THE LADIES WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2666, 23 November 1909, Page 3

THE LADIES WORLD.

THE RETURN OF THE APRON

Most of us remember the filmy b;t of dainty lace appliqued to some pale- • tinted silk worn by -our mothers some 20 years ago, and called an apron. _ It required' a more than vivid imagination to find use for it beyond that ol!' its prettiness. Years before our grandmothers wore tho&e made cf b.aciv silk, moire antique, and gf-'os grain, and their beauty depended on the trimming that consisted chiefly of rosettes and buttons. Those aprons' had fantastic . names, such as juena, Glcr'a, Diana, and Statia. The Lena was the largest, and was square-shaped, trimmed with rows of graduated hack velvet. The Diana was gored with a band of silk 4in wide cut on the bias. Ihe Statia was embroidered with jet beads, and had a belt 'fastened with a. jet buckle; and the Gloria was shell-shaped, with a border of tiny pink shells pinked out, and a rosette finished each shell. It is easily seen, remarks Rosa Reripaeh In the “Sydney Morning Herald,” that cut grandmothers’ aprons were much larger than our mothers’. Everyone was supposed to look fetching in an apron, and young grls, as well as matrons, affected them. But there was also the apron of utility, of spotless white linen, with strings. There was also the white tucked apron, finished with crochet of the homely housewife, who, when her arduous duties were ended, put it on to be ready to receive any of her friends who might “drop in.” It was almost a sign of rest for her. Nearly everyone has seen the old Scotch apron with its sets of pockets for needlework; indeed, they were far more useful than any work-box or workbasket, for they were a kind of miniature haberdashery department, a “multum iir parrot” containing everything needed, and a pocket in which to place the- work when one had linuihed. But tlie apron vanished, and became the badge of the domestics, later to be taken up by the artist, the wood-carver, the metal and enamel worker, etc., and then >a fashion set in to possess quaint and uncommon ones. Some were sought for in Paris, others were picked up in Norway, decorated with red and blue embroidery. The German oue was all cross-stitched, and much favored, but that considered the best was the gorgeous one of the Roman peasant, so beautifully worked and with such glorious coloring. Some cynic says that a ’’woman who dons an apron, never reads Frenchy novels, nor wears sausages on her head.” Be that as it may, the apron 'has arrived once more, bath in its useful form and in its dainty style. There is a swing of the pendulum, and notwithstanding the suffragists, : womeiii are taking to homely pursuits again. So many millionaires have made life too luxurious, and some grandes dames are adopting simplicity in all tilings. Nowadays gent l* women are pleased to offer some dainty cake oxsweet made by themselves at their “at homes.” They arrange their flowers, and, perhaps, gardens, too; dust their old china, and clean their treasured lace; while even noblewomen show themselves at several functions in the same dress. So the simple, happy life is “coming in.” The apron was said : to be one of the foundations of home-mak-ing. It usually belonged to the bright, cheery, and helpful being, who was happy and contented, and wished to make others as happy as herself, and no doubt our new one is a fashion in itself. The useful kind is expensive, going right round the dress, with a large packet and four straps to hold a pair of scissors, a hammer, twine, and a bunch of assorted nails : while the drawing room one is a confection of fine lace-, dedicate embroidery, and sijk of that old-world color, lavender—and it has two pockets, one for the mouchoir, and another, much smaller, for a scented sachet. Probably the old lace fichu will be worn with the dainty fancy.

-• HOME HINTS

Scented Handkerciiic fs.—Handkerchiefs can be perfumed with a delicate scent of violets by adding a small piece of orris root to the water in which they are boiled, another piece being placed in the final water in which they are rinsed.

Squeaking Boots.—Place b ots that squeak in a shallow pan of sweet oil, anti allow them to remain for twenty-: four hours. The oil should not come above the soles. This plan will remedy any tendency to creaking. to Brighten Mirrors.—For dud and speckled mirrors, take .a small portion of whiting and add sufficient cold tea to make a paste. Rub the glass with warm tea, dry with a soft cloth. rub a little of the paste well on the mirror,; and polish dry with tissue-paper. To Keep Stiver Bright.:—ln order; to keep silver that is not in constant use in, .a ( good . condition, fill a paper •with., alternate layers of forks, spoons, and other objects, and common four that is perfectly dry. If the-silver is bright and dry when "you put it away, it may he used any time without being cleaned for a year or two. After this rime the flour needs drying again. This plan Saves a great deal of cleaning. ' To Glean White Paint.—The best way to clean, white-painted walls and doors is to take a soft white flannel, dip it in water,, wring it out,-- and then dip it into a saucer of clean bran, and gently rub the walls, tlie friction of the bran removing any slight stains without injuring the paint. Soda should never be used on enamel paint, as it'removes tli9 gloss, and strong soap is liable to the same objection. Kitchen ' Economy.—Many people throw any. old bits of vegetable that arc left into the dust-bin. . A far better plan is to rub thorn through a sieve and use them as thickening for soup. The rubbing through is very little trouble once the. knack is acquired,, and they ‘make the soup far more, nourishing pud palatable. Use a rather fine wire sieve and a flat-bottomed one-pound jam-jar with which to rub'tilings through.