Evening star., 1945-10-05
FOR FRIEND IN FRANCE.

tFfOWt IRIS, -. IN. o's AfHftytVt.J
For Mis- B. F., Arlington. You
ask what to send to France.
AS my FAMILY myself and chill
dren) have been sending things she
requested as often as possible to my
sister, I can answer your question.
Briefly-anything and everything.
Soap Is a gift from Heaven. Sugar
(if impossible, send saccharine)
dried fruit and dried vegetables
(pack easily and you avoid the great
waste Of weight and space of tin
can), dried beef, POWDERED
MILK, rice, powdered coffee, tea,
warm underwear and nighties (there
will be no coal in France again this
winter-sny sister had SO pounds for
the whole of last winter, warm
socks and stockings. Knitting yarn
(bright colors). I am sending sheep
lined slippers, too, any kind OF food
mot forgetting bars of chocolate
are a godsenO.
What there is In the country can
not be- well distributed for lack OF
transportation. But remember that
glass travels poorly-put adhesive
criss-cross over it-and tin weighs
q lot-so, use all the dried foods
possible and If sending timed meat
choose tongue or chicken which
will be wonderful treat for Christ
mas dinner, or flsh-tuna, salmon
"a lot In tight space.
Pack tightly In the regular over
seas corrugated carton-stuff cor
ners with socks, a slip-an under
shirt, etc. Put q list of contents In
the box. Tie it firmly. Then wrap
solidly in brown paper and tie very
strongly.
You will have to copy the list on
several tags at the post ofhce fol-
various customs offices, so take il
with you. It's a lot of bother, but
worth 1t for the loving Joy and COM
fort you will send to some one who
has been too close to starvation
for nearly six years and who will
find more than food In your gift
namely, affection, understanding
and sympathy.
AS I was born q Frenchwomen-
let me thank you for your kline
thought and your generous gifts
France needs many, many such
gifts.
(Fron, Mrs. G. IT,, Washington.)
You are, indeed, an angel of mere.
Il you want to help your friends ant
relatives in France with parcels o
food. France is bled white and any
thing-from used clothing to plail
table SALTS deeply appreciated.
have been sending highly concen
trated food, like powdered milk
which you can buy at your drui
store; anchovies, canned meat, tea
coffee (not ground, -four and ready
mixed -four for pies and cakes
cheese, cocoa, puddings and soul
mixes. 1t is well to wrap all tn,
items In waxed paper and not tt
send anything in glass.
(Fron, Mrs. r. P. Alexandria,
Concerning the package to bt
sent to your friend in France-w.
have a friend living in Northern
France to whom we send a package
every month. Chocolate bars art
most acceptable and more nourish
ing than regular boxed candy. Wit
amin pills are desperately needed II
order to combat the loss of vita
minis caused by improper food: per
haps you could find some vitanii
pills containing vitamin G, which
would take less room but provid
the same value as orange juice
which you mentioned.
If you are sending writing pape
be sure to send plenty Of envelopes
And how about some Scotch tape o
gummed labels to I'LL in corners Q
your box? Paper handkerchief
would be readily accepted and regu
lar handkerchiefs are very scarc'
too.
Ink and pen points are badl
needed, though you will be taking
chance that the ink will break, LII
less you can obtain the dehydrate
variety.
Boullion cubes, dehydrated soup
banana flakes, in short, any sort {
food would be welcome. Also te
or instant cocoa, which requires n
milk or sugar, but merely the add
ton Of boiling water.
Just pack the parcel carefully q
that nothing Is loose or moyabl
and wrap with strong paper an
heavy string.
Il II
WORKING FUR.
from Mrs. M. N. A., Arlington. J
For Mrs. D. r. c. DON'T, pleas
90 after it with scissors as you woul
cloth. II you have a pattern, trat
1t onto the wrong side of the fl
with pen and ink or draw a patter
II you don't have a ready-made or
and then transfer 1t to the fur afte
you're sure 1t fits exactly as 70
want 1t to. Then cut only the ski
with q very sharp razor blade. 7
piece fur be sure 1t matches on tn
right side and that the fur all rur
in the same direction, then stitch o
the wrong side with close, fine over
casting. Stitch tape or bias bindir
along outside edges with the sam
fine, close overcasting on wrong side
turn tape to wrong side and catcf
stitch to pelt;; or, If you wish
f1uff1er effect, line with lambs wo'
and catch-stitch your tape to tn
wool instead of your pelt. The
catch-stitch the whole thing ont
your garment or hat. Fur trim
especially nice on hat and muf set
Furs cannot be sewed like fabric; tn
edges tear too easily. Be sure t
OVERCAST all joinings and edge
and be very careful not to catch tn
hairs in your stitches, as that woul
ruin the edges or Jennings.
I'm strictly an amateur mysel
but I made a hat, coat and mu
set for my little girl and trimmed
with seal fur. 1t looks quite mic
and I'm very proud of it.
From Mrs. J. M, Washington. J
In answer to D. r. c., there is
dressmaking book put out by a lars
pattern firm which has the follow
Ing directions on fur. Here's an e.
tract:
"The amateur must realize tn,
1t is a highly technical matter. ST
must not pin pieces at random. II
hair must go In one directio
wherever pinning is made. If O
fur is to be used, it is a good Id,