IN PASSING

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 5

IN PASSING

| Notes and Snapshots

There is no doubt that to display a thing attractively Is half the battle In selling it. 1 have never been able to resist these modern traps for the unwary, although 1 know full well I should shut my eyes firmly and walk hurriedly past with firm resolution. Take the bookshops, for instance, with all their latest and most attractive titles displayed In one glorious array, with gay and vivid cover designs. It is a firm booklover Indeed who can go home without one (usually the most expensive) tucked under his arm, and the thought of a night by a tremendous fire, with all those unexplored pages to roam at leisure, reflected in his shame-faced smile. And then there are those fascinating pots and jars of creams, bath salts and perfumes, which hold feminine eyes longingly and usually end up in a feminine shopping-bag, with a slender purse, indeed, by their side. A great asset is determination, but there is a lot of pleasure to be found on the liability side of the ledger when the determination lias failed to work.

I see the Germans have made chocolates from wood. That’s nothing. Think of many a young bride who has made rocks from flour!

What lovely articles of crafts work one sees nowadays. I am very taken with the most effective pictures I have seen recently made from wood, painted in watercolours and polished over. The finished picture has the appearance of an old portrait, with Its mellow colour tonings, and would be a perfectly delightful finish for a dark corner in a hall or lounge, to lend a note of colour. Glassware painted with gay little designs is a novel idea, and little cocktail glasses with amusing motifs on them lend a distinctly original note to your buffet. Writing cases made from wood with leather or suede binding, and paper and envelopes to match the colourings of the cover design, are smart and very durable, besides providing you with a substantial backing on which to write, if a table is not at hand.

Did you read about the epidemic of mumps and measles In Sydney? They tell me that the business staffs are depleted in spots, and that the schools have found pupils have swollen in numbers!

Tops this week to a very delightful frock in turquoise blue cloque worn by som ,/v.one with lovely grey hair and a charming figure. And also to a perfectly marvellous model In crushed strawberry taffeta, of an unbelievable heaviness, with biascut skirt and crossed straps at the back, and with a perfectly tailored jacket less formal affairs. In day frocks I saw someone who deserves high marks wearing a navy frock, absolutely severe, with a quaint and individual little bolero jacket braided in white; and someone else who had chosen black with a dash of white frilling at the high neck and a huge white camellia in the centre of the corsage. An amusing little woven suit I saw was in cherry fleck with cherry fringes on the belt and pocket flaps, In Indian style, and had a cherry chamois hat with fringes as a trimming. • • • *

And then I read that this Is a record season for dairy manufacturers. One might say, perhaps, that the butter output fairly took the cake I * • • *

"It looks," I said dubiously, "a bit streaky. I don’t know that I wouldn’t go down to the beauty salon and get them to show you how to use It. It wouldn't take long, and you don’t need anything else done, so you’ll still have time. I’ll give them a ring for you." I rang, and a soft voice assured me that they could take Miss Felicity at once. "No, it wouldn’t inconvenience them at all. Good-bye." It was then quite latish, and Felicity was dressed for the dance, but we had been having a spot of bother with some new make-up she had bought which was guaranteed to make a Cleopatra of the plainest Jane. Felicity trotted gaily off, ami an hour later James arrived to collect us. Five minutes after that the ’phone rang. "Miss Felicity said would we go on? She would take a taxi and meet us there; she had been a little detained." Knowing Felicity, we went on. After half an hour we became a little anxious. Had those flying feet of Felicity’s beguiled her in front of a car on the slippery street; had she been knocked down, or what made her so late? The minutes crept on; the hands of the clock seemed to be leaden. James and I became more and more uneasy. Quarter of an hour, twenty-five minutes, half an hour. Another five minutes and then a shining-eyed Felicity, with softly-waved hair, alluringly pink finger-nails and an unbelievable complexion. "llullo, old dears!” she said. “Sorry I'm so late, but I thought, seeing I was there, I might as well have my hair done and one or two other Iliings.” From behind her she produced a shy and strange (CuutluueU lu previous culumu.j