Woman's world

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 81, 31 August 1914, Page 6

Woman's world

NAVAL OFFICERS' WIVES. In war time all women suffer more or less, directly or indirectly. But is is a particularly anxious period for the wives of naval and military men. They must needs bring into play all tlie resourcefulness, self-reliance and bravery for wliieli they have been noted throughout, history.

A sailor's wife especially suffers disadvantages that, probably fall to the lot. of no other. She never knows what it is to have a real home, but must live anywhere and everywhere. Jt lias been truly said of her that, given three packing-cases, tin tacks and some fabric, she will invariably make a comfortable temporary home. But her greatest trial is being compelled, as she often is. to choose between husband and children, some naval stations not being desirable for family residence. Then, unlike the soldier's wife, she must pay all her own and children's travelling expenses wherever she goes. Just now her heart is wrung by conflicting emotions, but, as she says, her husband belongs first to his country, and she herself would gladly lay down her life in its cause if needs be. It is this heroic sense of true patriotism that inspires her to give her husband a cheery send-off to the grim arena of battle. She must watch and wait without even getting into occasional touch with him by letter, while he is at least buoyed up with the excitement of action. Then she doubtless had many devised schemes in view for their mutual happiness which must fall through. The Spartan woman of old sent her loved one to the front with this injunction: "Return with your sword or upon it." Christianity has, however, taught women a nobler lesson. They now realise that the truly brave can with dignity and without loss of prestige sutler defeat under adverse circumstances.

The naval man's wife lias continually hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles the knowledge that her husband may liave to respond to the call of arms at any time. Mrs. Rodham, wife of an admiral's secretary, has, for instance, only spent five out of the .7 years of her'married life with Jlr. Rodham, though she has accompanied him five times to .Malta; also to Egypt, Iceland, Rounninia, Constantinople, Italy, and latterly to Australia. Only B ix weeks after her marriage she liad to pack up and proceed, to Rou\Vhi!e there the Crown Princess, who is the eldest daughter of the Duke of l-Minbiiigli, and the most beautiful princess in Kurope, visited the English warship Cockatrice. She was so taken liy thi' suits worn by the sailors that she expressed a wish to have a similar outfit made for one 01 the little princes who accompanied her. A sailor forthwith cut out a small suit for the boy. While on the subject of sailor suits, it is interesting to note that the big collar has a meaning, though its origin is not at all romantic. It originated at the time that liritish tars wore long hair, which they greased and plaited, and the collar was for the pin-pose of protecting their -nits from the grease. The color of the collar represents the sea, the three narrow stripis of white braid the three "rent naval victories of Lord Xelson, and the black knotted silk handkerchief finishing the collar is j mourning for the hern of Trafalgar. Undoubtedly travel and coping with varied vicissitudes accounts for the charm and adaptability of the average naval man's wife. Rut just now there is one thought uppermost in her mind, and that is to be strong and help those around her. This was practically evidenced by the meeting of naval ollicers' wives Lady I'at.-y called at the Australian Admiralty HniNi. last week to arrange for the comfort and amusement Of tile lonely sailor,' wives during the war.

! THE EMPRESS EUGENIE. Very touching ami pathetic in the Kinpiv-s Eugenic'- devotion to tin- past, says the London Daily Telegraph. It is'well known that when she visits Paris she .sele.ts hy preference rooms ill the Hotel Continental, which overlook the Tllilcries hardens, as though it <?ave iier a somlire pleasure to revive ancient memories of happiness and greatness. In the same spirit, as our own corre-poiulent in. Paris tells us. she has during her present stay in the French capital deliberately cho-cli to visit the Chateau of Fontuinblcau—where everything must --peak to her of days of {{lory and power, when she was Empress and ruled men's hearts and earned the willing service of their hands. Xo«- well advanced in the vale of years, she loves to bethink herself of that wonderful experience of hers, when Mademoiselle de .Mont''" came to " T ",' m —came and -saw, and conquered. It was at the Elysee, we believe, that she lirst, made the acquaintance of Louis Nupoleon at one of the bulls given by the I'rincc I're-idcnt. When she was 2G she had the honor of being invited, with her mother, to Fontainbleau. and ll»w, in her nvent three-hours ra'mble through the Chateau, doubtless she sees once 'again how. as a dashing horsewoman, .-he. the beautiful young Spaniard, who-e name wa- on every tongue, won the heart of her adoring host.

BEAUTY IN SILK. DKI'IUVINii TIIIC I'uKK.IIKAI) <H-' WHIXKI.ES. With thi: j«r. t;i~!iion of thu coill'ui'e mole attention must be p:'i'l to tin' ti)i"i head thim before. lor it is well expo-ed to view. Too often lines and wrinkle- are visible just above or between the eyebrows, thus spoilin.ethe lieauty of even the whitest brow. A little'notion used by the Ea.stein women for nettin;.' rid of wrinkles maybe ealled into rei|iiisitiuii. Jn addition to the daily massage of the wrinkles by tin; linger dipped in almond oil., and applied in an upward movement, the following hiibil i- al>o pnu-tised: A 'pi.-re 01 white hill'etas is eariied and is u-ed ei.iislautly to wipe out the wrinkle:, bi.th mi the'forehead anil I'aee. 'J'illl'eta- ifre -aid til be very elVieaeious for this purpose, but it must be ipiite new, -o that the pristine suggestion of stillness is there. When washed, the silk loses it> elU't.

A fiowl lot inn for whitening the forehead i- enmposed of ruin water mixed with rose v.-iiti-r, oxygenated water, laurel water, and a ' little glyvcrine should it suit the -kin. The mixture' of i.rniK'f llower water with a few drops All nervous trieks of wrinkling and contraetiim the forehead must be stopped it the'beauty of a (lawless brow lie aimed at. Strappings of court plaster i used at night by some, devotees ...itv to take awav lines and wrink-