CLEVER CHINESE BRIDE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19836, 27 June 1934, Page 12

CLEVER CHINESE BRIDE

“PERMS" INSTEAD OF PIGTAILS Miss Alice Foong Sue Gooey, one of Melbourne’s cleverest girl students, who went away eight years ago to be an accountant for a large firm in Hongkong, has returned to Australia to be married. * Miss Gooey first met her fiance, Mr Thomas Sym Choon, in Adelaide, many years ago, and they met again in Hongkong in 1927. A few months ago they became engaged, and Miss Gooey has returned home to spend a few months with her mother before her marriage, after which she will live in Adelaide. Miss Gooey was one of the first three women in Melbourne to become a qualified accountant. Women were not admitted as accountants when she passed her examinations, and she had to wait until special rules were passed before she could be registered. In Hongkong she was the only girl accountant, and she is probably the only Chinese girl accountant anywhere. Between keeping a business eye on ledgers and balance-sheets, MSss Gooey found time to notice many changes in her eight years in Hongkong. “Some of the fashionable Chinese women are now among the smartest in the world.” she said. “They have beautiful skins and wear the most up-to-date European clothes. “The girls use very heavy make-up, but it suits their national costumes, where it would look all wrong with European clothes. “Flappers still wear the national costume, which has changed in eight years from the short tunic and long trousers to the long tunic, closely fitting. with a high collar. “In the evening all Chinese women wear their national dress, even with the high collar. They are in the most beautiful materials, silks and satins, wonderfully sequined. and in glorious colours. “Chinese girls have taken to sport, and are becoming taller. Swimming seems to be the favourite exercise. Every little Chinese flapper has her backless bathing gown. “Even the permanent wave, unheard of in the China of the pigtail days, has come to stay, and all the little girls have bobs.”