WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 26, 25 October 1921, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By

Imogen.)

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. There is no charge for such announcements.—lmogen. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL A confirmation service was held in St. Luke’s Church, Greytown, on Sunday last, when eleven girls and seven boys were presented by tho Rev. G. W. Dent, tho vicar. The Bishop of Wellington confirmed the candidates, and also preached nn appropriate sermon to a very largo congregation.

The lion. G. J. Smith, M.L.C., has tent his residence at Opawa to His Excellency the Governor-General as a ViceRegal residence from November 3 (states the Christchurch “Press").

Lady Boys returned to Christchurch at the end of last week from a visit to Wellington.

Miss Alison Jennings (Christchurch) is visiting Wellington and is the guest of Mrs. Lever.

Lady Findlay is visiting Christchurch.

Lessons on current events, says an’ English writer, are increasingly popular in the larger English girls’ schools. To the minds of many of tho older women at present it is wonderful tho amount of time which was spent in the schools of their youth in. teaching them about things of no importance whatever. The dates and wives of English kings, “facts’’ about King John’s surfeit of lampreys and Alfred’s burnt cakes, Canute's rebuke to his courtiers, and a mass of information about geographical names only, were crammed into girl pupils, and much time was spent in drawing maps and, perhaps, diagrams of leaves, Howers,’ etc. Current events were never heard of at all, unless through casual conversation between. parents and friends, and much that was really educative was missed. A definite plan of a weekly collection of events from tho newspapers, intelligently following some of the big questions of the day, would make the girls far better educated women than much of the routine work which used to be so dear to the hearts of school teachers. Some schools here follow the current event plan to a certain decree, but there might be more of it in ° these days of big changes in the world.

The death occurred suddenly last week of Mrs. Fairweather, wife of Mr. I l ’. E. Fairweather, of Stronvar and "Homelands," New Renwick Road (says the “Marlborough Express"). She is survived by her husband and seven children, tho eldest of whom is Airs. H. E. Loe, of “Urebrook” (East Coast), - and. the voungest a girl of nine. The late Airs. Fairweather was born at Gust (North Canterbury) 51 years ago, being tho second daughter of Mrs. Gardner and the late Mr. G. G. Gardner, of "Cleveland. Three years ago Mr. and Mrs. i'airweather went to Marlborough to live.

The American newspapers are making a feature of what they describe as tho psychological separation of two fabulous fortunes. It has been announced that Harold McCormick and his wife, Edith Rockefeller McCormick, are living apart. There is no scandal behind the breach. The separation, follows on Mrs. McCormick’s devotion to the teachings ot her European instructor’s psychology. Dur-, ing the eight years she lived in Zurich studying synthetic psychology her husband became less and less impressed with his wife’s 'beliefs, and more interested in the projects of the Chicago Opera Company. Ou Her return All's. McCormick brought with her a number ot psychological experts from Zurich, including Dr. Hoffman and his co-worker, Dr Carl Jung. Mrs. M'Cormick tells her friends that she intends to convert Chicago to her beliefs. Harold lowler MeCormiek wlis born in Chicago in 187-. He is the son of Cyrus Hall the inventor of the reaping machine. He married the daughter of-Mr. J. D. Rockefeller in 1895.

The monthly meeting of the Wellington Central Union of tho W.C.I.U. was held in the Y.M.C.A. on last, Mrs McDonald, president, in the cha r. Mrs.’ Johnstone Wright, president of the District Union, attended and invited the members of the Central Union to attend the annual meeting of the D ist ™? Union in December. Mem hors were.asked to remember the jumble sale to held in the Constable Street rooms in November. The principal business ot the meetin" was to receive the report of tl delegates to the District Convention recontlv held at the Lower Hutt. Misof the Lowin'Hutt Union and to the generous hospitality extended to the delegates.

The engagement is announced between Miss Betty Abraham, second, daughter of Mr and Ms. Lionel A. Abraham, Palmerston North, and Mr. Rupert W. Ashworth, of Ngapaonga, Te Kuiti, secoiid son of Mrs. Ashworth and, the late Mr. M A. Ashworth, of Bodenham, Heiefordshire.

The wedding took place at hst week of Miss Lilian* la y 800 th, second daughter of -li- L. ..„ 0 ’ i? WH-rirana to Mr. John George 1 • Pilcher, only son of Mr. and Mrs. . V cher of Nai Nni. The ceremony took place at the residence of the bridegroom s Jrents and was attended by near re - tives and friends, The Rev. J. McCaw officiated. The bride, who was. gnen nwnv bv her brother, Ml., Booth, wore a tailored costume and lemon pX’e. hat, and carried a bonnet of anemones, and fei n. Mis y Pilcher (sister of the bridegroom) nas in attendance, and wore apricot «r_i de chine and black picture hat. Her 1-ouquet was of froesms, nno’nones, an fern. Mr. E- Hall (cousin of the bDde croom) was best man. Tho usual toa. were honoured at the which was held later. Ml-. • j„ t v who received the guests, wore a dark tailored costume and hat to match.

The death occurred on morning at her residence at Island Bay Mrs Hampton, wife of the Rev. D. O. Hampton, formerly of Carterton and Mas. terton. Mrs. Hampton, who was bom in Canterbury G 1 years ago, had made many friends in the various parishes of which her husband was vicar including Queenstown, Milton, Green Island, and Carterton. They had lived for some years past at Island Bay. The illness which resulted in Mrs. Hamptons death commenced nearly two years ago, and she boro much suffering uncomplainingly. Mr. Hampton himself is in poor health. The family includes Miss Vida Hampton (of Mnsterton), Miss Ella Hampton (Wellington), Mr. Wilfred Hampton (Nikau), and Mrs. Richmond Beetham.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Martin (Manchester, England) are spending a few months in New Zealand, and at present are in Christchurch.

Mrs. Zohrab is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Balfour Mabin at Onacro.

Miss Gavin has returned to Waitara from Wellington.

Mrs. W. .1. Penn, Mrs. T. P. Anderson and Miss Brewster have returned to New Plymouth from Wellington.

At the annual meeting of the Victoria League in New Plymouth on Friday night, Mr. C. Denny-Brown, on behalf of tho members of the council, made small presentations to the president (Mrs. C. 11. Burgess) and tho secretary (Mrs. F. S. Johns) as an expression of appreciation of the splendid work they had done for the league.

Mrs. James Mackenzie (Karori) is visiting Mrs. Kerr, New Plymouth.

Divorce is easy, and in no sense a di»grace in tho Philippines. Tho dowry or bride price is returned, unless the husband is demonstrably at fault, in which case it is retained as compensation for the injury inflicted. Everything is restored as well as may be to the antenuptial status, and each party is free. Ono tribo assesses a fane on the spouse whose disposition or conduct is responsible for the dissolution of a marriage; this is in extinction of the mental anguish caused' the innocent mote. A payment called gibu must be made by the widow before reinarriago is permitted. Failure to pay it would lie an affront to the deceased wife or husband, and her or his kin. The Queen’s Doll House.

I hear that a number of our most distinguished artists, architects, painters, sculptors, and decorators are combining together to create a, model miniature) house which will bo expressive of the art of the time for presentation to the Queen, who is taking the liveliest interest in the details, states a writer in the "Manchester Guardian.” This doll’s house will bo about eight feet high, and will be designed and furnished to represent, as far os is possible, the do most iu civilisation of 1921. Tho architect who will superintend all details is Sir Edlwin Lutyens, the designer among more ini-' portant things of the Cenotaph in Whitehall, and he will have the expert cooperation of a number of famous artists, including Mr. Sargont, Sir John. Lavery, and Sir William Orpen. The artists will paint miniature portraits of the Royal Family, which will adorn the walls of the tiny rooma. A full-lengthi portrait, three inches high, by Mr. Sar-, cent shoud be something worth seeing Tho ceilings will also bo decorated with paintings. Sculptors of note will make miniature statues, and tho most expert decorators will design and execute the furniture, carpets, wallpapers, and hangings. This will be more than a record of°the home beautiful. It will be, or at any rate it ought to be, a model on; which house decoration schemes of the immediate future will bo based. A ‘ tour do force" of this kind has been done both in England and in France in the eighteenth century, and there are two elaborate dolls’ houses on view att South Kensington just now of extraordin-' ary historical interest, showing not only the architecture, furniture, and domestic methods of the period, but all the utensils in miniature, down to the very paper knives and watchmen’s rattles.But nothing, so far as I know, has ever been attempted on quite the same scale in the rank of tho artists. The house should be of the greatest historical value, and it is to be hoped l that it will be publicly exhibited. Ito conception is a great compliment to the Queen, whoso interest in houses and housing is very well known.

A HELPFUL SOCIETY PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The annual report of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, every year demonstrates the necessity for such a society, as it is an intermediary between tho miserable and oppressed ana the law courts. Oftentimes cases are settled peacefully by its means and many little children are protected from, cruelty or removed from unsuitable surroundings. That “evil is wrought by want of thought” has been many times (proved by the intervention of the society’s officials, and the very pointing out of this fact has been enough to remedy things. Tho report shows that further advice and assistance have been given in many cases already dealt witn in previous years. The honorary solicitors have been consulted in 62 cases; •< cases necessitated' Court proceedings, in 11 of which the society was successful, 9 settled out of Court, and 3 withdrawn. The total cases amount to 134, is stated that there is a decrease in the number of cases of desertion of wnea and children. “The committee, says the report, “wishes to draw attention ouco more to the urgent necessity tor alteration in legislation to admit of improvement in tho status of women and children.” Women justices of P«ce are mentioned as eminently desirable, and the increasing numbers in other paits of the world are mentioned. Stricter censorship of the kincmatograph is again asked tor. It is urged that the law should be amended so as to give “ otllc }® of legitimate children equal rights in the guardianships of their children, pointing out thta while unmarr ed mother is the sole guardian of the child the married' mother has, legally, no rights. The appointment of an/ffilcer to receive all maintenance dues is also urged, the direct collecting being discontinued. Under the present arrangements Ch Approvai n of h the improved proposed legislation in child welfare VTTfind with the hope that Parliament will find time to discuss those matters at an eally 4 Thanks are expressed for all Rations, including the interest in tho estate of t e late Mrs. L. Rotheram, from the Macarthv Trust, and the Government Mention is made of the cx^ll^ n f e . h the work of Mrs. Wa'-ers, secretary of tl • society, and thanks are given to tho followin'’:—Hon. physicians and solicitors, and to the hon. auditor for their help; to the clerk of tho Magistrate^ s Court for valuable advice and assistance, to the superintendent, inspector and officeis of the Police Force, the Cffiaritnble A d Board, Alexandra Home, Anglican Homo for Girls, the Salvation Army, St ' Ambulance Nursing Guild St. He TTosnibil, tho Royal hew Zealand S ciety for the Health of Women and Children, Presbyterian Orphanage, Home of Compassion, Ladies’ Christian Asso . tion the Two-garment Society for ossistanco and kindly co-operation, and to numerous donors of clothing tor distresscontains a . 6il ’ I cc . r ° A Lf; bU \. a to tho splendid work of tho la-o Mis. > . R Atkinson, president of the society a tlie time of ’h« «?eath, with e = ons of deep regrX at her loss at the deaths of the Hon. J. G. W. Aitkei and Mr. T. Young, both generous and willing supporters of the ls f expressed. Many other matteis of in terest are dealt with in the i eport.