WOMAN’S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 45, 17 November 1925, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR

Aliss Skcrrett intends leaving next week for a visit to Australia. Mrs. R. J. Seddon is visiting Greymouth. Miss Belle Vallante (Masterton) is visiting Wellington. Mrs. W. S. McGowan is at present visiting relatives in Masterton. Mrs. J. Al. Lloyd, who has been visiting relatives at Day’s Bay, has returned to Wellington. Miss Drummond (Waipukurau) is spending some days with her sister in Wellington. The reception to Miss Stella Murray at the Pioneer Club is to be held tomorrow afternoon nt 4 o'clock, not on Thursday as reported in Saturday’s issue. Hostesses for the Community Club this week arc ns follow; —-Tuesday, Mrs. Dormer; Wednesday, Airs. H. Barbor; Thursday. Mrs. Norman; I'riday, Airs. F, I. Clarke; Alonday, Airs. E. G. Pilcher. The engagement is announced of Audrev Beryl, elder daughter of Air. and Mrs. J. H. Irvine, ot Wellington, to George James Burns, of the staff of the Bank of New Zealand, and elder son of Air. mid Mrs. G. P. Burns, of Wellington, late of Timaru. Mrs, Joseph, Mrs, Parton, and the helpers of the tea-room at the Plunket patty thanked their helpers for their kind assistance, and the ninny donors of cakes, etc., for their generous contributions, I Lady Luke presided nt the monthly meeting of the Levin Alemorlal Home Committee. The matron reported nine of the children had had chicken-pox, but were now well, mid had returned to school. The committee acknowledged gifts from the following:—Air's. Barnett, St. Cuthbert's, Airs. Norris, Mrs. Yates, Airs. Heywood, Airs. Balcombe Brown, .€1 Is.; Mrs. Harrower, 10s.; Airs. Carter, 10s,; Alarsden Lower School, £5; Airs. H. E. Evans, 10s.; Mrs, Williamson, 10s. 1 Saturday next (2.30 and 7.30) has btgm set aside as parents' day at Wellington Girls’ College, and it is hoped that parents of the pupils will be intenested enough to visit the school to get a glimpse of the work that has been done during the year. Various phases of the college’s manysided activities will be presented. There will be (I display of needlework mid cooking, and seicnee experiments arc being arranged by Aliss Cornish. There will be besides various stalls—cake stall (Airs. C. L. Stewart) ; produce .(Airs. Ferrar) ; sweets (Airs. Line); flowers (Airs. Dyer). Jupp’s band will ploy musical selections, and the cver-popular drill items appear on the programme. J'lie I’etonc Borough Council met last evening, Councillor G.., Cook presiding in the absence of the Alayor, Air. I. W. .McEwan. The following resolution was passed, members standing in silence!—‘That this council places on record Its appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the town by the late Alavorcss (Mrs. J. W. AlcEwan), ami tenders to his Worship the Alayor and the sorrowing relatives its deepest sympathy in the sad loss they -have sustained. That this meeting adjourn until Alonda’y evening next as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased ladv.” A memorial service for the late Airs. AIcE wan is to be held next Sunday evening at the Petone Wesley Church. The weather proved fine, although very windy, for the official opening of the Waimarie Croquet Club, Lower Hutt, on the new greens on Riddiford Park. There was a very large gathering of representatives of other clubs and friends. ' The Alayor, Air. W. T. Strand, opened the season. Councillor Alcßain (chairman of reserves) also spoke. The Alayor, on behalf of the honorary members, presented to the club a verv handsome rose bowl, to be competed for by members of 12 months and over. Little Alaster John Hoggard presented the patroness, Airs. Strand, and the president, Airs. Hughes, with handsome bouquets of roses, and later a delicious afternoon tea was served in the tearoom, which was decorated with the club colours, chocolate and gold. In the competitions the following ladies were successful in winning prizes:— Rings, Airs. E. AlcKenzie; French, Mrs. Watson and Henderson; target, Mrs. Parker; golf, Mrs. Lowery. Amongst the visitors were: Airs. E. AlcKenzie, also Councillors Meldrum and Grierson. A meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held on Friday. .Eight new cases were dealt with, and nine old ones received further consideration and help. A letter was read from the president, Lady Stout, resigning her position. Airs. Sprott, vice-president, spoke very warmly >of the very fine work done for the society by Lady Stout. She was one of the founders of the society, and held office as the first secretary in 1897-98. In 1912-13 Lady Stout was appointed president, end held that office until 1919, during the twenty-eight vears of the society’s -xistence she had been a member of the committee, and had taken an unflagging interest in the work. The hope was expressed that Lady Stout’s health would soon improve, and that she might again be able to take up the -work in which she had been so able and so helpful. The committee warmlv approved Airs. Sprott’s remarks and the resignation was accepted with regret. Airs. Sprott was appointed president pro. tern. Later, in speaking of the work of the societv, 'Airs. Sprott said tlmt the work had never been of a higher character, and that the society held a very gratifying plac'e in the respect of the public; in fact, the society Was now at its zenith, am’ it remained with the committee, and officers to keep it there. A subscription of ss. from Airs. Evans was acknowledged with thanks. \ bab’- party is being arranged by the Featherston branch of the Plunket Society, to be held in December. The Carterton Societv has decided to arrange a sale of work for the same month. To have one's hair shingled without regard to the shape of the head or the tvpe of features is to court disaster. A mannish cut is exceedingly unbecoming. Correctly cut, the head shows a daintv line and finish. Telephone an appointment for shingling, marcel waving. or permanent waving with Stamford and Co.. Ltd., 38 Willis Street. ’Phone 4-I—74s.—Advt. There is nothing cheap or nastv about Silk Sheen Silk Stockings, which have the pure silk hose appearance. Though priced at only ss. lid., thev’r: easily the equivalent of stockings costing three times the price. They are ladder-proof, and the toes, heels and ankles reinforced. Refuse to accept any substitute. Insist upon your draper supplying Silk Sheen.—Advt. Weddings to be artistic must have bouquets to harmonise with frocks. Miss Murray, 36 Willis Street. Deliveries anywhere in Dominion.—Advt.

MISS STELLA MURRAY A NEW ZEALAND SINGER. "It has been lovclv to see New Zealand again, and I think New Zealanders are the most hospitable people in the world.” . , So said Miss Stella Murray, the singer, of whose doings we have read from time to time. t , Tall, with a dark, vividly aminated face, Miss Murrav is exceedingly well equipped physically for the concert platform, and her speaking voice is deep aiid rich, suggestive of her singing '°lt e 'is only a brief visit that she is paving, and after giving her concert in Wellington she is leaving again on her return to London. Asked yesterday ns to whether she noticed any appreciable advance made hi music ill this country, Miss Murray said that from what she had seen she thought that there was a decided increase in the love of and keenness to hear good music. The visits of great artists who from time to time come here must have an appreciable chcct in stimulating the knowledge of music and of setting a standard. The pity was that New Zealand was so remote. “The centre of the musical world is London,” said Miss Murray, in the course of a talk with a Dominion representative. “I don’t mean that Londoners are the most musical people in the world—not nt all—but that all the great artists of the yorld go there, and many of the greatest teachers are to be found in London. Get your grounding in London, and then, if you like, go to the Continent to finish off your , languages and to get atmosphere. that is the advice I should always give a student.”. That more than a beautiful voice was needed to make a’ singer, Miss Murray stronglv emphasised. “She must be able to keep her head,” she said, “and she must help herself, and not look to others to- do the work for her.’ And she instanced a case of a girl with a beautiful voice whom Melba befriended, and to whom she gave two or three concerts. "The girl just sat back after that and looked to Melba to do, the rest of the pushing instead of getting to work herself. And, of course, she failed!” • Talking of Melba, whom she knows verv intimately, and with whom she has' toured. M’iss Murray said that she was a very remarkable woman. ‘‘lf slie had not been a great singer she would have been something else equally wonderful. Whatever she took up she excelled in no matter what it was. If it had been business that she had gone in for, finance, or a hat shop, then she would have been a genius in any one of them. I have never known anyone like her.” {■low Miss Murrav became a singer reads almost like a’romance. She had never thought of it, never considered that she had it in her to sing. All ‘that she knew was that she could make n great noise. And one day some vears ago she was' playing tennis and hit a ball with tremendous vig6ur, letting out a great shriek as she hit it. As it happened a, well-known teacher of music, who had just arrived from England, heard the shriek, and immediately interested herself in finding out who the “slrfieker” was. Talking to Miss Murray’s mother, she asked her did she sing. “NoI” she was told. She didn’t sing at all, didn’t have a note of music in her, it seemed. And vet by that chance game of tennis, 'and that chance shriek overheard by Madame Ottlee, Stella Murray’s career began. Many of the world’s most distin'gnished people she has met. She has sung before the King and Queen, before Queen Alexandra and Princess Mary, before most of the European Royalties, and she has had afternoon tea with our own King and Queen. In the musical world in London she lias met all the famous people.. "And the more famous they are,” said Miss Murray, “the more simple and unaffected Hiev are.”

Miss Afurrav has specialised in oratoria singing, and in lieder more than in anything else. "Singing in grand opera tears the voice so, and then again most of the big parts are written for sopranos or mezzo voices, not for pure contraltos.” Folk song has made a special appeal to her, and she has often included a bracket of them in her programmes.

WOMEN’S WIDENING FIELD

A NEW ZEALANDER ABROAD. In the fifteen months which she spent in America, Canada, and Great Britain, Aliss Rennie, instructress of domestic science at the Wellington Technical College, who has just returned to the Dominion, found much to interest her. Iu America she spent several months taking special courses at Columbia University, and in Canada she spent some time in Toronto, a visit she particularly enjoyed. “At Columbia University there were 67 different countries represented by their students,” said Aliss Rennie yesterday, “and it was most interesting, coming into contact with such different races, different attitudes of mind, different customs.

“Vacations would seem to be taken somewhat strenuously in America. Alanv of the teachers if they were not taking refresher- courses at the Universities, would be attending summer schools for intensive courses. The vacations arc arranged to suit this, and many of the school boards or departments pay' their teachers while taking their special courses, and raise their salaries for every course they take. “The field covered by -home science is a very wide one, and some of the most eminent professors in America lectured at Columbia University in its different branches. Among these latter were included budget keeping (both public and private), the study of social life from the very beginning both as it affected the family and the country, chemistry, economics, history, the study of education, of administration in hospitals', schools, and other public institutions, as well as home nursing, public health, nutrition, dietetics and other subjects. It was interesting to learn from Aliss Rennie that iit with the study of the household arts was included that of the fine arts. As mav be imagined the study of home science opened the door to many exceedingly well-paid posts for women. Among them were those of advisers and welfare directors in big stores, managers of institutions and dormitories, budget advisers whose business it might be to advise customers in furnishing and equipping a household within the 1 means of the owner, how to plan out an individual’s income, nnd so on. For dietitians there was particularly a big opening, more especially in regard to hospitals, cafetarias, big hotels, and so on. The posts wete verv well paid, and ranged from 1500 dollars upwards, often over 3000 dollars.

“There is no question of the fact,” said Aliss Rennie, “that women hold a high status in America. They are considered and recognised in every sphere of life, and what they say counts. And another thing! It 'is considered no longer that three-score years and ten

is the ordinary span of life. Ttistead, the Americans are looking upon 100 years as the allotted span, and it is wonderful how full of vim and intellectual strength they are at seventy or more years. Airs. Garlin Spencer, a noted writer and lecturer, is over 70 years, and still lectures at Toronto University, and Aliss Barrow, who is on the staff of the Food Department at Columbia University, is also over 70 and still lectures.” Another point that impressed Aliss Rennie was the interest which women in America took in the life outside their homes. “For one thing,” she said, “they can do this because they are not household drudges. Their homes are fitted with such wonderful mechanical labour-saving appliances that housework is reduced to a minimum. In that way they have the time to give to outside matters.” “Everybody thinks in calorics over there,” said Aliss Rennie. “The children are weighed, and they take the greatest interest in it all. If they are under-weight then they take more calories, and the effects of right and wrong food are closely studied. Prevention of illness, not the cure, is the great aim.” Another place that Aliss Rennte visited was Salt Lake City, which she found very prosperous and up-to-date, with very fine, very modern schools. As it was vacation time when she was there she did not see them at work. Social conditions interested Aliss Rennie very greatlv, and both in England and in America she tried to study them as much; as possible. “When one gets down to bedlock, one finds that so often inefficiency is the cause of much of the poverty, much of the drifting that goes to make our social problems.” In England Aliss Rennie spent much of her time in visiting the different schools and studying their methods.