OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 1 July 1939, Page 2

OBITUARY

MRS A. J. HEWETSOX The death occurred this week, after a period of failing health, of Mrs A. J. Hewetson, of Rai Valley. She was a very well-known and respected member of the community and her passing has caused widespread regret. General sympathy is being extended to the bereaved husband and family. Mrs Hewetson was born at Happy Valley, Nelson, her parents being Mr and Mrs Blanchett. She spent her early years in Nelson, and after her marriage lived at Havelock for some time before finally shifting to Rai Valley. Members of the family are Mrs W. Brownlee (Havelock). Mrs Higgins (Nelson), Mrs J. Stubbs (Wellington), and Messrs L. A.. S. G., and H. Hewetson (all of Rai Valley). The interment took place at Rai Valley to-day.

I “LA CHAMBERLAINE” DANCE POPULAR IN RURAL FRANCE "La Chamberlaine” is an umbrella dance in rural France. It seems to have originated in Normandy. Mr Chamberlain’s umbrella has become as historic as Lord Beaconsfield’s primrose; Joseph Chamberlain’s orchid; the straw between the lips of Palmerston; and Gladstone's collar, which the cartoonists seized upon in preference to the bag which the G.O.M. invented, and which retains his name to this day. But that is “modern stuff.” An umbrella was over the head of the Assyrian King when he went 1o war, as you may see on a tablet in the British Museum. And that was 2,700 years ago. A gorgeous umbrella was over the Titian head of Cleopatra when in all the artistry of Egyptian make-up the little fascinating Queen was propelled along the River Cydnrs with silver oars to meet Mark Antony. What matters that Jonas Hanway introduced the umbrella to London hard- i ily 206 years ago? He was thousands # of years behind the times. All of which goes to show that Chamberlain’s old umbrella—he hi^| confessed to its age—is merely main- J taining a great tradition. I The wits said that the handing over of the Chamberlain umbrella was one of the demands of Herr Hitler, and with equal brightness of imagination the French saw in the umbrella an instrument for enlivening a dance. When the dance begins one male guest is left out and is handed .the “Chamberlain umbrella.” With it he wanders through the throng until he sees the lady with whom he would like to dance. He slips the crook of the umbrella over the arm of her partner, brings him to a halt, hands him the * umbrella, and dances off gleefully with the captured lady. Then the dispossessed gallant sets out to take a lady in his turn. It is *just a transient phase of social amusement, but shows how quickly and ingeniously the modern mind perceives an opening for novelty. It is a delicate French touch that the pirate with the umbrella grabs his rival with the crook instead of “grabbing” with it the fair arm of the U*4y.