MISS HODGE SPEAKS AT WOMEN'S LUNCHEON CLUB

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 10, 5 October 1937, Page 5

MISS HODGE SPEAKS AT WOMEN'S LUNCHEON CLUB

Members of the Hastings Women 's Luncheon Club enjoyed a particularly interesting meeting yesterday when Miss Hodge told most .delightfuily about life in Germany in pre-war days. The meeting was the second to last this year and the president, Mrs A. E. O'Meara, reminded. members that it had been decided that the last meeting be held in the evening with tea followed by a picture party, the date to be arranged later. The luncheon table was -prettily decorated with tiny vases of blue scillas and. floating bowls of pale purply pansies, blue and white scillas and maidenhair fern. Mrs O'Meara introduced Miss Hodge to the members who listened with great interest to all that the speaker had to tell. Miss Hodge said that the flrst great adventure in her life was a trip to Gormany just after she left school. She said that she had always been fond of languages, and realised that the be-st way to perfect thern was to stay in the country in which they were spoken. The particular part of Germany to which she went to teach the youngest daughter in an old aristocratic family was in the east where Germany bordered Russia. Here most of the people were large land-owners living in large threestoried houses which were often known as castles. When Miss Hodge arrived at her new home she could not speak German and her pupil could not speak English, so for severai mdntlis Freneh had to be their medium. "In Germany the seasons bring sharp and sudden changee," said Miss Hodge, "and in the winter tinie we were often snowed in, the snow sometimes being over the dining-room window thougft this room was on the lirst floor with severai steps leading up to the house." Sometimes we rode to church on sledges on top of the snow and in doing so rode over the tops of the hedges. Wild boars and great stags came close to the house in. winter when food was scarce. Next to the house was a large cattle stable housing 100 cattle and these were only let out for the month of August. ' ' When the snow melted spring came suddenly and pear, plum and cherry trees planted along the main road were a lovely sight when in blooin. Like most continental climates the winter was very cold and the summer very hot. ' ' Miss Hodge said that festivais were kept with much gaiety and Ohristmas time was always purlicularly bright. Eor some time beforehand ail the members of the house were very busy and mysterious and then on Ohristiuas Eve everyone enjoyed a wonderful dinner followed by the opening of many beautifui presents. A tall Ohristmas tree stood in the centre of the room and was decorated with red roses, candles and "angels' tears" but tho presents were placed separatcly on tables for each person. Ohristmas Day itself was rather a dull day though, of eourse, the celebration customs varied in the different provinces. Other festivais were also gaily colebrated, Easter time^accoinpanied by the hunting for Easter eggs, and Whitsuntide wnen all varieties of gingor-bread wero eaten. Miss Hodge kept her Iisteners entertained for a very pleasant half-hour and very hearty thanks 'were extendcd to her for her interesting and delightful talk. Those present were: Mrs A. E. O'Meara, Mrs Selwyn Chambers, Mrs A. F. Glenny, Mrs EV T. Hull, Mrs H. Macdonald, Mrs E. Millson, Mrs L. G. Thomson, Misses S. Lincoln, M. Holmes. E. Heenan, A. Railey, M. Winfield, M. Brandon-Jones, M. Robertson, J. LovellSmith, V. Hoskins, C. Lowe, N. Diamond. M. and ,E. Treneman.