WOMAN’S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1921, Page 6

WOMAN’S WORLD

PERSONAL. Mrs. Hales, who has been the guest of Mrs. A. L. Moore, left for Auckland last night. Miss Marshall returns on Tuesday from a trip to Auckland and Hamilton. • * • • Miss McKinnon (Oamaru) is the guest of Archdeacon and Mrs. Evans. Miss Wolferstan left yesterday for a short holiday in Blenheim. Mrs. Chaney gave a most enjoyable afternoon tea party for Miss Barr this week. Miss Clark is spending a holiday in Auckland.

Mrs. H. Greig is on a visit to Whakataue. Mins Helen Wilson, who has been visiting Hamilton and Auckland, returns on Tuesday. Mrs. Norman Robieson (Te Kuiti) is on a visit to New Plymouth. Mrs. David is visiting Wellington. Miss Alison Greig is visiting friends in Wanganui.

Mrs. W. Kelly (Awakino) is spending a week or two in Wellington. * * • . • Miss Barr left yesterday for a holiday in Palmerston North, before taking up her new appointment as head mistress at “Iona” College, Havelock North. Miss Percy Smith has returned from a visit to Auckland and Rotorua.

’ * r Mrs. Hamerton (Inglewood) is spending a few days with her daughter, Miss R. Hamerton. «= • • • Miss Doris Roy has returned from Wellington. * * * • Miss Hall (Auckland) is the guest of Mrs. R. T. McQuade. Miss Evie Fookes and Miss Elma Carthew have returned from a short visit to Marton, where they attended an Old Girls’ re-union at Ngatawa. Miss M. Bullard left to-day to visit her parents in Christchurch. Mrs. Cecil King (Nelson) is spending a few days here.

Miss Constance Leatham is in Auckland preparing for the series of recitals to be given by her in association with Miss Ava Symons next week. Miss Leatham is staying with her aunt, Mrs. Cutfield, at Remuera.

Visitors to the White Hart are: Mrs. Simmonds (Marton), Mrs. Maynall (England), Mrs. H. Brown (Auckland), Mrs. Smith (England), Mrs. Hall (Nelson), Mrs. Faulkner and Misses Faulkner (Auckland), Mrs. J. P. Carter, Miss Rigg (Stratford), Mrs. Hawkins and Misses Hawkins (Auckland), Mrs. Burgess (Auckland), Mrs. Ayers (Auckland), Mrs. Fraser (Auckland), Mrs. J. A. McLeod (Dannevirke), Miss Francis (Wellington), Mrs. W. J. Reynolds (Wellington), Mrs. Powell (Wellington), Mrs. Eyre-Kenny (Marton), Mrs. Rose (Auckland), Mrs. Kingston (Wellington), Mrs. Steele (Wellington).

Visitors at the Criterion this week include Mr. and Mrs. Wright (Dannevirke), Mr. and Mm. L. Blundell, Mrs. (Dr.) Davies, Miss Sage. Mr. and Mrs. Scotland (Wellingon), Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard (Auckland), and Mrs. Greenwood (Napier).

VICTORIA LEAGUE.

On Monday evening, at 7.30, there will be held a social evening for the younger members of the Victoria League, and it is hoped that these members will avail themselves of this opportunity for meeting each other. Competitions, music, and supper will be provided, and each member is asked to contribute one shilling and to bring a lead pencil. The junior associates of the league are not included in this evening, but the executive hopes to arrange a social gathering for them at an early date.

A TERRIBLE STORY.

The story of Poland as given in the last issue of the “Save the Children Record” makes terrible reading. ‘’One thousand sjK hundred and thirty-one dispensary children were examined in Warsaw. These children were under five years of age. In the fourth year those able to walk were 65 pel cent., the rest were not able to walk. In the fifth year 69 per cent, were walking, but 27 per cent, stopped walking be- 1 cause of general debility, and 4 per cent, had never begun to walk....

Official statistics show that the deaths of children under one year have increased 70 per cent, since 1914, and that the number of children of under ten who died from tuberculosis has increased 125 per cent.” It goes on to say: “The latest report from Latvia and Esthonia shows that not less than 100,000 children are dying of hunger and disease, and it is important that something should be done to carry out the wish of the High Commissioner of N.Z., and take assistance to these countries as speedily as possible. For this purpose the people of N.Z. have contributed between £9OOO and £10,000.” New Zealand has, of course, given much more than this, for when we wrote on this subject last December, writes our correspondent, the total stood at £57,000, given to the “Save the Children Fund,” a truly noble sum as the “Record” testifies in a further note of thanks to the generous people of the Dominion.

AN INVASION OF STRANGE MANNERS.

Constance, Duchess of .Westminster, complains in the Weekly Dispatch that “We are suffering from an invasion of : strange manners hitherto unknown in i <rood society. Young girls come home alone from dances with a male friend, they go about entirely unchaperoned, ; and with friends probably unknown to their guardians or parents. All this leads to an appalling laxity perhaps not • of conduct —since girls and men come safely through experiences which would have been calamitous to their Victorian i prototypes—but of manners. So far as young men are concerned bad manners are not a new complaint. They were already bad before the war and we

women used to be told by men who had learned their politeness in a finer school 1 that we were to blame for the increasing rudeness of youths, because we put up with it without protest. No woman should have to protest, but some of us are occasionally moved to administer a rebuke when, for example, a young man remains sprawling in his chair without rising when a lady enters the room, and other things the which are probably done thoughtlessly, but which are uncourteous and show either great laziness or '■a lack of chivalry. Nowadays, when girls, too, exhibit surprisingly bad manners, we are becoming more tolerant of this modern phase which makes young people treat one another casually and with an entire lack v of ceremony. Older people receive little deference, hostesses little consideration. And why should anyone choose to express himself in slang? Once slang satisfied the wartime desire of trenchweary men to cheer themselves; it helped to produce the illusion of good spirit which, failing the real thing, was essential. Catchwords were invented or borrowed from some comedian seen on leave. Girl friends, with a commendable though mistaken idea of being comradely copied them from their soldiers until numerous unpleasant superlatives were heard on every hand. Critics account for modern indulgence in slang by saying that it is due to paucity of vocabulary and feebleness of ideas, but it is a desire to be picturesque and amusing that seems to me to underlie it. Parents are largely to blame foi the ugly manners of their young folk. They shrink from restraining or correcting their girls and fiTlys" for fear of losing their friendly confidence, yet surely their vaunted intimacy cannot be worth much if it cannot stand the strain of needed Criticism. I think that girls deep in their hearts rejoice in this feeling of reasonable control and of interest and pride in their doings. There is no need to let this interest become undue interference.”

GENERAL

An English lady, now staying at King’s Court, furnishes a striking example as to the part of the women of the Old Country played in the great war. While still under 16 years old, parentless, she joined up with the W.A.A.C.’is under a camouflaged name, declaring herself to be of service age. Eventually being drafted into the Royal Air Force, she became a mechanic, and did a man’s work, like hundreds /of thousands of her British sisters, whose wonderful and unanticipated -ability destroyed the theory of “the weaker sex,” and enabled men to be released from vital industries to take their places in the field. Afterwards, Miss Cockburn was employed as special dispatch rider, and saw service behind the lines. She has been bonfbed by German airmen whilst riding on her motor bike along French roads, and has had other war experiences sufficient to shatter the* nerves of the strongest man. She intends to spend a year fir so in New Zealand before journeying to America, cd route to rejoin her “ain folk.”

Prejudice apparently dies hard—evqn apres la guerre. Last week a young Australienne, a fine type of robust womanhood, whose good character can be vouched for, went with a Scottish friend after two positions as waitress and housemaid-waitress in Auckland. Yes, the gentleman would take a Scottish or English girl, but lie wouldn’t have an Australian. The young woman concerned was greatly distressed at this singular partiality, and was also highly indignant. Tn reply to a suggestion later that she should claim Scotland or England as her homeland (she greatly resembles an Ohl Country girl in color and build) she blankly refused to do any such thing. “I’m Australian,” she said, “and Australian I stay if I starve.”

Pictured in a good English magazine are some delightfully simple evening frocks, which are described as being of a very good crepe de chine, with a girdle of flowers at the waist, and pleasantly priced at 58s 6d. For four guineas there are frocks with satin bodices and lace skirts, while those of satin beaute are 98s 6d. New lace capes are mentioned which are destined to be worn over princess slips; they are delightful, in bronze lace over georgette. of a lighter shade. A development of the pyjama craze. They are shown with crossover “tops,” and one set described was of a lovely ripe corn color charmeuse piped with jade green. A vasque with pockets was an innovation to this costume.

We all know how splendid the French women as a whole were in helping all they knew how, when their beautiful country was in the throes of hideous war. An exchange tells of yet another French woman who did distinguished service. It says: —The French Journal Official relates how Mdlle. Angele Suzanne David, although only twenty-six, was manager of a nitrate company, and in the early days of the war displayed such an understanding of the situation that her activities were brought to the .notice of the then Minister of War, M. Millerand. He was so impressed with Mdlle. David’s handling of affairs that he asked her to take over the organisaof the nitrate service ( for the French Army. Mdlle. David was at one time directing the movement of no fewer than twenty, steamers plying between Scandinavian and French and British ports with nitrate. She has now been awarded a gold medal.

After referring to Ancient Jerusalem at some length, an exchange tells of an interesting modern development which is taking place there. In this town, with its ancient and unchanged features, yet so cosmopolitan, everyone feels the need of a meeting-place where without invitation or formality, one may see one’s friends. To fill this want a sm'all representative committee of ladies was got together, with a v’iew to forming a ladies’ club having the usual amenities. They succeeded in doing so. This in England seems a small matter, but in Jerusalem it means very much more. It is making a precedent that is causing a stir in this land, at once so ancient and modern. It involves the coming together of the women of the various sects of this strangely mixed community, for social intercourse and mutual understanding. In view of the housing difficulty, the unfamiliarity of those most concerned with existing conditions, this entailed keen work on tricky ground/ A charming site was chosen, just pff the main thoroughfare, but within easy reach of all. A flat, with modern balconies and spacious rooms, was made the clubhouse for the use not only of members, but of their friends of either sex. The number of members is as yet only small, but the club is open to any lady resident in Palestine on election by a majority, after being passed by the Executive Committee. Lady Samuel, wife of the High Commissioner, is the president, and there is every prospect of the club successfully filling a useful place.