WOMEN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3086, 17 May 1917, Page 2

WOMEN'S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTBRIST FEOM FAB AND NEAR.

(By Ihoqen.j

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Wedding at New Plymouth. The marriage took place in St. ' Mary's Church, New Plymouth, on Tuesday of Miss Mildred Matthews, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Matthews, of l'itzroy, to the Kev. C. Mortimer Jones, 8.A., Oxford, Vicar of Cambridge. The Rev. E. Harvie, Vicar of St. Mary's, performed the ceremony, and the bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr. H. 1). Matthews, of Hamilton, was attended by Miss Betty Ward (niece). The Rev. Mr. Howard, of Stratford, was the best man. The bridegroom, who was in khaki, is chaplain to the Sixteenth Ilegimcnt (Waikato), and is now on leave from Narrow Neck Camp. He has been appointed chaplain to the Twenty-seventh Reinforcements, and leaves for Trcnthani about the middle of' Juno. Presentation to Miss Payne, Yesterday a particularly pleasant little ceremony, and one with which past associations were greatly intermingled, took place when Miss Payne, formerly matron of the Wellington Hospital, was presented by Matron Bertha .Nurse, on behalf of the nuiscs formerly, attached to the Wellington Hospital, and now on duty in France and England, with a beautiful set of furs. Accompanying the gift were tlieir warmest wishes for the welfare of their former matron. Matron Nurse, who is at present on leave in this country, brought the furs out with her, and has lost no time in presenting Miss Pnyno with this token of regard aud appreciation. College Old Girls' Literary Club. The Literary (Sub. an active branch of the Wellington Collcro Old Girls' Association, opened its 1917 season this week with a musical evening. Songs were given by Misses N. Jennings, V. Macdonald, L. Martin, and E. Waldic, and recitations by Hisses A. Greening, N. Moucrieff, and J. Sutherland. Miss C. Dwyer played a pianoforte solo, and the Misses M. and E. Henry gave an instrumental duet. During the evening an amusing competition was played, and was won by Miss T. Poutawora. The committee for the year was dented as follows:—Misses Alba Greening, 'Violet Macdonald, Nessie Moncricff, Marjorio Willcocks, and Ella Wilson (stcretary). "Impromptu spe'eches" will_ be called for at the club's next meeting, for which a large attendance is anticipated. All old girls are cordially invited to these ovenings. The engagement is announced of Miss Gladys Smythe, daughter of MY. R. T. Smythe, Palmerston North, to Mr. Rort j Piraey, son of Mr. P. J. Pizzey, London. The Camp Commandant acknowledges gifts to the Dental Hospital from the Wellington Women's Rod Cross Committee of head-rest covers and instrument towels. A dance for soldiers of the 26th T;eand other soldiers in camp is being given in the Town Hall on Saturday evening by tho Mayor and Mayoress and committee of the Patriotic Association. Nur66 Hughes-Thomas (Hastings) bas gone on a visit to America. Mr. and Miss Bloomfiekl (Auckland) are visiting Wellington. Miss Mowbray (Auckland) is the guest of Mrs. Neville at Karaka Buy. Mr. and Mrs. "E. M. 'Tnrnbull, of Kereru, are staying at Napier on their return from a visit to Wellington.

A meeting of tho goncral committee of the Soldiers' Club in Sydney Street was held yesterday. There was a lhrge attendance of members, and Mrs. Coleridge (acting-president) occupied the chair. Accounts were passed for payment, and various matters in connection with the management of the club were dealt with.

A big carnival is shortly to be beld in Masterton, to assist in raising funds for the proposed Returned Soldiers' Club.

The Ladies' Patriotio Cake Room thanks tho following donors of cakes, subscriptions, etc.:—Mcisdames Smitton, K. Kirkcaldie, R. A. Holmes, Campbell, Isaacs, C. Richardson, Findlay, G. Johnson, E. Blundell, Firth, H. Haynian, Anderson, Kirkor, Hurst, Badhain, C. Finch, Gavin, Fulton, and the Misses Jacobsen, Sidey, Nation, Gavin, Von Dadelszen, Saunders, Richardson, DidsbuiT, Perry, Chalmers, M'Menamen, Wheelor (2), Mr. Firth.-

Women on the Farms. As we are apparently approaching a period when women must undertako a great deal of work in the open as well as indoors, it is well that the matter should bo handled in a practical and common-sense way, states the Uhristohurcli "Sun." Wo speak far too glibly of sending out female contingents of farm labourers, forgetting thaii farming is as highly specialised an industry as shipbuilding or the manufacture of boots. To suppose that the average town girl ivould, within the limits of the war, bo'anything but a nuisance in the more important forms of agriculture is to be blessed with more optimism than knowledge. In time, of course, she might learn to milk, though it would take her months and months to reach the minimum of five orsix cows an hour; and if not too morbid about the colour of her hands, she could certainly help in picking up and in planting potatoes. Without being used to horses she could not plough, and if entrusted with the sowing of wheat or oats or grass or turnips would produce results so startling in the subsequent crops as to make bror rabbit sit tip and weep. She could feed the pigs and the calves, and shed some tears over motherless lambs. With cotton wool in her ears and her blouse well soaked with eau-de-cologne sho could even sweep the floor of the shearing shed.; but she could not muster sheep or draft them or brand them, and would be a very embarrassing helper in the tailing-pen in spring. She could not drivo a reaper-and-binder, while her stooks -would somehow refuse •to stand; and what farmer would trust her to "crow"? It is no use deceiving ourselves. To send women in any large 'numbers to our farms would be to repeat again in a slightly less tragic field the blunder of. the authorities in England ivho in the early stages of the war permitted actresses and duchesses to invade hospitals and dressing stations. In fruit-farming, bee-farming, and even in stock-raising there are possiblo careers for selected and instructed women; there aro few corners on our precious farms to-day where the uninstnicted woman would not be a costly cncumbcrance.' Before any city woman at all is encouraged to believe in her agricultural mission sho should be asked to consider missions a trifle less remote. It is less romantic collecting tram fares and delivering bread and milk; but theso aro desperately practical days.

Tho fortnightly meoting of the Wellington South Nursing Division was held in the Ncwtown Library on Tuesday evening. Special .arrangements were made for a good day at tho Red Cross Shop, Woodward Street* for May 25. Bed-making was the work for tho evening, and was carried out under Mrs. Finlay's supervision.

News lias been received here that Miss Rosina Bnckman, of Wellington, sang'the role of San'tuzza in "Cavalloria Rusticana." and also tho garden scene (which includes the "Jewel Song") from "Faust," in Manchester on February 3. Tho "Musical Herald" says that Miss Biickman sang with remarkable eloquence, and shared tho honours of the evening with Sir Henry Woods, the Queen's Hall conductor.

Mrs. J. B. Gooseman (niece of the Right Hon. W. P.'Massoy), of Antofagasla, Chili, arrived in Auckland recently. Mrs. Gooseman was accompanied by her daughter, whom sbo intends leaving at an Auckland school.

Miss Dorothy Davis (Chriswhurch' is stay/ing with Mrs. "John Barton, Trentham.

Miss Nellie Stewart, the veteran actress, is playing "Sweet Nell of Old Drury" at tho Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, under tho management of Mr. H. D. M'lntosh.

Miss Sara Allgood. ivho will be pleasantly remembered as Peg in "Peg o' My Heart," has been advised that her, brother has been killed in action in France.

Judging by the extont of her correspondence (states tho "Napier Telegraph"), a, young lady not iOO miles from Hastings would seem to bo very popular anions a wido circle of friends. By last inward mail she received no fewer than 58 letters and two parcels from different parts'of tho world, but principally from France.

Why We Hide the Red Cross Flag. London is sown with hospitals, states a London correspondent of the Sydney "Morning Herald." Mansions ill Park Lane, public buildings, private houses in tho suburbs—all have been turned into homes of healing for the broken men from the front. You may know them by a nurse's head, HiUing past u window;' by an ambulance at tho door; by a notice at a street corner, asking pa6sers-by Jo remember that tho wounded are near, and to make no noise. But you will no longer know thorn by the great Red Cross flags that fluttered over them two years ago. They are all gone— since it became certain that they were special marks for Hun bombs. It may bo that, later, we shall forget much. But, for our men's sake, lot it not bo forgotten that we had to hide tho Hod Cross flat

Tho wounded themselves are everywhere. The streets are full of them; the parks dotted with their blue uniforms; they pass by in motors, carriages, char-a-bancs. Wherever they may be, one ncvor sees a sad face in their ranks. Secure in tho knowledge of having done well, even though stricken down in the doing, there has come to them the compensation of contentment. Thcro is much sadness in London to-day; many faces lined with anxiety or clouded with grief. But tho men in tho cheap suits of hospital blue carry London's sunshine in their eyes. ■ ■

Miss Una. Carter's weekly demonstration of cooking by gRs, given in tho Wellington Gas Company's rooms, ivas as usual very woll attended. The dishes made by Miss Carter included semolina pastry, been and tomato pie, apple bird's nest pudding, raisen rolls, ir«abela sponge, stewed brains, boiled fish, raspberry tart, and raisen pudding.

Wellington Red Cross Shop.. The Vjctoria League . will be in charge of and stock the Wellington Red Gross Shop to-morrow. Wlile there will be. an excellent supply of produce, home-made jams, pickles, etc., a special feature has jbeen made of tho needlework.' For the past two or three rnonihs Mrs. Von Haast, Mrs. Stott, Mrs. ■ L"over, and Mrs. Lindo Levion have had working bees at their homes, and as a result the daintiest articles will be for sale to-morrow. Lingerie of finest workmanship, charming littlo work aprons, children's linen frocks, the prettiest of work bags, and all sorts of novelties will bo. included in, this collection, which should be displayed to advantage on the table which has been specially made by Mr. E. Collie, of Newtown, for their exhibition. In addition to tho, articles enumerated above, Mrs. Von Haast is sending in tea-cloths, crochet lace, and milk-jug covers made by tho women prisoners in Wellington, who, by permission of the Government, she visits in. connection with Red . Cross work. Their work will be of material assistanco in adding to the funds for our sick and wounded soldiers. Tho prison matron has also sent ■in a. collection of dolls' garments, which would be the delight of many children's hearts. Those who wish to help the funds of . the Red Cross are asked to visit the shop tomorrow. They arc not likely to bo disappointed, and , all produce' will be marked strictlv at market "prices. A stall will he set aside for raffles and competitions, and tickets and numbers may be obtained thereat. There will be no canvassing in the room.

In a paragraph from a London correspondent relating to certain awards made to New Zealand nurses published in yesterday's Dominion, Miss Thurston, to whom was awarded tbo Royal Red Cross decoration of the first-claes, was described at matron-in-chief of the N.55.A.N.5. The correct title should have been principal matron N.Z.E.F., as Miss.H. Maclean, of Wellington, Assistant-Inspector of Hospitals, holds the position of matron-m-chief N.Z.A.N.S.

The wedding took placo very quietly yesterday afternoon in St. Mark's Church of Miss Laura Besant, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Besant, of Ellice Avenue, Wellington, to Captain Vivian Horton, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Horton, of Pirie Street. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. C. F. Askew. The bridegroom, who left New Zealand with the Fifth Reinforcements, saw service at Gallipoli and on the Somme, where he was severely wounded and invalided to New Zealand.

Miss Selwyn Robertson, of Auckland, has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the staff of St. Matthew's School for Girls, created by the resignation of Miss Lott, who has severed her connection with the school on account of her impending marriage.