WOMEN’S WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 51, 27 January 1933, Page 11

WOMEN’S WORLD

Mrs Pascoo and family, who have been spending a holiday at Plimmerton, returned home during the week.

Mr and Mrs John Dash returned from Nelson yesterday and expect to leave for Hawera on Monday next.

A novel gift which a lucky baby, the infant daughter of Mr Anthony and Lady Veronica Horner, received at her christening in London recently was an insurance policy by which she will receive £250 when she is 18 years old.. Another unusual gift was a silver cup made by an amateur craftsman famed, for his work. It is a copy of a 500 B.C. cup which is now in the British Museum.

Pour men and a pretty, dark-hair-ed girl, each a leading figure ,in a different branch of sport, conducted a crowded service at the Central (Methodist) Hall, Bromley, Kent, states an English writer. Miss Dorothy Bound, the 21-year-old English international lawn tennis player, was the girl. She lead tho Lesson aiid preached a short sermon. Besides being a great tennis player, she is a Sunday school teacher, -and proved to be as much at home as the preacher to' a big congregation as she is on the tennis courts. Dressed in a brown costume with a white collar, a fur, and a smart brown felt hat, this sum young athlete presented a slight but appealing figure as she faced the congregation of nearly 1500, and in a low but unfaltering voice, gave witness to her faith.

COMING-OF-AGE PARTY. Miss Grace Archer, of 9 Wellsbourne Street, Palmerston North, entertained several friends and relatives at an evening on Monday’ to celebrate her coming of age. Miss Archer is the second daughter of Mrs Archer and the late Mr C. Archer. The time was spent in games and dancing. The birthday cake made by Mrs Archer was decorated with 21 kewpies. After tho loyal toast Mr Gattsclie made a delightful speech on behalf of Mrs Archer and presented Miss Archer with a gold key. Mr M. Whiteman responded on the recipient s behalf. Mr F. Powell spoke very highly of the family and on their behalf Mr M. Whiteman responded, all being well-known citizens of the city. Mrs Archer received the guests wearing black satin. Miss Archer, who wore royal blue, received many beautiful presents. The evening was brought to a close with the singing of “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” THE FLOWER TRIMMING. Flowers as trimmings are once again given an important place in the mode this season, and are used as decorations for both day and evening fashions. They give the finishing touch of elegance to coats, jackets, frocks and blouses, arid are featured on millinery as well. The skilful placing of a posy or a large single flower, serves to emphasise the draping and cut of the frock, in addition to providing a colour contrast, which is so fashionable at present, and will be even more fasliionable in the next season. Flowers of silk, velvet, organdie, chiffon, starched chiffon, kid, and dyed lace are equally fashionable, and they may be worn singly or in huge clusters. For evening wear the flower cluster is especially popular for emphasising the cut of the decolletage, a posy being placed at the waistline at the back, where it often is used also to confine the draperies of the collar or scarf. Worn in the front they emphasise the high waistline, or give a softening touch to the neckline. The most fashionable way to wear flowers on the front of the corsage is either in the exact centre front of the neckline, or high on one shoulder. Leis of flowers have had a great vogue this season, and have been worn in both fresh and artificial flowers, adding a charming touch to simple cotton gowns, as well as to more elaborate 'chiffon and satin ones. The pinafore style has been responsible fpr the floral brassard, which outlines the tiny puffed sleeve. Chiffon and lace frocks with diaphanous capes falling over the shoulders have the capes bordered with flowers and foliage. Another evening fashion consists of shoulder straps made entirely of flowers, matched by a girdle of the same flowers. The collarless coats now in vogue may have a single blossom or a posy pinned on the shoulder, while flowers at the base of a- V neckline or in a straight line across a square neckline, are suitable for afternoon gowns.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES. MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The executive committee of the Provincial Federation of Women’s Institutes met in Palmerston North yesterday, the president (Mrs J. D. C. Crewe, Pahiatua) being in the chair. Also, present were MesdameS' Kelso (Paraparaumu), Milieu (Westmere), Waring Taylor (Shannon), Barriicoat (Kimbolton), E. E. Short (Cheltenham), Athol Shannon (Cheltenham), Miss Grant (Palmerston North) and Mrs R. C. Austin (hon. secretary, Pahiatua). Apologies for absence were received from Mesdames McCorkindale (Feilding) and Burnett (Woodville). Mrs Kelso reported that there would be an exhibition of handcrafts at the Levin Horticultural Society’s show from the surrounding institutes, the hope being expressed that there would be a fine response. Progress was reported from all directions, the Makino delegate mentioning that their membership was now 51, necessitating larger premises for their meetings. The formation of an institute at Utuwai by Mrs E. E. Short was reported, and donations were acknowledged from the following:—Paraparaumu, £1 os; Awahuri, £1; Aramoho, 8s; Silverstream, 8s; Halcombe, 12s 6d; Kopane, 10s; Sanson, £1; Te Horo, 8s 6d ; Opiki, 10s; Asbhurst, ss; Milson, 11s. In the course of the financial statement the treasurer reported a credit balance of £26 5s 7d in the general account. It was also reported that close on 9000 calendars had been sold, which was considered highly satisfactory. Miss Grant presented the balance sheet of the recent drama festival showing a credit of £6 15s 6d.

Thanks to all who had assisted were carried, the secretary being instructed to. forward letters of appreciation to Mrs Linda Bennett, of Palmerston North, for stage managing, and to Miss C. Ashton, and Mr J. W. Davidson for judging. It was resolved that the credit balance be doni ated to the rest cottage fund. Tlie question of the subdivision of the federation was fully considered, a date late in March being suggested for the formation of the Wellington South Federation. Mrs Crewo was appointed to represent the executive at the formation meeting. Mrs Millen reported on the arrangements for an exhibition at the Wanganui Agricultural Show on February 24 and 25, and the secretary was instructed to write a letter expressing the executive’s appreciation of the show committee’s co-operation with the institutes. The secretary intimated in connection with the Manawatu Show that the committee had generously refunded £1 10s. LEADING FEMINISTS. PROMINENT BRITISH WOMEN.

One thing that especially strikes the visitor to the old country is the large number of women holding good positions (writes L. P. L. in the Sydney Morning Herald). The war, of course, opened avenues to some and gave them the long-looked-for opportunity to show that when brains, initiative, and organisation were required, women could successfully compete with men. Amongst the most outstanding women was Dame Rachel Crowdv. Her three sisters, Alary, EdithI’and 1 ’and Isabel, all played their parts in the war, too, and all received decorations. Miss Edith Crowdy was for a time secretary of the World Bureau of Girl Guides, and during the war held the position of deputy, director of the W.R.N.S. Miss Mary Crowdy was deputy com-mander-in-chief of the V.A.D.’s in France. Aliss Isabel Crowdy, as a divisional director of the V.A.D.’s, had the unique experience ■of receiving the first batch of V.A.D.’s to go abroad and land in France, she, with her sister Dame Rachel having gone ahead to make the necessary arrangements. Dame Rachel is best known to the world to-day as the chief of the social questions and opium traffic section at the League' of Nations Secretariat from 1919 to 1931. Dame Rachel’s work was all the more to be commended because she was the first head of the section and had the difficult task of organising quite a new idea, which had been conceived rather vaguely and left to her to expand. " She was eventually retired in 1931 beenuse it was considered that she had held the position long enough and they were anxious to distribute the spoils of office. There was much feeling shown at the decision, because of Dame Rachel’s great success, and, furthermore, because Dame Rachel’s

section was the only section where tho term “director” was officially denied her. When a man was appointed to take her place he was immediately termed director and given two more assistants 1 Dame Rachel has also been lecturer and demonstrator to the National Health Society, and during the war was commandant of the V.A.D.’s in France and Belgium from 1914 till 1919 and was several times mentioned in despatches and awarded the R.R.O. SI ie is also a Doctor of Laws of Smith College, U.S.A. She has recently been appointed to a committee of expert advisers on traffic in women and children and child welfare, and last year was a delegate to the conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations.

Dame Rachel’s great friend, Dame Katherine Furse, is another of England’s splendid women. She too has the R.R.C., and is a Lady of Grace of the Order of St. John. She was director of the Wrens (W.R.N.S.) from 1917 to 1919. Her husband, now deceased, was a famous painter, and she has also made a reputation as a wood carver. She was commandant-in-chief of the V.A.D.’s in September, 1914. She started tho V.A.D.’s in France, and came home again in 1915 and started the V.A.D. department under the Red Cross. Although of quite a different type to Dame Rachel, she impresses one immediately as. a woman of immense ability. She is now director of the World Bureau of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and it is largely owing to her organising ability that the movement has progressed so splendidly. Another outstanding woman is Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, G.8.E., , D.8.E., L.L.D., of Glasgow. Very tall, a splendid physique, with a keen, alert countenance, one is attracted to her even before being acquainted with her record. She also takes an active interest in the Girl Guide work, and has been chairman of the International Girl Guides, and it was largely owing to her tact and able chairmanship that many international difficulties were successfully bridged. By profession she is a Professor of Botany at London j University, and is a recognised author- 1 ity on fungi. She was awarded the Trail Medal of the Linnean Society for researches on protoplasm. She is a. member of the Home Office Committee on Employment of Women Police, a member of the Board of Trade Committee on the lace, silk and embroidery industries, and of many other committees. She also occupies a seat on the Senate of London University.

There are so many of these women that it is difficult to know which to select, but a “feminist” would be sadlv lacking if she forgot Mrs Pethiclc-Law-rence, who was one of the militant suffragists. She lives in Lincoln’s Inn, having' a flat in the same building as are the chambers’ of her husband, who is a barrister, and until quite recently a member' of Parliament. Also of splendid appearance and a good speaker, she is in great demand. Recently she went to South Africa to assist the women there in their fight for the suffrage. Her husband supports her splendidly in her work, even going to gaol with her at the time of the suffragists’ imprisonment. One of Mrs Pethick-Law-rence’s greatest assets is an inexhaustible sense of humour—a very necessary adjunct to work such as hers. The outstanding feature of all these women is that they possess poise, looks, charm, as well as outstanding ability and intelligence. To talk with any of them is an education, and unconsciously one seems to realise what the worid could be if many more of our women trained themselves to play an active part in the affairs of the world-

SALADS. Whole Cauliflower Salad.—-Select a nice white cauliflower and cook thoroughly, taking great care not to break it. Drain very well, and put it in a cool place. Take a flat glass dish, arrange lettuce leaves on it, place the cauliflower in the centre, and cover with mayonnaise tinted green. If you prefer French dressing, sprinkle the cauliflower with finely chopped parsley. Green Salad. —Prepare some lettuce and some watercress. Arrange in a glass dish a border of watercress, then some shredded lettuce. Boil two eggs hard and chop the whites, pressing the yolks through a sieve. Arrange the yolk's in a heap in the centre, put the white round, and cover with French dressing. Tho effect of this is very attractive.

Spinach and Egg Salad.—Slice foui hard-boiled eggs and mix with a capful of cooked drained spinach. Chop a spring onion and add it, and mix in a gill of mayonnaise. Arrange lettuce leaves' on individual plates, and place a heap of the mixture on each. Orange and Celery Salad. —-Three sweet oranges, one teacupful of chopped celery. One gill of mayonnaise, one lettuce. Peel and divide the oranges into sections and cut each section, in half, remove the pips and pith. Mix with the celery and mayonnaise and serve on lettuce leaves.