LADIES’ COLUMN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 57, 4 February 1884, Page 2

LADIES’ COLUMN.

POETBY. We speak with the lip and Wa dreant in the soul, Of some better and fairer day | And our days, the meanwhile, to that golden goal Are gliding and sliding away. Now the world becomes old, now again it is young, But “ the better” is for ever the word on the tongue, At the threshold of life, Hope leads us in Hope plays round the mirthful boy; Though the best of its charms may with youth begin, Yet for age it reserves its joy. When we sink at the grave, why the grave has scope, And over the coffin man planteth—Hope I And it is not the dreani of a fancy proud, With a fool for its dull begetter; There's a voice at the heart that proclaims aloud—- “ We are born for something better I" And that voice of the heart, oh, ye may believe, Will never the Hope of the Soul deceive 1 (Translated from the German oi Schnier by Lord Lytton.) THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN. " Education gives fecundity of thought, copiousness of illustration, quickness, vigor, faculty, words, images, and illustrations. It decorates every common thing, and gives ths power of trifling, without being undignified and absurd.

—“ Swxzr Sjhfft:'* In these days of free and compulsory education, learning of a certain description is sure to. be acquired by every woman Colonidlly born. Hardly any district is too remote for the influence of School Boards and Inspectors. On all sides, the question arises whether the subject of education is not pressed too far. Under the workingout of a great system, in the cram, the rush and scramble to pass examinations, in the diversity of. subjects superficially learned, there is fear that all life and originality may be hurried out of the minds of children, especially growing girls, Educated in one common groove, and hurried on, it may be that there is neither time nor rooifl left for the mind to develop freely. It should be every parent's duty to study carefully the disnosition and national bent oi each child, and to strive accordingly to suit the studies taken up to the natural proclivities shown. Music for instance. At the present time, almost every girl learns to play the piano, It Is a study that requires years upon years of laborious and steady labour. In few cases are the results satisfactory, Many a girl can jingle off an accompaniment, can play a piece indifferently, perhaps rattle off scraps of dance music out of time and tune, To the sensitive she is perhaps a nuisance. Shortly after her marriage even this much performance on the piano is gradually given up as the household duties increase. The lessons she has received, the labor she has given to the acquirement of her superficial accomplishment represent so much time and money entirely wasted. Parents should carefully ascertain which children possess a natural taste and aptitude for music, and in them cultivate their talent, without attempting to force a study upon those who have no natural taste for It. We should then have the pleasure of hearing many more good performers and be spared much.

The same observation may be applied id drawing. To those who possess a natural aptitude for the study, the accomplishment will yield the truest pleasure. There is no more absorbing or self-satisfying pursuit. Numbers of pleasing reflections are thereby induced in real lovers of art. They may be said to possess a new sense which gives them endless pleasure. On the other hand, to those who have no natural taste for it, the study will bring no benefit, but will simply prove so much waste of time. The study of a foreign language, under some aspects, appears worthy a little forcing. New iight will be cast on common words and expressions; new meanings will appear in our own tongue as we acquire some knowledge of another. Nothing conduces more to purity of diction, to clearness of expression, to insight into the meaning of words, than the careful study of a language foreign to our own. The fact is that the intelligent education of girls will be more satisfactorily carried on under the judicious eye of tern. Give a girl a taste for reading wholesome a careful mother than under any sysbooks, guard her carefully from influences, instruct her well in household duties and the duties and the principles of domestc economy, teach her to make her own dresses and darn stockings neatly, and to be unselfish and amiable at home. As she grows older, let her choose some accomplishment for herself, and encourage her to pursue it diligently. You will have more satisfactory results in the end than by following any prescribed curriculum, and you will be more likely to develop original talent. FASHIONS. Aprons. Pretty aprons make a nice addition to almost any household toilette, and are very easily arranged. Some at present worn are entirely of black lace, some of white or cream. They are not large, and are in a variety of pretty shapes. Nearly al! have bibs. Red velvet, for ornamenting them, plays a conspicuous part. Some are entirely of this material, and in many the bibs are made of it. The ordinary size of the fashionable

ftpron is three-quarters are, closely-gathered at the uaist to diinini&h the Width. Some in block lace l ave a fichu of die earns combined with them. «o that a simple morning-costume fcat thereby be hi’'de a drt-ssy one. Plain biack silk satin aprons are plaited from top to bottom in small close fiifcirk, edged with isee, with lace pockets at the ride. Madras muslin trimmed with lace and colored ribbons makes pretty aprons. Black velvet brocade and lace is quite the newest idea for ribbed aprons of the most fashionable kind, and are considered a becoming addition to an evening dress, Many black satin apront display a sunflower, &c., embroidered in gold thread. Soft materials draped over a foundation of silk, and gathered Up at the side with a large looped bow, form fashionable and dressy additions to the toiibii

Housekeepers’ aprons should have the lower edge turned up and stitched, the centre to form two deep pockets; also a pocket above the right side. Boft wide ribbon looks well for ties. It is tied round the throat in a large bow with Very short ends. TL-. shftje nbbotl is also Wt>i-h ih the house in a Variety of ways. It looks pretty fastened n< at the throat at the left ride, ihauu to the front and fastened f.Hhrv brooch; it is then carried half way down tlie boddice pitched together, and secured by another brooch or fancy pin ; then tuck in the end, which has a frill of lace, to simulate a pocket-handkerchief. This brightens up ft dark dtOsf. Moalin, gingham, or other waahing-material cannot be made up more fashionably than with a gathe.. I bouicc and skirt flounced to the waist. Fur heavier fabrics nothing is so fashionable as the redingote, short, like a jacket bodice in front, and with long tails

i. White and cream dresses havg predominated in fashionable gatherings this summer. At the New Tear’s Day races, at Flemington, the Countess of Roseberry wore a cream costume, trimmed with pale blue velvet ribbon and cream lace; bonnet of pale blue to match the ribbon. One of the prettiest toilettes worn recently by the Princess of Wales was of white Japan suit, trimmed with deep coffee-colored lace. Kid bonnets and hats are among the newest of novelties. They are said to be more quaint than elegant, being plain and high, tpade in yellow kid. and trimmed With buttons ih imitation of ivory, lined With seal velvet, finished off with a plume of brown feathers strings of seal, and brown velvet. Bonnets of Turkey red, trimmed with black velvet, are also new, Biros of all shapes and sizes are conspicuous in modern head-gear. Skirts for evening wear are made '•ballet” fashion—that is, with several petticoats of equal length placed one over the other. Gauzes, tulles, and velvets are the most popular materials. RECIPES. Swiss Roll.—One cup of flour, one cup of sugar, three eggs, one teaspoonful of cream of tartar, one ditto of carbonate of soda, half a cup of warm milk and water. Mode.—Mix the cream of tartar with the flour, warm it before the fire for a few minutes, add the sugar and eggs well beaten together, lastly add the soda dissolved in the warm milk and water; bake in a flat, well-buttered dish; bake rather quickly a light brown ; turn out on sugared paper; spread jam over quickly, and roll immediately. Apple Fritters ;—One pint of milk, six eggs, flotir enough to form a stiff batter, a pinch of salt, half a teaspoonful of soda, a teaspoonful of cream of tartar ; slice the apples rather thin and dip in the batter; fry in hot lard, browning them nicely on both Sides; They are nice made with raisins or Srrents instead of apples, or with slices of nana or any other fruit. Cocoanut Patties.—One grated cocoanut, 11b. sugar, £lb. flour, Jib. butter, four eggs, teacupfv.l of milk, a little salt. Mix all ingredients, except the cocoanut, thoroughly together, then add the cocoanut. Line patty pans with pastry, fill with the mixture, and bake a delicate brown.

. Tb Rhnovate a Black Straw Hat.—Take one pint of water, add a teaspoonful of spirits of ammonia, rub it over the hat with a soft tooth or nail brush. When clean rinse with cold water and place in the sun to dry. It will be as good as new. Do not soak or scrub sufficiently to destroy the shape. To Remove Mildew.—Soak the parts that are mildewed in two parts of chloride of lime to four parts of water for about two hours. Then thoroughly rinse in clean water. BiUto.