WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 98, 16 October 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

(Conducted by "Eileen"). TO POWDER OR NOT TO POWDER. I THE PROS AND COXS OF I COSMETICS. I FOR: Modern civilisation has altered every | condition of life, and the smallest detail must ad-apt itself to thee hanged: requirements of to-day. Even our comI plexions aro subjected to a greater •strain, and must be consequently more carefully tended, if Englishwomen arc to keep their supreme position in the matter of lovely skins. The first essential of a good complexion is cleanliness. To ensure that, it is necessary to take into consideration the enormous number of ways in which we are surrounded by dirt. A woman who goes out for a morning's shopping in a populous centre goes into a perfect conglomeration of dirt. The human skin is a sponge for soaking up air. When it is working properly (and no one has a good complexion whose skin does not work proj perly) it accordingly soaks, drawing in I at every pore a little air and a great deal of dirt. Hhe dirt does not penetrate so far as the air. Being more substantial, it remains near the surface, producing that easily detected inconvenience, a dirty face. If it stays just inside the pores, it only dims the complexion, but if it is allowed to stay till the pores gradually absorb it, it will undoubtedly damage the skin. It is. therefore, absolutely necessary that women who have delicate skin's should kep their faces clean. We are told that the use of powder is damaging to the skin and that distilled water is better, or a clean fine towel. This latter is certainly true, but how many opportunities does the shopping woman get during the day of using either? She cannot carry them about with her, while a powder-puff is portable and efficacious. I Moreover, the use of powder is not, or should not be, to give an appearance of cleanliness; it has actually cleansing functions. Most women when powdering their faces take off as much powder as they put on at first, and with it take as much dirt as powder. A light dusting of powder after that is used as a preventive against the entrance of further dirt. The little leaves of powdered paper afford an excellent proof of the utility of powder as a cleansing agent. After one of these has been rubbed over the face, it will be found to be absolutely grey with greasy dust which has been removed from the skin. Powder is not necessarily a cosmetic, nor can the use of it be justly called "making-up," unless soap and water are also make-ups. As a finish to a manufactured complexion, powder certainly comes under the head of a cosmetic; but as an agent ,for cleaning a natural one, it does not merit so harsh a name. It » true that Englishwomen are famed for their lovely complexions; but their fame rests very largely on the women of the great cities mostly visited by foreigners, and' on the Englishwomen who'travel abroad. Both these classes aro chiefly of those who use powder, owing to the city-dirt at home and the dreadful train-coal abroad. Consequently, the contention that Englishwomen will lose their celebrity for good complexions because they use powder need not be too seriously taken to heart. The climatic conditions which have given the women of Southern Ireland such lovely skins are absent in England, especially in cities. Is that any reason why we should make the worst' of their absence by not trying to keep clean? AGAINST. Englishwomen have the finest complexions in the world, but do they un-v wittingly injure them? That was the question I asked 1 my-1 self the other day as I sat in the wait-ing-room of a large London establishment, repairing a torn gown (says a' writer in a Home paper). In twelve minutes woven ladies came in, their ages apparently ranging from eighteen to the late thirties. They were all bent on, tin' s.'imc errand, and each one set to ■ work in the same way. Out of her pocket came a handkerchief, which encircled a powder-puff,. Making straight for a looking-glass, the fair one deftly coated her face with powder, surveyed the effect, pulled down her veil, and departed. dust as I had finished my work another lady entered the room, but her method of "improving" her appearance was j slightly different. She produced a small | book, tore, out a leaf, and carefully rub- | bed one side of it from forehead to chin,'tlie result being the same as in the cases of her predecessors with the puff. Perhaps I see with prejudiced eyes, but it appeared to me that not in one single instance was the game worth tke candle.: I admit that at a distance "make-up" can be mistaken for reality, but at close quarters cosmetics—again I diffidently offer my personal opinionare a poor imitation of Nature's handiwork. If this were not so, I confess I would be an ardent powderer; but since people cannot habitually live in M'ini-diirkne'»s—like a character in' •■•loan"—or kepe their friends form approaching within so many yards' distance. I think the devotees of the puff and book, not to mention the liquid variety, which it is more convenient to use at home, are adopting wrong methods, and hastening the departure of woman's greatest beauty, a fresh clear skin. Tn the. Smith of Ireland good complexions jire the result and frequently last into middle age. because, it is said, the soft, damp atmosphere retards the hardening and drying-up of the skin. Why, then, do women living in a less genial climate assist its baneful effects by applying "what will assuredly further harden and drv the delicate article?

HINTS THAT WILL HELP, Heat a lemon thoroughly before sqnpczinji and you will obtain nearly double ilic i|iiantily of juice that you would if it had not been heated. If pieces of toasted bread are put into soup or gravies which are too salt and taken out in a few minutes, it will be found that tin- bread has absorbed a •rood proportion of tin; salt. Hairbrushes -l ; .„ih! I„. ,d,a:.:d at fre- - (pient intervals, but not with soap or • soda, f'sr warm water and » little am- . monin. and your brushes will last twice < as Icdl'. and the bristles will remain . still. The shin of a boiled c.r«r « the most cllicacioii- remedy that can be applied to a. boil, l'eel it earcfullv, wet, and applv to the part all'eeted. 'it will draw oir the mailer and relieve the soreness in a few hours. Brass articles that are out of constant u-e acc|iiire an ujfly and poisonous jrreen ru-t. To remove th'-, strong animoniii is as as anvthin;:. I'onr it over the article and brush it in with si stitr-lirisllerl brush. To clean a copper kettle, cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt, and nib over the kettle with it. The kettle should afterwards be earefullv rinsed in cold water i and L'iven a Una! polish with a clean | soft cloth. Magnesia will take grease spots out of carpets and rugs. Scrape it with a |

\ knife into fine powder and lay this on I the grease spot, covering it entirely. Rub i it in a little, and let it ste-nd over night. j Remove it the next day with a. clean j whisk broom and the spot will be gone. j To extract a splinter take a widemouthed bottle and nearly fill it with ' hot water, then hold the injured part over the mouth of the bottle and press down quite tightly. The suction will act as a poultice and draw the flesh down, and the splinter will come out quite painlessly. A useful precaution when baking cakes, particularly where a gas-stove is used, is to place the tin containing the cake, which should have been lined bottom and sides with white sandwich paper, inside another tin, with a layer of sand between the two. This will keep the bottom from burning. To remove a paraffin stain scrape enough bathbrick over the spot to quite cover it. Then leave it until the next day. Brush off the brick and wash as usual, and the floor will be perfectly I clean, and free from the stain.

To Wash Chamois Leather Gloves.— Make a nice lather with soap powder or jelly and tepid water. To each quart of water add a teaspoonful of ammonia. Place the gloves in this, and let them soak for about a qiarter of an hour. Then squeeze and press them with the hands, but on no account wring them. Rinse in fresh tepid water, to which a few drops of ammonia have been added. Press the gloves in a clean towel, pull them into shape, and hang in the air or near an open window till dry. During the drying process rub and squeeze them occasionally to soften the leather. On no account dry near a fire or in hot sunlight, as quick drying hardens the leather. To Remove Grass Stains.—Before washing rub the spots carefully and thoroughly with a little fresh lard* Then wash the garments as usual. You will find the stain has entirely disappeared. To Stiffen a Limp Rug.—Try sizing the nig. It is quite easy to do. First of all tack it face downwards on a boarded floor. Next mako a very thin solution of glue and hot water. Dip a whitewash brush in this mixture, and 'go evenly over the back of the rug with long, smooth strokes. Allow the rug to remain as it is for a day or two, until perfectly dry. Odd scraps of bread, if dried in the oven until crisp, and then crumbled while hot with the rolling pin, will be found much better, if used for frying fish, etc., than if ordinary breadcrumbs are used, and will keep any length of time. Try the following hint for removing blood-stains:—Take some white starch, mix with water* into a thick paste, and lay over the stains. Leave till dry, and when it is brushed off the stains will have disappeared.

Should a round hole be torn in a cloth coat or trousers or dress, the following is 'an excellent way of mending it:— The frayed portion round the tear should be carefully smoothed, and a piece of the material, moistened with very thin gum, placed under the hole. A heavy weight should then be placed upon it until dry, when it is only possible to find the hole by careful searching. Hats by Post—To pack them so that they will not damage: Thread a stout needle with strong thread, and sew the brim of the hat to the bottom of the box with long firm stitches; This will not damage the hat in the least, and will keep it quite safe. Stuff all the bows, etc., carefully with tissue paper, and cover well with paper to keep out the dust.

A Useful Tip.—When sewing hooks on a cotton frock that is to pay frequent visits to the wa-shtub, try working the eyes on the outer Hap of the bodice, and putting the hooks the wrong way up on tho under, instead of sewing them on in the usual way. The outer Hap can then be ironed' quite smoothly, which it is impossible to do when hooks are sewn on it. A Useful Hint.—An ordinary shaving brush is excellent for dusting velvet or heavily-trimmed hats, as it is both small and stiff, and can reach into every little crevice. A Preserving Hint.—When making jam, marmalade, or anything of the kind, first of all butter the bottom of the preserving pan, and you will find that the contents will neither burn or boil over.

Silver can be cleaned verv satisfactorily by putting it in a pan of sour milk. Finally wash it in very hot soapy water, containing a few drops of ammonia. DON'TS FOR THE ENGAGED GIRL. Don't be jealous—if you can help it. If you can't, don't show it. A man is' always irritated (even if flattered) by a show of jealousy and suspicion. Don't resent his attentions to your girl friends. An engaged man doesn't really want to flirt if he's in love with his sweetheart, and any little civilities he may show your friends are intended as a compliment to you. Don't try and keep him from cricket, football, or any other game he may like. By doing so you will only make him keener on it. • Have your own way in everything, but don't let him know it. Let him think he is having his, and he will always do just what you want him to. Any woman can make a man do as she wishes—if she knows the way. Don't worry or argue, just find out the way. Don't spoil him. Don't desert your men friends. Should you catch him flirting, don't mope or sulk. Go and do likewise. This is far wiser than appearing hurt. Don't be too selfish and don't encourage selfishness in him. Don't tell him too many secrets—your own or your friends'. Don't be angry if he shows jealousy. Men are always jealous when they care for a girl—sometimes even when they don't. Don't be too exacting. He won't want to drop all his his old "pals" altogether.