LADIES' COLUMN.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 26 September 1903, Page 3

LADIES' COLUMN.

TJXDERAVEAIt,

Such pretty blouses and skirts can be bought ready made that they are really a great temptation—though they almost always require some alteration. Blouses are more easily altered than skirts, strange to say, as the hang of a skirt is everything, and a slight alteration even will make the Avhole thing look wrong. But many pretty shaped, but unmade, skirts can be bought in soft silk and insertions of lace that with but little trouble can be made up to fit anyone. These skirts have no foundation to them, so it is essential that a long well cut and shaped underslip should be worn with them. I Avould suggest a useful underskirt made of either soft washing silk (which can be bought very cheap now) or a thin cambric. Shape it at the hips and alloAv to hang full at the hem, where it will look well finished Avith three frills edged with a narrow lace. The frills set out the overskirt and make it look soft and pretty round the feet, and show when holding up the skirt. It is useful to have a couple of these underskirts separate from the gown, as frequently the edges of the foundation skirt get soiled before the gown, and Avhen separate from the gown can be easily washed. It is not advisable to have insertions in the underskirt as the upper slip is usually much inserted and the insertions might not arrange well with those. The transparent yokes to the blouses, and the more or less transparent nature of the blouses themselves, make the camisole a feature of the moment, and they are noAV made rather elaborately. A slight transparency is pretty and cool looking but when earned to excess savours of bad taste so I commend a high necked camisole to your notice made of thin cambric, dainty looking and distinctly ornamental. It is made rather full in front and reaches only to the waist. The shoulder straps are of insertion edged with narrow lace, and this insertion is carried round the front of the bodice, but rather low down the upper part being filled in by rather Avide lace, through which is run a ribbon to draw it up and keep it in position. From this insertion to the waist—Avhich is also of insertion—the bodice is tucked in groups of three. The sleeves are short, edged and inserted with lace which look pretty through a transparent sleeve.

CEMENT FOR MENDING CHINA.

In most homes there is a particularly dainty piece of china or glass ware. that is fated to be broken at some time or other and the question immediately arises " Can w re mend it?" especially if the article forms part of a set. Expensive articles are sometimes mended by riveting the pieces together, but it is difficult to get a cement that will resist long exposure to water. Articles that are mendod Avith pure white lejid -£Uiqth a mixture of powderedjisb£%>s >awidw«*sstgJ*ssiwill hold togei^^^^., *washed with care—that is gashed t|id wiped quickly. Articles'mended in this manner will not bear soaking iiSt w>.ter." Rub a thin coat of the best white lead on the broken edges, then press together and tie in position with ■ bands of cloth. Keep the articles in a -dry place for six weeks before using.

FOR CLEANING SIL\ tER.

Many of the preparations sold for cleaning silver are composed of acids which certainly brighten the silver but are very injurious especially to plated ware. The following is to be recommended and will be found highly satisfactory.—Dissolve one ounce of powdered borax in half a pint of boiling water. When the liquid is cold pour on it four ounces of precipitated chalk and beat until smooth. Add one gill of alcohol and bottle. Shake well before using.

Elaine,