LOVE-LETTERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 39, 9 November 1917, Page 2

LOVE-LETTERS

THE MISTAKE OF WRITING TOO MANY. The war has brought a revival in loveletter writing, writes Miss Peggy Scott in tho "Daily Mail." Thrco kinds of people arc affected:— Lovers. War brides and bridegrooms. Pre-war married people. Tho lovers are tho first-to feel the reaction; Of course, they have not the experience of the married people nor tho safe position of tho war bride> and bridegroom. Experience or a wedding ring goes a long way to making lovo letters a success. For this reason—tho one will keep vou from making mislakts and the other will keep yuu from running away from them. If a mistake is made, even though it be but a clumsy sentence, it is a fino thine to havo to make' tho best of it. It prevents the receiver of the love letter from i>'eing too critical. The greatest joy of this love-letter revival has como to tho pre-war married poople. They had come to feel that their lovo had been put away more or less for anniversaries. Separation has brought it out, and it has coma out b.v degrees. These war love-letters did not begin on a top note and gradually como down. ' They have swelled into something very strong and lasting. Fear of a fait has gone from them. Eear of misunderstanding has also gone. Each is writing to one who knows the writer through and through. If the letter does not convey all that is meaiit, tho one who receives it can. 6upply the deficiency. Misunderstandings in consequence seldom arise. Moreover, there is more to say. And this is the root of tho lovers' love-letter troubles:—

They writo too many. How can a Eirl iu England write a love letter every day 'i How can the lover in Egypt write five a week as his 6hare? A new vocabulary, would havo to bo invented'to supply material. The married people have somethine to draw upon besides imagination. They have facts to write about, like gas bills and the children's education. Purely love-letters como only now and again when the wife is missing his 6trong arm or he has the home-hunger upon him. The mistake is that the lovers expect a love-letter every time; or, rathor, the woman does. It cannot be done. The love in the .letter, depends upon feeling, and feeling fluctuates. It only comes to the surface at intervals, although it is always there. To force it to the surface is to strip it of its full beauty, which consists in spontaneity. The daily love-letter may arrive, but it is a disappointment—after the first three months. At times it is worse; it awakens fear and doubt. The woman begins to wonder if her lover is changing towards hor. She misses the burning words of three months ago.

Common sense is required of these war lovers—an abnormal quality in lovers, but for an abnormal time. They must remember that thero is nothing on which to feed the love vocabulary in ii prolonged separation. It was made in England when the landscape was changing every day. When it has settled into sameness now words do not arise for the glories that are remembered. Even the sweep of her eyelashes does not affect a man who has not seen them for twelve mouths.

The remedy for love-letter reaction consists in fewer letters. A wise woman would draw uj) a compact: "Every now and then we will writo love-letters, but let us keep them for special occasions. AVo can write others in between." Then she could write love when she felt it, not simulate it till it bored her.

The charm of love is its unexpectedness. Like sparkling water in the dreary desert should come a fresh thought of lovo from a woman's heart. Over-work-ed, like everything else, even love grows colourless.

I * " ' Merger street red cross depot MEETINGS OF EXECUTIVE AND GENERAL COMMITTEE. •A meeting of the executive of the Wellington Women's Bed Cross Executive was held at the (Upot yesterday morning. In the absence of the president (Mrs. J. P. Luke), the chair was taken by Mrs, Moorhouae. There were also present: Mesdames Blundeli, Rose, Wilford, Rarltrop,. and the seoretary (Mis<i Sybil Nathan). Apologies were received from Mesdames Myers and Nathan. Mrs. Blundeli moved that, a letter be

sent to Mrs. Luke, eipressing the sym- ■ pathy the 1 committee felt for her in nor illness, jlnd the hope that Mrs. Luke , would soon bo restored to health. Mrs i Rose ■ seconded the motion, which was ' carried. Mrs. Barltrop proposed, and Mrs' Blundell seconded, that Miss Davidson be elected a member of the committee. J. his was carried. Mrs. Blundell proposed that after December 7 the Mercer Street Depot l?e-----exempt from a day at the Wellington Bed Cross, Shop, as workers at the" depot - are all included in the various street b days taken at the shop, or else are mera- - bers of various societies. On behalf of t Mrs. Nathan, Mrs. Wilford seconded tins i which was carried. ) Yet another resolution brought for. - ward was one by Mrs. Nathan, in whioh 3. she proposed that the Red Cross Deput 1 be closed from December 15 to February 2, 1918. This was carried. 3 A meeting of the General Committee

of the Red Cross Depot (Mercer Street) was also held. Mrs. Mnssey occupied the chair, in the absence of Mrs. Luke, and there wore also present; Mesdames M'Konrie, Pearce, Salmond, EUig.tt, Wilford, Kirker, Rose, Morrison, ' Seaton, Blundell, Moorhouso, Barltrop, Joseph, Firth, Miss Coates, and the secretary, Miss No than. Apologies wore received from Mesdames Myors, Nathan, Moors, Tripp, and Townsond. The treasurer reported that the funds were very low. Mrs.\ Pearce proposed that ft direct appeal be made to the public as early as possible in 1918 for funds for the purchase of material to he made up by the workers of the Mercer Street Depot. The motion was seconded by Miss Coates, and carried.

The secretary reported that an appeal for garments and certain foodstuffs was received from Egypt from the offloar-in-charge, and seventy-one cases, containing pyjamas, day shirts, hospital shirts, bedjackets, dysentery pads, sheets, drawsheets, pillow cases, and jug covers, were sent from the depot, also 100 cases of preserved, meat oxtract, 36 cases of tinned fruits, 1001b. of cocoa, 1501b. of biscuits (sent by the mon's executive). It was reported that the usual quantity of garments had been sent to the New Zealand War Gifts Depot at the Southampton Docks for distribution where needed.

Mrs. Blundell proposed that a letter be sent to Mrs. Luke expressing the sympathy that the oommittee felt for her in her illness, and the hope that she might soon be restored to health. Mrs. Rose seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mrs. Blundell also proposed that after December 1 the Mercer Street Depot bo exempt from the day at the Wellington Red Cross Shop, owing to the reasons enumerated at the meeting of the executive. This was seconded and carried. It was further proposed that the Bed Cross Depot (Mercer Street) be closed from December 15 to February 2, 1918. This, also, was carried.

The Red Cross workers are arranging for a stand in the streets on Sailors' Day, November 16. A special meeting of all Eed Cross workers is called for Monday afternoon at half-past iour, to be held at the Mercer Street Depot, to make arrangements in regard to the above.

To-uay a sale of surprise envelopes, balloons, and Bed Cross thimbles »il] take place in' the streets of Wellington. For .some time past great preparation* havo been made for ttfis event, tho proceeds of whioh are to go to tho Terruco day at the Wellington Bed Cross Shop. Mrs. .T. Findlay, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, and Mrs. Metz are the organisers, and Urn firm of Messrs. Bethune and Co. is lending a room in which the prizes may be obtained on the presentation of the surprise envelopes which have been purchased. Tbo committee is providing about three thousand prizes, some of which have been on view in the windows of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and from the display of which it may be seen that purchasers will obtain good value' for their money. Each thimblo will be marked with a red cross, which, in the days of peace to come, should bo an interesting memonto of the magnificent part which the Red Cross haß played in the Great War.

The •montlily/meeting of the Victoria League was held at. Miss Coates's, Hobson Street. Thero were present:—Miss Coales (in the chair), Mesdames Blrmdoll, Corliss, Reid, Larnach, Rapklne-Brown, and J. D. Gray. A resolution was passed expressing sympathy with Mrs. A. Martin in the loss of her husband, tho late Dr. Martin. Dr. Martin, besides being a life-member 01/ the Victoria League, was for many years a vice-presi-dent and member of the council of tho Wellington branch. By his doath tho league has lost one of its warmest friends and supporters. Tho report of the Victoria League effort at the Red Cross Shop on Friday last was presented, showing a satisfactory total of over ,£7O. It was decided to .discontinue the league's work .in this particular direction. A monthly report was presented by the treasurer, Mr. Rankine-Brown. It was further decided that the regular meeting, of the executive should not be held again until the first Tuesday in February, 1918. Mrs. J. D. Gray was appointed hon. secretary of the league, in place of Mrs. Chatfield, who has been forced, owing to pressure of private business, to resign the position which she has filled so capably for the past eight years. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. (By arrangement with Mrs. Rolleston, Hair Physician and Face Specialist, Qualified London and Paris). ' N.M."—I cannot recommend rnything that will give more immediate and beneficial results to the hair than a course of massage. It gives health, tone, and increases the circulation of blood in the scalp, thereby nourishing the hair follicles. If you are unable to come to Wellington for a course of treatment, let me post you the preparation we use, with full instructions, sufficient for three months' treatment, price 16s. 6d.; posted 17s. Courses of treatment (5), 21s. Private, rooms for Hair Treatments, Face Massage, Electrolysis, Hairdressing, Shampooing, and Manicuring. A large shipment of hair just to hand, and every description of hairwork executed. Transformations and Switches a speciality. Mrs. Rolleston, 256 Lambton Quay.—, Advt.

Just this:—We .have opened a full range of Boys' 'Varsity Suits, in poplin tropical suitings, for boys of 2 years to 8 years, at 10s. 6d. to !3s. Colours, grey and tussore. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt.