WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 25, 24 October 1921, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR*

(By

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Mrs. Cotter (Hobson. Street), with her sisters, the Misses A. and L. Jackson, are visiting Auckland. Mrs. G. D. Greenwood, who came to Wellington with Mr. Greenwood for the races, will leave on her return to Christchurch this evening. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Speedy (Hutt) are visiting Rotorua. A very nice handbag was presented to Miss Fleming upon her retirement from the position of waitress at the Returned Soldiers’ Hostel, after holding it with much credit for the past two years. Mr. Jtimes Bowen, who was selected to make the presentation, offered some appreciative remarks, as also did Mrs. Kirby, the matron. All the residents deeply regret Miss Fleming’s departure from the staff of the hostel. .. ‘Squad practice and artificial respiration fgrmed the work of the evening at the last meeting of the Wellington Nursing- Division, under the supervision of Acting-Corps Superintendent Mr.’Hislop. Mrs? Moorhouse presided-, and at the conclusion of the practice spoke a few words of hearty encouragement and good wishes to the members of the division, who are. to take part in the ambulance competition to-day. Much interest was shown in a novel effort to provide lunch for over 700 girls and the staff of the Wellington Girls’ College last Thursday. Dainty lunches were made up and sold by the girls of the commercial department. In addition, cakes, sweets, and drinks given by the girls of the same department, wore .to bo bought at tastefully-decorated stalls. The experiment proved a great success, as the expeditious serving of the wellmade and wholesome lunches demonstrated the practical organising ability of the commercial pupils. Dr. Annie 11. Abel, Professor of History at Smith College, Massachusetts, is visiting Wellington at the present time and is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Johannes Andersen, - Karori Road. She will leave towards the end of the week for Australia.. Dr. Abel, Professor of History at Smith College, Massachusetts, is to be entertained at the Pioneer Club to-mor-row evening, when she will give an address. Members are urged not to miss ’ the opportunity of hearing so/ interesting a visitor to tliis country as Dr. Abel. The death occurred at the Masterton Public Hospital on Saturday morning of Mrs. William Keeble, at the age of 55 years. Deceased, who, was born in Denmark, had resided in Masterton for over 50 -years. One son, Mr. Alfred Keeblo, of Wellington, and a daughter, Mrs. C. Mills, of Masterton, are the . only surviving children.

■* French Evening at the Girls’ College. A French evening, the programme ft . which was arranged by the pupils ( * Mademoiselle Techeremissinoff, was he] • last Thursday in the Central Hall of tl ~ Wellington Girls’ College. There was large - and appreciative audience of pa ents and friends of the girls. The evei ing was opened• by the singing of "Tl Marseillaise" by a group of girls, an then followed a number of bright, lift] plays and recitations, and between th items two pianoforte solos and. a Scotc I dance. The pretty costumes and spoi taneous acting of the girls made the pr< gramme very attractive even to th of who did not understand French, and r( fleeted great credit on Mademoisell Techeremissinoff and the girls who helj ed to organise the entertainment Quaintily decorated programmes designs by the girls, and home-made sweets wer sold during the evening. A Visitor to Wellington. A distinguished visitor to Wellingto: at the present time is Dr. Annie H Abel, Professor of History at Smith Col lege, Northampton, Massachusetts, th largest institution in tho world for th higher education of women. In additio. to history as it is generally regarded, Di Abel is greatly interested in Anglo-Saxo: colonisation, of which s'he has made : special study, and she has written sev eral standard works upon this subject She is also the writer of several Hook; upon the political relationship of thi North American Indians to the Govern ment of the United States, Canada, an< Great Britain, and while in this country is following the same line of researci in regard to the Maori people and the Government. Dr. Abel is an Englishwoman who hai lived for some time in America, and her researches into her special subjeci have increased her natural belief in th( pou;er for good that Great Britain exercises in the affairs of the world. She says that any form of internationalism that would reduce the voting power oi Great Britain to such as those possessed by small nations when dealing with matters of dispute between the Poweres, she would not advocate, because Great Britain had sacrificed more and had more to uphold in the 'forward march for civilisation and liberty. Internationalism had its dangers just as nationalsm had, and she cited the small nations of Europe cawed out of the Austrian monarchy. “They really have no special claim to be considered separate nations. They cannot stand alone, and their creation has only added to the complications of Europe,”. she declared to an interviewer. Titrning to matters in this country, Dr. Abel dealt with t'he idea that is cherished by quite a few New Zealand- . ers —that New.,Zealand leads the world, or that, in her space of 70 odd years of 'colonisation, she has achieved more than any other country. "They should compare New Zealand with some other countries,” she said,-"and they would find that after all. making allowances for different climatic and other conditions New Zealand comes a little way down in the list.” Frankly/ she was somewhat disappointed that, with its climate and its wonderful resources, more had not been done here. She believed that in their readiness to consider new ideas and methods the people of this country were more like the Americans than the English. One of the differences between American women and Eew Zealand women was, so far as she could judge, -a wider realisation of service for flio public welfare on the port of the for. mer. One of the matters to which American women were giving their attention now that they had become enfranchised was tho welfare of women and children, and in that,- field there was much to be done, particularly in regard to children. As an instance, she stated that in canned tomato factories in the south there was quite a good deal of child labour, not even children of four or five years of age being exempt from work.

Races at Trentham. The weather for the races at Trentham on Saturday was delightful for the greater part of the day, in fact almost summer-like in its warmth, and the country (looked very green end fresh after its prolonged rain-bath. It was astonishing how quickly the ground had absorbed the rain, as beyond a slight. sponginess there was little to suggest the heavy downpour of the previous day and night. Coats and skirts seemed to be the popular wear, with navy blue as a favourite cojour, and tho useful and becoming coat-frock was also frequently ■ to be seen, in some cases heavily braided. Hats were small or large, according to the fancy of the wearer, and furs were etill necessary, as towards the end of the day the wind became decidedly biting.

Their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral and plseLuntess Jellicoe and the Hon. Lucy Jellicoe attended the > races. With them went a large party from Government House, in which were included Sir George Clifford and Miss Clifford, Colonel Robert Allan and Mrs. Allan (MJorrinsville), and .Miss Helen Barton. 0 The Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) also went out to Trentham, as did Sir Francis Bell. Lady Jellicoe wore a black-braided coat and skirt, relieved at the neck with a slightly medicishaped white silk collar, and a widebrimmed black hat, swathed with, royal blue-ribbon, ending in a bow at the front of the crown. The Hon. Lucy Jellicoe was in a biscuit coloured l coat and skirt, the latter accordion-pleated and straw hat to match, the upper part of the brim faced with blue, and edged all round with tiny pink flowers. Mrs. Allan was in. a navy blue coat and skirt with braided vest and collar, nnd black

hat touched with jade green; Miss Clifford, navy blue coat-frock with collar bordered with wide braid, and small black hat with a wing at one side; bliss Barton, navy blue and black straw hat:' Miss Harcourt wore a navy blue coat and skirt with stone-grey -ost and collar, and wide-brimmed black straw hat, trimmed around the ci*own with grey ospreys; 1 Mrs. Greenwood (Christchurch), navy blue coat-frock, patterned with a design in Bulgarian colours, opening over a skirt of black charmeuse, and high-crowned black hat; Mrs. Adams, black charmeuse and black-feathered hat; Mrs. W. G. Stead (Hastings), sealskin coat over a dark frock: and black hat, touched with yellow; Mrs. Longuet, navy blue braided frock, wide-brimmed grey bat nnd furs; Mrs. C. Richardson, fawn, touched with blue, and wide-brimmed hat of a deeper shade of fawn; Mrs. Moorhouse, black braided coat and skirt and black and white hat; Mrs. W. Bidwill (Featherston) ; Navy blue coat and skirt, highcrowned navy blue hat. trimmed with fruit, nnd furs; Mrs. T. M. Wilford, navy blue costume nnd jade greenfeathered toque; Miss Wilford, navy blue Tedingote frock, opening over a dovegrey accordion-pleated underdress, and black hat. trimmed with black fibbon; Mrs. C. BidwilT, grey coat and skirt, small black velvet hat; Mrs. Oran Beethom, (navy blue coat-frock, With striped black and henna collar, nnd small turban-shaped hat of mole panne, trimmed at the side with a drooping black ostrich feather; Miss Thurston, navy blue, with furs, and a brown hat; Mrs. Day, navy blue costume, small blue hat to match, and furs; Mrs. C. Wilson, brown coat and skirt and brown hnt; Mrs. Turnhull, navy blue braided costume nnd high-crowned blue hat, trimmed with ribbon, and brown furs; Mrs. J. Crawford, fawn coat nnd skirt, the latter accordion-pleated at the sides, small rust-coloured hat, and white furs; Mis. Clark, mole coat and skirt nnd mole hat,' trimmed with fruit; Mrs. Mnckellar, brown coat-frock and brown hat to match; Mrs. Bayfield, navy blue and navy blue hat to match; Mrs. Kcmber, fawn coat-frock and hyacinth-blue straw hat; Mrs. Guy Powles, dark grey costume nnd black hat. with white ospreys; Miss Lyra Taylor, navy blue costume, red straw hat, nnd furs; Miss Hall, brown charmeuse frock and rustcoloured hat. Among others who were present were: —Mrs. Banchop. Mrs. Sinclair Thompson. Mrs. Tringham, Mrs. lan Duncan and Miss I. Duncan, Misa S. Jackson, Mrs. Lionel Rhodes. Mrs. White, Mrs. Mirams, Mrs. DiggesSmith, Mrs. Tweed. Mrs. M. Gillon, Mrs. and Miss Joseph. Mrs. F. Nathan (Palmerston North), Mrs. H. Nathan, Mrs. A- Wylie, Mrs. Chilman, Mrs. and Miss Gore, Mrs. and Miss Stewart, Mrs. Walter Johnston, Mrs. IT. Miles, Mrs. S. Harcourt, Miss Adams, Mrs. J. B. Gaisford (Bulls), Mrs. G. M. Currie (Wanganui), Mrs. Moggridge (Blenheim!, Mrs. F. Newman (Wanganui), Miss Hammond (Masterton), Mrs. G. Hume (Fleathersflon), Miss Brewer and Miss Durie! (Wanganui), Mrs. Newligtn (Hastings),'Mrs. Mantes (Napier), Mrs. J. H. .Tefford,. (Hastings), Mrs. W. H. Phillip (Palmerston North), Mrs. Herdman (Auckland), and Mrs. R. Macdonald (Raumai).

Mrs. Besant in Paris. Describing the closing address of Mrs. Annie Besant at the Theosophical conference held in Paris, "Le Petit Parisian,” of July 27, says:—"The great amphitheatre of the Sorbonne proved too email to accommodate the large crowd of people who had been drawn there by the desire to hear Mrs. Annie Besant lec-

ture. It was a notable gathering. Round M. Appell, the rector of the university, who was seated in the front row, were gathered many of the highestplaced persons in Paris—the members of the Diplomatic Corps, those of the foreign colonies, and the scientists. On the platform behind the lecturers were seated tho delegates—representing thirtythree nations —who had been taking part in the Theosophical Congress, of which this was the closing address. When Mrs. Besant appeared, the entire audience nose and applauded with ardour and enthusiasm. The president of the Theosophical Society of France having intioduced the lecturer, Mrs. B»sant rose to speak. The address was given in French, the language used being of a rare purity. By' turns tender, authoritative. smiling or grave, she spoke of the evolution of living beings, of the reincarnation of souls, and of human progress, which whs due —according to the speaker—to their repeated incarnations in the world of matter, and of the suecessivo generations, which incarnate and pass onwards, acquiring, during their multiple existences, a profound knowledge of the Divine wisdom: a knowledge which enabled them to become the future teachers and guides of humanity, and to lead it towards ultimate perfection. Mrs. Besant spoke in burning words, her simple eloquence, rising at times almost to sublimity. Referring to those who had died in the Great War, and of their faith in the cause which had saved thn- world from the domination of ! a race which, being feeble of soul, based its supremacy on brute force alone, she assured her audience that these brave men would reincarnate in this world, and that they would be amongst those who would form the nucleus of the sixth race, and this race derived from the Aryans. Ce’.to-Latins, and Greeks, would begin a new cyclo of civilisation, and therefore of human evolution. The conclusion of the lecture was followed by ten minutes of indescribable ovation, which was renewed when Mrs. Besant appeared, on the street, as she quitted the university."