The Ladies' Magazine.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2407, 23 January 1909, Page 9 (Supplement)

The Ladies' Magazine.

TEMPTATION. (By Max Sommer.) • 'Through the-blinding suouy with shi vering, broken footsteps a man i. hurrying. Now' and iigain he pause, to clutch at his breast with a feeble despairing cry of abandoned.hone, fc; all day he, has tramped up then across the hills to Bertro in search o. work, but every town has been un lucky so far.

“Give employment to an unknown beggar?” The presumption of the. man expecting it and d iring to walk into elaborately furnished offices is. rags, asking to see .the managers—the managers, indeed, who would not hesitate in discharging a person who so far forgot himself as to mention thi fellow’s impertinence, much .less bring him into contact on the ordinary pre tence. of seeking a livelihood. And this was the third. week since ho bid said good-bye to a frail little wife in the healthy, generous city, and started out briskly after bidding her keep up courage until he should return.

“Good-bye, little . mother,” he cried, “I will find a position in an office where they pay living wages and do not starve you on fifty kroner a month. Oh, they do things better in the little towns,” he added with a forced laugh as he hugged her to his bosom once more and closed the door quickly lest she might see the tear? he was trying to conceal.

That was three weeks ago, and it seemed like years, and all this time his little ones were wanting food while he was wandering hopelessly. Once the light from a window attracted him. Beyond he saw a happy family gathering around their evening meal. Tears stood in his eyes at- the thought of those ho had left at home. The sight was too much, he could bear no more, and turned away.

Ho scarcely knew why ho was leaving the town behind. His chances were probably no better further on than where lie wus. but the habit had seized upon him, and without stopping to reason he still tramped on. In the distance a clock was striking six. The strokes had a faint and muffled sound across the fallen snow. x

A dull sleepiness overcame him. He began to remember, the tales he had heard of those who, placed in u similar position, had at last given way to the fatal sleep the snow provides for those who yield themselves to ixs enticing faseination. And this was the end ! Dazed and exhausted, he sank down on a snowcovered mound. “.My God!”

He was awl .ike now and every nerve had sprung into life and action. He sprang to his feet, and tore away the snow where ho had. sat. At last it revealed the body of a man but red in the drift. He crouched low to listen. No signs of breathing—the limbs were as rigid as iron. Ha ! Whit was that? Ho listened again. Tick-tick-tick. The man's watch was still going. The short "win try day had faded into blackness. He struck a match and looked for the first time on the features of the corpse. How seriously beautiful in death’s yepose! The man had apparently been wealthy. Searching the pockets, ho drew out the contents —a well-filled purse, a pocket-book, and the watch and chain.

“Put them baehl” whispered a voice within.

“Why,” he shrieked, “my wife b starving, my children are starving, and I have not tasted food for dliys.” “Put them back!” urged the voice; “do not rob the dead.” “No, I look to the living;'my wife, and children come first.” He drew out a tattered handkerchief, and reverently covering the upturned face, staggered on his way.

Seated around the table in a poorlyfurnished kitchen were a man «nd his wife and two little children. The table was well supplied, and the woman and children looked on with sparkling eyes, now and again making a pleasant joke, to be eagerly responded to, the sound of their merry laughter brightening the sordid apartment. But the man was .silent. “Oh, daddy dear, you don’t know how we longed and prayed for you to come back,” the smallest girl said in the midst of her enjoyment.- And Mamma and Willie and I used to ask God to send you back very soon, and I used to say quietly,, tend bring us lots to eat, cause we was very hungry.’ ” The man’s eyes filled with tears, and he turned away and looked steadily into the fire. “But it is all over now,” the mother said; “daddy has a fine job. When will you have to go back, dour?” she continued, addressing her husband.

\“Vory soon now,” ho answered

| quietly. “I may be called any mouncut-, and then I shall have to leave I, you.”

| “Hoiy nice of them to give you ! | three months’ salary in advance?” I “Yes, very nice,” he answered ab-sent-minded’.y; “take care ,cf that | money, in case I may not he table to i send you any for a long time.” '., j .! . ■ t ' V: '

She nodded a laughing reply. ■ “I think I will just take a walk ukl buy an evening paper,” ho said., after the children had been put- to bod.

“All right, dear, don't be long.” He went down the stairs and through the- hall to tho door. He innrd his name spoken in the street, incl shuffling of feet. Then he peeped through the keyhole and saw the little group of policemen that had stopped and were about to demand admittance.

He put his hand in liis vest pocket and waited.

The door was opened and- a lifeless body fell into the policeman’s' arms. “It wus that rag of a' hand kerchief that gave us the first clue,' said the detective to a reporter; “a murderer invariably leaves something to guide us. The handkerchief had not only the man’s name on it, but also a laundry mark. The rest was easy.” “Of course there is no doubt tin it he—’ ’ the reporter began. “Not the slightest; his very suicide proves that.” „ WOMEN AND WORK. Nearly every woman does her work in a different way from other women, says Christine To flume Herrick. She does not of necessity' perform specific duties in a peculiar way, but she has her own fashion of turning off her work or letting it weigh upon her^ One woman takes her work by toe hard handle, so to speak. If there is a difficult method of doing anything, that mo+hod she makes her own. She never sits down to any household duty, no matter if it would be easier to manage it that wav. To her mind tliere is a sort of excellence in a piece of work that is accomplished witn pain and discomfort, and the endeavor to lesson the strain is a sign of incornpetency. It is about time we, as housekeepers, overcome this sort of tiling. The trail of the Puritan conscience has been over us long enough and a change is due. A housekeeper should feel that she is not -doing her workin the best way when she makes it hard lor herself, and incidentally, for those who associate with her. Instead of this she should study to spare herself in every way. The tired woman is not always the cheerful woman, and when the home-maker-in-chief is low in her mind a cloud of gloom is likely to overhang the entire household. Too often housekeepers forget this. You cannot be tires and cross without showing it, and “taking it cut” on someone in some way. We don’t all of us show our lack of control in a hare-faced fashion, but the- fact that we do show it and that this is found in many households is more reason why women should study to do their work in a way which will bring less fatigue. There is an old hit of advice concerning the head and saving the heels. It is one lho housekeeper would do well to study and apply. There is nothing lazy in bearing as heavy a load as lho hands can carry, and no housekeeper feels she is taking life too easily when she does it. But she doesn’t give her mind to seeking ways to avoid unueoesKaTv work. When she .is going upstairs she does not always glance about, ln-r to see if there is not someihiiig at hand for which she will probably have to run down again in a few minutes. It seems easier to her to go empty-handed—or, at least, she probably does not think of it at all.

The housekeeper who bestows judgment upon the way in which she does her work has many ways of sparing herself. The woman who understands her work does not make it a tyrant. The woman whose housekeeping rules her goes on with her work —cooking and preserving, it may be—regardless of conditions and ends the day with the jars filled and cakes made and likewise with a headache, a backache and a pain in her temper. The independent woman looks over the work to be done, and if-she decides it will keep- for another day she postpones the work she has planned for another twenty-four hours, when conditions will he more favorable /and the work can he as well done. If he,r conscience is in an ■■unhealthy condition she may blame herself for this as for self-indulgence, but if she has practised common-sense methods long enough she will, probably be “primmed up with majestic pride” to think how wise and prudent a thing she has done. Another way in which the housekeeper who does her work has learned wisdom is with regard to doing things herself she can get someone else to do for her. Every, one has known women. —usually very good women, hy the way-—who seemed to feel a kind of hallowed pride in always bearing their own burdens anddenyin<r to others tho discipline ol taking a share of theirs. Such are the women who boast that they never ask their husbands to' carry up .wood or water, who never bother then eln.dren with offices of the home,_ but bring them up to he free of nn> gulden or knowledge of housework. There is no credit due a woman lor this. She has not learned how to work in the wisest way herself -ana she is denying her family the opportunity for lessons iff service and in practical housewifery. While every woman has her own ways of discharging domestic duties the really good worker is the one who disposes' of the household avocations with the leust weariness to herself, the least discomfort to her family, -as well fis Vv it'll the be>ib results to tho duties performed.

FASHION NOTES. Tin; present tendency of the fashion' of the season is to outline in dress the contour:;., of the body, rectifying here and there the departures from the perfect line with real artistic taste. The "soft, -lines of the figure are diseernable under the garments, with drooping shoulders, emphasised with shoulder straps. These are the results to 'which the science of the modern dressmaker has attained. Small and wasp-like waists are henceforth out q. fashion. The present smart figure is shortwaisted—quite trim in line, but perfectly easy in. movement—-and lias shoulders that are sloping whether they really ar so or not. .Bell-shaped skirts have vanished, and tunics, long or short, are the craze in every varioty and form. ‘Trotting' skirts hang very straight, have lost much fullness, ami are held out at the bottom by a few soft silk flounces, Petticoats must bo fitted to accord. That is important, else fulled and ruffled ones, old style,' are sure to quite destroy that slight clinging effect that is . now necessary tor smartness. Materials have always to be considered,, however. Those without much body require a self-trimming treatment to obviate any skimpness of effect. Pleated skirts, always so becoming and graceful, keep in vogue, happily, and with a popularity tlJat shows no signs of waning. Bias folds on long skirts giving finger-deep hem effects continue to be used, and the narrow | front panels 'hold their own. Where skirts are long and clinging, the bottom fullness remains ample, but it is extreme soft and supple, and this fulness is expected to fall as a train into a mass of drapery it poll the floor. The Directoire waistcoat promises to last, ami provision has been made lor very elegant effects in this regard. The two-button glove is assured of a successful season, although the advent of the long sleeve, and fair woman’s glove bill is likely to be smaller this winter than it has been within recent years. "Waist-belts arc especially pleasing this season, particularly the soft x silk designs, with a floral pattern of mauve-and purple orchids, finished with a square buckle in dull gold. Other effective waistbelts .are in heavily-pleated sill;, with enamel buckles of the .same tone, while another noticeable design is .shown in a hand of embroidered heading threaded with soft satin ribbon. There is perhaps no time when dress is so difficult as at the age a lien the wearers are described, according to trade parlance., as “the misses,” and yet mothers have oiteu this problem to solve. The young people of our days have their own voice in the matter. They cling to washing dress as loii"- as the season will admit, and these are generally cut, like serges and thin woollens, in blouse-dress fashion, bodice and skirt in one, lastening at the back. Many til these gowns are trimmed with Irish lace, and white gowns are worn whenever it is possible. Hill? gingham is useful, especially in checks; these are handed at the waist, opening in front;, over a lace vest. Home of them are made with rounded yoke, outlined with a galon. Deen collar hands are more fashionable than collars.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS

To Clean a Dirty Carpet Sweeper.— Take the brush out and remove all tlie bits of hair, cotton, and dust, also notice if there is any rubbish wound round tlie two projections on which the brush rests, and if so remove it. Oil the projections before putting the brush hack. This whole cleaning pro■scss should be gone through every week if you want the sweeper to work satisfactorily.

When turning out -a jelly dip the mould for one second in. a basin of hot water. Another method is to wring a cloth out of boiling water and place it for a moment round the mould. -Do not apply tho heat too long, or the jelly will run, and be u complete failure. Keep cold tea. It is the very best thing with which to w-ash the leaves of an aspidistra. A little, diluted slightly with water, poured all over the mould at the roots acts as a tonic. One of the most love-ly plants wo have ever seen is treated this way. Shoes should never be put away in a cupboard after wearing without being well aired, and remember that a very little neats’-foot oil well rubbed into' the leather or kid occasionally, will lengthen its life considerably. Cups and jugs should occasionally be scrubbed round the handles with -a well-soaped brush. Unless this is done they are almost certain- to get a grimy look there that is unappetising. Don’t use soda, for washing china with gilt on it. If you do don’t be surprised if the gilt gradually disappears. Use a good yellow soap as a cleansing agent, and no harm will be done.

To remove stains on knives, or steel of any kind, dip a cloth in liquid ammonia and then into hriok-dusb or emery paw-dor, and with it o-ub the stain, which will rapidly disappear. Another plan is to mb tho knife with a, cut raw potato dipped in emery powder or brick-dust or .any other knife powder. After using onions rub the hands with celery. Tho outside leaves can always bo,kept for this purpose.

Raisins will stone more easily if slightly warmed, and candied peel should always be" placed in the oven before cutting up. Stains on hands are easily removed after a morning in the kitchen if they are., first rubbed -with a cut lemon dipped in salt, and then washed with soap and warm water. Table sailt is apt to bo troublesome in winter weather. Mix with i> a small quantity of cornfloor her-ore putting it in the eel>A, and it will not then, become lumpy. Eggs covered with boiling water, and allowed to stand for five minutes aro more nourishing mid more easily digested than eggs placed in boilimr water 'and allowed to Jxjil riui-ousl-v for threo and a-halt minutes. Salt oh Dandles: If tho wick of candles are salted before lighting there* will be no spluttering or dripping. Take fine table salt between the .fingers and rub it well into the wick. You will be surprised at the clour light, . and there will bo no groaso to wipe up.