THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2530, 17 June 1909, Page 7

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

LOOKING COMMON IN STYLISH ' ' DRESS.

A largo proportion of the girls and women in’.England have not jet grasped the fact that clothes in themselves will never make anyone “a lady"; it .is the woman who wears them who pretties the point one way or the other; the clothes she dons are simply the outward and visible expression of the mind, the artistic perception and the refinement of that woman. Has

she no mind at all worth mentioning? Then she whatever fashion and the shopkeepers decree, irrespective of .intrinsic -merit or individual suitability. Has she no artistic perception? Then she wears any monstrosity in the way of shape, and any hideous combination of colors, that she is told is ‘‘stylish" and the “latest thing.” Is she lacking in refinement? Then her dress will be as loud and as ornate as her purse permits, unquestionably a gentlewoman can often be recognised by her attire; but it would be most erroneous to attribute this to the clothes tier ■ so; and it is the woman herself who proclaims what she is by her preference in dress, and the manlier in which she -wears her clothes. It is curious that the average woman overlooks one essential fact; that tho moment she becomes “stylish" she .becomes cheap and common', she at once brings herself down to a level with the most unintelligent laundry hand and the chorus girl of the worst type. For “styles," whether in dress, in entertainment. in furnishing, or in mode of living, arc! not made for the intelligent ; the intelligent create their own standards and preserve their own individualities in their appearance and living. It is for the unintelligent, who have not the mental capacity to do aught but follow what others set before them, that “styles" are created. 'What is known as a “stylish woman," whether the adjective is applied to her dress or her home and what emanates from it, is invariably a woman deficient in the power that makes for a distinctive personality. A milliner’s catalogue has two departments: “StyJisli Hats" and “Individual Hats. ’ Here the distinction is intelligently and sharply drawn. To be of the thousands in to be “stylish" ; to be out 'fertile thousands is to be “individual." f This is a distinction that thousands of Englishwomen fail to see; the fact that they declare themselves intelligent just in proportion as they are “individual” or “stylish" in modes or methods: that it is cheap to be “stylish” ; that they cheapen themselves.

CHEAP JEWELLERY*. At one time it was considered almost a crime to wear any but genuine jewellery, and many people still cling to this idea; yet cheap ornaments of this kind are now' made, so well designed and worked that the notion is fast dying out. At some of the Oriental 'shops and bazaars, especially in largo towns, one can often pick up blouse "buttons, brooches, and lace pins which anyone might like to year. Soriie very pretty sets are for pinning the turn<iown collars so much worn at present, cither in silk or viyella, and the stones employed are said to be real thoxigli inexpensive. The setting, however, is not real gold. .These sets can be had in different colors to match the blouse, nnd answer capitally for pinning ties, ribbon belts, lace scarves, etc. Lucky beans, too. are sold in very large quantities, in shops of this description, set either in real or imitation gold, and used as charms for bangles or watch -chains. „, . , ' All sorts of other odds and ends can he had also in such shops—set of cheap plates for dessert, early morning tea sets, Oriental draperies, and materials suitable for cushions, etc. tithing looks so pretty as frills to finish these latter, but they are now slightly out of date, and a piping generally appears round the edge, giving a much haruei effect. HOUSEHOLD HINTS. boiling rice try adding a little ltfmou juice to the water. This gives tlic rice a nice white appearance and keeps the grains well separated. Glass tumblers wdien being fined with hot water, should be stood on a tray or table. They are thus far less likely to crack than if held in the ha To Brighten Tinware: Begin by rubbing the article with, a well-soaped flannel to remove all stains, then, dry, -and polish with a dry flannel dipped in whiting. Give a final rub up with a wash-leather.. To Clean Trays: Never pour hot water on japanned trays or their surface Avill crack and peel off. The right plan is to wash them with a little warm, soapv water, dry with a cloth, and polish with a little dry flour. To Clean Marble: Use yellow soap and water, to which a little ox-gall has been added. If the marble be greasestained, cover the spots with a paste made of fuller’s earth and hot water, and let it remain till the next day, then wash it off xvitli soap. Zinc-covered tables save- a great deaf of time to kitchen and-scullery, and they are easy to keep immaculate.y •clean. Nothing is better for the purpose than powdered bathbiiclc used •with soap. To polish, give a rub Avith dry Avhitmg and finish off with a chamois leather. Any ordinary kitchen table can he covered Avitlv zinc at a very small cost bv the home-carpenter, and once done, it Avill last for ever, as folks .say. , The Kitchen Range: Polish the steelwork of the kitchen range Avith powdered batlihrick and turpentine, and then ' rub the steel over Avith a cloth dipped in paraffin. This plan keeps aAvay rust ~,,(1 the steel will last bright for a long time. To clean a greasy grate or ran"e use blacldcad -moistened with a warm solution of common washing : Apply it With a woollen cloth, .and t,hen PT poli.sh off with-a brush.