WOMEN IN PRINT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 78, 2 April 1914, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT

In every part ami corner of life, to lose oneself is to be the gainer, to forget oneself is to be happj.-lt. L. • > ste\enson.

At present there are a very large number of women teachers hard at work in Wellington at physical training. They come from .ill parts of the Wellington district, the Wairarapa only being omitted, for it was found impossible to accommodate such a number, and il lias been decided to have their tiauiing camp in May. If is encouraging to see how the new scheme has been received by the teachers. It is recognised that, in learning to improve the rising generation, to make it graceful, liseom. and healthy, they themselves are gaining m grace and health, aye in good looks, for the age is long gone by when a languid carriage aoid an interesting palour were considered ladylike, and when hysterics or a faint invariably succeeded excitement. But, indeed, the pupils of all ages — for they range- from the head assistants to the probationer and pupilteacher — are entering with great spirit into the work. Miss Hentage, one of the four lady instructors, has her class — composed of assistant teachers below the first grade — m the Boulcott-street Hall, which has been the scene of many merry gatherings, but none quite like this, so earnest in work and play. Only ono short day - had they been under Miss Hentage's instruction, and it was extraordinary how quickly and promptly were the orders obeyed, and how wholeheartedly they entered into the work. Ifc says much for their teacher, and one was struck by her quiet decided manner and her extraordinary discipline over her class of fifty. The pupils 'were mostly dressed in a variety of gymnastic costumes, and looked absurdly young— all in their teens, at least. One merry maiden, on being told this, hoped she would be ten at least before she had finished the instruction. As well as the drill, marching, muscle and breathing exercises, in which the greatest care is taken jiot to over-strain the pupil, there are games, real romps, with a serious purpose underneath the tvn — twos and threes, a. sort of tug-of-war, and other diversions, entered into with infinite zest and a healthy rivalry. This corps wears j green badges— a delicate compliment to the most distressful country that is figuring so largely in the world at present, and I am told th© wearers intend to do their best to outrival the other squads. Aj well as actual practice, there are valuable lectures on hygiene given by the instructresses : all this knowledge, takeu in diligently and given out again, should result in a neverending current of increased J^alth and vigour for the children of to-day and the future. The energy of the class — j though it has been hard at work, and at unaccustomed work in many cases — is J not at all exhausted, for when a book and a stick are not to be found, and Miss Hentage orders a search-party to the fore, the girls dash here and there, looking for the missing articles, and are quickly successful. It might' be natural to expect cases of over-strain from arduous exertion, especially among the elder pupils, but so far, in all the classes, there has only been one instance, and that was the result of a former weakness. Before wo get to the door of the Sydney-street schoolroom we hear wild cries and squeals, and for one moment the thought of a rebellion crosses one's mind. But we find two rows of merry girls, then more serious exercises overtossing above their heads, from hand to hand, a football, each row trying to beat the other in deft celerity. It is really wildly exciting, even from an onlooker's point of view, as the supple young wrists throw the ball back, and the merry laughter rings out. There is no question here either of unwillingness, and, although they have had a hard morning's work, they cheerfully fall into line and go through some exercises. Here again, under ■ Mr. Moore, whose quiet manner is in quaint contrast to the vociferous old sergeant-major that used to drill us in long-past years, the class, in only one day, is wonderfully proficient, and goes through difficult exercises well. One girl — this is a younger class of pupil-teachers and probationers— is particularly graceful in the jumping exercises. The question of dress is, of course, i\ biirning one, and naturally there are objections by some to wearing gymnastic costume while giving instruction in a schoolyard exposed to public view. But_ after all, the costume is most becoming, and considerably moro decent than th» extreme tight skirt. A uniform is not insisted on, but in one Auckland school the scheme has been taken np with such enthusiasm that all scholars and teachers, when exercising, are dressed alike, in neat suitable costumes. The head of the department lays great stress on the lectures on hygiene, which alternate with the practical work, and which will inculcate simple sane rules of health, which, after all, spells, in most cases, happiness. Yesterday afternoon a sale of work was opened by Mr. H. W. Kersley in the Khandallah Town Hall. It had been organised by the ladies of the Khandallah Presbyterian Church, and the arrangements were most attractive, competitions, amusing side-shows, and moving pictures being on the programme. The cake competitions for ladies and children were judged by Mrs. H. W. Kersley and Mrs. W. Allan. I The monthly meeting of the Women's Social and Political League was held last night in St. Peter's Schoolroom. Owing to a mistake in some of the notices, some of the members did not realise that the meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Some business was done, a number of new members enrolled, correspondence attended to, and a report received from the deputation to tho Hon. H. D. Bell. | The maternity home in connection with the Salvation Army was opened yesterday. It is a charming house hi a pleasant garden, a restful retreat, even j for a- brief time, from the noise and i hustle of the city. The decorations are I in good taste, and there are endless clever contrivances for saving work and ensuring sanitation. The mothers' dormitory was especially fresh, and the sunny balconies are attractive places, I where health and strength can be wooed back before beginning the battle afresh. Mrs. and Miss Massey returned with the Prime Minister this morning from the South. Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Watt, whose marriage took place recently on the West Coast, have arrived in Wellington. The Misses Nathan, who have been at Mount Cook and in Dunedin, returned to Wellington this morning. Mile. Dolores and Madame Vaiulonr are guests of Mr. and "Mrs. John Prouse. and leave on Saturday for Nelson and Blenheim. Very many here are looking forwdrd with pleasure to Mile. Dolores' concerts. _ The firsb one takes place on sth May in the new Opera House. Invitations have been issued by Mr. and Mrs. G. TCay for the wedding of Miss 1511011 Kay to Mr. Ambrose P. Levin. It takes place on 22nd April at the Basilica, and a reception will be held after at tht* Hotel Wimbw, .

The Port Nicholson Yacht Club is giving a series of dances on every alternate Tuesday, in the New Century Hall. The first takes - place on 14th April. The chaperons are Jlrs. Aslim, Mrs. Coke, and Mrs. Goider. Mrs. Bradshaw and Miss Sadie Bradshaw arrived from Auckland last week, and are staying at Berhampore. Miss Bradshaw is to be married to Mr. Borte, of Southall, London, on the Bth, afc St. James's Church, and leaves on the 9th for the Old Country and the Continent, where the honeymoon will be spent. Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Kersley left last night for Rotorua. The Mayoress is calling a meeting of ladies interested in the mayoral campaign, and in furthering her husband's candidature,* for Monday afternoon, at 3 p.m., in Godber's Tea-rooms, Courte-nay-place. A. pleasant farewell "social" was given to Mr. and Mrs. Fisher by Mrs. W. H. Sefton Moorhouse, president of the Wellington Nursing Guild of tht St. John Ambulance assisted by the members at Godber's, Courtenay-place, last night. About seventy guests were present, including representatives of the various ambulance branches in the city. Mrs. Fisher, who has the distinction of Serving Sister of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and is also lady superintendent and secretary of the Wellington Nursing Guild, is leaving, with Mr. Fisher, for an extended tour abroad. For the past fifteon years Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been closely associated with ambulance work in Wellington. Mrs. Fisher being one of the first to promote tho work of the order in visiting the sirk poor and affording relief before a fund was established which now provides for permanent nurses to carry out such work. During the_ evening Mrs. Moorhouse, in emphasising Mrs. Fisher's untiring efforts with regard to the guild, a-sked her to accept a travelling rug and a silver-mounted scent spray, as a token of the esteem in which she is held by the members. Mr. Cox, district superintendent, also spoke of all the good work and time Mrs. Fisher had given to furthering the aims of the society. Those who contributed to the social part of the evening were Misses Grant, Bates, Batten, Van Staveren, M'Kenzie, and Vare, Master Rodney Pankhurst, and Mr. Newton. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher leave by the Sydney boat on (Friday, en route for London Among the guests present were Dr. and Mrs. W. Young, Dr. and Mrs. Whyte, Mrs. Balcombe Brown, Mrs. Corrigan, Mrs. Mack, Miss King, Miss Robieson, Miss Mack (who is acting secretary of the guild), Miss Carroll, Mr. C. P. Powles, and Mr. Moorhouse. » A successful sale of work was held yesterday afternoon and evening in the Thorndon Methodist Schoolroom for the extinction of the circuit debt. The sale of work was opened in the afternoon by Mrs. A. L. Herdman, when there was quite a large attendance, whilst in tho evening the schoolroom was taxed to its utmost capacity. Brisk business was done by the stall-holders both afternoon and evening, and proceedings wore enlivened in the evening by numerous competitions and side-shows. A humorous dialogue, entitled "My Wife's Relations," wa-s enacted by members of the Mutual Improvement Society, and caused great amusement. The following o#v ciated at the various stalls : — Fancy work, Mesdames Moxham) Welsey, and M'Kenzie, and Mies Whitwell ; plain ' work, Mesdames Robertson, Clark, and Roberts ; flowers, Mesdames Laygor and Yon Zanten ; fairy well, Mrs. Freeman ; lollies, Misses D. Clark, Jenkins, and M. Coad ; refreshments, Mesdames Moxham, sen., Jenkins, and Miss Dormer ; art gallery, Mr. D. .M'Kenzie ; competition (various), Mrs. Seaton, Misses Leadbetter and Dankl, Messrs. Seaton and H. Browne.