WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 207, 21 May 1918, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

(By Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Gift Parcels. Tho following letter has been received by one of the workers at tho Town Hall from a soldier in Egypt:—"l happened to bo the lucky man who received your welcome Christmas parcel which came to hand to-day, l'leaso accept my best thanks for the very useful tilings it contained, especially the pudding, which was in good condition, and although Christinas had passed by, it was just os welcome. All tho boys greatly appreciate the parcels that wo gel from the New Zoaland ladies, especially when they aro in tho front line. I, myself, am in our base camp, having left Palestine a month ago, on a terra of duty here. Most of the boys in the brigade have been into Jerusalem, and I was lucky enough to be the first New Zealand soldier to enter the Holy City, being there as Guard of Honour to General Allenby on tho occasion'of his official entry into the city. Wo had the Duke of Connaiight hero a short while, ago, present!iig medals to troops."

if Wellington Red Cross Shop, I The monthly meeting of the Welling- [| ton Red Cross Shop was hold yesterday I afternoon, Mrs. Luke presiding, Mrs. |e J. P. Pirtli (hou. secretary), in her report, $ stated that very satisfactory work had a been accomplished, and that the days S for the coming months wens well filled H ug. In March they had been enabled 4 to' ffimd in to the lion, treasurer, Rod [fj Cross Iloadirutirtcrs, Wellington, a sum jj! of £1700, in which was included .£131)0 I made by the Terraces' organisation on tj their first day of this year. Since March f) a further amount of .-£I2OO had been 41 realised at the- shop, making in all MM a so far. Very much appreciation was a I expressed of the efforts hitherto made sj j by the various organisations and workjit j ere, iargo or steal], l>, was recognised fi i that each -did their lwsl, and every litI 1 tie helped to sveil th>: total that went U'\ to telicvo Ino sufferings of our wounded w i soldiers.

I! Eastbourne Social Club. J One of ths> most successful gatherings I of tlio season v.i-.s held on Saturday night. 'i i Mr. Warren occupied the chair. Deft i iighlfui items, higoly appreciated by tho J largo audience present, were contributed '4 by Misses Una Ua'.lichan, Hiss 11. CarS ii', Mrs. Carte, Messrs. White, Claphum, v C. Moore, A. Mee, H. Downs, G. AVar- « ren, and the Club Orchestra. Mr. !j Frank Thomas kindly atced as accoin[ft pauist. The club is deeply -indoWsd to ; tho ladies and gentlemen Who come over j from town to entertain the members, S and their presence has given a great 'i fillip to tho club membership, which is Is rapidly increasing. At tho conclusion of l| the musical programme, an impromptu "» daneo was. held.

Miss Fanny Kutner, of. Wellington, who has been competing at tho Christthurch Competitions, has been awarded the society's gold medal as champion lady elocutionist. Miss' Kstollp iicere has arranged a charming group of dances to present at tho theatrical matinee on AYednesduy. Amongst her pupils who are taking part will be Private Thomas O'CarrpH, who with .Miss Molly Pock will give the duet scenii from "Coppelia." Private 0 "Carrol I has recently relumed to JS'ov,- Idealand. .Sister Irene Hood, N.Z.A.N.S!, who lias seen much active service, returned lo Masterton on Saturday. Mrs. .A. AVilson, who had been staying at Lowry Day for somo time, has returned to AVangnnui, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Kennedy. Mrs. Wcliwood (Hastings), iiho camn to Wellington to meet her son, has returned to Hawke's Bay. Jlr. and Mrs. Duthie (Llobson Street) and Miss Duthio aro visiting Auckland. Mrs. C. F. Vallauce, her daughter, Mrs. Erl Williams, and family returned to Masterton on Saturday from Day's Bay, where they had been staying tor some tiino. Mrs. and Miss Lucas have returned lo Christcliurch from a, visit to Wellington. Sirs. ITamia (Auckland), who had been staying at thu Hotel Cecil, is now tho guest of Miss Drummond, iulbiniifc. Mrs. J. P. Firth has returned lo Wellington from Christcliurch. ■-• Contributions to soldiers' comforts have been received at tho Town Hall from tho following:—Mrs. Webb (Ormondville), Mrs. Dale (Khandallah), Pongaroa lied Cross Guild, Wairoa blanch of Lady Liverpool Guild, Ohnkuno Junction Y.W.C.A., Tβ Aro School (per Miss Bright), Mrs. Wrinman, Waveriey Ladies' League (per Miss Cbeyne), Oliau Red Cross Guild, Pahialua Ladies' Committee.

Contributions to the Mayoresses Soldiers' Parcel, Fund arc as follow:—AVanganui Countess of Liverpool Guild, ■£»; Onakuno Junction, £2; Bulls Red Cross Girls' Guild, £\; Otaki Patriotic Society, .EG; Waverley Patriotic Society, £5; Hawora, dCIO; Spinsters, Mα 195.; Woodville. £i; Mrs. Simpson (Huntervillo Patriotic Guild). <£3.

Contributions to the Eed Cross havebeen • received at the Mercer Streot Depot from the following:—Mrs. Massey, Mrs. .Joseph, Mrs. Cleghorn, Mrs.. AVill'ord, Miss Kirkcaldie, St. John Ambulanco and Patriotic Pied Cross (Hawera Branch), Poxton Ladies Patriotic League, British Red 'Cross Society (New Plymouth), Lady Liverpool and Red Cross Committee (Wairoa, Hawke's Bay), Mrs. J. D. Cruickshank, Mrs. Crowther, Miss Mills, Ladies' Guild (Paraparaumu). Tailiapo Branch, Turakina Ladies' Guild, Miss Davidson, Red Cross AVorkers (Ohingaiii), Girls' Friendly Lodge, Oha , ! Ked Cross Workers, New Plymouth Red Cross "Workers, Young Women's Christian Association, Hastings Ttcd Cross Workers, Countess of Liverpool and Eed Cross Committee (Huntorville), Miss Whitfield, Kelburn Infants' School, Wnipulurcau and Districts Red Cross AVorkers Ladies' Guild (Rarotonga, Cook Island), Dimnevirko Red Cross Committee, Ladies' Guild, Ohakune Junction, Mrs. luiiggo (Alnrton), Keep-on League (Napier).

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR

A Birthday Party at the Town Hall. Tho daily round of work performed at (lie Town Hall by the Countess of Liverpool Fund organisation was varied yesterday afternoon by a birthday celebration, Mrs. .Murphy, a most staunch and zealous member of tho society, being the heroino of the occasion. The tea party which had been arranged in her honour was a complete .surprise to Mrs. Murphy, who was greeted by the, singing of 'Tor .She's a Jolly Good fellow," followed by a brief and very happy liltle speech by the Mayoress, Mrs. .1. J?. Luke, who referred to tho good work done by Mrs. llurphy, and wished her many more birthdays. -Mrs. Murphy thanked Mrs. Luke, and everybody for Uieir kind wishes and expressed herself as being always glad to help on the work in every way she eoiiikl. A lnrge iced eako, with Mrs. Murphy's name written upon it and "Jinny Happy Returns of the Day," occupied pride of plate upon the tea table. Altogether tho tea was a very cheery and happy little occasion, nnd served to show how good is the comradeship that has sprung up between women in thsir pursuit of the same object, that of lessening an much as possible the hardships of our soklieiß.

The sum of £5 IDs., the proceeds of a plain and fancy dress dance held in tho i'orirua Hull on .Friday, April 2ii, has been handed in to the Hed Cross Committee, Mercer Street Depot, from the titalf of the Mental Hospital and residents of Porirua. lire. M. Margobouth-, who has been visiting her daughter in Napier, left on Saturday on her return to Wellington. As this is the last week of the liaby Competition, arrangements have been made to let tho public know tho position of the candidates by means of a hoarding placed, outside the depot on Lambtou Quay, which, in addition to giving the six loading babies, will also state the number of votes they poll. A wedding celebrated at the Catholic Church at Haniua on Wednesday had a. distinct military atmosphere u'bout it. Mr. Martin Luoni, a returned soldier, who went away with the Sixth' Mounted Reinforcements, was wounded at Gallipoli and subsequently discharged, was married to Miss Elizabeth Bourkc, second daughter of Mrs. and the Into John bourke, of "liiverbank," Haniua. Private J. J. Bourke, who returned on furlough from .France, gavo the bride away, and the best man was Mr. P. Dahl, iif Palmorston North, a returned Auzac; Tho Rev. Father Phelan, of Maeter.tou, was tho officiating clergyman,

Mrs. G. R. Heaney, of New Plymouth, has received advice of tlio deatl'i in action of her husband, Driver Heaney, who left with the Fourth- Reiufarcemeuts. Mr*. Hcauey was a Wellington girl, a sitter of Major Percy Brandon and Sister L. Brandon, N.Z'.A.N.S., and also has ii number of relatives in Hawke's Bay. A recent visitor to Fcildifig was Miss Dorothy AVarnefqrd, sister of the lato Lieutenant Warnoford, V.C. Lieutenant AVarneford was the first British airman lo bring down a Zeppelin single-handed, for which feat ho was awarded tho V.C. Ho was afterward killed whilo testing an-aeroplano in Paris. .Miss Hnlse has been staying with Hiss Hoy, New Plymouth. Mrs. A. Bnylcy and her two daughters have returned lo New Plymouth" from England. Mrs. and Miss Booth have lelurned to Ot-aki from a visit to New Plymouth. Mrs. W. .lames is visiting Masterton, and is staying at "Brooklyn.' Dr. T. L. Paget, who somo twelve months ago offered his services to the Defence Department for active service, and whose oiler was accepted, subject to his providing for tho carrying on uf his practice, has now completed arrangements with Dr. Doris Gordon, and has entered into partnership with her to carry on his practice during his absence. Dr. Gordon has had a bitilliaiit ciireor as a studunt and lecturer. Dr. Gordon, M.G.,'Dunedin, Ch.B., D.P.H'.; piissed with high honours, uk! in 1916 was appointed senior House surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital. She gained her Diploma of Public Health at (ho Dunedin examination, and was the third tichohxv of the year. She was appointed lecturer on bacteriology in 1917, and at tho time of the sc-rioits •"pidemic of diphtheria in Invercargill was 6ent by tho Health Department to specially inyestigato tho cause. Dr. Doris Gordon is married to Dr. W. P. Gordon, who for the last fifteen mouths has been on active service at the front. During Dr. Pagot's recent holiday, Dv. Dorii, Gordon conducted Dr. Paget's practice most successfully, and gained golden opinions from the patients under her charge. She is at present relieving at Christchurcji, and hopes to join Dr. Paget early in June. The latter expects to leave Stratford in July, when ho will again offer his services to the Deferico Department. During Dr. J'agot's absence- Mrs. and Mies Paget will live in New Plymouth.

Miss Una Carter will give a gas cooking demonstration at the Gas Coinpanys Demonstration -Rooms on Wednesday, commencing at 3 o'clock.

GETTING AWAY FROM THE War When I told my friends that I was going to spend a lew days in a quiet, clean, wind-swept little town nearly 1000 ft. up among the Welsh Bills, they said: "Lucky beggar! You'll get away from the war." At first it really seemed that they vera j-ight,-for the long, slow journey from London, with two tedious changes ami panting climbs up sunlit hills, gave one the feeling of being at last out of tho world. And when 1' arrived there were meat and sugar' and butter and cakes and all the things wo ha«a to watch carefully and' go easy with in London, and these dear, good peupis had nurer seen an aeroplane; they Lad never even heard a gun. except the sort they shoot rabbits with. Had I really got away from the war?

I went to a concert, and the most brilliant item of the programme was a violin solo by a convalescent soldier in the shapeless sloppy blue uniform and tiio flaring red ti« with which wo decorate our damaged heroes. If he fought as well as he fiddled that boy must have done some deadly work. Then a emart young officer iii khaki came on with a wounded private in blue, and they eang a duet. Thoy were evidently close friends and thoroughly enjoyed singing togethor, and >I wondered if anything of the kind could ever happen in Germany. I went to the little Welsh chnpel ftiid a wounded airman with a voice that would have filled the Albert Hall sang a bolo. The good old minister shortened his sermon—and it tnkes something almost catastrophic to make a preacher do that—in order that he might , read some letters from boys who had gone forth from the chapel in the AYcleh hills to fight for freedom in France. They were fiuch brave, simple, friendly letters, urging the folk left behind to keep tho good work going while they were away, and and not to let anything down, because they would be coming back soon to take up their old jobs in the Sunday school and the Band of Hope and the Literary (society.

Later, I went into the post office, and, to my surprise, the counter was piled high with parcels. I could not understand this, for there are no industries in iliie remote town, and it has 'out little traffic with ' the outside ' world. Then I saw that all these parcels were addressed to camps and eliipe and to the B.E.P. Laden with love and crowded with comforts, these bulging, badly packed parcols would bring radiant happiness to many a homesick soldier and sailor. I went for walks over tho hills and met groups of men in khaki and blue. They argued strenuously about doterniination, Socialism, militarism, trade unionism, a better England and a happier world—and they knew what they were talking about.

At tho hotel a tired golfer told me hie boy was in France, but tho lad expected to como over on leave almost at once. "And he deserves it, too—he's had a ilickons of a time out there. I wish he'd get leave while I am up here. This nir would do him good. I might get a wire from him any time." The next day at luncheon I noticed tho golfer's chair was empty. As X came out of dining-room I asked the waitress whetner he had gone away. 'Tes, sir," she said, "he had a wire to say his boy had been killed and he went home. That's an unlucky table, that is; tho same thing happened thure a fortnight a^o.' . So he had got his wire. That night I went for a walk with an old, silent, kind-eyed man who seemwt pathetically pleased to have my company. I told him about the golfer. "Ah," he said, taking my arm, "I had only two boys—l've lost them both. You know, I often think Heaven must bo a very happy place to-day—so much young lif? there. I sha'n't be sorry to go." _ As I pressed his hand and went to bed i thought of Katharine Tynan's memorable lines: Now Hwiven is by the young invaded, Their laughter's in tho House of God. But I had not got away from the war.— A.P., in the "Daily Mail." The Charitable Aid Committee of Wellington expresses thanks to the TwoGarment Society for its gift of clothing for the inmates of the Ohiro Home, and for the recipients of out-door relief.