RACE HATS IN THE RING

NZ Truth, Issue 1197, 8 November 1928, Page 19

RACE HATS IN THE RING

OOMEBODY — a man;, of course — has defined modern woman's dress as latlI 3 tude without longitude. And, unkind as that may be, the bevy of frocks illustrated on this page show just how much latitude we are allowed. Starting with our heads, brims can snuggle, sweep, or simply not exist—for the skull-cap, usually .either black or concocted of many-colored -petals, was specially invented for the .lucky . lass who neither : ifreckles nor igoes crayfish-colored under the ardor, of the sun. „.- . . ..... Legs. can't yet be said to be gone but not forgotten,- for very' few of the little suits of jersey, frieze or chenille which so becomes the sturdy, sporting, type of girl, quarrel with the conception that beauty is knee-deep. Evening gowns combine the principles of long and short attire by adding false length m the way of panels and flares to skirts which are really short enough to leave plenty of ease for movement. Most of

these "side-kicks" can be fasten- ' ed up out jmmmi&i^ of the way.

! Reform ßeceives THE Reform iParty— in the feminine' 1 gender— did its bit towards welcoming', home our. P:M.'s pretty • wife on the occasion of her" arrival at Auckland. . Dr. Hilda Northcroft (who presidents the Woman's National Council up there), Mrs. Maguire and Miss Melville, who may yet be going into' the same lobby with Gordon Gpates, and- other Reformers too numerous to mention, gathered together and presented their lady leader with a, cup of tea and a pretty bouquet. of pink Iceland poppies and pale-colored irises. ■ Mrs. Gpates (who is the most" unpoli-tical-looking of our politicians 1 wives —and that is. meant as "a pompliment) looked very nice m a dress of bronzegreen ring velvet, ■■: which shimmered like the skin of some burnished lizard whenever she' moved. . *' She has the art of graceful dressing very much at her command— nor is she I alone m th,at, as Dr. Hilda Northcroft 1 s pretty frock of Naples blue bore witness; . . ■ : ■■; ..■ ■.'■ *' ; ■■. .

Flowers— Wild or Tame MRS. FISHER, New Zealand landscape .gardener 1 and blossom specialist, also writes the gardening notes * for a well-known Wellington daily, thereby keeping many an outback garden trim and tidy.

. But her ideas on gardening don't extend m c r"e 1 y to formal borders and (flowers for vases. She has a genuine Jove for the bush beauties of New Zealand and tells- a rather .amusing" little story of ,an eic.iperience which- befell her, when, iri company with her son, she- : was;\gn -;

gaged m one of her. wiiawopa tramps. Two young ladies with; more enthusiasm than ariisityy, were .tearing dpwn the delicate strands of clematis>. which, as most people know, wither. as-soon;ias. picked. • .'■ . ■'■•;".. "". . •' ■.'-<: '.-. '. Mrs. Fisher 'murmured a. mild protest, which was received v gja;ssy: eye aiid stony ear by tKe : vandals.' .']■ '„ ' More clematis fell— "and. then," says Mrs. Fisher,' "I really did say-' what. I really did think." _, : '/ . ■

And a highjy uncomfortable young man "murmured: "Qh/ corned, along; mother," m the background. ". ' • .'■•"■ ' *:) ■..'■.■■•.•"'■;'■••"■"■ ' ' '■ Hobbles pff C'^X^u'- ! POLITICALi people have' \bepn fore- j v, 4 gaihe'ring m Auckland,); where> Mrs. C. " Maguire recently welcomed New South Wales', one! and; dhfyV woman', member of the House of ' Representatives, Miss Preston Stanley,' M.L>.A\! .

Mrs, Maguire, herself a candidate for Parliamentary honors; should find* herself m full; sympathy with ; this guest, who won "quite ' a bit of renown as a speaker and has otherwise done plenty of good -work for 'the 'women; of 1 her country.-'' ' ■". ■■ '. ' ■■ ■:■[ .->'.. ', -'- : v .. ■ _ , For eight years,, Miss Preston- Stanley was president of the • New South Wales Feminist Club— sounds fierce, doesn't- it?— but- she's just as much at her ease when speaking m;a dainty drawing-room full of pink and orange Iceland poppies. : ; ■ "Women," says I Miss Preston Stanley, "can't be expected to walk the road of life with hobbles on." She also says that they sha'n't, r if she andher fellowworkers have anything to do with the matter. ' ' . ■ ; . > - The. equality of women m business, politics and as candidates for any, position whatsoever; she is prepared to demand and to fight for. . ' ; „';. Talking ;0f Feminists— : the London "Sunday Express" published a nice little story recently about two ,'. suffragist sister^ who shocked Delmonico's arid their century. . j. The famous American" restaurant was taboo ,to the unescorted lady. Nevertheless, the- twain entered and demanded 1 soup. The 'waiter gulpecl and vanished. .Nor,: did the so%> appear. ..'■ '•' •■' .-• "■. :,-,.,;■ '■ ■'-. „''.' I-.".:'".' ':' "' ; Presently, Delmonieo himself came to\ explain— ever so politely — thAt if he allowed lonesome ; ladies at his table, he would; soon have women from the streets profaning his ; polished atmosphere. . . .-.. ' - •■: ■". '■Nonsense! v -said - the elder sister. "Not six ; women on the streets . of all , New .York could pay- your scahclalous prices. : But Til -humor you." .-:'. ■'•.".. •■ She did. ■ She • went forth and . returned with a, veyy red-faced, hamfis'ted coachman m tpwl '.'Sit down, Albert!" she said to her henchman; and ; again ordered ' soup-r» this time for three/ History regordetli i that 1 : she: got -it. ' ' ' • . " (