1948-12-24 — Page 7

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER

1948.

HOME-MAKERS' CHRISTMAS

SELECTING GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

W

By GARRY CLEVELAND MYERS, Ph. D.

WO

E give children playthings that will amuse them.

when Naturally, choose a toy we think of how much the child will like it right away. We may, therefore, give too much weight to its novelty. Unless we watch ourselves, too, we will be impressed with robot type of toys, just to be wound up. Of course, when the little child can win the toy himself and run it, he may gain value

from it.

Let us keep asking ourselves: over how long a time will the child enjoy the plaything? How long will It last? A few sturdy toys are better than a ton of trash. To give a child frail toys can do him moral harm by encouraging destruction in him. Besides, broken toys lower play morale. Unless your child under five or six is extremely careful with. fragile things do not give him card- board toys. Also the toy should be safe.

PLAY WITH OTHERS

To what degree may the toy be enjoyed with other children? While the tot from three to four needs some toys he can enjoy alone, such na a nest of cubes, blocks or simple put-together puzzles, even these can be shared. Oh, yes, the child from six to twelve needs some toys and tools he can enjoy alone, but he also needs an increasing number he can enjoy with his pals,

Will your child gain muscular development and co-ordination from the plaything? See what simple toys for the child from two to Ave, Liko a hammer toy set, cubical boxes to be fit into one another or piled into a pyramid, a few sturdy pieces of painted wood to be fit together to

make

picture, large a familiar centre-holed disks or squares to be put on a peg, or a very large nut to bo screwed on a bolt do for Anger- Also hand-arm-cyo co-ordination.

ས་

serve the muscular exercise from observa

such as n push and pull toys, tricycie.

And for the older child, roller skates, skates, wagon, bicycle, bag. boxing gloves, punching eroquet sel, badminton set, bat and various balls, and other materials, for sports.

USEFUL ACTION much will the toy or tool set How up useful action in the child's head? Will it stimulate thinking, reasoning, invention, imagination? Normally, the child from two to six does not just manipulate blocks,, toy animals and the like. He puts life Into the animals,

he creates with them and the blocks and other things. See hit Imitative and make-belleve play with a loy tea set, toy broom and sweeper when with his mother or with other children.

Crayons, kindergarten scissors, paste, paint, paper soft wood (and saw and vive) and clay are necessary materials and tools for creation by the pre-school child, even for the much older child; and all sorts of fools suited to the child's age and development, culminating in a well- equipped workshop for the boy or girl twelve or fourteen.

And don't omit good magazines Some of them contala and booka. much material for making things for fun, Choose Christmas gifts for your child which will give him fun with a purposeetter than best playthings for Christmas gifts are parents who

themselves in alve appreciation of the child's creations.

Even

"

BOOKS AS GIFTS

richer

As you know, some (ne books for children have been published In recent years. Don't be carried away Just by their colour. Ask yourself if they are the kind of literaturo you want your child to be exposed to and if they will continue to

him. 10

ho read appeal

from the book you repeatedly choose? It too young to read, wil he keep begging you to read from 11 over and over again?

Along with a few of the newer books, choose as gifis a goodly number of the precious books that been enjoyed prontably by have children over the years, books which have stood Le test of time. Naturally, the, person at the book store will urge you to buy just the more books. They have newer

offer bigger current publicity and returns to the book-seller,

Many of the classics have been brought out as beautiful, reprints. For the child under five or six a number of very attractive volum of Mother Goose are on the market. "The Child's Garden of Ver

of Verses." by Robert Louis Stevenson; "When We Were Very Young," and "Now I Am Six," by A. A. Milne hardly have

equal for good poetry. A great favourite of children just beginning to listen to rhymes is "Johnny Crow's Garden," by Leslie Brooks. It has just an ilustrated line to the page. The baby likes to turn the page or have it turned, often.

REPRINT EDITIONS

LA

Among the never-ending charms for young children (to hear or read) are such classics

Little Black Sambo, Helen Bannerman; Golden Goose Book, Leslie Brooks; 'Alice in Wonderland,

Lewis Carroll; "Children of the Wild; Theres Deming Just-So Stories, Rudyard "Tale of Peter Rabbit,' Kipling:

Beatrix Potter.

little, Hugh

and

KEEPS THE TREE STANDING

Practical suggestion for the season is to put baby's playpen around the Christmas tree, Diane "Cookie" Johnson here de- monstrates the difficulty, `of' grabbing ornaments or knocking

over the troo

HOLIDAY PLANTS AND THEIR CARE

By ELEANOR ROSS

and

THE colourful procession of Tholiday punts, the lovely

cyclamens, Poinsettias, azaleas, are flowing in proces- out of florists' shops to sion lend their beauty to the holiday. scene in the home.

The festive Christmas plant, re-

ceived with such joy, usually doesn't last very long. In many instances, It doesn't even retain its beauty through the holiday season. Flow ers fade, leaves turn yellow, and, out it goes]

florist who to the flowering grew the plants stage gave. them professional care, of course, but although it is not al- ways possible to give the plants Ideal conditions in the home, much can be done to approximate pro- fessional care.

And here are a few of the "tried and true," many of which are in beautiful reprint editions, appealing to the child from eight to twelvo:

A. A Winnie-the-Pooh,

Milne: English Fairy Tales, Joseph Jacobs; So often it is possible to extend

Stories Household

Jakob Willem Grimm: 'Story of Dr Dou with just a little understanding and the beauty season of, these plants.

Lofting;

The Adventures of intelligent care. Pinocchio, Carlo Lorenzini; 'Heidi, Johanna Spyri: 'East o' the Sun and West of the Moon, Garden Thorne- Thomsen; Fairy Tales, Hans Ander- sen; Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll; Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe; Hans Brinker, Mary

Wind Dodge Graham; Jungic

the Willows, in the

Book,' Kenneth

Adventure Rudyard Kipling; 'Merry of Robinhood, Howard Pyle; King of the Golden fuver, John Ruskin

Animals I Have "Wild

Known,' Ernest T. Seton: Treasure Island,' Robert Louis Stevenson; 'Adventures of Tom Sawyer;' Mark Twain.

M.

Dry air is probably the greatest of holiday menace to the health plants. The air of the greenhouses in which the plants were grown, was kept moist by spraying not only the greenhouse

but even the walls, walks. In the home a humidlfer, or even pans of water on the radiators. will add-the needed moisture to the air.

JEAN AITKEN LOOKS AFTER THE BUFFET

་

On top of that put a layer of tomatoes, sprinkle with scasoning. and then another slice of bread. Cover this with shredded lettuce and

a little mayonnaise and seasoning.

IN this article I do not propose to plan a meal for any par ticular type of party, but to give some recipes which might prove useful, either to the

Put another silce of bread on top, mother who is catering for press firmly so that all the layers. children or to the hostess who is planning a buffet supper.

become have Foods" "Finger increasingly popular in recent years. These consist of sandwiches and various savoury oddments, which can eaten without be served easily and any necessity for knives and forks, Hero art some suggestions sandwich Allings.

Sardino and Tomato

for

Removo bones from the sardines, and pound them well together with a Emall piece of butter. Add season- ing, a few drops of lemon juice, and enough sleved tomato to flavour, and make the mixture a good spreading consistency.

Pineapple and Cress

Cut

Put some alices of tinned pineapple on a hair sleve, and allow them to drain well for neveral hours. them into very small pieces, and apread over thin slices of buttered bread. Cover with a layer creamy salad dressing, and sprinkle thickly with fine cress.

Put another slice of bullered brend on top, trim, and cut as desired.

Layers are Newer

Cold sweels are an essential part of the fare at most parties, so here are two recipes:~~~

Cherry Creams

Use small paper souffle cases for stick together. Trim off the crusts, these, and prepare them by fixing a and cut the sandwich down into band of stiff white paper round cach the top of the sllees. Serve. Endless combinationg, to come well above of fillings are possible for this type case. of sandwich.

Good Foundations

Little cases of short or puff pastry can be made; alled with different kinds of savoury fillings, and served either hot or cold according to the kind of meal for which they are required.

Line small patly tins with a good short pastry.

and bake them. Cut

4 oz. of cooked chicken (or turkey, game, etc.) into small dice, and mix it with 11⁄2 gills good white sauce. . Season well, and add one tablespoon

thick cream.

Put the mixture into the prepared pastry cases,

Slovo four cooked potatoes, and add to them seasoning, a little grated nutmeg, half a raw egg, and 1⁄2 oz. butter. Mix thoroughly and pipe a nice rosette of this on top of the mixture in each case. Brush with altle beaten egg, and put in a hot oven for a few minutes to heat thoroughly and to brown the potata.

Many other little savoury dishes can be made on the same lines, and endless variety is possible.

to

#

Half pint cherry puree, 1 cream, 1 gill custard, the white of

carmine, 11⁄2 oz. CER, sugar, a little gelatine, gill water, extra cream cherries, and angelica for decoration.

• Make the custard with the yolk of 1 egg, 1 gill milk, and a little sugar to cool. sweeten. Put it aside Make the cherry puree by putting tinned cherries and

Bitle of the juice through a hair sleve. Mix the Purce and custard together, add the

cream, half-whisked

sugar If necessary, and a little carmine..

Dissolve the gelatine in the water. mbcture, allr till It add it to the begins to thicken a little, then fold in

white the stiffly whisked

of cg Pour the mixture into the prepared cases, allowing it to come a little way above the top of each.

When set remove the paper bands, pipe a rosetto of whipped cream on top of each, and decorate with cherry and little leaves of angellen. -

Jellied Pineapple Trifle

D

sponge

Fresh air is Important, but don'! let cold air currents blow on the plants. On cold nights, plants on the window sill should be removed

protected from the cold glose. Most popular plant is the polnset- tla, and its vivid red and beautiful' green colour combination should be around to give joy to the home for longer than is usually the case. Do not over-water this plant, as the and turn leaves will soon droop yellow. Never stand the pot in a saucer of water. Place the poinsettia where it will get some sun, but not too close to a window. If the plant has chilled, the pot should be placed, up to the rim, in a pan of warm water.

No wet soil or poor drainage for the cyclamen if you want it to lost n while. While watering should be moderate, It should be thorough. When the cyclamen has finished. blooming, it should not be dried off like the poinsettia, but should be kept fairly moist and given plenty of light until, new growth appears, Then the plant should be repotted In a soll composed of loam, cand. and leaf mould in equal parts, with little fertiliser.

TIME-SAVING IRONING

Gelling the household ready for the holidays is quite a task, cs- pecially since everyday life has to go on as usual, with all the tasks that are part of the regular sched- ule. So we thought that you might like to learn some good ironing tricks sent on by a reader who is an expert in the housekeeping game.

Ingenious Wrappings

Add Charm

By ELIZABETH TOOMEY

WRAPPINGS don't make the

gift, but they can make it look expensive and exciting.

This year you can have more fun and use more originality with your gift wrappings than over before. It is not

neces-

sary to rely on the counter with the matched ribbons and papers and cards. You can branch out, and pick novelty gadgets to top your gifts.

R

Instead of struggling to get ribbon around a tiny perfume bottle, you could tuck the bottle into small white cardboard sleigh from a nollon counter. You might add tiny Santa and miniature Christmas tree to the sleigh-lond,

1

Gleaming Christmas papers aro chiango beautiful, but for a clover. you could try wrapping a gift in on ordinary road map for the man who travels a great deal. Tie it with a bright red ribbon and attach a toy car or a key ring to the bow.

Something for Sowing

The woman who likes to sew will be thrilled with a parcel wrapped in a length of fabric that can be used for an apron or a child's dress. Tio It with a ribbon which can be used later to trim the fabric.

Small costume jewellery, like the popular scatter plns, can be

In a tiny box and put into Santa

pack instead of in a regular wrap- ping. An ordinary little muslin sack with դ drawstring top will do. Substitute red ribbon for the draw- string and to the bag to a miniaturo Sauta.

After the parcel is finished, you can still add thoughtful "extras" which will give a very personal touch. Colourful knitting needles can be tucked in a bow for the knitter; a sachet bag added to a lingerie or handkerchief gift, or a baby rattle on a gift of a baby's Blankot.

Colours Important

#

It is well to choose simple and effective colour combinations for the gifts that boast only ribbon and paper wrappings. A very wide rib bon can be used effectively on large carton, or two or three narrow ribbons of different colours. Tle the ribbons around the parcel first and knot the ends securely. Then make the bow separately, The bow secured to the parcel with the ends of the tying ribbon.

Is

Once you get accustomed to securing the folded ends of the wrapping paper with tiny pleces of transparent gummed tapes, you'll find it's easy and fun to experiment with fancy typing. Try tying a large square parcel around tho middle instead of over the top:- Or a long narrow parcel separately st elther end, with the bows in opposite corners.

For mailing, a flat bow, with no ornament, is best. Just form a loop with the ribbon, holding it firmly between the thumb and forefinger,

and with the other hand make a second loop the same length on the opposite side. Make at least three- loops on either side, cut the end of the ribbon and fasten the bow at the centre by wrapping a plece of matching ribbon around it. Then attach the bow to the purcel--and your gift is ready to go beneath. the Christmas tree.

Long And Short

Fruit Drinks

First of all, the advises that clothes should, not be soaked in cold

winter. water durng the

THIRST quenchers and fruit juice because.

cocktails are among the Christ- this causes the fabric mesh to close

con items which

be mas menu and hold the dirt. For this reason, too, overnight soaking during the prepared well in advance. winter, defeats its purpose. Use cool They should be stored in ice-chest or lukewarm auds and shorten the or refrigerator until required. soaking period. As for bleaches, our Pineapple and tomat, juice cook.

For friend recommends that bleaches be tall:

eight before-dinner used only after clothes have been servings allow two cups fresh or thoroughly sudsed clean, and that tinned pineapple Juice, two cups two complete rinsings follow the tomato juice, teaspoon pinch

V1 bleaching Like many other experi- cayenne pepper, 1⁄2 cup crushed ice.

she housekeepers, enced

Pince all Ingredients into

cocktall smidgin of vinegar to the last rinse shaker. or large screw-top jar, and water, which makes delicate fabrics

vigorously. Keep shako

Ice-chest in casler to cope with when ironing.

or refrigerator until required.

Grapefruit and orange cocktail: For eight before-dinner servings allow 19

cups fresh or tinned grapo fruit juice, one cup orange juice, cup sugar, one cup crushed ice.

Shoke all ingredients in shaker or jar.

HURRY-UP JOB

adds u

and iron u If you must wash blouse in a hurry, here's a good tip. Roll it in a towel to remove excess moisture after rinsing. After remov- Ing from towel, place blouse in a paper bag in a barely warm oven, Just while the Iron heats. You'll be ustonished how this will speed up and Improve the Ironing job.

CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR

FESTIVITIES! ·

HONGKONG HOTEL.

GALA DINNER DANCES Nll Z a.m.

Christmas Eve

Now Year's Eve •

SPECIAL DINNER DANCES till } a.m.

Christmas Night Boxing Night

New Year's Night

PENINSULA HOTEL

SPECIAL DINNER DANCES till 2 a.m;

Christmas Evo

Now Year's Eve

DINNER DANCES till 1 a.m.

54

Christmas Night

Boxing Night

REPULSE BAY HOTEL

SPECIAL DINNER DANCES till 2 a.m

Christmas Evo

New Year's Eve.

DINNER DANCE till 1 am.

New Year's Night

TEA DANCES 4.00-6.00 p.m.

Christmas Day

Boxing Day

New Year's Day

*

Sunday January 2nd, 1949.

Tickets and Reservations at respective

Reception Offices.

The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels, Limited.

WHITEAWAYS

20092

(WHITEAWAY. LAIDLAW & CO., LTD) POST BOX 410 HONG KONG TELEPHONES: 32567 SOLE AGENTS FOR SIMPSON'S

-LONDON CUT AND TAILORED

READY-TO-WEAR CLOTHING SUITS, OVERCOATS, SPORTS JACKETS

AND THE WORLD FAMOUS

"DAKS" TROUSERS.

̈A MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL OUR PATRONS

CHINESE OPTICAL CO. 67 Queen's Road, C. Tel. 23368

PRIORY COFFEE

THE ONLY BRITISH COFFEE IN THE MARKET PURE GROUND COFFEE OF UNSURPASSED FLAVOUR EASILY MADE BY POURING ON BOILING WATER PACKED IN ECONOMICAL HALF POUND VACUUM TINS

Distributors:

LANE CRAWFORD LTD.

Solo Agents:

p

in

T.

Serve garnished with sprigs mist. If liked, 1 to 2 cups chilled lemonade just baforo serving. place, of the crushed ice.

Juice cocktail: For eight

allow for

of the theory of puiting dampenext 400 dinner servings

And, to reverse things, ever hear clothes in the icebox overnight be- cups tomato julee, one cup water, ienspoon inely minced shallot, fore ironing? Experta awear that one the things will iron more easily and one dessertspoon very finely minced look perkier as well. The theory is celery, one tablespoon lemon juice that the hot iron on the very cold or two tablespoons dry, sherry, one' fabric creates condensation, which teaspoon Worcestershire gives sumclent steam without the teaspoon salt, ono teaspoon sugar. need for a great deal of moisture Mix all ingredients and chill well

serving, strained In the fabric. If you decide to try before this trick, plan to iron before the strained according to taste. markoting, so that you'll have the requisite room in the refrigerator.

MODEL LINGERIE BY FINEWEAR

BRUCE,

- 20

or lin

VISIT BOND STREET W..

Some tinned pineapple,

It's a breeze to wash those lovely cake, lemon jelly, a le cherry, scarfs that are so popular just now, and which, come blustery weather, Stuffed hard-boiled eggs; Vitle-cream.

double as hate, when they are not. canapes, made by plling a savoury

decorativa Uso a tall mould, and put Into It | being used as a gilet or Three or four different kinds of mixture on small croutes of brend or alternate layers of sliced sponge cake apron on a dress. If you want the filings ára required sandwiches,

for layer little biscuits, and decorating them soaked with some of the pineapple beautiful prints and colours to look Clothes & Accessories of Batination such us polted meat, daintily; small bridge rolls, with julca and little sherry and chopped thinly aliced tomatoes, shredded savoury

Allings; grilled chipolata pineapple. Tettuce, and mayonnaise,

brushed with glaze, and Quanges The bread should be sliced very served cold with a cocktail stick in thinly and bultored. On the first each to allow of ensy manipulation. slice spread a layer of the meat, and Theno may help to give the housewife cover with another silco of buttered, gume Ideas when planning the party brend.

manu.

Have rendy porn warm lemon Jelly, and all up the mould with this. Put asido to bef. Tam it out when cold, "and decorato with whipped

cream.

like now, use speed. Cut the wash- Ing time to a minimum, keep tho water lukewarm, roll in a towel for `fast drying. In a pinch, scarves, like hankles. need not be froned it spread flat to dry, against 'a mirror, is wall or bathtub. But be sure that the surface is absolutely clean.

At The Hong Kong Hotel, Hongkong

TWI| 2018) -- Kx 24

Open from 9 am, to 8.p.ma, 1813-14 December

All day Saturday 18th Degensber For your Christmass "shopping.

0. WONG & CO., LTD.

CARS of DISTINCTION

Rolls Royce Bentley

Sunbeam Talbot

Jaguar Chrysler

Plymouth

Humber Hillman

GILMANS ARE PROUD OF EVERY CAR THEY BELL: · DE. PENDABLE SERVICE MAKES SATISFISO CLIENTS INTO FIRM FRIENDS, ENQUIRIES FOR NEW CARS OR USED MODELS RECEIVE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION FROM AN ORGANISA-

<TION ENTHUSIASTIC TO SERVE YOU.

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