WOMAN’S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 134, 22 February 1923, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD

MATTERS OF* INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR

(By

Imogen.)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Miss Vallance and Miss Bello Vallance, of Masterton, are visiting Wanganui. Miss Bennett, from India, is staying with her sister, Dr. Agnes Bennett, in Wellington. Miss M. Clay (Willis Street) is visiting Mrs. Speedy, Hawke’s Bay. Mrs. Sydney Johnston (Takapau) is visiting Wellington. Dr. and Mrs. J. F. V. Anson are visiting Christchurch. Miss Marjory Myer (The Terrace) is staying with friends in Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. McLean and Miss Myra Blacklock are visiting Christchurch. Miss Ma-belle Esquilant and Miss Eileen Driscoll are leaving for England early in April. Miss Grace Mackay (Auckland) is the guest of Mrs. G. H. Holdcroft, Featherston. Mrs. A. H. Waters is visiting Wanganui. Mrs. Alanoy (Alotueka) is visiting her mother, Airs. Arndt, at Kelburn.

At a special meeting of the Plunket Society (Hutt branch) a matter discussed was a proposal ’ made by the Hutt Gala Committee at a previous meeting that the society should nominate a queen at the coining queen carnival. On consideration it was decided that as the committee-was fully occupied with preparations for a grand fete which is to be held shortly it would be inadvisable to undertake the extra responsibility of a Plunket queen, and it was thought better to advise the Hutt Borough Council, Hutt Band, and the Hutt Fire Brigade that the society would bo willing to unite with them in making a combined effort in the support of one queen. It was decided! to advise the Gala Day Committee of this decision.

Mrs. Pinfold presided over the monthly meeting of the Methodist Women’s Auxiliary for Home and Foreign Missions, which was held in the Northland Church on Tuesday afternoon. Arrangements were made to hold a special meeting in March, to be addressed by Miss Commons, who is on her way to the Solomon Islands as a missionary. A letter, was read from Sister Eleanor Dobbie, Maori deaconess in tho Auckland district. Afternoon tea was provided by the members of the Northland congregation.

An enjoyable “kitchen tea” was given by Miss Thelma Short at Parorangi, Feilding, in honour of Miss Thelma Anion’s approaching marriage. A clever competition was arranged and was won by Miss Olive Wood. Musical items, which were much appreciated, were contributed by Mrs. Shakes, Mrs. Short, Mrs. Burrell and Miss Thelma Short. Miss Amon carried a beautiful floral tribute, the gift of Miss Mavis Webster. Those present were Mrs. Short sen. Mrs. B. Short. Mrs. E. Short, Mrs. Bell, Airs. Webster, Mrs. Tingey, Mrs. Hanger, Mrs. Shakes, Mrs. Burrell, Mrs. Williams, the Misses Wood, Shannon, Hill, Webster, Amon, Booth, Duthie, Cornfoot (2).

The Wellington Central W.C.T.U. held its first meeting this year at the Y.AI.C.A. rooms, Willis Street. There was a large attendance presided over by Afiss Kirk. The proposed schemes of work for the new year were heartily agreed to. Home meetings will bo held monthly, and it is hoped in this way to reach and interest a larger number of women in the work of tho union. Airs. J. O. Webb was ;appcmted delegate td the annual convention to be held at Invercargill in Alarch. A drawing-room meeting was held this week at Airs. AfcGowan’s, Kelburn Parade, at which Aliss Kirk gave an interesting talk to the ladies present on the aims and objects of the W.C.T.U.

“The Bookman” of America recentlyhad a, very interesting competition for children, an essay on “Books I like to read.” It brought to light some wonderfully strong opinions from young folk —girls especially expressing great contempt for most of tho books classified as “girls’ books.” One girl of fourteen said: “I do not think that sugar-coated fictions about Molly and Polly and Billy appeal to young girls any more. Most of us like to read a book which takes some sense to un--derstand. And some books write of such, foolish subjects that I sometimes wonder if a. girl’s pride is not insulted by its silly contents.” So much for Young America, but it is rather remarkable that in the subjoined list of favourite authors Thackeray does not appear at all. In this country one has found that with both boys and girls “Vanity hair” and “Henry Esmond” are prime favourites, together with' Scott’s evergreen “Ivanhoe.” The kind of book that used to be specially written for young folk is not now at all in demand. Most boys and girls of fourteen and upwards read very much what their parents and elders read, so the onus of forming or vitiating their taste rests on tho home. It is a matter for interest that the only poets mentioned and in this order are: —Longfellow, Riley, Whittier, and Stevenson. Keats—probably the best loved amongst our own adolescents—is nowhere, and one cannot but marvel at no mention of Coleridge or Wordsworth, to say nothing of “Childe Harold,” “Morte d’Arthur,” or “Marmion.” all fairly familiar to older school children here. A list of the books voted most popular in the order of the number of times they wore mentioned is—- “ Little Women,” “Treasure Island.” “Huckleberry Finn,” “Tom Sawyer,” “Pollyanna,” “Campfire Girls” series, “Little Men,” “Penrod,” “Robinjon Crusoe,’ “Anne of Green Gables” series, “Freckles,” “’The Little Cob one!” series, “Five Little Peppers” series. “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Heidi,” “Ivanhoe,” “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” “Poe’s Tales,” “Anderson’s. Fairy Tales,” “The Call of the Wiki,” “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” the “Bkick Beauty,” “David Copperfield,” “A Girl of the Limberlost,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Tarzan” books, “Seventeen,” “Little Lord Fauntleroy.” “Jo’s Boys,” “The Jungle Books,” “Kidnapped,” “Oliver Twist,” “Burgess Bedtime Stories,” “Old Curiosity Shop,” “Swiss Family Robinson.” “The Crisis,” “Tho Prince end the Pauper,” “A Tale of Two Cities,” “Tom Swift” series. One would like to see what such a competition would produce locally. Tho latest novelties in Brash and Marl Wool Costumes, Frocks, and Cardigans arc now being shown by Spackmau and Thompson, the fashionable Ladies’ Outfitters, 240 Lambton Quay. As only a small parcel of those have arrived, ladies should endeavour to make their purchase early, in order that they may bo among the smartost attired women this season. Prices aro quite reasonable in comparison with Quality.—Advt.

Miss Isobe) Wilford leaves for Sydney on Friday by the Marama. Miss Lilia Loach, of Canterbury College, has passed the final examination for the Diploma of Journalism. Miss Leach, who is the first lady student in Now Zealand to achieve this distinction, also passed the final B.A. examination.

At the Art Gallery, Christchurch, on Monday evening was held the first of the many social functions arranged for tho entertainment of the members of Hie New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association and their wives, who are in Christchurch for the annual conference. The reception was held by Dr. F. Goulburn Gibson, president of the association, and Mrs. Gibson, and there were nearly four hundred guests, each one of whom spent a most enjoyable evening. The introductory speeches by Dr. Thacker, and Dr. Young, and the presidential speech by Dr. Gibson were delivered in the Permanent Gallery, gay with, hydrangeas and montbretias. After the addresses, an adjournment was made to the ball-room, where dancing was enjoyed.

A very pretty wedding of interest to New Zealanders was that of Lord Plunket, son of the late Lord Plunket (Governor of N.Z. for some years) and Lady Victoria Braithwaite, to Mrs. Barnato. The ceremony was performed in the tiny church of St. Alary, one which dates back to Norman times. The Hon. Eileen Plunket was the usher for the occasion, and had a considerable task, as the guests were very numerous. The Bishop of Aleath (uncle of the bridegroom) came specially to perform tho ceremony, and was assisted by the rector of Denham. The service was choral. The bride, Airs. Barnato, arrived with her father. Air. Joo Lewis,' wearing powder-blue chiffon velvet, made with long, tight-fitting sleeves, train started from a. largo butterfly bow at the back of the waist, and _ was lined with silver tissue and carried by two little children. The veil was of oxidised silver net, arranged low upon tho forehead, with a bandeau of blue and silver flowers. Tho bouquet was of damask roses. The train bearers were tho bride’s nieces, Diana and Virginia Barnato, and the bridesmaids Lady Veronica Blackwood and Miss Patricia Lyon. All four were dressed in quaint frocks of Charles 11. stylo. They were of cream needle-run lace, with very long skirts and panier hips, finished round tho waist with battlements outlined with powder-blue velvet. Caps were worn to match, with long streamers down the baok. Each carried a posy of crimson ranunculi and forget-me-nots, and wore a platinum and pearl brooch, the gift of the bridegroom. Captain 11. Crawford Costobadi (Rifle Brigade) was the best man. After the reception, which took the form of a garden party at tlie residence of Lady and Colonel Braithwaite .at Denham, Buckinghamshire, Lord and Lady Plunket travelled to London by motor-car, en route to San Remo, where the honeymoon is being spent. The bride went\way in a Tong travelling cloak of heavily-corded black roarocain, quaintly embroidered, and a toque of powder-blue velvet. The bride is tho widow of Mr. Jack Barnato /son of the late Air. Barnato, the South African financier), and daughter of Air. and Airs. Joe Lewis (the latter being well known in the theatrical profession as Miss Fanny Ward). At the age of seventeen sho was married to Air. Jack Barnato. who died a year later after seo-vico in the R.A.F. . It is stated that, on lier 21st birthday the brido received £900.000, part of which was the accumulation of a christening present of £50,000 given her by her father. SLAVERY TO PUBLIC OPINION

There is no more curious and deplorable rrait in human nature than the slavish respect for public opinion which causes men and women to feel ashamed and uncomfortable unless they aro doing and thinking and looking exactly the same as their neighbours, says a writer in the “Home Magazine.” That social instinct whioh has played so important a part in the evolution of humanity is responsible for evil as well as good. Slavery to public opinion, the desire to imitate others —even in matters entirely unreasonable and irrelevant—are among tho evils begotten of our herding instinct. It begins—this dismal bondage—in earliest youth. Children feel agonies if their parents are m any way different from the parents of other children. The life of a child at school has often been made miseri able for months because Ills mother ' once appeared within the school pre- ’ cincts wearing an eccentric hat or beI cause his father belonged to an uni popular political party. In the huge, democratic, middleclass societies of modern Europe and America, this product of the normal herd-instinct is given an opportunity of mightily flourishing. Never before in the world’s (history has public opinion ruled so tyrannously and over such vast masses of humanity. The newspapers. the kinema, and now the wireless telephone, combine to create a uniformity of opinion that is eon--tinent-wide- And (the more democratic and middle-class a country is, tho more tyrannous in this opinion, the more slavishly do people desire to conform, the more bitterly they hate those who are different. Nowhere, for example, is opinion more tyrannous than in America—ironically known as the land of the free. That is part of tho price that has to be paid for democracy and material progress. The only people who are free from this tyranny and who do not feel tee passionate desire to bo and do and chink exactly like their fellows are the aristocrat and, possibly, the i-ramp •—tho tramp because ho is an outcast and the aristocrat because he feels so secure in his inherited position that he is not afraid of any thunderbolts that may be thrown at him by public opinion. A powerful aristocratic class, such as is constituted by the “good families” of England, is one of tho surest guarantees of personal liberty that a country can possess. The English aristocrat is proverbially eccentric —not because he is b.v nature an older man than the English bourgeois, out because his position is so secure that he can carry his eccentricity to its logical conclusions without running the, risk of being ruined and ostracised — which is the' common fate of the man who has the misfortune to born into tho middle classes with a thoroughly eccentric nature and a congenital devotion to unpopular causes.