SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 17, 15 October 1919, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mrs. and Miss Humphries aro visiting Hawke's Hay. ->.[ Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bush, who have been spending the winter at Nelson, havo relumed to Wellington for the summer months. Mr. and Mrs. B. T.-Wray aro spending a few weeks 'in Dunedin. Dr. and Mrs. Marshall (Suva) left by the Taluno on Saturday for Fiji. ' . Miss Rima Young, formerly of Christchurch and well-known in musical circles, is to bo married' to-day to Lieutenant J. E. H. Swain, Hoyal Australian Plying Corps. Tito marriage will take place at Albany, West Australia. Miss/ Young was for 6ome timo a member of the English Pierrots Company. Over .£IOOO will be added to the l'limket Society's funds (Christchurcli) as a result of the effort made by tho society last week. '. In course of an address on the responsibilities of women as citizens, given at the Auckland T.M.C.A Miss E. Melville complained that while womon had to bear the burdens of citizen? ship they were debarred from the fruits. She traced the gradual divergence from the practically equal status of men and women in primitive tunes, up to the present -when women were economically dependent on man, and tho man thus became the dominant factor in the lite of tho community. Thero were signs on every hand that this economic enslavement was nearing an end.- The war had helped in the great awakening of women to the effect that there was scarcely any work they were not capable of performing. Unless they were the equal partners of men'the women could not contribute their finest qualities of unselfishness, loyalty to ideals, steadfast courage in the face of difficulties and a hif>h sense of responsibility to the building up of the new world which would rise on the ruins of the old civilisation. ■ .

The engagement is announced of Miss Moana Toup-Nicolas, only daughter- of Mr. J. Toup-Nicolas, of "Dalhojisie" Ward, Marlborough, and Mr, Patrick Baldwin', eldest son of Mr. E. S. Baldwin, of Wellington.

The annual gift, tea of the Home of Compassion, will' take place this afternoon, and such an opportunity of showing a practical interest in the' good work which is done by the Sisters is one that many people will he anxious to take full advantage of. There are few heads of families who have not realised the difficulties of providing for children these days, and the burden of the "ost of living must fall very heavily upon those in charge of the Home of Companion, with 60 many small mouths to feed. Wedding nt Petone. The wedding took place yesterday at the Presbyterian Church, Petone. of Miss Ina Drummond, daughter of Mr.' and Mrs. J. Drummond, of Jackson Stijpet, Petone, to Mr. E. Price, second son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Price, of Armidnle Street, Petone. The Rev. M'Kay officiated. The.bride, who was given away by her father,,wore a saxe blue costume and a white hat. The bridesmaid was Jfiss Eva Drummond (sister of the bride), who wore a frock of champagne crepo do chine and a leghorn hat trimmed with blue. Mr. K; Price (brother of the bridegroom) attended as best man. After the ceremony a reception was held in the .Orange Hall, only relatives and intimate friends being present. Mr. and Mrs. Price left later by motor for Auckland and the Botorua district. .

Tho anniversary services in connection with the Petone Church of Christ were brought to a close laist evening with tho annual tea meeting, followed- by n concert. The Mayor (Mr.. J. W. M'Ewnn) presided at the concert. A.bright programme was given, and contributing' to it were the following:—Songs, Misses 12. M'lnnes, J. Sycamore, 0. d'Postine, Mr. G. More; part song, Misses Ashby (2), TJsmar-, Coulston, nnd Adshoad; dialogues, Boys' Bible Class, Girls' Bible Class; recitations, Misses "Usmnr, Gillcn, Allen, Ashby, Marshall, Mrs. Wallstrpm, and Masters Leibezeit (2), TJsmar, and Mr. A. Pocknall. Boys' Institute. Tho monthly meeting of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the WeHington Boys' Institute and S. A. Ehodes Home for Boya was. held on Monday afternoon, at tho Institute. There were present:—Mosdames J. Hislop, president (in tho "hair), Bell, Moorhouse, iionimington, Pnrton, Wilson, Moore, Troup. Hamilton, and Christie, and Miss 31'Lcod. Tiio matron's report and statement of expenditure for the past month were presented, and both proved very satisfactory, the loss per boarder haying been reduced by over 50 per cent. Tlie visiting committee reported that they were well pleased with • the condition of things. Subscriptions were received from tjlio following :—Mesdames A. Hamilton and M'Lellan, and Miss Sidey. One of the boy boarders being badly in need of clothes, tho committee would be grateful if any readers who may have spare clothing suitable for a- lad 16 years of age would ring up the honorary secretary (Mrs. Parton, Telephone No. 3112), or send eamo to the Institute building in Tasman Street. Fighting the Profiteers. The British people, like the French, are in revolt against; high prices and profiteering,' and are seeking to' discom any means by which to reduce the higth cost of living, states a London correspondent. The inauguration of open-air market* •is the latest idea by which to defeat tho profiteers, and has proved a great success. At Ilford, a town within Hhe London radius, the market Saturday was crowded with fashionably-dressed ladies and men, many of tho latter wearing tall silk hats. From an <:arly hour people from all parts of Esses and London bought up enormous quantities of fish, vegetables, • fowl, and rabbits, and fruit of all kinds at prices in many bases 50 per cent, bolow those of tho stoops of tho town. Tho market was a surprisingly' Jjusy scene, with the smiling faces of the salesmen, mauyol whom wear badges showing war sotvico as soldiers, and happy purchasers. The only people who protest aro the Shopkeepers, who complain of unfair competition, as .the sellers pay no'rent for,the.stalls in the marker At Southend, at the mouth of the Thames, too, an open-air anti-profiteer-ing market was opened. Ono hundred anil siity stalls were selling fish whioh in tho 6hops cost two shillings, but cost only one shilling in tho open market. Vegetables show a reduction of '25 per cent, on the stalls. The shopkeopers reduced prices to meet competition, but the market still is the cheapest placo iu town for tho people. Lady Rhondda ami the House of Lords. In discussing the attitude of tho House of Lords in regard to the admission of women into that Chamber; Lady Rhondda stated to a representative of the "Manchester Guardian" that "the point of view of tho House of Lords seems to bo that of everybody I have recently come in contact with. They are fully in favour of women having equality with meh everywhere, except iu their own sphere. Public opinion generally is now iu favour of such equality. It is the vestel interosts that aro in opposition." The clause concerning the admission to tho House of Lords or women who aro peers in their own right does not, as Lady Ehondda points out, affect tho twenty women who are now peers, only applies to women who become peeresses by. now letters patent. It merely makes it possible, for the Prime Minister to advise the King to makr peers with special remainder to women, giving those women tk> right to sit in tho House of Lords. The clause has a certain value, but is altogether inadequate, ■'

Tribute to Aotoa Convalescent Home. Tlit following appreciation of tlie work '' (lout at the Aotea Convalescent Home in Cairo (or at least an extract) is taken ti'on; "Quick March":— i ' "Though thousands of diggers never saw Aolca. Convalescent Home, there are ; other thousands who romeuibor tho great rest house and recall with pleasure the happy tinies they spent beneath its roof. "The retention of the 'Mounted lliilcs in Egypt,■ and of tho Sinai campaign, brought the need for a convalescent home, and thanks to the untii-ine efforts of those popular ladies, Miss Mncdonald and her sister, Mrs. MacEarlane, tho-Aotea Convalescent Homo ennie into being. It- was these ladies :who recognised the real need for such 'an institution, and to them entirely is due the-credit for its creation. They accomplished a great work, and overcame the harrier of red tape which formed tho principal opposition to the establishment of such an institution. Tho Army rocognisos that troops require somo margin of comfort, but what is provided falls short of actual requirements, and it was a full appreciation of what wag required that prompted these ladies to organiso this home. "The site chosen near that delightful, suburb of IMiopollis could not havo lieen better—tho surroundings were,- in a way, typically European, rather than Oriental," and in such a Betting Aotca Convalescent Home developed an atmosphere redolent of New Zealand. "That tho mothers of 'sons in tho : Mountcds owe a great debt to Miss M'Donaf.d and- her sister and tho staff of the home requires no more proof than the soldiers' appreciation. They did wonderful work for tho men in Egypt and tho men were proud of tho institution, and of those associated'with its management. "Aotea was the ideal home, possessing comfort and luxury, and shedding a benign influence,' a sensation of perfect rest and happiness.' Set in a garden with an abundance of fragrant flowers and fresh green foliage, Aotoa Homo breathed a spirit of home. It gave to the campaigner just what ho most earnestly desired. A feature of 'Aotea' was the absence of the strict code of military .discipline. There was never any military guard on duty there, and it was the only place in Egypt where such was the ease. "Once in 'Aotea''men-forgot the desert and the' dust and the fighting—tho thought of battle -was shut out, and all one lealised at 'Aotea' was that it was a 'lowly war.' "Matron Early found her task of superintendent one of tho most pleasurable in he~ career. Even when toe number of paivonts renched 270 it did'not alter that'« eery atmosphere, that spirit of perfect', rest and freedom. ' Every man valued tie home as ho did tho home he iooked to in New Zealand. 'Aotea' proved a boon H tho Now Zealand troops m Egypt, and Miss Macdonald and lira.Ma'cFarlaiio can well feel proud of their work, though the gratitude of the diggers is their true recompense" -. Summing up a London Season. "Writing of tho London season that has jus: oonie to an end a correspondent of the "Manchester- Guardian" comments as follows:—"The present season began by being rather violent) and. ended in something like-a return to old conventions. There was never so little entertaining and yet there was- so much, which is to say that there was very little , entertaining on the grand scale and a vast lot of entertaining in a small way. Apart from the Sion House ball and one or two others there were no great balls, but everyone was giving littlo dances with hardly anv preparation. . Many girls had not worn-a ball dress for four years, and there was a generous reaction after hard work, with-the result that a good many of the remaining conventions gavo wav. "One result of- these 6inall dances with no arrangements for sitting* out and rather small space because of part of the house being shut up was the custom of walking'in the street between, dances. Many of- the West -End"squares .were rather-peculiar-sights in the summer evenings. The custom went. further. Young. men often .took their partners drives in taxis between dances, Things got rather extreme.. ' / "Towards the end of the, season, however, a perceptible reaction, set in. Women'began to insist on_ their Pawners wearing gloves, and going into the street'between the dances, became not quite the thing. The dances, too began to change, and tho old-fashioned waltz came in a good deal at the end."As to the older people, there wero plenty of dinners and bridgo parties, but all on short notice. About the middle of the season the sorvnnt difficulty became less pressing, and now ono hears comparatively few comnlaints. Most people have not resumed their footmen, and maidservants are, being retained in all the clubs and in most houses. Thcro has heen an unusual amount of j racegoing, and a great.deal of hotting.' . I A League of Youth. It is interesting to learn that in England a "League of Youth and- Social Progress" has been formed with the idea that as youth "fought an evil order based on a militarism which .wasted human life and human power, so youth has. come back asking;if their energy, courage, and enduranco are to go for nothing now m tin resettlement of tho world. To make sure that they, are not denied their great opportunity in work vitnl to them and the world . at. -largo, this . League of Youth has .been formed with.world-wido aims.' Its manifesto is as.follows:— Tho young mm and women who won the war must be, given a hand in governing the Empire which they havo saved, The youth of tho world so freely used for destructive ends must now turn to construction and the problems of peace, if we are to make this earth a happier place to live in. Entrenched privilege and customary authority aro too often in the way of progress. We have suffered and Btill suffer much from the redtape officialr-whether of war or peace- | who wants no change nor any troublo over now effort. Wo need in all countries an influx of'fresh life and tho spirit of youth. We want to penetrate into every sphere of human activity so that in social service, political effort, art, and industrial enterprise youth may have its chance. Educational,,reconstructive, and political councils have been formed, local units will W established forthwith throughout the United Kingdom, and tho activo co-operation of youth everywhere will be heartily welcome." Among tho signatories are the -following names, pome well known even on this side pf the' world:—Lena Ashwell, John Drinkwater E. Vincent Evnns, Cyril Entwtstle, Cecil ' l'Estrango Malone, Ernest Birrs, W. H. Seager, Alec. Waugh. Tho .wedding took place last week at the home of the bride's parents, Rejtiuera (Auckland); of Aliss Dorothy Garvard, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Garrard, to Captain W. J. bmeeton, M.C., eldest son of-Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Smeeton, of "Binswood," Mount Hob-son. Miss Ida Cook was bridesmaid and Lieutenant W. Worsley best : man*