WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 28 July 1919, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAB AND NBAS. (By Imogen.)

Madarno Mario Power, of Dunedin, made a distinct impression oil tlie Auckland public at the annual concert of tho Auckland Jlalo Oli'jir, and rad to sins 110 fewer than six souks during the' ovening.

SFrs. Kineton Parte, who has' been visiting tlie Wairarapa, returned to AVellinglon on Saturday, and is staying at Mrs. facer's, Hawlcestono Street.

The death took place at her residonco in Ashburton of- an' old and respected resident in tho person of Sirs. Charlotte Daltou. With lic-r husband Mrs. Dalton, who had conic to this country from .Yorkshire (England), settled in tho Kaiapoi and Rangiora districts, removing in IS7G to tho Wakanui district. Later they left for Ash'bui'ton. Mrs. Dalton leaves six sons and four daughters and 21 grandchildren. Tho sons are: Messrs. William Dalton, farmer, Ashburton; T. H. Dalton, Dunedin; Richard Dalton. farmer, Waipara; Frank and Robert Dalton in the North Island, and L. T. Dalton, manager Vacuum Oil Co., Fremantle. The daughters are: Miss Dalton, Ashburton; Mrs. Scott, M'Cormack's Bay, Redcliffs; Mrs. Bailey, ITackthorno Road; and Mrs. Williamson, Palmerstcn North.

Mrs. W. A. Martin loaves Wellington on her return to Gisborne on Monday.

Miss Amy Castles, who has been ongaged by J. C. Wiiliiamson, Ltd., to appear with the New Grand Opera Company, received a unique compliment from the president of the Boston Symphony Orchestra during her recent tour of tho Eastern States of America. "All Miss Casiles's notes are of equal beauty," ho said, at a farewell to the Australian prima donna. "The greatest compliment that could Ix) paid to Tettrazziui at tho height of her boom was that three of her high notes—the particular three with which she roused her audience to raptures—wero almost as lovely as tho corresponding notes of Miss Castles. Tho Australian's .voice is unique, for it is beautiful all through."

There have been plenty of peace celebrations recently, and another' is to come, tho commercial- travellers having organised a Children's Day for Saamiay next. This'will'be lor the children of all members of tho association. Each child will bo presented with a silver medallion or brooch specially struck in commemoration of the peace. In addition to this, each child will receive n present oil the Christmas tree principle. An appropriate ami amusing programme is being arranged under the lead of Mr. Norman Aitken, and will comprise items by the Pipe Band, children's dances, Punch and Judy, and other items tending to the amusement of the children. The'whole of the club's premises will be thrown (/pen to the youngsters', and if the enthusiasm of the travellers organising this is any guide, tho children should he in for a great treat,

At tho residence of the Countess of Harrbwliy, Grosvenor Place, there was a meeting 'between the Generals of the Dominions forces, and tho hostesses of Great Britain who have been nssociatc-d with Lady Jlarrowby and her daughter, Lady Frances Ryder, in entertaining officers from overseas, among whom liavo been numbered many New Zealanders. During the war Lady Hnrrowby has had over 13,000 officer callers at Grosvenor Place, and has arranged for 8200 of them to spend periods varying from ono night to nine months with hospitable people in various parts of Great "Jirilaiu. Of tliese, luoro than 2000 have been Australians, who linvo always been in the majority. General Godley; represented K'ew Zealand guests at the'party under discussion, and General Birdwnod, on hehalf, of the Australians, presented the Countess of Harrowby with a silver cas'kct containing an address.

Sirs. Jack Hamilton and Mrs. MoslynHoops left by the Mokoia on Saturday for Auckland.

On Saturday evening tho "Rovers," tho senior Scouts of the Kelbuni Troop, gave a peacc party in their chili room. Tho room was very. pretcily decorated by Mr. Lawson, tho .Scoutmaster, and tho boys. Excellent music was provided. Mrs. I'ordham being at the piano. Supper was provided by the hoys, and al'together a very onjoynblo evening was spent,

Dance in Alexandra Hall,

Tlv-; soldiers'who returned by the Ruaprlw were hospitably entertained at the Soldiers' Club yesterday afternoon. From :l p.vii. to 5 p.m. the tearooms wero packed bv soldiers and quite a number of wives,' who certainly enjoyed tho good things provided and the conil'ortablo room nn an exceptionally cold miserable day. One of tho soldieis' wives was wearing a wounded stripe, being minus three finders through the agency of "Fritz." Mrs. A. Gray received, and ill's, do Castro and her band of helpers did everything possible to make all feel at home, and without doubt succeeded. Misses Little, Curran. and some ot tho soldiers present further enliveiled proceedings on the piano

At Walton-on-Thamcs. A very enjoyable afternoon was spent by tlio patients, staff, and other workers at No. '1 New Zealand Hospital, Walton-' on-Tliamos, on Empire Day, states a London correspondent of June 3. It was to celebrate what was practically the, "break-up" of the hospital, which is shortly to close, as most of the patients ui'o to bo evacuated by the hospital ship Marama. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, in speaking, said the institution was opened on, July 31, 1015, and 25,18(i patients had passed through tlio doctors' hands. Tho number of deaths was only 150, and coni sidering how serious wero many of tlib | cases on arrival, that small number spoko volumes for tho skill of the surgeons ana physicians, and tho care of the nurses. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, continuing, said: "Tho hospital has been fortunate from its initiation, and it was due to Lady Islington' that this very beautiful homo was discovered, and she took a personal interest in its furnishing. The hospital, ho said, has also been most fortunate in the officers commanding. Tim first was Colonel Myers, who was followed by Colonel Mil!, aiid then Colonel O'Neill, and finally the present commanding officer, Colonel Home. It had a. like number of matrons, iirst Miss Tombs'then .Mrs. Reading, who was followed by Miss Thurston, tho 'present matron-in-chief, and finally Miss Wilson, who is the present matron. They liavo been assisted by most capable and devoted medical officers, sisters, nurses, V.A.D.'s, and others. As to the patients, their conduct had been exemplary, and tho kindness of the people of tho neighbourhood to them and their stall will never be forgotten by New Zealand. I Not the least entertaining it%ras of tlio afternoon's programmo were the short addresses by Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, who v.-ero familiarly hailed by their audience as "Jiill" and "Joe." .Mr. Cecil and Madamo Ada Wray, who have patriotically put up the great record l ot personally giving 5011 concert,-, often thrco a <iav, in the wards of the hospital since .fulyi 191(i, received general tliankh for their work. The Hops Diamond. - . Tho people who have been declaring their rcadinc33 to accept the Hope diamond, ill !uck and all, were perhaps even Rn'er than thoy know (states a London writer). Tlio thrilling stories of death and disaster moving -in its train liavo been emphatically denied byjio less awauthority' than Mr. Edgar WLl»on, late editor of the "Jeweller's Circular" of Now York. Tlieso.stories, ho says, were never heard of until "a sensational article" appeared a. short tiino after tho geiu was brought to America in 1901. sir: Wiison was at pains to traco its history buck to IS.'!O, the date when its "authentic history" begins, and did not succeed in verifying a single one of tho talcs of misfortune overtaking possessors of the diamond. Ho complains that "it lws been the custom not. only to revive these stories every time mention of tlio stono appears in the public Press, but to ndd to them fictitious incidents" of tho same typo.

St. Mary of tho Angels' Choir lield their animal dance in the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith Street, on Saturday night, when there was a u'ry good attendance, nearly two hundred ueing present. The iiall was charmingly decorated with ribbons stretched across from wall to wall, forming a transparent roof as it were above the dancers. Larger ilags hung on the walls, ami tho greenery was arranged at ono end of the room. The supper room was decorated with greenery awl red and pink Mowers. Instead of the l owpopular twilight dance just bel'oro supper tho lights were put out during a wait/,, and a tcarchhglit was. used to display tho track, of a toy Zeppelin, wlucii ran on a wire to the centre of the room, was met by nil aeroplane, which destroyed it, and showered the dancers with confetti. The cliaperoues for tho evening were Mesdames Dolicrty and Jangem, and the committee consisted of Mrs. llcaly, wearing, black silk ninon; Mrs. Morgan, in pule blue satin, 'and pnsseuientaire; Miss M'Million, wearing black ninon; Miss Jansen, also in black of taffetas and ninon; Miss O'Connor, in soft black satin, iinished witn bead ornaments; Miss Fenton, Miss .Doherty. ni white crepe <le chine; and Miss V. Little wearing lenion-colourc'd erepe do' chine; also Messrs. Healy, Gregory, M'Lnroe, and Moylan. The-joint-secretar'cs wero Miss O'Brien and Mr. Conroy; Miss O'Brien wore a irocK of white .sacm, trimmed with lace and silver leaves. Among those present were Mrs. Hempton, in pale bluo and silver; M.iss M'Keowen, in green and gold; il'ss M Uu'tliy, in heliotrope; Miss Vaughau, Miss Ruldler, in deep blue; Miss M'Ewaft, in <ua-mie-rosetto pink; Miss M. Gnfhn, Miss L. Doyle, in crimson; Miss L. Jlealy, in palo bluo; Miss Mayer, Miss Gastern, Miss llacketl. in white net; Miss Bailey, in black; and many others. .

France Talking English. •It is somewhat strange (says Sisley Huddleston in the "Daily Mail ) that at the vory moment when lranee is insisting most strenuously upon French being considered the language of diplomacy slio regards English more than over as tho language'of conversation. Iho English governess is in great demand. She replaces tho German governess who used to be thought essential in all well-to-do French families. The children aro boing taught English in the nursery. Thero are hundreds of luncheon-tables and dinner-tables which are not complete if an English "miss".is not invited in order to keep the conversation going in English. But real friendships aro also being made between many British people—officers, diplomats, Civil Servants, and experts of all kinds who are at present in Paris-and hospitable Irench families. It has become n point of honour to pay tho guest the compliment of addressing him in his own tongue. As for tho teachers of English, they abound as never botoro. Owing to t.no demand, a competent professor can command high fees for private lessons; and in the schools—especially in girls schools -tho most popular >)f the optional subjects is English, as many as four English teachers being attached to one 1; cee. The movement-it must' be thus described—shows itself in many waya.| Thero are many Frenchmen who carry a copy of nil English paper under thenarm as a sort of advertisement ot their linguistic abilities, and as a badgo to indicate that they are amateur interpreters lor stranded English-speaking visitors. The opening of n now British theatre in which one could almost imagine oncsoli back in London is, I hear, likely to be followed bv other ventures of the same Kind. The audience is, of course, largely British, but by no means exclusively so. This is not really tho first enterprise in this direction.'; -Thero already exists a music-hall, which is quite a favourite with the French-public, run on London lines. Miss Lena Wslnvell's players had a successful season in English plays.-. In this connection I should mention, too, the excellent attempts to. popularise tho British national dramatist undertaken by that great actor-mnnngor Geinier. It is true that French versions pi Antony and Cleopatra," of, "The Merchant ot Venice," and of "The Taming of Iho Shrew" liavo been given, but people aro going back to tho reading of Shakespeare in his native tongue. Several reviews in the two languages have beenj started. English words aro constantly being introduced into French Sometimes I- am almost tempted, when I see tho many British institutions and hear around'mo. my own language, to desenbo Palis as London-on-thc-Continent.

N.Z. War Contingent Association. Ono of the ,most attractive features of entertaining in connection with tho hospitals al Walton and Oatlands is the river picnic. Mr. 1. -W. .Raymond, chairman of the NewZeulsiiul \Vftr Contingent Association decided, as Mount iVli'<E Hospital was to bo evacuated within a few (lavs, to invite-in addition to tlifl limbless patienls-members of Iho executive and other war workers to nil outing on May 2D. The day proved a ! perfec; one. Hampton Court" and Kicnmoiul were visited. At Iho eonclusion of afternoon tea, Mr. Raymond expressed his pleasure that on the short notice so .many were able to attend. Hi 6 rcamn for arranging the lunclion was liecause the work which had engaged their activities for llicso last -11 years was drawing to a close, and lie knew Ilia. ; all were thankful that it was so. Work had been rendered, without leo or reward, especially ■by Ino women, that no monetary consideration could I) iXcwl opposite to. He hoped those who wero shortly return)ug would have an eniovahle trip, and receive the welcome , thev" wero entitled t0....1ie called upon ; Sir'Thoinas Mackenzie, General Meli> li, j Colonel - Rhodes, and Lai.y All expressed their p.easui.o nt bem„ present and had something to say about ( how much the "boys" deserved aU the attention they had received.