WOMAN'S WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18278, 20 December 1922, Page 16

WOMAN'S WORLD.

SOCIAL NEWS.

The Misses Mollie and Joyce Nathan returned by the Niagara from a visit to [Vancouver.

Mrs. R. Murphy, who has been staying with Mrs. Nelson Pierce, has returned to Tokomaxu Bay.

Miss B. Lockhart, who has been paying a round of visits in the south, has returnsd to Auckland.

Dr. and Mrs. F. Fitehett will motor through to Taupo to-morrow with Mr. ard Mrs. W. Brown.

Lieut-Colonel the Hon. Nigel GathorneHardv has taken The Hill, Wndestown, Wellington, on a short lease from Mr. . S. St. Georgo.

Visitors at Waiwera for Christmas include Mr. and Mrs. H. Richmond, Sir. and Mrs. Sydney Thorno George, Mrs. i.i. C. Tewsley* and Miss Towsley.

Mr and Mrs. D. Poison are leaving town this week for Taranaki. and after a trip to Mount Egmont, will stay wit.i Mrs. Rutherford, in Stratford.

Among those who are spending the Christmas holidays at Ilotorua are ton-. G. Elliot and family, Mrs F. J. l.arnu t »i,, Timer Mrs. 1 horn ton and tno ALitses l*" 1 ") -'",•■ . Jackson and Miss Jean Lonord.

Ladv Patricia Blackwooc, daughter oi the late Marquis of DufiVnn and Av; . who arrived in Wellington last week is now staving with her cousin, the Hon. Mrs Tahu Rhodes. Christehurch.

Miss Beatrice Osmond, oi London, arrived in Wellington by the lonic last week end. and is at present staving at Carsen. Site intends to sail for Sydney shortly, and will then go on to Hobart, where' she will visit her sister. Others staving at Cargen are :—Justice and Mrs. Stringer, Mr. and Mrs. D. b. McLean (Napier). Mr. and Mrs. H D Bates, and Miss bates. .Mrs. Koss, Mrs. Orton (Wanganui), Mrs. It. J. Conner (Hawke's Bay), Major and Mrs. Dean Pitt (Napier).

The Duchess of Hamilton, who hrs been spending a couple of months in Australia, was a passenger for .New Zealand bv the Tahiti. After spending a for.night in "Wellington, she will leave on her return to England, via Vancouver.

-\mcn- hor legion of friends Melba numbers Queen Alexandra- Once upon a time Melba had a beautiful house in Gre.it Cumberland Place. But now she puts up. when in London. at tho Ladies .Athenieum Club in Dovor Street. 11 t room is always a bower of flowers. She feeb cosier there, she says, than staying at an hotel.

Lord Louis Mountbatten has scored a tremendous success in America, just as his father did before him. His wife, Edwina, too, is much admired. Americans think lice pretty but lacking the stylo of the New York girls and that, envelope neatness cf theirs. Great stress, by the way, is laid in the inner circles on the fact that Lord Louis is cousin of King George, which is not surprising, because royalty always possesses an irresistible, appeal for a republican people.

The City of Fiume, on the Adriatic, grants the easiest divorce in the world. The citv counts a population of 50,000; 15.003 of them received decrees of divorcein the vears 1920 and 1921. Divorce seems to be "the most flourishing of the local industries, and it is making the city famous. People desiring freedom Cock to Fiume from neighbouring States where divorces are not granted. Anyone can set a divorce in Fiume who has lived in the city long enough to acquire the rights of citizenship.

The latest woman recruit to aviation is the Hon. Elsie Mackay, third daughter of Lord and Lady Inchape, who has received her certificate as pilot. Miss Mackay is onlv about the twelfth Englishwoman to qualify for aviation. She owns a two-seater D!H.6. Miss Mackay w;is at one timn the youngest leading lady on the West End stage, playing with Mr. Cvril Maude in " Grumpy," at the New Theatre, when under twenty years of age. She has since made a reputation as a film actress.

At last fashion purveyors are beginning to consider the requirements of ruiddio aged and elderly women! A great London store, famed for its dresses, has started a show of garments for women of mature years, displayed by mannequins of corresponding age. So far fashions have been designed for the young and appropriately enough have been displayed by sylph-like young mannequins. The older and plainer a woman is, the more does she need becoming dress. And many a middle aped womnri can look just as charming as her daughters if, instead of copying styles that suit them, she dresses in the way most becoming to herself.

Several Swiss insurance companies which accept illness risks, have notified their women clients that premiums will be increased 15 per cent, for their sex. from November 1. This action, it is declared, has become necessary owing to losses resulting from the wearing of lownecked dresses, short skirts and sleeves, and high heels, which has greatly increased the amount of illness.

Tho ex-Crown Princess Cecilio of Germany found it was " impossible for her to leave Potsdam" on the day of the Kaiser Wilhelm's marriage to Princess Hcrmine of Pveuss. The Princess had an aversion that nothing could soften, to the Kaiser, whom she looked upon as a mountebank from the time she married his son. But she had a love for the late Kaiserin that lasted through all their troubles. The Crown Princess' chief interest in life is in her eldest boy, ■who she hopes will one day ascend the throne of Germany.

The Sydney district of tho Australasian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers has decided to admit Miss V. A. Drummond as an honorary associate of the institute. Miss Drummond, who has the distinction of being the first woman marine engineer, is now one of the engineer officers on board the steamer Anchiees which recently called at Sydney. She h-i3 been presented with the Australasian Institute's emblem in recognition of her beinsr " tho first marine engineer of the gentler sex.' - Miss Drummnnd was also a member of the Marine Engineers' Institute of Great Britain, and the Scottish Jiociety of Experimental Engineers,

Some idea of the domestic work that has to be superintended in an enormous ship like tho Majestic or the O/vmpic, can be gained when it is stated that for one voyage of one ship alone nearly 500,000 pieces of linen are required, while the business of laundering the linen when the vessel reaches port is one that demands a good deal of organisation —especially when there are only three days in which to remove tho soiled {.rticlea, get them washed, dried, and ironed, and back again before the now vo)'age begins. Apart from this side of the work, tho ship's linen has to *o checked 1 , and all lisses made up. Of the Majestic's stock, for instance, more than 100,000 pieces have to be rent-wed in the course of a year—at a cost of about £20.000.

Though the innovation is in their special ; nterest, other than business are likely to participate in the new departure made \>y one of our great reiail drapery firms, writes a Sydney con espondent. The idea is to have a woman of cultui-e and experience, retained at a handsome fee, of course, to talk to business gi-'la during the lunch hour on 'he pi-eat question of improved dressing at less com- The cynical male observer contribute the view that there is but little to talk about. But it is obvious that the experts in catering for the feminine side of the population know better. Mannequins will be used by the lecturer, rnd it seem that the efforts can hardly bo other than successful from the commercial point of view, and generally no doubt the results will bo discussed in ithousanda of family circles,

On Monday night the National Reserve Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade held its annual inspection and examination. The examiners were the district commissioner, Mr. C J. Tunks, Dr. MoDougall, medical officer, and Mr. A. W. Probert, district officer. Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie, surgeon to tno division, was also present. In the course of his remarks Mr. Tunics comments upon the annual report, which showed that a great deal of work had been accomplished during the year. Memueis had given their time and services ireeiv, not confining their attention to ambiance work onlv, as was shown by M« fact that the sewing guild had given a total of 235 gifts to the district nurses for distribution among the needy, the ambulance sub-committee of tno Mayoress' War Memorial Library Committee also had a very satisfactory record of work. Certificates of commendation for services rendered were presented to Mrs. Cammell, Nurse Scot, Mrs. Dryland, and Miss Linton by 31?. Tunks, who also, on behalf of officers air members of the division, mode a small presentation to Mr. Mackenzie as a token of appreciation of his valuable services. Mrs. Cammell, ladv superintendent, wis likewise the recipient of a small presentation gift.

Onicism with regard to marriage appears to have beset the minds of mutt of our playwrights. Perhaps they have found statistics to confirm their melancholy outlook-. 1 do not know, nut .t do know that the thing is being overdone, states a writer in an Exchange. I wond< v if a Rood many play failures cannot, ta traced to the unsympathetic way in which thrv mirror marriage'.' "freedom," '• sex equality," " women's independence," and all the rest of it. human nature has not changed, and the longing foir happy mating is still one of tie main motives of this earthly existence. And however uncommon wedded happiness mav bo in actual experience, it remains—and always v/ill remain—pedestalled in the secret hearts of most of us. It is a risky thing to jest abou! if you aro writing" for mass approval.

Mrs. Bertram Ford, -who -won the sculling championship of the Sydney Ladies' Bowing Club recently, has a remarkable sports record. With' the tennis racquet, she won the. ladies' single championship of New South Wales in 1906. Since then nearly 60 championships have l*'< n credited to her. Kight times she went to Queensland and captured tho championship. In 1911, while in Melbourne representing the State, she won the whole of the championships open to her, including singles, doubles, and combined. After assisting fo win the ladies' doubles championship at Stratneld in 1903, 1915, and 1914, she competed again, after u lapsa of rivo years, and for the fourth time won the coveted honour. In ice hockev this woman athlete has established a name for herself. Holding the position as secretary of the Sydney Ladies' Club she represented the State as goalkeeper against Victoria a few months back. Mrs. Ford has finally turned her attention to sculling, and at this sport she promises to equal her record with the racquet.

The ideal housewife has been sketched by the London County Council, which is" preparing to turn out specimens of such from its evening institutes. Tho budding housewife will bo taught all about " hardware, including knobs, locks latches etc.," the " air space required per head," the possibilities of time saving if there be a short walking circuit for the housework, and systematic spending and saving. L'nder " domestic architecture " the responsibility of various tenures vail be explained with tho characteristics and health of tho various districts of London, and the medical officer's returns. She. will be intsructed in the law between landlord and tenant, and between householder and lodger. Insurances and acuities will be explained, also the "habits and pleasures of the child," and " paint, varnish. French and wax polishes, their composition and use," Instruction wiU bo given in choosing meat and fish, anil also in the preparation of " dainty dishes," stewed cow heel coming under the latter definition. The course finishes with an explanation of the mysteries of millinery, and some insight into domestic upholstery.

In the absence of Miss Lena Ashwell, the actress, through illness, Mr. St. John Ervine, the dramatist and novelist, lectured on "The Stage as a Profession for Women," at the Halcyon Club, Cork Street. W. "Any woman who goes on tho stage in the belief that it is a romantic place is certain to be jarred rudely by the facts," said Mr. Ervine. "Even in these times, when the incompetent amateur with an influential, and expansive uncle seems to predominate on the West End Stage, it remains true that success in the theatrical profession can be won only by those who have ability and training. To become an efficient actress you must work harder at the job of acting than you ever worked at anything in your life. Play all the parts you can got before any sort of audience. Prepare yourself for years of hard labour with little profit, bitter disappointment, and hopes deferred. But if vou wish to get an immediate engagement in a West End theatre in a part which exacts no skill or knowledgo from you, then get yourself born into the world a blue-eyed,"fair-haired flapper without the power" to act, sing, dance, or enunciate clearly, and add on the possession of a rich or influential relative and you will certainly get it. No one should go on the stage," concluded Mr. Ervine, "unless to do that, nothing on earth, poverty, starvation, or obloquy, would keep him or her off it."

An interesting visitor to Auckland is Miss Beatrice Osmond, of London, ■ iss Osmond is a member of the Joint Parliamentary Advisory Council, London. which is composed of women elected and co-opted on public bodies, and women social workers. A joint advisory committee of the council is formed of M.P.'s representing ministerial and other prominent parties in the House of Commons, and 42 women elected by the women's council to serve for three years on the joint advisory committee as representatives of the council. The council was inaugurated at tho instance of a group of M.P.'s, who desired the formation of a committee of women willing to give their experience in collecting and digesting information of social questions upon which Parliament wa«, or might be, called upon to legislate, and to help to form and promote a progressive policy in legislation affecting the welfare of women and children. In spite of the fact that it has Parliamentary representation, the council is free from all party bias, and considers, apart from politics, whatever measures are brought forward. One that is receiving particular attention at the present time is that of pensions for widows, and Miss /Osmond is much interested in what has bo.cn dono in New Zealand. Tho work of the committee is divided into four groups, namely, the Home Office, Board of Education", Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Labour. Miss Osmond works on two, the maximum for one member. In 1920, tho council resolved that a closer relationship with those interested in social reform legislation in the Dominions, would bo of great advantage to the J.P.A.C, and tho first women to join this group were Lady Findlay and Lady Stout, of New Zealand.

ENGAGEMENTS. The engagement is announced of Miss Dorothy Rice, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Rice, of Devonport, to Mr. S. E. Haycock, third boh of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Haycock, of Auckland. HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SOAP. In nearly every paper you find eome correspondent asking for a recipe to m;ike household eoap. Many peopla make a->ap with ordinary caustic soda, but no one can express satisfaction with this crude method, Other* make eoap from various recipes, rnd sometimes make a useful kind of rough soap. Here is a newly-discovered secret that •(till make, a batch of perfect household eoap at a cost between 3d and id per bar, full of lather and a wonderful dirt shifter. Aak your srrocer to-day for a packet of " Myoa " Soap-making Compound. All stores, or trial packet 2s 9d, postage paid, from agents, Messrs. Bell and Bell. Ltd., 85, Fort St., i Auckland,

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