WOMEN'S INTERESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1933, Page 3

WOMEN'S INTERESTS

A CALL TO THE MOTHERS

THE FUTURE FOR THE CHILDREN

At the present time the world lias two alternatives before it (says the Marchioness of Aberdeen and leinair, President of the International Council of Women, in the course of a recent stirring message to “the mothers of all races”). On the on e hand there is the vision of a perfected League of Nations; of on the other hand new wars from, which all the old halo 01 glory and heroism has been removed, for men of science have given us a glimpse of the hellish methods by which great cities can be destroyed in a few hours. And yet the nations hesitate on the brink of this awful precipice, lhey call impatiently for'leaders to preserve them from the impending dread disaster to the human race. Does not this constitute a great call to the womanhood of the world? To the mothers, and the potential mothers, of all races, to fly to the rescue of the future generations of whose life they are at once tile originators and the protectors ?

Hff the wild deer knows how to protect 'i{«; youii jg -..against the eagle hovering, around, by sheltering it under an overshadowing rock—if a savage mother knows how to'hide her babe from the vendetta of a rival tribe —cannot the mothers of to-day devise plans for an international understanding all. their own, whereby, inspired by the faith that removes mountains, they will be able to protect the children of the j human race from the calamities which threaten their very existence? Somewhere in - the second part of “Faust,” the insatiable doctor asks the impossible from Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles has no longer means to satisfy him; he must turn to higher power to help. Faust asks him eagerly and with curiosity to whom he must apply. “To goddesses,” is the reply, “and whom we devils scarcely dare mention the mothers! Are ’ you trembling?” “The mothers?” Faust repeats. “That is strange.” Yes, strange but true! And though goddesses are possessed :ofl plenary powers these powers are often put in motion by very simple means. Cannot the women of all races devise means whereby’ public opinion in each country will be so stirred to save the children' of. the rising generation from impending doom that they will go to the Disarmament and to the Economic 'Confererences of the future ready to sink all differences in a common determination to - save.- '-the - world ? : ■. .•

A HOME-MADE REFRIGERATOR

A. miniature refrigerator, may be erected out of doors in any sunny spot at practically no cost for material and none for .upkeep. All that is needed is a. few bricks from any builder near by. Form .these into a. little house with . two bricks for the . floor and the.rest for [ J’e. sides and roof. They need Pot be cemented together, an in any case one . must be left loose to act as a door. ; Place milk and butter, and other goods effected by the heat in this store and re- ; place the brick, taking care to leave no : gaps.'

| . To set the refrigerator iii operation merely throw, a bucket of cold water . over the little cupboard . so that the pbrus bricks are saturated. Evaporation wiiJ take place at once, and the greater ! the outside heat the bettqr the. action. ; The temperature inside will fall suffi- ; ciently to keep butter as hard as in ! winter. Occasional doses of cold water ' thrown over will keep the chamber in l action continuously. In wet weather it ! should be screened and a jugful applied less frequently. The efficiency will be constant while the goods remain sur- ! rounded by the damped bricks.

It would be little more trouble to build a permanent cold-house outside with a greater capacity than would be safe with loose bricks, but the method just explained is quite sufficient for most and has the advantage of being easily taken down and rebuilt elsewhere if desired.

| WHITE ROOMS IN VOGUE

The fashion for white and off-white rooms has brought into prominence natural shade s .of linen and crash and deep oatmeal colours which offer scope for all sorts of interesting schemes. One room seen recently .had matt cream walls, ceiling and woodwork. The floor was polished oak, and thrown over it -were brown and cream striped rugs with a sheepskin rug before the fire. The three-piece suite was in a brown and buff checked material rather like tweed, and cushions and curtains were of yellow linen. Another room where th e walls and 'woodwork' were also cream, had a honey-coloured carpet, and a suite covered with a crashlike material in blue and green. The occasional furniture was of limed oak. One modern picture added the final touch.

BUCKLE FOR ALL BELTS

Buckles on belts can be detached and used for any frock if, instead of stitching the material to the .buckle, y>y just slip the belt through the loop and secure nvidi a press stud underneath. Try this whefl making " your new frocks !

Mints from Monje and Shroad.

FASHION’S INGENUITY

INTRIGUING NEW SLEEVES

Sleeves continue ’ to stress the important points in the late 1933 fashions, ibut in keeping with our approaching colder weather nearly all the dresses and blouses have sleeves to the wrists. However, as the interest is usually centred on the upper part of the arm, you can finish off at the elbow for greater comfort during the hot New Zealand summer and still retain the chic of the design,': because so many of our best models during the summer sponsored a short sleeve. Actual sleeveless dresses were definitely not smart, even in the hottest weather. The latest sleeves continue, to feature many pointy originated in the spring, but with much more subtle effects Leg-o’-mutton sleeves are still put on the best models, but ther. e is less fullness pleated into the shoulders. Puff sleeves are much smaller, 'drapery hangs closer to the arms, and in general the exaggerated shoulder width has been toned down, leaving the sleeves ' important but discreet. There i s a great liking for two tiny sticloup frills round the .’tip st iof‘ ‘ the sleeves. “Flip-top" sleeves these are called. These give an opportunity to add colour contrast, as they are often linecf to match a coloured yoke or scarf or belt. One, two, or even three folds at, the top of a sleeye that give the effect of deep tucks is another popula r sleeve treatment. A little padded roll over the shoulder line is a smart idea used on coats and tailored dresses, giving just that little rise to the shoulder

which i K liked at the moment. Yet another sleeve continues in a long tab that buttons oil to the shoulder; this also suits tailored coats and dresses.

The off-the-shoulder line is popular for day and evening wear, and this naturally brings the .fullness about the upper arm and ; accentuates the “trimmed” look of! the upper part of the bodice —another fashionable, effect that is much likedj 'The evening dress with sleeves is very popular. Sometimes a model will be quite high in the neck with long sleeves to the wrist, and look extraordinarily demure in front. This is belied by cutting the back very low. I liked a black lace clres,? that had a square neckline a n d long black sleeves with, double: j N^jOiS n that the shoulder line bare. ilnother evening sleeve in' black,-"satin':. fitted. the .arm: nearly to the shoulder and then turned •back lilf^')h| •tpfrfal ■ <j.f; ah, alum,.lily.)

A lovely evening dfess'in black crepe had a deep yoke that ..continued down the arms of white tulle and bands of black sequins, ’with a deep frill of tulle falling from the edge of the half-sleeve. This struck me 'as a brilliant way of altering a long black dress in almost any material.

Cartridge pleating round the fops' of sleeves will make a plain dress look new. I saw a beige dress which was trimmed in this wav with 'wide brown silk ribbon; the cartridge pleating was put round the hem of the' slim skirt. ia brown belt‘round the waist and biw n , gloves and brown hat were worn. So. smart and yet an easy idea for renovation ! ■ •

Many of the newest dresses'still have caped effects from the shoulders ; but under these will be long,-’ tight sleeves or puffed-topped .sleeves.-’ These ideas will still be smart for you if you omit ■the sleeve, for the’ cape that'' covers the upper part of the'arm will supply all the sleeve you need for summer weather. ’

A new slashed sleeve was seen on a black crepe frock fitted round the elbow with a tight band, while a moat sleeve had three shaped pieces standing out from the sleeve 'tops and. tapering to nothing down the sleeves. So. when looking for new clothes or when altering old op.es to bring them up-to-date, give a good deal of thought to sleeves, which..can make's o much difference.

PSYCHOLOGY FOR Ay omen. It was women, who crowded to hear the. papers on psychology at this year’s meeting of the British Association in London, notes..;a contemporary writer. Women are traditionally more interested in persons than in abstract theories, and no part of science is so personal .as psychology. It promises to lay open all the inner workings of the mechanism of the mind and feelings, and it was probably just thi s fascinating, dangerous insight which Eve hoped to gain when she took the apple of knowledge. It has been suggested that some women go to lectures on psychology in order to be awed and mystified by a strange jargon, and that they revere the lecturers as savages revere, witch doctors. There may be .a certain truth in this.

The same desire for the incomprehensible, the same interest in introspection and wish for guidance and advice, which has sometimes in the past made women priest-ridden, may'” easily make them psychologist-ridden to-day. Women, however, are likely to be interested in psychology also from a purely practical point of view,.'fbr it, is most closely, concerned with:- the behaviour of young children. 1 f