WOMEN'S WORLD

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 141, 15 June 1923, Page 9

WOMEN'S WORLD

ART SOCIETY. CONVERSAZIONE. The opening of the Auckland Art Society's Art Exhibition for this year took place in the gallery. Kitchener Street, last evening, when tho president's address was listened to by a large audience. Keen interest was shown in the pictures on the walls, and several sales took place during the evening, a very line example of still life by Ruth Hollingsworth being purchased by Mr. G. H. AVilson as a present for Mrs. AA'ilson. The work of the women painters of the Dominion is well-repre-sented on the walls, and a portrait by -Mrs. M. E. Tripe, of AVellington, the well-known artist and student of the late J. M. Nairn, of a young girl sitting on the g olf links after a round, was much admired. The painter has caught the dawn of wonder that gives so much beauty to the face of a sweet young girl. Another well-known woman artist, who is represented with some fine work in pastels, is Mabel Hill, of Dunedin, also a student under Mr. Nairn. Mrs. Mackenzie Ellis, daughter of Sir Thomas •Mackenzie, has some characteristic work, Mrs. Grace Butler, a landscape in the Alpine Ranges of the South Island, Mrs. Topliss, of Nelson, and many others. Some remarkable examples ot still life by Mrs. R. S. Hcllaby (Ruth Hollingsworth), and a large study of a wild horse by Lake Taupo drew much attention. The work of the painters showed that women are really interested in the art of New Zealand. Some •fine examples of craft were also shown by women exhibitors. The guests were welcomed to the gallery by the president, Mr. A. Geddes, assisted by Mrs. Geddes, who wore pale blue and silver lace over ivory charmcusc. Miss Geddes was in pale primrose georgette and satin; Mrs. McKail Geddes, black charmeuse with Oriental tissue and 'black lace; Mrs. Devore, black taffeta, embroidered with black marabout cape -, Mrs. G. H. Wilson, black ninon ■beaded: Mrs. T. AY. Leys, royal blue georgette, white silk wrap; Mrs. AA 7 orley, black velvet and royal blue; Mrs. G. Bloomfield, black georgette and silver sequins: Mrs. Upton, black raarcocain, embroidered in dull gold; Mrs. Stride, black georgette with iridescent sequins; Mrs. Cecil Leys, black marocain, beaded in crimson and georgette; Mrs. Marriner, black panne velvet and crepe de chine; Mrs. R. Hcllaby, black lace, with ostrich feather stole"; Miss Marriner, black silk over charmeuse; Mrs. A. Schmidt, bronze silk; Miss B. Houghton, pink taffeta; 'Miss Norrish, silk jersey cloth; Mrs. Talbot, black taffeta cream georgette; Miss Dobie, black charmeuse; Mrs. R. S. Hellaby, royal blue georgette, embroidered with blue chenille: Mrs. Mallet, black marocain, gold and Oriental embroidery; Miss C'opeland, black and emerald green; Mrs. McCaw, black ninon, beaded; Miss Bailey, shot green taffeta; Mrs. Thorpe (Napier), black charmeuse, scarlet beading; Mrs. E. H. Reid (Dunedin), black: Miss Robertson (Leeston, Canterbury), yellow; Mrs. Ferguson, T>lack georgette beaded; Miss B. Ferguson, navy blue: Miss P. Boult, nattier blue silk: Miss Carr, brown chiffon velvet; Mrs. C. V. Houghton, tangerine; Miss M. Norrish, cherry brocade; Mrs Finn, black; 'Miss Beatrice Budd, midnight blue charmeuse; Miss AVitherow, cherry charmeuse ; Miss Dewar, nattier blue taffeta; Miss Eise, grey and green; Miss Eyre, cherry-coloured velvet; Miss D. Fenton, mole velvet and lace; Mrs. Proctor, kingfisher blue and green; Mrs. Kinmartin, black velvet and green; Mrs. Scrivener, black knitted silk and beading ; Miss Pnelling, (black georgette; Mrs. Isaacs, black charmeuso and lace; Mrs. Neill, emerald green satin and lace; Mrs. Carrick Robertson, shot-pink, emerald green coat; Miss O. Lloyd, blue velvet; Miss E. Vaile, white crepe de chine: Mrs. O'Neill, jetted georgette; Mrs. Oarling, black taffeta; Mrs. Thompson, black silk and lace; Mrs. Page Rowe, black satin and tulle; Miss Mowbray, black taffeta; Mrs. Hadfleld, black; Miss Cutten (Dunedin), black charmeuse and white satin: Mrs. Fenton, black lace over satin. JUNIOR CLUB RECEPTION. The president and members of the Junior Club held an "At Home" for their friends yesterday afternoon in their pleasant rooms in Swanson Street which were tastefully decorated for the occasion. Dr. A. McGregor Grant, the president, assisted by Mrs. Grant, who wore a mole jackard costume with hat ''n molo velvet brocade and touches of scarlet, received the guests at the head of the stairs, which had been draped Avith gay bunting and decorated with palms and other pot plants. Afternoon tea was laid in the dining room, the reading room, and the card room, and the bil- , Hard room, where the tables looked very pretty with yellow jonquils and masses of purple violets. In the billiard room the decorations were enhanced by hanging baskets of ferns, and games were played on the tables which proved very enjoyable. Amongst those present were: Mrs. Coleman, black and brown furs; Mrs. Stride, navy blue costume, deep fur Mrs. E. Anderson, steel grey wrap; Mrs. Oolcbeck, brown embroidered georgette: Miss Maguirc, brown costume and furs: Mrs. McArthur, mole costume; Miss Martin, slate blue; Mrs. Bentley, navy arid grey fringed furs; Mrs. Grey, dove grey; Mrs. N. Hanna, black and brocaded coat frock; Mrs. Rninger, black fur coat; Mrs. 'Esam, mole: Miss Esam, grey coat frock; Mrs. L. Hill, cinnamon brown charmeuse; Mrs. Borrie, black fur coat; Mrs. Farrell, grey costume, black furs; Mrs. Meredith, grey coat frock; Miss Hawker, black fur coat; Miss R. Hawker, mole; Mrs. Wilkin, stone grey costume: Mrs. A. M. Ferguson, nigger coat frock; Mrs. Hardy, navy coat frock, black furs; Miss Bullock Webstur. navy blue: Mrs. Carpenter Brown, silk lace over satin: Miss Entrican, black and furs: Mrs. T. Brett, duv.etyn coat frock, smoke furs; Mrs. Hcllaby, patterned coat frock, and fur 3: Mrs. R. Isaacs, nigger costume: Miss J. Stevenson, navy costume : Mrs. Kenny, navy coat frock; Mrs. Graham, fawn coat frock: Lady Lockhart, brown fur eont: Miss 15. Lockhart, blue costume: Mrs. Spencer, dark grey coat frock and furs; Mrs. Blayner, cinnamon costume; Mrs. 11. Hanna, navy costume and grey furs; Mrs. Mallet, embroidered black georgette; Mrs. Arthur Myers, navy blue cape coat frock, royal blue touches; Miss Myers, navy cape frock, embroidered in deep maize; Mrs. C. Nathan, black and furs; Mrs. Henderson, black costume and fox furs; Miss A. Henderson, blue costume; Mrs. Neill, fawn charmeuse; Mrs. Finn, fawn costume, black furs: Mrs. Spencer, dark grey and furs; Miss B. Ferguson, bhick coat frock and white furs. During the afternoon an Hawaiian string band rendered musical items.

AMONG OURSELVES, A WEEKLY BUDGET. (By CONSTANCE CLYDE.) THE "SUPREME GESTURE." A startling method of calling attention to the grievous wrongs of Japanese women was adopted by one of their number lately when, in the presence ot hundreds of persons, s h e cast herself under the wheels of an express train! The notes found after her death explained that she was taking her life, as a protest against the enslaved condition of the average woman in that land. It all depends upon the point of view, as one Western paper commented. To make the "supreme gesture" for patriotic or religious motives is quite an accepted idea among this people, and is in line with their oldest traditions. AVomen in Japan, it is explained, are owned body and soul by the men folks. It, may seem strange to us, however, that a woman shoiild protest against this perpetual sacritie-e by herself, in a sense following the ideal she reprobates. Meanwhile the grave of this girl, younj; and one of the leaelers of the feminine movement. is reported to have become a shrine at which young and old women kneel and offer up prayers. CZECHO-Sr-OA'AKIAN REFORMER. The new generation is accused of having no special ideals of its own. Perhaps this is 'because it is sometimes so busy carrying out the ideals of the former generation. An instance- of this is Dr. Alice Marsnryk, whose father a well known scientist in Chicago, in 1002 was lecturing on "The Problem of the Little Nation." To-day, his daughter, is solving that problem and hafi been doing so for some years. During the war she was for some time prisoner in Austria, informed every morning or so that this day might be her last. In 1918, after much learnt from the poor prisoners with whom she consorted, she was released, and soon began her work along with other American women and organisations of restoring Czecho-Slova.kin to hygienic normality. She was made director of the Czccho-Slovakia Red Cross, and helped in the formation of the Junior Red Cross for girls. In especial there was a strong light against tuberculosis. At Easter she' persuaded both politicians and Press to keep a kind of truce, duting which tijne ithc papers did not attack one another even in the mildest ways, and all the articles concerned peace subjects only. Another advocate of peace is Katherine BrescKkovski, .once known as "The Little Grandmother ■of t*io Revolution." who now resides in the same country as Dr. Marsaryk. .She is eighty years of age. but still continues some Red Cross work, .spending part of her leisure in advocating disarmament. THE AUSTRALIAN" AYOMAN". An Australian authority- gives the names of several Australian women present at the great meeting in Rome last month. Amongst them was one doctor, also Mrs. Clapham. who has the distinction of being the first woman councillor elected in Western Australia. "Mrs. James AA r illiams is a delegate from the Women's Union of Service in Syelney, while others represent various organisations. Their intention was to make Australia favourably known, and when in England to persuade a suitable type of woman to emigrate. On this question of emigration and domestic service Australian women seem much exercised at present. The National Council of Women in Queensland favours the immigra.tion of Barnardo Home girls, but realises of course that they are not likely to go up to the baekblocks or remain there if they do. A system of eight hours a day service is being recommended for the towns. Another matter in which women arc taking an interest is the great shortage of even women teachers at present. In New South AYales it is said one hundred schools are without teachers. It is advocateel that when a woman teacher marries one of her own occupation they shall be given a school in which both may teach. At present it seems a woman can conduct a sewing class in her husband's school, .but may not teach other subjects. Some women are pointing out, however, that in the early days there was no restrictions of this sort. Again the married woman teacher could be sent out to the more country-like places, leaving the town positions for tho single woman. There has been a proposal to obtain teachers if possible from other countries, but the Ministers of Education in general it seems are strongly opposed to accepting any but Australians. A DOMESTIC PEACEMAKER. Mr. Thomas Way of Wakefield is mentioned as a pioneer in a new branch of officialelom that should appeal to women. Formally he is a police court missioner, but in reality he is now almost officially a peacemaker between married couples that desire to separate or even have separated. He found Jus new bent one dny when he could not keep from following one of a couple that had just brought their troubles before the Court, and trying to help the woman, lie was successful in reuniting the two, and so was leel to make other attempts. He did so well at this work, showing so much of the tact and kindness that is absolutely essential, that often he was sent for to try and keep would-be separatists from breaking up the home. (Twenty cases were to his credit tlie : first year, hut two hundred the next, and of the six hundred married couples in all that he has "tackled" he has been successful in five hundreel of them. It is thought 'by some that other men and women of such unusual ability might take up the good work in other courts. Ili is more likely, however, that organisation would be fatal. INFANT DEATH RATE. Chili has the blackest record as rcgarels the death rate among infants. One baby out of every three dies before it is twelve-months old. Imagine, iif every time three adults out of twenty or so were to meet, how they would feel if they knew for certain that one of them must die before the year was out! Along the Mediterranean is the next most dangerous place for infants, while even before the war (as has often been mentioned) Germany also made a bad show according to statistics. Scotland I has a higher death rate than England which seems to show- that climate as well as care has still something to say .in the matter, extremes being of course •an added .-ource of danger. Australia ,as ive know is coming closer to New j Zealand as regards n low eleath rate. It would lie interesting for us in the Dominion to know whether there is much difference here as regards the North and the South.