Feminine Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 608, 9 March 1929, Page 23

Feminine Interests

7 hose Critical Friends

All women are more critical than j men; some, however, dedicate their! whole lives to criticism, until it be- ! comes an obsession which robs them i of every particle of charm. J At its best extreme criticism is only 5 an appallingly over-developed sense of being that the critic is infallible in her j personal vanity; the suggestion always ] tastes. You know the type of woman? It you ask her opinion about a new hat, which pleases you, and undoubtedly makes you look at your best, she will say very sweetly: “Oh. it's beautiful, my dear!” Then v hen she realises you are gratified, she. 1 will add, thoughtfully; “But do yon think you are wise to wear upturned i brims? Don’t you think they tend to lengthen your face?” if you are wise and well trained you will take this as the greatest compliment she can pay you; you will know that the hat is so attractive that jealousy has been aroused. It is the same with everything. This dress makes you look too broad, that colour makes you “positively sallow, my dear: you should never wear brown or green or blue,” as the case may be. You may also take it that those are the shades which most become you. Criticsm or Compliments If you happen to favour a fluffy style of dressing, the critic will tell you, as though conferring a favour, that if only you would wear “tailormades” you’d look wonderful! You’d know, too, that you’d look exactly like a sack with a string tied in rhe centre, if you took her advice! If she should visit your home she will pronounce it perfect. Then, later on. she will say casually: “Do you like blue for decorations?” (w r ith one hard, hawk-like eye on your Wedgwood j hangings). “I always think it makes i the room cold and depressing. I If you are wise you will smile and j s a y: “Well, it is all a matter of taste, i Some people think It restful.” Which j will incite her to another thrust such as: , .. “Have you seen those new heaters. By the way, what sort of boiler have you? I just couldn’t live without central heating these days.” (After she has taken in every letter on your new geyser.) And so on. If you fail to realise the shallowness of her, she will leave you with the feeling that you have a smut on your nose, and that your home is furnished and decorated in the worst possible taste. But if you realise that same shalI lowness, you will thank your stars for whatever ability you may possess, so that you need not develop that “critical” sense in order to attract attention.

Only the igizy are ever ultracritical. And by lazy I mean that their only interest in life is themselves. They live for self, live for sensation, strive to “out-do” (I use the word with the utmost contempt for it) their friends. They contribute nothing toward anyone’s happiness. Self and Sensation

If you listened to their conversation for half an hour you would die of ennui, since it always concerns the same subjects —this year’s latest fashion, last year’s model, what they bought last week.

Then they start a really rousing criticism of their friends! Mrs. So-and-So is appalling. And what feet! Fours at least, as they cramp their own fives under them! And Mrs. Jones! —what a size! Must, be at least Sst! Terrible! And of course I’ve never weighed more than 7st in my life! —as they fling on the fire their weighing machine card, which records Bst 21b. But, biggest amusement of allhave you ever heard them describing their own possessions to those un* aware of their real character? Buckingham Palace is a slum dwelling by comparison. The tongue of the ultra-critical is always smoothly oiled Veracity is not a strong point. Any lie will serve

if it gives an impression of importance in the eyes of another. The only way to meet these women on their own ground is to go to them promptly and say: “My dear, look at me! I’m a freak! The zoo people have recently begged me to sit for them. My skin is a rhinoceros hide, my hair is like tow, my hands are size eights, and my feet size tens.” That is the way to disarm them completely! Just think for one moment of their loss!

Why, it is not left for them to disillusion you about your appearance, for they always measure your corn by their bushel, and firmly believe

that you hug to your heart the belief that you are Venus de Milo down for the week-end! And when they cannot impress you that in reality you look like a scarecrow on the village allotment, 1 ask you what other conquests are left to them! Disarming Tactics Take my advice! Get all your selfcriticism in first! Believe me, j’our door-bell will not be worn out by being pressed by the ultra-critical! Really, they can be amusing, and I believe they deserve our pity because they are such a» useless little band of parasites. Ever seekingflattery and applause: neither big enough nor broadminded enough to realise beauty in any other human being. Ever seeking to discourage; ever trying to make others look insignificant. What a cheerful life! And when they grow old. and can no longer sit on the self-made throne of their imagination, what will be left to them The knowledge that they dressed beautifully and studied the latest models, and criticised with a bitter tongue everything which anyone else happened to have? One can almost see them goingup to the imp who rules Hades and saying: I “How can you wear your horns at. | that angle? It just isn’t done.”

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE MEETS AT HENDERSON

On Tuesday afternoon the monthly meeting of the Henderson Women’s Institute was held in the Foresters’ Hall.

In the absence of the president. Mrs. Dorman took the chair, and Miss E. Chilwell temporarily filled the place of th 9 secretary. Miss Ellis, who was unable to attend. Miss Duncan gave an address on gardening. She referred more especially to the gardening now ready to be done, namely, the planting of bulbs, giving a demonstration bf bulb-grow- j ing indoors, using moss-fibre. Brisk work was carried on both at : the trading stall and at the table where l were the surprise-packets given by members in aid of the federation j funds. The hostesses for the afternoon were Miss Gillard and Mrs. C. M. Stuart. IN KITCHEN AND BATHROOM If the hooks and taps in kitchen and bathroom are painted with white enamel, it will prevent towels and cloths getting rust-marked when hung up wet. TO CLEAN SILVER EMBROIDERY Silver embroidery on satin, etc., can | easily be reuovated by rubbing it well with a toothbrush that has been dipped in powdered magnesia.

ONION A DAY

GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

PIQUANT FLAVOURING

Many people imagine that it is not quite comme il faut to acknowledge a liking for the flavour of onions. Others fear to eat them because of tbeir clinging odour. However, if well-cooked and large onions are eaten no ill-effects need be feared, but, actually, great benefits to health are obtained.

The merest soupcon of an onion flavour adds piquancy to a green or potato salad. Either about one teaspoonful of finely-shreded onion may be added or a little onion juice can be

squeezed out and added to the dress- j ing, or the bowl may be rubbed with | an onion. Onions cooked en carresole are delicious. Small onions are chosen, or large ones cut in halves. They are | sprinkled with pepper and salt and placed in the casserole with a little I butter. They must be cooked slowly J with the gas turned down low, and j shaken frequently to prevent them I sticking. They are served in the cas- j serole, and are a welcome adjunct to a joint of roast mutton or lamb. An- j other nice onion dish is prepared thus: Peel the onions and cook till tender j in white stock. Then drain them and j place them In a hot vegetable dish. [ Thicken the stock with a little corn- j flour rubbed to a smooth paste in milk. Boil till it thickens, add a pat of | buter, salt and pepper, and pour over the onions. Sprinkle with chopped parsley just before sending to table. I

OTOROHANGA ANGLICANS HOLD GARDEN PARTY

A well-attended garden party was held yesterday afternoon in the grounds of Mrs. R. F. Park’s house in Te Kawa Street. With Mrs. Park, as associate hostess, was Mrs. H. C. Alexander. The object of the party was to raise funds in aid of St. Bride’s Church. The guests amused themselves with clock golf, croquet and guessing and treasure-hunting competitions. There was also a stall for the sale of produce and home industries. Among those present were: Mesdames Bio m field, Black, Boles, Bowyer, A. B. Carter, J. Clark, S. A. Cook, Cowern, r:\cle.igh. Ellis, Fleming, Fletcher, Fry, Gilberd, Hobson, Claude, Hall, Kerr, Kedgley, Co vie a, S. Lawson, W. E. Lawson, Morley, McAdam, Treharne, Fillips. F. O. R. Phillips. Parr, Porter, Patterson, Quinlan, Reeliall, Saunderson, senr., Saanderson, jam-.. Sanson, Skinner, Smith, and Tait, Misses Rhoda Clover, Betty Matthews, Maher, Barker. England, Kerr, F. W. Hall, and Kedgley„

BABY’S EYES

MOTHERCRAFT HINTS The first point in the care of a child's eyes must be proper attention at birth. It is the duty of the nurse to sponge the eyes night and morning with a weak boracic solution during the first week or ten days, and if there is any actual sign of trouble she must call in a doctor. Newborn babies are particularly liable to opthalmia, which is inflammation of the membrane covering the lids and eyeballs, and if there is any discharge or red swelling of the lids the mother must recognise the danger and see that the doctor’s attention is drawn to it. The safe remedy to apply in any eye trouble is always sponging with weak boracic lotion, and the greatest care must be taken never to apply the swab of cotton wool twice, as the infection is carried thereby. The lotion is made by dissolving an ounce of boracic erj’stals in a pint of boiled water, and it should be applied cold to the eyes.

It is quite usual for an infant to i squint slightly for its first few weeks of life, but this need cause no alarm —it results from the muscles of the two eyes not being equally strong. If the squint does not disappear within two months an eye specialist should be consulted. There should be no daugling ribbon bows or other ornamentation hanging from the canopy of a baby’s cot, because the colour attracts the child, who gazes fixedly with both eyes on the one spot. A child occasionally develops a squint after several months, but no steps need be taken till it has persisted for a w’eek. It may be merely a temporary difficulty in focusing ! caused by the growth and widening of | the bridge of the nose, i Ulcers and styes in the lids are not j an ailment in themselves, but a direct | symptom of a run-down general con- : dition. It should be remembered always that sunlight is good for every part : of the body except the eyes and the ] nape of the neck.

THE COOK’S CORNER

SOLE A LA HOI LY Diners-out at restaurants are becoming very tired o£ Sole Supreme. Not many chefs will agree to any variation of the fish course, but guests at one smart hotel are always delighted to find the inevitable sole dealt with this way. Each piece of fish is filleted and skinned, and then laid in a liquid mixed as follows: One tablespoonful of salad oil, one teaspoonful of chili vinegar, and one teaspoonful of tarragon vinegar. A little chopped parsley is added, and a ring or two of onion, and the tvhole is seasoned with salt and pepper. (These proportions are given for ordinary family use.) The sole must be allowed to soak all day, or overnight, in the liquid, so that it absorbs all the flavours. When ready for cooking, drain, dip in the ordinary thin hatter, and fry in boiling fat. PUFF PASTE Many amateur cooks can make delicious short pastry, yet confess that when they try their hands at the puff variety it never “comes off.” Here is a simple but successful recipe that will give excellent results if faithfully followed: Take two pounds of flour, two pounds of best butter, two yolks of eggs, and cold water. It is not possible to state the exact quantity required of the last-named, since some brands of flour absorb considerably more moisture than others. Your own “pastry sense” must be the judge. Mix the -whole of the flour into half a pound of butter to begin with, and make it into a paste. Add the egg yolks, and sufficient water to form a nice dough—not wet or sticky —then roll it out and spread the whole of the remaining butter over the surface. Fold it over and roll it out. Refold it, and roll out again, twice. Let it stand for half an hour before baking. Made this way, you shouy. have delicious pastry all ready for delicious fillings! SOMETHING NEW IN FRITTERS

Ground rice fritters make a most appetising sweet, served with jam or marmalade. Take three ounces of ground rice and stir into it half a pint of warm milk, one tahlespoonful of moist sugar, and one ounce of but ter. Place iu a double pan and cook for half an hour. Then turn out into a basiu. Wheu quite cold, add a well beaten egg and mix thoroughly. Have ready a pan of boiling fat. and drop in the mixture —a tablespoonful at a time. Fry a nice golden brown. Drain the fritters and dust over with castor sugar. THE GRAPE FRUIT HABIT The growth of the grape fruit habit has made this fascinating hors doeuvre the reeogDised appetiser for breakfast, luncheon or dinner. It is all the more delicious when served with orange or pineapple, or with cherries or skinned grapes.