LADIES' COLUMN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 157, 9 February 1871, Page 7

LADIES' COLUMN.

The American Girl of the Period appears to be coming out strong in aquatics and podesti-ian feats. Here is an extract from a late Boston paper :— "The appearance of sis young ladies at Boston, last week, ia an athletic display heretofore attempted only by the men, illustrates a rapid advance of the sex's independence. Six Oharlestown young women challenged an equal number of Boston beauties to a swiraing race for a prize of 100 dollars. The latter accepted, but, when the appointed time came, did not appear on tne ground. So the spunky Charlestown girls resolved to get up a race among themselves for thfe championship of the Charles River. Preliminaries over the six dived gracefully at the word, and started together. But, alas ! before they reached ths turning stake, four oat of the six * weakened,' and puddled exhausted to tj shore. Miss Lizzie Kerrigan turned the stake in advance, closely followed by Miss Lizzie Kane. On the home-stretch the latter, who was swiraing nobly, suddenly threw up her hands, crying, ' I am sinking ; for God's sake, help me ! and Miss Kerrigan had all she could do to keep the auburn head of her exhausted adversary above water until aid arrived." A similar contretemps interfered with the success of the recent ladies' foot-race in the West, where ona of the ladies withdrew in a fainting condition.

As in the case of expensive funerals, so in the case of costly marriages, money is wasted at the very time it ia wanted. The condition of many a youug couple during the first year or two of married life would be raised from one of discomfort, if not of privation, to a state of comparative affla« ence, if they had in hand the money spent on the trosseau and the wedding breakfast. The magnificence of their first start makes them feel all the more the necessity of the subsequent thrift. The delusion thus engendered that marriage is an affair of fine clothes and white horses, and champagne and mayonnaise, is soon dissipated by the stern iralities of the loin of mutton, the cheap sherry, aud the four-w-heei cab ; and then comes a long sig*t and a wish that they had the money. The young wife turns over the Sue clothes which she has no chance of wearing, and vainly endeavours to solace hereelf, while her husband is afc office, with a " midshipman's holiday "—-"" — - " overhauling her kit." In the course of a few mouths she sees, with a feeling approaching to despair, her trosaeau going out of fashion ; and perhaps she in heart reproaches her mother, although she had begged hard for all the finery herself. I have seen girls, under the cei'emony of marriage to some poor curate or junior clerk, iv bridal dresses fit for the wife-elect of an earl ; and I have known wedding breakfasts given at the Star and Q-arter, Itiehmond, or some kindred house of entertainment, the cost of which would have sufficed to pay the butcher's bill of the young couple for more than a year. And then the wedding presents ! What a melancholy exhibition of inappropriateness and folly it is ! I have .seen a sickly smile on the face of a young clerical bridegroom as he has sighed confidentially into my ear, while standing by a table covered with bijouterie of all kinds (many duplicates, of course): — "These fine things will wonder where they have got to when they find themselves in my poor home;" and I have heard the irreverent jest of a brother clerk in a public office on a similar occasion — " If these things are not up the spout before the year is out, they will be exceedingly lucky." In the name of all that is sensible, let rich people make such pi ? esents to rich people; but in humbler life let the presents be of a serviceable kind. What ia the good of having table ornaments before you have a table to put them upon? If the relatives and friends of a young couple in the middle classes wo uld supply them with useful household articles instead of trumpery gauds, as unsuitable as the fine dresses of the bride, they will do what is equally rational and kind. — Correspondent of the " Pall Mall Gazette."

Household Sins : Some cooks will throw out the wafer in which meats have been boiled, without letting it cool to take off the fat. Bits of meat are thrown out which would make hashed meat or hash. The flour is sifced in a wasteful manner, and the. bread pan left with dough sticking to it. Pie crust is laid by to sour, instead of making a few tarfcs for tea. Cold puddings are considered good for nothing, when ofcentimes they can bo steamed for the" next day. Dish cloths are tnrown down where mice can destroy them. Vegetables are thrown away that would warm for breakfast nicely. The scrubbing brush is left in the water. Tubs and barrels are left in. the sun to dry and fall apart. Nice handled knives aro thrown into hot water. Silver spoons are used to scrape kettles. Cream is allowed to mould and speil. Coffee, tea, pepper, and spices aro left to stand open and lose their strength. The cork is left out of the treacle bottle, and the flies take possession. Potatoes in the cellar grow, and the sproute are not removed until they become useless. Pork spoils for want of salt, and*T>eef the brine wants. scalding. Bonos are burned that would make soup. Clothes are left on the line to whip to pi.jcesi-by the wind. Brooms are nev£r kuug tin, aad soon are spoiled,