THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2563, 26 July 1909, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

MEN AND WOMEN. Nothing will do more to ease the present misunderstanding between men and women, says a writer in ‘Appleton’s Alagaziue”—one of the best American magazines—than a clear appreciation of humanity, If>wom-en, tiring of their own great power and place as mothers, should wish to exchange it for the father’s place—we might think it foolish; but wc need not be alarmed —they cannot do it. If they further became so enamoured of the attributes of the other sex as to desire to have whiskers, moustaches, and chin- beards —or even to desire to shave daily ;if they sought to develop bass voices, broad shoulders, and coarser and hair ier skin —then we might, indeed, condemn their folly ; but as before, we need not bo alarmed —they cannot do it. The essential attributes of the sex' are not detachable and exchangeable at will. Our terror as to this impossibility has been almost absurd, most utterly without' foundation. To fill the place of wife and mother nobly and well is to do one’s duty as a fomal-e. To fill the place of husband and father nobly and well is to do one’s duty as a male." All other duty is human and obligatory upon us both. Alen and women alike must learn to disentangle the three terms. To man it means the relinquishment of much illegitimate honor; and it is not easy for him. To the woman it will give a power, freedom, and dignity hitherto unknown, to the vast improvement of her special work as well as the general. And to humanity it will give a now lease of life—a new ora —the first attempt at balanced, rational, natural civilisation.

STRANGE WEDDING GIFTS. Not infrequently wedding gifts are the outcome of jealousy, spleen, ;or malice. A well-known author received on his marriage from a rival man of letters a scrap-book, containing a collection of all the adverse criticism his works had ever received; while a popular artist was, on a similar occasion, presented with a set of elementary works upon self-instruction in drawing and painting. Unusually vexatious was tho gift received from his neighbors by an infirm octogenarian, who had wed a pleasure-loving woman more than 50 years his junior. It took the form of a large brass cage, “intended”—so ran the subscriber’s note —“to restrain the wayward flights of a giddy young wife who had married a decrepit old fool for his money/’

The husband of a lady whose great beauty was discounted by her sharp tongue found among bis wedding presents a scold’s bridle or branlcs-—a gift from his wife’s sisters, with the hope that “if Kate makes your life as unbearable as she has oursj you will not hesitate to put the accompanying offering to its original use.” “I willingly countenance your marriage with my daughter,” wrote a physician to his prospective son-in-law, “conditionally on your accepting as a wedding present—her mother. As a wife she has not been a success; as a mother-in-law.’, she is at least problematical. At all. events I can endure her temper no longer, and as she expresses a wish to live with her daughter, I am sending her along by the next train.” In due course ..the lady arrived, and has lived with the young couple ever since. ... , , ■ • . • • • Some wags thought they would play a joke on an -English vicar, a man ol exceedingly meek and retiring disposition, wlio regarded all athletic sports with an unfavorable eye. So on the occasion of his marriage they sent him a set of boxing gloves and a copy of “Boxiana.” But the reverend gentleman rose to the occasion; he accepted tho nresent with warm thanks; sold it, and distributed the money gained thereby among poor parishoners.

GOOD RECIPES

Kidney Toast.—Two sheep’s kidneys, one teaspoonful of tomato ketchup, one ounce butter, a few drops of vinegar, salt, and cayenne, yolk of an egg, and buttered toast. Remove the skin from two fresh sheep’s kidneys. Chop them finely, season with pepper, salt and cayenne, also a teaspoonful of tomato ketchup. Dissolve the butter in a stewpan, place the kidneys in it, and stir them about until they are sufficiently cooked. Take off the fire, add tlie vinegar and the beaten yoj'k of an egg. Beat all together, and spread on hot buttered toast. Curried Fish.—This dish is made from the remains of cold fish. Chop up the fish into fairly large pieces, or pull it into flakes with forks, and carefully remove all the bones. Cook some rice in salt water f0r.25. minutes, drain it, and rinse it in cold water. Boil two or three eggs hard, according to the quantity of fish (there should be about equal quantities of fish, egg, and rice), and /mince them finely, yolk and white together. Put a large lump of butter into a saucepan with the juice of a lemon, and two good pinches of currypowder. Season- to taste, and mix all ingredients well together over the fire. Place the mixture in a shallow dish, sprinkle it with some dried breadcrumbs, which have been passed through a sieve, put some little pieces of butter on the top,- place the dish in the oven from five to ten minutes, and serve very hot. Plain Custard.—One tablcspoonful of cornflour, one pint of milk, two eggs, and flavoring to taste. Take a heaped teaspoonful of cornflour, moisten it with a little cold milk, and work till all is perfectly smooth. Stir into this a pint of boiling milk, return it to tho saucepan, and stir over the fire till it is the right consistency, and the cornflour tastes cooked. Draw the pan to tho side of the fire, and when the contents have cooled a little, add tivo beaten ,eggs and ’ any essence liked as a flavoring. Cook for a few. minutes just to set the eggs. Pour into a basin, stir occasionally, to prevent a skin from forming over the top. Serve when coldin glasses. , .