SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 18 June 1913, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Presented at Court. The High Commissioner's ,tw.o daughters were presented at Court on Wednesday, May 7 (writes a London correspondent), when Miss Helen Mackenzie wore a beautiful gown of Brussels laco over ivory cliarmeuse, with a dull gold girdle and bunches of gold roses, tho train being of rich ivory brocade, with gold roses and cords. She carried a shower bouquet of lilies and lily of the valley. Miss Mary Mackenzie wa3 in u dainty go«-n of ivory, crepo charmeuse, with an overdress of lace, caught up with pink satin roses. Tho train of ivory charmeuse was lined with pale pink nilion, and on one corner there woro set three iargo pink roses on a bow of accordion-pleated ninon. Sho carried 0 bouquet of cream roses. Genee and the Turkey Trot. In tho Sydney "Si)n," Mdlle. Geneo is described by her interviewer as being an extremely dainty little lady; fair—very fair—with kind grey eyes and a look which helps probably to make up part of heT personality and "charm." Striking, too, was the modest manner in which she so gracefully greeted those who came to bid her welcome. Asked, in the . course of the interview, if sho intended to introduce any modern dances, Mdllo. Genee smiled as she' answered, "I know what you mean. I havo coino from America, and you think that I will break out iu rag-time dances. No, sir. Personally, I like many of the new American dances.' Professionally those dances aro of no uso to me. Still, I Tecognise their good points. Off tho stage I would like to dance the 'Turkey Trot,' 'The Yankee Tangle,' and 'Texas Tommy,' as I saw those dances dono iu private houses iu America. There was nothing vulgar, nothing coarse,' nothing grotesque. I am speaking now of private houses, not of music halls. I nave seen those dances beautifully dono. In London I saw society people who did know the dance 3 do them in a shocking manner. If tou give a dog a bad name the namo sticks to him. It is the same with dances. We judge hastily sometimes after, we have' 6een them badly danced. No, I see nothing wrong in tho modern American dances when they aro done in a proper manner. In my caso 1 must win my way on what some persons regard as the poetic and picturesque stylo of -danoing." Tho Misses Phillips returned to Christchurch on Monday. . The Girl Peace Scouts are Tequested to meet this evening at 7.30 in the Constable Street rooms, and to bring with them ticket blocks and money received for the sale of their tickets. Miss Ada Broadbent (Carterton) leaves at the end of the week'on a visit to. Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. A. Hannay (Wairarapa) aro visiting Wellington. Mts. W. Dalziell, who has been staying at Heretaunga, .intends- returning to Manawa on Thursday. Miss Kathleen Millar returned to Wellington yesterday from her visit to Auckland. Miss Rhodes left Wellington for Christchurch on Monday. On Friday afternoon Mrs. Coull entertains tho chaporones who were present at the entertainment organised for Mrs. Sutcliffo recently, at a tea . given at tho Pioneer Club, when she will mako known the financial results resulting from the effort. A subscription dance is being held in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street, on Thursday, July 10. The lion, secretary is Mr. W. R. Gibson, and the chaporones aro Lady Stout, Mesdames Fell, Geddis, Jellie, MlConzie, Stephens, and Misses Newtown and Richmond. Mr. H. Pelstead and his daughter arrived in Auckland on Monday from Melbourne, and intend visiting various places of interest in the Dominion. The Rev. H. Mason, of Otahuhu (who left tlie Dominion at the end of last year on a water-divining mission to Hawaii), and Mts. Mason, arrived in Auckland on Monday by the Maheno from Sydney. Mr. Mason, during his travels abroad, also visited England. - "Every Lady's Journal" for Juno has just oome to hand, and is, as usual, full of varied and useful reading matter. Domestic interests aTe certainly well catered for, nor fir© other interesting less utilitarian, matters neglected. The Girl Peace Scouts should certainly feel much encouraged in their work by all the interest that is being taken in the success of their organisations. Matters in connection with the forthcoming entertainment to be held in His Majesty s Theatre on Thursday evening for tho benefit of the funds of the organisation aro progressing exceedingly well. Mr. J. Fuller has promised a prize of two guineas for the best essay either upon the whole of Thursday nights entertainment or upon any one of the films. Mrs. C. Izard is giving a pound for the best essay upon tho Panama film, and Mrs. D. Nathan another pound upon the same subjects as those specified by Mr. J. ■Fuller—cither the whole of the entertninment or upon any single nlni. Mrs. Izard, hon. secretary of the boout lommittee, requests that all books of tickcts sold or unsold shall be returned to her without fail by Wednesday evening, as an entire count of all tickets has to l,e made, a process takmg considerable time. Everyone desirous of helping tho finances of the Girl Peace Scouts sliould mako a point of purchasing their tickets beforehand from any member of the committee, from tho hoa. secretary (Mrs. C. Izard), or from Miss E. Russell, as by doing so they materially assist the causeThe death is announced of the Rev. Mother Ursula, for 19 years superioress of the Convent of Mercy at Orange, New HnnHi Wales Deceased was G_' years of age, and had been a Sister of Religion for 38° years. Mrs. Rolleston tenders valuable advice to ladies regarding their combings. She advises them not to throw a single hair away, as she has a special and unique process for preparing and making up combings to best advantage.

The Victoria Ueaguo in England. A great meeting was held in the Guildhall (Loudon) on May G, tho occasion being tho annual public meeting of the Victoria League (s;tys tho "Queen"). The Lord Mayor was nnable to preside, and his placo wns taken by Alderman. Sir Alfred Newton, who attended in State, lie and the speakers, who included Earl Grey and tho Countess of Jersey, were escorted to tho platform by a detachment of the 13th Croydon. Troop of lioy Scouts, tho band playing "Laiul of Hope and Glory" whilst the procession passed up the lino old' hall. Jn giving a summary of tho year's work, Lady Jersey said that the Victoria Leagues overseas were entirely self-governing, but co-operation and reciprocity were essentials in the work, if tiie leagues were ever to gain their full measure of succcss. A most successful branch of the work was the "Settlers' Welcome," by which strangers in a strange land found a kindly word and helping hand awaiting them. In all, ISO cases had been dealt with sinco tho scheme had been started. Earl Grey, G.C.li., proposed the following resolution:—"That in tho opinion of tho meeting tho practical and non-party work done by the Victoria Leaguo for the Empire deserves the hearty support of all British people." In tho courso of his speech ho also said that it was now being recognised that the timo was approaching when some form of organic union with tho self-governing Dominions and tho Motherland was essential. Some sort of organic union was necessary for tho permanent maintenance of the Empire, towards which a sympathetic attitude must be created, and it was hero that tho work of tho Victoria Leaguo was so important. The resolution was seconded by tho Hon. W. A. Watt, M.L.A., Premier of Victoria, Australia. A voto of thanks was proposed to tlis chairman and speakers by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner of New Zealand. Paris Fancies. Tho sensational not© ill dress Longchamp last month, states tho Paris correspondent of "The Queen," was powdered liair, or frankly, tho whito wig. Several young women woro their- hair white, and were, in consequence, much noted; for, unliko Englishwomen, Frenchwomen do not go whito early in life, and a young faco under whito hair is always much remarked in Paris. Yet another sensation is the laced shoe. It is extravagant in stylo and price, and therefore appeals to a certain typo of modern woman who must have novelties to lighten every hour of her butterily existence. Tho society woman who dresses well, but not madly, does not indulge ill it, but one sees it constantly at tango teas, .tho races, and all places where extravagant fashions are launched. Each pair of these shoes costs 50 francs at least, even as each tango lesson at tho very anart lesson tea costs that or more; and tjiero is a bootmaker in Paris who demands a deposit of one thousand pounds before ho consents to mako for a customer at all. Such are the follies of civilisation, pushed to tho extreme limit. I Journalists' Dinner at the Lyceum Club. Exceedingly successful was tho annual journalists' dinner at tho Lyceum Club, hold on May 5. A largo and distinguished oompany assembled, amongst the guests of honour being tho Countess Bathurst (propriotor of txio "Morning Post"), Sir George Riddell, Mrs. Baillic-Rcynolds (president of the Society of Women Journalists), Mr. Robert Donald (president of tho Instituto of Journalists and editor of tho "Daily Chronicle"), Mrs. Carruthers (chairman, London district, Institute of Journalists), Mr. J. ( S- R-..Phillips (chair, Press Association, and 'sditor of the "Yorkshire Post"), Mr. R.'D. Blumenfeld, Miss Ethel Deane,; Mrs. Alice Perrin, and Lady Strachojr. In the-chair was Miss Mary Eraser (chair. of Journalists' Board, Lyceum Club),' who, in an admirablo speech of welcctao to tho guests, said one object of such a gathering was to promote the spirit of comradeship which was an essential factor of this century. It was for that-reason that sho brought before the company eunh leaders of tho world of women who had honoured them by their presence thero that night. Tho guests w'ere representative of women's work in tho world of letters in many directions. Miss Fraser said that women had a right to claim some share in the integrity and tho cleanliness of the English press. Tho journalistic members of the club had banded themselves together in the club in order that they might raise tho status of their profession •to _ that level which should make it a suitablo career for an educated girl. Lady Batliurst responded to this toast, and said that she found tho position of newspaper proprietor all extremely interesting one. "With, the help of tho editor and managor and their. staffs, who took all tho burden from her shoulders, sho was ablq to promote objects of national importance, patriotic movements, redress wrongs, and further reforms. An interesting ispoech on journalism from tho editor's point of view was made by Mr. Robert Donald. He said tho days were long sinco past when women restricted tncmselves to any special subjects in journalism. Ho found lie hnd fortv-nino women on his stuff, and some of them wrote on such subjects as aviation and farming, whilst one had acted as war correspondent; in fact, thero was no department they did not touch, excopt that of leader writing, and he believed they would like to do that. Referring to tho remarks about tho proprietorship of papers Mr. Donald said that pioprietors were apt to forgot that a newspaper had a soul, and in forgetting this could easily kill the paper. Miss Olive Purseri M.A.: A Notable Appointment. Tho board of Trinity College. Dublin, has paid a high tribute to Miss Olive Pur* ser by appointing her ns temwratv Lecturer in English Literature foT the remainder of the presont term, states The Queen" of May 10. Tho- late Professor Dowden was tho first tenant of the Chan of English LiterntuYO at Lublin University which ho filled with notable ability for forty-five years, and it speaks volumes for tho position which Miss Purser holds and has made for herself in tho ranks of highly educated women that she should oven temporarily bo asked to step into the great professor's place Miss 1 niseiwas tho first lady student to obtain a scholarship after the admission of women to the university, and after winning a classical scholarship with gold .medal she set up another record bv winning a university studentship with largo gold medal" in modern literature. She took her M.'V. degree in 1911. Iter success has been striking and unique, and she is much to bo congratulated on her great achievements, foe .it may well happen that a very long time will pass betoie a second studentship is won by a woman.