Women in Print.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 116, 18 May 1914, Page 9

Women in Print.

We paint our lives in fresco ; the soft and fusile plaster of the moment hardens under every stroke of the brush into eternal rock.— Sterling.

An interesting personality has gone from Auckland by the death of Mrs. Laughlin O'Brien, of Putiki, Waiheke. She was the daughter of Monsieur and Madame de Witte, who arrived in Auckland 70 years ago,' bringing with them servants and a house, which was put | Up in Official Bay. M. de Witte represented the Netherlands. Later he made his home on Waiheke, and in those days the only communication with the mainland was by canoe. Mile, de Witte, the daughter, married Mr. Laughlin O'Brien, Judge of the Native Land Court, who died some years ago. A ! family of two sons, two daughters, and | many grandchildren have been left by ! | Mrs. O'Brien. I ,Mi\ and Mrs. Hutchinson, of Have I lock North, who have been staying at Caulfield House, return to Hawkes Bay to-day. Miss Zona Vallance, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vallatice, Masterton, came out ! on Friday evening at a dance given for her by her sister, Mrs. Erl Williams. The rooms were prettily decorated — scarlet berries and autumn foliage in the billiard-room (for the nonce the ballroom), gold and bronze chrysanthemums in the drawing-room, and Japanese maple, scarlet-oak, and berries, in the morning room—while the small supper tables, set in the dining-room, were centred with autumn roses and berries. Mrs. Erl Williams wore black shadow lace, draped with terra cotta charmeu.se ; Mrs. Vallance, black velvet and rose point; and the debutante an exquisite gown of silver brocade, draped over an j underskirt of beautiful lace. j The engagement is announced of Miss I Ivy Rittenberg, eldest daughter of Mr. I and Mrs. S. Rittenberg, of Sydney, to Mr. Alex. H. Ross, only son of Mr. Alexander Ross, engineer, of this city. I A Christchurch Press Association I telegram states that Mrs. Annie Quayle Townend died late on Saturday afternoon. The deceased lady was the only daughter of the late M.r. G. H. Moore, of Glenark, and widow of the late Dr. Townend, of Christchurch. The late Mrs. Townend was a lady who led a most retired life, and wae chiefly known for her charitable works. She was one of the kindest and most humane of women,, and was noted for her great benefactions. She was a most liberal contributor to charitable and deserving objects, and in many cases anonymously. The deceased lady was married in September, 1900, to Dr. Joseph Henry Townend, who died a few years later. She had been in ill-health for more than a fortnight before her death. Dr. Robert Stout and Dr. R. 0 Whyte will be the lecturers at two first aid (St. John Ambulance) classes which are to be held at the Young Women's Christian Association this winter. A later afternoon class on Fridays will begin in June. Dr. Whyte will be the lecturer, and the evening students will begin theiv course with Dr. Stout next Wednesday week. The afternoon class will afford an opportunity to students who passed their first aid and home nursing course last year to prepare for the fiual first aid examination, which will entitle them to the n "dallion. First in importance for keeping the hair in good condition comes the question of brushing. Here it is well to remember two things —in the first place, that the brush must be a good one, with bristles properly graduated in strength I and length to meet the special needs of the individual hair; in the second place, that the brush must be kept scrupulously clean. The brush should be chosen for its bristles, and not, as is often done, for its back. Unless a woman has exceptionally strong, thick hair, she should never use the whalebone brushes that were so popular a few years ago. Most women have now given them up, after finding that they tear the haiv out by the roots. In brushing one should be careful not to bang the scalp roughly, for distinct harm may be done in this way, particularly in the case of children. To brush properly, therefore, the hair should be parted in different places, the brush placed gently on the scalp, and drawn somewhat slowly through the length of the hair, first one side and then another. When the hair appears lifeless, very difficult to dress, or with a tendency to split —all very common conditions after a dry summer —the scalp | should be gently massaged for a few I minutes every day. Any good chemist will* give advice as to the hair wash i that should be used as a tonic. For I the massage, dip the tips of all the fingers and thumbs in the hair wash, a little of which has been poured into an open vessel for "the purpose, put them somewhat outspreading amongst the hair till they rest oh the scalp, and rub them round and round, describing little circles, with a gentle but firm pressure. Those who pursue this treatment for some weeks will be surprised at the improvement in the condition of the hair. Before beginning this treatment, if there is dandruff in the hair, the best plan is to rub about a teaspoonful of olive oij well into the scalp before going to bed, and to wash the hair the following morning. This removes a good deal of the dandruff, and the scalp is in good condition for receiving the treatment. Women who wish to preserve the brightness of the hair should always dry it in the sun; ,a sun bath had long been known to be one of the best tonics for the hair. America, that country of social crusades has started, during the last year or so, what is described as a "Better Babies" crusade. Committees in fifteen or more States have taken up the matter energetically, and prizes are awarded for the best babies. But the judging is j not AoM at baby shows. For a period I which is never lees than six weeks the babies are under the observation of boards, consisting for the most part of medical women and experienced mothers, and weights are taken and the babies examined periodically. Newspapeis and magazines have taken up the trtatfler enthusiastically, and freely publish'*information bearing on the subject. Clubs have been organised to extend the work of teaching mothers. The University of Texas has organised a staff of University v.orkers to address mothers' meetings, and assist in examinations at Better Babies' contests, and has made up a travelling exhibit ot posters, diagrams, and pamphlets oh health and hygiene, which is lent u> the promoters of fairs and contests. The Parents' Education Bureau, of Portland. Oregon, has instituted a five months' course of free, popular conferences on the feeding, training, and education of children. In Sioux City. lowa, the Federation of Women's Clubs has decided to collect funds to build a Bettor Bnbips' building, with a mod^l nursery. In Shnwnee. Oklohann. (he Mother*.' Club has n model nursery building, in which.permanent work for child bettciment is being carried on. In Scio, Oregon, the city health officer, in co-opera- ' dosl with another doctor, has taken up the work. Si Florence, South Caiolina, a mothere' dnb is being formed for the purpose, and in Council Bluffs. lowa, a fathers' club has been organised to keep the fathers in touch with the Board of

Education and the mothers' and teachers' clubs, and to discuss problems connected with the training and school life ot children. I receive complaints from time to time from young ladie6 of what they term "the tyrannies of home" (says the Editress of the Gentlewoman). 'When I start the perusal of t!]ese letters I generally expect k> find the fair writers subjected to a species of rules and regulations with regard to their conduct and work which are suggestive of the strict surveillance of a business premises rather than a home, but I am invariably astonished, to find that the complaints are .not anything of the kind. I have received a typical one from a girl of apparently well-to-do parent^, and the gravamen of her complaint is that life is made altogether too comfortable and easy for her. Coiusidering the lives of many thousands of others, what an ironic situation iei here. She feels that she ought to be doing something 'outside the home in the larger world, and that she ou^ht to have even more to do in Jier mother's household. She fears tha,t the slight duties to which she is restricted and the pleasures and recreations which tshie ifl ordered ,to take part in by her mother will have the effect of limiting her outlook, restricting her mental vision", and making her a -worthless appendage of society, Tather than a living entity making a serious contribution towards the work of the world. It is curious that these complaints come, as a rule, from the- children of people who appear to have achieved material and social sue cess through their own efforts. It might be thought that having "gone through the mill," to use a colloquialism, they would bo the last to forget the need which exists for Borne definite aim in life for their daughters in which self-sacri-fice aoid discipline should play a prominent part. No, the mothers think, on the contrary, that though they have had to soil their hands their daughters shall be free from what they now consider to be an ignominy. How different is the case not only among the impoverished mem* bers of the aristocracy but also among the well-to-do of the cultured classes. I know scarcely a family where the children are not expected to peTform some household or outdoor duty as a part of their daily programme. They are not debarred from the social pleasures of life, but they are taught in the majority of instances that life is not meant lo be a round of pleasure, and that it exacts from all some contribution towards the general well-being of the community. Mothers would be well advised, whatever their station in life, "to eeo that each of their daughters is taught some domestic or charitable duty, so that should emergency arise they may be able to perform those little household and philanthropic obligations which go so far towards the happiness of life.