SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 265, 5 August 1919, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mr. and Mrs. Theorain, of Duncdin, arrived in Wollington on Saturday by iho lioiiua. Mr.Tneomiu has been on autivo service. " '

The Nelson braucli of the Countess of Liverpool Ji'uiul entertained a iarge number of returned soldiers at a lunch yesterday iu commemoration uf th« uatu on wnicli England entered into llio war. As it was considered that this was probably .the last tiitio on which the organisation, would bo working for the sokiieis no effort vwas sparod to mako the) 1 owasion a' complete success. It has been decided by.mumbers that after all expenses have been paid in connection with their work the balance of money in hand shall be paid over to the local patriotic committee, with a strong recommendation that it be usod as much as possible for the needs of the Returned Soldiers' Club and Association.

Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Warren (Ilaiviju'.s Bay) are leaving for England by tiie Hhropshiie, on August 15.

Mrs. Chrisp, till lecently of the staff of the Wellington Girls' College, has severed hor connection with the college owine to the return of hor husband from active service.

The Wellington Spiritualistic Socioty held a memorial service for the lata Mrs. Mary Jewell Cooper, at tna New Century Hall, on Sunday mgnt, before a Tory largo; audience. The speakers were Mrs. C. Morris, Mr. J- Manuel Kitto, and Mi's. Ada Stenning. Mrs. Morris,' epojeo of tlio late Mrs. Cooper's, good qualities, and referred to. tno interest sho took in helping tho soldiers. Mr. Stewart, president of the society, occupied the chair.

Mra. Bussell, till lately of the staff of the Te Aro School, leaves Wellington this week with her husband, recently returned from active, service, for, Fiji.

Mr, and' Mrs. Stott have-taken Mr. and Mrs. Lirido Lovien's house in Hobson Street.

Mrs. D. Graham (Masterton) lias been spending a few days in Wellington.

Miss Marian Wilson is visiting frionds inthe-Wairarapa.

Miss Kitty Braddock, till recently assistant to Professor Hunter m mental and moral philUophy, and with ft brilliant career alrwuly to her credit, has Kone to Cambridge (England) for the furtherance of her studies, principally in research work.

Miss S. J./Williiuns, tho new principal of the. Women's College at tho Sydney University, has been snoceeded at tho Trinitv College Hostel, Melbourne, by Miss Margery Herring, B.Sc. For aomo years after graduating Miss Herring was a travelling secretary of the Australasian Christian Student Movement, and m that capacity has visited and gained an intimate knowledge of all tho Australian universities. She has frequently visited tho Women's College in Sydney, wlioto she is well knowu and much liked. It is interesting to noto that the only three residential colleges for women in Australia have now as their principals former students of Trinity College Hostel.

At tho children's' party held at the Commercial Travellers' Club on Saturday afternoon for tho children of members. Mr. Rushbrook: (president) was the recipient of a silver knife, in token or Iho patriotic work,..not Mr. Phelps, lho latter made tho presentation.

Miss Ethel Lovegrove,- a -member of the ATts and Crafts Society of New South.Wales, and the daughter of Dr. Love : grove a.medical raan. vroil,-known in JS'ow Zealand (states the Sydney telegraph ) was tho guest of tho society on the eve of her departure for Europe by the Orontes. Miss Lovegrovc, who is an Englishwoman by birth, but counts liorself an Australian by adoption, will remain in London, where she will complete some contracts she has on. hand, until October. nnd will then go to Paris for an indefinite period. It is her intention to make an investigation of the latest ideas iii applied arts/ end crafts work oversea, with a view to taking up any particular branch that appeals to her. Her special work in Sydney has been in tho direction of designing.

Miss Jessio Newton is visiting relatives in the country. -

"The Littlo Commonwealth."

In tho oourse of her address on Sunday night in the Alexandra Hall, dealing with the "Making of Citizens, England, after outlining the work and principles of the Gcorgo Junior Eopublio of Freeville, No* York, described tho experiment in tho'same direction, but with variations; and, in-the speakers opinion, improvements made in England and known as "The Little Commonwealth. The "Commonwealth" government consists of a judge elected for six months, who presides over ft weekly meeting of all tho citizens, who themselves form the jury, and in that way a stronger expression of public opinion is found. There is no. .elaborate • system of laws such as have been codiiicd l>y 1C avF i yors of tho George Junior Republic, and there is no gaol punishment consisting or periods of confinement within the bounds of tho inner farm buildings. And yet, according to tha superintendents report, citizens 'oonsist mainly of specially. refractory youths who have teen despaned of by the authorities of other institutions. The home lifc is also more normal. Children live in colleges in char®# of elders, but the sexes arc not separated. Homes are so built that the bedrooms, etc., aro arranged on opposite sides of tho living-Toonis, and rules forbid strictly the entering of a h°!f' s T0 I °! n "J a girl, and vice versa. Girls and boys are absolutely equal 'both as regards eligibility for all appointments and of rates ot wages and choice of occupation. 1- urther, a email number of very destitute children havo been admitted to. the colony, fheso livo in a special building adapted to the needs, and trained on extended Montessori methods, and materially assist m the development of the finer instincts ot the older citizens. And, lastly,, apart from. Bticli adult control a-i exists in (lie outer world there is no organised supervision. In most branches of the pena system the inmate is expected, for instance, to learn not to steal by having nil Hie op-: povl-unity ot doing ho removed. In the ordinary world temptations are not eliminated; they have to bo met and overcome. This fact is -recognised by the superintendent of those sclt-govcrn-inK institutions, and no attempts! made to pijfov.ee honesty or even steady work, and the penalties for anti-social offence.? are all laid down and enforced by the 'citizens themselves. Reformation ajid the formation of character are the result of the natural processes ot self-chosen labour under good conditions, economic independence, and the pressure of public opinion.

Exit tho Chaperon. The chape,ron passes, to bo replaced by Mil' skilled dunco partner (slates a writer in the "Daily Nows"). Ono sees .no mora a,L private dunces or public balls tho rows of elilerlv matrons watching tho movements of their charges as they whirl I hi! S'l'l'lv throng. livery girl is expectcd to take her own dancing nuiii, will liml her other partners should «he .grow tired of dancing with him. VliU custom of the present Benson has its disadvantage.?. No gii l . cares to accept an invitation if she has not a good partner to accompany tier; while men, .over--a; officer.:. v/lio accept invitations to dances may find themselves 111hi'i'm'ss for a wlioi.! evening if they ' nh'iie. This slate of things has aroused ilm svinpathy of tho organiser of the Ladies' Social Service, who opened a new department in her office 'ir providing introductions for dancing girls and •'">n who have pot a large circle of fiiends. Those who register with her will be required to give satisfactory references, and the introductions will take place at her oflico.