WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 218, 23 December 1910, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). A CHILDREN'S EXCHANGE. Amongst the many good works undertaken by a certain band of great ladies throughout Europe,"is one that is known as ''The International Exchange of Children." This was originally founded some eight years ago by the Dowager Duchesse d'Uzes, and numerous other great ladies of the Faubourg St. Germain in Paris. The society deals chiefly with children of the upper classes, and has for its object the promotion, not merely of the acquaintance of foreign languages, but likewise the creation of a better understanding among foreign nations. The exchange provides for a three months' residence or a full year between children in families living as far apart as Germany, France, Italy, Austria and England.

The idea of the system, which works] remarkably well, is that parents bear the cost of the journey of their children, but that from the moment of the youngsters' arrival until the hour of departure the children are treated absolutely as members of the .family with which they are living. Already several thousand of such exchanges have successfully taken place, and committees of prominent ladies have been formed amongst leaders of the aristocracy in Germany, Spain, Belgium, Scandinavia, Russia, Holland, Italy and Austria, who undertake the details connected with the practical working of the scheme which helps to promote the mutual understanding between foreign nations, and does much to destroy racial prejudices based upon ignorance; It is altogether a very practical effort to contribute to the maintenance of the peace of the world. EQUALITY OF PAYMENT. An Australian paper states that Mrs. Felstead, official organiser of female labor in Victoria, referring to Judge Heydon's remarks with reference to industrial equality of sexes, said: "In these general statements and others such as equal pay for equal work, there is not much help. I believe that in the long run the spheres of "women's work and men's, will be found distinct,' and that there is no • real competition between them. Equal pay for equal work is necessary as a principle sometimes to. prevent women from under-cutting male workers, but otherwise when it is made prominent it diverts attention from the real point of attack. .It diverts attention from those women and girls who are really sweated and ground down—the white workers, for instance. 'First of all, let us get a living wage. Give me that, and then I will join in asking for equality of rights for women." NEW EVENING GOWN VELVET AND ITS IMITATIONS. London; November 5. Velvet or velveteen must figure in the wardrobe of every fashionable woman this season. Seldom before 'have these handsome dress materials been so much in vogue. For outdoor wear the black velveteen costume is the most popular, as it is both serviceable and smart, and although velvet is frequently used for the same purpose, it is found less practical, as it is more liable to injury in wet weather. Modern velveteen is made so skilfully | that is is not easily distinguished from velvet, and an Express representative was told at Messrs Selfridge's that a great many evening dresses are also being made out of it. "Plush is scarcely worn at all," the Express representative was informed, "but a substitute for it is the new 'fur velvet,' which is softer and not so shaggy as plush. It is being used a good deal for coats and evening wraps. "For dinner and reception gowns a 1 favorite velvet is. the 'velvours vestal.' It has a peculiar softness that makes it particularly suitable for a frock with a long graceful train. | 'Cm the whole, there appears to be a [ predilection for black and all the darker shades of velvet—except in the case of ! shot velvet. "This, the latest novelty from Paris, is extremely effective in a frock, especially when it is trimmed with the elusive color of the material." "IT" OR "XHEM"? TEN HOBBLES TO ONE "DIVIDED" STRIDE. "Oh, my dear! ..." The elderly dowager in the stalls of the/Shaftesbury Theatre lowered her lorgnette and spoke to her neighbor, obviously her daughter, in the voice of, one who has had a severe shock. The young girl had recourse to her opera glasses. Somebody walked across the stage in the splendid racecourse scene of the "Arcadians." "Oh! mother I'm certain Herbert vil' never let me wear it—or is it Taesi'2" . Tbxy were discussing the new divided skirt, wluieit is one of the newest of the pevv dresa«a which have been given to the "Aroiwlkns" as a 550 th birthday prej .'/■ ■'"rived skirt is sometkimg to see and gasp „<;. It is the other extreme to the hobble. Legs are no longer imprisoned in a single cylinder of silk so that only tiny steps can be taken. Any woman can run for a train in a divided skirt. There was only one on the stage last night, but it created more sensation than all the other beautiful frocks put together. It was worn by a very tall brunette. ,

| The color was bright rose-pink, faced with grey silk tapestry, and when the wearer was in repose all was well. But she walked across the stage. That was what made the elderly dowager say, "Oh, my dear!" The skirt became a skirt no longer, it became a pair of—well, perhaps it would be better to say that it resembled the loose-fitting nether garments worn by Turkish women. If the wearer desires to get the full effect of the divided skirt, the walk must be a long stride, equal to ten hobbles at least.

There was the dress of mandarin blue satin, veiled with the tunic of beaded net, and the dress of pale maize satin with blue moire cuffs, but the women

in the theatre had eyes only for the brunette in bright rose-pink colth. Every time she walked the stage a perceptible quiver of mingled joy and fear went through the theatre. But, as the young lady remarked, are we to call the divided skirt "it" or jthem"?—London Express. I WHY SOME WOMEN AGE One of the reasons why many women age quickly in appearance, while others, older in years, perhaps, keep younglooking, is that the former are given to worrying, while the latter realise that worry never did any good, and are practical enough to discard it as useless and very rarely allow it to trouble them. Human nature is strangely complex, and it would seem, verily, as if some among us positively enjoyed dwelling upon the remembrance of a sorrowful past and raking it up on all occasions, keeping alive mistakes, or their effects, from which we are directly or indirectly suffering, and thereby preventing ourselves from escaping their baneful influence. If there is any power in thought, surely it is more hopeful to ourselves and those about us to surround ourselves with hopeful, strengthening thoughts. YOUR BRASS FIRE IRONS In order that the metal shall not quickly dull, brass fenders and fire-irons are coated with lacquer when new, and just a dusting with -a soft silk handkerchief will bring them back to their former splendor. The newness, however, wears off after they have been in use some time and they become smoke-ibegrimed, but it is important to avoid the use of strong acids or alkalis, which eat off the lacquer and cause the brass to need frequent polishings. The smokiness may be removed by washing the surface wi,th luke-warm water and a little mild soap. When rinsed, the metal should be dried quickly and thoroughly, and should then be rubbed over with a little furniture polish and lightly polished. The lacquer wears away in due course, especially if the .brass is neglected, and the best plan is ,to have the articles relaoquered rather than devote time to their constant polishing. Before the re-lacquering is undertaken the brass should be polished to look like gold with some metal polish, or with powdered rottenstone and turpentine. It should then be lightly and evenly brushed with a varnish prepared as follaws, using a soft camel-hair brush for the purpose: Place an ounce of turmeric, two teaspoonfuls of annatto, and two teaspoonfuls of saffron into a pint of methylated spirits. Shake the bottle two or three times a day for a week, then filter off the liquid part through blotting paper. Add three ounces of -clean seed-iac, and shake the bottle occasionally for a fortnight. Allow it to settle, and use only the liquid part. USEFUL HINTS Save old match boxes, for they make excellent ikindling for a dying fire. The skin of an old fowl should be taken off before cooking, as it is apt to give a bitter taste to the liquor in which the fowl is boiled.

When washing stockings, soak first in cold water to remove- the dust. No amount of rinsing afterwards has the same effect. • i •

Always rinse a jelly mould, be it copper or china, first in hot water, and then stand in cold water before - filling with jelly. When using tea leaves for sweeping always pour cold water over them arid squeeze them quite dry. In this way they will not stain the most delicate fabric.

When making pastry that is to be served cold milk should be used for the mixing, and the pastry will keep short and crip longer than if mixed with water.

A worn carpet may be much improved by 'having the surface darned with a rug wool. Mateh the color carefully, and the improved' appearance of the carpet will delight you.

Brooms should never rest on their bristles. If you have not a stand for them, get two long brass-headed nails, and put them into the wall, so that they (vill just hold the head of the broom. Pine cones, colored bright Ted with a good dye, or silvered, make a most useful Christmas decoration. Pine cones also make the most suitable and artistic grate filling for summer, if spread over a nicely laid fire; and for reviyirig a fire there is nothing so good. A cheap door stop.—< Get an empty reel and cover it neatly with cloth, to suit the color of the ca:pet. Take a long brass-headed nail, and nail through its hole on to the floor about four or five inches from the wall behind rhe door. This will prevent the handle of the door injuring the wall. When sheets begin 'to wear, turn the insides to the middle so that the worn part will come to the sides. Procure some linen tape the width of the hem, 'and sew it neatly on.the corners about five inches each way. Having sewn it neatly to the edge, put three rows of machine-stitching nlmg it. This will help to strengthen the corners.