WOMAN’S WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 18851, 28 January 1925, Page 4

WOMAN’S WORLD

[Br DIANA. 3

Reports of social functions will be welcomed for this column. “ Diana " will also answer all reasonable questions relating to the home, cookery, domestic science, and any topic of interest to her sox. But each letter or report must bear the writer’s name and address as a guarantee of genuineness, and questions that do not permit oi a public reply cannot bo answered. Questions should be concisely put, and the writer’s nom de plume clearly written.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL. Miss' Mackerras is spending some time in the North Island. The Misses Damrock are back in town. Miss K. Glendinning is staying with Mrs Garth Callaway at Warrington. Yesterday afternoon Mrs Loecli gave a pleasant little tea party in honor of Lady Stout. Mrs Jackson Pnrdie left to-day for a trip to England and other countries. Miss Herbert is taking her sister, Mrs George Stewart, and one or two friends for an extended motor tour in the South Island. Dr Mary Keene has been appointed professor of anatomy at the London School of Medicine—the first time a woman has held the post. Mr and Mrs J. Fletcher have gone to Auckland for a few weeks. Mrs Vernon has also left for the north, intending to go on to England for a year or two. Mrs Statham is back in town, .and intends to stay here for some time._ Mrs Leslie Wilson and Mr Erlton Wilson have returned to town after an absence abroad of about a year. Miss Huia Sargood is back after having spent several years in England. Miss Vincent, the -well-known English pianist, and Miss Clero, of Wellington, spent the week-end with Mrs C. M. Bogg an their way to Queenstown. They expect to be back about February 4. Baroness Sadoine, well known as the authoress of * Jade and Amber,’ as well as numerous short stories, is the daughter of Mr Sam M’Culloch, of Melbourne. Miss Dorothy K. Broster has many books to her credit, including ‘ Chantemerle,’ ‘The Vision Splendid,’ ‘Sir Isumbras at the Ford ’; her latest novel being a historical romance, ‘ Mr Row!.’ She has also contributed to the ‘ Cornhill ’ ijnd the ‘ Spectator.’ She is an Oxford M.Ai, and was at one time secretary to the Regius Professor of Modern History there. Mrs Avery Robinson, wife of the composer of negro “spirituals” and other songs, and herself an American, has been holding an exhibition of “ flower sculpture’’ at the Leicester Galleries, -which the Queen visited. -The flowers are made of stiff parchment, painted in oils, or sometimes of very thin-beaten brass as a groundwork. The newly-elected officers for the Dunedin women’s branch of the New Zealand Labor Party are; President, Mrs Herbert; vice-president, Miss Egan; secretary, Mrs M’Laren. Miss Alexander has been elected delegate from here to attend the 1925 conference at Wellington during Easter. Miss Fraser, late principal of lona College, has gone to Havelock North. Miss Macdonald, secretary of the Y.W.C.A. in Dunedin, is leaving here to taka up important work in connection with emigration and overseas work under the New South Wales Government. The provincial secretary of the Girl Guides notifies that no Guide meetings are to be held until further notice—owing to the health precautions now in force. Will all the local associations please make a note of this? One of tho pleasures of a fine house and grounds is that it is possible to entertain on a largo scale, and this is just wimt Lady Ferguson did on Saturday, when sho invited the old people from the Benevolent Home and tho Little, Sisters of the Poor to spend the afternoon at “Wychwood.” About 100 guests wore there, including performers, Girl Guides (who made themselves most useful in helping with tea and that important job, “washing up”), and the special guests, whoso ages totalled to thousands of years, one man being ninety-two years old and one lady ninety-five. Tea was served in tho ballroom, and was evidently highly appreciated. A splendid programme had been drawn up, and each performer wes warmly welcomed. These included (by the courtesy of Mr Hamer) Miss Hollander, Mr Sutton, and the pianist, Mr Arthur Sandford—Miss Hollander with a charming Irish sketch; little Miss Andrews, who danced; and for singers there were Mrs Hudson, Miss Janies, Miss Denckor, to whom Mrs Little acted as accompanist. Mr Scurr then made a little speech thanking Lady Ferguson for the delightful afternoon ho had given, and the old people left with a happy memory of tho good time they had had. Otio is glad to notice the increased interest taken in art in tho dominions. Not so long ago was formed the Dominion Club in London, of which Mr and Mrs Massey were invited (and accepted) to be vice-presidents. This club is intended primarily to be of help to students from overseas, so that they can feel the sympathy of an outstretched welcoming hand, and it is also looking after the social side of things, having already successfully engineered an important ball, as well as several “at homes.” And now a new society has been formed, tho National Art Association of Now Zealand, with headquarters at Wellington. This is the first definitely national organisation concerned with the fine arts to be established in New Zealand. Its chief aim seems to be to bring art to tho people of districts which are out of reach of large towns with art galleries, and it will organise exhibitions m these places. Further, there will bo illustrated lectures and other attempts to promote successful local societies for town-planning. Applications for membership may be sent to tho hon. sec., Mr J. M'Donald, Assistant Director, Dominion Museum, Wellington, who will supply all information and the address of the nearest vice-president. The Music Circle of the Otago Women’s Club is to be congratulated on the most interesting “ at home ’ is gave last Friday, tho guest of honor being Miss Mary Campbell, of whom I wrote in lasl week’s ‘Woman’s World.’ There were other guests of distinction from far and wide. Miss IHng, a pupil of Miss Campbell, and herself running a successful studio in Christchurch, sang with unusual charm of manner. Mrs Willeby, from England, a former resident of this town, and a wellknown singer, was there, too. She has unique connections, for not only is she the wife of the world-famous song-writer, but she is also sister to a celebrity, Fergus Hume, who made such a reputation as author of tho ‘ Mysetry of a Hansom Cab.’ There was another guest from the Old Country, or rather from “ bonnie Scotland.” This was Miss Sylvia Campbell, who has been staying with Lady Ferguson, and who is now touring New Zealand. Miss Campbell is particularly interested in philanthropic work in connection with London’s “Black Patch,” otherwise tho Victoria Docks. She tells me taht the condilions are appalling, and' that the only bit of playing area is the vicar’s garden —30yds x 30yds—which does duty for cricket, football, children’s playf round, and anything else out of doors, amilies are terribly congested, often two in a room, and, as for employment, well 8,000 boys alone are among the out-of-works, and naturally going down hill rapidly. A fund is being raised to build ■

I a hall for settlement work and to otherwise help brighten tire lives of the poor people; hut it’s hard work. Besides tea and a social hour, the guests were further regaled with music. Miss Alary Campbell spoke a littlo on modern music, and snug a couple of songs with the finish that one would expect from such an artist. Airs Carr and Aliss King both sang, Aliss Campbell accompanying. It was nice to seo Lady Fenwick back after her travels, ond her daughter, Mrs White, from Timaru, was also present. Altogether, the gathering was so pleasant that people wore evidently unwilling to part. ‘EAST OF SUEZ,’ In 1923 Somerset Maugham published ‘ East of Suez,’ and at once there was quite a storm in a teacup in Peking, the scene of the play. I happened to be there at the time, and in touch with missionary circles, though not of them. Those of you who have seen this masterpiece wifi remember the thinly-veiled cynicisms of the author through the old Amah, who insists on calling herself a “ velly Chlistian woman,” because she has been baptised five times, each denomination running dow'n the others, and baptising her afresh. It is not difficult to imagine the bitterness of the various missions concerned, and though there is no doubt that Somerset Maugham exaggerated for dramatic purposes, it is equally certain that the number of Chinese who are baptised and attend services does not indicate the hold of Christianity on the people, which is of the slightest. For when it conies to the conllict of the Western and Eastern ideas, the East always wins, as we sec in Daisy's return to her China ancestry. Lo Tai Chung, in his general indictment of European culture, does truly represent the attitude of the educated Chinese. As one of them said to me ; “We like foreigners (i.e,, the white race), but we want to look after ourselves without their interference.” Our culture to them is more veneer, and the Christian love that is taught there is rather conspicuous by its absence, and (he relentless Oriental asks why there are so many wars and quarrels in Christian lands. Somerset Maugham succeeded, too, in bringing to us that groat racial problem —the Eurasian. There arc, of course, a number of them in Peking, and one meets them pretty often. The curious thing is that the Chinese resent intermarriage as racially beneath them as much as the whites do, and we see here that the Chinese wealthy merchant foretells the defeat of “ white ” instincts when pitted against the thousand generations of China civilisation. Aliss Alnriel .Starr portrayed the Eurasian extraordinarily well, not only in “ make-up ” (which was perfect), hut in characterisation, where, though strong emotion is felt, the Chinese inheritance keeps it from degenerating into melodrama. And that last touch where she definitely acknowledges the overpowering strength of China and dons the native costume was just the required finale. Indeed, the whole play must stand out for those who have visited the East as so faithful in atmosphere and minute detail that it brings back a thousand memories. STIMULATING COLORS. My patient was irritable, excitable, and —I must say it—rather short of temper (says a writer in the ‘ Daily Express ’). I questioned closely. There had been no apparent reason —husband, children, household all going along smoothly as usual. “Of course, I think 1 may be rvlher upset because wo have been changing the house, round for the winter, and my eyes are tired sewing the now orange curtains.” “ Orange “Oh, yes; we have had several of (bo rooms repapered, and my husband likes red in\' the winter, and 1 think yellow and orange curtains are so cheerful. Don’t you?” I saw it all like a (lash. Orange, yellow, and red! The three most, stimulating colors in the world, and the very worst possible surroundings for anybody as highly strung as my patient. We talked thing's over, and, of course, rooms cannot be unpapered once they have been done—at least, not in these days —hut. by careful intermingling of the soothing colors we wore able to do a, great deal, and >t was a much calmer woman who came to see me a few weeks later. AAA are so apt to choose colors haphazardly without thinking of them in relation to ourselves and to our own temperament. All the work which was done with nervous cases during the war gave us a tremendous amount of inspiration and help. AAA know that red, orange, and yellow are stimulating and exciting, and, while excellent for the phlegmatic, unemotional person, and excellent for most people, u.- s ed a-s touches, in bulk they are often only harmful. AAA know_ that purple and violet colors are depressing, and, again, not suitable to bo used in bulk. AA o know, however, that blues and greens, which, after all, are the colors Nature used most of in decorating the universe, are restful and calming. A combination can be used advantageously balancing one effect against the other, as, for instance, in a room with yellow walls with blue or green hangings, or in an orange and blue room. POLISHING BRASS AND COPPER. Quite a large amount of time lias to lie devoted to the cleaning of the various brass and copper articles in the home, and since it is only the very newest houses that are equipped with uutarnishabla metal or china fittings, there are many cases where polishing is still a daily event. There is, however, a labor-saving and highly satisfactory method of tackling the brass and capper. The items to be treated should first be thoroughly cleaned with a metal polish. Then —since the polish has a greasy basis—each article should bo thoroughly washed in warm, soapy water, and afterwards dried with a soft cloth. The next process is polishing with a paste made of rottenstone and raw linseed oil. This produces a soft sheen, which is in every way more desirable than a more brilliant effect, and which lasts for a very much longer time. A daily rub with a soft cloth will then be all that is necessary for several days. FESTIVE CONTRETEMPS. The Fleet Street Ball, _ successfully promoted by some enthusiastic spirits on behalf of' professional charities, had its amusing contretemps (writes our London correspondent). Tire prizes were to be presented to successful competitors in fancy dress by the Countess Annesley. ArVhon that gracious lady arrived, and was shown _to her box, some eager official, knowing there was a bouquet for her and seeing a huge pile of flowers in tbe rather dark corridor, handed them to her ladyship, whoso companion commented on the curious shape of the bouquet. Later an irate gentleman, attired as an Ancient Briton, demanded the supposed floral tribute, and, when told it was Lady Annesley A bouquet replied: “Bo damned! It’s my wife’s j fancy dress costume! ’’ To cap every- ' thing, there was the arrival of Mr George j Robey, who had kindly, consented to i perform some important function, but never appeared on the ballroom floor. The inflexible custodian at the door refused to admit him without a ticket)