A LETTER FROM LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 23174, 25 January 1939, Page 17

A LETTER FROM LONDON

[By Melanie S. Primmer.] THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMAN. Judging from the number of exhibitions within the last few weeks that have been run either for women or by them, 1 can, as one of the weaker sox, preen myself that at last we are coming into our kingdom (has there really been any doubt ever?), though we are still lighting the battle of the nationality of married women. It is iniquitous at present that any foreign girl can by a little manipulation acquire British citizenship, and its inestimable protection in these troubled times just by going through a registry office with the first rogue, whereas the one who has all her life done her duty by her country, is a legal outcast if she follows tho dictates of her heart. But it will change soon, of that I am convinced. However, let us hark back to more peaceful topics, and glance at the two most important exhibitions, which, by the way, rather astonished men if Press front pages are any ciiterion. A WORLD-WIDE MOVEMENT. 'When I visited—and several times too—the wonderful show put up by Women’s,lnstitutes, I just felt sorry that your members could not look in too. Some of you may remember the lady who brought the idea from Canada, and started a tiny little gathering in Wales. Mrs Alfred Watt can now look with pride on the robust results, though as a matter of fact she is now just as busy as ever on the international side of the movement, by which country women of all the world are invited to co-operate by exchanging views and “ hints.”

First there was a fine array of embroidered banners of various W.l.’s round the walls of the Horticultural Hall, a first peep at the large amount of co-operative work. Thirty-two Surrey women produced one of the loveliest blue-ancl-white rugs you can imagine, home-dyed and hand-spun wools if you please, too. Forty members of Shropshire Federation worked at a patchwork quilt, taking six wellknown castles in the neighbourhood as their subject. BRINGING BACK THE PAST. But : I feel strongly that one of the greatest merits of all this is, that vraditional arts and crafts famous at one time in England’s history), are not only being maintained, but actually revived and rescued from premature burial. Thrift rugs, formerly made from hits of wool_ rags, have slightly altered their physique, and now shine with the lustre of artificial silk stockings, basketry' and string-seated stools likewise adapt themselves to modern ideas by making a design of the one found in Tutankhamen’s tomb, and most comfortable it is too (the stool 1 mean). Another W. 1., this time from Yorkshire, had studied fishermen jersey patterns in old villages on the east coast, and not onlv knitted the articles, but made a delightful group of miniature figures for the toy section. Quilting, both from the distressed areas in Durham, and from Wales too, is one of the successful revivals, and wealthy women now are giving big prices for bedspreads that will one dav be “ 'unseam work.” Materials used are the old style bits of coloured cotton (my favourite), or silk or linen. THE ROYAL TOUCH, A special piece of tiny quilting, that I saw in the making, was in connection with the padded early Victorian workbox for Princes Elizabeth. Each little eight-sided bit of stuff was carefully chosen for its age and colouring, the whole being correct in date. Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary (the Princess Royal, too) are members of the W. 1., presidents of the Sandringham branch, and both came to the exhibition showing much interest in tho two little figures made by Miss Warren, of Queen Victoria in 1837 and 1897, The weaving section was always crowded, for there you saw an old lady from the Sandringham Estate weaving flax grown on tho Royal grounds, and spinning it in various little things, such as pochettes. Another local ; product that caught one’s imagination was the handbag made entirely from British silk produced at Lady Hart Dyke’s silkworm farm in Kent; and still again a handbag made from the first pound of silk ever produced in England. That’s what I call ” making history.” GOOD ORGANISATION. The complete success of the Women’s Institute affair shows that we can organise if we want to. Coaches from the remotest parts of England brought hundreds of old and young, on what was their first, and probably their last, trip to London. Without any fuss this living cargo was discharged, met at the doorway, shown the rest room and where to get good refreshment at small pride, and invited to ask questions on the work that interested them. No trouble was too much, no detail too little, and when I saw the beaming faces of 70-year-olds, I felt that here indeed was a matter for congratulation. The grand total was, in the week, more than 30,000 visitors! THE OLYMPIAN SHOW. This was, of course, on a much more ambitious scale, and, being held in ono of the ugliest and quite the largest and dreariest halls in London. I generally felt too tired for enthusiasm. They called it ‘ The Woman’s Fair,’ but what’s in a name? ft was to all intents ami purposes our hardy annual, “ The Ideal Home Exhibition.”

However, two items were really outstanding. You in New Zealand hare plenty of fresh air, balconies for babies, and other blessings of an uncrowded country. But we here, especially in London, have to hunt for healthy, adjuncts. That’s why [ was so taken with the “ Sunanair Folding Balcony.” It is only 34in wide, and so can bo fitted to almost any window. In appearance it is much like a nice little galvanised wire cage, but, of course, large enough for human use. Baby’s cot is so cosy and sunny perched up outside the high-up flat, and, when you put a piece of mackintosh over the sloping roof, why, not a drop of rain can do harm to the occupant, who may welt be playing as in a room. As a final precaution, it can hold a weight of lialf-a-ton, so even the proudest mother of the plumpest offspring need fear no fall.