THIS PASSING SHOW

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7866, 31 July 1911, Page 9

THIS PASSING SHOW

Some little Talk awhile of He and The© There was—and then no more of Thee and Me. —Omar Khayyam. “ People/’ we arc told, “ are everywhere complaining of the increased cost of living.” So much eo that Mr Laurexison, M.P., is moved to ask for that time-honoured panacea a Royal Commission, Doubtless the suggestion will take effect, for a Royal Commission is in the nature of a popular xmstimo —for the Commissioners. For one thing, it presepts that pleasing “change of work" which is well known to bo as good as play. Por another, it carries with it some little cheer in the way of emolument, I am given to understand, and some little variety in the way of travelling from one centre to another. By all means let us have a Royal Commission, but also, by all means, let us recognise the claims of what, in ancient days of “ journalese," would have been mentioned.as “the fair sex" to bo included among the Commissioners.

Women with practical experience of the cost of living, women of sound judgment and common-sense, might contribute very largely to that section or the subject which deals with legitimate household. expenses. lam by no means sure that my own incursions into the imXiortant question of “paper bag cookery" would not give me a claim to be considered among tho elect I When the greater sections of the huge topic, such as the production of wealth and its relation to the population, tho working of industrial laws, tho tariff question, and the land problem, were under consideration men would be pre-eminent. But there are lots of things women might throw light upon if they would. P'or example, whether tho increased cost of living may not bo due to tho increased cost of our habits. To tho absence in the majority of any pretence at thrift. To the dying out ot habits of self-denial among our young j) eo PTe, and a general disposition to lean on a too long-suffer-ing State, from the moment they see the light in some well-appointed St. Helens Hospital, till the moment that they draw their last instalment of the old ago pension.

There are moments—and they arc not infrequent—when our geographical distance from tho great world spinning along “ down the ringing grooves of change" seems moro of an advantage than anything else. There are sad enough places in these crowded cities of the Old World." It would seem as if the spirit of spontaneous gaiety had fled, and only tho curious, the bizarre and the decadent could attract. In Paris they are amusing themselves at the Eolies Bergeres with a dainty morsel of profanity called Hell. The dialogue is described as vastly entertaining. Among other brilliant sarcasms for which Satan is responsible, “ M.A.P." quotes tho following :

Tho Devil; “ All good people go to Heaven—all the best people come here. Wo get every one worth while—authors, actors, artists, doctors, lawyers and most of the fashionable clergymen." Miss Liberty: “How delightful!"

Devil; “ Brigham Young's been with us this thirty years. His wives are all in Heaven I could do nothing if I went axpund looking like the Devil. Usually I masquerade as a woman." And so on, finally confessing himself ignorant of Drench, though otherwise a good linguist, for, concludes this witty Monsieur le Diable, “They never needed mo in Paris 1" ! How the thing reeks in the nostrils. How happy wo who, in our island solitude, have time and taste to keep a watchful eye on the morals of tho cinematograph.

My contribution to the Tramways Conference is brief. I only want to say that the public is. as ever, ungrateful. With the charming provision of that adjustable step held out to them, and tho easily-realised mental picture of its adjustment at one stop for an elderly lady to descend, and tho nest for a young . mother ■with infant and collapsible gocart to bo deposited, I have not heard one grateful comment! I have not yet found the woman who is old enough or stout enough to need the “ ridiculous . thing." It is indeed an ungrateful world. —ZEALAND LA. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Sir Henry Miller and Lady Miller, who have arrived for. tho session, are staying at Miss Dye's, Mulgrave sCreetMrs Anthony Cottrell, who has been spending a week in Wellington, returned to Westport on Saturday. Mr R. W. Smith, M.P., and Mrs Smith are staying at the Hotel Cecil.

Mr John Duncan, M.P., and Mrs Duncan are staying with Mrs Speed for the session.

Mrs C. Wood (Christchurch) is staying at tho Royal Oak.

Mrs Wald ©grave (Palmerston North) is staying at the Hotel Cecil.

Mrs John Anderson has returned to Wanganui.

Mr and Mrs Fitzherbert (Feilding) are staying at the Royal Oak.

Mrs Williams (Sydney), who has been making a short stay in Wellington, is

leaving to-day for Nelson, where she will stay with her sister, Mrs A. Burnes.

The Hon. Oliver Samuel and Samuel are staying at tho Royal Oak.

Mrs Lionel Abraham (Palmerston) is staying with. Mrs Tweed,

Mr and Mrs Crawford (Fahiatua) ar*: staying at tho Cecil.

Mrs John Hammond (Rata), who has been on a short visit to Wellington, returned homo on Saturday.

Mrs B. Bennett (Masterton) is visiting Wanganui.

Miss M. Alien (Piako) is on a visit to Wellmgtoh, and is staying ar the Royal Oak.

Mrs Meredith (“Landaff," Masterton) is on a visit to Wellington.

Very handsome prizes have been presented for the poster ball in aid or the Society for the Health of Women and Children, which Lakes place next Thursday m the Town Hah. The following have presented prizes:—For tho best carried out poster dress (lady’s prize), Messrs Littlejohn and Sons; prettiest poster dress (lady), Mrs Grady; best poster representing photography, Mrs Wilder; best canned out poster (gentleman), Sirs S. Kirkcaldie; most original fancy dress (lady;,. Mrs Couli; most original fancy dress (gentleman). Miss MuLellau; prettiest calico fancy dress. Dr Plafcts-Mills; prettiest fancy dross of any material, Mrs Macarthy.

Tho anniversary of the Y-M.C.A. is being 1 ccdebrated next Friday by a sh°w of coronation and other pictures, and it is to bo hoxied that there will be a bberal financial result. Lady Islington will be present at tho picture show. The box plan may be seen and tickets are obtained at the Dresden.

' A very pleasant afternoon was spent ! at tho Y.M.C.A. yesterday, when Airs Cleland entertained a large number ox ladies. The immediate object was to .secure articles for the furnishing of an “apron stall” at tho Coronation Bazaar in September. The reception room was nicely decorated. * A meeting of persons interested in Miss Thelma Peterson, the young Now Zealand contralto singer, adjourned from last Monday on account of tho weather, will bo held this evening in the Chamber of Commerce at 8 o’clock. It is proposed to hold a concert in Wellington at a date to be arranged for the purpose of adding to tho fund already existing and being held in trust for Miss Petersen s further training—an object which, in. the opinion of leading musical peopie, is fully justified in her case. EASTBOURNE SAVAGES IADIKS’’ NIGHT. The ladies’ evening given by members of the Eastbourne Savage Club is always a pleasurcable event, and Saturday evening last was no exception. Tito new hall at Muritai is an ideal on© for such gatherings. The stage was effectively decorated with ferns and palms of every description. Savage Short, Mayor of Eastbourne, occupied the place of honour; the Chief Savage, Air T. M. Wilford, being unable to attend. Mr Short in a few appropriate remarks welcomed tho ladies. Tlio programme was unusually bright, and contained items by Savages C. Stoughton, H. Fletcher, F. Blandford, B. Gardiner, R, Blow, Doctor Isaacs, W. Grant. J. Morris, C. Stevens, and C. Barton. The accompanist was Savage O, Stoughton, to whom much of the success of the evening was due. Mr Grant was secretary. After the concert was a dance, which lasted until midnight. Some of the ladies present were: Mrs Short, Mayoress; Mosdames Grant, Zohrab, Richmond, Hursthouse, Kelly, Maurice Baker, C. A. Baker, Keenan, Long, Fleming, and the Misses Isaac, Lyons, Batten, Marsden, Kennedy, Carte, Johnson, Morgan, Zohrab, Burke, Hearn, Fruhauf. Caverhill and Kersloy. HINTS FOR THE COOK A variety may be secured by baking potatoes .with a slice of bacon inside. The bacon is put into a hole made by an apple-oorer. Prunes are greatly improved by being stewed in a little cider. Do not throw away cream that has turned slightly sour, but add a teaspoonful of sugar, whip and serve with stewed fruit, says the “Ottawa Citizen/’ It will be found equal to sweet cream for this purpose, as even the freshest cream turns .when brought in contact with cooked fruits. If your table salt is found to bo damp, mix a toaspoonful of cornflour with it the next time you fill the salt-cellars, and you will always hdv© dry salt. Salt thrown into the oven immediately after something’ has been burned in it will 'make tho objectionable odour less noticeable- •