WOMEN IN PRINT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 77, 1 April 1914, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT

In every part and corner of life, to lose oneself is to be the gainer, to forget oneself is to be happy.— X. L. Stevenson.

The at homes given by Lady Stout arc always pleasant and well arranged, and notable for the masculine leaven which undoubtedly makes the feminine mass light and cheery. Yesterday afternoon the reception was in honour of Lady Stout's distinguished visitor, Miss PullenBurvy. and the guests were glad to meet so interesting a personality — one who has seen so much and can talk so picturesquely about her experiences. Sir Robert and Lady Stout— the latter in a pretty fiock of grey silk poplin with lace — received the guests, and there were also present the two doctor sons, who, with Miss Janet Stout^ helped the hostess in entertaining. Assisting with the tea were Miss B. Watson and Miss Ewart. Miss Pullen-Burry wore a handsome frock of black brocade and lace. The pretty rooms were artistically decorated with flowers, the tea table glorious with scarlet bonfire salvias in silver vases, early cosmos and dahlias set in the drawing room, and rich toned dahliag in tho study. Mrs. Firth, the lady captain of the Mira-mar Golf Club, is having a tea at 'the golf house on Friday next to say good-bye to Miss Gray, who leaves for England next week. Miss Gray has taken a keen interest in the Miramar Club, and is a promising player. Mrs. G. E. Keith and her two small sons, who have been on a visit to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clapshaw, of Willis-street, left Wellington last night, per s.s. Westralia, for her home in Tokomaru Bay. The engagement is announced of, Miss Mary Bradley, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, Hobson-street, to Mr. R. A. Patterson, of the Government Architect's staff. Mrs. Hales, of Oriental Bay, leaves to-day on a visit to Eketahuna. Mrs. Robert Sinclair and children go south to Canterbury to-night to stay with her sister, Mrs. Gerald Stead. Mrs. Bennett-Gilman and her sister, Miss Rene Grnbb, leave for England by the Hawkes Bay this week. Mis 3 Doris Chilman left fen? Christ' church last night. Mrs. Salter and Miss Olive Stuart arrived yesterday from Blenheim, and are at Kenilworth. Mdlle. Dolores arrived this morning from the South. Staying at the Occidental Hotel are : Mr. and Mrs. Parkins (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. Williamson (Waituna), Mrs. and Miss Martin (Auckland), Mrs. Macarthy (Hawera), Mr. and Mrs. Marner (Tolago Bay), and Mr., Mrs., and the Misses Hannah (New Plymouth). At the Grand Hotel are:— Mrs. Connor and Mrs. Uiidge (Wanganui), Mr. and Mrs. Tringham (Pigeon Bush), Mrs. J. Martin (Martinborough), Mr. and Mrs. Estill (London). Mr. and Mrs. J. Patter* son, of London, who have been at the Grand, left this morning for Auckland. Miss Estelle Beere returned from Auckland yesterday. Her dance recital at the Auckland Exhibition, given by some of her Wellington and Auckland pupils, was most successful and very largely attended. Miss Wyvonne Haybittle, Miss Thurza Rogers, and the Misses Marsh, were among those performing. Mrs. 'Harold Beauchamp has returned from Auckland and Rotor ua. Mrs. Trapp is visiting her sister, Mrs. Waters, at Karori. Mrs. Bendall, of Napier, is staying in Kelburne with Mrs. Robison, her daughter. Staying at the Empire Hotel are : — Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Lord (Melbourne), Mrs. Haselden (Taihape), Mrs. H. Cooper (Palmerston North), Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Cogan (Christchurcli), Mr. and Mrs. John Gibson (Patea), Miss Gibson, Mrs. Carter, and Miss Higginson (Sydney), Mrs. Ostrowski (San Francisco), and Mr. and Mrs. Tansey (Dannevirke). Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Stevens (Takapau), Mr. and Mrs. E. Garrett and Miss Uarrett (Melbourne), Miss Hopkins (Dunedin), are at the Hotel Windsor. " Housewife," in. the Sydney Mail, writes : "It is said that the needle is on the wane, and that the present generation sews very little indeed, trusting to. ready-made underwear to take the place of the finely-stitched garments which were the pride of our greatgrandmothers. Nowadays when there is a spare evening workboxes are not brought out ; but the suggestion is put forward that a picture show be visited. In the country, where there is less amusement, and in, the far away suburbs, where there is a difficulty in getting into town, women have perforce to occupy themselves in some way other than in public places, but in these cases books form the chief recreation. I am not writing now of the hard-worked mothers who have families to sew for, and whoso dress allowances are not of the largest, but of the more independent, who havo few cares and nothing really to bind them to home. That needlework is really declining is evidenced by the difficulty of getting the right kind of materials and the dearth of fancy-work establishments. In Sydney this is especially noticeable. Anything at all out of the way is unobtainable, • and the worker has to wait perhaps many months before that which she requires can be forwarded from London. Then if you are engaged on anything very artistic I you will always find groups of admiring iriends to give it the praise it deserves, and also to tell you how clever you nre. But they never seem to want to enter into any competition. It is not an uncommon thing to come across girls ! who have no idea of sewing of any kind. The reason for this is not far to seek. The majority are kept very closely at school, and Cheir lives are one long round of lessons. Sewing may be taught them, but in quite a perfunctory manner, and the parents see that their girls are well supplied with suitable clothes. Then when they'nnally leave school and come "out," they have other things to ' think of, for a complete change has come over feminine habits. Outdoor life appeals to them more than anything else, and every moment is spent in the garden, the surf, or on the golf links. So much is expected of women to-day. ! The newest books must be read, hoiise1 hold tasks must be attended to, and, I with the hundred and one things lo | make life of interest, needlework is ! pushed away out of sight. Of course, our great -grandmothers had no such lelaxations. They stayed at home, lived ' contentedly between four walls and the secred precincts of a well-kept garden, and sewed. What else was there to do '! There were no sports for them, except perhaps a mild game of archery : machines wpro unknown, and nothing could he bought ready-made. The needle will remain eyfi; atti'acjiye to spnie t Now

and again we may come across some women who are old-fashioned enough to love hand stitching, and to whom the embroidery frame and the bead loom are potent attractions. To them the exquisite tapestries handed down from one generation to the other are a delight. To the sports-woman they are a nuisance — something to keep from the ravages of moths. She has no sentiment in this direction. Her tastes are more of the bucolic order.