WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1920, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

PERSONALS. Mr and Mrs. W. Nye, who have been spending a short holiday here, returned to Featlierston this week.Mrs. and Miss Scott, Mrs. Moore, and Miss Khoon Moore, of Auckland, are the guests of Mrs. H. Mace. » • • « Mrs Sydney Allen left on Thursday for her future home in Auckland. » • • • Mr. and Mrs. H. Greig and Miss Alison Greig, who have been touring the North Island by motor, returned last Saturday. o • • • Mrs. Niehol, of Ashburton', 5s tho guest of Mrs. Faber Fookes. « * • * Miss Marie Avery is visiting Auckland. • •it Mrs. Hunt has returned to Wellington. • • • • Miss Farley, who has been staying with Mrs. Medley, left this week for Ts Aroha. « • » • Miss G. Howell is spending a holiday ia Wellington, and ia the guest of Mrs. E. D. Good. j • * • • Miss Grace Fookes is the guest of her sister, Mrs. P. B. Fitzherbert. « • • • Mrs. McAUum, of Inglewood, spent a few days here this week. • • • • Miss Elsie Greatbatch, who has been spending a holiday in Wellington, returns early next week. • * » • Mrs. White (Wanganui) is staying at "Chatsworth." • « • • Miss Mina Caldow, who was soloist at the Male Choir Concert, returned to Auckland on Thursday. Miss L. R. Baker is on a visit to Auckland. • • • , | Mrs. Stanley Cross has returned from Feilding. At the dance at Government House at Auckland, the Prince danced sevetral times with Miss Lestrange Nolan. Miss Nolan is the daughter of Mr. R, Nolan, who did such splendid work in London during the war. The death occurred at the New Plymouth hospital on Thursday of Miss Catherino Emily Nicholls, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Nicholls, of Inglewood. The late Miss Nicholls had been nursing sick people in Inglewood and herself contracted a severe illness. The deceased was highly esteemed in the district. GENERAL. Visitors at the White Hart this week include: Mr. and Mrs. England (Wanganui), Mr. jand Mrs. Cot tie 'Wellington), Miss Reynolds (Ciiristeliurch), Mr. and Mrs. Howett (Wanganui), .Air. and Mrs. Hogg (Napier), Mrs. Prior (Hawke's Bay), Mr. and Mrs Ryan (Taumarunui), Mr. and Mrs. Richn-ds (Australia), Mr. and Mrs. Green (I'.ilmerston North), and Mr. and Mrs. West (Auckland). A DANCE. A most enjoyable dance took place last night at the Workers' Social Hall, it being arranged by a committee of boys. Mr. Boulton supplied th-; music The floor was in perfect order. The supper tables were tastefully Iccirared, being in bronze chrysanthemums, autumn leaves. The chaperones were Mesdames Anderson, Chaney, Fraser and Fitzherbert. The Countess of Limerick has already returned her 0.8. E., alleging it to be n slur upon her colleagues. She spiritedly protests that there are luif on the honors list hundreds of gratuitously patriotic war women who toiled night and day, summer and w-otsc She instances «0 women who shared her work at the London Bridge Bufl'et. where meals were given to over 7,000,000 men, and was known throughout Australia and Canada. THE COMING OF THE PRINCE. THE WOMEN'S WELCOME IN AUCKLAND. Auckland welcomed its Prince with a nght royal welcome. As the great grey sleuth of the sea slowly warped her way into her berth a roar of cheering went up from the wharves, black with peopleBut to the women of the city, leaning from every vantage place, it was not the giant warship that drew attention, but the small, almost boyish figure awav near the fighting top that drew all eyes. The battleship typified England's might, but this slight figure typified England's future, and all interest was keenly centred in him. "He is only a boy," said one lady as the gigantic war vessel came slowly alongside, " and what a nice boy to have to face such terrible responsibilities," she added. There was something almost pathetic in the minds of the mothers watching, that such a heavy burden should be the future destiny of such a sweet and smiling boy. For as a boy every mother in the crowd regarded him. Then came the landing, and the slight figure that had been away aloft in its plain navy blue emerged from the Royal suite of cabins arrayed in all the glory of gold epaulettes and cocked hat which almost hid the fair boyish face. He started gaily down the steps to the gangway in a truly boyish manner, but apparently some other function had to be gone through, for he was called back by his suite, and his second descent was more circumspect. There he was welcomed, and introduced to one after the other of the notabilities clustered round the gangway steps. Then came the inspection of the guard, and a short word with some of them, but in which no hurry was apparent, <ilthough the berthing of the ship had transcended its allotted time, and the Prince was late, and it is an axiom with his House that the King is never late Whatever waited, it was evident it would not he the men whom he had seen on the battlefields of France, and it was quite evident how it was that one New Zealander, who. still a boy himself, greatly distinguished both for gallantry and intelligence, should write to a lady friend: "Do try and give the' Prince a good run. I was with him in France. ia a real good chap." It wai not

J fie way Ein.crs wero spoken of formerly ' but it meant a great <lcal from one of his subjects born so far away.- Ami as the Prince passed up the wharf to meet the representative of the peonV of Auckland at the Watergate of the c itv it could he seen why the reports that, iin' was greatly loved j n England had nnson. Tho shy, sweet smile won every woman's heart as he bent his head m response to tho cheers of tin. people who had crowded the ton of the Ferry Building, and all the streets through which lie drove on hi s return from Government House to the Town Hall, where many women had beci waiting for him from half-past ten ii, the morning, with little to beguile the time lmt the beautiful decorations which reflected great credit on the Town Hall staff. Upon the stage were seats for the official guests, and amongst these was the Mayoress (Mrs. GuiifionJ, wearing a beautiful stone charmeuse gown, ivitli suggestions of pink, grey furs, and a brown velvet hat with pale coppertinted ostrich feather. Mrs- Masser wore a rich purple cloth costume with floral toque of the game shade, and an ostrich feather stole. Lady Ward wore-' a becoming costume of black souplc satin, with side panels lined with white silk, white fox furs, and black silk hat with osprey. Mrs. Mac Donald was in black costume, black furs and wide | black hat with tangerine tipped ostrich plume. Then came the Prince, preceded by ! the Mayor in robes of office, and the whole dense mass jumped to its feet with a roar of cheering as the slight fair figure mounted the steps, blushing slightly, and bowing with the shy grace that will be the one thing remembered through the years; the slightly diffident, shy, boyish manner, as if even yet use had not made him impervious to the ordeal of bearing the unlinking scrutiny of these thousands of eyes, fixed upon him in one long stare. What they saw was a charming little English head witli its brown hair glinting with gold, a clear skin under which came and went the pure -blood of a fine boy in the pink of condition, not large liut beautifully formed, truly to every mother present a perfect "Prince Charming.'' He stood on the 'foot of the dais at the conclusion of the. official speech-making, and the people began to file past him, dropping him little curtsies, deep or abrupt bows, as their manner might be, and to all of which he responded with a slight bobbing bcyish bow, and his sweet oblique smile as he bent his head before them. To some he bent lower, and it was noticed that it was nearly always to some old man or small child- A mother carrying a small boy, not too well dressed, went- past. The boy had evidently been told to look well at his Prince. And he looked with his big ohiidisli eve:; agape. Evidently the scrutiny was satisfactory for he suddenly raised a little Hag he had in his hand, and waved it at the Prince, whose smile came spontaneous and free as he watched the little chap pass from sight. On and on the people went in one continuous ft ream jiast the Prince's feet—a wonderful and historic scene that no other Royal Hourse could command —till the last had gone by and His Royal Highness turned to leave the hall. lOvidently he was being advised that there was need for hurry as he was late, but two New Zealanders, who had served with their brothers across the Tasman Sea. had lined up to see the Prince leave the hall and were in full uniform, even to the cm 11 plume. The Prince was passing when he saw them, an« the quick step forward, the sudden lighting of his face was the spontaneous tribute paid to the men who fought in France. He stopped and spoke to " them lor some miuutcs, while all waited, and then wringing them firmly by the. hand, he passed on—Auckland Star-

THE PRINCE'S TRAIN. The railway carriage in which the Prince of Wales is touring New Zealand is entirely lined witli beautiful rimu, tlic wood being most carefully matched, and with its new eoat of 'varnish it make a beautiful setting for the furnishing.'. The carriage has been divided into three compartments. First comes a sitting-room, or lounge, carpeted in a blue mottled pattern axminster, saxe blue curtains at tlic, windows, and a chesterfield and deep easy chairs upholstered in wool tapestry or an all-over design, in which the same blue predominates. A small dark table, behind the couch, is the only piece of furniture that is not completely new. That, particular table travelled with the prince's father, tlie present King, in the train which conveyed him through New Zealand. Light fawn and blue cushions are on the conches, and these show a design of the I'rinee of Wales feathers in white. The whole of the furnishings show good taste and comfort everywhere, the very most being made of the small space available. A tiny gas fire at/ one end of the carriage inset in light blue tiles, and the small overmantel above is of heart rimu, whereon the bronze chrysanthemums, which were the floral decorations, showed to advantageThe next compartment is the diningroom, and is carpeted in shades of grey, while the various tables and chairs are of black wood in Jacobean design. The small sideboard at one end is in the same period, and all showing the particular twisted design and the carved bevelling so often seen in this style of furnishing. Here, too, a tiny gas stove has been placed at one end, and the curtains are again blue. Blue also are the curtains in the third compartment, the bedroom; the bed and furniture, however, painted white, and the bed covering showing a blue design. A tiny bathroom has been provided, which is all white, with tiles of a light brick color. Next to the royal carriage was that which has been fitted up for the ViceRegal party, being carpeted in red and blue, and furnished in smoking room style with leather armchairs and brown cushions. The Ministerial carriage has been renovated, and accommodates members of the Prince's suite and Ministers in attendance. No less than three sleeping carriages are provided for those who will be travelling on the train, and a small carriage serves as a tea-room. A kitchen will be attached to the train also, and on© wagon has been utilised for this and a storeroom with two large gas-stoves and a steam server. Only the Prince and his immediate suite are served with meals on the train. Lady Astor's maiden speech in the House of Commons made way for some interludes of a type entirely new to Parliament, and it must be admitted that the lady member "held her own." A debate arose on a private member's motion declaring that the war-tHne restrictions on drink should be abolished, and it was known before the House went into seslion that Lady Astor would speak. Her,

tempertliice views were well known, anl the members anticipated something e. interest when she broke her silence of two months. Sir .lohn Kees was the mover, and in a vigorous speech he' denounced the liquor restrictions. The masterstroke came in the conclusion when the member said, with a meaning that could not be missed: '1 know I have offended many susceptibilities, and I know that the rod is in the pickle for me, hut 1 shall receive the chastisement with resignation and be ready to kiss the rod." The crowded benches of the .House were swayed with laughter for a full minute, in which the first woman member, after an involuntary ''Oh!" at the audacious thrust, joined heartily. Her turn came later. In her brief speech she remarked: "The hon- mmber who introduced this motion was more than polite. In fact, I did think he had gone a bit too far. However, I will consider his proposal if I can convert him." By this time even the Treasury benches were crowded, and the lady member's shaft tickled tho Commons again in appreciative laughter.