THE LADIES’WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2489, 30 April 1909, Page 7

THE LADIES’WORLD.

THE CZARITSA’S WARDROBE.

The Czaritsa takes no interest whatever in her clothes, and, though her costumes are, of course, well made and of expensive materials, they never have anything remarkably distinctive about them, for the very reason that she cares so little about the matter. She does much of her shopping in Paris, but she does it by proxy. Each season one # pf the ladies-in-waiting is commisskSi'ed to buy in Paris her gowns and lier hats and all the other little details appropriate for the wardrobe of an empress, but anany times when they reach the Czaritsa she discards them with the expression, “Indeed, that is perfectly lovely and very Frenchy, but it would never do for me at, all.” For everyday wear her gowns are all of the ' plainest, but, of course, there are occasions when she must wear regal robes. Her court costume is a magnificent creation of the richest satin, elaborately trimmed wrth heavy embroidery. .Masses of the embroidery are used, while the corsage is laden with jewelled ' trimming. , The buttons which trim •this court costume are each of them •worth a small fortune. They consist of a large pearl in a wonderfully artistic setting. The Czaritsa’s pearls, which she wears with this costume, are famous the world over.' Sometimes she wears .drop-earrings of matched pearls, which hr© very valuable, and her dog co’lar ~ and necklace and corsage ornaments, also of pearls, are almost priceless. The Czaritsa'is always glad when the time" comes for her to take off her court costume, the long heavy train is a burden to her. She always prefers gowns that> are light in weight. Many of " her dresses are of the lingerie order, consisting of lace and fine cambric. Yet, on the other hand, she has many housegowns, and cloaks of velvet, trimmed with rare laces. Perhaps, of all her jewels, she prefers a long string of wonderful pearls, which she wears very often. The string is so long that she can wear it twice around her neck, and yet "have the longest loop reach 'her knees. The short loop comes to the waistline and is finished with one single pearshaped pearl of enormous value. CARROTS AS A DECORATION. Most of us must have admired the graceful foliage of this prosaic and usoful vegetable, which is best seen to advantage when growing. A few fronds of the fem-like greenery afford a charming addition to a vase of even expensive blooms, especially at a time when "flowers are scarce. But do you know that an old carrot crown may he turned into a thing of beauty? Well, it can be done without any trouble. Cut the carrot so that about an inch is left at the top or crown —not the. point, you understand. Stand this crown in a saucer of water, and keep it in a dark place until you see it beginning to sprout. You may then iput it into a pretty glass plate, or a shallow vase, still keeping the carrot stump covered with water. Stand the vase •in a sunny window, or on the. mantelpiece, if fhere is no sun, and in a few days you will note- with delight that several” tall, graceful fronds are growing. You mav up the dish or vase with moss, or - "even with small pebbles or shells, and among these sprinkle a few seeds of cress or canary seed. Keep all well supplied with water, and you will have a most charming table ornament. Here is .another method. —Cut the carrot off about three inches from the end, and with a small £liarp knife hollow out the inside of this stump. Do not let the knife cut right through. >!ow make a hole on each side of the "piece of carrot and through this pass a, "piece of twine or baby ribbon,, and (suspend the carrot head downwards at the window; fill the hollow with water, and in a few days you will have the pleasure of seeing the foliage grow fresh and green. HOUSEHOLD HINTS. About Toilet Bottles: Toilet bottles which have contained brilliantine or -other oily liquids can bo cleaned by putlog into the bottle a few narrow strips of blotting-paper and pouring in a little vinegar and warm water, in which a good piece of washing soda has bO'ey dissolved. The mixture should be shaken well in the bottle, after which the blotting-paper should be removed and the bottle rinsed in warm water.

Singeing a Chicken: When one is singeing a chicken one is often annoyed at the manner in which the flesh is blackened. Every .good cook likes to see a clejnliy-singed chicken. This,may easily be managed by putting, a small quantity of alcohol into a saucer, setting it alight, and holding the chicken over it. This is both a clean 1 ier and less dangerous method than the oldfashioned one of employing burning paper. Very little alcohol must, however,, bo used at a time, as it flares up readily. Cloudy Marble Washstand: Try the following on your red marble: —Take a quarter of a pint each of soapsuds and ox-gall, and half that quantity of turpentine. Mix them together, adding enough Fullers’ earth to form a rather stiff paste. Dust the marble well, and then apply a coating of the paste. Leave for-two days, and then wipe off with clear water, and dry with soft cloths. If the marble has been very neglected it is possible that another application of the paste will be necessary. All colored marbles can be cleaned with the aid of this preparation. . Care of the Piano: The dusting and " polishing of the piano, whether it be a new and valuable baby grand or the bumble and more cosy upright, should never he left to the maid, but should be done by the daughter of the 'house herself. It should be dusted with a fine cheesecloth or linen cloth, or, better still, with an old silk handkerchief. There should be neither'seam nor nem in the dust-cloth, as any inequality or "hardness is apt to scratch the piano polish. The piano should never stand c 7 ose against the wall; if (practicable, even the upright should stand fu.lv out ■iar' tho room. The direct rays on the suri upon it, dampness, and draughts, all should be carefully avoided.