THE LADIES WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3342, 7 October 1911, Page 8

THE LADIES WORLD.

A JAPANESE COMPLIMENT. The Japanese have ever the instinct of politeness. It may happen, however, as in the case recorded below, that their idea of a compliment is not precisely that Cx the one to whom they wish to show courtesy. The story is told by Inspector-General Hornaday. "I remember a little Japanese who attended one of our banquets,” lie said, "and a queer compliment that he paid to a colonel’s wife,” "I sat between the two, and the lady said across me: “ ‘Mi‘ Takasliiru, you compress the ladies’ feet in your country, don’t you?’ “ ‘Oh, no, madam; that is a Chinese custom,’. said Takasliiru. ‘We Japanese allow our ladies’ feet to grow to their full size. Not that-; ’ "And he bowed and hissed in the polite Japanese way: “ ‘Not that they could ever hope to rival yours, madam.’ ” LUCKY OMENS. (By M. Lysle Thomas.) This term was first used by the Romans, who were a most superstitious people; they employed augurs to watch the flight of birds and habits of animals in order to prognosticate future events, and even in time of war, chickens were watched and prophecies made as to the ultimate loss or success of the undertaking. Even in modern times there is a belief in onienc, a few of which are given as extremely fortunate A child born on Sunday will be lucky. Black cats to onto: a house of their own accord. Several swallows to fly in front of one while walking. - To pick up a ‘horseshoe. ' To find a coin with a hole bored in it. To meet a black and white liorse. A violent irritation of right hand or elbow is said to denote money. To meet a wedding party. For migratory birds to build a . nest on ones dwelling. To stumble while going upstairs is a sign of a marriage tc. self or friends. PIN MONEY. Pins were invented in the fourteenth century and for many years the maker was only allowed to. sell them in an open shop on the first and second of January ! The ladies of that day came m crowds to buy them, often begging extra, money for the purpose; lienee the wellknown expression, "Pin Money.” TULIPS. Tulips were first grown in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. HOW TO MITIGATE THE MISERIES OF SPRING CLEANING. (By Thelka Bowser.) Misplaced energy on a sunshiny Monday morning often ends in a very draggled bit of humanity on Saturday evening, when the wife finds that it is quite impossible to restore her house to anything like order for Sunday. The" sun dances into: the room and the liou.sewife suddenly determines to commence the spring clean- The servants are hurried in getting their regular tasks done, and before midday the contents of the house are turned upside down. At night the unsuspecting husband returns home to promptly fall over some obstacle in the liall, and with barked shins and irritated temper, seeks his wife, who is tired 1 and distraught with her day’s labors. The dinner is either nil, or else badly cookedi; and if there is no squabble before night comes, it says much for the good temper of the unhappy couple. Such disastrous conditions may be avoided by the self-respecting housewife. It is better for her to take a month over the spring clean and do it comfortably, than bring chaos into every room at once, and make the house unbearable to its inmates. Imagine the pride of a wife would take in informing her husband that the- spring clean —always a man’s bugbear —was over before he had guessed that it had commenced. >First, let the housewife decide what new or clean curtains, draperies, etc., are going to be put up in each room. These must be made and packed' neatly away together in lots, toilet mats being put with the bedroom curtains. Then all broken furniture, crockery, etc., which can be repaired at home, should be mended, wand if there is any re-upholstering to do, it should be undertaken in the spare room, which can be littered; up at mil. If all the odd jobs are accomplished before tlie actual cleaning is begun the general procedure will be greatly helped'. and the cleansing process will be quickly got over. Of course, if you have workmen in the house, you are bound to await their pleasure, which' is a trial of patience which few of us bear gracefully. Even then, be strong-minded and close up each miserable, bare room at dusk, dress yourself prettily, and insist on your maids getting properly dressed. Then retire to the one room which you have had the forethought to keep absolutely straight and comfortable and await the coming of your husband, who will think you a monument of cleverness in avoiding the terrors of springcleaning which lie sees his men friends are made to endure at the hands of their wives.

RECIPES. The old-fashioned rusk was made by pulling a new loaf straight from the oven into shapely pieces, then thrown into the oven to brown all over. Lettuce Sandwiches.—Delicious for afternoon tea. Take the yolks of four hard-boiled eggs, pass them through a sieve, then mix with a little butter, a teaspoonful of vinegar, also a little tarragon and chili vinegar, and a little salt. Mix this to a paste, then spread on both sides of thin’slices of bread; place the nice green part of fresh lettuce leaves on both sides. Cut into neat square or long-shaped sandwiches. Sardines on Toast.—Take a tin of sardines and bone the fish carefully. Make some slices of toast and cut into long strips the length of the sardine.

Butter them and place on each strip one sardine. Put in tho oven for five . minutes and serve hot. j Short Paste.—One pound of dry flour, ' twelve ounces of .butter. Rub these well together until' quite smooth, then 1 make into a paste with a beaten egg and enough water to make a dough, beat in three or four times with the rolling pin, roll out, double, roll out very thin, and it is then ready for use. Bake in a moderately heated oven. A C'URRIED CHICKEN. This is a good way to cook a chicken ; when not fresh enough to roast, and will be just as nice as when quite fresh. ! Cut up the chicken raw, then slice two onions, and fry them together in some sweet fat until of a light brown color. 1 Divide the joints into two pieces, cut the breast into slices and put them into a stewpan with some veal or mutton broth, a clove or two of garlic. Allow all to simmer until the chicken is quite tender. Ten minutes before dialling, stir in a dessertspoonful of currypowder, one of flour, and a pat of butter. When the flour is well cooked j draw the pan aside and stir in four tablespoonfuls of cream, and season to taste. Dish hot, serve with halflemons. Do not allow the mixture to boil after the cream is added. A NICE SALAD DRESSING. Here is a dressing which' I have made for my household, for many years, and it lias always given satisfaction : —Mix together one teaspoonful of dry mustard, one saltspoonful of salt, half a saltspoonful of pepper, and one teaspoonful of fine sugar; and very slowly one toacupful of thick cream, working it gradually into the other ingredients with a wooden spoon. Now add, also by degrees, one tablespoonful of vinegar, and continue stirring until you mix your salad. POTATO PASTRY. Wash, peel, and boil the potatoes, then mash them as finely as possible. Season them with pepper, salt, and a good lump of butter, and make them into a paste with a little cream. Make a good puff paste and roll it out thin as if for an apple puff, and then put in the potato mixture. Fold over one half and cut the edges straight. Bake in a good oven.