SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1322, 28 December 1911, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Mrs. and (ho Misses Meadowcroft returned from a visit to Sydney by the. Manuka yesterday. Mrs. Edwards, who has been on a visit to England, arrived in Wellington yesterday. Miss Ursula Temsley has gone on a visit to Wangiuiui. Mrs. and Miss Blakcsley (Oriental Bay) have been spending the Christmas days with friends in IMcton. ■ Mrs. M. Moredith (Masterton) paid a brief visit to Wellington this week, returning yesterday to her home. Miss Macandrew is visiting relatives in Duucdin. Mr. and Mrs. V. R Barber, of Newtown, arrived in Wellingto.i by the Manuka yesterday from a visit to England. Mr. Joseph AViolinski, a well-known musician in Sydney, and Miss VViolinski are visiting Botorua, and are shortly giving a concert there. Mr. ami Mrs. Stead, of Christchurch, arc visiting Auckland. Mi*. Clifford (Chrisichurch) is staying in Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas "Reid (Wellington) are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Walter Strang, Pnlmcrston. North. •Mr. and Mrs. P. Nathan are the guests of Mrs. Maurice Cohen in Palmerston. , Hiss Violet Turton returned to New Z-ealand by the Arawa yesterday. Dr. and Mrs. W. Young and their children have returned to New Zealand from a visit to England. Miss Skerrett returned to Wellington yesterday from a visit to' England. Mr.«. Maurice Cohen (Palmerstcn North) is leaving very shortly on a visit lo England. Miss Koitfln is away on a visit to her people in Blenheim. •■Mr.--and Mrs. J. Austin and their daughter, who have been residents of Pefoiio lor seventeen, years past, leavo today for their new homo in New Plymouth. .Prior to their dopartiiro the Vttolio Tennis Club made a presentation to Miss Austin, who has been a member of the club for several years. The following visitors are stayine at the Empire Hotel:—Mrs. and the Misses I.l'Laren, of Masterton; Mr., Mrs., and the Misses Strang, of Masterton; Mr. and Mrs. Fowler, of Nelson; Mr. and Mrs. Jvne, Dunedin; Mr. and Mrs. Gaston Merva.le, of. Sydney; Mrs. Cooper and Miss Scarr, of Sydney; Mr. Philip Newbury,- ot Sydney.-

Acknowledgment. The official visitor (Mrs. Sohoeh) for the Foririia Mental Hospital acknowledges with many thanks (rifts for tho patients' annual Christmas Tree from tho followin!,': D.1.C.. Warehousemen's Association, Messrs. Abbott, Oram and Co., C. Smith, Veitch and Allan, Te Aro House, G. lfovlds, George ami Kersley, Kirkcaldie and Stains Turnbnll and Co., Aitkenand Wilson, Wollcrman, Bannantyno and Co., S. Myers and P. Hnyman and Co. An "At Home." A most enjoyablo tea was given early this week by Mrs. Maurice Cohen, of Palmerston. for her guest, Mrs. Philip nathan. Mrs. Cohen received her visitors in a srracc-ful gown cf champagne coloured'sill: trimmed with self-coloured Ru«sian braid, and Mrs. Nathan was in black and white striped chiffon over pale pink silk. Among those present were:' Dr. and Mrs. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. B, Davis, Mr. and Mrs.. W. Strang, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest flobon, Mrs. Macintyre, Dr. and Mrs 0 "nen and tho Misses O'Brien (2), Dr. Bott. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas lleid (Welliuglon), and many others.. Tho Menacing Hatpin. Tho police in Zurich. Switzerland, have (states a cablegram from Paris to a byduey paper of a recent date) declared war_ against hatpins. These adjuncts of leniinino headgear are not objected to if they aro of reasonable length, and do not, ns the authorities say, protrude from the hat in .such a way as to become "a pos'ifivo menace to people's safety." Most ot tho women in Zurich are obeying the olhcial edict against the long hatpin, but the more contumacious of the sex have flouted the order. These persistent violators of the new law are therefore bein°dealt, with by l*incr hnled before tho local magistrate and fined. An Enterprising Wellington Girl. A well-known .Wellington girl who left this city some little- time ago, detormin-' cd to work her way round the world as a .stenographer, has, as might bo expected, met with interesting experiences. In <i letter recently received by one of her I'ricnds in tho city, she- wri'tes a little of her adventures in Honolulu, a plow which she has now forsaken, for California. In Honolulu there are now niiio JN'fiw Zealand girls, and they gavo a farewell dinner to tho enterprising traveller'and her friend before they loft. "Wo havo certainly had a Rood tinio here," she writes, "and wo have done everything worth doing in the way of surf-riding, attending Hawaiian feasts. Japanese concerts, Chinese dinners, and functions of all kinds (very long-winded affairs they aro loo). Wo have shaken millionaires by tho hand, eaten every American dish put before us, chewed gum, eaten poi (tho Hawaiian food), and altogether had a most varied experience. Among other things, we have been presented to Queen Liliukolnni, the Hawaiian Queen, who was dethroned by tho revolutionists about twelve years ago, and who still lives at her palaco with her maids cf honour, and all the pomp and ceremony nf royalty. She i<; a most inInresting old dome of 7.1, speaks beautiful Kuglish. writes Hawaiian stories, composes Hawaiian soti2« and music, and in bohveen urges tho Hawaiian:* to bn true and.lovn! American, citizens. The history of the Hnwaiians N a most interestins one, and thev have beautiful and artistic customs, which, unfortunately, are fast dying out with tho spreading of American hustle. AVo are having winter in Honolulu just, now, but it is like our Now Zealand spring, and one never needs warm clotlirs nl all, just whito lini'h all the year round." "The Substance of Life." Tho grand opera swison lias com<i fn a clu'.-e, and within a wnek or so Madame Mollm will leave for her Victorian linine. Now that the strenuous lime is pail, she i-. tilting buck, m>l niH-e.-snrilv Ir.sl.ing, for hoi- li'inrmnimeril rnrlijds. llih lu.TUiy jiibt uoiv, but tonleiDpJatirc and

roniinis'Cent by turn, and prophetio. anon, hi the cniirso'of an interview with a re])rcscnt:itive of the "Sydney Daily Telegraph," Madiiine Melba sent a very cmmest message to nil tho girls who are thirsting for fame- as singer*. "There U so much behind it all." plio said. "I want to discourage pirls who aspire to singing funic. Tell them not to. Tell them I said, it, pass it by.' The world is not kind to anyone who dares lift head out of the nick uf mediocrity. Tell the girls of this our wonderland that Melba says, '.If you have voices, if you mu.'t sing, and tho singing in your heart will not be stilled, .sing if you must, but not for th<; public. Home is best.' Hii.sbu.ud, and child, hearth and home, and the lullaby is tlio sweetest of all melodies. Tell the girls that tho struggle for fame is a path shwu with thorns, tears, nnd tribulation; tho Wiiy is long, hard, and dreary, and even n-hcii fa mo is reached th.tl piniKicle but silhouettes one against the horizon, and tho penalty in secret is dead sea fruit. The substance of lil'n is home. I know it. Most women know it, too, deep down in their hearts, and a. career is a chimera. Sin?, sing if you must, but sing for your husbands, nnd croon love-songs for your babies. Triumphs arc inspiring, but they do not stand for true happiness. You remember what i'rnnws E. Wilku'd, tile great woman, said before she passed'away: 'All that, the world has brought me, would 1 willingly have exchanged for u pair of baby arms round my neck/ She knew, and I wa.i>t your girls to know that, before they cast aside the substance for the shadow. Jf they wish to be happy, never wish to bo famous. "But I should like to speak of one who will surely gather tho lam-el-wreath for hersolf. for she has tenacity of purpose, courage, capability, mid withal an exceptional voice. T mean liosina Buckmami. She is a brilliant exception. Svdney should do something for her—should send her to tamlnn, and help her to llnd W legitimate place in tho rank of world's artists. I predict a great future for her. "My heart goos out to tho denr people of Sydney as do my ■ thomrhts, and inv 'adieu' is only 'mi rovoir,' after all. Cherished memories I f-nkc with me.-but again I chnr?a you with thn message to your girls, 'Triumphs nro inspiring, but they do not bring true happiness."' '