WHY should the children not
have their bair seasonably ar
ranged at Christmas time?
What do the wise one, say?
"Ia It not that people cannot feel unless
they be dressed for the part? Cleanli
ness brings a feeling of self-respect, the
motley clothes of a fool being the source
from whence he derived his wit Ophelia
could not have been so mad and melan
choly a figure "without the flowers droop
ing from her unbound hair."
Anyway, does it not give an air of
festivity to the house to see the .chil
dren running round with their curls
done up with sprigs of holly? The
same lovely green decorates the walls
and the doorways, the pictures and the
dining table. It is even better when it
also forms a part of the Christmas
costume.
Small and large, young and old? can
wear It. Even the little children who
wear holly In their hair will have a
deeper and more lasting appreciation of
the great day. For older people the
knowledge that they are wearing a
badge of the season will do much to
ward keeping the time of the year
foremost in the thoughts so that no
. petty trials or worries may upset them.
And it acts exaotly the same way for
Children. No need to remind them
about Santa Claus when all they need
do Is to glance at the green sprays
Mrs. Symes' Answers
to Correspondents
OWING to the great amount of
mall received and the limited
space given this department. It
is absolutely Impossible to an
swer letters in the Sunday Issue follow
ing their receipt. The letters must be
answered In turn, and this ofttlmes re
quires three or four weeks.
All correspondents who desire an Im
mediate answer must inclose a self
addressed stamped envelope for a reply.
This rule must also be complied with in
regard to personal letters.
Measurements
Will you kindly tell me whether the fol
lowing measurements are In Proportion?
C-.rr redln your page In today's paper
I used the tape measure with theee results:
ntt '.flJ .inche,; buet, M Inohee;
natural waist, . Inches; natural hlp. Sii
Inches: neck, IS Inchei, ankle, 8 Inches;
calf, inches; thigh. 23 inches; wrist!
anClutthearm' 1 tacbM- PPr
Could not tell ytm Just my actual weight,
but It is about US to 140 oounde. I wear
l glove ana 4H B shoe. M. W. vT
I should say from what you described
of your flgtre that you are In very good
proportion, with the exception of the
slxe of your waist and hipa. These, I
think, might be reduced two inches
without any harm to your figure.
To Lighten the Hair
WUl you please tell me something to
Ose to bleach my hairT It ! a dark brown,
and I would like to have It a light brown.
I am afraid to ue peroxide of hydrogen,
because I think it wlil make the hair turn
ray before time, as I am only IS years
old going on 16. FORGET-ME-NOT.
To keep your hair a light brown, put
a little washing soda into the water
when you wash your head. Do not use
any hair tonics which contain oils, for
these will make your hair darker.
To Cleanse the Hair
I would like to ask you If you could tell
me anything that wilt remove nits from
the halrf My little airl has parte of her
hair covered with them. Have tried kero
sene and vinegar, but to no avail,
A MOTHER.
Wash your little girl's hair In gasoline.
This has been found an excellent thing
to cleanse the hair. If not successful at
once, wash It again.
Bleach for the Neck
My neck le very much dlecolorei and as
X wear low-neck dresses quite often It ia
very embarrassing to have a dark neck In
contrast to wh.lt tr one. Can you give me
something to whiten It ANXIOUS.
The following Is an excellent bleach
rolpa tor the neck: .
' Take fresh strained cucumber Juice, boll
It for Ave minutes, and for every five
ounce of Juice aiMi
' Pulverised borax ................ tf ounces
Acetate or aow eunc
Tincture of qulllala 1V4 oun.'ee
Tincture cf benaolu drams
Aotfweter .. 1 pint
Mix thoroughly and apply two or three
, times a day until the stain Is removed.
srdund them! It sems to say, "Re
member, Christmas comes but once a
year, and when it comes it brings good
cheer."
Christmas is the only international
holiday. All the others are local af
fairs that mean nothing except to the
few who celebrate them. We do not re-
Joice with the French on their holiday,
the 14th of July, any more than thejs
celebrate with us the Fpurth of "July.
No other nation has "'our holiday,
Thanksgiving. Christmas is the one
universal holiday, and It you will tramp
the world over, in all Christian coun
tries you will find tha observance of
Christmastlde.
The Germans have perhaps of all
nations the greatest appreciation ot
Christmas. Their observance of the day
is very formal, almost strict, and noth
ing can interfere with the feasting and
rejoicing. In that country the Christ
mas tree is universal, and the children
may always look back upon their
Christmas days at home as being the
most Joyous of their lives. Why do
you not carry out the same Idea in
your own household? Make Christmas
a general holiday; decorate the children
and give a festival air to the house.
Glorify the little dally duties of each,
be smiling and agreeable and then,
when, the day is over, review the oc
casion and see If you have not spent a
really good and pleasant holiday.
Sage Tea
Does sage tea make the hair gray? I
have been using it for quite a time, but
a friend of mine told me to itop It right
away if I wanted . to preserve the. color
of my hair. ALARMED.
Sage tea Is used to restore the color
of the hair, ao you see It is impossible
for it to make the hair gray. Evidently
your friend is confused, because It is
usually called a gray-hair restorative,
which really means that the natural
color may be brought back.
To Develop the Bust
Please give me some prescription to de
velop my bust either exercise or lotion.
VERY THIN.
reathing exercise is the best to take
to increase the size of the bust. The
following is a recipe for a very good
pomade to use as directed:
Lanolin . . 1 ounce
Sweet almond oil 1 ounce
Cocoa butter 1 ounce
Put in small bowl, set in hot Water un
til melted. Beat together and cool. Each
night, after laying hot clothe on bust,
rub It in by managing gently and thor
oughly la a circular direction for fifteen
minutes.
Cure for Diarrhea
My little girl suffers a good deal from
diarrhea. Could you tell me a simple
remedy tor this trouble?
ANXIOUS MOTHER.
A simple remedy for diarrhea, and
one that is eaay to take, as it has no
taste. Is a' teaspoonful ot pepper in
half a cup of cod water. Take no
food for half an hour after drinking It
To Keep the Hair Curled
Some one has told me of your solution
to keep the hair curled. I have looked
through many back papers, but fall to
find it. Would you mind printing it for
met GRATEFUL.
The following Is the recipe to which
you refer:
Solution to Keep the Hair Curled.
Cora arablo . . 1 ounce
Good motet sugar....... H ounce
' Pure hot water plot
Alcohol S fluid ourrcea
Bichloride of merourr. . grains
' Eel atnmoniao gralna
The last two should be dissolved la the
alcohol before admixture. Lastly, add
enough water to make the whole measure
one pint. Perfume with cologne or lav
ender water. Moisten the hair with the
fluid before Butting it in the papers or
curl era
This is too strong a solution to be ap
plied repeatedly, as it would surely have
a destructive effect on the hair follicles.
Therefore, It should - not be too- fre
quently applied and not at too short an
' interval. An occasional use, however, is
practically harmless.
. The Cause of Giddiness
t Very often during the day I get a giddy
. reeling. I don't faint, but lust feel as
though everything were going round.
CovJd you tell roe what causes thleT
SIXTEEN. .
Giddiness In young people very often
Is a sign of indigestion, and should be
treated by attention to diet, fresh air
and moderate outdoor exercise.
THE OREGON
SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY
C ONGERNING HEALTH and BEAUTY
By
Cure for a Corn
I have heard that vinegar and bread are
very good things to use as a corn, cure.
Will you tell me how to apply them?
SUFFERER.
Steep a piece of stale bread in vin
egar and tie It around the corn for
three nights.
To Fatten the Legs
My legs are so very thin, but I feel sure
there Is scene way to fatten them. Will
you kindly advise met 6KINNT.
The best way to increase the size of
tho legs is to take plenty of exercise.
Long walks will soon produce results.
NOTES OF THANKS
T Dear Mrs. Adams: How
shall I write a note to
thank rny aunt for a beau
tiful birthday present?"
"My Dear Mrs. Adams: How shall I .
write a note of acceptance for a wed
ding reception?" "My Dear Mrs. Adams:
How do you write to people you have
never seen, and what is the correct form
of salutation when writing to a friend?"
This is the kind of letters that I get.
so I have decided to make this little
talk upon the subject of letter writing,
for . I know that after Christmas you
will all have many notes of thanks to
.write, besides those In answer to hell-'
day invitations. Many people of all ages
and sites do sot know how to write a
HI ' r III JVTV i
P f . xA,mx"vn rur ii r minml mr -mxi:Qumimf tw . ( CC PWaweweMiaw
Vv-v ,t --lor , io
MRS..HLNRY oYME.S
A gymnaetlc feat which Is said to be
a certain enlarger for the lower limbs
is to atand on one foot, and, with the
other leg held out as nearly at a right
angle to the body as possible, try to
touch the knee to the floor.
Double Chin Eyebrow and
Eyelash Grower
Will you pleaae send me something to re
duce a double chin: also a recipe to In
crease the growth of the eyebrows and
eyelashes? MARTHA.
To help reduce a double chin prac
tice the following exercise:
I Stand erect in- military position. Place
ss
letter. Many men who can write perfect
ly Intelligible business letters are utter
ly lost when It becomes necessary to
write a note of friendship, of sympathy,
or even a love letter. I think that, on
the whole, I will not take Vp the last
named, for love letters are a Tather dif
ficult subject' We will talk about just
ordinary everyday notes, which espe
cially claim our attention at this time
of the year.
In writing a note the first point to be
determined is the salutation. Shall It
be formal or Informal? Is the note writ
ten from a man to a woman, from a
woman to a man, from a girl to a girl, s
or from a man to a man? If a woman
writes to another woman, whom she
calls by her first name In other words.
If tbey are more or less Intimate then
she will begin by saying. "Dear Mary"
or "Dearest Mary."
Ths most usual form of salutation Is
"deatw" ,
If you are writing a business letter to
a man you have never seen you will '
begin the letterr with the man's name
and address, and then you will writs
VDear Sir" or "My Dear Sir."
In waiting to a formal . acquaintance
you' would write, "My, dear Mr. Plt
coe." if the acquaintance Is not so for
' -V : ; ''.- .v-"-6- ;.
HORNING, DECEMBER : 20, J903
the hands lightly on the hips, fingers for
ward. Drop the chin aluwly on the collar
bone; then throw the head back with a
quick, even movement that is not a Jerk,
but yet puts ail the muscles Into quick
play. Repeat ten times. I. Turn ths head,
quickly to the right till the chin Is Just
over the right shoulder: then back again.
Receat ten times: then turn the head to the
left In the same way. Repeat tea times.
Do not tire the muscles of the neck, but
gradually increase the number of exercises
daily, until you can practice each one about
fifty times without after discomfort.
I am giving you a recipe for an eye
brow and eyelash grower.
Eyebrow and Eyelash Grower.
Cologne ..
JVt ounces
itl ounces)
mycenne
n'iaborandl '. 1 ounce
AKltate ingredients till thoroughly hcor
nor&ted ADDly to the evebrovie with a
Srah snd to the lashes with a tiny camere
haYr rjalnt brush. The brush muat be freed
from "y d W and passed llnhtly afong the
&gm "the eyelids, "exercising cr?
that no minutest portion ot the lotion
touches the eye Itself. .
ma I, then you may write, "Dear Mr.
Pitcoe." Tou sec, there is a difference
in formality between "My dear" and
"Dear," "My dear" being a degree more
formal than "Dear." When a young
girl writes to an older woman she usu
ally shows respect by using the whole
form, as, "My dear Mrs. Pltcoe."
Working on this knowledge, you see
that when you write notes of thanks
you must use 'either the term "My
dear" or simply "Dear." Tou must de
cide for yourself what degree of famlli
arity you may use and yet remain
within the letter of the law of eti
quette. vDsar friend" was at one time per
missible. Indeed, It was quite In style,
but it Is now an obsolete fashion and
one It would be better to ignore. Use
rather the name by which you call the
person you are addressing, if It Is
your mother. your sister, 'your,
brother or any member of the family,
you may write, "Dearest mother" or
"Dearest sister," etc. There are many
extravagant terms of affection that arc
quits unnecessary for me to mention,
and there are also many less formal
ways of beginning a letter sometimes
omitting the salutation but they pre
sent too "wide a field for me to cover
today.
e? T? a
w ittoc.- ?y j ,
There are three ways of closing a
note: "Yours truly," "Tours sincerely"
and "Tours affectionately." The first is
the usual way for a business letter, the
eecond is used among acquaintances and
the last is for use among friends and
relations. In friendly letters between
men and women ttva second ending is
used. In. very formal business letters,
"respectfully yours" appears, but It
seems to appear less , and less. It is
perfectly sale to adhere to the three
forms that I have mentioned.
SIGNING A LETTER
When signing a letter the title Mr.,
Mrs. or Miss Is never used. If the letter
be formal, then the full name roust be
written out If the letter be among
friends, then the first name only may
be used. A married woman who ex
pects an answer to her note, and who
wishes to let her correspondent know
how to address her, will sign her full
name, and then at the left-hand corner,
under the signature, she will write Mrs.
John Smith, with the address.
One other rule is that no letter must
begin with "I."
These rules that I have given cover
almost an requirements. The details
must be decided by good taste and
common sense.
Now. I am going to suggest a few
forms for letters. Suppose you were a
young girl and that one of your moth
er's friends, a Mrs. Jones, had sent you
a gift, you mny write her thus:
My Dear Mrs. Jones: Teeterday mother
handed me the beautiful spoon that you
so very kindly sent me. and I want to ex
press to you. If I can, how very grateful I
am for both the present and for your kind
thought of me. We spent a very merry
Christmas. I only wish that you could have
been with us. Again, with many thanks,
I am yours, affectionately,
MART ROBINSON.
Tou gee the idea? Tou thank the
PERPLEXITIES SOLVED
Opening the Present
Should I c.pen a present in front of the
person who gave It to me? MABEL
As a rule, any one giving you a
present will so arrange it that you
will receive It so that you will not be
placed in an embarrassing position.
It is very difficult to enthuse over
something that you do not care about,
and no one can be sure that the right
thing has been chosen. If the per
son does not give you this oppor
tunity, the best you can do is to open
it at once with a show, at least, of
enthusiasm, unless you can think of
some plausible excuse to keep it un
til later. The average person finds It
very embarrassing to be present when
his or her own gift to another is opened.
Inscription on Card
When you inclose a card with a present,
do you write ths greetings of the season
upon it. and If so. where? R. t.
Unless you choose one of the many
Christmas cards, which bear all the
appropriate greetings of the season,
then you will have to write some such
lnr--iption as "Wishing you a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Tear" at
. the top of the card above your name.
"With Best Wishes" Is also appropri
ate, and will do as well as a longer
one. .Always write something on your
card, or otherwise ths gift seems very
"uncordial," if I may use the word.
Mother Objects
My mother disapproves of a young maa
with whom I gov Should I tell him about
her objections? I like him so much that
I would not care to hart bis feeling.
x DISHARTE.NEDl
t usually tlnd that when mothers
disspprovs of young men there is
some good reason, but the young man
should have a chance to prove htm-'
self better than she thinks hs is. 1
should certainly tell hina what your
mother thought, and let him manage
donor for her gift and her thought, then,
you mention some matters of general
Interest. poLlto regret at her inability to
be present or something of that sort
and then you close the note. Such let
ters of thanks need be but a few words
of acknowledgment.
There is one other case that I would
like to cite, and that Is where a girl has
received a present from a young man.
Let up suppose that there; Is merely a
formal acquaintance. She would write;
My Dear Mr. Pltcoe: , -
The beautiful book reached me on Christ
mas morning, and I cannot gueaa how you
knew Just what I wanted. I took great
pleasure la reading It at once, and you,
could not have made a better selection.
With many thanks for the book; and wit
many wishes for the Nw Tear. I am v
Very sincerely yours.
MABEL JACKSON.
Of course. I cannot possibly suggest a
style for fljyerr letter, but I have given
you an outline upon which you can
build almost any required note. ,
Arrange tho details of the note as you
like. The only essential is that It shall
be correct In the salutation, tha begin
ning and the signature.
A pretty custom has recently found
favor, and that is to write notes to ac
quaintances wishing them a merry
Christmas and letting these wishes take
the place of gifts. After an, it Is not
the Intrinsic Talus of the present that
counts. It Is the wish that lies behind
it Therefore, these little notes' are
very reasonable, and nice, particularly
for those who cannot afford to give de
sirable presents to every one. - i
In writing them let the form that X
l aw iuiicsic ui luuwi, in
stead of my words of thanks use) others
expressing good wishes. Every one loves
to receive letters from friends especi
ally at the holiday season and ybu will
'find that by Just such thoughtfulness
and kindly consideration is held to
gether our ever widening; circle of
friends.
the situation as best he may. If hs Is
really worthy, hs will do all that ha
can to show your mother that hs is
desirable. If he does not cars what
your mother thinks, then It Is Just as
well that you have nothing to do with)
him.
Is Not Necessary
I have a great frlrnA a, man whom I
see very often. Last year he seat me a
box of candy and I sent him nothing.
Should I send him something this year?
LVCT
If you do not wish to send him
present. It Is not absolutely necessary
for you to do' so. However,-if you
wish to remember him, send some
.kind of a book or some trifle which
you have . made yourself neckties, etc.
Girls are not called upon to civs men
presents, even though tbey do receive
gifts from them, it Is merely a mat
ter of choice.
After Visiting
After visiting, should one write a letter
of thanks to the hostess? Mr. V. H.
Certainly. This la called a "bread
and butter letter," and should be writ
ten when arriving home after leaving
the hostess with whom you have been'
staying. It is merely a message of
thanks snd of appreciation, and aesd
not be very long, but It should be
. written within three day
'A Difficult Problem, -
How ean X tell my girl friend la a
polite way not to chew gum n the
Street? . . , ANNA.
It seems to me that In a casual way
you might discuss ths fact that chew
ing runt injures the shape of the
mouth and makes a girl iomht
conspicuous. Tou might call atr,.
tlon to ths fact that very fsw i
chew fum or eat anything u t
street, and that It rct,it i t .
right thing to do, anl ii. t;--t -; 1 1.
most undesirable btl'.X.