Woman's World

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 186, 5 February 1914, Page 6

Woman's World

HOW -FIXING FKKLS. MISS M'LIXLAN'S SI'ORY. Auckland, J;iiui:irv :!!. What it feels like to be ISOOft up in thi' iiir was told to ;i reporter liy Miss Esme M'Lcllan, of thv Royal Pantomime Company, who has tin- distinction of being tin; first womnu to make a suceessful aeroplane llight i;i New Zealuu!. went uj) with Lieutenant Hammond in the Oovcrnii t aeroplane Uritannia, and for nearly half an lio-ir had the unique experience of souring round above the city and suburbs. . -What was it like?" said .Miss M'Lcllan "Well, it was like jn-t nothing I've over experienced before, and so it's <|uil.j hard to tell a real story about it.. .Mr. Hammond is staying at the same liotol and I bad expressed a wish to go up if ever lie felt inclined to take a passenger, lie was not quite sure about the Rritannia when it cuius to carrying a, passenger, however, ami he would make no promise. On Wednesday J! wen: out with the others of our party, after visiting the Exhibition, to see Mr. Hammond lly. U was an absolute surpriso to me when he said: 'l'll take a passenger. Will you come'/' 1 didn't wait C> la" asked twice, and at once got into the passenger's seat. "1 honestly didn't feel the least wee bit nervous. On the contrary, the feeling 1 was most conscious of was one of pleasurable excitement, and the first feeling once away was how simple and safe it all was. I'd somehow pictured aviators as having to be tied in or having to bold on tight. On the Britannia I never even thought about being frightened or of being anything else but comfortable and pleased. The machine left the ground so easily, and we mounted into into the air so naturally that it somehow seemed to actually inspire confidence. It is surprisingly difficult to i analyse .now what my sensations were, i only knew that I was wonderfully elated, ' and that I just enjoyed every moment of it. From your volcanic cones J have often looked mit over Auckland and thought it the lovliest place in the world, but viewed from an aeroplane at a height of nearly 2000 ft it was like .1 glimpse of something almost unreal. The city it-elf looked big enou'di, but the houses and the people seeni.d like those. (Inlliver must have met with on his 1 travels. We were travelling faster than f have ever travelled in tlie fastest express trains, but there was not even tli: slightest vibration, nor was there any sensation that was other than entirely pleasant. When we can actually journey from one place to another without the fatigue of train travelling c the drawbacks of a sea voyage, how deligh:I'ul it is going to be! "When we de-tended it was all juit equally simple and apparently equally easy. Coming down the water-cluvte \t the Kxhibition only two hours before, my friends bad teased me because I was actually scared. Coming down to earth from the skies on the Rritanuia never gave me one nervous thought. We landed as skilfully and as easily as we went up. I'm sorry .1 can't describe my experience in more graphic terms, but I'm a woman, and I can best express myself myself when I use a woman's ihrase and simply say it was just lovely. I was more elated while in the air than I think I've ever been about any first night success at the theatre, and I really think I'm more excited about it now when it's all over than I was vvhi'e actually in the air."

REST CURES. "When a lady told me the other day that she needed a il'st cure, I told her to do her own washing, and she would not need it." ft is Father llcrnard Vaughan. the distinguished Jesuit, who records this brilliant repartee. It was he, it will be remembered, who, a few years ago, amused the members of the smart set of London by a series of scathing lectures on their failings from a moral and sVial point of view. Well, lie jests at scars who never felt a wound People who have never suffered from nervous weakness, brain-fag or any other of the complaints invented by modern civilisation jeer at those who demand rest curees. There is always a temptation when we hear the tales of woes from women who lead lives of luxury and enjoyment to bid them change "laces wi;. i- housemaids Jli-le-

seems to demand it, and often their housemaids ..are much pleasanler people. But, unfortunately, the report of Dr. A r aughan's wit omits to mention what the lady then said in reply. It is quite likely (says a writer in the Melbourne Argus) that the implied rebuke was deserved, but as a general truth or a guide to conduct it seems a little unconvincing, for silly complaints are not always from women of leisure, nor are such troubles cured by hard work. No amount of labor at the wash-tub or scrubbing brush will restore health to a mind that has been worn to fatigue by anxiety. CLARA I'-ri'T ON NEW. ZEALAND PEOPLE

Interviewed in Sydney bv the linnkfcllow. Madame Clara Butt,' the Knglish I singer, who recently visited this country, committed herself definitely to a statement that will surprise New Zi-alauders. She is reported to have said that "as vet the people of New Zealand handy seemed Io have learned the common laws of hospitality." Madame Butt. >i coiir-e. is now safely on the high sens, and she does not expect to make another Australian tour, or perhaps -he would have modified her somewhat au rgvessive criticism. She also said: "New Zealand is a wonderful country—yes, a wonderful country. But young. As wt the people hardly seem to haw learned Ihe common laws of hospitality. They seem to exist in small local circles, and "ficu do not see beyond them. Audiences in Auckland are glorious, luil •■. oi her towns I sometimes found them depressing. Of course, one must conquer an audience and enlist its sympathy. Thai constitutes one of the' greatest charms in public singing. But a Diinedin audience! After a most solemn reception at a Diinedin concert, some of tlie audience cane) round and made apologies for "being so demonstrative!" At Invercaigill .also, on one occasion ilie audience was very cold. But I found one old lady near the front who appeared lo be thoroughly enjoyiuu' the programme. She beamed and continually nodded appreciation. I was delighted. At last, I said, here is someone iuteresied. I made a special bow to her. i sang to her. And sin- kept nodding and -niiling in a delightfully satisfying manner. Alter tlie concert T made enquiries r about her. Oh horror! T learned -.lie had an alHielion, SI. Vitus' dance, I think. • That was the hist straw!"