SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 23681, 14 September 1940, Page 16

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

League of Mothers. The Opoho branch of the League of Mothers held its September meeting on Tuesday evening last, Mrs F. Every presiding over a satisfactory attendance. Three new members were admitted and

heartily welcomed into the branch. The thought for the month, brought by Mrs Murray, was as follows:—There was a time when we measured success in life by what wo have, but we now know that how we use what we have is true success as God judges success. Musical entertainment included two solos by Miss Haze! Walker and three pleasing numbers by the choir. The speaker for the evening was Miss Vida Barron, recently returned from a trip abroad. Having travelled in France and Italy and lived for some months in Germany, the speaker dealt with the pre-war conditions existing in these countries. “ Mothers in our free land are indeed fortunate,” said the speaker, “ compared with those older mothers of Nazi Germany, who ax - o on the whole a kindly, courteous people, hating the ruthlessness of war as we do, possessing those same ideals and aspirations for their children, and finding it difficult to adapt themselves to a new regime wherein their young people are controlled completely by tho State, which,

while pandering to their sense of importance and superiority, and making their youth training pleasant and interesting, _ completely subjugates them to a martial system which inspires them with wild enthusiasm, and to Hitler, whom they worship with blind intoxication.” Mrs Hinton Voiced the appreciation of the members to Miss Barron for her absorbing and enlightening address, and the singing of the National Anthem brought a profitable evening to a close. Social at Concord. At a most successful community evening held in the Concord School, Burnside, convened by Messrs J. T. Smellie and E. J. Stewart for the benefit of three local clubs, the Tennis Club, Ladies’ Social Club, and the School Committee nearly 250 people were present. An entertaining and amusing programme was provided, which included a fancy dress and hard-up parade and a “ mock court.” Competition winners were as follows :—Best fancy dress (ladies), Miss Gwen Stewart: best fancy dress (men), Mr Elmer Talbot; best hard-up (ladies), Mrs S. Gray; best hard-up (men), Mr D. Stewart; most original costume, Mr P. Rees; best couple (fancy dress), Miss A. Shrimpton and Mr E. Talbot; winners of euchre tournament were— Mrs Henry Moffat (ladies), Mr James Samson (men); Monto Carlo waltz,

Miss Gwen Stewart and Mr Frank Parata; lucky spot waltz, Mr and Mrs Knudson; meet your friends and neighbours competition, Mrs D. Poland and Miss Nellie Manson. Women Musicians. The September meeting of the Women Musicians was given over entirely to a programme of works by modern composers, and tho examples chosen for performance were, for the most part, compositions which are not often heard. The result was an evening of interesting

works, representing a wide selection of composers, from Percy Grainger to Prokokieff. The vital and beautiful ‘ Second Sonata for Violin and Piano,’ by John Ireland, was introduced by Mrs Campbell, who explained that it was written during the grimmest time of the last war, and when performed by Alfred Sammonds and William Murdoch was an instant success, as it evidently expressed in forceful and inspiring terms the mood of the times. Eacn performer briefly described her item and its composer. A vote of thanks was given by Miss Jessie Armstrong. The programme was as follows: — 1 Symphonic Dance No. 1)’ by Cyril Scott (arr. Percy Grainger), for two pianos, Ruth Moore and Dorothy Scott; songs—-‘ The Moon’s Soft Splendour,’ by Cyril Jenkins; ‘ A Piper,’ by Michael Head; ‘ Twilight Fancies,’ by Delius; ‘The Nightingale,’ by Delius, Miss Dora Drake; piano solos —‘Nocture’ (by Scriabin), ‘A Legend ’ (by Prokokieff), ‘ Gopak ’ (by Moussorgsky), Miss Marjorie Allan; ‘ Second Violin and Piano Sonata ’ (by John Ireland), Miss Ethel Wallace and Mrs Campbell; songs—‘ Beauty ’ (by Roy Agnew), ‘ Immanence ’ (by Rutland Boughton), and ‘ The Last Invocation ’ (by Percival Garratt), Miss Meda Paine; two pianos, dances —‘Gracia’ and ‘ Eitmo ’ (by Manuel Infanta), and ‘ Barcarolle ’ (by Norman Demuth), Misses Doris Ramsay and Mary Fraser. The Dunedin Business and Professional Women’s Club. On Monday last the Dunedin Business and Professional Women’s Club held its fortnightly meeting at the Tudor. An annual event is members’ evening, when papers are read or talks given by members of the club. Always interesting, this one proved no exception. Miss Molineaux, a Plunket nurse, spoke of the difference between the duties of Plunket and Karitane nurses, and gave interesting details of the ex tensive work done and outlying districts visited by the Plunket nursing staff. The famous Eisteddfod was described by Miss Parry (of Wales), who gave some idea of the curious garb worn by contestants, and the manner of conducting this thrilling musical festival. Coropa'risons of speech with the English anS Scottish were also made._ The club’s representative to the Dunedin branch of the National Council of Women, Miss F. Wood, gave an interesting account of the part being played by women of New Zealand and all other British countries in the matter of war service, special mention being made of farm work. . The lights and shades, straight lines and curves, depth of feeling, and all the charm that goes into the making of a picture were delightfully described, by Miss K. Salmond, the well-known Dunedin artist. Miss Robertson expressed the pleasure given to the club by these speakers.