WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 303, 17 May 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen.") PLAN FOR A BONUS ON BABIES. The endowment of motherhood and the taxation of bachelors are the chief provisions of a Bill introduced in the Illinois Senate by Senator Beall, popularly known as "The Stork Mayor of Alton."

In a noteworthy preamble it is pointed out that, despite the most liberal pro-' visions made by a paternally-disposed Government, the population of the State of Illinois shows a calamitous decline in the natural increase. Especially is the decline noticeable among the wealthier classes, among whom "in the craze for luxury maternity seems to have gone entirely out of fashion." The Bill therefore under section IV is designated as an Act for the Taxation of Bachelors, and provides that every luchelor over 35 years of age who cannot show good and sufficient reasons unfitting him for matrimony shail pay a yearly tax of £2. The fund thus "collected will be allocated under section I "to an increase of population fund." For the encouragement of motherhood the Bill provides the payment by the State of £2O to the mother of eachl child born within two years after marriage and for each additional child born every two years thereafter. For twins a state premium of £4O and for triplets £OO will be furnished. The Bill sets forth that the normal increase of the population of Illinois is less than that of France, and that of the total population less than 3!) per cent, is composed of boys and girls under 21 years of age. WORLD'S GREATEST DIVORCE CENTRE. A telegram from Reno, Nevada, says that the State Legislature, which two weeks ago was considering a bill permitting a prisoner condemned for capital crime to poison himself if he chose, has now distinguished itself by defeating a bill requiring residence of one year, in the State for people seeking divorce. Reno, as is well known (says a correspondent), is the greatest divorce centre in the world, and the "divorce colony" is celebrated for the large number of Eastern society people it contains from time to time. By State law a six months' residence is sufficient for the purposes of divorce. The defeat of tlie measure was received with immense rejoicing, and telegrams were rushed to New York and other Eastern centres stating that Nevada's divorce law would not be altered. Reno attorneys say that a large number have been awaiting the action of the Legislature before deciding to start for Nevada, and the defeat of the bill means an influx of newcomers.

GENERAL NOTES. It must have been hard for the company that so long have acted together to say farewell in Dunedin to Miss Palotta. Tlv- rca-"i of her going was sadly imperative, and the pluck and determination with which she—crustiing down her own fearful anxieties—worked up to the moment of departure, was splendid. Though but a few days elapsed before she went, her colleagues were resolved that, she should carry away son!? remembrance of their long and happy camaraderie, and got for her a very fine suit-case. On the silver plate below the keyhole they had engraved—from one of her songs in "The Scarecrow," in which Miss Palotta figured so sweetly—"Mary, we Shall Miss You." But no one in the company could be found willing to present it —they were all so depressed at the parting—and so in the end Miss Palotta discovered it in her room at the hotel when she returned from playing for the last time with the comrades she had acted with for so long. Mr. Mallalieu, with infinite pains—for the time was short—wrote and illuminated a farewell address to Miss Palotta from the company, who all signed it. She is resolved some time, if all goes well, to come back to Australia and New Zealand, where she has made and is leaving behind so many friends.—Wellington Post. There is still a keen demand for domestic servants throughout New Zealand. In Christchurch girls are not to be obtained, no matter what wages arc offer-

ed. In Wellington last month 158 employers sought the Government Labor Bureau's assistance, 65 girls being applied for, 43 charwomen, and 10 housemaids"; 89 applications were received from employees. Out of these 60 engagements were made. At Dunedin 121 applications | were registered, 91 being from employers. "The service of 55 generals alone are required and only 11 applied," records the Dunedin agent. In Auckland 300 applications were dealt with, 230 from employers and 70 from women desiring employment. Out of these numbers 61 engagements were made. The immigrants who called were all domesticated, and were immediately placed in comfortable homes at good wages. Of the 51 persons who applied for employment at Christchurch, 47 were suited. For the same period 258 applications were received. The London Times has the following on the revival of vivid color in evening frocks, after a long reign of black:—

"The many examples of skirts draped sol artistically as the one just described strengthen the opinion that we may expect a continuance of the mode for all softly-hanging or clinging materials, such as crepe de chine, voile, charmeuse, cliif- ! fon, ninon, and the like. Recent models > of this type display once again the effecting results of veiling color with ) black; therefore, unless Paris has quite! • discarded it in those new "creations"| - which she still withholds from view the . I idea may persist in some of the smartest ! of evening dresses. Only a few days ago l admiration was aroused by a rose-piiik I satin almost hidden beneath a voilage of fine transparent black; and as a strik- . ing note of novelty the long tunic was decorated with a wide border thickly [ worked in eastern colored silks, among, which reds and greens and blues pre-1 dominated. The combination of two of! the softer shades of color, the one as a| veiling to the other, has been continually! •j seen at every bull of the winter season,! II so that the abandonment of the idea in i ' the near future may be predicted. More-I I over, observation teaches that there isl I a tendency to revive the deeper tones!

for the purpose. I have, for instance, noted blue veiling red, the shades of each being chosen to produce in combination a rich cyclamen purple; or cerise providing the voilage for tilleul green; or, again two opposing shades of the same color, such as Indiim red and vieux rose, are artistically blended, the one veiling or draping the other. In every instance no trouble is spared in choosing the exact notes of color necessary for harmonious results. Again, there is a definite tendency to introduce in what may be called a one-tone dress some vivid note of contrast provided by a motif of embroidery, a aash, or a spray of flowers. On the corsage of a bright foulard, of a shade verging on "butcher blue," there will be perhaps a square motif worked in silks of brilliant red; or a swathed belt of cerise silk will mark the waist of an afternoon dress of purple charmeuse; or it may be merely a cluster of purple velvet orchids, which holds the fichu draperies of a decollete corsage of tilleul green. But whether it be one single vivid | note of contrast which thus transforms ] a dress, or whether the whole dress glows with various shades of more or less brilliant color, there is much evidence to point, to a coming reaction from the blinks and sombre hues which became modish even before the sad necessity for general mourning had arisen."' HOUSEHOLD HINTS. A few drops of vinegar in the rinsing 1 water will give a very pretty tint to line 1 laces.

Economy in Fuel.—A half-teaspoonftil of saltpetre mixed wiht a' half-cup of water and poured over a scutUeful of coals will not only induce a brighter fire but make the coal last longer, llore is another hint: A good handful of common washing soda dissolved in half a bucket of warm water, if thrown over a hundredweight of coal and allowed to dry will prolong the burning power by 25 per cent. When Boiling Greens—lf a piece of fat about the size of a nutmeg is added to the water in which any kind of greens are being boiled, there will be no boiling over, and no stirring required. To Cook Rice.—The Japanese excel in cooking rice, and their method, winch is exceedingly simple, is as follows: Put one cup of rice, which has been thoroughly washed, on the fire with five cups of boiling water; add salt, and when it has boiled hard for a quarter of an hour set the saucepan uncovered in a moderate pven. In fifteen minutes the water will have evaporated, and every grain of rice l will be found separate and distinct. To Keep Silk White.—A little wood alcohol, added to the rinee water, will prevent white silk from yellowing in the process of washing.