FEMININE INTERESTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18519, 17 March 1930, Page 3

FEMININE INTERESTS.

Retains Maiden Name: Mrs E. Fearnley Whittingstall, formerly Miss Eileen Bennett, the famous British lawn tennis player, has decided to play in the championships at Wimbledon in June under her maiden name. Although there is no regulation against a married woman using her maiden name, this will be the first occasion it has been done. It is not generally known that Mrs Whittingstall’s second Christian name is Bennett. Her mother insisted on this at her christening because, as she said, “Eileen might for some reason wish to use her maiden name after she is married.”

It is a strange coincidence that a reason should occur so soon after Mrs Whittingstall’s marriage, which was in last November.

The Feminine Touch: A Sydney woman, Miss Thea Proctor, artist, was engaged by a big motor-building concern recently for assistance in choosing a colour combination for their product. Miss Proctor, and two male artists, thus made an alliance of art with industry, and the display that followed their collaboration with the manufacturers attracted considerable interest. One of Miss Proctor’s samples sported a canary yellow body, blue mouldings, black fenders, and red trimmings, a car over which, a correspondent asserts, the sporting girl would go into raptures. Lemon, petunia, blue and red were dominant shades in the cars painted under her dictation, cars that would look unusual on the streets, yet brilliantly artistic and cheering.

The Latest in Hats: Sun-bonnets with close-fitting skullcap crowns and floppy brims are to be worn in Paris in the spring. Many of the smartest new hats look as if a flat band had been laid across the head from ear to ear and then pulled tightly downwards. One, made of black crinoline, has a broad brim turned up abruptly in front and allowed to stand very high. Interesting developments are reported to be occurring at the back cf the new style of hat. At the nape of the neck a knot, bow, or buckle is being added to gather the brim into shape. Novel House: Sheila Kaye-Smith is leaving Kensington and is going to live in the country, and those who know her books will guess that it is to be Sussex. She is full of enthusiasm about the preparation of her new home, which is situated between Brede and Northiam, two delightful villages which she has often mentioned in her novels.

The place is called Little Doucegrove and consists of an old oast roundel —a kiln in which they used to dry hops and malt —and a large barn, in an estate of 55 acres.

They are being converted and extended, and will ultimately form quite a large country house. The house is being faced with local blue stone, and she hopes to move in at the beginning of June.

Two studies are included in the plans, and some old stables are being converted into a small chapel.

Miss Kaye-Smith, who in private life is Mrs T. P. Fry, has not actually lived in Sussex since she was married, and her last three books were written in London.

She stayed at Northiam last summer, but, of the two, it is Brede to which she is specially attached, and it is mentioned in nearly all her books. Her first novel, “The Tramping Methodist,” opens with the words "My father was rector of Brede,” and she often used to stay there when she first took to writing. Exhibits at London Museum: More and more women are making a habit of going to the London Museum, St. James’s, when they have an hour or so to spare. Some interesting things are soon to be added to the wonderful collections of Royal relics. Among them are a Highland jacket of black velvet, trimmed with silver braid, which the late King Edward VII. used to wear at Windsor when he was a small boy, and a really beautiful collection of 122 filigree and plain silver doll’s-house toys which belonged originally to the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria’s mother. The Queen takes a very great interest in the museum. Her Majesty has made a good many private visits to it, and there are scores of exhibits there which she has either given or lent. Among them are gowns worn on great State occasions by herself, by Queen Alexandra, and by Queen Victoria. During her visits the Queen never fails to take a look at these dresses, and often makes helpful suggestions as to how some of the Royal exhibits should be displayed in order to secure the best effects.

Royal Interest in Needlework: The ladies of the Royal Family go to the Royal School of Art Needlework for much of their lingerie. Princess Mary had her trousseau linen embroidered there in special designs, and the Duchess ordered to be sent to 145, Piccadilly, for her inspection, a selection of shell-pink lingerie that caught her eye at a stall during the sale. This includes the daintiest of georgette dressing jackets with kilted frills and a hem of pale gold lace, and nightdresses edged with coffee tinted lace.

At the next stall, in charge of Lady Edward Spencer-Churchill, were copies of the blue flannel dressing-gowns with slippers, coverlets and hot-water bottles to match that Princess Mary bought a little time back for little Viscount Lascelles and his brother Gerald. New Governor-General Entertained: Golden daffodils and fragrant mimosa decorated the rooms of the Victoria League in London, where a reception was held by the members to honour Liord Bledisloe, Govemor-General-designate of New Zealand, and Lady Bledisloe, and to welcome the High Commissioner for New Zealand, and Mrs Wilford. Lady Forster was the hostess. Lord and Lady Bledisloe and Mrs Wilford received, and all wore sprays of Gloucester daffodils and New Zealand fern.

Mr Wilford arrived late, as he had been at the Naval Conference, and he was represented meanwhile by Commander Agar, V.C. Notable among the guests were Canon Carnegie and his handsome wife, who wore a wine-red coat of velvet with a tricorn hat to match. Others invited included the Duchess of Atholl, M.P., Susan Duchess of Somerset, the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos, Lord and Lady Leigh, Lady Forster, Sir Maurice and Lady de Bunsen, Lady Dynevor, the Dowager Lady Jersey, Mr and Lady Beatrice Ormsby-Gore, Mrs Philip Snowden, wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Miss Haldane, and the High Commissioners for Canada, Africa, India, and Australia, and their wives.