WHAT WE WOMEN THINK

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 41, 24 April 1931, Page 34

WHAT WE WOMEN THINK

ANY of us retain belief that, -back of: the ebb and flow of the world’s ways which often appear to allow publie service to pass unregarded, there.is ultimate appreciation of able and unselfish work for the community. | ‘chis. belief received encouraging confirmation in the gratifying tribute paid by representatives of women’s societies, anda large number. of personal and professional friends, who assembled last week to do honour to Miss Amy Kane, on the occasion of her retiring from journalism, an avocation she has followed with success and integrity that have earned respect and -en-. comiums from all classes of citizens. Graceful and obviously sincere expression of admiration and regard -for the guest of honour was voiced by representative women, including Mrs, Troup and Lady Luke; while Mrs. Chatfield, in a witty speech, gracefully phrased and attractively spoken, added her tribute, as a fellow-journalist, to the chorus of appreciation. Miss Kane is keenly interested in all movements to encourage physical and spiritual well-being. in the women of ‘our Dominion, and all branches of the social cosmos were represented in thé comradely crowd: assembled to do honr our to her as a leading feminist, and wish her good luck in a wider sphere of usefulness where her proved qualities of fair judgment, capable administration and warm-hearted generosity will have fuller scope. Miss Kane’s short speech of thanks and retrospect wére instinct with sincerity, and the whole gathering a unique, happy and democratic one, "the Colonel’s lady and Judy O’Grady" being in pleasant and friendly juxtaposition. The Bench, the Bar, Literature, Musie and Philanthropy were represented, and there was'a commingling of. visitors from other parts of New Zealand, notably a well-known Dunedin litteratrice, whose scholarly’ lectures on Dante and Browning have so delighted audiences in the city of the south. are extended to Miss Kane on receiving ‘so great a personal tribute, and the prediction is made that, as the door closes on past successful. endeavour, another avenue will open which will lead. to influential! and honourable achievement in future years. ‘s s FA8H10N is a sort of blackmail levied on .us all by civilisation, says an exchange. You give in to it enough to be left in peace, and not to have every: other woman’s . eyes

making comments on your demode appearance, Some go further than others and like to be in the vanguard; but it takes a lot of courage to wear short skirts when all the other females of one’s own generation are wearing long ones. To go out differently dad from others usually indicates either a deliberate attempt to be outre, or else 'a genuine indifferenec to the world’s opinion. = * RS VIRGINIA WOOLF, essayist and novelist, is a trump card in the feminist camp; therefore: mediocre men, of whom there are a fair proportion on this planet, are apt to sneer at her achivement. Happily, in the long run, futile and bemused belittlement matters little or nothing; and to the intelligentsia, male and female alike, the subtle and coruscating talent of Mrs. Woolf is a delight. Sensitive awareness of values and the innumerable nuances of human conduct, coupled with unimpeachable literary style, are vividly present in 5

her latest essay, "On Being Tl," in which are presented, with beauty and wit, curious new angles and _halflights. of consciousness induced.by the languors and dolours of illness, This small volume, issued in a limited edition, will appeal to collectors, especially those who take delight in the fact, to be reckoned with in imminent future, that woman as artist, in spite of criticism, past, present and to come, is forging ahead, ultimately to reach a place in the sun which is created by unbiased and discriminating judgment. : ‘ : EIGHTEEN was at one time accepted in Dngland as the correct age for the presentation of a debutante, and it is still looked upon as the ideal by a large number of women in the social world. The tendency at present is to present girls earlier than was done in their mothers day, but there is no doubt that the idea of the 17-year-old debutante meets with much criticism. However, youth is in demand to-day, tie sii

and political and charitable activitiog begin to make demunds on girls of 17 or 18 years old, so that many parents feel that, modern life being so crammed with diverse interests, they have no right to hold their girls ba¢k too long. . ° Es & * D° you know. that Persian shawls are ; in demand as a result of the Persian Art Wxhibition, and are _ being ‘made up into smart afternoon ensembles? That potatoes bake more quickly and easily if soaked for a few minutes’ in hot water before being placed in the oven? That crackling is more likely to be crisp and brittle if it is rubbed with lemon juice before the pork is cooked ? That "liquid silk," contained in what looks like a tiny gelatine egg, is tP latest utility for the handbag; tas small egg being about two-thirds full of a liquid substance for repairing ladders in silk stockizigs, it being necessary only to puncture the top to free the liquid? That there is an orange cream now obtainable that leaves that faintest tint of natural pink on lips and cheeks which fashion dectees? ‘That at a competition recently a prize was given for the most successful label to a fashionable ensemble, suggestions being "Golden Arrow," "Persuasion," "Temptation," "Nuit 4’Hte, and an up-to-the minute "Midget Golf’? . ys a

al _ ~~ H learn from an English paper that Miss Maude Royden is resuming her duties as a woman preacher about — this time. Her name is known through-," out the world-thanks to her recen tour of America and New Zealand-as the builder of one of the most vigorous social and ‘religious organisations in existence, A sister of Sir Thomas Royden, the shipowner, she inherits the family faculty for concise, blunt speech. So blunt indeed (the writer comments) is this remarkable woman that she ruffled. the feathers of -the American Press by declaring that she was not a non-smoker and was not teetotal. "The Smoking, Drinking Hvangelist," they called her, yet’ those who know Miss Royden will agree with-the verdict of the reliable newspapers abroad that truly indeed she is on the side of the angels and a Christian in the most real sense of the word. : f"THE freak fashions which have ‘been seen at the Queen’s Club in connection with the squash rackets championship have given rise to speculation whether shorts and trousers for women will be formally recognised and accepted at Wimbledon during the coming summer. There is no doubt that the big outfitters ar. stocking and selling more and more shorts for lawn tennis wear. Their growing popularity, however, seems to be restricted in the main to the private court, and you hear nothing of any innovations of this kind _ in. connection with the. tournaments taking place all along the Riviera. There is no doubt. that for sheer comfort the stockingless vogue commends itself to the sport enthusiast. But it J is not a pretty fashion by any meats, and sheer feminine vanity always asserts itself in a matter of. this kind. Hven men speedily abandoned shorts for wear on the tennis courts. They are all right in a racing skiff or on the football field, but look "all wrong" on the cenive court at Wimbledan,