HITHER AND THITHER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 2

HITHER AND THITHER

Specials in Aprons.

M. McKinnon, Avenue, is holding a special week in traced and worked aprons. They are in a variety of designs. Worked aprons are from 2s lid, and traced aprons from Is 3d.* To-night’s Dance. A statue waltz competition is to be one of the features of the dance to be held to-night in the Wanganui East Town Hall. There will also be Monte Carlos and novelty dances. .Dainty Frocks for Baby. Infants' frocks of crepe de chine, daintily made, with lace trimming and embroidery, also silk bonnets are to be seen at the "Heather,” baby wear specialist shop, 117 Guyton Street.* Party at Deniair. A very gay party of friends gathered at Deniair, on Saturday night, to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. T. Thwaites on the completion of their new home. During the evening, Mr. Piercy, the builder, took the opportunity of presenting Mrs. Thwaites with an electric toaster. Among those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Glasgow, Mr. and Mrs. A. Tew, Mr. and Mrs. J. Thwaites, Mr. and Mrs. K. Aiken, Mr. and Mrs. D. Higgle, Mr. and Mrs. H. Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. W. Green, Mr. and Mrs. Piercy, Messrs. B. Higgle, S. Lee, D. Bailey, V. Bryant, R. Brownlie, G. artin and S. Thwaites.

Business Girl and Fitness. When giving an address entitled "The Business Girl and Fitness,” to a gathering of business women in Wellington, Mr. Mary Champtaloup said that physical fitness is not merely a matter of strength, of muscular development, of ability to play games. Exercise undoubtedly played an important part, but it should be consistent. A strenuous week-end could not compensate for a week of inactivity. Good posture is one of the most attractive assets a girl can have. It gives poise and command. Dr. Champtaloup denounced the unsatisfactory shoes worn by many women, ■ and said that if the feet were not in I a good position some part of the body would be out of place and have to work under strain. This meant fatigue impaired efficiency. “Girls are no longer over-clothed,” said the speaker, “but they are frequently under-clothed and do not realise that lack of warmth will lay them open to various risks. So many feel that the adoption of woollen garments will mark a definite milestone in their lives!” In regard to food she said that all the exercise in the world would not build a -good body out of bad material. So far as the business girl was concerned there were too many snacks and too few proper meals, and Jn this respect she sinned against herself. Festival of The Dolls. Miss Crichton Imrie, in addressing the children of the Margaret Watt Home on “The Festival of the Dolls,” told her young listeners some interesting details of the festival in Japan. She said that all the little girls and big girls, and women of Japan, hold their birthday on the same day. They chose the third day of the third month. So, on every March 3, it. is a great festival in every part of Japan. It is called the Girls' Festival, or the Festival of the Dolls. The children in 'Japan only play with their dolls and have parties to show them to their friends during the month of March. Then they are all locked away in a storeroom until the next year. The little Japanese treat their dolls anti toys very carefully, and show a great respect for presents. During that month the little girls are the ladies of the house, and receive and entertain any guests. Miss Crichton Imrie explained how the doll festival was started, telling her listeners that long ago the Emperor and Empress of Japan never left the palace or its gardens, and the citiz’ens never saw them. So to make up for this every house in Japan, rich or poor, made a doll to represent the Emperor and Empress. They dressed them in beautiful clothes and put them on thrones and bowed before them. To these are added other dolls of generals, Prime Minister, dancers, and musicians. All these dolls make a gorgeous display in March when one whole room is given up for the display. The speaker had been invited to one of these festivals, when a beautiful little Japanese girl, six years old, dressed m lovely colours, received her and explained the display. Six months previously the visitor had given this little Japanese girl a Maori doll, dressed as

a Maori. She had put this in a place of honour in the collection. During the time of the doll festival the cherry blossom is in-bloom, and the whole world of Japan is wrapped in a beautiful veil of pink. The speaker described the clothes and clogs worn by the children, who are called treasure flowers of life. Every boy in Japan holds his birthday on the fifth day of the fifth month. That is Mayof every year. This is the boys festival and every house who has a boj can fly a big Fish Flag. If two boy: there are two flags. One house Mis; Crichton Imrie saw had 14 big Fist Flags. That was considered a verj honoured house. The particular lis, chosen for the flag is one called tin Carp, or in Japanese it is called Koi This was chosen because it is quit, undaunted by any difficulties when i' is swimming. It jumps over the rapid: and overcomes all obstacles in it.' path. The Japanese boys are or festival day, taught to be the samt jin character, that they must be brave > and overcome all difficulties anc : obstacles of their life, and so the; i learn by this that the prizes of lift .are not for the lazy boyr or the coward.