WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 373, 26 April 1910, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

NOTES. Miss Kidman, the eldest daughter of Mr. Sydney Kidman, Australia's "Cattle Kin"." who is to be married to Mr. Ilott, a -Now Zca lander, on 30th June, is huvin" her trousseau in London. Miss Kidman, a tall, fair-hatred girl, has (savs the Daily Mail) already decide! upon her wedding gown and the dresses to -he worn by her two sisters as bridesmaids. The bridal gown is to he of ivory satin veiled with union a "d trimmed .with pearl embroideries. A wreath of orange blossom and myrtle leaves will be worn in the hair. Graceful uowus of pale grey satin channelise artistically draped with eu de Nil chiffon, and 'pale yrev crinoline hats with grey ostrich plumes and touches of eau de Nil chill'on, will be worn by the two bridesmaids.

Some London blunderers are introducing a bonus system among their employees, to check the annoying habit laundry girls have of suddenly leaving a lirm'at a busv period and trasferrmg their services to a rival establishment. This bonus is to be paid at Christmas time to employees who have remained so long with the firm, and will vary in amount according to length of service. Combination among humderers would be another remedy for the evil, but there are no local organisations to deal with the matter. In no country, in fact, is laundry work highly organised. In America they aire beginning to advocate local organisations in every city where there are several laundries, to bring about the general .welfare and regulate competition, but it is believed the chief object of these association will be to get the volume of business out 01 t*c hands of the Chinese and colored people. In Germany, the land of system, the trade is in a very disorganised condition, and the standard of work is said to be low. One or two laundry associations or societies of laundrymen have been formed from time to time, and have fallen through. At .present, Germany has .about 2000 big steam laundries, employing about 40,000 hands. There are about 10,000 smaller ; laundries, employing more than 40.000 people, besides many single laundries.

A room heavy with tobacco smoke is, not an agreeable atmosphere even to men, iand to women it is decidedly less agreeable, and often exceedingly offensive. There is no doubt that many wives actually suffer from the smokeladen atmosphere in which thev find themselves evening after evening, and yet hesitate to make any complaint or remonstrate because the men derive such solid comfort from their evening smoke. The question cannot he met by arguing that men should not smoke. Nine out of every ten men will smoke; and if thev cannot smote at home after 1 dinner it is ilkely that they will go ) to some place where they, can smoke undisturbed. A woman rarely gains ; anything by asking a man, devoted to ■ uis cigar,\ not to smoke—she usually I loses by it. Tt is a masculine habit, ; like it' or not as she may, a woman j is wise if she accepts it as a necessary | evil that goes with the average man. I At the same time an atmosphere laden | with tobacco smoke is neither healthy nor clean, especially for children, whose sensitive throats and lungs are often affected by Hie carbon ai-oxide an.d ' other irritating substances that are

found in tobacco. But it must not be forgotten that there is no excuse why

any room should be smoke-laden. If a ' room is smoke-laden it proves one f-act

; conclusively—that it is not ventilated. i It is astonishing how quickly smoke ' will be directly drawn to the slightest \ suggestion of outer air. Nothing will

travel so quickly to au open window as | smoke, and this is the solution for the I housewife. And not only is it the hest : means of getting rid of the vitiated and j poisoned air resulting from the breathI ing of several persons in a room—nomeI times infinitely worse than tobacco ; smoke. There is in reality no reason | why a woman should suffer from the I annoyance of tobacco smoke in a room if she will only.see to it that the ventilation in that room is what it should be.

When a widow in Oklahama needs the wages her son of school age might cam, the State pays the mother the amount and the boy continues at school. ; The women of Oklahama are now trying to have the same law passed tor daughters.

Miss Anna Heinrichsdorff is l the first woman to receive an engineer's diploma in Germany. After studying four years in the Berlin Polyteehnical Institute she passed the electrical engineer's examination and received the mark of excellent in each branch. She has opened offices in Berlin, and will now practise her profession as a means of livelihood.

Tt is given out in Paris that the Khedive of Egypt has induced a beautiful Hungarian countess to enter his harem. They met some years ago on the Pviviera.'and the Khedive urged his suit with an ardor which found a response in the object of his affection who pleaded with her family to allow her to renounce Christianity and become a Moslem princess. This they refused to do: lml if is now believed that the countess has carried the day. It is unfortunate that the pretty story of the Khedive's faithfulness to his one acknowledged wife, the Khedivah, has to be discounted in this way.

The Dukes of Wellington, unlike most English peers, are grandees of Spain of the first class, and hold several Spanish and Portuguese titles. They hold property in Spain, in the province of. Granada, and their estate is called Soto de Roma. A year or two ago the present

Duke and Duchess visited the Spanish Court and took <part in some quaint ceremonials. The Duke, as grandee, went through the time-honored ritual of covering his head in the .presence of IlvSpanish Sovereign. And the Dii'lx s., as wife of a grandee, took part in a ceremony known as "sitting on the cushion," which is held in the private apartments of Queen Victoria Eugenie. This old-world rule is performed as follows: YVtion the lady thus honored is presented, the Queen addresses her with the words, ''Be seated." Upon which she seats herself on a crimson velvet-cush-ioned stool, which is placed in readiness before the table at which her Majesty is sitting.

Madame Anna Rogstad. the first, "woman member of the Storthing, which is tlie Lower House in the Norwegian Parliament, was a teacher in \one of the primary grades of the public schools in Cfiristiana when elected. When asked for her reasons for believing that women should vote and serve in legislative assemblies, Madame Rogstad said: ''There are two reasons. Many women are required to pay taxes, and taxation without representation is not right. Women should have a voice in the directions of the schools and in all the other institutions that have to do with children. I am a mother and was a sfhool-teacher for many years. I 'believe that those facts qualify me for the duties of my office. So long as I am in the Storthing my chief care shall he to safeguard the interests of women and children."

Among the more modern heroines of Ireland my be counted Charlotte Grace O'Brien, daughter of William Smith O'Brien, leader of the Young ire*nct movement in the forties. Her ardent .patriotism, her capacity as a social reformer, and her literary talent are a'! appraised by Stephen G'wynn in a recent memoir of her. Both she and her r a they were subject to limitations of judgment and defects of temperament, but both were truly devoted to their mi.-' tive land. Miss O'Brien made her mark on the life of her time in her excellent work for the women emigrants o f [reland. It is hard for us to imagine i'ie moral and physical dangers of emigrants voyaging in the middle of last century, and since Irish people had no choice but. to emigrate, Miss O'Brien's work fcr women and children was one of the first importance.

Madame Ada Crossley has won success after some early struggles. She was induced to give a concert in s small hall in London before a gathering of friends. She was hardly advei:i-ed at all, but one or two critics w°m invited to be present to hear one of the most beautiful voices ever heard. Th.it ■was her first footing on the 'adder of fame. "Who is this girl?" asked Queen Victoria, and added, "She lr '■■ -"''•■

ful voice and is a true artiste." Madame Crossley was "commanded" *o sing before the Queen five times within two years —a unique record.

If you have a friend who is about to start on a long journey, says a writer in an exchange, you could make her no more acceptable parting gift that a safety pocket to be worn under the dress. In it can. go extra money and jewels without fear of loss or robbers. A pocket is made from grey suede or a piece of chamois, eleven inches long, six inches wide at the bottom and five inches at tne top. The bottom is rounded and the top is cut square across. Two pieces of leather are cut and the edges stitched together on the machine, abtiut half way up. An inner pocket of stout grey cambric is sewed on the inside of the suede, the edges finished with nickel rims and a stout clasp. One side of the leather is then cut shorter than the other, which folds down over the purse ir. a flap. This is fastened by snap clasps such as are used on gloves. One is sewed on each side of the flap for extra security. The finished pocket is stitched to two strips of grey belting, one at each side. These in turn are stitched to a belt that fastens round the waist with a harness clasp. The straps may be as long as is convenient, but five or six inches will usually be long enough to prevent the pocket interfering with the ■corset.

It is quite sad the way on e oldfashioned household love after another is being wrenched from us by the Juggernaut "Hygiene." The latest sacrifice demanded of us is our beloved feather duster. All sorts of unkind things are proved against these old friends, and though we don't believe evil of them, there is no doubt we shall give them up. In every Government department they are tabooed by law in the United States. The count against them is as follows: "Xo more useless or more effective germ distributing domestic Instrument was ever invented than the feather duster. The marvel is that it has remained in use so long as it has." Wc have got used to microbe and germ scares, and as a rule we don't develop hysterics about each one as it comes along. We had a much more peaceful time in life when the terms "bacilli" and "microbe" were only known to those engaged in scientific research. Hopelessly conservative minds are intractable, and -won't accept as improvements the spread of the endless fads which the new education teaches. The very tough past generations rode roughshod over and under the modem rules of hygiene, yet Miey lived long and seldom troubled doctors. It "the proof of the pudding is in the eating." why is the present generation a race of victims to diseases their grandfathers never heard of? Cleanliness has always been .part of the religion of English homes, but the, twentieth century has brought such excessive measures of precaution into evcry-day life that people are worn out attending to them. The death-knell of our feather dusters sounds sadly to those who have, always used them, and never detected any mischief in them. The next question is,

what substitute do our American friends intend to supply for such a homely purpose?

Considerable curiosity and amusement was created m Oxford street one afternoon recently (says the Sydney Morning Herald) by the appearance of three aboriginal women dressed ill extremely fa'shionable "directoire." One was attired in a .pale green muslin costume, and wore an elaborately trimmed "cowboy" straw hat. the leaf being turned up at one side: another was dressed in an ivory-while face cloth skirt and black velvet hat; while the third was ''rigged out" in a biscuit-colored net embroidered skirt and bodice and wore a cream hat trimmed with heliotrope velvet, and a bunch of artificial fuchsia. Two of them sported parasols to match their costumes, while one. flirted an up-to-date peggy-bag. The tnrce sable ladies attracted much attention.

A vigorous effort is being made in America to provide facilities for girls to become self-supporting trade worker*. An iniltiential committee has been formed in New York, and classes are being formed for gratuitous instruction in the use of the needle, the sewing machine, ami the paste brush. It is recognised that there are too many girls about who are without knowledge of any useful art, and who therefore lead precarious and degenerate lives. Such girls are being attracted from the slums uy regular meals as well as tuition, and these are also instructed in the preparation of food and domestic economy.

The daughter of one of the wealthiest inhabitants of Leicester (England) has married a man who until Christmas was her father's chauffeur, and who is now engaged as engineer on an estate in Lincolnshire. The heroine of the romance is Miss Muriel Blanche Dalton Gee, the younger daughter of Mr. Simpson Gee, J.P., chairman of Messrs Stead and •Simpson, Limited, vice-chairman of Messrs Freeman, Hardy and Willis, Ltd., and a director of one of the leading banks and other commercial undertakings. Edgar Copeland, the son of the foreman of a Bradford furniture business, is the bridegroom. He was employed first by Mr. Gee in the summer of 1008, and he and his employer's daughter apparently fell in love at first sight. Their attachment was kept secret, and after Copeland left Mr. Gee's service they made arrangements for an early marriage. This took -place at the Sheffield registrar's office while Miss Gee was visiting relatives in that city on February 5, and after the ceremony the bride and bridegroom separated for a time. Recently, however, Mrs. Copeland went to stay with her husband's relatives, whence she despatched a letter to her home announcing her marriage, and asking forgiveness for any pain the disclosure might cause.

TOILET NOTES. It does not do to destroy the natural oils of the head by washing the hair, for instance, twice a week, or even daily, as some women do. If the hair feels dry and harsh after washing, rub on a very few drops of the best brilliantine. Then vigorously brush until you get a look like burnished gold, a shimmer of hair that is in itself a beauty. Value of a Loofah.—When taking a warm bath a loofah or bith-brnsh with stiff bristles should be used, and the body scrubbed all over. The warm water di'cites the blood-vessels and causes perspiration, increased respiration, and a rise of temperature; it has a restful and soothing effect upon the nervous system and induces sleep, and is therefore best taken at night before retiring. • Sore Lips.—lf the lips become cut and painful .owing to the cold winds, cold cream should be rubbed well into the skin night and morning. To bathe them is also helpful, and if a sponge, rinsed out in warm water is pressed over the lips so as to soften the hard skin before applying the cream it will have a quicker effect. Oatmeal for the Skin.—lf the skin is oily oatmeal rubbed on the face after washing helps to cure it. As oatrnjeal tends to open the pores, however, it must not be used too often. A few drops of eau-de-Cologne in half a glass of tepid water is a good wash for an oily skin, and common soaps must be avoided.

A Deficient Bust.—Dumb-bell exercise, performed regularly every day for a quarter of an hour, night and mornjng, before an open window, will soon tend to extend the bust. The dumb-bells should be light, and special attention given to the arm and chest exercises. Ladies will find the wooden dumb-bells the best for their purpose, and these may be purchased cheaply. Light exercise after the morning bath is 'an excellent tonic and body beatitifier.

Never stay in a warm bath more than twenty minutes, and bathe the neck and face first, to prevent an unpleasant rush of blood to the head.

Bed eyelids are a most unsightly blemish, but they can be easily cured by bathing them in water as hot as can be borne, night and morning. The condition of the finger-nails is really important. Five minutes a dasis all it will take to do your own manicuring, and there is no excuse for unsighly and ill-cared-for hands. When washing the hair, borax or soda should not be used too frequently, since they tend to dry the scalp and ■produce irritation.