NOTES FOR WOMEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18340, 2 September 1921, Page 8

NOTES FOR WOMEN.

LUNCHEON TO “FEME MINISTRESSES.” LADY ASTOR’S GREAT APPRECIATION. HER AMBITION. i (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 14. One felt sorry that Mrs Massey, who has been Suffering from a very obstinate cold was prevented from attending the luncheon at thfl Langham Hotel arranged by the British Women’s Patriotic League in honour of Dame Margaret Lloyd George and the wives of the dominion Premiers, if only for the reason that she missed hearing all the nice things said about the visiting ladies by Lady Astor, who talked with her characteristic and attractive vivacity. She does not rdally make a speech—she just talks. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, presided, land a place had been allotted to Mrs Massey at the high table between Darno Margaret Lloyd George and the Lady Chcbrfeford. Lady Allen was there, and others! present on a specially interesting occasion! so far unique, included the following wpmon of eminence:—Lady Mond. Mrs Henry Fawcett, the Lady Swaythling, Lady .Henry, Lady Cowan, Lady Squires, the Lady Sydenham, the Lady Llangattock, Lady Barrett, M.D., the Lady Lawrence, Lady (Markham, Lady Byng of Wimy, Lady M’Lajon Brown. the Dowager Lady O’Hagjan, Lady Glanlicld. Lady Struthers, the Hon Lady Loveson Gower, Miss Durham of Labour), Lady Selborne, the Dowager Countess of Jersey, Dr Mary Scharlieb, Lady Nathan, and many more. Hundreds of people applied for tickets, but Space ’was limited, and the time for arrangements was very brief. • BONDS OF BLOOD. In her welcome, Lady Cowan, (who ;s chairman of the committee) said that, while Englishwomen wished to honour the wives of theij overseas Premiers, they also desired to Icarji from them—to know how they were facing'.the problems conlronting women all over tjio world. One thing they all had in common was the love of country, which was inborn; another tie was their community of sacrifice, for the sons of women overseas lay beside the sons of Englishwomen sleeping their last sleep in Franco and other parts of the war zone, so that the bonds of union were further, sealed with blood. Trade should follow till flag. The motto of the league was “Our Country First,” but this must not be taken iu a narrow, sense, but in the wide Imperial sense. ;By meetings such as this the women of England hoped to strengthen and foster , the sense of Empire citizenship and friendship. ; Lady Swaythling held that the only way really to strengthen friendship was by frequent meetings—every occasion on which people could meet and talk and learn from one another was invaluable. She wished the visiting ladies to understand how much their presence was appreciated. THE DIZZY HEIGHT OF A PRIME MINISTER. Witk mingled feelings of profound admiration, commiseration, and envy. Lady Astor replied to the toast of “'Our Guests.” “I adniire the' ladies because of what they made pf their husbands. I commiserate with them for what they have had to do, and I envy them for the great opportunities of service which they have. “I would idearly like to be a Prime Minister’s wife,” she continued, “because it would be a glorious opportunity of really getting things done, and keeping someone else straight—(laughter),—that is what the Prime Minister’s wife -has got to do. She has one of the most difficult jobs in the world. When a man gets to the dizzy height of a Prime Minister he has so much’ flattery that the only jierson able to tell him the unvarnished j truth is his wife, —(Laughter,) 1 am sure Mrs Lloyd George would agree with me if she were still here.—(Renewed laughter.) I am sure that live men less free from pomposity than tho visiting Premiers have newer lived, and we must thank their wives for that. —(Laughter.) Their wives have kept them straight and told them not to bo ridiculous. I am so put off by pomposity that I cannot- conceive of a man being pompous—it is a quality in men that women have not very much, time for. Looking back on history, one great things have never been accomplished by the pompous, and I repeat, have there lived five less pompous Premiers. But we must thank their wives for that —(Renewed laughter)— because': if their wives gave in to their weak .side they would soon become pompous.”

"t Speakitig as a daughter of the oldest of English' colonies, Lady Astor referred to Americas indebtedness to England, and, amid laughter, she said that when a man became!? great in the United States he wantedgto come to England. The British Empire|she described as a family of nations. Although all the countries in the Empire love 01$ another, they do not always like one another. They are just like children — all children love each other, but sometimes -they ddn’t agree, and then they don’t like each other. Children corhe homo from ’ school end they find their mothers doing things they don’t approve, and they get a little .annoyed and say: ‘We do this, and we do jtbat; why don’t you do as we do?’ But I tool sure that if wo in the Mother Country try to do what is right, some day thaj| other countries in the Empire will understand our point of view and appreciate it. . As a mother of nations it is upon England that the heaviest burdens fall — because! she is the mother she has always carried | those burdens. The daughter nations; of the Empire possess the courage and the splendid qualities' of their mother, and if the dominions will come forward in peace $s they did in war they will build Up a Civilisation which the whole of the rest of.;tho world will have to follow. NEW ZEALAND AND THE FRANCHISE. “England may be the mother of nations, but the women are the mothers of men, and the task of the women of the British Empire; is a very great one. Being un- ‘ certain4whether it was Australia or Now Zealand that first- gave women the vote, I appealed to Mrs Fawcett, and she told me it;! was New Zealand— Mrs Fawcett Irntows Everything about all these things.— (ApplaUse.) Well, to New Zealand belongs the erbdit for women first having this great privilege. New Zealanders really but little knew what they were doing when they granted women the franchise—they were conferring one of the greatest services to the world. It is to the women that we have to look if the conditions in the world are to; be elevated. It is the spiritual ideal—and women possess it—which is going to "dominate the world if it is going to be a "bettor place. We have got to fight hard-for our ideals, and wo must not ' be content till we get them, for we are going .to make the Britisii Empire far ■ better and bigger than it has ever been Astor then referred to the terrible quality of self, and said wo bring a selfless spirit into public life. Then the British Empire will keep going long after its detractors have given up the light. “We are serving «a great Empire—the greatest the civilised world has over known. In conclusion, I repeat to our guests my great admiration for their choice of husbands and for the way in which they have kept them so steadfast to a high ideal. Speaking for Newfoundland, Lady Squires said: “If we do not speak about ourselves and' make a noise you forgot all about us. I seem to be going about all the time giving geography lessons. People - do not seem to know whether we are near Canada or India or Ireland. Newfoundland, Britain's oldest colony, is the gate wav to the Western world. 1 feel very much like a small pint pot invited to ladle, put the 1 Atlantip.” People of British origin the world lover always referred to Our Thames; Our Britaifl; Our Flag; Our Maclaren Brown made a graceful little speech, in which she remarked that “not seven times seven seas could ever divide us.’’ the women of the Empire. Apropos of this country’s first woman M.P., the following little story is neatlj ■ descriptive of one’s impressions of her;— “Lady Astor-has been very active recently in the lobby, and her impulsive ways-have . caused ' much One evening a group b! MiP.’s standing by the telephone Ly heard 'her voice exclaiming loudly, ‘Here, [com* Here Mo rn*n\ I w«n to sneak lo you, little man! To thou sir nriso they ipnnd she was addressing a distinguished member of the Government, who^ morf distinguished by mtellrot • than by his inches ! ?“‘-/ ,a A y „ A £ S are , •■■■"‘pflTOGctor of ftersons, onjj* 1 j rather dreaded by some of her colleagues.^

THE STATE BALL. —w—— * WONDERFUL GOWNS AND DAZZLING GEMS. BRILLIANT SCENE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. (From Odb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 14. Probably there has never been a more wonderful scene than that at Buckingham Palace on Thursday night, when the King and Queen gave a State ball in honour of tho King and Queen of the Belgians. It was on a much vaster scale than the State banquet of a few evenings previously. Some people who were privileged to attend both these important functions were more impressed with tho banquet (with its 150 guests arid tho richness of tho precious gold plate) than with the ball which was attended by 2000 people. In each instance the same State apartment was used, but for the ball other rooms were thrown open in addition. It was the first State ball that had been held since 1914, and it was tho first time that Princess Mary had even been,at such a function. One with a knowledge of these groat occasions of State remarks that times have changed since 1914, for there was clearly a more modern note —emphasised alike by the gowns of the women, by the dance programme, and even by the music provided. There were a few valsos and

many fox trots, for instance, and popular melodies from the “ League of Notions ” and other light entertainments were included in the hand’s repertoire. At 10 p.m. the l royal procession arrived, the King escorting tho Queen of the Belgians, and King Albert • conducting Queen Mary. The guests formed a double lino for the passage of the royal party. At the conclusion of the State Quadrille, general dancing took place. It was midnight when the King led the way with Queen Elizabeth to the supper room, and dancing continued until shortly after 1 a.m. Tho Duke of York danced a good deal, but Princess Mary more or less restricted her dances to the occasions on wlrch tho Queen took an active park Sir James Craig, the new Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, took charge of Miss Massey, and saw that she had partners. Sir James, by the way, is such a giant in stature that, standing beside him, the New Zealand Premier looks almost a pigmy. SOME IMPRESSIONS.

It is not difficult to realise that the crimson and gold of the rooms, tho floral decorations of hydrangeas, Madonna and tiger lilies with palms and ferns, the thousands of lights, and the wonderful scintillations of the ladies’ dresses and jewels, made up a very remarkable scene; to say nothing ot the splendid military and ‘diplomatic uniforms, with the multicoloured sashes. Now and again, it is recorded, old met new in piquant contrast —as, for instance, when tho State procession, headed by the Lord Chamberlain, the Gold and Silver Slticks, and ushers in vivid scarlet and gold, walking backwards, entered the ballroom; and again when, sandwiched ill, between scores of luxurious motor cars, the State coach wiith two footmen in attendance standing at the back, arrived to convey home her Majesty’s Mistress of the Robes, tho Duchess of Sutherland, who in the afternoon had been hostess for the Government at the Lancaster House garden party given to overseas visitors.

Both Queens were beautifully and becomingly dressed. Queen Mary wore a rich gown of blue and gold tissue, richly embroidered with crystals; her ornaments wore pearls and diamonds, and she wore the Medaille de la Reine Elizabeth, with the Star and Ribbon of tho Gartar. Tho Queen of the Belgians was in yellow silk brocaded with gold and trimmed with gold lace and topaz diamonte. Princess Mary wore a white chiffon petal dross outlined with sequined embroidery. Mrs Massey wore a jdress of soft silk. shot with • purple and jade, handsomely embroidered with sequins and beads to bone; there was a short train arranged from the back of the skirt. She carried a fan of gold-coloured ostrich feathers; her principal ornament was a diamond pendant. In addition she wore the ribbon and jewel of the Order of the British Empire (C.8.E.). The Prime Minister of Canada took her in to the ballroom, -while Mr Massey Was partnered with Lady Beatty. Miss Massey wore a dress of Royal blue satin, panelled with iridescent sequins, and brocade shoes to tone with the dress. .

Lady Allen had a dress of delicate oystergrey oharmeuse, over , silver lace; half the corsage was of the lace and the other half of satin; it was draped to one side and finished with a large silver flower at the waist. Lady Godley had a handsome gown in broohe crepe de chine, trimmed with long lines oh jet embroidery, and angel sleeves of'blayk tulle. Lady Dorothy, Wood was in a draped robe of cream crepe ondine silk, enriched with cream lace, embroidered with black. Miss Allen wore Alice-blue taffeta with bodice o f gold lace and the new full hip panniers. Miss Bona Allen was in deep primrose crepe chiffon, made with a draped skirt and folded bodice. A note of violet was introduced

in the French flowers at the w'aist. MR MASSEY AND THE BEEFEATERS. “A big bluff giant stood in the inner doorway, as I came up, in simple black evening clothes and knee breeches; and beside him towered two Beefeaters, as if they had fallen out of the century of Henry the Eighth. It was Mr Massey, the Prime Minister of New Zealand (writes ‘One Who Was There’ in ttfo Evening News), and I wondered at this meeting of now and old, this Antipodean link with ancient English tradition. But not for long did I wonder. For Lady Astor flashed past,.crowned by a diadem of gorgeous diamonds; and hot on her heels tripped Mrs Asquith, alert and hthe, in a green dress and train; while a fres.iet of members of Parliament and peers bore me up the stairs past Horse Guard sentries with drawn swords to a coruscating company above.’’ , , ■ , Prior to the ball Mr and Mrs Massey and Miss Massey dined with Lord and Lady Astor at their London residence.

WOMEN JURORS. DEFECT IN THE ENGLISH LAW. THE PLEA OF “NOT NICE.” (From Oub Own OonnESPOunENT.) LONDON, July 6. Some indication of the attitude, of women towards their new duties on juries was Mvcn at a meeting of members of the Women’s Institute, when Miss Lilian Barker, a well-known social worker, gave an address upon 1 the subject. Miss Barker was one of the .first jurywomen under the new law. and she had the experience of adjudicating in one of the most, unpleasant divorce cases. Not one among the audience, however, had had experience of juries, and iud'ring by the questions that were asked after the address, it was evident that the majority of women have not yet reached that stage ’"Hen they treat jury service asa regular duty of life. Miss Barker drew attention to a very anomalous condition of the law*. To oe eligiblo to sit on juries it was necessary for women to be either paying £IOO or more m rent or to own property which was brinrinn- in an income of £IOO or more. The "'tendency of this clause in the law was to exclude married women from juries, for comnaratively few married women m this country either paid rent or had property in their own right. The result was that juryworacn had to be chosen either from the thin ranks of spinsters with property or from the ranks of widows. It was the married women who were wanted on the juries, and something should certainly be done to alter the present condition of affairs. Women who did not want to sit on juries either suffered from mental laziness or had such an idea of life that to carry out this particular public duty would really upset their mental balance. Let such women stay own experience, said Miss Barker, was that comparatively few women put forward “family ties” as a plea to bp excused. It was generally that the proceedings were “not quite nice.” “But. she added, if I you saw some of the women who plcndFd this excuse you would wonder. Women had failed to realise that sitting on a jury was the first step to having women judges. If they were afraid to hoar matters discussed which wore looked upon as improper. then they could be sure thev would never be. entrusted to try a case. Women did not like being tried by women, and the sooner thev bad all women juries then the fewer- divorce cases they would was only reasonable, if women refnsen to ' take part in divorce proceedings, that, they should not be allowed to sit on juries I where cases of child outrage were being | tried. Such cases were much more frei quent than neopie were aware of. and one | read of sentences shch as six months, three months, and some cases, were dismissed. Tf | women wore on the juries these inadequate sofitoncaa would never have been given, and