THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2636, 19 October 1909, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

BASHFULNESS. The girl who has never known what it mpans to be consumed with bashfulness has much to be thankful for. It cannot be a pleasant sensation to be painfully conscious of oneself; indeed, it is so unpleasant; that the girl who 'knows she is shy should do everything possible to overcome her natural sell. Eor a defect it is. Many a nice girl lias had her life spoiled by shyness. Because she does not feel at case, because meeting strangers is an effort, she-is never unite her natural self. Shyness aueets different girls differently. Sometimes it makes them unpleasantly reserved. As unbending is hard, they do not attempt it, and shut themselves’ out from pleasant friendships and opportunities for advancement.

The bashful girl acquires the habit of declining invitations, not because she does not long for a good time like other but because slie js so selfconscious that the thought of taking her rightful place in society is alarming’. She wants to go out, but is afraid she will not appear to advantage, and before long invitations cease to come her way.

Many a girl who is disliked for her indifference is really shy. She wants and needs friends, but does not know bow to make them. Often her shyness takes the form of brusquerio, and she gains an unfortunate reputation for .“snappishness.” TVoi'st of all is if when hash fulness is masked by “showing-eff.” The girl is conscious of herself, but seeks to hide it by a blatant manner. She talks loudly, does and says silly things, makes herself conspicuous, not because it is her nature, but because she is ill at ease and trying to bluff it off.

Sometimes bashfulness comes from lack of opportunity. The girl lias never been thrown much with people, therefore is wanting in the self-possess-ion which comes from long habit. If she has lived a retired life, let her make an effort to mingle with people. She should, if possible, join a club and become 1 accustomed to bear a part iii general conversation. Often a girl is shy from sup or.sensitiveness. bhe may have too bumble an opinion of herself; she feels people do not care for her; perhaps slie has been .made self-conscious through the snubs and ridicule of older members of her family. TVhat she needs is to cultivate lier vanity. Let her feel: “I am well worth liking,” and soon tlio blighting thought that her friends do not want her around will bo forgotten.

CLEANING GOLD LACE. Gold and silver lace are never veryenviable possessions unless a well-train-ed maid can be depended upon to see that.a sudden change in the weather docs not result in a ruinous dimming of the metal threads. It is of little use putting the lace away in any -wrapping, b’ut that of black paper, and gold embroideries of every description are always preserved in black tissue paper before they are use by dressmakers and milliners. Rock alum is a very old remedy Untarnished gold lace. TVlien our soldier grandfathers wore heavy epaulettes on their uniforms, burnt rock alum was greatly in request, as well as for tlie rich embroideries in gold thread which decorated the gowns of their woman kind, from the elaborate court mantle to th© fillets in their hair. The alum was sifted to a very fine powder, the powder being strewn over the tarnished goldwork and.-left to sink in to the embroidery overnight before it was brushed off.

Another remedy for gold as well as silver lace consisted in sewing it in a piece of linen or an old pillow-case, and then boiling it in a saucepan containing a pint of water and two ounces of shredded soap. . Finally the lace requires to be well-rinsed and then dried. TOILET NOTES'. Olive oil, slightly warmed, is excellent as a means of softening the s'kin round the nails. Every night and morning tlie finger tips should be dabbed for a lew minutes with tlio oil, alter which they should be dipped in soapsuds, the nails manicured, and the skin round them,'especially that of the first finger and thumb, massaged gently with a good skin food. In rubbing skin food on tlie face, particular attention should be paid to the lines round tlio moutli, which, if not treated with care, are apt to degenerate into wrinkles. One side should be massaged at a time, the tongue being first pushed as forcibly against the cheek so as to press out the lines, when the fingers can work in the cream, the muscles being afterwards pinched and rolled gently with the tips of the first’ finger and thumb till a healthy glow is experienced. Few lotions are more soothing to a skin which smarts' after exposure to the sun and wind than elder-flower water. It acts, besides, as a bleach, and will do much to obviate the tanning from which many women suffer in summer. Borax and rosewater represent a good antidote for freckles. Ini tlio case of delicate skins, however, a little face cream should afterwards be applied, as the remedy is apt to prove too drastic. DON’T FOR BRIDES. Don’t, because you are married to the man you love, cease to take an intelligent interest in outside matters, and remember always to take great pans to make yourself look atractive. Before you married you exerted yourself to please your sweetheart; youeonsidered liis wishes in all tilings, and deferred to hs judgment. Do so still. Don’t drift into the habit of discussing your husband with your friends, if lie- has vexed you, perhaps by being a little irritable whe lie comes home after a long day’s work. It is not to be wondered that ho should bo tired, so no notice should be taken of tlio fact if be is not in the best of tempers. Believe in your husband. Let him feel that you kow the best in him. Be gentle with him ; don’t contradict him when he is tired ; feed him with what lie likes and laugh at his jokes. Herein lies the secret of a happy home.

‘ THE BEST QUALITY, f The wife who aims at being a. real helpmate should bear in mind. that she.will require courage often amounting to heroism; she will also need that loving' sympathy, that is every true 1 woman’s birthright, and the most endearing of all qualities. This is wliat will stand her in the greatest stead, for it is a quality that inspires and encourages a man. Women cannot exist without affection—tlio craving to be eared for is in each of us, active or dormant; and that is tlio explanation, if people only knew it, of a great many apparent contradictions in our characters.