FOR WOMEN FOLK.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1915, Page 6

FOR WOMEN FOLK.

t' BY EILEEN."

" Eileen " will be glad to receive items of interest and value to women for publication or reference in this column.

SOCIAL NEWS (PERSONAL ITEMS. Miss Wilson, who has been on a kngthy stay in Australia and Tasmania, has returned, but left again this morning to visit her toother at Makuri. • • • • Mr. and Mrs. James McKellar, who are at present staying at Te Aroha, return to New Plymouth on Tuesday. * * * * Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd are holiday-mak-ing in New Plymouth. * * * • Dr, and Mrs. Henley (Napier), who have been staying in New Plymouth, left on Thursday for Wellington. • * ♦ • Madame Fedorowicz, who has -been on ia visit to Rotorua, lias returned. • ♦ * » Mr. and Mrs. Wyborn (Hawera), have' Returned after their short stay in New 'Plymouth. ♦ * « * Mrs. Horner (iPatea) is visiting friends tin New Plymouth. • • • • j Mrs. Watson (Bulls) is. the guest of sMra. Perkins. • • • • Mrs. Oodgshun, who has been., on a> ivisit to Wellington, has returned. »„ » # • Mrs. Quilliam, who lias been the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Leo Horrocks, , IFeilding, has returned. | • « • • Mrs. Pointer (Eltham) is the ; guest of I Sirs. J. Reid, Westown. i • * • • Miss Neville (Wellington) is visiting' .Mrs. Simpson. | * * * * ; Mrs. Daniells (Waverley) spent a'ifew j days in New Plymouth this week. • * * * ; Mrs. Cross, Timaru, ia the guest of her daughter, Mrs. L. Jennings. • • • a Mrs. Grant-Cowen (Hawera), with her, little daughter, are visiting New 'Ply-' mouth • * * <t Miss M. Peach is holiday-making in .Auckland. • « • • Miss Devore, who has been the gue3t of Mrs. Bewley, has returned to Auck-, land. » • • » • Mrs. M. Fraser left by the s.s. Rarawa, last night on a visit to Auckland, Tauraiiga and Te Aroha. 4 * * • Mrs. Walter Weston, who has been-on a visit to Melbourne, has returned * • • * Miss B. Hirst is the guest of Mrs.* Livermore, Remuera. • Miss Dorothy Baker, of Remuera, is the guest of Miss Constance Leatham. • * • • Miss K. Leatham, who has been visiting her sister, Mrs. Pritchard, of Dannevirke, has returned home. * • * * Mrs. Hale and Miss Ruby Hale, Lower' Mangorei, left during the week for an extended visit to Christchurch. j Miss Grant, late headmistress of the New Plymouth Girls' High School, left Auckland on Monday for Sydney, en route to Egypt, where she proposes to visit the wounded soldiers. The marriage took .place at Dannevirke last week of Mr. Neil R. Russell, son of Mr. J, R. Russell, formerly editor of the Manawatu Times and Dannevirke Advocate, to Miss M. A. Cowper, daughter of Mr. F.. Cowper, of Kaitoke, Hawke's Bay. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. ' ■ Last Thursday the New Plymouth Bhys' High School held their annual athletic sports on the school grounds, and being endowed with glorious weather, tliey prcwed an unqualified success. Afternoon tea was served in the gymnasium, under the direction of the principal's wife W. H. Moyes), the pro-, eeeds of which added greatly to the patriotic funds. Amongst those present were:—Mis. Moyes, white muslin, black and white iat; Mrs. Ryder, cream costume, nigger-brown hat trimmed with salmon-pink silk; Mrs. D'Arcy Robinson, tussore co3tinnc, hat trimmed with black velvet roses; Miss K. Campbell, white muslin,.navy hset : Miss N- Bullard, white muslin, 'Panama hat; Miss Wade, black and white costume, hat relieved with pale blue roses; Miss Hempton, black; Mrs. Hooper, tussore costume, black feaithered hat; Mrs, C. McAUum, smart imvy crepe de .chine, navy tulle hat with white doisies; Mrs. Marriot, navy coat and skirt, smart purple velvet hat; Mrs. •T. Paion, French-grey costume, saxe blue hat; Mrs. W. D. Webster, black costume, purple bonnet; Mrs. Burgess, navy crepe de chine, black hat with feathers; Mrs. Johns, fawn gar.bardine costume, pink hat; Mrs. Hill, navy costume, hat mass>pd with violets; Miss N. Pott, cream silk frock; Miss Roy, white linen coat and skirt, navy hat with white-feathers; Mrs. Quilliam, navy costume, black hat; Mrs. Teed, saxe-blue costume, black feathered hat; Mrs. Percy Wefbster, navy ■costume,.hat trimmed with shaded roses; JMrs. Walter Weston, tussore costume, hat to correspond; Mrs. P. Fitzherbert, white juuslin, black liat; Mrs. Dempsey, black silk costume, toque to>match; Miss D. Baily,. white linen costume, black and 'white hat; 1 Miss J 1 ". Baily, white; Miss R. Whitton, ffowered voile, hat to match; Mrs. li. A. .Walker, cream garbardine costume, tuscaß hat wreathed with pansies; Mrs. Cocksr, navy costume, pink hat; Mrs. Addentorooke, Mrs. E. Griifiths; Miss B. Hirst, white pique costume, black and white hat; Miss D. ■ .Bradbury, Miss Tidy, Mrs. Chaney, Mrs. Watkins, Miss N. Collins, Miss Bellringer; Mrs. F. Fookes, tussore-.costume, hat trimmed with feathers; Miss Capel, white coat and skirt, black hat; Miss Ambury, white and black spotted voile, hat with shaded roses; Miss Harrison, white embroidered voile, hat to corres* pond; Mrs. H. Hutchen, dove-grey costume, black hat with plumes; Mrs. Reid, saxe blue check costume, "pretty hat to correspond; Miss Neville (Wellington), navy costume, hat en sufte; Miss D. Simpson, white spotted musik, PMuunft Mm. D. Hurgtapuse,

white costume, with white and heliotrope striped coat,Muscan hat; Mrs. D. Morrison, navy costume, black hat with pink roses; Mrs. Mills (Timaru), grey costume, hat to correspond; Mrs. E. Blundell, brown check costume, black and white hat; Mrs. Colson, Mrs. E. Griffiths, Miss A. Sole, Misses Norman (2), Misses Smith (2); Mrs. Rockel, brown silk voile, hat en suite; Mrs. T. Nicholson, black tulle over a white silk foundation, black and white toque; Mrs. Courtney, Miss Eawson; Miss E. Greatbateh, white linen costume, 'Panama hat; Mrs. A. Watery navy costume, black hat wreathed with pale pink roses; Mrs. K. Webster, white linen coat and skirt, hat trimmed with daisies; Mrs. H. Fookes. Holland costume, black and white hat: Mrs. BirchJohnston, nigger-brown taffetas, sleeves and yokes of brown chiffon over white, brown tagel French sailor hat wreathed with forget-me-nots; Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. 'Fookes; Miss M. Corkill, pretty white frock, with old-gold sash, and bat trimmed with old-gold ribbon; Miss Rockel, white voile, hat relieved with pale blue; Miss G. Shaw, Mrs. Penn, Miss Miss Bullard; Mrs. S. Smith, sionegrcy costume, pale grey hat trimmed with black velvet; Mrs. Brewster, black and white check costume, black hat trimmed with violets; Miss Brewster, creiim garbadine costume, saxe blue crepe de chine hat; Mrs. Bewley, black and white costume, hat trimmed with feathers; Miss J)evore (Auckland), fawn costume, crush-ed-rose colored hat; Miss Webster, Miss Sergeant (Rotorua), Misses Humphries \(2). MELBA IN CANADA. GREAT WELCOME AT TORONTO. Writing on October 15, the Toronto correspondent of the .Musical Courier says:— "Hundreds vainly endeavored to gain admittance to Mine. Melba's concert given in aid of the Red Cross on Monday evening, October 4. Massey Music Hall presented a brilliant scene, and one which will be recorded by many a generation. Lord Richard Neville, repreenting the Governor-General of Canada, his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, and the Duchess of Connaught, came from Ottawa as chief patron of the event. With him in the first balcony, directly opposite the stage, were Sir John Hendrie, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, and Lady Hendrie. Tile hall was filled, with a notable and enthusiastic throng, even a large portion of the stage being occupied by many persons. Red, white and blue bunting decorated boxes and balconies; flags were gracefully festooned, while above the stage, on the southern wall, a large red cross gave significance to the much-heralded occasion. The assisting artists, all members of the prima donna's concert company, were worthy of high praise: Beatrice Harrison, 'cellist; Robert. Parker, baritone; and Frank St. Legere, pianist. !Ten Highland pipers, accompanied by two drummers, marched down the centre aisle, and Mine. Melba, advancing on the stage, sang the national anthem, in which the assembly of about 4000 : people joined her rapturously. Three cheers for the King, and then again "for our brave soldiers," followed. The prima donna looked extremely well after her long trip from Australia and sojourn en route on the Pacific Coast. Her beautiful gown was of rosecolored silk, with jewelled waist of silver sequins. About her dark hair was a rope of diamonds, surmounted by a queenly white aigrette. True to the cause, she was in "red and white," while the jewelled orders which she wore are described as the King George Coronation Medal, the King Edward and Queen Alexandra Order of Art. Science and Literature, and a similar insignia from the Kings of Norway and Sweden. During her first number she carried in her | hands an exquisite bunch of white flowers, lilies of the valley; but when she next appeared she held lovely red roses. Her superb voice and noble interpretations won constant recognition, and she was repeatedly recalled, as, indeed, were all the soloists. In the middle of the programme, returning to the stage exit on the left, as usual, Mme. Melba was met by Mr. K. J. Dunstan, president of the Toronto branch of the Red Cross Society, who addressed to her an appreciative and patriotic speech, and presented her, on behalf of the society, with a Red Cross pin of rubie3 and diamonds, and a certificate of life membership. Then Melba spoke. She is not just a wonderful singer and heroic woman, this prima donna, who, with Nordica and one or two others, has held a queenly place in the world of song for two decades and more. "Eloquent" hardly describes the glory and music of her uttered words. She stood there like a goddess, and every sound was hushed as, intent, thrilled and spellbound, the vast assembly listened. Fastening the pin in her dress, above her heart, she ha'd accepted the high tribute paid to her. Now, still slightly to her right, she addressed the president of the society, conveying her thanks. Anon, she advanced a step, directly facing the audience. Her voice rose in a lovely, vibrant. and glowing crescendo, reaching a noble climax, as she spoke of."Greater Britain," and asked for three cheers for Australia! Indeed, it seemed that as they were given the vibrations must have reached and resounded in her muclij loved native land ! Meanwhile a wounded soldier advanced, touching all hearts as he appeared in uniform, and placed in her hand a floral tribute of roses making a red cross. Would that som<! camera might have caught the never-to-be-forgotten picture! Where are our historic artists? Here, indeed, is a scene which well might be graphically portrayed in oils on canvas! Twenty young ladies dressed in white trimmed with red circulated flags and programmes during the evening, and, advancing to the platform, scattered their red and white roses at the soprano's feet. At the close of her last encore, Tosti's "GotxJ-bye," the pipers played .again, after which she returned, and, surrounded by tliern, concluded with "God Save the King," the audience joining her, and Dr. Albert Ham presiding effectively at the pipe organ. The sum raised womld have amounted to far more tbßq 9095 do Iters bad the hall been large

enough to hold all those who were impatient to gain an entrance. It is announced that concerts for the same object shortly will be given by Melba under vice-regal patronage in Montreal and Ottawa.

INDICTMENT OF FASHION.

LADY WARRICK'S STINGING CRITICISM. The Countess of Warick makes some stringent criticisms of the present fashions in an outspoken article which appears in Pearson's Magazine. "It may seem a far cry from questions that affect the fate of empires and the destiny of European civilisation, to woman's clothes and the London fashions of 1915," she says, "but the connection can be traced. Women, being so seriously affected by the war, so deeply concerned with the grave interests of life and death, have not troubled to criticise or resist Fashion in her most capricious mood. They have merely surrendered, and the results are lamentable. "Dressmakers must live, and apparently they believe that to this end any means are justifiable. They were faced as a class by the alarming decision of most sensible women to effect ' economies. Since the hobble skirt departed this life, unwept and unsung, fashions have tended to a certain sanity in 'dress and to the preservation of long, flowing, gracious lines. Consequently tliere was ample excuse for turning the clothes that had been worn before and putting spare money to useful and beneficial purposes. Many of my friends in the early part of the year openly proclaimed their intention to bring dress into the domain of economy. "Now the influence of the dressmaker upon leisured women as a class can only be compared with the influence of the drink interest upon political parties. Politics came to the aid of 'the trade,' Fashion c-ame to the aid of the dressmaker. The only thing to be done was to make existing dresses unbearable, and the method chosen by Fashion was to call upon all women to make themselves ridiculous or fear her displeasure. Secure in the exercise of her authority, Fashion dealt as ruthlessly with beauty as the apostles of 'Kultur' dealt with the terror-stricken peasantry of Belgium and Poland. The only excuse put forward for this ugliness was that women who are helping their country in the hospitals or behind the battle lines require freedom of movement! I heard this fantastic nonsense advanced by dressmakers as though Flanders and Bond Street were in the same district. "Schopenhauer once made some horribly rude remarks about the female form; I think that if he could see the fashions of 1915 he would be satisfied that he could justify his criticism up to the hilt. Only a minorty of women have fortunate feet and ankles. The rest must expose all their shortcomings to the light of day—and night. The new mode has made the tall women look short, and the woman of middle height look dumpy. The effect upon short women must be seen to be believed. The freedom of limb theory is a pitiful burlesque in its new guise. Only the ingenue is suited, and we are not all ingenues. "From the artistic standpoint, the fashion of 1915 is utterly horrible. I cannot believe that any woman of taste would care to have her full-length portrait painted in the dress she has assumed to-day." AUSTRIA'S WOMEN SOLDIERS. Francis Molnar,. a fflmgarian waT correspondent). declares that many women have fought in the ranks of the Galician "Ukarina Volunteers." The women, he says, arc dressed in the regular uniform of the force, with a yellow-blue cockade on their caps (the volunteer sign). They are some 20 in number, and some of them wear the order "for valour," and have been promoted to noncommissioned rank. They perform the same duties as the men, and are engaged in the very same work at the front as their male colleagues, walk about with an air of sincerity, and carry their rifles just as the ordinary soldier does. According to international law 3 they come under the same catogory as men armed and uniformed, and the Russians treat them and regard them in the same way as we regard the Russian women fighting among their forces. I have had a long conversation with one of these girl-soldiers, Miss Sophie Haletchko. She is a mo3t feminine, fine-faced, but delicately built girl of 24 years of age, very earnest, and pretty. 'She wears a shabby-looking uniform; the three stars on her collar denote her rank as sergeant. She tells me that she has been fighting for a year now, feels perfectly fit, and has only been ill for nine days, She comes from Lemberg, and before the war was a student in the Graz University, where she studied German and Slav philology. When the war broke out she joined the Ukarina Volunteers, for she thought everybody ought to go. She received her medal for cavalry patrol work and her rank was also given to Iter for patrol services. Around Husne village she succeeded in slipping through the Russian lines with the cavalry patrol under her command, and brought important information. At Synovodzko she was also in command of a patrol of Hussars, and after this she received the medal. She tells me that her friend, who joined the forces with her, Miss Olena Stepaniw, is a prisoner of war in Russia. She is also a Lemberg girl, 19 years of ago, and she was one of the most gallant and brave soldiers in the force. A patrol commander also, and a sergeant, she has her decoration as well. She covered the retreat of th# others with a handful of men at Bolechow until the Russians surrounded them and took them prisoners. Shampooing, Hairdressing and Twisting; Electrolysis for the permanent removal of superfluous hair. Switches, Toupees, etc. Ladies' combings made up to any design. MRS. BEADLE, Eginont Toilet Parlors, Griffiths' Buildings, New Plymouth, near Carnegie Library., u