WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1917, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

SOCIAL NEWS PERSONAL ITEMS. The Hon. 0. Samuels anil Mrs. Samuels •I'lio -have been on a visit to Wellington have returned. • » * • Mr. and Mrs. Allen Waters, who have been on a shftrt visit to Wellington, have returned. • * * • Mrs. Napier M'Lean (Wellington) is at present visiting her relatives at Uruti. Miss Peart has gono cn a visit to iVanganui, where she will be the guest pf Sirs. Wilson. * * » » Mrs. Gordon Fraser, who has been on <l visit to Auckland, has returned. • • t » Mrs. Brewster, who has heen ou a «hort visit to Wellington, has returned. » • • • Miss Crooke lias gone on a visit to Cambridge and Auckland.

Mrs. M. Fraser is the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Cyril Williamß, Tauranga. • • * • Miss Iris Crooke of the Wellington ifospital Staff, who has been on a visit <o her parents in New Plymouth, has returned. Mrs. A. Blundell (Wanganui) is the guest of Mrs. E. F. Blundell. * • # ♦ Mrs. W. H. Kelsey (Auckland) is visiting .Mrs. A. C. Fookes. • • * • Mrs Ballard is the guest of Mrs. E •Jriffiths, Fitzrov. Mrs. and Miss M. Bell (Stratford) at present in New Plymouth. Mrs. Daniels and Miss K. teatham, »ho have been the guests of Mrs. Percy frichard, Dannevirke (the latter's sister) have returned. Mrs. Lawrie has returned to Wellington after her short stay in New Plymouth. Colonel W. H. Fletcher itnd Mts. Fletcher are visiting New Plymouth. • * * • Mrs. Home, who has been on a visit to [New Plymouth., has returned to Auckland.

Mrs. Brodie, who has been on a visit to New Plymouth, has returned to Wellington. • » • •

Mrs. 'D'Ewes (Maaterton) is at pres' ent in New Plymouth.

Mrs. Bothamly (Wellington) arrives 'by the mail train to-night and will be the guest of Mrs. W. H. Morey during her stay in New Plymouth.

fHE QUEEN BEHIND A COUNTER.

Queen Mary spent a delightful hour on /line 28, with the assistance of Princess Mary as "tf&itress," serving luncheons Rt "2d and 3d per portion at the new communal kitchen at the Stepney Central Hall, which had been opened earlier in the morning by Princess Christian, says the London Daily Mail. The Queen arrived at noon, and after 4 ceremony of presentations to the mislioncrs of the hall, she and the Princess went to the kitchen adjoining, took their itand behind a temporary counter, and tet to work. Hundreds of women and children with baskets. jugs, naper bags, and plates rere Already in "the waiting queue. The work of serving this hungry throng be gan in a, moat appetising odor of sausages and fried onions. "I declare," said the Queen, "it makes ine feel quite hungry. . . ." Here tomes the first customer—a very small boy with a very big basket and a rathet tuspicious-tooking bottle in it. "Are you coins to put your dinner in the basket., little boy?" "Yes, mum," replied the little boy. "And what do you want? oow much (lave you got to spend?" "Tuppence, lady," and lis produced a twopenny ticket. "11l have sausage and anions," he said, knowing what was good. "Onf l sausage and onions," said the Queen to the waitress at her side, as she jpiked tiic twopenny ticket. *\But sausage and onions is threepence," declared the waitress (Princess Mary), "and it really can't be done at the price!" The little boy's face fell. "I'm afraid ,ou can't have a threepenny dinner for a twopenny ticket," said the Queen »ympathetieally. "Have a meat pie—l can asjure vou they're very nice!" The small boy said he would; and /rom that moment there was a tremon' | ious run on the meat-pie market. The Hews flashed through the crowd instantly that the Queen had told Jimmy Thompion that the meat pies were fine. Nearly everybody clamored for them, so that Ht 12.4.) precisely Mr. Gregory, the minister of the mission, rapped vigorously | upon thn counter and cried in a loud »oice: "Your Majesty, ladips and gentle,/nen, and dear friends, —I have to antiounco that all the meat pies are sold I em very sorry, but we did not antl tipaie so huge a demand for them." "The cold ham looks very nice, too," remarked the Queen. .Consequently the cold ham ivas the next dainty to be struggled for. The first of the claimants for this dish iras an elderly, whitehaired tfQman, who leaned over the counter and tfhjftpered mysteriously for it. "Wfoero's your plate?" asked the Queen "If vou please, Your Majesty, I've .only got this," replied the dame, producing a large envelope. "I dare say wo can manage with that," the Queen said. So Princess Mary fetched the ham, and the Queen, using her ticketipike as a fork, tranferred the slices of ham to the envo'lope, amid encouraging iheers.

Very nearly the last customer served tras :i bright-eyed woman of over 70— Mr>. Smith, of Salmon lane, Stepney. "1 should like just a word with you, jfour Majesty," said she very confidentially "Well, what is it?" asked {he Queen, bending over and smiling enconragingly. "I hope your husband's quits well, <pp,'am." ••Thank you, yes—he is," replied Hsr Majesty. "I am' sure it is very kiild of you to inquire." "I've got a very good reason for it," remarked llrs. Smith. "Because I'vj followed him, so to speak, ever since he was » baby. It was I who made his first robe, bless his heart!" "How interesting!" laughed the Queen. "And I hope you'll tell him what I've Mid 1 yoUj and feive hj"" r *. best reaoects aad kind vitimfi

• *To be isure J >ivlll," replied Her Majesty.

"Thunk volt kindly," said Mrs. Smith, •nd with a deep curtesy the old lady turned to go. "Stop a minute," eried the Queen. ''You've forgotten your dinner!"

"Bless us, so I have!" chuckled Mrs Smith. "I think I'll have a little pie, please. I was that flustered . .

And as she received her portion, fetched by the Princess, the old seamstress ot Salmon lane once more said, shaking her finger: "N'ov. you won't forget to tell jour husband?" "I won't forget," replied the Queen. "I am sure he will be very interested to hear all about it!"