WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 4

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

(By

Mrs. Leonard Tripp (president of the ■Wellington District of the Women’s National Reserve) was granted leave of absence at the last executive meeting owing Io leaving shortly for a visit to Englund.

The monthly meeting of Hie committee of the Alexandra Home was presided over by Mrs. Gill, Mesdames Buxton, Puttie, Corrigan, Hardwick Smith, and Tripe also being present. The matron reported that there were 19 adults and 24 infants in the home this month, and that nine district cases had been attended. Donations to the home amounting to .£lB 6s. were acknowledged, also the following further subscriptions to the Greenwood Memorial: —Mrs. Brewater, .£1 Is-; Mr. Arthiil- Martin, c£l(l; Mrs. 11. Hall, .£5. The matron acknowledged with thanks the following gifts to the home:—Mrs. Hardwick Smith,

blackberries; “Anonymous,” baby clothes and old linen; Mrs. Luke, Red Cross needlecases; Mrs. Owen, case of plums; and D. Robertson a sum of money to provide an electric light to be placed over the front steps.

Mrs. Dick, of Dunedin, with her daughters, the Misses Gladys and Irma Dick, are to arrive in AVellington to-day, and will stay at the Hotel Cecil. Miss Dick’s wedding is to take place during the coming week.

Air. and Mrs. Alexander Mutrie, of Masterton, celebrated their golden wedding on. Thursday. They were the recipients of very many congratulatory messages from all over the district. Air. and Airs. Alutrie are amongst some of the oldest residents of the district.

On Thursday afternoon the Berhampore Branch of the Women's National Reserve held its first meeting. Airs. Hooper, the new president, outlined various plans of work for the coming year, and a very satisfactory time was spent, everyone determined to work hard for the development of the reserve activities. It is very encouraging to the promoters to find those who worked so hard during the war period are entering into peace time efforts with so much zeal.

At last night's meeting, held by Mrs. Preston and Aliss Coad in connection with their candidature for the City Council, a question was asked the chairman (Air. G- Mitchell, AI.P.) ns to whether it was true that the building and grounds, formerly the property of the late Mr. Henry Blundell, which was to have been handed over to the Terrace School for playing grounds, was to be withdrawn? The questioner stated that there was practically no playing ground for the children, and the hope of having these grounds (when the house was pulled down) had given a great deal of joy and comfort. The chairman said that the Progress League would take the matter up and make inquiries into the matter.

■ A question was asked Airs. Preston at her City Council election meeting last evening whether she was, in favour of giving girls the same facilities and opportuuties for outdoor games and exercises as were provided boys. Mrs. Preston emphatically declared herself in favour of giving girls equal opportunity for physical development by means of outdoor roereatioT. and sport, and that the one (the girls) should not be sacrificed for the 'boys. She referred to the great difference that existed in the facilities for outdoor sport given the AVellington College boys and those afforded the girls, greatly to the advantage of the boys.

Madame Jessie Strathearn has been made an honorary member of the Pioneer Club during her visit to Wellington. It is a matter of regret that, owing to the indisposition of Lady Stout the president, that Madame Strathearn cannot be officially entertained.

Miss Coutts-Moon has loft for an extended visit to the Wairarapa and Palmerston North.

'A Y.W.C.A. devotional meeting will lie held at Herbert Street at 4.15 p.m. on Sunday, when the speaker will he the Itev. W. Day. This will be followed bj a tea and social hour, to which all visitors and. newcomers to Wellington are invited. A. physical culture class is held at. the Herbert Street clubroom every Tuesday at 8.30 p.m. The usual social hour will be held in the clnbroom, Herbert. Street, to-night The eni er " tni.nm»nt has been arranged by Mrs Woods, and there will be the usual games. The Olympic Club has choree of the supper.

The wedding was solemnised on March 16, at Hataitai Methodist Church, of Miss Edna Fear, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. W. Fear, of North Kilbirnie, to Mr. Claud J. H. Davidson, son of Mr. and Mrs. .1. Davidson, of Thorndon. the Rev. E. T. Read being the officiating minister. The bride, who carried a shower bouquet of lilies and roses and maiden-hair fern, wore a. frock of cream crepe de chine ami charmeuse, with veil and orange blossoms. She was attended by her sister, Miss Freda Fear, who .wore a frock of cream eolienne and georgette, and carried a bouquet of pale pink lilies and roses and autumn leaves. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, Mr. Gordon Davidson, as best man, and Mr. C. Cole played the Wedding March. After the ceremony about one hundred guests were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Fear? Later, Mr. and Mrs. Davidson left for the north, the bride’s travelling costume being of iawn cloth, with hat to match. Among the many presents received were a handsome oak sideboard tor the bride from Collinsons and Cun ninghame’s, Palmcfston North, and a case of stainless cutlery for the bridegroom from co-officers of the G.P O Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. W. F. M’Laren, Te Rangitumau. Masterton. accompanied by Miss M. E. Heckler, of Mangamahoe, returned from Christchurch on Wednesday. Women and Municipal Elections. A meeting in. connection with the candidature of Mrs. Preston and Miss Coad, the nominees, of the "WomeiPs. National Council, for election Io the City Council was held in the Y.W.C.A. rooms last evening. Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P.,. presided. Mrs. Preston said that she was standing because £he believed there was a work for women to do with regard to aspects of the council's activities that very closely touched the welfare of women and children. In siuch matters the voice of a woman could not but be of some use. Miss Coad deal principally with the city library. The need for improvements was great. The library was designed to meet the needs of the popidation twenty-five years ago. To meet present requirements in the most economical fashion she advocated biking over tho adjoining technical school building when the school was removed to Mount Cook. To meet the expenditure that would be entailed, she advocated a big city carnival. held under the auspices of the City Council for town improvements, and for the public library chiefly. Mrs. IP Kirkcaldie proposed a. hearty vote of thanks to and confidence in the two speakers. This was seconded by Mrs. Sprott, ancj carried with acclamation.

THE SOLDIERS' FRIEND

MADAME . JESSIE STRATHEARN. A visitor to AA T ellington at the present time is Afadame Jessie Strathearn, L.R.A.M., who is taking part in a six months’ tour in this country on behalf of the Alission at West Ham, London. This work, which is conducted by the Rev. Rowntree Clifford, in Barking Road, is carried on amongst the poor of the great city, and so great and so urgent lias it become that extensions are very necessary. Hence this visit to New Zealand, so that all possible help may be given in reaching the children of the slums. Madame Strathearn is wellknown in New Zealand, and especially so by numbers of our soldiers, for whom she sang in France for a year and a half when they were at the front. Upon the outbreak of war she cancelled all her engagements, crossed the Channel, and was one of the first to organise entertainments in France for the soldiers. She sang to the first New Zealanders and Australians to arrive at Etaptes, and followed their achievements throughout the war with the keenest interest. Before the battle of Arras she sang at ont of her entertainments no fewer than forty-nine eongs, this being her “record.” It is her hope that the New Zealand soldiers whom she met overseas will make themselves known t<r her wherever and whenever they see her. At these entertainments she sang both soprano and contralto songs, played her own accompaniments, and achieved no little fame as a raconteurAladame Strathearn is connected with New Zealand in yet another way. Her father was the Rev. John Strathearn, who came out to New Zealand many years ago, as assistant to the Rev. Dr. Salmond, of Dunedin. She is very enthusiastic about the AVest Ham Mission, and stated that over 1500 women gather in the premises every Afonday night for a service. About 800 girls are entertained upstairs, and more young men downstairs daily. The whole effort nime at building good citizens and fostering the spirit of comradeship. Madame Strathearn, when-the request came to her for her help, did not hesitate to cancel her engagements (which extended to Alay) for six months, and came to NewZealand to enlist the help, of the people of this country in this worthy cause. Public Library Needs. Speaking at last night's meeting with regard to the" municipal elections, Miss Coad, in advocating library improvements, said that AVellington badly needed a small hall attached to the library, a hall to hold 200 or 300, and it should be reserved for lectures of a literary and educational nature—lectures which interest only sections of the people. The Philosophical Society, the Camera Club, the W.E.A., would find it a happy home. In America the plan was adopted with great success, and tho hall at the Newtown Library was very useful. She also advocated a small committee room, too; and places sucli as these helped to develop a community spirit in a town, and money spent for this was not wasted. A Russian Exile.

There has come to live in Wellington, for a while at any rate, an interesting Russian lady, Mademoiselle Tsheremissi- - noff. Mademoiselle, like so many of her countrywomen, is a great linguist and has had a brilliant university career. Unfortunately, almost at the height of its achievement the war broke out, and like many another she had to stand aside while the holocaust of human life and. human hopes proceeded. Practically every possible building was commandeered as a hospital, and all things else came to a standstill. Realising that nothing further could be done while it lasted, Alademoiselle accepted an appointment in the Consul’s family at Shanghai. There she remained for soma ■time, the various Russian revolutions taking place meanwhile. Of news of her people—her mother, brother, and two sis-ters-she had had none whatever, and does not know whether they are alive or dead. To make inquiries might be dangerous, as to do so might draw the attention of the Bolshevik authorities to their whereabouts and imperil their lives, if they are still living. Such a position is hard for anyone in this country to realise—relatives, friends, property, all gonq at one fell swoop, and no PMSible means of gaining information or J^ r^ s ; While in China Mademoiselle spent her holidays in Japan, and one of her•greatost pleasures is her recollections of that its beauty, its yonderMharmony, shown in every aspect of Japanese life- With them, as with the ancient Greeks, beauty is a P« sB ’°. n \ a wherever Japanese life is untouched by European influence, beauty and harmony are Wbe found - Let We9tern clvlhs^ io once there is flt X tVFandseape,-their trees, their gaP d/'fferenXranything moredesirable. According to realisation people, but tnei produce it of beauty and too> wa . ar e b occasional use, not not a affair but entered into a one-day-a-week > become an their everyday, life, end, N(?w instinctive tjnng. considered that it Zealand, Mademoiselle wa6 a had wonderful beauty, , j n fha “rent want of harmony alxmt it Jn most beautiful eett’hg , p fhe way found so often some •_ tidy fiU p of dreadfully ug Y or spots that roundings, or bald uncarea fe(?1 to gee I ' n,ldst h S 3 . d °Xived T a blow in tha boring that this is nothing touched by Mestcn remain; that was ugly _ wftS voo keen to their sense of narn o y interesting to allow it. It tn - • 'T-n’be'reTriissiuoff leani from Siberia that when travelh g rrtt Siberian s he found in one ™ n ethnological villages a museu'n fllan a day collection that look he vlUageß to see. And tnerv there like that.