COUNTRY AND TOWN.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 55, 27 November 1937, Page 13

COUNTRY AND TOWN.

"HARVESTER."

"GOLD

GOOSE."

"SARAH."

COUSIN

ROSE.

Dear Everyone, — Letters first this week. Thank all those who have written and who have ' so kindly expressed their interest. It is an oid-fasiiioned idea that commendation is not good, and maybe that is why s.o many middle-aged men and .women of to-day, brought up by Yictorian parents, and told to be "seen and not neard," have such stage fright if tliey are asked to speak in public, and who so often confess that they wpuld have been lxappier if they did not have an ''inferiority complex." Children now are far more fearless than fifty years ago. » * # f Dear Cousin Rose, — Although 1 have had no practical experience oi sheep-shearing, 1 have heard a great deal about it as it used to be, several years ago. The housewife would rise at 5 a.m. (or before) to make ' scones for the early tea meal. The shearers seemed incapabie of eating plain hread and butter. A hearty breakfast followed, and later, morning tea with more scones and little cakes at 10 a.m. Large dinner mid-day. Afternoon Tea at about 3 p.m. with scones and cake. Meat tea followed. and I am . not quite sure if supper was partaken of. No wonder shearing, timo was a toil. So I was most interested to rea,d in your column of the easier conditions of present-day shearing. — ,Yours, etc..

• - • . • Dear Cousin Rose, — The dog-keep-" ing idea has inereased so much in England 'that a 'visitor to Brighton decflared that there seemed to be thousands of sinail dogs there. Yoi1. might see a pet dog and a ehild riding side by side under the same coverlet in a jiram. If 1 were invited to a kouse where the pet dog sits up tp the table to eat its dinner, I think I should bolt from the house. Does any dog-keeper reflect that this pampering is not natural to a dog. Roor creature, it would really be kappier with a bune to gnaw on the grass. However, there is no grass in a flat. — Yours, etc., "NO LITTLE DOGS IN A HOUSE." * m 'm Dear Cousin Rose, — Where shall jve drive next Sunday? readers may ask. Have you ever been to Whakatu and driven past the meat works down the road that turns to the right and comes ou.t by the Pakowhai bridge above the popular avenue? I was there last Sunday, and it was a revelation to see the wonderful sweep of grass as one looked .over to the Havelock hills (Just past the works, south), to see the.pale mist that veiled the gullies and the ridges of the hills, and to watch how quickly the colouring changed as the sun began to set. Never having been there before, I was surprised at the view. Then on. over the railway line to the bridge — well do drivq (along there and see how secluded a pastoral scene it is. — Yours, etc., "NAPIER." « # « • Dear Cousin Rose, — Just a brief hint or two about Christmas dinner in Hawke's Bay. - 1 would say eook some poultry a day or two beforehand, to save. the rush. Have boiled salad dressing made ready. Order a good large bowl of strawberries or loganberries, and some cream, and maybe meringues. If you have a refrigerator, make ice cream too — children do like it so, and have a nice flummery or Spanish iream also. If you want to be jolly, take the meal out beside the river, . or to a pretty country spot. Have paper hats and surprise packets for the children. Christmas dinner should be different from the everyday dinner, so think up something different. Many people like the extra jollity almost more than the food. Christmas imdding is too heavy for summer and is enougk to inake the diners groan. Am I wrong in the opinion of otner readers ? I think most of us provide things for "the other fellow,'' not

knowing that he may think the same as we do about not wanting a great hot spread, That is all right for Ehgland with snow outside, but not for., New Zealand as I have seen it with the Chrisfenas temperature at 95 in the shade.— Yours, etc.,

W 'i* W Dear Cousin Rose,— Was not someone going to tejl us about the "Book of the Trees" or .was it in some other publication I saw it? Do you know if soya beans are sold in the sliops? According to a letter in yesterday's paper they are much better for heart trouble than potatoes. I always thought that bean was used for cattJo food. I presume it is not the haricot bean. Health menu's as well as ones ° suitable for Christmas would be .weJcomed in vour column. — Yours. etc..

* « ti Colour Have you ever wondered why it is that you have a "favourite colour" ? Colour has a definite effect on us, and many people quite disregard this and do not let their children choose the colour they like best. The effect on the mentality is considerable of having colour s near that are the ones craved for. A red room, for instance, will have a distinctly irritating effect on tho nerves of most people, but a room with pale primrose walls, or soix pastel blue, will be restful. Why is the grass green ? eBcause green is healing to the nerves of the eyes, and reflects back its soothing and calming influence on the brain. There js far more in colour than most people here know. Maybe some of you will remember a beautiful magazine that went out of print years ago, called "Bibby's Annual." In that there were wonderful ■ pictures in colour oi how we ourselves reflect colour — though few can See it — and there were actual photos of the red flashes that a very angry man sent out when he gave way to rage. Is this fantastic to you? Letters from readers who have ideas about colour will he exceedmgly interesixng. Address all letters to