Between Ourselves .sx By Elizabeth .sx " When our work is over , it is good to sit apart , .sx Planning for the morrow , storing dreams within our heart , .sx Here we'll together , my reader-friends and I , .sx And talk of things that matter , and watch the world go by .sx " The First Umbrella .sx WHEN we put up our umbrellas to ward off a shower , it is difficult to imagine that so useful an article was , on its first appearance in England , actually hooted .sx It is nearly two hundred years ago since Jonas Hanway , who had seen umbrellas in his travels abroad , first went out in the rain carrying one .sx People laughed at him , saying that rain would not have been sent had it not been intended to wet us , and even went so far as to pelt poor Jonas with bad eggs .sx But he , believing in the usefulness of his umbrella , went on carrying it , and , after a long time , people came to recognise its worth .sx Let us spare a kindly thought for Jonas Hanway when next our umbrella keeps us dry .sx The Secret of Long Life .sx IT seems a little strange to hear an old lady of one hundred and five advise people to keep busy , but this is the advice given by Mrs. Hasler , of Chelmsford , who is five years past her century .sx Mrs. Hasler says this is the secret of long life , and it seems to me there is a great deal of truth in her belief .sx How often we find elderly people retiring from their activities and then dying shortly afterwards because their interest in life has gone .sx I am sure , dear sister-readers , that if we look round our own small circle , we shall find that the busiest people are the happiest .sx Sometimes , when our work seems to press very heavily upon us , it may help us to remember that it was a very wise man who said " Blessed is he who has too much to do .sx " It is , indeed , more blessed than having too little .sx A Pea-Shooter " Alarum .sx " .sx I KNOW that to many of my north-country readers , particularly those who live in mill land , " knocking-up " is a familiar occupation .sx Usually the " knocker-up " taps the bedroom window with a long cane , but have you read of the London family who use a pea-shooter ?sx Behind the family occupation there lies a pathetic little story .sx When the war broke out the son , young Tom Smith , answered his country's call , but before joining up he asked his father to keep the calls going , and this Mr. Smith promised to do .sx In order to keep that promise both Mr. and Mrs. Smith have gone out with the pea-shooter in all weathers and , now that the strain is beginning to tell upon them , their married daughter carries on , and the calls are still kept going .sx " I'm Sorry !sx " .sx EVEN the best of us seem to find it a little hard to own ourselves in the wrong , and .sx " I'm sorry " is often very difficult to say .sx Yet , why should it be ?sx For all human beings , even the wisest and noblest , make mistakes at times and are wrong in their judgments ; it is not making a mistake that hurts us , it is refusing to own to it .sx Some people make it very hard for us to apologise , and it is such people who harden the offender's heart and dry up generous impulses .sx It is foolish , however , to think there is anything cowardly in saying we are sorry ; indeed , to own bravely to an error , to say " I'm sorry , I will try not to repeat it , " is the sign of a fine character .sx A Woman Adventurer .sx IT is considered natural that men should wish to travel and see the world , but in my experience women often wish it just as much , only circumstances are against them .sx Sometimes , however , one is brave and resolute enough to succeed in her ambition .sx Some time ago , a middle-aged Bradford woman who , all her life , had worked hard at dressmaking and had saved three hundred pounds , decided , much against the advice of her friends , to set out round the world .sx She went first to Australia , where she met with what , to a less hardy soul , would have been misfortune enough to send her straight back home again ; but she was not to be daunted , and at last she got to a farm where she settled down to earn more money by her needle .sx When she has earned enough she will go to Honolulu , British Columbia , and then on to America .sx After that , maybe she will return to Bradford , and what interesting tales she will have to tell her friends there !sx . Old-Time Cookery .sx THERE has recently been held in London a Folk Cookery Exhibition at which there were shown many of the old-fashioned dishes once popular in different parts of the country .sx The Tyneside seems to have sent the most interesting specimens ; there was " singing hinny , " which I am sure many Southerners will connect with a bird , but which is a kind of large girdle cake ; fromety , a species of porridge ; and Yule doos , which are made of pastry and stuffed with mincemeat and which , if placed under the pillow at night , and slept on , are supposed to bring great good luck .sx From other quarters came Gingerbread Valentines , and Biddendon Maids Cakes , once made in Kent at Easter , and checky pigs , which are somewhat akin to the Yule doos , but which are made in the South .sx I wonder how many of my sister-readers have heard of any of these ?sx ELIZABETH .sx Nurse Rachel Knows !sx Nurse Rachel knows that good health is everything , and you will be wise to study this helpful feature every week .sx Scabies .sx " I am so very worried , because my little boy's head is covered with thick scabies .sx The doctor calls it impetigo .sx I have tried various ointments , but nothing seems to clear it up .sx What do you advise ?sx " - " MOTHER .sx " .sx This condition is more difficult to clear up when it occurs on the head than on any other part of the body .sx First , the hair should be cut off from a fairly wide area surrounding the affected parts .sx The use of starch poultices is the most efficient method of getting rid of the scabies , and the discharge which is secreted underneath the " crust .sx " .sx To prepare the poultices , put two tablespoonfuls of powdered starch into a basin and mix it to a thick paste with a small quantity of cold milk .sx Then add a little boiling water , still keeping the starch very thick .sx Spread this on rag or lint and apply it to the head .sx Secure it with a large handkerchief .sx The next morning , remove the poultice and wash the head with carbolic soap .sx When thoroughly dry , rub in sulphur ointment .sx If the " crusts " have not entirely come away , the starch poultice must be repeated till they do .sx You should bear in mind that this condition is frequently the result of a poor and impure blood supply and , therefore , it is necessary to give internal as well as external treatment .sx Sulphur tablets or , better still , the old-fashioned brimstone and treacle will be of assistance in clearing the blood , while cod-liver oil and malt will give nutriment to the body .sx See , too , that the child has plain , nourishing food and plenty of fresh air .sx Thick Toe Nails .sx " I am very worried , because my toe nails are abnormally thick .sx What can I do to make them thinner ?sx " - " WORRIED BROWN-EYES .sx " .sx I am afraid you cannot alter that fact .sx It is constitutional with some people .sx They will not worry you , however , if you keep them evenly filed down .sx Do not cut them , but file them with a nail file .sx A Young Reader's Query .sx " I have never been like other girls , though I am nineteen years of age .sx I am awfully worried , because , people tell me it may go to my brain or I may become consumptive .sx I am engaged to be married .sx " - " WORRIED READER .sx " .sx I SUGGEST that you see a lady doctor , and tell her all you have told me .sx Some girls are very late in development , but it is just possible that some irregularity exists , which may easily be put right .sx Do not worry about the warnings .sx Late development is not so rare as you imagine .sx But to ease your mind , I suggest that you see a doctor .sx My best wishes for your happiness .sx Eye Trouble .sx " I am troubled with a pain over my eyes - sometimes over the one , sometimes over the other , and as my work depends so much upon my sight , I feel I should be glad of your advice .sx I am seventeen years of age .sx " - " TRACER .sx " .sx I THINK you would be wise to see an oculist .sx The pain indicates muscular strain at the back of the eyes , and a test is advisable .sx This may not mean that you would always have to wear glasses , but you would have to be guided by the oculist's report , of course .sx Meanwhile , do all you can to improve your general health .sx Eat plain , nourishing food and take plenty of outdoor exercise .sx If you have any bad teeth or constipation trouble , then see that these conditions are rectified , as they lower the stamina .sx The perfect working of the eyes depends largely upon good general health .sx Between Ourselves .sx By Elizabeth .sx " When our work is over , it is good to sit apart , .sx Planning for the morrow , storing dreams within our heart , .sx Here we'll sit together , my reader-friends and I , .sx And talk of things that matter , and watch the world go by .sx " Peerless Punctuality .sx PUNCTUALITY is an excellent trait , and those who know the value of time are usually the people who seem to have most to spare .sx Yet , to have been absolutely punctual for fifty-one years is , I am sure , an achievement of which few people can boast .sx Mr William Aitken has been employed at Dullater Railway Station , Dumbarton , for over half a century , and throughout all those years he has never once been a minute late on duty .sx This would surely be remarkable even if Mr. Aitken lived close to his work , but he lives two miles away and has had to walk there every day in all weathers over a hill that , in winter , is often covered with snow .sx I think we may be quite sure Mr. Aitken did not require an alarm clock !sx Modes for Maids .sx SOME girls , I know , hesitate to enter domestic service , which is a very fine calling , on account of the dress that has to be worn , and indeed it does seem a little unreasonable that maids should have to wear a kind of uniform when girls in other work can dress almost as they please .sx Now , however , I read that many employers are choosing , not the usual black dress with cap and apron , but bright and pretty dresses , fashionably cut , for their maids .sx If this were to become general it would , perhaps , help to make the domestic profession more attractive , and certainly help the girls themselves to do away with the idea that they were being put into uniform and set apart from other workers .sx " Plain " Beauty .sx IT is , I suppose , natural for all women to wish to be beautiful , but I have been reading a view of the matter which seems to me to contain a very great deal of truth .sx The writer says that the plain girl has the advantage of being able to be sure that she is liked for herself , and her real qualities of heart and mind , rather than for her looks .sx I , myself , have noticed that the homely girl often has more real friends than the pretty one who , sometimes , is so sure of her physical attractions that she does not make any effort to attract friends who will like her for herself .sx It goes without saying that when the beauty of youth has passed , the girl who has taken the trouble to cultivate good qualities and nice manners has the best of it .sx Minding the Baby .sx Most girls hope one day to be happy wives and mothers , and more and more it is being realised that a little knowledge of the rearing and tending of a baby is an excellent thing for all girls to have .sx