OF FEMININE INTEREST

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 52, 8 July 1932, Page 24

OF FEMININE INTEREST

By

Patricia

{ROM Australia comes an announcement of interest to readers and writers of our own Dominion. The Laura Bogue Luffman Memorial Fund Committee offers biennially a prize of ten pounds, which in 1932 will be given for the best original short story with an Australasian setting. The competition is open to New Zealanders as weil as Australians, and the winning story, if suitable, will be published. Among the judges are numbered notable figures in the Australian world of letters. Reasonable care will be taken of MSS. submitted, but no responsibility incurred, entrants beiug advised to keep a copy of all matter seut in. The conditions are as follow:-(1) Brtrance fee is 1/-, (2) Stories to be between. 83000 and 5000 words long. (3) Entries close September 1, 19382. (4) Leave a margin, write on one side of paper only. Type or write clearly. (3) Sign MS. with a nom de plume, and enelose sealed envelope with nom de plume, containing real name and address of writer. (6) MSS will be re turned if stamps for: postage are ehclosed. (7) Decision of judges is final, and will be published in December, 1932. (8) Send MSS. to Mrs, Howard Beale, "Fairacre," Wahroonga Avente. Wahroonga, Sydney. re = Ded

OLLOWING on the foregoing it may be of interest to mention that a New. Zealand paper, "rhe N.Z. Dairy Yixporter and Farm Home Journal," is doing rather wonderful work in developing the literary talent of country people in the Dominion. Hach year this paper pays out some £300 in prize money for literary competitions for matter which is embodied in "Tui’s Annual." Five annual issues have now been made, each better than the one before. A really amazing volume of entries is received, and the work of adjudicating among the thousands of photographs and MSS. is -very exacting. The quality of the production speaks for itself, and is a real tribute to the high averasse ability of contributors. Personal'y. I never miss purchasing a copy of "Tui’s Annual." and can recommend it, ee me we

aad vw ws DELIGHTFUL concert of chamber musie was given in the Town Hull recently by six of Wellington’s most polished musicians. The beautiful Trio in Eb, Op. 40, by Brahims, and the better known one by Schubert were exquisitely rendered by Ava Symons (violin), George Ellwood (’cello). and Gordon Short (piano). three artists well known to listeners who have heard them perform on several occasions from 2YA. The Schumann Quintet, played by Ava Symons, W. MeLean, Frieda Meier, George Ellwood and Ernest Jenner, was also given with artistic interpretation, and all those who attended the concert had a great treat. Chamber music appears to be coming into its own in New Zealand,

for we are shortly to have another entertainment of this character by Mr. Leon de Mauny’s players, which wiil be broadcast. I should like to hear more chamber music broadcast, as nothing cultivates the appr eciation of good musie so much as listening to the compositions of the great masters ably executed. *s a x PREDERIC D’ERLANGER, a member of the great d’Hrlanger banking family, is a composer of great merit, and recently had broadcast a complete performance of his "Requiem Mass." under Dr. Boult. He was trained in Paris and became a naturalised Englishman soon after his twentieth year. Among his: works are three operas, all of which have been performed: one is a dramatic version of Hardy’s "Tess of the d’Urhbervilles." fe. de

~ vr N outstanding feature of British generosity is shown in the consummation of the object of the "wireless for the blind" fund. Within two years over 20,000 blind persons have been furnished with a radio receiver: from this fund. and on the last occasion a broadcast appeal was made in England over 16,500 people overwhelmed headquarters within a week with their re-

sponse. Donations from 4a penny stamp to a £100 banknote were received. Further appeals are not to be made until the necessity arises, when the authorities proudly assert that requirements will be fulfilled within a few days. * bd N England to-lay there is a growing interest in amateur acting. The British Drama League is doing much to foster that interest. For six years this league has held a National Festival of Community Drama. When the first festival was given only six teams entered ; this year the entries numbered about ~~ 4

six hundred, from all over the country. We hope that the efforts of Miss Blizabeth Blake, who is inaugurating a Drama League in this country, will meet with such favourable success. % x x TERE have been so many applications from young women to join amateur transmitter clubs in New South Wales that the clubs are now altering their constitutions in order that women may be admitted. Regular lectures on building and operation of transmitting sets are to be given to the women’s section, to be followed by "Morse" instruction. This new departure will be taken advantage of by iaany, and I would suggest that the amateur transmitters in New Zealand consider the formation of women’s auxiliary eclubs. We all know the disinterested enthusiasm of the amateurs, and I think the time is now opportune for a concerted drive to get the younger women interested in radio communication. " ? a CONTRACT bridge, which has been very popular in England for some time, is now being taken up by many people in New Zealand. Those who are interested in this game will do well to listen t: Mrs. A. Long, who from 2YA began a series of talks on this swbject last week. A few months ago Mrs. Long gave a series of lessons on auetion bridge which proved very popular, and no doubt the lecturettes on "contract" will be equally as interesting. and as popular. Mrs. Long has an attractive delivery, and broadcasts her information in a bright and lucid way. * ™ x AM quite sure that everyone who listened to Miss Gladys KE. Watkins on Friday night when she spoke from 2YA on "Belgium As I Saw It" would wish to visit that country. To me, her talk brought back many happy memories, one especially of a visit to

Bruges. Bruges’ in May when the lilacs were in bloom, and the Holy Festival was on. As Miss Watkins mentioned, the Belgian people are. very fond of pageantry, and the following description of one particular festival seen on a bright spring morning will show how true this is... I can see now the old and narrow cobbled streets, gay with flags and bunting. The pavements are thronged with expectant crowds, and the carillon plays snatches of old folk songs. In the distance faint music rises, and the merry-go-roynds, which are camped under the flow¢ring chestnuts near the. cathedral, "ease their rowdy noise. Everywhere there is silence, while slowly comes the Magdalene in gorgeous robes and jewels, with her attendants, and preceded by the local infantry regimental band. Behind follows another group. The saint is now barefoot and in sackcloth, her hair unbound, and she walks as a penitent. The Boy Scouts are there, too, looking very smart and trim in their khaki shorts and shirts and bright neckerchiefs. They are followed by patriarchs and kings who were the ancestors of Christ, and prophets who. were his forerunners. Many other characters are in .the procession, but the chief event for which the crowd is looking is a great wagon, drawn by two big Flemish horses, and on it is represented the Bethlehem stable with a gold star surmounting ‘all. Under the star and among the straw is seuted the Virgin with the Baby in her wurms, oxen around her, and angels in front, with large wings of white feathers, sounding trumpets. Accompanying the car is a group of young women singing, the "Adeste Fidelis." Many other scenes in the life of Christ are represented, and the whole makes 2 spectacle not easily forgotten. : * Pd Py A BOOK of "Broadcast Talks," by C. C. Martindale, S.J.; entitled "What are Saints?’ has just been published by Sheed and Ward, London, and contains 15 chapters in sanctity from the first century to the present day. These talks of 15 minutes each, consist of short expositions ef the lives of various good men. with’ and without the "St.," and in his book Fr. Martindale has connected each talk by paragraphs whieh give a_ short sketch of the historical setting of these saints, and form a link between them. Each chapter is readable and abounds in common-sense; there are touches of pathos and a glimpse of humour, which shows the eminent Fr. Martindale to be a very buman person who has no difficulty in filling his church with Roman Catholic and Protestant alike. = a * . LIVED so long in South Africa that I am always interested in anything pertaining to broadcasting in that land of sunshine and warmth. A friend of mine, writing from’ Cape Town, tells me that their locnl station has recently (Continued on opposite page.)

--. been the target for much criticism, and it. seems that the municipal orchestra is the most criticised of all perform"ances. Mr. Bernard Shaw when in South Africa spoke of the orchestra as "one of the brightest lights in a culturally dark continent." On the average this combination broadcasts five and a half hours a week, and one and a half hours on one night are devoted to symphony. It is the latter that receives the most adverse criticism. Cape Town is not a large city, and the majority of the population is coloured, so that wireless has very few devotees. Nevertheless, the station has done a great deal for musical cultivation, and proudly boasts that more world-famous nota bilities have spoken from Cape Town _than any other South African station. A novel feature rebroadcast was a concert picked up from a ship at sea. Notwithstanding the critics, licenses are steadily mounting. % % Dg " AN apple a day keeps th doctor away" is an old adage, but the Home Science Department of the Otago Univergty says: "An apple a day-new ways of having it." We all like to know of new ways of doing anything, and as apples just now are plentiful it is quite a good idea to try some new recipes. Ginger apples sound qnite fascinating, and here is the way to do them: "Pare the apples and cut them in quar ters. Cook in boiling water until tender, and add two tablespoonfuls of preserved ginger, Make a syrup, using one-half as much water as sugar. Boil five minutes. Add the apples and simmer till clear."

Bd bod ERE is another recipe for "Apple and Ham Casserole’:-Take a slice of ham one inch thick, rub well vith brown sugar, and place in a balk ing dish; stick two cloves in the ham add one tablespoonful of onion juice. Peel and core and quarter tart apples and cover the ham with them. Sprinkle with four tablespoonfuls of brown sugar and add one tablespoonful of butter cut in bits. Add = one cup of boiling water and bake in a coyered dish till the meat is tender. Try this with baked potatoes and escalloped tomatoes. Bg ue ‘THE speaker from the Department of Health in his talk from 2YA on Thursday gave some good advice on ‘the care and use of milk. He says: "Milk is the most important food that man requires. It is well-nigh unique among foods as it contains protein. fats, ete., and it is not lacking in vitamins; it also contains lime and phosphates which help to build up the bones and teeth: It is, however, essential that milk should be kept in serupulously clean vessels and away from any. matter that may contaminate it." fl health specialists advocate the extensive use of milk, especially for growing children, and farmers -- who, I hear, do not make as much use of it as they could, should bear this in mind. ae 7 Po] MANY people are fond of a stirring 44 tale of adventure, and they will welcome this new book, "Lone Isle," by EB. Charles Vivian (Ward, Lock, and (o.). Mr. Vivian’s books always contin a thrill, and "Lone Isle" is no exception. It is au orginal story teeming with incidents and exciting situntions. Victor Wharton, while on a train journey to Southampton, hears the story of two brothers, twins, who bought most of the shares in a pearl fishery. Que

brother with his wife and daughter went to live on the island, and for sixteen years the brother at home could get no news, although dividends arrived regularly. Wharton in a fit of compassion offers to go to the island of Entalatin and solve the mystery of this long silence. Difficulties attack him at every turn, and he has many exciting moments befor he can land-and afterwards. The denouement isa surprise, and this remarkable story will be read with tense interest. % % (THE latest collections by our English designers show really reasonable garments, especially for daytime. Skirt lengths are so variable that it is generally wisdom to leave this matter to the discretion of the wearer. Designers vary greatly on this point. Some advocate the shorter skirt for morning and a little longer for the afternoon. Ankle-length is generally for the ¢venFaw car ca cr ad dD OD BD TE PT TOD PDD DD DD BD EE BE PP

ing. The slim moulded skirt with 2 distinctive flare, or godet, is best made on the short side. * % % yPGcar WALLACH’S last boox, "My Hollywood Diary" (Hutchinson) will be enjoyed by film enthusiasts because of its vivid pictures of Holly wood and the film personalities who were so eager to meet the famous Eng: lish author. This book consists of let: ters to his wife, written during the last few weeks of his life in Hollywood. where he was fulfilling a contract to write film scenarios. These letters deal with trivial, intimate and everyday things that a wife expects from her husband when away, but the practical side of Mr. Wallace is also shown. He says: "I was photographed this morning, twice at the desk, once with my feet up, telephoning, and once the conventional intense picture, writing.’ After he had been at Hollywood a few weeks, he took a furnished house at

Beverly Hills, and he writes: "Hor Heaven’s sake, don’t say Hollywood when you mean Beverly Hills. It’s not done, and such a pained expression comes over the Beverly Hillers when you refer to it as Hollywood." He continues working with zest and his letters describe almost every hour .of the day. On February 4 he complains of a sore throat, which he mentions again the next day. On February 7 he writes another letter in which he tells of a dinner party which he gave the previous evening. He promises Mrs. Wallace a gay time when she arrives, and there the diary ends. It is a vivid and illuminating book. a ke * WAS reading the other day of. the appointment of Mr. John Kettelwell to the vacant post of head of the children’s hour at headquarters of the B.B.C. It was apparent that new blood was badly wanted in this department, and Mr. Kettelwell brings a versatile, original, cultivated, and idealistic mind to this sphere. He is fortunate in having as his "right hand" Captain Derek McCulloch, the celebrated Uncle Mac, who has similar qualities and aims. The problem of improvement in the children’s session is one that is exercising the minds of the executive of all broadeasting stations. % th % ASHIONS come and fashions go, and can make or break our industries. It is, however, interesting to know that in these days of trade depression "two absolutely disconnected habits have mutually reacted upon one another to cause 2 boom." Instead of so many men spending their evenings at the club, as they did before the advent of radio, they now prefer to stay at home and listen to the wireless. This has not only brought a boom in radio, but in a much more domestic commodity-that of bedroom slippers. At least we read that this is so in Britain and the United States of America. We would like to know if this relaxation has affected the sale of these articles of comfort in New Zealand. * k * A MORE formal note is creeping into the best frocks, and especially .in evening dress are these subtle changes noticeable. Good style is the keynote of success, and with the note of greater exclusiveness the high back line is considered more "chic" than the backless frock. The decolletage in the front tends to become a little lower. Long gloves are worn to meet the short sleeves. Skirts are worn long and flowing. for all lines must make for grace und style in the best vogue. The colours worn in the evening are lovely, and, further, they are kind to women of allages. Jewellery is important, but it should not be worn in profusion; pearls are in great requqest, as they suit the many Empire styles which are being favoured. The scarf is the piece de resistance of present fashions, but there is a lot in the way it is worn. With plain coats a diagonally-striped scarf is often worn slanting to one side, with the ends rather short. On evening gowns the scarf is sometimes twisted round the decolletage, knotted in front, erossed over at the waist line, and pased round the waist, to be knotted at the back. Fur-trimmed scarves, of the same fabric as the dress, in silk or very lightweight wool, often takes the place of short jackets with afternoon reuero