WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 13, 15 July 1918, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT.

A curious old custom remains still in a French town, which is reminiscent of the Middle Ages, and which is mentioned by a soldier writing to his parents in Wellington. It appears tliat the custom in the bread shops, instead of keeping books, is to keep accounts by means of notches in sticks, which are labelled with the names of the buyers. Madame A. comes in and takes three loaves, and three notches are added to her account. A soldier, Jules 8., comes for several for self and friends perhaps, and notches in his stick record the purchase. It appeared very quaint to the up-to-date New Zealander. Another custom of this town led to a mistake recently. A sort of town crier goes round with a boll to announce important news—sometimes war news of interest, and other events. One morning, in the extremely early hours,, the bellman was heard ringing with great energy and excitement, and the soldiers billeted round hurried out to hear what had happened. Their annoyance and disgust can be imagined when they found that they had given up some of their valued sleep to hear that "a sale of sucking pigs would be held during the day!"

A further effort in connection with the Navy League to raise money for patriotic purposes will take the form of a frand Flower and Balloon bay on 26th uJy. Permits were arranged a month ago, and a great deal of work had been done quietly, the committee being anxious to in no way interfere with France's i Day. Much support has been promised. | and, given Bne weather, the Balloon and Flower Day will not only be decorative, [ but at the same time will bring in much money. The public is sure to rise to the occasion, as everyone feels that nothing we can do is enough in return f for the services of the brave men of the Navy and merchant services who are daily living in great stress ajid danger while making it possible for us to carry 'on '"business as usual." In connection with the <Jay there will be a meeting at thi Town Hall (Mercer-street entrance) oil Thursday, 18th July, at 2.30, which all kindred societies and all in sympathy ire cordially invited to attend. [ Some fiirtl^r sums of money have been | ha.nried in to the stall organised by the French Cln' and Mrs. Waters for J>a-. which brings their total to <i"> S! i»;-*: 'tory sum of £176. There were *-. j»''.Jases in connection with the stall. ,

Quaint and charming frocks are to be seen at the Grand Opera House by those who go to "Look Who's Here." Notably the three worn by the ladies who represent Misses Present, Past, and Future. The first-named appeared in a. golfing costume, abbreviated as to skirt, which. was of cream cloth, with a wide hem ornamented with square tabs of black and orange. An orange-coloured sports i coat, and a smart black hat with tangerine ospreys completed the costume. Miss Past was charming in a crinoline ' frock of alternate flounces of black and white chiffon, with a folded bodice, andi ' Victorian hat of black and white to I match. Mittens and sandal shoes, were jen suite with the period. Miss Future ! was -wonderful in a purple and yellow hat of an exaggerated beltoppor style, ; with a velvet collarette stiffened with wire round the throat. A tunic with wide skirts also wired at the edge, was ctf black gauze patterned handsometa in jewelled effect.? with cream, crimson, and gold, worn over a narrow cream ninon skirt edged with colours to match. The futurist's settings of the scenes is : admirable, and Pierrette dresses in black and white are particularly effective. Mesdames Lowe, Faulkner, and Piper ! will be in charge of the Red Triangle cake room ton Wednesday, when there will be a very large provision of delicious cakes, pastry, scones, etc.

A very successful entertainment was given in the Oddfellows' Hall, Trentham recently, under the auspices of the St. John's Club.for Soldiers' Wives. . Lady Stout, accompanied by Mrs. Balcombe Brown, acted ais judge at the baby show. Miss Dorothy Saundere, of Wellington, sent some of her pupils, whose dancing, singing, and 'recitations charmed the audience. A bran-tub was well patronised, also palmistry. The entertainment m the evening was under the directipn of Mr.. J. Culford Bell, of Wellington, when a crowded audience showed great j appreciation. A dance followed, which was well attended. The committee expressed its gratitude to all who assisted ', in the entertainment, which brought in £45 for the widow of a soldier. | .A^quiet wedding was recently solemnis- | ed, when Miss E. L. Bryenton (Nell), eldest daughter of Mr. H. L. Bryenton, Wellington South, was married to Mr. J. W. M'Gill, engineer, Union Steam Ship. Company. The engagement is announced by cable of Major Geoffrey D. B. Devereur, M.C., Auckland Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements, to his second cousin, Miss Maye Harding, only child of Mrs. Willie Harding and the late Captain Hardirig, of tho Indian Army. Last week, at the establishment of the Champion Company, Tasman-street, Miss Doris Harvey, who has been in charge of the office for a number of years, and whose marriage to Mr. Norman Dudley— recently on active service-stakes glace shortly, wassanade the recipient of a handsome souvenir. Mr. W. Quin, as head of the firm, rof erreqV-to - Miss Har- | veyhs long and faithful service, and expressed the regret of all present at losing her. Mrs. Quiu, on behalf of the firm, then presented Miss Harvey with a silver tea service, tray, and serviette rings, and' Miss D. Gamble, for the employees, handed her a silver entree dish.

I Members and intending members of the Soldiers' Mothers, Wives, and Dependents' League are notified that a meeting will be held in the Esperanto' Hall o» Tuesday evening, at 8 o'clock. A pleasant supper party .took place at the Grand Hotel on Saturday evening, when Mr. J. Waller entertained, the members of the "Look Who's Here" Company, Mr. Thomas, of the English Pierrots, and Mr. Ralph (representative of Messrs. J. and N. Tait). Speeches were made expressing the good feeling that existed between the various companies, and Mr. F. Dennett spoke of the spirit of good fellowship between members of the Waller Company. Congratulations were given to Mr. Waller on the great success of the reopening night on Saturday, as- it is only quite recently that the company played here for nine weeks, and on their return the members were greeted by a record attendance; ;

In order to extend the usefulness of the St. Helens Hospitals it has boon decided by the Hon. the Minister- of Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) to open an outdoor department for expectant mothers, when -they may obtain advice on their condition and thus by timely treatment avert some of the dangerous complications of child-birth. It is not intended to confine this advice to those women only who intendl to enter St. Helens for confinement, but to all who may not be able, during the term of their pregnancy, to afford medical advice. Patients of outside doctors will therefor* be .welcomed, and 1 the -co-

operation of the medical profession is asked for to make the scheme a success. The establishment of such a department should greatly assist expectant mothers, as many cases of difficult labour and loss of both mother and child are. due to lack of the advice and treatment now freely offered by the Department.

.A very pretty and interesting wedding took place in Welshpool Parish Church recently, the Rev. E. H. Griffith officiating, when (says a, British paper) Miss Ethel Langrick (younger daughter of Mr. Langrick, Lloran House, Cobdenstreet, Welshpool), was married to Bdr; Frederick Smith, N.Z.F.A. (eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Edgar Smith, of Wellington, New Zealand). The bridegroom came over with the 9th New Zealand Contingent, and was wounded in France last October. He was nursed in hospital at Brockenhurst by his future wife, who has also been nursing at .Broadway, Churchstoke, and at the Cliva Hospital, Welshpool. The bride was given away by her father, and looked pretty in a dress of ivory satin with embroidered net veil and wreath of orange blossom. Miss Tooth, of Brockenhurst, and Miss Nancy Langrick (niece of the bride) were the bridesmaids, and wore dresses of pale grey, trimmed with shell pink and saxe blue respectively, with shell pink hats. Mr. C. S. Rogers was the best man. As the happy couple "left the .church, the wounded from Clive Hospital formed a guard of honour outside the church door and formed an archway of walking-sticks. A reception was held at the Royal Oak Hotel, after which Mr. and Mrs. Smith left for Liverpool. ,