Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 4 (September 1, 1931.)

Our Women's Section

page 57

Our Women's Section

Notes On Hair.

Since the days when our forefathers roamed among the cliffs, clad in skins, and armed with primitive and effective weapons, the hair of women has been praised and appreciated. Prehistoric lovers carved crude rhymes on tree trunks proclaiming the beauty of wild soft masses of cloudy dark hair—long before our sisters resorted to powder and paint. They made combs from the teeth of animals and spent long hours in the sunshine singing, and shaking out their tresses in the wind, decking their heads with garlands of sweetly scented flowers, and washing their hair in the clear brooks. It was the first beauty of which they were conscious, and it thus assumed a very important position in their lives, became an influence and a power. How many battles in early world history have been fought for the dusky braids of a maiden's hair! How many poets have sung of its charm! How many artists have immortalised a golden curl, and given life to a shining plait! It would scarcely be an exaggeration to state that the hair of woman has been responsible for many of the greatest creative efforts of the race. To outline even a few of the countless methods of dressing the hair adopted by the daughters of Eve throughout the ages would fill a substantial volume. A few words on the hair as it is understood to-day would, therefore, be apropos in this brief discussion. Shall we say that it has fallen from its high estate, that it is neglected, abused and scorned; that it has been replaced in women's regard by the care of an eyebrow, the shine of a nail, the painted curve of a charming lip? Indeed there are many grounds for this assertion when we glance round at the theatre or in the ballroom upon the severe and ruthless Eton crop, the sleekly oiled shingle, the artificially curled and painfully produced wind-blown bob! Each head gives evidence of thought and time spent upon it—but time unwillingly snatched from the attention lavished upon a peach-bloom cheek or a ridiculously mutilated eyebrow. Innumerable lotions are procured daily by women all over the world—lotions designed to force those unwilling and rebellious locks into the slavery of flat little curls, “cute” points, and fascinating ripples. Now is the reign of the permanent wave, that modern invention which enables the woman whose hair Nature designed to be agressively and undoubtedly straight, to present to the world rows of symmetrical and undisputable waves. To-day she may flaunt her locks proudly among her sisters. Indeed, so faithful is the imitation that a mere man would find it page 58 page 59 almost impossible to distinguish Nature's touch from America's tongs! All this is admirable, and to be admired; but in its train are many dangers, and lurking death to the vivid life of our hair-combs, “setting lotions,” clips and nets. Gone is freedom, and gone, alas, is the brush, which lies neglected on the dressing tables of the world. It stands to reason that hair, no matter how glorious from birth, requires regular and consistent brushing to maintain its health and growth. Now that long hair has fallen into the realms of the dark past it is a great temptation to run a comb lightly through our bobs and shingles, sigh with relief, and dash out for the evening or to the office looking tidy and smart. But think for a moment of the future, and you may decide to economise on skin foods and powders, lipsticks and nail polishes, and indulge in a very good hair-brush, so that you may keep your “crowning glory.”

Some Good Recipes.

1.

Light Railway Pudding: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1 egg, 1 teaspoonful cream of tartar, 1/2 teaspoon soda, 1 dessertspoon butter. Bake in tin in moderate oven, and serve with jam, whipped cream, or sauce.

2.

Canadian Date Cake: 1 cup butter, 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup dates, and 3/4 cup cold water, 1 teaspoon soda, 2 eggs, and a handful of walnuts. Filling: 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon butter. Bake 15 minutes.

Delicious Junket.

For junket, make Ovaltine in the usual way with hot milk or milk and water.

Allow it to cool slightly, and then add the right proportion of junket powder or essence of rennet, making a delicious and healthful dessert. Serve with cream.

Even the ice-cream lover will find Ovaltine an improvement to ices of all kinds. Just sprinkle a little over the ice and enjoy the novel flavour. Sprinkled on bread and butter cut sandwich fashion, it makes a treat for tea. Youngsters enjoy it very much.

Children will eat porridge more readily if Ovaltine is sprinkled over the top, some milk poured over, and then the whole mixed up together.

Neglected Hands.

Few people realize that it is not work, but neglect which roughens and ruins the hands. Before and after housework a little Sydal, the wonderful hand emollient should be rubbed into the hands. It cleanses and heals the skin and makes it soft and velvety. Sydal is sold everywhere.

page 60