Women in the News

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 104, 27 January 1938, Page 5

Women in the News

“Dominion” Special Service—By Air Mail. London, January 7. T° be Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Grace, (Mrs Selinger (Miss Gracie Fields), actress This is how the announcement of “our Grade's’’ honour was made in the New Year Honours List. The list contains great many women’s names including those of the Duchess of Northumberland, who becomes a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, and Miss Enid Prentice, until lately shorthand-typist to Mr. Anthony Eden, who becomes an M.B.E, A new Governor has been appointed by the 8.8. C. She is 63-year-old Miss Sara Margery Fry, and she succeeds Mrs. Mary Hamilton, whose five-year term of office has expired. Miss Fry, who is a member of a famous Quaker family, was principal of Somerville College, Oxford from 1926 to 1931. During the war she worked in France with the Quaker Mission for two-and-a-half years, and in 1933-34 visited China as a lecturer under the auspices of the Universities China Committee. A bride who had a strange premonition that her wedding plans would be upset was Miss Queenie Weaser, of Hammersmith. 'As she was leaving home with her five little bridesmaids for the church, in which she was to

marry Mr. Arthur Bourne, a doctor drove up and tol'd her that she was a diphtheria suspect, and that the marriage could not take place. Still in her wedding-dress and clutching her bouquet, Miss Weaser was driven away in an ambulance to the Isolation Hospital.

Ono of the greatest women singers or our (day, Miss Muriel Foster, has died in London at the age of 60. One of her mose striking performances wathe part of the angel in Elgar’s "Dream of Gerontius.” She was well-known throughout England as an interpreter of Elgar’s music, and she also toured Canada, Germany, Holland, Russia and the United States. Described as "one of the most talented and charming ladies in the land. Violet, Duchess of Rutland, has also died this week. In her youth, people said that she was “not an ordinary mortal,” and Queen Victoria, seeing her as a girl in 1877, said that she was the embidoment of grace and loveliness. She was a born artist, and when she showed some of her drawings to Durne-Jones he said: “I’our are too good an artist to be taught anything. Just go on as you are and you will make a great name for yourself.” An exhibition of her works lias recently been held in London.

Miss Sonja Hehie, blonde Norwegian film star and ex-world skating champion, has been created a Knight of the Order of St. Olav, by King Haakon of Norway, in recognition of her honours she has won for her country. Less than 20 people a year are given this . honour, and as Norway has abolished all titles and this is the country’s only honour, it is very highly prized. The youngest Lady-in-Waiting in the service of the Royal Family has just been appointed. She is 25-year-old Miss Peggy Gordon-Moore, who will accompany Princess Marie Louise on her trip round Africa. Mrs. Neville Chamberlain, wife of the Prime Minister, shook hands 2000 times at the London Conservative Christmas party. So great was the demand for tickets that more than 400 people had to be turned away. A queue was formed the whole length of the / New Horticultural Hall, where the party was held, and Mrs. Chajnberlain, wearing a blue and rose shot brocade / dress, with a rose feather wrap, received each guest individually.