Women in Print.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 141, 11 December 1914, Page 9

Women in Print.

Go often to the hill-tops. From there you will see the mut in the valley of your mind.— Oyler.

What with the ability of Boy Scouts to do any handy thing— evon to the lighting of a lire with one match and the making of a delectable beefsteak pudding — and tae training of our girls to sew and cook, tao coming generation should possess ideal homos — neat, economical, and comfortable The exhibition^ of dressmaking yesterday at the Technical School was most interesting, and showed wide strides of improvement on those of bygone yeare. As well as perfection of sewing, there was artistic skill evinced in the embroideries and tho design, tho colours being matched exquisitely and the harmonies carefully preserved. It was gpod to notice that ti me — which in these days of bustle Bceme to beconio more precious every year— was not waited on. unnecessary needlework, infinitesimal tucks, and minute seams that try the eyes and are not suitable for everyday garments, and that the sewing machine had been pressed into the service. The sets of baby clothes, fascinating little garments beautifully sown and cleverly designed, were among the most interesting of the -exhibits, and some creeping frocks also showed neatness and practicability.. A pale pink sponge, cloth dressing gown had artistio_ rovers of white embroidered with trails of roses and leaves, and a whito voile frock had much pretty hand-work in the shape of fagoting on it, and was charmingly designed. Even prettier was a blush-roso voile with_ a short tunic and a bell of pink ribbon with effective touches of rich blue on it; and an elaborate rest-gown of sapphire blue voile had the daintiest collar and wrist-frills of rose ninon, the hems finished with black silk whipping. When it is remembered that all of these girls are quite young, some only fourteen, the display was excellent, and does credit to Miss Laurenson, their teacher, and the energy and enthusiasm of the pupils. Tho jewellery was beautiful, and included Eomo glorious bits of enamel and somo charming designs. Especially fine was a large bee, with a golden and bronzo body and silver wings, a set of vivid blue buttons, a bread fork of quaint, but fascinating shape, tho twisted silvor ha-ndle clasping a largo enainol, and a bracelet of silver links with plaques of brilliant crimson enamel. This is an art that is irresistibly attractive, and many of the things shown were intrinsically lovelier than jewellery treble tho value. But it was tho cookery exhibit that possessed tho most fascination, for ovor since the dcors opened there had been a steady flow of visitors, and had it not been that, in some cases, Miss Ronnie, the instructress, retained for a time tho cakes that wore sold, the counters and cpscs would have been depleted. Tho cakes and biscuits wore beautifully decorated. Indeed evory cake was a little work of art, and all sorts of things were pressed info service, rose and violet petals, angelica, nuts of every variety, cherries, and the icing was dono with much delicacy and _ oaro. Jellies, jams, pickles, bottled fruit, made up a brilliant show, tho colours being wonderfully bright and clear, and the fruit and vegetables kept whole. Sweets, too, were in | great variety, and Christmas was suggested by tho mince moot and plum pua. dings. Judging from the eager buyers, thero can be no doubt tho articles wore as good to taste as to look at, a_nd that their reputation had preceded them. Tho girls, and thei»* clever teacher, aro to be congratulated on tho splendid exhibition, Among women it is a remarkable phenomenon, says the Age, that many of thoso who lrad easy, apparently healthy lives, with opportunities for outdoor oxerciso, are often ailing, and have to be caroful about their heart, lungs, or somo othor portion of thoir anatomy No less strange is tho fact that numbers of women who lead busy lives, either as mothers or as wage earners, go on with their work steadily year after year, except for an occasional attack of influenza or other epidemic Sooial philosophers who have taken the lady of loisure as the univorsal typo of womanhood have concluded that women avo weak, puny creatures, physically. ,uiifit for any of the work of tho world. ' On thp other hand, wo see that the great majority of women can, and do, work hard without sinking into premature graves. Tho secret of this remarkable difference probably lies in the fact that ajeisurcd woman has too much leisure in which* to think of her own pains and aches, and it. is too oasy for her to givo in to them, Her physical sufferings, which are due to her never having cultivated the habit of resisting pain, seem to bo worse than tho«e of the worker who does not give in till she is positively obliged to do so. The working daughter must catch an early train evory morning, evon if she has a bad cold, an attack of neuralgia, or has been dancing till 2 in tho morning, yet tho number of breakdowns among businesseirls is not large. Tho young woman oFTeisure, who can rest on tho slightest pretext, does not seem to be any the better for tho ca.re that she or her mother takes of her precious person. Mind exercises an enormous sway ovei bodily health. This is tho indusputablo truth that underlies much nonsenso that is talked by the devotees of Christian Science and other new cults. Tho. best way to be healthy is not to think of one's health at all. Tho busy woman has little or no titno in which to ponder over her ailments. If they aro me-'oly trifling or transient her work drives them out of her head. If they are sprious, she has them attended to, but still has little time to brood over them. One of tho curses of tho unoccupied woman is that sho has only too much time in which to- wonder whether she did not overtiro herself yesterday, or catch cold the day before, or eat something that disagreed with her at dinner. It is indeed a wonder that women such as these and their children aro not permanent invalids. Perhaps thoir friends help to save them from this fato by not taking thorn as seriously as they take themselves. On Wednesday last, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, the marriage took place of Mi6S Ruby Wilson, daughter of Mr and Mrs Jame6 Wilson, to Mr. Charles Bush, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bush, of Tho Terrace, Wellington. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a costume of figured satin cloth in a pastel shade of blue, with | whito > facings, and a Jiat of white crepe de chine, wreathed with ostrich plumes. She carried a bouquet of white roses. The Rev. Gibson Smith officiated. The bridesmaid was Miss Ethel Bull, wearing a white embroidered silk cropo and a white tagel hat with large tulle rosette and pink velvet roses, and carried a bouquet of pink roses. Mr D. Bohan was best man. After the ceremony the guests were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Wilson at Godber's rooms. Mr 6. Wilson wore a frock ; of stone-grey cloth and a black hat with I feathers; Mrs. Bu3h, royal blue silk with black lace and a sequin hat with white plumes. Among the guests were : Mrs. I George Bush (Nelson), wearing a black moire silk costume and black hat; Mrs. Corry (Blenheim), mole crepe do chine frock with Oriental trimmings and black hat; Mis 6 Corry (Blenheim), navy silk frock and navy hat; Mrs. Munt, grey costume and white hat with ostrich feathers ; Mrs. Higgie, grey costume and black hat The bridegroom's present to the bride was a handsome set of black fox furs, and to tho bridesmaid he gave a gold cable bangle. The bride and bridegroom received many handsome presents, including severs 1 cheques. The publication of tho numbers of British killed givo ono some idea, of tho multitude of families who will bo plunged into mourning by this cruel war (says tho Sydney Morning Ileraald). But why need a bereavement mean the purchase of mourning clothes — often a severe tax on the resourcos of the lelatives? Ouv friends of the Salvation ' Army, who so consistently set their fnce against the vanities of drees, huvo adopted a badge consisting of a, cross and crown, to bo worn on tho left arm, as o. token of bereavement. Could not some similar emblem be devised to be worn by tho relatives ol tho3p who have lost thoir lives in tho glorious defence of thoir country? "We road that in Berlin the wearing of mourning has been prohibited. Such tyrannical methods are foreign to out free British traditions, but if a badge we.ro issued bs' tho military authorities might wo not trust the good sense of our people to adopt it?

j Ordinary mourning denotes only that tho I wearer lias suffered a- bereavement, but . a national badge would ihow that tho wearer had been privileged to givo a loved one in tho service of tho country. Australia is a land of expornnents, and has already led tho way in many wiso reforms. Sho would win praiso as a pioneer if this suggestion were adopted Our military authorities might design some such badge, which should be obtainable on pa-yment of a small feo by all relatives of thoso killed in the war It should be emblematic of tho nation. If it shouLd prove the i first step towards tho abolition of mourning garments altogether, a still furthor boon would bo conferred on future generations. Mrs. W Young left for Wanganui this morning, and returns on Tuesday Mr. and Mrs. L. Buddie arrived from Auckland yesterday Mr and Mrs. Sta-pleton-Cotton, who recently returned from England, are guests of Mrs. Hoadley, Napier. Miss Doris Taylor and Miss Nellie Noakes, of Christchuroh, are tho guests of Mrs. J. H. Freeman, Kelbum. Mrs. Gilruth, wife of the Administrator of tho Northern Territory, has gone to Victoria for the summer months. At present she iB the guest of Mrs. Ed,ward Bage, Cranford, East St. Kilda, but will shortly tako her children to the seaside. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool will present the certificates to-night at the annual break-up of the Wellington Girls College. On account of the small size of thehall the usual invitations have not been issued, parents only being invited. Bridal shower bouquets are a feature of every pretty wedding The choicest of b)joms and most artistic designing are obtained at Miss Murray's, Vice-Regal Florist, 36, Willis-street. Country orders 1 receive sfiecial attention. — Advt. For the lioys in Samoa, Christmas puddings and cakes. Steamer leaves first week in December. Order now from J. Godber and Co., ' Ltd. (telephone 263).— Advt. Now is the time when all good Bri- , tishers must rally to the support of tho Empire's trade — the English worker demands tho Dominion's help For Sowing Machines, Knitting Machines, AVashers, and other homo helps, patronise a British capital nnd handling British goods. For such linos wo have a reputation for goodi ness and value throughout tho Dominion. Our lines aro unsurpassed for excellenco and economy. Call or write Oscar Hewett and Co., the Home of Domestic Machinery, 56, Cuba-sheet. — Adt-t, Ladies preparing their wardrobe for the holidays should use the "Ideal Home" dressmaker Very simple, no difficulty in understanding it. Box containing charts necessary for every gar« ment from ball dress to pinafore, with illustrated guide book. Price 15s 6d, at Veitch and Allan's or The Economic. —Advt. For little lads, nothing neater or nicer than the fancy suits we are selling just now. We welcome your inspection. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners-street. Advt.