WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1919, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

PERSONAL Miss L. Greatbatch, who lias beenj visiting Wellington and the South Island, baa returned. • • » » Miss Burnett, of Wanganui, who has been the guest of Miss Wade, left last week for Auckland. • • * • Mrs C. H. Burgess is on a vist to Auckland- • * • • Miss Corkill, who baa been the guest of her sister, Mrs Horrocks, Motueka, has returned. # * * • Mrs Allan Rennell, who has been spending a short holiday in Auckland, has returned. • • • • Mrs Clemow leaves early next week for her future home in Cambridge. Mrs Brookman has returned from a trip to Auckland and Rotorua. * * * Mrs Fitzherbert, senr., and Miss Sybil Fitzherbert arrive early next week to spend a holiday in Sew Plymouth. Mrs Fitzherbert will stay with Mrs P. B. Fitzherbert, and Miss Sybil Fitzherbert will be the guest of Mrs Bradbury. # # • • Miss D. Simpson is on a visit to Auckland. » • « • Mrs. H. S. Brookman returns 011 Tuesday from a visit to Auckland. » • • • Miss Edique McKoy is spending a holiday in. Wanganui, where she is the guest of her cousin, Mrs. Richardson. • # V • • Visitors at the White Hart this week include: Miss Kingston, Wellington; Miss Thomson, Wellington; Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Wanganui; Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, Auckland; Misses Couper, Havelock N-orth; Mr. and Mrs. Jesscate, Wanganui; Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong and Mr. and Mrs. Fairbrother, Wellington. SOCIETY NEWS.

Many revenue deriving entertainments are being arranged to take place this month, the whole of the proceeds being devoted to St- Mary's mart day, which takes place on August 23rd. On the 14th there is to be a performance given by the "Minstrels" in the Good Templar Hall, and on the 30th and 21st a dramatic entertainment takes place, whilst several bridge parties are being held, at which the guests are asked to bring a small contribution of money. Last Monday Mrs W. J. Penn was hostess at an auction bridge party, and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon was spent, the sum of £5 being adaed to the fund. The prizes were won by Mrs Percy Webster, Mrs Stacker and Mrs W. C. Weston. Those present were Mendames Moyes, Kebbell, 11. Paul, Wade, Hutchen, J. C. Nicholson, Walker, W. C. Weston, C H. Weston, Mills, Matthews, James Wilson, Anderson, N. King, A. Rennell, Stoeker, Collins, R. George, A. Bewley, H. Fookes, Dodgshun, Simpson, Medley, A. MacDiarmid, Rockcl, Evans, Chaney, W. Bayly, Lysons, Grant, Greatbatch, Hugh Baily, Percy Webster, L. "B. Webster, R. A. Gray, Fraser, E. Oarthew, and Miss | Kirkby.

Mrs A. Crooke entertained the committee of the New Plymouth branch of the British Red Cross Society at afternoon tea at her residence last Wednesday, and a most enjoyable time was spent. During the afternoon a very original and most interesting competition was held, there being twenty-four questions arranged, all the answers of which were to be found in the words "British Red Cross." Mrs Claude Weston, Mrs. Addenbrooke, and Miss Wilson tied for the prizes, and in cutting Miss Wilson won-

As Mrs Crooke is leaving shortly to take up her residence in Marton, the committee took the opportunity of presenting her with a silver photo frame as a token of remembrance.

In its criticism of a performance of "La Boheme" at Drury Lane, the Morning Post says of MiRS Rosina Buckman: "She is very well known to frequenters of the performances of the opera in English- She is no stranger to Convent Garden, and clearly will be no stranger in the future. Her efforts when singing in Italian were as effective as in English, and with Mr Thos. Burke as the Rudolpho, there was a representation of British ability that was as gratifying as it wad notable." WEDDING. BENNETT—WARD. A wedding which attracted considerable interest took place at the Metliodist Church, Inglewood, on Thursday, July 31st., when Miss Elsie Coral Ward, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Geo- Ward, of New Plymouth, formerly of Inglewood, was united in matrimony to Mr Bert Eric Bennett, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Eric Bennett, of Inglewood The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Benaley, and Miss Hammerton played the "Wedding March." The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in a costume of eau de nil cloth and hat of lemon plush, with white plume, and she carried a bouquet of spring flowers. She was attended by two bridesmaids, Miss Alice Cottier being attired in a create pinaforo dress, trimmed with pale pink rosebuds, over georgette blouse, and black hat, trimmed with pink roses. Miss Joyce Lile was attired in primrose crepe de chine with tulle sash, relieved with touches of pink and blue forget-me-nots. She carried ft shepherd's crooke. Mr Reg. Ward, brother of the bride, acted as best man, and Mr Lionel Manby, nephew of the bridegroom, as groomsman. The bridegroom's present to the bride was a pearl pendant with chain, and to each bridesmaid a brooch of pearls. After the ceremony the party adjourn-1 ed to the Druids' Hall for the wedding breakfast, which was tastefully set out, a prominent feature being the handsome wedding cake, which was the gift of Mr and Mrs A. Lile. The young people, who were the recipients of many valuable and useful presents, left later in the day by motor for New Plymouth en route to Auckland. WAR DESOLATED FRANCE, HIGH PRICES IN LONDON. While great matters of State were claiming the attention of' New Zealand's leaders, Mrs Massey and Ls -'y Ward had unique opportunity for viewing conditions of social life in both London and Paris during the closing phases of the war-period. \ Mrs Massey and Miss Massey spent two months in Paris, leaving again for London early in April. This whs Mrs Massey's first visit to Paris; it- y aß > in a sense, unofficial, and she spoke of it la .WriMiAlft

derful time of rest and enjoyment. Of the spirit of the French women she expressed highest admiration. "When we reached Paris," she said, "my first impression was that of a city of mourning; there was a kind of surface brightness, and life and activity, of course, but everywhere one saw women in mourning. Black was the color nlimist' universally worn, and it was a common tiling see five or six funerals pass along the streets during the day—probably those of soldiers who had died in hospitals- It gave one something of an idea of the sacrifice and suffering of the womeii of France during the warTOUR OF TI-I-E WAR ZOXE. One of the most interesting of Mrs Massey's experiences while in France was a tour of the battlefield area, in which she passed through many places of immortal fame—Chateau d'Thicrry, Soissons, Epernay, and Rlieims. '"'l shall never forget the desolation of that trip," she said. "As far as one could see in some areas there was nothing but country laid waste, still pitted with shell-holes, not a sign of any living thing. We passed fully 100 ruined villages. In some there were little groups of worn, hungry-looking women and children, still living somehow among the ruins of their homes. Others again were qu?te deserted. Yet in other spots the w,ork of restoration had already begun, and it was simply wonderful the way all the wreck of war had been cleared away." SHATTERED AND SHELL-TORN RHEIMS, Mrs Massey's visit to Rheims was described in a very interesting manner, The main point of interest was, of course, the cathedral. , This appealed to the visitor as one of the saddest evidences she had seen of all the enemy's work of ruination in France. However, shattered and shell-torn as it was, the old cathedral still retained much of its historic dignity and beauty, and \ras readily recognisable from the remaining semblance of its former glories. Reverting to the subject of her stay in Paris, Mrs Massey spoke of the thousands of visitors from foreign nations interested in the peace settlement. It seemed to her that France was eagerly looking forward to receiving visitors from all parts of the earth, as soon as she had set her house in order This would, of course, take some considerable time, but the people were undoubtedly anticipating an enormous tourist traffic, and were willing and eager to meet it. Mrs Massey was not in Paris when the Treaty was signed, but arrived in Southampton, on her way home, the day the glad news was 1 received. The demonstration of rejoicing, she said, would always remain one of the outstanding memories of a memorable trip; the whole town gave itself up to a veritable pandemonium of rejoicing, and her last glimpse of life in England was one of brightness and intensest joy. BRITAIN'S INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES. Tho outstanding impression gained during an interview of Lady Ward was that of a great relief to be back again in a country where conditions of living as yet remain something akin to normal. In England they are apparently still a very long way from that comfortable state. In a room bedecked and beautified by great welcoming bouquets' of roses, violets, daffodils, and other spring flowers, Lady Ward spoke of the exorbitant prices of even the flowers of England, which certainly never were requisitioned for military needs. "A bunch of roses like any of these would cost fully £2," she said, "and prices of other flowers are on the same scale." From flowers to fruit was an easy transition, and here again prices were named which gave one a catch in the breath. A pineapple purchased on one occasion of sickness cost a member of the party £l, while apples were Cd each. Food and dress prices were on the same exorbitant scale.

During her stay in London, Lady Ward had a practical experience of the industrial troubles that are menacing the welfare of the whole nation, for at one period all the waiters and other hotel workers went on strike.* They remained out five days, during which time many of the guests had to wait on themselves, while a number of V.AD. girls came to the rescue in the kitchen.

Another personal experience of the country's prevailing shortage of the necessaries of life came to Lady Ward when ill in bed, during the cold weather, and coal was unprocurable for a few days. The rooms were more or less steam heated, but no coal could bo spared for open fires, and when it did come, was described, as powdery black stuff giving forth very little brightness or warmth. NEW SPIRIT IN PARIS. Lady Ward, who has visited Paris on several previous occasions, and paid another visit somewhat later than Mrs. Massey, was similarly impressed with 5 the evidence of mourning and sadness, but this apepared to be giving way to a happier and brighter spirit than was noticeable soon after the immediate .close of the war. "It seemed to me," said Lady Ward, "that Paris was getting back to something of its old-time spirit. Spring was just at hand when 1 was there, and as the time of settlement of peaco terms drew nearer, it seemed that ] gladness and a spirit of new life were coming again into the heart of the people."