over 100 couples assembled, and the music was provided by the Kapai Orchestra. During the evening the following items were given —Songs by Begg’s Choir, items on musical saw, items by “Limerick Quartet,” and an instrumental duet. Young and old alike had a most enjoyable time, and dancing was continued until an early hour in the morning, and was concluded amidst showers of streamers. Auckland has some energetic women, who have decided to devote some- of their leisure to child welfare work. They are out to help the Hospital Board and the Children’s Play and Recreation Association. Mrs Victor Mackay, the very successful organiser and secretary of the League of New Zealand Pen Women, is among the_ prominent helpers. It is hoped to give poor children a holiday each year in .the country, to instruct them in millinery, bootmaking, etc., and to interest thein in various forms of educative entertainment, with the one object of providing them with a bright future. A fund aiming at £IO,OOO has been launched. The head mistresses of private schools are managing to see a good deal of the educational side of Dunedin. Yesterday morning they visited Knox College, where Professor and Mrs Hewitson, in addition to showing them- over the fine building, gave morning tea. In the afternoon Professor Strong explained the working of the Home Science Collegs, and gave a talk on ‘ Careers for Girls,’ as well as refreshing afternoon tea.' Mrs Cleghorn, of Archerfield, was hostess at a luncheon given in their honor at the Tudor Hall. Lectures on Thursday and Friday eveniugs at Constance Hall, Columba College, and an interesting display done by many of the leading schools in the North and South Islands made the conference pass almost too quickly.

The poetry afternoons given by the Literary Circle of the Women’s Club are proving most popular, and quite a large number of ladies bring contributions. On Tuesday the subject was ‘Rose Fyleman’s Fairy Poems,’ Miss Reynolds being in the chair. Mrs Williams first gave a short paper on the life of the authoress, and then the following ladies read extracts: —Mesdames J. C. Begg. Wilson, Williams, Hervey, Flynn, Lanrenson, Scott, and Porteons, Misses Holland, M‘Gibbon, Neale, Reynolds, De Carle, and Wells. The subject chosen for the nest meeting, which will be held on the first Tuesday of October, is ‘Poems of Spring.’

A very pleasant luncheon party was given at Columba College on Thursday to enable the visiting head mistresses to meet some others who are particularly interested in educational work. The tables were prettily decorated with .yellow jonquils and violets, representing the school colors, while here and there one saw bowls of fragrant flowering currant' and white plum blossom. Miss Ross, M.A., and Miss Mollison received the guests, Mesdames Benson, Elder, Cleghorn, Hewitson, Denton, Leech, Bennett, Begg, Lawson, Campbell, Scoullar, T. R. Fleming, Cairney, and Primmer, Sister Winifred, Sjstcr Mildred, Misses Kelsey, Fraser, King, Church, Lester, Sanders, Bullow, I. Wilson, Watt, Holderness, and Gibson, Professor Strong, Mrs Morrell, and Mrs J J. Clark were unfortunately not able to accept.

As the Girl's High School was not available for the French Club, M. and I Mine Saldaigno kindly invited the members to their house. The first item of the evening’s programme was given by Mrs Primmer, being a short account of the coming of the French to Akaroa. and of conversations held with the few old French people who took part in the early life of this quaint and delightful town. This was followed by readings from Victor Hugo (by M. Saldaigne and Mr Bridgeman), from Andre Theuriet (by Miss Thomson), from Charles Nodier (by Mr Bridgeman), and from Francois Coppee (by M. Saldaigne). It will be remembered that last year the French Club gave a highly successful dramatic performance. This year they hope to present Moliere's iraortal comedy, ‘Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.’ being the efforts of a “ newly-rich ” to become one of the aristocracy. This will be followed by a ’one-act comedy, ‘La Perle ,de la Cnnebiere.’ hv Labiche. The audience will thus seo the old and new stylo of comedy. As M. Paul Saldaigne is taking the chief character in each, success is certain. Further particulars will bo advertised in duo course.

The Kaikorai branch of the Otago Home Economics Association held its monthly meeting at the home of, Mrs W. J. Spence, a large number of members being (present Owing to the president (Mrs W. Ross) being the speaker for the evening, the chair was taken by he vice-president (Mrs Spence), who conducted the business part of the meeting. Arrangements were made for the final meeting to be held at the home of Mrs Scott, Cumberland street, this to be partly a business and partly a social evening. Mrs Spence then called on Mrs Ross, who gave her long-pro-mised talk on work done by women during the war. The speaker told of their varied service in various branches of the Army and Navy services, besides nursing, this including the W.A.C.S., W.R.N.S., Land Girls, railway trains, canteens, and municipal cleansing departments. The women Mrs Ross jpoke at greatest length about were the numitioneers. The talk naturally included many incidents touching the private life of the speaker, the effect of this being to strengthen the deep sense of comradeship and friendship existing

Reports of social functions will be welcomed for this column. " Diana ” will also answer all reasonable' questions relating to the home, cookery, domestic science, and any . topic of interest to her ses. But each letter or report must bear the writer’s name and address as a guarantee of genuineness, and questions that do not permit «f a public reply cannot be answered. Questions should be concisely put and the writer's nom de plume ' . clearly written.

A VISITOR FROM RUSSIA

ODDS AND ENDS

between Mrs Ross ami eadr member of the group. In conclusion, the epeaker stressed the ideals 'of service to others.

It ia not often that we have the pleasure of 1 meeting Russians, and so as soon as I heard of Miss Schmehmann I called to get a little first-hand information about that unfortunate country, ‘‘Yes, 1 was in a pogrom, or massacre. It was about 1920 when a Tsarist army came to Kiev with orders to loot the Jews. So for five nights we lived -in terror of our lives. From 3 p.m. wo would not dare to stir from our homes; all would be peaceful, then suddenly would ring out terrible shrieks from the victims. Every house bad its special Jewish • committee to keep guard,, while Kiev in addition formed its own Jewish self-defence corps. We escaped by the pluck and audacity of one of our members, who boldly mixed with the invaders. But all the same, under the Revolution my father lost his' property. The Ukraine has suffered most, because it is the centre of the Jewish population. Whole towns have been wiped out with the utmost cruelty—men, women, and children were thrown out of moving trains, buried alive, burned alive in the synagogues. The survivors now wait patiently for a chance to go to America or elsewhere to live in peace. Whatever may bo said of the Bolshevists, wo regard them as infinitely better than the Tsar regime. - For the last few years pogroms have been forbidden, and, though nothing-can wipe out past sufferings, the present has a gleam of hope.” “You are in favor, then, of the Bolshevist rule?” “It certainly has ite good points; whereas before peasants were only slaves, with no education, now everything is open to them. The wealth obtained from large estates is used for the poorer people. The ‘ eignt-hour ’ day holds good, even for servants, who thus are • able to i< : ' classes at the universities and rvnioriunns. Class distinction has ..one.” “What about private property?” •“ Though w-e talk of Communism, “A man isallowed to have as much land as he himself can cultivate. Our greatest difficulty is what you call “housing.” Now that peasants (demand better conditions and the towns are full, houses are so packed that even a room is partitioned off for - several people. There has been no building for years, and tho new Government, which has created a. large number of new bureaus, has taken all the larger houses. However, that in time will bo better, and meanwhile we Russians do feel that perhaps our loved country has passed its worst. Rome was not built in a day!” “What brought you to New Zealand?” ‘‘Partly love of'adventure. I wont first to Australia, and then felt that perhaps New Zealand offered morescope. I already have a dental degree from Riga, and in a few months I shall sit my examination here. Meanwhile, to help on my expenses, I am giving lessons in German (for I ivas one and a-half years at the Berlin University), in French, and, of course, Russian. Dunedin has already shown such that the future has less terrors than it had last year.”

Though light kid walking shoes are smart at first, they easily become marked on the tips of the toes or along tho sides, and then their beauty is gone. The best remedy is to rub the dark places with half a lemon, then dry at once with a cloth. To bring up the old'gloss and make them look nearly as good as new ; rub the leather all over with the inside of a banana skin, and next day polish in the usual way. Besides cleaning the shoes, this preserves and softens the leather. Patent Leather Shoes. —Once these are cracked they look very shabby. A good way to keep the leather soft is to rub them with vaseline now and again, and ’clean with new milk. All patent shoes should bo kept from wet and damp, but if you get caught in the rain they should be wiped dry as soon as possible, but never placed near a fire.

A Sandwich.—-Mix two tablespoonfuls of finely-chopped walnuts with‘2oz of finely-grated dry cheese and Son of fresh liutter, beaten to a cream. Those ingredients must bo thoroughly blended together, and the mixture spread thickly on slices of brown bread (this must be quite a day old, or it will crumble). Cover each slice with another, and cut into neat, small shapes. Polish Steak.—Take 21b steak, two tablespoons flour, one tablespoon sugar, one dessertspoon Worcester sauce, one dessertspoon tomato sauce, one teaspoon vinegar, salt .and pepper to taste. Mix ,-dry the flour and sugar and rub well into the steak. Place steak in a casserole; mix what flour and sugar you have over with the sauces, vinegar, salt and pepper, add one cup water and pour over the steak. Cook slowly for two hours. Chops can be cooked the same way. Walnut Layer Cake.—{lb chocolate, one gill milk,” {lb lard and margarine. lOoz castor sugar, three eggs, one gill

flour and bicarbonate - of soda and add it and the sour milk alternately to the creamed fat and sugar, beating well. Add the chocolate mixture, and-vanilla essence. Beat well and fold in the stiffly-beaten white very lightly. Pour ifito three greased sandwich tins- of equal ■ size. Bake for twenty-thirty minutes at 376 degrees F., and when cold spread walnut icing between each layer and also roughly on the top. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. These quantities are -sufficient for three Sin sandwich tins. Salted Almonds.:—Pour hot water over the shelled almonds and allow it to remain only until the skins are loose, or the nuts will become sodden. Spread tho nuts to dry in a warn; place, covering them carefully to keep free from dust. In about twenty-fo.ur hours tho almonds will be dry _ and crisp; but this part of the business should not be hurried. When the nuts are quite dry, take the white of a fresh egg and beat it very lightlyjust enough to break it. Moisten the tips of the fingers, or a camel hair brush, with this and rub or paint the nuts on each side, using _as little egg as possible. Dust over with fine table salt, and .brown in a slow oven. Almonds thus prepared will remain crisp amh never turn rancid, as do those soaked in butter.

FASHIONS IN NAMES

Wo are dated by our names, as' we are by tho clothes wo wore, and the way we did our hair in those photographs wc rashly had taken twenty years ago. The girl who is called modern would probably find it hard to live down such a name as Charlotte, Harriet, Priscilla, Martha, Ella, or Mary Ami. Her parents, had they shown an understanding of the prevailing fashions in names, would have called her Rosamond, Joan, Fay, Sylvia, Margaret, or Pamela. . Some modern parents delight in novel names, but it is always found that children are more pleased, having reached an age- of discretion, to find that they have pleasant, though unobtrusive, names. Every war. or great national event, produces a crop of names tha 1 date. The Crimea had its Alinas, a famous novel introduced the Sonias, and more recently two Royal weddings have given Mary and Elizabeth a new lease of life. The following are’ representative of (he most modern fashions;—Gytta, Rosemary, Olga, Jacynth, Oohna, Vida-, Opal, Roraaino, Teresa, Michella, Rowena-, Loreen, and lola. In the derivatives of old-fashioned names Elizabeth has become Betty; Louisa. Louise, or Lois; Patricia, Pat; and Honoria, Honor.

The names that como from America are tiie most original. Here are a. fewArdita, Ardella, Arsina, Bebe, Lamina, Ilda, Willa-, Gerda, Erica, Tilse, Adolphia, Alene, Fauchon, Lavinia, Martilla, and Merle. The custom of changing one’s name is as old os history. The Pythagoreans used to change their names with each other, fancying that thus each would acquire tho virtues ho admired in the other. It might interest the modern girl if her name is the only oldfashioned part of her left to know that neither deed-poll, royal license, nor act of Parliament is necessary legally _ to change a. Christian name. She just changes it. So simple.

soreleels Fashions have been blamed for many minor ailments and disabilities. Among these ■ must be ihbltided a chronic inflammation over the largo tendon leading from the calf muscles to the heel, about 2in from the ground. This may commence as a chafe from a badly fitting shoe l , but usually is first noticed a§ a painful lump, and when the condition has fully developed in a month OP Sq it is almost like a bunion. There is a large painful lump, sometimes with a septic central spot, which makes walking very painful unless the heel of the shoe has been split at. the back. Once this lump has fully developed the condition is chronic and difficult to cure. The first essential is to remove the cause of irritation, and wear an old pair of shoes with the back heel seam well stretched or cut. Next remove any active inflammation or septic condition by means of hot antiseptic poultices; at the same time remove all pressure • during the daytime by surrounding the swelling with a fairly thick ring of cotton-wool, and, of course, wearing a larger shoe while so doing. Very high-heeled _ shoes also help to aggravate the condition by accentuating the angle of contact between the back of the shoe and the tendon. Hence low-heeled shoes should be worn until the condition has been cured, and great care in future is required in choosing shoes that avoid pressing on this spot. Chilblains give a similar painful heel, and often in the same place, but will usually be associated with chilblains elsewhere, and yield to anti-chilblain treatment, together with relief from shoe pressure by means of a cotton-wool pad thinned in the centre to form a ring, and wearing easy-fitting shoes.