FEMININE REFLECTIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 134, 27 August 1927, Page 19

FEMININE REFLECTIONS

FASHION CHAT

Bows, says Fashion. Bows and yet more bows. I’ve never seen so many. If you don’t have a flower on your left shoulder, you have a buckle or a bow, which is repeated at the left of the waistline. But the great feature' of this trimming is that it mustn’t look “put on,” or it would begin to give that “bitty” effect we simply detest nowadays. It must look as if the material of your collar-band or waistband were just left in loose ends which you tie up yourself, though, as a matter of fact, this is only practicable in a very thin material. The newest neck-line is square. You can wear a V instead, if you like it better, but these two are the only really new-looking lines for day dresses. The little day dress, which is one of Pa.tow’s new models, has several chic features which are worth noticing. Beside the square neck-line and the

bows, it shows the new tucks —rather large, flat, horizontal ones, which appear on the sleeves as well. But the ehi>- ot' this design. I think, is the way in which the pleats match the tucks. Both are about two inches wide (you shouldn’t have pleats narrower than this nowadays, though you may have them much wider if you like), and the idea of using one set horizontally and the other vertically is very attractive, and gives the new rather geometrical effect which is now such a feature of the really good designs. We seem fated to have horizontally decorated upper parts, hard as it is on those who don’t boast a boyish outline! I saw one little black wool jersey cardigan costume with a green marocain blouse striped across in black satin, and the coat had green marocain facings with the same stripes, which appeared to continue those on the blouse. This is a very chic idea for a tailored costume for spring. There is no doubt that tailored costumes are in the centre of the stage at the moment, and their principal features are shortness of coat, tightness round the hips (with often a tiny "bloused" effect just above), the ver light. soft quality of the material used and straightness and slimness of outline. Other little points are shorter revers. single-breasted fastenings, and skirts given invisible width by inverted pleats—often one of these only, on the left side. We were talking the other day about the attractive modern fashion of wearing very plain and simple frocks and hats, and making jewellery one’s only decoration in the place of the > completely old-fashioned “trimming, when I heard a really pathetic heartcry from lone jollv-looking little round-faced o-irl “Don’t talk about it,” she said, “I can’t bear it. I'd so adore to dress that way; but how can I; I haven't a jewellery face! The minute I put on earrings, or more than one bracelet. I look like a pre-war barmaid. That’s what being pink and plump and jolly does for you. And if I wear even a really good imitation thing, all my friends say it’s wonderful what oolworth’s turn out nowadays. If I had • clear-cut face and a long nose, and a gad worldly-wise look. I could wear tilings out of Christmas crackers. 1 and t»e asked reverently if they were from Cartier or Laeloehe! Ido tlnn.-c | life’s unfair!”

Mundane Musings

This Freedom!

Even the most loving wife sometimes heaves a sigh of relief when her husband packs his bag and starts off for a fishing holiday or a business trip to Wellington! And all women know why. One of the glorious things about a husband’s absence to a harassed woman, who has to be mother, cook, and maid-of-all-work during* the day and the pearl of the harem in the evening, is the freedom to look as plain as she jolly well pleases. I know a madly jealous man who, every time he leaves his very fascinating wife behind him, darkly imagines That she is spending her time indulging in a perfect orgy of breaking hearts. Should the parson call with a mild request for a subscription, he is suspected of intentions incompatible with his cloth. Even the butcher is not exempt from sinister surmisings, so winningly does he discuss the respective merits of best end or scrag. And all the while —if he only knew! What She’s Doing Dolores is merely taking advantage of his absence to walk ghudly and unashamedly round her domain with a shiny nose, an unwaved shingle, and a jumper dating from th|3 year before the Flood. This talk about keeping up appearances and being aßways beautiful is all very well, but —do be honest now —isn’t it rather lovely when appearances, for a briefc period* need no keeping up at all? The becoming smile you see on the face of many a deserted wife is caused by the Cact that at last she can slop about in those unsightly shoes she had bundlc-rd up in the attic out of the loved one’s sight. And not only thait! The effort to be bright and beaming on the doorstep at nine a.m.—well i it was an effort, you’ll admit! Now, may Allah be praised, we can drift about, having toiled not, like a lily of the field, until eleven. Everything is dreadfully behindhand, and if lue were coming in to lunch the scene would be frenzied ini deed. But the deserted wife’s lunch is another matter. She buys it herself at the grocer’s . and the pastrycook’s, as she ambles delightedly round doing a little desultojry shopping. She will have her favourite brand of potted meat, a large cup of cocoa, and a meringue. This, which would make" any decent man sick, will suit her admirably. The cocoa she’ll drink in the kitchen while she looks up cookery recipes; the potted meat sandwiches she will consume absent-mindedly from a plate in the drawing-room, which she has started to re-arrange at 10 minutes to one. The meringue she will save for the dining-room sofa, with a novel, and the cigarettes by her side, This is worth any number of those beefsteak and cheese lunches she prepares in order to keep up the stamina of her beloved. With a jar of potted meat, a cream meringue and Thou (Thou is her favourite brand of cigs., of course), the average woman’s wilderness is Paradise enow, though to the average man it might look more like the dining-room in an appalling state of untidiness.

No Need to be Punctual And—if anything were needed to complete the idyllic picture—there is no need to be in time for anything! If the deserted one has a baby, she cannot let herself go quite so gladly and completely, of course, but even so, I am willing to bet that during the fortnight of her grass-widowhood the surprised infant finds himself fed, dressed and put to sleep at highly unexpected hours. Happily he can tell no tales; the poor babe can only howl. Even now we haven’t mentioned the other joys which brighten the life of the abandoned wife! The play he wouldn’t take her to, or the book it would have shattered his ideal of womanhood to see her read, are now cheerfully visited or obtained from the library, as the case may be. Brazenly she smokes 20 cigarettes a day instead of the rather mythical seven, which she persisted in telling him was her ration. The school friends of hers he so loathed are hastily invited to a picnic lunch, when many and spicy details on the peculiarities of husbands in general and theirs in particular, are exchanged. (Not that there are any husbands in particular, they are all husbands in general.) On the last day, she who has thus been recklessly sowing her wild 4 oats, pulls herself together, fishes out her tight elastic belt again, unearths her smartest and, therefore, most uncomfortable pairs of shoes, hastily removes the spot he would be sure to notice on her jumper, and having done divers and not unbecoming things to her face, she sails off to meet him. “Darling!” he mutters, hugging her close. “Isn’t it ripping to be back! You’re looking too pretty for anything. Have you missed me?” “My precious, I don’t know how I’ve done without you—never go away from me again!” says she. Life is built up on incidents such as these. Thank heavens, there was never any Georgina Washington. She would certainly have remained a spinster.

WAIKATO LYCEUM CLUB

The Waikato Lyceum Club held a town and country members’ afternoon on Tuesday. There was an amusing competition, and a vt;ry attractive musical programme, of which the items were: Duet. Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. McMullin: violin solo. Miss Peggy Sorby: piano solo, Mrs. A. English: song, Mrs. Seales (Morrinsville); recitation. Mrs. Arthur.

SALMON CUTLETS

| Cut about 21b. to 2Jib. of the tail piece into slices about Jin. thick. Line a buttered pan with thin slices of carrot, turnip, celery, and onion, put in the salmon, sprinkle with salt, peppercorns, a few more sliced vegetables, and a bunch of herbs. Add a pint of white stock or water, cover with greased paper, and bake in a slow oven for about half an hour, or until the fish is tender. Meanwhile scoop : out some small balls fronj some peeled potatoes, and cook these in salted ! water until tender. Drain and k€*ep hot. Dish the salmon and keep it hot. Make a sauce with loz. of butter, loz. of flour, the stock in which the salmon was cooked, and a. gill of milk, season, and strain over the fish, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and garnish with the potato balls. Among the latest batch of graduates from Oxford are two women m the veterinary profession. There are now four women qualified to practise as veterinary surgeons in England.

PADDY'S MARKET

AVONDALE’S QUEEN CARNIVAL One of the biggest functions in connection with the Avondale Catholic Queen Carnival was opened yesterday, and is being held again to-day. In the form of a Paddy’s Market, it is being freely patronised, and should Prove a good source of revenue. The stalls contain a host of good things, which found a ready sale yesterday afternoon and evening. The site, in the building opposite Fearon’s, is central. and, being in the shopping area, proved a boon to the late-night shoppers. Opened yesterday afternoon, it will continue until this evening. A worthy culmination to preparations extending over weeks, it is fitting that it should be proving so successful. The usual side shows are also features. Those who are giving their time to the conduct of the stalls are: Produce, Miss Watson and Mrs. Horan; sweets, Mrs. Williams; sewing, Mrs. Atkinson and Mrs. Kemp: jumble stall, Mrs. Peggalis and Mr. Rowe; flower stall. Miss Joan O’Brian: refreshments and cake stall, the Misses Charles. The side shows are being run by Messrs. Tobin —father of the queen. Kathleen Tobin, for whom the market is in support—and Mr. Peggales.

Japanese women are reaching out to independence economic. Madame Suzuki. the richest woman in Japan, is a director of the Suzuki Company in Kobe. Madame Nakamura is is a leading figure in the steel industry. Madame Moto Honi is at the head of a large advertising company. Madame Seiko Hyodo is a famous aviatrix. Madame Umi Sudu is a prominent educationist. Madame Makinois is a well-known industrialist, and Akiko Yosana is a well-known writer.

THE USES -.OF BORAX

Borax, a salt found in Chile and California, is one of those things of which every good housewife should keep a supply. It is cheap and it has innumerable uses. Buy it in quarter pound packets and store in dry tins. It has much the same power as soda, but is not so strong. IN THE HOUSE One tablespoonful of borax added to two gallons of hard water will soften it for any use except drinking purposes. Acting as a preservative, borax retards digestion and should never, therefore, be taken internally. Half a teaspoonful of borax added to cold water starch will prevent your irons from sticking. Borax cleans tableware. prevents fur in kettles, kills insects in woollens, furs and carpets: acts as an antiseptic for sinks, drains, etc., cleans glass and mirrors, and keeps silv bright if used in the washing water. Add a little to kitchen towels when washing: it works wonders, eradicating both grease and dirt. FOR PERSONAL USE A teaspoonful used in the water for shampooing the hair improves the appearance. A borax and honey mixture is a cure for ulcers in the mouth. Used in a footbath it will relieve tired feet. When washing straw hats use borax. Use it also in the garden to prevent blight. A quarter of a teaspoonful added to a jug of water gives life to indoor plants.