THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2537, 25 June 1909, Page 7

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

“FREAK” NAMES. Should parents be permitted to give “freak” 'names to their children The question is raised (says a London paper) by the remark Mr. Troutbeck made at an inquest on a child with the name of “Sunny Jim.” “Children,” said the Coroner, “should be protected against assan fii.of this kind.” Registrars of births, an official at Somerset House pointed out, have power to refuse the registration of cer : tain names —names tliat suggest blas-p-lieniv. for instance—'but rarely do they refuse names, even of the “freak” order, which parents strongly desire. If they refuse such names, the parents could still adopt them in ordinary use. “Parents do hot realise what a handicap an extraordinary Christian name is to a child, especially to a bpy,” said a London schoolmaster. “It is always a handle for chaff, and the unfortunate bearer of it is -pover allowed any peace.” • Chi'dren born into the world in times of national excitement often receive a name suggesting the particular event or person that is uppermost in the public mind. Thus during the South African war there were scores of registrations of .Bullers, Roberts, Mafekings, Pretorias, and so forth. Among cases of curious Christian names which have recently come to light through the courts was one of seven brothers all registered as . “William Harris.” They "are known as “William Harris, No. I,” “William Harris, No. 2,” and so on. At an inquest in Suffolk net long ago the Christian name of one of the witnesses was Maher-shal-al-hnsh-baz. In another instance a woman had the name of “Quinine.” SOCIABLE AMERICA. “Shut the door and let us be prL "vate!” says the Englishman. In New York the door is never shut. There is no privacy, and one might almost say there are no doors except the outer one which closes the house to the street. A New York public man recently talked of familv life in America. He lauded it to the skies. He told of happy family gatherings of father, mother, sons, and daughters around the steam radiator in the “parlor.” He described aames of checkers, pianola- playing, and the putting together of those maddening picture puzzles. “ha Sabbath” evenings specially brought forth .his eloquent praises. The house had nineteen rooms in it, and every imaginable convenience. lliere were front and back drawing-rooms, breakfast-room, dining-room, library, front and rear bedrooms, bathrooms, with shower-baths and marble tubs and basins. “Now. where’s yow den( asked the Englishman. “Den! ’ said the American. “Man, I haven t an inch of room in the whole house tliat I can call my very own. It belongs.to all of us to share and share alike. There isn’t a room I may go into and lock tho door to keep the rest ol the family out. This house has everything except privacy. There’s mighty little of that to be found in any American home. My house is a typical doorless American home.” THE IDEAL VISITOR. The agreeable guest is one who is not alwavs thinking of her own good times. She is ready for any gaiety, but dees not look injured when pleasures are slack. The girl who can con-, tent herself with a book" or fancy work when her hostess is busy will never have a sigh of relief drawn for her leaving. The agreeable guest knows how to “fit in.” She wins the heart of the old grandmother, and has the children a her heels. She will cheerfully help when the maid leaves, or will preside at a meal in the sudden absence of her hostess. Aggressiveness has lost many a girl coveted invitations. No one hankers for the society of a person who forces her personality. It is as possible to be aggressively agreeable as aggressively disagreeable. The girl of neutral manners may not bo but sho is renoseful." The agreeable guest is not cranky, officious, hypercritical, nor given to showing off, monopolising conversation, and demanding attention. She appreciates what is done for her, and never thinks of fault-find-ing at what is not done. HINTS. If velvet gets crushed from pressure hold the parts over a basin of hot water with the lining of the article next the water. The pile will soon rise and assume its original beauty. . Instead of darning ajarge hole in the heel or tee of a stocking, make a crochet patch. Cut away the worn part, then crochet round the edge, putting the hook through the material. Continue working round and round, narrowing to give the proper shape, tUJ the hole is filled up. _ , To Blue in Hard Water.—Take the usual amount of bluing, mix it with two tablcspoonfuls of sweet milk. Stir in * the rinsing water until the desired shade. Then rinse the clothes as usual. They wi'l never streak. A* Tonic for the Hair.—An excellent and cheap tonic may be made from one. part paraffin and three parts . eau-de-Cologne. If used after washing the hair it will make it beautifully g ossy lookin'- besides strengthening and nourishing it considerably. Apply with a soft brush, and afterwards .give the hair an even, vigorous brushing with a slightly harder brush. , To Iveep Outdoor Brass Bright.— Clean the brass as usual, then rub it carefully over with a soft cloth dipped in vaseline, and afterwards polish with a dry duster. This will keep it from tarnishing quickly,- even in the dampest weather, and is very little extra trouble. , Rusty Tinware..— Tinware often gets rusty because it is kept in. a damp place, such as ,a steamy kitchen: It, vou must keen it in the kitchen, rub over with a slightly oiled . rag after washing and drying. . This prevents the damp from affecting it. lo remove the rust rub with sweet oil ami whiting,and afterwards wash and polish _in the usual way. _____