WOMAN’S WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 18893, 18 March 1925, Page 3

WOMAN’S WORLD

[B* DIANAS

Experts of cocicl Inactions will be welcomed for this column. " Diana K will also answer all reasonable questions relating to the home, cookery, domeatlo science, and any topic of interest to her sex. But each letter or report must bear the writer’s name and address as a guarantee of genuineness, and questions that do not permit of a public reply cannot be answered. Questions should be concisely put, and the writer's nom do plume clearly written.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL. Mrs and Miss Clapperton are back after spending a few- weeks in Tcmuka. Mrs Glazebrook from the north is in town for the wedding of her sister, Miss Sidey, I Mrs Elliott, of Auckland, is with her j sister, Miss Whitson. Mrs M'Alaster left for the north, today with her daughter, Mrs Gould. Miss Cadell has left for England. Miss Miles has returned to her home in the North Island. Mrs and Miss Roberts have gone to 11 anmor. Mr and Mrs Douglas Le Cren hare left for Timaru. Mrs Lawson Broad went to Wellington to sing at the St. Patrick's concert. A large number of bridge parties have been given, hostesses including Miss Dcnniston, Mrs Durant, the Misses Allan (fur Miss Cadell), Mrs Stock, Mrs Vivian. The engagement is announced of Mary, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs \V. Williamson, Bay View, Waitati, to Mr Prank Sliced, also of Waitati. The engagement is announced of Miss Elizabeth A. (Leddy), youngest daughter of the late Mr Alexander and Mrs M Lrnnan, Devon Grange, Kyneton, Victoria, to Mr Ross M. P. Stevenson, youngest son of the late Mr Adam and Mrs Steve iso a, of Beaumont. Mrs Edward Falconer gave a very enjoyable afternoon tea uarty ir. Tmlor Hall on Thursday afternoon fu'- Mrs I)r-rbes Williams. Miss Ramsden was the vh ef guest at- a morning tea party given by Mrs IHniaysin last Saturday at the Kia Ora Rooms. Those present included Mrs Rsmsden, Mrs Le Cren, Mrs Stock. Mrs Brewer, Misses Stock, Le Cren, and Power. Miss Cadell, who leaves snortly for England, has been “ farewelled ’ by ■ several people—including last Saturday, when Mrs Finch was hostess at the lua Ora Rooms, to Mrs G. Roberts, Misses Ramsay, Pinch, Gallaway, Roberts, Neill, Hart, and Hartmann (2). The Rev, 11. L. and .Mrs Richards, of South Dunedin, were the centre of tion at a farewell “surprise party last week, as a send-off before their departure for Nelson. About forty turned up, so the affair was quite big, andjifter supper Aliss Campbell, on behalf of the guests, presented the host and hostess wuh a handsome volume, and wished them all the success and happiness iu their ritw sphere of labor. I have to remind my readers of the hi of meeting to bo hold on Tuesday, March 2L at the Y.M.C.A, Hall, Moray place, at 8 p.m., when His Worship the Mayor wm | preside. The subject under discussion will bo the rest room for the comfort of women and children at the big Exhibition. Wo are all anxious for tho success of the Exhibition, and to help to attain this we must look after the comfort, of our visitors. Jt is hoped, therefore, that all who can attend will do .so. Lady Ferguson, looking very handsome in a, Beautiful gown of mauve embossed velvet, was presented with a charming bouquet that toned with her dress_ las Friday, the occasion being a festive- dinner at the Women's Club, as a mark of joy at her return from America. The hostesses were the dub’s committee (Mesdames Edmond, Hutchison, Uoovly, T. C. Ross, C. M. Begg, Gilkison, Statham, Bines, Oldham, and Holmes, Misses Martin, Williams, Ross, and Nicolson), and contributors to the evening’s enjoyment included as vocalists .Mrs Wakefield Holme;, and Mrs Oldham, and Mesdames Statham. Doorlv, Hutchison, Gilkison, Begg, and Wakefield Holmes in a dramatic reading of ‘The Grand Chain Diamond,’ The W.C.T.U. conference opens shortly —unless the health authorities interfere—and a large number of visitors will bo here, including Mrs Cook, ot Auckland (staying with Airs Bowie); Mesdames | Evans "’ami Judson, of Wcllinulim (with | Airs Hillikcr); Airs Falconer, of Pleasant ( Point (with Airs Hopper); Airs Jones and Airs Ollivcr, of Now Plymouth (with Airs Bardsley); and Airs Goodly, of Wanganui (with Airs Sincock). It is Airs Fraser, not Aliss Eraser, AI.A., who is standing for election on the Hospital Board. Airs Eraser has the distinction of being one of the first nurses to receive her certificate from tho Dunedin Hospital, and from then till now she has been on tho committee of the Trained I Nurses’ Association—who arc her, nominees now. She has done much travelling, and 1 was actuallv in Germany when tho war 1 broke out. " In 1916 Airs Fraser went to England, and for the next few yea is was |engaged in various works, including nursin° at Walton-on-Thames, charge of the. Convalescent Cunteon at ILanichurcli, and 1 four months of street patrolling in London —and very hard work that was. Mrs (Fraser is now hon, secretory of tho Plunket Society, in addition to other public i activities. That last Thursday’s “ Alcrrymakers’ , Dance’’ was a sensible innovation was amply proved' by the numbers who turned up ana enjovod themselves. A part of ] tho Warwick*Hall is screened off for sup- - per, the Tudor Hall being thus free for - dancing, and as the price is within tho reach of all no doubt many who do not feel inclined for the more elaborate Sat- , urday Tudor Hall Cabaret will come on ; Thursday. The whole proceedings are , quite informal, and just as on Saturday ■ afternoons ladies dance with each other ( the same happens on Thursday nights. ( I Last week the music of the hall was , ■ broadcasted to many country places, and , several people rang up Air and Mrs Bari- j ing to thank them for tho joy thus brought to their homes. Saturday night was again j a (Treat success, all sorts of distinguished , 1 people coming, including Aliss Gladys Mon- j ‘crieff and party, and a good many of the , theatre crowd came to finish oft’ their , festive evening. The new “ Columba Old Girls’ Associa- 1 tion” has made a very good beginning, ; and if enthusiasm and numbers count for anything the club has a prosperous career ahead. Monday saw the first meeting, with Miss Ross, ALA., in the chair and ] Professor Davies chief speaker of tho even- , ing. In the course of his talk he mentioned some of tho ancient clubs to which ■ he belongs in the Old Country, one dal- 1 ing as far back as 1499, and he took the : opportunity of wishing this last-born all possible success. The members discussed ' various points, and agreed that they would take in hand the furnishing, or part of it, of the new hall at Columba- Collegeeach member will probably give a chair, with her name inscribed on it for future generations. Miss Ross pointed; out the great opportunities that will inevitably , present themselves for general useful activities. There was just one note of sadness—when Professor Davies made feeling reference to the passing away of one of the members, Miss Winnie Begg, a victim of the. present epidemic—and all stood in silence for a moment. During the evening Aliss Ross was presented with a handsome volume of all the numbers of the ‘Chronicle,’ 1915-1924, and then Professor Davies was given one of the new I badges in blue and gold enamel, with the Jitters C.O.Q.A. Supper and daucim: con-

cluded a splendid evening. The officials for tho voar are; President, Aliss Ross, AI.A.; vice-president, Mrs Walsh; treasurer, Miss Sheddon, M.A.; secretary, Aliss V. Gutli rio; general committee— Misses R. Treseder, AV. Grant, P. Whyte, M. Wilkinson, I. Cameron, J. Grove, AI. Armstrong, E. Patrick, V. King, P. APGeorge, and AI. Gibson. There is nothing like meeting someone who has lived through important historical events to make one realise the (ruth of things : books, newspapers, lack the personal element. At least, such wore my feelings when I met Countess—or, as she now calls herself, Aladarne—Yasnowski the other day. This lady was all through tho Russian revolution till 1923, in Petrograd or Leniiigrad, and, belonging to the aristocracy, she shared in the cruelties meted out by tho upstart Government to it. At first she and all educated people thought that some madmen had managed to get power, and no wonder, for one of their first acts was to close all shops, prohibit private property and all buying and selling. Asked how they managed for fond, Aladarne Yasnowski said that faithfif friends would sometimes smuggle . in things—in one case she herself gave a dress for a loaf of sour brown bread. Thousands, of course, died of starvation and those in authority did nothing but ruthlessly shoot anyone they could i.i the houses or streets. Even to-day no one car go to bed with a feeling of security; any moment may sec yon arrested with no reason given. The hardships are etill appal ling. The Government sends officials win tell tho peasants how much the ground should yield, and in spite of lisaslors ii the way of climate or visitations, that amount must be paid for iu taxes, the re suit being, of course, distress in iisaculest form. Whole villages are dying out with poverty and pestilence. I asked madaim whether there was difficulty in leaving Iht country. “Yes,” she replied; “I man aged to leave in 1923 with some, others a; delegates to the Baptist Conference in Sweden. At the end of the eonferenci most of the others returned, hut I de tided not to. All those who returned wen imprisoned, and three have still not heei released—and none of ns know what thi accusations are!” And vet, looking at tho gentle litt lt 'lady, with that hall-mark of good breeding—a, pleasant voice—one fails to realise all the terrible privations and sorrowsshr has suffered. She is now on a lecturing tour (to arouse interest in a work she if connected with) which has already extended through Great Britain, America, and other countries. Like many Russians she. is an excellent linguist, speaking French, German, and English fluently, ar well as her own tongue. Dunedin will have an opportunity of hearing first-hand news of Russia on Thursday at the Burnt Hall, and on Friday at First Church. WEDDINGS. ’ M’CDNN—MAfNAB. A very pretty wedding was solemnised on tho 4th insl. at the residence, of the bride’s parents, Air and Airs T. L. Alacnah, Arthur street, Timaru, when Margaret Elizabeth, eldest daughter, was mar r-d to Ernest Gladstone M'C’nnn, of Pleasant Point. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked channinc in a frock of white silk brocaded morocain, made on straight lines and caught at the side with a pearl ornament. She was attended by her sister, Aliss Mona Macnab, who wore a very becoming frock of heliotrope brocaded morocain and small white hat. Mr Erie Dean acted as best man. The Rev. Gladstone Hughes was the officiating minister. After the ceremony the guests ad jourued to a marquee, where they were received by the bride's mother, who wore a lawn jersey silk frock. Later in the day the happy couple, left for the south, tho bride wearing a henna silk morocain frock, with hat to match, and black fur coat, the gift of the bridegroom. PETERSON-HEWTTT. A very pretty night wedding recently tool; place at the Anderson Bay Presbyterian Church, when Doris, eldest daughter of Air and Airs P. Hewitt, was married by the Rev. G. H. Jupp, assisted by Dr A. Cameron, to Frank, son of Air A. Peterson. Tho church was beautifully decorated, a huge bell hanging over the altar, which made a pretty sotting for the ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked very pretty in a frock of ivory brocaded satin morocain. The chief bridesmaid, Aliss Isabel Hewitt (sister of the bride) wore a pretty frock of sea-green crepe de chine and grey hat; while the others (Aliss Gladys and Aliss Kathleen (also sisters of the. bride) wore frocks of mauve georgette and black satin hats. Air R. Irvine acted as best man. After the ceremony a reception and social evening were held at the Strand Salon. Tho hostess, Airs Hewitt, wore a pretty frock of saxe blue radium silk and grey’ georgette hat. The bride (in a fawn frock, nigger coat, and hat to match) and the bridegroom later left for Christchurch. ‘ THE LADIES’ CABINET.’ LIGHT READING A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. ‘ The Ladies’ Cabinet of Fashion, Music, and Romance ’ was a quarterly magazine published in the earlier part of the nineteenth century for the purpose, to use its own words, of “ wooing the approval of the fairest beings in creation.” Tho volume of which I write has been handed down to me through several generations (states a writer in tho ‘ Manchester Guardian ’). My careful ancestress had got tho four part's which made up tho volume carefully bound in black leather —excellently bound it is, for its cover is still perfect, and even the gildings remain. To look through the short, fat little volume is to step back into the drawing room of one’s great-grandmother, to see its white paint and its gilding, and almost to catch tho scent of its “ potpourri.” Its pages were a very armory for the pre-Victorian conversationalists. A glance through them before tho morning callers arrived would enable the reader to criticise books she had not read, talk intelligently of plays she had not seen, and even dabble in becoming and seemly snippets of popular science. The most useful of its articles from this point of view was, I imagine, one which appears in each number called ‘At Home.’ This takes the form of a conversation between one De Courcy, his wife, and his two daughters. The scene usually opens upon “ madame ” and the two Alisses De Courcy discussing a parcel of new books. When they have lightly criticised all the fashionable, works* of the day, .De Courcy enters, and the. conversation Becomes moro general, and, if possible, more, spariding, as it ranges over all subjects from the opera to animal magnetism. One entrance of Do Courcy’s is particularly striking. Enter De Courcy; “Well, girls, I have got such a treat for you.” The Misses De Courcy (together); ‘What is it?” De Courcy: “ ‘ Letters Descriptive of Public Monuments, Scenery, and Manners in France and Spain.’ ” The De Courcy girls really seem quite pleased. The romance may be roughly classified into two types. The first, and commoner, is of tho Ann Radcliffe school. The scene is set in a dark and gloomy baronial castle in the heart of the Black Forest, at the gates of which wolves howl, and .round whose dark battlements ravens croak and scream. Tho characters consist of an eld and eccentric

baron, bis wicked nephew, and an impossibly insipid maiden. These inhabit the castle. Outside, the young and gallant Lncio bemoans his lot, and holds communication hy means of doves, silken threads, arrows, and all sorts of romantic paraphernalia, with the maid ol the castle. The only other essential tor a romance. of this type is a last chapter ill ' which the entire “ dramatis personal ’ are, exterminated by sudden death. The other kind of romance is the story of simple village life, in which nothing particular happens but (lie ultimate marriage of the hero and heroine, ’i he talcs differ perhaps in detail, lint their essentials arc the same. The life of a contemporary novelist must indeed have been an easy one. PERSONALITY v. BEAUTY, Although I often come across articles containing information for pretty girls _who wish to make themselves more attractive, I rarely see advice of any sort for plain young women. Perhaps they are, not so badly in need of it, writes Constance Talma dge. After all, beanty is only skin deep. I once heard a famous actor say he would rather marry a jolly, good-natured girl, with freckled face and pug nose, than a raving beauty, with a’n ingrowing disposition. Is it not a fact that the women in history who captivated great men and made mimes for themselves wore not pretty ? Madame De Stael, Du Barry, Queen Elizabeth, and Cleopatra, according to portraits and the testimony of contemporaries, were far from beautiful. Yet they charmed really great men, and have a permanent place in the history of the world. Napoleon feared Madame De Stael as he feared no oilier woman in Europe, and banished her from France simply because of her wonderful powers of conversation and influence over men. Maria Teresa - of Austria and Catherine the Great of Russia were not beautiful, hut men died for them, and they made ?heir countries great. Make no mistake about it: the prizes if life do not always go to the beautiful girls. Some of our greatest actresses are not pretty, hut they achieved success through personality. I.have often heard the question; “ Wiry did that nice-looking man marry such an ugly woman ? ” In London and every town of the, provinces there are instances of handsome and well-to-do men who have married plain and, in some instances, ugly women. To those who seek a. reason the answer is—personality. The lucky women had character and brains. They were lovable, they learned to love someone besides themselves. In short, (heir plainness made them unolfish. The plain woman usually is unselfish. Because of this she makes the best of helpmates. AN ATTRACTIVE POWDER-BOX. The dressing fable of the modern girl is never complete without a powder pot >f some sort. One of the quaintest shapes I have, seen suggests a minaret (writes the lady editor of the ‘Age’). It is of Italian workmanship in excellent wood, well finished and polished indde, and lends itself admirably to the fashionable form of decoration. This powder pot looks most intriguing lecorated in gesso on a bright yellow ground. Oriental figures decorate the ■ase, the pointed lid being worked up in gold to give the appearance of a minaret, the work appears as though it would be impossible for an amateur, hut really it is one of the simplest and most eeffetive forms of decoration. To make one yourself give the box a rub all over with a piece, of fine sandpaper, then trace a suitable design round the, base. Oriental figures are very effective, as they can lie colored very brightly. Make a (racing of your design, then turn the pencilled side of the tracing paper on to the wood, and go over the back of the paper, outlining the design. When you fake up the paper you will find the design has been perfectly transferred. The next step is to raise the figures in gesso. For this mix some powder into a. cream with water, and apply with a crush. Very little relief is necessary for small tilings. As soon as (he gesso is dry. color the background bright yellow and rather bright blue round the base. Wafer colors of Francetti colors may be used for this, hut it is important that the colors are kept- clear and bright. A tracery of gold will improve the dresses and head gear. The lid of the box should simply he decorated with crisscross pattern in flat gold. A good coat of varnish is an improvement and helps to protect the work.