FEMININE FANCIES.

NZ Truth, Issue 150, 2 May 1908, Page 4

FEMININE FANCIES.

The lie emphatic has been given to those cynics who declare the modern woman is a mere bundle of nerves, by the quiet, courageous way m which the women went through that time of peril during the foundering of the "Bega." And they were just an ordinary number of women, just as may be found anywhere m any country, although, had they been drilled for the occasion, they would not have acted with greater promptitude or resourcefulness. And lam sure that there are hundreds of women here m our own country who could and would have done the same had circumstances demanded it. But there are thousands of women who, living m a hum-drum existence, are daily performing deeds worthy of the Victoria Cross. But the cynic does not see these everyday, unrecognised heroines, he is thinking of the butterflies of fashion whose nerves ■' have become shattered through trying to go one better than the other butterflies m the way of dress. And so he lumps up all womanhood m his sweeping assertion. But these everyday deeds come out m the next generation, for it is of such mothers that spring the men who have helped to build up God's Own Country.

The Duchess of Chichester says that it is by that vulgar ambition of "following the last social fashion of the day that girls make themselves such expensive articles, that young men dare not indulge m them. And for that reason they were led to seek m their luxurious clubs the comfort they,' should find m homes of their own. Now, ■ the Duchess is a married' lady; and she ought to know. So all girls who wish to keep some young man away from' his club and to set up housekeeping with them, had better turn a deaf ear to the latest bargain tales and go home and darn their gloves and resurrect their last winter furs. I see that Bridge is being taken up this winter with keener zest than ever, and is to be called into requisition m the aid of charity, a large tournament ,being already arranged to help a local and necdv institution. Now, if some of the Bridgeites >that "Truth" wots. of would lend their aid, that institution would not be needy . long.

Posters have been placed m the tramcars instructing a "benighted public, how to alight, and illustrating the inevitable accident of all those who fail to obey those instructions,, winding up with the precaution, "Wait until the car stops," Now, I venture to suggest that a notice be also placarded where it cannot fail to catch the conductor's eye, that he allows the passenger a decent time to alisrht before giving the driver the signal to go on again. One day last .week v an. old gentleman was" 'getting off the r; ar outsicje,ti)e "Times" ...pffice, and", as PotJA" as ,he.#had,put his,fp£i on.. th> step theeem-"' ductor started th^^ar, ;"^.me t .passenge|r hims; o? . to the. olt^.^^iei^ajji .^bo would' otherwise have bfeji> precipitaleu'. into the street. The old'g^-Jgflp;. i^gfnj||fained to the conductor iruflijyje a,j,c\vil 'that .he (should '$ave^ ajjflwejij. him tim» to get v , out. before^ f^grtinp asaih'. . Whereupon the conductor) poured,, fpffh. a volley of abuse at the,.qld ..gentleman, winding us by telling him that, .he ought ~<jither to be home m his bed, or bring ' his nurse out with him. These sort of things are of daily occurrence and are a disgrace m Avhat should be by this -time a wellordered city. Then look at the height of the steps from the ground. Very few men can step out ; they invariably have to jump from the step into the road. What, inconvenience must not this be to the women to have young children m their arms^ to say nothing of the effect it is likely to have on the future generation. When speaking of this to a medical man the other day I remarked tha-t this must he a perpetual source of revenue to him, and that it ought to be pointed out to the Council. "Oh, pray, don't," he laughingly answered, "let a poor doctor earn an honest crust." ' The man who designed, them was evidently not a family man or else his bump of construction was small.

After much discussion on < the matter the Board of the Technical School have decided to send Home for an artist if a New Zealander could nqt be found to fill Mr Fraser's post as a roaster of sculpture design and woodcarving. But the Board were strongly m favor of local talent, urging that one of the most'important engineering works m Scotland was \ under the charge of a man who was born and educated m. God's Own Country. Probably he> was born and educated here, but did he go from here straight to the v position of manager or get the finishing touches to his engineering education m the Big Smoke ? At anyrate, one must go to the Old World for art m all its branches at present if we would one day hope to cope with them. No person horn here could; without going to the art centres, make themselves proficient as an artist fit to teach and train others. And what is the good of teaching it if it be not of*the best ? If a person shows ent m music or singing the first thing said is, send them Home to study. Then let us remember that unlike the singed or the player, the sculptor's work lives after the sculptor has gone hack to the clay from whence he sprang apd lives as a perpetual memorial either to his artistic ability or his lack of it.

At the annual meeting of the Schools Committee on-) Monday evening "The Bible ia Schools" question was discussed. Owing to a circular recently issued to members of the committee by "The Bible m Schools 1 League, threatening to unseat them at the next efection if they were not m favor of it. Notwithstanding this threat the general voting was against "The Bible m Schools." That children should have religious training is, of course most necessary. But if the " schoolmaster or mistress gives them • a good, sound commercial education, then he or she has done their duty, and leave their religious education to be carried out by our churches, whose duties it is ,to ' impart such knowledge. ' * * * ! . This insertion was m the personal column of one of our daily papers : "At the annual meeting of the Ladies' Hockey LA.ssociation on Saturday evening Mr J. D. M. Mclntyre was presented by the Association with a pair of sleeve links, which was construed by one reporter to have been forthcoming" through a contemplated plunge into matrimony by the recipient. We are assured that nothing is further from Mr Mclntyre's thoughts at present. Now there is what might be termed a kindly-hearted gentleman to prevent unnecessary anguish. He assures the ladies he is still m the running for the Matrimonial Stakes. They may still hope.

** * ' News conies to us this week of the death of littla Victor Harris, son of Mr and Mrs D. B. Harris, of Palmerston North. The genius of this hoy violinist ' was well known m Wellington. Conceits were held m the various centres to send him home to study. He had already distinguished himself at Home, and reports from time to time were most promising for his musical future. Great sympathy is felt for the parents who were well justified m anticipating a great career for their only child. * * * The feminine portion of Auckland ; feel that life is indeed worth living, that is, after August, when the American Fledt is to be quartered m their harbor. Entertainments of all kinds are being planned already, and every girl is refurnish- ; ing her armory, fully determined to do j her level best to reduce the bachelor m that fleet. Those American Sons of the Sea will need to have hearts of steel to withstand the battery of the bright eyes that await them and still keep their > freedom,

A letter signed "Taxpayer" \tys to aaO the attention of the Powers that bs t* make a permanent appointment of a «•»- stable at the upper end ol Tinak«riroad and the Botanical Gardens, and b*gs it be an experienced officer, not a probationer. He also says rot one. half *f the objectionable practices carried en there comes to the ears of the general public. We agree with "Taxpayer. 1 " Week after week sees a disgraceful record of indecency and insult, yet we have to grip and bear it. Now, how about shutting up the Botanical Gardens until the city has grown large enough to warrant us having a few more guardians of the peace and by that time, having lost the humaa vermin that congregate there, may mig. rate to fresh fields and pastures new. '

The country clergyman has evidently a hard row to hoe, judging by the following speech made by the Rev; A. M. Johnstone on his last Sunday m the pulpit at MastertoD. "Do not "treat my successor as you have treated me. To-day I have Since last Sunday I have preached nineconducted five sermons m different places, teen sermons. I appeal to this large anjl Wealthy congregation, do not starve my successor. Place iiim m the position to pay the stipend of a curate." This m a church whose principal pews bear the name of some big land-owners and mutton monarchs, who enjoy princely incomes. Surely the laborer is worthy of his hire, and the aforementioned gentlemen would have to pay their, .servant^ and station hands at a much (better ratjn. than the poor laborer in ' the vineyard of the Lord. , .BJpssed is he that expp.ctetti nothing, for he shall not be deceived.

If the doctors and nurses at the Porirua Asylum do not soon wake up they will find themselves the only inmates ot that establishment. Three patients hay« escaped m one week, the one found at Masterton having been away some days before he was missed,. They are about the freeest captives on record, Now, surely there should be a roll call at- least twice per day, morning and evening. That they are not fit to be at large is proved by, the fact of their being cent to the asylum. This being the case, they are liketv to do some harm, either to themselves or others. And one shudders to think ot what might happen m the case of women and children who might meet these gentlemen m an unfrequented neighborhood. Large attendances have been the order of the day all the week at the Town Hall, and business has been brisk and unflagging. Signor Bprzoni's fine programme of dancing, marches, and tableaux are very effective. And Miss May Moore, **t the Remembraridt studios, is kept sketching 'portraits against time. New novelties are being arranged for Saturday, the last [evening, when the bazaar will draw to -a close and the art union will be - drawn. The takings up to date are £850. ■" • * * ■ ■ .On Saturday night will be staged, that successful musical comedy. "The Earl and the Girl" by the Sheridan- Anderson Company. It is one of our old , friend Johnny's masterpieces and is fun and spar-i kle from the first act to the last. . *■ V , The friends of Miss Beatrice Day will be sorry to hear that owing to the injury to her ankle she was unable to appear during the first week of their season m Christchurch. Miss Quinn took her parts. This is a good chance for that little lady, yrho seems capable of good work, and we should hear more of her m the uaar future. •..* * ' • . Yet another bazaar is upon us. Lady Ward will open it at the Girls' Collage on Friday night, a bazaar to furth»r the cause of the Ramabai Mission. It is a. wonderful show of all sorts of work executed by the child widows of India. Besides which there is a section «f c«sd and useful things' made bythev "prewnt girls of the College. „ -