SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 19661, 14 September 1927, Page 14

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Mrs Leslie Mills returned yesterday from a trip to England. Mrs White, who has been staying with her parents, Sir George and Lady White, has returned to Timaru. Miss G. Gray gave a very pleasant luncheon party at the Tudor Hall for Miss Barnett, this week’s bride Miss. Nellie Scanlan, one of New Zealand’s foremost women journalists, and a regular contributor to the ‘Free Lance,’ has just left for a tour to the Near East and London. It is reported that a Mohammedan Tartar woman has been appointed as a ludgo in tho Crimea. Dr Maria Hageincyor, of Cologne, has been appointed district and provincial judge, being the first woman to hold such a position in Germany, Miss J. Taib gavo a morning tea party at tho Tudor Hall yesterday in honor of Miss Barnett. Other guests included Mrs G. Barnett, Sirs J. Hudson, Mrs L, Hudson, Misses V. Grey, B. Oram, G. Gray, Hunt, Burt, Elsom (Christchurch), Watts, J. Barnett, N. Moloney, L. Barnett, and E. 1)1010110)'. The newest lire screens for the fireplace in summer are very decorative. This one is made with a _ tiny black wooden platform, with a piece, of gold brocade (or any colored material to match your cretonnes) fixed to a frame and attached to tho base. A jar of flowers or leaves can stand on the platform. This could easily bo made at home if you have a carpenter in the family. Tho Bcdcasflc dances held every Wednesday in St, Joseph’s Hall, in aid of the Old Boys’ stall at the forthcoming carnival, continue to attract many young people, who are personally welcomed by "Brother Moore. For tho same good cause a fancy dress dance for all ages will bo held on the last Monday of this month. Mrs Macky, of Auckland, well known to members of tho League oi New Zealand Pemvornen as the energetic promoter and secretary of tho association, and to tho public at large as the authoress of ‘ Adventure and Other Poems,’ has just completed another little book, ‘Broken Light,’ which is being published in England. At the recent Auckland competitions Miss Doris Merser gained first prize hv reciting Mrs Macky’s poem ‘Lady of tho Powder and the Paint.’ Lady Ferguson’s last letter gavo_ details of tho huge ineeting of th* British Medical Association held in Edinburgh in July. Over 6,000 were present, and at most social functions—of which, of course, there were many—tho crush was something to be remembered. English butter does not meet with Lady_ Ferguson’s approval, for, besides being a good deal dearer than tho New Zealand commodity obtainable there (2s 2d per lb as compared with Is 9d), it hasnot nearly such a good flavor. Sir Lindo and Lady Ferguson have booked passages on'tho Otranto, and expect to be hero probably somewhere in February, after spending some months on tho Continent. A famous character in American history, Mrs Victoria Claflin Woodhnll Martin, sister of Lady Cook of Tennessee, died on Juno 9 at her home near Cheltenham, aged eighty-nine. IICI IC fought strenuously for tho vote m America, sent a. memorial to the United States Congress in 18. I), lectured throughout tho United States, and, in 1572, was nominated lor the United States Presidency by the Equal Rights Party. Two visitors of more than usual interest are in town for a day or two. I refor to those intrepid motorists,

Mrs Saudford and Miss Christie, who, having toured the whole of Australia, are now “doing” New Zealand. From here they go on to Invercargill; then later comes South Africa and tho Cape to Cairo. Mrs Saudford (who in spite of two broken lingers, pluckily kept the wheel) was educated at tho Dunedin Girls’ High School. They were given au ovation yesterday morning on their arrival at the garage of Messrs Hislop and Gibson. The Mayor (Mr Taverner) made a happy little speech of welcome (Mrs Taverner was there too), and Mr W. WMght on behalf of tho Otago Motor Club. Evidently some ladies are not very clear as to the difference between “mine” and “thine.” The women’s rest room, recently opened, is suffering from depredations. Many toys were given to the children’s room, and so much enjoyed by the little ones! A lingo cat, a big white rabbit with rolling"’ eyes, and "other pets are no more, aiid as children do not come without adults, it is obvious that the blame rests with tho latter. It is a thousand pities that generosity should be abused this way, and one can only hope that this paragraph readies the eyes of the erring ones, so that restitution may bo made.

Tho monthly meeting of the executive of tho Girl Guides’ Association was held recently in the luncheon room of the Otago Women’s Club, with Mrs Death in the chair. There was a very good attendance of members. Belore business was transacted, Mrs Death spoke feelingly of tho loss the association had sustained in tho passing away of one of its vice-presidents, Mrs TapIcy. A motion of sympathy was passed to Mr Tapley and members of tho family, all present standing in silence for a few minutes. A letter was received from the divisional commissioner, Baidutha, thanking tho association for its enp, donated for competition among South Otago Guido companies. Favorable reports wore presented from the various delegates.

’The weekly lecture of the Women’s Class in tlio'W.E.A. was devoted to a study of Dr Rivers, one of the most interesting figures in the history of modern science. Ho showed the true scientific spirit, in that ho was always willing to examine his beliefs in the light of new discoveries. He was profoundly interested in the development of human nature, and in tho birth of civilisation, elaborating, after years of inquiry, his belief Siat this had taken place in Egypt. Years of residence and observation in Melanesia impressed upon him tho idea that every society is surrounded by institutions and beliefs which, though once useful, are now uselcs, obsolete, and even dangerous, but difficult to destroy because of their venerable sanctity. The lecturer quoted extracts from Professor G. Elliott Smith and H. J. Massiughani in support of the contention that many of our beliefs in the cruelty and quarrelsomeness of human nature, and m the influence of fear and crude selfinterest, are founded on fallacies which cannot Vie corrected without historical retrospect.