UNDER THE WAR CLOUDS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 144, 11 February 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

UNDER THE WAR CLOUDS.

EVERYDAY LONDON L!EE PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED, SECRECY ANDTSEFULNESS. WHAT A WOMAN' WRITES. It is a commonplace that the war has greatly modified feminine life and ideals, and nowhere is this more apparent than amongst the middle classea of the world's motropols. The following paragraphs, descriptive oi what is actually occurring at the present moment, will serve to illustrate this vital fact far more vividly, perhaps than any number of long descript ve articles could do. EDUCATIONAL LUNCHEONS. My friend Margaret is giving a series of war-f.me luncheons. She saya they are partly educational because she serve? now dishe-;, so that we can all benefit by her example and vary our own home menus. Last week she gave us red cabbage prepared in a new way. Half the cabbage was boiled with an apple cut into small pieces and a glass of red wine. Then this mixture was fried in marg r:ne, and when it came to the table proved to be very good. Maple rice is one of her economical sweets. '' It is a splendid way of using the remains of a rice pudding,'' she told me. "You buy a bottle of maple syrup, and arrange the cold" rice in sherbert. glasses or custard cups, and pour about two dessertspoonfuls of the syrup over it. Then if you have any cream whip it up and pour on the top of the rice, or you can beat up the wfiite of an egg with a little sugar and put this on top." THE WAR DROOP. A masseuse told me the other day that though her business had fallen off during the war, she still has a number of clients who come to her for facial massage, and what they want her to accomplish is the eradication of two lines which run down from the corners of the lips. "I call it the war droop mouth," she said, "for women who never had a line on their faces seemed to develop these after the war had been in progress a few months. Probahly they arise from sad thoughts. I massage with a good cream and then an astringent, and also recommend stout hearts and cheerful views." HOSPITAL VISITING. A number of Parisian women have agreed to array themselves in their very smartest clothes when visiting sick and wounded men in hospital. They say that their wounded country me:: like it. There has been some criticism; but they ask, "If we take flowers to our men because of their beauty or rich colouring, why should we not also please ther eyes with the rich beauties of dross?" One critic of the movement has said that it is a dreadful thing to do. WEDDING GIFT SECRECY. The wedding present seems to be becoming quite a furtive and secret thing. A good many war brides lately have decided that they would not have their wedding presents placed on view. All ther gifts, costly and simple, were stored in a private, room into which none of the guests was invited. I heard a cynic remark at a wedding the other day that ir young people cont nue this pTan wedding gifts wiil verysoon diminish in both quantity and quality. SCRAP BOOK PARTIES. One of my friends occupies the long evenings now in making scrap-books for soldiers. She has sent quite a number to the military hospitals. The pages are of thin holiand and the books are quite light. She collects from her friends British and American picture papers, old copies of "Punch,'' magazines, and special war numbers. She tills one or two pages with funny pictures and jokes; then she has a page of pretty girls; then groups of heroes, naval and military; and good pictorial studies of animals and sporting scenes. Other women drop in during the evenings and help her to cut out the pictures, bring their own scissors with them. Her scrap-book parties are quite popular.

WHAT TO SELL AT BAZAARS. My bazaar experiences th's season have made it clear that useful goods rather than knick-knacks are in the greatest demand. The other day I saw a stall denuded in record time of a great pile of soldiers' mittens, mufflers, cardigan jacket,, and waistcoats. These latter should be knitted or woven—not crocheted. Soft pillows and night socks for the invalids appeared to sell well. There was a great demand, too, at one stall for padded back-rests, which were made of eiotli, satin or sateen. These, again, were for convalescents. English eau de Cologne and toilet vinegar are popular. A stall with English-made toys did a tine trade. A QUEEN'S BLUE COAT. A wrap-coat de luxe, recently created for the Queen of Spain, was made of Belgian-blue Duvetyn and trimmed with pale grey fox. The coat was lined with pearl-grey satin, and the whole effect was charming; so rich and yet so subdued. The Queen, so slender that she looks like a young girl, notwithstanding her large family. White she was staying at the palace at San Sebastian she sent over to Biarritz for the heads of the big dressmaking establishments in that gay town and gave large and generous orders. It is said that the King has a passion for blue in all shades; at any rate, it is true that the Queen of Spain appears in that colour more often than any other. THE BCTTEBELY ORNAMENT. Butterflies in natural colours, da'niily enamelled, are being sold everywhere, and are as popular with women as with young girls for fastening on to their blouses, not serviceably as brooches, but just as an extra ornament, say high up on the shoulder or above the breast. Sometimes the butterflies rest on the hair in daytime as wall as evening, and are set as hatpins.