WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2720, 15 March 1916, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM /AR AND NEAR.

(By Imogen.)

Convalescent Soldiers, A novel method of assisting returned soldiers to recuperate has been devisedby Mr. J. A. Wallace, of Mofcueka (states an exohange). Ho has inaugurated a, system whereby convalescent returned wounded soldiers are sent over to his district by arrangement with tho militarv hospital authorities, and billeted lor a fortnight on residents and settlers. By this means tlioy not only obtain a welcome change of air and environment, but relievo tho congestion 111 tho hospitals and convalescent homes. Mr. Wallace only started the enterprise last week, but has already got seven mo 11 billetud out. and iB busy securing accommodation for others. Ho believes that there aro many otlie) places in Now Zealand where peoplfa would be willing to receive returned invalided soldiers for a week or two, and appeals for assistanco in carrying out his scheme. <, The Practical Frenchwoman, ■ AViiat astonishes many Englishwomen who come to France just now is the Hell-preserved look of the Ilrenchwoman's (oomplexion . (states a, Paris correspondent of the Loudon "Times") She does not look haggard and worn, despite all her anxiety. I do not say that grief-worn faces nra iiot known in Franco, but speaking generally the Frenchwomen do not fall away undei the stress of sorrow as we do. It may be that tlioy worry less and express more easily tlieir feelings. It is probable also that tho generality give more time to tho oare. of their skins and do not expose themselves recklessly to ivind and weather. Whatever be tho reason l'or it, the Frenchwomen's appearance to-day is as pleasant to look at as it was before the war; indeed, many women look better, for they go to bed earlier and. do not excitement for their daily existence anj longer. Tlioy are more wifcli their children or they aro caring for the wounded within reasonablo limits, and t-hoso wild went to the beauty specialist bofore the . war still pay. her regular visits, fqi (he Frenchwoman, like the Frenchman, has tho gift of separating sentiment and 'practical action, and the fact that she attends to her personal' appearance ua she always has" attended to it in no way indicates Ihiifc she is without those softer qualities which _ make hor capable of complete devot-ion to those slid loves.

Mrs. Hugh Akers (Pnlmcrston North) and her children are staying at Plimuiertou.

Miss P. Myers acknowledges donations'for the Soldiers' Hostel from tho following:—Literature, Mesdames Christio, Castle. Bea'uchamp, W. J. Anderson: fiowors, Mrs. Pearce, children of Newtown School; p,ot plants, Miss Josoph.

N.Z.N.A. Ladies' Guild. The weekly meeting of the Ladies' Guild of the N.Z. Natives' Association was held at the hall oil Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. M'Yicar was in the chair.

The different committebs reported good work. A very successful concert arranged by Mr. and Mrs. Culford Bell was held at the Victoria Hospital last week, and another concert was lield last evening at Trentham. .. . A donation of £9 10s. was received from the staff of tlie Kodak (Australasia) Limited, Dixon Street, through Jliss Scott, for comforts for the sick and wounded soldiers. This welcome addition to the funds will enable the guild to extend the work and considerably augment the results of the weekly levy. A Voice from Eulawayo, Writing from Bulawayo to a friend in Wellington, a correspondent says: ''We have lately had a number of- men passing through to the northern border with liiotor-lorriesi trying to arrange transport. As the country from 'our railhead to where our men are entrenched is desert, so far they have had to uso native carriers (20,000;, who have been employed to ( date simply to carry provisions. Wo hre hoping to be able to send Easter parcels," but so far have not got carriers. lam treasurers of the local Wed Cross Society, so am kept fairly busy. Last week we sent £100, sheets, pillow-cases, sleeping garments, etc.. to tho hospital in B.JG.A., and this week we are sending to our troops in Europe. I hear that Smith-Dorrien is having a hospital ship running from the East to Gape Town, where they have just fitted up a hospital. From all indications we imagine things are going to get a move on out here in the next few months. We have scarcely a young man left in Rhodesia, and all our married men more or less belong to the reserves and have to drill ofteji. This is a very excellent thing, and, of j course, impresses the native mind 'considerably.

Mrs. Robinson (Greytown) paid' a brief visit to Wellington this week.

The only. means of permanently removing superfluous hair is Electrolysis. Mrs. Rolleston specialises in this treatment, and is recommended by our leading medical men.. Permanent results without the slightest scar arc guaranteed. ladies troubled with this disfigurement should arrange for a weekly treatment of either half nil hour or an hour. Very littlo inconvenience is experienced, and in a short time the growth of hair is entirely removed. Strictest privacy is observed. 25G Lambton Quay.—Advt.

Motor Kltohen Buffet, The following are the donors to tho above fund, -which is now closed:—Mrs. H. Lowry, £50; Mrs. AValter Nathan, £10; Mrs. Sefton Moorhouse, £10; Mrs. H. Gilmer, £5; Miss M. E. Robieson, £1; Mr. J. I>. Luke, £2 25.; Mrs. J. A. Pike, £10 10s.; Mrs. E. Exley, £2 2a.; Mrs. Newman- (Marton), £1; Mr. F. W. Rowley, £1 Is.; Mr. A. H. Miles, £10; Mr. Edward Anderson, £2; Mrs. Duncan, £10; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hall,, £2; Miss Rose M. Joseph, £10 10s.; Mr. W. E. Bothune, £1 Is.; Mrs. Jacob Joseph, £10 10s.; R. Gr. Denton and Employees, £5; "E.A.M.," Os.; Government Insurance Officers, £7 7s. 6d.; Maxwell, J.P., £2; Hastings Empire Defence Committee, £50; Mrs. Johnston (Highden, Palmerston North), £25 Is.; Miss Elena Wilson, 55.; Mr. Paul Hunter, £50; Mrs. H. A. M'Gregor, 10s.: "Sympathiser," £20; Sir Francis Bell, £20; Mr. W. D. Ferguson, £2; Mrs. M. Myers, 10s.; Marlborough Patriotic Fund (A. J. Maclaine, secretary), £10; Mrs. A. Martin, £2 25.; Mrs. Marion 'Martin, £1 Is.; Mr. W. Jas. Martin, £10 10s.; Mr. C. P. Wilson, £3; Mrs. S. Johnston, £10 10s.; Mr. Sidney Johnston, £25; Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. T. Gordon, £10; Nurse Schmidt, 10s.; Mrs. Rotherani, £1; Mayor of Nelson (Nelson and Motneka), £50 155.; St. John Ambulance, £25; Mr. R. Hannah, £10; Mr. Georgo Hunter, - £25; Mrs. V. Riddiford, £10; Mrs. Joseph Joseph, £2; Wanganui Patriotic Committee, £20; Mr.-and Mrs. Elder (Waikanae), £10; Mr. William Ferguson, £10; Mrs. Adams, £5; Mr.' and Mrs. John Kebbeli, £5 55.; Miss Harkness, 55.; Mrs. Louis Blundell, £5; Mrs. Janet Smitton, £5; Mrs. Rathbone (Lower Hntt), £5; Miss G. Rathbo'lie (Lower Hutt), 10s.; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Studholmo, £5; Mr. C. B. Morison, £5 55.; "J.T.," £1; Mrs. Hope Lewis, £1; Mrs. James Bonnie, £1; Mrs. C. Mirams, £1; Mr. W.: B. Martin, £5 55.; Miss Baird, £1 Is. Total—£6o4 14s.

Visitors to Wellington staying at the Albert Hotel are: Mr. F. K. Lomas, Mr, A. De Luen. and Miss M'Donald (Palmerston North), and Mr. Beattie (Auckland).

The secretary of the St.i John Ambulance Association acknowledges with thanks the following, per Mrs. David Crewe, Pahiatna:- i "A Friend," 8 pillow elips, 3 balaclavas; Mrs. Jowers, parcel of linen; "Sympathiser," 10 face cloths; "A Friend." Palmerston North, 5 balaclavas and 6 pairs socks; Miss Doris Steel, Pongaroa Sohool, 6 face washers and 2 knitted mufflers; Mrs. A. White, !'•! pairs hand-knitted socks; "No Name," 10 pairs bed socks; A.C.C., 2 hand-knitted mufflers; Gladys Davis, Ohau, 2 pairs hand-kiiilted bath "gloves, writing papor, and envelopes; Miss Agues Shirley, 2 pairs hand-knitted socks; Dr. Baldwin', Rarotonga, 1 caso roller bandages. 36 face cloths, 42 triangular, many-tailed, and other bandages.

Mrs. Etching, an old • Wairoa resident, died at M.angawhare la&t week. The deceased lady is survived by her husband and three sons. Mrs. Kitcliing, who arrived in the Dominion oo_ years ago, went to the Northern Wairoa with her husband 33 years ago.

Miss Campbell, who is on tho nursing staff at the Trent'ham Hospital, and who returned from work in, one of the Egyptian Hospitals, by the Willochra some time ago, invalided by enteric', has been appointed to take charge of the nursing arrangements _ at /this Convalescent Home for Soldiers, recently taken over by the Government from the Hon. Sir Francis 3ell. Mrs. Rolleston will be in tliarge of the house arrangements, and she will have under her a little band of voluntary workers. Later on Miss Campbell will be returning to Egypt.

The Petone Ladies' Central Nursing Division decided last evening to establish a Red Cross' shop at Petdno, in aid of the lied Cross Fund. Arrangements air bem>; made to receive poods on each Thursday, and a sale will be conducted on the Friday following.

Tho Mother of Anzao. Where tho men of Anzao got the indomitablo spirit that accomplished tlio impossible on tlio hilts ol (iallipoli is easily seen in the extract Ironi iv letter received by a Waikanao lady irom a . friend who wan visiting a farm in Gippslund, who vividly presented in the courso of her letter n pen picture of one of tlio women sho met there. wjis typical of tho women who lived i.lionj. '"A little red-headed woman, sho writes, "turned lip yesterday riding a, horse yoked to a «lodgo. She bought three bags of chaff, and the men had put it on in a v'uy sho did _ not liue, so o$ it camo and she saw it put on in tho way sho wanted. She next examined a new plough _ with the air of a connoisseur, anTl said it had not a brnko—she ought to know as she had to "bill-round" with ouo on the selection. , | "Wo invited her in to have a cup of tea, and she aroused in.v keenest admiration. Sho had been married itino years, and has had seven children, tlio youngest being only tch months old. 'Hubby,' slio said, 'was doing well, had teams and a tramway in the forest, and only camo homo on Sundayr.. "Ho was h- splitter, and she ran tlio selection they had taken up, so . , tho seven children could go to school. She told mo sho had COO fruit trees which sho had hard work to save from tho rabbits. In between- sho feeds tlio horses 'hubby' is spelling, milks tho coW(8, feeds tho calves, tho P'S®> I 1"' tho soven, and does a bit of clearing when things are easy. Sho js as happy as a lark, and seems to think sho has a most enviable time. "Two years ago, so she said, all awful bush firo broko out mid quite swept that part of the country, burning hundreds of farmors cut. Slid said it had been very smoky all day, and she saw a dark cloud coming up, and a groat sc.und of roaring. A lierco north wind ■was blowing, and sho put out her tubs to catch the rain, when some sparks fell at her feet, and she realised it was a fire. (Hero tho firo races along from one lingo tree to another.) Sho shut the door of hor house, took her two youngest under each ami, and_ with two others hanging on to her hit out for a safe place two miles away. Sho says she never knew how she got tliero. Tho firo was closo behind tlieiii all the way. Next day sho went back. Tho pigs and calves woro all roasted, tho nay and tho out-buildings all burned, but tho house, which was built with green saplings, had withstood tho fire, though so full of smoke, that although the sparks had burned' holes in tho <x;unterpaiie it had not blazed." , With such mothers as tlio oue portrayed in this letter Anzac, and everything else that fights against heavy odds and never yields, is possible.

The death is announced of Mrs. Mary Faulkner, a well-known, and highly respected resident of Bunny-, thorpe. She was aged seventy, and was born at 'Brighton, England, coming later to' tho Dominion and settling at Bunnythorpe, where she made many frionds. She leaves two sons, * Messrs. T. and J. Faulkner, of Bunnythorpe, and two Mrs. P. C. Fitssgerald, of Wangamti, and Mrs. C. Edwards, of Waitoa, Thames.

Mrs. A. M. Johnson leaves to-day ou a visit to Silversbrcam.

At th<> Sailors' Friond Society last night an excollont programme was presented b,v Mr. and Mrs. Carr and party. • Various competitions were much appreciated, and a discussion on the early closing question ensued, and n- resolution was passed requesting the Governmont to enforce early closing, so that our troopers might visit; the city in safety. the close of an enjoyable'evening a hearty vote of thanks to iTio performers was carrfett, and-re-sponded to by Mr, Carr. The following rendered items: Misses Novak, Walpole, Messrs. Carr, Tonks, Egen, and Hempton.

, WOMEN AS CAMP COOKS

FEEDING AND TEACHING THE SOLDIER. The utility of tlie plan for tho employment «t woniuu nb military cooka in hospitals and camps, thereby releasing largo numbers of men for. more useful service, is shewn by the succoss which has attended the efforts of tho Women's Legion, not only as cooks, but as trainers of cooks (states tho London "Timoii"). This ouccoss has been suclv as to demonstrate that the movement, which ' waw discussed in nn article in the "Times" recently, is practical within oortaiu limits.

In August last year 'a scheme, started by Lady Londonderry was authorised by the War Office, and put into'operation iu sevoral convalescent camps. lil the first instance, tho employment of 100 women cooks was sanctioned. Miss Barker, who was appointed as commandant by Lady Londonderry, mado a beginning in the convalescent hospital at Dartford Camp. Here the whole of the kitchens were taken over and 20 cooks were installed. In carrying out the experiment, the' Women's Legion had the hearty co-operatios of tho commanding officer and the quartermaster, aiid the success was assured. .

On August 10. eighteen women wero 6ent into camp at Epsom, and on August 25 another '50 started at Eastbourno. In tho camps whero tTio women cooks have been installed thay have undertaken tho whole of the work with the exception of the duties of the butcher, and remarkable economies have been effected. They have been most successful in the prevention of waste. The swill-tub, tlio scandal of so many military. lufcchons, has been reformed, and bones, dripping, and • such .things have been sold.- The food, too, has been -made more, pain table and more varied in character, and the men havo enthusiastically welcomed the change. With regard to the suggestion that women cooks should displace soldiers engaged in the cook-houses of the training camps, it is pointed out that as men cooks will Ve required to feed their comrades at the front, they must ~ learn their duties at home while thoir units are being trained. Useful work, therefore, is being done by the Women's Legion in giving instruction in cookery to the soldiers. Three women instructors, holding diplomas, began to give lessons in tho Army Schools of Oooktry at Dartford on October 8, and 13 are now engaged at different places in the South of England. ; The course extends over about three weeks, and an instructor can deal at cno time with olass of 30 to 40 men. The value of tlie lessons is proving so peat that the number of instructors is to bo increased. It is regretted that the importance of the instruction was not earlier' realised by tho authorities. In hundreds of instances regimental cooks havo been lamentably inefficient, with the result that almost incredible waste lias obtained.

Through the efforts of commanding officers, and certain chaises in regulations, matters havo improved very much since the early days of the war, but the improvement- can go a great deal further, and the use of women cooks and instructors is ono way of hastening it.