SOCIAL GOSSIP

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 815, 11 February 1916, Page 14

SOCIAL GOSSIP

Dear (Jhristabel, — fHE American people recognise the nobility of Edith Cavell, and because imitation is the sincerest form of expressing admiration, they are reported to be imitating, not her example in the conduct of life, but the mode of the cuff of her uniform. An American paper, after remarking that this jars upon the feelings, says: "The fashion of the moment is the Edith Cavell cuff. From portraits of the noble woman recently published, the cuff has become known, and has been seized upon and adopted. There is a distinct tendency- for the ordinary frocks to adopt cuffs those of the Red Cross nurse. And now the world of fashion is seizing ujfon this martyrdom as an inspiration for style in this detail of toilette." Fairly sad news, but now that America is obliged :to rely a good deal upon her own brains in the matter of style, she is not likely to show such good taste as she did when she was able to secure her ideas wholesale in Paris. *■ » - American papers devote a great deal of attention to dress. A whole page of a leading New York paper -was devoted to a description of the trousseau of the President's bride. Even the Presiclothes are described: "The President, wore a suit.". This is very interesting, of course, and must have been very interesting indeed to American people. The colour of that particular suit was not divulged, nor its style. He wore a suit. This" shows that after all there are parts of him which are quite ordinary.

Some of us are beginning to wonder if Ave. shall have the heart in the near . future to care about suits or clothes, or rags or anything—also whether we shall have the wherewithal to purchase any if we have the heart. If we are careful, we may at least keep our hair on, but there are moments when even this is difficult. Americans say that - the style for evening is high dressing of the hair. Various papers describe in detail how to get this effect. It appears that curls are used, and they are brought and stuck on top of an otherwise simple coiffure, towards the back. The average man imagines that an elaborately dressed head usually means a magnificent head of hair. The average woman knows better.

She of the thick hair generally dresses it very badly and often carelessly, and there are times in her life when she wishes she could pluck it, for she does not know where to stow the stuff. It is quite different when a person can go to her right-hand small drawer and produce a neat plait and several curls all ready to wear. In hot weather the plait and the curls can stay in the drawer. When their owner goes .to bathe, she can hang them on a nail in the bathing shed. Later, when she returns through town, she looks neat and trim, while her sister, whose own hair is dripping and uncomfortable, generally looks remarkably untidy and very badly dressed after a bathe. Such is life, so full of contrasts and little worries as well as big.

The Wellington men who returned to New Zealand by the Rotorua were entertained on Friday by the Mayor in the Council Chamber, which was somewhat crowded on the occasion. The soldiers and their relatives sat lound the big table and were waited upon by willing helpers, who find real happiness in this service, which they render so willingly to all returned men. Among those who have at last reached home safely is the son of Mr. Ronaldson, Deputy-Public Trustee. The young soldier has many wounds, . which have now healed, but the effects of "which he must feel for a very long time. He has a memento of Gallipoli in the shape of a piece of paper which was thrown across to his trench from that of the Turks,

and on which there is a message, written in French. He has, too, the memory of the day when he was wounded, and when the brother, who had been his inseparable companion all his life, was killed- '

An English paper gives an interesting description of the canteen under the Gare du Nord, Paris, which is run by eight- English ladies, who pay £2 a week each for the privilege of waiting on the soldiers. They also pay all their own expenses and undertake' to contribute whatever they can spare to the fund. The hours are very .long', and the work very hard, but they glory in it. They now permit British soldiers to pay a very small amount for their food and bed, if they wish to do so, but they absolutely decline to accept any payment at all from the- French soldiers. It is known that Miss Constance McLean, daughter of Mr. B. D. D. McLean, is working in a canteen at the Gare du Nord. and it is believed--by many people who are interested out here that the above must be the one. * ■ * *• His Excellency the Governor and Lad 3" Liverpool have been cruising on the Government steamer " Tutanekei. They have visited the Bay of Islands and several places of interest on the Northern Coasts. • They now go to Christchurcb. ». ""«■ * Mrs. Massey recently accompanied the Premier to Auckland, and has returned with him to Wellington. ® ' ■# There is to be another Red Cross Conference next month, and it will be held in Christchurch. Mr. W. Sefton Moorhouse will soon be placed at the head of all the branches in the North Island. * ° ® # In spite of the intense heat, Miss Cooper and Miss Moss still manage to secure quantities of flowers for their beautiful Patriotic Flower Stall, which is open, twice a week, and which continues to be excellently patronised. *• * *• The Countess of Liverpool Committee and their helpers continue their good work, which in these hot days is very trying. Recently they have added one or two new members to the committee. The new members have been regular and faithful workers for many months. » ■ « © The Patriotic Cakeroom in Hannah's Buildings, which i s the pet hobby of the Miramar Golf Club ladies, "continues to be very well patronised. It was believed by some people that when the novelty had worn off, some of these patriotic workers would have dropped outr of things. Instead, though this is til© hottest summer some "of us liave ever experienced in . Wellington, the workers _ do their toil regularly, and systematically. There is no. slackening. The -work must often be monotonous. It-is almost always tiring. It, leaves little leisure time, and it requires more than a little tact. Wellington is 'lucky. We have many very capable and enthusiastic people who have put their shoulders to the wheel and who persevere in all they undertake. ■* .00 it One of the most useful of the patriotic enterprises' is the Soldiers' Club in Syd-ney-street, which is managed by a committee of which Mrs. Massey is the -president. _In Mrs. Salmond, the wife of the Solicitor-General, the' committee have a good honorary secretary, and the hostesses who are responsible for the various evenings of the week are unanimous in declaring that the arrangements for their convenience are excellent. The house committee are experienced women, and it is pleasant to realise that the Club runs along most smoothly.. Every evening the place is filled with soldiers, who enjoy a good tea and supper there, and who can get a bath, write their letters, play billiards, .smoke, read, play the piano, turn on the gramophone, and make themselves thoroughly at home. Such clubs, of course, are now common all over New Zealand, but it is just as well that you should know that this, the first of its kind, continues to b®. a great success, and _is very much appreciated by the soldiers who come into Wellington. It is quite usual for several hundreds to have tea there in the evening. . •» » •» Mrs. Algar Williams has returned from the country, and is going-* south before long. _ * * *■ •» Miss Birch; the general secretary of the Y. W.C. A., has returned from Australia, and on Saturday was welcomed by the association at an afternoon tea jwhicX was given in her honour at the residence of /Mrs. Campbell, in Duncanterrace, Kilbirnie.

On Tuesday night the Tepid Baths were opened by the Prime Minister in the presence of a company of 1000 invited guests. These baths are in the premises of the Boys' Institute, in Tas-man-street, and they are to be con"toolled by the director and manager of that Institute. The floor of the bath is of white tiles. Overhead there is a glass roof, which opens, and from which baskets of graceful ferns are suspended. Round the bath is built a gallery, and in this and everywhere else possible the guests were tightly packed on the opening night-

Speeches were made by Mr. Troup, the president of the Institute, and by the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, also by Mr. Ross, the new director, arid by the Hon. Mr. Russell, before the Premier, in a few well-chosen words, declared the place, open. Reference was made to the 60 old boys whose names are on the War Roll of Honour, and there was tumultuous applause when the people were told that Captain Hardham, New Zealand's first V.C., is one of the old boys of whom the Institute is justly proud. Reference was made to the late Mrs. Rhodes, whose' generosity was of great assistance to the Institute,, and whose- name will be gratefully remembered by the city. 1

Men, who have helped the Institute with money o and personal-service, were named, and "the guests were given an outline of the objects for which this Institute exists. "Boys and the Man were compared and extolled, and the speakers were applauded vigorously. Senior Cadets did their duty, and the Central Mission Band added to the pleasure* of the evening. After the swimming carnival, which followed the opening ceremony, the guests were entertained at supper by the Ladies' Auxiliary, who have been a source of strength to. the Institute. Those who cared to do so explored the Institute Building.

Mr. Shields, to whom the public of Wellington v owe a debt of gratitude for his interest in swimming, gave some interesting items, and little Miss Tait, who' has swum a prodigious distance in the open harbour, charmed the crowd with a graceful header, which was to

have been the opening item. However, the Mayor, who is essentially human, felt the heat like other people. Having discarded his coat and waistcoat, just to look the part, he led a procession of boy and girl bathers round the bath, and returned to the starting place, which happened to be the springboard at the deep end.' There, the temptation proved too much, and the Chief Citizen jumped in. It was quickly seen that he was no duck in the water, and Mr. Shields followed and rescued him in real professional style, quite comfortably, while the audience shrieked with joy. ■» « * Had we all been like sheep, we should certainly have followed, and I am not at all sure that His Worship the Mayor had not counted on the habit of crowds, who generally' follow the leader. It was a great temptation. The Mayor departed homewards to change, and no doubt r in -his hurry, he dumped his wet clothes on the middle of his bed—what else could be expected of a man P

The marriage of Miss Nora Teresa Corich, only daughter of Captain and Mrs. J. Corich, of Wellington, to Mr. L. Fahv. fifth son of Mr. and Mrs. Fahy, late of St. Bathan's. was solemnised at St. Mary of the Angels, Boulcott-street, on January 12th last. Father Vanning, S.M., tied the nuptial knot. The bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in white duchess satin, with orthodox trimmings, etc. She was attended by two bridesmaids (Misses AgneS Collins and. Dossie Pearce). as well *as by two younger maids (Jean Wakelin and Ruby Fahy), and Master Ronald Collins acted as train-bearer. Mr. Jack Corich (brother" of the bride), was best man, and Mr. N. Coghlan was groomsman. After the reception in the New Century Hall, where a number of guests were entertained, the newly-wedded couple left for their future home in Dunedin.

Those people who were present at the delightful dance recital in,, which Miss Gladys Campbell presented her pupils last winter will be pleased to hear that she commences her classes for the year in March. Miss Campbell, who has been dancing mistress at two local girls' colleges since she arrived from England five years ago, is a pupil of the famous Mrs. Wordsworth, at whose col-

lege of physical training in London she obtained her diploma.' Before the diploma can be secured, the student must train as a teacher for three years, and during that time she must conduct classes under the direction of Mrs. Wordsworth and to her satisfaction. Mrs. Wordsworth's fame as a teacher of dancing and as a trainer of students is widely known. Madge Titherage and "Unity Mor e are two ex-pupils whose names are well known to the public. » «• & » Miss Campbell will be "At, Home" this month every Tuesday and Thursday, from 3 to 5 and from 7.30 to 9. The address is 122 a, Coromandel-street. Telephone 3604 (2 rings). * « « e - Mr. and Mrs. David Milligan returned on Wednesday from a pleasant honeymoon trip spent in motoring through the provinces of Nelson and Marlborough 4 the Sounds being done in a motor launch. An old Maori woman, who -Avas questioned about Pelorous Jack, gravely assured her- visitors he had gone to the Dardanelles to protect the ships carrying "our boys." Mr. It. Pollock, representing Stanley McKay's Pantomime Company, which is to open in the Grand Opera. House on Saturday, February 19th, under the idirection of Mr. George Stephenson, is at present in Wellington making arrangements for the production ' of the opening panto., "Boy Blue." This is said to be one of the funniest pantos, that has ever visited the Empire City, and has had a most successful tour of Australia and the Dominion. More anon. Mr. Nicholas Julian Rusden, who was well known throughout the - North Island, especially Wellington, Auckland, and Taranaki, passed away , at Santa Rosa on the 31st December lasc. The late Mr. Rusden was connected with the celebrated Julian family of Taranaki, his parents arriving in New Zealand at the start of the settlement. Poor old "Nick," as he wasi generally known, took part in the pioneering of the Thames Goldfields. Afterwards he was business in New Plymouth, where he joined the Armed Constabulary. Thence he was transferred to the Permanent Artillery, which, owing to age limit, he left and arrived in San Francisco iii 1906, a fortnight before the big earthquake. "Nick" was a bombardier in the Artillery, and took an active part in the training of the

Wellington Navals, He leaves a widow, who is in business at Santa Rosa, to mourn his loss, and one; brother, Mr. R. Rusden (in Auckland), two sisters in New Zealand .(Mrs. R. Langman and . Mrs. S. Hill, of Wellington), and one sister in. Australia. The . San Francisco papers speak Mghly of. the merits of the deceased, evidenced by the many floral emblems from ' the people of Santa r Hosa.