WOMAN’S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 134, 2 March 1922, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(Bl

Imoqus.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

The wedding took place yesterday afternoon in Mrs. Leslie’s private sittingroom at Kenilworth of Sister Rhoda Mcßae, daughter of the late Mr. Roderick Mcßae and Mrs. B. Mcßae, of .Nelson, to Dr. D. F. Myers, radiologist at Trentham Hospital. Only relatives and a few intimate friends were present, and the oeremony was performed by Padre Harvey, of Trentham. The bride wore a frock of old rose georgette, trimmed with crystal fringe and embroideries, over oharmeuse, and a black picture hat, and carried a posy of yellow roses and maidenhair fern veiled with tulle. Her ornaments were a platinum and. diamond brooch and a string of pearls, the gifts of the bridegroom. In attendance upon her as bridesmaid was her sister, who is also a nurse, and who wore a navy blue frock and black hat. Among those who were present were the bridegroom’s two sisters from Christchurch, Miss Myers wearing a henna silk stockinette frock, with hat to match, and her sister a grey silk frock and pretty hat en suite. Following the ceremony the guests were entertained at a wedding breakfast in the diningroom, which was decorated with white and golden coloured flowers, a floral bell to which golden streamers were attached, and under which .the bride and bridegroom sat, being particularly effective. The table was also arranged with white and golden coloured flowers. Later Dr. and Mrs. Myers motored to Waikanae, the latter wearing a brown coat frock and hat with a flame coloured crown shading into tones of green. Mr. and Mrs. Dunca.ii Bauchop are visiting Auckland.

Miss Thelma Raphael (Christchurch) is visiting-Wellington. Mrs. A. Tolhurst will leave to-ihor-row to spend a holiday in Hobart.

Mrs. van Asch, who died at Sumner on Monday, was the relict of the late Mr. Gerrit van Asch, the founder ci the New Zealand School for the Deal at Sumner. Hie deceased lady was a native of the North of England, and arrived in the Dominion m the early ’eighties, when her husband was appointed by the Vogel Government w found an institution for deaf mutes. From its inception Mrs. van Asch was closely allied with the progress and success of the school. She mterested herself in the individual inmates, smoothed their pathway and shared their joys. She took a keen interest also in the welfare of the ex-pupils, by whom she will always be most affectionately remembered. She is survived bv five sons and four daughters— Miss van Asch, Mrs. J. E. Stevens, Mrs T. E. Menlove, all of. bumner, Mrs.’ Warren Fisher, of Christchurch; and Mr. W. van Asch and Mr. Arthur van Asch, of Hawke, s Bay ; Mr. Arnold van Asch, Blenheim; Mr. H. C D van Asch, Rangiora; and Mr. Gerrit van Asch, of Diamond Harbour.

On Saturday afternoon next, in Mr H. P. Rawson’s grounds at beatoun, a garden party has been arranged by the local association m an endeavour to raise funds for improvements to the district, chief of which arc facilities for a model playground for children. His Worship the Mayor has consented to'officiate at the opening and many workers are busily engaged in making final preparations. Afternoon tea and sideshows have been arranged. Holders of invitations to the ball which is being given for the officers of H M.S. Chatham by the girls branch of the Navy League will find members of the committee in attendance at the rooms of the league, Vickers House, Woodward Street, on the afternoons of to-day, to-morrow, and Monday after 1 o’clock. Miss Bates, daughter of the Government Meteorologist, yesterday returned from a visit to Sydney by the Ulimaroa. A successful social and dance was held on board the Ulimaroa on Tuesday night. Dr. A. M. Sharp officiated as M.C., and the music was supplied by a passenger. The engagement is announced of Miss Naomi Mantell, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mantell, of Sydney Street, Wellington, to Mr. A. C. W. Harding, only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Harding, of Parnell, Auckland. Miss Roy (New Plymouth) is visiting Wellington. The marriage took plane in St. Mary’s, Merivale, Christchiiroh, on Tuesday afternoon, of Miss Ella Holmore, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. N. Helmore, of Fendalton, to Captain Neill Rattray, only son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Rattray, of Dunedin. The Rev. Dean Harper officiated, assisted by Archdeacon Haggifrt. ins bride, who was given away by her father, wore a gown of white satm, simplv made, with a tram of silver tissue overlaid with silver lace, caugn with a circlet of orange blossoms. Her tulle veil was hold in placo with a chaplet of the same flowers, and her ornaments were three long ropes or pearls. She carried a bouquet ot white hydrangeas. The bridesmaids were Miss Una Rattray (sister of the bridegroom), Miss Kathleen Holmore and Miss Norrie Fenwick (cousin of the bridegroom). They were dressed alike in crinoline frocks of mauve, made with tight bodices of satin, and full skirts of georgette wired to stand out over underskirts of silver lace. Early Victorian hats to match the frocks were also worn, and they carried little posies of tiny flowers set in holders of silver lace. Two little pages, Paddv Neill and George Hutton, were dressed in Kate Greenaway suits of mauve satin, with white collars and cuffs Mr. Denis Cotterill was best man. Following the wedding ceremony a reception was held at Muibrook,” Fendalton, at which many guests were present. Mrs. Helmoi e wore a frock of mole satin with' the skirt veiled in mole radium lace, and largo mole hat wreathed with a blue feather. Mrs. Rattray was in black satin embroidered in hydrangea blue and a hat to match. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Neill Rattray left on their wedding tour, the latter wearing a frock of navy georgette embroidered with beads, and a navy hat with a drooping lancer plume and touches of red.

An evening wedding took place at the Kent Terraco Presbyterian Church, the bride being Miss Edith Helen Hall, of Khandallah, and the bridegroom Mr. George Milos, of Wellington. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Mav Hall, and two little girls, Jean Hall and Nellie Burge, were train-bearers. The best mail was Mr. AV. Heath. The bridal gown was of cream charmeuse, with overdress of georgette, and the veil was fastened with orange blossoms. A bouquet of white and pink carnations and asparagus fern w<s carried. The bridgroom’s gift to the bride was a string of pearls, and to the little trainbearers were given pearl necklets. A reception was afterwards held, and later a dance in the evening.

THE MODERN TURKISH WEDDING ‘

Picnic at Heretaunga. For the entertainment of delegates to the Medical Conference and their wives a picnic, arranged by the Wellington. branch of the British Medical Association, was held at Heretaunga yesterday. The weather at Heretaunga was much better, than it was in the city, and save for a shower about midday, was fine, though overcast. The Wellington Golf Club having lent the links for the occasion, a competition was held between Wellington and the visitors, in which the winner was Dr. Horrax, of Wellington. . He was made the recipient of a golf club, presented by 'the Hon. Dr. Collins. A putting competition also took . place, Dr. Borrie, of Port Chalmers, winning the prize, which was given by Dr. Young. Several games of tennis were also played. A marquee had. been erected, and lunch and afternoon tea were provided, members of the Wellington Golf Club who were but at Heretaunga also being the guests of the association. ! In the afternoon some of the visitors went across to .the hpspital, and were shown over it Jby ColoneL Carberry. Altogether, a very pleasant day was spent, the party, which was a large one, numbering about two hundred. In the evening a 1 ladies’ theatre party at the Grand Opera House was arranged, and the day concluded with a supper party at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Hislop, in Willis. Street.The Need in the Homes. Following on remarks made by Dr. Young in his presidential address to the 8.M.A., the following letter was sent to himi —“The President of the British Medical Association, New Zealand Branch.—Dear Dr. .Young,—lt was with much interest’ and benefit that I listened to your presidential address on Monday evening Your .remarks about the connection between the lack of domestic help and the birth-rate have induced me to write to you to-day. The Mothers’ Help Division (W.N.R.) undertakes to send on application competent domestic help to tho homes of mothers of young children within Wellington city. The division have four carcfully-chosen, skilled, visiting helpers, who spend half a day at a time in the homes, and who will perform all routine do-, mestio duties. Their services are very frequently, called upon by mothers before, during, and after confinement. 1 Sickness in a home constitutes a first call upon tie time of the helpers ; the need of tho mother with the larger number of children ranking next. Payment is made to the division by mothers according to their moans, this matter and, indeed, all details being strictly confidential as between client and secretary. These payments amount to about 60 per cent, of expenses. All the rest is defrayed by subscriptions, and last year by a small Government grant, which is now unfortunately withdrawn. The division has been working and growing steadily for three years. The fact of our division’s success should be an encouragement to any other town undertaking such a work. My object in writing to you has simply been to bring the work before the 8.M.A., in the hope that it may prove even more widely useful in the future. If anyone should" care for further particulars, I should be most happy to supply them. —I remain, yours faithfully, (Sgd.) Kathleen Coleridge, President, M.H.D. (W.N.R.).”

Lorice Cumberbatch, writing from Constantinople to the “Daily Mail,” says: ; The modern Turkish wedding has lost much of its Oriental charm. But in some old Turkish villages the ancient customs are still maintained. When a girl has reached her fifteenth year she is considered “grown up” and has to wear the national feredje to cover her face, with a thick black net or muslin. Now faces aro very much uncovered. The young hanoum having attained this stage of her life, the mother or aunts of eligible young men go and propose to the mother of the girl their son or nephew as a suitable husband for her. The parents discuss the matter between themselves. If they accept, the young girl is told tHat in a short time she will marry a man she has never seen in her life. Then comes the ceremony of the Nukiah. The bridegroom goes to the high Turkish priest and makes a written oath that he values his wife to as- many head <f cattle as are considered appropriate, and also at a loaf of bread daily, which be must give her if he happens to divorce her. Three days before tho wedding the celebrations begin. Thei men friends of the bridegroom assemble at the latter’s house, where for three consecutive days they eat, drink, dance, end sing. On the morning of the fourth day, generally a Thursday, the bride and her friends and relations leave to go to the bridegrooms house. I’irst in the bridal procession comes a ga™’ l ? decorated cart drawn by Ho ImllocU. It contains mattress and various articles of furniture—the bride s dc.wer. Two small boys sit on the of t furniture, singing and Paying wnrd tunes on flutes and drums. comes a common wagon in which the iclations and friends are sitting, humming and chattering. Finally, m a closed heavily curtained sedan chair cemes the bride ’ The procession having aimed, the furniture is taken into the bouse, and tho bride, heavily veiled, is lea to her new home. At this stage everyelse leaves. Then the bridegroom nnod/ers her face and has cither a rlisagreeable or agreeable surprise. Bu divorce in Turkish law consists merely of savin?. “I don’t want you; go awav ” But a wife so sent away has to be given the daily loaf of bread and the cattle at which she was valued.