SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1101, 13 April 1911, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Petone Wedding. Yesterday afternoon at the Petone Wesley Churcl), Miss Kugby Pearl Victoria Beale, second -daughter of Mr. W. Beale, of Petone, was married to Mr. James Pinlay, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Finlay. The ficv. A. J. Seamer was the officiating'clergyman. Tho bride, whoso charming dress was of white embroidery trimmed Valenciennes lacc, and who wore a veil and orange blossoms, was given away by her father. She was attended by Miss Christina Finlay, sister of tho bridegroom, who wore salmon pink with black velvet- hat, with pink trimmnigs. The best man was-Mr. E. M'Hattie. After the ceremony a reception was held in Pickard's rooms. Later in the day Mr. and .Mr?. Finlay left for Palmerston, Sirs Finlay travelling in a navy bine tailormade costume with a crenm chip hat. Miss Hopwood-Foldi. The visit of Mel. B. Spurr, who came to New Zealand some years ago, is still "green and pleasant" in the memory of tho many people whose lot it was to hear him, and it may probably bo of interest to learn that it'was owing to his advico and encouragement that Miss HopwoodFoldi, who is now visiting this city with "The Wanderers," became a monologue and .pianologue entertainer. Until she heard him and mot him, Miss Foldi had determined to be a pianist, but, after that event, there was nothing else to be thought of but becoming a monologue entertainer. There are many wonderfulmusicians—many Hamburgs, many Paderewskis—who are utterly unknown in london, because it needs such a tremendous outlay of money on recitals, and so long a period of waiting unless they have abnormal good fortune. With Mr. Spurr to advise her, Miss Foldi became a monologuist, and, as sue';, has been entirely successful.. Later, lifie went to America, and then to the Continent. Many of her accompaniments-are composed by herself, and, ag. she, has' spent some time both in France ' and Italy (her father's people being.ltalian),' Miss Foldi has an extensive repertoire that is' not .confined to English odljv . j ' - -

■Although an Australian by birth, Miss Foldi has been educated principally in England, and this is her first visit to New Zealand—a country which she has been anxious to see.

"You.havo no idea how much one hears of New Zealand at Home, nor of how much'pnoplo there know of it,"..she ,;re,markeci. "New ' Zealanders a'reW sUfih active, energetic people, and aro always doing something. Tlijdfels. why peawo .become interested in tfidtii? They 'fiiow far. more" of Now- Zealand" than they do of Australia," which. is, 'of cdurse, grateful information.c)vheii ; ..one--considers the relative sizes of the two countries.

Coming from England as she does, Miss Foldi is keenly interested in the women's franchise movement, and a cousin of hers, Mrs. Hutchenson Wright, is one of the leaders . of' the suffragists. With the Suffragettes Miss Foldi has no sympathy, and is convinced that they have thrown back tho canse a great deal. They are exceedingly clever in their devices to outwit tho law and the policemen, and, although many people may disapprove of their militant tactics, yet they cannot help feeling, stimulated. • It was rather interesting to learn that Esperanto, of wbich we seem to hear so little out here, is being greatly encouraged and cultivated in many quarters of London and the Continent. At; a • very large "at home," given for the Viennese members of the' Lyceum Club (of which Miss Foldi was an honorary member), Esperanto was greatly used between the Viennese and the other members, and, in Kensington, a famous artist and his wife hold (regularly every Sunday) Esperanto afternoons, when nothing else is spoken. Golf Players, Miss Lucy Brandon, Miss Pearce, Miss Effie Stafford, Miss Tolhurst, Mrs.-Lees, Miss Burns, and-Mrs. Watkins leave on Tuesday evening for Christchurch to play in the ladies' golf tournament. They play .on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, tli'e last. day's ,play being' for the Islington Cup. All kinds of arrangements have been made for their entertainment, among them being-a dance on Wednesday evening.

Blanche Bates and the "Widders." Blanche. Bates, who is playing the part of Roxana, the pseudo widow in Avery Hqpwood's clever comedy, "Nobody's ■\Vido«- ( " in New York, went to considerable trouble when studying the role. Says the actress: "For months 1 deliberately cultivated the society of widows. I urged all my friends to- go through their visiting lists, and wherever they found a widow therein invite her to dinner. I also as.'jed that at least one eligible man be askwl to join the party. That was necessary, of course, because when there is no eligible man around widows are just like other women. In this way I met more than half a hundred women whom 'death had robbed them of their mates, and, though they little suspected it, I learned from them secrets that I had been diligently trying to discover all my life. Up until this time I had shared the popular superstition that the fascination of widows was as inexplicable as it is certain. I discovered, among many other things, that nine-tenths of this fascination is due simply to the fact that widows want to please men. Marriage has been to them a school in which they have certainly learned at least one thing, and that is that it is good policy to always please a man at any cost. They know it pays to please a man. Spinsters dou't realise this." Dance at Groytown. A very enjoyable dance was liold in the Foresters' Hall, Greytown, on Tuesday evening last by the Kia Toa Hockey Club. The hall was well filled, and very prettily decorated with ferns and ribbons. T.he opportunity was taken to present the coiicli (Mr. It. King, of Carterton, who .is to be married shortly) with an engraved silver salad bowl. The presentation was made by the JlayOr in a neat speech, to which Mr. King responded, remarking that ho was taken greatly by surprise, and, though he was leaving tho district, he would not forget the Kia Toa Club. .Credit is duo to the officials of the club for organising such an enjoyable event. Visitors from all parts of tho Valley were present. ,