WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2771, 15 May 1916, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

(By Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

For the Special Parcel Fund

For the French Red Cross, "Exceeded our most optimistic csti. mato," is.tho way Mr. L. J. Du FlouMestdagh, thn organiser of Tricolour Day, described the effort of the Dominion on behalf of the. French Bed Cross Fund (states the Auckland "Herald"). The sum realised amounted to ,£IS,GG!) 18s. "Yes," continued Mr.. Du Plou-Most-dngh, "although it is anticipated that sundry, small amounts, and perhaps one large amount—Wellington not yet having held a. day—aro yet to come in, the fund has been closed, so far as the application for. a £ for.JS subsidy from the Government is concerned."

The honour of first position rests with Auckland, £iS5i lis. being realised as the result of the two collections. The total was contributed to us follows:—Auckland JMBS4 lis.; Christchurch, ,£3399 ss. Gd.; Palmerslon North, .£1100; Timaru, .£12.51 15..8 d.; Hastings, JJS-5D 13s. 7d.; Napier XGSO; Hnntervillo, £'510 75.; Now Ply! mouth, ,£i2l Is. Sd.; Waimato, .£253 is. lid.; Wairarapa Patriot!: Society, ,£250; Dannevirke, ,£231 Is. 3d.; Akaroa, .£193 • lis. 10d.; Invcrcargill, £1U ss. 9d,; Foilding, £16i Is.; Wanganui, ,£150; Eltham ,£129 ,4s. £d.; Nelson, ,£l2O Ms.; Hawerai £97 18s. 5d.; Wairoa, .£9O; Tolago Bay, •£77; Westland, .£72 10s.; Inglewood, ,£6l Is. 9d.; Otakt, .£57 10s. 3d.; Opunake, ,£53 10s.; Taihape, .£53. is. 4d.; Blenheim,. ,£25; Mferchison, £U; Wellington, ~£l2 13s. Gd.; Port Albert, ,£lO 55.; Woodville, ifilO. ■ "Mothers' Day" at the Y.M.C.A. • A largo - audience assembled at the Y.M.C.A: tooius yesterday afternoon to celebrate what is known as "Mothers' Day/ The meetiug is held annually, primarily to pay homage to the best mother who ever lived—a man's own mother. Mrs. J: P. Luke, the Mayoress, occupied the chair; and on the platform with her were Mrs. W. J. Massey awl Mrs.' Low, the president of the Y.M.C.A. Ladies' Auxiliary. Mrs. A. B. Atkinson gave an address most appropriate to the occasion, emphasising the privilege and the honour of the mothers who at such great sacrifice' had given their sons to tho cause of Empire. Mrs.. Atkinson's address was listened to with evident pleasure, and with much profit by those assembled, .ind in these times of stress and snxiety her words could uot fail to be of comfort to those mothers wliosa fans are avray ightvbr oil ttve ottm sAAe of U\e -wotu\. ■Niss' Mleen DrlscoH was heard to adxavitttstt Vft tl\e svAo "Dm™ 'B.etemfcT," as was also Mr. Exton in "Comfort Ye." '■ Miss Gladys Watkins and \vvve tt\c accnu~Vs. Te.a, was provided in the assembly hall by the Strangers' Tea Committee, over 100 being present.

A Now Zealand Journalist. Miss SwanhiUlo Bulow, w!ho lias been i successful in an action for libo lin London,' will bo , remembered by many \voI men m Christclmrch, states the "Even- ' ing News." Her father, a German, was the language teacher in Dunedin Girls' High School in the days when Mr. Alexander 'Wilson was headmaster. Going to London with her father uflien still in her teens, she contributed to "Tho Idler," and Inter became editress 'of tho "Nursing Times;" 'When I met her at the Writers' Club in London, I noticed that she had altered her name, and that even her dearest friends did not know, that she was quite German In descent. As she seemed not to wish this known, I did not inform them. She certainly showed no German inclination; in fact, she struck me as having no na--tional interests at all. She was, in fact, n great feminist. She is, .'however, by nature a. reserved woman—a handsome and clover one nlso. All her interests, certainly, seem to be suffrage and feminist ones. The church, kitchen, and cradle doctrines of the ■ Kaiser would certainly make her anti-German for all her descent. On the other hand; the treatment pf suffragettes in England might make her hesitate to ho quite British. Other questions would not move her. The Spinsters' Club, On Saturday afternoon a very successrm ; at home'' and sale of voi-Jc. organised by..tne Spinsters- Club, was neld at tin), residence of krs. Batten, in lirougnum Street, for the Benefit 01 tne Soldiers' Comforts j!'und.' 'fkluny friends and well-wisners were present, and tne stallholders Had a busy time in uisposnig ot their supplies., Mowers, luncy work of all descriptions, including a urge assortment qi artistically-covered boxes of various sizes, cakes, sweets, and home produce, were .-.wo, members of the club being in charge. An interesting souvenir of Christmas at the front for those belonging to i\o. 1 hew Zealand Stationary Hospital was on view, m the form of the menu for tile Christmas dinner, (lie money for whicli had been raised by tho club, and' cabled to Egypt in time for the occasion. Had, tins not been done, the men Would have had no Christinas dinner, tit least not till a long time afterwards, owing to the delay "that had attended the arrival of the more or lbs oiiicial supplies sent from I\'cw Zealand to this particular unit, 'rlio inimu was covered with the signatures of all ' tho men who had shared in tho dinner and ■ bore the fervent sentiment, "The Spinsters' Club. Cod bless 'em."

A fortune-teller ami nmsicc added to the attractions of tlie aiternoon, aiul those contributing songs were: Sirs. Hyains, Miss Driscoll, and Miss Wiitkiiisand Miss Mario l''ix recited. , As tho result of their effort the Spinsters' Club have realised about .£25 lor their fund, an effort which Is only one of many mudo by this littio band of workers for tho comfort of the men,lit the. front. They wish to thank everyone who assisted m their undertah. ing, either by their active services or by donations, etc. . Mrs. L=o has returned to Gainani. J.h'S. and : Miss...Hudson (Nelson) are staying■ at■ Canliicld. ILiuse. 'Mrs. Parr has returned to Auckland from Wellington. The amount realised by the fair held in Auckland on May 5, "Itussian .Day," was (states Saturday's "Herald") ,£l2i)2. •The winner of the cake sent by Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool to the ladies of tho Liverpool Fund Committeo who were in charge of the afternoon tea arrangements at the Town Hall last wesk while.the apple snow was being held was Mr. Harcus Plimmer, who guessed its weight as licing eight pounds tan ounces. Several other • competitors guessed the same weight, and the'cake hud to be drawn for, with the above result, tdie supervising nnd the woiglynp; hcinu' carried out by the Mayoress, L i|r«. Luke, and Mr. Longton and Mr. TTeEB It was a fortunate thought on tho p-.u-t of the committee to hold a weightguessing competition in connection with it, as they have added by doing so the sum of ,I'S las. to their parcel fund.

MATTERS OP INTEREST ifAB AND NEA&

Tho ladies of tho Countess of Liverpool I'und Committee have h.ul a very busy woiik at the Town Hall in connection with the afternoon tea arrangements, of which they were in charge during the time that the apple show was being held. It is hoped that by their ■ efforts the Special Parcel I'iind will be substantially increased, as with our men actually fighting in i'ranee, the work of women in regard to the supplying of comforts for their needs will be more urgently needed than ever. Instead of decreasing lists of gifts, as have been the case for some' tfmo lately, it is hoped that they will lengthen without furtlicr delay, and that the necessity ior buyiug socks, as the committee have had to do to quite a considcrable extent, will cease. Dr. Newman, M.P., in the course of a speech the other day, quoting from a letter he had received iroin the front,, said that 'the writer had told him that tho men in the trenches thought there was nothing like the sacks which wero made by the New Zealand women, and infinitely preferred them to those that were suprdiecr them from official sources.

In. connection with the activities of the committee, as regarded the week's work at the Town Hall, the Mayoress (Mrs. Luke), on behalf of her Returned Soldiers' Entertainment Committee, presented Miss Clark with an expanding gold wristlet watch, as a mark of their appreciation of the way in which Miss Clark had assisted at the various receptions which had been held for the returned soldiers at the Town. Hall and various other functions. Mrs. Luke spoke warmly of what Miss Clark had done, and in return Mr. Longton returned thanks, on behalf of Miss Clark, for the. appreciation that had been expressed, and for the gift.

The Victoria League (girls' branch) is giving an entertainment in Jlasterton in Mje new Municipal Hall on Thursday evening next.

THE KHAKI GIRL STRIKING RESULT OP THE WAR I have worked beside her for five month's, and so I know her well. She is a war product—this Khaki Girl— who until-the late summer louud her vocation; as a general servant, a. nursemaid, a. laundry hand, or in any other of those walks in life which until recent ovents set tho whole world topsy-turvy wero women's natural occupations. Now she takes a man's place in a muni, tion factory, and turns a shell with.a hand as practised as his own.

The machinery has no fear for her. She stands before her lathe and starts the belting whirring with as nonchalant an air as once she trundled a perambulator down a street.' Sho can gauge and file and change a tool. She can ted «« if her machine is running high or fow* and sooner than wait for a mechanic if he be occupied will set it to rights herself. ■ ■■';

She can fill her arms with 18-pounder. shells and toss a projectile from one haui to the other as lightly as a ball. -. She is called the Khaki Girl because she once wore a khaki overall. l\>r reasons of economy authorities have changed the colour of the overalls to black; but the colloquial name still st&ks to her, and probably will remain her heritage so long as she is a £hellmackinist; :

A .Touch of Rouge. If you were to meet her out you would not tail to recognise her. She cirrias a .brown or green attache case. 1% "contains her meal for the shift, powder,,a mirror and a rag of towelling. • She would not be seen travelling home with a speck of grease-upon, her face. Even during tho tea break—half an hour —she. will dress her hair again, and before the bell sounds you will see her fetch out that mirror and turn so that the light may fall upon it to powder her nose .<ajd put a touch of rouge upon her cheeks. • The Khaki. Girl.is intensely proud of her appearance. Her dress is gay. She likes touches- of bright colour—a /purple muffler, her black and white cha«k coat piped with, orange, a bright Dinjji; rose in' her black velvet hat, which is small in shape but large in'size, the brim, if there is one, crushed down, on to her forehead so that her eyes disappear beneath it. The tilt of the liat permits one of, her many combs or hair slides, much bejewelled, to peep out. Otherwise so- "dressy" she fails in, footwear, for her black boots are ill-fitting and worn, shabby. ■;"-,..

Her vocabularly is not a^'yours. 'It is descriptive, nevertheless, jynd she would lose much of her charm, were her turn of conversation to be taken from her. If you behave foolishly you are a "cockeyed onion" or a- "filleted haddock." Her friend is her "mate," and her fiance is her "friend.' If you offior her a chocolate she.never says "Yes, please." It's "I don't mind if I do." "GeeVwhizz! Law! Swelp!" belongs tp, h.er for hourly use, but only once have I heard her use a swear-word, and that was in a moment of great apprehension. ,If she has never been to: work before"" she .is a lady, but once she has been paid wages she nu .longer lays, claim to this'title of distinction. She has a nickname.for everyone.' ''Grub Fool." There is the "Ra&bit," the foreman with the elongated teeth. . "His Royal Highness. Good-for-Nothing," ' a new and very young l mechanic with a smiling and

unpleasant manner. I myself am "Miow" (all the lady workers are "Mows"), and the canteen worker is the ''Grub Fool." Her faults are many, but they are on the surfnce. There is no false pride about the .Khaki Girl, no pretence* no seeking to make you believo she is other than she is. She is there for you to take or leave, just as you will, "if you "take her," well and good; if you "leave her," she docs not care at all.

■ She is a sulky creature if she bo displeased. She never sets.out to make a Rood impression, but treats you when first you make her acquaintance with an air of resentfulness as if you are there to take her tools, to take the lion's portion of the shells if the supply be low, to push before her in to tea, to tako the first turn at the urn. So she 'hides your grease, your gauge; shrugs her shoulders when you pass, make no pretence to hide the fact that she is out to dislike you. But you show Tier that you, too, have-your end of the stick to keep up. You take back your grease and your gauge and she respects you. Then as the days go by she begins to understand that you are not there to take from her, only to share with licr, to pile up shells, which in iheir turn will help to build up the pinnacle of England's glory.

His Photograph. She likes you, and when she likes you she shows" you her good qualities, and they are many. . Aext, she will confide in you. "This is 'his' photograph," and sho holds out the locket she is wearing round her neck. This is 'his' badge. It is pinned on to an overall—a groat brass medallion. She has his button on her coat, and another of his badges on her hat. Her "friend".is in ihe Persian Gulf. She has not had a line from him for threo mouths and he always wrote once a week. The same sad little story that one hears ao often: the weariness of watching and waiting for the "Missing." She believes, though, that some day she will hear again. She smiles and works. She is full of indomitable courage—the Khaki Girl. I am very fond of her. In some ways she is worldly-wise as a grandmother; in others as childish as a little girl in a nursery. She has a saucy tongue and a ready wit, and is prompt with a "return answer." She is emotional, and her heart is, full of sympathy. There is no balance in her character. She lacks steadfastness. "Gay" is the word which best describes her. She is extraordinarily gay. She is never too tired to laugh,'-io sing—she is always singing—to pelt a mate with orange peel. She ■ keeps "going," t though the black rings round her eyes show that she is very tired.

When I no longer work beside her 1 shall miss her. Someone who has crept into my heart will pass out of my life. She is such a very human thing—the Khaki Girl.-Brenda Girvin, in the Daily Mail."

• 3 P ana > of New Y °rk, "'hose father is the famous nerve specialist, and who • 1, ?" e sucll s P'endid war-nursing workin Belgium and in France, is in London, states a London correspondent. She went there for a short rest, but one doubts if she is getting it, so many people being anxious to show their appreciation of her work for tho war's victims. During the early months of the fighting, Miss Dana was nursing at La Panne, in Belgium, and afterwards' was attached to the American Ambulance in France. After a week or .two more of change and relaxation after the terrible-strain of the past two years, she will take up her nursing in France once more.

Ihe granting of the franchise in church matters to -women was foreshadowed by the Bis'bop of Auckland at Synod (Christchiirch) on Friday, suggesting that in a ■mil before ihe "House" the word "man" ■should be changed to "person." In regard to this, Bishop. Sadlier interpolated that,in Victoria it had been held that the word "man" in all the legislative acts applied equally to "woman," and that therefore- the word "person" was hardly necessary. This interlude 'opened up a lively-discussion on the question of the female franchise, in which tho clergy seemed in favour of the innovation, but the laity were more pronouncedly against. '1 here -was,.however, no division on the matter, the,whole discussion taking place on a line referring to the communicants of the Church.

As a result of the Red Cross tea which J£?;. E' Hunter gaTe at her residence in Willis Street on Fridav afternoon, the sum of £10 has been realised. The winners of. the various competitions which were held were Miss Chrystall, Mrs. Anderson, Miss Maitland, Mrs. Potter, and Mrs. Kennedy. •

Dr. and Mrs. Edgar, of Napier, aro staying at the Hotel Cecil.

The lady under discussion you may be assured had a good complexion and beautiful hair. Why, because she had had ; treatment from Miss Milsom, who teaches individual homo treatment so that all may attend themselves in their own homes There is. no difficulty in learning, so .simply is the treatment illustrated and explained. .Treatments from £1 Is.; consultation free. Sole distributor of the latest and the mode of to-day, viz., Parisian' Bloom (Frnicheur, Paris, reg.), 3s. 6d a box; and Parisian Lip Pood ("Levrelen'e " reg.V-25.6d. a jar. All hairwork, perfect match.and texture guaranteed. Miss Milsom, 94 Willis Street, (i doors past "Evenmg Post").. Telephone BH.—Advt

.We advise. storekeepers. to forward us their orders for "No Rubbing Laundry Help" in advance, to.insure delivery as 6tocks are rapidly diminishing. Lcyin and Co.—Advt.