THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2577, 4 February 1910, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

FLAT LIFE

Life in a flat, is an inhospitable, unhomshke business, but year by year more, and still more people seem to prefer it that way (writes “Christina” in the. “Australasian”). One wonders if it is primarily to save ihe.ni irom their friends that they take flats. When. Mrs. O— informs you that in her bijou sitting-room there isn’t space to swing; a car- (though you haven’t the slightest wish to experiment in ’ that direction), you clearly understand that there is never likely to be much room for you. The marvel is that there is any for feline Mrs. O — herself. The giving of parties of more than half a dozen peoplo in a flat is an impossibility, therefore the 'bother and trouble of entertaining are dispensed with. But people who live in flats have so little to do in the way of household chores and cares that they, are in achronic state of wishing to go out. Therefore they hunt up; their friends who have large, roomy houses anti rambling gardens whenever they have no particular engagements to fulfil. They wouldn’t have a house for the worid, or a garden either, never again, they say, but their pleasure in yours is passing strange. And they really don’t- attempt to disguise- it. “Our rooms are so stuffy,” cries Mrs. B—, drawing a deep breath ; “it is like living in a bandbox, there is no privacy, and one must put a hat on to put one’s nose through the- door.” But all the same she feels herself very much up-to-date, she lias no servant worries, she lives in the heart of things, and, when she want’s to quit for fine, sake of travel or change of scene (there is no scone where she is), she can do so without one pang. A flat is never really a home in the “sweet home” sense, and at the festive season family reunions cannot take place in them. The flatdwellers are all visiting the real homekeepers instead.

A MAN’S PHILOSOPHY. The woman who makes the least noise are generally those who do the most woi'k. To many children mothers are just casual visitors who give, instruction to nurses.

Women will never shine at billiards. If; is one of those games which does not require a special costume. Young women think that unless they are married their lives are not a success ; but the reverse is exactly true. A man is never more ridiculous than when he is trying to do the work which is properly - his wife’s. Though most women’s lives are a struggle, very few have any definite idea of what they are struggling for.

Women are much more easily swindled than men; they can also much more easily swindle. As plotters, spies, and tacticians, women are supreme.

The furnishing of a house is the supreme test of a woman’s taste and a man’s patience. One can generally assume that the flat of a man of taste will look better than the drawingroom of the average woman of taste, for the reason that he will not have so many trivial and irrelevant objects about. Man is becoming very cunning with his clothes. When he takes his walk abroad he may bo observed with a. decided Directoiro tendency in the seam of .his coat.

DECORATING CAKES. A very pretty way of finishing petits fours is to sandwich them with a layer of butter icing, and decorate t-hem with cither French icing spread over them, or with a portion of the butter icing forced oil the top in a pattern. This latter is one of the most simple of icings, and is made bv creaming Mb of the best fresh butter, adding a few drops of essence to flavor it, and working up in Hb of icing sugar,- which must Have passed through a hair sieve. A teaspoonful or coffee essence will impart a delicate flavor, and the petits lours look very charming when decorated with this icing, and a lew silver sweets tastelully arranged. The butter icing may be colored oink with cochineal, or about 2oz of melted chocolate can be mixed with it to vary the flavor, but the ohocolato must lie melted in a very small quantity of lemon juice and warm water (about two tonspoonfuls). It- must be dissolved gradually, and should be cold whwn added to the butter icing. This icing should be prepared in a cool place in the warm weather, and after preparation, if inclined to be greasy, it should be set on ice.

An easy and efficient way to prepare French icing is to put fib of icing sugar into a thick saucepan, with two tablespoonfuls of water and one of lemon juice, and stir over beat until the mixture will run slowly from the spoon. It must never be allowed to boil, and the sugar should be always heated, as the beating help to dissolve the sugar, and makes it easier to give a smooth coat to the cakes. French icing cannot be used with icing forcers; it is merely a- coating. For decorative icing the sugar must be sifted very fine and mixed with white of egg and lemon juice, and beaten until about the consistency of whipped cream.

The decorations may be varied by using pink sugar, angelica, pistachio nut, or small pieces of crystallised fruit or flowers or silver sweets, but high colorings should be avoided, and also much coconut, which gives a decidedly coarje flavor, and is distasteful to the palate of many people.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS. Puff Pudding.—Three eggs beaten together lightly, one pint of flour, one pint of milk, a pinch of salt ; bake half an hour. This steamed also is nice. The best way to prevent rust on grates which are not in frequent use is to mix the blacklead with turpentine. This gives a quick and lasting polish. This hint is specially useful in spring-cleaning time. To Remove Ink Stains from Mahogany.—Touch tile {foots with a camel’s hair brush or a feather dipped in spirits of nitre, and when the ink liegins to disappear rub it over as quickly as possible with a rag wetted in cold water.

To Keep Butter in Summer. —Well wash a large _ red _ earthern flowerpot, around which tie a woollen cloth previously well soaked in water. Turn the pot over the butter-dish or basin, and stand it on a stone floor. The woollen cloth must be kept well soaked. The Cold Joint.— Any boiled or roasted meat that can be eaten cold should be cooled in its gravy or liquor, and a boiled ham should always be cooled before skinning, and in its liquor; the taste is altogether different and the meat does not dry nearly so much. ...

To prevent flies wash over the win-dow-panes and frames with a solution of carbolic.