WOMEN'S FORUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 155, 5 July 1933, Page 10

WOMEN'S FORUM.

RAINBOW COIFFURES

' Short, fingerless gloves, like mittens, are correct summer wear. They bring a "general accessories" sort of note, then they match the belt of a silk frock, in red glace or green kid, for example. White pique is more popular than ever, even to the extent of a coat-frock, with patch pockets. The new detachable nails are shields made of silver, fitted to the fingers of the individual customer and enamelled any colour, or plated gold. Hair to match tho frock is being made easy by the hairdressers, who are providing dyes that can easily be washed off. Mauve, blue and pink hair is worn.

WOMEN AND WAR. Miss Ellen Wilkinson, addressing COO Labour women at their conference at West Hartlepool recently, described a resolution on disarmament as too tame, and said they should be prepared to follow the lead of the Oxford undergraduates and say they would not fight again. "Without the- complete destruction of all arms, and the abolition of the means to make arms, there will be war," she said. "We have got to sweep away all this camouflage of conferences and speeches and resolutions, and say simply and plainly, 'No arms, and no woman will lift a finger to help in any war.'" Mrs. Barbara Ayrton Gould, chairman of the conference, declared that the workers of Britain would suffer no Nazi tyranny. They were tired of oppression and would not lie down under man-made misery. The conference passed emergency resolutions urging tho Government to use its influence for strengthening the Draft Disarmament Convention, especially in the direction indicated by President Roosevelt, and protesting against Japan's imperialist aggression in the Far East.

LONDON FASHIONS. Black linen afternoon frocks have made their appearance in England during tho summer, and have proved their smartness and suitability for town functions. One was a very attractive model which had large bell-like sleeves, a white collar, black and white belt, and a big hunch of black and white flowers at the front decolletage. The aftcrnoon-into-evening gown, with detachable sleeves, is also popular, especially if one wants to make a lightning "change." The pompom has reappeared, sometimes in very unexpected places, and may be seen on hats, as coat fastenings and as an amusing finish to a sash on afternoon and evening gowns. The latest version is the pompom sleeve, which is used on tho newest lace blouses. It is made from the lace itself a-nd is fixed to tho sleeve exactly at the elbow. Flowers arc a. feature of the bin- hats for all formal occasions this summer. They must be large, and in some cases a single bloom is suflicicnt trimming for a wide-brimmed hat. Some creations aro "uplifted*' at the back with flowers, and a favourite idea is to have two huge blooms or an important spray of flowers beneath the brim on the hat.

A FAMOUS FAMILY. "A family that numbered amongst its members, four popes, seven cardinals, two queens of France, and an almost endless trickle of grand dukes—such was the distinguished Medici family, which attained to sovereign power in tho fifteenth century in Florence," said Dr. G. M. L. Lester, at the Canterbury Women's Club recently, when describing the domestic background of that very important family group. If he were "asked who had had the greatest influence on European life in recent centuries, Dr. Lester said, he would answer that, after the giants of history such as Napoleon and Alexander the Great, the greatest lasting influence on civilisation had been exerted by three men—Jacobus Fugger, a great international banker, Meyer Rothschild, and Cosimo Medici, a remarkable Florentine, who built up one of the greatest business houses that the world has ever known, and was so trustworthy in character that ho was called "Pater Patriae." When Cosimo was about CO years of age, an event occurred that, though not very important in itself, was really responsible for the intellectual re-birth of Europe. This was tho sacking of Constantinople, which drove a largo band of Greek scholars into Western Europe. These men brought with them priceless literary treasures — books and manuscripts of medieval days, and it was they and their literature that were largely responsible for the Renaissance. Casimo threw himself heart and soul into the spirit of tho Renaissance and employed his wealth in encouraging art and literature. He was recognised as the uncrowned King of Florence, and although he was influenced by the works of Plato, he remained a devoted son of the Church. Amongst his gifts to Florence was one of 400 books to the Medici library, a splendid gift at a time when printing was unknown and all books wero written by hand. Ho left no will, trusting to his family to divide his immenso fortune honourably. His wife Dr. Lester described as a fussy, nagging, careful, striving, parsimonious woman. Cosimo's son, who succeeded him in business, was feeble in health and was surnamed "Gouty." But his wife Lucrezia, was a woman of outstanding personality and great ability, who gained much by association with her father-in-law, to whom she gave the companionship of a man and the sympathy of a woman. Her son, Lorenzo, was a worthy descendant of his famous grandfather. He was just, magnanimous, a generous patron of art and literature, himself a man of wide culture and a lyric poet of distinction. In every detail of his life, spiritually, intellectually and physically, ho was influenced by his mother, Lucrezia. Even after his marriage to Clarice, a member of the Orsini family, who was a devoted and loving wife, and a good mother, he still turned in all his difficulties to his mother, -who, ho said, was always a wise counsellor who eased many of his burdens. Of Lorenzo's sons, the eldest, Pietro, succeeded his father, the second was murdered, and another afterwards became Pope Leo X. Dr. Lester added interest to his address by reading many extracts from letters written by different members of the Medici family, which showed, amongst other sidelights, the great tact, wit, and cleverness of Lucrezia, and the joyousness and brightness of Lorenzo.