IN TOWN AND OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 65, 8 June 1927, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

If PM

NOTES

Mrs. IT. W. Frost, who has been for some time in Wellington, has returned to Auckland.

Mrs. Hunter Brown is a Wellington visitor at present in Auckland. Mrs. Hunt, of Auckland, is at present in Wellington, where she is staying with her daughter, Mrs. Strickland, Lower Hutt. Mrs. L. B. Beale, of Wellington, is spending a week in Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Spidy are Wellington visitors to Auckland. Mrs. and Miss Alice Macassey have returned to Wellington after a holiday spent in Auckland. Miss Gray, a Canadian teacher, who has been touring Europe and England. is spending two months in Mew Zealand before returning to Vancouver At present Miss Gray is relieving in Masterton. The Misses Peacock returned to Auckland from a visit to Wellington recently. * * * Mr. and Mrs. Ft. Reed, of Palmerston North, are in Auckland for the races. * * * Mrs. E. McMahon, of Whangarei, and Mrs. M. Evandene, of Waiwera, are among the guests at the Commercial Hotel-. » Miss Kathleen Blackie, of Auckland, who has been appointed nurse by the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, was resident nurse in the island of Arlut Aki (Health Department), midwifery sister and submatron at Atia Hospital, Samoa. Her certificates include midwifery, general and surgical, and slib is said to be one of the most experienced nurses in New Zealand. Mrs. W. Kirby, of Campbell Road, Grey Lynn, who left to spend eight months holiday in England, is due to arrive in the Old Country on the 11th of this month. * * * Mr. and Mrs. N. Banks, of Cambridge, are among those who arrived at the Star Flotel this morning. Colonel and Mrs. R. C. Allen, of Morrinsville, are visiting Auckland and are at the Hotel Cargen. * * * Visitors at the Central Hotel include Mr. and France, of Hastings. Mr. and Mrs. A. Carlson, of Tau-' marunui, are at the Royal Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Scott are among the guests staying at the Star Hotel. * * * Mrs. J. Gust, from Matamata. is at the Royal Hotel. * * * A London correspondent mentions the ‘return of the chaperon” to dances. It is suggested that very few of the elder married women look forward to r fA l - ,rn * n ®’ ie side of the room and sitting there with only the possibility of some one taking compassion on them, and seeing that they have at least a little refreshment after hours ot cold and weary waiting while the young ones dance. Apparently there are two points of view about this return of the chaperon, and- the women who have enjoyed the simple steps of the jazz or fox trot prefer things to remain as they are, and it will not be all the ( fault of the younger set if chaperons do not become as numerous as formerly.

A member of the South Australian branch of the British Medical Association states in the “British Medical Journal” that his wife’s grandparents, who were pioneers in South Australia, had eleven children; two out of three who died were then 81 and 64. while eight are living, their present ages being 86, 83, 82, 80, 76, 74, 71, and 67. Six of these, who reside in South Australia, regularly visit an aunt, who is just reaching her 100th birthday. Thi* aunt landed in South Australia on December 28, 1836, the day it was proclaimed a British province. She i 3 a great reader and corresponds with many friends, taking a keen interest in all that is going on. She was the youngest of a family of nine. Two brothers met with accidental deaths; one sister died at the age of 90 * and two at 82, while three brothers died at the ages of 97, 90 and 65.

After a reign of several seasons, the scarf is most surprisingly still enthroned in our midst, says an English fashion writer. Fashion’s unusual fidelity to the scarf mode is largely explained by reason of utility; closecropped heads leave bare necks to which the scarf-covering lends both warmth and beauty. The collarless modes of the moment indicate an even more widespread use of the scarf. It appears in a thousand guises for morning, afternoon and evening wear, but some new notes distinguish this year’s scarf from last year’s. First, its superior length; for daytime wear it comes right to the hem of the coat. At a party recently I saw a girl with a film of tulle around her throat and long ends floating behind as she danced (states a correspondent). The tulle carried out perfectly the same tone of blue as her frock and suited her fairness to perfection. Tulle is supposed to be hopelessly out of date —but nevertheless it is still most wonderfully becoming.

MUNDANE MUSINGS

WEDDING PRESENTS! Once upon a time every comic paper was full of jokes on the subject of wedding presents. There would be pictures of Angeline (in a bustle frock and as much hair as would stuff the chesterfield), saying: “Edwin, dear, your Uncle George is coming to dinner, so what are we to say has happened to the silver saltcellars that he gave us when we were married?” Edwin dear would provide some retort too dolefully humorous to be repeated. Generally about the saltcellars having gone on to another uncle’s, called Attenborough. Better let bygones -be bygones, for the whole .of this type of joke is fortunately dead. Perhaps gone to make room for comparatively new jokes about the wireless set! Or perhaps it is that these jests have served their purpose, and kind uncles and aunts have ceased to fill a newly-wed abode either with several sets of the same thing, or with articles so hideous that they have to be kept in a box-room, and only emerge during the visits of the well-intentioned people who gave them.

It must have been pretty grim for the poor young bride of artistic propensities to be obliged to live in a den furnished by Philistines. Which must have happened often and often again.

What could have been more irritating than those rich gifts of what-nots, dinner services, carpets, table linen, and drawing-room suites which she would never, never have chosen for herself?

Imagine the young wife knowing that for an unspecified time she would live surrounded by art of a period distasteful, shapes she hated, upholstery in all her most un-favourite colours. Yet, as often as not, it meant either these things—or no home, says an English writer.

She had to endure forests of detested wedding-present mahogany, acres of loathed wedding-present carpet! Nowadays, young brides would not so much as put up with an ash-tray which they didn’t like; the very note of thanks for it would add, in a cheerio-ish manner:

“But, by the way, that special kind of ware is my pet abomination, so I changed it for one of Copenhagen china, knowing that you would not mind.”

This must have called for true bravery on the part of the first Angelina who wrote thus to her Edwin’s Uncle George. A pioneer who paved the way for bringing about a proper frame of mind in the Uncle Georges, who now ask quite meekly whether the young people would like to come with him to choose the present, or whether they would simply prefer a cheque? The usual answer is: “A cheque every time!” Linen, china, plate-chest, tea-basket, all these things are needed—but the Newly-Weds would so much rather choose them for themselves—and so, though it’s a pity, it happens that the glitter of silver, the coloured gleam of china, the snow of napery, are all represented by the dull, utilitarian rustle of paper. So a sentimental giver usually “trims” the cheque. Slips it into a cheaply pretty vanity bag, pins it to a one-and-elevenpence-halfpenny handkerchief puff, ties it to the wrist of an absurd mascot doll. Wedding presents used, invariably, to have two special epithets tacked on to them. Every, local paper reported them as being both “numerous and costly.” Not now, not now, my child! But to make up for that they are more charming and suitable. “ “Would you like something for yourself, or something for the new house?” has only just gone out as a wedding-present query. So often nowadays “there isn’t going to be no house!” In any case, the modern tendency is, I fancy, to devote more to the mating plumage (or trousseau) than to the nest? This, one imagines, came in with war-weddings, and remained in owing to shortage of houses. I cannot help thinking that it would be quite a good idea to postpone giving any presents until the couple had been married at least six months. By which time they would see what were the real essentials of the life they had to lead. The drawback to this, of course, would be that for six months they might have nothing to eat off or to sit upon! I know a couple who, in the reckless, feckless days before the war, invited their four parents to. supper at their now home the night of the wedding. A party of six—and a few leadless glaze plates! Their maid-of-all-work, asking in horror what was to be done about this, was told she would have to manage some very lightning changes and washings-up. The dinner Was for seven-thirty. At seven o’clock there arrived a crate, complete with a blue-and-white china dinner service, a providential weddingpresent from one of the man’s relations, who “thought it might come in useful” —little guessing how useful it did “come in.” While the parentbirds, sitting around the board, were without any suspicion that the hot plates from which they were eating the bridal chicken had one half-hour before been embedded in tissue-paper and sawdust! Silver-wedding .presents—l mean, presents for a silver-wedding—must be pleasant and easy to choose, since the twenty-five-year-old household must have everything useful that it could possibly require, consequently the givers can spread themselves on gifts of sentiment and prettiness. As for the Golden Wedding, one quails at the thought—but one need not do so; for gold is, after all, the ugliest of the metals, and is well replaced by translating it into terms of gold brocade, gold thread, golden flowers. It is stated in the annual report of the Bush Nursing Association of New South Wales that last year 5,572 patients were attended, including 252 maternity cases. Of these last there were no deaths of mothers, but they regretfully lost ten infants. Antenatal care was given to 173 mothers, and 12,130 visits were paid, the miles of travel totalling 27,015. It was stated that it was very difficult to get women to undertake the arduous "work and travelling, and it had again been necessary to ask the Society for the Overseas Settlement of British Women to engage suitable nurses to come out to Australia for the work. It was said that part of the work of the nurses was to give simple instruction in the schools, and also that the work for the dentists and oculists centred round the bush nurses, and they were valuable allies in each department.

GIFT TEA

BRIDE-ELECT HONOURED MISS E. CRADDOCK, whose wedding to Mr. Errol Fuller, of Wellington, takes place shortly, was the recipient of a charming little gift tea recently

—Photo by Tornquist. MISS E. CRADDOCK at the residence of Mrs. J. Milne, St. Michael’s Avenue, Point Chevalier, when a number of girl friends of the bride elect were present. Miss Craddock received many delightful and useful gifts, and a pleasant afternoon was spent in listening to some pleasing vocal and musical items. WHANGAREI NOTES YOUNG HELPERS’ LEAGUE On Saturday last the Whangarei branch of the Young Helpers’ League made its annual appeal for funds in aid of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, and the net takings at the league’s stall in Cameron Street were £3l 12s Bd. The estimating competitions resulted as follow:—Miss A. Drummond, turkey; Mr. R. Hamilton, turkey; Miss Barker, duck; and Mr. A. Armstrong, cake. WEDDING AT RAETIHI HOWARD—BOWATER A very pretty wedding of much local interest took place at St. Mary’s Church, Raetihi, when Miss Evelyn Howard, only daughter of the late Mr. John Howard and Mrs. W. G. Russell was married to Mr. Harold H. Bowater, son of the late Mr. Richard Bowater and Mrs. Bowater, of Sanson, Manawatu. The Rev. J. H. Datson officiated at the ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr. W. Howard, of Timaru, wore a charming frock of primrose satin charmante, trimmed with gold, gold shoes and a handsome embroidered veil of tulle, held in place with a coronet of orange blossoms, and she carried a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, jonquils, pink roses and asparagus fern. Miss Alice Horsack, of Waimate, South Canterbury, and Miss Alice Russell, step-sister of the bride, were bridesmaids, both of whom wore dainty frocks of mauve brocaded crepe de chine, trimmed with silver, and coronets to match, and they carried bouquets of mauve chrysanthemums. Mr. W. Bowater, of Sanson, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man. On: leaving the church a guard of honour was formed by the Raetihi Fire Brigade, of which the bridegroom is a member. After the ceremony the reception was held at the residence of the bride’s parents, and the guests were received by Mrs. Russell, who wore a very smart frock of navy blue crepe de chine, with Oriental trimmings and hat to match. Mrs. R. Bowater, the bridegroom’s mother, wore a handsome frock of black velvet, with hat to match. Later the happy couple left for the North, where the honeymoon will be spent. The bride’s travelling frock was an ensemble suit of mulberry repp, with hat and shoes to match. CROQUET CLUB MOUNT ALBERT A pleasant afternoon was spent on Saturday on the Mt. Albert croquet lawns, when a little function marked the closing- of the club’s season:,— Progressive croquet was played during the afternoon, the prize-winners being Mrs. Hodgson, A grade, and Mrs. Stewart, B grade. Consolation prizes were awarded to Mrs. Peart and Miss Lambe. A dainty afternoon tea was served and brought to a close a very successful function. COMING-OF-AGE PARTY A very enjoyable party and dance was given by Mrs. A. S. Henshaw at her residence, “Surrey,” Elgin Street, last evening in honour of her sister, Miss Pearl Pithkethley, who had attained her 21st birthday. The rooms were very gracefully festooned with coloured streamers and lanterns, with large clusters of maidenhair fern and chrysanthemums. Dancing was interspersed with vocal and elocutionary items. Much merriment was provided by the mottoes, favours and comic hats which were passed round. Mrs. A. S. Henshaw received the guests in a frock of black georgette with heavily beaded panels. Miss Pithkethley wore orchid satin-du-soie. Among the guests were Mrs. P. Eaton, black and floral ninon; Mrs. Carruthers, almond green charmeuse; Mrs. Dimmock, black velvet; Misses "Winifred Green, eau-de-nil taffeta: Mildred Smith, apple green beaded georgette; Eileen Cashman, powder blue charmeuse: Olga Clarke, poppy georgette: Eunice Drew, cyclamen taffeta; Iv. Tait, black satin; Phvllis Drew, cream geopgette; M. Dimmock, delphinium crepe de chine; and Joyce Henshaw, ivory georgette. * An education authority school in one of the working-class centres of Dundee has a record which is claimed to be unique. Included among the 900 pupils in Glebelands Public School are 14 pairs of twins. The children, whose ages rank from five to 12 years, live in the immediate neighbourhood of the school. Of the 28 pupils, 18 are girls and 10 boys. The scholars are proud of this distinction, and it is said that the number of twins attending this school has always been high, although this is the largest on record.

POPPY-DAY MONEY

HELPING EX-SOLDIERS WORK OF TRUSTEES Details of expenditure of the proceeds of Poppy Day were given by Mr. E. H. Sharp, secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association at a meeting of the Ladies’ Poppy Day Committee held yesterday. The mayoress, Mrs. A. D. Campbell, presided over a small attendance. The gross proceeds of the collection were £1,817 14s lOd, as compared with £1.508 last year, an increase of £3OO. The cost of poppies had been £470, the net amount available for distribution being £1,326. Mr. Sharp stated that the trustees had begun operations on May 12. Twenty per cent, of the collection was handed to the Veterans’ Home, and the balance to disabled men and necessitous cases among fit men. Since the trustees began the work of apportioning the funds the cases of 215 exservicemen had been investigated. No cash was given at any time, but applicants received grants of food, firing, clothing, children’s clothes, and so on. In one month 96 free meal tickets were issued, the majority so assisted being really “up against it.” WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED The trustees have decided to work with the City Council and the Patriotic Association in the relief of unemployment, by the granting of £ 300 to each for providing work for returned men at Point Chevalier. Last week 20 had begun work there, and this week another 20 started. On Friday evening these go off and will be replaced by a further 20. There were at least 40 men waiting to make a start, and more were coming in. Altogether 350 men were assisted in one month, and he thought all would agree that was a very fair record. In order to find work for men living on the North Shore negotiations were in progress with the ‘Takapuna and Birkenhead Borough Councils for subsidised works. It was intended to approach the Newmarket Borough Council on the same matter. LEAGUE OF PENWOMEN FIXTURES FOR JUNE The following dates for functions have been arranged by the League of New Zealand Pen women, and should be noted by members. The impromptu, speaking section will meet on Friday, June 10, at 3 p.m. The journalism section will meet on Tuesday, June 14, at 7.45 p.m., when original articles will be received on “Old Mother Hubbard” (250 words), and “It Happened To-day” (300 words). An afternoon tea will be given in the club rooms on Friday, June 17, to provide an opportunity for members to meet Miss Schoen, a young American journalist and traveller, at present in Auckland. The management committee of the club will meet on Friday, June 17, at 11 a.m. The dramatic section will meet on Tuesday, June 21, at 7.45 p.m. for the reading of original plays by the members. The birthday luncheon of the club will be held at the Farmers’ Union Trading Company on Friday, June 24, from 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Members are requested to notify the secretary of their intention to be present before June 21. A business meeting will be held at the club rooms on Friday, June 24, at 3 p.m., for the nomination of officers. On Tuesday, June 28, the art section will meet at 7.45 p.m. Special note:—On Saturday afternoon, June 11, an excursion will be made to the art gallery at 2.30 p.m. under the direction of Mr. Boyd, Mr. Page Rowe and Mr. Barr. All members of the league are invited to attend. THE DOLLS HOUSE PLAY-TIME TEACHING THE KINDERGARTEN WAY A brick doll’s house standing about five feet high is the latest acquisition to the Myers Kindergarten. Complete with furnishings and inmates, to the children it is a delightful toy. In reality, however, it is part of the school equipment. 'A means whereby in young and impressionable minds is instilled an appreciation of the home beautiful. The house is the gift of Mr. J. Craig. With its green tiled roof and redbricked walls, it makes a cosy and artistic little home. The interior is tastefully furnished, and in a neat little bedroom dolls are put to bed, and beds made and remade, many times a day. Playing in the doll’s house is a delightful business. The youngsters, entirely unconscious of the fact that it is a lesson, really enjoy it. Yet a lesson it is. The play is carried out on and only a few children at a time participate. They are taught how to make beds because beds 1 must be made when the dolls wake up. In the young mind is also implanted the desire to make the bedroom pretty. The desire is gratified and they are immensely pleased with the result. Unconsciously they have been taught to appreciate clean and attractive surroundings. The first seed has been planted. Outside the house little box gardens have been arranged. Seeds will shortly be planted by the children who will care for them and see them respond to the treatment. On occasions there will be afternoon tea in the garden when there will be real dishes to wash up. Playing in the doll’s house will indeed be great fun. At present it is only a house, but as they play they will play at making it a home. They will watch it grow under their care into a pretty attractive home, and it will all seem so easy. They will never forget their doll’s house, and in the years to come the desire for an attractive home will probably bear fruit.

COOKS WHO MADE OR MARRED

BY A MUCH-TRAVELLED HOUSEWIFE How largely the capabilities of a cook can sway the * balance between comfort and dissatisfaction in a home. Out of many, a few cooks leave an indelible impression*. When Talent Was Aggrieved We called Spain after his native land, though he served us on a remote Argentine cattle estencia. He boasted having cooked for royalty. His whole day was spent at his art. and the result was such embarrassment of richness that we could not do it justice. Spain was furiously aggrieved. In vain we explained and remonstrated. An untouched omelette was our undoing. Spain hurled it at the dogs in the patio, seized his sombrero, and strode forth in the blazing sun on foot to the station three leagues off, never to return to such ingrates. We humbly replaced hint with a comely inexperienced Neapolitan, who had never been beyond the precincts of her mud-hut home on the plain. She was shy, willing, smiling, full of the novelty of her position. She had never seen carpets and edged round them, creeping close to the wall. Marie developed into a reliable maid, excellent cook, and one of the finest women I have ever known. Antoinette —of Paris Antoinette was of, and in, Paris. She was an artist.- She sallied forth, daily to market, basket on arm, and made her sou in the franc there, and double that on presenting her account. Her perfect flavourings were attained by dipping a finger constantly into her mixtures, then into her mouth! Alas! one day Antoinette thought she was Napoleon about to be shot. Nothing could convince her otherwise, and perforce she had to be removed. In a Box-like V.A.D. Kitchen In England, old Miss Dibby held her own in the tiny box-like kitchen of a V.A.D. hospital. She cooked year in. year out for 35 hungry—or worse, not hungry—blue-clad convalescents. She could just manage the main meals by cooking one course in, and one on, the minute stove. She somehow conjured marvels for special diet cases, over “Black Maria,” the hot water boiler in the corner. She looked ever dogtired, ever cheerful. Indian Memories India produces many “cook-mem-ories.” The first could cook, but he cooked his bills as well as his food. Joseph from Goa came, to depart next day for cruelty to a dog. After a succession of horrors, Abdul came our way all too late. But fate left him six years with us. A perfect gentleman in his own way, he never augmented the percentage of his bills when he found I did not argue over an anna. He went into camp with us, doing the work of three there. He would wait at table in mess, push the pram, crank the car, carry a gun. He had a cheerful face, a clean pugaree and a deep salaam wherever or whenever one met him. He only once asked leave of absence, and overstayed the month by six. His apologies were profuse he had miscalculated the doings of the moon. Therefore he had been forced to wait until the moon was in the right quarter to enable him to complete a marriage started some months before. The sahib and memsahib were his father and mother, and would surely forgive him! We did. GROWING OLD NATURALLY AN INSPIRATION FROM A COUNTRY LIFE You must have met her some time or other —the elderly countrywoman who lives by herself in her cottage, with her blue and white china or her lustre ware on the -mantelpiece, her fading photographs of sons or nephews, often in uniform, and her gaudily coloured pictures on the walls; her two chairs by the fire; her home-made rug; her face worn by living, her hands by working. The lively eyes look mostly backward to a time when life was full for her, but they can give you their attention if you need it. You may be merely asking the way to the next village: she gives herself up entirely to directing you. So it is if she makes you a.cup of tea; nothing 'formal or casual about this, is a homely sacrament. Maying tea is so close to the very quick of life. If a neighbour needs comfort or nursing she gets it ungrudgingly from the lonely old woman. The common needs of the world are met. Inner Quiet But she who sits at night opposite ; an empty chair has ceased to make demands on others, unless, indeed, she falls ill and must be tended. Things are over for her and she knows it, facing the fact quietly out of that profound sense of inevitability with which country people are blessed or cursed, according to your point of view. She receives kindnesses and is fine-spirited enough to welcome them and be glad that people are kind. But kindness does not take the place of love. You feel that she draws her strength from that backward loo*c—or is it rather an inward look? Has she treasured the good her life has brought her within her own mind? She is healthy, sensible and cheerful, though her cheerfulness is rather like sunshine on frost. Morbidity has never touched her. She loves her possessions, enjoys her household occupations, can relish a bit of news or gossip, though she spreads no scandal. She has taken life as it came. Never at any point has she dreamed of trying to appear younger than she was, never has she asked of one phase what only an earlier phafee could give. Old age finds her alone but not consciously lonely; she knows nothing of introspection. We speak of “growing old gracefully,” but she has grown old naturally. We find something steadying and peace-giving in the very thought of her. Not to this fine end does the cultivation of charm come! MAKING SALTED ALMONDS Salted almonds are a little delicacy appreciated by most people. They are very little trouble to prepare in this way: Pour boiling water over them, remove the skins and then dry thoroughly Melt a knob of butter "in a basin, and using the fingers, rub the almonds in this till well greased. Then sprinkle on the salt. Rub them still with the fingers till well coated. Spread themlon a baking sheet and place in a moderate oven. In about 10 minutes they will have turned golden brown, when remove and allow to cool. When cold they will be crisp and delicious.

“I am keen on learning to S P®** effectively,” stated a well-known A'J " tralian woman, “and keen on our yelping each other to do so, because 1 d __ struck with the truth of what -to Austin, the American author, has say: ‘We must not shrink from t labour of clear thinking nor of Cie speaking. Clear thinking runs to precise words, just as good steel t* a fine edge. You yourself do not re spect your thought very mUCh, 4;T)?c t can you expect the world to it, if you send it out clothed in and rags and slang and slov - phrases. It is not too much ™ , that the extent to which woffl thoughts will enter into negotiai of the world’s peace and reconstruc will depend altogether on the speaking woman’s ability to get ‘ thought adequately expressed. 1 s not quite sure that clear naturally to clear speaking, and i tainly don’t think Australian "O speakers lean to ‘slang and slo _ phrases,’ but it is a truth of » need reminding that the P°" b j ic woman to realise her ideals in P life largely depends on her P°" - expressing them. We have to ni vince other people—and that n m men—that our point of view J 9 ‘ sonable one. and that it would oe «onable for them to hold it. too.