TOPICS FOR WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 13

TOPICS FOR WOMEN

ENGAGEMENT. PAYNE—HOBBS. Tho engagement is announced of Olive, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 11. Payne, Kuiwarra, Wellington, to Stanley John, second son of Mr. nni'l Mrs. 11. Hobbs, Ngahauranga, "Wellington. The Hon Mrs. Balph Vane, who has been visiting Mrs. Norman Hope, Christehurch, has arrived in Wellington. Miss Mabel. Holland, Wellington, is the guest of Mrs. M. Knymond, Timaru. Mrs. F. D. Ledger and Miss Ledger, Nelson, aro visitors to Christehurch. Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Thome, "Sonning," Lyall Bay, left by tho Uliniaroa for an extended tour in Australia and England. Miss Fay Taylour is a visitor to Christehurch at present. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. V. Bronn aro among the Wellington visitors to Christchurch. Mrs. Heading, Wollington, is tho guest of Mrs. Kayrnond, Park Lane, Timaru. Mrs. Scfton Adams, Silverstream, is paying visits to friends in Timaru. Mrs. Mathieson, Tauranga, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. J. B. MacEwan, Fitzherbert terrace. Mr. and Mrs. Staco have returned to Wellington after a month's tour in the South Sea Islands. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. M'Lcod, AVellington, are among the visitors to Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. F. Gowing, Lower Hutt, are leaving for a visit to Palmerston and New. Plymouth. Mrs. E. Collins, Island Bay, with the Misses Barker, E. Daniel], and Port, has returned' from a motor' tour throughout the Hot Lakes and Gisborne districts, concluding with some fishing at Taupo. Mr. -and Mrs. Eric Johnston, Goldies Brae, left by the TJlimaroa en route for London. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Anderson have returned to Wellington after a visit to Mrs. Ballauce, Wanganui. Major and Mrs. Cayz'cr have left for Eotorua, and will spend about a month fishing in tho district, and then will leave by the Niagara, returning Home by America and Canada. One of the. three Eonio scholarships for 1930—that for mural paintings— has been awarded to Miss Marjorie Brooks, who has already had a distinguished career. Tho scholarship is worth £250 a year, and is tenable for two years. More than two years ago, when only 23, she won the most important prize of the Eoyal Academy, the E.A. gold medal and Edward Scott travelling studentship. How Was it (one! Writing about one of the farewell parties given to Lady Stonehaven in Melbourne, a correspondent says:— "My friend and I went out by tram. Sitting opposite us was a well-known society woman. She wore a tweed coat and skirt, with a cheek blouse, and she had the new fashionable shoes —brown kid faced with white iv a rather .striking manner. Wo wero mildly surprised that sho was not going to the party, for she was not dressed for a reception. Ten minutes after wo had arrived my friend touched me on the arm. ~" Where have I seen those shoes before?" she said. They were-brown kid, faced' with white. Our gaze travelled slowly upwards. It was the same lady, but in less than ten minutes —for she had to get home and presumably como oh by car—she had performed a transform ation. She was clad in a trailing frock of flowered chiffon, with a marvellous coat of palest green, with a deep collar of grey fox, and she wore one of the small, close-fitting turbans of green aud silver cloth. She had not time to change her shoes1 and stockings, and by those we knew her.'? Dame Janet Campbell's Keturn. So many people came to the receptiongiven to Dame Janet Campbell at the General Lying-in Hospital, York road, that it was at times difficult to move about the entrance hall, whore tho reception, was. .held,..'says an English writer. The hospital is rather cramped for room these days, and under tho capable organisation of Miss Grace Watson, formerly of Australia, is launching its first public appeal for one hundred and sixty-two years, in order to enablo.it to undertake building operations. The Countess of ■ Birkonhead is chairman of the extension fund committee, and she and Lady Northcote, president of the ladies' committee, were joint hostesses at yesterday's party, when ■ ma3iy prominent people were present to welcome Dame Janet home after her visit to Australia. '.Dame Janet, wearing a. "broken dress i^ic'lcr.a fur coat and carrying a: bouquet of pink carnations, was busy meeting old friends, and later in tho afternoon many, people took tho opportunity of inspecting . the wards, whicli were air open for the occasion. Mussolini's Daughter. An interesting engagement has been announced, that of Signorina Edda Mussolini to Count Galeazzo Ciano, and it is causing as much discussion as a royal marriage would do, state a London writer. It is said that Signorina Edd Mussolini is the ono person who has defied the Italian* Dictator. This happened when she was only 15, and was sent to a' famous school in Florence. She did not like being there, and asked her father to take her away. On his recusal, she simply ran away and returned homo of her own accord I She does not like politics, nor does she approve of women entering the political arena. She likes an out-of-door life, and her great i>assiou is swimming. When she was ■14 sho saved a child from drowning and was awarded a medal for her. prowess. Her fiance is a sou of the Italian Transport Minister, and is a secretary of the Italian, Embassy to tho Vatican. Flavoured Potatoes. A 'delightful way to flavour rKitatoes is to boil onions or pumpkin with them and mash the whole. But flavours of more delicacy may bo produced by adding to tho well-boiled and mashed potatoes finely-chopped shallots, in discreet quantity; raw chopped celery; finely-grated cheese with a dash of cayenne; or chopped parsley ant^ a knob of butter. If opening a tin of asparagus add the juice to tho mashed potatoes' instead of milk for a delicious change. Add tho yolk of »v egg Ito mashed potatoes for the top of potato pie for an improvement. Add quarter the quantity of well-cooked rice to potatoes and mash well, adding milk and pepper.: Sweet corn and potatoes blend well. . A New Enterprise. Now Zealanders who know the Hon. Eileen Plunket, daughter of tho fifth Baron, who was Governor-General of New Zealand, will be interested to hear of her new enterprise. She is now the proud possessor of a charming decorator's business in. Bcauchainp Place, which had, under tho name of "Swinyard," previously belonged to Mrs. Shoppard, the wife of the much-loved Dean. Miss Plunket works hard, and is at her business from early morning till six o'clock, and is now preparing to reside over the shop as well,

Obituary. ' Tho death I. "Porlcd^^ho South ot v very well-known adv Mibllu Macdonald, who has mc i.db »« -'» parts or the Domin 10n. liela oMis. Ma.donald was born in 1802 ncai lithn burgli, aud when fom >cai,s oi ago «"™d 111 N?i* f a!anc" q 1,1 ! oPfn \! o Tl" r haWs on 2nd Octobe^ 11^ if^. m w^ afpoiS' to tho « w]y T wa / choscn Inspe ctor of Schools, and secretary to tho Education Board, and i,, addition^ to his duties he took large part in the establishment ot tit Boys' and Girls High Schools, tnc Training College, and tho District 111 fell .Schools, Otago. He was also the nisi secretary and registrar of tho Univerof Qtogo Qr th<j openi]]g of tho ot;(go Gh>]s , High Sehoolj Mrs. Macdona|d was cnr o!led among the first pu pii s . I n 1874 she married Dr. Hugh Macdonald, of Lyttelton, the ceremony being performed by Dr. Stuart, at Knox Church, Dunedin. For tho next twelve years she. resided in Lyttelton, but shortly after.tho death of her husband, went to Dunedin, where sho devoted her time to tho bringing ip of her eight y cllUdren . In 1918 she left foi , Invercargil]) remaining there until her death. Her disposition secured for ] iel . a w i de e i rc ] c o f friends, and she was we ij k nowa a3 a humorous and entertaining conversationalist, her many experiences of the early days being an ever-remembered topic. Up till 1929 Mrs. Macdonald attended the Otago Early Settlers' reunions, held at Dunedin She leaves a family of two s°ns a/d slx daughters: Mr B. D. Mac donald, manager ot tho National Bank, fil] D « j <, Macdwlald ln vo iv ■ Miss Macdonald, matron of p . Hospital; Mrs. Freer Kh i g t , Austra]ia MrSi H> 0 H stewart Is i a ' ntl . Mrs . Gov . don Macdonald, Federated Malay states; Mrs. Bitehio Crawford, Invercargill; and Mrs. Hugh Webb, Kachai, India. A Vexed Q Uest i on The question of women teachers in boys' schools has been discussed a good deal lately, so it was only to be exPected tiiat the appointment of a ™m as head of a largo boy aud girl sc!l0t)1 shouid cause *°m* talk—and also somo controversy, says the London eon . eS p Omlel , t of tl)e '< Autralasian." Misg Morris ig to bo the now head of tho Fl . [{ , rn Central School at p cc kliara. R c where b and irlg hotyfaou tllo a so£ n and 15 aro educatod . M iss M orris says that she can see no reason wh her ap p oi]l tment should be discussed at al] it ig not the flrst of its kind ■ and £omci . hoad mistresses of mixe(l sehoola nave succeeded admirably; gho th i n ) cs that the question of sex should never arise in such a case and that appointments should be made gi j on {£ 6 merits of tho a p p ii calxt .s. ( , A^d wheu al , is said and dou „ re marks Miss Morri < (is - it more . unrca . g(maJjle tliat a woma]l gh(Juld have eha of a gclwol in which b . u . o| t £ t with h . ]g than that a man 3ho^,d havQ ° hargc of a S(ihoo] in which . ]s aro £ ht with boys? » Misg M & on . is wiU ]u f vc nien on her teachillg staff and hor diief assistant aJ . her J ew sc ' hoo j wm bea maU- S|l6 helsc]f has tau llt b for car and ~ ghe has ]I(J^er fol / ud thG]^ difficult yo J u c;m always she deelal . os illduee a |)0 t0 grcate - r effort by appealing to his S p o 7-ting. instinct, while girls, on the other haJl(] respond instantly to the least e nc6irrageinent or praise," and are,' QU the wholo 6 ulO rc conscientious and haj . dwOrKi ,, g than boys. - '.. Mrs, Snowden at Court. Mrs. Philip Snowden, wife of the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, looking very handsome in. black and silver, was a conspicuous iiguro at tho reception given at the Boyal Palace by the Queen of the Netherlands for the, delegates to tho Conference on Reparation Payments, says an English exchange. The Chancellor of the Exeliequer s was the only one o£ t he principal delegates whose wife accompanied him, and Mrs. Snowden had therefore an im-. portant part to play. She- presented the wives of some of the officials attached to tho-delegation to the Queen; Mrs. Snowden followed the custom of the Dutch Court and wore a robe princesse, with a train such as women wore in the 'nineties of last century. The, dress was made of black velvet, relieved by handsome black and silver laco inset at the side. Mrs. Snowdon's shoes and stockings were black, tho shoes having silver buckles. Her headdress was a silvered bandeau, and sho wore a heavy rope of pearls. The Queen entered tho reception room with the Queen-mother, tho Prince Consort, and the Princess Juliana, attended by. officials of the Court. After tho Queen, a stately figure sparkling with diamonds, had made the circle of tho guciSts, a programme of music was given. «,■ At tlie Pioneer Club. A visit was paid to tho pi OUCCI . club ycsterda . y afternoon-by Her Excellency Lady Bledisloe, when there was a very large, attendance, of members to greet her. Mrs. Bathurst accompanied Her Excellency, who was met by Miss A. Kane (president), Mrs. Sprott (warden), and members of committee, with Mrs. Bernard Wood, Lady Sidcy, and o thers. Mrs. Gillmau (secretary) proseilted Lady Bledisloe with a bouquet o j roses. The reception room and i o ,- llge wero beautifully decorated with flowers, and the singing circle, under Mrs. Ginn, gave a charming part song, "Greeting," after the arrival of Her Excellency. Afterwards Mrs. Ginn and M iss Helen Gardner each contributed SO ] OS) the music being very enjoyablo. T oa was set in tho i oullgc and a immbel . o f the o Hicials and members wc ,. e pl . OS e n tod to Her Excellency. Miss Kano mado a we ] oom ii lg spe ech, and Lady Bledisloe replied, thanking all fol . their we i come , Her Excellency was j,, a blue pat t(. Mle d chiffon frock made , viUl narrow pi ca ted frills, and a wide hat of Wue gtl . aw ith fouchcs of cerigc ve]vot . A knot o£ roso aud blllo on her shouldfer was also worn. Mrs. Bathurst was in pale coral lace with ~ coat o£ bei go J rgctto tl . iramed wi th f and a h b afc \ Q m;ltf . h> Mias KauQ W)rc an cnserQble o£ bott]o Gon with a j iat (. Q -(- one b ywc A ' It may not be generally known tlr.it the Y.W.C.A. is prepared lo arrange educational classes for any group of teu persons desirous of learning elocution, singing, or any of the hand crafts. Attention is drawn to an a£yertisement appearing elsewhere .giving Ml particulars re elocution, dressmaking, N and physical culture classes, already formed this season, all of which offer particular advantages. Iho attention of the members of the Lower Hutt branch of tho League of Mothers is drawn to an advertisement in this issue. All members are asked to attend Sunday evening service at the Knox Presbyterian Church, which will 'bo tho second League service in the district. Next Thursday, at the monthly meeting (a week earlier than usual because of the Flower Show), a reception will bo given to Mrs. J. S. Elliott, the Dominion and provinch'.l president. Tho executive wish it to be known that the meeting is opon to every woman in the district, and extend a warm invitation to those who have not already attended.

Borstal Committee. 1 After the recess there was a great deal of business for the Women's Borstal Committee to transact at a meeting held at tho Dominion Farmers' Building. Dr. Platts-M'ills presided. A number of reports were given of girls who are out on probation, and arrangements were made for some who are leaving the institution " shortly. The balance-sheet was presented by Mrs. Tait, and sincere thanks were given to Mr. Petersen, tho honorary auditor, whose services are highly appreciated. A discussion took piaco on tho necessity of having some sort of home for girls who are out of work, or ill, such a place being an urgent necessity, and it was decided that the committee must make an effort in the near future to secure some permanent arrangement fir tho housing and care of such girls. An Egyptian "Throw-back." There is a girl in London said to -be amazingly like an ancient Queen of Egypt. You know the distinctive features of Egyptian beauty—high cheek bones, narrow eyes, .set wide apart, long curving eyebrows, and long slim neck —well, she- has them to a, remarkable degree, says a correspondent of "The Leader." Strangely enough, she works in the British Museum within sight of her "double" all day. When the Museum attendants have shown visitors the cast of Queen Nefert-iti they sometimes say, "Now .come and meet her in real life/ and take them along to this young girl, Miss E. C. Butt. Queen Nefert-iti was the wife of Pharaoh Akhnaton, and mothor-iii-law of Tutenkhamon, ruler of Egypt, who lived nearly four thousand years ago. It is extraordinarily interesting to find the beauty of that remote age persisting still to-day.