SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 71, 18 December 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

A Word to Holiday Excursionists. is'Wv that the picnic and excursion season is upon us, it is to be hoped that all those who have anything to do with (hem will impress upon their young people (indeed, some who are older occasionally need it!) a proper reverence for beauty. It is painfully common to find young ferns nml wild ilowers torn up by the iroots and loft lying; «1"O to find a lovely spot entirely marred by remnants of food, empty bugs, and torn-up paper, bottle-mostly broken, foliage, ruthlessly torn down-, and a general air of desolation where formerly there was order and beauty. In « recent issue ct' the ''Saturday Westminster Gazette" Sir Harry Johnston deplores the pnssmg of the beautiful wild flowers which were at one time so common in English rural districts. Tie says, in the course of a. very interesling article:—"Apart from a genuine Wit misdirected passion for beauty in Nature [tfiey have not, alas! come, to tho higher stage when you so appreciate the beauty of flowers and .'cms in landscapes that you would not for any inducement spoil the picture] has been an innate, baboon-like love 'of destruction. The ; !'baboon or cliinipanzi Js greatly attracted by striking flowers, but is not content with admiring or'smelling them. His impulse is at once to snatch, smell, taste, and pull to pieces. So with these youngsters—and many emancipated towndwelling oldsters theiir unconscious cerebration at tho sight of a profuse display of wild llowers prompts them to destroy or bruise what they cannot tarry away. I. came across two stout women who had found (heir way to the woods of West Sussex for a day's ouliii!,', hud walked three miles out from the station, and were squatted on 11 bank of primroses toiesl. their aching feet. One of them glanced round at the carpet cf soft lemon yellow, exhalin? its exquisite vernal cceno "I. should liko to roll on em I should," was her cri de coeur, and I dare say she did when my angry presence passed on."

The Karitane Home. The splendid spirit shown during the influenza epidemic was very noticeable in the Kantmio Home for Babies, near the Convalescent Hospital, says the "I.ytteUnn Times." Every, merabov ot tlio staff except one probationer went down, and the. institution had to depend absolutely on volunteer help. Mrs. Godly, a member of the committee, and Mrs. Bristed, secretary, had valuable and indispensable help from Mrs. H. MumiyAynsloy, Mrs. Sneidar, Mrs. Hurst Seager 'Mrs. Speight, and Misses Macintosh, Harclie. D. Andereon, A. Jennings, M. Jennings, 3i, Taylor, M. Adley, K. Bristed, M. Janes, Stoddart, Baumher, Eldrid"C. V. Macniillan-Bro\vn, linker, ,D. West, .."Parsett, Caygill. and Bridge, and especially Nurso Cookson. AH the washing, nursing, and cooking as.well as other work, was done by Jiidy volunteers and Messrs Bcnveii-Biwn, H..> Marsh, and Dixon helped by cutting wood ami doing other rough work.

Miss'Stewart Forbes, on beha f of tho Hutt Ladies' Patriotic Guild, has forwarded a donation of JCpfl to tho Returned Soiditrs' Club.

i „ Miss Ucnnio is going to Christchurch on Friday l'orlier holidays. During the epidemic "she had a very busy time rtt tho Technical School. ■ All who know any-, lluii" of the useful, work dono there, under very 'difficult conditions, hope that a new 'technical School,, with properly equipped and up-to-date kitchens, is to be an accomplished l'nct in the near tuture. ■ . ;

On Friday last the members of tho Seatoun Croquet Ciub gave an afternoon lea to Mrs.Uritchley, who is leaving lot , ■Nelson. Great regret was expressed at her" leaving the club, and being uniiblo lo compote for the handsome trophies 'Mrs; .Willoughby- and Mr. Uface.

Dr. Elizabeth Giinn, who from tho beginning of the epidemic was in charge ot the emergency hospitals at the Normal School and Sydney Street, and who has hail a very severe attack of the prevailing influenza, is now well, and has returned to duty.

Mrs. Dominic H.L. Corrigan has been living for the last ten months at Lxetcr, and is now, with her daughter, making a round of visits in Sheffield, Simderland, and Derby before returning to txeter. She was present at tho investiture at Buckingham Palace of ■ her son. Lieutenant L V Leary, who receive* the Military Cross'. Lieutenant and Mrs. Leary have been on short leave in London. Mrs. and Miss Corrigan hope to leave for rsew Zealand this month.

A very profitable and pleasant afternoon'may be spent at an outdoor sale that is being organised by the Ihorndon girls on Thursday next. Mrs. H.iley has lent her tennia court, which is in boots College grounds, for the'occasion, and Her Kxcelleucy the Countess of Liverpool wil open the sale at 3 p.m. Soldiers from Lowrv Bay Hospital will assist in selling the baskets, etc., made by themselves, and the' money thus made will belong to the soldiers.. The whole of the rest of the proceeds will be devoted to Christmas comforts for the soldiers in Lowry Bay ami Victoria. Hospita s . There will bo ft .small charge for admission, and afleinoon tea- and lovely flowers will be sold. Generous support to this effort to piovide the soliders with Christmas comfort is anticipated. Miss Shirtchffe, '.Imakori Road, is. the hou. secretary.

Tho following paragraph concerning a Wellington girl appeared in the ttrcen Room," with a good portrait ot the young lady--"Miss Nolo Haybittle, from Wellington, New Zealand, is spending a happy holiday in Sydney, and keeps up, S« holiday, her efforts in the cause of patriotism, which have earned foi her tho title of quite a clever amateur actress. At a concert in Manly m aid of war. chest funds Miss Haybittle was r called continually for -'Here.Coiru, tte Married Men , and other bright numbers."

Tho new position of woman sanitary inspector to the Auckland C. y Council woe filled by the appointment of Mrs. 'Caroline B. Hodgers, a qualified nurse, with English experience in sanitation There were thirty-one applicants tor the position.

Mr. and Mrs. 0. B. Bridger are at present In Christchurch.

Mrs. Gibson Turton is paying a round of visits in the South Island..

At the closing of the Masterton Club temporary hospital, the convalescent patients made a presentation to Mrs. Watford and her daughter, and presented. Mr. Watford with _a case of pipes, in recognition of< their unsparing •ind kindly attention to tho inmates. Tho custodian and his family remained on duty during the whole period. ,

Mr. and Mrs, Lin, Two charming Chinese ladies are visiting Sydney at present (says the Sydney "Siuidu'y Times"). They are Mrs. Lin, and Jliss Julia Lin, the .wife and nieco ot Mr. Liu, Chinese Consul for New Zealand. They arrived from Foochow, China, over a fortnight ago, and intended going slrnit'lit on to Wellington with Mr. Lin, who came over from Now Zealand Io meet them; but the influenza outbreak has kept'them in Syd-

liey. Air. Liu was formerly Coiifiul in America, and hi.s wife waa with him for two years in Washington, and for six years 'in Vanemivr-r. Mrs. Lin's eight years away from her homeland have Inst her nothing of the grace and charm of studied courtesy which in usual to the, ladies of China. She explains in prettily broken English that she Invwl America and tlio people, and that Sydney is a large and delightful city. Everything is of fresh and vital interest to Miss .Tulia Lin, who has the same quiet manner as her aunt. It is the first Ilimo she. has been away from China, and shfl says she loves Sydney and is very excited, "iißlioiirli one would never 'dream it. to look, at her placid little face. , When Mr. Li 11 was-appointed to -\pw Zealand he went straight (0 Wellington from Canada, but Mrs. Lin wont back to China io see her people and to bring Miss Julia to her uncle. Mr. Lin says frankly ho is very proud of his niece. "Sho is a distinguished Chinese scholar," he snys, looking at her approvingly, "and writes most beautiful poetry: i' hope thai; when she becomes moro'coniuloiit with her English she will write verso in that language, too." Air. and Mrs. Lin and Miss Km will leave for New Zealand by the first available boat.

The dark shadow of war ha? hung' over Christmas during the past four years, and a tragedy, coining nonror home, has through I lie past few weeks added to tho gloom and sadness in many homes, says a Palmeiston paper. Even tho children, too young, to realise the sorrows, have yet been deprived of the joys to which childhood is heir, and Christmas festivities have been ehorn of their splendour. But that is nowpast. W(- are emerging out of the shadow, into tlio sunshine, and old joys will be renewed and old customs revived. It was a kindly thought which prompted the suggestion of celebrating Christmas peace by brightening up the drab lives of the poor, and cheering the sad and adding a little to the linpniuesa of the more fortunate children. On Christmas morning an army of Santa Glauses will invade the town, and call at every house, giving each' child a present. As in time of distress tho town was blocked oil' and motors hastened' to lake relief to tho suffering, the same fleet of motors will speed tho gift-laden Santa Clauses on their errands of gladness. They will comei with hoot of horn, with blare of trumpet, and with beat of drum, and sweep aiyav the last remnant of sadness from childish hearts, and herald tho ovent 06 "Peace on earth, good will to all men.' , Mrs. L. A. Abraham and Mr. H. 'G. Bagnall are tha executive . members of the committee which has this project in hand, and generous donations are rapidly coming in, enabling the . promoters to carry mil • their novel and truly generous Christmas plan..

The engagement is announced of Mr. W. Knapp, of Greytowh, to : Miss H. Alexander, of Wellington.

Mr, and Mrs. D. E. Parton and family left Masterton. yesterday. for Christchurch. '-..',-

"The Dove.s" is the'popular name for (he Women's Royal Air Force.of Great Britain. The uniform of the officers combines the features of the military, and naval officers!, designs, and is made of dove grey fine woollen .stuff, says an; .exchange. The tunic worn by -women officers is similar to flint of men of corresponding rank in" the R.A.P.. The members' costume is much tho same, in cut, but the section and other badges are in black and white instead of gold. The members' cap is shaped like the soft cap worn by members of the V.A.D. Tho W.R.A.F. is divided into four sections— the household, clerical, motor transport, and technical—and no man is.left at any task in the whole force which can possibly be carried on by a woman—with the exception of flying. The technical list includes acetylene welders, camern repairers, turners, vulcaiiisere, wireless mechanics and. operators, as well as dopers, signwriters, and draughtswomen.

A WOMAN'S QUESTION Dear "Imogen,"—Now that we are all looking forward to the consummation of peace-there is one fact that .was brought to light by the war that should cause the 'women of the Empire'very grave concern, that is the thousands of young men—mere- youths many of them—who were proved to be physically unfit for the demands of war. This is essentially a woman's question, as the case of children at a -time when the foundations are being laid for after life is almost entirely, woman's work. A very great deal is done by various societies, notably the Plunket and kindergarten associations, but after all they only deal with a. very small number of the little ones, and one cannot help feeling that more should be done. AVo have compulsory registration, compulsory vaccination, and compulsory education, why not compulsory periodical inspection of children in their homes? There is inspection of backyards (if you have one), and there is.to inspection of indoors, so why not of children? I read the following in a clever little book by Arnold White, and have como to the conclusion that there is a good deal in it. Browning said: "Hero and here did Enslond help me, how can I help England, sav!" and Arnold White says: "To be worthy of England is to be efficient; to be sfficieiit is to be healthy, and. therefore, patriotism in Ministers or in miners, in millionairies, or in tho little people, consists largely in being healthy, and in usins vote and influence in helping other people to Ix: healthy and happy." One can readily conceivo that capable and tactful women inspectors by advising mothers and' maids who have the care of young children could help immensely in promoting the health of a community and tlio efficiency of its men and women. What do you think?—l am, etc., . VBREX.