WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 4

WOMAN'S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FBOM FAR AND NEAR

(By Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Fancy Dress and Poster Ball. An undertaking that promises to bo ot very general interest is the fancy dress and postor ball organised by the lettercarriers of Wellington to aid tho cause of their candidato in tho forthcoming Baby Competition. From time to time postier balls have been hold in AVellingfcon, and havo always proved immensely suecessful. Lady Stout and the Mayoress (Mrs. J. I'. Luko) have promised to 1)0 chaperones, and tho lady representatives of the daily papers, in conjunction with Mr. Barry Keesing, have been asked to judgo tho costumes, several valuable trophies having been given for the best in tho different classes. Williams's orchestra will supply tho music, and juds. ing from tho demand for tickets tho bail should present a brilliant spectaclo. Tho Acting-Postmaster-Gcneral and tho Hon. T. M. Wilford have promised their patronage for tho ball, which is to take place on Wednesday ovening next:' A Travelled New Zealandor. In tile course of an interview with a representative, of tho Auckland "Star," Miss Francos B. Lysnar, tho first woman in New Zealand to bo mado it Fellow of tho Royal Geographical Society, who has been away from tho Dominion for tho past threo years, touched upon soma of tho things which had interested her during her travels. In India, where phe travelled extensively, slie noticed the feeling of unrest, and was told about it, Briefly what tho people want is Home Rule for India similar to the Dominions. The Indian is at present made to fed by tho English that ho iB an inferior, ijover to 1)0 classed as an equal. The men aro learning English in tho colleges, and Miss Lysnar found them wonderfully keen and intelligent. Karnabal herself speaks seven languages. Tho women are just bfginuing to reach out for education, as the men have reached out, and are trying to rise to the ideal of the men. India is really an agricultural country, and tho majority of tlio people Hvq on the land. Of children of school ago to-duy eighteen out of 100 oply are going to school, while in Japan ninety-twij. out of 100 boys and girls receive education. Living so close to the soil as tho Indians do; the failure of rain for one year brings the farmer to tho verge of famine, as he has nothing pnt by. It is computed that one-sixth of the people go through life with insufficient food, and the majority are very poor; hundreds of thousands do not get a full meal every day. There are six million beggars in the country, nnd tho majority of tho peoplo only earn 80s. a year. Of this they have to pay 3s. Bd. in taxes. It has been borna in on them that tho ideal of an Indian nation like America became a nation undor Washington, and Italy under tho liberator, is possible. There are 310 millions, talking amongst themselves hundreds of languages and dialects, but now all being drawn together by learning .the English tonguo.

' Miss Duncan. of Auckland, an old Wellingtonian, who has been spending a few weeks here, left yesterday on a visit to her brother. Mr. H. R. Duncan, of NelEon. On her return Miss Duncan intends staying a few days before leaving for her home in Auckland.

Mi' 3. Cotter (Greytown) is staying at Miss Henderson's, Ivelburn. and nest week her daughter. Mrs. White, will join her.

Miss Fraser, Havelock. North, and her sister are visiting Wellington, and are staying at Kelburn.

A handsome natural musquash fur coat is being raffled in connection with Tho Terraces Day at the Wellington Ited Cross Shop. Tickets are selling rapidly, and tho coat, which is a full-length one, satin lined and finished ,in every detail, shoilld satisfy tho heart of any woman who has the good fortune to win it. Tickets may bo bought from Mrs. Metz, care of Miss Abraham, or from Mrs. Adams, 06 Tho Terrace, during the next few days.

Mrs. A. Gray, who went to Auckland early in the week to meet Mrs. Martin, of Pal&erston North, wlio wns returning to New Zealand from England, arrived in Wellington yesterday, accompanied by Mrs. Martin, who will l)o tho guest of Mrs. Gray for some days.

Hostesses at tho Soldiers' Club for tho coming week will bo as follow Sunday. Mrs. Jacob Joseph; Monday, House Committee; Tuesday, Busy Bee; "Wednesday, Mesdames Bristow and Moss; Thursday, ■ladies of St. Mark's; Friday, Mrs. G. W. Russell; Saturday, Johnsonville National Reserve.

The ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy League is organising a street day in Wellington noxt Friday, and for that purpose is arranging a couple of stalls at which jam, chutney, sauce, pickles, produce, cakes, and sweets, as well as flowers and autumn' foliage, will bo sold. The men from one of the vessels in port are organising a novel surprise for the public, and with the Boy Scouts will assist in soiling flags to commemorate tho great naval attack upon Ostend and Zee. brugge. Contributions of any of tho goods enumerated abovo will be gratefully received, and may bo sent to Mossrs. Harcourt and Co.'s rooms, Lamb, ton Quay, or if this. is inconvenient arrangements woud be made for having them sent for. Mrs. F. M. B. Fisher is organising a band of helpers, boys and girls and adults, to assist in selling flags, etc., and she would be grateful if those intending to holp tho causo will be at Messrs. Harcourt and Co.'s auction room on the morning of May 24. In charge of tho two stalls will be Mrs, Stewart and Mrs. Lovor. Tho funds resulting go to tho Red Jersey and Red Cross Fund, por medium of tho Navy League Baby.

Friday's Street Day. Yesterday was s\ very animated day in llio streets, a combined assault from various organisations being made upon the purses of tlio public, i'irst and foremost was tho street sale ot' iproduco, Maori jvork (including most clevorlv-mado mats, kits, poi balls, otc.), (lowers, fruit, and vegetables, from a couple of stalls, ono at tho Kelburn. Avenue, of which Mrs. Pomaro was in cliargc, and another at tho Boulcott Street corner, of which Mrs. Love lind control. Prom tho first moment that tho stalls wero placed in position and tho goods unpacked thoy were surrounded with buyers, and the Bame stato of affnirs existed during the groater part of tho day. Their attractions wero manifold, and it was not to bo wondefed at that their stores found ready purchasers, partly becauso of that fact and also becauso tho public was genuinely _ rsady to assist tho effort of the Maori peoplo in tlioir ontcrprlso of raising funds for the llod Cross and Red Jersey through tho medium of tho Maori baby. Concert parties also toured tho streets and gavo spirited entertainments, consisting of Maori' dancos, songs, etc., and as most of tho performers woro brilliantly-coloured mats and piupius it may be easily imagined that thoy gavo plenty of lifo and colour lo tho streets. Tho various attractions arranged in connection with tho Red Jersey appeal, in which was included tho parade through tho streots of a oaptured Gorman gun, drawn by a foam of beautiful horses, preceded by tho Trontliam Band, mado the streets full of uniißual animation. Stalls to furthor tho cause of tho Brooklyn and tho Lotter-carriors' baby candidates also succeeded in furthering their canso to a satisfactory degree.

Soldiers Gift Parcels. The Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke) has received an. amount of five guineas frpm tho Brooklyn Harriers' Club for iior Soldiers' Parcels Fund. From very many of the returned soldiers have been received expressions of the greatest appreciation of these gift parcels, and tho remarks made to a Wellington- lady recontly by a wounded soldier should stimulate evory woman to do her best to keep this good work going. "For a woek before wo know tho parcels ore duo and for a fortnight, after wo can do nothing olso but talk of them. For God's sake, you women, send everything you can to tho men, for you don't know'how they need them. They liavo things in thorn tl at we cannot buy." Could anyone pass by such an appeal for men who are enduring untold hardships aud dangers? Y.W.CiA. Notes. "The Umpire Week of Prayor" is tho title of a booklet published by tho Aus. tralasian League of Honour, whioh seta forth subjeots 'for daily prayer and meditation. The subject it selects for tho opening day (Sunday) is "Confession of Sin. The Y.W.C.A. will follow the proposed plan during the week, and Miss Birch will give tho opening address tomorrow afternoon, when Mies Foreman will be tho soloist,

»,??J < }. le , r3 will, bo very welcome at the Y.U .C.A. to-night. A very attractive programme of games and music has neon arranged b.v the Misses Clark. , The Y.W.C.A. is arranging special meetings for intercession and meditation in .respsnso lo the call of tho Austrnlasion League of Honour for girls and womon to set aside May 19 to 28 as a week of humiliation anil prayer. Meetings will be held on Sunday afternoon and Thursday evening for girls and young women, on Wednosday afternoon for mothers and relatives of soldiers, and on Friday evening for tho Y.W.C.A. Red Cross Working Band. There will also bo a daily prayer circle at 5.15 p.m. It is -realised that the Empire is engaged in a life-and-death struggle. Defeat of the Allies means tho subjection of Australia and New Zealand to a foreign Power. Only our geographical position has saved us from tho'fato of heroic Belgium. Our commercial life is preserved through t'ha trado routes being guarded by the floets of Great Britain and our Allies. Britain, tho financjal centre of tho Empiro, and whose ruin would bo our ruin, is proteoted from invasion through the Allied armies koeping our enemies at bay on tho Continent. Thus hundreds of brave soldiers and sailors arc daily giving their livos for our safety and frcodom, aiid yet peace seems still far distant. Tho ultimate success depends on each nation within tho Empire doing its part not only ,by sending mon to tho front, but by lceeiJiiur its homo life strong and pure. This is peculiarly the responsibility of tho women and girls, and at this time in the groat struggle of tho nations it is character that counts. Somoono Ims said: "Tho test of our passion to save our nation is our anxiety to pray." On Thursday evening an invitation tea was given at the Y.W.C.A. to welcomc now members. An hour of recreation followed, and at the close of the cvoning Miss Champtaloup gave a talk on "Life's Ideals" to a very attontivo audience.

Tickets for the Red Cross raffle, which has been given by Messrs. Stowart, Davrson and Co., and whioh is now- on view in the windows of tho firm, are selling rapidly. The prizes havo attracted a great ileal of attention, and the oak canteen of cutlery containing 141 pieces (electro-plated spoons and forks and ivory-handled knives), which is the first prize, is greatly admired. In addition, there aro eleven other prizes, the second being a diamond and ruby ring, the third an electro-plate picklo stand, and the fourth a lady's wristlet watoh. Otlior prizes aro a very handsome inkstand, a table gong, and various c.p. dishes, The canteen of cutlery is value<l at ,£6o. Tickots, one shilling each,- may bo obtained from Mrs. Adams, 9G The Terrace, or from Messrs. Stewart Dawson and Co., Lambton Quay, on receipt of a stamped addressed., envelope with the amount enclosed The raffle is to bo drawn at tho Red Cross Shop (Wellington) on August 1.

MORAL STRATEGY AMERICAN 'JUDGE'S SCHEME. Judye lieu B. Liudsey, of Colorado, one of tut foremost aim best-loved figures In American lite, lias arrived in England on a unique war mission, states the "Daily iWs." He comes to investigate ways and means of co-ordinating the "moral strategy'- of the Allies. "Moral character and sound health," lie says, "are just as essential to winning Hie war as machine-guns and marksmanship. We must jjool our experiences in respect ol morals and health just as we co-ordinate our military and naval plans."

■ Every. American knoivs the name of Judge Lindsey— especially the women and children—for he is fumed for his remarkable work in the Juvenile Court of Denver. There, in the capital of the Kocky Mountain State of C'olarado, in what is perhaps the "rough-awl-readiest" and most typical American community, the 'treatment of juvenile crime was first "humanised'' twenty years ago. ' "in the old days," said Judge Lindsey, a soft-spoken Tennesseean, who looks less than the 49 years that ho 'lias lived, "crimes of children used to bo judged precisely like crimes of grown-ups. The Court simply ascertained what paragraph of (he penal code had been violated and dealt out the punishment accordingly. In the juvenile courts .we not ( only ask what the youthful 'criml, mil' lias done, but find out why lift has done it. The psychology of tlie olfenco is investigated. The environment of the child is looked into.

"The aim is not so much to protcct property by punishing crime as to 'preserve the youthful offender for useful citizyiship. There is no such thing as 'itiadmissinle testimony' in juvenilo courts. Formerly about 75 per cent, of youthful first offenders recommitted crime. To-dsy only about 10 per cent, do so."

Judge Lindsey "humanised" the treatment of aiult criminals in Colorado too. "I have sent more than 700 men to prison unescorted," lie explains, smilingly. "Only six evor tried to escape. Of about the samo number sent handcuffed, 52 got away." Discussing "co-ordination of Allied moral strategy," Judge Lindsey. said: "In the immense cantonments of American troops under training we aro up against the same moral problems .that Europe has to meet. Our Army Medical Corps is taking certain recognised methods ror combating abuses resultant from (he sudden aggregation of largo bodies of young men outside larger towns and cities. But we have struck out on a new line in paying attention to the young women on the edge of the camps. "We cannot keep our girls off the streets. But we have hit upon a scheme of inducing them (o patronise certain agencies, wnose exislonce is not t.io conspicuously advertised where they can go once they are in difficulties, certain of being received with kindliness, solicitude and, most importnnt of \all, with discretion. AVe aro teaching girls lo go to these 'relief stations' in the same spirit in which they would go to their own mothers. The basic idea, as in juvenile courts, is lo put boys and girls on their honour."

Yesterday the Citizens' Service League packed '.iKOH gilt parcels containing the customary goods for soldiers in the tiring liues.

The Spinsters' Club was in charge or the Wellington lied Cross Shop yesterday, and realised a sum of 553 15s. Gd., including the proceeds from the usual sale of flowers by Miss Cooper and Miss Moss. Delicious home-made cakes, sweets, jams, pickles, chiuneys, sauces, etc., wore sold, and the club, whose membership is but a small one, has good reason to regard their day as eminently satisfactory in its results.

Favoured by the most perfect weather, the tennis tournament arranged by sfi,ss Beauchamp in aid of the Eed Cross and Ked Jersey Fund took place at "The Grange" yesterday. Sixten Indies'took part, and each played live games. Tho finals were won by Mrs. Montgomery and Mrs. Colin, to whom trophies were presented ul tho close of the tournament by Mrs. Beauchnmp. The cntranco fees, which ivero .supplemented by a special donation from Miss Beauchamp, amounted to £!>, and the above funds benefited to that extent.