SHAMROCK SPEAKS.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 10, 9 June 1894, Page 10

SHAMROCK SPEAKS.

Dear Lim»a, I consider your “ Home Circle ” quite a success. The various items in the first issue were •well chosen, and the interest extended to old and young. The thrilling narrative uf the little negro-boy riding for his freedom got hold of the old folks as well as the younger ones ; ■while the sad story of the “ Toiling Sisterhood of the Old Land” should make working-women in this favoured colony feel thankful for their lob. And yet, as I write that sentence a cold chill strikes to my heart at the memory of the sweating* commission held in Dunedin some time ago, and of some of the facts then brought to iioht. Has this Upas-tree really taken root in our midst, and will it spread and grow until its branches cover our favoured land P God forbid ! We are told that the women are chiefly responsible in this matter that we will buy at the cheapest shops regardless of the methods employed to ensure cheapness. "V/ell, there is a good deal to be said for the housekeeper. fcdie has the cuiitrol of the family purse, and—while in this country absolute want owjht to be almost unknown — her powers are often taxed to the.utmost to keep up a respectable appearance on a small iuCOUI6. If she finds that she can get. a really good article at B s tor a lower price than it is obtainable at As, that fact furnishes a strong argument for dealing with B. fStill J think we •women should make it a point of honour to deal only with upright and thoroughly reliable firms, and we shall lose nothing in the end by so doing. Our difficulty here is by no means so great as that of ladies in the Old Country, where, 1 understand, the most fashionable and expensive shops often encourage sweating as much us the cheaper ones. Speaking of shopping, 1 recollect ttiat a popular preacher in our town on one occasion gave the ladies of his congregation a lecture upon the necessity of making their purchases early in the week, or at. least on Saturday morning, One of them took it so much to heart that, finding one Saturday afternoon that something was forgotten, she called upon her pastor and received fiom Inna a special dispensation before purchasing it. If we all followed his ad-

vice I am sure the shop-assistants ■would be greatly benefited. But, Linda, I hope you do not object to being criticised. If you do the scissors must come into play and excise this portion of ray letter. In the first place, then, let me suggest that you suit your recipes to the time of year. “ Talking o,f cooking rhubarb at this season,” said an individual of the male persuasion ; “ why don't they wait till rhubarb is in ?” Secondly," you really must request your continbutor “ Amy ” to be more respectful to to the “business man.” She is perfectly at liberty to call her own husband “ dull,” but it is quite another thing to apply that epithet .to the spouses of other women. Moreover, all neAVspapers, including the Southern Cross, are large 1 y dependent for the'* existence upon business men, and we must not tread upon their toes. Wo should conciliate them, and not after the fashion in which Tom Hood’s butcher “ conciliated ” the sheep. In conclusion, dear Linda, let me whisper softly in your ear the pleasing assurance that your “ Home Circle” will soon have to welcome some new contributors. I have beard of two or three, and surely Rachel and Etta, who have already entertained and instructed us, will join your magic circle. Shamrock.