SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

A "Submarine" Weeldlhg. It raay be interoßting to set down jusfc what a London war wedding is like in the third year of tho war, states a | writer in tho "Manchester Guardian." I was at ono with very characteristic features recently., It was in a fashionable church, the bridegroom was a notable submarine, commander, and half a dozen submavino ofiico.rs of distinction and an Admiralty Staff swell wero there. The reason why two of tho6O officers wore- able to be present was because thoy had been at Buckingham Palace receiving bars to their D.S.O.'s., Tho bridegroom's sword, in its case, was seen furtively for a minute; then it appeared shining by tho, bridegroom's side. Tho best man, as in mediaeval times, had ventured to Ins office of arming the bridegroom. Tho bride was without a veil, but with two little maids-of-honour and a small page. It is not only tho cynics that sec pathos in marriages. In this marriage a sight of_ tho gallant sailor and his young, white-robed bride Btandiug side by side before the, altar with its flowers against the background that was present in overyono's mind of these dark and heroic days was really affecting. There wore no flowers besides those that the bride and her attendants carried. No one had new clothes. People listened with more attention to the words of the clergy, and certain phrases had'a new significance under tho realities of tho war.

Fittingly enough, tho wedding itself had not been unattended by little adventures. Tho bridegroom was a few minutes late—his motor-oar broke down—but, like resourceful sailors, ho and his host man simply held up a private motor, whose owner was delighted to put his car at their service. There was only ono white waistcoat at the church, and. that was not looked upon with favour.,

Wadding at Foathonton, The Wedding took place at St. John's Church, Featherston, on Wednesday, of Miss Hilda Frances L.yforcj, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Lyford, of 'rauherenikau, and Mr. Douglas, of "Wairero." Kahautara. The Kov. Mr. Bartlett (cousin of tlio bridogroom) officiated, and Corporal C. Garter attended as best man.. The bride (who was given away by her sister, Mies Ruby Lyford) was attended by. another sistor, Miss Frances Lyford, and wore a cromo sergo costume and pink hat, 'with black furs, the gift of tho bridegroom. On account of sickness in the bride's family, and a brother on' bis way to the front with the 23rd Reinforcements, tho wedding was a Tory quiet one. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart left immediately after the ceremony'on a motoring tour to New. Plymouth, the bride travelling in a navy costume and blacky hat. They will tako up their residence at "Stonecroft," Eahautara. The Ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy, League 'acknowledges with, thanks parcels of warm clothing for the lesser auxiliary craft of tho fleet, from Mrs. Ronayne, Mrs. Chapman, and a large parcel (per Mrs. Barton, Hawera). The treasurer of the auxiliary,. Mrs. C. B. Richardson, acknowledges ireceipt of. tho following donations:—Miss Johnston, £3 85..: Mrs. Lever's Chatelaine Fund, IOs.; and a cheque for £120 from the promoters o^a recent naval-enter-tainment. St, John Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross Soolety. The St. John Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross Socioty, Star Boating Club, Building, wish to' acknowledge donations from tho following:—Eketahuna Red Cross Sooiety, £100; Mangapehi'Red Cross Society, £2; Mrs. Kenrick, £1 10s.; Piharaa Ladies' Sewing Guild, Awahura Red Cross Society, A Mother, Te Aro School, Rorigomai Ked Cross Society, AVanganui St. John Ambulance and Red Cross,. Otakeho Red.Cross, .Guild,'. Auroa Red Cross Socioty, Foilding Red Cross Society, Girls' ■Club, Bulls, Mrs.' Manson, £1; Johnsonvillo W.N.R., Makiho Bed Cross Society, Miss Adams, E. ,M. Chatfield,. Mrs. Holdsworth,. Mrs. Parratt. ' ' '■■;...'

According to a London correspondent of February 8, Sisters Isla Stiiart, of Miistcrton, Edith M'Leod, of Ormondville, Hawko's Bay, and M., Sutherland, of Waipu, Auckland, N.Z.A.N.S., wero in London on leave from ' tho N.Z. Stationary Hospital, France. . Feilding visitors at present in "Wellington aro Mrs. Hitclungs (who is tho guest of Mrs: Perkins), Mrs. Luff, and Mrs., "Worsfold. Mrß. Miles and Miss Wright, who have been the guests of Mrs. Miles (Feilding) havo gone on to Taupo. Mrs. Willis (Feilding) is visiting Wellington. An officer on leave from the Somme stated' in London recently that songs extolling tho heroism of soldiers are strictly barred by the men themselves at their "sing-Songs." The men will lustily .chorus the most absurd ditties, but the singer' who tries the "Hero Boy" strain is seeking trouble. At one concert an officer ventured on a song of tho "When My Soldier Boy Conies Home" type. Ho never got to the end of even tho first verse. ; Mrs. Kingdon (Feilding). is visiting Cbristchurch. ' Mrs. and 'Miss Waymouth have returned to Foilding from Wellington.

Sydney Street Soldiers' Club Dance, Very successful was the dance "which was given by tho committee of the Soldiers' Club in Sydney Street last evoning in honour of the 25th Reinforcements. There was a largo attendance of soldiers, ahd plonty of partners had boeli provided thorii. Mrs. Lo Marchaud as usual played excellent musii;, and tho soldiers made tlio most oF thoir opportunity for dancing. Mr 6. Chapman was tho hostess for the evening, and light refreshments were aa usual provided for the dangers in the gymnasium hy tho house committee. Before the evening came to an end, Captain Kirk, on behalf of the 25th Reinforcement, flianEed the committee and all who had assisted in the entertaining of the nion for their hoejiit'ality, which they had appreciated to the utmost. Some of them had thoir homes and friends in "Wellington, and many oF them hnd como from other part's of Now Zealand, but ono and all wore, deeply grateful for what ■ the ladies had done for thorn. Captain Kirk thon_ called upon tho soldiers present to give three Trentham cheers for the ladios, which were given with resounding hearfciriess._ "The Angel In the House." Since the outbreak of war students attending Victoria College have instituted a patriotio fund with which to send comforts to the. men at the front. Twice a year a large supply is forwarded, one in November' and another in May,, and to add to their funds for tho May-quota an entertainment in the form of a public reading of "Tho Angel in tho House" (by Eden Philpotts and Basil Hastings) was given in tho University College Gymnasium last evening. There was a good attendance of stu3enta and their friends, and an enjoyablo interpretation of tho comedy was given. The cash.of characters was as'follows: —The Hon. Hyacinth Fotavel, Mr. P. W. Burbidge; Sir Rupert BindloßS, Ba.rt., Mr. J. H. Sheat; Basil Malot, •Vx- G- 0. Cooper; Count Pietro Bosai, Mr. J. G. Schmidt; Robert, Mr. R. V. Kay; Joan Bindloss, Miss D. Hiilme; Lallio Bindloss, MissD. Fojjo ;. I/ady Sard, Miss Crawford. Miss. D. Wilson was tho stage director.. .In a reading of a play there is always a certain amount of difficulty in giving an air of reality to a, performance, "of getting away from "play-acting," and those who took part' last evening are to be commended for their performance. A sale of flowers and sweets, added .to the financial results of the evening. Mrs. Murph.T has returned to Feildiug from a visit to Wellington. Mrs. Howard Booth (Oarterton) is visiting Wellington. • .

Jrha Anzac Spirit. Sergeant F. J. Dodd, of Newcastle (Australia), writing to his cousin, Miss : Holt, of. Campsie, sayslt would not do for the miners to come out, at this job. ,s'hey might want to go on strike for working a couple of days' overtime without pay, or getting bully and bis'cuits to cat when they think bread should be on the "slate." They had tetter stop behind and. dig coal to ■"keep the home_ fires burning," because ,We are all looking forward to a great reception and a cosy fireside when we return. What' a different sun we see here, to the one wo saw in Egypt this time last year. The happiest time of my lite at present is when I am sitting alongside a fire. What do you think of the peace talk, stirring up the soft cords of humanity, according to the German ideas and ambitions? When they start to talk about a half-hearted peace, we find that we still have a'little hit Of the tenacity arid doggedness of the British soldier of days gone by. Sly answer and that of the boys here to that kind of peace is "No." : When I come to-think it over, I have lost a. lot at .this game. Pretty well every.

"cobber" arid friend that left Australia with me owns a couple, of feet of clay here, and, what's more, I would not like to think that I have wasted two years of\ my life for nothing. No; it >is far better just to carry on for a few more months. Of course, the oasualty lists-will still go on, and tho same with tliis existence; but at the last we can say and feel that we have done: what we set out to do —avenge Belgium and France, and kill Prussianism now and forever. Australia is well worth fighting for, but tho boys iii. that sunny land don't seem to realTse the fact. Wβ need all tho help we can .get,, and we look to our Australian boys, and ask them not to leave us. here to die.—"Sydney Telegraph."

The Y.W.C.A. ' Miss Helen 1 , . Barries, who has been for'the last five years and a half general secretary, of the National Y.W.U.A. for Australasia, has returned to America. During Miss Barnes's term 1 of office the worlc of the Y.W.O.A. in . Australasia has progressed in every ' direction. New departments have been organised, a special feature being tlie girls' department, and-the future of the association is full of promise. Secretaryships havo been established in India and China, and substantial support promised for one in Japan. The ivork has been extended among girls in industrial und business life. The Training School for secretaries and' volunteer workers lias enabled the National" Board to send out trained workers. Certainly tlie young womanhood of Australasia owes much to the services of the first National General Secretary of tho Y.W.O.A. of Australasia. At the service for girls and young women held in the Y.W.C.A. ClubRooms, Fowlds' Buildings, to-morrow afternoon at 4.15, the speakers will be members who were present at the Easter Camp at Karaka Bay. They will have the opportunity or passing on to others the subject of the Bible .studies given by Mrs. Kaye, president of the Christchurch Association. Girls visiting tho city will be specially welcomed. ■At a special tea hold in the Y.W.C.A. Club "Dooms in honour of the members who have joined the association during the month of March, Mrs. Pearson, president of the association, and Mrs. Bennie, president of tho Membership Committee) welcomed the new members. After ajhappy social time camp echoes and' association talks were given. The subjects of these talks were, tho widespread work of the'world's Y.AV.C.A. jn federating, and extending the association in all lands; also the union and development of the work in Australaiiia by means of the National Board, and the work of tlie Foreigu Department in China, India, and Japan. A special feature of the evening was the rendering of the original camp songs and extracts from tho camp journals.-./

The ladies of the Hapiti district were in charge of the Wellington Bed Cross shop yesterday, and realised tho excelIpnt total of £114 as their takings for the day's work. Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Best (Auckland), who hayejieen spending two or three weeks in Wellington, are now visiting Christchurch. Mrs. Graham Shannon (Marlon) is visiting Wellington. TITo "Pride of Brooklyn" lodge of Druids beld a successful concert' and dance in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday evening last, before a large audience of members and friends. P.A. Bra. C'ronk was chairman. Tho "Brooklyn Miss St. John (dramatic sketch), Master and Miss M'Carthy (songs), Miss Snelling and Mrs. Coventry (duets)," Miss Rubinstein and Mr. Dalton (pianoforte solos), and Mr. .Mauley (mandoline solo) contributed to the , enjoyment of tho evening. 3lr. Kerr, of Johnsonville, also deligKteS with comic songs. Refreshments were handed round, and at the conclusion of the, programme the hall was ctearect for dancing, Bro. SfLaughling acting as accompanist.

Mr. Walter Woods gave an excellent concert for the men of the sea at tho Sailors' Friend Society last night. Au enjoyable time was passed by the. very large audience, made up of many nations. A feature of tho evening was the demand for encores, which were readily given. A fine short story competition was held. The following contributed items to tbe programme:— Mrs. J. Hatton, the Missos Gawlor, M. Newman, A. Carter, K. M'lvor, and A. Clarke, and Messrs. B. Clemeiitson, Leo Shaddick, W. Wood, Dury, Martell, Dompsey, and Williams. The vote of thanks was responded to by Mr. Wood.