HOSTESS DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 April 1927, Page 5

HOSTESS DAY

AT THE LYCEUM CLUB ADDRESS BY MRS. MAGUIRE Yesterday afternoon a delightful function at the Lyceum Club took the form of Hostess Hay, when a large number of members were received by the president of the club, Mrs. W. H. Parkes. The afternoon commenced with a number of pleasing songs by Mrs Beckx Daly, who is at present visiting Auckland. Mrs. Baly sang several of her own compositions, a charming little series of children’s songs, and also gave a delightful version of A. A. Milne's beloved poem. ‘‘The King's Breakfast,” set to a happy little tune of her own. The rest of the afternoon was occupied with a most interesting address by Mrs. Maguire, who has recently returned from a three and a-half years’ sojourn through England and the Continent, on “How to Enjoy a Trip Abroad.” Mrs. Maguire commenced by comparing the routes by which one might leave New Zealand for a comprehensive trip, and spoke of the advantages of leaving Hew Zealand foi; Sydney, going from there to Naples, and thence through Europe., Such a route had been chosen by Mrs. Maguire and her daughter, and they had found it intensely interesting. Disembarking at Naples, Mrs. Maguire said that the first thing that had struck ner was the extraordinary beauty of the Neapolitan men. Naples, she thought, was remarkably like Auckland in its geographical beauty and construction, though she thought of the two places Auckland was the more beautiful. Auckland had not, Mrs. Maguire considered, such appalling conditions in its city areas as those to be met with everywhere in Naples, where even

wonderful old marble castles were to be seen in every state of dirt and decay and decomposition. The Neapolitans themselves she thought a delightful people, for although they were thriftless and indolent, they all seemed democratic and blessed with the sunniest of temperaments. After Naples, Mrs. Maguire visited Florence, which she thought the quaintest city in Italy, with its glorious drives through the hills and its wonderful natural scenery. From Florence to Venice, Mrs. Maguire took her listeners in quick time . . . Venice . . . that so romantic city that we have all loved and dreamed of . . . was dispatched as being immensely over-rated. Although Mrs. Maguire spent Shrove Tuesday there, when the wonderful Battle of Flowers is held, she was not impressed with the city nor its traditions . . . the most attractive part of Venice she thought to be its alluring shops. Next came the Lido ... of this Mrs. Maguire spoke in glowing terms. That glorious stretch of sea front . . / perhaps the most wonderful on the Adriatic Sea . . . where all that is fashionable from all the different centres of the world meets to play . . . Mrs. Maguire enjoyed and admired. From the Lido to Milan ... “a beautiful modern city, with wide streets, and of course the most wonderful cathedral in Italy” . . . from Milan to Genoa, where Mrs. Maguire visited that famous old cemetery where all the widows lie prostrate (in stone, of course), gazing with sadly ad%>ring eyes at their dear departeds . . . from Genoa to San Remo . . . described as a charming place where exists a most attractive Casino . . . then to Monte Carlo . . . “magnificent beyond description” . . . Mrs. Maguire thought Monte . . . and deplored the truth of the fact “that only man is vile.” For her Monte Carlo was spoilt by the haggardness and worried looks of all the folk she noticed . . . all so intent on the alluring tables. After Monte Carlo Mrs. Maguire visited Nice, which she described as being one of the most attractive spots on the Riviera, where she found beter opera than any she had seen in any other part of the world. From Nice to Cannes, where she had the good fortune to see Lenglen playing tennis . . . and was even fortunate enough to see that volatile little lady on one of her “good behaviour” days. In all of these places Mrs. Maguire was struck with the glorious beauty of the cathedrals, picture galleries, inspiring statues, the wonderful architecture, the wide tree-bordered streets, and the delightful modern shops and restaurants and hotels. Next came Paris . . . with its romantic associations . . . its beautiful drive through the Bois . . . the wonderful Longchamps Racecourse . . . and on the Champs Elysee, under the Arch de Triomphe, the strange pale blue light that never goes out . . . placed there in memory of the fallen soldiers. Followed visits to all the wonderfully interesting places in Paris . . . the Louvre . . . where the magnificent statue of Liberty stands . . . portraying a woman staring straight at the sun, while from her face there shines defiance ... a splendid defiance, without sorrow’ . . . without grief. The tomb of Napoleon, the historic bridges, the Opera, the brilliant shops, the scintillating tea rooms . . . all were visited and admired. After visiting Paris Mrs. Maguire went on to the war zones ... at that time not completely restored after the dread conflict that had swept and devastated them, and here she saw sights that w r ere sad indeed. Families living in direst poverty . . . even making houses out of old corrugated iron tanks . . . poorly paid workpeople who

struggled along in the most miserable conditions. Everywhere she was impressed with the thriftiness and good management of the people, and particularly with the wmnderful w’ay in which they managed their homes, no matter how humble they were. St. Cloud and Versailles were visited and then on to Switzerland, where an ideal holiday was spent at the winter sports . . . and where again a multitude of notabilities was met. Rome, Mrs. Maguire did not care for at first, but on subsequently visiting it she began to love the place, though she described it as being noisy and bleak. Here days were passed in quick succession in visits to the Vatican, the Forum, the Coliseum, and in seeing all the statues and wondrous things that are so plentiful there. Commenting on ways of travelling, Mrs. Maguire advised potential travellers to go by night whenever possible, as it was a more comfortable w'ay of travelling as w-ell as possessing the decided advantage of being cheaper. Luggage should be reduced to a minimum, and in Mrs. Maguire’s opinion sufficient of the diminutive frocks of to-day could be packed into a couple of handbags to last one through a long tour. From London Mrs. Maguire had flown to Paris, and found the experience both novel and exhilarating, as well as being a w'onderful time-saver. The League of Nations was visited in Geneva, and proved to be an extremely interesting place, with its wonderful library, and even more wonderful w’ork that it is accomplishing quietly all the time. While in London itself Mrs. Maguire found that the traveller can have a delightful time by calling at any of the splendid organisations that are in operation for the reception of oversea visitors. New’ Zealand House is always ready to do what it can to make a stranger’s stay at Home pleasant, and Sir James Allan, Miss Fitzgerald and Mr. Knowles were at all times eager to do all they could for everyone’s comfort and entertainment. The Victoria League in London arrange many delightful trips and par-