NOTES FOR WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10086, 27 September 1918, Page 8

NOTES FOR WOMEN

AMERICA IN THE WAR. No on© visiting “The Thirteenth Chair” would recognise in the elderly part she plays the charmingly youthful person Miss Margaret Wycherly is in real life. Though born in England she has lived in America practically all her life and is the wife of an American, so she may be regarded as of tuat nationality. She is a moat ardent proAlly. When she left America that country was in the first fever of war excitement, and the Americans had thrown themselves into the business with much enthusiasm. There were two wheatless days (when only brown bread, oat cakes and so on were eaten), and two meatless days a week, this being quite a voluntary thing. People pledged themselves to such sacrifice that pledge cards would be seen displayed everywhere. The different towns made their own regulations, and this sometimes led to awkward situations for the stranger who did not know tho latest rule. For instance, in an endeavour to save lighting one day a week in Boston perhaps shops must close at 6 o’clock. In America there are everywhere “delicatessen” shops, where one buys things ready cooked, and these are usually open at night, so that one can buy something for supper and take it homo. Having invited a friend to one’s rooms to sup the bewildered visitor suddenly finds that that particular evening is a “Ughtlesa night,” and shops are shut, and no supper can bo bought, so the guest has to be. put off to a future occasion Some of these regulations were found unnecessary, and were altered accordingly, but they show the willing spirit the Americaps are displaying. Another thing which America has been doing for more than a year past is a great deal of propaganda work on behalf of the Allied cause. Popular sympathy was always strongly in favour of Prance, naturally, seeing she was a sister Republic, while the Government has. had some of the best writers in America doing nothing but propaganda work, either in tho form of special articles or short stories. In addi. tion to this a number of American magazines and papers have pledged themselves to write nothing but propaganda in the Allied cause, but propaganda presented in an attractive form, such as fiction. This campaign had had a wonderful effect on public opinion in America.

In the war news printed in New Zealand Miss Wycherly misses the more detailed accounts thev receive in America, whence some of their best writers have gone as war correspondents to the front. Many of these are personally'known'to her (her husband being also a writer), among them Will Erwin, Irwin Cobb, and others who are now “over there.” Will TJrwin has been - three times to the seat of war — with the British forces in the Frencn front trenches, in Belgium in the very beginning of things, in air raids m London and Paris, so he has seen most that there is to bo seen in the war zone. Now he.is with the American forces. Miss Wycherlv is in love with Wellington. She has been “raving” about it as, she expressed it. ever since she landed. On Wednesday when tho >ain descended in sheets she ceased to rave for a short time, but she is genuinely fascinated with the picturesque aspect of Wellington, with its circle of hills. Being a good walker and very fond of that form of exercise ahe has already explored many of the places round about. PALMERSTON NORTH NOTES. PALMERSTON.. September 25. Mrs C. Louisson arid family are staying at Paekakariki. Miss Eileen Driscoll, who recently returned from Sydney, has been staying with her sister. Mrs S. V. Trask. Mrs Alfred Seifert, who is spending the winter at. the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, has had to undergo an operation, which is reported to have been successful. Mrs R- A. Fuller and family are home from the Foxton beach, where the term holidays were spent. . Mrs Lionel Abraham returned from Hastings yesterday. Corporal Shoebridge, who was a prisoner fa Turkey for a long period after the Gallipoli days, and later was transferred to England, returned to Palmerston yesterday. A branch of the Red Cross has been formally established in Palmerston. The work for Red Cross purposes has been going on steadily all the time, but it was felt the society should have de. finite standing. Mr Nash was elected president, Mrs Nash and Mrs Abraham vice-presidents, and Mr Goldingham organiser.

The Karori Croquet Club has taken an active part in patriotic work during the yeai. The members took the "Paddy's Market" at Karori on two Saturdays, and made £37 le Id thereby for the Red Cross. They also helped in the Red Jersey campaign, and had several entertainments for the baby carnival in aid of these two funds, besides doing other patriotic work during the winter season. A very much-appreciated concert wa s given by the New Zealand Variety Entertainers on Tuesday evening at the Sailors' Friend Society. The performers were most successful in their songs and instrumental pieces, for which they received encores. _ The helpers were Mesdames Audinwood, Skowes, and Carter, Miss Audinwood, and Messrs Lansdown and Jones. Mrs Skeweß was at the piano. Mr Moore's temperance obat was followed by pledges. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr E. Newman for bis splendid efforts on behalf of the dependents of the torpedoed sailors. The conundrum competition prizes came from Karori. .