MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 January 1934, Page 7

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

ITEMS OF INTEREST

‘ADVICE TO YOUNG LADIES." Advice to Young Ladies. From “The London Journal” of 1855 and 1862, selected by R.D., is reviewed in the London “Daily Telegraph” as follows: “All the poets and prose-writers who have written upon love are agreed upon one point, and that is that a delicate reserve, a rosy diffidence, and sweetly chastened deportment arc precisely the qualities in a woman that mostly win the attention of men. whether young or old.” That is what they thought last century. The Bright Young People of 1933 may find useful information in these extracts from the “notices to correspondents” in “The London Journal” of 1855 and ISG2. The advice given our perplexed grandmothers was outspoken, to say the least of it. Better for the married woman not to dance a polka, or waltz with an unmarried man. Better uot to kiss your sweetheart on bidding him goodbye; “men arc apt to jump at the most startling conclusions.” Better, in fact, not to kiss till marriage: “the best etiquette would be to reserve all the kissing for the honeymoon.” Blush if you can; men like it. Never smoke; “women who smoke must drink something stronger than tea.” Something, perhaps, as strong as vinegar—a dangerous tipple-. “Young ladies who drink vinegar to subdue their greatest charm in the eyes of most men—a tendency to embonpoint —do so at the expense of a red nose — which provokes a horrible suspicion.’’ (Hannibal, melting the Alps with] vinegar, was obviously the first slimming export).

Here then, is general advice, and here, too, is counsel in peculiar circumstances. * “Hanna!) H.’s” provoking admirer talks about nothing but parish affairs; let her talk about parish affairs, too. “Constance” must wait till the shy gentleman speaks. “R.W.” really would have done bettor .not to give the young clergyman a pair of embroidered braces. But perhaps the prevailing feeling is best summed up in the reply to “0.A.8.” —“Never mind the gentleman. He is very likely only prowling in search of prey.”

TO WED IN PERU. MISS WILFORD’S ROMANCE. LONDON, December' 1. TlierJ is an infectious atmosphere of subdued flurry and excitement in the offices of New Zealand's High Commissioner (Sir Thomas Wilford) — for pretty Miss Isabel Wilford, h-s , only daughter, is busy sup'erintcndi’ig the packing of the entire furnishing of a. house, to be sent out to Peru. ! She leaves London on December 11. in company with her mother, Lady [ Wilford, aboard the Georgia from; New York. From there they will proceed to Lima, Peru, where immediate- ; Jy upon, arrival Miss Wilford will be married to Mr Edward Penrose-Fitz-gerald, a. prominent business man resident in that city. Miss Wilford is giving up the life I of a. successful West End actress —as ; well as the life of a gaiety assockiicd with her parents’ status in London. —in exchange for domesticity in -r foreign tropic land. During the last six or seven years, she has played many important - parts, her last appearance here being the lead in I he' revival of the “Dover Road.” Some of her earlier parts were played in a company of which Miss Talhilah. .Bankhead was the star. Miss Wilford understudied Miss Bankhead, and while the latter was indisposed played the lead for a. time —winning much praise from the critics for her inter-1 pietation of a typical, temperamental i “Bankhead” part. ! In reply to the question. “Do you regret giving up all this to be married.” this charming New Zealander shook her head decisively. “Even though on my return from a ; trip to New Zealand four months ago. the great C. B. Cochran himself sent for me to play an important part in one. of his'productions, my mind was quite, firmly made up,” she said “I am giving up (lu: tdage for good, and all my ‘roles’ in the Jul tire will concerned with domt-Mi< ity 1 ” It was on the return voyage from New Zealand that Miss Wilford i>. : came engaged. Che had mol her fiance for the first time iii London (wo years ago. and they had corresponded ever since. He made a special trip up to Panama from Peru to meet'the ship as it passed through the ('anal, proposed and was accepted. The exact date of the wedding has not yet been fixed, owing to the unre-

WIFE’S ‘'CLASSIC” SUIT. A JUDGE PUZZLED. Mr A. N. Blair, tailor. Maddoxstreet, Bond-street, W., at Westminster County-court recently sued Dr F. W. Watkyn-Thomas, EaWn-terrace, W., and Mrs A. M, Watkyn-Thomas, his wife, for £35/8/6, for clothes. Part of the claim was admitted. The matters in dispute concerned the remaking of a dress for thirteen guineas and a. new dress at twelve guineas. Mr A. W. Elkin, for’ Mr Blair: The claim is chiefly disputed in respect to a classic suit. Judge Dumas: I can’t say that 1 understand what that is. 1 know something of classic architecture, but a classic suit beats me at present. Mr Blair said that Mrs WatkynThomas ordered a blue galatea, tailormade classic suit for twelve guineas. When it was fitted she said “It is the nice slim lino you always give me, and 1 shall not want another fitting.” When the suit was made up she required a slight alteration which he promised to make, but Mrs WatkynThomas then stated that she did not want the goods. Mr Elkin: What does a classic suit mean —something severe? —A mannish cut; “classic” is a French term. Mrs Watkyn-Thomas put on the dress and indicated what she considered was defective looseness at the shoulders. Mr J. C. Hamilton, of Maddox-street, "W., an expert witness, said that a very slight adjustment was all that was required. Mr 11. C. Hutton, for Airs WatkynThomas: Is it a perfect fit? —That is an academic term. Tailors don’t use it. If the fit. were absolutely perfect the wearer could not move in it. We don't, work in metal, but material which moves with the body. The Judge: What is the test, of whether a. dress is right or wrong? Is it whether other people -would envy or condemn it? —This dress gives a very slimming effect, which t hold is more important than a perfect fit. His Honor gave judgment for Mr Blair for the amount claimed and costs, subject to the right of Airs Wtkyn-Thomas to. have alteration made in the classic dress if desired.

liability of steamer arrivals on that particular South American run. But it will take place immediately after the arrival of the ship, approximately on January 7., Miss Wilford estimates. There will be no bridesmaids, as all her girl friends are resident, either in. England. New Zealand or Australia. But she is taking out with her ;i wonderful wedding gown of “nacre” in—white with a tinge of pink in it. which is being made by Molyneaux. In Baris lasi week at the rue Royale Salons. 1 was privileged to take a look at it. in an almost-finished stage. Tlie gown is on straight, princess lines, with just a soft bosom drapery on one side, and a train two and ahalf yards long, cut in one with the skirt." The sleeves are mediaeval in design, slim ami long and widening in flower-petal fashion to hang over the : wrists. /I rolled coronet of tulle re- ' places tlie usual orange-blossom, and , the. long veil of tulle has been specially dyed to match the frock. Tlie trousseau comprises mainly ttopical outfits.