WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 35, 6 March 1909, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD.

MOTIIKU AXD DAIXiIITKK. AX A.UKKLOAX SOCIAL IiKFoUMKII'S VIEWS. "1 do not hesitate to say, in my experience in rescue woju among unfortunate girls, extending now over a period of twenty-Jive years, ami embracing a knowledge of the history of tens of thousands of them, that fully fifty per cent, of theM> --ins took the first step in their .sad eutei-r because of lack of knowledge." Important words these—pregnant with meaning to every mother of daughters, and gathering additional value from the fact that they are written by one well qualified from actual experience to speak with authority .Mr. Charles Xelson CrUteutou. Air, ■Crittenton is the head of a great mission work of soirial reform in America which supports 71 district homes in which iraiortunate girls arc taken in and cared for. Jn that position, he says, "I have come u> hear from lips usually sealed Lo the world the seereU that let in light upon their otherwise unintelligible history; it is possible that mv words are based upou an experience dill'erent from that of others, and hence 1 have been persuaded to write' (which he does in the January number of the Ladies' Home Journal?, "i have found," the writer proceeds, "that much of the unhallowed influence which coiucs into a girl's life is due to her estrangement from her mother at the most critical period of her life. It constantly appalls me to realise how widespread is this estrangement between mother and daughter, in my evangelistic labors, going from city to city, I am frequently consulted by mothers iu regard to family matters. Almost invariably the question is; 'What can 1 do to win the ooulidcnce of my daugli-' ter'f' They say that when their daughters were little girls the intercourse was of the closest, but now that they are getting in their 'teens' they shut their mothers out from their confidences. This fact is enough to send a mother asking for help, for, surely, if there ever is a time when a girl needs the guiding hand or a true and faithful friend it is when the frail barque of girlhood is beiug launched on tempestuous lloodo of awakened womanhood,

"I have almost invariably found that the mother had lirst begun to build the wall of separation. 111 the innocence of her pure, young heart, the daughter had asked some simple question pertaining to the mystery of life 01* some kindred subject, and the mother, full of worldly wisdom and self - consciousness, had turned the childish question away with an implied, h not spoken, falsehood. When the girl has gained from another source tlre'uformation which she desires —aud which she is allways sure to get sooner or later, for if she does not she is woefully lacking iu the powers of deduction or perception—and liuds that her mother has been either untruthful or misleading upon one subject, she feels that she may be so upon others, and, therefore, she does not care fo trust lrer mother with other secrets which are dear to her heart. Aud so the wall for which the mother laid the foundation is built up into gigantic prjportions by the imaginative aud impressionable child.

"Fathers and mothers seem to forget this great vital truth: that if they ex* peet to keep the eonlidenee of their children they jnust deserve it, both hy returning to the. children the confidence which they in turn appreciate as much as do older people, and also hy showing themselves able to cope with the aitua* tion which is presented .to them. When John Stuart Mill's wife was remonstrated with for telling her little Uaugh* tor something of the cause and history or unfortunate girls she replied: 'What other girls have to sulTer my own little girl can at least all'ord to know about/ She might have added what doubtless she felt: 'and therefore be saved from a like fate.' Prav do not mistake me. I know very well that Knowledge is not always protection. Here and there vou will 'liud a girl who has deliberately sinned against the light. But believe me when I say, from a knowledge of thousands of eases, that such an example is rare, a*nd that knowledge to a girl is an absolute protection. And where, in the face of knowledge, a tragedy enters our circle, it will at least be robbed of one of its stings the thought that it might have been prevented.

"I't is (something—yes. much—that we have done the. best we could do. But how many parents can honestly say. this to-day ?"

FAULT-FINDING IS A HABIT. Wiyes should natch themselves and besvarc of glowing into chronic faultfinders mid slaves to domestic duties. So many women fc'ct into the habit -f worrying over everything, just because there is nobody to check llieui and pull them up before the habit becomes lixed.

FACTS ABOUT SHOES. The danger of wearing thin shoes in wet and cold weather is obvious, and yet many women make no difference in the thickness of their shoes whether it is cold or warm, wet or line, and many dangerous illnesses arc caused through this foolishness. Shoes that are too loose should also be avoided, often being the cause of painful' blisters and corns. Many people, after bearing the torture 01 a pair of shoes that are too small, go to the other extreme alid wear those that are too large. When buying shoes, one niu=t bear ill mind that kid is very pliable and soon stretches, so that the shoes should not lit too comfortably at first, or else, after a week's wear, tliey will be far too loose.

ARE YOU A III'SMXmiKU'KU'; The wise husband will tell everything to his wife, if she is a sensible woiua.i. To isucli confidence most successful men owe their prosperity. To the hints aud suggestions given by good wives oftra are due the triumphs which the publicattribute solely to the man. A woman's instiucts are very alert, and she is swiCt to see breakers, rocks, or shoals. Many a man has lived to regret that he did not heed his wife's warning, yo, too, when a,wile tells her husband to J>o\vare of such and such a person, lie will be a fool if he does not pay attention to her admonition.

Thus far we have spoken oi the sensible wife, but there arc other kinds to whom it would not be saie to entrust either great or little secrets. Every woman has it in her own choice whether she will be her husband's help'-'r or his (greatest hindrance. The pity of it i : s that so many women fail to realise thus.

Tllii FATAL HKST YKAR. For every married couple the first year of wedded life practically settles the question, Is marriage a failure? The bride who can emerge triumphant ! from this ideal will find it comparative-, ly easy to hold her own thereafter; the ytoung husband who upon the lirst anniversary of his wedding feeja truly that "Whoso tindeth a wife findeth a_ good thiag" may safely congratulate himself upon having found 1 a true helpmeet and companion 'for weal or woe. There must always be nnore or less readjustment of relation® between bride and. groom, and usually more or less disillusionment accompanies such readjustment. The mental Rations between man and wife necessarily differ from those between lovers, and cUcrished hopes are -often withered before they had time for fulfilment. This is the problem which faces the I young couple during their lirst year of married life; but by unselfishly and'lovingly endeavoring to please other, there is -ao r«Uoh why tUoy should wreck their happiness 'ou -this rock, On the other hand, they may find that the first year is not a fatal year for them, but a- year of very good omen indeed.

BOUGH OX THE DRESSMAKERS. Ijoadou Truth, lias some observation ou dressmakers, and comments severely Oil the dircctoirc costume. lady m fashion," it says, "is expected 1 to .wear no petticoats, in order that her 'lines should: be visible. In order to make this possible she lias to wear abnormally long stays, supplemented by aa clastic continuance down to the knees. This gives lier the appearance of a mermaid with a lislr's tail instead legs, and renders walking iv new aud difficult art to acquire And so the game will go oft until women, have sufficient commonsense to prevent them being victimised bv a set of greedy, tasteless harpies.'

HINTS. For a Thin Seek.-Try massaghg your neck every night before going to bed willi a little very good cold cream First of all, bathe it well with warm water, then dry thoroughly, anil apply a little of the cold cream. Rub this W«U into the skin, massaging carefully

| for about leu or fifteen minutes. ReI member, it is the massage that has the 'beneficial eil'eet far more than the cold i cream, so don't skimp the rubbing. liut don't be discouraged if you see no improvement lor a few weeks. It may be some months before any real improvement takes place.

Xo clean windows easily, rub your window-panes with a piece of soft liuen wetted with common vinegar. Xlicj polish with a clean, dry cloth, and your windows will he beautifully clean. Naphtha, is recommended as a satisfactory eleauer for light fur. Pour the naphtha over the fur and l (lull', and pat the boa until the soil is worked out. Then press the naphtha out by drawing the ha;ul /irmly over it, shake tlie boa, and lung it in the air to dry.

Xo Clean a J-ted-tiled Floor.—The best cleaning medium is soft soap, used -n the following manlier'. First of a'.l wring a. clotii out of hot water until nearly dry. Dip it in the soft soap, and go over the surface of the lloor with it. s'ext rinse the cloth free of all soap, and again go over the tiles until they are cutirely tree from any truce of soap. Wipe as dry as possible. A lloor washed in this way will keep a good ricli eolor. liritUe nails should be rubbed with vaselin-o every night, and cut rather short.

A small teaspoonful of bicarbonate of sckLi to a tumblerful of hot water will relieve heartburn, if sipped slowly. To Clean Lamp Burners.—Try boilhg the burners for halt an hour or so in water containing ii little washing-soda. This will clean them beautifully, but at the same time may tarnish the lacquer. To remedy this, rub when dry with a little sweet oil, and afterwards rub with a soft, perfectly dry duster.