Notes for Women.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7022, 10 January 1910, Page 7

Notes for Women.

(EDITED BY "ZEALANDIA.")

ZEALANDIA will personally attend all Zealand Times" office. .... A^r^aSent l r& ! i n rntSt bfproperly authenticated. Zea-

landia.will be •J****d *»? ™ c « w * f'St„Tt, 'fin ftvi Sail other «*** pondence is cordially invited.

WEECK OF THE WAIKAEE

THE WOMEN'S POINT OF VIEW.

(By One Who Was on Board.)

Hitherto all the accounts of tho wreck havo been written by men, and soj of'course, are merely records of the men's ideas on the'subject. On one point nil their -accounts were unanimous, in saying that thewomen displayed splendid courage during the first trying moments after the ship struck. Wo all knew to a woman what had happened, but, as a matter of fact, wo really felt quite'calm and collected, because wo all had such great confidence in the ability of the captain' and officers, and wo know perfectly well that everything that could be done would' be accomplished quickly and well. Any stranger on deck who had not felt tho horrid shock of the concussion would have never guessed that tho cool, composed crowd of women and girls were on a rapidly-sinking vessel with only five minutes more steam in her engines. . , Girls were helping, each .other on" with their lifebelts, and laughing over tho clumsy contrivances of loops and strips which were to hold thorn in position. One girl, under the whimsical pretence that the colour' of her lifebelt didn't suit her complexion, handed on at least half a dozen to others not so humorously inclined, till a male-'friend seized on another and positively forced it upon her Ladies .in the deck cabins went oil and collected bundles, keys, and dressing■bacrs with tho utmost composure, while others, although tho ship was canted almost to an angle of 45 degrees, had to be headed off by the officers as they tried to descend the slanting stairs to their cabins below. One of the heroines I refer you to a previous account for tho origin of this termcame back from her cabin loaded with precious things, and dimpling with roguish smiles. A pallid individual, it appeared, had followed her into her 'cabin,' and had stammered his; 'farewell " Good-byo, dear, wo,' will meet no morel" ho said. " Absurd... creature'!"" said the young woman composedly, and then wo all laughed, and tied her up in her unsightly cork bandolier, and she was hurried into a nobbloy boat. A young married woman—a very notable swimmer, I believe;—not liking tho choppy look of tho sea, removed her skirt and made her children do the same, but she was not afraid, for she made no attempt, to hurry to a boat or take any .advantage over the others. In fact, any crowd leaving a ferry boat any day . on Wellington wharf push, . rush, and jostle each other far more briskly and-purpose-fully than did the passengers of the stricken ship. White tho men cleared the bush on the summit, and dragged tho heavy tarpaulins up tho hill°'to provide shelter for us, we women walked over the precarious foothold offered by the sharp pointed .rocks, and passed up the, lighter ■ boxes from hand to hand until they were well over high water-mark. As the boats' crews plied to and from the sinking vessel, "continually; ■ dumping fresh luggage at tho waterside, our, task-was not completed, even with : tho dirostion and assistance of many, of the men, for several hours. There were two roads to the tented shelter above, ono fairly dry. but very precipitous, promptly dubbed -H-igh; street," whore one's tired body had to bo dragged up by hauling on to a rope. The other was a water-course—-doing half-time—this .. latter was, of, course', "Rotten Row," a most apt and descriptive title, • as the foot sank quite six inches at every step into_ a bronze-brown spongy earth. One invalid, a lady, nearly blind; several elderly women, and a game old,.felibw of over seventy toiled up this wearisome way without a single word of| complaint—all honour to them, I say. As a fine day had been selected for the shipwreck, it was rather a picturesque siglit to see the boatloads of passengers being rowed away to the nearest island—" The Last ' Rows of Summer,'\ as a girl with a punning turn of mind termed it. Two girls divided the honours.,of.- -steering, their crews to- shore, . -but, oh,- dear I .••the rowing of our impromptu boatmen left much to bo desired. Liko tho dishonest lawyer, our little craft seemed to lie first on one side, and then on the other. Wo were,., in fact, as Kipling has it, "limping like a wounded duck, steering like a dray." Quantities of water were shipping, and twice we were nearly blown, on to the rocks. Legislators, please take note, and in-sist'-upon rowing practice': for--■ the whole ship's company."-' • . -' < - The first island we touched;.. upon was rocky, ■■ small, waterless, and its peaked summit crowned with- 1 bush. Round its base clung nasty, viscid growths of "yellow' seaweed, looking liko shoals of horrid devil-fish, with their long pallid: tentacles moving idly with the wash of the tide. Such a nightmare of a place, we were glad when the brave little steam - launch puffed back, and bore us away across a broad stretch of' water to where tho' Waikare was partly beached.•■■ The" work of salvage.;had, already begun, ■ and there the narrow fringe of rocks at the water's edge of tho island were already covered with every variety of box, bundle, and package. But even tho arduous work of moving the lug- ' «ago was, as is the case with most ot our human happenings—not without its humorous side. . '. To see a tired, hopeless girl looking anxiously over the heaps'of flotsam, suddenly divo down into tlio middle'of it and then emerge* with-a. gladsome cry .. and a radiant face clasping soiae-longf mourned trunk mv..portmanteau; was quito an entertainment in itself-—to thoso whoso luggage was safe and <!ryi Ono man struck work because a 'humorous-tar threw his jirreious top liat into a pool and made a little boat . of it. It was quite half-past four when our fatigue party, a very fatigued party indeed, began to .make the toilsome ascent to the summit-shelt/srj whoro afternoon tea was awaiting, ls: ; A quaint procession, truly , struggled and straggled up the hill—somo.'carry-r

ing needments in wot pillow slips,, others with handbags, and others of us helping the older ladies to climb.

TENT LIFE ON THE. ISLAND,

The large space protected by tar-1 paulins lashed together presented quite a lively appearance —mattresses and pillows were all r arranged as comfort-, ably as the eloping nature of the ground would. ' permit. . Hats , were! hung hero and there- on handy trees and tent props, girls donned their bright-coloured motor scarves, and wrapped themselves ' in ' ■ their -gay blankets, and prepared to get as much fun out of things as possible. BRIDGE PLAYERS FORM A UNION. Four enthusiastic •bridge-players hunched up. their, knees and played on j a strip of blanket, surely in -tho strangest surroundings that any game j could be possibly played! Those who wero fortunate enough to have sal-1 vaged their cameras' made the most uso of, , their unique 'opportunity. "Click! click" ' went 'tho"cameras',' rind j "clack! clack" went, the tongues, and tho stewards wont their rounds, with steaming cups- of tea, or coffee. MATTRESSES FOR MANY—SLEEP" ' FOR THE! few. Dame Twilight lingers longer in'theso Southern latitudes, but towards halfpast eight lanterns wove lit rind tho bis glowed ~811. .tho. more brightly in t'lio gathering gloom. One by. one wo all .imigglod. into .our blankets .and settled down for tiic night. But.nob to. slumber;--very few were fortunate enough to reach that bourno for the weary—the "City of Sleep that is hard by the Sea of Dreams." MUSICAL CHEER. A waggish musician gave us a cornet solo—"We AVon't go Home till Morning .!" and the shrill defiance :flung out so piuckily, amused and 5 oheeved the band of castaways who .were expecting to be left .011 their" desert isle ' for F-overal morning at' the very, least. Later still came the rain—to stay, A steady downpour which lasted till morning:, drip, drip, from, fern arid leafage, and tree-trunk, but our stout fcarpaubns only permitted themselves tho luxury of an occasional leak. The men, w'lo mostly slept on the outer edges of tho tent, were the only ones to got any way wet.at nil. ' One man Waa otiito dry and'just : ' : coiigratulating himself' 6ft his lucky/'condition;"when: a steward slipped .and poured a billy! of coffee' on to him and into bis boots.. Ho 'remembered then, that Wellington .had once said: "Don't -halloo till jyou' are out of tho'wood." -•■■ THE PERAMBULATING PENGUIN. Ono lady sustained a severe shock during the/night. She awoke suddenly (from a fitful sleep/and sat up abruptly ancl saw to her great astonishment!a 'little penguin waddling away. The , lights ~cf ..our camp - had attracted .the [attention of the curious-, little-'fellow, and ho had-strolled into see what was ■going on, and had " actually walked over the lady's lace, before she aivobo. TOILETTES DB LUXE. ' Tho moniirig oWne'd -cold and-grey, but cleared gradually as. the day-grew older. Meals followed each other in .almost bewildering succession: we had, ,a stirrup-cup.- at -midnight,' and' early, ■tea again at five, after'which wb pVor 'oeeclod to make our sorry' 1 'toilettes.Our party managed to efface some of 'tho ravages inflicted on : us.by placing a, ..sbciwpan under a ..drip; and.;.catching Jenough wafer, to damp the four, corners of the one towel which we shared between us; .■■•-• •.-."SHAVING;BY THE' SALTY ,SEA. ; •"■ The men, as a general thing, made no •great effort to renovate themselves—■there was one shining exception,'"'however. An Englishman who did not enjoy, the st,ubbly state of, his,chin slid down the High street and made ibis painful toilette on a rock, and hy the aid of sea." water .actually con[trived to shave himself. Another example of sangfroid was this —played by |a passenger who left this sinking ship Carrying two ' bulging '-. portmanteaux; land grumbling loudly at the -loss of a [pair of slippers.

A piping-hot savoury breakfast of bacon and eass was served by the indefatigable head-cook and . his train, of waiters. 'Then we al! got..up and stretched ..our tired limbs, and when tho'-"day got warmer we descended to the roc'ksand the captain set off with tho steam-launch with seventeen of the. unmarried womon and left them in a comfortable hut of five or six rooms oil Pigeon Island. THE SPRING CLEAN.

There tho feminine instinct, temporarily under.'a cloud,. reasserted, itself the more strongly for" its brief check. Tho ladies, with. 'the. help of four stewards and a stewardess, set ■promptly to w-ijfk and began to spring clean: Floors were scrubbed, plates washed,--the tnblo laid, and even a vase of flowers was arranged to grace tho meal. Then, when all was in readiness." |Jio:--.launch .retained-, and took off the' whole party., on, to the relief ship'. THE CJIUISKR COMES. Shortly, after midday tho captain returned to the main island with the launch that had taken the ladies to tho bird-keepers' hut./ Then . a ..few minutes later a call was heard from that pnrfc of tho island -nearest thfe opeii sea, "Here comes the Pioneer," and : in a Sew minute's' time the long .grey hull of the cruiser came racing lip' tho' sound. When the British Navy takes a hand in any little mix up you ,may be very sure that the said mix up ■will soon be straightened, out. The previous evening news' had reached, the' Pioneer that wo .we're wrecked. What did she do?" She" commandeered a coal ■•hulk" in Bluff harbour; then, unaided, loaded' 90 tons of coal, her crew .'lumping "it themselves 50 yards across the wharf,- then, steamed up.the-coast at full speed and turned ".up"at the scene of disaster twenty-four hours before other help could possibly have arrived. An American gentleman turn-: ed.to mo and said: "Even .as an Anglo-Saxon my heart, swelled with pride when I saw that flag, the ensign, coming into sirdit—l don't know what you felt like." I felt liko bursting! We all lined up on tho rocks and waved'aiid cheered liko mad 'things, and in less than ten- minutes Wo -wero all waving good-bye. to our grand old captain and being bustled off in tho Wai'kare'a .boats to tho Pioneer.

THE LAST LOOK AT THE WAIKARE.

As wo were being rowed away we all took a last lingering look at' tho splendid vessel 'which held so many pleasant memories for all of us. There '•was the deck which'had so very, lately Ojecii the scene ,of so much innocent 'ircvclry 'and fun, even the decorations of fern, arid plant' wore still 'green ;intho humid conditions prevalent. : A 'broad scroll of white outlined in. green litill bore tho words, "A Happy. New Year to You All." The cabins a'lriidships were all under water—it was just a question of hours. Wo. could not boar to look again but turned sadly away. AFLOAT ON THE PIONEER,

Meanwhile, the most strenuous pre'parations for our relief and comfort (had boenmado by-the officers and orcw. of the. Pioncol'.v-They hod .understood. 'Hint wo were entirely without,food orshelter, and wero -■' without suitable clothing. Before leaving a,.party of officers had ' gone into town •'in the middjo of tho night for food and knocked up , various tradesmen—one, tho local butcher, who took them for ■burglars, and very properJy refused to appear till satisfactory explanations were. made. Then the ladies bestirred themselves, and collected; sufficient •■clothing to iirovido each one of w .with an entire dry,outfit, ..which, of course,- we did -not' require. -This lat'fcer was; I venture to'thdhk, a;'material'■disappointment to ouvr naval 'friends, who were, I arri sure, rather looking forward to valotting us through a change of wardrobe, and giving'us weighty advice on. matters modish! BUt.never mind, we/felt very grateful to them all .just, the same; THE BID FOR A B'ERTIL ■A most amusiug incident' occurred -when a boatload; of women arrived, on tho warsirip./Ono.of.thbm Crushed for-! 'ward with: outstretched hand,, and pressing a. half-a-sovereign ...into tho 'hand of ah., astonished officer, 'Til give,! you. this, if .....you only ■give mo"a, cabin to sloop in."_. W T e who know a little of pur navy enjoyed this joke'immensely.'• -Steaming cups 'of tea and beef-tcrt~wcro--handed round to all of .us, ..who had/been considerably; overfed already—indeed, I heard one girl remark tl(at her lunch on the island had consisted of sardines on toast, a plate of ham and,, ton sue with hot potatoes,, and- a. largo, slice ■ of plum pudding, and jvithiii half on hour'sho was expected-..'to drink a cup of beef ton, and an-hour later sit down' to supper in the ward-room ! The officers and orew gave tip. '. their, _ sleeping quarters entirely to,' the /women : and made; : us as coirifortablo' as' possible on ■a ship where women! are' always rigorously" excluded. One girl experienced

a greater shock on board than anything that had happened to her before: .she awoke and found a mysterious ■little furry animal crawling over her. Switching on. the light she was more alarmed than ever to see an animal isho had never seen before._ Tho steward, answering her hasty ring at the bell, told her it was the ship's mongoose, and it only bit sometimes—naughty little Mr Rikki-tikki-tav! Early next morning, after a somewhat turbulent crossing, wo arrived (it the Bliiff, where tho hospitable people had a. nice breakfast awaiting us at the 'Town Hall. Accompanied by Sir Joseph Ward, who had been on_ the warship to welcome us on our arrival, and the captain and officers of the Pioneer, ive all trooped ashore. A shabby-looking 'crowd Wo fbit, we women, but there 'wore plenty of jokes left to go round, and wo thoroughly enjoyed a meal from a steady' table once more. In less than 'an'hour-We -had breakfasted, received 'Some hundreds of congratulatory telegrams from relieved relatives , aiid friends—the telegraph office had been open day and,night to expedite tilings -—aiid we all found ourselves aboard the special train. How they cheered as we puffed out of the station, feel- j ing very grateful towards the hospitable folks we had left behind , us. Every station.we passed in our triumphal progress was filled with friendly, kindly people, all waving handkerchiefs and cheering us as we. passed along; everywhere we met with kindness and consideration. not only from the whole of .the-Union Company,'but ■from T every individual, of the general 'public. The name "Waikare" seemed to bo the. open sesame to ail hearts. "As for the "Sounds trip," 90 per ceiit. of the women passengers are quitel ready to go again next year, because we all had a, most delightful time on : board in spite of the wet weather 'boforo the accident; aiid afterwards—well, afterwards, there were food and 'fun in plenty, and "all's well that ■ends well" is a good motto for everyday use.

As a last word I should like to record our gratitude to the brave men who manned tho launch to establish communication at Puysegur. Theirs, indeed, was the quiet courage and Bpleudid endurance which are the most noticeable and salient characteristics of our race. PEOCKS IN "THE FLAG . LIEUTENANT." Some beautifully-gowned women wero 'to be . seen on the stage at the Opera House on Saturday evening. ■'• Miss Warwick's frocks were' beautiful enough to excite admiration in any ' woman's heart. In the .first act she Wore a vieux rose frock of softest silk, and over this was a silver and crystal embroidered net coat, semi-fitting and reaching half-way down tho skirt. In act 3 her petunia charmeuse frock was veiled with a net overdress of tho same shade, edged with sparkling passementerie in lightei tints. The overdress was tunic'in style, being open from waist to hem on the left sido. Her hair was dressed'"in'' the now turban ' siyle, which is so very becoming to some faces. In the last act her pink cloth frcck was worn with' a black hat wreathed with tiny red "roses. Miss Harvey's frock isi the first act was I white satin, and in act 3 she was gowned in a pale pink Enipiro frock, the sleeves of tucked net being long and tight-fitting. In the last act she wore a" pretty grey princess frock and a "picturesque grey hat with plumes. Miss Calvin's'-dtess in the first act was of pale, bilic silk, the'Empire skirt ineoting'a baby bodice pf palest pink chiffon. Her graceful white frock in act'3 was made in! tho new hip ypke 'stylo and finished with a sashed bow of soft messaline ribbon at the back. Her beautiful 'vieux- lose burnous, which she also donned in this act, was much admired. In the last act she wore a neutral blue princess frock of Shantung 'and a pretty black hat. The gorgeous uniforms of the naval men greatly enhanced the beauty of the '■s rocks worn. - SALE • 0? ' WOEK • AT;'PETONE On Saturday afternoon, at the residence, of the Rev. -Mr Russell, Aligli-. •can.-minister, of Petone, the girls- of. the Bible-class 1 eld a . garden party and sale, of work in.aid of the prize fund. StaVh were.set about at,intervals, and dainty afternoon tea was served under tho welcome shade of .the trees. The tables were artistically decorated with blue cornflowers and w.b.ito flowers. Mrs' Russell was wearing, a brown Sicilienne costume with a guimpcy of cream laoe. Mrs Marsdcii 'wore a green! .linen coat''and Bkirt, and 'Mrs Castle's check, coat and skirt were smartly cut and worn with a black hat. Mrs Instone wore white with a

black hat, and with her was a lady m pale blue linen. Good business was done at all the stalk, and the fund will benefit considerably by the proceeds of the sale. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL NOTES Miss K. McKenzie has returned from Christchurch. Miss Eileen Ward is spending a week bn the West Coast with Mr and Miss Seddon. Mrs F. Ormrod, of Wellington, came back from England bn Saturday by the lluahine. Mrs E. P. Levien has returned to her iiomo after a- three months’ stay in Palmerston North. Mrs S. A. Watson, of Invercargill, and Miss V. Sharpe, of Port Chalmers, wci’o among tJio Now Zealanders who returned from holiday visits abroad by the lluahine on Saturday. Mra G. ■ Marshall, of Wanganui, accompanied by tho Misses D. and C. G. Marshall, who have been on a holiday : trip, to England, Completed , their journey oh Saturday, when they arrived back in the Dominion by the lluahine. Very complete,, arrangements have been made for the entertainment of visiting bowlers and their lady friends at the Thorndon bowling green this week. Bunoheon for players is provided at tho Bodega and afternoon tea will be served in the pavilion daily, Mrs. H. J. Collins, Mrs W. F. Barraud, All’s Leighton, Mrs M. Clark, and sCss Wiggins having arranged x'or a day each, so that the well known hospitality of, the club will be maintained. Similar arrangements are being made at all tho city clubs. Miss Marjorie Murray, at present in Wellington with Mr Williamson’s Dramatic Company, is a gifted young actress who should soon he favourably heard of on the Australasian' stage. She comes to the colonies with excellent credentials. Shortly before her departure from Home Miss Murray took Miss Julia Neilsonls part in “Sunday,” which she played with great tucoees. She came forward a little while back as a debutante at tho Hicks Theatre, appearing as Kitty Kemp -, in a one-act piece called “Tiro Agitator,”, of which the “Morning Post” said; “Rare, indeed. that an actress, young or old, shows such abandon. Her career will bo watched with interest.” On Saturday night Mias Murray appeared as Horatio Hood, the . midshipman, in “Tlie Flag Lieutenant” at the Opera House, being unexpectedly balled upon, to play the part at short iibticei owing to the indisposition of one of the members of the company. Small as her opportunities were. Miss Murray gave an idea of what . good dramatic work .might he expected of her in more ambitious efforts. ' CONCERNING GLOVES Although gloves aro such a small article of attire they have always entered •largely into human lives. It, was a'challenge to an enemy the mark of a niisItross’s favour. ■ Tho ancient Persians WovS cloves, and the Romans towards Ithe decline of the Empire began to Use ‘them. In Anglo-Saxon literature W 6 'meet with “Glof," a covering fbr, the hand. On tho tombs of kings andqiitens, etc., the hands are invariably shown covered. “Gloves as sweet as damask roses” were much prized by Queen Elizaboth, and in those days formed such an important item of a lady’s expenses that

a sum was generally allowed for "glove ■money." To_ thi<3 day the custom of the presentation* by the sheriff of it, pair of 'white gloves to the judge on the occasion of a maiden assize is a' ; pictureeqiio custoni. CINMMOH BOLLS : Make ordinary biscuit dough, roll out about half an inch thick, moisten all ■ over with milk ( sprinkle with sugar, and , cinnamon, roll tightly like a jelly roll, then cut in one-inch cakes; place closely ' together in a well-larded pah. Bake in a moderate oven about twenty minutes. • are most delicious, and cannot be told fr6m yeast rolls. . We havo. three months of. summer weatiier to get yet, and one is surprised to find new summer millinery just given away at Mrs Mathewson's, „ Lambton quay. You can get such- a smartlytrinimed hat there for .8s lid, and those at. 12s 6d are,good enough for the most i dressy occasions. Tho sale is only for ten days, so wise people will buy early. * ,

finds) Debutante PrespntaiToh.JTand llouquet* .in nil newe«t Mylej, ladies' dress and hair spravs. Oentlfmen's ooht Cowers. HS'thdny oflerins». Miw Prebble, liie Floral Depot, SJ, Willit etreet. ■

It is very convenient for ladies when the.v require a nice gown,to have the advantage of expert advice and knowledge. Hayword, the well-known ladies' <.-i>k>r. of Lambton qilav, makes a point rt' studying the wishes of his pati'.-m?, i\t.i all his gowns bear the imprint of n master hand. *

Weddings.—Bride's and Bridesmaid's Bouquets, Sprays. Baskets, sr.d other drtistio floral device') for birttdavs, preeentations. bon voyage, etc. Choicest flowers only used. Miss Murray, ViceKegal Florist. 36. Willis street. •

HINTS ABOUT VOUrj IT.Mn ASD COME TREATMENT.-

If vour hair is falling, faded, or grey, do not worry. Miss Milsom's wonderful treetment and preparations will not only restore to life and lustre, but positively cure dandruff and diseases of the scalp. Treatments from 33 6d. Shampooing, Face Massage, Manicuring. Clipping, Hairdressing done and taught. Hairwork of every description. pain-less and pormiwieni. .King's Chambers, Willis street: (next Empire Hotel). Telephone 814. * • * LADIES' TAILORING. The oldest and best firm. Kow Spring Goods and Styles. Mr Nodme will do the fitting. KODINE A-MJ CO., 7S, Wellington terrace.