NOTES FOR WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12526, 16 August 1926, Page 5

NOTES FOR WOMEN

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL The engagement is announced and the marriage will shortly take place of Betty, elder daughter of Mrs G. V. Maxwell, of Dunedin, and the Hot*. U. V. Maxwell, Chief Native Commissioner of Kenya Colony, East Africa, to Hector G., only son of Mr and Mrs D. S. Chapman, of Herne Bay, Auckland. Women supporters of the Government are invited by advertisement in this issue to a meeting to be held up 8 o’clock to-night in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute conference room. '.Che Right Hon. J. Gordon Coates, M.C., will address the meeting, and Mrs Coates will also be present. A bobbed-hair head of Astarte, “the Queen of Heaven,” mentioned in the complaint of the great multitude to Jeremiah, lias been found in the excavations on the site of the ancient city of Alizpah. Dr Bade, professor of Old Testament and Semitic literature at the University of California, made the discovery. Mrs Arthur Dashwood, better known as E. M. Delafield, is the daughter of the late Count Henry d© la Pasture of Llandogo and of Sirs Henry de la Pasture (now Lady Clifford). Both mother and are well-known novelists, though widely differing in style. Airs Henry de -la Pasture belongs to the older school of writers, covering facts lightly with sugm, while her daughter, E. M. Delafield, in her determination to see things as they are, frequently forgets that there is a reverse side of evil. Though hei books deal almost exclusively with Engish and Continental life, Mrs Dashwood has resided for some time in the West Indies. Some years ago the pupils iq a little Central Otago school, anticipating the movement in favour of open-air buildings, studied in the open air, wrote compositions lvith the sun shining on them, and deducted results dealing with A and B and the number of miles covered in a day, with the wind blowing arithmetic papers cheerfully around. These same children, specially favoured by a discriminating Providence, learned to look upon the miracle of Nature with eyes that saw much hidden from the ordinary sight. Disheartened in her search for stories, dealing with nature in a manner children would appreciate. Miss. Edith Howes wrote her own little fairy tales, which she read arid explained to her class. And that was the genesis of “The Sun’s Babies.” Mr and Mrs Dawson, who recently returned from England (where Mr Dawson has beon acting as assistant manager in the Bank of New Zealand, London), are at present staying at th® Royal Oak. Mr and Mrs Frank Fryer, Hawke’s Bay, have been visiting- Wellington. Air and Mrs Val. Headley have returned to Napier from a visit to Wellington. Airs Schneider. Wellington, is the guest of Mrs W. H. Clark, Bealev avenue, Christchurch, Airs AI. Batley (Wellington) and Mrs George Hume (Featherston) are in Christchurch. Mrs J. Barthop leaves Taranaki today for a short visit to Wellington. Mrs Newton King has returned to New Plymouth from l Wellington. Mrs M. Dwyer, of Wellington, is a visitor to Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Watkins, of Lower Hutt, Wellington, were the guests of Mrs H. J. Beadel, in Chrustchurch, for the races. Miss Bennett, Who has been the guest of Airs Budge, in Stratford, returned to Wellington last week. Airs S. W. Shfiw and her daughter, Aliss 0. Shaw, of New Plymouth, are on a visit to Wellington. Members of the Canterbury Women’s Club are giving a reception to Signor - ina Toti dal Monte, the distinguished singer, at the club rooms to-morrow afternoon. Mrs Alister Beal left Auckland hy the Ulimaroa en route to Tasmania, where rile will make a short stay, prior to sailing for England with Commodore Beal. Dr. and Airs MoGhie have returned to New Plymouth from Wellington. Airs Houston, after spending a few days in Wellington, has returned to Hawera. . Seventeen domestic servants and housekeepers, all employed within the two parishes of St. Andrew, Holborn, and St. Clement Dane, received certificates and gifts of £l2 provided by theDuckett charity fund, founded by Isaao Duckett in 1620. Those eligible, are domestic servants and housekeepers in the two parishes who have been employed for five years with one master or mistress. Among those receiving gifts were two domestic servants who Lad each been in the same situation for 25 years, and one housekeeper who had been in her place 28 years. Tennis fashions set by the stars of the centre court are faithfully followed by women enthusiasts. all over the country. Suzanne’s salmon-coloured silk vest struck a very happy note this year. She wore it over a very simply-made dress of white marocain, and it has been, widely copied, says , a writer in an exchange. There is also a new type of tennis. shoe, something like a ballet slipper, lacing round the ankle. It is worn with white stockings of the finest lisle and. openwork clocks. The smart bandeau for tennis is made of three or four layers of crossgrain ribbon in many colours—green, crimson and royal blue being a favourite combination. The lower ribbon Inver is made to form an eyeshade. Alany of the smartest tennis players have given up the familiar one-piece dress, and are wearing instead a white siliv shirt, a white flannel wrap-over sdcirt and a strawberry-coloured cardigan or a brilliant-looking sweater with coloured stripes lunning round it. ,

Miss Loudleum left Napier by car on a visit to Wellington. Airs T. E. Bowes (Springfield road) has returned to Christchurch from afarewell visit to her brother* Air J. h.\ Hunt, Kelbum, Wellington, who leaves with his family by the ltotorua to reside in London. Airs Godfrey Magnus (Wellington) was the guest of Airs Griffen in Christchurch for race week. Air and Airs J. Ramsay, of Wellington, are in Auckland. Airs Justice Alpers and Airs Alpers are the guests of Air and Airs Frank Wilding, in Christchurch. Aliss Ethel Richardson, who has been or. a sketching expedition n South Westland for the past four months, and was the guest of Airs E. B. Alabin, High street, has returned to Christchurch. A very pretty evening wedding was solemnised recently at ■ the Trinity Church, Timara, when Violet Alonfries, second daughter of the late All Henry Hogg, of Balclutha, arid Airs Hogg, of North street. Timaru, was married to Air Robert Hutton, of Alataura, eldest son of Air and Mrs R. Hutton, of “Rosebank,” Baiclutba. The service, which was conducted by Rev. T. Stinson, was fully choral. At the Avonside ' Church, Christchurch, on Wednesday, the marriage was celebrated' of Louise. eldest daughter of Mr and Airs P. St. John, of River road, Avonside, and Percival Gecrge, youngest son of Mrs R. Birdling, and the late Air R. Birdling, of Little River. Tho Rev. O. Fitzgerald officiated. On Wednesday afternoon a 'Hedding of considerable interest was solemnised at St. Peter’s Church' Riccarton, Christchurch, when Alaud, second daughter of Air and the late Airs Harvey, Riccnrton, was married to Samuel, youngest son of Airs Coleman, and the late Air Coleman, of Va 1(1hurst. Air Harvey gave his daughter away and tho Rev. H. T. York officiated. . Airs John Ross, one of the oldest residents of Lyttelton, celebrated her ninetieth birthday on Thursday. Accompanied by her husband, she left London on July oth, 1863. in the ship Batlxia, and arrived in Lytteiton on December Bth, 1863. after a long and trying voyage, during which the ship ran short- of provisions. Since then she has resided continuously at Lyttelton. Her husband, who came out to take charge of the Lyttelton Presbyterian High School, was later one of the first teachers in the new Borough School. He died twenty-three years ago. Airs Ross has received numerous congratulatory letters and telegrams, including some from former ministers of St. John’s Presbyterian Qhuroh. as well as from scholars of her Tate husband, and other well-wishers. By the death of Mrs Alary Ann Marsh, widow of the late Robert Marsh, on July 29th, the last of the pioneers of Cooper’s Creek may he said to have passed away. Arriving at Woodside, the original name of Cooper’s Creek, in 1860, and living on the same section for sixty-one years, her residence in the district covers the whole period of its existence as a settlement. The deceased was the second daughter of the late Abraham Jones, of Rangiora, and arrived in New Zealand with her parents in the ship Clontarf in 1859. In 1864 6ho married the late Robert Alarsh. In 1865 she took up her abode in Wood side, where she lived till her death at the advanced age of eighty-two years She had a family of twelve, eight of whom survive her, five sons and three daughters. She is survived also by thirty-seven grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. There are two Duchesses to-day who possess that “excellent thing in woman”—a lovely speaking voice. One is the mother of Princess Elizabeth, and' the other a member of Parliament (says a London writer). The . Duchess of York has admittedly the prettiest voice in the Royal Family, its low and musical inflections enhanced by that slight husky quality the novelists wax so eloquent about. Everyone who hears the Duchess of Athol! speak for the first time in public is captivated by the magic of her utterance; and I heard the usual murmur of enchanted comment at the luncheon recently given by women from overseas to the women members of Parliament. In the world of the theatre I am inclined to think the famous woman playwright, Miss Dane, is the most potent spell-weaver. She, too, can impose the silence of instantaneous homage directly she begins to speak. You could have heard the proverbial pin drop when she responded, in a perfect little extempore speech, to the insistent cries of “Author” at the premiere of her newest play, “Granite.” CONCERNING COMBS Europe is not alone the place where eombs are worn and made (writes Clive Holland, in “Chambers’s Journal”). Some of the early Oriental combs which have been preserved for us are wonderfully beautiful, although as a general rule the designs are somewhat too elaborate, and even intricate for Western tastes. Indian combs are more especially notable for this kind of decorative work. In China may he found examples of rare artistic merit almost alongside those of a most primitive nature. The Japanese, ever noted for delicacy of art, do not affect combs of great elaboration or those having much 'wall space” to cover. The hacks arc usually of small dimensions, and consequently a spray of cherry blossom, a lotus, a trail of leaves, a lizard, or some similar single design is generally favoured. East and West the comb is found. Indeed, one of the most interesting features connected with most articles of feminine dress or adornment is their universality. The lady of fashion in London has her combs both for use and ’’for ornament; the Pnrisienne places in her beautifully arranged coiffure a comb of tortoise-shell set with real gems or diamants de Paris, as the case may be; the Indian lady has hers of turtle shell, ivory, jade, of lacquer ; and the South Sea maiden, often guilt* less of fashion as regards dress, combs her hair with a rough substitute made of fish hones or shark’s teeth, or clumsily- fashioned from wood.

A GIFT TEA The annual gift tea given by the Sisters at the. Home of Compassion, took jjlace on Saturday afternoon, and the fine day no doubt contributed to its success, for a very large number of friends and well-wishers visited the home and gave most generously in gifts as they always do. A very large quantity of groceries were received, and in addition, material for clothing as Well as made clothing, both new and second-hand, while quite a good amount resulted from donations in money. As usual the Sisters looked after their visitors well, and conducted them over the home, visiting the laundry, the nursery and the whole building. They were then served with tea in the large refectory, and an orchestra of voluntary players contributed items during the afternoon and added much to the enjoyment of the visitors. The Sisters are very grateful to these players, and to all the kind friends who gave so generously, and ‘thus enabled the home to be carried on from year to year with its increasing family. UNCHANGING FUNDAMENTALS What utter rubbish it all is, this constant assurance that husbands demand a sort of debating society alertness in the'r wives! Some of the happiest marriages I have known have been those where the male partner regarded his home —andl wifely companionship—as a glorious rest from the irksome problems of the great world outside. Just aa some of the most .miserable are those in which husband and wife are constantly at intellectual loggerheads. Wo matter what the modernists may say to the contrary, marriage is a peculiar vocation demanding’ certain well-definod attributes ok wifehood that have nothing whatever to do with intellectual vigour. In fact, the present writer, though conscious she may constitute one of a very small minority, is firmly convinced, that this particular vocation is not th» calling for the ultra-clever woman, unless she is content to accept such compensations as it offers for the constant suppression of her own mental individuality.

History and 1 evolution liavo not changed some of the fundamental laws of human relationships. And in the relationship of marriage, history past and present offers proof that it is not the strong-minded ladies who hold Iheir mates on leading-strings. The clinging vine is still beloved of tho un changing male. The nice little squaw who really and truly, with all the honesty of her simple heart, regards her man ns her liege-lord, still has the best cilianoe of making marriage a sue ccss. More than ever, in fact, in thes" days of emancipated, independent women who are trying to make marring' something it was never intended to he All day and - every day you can still hear men saying fervently. “Yes, she’« a clever creature and a thoroughly good sort; hut I shouldn’t ca ro for lmi as a permanent hearthstone companion.” And their instinct is right. Overcerebration is tho last thing required of the feminine partner to the marriage contract. She should choose a more indepiendbnt vocation. —EVELYN VIVIAN.