OF FEMININE INTEREST

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 10, 16 September 1932, Page 24

OF FEMININE INTEREST

By

Patricia

TALK by Dr. Guy H. Scholefield from 2YA should have been interesting -to all those who like irayelogues. Uspecially interesting to me was this subject as I was in Zanzibar some years ago, and although my visit there was but brief, I travelled over most of the island. In Zanzibar, as in all Eastern countries, one sees the prehistoric, mediaeval, and present, in r i ‘ { the cultivation. The motor-car does | not use the main street of the town, for it is little more than an alley, so : narrow that there is only just room for one car, A pedestrian to let the ear pass must step back into the door © way of a shop. Many curses arise to Allah because of this invention of the infidel. . ae * * QNB of the most outstanding feattures of the town is the Sultan’s ‘palace-a large white building of striking appearance, while.the town itself is remarkable for its narrow streets and ancient buildings, On our drive to the far end of the island we passed through many of the clove plantations where natives of both sexes squatted on the ground, in the business of separating cloves. Zanzibar shares with another small island the monopoly of this product, which is one of the chief sources. of income to the island. The most interesting thing about the island i3 its history and its connection with the slave trade. It is intensely hot, and one needs to wear darkened glasses, * * * MOMBASA, on the east coast of Africa, and not very far distant from Zanzibar, has, though very. warm, 2 delightful climate.. I spent a very happy three weeks in this rather dingy town, but the social amenities make up for its dinginess, and all British visitors are entertained thoroughly.

There are always dancing, tennis, yachting, swimming and picnic parties, and within very few miles of Mombasa big game such as lions, leopards, ziraffes, zebras, buffaloes, antelopes, ate,, are to be seen from the railway carriage window. Ed x x THE Youth for Youth campaign which was broadcast by 2YA from the Town Hall on Sunday week last would give distant listeners a splendid idea of the success,attending the movement. Never has the Town Hall been so packed, and although many must have been sadly disappointed when the authorities demanded that the aisles should be kept free, and consequently : large number had to depart, it must have been encouraging to the organisers to see so much youthful enthusiasm. Had it not been for the broadcast, many thousands would never have known of this wonderful demonstration, and 2YA is to be congratulated for recognising the essential function of broadcasting. 2 * " A CINNAMON cookie recipe (which I have tested), given by 2ZW, is

as follows:-1% cups of flour, 1 cup of cornflakes, 4 cup chopped raisins, 30% butter, 4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tablespoonful milk, 1 teaspoonful cinnamon, 3} level teaspoonful soda dissolved in the milk, and a pinch of salt. Cream butter and sugar, and beaten egg with milk and soda, then add all other ingredients. This should be rather dry when mixed. Turn on to a slightly floured board, roll out thin and cut into rounds and bake in a moderate oven, * * * A VERY good broadcast was given by 2YA on the occasion of the Cinderella Ball, and the description of the animated scene when Cinderella arrived and was met by Prince Charme ing was one that could capture the imagination of every listener. The money spent on costumes for Cinderella, Prince Charming, Mephistopheles, Robin Hood and his Merry Men, King Charles, the various queens represented, and the hundred and one other fancy dresses, has been a practical method of loosening up the coin of the realm, while the proceeds of the ball itself should greatly augment the Mayor’s earxy

Fund for the distressed. It is to be hoped this ball will be made an annual affair, for even when times are better we have the unfortunates with us, although not in so great a number as at present, The work of the committee which arranged this function is to be commended, and the huge success of the ball must be yery gratifying to all concerned. s x * THE American Society of Authors, Composers, and Publishers are demanding of broadcasting stations a 300 per cent. increase in fees for the use of copyright music. The terms of the new proposal would provide a five 5 cent. fee on the gross income df nonnetwork stations, in addition to a. sustaining license fee equivalent to the toll at present exacted. In the case of network programmes, the five per cent. in gross receipts would be payable by the key station. The National Association’ of Broadcasters submit that the present time is most unfavourable for an increase in copyright fees.

TALK of interest at the 2 o’clock session (2YA) on Tuesday was that of "Bird Life in the Antarctic," by Mr. H. Ninnis.' This is a very wide if subject to deal with, but his descrip: tion, in the short time allotted to him, of the birds that abound in these cold regions, was most entertaining. Mr. Ninnis spoke of the albatross, the largest of all sea birds,. and its habits. There are three species of this great bird-the royal, the wandering, and the ancient mariner-and their size across the wing tips is sixteen to eighteen feet. The bird next in size is the mollymawk. Other birds are the cape pigeon, Mother Carey’s chickens, Antarctic and blue petrels, the snow petrel, gulls, and last, but not least, those quaint birds the penguins. These non-fiying birds are definitely confined to the Southern Hemisphere, and are found on the shores of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and there are a number of varieties. The Emperor penguin of the Far South is the largest and lives for about forty years. The King penguin of Macquarie Island is slightly smaller and has markings of orange, lemon and purple. The little Adelie is about fourteen; pinches high; it shows no fear of man;*and its antics are a source of never-ending delight to those who explore these Arctic regions. In fact, he is probably the really only funny thing in an otherwise very serious land. So many of my friends who were fortunate enough to hear Mr. Nimmis have commented on this delightful talk that I feel it would be a splendid subject that could be repeated when more listeners are at home. . * = & "THE lecturer from the Department ' of Health gave some very good advice on the control of the fly nuisance. All are agreed that there is nothing more disgusting or filthy than flies, yet if a systematic war was made upon their breeding places, the pest could be greatly reduced,’ As flies

carry so much disease, and contaminate food, it is surely essential in a civilised community that all refuse should be. effectually destroyed. The fly-catchers "suggested by. the speaker, made of wire, suspended from a lateral Wire and covered with a sticky substance which can be washed off, appears to have been the most effective way of catching flies. a * * J,VERY adult knows of the ramifications of the League of Nutions, but the children were very fortunate in having so able a speaker as the Rey. R. 8. Watson (2YA) to expound its objects. This was done in such a concise manner that every woman

would be pleased to hear Mr. Watson recapitulate the activities of this tremendous idealistic organisation. Every phase of human action has its committee of experts and interested citizens to investigate existing conditions and endeavour to improve where improvement is needed for world betterment. Although the Jeague has not done all that it was hoped it would do, it has undoubtedly made a contribution to civilisation that would not have been thoyéht possible a generation ago, and that its success In so many Avenues is but the forerunner of still greater successes cannot be doubted. Truth and reason must prevail! a Eo pan GIUER-the Gateway to Moroccowas the subject of Mr. L. R. Denny’s talk (8YA), and very interesting it was. Morocco-and in fact all the northern States of Africa-have a fascination for the traveller, as here on the borders. of Western Burope the Hast meets the West. Here, ag in all similar countries, the cosmopolitan nature of the population gives colour to the scene. ‘The methods of living in the unchanging Bast: vie with the modern Occidental. and as this part of Northern Africa has so much historical interest. it is a pity that our mail boats do not call there. If the traveller desires to see these little known parts on his journey eastward from: Europe, it is necessary to travel by lines like the Dutch mail. Every visitor is drawn to the market place at the top of the ‘hill, where the Rolls-Royce and the Ford jostle with camel, and the ass of Biblical days. Hleré too are buildings ancient as the name, "The Pillars of Hercules,’ and modern European buildings, which in architecture says little for the vision of our materialistic age. Mr. Denny mentioned the great shortage of water in Tangier, but this, if not already corrected, will be so shortly, as a few years ago wu company had commenced the building of a reservoir, and I believe arrangements had been made for a wat¢r service on quite modern lines strikes a traveller in Tangier, as if all Eastern countries, is the perfect taste that the natives have for colour. Orientals have a gift for colour blending, and it would be hard for the traveller to find in any Hastern country a native woman with clashing colours, although in South Africa this may be seen frequently among the Hindu women. At home and in their own surroundings their taste is perfect, but this natural: gift seems to disappear when their environment changes. = HH fabrics and fashions talk from 2YA this week was interesting, insomuch as we had a good description of most, if not all, the lovely materials that are here for our delectation. We only want a nice hot summer, and then how we could enjoy the delights of thesa dianhanous fabrics! We must

not, however, rush-things; sartorial matters need careful planning, and our special requirements must be taken into consideration in the colours thut suit us, and thé ‘lines that show off our figure to the bést.advantage. What we should aim at are becoming and practical styles, and only when we hare decided on the general idea should we go and seek out our materials. Silk at the moment seems to be superseded by cottons, and the linens, piques, and tobralcos can be had in the most entrancing patterns. There are stripes, and florals, and spots, and I gather that spots take first place. There is such a wealth of colour to choose from that eer

-_ everyone should be able to get her own particular favourite. soe * * a. "WHEN women shop by, television" was the title of an article appearing in an English evening journal, in which it was suggested that our working and business life, as well as our pleasures, will ‘be completely changed in the not-too-distant future. ‘This article was prompted by the decision of the B.B.C. to regularly broadcast pictures. ‘ It is estimated that there are already nearly 10.000 television receivers in Britain, and the increase, with regular transmissions, is anticipated. In the United States television had many champions a

in the Press until the most obvious imperfections were eliminated, but with. the prospect of a new science competing with the papery for advertising matter, the American Press is iuclined to decry television. It would therefore appear that Britain may be the real television pioneer, although advertising over the air is not permitted, the housewife would certainly be disappointed were exhibitions, dress parades aud univer sal providers not televised. * as or

AN interesting book published by Faber and Faber, is one by Mr. Peter Quennell entitled "A Superficial Journey." This is something in the nature of a travel book, or, as he himself calls it, a kind of travel film. He held a professorship at the Japanese University, and his journey takes him and us through Tokio and Peking. He records his personal impressions of things, of scenes, and of people. He is obliged to draw some general conclusions of the East from his own experiences of it, but nowhere does he assert them. He writes with a thoughtful grace and something of the courteous gravity of the people among whom he has been. * 2 we "Tire." published by the Oxford University Press, is the story of Joseph Wright, one of Oxford’s bestloved professors. He began as a Yorkshire mill boy, and could scarcely read and write at the age of fifteen, yet he became a professor of comparative philology in the university, and planned, edited, and completed "The English Dinlect Dictionary," a magnificent work of scholarship. The details are set down in this book by his wife and former pupil, in the name of love and the cummwvon interest they shared. She hus done well what she wished to doto convey the immortal essence of a noble spirit in the story of his immense but mortal achievements. m @ K G. PARKF, an American author, ° has written a thriller in the "First Night Murder" (Stanley Paul). This murder tukes place in the stalls of a theatre on Broadway, and a theatrical manager is the victim. During a moment’s darkness on the stage he is found with his neck nearly severed by knife wounds. On this night Martin Ellis has his first play produced. There are, of course, several people in the nudieuce each of whom might be the murderer, yet, who did it? And how was it done? These two questions are not answered until the young playwright re-stuges the events of the first ‘night, and then there comes a genuine crash of surprise which leaves no disappointment behind. ® 2 4 READING recipes is no doubt a tedious business, and one lady who does much of this from one of Wellington’s stations apparently finds the tedium too much to allow sufficient time for ingredients to be taken down. Another gives her first recipe slowly enough for this to be done, but the sécond invariably necessitates abbreviations that are usually later not under--stood, while subsequent recipes would need to be taken in shorthand: ‘It would seem that recipes and hints should be given with the assistance of the metronome, and it is idle to ask people to write or telephone, as every listener is not a telephone subscriber, and toll calls, especially from a distance, are costly. I think it absurd to ask people to write and thus duplicate e.! service which should be final with