The National tribune., 1892-02-11
THE "BETTER HALF"

THE BETTER HALF"
"A woman cannot too soon learn woman
hoods best mission-usefuluess, tenderness
and charity"
-
Most girls have thought or are thinking that
of all the occupations for women that Of the
nurse, with her ability to care for the sick, IS
the best. The lovely, romantic sde-the
cheerful nurse in her neat gown, who knows
just when to speak the comforting words. to
give the cooling drink, or to smooth the pillow
Of the sufferer-tbat appeals to them. There Is
a hOmely side though, the serubbing. washing.
cleaning-for the room and everything used IN
it must be kept spotlessly clean-that is hard
work; then the times when she must stay awake
to watch, although her eyes almost refuse to
keep open. She must be at the doctors side
during painful operations, with steady nerves.
to assist him. After she once gets started as
professional nurse all of these duties and many
more may fall upon her. A Philadelphia
nurse suddenly found herself with an entire
family and both servants on her hands, all III
with a malignant disease. With the aid OF
another nurse the sick ones were cared for, but
the two nurses had TO get their own meals, pre-
pare the food for the invalids, and do all Of the
homework. No one would come near but the
physician and the grocer's boy. who came TO the
stable, got written order that they had left
for him, and brought the things back. This
kind Of life is what the School for Nurses pre-
pares one for, and brave, useful life it is.
e@E
Clara Barton, the President Of the Red Gross
Association, is a quiet, unpretentious little
lady, although her name is we'll known not
only here but in Europe She wears her hair
parted in the middle and combed down
smoothly over her ears in that quaint, old
fashioned way that used to be seen so much.
Although she has jewels that were given her
by crowned heads she rarely dresses in any
other than tho simplest manner. The Red
Cross Society was first organized for the relief
Of the soldiers on the battlefield, but now its
aid is given when any great calamity occurs.
Nations unite in respecting the sign Of the asso-
citation, a red cross on white ground. During
war the nurses, ambulances, and supplies Of the
Red Cross are safe from the soldiers Of any ma
h'NA an tAN treaty. "hSAONCA hANAV % EAN''s
distress there Clara Barton and her assistants
are to be found, working, distributing the pro-
visions aud clothing that generous, OPEN
be ted people have sent her. In the United
States the Charleston, JOhnstown, Michigan
and yellow-fever sufferers have received aid
from the association. Now Russia claims her
attention and she is trying to get the grain
that the farmers Of the United States have con-
tributed sent to the starving peasants.
ga
A good way 10 save soap IS to melt the little
scraps Of soap that are left from the cakes in a
tin pan with just enough water over them to
mOisten them. After they are melted, let them
cool somewhat and then shape into balls and use
over. This pays if you get good soap, and you
ought get good soap, as there IS almost nothing
that will roughen the skin so soon as the poor
kinds. 1t is not well to change the kind of soap
often, as that too is injurious to the skin.
Sc
A pretty way TO trim the neck Of gown and
one useful in Frightening up an old one is the
bertha. This is nothing more than very full
ruffle Of silk, chiffon or some light material
sewed around the neck Of gown so that il falls
over pTettily. Sew it down a little below the
edge Of the neck on the wrong side, then let il
fall over the right side.
20
The divided skirt is not such an awful gar
ment as may be supposed-when it IS worn
underneath the dress skirt, where il belongs.
For cold weather they are warmer than the
multitude Of skirts that otherwise one has to
wear and it is so much easier to get around in.
Made of light material it is excellent to walk
or wsrk in. The patterns can be gotten at any
Of the pattern stores. The yoke relieves the
hips Of the fullness, and gives a neat appearance
to the figure.
sHa
So long as girls regard daintiness as an es-
sential charm, and that will be forever the
habit Of polishing the fnger-nails will not 90
entirely out, as some say it has already. No
matter whether the hand be large or small,
white, brown or even red, clean, well formed,
shining nails make it attractive. To keep
the hands in good condition they should be
washed in hot water with plenty Of soap once
day. After drying carefully, each finger
separately, the nails should be cleaned with a
little eeluloid cleaner, or with a very dull
metal blade. Then push back the flesh at the
base Of the nail There should always be a
little white semi-circlc showing. Then trim
| the nails down close to the flesh at the sides
and to the level of the finger.tip at the top.
Long, pointed nails are not particularly nice.
A pair Of manicure scissors cost about 20 cents,
and are most useful things for the money; with
them you can cut the little loose pieces Of skin
| that a.e so annoying. as we'll as cut the nails.
The polishing should be done up and down
the nail, bat there is a temptation to rub across.
/ Finally rub of the powder with glove or soft
| handkerchief. No day should pass without at
least this maeh attention to the nails.
80
The facts about Chile arc just coming to light
| Until the trouble is almost entirely settled we
don't have chance to learn anything about
the Chilean women. A few things we do know
however, that she is bright and pretty, and that
| in Valparaiso the streetcar conductors arc
women, and that the poor damsels of the higher
classes cannot wear their Sunday gowns on
Sunday. When they 20 to church they U.ust
wear their mantas, ugly dark shawl-like A.
fairs, that they wear over their heads. aud that
would injure the looks Of the prettiest o
them.
"a
Suggestions as to the care Of the hair are al
ways in order. These have been well tried