Heart and Home Chats

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 647, 26 April 1929, Page 5

Heart and Home Chats

By

Anne Rettedge

Alina Anne Rutledge will answer letters in this column every Thursday. An accomplished writer, an ardent feminist, a student uj human nature and a wide traveller she is well fitted tor the tush. Those who have problems and tacit a confidante to help in their solution may, with confidence, write to Miss Rutledge, whose knowledge will be placed at their disposal. A sympathetic woman, she will assist those who stand in need oj assistance. Communications for Miss Rutledge should be addressed to THE SUN office. COUNTRY OR CITY? Dear Miss Rutledge,— My husband, young son and I have recently arrived in this country with moderate capital, and our original intention was to go on the land, tor my husband has had splendid farming experience. Now, however, he has been i persuaded that he can make more ) money by remaining in the city. I want to live in the country, as town life does not attract me. Unpleasant disagreement has resulted. What do you advise? M.O. ANSWER I do nut wish to adjudicate in a family quarrel, but will venture a few remarks that might help you. First of all. elevate your reasoning- above mere selfishness. You are settling in this country, and you should consider what course of action will most benefit this growing land and yourselves. The majority of people living in cities are dependent, directly oi indirectly, upon the farmers, and the city population is top-heavy at present. In your case, unless there are exceptional circumstances not mentioned, it is obvious that a family with farming experience and capital woukl be rendering greater service to the community generally if it profitably turned its assets to increasing the productivity of the country. If you decide to farm, go into the figures carefully before buying a place. If times are good and prices seem satisfactory, make allowance for the lean years when markets and weather conditions are adverse. Inflated land values injure both farmer and country, so avoid the snare of high prices asked when “everything in the garden is lovely.” Take an average over five years and make sure that you can see the “light of profit” before investing. Particularly, if your capital is modest, be certain that the worst year that might reasonably be experienced will not give you a “knock-out” punch. ANNE RUTLEDGE. ’ud have been time to get someone by wire from Edinburgh or Glasgow,” Macßae shook his head. ‘'Hopeless!” he returned. ‘‘lt’s up to you. You’ll do your best and you can’t do more.” They looked at each other, and Dr. Cairns flushed slightly. “Mr. Macßae,” ho said, “I’ve got to ask you if you’ll operate. I’d try that myself, of course, if it weren’t that you were here. But you’re a specialist in surgery—and this is a job for you. I’m —I’m only a G.P. I know there’ll be a risk, even if you take this on, but there ’ud be a hundred per cent, more risk if I tackled it. You’ll do it, won’t you?” Macßae hesitated. Again, he was knowing one of those acute mental disturbances which came whenever the hate-spirit arranged that he should look back across the years and recall with poignant clarity the life of wretchedness that he had been forced to endure because Sir Charles Hart had allowed personal animosity to warp his judgment. Here, if he wished to take it, was the biggest chance which fate had yet offered him, to round off neatly that revenge which he had vowed to take. He had merely to refuse to operate and Mr. Justice Hart would —save for the intervention of some miracle — make his exit from the world within a matter of hours. Such a refusal on his, Macßae’s. part, would, he knew, be justifiable. It was true that at Arnavrach there were all those instruments and accessories requisite for just such an operation as this. Stored safely throughout the period of his imprisonment they had been kept in perfect order, and he had brought them to Scotland with him, not because he had foreseen the probability of his ever using them again, but because he had not liked to part with them. On the other hand he had noi worked at his profession for yea.’s. To anyone who upbraided him, were he to refuse to operate now, he could say in effect: ‘‘l’m out of practice. I haven't tackled a case for years, and I’m afraid of blundering, and of using a hand which has done rough work only.” While he was still hesitating, the nurse came to him, and after a glance at the still figure on the big bed, said: ‘‘Excuse me, Mr. Macßae. but Miss Hart is asking for you. She’d like to see you. I said that perhaps you couldn’t come away, but that I’d tell you.” Macßae nodded. “Thanks, nurse,” he answered.

' A PLAIN GIRL Dear Miss Rutledge,— Is there any hope in life for a plain girl? Sometimes, when I look at myself in a mirror, I lose all ambition, for 1 am forced to acknowledge that I am plain almost to the point of ugliness. 1 do wish that you could suggest a way for me to appear more attractive in the eyes of male friends. LINDA. ANSWER Beauty in women has proved many times to be both a snare and a delusion, so take courage. Also, it might be well to point out that every eye has its own standard of beauty, else all men would be m love with one woman. Many people think that life is a bed of roses for the pretty woman, and that beauty is the most precious heritage in the world, but this is quite a mistaken idea, as the success of many plain women in the business and domestic world will prove. Men have no prejudices in dealing with a plain woman, especially if she Las brains—and most of them have. They lose all fear of being “vamped,” and go wholeheartedly into business affairs confident ot a square deal, and of not being taken “off guard.” Comfort yourself, too, by the knowledge that when a man falls for a plain girl, he seldom tires of her as he might her prettier sister. Why? Simply because the plain maid, not always being ouite so much in demand as the prettv one, makes a closer study of men. She knows their little, weaknesses, and is familiar with their vanities, and, as a result, “plays up” to them with greater skill. The plain girl, too, is a splendid listener, and men love to have the opportunity to air their misfortune's to patient Griseldas There, again, the homelier type scores. Patience to her is second nature: sympathy and subtle intuition are the hall-marks of her make-up. So use the powers that are yours, and 1 am sure when it comes to the test real happiness will not pass you by. ANNE RUTLEDGE. COLOUR IN KITCHENS Dear Miss Rutledge,— Are colour schemes iu kitchens really here to stay? I am planning a home and 1 want to be in the fashion, so any suggestions from you would be more than welcome. MADGE. ANSWER I know of no room in the house that can so affect a woman's state of mind than the kitchen. But, it is amazing to find the total lack of charm in the aver- “ Tell Miss Hart, please, that I’ll be with her iu a moment.” When the nurse had gone he looked again at Dr. Cairns. “I’ll think about what you’ve asked,” he said. “Miss Hart won’t keep me for more than a minute or two, and when 1 come back I’ll have made up my mind whether or not I’ll operate. It’s a chance thing at the best. You might do it better than me, doctor. It’s true that it’s my game, so to speak, but when you haven’t worked for a long time you’re liable to develop nervousness when a case like this comes along.” Cairns nodded. He, too, glanced toward the bed. “I’d hate to risk it myself, and that’s the truth,” he said. “There’s a life yonder, Mr. Macßae, that’s on the verge of going out. I tell you solemnly that I think that best chance to keep it from going out is for you to —well, to do what you said I could do—your best.” In the pleasant sitting-room where Elaine was waiting for him, Macßae told her exactly how things stood. “I ll be frank with you, Elaine.” he said. “Dr. Cairns is a very good fellow and a very good doctor. His opinion about your father coincides almost exactly with my own. He thinks that an operation must be performed—and practically at once. So far as I can tell you. we can afford to give ourselves just a little over an hour. “Cairns is nervous about the job. He wants me to take it on. But—l don't know. It’s an operation, you understand, that is what would be called daring. Tt will need courage, and skill, and it’ll need, too', a very delicate hand. 1 don’t feel at the moment that I’ve got any of those. My courage has gone, and I’m very doubtful of my skill nowadays, and very doubtful about my hand. I think, on the whole, that Cairns had better do his best. She had looked at him, but now her eyes were lowered. “You’ve told me,” she said, “that Dr. Cairns is nervous. I know he is not a great surgeon like you, and I know that there’s no time to be wasted if my father’s life is to he saved. I beg of you, Blair, to save him.” “I can’t promise that, even if 1 operate, and the operation seemed successful, he’d pull through,” he said. “I hate talking to you like this, Elaine, for I know you love your father.” Slowly she raised her head. A pulse in her temple was twitching, and her lips were moving as though she were about to cry. “I wonder if it will make things better or worse if I tell you that father confessed to me that he did make a mistake about you at your trial,” she said. “That made me terribly ashamed at the time, yet I was sorry for him, too, for he explained why he’d been biased.” She cqrrve nearer to him, and one small hand fluttered up and caught at a lapel of his jacket. “Save him, Blair!” she pleaded. “Try to, anyway. If you do that, then—” “Yes” “Then I’ll do anything in the world you want of me. Do you understand?” “I don’t want to understand,” he answered, almost roughly. “I’ll -” He paused there because the room door had been opened, and Rollingward and Lilian Manton had come in hesitatingly. As though eager to have their help, Elaine turned to them. There were tears in her eyes now, and one of them brimmed over and rolled slowly down her cheek. “Maurice Lilian!” she started. “Help me to get a promise from Blair. Dr. Cairns wants him to operate on father as soon as possible, lie doesn’t want to operate. He says that he’s lost his skill, and his nerve. But he must, mustn't he? Oh, make him say that he will! I’ve begged of him, but you try to make him say that

age kitchen, especially when it is realised that no room offers more interesting possibilities to the woman with the imagination to create charming surroundings. Once women become accustomed to cheery kitchens, it is safe to say that they will tolerate nothing else in the future. Try this colour scheme in your new home. Hyacinth blue curtains with dainty frills, and the same tone in linoleum, doors and cupboards. A touch of contrast could be added -o these in the form of trimmings in dull burnt gold. Use palest yellow on the walls, chairs and in . the breakfast nook, with a touch of ! deeper blue to harmonise. The interior of your cupboards should also be treated with the pale yellow tones. Be sure to paint your kitchen tins, mop handle, vases, etc., in the deeper blue ANNE RUTLEDGE. GIVE HIM VEGETABLES Dear Miss Rutledge.— Can you suggest one or two appetising vegetarian dishes? My husband is now on a meatless diet, and it is very difficult to vary the dishes so that they do not always taste the same. GOOD COOK. ANSWER 1 Try the following. Take one egg, half a pint of milk and two stale slices of bread. Beat the egg and milk together, salt to taste. Soak the bread in this mixture, and fry a golden brown’ in butter. Next, butter a pyrex dish and line with the bread and egg mixture; then take some tomatoes and stuff same with cold sausage, ham paste or any kind of savoury stuffing Place the tomatoes in the lined dish, and pour over all thick celery sauce (made with the same ingredients as white sauce, with stewed eeloi y and liquid added). Cover all with slices of bacon. Your husband need not cat the bacon, but it adds to the rel fish of the dish. Bake in moderate over for 20 minutes. Soak one cup of hai’icot beans overnight. Put on in a saucepan, add salt, cover with water and boil two hours, or until tender. Strain and mash thoroughly, then add about one cup of breadcrumbs, also about \ cup of grated cheese. Make into shape of a loaf, and put in baking dish with about one tablespoonful of butter or dripping. Bake in a moderate oven until a golden brown. Baste well and serve .with egg sauce made from the bean liqUld ’ ANNE RUTLEDGE. ANSWER TO P.V., AUCKLAND Sprinkle the stain with borax and allow it to soak in a little cold water, then sponge quickly with luke-warm water. If the stain proves to be obstinate, rub with fresh lemon and hang the garment in the bright sunlight. Repeat the process until you get results. ANNE RUTLEDGE. GREEN FACE POWDER Do you know that the very latest in face powders is—green? I know it sounds revolting, but I’ve seen it used and can assure you it gives a very fresh, clear appearance to the skin by artificial light. Of course, it is a very faint, pale shade of green, but it is quite definitely green and not white. It has been found that dead-white powder gives a floury, artificial look, whereas a pale green gives a softer, more transparent effect which is exceedingly becoming. he can’t let father die without moving a finger to help him.” It was Rollingward who answered first. “I’ve had a word with Dr. Cairns,” he said. “The old boy’s shaking. He says that Macßae here can save Sir Charles. You heard him say that, didn’t you, Lilian?” Lilian nodded, and, going to MacRae, put a hand on his arm. “Blair,” she urged, “you’ve got to do what the doctor wants, and what Elaine wants. You’ve saved other lives—scores of them. Try to save Sir Charles. It would be wonderful of you, and Elaine —” Macßae stopped her. He had bidden a silent good-bye to his big chance. Aloud he said: “All right, I’ll do it.” He looked across at Elaine. “You understand,” he weut on, “I promise nothing except this—l’ll do my best for him.” He scarcely heard her whispered “Thank Cod for that!” At the door he stopped for a moment, his fingers gripped about the handle. “Cairns will stay here,” he said, “and so will the nurse. As I’ve reckoned it out, nothing bad can happen for Niii hour. I’m going to get your car. I must buzz down for my instruments, and I’ll be going to Cairns’s house for the anaesthetics. I’d send someone else, but they wouldn’t knew where my things are. Stick by Elaine, Rollingward. There’s no need for her to be really anxious yet awhile.” He closed the door behind him, and less than five minutes later they heard the car, as at high speed it passed down the avenue and toward the public road. (To be continued daily.)