WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1926, Page 13

WOMEN IN PRINT.

Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Studholme (Fendalton) arc the guests of Sir Andrew and Lady Eusseli, Hastings. The Hon. D. Buddo and Mrs. Buddo have left for Christchurch. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Sim (Christchurch) are visiting Wellington. Mrs. Leicester (Kelburn) is visiting Napier. Mr. and Mrs. Salmond (Wellington) are visiting Christchurch. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. White (Blenheim) have returned from a visit to Australia. Miss Winifred Griffiths has returned from a visit to Napier. Mrs. Oliver Samuel, New Plymouth, who has been visiting Wellington, is returning to the North. Miss J. M'Neill has returned to New Plymouth from Wellington. A pleasant evening was given to a number of the members of the Wellington Lyceum Club by Professor Rani kine-Brown, who delivered a most interesting lecture on ancient Greek art, with some capital lantern slides, illustrating his story of the Parthenon. There was a good attendance, and all present were deeply interested and appreciative. Mrs. J. C. Andersen, president, introduced the speaker, and thanked him very cordially for giving the members so much pleasure, as well as a great deal of information, the result of his learning and research. A number of questions were asked and answered. Supper concluded a particularly successful evening. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Blundell, who returned by the Niagara after spending the winter in visiting Canada and California, reached Wellington yesterday, accompanied by their daughter, Mrs. Noel Nelson, who had been visiting Auckland. Numbers of authors have adopted Sussex as their. spiritual home, says an English writer. Kipling and Bolloc, E. "V. Lucas and Mrs. Dudeney, Sheila Kayo-Smith and Keble Howard, Andrew Soutar, Magdalen King-Hall and Mollie Panter-Downes by no means exhaust the list. The latest convert is John Galsworthy,, who, after years of seclusion at Manaton, on the edge of Dartmoor, came up to Grove Lodge, Hampstead, and now has taken Bury Hill House, on the outskirts of Arundel Forest. In speaking to a crowded assemblage of women in Dunedin about the League of Mothers, which she is establishing in New Zealand, Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson . said there was much more freedom demanded by,young people than there used to be, and it was to counteract these tendencies to revolt that the League of Mothers sought to strengthen home influences. They wanted to give advice and- help to the young mothers who joined as members. We lived in a difficult age, but it was an age which had tremendous advantages. More was being discovered every year among the minds and bodies of children. Young mothers had a tremendous lot to be thankful for that the older mothers never had. There was the Plunket Society, which they ought to thank heaven on their knees for every day. They wanted to do for the souls and characters of tho children v/hat the Plunket Society did for their bodies. Every year mothers had a better chance to make a better job of their tremendous task. They wanted this for the sake of the mothers, for the sake of the children, and for the sake of the country. Every country needed good mothers to make it great and stable. Mothers were always willing to learri more. The love of a country would never be higher than, the tone'of its women. The task before the mothers was so tremendous that no one .who realised it could afford to ignore any possible source of help. One of the ways in which she believed the league could help was through literature. They wished to bring before mothers modern ways of teaching children religion, and to make it possible for them to have the very best advice and help. Another reason for the existence of the league was to uphold the sanctity of marriage. It was on marriage that the home was built. We as a Christian community looked upon, or should look upon, marriage, as a most serious and solemn contract only to be undertaken after due consideration and with tho divine blessing. But they need only to look at the papers to see that there were a groat many people who did not look at it in that light. The League of Mothers stood for the very highest possible standard of marriage, and it urged the duty of bringing up children with right thoughts on marriage. (Applause.) Further, they wanted tho league to ensure religious teaching to the children. She knew the great work the churches were doing through the Sunday schools, but she knew that in many parts of New Zealand there were children who had no idea of religion of any kind and who did not even know the name of Christ. It was almost incredible, but she knew it was so. The League of Mothers should help to prevent that. It is very cheering to find that with the needs for social service the people to serve are found also. A "continuation company" of tho Boy Scouts, entitled the "Bovers," has been formed within the last three months, and tho senior boys from seventeen years onwards arc able to carry on the fine and interesting work which many relinquish reluctantly, when they leave tho Scouts. The Rovers have taken as their motto that of the Prince of Wales, "I Serve," and to show they are in earnest have made a capital start in organising a concert, which will be held at the Town Hall next Saturday, and which will be given free of charge to the Children of the various homes in and around Wellington. Many pleasures are offered in connection with this, for the Automobile Association has promised assistance in conveying the young ones to the concert, the Commercial , Travellers' Association and a number of firms have promised sweets and other assistance, and the whole afternoon promises joyfully. An evening programme will be given, and there tho public can assist this fine effort and give encouragement to the Rovers in their voluntary work. This has been well arranged, and an interesting item will be the presentation of a banner (given anonymously) by Sir Alfred Robin, Commissioner of the Boy. Scouts. Mr. C. Mcaehen (Eover mastor), at Ithaca, Thorndon quay, will give any further information, other than is advertised in this issue. Lady Astor has challenged the Communists and their talk of tho splendid conditions in Eussia by offering to pay the fare of any man and his family who would go to Russia for two years and risk being able to come home again if he wanted to, says an English writer. The challenge has been taken up, and Mr. Morton, of Liverpool, with his wife and family, will leave for Eussia at an early date. English authorities fear that Lady Astor's challenge will turn out^o be a boomerang, for naturally the Soviet authorities, will send Mr. Morton to excellent conditions, and he will return in tno yeais' time as an ambassador well fitted to convince the people of ling land of the Toys of a Soviet State. J-i*C*l- f V f^ f.^ f t*J»,s 4_.V*-* _r**^* *>■ *■ ■"-.■^^

The monthly meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (Miramar branch) was held in the Mothodist Church, on "Wednesday, 13th October, when there was a fair attendance. Beports were received from delegates to the New Zealand Alliance Convention, also the Women's Christian Temperance Union District Convention at Masterton. Being "Maori Day," the readings and discussions related principally to the union's work among the Maori women, and a collection was taken up in aid of this work. An exasperated man wrote to an Australian paper concerning polish_d floors,. and many of tho opposite sex will be in sincere agreement with his sentiments. There are few who have not "teetered" about miserably when visiting friends at hospitals, or in the houses of • thoss who like the appearance of extreme polish, having to keep their thoughts on their feet all the time for fear of disaster. Lady Kitty in the Adelaide "Observer" writes: "A prominent citizen adds what he calls a 'cordial curse' to the rug-on-polished-floors trouble # mentioned in this column last week. 'Why ever should it give any woman satisfaction to set a man trap like this about the house? My own wife sustained a broken arm from the same cause. And when pur rector heard of it he said grimly, 'Yes, I know. We had them laid about the house just once. But I assured my wife that if it happened again I would strew sand on the overpolished floors!' ' Mr. and Mrs. Freeborn Parsons, accompanied by their daughter, Mrs. Collyns, and Miss Collyns, arrived yesterday by the Ulimaroa after an enjoyable tour through Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are leaving for Benmore in a few days. Mussolini, the Dictator of Italy, is entering upon a ruthless anti-luxury campaign. Some time ago he formed a committee, of which the Queen of Italy was head, to devise a national dress for the Italians. He desired to force women to economise in dress, and to do away with extravagant styles. The committee is still consid.ring suggestions and has not yet,reached any decision. He has now got his Cabinet to issue a ban against the manufacture of pastries and luxury breads. One type of plain bread is to be manufactured only, and • any violation of the law will bo punished severely. He stated that the ban was in the interests of national economy. Mrs. Margaret Fellows, daughter of the tobacco magnate, Sir Frederick Wills, left estate worth £1,905,000, on which £094,000 is payable as estate duty. She made many generous bequests, and the residue goes to her daughter, Viscountess Kinnoull. A concert will be given by the Singing Circle of the Pioneer Club on Friday next at 8 o'clock at the club. The funds will bo given towards the purchase of a new piano. On Wednesday, 27th October, there will be another of the pleasant "lunclieon talks," at which Mr. Beale (the British Trade Commissioner) will speak. It is hoped that all members will make an effort to assist the singing members in their conceit by attendance, being' assured of a good programme. As a result of the new law in Sweden regarding the right of women to be appointed to practically all Civil Service posts, a woman doctor, Dr. Greta Muhl, has lately been made chief doctor of a large children's hospital in Malmo. The keen competition that preceded the appointment was followed with much interest all over Sweden. It marks a great step forward on the way to equal rights for men and women in our country. In Sweden a post of that kind has never before been held by a woman. Another victory was gained at the beginning of this year, when Dr. Ada Nilsson wasmade medical adviser to our chief Women's Training School (says Dr. Ingegered Palme in the "I.C.W. Bulletin"). Arriving in England from abroad used to be a delightfully simple affair, because, this being a free-trade country, the minions of the Customs took -cry little interest in your belongings, writes a London correspondent. Since the institution of the silic tax, however, this happy state of affairs has changed. Travellers arriving from the Continent, particularly feminine travellers, are regarded with dark suspicion, lest they may have new silk frocks or stockings concealed about them. If they have they must inevitably pay up and look pleasant, or a heavy fine will be likely to result. Australian travellers are in luck, hynvever, for the authorities have now decided not to tax such articles brought into England by visitors who are birds of passage, and not remaining in the country. After all, this is only fair, since such travellers must face their town ariff when they return home. The Customs authorities in Australia have the reputation of being rather fatherly and indulgent to tho returning wanderer, but in New York, it is said, true to the American gospel of hustle, they are liable to turn all your most private ' out of your trunks on the wharf, and leave you to put them back again.

Tho Chelsea Physic Garden provided Professor J. M'Lean Thompson with an open-air theatre for his Chadwick lecture on "The Plant as a Sanitary Engineer," reports the London "Daily Chronicle." Plants, declared the professor, knew all about the advantages of dovetailing long before man was created. Dovetailing of tissues is simply one of the many strengthening methods adopted in the course of evolution by many forms of plant life. The principle of reinforced concrete vas not invented by man, but by the plants. The perfect mechanical construction of plants is very wonderful and very beautiful. Think how the fabric of a large Union Jack is often torn ,ancl shattered in a storm. And yet in the same storm you will find the most delicate leaves come through it seathloss. Leaves are so perfect in their mechanical construction as to be able to resist tremendous strain and stresses. This is partly due to an elaborating system of veining, and to the hemming of the edges. Plants knew all about the advantages of hemming long before man had thought of tailoring. Man claims to. be an inventor. I know of only one thing in which he has gone one better than the plants—man invented the wheel. But then, you see,, man is a locomotive animal. In all their processes plants are highly efficient and most clean. In their method of feeding there is no waste, and everything is done in perfect silence. In all the most important functions there is no noise and no fuss. The sanitation, too, is perfect. Compare the cleanliness of plant life with the cleansing methods of animals. Plants'drain the soil, and the greenery of the world is the greatest purifier of the air. Plants, in fact, are the salvation of the atmosphere. A wide circle of friends will hear with regret of the death of an old and respected resident of Wellington, Mrs. Hughena Jessie Donnelly, widow of the late Marshall John Donnelly (formerly of Seatoun). Mrs. Donnelly was born at Porangia, - Waikato, in 1868, and was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. Sutherland, formerly of the Waikato, and later of Wellington. Mrs. Donnelly has lived in Wellington since 1870. She is survived by two daughters—Mrs. (Dr.) L. P. Haywood and Mrs. C. E. Boss, of Auckland. Her brother is Mr. H. J. Sutherland (Auckland), and her sisters Mrs. J. Siddells (Wanganui), Mrs. G. Avery (Hataitai), and Mrs. J. M. Jansen (Wellington). Mrs. Donnelly was of a most kindly and charitable disposition, and will be greatly missed by her many friends, and much sympathy will be felt with her relatives in their loss. The first women's institute in tin Auckland province was started at Swanson last week, when a meeting was held at the Swanson Public Hall. Miss Lewis, who was county organiser for Carmarthen, North Wales, gave an address on the objects of the country institutes, and Miss F. M. Girdler spoke of the work done by the organisation j throughout Canada. It was unanimously agreed that the movement should be started in Swanson, and the necessary constitution was formed.