FIRST OUT, BEST DRESSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 838, 5 December 1929, Page 6

FIRST OUT, BEST DRESSED

Pear Miss Rutledge,— I have a beautiful young sister, age 16, who is a big handful to manage, and as we have no mother, I feel responsible for her behaviour. We Quarrel frequently because she seems to have no conscience about borrowing my clothes, and sometimes when dressing for a party, I find things I am depending on for wear, missing, or the r freshness gone. When I tax my sister about this, she calls me names and generally makes life unpleasant. I never seem to retaliate as much as I should like, as I cannot think of all the spiteful things I want to say at the time. Of course my sister can be an angel upon occasions, when I grow very fond of her, and wonder how really to treat her. SIS. ANSWER The reason that you cannot retaliate is hecauM . at heart, you are- a “little mother' yourself, and you have the natural gift o. “bigness” that helps to make life sweeter, and the failings of others more tolerable. Keep your pecker up, and don’t be miserable because you cannot crush your sister’s spirit by showing your annoyance. Rather be gentle and persuasive in vour efforts to bring her to heel. A soft answer is often more effective than a whole barrage of .subtle tongue stabbing, and usually a little forbearance brings a wealth of gratitude in its train. Keep your nice things under lock and key. “Girls will be girls” you know, and if your sister is as pretty as a Renaissance Cherub she naturally hungers for dainty appareL I know of no greater punishment to youth than the denial of the right to wear "glad rags” so'dear to Iho feminine heart. Beauty unadorned is all very well, but in these days of fierce competition among the gentler sex. a needs to “have a look about it” to hold its own. Encourage your sister to make the most of her appearance by purchasing her own things. If funds are lacking, help her to sew and design her own garments. ANNE RUTLEDGE.