Women in Print.

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 42, 18 February 1918, Page 9

Women in Print.

A very large circle of people in Wellington, and in other parts of the Dominion, willhear with great regret of the death of Mrs. A. L: Hei'dman, wife of Mr. Justice Herdman, which -took, place on Sunday morning, at her residence in Kelburn, after a long and I j trying illness. Mrs. Herdman's kindly disposition and sincerity in friendship j endeared her to all who were fortunate enough to know her, and she will be greatly missed by her many friends, as | well as by her husband and family, for ! whom much sympathy is felt; Mrs. Herdman was a daughter of. Mr. Marsden Smith, of Dunedin, and was married to Mr. Herdman in 1896. ' She leaves a family of seven children, three daughters-and four sons, of.whom tha eldest son is on active service, while another will go into camp shortly. The funeral was a private one,- and took place this morning. The death of the Bey. Mother Mary 1 Cecilia took place at the Convent, Lyttelton, last week. The reverend mother was 63 years of age, and arrived in New Zealand 39 years ago from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, as one of a band of six Sisters of Mercy who came to : establish Roman Catholic schools in the Diocese of Chrifctohurch. She had laboured in Hokitika, Akaroa, Rakaia, and Lyttelton, and her kindly disposition had endeared her to hundreds of children and their parents. At onetime ■she was for three years Superior of the Lyttelton Convent. The sweets made by the Misses Veitch, which are well known for their excellence, will be sold at the Tted Cross Shop on Tuesdays and Fridays. regularly. These sweets carry well, "and are particularly well suited for sending to soldiers. Pr. Elizabeth Macdonald, Senior Medical Inspector of Schools, has returned to Auckland. Miss. Allenbrook, of Wanganui, is staying with Mrs. Joseph in Hobson-street. „ Professor and Mrs. A damson have returned from Tjmaru. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Brodie are staying- in Chvistchurch at present.

A lirge number of soldiers, accompanied ov- their friends, attended the weekly dance at the Town Hall on Saturday evening. The-.'Mayor- and Mayoress were both present, and gave a cordial welcome to all the 'guests. The Entertainment Committee managed the refreshments excellently as usual, and the Trentham Band supplied inspiriting dance music.

The monthly meeting of the Wellington Central Union of tha W.C.T.U. was held at the V.M.C.A. rooms on Friday last. Mrs. M'Donald presided. Remits for the coming convention were discussed and voted upon. Mrs. M'Donald was elected delegate to the Annual Convention to be held in Timaru, opening on I2th Mirch.

Miss Florence George gave her annual party to her elocution pupils on Saturday evening, when a -very enjoyable time was spent by all present. Miss Bertha Mac Duff, Mesdames Eyles and Day (Palmerston North) helped the Misses Georga to entertain their numerous guests.

In writing of the V.A.D.'s, anpther excellent branch f work is mentioned by an English writer, who says: "Or, again, there is that no less valuable help they arc rendering in similar capacities at homes of rest for the Army nurses and for tho members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. There is, for instance, a delightfully-planned establishmeut of the *kind, of which Lady Victoria. ,dp Trafford is commandant. She and her committee were able first of all to secure a most charming place. This, indeed, has its value in the 6cherne, as the surroundings are so very unlike the typical ,' 'sisters' quarters.' Here the tired nurse comes, for a- spell of complete rest. She haa a dainty breakfast served: lier in bed ; her days can bo spent exactly as she pleases, in walks, gamea, •of vest. It is the most Imperial of meetingplaces, for. there are always "English nurses, and ; as it happened at the time of this visit, there- were also enjoying the hospitality of the home.rmriea who have cotrie tiver with the Forces irom Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and with them a-H you had a representation ■ of <jl' the> nursing uniforms now worn in France. Since the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps has como into very energetic being 1, Lady Victoria, de TrafforcJ has enlarged, her borders by taking snottier house across the voad for the members of this new contingent. In each of these houses the entire pervice, with the exception of some help from. French. charwomen in scrubbing and cleaning, _ is done by tho V.A.D.'s with a cheerful readinees to take up any, sort of work asked from them that will smooth the way for those whose duties lie in other directions."

Ori Saturday afternoon Maliiii, the Magician, who entertained large audiences at the Concert Chamber las.t week, visited Victoria. Hospital, and for over half an hour completely mystified the sick and wounded soldiers and a party of nurses. At Malini's invitation, another party of nurses, who were unable to be present in the afternoon, attended at tile Concert Chamber, and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. During his stay here Malini visited Trentham Camp and the Soldiers' Convalescent Hospital at Lowry Bay, and gave exhibitions of his remarkable talent.

In view of the surprising statements made recently concerning the treatment of New Zealand soldiers in London— which entirely contradicted hundreds of letters received from men of all ranks, the following quotation from a letter just received froiri _ a. well-known, girl who has been working' for a year in one of the soldiers' clubs, will be interesting. She mentioned t-hafc she found the. canteen, in a ferment of indignation over the reports which had reached them that the overseas men were neglected. The writer says : "The institutions working for the benefit of New Zealand soldiers aye the best run in London.'' I have been working at one every week for a year. It is a most cheery place, and the men quite look on it as 9. home, and the same men come again and again. The chief workers—Mrs. Nolan, Mr. and Miss Burnett, Mrs. Herbert, Mrs. Findlay, and ad\y number more—' are. there every day, Sundays and all, from 8 a.m. to 10.30 p.m., and the canteen is open night and day. The men can get excellent meals, beautifully cooked, at cost price. There is no rationing here, though, all are asked to be careful- There are reading rooms and billiard looms. On 'one BYiday there is a Whist drive, and. on the naxt a, dance. They have sleeping accommodation for 300, and baths for all. There are organised excursion* all over Londfin, and every tr»in is met. The kitchen is tun by five New Zealand gir.ls—two JMiss Stucjceys, Miss Ashe, Miss Jackson, and Mi's. Baillie. They are the most charming and cheerful, people, and the men love going to see the kitchen ladies. The New Zealand men have the highest l-eoutation for behaviour of any overseas

troops—that is direct from the chief^ of the police, .and you hear them well' spoken of on every side. . . ' This club is only one of many others. No troops aro so well cared for, and no country sends so much money for the soldiers' comfort." This tribute will in _ every way ease the anxiety of any relatives of soldiers who might have taken the reports of neglect seriously.

I An appreciation from France has reached the Spinsters' Club from the staff of the hospital, in the form of a copy ot a hook of cartoons of members of the staff, sketched by Corporal Purvis while a patient there, and published by Raphael Tuck. The book forms en interesting souvenir of the hospital. Accompanying it was the following letter : —"Dear Spinsters,—Please accept this small souvenir from the folks to whom .your evergreen kindness is one of the principal bonds which links us to the •land we-love. We have to thank you for some of the happiest days we have spent in the 'Far-off Country,' and trust that the enclosed will be of interest to you as coming from those for whom you have cared.—On behalf of the staff, A. M. Prentice,' Staff-Sergeant."

Amongst the passengers who passed through Auckland'en route to America was Miss Gladys Owen, the well-known recruiting speaker of Sydney (says the Star). Miss Owen, who is one of the most convincing' speakers in Australia, spoke two ov three times a week in Mar-tin-place, Sydney, before the referendum was taken. Her mother, Mrs. Owen, who recently died, organised the Red Cross work in New South Wales. Miss Owen was travelling with her father.

In reference . to the work of. the V.A.D.'s and nurses in London, an English daily says :—There was one particular air raid during which all those who were on night duty remained at their posts without any. exception, over-, coming the personal nervousness which some made no attempt to deny, and controlling themselves to be able to allay the fears of their patients. Equally fine was the conduct of those who were off duty, the assistant matron ' setting them a fine example, while two. of the V.A.D.'s are specially mentioned by name who were in a section of the hospital rather apart from the rest, where we've ii number of medical.convalescent cases. The medical officer iv charge had given orders' that on the first alarm all patients were at once to be taken to a cellar across the' courtyard. Immediately on the approach of danger these plucky women began their task, and not until the last of the wounded had been moved to safety did they think of themselves. While the nurses and V.A-D.'s were descending into the cellar the bombs crashed down and demolished the wards that had been vacated. The medical officer's comment was : "I visited the hospital shortly after, and found the staff calm and collected, with their patients, and I consider that their calmness and . level-headedness during this time had contributed greatly in- saving the patients from injury, if not loss of life."

Such are a few characteristic instances. They would 'gain Inothing from'elaboration of detail or the employment of superlatives of expressiovi. They exemplify the magnificent spirit with which our. men are being "cared :for by the women chosen, so wisely and so carefully for their great responsibilities. Not an Englishwoman can hear of such devotion without a thrill of pride in the splendid sisterhood of mercy, and it is good to think that the same lofty standard has come into the work of Canadian and New Zealand, Australian, and South African nurses, as well a3 the brilliantly efficient contingents' of our American Allies.

Some members of the Liverpool (Eng.) Women's Industrial Council recently took it upon themselves to institute an enquiry into the working of the separatiun allowances in their social aspect. Rumours were, rife that the women were taking unduly to. drink, and that the moral effect of the separatipri' from their husbands was bad; and' it was to satisfy themselves and society in general that the council went, systematically. to the work of investigation. Beginning ■-with the Medical Officer of Health, they consulted no fewer than 12 different sources of information, including police constables, headmasters, and mistresses of elementary schools, even pawnbrokers and furniture dealers. Tho Englishwoman publishes • .an article dealing with the campaign and its results, which were in oyery way quite a triumphant attestation o£ the improvement in conduct, character, and .ondifcions among the poorer women since they have been receiving 11 steady income. Speaking-, of ccarse, of hat owri district, iv Liverpool, tli Supervisor of _ Corporation Dwellings asserted that there has been les3 drunkenness among the women, that they recorfc less to pawnshops and moiieylenders, and mat there is greater comfort iv the homes. A pawnbroker- said thnt the nature of 'his bifsiness had changed, since the beginning of the war. Instead of pledging women bought new articles froiri them, 'especially clothing for themselves and children. jewellery and gramophones and other ;>.pparent extravagances v.-ere'bought as investments, which would b( good pledges it required. Though d LinkenneSiJ had decreased., moderate drinking among women was spreading, according...to a Mpt-nnteiKlput of police. AH uutnoritio.v agreed in sajing that it' was the regularity .of, • ths allowancewhich did good-, iv the early days the long delay belwosn payments, ■ which then canle in large amounts, often led to wasteful spanding, hut. now regularity of'income led to regularity of life. Tha conclusion wus drawn that the principle of, the endowment of mothers by the State was here indicated., -and ifc was considered most improbable that wnen the war was over conditions would be allowed to fall back into the "bad pld -\vays of the bad old days.."

Why Bof, send a parcel to your soldier friend at tho front ? Godber's pack cakes, sweets, etc., in air tight tins to catch the mail each -week. Write or call for parttci^ars. Cuba-street, Lambion-quay, Courtenay-place, and Trentliarn,—Advt.

Wedding Announcement. — Beautiful roses and choicest flowers are used when designing wedding bouquets. Packed and forwarded through the Dominion. Miss Murray, Vice-regal floriste, 36.' Willis-street.—Advt.

The delight of thrifty wives !^-Golden Rule Soap, Golden Rule Candles, NoRubbing Laundry Help. 'Phone your orders to Wardell Bros., Ltd.—Advt.

Odd pants for boys aye a recurring necessity. We carry* large 6tocks oi tweed and navy serge shorts, ranging- in price from 3s 6d to_los 6d. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Mannei'e-stveetT-'Advt.

Entertainment do Luxe in the predincfe of your own home is brought to you by tha Pathephone—the incarnation of all that is. wonderful in the world of music. Invest now in a. Pathophona. It is th» jewel of all Talking Machines, yet itie lower in prico. The inimitable Sapphire Point.is responsible for tho . melodious beauty of the PathcpWie. No needles are required, and the natural tone of tho voico is pressrved. Call or write for prices of this most desirable machine.— Oii-iu- Hewott and Co.. 56, Cuba-street, just below Bank of New. Zealajid.-A.dvt..