WOMEN’S WAYS

Southland Times, Issue 23444, 26 February 1938, Page 16

WOMEN’S WAYS

At Home And Abroad “THE PERFECT LADY” An English newspaper has lately been conducting a competition for the best definition of a “lady.” Here are some of the prize-winning answers:— One whose behaviour is actuated less by rigid adherence to formal rules of etiquette than by genuine regard for the feelings of other people. A person of charm, refinement, kindliness, and generosity, whose consideration for others, whether rich or poor, is her first thought always. . A woman husbands admire and wives trust. . . One whom children and animals instinctively love, women respect, and in whose presence all men are gentlemen. , One who says she doesn t like ch? 111 " pagne when she knows you can t afford it.

MR EDEN’S MOTHER Sybil, Lady Eden, now best known as the mother of Mr Anthony Eden, the former Foreign Secretary, at one period was famous on her own account as a beautiful woman and sitter for the portrait which caused such trouble between her husband and the artist, Whistler, states a writer in The Sydney Morning Herald. Her eldest son, Sir Timothy Eden, has told the strange, turbulent story of his father in “The Tribulations of a Baronet.” Her only daughter is Elfrida, Countess of Warwick, mother of the peer who went to Hollywood to take up film work, and she is a great-grandmother. DUKE PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIS WIFE The Duke of Kent—one of the most courtly of British princes—should go down in history for one of the most graceful tributes ever paid a wife by her husband. Praising the Duchess to her compatriots at the Anglo-Hellenic League, he declared: “The full extent of the Duchess’s influence over me I shall probably never know. “It is as incalcuable as was the Hellenic influence on civilization. “This much, however, I do know—it is the best influence.” A few more public tributes to wives would not be a bad idea. FRIEND OF ROYALTY Friend of many members of the Royal Ramily, Miss Williamina Saida Davidson has died at Inchmarlo Cottage, Banchory, Deeside, at the age of 81. She several times entertained King George V and Queen Mary to tea at Inchmarlo Cottage while the present King and his brothers played in the

garden. Her claim was that there had been Davidsons at Inchmarlo ever since there had been Royalty at Balmoral. She had known the present Queen since childhood and used to play tennis with her mother, the Countess of Strathmore. Miss Davidson founded several soldiers’ homes. WOMAN NEWS VENDOR For 37 years Mrs Bailey has sold newspapers at Shepherd’s Bush underground station, London. She never had A day’s illness until a few days ago, and now from her sick-bed at the age of 67 she is talking of retiring. Mrs Bailey can remember the days when there were sheep at Shepherd’s Bush, now a busy suburb of London, and when horse buses toiled up the steep road to Notting Hill, to be met at the top by a boy with a fresh horse, which was harnessed in front. WOMAN MAKES HISTORY A well-known French woman musician, Mlle. Nadia Boulanger, made history not long ago when she conducted a concert of the Royal Philharmonic Society in London. It was the first time in the history of the society that a woman had conducted one of its concerts. Mlle. Boulanger is one of the leading teachers of music in Paris. One of the most eminent women musicians of the day, who is also well known as a conductor, is Dame Ethel Smyth, who will celebrate her 80th birthday this year. She has directed performances of her own compositions with, among others, the Queen’s Hall Orchestra and the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra.

A famous woman conductor of choirs is Madame Clara Novello Davies, mother of Ivor Novello. She is the founder and conductor of the Royal Welsh Ladies’ Choir, which won prizes at the Chicago Exhibition in 1893, and on one occasion sang before King George V and Queen Mary. In a few weeks there will be a newcomer - to the ranks of women conductors, for Miss Daisy Kennedy—in private life Mrs John Drinkwater, widow of the celebrated poet—is shortly setting out on a big adventure as leader and conductor of a male string orchestra.