Women in Print.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 148, 24 June 1914, Page 9

Women in Print.

It is eaoier to go down a hill than up, hut, the view is from the top.— Arnold Bennett

The death of Mrs. Todd, wife of Captain Todd, of the Commonwealth and Dominion Lino, Ltd.. leaves a large ciiclc of friends and relative^. She died in Napier, after an illness of some weeks, though she had been in frail health for some time. Her only daughter, Mis. Sim, of Clu'istchurch, was with her when slio died, and Mr. John Todd, her youngest son, arrived to-day by the Maunganui, and will go up 'with Mr. Hubert Nathan, to-night by car, to attend the funeral to-morrow. Besides Mr. John Todd and Mrs. Sim, Captain and Mrs. Todd have two other sens, Mr. Leonard, the eldest, who lives in Napier, and Mr. Richard Todd. Mrs. and Miss Coull. who have been staying at the Windsor, leave to-day for Otaki. The annual "social" of the Sacred Heart Branch of the H.A.C.B. Society takes place next week, in the Sydneystreet Schoolroom. The chaperones are Mesdames M'Gahey, E. Sommerville, Garrett, E. Gibbs, and J. Connor. The Star Boating Club's annual ball takes place next month, and is to be held in the Oriental Bay Kiosk. The committee consists of tho Hon. H. D. Bell (president), Messrs. A. S. Biss (vicepresident), A. D. Bayfeild (captain), J. E. VViddop (deputy -captain), R. M. Brewer, C. E. Bridge, C. Can-, X H. G. Galvin, P. V. Hackworth, W. C. Harrington, E. C. Holmes, C. H. Lawrence, E. C. Little, A. Mack, C. Mack, D. R. Menzies, W. J. O'Meara, C. G. Robinson, H. B. fTomlinson, and A. H. Barnett. A very enjoyable dance was given last night by Mrs. Wilford in_ the Gor-ing-street Hall. Miss Ella Bristow was a debutante. Mrs. M'Tavish left yesterday on her return to Auckland. Mr. Edwin Feist and Miss Feist, of Masterton, left yesterday for Auckland, en route for the South Sea Islands. Miss Christie, of Wanganui, is visiting Mrs. Bristow. Miss Fairbairn, of W&nganui, is a guest of Mrs. Wilford. Miss Lily Logan has decided to leave for South Africa, on a visit to her sister, on the 3rd of July, catching the Marathon at Sydney. Mrs. Palgrave, who has been staying with Mrs. J. W. Ritchie, goes to-day to the Hutt, where she will be a guest of M'fs. C. W. Adams. Some ladies go with 9 the Dominion bowling team to Sydney and Queensland, leaving on Friday next. Mr. and Mrs. H. Coles, Mr. and iilrs. F. J. Tasker and Miss Tasker, and Mrs. F. Reid are among the number. Dr. and Mrs. Bnse, of Leipsig, Germany, arrived at Auckland from Sydney on Sunday, and will visit Wellington. Professor and Mrs. Hering returned from the South yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. W. Shirtcliffe arrived from Christchurch this morning. Miss Jean Mackenzie has been visiting Mrs. D. S. Mackenzie, Levin. Miss Mason, of the Hutt, has been visiting Mrs. Pilmer, at Manaia. The Christchurch Press announces the engagement of Miss Crooke, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Crooke, to Air. Cecil Gray, both of New Plymouth. Simplicity was the keynote of the wedding of Miss Eleanor Wilson, youngest daughter of the American President, and Mr. M'Adoo, Secretary of tho Treasury, at the White House, Washington, on 7th ult. (states the Chronicle correspondent). Instead of being 'married in the ceremonial East Room, where the marriage of her sister, Mrs. Sayre, was solemnised, the smaller Blue Room was the scene of the ceremony. A small altar had been erected in front of the mantelpiece, on which is the clock firesented by Napoleon to General Lafayette, and by him to the United States. The whole room was a bower of flowers, thousands of roses, palms, and plants being in evidence everywhere. The guests were confined to relations and personal friends of the bride and bridegroom, the members of the Cabinet and their families, members of the Supreme Court, and a delegation of Senators and Representatives. Miss Wilson, who was dressed in an ivory satin gown with a long sweeping train trimmed with old and valuable lace, came in the Blue Room on the arm of her father, who gave her away. 'She was attended by her sister Margaret as maid-of-honour, her married sister as matron-of-honour, and by young Miss Sally M'Adoo, daughter of the bridegroom, and Miss Nancy Lane, daughter of the Secretary of tho Interior, as flower girls. After the wedding a reception was held and, standing in a bower of flowers, the couple received the congratulations of their friends. As at the marriage of Mrs. Sayre, the Presbyterian form of service was followed, and again the word "obey" was omitted. / It is a curious fact that, no matter what fashions come and go, there is no chance of our losing sight of the blouse. Year after year, summer and winter alike, it crops up, and its developments and changes have passed counting. As sure as we think it must have an end, and there it is again, the 6a»ne old blouse in some new form (says a, Melbourne writer). At one time it had to contrast with the skirt, then it had to .mutch, though of a different material ; then it had to be always white; and now, thin season again, it has to match, but the material must bo lacy and flimsy. At tho same lime, it must be alwsty.s remembered that there is an enormous difference between n shirt and a blouse. The former is fssentially a practical garment, which is, at present, made on the lines of a man's shirt. Indeed, some girls go as far as to actually take Will-cut shirts, such as their brothers buy, cut off the long tails, and wear them as blouses; and very wdl they look, too; for the loose shoulders, big armholes, and lowset sleeves are exactly in accordance with the needs of tho sportswoman. On the other hand, blouses, although plain omnigh, are often adorned with hand embroidery, or else a little good lace; and they are colJarless, and sometimes short in the sleeve ; but the wrist length is newer. Such blouses are of ninon, marquisette, or of lace, mounted on an imdershp of lace, or light silk, and they arc worn in conjunction with coats and skirts, or with the warm fur coats, in which bo many are clad this winter. It was amusing to listen to a number of schoolgirls/ discussing the announcement that Princess Mary has just made the big change which marks the first important step from girlhood to woman, hood for girls all the world over, by putting up her hair on her seventeenth birthday. "Poor little thing," said one. "1 suppose she simply had to; but. who wants to at 17?" "Fancy bejug grown up before you *vc 20,"

| paid another. "How awful! Nothing will induce me to come out before- 1 am 19," said a third. "I am an onlygirl, and mother says she wants me to go out uitli her, so I siippofo I must, but 1 won't do my hair in a really out' Avay for a long time after." Tho tact that Princess Mary will probably be married, or at Leaist engaged, before her twentieth birthday also came into the conversation, and the subject was met with absolute horror. In the opinion of the 17-ytar-old "flapper" of the hour matrimony should not be thought of "until one was at least 26. and the only extenuation of a girl marrying before then was that she was the elder of several sisters, and in any case she was to be sympathised with as being a martyr to a desperate cause. London theatre-goers are being delighted i with a play with a moral. The piece is called "My Lady's Dress," and although the author denies having had while writing it any desire to preach a moral lesson he expresses himself as being well pleased that his effort is being understood as such. Of course, a feminine failing is the object tof the play. Most of the success gained on the stage or elsewhere generally has that foundation, but in this case it is not likely that many of us will complain, for it seems as though there was really something to be gained from the story. Without going into much detail of the plot it must be understood that Anne, the leading character, has a firm faith in the power of a fine appearance, and, in order to make a good impression at a critical moment in her husband's life, has ordered a sumptuous gown of cloth of gold and lace. Before wearing this creation she falte asleep and dreams of the tragedies and comedies which attend the making of it. Six visions connected with her dress, in Italy, France, Holland, Siberia. Whitechapel, and Mayfair, open the gay little creature's eyes to the reality of womanhood. One critic says that each of the bits that comprise the dream might be compared to so many delightful miniatures hung on green velvet in a frame. These scenes, which are inset in the play itself, show how the details of the wonderful dress are' produced under different circumstances, some of which remind one of the " Song of the Shirt," while others are full of comedy. The story of the mannequin who displays the gown at the fashionable dressmakers is said to be in itself a study of a fairly recent innovation in the world of dress, and around the appearance of the model the climax of "My Lady's Dress" is reached. NINETEEN AND NINETY-NINE (Bj Telegrapli.— Press Association.- Copyright,) (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) NEW YORK, 22nd June. Mrs. Benson, 99 years of age, has married a youth of 19. The ancient bride is the possessor of considerable property, and has had numerous admirers.