BON VOYAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 94, 12 July 1927, Page 4

BON VOYAGE

FAREWELL FUNCTION FOR MR. AND MRS. W. CROW AT PACIFIC CLUB

At the Pacific Club yesterday afternoon the Hon. George Fowlds and Mrs. Fowlds were the host and hostess at a very enjoyable party given as a farewell to Mr. and Mrs. W. Crow, who are shortly leaving for an extended tour abroad. The lounge and sitting room where tea was served was tastefully decorated with bowls of yellow narcissi. In wishing Mr. and Mrs. Crow bon voyage, and a happy return to New Zealand, Mr. Fowlds referred to Mr. Crow’s 40 years’ of service with the Government, formerly in the Post and Telegraph Department, and later as a ministerial secretary. As a secretary, said Mr. Fowlds. he had served for 27 years under various Ministers. He had attended the late Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1897 with the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, had been to Egypt with Sir Heaton Rhodes, and had accompanied the speaker on his visit to South Africa. Reference was also made to the great assistance given by -Mrs. Crow in her husband’s secretarial duties. Mr. Crow said that the years he had worked with Mr. Fowlds were a very happy recollection. As Minister of Health and of Education, he had proved a very efficient and able Minister. Not only had his hospital legislation proved a great asset to-day .but many planks in his town-planning scheme were now being put into practice. with great success. Mr. W. Spragg, Mr. C. Treweek. and Mr. F. Hawley, who had been closely associated with Mr. Crow during his connection with the Post and Telegraph Department, referred !o the very high esteem in which he had been held. Among those present were: Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Fowlds, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. W. Spragg, Mr. and Mrs. F. Brinsden, Mr. and Mrs. W. Young. Mr. and Mrs. McNicklo, Mr. and Mrs. R. Crow, Mr. and Mrs. C. Treweek, Mr. and Mrs. .T. Thomson. Mr. and Mrs. F. Hawley, Miss J. Wilson, Miss Hawley, Professor Riddit, Mr. O’Shea. Mr. J. Jenkins, Dr. L. K. Crow, and Mr. S. Mills. A GREEK WEDDING In a Greek village no direct invitations to a wedding are issued to anyone, everybody takes it for granted that her or his presence is essential to the success of the feast! The church ceremony is rather sober and. as likely as not, the bride’s relatives shed a. few tears; sometimes they even weep loudly.

The real “jollification” begins at the bridegroom's house, when it is incumbent on the newly-wedded pair to attend personally to all the needs of their guests. The feast opens with a generously spread meal, the chief feature being sort of a savoury stew, consisting of meat, cabbage, onions and lots of garlic. The guests take their seats anywhere and produce their own spoons and plates. The bridal pair move in and out amongst the company, replenishing plates and urging their friends to eat more and more; but neither the groom nor the bride touches any food at the beginning of the banquet. Any infringement of this unwritten law would appear really shocking. The guests eat and drink in decorous silence and the savoury stew is liberally washed down by

“mastica,” a kind of home-made brandy strongly flavoured with aniseed.

When the host thinks that his guests have eaten enough, he gives a signal. Suddenly bells peal out; Immediately all the guests spring to their feet and start talking, singing and even shouting. Then the orchestra arrives and dancing is carried on till the small hours of the morning. The tunes played are hopelessly monotonous and the guests perform very slow, but beautifully rhythmic, dances. These latter really consist of nothing more than turns round and round. All the dancers form large circles, each woman places her hands on her partner’s shoulders and so they move round in the most solemn manner. Fatigue seems to be unknown to them. If anyone wants rest, he merely leaves the circle, squats down on the floor, takes a refreshing sip of “mastica” and starts again.

With the break of day the dance is brought to its last round and the guests disperse, loudly thanking the bridal pair and wishing them countless years of happiness. And then they begin looking forward to the next local wedding.

Foulard frocks look charming with velveteen coats picking up the main colour notes. One oustandingly attractive example is that of a rather heavy foulard checked in dark blue-mauve and beige, with a coat of dark blue velveteen. (It should be duly noted that velveteen is smarter than velvet.) Neat little beige revers emphasise the “belonging” note essential to such ensembles, as does the crepe de chine lining of the same colour. Also in the picture is the diminutive chiffon hanky peeping from the breast pocket, and picking up all the colours of the frock. The dress illustrates the high turnover collar vogue, and was of beige crepe de chine finished with a bow. The accompanying beige felt hat is banded in blue.

Pleats and tucks continue to be favoured forms of trimming. Both are used in horizontal and perpendicular effects, and entail an infinite amount of skilled handwork. One lovely crepe de chine in the new raspberry-pink shade illustrates a new silhouette; the pleats are arranged vertically on the skirt, but in criss-cross and straight lines —looking like tucks —on the corsage, thus imparting a new bloused effect and suggesting dark and light shadings. The coatee is tied in front, and small bishop sleeves are similarly finished at the wrist.

Some of the smartest of the new tennis outfits are fashioned of spun silk stockinette. A favourite model consists of a white skirt and sweater bound with the striped stockinette that is used for the übiquitous sleeveless cardigan, bordered with white. These cardigans are a feature of all the most chic tennis-court ensembles. Skirts are cut quite plain, but narrow tucks carried to a point at the back and in front give sufficient “play” for perfect comfort.

BACKWARD CHILDREN

By JOYCE BURLEIGH Parents, and especially mothers, are very slow to admit that one of their little brood is weaker, mentally and physically, than the others. Their loving eyes seem to note signs of brightness which are not discerned by other relatives and friends, and they are pathetically eager to record any clever little thing which the child may have said or done. It may be difficult, at first, to ascertain exactly where the deficiency lies. All that is obvious is that this particular child is not as others, is less observant, and less inclined to walk or talk than those which have preceded him in the home. When it becomes evident that the child is not mentally afflicted, but only somewhat lacking in normal intelligence, then the anxious mother may take heart. Such a child should live practically in the open air during the day, and the windows of his bedroom (which should be the sunniest in the house) must be kept open throughout the night. The greatest care should be exercised lest injudicious feeding should retard the development of mind and body. The healthy members of the family should be taught to deal very kindly and gently with the backward child, and, following the attitude of the parents, neither slight him nor to make him feel inferior.

The backward child is usually as clumsy’ with his hands as with his feet, and he is often tumbling about and hurting himself. His little hands should be taught to build houses with bricks and cards, and to indulge in games which gently stimulate the mind. He should learn how to distinguish colour and smell and have his powers of observation trained, with greater patience and care than the average child needs. A course at a kindergarten school is of great importance, and sometimes help his dawning intelligence more than anything else, but, where this is impracticable, lessons must be made as attractive as possible from the start, and all worrying and difficult tasks avoided.

A friend of mine undertook to teach a class of subnormal children, both boys and girls, pillow-lace making, and they picked it up very quickly indeed, and turned out some very lovely work.

In fact, some of them excelled their teachers to whom the same instructress gave lessons. Whenever the children fell ill, or were inclined to be restless and naughty, a short spell of lace work never failed to quieten and soothe them. They loved, too, making “tea for teacher,” and they served it very daintily. Generally speaking, these children are sensitive of their shortcomings, and it is a grave mistake, as well as a positive unkindness, to twit them about their defects.

The fathers and mothers of backward children need never despair. Kindness, love, proper attention to health *and feeding are all calculated to overcome numerous forms of weakness. It should always be borne in mind that some of the men and women who, as little folks, were regarded as dull and stupid, have surprised the world in general, and their family in particular, by the brilliance of their powers and the success of their careers. NURSERY NOTIONS From America come many novel nursery notions that might very well be considered by mothers in itiis country. These ideas have the blessing of a large maternity association which works in conjunction with leading specialists in New York. Light weight clothes that are warm, but adapted to the climate, are as necessary for tiny babies as for grownups. A baby’s complete outfit should weigh between 12 and 16 ounces. A suitably clad infant feels warm to the touch, never too hot nor too cold, and never with a skin damp from perspiration. The up-to-date baby wears a square fold diaper, instead of the old triangular shape, and for this purpose the little woolly vests are reinforced at the sides with linen tabs to take the safety pins. The square fold guards again bow legs, and allows baby more freedom of action. It is pinned on either side at the waist line, and adjusted and pinned again just above the knees. The dresses and petticoats of the new baby are opened at the back from neck to hem. The edges are fastened with small (ties, as buttons might prove uncomfortable. These garments are not only easy to put on, but when the baby is laid down the clothes are separated at the back, and each side is tucked under the mackintosh sheet and its padded covering. In this way the clothes do not get wrinkled and soiled under the baby, and the child keeps beautifully warm. When baby grows and the dresses are shortened, it is a simple matter to close them up by means of a run and fell seam. Another idea which has much to recommend it is the nightdress which is provided with a drawstring at the bottom. It keeps baby warm and comfortable at night, and makes it impossible for him to kick his feet free.

MODERN PARTY MANNERS BY .CORE CHARMON I once imagined that, when I n, | invited to a party, it was because ®v I hostess was genuinely fond of me m §1 anxious to have me there. Since ! J have come to the conclusion that ther* ll was a good deal more than that behind 11 it, and I have been casting round ir I my mind to discover what makes on* E popular at a party. Obviously, if you were asked or 11 purely affectionate motives you would IE not be expected to sit half a drawia*. H room away from your hostess, with, * very likely, rot more than a ereethu and a farewell exchanged betweer you. No. those sort of innocent mer- 11 ings take place enjoyably in the after- i noon. Some people are always at parties Wherever you happen to go you them, until they become & sort of recognised background, and you begir to wonder if thev just saw the light* and drifted amiably inside. Bring Your Talents I have decided that there are a* l many difficulties attached to beinp successful guest as there are to being a gracious hostess. Who gets mor of the fun out of present-day parties* I am not strictly certain whethr it is the people who go to them, or th* people who give them. But. what ! am convinced is that it is unspeakably bad form, judged by present-dav standards, to turn-up and hang arousd until some form of entertainment k hastily provided to cheer you. fc most instances you are not asked actually to supply your supper, but yoii ; are certainly called upon to make sc»e show of whatever talents you posses * Three types of people are asked to parties. You may be sure of sufficient invitations to brighten your days, if you ar? really amusing. But that, as a genu ine quality, is rare. The spurioc ; cheating sort has been known to d< but it should not be encouraged. It : remains for you to exhibit your con viviality in a different manner. For tunately, for this new phase of enter taining, there are banjuleles and uK? jj leles and innumerable varieties o! modernised foxtrots, which will be delightfully received, if you choose the \ pvschological moment to That moment is usually when the conversation is proving dull. The Celebrity’s Halo The second type of person who i* perpetually popular is a celebrity o any sort. Even his silent presence if a handsome compensation for the dinner he eats. Something rare, asu matter of fact, is more sought after than the hard-working, immaculate young genius who finds a few minutes in which to change into a presentable suit and arrange his hair, wome lend themselves a good deal more pliably than men to the picturesque 1 this respect. . And finally come to the are above the average to look at. you come to review the matter, tn«r are quite a number of people in world of whom one demands no mo than that they should look attract!nu With a faultless appearance there few places where one may not go, i no hostess is proof against one or good-looking, if quite inane, Y& m men as a decoration, and a few gnw fully foolish, but beautifully women. Unfortunately, iej. ® have the clothes sense so highly __ veloped that we can score on point. , , I am afraid, to be a social sucw»j at the moment, there is no thing J but hard work. The difficulty * . all of us seem to be cultivating * talents along the same lines. .. Vwm j YOUR GARDEN TOOLS Getting out the garden tools winter of retirement is often pressing business. We are pro , put them away without taking ~ trouble to scrape off the OI i a a and dead leaves; we store damp garden shed, and then to be surprised when they _ lo< .king rusty and the worse for + A bath of paraffin is the gj, means of removing rust, * should not be neglected. the life of the tools is definitely J* oned. The articles should rubbed up with aiag soaked in v , and the painted parts giv® n _ rnr tir-? coat of paint. See that the frQjr parts of the mower are ire* every stray bit of grass, and thoroughly. . _ hoX It is worth while to ma terp roe f the small tools, lined with n <.fer material, for the garden secure against damp. A P* with a hinged lid is admira Every woman who takes a r?cogni 6 * ** personal appearance will , ajyiduftl Stamford’s Salons their inurv quirements will receive prof 1 careful attention in Perm*nen i Marcel and Water Waving. . lassa ge-" Tinting. Shampooing anc L 0 | le t Pr«J*' Agents Elizabeth Ardens Tone rations—STAMFORD’S pW fl« l