WOMAN’S WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 22032, 18 May 1935, Page 22

WOMAN’S WORLD

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Will correspondents please note that' items intended for Wednesday’s ‘ Star ’ must be in the office by Tuesday afternoon, and those intended for insertion on Saturday by Thursday afternoon, or at the latest Friday morning. In the latter case, they must be brief. Mrs Coats, St. Clair, left on. Thursday’* morning for Auckland, where she intends to spend the winter months. Miss Elinor Jones, Invercargill, will be the guest of Miss Zoe Hudson, Tweed street, for the Capping ball. The engagement is announced of Edio Thelma, second daughter of Mr and Mrs Geo. Towns, of Edievale, to William John Harris, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Wm. Ovens, Brockville, Roslyn, Dunedin. Miss Rona Allen is spending a short holiday in Palmerston. The engagement is announced of Ruby, second daughter of Mr and Mrs E. Steele, of Oamaru, to James Patrick Concannon, of Woodlands, Southland. Miss Patrick left on Thursday morning /or Christchurch, en route _to Canada, where she/ias accepted an important advisory position in connection with the welfare of mothers and babies. Mrs Holden Mirams fvas hostess at an afternoon tea party at her home in Anderson’s Bay on Wednesday, given in honour of her guest, Miss Elinor Jones, of Invercargill. The other guests were Mrs Innes-Walker, Mrs Ralph Sleigh, Mrs Tovey, Misses Rae Taylor, and Nancy Bindley. On Thursday evening Mrs Mirams gave a bridge party, also in Miss Jones’s honour. The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestral met on Thursday afternoon, the president (Mrs P. L. Ritchie) occupying the chair. A well-attended and enthusiastic meeting planned various functions, which are to take place shortly, the main object being the enrolment of new members. . The Port Chalmers League of Mothers held its monthly meeting in the Currie Hall on Tuesday evening. Mrs L. Cleghorn presided over a fair attendance of members, three new members being enrolled. The president welcomed the speaker, Miss Morton, who" gave a most interesting talk on ‘ Education of the Adolescent.’ On behalf of the members Mrs Mirams and Mrs Thomson moved a vote of thanks to the speaker for her helpful talk and also for suggestions which would be helpful to mothers in solving problems which were met with 1 every, day with children. The musical items were rendered by 'the league choir.- Tho meeting closed,with the Benediction, after which i supper was served.

Reports of social functions will be welcomed tor this column. •' Diana '* will also answer all reasonable questions relating to the home, cookery, domestic science, and any topic of interest te her sex.

The monthly meeting of St. Philomena’s College Ex-pupils’ Association was held in the college on Monday evening, the president (Mrs P. Walsh) presiding over a large attendance. The Play-reading Circle delighted the audience with the presentation of two oneact plays, the first being ‘ The Londonderry Air,’ in which Misses E. Houston, A. Phelan, M. Daniel, E. M‘Tigue,_ and D. Aldous gave a finished performance. The other play selected was ‘ The Bride.’ > This was very humorous, and very cleverly acted by the following:— Mrs P. Walsh, Misses A. Price, G. Toomey, F. Fox, M. Ryall, and J. M'Loughlin. The composer chosen by the Musical Circle was ‘ Bach.’ Miss M. M'Mahon "gave a very interesting and instructive talk on the life and works of this great man, while Miss A. O’Connell artistically played Bach’s ‘ Prelude and Fugue in G Minor.’ Vocal solos, ‘ Youth and Spring ’ and ‘ Merry Sunshine,’ were charmingly rendered by Miss J. Williams.

Among the guests at Wanaka Hotel, Pembroke, for the week ending May 11, were: Mr and Mrs Harold Cox (Australia), Mrs H. Elliott (Wellington), Mrs James Watherston, Mr Maurice A. Collins (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs 0. Porritt (Timaru). Mrs George Hennessy (Morveri), Mr M. H. Turton (Ashburton). Mr A. S. Laurenson (Waimate), Mr H. A. Murison (Oamaru), Mr C. Charles Whittleston (Palmerston), Lady Ferguson, Miss I. G. Rattray, Mr and Mrs J. H. Hislop, Mr H. F. Skinner, Mr J. Lock, Mr A. E. C. Mathieson. Mr Chas. F. Jones, Mr John R. Sinclair, Mr G. S. Kirby, Mr W. R. Brown. Mr J. M, Smith. Mr E. N. Stewart, Mr L. B. Dawson (Dunedin), Mr J. F. Grant (Gore), Mr and Mrs T. Mathews (Invercargill), Mr J. M. Macdonald. Mr G. S. CalSer (Alexandra), Mr A. Macdonald (Cromwell), Mrs Fred Freeman (Minaret), Mr A. H. Ba,tteh Poole, Mr L. Barclay (Makaror'a), The fortnightly meeting of the St. Clair Women’s Club was held on Monday. In the absence of the president, Mrs Dalglish occupied the, chair. Mesdames Ferens and Lawrence were in charge of the evening,' and were assisted by the following:—Mesdames L. Wilson, J. W. Thomson. D,'Payne, G. North, E. Ombler, T. Williamson, E. Worthington, F. H. Pritchard, J. Bode, H. Cross, Misses O. Quartermain, and R. Brook. The Jirst item_ was an illustrated song, ‘ Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Woolf,’ followed by. a sketch ‘Money in the Boot.’ Mrs Bode sang two solos, ‘ The Piper of Love’ and ‘Feronta.’ Next followed a very amusing sketch entitled ‘The Obstructive Hat,’ Another illustrated song, ‘ A Nigger Love Song,’ was followed by a inlay, ‘ Snowed Up With a Duchess.’ Mrs Turnbull proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the performers, which was carried with enthusiasm. Supper and the singing of the National Anthem brought the evening to a close.

The Opoho branch of the League of Mothers held a meeting on Tuesday, Hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Rich and Lousley. Mrs Martindale delighted all with her , singing. The president, Mrs Thomson, welcomed the speaker, Mr J. M‘K. Miller, who gave a most interesting address on ‘ The Child of To-day.’ In spite of the cry, “ What are children coming ,to? ! ’ —a cry that has come down from generation to generation, the children of today, ,said tike speaker, : might be the same as he taught in his first school, or the children of that day might he the. ones under him now; The child of to-day is born into a world such as was never dreamed of before, this ho takes for granted as it is, all he, has known, and there would appear to be so little left to thrill him. ‘We hear,’’ said Mr Miller, “of the revolt of youth; is it not more a revolt of parents? What of home life? We parents of to-day would appear to have lost the art of knowing now to spend our (leisure for our own and our children’s advantage. Is it any wonder the child of to-day 5a affected by the conditions in which he lives in this age of rush and speed. It is a marvel that the child of to-day is still sweet and winsome, against such fearful odds. To-day we have a plethora of youth organisations, all splendid in themselves, but demanding too much’of a young undeveloped body. Permit the child to enjoy a natural childhood, ample.play, ample sleen, and sufficient necessary and interesting work, both physical and mental, to allow him to develop in a natural way, and rest assured the child of to-day will step into the ranks*of womanhood and manhood at least equal to the best onr race has produced.” A vote of thanks to Mr Miller was passed. The singing of the league’s hymn brought the meeting to a close.

The Leech Lyric Choir held the first open night for the 1935 season,on Monday lasjt, when Mrs Richard Hudson gave an address on ‘ Music in Dunedin Dating from 1860.’ The large audience of visitors, many of them contemporary with the stars of tho past, listened to Mrs Hudson’s reminiscences and personal experiences with the greatest appreciation. The information passed on to the audience was very extensive, and all branches of the musical profession received recognition. At the suggestion of Mr Leech Mrs Hudson agreed to forward a copy of her'address to the Society of Musicians to be preserved as an iteresting record of Dunedin’s musical activities. Mr James Dove expressed, on behalf of the visitors, keen appreciation of,.an enjoyable evening. Tho musical programme was of a high order. Miss 1 Mary Pratt sang ‘ Sea Wrack ’ and an Irish cradle song in' a convincing manner, and Misses Audrey Kirk and Dorothv White played ‘ Valse Brilliante ’ Song illustrations of local comvjsers were sung by Miss Ruth D. Sell, ‘My Curlyheaded Baby ’ (CJutsam). and by Mr John T. Leech, ‘ Myrra ’ (Clutaam). A composition by Charles A. Martin, ‘The Rainbow,’ a charming fragment, was sung by Mr Leech and accompanied by the composer. The choir and audience combined in singing a verse of 1 God Defend New Zealand.’ Mr John Devereaux, baritone, was heard in ‘ Mandalay ’ sung in a spirited manner.

By Diana

The accompaniments were played by Misses Marjorie M'Dowall and Jessie Jones. Among those present were, tlfe mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) and Mrs Cox, Mrs Richard Hudson, Mr and Mrs G. Scott, Mr and Mrs J. Hove, Mr and Mrs J. Patton, Mr- and Mrs S. M'Cready. Mr and Mrs W. Roy s and Miss Helen Roy. Mr and Mrs J. Dewhirst, Mr and Mrs T. Brydone. Mr and Mrs A. Hill, Mr and Mrs John Easton, Mr r,-d Mrs S.‘Jennings. Mr and Mrs E. Mr and Mrs R. Andrew. Rev. and Mrs G. C. Reay, Mrs G.' and Mjss J. North, Mr Logie and Miss Logie, Mrs and Miss Welch. Mrs D. Smeaton, Mr and Mrs S. Kingston, Mesdames 0. B. Smith. D. Barron, D. M‘Lean, Aikman. A. Russell, E. Ewart, J. Ferguson, Rcnwick, J. Davidson M. Moss, E. Smyth. J. Hayne, W. Anderson, Misses B. and I. Barth, E. Yorston, Mary Pratt,. A. George Marjorie M'Dowall. Agnes Guy Margaret Guy, Kath. Melville, Graham,. F. PaceyV Moir, Webster, Matthews. Forbes, E. Aitken, Beck, Clinch. Miller, M. M'Leod E. Sell, Phyllis Thomas, Rawei, D. Meeder, M. Tuckwell, E. Burnard. K. MacKenzie. D. White, A. Kirk, Messrs H. Paine. J. Himburg. M. Rush-Monroe, J. B. and R. Wilson. ' Dunedin Playbox. The Playbox clubroom presented a charming spectacle on Tuesday evening when Mr Russell-Wood presented his readers in W. Chetham Stroude’s threeact play, ‘ Sometimes Even Now.’ The room was gay with tubs and chrysanthemums and' bowls of calendulas and late dahlias, and _ the usual delightful atmosphere prevailed. With its first scene set in a Piccadilly grillroom in 1914, and its subsequent domestic interiors and final scenes in the present year, ‘ Sometimes Even Now ’ proved to be a very interesting and impressive play. ' The presentation was made highly effective by the use of curtains and appropriate dressing. ' As Sheila Grey, the-attractive central figure of the play, Mrs Hugh Speight gave a sincere, and when necessary, an animated reading; her changes of pace and pitch suited to the passing of the years were very effective. As Dick Gable, a war-time officer, Mr Leslie Pithie gave a good interpretation of a part calling for virile treatment; and as another officer, Noel Brandoh, Mr John Green read well and acted with ease. Making his initial appearance at the Playbox, Mr Ernest Clarke gave a creditable performnce as Charles Hartigan. Mr Clarke’s reading is perhaps a little lacking in inflection and emphasis. Mrs Grey (mother of Sheila) found a truly sympathetic reader in Mrs H. Siedeberg—her scene with v Mrs Speight was charmingly done. Mrs 0. L. Garden made the most of a comparatively small part as Anne Grey, and the remaining'- parts were effectively handled by Miss Rona Wood, Miss Cecilia Millow, Mr James Tannock, and Mr Robert Burnett. At the social hour following the play, Miss Nell Warren, Miss Nan Cameron, Miss Sheila Cameron, and Miss Leila Greenall acted as hostesses. Miss Dome Thomson, of St, Clair, who is to be a Juno bride, has recently been the guest of honour at gift parties given by Mrs G. W. Ferens and the Misses Rhoda Brooks arvd Pleasance Johnstone. The engagement is announced of Hilda Marv, third daughter of Mr and Mrs W. E." Halliwell, of Colne, Lancs., England, to Lindo Rallinshaw, youngest son of Mr and Mrs N. A. Fountain, of Laing street, Port Chalmers. Mrs M. C. MTntosh, of Surrey, England, wife of Captain M'lntpsh, of the Mataroa, is the guest of Miss Moody, Napier street, Mornington. Miss Effie Qilkison is a .guest at Leith House. Mr and Mrs H. de C. M'Arthur, of St. Clair, accompanied their daughter Betty to Wellington on Friday, when she left on a visit to England. Mrs W. A. Saunders returned on Thursday from a visit to Nelson. Mrs Maurice James, who has been the guest of her mother, Mrs Arthur Barnett, Highgate, returned to-day to her home in Christchurch. Mrs H. Dolomore and Mrs J. H. Fotheringham were joint hostesses at a five-table bridge party given in the Otago Women’s Club yesterday afternoon as a farewell to Mrs de Clive Lowe, who leaves early next month to take up her residence in Auckland. Other hostesses who have given parties in Mrs Lowe’s honour were Mrs J, Stevenson, St. Leonards, and Mrs Ivo Carr, who gave a two-table bridge party on Wednesday evening fit her home in High street, when the other players were Mrs J. H. Fotheringham, Mrs R. Fulton, Mrs T. Fergus, Mrs H. W. Bundle, Mrs H. Dolomore, and Miss P. Hunter-Weston. Mrs E. Focken and her two small daughters are passengers by the Akaroa, which left London on April 18, also Miss G. M. Galbraith, all booked for Dunedin. «• Mrs G. Barclay, the newly-appointed president of the St. John Ambulance Sewing Guild, entertained the members of the guild, at her home in Anderson’s Bay yesterday afternoon; A stroll round the lovely' garden,, which has still a 1 wealth of bloom, was much enjoyed, and upwards of 20 members enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea served in the lounge. Miss Cargill was hostess at a delightful luncheon party yesterday in the Otago Women’s Club,. given in honour of Miss Jean Begg and Miss Florence Saker, of India. A large bowl of tawny chrysanthemums, combined with brilliantly-coloured Reaves, made an attractive table decoration. The other guests were Professor A. G. Strong, Mrs E. C. Reynolds, Mrs Mackie Begg, Mrs W. Petre. and the Misses Begg. Farquhar (2), Roseyeare, Lynn, A. Gotten. K. Begg, /Nicholson, and Richardson.