WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 126, 6 September 1910, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

(Conducted by " Eileen.") A STRATFORD LETTER. Tho parishioners of Holy Trinity Church accorded their vicar (Rev. W. Butler, ;M.A.) a welcome in the shape of a social on Thursday evening last. A goodly number of loyal churchpeople turned up. Music (vocal and instrumental), games of cards, etc., constituted u pleasant evening's entertainment. Those contributing to the musical programme included Mrs. C. Penn, 'Misses Wilson, Coombridge, Black and Rogers, and Messrs Twiss and Lewis. Mrs. Robinson's small bridge party last A lon day evening proved very enjoyable. On Tuesday evening Mrs. Glasgow entertained a few friends. Instead of the usual "Bridge," the phonograph was turned on (Mrs. Glasgow p;>.- .uoiiig a very good one). Selections nom the latest operas, including "The Arcadians," which is being played with such brilliant success in Sydney (and Melbourne, were listened to with much pleasure. Nothing forma.!, but just a host of mutual friends called upon Mrs. Uniacke on Wednesday afternoon, when a friendly cup of tea and a convivial chat were indulged in. Amongst those to be met there last week were Mesdames Carbery, Hogg, Good, Crawsliaw, Rawles, Stubbs, Menzics and Glasgow. That "mighty atom," influenza, is still claiming its victims, Mesdames Paget and Crawsliaw being confined to their rooms for some days.

DANCE AT RAHOTU. On Tuesday, 30th ult., a very enjoyable evening was spent at the most spacious hall of Mrs. Dew, Tepoka road, Rahotu, invitations being given from the more distant surroundings extending from O'kato to Pihama. At 8 p.m. the giuests, numbering about a hundred, were in full swing with a waltz, the music being rendered by Miss Lizzie Dew (piano) and Mr. Alec Rookes (violin). During the evening songs were rendered i by Messrs Kelly, Gray and Cooper. Mr. Strong Taylor was at his very best with a recitation, "Mary Anne.' Miss Lizzie Rookes, as usual, was delightful with her Highland dances, and the township of Rahotu and district should feel proud of the class of talent at its disposal, no fewer than eight of her residents rendering the music, viz., Mrs. J. Clarke, Misses L. Dew, 11. Lewis, W. Sorrinson, Messrs Alec Rookes, E. Gray, H. Young and W. James.

Mr. E. Gray, who has recently arrived from the Old Country, is certainly an acquisition to convivial gatherings, both as an accompanist and comic singer. During the evening the guests were provided with refreshments and a first-class supper. "The duties of M.C. were entrusted to and admirably carried out by Mr. H. y. Taylor, who' left nothing to be desired. The last waltz., at 2.30 a.m., came only too soon, judging by the number who still remained, the company breaking up about 3 a.m., after expressions from all of having had a most enjoyable time.

i FACTS ABOUT FASHION. ;' London, July 15. The long-continued popularity of tunics is remarkable, when one reflects on the number of styles that have come and gone since they came into their kingdom. 1" was at an afternoon concert last week, given by the Duchess of Marlborough and Viscountess Ridley, where there was assembled an ultra-fashionable audience, perfectly gowned and hatted, and about which four facts could not fail to be observed. Nearly every gown was veiled in something, somewhere; nearly every woman wore a shoulder scarf; practically every dress was made with a tunic; and. lastly, everyone was cither in half or full mourning. That everyone wore a large—a very large —hat it is unnecessary to say! About the millinery the principal thing to be remarked ilii'.i ilipre were no "odds-and-e.nds" effects, no ribbons and tit-bits of floral trimming, but a general air, rather, ot severity. As many as nine large ostrich tips are often grouped round the crown of a huge hat, 'but the brim is absolutely plain. One very stylish-looking hat that t noticed was of fine black straw, Breton sailor shape, with a thick wreath of black silk orchids, interspersed with the same Howrys j n pure white silk loosely laid round the crown. A popular method of trimming, also, is that of. laying a line of osproys, black or (alas!) white, uprightly along the front of the crown, leaving all the rest of the hat bare. As regards the tunics seen at the concert; they were many and varied. The Duch- ' ess'of Marlborough, who is tall and very slim, wore a white satin gown covered with a long graceful tunic of black ninon, the (bodice showing a cross piece of satin underileath folds of black, mingled! with white ninon, and with this she wore a large flat hat of black-and-white paisley patern, lined with black. Lady Ridley's dress was of blac'k charmeuse, with a tunic of black net worked with floss silk. Ninon falls in such graceful I folds that it is more generally used than any other material for overdresses. Magyar style for bodices and blouses is still very popular, and lends itself well to the scheme of veiling.

VIRTUES OF SHANTUNG. Outside the circle of those likely to meet Royalty mourning is no longer in vogiue, of course, though even now no vert bright colors are being worn by any but foreigners, who are to be remarked at once. Shantung is now made in so many delicate shades, and is durable a fabric and so cheap, that it is not surprising to see many costumes of it in the shop windows just now. One simple tennis frock to be seen looked neat and dainty, and yet could easily be made at .home. It was Paris color, Magyar .style, with a tiny chou at the throat of fine white lacc edged with black, and with a foulard sailor tie of blue spotted with white loosely knotted through shantung tabs. The (belt matched the tie, and a

row of shantung-covered buttons from the left shoulder to the hem of the skirt finished the costume. Pale grey shantung is very graceful-looking, also, and, coupled with white lawn toby frill and cuffs, makes a refreshing-looking gown that can be worn by a woman of any age. It may not be generally known that it can be made to resist rain—one of the most important considerations.

millinery. I Made-up wings of extraordinary size, are being used" as hat trimmings, laid, somewhat flatly, across the front and) sides of a shape. So huge are they that one when measured was found to be no less than 46in from tip to tip! A very effective model seen was a Breton sailor of black mercerised lace, quite without rimming except for a graceful bunch ot opaque pure white grapes. Another hat was of cream chip straw, with a lattice of tiny flowers right across crown and brim. BATHING GOWNS. It is really the wrong time to talk of bathing .suits for New Zealand readers, as the sea will 'be rather uncharitably cold still, when this arrives; but the editor of "Fashions for All" lias kindly sent the writer along a tempting pattorn of a gown easy to make at home, and at the same tini" a good deal more sensible than many v> ry dainty but utterly useless "swimming confections" that all of us see sketched in many fashion papers. The instructions given with this pattern give as suitable materials serge, stockinette, linen and striped galatea are quoted as suitable materials, and to this must be added tarpaulin, which is really a capital material for the purpose, as it Jooks well and will, of course, stand any amount of water; also is very durable, by no means a quality to be despised in that beloved Dominion where it is possible to bathe for so many months in the year that a bathing dress is likely to get really hard wear.

CARE OF, THE HAIR. | An. excellent tonic for the hair is' made of two parts of witch-hazel to one of whisky. Massage the scalp with the 'finger-tips before applying it. Unless the hair is exceedingly dry it is not advisable to use oil except after a shampoo. Healthy hair has enough oil of its own to keep it in good condition. A good oldfashioned shampoo for the hair is a wash of eggs and plenty of hot water. Break the eggs into a small basin, but do not beat them; then rub them oyer the scalp and through the hair, allowing them to drain into a 'basin that has been filled with hot water. Repeated douches of clean water should follow, ending with with a cold spray. Be sure to brush the hair thoroughly every night, and arrange it in a loose plait.

LAVENDER SACHETS. ' Although the old fashion of scenting one's linen cupboard with lavender is widely known, there may be some readers who do not know how to prepare a sachet, so here are some instructions: — Take half a pound of lavender that has been freed from the stalks, half an ounce of dried mint, and the same quantity of thyme, quarter of an ounce of ground caraways, quarter of an ounce of ground cloves, and one ounce of dried table salt. Dry all thoroughly in a slow oven, mix and put into little bags, which place among your linen, and you will find that in a few days it will 'be deliciously scent- | ed.

PAWNING CHILDREN. An extraordinary native custom of pledging children for gin in Southern Nigeria was drawn attention to by Sir George White in the House of Commons recently. The Under-Secretary for the Colonies said it was a custom throughout West Africa to pawn persons, not necessarily children, as security for debt. If the child were pawned the lender had j the .benefit of the child's services and the j borrower the use of the loan. The child forfeited: none of the rights and privi-j leges which it would enjoy in its father's house, and it could at any time refuse to live with the lender, who was responsible for the health of the child and for his death if it occurred. The custom was discouraged as far as possible, and it was becoming less prevalent, Sir George I said.

ACTRESS HONORED. Miss Elizabeth Horniman, so well known as an actress-manager., lias been honored with the degree of Master of Arts from the Manchester University. When presenting Miss Horniman, Pro-j fessor Conway paid a tribute to her standing in the stage world by saying that she has added to the gaiety of nations by her control of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester. She has established a theatre in which, lovers of the stage may find a play that is literary as well as dramatic; plays that cannot merely be acted, but are the artistic expression of real and independent thought. The encouragement which her theatre is giving to playwrights of the nobler sort is proving once more the intrinsic worth and power of the English drama.