WOMAN'S PAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1932, Page 8

WOMAN'S PAGE

MjAA tARMEI LEROY mia

SOCIETY WOMEN LECTURED

BY BACHELOR JUDGE.

Society women —as well as the one particular specimen of her sex arraigned before him—were severely trounced by Mr Justice McCardie. His name stripped of Mac, is surely “hardy.” For hardihood it is on the part of a bachelor judge to tell a woman what she ought to spend on dress. Not £9OO a year anyhow, said that judge in his hardihood, and —he declared —£509 is a very generous allowance. A very jPolonius was this judge He said wise words to wives, but qualified them with a considered view of the husband’s place—if he has one—in her social round!

The Husband’s Position

The case in question was that in which a dressmaking firm sued Mi Gilbert Frankau, the novelist, tor goods supplied to hi,s wife.

Mr Justice McCardie said that considerations which should be present to the minds of married women when they felt inclined fo embark on a career of extravagance were: —

The gross income of a man was very different from the amount left after the merciless demands of the tax collector.

Though the net income may be substantial, yet, in the case of a man who earns his living by his brain, there is always the risk of illness or disease, and a need for setting aside money to meet the grave contingencies of life. . The future was usually uncertain, and provision had to to be made for later years.

A man may have primary charges on his income.

Still graver consideration arose when children had to be educated and provided for.

“Imprudent wives, too often forget to calculate the proportion of tbe fret net income of their husbands actually available for dress allowance or other expenditure.” It was a delicate matter to express a view on the right or duty of a woman with respect to dress, “100 few men have the courage to express themselves clearly and frankly on the matter. Married men, in particular, have, in some cases, and for obvious reasons, a natural reluctance, and sometimes an understandable fear, to state their views with adequate firmness. Too many women are the slaves of fashion, and too many men arc the slaves of women.”

Complexity of Dress Factor

iiui fair's fair. Mr Justice • said: “It is permissible, I hope, i-«> recognise, as I do, that nothing is more charming than a charmingly-dressed woman. But the law has to consider husbands as well as wives, and it is just as well to state that a husband has rights as well as duties, and that lie can still use a shield against the stalls of an ■ extravagant wife. This question of dress is indeed beset with many factors. Quite apart from the sacred trust of motherhood and the noble companionship she so often gives to men, the functions of a woman in modern society are largely utilitarian. “Dress, after all, is one of the chief methods of women’s sell-expression. I can well understand the fascination of a beautiful garment. It is also, T conceive, important to remember the singular and tonic effect produced on a wo man by a new and attractive dress, coat or hat. Tn matters of dress women often remain children to the end. But while hearing the above matters in mind, the law has rightly laid it down that the rule of prudence and proportion must be observed. A husband is not to be exposed to ruin by the extravagance of a wife, and the feminine instinct for variety and grace of decoration must lie curbed to the needed extent. Too many women, like men, think that the present alone matters, and that the future can be left to itself.

THE DEBUTANTE

Each season, it seems, styles are becoming more and more feminine. Tim return of the lone skirt was, ol course originally responsible for this change from the old war-time vogue for severely nhtiu, and would-be “masculine stvles.” and now the soft lines and graceful flares, and the increasingly elaborate trimmings that characteristhe models for 10H1 have aeeentmitep the new cult of feminity. Accessories have necessarily become daintier and more frivolous. For now that the hair is worn longer and beautifully waved—(here is scope for a host of new styles for- the evening coiffures. And in these Hovers play an important part, at least, as far as the young girl in her teens or early twenties is concerned, for we have remembered how delightfully becoming they can he. Narrow wreaths, worn far hack in the hair in (he approved “halo” style, are making their appearance in increasing numhets at dances and dinner parties, and for these dainty chaplets real flowers or leaves are most often commissioned. .A single flower worn at file side ol tlm hair ran also he exceedingly becoming, and Ihe hair that is soft ly waved to one safe looks vetv eliarniuig. I’or Ibe lirst. n pearl si lidded slide, through which is slipped a small Mac I velvet ribbon is chosen; this style '''ilia i!v efl'eel iye on very fair ! ”''

(t a ( rose is fashioned of 111 He uhi'li eac 11\ matches the hair, ami the petals

are stiffened with fine wire, and outlined with brilliants. These fashionwill look charming with a dainty frock of tulle or chiffon, but a more formal gown on .the moulded classic lines de mauds a rather more sophisticated coiffure.

EVENING FOOTWEAR

The chic appearance of an evening frock so often depends on the charm and suitability of the shoes chosen foi wear with it. Many people are apt to think that the frock is the only realh important part of the general ensemble This is not so—the wrong type of shoe or shabby, out-of-date footwear will ruin the appearance of the wearer no matter how smart the gown may be Just at present coloured evening shoes are fashionable in embossed brocade, pink, green, canary, orange, or black and gold brocade with black quarterings. One must remember also that a white satin or crepe do chine shoe can be dyed either to match or contrast with the frock. New shoes are a good investment—they so often help to give an old frock a smart new appearance. Scarlet or green shoes to match r flower or necklet look attractive and vouthful.

A NEW FASHION

When the dancing craze was at its height beaded evening frocks were a'l the vogue. Bugles, spangles and “what-nots” used to play havoc with the coats of women’s dancing partners Beaded effects are returning to favour but now fashion has taken a right about turn. Tt is tbe back of the new evening frocks that are headed. What a pity the popularity of' dancing has waned. Tf this arrangement had been introduced when the jerky movement oi the Charslton was in favour, men s dinner coats would not have looked a.s if they had been caught on a thorn bush. Bead plastrons seem to have been placed in this new position to draw attention deliberately to the low cut back of the evening corsage. Tlucovvl drapery cut in one with the;, bodice is an outstanding feature of evening models. This style is kind to all figures, so one may expect its popularity to enjoy a triumph. Soft folds falling into an apparently unstudied position are vastly becoming to a full bust, while on the other hand, this style of drapery can lie worn equally well by slight figures. Each fold is weighted mj that the cowl can lie kept in position.

HINTS THAT HELP

Knitted underwear usually puckers up when mended. To obviate this lav a similar piece of material under the hole and put both pieces together into an embroidery hoop. Darn with long stitches of darning cotton, trim off the superfluous material from the hack.' and run down the edge of the patch with darning cotton before removing the hoops.

Marking ink that has dried up in the bottle can be used again if a few drops of hartshorn are added to it. Stir with a-match.

Neckties are sometimes found difficult to launder at home. Take out the interlining, lay the tie flat on a porcelain surface, and scrub lightly with a soft nailbrush, damped and soaped. Rinse, and press on the wrong side when nearly dry. Replace the interlining after ironing it.

Odoms such as those caused by medicine, vinegar, and so on can lie removed from bottles by half-fifling them with cold water plus a tablespoonful of mustard. Shake vigorously, let stand for half an hour, and rinse thoroughly with clear water.

THIS WEEK’S RECIPES

Baked Fish.

211> fish, filleted. Butter a baking dish, put the pieces of fish in it and pour over them the juice of lemon. Season with pepper and salt and sprinkle about a small cup of grated cheese over the fish. Place a sliced onion and tomatoes all over the top. and bake about half an hour or over; depends on what kind of fish vou use.

Brown Sponge

Beat 2oz butter, -j cup sugar, add l beaten egg. Warm 2 level tablespoons golden syrup with \ cup milk, and add. Sift a large cup of (lour, 2 teaspoon's of cocoa and 1 teaspoon soda. Bast of all cup milk.

Norwood Cake

butter, jib sugar, 2 eggs, 2j cups flour, 1 teaspoon each of lemon, vanilla and almond; I teaspoon mace, l teaspoon soda dissolved in 7 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon golden syrup, .]lb sultanas, .jib currants, I cup chopped walnuts. Hake in slow oven for IWn to 2J hours.