For Women Folk

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 1

For Women Folk

By "CHRYSSA."

J "Chryasa" will Sao glad to hear from all • Interested in Women's Work and Life, and to receive I Items of interest and value to Woman for publics* I tlpn, or referenoe in this column.

Lady'W&TiJ is at present in Chnstrhuroh staying with her daughter. Mrs B. Wood. The welcome to Lady Yiaru, which was postponed owing to the industrial conditions, is to take place at the Town Hall Concert Chamber, Wellington, on March 18. c * « * " * Cabled news has been received from Canada that the marriage of Miss Ida Geddis with Mr.Louis Blundell, both of Wellington, takes place to-dav. Miss Geddis was to wear a charming coat of white crepe do chine, with blouse of exquisite lace -and a small white velour hat. Beautiful white fox furs, the gift of her parents, will complete her costume. *** * * , " Miss Kiore Kiug (daughter op-Mrs Clerald King, of Tomoana, Hawke's Bay), has completed Hve terms' study at Sir H. Tree s Academy of Dramatic Art, having taken a full course in acting, olocution, dancing, foncing, eto. She lias been awarded the prize given for "Dolsarte," the French system of exgaessing tlie emotions by gesture, \ * * • Misses Dora and Gwenda Williams, .laughters of Mr Justice Williams, have j left Dunedin en route for London. « • * » » \ The engagement is announced of Miss Lulu Arnold, youngest daughter of Mr ."Edwin Arnold, J.P., of Kensington Street, to Mr Sydney Tingey, of R. E. Tingey and Co., Ltd., Wellington. I. • * * * " f Mrs and Miss Gibbs, Collingwood. near Nelson, are visitors to the south. T*hey are going on to Dunedin and the southern lakes. • V # * * A very interesting afternoon was i provided by the first " Old Boys' " day at Nelson College.' The most important event was tne opening of the new fives court, presented by the " old boys "to the College. Hie rest of the afternoon was taken up by competitions between the present "pupils and " old boys," some of the latter having left the College over forty years ago. uhe " old boys " won the cricket, swimming, running and fives, and the pre'sent boys the shooting and tennis. The prizes , were presented by Mrs .Fowler (the wife of the principal) in the Assembly Hall at the close of the afternoon. At the opening of the fives court addresses were given by Sir ert Stout, Mr. 0. Y. Fell, Mr H. L. Fowler and Mr W. Devonish. , Among others present were Mrs Fowler, .Miss Lornner. Mrs and Miss Miss Stuart-Forbes. Mrs and Miss Coote, Mr 3 Frank Hamilton, Mrs and Miss Tomlinson, Miss G. Jones, Mrs and Mias Fell, Mrs Squires. Mrs Satchel!, Mrs; and Miss Heaps, Mrs and Miss Trolove, Miss Boor, Miss Burnett, Miss Marsden, Mrs P.' Moore, lira F. Hamilton, lira Marsden. Miss F. Richmond, Miss . Walmßley (Wellington), Mrs Noel Adams, Mrs 0; Pharazyn, Mrs Travers, Mrs and Miss Dodson, Miss B. Sharp, Miss Ledger, Miss Clark, Miss- G. Clark, Mrs Robison, Mrs P. Wright, the Misses Ward, Miss E. Gilkison, Miss Roberts. Mrs P. Andrew, Miss Littlojolm, Miss G. Harley, Miss MacKenzie, Miss Baird, Miss D. Booth md Miss Leggatt. «*' « 9 *

predominating colours being golden) and that, with tree ferns, made a handsome interior. The bride carried a ehawl she had worn iifty years ago, when she took the captain for better or worse, an<s 'she wa< accompanied also on this occasion by her original bridesmaids—Mra Charles Messenger ,%nd Miss .Mace—and she was presented by her children with a gold wedding ring to replace the one placed upon her finger by her choice of fifty years ago, this old ring being just about worn out. The toast of the old couple'-; health was proposed by Captain Mace in happy terms, nnd the bridegroom responded, thanking those mound him and his wife for their kind remembrances. The bridesmaids' haalth was proposed by Mr F. Armstraug.-'of Mahocmii, and in this case Captain Mace also responded. Besides the gold wedding ring, the children also gave their mother a gold brooch, and their father a silver-mount-ed walking-stick, suitably inscribed, and there were a number of other presents, besides congratulatory telegrams. In the evening some old friends from Tilcorangi, accompanied by a tin-can brigade of the younger generation, came down. Ihere were also some tincanners from Waitara, and the whole party were invited inside, jollity reigning supreme. A memento of the occasion will be a photograph taken during the afternoon. • . On i\iday evening Miss Wilding gave a delightful dance in honour of the Australian cricketers. Dancing was held in the ballroom. Miss Scrivenor's band played the dance programme, bupper was laid in the dining-room. Miss YVlldmg wore black satin with an overdress of white lace; Miss Wilding white ninon 'with touches of pink and silver fringe. Among those present wore:—,Mr and Mrs Jack, Misses Anderson, Rhodes, St Hill, Bums. Helmore, iVloore, Cracroft Wilson, Humphreys, Pyne, Strachy and Thomas, and Messrs Anderson (2), Brittain Helmore, Douglas, Wright, Rhodes, Gody, Harman, 'Nancarrow, Norman, Deaus, Bowden and Dr. Sicc. # 1 • * t POPULAR WEDDING. | Carleton was "en fets" last WedBe ™f on OCCHS 'on of the marriage of Mary, eldest daughter of Mr Joseph Inch, of Bowhill Farm, Carleton, to Mr Arnold Richmond Whitmore, of Christchurch. The. ceremony took place at St Andrew's Church, East Oxford, the Kev J. ~E. Holloway officiating.' The bride -was charmingly gowned in ?i ' Te '-' anc ' orango blossoms. Ihe bridesmaids were Misses Sarah and Alice Inch., who wore pretty frocks of pale bltio broche voile - adorned. with cream lace; Large, white beplumod hats. After the ceremony over 200 guests drove to Carleton Hall,- where a reception was held by the bride's parents. Several toasts proposed to the bride and bridegroom and the parents testified to the high esteem in which the family is hel3. The wedding presents included a number of cheques. In the evening; a dance was held and entered into with great rest bv m»ny friends. Mr ond Mrs Whitmore" loft by motor for their new home in Ckvistehurch. * . ■»' •

Mr and Mrs Timaru Rhodes, of Tinijirti, are in town, staying at Warner\s. j, ' • ■ * » * f Mrs S. Hansen, of Christ-clnirch, is at present in the North Island, as the guest of her mother, Mrs G. P. Robinson, New Plymouth. I The Hon A. L. Herdman and Mrs Herdman are in Christchnrch, staying at the Clarendon. » « » • • Mr and Mra Michel, of. the .West Coast, left for home this morning. i » » a • » » ■Mr antt Mrs Turton and family, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, leave shortly for England. They have been entertained at several tare well parties. i. ,» » * » * T>r and Mrs Mirams, of "Wellington, who have been visiting relatives in Dunedin, are at present in Cbristchurch, en route to Wellington. They are at the Clareifdon. _ j . » • < • * ! Mrs W. Holder and Miss Holder, of Groymouth, aro visitors to Christchurch. >3' » • • • • ! Miss M'Jntyre and Miss Ruth M'lntyre, of Wellington, have been spend- ; ing a brief holiday in Christchnrch. They return north this evening. W . . * , . f Tlie final of tlie championship doubles of-tho Makura Croquet Club was played at Groymouth on Wednesday. Tho players were Mrs Baxter and Mrs Tennent against Mrs Shatters ss and Miss Broad. All were in good form, II nd tho gamo lasted three hours. Mrs Baxter and Mrs Tennent were victori- . ©us, and are now the holders of the championship doubles for. 1011, thus winning the trophies kindly given by Mrs D. Carter. ' » « » • * • i Mrs Kennedy, of Wellington, is at ; present visiting Christchnrch, and is [(Staying at Warner's. v « ... * i On Wednesday Mrs Bevati, Shakespeare Greymouth, gave a . ''noyiey tea" for Miss Kettle. Tie &able was beautifully decorated with pink lilies, pink and white streamers mid silver horseshoes. Among those present were Misses Trim, White, Skoglund (2), Kettle (U), Broad (2), Cook. Guinness. Sampson, M'Lean. Hambleton, Kilgour, Kerr (2) mid St George. A competition was held, being iron by Misses White and Skogluud. v, * * * » # >x " .Mrs Holmwood, who has been visiting Ashburton as tho guest of Mrs C. Harper, has returned to the North island. _ ...«■• • • • ' Mr and Mrs W. G. Stead have gone to reside -at " Plaxmerc," Hustings. Hawke's Bay, the late residence of Lady Russell. * ♦ » » « An interesting event took place in Waitara (Taranaki) on Tuesday, when Captain and Mrs Armstrong celebrated their golden wedding. They received their relatives—sons, daughters and grandchildren—at the residence of Mr and Mrs W. T. Joll, Princess Street, where on the lawn a marquee was j erected. This was gaily decorated, tlie i

AN ARTIST LV FROCKS. • Lady visitors to Australia who had the advantage of a tip " from the dressiest of Sydney society women usually found their way into the beautiful and majestic Equitable building in George Street, with it's superb granite arcli and stairway and magnificent marble vestibule and up the lift to Madame Longton's beautiful suite, where the crerne de la creme of the social world were frocked. And if Madame would do it for them they would secure frocking with a cachet., Madame's clientelle included the two Government Houses in tho Commonwealth and the State Government House, and Admiralty House and so many others with a "first call' as regular clients, and it was a compliment to get a dress from her.

I was most interested to find recently that sho had determined on abandoning the lieat of Sydney and securing a quieter-life in a. restful climate and with others to share the responsibility. She retired from her Sydney Ateliers and accepted a most substantial offer to take charge of Messrs Armstrong's costume designing hero at Lower High Street. She has in the costumes I have seen put the cachet that gave her creations such distinctions in Sydney.

-It is quite interesting; to go through Madame's scrap-book of Australian mementoes. There are autograph letters from leaders, social and artistic. For instance, white turning them over at random I came across these:— " Lady Tennyson has very great pleasure in saying that Madame Jjongton has made a great many gowns for her, and she considers her the most- excellent fitter, with very good taste, most careful and painstaking." Then Lady Kawkes. Admiralty House, writes that she has pleasure in highly recommending .Madame Longton as a most excellent dressmaker. She fits perfectly, and if Ladv Fawkes had known Madame Longton she would nothave sent to b'ngland, but would only have employed Madame T.ongton, who is most obliging and artistic. » 9 # * « THE WORD OBEY. The Adelaide ''' Register." collecting opinions of various local parsons 0:1 the •word " obey " in the marriage service, got only two worth mentioning. The others either said that, they had dropped it in their own chnrcho.-. or dial, the Bible said so, and that settled it. R.C. Archbishop O'Keilv called the word '' stupidly finperflumts.'' because " tho "woman who is not prepared to obey will never make a good wife, and the husband who takes her makes a very silly bargain/' The other parson. having had American experience,, regarded marriage as " a mutual business." legal rather than religious. In the United States " they don't even have a ring half the time.''' :: f think." said this cheerful Yankee, •• it would be better for men to bo pledged to obey women. They've niostly got to do it. anyhow." 11 seems to ine that words must 10-f their meaning, or is it, that different minds givo different interpretations to them? There is no domineering spirit intended in the true meaning of the word obey, but just a recognition of authority. The liff ;A,vs that ihe man

is tli9 official Head of a household, and lie is responsible for' the directing of it, while the wife is mistress and therefore equally the head in her own domain. Every department in life must have an official or recognised head, who fihould receive obedience as 'well as respect for his position, otherwise things would become very involved. But for any happiness or success there must he harmony and co-operation: If that state exists, and the true meaning of the word obey understood, there will not be the unnecessary bother they are having in England, where there is somo talk about taking it out of tho marriage service. Someone once said that if the husband was the. head of the house the wife was the neck, so that she could turn him whichever way she wished. « . . » » MRS CARLYLE'S OAT. "A SELFISH, IMMOtWi;, IM- ' PROPER BEAST." Some new letters of Mrs Carlyle tire a refreshing oasis in tho mass of print that daily loads tho new bookshelves. They occur in a very pleasant volume called " In Cheyne Walk and Thereabout," by that authority on Chelsea aud its famous people, Air Reginald i Blunt: They are letters written to a j housemaid who came from Scotland to the Thomas Ciirlyle's service in 1860. , This is how her duties were defined by Mrs Garlyle:— • < ''"What my Housemaid has to do is just, I suppose, what other Housemaids have to do, where there are only two servants kept. She has to do theHouso work, to answer the door, to wait at table, to be the least bit of a Lady's maid to me, and the least bit of valet to Mr Caryle. As .the house is of mod- ! erate size, and as we have 110 dinner parties, and as both Mr C. and myself are orderly, the work is certaiuly not heavy for anyone who understands her business. The washing is all given out; only the servants wash their own clothes —there is a little garden to dry them I in. I give my Housemaid twelve I pounds a year, and one pound ten for heer money, which she may drink or save—as she likes; tea and. sugar of course is given." Another delightful letter is about a cat. "I wish she were dead!" Mrs Carlyle says, and then continues:—• "Well! There she is—and a-s long as she attends Mr 0. at his meals (she doesn't care a snuff of tobacco for him at any other times!) so long will Mr C. continue to give her bits of meat, and driblets of milk, to the ruination of tho carpets and hearthrugs!—l hare over ana over again pointed out to him the stains she lias made—but he won't believe them her doing!. And the diningroom carpet was so old and ugly—that"' it wasn't worth rows with one's Husband about! Now, however, that nice new cloth must he protected against the Cat-abuse. So what I wish is that you would shut- up the creature when Mr C. has his breakfast, or dinner, or tea. And if bo remarks on her absence, say it was my express. desire. Ho has no idea what a selfish,.immoral, improper beast she is, nor what mischief she does to the carpets." • » . » » ♦ JAPANESE WOMEN WANT FREEDOM. An interesting symposium lias been arranged by a Japanese magazine on the subject of women's position, as the result of which leading Japanese ladies have expressed their views with considerable frankness. While all condemn the suffragette movement, rs seen in the West, they are unanimous in wishing for greater freedom than they at present enjoy. Ono of tho writers says that it is

disgraceful that women should not be allowed to attend potilical meetings. W omen have instincts better developed than men and there is less danger of them acquiring dangerous thoughts than men. Besides, as they are the educators of the rising generation, they should not be treated as " juniors:" On the subject of the suffragette movement the writer said that Japan did not require- such a movement at present. Another lady writer asks that - woman should ba given absolute liberty, liberty to protect her own interests, to express her own thoughts, "to choose her own _ pursuits in spite of her husband. Then she recounts her own home experiences. Though she has no complaint against her husband, she expresses her dislike of his friends who think that it is the duty of a wife to wait upon her husband's friends.

The fact of the wife being the- mistress of the home, she writes, is to reason why she should sacrifice her time and congenial avocation: for her husband's friends. So long as there are such uncivilised men in the country, tho task of procuring true liberty for women' will be difficult. A third lady writes that the independence of woman in tli-e noblest sense is to be desired, but at- the ,same time the inherent spirit of self-sacrifice'in woman should not be impaired. A fourth lady writer taker, a gloomy view of woman's position. Sho says: '';Smail, helpless things arc the Japanese women of today. Before talking of' giving the suffrage to women they should give vs the right df«self-govoriimont at home. We groan ill domestic bondage." .» » # » • -

A WOMAN JOURNALIST. A successful woman journalist gives ihe following as essentials for a " news-paper-woman Sho must have good common-sense; but not uncommon sense, for then she will want to manage the entire paper, first thing. She must write good newspaper, not dictionary, English: must have power of observation, and be able to sit down in the middle of a cyclono and note her impressions of it."

The " Evening Post" newspaper (England) of December 21) and '22, 1700, contains a curious description of a flying ship, stated to have been invented by a Brazilian priest, of which we give an illustration, copied irom an old cut. which at both ends was scallop-wise, had sails which turned as they were directed; there were two wings to keep the ship upright and a &uth to govern it. In the body at each end was a pair of bellows, to be blown when there was no wind ; two globes of metal, to cover two loadstones ta draw the ship'after them: the body was of thin iron plates, covered with straw mats lor ten or twelve men besides tho constructor. Above the body was a network of iron wire, on which were fastened largo amber beads, which by a secret operation would help to keep the ship aloft ; also by the sun's heat the mats that lined tin- ship would be drawn towards the amb;>r bead*. The artist, by the lielp of the celestial globe, a sea map and was to take the height ol the sun. thereby -to find out the spot of land over which they were on ihe alobe of the earth." 'there witc pulleys and ropes io hoist or I'url the sails, hut »e do noi find that design was at nil practicable.