THE LADIES' WORLD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2420, 8 February 1909, Page 7

THE LADIES' WORLD

DAINTY DRAWING-ROOMS. Perhaps the most important feature to decide in the treatment of the modern drawing-room is whether it is to represent the individuality of the owner or whether it is to be a mere show-room which displays 'the taste of the upholsterer. > As period drawing-rooms are much inTW'Oguo, you may choose a Georgian drawing-room. In that case the line of severer and plainness must be your guide, -ihc walls and cliimney-picces may he panelled in white with the Adam style of decoration, those beautiful designs so beloved by all artistic minds, while chairs and tables should bo Chippendale or Sheraton mahogany, and the spindle-legged variety of that period. No modern knick-knacks, no ornate cushions, no hundred and one trifles, must destroy the severe beauty of that room. Bowls of blue china, filled with flowers yyviy rest upon the round mahogany 'tables, and ornaments of Georgian silver may decorate sparsely the mant-le-piece. It would foe well, too, if the lights of the Georgian drawing-room were furnished by wax candles in silver eandelbra, and these might he placed in sconces against the walls in order to diffuse the light. As a contrast t-o this I may mention that one of the prettiest drawingrooms I know was furnished by a French woman, although there was [roallv nothing distinctively French

-in the whole room. But the general dT/uosphere was one of brightness and of lightness, and a certain radiance seemed always to emanate from the walls. . A general scheme m French taste is of walls covered in a golden _ brocaded paper. Frieze of white with a running pattern of dull blues and gold. Carpet, dull blue Axminstcr. Couch iand chairs covered in dull blue and white cretonne of an oldfashioned design. Here and there an occasional table in dark rosewood,, and twat Sheraton chairs. An old-fash-Jp tied spinning wheel in one corner. - ji' palm in another corner placed on a high rosewood stand in a gilded basket. Flowers everywhere. Electric light concealed in bulbs held by a swing'ug cupid. Curtains, dullblue silk, shaded by a second pair of embroidered net at the windows. ‘POTATO JUICE AS A FURNITURE POLISH. Picture-frames of varnished wood, hung out of reach of the weekly rubup with leather and polish which the "Yjiousemaid devotes to the rest of the furniture are seldom as bright as they might be. An old-fasihione'tl method of polishing them, to which the housekeeper of many years ago used to pin her faith, was, however, that of washing the frames once or twice in a season with potato water. A cloth dipped in the water was rublied over the wooden part of the frame, while a match or a skewer inserted in a corner of the cloth_ effectually dislodged any accumulation of dust in the crevices of the moulding. To make the notato liquor .all that i-> accessary is to wash and peel a few - potatoes, and then to slice them very finely, placing the shavings overnight in a bowlful of water. A clean leather must be employed as a burnisher aftStthe wood is dry, and this, combine#/ with the wash, should produce a brilliant gloss which will last a considerable time.

NURSERY TIME-SAVERS. Lace Loots are much hotter for you children than buttoned tootgear.° The shanks of the button are , apt to press on the instep ,or ankle, R% r a using discomfort, while a maximum amount of support is afforded to the ankles when it is possible to draw m the laces at will. Pure glycerine should never be rubbed on children’s hands or ankles in the cold weather. .If glycerine is used it should be diluted witn rosewater —one part of the former to three parts of the latter—-or with honey. „ ~. . ” . Stockings or socks which require much darning should always be mended with shrunk wool. To shrink a . card or skein of ..wool, all that is ne"Ycessary is, moreover, to hold it over ' the spout of a steaming kettle for a few minutes. . . , The backs of wooden nursery blushes should be polished with oil and vinegar to prevent the wood hom cracking owing to frequent washing. If ammonia is used to clean tne bristles, it should not be allowed to stain the polished backs. To keep ti tin of oa tineal-pow cl or hand on the nursery wash-hand stand ■will prevent the skin from chapping powder is rubbed over the cnildren’s hands as well ms the knees, ankles, and calves of the logs altei ” Agents to the doll family can often bo easily remedied by ingenuity. To give a doll a no* leg its stocking or sock should be filled with sawdust and the cop sewed on to a piece of an old glove. Ibis in its turn should be attached to the starcMng°ohllclreii 7 s troche, it fa a good plan to use soapsuds instead of°water in mixing the starch. The latter not only gives a good the material, but also prevents the \ iron from sticking when pressing. THE WOMAN WHO HAS METHOD.

The woman who takes as ,ier life motto “Do it at once, is the w who is not hounded joy an accusing conscience. The. modern prayer foi forgiveness is- chiefly for things have not done. . . ~ The only time one is sure of is tno „ present; putting off for some more convenient moment is to fay up * reputation for procrastination or slovenliness. ■,, , . The woman who believes that to apologise is to accuse will rarely have to back water on her belief if she gets into the do-it-at-once habit. Do it at once is another name tor the “little drops of water”’ precept of childhood. The “mighty ocean of accumulated duties wil never ~ swamp you if each-wave is breasted as it comes. , ’ . ~ Doing it at once smoothes the patn of life and smoothers complaint and criticism. ■ , . Much fret and nerve racking come from postponing the duties that might ' iust as well be cleared off at once. One is worried until they are done, and more worried if they are not d °The girl who sews the first tear nevl tSs to take a day off for mend- : in* • '

The housekeeper who writes down an order when the cook says it is '.ranted; avlio cleans off one finger mark rather than huge smears; who believes in straightening up when needed, rather than spasms of cleanliness, is the one whose household machinery never gets clogged. The woman who puts an advertisement in the papers when tho cook first gives warning rarely has to roughen her hands building the kitchen fire and peeling potatoes. The girl who answers invitations the minute she gets them never will bo mortified by being called up over tho telephone to know if she is coming. The woman who sends her cheques as scon as she gets her bill, who returns her obligation calls within a week, who gets off her gifts to a bride the day the cards come, who answers her letters immediately, never has to work the excuse, of forgetfulness, overtime. The woman who does tho nice thing when she thinks of it, who says tho kindly words as she goes along, who inquires for the invalid when she first hears she is ill, is not tormented by regrets when reading death notices.