LEAGUE OF PEN WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 13

LEAGUE OF PEN WOMEN.

A luncheon in honour of Mrs. Cluett, Isabel Maud Peacockp, who has recently returned from a visit to England, was givoa by the League of New Zealand Pen Women at the .Farmers' Union Trading Company on Friday. The function was also the inaugural gathering of the newly-formed league, and thero was a good attendance of membors. The president, Mrs. Stewart Boyd, was in the chair, and in extending a welcome to the guest of honour, presented her with a charming bouquet of purplo irises ffom those present. Mrs. Boyd also congratulated the league on its good fortune in numbering among its members a writer whoso works are so highly commended and so much appreciated, as aro thoso of Mrs. Cluett. Yellow daffodils and spring flowers decorated the largo tee-shaped table, seated around which the members lunched, and time passed very pleasantly in convivial chatter. Afterwards a most interesting little talk on incidents _ of literary purport in her 'travels was given by Mrs. tfluett. A visit to Charterhouse, in one of the oldest parts of Loudon, with its associations of writers of & past decade, called up in the visitor's imagination episodes that were vividly connected with their lives and With thoso who havo lived so realistically in their works. In the many hallowed spots to be visited one conjured up romantic scenes in this quiet old sanctuary looking on to the Thames, where in days gono by tho barges, plying silently on its waters, figured so conspicuously in its romantic history. In these precints the speaker was shown rooms occupied by Colonel Neweombo and others of that great and glorious past, many of the sites of their former chambers being marked by plates bearing their names. It is still tho custom of tho pensioners to wear the picturesquo gowns designed in ancient times. Another vastly interesting visit paid by Mrs. Cluett in London was that to Westminster School. This wonderful old institution, founded by tho monks and later taken over by Henry VIII., when it became a famous school of Is irning, retains to-day its position of eminence in the scholastic world. An ex-school boy was the speaker's escort through tho venerable pile, which retains its old-world influence, notwithstanding many periods of reconstruction. Tho old custom still survives in the school of engraving on its walls the names of successful pupils. Commenting on tho various phases of English life that Mrs. Cluetr thought of particular interest was the fact that, among all classes and conditions of people, books ■ were such a great source of interest, and she was much impressed with the variety of their reading. Mrs. Victor Mackay, secretary of the league, gave an account of. the workings of tho leaguo, and read a letter from Miss Edith Howes, president of the Dunedin branch, which has recently been formed and affiliated with the league in Auckland. The letter also referred to preparations that aro being made for the exhibit of New Zealand women writers' work at the forthcoming exhibition in Dunedin. Miss Howes is secretary for the women writera' section, and the lotter stated that she would bo pleased if intending exhibitors would communicate with her.