Mundane Musings

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 94, 12 July 1927, Page 5

Mundane Musings

Hobbies for Hubbies!

“Oswald,” said that gentleman’s wife, with a bitter little smile, “is playing golf this afternoon. Pie played last Saturday, and is playing again on Sunday. So he hardly has a right to complain of the way I spend MY time!” And the way she was spending it was, I gathered, by losing more money at bridge than she could afford. And that seemed to me what most men would call an example of “feminine reasoning powers!” Still, leaving that point alone, the question seems to be "Ought Oswald to play golf?” His' wife says, no. Pier notion is that he ought to want to be with her on his free afternoons and not gallivanting about the links chasing a little white ball. AGE MAKES A DIFFERENCE But then his wife is young. When she is older she will very likely sing another tune! But then it may be too late, for most men are creatures of habit, and once break them of their passion for a game all your piety and wit, as the poet so aptly puts it, will not lure them back again. And if that happens she will experience one of a married woman’s most bitter fates. Piers will be the horror of having a man hanging about the house with nothing to do, of having him on her hands when she wants to darn her stockings or wash her hair, of knowing he is waiting with a doglike fidelity to be taken to the pictures, or a walk, or for her to “come down again” every time she leaves him alone in the room and goes upstairs.

And then she will wish she had let him grow onions in the bath and carpenter in the hall rather than deprive him of a single resource. But that will not avail her one scrap! Interests and resources, hobbies and games, can seldom be acquired or enjoyed if taken up in middle-age; they have to be nursed and encouraged, like frail plants, from early youth. A WARNING So, as an awful warning, I told Oswald’s wife of the case of my friend Mortimer. Mortimer was devoted to bridge till he married, and then his wife made hir& give it up. That, was 20 years ago, or very nearly. And Mortimer has now retired from business and devotes all his time to taking care of his wife. He adores her so much he will never go anywhere unless she comes, too. At first, you think how lucky she is. It astonishes you to hear her say how she wishes he would. But he will not—in their early married days she trained him to consider his place was with her every free moment he had. “It is almost more than I can stand,” she says, pathetically, “especially when I am ill.” “He is so determined to keep the children quiet, poor darling, that he goes downstairs and every time they speak, shouts: ‘lsn’t mother asleep? Can’t you make less noise, you selfish little brats?’ “But mother is not asleep. They never wake me, but he invariably goes bellowing at them. There might be some quiet if only he would go out. But he just won’t leave me, and sits and watches by my side for hours till I could scream. Oh, if only Mortimer would play bridge like other people!” Yes. She said that. Still, she had the grace to blush! HIGHLAND DANCING AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS The Auckland Highland and National Dancing Society held a successful dancing competition last Saturday evening. Miss Jean Davidson acted as judge and Mr. T. M. Stewart as piper Following are the results: Sean Truibhais, 11-13 years.—Pauline Peterson, 1; Edna Lorigan, 2: Dorothy Stewart, 3. Novice Irish Jig.—Gladys McCauley, 1; VVilla Ivatterns, 2; Loma Hay, 3. Reel O’Tulloch, 13-18 years. Molly Needham, 1; Kathleen Reid, 2; Delvis Purdom, 3. Sailors’ Hornpipe, under 11.—Maisie Dickson, 1; Lorraine Cunningham, 2; Gladys Cain, 3. Waltz Clog, open.—Edna Lorigan, 1; Molly Needham, 2; Barbara Franklin, 3. Irish Jig, under 9.—Gloria Lorigan, 1; Evlyn Guest, 2; Lorna Skinner, 3. Irish Jig, open.—Kathleen Reid, 1; Hazel Cullen, 2; Edna Lorigan, 3. Novice Swords.—Lorraine Cunningham, 1; Delvis Purdom, 2; Hazel Cullen, 3. Highland Fling, under 9.—Olive Evans. 1; Gladys Heaven, 2; Lorna Skinner, 3. Highland Fling, open.—Delvis Purdom, 1; Molly Needham, 2; Clarice - Peterson, 3. BROKEN STITCHES IN KNITTED JUMPER Find the beginning of the break and pull out two or three inches further. Take the end inside the jumper, join wool on, and then with a darning needle go in and out the length, and a bit beyond, of the break. Knot off, and return, making a blanket stitch or otherwise, according to the pattern. To pick up broken glass damp a piece of woollen cloth and pat with it gently. This will gather up the smallest pieces. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF THE CHILD’S TRIBUTE The Baxter ad-man was visiting some friends the other evening. The lady of the house was putting her youngest child to bed and was rather amused when the youngster, aged three, pretended to cough, and said, “Mummie, give me some ‘Baxter’s’, my cold is so bad.”

On inquiry it was found that the child had had a cold some few weeks previously, and he had evidently appreciated the taste of Baxter’s Lung Preserver.

“You know it is rather curious,” remarked the hostess, “but when I was a child my mother said I used to do exactly the same thing. We used to live in Christchurch, and I was rather subject to sore throats even as a tiny tot and I used to ask my parents for ‘Baxter’s.’ ”

Is it any wonder that this lady and thousands of other Xew Zealanders pin their faith to Baxter’s Lung Preserver? It has been the sovereign cough and cold remedy in Xew Zealand homes for over 60 years. It is a rich, red, soothing compound that promptly allays irritation, cuts the phlegm and brings speedy relief. In addition it possesses unique tonic properties that help to build one up. You can obtain a gen-erous-sized bottle of Baxter’s Lung Preserver from any chemist or store for half a crown. Economical housewives purchase the large family size at 4s 6d.—3.

ONGARUE TENNIS DANCE The annual dance conducted by the Ongarue Tennis Club was a great success. The decorations were in the form of greenery and tennis equipment. and presented a pleasing picture, in which the club colours, blue "old, were charmingly interwoven. j. competition dances were well contested, the spot waltz being won by Miss M. Sims and Mr. T. Rata. Mrs. Zander and Mr. A. Neilson won the Monte Carlo dance. During the evening Mr. Neilsen was tendered a most enthusiastic send-off on the occasion of his departure for Auckland. The “Merry Five Orchestra” supplied the music, and extras were greatly appreciated from Mrs. D. J. McCracken and M. T. Prussirig. Messrs. E. Law and T. B. Firth proved fully capable M.C.’s.

AT RAETIHI SURPRISE PARTY Thirty-five old pupils of the Raetilii School paid a surprise visit to Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Maclean at the schoolhouse on Friday evening. The purpose of the visit was to wish the “guests of the evening” farewell prior to their departure for Wanganui, where Mr. Maclean has been transferred. During the evening Colin Thomas, on behalf of those present, made a presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Maclean of a Doulton comport as a token of the esteem in which they were held by the old pupils of the school. The speaker referred to the splendid association existing between their previous school master and themselves and of the great interest he had taken in them, even after they had left school. In accepting the gift, on behalf of Mrs. Maclean and himself, Mr. Maclean suitably replied. An enjoyable programme of dancing and games was indulged in, after . which an enjoyable supper supplied by the visitors was partaken of. HOME-MADE WINDOW BOXES If you want inexpensive window boxes you will find long, narrow caketins make excellent substitutes. They can be enamelled any colour that you please, and then filled in the ordinary way. # * * TO CLEAN WHITE STRAW HATS Brush the hat first with clean water to remove the dust, and allow it to dry. Dissolve one teaspoonful of oxalic acid in a quart of boiling water, and dip the hat into it. When dry, stiffen with white of egg or a clean, transparent size. If necessary press the brim with a hot iron.

THE VICTORIA LEAGUE QUARTERLY MEETING Miss J. A. Mowbray, the president of the Victoria League, presided over a good attendance of members at a meeting of the general council, when the quarterly report was read. The report showed that a good deni of work had been accompiisned by the various committees. Three lectures of the winter course arranged by Mrs. Dawes had been held in the league’s rooms, and had been well attended. The enlarged rooms had been a source of great pleasure and comfort to all the committees. Many handsome and useful donations had been received toward the furnishings. The Literature Committee had sent away parcels to the lonely settlers and schools in the backblock districts, containing 1,150 illustrated papers, 2,180 books, and 761 magazines. The Ever-ready Committee had assisted on Poppy Day, collecting a sum of £ 86. As a result of the jumble sale held in May, a sum of £53 was donated toward the furnishing of the league rooms, and with the assistance of the sub-committee a sum of £125 had been raised for the Rev. Jasper Calder’s recent fair in aid of the unemployed. It was decided to hold an “At Home” in the Lyceum Club on July 27.