WOMAN’S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 51, 24 November 1930, Page 4

WOMAN’S WORLD

Items of Interest from Near and Far

SOCIAL NOTES Her Excellency Lady Bledisloe was the guest of the South Canterbury Women’s Chib in Timaru last week. This afternoon in Christchurch she is being entertained by the Canterbury Women’s Club. Mrs. P. R. Angus, of Wellington, is visiting ikuckland. Mrs. G. Wood is a Wellington visitor to Auckland. Miss A. R. Kent, of Wellington, is staying iu Christchurch. Mrs. Frank Hay is visiting “The Chateau Tongariro” and the north. Miss M. Mitchell is a Wellington visitor to Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Y'aldwyn, of Wellington, are. visitors to Auckland. Mrs. Yeoman, of Wellington, is staying at Arundel, Auckland. Misses K. and M. Wheeler, of Wellington, are at present in Auckland. Mrs. W. Phillips and Mrs. 11. T. O’Leary, of Wellington, are visitors to New Plymouth. Mrs. W. C. Robinson, of Wellington, is visiting Mrs. K. C. Akers in New Plymouth. Mrs. Bothamley. who has been visiting Mrs. W. 11. Moyes in New Plymouth, has returned to Wellington. Mrs. Hector Rolleston, who has been visiting Mrs. F. J. Rolleston in Timaru, has returned to Wellington. Invitations have been issued by the English-Speaking Union for a reception to Mr. Oscar Garden. Mrs. C. de R. Andrews and Miss A. C. Freeman, of 'Wellington, have left for Christchurch. Miss Eleanor Monro, of Kelburn, who has been the guest or Mrs. John Shand in Dunedin, is now paying a short visit to Roxburgh. Mrs. Giesen and Mrs, A. Hempton, who were visitors to New Plymouth last week, returned to Wellington on Saturday. News has' been received of the marriages in Wales on October 21 of Miss Connie Ledger, of Christchurch, to Lieu-tenant-Commander Paymaster Herbert, R.N., of London. The garden circle of the Pioneer Club will hold its annual flower show to-mor-row afternoon, which will be opened at three o’clock by the president of the Wellington Horticultural Society. Dr. Arnold Izard. All members and friends are invited to attend, it being anticipated that there will be a good show of flowers on this occasion. The “Action Francaisc’s” review of the Salon de Tuileries, Paris, contains a reference to the work of Miss Margaret Butler, of Wellington, the New Zealand sculptor, who for the past four years has exhibited in the Paris salons. Her name and photograph appear in the "Dictionaire des Artistes Contemporaines,” which has just been published in France. Mr. D. S. Reid, of Wellington, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, with Mrs. Reid and their son, Mr. James Reid, who have been the guests of the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. James Rattray, Totara Flat, Dunedin, left on Wednesday by car, accompanied by their host and hostess, on a tour of South Westland, including the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Mr. Reid and party will eventually proceed by car to Queenstown. VISITORS TO THE CAPITAL Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Checseman, ot. Dunedin, are on a visit to Wellington. Mrs. Thomas G. Fitzell, of Blenheim, is paying a short visit to Wellington. Mrs. Kummer and Miss. F. Kummer, Renall Street, Masterton, are visiting Wellington. Mrs. William Jones, of Avondale, Christchurch, who has been on a visit to Auckland, is visiting Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. J. Allen, of Auckland, have left on a tour of the North Island and will visit Wellington. Mrs. R. Tate and Miss Dorothy Tate have returned to New Plymouth after a visit to Wellington. Mrs. Parkes, of Auckland, who was in Wellington for the Plunket conference, has left for Dunedin to visit her daughter. Mrs. George Macdonald, of Cheviot, who was in Wellington for the Plunket conference, left on her return south on Saturday evening. Mrs. W. Weston and Mrs. Wade, who were in Wellington for the Plunket conference, returned to New Plymouth on Saturday. Mrs. H. Mandeno, Dunedin,- who came to Wellington to attend the Plunket conference, is the guest of her niece, Mrs. Hawthorn-Miliar, Wadestown. Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Bridge, of Dronford, England, are visiting Wellington, where they are renewing many old friendships. Mrs. Bridge, who was the eldest daughter of the late Sir Arthur and Lady Douglas, was formerly well known in Wellington. ? ’ TENNIS DANCE The first of the 1930-31. series of “flannel” dances, held under the auspices of the Technical College Old Students’ Tennis Club, took place at the college cafeteria on Saturday evening. The dance proved a marked success, some 60 couples occupying the floor. The committee, which was responsible for the arrangements, comprised the following :—Misses C. Campbell. J. Buck, E. Laycock. E. Brigden, and L. Dick, Messrs. L, V. McGann, E. and R. Lander, J. Scarrett, J. Gribble, and G. Kent. Mr. J. Gribble acted as M.C. Among those present were: Misses G. Taylor, Lochore, E. Bell. J. Lummas, G. Richards, R. Findley. M. Lander, and Mrs. G. Franklyn, Messrs. V. Evans (presiilent), G. Franklyn, W. Redgrave, and C. Meachen.

MUSIC BY GESTURE

Eurhythmies Demonstration

A demonstration of curthymics according to Jaques Dalcroze’s methods was given by Miss Eileen Russell in the Blue Triangle Hall on Saturday night, when a number of her pupils gave examples representing this fascinating way of studying music As explained by Miss Russell. Professor Dalcroze believed that the bld methods were wrong and that music to be properly understood must be felt, and his method was to express, by bodily movement, the value and meaning of the music played. Beginning witli a group of children from six to 12 years of age, she showed bow the value of each note was expressed in movements of the feet, then time by beating and arm movement, rhythm by the body, and came down to what, she called realisation and improvisation, working out certain movements to a piece of music. The children, dressed in short silk ftocks of old gold, and bare-footed, made a pretty group as they went through the different exercises, and showed keeu intelligence and training as they moved, beating two different times with hands and feet, or changing a phrase after the music, which was played by Miss Russell throughout. Tlie performance was divided into exercises showing mood, time, metrical accent, grammar of the method, exercises for attention and control, and lastly rhythms. As a final four children moved to the music of a minuet, and the class to an old English round, demonstrating the aim of the method, movement and music combined. In the second half older students gave examples of more advanced woili. augmentation and diminution, dissociation of movement, polyrhythm, simultaneous rhythm, phrasing, and conducting. leading up to the free work. Demonstrations of the movements used to illustrate music were shown, followed by these movements used in what was described as free work, the actual aiflication of lunges ami gestures to groups illustrating music| A pretty item was a canon, danced by the students in three groups, and several rhythmic sketches to Janies Dalcroze’s owu compositions, followed by a Bach fugue, a very charming item, which had to be repeated. 'The final item was group conducting, where one girl by movement conducted the rest through various movements to music. The whole served to show what a very interesting and delightful thing a music lesson could be under such methods. There was a good audience, all of whom showed much interest in the performance, and Miss Russell received a number of floral tributes at the conghision. WISHES COME TRUE Miss Winifred Upham, who, with Miss Lindsay, of Wellington, has recently completed a very interesting trip round the world, declares that she must have been born under a lucky star. 1 “I was staying in Bedford Square in London,” said Miss Upham, “and, in conversation with some of the other guests, had been talking of the great airships. I said I would very much like to see one while I was in England.. I had gone upstairs to the next floor, when I heard someone calling for me to come down. So I went down, and one gentleman told me to look out of the window, and there was the RlOO sailing majestically over London. It seemed as though’ it circled round just over where we were, for we had a splendid view of it for some little time. Then on another occasion, also in London, I saw the RlOl, which met with disaster. ' -s ■ . ■ “My ■ luck. was in 'on another momentous occasion. The outstanding musical events of last summer in England was the visit of the New York Symphony Orchestra, under the great Arturo ’Toscanini. This orchestra had toured Europe triumphantly, and was finishing up in London before returning to New York. Such an organisation, under such a distinguished conductor, was something not to be missed; hut as we knew, the booking of seats had beengoing on for the previous seven or eight months, our chances of getting into the Albert Hall seemed very remote; still we resolved to try. When we reached the hall there were thousands standing around evidently in despair at not being able to obtain admission. I managed to get up to one of the ticket boxes, when the man said I had not a hope in the world of getting in. I expressed my disappointment evidently so keenly as one from a long distance, that he whispered a little bit of advice. It was to go round to the man concerned with the booking of seats in the boxes, and to say who had sent me. I did so, and the person in charge handed out two tickets, so we heard the great orchestra from the best seats in the hall, being quite near to the Royal box.” I Misses Lindsay and Upham had an interesting stay in Paris, motored through a good deal of the English counties, including a visit to the Lakes District of the north, and also saw the artistic war memorial in Edinburgh Castle. They returned by the Cathay, via Suez. Miss Lindsay is still in Australia. GIFT TO BRIGHTON Queen’s Thoughtfulness The Queen’s interests in that exotic home of King George IV, the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, has been further instanced in a fresh gift to the Corporation of Brighton, who are the present owners of the building. Only a few years ago her Majesty discovered some magnificent blue enamel and gold standard candelabra in the Royal collections, which were originally made for the sumptuous banqueting room of the pavilion. • The Queen graciously returned these to Brighton shortly after a visit to the pavilion, recognising the elaborate pattern and-the tulip-shaped globes which matched the centre chandeliers. The latest gift of the Queen is a very beautiful grand pianoforte which was formerly used at the pavilion when King George IV was in residence there. The Queen only recently purchased the piano, and on hearing that it was at one time used at the pavilion, immediately ordered its dispatch to Brighton. . The case is of rosewood, banded with amboyna, the panels inlaid with brass, in the form of classical figures within arabesque and scrolled borders, mounted on a central stem and plateau tripod, similarly inlaid with Bft. long arabesques. Oueen Victoria visited the pavilion early in her reign, and felt that there was not sufficient privacy about the place to make it a home, and accordingly had most of the lovely furniture there removed to other Royal residences. Have a genuine oil wave. Will make a marvellous difference in your appearance. and not become a frizz. The tex ture, quality, or colour of your hair will not be impaired. Call and see us. Ad vice given free. Mrs. Rolleston, Ltd., Hair, Skiu, and Permanent Waving Specialist, 250 Lambtou Quay. Phone 42—227. And 2 Courtenay Place (Cording’s Buildings). Phone 28 —813.— Advt. The most: recent styles from abroad aro featured in the new Butterick Patterns and Transfers just received by Kirkcaldie’s. Before deciding on your new summer frocks conic in and see tho latest Butterick Fashions. —Advt. Bouquets of distinction for the bride and her maids, in exclusive colouring and style to suit frocks. Miss Murray, 36 Willis Street.—Advt.

CHILDREN’S PARTY

The committee of the Wellington South Kindergarten held a successful children’s fancy dress party on Saturday evening in St. Thomas’s Hall, Newtown, the funds of which go toward the building fund the committee it raising with the object of erecting a building for the kindergarten. There were a large number present, and the children all bad a happy: time. Most of the children were in fancy dress, and it was noticeable what pains their mothers had taken to make these. There were several realistic Chinamen, a real Japanese, a tiny Spanish woman, a number of dainty Jfarly English frocks, flowers, soldiers, etc. A tiny powderpuff was delightful, also the Order of the Babb among the toddlers. ’ The judges were Mrs. G. P. H. Davidson and Miss Bland, and they had a difficult task among so many, but numerous prizes were given, and all were satisfied, ltrs. Wilson arranged the parade of the children, and Sirs. Kirkbeck, president, and members of committee, assisted in many ways. Outside the Caledonian Pipe Band played. , . The kindergarten teachers and friends assisted in playing games, and amusing the small guests, and later the pupils of Miss Thelma Kidson gave an exhibition of dancing, the following taking part:—Jean Prangley, Lola Scott, Pat Trower, Nola King, Joyce Poppleton, Joan Wright, Enid Cracknell, Phyllis’Money, Joan Vause, Phyllis Greig, Lorraine Foster, Beatrice Foster, Lorna Holmes. Various other items were given by the pupils. • Miss Ngaire Slack played an overture. KENSINGTON GARDENS “THE ELFIN OAK.” A recent number of the “Overseas Daily Mail” contains an interesting account of A fascinating addition to the beautjful playground for-children in London, Kensington Gardens. Situated not far from the famous Peter Pan statue , has been placed, an “Elfin Oak,” which will surely never cease to interest and amuse the thousands of children, big and small, who make the gardens their holiday ground.' The creator of this wonderful work of art and Nature is a Mr. Ivor Innes. Some time ago he discovered that in the roots and gnarled limbs of old heather and wood there are to be found, without any carving, but simply by scraping - away, unnecessary material, contortious of wood that form a whole fairy world of beasts, birds, pixies, and other fascinating Jittle people. Mr. Innes was commissioned by the authorities to make an Elfin Oak for the children who frequent the park. The tree in Kensington Gardens was brought from the historic Richmond Park, on the outskirts of London, and it shows some 7-1 small figures. There are owls, rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits, a lizard, and- a bee. There is a fairy stairway with gnomes laden with supplies for a feast. One carries dew to drink; another has a sack of flour. The neighbourhood is peopled with a king and his courtiers, and numbers of fairies. Many other fascinating scenes are depicted in this won-der-tree stump. By a happy chance the “Elfin Oak” has been placed in such a position that the flickering leaves of other trees in the vicinity constantly cause changes of light, which seem to give life to the figures. PICTURES IN DECORATION There,was a time when every room was considered unfurnished unless its walls were heavily covered with,a motley array of pictures-r-good, bad, or indifferent, the effect in most cases reminding one of nothing so much as an insane postage album on a gigantic scale. This fashion brought about in turn a very natural reaction, and until quite recently the walls of a room were left so bare as to make one inclined to shiver in sympathy with, their pathetic nakedness. It has been left to the modern decorator to realise tha. neither extreme was good aesthetically or pleasant to live with and in the house of to-day pictures are once more taking their rightful place. -But the pictures want careful choosing and in homes where much Colour is used (and in all our houses it is now very much at home) too colourful a picture is apt to strike a dangerous note. This, in large measure, accounts for the growing popularity of etchings, for the soft and mellow tones of an etching blend with any scheme, whether period or modern. In a room of vivid colou-ing its sober richness gives the depth and solidity so needful as a foil to brighter tones, whereas in. the quieter schemes or monotone designs, so beloved of the modern designer, its browns and sepias carry on the general feeling while still giving the room the pictorial interest which the eye. needs for perfect satisfaction.“ Town and Country Homes.’’ The eighteenth century in Great Britain (and more specifically the latter half) is particularly notable for the developments that took, place in the designing of furniture. Three names stand out prominently, and of these Thomas Chippendale probably holds, the premier position so far as merit is concerned. Certainly the vogue in his productions is as great to-day as it ever has been. It is of interest to note that a pair of chairs of his workmanship recently realised nearly £2OOO, exceeding many times over the sum which the owner bad hoped to obtain. Chaste as is the work designed by Sheraton, and elegant as is that appertaining to Heppelwhite, there is that about Chippendale which appeals more fully to the best artistic sense. Glass seems to be one of the materials most beloved by the modern interior decorator, and its use extends to all sorts of unlooked-for places. An example of this is furnished by a country house which has recently been modernised and rebuilt. Here, there is a large and important staircase and the stair rail instead of being of the more conventional polished wood, is of glass. .In this case the glass is quite transparent and cast into a moulded shape, the colour being a brilliant emerald green. The effect of this line of bright and glittering colour is delightful aud suggests all soits of possibilities in the way of underlining a particular colour .note by the use of variously tinted glass for this purpose.

REFORM LEAGUE Women’s Auxiliary STRONG BRANCH FORMED Dominion Special Service. Napier, November 28. About a hundred women of the Hastings district at a meeting held in Hastings on Friday formed themselves into a branch of the Women’s Auxiliary Reform League. , Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P., and Mr. ■Frank A’Deane, secretary of the Waipawa Reform League, addressed the meeting, and the following officers were elected : Patroness, Mrs. H. M. Campbell; president, Mrs. E. J. Herrick; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames G. F. Roach (Mayoress), J. Anderson, H. Heeney, H. M. Wilson, A. F. M. Symes; joint secretaries and treasurers, Mesdames A. J. Manson and J. N. I/O wry. INHOSPITABLE LHASA. So inhospitable in its attitude toward strangers is Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, that only this year were the stem rules relaxed, writes S.W. in an exchange. Then a welcome was ■ extended to two women of widely different nationalities. One of these greatly honoured visitors was an English woman, the wife of a political officer, who accompanied her husband; the other was Leu Men-Chin, of mixed Chinese and Tibetan birth, who journeyed to the secred city as an agent of the Chinese Government. These women were received with elaborate courtesy—an incident unique in the history of Lhasa. Similar honours have never before been extended to any woman, although the position of women in Tibet is one of extraordinary importance, owing to the scarcity of the sex. In fact, so serious is the shortage of women in this little-knowu country that they are not only allowed, bqt encouraged, to take more than one ’husband, and divorce is an unheard of thing in' Tibet. In some districts, notably that of Gyantsd, the women are taught, deliberately to mar any good looks they may possess by smearing their faces with earth, in order that they may not appear too attractive to the men folk. The origin of the custom is interesting. About 200 years.ago, the reigning Lama, or High Priest, gave the Councillors a terrible shock. The Lama is regarded in Tibet as superhuman, and is worshipped by the people as a god. But this Lama showed himself to be very human indeed, and, instead of entirely ignoring the existence of women, as was his duty, he began to go about the city at night,, in disguise, dallying with the pretty girls he met on his way. , , e To put a stop to these unheard ot propensities in a High Priest, the Councillors issued orders that every woman should’disfigure herself by smearing her face with “cutch” or red clay, thereby rendering herself repulsive, to the young and enterprisiDß Lama, with whose high authority and position it was not lawful to' interfere. This unlovely practice continued until a few years ago, when the girls began to think for themselves, and to enquire why they should present themselves as frights to possible lovers and husbands. The custom is dying hard, however, for it is still upheld by the older women, who regard the exposure of the natural face as unseemly, indeed, almost indecent. What they will think when aids to beauty arrive in Gyantse is oest le.t to the imagination ! . All the women wear a beaddress which is unique, and—without, the forced disguise—very becoming. It is made of stiffened red cloth, the lower band bound to the head of the wearer by numerous little tight plaits of hair. No “bobbing” in Tibet. This band is studded with lumps or turquoise and coral, placed alternately. From it rises a half hoop of bent wood, decorated witu beads for the poorer woman, though the wealthy one usually wears a headdress covered with large seed-pearls. With the rapid invasion of modern customs and ideas, the emancipation of the women of Tibet is already almost in sight. But it will probably ta»e some time to become complete, so rigid are the ancient rules of the sacred city.

Mr. and Mrs. G. Davies. Havelock North, are at the Grand Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. G.’F. Watts, Marlborough, are at the Royal Oak Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. T. Laing, Napier, are at the Grand Hotel. Mrs. Vigor Brown, Napier, is at the Grand Hotel.

PROVINCIAL ITEMS The St. Mary’s Mothers’ Union, Waipukurau, held an enjoyable garden party recently at the vicarage, when there was a large attendance. Gifts were brought for the Napier Orphanauge Christmas fund, and a successful afternoon's business was done at the various stalls. Mrs. S. Free has returned to Masterton after a visit to Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Free, of Palmerston North. Miss Nancy Chadwick, of Dannevirke, is the gnest of Mr. and Mrs. C. Louisson, of North Street, Palmerston North. Mrs. McLennan has returned to Palmerston North after a visit to Hawke’s Bay. Mrs. J. H. Whyte has returned to Palmerston North from the Wairarapa. Mrs. Norman Mackie has returned to Palmerston North after a visit to her sister, Mrs. Borlase, of Napier. Mrs. J. Macfarlane, of Stanway, is on a short visit to her mother, Mrs. Smith, of Palmerston North. Mrs. R. H. Spencer, of Palmerston North, is in Napier owing to the death of her sister, Mrs. Swan, which occurred last Wednesday. On Friday night the Boys’ High School Parents’ Association, Palmerston, North, organised a successful dance, which was held in the P.D.C. restaurant. Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Hefferman, of Palmerston North, are spending a holiday at Taumarunui. Miss Violet Bartlett,’clerk at the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union, Ltd., Palmerston North, for the past ten years, has resigned her position to further her musical studies. Mrs. H. T. Wood left Masterton to- ■ on a visit to Hamilton. Miss S. Williams, of Victoria Street, Masterton, is visiting her. sister, Mrs. Kendall. Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. E. Merewether, Gonville, Wanganui, will leave to-day for Christchurch, where Mr. Merewether will attend the Masonic Grand Lodge meet ing. . Mrs.’Forlong. Wanganui, is the guest of Mrs. Jack, Dunedin. Mrs. W. Stephen, Wanganui East, is visiting Dunedin. . ' Miss K. Lewis, Fordell, Wanganui, is visiting Miss Young,, Wadestown, Wellington. St.' Peter’s Guild, Gonville, Wanganui, entertained Miss Joyce Jensen on Thursday even ing to a kitchen tea, prior to her marriage. Mrs. McGregor, Sedgebrook, Wanganui, nnd her daughter, Miss Jean MeIlvride, are visiting Wellington. Mrs. I. Honeyfield has returned ts> Patea from a visit to Rotorua. ' Miss Janet Greenhill, Blenheim, is a visitor to Wanganui. , - Mrs. Wodyer-Smith, of Napier, is visiting her father, Mr. Southcombe,-Pa-tea.