SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 16 February 1918, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

American Soldier's Appreciation of N.Z. Cifts. Among tho very large number of letters which were received by tho lion, secretary of the Countess of Liverpool Fund by the last mail from France acknowledging tho receipt of tho gift parcels, was ono from an American soldier attached temporarily to tho New Zealand Division. Ito writes, on Christmas Eve, from "Somewhere in Fland-ers":—-"Oil Christmas Eve, much to my surprise, I found a holiday package on my table. Upon opening it I found it was from New Zealand. The plum pudding enclosed was made by Miss Lenore Treseden, of the Masterton School. Please thank her and Miss Jessie ICinvig for the part they had in making up tWs_ gift. Upon inquiry I found that the gift had hcen received by one of the soldiers here on headquarters, Private M'Millen. Ho, knowing that there was probably little Christmas for me, in this neighbourhood, had given me his present. I am telling you this merely to let you know how tlio Christmas spirit which accompanied your gift spread its influence over the New Zealand boy vlio was its recipient, and caused him to pass on his gift to me, an American officer temporarily on duty with the New Zealand Division. Your gifts have, I know, given very great pleasure to the men of this Division. Tho painstaking care with which the articles were selected and prepared cannot ho other than the best possiblo reminder to the New Zealand men here ot how they are in tho thoughts of those at home. For myself, as a member of another army, I add my apnreciation and thanks for the spirit that prompted the gifts. And your men here are worthy of the utmost you can do." Wellington Red Gross Shop. The opening day of the Wellington ited Cross Shop in new premises on Lambton Quay was organised by the residents of the Kapiti districts, and was a very great success. Tho rain which camo in torrents did not damp tho spirits or chill the hearts of the many earnest well-wishers for tho good cause, and early in the day the stalls, which had been plentifully stocked with good and wholesomo produce, were emptied. From ( far and rear tho country people gave their help, fully realising how important tho work for the Red Cross is. Tho money handed in was £79, and of this £78 was made by produce sold'in the shop. Now that : uur men are returning in largo numbers we should be ready to give them all possiblo help, and the committee hopes that this work in tho shop, which is entirely voluntary, will appeal to tho public, and gain its sympathy and support. Tho work from the military hospitals, which occupies a I part of tho shop, made an attractive display, and tho money taken was a Jay's record. Club for Wives and Families of Soldiers and Sailors. Tho Newtown branch of the Women's National Reserve (Mrs. David M'Laren, supported by Mesdames Lippit, Bruce, and Hemptou) entertained visitors to tho club last week. Mrs. Corliss gave an address upon Lord Roberts, and so deeply impressed was her audience that they begged for another lecture to be given, which was promised. A happy afternoon was brought to a close with the singing of the National Anthem. Miss Amy Packard, of Christchurch, and/ formerly of Pctonc, has roturncd to Wellington, after a prolonged tour of Canada. Hostesses at the Sydney Street Solders' Club for tho coming week are as follow Sunday, Mrs. Jacob Joseph; Monday, committee; Tuesday, Busy Bco Club; Wednesday, Hutt Ladies' Patriotic Guild; Thursday, Mrs. Fordham and Mrs. Bruce; Friday, Mrs. G. W. llussell; Saturday, Mrs. C. Earle. Contributions of old linen in good order will be' greatly appreciated by the hon. secretary of the Wellington Women's Red Cross Committoe, Mercer Street Depot. The Washington correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian," cabling to that paper on January 2, states that a new effort to bring American ideas and ideals to the German people is to be made in February, when Mrs. Norman Whitehouse, chairwoman of tho New York State Women's Suffrage League, will leave for Switzerland to carry on propaganda work for the American Government. She will give a course of lectures throughout Switzerland and dispense a considerable quantity of American literature of tho right sort, which it is believed will have influence on tho German people. Miss Hayes (Nelson) arrived in Wellington on Thursday, en route for Dunedin. A young woman in South Canterbury, strong and very willing, has been demonstrating this season that women are as good as men in the harvest field — or that they would be if all wero as good as sho (says tho • Timaru ''Herald"). Throughout the harvest she has shown that she can do any part of the work as well as any man, and that her employers have recognised this is evident from the fact that she is being paid Is. 9d. an hour. She is particularly good at forking sheaves. One day recently a bet was arranged between the men in the harvost field where she was working as to which could fork a drayload ot sheaves on to the stack tho quickest—the young woman referred to or a veteran forker, a man, on another dray. Working on even terms the young woman heat tho man.

"Society" and a Correspondent. A further letter has been received from "Society" in reply to a correspondent who took biin to task for his inquiry u:> to what were the necessary [juaiilications for admittance into Now Zealand society"Your correspondent does not attempt, cxccpiTln a sneering manner, to answer my query, viz. 'tho necessary qualifications for entry into Now Zealand society,' but in a most abusive and insulting manner suggests as Liu: reason lor my nun admittance I,hat 1 may ho a retired criminal or a bigamist. 1 say that lam neither. Cardinal Newman hits deiinod a gentleman in- gentlewoman "as one who nqyer gives oll'tmcc by word or deed." I certainly think ilrnt any one who called your correspondent by either term would be a Johnny Pepper. In conclusion, I -state that 1 nover had tho slightest wisher desiro to enter society here, hut merely wrote for information, and to show tho lady whose liusband had been n bill poster that I thought by birth, education, and good living that I was at least her equal, and also to show that in soino cases neither birth or education, or even good living (I mean moral and honest living) was, absolutely ncccssary for entrance into society. "As regards my using my energies to win tho war, oE course your correspondent does not know who I am, and does not know what I liavo dona to help win tho. war. As a matter of fact, I might have done as much, and more, than your correspondent. If your correspondent is an authority on New Zealand society, and is a member. I need scarcely say that would be sufficient for. mo to refrain from entering same.—l am, etc., Society." Mrs. 31. B. Tait, who with her daughter, Miss Ivy Tait, and granddaughters, has been spending a holiday at the seaside, returned to Featherston a few days ago. The ltov. J. A. M'Nickle, headmaster of To Ante College, LI .1!., and Mrs. M'Nickle, who have just returned from Christchureh, arc at present staying in Wellington prior to their return home. Mrs. -Harold Carr, of Gisborne, is a visitor to Wellington.

Appreciation of Navy League Work. . Among the gratifying letters just received by tlio organising secretary of the sub-oommittco of tlio Navy League Ladies' Auxiliary, which convoy thanks and hearty appreciation for the cases ot clothing dispatched t'roin Wellington last year, arc those from' the Liverpool Women's Service Bureau, the Admiralty House, Devonport, the Soldiers and Sailors Families' Association, Fiu'eliam, and fro'D the Iloval Navy Friendly Union of Sailors' Wives, Kensington' London, iinch secretary mentions that the cases arrived in excellent condition, and that Ilia clothing was more than accoptablo, as the necessities in the families of sailors were very great. Lady Drur.v, of the Kensington Committee, says: "Will you please convey to the workers and donors our most warm thanks for their thoughtful kindness? We know hoM grateful tho women' are to whom tl" clothes are sent, and we trv io mal;! them reaiiso that these gifts on me from our kinsfolk overseas, who hav-5 not forgotten their troubles. We havf brandies in Sydney and Melbourne, and I hope that some (lay New Zealand may he lcpresrntrd." Tile prrrefarv at Liverpool says: "We hear that three more cases (per Miss Newcomb) ar» to nrrivo from von, and we are eagerly anticipating their arrival, as the distress_ among the poorer peoplo in this city is rapidly _ growing greater owing to the greatly increased cost of living, and the demands.upon our clothing denartrrvnt grow heavier every week." From Devonport comes an account of a maternity home, where SOO babies were, born in tlio year, and every effort was being made to start tlio' little ones well in life, and the infants' clothing was sprcially acceptable. Tlio secretary at Fareham mentions the boys' clothes with great ap- . preeiation. as such were beini continuously asked for, and were not easy to obtain. Letters such as these are. a delightful reward to iW<vwho worked so willingly a), the Wellington Naval Depot last year.