THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2375, 16 December 1908, Page 7

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

THE OVERWORKED HOUSEMOTHER. If the mother of many small children is not careful, all* Iher -time as occupied in looking after the children, their wants, their needs, and their upbringing. The day passes and night is reached ; the children] just pleasantly tirv eel andl happily ready for rest. The - Hi-other, wearied out by their neverceasing demands on her patience, feels, when she has presided at'their evening toilet, and at last knows them cosily tucked away in their safe little nests, as if bed was the only place for her also, and is only deterred from going there by the thousand-and'-one duties which reInaiai to be accomplished. Is such absolute self-sacrifice wise? How many women can hold out at this kind of thing without overtaxing their strength and' becoming pre- ■, maturely worn out So that “ when - the boys and girls are growing up land look for help and guidance in their mental difficulties, they find only a tired-out another, taking, to be sure, pride in their successes, but aitterly unable to appreciate or grasp til© difficulties which have -been overcome in their attainment—so tired that she asks nothing but to be let alone and to pass her days in quietXUow picture--'® another household. The mother./looks no longer young, for the 'v4xy she has trodden lias been hard /but she still has a certain pride in !4er appearance. She ever says, "Ob', my dear, anything at all wbl do for me, no one looks at me.’ iSlio can still talk on the subject dear to the hearts of her boys and girls, for she has never wholly lost her own grasp of. them. She talks over the fashions with the girls as if'she, too, was young, and can make a pretty accurate guess why Emily is fussing so much over her gown for the 25th, while Dorothy 'declares any old rag as good enough for a children’s dance. Arid she fully appreciates the aiffi--/.ulties of Jack’s exams, and rejoices with him when he gets safely “through.” It as fairly easy for a man to keep himself an fait with the world around him. His occupation enforce his mixing with outsiders, his brain is quickened, and his intelligence kept alive. by the demands of his business. But it is far more difficult for a hard-worked mother, and the credit is infinitely greater if she manages it.

' /HINTS FOR THE HOUSEWIFE. Selecting Potatoes.—See that the skin rubs off easily when buying potatoes; if not, they have been dug some days, .and wild not be so good a flavor as if freshly dug. Steel buckles or buttons may he cleaned, with a paste made of powdered brick-clust and vinegar. Rub this on vigorously. Polish with dry brickdust. This is an economical and easy method of cleaning. To prevent cabbage boiling over saves time, both in stirring the cabiNge down and also in cleaning the ’stove afterwards. If a piece of lard about the size of a walnut be dropped into the cabbage pot it will not boil over. To Keep Flannel Soft. —Flannel ij put into clean cold water and Are l l for >a week, changing the water frequently, will not harden, or shrink when new. Wash well in warm water, using a little soap to remove the oil. Flannel thus washed hardens. In ease® of illness and when there are no nightlights at hand, a candle he made to burn as slowly as a nightlight does, by lighting a new candle and allow it to remain till the top is flat; then Mow it out, and sprinkle finely-powdered salt over the surface, and up to the black part of the wick. The illuminating power of the candle is made very much smaW ler in this way, but it burns a much longer time.

HEALTH AND TOILET HINTS. isAVarm salt water held. ill the mouth will sometimes banish, toothache, .and at least make the afflic- * tion lighter, while it is both safe and easy to try. For Finger-nails.—The finger-nails should be ’ well rubbed two or three times a week with glycerine or sweetalmond oil if they are at all inclined to bo brittle. Apply at night. To ventilate yonr rooms open the windows both at top and bottom; the fresh air rushes in one way and the foul air makes its exit the other. This is letting in your friend und getting rid of your enemy. To Court-plaster a Bad Cut . —Fold a piece of court-plaster, lengthwise directly through the middle. Tu© _ plastcir should be larger 'Mian the rewound. Now slash the plaster at. intervals nearly to the edge. Straighten the court-plaster out flat, and cut the slashed pieces at opposite ends. The straight edges should be stuck to the flesh on either side of the wound ; this will bring the ' narrow strips across the cut. Then take a strip from each side, and having moistened them, draw them together gently, closing the cut. and stick the plaster jjca nlace. Do the same with all of the strips, and the cut will be dressed in a manner to ensure as perfect healing as possible.