LADIES' COLUMN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13697, 12 September 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN.

Social Doings for the Week. Mrs. K- G. Turner is visiting ber sister, Jlis. Rutherford, in North Canterbury. Mrs Bett (Dtmedin) and Miss- Kissell (Christchur ch) are staying at Sefton House. \fnt Courtis » giving a dance in the Assembly Rooms, on Thursday October 8 thJlrs and Bliss Howell, returned to Tixuant last. Monday by the second express from. Christchurch. Mrs. (Dr.) Gabites has gone for a short hoHday -to ber taster Mrs. Galloway of South. Mr*. Ronalds and child of Christchurch are staying at Ettrick Bank, High Street. Miss C-otterill, of Christchurch, has been visiting Mrs. A. S. El worthy. Holme Station, PareoraMr and Mm F. J. Rolleston will leave England for New Zealand next month. Mr Rollefeton was present at the annual New Zealand dinner given in the Colonial Institute. A very enjoyable dance was given by "the Rawhiti Hockey Clob in the Asembty Booms last Thursday evening, in honour of tin Te Rangitara dub, who are their guests for a few days. There were about seventy couples present. Mrs C. E. Thomas (President) was"" gowned in black satin, the corsage finished with white chiffon. The Nga Hiw Hockey Club, of Christchurch, were entertained at The Tyrol tea-rooms on Friday evening, September 4th. Progressive euchre wa6 played, and vocal and instrumental items were given also. The function was a very enjoyable one. A match was played on the following day, which, resulted in a win for Rawhiti by 4 to 2. The visitors left by the second express for Christchurch, after spending x very enjoyable time in Timaru. • - Mrs Mannering gave a very delightful, afternoon party on Caroline Bay on Wednesday, * September 2nd, to, the boy, friends of Master Sefton Mannering. The weather was perfect, and a very enjoyable time was spent by all present.- The following were some of the guest*:—Master» Tamest, Costello, Knubley, Bristol, Le Cren, Wtiifcin, English, Gillies, Buchanan, Shallcraw and Brooke, and several boors' from the Main and Wasnatattai . schools. Mit Hall-Jones was present at the At Home given by Mrs Findlay (wife of the Attorney-General) in Wellington last -week. The spacious residence in Boulcott street was crowded, many members of Parliament, Sir Joseph, Lady and Miss Ward, and the Mayor (Hon. T. W. H»lop) and Mrs Hisfop, Mm and the Misses Seddon, Mrs Knox Gilmer (nee Miss May Seddon), being amongst the guests present. Mi«r Hall-Jones was becomingly gowned in cream cloth trimmed with lace, cream picture hatThe display of spring and summer drapery in the shop windows at present is attracting much attention. L vet res in stripe* and checks will be very popular this ■oason, also coliennes and voiles. The Tight summer tweeds will make up into very useful costumes. I have noticed Jlrs Wilkin wearing a becoming tailcrmade costume of pale grey cloth- A hat of dark green straw, trimmed with tulle aiut shaded pink roees were worn. Miss Craigie navy cloth costume, vest of white taffetas and lace, Tuscan bat, trimmed with shaded red nnes. Miss Rbodts, dark green tweed, bat to match. On Thursday afternoon Mrs. W. D. Campbell gave an enjoyable afternoon in the Tyrol Tea Rooms as a farewell to her friends, previous to leaving for a three months visit to her mother. Mrs. Parsons," of Melbourne. Mrs. Parsons has been staying with her daughter in Timaru. AsHMMSt those present.were: Par■om, ilelbourne, Mia L. S- Talbot. Mis. W. Evans, Mrs, W. Priest, Miss Prient, >lrs; *W. Baxter, Miss Harold, Christchurch, Mm. E. A. LeCren. • Mr*. A. Bell, Mrs. R- Lowry, Mrs. and Miss Amy Smith, Mrs. Wilkin, Mrs. Arthur, Mrs. and Miss Qapper, Mie* Murdoch, Mrs. C. E. Kerr, Mrs. A. E. Kerr. Mrs. Jeffries, Miss McCahoo, Mies Hart. Mr*.Parsons and Mrs. Campbell and child leave for Melbourne to-day. Mm. Curtis, gave a very enjovable dance in the Assembly Booms on Wednesday, September 2nd. The floor was in splendid order, and the music was all that could be desired. A very dainty supper was served. Mrs. Curtis wore a trained gown of black net over yellow satin, the corsage draped with lace. Miss Jones, cream lace over cream satin. Misses. Strachan <2| crimson velvet with touches of black and purple. Misses Wagstaff, (3) white muslin, Masses Montgomery (2l white mousseline-de soir with tonchtt of helitrope- Miss Simmons, white silk. Mrs Hurdley, yellow satm blouse, black voile skirt. Mioses Gilchrist (2) white mousaeline- de-*ore, with touches of pale blue. Miss Mitchell, cream delaine and Mws Hilton, cream i silk. Miss Gardner, pale pink voile. Miss , Chalmers, cream voile. Mfcs Chalmers, ; white catin. The following gentlemen were present—Messrs Murray, Craw, Jonas (2). Hamilton, Hilton, Hurdley, Uwson, Knott, Harold, Curtis. Hinlev. Crerar, Harrison, Grant, Simmonds, Willis, Jennings, Millar, Mitchell, Millar, Henderson, Mabin and Poison. There was a very good attendance at the Hockey tournament held at the Athletic Grounds on Thursday of last w«.<?k. Amongst those present were—Mrs G I. Wood and rtw Mfa*« .Wood, Sirs and the Misses BecSJngbam, Misses Pringle l3>. Mats Pringle (Maori Hill>, -Mr and Mrs Banhlev, Mr and Mrs Hollow, Mr and Mrs Pratt, Mr and Mn* Ware. Mr and Mm Bowie, near.* Mr aoi Mr* B»' Bowie, Mr and MflS Ffeck, Mr and Mrs PallWr, Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist, Mr. and Mm. Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Rickman. Mr. and Mi**® Bradlvv. Mrs. and the Mi-*** McCabon. Mrs. Edgar. Dr. and Mrs. Lowry, Mrs. Curry Mis. Goodman, MrsSmith, Mrs. and Xlus Shea, Mfc-** Davidmw, Creanir, Ogg. Young, Pallker <2), M«»on (2), Coxhead (2>. Rodger* (2), McI'bedran, Mitchell (3). Bradley (2). Mabcn, Lawrv. (2). Webb t2). McCullock, Caldwell *(2), Bowie (2). Verity, Eraser (3t, Koonev (2i. Woodley (2). Sullivan <3'. Shea (3h Albert 12). Stevenson, Morris- n 12). diglivj* {2K Hunt, E. Dohier. Burke. L. Hurdlev, L. Nil**. Bradley. Owttgan, Allan. Mwon, McWhirter (2». Stewart. Howens, Glover (2). Berry »2», Kennedy t2j, O'Connor <2i. M. Ker. U. Rodgers, W. Hunt. HaUsfs K. Cowan. M. Auld, Brookes (2). J. Allen. A Allen. Sunnaway. Mitchell. Gilchriht |3t. Sinclair f2>. Mitchell, Green. Quinn. Fraser <2i. Auld. Charters. Whitley. Graham. Mackav «2>. Carrie, Sanderson. Wagstatf (2>. Thompson, Montgomery i'2l. Hume. Craigic. Moot*. Smith (2). Xorne. I'allwin <2i. Brook*. Will. Zeiitr, Mc|lr«l«*. Walton. Mara, Mackrnzks llawkrt, and Monro. " GHKI.LIK."

FRKSCH GIRL'S KXPKRIKNCK. Th.* danger of European girU marrying Orientals jj shown by the e*pcri«n<«* of a young Pari* i»-tine. who hai obtained a »li "vorce from her Chine*- hw>b»nd, after * very unhappy experience in China. In 1902 itwij* th.' " Melbourne Argos"? Sing I<ing. a diplomat attached to the Ch>tM*>e Kaibajwy in Pan*. nut Mdle. Deoeox, a very han<Home girl who ».ir, greatlv inttnwtvd in Ork-tjtal matters. Sing becantc eng»ge<l t<. Mdle. Den em,, and tbo marriage took place with great pomp at the Church of the Madekux* on October 14, 1902. tl»*- t "hm--M-Ambaeaodcr and manv other members of the diplomatic corps being pnnw>nt. iiiag Ling, wh« w«> a utandxrui of the

first class, was afterwards appointed to a toa-lai, or high official, in his own country and took Madame Sing Ling oat to China. Once at Pekin, however, Sing Ling quickly returned to Chinese ways and habits, and shut up his young Parisian wife in a large park, surrouhded by a high wall, and refused to allow her out.

Moreover, he married three other wives, Chinese women, and compelled his French wife to associate with them. Finding that she objected to sharing a husband with other wives. Sing Ling took away her child and refused to allow her to see it again. The poor won/In succeeded in Bending off a letter to her mother , who travelled all the way from Paris to rescue her unhappy daughter. Through the offices of the French Minister at Pekin, Sing Ling was induced to give up his wife, but on her proceeding to the railway station with her mother. Sing Ling, accompanied By a number of men, arrived and tried to regain possession of her. A seen© occurred, and Madame Sing Ling, screaming loudly, brought up a guard of French marines to her rescue. On her return to Paris she instituted proceedings for divorce, and now is freed for all time from her Chinese husband. This is the third case of the kind that has occurred within the last four years. DANISH WOMEN ATHLETES. Among the Scandinavians who went to England for the Olympic Gamts were a number of Danish young women, who seem to have excited the admiration of all who saw them. Various papers rhapsodise about their personal charm. I never saw a group of women whq seemed more fitted to be the daughtere and mothers of a splendid race (says one writer'enthbsiastically). Flaxen-haired for the most part, with cheeks of open-air freshness and with blue eyes, they reallv j seemed like some race of fair-haired godj desses thai belonged to the youth of the world, "when mortals and immortals were supposed to meet and to mate; or shall I describe them as apparent survivals of an elder race of heroes and heroines, where elemental passions worked among linman beings, and life was one inoemant scene of battle and heroic death, and men and women raised by circumstance to semidivine strength by heroic environment ? They are grace personfied, says a more sober journal, each movement lithe and supple. Wonderful is the unity of movement they show, and either when in line or when running togetlier, they seem to be merely jjarts of a whole and not individual entities. Their dress, too, is artistically appropriate to the last degree, the well-cut cream divided skirts—a mode so stilted to gymnastic requirements that its non-adoption by other women is to be re-gretted—-always falling in pretty folds, and toning delightfully with the tan stockings and the vtan-coloured fbrvs worn. The variety, as well as the excellence of the display they gave on -July 15, I have never seen equalled. Poised on one foot on a parallel bar supportel by posts quito 7ft. high, they executed various evolutions in which outstretched arms in combination with the free foot displayed an extensive part. AH the movements, both in these, in the running jumps, in the vaulting, and in the body exercise*, were taken in very quick time, with the precision of the trained ooldiers and the suppleness of the trained athlete. We women felt very proud to see a lady at the head of this superb body of trained gymnasts directing their display, and to know that feminine ingenuity and feminine skill were the origin of an exhibition of strength and ofrhythmic harmony that deserved well the volley* of applause with which it was greeted.

WHY SHOULD THE BRIDE PROMISE OBEDIENCE? (By Sarah A. Tooley, in the Daily Chronicle). Sitting the other afternoon in the calm serenity of the meeting-house to witnets a Quaker wedding, I was driven to compare the simplicity of the undertakings of bride and bridegroom, with the marriage vows imposed upon all other Protestants, and particularly in regard to the woman's vow of obedience. Who was it, one wonders, who fiist inserted thoe?e little words, " and to obey," in the marriage vow of the Protestant bride? A celibate prelate, without doubt, for it is an old adage that only bachelors' wives and old maict,' children are obedient ! It is a pity the Pan-Anglican Congress, which concerned itself considerably with matrimonial affairs, did not revalue this portion of the marriage service. The colonies set the example for the legalising of marriage with a deceased wife's sister, and the colonial Bishops might have done good service to engage the recent Congress in discussion tn tlie anachronism of the women's vow of obedience. The nndesirabiiity of imposing a solemn vow* with the known certainty that it ran never be kept, is apparent, while the petition of subjection in which it places an adult woman to another human being quite as liable to err in judgement as heroelf, is an insult to her conscience and intelligence. QUAKERi? SIMPLE DECLARATION. But to return to the Quaker wedding. | The young couple simply rc*se in their ! places at a meeting for worship, and, taking each other by tlie hand, declare* in a solemn and audible manner to the followi ing effect: The bridegroom first : "Friends I take this, my friend. C. 1).. to be my I wife, promiaing, through Divine assis-

tance, to be unto her a loving and faithful husband, -until it shall please the Lord by death to separate us." And then the bride in like manner: " Friends, I take this, my friend A. 8.. to be my husband, promising, through Divine assistance, to be unto" him a loving and faithful wife, until it shall please the Lord by death to separate us." Here we have perfect equality of husband and wife in the pledges to each other before God. Certain persons were moved to rise and address the meeting or offer exhortations to the young pair. The bridegroom and bride signed the register, the officer of the meeting house read aloud the marriage certificate, and the wedding was at an end. The ancestors of this particular bridegroom passed their honeymoon in Bedford gaol, 250 years ago, for being thus married. The Quakers, however, persevered in their opposition to tyranny, until they obtained the legal right to marry according to their own principles. The Quaker women are notable examples of good and faithful mothers though they have never uttered the little vow " to obey." JEWISH AND GREEK VOWS. The Jewess is also exempt from any such vow: As 6he stands beside her bridegroom under the flower-decked bridal canopy, the woman of this ancient race pledges! herself to be a good and faithful wife, and is enjoined by the officiating rabbi to make the home a place of happiness and love for the bread-winner when he returns from his toil. The bridegroom, in addition to the promise of faithfulness, gives a pledge to work for the support of his wife. In the Jewish marriage,' therefore, the greater obligation is required from the man. The Greek Church does not impose a ma triage vow of obedience. The ceremony is very long and exceedingly picturesque, but the actual vows are short and simple. • At the espousals, or first " office," those who are to be married stand before a table | and place their right hand upon a book 'of the Gospels. The .priest says to the | bridegroom "Wilt thou have N. to thy lawful wife and .promise her fidelity, love, help, and kind treatment all thy life?" and the man answers: " 1 will have her and I promise." Then the priest asks of the bride: " Wilt thou have M. to thy lawful husband, and promise him fidelity, love, help and kind treatment all thy life?" And she answers: I'' will have him and I promise." So far we have complete equality between the vows undertaken by the man and the woman, but in the further service of solemnisation the wife is admonished to "fear her husband." Still she may use her discretion as to acting on this advice; 6he makes no vow of obedience. Both husband and wife are married with rings, and both wear a wedding wreath of artificial flowers at the office of the coronation when, joining hands with the officiating clergy and the paranymph, or bast man, they parade round the table three times. The paranymph, a very important penson in the Greek marriage, may be a woman, and in a wedding which I recently witnessed the elder sister of the bridegroom performed the duties. She exchanged the rings and the crowns or%vreatl*s of the bridal pair, and stood to them ais sponsor. At one portion of tlje service tlie bridal pair advance to stand upon the sacred carpet, and, according to popular tradition. the one who first gains the carpet will rule- The bride, therefore, gets Iter chance. ANGLICIAN ANOMALY.

The Roman Catholic Chuhch does not impose a marriage vow of obedience. The bridegroom says: "I take thee, N., to my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for bettor, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part, if the holy Church will it permit, and thereto I plight thee my troth." In the Church of England marriage service the pledges exchanged by bride and bridegroom are identical with those quoted 1 from the Roman Catholic Missal, with the exception that the words "according to God's holy ordinance " are substituted for the Roman formula "if holy Church will it permit," and the notable addition to the words "and to obey" in the pledge of the bride. Is it possible that Henry VIII suggested the interpolation of the marriage vow of obedience on the part of the woman when the Convocation was remodelling the Service Book at the Reformation? Did that Royal Bluebeard desire to see all the wives of the country placed in subjection because Queen Katherine had proved refactory regarding the divorce? Or did the idea originate with Archbishop Cranmer, who thought that his Royal musters wives were causing the country trouble? One is tempted to speculate further and inquire whether that vow of obedience did not keep Elizabeth a virgin Queen. Other Churcl>es followed *uit, and when preparing their own special marriage services adopted the wife's vow of obedience contained in the Church of England service. So the idea of the subjection of the wife has been emphasised throughout Protestantism, the Society of Friends, however, being a notable exception.