FEMININE REFLECTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 5

FEMININE REFLECTION

CHOICE BLOOMS GLEN EDEN’S SHOW Glen Eden has placed itself prominently on Auckland’s floral map as the result of its second annual horticultural show. The response, both as regards quality and numbers, excelled the most sanguine expectations. From as far as Wanganui and Huntly, as well as from Onehunga, Auckland, Oratia and Glen Eden, magnificent blooms were entered. A feature of the show was the class listed under the title of the National Daffodil Society of New Zealand, for 24 varieties, one stem each. It was the first held in the Dominion under the auspices of the organisation. The winners were Dr. W. H. Thomas, Onehunga (a gold medal of the New Zealand Society) and W. H. Shepherd, Glen Eden, second (silver medal of the National Daffodil Society and the Star of Glen Eden). The prize list was as follows: No. 1 class, 50 varieties: W. H. Shepherd 1, R. G. Sharpe 2. No. 2 National Daffodil Society’s Class, 24 varieties: Dr. W. H. Thomas 1 (gold medal and Glen Eden trophy), W. H. Shepherd 2 (silver medal), J. H. Braithwaite 3, W. A. Grace 4. No. 3 class, 12 varieties: W. H. Shepherd 1. No. 4 class, six varieties: J. H. Braithwaite 1. No. 5 class, 12 varieties: R. G. Sharp 1. No. 8 class, three varieties: R. G. Sharp 1. Classes 10 to 15: W. H. Shepherd 1. Specimen blooms, yellow trumpet: W. 11. Shepherd, “Lord Roberts”; white trumpet, W. H. Shepherd, “Armistice”; bi-colour trumpet, J. H. Braithwaite, “Lalette”; incomparabilis, W. xH. Shepherd “Tamerlane”; Barri, It. G. Sharp, “Sunrise”; Leedsii, J. H. Braithwaite, “Silver Plane”; Poetaz, R. G. Sharp. Champion blooms.—Awards under this heading went to: Dr. Thomas, “Rajah” (yellow Trumpet); Dr. Thomas, “Mrs. E. H. Krelege” (white Trumpet); R. G. Sharp (bf-colour Trumpet); Dr. Thomas “Militant” (Incoriparabilis); R. G. Sharp, “Sunrise” (Barri); J. H. Braithwaite, “Silver Plane” (Leedsii); W. A. Grace, “Rubelite” (Poetaz).

PHILOMEL. |Written for The Sun.J Heavily pencilled, finely arched Are her brows and her eyes greyblue, With glances level and true. Dare a man tell how his lips were parched At her red lips’ Instant view? Shot silk of her hair, dear intimate lips Reserved awhile for me; And am 1 a moment free To feel the touch of her finger tips, The deeps in those eyes to see? And is there no more than brows and eyes; No more than a while to kiss. Though years were too short for this? — So soon to surrender a passionate prize And ever to crave it, and miss! Must she go at call of a winding road? — Brave music distantly heard! Sweet frailty, hers, to gird For strain and stress of a valiant load; Faith, freedom, and hope deferred! Even so, I shall feel her rapture near, f n company or alone, Like bells of wind-swept tone. And fondle a memory rich and dear, Inalienably my own. CLYDE CARR. When knitting or crocheting, use a. faix'ly large funnel for holding your wool or cotton, pulling the strand through the spout. The funnel can be bung on a mail, and the wool will not pull tightly or tangle.

One day a girl turned her brocade handbag out upon her lap. The man who was with her laughed. “I wonder what tales those various gadgets would tell, if only they could speak?” Well—here’s my tale; “I am a pretty thing, and a very pretty thing” (as the old game of Forfeits has it), “and wlio is the owner of this very pretty thing?” Well, she’s a poor but attractive young dancing-mistress, and her name is Violet. Instead of keeping her possessions to various shades of mauve, she has a fancy for yellows; so her studio is bravely painted sunshine colour. Her little handbag (that she takes with her to most places) is of black and amber brocade, and the things it holds, including myself, harmonise with that colour scheme. Bright lemon-yellow leather is my make-up; the name “Phyllis” is stamped on me in orange. Originally, I belonged to the Phyllis Enderby, our youngest revue star. There’s glory for °Shall I tell you how I changed hands? , , _ Phyllis Enderby’s real name wouldn t have looked so well on the bills, now, would it? —Phyllis Pigg! Her mother, a decent charwoman, used to work for Our Young Lady’s mother, who was always kind to her, and took a great interest in her little girl, who was born the same day as her own (my present mistress). Stacks of Violet’s baby-clothes went to little Phyllis! if Later, toys were shared. Later still, when Mrs. Pigg heard that little Violet was to be sent to stage-dan-cing classes, she wept bitterly. Why? Because, as she mourned, her own little Phyllis was a born dancer, too. Only Phyllis, of course, couldn’t get advantages, same as rich people’s daughters. “Rich” sounded a bit satirical to Our Young Lady’s mother, who gave music lessons to keep both ends meeting. However, touched by the thought of little Phyllis, she strained the ends some more. She gave extra classes on her own free afternoon and thereby earned enough money to send the charwoman’s little daughter, with her own, to the School of Stage Dancing. I MEET PHYLLIS Pier own, it soon appeared, “had dancing in her.” The charwoman’s little daughter had dancing plus genuis. More important, she had utter selfconfidence! She often said: “I’m going to be a Star; see if I ain’t! When I’m earnin’ ’undreds a week, Vi, I won’t forget it was your ma and you got me into this here! I’ll push my old pal and take care she’s billed in every show with me; see if I don’t!” “Oh, Phyllis, will you?” breathed little Vi, overcome with gratitude and hope. . . . Phyllis in her ’teens became the show pupil. Vi shone with the reflected glory of being Phyllis’s (already Enderby) great friend. A manager came down to choose dancers, wanted at the last minute for a company off on a world tour. He gave careful attention to one or two of the pupils. ,He grabbed Phyllis. Phyllis gave 'a good-bye party to her fellow-pupils, letting them know it was her sixteenth birthday as well. All brought little offerings. I was one of these. My present mistress had saved up for three weeks to buy me, and to fill me with the sort of cigarettes which Phyllis, in those days, smoked. “Oh, thank you, Vi darling, it’s ever so sweet. I’ll take it with me all over the world; see if I don’t!” promised Phyllis. I (her girl friend’s keepsake) thought I was now in for a long, adventurous tour. I wasn’t. Somebody—l don’t know who —presented Phyllis with a gold cigarette-case. I was tossed into a drawer under ar. old practice dress. As for Phyllis Enderby’s world tour, and her triumphs in New York, and that marvellous first night, when she made her name by “holding up” the entire show with her little solo dance as a tiger moth, I only heard of these things months afterwards. Phyllis, * now an established success, returned to her home town and paid a round of visits of condescension. I RETURN TO VI She told one of the girls she’d “simply got to go and look up an old dresser of hers” before she slipped round to see Mrs. Pigg, her mother. She did not look up Our Young Lady’s mother. But she did come, with a flourish of trumpets, to the old studio where she’d trained. I have never heard a tone of such lofty patronage as that with which the new star commented on the progress of various pupils—many of whom had been in training with her. Our Young Lady, by this time, was assistant teacher in her old studio. “How splendid for you, darling!” drawled Phyllis Enderby when she heard this. I was thinking about you only the other day; Vi, when I was turning out a lot of my old junk I put away before going on the road. What d’you think I found, tucked away? This funny little case you gave me as a mascot! Isn’t it funny the way everybody gives me cigarettecases? There’s my first two gold ones and my little platinum one with his crest on it, from the Marquis; and as for silver and snake-skin ones—tell you what, Vi. I’ll give you this one back. Yes, I will, really. It’ll bring you luck, see if it doesn't. You keep it. People will be ever so thrilled with you telling them you’ve got Phyllis Enderby’s own cigarette-case.” A REMINDER So that was that! Our Young La.dy always does carry me about with her: she’s taken out the untouched cigarettes and she keeps in me her ‘ professional” cards. “But why always the cigarettecase?” I once heard her asked by a very special man pupil who’d taken her out to dinner. “You never smoke?” Our Young Lady smiled. “Oh, that is a reminder not to expect too much from —friends who’ve got on in the world.”

EVERYDAY ECONOMIES THE WITS-END CLUB A new novel may be selected by the winner each week as a prize for the most original household hint or recipe that has been tested and found to save time, labour or money. Many folk might be glad to have the benefit of your experience, so send in your suggestions, addressed to The Homecrafts editor, Women’s Page, THE SUN. Auckland. The prize has been given this week to Miss L. M. Eyre, Epsom, for the following suggestions: A “TRAY MOB I LE” An Original Idea When the family is alone for Saturday or Sunday night’s tea we find it a great scheme to serve a meal from the afternoon tea-waggon, a la buffet! Simple' savouries like sausage rolls, meat pasties or cut-up portions of cold pie, are piled on plates; buttered scones, cut cake, bread, butter and jam, sufficient plates and small knives, and the ; tea outfit. Everyone helps himself to eatables and sits where he fancies. The housewife pours tea, and the family comes forward and helps itself to a cup. Sometimes the waggon, or “traymobile,” as we call ours, may be pushed around by an energetic soul, but otherwise no waiting is done. Afterwards, each member piles his plate, etc., neatly up, and off the waggon goes to the kitchen for the washing up. Fruit is a good addition to this meal, and, of course, any sweet course may be dished up, each member serving himself. This makes a great saving of time, labour , and effort on an evening when our one and only Jane is out, and one feels inclined to have things the easiest way. * —L.M.E. CHILDREN’S POULTICES When putting poultices on children, remember that their skin is very tender ancl that they are nervous. A good plan is to put a handkerchief or a piece of flannel between the poultice and the skin, then, when the child is accustomed to the heat, it can be slipped away. SOMETHING DIFFERENT Stuffed Eggs with Peas Three hard-boiled eggs, 1 pint of shelled" peas, lAoz. butter, 2 teaspoons grated cheese, 2 teaspoons chopped parsley, 1 egg, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Boil the peas till tender with a sprig of mint, a little salt, pinch of bicarbonate of soda and two teaspoons of sugar. Drain and add half the butter, dust with salt and pepper and keep hot. Boil eggs for at least 15 minutes, then shell and cut in halves. Remove yolks, and mix them in a basin with the rest of the butter, the parsley and cheese, seasoning the mixture rather highly. Fill the cases of white with the mixture, pressing it well in. Brush over with beaten egg, cover with breadcrumbs and fry in plenty c-f hot fat. Drain on paper. Heap the peas in the centre of a hot dish and arrange the eggs round, cut-side downwards. If the dish is to be served cold, acid a tablespoon of cream to the peas instead of butter. TO WASH WOOLLIES Prepare lukewarm suds of Dux or good soap. Put in the garments and souse them up and down. If there are any dirty parts rub them very, very lightly. Repeat the process in another bowl of suds, then rinse in slightly soapy water. Remember that the garment should not be pulled or wrung. Now fold quite straight, pass through a wringer and lay on a Turkish towel to dry. Stretch lightly into shape. Dry in the open air (but not in the direct sunlight) or else in the house in a current of air. Turn the garment from time to time. When almost dry, press with a hot iron with a cloth between the garment and the iron. Stocking-stitch should be pressed on the right side; ribbing and garter - stich on the wrong side, very lightly. As regards fancy lace patterns, some look best unpressed, and some pressed quite flat, so you must be guided by your own taste. HELPFUL HINTS When ice is needed for a sick person and cannot be obtained, take equal quantities of milk and spirits of wine, soak a cloth in it and apply. * * * Massage with finger-tips just moistened with vaseline is the finest restorative for dry, lifeless and falling hair, while a thorough dressing with vaseline the night before a shampoo is an additional benefit. If an article becomes patchy after dyeing, boil in some soapy water, and then rinse in clear water. The colour will be a shade .paler, but very clear. If you happen to tear your dainty rubber apron and have no rubber solution handy, try mending it on the wrong side with music-mending tape, using the full width of the tape to hold the edges together. Immediately before dishing up the breakfast porridge stir in a handful of bran. This makes it more nourishing, and is an aid to digestion; it acts also as a mild laxative. (The porridge should not be boiled after the bran has been added, but should be served straight away.) TRIED TIPS When the gauntlet-cuffs of shirts or attached collars show signs of wear, machine along either side of worn part, and at the ends, and then machine two or three times along from side to side in zig-2.ag fashion. Without any furtheir attention they will then last as long as the rest of the garment. Very hot water applied to the back of the neck with a folded towel, at the same time placing the feet in a hot bath, will often relieve headache. The toes of shoes subjected to hard wear, such as heavy walking shoes, dancing pumps and all children’s footwear, will never have that rubbed, worn-out apeparance if treated daily with vaseline. * * * A novel and effective drier for small clothes can be made with the frame of an old umbrella. Remove the cover, open up the frame, secure the catch so that it will keep open, and suspend the frame upside-down from the ceiling. Articles to be dried can be fastened with pegs to the ribs. KNITTING HINT When knitting, if a garment woikg; out too narrow, lay it face downwards on a blanket and stretch from side to side. Cover with a clean, wet cloth and | press with a hot iron. Repeat this j process until the right measurement is

produced. If the garment is too wide, stretch it in length under the iron. WHEN BOILING SALMON When boiling salmon, unlike other fish, it should be put into boiling water, to preserve its colour. A little salt should be added to the water. The usual accompaniments to salmon are green peas, sliced cucumber, and mayonnaise. Before washing velvet, tack on securely two pieces of cloth to form tags and peg on the line by these. You will not then be worried about pegmarks.