MRS. HANNAH'S HOME

NZ Truth, Issue 1201, 6 December 1928, Page 17

MRS. HANNAH'S HOME

Etchings and Indian Brass and A taffeta Gown

! "Yes, I have tfaqelled far and [wide— and I'm very soon going to .travel ag4m' ; s<iysMrs. Marjorie Hannah, well-known member of amateur^theatficdl circles' in [New Zealand, lecturer jor Clubs, and charming lady m general

«r'ARLY: next year, I'm starting off Lt for the States,' just for. a'nying visit, when I intend to spy out' the land for a properly-organized lecture tour. . My subject would be New Zealand, and still more New Zealand. I don't think nearly enough people pay attention; .to. publicity for this lovely little country. ' . . % , "As I've hardly, seen an American. ,befor ; e,t*except one or two m London, it will .be, a>new, andean interesting venture.". :' ' ,■ Mrs. Hannah's life has already been varied and romantic. A .few years ago, she said good-bye to the Wellington Girls' College, and turned her attention to the writing and publishing of two slim little books of verse, of which the latest, "Gathered Leaves, 1 ' was very well received by local- critics. An early marriage was followed by a voyage to India. Since her return to New Zealand,. Mrs. Hannah, daughter of New Zealand's best amateur actor, has distinguished herself by her clever characterization m repertory theatre plays, the works of Irish dramatists being her especial province. Three rooms, looking down over . old Sydney Street, are filled with V quaint treasures .■and-'souveriirs'; of ■; ■ I days.^n-.ith/e : Eastv : ,'.! ; :V-; •■-.;,; [ ;:'■ ( : .> v ".• On. ; a-'cedarwood table, i lts •tfb'ur; legs carved^ into, - the shape >;of : > elephants' heads 1 , vstands a? very'; orjgiiral^men; ag-erie, : ';;wriich>^^Mrs. /H^nhali .■■<jalji»'.-'"-iphe. Junig^le -at; Dawn.", .Brads' lion^/|!;a.'..btas's elepha•ht;■v•av^brHss.•;^ey,/;;a'•.^t■brtoise,:^'a■ l

peacock, and half a dozen others of India's best jungle society stand facing the morning light '; which streams m through the windows. Here, too, were collected old Dutch plates ",of blue delft, some of the muchprized "willow pattern" design, others showing . typical examples of native life, but touched with a quaintness and humor which only the 'lover of old china can appreciate. London days are recognized by> an etching of Mrs. Laura Knight's— now England's leading woman artiste From a Spanish shawl, dead black, looks out the pale face and big, startled eyes' of a girl model who .may have been discovered m some odd corner' of Soho. "During war days m London," she says, "I had an opportunity to go on the stage as a professional, at the Old Vie. ; I would .have been just "one of the crowd," but the idea was attractive, for stage life was exciting m those days; I rememb.er one occasion, when the company which. l was asked to join played' right through an air "Great • crashes and boomings did their best to drown the actors' voices, and the poor little' leading lady was playing jin- agony,, for somebody had veryVstupfdly/.to'ld ; her .tliat -the Zeppelins were^flying. towards the" part of London \where her; two children lived. 7.:;->. 'however,;- it wks- ; necessary for "■-me .'to return...to\New. Zealand, and ■ :i:'ye .been'-.hapx>y- here and Jiave by no ■ means,-, forsaken! the' stage.