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GOSSIP FOR THE LADIES. - "-

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GOSSIP FOR THE LADIES. The Mystery of the Planchette. Its Weird Ways and Curious Writing's Some Forthcoming Local Bazaars The "planchette" has lately come into great prominence through the Cavendish case, and most people have been made familiar for the first time with this weird toy. It has, how- ever existed for manv years', but very few had heard of it up to lately. It is a neart- shaped. polished piece of wood. lounded. and with two wheels at the broader end one in each of the two divisions made by the bifur- cation of the heart. At the pointed end is a hole in which you insert a piece of pencn. and adjust it so that the board is level. ine wheels are made so a.s to turn any way, ac- cording as the "spirit moves it," in more senses than one. You commence operations bv placing the planchette on a piece of paper --the larger the better-notepaper is much too small ;tllen vou rest the tips of you:' ten lingers lightly on it. Two persons are supposed to do this. but. as a matter of fact. 1 have seen it move when only one hand has rested upon it. Then you ask a question, and wait. A few person." have to wait in vain. as for them the machine will refuse to move. In other cases, the planchette will move, but will not write; but in the great bulk of in- stances it will more and write. Presently, you feel an indetinatrr-e tickling sensation at your finger-tips. The smooth back of the planchette seems to thrill, and be alive, and in a short while it is oti It moves every way. Sometimes in a circle, sometimes curving round and round, sometimes running to the end of the table. There can be no doubt whatever. I assure you. from personal experience, that the strange, machine moves and writes entirely of its own volition, and independent of any physical aid on your part. In fact, if you give it a gentie push, it refuses to move, as if resentful. At first it produce's but a mere jumble of scrawls and traceries, like a child's attempt at working out a prob- lem in Euclid. After two or three days prac- tice—at least it was so in my case—the ma- chine writes fairly legibly, The characters are big and scrawling, and in one case bent round in a curve; but they are nevertheless legible. As I have only had a planchette for a few days, I cannot say whether it improves its "pothooks" with experience. Probably it does. The answeis I extracted have so far been sensible. For example. 1 asked whether a certain ship,in whose fate—it is feared she has sunk—Swansea people are taking interest, had foundered. It replied, "Yes." Plan- chette was next interrogated as to whether any of the crew were saved. The response was a very well-formed "eight." in letters and not in numerals. With the "supernatural" (?) aspect of the affair I do not. bother my head. "Do 1 dream, do I sleep, or is visions about?"—I regard it purely as a toy. and an extiemely interesting one It is a curious sensation, however, to feel the planchette moving rapidly to and fro under your finger-, and scrawling out its hieroglyphics. The superstitious may led "creepy." but tho.se who are healthier-minded may extract a deal of fun out ot its mysterious and inexplicable antics. It can be got at several well-known Swansea toyshops, and the prices suit all tastes—from Is. upwards. But it is a rIsky weapon in the hands of the neurotic. There are a- few promising bazaar* an- nounced I'. next month. The one to be held in the Pemiergaer grounds will sure to be at- tractive, providing the weather proves kind. Lady Llewelyn is taking an active interest in it. and Miss (iladys Llewelyn is the lion, secretary. Thp arrangements tor the Orphan Home sale are also well in hand, and in addi- tion to the i-ir proper there will be short musical lycituls md tableaux. The com- mittee are acting wisely in restricting the time given to these concerts, for 1 have seen bazaar rooms pnwti..ally empty during the greater p-trt of mi and the people all pack-d into the Minoi H;-]l, where really excellent •' -"certs have been given. To say the least ot it. it is not good from a business standpoint. and ] have often heard stall- holder.- bfijioan the fact that the; side-shows attract visitois away from .the main hall, with the rc-idt that their wares were left un- sold. Whit h'-uitiiul drapeiies are to be procured nowaday ;t the drapery stores. The house- keeper wie, must expect a strong, light and r.rjcii Vf r- and tear article for hpr draperies can ii..vc |;ev icquiicinents satisfied by the novel iioo >uitfs that reproduce Oriental patterns and <-liVets She can get a cot or couch .'ver that will last indefinitely and rseibi.ev i ii' nor show the marks ot the chil- dren's feet. Moreuvtr. in pattern and colour- ing, it will be an identical copy of the divan covers in use for centuries in the homes of the East Indian Maharajahs. For curt tins and bed >pre.[(1, she can get "prints of soft lust re! ew texture- bordered in figures and Eastern symbols. Two squares, sewed together make a. pleasing bed-spread. The .single -cuares make effective curtains. Cotton ];ut :h 'cloths <nid borderings shown in captivating patterns make durable sofa, pillow covering's, head rests, and valance* tor divan*. iT.e-Se kuteh cloths are scolloped and en* — si-ached by the East Indian children, who take home the work at so I Illr 1 I a piece from liio English and American factories. The unoveri nanpy threads give unu.su-d pietur- e>juei:s ;n the bordering. For mantle ,N! arfs, piano ■ overs, a relief to a statue pedes- tal, or lo brighten a gloomy corner in a hall or ankfx L'. lengths of Turkish Chagi'a drap- ery can 1. 1¡td very cheaply. Ribbons are worn for belts. stocks, ties, choux and in so many ways that the amount expended for them is no small item in the cost of ciothing. A blacfc dr< *s is given a. very clitfc-ent appearance by changing the black stock for one of cheery colour, pale blue, or lavender. Ties of various widths are used, from the r-.rrow ones with plain bow in front to the wide i ibbons worn as a simple sailor scarf or ¡,¡ "cl twice round' the neck and knotted or tied in front. Xo toilette is com- plete without them, for they relieve top .-e- veritv ol the tailor-made gowns and add ad- diti ))! ch.:vii! to the more eluboute toilettes. Kibbers are not only expensive, but easilv soiled. and soiled or faded ribbon will spoil the effect -.t f ho daintest dress Almost any libLon wiii be tr washing if caretally handled. Many e<: e.-oiJcal women have learned the virtues gasoline for cleaing them. while, others a- .-Lids made of soap bark chips. They should be rubbed between the hands, uní i! thor..ughiy clean, then examine them, and if they are too badly faded to use again, dye then, some darker shade- and you will have fresh ribbon* at very small cost: wlute ribboi. wiii take delicate shades of blue. pink ,10 uuuiye. i Lighi-i olcured ribbons are pretty cardinal red', if they are too dark for that, sive them until you have half a pound or more, and col- our them black, using the dye for silk. No matter v;lnt colour they are, nor how spotted or s.treake-i. they will come forth a beautiful jet black. Pin"c thoroughly in several solt waters until the last water is left clour, then smooth the ribbon between the hands and wind over a piece of cardboard. Place it between two soft cloths, and put it under heavy pressure. A letter press is good if you havv one. but if not. place it under heavv "boot; and leave it until dry. when taken out It will be .smooth and look like new. Mutters sartorial are rather quiet just now, but {he loveliest confections aie preparing for Easter wear. Flower millinery is to be an.. the rage, and whole toques of b'ossoms wiii be seen. Primulas—white and blue, atmle blos-.oni, and even mimosa are all used. Inched, no small blossom come amiss, anil T have seen the small pink daisies used for the purpose-. All the Easter hats are flat—very teat -finished with a regular fiinge of velvet loops arranged at the back under the hrim *o as to fall over the hair. Brown. a#» a colour, is just now immertsch- popular—and how extremely becoming it is ydien worn with sable furs! and black, too, has a great vogue; but theft, 'numbers of people wear black in Lent, and it is without. doubt, suitable wear. Violets are worn with such black costumes, but as a buttonhole only and not as any sort of trimming, only the real blossoms being deemed suitable. Cords and cordings are being used to trim manv of the new spring dresses. Skirts, bodices and sleeves all show the same ad- ornament, and as long as the fashion is not carried to excess all will be well. Some of the best models show cord braces brought over the shoulders finished in loose knots at the bend of the figure; while the ame bodice will have the dainty underfront outlined by a tine silk cord—tassels and buttons also find- ing a decorative place in this somewhat novel scheme. Almost every other dress is elaborately trimmed with black braid in one form or an- other. It would take one's breath away to stop and count the thousands of yards of black braid that will be used on the street costumes. Tiie serpentine effect is much in favour, and all sorts of fancy designs are worked out with this trimming. Black and white braid is also much in vogue. Then there is a large assort- ment of braid ornaments, particularly in the dress de-sign, which are new in effect. Fringes, too, are back in fashion again. The knotted silk fringe is seen on many of the Paris models, and fringe is olteii com- bined with elaborately embroidered bands as a trimming. Mexican drawn, work will be. used on manv of the linen gowns. And a.s for but- tons There is simply no end to them, lhey are one of the real charms of the season one may so wonderfully accentuate a gown with .smart buttons—those elaborately enamelled or jewelled. Yak lace will be favoured this ■sprint' for dress tiimmings and clunv lace both m silk and cotton, will be seen. There is certainly a "fashion in features as well as in frocks This may sound strange, vet can we not all remember when a. very low forhead was considered of far greater beauty than a "broad brow?' iXow the fringe has been done a way with. and a high fore- head is rather encouraged than otherwiew, by combing the hair off the face and over the "frames' 'which are so fashionable. So, too, with noses. Nowadays the retrousse nose is quite out of date. Instead, this feature must be either straight or curved downwards ever so slightly; indeed, there are I hear, "nose doctors" who will shape this appendage as we wLsh This is, of course, absurd, yet ¡' children' features can be trained to some ex- tent. A high or low forehead, however, can be very much encouraged by the way tho hair is dressed. There is a. decided tendency this season to abolish the bolero and the Russian jacket, though it is probable that these most con- venient coatees will still resist being ousted. Some of the smart dressmakers are trying to introduce packets made like sliort loose coats, which do not come below the hips. They are made in the very thinnest of materIals. and are either unlined or lined with the softest silk. These coats are generally straight and shapeless, are often longer behind than in front, and trimmed with stole collars of col- oured embroidery on taffetas and fancy bol- loons of silver and gold. Women with short necks, who are not tall in statue, and whase hip measurements are ample, should, however, refuse the little coat just described, even if they tempt their fancy. There are two fashions which may always be relied upon to appear together. These are the full skirt and the bodice with a point in front lengthening the waist line. The latter is called, from the Court of its origin, the Louis XY. corsage. Cause and effect are exemplified in the union of these styles. Fashion demands- that skirts be pleated all round the body, or gauged for taree-quarteis of the wav. and the inevitable result is that, the waist appears to be unduly thickened, j To the rescue then cümesl the Louis XV. bodice, with its sharp point, making the waist lOollk slender and elegant. Another style resorted to by the dress- makers to combine grace for the waist with the demand for pleats, is that of the hip-yoke, which neatly encases the hips, and gives them the symmetry of the now rejected sheath skirt.' j

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