WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 151

WOMAN'S WORLD

PERSONAL ITEMS. . Hisses Instone (Inglewood) have returned from Auckland. o*. • • Mrs N. W. Stephenson left yesterday for Auckland, whore she will be tha guest of her sister, Mrs J. E. Wilson. • » ft • Mrs J. L. Weir (Eltham) is the guest of Mrs. Greatbatcli. « # • • Miss Alice Brown has returned to New Plymouth from Hawke's Bay. « « » • Miss Beryl Hirst, who has been the guest of Mrs Kerr, is now spending a few days with Mrs D. K. Morrison. Mrs Gordon Eraser, who has been visiting her mother, Mrs Milroy, in Auckland, has returned to New Plymouth. • » • • Miss Helen Gard'ner, who has been spending a few days here, returned to Wellington on Thursday. • • • • Miss Ora Paget leaves next week for a holiday in Palmerston North and Wellington. * » • • Miss M. Kerr, who has been the guest of Mrs James MclCenzie (Wellington), returns early next week. Miss McKellar is the guest of her sister, Mrs Abraham (Khandallab). » « • • Miss Gertrude Bredow, who has been spending a short holiday in Auckland, has returned to her home at Douglas. Miss Alison Greig leaves for Auckland on Tuesday. i • » « • Mrs J. E. Wilson, of Auckland, will be leaving shortly to take up her residence in Samoa. # • • • Mrs T. A. B. Bailey has returned from a visit to Christehurch. 9 * * • Mrs Harry Stoeker, who has been visiting Gisborne and Hastings, returns to New Plymouth on Tuesday. Mrs P. S. Johns entertained a number of friends at afternoon tea to bid farewell to Mrs Bullard, who is shortly leaving for Auckland. * ■ ■■» • •

Miss W. Bradbury is spending some months with her brothers at Warea. • • • • Mp and Mrs C. N. Luker, of Tendon, who have been staying with Mrs Eliot King, left yesterday for Hamilton.

Mrs N. P. Jeffreys, who has been the guest of Mrs Allan Waters returns to Qreymouth on Monday.

Mrs Altan Waters leaves Monday for a holiday in Wellington.

Miss Eame Bayly, who is the guest of Mrs. Walter Bayly, returns to Auckland on Monday. • * • • The death of Mrs. C. J. Harris, wife o? Mr. C. J. Harris, of Oakura, occurred at the sTew Plymouth Hospital yesterday. Mrs. Harris, who was 25 years of age, had not been long out from England. She was a Avar worker at Home, having done good work in the buffets at Victoria SUation, London, and in Y.M.C.A. institutions. In 1918 Mrs. Harris received a decoration from Princess Christian for conspicuous war service. • • • •

Visitors at the White Hart this week include: Mrs. Baker, Miss Xe.wman, Miss Perriri (Wellington), Mrs Rathbone, Mrs Pease (Opunake), Mrs 6. Browne, Mrs Raskly (Wanganui), Miss Edwards, Miss Harvey, Miss Bartlett of the "Lyric Four," Mrs Meuli (Manaia) Mrs Rice, St Kilda. Melbourne, Miss Potter (Dunedin), Mrs. Cressweli, Mrs. Nicholls (Auckland), Mrs. Lysaglit (Tironga).

Quite a brilliant function took place at Te Awamutu recently, when a ball was given by Mr. L. Bayly in honor of the coming of age of Miss Beryl Bablv. Fully 250 were present. During the proceedings, which according to the report of the local paper were quite most enjoyable, Mr. J. C. Montefiore, on behalf of the guests, toasted the health of Miss Bayly, saying he had first met her father thirty years ago, and lyul always regarded him'as a close friend. The toast was .enthusiastically honored. .DANCING CLASS "BREAK-UP". The breaking up of Miss Bedford's dancing class took place at the East End Pavillion last Thursday. The hall was crowded, and those present hajl a thoroughly enjoyable time. The supper tables were decorated with pale pink camelias and spring bulbs, and the hall with flags and bunting. Excellent music was provided by Miss Hirst and Miss Millar.

'Miss Isolda Traft'ord (22), who is applying for an A 1 license from 'the Air Ministry, is described as a flying genius (says a cable message to the Australian papers). She started to learn in May, and has proved the best of 300 pupils.The manner in which she executes loops, spirals, nose dives and side-slips is a marvel of skill and daring. A writer in -the Daily Chronicle calls attention to the fart that, with the exception of Royalties, (he only public statues of women erected in England are of Florence Nightingale, Edith Cavcll, "Sister Dora" (in Walsall), and Mrs. Siddons. The proportion is instructivethree nurses to one actress. It is strange that no woman author, professor, or doctor should have been honored in this way. At Bremhill, in Wiltshire, however, there is a statue of Maud Heath, a peasant woman, who lived in the reign ■ of Richard 11., and was noted for her beneficent deeds. "BARGAIN" PRICES. COMPLAINTS IN AUCKLAND IS THERE PROFITEERING? The question of business firms "markirfg down" prices for the purpose of their periodical sales was considered by the Prices Investigation Tribunal on Thursday. A number of complaints were received from people who contend that if tradesmen can sell goods at what appears to be a liberal reduction on price during a sale, and make a profit on them, they should be compelled to sell at the reduced prices when no special sales are in progress. It is contended by those who made the complaints that this is evidence of profiteering, and those responsible for it should be dealt with by the tribunal. It is asserted by some people th.'.t the original prices marked on the sale tickets are in some cases "fictitious OTices," end apparently the

reduced figures are in reality ilie true prices of the commodities arranged for the special sale. The tribunal decided that the public should be'notified that this practice by tradesmen was strongly condemned by it. A- the result of the publicity given to the matter the tribunal has received protests from a number of drapers. Mr Wesley Spragg, chairman of the tribunal, said that the critism did not apply to all drapers. He added:"The complaint, which the tribunal considers proven, is that certain drapers ticket articles in their windows which have not previously been offered to the public with two prices marked upon them, the higher price being scored through, indicating that the lower price mentioned is the reduced price, and sometimes using the words 'reduced from.' The higher mentioned price is fictitious, and is used for the purpose of causing the prospective buyer to believe that the article in question is a bargain. This practice is acknowledged by some ers, and justific' by them on the grounds that und< certain circumstances the price wouly liave been a higher one, and that Although the goods had not previously been offered at that higher price the custom warranted drapers quoting the higher price and marking down from it. This practice, which I have said is admitted and justified by some drapers (1 am willing to suppose that they are in the small minority) certainly deceives some innocent people, and makes tliein more ready to buy at what they believe are below value prices, when, according to evidence which we have considered, the facts are to the contrary, It is this practice that is complained of. Even the tribunal, which some drapers think is not very well-informed, knows . that there is very much marking down at sale times that is bona fide."

CHAT FOR WOMEN. DRESS FOR THE FUTDRE. Among the fashions promised for the spring (says a London writer)" apart from the long-waisted gown, are the hip sash, skirts and bodices of different material, transparent sleeves on day dresses, and cretonne trimmings. The struggle between the straight, clinging gown and the "fluffy" dress with panniers continues. In all-probability both will have their vogue, the pamtiered style for petite women, and the straight gown for the tall and the plump. A netf colour has been invented, which promises to rival the popular jade. It is known as eucalyptus, not after the Australian tree, but after its cousin, the mimosa, which grows in the Riviera. The colour is described as "too grey to be green and too green to be grey." It is charming with touches of black. A gown of this eucalyptus colour was worn recently. It v/a> made of crepe georgette, embroidered all over with an open design in a light wool stitch : ng in tones of cream, block, and tangerine yellow. The effect was most novel, but most charming. We are also told that the "shiver gowns" of the past season have had their day, and will cease to be during the spring. The backs of the latest Parisian frocks are not cut very low, and the bare-backed fashion may be regarded as ended for the time being—if the decree of the dress designer is to have the force of law. £

The rush of Americans in London (says a writer from that city) promises to eclipse anything known for years. Every steamer from New York is crowded, and it is said that Auerican tourists will spend about £130,000,000 in England and France during the year. The customary trip will take six weeks, of which a fortnight will be spent visiting the French and Belgfan battlefields and tho graves of American soldiers. It is said that 350 English hotels are formifig a combine, and are offering the Americans 40,000 beds; but these will be far short of what will be required. Advice is given to all who wish to visit England to bear in mind the Hotel Association and make arrangements for accomodation beforehand. The tourist who displays foresight undoubtedly will fare the best.

A ROMANTIC CAREER. THE LATE EMPRESS • EUGENIE. Mrs Helene Cross, of Christcliurch, who was a god-daughter of the late Empress Eugenie, gives some interesting details about that worfderful old lady. Though of a good Spanish family, Eugenie de Montijo was not of Royal birth, and when Louis Napoleon declared his intention of marrying her there was considerable consternation among his adherents. She was a very beautiful girl, with red-gold hair, and ivory-tinted completion, and wonderful eyes and lashes. The early part, of her married life was a succession of extravagant pageants, when the Empress, magnificently arrayed was a central and imposing; figure. Louis Napoleon, whose health was of the worst, allowed the Empress to take his place on many occasions of great importance, notably when the Suez Canal was opened, and again when war plans were discussed. Unfortunately, she showed lack of judgment and balance, with the result that disaster followed—the Emperor was taken prisoner after Sedan, and the Empress was obliged to fly from Paris. The story of her flight is most extraordinary. She was hurried out of the Palace, only attended by Madame le Breton, and then drove hither and thither trying to find some of her adherents. But all had fled, and finally she bethought herself of an American dentist, Dr. Evans, who proved himself to be a most kind and reliable friend. After great difficulties and several near detections, he handed the ladies over to Sir John and Lady Burgoyne, whose yacht was at Deauville, and who took them at once to England. Eugenie and her son went to Chiselhurst, and later the sale of her estates in Spain and also of valuable jewels made her a rich woman. The Emperor died after an operation in 1873, and in IS7O came the tragic death of the Prince Imperial, who was killed in Zululand in one of "England's little border wars." Soon after this sad event the Empress built herself a chateau at Earnbovongh, and left Chiselhurst for good. She had a yacht and travelled a good deal, visiting the canal, Paris, and other places where she had been in the zenith of her youth, bea.uty and power. During the late war she gave her beautiful castle at Farnborougli for the benefit of wounded soldiers, and the memories left of her arc both fine and beautiful, after a life of romance and reality mingled in a remarkable manner. Monsieur Fodor, father of Mrs Helene Cross, was the .comptroller of affairs at Chiselhurst after the arrival of the Empress. &