Fashion and Things Feminine.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 281, 1 June 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

Fashion and Things Feminine.

By IDAMELLER -

A FROCK FOR THE OFFICE GIRL. The girl who is in an office all day v. ill find that a serviceable, well-made dre-.s is far more economical than a skirt and blouse, especially when the latter i n white. True, the blouse of white washing -ilk is very becoming, and may not bo very expensive; but at least two white blouses a week must l>e provide.l where one ► . worn every day, and indeed there are business girlswho wear throe a week, and a set, therefore of four white silk blouses must be reckoned on a.s necessary to the outlit of the office g'rl who on wearing a. blouse of the kind every (lav.

Frequent washing does not improve the quality of .Japanese and such-like bilks, so that it i.s better to give a blouse made of silk of this kmd awoek's rest from the wash-tub, l>efoi'e wearing it aga'n.

It. i„ very disheartening to a girl when her fresh white silk blouse is marred by an inksta'n : but this is a mishap that often happens in offices. The be-t thing to do to get rid of tho stain is to soak the soiled part in milk as soon ars the blouse can lie removed, and then bod it ui water again iuid again until all, if possible, of the stain has disappeared. The business girl who wants to save herself the trouble of constantly washing and ironing a blouse and to make up for herself a smart and serviceable frock for office wear every day, may possibly be interested in the accompanying illustration, wh'ch shows a simple

but fashionable little dress that would ho ideal lor business wear, and might bo tarried out in dark plaid' cloth or black-and-white chock, or, if preferred, of course, in the übiquitous navy suiting. The design offers no difficulties to the home dressmaker who cares to deal with it, but at the same time it is right uji-to-date, and is specially suited to present and coming season wear. The front of the dress is unhampered by a waistband, and is apparently buttoned to the sides with a dozen large buttons, and is finished at the neck witli a little vest of white or sulplfur-colour-ed cloth (white cloth can easily bo cleaned with pipe-clay). The bodice and skirt are eased at waist, and the belt i.s u rather narrow, folded one, and might be of black satin or velvet. Similar material should face the handsome collar at the neck and the bell cuffs, and should also cover the button-.

RED HIDING HOOD CLOAK FOR A CHILD. The wardrobe of even- little girl from five to ten years of ago should include a lied Riidng Hood cloak, which, if made of nap-cloth or blanketing, will assuredly prove a cosy wrap throughout the

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colder months. The -ini].!.- pattern is al-o useful for waterproof materials. A Rod Hiding II«mh1 cloak is illustrated, and tii« f,u;uii ity of -I l-nirli material rotni'riil to make it, f«r ■ l r^ ll ' ni' al*ont seven voars, u- 2', yards. Tinshou'd In' opened out lo it, full width

and douulcd, and the two pattern pieces («co diagram;—halt the cloak and ball lho liood— should be laid upon it with the two straight edges parallel to the .selvedges. JJoth the doak and hood arc seamed at the centre-back, and each pattern piece, therefore, i„ cut out in duplicate, l'here are two darts on each shoulder, the* enabling the cloak to fit nicely. Ncii- lii> dattH arc two notches, and thcoo correspond with the uotches on the hood, indicating the union of the two pieces. The right front oi the cloak should he "'.•ornored off" at the top. When the darts have been tacked and the two pari., of the cloak tacked together, the wrap should be tried on. afterwards when the darts have been otilched, they mu>t he pressed with a hot iron, and all scams must lie pressed in a s'milar way. The edge of the cloak is turned in all round and stitched, and the fronts are closed with buttons and buttonholes.

The hood, when seamed, must be lined with soft silk, and the Iront .s arranged with a runner. The neck of the iiood must bo sewn to the neck ot tjio cloak, taking the latter lietwcen the hood and lining, and the in>ide edge of tho cloak mlist be neatly fa'-ed.

IN THE SEWING ROOM. A s'mplc way to mark the places for buttons and buttonholes or tor hooks and eyes, is to pin a tape-measure oa tlio overlapped closing edges of the goods where the buttons and buttonholes or hooks and eyes are to he placed, and, with a needle and coarse double thread, make tailors' tacks at equal distances apart through Iku'i pieces, going by marks on the tape measure, and then clip the thread between the tacks. Lift tlio top piece slightly and clip again, <and the worker will bo able to seo exactly where to place each hook and eye or button and button-hole, so that they will meet exactly right without any further trouble.

['nder ordinary conditions, the amateur dressmaker linds it a. very troublesome taisk to match her buttons ,\nd button-Jio'es. Acting on the above plan, she will find it quite easy. BAD-TEMPER ED CHI LDREN.

Children who are subject to ebullitions of violent temper, and sulky children, are alike liable to bo misunderstood or given a wrong treatment as a means of cure, for, as a physician recently pointed out, bad temper on the part of a child is very often the result of some unwholesome, almost poisonous, substance circulating in the blood and affecting the brain. Children who are not docile, therefore, require very careful treatment, and especially is it neeo-sary to see that their diet is simple, wholesome, and nourishing. They must l>e brought up with intelligent attention, and it may b? advisable to regard them aln.o t ;m 'invalid-; for a time, and to treat them with great gontjenei-u rather than to use, or threaten to use, the rod. Temper, in adults as well as in children, is not infrequently the cause of food that ha.-, disagreed and that causes indigw-tion. which naturally affects the nerves and sets up irritation of the brain. Children, between the ages of five and seven, are particularly limbic to exhibit i\ great deaf of bad temper, which alarms the parents, who are unnoccssarilv anxious and are often at a loss to know what treatment to meto out to the voung offender. This exhibition of temper on the part of the young is often nothing more than an outward expression of development; the children are too voung to reason, yet their development must express itself in one wav or another, and often it does so by a fit of temi>er. When the clrld 's a" year or two older and is sensible enough to be reasoned with, the bad temper will disappear and understanding take its place.

\ SUBSTITUTE FOR BRASS STATRRODS. A good substitute for stair-rod* when brass" ones cannot be afforded, will be found in thin canes, such as arc used for dwarf curtains. Thrse canes are very cheap to buy, and they can eas'lv l>e, cut to any length required. Eaoh piece can then be painted brown or the colour of the stair carpeting. When fastened with staples, these rod* look very nice and save expense, and also labour in cleaning.

TWO HOME HINTS. To prevent rugs from turning up on the side, stitch pieces of heavy cloth. about, four inches wide, on both side.-, and on both ends of them, stitching on the wrong s'de of the rug, of course. The cloth acts ah a weight. Wipe leather furniture with a dump cloth to remove dui. and when it '* drv wipe again with a soft clqih dipped iu'beaten white <>i Let this dry. then polish with a soft cloth.

THK TABLECLOTH. Winn not m u.sf, a tablecloth should 1,0 kept Hi loldwl creaks, _and when brought out to be spread, hhoulil bo | : ,id on the tabic and unfolded it.- enure length, the width being doubled B ,ti, tin* centre oroa-e along the eeu- ,,,.„,■ the table. Then the half breadth that h folded should be turned back and the -loth will hang even. ('■irole-s servants often gather up a ~|„th ••anvhow." without taking the trouble to fold it en again m n- >"" ~,,..,.,,.. . 11H | thus iiv.-h on. - are n.:ul:\ V talile-elotii will keep fre-h-lookmg as ieng again -f « * allays folded ... ■- mvn folds and put away oarofulh until

tin- next meal. . The rivnel, have :, wav nl ina,ui' even an inferior ......I't.v » uMc hne look well will t the aid ol -Umvl. When the serviettes arc wa-l.cd anroadv to bo honed, they are dipped in ,„ |„,i|ing waU-r and partially wrum on, Ketueeu cloth. Thov an- the. , llv ironed with a* !;«it » ««»-'«' I,!' 1 is , M ,-sil,lo without risk oi Imrning II \M CAKKS. Savourv oak<*~~l~a7 offer an excel

lent means of using up picco* of ham or tish, are made a.s follows: —

Tako some pieces of hoiled ham or smoked shoulder, or the remains of any boiled fish, and chop fine: boil and mash ►ome potatoes or use -cold potatoes and chop or mash them, allowing two-thirds of potatoes to one-third meat. Add one or two eggs (beaten), sufficient to make the mixture of the right consistency to shape into round, Hat cakes, and fry the latter in hot fat. after dredging them .with flour. Seasoning to taste should l»o added before the mixture is made into cakes. These little .savouries are very nice for supper or high-tea. Cold boiled rice may be used instead of potatoes for t change. DAINTIES.

A Qieo way to eat bananas, which are now so popular a diet, is to erurdl them with a fork, squeeze a lime or lemon-juu-e over them, and sprinkle with sifted sugar. To make mashed potatoes creamy, put onefourth of a teaspoonful of haking powder in a good-sized dishful, licat together, and serve immediately. When making apple-pie. cut the applet; in irregular pieces. In this way they will not pack together as if sliced and will cook quicker. Tomatoes and hard-bffiled eggs, chopped fine and mixed with mustard and seasoning and a little cream skimmed from the milk >n the larder, will make a delicious .sandwich-filling. Grated clux-olate. again, is a very nice sweet-filling for sandwiches.

BLACK SI'EDE SHOES. To clean black suede shoes that are faded-looking, and to revive them to •i state of rfeshne-ss, fine charcoal dust 'should be brushed over them with an „hl tooth-brush. This will remove the grey look that worn black suede is apt to dioW. A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK. duly iii veirtue of good guidance does good fortune prove good.