Feminine Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 414, 24 July 1928, Page 5

Feminine Interests

YOUR CLUB AND MINE AN OPEN PAGE

Each Tuesday afternoon a corner ; will be reserved for original contribu- ! tions of general interest to womenfolk, i Tho subject matter is for you to i choose—whatever topic interests you j may also be of interest or amusement | to others, whether it be about your hobbies, experiences, or merely amusing musings about the ordinary round I of the day. A book prize is offered weekly for the best effort, which should be brief, plainly written, and sent to “Your Club and Mine,” The Sun, Auckland. This week’s prize has been awarded to Miss L>. Little for the following article: THIS FASH lON DOM ! Lest there be any misunderstanding; I must confess at once that I know less than nothing of the gentle art of keeping shop. It is a book of which I have not lifted the cover, much less cut its interesting pages. But flitting from shop to shop, feasting my eyes on all their sundry wares, I often wonder who the Great Power is that labels these enticing things as “chic,” “smart,” or “fashionable.” Sometimes I agree with* the Great Power, and sometimes I don’t. Perchance I see a costume or a hat labelled “tres chic,” and I have a strong, persistent suspicion that its correct label would be “tres bourgeois.” Doubtless that would attract no customers, and thereby I would show my colossal ignorance, but, nevertheless, you cannot gull the modern woman into buying something clumsy by merely branding it with a libellous ticket. However, this does not often happen—more often the labels tell the truth. As, for instance, when I am gazing at This Eashiondom and see things branded “correct style,” I have to admit on personal inspection that my shoes, or hat, are terribly, blatantly and disgustingly incorrect in style. M Shoes are anything from “chic” to ‘‘the latest.” The more impossible the epithet the better as far as they are concerned. Again I wonder, “Do they have these tabs printed by the dozen and jab one on a shoe irrespective of its merit, or do they set the footwear which is to be exhibited on a little table, and soulfully study the shapes and colours visualising the while the dainty wearer of some small shoe, then label them according to inspiration?” No; I fear me the jabbing process plays a large part in their branding, for sometimes I see a flatlieeled, broad-toed, brown leather walking shoe, which has been in fashion since the emancipation of cur sex, brazenly branded “the latest.” In the little island which is England even the very eggs are labelled, so that the housewife may buy for her spouse’s breakfast eggs that are “guaranteed new laid”; eggs that are “new laid”; eggs that range from “extra fresh” to “fresh,” and so on down the grade as “good cooking eggs,” “cooking,” and lastly as “eggs.” (And when they got to “eggs” I always believed in the old adage,“Where ignorance is bliss, etc.). Not long ago I saw a gentleman’s suiting branded “nobby.” This did set me wondering! Just what degree

of fashionable attire is “nobby”? I should simply hate to feel I waa dressed in something that could even remotely be described as “nobby.” Christmas time is the season for the label-fiends to excel. Last year I saw a frying-pan described as a “seasonable gift.” May I never be presented with a frying-pan for a Christmas present, or the poor, misguided donor will be cracked peremptorily on his cranium with his own misguided gift. I realise, of course, that my tastes may not be the same as yours in all things, but nevertheless I know better than to describe that filmy dream of a dance dress you have just bought as “nobby,” or your nice set of lacquer-red kitchen receptacles as “seasonable gifts!” DOROTHY LITTLE-

WITH LOVE TO LOUISA

As the literary fashions of child- j hood and adolescence come and go, . one precious classic, tinged though it j be with the sentiment “verboten” to modernity, stands firm amid the wreckage of “Infelice,” “The Lamplighter,” “The Wide. Wide World,” | and all the humid array of the lachrv- [ mose book-loves of an earlier epoch. Time and again, as daughter, niece, j godchildren and innumerable smallgirl friends attained to book-gift birthdays, I have blessed its priceless pages, and been moved to sincere if inadequate poetic inscriptions on the title-leaf. I believe 1 could collect quite a fair-sized anthology of heartleft quatrains to Louisa M. Alcott, of ‘Little Women” fame. . . . Never once, over close on a generation of motherhood, aunthood and godmotherhood. has the childhood of my own immediate ken withheld the confidently anticipated tribute to that immortal charm. All the little women have fallen deeply and for ever in love with the Little Women spelt with capital letters, whose destinies have j quickened young heart-beats in liun--1 dreds and thousands of homes all j over the world. A publisher friend | once told me into how many languages this universally-beloved volume had been translated. I forget the precise number; but I remember that it must have embraced most of the civilised globe. In my own young days, it was useless to look for “Little Women” on the school library shelves. Jo and Laurie had to be tracked, as it were, | from locker to locker, till one’s own lucky turn came. And how enthrallin gly the magic masterpiece wrapped the dull sewing-lessons round with rich romance! Beth’s earnest efforts with her kettle-holders, poor darling, spurred the most indifferent needleworkers among us to heroic diligence. The essay-writing stars sat adoringly at Jo’s literary feet, and clasped her ink-stained hands. The pets of the drawing-mistress hugged artistic Amy to their hearts. There was something for everyone in the captivating chronicle; some special ecstasy of appeal to every turn of temperament and each varied pattern of girlhood’s mind. Meg’s early lovestory, of course, was sugar-plum sweetness for us all. Happy days! Happy days! ... And. I fancy that scepticism is linked with orthodoxy in the united hope that somewhere, somehow, the literary mother of those book-child-ren has knowledge of the legacy passed on from age to age. The legacy of fine young lives, that still entwine themselves about the hearts of little women as they move among the drabness of a sometimes dingy world. My own copy of the dear book is at my side. I replace it, tenderly, in its honoured niche —with love to Louisa. —J.H.

KING COUNTRY JOTTINGS

A large number of residents and settlers met in the Tatu Hall, Ohura, to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. W. S. | Currie, who are leaving the district. ; For many years Mr. Currie has been chairman of the Ohura County Council and a member of the Taumarunui Hospital Board, and both he and Mrs. Curri© have taken a keen interest in the county. Music for dancing was ! played by Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Thompson, with extras given by Miss Cornwall and Mr. C. Nicholls. Mr. Corn- j wall was M.C. Mr. B. W. Ruddick j presented Mr. Currie with a cheque j and a handbag went to Mrs. Currie from the women of the locality. The annual ball conducted by the j Matiere Golf Club was a successful j event, the hall being filled. Beautiful decorations and delightful music, ; supplied by the “Bow Tie Four” Or- ! .chestra, made for the enjoyment of everyone. Miss P. Marshall and Mr. P. McGovern won the Monte Carlo waltz, and Miss lv. Waugh and Mr. S. Thomas annexed the spot waltz prize. Raurimu’s euchre tournaments continue with undiminished popularity. At the last gathering Mrs. Hill won the women’s prize, donated by Miss B. Clarke, and Mr. Bacon won the men’s prize, of which he was the donor. Consolation prizes went to Miss Zachariah and Mr. H. Crocker. Mr. Bacon has won three of the tro- i phies for men in succession, being the j first player to perform the “hat trick” 1 since the tournaments were constituted. Mrs. Goodwin has been elected to represent the Ohura branch of the Plunket Society at a conference which is being arranged to take place in Wellington next month. A hall, very beautifully decorated with fernery, lycopodium and flags, with green and gold streamers, greeted the numerous pleasure seekers who attended a dance held at Hikimutu in aid of the funds of the local branch of the women’s division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mesdames Barker and Carter were among the prime movers in the function, and were ably assisted by many willing helpers. Mr. J. Carter was M.C. and M.r. B. Thurston supplied excellent music. A novelty dance was won by Miss Bey don and Mr. B. Bittle, and the ever popular Monte Carlo went to Mr. and Mrs. Harvey. Messrs. H. Bittle and Harvey contributed vocal items, and Mr. B. Bittle gave a humorous elocutionary item. A competition arranged by Mrs. C. J. Ryan, of Taumarunui, was won by Mrs. Simmons, senr., of Taumarunui. Mrs. Barker, president of the branch, returned thanks to all who had attended and made the evening so successful. Under its expert coaches the Kaitieke basketball team continues to show rapid improvement, and it is hoped to arrange a representative match with the Raurimu Club at an early date. * The Raurimu Basketball Club held a well-attended dance* in the Town Hall, the capacity of which was taxed. The building was prettily decorated, and the music was provided by “The Merry Five” orchestra, with extras by Mrs. W. McNamara, Mrs. Smith and Miss B. Zachariah. The duties of M. were carried out by Messrs. H. Crocker, A. Naylor, W. McNamara and N. Karam. A number of competition dances were conducted and a treasure hunt provided much merriment. At a bridge pa.rty given at Taumarunui by Mrs. F. W. Reardon, Mrs. Bynskey won the prize. At a party given by Mrs. Dryland the winner was Mrs. Reardon, the consolation prize going to Mrs. O’Brien.