WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 280, 23 May 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen.")

SCHOOL IN THE HOME.

11l the Contemporary for April there appeared a very interesting account of how a mother turned her daughter, who was a "very unpractical bookworm," into a very useful member of the community. \o existing institution, which 'exactly fitted the girl's requirements, could be found, so the mother was compelled to send her to four different establishments, in order Uiat she might learn what ought 'to have been learned in one, if such a training school had existed.

(1) 'For several months she worked in a West End dressmaking establishment.

(2) Then she took a throe months' course at a housekeeping school at Malvern, supplemented by cookery classes in London.

(3) Afterwards she taught the younger children of her own school for a 'term. (4) Finally spent several months at

a cottage hospital. The result was entirely satisfactory, and the bookworm, it is reported, became domesticated. As a result of her own dilemma, Mrs. Hobson, the mother' in question, suggestad that a home school should be started in the country place where she has been staying, which would consist of a model cottage for resident students, each of whom would spend a few months 'there and learn the care, management and feeding of children. Cooking, laundry work, housework, selection of food, household shopping and accounts would all be included in the curriculum. Lectures and classes would be given at the hall on cooking, nursing, home dressmaking, hygiene, gardening, etc., ■which would be open to all village women, married and single. The social side of life would also be considered, both men and women being invited to I concerts, games, dinners, lectures and theatricals held in the home school.

WHY WITTY WOMEN FAIL Men likfl wit, but they are dreadfully afraid of it. It is not a comfortable thing to fall in love with, because during that period of his career man can endure anything better than being laughed at. Though he knows in his reflective moments that he is making a fool of himself, it is most distinctly not the woman's place to be funny about it. In society, at dances or dinners (savs a social (writer), you will, generally speaking, find the witty girl surrounded by elderly —probably married, but certainly elderly —men. To them she is amusing, they admire her and she entertains them, but the younger men fight shy of her. He is on the whole a bashful creature, the young man, and lie has an unspeakable dread of being laughed at.

QUESTIONS FOR SENSIBLE MOTHERS Mrs. Sophie Knightley, writing in the Standard, puts a few questions which, she says, sensible mothers should ask themselves, and be satisfied if they can answer them truthfully:—

1. Am I living according to my station and income? 2. Am I really doing my level best for my children's welfare ?' 3. Am I giving them false ideas of life, with its grave responsibilities and splendid possibilities? 4. Ts the education of my girls "solid throughout," or merely veneer? 5. Am I honestly training my girls to be fit wives and good, intelligent mothers? or 6. Am I playing the big empty game of "make believe" that leads to a corrupt luxury?

With a view (Mrs Keightley continues) to investigate the conditions generally of the "make believe" type of mother. I attended a typical "at home," together with a mutual friend. We are admitted by a younger daughter of the "flapper" species, who is most profuse in her apologies for being without a maid." In this tiny doll's house drawing-room there are already assembled some six or seven ladies, all dressed in the latest fashions, from the seal-coney, or cat-coat, to the grey suede-upper boots. T cannot say I was impressed with any air of real elegance or refinement, and I am afraid that in comparing the simple, charming manner of the really cultured woman of to-day, with her perfect gloves, boots and well-groomed, well-tubbed appearance of skin and hair, there is a great gulf betwixt them and my friends of the dolls' house "at home."

WOULD THERE WERE MORE LIKE HER. A woman standing high in the social circles of her city crossed off the names of two young men from her invitation list. The action was bound to be noticed, and it was. So several friends went to her and pleaded for the young men. "Of course it is unfortunate," they argued, "that these young men are not just what they should be, but you are very likely now to drive them farther towards their ruin by your action in so publicly calling attention to their habits by excluding them from your social affairs." The social leader listened. "No," she said firmly, "you are wrong. We have all been wrong in opening the doors of our houses to them. I warned both of them that T would do this if they did not mend their ways, and, while they listened respectully, they went right on. For the sake of my own two daughters, and the daughters of other mothers who come to my house, my doors are closed to them." The woman's stand had the effect of helping more timid and wavering mothers, and before the season was over practically every door was closed to the young men. What society in all our cities needs is a woman of this sort who will enforce a strict quarantine in regard to moral infection, and who will help her more timid sisters to follow suit. The day when young men can behave as they choose and still find decent homes open to .them is passing, and ■the sooner they are made to realise it. if they cannot see it themselves the better.—G.O.P.

NOTHING SACRED TO THE MODERN BRIDE The virginal whiteness of the wedding cake is seriously threatened. No tion seems sacred to the modern bride, whose aim seems to be originality. The growing tendency tho introduce color into the bridal garments is manifesting itself also in wedding cakes. Some brides insist on a thread like piping of pink. While others, more daring, have their cakes adorned with picturesque sprays of palest pink rosebuds. It is difficult to prophesy to what extremes this color craze may be carried in the near future, but no one can deny 'that a colored wedding cake, if not so classical and severely beautiful, is more cheerful and exhilarating than one of dead white.

NEW VOGUE IN EVENING CLOAKS

The new evening cloaks are certainly novel enough to suit the tastes of ail who are tired of the kimono mode which has dominated evening cloaks so long. These are all made of beautiful, vividcolored tafletas, shot or plain, according to the wearer's fancy. They cannot be -too voluminous as to drapery, an< j

any amount of niching, pinking, gauging and gathering form their prime attractions, the whole idea being that they shall balloon out with every movement of th# wearer in a manner reminiscent of the fashions so generally worn in our great-grandmothers' days. Tlu: new vogue has a charm of its own.

WIFE'S ALLOWANCE. WHAT IS A FAIR SUM? The Appeal Division of the 'Supreme Court in New York is hopelessly divided in deciding what are ''neeesaries" for a wife in the case of a husband with an income of £OOOO a year. Three Judges think that Solomon Rosenfeld, a tailor, was unjustly treated by,the lower Court, which refused his claim of £ll3, clothing ordered by Mrs. Peck, of New York, before her divorce, and decreed a new trial. Two Judges affirmed the judgment, dismissing Mr. Rosenfeld's action. Mrs. 'Peck considered the following things absolutely necessaryßrown leather automobile coat, £2O; blue and white suit, £27; blue taffeta coat, £18: pique suit, £3O; white serge suit, £18; total, £ll3. Mr. Peck admitted that his income was £9OOO <\ year, and said he had allowed his wife £3OO a month pin money, and £7 a week for cabs and lunches, and considered this sufficient for her to pay for her own clothes. Mrs. Julia Solomon, sister of Mrs. Peck, testified in Mr. Peck's favor. She said she packed the five trunks Mrs. Peck had with her when she started for abroad, and that they contained the following apparel:— Ninety pairs of silk stockings. Ten pairs of silk t : 'its. Thirty-six pairs of .-lues. Twelve hats.

Thirty gowns of the latest styles. Mr. Rosenfeld, the tailor, testified that the styles of dresses changed twice a year, and that no "well-dressed" woman neglects to change her gowns with the styles.