The Ladies* Magazine.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2652, 6 November 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Ladies* Magazine.

THE HOSTESS AND THE BREAKFAST TABLE

SOME ATTRACTIVE NOVELTIES — LINEN AND CHINA IDEAS—THE TEA SERVICE AND THE NEW TEA TRAY.

('From the "Daily Mail.’’)

In these days cf rapid invention the home is perhaps least neglected, and many are the tasteful novelties that are being evolved to add to its daintiness. They may seem little, scarcely noticeable, things for the most part, hut they go far towards achieving the comfort and distinction of the home. To start .at the beginning of the day, our breakfast tables are laden with appointments unknown to our grandmothers. One of the most recent additions to these accessories is the silver poached egg slice with which that difficult task of landing an egg cooked in this fashion on to a plate is accomplished in safety. Another real need is supplied in the hot water jug fixed into a silver stand, so that the heat does not affect the varnish of the table. . t. A charming novelty is the individual marmalade jar for each plate, a pretty little green china, pot .with a silver lid and spoon; while honey in the comb is served in a specially designed square china dish with a bee on the cover to .form a handle and give some indication of the contents. ■ AN IDEA FROM IRELAND.

Plain, fine Irish linen cloths inlet with real Irish guipure have almost entirely taken the place pf the damask that used to be our pride. And the fancy is on the increase for using, instead' of a cloth, sets of embroidered and lace-edged table mats, of which the exquisite fineness is thrown into relief by the rich oak or mahogany on which they repose. ■ Another growing fashion is that of having strips. of damask down each side and at either end of the table, leaving the polished centre free to reflect the beautiful bowls of flowerssome tables one sees these arranged in vases, which are placed in. the centre of an Irish potato rmg. To the uninitiated let it be known that this is a large ring of perforated silver in which a serviette was placed for holding' roast potatoes. These?* were used in Ireland for a few years at about 1773, and are now being copied from old designs. A fashion which prevails on the Continent and in America has recently < been gaining ground here for having specially designed fish and poultry services with appropriate decorations. These take the form cf beautiful handpaintings of birds and. fish in exquisite natural coloring.' The ordinary dinner service is used for the rest of the meal. DAINTY TRIFLES WOMEN ARE MAKING. ‘ The modern tea-table reveals itself rather as a revival of old- models than as presenting any striking, evidence of latter-day originality. The fashionable tea service is an 'exact copy of beautiful old Staffordshire ware. .Yet the tea-cosy, which has only; • recently re- • turned, to favor, is seen in a. distinctly novel form. It appears to be nothing more or,less than- a beautifully dressed.doll with a china face surrounded by . a dainty little muslin and lace'cap and voluminous silken skirts in beautiful colors with pannier draperies. This pretty novelty is greatly appreciated by any stray guest. A great many women are making themselves embroidered tea-trays. These are done with trails of roses in rib-' bon work on a silk ground, and are mounted under glass in mahogany, rims. Tea-cloths are of the most elaborate description—very often a mass' of real lace, while (the dainty tea serviettes are embroidered' around the edge and at the corners by hand. With regard to the furnishings of our writing tables, .ladies of former days would have been astonished at our rapid changes of taste in this direction. The latest craze is for enormous envelopes measuring . seven inches across, to take flat sheets of paper which are so popular. The ertswhile universal linen paper is being rapidly superseded by parchment, of an azixre hue, .the envelopes being sealed with white or silver wax. This wax is fixed into a silver holder, so that there is no risk of burning the fingers when using .. it. ■ ■ ' - THE CAPTIVE. PENCIL. The ©active pencil is a clever and recent invention to insure against the Invariable disappearance at the wrong moment of this necessary implement. These pencils are attached to little - drains with run through a small hole at the top of a metal' pedestal, from which they hang. There is a weight at the end of the chain, so that after the pencil has been drawn out for use it automatically returns to its hanging position. ' - The minute mother-of-pearl, clock, not more than, an inch in height,, is a welcome adjunct on the writing table, as it keeps one notified of the .passing of the hours without distracting our attention by doing so too aggressively. On our dress-tables, again, we effect changes by a series of revivals, the lace-covered box pincushion being used a great deal. The newest lingerie pincushions have, in addition to handembroideries, little needlepoint lace Tjird« on them. The hat pincushion supplies a modern demand, and is found in a variety of forms, one being » tall tube shape, ■weighted underneath, and covered 1 with muslin and lace.

SANDWICHES FOR ALL OCCASIONS.

NEW RECIPES FOR FILLINGS. The. sandwich continues to hold its ground as the staple in light refreshments. The hostess makes quite as deep an impression with the quality of her sandwiches as with her novelties of entertainment. The time, the occasion, and the nature of the party or festival will determine the kind to he made. Ham, chicken, and all heavy meat sandwiches are more/appropriate for afternoon gatherings, such as sewing and reading circles, and the like, since appetites are naturally sharp at that time, and something more solid than dainty is preferred. For after dinner parties, clubs, or church leagues privately entertained, those with nut, fish, cheese, or fruit fillings are generally more in favor. To make a perfect sandwich the first essential is a breadknife of razorlike keenness that - will cut straight and even, and good homemade wheat breadat least a day old. The wide, oldfashioned loaves from which a slice may be divided into two "heels” are excellent for this purpose, hut whore these are not available carefully-selected baker’s loaves will serve. A square sandwich too large to be in good taste may be cut into two triangles. An over dainty, thin,-or niggardly sandwich, however, is quite as ridiculous as the over-generous and bulky jone, if not more offensive. 13read that is coarse, and has a tendency to •"crumb” must be avoided, for nothing is quite so annoying to a fastidious guest as to brush up crumbs with hqr^finders or to watch, guard, and patrol them on her napkin. She would not .be guilty of the sort of etiquette that would allow them to drop on the rug or carpet. Equally irritating is tho sandwich from which the filling projects in wisps and shreds; it may look generous, hut hardly neat.

CARE NEEDED IN CARVING

By carving the meat carefully and allowing a measured amount for each, and spreading, or laying it on neatly, •no extra trimming off at the edge is necessary, and contact with anything greasy among your guests is minimised. Half an ounce of butter is a good allowance. Whether or not to cut oft the crust around each sandwich the hostess may decide at her own discretion. Where two sandwiches ar-> the allowance , for each guest, a little variety should exist. Sardine or salmon fillings are'a good supplement to roast beef or veal.

In preparing either nut, meat, or fish, filling it is important to avoid grease and moisture, as sandwiches must he served quite fresh, without the slightest dampness or sogginess. In order to have them adequately fresh and crisp they should never he made too far ahead of time. When made more than two hours before serving they are apt to, taste, av.little stale,-the moisture and flavdr of the meat being absorbed by the, bread. /

For picnics and outings it is best to pack them :in odourless' , cardboard hokes,. each wrapped separately in con.feetioner’s paper. They must- be kept from the sun. •

Nut filling for, sandwiches to he consumed in the evening sometime after dinner can he made in many varieties. Peanut butter is perhaps the most commonly used. Two pounds of shelled and ground peanuts for every two d<); zen sandwiches is the average measure: A coffee ■ hand mill or meat grinder thorougldy scalded and dried in the sun may be used to grind the .peanuts, or they may be pounded fine in a wooden chopping bowl. • / >- When they are as fine as granulated sugar they are put into a preserve kettle, with a cupful of water to which a tablespoonful of olive oil and an ounce of butter have been added. When boiled up to the thickness of pudding add a hal* cup of sugar and a, dessertspoonful of . cornstarch. Allow the mixture to get cool and thick before using. .It is often prepared without the boiling process, however, by simply adding half a cup of thick sweet cream and the same amount of sugar, and stirring briskly. Good peanut butter is of the consistency of cream cheese and not a hit thinner. Blanched almonds, butternuts, and cocoanut in' equal parts, chopped and mixed together, and prepared in the same way, may be a welcome departure from the peanut butter for some. New combinations, such, as walhrits with chipped raisins or dried pears, will always suggest theselves to the hostess who is constantly challenging her wits for something new and novel. .

OUR BABIES.

(By "Hygeia.”)

Published under the auspices of the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children.

FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE

On October 14 the first conference of delegates representing the different branches of the Society for the Health of/Women and Children was held in Wellington. The meeting was organised by Lady Plunket, who had been so intimately connected with the spread of the Society’s work throughout the Dominion; and her Excellency took a keen interest in the proceedings throughout. There were delegates from Auckland, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier,. Hastngs, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Remarkable unanimity of opinion was shown in regard to the various matters which were brought up for consideration; and the testimony of delegates as to the steady progress and the, success of the Society's work in the various centres left no room for doubt as to tlie permanence and growing importance of the mission. —Resolutions.— (1) That for the coming year the central advisory council of the Society, representing tho whole Dominion, be as heretofore the Dunedin committee. (2) That all branches adopt the uniform style "The Society of Health of Women and Children.” It was agreed that'the change was very desirable, as the original name, "The Society., for the Promotion of xTealth of Women and Children,” was cumbrous and was open to the serious objection that confusion was constantly arising between it and the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. (3) That the ■ establishment -of ~local branches of the Society in various small townships and remote, places where a Plunket nurse could # not Ijo supported ,b,v the local community should be further extended : on the lines on wlncS. it had been already initiated, such subbranches to be visited at stated intervals by Plunket nurses; the constitution, powers, privileges, financial and other responsibilities of the sub-branch-es to be arranged by the'larger centres in .connection with which they were established, subject to confirmation at annual meetings. (4) .It was decided to approach the Government with the view of rendering illegal the importation, sale, or the use of long tube feeders, in .accordance with the regulations in force in France and elsewhere.

(5) That a specially trained nurse should he appointed as a lecturer to tour the Dominion in the interests of the Society’s mission, and to further enlighten the public as to the aims and objects of the society and the work of the Plunket nurses.

(6) That all branches of the Society should be incorporated under. the Unclassified Societies Act ' and amendments. (7) That the annual conference should consist of .two./delegates from each fully-equipped district, and that -when convenient the annual conference mould be concurrent with tlie annual meeting of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. (8) The next annual conference was fixed for Dunedin, to be held immediately after the approaching annual meeting of the Medical Association at Wellington, early in the coming year. ,-v. • * • - —Lady Plunket’s Resignation.— It was- resolved" That this meeting desires to convey to her Excellency Lady Plunket its deep sense of the valuable work that she has done through" out the Dominion in arousing public interest in the objects of the Society, and of the enthusiasm and self-denial with which sh& .has- devoted herself to the services of the babies. The conference deeply regrets the necessity for her Excellency’s resignation, and begs to assure her that her name will always be associated with the work, and will long be held in affectionate remembrance.”

Rules and advice for the guidance of Plunket nurses were framed, and will be published soon. There was a consensus of opinion among the delegates that an urgent protest should -be made against the use of push carts, several speakers giving striking instances of serious harm arising from the use of them. A number of other matters of detail were discussed. • . t- / ' ■■ /■ ■ ‘ *; *

—Deputation to the Premier.- — A deputation of the Society’s delegates, introduced by Mr. James Allan, and accompanied by a number of Otago members of the House, waited on the Premier on Friday, October 15, ..with a view to enlisting his sympathy and support for the work being carried on by the various branches throughout the Dominion. The summary account of the interview telegraphed from Wellington was unfortunately very inaccurate in several particulars. Thus each speaker in turn was referred to as having desired help for a “Baby Hosnital,” of which it was assumed that nine had been established. In reality, there is only one—-viz., the Karitane Hospital, at Dunedin. What the delegates said had reference to the work, done by members of th Society and Plilnkt nurses. Again, Mrs. Parkes did not say that 3000 babies had been dealt with at Auckland, hut that over 3000 visits had been_ paid by their Plunket nurses. Similarly, Mrs. Morton, of Christchurch, did not-say that over 500 babies had “passed through the institution,” but that this number had been under the care of their Plunket nurses at the time of the last annual meeting. Again, Mrs. Theomin, when speaking of the Karitane Hospital, did not state that “there was a shortage of £730 last year,” but that that sum would be needed to carry on i n future. ; In' reality the Dunedin Society has never been in dept at all, though the committee lias sometimes been hard pressed to meet the extensive and growing work which it was' felt bound to undertake in connection with the Baby Hospital, the PJunket nursing, and wide educational functions in the interests of the health of mothers and babies.

The following paragraph*, clipped from the “Christchurch Press” of October 18, conveys a fair impression of the Premier’s attitude towards tlie deputation:— Speaking to our reporter in' regard' to the deputation from the Society that had waited on the Prime Minister at Wellington, an officer of