Mundane Musings

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 276, 11 February 1928, Page 18

Mundane Musings

They Can’t Do Without Us (Says a MERE MAN.) I can seldom repress a chuckle whenever I read of some fair creature proclaiming sex-equality and the emancipation of Woman. I long to take the perky litle thing, give her a good shaking, and say to her: “If you are perfectly honest, you will admit that the modern woman is just as manmade, from her head to her toes, as was the first Eve, who owed her very existence to Adam’s being one rib over the eight, or whatever it was.” And then I should prove to her that, were it not for us, she would cut a very sorry figure; that we are the dictators of her fashions; and that at our commands she dresses, speaks, acts, and thinks as we desire. Uncrowned King of Paris Salons J should tell her of a few of the men who make the modern woman, begining with the uncrowned king of Parisian salons, Paul Poiret. His “creations” of feminine apparel are fought over by women of all ranks, all countries, all colours almost! He sees a woman, visualises in a flash the dress she must wear, and with a few deft touches, a pin here, a touch of colour there, he converts a length of material into a fabric poem. The actual making he leaves to his employees. His part is to reveal to woman her own loveliness. A young Englishman who tells women what to wear—and gets away with it!—is Mr. Norman Hartnell, the Cambridge graduate who has successfully assailed the very temple of French fashions. Armed with strict copyrights, he recently displayed his London-made models at the Hotel Plaza Athenee. And he administered a further blow to French supremacy by calling his models by English names! “Up-to-town” was one, a beige walking suit; “Country Cousin” and “Forty Winks'* were similar two-piece affairs. “Tinker Bell” took Paris by storm. It was an evening gown “in rich • peach satin veiled with gold lace appliqued tulle to match the peach foundation.*’ And women, who presumably understand all this, fall down and worshipped. Nor must we forget that other brilliant dressmaker, M. Lucien Lelong. who recently formed a Franco-Russian alliance by marrying Princess Nathalie Paley, a daughter of the Russian Grand Duke Paul, who was chief saleswoman in his establishment. And the Princess showed her excellent taste by allowing her husband-to-be to design her wedding gown, which was of “white panne velvet with a silver and gold lace embroidered bonnet” (sic!). The Master Manicurist Not only in dress, however, we are despised fellows the arbiters of the modern Amazon. For in even such an apparently feminine art as manicure, men lead the women of the world. There is a shining example in the person of Signor Michel Perrera, who has manicured the hands of half the European Royalty. The Prince of Wales, whose hands he describes as “anything but beautiful but strong and masculine, as it should be in a man,** the Queen of Spain, Queen Marie of Roumania, Lady Mountbatten, and countless others appear in his little red book of clients. He is, besides, an accomplished litteratuer, a brilliant photographer, and a portrait painter of note! He has done a fine pastel drawing of the Duchess of Sutherland. Fifty thousand francs is no uncommon figure for women to pay him for his portraits. Inventor of the Shingle And hair! Heavens, what would your pretty locks be like without man’s tender care? All this talk of cutting off your curls because you wanted freedom from the “bun” is so much blah, as the Americans have it. It was we who cut them off. A man, M. Antoine, invented the shingle, told women to copy it, and 90 per cent, of the entire feminine world obeyed. Fifteen years ago he cropped his first head because he said that, with the advent of motoring, long hair, with its wispy, blowy pieces, would become unsightly. M. Antoine, by the way, is really M. Cierplikowski, the sculptor who is such a witty figure in the social life of Paris. The list could be extended almost without end. There is not a feature of women’s adornment that is without its masculine high priest. Whether it be coiffure, face treatment, dress, slimming dietary, shoes, chiropody—if you want the finest and best you go to men to obtain it. So,, please, Chloe, April, Eva, and the rest of you, do try to remember that you cannot really call yourselves independent so long as you enthrone us as dictators in all the things you hold so dear.

Y.W.C.A. NEWS At the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Young Women’s Christian Association, held to-day, the Rev. Charles Chandler (assistant city missioner) conducted the devotional period at the commencement of the meeting. Following this morning tea was given in honour of Miss Margaret Edmond, business secretary, who is leaving in a fortnight’s time to join the staff of the Perth Y.W.C.A. On behalf of the board of directors, Mrs. Garrard, president, presented Miss Edmonds with: a suitcase and spoke appreciatively of the work which she had done during the last eight years. Reports of the conferences and convention held last month at Paerata were given by Mrs. Dickinson, who spoke on the “National Budget,” “World Fellowship Budget,” and “Policy”; by Miss Dempsey, on “Flockhouse Work and tne Outstanding Personalities of Conference”; Mrs. Len Clark, on “Bible Study and Group Discussions”; Mrs. Jas. A. Warnock, on “Administration Discussions”; Mrs. Chas. Smith, on “Social Side of Conference; Mrs. Kenner, “General Impressions.” Miss Joyce Potter, girls’ work secretary of the Auckland Y.W.C.A., reported on the girl citizen conference, and Miss Winifred MaskelL senior work secretary on the Senior Club discussions and recommendations at the general conference.

Miss Audrey McCrea, assistant girls’ work secretary, who attended the New Zealand Y'outh Workers’ Conference at Waikanae, January, 27-29, reported that ten different youth movements had sent delegates to this conference, and that others were also present whose experience made them valuable members of such a gathering. The conference programme centred round fellowship and co-operation. After consideration and emendations by the conference some practical recommendations were made—that there be a uniform syllabus of Bible study, a combined magazine, co-operation in leadership training and that all movements share special visitors with other movements. The conference also recommended that steps be taken to promote the observance of a youth week throughout < New Zealand. It was resolved to hold a special board meeting on February 22 to discuss the finance of the Y.W.CA for the year. _ _ . . Mrs. Jas. A. Warnock and Daisy Dempsey were appointed as members of the Finance Committee. It was- reported that the new hostel official opening had been fixed for Wednesday afternoon, March 14, when her Excellency, the Lady Alice Fergusson, would conduct the ceremony. Donations of furnishings were reported from Miss D. and Messrs. H. and A. Kent, Mrs. J. W. Tatters Held and Herne Bay friends, per Mrs. W. A. Cooke and Miss Sloane. Sixteen new members were received during the month.