WHAT WE WOMEN THINK

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 52, 10 July 1931, Page 32

WHAT WE WOMEN THINK

In the Van, | — A WELLINGTON girl, avowedly socialistic. in» her sympathies, writes as follows from London to her brother. in. New Zealand anent the country at present vividly etched on world conscigusness: "Do you notice what an effect the Five-Year Plan is having now? ‘The whole world has ceased to laugh and disbelieve. People here are panicking absurdly about it. There.is no doubt whatever they have demonstrated already that Socialism is the only method of running a country.. No one can compete with them now, and I believe the sooner we link hands with Russia the better. Their spring harvest of wheat will be staggering, not to mention their impending output of coal, steel, soap, chocolates, timber, wood pulp, butter, vegetables, copper, pig iron, etc. Even the poultry in our: club comes from Russia ! . . . he sufferings of the working Glass will eventually become unbearable, and they, and they alone, will force us to adopt international planning, as preached by the Soviets. . I am glad you did not go to the States. Big Business has at last got to face up to the superiority of Bigger Business in the Soviet Union." Fanny Brawne’s Rival. THE roaring of the wind is my wife, i* end the stars through the windowpane are my children. The mighty ab‘stract idea I have of Beauty in all things stifles the more divided and minute domestic happiness-John Keais. ‘Art and Industry. . THE exhibition of Swedish arts and crafts recently held in London had a value and importance beyond the very real beauty of the objects exhibited. It was not only the skill of the artist that was held up for admiration. In the persevering and progressive country of Sweden something more has happened: art has been successfully wedded to industry, and in the exhibition under notice the fruits of the union were significantly displayed. Nothing Superfluous. ODERN underwear is tailored s0 carefully to-day that the smart woman considers a visit to the lingerie fitter as essential as the visit to the dressmaker and tailor. Never before in the whole history of fashion have "beneaths" been of more importance than that which is worn over them. With the slender frocks of to-day, one garment, or at the most, two, are considered necessary, and all superfluous fullness must be eliminated. Modern lingerie moulds the figure-it is spacesaving and must also act as the foundation of one’s frock. There are slim little undershirts made to wear with little satin shorts or tailored eulottes which have a hip yoke and are cut like riding breeches. Twopiece foundations for sports or dance wear consist of these tailored satin shirts attached to a brassiere which fre worn with tailored knickers. Soft washing satin is first favourite among lingerie materials both for appearance and durability. Coffee coloured spotted net or applique motifs of the reverse side of the satix. trim the most modish underwear in this material. ‘A Question of Taste. @ way good taste may, with luck, be synonymous. with the dress sense, yet many Englishwomen, giving all evidence of beautiful taste in their homes and gardens, with knowledge of

pictures and objets d’arts, evince none at all in their dress, The average Prenchwoman, on the other hand, unless rich and travelled, though she may present a charming" and well-dressed appearance, is content very often with an ugly uninteresting home. In Trade. ; [HE vogue of the snob has evapor-ated-at least to some extentand it is a far ery from the days when "keeping shop" was looked upon as an inferior mode of earning one’s living, To-day there is no inferiority about this business of shopkeeping. On the contrary, those of us who are not-in the shopkeeper’s fortunate position look with envious eyes on his flourishing business and attendant profits. Youths and maidens who, had

they belonged to a former generation would not have thought of seeking a career in commerce, now hail the prospect with joy and delight. But it must be remembered that selling and buying is no longer the simple straightforward business it used to be.. The days are gone when a friendly chat across the counter secured a deal and a purchase; the selling of goods has become a science. We now talk about the science of salesmanship, and some universities include the study of the subject in their curriculum. We even hear of the psychologv of salesmanship, the mind of the customer must be studied. The salesman-and the saleswoman, too-must know something about: temperament and character. He or she should, as we enter the Mae A Ol I AF OE OO EO EE OE

shop and approach the counter be able to sum us up and define our "type." Feeling the Pinch. PROSPERITY has called a halt even in "little, old New York," that proud and pretentious city of big business. The talented English novelist, Miss I. A. R. Wylie, writes. thus: The sudden exquisite politeness of the taxi-drivers is one of the most conspicuous signs of hard times. At no period has New York impressed me as a city of wealthy people, A wealthy city-yes, A powerful, awe-inspiring city, but a city to whom the dwellers are drably and unimpressively subordinate. With the exception of Fifth Avenue and Park, and perhaps that social failure Riverside Drive, there are no streets that pretend to anything but sheer utility. | Hven Madison Avenue that, with its small, expensive shops, is a sort of Bong Street, is marred by an ancient an shabby tramway. Third, Sixth and Seventh Avenues are filled with the brassy clamour and inexpressible hideousness of the Hlevated. Beyond. those confines are slums such as London has almost forgotten, littered with refuse and with street surfaces that. remind one of a French village after a bombardment. Miss Pankhurst Again. Miss SYLVIA PANKHURST has sent a copy of her book, "The Suffragette Movement," to Mr. MacDonald for inclusion in the permanent library which he hopes to establish at No. 10, Downing Street: Mr. MacDonald appealed to people connected with No. 10 to add their works to the library, and "I felt that I can claim to be among them," Miss Pankhurst told a reporter recently. "J have sent a letter to the Premier," she said, "reminding him that my memories of No. 10 include occasions on which I was forcibly flung out. Incidentally, I pointed out that even in these days of feminine emancipation I am still on the black list at the House of Commons and am not allowed to set foot within its precincts." Youth at the Prow. YEN the youngest among us aspires to the boards these days, and apropos the movement toward a theatre for children in Wellington, it is interesting to hear that a playhouse dedicated. to youth has been opened at St. Augustine’s School, Bolton, England. Formed with the object of counteracting evils resulting from excessive cinema-going, the theatre is run entirely by children 14 years of age, who, in addition .to playing their parts, make their ¢ "props" and costumes, and in time;'t is hoped, will be able to produce their own plays with scripts written by themselves and based on well-known legends. The first performance was for children, adults being strictly prohibited, and took the form of "Murder Most Foul’ (the story of Thomas a’Beckett) and "Arthur of the Round Table." ‘They were presented by. thirty children between the ages of 6 and 14 years, and watched by 100 more of the same ages. One sophisticated young man was typical of the audience. Before the performance he divided his attention between chewing gum and reading a comic paper, but when the play began he concentrated entirely on the action, and confided to his neighbour that he liked it better than "the talkies." The idea of the theatre is to counteract the sensationalism, morbidity and slang of the films, especially the obvious foolishness of that Americans call "sob tuft". ~y we