WOMAN'S WORLD. WAR AGAINST LUXURY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2581, 1 October 1915, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

WAR AGAINST LUXURY

MATTERS-OF INTEREST PROM FAR AND NEAR.

(BY IMOGEN!)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Women's New Fields. Tho lady ostler is tile latest sign, of the war times. In short skirts and top boots she is to be seen sometimes scrubs bing her own ponies on the cobbles in a West End mews, arid every time she passes tho scrub down tho shiny coat of tho animal she emits the rhythmic "whew, whew" sound between the teeth which has besn the broezy mannerism of the ostler .from time immemorial. Shs is one of those intensely patriotic women who is determined .to serve her cruntry by .doing;-man's, work. Her own ostler is serving with tho Army Service Corps; aiid slio his refused several offers of assistance from eligible stablemen, preferring to scrub .'lter own animals till the end of . the war. i

St. John Am&ulance Work for the Hospital Ship. The ladies of the Executive Committee of the St. John Ambulance Association, who are seeing-to the equipment of beds on the No. 2 Hospital Ship, are very busy in Belcher's .Building, corner of Courtenay Place and Taranaki Street. Many splendid offers of help have been made, particularly, from the ladies of Maranui, Hawera, and Wereroa. Any of the articles..mentioned-on the list issued by His Excellency the Governor, other than chairs, hot-water bottles and covers nightingales, and nightshirts, will be gladly received; Mesdames Moorhouse, Barltrop, Rolleston, Barclay, and- the lion, secretary, as well as many helpers, are in almost- constant attendance until 6o'clock .each:da,Y' except'.. Saturday, when, tho depot will, .'close, at midday. Contributions in money should bo made to Mr. J. B. Finlay, -84 Willis Street, or to Mr. C." P. 'Bowles,' Lsmbton secretary and oliairman respectivelv of the St. John' Ambulance Association. Much cutting-out, sewing, and distribution of work to ladies who wish to' sew at thqir. homes has taken place. Articles now in process of making are: Sheets, drnw-slieets, counterpanes, waistcoats, under-garments (flannel), towels, ana bandages. An unlimited number of the last-mentioned are required.

Paoking and Christmas shopping for the soldiers is' at present occupying the attention of the workers at the Town Hall. Signs of-.the'.leather waistcoats are gradually disappearing irom the Council Chamber, although the oiling and the packing are going on in other parts of the hall. Luke would be very glad to receive more towels, ad the.v wear out more quickly' than any .other part of the equipment.

Tho Victoria League , girls would be glad if all who sold, tickets' for their concert would either leave the money at the Bristol' Company's rooms or with Mrs, Chatfield, at tho. Pioneer Clubrooms, as tho buying of the Christmas presents for the soldiers at the front has to ho done by Tuesday at tho latest.

A marriage •of some interest to playgoers in New Zealand took place in London on July 1% when Miss Edna Arnold, daughter of the late Charles Arnold, was married to Mr. Martin Lewis, who visited this country with the Julius Knight dramatio company in' "Milestones," "Bella Donna," and "Man and Superman." Mrs. C. Buddie is visiting Auck'ahd. The annual inspection of- the Wellington South Nursing Division was held on Tuesday evening, ,-wlicn Sir. H. Seed, assistant commissioner, was tho inspecing officer. Thore was a'fairly good attendance of' members present, who performed the bandage work in a satisfactory mannei;.

Mr. and Mrs. John Taylor, of Victoria Road,-Devonport; -celebrated on Wednesday their golden wedding, they having been married by tho Rev. E. N. Bree at St. Matthew's Clmrch, Auckland, on September- 28, • 1865. Mr. Taylor was bom in Now South Wales, and came to Now Zealand in 1803. He was in the employ of the Auckland . Harbour Board for tliirtjvfivq years. Mrs. Taylor was tho eldest daughter of William James and Caroline' Wright, and she was born' iii .Auckland in 1847. There are three sons' and six daughters living, and seventeen grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. George Wright and Miss 'Etta Wright, of' Auckland, have been touring Great _ Britain since Juno, and aTe now staying at Tunbridge Wells, writes a London correspondent. They return to New Zealand by the Remuera on October 16. Miss Jean Wright will remain at Guy's Hospital to continue her course of study in massage, medical electricity, and anatomy. '

An "At Home" for Miss Spinney. Yesterday afternoon • an '-'At- Home" was given by Lady Stout at her residence on The Terrace for Miss Dorothea Spinney, who for the past two or three weeks has been giving recitals of Greek plays, which have proved quite a revelation to Wellington audiences. The Folding doors between the drawing-room and dining-room were thrown back, and afternoon tea was served in the latter room, the table having been arranged ■with scarlet poppies and blue hyacinths. During the afternoon the guests had the pleasure of listening to tho singing of Miss; Madge Wilson, who sang several eougs very charmingly Miss Salmond acting as her accompanist. Lady Stout woro a gown of fancy purple" chiffon velvet, the bodice draped with lace..Her niece, Miss Logan, was, in charge of the tea, arrangements, and was assisted by. some girl friends. Miss Logan was in tussore silk, with an emerald green Belt and emeriild collar. Miss Spinney woro. a dark Wedgwood blue gown and black and white hat. Among those who wero present were: Mrs. W. F. Massey, ivho was -wearing a gown of shot grey and blue silk, and hat trimmed with roses. With her came Mrs. Gow, from Cambridge, who is at present her guest, and who was also in blue. Other guests were: Sirs. C. J. Johnston, Lady Ward, Mrs. A. L. Herdman, Miss Fraser, Mrs. Hosking, Mrs. Coleridge, Mrs. Salmond, Mrs. Ballance, Mrs. Von ETaast, Mrs. Gerald Fitzgerald, Mrs. Levin, Miss Holmes, Mrs. Firt'n, Mrs. T. Ward, Mrs. Ponsonby, Mrs. Rankine Brown, Mrs. Christie, Miss M'Gregor, Mrs. Watson, Miss Field, Miss Salmond, Mrs. Kane, Mrs. A.-It. Atkinson'.

Gift Tea at the Levin Hotns. • The-gift tea which was held at the Levin Home yesterday afternoon for the benefit of the establishment was surprisingly well attended in these days when so very few women find it in their hearts to tear themselves away, from working for the soldiers, hut probably the lovely weather that was experienced made too alluringa callj while the cause Itself was one which women are anxious to help in some way or another. Miss Greenwood, the president, who has been associated with the' home since its inception, was unable to be present, and the visitors were received by the members of the committee, which included tho Mayoress (Mrs. Luke), and.also by the matron, Miss Jolly. The children, twenty-eight in number,_ looked very healthy and happy, their appearance r-peaking well for the care which is exercised over theni by the matron and her assistants, -Mrs. Priestly and Miss Hudson. Early in the afternoon they sang some-part ..songs as their share in the entertainment of the visitors. Afternoon tea was served in the dining-room and in the ..committee-room, the arrange- • ments. being in charge of Misses Young, Barry, and Archibald, assisted by Misses Paterson, M. Morrah, Dawson, Hume, Spraggon, Morpeth, and Mrs. Archibald. Mrs. West, "hssisted by Mrs. 1 Holdsworth, Miss West, and Miss R-apley, had a flower stall. 'A musical programme, arranged by Miss M'lntvre, was contributed to by the Misses Shepherd, Walter, Martin, Moeller, and Castle. The afternoon resulted in-gifts of groceries to tho extent of 6001b. in weight, and material amounting to 70 yards, being received, while subscriptions added .to the sale of flowers amounted to the sum, 'of £32 10s." The committee.of the home is formed by: Miss Greenwood .(presi-. Vleiit), Mesdames Luke ; (vice-president), /West, Hoby," -West-Ehowles;- Hobday, Flux, Misses Morrah; "Young, 'Archibald .(secretary), and "Barry.Among k the gifts received-were some from Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool; .;

• Yesterday XV'Garland, of Oriental' Bay; afternoon .tea in honour of. her daughter Eunice,,-who is to be married to Lieutenant' Cyril Brown next week. The rooms'', were prettily decorated for the occasion,with spring flowers. Mrs. Garland received her-guests in crepe de chine and black lace, with touches of royal blue, -while Miss Eunice woro saxe-bluo satin with collar and cuffs of white crepe de chine. An interesting competition was entered into, and the, winner was Miss Isabel Sievwright, tho second prize going to Miss Evelyn' Myers.

Mrs. Mabel Coates, of Auckland, whose husband is with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, is staying with her husband's relatives at Ripon, and hopes shortly to take up nursing duties under the War Office, states a London correspondent.-; Until, she was married a few months ago, Mrs. Coates held a posi-_ tion as senior sister; at the .Whangarei Hospital, North Auckland. ■

GRAVES OF BRITISH DEAD TENDED BY BELGIAN PEASANTS. Br Telecrapli—Press Association—Copyright Paris,' September 28. Belgian peasants 'arc attending to many graves of British dead with great care. In a letter a lady at Mons says: "Everywhere in the fields the graves, wrnio containing 1 twenty soldiers, are covcred with beautiful flowers, which are often renewed every Sunday. They are visited by hundreds of people, and bear the inscription . 'Here lie brave British soldiers, who. died in defence of our country.' "

■ Tlie loaders of the British social world have declared war on luxury. Realising tho importance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's words"ln our pr&sent circumstances extravagance is a crime and economy—parsimony even—becomes the biggest of national virtues," they are banding themselves together into an anti-luxury league, with the title of the Woman's War Economy League. Tlie league's objects aro as follow: — (1) To reduce in every possible way expenditure on imported goods and strictly to; limit the purchase of everything that comes under the category of luxuries. (2) To buy as few luxurious articles of clothing as possible. To resist all efforts to introduce new fashions. (3) To avoid as far as possible the use of automobiles,' except for necessary or charitable purposes. (4) To give up all unnecessary entertaining, both at liome and inrestaurants, and to restrict the consumption of meals at home to the lowest possible limits. (5) In -no caso to employ men servants unless ineligible for public services. (6) To use influence to -inculcate cconomy, among friends and dependents. . ■These are the pledges taken' by the following among scores of well-known persons-.—Duchess of Beaufort, Duchess of Sutherland, Marchioness of Ripon, Marchioness of Tullibardine, Countess of Yarborough, Countess _ of Pembroke, Countess of Mar and Kellie, Viscountess Ridley, Cornelia Lady Wimborne, Lady de Ramsay, Lady Islington, Honourable Mrs. George Keppel, and Honourable Mrs. Cyril Ward. They wear a special anti-luxury, badge.

Mrs. Ballance (Wanganui) is visiting Wellington, and early nest week goes, to stay for a while with, Lady Stout. Mrs. Duncan M'Gregor (Masterton) is the guest of the Rev. J. Paterson and Miss Paterson.

A London correspondent, writing on August 12, states that the High Commissioner and Mrs. Mackenzie spent last week-end'at Weymouth, where there aro a hundred New Zealanders at the Australian and - -New Zealand. Base Depot. The original idea was that the men sent down there should be 'freed from convalescent homes and ready to go into training before being sent back to the Dardanelles, but Mr. Mackenzie, who talked to all .'the men, finds a nuni-. ber there who are too seriously disabled to return to the' Dardanelles. He was greatly'distressed to find no fewer than ten cases of semi-blindness amongst tho hundred. The men, however, were in wonderful spirits, and express 'themselves as more than satisfied with their treatment/ A kindly act on the . part of Mr. Mackenzie on his Teturn from the base was the dispatch of a private letter to tho next-of-kin of,.each of the men he met, describing how he had found them in health and spirits.