Ladies' Column.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 90, 10 July 1908, Page 4

Ladies' Column.

People rarely quarrel over the large and important issues ot lite. 81.1 they will fight to the death about the things that don't matter. In mo>i families there is some small bone discord which crops up again a again at every meal —a_ mean, contemptible cause of strife that none agree to bury decently once and foi all. Between husband and wite sotne pettydifferer.ee gradually grows which touches each on the raw whenever it appears with Jack-in-the-box regularity. A tactful, womanly management in the early stages would prevent the stupendous growing power of these matrimonial bogies. Maybe a man's temper is a little " short " when he comes home in the evening. No doubt he has faced twenty men with short tempers and small patience in the course or a day. His wife can eternally face one; and it is the privilege of her partnership to soothe and manage a tired man. After all, unselfishness on the part of the wife is the best weapon to fight an irritable man with; and a man must be a bear indeed if he can hold out against an unremitted course of kindness.

It is not easy to think of anything apparently more useless than an old newspaper, torn, crumpled, and looking only fit for the fire; but, as a matter of fact, there are several ways in which it can be used.

When sweeping - day comes, and there is no supply of moist tea-leaves ready to use for collecting the dust, an old newspaper torn up into shreds and sprinkled with water will prove an excellent substitute.

When carpets are lifted and beaten, it is a good plan to lay several thicknesses of newspapers underneath, either in place of, or above the felt or brown- paper sold for the purpose. The reason for placing the newspaper above, next to the carpet, is that printers' ink is i a splendid moth-pre-ventive.

For cleaning windows and polishing looking-glasses nothing is so good as a wad of damp newspaper-pulp, followed by a vigorous polishing with a ball of dry paper rubbed soft in the hands. Unless the paper is made soft in this way it is likely to scratch the surface of the mirror.

By putting lace handkerchiefs in warm water in which are a few drops of ammonia, and using castile soap, they are easily washed and made a beautiful clear white. Do not iron the handkerchief, but spread it out smoothly on marble or glass, gently pulling out or shaping the lace. Just before it is entirely dry fold evenly and smoothly, and place under a heavy weight of some kind.

To preserve an umbrella so that it will last long enough and not look shabby it should be carefully dried each time it is carried in the rain. To do this it should never be stood on the point, thus permitting the water to trickle down, spoiling the silk and making the wires rusty. Neither should an umbrella be opened to dry, for in this way the silk is stretched, and later becomes baggy, and it is impossible to roll it smoothly. The correct way to drain an umbrella is to shake it well to get as much, water out as possible and then stand it on its handle to drain.

Take a handful of tobacco, and steep it in boiling water till the water looks like rather weak tea. When the water is cool it is fit for use, with a sjfonge or soft cloth. Afterwards reduce the strength of the infusion with more water, and thoroughly wet the earth round the roots. This is one of the best ways for keeping a plant healthy and destroying insects.

A little salt in raw or boiled starch will prevent the irons from sticking, and make the starch whiter. If the irons are rough, put some salt on a piece of brown paper, lay a piece of muslin, over it, and rub the irons on it until they are bright and smooth.

To the child all his woes are real and important. His little fears and angers are as great factors in his mental development as your large ones are in yours. There is no occasion to over-estimate their importance ; it will not be necessary. Simply accord to the child the same consideration, help, and criticism that you would give to a grown person suffering from proportionally heavy troubles, and do not let him feel that always he is to be the butt for the mirth of his audiences because they are grown up and he is a child. Never let children know that there is anything to be afraid of; never fill their little hearts with vague apprehensions ; never let them fancy that the darkness is peopled with terror and alarms. Let them know that darknes and light alike are friendly, and that night need bring them no dread. Manv a child has been ruined for life by stories told to frighten it into obedience. The folly ol such a course has been commented on by Press and pulpit, but it still continues; and every year many timid little ones are terrified into idiocy or made nervous wrecks to gratify the foolish caprice of mothers and nurses who desire to assert their authority and enforce their will at any cost.