SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2370, 28 January 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Nurses and the War. Speaking of nurses at the front is rather misleading. As a matter of fact it was found impracticable for many reasons to have women close to the front of the battlefield, and they are situated at a safe distance, and the wounded are conveyed in motor ambulances and trains to safer quarters. An English woman who is a nurse,writes a very interesting account of what occurred at Ostend a short time ago, and her accounts of the lielp given by uncertificated women differs very considerably with that of another correspondent who made public a grievance concerning any women but fully-trained nurses being allowed to do any nursing. Tho lady ill question wrote very appreciatively of the help given by St. John Ambulance trained women. The.v were well trained in first aid arid could bondage efficiently, and at night could take temperatures _ and pulses, administer food or medicine, change patients' positions, and were experienced enough to know when to call tlie sister or doctor if any case needed more expert attendance. They relieve the professionals and give them time to rest and sleep, so that they can keep going much longer. It is a mistake to ignore the value of the ambulance training and to insist on a full professional training for overy woman who is to be allowed to do any nursing.- Aiiy sceptical person should attend a lecture or look in some evening and see the drill and bandaging and would then realise how useful the women who take .the course of training could be. It is hardly possible that there are sufficient hospital nurses to fill all the positions necessary for the wounded—the United Kingdom cannot possibly spare them all, as operations and illnesses go on just the same in the time of war, and the professionals are indispensable 011 those occasions. .

It is well known that there are men and women who are almost perfect nurses with very little -supervision, because of natural aptitude and sympathy. For many raasons womeu fed somewhat ' indignant' at "tempery" paragraphs being Gent broadcast: because of some broken link in the chain of usefulness and efficiency. It is true, that in the South African war a number of guite unsuitable women were placed in leading .positions which should only have been.held by the best and fullyqualiiied women. ' It was said, possibly with truth, that they were relatives or connections of "the powers that were," and wanting a new sensation tried to get it in military hospitals, and of course made a terrible failure' of t!he wholo tiling. It is possible, that there may be a few instances of this kind, but probably few, as the lessons learnt in tiie South African war have been salutary and lasting.

.Week-enders From tha Front. During tho past fortnight many families havo been happily surprised by the appearanco of soldier and officer members literally week-ending from the front, says "Tile Queen" of December IS It is odd to think, as happened ia many cases, that a man can be in the trenches at 6 o'clock in tho morning and with some luck be dining' with his wife in the evening., The blessing to those at home and tho relief to t'lioso in tho lines from thess visits cannot be exaggerated. Many stories of. hard fighting are brought home, some, sad tales of losses, but no discourage-, merit and.no grumbling. .'The general note of criticism, where it occurs, is that'it is hard that so fow should bear so much. We cannot deny that it is emphatically true, and we can hope, with some confidence, that it will not bo long befora tha period of strain is over and the hundreds of thousands of tho new armies arc flowing over the plains of Belgium. v

The tennis tournament arranged by Mrs. Hiloy (Hobson Street) proved a Cory successful and pleasant occasion. Tho weather yesterday was fairly hot for cliergetic tennis, but the games wcro well-contested and exciting. Each entrant has to play thirteen games, and Mrs. Collins- court was used,'as well us Mrs. Hiley's. Miss' P. Turubull and Mrs. Tolhurst were the winners, and there ai'o still threo sets to be played for second places. Among the players were: Mrs. A. Duncan, Miss C. Baldwin, Miss B. 'Watson, Misses Miles, Mrs. M. Gillon, Mrs. J. Findlay, Mrs. Reading, Mrs. Biss, Misses Tweed, J. Hislop, Haicouft,. Pearce, Collins, and Brandon. '

Sister Edith (Fairchild)/ of the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, is nursing tho wounded iu the north of .France. Her sister, Mrs. C. Pearce, heard lately that sho was well and safe.

Mrs. Brandon and; her-family have returned to town from Pahautanui. . Miss Hiley loaves on a visit to Syduey next Friday. Mrs. Herrick loaveß for Dannevirke uext Monday. Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Russell have returned from Auckland and are staying at tho Hotel Cecil. Mr. and Mrs. C. Brice returned from England by the Corinthic. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Salmond are leaving on Saturday for a trip to Nelson and tho West Coast.

Mrs. Montgomery and Miss Anderson, of Wanganui, returned from Africa by tho Corinthic, and are staying at Balmoral, Mulgravo Street. Herr Lehmer and Mrs. and Master Lehmcr, of Nelson, are also at Balmoral.

A Christchurch paper announces the engagement of Miss Daisy Parsons, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Larsons, late of "Nau Mai," Papanui Road, Christchurch. and now of Perth, West Australia, to Mr. R. A. Home, manager of tho Bristol Piano. Company, Christchurch. The wedding will take place at Easter. \

For Face Massage, Shampooing, all Hair Treatments, and Electrolysis, Mrs. Rolleslons's is recommended. Spacious Private Rooms, Qualified Assistants, and Personal Attention. Switches and Transformations of everyshade a speciality. Hair, guaranteed to keep its colout. 256 Lambton Quay.* •

Attend your Hair. This is tbe time when hair splits and breaks oft in short lengths. There are two essential Lubripints which feed and nourish tlie Scalp, one for those with p*sy hair (2s 9d. and Is Jar), and one for those with dry hair (3s and ss. Gd. Jar). Call or write Miss Mi'lsom, and she will direct you the prooer one to use. With these instructions— Dandruff, Irritation, Falling and Groy Hair are prevented. They leave the hair* Boffc and glossy, promoting now growth rapidly. When washing the head niwaY3 use Milsom's Pure Herbal Soap (Is a cake), and Shampoo Mixture (2s. 6<f. a bottle). Through ignorance so much hair is spoilt by using coarse soaps, powders,and harmful washes. The hair is a (lulinatp plant, its culture known to few. It's a rfudy of a lifetime. Therefore, bo guided. by one who has had long ex nerience. Be fair to your hair, commence now keep a olean nourished scalp, and your hair will last a lifetime. All face preparations stocked. Best Hairwork, Switches, Puffs, etc., latest designs. Featherweight Transformations, light and cool Prices on application. Miss Mili>4 Willi* Btwofc. J tew Mm ■"'Evening Fdst," 'iolephone Bla.*

A Cli

Perhaps there is no more interesting visit one could pay than to the headquarters. of the liritish lied Cross Society in London at the present time. It is only since 190(3 that this organisation has' sprung into such prominenco in England; before thei tho work was undertaken by the National Aid Society. The lied Cross has received the sanction and approval of royalty, as li.M. the King is the patron and the Queen is president. The organisation is most methodical. Each department is under its own special head, the medical side being controlled by a retired colonel of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and tho nursing under a member Of the Princess Chris-

tian's Army Nursing Service, who are privileged to wear the South African colours. Lady Gifford, a very energetic and enthusiastic worker, superintends, and sho only allows fully trained nurses to bo sent to the front. All persons who have passed the, required examinations apply for the Red Cross, or brassard, as it is called, and there'is a special placc where it is given. From there the visitor goes to tlie place where the medical comforts ara being packed ready for the front, and this is on a gigantic scale. The Red Cross Society arranges the hospital trains for the front, and also for tho conveyance of the wounded in hospital ships. They arrange motor-cars and ambulances to take the men to the numerous hospitals arranged in different parts of the country, and in fact do everything that is possible to alleviate the terrible sufferings of war. Tlie society has also relieved the War Office of all work in connection with convalescent homes and private hospitals offered for the U6e of tho wounded. , ' . All other nations, with the exception of Britain, depend sole'v on the Red Cross in the time of war for the caro of their soldiers and sailors, but with as it is used as a supplementary supply to the Navy and Armv Medical Service, and it seems as if the whole nation cannot be too thankful for the work it is doing. Of special interest to tis at this time are the hut hospitals bemg erected at Netley, to supplement the Royal Victoria Hospital, with something like 800 beds, and which will be under the control of the Red dross. It might be well worth' considering this scheme in connection with the base hospital at Trentham, as huts would he quickly and inexpensively erected. Tho Australian branch of tlie society, although one of the most recently formed, has given so much help that they hope to call half the Notley hut hospital the "Australasian," and staff it with Australian nurses.

Perhaps it is only those who have seen the sufferings of war who can fully realise what the Red Cross means—a symbol which knows neither race nor creed, hut to alleviate the sufferings of humanity, and has no enemy but the horrors of war, and liati.'rally one s thoughts go back to Monsieur Dinants, who was tho founder of one of the greatest movements the world has over known. Never has 'he world seen such a conflict as we are. uow passing through, and our nation is faced with dangers that must necessarily demand a heavy toll. It was a privilege to he where one could see tho heaits of the people, and one aud all pay homage to the soldiers and sailors who are so bravely protecting us. They are not being offered' lip service, but all- are doing everything in their power to provide every care, and nothing is too good. Our best doctors and uurses, comfortable hospitals in England, and Scotland's finest homes are readv for those men who are keeping our flag flying, and men and women of all stations'in life ready to help, and proud of the opportunity to do something to show their gratitude. Rccine for Bottling Crecn Peas of Beans. A correspondent, asks for a recipo for bottling green peas and beans, and tho following is recommended:—Allow loz. of salt to 1 quart of water; boil for 20 minutes; placo some of this water in a. pan, And when boiling add at one time sufficient peas or beans to fill one or two preserve bottles. Allow them to boil for about five minutes, lift with a strainer and fill into tho 'battles. Then pour over the boiling salted water from tho other pan. Seal carefully in the same way as preserved fruit. Groat care must be taken j to exclude tho air or the vegetables- will not keep.

Mrs. and the Misßes Shritcliffe returned from England by tho Corinthic. Mr.-, Mrs., and Miss Wylie returned by the Corinthic, and aro staying at the Hotel Cecil. Miss Baber returns from Dunedin today.

Miss Coates, president of tho Victoria League, has received an invitation from the camp commandant and officers of the Trentham Training Camp for herself and all the members of tho League to be present at the military sports meeting to be hold on the Trentham racecourse on Saturday. A social will be held at the T.W.C.A. club-room, Herbert Street, this evening to welcome Sir. and Mrs. Webster and Miss Birch, and to say "good-bye" to Miss Dunlop.

A cablegram from Melbourne received yesterday announces the death in a private hospital there on January 10 of Mrs. Michael Walsh, of Moonee Ponds, wife of Constable Walsh, of the Victorian Police Force, and sister of Mrs. P. A. Levin, of "linakori -Road, Wellington. From information since received, it seems that her death' was unexpected. Though delicate, she was always of a bright and cheery disposition, and in her last letter, hoped to visit her relatives here early in tho present year. Her death then, after an illness of hut two days, camo as a severe shock to her relatives here. The deceased lady was tho second 'daughter of tho late John Kyle, Kylo's Wood, Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland, and prior to settling in Australia spent some years in New Zealand. She leaves a husband; threo sons, and three daughters (the youngest of whom is five years of age). The two oldest sons aro nt presentabsent from home, being on activo service in tho first detachment of tho Australian Expeditionary Forces.