SASSIETY SPICE

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 2

SASSIETY SPICE

0T "%ABK DOT"

Truly, woman has arrived ! The Women Teacher's Association of New Zealand held a conference last week, and the "Post" and "Dominion" sent . two male reporters, who actually deigned to report m extenso and to "cut out" certain quaint or useful sayings for local pars. Even then the mere males did not give quite such a sympathetic or concise report as did the "New Zealand Times" lady reporter. However, it is good news to find that the world's work of ; our,' best women is being recognised, and let us hope appreciated. The old fossilised idea that a brainy, clever woman must' be of : the invert sex and a hideous blue stocking has long ago been exploded we hope, and certainly the women who attended as delegates from all the .chief centres are as bonnie. and womanly \as any m*n^cpuld wish to find them. S'bnly *^e^tf the^mob" something 'wrong with her "innards" and displayed a desire to be "up agin" reforms, suggestions or any other old thing. However, Miss Phoebe Myers, who occupied the chair as president of the council, kept hex hand firmly on the brake of procedure and maintained the dignity of the sex and profession without any apparent strain on her temper. Miss Phoebe Myers is very human though, and was able to relax her dignity whenever a little jokelet babbled forth, more especially when she . had to rule that "m the act" "that widowers did not embrace widows." ("Dot's" experience is that they do.) In, case it is not generally known, "Dot" would ■''Jain Iremind1 remind hex readers , that the Council of Education was set up by Parliament, and' there are two lady reps, thereon; one of whom is Miss Phoebe Myers and the other "is Mrs. Talbot This is as it should be— a single and a married woman— -co that both phases of life may be studied. The two women, "Dot" understands, drew up a report dealing with the education of girls with regard to specialisation, which was approved of by the council as a whole, and presumably submitted to the Minister for Education.- ■. ■ ;'■■ :■: ' ; -. •/-.. The report contained three valuable suggestions, which, when boiled down to suit *T>ot's" space, would indicate: (a) That the time had arrived to differentiate between boys and girls, so far as education is concerned; (b) To do this, women teachers should be placed m charge of girls whenever possible; (c) To insure for girls opportunities for even fuller development of their indiyidual' powers, and the recognition of the importance of their humanity. Segregation /is not recommended until the final stage of school life is reached, when women should be able to instruct girls as to their work as wives, mothers and citizens. It was :pointed out that boys were trained on special ' lines, but a girl could never tell what the future held m store for her. - The linking up of the Plunket system and the primary system holds most fascinating possibilities, . and "Dot" sincerely hopes that Ministers Russell and Hanan will have a try at the game. It is worth while. > '• • '• • ■" '' '• .. ; . A Karori lady wishes to know why those 400 ladies gave an > expensive Christmas dinner to the troops at Trentbam : on December 19, when it was well known that, they would all be m their own homes on Christmas Day. Also, why give these soldiers a chance of two Christmas dinners when the poor Belgian children have none, not even an ordinary dinner at any time since the war began? "Dot's" reply is this:" On the face of it, after reading ''the lady's letter, there does appear to have been misdirected kindness, but from "Dot's" own knowledge, the authorities . are really to blaino because they shroud themselves and their contemplated actions m so much myßtery that no one knows what is likely to happen upon any one date. After all is said and done, the Featherston women did the right thing m the right way. They waited until ell who could get leave were home and then turned out on Christmas Day — foregoing their own home pleasures-'---and gave those who were detained m camp a rear good time. Had the Wellington women, doric this and sent the savings to the Belgians all would have been well. - However, 'tis better to have erred on the right side. But what about our own hungry children? Who thought of them? Eh? What? • • • "Dot" has received a very thoughtful letter from a lady which runs as follows: "Please, Just a Htlo space m your paper. I write with rogctrxl to tho welcome given to the boys returned by the last hospital ship. When the boat reached tho wharf, the Mayoress and lady helpers gave all the soldiers gifts of fruit, cigarettes, etc., which wus very kind and thoughtful m its way. At the same time, outside the barrier were over two hundred relatives waiting and longing to do some little thing for their own brave boys, and there woro many fioro hearts when they found that they had already been given tho same things. All or nearly all theboya for Wellington had their relatives and their own loved cme.s waiting for them on the wharf, and It wa3 only a matter of a little time and they j would have received presents from their own and, believe me, 'Lady Dot,' the boys themselves would rather have had It so. After tho W<;l- j llngtcm boy?? had disembarked they could easily have fflvr-n the South Imhu»d hoys uny t'lfls. You se<\ If th« j Mayor wont awuy to the war and then returned lv a. hospital ship, the Mayoress would not like strange ladles for j whom the Mayor cared nothing, to bt< j ullowed to pa«« her anrt k' lv<> nlm llly ] •j gifts, while BhQ was jflttridlnfj within I I sight." — Voun*. «uv, j | 'jORIOKET." j Thi'if Is inut-h hi ' CrkkofH" oonUrn* 5 lk»«. and no Auubi th«* powor« th.tr ; we havi» overlooked the factH aa rni'n- • uont>d by i\?r, "pot" has f«>!i the univ.c- \ i want, when waichhiK fur roturniii/. ; 1 trlendu aw.ty ouuy« an unfriendly b«rjlor. iif r^urrtv. t,-i<' iicarvus frlendK <•• . r..-luU')UH whu « ;»}« i-U»iiu u«-.M -<»f -kia ; \ lMttti?* from thc^Jn^t' I'.roordw. v;\U :it | { 01," -v (Tft '.^■l-i.H' it) tin 1 Koldl*r». Tins.; ofHtife Jh ju»t behind tl'.e Oovernment ! UuitUing**. aad ia th« H&xnn erroundv?. | Th« gr«»ai troublft U sh;it ilic»e pui»!»< > .-< ; art- epuio ilmea ; pp»u-vi to frlend« tm j uw:»y. who v U<»put# -Qikvft '.« meet their ' boys 'tlu\v«v«rj *^6rJc^«.i i* nxih* rijfh;

m drawing attention to the matter, and as is read by ail the authorir ties, good may ensue. •-•..■ '■"■ '• ■ • " ' '•. •■ ' - ' The Hutt ladies entertained the camp soldiers at the Sydney-street Club on Saturday evening and kept the boys entranced with the lovely singing of Miss Murray, of Christchurch. The boys were all "Oliver Twists" and cried for more and more. Miss Putnam and Sergt-Mejox Loyeday provided tho music for a jolly little . dance and a liberal supply of sweets, cigarettes, etc., was much enjoyed by the soldiers and i friends. Hearty cheers and singing of the National Anthem brought a very pleasant evening to a close. . ■■'. .*..'■' . ' * . '.•.., It is said that some naughty soldiers at Trentham were set to act as armed baggage guards, and that they levanted and are now "chasing the bugle" or cooling m the "clink." Perhaps, they thought li»ey were chocolate soldiers and - did . not. realise their responsibilities. Poor, , silly chaps,! Why, didn't they wait until nearly sailing time? It is not nearly so bad "chasing the bugle" aboard ship. ;• • • .'■. -The sick and wounded soldiers m the Victoria Military Hospital are very grateful to Mrs. Morice," wife of Dr. Morice, at present m charge of the Wellington Hospital, and daughter of the late H. J. Seddon. The old piano there was awful, and so the lady' sallied forth and begged • from friends until she had sufficient cash to buy a lovely TBrirismeaiJ," which was the best and most thoughtful Christmas box the soldiers could wish for. One or two of the boys can play a. little, and you may hear them picking out "The L4ttle Grey Home m the West" and othei* ditties much loved by soldiers. Whilst dealing with this hospital, "Dot*' must mention the high regard and respect paid to Major Deck, , the medical officer m charge, by the soldiers under his care. He has suffered keenly himself, having lost his brave son m the early days of Gallippli, and knows just wh<at the returned boys require m the way of discipline, and treatment. An admirable ."combination of both wisely administered makes him revered by all. When a man manages to make tils first "pattern" ißith Raffia work the major's pride is something worth watching. All the boys watch for the cheerful smile and the twinkle m the eye— if ail's well--and the lightening glance and compressed lips if all is not well m the ward. Long may he reign! ( . The "sents" and the "wents" trailed off into camp on Wednesday without a single mouth-organ even to cheer them on their way. On Tuesday there were bands everywhere m evidence, and on Wednesday a piper piped as i long as his breath lasted and most of the route was passed without music. As "Dot" has said time and again it Ib when going into camp that the bands are most needed. Why cannot one of the camp bands be ordered to parade daily whilst recruits "are marching to the station? It makes the men ''buck up" and aids recruiting also. On the pavement promenade "Dot" is pleased to notice that women are keeping within sane limits so far as the width of their skirts is concerned. Some wear them with a slightly draped effect, but most wear a sensible plain skirt , Muslins and silks were much m evidence on Wednesday owing to the hot sultry weather. One sweet lass wore a pretty simple muslin with grey ground covered with red roses and a plain flop hat en suite. .Another wore a chocolate colored material covered with rose buds. The pinafore style showed off a remarkably neat figure. She- would have looked better, if she 1 had worn a larger and softer looking hat. A very handsome girl . wore a very dark green silk pinafore-dress finished off with a huge square buckle worn at the bolt m front; a large black picture hat made the woarer look charmIng. A sweet young tart wore a wedgowood blue voile made m a series of flounces and sleeves of blue and white stripes. A soft Panama hat served as a frame to a very pretty face. "So-long, Lotty" drew crowded houses and as the comedy was light, bright and sparkling, no one regretted going. The chorus girls wore a very line lot, "especially m bathing togs." So Bays "Dot's" naughty brother. Tho, vieu rose study of "Grace," 'Arry's wife, was well chosen and Letty looked very sweet m hor evening dress of palest grey ninon. Tho chorapagno aud scarlet toilettes of the ballet was very fetching^ — so also was their leg exhibitions. " Dot " was sandwiched m between i a man who roared lustily at every Joko j (m fact he repeated them m sotto voice), and a brute who never moved a musclo of his face. The two proved such a contrast that " Pot" found herself itching to pinch the man who appeared devoid of human feellnKM and to kick j the super abundant laugher.