WOMEN'S FORUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 262, 4 November 1932, Page 8

WOMEN'S FORUM.

LONDON LYCEUM. PARENT CLUB CLOSES DOWN. A remarkable development has taken place in the status of the Lyceum Club in London, which is the parent club of the chain of affiliated,clubs all over the world. According to a recent issue of a London paper it has had to close its doors, and the premises, which it had made historic, will know it 110 more. This is not the first crisis in its history, for one occurred some years ago when the - constitution . was altered. Up to that time the club had been confined to women who had some standing as

writers, artists, musicians, sculptors; novelists or journalists, and the social side was confined to entertaining noted people. It was .suggested that social position and financial influence should make a woman eligible for membership, but exception, was taken to this by a section, Who seceded and formed the Forum Club. One of the prime movers in this secession was the novelist, Elinor Mordaunt, who was in Auckland shortly afterwards when engaged in world travel. She pointed out to a Lyceum member that a great,,many of the club's distinguished members had resigned. Now the big iron-wrought doors are closed for good. It seems the crisis is financial. When the present premises were taken one of the members, Miss Susan Clegg, advanced £32,000 011 a mortgage to secure the leasehold. She had frequently declared that she never wanted repayment of the capital sum, but a few months ago 6he died without making a will, and the trustees quite naturally differed. Hence the closing of the club, which has migrated to a new home at 9, Chesterfield Gardens, and has affiliated with the Garden Club, a movement which arose out of the activities of Mrs. Marion Cran, whose name is dear to all garden lovers because of her books, and who is gardening editor 011 "The Queen." Mrs. Cran devoted herself to making- gardening a fashionable hobby amongst the aristocracy of England, and succeeded so well that the luxurious club at Chesterfield Garden was formed and holds within its circles the names of many titled and aristocratic lovers of a garden. It is with tliis-body that the old Lyceum has affiliated. MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. Perhaps of all customs that have survived, marriage customs" are the most interesting. How many people know that the original marriage ring was worn on- the third finger of the—left hand because it was believed that a small artery ran from it to the heart. The bridal bouquet and wreath are a survival of . the custom among -the Ai glo-Saxoiiti of crowning a bride and bridegroom with flowers. Thus a writer in the sixteenth century: "In some countries the bride is crowned by the matrons with a garland of prickles, arid 60 delivered unto her husband that he might know he hath tied himself to a thorny pleasure." The custom of the bridegroom presenting a gift to the bridesmaids is a survival of the days when it was (lie brideinaids' duty to lead the groom to church, while the bridegroom's men—who are to-day represented by the "best man"—accompanied the bride. Originally the bridal veil was a fine, transparent piece of cloth,.held over the couple during the ceremony. Later it was held only over the bride "to hide lier blushes." Victorian exclamations might be remembered when the first few modern brides decided to enter the church with their veils thrown back over their shoulders. Brazen was the word most likely used. Orange blossom is symbolical of a prosperous life. It was first brought from the Holy Land by pilgrims, so that it ha,s also a religious significance. The honeymoon derives its names from the honey wine which used to be the favourite drink at weddings and for thirty days after. The length of time for the honeymoon dates from the time when marriage by capture was the rule. If the. groom could keep his stolen bride hidden from her parents for four weeks he was entitled to retain lier.