THE SOCIAL ROUND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 334, 4 March 1915, Page 4

THE SOCIAL ROUND

Their Excellencies tlie Governor and Lady Liverpool have returned to Christchurch from their visits to Mr and Mrs J. Studliolme, Coldstream, and Mr and Mrs J. Grigg, Longbeach. Prof, and Mrs Gabbatt are visiting ITan ni er.

Tlie Misses Tripp are at present staying at Sumner. Mrs S. Clarkson (Auckland) is visiting friends in Cliristchureli. Mrs Wilder, Ilawke's Bay, is the guest of Mrs F. 11. Pyno. Miss .Tiinian (Christchurch) is at present visiting friends in Timaru. Mrs Stead has gone down to her Sumner residence for a few days.

The Misses Wooleombe (Hawera) are visiting friends in South Canterbury,

Mr and Mrs Derek Westenra have returned to Camla from a trip to Kotorua. Mrs Douglas has returned to Christchurch from a visit to her sister, Mrs Bert Purser, Wanganui.

Mr and Mrs J. T. Julian have returned to Auckland from their visit to Christchurch and Wellington. Mrs and Miss Cregg (Sydney) arrived back in Christchurch this morning after a visit to the Southern Lakes.

Mrs Harold Johnston (Wellington) and Mr and Mrs Pearsliouse (Sydney) are amongst the guests at Warner's. Mrs Thompson (Ainberley), Mr and Mrs Eilbeck (Sydney), Mrs and Miss McLaughlin (Sydney) are staying at the United Service.

Dr Agnes Bennett (Wellington) intends leaving New Zealand at the end of the month to join the French Red Cross for service during the Avar. Dr Violet Field, formerly of Nelson, who has been on the staff of the Dufferin Hospital in Agra, India, for some years past, is returning to New Zealand by next week's Sydney steamer. The plans for the International Congress of Nurses to be held in San Francisco next June have been greatly altered by the war. The congress will be held, but will resolve itself into the annual meetings of the American societies. Any overseas nurses will, of course, be welcomed.

Mr and Mrs Shorter (Sydney) are back in Christchurch, after a southern tour, and are Btaying at the Clarendon. Other recent arrivals at the same hotel include:- —Mr and Mrs A. M. Mann (Gisborne), Mr and Mrs C. A. Wilkinson (Auckland), and Mr and Mrs E. Francis Pochin (Oamaru). ;

The Christchurch teachers who came under the scope, of Miss D. Heritage's influence during the physical training period a short time ago, will be interested to read the following remarks of a Greymouth correspondent in an exchange:—l cannot refrain from paying a tribute of praise to our' instructress. Miss Heritage entered upon her work in a manner that called for special attention. Her methods of explanation were lucid and attractive; her punctuality and attention to duties called for repeated and favourable comment. The best advice I can give our girls is, " Follow Miss Heritage's example in the zealous performance of your duties, and I am sure the best positions in your profession will be, or should be, open to you."

The more strenuous and nervous our life, the more sleep wo need to make good wear and tear; but, unfortunately, tlie less we usually get. Now we are told that nine hours is imperative if we are to settle our account each day tvith Nature, and have no days of unpleasant reckoning. Sleep that is full of dreams is not restful. To rest, we must be unconscious. The sleej) following a nervous, excitable day is apt to bo filled with dreams. It is necessary to regulate our lives so that we will fall into a deep dreamless sleep about 10, and go on till 7. Above all things, it is necessary to go to bed with a definite expectation of going to sleep, to think of sleep, to court it, and to welcome it. A poor sleeper may frequently win sleep by taking a hot glass of milk, or water, or beef tea, or malted milk just before retiring. Another will find it easier to draw the blood from the head (and this is the principle) by means of a soothing hot bath or warm sponge, or possibly by hot or cold applications. Cold cloths applied to the back of the neck have been found useful. Too many clothes or too few may be the cause of sleepless hours, and very often Bot enough air in the bedroom. When wo toss and turn in vain, and our heads get feverish, and unhappy thoughts tumble over each other in rapid succession, then it is time to got up, and .take a book, or dress and go for a walk. If the brain is overworked, and the strenuous feeling still remains after one has gone to bed with an overpowering inclination to plan all the work for days and weeks to come, always with

the feeling that it cannot possibly done, ;; :k: n. ~ immediateU, it may be a relict to rise at. once ami empty the bt'alti by setting' down on paper systematically nil the things there are to bo clone. The charm of stencilling is one that does not readily pass away. One of the greatest pleasures lies in the rapidity which one sees the work growing under the lingers. Cotton crepe is admirably adapted for stencilling, as its soft, Avriukled surface takes the paint beautifully, and it requires 110 starch or ironing. The principle of the work is very simple. All that lias to be done is to apply colour through the design cut out on the cardboard. Standard tube colours are used, a little turpentine, two brushes, the stencil pattern, and, if one wishes to make her own, a sharp penknife. In applying the paint —the brush is a round, stumpy one, not unlike a stiff shaving brush —hold it at right angles to the work, and dab. Select the colours, not forgetting white, and use the turpentine to thin if necessary. It is best to use tlio paint rather thick. Work it thoroughly into tlie brush, and then wipe it until it is almost clean. A beginner always puts on about three times too much paint. In tlie mining districts in the north of England the custom is still maintained of collecting "maidens' purses" on Christmas eve. These purses, subscribed for by the mining folk themselves, are intended as marriage portions for dowerless girls who are about to be married. On Christmas eve the full purse is stealthily thrown in at the girl's window, to avoid any possibility of wounding her feelings. In one parish four purses are provided every Christmas eve by a wealtiiiy lady, who makes no secret of the fact that her own wedding day was brightened by tlie gift thrown in at her window when she was a miner's lass.