Part 2 of Another Nice Era

 

 Saturday January 08, 2011 12:50:36 PM 

  



POSTMAN'S KNOCK

Folding letters is a little art in itself. someone must show you, if you do not know how. The chief trick is to fold so that the letter fairly fill the envelope, yet not too closely. The recipient should withdraw it easily. you should consider how the recipient will unfold it. The folding should be as neat and as even as know how. These little things tell. You know yourself what you think of careless people who send you a letter folded anyhow.

Parcel packing again, is a minor art. If it contains many articles make your parcel into a cube. Use enough but too much paper or packing material. The brown paper costs something and adds weight. you must learn to wrap the parcel neatly and tie up securely. Let your parcels bear sort of masculine impress. And in these days of economy do not waste string.

WISH YOU WERE HERE

I am longing for someone to arrive with a new craze - - one which will for ever terminate the reign of picture postcards. They have had a long day, and surely now hey may be allowed to die a natural death.

Now I am expecting chatty letters from my travelling acquaintances. I get postcards more or less blurred in transit telling me the scenery is beautiful, or else simply marked with a cross to show where a certain hotel is situated, high up on a mountain, amongst some trees of impossible green. Information is limited to two to three words, generally scribbled in pencil, and bearing unmistakable evidence of have been written where the the card was bought. The worst part of it is that common courtesy compels us to to acknowledge the card, even thought be of less value.

 

 

 

PERCHANCE TO DREAM

SOOTHING RITUALS

The words of Longfellow are so true when he describes 'Day, like a weary pilgrim, who had reached the western gates of Heaven, and Evening stooped down to unloose the latchets of sandal shoon.' So with weary mortals Night is the time of rest.

If you suffer from sleeplessness a tepid bath works wonders, more especially if, before you turn your pillow, you drink half a glass of milk, and lazily nibble a cracknel or Sao biscuit. Open your windows wide, bid good-bye to the days cares and vexations, forget that there will be a tomorrow  -  and go to sleep.

 

 

 

THE MORNING DEW

Late hours take from a young girls bloom as soon almost as ill health. She should always  have a  stated hour for rising in the morning, never later than six, so that she can wash here face in the dew. And for going to bed never later than 10.30pm. The morning dew is one of the greatest beautifiers in the world, and few know it.

A GLOW TO THE CHEEK

'Beauty sleep' - Sleep obtained two hours before midnight, when negative forces are in operation, is the rest which most recuperates the system, giving brightness to the eye and a glow to the check.

SPARKLE AT NIGHT

Almost every girl in heart of hearts  wants to be a  social success. But also,! how few succeed. To achieve this success it is necessary to be  a pleasant conversationalist as well as a good listener to possess a certain charm of manner, tact and possibly one more 'drawing- room' accomplishments, such as being able to sing, to accompany, or to play bridge. Also to be a equally good hostess or guest. Some fortunate girls seem naturally to possess all these essentials, others have to cultivate   them with care and to find through experience that ease of manner which is perhaps the most important ingredient of social success.

 

 

 

GOWNS OF GOLD

Through the initial outlay is a big one, yet a gown of gold or silver tissue is an excellent investment for a girl who has to get hard wear out of her garments. Fashioned with the utmost simplicity to begin with, a tissue gown can from time to time be recreated by tulle or georgette draperies, ribbons, floral wreaths, etc, etc. A gold tissue slip can have wired panniers of gold tulle, and a ceinture of old blue ribbon threaded through the waist. the plainer the décolletage, the smarter, but a tiny knot of old-blue satin flower placed somewhere about the left shoulder, would keep the whole scheme in touch. 

 

 

 

 

 

BEADS AND GLASS

I have noticed that paillettes of looking glass make an attractive trimming on dark velvet and georgette gowns. A smart shop in town is showing a lovely little gown to dance in, simply made in pink georgette, with chemise bodice, and full skirt, into which are full skirt, into which are inset triangles of deep rose tulle. It is  to border the triangles that glass paillettes are stitched with golden beads between.

 

 

 

 

FATHERHOOD

Fathers should say.' come, boys', when he has work to do that they can help him with. In a positive, joyful way, show them just what to do and how to do it right. Then let them try. Do not find fault nor scold. They are learning, and their little hands are not yet as skilful as yours are, and as theirs will be soon, if you are kind and patient and preserving. Do not believe for a moment that are careless or naughty if they make mistakes. Keep showing, and soon they will do it better, and will be proud of their achievements, partially if you give them few words of praise.

FATHER'S PET

Shall I tell you my name?

It is long, but I'll try; I hardly say it. sometimes when I'm shy. But I have another I ne'er can forget. So easy, so pretty. Just this -  Father's Pet!

ROLL PLAYING

For small moustaches use  a pencil or sunburnt cork, but for large moustaches or beards, crepe hair is best. This can be purchased in almost every colour for only 6d, a hank. You simply unravel and fluff out as much as you require, dab some gum (spirit gum is best) on your upper lip or chin, and over this press the hair. To take off, pull away as much as will come and rub some cold cream on the rest to loosen it.

DESIRABLE BRANCH OF EDUCATION

I know on family of four daughters, the eldest is twenty-one, who have never been allowed to enter a theatre., although their father, a tolerably well-educated man, says he believes in a thorough education. When it was suggested to him that his daughters might see the Midsummer's Night Dream, he was horrified. to be sure, these girls are motherless - a kind, sensible mother would surely understand that Shakespeare is a desirable branch of education.

 

 

 

OLD WIVES TALES

Underneath all modernism there still lurks a love of mysticism, and a kind of subconscious belief in old traditions. Certainly we feign a kind of superior unbelief, and disregard that savour of the occult - yet we openly announce  our lucky numbers- our birth stone - and the set of circumstances that caused us to purchase ticket in the lottery!

Only recently an English paper depicted photographs of a bed of pansies, showing unusually distant 'faces' over the caption. Do you believe in Fairies?" Pshaw! who believes in Fairies in these enlightened days?

 

 

 

 

 

FORTUNE TELLING

Fortune-telling, once the bane of the credulous, is still used as  pastime for children. In that capacity only should it be tolerated by those who desire to be considered sensible and cultured persons, as an amusement for children; nor should even these be never allowed to consider is as anything of serious import. A kind aunt or grandmamma may well raise much mirth amid a party of children in this way. All books of Fate, Madame Le Normand, and other impostors, should be excluded from the use of young people, as pestilent manuals of fatalism and superstition, which may sow the seeds of superstition and evil. 

 

 

 

 

GREAT & SMALL

On our arrival at the parsonage  found no less than six cats already in possession. It is true that the garrison wore a look of great starvation, but when we considered that possession was nine points of the law, and that  each cat was proprietor of an equal number, of lives, and that all seem to be determined to hold the premises against us to the last gasp, we thought that the odds were heavily against us, the new-comers. The cats followed up their advantages with great spirit, carrying put provisions by assault, and baffling us by their superior local information, which enabled them to effect an entrance six together, in the middle of the night, though two unglazed panes of a window which had escaped our notice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LUCKY SUPERSTITIONS 

Of course, everyone knows that picking up  pins is lucky; and so it is, for pins are as scare as diamonds in some households. But do not pick up your umbrella if you drop it. It is luckier for someone else to retrieve it for you.

The breakage of a mirror brings bad luck for seven years in its train: while should you first glimpse of a new moon be through the window, you are indeed undone.

To correctly receive a new moon, you must bow or curtsey three times in her direction, giving utterance the while to the dearest wish of your heart - and I hope you'll get it.

But you certainly won't get it if you tell your wish to anyone but the moon.

ARE SPIDERS LUCKY?

In the old days the belief was universal that the spider was so lucky, dating back to Egyptian times and so people refused to brush away cob-webs, or to kill the crafty little 'beasts' that made them. another old belief is that spider descending upon you is token that you will son have a legacy from a friend. Charms were made in shapes of spiders and were associated withe riches.  They were carried by folks during day and night, hoping to being good luck in the not too distance future.

During the Middle Ages spiders were placed in walnut shells and threads of silk to make a necklace, protecting them from illness. or place a spider in bag or box, and when it died it would take the illness with them.

 Killing spiders was indeed bad luck, however if everyone who had killed a spider had bad luck the world be be quite depleted. Spiders living in home should protect home/house from misfortune and happiness would remain as long as the spider did. A dangling spider from ceiling meant money was coming and small red spiders, no matter what they were doing and where you found them, meant financial reward. Except in Australia our Red Back spiders can kill., so don't touch or go near them. Also seeing spiders outside was considered good omen too. 

'WHAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED WHEN CALLING'

-Do not stare around the room.
 -Do not take a dog or small child.
 -Do not linger at the dinner hour.
 -Do not lay aside the bonnet at a formal call.
 -Do not fidget with your parasol.
 -Do not make a call of ceremony on a wet day.
 -Do not turn your back to one seated near you.
 -Do not touch the piano, unless invited to do so.
 -Do not handle ornaments or furniture in the room.
 -Do not remove the gloves when making a formal call.
 -Do not open or shut doors or windows or alter the arrangement of the room.
 -Do not, if a lady, call upon a gentleman, except officially or professionally, unless he may be a confirmed invalid.

CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA

Christmas dinner in Australia. Spread the cloth, spread it even, spread it smooth. but not on  a polished table; spread it low and smooth beneath a gum tree and the wiry grass. Dress it with red and yellow bells, Christmas bells on thin brown stalks. Dress it with holly, one small bit of holly, posted in letter, crushed flat in a letter, from thirteen thousand miles away in Sussex,

OLD DAYS BEST

Has anything been more affected by the evolution of time than the Christmas season, and especially the day of all Christmas Day? Now-a-days it is the fashion with most people to break up the home at Christmas time. The masculine gender 'camp out'. Other members of the family go visiting, in sections, or migrate to Manly and other seaside places. Of course there is a Christmas dinner where ever the location, but how many of the family meet around the table? There is no gathering of the clans, no journeying many miles, riding, driving, or sailing that there should be no vacant seat on that day of all days. All make their own individual amusement, self permeating the whole. Can anyone pretend to say that the present compare times with the old, so far as the sanctity of Christmas is concerned, any more than present manners will compare.

 

AUSTRALIAN SYMBOLS

I would like to see a new set of symbols for Australian conditions. The Americans use poinsettias. Why shouldn't we use our Christmas Bells and Christmas Bush. Also why not use a kangaroo for Father Christmas, with a pouch full of presents? I feel sure that this is what nature had in mind when she designed them.

 

 

THE SONG OF AUSTRALIA

It has frequently been commented upon that birds in Australia rule are song less. But the compensating kindness old old Mother Nature leads one to say. 'Natural law makes no mistake.' In journeying through the country, one is almost stricken with sense of loneliness, because of the absence of song birds. The plumage of the feathered tribes is gorgeous and completely harmonise with the rich and vivid colouring of their setting. They seem to be part of the flaming sunsets and all else about them. They are caged or housed in many homes merely because of their grace and body plumage. The people are quite content to do the singing and to enjoy the silence of the birds.