Women in Print.

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 114, 17 May 1927, Page 13

Women in Print.

Miss A. Smith left last night for Auckland, where she will bo the guest w#'W A- Woo(Jger (formerly of Wellington), now of Mount Eden. Miss Oliver, matron of the John M Glashan College, Dunedin, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Fergus Macpherson, Wellington terrace. .

trrana Hotel, Auckland.

Mrs. J. Bell, Hataitai, and her son, are visitors at "Cargen," Auckland. Mrs. W. Menzies, Wellington, is visiting Chnstchurch.

Miss Bua Wintlo' (Parnrlli is nt present visiting friends in Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Leighton are visiting Auckland.

Colonel and Mrs. Bisset, who recently arrived in New Zealand, intend to settle in Nelson.

Miss Enid Price ib visiting her parents in Wanganui.

Mrs. J. B. Williams, Wellington, is the guest of Mrs. G. Valentine? Auckland.

. Mrs. C. P. Agar, of Christehjirch, is staying with Mrs. A. E. Carver, of Woburn road, Lower Hutt. A meeting of the committeo of the English-Speaking Union was held yesterday afternoon in the now headquarters* vooin at the Dominion Farmers' Building. Mr. Leigh Hunt presiding. Correspondence was dealt with, and also the question of appointing some new members to the committee to take the place of three members who had'resigned owing to ill-health or absence. The plans for the winter were further discussed, and'sub-committees appointed to make final arrangements for the luncheon on Empire Day, "and for a series of small parties to be held in the headquarters' room, with a view of showing members the room-and inviting them-to make use of it, especially when entertaining .visitors from other parts. Mr. Varney, bon. secretary, was present: also Mesdames Preston, O'Shea, Montgomery, Ohatfield, and Messrs. Caughley, Fitch, and E. Anderson.

An enjoyable evening was spent recently when St. Augustine's Company, Girl Guides, celebrated their first birthday by having a party in St. Augustine's Hall, Peton'e. The members of the local Scout troop were the guests of tho Guides, there being about 175 Scouts, Guides, and Brownies present. A delicious supper was served by the parents' committee, each Scout escorting a Guide or Brownie to tho table, and the three-tier birthday cake was the work of Mr. Merral], Jackson street, Petone. The president, Roy. F. G. Bamson, conducted the competitions and games. The following Guides and Brownies rendered musical items: Edna Thornton, Maggie Calshaw, M. Ryan, G. Donovan, Constance Bradstoek, Essie Dalsham, Enid Moas, Mavis Leadbeater, Jessie Nightingale, Margaret Williamson, and Merle Pawson. Badges for second-class work and service stars were also presented. : Mr. Bradstoek very kindly presented the Brownio pack with a Union Jack for their first birthday. -

Some useful hints comb from a London correspondent, as follow: A girl I know who goes out a'lot at night and who works hard all day, yot who always looks so sweet arid fresh, that no ono would dream she leads the stronuous life she.does, let me into her secret: It is rest! Ai soon as she roaches home somewhere about 6 p.m. Bho has a very light meal—sometimes only milk and biscuits' (she wisely takes a good midday meal). Then she Blips off all outer garments, lowerß tho bKnd and lies quiet inert for just as long'iui she can. If hor eyes are tired she first places a pad of cotton wool saturated with boracie lotion on oach closed eye. She has trained herself to lie with oven her mind inactive, and relaxos every muscle. To put it in her ,< own way: I just "flop"!—which if inelegant, is expressive! Then she has a tepid bath, followed by a cold sponge. Before doing her hair, which is shioglod and receives a vigorous brushing, she thickjy powders her face,] afterwards removing all superfluous powdor with a piece Of cotton wool Then she slips on shoes and stockings, and hor frock, then all httle etcetras, and is ready for tho fray, looking like a freshly-gathered flower.

Mrs. Glanville, of Sydney, was welcomed back from an extended tour by fifty of-.her fellow women Justices, and in responding to hor welcome Mrs. Glanville spoke of hor visit to London, whore she had had no timo for sightseeing, but had found her work completely satisfying, and of her journey-throuph the Near, East, particularly Gallipoli, whore the red, whito, and blue of poppios, the daisies, and bluebells covered the^grayes. .The peoplo in Constantinople did not now, wear fez caps, said Mrs. Glanville—they said they had re* formed—but changing tho hat docs not change the heart,,and everywhere thero were still evidences of tho cruelty of the Turk, .

Lady ,Poynter,'who has just returned from an interesting tour abroad, was the guest of the Feminist Club in Sydney, and told' tho members that Con. stantinople was an indolent land, it typified Eastern repose, and its inhabitants displayed the most marked characteristics of any race of Eastorn blood. Although they seemed to have unlimited time for contemplation, the Turks were, as a rule, a people of few words. Humorous, and sometimes cynical, yot never garrnlous, they used stories merelj # for the purposes of illustrating their conversation. There wore the professional storytellers, who sat crosslegged, with an air of wisdom, in the market place. The legends of their race, that they recounted so interestingly, were always eagerly listened to, particularly by "women, who were not usually fond of adopting the rolo of story teller. Similar to tho fablos of Aesop, the tales which wore recounted by Lady Poynter combined both humour and wisdom. Tho proverbs, a more concentrated form of wisdom, had bcon culled from the literature of Persia Arabia, Turkey, and Macedonia. Many tnat were looked upon as Western wore purely Eastern in origin, said Lady Poynter, though tho most interesting were those that wero unfamiliar. "Tho one I consider the most profound is W jaM Lady Poynter. '"I asked Allah for something to rido, and he gave me something to carry.' other clever.specimens are 'Clouds that thum der do not always bring rain,' 'Tho doc barks, hut the caravan passes on,' 'Kiss the hand you cannot bite,' and 'Striko the great that it may bo a warning to tne small.' " D

When it comes to two obediences ns it does between the Lord Chamberlain's order* for Court dresses and fashion's orders, a woman will soem to obey the one, but..contrives in reality to obey the other, Baya a London correspondent. The Qiioen- dislikes very short dresses and bare backs and several devices and fashion orders, and the Lord Chamberlain has the ppvver to turn put anybody who' has broken the unwritten rules; but it is impossible to imagine his doing it, and so women have found a sort of mean—something which is not too dowdy and yet will pass in his man's-oyo view. In his office there are hanging, as in every year, pictures of dresses which would •please the Queen at the coming Courts and the women and girls, and dressmaJc era can go and look at them; but obviously they regard them as counsel. s .? erf*otion or as the o'ver-statoment of th« other party to a bargain.

Finland is a very wonderful place for women. So many advantages are enjoyed, made possible by the liberal laws of the country where women are concerned, and the women have a just share in making laws for themselves and their families, with the result that they are responsible, splendid people. Mention is mado in a woman's paper of the "Martha Association," which owed its inception iv Finland to a time of national distress. The organisation was startod in 1899 at a time when the Kussian policy of expansion threatened to annihilate Finland's national existence. Its principal purpose at the time was to maintain and strengthen tho national spirit within the homes by raising the moral and intellectual standard of the women of the country, and' also to inspire them with an interest in practical work. At the outset many obstacles were put in the way of tho promoters by the authorities in power, but these were overcome and the courage and energy of the leaders had a great reward. The "Marthas" have existed ever since, and the work has developed in a very practical way, but tho original intention is never lost sight of, or neglected. "Martha" numbers 399 branches throughout the country, and 31,702 members, in'a population of threo million. Thero is a splendid and complete organisation, which works without confusion. The practical work includes gardening, bee-keeping, poultry, farming, cooking, and preserving of vegetables, spinning, weaving, dyeing with vegetable colours, needlework, etc. The number of small fruit and kitchen gardens laid out during one year with the help of Martha-teachers was 968, and the total number of Martha-gardens at present is 9862. There are 262 professionally trained women teachers who travel from village to village, visiting every cottage, over frozen lakes, through snowy woods, in winter, and in boats and' peasant carts in summer, giving advice and help in homes, holding courses and lectures, guiding and 'stimulating. the country women in every possible way. Due attention is p.aid to homo hygieue and the care 'of children, and "Martha" has been entrusted by Gov ernment with the arranging and distribution of prizes to mothers of heathy, well brought up children. These prizes are organised on a scientific and eugenic principle. Doll manufacture is part of the "Martha" 'industrial programme, and has advanced tremendously since it : was taken in hand, the business being a large and paying one, employing a great, number of women and girls. Hand books are compiled and distributed among the people byJ'Martha,'' and local clubs and. reading circles are formed and kept going. Exhibition and entertainments aro planned and carried out, and a feature of the work is that it is always going on. There is no forgetting or slacking, and the association enjoys a hoartfolt popularity among all classes, A yearly subsidy of a very modest description is-given by Government, and the organisation is further subsidised by agricultural societies who have learned to value the moral and social influence of tho work.

Particularly' interesting matter is given to tho senior pupils in tho "New, Zealand School Journal" for May. | 'Hunting with a Flashlight" is an illustrated account of authentic adventure, and a good' account is given of the getting and making of cocoa and chocolate. There is a story of a friendly ' dog and the continuation of a serial. ! Two fine poems, aro given, Gray's I "Elegy".and "The Burial of Sir John Moore." Tho next standards have tho story of how David Copporfield mot'his aunt, one of lifie's little tragedies humorously described by the immortal Dickens, with some good 'pootry, and an account of an Irish hero. The little ones are carefully and, daintily providod with cheery reading;as usual. Dame Fashion has decreed that the lorgnette shall once moro bo usod. states a London woman. Is it a sign that wo aro to emerge into an era of things graceful and elegant? And that we have at last reached tho limit of things crazy, fast, and go-ahead? For to uso tho lorgnette with success, demands a grace of bearing seldom seen nowadays, A mooting will bo hold at 3 o'clock to-mororw afternoon at Cockburn Street Hall, Hatnitai, o£ tho KilbirnieLyall Bay branch of the Mothers' League. Mrs. Tythe-Brown will give an address to tho mooting, and it is hoped that thero will bo a good attendance of members and friends. A rather amusing, but quito pertinent letter from "A Bacholor Woman" is addressed to a London editor, as follows:—In these days of sex equality is not the married .women's trado union a trifle out of date? "Mar-, ried women first" savours too much of tho erstwhile ' slighted "old maid." It is surely a trifle ludicrous to see some hostesses placo a uonoiitity of a wife at the host's right and a professional woman of standing at his left; because she happens to bo a spinster. Why do married mon novor Rive themselves matrimonial airs over bachelors? Of course, tho good type of matron is quite froe from this poso of superiority.

fjL g-atl&in« «P°rt of increased interest m tho <hstrict was made at tl,c fourth annual meeting of the Plunket Socaetyheld at Karori. Tho branch has dono excellent work, and tho number of mothers and children attendiiie tho rooms has shown a considerable incre"s?> .Wlth the best results. It was stated in tho annual report that Nurse Miller had made 646 visits to homes and new cases totalled 51. The nurse received tho thanks and commendation of the sub-committee and officinls. The sum of £62 10s Id has been paid into the central committee, and £21 3s 3d has boon retained. Interesting addresses had been given during the year by Dr. Joseph, Messrs. Hart and Simm. Mr?. H Hall (president) presided, and Misses. Barnett and Ward also attended fron? tho central committee. The committee for the ensuing year was elected as follow:—President, Mra. Brodie; vicepresidents, Mcsdames Konaldson, Guthrie, Kirkcaldio, and Simm; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Wells; committoe, Mesdames Hudson, Feam, Holthouse, Josoph, Berry, Lander, Stott, Lewis; advisory board, Dr. Platts-Mills,' Messrs. Simm and Taylor; hon. auditor, Mr. Smiley; delegate, Mrs. Sotham. Sunken baths of onyx and jade alabaster let into marble floors in rooms the walls of which are of black glass inlaid with silver; wardrobes fitted with double lighting sets showing clothes as they appear in daylight and under artificial light—these are two examples of the preparations London hotels are making for the coming of American visitors who are now getting ready for their annual trip to Europe. There arc to be more American debutantes, this year than last, says a London writer. ■

Women gained an important standing in Berlin, when Frau Stadratin Klara Meye was chosen to represent the Burgermeister during his absence, and also to apt as president of the Board of Magistrates. Since it occurred in sthc largest city in Germany, and it is tie first time that a woman has filled the position of Burgermeister, the choice was specially significant.