Women in Print.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1909, Page 9

Women in Print.

"Don't pursue Culture. You'll scare her to dealli."— "The Philistine."

Mrs. Hardy, wife of the member for Sehvyn, leaves on Saturday with Mr. Hardy for Taranaki, and on Monday goes South to Eakaia. Mrs. Grimmoncl, of Ross, is in Wellington, and is staying at the Royal Oak. Mr. Grimmond is ex-M.P. for Westland. Miss E. Carroll leaves to-morrow for a visit to Auckland. Mr. H. E. Anderson was presented last night, by the members of the Wellington Amateur Swimming Club, with a pair of entree dishes as a wedding-gift. Mr. Anderson marries Miss Janet Brennan, of Wanganui, next Wednesday. Mrs. Levin, of Feilding, is staying at the Club Hotel. By the lonic, which sails to-day, Mrs. Jonee, from Pittsburgh, leaves. She has so enjoyed her short visit to New Zealand that she hopes to repeat the experience. At a meeting of the Wellington Convalescent Home Trustees yesterday, Mrs. Newman was in the chair, and Fesdames Moorhoiue, West, Knowles, Pearce and Barren (treasurers) were present. The matron reported the discharge of twelve patients and the admittance of the same number. Gifts were gratefully acknowledged from Mesdames Lattey and Snaddon. Mrs. Tringham, of Pigeon Bush, is in town. Miss Gladys Webster leaves fpr Christchurcn to-morrow. Mrs. Cormack, of Featherston, is visiting Wellington. Miss M'Kenzie, sister of the Hon. R. M'Kenzie, came from England by the Athenic,_ and is staying at the Cecil. # • Mrs. M' Hardy, of Napier, is staying at the Club Hotel. Mrs. Smith, wife of the Hon. G. J. Smith, M.L.C., arrived yesterday from Christchurch., Dr. Editn Huntley gave an enjoyable musical evening at her residence, "The Eyrie," yesterday. Arum lilies and flowers decorated the drawingroom, and the supper-tabla in the diningroom was a harmony of red and white. The hostess wore a red velvet frock and an overdress of embroidered satin. Music and recitations were given by Alisses Fleming, Kelly, Dawson, Kennaway, Mrs. M'Villy, and Mr. Brethertbn. There has been a lamentable want of response to tho appeal for collectors for Ambulance Saturday. Out of two hundred and fifty invitations, only four 1 acceptances have been received. There ■i>? still lime for girls to reconsider and offer help in such a w good cause. It means so little to them, and perhaps so much to the funds. The monthly meeting of the Women's Social and Political League \v#s held yesterday at Mrs. Moore's residence, ■Mrs. Key Brown in the chair. An addrees on* emigration, that was to have ibeen given, was postponed as the lady •was not able to come. The next, meeting takes place the first week in February. . The Rev. Gibson Smith and Mrs. •Smith are back from a visit to Auckland and Rotorun. Miss Tread well, whose marriage to Dr. Begg takes place next Thursday, was the central figure in a d'oyley tea given yesterday afternoon by Mrs. Wylie. A number of dainty doylies were brought, some of exquisite handmade lace and embroidery. The tea table was charmingly arranged witli sweet-peas and grasses, and in the pretty drawingroom were set bowls of roses and large yellow daisies. Mrs. Wylie's graceful gown -was of white corded silk voile, with lake yoke and sleeves, and touches of bronze Velvet in pipings and buttons. Miss Wylie wore a rose silk princess frock with front panel and sleeve bands of heavilyembroidered silk face, and sleeves and yoke of tucked net. Miss Tread well wore white silk, and a cluster of red carnations forming a charming note of colour. The guests much enjoyed the singing of Miss. Tread well, and Miss Wylie, Mrs. C'achemaile's and Miss D'Oyley's playing, and Miss Geddis's recitations. Mrs. and Miss Wylie intend shortly to leave on a trip to the Hot Lakes DistrictA charming handkerchief tea was given for Miss Treadwell by Mrs. Baldwin, of Kelburue, on Wednesday afternoon. The marriage of Miss Ellen Margaret (Daisy) Mungavin, daughter of Mr. P. Mungavm, of Porirua, with Mr. John Charles Hearsey, of Longburn, was celebrated in the Anglican Church, at Porirua, on Wednesday, Ist December. A dance was given by Air. Mungavin in the evening at the Porirua Hotel. A hundred and thirty guests were present, and a delightful time spent. Miss Elsie Nicol danced a sailor's hornpipe. Mr. and Mrs. Hearsey have gone to Rotorua for their honeymoon. Mrs. Algar Williams has been elected lion, secretary of the women's section of the local branch of the Navy League.

Nobody champions her sex more vigorously than I, and it is only because of my love and admiration for wbmen that 1 wish to point out a failing which is still too common in our ranks. This is the love of gossip (cays a writer in the Sydney Herald). Women can >-ise to the most heroic, most sublime heights. They have evinced magnificent courage in face of danger, have shown themselves capable of tho utmost devotion and of divinest self-sacrifice. These are great qualities, and are called out by great emergencies. It is not always tne timo of stress, however, and it is when the tension is relaxed that our ordinary fibres shows. If is then that we are guilty of a pettiness of speech and feeling that in our time of exaltation seems almost incredible. Women of to-day, with their ever-increasing freedom of thought and action, have out-grown to a large extent the narrow-mindedness which once- characterised them in social matters especially. They are so occupied with various movements and hobbies that few now would, as formerly, deliberately sit down to tear another's character to shreds. Apart from lack of time, the standard is raised. Public opinion does not sanction malicious gosßip — it is not "good form." Yet we have not lost, the taint altogether. It is right and natural that we should be intensely interested in one another, and till the end of time it will be always so. But a kindly and genuine interest in each other's concerns is very different to the gossip that is still so prevalent amongst us. We are ever ready to find the weak spot in character, the defect in looks, the lack of taste. Is it because, conscious of our own deficiencies, we are glad to realise that those we truly respect and admire, are yet not perfect, and arc thus brought down to our own level ? Mary Stuart has written a very fine collect for club women. It runs thus: — "Keep us, O God, from pettiness. Let us be large in thought and word and deed. Let us be done with fault-finding, and leave off self-seeking. May we put away all x pretence and meet ea.ch other face to face — without 'self-pity and without prejudice. May we be never hasty in judgment and ahvtys generous. Let us take time for all things; make us to grow calm, serene, gentle. Teach us to put into action our better impulses, straightforward, and unafraid. Grant that w/3 may realise it is the little things that create differences ; that in the big things of life we are at one. And may we strive to touch and to know the great, common woman's heart of us all. And, 0 Lord God, let us forget to be unkind." Surely this embodies a lofty ideal foi women. Alino Van Barentzen, an Amorican pianist, eleven years old, hae been awarded first prize at the Paris Conservatoire de Musiquo in the women's competition. According to the Argonaut, she is tho youngest person who has ever received this prize.