WOMAN’S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 133, 21 February 1923, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR

(Bx

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

x Mr. and Airs. R. Allan, Canterbury, left by the Tahiti yesterday.

The Hon. Sir Horace Bayer, High Sheriff of Londonderry, and Lady Bayer are ac present in Christchurdh.

Miss Quoenip Clarke-Johnston will accompany Miss Massey to Auckland on Friday, and will bo her bridesmaid at her marriage on February 28. Miss Massey’s sister, Mrs’. L. Taylor, will be maid of honour.

Mrs. Haise, Miramar, has returned from a visit to her son, Mr. Harold Haise, and Airs. Haise, Lansdowne.

Aliss Jona Vallance, who has been visiting friends in Wellington, has returned to Alasterton.

Air. and Mrs. C. E. Richardson and their daughter left by the Tahiti yesterday for America and England. They intend to return in December.

Dr- and Airs. Morico and their daughter are visiting Chrijtchurch.

Dr. and Airs. A. Wilson, Dr. and Mrs. H. E. Gibbs, of Wellington, are in the south for the Medical Congress.

Mrs. J. A- Hanan, who has been here for the session, has returned to Invercargill.

Aliss Frances Bridge, Christchurch, is visiting 'Wellington, and is staying with Airs. Hodgson, at Kelburn.

Dr. and Mrs. Young, The Terrace, are visiting Christchurch.

Air. and Mrs. Gillespie, Wairoa, are on a motor tour of the South Island. Dr- Elizabeth Gunn, of Wanganui, has gone ’to Christchurch for the Medical .Congress.

Airs. Hugh Bailey, New Plymouth, is visiting Wellington.

Mr. and Mrs. Carne Bidwill, of Featherston, have taken a house at Karaka Bay for a month. Mr. and Mrs. Leon Cohen, formerly of Wellington, now of Sydney, arrived by the Marama yesterday on a holiday visit to New Zealand.

Air. and Airs. J. Stndholmo. w'm have been visiting Air. and Airs. W. Barton, of Featherston, have returned to Wellington.

A quiet wedding was celebrated recently at St. Luke’s Church, Christchurch, when Olive Sybil, younger daughter of Dr. H. A. Bluett Davies, of Auckland, was married by the Rev. Philip Carrington to James Robert, elder son of Afrs. Howard, of Greatford, Rangitikei.

As a result of a competition open to girls from all over Canada and United States, Aliss Afarguerito Tyner, of Tennessee, was adjudged America’s most perfect girl, the judges giving her a rating of 96.5 per cent, perfect-. According to a photograph of Aliss Tyner, however, the young lady, who is shown in a sailor dress and with bobbed hair, would appear to bo about 13 or 14 years of age, and not as much blessed with good looks as with perfect proportions.

1 A workers’ conference of delegates from all. rhe New Zealand Young Women’s Christian Associations will bo 1 held at the Y.W-C.A., 5 Boulcott Street, on Thursday, and Friday of this week. There will be representatives from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Waimate, Otaki. Gisborne, New Plymouth, Whangarei, Palmerston North, Cheviot, and Invercargill Associations. Tho conference will concern itself with the policy of the Field Committee for 1923, and will be mainly of a technical character. The conference meetings will bo open to association members. The annual meeting will be held on Thursday evening, and all who are interested in the progress of the Y.W.C.A. in the smaller towns and country districts are invited to bo present. The hotel food inspector! This Is the latest calling to appeal to the American women of enterprise, and it is one with distinct possibilities. One of the largest New York hotels has installed its own woman food controller in the person of Afiss Georgia Graham, who is both young and pretty, and a.° she says herself, a “crank” where food is concerned. Every article of food, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and provisions of all kinds is rigorously inspected by the hotel food controller on delivery, and anything that fails to reach the high standard laid down is ' prompty returned. The food is then i dealt with in spotlessly hygienic kiteh- . eus by the usual corps of hotel speci- I uity chefs, but before being placed' before the guests in the dining room. every dish must again pass through the ordeal of inspection. Every tray carried by the 250 waiters is checked before it goes to the customer, and, as before, unless each dish is exactly as it should be, the food inspector returns it. Commenting upon the death of Aliss Margaret Cooper, the famous entertainer, who died suddenly from heart failure recently, a writer in the "Daily News” states that Miss Cooper was one of tho most charming figures on the English variety and concert stages, and one of the most talented artists who appeared upon them. In her young days she was taught to play the piano and the violin, and originally took up singing to improve her health. At the time she was a suburban teacher, and was glad to earn a few shillings or so by playing at concerts and dinners. Later, she decided to make singing her profession, and appeared at the Palaeo Theatre, Brighton. In 1906 Sir Alfred Butt heard her singing at the piano during a charity concert at tho Palace Thea-at-re, London —a five-guinea engagement—and immediately offered her a contract. She rose to command £lOO a night. Afiss Jose Collins, one of her best friends, told the “Daily News”: “Miss Cooper was cwsily tho best artist of her kind. She had a fine pianoforte technique and a lovely gift of humour, and many of her own songs became famous. There was ‘Tu-Tu’ .‘AValtz Me Around Again, Willie,’ ‘Dingle-Dingle Dell,’ and others. She had a-very lovable personality, and the theatrical world had a great affection for her. She was liked at Court and in society, and added dignity to the stage. Sho was an enthusiastic ‘first-nighter,’ and went out of her way to help and encourage new talent. Personally I have to thank her for a great deal of good advice and help.” In 1910 Aliss Cooper was happily married to Air. A. Al. Humblc-Crofts, a school teacher, who fought with the Royal Air Force during the wav, and died at Dover from ■nfliftnza shortly after the armistice, p, v,as Miss Cooper’s intention to be married in February to Air. Harry Welchman, the well-known actor now appealing in "The Lady of tho Rose.” •Weddings to bo artistic,, must have ; Bouquets to harmonise with frocks. Miss Murray, 36 Willis Street. Deliveries anywhere in Dominion.—Advt. i

Autumn Modes.

Most of the shops in town, having had their exciting annual summer sales, are noiv-.showing very smart and widely-varied autumn wraps, gowns, and hats, not forgetting furs and tho hundred and one etceteras which go to the making of a toilet. Generally speaking, dresses are longer, and whilst still' maintaining the popular slim lines, mostly manage a flair in skirt or coat or both. Eyelet embroidery, also beautiful effects in metal and coloured headings, may bo seen on day and evening frocks, while the new “rat’s tail” braiding and fur are largely used with very smart effect. Sleeves are, for the most part, either immense or non-existont. Hats are of so many shapes and colours that it should bo easy for anyone to be suited. Alany very lovely ones are in hatters’ plush or panne velvet, with self-coloured or contrasting mounts, that is to say, mounts for the limited and paradise plumes for the unlimited purse- Shoes and gloves are often highly ornamental, but really with a tailor-made costume, hat, gloves, and shoes cannot bo too plain for good taste.

National Council of Women. A meeting of the National Council ef AVomen (Wellington branch) was held last night. Aliss England, in the absence of the president (Miss Coad), occupied the . chair. ■ A new member, Aliss Kano, 'representing the newly-affiliated /Women’s Debating Circle, was welcomed ‘to Iter seat on the council. A letter, inviting the co-operation of the council . forthcoming civic election campaign, was received from, the AVellington Civic League. ’’ The secretary was instructed to write acknowledging receipt of the letter, and stating that tho constitution of tins N.C.AV. did not permit of tteir taking part in such activities. 4A motion of condolence to Airs. AfcVicar, in her recent'bereavement, vas passed. the members standing m observance for a brief period. The secretary was asked to convey by letter the council’s sincere sympathy.

DO WOMEN EAT TOO MUCH?

Someone has just written a book to prove, or assert (assertion is proof to some minds), that’ women eat too much. The someone is Dr. Cecil Johnson, a man. Alen seem to love writing books about women. Books permit tho generalisations aud sweeping assertions so dear to the masculine heart when woman is his theme. Books enable him to say coldly in print all the things he dares not say hotly at home. They flatter his vanity, for is not his name on the title-page proof that he is a constituted authority? writes Susanne R. Day, in "The Queen.” Alost mon like to think they under-

stand women, for the privilege can combine in its formulation the- most correct rectitude of behaviour with -ip assumption of "gay doggery” that feed self-esteem. For to understand women you must know them, and to know them you must be loved by them, and to bo loved by theih you must be attractive, ergo, to be an authority is to be known, loved and attractive, in short envied among men—a fate a king might sigh for, and a fato many a king has had good cause to look back on with regret. On the other hand, it is quite possible to write abput women without knowing, understanding, or loving them at all. It is so easily possible, it is done every day—and I admit it—by women as well as men. AVomen when they take their own sex in hand are sententiously adulatory, over-prais-ing, over-estimating,’ over-boastful,, or eke inclined to be acidulated, or vitriolic, with a pharisaical "Thank God I am not as other women 1” hanging like a. phylactery on every page. Alen, on the contrary, generally scold. They long to improve our figures and disinfect our souls. "AVhat ever you do,” they seem to cry, "believe nie, you would be far better doing something else,” the something else when reduced to its least domestic significance being setting their slippers to warm at the fire.

Now, every nicely right-minded woman loves putting carpet or other slippers of the male persuasion to warm at tho fire. But she does iot want to spend her whole life doing it. That is why she never listens to authority, self-constituted and admonitory, in cold print, She laughi at it instead, and with reason, for what authority number 7620 says to-day Authority number 7621 flatly contradicts tomorrow.

One day a learned medical scientist assures women that they eat too lit- ! tie. Instantly up rises another 'to say | they eat too much. “AA’omen,” he | cries, "are always nibbling between I meals.” Txactly. Just like rabbits. Some rabbits are women, and women ■ are rabbits, and each aro_boih, and they all nibble 1 "No woman requires more than two or, at most, three meals a day,” he cries again, "though_Jwo Would ba better.” I wonder how Dr. Cecil Johnson knows? When was he last a woman? Wo drink too much tea and eat too many chocolates and cakes. Dear, dear! Dissipated, depraved wretches! Last week some one was i-lirieking to high heaven because we drink too many cocktails. The week before a Great Alan assured up all solemn!*’’ that we drink too little tea.

It is all very exciting and wonderful, and if we obey each' inthority until the next sends him -pinning in the dust, life will, at least, not lack variety. Bui meantime it ;• ould be interesting to know how Dr. Johnson has found out that “women” eat too much. I was under the impression that most of them seldom eat enough. Tho poor ones don’t, at any rate. And how does he know so confidently exactly what amount of food will nourish a woman and why the same formula must needs fit and satisfy them all?

Those who would l ; ko to see tho State in England take a little more active interest in art in general, can point with envy to the French Chamber, when tho Budget of tho Ministry of Fino Arts was voted after a debate which filled up two afternoons. Even in these bard times no one was found to suggest that the national interest does not demand tho continuation of the subsidies which are given to schools and exhibitions of painting, to the four State Theatres of .Paris, to tho Conservatoire, and to many private artistic enterprises. On the contrary, there were protests against the heavy incidence of the entertainment taxes and against the recent decision to charge for admission to the public art galleries on all days of tho week except Thursday and Sunday afternoons (states the Paris correspondent of the "Observer”). Moreover, Parliamentary attention was very seriously directed to the fact that the number and tho quality of the male students of acting at the Conservatoire has shown a serious decline. There was also criticism of the method of instruction, which turns out beginners whe "liavo already learnt to act badly,” and the fault was found to lie with the' heavy cost of living, which forces the students to take engagements even w*i*le they are learning.