SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2599, 22 October 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Marrying Broken Heroes. Recently a cable message stated that two clergymen iu England had started a "Wives for "Wounded Soldiers' League," the object of which is to provide helpmeets for those men who have been badly maimed in battle, and require the care and attention of a good wifo iu the years to come. A northern contemporary has interviewed several persons on the prospects of such a leaguo in Now Zealand, and amongst the number interviewed was a returned soldier, who expressed tlio following vicw,s: —"It's 0110 of the funniest ideas I over struck. 1 can just imagine some of thesa good folks trying to find wives for us. Makes me think of Jigypt,-.where they've done that sort of thing most- of the time since Abraham. But, seriously, somo people seem to think we've changed because we've been in the firing lino. I suppose our outlook has been broadened, as you would say, but that doesn't make our affections any more elastic. Many of us got engaged before wo left—the war brought things to a head, olid you can guess how glad wo aro to get back. I can toll you, if t'lio girl a chap has set his mind on doesn't care to stick to him after he's been 'hurt, lie isn't going to bo satisfied with any eligible female who may be brought ulong by a society organised for the purpose. We've got somo sense still, and chaps who have been badly hurt aren't going to bo in a hurry to ask girls to marry them—it wouldn't bo fair. All this honour and glory business is going to dio out, and a temporary kind of sentiment like that isn't good enough to carry a man all tho way through life. Mind I don't say that somo of the boys wouldn't think it rather fun, but it wouldn't work."

"Cinderella" and Others. _ A very successful entertainment was given in St. Mark's Schoolroom last evening, iu aid of the church funds. The first part of tho programmo consisted of a spectacular play, none other than the evergreen story of "Cinderella," ill four acts, organised by Miss Bolm and her raster, with the Rev. Mr. Ogdon as stage manager and assistant generally. Tho performers were children, tho part.of Cinderella being taken by Miss Rere Beckway; that of tho Prince by Master Keith Purdie, the two sisters of Cinderella by Misses Lottie Clift and Thelma Pilcher, and tho fairy godmother by Miss Hilda Clift. There were also a number of prettily-dressed fairies, two of whom, Miss Edna Purdie and Miss Marjorie Allingham, wore in close attendance upon the god-mother,-and incidentally some courtiers and their ladies. The staging was well carried out,'and the dresses of tlio children added hero awl there, a vivid note of colour to the general effect. Their performances also did much credit to the training t'lioy had received from Miss Holm and her sister. _ Following a brief interval came-a musical costume recital entitled "Britannia's Tea Party." It introduced several dialogues and songs, and, as its name implied, was patriotic in character. Miss Drakfc, who organised tho performance, took the part of Britannia"; Miss Jones that of Ireland ; Scotland, Miss Etever.eaux; Wales, Mrs. R. W. Alexander; France, MissMarjory Jones; America, Miss Dorothy Jones. There wero also introduced into the action representatives of New Zealand, Russia, Italy,_ and Spain, all the characters being in national costume. The recital ended with the singing as a chorus of the famous "Knitting Song," all the performers knitting hard meanwhile. The concluding portion of tho programmo was contributed to by "Tho Harmonists," Miss AVatkins, Miss Driscoll, Mr. Allwright, and Mr. Exton, who sang the "Kerry Courting Song," for which they received much applause. Mr. Holloway was tho accompanist. During tho evening sweets, cold drinks, and flowers were for sale.

Red Cross Day. It is not always that tho weather favours so good a cause as that of the Red Cross Collecting Day and tlio collectors and organisers were naturally very delighted when they saw the sun .shining in an almost cloudless sky yesterday. At a very early hour they were at work at the dilferait stations and many" of them were at their posts throughout tho day without reinlqrcenieuts, and missed but few opportunities of adding to the store m their boxes that bore tlio sign of the lied Cross and the City's coat-of-arms. It was an appeal that went home to nearly ovcry one, and as she slipped her coin into the box more than one woman 'saidj "i have a boy at the front," and sometimes it was a black-clad figure t'hat Jiacl a sadder tiling to tell. The selling of flowers, sweets, golliwogs (tiny ones as badges) and bundles, of herbs all added materially to the final result. Flowers were sent in from Belmont, Lowry Jiay, tho outlying suburbs, and practically all over the place, while iu the Town Ball, one long table was piled with fragrantly-smelling herbs. The lied Cross room in tho Town Hall, whero refreshments were provided for the collectors, was in the charge of Mrs, Moqrhouse, who was assisted by Mrs. Louis Blundell, Miss Coates, Mrs. Joseph, Miss Nathan, Mrs. Clay, and Mrs. Harris, of Wadestown, Miss Gaimaway and some other ladies. So generously were contributions sent in to the Red Cross room that tlic supply considerably overstepped tho demand, although visitors were many, and the surplus was sent to the Victoria Home. Mr. Oakes, of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, very kindly invited collectors to luncheon and dinner; Mr. Brice also invited them to luncheon and afternoon tea; and Mr. Gilmer, of the Royal Oak Hotel, and Miss Maxwell, also offered their hospitality, all of which, it is needless to say, was much appre- . ciatod by tho collectors. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool kindly placed a motor-car at the disposal of those who were collecting, from halfpast ten in tho morning to half-jjast twolve, and from half-past two to five, and several other motor-cars were also lent by different residents for the same purpose, or for taking floweis about to tho different stations for sale. Invasions of officcs and business places by the readers of the latter were very frequent. To raise a sum of £690 in one day's collection was a very satisfactory performance. At the same time several collcctors were of the opinion that they lost quite considerably by not having badges to supply to contributors of a certain amount or more, as has usually been done oil Ambulance Day, and certainly if there were people to be met with like the man who told one collector that had she provided him with a badge as a protection he would have given her £5, they have lost. Such_ft case was a study in contrasts. On tho one hand iwas the case of men facing death and all kinds of horrors without protection of any kind, much less a badge, and on the other hand was the case of a man who would not give, or said he would not give, live pounds because ho would not bo protected by a badge from further solicitation to aid the cause of wounded and shattered men. And it was Red Cross Dayl Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, of Tinakori Head,. left last evening by the. Main Trunk express on a health-recruiting visit to Rotorua, where they intend to spend the next three weeks. Tho engagement is annoimced of Miss Bertha Baker, third daughter of Mr. W, Baker, niino manager, Thames, to Mr. W. Watson, also of Thames. On "Wednesday afternoon, an "at home" was held at tho Church of Christ, Petone, under the auspices of the local branch of the Plunkett Society, and tho W.C.T.U. There, was a very large attendance, Mrs.* Rowse presiding. An instructive address was delivered by Nurse Baker. (Continued on next page.)