NOTES FOR WOMEN
DANCE IN ST. PETER’S HALL. A very jolly little dance was held in S't. Peter’s Hall, Ghuzneo street, last night, by a number of members of the Civil, Service belonging to various departments. The committee) consisted . of the Misses G. Alclnerney (Public Trust), 0. Marshall (Marine Department), A. M. Palmer (Education Department), E. 0. Richardson (Defence Department), Messrs R. Tovey (Government Insurance Department), G. Campbell (Customs), E. Eastgate, (P. and T. Department), E. Campbell (Audit Department), S. Wogan (Land and Survey Department), R. Potts (Public Health Department), and the secretary was Mr H. J. A. Berthold. The hall was filled, so many being present that there was quite a crowd while dancing. The decorations were chiefly of flags, hundreds being hung across the ceiling, while the walls were draped with green and yellow hangings. , The gay decorations and the pretty light frocks of the girl dancers made the hall a very gay scene indeed. Supper was served in the side-room, and was in charge of Air and Airs Oscar Johnstone, the tables being decorated with pink flowers. During the evening the Eos trot was danced, but the greater number were yet shy ot it. A novelty was introduced in the form of. a Cinderella dance, each man being required to find his partner by means, of hei shoe. This caused much amusement. The chaperons for the evening were Mrs J. D. Watt and Airs J. Keogh. The former wore grey crepe de chine, with touches of iridescent embroidery and a deep yellow coat, the latter being in black nbt over white silk. Aliss Mclnerney wore rose pink tulle, with flowered ribbon; Miss Marshall was in frilled white net; and Miss -Richardson electric blue charmeuso, with slight panniers.
A GREAT HOSPITAL NURSE. The ' London “Times” reports the death, on February I6th, at the Loudon Hospital, of Miss Luckes,-matron, aged 63. ■ ' Miss Eva Luckes received her early education at Cheltenham College. Her home was at Newnham. Sho was trained as a nurse at Westminster Hospital, later she was a night-sister at the London Hospital, and, for a few months, matron of the Children's Hospital, Pendlebury. In October, 1880, when she was only 26 years old, she w-as chosen, out of five candidates, to be matron of ihe London Hospital. The conditions of nursing at the hospital in 1880 were bad. A quarter of a century had passed since the Crimean War; but the hospital had not come under the influence of Miss Nightingale’s work. Neither the committee nor the staff gave proper attention to the comfort and the conduct of the nurses. For instance, the old minute-books of this period record that a nurse, drunk on duty, was merely cautioned by the committee; and a nurse who had been cruel to a dying child was only told that sho must bo more kind. Night-nurses were hired off-hand from a little crowd of women who used to come to the hospital of an evening, on the chance of a job. The nurses slept in dormitories, without cubicles, and with only one bath for 137 nurses. They were illfed ; they received 4d a day and beer, but their meals were few and far between ; the sisters, for instance, had no meal provided for them from the midday Sunday dinner to breakfast on Monday morning. There was no plan of teaching the nurses, no lectures, no classes, no library ; and there was no nurses’ home for them.
Within 24 hours of her appointment, Miss Luckes reported to the committee that the arrangements for nursing weito wholly inadequate. She asked that the number of nurses might be increased from 137 to 150. This was granted. To-day there are 800. Her first care was to improve tho feeding ef the nurses;, the old minutebooks refer again and again to ifhis beginning of better things. Next she had cubicles put up in ihe dormitories. Next, in her first year of office, she instituted for her nurses three courses of lectures —one by herself, on the general rules of nursing, and the other two, by a physician and a surgeon on the staff, on Aie special nursing of medical cases and of surgical oases. The plan of these lectures is still maintained, without change, at the hospital. A number of other reforms followed, including tho institution of training for private nurses, the teaching of sick-room cookery, the provision of sick-room accommodation for nurses, tho introduction of pensions for sisters and nurses and a preliminary training school for nurses. In 1805 the Eva Luckes Home was opened. There are now four nurses' homes. Miss Luckes Jived for the hospital. Her day’s work began at 7.30, and went on to XI or 12 at night. f.‘ne neither “went into society ' nor Ravelled. When she had to go awry for a rest, s*ne used to go to Box-bill; but even -there she would have her shorthand-writer or one of her, assistants to get through the arrears of incessant registering and correspondence. . People from all parts of the world wrote to *ncr for advice: and her private nurses wore encouraged to write once a week to her,' and she would write back to all of them. For 20 years past she. set apart one evening a week to be “at homo’’ to her nurses. Her personal knowledge of all. of them was amazing, and it was tho high standard and tone which she set before them that contributed more than anything else to the great reputation of the “London” training. Nothing but Aio best thing for the hospital would, dp for her. She .could accept defeat for. the moment, but would not compromise for second best; sho would only begin again, till she got the best. It is said of her that to-day all her ideas have been carried out and not one of them has been found to be ■a mistake. One of her former assistants writes of her that ‘‘her help and encouragement to her assistants, *ucr sisters, and nurses were beyond words. Her wise and loving counsel has smoothed many a rough bit of road, both for her present and her past workers. Her absolute and obvious sincerity created the utmost confidence in her judgment.” -Honours came to her —the first class of the Royal Red Cross; the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Lady of Grace); and, in 1917, the C.B.E.
FASHIONS IN COATS. Speaking of coats and coat frocks, n writer in 'the ’ “Australasian says ; An outstanding feature is the cnosidedness of so many designs. inis is found not only in the coat and coat frock, but in almost everything, including the hat, blouse, and skirts. Collars of almost everything they form Part °\ are square-pointed on one side, and taper away to nothing on the other. Again, skirts that have a wrappod-ipund aspect finish on one side with one sash-end. This influence on coats is seen in the way the front panel fastens oyer the other. . , . The present style of all-over coat Is intended as a substitute for the fur coats, of which most women have grown tired, principally because the fur coat has become so everyday, and in all kinds or cheap furs. To g-We the new coat credit, It must bo mentioned that the greatest attention is given to cut, although shape varies but little. Its first characteristic ts one of smartness and comfort. Its useful qualities are special and important, for they are realities that adapt the garment to wear at any moment for any occasion. The size of. the collar invites attention. Some attain the dimensions of a cape, and are so accommodating as to be ready to adapt, themselves to close and high fastening about the neck when so desired. Then, though there appears to be abundance of fullness in the coat, it bangs straight, limp, and clinging. This aspect, with the'addition of great variety in the belt, is a feature distinctive and becoming. In fact, they are details helpful in no small degree to the "non-slim." The coat combining lur and fabric Is very luxurious. The mingUngs encountered are chnrmeiise and fur, gaberdine and fur, cloth and fur, serge and fur. The effect is in all cases rich and original, and at a glance clearly illustrates how easily a fur coat can be done without, and how clumsy it mobs side by side with the new product. Seal fur shows with the most grace on most woollen materials. Very frequently the fur foot-band is half a yard wide, end where it is connected with the material It is cut in Vandykes. The collar, culls, belt, and often the pockets, are of 11 e fur. There appears to be no garment so ready to adapt itself to fur of sleek effect as the coat with all its other attractive possibilities. And what is even more gratifying is that no other fur is necessary—no muff, no tippet. The collar Is high enough and full enough tor warmth on the coldest day, and the sleeves are wide enough .to tuck the hands in to warm; besides they come U> nearly the knuckles. As a background upon which to work dainty ideas and trimmings, the cuepiece frock is ideal. Its otherwise simple arrangement and its dressy unbroken whole attain for it a purpose peculiar to itself. Though not altogether an inexpensive garment, it is one that can he made so, for it can easily be put together home. It may he a simple frock of serge, gaberdine, velveteen, or cloth, or may ho of satin, surah, charmense, or velvet. Clover arrangements of stitching are a finish capable of so diverse design that it may he said to be used in' all ways and in any way—up and down, around, slanting, in points, to simulate buttons and pockets. A litjde lace and lawn may bo added in the form of collar, chemisette, and cuffs. On these may be found the addition of fur, braid, heads, silk embroidery, and such like. In illo working together of two materials Hie coat frock should become more popu'ar than over, for there never was a design so successful in utilising two short lengths of fabric. The ample waist, roomy sleeves, ankle-length skirt, and becoming, open, airy neck form the secret of the dress artist, whose ambition is not only to design a dress, but to know ‘that it is fit to wear.
COMMUNITY KITCHENS. Tie subject of community kitchens has become a live question even in New Zealand, and the Labour Department in Wellington is credited with possessing a scheme ready to launch. In England the tramways were used, and a tramway ear visited three centres each day, in the city of Halifax, England. The tramway car, in its kitchen fittings epitomises the utilitarian. and materialises the phrase “multum in parvo" Isays an English exchange', since it contains three large ovens, three excellent steamers, four heating rings—to accommodate large cans of soup, vegetables and sauce—a large boiler, and a serving counter. A menu was written on a board fixed on the outside of the tramway car. and a notice announced the date of the next visit to that particular area.
The food stowed into its receptacles, the car was backed into, a siding to enable another one to pass, and then followed. in tho. wnkn..of the latter... The.
way sendee. Hence the first stop one of 23 minutes. Cusxomers were al< ready waiting on the pavement, the driver put down, a long stool for tha convenience of vouthful buyers, the cqn< ductress sold tickets, and the two ISla* tional Kitchen assistants served expodla tiously the 331 portions demanded. The time being nearly 12 o'clock and a passenger tramway-car approaching, the National Kitchen car had to move on to its next stopping place—on a “loop.” Here 27S portions were served in the half-hour before the car went to its final post, at a terminus, lha average number of portions served each day- is over 700. The venture pays, but it calls for carei fnl management. And that it most oh 4 viously gets, since very popular jan* roll at 2d the large portion, soup at Id per pint, delicious steamed dumplings at Id each, and a prodigal helping of meat pie for 5d were some of tnq good things offered.
From a personal standpoint, saj’s .M writer in the “British Weekly, ’ ’ the most interesting of President Wilson a engagements was his visit, on the last Sunday of the year, to the scene of hia grandfather’s ministry in Carlisle. The most impressive thing (he quotes' the Carlisle correspondent of the ‘ Manchester Guardian” as saying”) was the service which President -Wilson attended in the little Congifcgational chapel now used by tbo doscend&utsi of bis grandfather’s congregation. It was remarkable, not only because tb© President attended it and spoke, but because the Bishop of Carlisle, Dr Diggle, shared the pulpit with the pastor.” While in Carlisle the President visited Cavern. Jish Place and inspector the pillared house which Thomas Woodrow (hit grandfather) built, and in which he lived until his departure from England.
Sister Dorothy Feneley, _of Sydney, who was a trained of St. Vincent’s Hospital, whero she was theatre sister before en-' listing in 1917 for military service, has returned. For almost two years sho, has been in Salonika, attached to the, /50th General Hospital, No. 2 Unit, an English ho'spital staff from New South Wales, with Matron Beryl Camp* bell in_ nursing command. Whilst on duty, Sister Feneley met many well* known Australians, among them Sergeant Olivo Kolso King, whose work for the Serbs has been stupendous, and who was at the time visiting her friend. Sister Duify, at the hospital mes.s That Greeks, Sister Feneley says, are wonderful sufferers, and endure pain, with stoical patience, and the way in which they fought in the big “stunt” just before the signing of the Armistice made! up for any previous indetermination on their part. Salonika itself, she says, ic n. quaint old place, tho streets paved with cobble-stones, and stalls punctuating the highways, in addition to tha big bazaar. Old Olympus, in the distance, covered with eternal snow, makes tho Greek gods seem near and more than mythical, and from tho top of Kotos Gallipoli could be seen in the distance. Home colours apphar monotonous after the exuberance of brilliance in the fields surrounding thg town. Nothing could describe tho hue of the sky nor the changing tints of tho sea. where the bathing was one of tho joys of existence. In the early mornings the nurses would go into the fields and return with armloads of pop* pies and cornflowers, and the brilliant blooms of the native cactus. In spite of the frequent vanrah, the terrible wind which made life a misery for the three days it lasted, the hard conditions, strenuous work, and the fow pleasures available, tho nursing staff of the 50th spent the time happily enough—they were famous for unity and good fellowship. Salonika, like the rest of the world, 'went mad when tho armistice was signed. Tho cosmopolitan population crowded tho streets, singing its many native songs, and using tin cans as instruments. Every “tin Lizzie” and lorry in the place was requisitioned, and for a whilo pandemonium' reigned. Sister Feneley came home via “Blighty.” She travelled by “rapi'de.” En route she spent a short time in Homo and Pans, and was a month in London before embarking on the Delta, for Australia. She s a daughter of Mrs A. J. Lindsay and the late Mr P. Feneley, of Maitland. Two of her brothers, Cecil and Paul, enlisted with tho A.1.F., the former, who was killed in Franco last year, just after passing his' final law examinations. Paul is still on service. -Mr Lindsay is also at tibws 1-- - - -
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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 8
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2,633NOTES FOR WOMEN New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 8
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