The Woman's Point of View

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 7, 31 August 1928, Page 12

The Woman's Point of View

By

Verity

The "Better Way’’ No. 3.

Result of Competition N judging our competitions it is becoming increasingly difficult to select one "Better Way’’-and one only-as being prize-worthy from among so many good notions. This month, therefore, we have divided the prize between "Thirteen Years Married" and "I.M." "Thirteen Years Married" briefiy and simply has unhesitatingly placed her finger upon a deep fundamental truth which underlies true ‘"home-happiness" and without which "home" is merely a name for four walls and a roof-the necessity of cultivating the Spirit of Understanding. "I.M.’s" advice in her "Clarion Cry" should be an incentive to us to tackle with fresh vigour one of the most unpopular of household tasks, which unfortunately, like the poor, "we have always with us." At any rate, she is to be congratulated on her spirited attempt at making something attractive out of mere drudgery. All other entries published receive payment at space rates.

VERITY

The "Better Way" of Home-making, HE "better way" of home-making lies not in the house and its furnishings, but in the people themselves. ‘The home may be beautiful and comfortable, and yet be lacking. Why? Because the tender, patient and sympathetic spirit of understanding is not there. The wife who does not show how bored she is when John talks by the hour of his work, which she does not understand; the husband who listens patiently to his wife’s narration of her daily tasks; the parents who have time to play with their children and listen to their tales of the day’s happenings, will make a better and happier home, be it ever so poor and

comfortless.-

Thirteen Years Married

(Nelson).

The "Better Way" of Beauty. T is very hard for a beauty-loving . Woman of limited means to be obliged to deny herself those things for which her nature craves. Beautiful pictures, ornaments, books-all those things which so beautify a home-how often she must pass them by and expend her small means on the necessities of life. Thus does the mundane exclude the aesthetic, and life become "peavsty-starved." A friend of mine with a great capaeity for appreciation of the beautiful has devised a plan whereby she can from time to time, without detriment to the essential, satisfy to some extent her craving for beauty. She saves her threepences! A moneybox on the mantel (reminiscent of childhood days) receives all the threepences which find their way into her possession, and it is surprising how quickly they accumulate without any apparent strain on her slender purse. Then with what joy she fares forth to acquire some muchcoveted possession for her home! Sister readers, even though your means be small, do not let yourselves be altogether starved for beauty. Would it not be a "better way" to try this plan and gather to yourselves a portion at least of that beauty which

ealls to you?-

Cynthia

(Christ-

church:)

The "Better Way" of Housekeeping. "THINKING this matter over, I am sure we will soon come to the conclusion that opinions differ considerably on the point, and we will notice that a practice adopted in one home will be avoided in another. Consider, for instance, the family who prefer an expensive, though handy, flat in town, as against the family who chose a home in a suburb, with a garden and a nice outlook to compensate for the distance. We will also call to mind that quiet and spotlessly spick

and span house we know of, where such a cold and cheerless atmosphere prevails, and we cannot but compare it with the probably noisy and untidy home where, however, cheerfulness and goodwill are likely to greet us on entering. Then there is the ‘business couple." They prefer no home life to speak of, but a nice bank account and something to look forward to, to the comfortable and happy home of any other young couple, with probably the ‘thought in the background of that "rainy day" still unprovided for. So it seems to me that if we each choose our own ideal home, maintaining it in our own "better way" and if we ourselves are happy, what does the

rest matter !-

Helena

(Brooklyn:_

"Better Way" Breakfast Food. "[t is such a problem to know what to give my child for breakfast for a change," said a mother recently, and I think many mothers of school children with variable appetites could say the same. Here is a simple breakfast food of which my children never seem to tire. Perhaps others would like to try the recipe. Finding a quantity of brown bread was being wasted, no one caring to eat it when stale, I tried this plan of using it up successfully. I put all stale brown bread, crusts included, through the mincer, adding finely minced peanuts, about an ounce to each cupful of breadcrumbs, and a teaspoonful of sugar to same quantity, and a pinch of salt. Mix all thoroughly and spread thinly over oven-trays or shallow tins, baking slowly till thoroughly dry and crisp and golden brown, This takes nearly an hour. The result is an appetising food which can be eaten like grapenuts, with milk and sugar if desired. The children like it better than the bought products. It is

enonomical, pure, and everybody knows that these crisp foods are good _ for teeth and digestion. To preserve crispness, place in preserving jars with screw tops. It would keep indefinitely if the

children were not so fond of it~

Eldon

Takapuna.

Cooking a Joint on a Gas Ring. pur the joint in a saucepan in which you have melted a piece of dripping. Shut the lid down tightly and put it on the gas, turned very low. Allow it double as long as you would in the oven, turning it over at halftime. It will come out tender and juicy. You can cook a whole dinner in the saucepan. By peeling the potatoes and placing them on top of the meat, after you have turned it, they will cook to perfection by the time the meat is done, and you will also have the satisfaction of knowing that all the valuable salts are retained. Sprouts or cauliflowers, in small pieces can be

added also.-

E.R.

H.

Epsom.

"Better Way" Marmalade. OW marmalade season is in’ full swing a quick and very satisfactory method of making it might be useful to readers. Ingredients: . 3lb. marmalade oranges,’ 3 lemons; 6 pints water, 9lb. sugar. Method: Boil fruit and half the water fast for half an hour. Boil sugar and the other half of water fast for half an hour. Finally boil all together till it jellies, about three-quarters of an hour. All soaking is done away with; the fruit is cut in half, the juice squeezed out, and the rinds put through the mincing machine, a much simpler way than the old tedious methods, and the

result is delicious.-

Miss Isaacson

Christchurch.

Plum Pudding. , OAK four tablespoons of sago in half a pint of milk over night, add two cups of breadcrumbs, three-quar-ters of a cup of sugar, one tablespoon of melted butter or soft dripping, one cup of raisins, one and a_ half teaspoons of carbonate of soda. Boil for three hours. Delicious but economical.

Grandma

(Kaipara).

"The Clarion Cry." ]{XCELSIOR! Look up, look up! The clarion cry of the youth of old. "Wash up, wash up!" should be the device to inspire the little soldiers of the home to-day, if they hope to gain a perfect efficiency in the management thereof. Inecredibly,, mountains of soiled dishes accumulate, and leering from their scattered piles, tell a tale of work misguided-unti!l at last, that imp called Chaos, staring with malicious eyes-makes himself god of the kitchen, and calls it his domain. Wearily, sick at heart, the housewife wonders why her work goes on forever; for nothing depresses, or demoralises so soon, asthe mocking, des-. potie laughter of Chaos, and his tribe. Soon he seems to reign in every niche and corner-even in that frying pan where she, despondent, and in haste, will cook those poor defenceless sausages in their own homely skins ofwell, can one wonder that they burst with indignation, knowing full well the luscious treat they should have been if rolled in golden crumbs instead, and served so succulently rich, brown, crisp, and appetising-a feast for a king indeed! Alack-a-day, where Chaos broods is never found a banner with the words "Wash up"; it has become a little hidden obstacle on which the barques called "Matrimony" often founder. Men find a keynote to help them to success-may women find it also, in those simple words, "Wash. up." Life’s other common tasks take. on a zest, inspired by the sight of that gleaming sink, and shining kitchenette, where Order rules, with all his cupboards closed on cleanly, selfrespecting cups and dishes. Risking the shade of Kingsley rising up to smile, for this misquotation-its message comes to those who yet must learn the lesson :-- "Wash up," wise jade, let others imitate theeBuck up! wash up,-don’t leave them all day long- ’ Hesitate, procrastinate, and life ' won't be One grand Sweet Song!

I.

M.

(Kelburn).

Home-made Linoleum. AKE an old carpet that is whole but too shabby for use. Clean it thoroughly and tack it down smoothly on kitchen floor. Make a thick boiled paste of flour and water. Rub a coat of this paste over carpet with whitewash brush. When thoroughly dry apply coat of paint; when dry apply second coat, and you will have a cheap and durable floor covuring. If a person is artistically inclined it can be decorated by painting or stencilling in whatever colours desired. I can assure the readers of your paper that these home-made linoleums are very .serviceable, and are not cold to the feet as; linoleum, and can very easily be clean- \

ned.-

C.

T.

(Tahuna).

_ To Peel Onions. WHEN peeling onions, always veel from the root end, and you will find that thev will not affect the eves

in the slightest.

~Mrs:

M.

Toulson

(Waikato).