FOR WOMEN FOLK.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1915, Page 6

FOR WOMEN FOLK.

BY EILEEN."

" Eileen " will be glad to receive items of interest and ▼aloe to women for publication or reference in this columa.

NEW. PLYMOUTH SOCIAL NEWS. ' PERSONAL ITEMS. | Miss D. Bradbury, l who has been on a visit to Masterton, has returned. I * » « Mrs. McDonald (Waverley) is holidaymaking in New Plymouth. » » • Mr. and Mrs. A. .Thompson have returned to Awaklno. » # ♦ Miss S. Capel is the guest of Mrs. G. Hobbs, Inglewood. * # # Miss Joan Esse (Inglewood) is the guest of Mrs. A. H. Palmer, Fitzroy. Miss Belle Smith who has been on * visit to Inglewood, has returned. Mrs. Johns, senr., who has been for some months staying in Wanganui, has returned to New Plymouth. Mrs. Martin, who has been the guest of Mrs. W. H. Skinner, Napier, returns to-night by the mail train. * * * Mrs. L. Peat (Feilding)), who is to be the guest of Mrs. A. H. Colvile, arrives by the mail train to-night. » * » Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Curtis, who have been on' a visit to Australia, have returned. # # • Mrs. McKellar, who has been the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Abraham, Kh*nilallah, Wellington, returns by the mail train to-night. Mrs. Charter, who has been visiting Mrs. A. H. Colvile, has returned to Auckland. » » » Mis 3 Mihvard and Misses Hirst, Wanganui, are at present in New Plymouth, Mrs. Burgess (St. John's, Wanganui)' motored through to New Plymouth during the week, remaining a few days, hut has now returned. • » * Mr. and Mrs. Fontaine (New York), who are touring through New Zealand, paid a short visit to New Plymouth this week before leaving for Wanganui. * * # Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson have returned to Auckland, after their short but pleasant trip to New Plymouth. #- * * Mrs. Jennings and Miss Shaw (both of the New Plymouth Girls' High School teaching staff), who have been- spending their holidays in Hawera, have returned. CONCERT, Last Thursday evening in St. Mary's Hall a very enjoyable entertainment was held, the proceeds of which are to be equally divided between the Girls' Friendly Society and the Belgian Relief Funds. The stage was prettily decorated with greenery and masses of daffodils and scarlet camelias. The leading feature of the entertainment was a series of tableaux, "A Bream of Fair Women" (Tennyson), a short description of each being given by the Rev. A. H. Colvile before being staged. The characters were taken by:—Miss Doris Bradbury, Cleopatra; Miss Edna Greatbach, Iphijgenia; Miss Eileen W'hitcoinbe, Joan of Arc; Miss M. Lennon, Fair Rosamond; Miss Iris Crooke, Queen Phillippa; Miss Phyllis Whitcombe, Helen of Troy; Miss N. Collins, Margaret Moore; Miss Elsie Greatbatch, Jeptha's daughter, Another charming tableau was "The Beggar Maid," the parts being represented by: Miss E. Fortune, "The King"; Miss P. George, "Beggar Maid"; Roman ladies: Misses M. Peach, T. Monteath, C. Mace and Alldridge; Lords: Misses Fortune, Jury and Simons; Pages: Misses B. Roberts and E. Shaw; and in the final tableau, Miss F. Harrison, representing "The Unconquerable Little County," evoked an imperative encore. Altogether the concert was a great success, financially as well as socially, which was mainly due to the untiring efforts of Miss Percy-Smith, the organiser. Amongst the audience I noticed: Mrs. Oldham, Miss S. Williams, Mrs. W. Newman, Mrs. T. -C. List, Mrs. Drew, Miss Renaud, Miss Armstrong, Mrs. McLeod, Misses Putt (2). Mrs. Sumner, Miss Pike, Misses Fookes (2), Mrs. Dodgshun, Mrs. Simpson, Hisses Simpson, Mrs. W. D. Webster, Miss Marshall, Mrs. ./as, Wilson, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. S. Teed, Mrs. Paul, Mrs. L. Webster, Mrs. Denny-Brown, Mre. F. Wilson, Mrs. Courtney, Miss Wade, Miss J. Arden, JtfisseS" Thomson (2), Mrs. Watkins, Miss Kirkby, Miss F. Bedford, Mrs. F. Webster, Miss Roy, Mrs. B. Griffiths, Miss Testar, Miss i). Baily, Miss M. Corkill, Miss Bullard, Mrs. Greatbatch, Miss 11. Rawson, Miss G. Shaw, Misses Evans (2), Mrs. Bradbury, Miss McKellar, Miss I'oung, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. A. H. Colvile, Mrs, Orbell, Miss Mills, Mrs. Crooke, Misses Croo'se, Mrs. Hutton, Miss Devenish. "SEVEN IN ONE." MUFFLER The "seven-in-one" muffler for the boys at the front is the latest innovation. The idea is a splendid one, and we have pleasure in publishing the instructions for making. For these we arc indebted to Mrs. \V. X. Ewing, of New Plymouth:— Required: (i skeins iPaton's double knitting or 10 skeins special Roslyn 3 or 4 ply fingering or equivalent; one pair 0 or 7 knitting needles. Cast on 80 stitches. Knit 4 rows plain garter stitch. 0/ knit 5, make buttonhole. 0/. Repeat o/ till 5 buttonhole! are made. Knit remainder of row plain. A buttonhole is made by passing wool to front and knitting two together. Knit 10 stitches plain garter stiteli. Knit four, make one buttonhole, same side as others. Knit remainder of row plain. Knit iO% inches plain garter stitch. Slip off half of stitches on to length of wool with darning needle. Knit remaining half plain garter stitch 8 inches. Slip off on to length of wool with darning needles. 'Pick up first half and knit plain garter stitch 8 inches. Pick up second half and knit full width for 10J inches. Knit 4, make buttonhole as before, but on opposite side. Knit W ia'lw patter stitch,

Knit 6 buttonholes as before, but on opposite side. Knit 4 rows and cast off. If correctly knitted, a slit 8 inches long will be in centre of muffler. Stitch button (flat ones) on half io correspond with button-holes and also on front. When buttoned this forms a hood. 1. Muffler. 2. Balaclava cap.—Button one end together, also 'button the one 10 inches up under the chin, and wra'p scarf round neck and shoulders. 3. Body belt.—Emergency. Put twice round body and button. * 4. Shoulder wrap.—Put head through slit button under arms and at wrist, safety pin between. 5. Chest and back protector.—l Put head through slit and cover chest and back, button under arms and at hips. Safety pin between. ■ 6. Sling. 7. Pillow.—Rolled up, makes a fine head rest. The buttonholes should be over-sewn to strengthen, and the buttons are made wih small bone rings. Crochet a chain of fiev and join. Hole in centre of ring and double crochet through the centre of it round the rings as thickly as possible. "KNITTING." (Sydney Sun). I knit, thou knittest, she knits, we knit, you knit, they knit! The foregoing words sum up the total of feminine activity for the past eleven months. It commenced in September, when the w&es and mothers noted (he first keen nip in the air that heralded the approach of winter. It begun slowly, with the hope burning deep down in the anxious hearts of women that their work would not be needed. Alas! how soon that small spark of comfort faded out, how quickly it "was evident that the campaign would long outlast the winter. "Oh, my dear," cried an anxious wile to her aged mother, "my beloved husband, who caught cold even if his office door was left open behind him, is exposed in the trenches night and day. It is only autumn, yet this morning when I rose the cold dampness of night that befogged my bedroom window was running off like falling tears, and, alas, my dear husband was out in it all night. When I think of him, and the cruel months to follow—November, December, January!—my heart feels like to break at my powerlessness to help him!" "Child, you have the wool; you can go back to the work of your grandmothers; you can knit for him!" So it began, the beautiful, good, warm, comfortable knitting. Strangely, awkardly, at first the fingers stumbled over their unaccustomed task; but gradually even the most frivolous became as expert with the knitting needles as the women of Ireland aie with the crochet hook. Daily the empire of knitting extended —it was in the homes of the rich and poor, in the trains, in the trams, in the gardens, in the parks, in the country, and in the town. How all the little grandmothers must smile from their places in heaven at that diligent crowd reviving an almost forgotten industry. Sever were their ; memories so revived; it almost seems as if they sit beside the fire, £heir ivory work-boxes before them, their kind faces framed in snowy hair, bunding over the wool which glides so quickly and easily through their prettily-moving fingers. The vision makes the awkward mother cry; "Grandmother, quickly to our help; come and teach the women of the tv/entitli century the lost art of knitting swiftly!" How the needles glint and flash as ilu-y come and go, wovslng for the beloved soldiers, for the soldiers unknown, for all who fight and die for our cause, weaving the soft, warm wool into Balaclava caps, mittens, socks, leggings, chest protectors, anu muffler* There is no time to discuss fashions, nor talk about one's neighbour; the allabsorbing topic is wool and knitting. The vital eternal question is: Can you show me how to knit this or-that? Bargainhunters are no more except in the quest for wool, which is now so much ia demand that every tiny shop has ii* of this universal n'cessity t i th.' woman's world. The packets', big and light, and warm and soft, are treasures carried lovingly to their homes. Who shall speak its usefulness, who shall sing the praises of this gift from the good God ? The wool which, gliding between the women's fingers, has woven into it as the stitches fly something of their love, something of their patriotism, something of the anxiety of their fearful, steadfast, patient hearts. llow carefully the finished articles are packed, what tender thoughts follow them on that long train journey, right into the firing line, into the very hearts of the army, within a few metres of the Boches' trenches. And when there, with what heartfelt gratitude they »le received; they are handled with reverence, they are seen through a tear-mist, lips kiss them, for are they not from the country, from the tender mother, the devoted wife, the loving little daughter, the dear unknown worker; in short, are tlicy not the warm, throbbing feminine heart of the native land? .Sometimes there are little notes accompanying these packets, which bring a rush of emotion to the throat and a warm glow to the heart of the soldier. Here is one written by a small, cight-year-okl girl, whose tiny fingers were not so clever with her pen as they were with her knitting needles:— ''l do not know who you are, little soldier, who will receive this knitting; but in working, all the time I have thought of you. When I pray to the good God I ask Him to keep you warm, and not let you catch cold. And now, just as if I am your own little daughter I embrace you with all my loving heart. —Mimi." After reading such as this, the soldier returns to the firing line with a lighter step and renewed courage. He feels that lie is not alone and uncaral for, ho forgets the scream of the bursting shell, in the knowledge that somewhere loving, tender hearts are thinking of him and praying for him. Wrapped in his warm, knitted comforts, he feels that his country enfolds him, protecting from the bit winter bis forehead/ his chest) his.

hands, his legs, his feet; covering him, warming him, caressing him like ft fond mother. Every stitch of the wool seems to him a soft), tender little mouth whispering fondly: "Soldier, they are thinking of you, and praying for you, day and night! Soldier they love you! The good God guard you, and bring you back safely to the loving hearts waiting and watching for you by the warmth of your own fireside." marriageable ages. The marriageable ages vary widely in different countries. In Austria, according to law, a male and a female are supposed to be capable of marrying and conducting a home of their own from the age of fourteen. In Germany the age must be at least eighteen years. In France the man must be eighteen and the woman fourteen; in Belgium the same ages. In Spain the intended husband must Have passed his fourteenth year and tlie woman her twelfth. In Hungary, for Roman Catholics, the man must be fourteen years and the woman twelve; for Protestants the man must eighteen and the woman fifteen. In Greece the man must have seen at least fourteen summers and the woman twelve. In Portugal a boy of fourteen is considered marriageable and a girl of twelve. In Switzerland men of fourteen and wo-, men of twelve are allowed to marry. Shampooing, Hairdresstng and Twisting; Electrolysis for the permanent removal of superfluous hair. Switches, Toupees, etc. Ladles' combings made up to any design. MRS. BEADLE, Egmont Toilet Parlors, Griffiths* Buildings, New Plymouth, near Carnegie Library.