WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3011, 23 February 1917, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR,

(By Imogen.)

SOCIAL AN© PERSONAL

"TnTTLlghter Side of War."; The huniorous side of war is not one that readily presents itself fo tho imagination of the people that stay at homo, nor, truth to tell, is it always evident to the man who is for weeks and months at a time taking his chance in the greatost lottery that life can hold. At any rate, Major Lampen, who lectured at the Returned Soldiers' Club last evening, succeeded in presenting many instances that wore extremely Su'morous and "absolutely true," as well as a few that could not by any stretch of imagination be called humorous, but were Tor all that intensely interesting. At tRo outbreak of war, Major Lamp«n happened to be in England, and ho was at once attached to tho 60th J?!tes, his ofcT regiment. Tho fact dat many of the regiments when called up were 75 per cent, over strength sTiowed tile splendid, keenness of tho British soldier,- and the speaker told his audience that the First British Expeditionary Force that set out for France was, in his opinion, the finest fighting force in equipment, in organisation, in and in morale that ever left tnb shores of any country in tho world. Tis illustrative of their equipment aud organisation, ho told his audience that in the embarkation sheds at Southampton he was suro that not even the lash of a whip was missing.

As it happened, Major Lamnen left with the Now Zealand section in England for Egypt, whero they linked up with tho Main Body of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The infantry ho described as being tho finest body of men Tie had over seen, trained, as thoy were, to tho finest point of fitness, and eager as racehorses for the contest. S&{ ffiiey not been so Jhey would (never nave gained the footing that thoy diet. Many incidents were told of including tho visit of the late Lord Kitchener, whon ho told them all that they "had been fighting in penny numbers,, and it was how time Tor them to leave," which they accordingly did. The evacuation was briefly touched upon, and tho weirdness of that , great and wonderful outgoing was vividly 'suggested. Tho prowess of the French seventy-fives on Gallipoli was also brought before his audience, and Major Lampen said lie considered tho French artillery as simply wondorful.

Of the "great push" in France many interesting things were told, one story in particular illustrating the spirit ivith which France is lighting this war. In one place Major Lampen found hiinself billeted in a most conifortablo house, every hospitality being shown him. In the sittingroom was a piano, and turning to the daughter of the house he asked her "Do you play." "Yes," was the reply. "Aiicl sing?" "Yes," again was tho answer. "Then I hope I may hear you," ho continued. To this tbo girl Toplied, "1 dp not sing cr play until the war is over." Tho story, speaks lor itself, and overywhdro in Franco it was tho same. Every frholity,. every amusement was put aside until the war was won. Major Ltmpon considered it was a privilege fer the New Zealanders to bo fighting beside the French soldiers, and they would gain much from tho contact.

At tho closo of his lecture Major Lampen was thanked by Mr. Fox, and supper in the tearoom upstairs- cincluued one of tho most interesting evenings yet held at tho club.

Previous to the delivery of tho Iccturo songs wero sung by Mr. Mosso and Mr. Batten,, and Mr. Munro gave somo clever recitations. An announcement was also given out that early in March a lecture illustrated with lantern slides of GallipoH will be givon by Major Waite in the Town Hall for the benoftfc of th'o club.

The Upper Hutt branch of the Women's National Deserve held a salo on Wednesday for Red Cross purposes andl took over £16. Special thanks are due to tho auctioneers for their gratuitous services.

Lieut.-Coloiiel Hope Lowis and Mrs. Lewis are spending a short time in Auckland before taking up their residence at Heretaunga.

Dr. and Mrs. Sinclair Gillies, who have been visiting New Zealand, have left for their home in Sydney.

Mrs. Owen Baker, of Christchurch, whose husband is in camp at Trentham, leaves shortly to take up her residence with her mothor, Mrs. G. Russell, Molesworth.

By the Red Cross Day held in Miss Tendall's rooms last December" a sum of £85 was collected. There were no expenses excepting those for printing andl advertising, Mr. Leslie kindly lending the scenery for the reading of "Dandy Dick," and the City Council returning tho v rcnt of tho Concert Hall. The net results have been cabled by Mr. Joseph to the British Red Cross Fund. Nurse Godfrey has been perisitted to withdraw her resignation from the Hospital owing to having altered her plans about proceeding to England. Tho resignation of Nurse Aiken has been accepted with' regret. Nurse Aiken has been acting-sister for a year, and needs a long rest. Nurse Honeyfield has been placed in charge of the Macarthy Homo for Convalescent Children.

At St. Helens Hospital. Yesterday afternoon the delegates to the Plunket Conference were invited by the Matron, Miss Inglis, to visit St. Helens Hospital in Coromandel Street. Two special tramcars were placed at thoir disposal by the Mayor, and the party, which included Miss Maclean, Assistant Inspector of Hospitals, and Mrs. G. W. Russell, as well as the delegates, wore expeditiously conveyed there. To several of the visitors the hospital was a revelation in every way, and there were somo even who had not known there was such a place in Wellington. Every ward and every room was bright with flowers, and everyone oppressed themselves as being delighted with the spaoiousness of the rooms, the comfort and cheery aspect of everything, as well as the- charming view which spread outside iho building. The visitors were even more impressed when they learned that over 400 cases had been dealt with during the past year, both inside andl out of the hospital, which of course meant a busy time for the fifteen nurses who were in training there. Afternoon tea was served in the Nurses' Homo, the diningroom and sittingroom looking very gay and pretty with their decorations of miniature sunflowers, gallaidias, and other flowers, and later on in the afternoon the visitors returned to town with a still greater appreciation of the immensely valuable sorlc that is being done for tho country by. St. Helens Hospitals.

Feildlng Motes. Mrs. Fry has returner! from Wel-

linfiton. _ Mrs. Blsxall has been to Wellington for a fe-iv days. Miss Wopllam nas gone to Aifcltland. Miss Bailey (Now Plymouth) is tho guest of Mrs. Webster. Mrs. Prior has been etaying with Mrs. Bruce. Mrs. Harding (Auckland) is at present staying in Feilding. Mrs. Hoy Harding has roturned from Wellington. • Miss Wilson (Wellington), who has been visiting various friends in this district, has returned to her home. Miss Boylan (Auckland) is etayirtg with her sister, Mrs. Cavanafih'. . Miss Atkinson has Toturned to Wellington : Mrs. Stewart has returned! from Wangamii.

Miss Ferguson, of the Pandita Pamabai Mission at Mukti (India), arrived in Wellington yesterday by tho Riverina from the south, whore sho has been spending a month's , holiday. Miss Ferguson left later in'tho day for Sydney.

Delegates to tho Plunket Conference are to he entertained at a garden party this afternoon by Mrs. Arthur. Myors.

Miss Audrey Stubbs (Auckland) has fteen spending some time in. Wellington, and is staying at "Cliatworth."

Mr. .and Mrs. Stanley Smith and Miss Smith : (Dunetlin) are staying at the Midland Hotel." Mr. Smith is attending tho Press Conference.

ln spito of tho immense demands made on her for moving picture work, Annette Kellermann was, from recent' advice, about to join tho Big Show at the New York Hippodromes for a diving act. For .this alone she , was to receive £400 weekly.

Tho Seatoun Sowing Guild is holding a- garden party at Mrs. Paul's, Karaka Bay, on Saturday, in aid of the British Red Cross Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and favoured with fine weather a most enjoyablo afternoon may bo looked for. Thero will bo stalls for the sale of fancy work, cakos, sweets, pot plants, etc. There will also be afternoon tea, and Aunt Sally for the children.- Admission will be sixpence.

The hostesses at the Soldiers' Club in Sydney Street for tho coming week aro as follow: —Sunday, Lady Stout; Monday, Wellington College Old Girls; Tuesday, Mrs. D. Stewart; Wednesday, .Tohnsonvillo Ladies' Patriotic Guild; Thursday, Mrs. Mitford, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Bevin; Friday, Miss Skerretfc; Saturday, Mrs. L. Blundell.