AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1928, Page 12

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Senora Regina Pacina de Alvear, wife of the President of the Argentine Republic, has been instrumental in the foundation of a hostel intended to give shelter to actors and actresses, who, owing to ill-health or old age, are unable to earn their living. The new hostel will also be open to the members of foreign theatrical companies visiting Argentina, who will, however, pay for their boar<T and lodging, thus contributing to> the upkeep of the establishment.

It is amusing to watch the way in which the Duchess of York's charming little housewifery ideas are copied in the West End. In every room at her home in Piccadilly there is at least one cosy, easy chair, upholstered in bright cretonne in which there is the familiar touch of blue (states a writer in an overseas exchange). Instead of being covered in the old-fashioned way, however, the part which the upholsterers know as the "skirt" of the chair is pleated in double box-pleat fashion. I have been into quite a dozen drawing rooms lately where the chairs have been newly done up, and where this same box-pleat fashion has been adopted.

The Society of Women Writers had an outsize in lunches when it said a long farewell to Miss Rutli Bedford, who has gone to England to join Miss Dorothea Mackellar and see what the publishers think of a new book of verse, states "The Home." Mrs. William Moore, just off for a health trip to New Zealand, was also given a posy of roses and wealth of good wishes. A number of

visitors were present, including Miss Dora Payter, a journalist from New Zealand, and Mrs. Elliott, another presswonian from the Western Austral iian goldfields. Dr. Peter Roest gave the radiance of his smile and the benefit of his wisdom from Holland, and Miss Elma Kelly, a science graduate from Melbourne, talked of politics and what not. Mrs. T. R. Bavin, wife of the Premier, flushed with the first success of her book of child verses, afed Mrs. Ethel Turner Curlewis—forgetting how many of her books line her shelves—talked of literary and other matters. Miss Mabel Webb, herself off to England in September, was present by virtue of the fact that she illustrated Miss Bedford's first book of children' 3 verse, "Rosvcheeks and Goldilocks."

The many friends in New Zealand of Mrs. Frank Harris, only daughter of Mrs. Deans, Riccarton House, will be interested to hear that she is to be married in April to the Rev. Burgess, vicar of Basford, England, where Mrs. Harris has resided in recent years.

The Counter Haig sent a special message, written a few hours after her husband's death, to be read at the enrolment ceremony of Lady Haig's Own Troop of Girl Guides at- Richmond. The message, which was read to the girls, ran: "Girls, —I was very anxious that your enrolment should not be postponed, and I know how much you, with me, will feel the loss of my husband. His last act was to preside at the enrolment of Scouts and Cubs, his own troop— your brothers. He did not complain of being ill, but when he was making a speech I was not happy about him. Girls! my husband had a great idea of women's work for the Empire, and what quite young girls can do. He felt very strongly that a young girl's first duty should be 'playing the game' and helping mother at home, and by so doing gaining the knowledge that will make her a good wife. In your cases, oh! how one realises what your fathers and mothers have been through. You know better than I, how much. Help them and let that solemn oath of yours, 'lend a hand,' be first carried out at home. There is much around you outside to be done, and if you trust God He yill show you the way and help you."

The telephone girls of Hull (England), have started a dance club known as the Wrong Number Club. They have given a general invitation to subscribers, and have adopted as their motto, "Dance with the girls who cut you off." A special invitation was sent on the opening night to the subscriber holding the record for the number of complaints he has made about the service. He sent a graceful letter of acceptance, and had a happy evening.