WOMAN'S WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17361, 7 January 1920, Page 10

WOMAN'S WORLD.

SOCIAL NEWS. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur " Rhind' spent the holidays at Waiwera, and returned to town on Monday. ' Mr. A. M. Hellaby and the Misses Hellaby and Mr. Hellaby, have taken up their residence at Cargen. Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Blundell, of Kawakawa, and Mr. and Mrs. Reiner, of Christchurch, are staying at The Gables, sell.The engagement is annouced of Miss Wynne Wilson, daughter of Mr... G. Hannon Wilson, Invercargill, and Mr. IS. I!. S. Dale.? Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Reed, Mrs. Niccol, and Mr. Mervyn Reed, are returning at the end of the week from a motor trip to the thermal district. The engagement is announced of Miss Constance Wallace, only daughter of Mr. J. Watts Wallace, of Gisborne, to Mr. Douglas Henderson, of Chriatchurch. The engagement is announced of Miss Edith Reta Preston, second daughter of Mr. J. Preston, of Papanui, to Mr. Ernest L. Tozer, youngest son of Mr. F. Tozer, Christchurch. The engagement is announced of Miss Jessie W. Jones, fourth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Jones, Papanui Road, to Mi-. Herbert L. Brett, only son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Brett, of Linwood. The engagement is announced of Miss Inez Masefield, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Alasefield, of Birkenhead, to Mr. Claude Stephenson, youngest son ot Mrs. and the late Mr. A. 0. Stephenson, of Thanes. Mr. and Mn,. Lewis Ibbertson, who were recently married in Sydney, are visiting New Zealand, and are staying in Auckland, having just completed a tour in the Rotorua district. Mr. and Mrs. Ibbertson return to Australia shortly. Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Duthie, Mrs. E. Riddiford. Major and Mrs. Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Stead. Mr. and Mrs. V, Mitford, Mrs. Fenwlck, Miss Donncr, Mr. and Mrs, Walter Clifford, Miss June Clifford', ai]d Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Duncan, who have been in Auckland for the races, have gone south. Mrs. Lindo Ferguson (Dunedin), Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Abraham, Miss Abraham (Pa'merston North), Miss Rutherford (Palmerston North), Mr. and Mrs. Temby and Miss Temby (Svdney), Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wharton (Queens'and), Mr. and Mrs. Hutson (Wancamii), Mr. and Mrs. IF. W. Jones (Christchnrrh), aro among the visitors at the Grand Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Chambers and the Misses Chambers (Melbourne), Mrs. E. H. 1 Cooper (Melbourne), Mrs. W. Stone, Dr. i Clara Stone (Melbourne), Dr. -and Mrs. j H. Smith (Melbourne), Miss Stokes (Syd" i ney), Mr#. Biddies (Dargaville), Mr. i! and Mrs. W. 8. Somerville (Christchurch), Captain and Mrs. McKillop (Masterton), Dr. ' and Miss Bartlett (Sydney) are among the visitors at present staying at Cargen. Stewardesses of ships which have braved the dangers of mine and nub marine in the war zone are to be eligible for the _ Mercantile Marine medal, says an English exchange. This decision has given great satisfaction, and is a mere act of justice to the women who showed the same unflinching courage and power of self-sacrifice as did the men of the service. Many instances of quiet heroism hr ve been recounted of stewardesses, and some have made the supreme sacrifice. The following extract from an English exchange is rather humorous in its misconception of life in New Zealand, and no doubt notes of this kind on colonial conditions are largely responsible for the false ideas that English women have in regard to the management of our homes: —'"Domestic servants are in great demand. They are well paid and treated as one of the family, so the life Is often a thoroughly delightful one. There is little or no snobbery in the colonies, and in the middle-class house, where one maid is kept, she is treated ax one of the family, J She has meals with them, and calls the children by their Christian names, also being referred to herself as Miss So-and-So to visitors. ' Helps' are ver* rarely asked to wear caps and aprons, »nd, instead of domestic service being looked down upon, i« is considered one of the best professions for women." News comes from France that young men of fashion want to imitate young women of fashion in neck exposure. Rome of the bolder spirits have already discarded stiff and soft collars, and have appeared at fashionable seaside resorts in open, flowing chest-exposing " Bvronic" col'ars. " There is no doubt that freedom of the neck helps both in the general health of the body and the development of the neck muscles," said i a Harley street physician. "If you are ( observant, you have probably noticed that men who wear low or loose collars, or no collar at all, like sailors, are invariably better developed than a man who tries to throttle himself with a linen band." A hosier stated that Englishmen wou'd not tolerate low necks, although he thought it was the nest step after the soft collar. "Stiff-necked Ene'and" started with the ruffle, in Queen Elizabeth's days. Since then we have always ke'.it our throats covered. Demobilised soldiers are used to hiorh collars, and although officers certainly did wear unstarched neckwear, it was never loose. A DOMESTIC ASSOCIATION. The Borough of Hampstead, England, which was an active Council of Social Welfare, has formulated a policy that is in some respects quite new, and is dosigned to meet the situation that has j arisen with, regard to the reinstatement Jof war-employed women. In a neighi bourhood of large and fairly luxurious homes domestic service offers a natural, and, one would think, a not unattractive means of absorbing much of the freed labour, yet the shortage of domestic help ia here just as acutely felt as elsewhere. However, a joint association of bousedomestic workers has been formed, and a programme has been put forward by a committee on which both sides are well represented. One of the conclusions arrived at is that it is impossible to deal with domestic service by the same .methods or by the same principles as would apply to industrial concerns; that is to say, household work cannot bo classed with factory work. Another conclusion is that remuneration for domestic work is not merely a matter of money; it is partly paid in kind—in board and lodging and laundry. The draft programme issued by the Hampstead Joint Domestic Association would form a good working basis for ' other boroughs to build upon. Its main j features consist of a registry conducted j On mutual lines, a committee composed of both employers ard employees, and -ho | immediate provision of a hostel for accommodating those workers who prefer to live out and take up daily service is projected. Rules are framed with regard to terms of engagement, hours of meals, and time for rest and recreation, which need not here be specified, as more interesting points came tip at the discussion which followed a well-attended public meeting at the town hall, when Lady Londonderry gave an address. In this; full and frank discussion, in which many doraestio servants took part, it was quite evident to all that it is not the kind of work that is objected to, nor is it altogether a matter of treatment or of hours, for many spoke who have lived in situations for long periods together in anything but easy circumstances. The real difficulty lie in the status and the name, and no. amount cf reasoning about honour and tho universal obligation of service will alter the fact that i'.e term " servant" is objectionable, .nd carries with it social inferiority. This was admitted, and a point arose w'Ji regard to the possibility of adopting a new same and of finding one acceptors to all,

and not only acceptable but Impossible to be ridiculed! Even Lady Londonderry had to admit that her " legionaries" had suffered at the bands of the public press, although few of them minded the fact. The name of "household orderly" was suggested, and undoubtedly there is much to be said for this title. < War has actustomed us to all military terms and military discipline. The women who took up work as hospital orderlies earned praise for their smartness and efficiency, and their uniform was highly .espected. The word, too, is full of meaning, and could be familiarised in the schools with advantage. We certainly think that a better name will do much to take away the reluctance to enter this sphere of work. Still another reform that to wanted is with regard to the giving of characters, and points of law in this respect have still to be framed and made clear. A few simple necessary questions put and answered id writing should be all that is essential as a certificate of conduct. LIFE a AMEEIfIA. . A very interesting account of life in America, with regard to its women And children, is given by Mrs. J. Guoson. who has just returned from a trip to America. The following extract contains a few remarks made by Mrs. Gunson oo this very wide subject:— My trip was wholly a holiday one, essentially for rest and change, therefore very little time was given to anything in i thy nature of visiting women's clubs or gaming very much information theretc. I did, however, in the early part, during our several weeks stay in Sail Francisco, visit three or four women's organisations there, but owing to vacation and the general holiday air pervading the Bummer months, I had not much opportunity _of , meeting the members, nor attend any tiling in the way of meetings. But during several months' tour in a motor-car across the i States, as a passer-by, I had the oppori iunity of seeing something of America I and its people, as a whole, and learning ; a little about the American women and children, too. I wanted just to see the ; people as they were, and to I did;. I saw something of the luxury and something of the poverty which go hand in hand in some of these great cities of America, and much that interested me in the smaller towns and villages, and the lonesomenesa j of the life of some men and women and their families living in ' their log-cabins, far away from the voice of a, neighbour, with only a vast stretch of sandy desert land for a landscape view from each tiny window or cabin door. The Shops. lii the big cities the shops are very attractive. In the department ftorea j the windows are spacious, and for the most part no such things as a verandah darkens the window or de- | tracts from the artistic display of the l goods. These windows aro devoted to the selection of a few choice articles of women's frocks or suits. The next window, perhaps, has women's underwear, I andipink is the prevailing fashion to-day. | Not more than two or three 'dresses or ' suits are selected, a smart hat or two, the very latest in a handbag, an umbrella, , a, few pairs of gloves, atid a little neskIjvear. Like the touch of the artist who on bis canvas deals with just the impres I sion and leaves tho onlooker to fill in the detail— the window artist catches the eve of the passer-by. No, I am wrong to say the whole window is devoted to this alone. It is a marked characteristic of the American to adorn both private and public rooms, department stores, candy stores, even automobile show rooms, men's outfitters, shops of all kinds, with large baskets, unique in shape, filled with tho choicest and finest blooms, or tall, fancy grasses, or greens, which with the fall "of the year were so glorious in their autumn tints. Then, too, there was,that other window, right from floor to ceiling, laden, so laden with i, variety of goods— conglomeration, vieing one with another for prominence and pricepushing like people in a crowd anxious to " get there." Down along the : busy street one comes across the remar'tablo five and ten cent or ten and twenty cent stores, the famous Wool- • worth Stores, found in almost all the I American cities. It is really wonderful I how the women crowd these useful stares , and the business done, where no article I sold is (presumably) above five, ten, 01 twenty cents. The Country, Leaving tho harry and bustle, often soot, fog, and smoke of the big cities, it was delightful to get righ.'. away into the country, to motor along some of the many ! thousands of miles of national paved highj ways. Here we found the automobiles ; moving in one long continuous stream, Earticularly near to the large centres, oth eat*. and west, and women driving their own cars a great deal. The country roads were most enjoyable as to the country itself, which is so vast, why it is full of wealth in fruits, grain, minerals, beasts, birds, butterflies, its wild flowers, and the wonderful and marvellously varied scenery. The residential areas of the cities, the smaller towns and villages all over America, have broad streets, along which are planted rows of most beautiful The maple tree is very beautiful, and particularly the colour in the autumn. The well-built roads, and thfc garden beds and grass plots surrounding the homes of the people, which are very niceh kept indeed, and shown to great advantage on account of the absence of any fences, make a very marked and effective appearance, and quite characterises the American homes wherever one may travel in the States. Hotels. There is a great variety of hotels, at which you can get board or lodgings, or both. No such thing as a bar is attached to an American hotel, and certainly not to-day in a prohibition country. It is the saloon element, at the corner of tho street, that is wiped out of existence to-day with regard to the sale of liquor. In the American hotels, equipped with roof garI dens, luncheon, and afternoon tea-rooms, I dining, supper, arid ballrooms, oft-times ! palatini and gorgeous in design and fura-1 I ishings, sometimes smart and unique, I sometimes quiet and unobtrusive, and in | . the restaurants, cafes and cafeteria—for I eating places abound in number and I variety— see the woman of wealth and ! fashion, the smart business woman, the I woman of#quieter taste, and even the mother and children throng these places. The domestic help problem is so acute in j America that thousands of Americans live with their families in apartment houses, and the vsrietv of eating places afford an easy way out of cookire at least some of the family mnls. Tho American woman and her children have many privilpces in these large c-'ties; they have many pleasure resorts, and the Americans are a pleasure- people, and enjoy to the full the large parks, the lakes and harbours. picture theatres, public buildings with art treasures, libraries, where the juvenile section plays so important a oart, aquariums, and so on. The New York Aquarium is a very largo one, and possesses some 3000 liv>ng specimens and, by the way, it brought New Zealand waters close home to see some splendid specimens of schnapper there.