SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 19891, 13 June 1928, Page 10

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Miss D, Acton-Adams returned yesterday to Gliristcliureli.

Recent guests at ClrecneliJfe, St. Clair, include Air and Mrs J. Blakeley (of Patearoa), Air and Airs A. M'Tillery (of Hyde), Air and Airs Aliddlcton (of Wainiate), Airs Darling (of Camara), and Air ami Airs Erie 15. Fraser (of Wainiate).

Aliss Olive Mercer, who goes as a delegate of the New Zealand Psychology Study Clubs at the Pan-Pacific Conference, has just been asked by the organisers to give a paper on ‘ New ZeTiland Women in Professions’—truly a big subject. ■The first of Hie bridge parties to be given throughout the winter, to augment the general lands of the Otago branch of the Victoria League, was given by the president (Lady Sim) at her residence in Alusselburgh Pise. Those present included Lady Ferguson, Airs Hutchison, Airs J. Sim, Airs Jenkins, Airs Melville, Airs Actnn-Adams, Airs Crawford, Airs Greenslade, Airs Hall, Miss Gilkison, .Miss Clapperton, and Aliss Jackson.

Yesterday afternoon Airs APFarhinc, who lias taken Airs Alackenzic’s pleasant home in Belleknowcs, gave a most enjoyable “music” altcrnoon. J lie performers, all of whose items were much appreciated, were Airs ADArthnr (violin), Mrs F. Carr (songs), Airs W. Evans (songs), Airs H. C. Campbell (piano), Airs Russell (piano), Airs Marshall (songs), and Aliss Ida White (accompanist). Other guests included Mrs F. Dunlop, Airs G. Black, Airs Primmer, Airs de Clive Lowe. Airs Fitzsimmons, Mrs and Aliss Ilavell, Airs A. E. Wells, Mrs North, Airs Jones, Aliss Duncan, and Aliss Nimmo.

'The Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association is highly honoured in that its supervisor (Aliss Dutton) has been selected to represent the kindergarten work of New Zealand at the luriiicoming Pan-Pacilic Fuinuruiice in liouuiuui, A nne concert, under tue auspices of tuo Dunedin Free ixinaercarteu Association i« being organised to take place at Constance Iran, Lolumba College, next iUomlay, June J 6, to assist the delegatus expenses. Aliss IJutton needs no mlroducuoii to readers of this column, and no doubt generous public support will be given lor this good cause. Hie Ausua-uirton Club, the piay-rcadiug circle oi urn Otago Women s Club, and Oolumba College have combined to ensure a mstclass programme. Further details can be found in to-day’s and Saturdays advertisements.

Aliss Dorothy Dean was naimaily very nappy to renew a inendsnip wtiu Aliss Elsie i'rincu, begun some years ago in Fiiigland. Airs I'rincc ana nor versatile uaugliter Have Spent a good deal of time at St. Clair uuh Miss Dean and Miss d’Auvergne, ■ and indeed the fascinating iitUo oaiicing-act-ress several times joincil Aliss .Feans Saturday morning classical dancing classes. On Saturday many ol the 'Mercenary Alary' company motored to these two Hostesses at Si. Clair and spent a jolly “homey’ evening. Among those present were Airs and Miss i'rincc, Air and Airs .Morton, Air and Airs R. Fuller, Airs and Aliss Lambert, Air J. Gwiden, Air L. Rc-h, Alisscs Service and Green.

‘ Instinct as a Psychological Basis for Education’ was the .subject on which Air Al’Quccn, 8.A., lectured to the women’s class ot the \\orkers Educational Association last Wednesday afternoon. Air ADQueen said: ‘‘instinctive actions uro those which seem to bo purposive, and which are performed independently ot previous experience of similar situations.” In a word, instinct is .something which is inborn. Again, instinctive actions are modifiable—i.e., the collecting instinct combined with the instinct ol curiosity may be made the basis ol scientific work; also, :v want of self-assertion in a child may cause failure in later hie. iu teaching, children must bo thrown on their own resources. 1 here have been many classifications ol instinct. Some writers give lists ol about sixty to seventy, but the main instincts which arc* •useful to the teacher are those of curiosity, which causes tbo child to ho interested; of gregarious tendency, which enables the teachei to appeal to class feeling; of sell-asser-tion and self-submission, which must be equally balanced; _ of_ the construction and of the acquisition.

Alost of ns will remember_ the controversy over the new Art Gallery at Roman Park. Figures show; that the move was justified. Here is anotliei proof of the wisdom of the step. Aliss B. Guthrie, A1.8.E.. of Christchurch, nieco of the famous Scottish artist, bn James Guthrie, was so struck with the beauty and up-to-dateness of our new home*for works of art that she lias promised to lend her valuable collection for some considerable time. Iho Dunedin public will soon have the privilege of studying the following:— Gir s Head,’ a. pastel, by Walton; Goat (wjitcr-colonr). by Crawhall; Hbie Tit’ (water-colour"), by Alexander; ‘Old Aliil ’ (oil), by Locbhcad; Aloot on Wall’ (oil), by Lavery; ‘ Boy with Straw’ (oil), by Outline; Portrait ol T. E. Guthrie, by Guthrie; and three other oils by Horncl. Crawhnll s work it now so highly prized that the great London firms have agents in England and Scotland to gather up anything ot bis obtainable, which is not much, as ho was unfortunately in the habit ol burning many of his sketches, nr James Guthrie’s great picture of tlio statesmen of the war is to be hung in ihe National Gallery, and a special snare is now in course of preparation for it Lovers of modern Scottish art will be grateful for this generous loan

Alcmbcrs of the French Club spent a most amusing evening on Alonday, when Aliss Esmo Bcnthara organised a “ Molierc ” programme. Scenes from I Lo Mcdccin Alalqrc Lin ’ were read by Dr Thompson, Almo. and M. Saldaigne, Airs Primmer, and Air Arnold. Tills was followed by extracts from ' Les Precleuses Ridicules,’ excellently rendered by Aliss Allan, Almc. Bellugne, AI. Saldaignc, and Dr Thompson. Students gave a convincing rendering of parts of ‘Tartnfc,’ those taking part being Miss D. Cmvie, Air Bagley, Air Arnold, and Mr Dakin. ‘Le Alalade Imagine ire,’ another hilarious comedv, was in the hands of Mme. Belliigiie, Airs Primmer, and AI. Saldaigno, and undoubtedly the gem of the°cvening as regards dramatic readiwtr u'<is tlie miser s scene Iruin ‘I/Avaro,’ whose character was so well portrayed by AI. Saldaignc. To make the plavs easier to follow. Aliss Bentham indicated the theme of each, -o that even members of limited French vocabulary know what was happening. Dr Thompson, in Ids opening address, mentioned (and passed round) the fine bronze medal sent by the French Government for competition in Dunedin secondary schools.

The first woman Vice-Consul in Great Britain is Aliss Olga do la Barra, she lias for manv yearn acted as her father’s assistant, and carried on his duties as Chilean Consul-General for Scotland during his recent long leave, and now has been appointed Chilean Vice-Consul for Scotland,

At the ’.recent meeting of the Edinburg Town Council it was unanimously resolved to confer the freedom ot the citv on the Alarchioneas of Aberdeen and TVmyir. Tho Lord Provost, Sir Alexander Stevenson, in moving that tins honour should be ollered to Lady Aberdeen, referred to her meat achievements on behalf oi public health and education, and to her international work.

At a general meeting of tho Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland, Aliss Iris A Cummins, 8.E., U W. Stephen’s Green, was unanimously elected im associate member. Aliss Cummins, a native of tho County Cork, is a daughter of the late Pro lessor Ashlev Oummin.s, of University College, Cork, and has tho honour ol being the first woman to bo elected a member ot the Institution of Civil Engineers.

lluiiga/.y’s first woman conductor has just iiiaAo her debut at a conceit in the Royal Academy of Music. Aranka Nador is twenty-one years old, supports her family by giving piano lessons, having taken her diploma two vear.-. ngo, and hopes to become a symphomy conductor.

Twenty-live years ago Miss A. B. Lovelus.. tin English lucly who lives 111 Vienna, founded the John Buskin Club at tho People’s University. Her nuirberkvss pupils not only studied Enelish. but they wore brought, into contact, with English art, literature, and cull lire. It is remarkable that tho club wills carried on during tho war, and Airis Levctus, who was technically an “ alien enemy,” was allowed to continue her teaching without personal molestation. Pupils ol hers, coming fiom tho front, even paid her and tho PenylrV’s University visits. < AI, the festival in honour of the club « twentyfifth. jinniversary. speeches were made praising tho good work of Aliss Lcvetus. who has also done much, to make Austrian art known in Great Britain.

ih'w in companies in Emrlnml is cstiihlishcd by the regi&triition of tho firm of “ H. Alarm out and Dan/Ritcr, Limited.” The concern, that of fishmongers and fruiterers, ol Cahcrham, now lias as its directors Aliss Ann' F. Alarmont and Air ]f. Alarniout, th.'i latter being chairman. The innovation in the title of the firm is the fnlcher’s tribute to the wav in which liijs daughter carried on the business during the war.

'The high price of brides is beginning to worry young and marriageable men in tho East. A mass meeting held in Damascus recently elected a committee to seek a modification of the custom requiring the man who would marry to pay over a handsome sum of money to the father of tho girl of his choice. The Western custom is more to tho liking of the Eastern .swain. Th-* men working for the reform say that thev are not impelled by selfish motives, but are interested in the welfare of the State. Marriages, they say. are on tiro decrease owing to the greed of parentis who have been raising prices in the marriage markets.

If it is true that coming events cast their shadows before, the debutante ol the year ’2OOO will be almost as heavily clad as her ancestor ol the ’eighties (savs art exchange). A wonderful “ Dream of Fair Women ” ball was held at Claridge’s Hotel, London, recently, a.t which a marvellous procession of “ Fashions ol the I‘nturo took place the wearers of the gorgeous clothes being leading society people. The Hon. Airs Rupert Beckett organised the ball, which was one of the most brilliant functions of the London season. ! ’Thc debutante ol the year 2000 was shown by Miss Baba Beaton in boa, gorgeously apparelled lady, sheathed from neck to foot, with lines following; tho figure closely, a high modici hollar reaching almost, to the, too of her plumed coiffure, long tulip veil a fan finished by “curtains ’ ot soft 1 ill le, and a, (rain that, was cleft in two to collapse in graceful folds around daintily slippered feet. Many expensive, glittering gowns were worn at this fashion show, society’s latest fad obviously being ostentations show, careless ot expense.