WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 176, 21 April 1921, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By

Imogen.)

' SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mis. A. H. Vile left Masterton on Tuesday to take up her residence in Palmerston North.

Mrs. D. B. Maunuell and. Mrs. A- H. Christie, from Manaia, are staying in Wellington.

Miss Lalla Duthie left for Christchurch on Tuesday, where she will be the guest of Miss Garland, Hillsborough.

Miss Jean Rapley, of Ellice Street, will enter the Public Hospital shortly to train.

Mrs. T. W. Porter, organiser of the Women’s National Reserve, will visit Featherston to-day. One of the objects of her visit is the organisation of a committee to take care of the soldiers’ graves in the cemetery. The Mayoress (Miss Card) has been advised by the Internal Affairs Department that all the new crosses will bo erected before Anzac Day.

Miss Gwen Whitcombe is retaining to New Zealand by the Remuera from a visit to England and Scotland.

Mr. J. B. Roy and Miss Doris Roy, of New Plymouth, are visiting Wellington.

The officer commanding and. matron of Trent ham Military Hospital acknowledge the following gifts, outings, and entertainments for the patients if—Dally papers, sweets, cakes, flowers, fruit, etc., from Red Cross; cakes, sweets, fruit, Salvation Army; fruit, Citizens’ Gift Fund (per Mrs. Luke); magazines and weekly napers, Y.M.C.A.; daily motor drives by Red Cross and Salvation Army care; concert for patients in wards by Wesleyan Choir; pictures for patients and staff, Y.M.C.A.

At the Upper Hutt Town Hall on Tuesday evening a concert and dance was held in aid of funds for the local school. Tho arrangements were in the hands of Miss Eileen M'lnnes, to whose organisation the success of the gathering was due. The following programme was gone through:— Jazz Band,'pupils; songs, combined pupils’ choir, Misses F. Whiteman, P. Potts, M. Huggins, M. Keans, I. Wyeth, and Mr. R. A. Usmar; fancy dances, Misses M. Mountier, D. Reid, and Whiteman (2); recitations, Miss G. Gunn /and M. Cole; monologue, Miss G. Usmar; pianoforte solo, Miss I. G.eange.

For the purpose of expressing their appreciation of the work he had done during the past five years as minister of the Petone Church of Christ, the members on Tuesday evening tendered a "welcome home” -social,to the Rev. F. J. Marshall, who returned a fortnight ago from a missionary tour of the Wanganui district. There was a large attendance. During the evening Mr. Marshall was the recipient of a purse of silver, and advantage was taken of the occasion to present Mr. T. W. M. ’Ashby, the retiring secretary of the Bible School, with a silver-mounted inkstand. A programme was submitted, among those contributing to it being Mesdames Ashby, Murgatroyd, Philp, Hope, and Wellstiona, and Messrs. Edmunds, Ashby, and Murgatroyd.

Miss Douglas (Hastings), after visiting Mrs. Low (Roseneath, Wellington), has left for Rotorua.

An English paper records the death of Mrs. Sarah Court, mother of Mr. F. Court, of Waihakeke, in her 89th year. Mrs. Court leaves three sons, the eldest of whom is in New Zealand, and two daughters.

Miss Emily Daymont, the only woman upon whom Oxford has conferred the decree of Doctor of Music, received it at the hands of the VVe-Clmncellor recently. She wore the robe and hat of the late Sir Hubert Parry her first master at the Royal College of Music. “I don’t want to stand long on a lonely platform," Miss Daymont later remarked. "I want women fo come forward and do the same thing, for I am convinced women can make a large contribution to the world of music. It is an old-fash-ioned idea that women cannot do very much but just tinkle the piano a little. I believe the future of women in music is a great one. Women to my mind are not behind men in execution.” Miss Daymont is a daughter of the late Rev. A. C. Daymont. She was one of the first students at the Royal College of Music and in 1903 was appointed to the staff.

Miss Stella Murray, who has many friends in Christchurch, writes interestingly from Monfo Carlo, where, uhen the last mail left, she was staying with Dame, Melba, from whom she is fortunate enough to be receiving tuition. She tolls of the many well-known peopleauthors, composers, and titled folk—who were seeking health or fortune at this famous resort, and of the deep and universal concern when Melba contracted influenza from which she. has now fully recovered'. On the return- journey to England this month. Dame Melba and Miss Murray intend to -spend a tew weeks in Paris, and on arrival m London Miss Murray will continue her studies under a master selected, by Melba, who herself intends to leave in June for an Australian tour. Miss Murray mentions that one of the songs Aladame is teaching her is an ,T Ave Maria,” composed by Mrs. H. H. Loughnan of Christchurch. of which Aladame Melba thinks very highly. Shalyapin. About a couple of years ago a Turnout had travelled around the world that Shalyapin, greatest of actors and Bingers, had met with death at the hands of the Bolshevists in. Russia. However, Mr. H G Wells, who visited Russia towards the end of last year, found him still alive, and still singing and acting. Through all. the extremist’ storms of violence, Russian dramatic and operatic life kept on, and keep on to this day. Mr. Wells, with his son, went to hear Shalyapin in “The Barber of Seville” and in. “Choviui China.” He writes that the admirable orchestra was variously attired, but the conductor still held out valiantly in swallow tails and a white tie. Discussing Shalyapin, the English writer describes him as being one of the most wonderful things in Russia at the present time. He is the Artist, defiant and magnificent. Off the stage he has much the same vitality and abounding humour that made an encounter with Bectrbohm Tree so delightful an experience. He refuses absolutely to sing except for pay—2oo,ooo roubles a performance, they say, which is nearly .£l5 in English money (compare that with some of the Covent Garden stars, and what they receive, and even with that! Shalyapin himself got in pre-war days). When the markets get too tight, he insists upon payment in flour or eggs, or the like. • What he demands ho gets, for Shalyapin on strike would leave too dismal a hole in the theatrical world of Russia.

The Sailors’ Friend Society. A. very pleasant evening was arranged for seafarers at the Sailors’ Friend Societyon Tuesday by the members of the Kilbirnie North Reserve. Items were given by Mrs. S. Bethell, the Misses Taylor (2), Whelan, Waldie, Buckm aster, Simpson, and Messrs. Ross, Sinclair (Sussex), Bevans, and Cornell (Port Pirie). Mrs. S. Bethell was at the piano. Mr. Moore, missioner, spoke on "State Employees.” Recent gifts of books have filled a want. Tlie missioner thanked donors, and pleaded for further donations. During the evening pledges were taken. The competition prizes came from Mrs. Lemberg, and went to the Corinthic, Port Pirie, and Sussex. W.N.R. Residential Nursery. Great satisfaction was expressed at tho last meeting of the executive of the Women’s National Reserve Residential Nursery at the fine work of Mrs. Find, lay and Mis. Sleeman in collecting over J!300 for the purchasing fund, and hearty thanks were tendered to all contributors The executive feels greatly encourage! that within such a short time the de. posit of J 2450 was paid, and the freehold of the nursery secured. Various alterations and improvements are needed, but it was felt that these could not be effected while the property was leased. After the deposit was paid no more babies were admitted, and the nureerj has gradually emptied for the workmen, The promoters are exceedingly sorry to have to disappoint some of the parents, but it was impossible to know the exact date upon which the nursery would bo paid, or when the work would be completed. The executive hopes to announce within a few days that they are ready to admit the children. The Signorine.

For some time a campaign has been waged against the signorine in the offices, the temporary lady- clerks who entered light-heartedly 7 on a business career during the war, and have found it so profitable and pleasant that they have no intention of being dislodged (writes the Rome correspondent of the “Observer”). Correspondence in the papers has waxed furiously round the subject, and angry and somewhat uuchivalrous letters from ex-soldiers, aspirants to the posts held by the signorine, have appeared. The complaints against the business girls generally harp on one note. The lady employees in the Ministries and public offices are accused of merely wishing to earn a ilot; despicable pin-money to spend on "dresses, silk stockings, fancy blouses, furs, smart shoes, French perfumes, and—cocaine”: to quote the counts in the indictment made by a man correspondent in one of to-day’s papers. With regard to the cocaine, we may charitably think the accuser goes too far. And now it appears that owing to a departmental rule temporary workers in Ministries who have been employed for two years, cannot be discharged to make room for others at the discretion of an office chief. So the battle between the signorine and the hundreds of young men who have spent money to pass examinations in order to enter some Ministry- threatens to ■ grow fiercer. If one may judge from the superior silence of the ladies in the Press campaign now going on they feel themselves in no particular danger of losing their jobs. And doubtless the accusation of spending their money- on “silk stockings, furs, and cocaine” do not trouble them very much.

The Promised Land. From all parts of the world the Jews are returning to Palestine, and particularly from Eastern Europe. A considerable proportion of the increase in immigration is admittedly to be accounted for by the fact that large numbers of Jews who were obliged to leave Palestine during the war, are now returning to their homes. After making allowance, however, for this numerous section, it is obvious that the Zionist movement, which received a check during the war, is now resuming its former activity. "Our object is to rebuild Palestine, which has been neglected for two thousand years,’ said Mr. H. J. Morgenstern, secretary of the English Zionist Federation, to a representative of “The Observer,” London. “It is interesting to note that young Jewish men and women, who have received a high-class education over here, are returning to Palestine to do such menial work as roadmaking. They want to build up the home of their forefathers—such is Jewish idealism. The modern Jewish immigration to Palestine, .Mr. Morgenstern stated, began over, thirty years ago, and had been steadily increasing till the war broke out. Its pioneers have established a considerable number of agricultural settlements, most of which are quite flourishing'. “In fact,” he added,' "the Jewish settlers have proved two things. First, they have shown that Palestine is capable of yielding good results, and. secondly, that the Jews can bo good agriculturists. It is generally assumed that the Jewish people arc only trader* and shopkeepers, but they have achieved remarkable results as agricultural workers in Palestine.