MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1931, Page 3

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

ITEMS OF INTEREST

(Notes by

Marjorie)

CHILDREN’S TEETH.

BAD POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND.

It has been said by competent critics that the teeth of the children in New Zealand are among the worst in the world. Out of some 60,000 New Zealand school children examined by the school medical officers less than four in every hundred have perfect sets of teeth, and over half the children had some untreated decayed teeth,, write's “Hygeia.” “Decayed teeth are a serious menace to health, and even for a short space of time they should not be tolerated either in a child or an adult. Also decayed teeth are full of poisonous germs—the poison is absorbed into the system (swallowed with t|ie food), and may infect the tonsils or any part of the digestive system, and even damage the lining of the stomach and bowels. There exists a system known as the lymphatic system, which is part of Nature’s scheme for draining away poisons from different parts of the "body. If there be too many poisons then this system becomes overworked, and in consequence cannot cope with the poisonous material. Inflamed glands of the neck, so often resulting from the presence of decayed teeth, are a familiar example of this. The poison liberated from the teeth is so concentrated that the glands cannot remove it, and consequently become diseased” (Dr. J. Campbell Menzies).

The teeth, like every other part of. the body, must first be soundly constructed and then exercised wisely if they are to be maintained in health. The average modern diet, besides being deficient in building materials, is soft and requires little or no mastication. “We have an outstanding important, and interesting lesson to learn in New Zealand from the change which has taken place in the teeth of the Maoris since the white man came. Before our advent the Maoris had absolutely perfect teeth —sound, even, jaws. Now their teeth are no better than ours. What has taken place? In their primitive state the Maoris ate natural foods ra;w or foods cooked in such a way that all nutriment was retained. Fern root contributed a considerable portion of the diet and ensured hard use of the teeth. Considerable chewing must be required to extract nourishment from fern root. In our civilised diet all sorts of machine processes have been employed, and our food now reaches us in a greatly refined condition far removed from the natural state, and often the essential parts of the grain are lost in the milling process.- There is no equivalent for fern root in our diet. This degeneration of the teeth of the Maori has been brought about by the adoption of our food and our food habits.” GIRL “BUBBLE WATCHERS.” LONDON, September 20. . “Bubble watching” was one of the deadly monotonous occupations mentioned yesterday at the British Institute of Adult Education Conference at Oxford. ' Mr F. T. Baker, Vice-Chairman of (he Nottingham Education Committee, describing a visit to a tyre factory, said that he watched a chain of thirty or forty girls dealing with rubber tubes. The crowning act was to dip the tubes under water to see if there were any punctures. For nine hours every day one girl stood over a tank of water keeping her eyes fixed on it watching for bubbles. “Does that need any education?” he asked, “A dummy could do it.” Mr Else, the Nottingham sculptor, looking on, said, “Good heavens, that occupation would drive, me mad.”

BACHELOR AUNTIES. She is as modern as to-day’s newspaper, yet she retains the traditional virtues of that heaven-sent race—the aunties. Up-to-date in dress, good at tennis, a fair (judge of’ a cigarette, sh<> gets a lot out of life and puts a lot into it, too. Champion birthday-rememberer and fairy, godmother to several small families, she also appears to enjoy the personal confidence of Fathey Christmas. When she arrives—generally with a fat paper bag—there is a shout Of joy from the toddlers. Then she takes them off their mother’s hands for a few blessed hours, bringing them back dog-tired, but “She’s an angel, that sister of yours,” says her brother’s wife. “She’s one of-the best,” he agrees. HEARD AFTER THE WEDDING. “It’s your turn now, Blanche. What about it? Come along,and let me introduce you to the best man. I promised him that I would find him a wife inside three months and ...” “Oh, dear, Charles, my little girl’s gone! She’s left me and —and I’m heart-broken. You do think he’ll be good to her—don’t you? It’s all very well for you to talk like, that, but men don’t feel things like this so much as women.” “Didn’t she look sweet? I’ve never seen such a pretty bride! Oh, dear, it makes me think of my wedding day when Bill took my hand in the* carriage and ...” “Well, to be frank, I never thought she’d marry him; I don’t mean that she didn’t want to go through with it, because she’s been mad about him for years, but I thought perhaps John might try to back ‘ out at the last minute. You know, dear, I can’t understand how two such people can possibly hope to be happy!” “Our present looked fine, didn’t it, Jim? You wouldn’t have guessed wha,t it cost in a month of Sundays. What’s that? They can’t hear; don’t be so silly. Besides, it was a nice present —wasn’t it?”

CHARITY PILGRIMAGE. TWO WEALTHY WOMEN. Two women dressed in black have been touring Britain and* are now going through the London streets distributing money to the needy. They are Miss Constance and Miss Florence Robinson, the daughters of Sir Joseph Robinson, the South African diamond field pioneer, who, .when he died in 1929, left £10,000,000 —and not a penny to charity or publicinstitutions.

Matchsellers in town and village and unemployed tramping the countryside in search of work have been astonished to see a large, luxurious motor-car suddenly stop by their side. A coloured chauffeur in livery has stood stiffly to attention, and the two women, after a few questions, have given money and then resumed their •journey. Blind beggars have felt notes pressed into their hands, heard a few kindly words from the women, and then only the purr of a fast-disappearing motor-car.

The two women are visiting. England for the first time since their father’s death, and their holiday is taking the form of a tour in whicn they are doing good by stealth. “They do not wish to speak about their benefactions,” said a friend, who accompanied them from their home in Capetown. “Their father’s will was criticised all over the world, and especially in South Africa, where he made his great fortune, because he left no bequests to public charities. His two daughters, Miss Constance and Miss Florence, have ever since then distributed hundrteds of (thousands of pounds to charity. The world has not heard of their generosity, because every gift has been made anonymously. No deserving case is ever turned down by them. It is wonderful and inspiring. Their good work in this country started the moment they landed, for their chauffeur was ordered to stop at the docks so that money could be given to a beggar at the gates. We have been touring England, and whenever an obviously needy person has been seen on the road, the chauffeur has been told to pull up. The Misses Robinson are now touring London, and $ has been most touching to see the tears of gratitude of people who are genuinely down and out when Miss Constance and Miss Florence has helped them and then passed on. My wife and I are the only people who know what has been going on. Their only remark to us. has been: ‘We must do good whenever we can.’ ”

“MARY PICKFORD.” M.P. I The Hon. Mary Pickford, the new member for Hammersmith North, has already had considerable experience in public life and is well known in Conservative political circles in England. Her father was the late Lord Sterndale (formerly Mr Justice Pickford). She has had a distinguished career, both at Wycombe Abbey School, Bueks (she left as head of the school), and at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where she graduated with high honours in the history schools. Since then she has done a. great deal of public, educational, political and social work. She was for several years a factory inspector,-and recently was a member of the Malcolm Commission, which issued a valuable report on industry and education a fe\>years ago.. She is on' several public committees, is chairman of the Whitelands Training College Council, and a member of the Council of Wycombe Abbey School. Miss Pickford has done much work for the Conservative Party as lecturer and tutor at various study courses at the new Conservative College at Ashbridge Park, and has helped with the Junior Conservative League in London and elsewhere. Some years ago Miss Pickford was asked to give two or three talks on industrial matters to some of the Conservative members of the House. She contested a seat in Derbyshire at the last election, but unsuccessfully. Miss Pickford is an able and effective speaker, decided, witty, and clear. She should prove a valuable addition to the lady members already in the House. .