WOMEN'S CORNER

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19114, 24 September 1927, Page 2

WOMEN'S CORNER

The Lady Editor will be pleased to receive for publication in the "Women's Corner" items of social or personal news. Such items should be full? authenticated, and engagement notices must bear the signatures of both parties. Correspondence is invited on any matters affecting, or of interest to, women. Mr and Mrs H. O. Devenish Meares, who have been spending a week at Hanmer Springs, returned to Fendalton last evening. Professor Arnold Wall and .Miss Edith SVall are leaving next month for a trip to England. Mrs R.>JBurdon (Woodbury) is visiting her mother, Mrs C. S. Bowden, Papanui road. Mr and Mrs. A. K. Firth and their family (Papanui road) intend leaving early" next year for England, where they will reside for some years. Miss M. Grimes' (St. Albans) is at present spending a holiday in' Akaroa. Miss Ella Mac Gibbon and Miss Shona Dampier-Crossley are the guests of Mrs T. C. Robinson, Mount Palm, North Canterbury. Mrs C. J. Gallop, Isis street, Woolston, was successful in gaining her Associate Diploma for singing at the recent examinations of the London College of Music. Miss Theluia Maddren (Bishop street), who has been spending a holiday at Sumner, has returned home. Among the guests at Warner's. Hotel are Mrs ,W. P. Parkinson and Miss M. Parkinson (Kaituna). Mrs A. G. Washer, Miss G. Bennett (Wellington), Mr and Mrs J. Howey (Auckland), and Mr and Mrs Louis Campbell (Happy Valley) are staying at the United Service Hotel. The following aro among the guests at the Hotel Federal:—Mr and Mrs R. Buxton (Ashiburton), Mr A. Smith (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs J. Rogers , (Levels), Mr and Mrs W. Wedder'spoon (Dunedin),. and Mr James Wylie (Christchurch). The following guests have been staying at Victoria House, Geraldine:—Mr Brightting (Christchurch), Mr Blackwell (Kaiapoi), Miss Clare (Wellington), Mrs Biggs and sons (2) (Dunedin), Mr Smith ,'Mosgiel), Mr Bright and Mr Buckland (Akaroa), Mrs Montgomery' (Christchurch), Mr Power (Auckland), Mr Eowe (Dunedin), Mr Besuey (Timaru), Miss Hodges (Christchurch), and Mr Anderson (Christchurch). The choir of St. Mary's Church, Merivale, met in the vestry after practice on Thursday night, when Mr R. D. Adams, on behalf of the choir, presented Mr and Mrs Davis Hunt with a standard electric lamp as a token of the friendship which had existed for seven and a half years between them. Mr Hunt thanked the choir for their gift, their friendship and their 'loyal co-operation with him in the services of the church.

Miss L. Hall, Timaru, was the guest of honour at a delghtful afternoon on Tuesday given by Mrs TV B. Boulton, Richmond Hill. Sunnier. A competition -was won by Mrs Denton, with Mrs Undrill and Mrs Brown third, musical items being rendered by Mesdames Buxton, Beveridge, Boulton, and Miss Hall. Amongst those present .were: Mesdames Buxton, Brown, Martin, Undrill, ■ Beveridge, Whitfield, Gough, Crosby, Partridge-, Moloney, Hervey. Morgan, Gledhill, Smith, Denton, Misses Tench and L. and N. Hall.

St. Stephen's Hall,,Shirley, was the scene of much gaiety on Tuesday evening, when a variety evening, organised by Mesdames Booker and Hancock in aid of; thqir stall at the coming bazaar, was held. The hall was filled to overflowing, and dancing, games, and competitions for prizes caused much amusement. Songs were sung by Mrs McGillivray, Miss Audrey Thompson, and Mr Clark. Mrs Ernest Carlton and Miss Cooney acted as accompanists, and Messrs Charles Carlton and Albert Doell ably carried out the duties of Masters of Ceremonies.

The last of a series of evenings given by the lady members of St. Saviour's choir in aid of their stall for the spring show was given at the residence of Mr and Mrs E. J. Wilson, Baretta street, Spreydon, by Miss Berta Muir. A pleasant evening was spent in games, competitions, and dancing. Many useful gifts were received for the stall. Among those present were:—Mr and Mrs E. J. Wilson, Canon C. Mutter, the Rev. R. Newcombe, Misses E. Matheson, Rena Moore, Nellie Laurence, Mary 'Laurence, Pliillis Kerr, Millie Kerr, Mavis Fright, Dorothy Fright, Joan Gosney, Dulcie Were, Gladys McCaw, Winnie Winter, Kathleen' Wilson, Margaret Wilson, B. Muir, Messrs Walter Bloomfield, Keith Owen, Richard Grirths, Jack Nimmo, G. Goddard, Alex. Laurie, Harold Judkins, George Clarke, and Master Billy Wilson.

PARENTS' NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL UNION.

At the monthly meeting of the Parents' Educational Union, held last night at the home of Dr. and Mrs J. F. Duncan, Rossall street, Professor Arnold Wall, by au inimitable address on v "Jests,'.' added considerably to the very heavy debt, of gratitude which Christcliureh residents owe him —and which they are never likely to repay. Of his wonderful store of knowledge of English literature, Alpine flora, botany, and -the scenic beauties of New Zealand, he has often given generously to many audiences, but he lias seldom spoken more delightfully than lie did last night on a subject seldom treated educationally. Dealing with jests, Professor Wall first traced the history of jokes from the days of jesters at mediaeval courts. These were followed by court fools, who. dressed in ' motley and bearing a bauble, . were licensed to tell the truth, which acted as a useful corrective to the flattery lavished on Kings and Princes. The last jester, of whom few records exist, was Archie Armstrong, who was attached to the court of James I.

The practice of collecting amusing stories, which, in Elizabethan times, were published, is known to have persisted for centuries. Plutarch and Julius Cresar were both collectors of jests, and Francis Bacon was probably the only man. of genius who ever published a book Of this kind.

In relating,; stories in Elizabethan days; as now, there was a tendency to i attribute patesnity, as it were, to wellknown people. .Jests centred round one nian, to wnorifwere attributed, rights ly or. wrongly, • many smart sayings, then what the Professor charitably termed the "artistic instinct" often prompted raconteurs to add a little to a good story. Turning to the various kinds of jests, the speaker's classification included those on matrimony, which date back to the time of Aristotle,, on the ignorance of preachers, on swindlers, on members of the learned professions, on rustics, on "new chums,", on nationality; on church services, the gallows, and on certain villages, such as Gotham in Nottinghamshire, Pudsey in Yorkshire, and Peebles in Scotland, where all the inhabitants were supposed to be simple. , Professor Wall showed how some stories of great vitality had been in circulation in various guises, for hundreds of years, and were sometimes common to many countries.

Comparing Elizabethan jests with those of modern days, it was noticeable that certain, subjects round which many good stories now centred, were never mentioned a few centuries ago. Such were the Scotsman and his "thrift and bawbees" which is now frequently overworked,' the infant terrible, school boy "howlers," and snobberv. '

Incredible as it may sound, Professor Wall told stories to illustrate each class of jest, and his audience, in ripples of laughter for over two hours, were highly' appreciative of the treat which had been afforded them.

The vote of thanks proposed by .Dr. John Quthrie, and seconded by Dr. Douglas Anderson, was carried by acclamation.

The serving of supper by Mrs Duncan concluded a very pleasant evening. Amongst those present were:—Mrs W. F. Browne, Mrs P. J. Overton, Dr. and Mrs John Guthrie, Dr. and Mrs Douglas Anderson, Mrs E. J. Cordner, Mrs Claude Sawtell, Mrs Trevor Foster, Mrs A. E. Flower, Mrs A K. Firth, Mrs D. E Hansen, Mrs A. R. Bloxam, Miss.Strouts. Misses Heywood, 2. 1 ™ £ B. Hagarftt, Mrs Paul, Mrs Gerald Malms. Mrs J. G. Collins Mrs Percy Wynn-WiUiams, Mrs H. Wyatt Airs Richard Wallwork. Mrs Denys Hoare, Mrs Spence Clark, Miss Holderness Mrs G. W. C. Smithson. Mr and Mrs Harold Bijrgs, Mrs Alfred Smith. Mrs Milnes, Mrs R. B. Ward, and Miss Wendon.