FRILLS FADS & FOIBLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 174, 13 October 1927, Page 5

FRILLS FADS & FOIBLES

OUR BABIES By Hygeia. F ished under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). ; “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.”

A PLUNKET NURSE’S TALK TO MOTHERS “The subject I have chosen is ‘The Expectant Mother/ a subject which should surely claim the interest of all women. We must admit that the mother-to-be is the most important woman in the community. She is the homemaker, and the destiny of the race is in the hands of its mothers/ “Are conditions ideal for motherhood? Are all the expectant mothers we know the happiest women in the world? I am afraid we have to answer ‘No!’ Then why? Because, with comparatively few exceptions, they are not fitted no.r €;ducated for their supreme privilege. “The joy of potential motherhood is too often marred by ill-health and undefined misgivings and dread of the unknown. Mothers-to-be do not realise that the tragedies of which they have heard are almost all preventable. All know of mothers who have died or been damaged, of numbers of little ones who have failed to reach home safely or failed to survive their first month. All need to know that the great mass of this loss and suffering can be prevented, as has been proved where widespread efficient ante-natal care and care of mothers in childbirth has been provided. “Here and now, in New Zealand, the need for this work is claiming the attention of all thinking people. For the Plunket Society has been doing its part. Everyone knows how its efforts have been instrumental in reducing the death-rate of babies from a month to a year old.. Now it is redoubling its efforts to help and save the mothers-to-be and the new-born babies. And in infant welfare work what ideal could be higher than this: to endeavour to assure that all babies are born strong and healthy, and that their mothers, too, are strong and healthy, and sufficiently enlightened to discharge their duty to the next generation, firstly by breast-feeding, and secondly by intelligent care, training, education, and example in moulding the men and women of the future. “ ‘The race marches forward on the feet of little children.’ ANTE-NATAL CARE “Every prospective mother should consult a doctor as soon as she knows her baby is coming. She should also seek the help of those nurses who are specially trained and qualified to advise and assist her, and should place herself under regular supervision throughout the whole period before her baby comes. “We quite understand the natural modesty which makes many shrink from publicity, but we can assure every mother that her affairs are treated absolutely confidentially, and that all arrangements are made to assure privacy at clinics and centres. Special private appointments can be made if requested. W© exist to help you. Will you not let -us do so? THE TWELVE ESSENTIALS “1-—Fresh air day and night “The expectant mother should do as much as possible in the open air, should sleep with wide-open windows and see that all living rooms are well ventilated. She should give up those amusements which take her into a bad atmosphere for any length of time, always remembering that her baby is dependent on her for his supply of fresh air. “2.—Daily walk and exercise “Ask the farmer whether penned-up sheep or those allowed free range have the strongest lambs —he will always reply for the latte.r. ‘‘Mothers say, ‘But we get enough exercise doing our own housework.’ This exercise is certainly better than none, but it never takes the place of a walk in the open air. This should not be taken just as a duty. Make it an enjoyable outing. Have a definite objective, and whenever possible a congenial and cheerful companion. Do not dawdle or get over-tired, and leave time for 10 minutes’ rest with the feet up on return. No one enjoys a walk with aching corns, so the feet should receive attention, and sensible, well-fitting shoes be worn. Apart from comfort, the build of the shoe is important, for with high-heeled shoes the proper poise and balance of the body is lost, and this is injurious to the expectant mother.” This talk will be continued next week.

Women the World Over A NEW ZEALANDER Miss E. Amess, formerly of Auckland and Christchurch, has been appointed to take charge of the New Zealand department of the celebrated firm of Pickford’s, passenger agents and } controllers of world tours. The intention is to have a special department where New Zealanders may have a personal interest taken in them when 2 travelling in England and on the Con- * tinent. 1 3 A DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST t j Another woman to be decorated with the Order of Commander of the British Empire is Professor Winifred Cullis, one of Great Britain’s distinguished ; women scientists. She is Professor of Psychology at the University of LonL don and lecturer and head of the department of' psychology at the London ' Royal Hospital. ; A BEST SELLER i ' A new portrait of Mrs. See, whose first novel, “Race of Leaves,” has be-

wma. occ: t l come a best-seller in three weeks, j Mrs. See is a collector of bronzes, t jade and Spanish shawls, and on her , frequent visits to Spain makes a point ' of searching the antique shops for treasure. AN AQUATIC FEAT i 3 Miss Kathleen Thomas, a twenty- * year-old Welsh girl, has succeeded in * swimming the Bristol Channel—the 3 first time the feat has been accorai pllished. She was in the water for r seven and a-half hours, and during the j most difficult part of her swim was z directed by her brother, who is a Bris--7 tol Channel pilot, and whose knowledge j of the tides and currents was probably 3 invaluable to the swimmer. The disI tance across the channel is only 12 L’ miles, but it is estimated that Miss 1 Thomas actually swam well over 20 miles. 3 A BARRISTER 1 The advance now being made by the 3 women of India is exemplified by the 1 success of one Miss Mitham Lata, ’ 8.A., who was the first of her sex to be f admitted to practise as a barrister in the Bombay High Court. Incidentally, she gained recognition last year because of her work in England for the > extension of the franchise to her i countrywomen. t YOUTH TO THE FORE I l Although only just 21, Nancy Alex- : ander, of Charlotte, North Carolina i (U.S.A.), is the head of the; largest timber business in that State. She succeeded to the control of the company > on the death of her father less than l two years ago, and since then she has t increased the business of the firm 5 nearly tenfold. Recently she received three proposals of marriage in one | week—all by post and all from men [ whom she had never seen. 5 FROM AUSTRALIA > At the Swiss tennis championship tournament recently a 16-year-old Geelong girl, Miss Denise Russel, with her partner, won the mixed doubles, in which 160 couples competed. She was also runner-up in the ladies’ singles championship, in which plavers fsom France, Spain, England, Holland, Switzerland and Australia took part.

OTAHUHU OLD COLONISTS ANNUAL BALL SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION The Public Hall, Otaliuhu, was fragrant with reminiscences of past, but unforgotten days, last evening, when the old residents of the district were the guests of honour at an annual ball. A large number assembled and indulged in the gracious dances of bygone days. The fox trot, one step and Charleston were cast into oblivion for a night, and in their stead the waltz, the polka, d’Alberts, mazurka and barn dances held joyous sway. A great deal of the music for the dances was played by Mr. Geo. Douglas on his accordeon, and for the rest of the programme Mrs. Andrew's orchestra supplied the music. The hall had been chai'mingly decorated with red and gold streamers, twining in all directions from a large bell suspended from the ceiling. The walls were decked with brightly hued pennants and bunting, and the stage was fitted as a lounge, with a welcome stretching from wall to wall, clusters of arum lillies arranged over the front and the sides covered with trellis gaily strewn with artificial flowers. The duties of M.C.’s were carried out by Messrs. J. Gillies, Pearce, Paine. McConochie, Thorpe and Murdoch. A dainty supper was dispensed by a very energetic ladies’ committee. Punctually to time the grand march moved off, led by Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Ha’ll. Mr. Hall was born in Otahuhu over j 60 years ago, and to-day is the oldest ■ living resident of the district. Im- j mediately following were the Mayor cf j J Auckland, Mr. G. Baildon, and Mrs. J. { Gillies; followed by Mr. H. Mackenzie ■ - and Mrs. Curry. About 100 couples took part in the < opening item. At the conclusion of the grand < march the Mayor of Otahuhu, Mr. R. ‘ B. Todd, welcomed the visitors* and i

wished everybody a very enjoyable evening, calling on Miss E. Moffat to sing the ever-popular “Loves Old Sweet Song.” The gathering joined in the chorus, and the walls were made to echo one of the favourite songs of past years. During the evening a very enjoyable musical programme was contributed, t each number bringing back old mem- £ ories for the pioneers. Among those who assisted were Miss Laura Walker. c vocal solo, “Angus MacDonald”. Mr. Vic Elliott, song, “Believe Me With Xll Those Endearing Young Charms”; Miss l E. Moffat, song, “The Fleeting Years ': 1 and Miss Lamb. song. “Killarney.” Mrs. ] J. Gillies and Miss E. Moffat ably filled 1 the role of accompanists. A barn dance competition was held c Mr. H. Mackenzie acting as judge. Mr Murdoch and Miss Lamb were the c winners. ( Dancing was continued till the early s hours of the morning and one of the t most successful functions of the year concluded with the singing of “Auld 1 Lang Syne.” i 1 PLUNKET CARNIVAL AT TE AWAMUTU ] Two successful socials have been held in connection with the advancement of the candidates from Hairini-Puahui-Te Rahu. The combined dis- < tricts’ committee of ladies is as fol- j lows:—Mesdames Lacey Peake, chair- £ man; Ashmore, secretary; H. Mandeno, c L. Chamberlain, G. Haii, C. F. Storey, i A. H. Storey, C. Parker, G. S. Hall, \ Skerman. A. L. Storey, A. Rennie, H. Spiers, Mac fie, G. Hastie, J. C. Montefiore, Kerr, Mahon, Glass and Miss Focke. A successful social evening was given by Mr. and Mrs. Melville, Te Awamutu, to assist in raising funds for the local king and queen babies The committee promoting the candidature of John Baker and Margaret Nielson have arranged a hard-up social and dance for this evening in the Town Hall. Some novel features will be introduced.

DEATH OF OLD COLONIST MRS MARY ANN COXHEAD Mrs. Mary Ann Coxhead, who died in the Auckland Hospital yesterday at the age of 80, was born in the old wooden cottage above the Grand Hotel, which was Auckland’s first bank. The daughter of Mr. Janies Smith, Mrs. Coxhead spent most o:! her girlhood in the vicinity of the old bank,. In those days it was possible to get lost in the dense bush surrounding Auckland, or to meet hostile natives on the outskirts of the settlement. An exciting episode in the history of early Auckland, the burning of the old Government House, which occupied the site of the present building, was distinctly recollected by Mrs. Coxhead. Mrs. Coxhead was admitted to the hospital last Monday. She was a highly respected member of the Olcl Colonists’ Association and expressed regret at being unable to be; present at the annual reunion on Monday. Mrs. Coxhead is survived Dy one son, Mr. Thomas Coxhead, Te Kiri, Taranaki, and one daughter, Mrs. Exton Papatoetoe. GLADSTONE BAGS Bags are still large, but the Gladstone shape is much more popular than the pochettes. The reptile family are still much in vogue for their skins’ sake, while many of the newest mackintoshes and coat, marocains are patterned a la python.

= 1 ■■ ■ ■■ M 1 LATE MRS. SARAH LUCAS Mrs. Sarah Jane Lucas, one of the oldest inmates of the Auckland Infirmary, died last Monday at the age of 92. Mrs. Lucas formerly lived at Ota--1 huhu. Born in Yorkshire, England, Mrs. i Lucas came to New Zealand about 50 t years ago. Her husband, Mr. J. H. Lucas, died last January. Mrs. Lucas had no children and there were no relatives in the Dominion. The funeral took place yesterday. DECORATIVE FRUIT Fruit is the natural sequence of flowers, and as flowers have been allowed to run riot on our frocks during I the last few months it is very natural that fruit should follow the flowers. Bunches of berries, rosy apples and minute lemons are made into posies , for buttonholes and waist sprays, while | the whole of arty garden, from bunches , of grapes to gooseberries, are used as trimming for the large-brimmed hats.