Of Interest to Women

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 147, 15 April 1940, Page 2

Of Interest to Women

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN'S MISSION UNION SOCIAL AFTERNOON A social afternoon arranged by the Presbyterian Women's Mission Union was held on Thursday. I hew was a large attendance. During the afternoon members ''of the Lyceum Club staged "The Misses Primrose's Deception," the cast being: Miss Matilda, Miss Whiteside; Miss Clarissa, Mrs S. C. Spenec; Miss Try, Mrs Riddle; Priscilla, Mrs Boswell: Lillian, Miss Carlyon. A vocal duet was presented by Mrs Druby and Miss Connie Sclw field and a novel and interesting competition was won by Mrs Yeoman . At the conclusion, Mrs S. Iv. Scho(ield thanked the members for their attendance. The Competition. Headed "Answer These Questions," the competition paper stated that the answer to each question was the name of a prominent man in Whakatane. It was also stated that the majority of them were ridiculously easy but that one or two might prove hard to find. The questions were: — 1 TSvo books of the Bible; 2 A Prime Minister of England; 3 Two partners—builders of the Arapuni Hydro-Electric works; 1 A wellknown brand of whisky; 5 A chess piece; () A maker of knives; 7 One who has a strong dislike of a person or creed; 8 Where apples grow; 9 A southern country of England; 10 A small forest in England; 11 A member of a Royal bodyguard of veteran soldiers; 12 What is the edge of a razor blade; 13 What did Oliver Twist ask for? 14 A source of water; 15 A small article, used extensively in engineering work; 16 A Spiritual overseer in the Anglican Church; 17 An industry connected with fruit, meats and fish; 18 A senseless car; 19 An uncivilised human being; 20 An apartment in a hospital; 21 A young rooster; 22 Lettuce are delicious when—; 23 One who pushes n barrow. The answers were: 1 Mathew and Luke; 2 Chamberlain; 3 Armstrong and Whitworth; 4 Dewar; 5 King; 6 Cutler; 7 Hayter; 8 Orchard; 9 Kent; 10 Wood; 11 Yeoman; 12 Sharpe; 13 Moore; 14 Spring; lo Rivet t; 1(> Bishop; 17 Canning; 18 Dillicar; 19 Savage: 20 Ward; 21 Cockerill; 22 Chrisp; 23 Wheeler.

WEDDING SUPERSTITIONS Women who get engaged or married during June are supposed to stand a greater chance of happiness than those married at any other part of the year. The reason is that June is dedicated to Juno, the -wife of Jupiter, the supreme diety in Roman mythology. Juno has all women under her special protection, and Is considered the patroness of matrimony. Sunday has never been very popular as a wedding day. and brides have shunned Friday (and still do) owing to superstition. Christian people have always considered it an unlucky day for weddings, because our Lord was crucified on that day, and tradition says that it was on Friday that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Superstition is a difficult thing to uproot, and not many modern brides choose Friday as the great day. As a matter of fact, according to the Norsemen, Friday is a; lucky day dedicated to Venus, goddess of love. Because white denotes purity and simplicity it as long been worn for the wedding gown, but the Greeks and Roman brides wore yellow veils which completely enveloped them. They also went a great deal by the colours accorded to the various days. Thus, if a bride were married on a Monday, she used to choose white; if Tuesday, red; if Wednesday, green; while Thursday was associated with purple; Friday, blue; and Saturday, dark blue. That "something old" in the traditional rhyme, bj r the way, ensures that the bride's friends shall be faith ful when needed, and the "something new'" is necessary for success in her neAv life. "Something borrow 7 - ed" enables her to take with her the love of her family. The true lovers' knot we use on our bridal gowns are a traditional way of signifying undying affection. The knot is also supposed to be an emblem of the ties of unityand duty which bind a bride to her bride>groom.

SOLDIERS' WIVES SAME IN ALL COUNTRIES ! j TRAGIC RUSSIAN LETTERS The human side of war is not greatly different whether in Russia. Finland or elsewhere, writes Edmund Stevens in the Christian Science Monitor. Its story has been disclosed in a bundle of letters that will not be answered. They were found. Avrapped in an old newspaper, beside a Russian soldier who fell in the snow covered forests of Agglajaervi. i Perhaps their greatest value is what they show of the tragic and pitiably inefficient methods of the Kremlin, both in the war with Finland, and in the "peace" at home. The letters were written to Efim Pavlov itch by his wife, Marusya, who calls him Sima, and translated into English by this correspondent. The letters begin in October, when Moscow troops held ready pre sumably to invade Estonia if the latter had refused to accept the Soviet terms. "Please Write'* October 15. Dear Sima:— Best wishes from your devoted wife Marusya and son Lyonya. Please write whether they have listed you for long service. I felt from the start that it was a serious matter, but you insisted you would be back soon. Write me whether they issued your winter clothing, I wonder how matters will end, and whether we will ever see each other again, Sima.

SOLDIERS' SOCKS THICKENED HEEL FLAP Here is a practical hint for women who are knitting sox for His Majesty's Forces, states the London Daily Telegraph. The thickened heel is simplicity itself to do, but is greatly appreciated on account of increased wearing qualities and additional comfort. When the knitter comes to the heel flap, instead of knitting one? row plain and one row purl, on the plain side slip the first stitch, knit 1 and continue slip 1, knit 1 to the end of the row there should be an even number of stitches on fT.e needle. Purl the alternate rows ir| the usual way, remembering always to slip the first stitch purlwise. This will give a chain edge, which makes for easy and even picking up of stitches after the heel has been turned. Only the flap is thickened. This improvement can be incorI porated whatever pattern is used. THE INDISPENSABLE COOK We may live without poetry, music or art; We may live without conscience,. and live without heart; We may live without friends,, we may live without books; But civilised man cannot live without cooks. He may live without books—what is knowledge but grieving? He may live without hope—what is hope but deceiving? He may live without love —what is passion but pining? But where is the man who can liVe without dining? NEW FASHION Corset manufacturers overseas are Avorking overtime these days. Not because we have all at once become figure-conscious, but because velvet is on its way to becoming the winter's most popular material —and to wear velvet successfully women must have what the Edwardians call "a figure.'" We are not being condemned, however, to the old-time bone-crushes. A trim elastic fabric foundation that zipps on and has very few bones, is our destiny. WOMEN IN LITERATURE The Nobel Prize for Literature, worth £8000. added to a large slice of honour and glory, has been won only four times by a woman since it was instituted. The last woman to win it was Pearl Buck in 1938. I