THE LADIES' COLUMN.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2128, 23 October 1896, Page 4

THE LADIES' COLUMN.

SWEETHEART. Ot what are you thinking to-night, swettaeart? And is there a thought for me? The stars and the clouds are a friendly chart, For they tell me, love, of thee. And what would you have me to do, sweetheart, In the world that is to-day ? To make you a place in the realm of art Or take the world as a play ? For all that I am or can he, sweetheart, And all that I hope to be, All fortune and fame that the work! impart I tender, my love, to thee. —Frark 11. Sweet. 0 Hearths and Homes. WOMEN'S AGE. One of the at present much discussed questions of the day is, "Whether men or women are the most sensitive as to their age being known." As regards the former, I have only met one who was foolish enough to care, and he carried Ms objection to such a pitch of absurdity : that he never told even his own wife'. [ saw a notice of his death, some years since, in an English paper, and there was no mention of how old he was, so I suppose he kept his secret until the very last. With many women, however. I fear the. practice of understating their age is a common one. and it cannot be too strongly condemned. Putting aside the fact that it is an untruth, and gn>-s ingratitude to Him who is so mercifully prolonging their lives, of what advantage can it possibly be ? There are, of course, cases (notably that of our \\vllloved Princess of Wales), where time seems to stay his flight, but the average woman can scarcely even conceal her years. Doctors tell us that there ascertain signs abtut the temples after the age of twenty-live, by which they can always tell nearly our age. at least, that was what a very clever medical man once said in my hearing, when this very subject was being discussed. If this be the case, how vain are <my efforts to conceal our ag"! To my mind, there are few more humiliating sights than to see a face, marked unmistakably In autumn's hand, crowned with a bonnet or hat, charming for a young married woman, or for "sweet seventeen," but s> utterly, so woefully unsuitable for the one then wearing it. The French have a saying. "Mutton dressed lamb-fashion." and I fear it may be truly applied t" many women in these days. Th< re is nothing to bo ashamed of in advancing ag«. but much for which to be very thankful. The experience of years teaches (or should teach) us to have great sympathy with the young, with their interests, pleasures and sorrows, and in learning to "grow old gracefully," in the best sense of the words, we are learning a lesson that has for its reward "a kept place in our Father's home." THE DANGER OF UXAIttED LdXEX. It is strange how often this matter is neglected, so many people seeming to think "once aired, always aired." but that is very far from being the case. Even conceding that the linen in the first place is thoroughly dry. which, as my readers know, is often not the case, especially in winter time, and that it is put away into a drawer in a room free from damp, it requires to be aired before being used. Many nurses and servants, and. T am sorry to say. mothers also, are careless in this respect, and the consequence is a slight illness, which through not being cheeked in tho commencement of the attack, often ends seriously, perhaps fatally. HOME DECORATIONS. The oK'strated papers and magazine;; so often now give us pictures quite worthy of a place on our walls, and which yet are not sufficiently good to repay the expense of a bought frame, that I think the following plan will be found useful:—Take an old wooden frame, and clean thoroughly, then cover with a good coating of gum and sprinkle thickly with rice. When all is quite hidden, paint over with liquid gold, and you will be surprised to find how effective a frame you have made at the cost of a few pence. Vt ry m\ tty flowerrfiftts can also be formed -'at of a eoeoa-sfflfi|ut in two, and having three holes borSPrith a redhot wire in the tipper portion of each half, so as it allow of the upholding fastening.- b in.g passed through. Make a few beli w tor drainage purposes and fill with mould, in which plant some ferns and a creeper or two. They are so useful in many ways, b sides home decoration, as liny are always welcome at bazaars and such places, and better still. in the room of sumo poor invalid who cannot go cut A NEW TEAPOT. I wonder if all my readers are as fond oT tea as myself ? If so, they will welcome this item of news. The recentlyimported Chinese and Japanese teapots have a receptacle in which the tea is placid. i'v boiling water is then poured or. it. and allowed to drip through into the pot. The result is, good tea, really without tannin! The pot should be closely covered whilst the water is passing through. AN INEXPENSIVE DISH. A dish for breakfast that is quick to make, inexpensive, and at the same time very good, is sure to be welcomed by my readers. I hone that they will like it well enough, to have it often, as it is considered very wholesome and easy of digestion. It can be prepared over night. Parboil som • sheep ibrains and mince very fine adding ode teacup of breadcrumbs, two tablespoonfuls of shredded suet and one of chopped parsley, with salt, pepper and nutmeg according to taste. Mix all the ingredients well together, binding them with a thoroughly beaten egg. Cut into small cakes and flour them lightly. All that is needful next morning is to fry them in K.iling lard or dripping until of a rich goldenbrown color. TO KEEP FLIES AWAY. Now that warmer days may be looked for. a method of clearing rooms of huusefiies may not be an unwelcome item el' news to housewives. It has the double advantage of being pleasant and useful, as most people like the geranium already named. A couple of plants in pots placed in a room will cause a complete disappearance of the flies, who seem to dislike the perfume. A few drops of turpentine scattered in cupboards and corners infested by ants has the same good result. o USEFUL HINTS. Useful Hints.—To keep the bread box in good condition it should be washed, scalded and thoroughly aired in the sun twice a week. Every cook should remember that all bread and cake must be thoroughly cooled before bing put in boxes or jars, for if it is put in when warm the steam which arises will cause it to mould quickly. In preparing made-over dishes of meat a few drops of onion juice will greatly improve the flavor. The latest invention for the housewife's comfort in glass panelled oven doors. Cooks may then watch the progress of food baking in the oven without allowing the cold air to enter or fear the jarring of closing the oven doors, which is so often fatal to souffles, cakes and other dishes. Ivory carving*that have become yellow and discolored may be restored by a very simple process. Paint them over with spirits of turpentine, using a paint

brufh, or a piece of flannel, and then expose them in the sunshine two or three days. To the inexperienced to remove ttie fillets from fish Is no easy task. Yet it will be found a simple operation It these instructions are followed: To separate a neb cut through the skin all around. Then, beginning at the head, loosen the skin and strip it down. By putting salt on- the hand a firmer grasp can be obtained, and with the aid of a knife the skin can be remover] without tearing the flesh. After the skin is taken off from both sides, slip the knife under the flesh, and. keeping it close to the bone, remove the fillets. The fillets can, then be cut into two or more pieces, according to the size of the fish, care being used to have them of uniform size and shape. Fish containing many bones are not suitable f' r fillets.