Evening Star Newspaper, January 10, 1942, Page 15

WOMEN’S FEATURES. Necklaces of shellacked r e STAR, WASHINGTON, d and yellow Indian corn will deligh- the heart of country belles, and at the same time bring a little extra comfort to members of a Virginia family. Their home is built on the ashes of the one burned in Civil War days and has been their own for generations. Money brought in by the sae of the neck- laces and similar articles helps to keep it in the possession of those uko have loved it always. Your Place in Defense Work Group of Volunteer Special Services Offer Odenings By this time, all of us are aware that the services of any one who is willing are wanted in any of the branches of the civil- {an defense organization. And the flelds in which work can be done are so varied that every particu- lar aptitude should find its proper miche. With the continual ex- pansion and development of the defense program, more and more jobs are being created for vol- unteer workers; important work that can be done successfully only with the co-operation from the laymen as well as from those who work on civilian defense jobs during the day. There are great opportunities Keep Your Beauty! By Patricia Lindsay In the face of a future, when women will be busier than they ever have been in their lives, dare to be beautiful while you are active! A sound beauty rou- tine, with short cuts, will allow ample time for women to take their trucks apart or roll their bandages and keep lovely looking at the same time. After all, an adequate beauty routine can be very much re- duced, for good grooming salts down to thorough cleansing, a little skin pampering and suffi- cient rest and exercise to keep health up to par. Skin care can, if you wish, be accomplished with two products. Both of these come in tubes, to handle the easler and to keep in your bathroom handy for use. One is a facial soap cream which lathers and cleans like the soft- st of soaps, and soothes as the purest and richest of creams. ‘The companion product is a Nquid cream which melts at skin temperature, leaving no trace of solid substance on the face. This eream comes in varying degrees of richness for the treatment of skin dryness. An actlve woman can get in her exercise by walking to her appointments or place of busi- ness, instead of driving. Unless, of course, the distance is more than 2 or 3 miles. If she cannot get in the walk, then she must devote from 10 to 20 minutes exercising at home in a room filled with fresh air. One weekly visit to the hair- dresser, or a weekly shampoo and setting at home should be suffi- clent to keep hair lovely if one uses good scalp products. By Frankie Kuhn. for volunteer work in all the serv ices of the Red Cross chapters and particularly in groups under Volunteer Special Services. The first of these groups is the Staff Assistance Corps. It serves as an organizing and record-keeping staff and its assistance is given to all other service groups of the organization. The work is chiefly clerical, consisting of filing, typ- ing, bookkeeping, preparing re- ports and working on informa- tion and reception desks. Trans- lating and organizing training classes for the different services are other jobs done by the group. You can easily see that its func- tions are far reaching and of the greatest importance with the increased Red Cross activities. The second volunteer group is the Production Corps. As fits name implies, it is concerned with the provision of many of the articles little needed during peacetime, but of vital necessity in these days of war. The group obtains clothing for refugees, hospital comfort articles and the all-important surgical dressings. Its members sew, knit, mend and operate cutting and sewing ma- chines. All materials are then sent to their destinations through the regular distributing channels. It doesn't take much imagina- tion to understand just how nec- essery the work of this group is. And with the lengthening of the war period it will become even more important. The provision of meals for projects sponsored by the Red Cross is done by the Canteen Corps. It is well prepared to furnish mass feeding in disasters and supplies assistance for home garden and food conservation projects, a problem that is re- ceiving more and more attention by all branches of the civilian defense organizations. Its mem- bers attend food and nutrition classes and get practical expe- rience in feeding large groups of people and under difficult work- ing conditions. This is a good spot for any one who has an in- terest in foods and diet with application to her own home and family, which is of supreme im- portance as a source of national strength. The duties of members of the Motor Corps are to furnish trans- portation needed in connection with all chapter services. Its members collect garments and materials and provide transporta- tion for outings of men in Gov- ernment hospitals, take patients to clinics, and drive ambulances. The Home Service Corps assists the Red Cnss chapters in dis- charging th:ir obligations to ac- tive service and ex-service men and their fanilies. The members of this grouw) visit and interview families ani individuals under supervision. Training in social case work iractices is required of all appicants so that they might beter understand the functions exd duties of soclal service worl. The Hosital and Recreation Corps is :oncerned with the maintenanc: of the morale of the active and cc-service men in hos- pitals. Und'r the direction of the medical offrers, its members pro- vide recreaional work for the patients. Tiey may also act as receptionist. in clinics. The sat- isfactory cmmpletion of a pre- scribed courie and of a probation- ary period wre the only require- ments of tlvee who wish to join the group. With the increasing shortage of nurses and the con- sequent lesening of the time they can send with their pa- tients, the Jospital Corps fills a valuable sp>t in providing enter- tainments, "eading materials and other recr:ational facilities for those who 1ave 50 little to boost their morae. Rememb:r, as we sald in the beginning, all of these jobs are voluntary und all are of the ut- most impotance. Why not nose around anc see where you will fit in best? ——— D. ¢, BATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1942, Fluffy bears and puppy dogs from the wool of Virginia lambs, realistic “mam- mies,” mountain shuck dolls and all manner of calico cats and barnyard animals delight children from far and near, and provide needed cash for their producers. Photos by George Ackerman., War’s Effect on Fashion Those ‘In the Know’ Are of Many Varied Opinions If, in your travels around this busy metropolis known as Wash- ington, you stumble over the crouched form of a fashion edi- tor, the proper thing to say is, first, “Sorry,” and then “How do you think the war will affect fashions?” In her turn, the fashion editor will be ready for you. If she's in a particularly confidential mood, she may say, “Honest, I dunno, but my guess would be that things will remain fairly What About Gardens? By W. H. Youngman Remembring World War I many garieners are wondering what effec, if any, World War II will have 1pon their gardens and gardening activities. During the hysteria 0 winning the last war many law:s and flower beds were torn up ti make room for po- tatoes and sther vegetables. It is only natral, then, that many are asking “will this be repeat- ed?” If tiey take care of their lawns anc grow flowers, will they be looked 1pon as being disloyal? ‘What abcit local flower shows; should ther be abandoned during this perioc of emergency? During World War I there was a shortae of foodstuffs and home gariens were a necessity. Now the sory is different. There is no shorage of important food- stuffs in sight. The need for gardening and there is a need, is to save fright, to conserve labor, and to in'rease supplies of vita- min-rich vegetables to protect health ani to give strength. In addition © the needs for health Embroidered Coverlet for Baby By Baroness Piantoni ‘Teaching your youngster his A B C’s will be a simple matter with this embroidered coverlet. It will be fun for both of you, too. Baby will enjoy his cover for a long time. First, he'll be atiracted to the cute figures and then, as he grows older, he will begin to enjoy his alphabet and number lessons. Stamp the design on inexpensive unbleached muslin and embroider it with colorful cottons in simple stitches. Pattern envelope contains hot- fron transfers for one design, 17 by 23 inches; color chart, stitch {llustrations and full directions. Children love bright, cheery surroundings, and your youngster will enjoy & coiorful nursery to the utmost. You might like to key your wall colors, and that of the carpet to one or more of the shades appearing in the coverlet. Send 15 cents in stamps or coin for Pattern No. 1580 to the Needlework Editor of The Eve- ning Star. Please print your mame and address plainly. 1 and strength, the most important contribution is to maintain morale. Morale is vital in a war- torn country and the benefits to be derived from gardening, both flower and vegetable, are great. At the request of Secretary of Agriculture Claude L. Wickard and Paul V. McNutt, director, Of- fice of Defense Health and Wel- fare Services, garden leaders came to Washington to formu- late a program for gardeners everywhere. The following rec- ommendations were made at thas conference and hence are of in- terest to local gardeners: The production of vegetables is advised for rural and suburban areas where the soil, experience and available labor make such a program practicable. Fresh vege- tables are especially important to furnish needed minerals and vitamins for heakh and strength. Tomatoes, spinach, kale and other leafy vegetables should be given preference, as they are richest in these important ele- ments. Where facilities permit sufficient food should be provided to care for needs during the summer and for canning and preservation for winter’s needs. In the city there is little to be gained by destroying lawns and flower beds. Few vegetables can be produced in the poor soils and difficult growing conditions usually to be found in the more congested areas of the city. ‘Where growing conditions are favorable, of course, and the gardener has the necessary ex: perience and labor to insure re- turns commensurate with the effort expended, the growing of vegetables is justified. In most cases, however, In congested urban areas the time and money might well be devoted to other defense activities. The English people, for all of their food shortages, are not being asked to give up their flowers. Only the commercial acreages have been curtailed. Flower shows are being held al- most as*regularly as before the war. They have found the flower garden a most important cure for distraught nerves in a land where bombings have been an almost daily occurrence for mofiths on end. ‘ By Helen Vogt normal all the way around” Should she be in a garrulous frame of mind, however, she will corner you for an indefinite length of time, during which she'll fairly bowl you over with her fund of information from very reliable sources. Some of those sources have extremely interesting thoughts on the subject, and almost all are agreed that women will continue to pay attention to clothes, par= ticularly for the sake of the med off duty. Sane and sensible uni- forms may be all right during the day, but glamour is the keynot after dark. An executive in on: local store declared that women must go along as usual, taking everything in their stride, with:* as much calm as possible. Being stampeded into buying is a fool- ish move—remember the stocking - episode? There was & llmflnr‘ one on woolens about a week ago, for & possible shortage was § mentioned and women rushed to buy up coats. Most buyers and managers be- leve that good clothes will be more important than ever—not only because well-fitting clothes boost the morale, but also be- cause they will last more than one season. Still another executive here in town believes that fashions may rise and fall with the tide of battle. As long as all goes well in the war, says he, women will} be likely to think of their appear- ance, but should there be great setbacks it may be considered unpatriotic to spend too much money on clothes. One buyer of “better dresses” tells us that while she is concentrating on good quality clothes, buying much as usual, she is paying less at- tention to very high-priced and extremely high-styled fashions. All the people we've talked to, however, believe that with the possible exception of unobtain- able fabrics and the like, things should move along in their nor- mal way. “But what you want— and if you can’t get what you want, you can do without it.” In other words, there’s no point in being frightened by rumors or eventuelities. Probably they won't come true—and if they do, the catastrophe won't be over- whelming. Some of the theories advanced by designers and stylists in New York have been equally interest- ing. The belief in an extensive use of color is strong, and so is the feeling that “better” clothes will be important. Germaine Monteil declares that if retrench- ing becomes necessary, one ex- pensive gown will take the place of two or three—and this has been true in England, too, where rationing is in practice. De- signer Nettie Rosenstein is cre- ating wearable styles destined to 1ast for two or three years, but she doesn't feel t.hft fashion should have a setback. It's the second largest industry in the country, says Mrs. Rosenstein, and the Government does collect taxes from the millions of people dependent upon fashion for & livelihood. Most amazing statement of the whole thing, though, came from Mr. John of John-Frederics. This famous milliner who long has been known for his creation of hats-that-make-men-snicker declares now that charm and simplicity is the motto. At this point the fashion editor leans very close to you and whispers, “Mr. John expects to plan more ‘sensible’ collections ' And then, of course, she faints dead away. WOMEN’S FEATURES, Left, above, is “Sara,” a deaf mute, who has found some- thing that she can do—and do well—to earn a little money. With the help of Miss Sanford, home demonstration agent, “Sara” has developed a fine sense of color and design in the belts she sells through the Old Dominion Craft Shop. Above, visitors look over pottery made from James River clay, and rugs of all colors and designs made by clever workers, Co-operation Pays Virginia Folk Profit Through Organization By Clara Bailey. Among the most Interesting work being done in this vicinity is that carried on by the Old Do- minion Home Industries Co-op- perative. Situated about 37 miles down Route 1 on the Rich- mond highway, it offers unusual gifts with a local Virginia flavor, all hand-made by skilled crafts- men in the State. There are fascinating items here from each of the 100 coun- ties, for any man, woman or child in Virginia can offer ar- ticles for sale if the quality of their work passes the require- ments set down by the Co-oper- ative’s Standards Committee. Contributors pay 50 cents per year, which can be deducted from the first sale, and a per- centage for maintaining the shop. After three years, the shop is self-supporting, and the co-operative owns the roomy roadside building which houses the work of more than 400 mem- bers. Not only does this arrange- ment enable many isolated peo- ple to add to their often meager incomes, but in many cases it has given them a new interest, a new self-confidence. The la- dies in charge tell amazing stories of the people who make these carefully done articles placed on sale. Those carved bookends, they will tell you, were made by a 12-year-old boy whose teacher recognized his talents and encouraged him to join the co-operative. The belts embroidered in gay-colored wool are the work of a deaf mute who for the first time has found something in which she excels and which enables her to bring in money to swell the family budget. In addition, this girl is developing a fine sense of color and design. The quaint family of “shuck dolls” came down from a mountain cabin, and many of the split oak baskets hanging from the ceiling were fashioned by patient fingers of the blind, and many a story of pathos and hope is woven into them. Indian members coptribute crude little pottery pieces decorated with native Pawmunkey design and sent from the reservation near Williamsburg. The Standards Committee is composed of Mrs. W. D. Powers, shop manager, the home dem- onstration agent from ohe of the four nearby counties, and Mrs. W. L. Browning, Farm Security Administration home manage- ment supervisor for the district. This group examines everything offered for sale and offers help- ful suggestions for improvement when things are not acceptable. One woman, for example, had three quilts refused, but her pride knew no bounds when a fourth was accepted, and now she has become a regular con- tributor, doing excellent work. ‘The recognition of ability is one of the most valuable divi- dends pald by the co-operative, although it offers more concrete returns to contributors, too. Last year the shop did over $4,000 worth of business, most of the money going out in small month- ly checks to the hundreds of contributors. Scale Furniture to Size of Room Much has been learned about 4jving well in a small space at * minimum cost - since the Public Buildings Administration started Ats studies on homes for defense workers. Many of these are as ilue to the ideal for the small ouse community of the future as ible, and because of their in- telligent interior planning have & message for every girl in her one-room apartment and every young housekeeper trying to make e most of her emall family use. Miss Gladys Miller, interior consultant for a leading maga- zine, is also home planning con- sultant for the Public Buildings Agministration. She has per- sonally supervised the furniture layouts for thousands of small houses, and because she is in clese touch with a varied audi- ence she has full understanding of heir needs and is able to offer valuable information on house planning, furniture arrangement and budget buying that is useful to every one of us. The one wall elevation illus- trates in the accompanying sketch what may be accom- plished by the careful planning of necessary furniture scaled to the tions of the room. Just inside the door, the high- backed secretary has a good light falling on its crlunc surface, . By Margaret Nowell which is of primary importance. But more than this, it serves as a screen, preventing & full view of the living room each time the door is opened, and prevents a draught of cold air on the backs of the people seated in the room. Both of these items, privacy and comfort, are points in good living. With a lamp above the desk and another on the other side of the window near the lounge chair, this area is developed for com- plete use by day or evening. The mirror on the other side of the door is useful each time any one goes out or comes in for a quick glance to check up on personal appearance, and the little table will hold mail and deliveries as well as purses and gloves. Be- yond this is the dining alcove before another window. When you consider the number of uses of the furniture in this small space during 24 hours you will agree that it is well planned and placed. We have come s long way since the day when one ate and slept in the same room only in the “slums.” Nowadays dinner may be served with great ele- gance at a low table pushed up before the living room couch, and the same couch may be opened up into & full size bed several hours later. It is all in the way it is done and the plan- ning that preceded it. Miss Miller offers several worthwhile suggestions to young planners. She says that scale is one of the most important items in planning for arrangement in & small space, and the one point that many new housekeepers do not understand. They forget that a huge over- stuffed sofa offers no more seat- ing space than s slender one and may throw the whole room out of balance. One of the first requi- sites of good interior planning is to work out a scale plan so that the necessary articles of furni- ture may be placed without crowding. From the family train- ing angle, the dining alcove in the living room rather than the kitchen is suggested, for the extra bit of formality which & living room demands is an asset toward the better table manners and personal appearance that should be part of the early train- ing of _every’umlw.