WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 263, 16 March 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). 1 \ A DIVA IN THE STREET. ! 1 A Sydney girl gives a description of : Madame Tetrazzini in the streets of San Francisco, the town where she first be- . came famous. The theatres could not hold all who wished to hear lier, and the "■ Chronicle made the suggestion that she ; should warble to a quarter of a million ! at once, >uiul outside its olliee, which stands at the corner of the largest open ' space in the city. It is the middle of, ' our winter —that is, if San Francisco can " be said to have a winter, yet Tetrazzini accepted gladly. A platform sur- . mounted by a sounding board was run . up in a few hours—they build small skvscrapers here in as many weeks —and b"y 7 o'clock there were a hundred and fifty thousand people stretching both ways ' along Market-street and deep down Third, Geary and Kearney-streets. With- , in any possible chance of hearing, and ' beyond, the streets were sardined by 8 , o'clock, and when we count in the thousands and thousands peering from the ' thousand and more windows of the Monaduock, the Palace, the Call, the Chron- . icle, and other buildings, it is no exaggeration to say that well-night a quarter of a million people were waiting at halfpast eight, when Tetrazzini made her spectacular entry on to the platform.' She'came in her rose-pink cloak and her irridescent, trailing white gown, with a big transparent hat, sparkling with brilliants and gorgeous with waving plumes. For whole minutes she was kept acknowledging the plaudits that echoed up through the tall buildings, the windows of which served as the limitless boxes in a sort of Gargantuan grand opera-house. Her face was wreathed in the well-known Tetrazzini smile. It was the smile of the child pleased to the point of fighting with its tears. Then silence. iPaul! Steindorf Had tried with an orchestra to command attention, but in vain; and in vain a choir sought to impart a religious tone with some carols. Those -near the platform listened, but beyond the sound was like a concertina and a street singer battling with two electric cars. No sooner did Tetrazzini pick up the sheet of music than a reverential calm pervaded the whole atmosphere. It was as though a dome had suddenly been placed- over them, and each had felt as a devout worshipper at a sacred shrine. Then that wonderful voice pealed out, not in an attempt to- break records for carrying purposes, hut to do its very best for what, to her, was the dearest audience in the world. She may have sung louder than usual, but if so it was because she could not do too much for this people. Her first number was "The Last "Rose of Summer," but she reached the climax of her vocal excellence in "Non Destarmi," "I would linger in this dream that enthrals me." The scene that j marked the close of this item will live in my brain for ever. Words cannot describe the enthusiasm of that crowd and that singer. The tears that were held baek at her reception broke forth at this wild demonstration. Then all was 1 oyer, and San Francisco walked home. It could not ride. It would have taken a week to move that number in the cars. A SUFFRAGE DUEL. The University of Heidelberg has' suddenly become fiercely agitated over the | feminine question, and two of its most eminent professors are about to fight a duel on the matter. Last week Herr Arnold Ruge, in a lecture on political economy, spoke, somewhat severely of the new woman's movement, which, he said, was promoted by old maids or unsuccessful wives. He was not aware that in his audience was Frau Weber, wife of tho professor of that name and a prominent member of the Woman's Emancipation League. She requested Professor Rugs to withdraw his statement, but when hj« explained that he had not the women of Heidelberg in his mind, and that he referred to the movement in general, Frad Weber retorted that he was guilty of an unworthy subterfuge. Professor Ruge, on leaving the hall, went to find Pro-, fessor Weber, and asked him whether he agreed with his wife, and, if so, whether he would kindly name his second. The husband accepted the challenge. Meanwhile :he Academical Council has interposed to have the affair settled peaceably. It is reported, however, that the duel will shortly take place. The'incident has caused the students to divide into camps, and duels are now almost a daily occurrence. PERSONAL AND GENERAL The English Local Government Board have just sanctioned the permanent appointment of Miss Elsie Bennett as clerk of the Ennis Unijm. She is the first woman to hold such a post, and her father, who held it for seventeen ; years and up to the time of his death in November last. She is twenty-four years of age, is exceedingly clever, and is very popular throughout'the district. Dr. Benjamin Greene, writing in the London Standard, pays a splendid tribute J to the devotion of the Countess Tolstoy: | ''While this noble woman could not share t her husband's extreme views about the I disposal of his property, but longed for I the refinements of life for herself and for ■ her children, she nevertheless did not ■ oppn-e him in his ideas or their practice. ' She let him go his own way, as his conscience! led him, and she ministered to him always with wifely devotion. She in part 'loved him unto greatness.' Her wifehood always remained beautifully true, tolerant and tender. In a profound sense she shared with him in his sacrifice and ministry to the world. A novel affair was witnessed in a London ballroom recently. In order to illustrate the excessive simplicity of the referendum procedure the dress worn by one of the dancers was designed on straight-forward lines. It was a white satin costume, to typify purity of purpose, with a white gauze tunic, across which the word "Referendum" was printed in gold letters edged with sparkling white crystal beads. The bodice had the word "yes" letter in front and "no" at the back; and in her hair the lady wore J a tiara in which the same, words spark- • led in brilliants. On the hem of the , skirt was a border, into which a procession of men, with voting papers in their hands, had been cleverly worked. I It is the craze of the pretty ladies of

the Tiergartenstrasse's plutocrat society to be painted while asleep (writes the Bystander's Berlin correspondent). The Austrian Countess Czivek started the bright idea. The well-known portraitist who had given her an appointment for the sitting has the vicious habit of making you wait. Tired of turning over French novels in an ante-chamber, the beautiful Countess fell asleep. At last the procrastinating artist turned up. Entranced by the unexpected vision of sleeping beauty, he threw off a lightning sketch, and as the Countess awoke held it before her astonished eyes. The drawing w'as so dainty and seductive that the delighted sitter insisted upon a complete oil portrait, painted while she simulated sleep. A lady has been appointed dentist to the Queen of Holland, and enquiries at the National Dental Hospital and College, London, show that women are taking to the profession seriously. "As a matter of experience," said the secretary, "we find they are in some respects better students than their male competitors. Of course, there is a little prejudice against lady dentists, and in England, as on tho Continent, their practice is confined to work among women and children. I remember that one of our lady students received a very high compliment from a distinguished surgeon who had, unknowingly to herself, seen her take nut sixteen teeth in lass than a minute, using five different pairs of forceps. He had never seen the operation better formed, he said."

An international kindergarten congress is to be held in London in June, and already the American kindergartens are taking steps to be strongly represented thereat. From several of the States they are making what are termed "Frobelian Pilgrimages." When the congress is over the, "pilgrims" will journey from London to Paris, to study kindergartens there, and thence to Switzerland and Germany. They will visit the Pestalozzi Frobel House, and will join in a procession to Froebel's grave, visit his birthplace, and j the scene of his first school. The object of the tour is not solely 'to do honor to the father of the kindergarten system, but to gain experience, and to come into touch with the workers in European countries.

Miss Vida Goldstein, the well-known lecturer on social economics, has left Melbourne for England at the invitation of Mrs. Pankhurst, and will take part in the British suffragette campaign. The British-Australasian says that Madame Alice Charbonnet-Kellermann (a famous pianiste) has just been appointed musical critic of La Nouvelle Europe, a new weekly review, published in Paris, dealing with art, literature, politics, .drama and music. Madame Kellermann contributes a weekly article, and in the first of these, mentioning the greatest artistes of the day, include Melba and Johann Kruse.

The present King once aptlv named Princess Patricia of Connaught the "F.C.G. of the Royal Family," and her Royal Highness (according to M.A.P.) rather merits this description, for she has a fluent pencil and brush, and does not hesitate to record her impressions of the highest in the land. Scattered about the Duke of Connaught's home at Bagshot Park are to be seen many extremely witty efforts on the part of the young Princess. One of the best of these represents the late King in evening dress quitting the dinner table with a smile of complete content on his face. Underneath the daring artist has penned the inscription, "I am hungry." Another drawing aptly represents the Duke in his uniform as a Field Marshal, and he seems to be bristling with rage. The name given to this picture is "W 7 here on earth is,my horse?" I n a more serious stvle, Princess Patricia is a painter of more than average ability. STRATFORD NOTES. We have now a Boys' Scout troop, thanks to the efforts of Messrs F. Bird and A. C. Birss. A very enthusiastic meeting was held on Saturday, and officers were appointed, with Mr. F. Bird as scoutmaster. There is a likelihood of forming a branch of the Girls' Peace Scouts in the near future. The movement is a «ood one and should be readily taken up bv the girls of this district. Miss O'Brien, matron of the Stratford Hospital, returned to Stratford on Monday evening. Mrs. Hogg, of Miclhirst, entertained a number of friends on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Hogg received the guest's in a gracetut Empire gown of saxe-blue cloth, trimmed with Oriental insertion. The Catholic picnic, given by Father Tracey to the children, at Ngaere Gardens, was thoroughly enjoved by all those present. A Catholic social will be held in the Town Hall on Friday. A great number of Stratford folk intend journeying to the Opilnake races on Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Tibbitt, of London, who are now in Stratford, spent the day in New Plymouth on Monday, and were charmed with the beautiful lark, being especially taken with the unique manner in which the seatin* accommodation is laid out on the terraces which surround the cricket ground Thev consider the Park is the finest they have visited in New Zealand. Mr. and Mrs Tibbitt left for Onehunga last (Wednesday) night, for Auckland and Rotorua and will return via the Wanganui river visiting Napier and Gisborne before eavmg for Melbourne, where thev intend staying about a month. Thev then leave for England, going via America, Wc are looking forward to Miss -Vda Crossley's visit.

Mr. M Bayley, manager of the National •Hank of New Zealand, left by the express on Tuesday morning for Wellimr ton. °