WOMAN'S WOULD.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3180, 3 September 1917, Page 2

WOMAN'S WOULD.

(Bv Imoqen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

A Young Women's Christian Association Celebration. The twelfth anniversary of the YVW.C.A. in Wellington was celebrated In :i novel and entertaining manner on Saturday evening in the' association's buildings in Herbert Streot. There was a very large gathoring of members in honour of the occasion, and taking part in tho actual proceedings were l'ully one. hundred girls. "Stunts" representative of the different activities of the organi-a-tion wero given, a group of girls, representing the religious department entering, nnd carrying embleinß significant of their work; the foreign department was represented by girls dressed in Indian, Chinese, and Japanese dress; the education department by groups presenting themselves .before the central figure (supposed to bo the general secretary), and giving tableau effects of particular studies—cookery, gardening, trimming hats, etc., the Poster Club al6o being classed under this head; and so on, right through tho different departments, which work for the cultivation of tho spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical needs of life. Eacn group tl'at entered was announced by a herald, and Biter having performed its individual "stunt," took its place on the platform. Tho whole performance, which was entirely carried out by the girls themselves, with Miss Still as controller, showed a good, deal of originality In its conception and and was greatly enjoyed by tho audience. Previous to tho entertainment, Miss Still welcomed Jliss Birch back 'to tho told, after her prolonged country tour. A "Birthday Ode,"t composed by Miss Nieholls, was recited by 'Miss Willcox, and <i chorus, "Keep 'the Homo Fires Burning," was sung by the company. 'Several recitations and-musical items wero contributed during the evening-, and a very appreciative speech was luado by beforo the disporsal of the gathering, in which she thanked ereryono for tho warm welcome lliey had given her on. her return to Wellington,! and said how much sha had appreciated tho originalitj and organising ability shown by tho girls in tho way 1 they had worked up tho various groups representative of tho association's activities. A eollcction, the charm of which was greatly duo to tb'o novel way in which it was made, followed, and supper, And the singing of "For She's a Jolly Good fellow," ended a very cheerful evening.

An Autograph Quilt, An interesting featuro of tho Thorndon l?ed Cross Day is tho "name quilt" which is boing mado by Mrs. and Miss Massey. Anyone may havo his or her signature worked on tho quilt by sending tho signature, plainly writton, to Mrs. Massey,. accompanied by a sMlling. The idea is a decidedly good one. During her Tecent visit to England, Mrs. Massey saw ono of these quilts, mado in the South Island, in a military hospital, where it was a sourco of unfailing interest to tho sick and wounded soldiers. It was being continually passed from ono to the othor,-.and was greatly prized. Tho patients took great pleasure in searching for. tho names of their personal and woll-known people, and many a. pleasant hour was passed In this way. Thero can bo no doubt that a Wellington quilt would be much appreciated by the soldiers in an English hospital, and there aro thousands ot pcoplo who would gladly give a shilling to havo thoir names inscribed. , A commencement has already been made, and considering tho novel character ot tho ■undertaking and the good cause to which tho proceeds will bo devoted, it taay bo taken for granted that there will 110 lack of names or shillings, and that Mrs. and Miss Massey may look forward to a very busy time in this connection for somo weeks to come. It may be remem•bercd that tho Spinsters' Club mado an autograph quilt somo months ago, and tho money which was raised in that way (by people paying so much to havo their names worked, upon., the quilt) was sent to No. l'Now Zealand Stationary Hospital— also the quilt. Mrs. M'Ciirr and Mrs. Bradley, of Seatoun. will havo cliargo of l:ho Keel Cross Shop, "Woodward Street, on Wednesday. Gifts of flowers will be thankfully received, , : . Friday night's dance at the Anzac Club, Featherston, was under tho management of Mesdames AY. Barton, *\V. Toogood, W. Howard Booth, and B. Speedy, -with Mr. F. Brabant as M.C. Extras wero played by Mesdames flolop, Oliver, Wickens, Carlyon, Miss Toogood, and Trooper Aldridge. Miss llossoy is organising a surprise packet stall for Thorndon Day at the Red Cross Shop. It promises to bo a very popular attraction. Mrs. Nosworthy left for tho south on Thursday. Mr.'and Mrs. T. H. Lowrv, who bave been visiting; Christcburch, left on Friday, en route for Hawke's Bay. .Mrs. A. Caselberg (Masterton) is visiting Dunedin. Much encouragement Is received in tho Christcburch. Depot for tho parcel scheme,, and one letter recently rcteivod from a boy in France indicated the lively interest obtaining among tho soldiers, states tho "Press." Ho says:—"l receive papers regularly, and there appears an agitation in Now Zealand to forward money to the troops on service, and to atop tho gift parcels. I lmvo no doubt whatever that the patriotic women in New Zealand, having received so many letters of satisfaction from tho boys, will not give np the parcel system on the recommendation of one or two persons, who freely express their own opinion on\ tlie matter without, thinking of tho opinions of the boys in tho tronches. There are many different aspects of, looking ttt tho matter of money contributions."

MATTERS OF INTIEBST FSOM FAB ANB NEAR.

N.Z. Soldiers' Club at Ismailln. Reporting to Miss Rout as to the success attending tho New Zealand Soldiers' Club at Ismalin, Mies J op;;, who is in charge during Miss Routes absenco in England.- says:—"Business hag been fairly quiet lately—that is, in the n:en's part. A great many more officers como in now; on a Sunday afternoon the room is not nearly big enough; sometimes I have fifteen or sixteen at a time. 'I'lloy all say they would much rather corne to our club than the French Club, and then, of course, they can always get the papers or magazines to read. 'I be new reinforcements havo not como in yet, but are expected in about ten days' time, so' I Buppose we shall be kept fairly btib'y then, aid in the meantime while we aro slack we are taking things easy. So far wo liavo boon ablo to stick to all our Fatigue Party, and they aro all gcod boys. Colonel Spragg is trying very hard to get the band down to Moasenr, and they havo promised to send them down to the club in tho afternoon to give us some music. The boys have great concerts among themselves.'".

Signalling Work, The following letter has Ijeen received from Mr. C. 11. Martin, instructor in signalling, by Mrs. Preston, of tho Wellington South Nursing Division"With pleasure I forward you the official results of tho semaphore signalling examination held at Alexandra Barrack. Buckle Streot, on August 18. A perusal of tho list speaks for itself. It contains one or two surprises as 'to position, but as a whole I am well pleased. Pleaso convoy my personal congratulations, believing you possess a squad of lady signallers second to nono in Australasia. I feel sure that your division will bo pleased to know that they aro the first ladies to bo officially examined in New Zealand." The list attached is as follows (possible marks 100, to pass 08 per ccnt):—Miss Williamson, 100; Mrs. Russell, 100; Miss 31. Logan, 100; Mrs. Gaby, 99.66; Miss D. Helyer, 99.33; Miss Thornton, 98; Miss Fossette, 98.66; Miss J. Logan, 98.33; Miss A. M. Smith, 99.' Staff Sergeant-Major Collins, of the Permanent Staff, was the examiner. A tribute was .paid to tho excellent instruction given by Mr. Martin, who has given up much timo to this work, and has agreed to continue the' lessons 'to members of tho division.

Sister Constance, who has boon' a dea~ coness .of St. Andrew's Church (Palmer6ton North) for the past four and a half years, and who is leaving for Auckland, wis farewelled by tho ladioa of St. Andrew's Congregation on Thursday and presented with a puree of sovereigns, an illuminated address, and gold ' wristlet watch suitably inscribed, and a. leather travelling trunk. Afternoon tea and a very enjoyablo musical programme brought the proceedings to a close.

"After 'Litis war, the jantions who can truly say they have won tho victory will be those with tho greatest powor of reconstructing themselves," fißifi Miss Elsio M. Griffin, general secretary of, tho Auckland Branch of 'tho Y.W.C.A., at a gathering in her honour. She contended that this reconstruction process was going to ho far moro in tho hands of women, for tho next 25 years at least, than over it had been in the past. From, this conclusion, sho deduced that tho Y.W.C.A. held a unique place, in that it would play it groat part in national solf-devclopment. . Tho war had thrust women. much farther out into life, and there was going bo. upon t,hcm a tremendous responsibility for tho wolfare of tho community and tho nation.

Miss K. Lcatham and Miss Daniels (Now Plymouth) leave early this week on a visit to Dannevirke'and Wolling'ton.

ORDERS FOR WOMEN A LIMITED HELD. The. institution by the King of two new orders, both to be open to women, baa roused wide interest, and naturally, for the position of ivouieu in. tho matter of honours and dec-orations has shown »ita ambiguity inoro and more clenrly during the past two years (states a writer in the "Queen"). ', At present Tery few women have places in any orders. Both Queen Mary and Queen Alexandra havu the Garter, but the great bulk of people who .are familiar with the blue ribbon of the senior order across the breasts of. these Royal ladies in picture and photograph do not realise what a new departure its bestowal was; indeed, King Edward had to go right back to the wifo of Henry VII to find a precedent for Queen Alexandra's investiture. Ail through the centnries between only reigning Queens had owned the honour, and in their cases as Sovereigns the laws of chivalry and heraldry taking no count of sex in their cases. A similar distinction was conferred on Queen Mary by the King-Em-peror when at the Delhi Durbar he, with what appeared dramatic suddenness, invested her with the Star of India.

The Order of Merit, whioli, new as it is—it was created only in J902 by King Kdirard—is given such high precedence as to rank immediately after the Grand Crosses of the Bath, and is restricted to twenty-four members only, has had at least one woman on its roll, for it was bestowed on Miss Florence Nightingale by King Edward. Coming to orders to which entrance is given to women in the ordinary way, we have first of all tho Victoria and Albert, which, indeed, is reserved for them. It was designed by Queen Victoria principally for members of the household and lioyal entourage; the badge has portrait heads of tho Queen and. Prince Consort enclosed in a double border of diamonds, and surmounted by an Imperial crown, and is worn at or near th» left shoulder. It is not now bestowed.

Four other orders only availjitto for women existed till these new ones wero created. Of these two, of the Royal Eed Cross and the Grand Priory of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England, are both familial' ih these days, for they are, of course, directly connected with nursing'. The Order of the Royal Red Cross was instituted in 1883 simply to "reward nurses of any nationality who have tended our sick and wounded soldiers or sailors with conspicuous devotion." The little _ red cross of the badge needs no description. The Order of St. John was revived by Queen Victoria in 1888, but, of course, liaa its origin far back in the dim past with that of tho most ancient order of the Knights of Malta itself. The badge, in gold or silver according' to rank, is a true Maltese cross, with alternately a lion and a unicorn between the branches. It is worn suspended on a black watered ] ribbon, the ribbon of the Bed Cross being blue narrowly bordered with Ted. The Order of Mercy ib open to men nnd women, and is conferred as "a reward for distinguished personal cervices in tho relief of suffering, poverty, or distress." The order itself is a euuarocut gold cross enamelled red, enclosing a tiny white enamelled shield in tho centre showing allegorical figures of Charity. It is surmounted by the tyoyal crown and again by tbe_ Prince of Wales's Feathers, in which is typified the personal interest of the present King 111 the order, of which King Edward iirst was Sovereign before he succeeded to the throne. The ribbon is of blacfc mid white striped moire, and in the ease of women is tied in a bow over the gold clasp, in the case of men worn in the usual way to suspend tlia order. The fourth order, and it is one exclusively for ladies, is tho' Imperial Order ol' the Crown of India. It was created in IS7B to mark tho assumption by the Queen of the .title of. Empress of India, at the same time and with the parno purpose as tho Order of '.ho Indian Empire, for which, as iu the case of all the other great orders, only men are eligible. • The Imperial Order of tho Crown of India is bestowed 'tsually upoi> the wives of viceroys, governors-general of Bombay and Madras, etc., and others who by rank or position are, or have been, connected with tho Indian Bmpiro. The badge is the Imperial cypher set in diamonds, pearls, and turquoises .enclosed In pearls and surmounted by the Imperial crown. *«ggardly as has "been tho admission of women into the ranks of chivalry in recent years, it was not always so, and in view of these new distinction it is somewhat interesting to glance back into the past. Tho fifteenth century was peculiarly generous in this way, and its period saw some fifty ladies duly iuvesfc<vl with the robes of tho Garter, whilo fifteen more were so honoured during the final twenty years of tho preceding contury. These ladies, wnoso names are carefully recorded, enjoyed great iudepenuen'co m thoir honours, too, for in inoro than one case they continued in the Order when their husbands had been actually degraded from it; and several otliers' held their proud position after resignation, whether compulsory or voluntary, had taken place on their husband's part. But if that gracious custom died with the century we are in little less hard case than any other country, for,_ with tiie exception of the Order oi' the Gclden Kosc—the Papal decoration which lias been bestowed with somewhat increasing , frequency, on women, they always figured prominently as its Holders from the eleventh century to to-day— fow Continental orders or decorations have existed for women at all. Scmew'hat strangely democratic France, with her vast recognition of the power of wo- ■ een, hhe only opened the Legion of Honour in such exceptional cases as these ol' Mme. Rosa lloahour, Mmo. Curie, ard Mme. Sarah Bernhardt.. In Russia, it orders still exist in the present melting, pot stage, Peter tho Great's Orier cf St. Catharine comes into tho mind in tins connection, with those, of Gomo religious significance, of Our Latfy of iUa \icosa, and of St. Isabella-'of Portugal, and of St. Maria I/mion. of Spain, both, however, if we mistake not, bestowed for the- accident of birth, and not for achievement.

The wedding took place in Duncdin last week of Miss Margaret l?orsytli Short, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Short, Leith Street, to Captain A. J. S. Cowrie, of Caversliam. Mr. J. R. Dickson was best man, and the bridesmaids were Miss Gibson and Miss Doreen Cowie. There were also two little flower .girls in attendance. Among 'the presents was a smoking cabinet presented by returned soldiers who were associated with Captain Cowie during the Gallipoli campaign.

As a result of a concert recently given past ami present pupils of the Wellington Girls' College, the sum of .£4O l.us been sent to the War Relief Association j in addition, two special form -concerts were given during the term, the proceeds of which, totalling over Jill, are to be handed in tor the V.M.C.A. Trench Conforts Fund. The Commandant at Troitham Cainp acknowledges with thanks receipt of tho following gifts for the hospital :—Frcm Bed Cross Soldiers' Comfort Guild, 4 Mercer Street, Wellington, 1 bos eggs, and cigarettes.