MUNDANE MUSINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 75, 20 June 1927, Page 4

MUNDANE MUSINGS

THE WIVES WHO RIVAL JOB Job had to put up with a good deal m this world, and he was patient. But there are wives who, for sheer stolid, smiling patience and endurance, nut the patience of Job into the background every week. They never complain. They never go out into the highways and byways to proclaim ‘‘O my sorrow” or “Woe is me!” Neither do they put dust on their heads and tear their garments. They just smile, and smile, and smile. And their sweetness is of the honey of Hymettus. There is, for instance. Daphne (says an English writer), whose husband never comes home in time for any appointed meal. By the irony of fate, Daphne is a cook. Not one of those cooks who are dragged up in cooking schools and, after a course of krometskys and stuffed tomatoes, are turned loose on a confiding world. No. Daphne is a born cook, with an understanding of sauce Bechamel that would have secured the approval of the late M. Brillat Savarin. A woman above price. In the slave market of Rome Daphne would have fetched her weight in gold for her cooking abilities alone, apart from her looks, which would give no man- a pain in the eye. And how very rare and priceless is the combination of good looks, good temper, and good cooking, all in one woman! Yet fate has dished out Daphne with a husband who does not know what he is eating, and who does not care when he eats it or how he eats it. And for this man Daphne thinks out and prepares meals that would pass muster with the great gourmets of Europe. “You will be in punctually at seven, won’t you, dear?” says Daphne. “Sure thing!” answered this human sack. And at ten minutes past seven he is discussing the American debt in his club, five miles from home, and drinking a mixture of gin angostura bitters, and Italian vermouth, to give himself an appetite, forsooth, whilst Daphne is trying to nurse a work of art in the oven. Yet never a word passes her lips when the stray sheep returns at eight with a lie on his lips that would not deceive an infant with a bottle in its mouth Aral he eats the ruins of Carthage contentedly, and tells this great woman he has married the latest football results The case of Daphne is beyond tears. Like Cleopatra, she dissolves a pearl of price nightly in vinegar. And smiles! Then there is Chloe. Chloe is one of those rays of sunshine which occasionally burst on the world to give ‘ people a good time. Chloe, in her way, is .as great a genius as Daphne, though her cooking is murder of good food. . But she has the gift of entertaining and is the little friend of all the world. Chloe loves people. She knows how to make people happy. To meet Chloe is to give the passout check to dull care for the evening. She has no need of material for her entertainments, for small cheer and great welcome make a merry feast. And Chloe can make a feast of- a sausage roll and a glass of artificial lemonade. She can reconcile the antagonistic and make even the dyspeptic and the man with a grievance, and. the woman who has. nothing left in life, forget all their grievances. And Chloe has drawn George in the sweep. George who hates people and who likes to turn in with Gibbons’s “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” at 9 p.m. Yet Chloe smiles, and when George has turned in, roasts chestnuts at the gasfire and makes a party for the dog and cat for it is her nature to make someone happy—oven though she has drawn George in the sweep. MRS. GORDON COATES AT HOMF. Mrs. J. G. Coates gave a largely attended reception at the Prime Minister’s residence in Tinakori Road, Wellington, on Friday afternoon. The spacious rooms were warmed and brightly lit, and there was a delightfully home-like and friendly feeling which made the gathering most enjoyable. The drawing-room was bright with flowers and pot plants. The folding doors were tnrown open and tea was set on the table in the inner room, where a bowl of antirrhinums centred the table under a vivid crimson shade. Te was also set in the billiard-room where th etable was decorated with yellow chrysanthemums and autumn leaves. An orchestra played in the hall and lent a pleasant accompiment to conversation. Mrs. Coates received her guests in the drawing-rpom, wearing a frock of black georgette over cream, bordered with heavy cream lace, and long strings of pearls. Her Excellency Lady Alice *Fergusson was present wearing a black costume, with touches of red. and small black hat. The guests included: Lady Pomare, in geranium- tinted georgette and black hat. Mrs. Bollard in black satin coat and feathered hat. Mrs. ft. A- Wright, in henna coloured crepe de chine, and hat to match. Mrs. Downie Stewart, in black satin coat and black hat. Mrs,. Hawkins, in black, with coloured embroideries; also Lady Stout, Ladv Luke, Lady Roberts, Mrs. and Miss Darling, Mrs. D. C. Bates, Mrs. Aston, Mrs. Harcourt Arthur, Mrs. F. Ward Mrs. J. Gillon, Airs. Valentine, Mrs. AlcIvibbin, Lady Finlay, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, Airs. Henry Hall. Airs. G. A. Troup, Airs. Norwood, Mrs. J. Hislop, Airs. C. Day, Mrs. D’Oyley, Airs. V. Rhind, Airs. R. W. Kane, Airs. R. A. Holmes and Aliss ! Holmes, Alisses Halse, Alisses AlcGregor, j Airs. Davidson, Airs. Mathew Holmes, 1 Airs. Pow, Airs. S. Alyers and Aliss Alyers, Aliss AI. Alyers, Airs. Norman, Airs, llart, Airs. Doctor, Airs. Alazengarm, Aliss Skerrett, Airs. Alacassey, Airs. A. Smith and Aliss Smith, Airs, and Aliss Alalfroy, Airs. Campbell, Mrs. W. Clayton, Airs. Sprott, Miss Campbell, Airs. Salmon, Airs. A. Gray and Miss Gray, Airs. Yaldwyn. Airs. Allen. Airs. Lyon, Airs. A. Johnson, ; Airs. Bennie, Airs. Aitken, Airs. Edkin. Airs. J. C. Anderson, .Airs. P. J. Nathan. Aliss Arndt, Airs. W. Kennedy, Airs. Alarshall, Airs. Elliot, Miss Baber, Airs, and Aliss AlcKay, Airs. Leitch, Airs, and Miss Dennehy, Airs. O’Shea, Airs. C. H. Chapman, Airs. R. Bidwell, Airs. Blundell. : Airs. Rawson, Airs. Lowe, Airs. C. Richardson, Mrs. Lowe, Airs. C. Richardson, j Airs. Bowerbank, Airs. Kemp, Airs. Webster, Airs. C. O’Connor, AJiss Buckleton. Aliss Butts, Airs. Garter, Airs. C. Izard. Airs. Hope Lewis, Airs. C. Tringham, Mrs. Ormond Cooper and Aliss Cooper, Airs. Fldrance. Airs. Robertson. Airs. Jacob Joseph, Mrs. Joseph Joseph. Mrs. George Nathan. Airs. J. Duthie, Airs. Eichelbaum, Mr\W. H. Field, Airs. Gibbs, Airs. E. Hadfiela and Aliss Hadfield. Arrs. i Hartv, Airs. Hislop. Airs. Sinclair, Airs. PI. Johnson. Airs. W. D. Stewart, Arrs. J. Hender g om