SUBDUED LIGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 107, 27 July 1927, Page 5

SUBDUED LIGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

In planning decorative schemes for your rooms, have you ever considered the value of beautiful outlines and colours reflected upon polished or shiny surfaces? When we banished the Victorian table-cloth that hid the mahogany or rosewood table-top we went a long way toward achieving reflected glory, for immediately every bit of table silver, every vase of flowers, every scrap of china took on a new value. This was because its reflection in the polished wood added to its charm and its deccrative significance.

Artificial silk, with its gleaming surface and crisp folds, helps us enormously in the easy achievement of reflections. Very vaguely and indefinitely it gives back the tint of the walls, and, in place of the dull, dead surface of a tapestry curtain or cover, we have a live material that reflects dimly the passing show. Aluch the same part is played by the shiny paint which is now being favoured as a variant upon the dull paint of the past. The light reflected from its glossy surface is an important factor in the general effect, creating a certain liveliness and bringing out the colour values of whatever may be in the vicinity. The more we cultivate masked and subdued lighting effects, the more attention we must paj r to light-reflecting surfaces in our furniture, fabrics, and woodwork. A well polished floor contrasting with the soft pile of rugs may form an arresting feature in an other wise simple room, because the light reflected from its surface lures the eye to itself and eliminates darkness from corners and angles. AI.H. “FEEDING” THE HAIR Remember that sunshine is life, for the hair as well as for the body. Nothing ventilates the hair and scalp like an occasional fresh air bath. There are two methods of “feeding” the hair. Both should be adopted if you want a really healthy scalp. The first of these is the fresh air method just indicated; the second is systematic brushing, followed by the all-essen-tial massage. Scalp massage stimulates the tiny blood vessels which lie just beneath the scalp, and so nourishes the roots and causes fresh hair to grow. Every inch of the scalp should be gone over gently with a rotary movement of the finger tips. Try to “lift” the skin where you feel it is tightest. On shampoo day, take special care to use warm, soft water. If you have a rainwater butt, you are lucky! Make good use of it, for the sake of your tresses. You can prepare yourself s’.n excellent shampoo by adding the yoik of an egg to a cupful of warm water. If rainwater is not forthcoming, you can soften the tap variety by the addition of half a teaspoonful of pow dered borax to the cupful. Rub this well into the roots of the hair, then rinse in two or more waters. Unbecomingly greasy ha.ir can spoil the prettiest looks. The trouble can be remedied to a very appreciable extent by regular massage with bay rum Sprinkle a few drops of the liquid into a saucer, dip the tips of your fingers in it, and rub well over the scalp. The hair should then be combed carefully and slowly for ten minutes. For the contrary state of affairs, namely, very dry hair, massage similarly—with a little oil of almonds. If you sprinkle a few drops of the oil on your brush every morning, the subsequent brushing will work wonders in the way ol making the hair soft and glossy. H.B. A WAY WITH COLD TONGUE Cut some cooked tongue into thin slices. In a fireproof dish put a little stock, some capers and some of their vinegar, parsley, shallot, chives, a little chopped chervil, salt, mignonette pepper and breadcrumbs. Lay on this the slices of tongue, and cover with similar seasoning, ending with crumbs. Cook in a slow oven until brown. Add a little more stock before serving.