FRENCH CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 33, 8 August 1921, Page 3

FRENCH CLUB

The- fortnightly meeting of the French Club was held at the: Y.W.C.A. rooms, Herbert-street, last week, 'when ther» were between 40 and 50 members preisont. Tho'principal item on the evening's programme was provided by Madima \ Tarbaicff-Benge, the daughter o£ the Russian General Tarbaieff, who now resides ■' in Wellington. It was Madame's cousin who organised p,nd ■ commanded ' the famous battalion of Russian Amazons, who fought the Germans during the late war, jumping into the breach when German , propaganda was •eating its way amongst the mass of uneducated Russian soldiers. Madame Benge gave a mint lucid address in French: She explainecl the sohool and . college.lif«, the amusements, pastimes, .and ideals, of the better class Russian girl, before and during the war, and led up to the history of the Russian Amazons who adopted the rums of "The Death, Battalion, 1': having decided to prefer death rather than -share'- the shame of the .defection' of .the'^Russian privates. It is said that practically none of the Amazons came back alive. A hearty vote of-thanks'was accorded to the lecturer, by aodlunation. Other items whioh Were well received were: piano solos by Madame, Lawrence, and. Miss* Una Simon, French songs by; Miss Drury and Mr.. 0.-Benge, and.,a liumoroui reading ; by Mr. F. Lattey.. •Amongst the visitors were officers of the Frenoh" ship, Veroingetorix, now in the harbour.:. Tho next meeting will be a. musical eveningarranged by Miss C Sullivan arid Mr. Spencer. ■••< .v , <■. .