WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1919, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

PERSONAL. Mrs. Paget has returned to Palmerston North after spending a week or two in New Plymouth. Mrs. Bartley and the Misses Bartley motored through from Auckland, and Bpent a day or two here before leaving for Wanganui on Wednesday. Mrs. Walter Eawson has returned to Wellington. Miss Curtis, who has been visiting Hawera and Eltham, returned last Wednesday. «■ • ■ • • Mr. and Mrs. P. England, of Wanganui, spent a few days here this week. Mrs. Percy Blundell, who has been spending a short holiday here,, has returned to Wellington. • • • » Mrs. E. C. Wheeler, of Los Angeles,: California, is the guest of Mrs. W- H. Skinner. At Kawaroa Park Bungalow, on Wednesday night, a jolly little dance was given by tfhe staff of the Bank of New Zealand as a farewell to Mr. and Mis. A. W. Remrell, who leave shortly for Levuka. # « » • Mrs. Percy Webs'ter ga,ve a most,en-, joyable bridge party at Kawaroa Park. Bungalow on Thursday afternoon, Mr 3. Rennell being the guest of honor. * • * * Mrs. Koch, who has been the guest of Mrs. Alf. Webster, has left for Wanganui. ] I Mrs. P. S. Whiteombe, accompanied by Miss Eileeu Whiteombe, left by motor for Napier on Friday. Mrs. Aker (Wellington) and Mrs. Frost (Taukau) are staying at Chatsworth. Miss A'.ice Bredow has left for Hawera and Waverley, where she will spend some weeks. Miss Tuohy, a popular member of Messrs. White and Sons' staff for the past five years, who is leaving to take up a position in Hawera, was farcwelied by the staff and a large number of friends at a social at Kawaroa Park on Thursday. During the evening, Mr. P. White, at the request of the staff, made a presentation of a jewel casket. Miss Tuohy appropriately responded on her own behalf. A most enjoyable evening was spent. I' » » • Visitors at the White Hart include Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan (Fcilding), Miss Watkins sn.'d Miss Girdler (England), Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson (Wellington), Miss Waters (Wellington), Mrs. Riddell (Wellington Mr. and Mrs. England (Wanganui;, Mrs. and the Misses Bartley (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. Drake (Feilding), Sisters Harris and Fanning (Christchurcii), Miss R. Bates (Stratford). » » • • The wedding of two members of wellknown Maori families took place at Puketeraki, near Dunedin, when Miss Kuini Ellison, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Ellison, was married to Mr. Reki Te Tau, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Puhara Te Tau, of Lansdowne Masterton. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. H. Parata. The bridesmaids were Miss Gwen Te Tau. si3t»r of the bridegroom, Miss Wiki Elli ,on, sister of the bride, and Miss Carrie Beaton. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. H. Parata as best man. Mr. R. Te Tau and Mr. E. Ellison were the groomsmen. After the wedding ceremony, the guests, numbering about 300 partook of the wedding breakfast, after which Mr. and Mrs. Te Tau left by motor for Invercargill. ST. MARY'S ROSE SHOW

St. Mary's Rose .Show will take place ttext Thursday, and promises to he as great a success as its predecessor of two years ago. In addition , to beautiful roses and other flowers there will be a stall covered by all sorts of artistic and uncommon things made by the members of St. Mary's Guild. These will. be just the thing for Christmas presents, and no one should miss the opportunity of securing some of the many bargains, for the things are marked very low. PLUNKET DAY. Plunke.t Day will be held in New Plymouth next Saturday, and complete arrangements are being made to raise money by a fair in the town. Numerous stalls will be placed in Devon Street, extending from the A.M.P. Buildings to the Imperial Hotel corner, and a., great variety of useful articles will be on sale. STRATFORD DIOCESAN. SCHOOL. The Diocesan School at Stratford held their annual "Speech Day" last Thursday at which Bishop Averill presided. After the report had been read and the speeches made, a dainty afto/noon tea was handed round by the pupils, and altogether a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon was spoilt. Several people motored down from New Plymouth, including Mrs. S. W. Shaw, Mrs. Newton King, Mrs. F. G. Evans, Miss Wade and Miss Betty King. GENERAL. Complaint has been made by Wellington housewives that clothing is being stolen from clothes-lines. The articles that are principally taken are hose and handkerchiefs. In each instance the thefts have taken place where washing has been left out over night to dry. The complicated marriage formalities in France have been somewhat simplified by the law of August Bth of this year. The ten days during which the banns have to be posted up on the door of the Town Hall need no longer include two Sundays; two witnesses, instead of four, are declared sufficient; if desired, the civil authorities can celebrate the marriage at the- home of the bride or of the bridegroom; and in case of an error in the spelling of the names, for example, in the papers of identity produced, a simple declaration on the part of the relative or of the principal parties, if they are of age, is sufficient to rectify the error. In the actual ceremony itself, in the reading of the chapter of the Civil Code setting forth the respective rights and duties of the contracting parties, only the first three articles will be read. A very discreet modification is that which enjoins that the age of bride and bridegroom need no leogtt bt toisribsU ea tit muriaw cit*

tificate; they are declared of age, or over thirty, but no specific age is given. The new law also shortens the period which must elapse before a new marriage is contracted after divorce. WIVES ON THE RHINE. ANGLOGERMAN MARRIAGES. Just back from the Rhine, a Leeds sol dier makes a remarkable statement ot the way in which British soldiers liavo been fraternising with German girls. Ho declares that in Cologne Cathedral lie saw 23 British soldiers married to German women- The cathedral was full of people, and a German, to whom he expressed surprise, told him it was quite a common thing to see British service men marrying German girls. The soldier went on to say: "One man who came home with me told the colonel that lie would forfeit his gratuity and all his pay if they would allow him to remain in' Cologne to marry a German girl. The colonel said he could not do .that, but explained that when he had 'been demobilised at home he could get a passport and go back to Rhineland. . That man is returning to Germany. When I informed him what I thought about it, he remarked that he had taken a fancy to a girl with plenty of money, and as he had no tics in England he might as well marry her. Any night in Cologne you can see our men with their ; arms round German girls, and young officers seem as keen as the men. Dozens of them are at the dances." MAN'S EIGHT WIVES. FOLLOWING BIBLICAL EXAMPLE. Five feet four in his darned old socks (neatly and lovingly darned by this or i that wife, as the case may be) stands) Charles B. Wilson, a thin, kind-hearted j worried little man, accused of bigamr. J He was brought to New York from Wisconsin to answer the charge. "Guilty," he said, when arraigned before Judge Wadliams in General Ses-1 sions. | "How many?" demanded the Court, j And when the little fellow straightened up and answered "eight" there was ii murmur in the court-room. He stood I there, sturdy as a willow plume, and ■ compelled everybody with compassionate eyes. Judgo Wadhams' interest in the case appeared to be for a moment more scientific than legal. He wanted to know how such things could be? "Well, I'm a Y.M.C.A. worker and r, travelling salesman and Bible student; and I used to be a physical instructor," I said Wilson. "Go on," said the Court. "In the Bible." Wilson continued, "I study especially the lives of Solomon and David and Jacob, and tbey all had many wives." "About these women you manned—w,ere they—well, what sort of women were they, anyway?" "They were trustful. Christian, economical women," said Wilson with dignity. "But what did they marry you for?" insisted the Court. 'They came to me in distress," said Wilson, "and I was merciful to them." LOVED THEM ALL. "Could you make that a little clearer?" said Judge Wadliams. "Well, two of them were in trouble," said Wilson, "so I helped them." Turning to economics, the high cost of living, etc, Judge Wadhams asked how it was possible to support so manj. "I am a travelling salesman, as I said before," was the answer. "At times I make £lO or £l2 a day. Besides, four of my wives were widows, and had money when I married them. Also, I didn't support all of them all the time. They were distributed over a period of nineteen years. I met them here and there in my travels, most of them in church. And I loved them all." Judge Wadhams gave it up, and said he would impose sentence later.

LANDLORD CHASED BY WOMENU.S. TENANTS REVOLT. New York is developing a very short way with rent profiteers, says a correspondent of the Weekly Dispatch The housing situation in the city has been growing steadily worse as a result of the landlords taking advantage of the shortage of houses and apartments to force up rents. In hnndrars of cases the tenants have been turned out at short notice following ultimatums from landlords on the expiry of leases, to quit or pay increased rents. It has become quite common to see in the windows of apartment houses; cards bearing, the words "This house is- on rent strike," meaning that the tenant is one of those who have banded together to refuse to pay the increased rents and to meet with force anv bailiffs who come to evict them. Not long ago two landlords were chased through the streets. Several have been man-handled by the crowds of women. Recently a fresh method of dealing with rapacious owners was tried with great effect. A few weeks ago Ithc mayor appointed a committee to inquire into rent profiteering. At the sittings a landlord named Joachim and his "son appeared to give evidence in their own defence against allegations brought by the tenants of several blocks' of flat's of which they are the owners. The elder Joachim, after several times being* called to order for the violent speeches directed against tenants, fired oft' u< tirade against children. _ After declaring that all tenants were liars Joachim wound up with personal references to one tenant. The latter a large man, rose in his wrath and landed a right hook on the landlord's left ear, knocking him over two chairs and a table into a far corner of the room. This was the signal for a general attacic. T?hc audience, which was principally composed of women, advanced in mass formation on the landlord and his son crying "Kill them both!" For several minutes a wild scrimmage raged in the committee room. Finally the police had to be called in to rescue the two Joachims, who, by that time, had been considerably damaged, and to restore order.