WOMAN'S WORLD. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 10, 7 October 1919, Page 4

WOMAN'S WORLD.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

(BY Imqqen.)

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Monrad returned to Palnierston North on Saturday from a visit to Featherston. Mrs. Strang (Gladstone) is a visitor to Wellington. Mrs. J. Buchanan (Wairarapa) is visiting Wellington. The wedding took place at the WeSleyan .Church, Taranaki Street, on Saturday afternoon, of Miss Zeta Myra Moss, Into of the .War Expenses staff, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. 13. Moss, of Bulls, to Mr. Alfred George Lowly, of Dunedin, late Main Body,. N.Z.E.F. The bride was given away by Mr. C. C. Howard, of Wellington. Miss Evelyn Jones was bridesmaid, Mr. R. A. Fernandez acted as best man, and Mr. C. La Hochd as groomsman. .'Hie brido carried a bouquet of orange bios-, som.freesias, and maidenhair fern. The groom's present to the bridesmaid was a silver purse, and the bride wore a pearl and aquamarine brooch, the gift of the. best man. A reception was held later in the afternoon, at the residence of Mrs. T. H. King, of Karori. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Lowry leave shortly to take up their homo in the north.

A presentation took place at War Expenses Department on Saturday, when jtiss Zeta Moss waa presented witlr a leather suit-case by Mr. Houston, on behalf of. the staff, on her severing her connection with- the Department, .and approaching marriage. Mr. Houston expressed the good wishes, of the staff for her future. A sale of work will be held at Wadestown, at the Club Hall, Pitt Street, tollldrrow, to raise funds for the erefition of class rfloms at the lncali Presbyterian Chitrch. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken will open the sale- at-3 p.m. An excellent opportunity will be given to those who wish to replenish their stow rooms and wardrobes, as' the goods .to be offered at. the various stalls are of the best quality. There will he well-cut aid wellmade garments for children, and the cake, produce,-and sweets, may be_ depended upon to keep up the reputation established by the Wadestown district. The »ngngement is'announced of Miss Leah Gladvs Walden, only'daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Walden, < f Greytown, to . Eegimental-Sergcnnt-Majc-r Edgar G. Thomas, also of Greytown, who recently returned after four years of aotive service. The Sister in charce of the Armr Sisters' Convalescent Home, Lower Hutt, thanks the St. John Ambulance Association (per Mr. J. B. Fiiilay) i'or a cheque for ,£5 for comforts for patients, also for gift jdf two tons of coal"from Mr. A. S. Collitis. The matron of the Wellington Hospital acknowledges the following gifts:— Flowers: Lady Bell, Mrs. 'Hills (Daniel Street), Jtiss Price (weekly). Mr. 'jVmks (weekly), Johnsonvillo Meti'iodist Fair, Methodist Church. Cases of flowers: Misses Bibby and C. M'Lcan (Woipawa). Bonks and magazines: Miss Hendill. Miss Wilkes, Mr. Pridmore. Children's Ward — I Toys and books: Mr. Itoliinfon (Telford Terrace). Scran book: Jtiss Lewis Flowers: Collego girls (weekly).

• A London correspondent writes that the marriage tcok placo on July 17 at St. James, Piccadilly, of Herbert llowis En. derby, N.Z.I 1 .A., of Wanganni, to Muriel. second daughter of the late Dr. E. P. Tliew and Mrs. Tliew, Streatham.

Miss Ida Carley (Master(on) will-leave early this week on a visit to her sister in Feilding.

. Sister Cordick (sister to Mrs; Witchell, of Otaki) is due to arrive'.in New Zealand'by the Paparoa, after an'absence of four years and three months. Sister Cordick. who left in the first trip of the first hospital ship (the Mahwio), was for four years in Egypt, and was the first sister to cross the Channel on train duty. She has been mentioned in dispatches, and has the ; distinction/ of being the longest-servioe nurse 1 in Egypt.

A priest at a wedding in old Babylonia used to tales a threivd . from the garment of the bride and (mother from that of the bridegroom. These he tied together into a knot, and presented it to the bride as a, symbol of the binding nature of the union between 1 her and her husband. Hence the expression "tying the knot."

The wedding took place in the Presbyterian Church, Hawera, of : Miss Mary Campbell, youngest daughter of Mrs. Campbell and the late'Mr.-Peter Campbell, of Hawera,'to Mr. Thomas Blany Glass (Corporal), of Ayrshire, Scotland. The Misses Annie and Katie Campbell wero bridesmaids, and Hiss. Barbara Campbell was flower-girl. The best man was Mr. Edward Campbell, and Messrs. ,J. and A. Campbell groomsmen. The Rev, Jl. B, Gray performed the .ceremony. Hearty good, wir,lies, were received bv tho bridegroom i'or a speedy recovery from his wounds received in France. A Great Canteen. The Australian public is familiar with "Mis. Chishoi m'sj," the great, soldiers' club, which Mrs. W. XJhisholm and Miss Raina Maophillamy .conducled at Kantam'during the war (states' "the "Sunday Times"). BuHhe magnitude of the business engaged in by these two ladies for the Australian and British troops will perhaps come as a surprise. Captain P. L. Johnston, A.I.F. auditor in Egypt, has mado available the trading account showing the scope of the canteen's business from October i; 1917, to June 7, 1919, when it wap'handed over to the British Canteens Board.- This shows that in the 20 months the purchases and freight for the main canteen amounted to .£126,663, and for the -railway canteen to .£22,523.-

The gross profit reached 422,063, and after paying the wages of native .cooks, attendants, and cloauers and other expenses there was available (or distribution to Various funds .no less than jj1G,319. Of this J!7575 went to thft Australian soldiers' funds, ,£523!) to.simitar British fund!*, .£137 to N>w Zealand 'troops, i205l towards establishing. the Empire Soldiers' Club at Rafa and Jerusalem, .£sl?/ to 'St. Dunstan's Institute for tho Blind in London, where so many Australian soldiers have received treatment ond education; and .£512 to the Anzao Memorial Fund. / The Empire Soldiers' Clu'b at Jerusalem and Rafa, which was conducted by M'iss Macphillaffiy, is shown by Cciptaiii Johnston to have made a clear profit of .£l4Bl, which, together with the advance Of .£2051 from the ICantara Si/.diers' Club, was similarly distributed. _ The generous distribution to British troops is explained by the fact that the club catered' not only for Australians, but for all soldiers on tho front. Mrs. Chisholm and Miss Macphiliam.y did not aim at making a profit. Bui; as they worked on a very small capital it wan necessary that they Bhonld trade on u safe basis, The large aggregate profit is due not to high prices, but to a very smaJl profit upon a huge turnover. Lieutenant-GfiierM Sir Hnrry Cliauve), the great cavalry leader who commanded tho Australians in Egypt, comment ng on Contain,.Tnhnston's report,.eayn;: "Tho splendid wonk done by Mrs. Chisolm and Migs Macphillamv needs no commendation from me. These two Australian Indies, by their bold initint've. their fine devotion, their riire organising hml administrative capacity, and their wonderful endurance over years of rough living in the desert. earned the lifo-lnrttr admiration and gratitude not only of the .Austrnfiens and New Ztnlnmlers, but of .ill (he British troons on thut front. Mo two names were niore honoured in Ffvpt and I'aCestine than these of-Mr?. f!!"c----helm and Miss Macnhillaim. -.As an instance of the sn'rit in which. t'lev so I'ong, I might mention fiat mf ot'lv diil they take no payment f"" services, but that they even mid Hrir own expenses when they were o'djiwi l to travel upon the business of tho clubs.'-'

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAB AND

A Cherniavsky Wedding. Of interest to many friends of the bride and groom in the city of Victoria, British Columbia, was the marriage of Mary Angus, eldest daughter of. the late Benjamin T.'Kogers, and of Mts. llogers, Vancouver, to Mischcl Cherniavsky, one of the famous trio of musicians, who liave been, heard hero oil several occa-. sions. The Wedding took place early in August, St. Paul's Church being 'packed to the doors with interested friends of the young couple. The rector, Bev. Harold King, officiated, assisted by Bishop de Pender, and tho church wad beautifully decorated With marguerites and ferns. The bride wore a wedding gown of white satin with pearl-embroidered overdress fashioned in picturesque medieval style with a graceful traiii shadowed, by an embroidered silk veil which was bound to tho head with a filet of pearls'and swept the whole length of .the dress. A heavy rope of pearls formed, .tho girdle about the waist, and she wore as her onlj pieco of jenellery a pearl and diamond pendant. A sheaf of. lilies In her, arms completed a charming toilette. :

Seatoun Croquet Club. The Seatoun Croquet Club season commenced on-'Thursday last. There , was, a good attendance of .members, .friends, and also representatives .from Lower Hntt; Karori, and'Kelburn Chilis. The lawn was in excellent condition,. and was opened for play by Mrs. -Willoughby, the president, putting, the .first ball through the hoon. Afternoon tea was served in the.clubroom which ttas tastefully decorated with tho. club colours, green and yellow. Mr. H. Smith, chairman of directors, wished the club an enjoyable season and.; success in their scheme' to raise money for a new croquet lawn. Tho officers. for the season aTO Mrs. Willonshby president; committee, Mesdames Kircher, Fuller, Stone; lioij.treasurer, Mrs. Henderson; lion, secretary, Mrs. Magill.

Eastbourne Social Club. Mr. H'. L.' Wright presided over, a record gathering of • members >sul their friends on -Saturday evening. The programme was of a very high, standard, and each item receiveil o. well-deserved encore. The club orchestra ■ was considerably strengthened by., the.-presence - - of -several well-known instrumentalists from Wellington. Mr. H. ,f!ummings wielded the baton, and the selections given were highlv appreciated.. At the conclusion of' the programme a dance ,was held, during which M.r. Tliep,. Trezise and Mrs. Malcolm gave a.delightful exhibition of fancy dancine, which was vociferously annlauded. In addition to the orchestra," the following contributeditems:—Song, Miss .RouErlitou; dance, Misses Eileen r.nd -Amy Glaphani; song, Miss .Tanson; musical sketch, Mr, Tlieo. Trezise.and Mrs.- Malcolm; scarf dance, Miss Ngota Reynolds; humorous song Mr.-W. Bennett; Russian dance, Miss Nesta Carwell-Cooke;. dance, Miss Eileen Clapham; recitation, Mr. Fergus Reeves.

i Mrs. Truby King has informed the Christchurch Plunket Socioty that Dr. King's return to New Zealand has been delayed, as he is urgently required for an infant welfare mission, to Austrian Poland. lie had also to visit South Africa and Australia on a similar mission before returning to New Zealand.

The bridesmaids were Margaret Rogers', younger sister, of ■ the bride; littlo Bar-, bara Murraj', and Margaret King, all of whom wore frocks of white ninon, simply made and finished with eilvorgirdiea. They wore silver bands in the hair and turquoise and pearl pins, tho gift of the bride and bridegroom, and carried bunches of marguerites. The bride was given aivay by her mother. The best man was. Mr. Blytho Dupuy Rogers, the bride'sbrother,"'Miv.iYunic Wrigley played the wedding music, and during the signing of . the register Mr. Max Selinski played Saint. Saen's "Andarito'' on the violin. After the ceremony .the wedding party returned, to the -.homo "of the bride's' mother at 1531 Davie Street, where tie couple received . tlie . congratulations of. their friends. They left later for Banff, w'here they will.spend, a,few; weeks, returning to Vancouver before leaving on a concert tour—"lbiily Colou'st'."

Wedding at Himitangi. A weihlilig ' that caused considerable interest in the district took place at Himitangi last' week, when Gertrude Mary,, eldest daughter of Mi', and Mrs Alfred Gardner,'well-known settlers in tho district, was married toMr. • \ Harold Leslie King, of ,1/tuwai, who returned from, the war recently. The Kev. Hardy, of Foxton, officiated,. while Mr. John Kidley,' of Utuwai,.was best mail. The bri.(le was in white crepe.do chine over white, lace with.a veil and. wreath of orangv blossom, and ■ carried a white shower-bouquet. Tho bridesmaids were Misses Ivittie and Edna Gardner, sisters of the bride 4 who wore, white voile riresseu ' and white hats trimmed with pink roses;'' . and carried bouquets to match.' Tlie marriage took place at the residence of the bride's parents';" where subsequently a reception was held, when tho future prosperity of the'bride and bridegroom was toasted with enthusiasm.

£19 HATS GLARING EXAMPLES OF-THE LtfS'i' TO. SP10NI). Money, which we formerly saved, seems now to bo a thing of which itfe get rid as quickly as • possible (writes Mr. St.-John. Ervine).,..One. might par. donably imagino that I 'a bank note :was a microbe of a peculiarly virulent character, so eager do people appear to pass it on to someone else. Masses of men and women have lost all 6ense of value and of,'proportion; they pay pounds forgoods- thnt would be dear at-an equal number of shillings, and treat a shilling as if it were threepence. The mania fdr spending has afflicted every class, except the class which has no money to spend, and unless we call an end to it soon,' dis. aster will follow on us- heavily. Let me give examples of insane extravagance that have lately come under my notice. In a great stores recently, ..-£l9 jvas asked for a lady's hat! A fairly common charge, for ladies' hats in _that ; shop. Wag ■ J27 103. A friend of .-mine said-to! the assistant who showed the hats to her, "But these prices are preposterous!" and -the assistant-replied, "I, know, they are; but we get the money!" I do not know what kind of-a lunotio it is that pays .£l9 or even *£7- 10s. for a liat, but, I do know that it is some sort of a lnnatic, and -if seema to .me that the sooner that lunaticis shut up in an asylum the---hotter ilwill be for the; world. I-do not caiv-how-prettv the hat is or-how dear tin cost of materials may be—,£l!) is clearly an outrageous price for it, and does not hear any -reasonable relationshin to the cost ot. production. But we-.get., the money says tho shop assistant.' It is idle to blame the shopkeeper" for-charg-ing such a price for a hit when women are falling over each other in their eagerness to pay it.

WOMEN IN CHINA THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE. In a recent issue of "Tho Englishwoman" appears an interesting article by J. P. Donovan. Dealing with the position of women. in China. To rend it is to realise, how absolutely necessary it is tliat, wo should dispel our fog of ignorance and insularity in regard to other countries, and, if wo wish to do our share in building up a new civilisation, to learn as much as possible the point of view, customs, and mode of thinking of these, other countries. In the course of his article,' tho writer says:—

From ancient to modern times the influence of women in the home in China has been so great that not a few of the biographies of famous women have been written by sons who have become illustrious through the teaching and example of their mothers, many of whom were eminent for their intelligence, wisdom, and shrewdness. In 1882, on the death of the mother of Li Hung Chang, 'her sons prepared a memoir in which they eulogised her for the transcendant virtues she possessed and attributed the high honours and rank they had attained in the official.world to her careful instruction, unceasing care, and wise training. Hut possibly ono of the' finest examples of dignity, virtue, and. liiorli courage was that of the Consort of Hsi Tsung, the last Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. For. seven years she exercised a remarkable influence over tftis degraded and debauched monarch. As tlio annals say'of her: "She was one of the most admirable women in Chinese history, and indeed in the .history of the world. Her gentle and steadfast pharacter Chines brightly to this day against the dark background of those evil times; her lofty ideals, patience and loyalty smell sweet and blossom even, now amidst the ruins of a more degenerate age. Seldom has history recorded a nobler life or a more pathetic death." Such was her influence in the Palace that.she was called ",Tho Goddess Chang" owing to her beautiful and saintlv character. It has been said that Chinese women have hud their revenge on Confiicianism for subordinating them by adopting and establishing its rival Buddhism, w"hich 'the majority of, them pro- s fess.. . Foreigners were amazed at the prominent position women took in the Revolution of 1911. and the interest thov showed in the reform movement whicV preceded it. The ability they displayed at. that time and tlh'e en?n withi which they presided over and addressed public meetings astonished not a few Occidentals, ; who held . erroneous views !of women's inferior position in China. To those,; however,, who had studied' Chinese histqrv and who were familiar with the life of the people; it was not considered' extraordinary that the women should have, identified themselves with and taken part in. the Revolution. The "Amazons" who appeared at Wuohang ■Nanking and Shanghai,,ready,and willing ; if ' necessary to' go into the fight-' in,?' line, were the successors of the heroines who have been celebrated in Chineso poetry, drama, and fiction, and whose : portraits appeared in., Chinese newspapers. 'to .insoire patriotism. and zeal for. reform; Some,years ago at a public meeting, when^the;chair was'occupied'by a, Chinese , lady, ono ;of her countrymen who.; was-present said:—"A number of' our''influential men h'avo wives, who are, as well informed unon public, matters e.s themselves. They live in intimate and full companionship with their .husbands, so it is not strange that such women should come into such, prominence at public meeting®." , According i,to the author of the "Economical Principles, of Confucius.V 'publhhpd a few years ago, the word", for "wife." in Chinese .'means equal,, and wero it not so we should, hot 'have in 01iina ; the records of'so;'many venerable and distinguished ww';»i. ,In a Bipgranhical Dictionary of .1898, volumes. no fewer than 376-volumes deal with the live 3 of celebrated women, and in another Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Artists, of 24 volumes four are devoted to the lives and works «f great women artists, many of'whom obtained 'high, distinction, one' in'.: particular bejn.g'. considered superior to: all the, men of her age.

. The mother' rules and controls the family, decides when tie children are to commence their Bchooline. finds brido or. bridegroom for her dhild. arranges all matters connected witli betrothals, : manases' all the 'business of the house, nnd directs all the social arrangements between friends and relatives, thus reigning supreme in the home h all grades of society from that of tihe Empress to the humblest housewife in the provinces. This power has always-been recognised, jas is Droved by the fact that in • the fourth division of tho Ritual Laws, 1200 8.C., title authorities,. not wishing the people to hold meetings, prohibited even women from congregating, in r temT>les lest they should discuss, politic, which might, injure the dynasty. / Two of tho ablest rulers-China ever Iliad were women. During the Tang Dynasty A.D. 018-905, which was one of the most illustrious periods in Chinese history, it being the "olden age of literature and poetry, TPu Tseh-tien reiened for . twenty years. Another who' distinguished herself was the late Grand Empress-Dowager Tzu Hsi. who became, notorious: in 1900, (hiring the Boxer uprising, with which she identified herself. She .was exceedinglv able, .an excellent Chinese scholar, and well' versed in tlie literature of her" country. .

Mr. Olaido, at one time Secretary of the Japanese Legation at made a. special study of the. social life of the Chinese, and ■he says"Petticoat government is a common thing in Oliipese life, the position of tho woman -being (higher than,that of her Occidental sisters. China is a country that respects and values her women exceedingly, a country where woman's power is glowing."