Abergavenny Chronicle

I MOTHER AND HOME. I Poets have sung of the fascinations of a beautiful feminine voice. It is unhappily not a common gift. The tones of some women are rasping and strident, and strangely enough they are under the delu- sion that such voices are fashionable. Those who wish to obtain a pleasant speaking voice will accomplish much by taking a few sing- ing lessons. The results are excellent in general voice development. And -while a beautiful voice is a gift rather tan an accomplishment, those who remember that well-filled lungs, an erect carriage, and plastic lips are its prime essentials, will be able to achieve no little success in cultiva- ting it. A GIRL WILL NOT GET ON IF SHE- I Takes away a good name. Lives entirely for herself. Shows mistrust of those who are trying to help her. Puts pleasure first and work after. Does not always tell the truth and act absolutely straight. Is not punctual in keeping business ap- pointments. Does not sometimes practise unselfishness and consider others. Does not carry out her promises, or under- takes to do more than she can perform. Does not try to have some initiative, and act on her own sometimes. Always watches the clock, and is afraid of doing too much work. Fails to help and encourage a new hand, but does her best to keep her under. Is always in a hurry, and never gives time to quiet thought and action. To CLEAN A MACKINTOSH. I The best way to clean a mackintosh is to lay it flat on a table and wash it- Use a small, stiff nail-brush for the purpose of scrubbing the mackintosh, and when the whole is finished rinse well in clean cold water and dry in the open air; on no ac- count dry near a ?re, or even in a warm room. OLD REMEDY FOR WARTS. I Here is an old remedy for warts. Cut a raw potato in two and rub the juice thoroughly on the -wart. The potato pos- sesses, as is well known, definite medicinal virtues. I A DOCTOR'S WORD. I A doctor, who is also a happy father, and who among other honours can affix to his name the letters L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S.Ed., L.F.P.S.Glas., etc., writes as follows about Neave's Food: "Your Neave's Food," he says, "is suiting our youngster admirably, for which wo are very thankful. She was not doing well on cow's milk and water alone." Such a let tor from a medical man is recommendation enough to show mothers the high quality of the infants' food manu- factured by Measrs. Neaves and Ce., of Ford- i n gf) r iC. I DIZY YOUR HANDS. I Manv women are careless about drying their hands thoroughly, especially those women in a hurry. In consequence their hands get red and rough and sore, and the dirt gets into the cracks. However much of a hurry you may be in, stop to wipe away all the moisture off your hands and fingers, and use a dry towel to do it with." It is always possible to dry a towel by hanging it in the air, over a hot-water pipe, or before a lire. Roller-towels should he kept just as drv as special private ones. This very simple precaution saves a heap of trouble, and keeps the hands comparatively smooth with- out anything else at all. A COPPER KETTLE. I To clean a copper kettle, first make a strong- solution of water, soap, and soda, aikl let the kettle stand in it for a time. Then mix some fine coal ash with a little paraffin to form a paste, and rub it well on to the kettle. Afterwards polish with dry, powdered brickdust. ELDERBERRY TEA FOR COLD. I Dried elderberry, which can be got from any good herbal chemist, works wonders for Mime people suffering' from a cold. On to an ounce of it pour a pint of boiling water, and take half a pint of this when going to bed and another half-pint some time during the next day. Do this every day till the cold goea. The great thing to remember is that the earlier a cold can be treated the more quickly it will go. CLEANING A FEATHER BOA. I Take four ounces of white soap, cut it email, and dissolve in four pints of water, rather hot, in large basin. Make the solu- tion into a lather by beating it with a rod. Put in'the boa, and rub wcl with the hands for five or six minutes. Take out and wash through in hot water. Then shake until dry. Another way is to procure a quantity of benzoline, immerse the boa into one-half the quantity and rub well as if washing it, take it out, and swill it in the remaining half. Take it out and rub well, then hang it in the air to drv. Afterwards hold it before the fire, not too close. A quart will generally be found gnfficient. SPRING CLEANING HINTS. I Start at the top cf the house and work downwards. Take down Venetian blinds and wash each lath in soapy water. Do not use soda or the paint will come off. Wash and boil the tape*. Dust the walls with flannel tied on a long-handled broom. Don't tire yourself out just to get through quickly. Spare a little time to cook a good meal, and sit; down and eat it quietly. THE FEET WHEN TRAVELLING. I At no time are foot troubles, whether they take the form of corns, bunions, or blistered feet, more trying than when travelling, and every effort should be made to remove any trouble of this sort before .starting. A corn can very often be com- pletely cured by the application of a slice of freah lemon bound over it every night for about a week. Bunions should be painted with tincture of iodine. SCORCHED WHITE SILK. I Squeeze all the juice from a fair-sized onion, and to this add a little pure white and a little fu l ler's 6cap, shredded fmclv, and a little fuller's earth, and stir these into half a pint of good vinegar. Boil the mixture until all the soap i.s dissolved, and then put aside to cool. Soread a little of this compound over the scorched silk, and leave to dry. Then wash out the blouse in the ordinary way and dry in the open air. The remainder of the mix- ture can be bottled for future use. Pit EVENTING HOT FEET. I A method of preventing hot feet in sum- I mer i's to have eyelets placed in your boots or shoes, dither under the instep, or, pre- ferably eacl side of it. In walking, the toot acts as a kellows, producing a free circula- tioii of air. The scheme is obviously useless in. rainy weather, but that is not the worst time for licy; feet. EXCESSIVE SLEEPINESS. I The expectant mother is often excessively sk-cjjy owing to more or less irritability and consequent ™ exhaustion of the nerves. Aithough this camiot be called an ailment, if iought against, it becomes quite a pain- ful condition. But, on the other hand, if encouraged, it calms and rests. That sleep in Nature's needed soother is very evident during pregnancy. CLEANING KID CLOVES. I The folloivino; method is a good way of cleaning kid gloves. Take a piece of clean flannel and rub it on a piece of white castile soap, having lirst damped the flannel slightly in a little warm milk. Start clean- ing the right-hand glove on your hand, working from the tips of the fingers down to the wrist. As the flannel gets soiled change it, and soap it again. You must only damp it slightly in the milk. Then clean the left- hand glove in the same way, and leave away from the fire but in a warm room to dry. When quite dry, rub the gloves between your fingers to soften them.

I I DRESS OF THE DAY. A PRETTY NEW SKIRT. I I do not think I ever remember. a season I when more separate skirts were shown. I I think the reason is partly that material ia so dear women hesitate to buy more than one ooat and skirt, and intend to make ft separate skirt and the indispensable golfer coat take the plaoe of a second costume. However that may be, there are certainly plenty of smart skirts from which to choose. These are made of various stuffs, such as serge, gabardine, suiting, worsted, and other woollen stuffs, whilst later on there will be any number of pretty skirts in cotton and linen fabrics of various kinds. The very neat and particularly smart skirt shown in our sketch was carried out in fine navy [Refer to X 880.] I serge, but any of the materials mentioned above might be used for this design with complete success. This skirt has a rather broad panel front, beneath the edge of which, at each side, is laid a flat pleat. Each edge of the panel is stitched down to a point a little below the hips, where the pleat is released. The skirt is quite plain over the hips, but on each side a panel of the material is introduced and is arranged to form an inverted pleat in the middle. The top of each panel is cut into two big scal- lops, each of which is neatly machined round the edge and caught down by a button and loop. The back of the skirt is arranged as a panel, and the fastenings are contrived at one side, under the edge of the panel. A neat stitched belt of the material finishes the skirt at the waist. It fastens on the left side, but has corresponding buttons and buttonholes on the right side. DAINTY STOCKS.. I Stocks are much in demand this year for early spring wear. A great many of tho new examples are carried out in black satin or black moire, and arc every whit as severe as were the models we wore so much twelve or fifteen years ago. These black stocks are almost invariably finished by a relieving collar of white or pale ecru net, lawn, mus- lin, Georgette, or tulle. Quite charming, too, are the big new stocks of Georgette or chiffon. These, of course, are of a much more dressed type than the black stocks, and are carried out in white. ivory, ecru, and pale pastel shades of blue, mauve, yelJow, and pink. This type of stock is simply a long, wide strip of Georgette or cliilfon, the ends of which are finished by wide lace or designs worked in hand-veining. The stock is folded round the neck from front to back, then brought back again to the front, and the ends there pulled through and allowed to hang down the front of the blouse or coat. A stock of this kind is most becom- ing and is quite easy to make. A NEAT CAMISOLE. I In these days of economy no woman spends money which she can otherwise avoid spend- ing. It behoves us all to think twice before visiting the shops to purchase any wearing apparel. Underclothes are a thing on which [Refer to X 881.] I it is often possible to effect an economy. The neat little camisole, with shaped basque, shown in our illustration, can be made by the home worker. Look through your odds and ends of materials, and the chances are that you have by you a sufficient length of calico to make this undergarment. The ribbon run through it gives it a smarter effect and makes bright what would other- wise be a perfectly plain ca.aii.-oie. THE ONE-PIECE FROCK. I Paris and London are still as enamoured of the one-piece frock as ever they were, and are showing some very delectable models. As yet :i great number of these dresses are made of light-weight woollen materials for morning and general practical wear, and of silken fabrics for more dressed use. Later on we shall sec them carried out in all sorts of cotton and linen stuffs. Whatever the material, however, thev are all very simple in style and sparse in trimming. Paper patterns can be supplied, price ôd When ordering, please quote number, en. close remittance, and address to Miss Lisle, B, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.

MEDICAL USE OF HOT AIR. I Heated air is said to be of considerable importance in war medical and surgical practice. At temperatures of lOOdegT to SOOdeg. F., it eases pain, produces an in- creased blood flow to the wound, and greatly aids healing. At sHell high temperatures aa 70Gdeg. to tlie air jet is pro- nounced the ideal steriliser. At a pressure of 7 to 151b. the heated air may be used for massage by simply directing it upon tb<: wound and in some caoes useful results are obtained by alternating with a hot air and cold air douche.

Major-Gcneral Sir William Babtic. V.C., is gazetted Inspector of Medical Services and to be temporary lieutenant-general. Three British steamers—Diamond, Lionel, and Southgare-have been sunk in collision. Nine men were drowned in the loss of the Diamond.

CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER ABOLISHES THE PENNY POST. -—- -1 TOBACCO DUTY INCREASED. Mr. Bonar Law introduced the Budget in the House of Commons on Monday. Con- siderable increases are proposed in existing taxes, and an entirely new tax, of 2d. in the shilling, is to be imposed on luxuries. The following are the Chancellor's proposals in brief: INCOME TAX. The new taxes proposed are the follow- :—• "EARNED" INCOME. Present Plopoted Kates. Bates. In the t. In the E. s. d. s. d. Not exceeding £ 500, 2 3 2 3 £500 to £1,000 2 6 3 0 lailooo to £ 1,500 3 0 S 9 91,5W to £2,000 3 8 4 6 £ 2,000 to 92,500 4 4 5 3 £ 2,500 and upwards 5 0 6 0 "UNEARNED INCOME. Not exceeding £ 500 3 0 8 0 f5w to 21, 3 8 3 9 £1,()(¡() to £1,500 4 0 4 6 fl,500 t0 E2.000 4 6 5 3 £ 2,000 and upwards 6 0 6 0 Super-tax will begin at incomes of < £ 2,500 instead of X3,000 as at present, and the rates will proceed on a graduated scale up to a maximum of 4s. 6d. in the I. Farmers will be charged income tax on twice the rental of the farm instead of on the actual rental as at present. At present an allowance of £25 is made for children in the case of persons whose in- comes do not exceed .£700. The limit for this allowance is to be extended up to .£800, and a similar allowance is to be made for wives and for dependent relatives incapaci- tated by age or infirmity. CHEQUES. I The stamp duty is to be increased from I Id. to 2d. POSTAGE RATES. I Letter scale to be fixed at lid. for all weights up to 4oz. Postcards to be increased trom id. to ld. Postal packets to remain td. under loz., and to be increased by id. for each succeed- ing ounce. Parcel Post rates to be increased, the minimum charge being 6d. for 31b., the maximuiu Is. for 111b. BEER AND SPIRITS. I Beer duty to be increased from 25s. to 50s. per barrel. 1 Spirit duty to be increased from 14s. 9d. I to 30s. per gallon. SUGAR. I Sugar duty to be increased from 14s. to 25s. 8d. per cwt. The fixed price of sugar will be raised from 51d. to 7d. per lb., with a variation for "cubes," etc. TOBACCO AND MATCHES. I Tobacco (manufactured) duty to be in- creased from 8s. 2d. to 10s. 4td. per lb. The retail price will be rained 2d. per ounce. Matches duty to be increased from 3s. 6d. to 5s. 2d. per 10,000. TAXATION OF LUXURIES. I A luxury tax will be imposed on the lines of the French tax, but no estimate has yet been formed of the yield. This year the yield of the new taxation is expected to be 167,800,000, and in a full year, X114,000,000, exclusive of the luxury tax. The national expenditure last year was £ 2,696,000,000 and the revenue C707,000,000, leaving a deficit of < £ 1,989,000,000. The estimated expenditure for this year ia X2,972 .197,000, and the revenue X842,050,000, the amount to be borrowed being therefore .22,130,147,000.

MODERN PILLAR OF CLOUD. I "If the Pillar of Clouds that led the Israelites was .half as dense as the cloud that went up in one black mass from rometwelve- inch T.N .T. shells that I saw exploding they would not be likely to lose their way," said Professor. Young, of the Royal M-ilitary Academy, Woolwich, speaking on Monday at the Royal Society of Arts. »

MAILS LOST AT SEA. I Letter mails for the Argentine, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and South Georgia, containing correspondence (speci- ally addressed only in the case of Bolivia) posted between March 27 and April 4, have been lost at sea as a result of enemy action.

DECAY OF TREES. 1 As the result of experiment, it has been learned that, mnong woods, birch and poplar decay in three years, willow and horse-chest- nut in four years, maple and beech in five years, elm and ash in seven years. Oak and Scottish fir decay only to the depth of half an inch in seven years, while the juniper would be quite uninjured at the expiration of the samo period.

THE FIGHT FOR THE CANAL. I In his description of the fighting north of Givenchy, Mr. Philin Gibbs has this vivid little war picture Extraordinary scenes took place on the canal bank when the enemy tried to cross. In the twilight of early dawn a party came out of the wood and tried to get across the water, but were seen by our machine gunners and shot down. Then another body of men advanced and carried with them a floating bridge, but when those who were not hit reached the water's edge they found the bridge as fixed did not reach to the other side. Some of them walked on to it, expecting perhaps to jump the gap, but they were shot off it, and 'other men on the bank were also caught under our fire. A corporal of ours went down to the canal edge and flung hand grenades at the Germans still struggling to fix their bridge, and then a lieutenant and a few men rushed down and pulled the bridge on our side of the bank. T,,iter this young officer saw one of our platoons drifting down, and he swam out to it and caught hold of it and made it fast beyond the enemy's reach, but in position, so that some of our men ran across and caught the enemy under their fire on his side of the canal. A white handkerchief was hoisted by the enemy, and about 300 of them made signs of surrender. Some of them changed their minds at the last moment and ran away, but. 150 gave themselves up, and some of them swam the canal in order to reach our side, for this purpose. They were shivering in their wet clothes and in the north-east wind which lashed over the battlelines they were very miserable men.

"A wedding is not pleasure." slid the Carnarvon magistrates rn dismissing a charge cf using petrol to drive a party to be married at the registrar's. A memorial to fallen mem bers of Parlia- ment and officials of the House of Commons is to be erected beneath the great window facing Westminster Hall. A verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was returned at a Lambeth inquest ,pn Marie Jeanne Cayman, thirty-two, a Bel- gian refugee, who was found drowned in the T hames, and was identified by means of her sugar card. The Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle has been conferred by the King of Serbia on Vice-Admiral Ernest C. T. Troubridge, who commanded the British naval gun detachment during the fighting on the Danube and the bombardment of Bel- grade. A woman charged at Stratford Police- oourt with abandoning her six-weeks-old child was bound over on a man in ecart pro- mising to marry hex.

IN THE POULTRY YARD. I lb cocircuaw. I KEEP SOME DUCKS. 'C) Ducks are not nearly as popular among poultry-keepers as they deserve to be. Why, it is hard to understand, for they are not 'half the trouble that fowls are to keep, and the cost of keeping them, the housing re- quired, and the trouble expended are all less than in the case of fowls. Many keepera, however, refrain from keeping ducks, simply because they have not the water close by in which the birds may live. They suffer under the impression that ducks can only be reared with success if they have a brook or pond in which to swim. Water, of course, is best for them, but it is by no means a necessity. Kept on decent lines, quite handsome profits are to be made from ducks. The low-lying districts of England breed the most ducks, for it is in these parts that a brook or pond is more likely to be found. But if you hold the idea that water is essential for ducks rid yourself of it, for it is not. The soil on which the birds best thrive is that of a sandy, gravelly nature. The housing of ducks is within the reach of all, for they do not need such elaborate ACCOMMO- DATING- DeCKs. accommodation as iowis. The space required is much smaller, for a few square feet is quite large enough on which to erect the "home." Now, however much ducks like water, they must not Hve on ground that is damp. That sounds strange, but it is nevertheless true. The floor of the run, therefore, must be per- fectly free from dampness. It is a good plan to allow the ground on which the house is built to slope downwards a little from the bedplace. There is then a better chance of drynes6 being maintained. Whilst ducks revel ill water, dampness has been known to cause the death of a whole flock of the birds. Cover the floor with straw, and renew this twice a week. Ventilation is as important an item with ducks as it is with fowls. Let them have plenty of fresh air, but do not let them get in draughts—they are dangerous. I On a free range or in water, ducks can provide themselves with almost all the food FEEDING DUCKS. they require. They arc good foragers, and if al- l= to roam about will find plenty of tit-bits and I morsels of which they are very fond. For slugs they have a passion, as they also have for most other insects. If, however, it is not posible to let them have their free- dom they will need more food. The first feed of the day should be of soft food, as for all other kinds of poultry. This should be given as early in the morning as possible. They are not big eaters, and should be given rather less than is usually given to fowls. At- mid-day give them a little hard food and, the same late in the afternoon. Grain food is as necessary for ducks as for fowls. Onion tops, dandelions, or olover, are all suitable for them. It is best to chop them up very finely. Grit must be given them, for this, acts as teeth, and on it the birds masticate their food. Give them animal food of some sort. If possible let them roam about, for then they will find as much as they require in the ground. When digging a plot save all the worms and insects you come across. If you cannot do that, then provide the--n --with meat from the leavings from table. This can be boiled in with their soft food. The best breed of duck for general pur- posed is without doubt the Aylesbury. The THE AYLKSBURT DUCK. plumage of this bird is snow white. The head should be full, and the bill well set on to the skull, so that the beak should to be almost in a line from the top of the head to the tip. The bill should be long and of a flesh colour, and with a slight fleshy excrescence where the feathers commence. The eye should be bright, perfectly black, and full. The legs of the breed are strong. wjth claws well webbed, and in colour a rich dark yellow or orange. The body is rather long, broad across the shoulders, ar.d the neck rather long and slender. The male birds should have a sharp curl in his tail. The keel or breast-bone should be long, deep and straight. The eggs of the Aylesbury duck may be either white or green, and the same bird may be either colour. Striking an average, the number of eggs, an Ayles- bury duck lays per season is anywhere be- tween sixty-nve and severity. The duck matures at an early age. If wanted for table purposes it can be fattened quickly and cheaply, certainly at a much less cost than it takes o fatten a fowl fcr the table. The announcement by the Board of Agri- culture that only one-twentietu of the usual FLOWER SEEDS FOR BIRDS. amount of concentrated food will this year be avail- able for poultry does not mean that poultry-keepers must kill off the greater part of their stocks (says the h Small- holder"). It only means that he must look around with all the more energy for good substitutes. And if he be a keen flower and vegetable grower he may find them in his own .garden. The lupin is a popular flower with most gardeners; but how many know that the seeds may be fed to fowls? Incidentally, the stems, if cut just before the seed is ripe, may be used as litter in the scratching shed in place of straw. Then, again, there is sweet com which, sown in May or early June and halfrripened, is much relished by the fowls. You will also probably have a few surplus runners. Rather thçm let them waste, tkerefore, why net give them to poultry? If crushed and fed at the rate of half a handful to six fowls daily in the morning mash, they not only help to keep the birds healthy, but exert an appreciable and beneficial influence on the egg-yield. Lastly, there are sunflower seed", which possess an enormous food value, and are excellent for broody hens or as a substitute for maize in winter. The best way of using sunflowers is, in the autumn, to cut the heads off the stems, tie them up- side down in a dry, rat-proof shed, and then hang a head each day in the run for' the birds to jump at. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. I F. A.—Your birds are most certainly over- fat. To reduce them to somewhere near normal, give them a dose of glauber salts. The"c should be added to the drinking water in the proportion of one teaspoonful of salts to each pint of water. G. S.—You are doing quite wrong in with- holding green food from your birds. It is of special value to layers, and if they are not given it you must expect them to lay pale-yoked eggs. L. T.—You certainly deserve to succeed, for you believe in the policy of looking ahead. You will find the Toulouse goose the best for Christmas trade. Good luck to you

COUNTRY SUPERSTITIONS. I In country districts in England there an still many beliefs and superstitions which the natives of the villages believe in most firmly. In Cheshire, and some parts* of Derbyshire, the natives pin great faith on herbs for curing ills and ailments of all lzi-io- In parts of Cheshire hedgehogs are said to care epilepsy, and some folk say that ointment should never be applied by the first finger, as that finger is dangerous and veno- mous. Some of the Cheshire folk think that a lock of hair should be cut from a child who suffers from whooping cough, and put in the hole bored in the bark of a mountain ash, after which the hole should be closed. They declare that the whooping cough will vanish in three days by this "cure." In these days of enlightenment- and free doc- tors, it is astonishing that these supersti- rion-) nhould still hold good with anyone. om —————

Owners who wish to offer dogs to be trained for use with the Army should ad- dress: their offers to the Commandant, War Dog School, Shoeburyness. A widow, prosecuting her rixteen-year-old eon, at the Marylebone Police-court, for stealing, stated that he gambled to such aft. extent thst he even gambled in his sleep.

A shooting corn, if wrapped up in an ivy leaf well soaked in vinegar, will ceaae from troubling. Common salt and water make a capital gargle for a sore throat, and this lotion, also relieves tired eyes. Vinegar and water will destroy nits in children's heads. Salt sprinkled over carpets before sweep- ing preserves the colours aad keeps away moths. Mustard mixed with soft food for fowls in. creases and quickens the egg eupply. Potatoes do not stain tlm hands if peeled when quite dry, and not thrown into water till afterwards. Ivory knife-handles that have grows yellow. with age may be whitened by rub- bing gently with fine sand-paper, and thea polishing with a clean chamois leather. Add a pinch of salt when cooking appiea to make them tender, and they will cook in less time. Clean brass with a mixture of rotten- stone and enough paraffin oil to make it like clotted cream. Polish afterwards with a small piece of velveteen, After blankets have beea washed and tho. roughly dried, beat them with an ordinary carpet beater. This makes them beautifully soft and fluffy, like now ones. To test arrowroot, so often ordered in sioknoss, rub between the fingers; if of good quality it will feel firm, and crackle whell rubbed. A very useful little article for the house- wife is a small board, about 6in. long, 3in. wide, covered with medium emery paper. It is most convenient for sharpening knive§, etc. WHEN IRONING. When ironing by gas heat, take the iron off after it has beea on tho gas a minute, and rub it. You will find it is quite wet; this prevents rust. BUYING TINNED MEAT. If, when purchasing tinned meat, it is noticed that the tin bulges outwards in any part, the meat is probably unfit to eat. an outward bulge being a sign that the tin was not properly sealed and that the air haa got in. ECONOMY IN EGGS- Instead of using an egg to glaze pastry with, put a table spoonful of brown sugar and two • tablespoonfuls of milk into a pan, boil up, and allow to cool. Dr;? a pap over pastry before it is baked. To CLEAN WALL-PAPKR. An excellent substitute for the old method of cleaning wall-paper with a lump of dough or slices of bread, iB to dip a clea-n duster into powdered borax and rub the paper with this. The wdlB should first be rushed over with a feather mop, or a clea. soft clothes-brush, to remove surface duet. Much may bo done to improve the appear- ance cf soiled paper in this way. WHEN SCALDING MILK. To save the enamel chipping off the centre of a saucepan, and to provest the jug shifting about, punch a number of holes in the lid of a cocoa tin. Put the lid in the saucepan, and rest the jug on it. DISAGREEABLE TO MOTHS. The odour of printer's ink and cedar is not at all agreeable to moths. An ordinary trunk lined with clean newspapers, under which a number of small pieces of wood from cigar-boxes ha.ve been laid, makes a eafe storage place for clothing. NEW GAS MANTLES. Previous to using new gas mantles, soak them in vinegar and hang them up to dry. When quite dry put them on the burners. In this way a brilliant light is obtained, and the mantles will last twice as long aa usual. AFTER COOKING ONIONS. Wash out the saucepan thoroughly, then fill it with water, add a little soda, and allow to boil up slowly. When it boils, out the pan, dry thoroughly, and put away. Occasionally, a saucepan gets a musty flavour through being put away damp. To remedy this, rinse out with char- coal and water, or if in a very bad state leave a piece of charcoal in the pan for a few days. CLEANING CARPETS. Carpets can be cleaned at home. The following preparation will bring up the colour and also remove stains or grease spots. After beating your carpet, scrub it with a bin of hot water, to which has been added a tablespoonful of ammonia. Rub dry afterwards with a cloth, and make a of fuller's earth and cold water. Lay the latter o-rer tho carpet, and when dry brush cff. —— —— SOME USEFUL RECIPES. CARROT PCKKI:.—The carrots are scrubbed and peeled, the peel being put at once into the ctock pot as foundation for soup. The peeled carrots are boiled in water just suffi- cient to cover them, water being edded as it boils away. When the carrots are quite soft the water should be drained away into the stock pot, and the carrots mashed through a wire sieve. This mashed carrot is carrot puree. EICS FIISTCEI.—Well wash and drain four ounces cf rice, bhred three ounces of baocn into small pieces, and place them in a sauce- pan with. a small cabbage chopped up, and steam for thirty minutes. Add a pinch each of salt and pepper and a teaspoonful of finelv chopped parsley. Put in the rice. moisten with half a pint of white stock, cook for fifteen minutes, then serve, sprinkled with grated cheese. VEGETABLE BFAw-C lean and cock in as little .salted water as possible a variety cf vegetables. When nearly done, add some breadcrumbs and whole rice. Season, add minccd herbs and a squeeze of lemon. Wet a mould, and press in the vegetables. A haid-boiled egg its an improvement when sending to table. SCALLORCN SAVO?EY RICE.—Put a iayer of boikd rice in a greased baking dish, then a layer of grated cheese and tomato puree, then another laver of the rice, seasoning all with salt and' pepper. Bake it twenty minutes, when it will be ready to serve. If possible, it should be baked in a dish pre- sentable at table. POTATO SAUSAGSS.—Take one pound of cold mashed potatoes, one egg, a teacupful of breadcrumbs, one teaspoonful of chopped parsley, a Jittie minced onion and sage; mix all together an d bind with the egg. well beaten. Roll into sausages, and frv in bacon fat. which makes them very tasty. AND POTATO SOCP.—Cut up small or chop i'our large peeled potatoes and four large washed and scraped carrots. Then boil the vegetables in a quart of water, add one pint of boiling water, a bavleaf, and an onion peeled and sliced or chopped), and some chopped parsley. Boil over a slow are in an ,uthen p,m, add two ounces fat, and two ir.bie>poonful» of fine oatmeal, mix well. Rub *iii-agh a sieve into an earthen pot. ?a-n.? to mstc with s^lt and pepper. Add  œrve hot. -t-,id E)erve hot.

Carl Lelaney tried a number of times to commit suicide by inhaling gas at his Philadelphia home, but failed on each occa- sion because the shilling's worth of gas in the slot meter was exhausted. If the Government do their bit, the boiler- makers and all shipyard workmen will do theirs.—Mr. John Hill, Boilermakers* Societv.

NOTES ON NEWS. I No time has been lost by the Master of Bational Service before announcing tha THE NEw ABMY. procedure to be adopted _ji_ up tb V -? iit le for I;ilit.?, service. The announce-  ment is short and to the point, and that as a great advantage. Before any men of the new ages are called, public poticea will be issued. The announcement says: -:S'It. is therefore not necessary for such Men to take any immediate action." It is expected, however, that the first of the ictasses will be called shortly, and the pro- clamation may have been issued by the jftipm these lines are read. Following the proclamation, and probably very promptly, aotice to present themselves for medical Examination will be sent to the men -effected, and after that has taken place: will come the opportunity for making ap- plication for exemption. "In ihe mean- time men newly liable for military service will remain, in civil life." The time per- emitted for appeal will be short, and the "tribunals, who will not have to deal with the men until they are already graded, ahoutd be able to get through their work with considerably greater expedition than tias been the case hitherto. A beginning has been made with the -acledn cut" policv for men under twenty- THE "CLEAN CUT. five, though the first pro- clamation now issued only withdraws exemp- tions granted to men of Grades 1 and 2 up to the age of twenty- three. The corresponding categories under the old method of grading are A, Bl, B2, and Cl. There are exceptions, And one of these refers to men engaged in farm work. The withdrawal of certificates in their case does not apply to men of a lower category than Grade 1. In order, however, to safeguard the case of any man whose retention is absolutely necessary to the cultivation of a farm, provision is made that if the authorities are satisfied that a man is a highly skilled and irre- jrfaceable whole time worker, an applica- tion for his exemption may be made to the tribunal. Such appeals must be lodged ,not later than May 15 with the tribunal for the district in which the men are em- ployed. Every man whose certificate of exemption is cancelled by the proclama- tion must send the -certificate, together with a notification that it is cancelled, to the local office of the Ministry of National Service, or he will render himself liable to prosecution. Once more the German people are being told that the submarine is going to win GERMANY AND THE SUBMARINES. the war for them. Whether this means that the German High Com- mand is growing doubt- ful of the prospects of a decisive victory in the Western land offen- sive is a matter upon which nobody in this country would care to speak dogmatically, but it is at any. rate interesting, and per- haps significant, that Admiral von Capelle, the- German Secretary of the Navy, should bee put up in the Reichstag to beat the sub- marine drum once more. Vigorously banged and beaten throughout last year, it has been a little neglected lately, and there have actually been statements by German leaders to the effect that though the submarine has done the Allies a great deal of damage it cannot bring about a decision. Then there was a flourish of trumpets about the Western offensive. The trumpets are still playing, but now it seems that, after all, according to Admiral von Capelle, the submarine is going to do our business. To convince the German people that it will be so, the Naval Secre- tary uses figures in a characteristically German fashion. He exaggerates enor- mously the losses of merchant ships owing to submarine action, and minimises tho output of new ships built to replace those losses. And he says very little, and that little very vaguely, aboiit the losses of submarines. In fact, he says much the same things and makes tho same promises as the rulers of Germany were making a year ago. Whether the German people, disappointed again and a gain, will believe them yet once more, remains to be seen. Some new name will have to be found for the Volunteers. Now that all men ex- THE V OLUN- TKEltS. empted from the Army are to join the Forces unless excused by the tri- bunals, the only men left really entitled to be called volunteers -will be those over fifty-one years of age. This amendment to the Man-Power Act was made by the Lords and agreed to by the Commons, though not without a little criticism. It seems certain that unless the decision had been taken the Volunteer Force must have come to an end, or at any rate have been so much reduced in numbers as to be of very little use. The backbone of the Force at present consists of the men from forty-three to fifty-one. If they were taken the number remaining would be no more than about fifty thou- sand. The operation of the new clause in the Act will fill up the depleted ranks, but the Force will no longer by one of volun- teers. Perhaps the result may be to in- duce the authorities to make more effec- tive use of this branch of the Army than they have done hitherto. As presumably the exemptions of many of the men will be withdrawn from time to time, the Force will become something in the nature of a training school for the Army proper, and if that idea is carried out many of # the members will find their duties more inte- resting than has been the case so far. It looks as though tea may be the next commodity to be rationed. Many people TEA MAY BE NEXT. who a few months ago were extremely averse to the idea of rationing anything now regard the prospect with equanimity. That is no doubt due to experience of rationing ,schemes already in operation. The ration may not be large, but it is sufficient, and it is a great thing to be able to obtain the necessaries of life with comparatively little trouble. The rationing scheme for meat and butter must have been a great boon to many thousands of harassed housewives. Strictly speaking, tea is not ;< necessity in the sense that butter and a ,,at are necessities. Probably we could ,g.i along without it if we had to do so. Ti re are many people, however, who would dispute that statement, and it is true that even if tea is not lleCeSSa) y for life, it has become the next thing ro it. It is stated that there is no inn r aiate prospect of a shortage, but alread- the -difficulty of obtaining supplies has b 1 so great in some districts that local rr.i .ming schemes have been set in operation. In most cf these cases the allowance is an ounce and a half a week. That means for most of us a considerable decrease from our ordinary consumption, and if we -ire all rationed* on that"" basis or thereabouts the eld rule of one t ::iu ul per head and cue for the pot via i.avo to go.