PROSE AND POETRY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 4

PROSE AND POETRY

Talk To Cercle Francois

The programme at the last meeting of the Cercle Fraucais, Wellington, was arranged by Mme. 0. Bendall, who contributed a charming talk on the prose and poetry of France, in which she drew a comparison between the stir and bustle of Paris and the soulful peace of a countryside in the T&uraine. Her native prejudice in favour of the Touraine was fully justified by the picture she drew of this “garden of France,” and of its eminent sous, the greatest of w’hom was Honore de Balzac. Mlle. Vanderwart earned applause by her skilful playing of the ’cello. She was accompanied by Mlle. Norah Gray in several pieces by d’Hervelois, Couperin, and Senallie. Mme. Betts-Vin-cent contributed songs by Rimsky-Kor-sakoff, Massenet and Senallie, playing her own accompaniment, and Mlle. Jocelyn Walker gave a piano solo, “Die Fledermaus,” by Strauss-Gruufeld. Then followed a fascinating colour film shown by Mr. Richard Andrew. The pictures of Somerset, the Lake Country, Paris, Italy, and Poland, and of the New Zealand mountain flowers, were very interesting. Miss Coralie Smythson was hostess, aud supper was arranged by Mme. Kay and Mlles. McLay and Robertson. An interesting evening concluded with the singing of the Marseillaise aud the National Anthem.

Mrs, W. E. D. Davies, Christchurch, with her children is visiting her parents, the Ven. Arch deacon A. L. and Mrs. Hansell, Karori, Wellington. •