WOMEN’S WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 257, 27 September 1935, Page 15

WOMEN’S WORLD

Mrs W. G. Ashworth, of Palmerston North, is at present staying at Castlecliff, Wanganui, as the guest of Mrs Alfred Wilson. Mrs J. K. Edie, of Wellington, who wa,s the speaker at yesterday’s meeting of the St. Andrew’s Church Ladies’ Guild, is the guest of Mr and Mrs J. Murray, College House. Miss Veronica Flanagan, of Wellington, is the guest of Mr and Mrs F. W. Gowing, Palmerston North. Mrs Charles Elliott, of Paremata, is visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs M. A. MacLeod, Taonui. General Evangeline Booth, leader of the Salvation Army, sailed from Southampton on Wedesnday in the CunardWhite Star liner Majestic for the United States and Canada.

Mr and Mrs H. E. Monk, who have resided at Itangiwahia for the past four years, were farewelled recently by one of the largest and most- representative gatherings held in the district for some time. Presentatations were made to both from the residents of the district, generally, and from the various organisations with which they had been connected.

Mrs W. H. Webster, who was principal mannequin in London for Lady Duff Gordon before her marriage, has been giving her services to assist the production of “Sally” by the Palmerston North Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, and is an excellent acquisition to musical and dramatic circles at this centre. Mrs Webster’s husband was recently appointed lecturer in veterinary science at Massey College. She has had considerable experience both in stage work and theatrical production. Possessing a fine soprano voice, she has studied voice production with Miss Vera Mojinie, of Wellington, where, in the recent competitions, she gained placings in eleven out of thirteen classes. Mr and Mrs Webster have taken up their residence in “Chester House,” Te Awe Awe Street.

The death ocurred recently at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, of Miss Adelaide Shaw, a New Zealand nurse who completed her training at the Napier Hospital in 1913. She enlisted with the Australian Army'Nursing Service and served with distinction in the Great War. Up to the time of her death she was still a member of the nursing staff of the Prince of Wales Military Hospital, Randwick. Her funeral was military and attended by members of the Australian Army Nursing Service and Returned Soldiers’ Association, representatives of the Australian Nurses’ Association, the hospital staff and patients. A friend and fellow trainee said of Miss Shaw: “Sister Shaw trained with me and was a very fine character with many excellent qualities.” A distant relative of Sir Walter Scott and of James Hogg, “The Ettrick Shepherd,” one of Scott’s poet contemporaries is living in Christchurch. She is Mrs Jean Hunter, who lias recently passed her ninetieth birthday, and who left Rothesay in Scotland for New Zealand 65 years ago this month. The Royal College of Physicians in London, which was founded 400 years ago, has for the first time in its history elected women to fellowships. Ihey aie Dr Marion. Macplierson Mackay, who works on the staff of the Queen’s Hospital for Children in London and has don© valuable medical research work in that capacity, and Miss Jessie Rougtlion Browne, a brilliant student of the London School of Medicine for Women, who, at the close of last .term, received II principal awards. Two Swiss cantons, Neucliatel and Geneva, have decided to admit women to the Bench of Juvenile Courts. In Geneva, this modest reform roused so much opposition that it had to he submitted to the electorate and was adopted by a small majority. The women’s police force which is at present being organised in Turkey includes 22 police women, of whom 18 serve in Istanboul, one at Seyhan, two at Izmir, one at Ankara. One woman district inspector and two police women serve on headquarters staff. Turkish police women do not wear uniform; they are neither employed on the beat, nor stationed in definite places, but their duties are connected with the reformatory services and other tasks concerned with the protection and welfare of women.

“I should regret to return-to Australia to report that the League of Nations is not doing more about child welfare,” said Mrs B. M. Bisehbreth (Australia), in an address to the social committee of tlie League at Geneva last week. “We in Australia have made some progress; but owing to the cry for economy,. we have not achieved all that we desired. I hope that the committee will realise the folly of this economy, which will possibly benefit the exchequer, but will dram the life of youth.”

SI. ANDREW'S LADIES’ GUILD. ADDRESS BY MRS J. K. EDIE. ON KATHERINE MANSFIELD. Giving a splendid insight into the life and character of Katherine Mansfield, Mrs J. K. Edie, of Wellington, delivered ail address before the members of St. Andrew’s Ladies’ Guild yesterday afternoon, the speaker remarking at tlie outset that each year brought a greater recognition of tlie New Zealander’s talent as a writer. Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp, to he later known as Katherine Mansfield, was the third daughter of Sir Harold Beauchamp, having been born in Wellington in 1883. She spent her early childhood at Karori., attending the local school and later going to the Thorndon Girls’ High School and Miss Swainson’s private school, Fitzherbert Terrace. At the age of nine her first published story, “Emma Blake,” appeared in the High School Journal, and it was interesting to note that the editor had considered the story showed promise of great merit. In 1901 Katherine Mansfield accompanied her parents to England and for the next five years was a pupil at Queen’s College, Harley Street, London. As well as writing she spent much of her time with her beloved ’cello. All her family were musical, and at one time it was thought that Katherine would choose music as a career.

Katherine Mansfield was a versatile writer, the speaker continued. Her observations of small things, such as flies, insects, a leaf falling, a fragment of talk over a table, or a workman awaiting his turn in a consulting room —all had been described in lier own inimitable way. What better illustration could one have than her own exquisite poem, “Voices of the Air”? It was difficult to sav which were the best stories of Katherine Mansfield, as most of them had a definite charm, hut perhaps her admirers would consider “At the Bay” amongst the finest. It had been stated that this writer’s stories were too morbid and that they were written too much in the minor key. Probably those readers had only read ono or two stories, and those definitely sad ones. Katherine Mansfield had suffered as much as any soul was called upon to suffer. She had known wandering alone in the wilderness, but because of that agony she had returned with deeper understanding, sympathy and fineness of vision. To quote her own words, “All suffering, however great . . . we have to get over it . . . to grin and bear it and to hide the wounds.” Mrs Edie referred to the letters and journal of Katherine Mansfield, which had been published, and said it was right that those precious documents, so full of wisdom and truth, should be given to a perplexed and difficult world. Extracts were read by Mrs Edie from “At the Bay” and “Miss Brill,” a tender, delicate little study of a lonely woman. To augment her small income Katherine Mansfield had accepted minor parts in travelling opera companies until the quality of her writing was recognised by the editor of the New Age. Owing to continued ill-health she had been obliged to leave England for months at a time. Her husband, John Middleton Murray, had not been able to be with her all the time, but during the separation she wrote to him every day. The letters had been published and showed clearly how she had suffered and with what courage she endured. A collection of her poems had also been published, but it was as a shortstory writer that she became famous. Unfortunately, her death occurred at the age of 34, and it was a fitting and gracious gesture on the part of the Wellington City Council to honour the gifted author by calling a recently-made street which adjoins her old home and close to the memorial her father had given, Katherine Avenue. “We are proud to claim her, for she has taught us to appreciate all that is simple, true and beautiful,” concluded the speaker. A vote of thanks was extended to Mrs Edie for her interesting and informative address, by Mrs Bowler Watson.

The duties of door hostesses were carried out by Mesdames Rutherfurd and D. W. Low, while Mesdames McCulloch, Fitzsimmons, Grant, Butcher, Bird, Sargent, Wattereus, Stuart, Sloman, Mitchell. Worrall. Campbell and Scott assisted with the afternoon tea. ’Cello solos by Miss Joan Paton, accompanied by Mrs B. F. Barlow, were much appreciated. Mrs Aitcliison, who presided, extended a warm welcome to members and visitors and introduced Mrs Edie. A vote of thanks to the performers, hostesses and tea helpers was conveyed by Mrs Gerrand. , , A suggestion pat forward by Mrs Aitchison that the guild should make its contribution to the church renovations by the donation of a pulpit chair and book stand was unanimously approved, tlie decision being left in the hands of the executive.

AWAHURI WOMEN’S INSTITUTE,

There was a good attendance of members at the monthly, meeting of the Awahuri Women's Institute, although the institute had held a fimction on the previous evening. Mrs It. U. tiona presided and welcomed all members and visitors. Amongst the correspondence were letters of thanks received from Miss A. Matthews and Mrs H. Fort. A consignment of goods was received from the Blind Institute and nearly all disposed of during the afternoon. Mrs Ihedmayne and Miss Hensoniwe elected delegates for the half-yearly federation meeting to be held at Fulls. It was decided that each member plant three potatoes this month for the potato competition. The financial statement of the euchre and dance was given, a profit of over £6 was the very satisfactory result. Thanks were accorded the sub-committees and special thanks to Mr Teaz, Mrs M. Bennett and Miss Bennett, and the .‘‘two Ginderellas for their generous gift and bequest. I was decided to send donations of £1 eadi to the Dominion ; and Provincial Federations. A vote of thanks tv as passed to Miss Bennett for her land dona tion of a cushion to be 1 allied, lne competition results were 'Bestshouder spray, Mrs Nutt 1, Mrs Hendeison 2 Miss Henderson 8; J°"' netition, Mrs Nicholson 1, » katthews 2, Mrs Goodman 3. The hostesses were Mesdames Aitken, Dyer and Miss Hancock. A special meeting will be held on October 2. when Mrs Algie will give a demonstration of dress models. Each member was requested to bring a plate for afteinoon tea. butter ECONOMY Don’t throw away butter, that has become rancid. Cut it up into quit® small pieces and cover in a dish, with fresh milk—but only just cover. Let tiie butter remain in the milk for an hour, take out and leave to drain. It will then be quite sweet.

This year is beating the “boom” of 1929 in Britain. Orders for the heavy machinery branch of the electrical industry are now greater than the corresponding figures for the “boom, year.”