Don’t be a “Sister Anne”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 880, 25 January 1930, Page 21

Don’t be a “Sister Anne”

Don't sit apart from life watching the drama around you. You’ll get so much more fun if you take your place in the picture. While Bluebeard's wretched wives have come in for a lot of sympathy, nobody seems to have spared a tear for his unfortunate sister-in-law. You remember Sister Anne, who, while Bluebeard and his wife were coming to grips, was told off to mount the tower and watch a dusty road instead of taking part in the drama down below. Can’t you picture her life, from the childish days when the moment the conversation became of any interest, she was told to ‘run upstairs and fetch my scissors?” It was Sister Anne who was always chosen to watch the kettle, or the baby, pre-destined to a life of passivity, to stop, look, listen, but not participate. Hers was a bitter tragedy, and the worst of it is, it was probably her own fault, WHAT’S THE USE? If we become "Sister Annes,” perched on a watch-tower, remote from life, cut off from humanity, watching out for somebody else, instead of looking out for ourselves, it is probably because we want to, because we are too inert and unenterprising to do anything else. What is the use of metaphorically taking your stand at the top of a high tower, where no one is likely to climb up and fetch you down, and wailing: “I never go anywhere, I never see anyone! I never meet any new people. I’m always chosen to stay at home and look after the children when nurse goes out, or to see that the kettle doesn’t boil over. It’s my destiny!” Of course, it’s your destiny, if you make it so. If you flop about doing nothing but complaining that nothing ever happens to you, some more strong-minded person will undoubtedly exploit your idleness, and you will quickly find yourself condemned to the watch-tower for life, gazing at other people’s babies, kettles, and quarrels, but never your own. If Sister Anne had had a grain of sense, after five minutes on the lookout she would have descended the turret stairs and said firmly: “I’ve seen nothing but clouds of dust and a flock of sheep, and I’ve got something in my eye; and, anyway, it’s someone else’s turn.” MERELY LAZY! But no, if you’re lazily inclined it’s so much easier to sit still and grumble because you never see anything or meet, anybody. It takes a certain amount of energy to retrim last year’s hat, dye that faded jumper, acquire a hair wave and an opinion about Epstein. Don’t deceive yourself that you’re being unselfish, when you’re merely being lazy! In fact, don’t be a Sister Anne! FURNITURE UP-TO-DATE Furniture is now going ahead so rapidly that sometimes it is a little difficult even for the expert to keep pace with all the new developments. Among the latest innovations is a bookcase that is hinged in two, three, or even four portions, after the manner of a folding screen, each fold being some seven or eight inches in thickness and fitted with a couple of shelves. Several rows of books can thus be accommodated, though the whole stands only two feet from the ground. If space is a matter of consideration, the case may be closed up and put out of the way in a convenient corner, where the volumes will be spared the collection of dust which would be their lot if exposed upon open bookshelves. Then there is the brocade-covered pouffe, which is also a mattress. It is fashioned with a series of joints which enable it to be wound up cobra-like, into a pile when not required in its flat form for a siesta on the lawn or in front of the lire. The base of the mattress is covered with rot-proof, waterproof canvas, which makes it perfectly safe for outdoor use. The modern armchair enables its owner to be independent of paperracks, and even an occasional table, for it boasts a series of deep pockets of the same material as its cover. The pockets are spacious enough to accomodate a useful number of papers, magazines and books. Over the arm may be thrown one of those cleverly weighted strips of leather, to one end of which is attached a small workbag, an ash tray, or a little ledge upon which to rest a tea-cup or tumbler. There is also a chair of which the upper cushion of the seat may, if required, form either a convenient footstool or a leg-rest. CUSHIONS FROM REMNANTS! Many of the scraps and pieces of material you pick up in the sales can be made into lovely cushions. A few bright cushions here and there help to change the appearance of furniture one knows too well. And here is a simple way of having gav cushions for little expense. You are sure to be able to pick up during the sales some remnants of plain or striped furnishing rep or casementcloth, and with them you can make lovely cushions with the aid of coloured wools. You could make a round cushion of plain rep with a braid binding of a deeper shade. Then ornament it with simple embroidery by merely working daisies in the centre, with odd stitches for leaves round the outside. The daisies and their leaves can be dotted about indiscriminately over the face of the cushion in satinstitch. A cushion made from striped rep can be made quite unusual by embroidering the stripes with wool. A simple running-stitch in rows about an inch apart is all that is necessary, STRAWBERRY FRITTERS Mix one tablespoonful of salad oil with the grated peel of half a lemon and a little flour. When smooth add the whites of three well whisked eggs and a little white wine. The mixture should be of the consistency of thick cream. Pick the tops off some large, ripe strawberries, and put the fruit in the prepared batter. Put a lump of butter into a deep frying pan, and when it is boiling, drop the batter with the strawberries from a tablespoon into the fat. When nicely cooked remove the fritters carefully, drain them on a sieve, and arrange on a hot dish. Sift some powdered sugar over and serve.