For Women Folk

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11508, 2 October 1915, Page 5

For Women Folk

By "CHRYSSA."

I "Ohryssa" will bo glad to hear from all interested in Women's Work and Life, and to receive items of interest and value to Women for publication, or reference in this column.

I oontiirae to receive unsigned notices of weddings, engagements and social matters, in spit© of frequent intimations that no notice would be taken of them unless the correspondent's name was enclosed. One letter received this week announcing a coming wedding had half a crown enclosed, probably by way of a tip. I am passing the tip on to the Sunbeam Kindergarten Association. Paragraphs in this column are not for sale. • • • • * The Fendalton branch of the Red Cross Society are having a display of their work aext Thursday afternoon, October 7. in the Sunday school room. Mrs E. Hay will speak on bandage work and Miss Freeman, from the head office, will speak on Bed Cross work generally. The fund is raised chiefly by monthly subscTiptions from the residents of Fendalton, while various committees and people privately make up the work. The object of the meeting in to let them know how the money is being expended. Miss E. Burbury is honorary of this branch, with Mrs Hamilton as president. • • • » » Prinoe Victor Napoleon, who is a first cousin of King Victor Emmanuel, lias been granted jvermission to join tljo Italian Airing., Since t/lie war broke out he and Princess Victor have been staying in England, and they have paid several visits to the Empress Eugenio at Fambprough Hill. ■, • * # « * The King and Queen of Spain have left La Granja, their principal country seat, for the season, and are now settled at San Sebastian for the late summer and early autumn, but his Majesty will pay frequent visits to Madrid and to those of his various hunting seats' which are within easy reach, of the capital. • * • • • Miss Lorna Gardner, of Irwell, is at S resent in town as the guest of Mrs unoan, Park Terrace. " • * • • • Miss Ella Collett, of Wools ton, is at, present on. a visit to her grandfather,! Mr William Dunphy, Ormoudville, j Hawke's Bay. Before returning home s>he will visit her aunt, Mrs Thomas Bennett, at Hastings. • * « • « Mrs W. Brown, of Greymouth, is visiting friends in Christchurch and Wellington. • « « * * The impression is rapidly gaining ground that the coming queen carnival in Auckland is going to be a great success, and that a large sum will be raised thereby for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Mrs J. R. Gunson (Mayoress of Auckland) has been ohosen to represent the Labour and friendly societies; Mrs A. S. Bankart, the brewers; Mrs W. H. Parkes, the commercial houses; Mrs Wallingford (wife of the famous shot, Captain J. A. Wallingford), the soldiers; Mrs W. J. Napier represents the Queen of the North: Miss Victoria (Bridges, the Civil Service; Mrs Edward Russell, the professions; Mrs Bertram Dawson, tho allied retailers; and Miss Gwen Gorrio has been nominated for sports. A Bed' Cross queen has yet to be elected. Nurse Donald, who has acted as Plunket nurse in this district for some time, has been granted leave of absence jn order to undertake nursing on the next hospital ship. •■* * * • The wedding of Mr G. Sterndale Bates (Cathedral organist at Napier) and Miss Marjjorie CJowper (Dannevirke) took place recently. The happy couple are spending their honeymoon at Lake Waikaremoana. Mr Bates intends leaving shortly to do Red Cross work at the front. • * » » *

A farewell dance was given in the Town Hall, Bealey Flat, on Friday, September 21. to three Christchurch young ladies, Misses Hartigan. Barter and Kennedy, who were leaving the district after having been there for several months. 31 rs Saxton and Mr .Rogers kindly supplied the music, and Air A. Hamner music for extras. Mr Saxton officiated as M.C. Mr Neil rendered several violin ;md Mrs Saxton and Miss Barter vocal solos. A dainty supper was provided by the gentlemen. A most enjoyable time was froput. The dance was brought to a close by the singing of i; Anld Lang Svnc " and the National Anthem. The cirls also had a- most enthusiastic sendoff at the station the next day.

JIOBIXSON -WEEKS. A quiet wedding was solemnised at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Vhillipstown, on Saturday, September

If., when Lillian Ethel, youngest daughter of Mrs S. Weeks, Linwood, was married to Stanley Dale Robinson, son 1 of Mr W. Robinson, St Albans. Tho Ven Archdeacon Ensor performed the ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her brother, wore a dainty dress, of silk radium, with the usual veil and orange blossom, and carried a shower bouquet of white geraniums. She was attended by her sister, Miss A. Weeks, as bridesmaid, who Wore a dress of silk poplin and white. Tn.3el hat. She carried a shower bouquet of daffodils. The bridegroom was attended by Mr A. Nightingale as best man. After the ceremony •.it-eri.otvi t«a was served at the " Henrietta,'* Oashol Street. • » • # • AT THE THEATRE. Everyone has been impressed by the wonderfully realistic way in which Miss C'leeson played the part of the Gorman governess, Fraulein Schroder in' " The Man Who Stayed at Home." It was the type to the life. Miss Oleeron has been recalled to Melbourne by "The Firm" to take up another important part there, and her ;<lace lias been taken by her underetudv, Miss Stella Payter, who acted the part pa;ticularly well. Miss Mattio Brown, who has been doing so well in the small part of that objectionable person, the white-feither distributing boarding-house " flappe-," is a Melbourne girl who has only be-vi on the stage about six months. She made her debut with Fred Niblo's company in "Jones of Broadway" ««ClaraSpotswood. She is only seventeen, and as she is keen on her profession the ought to go far. The company is very strong in understudies. In Wellington, owing to the indisposition of Mr Harvey, Mr Ch.ii'es Morse played the part of Breut, the secret service agent with tho subtle brain and deadly determination concealed under the exterior and manner of a fatuous dude. Mr Morse 10?© to the occasion so- successfully that he is sure to be earmarked for promotion. by the Firm. The company finishes a most sue- / cessful season in Christchurch to-nigit, 1 Mr F'arrell is back in charge, and will take the company on to Hobart, whither the business manager, Mr J. W. Hazlett, has gone to make ready, thus takings turn " in advance."' Mrs Farrell and Master Billie passed through Christchurch to Dunedin this week. n • • • • MUSICAL AFTERNOON TEA. Mrs Bernard Wood was the hostess yesterday at one of the musical afternoon tteas promoted by Mrs Cower Burns. There was a very large gathering at her residence, Papanui Road, tind the spacious drawing-room, dining- I room, library and verandahs were all j full. The rooms were a. glory of lilac, j tulips and blossoms, and afternoon tea was served in. the dining-room. The musical programme was perhaps the foe&t so far of the series. Mrs Cower Burns was never in better voice than she is af present. The hostess sang delightfully, as also did Mrs Gilbert Hutton. Mrs Osborn Smith played charmingly. The talented daughters of Mr AY. F. Ward contributed" both instrumental and vocal items. Lady Ward's scarf for Lord Kitchener, for which the women of New Zealand are payiug Is a row for the privilege of knitting, the money to go to the Red Cross Fund, was passed round and received many additional low?.

It is proposed that Miss Violet Paget filmuld auction the seari' before the Williamson Company leaves New Zealand and the •ultimate purchaser will pass it back for transmission to the War JtinisAer.

An ingenious sou! suggested that it was up to Bernard Joseph Ward Wood, aged twelve weeks, to do his "little bit'' for the cause, and so fid was charged and wilhugjy paid for viewing him in a corner of the grounds, all for the good of the cause, lie received his visitors quite condescendingly. Among 1 lies" present were:—-

Mi 4 Kormmd, Wood rrceW'd her guests v/purinjr » .smart gown, of murine b!uo ;-iik with lonchos of lvliitn. .Mrs Htinil niit-kJor (Miss Yiolrt wore an ;i gown of black fllaoo siik v/idi boHohnoed skirt, the open nwkod bodice cd-cd villi white. Mrs John Deans 'Mrs (>. T. .1. Alpevs, Airs Stead, All's Khvorthy. Mrs W. "Wood. Mrs Wood. Mrs CarryTTill. Miss Cordnor. Mrs Lord, Mrs M. 1,. Hoadin;;, Mrs I Sea urn a nip L;u;o.

Mi\s G'ndby, Mrs Clan do Kawtoll, MrsMtwton Arwlonwon, M]r*s Quano, Mrs Coorgo Morton, Mrs John Anderson, Mrs Joseph. Palmer, '.Mrs "Raymond, Mrs tin hi. Marc, Mrs Donnistou. Mrs Nednill. Jlw (*. V. Thomas. Mrs 11. Loughiiaii, Miss .M. Thomas .Miss Reeves. Mr* Strachcv, .Misses Monro (2), Aly.s "Rums, Miss J-Won j Munis, Alis> Tessa Heading, Mfcs -Aluni Ward. Mrs W. S. Bean, Mrs Westeurn, .Mrs Knhii, Mrs Ollirmr, Mrs Cayley-.Kolmi.-jon, Cl.mlp), Mr Cecil M'Hollar, "Mr Charles Morse, Mr Logan Rush. «'• • * 0 A GOOD OAIhSK. I wroto 11. little time ago of the preparations Wing made lor - tiio annual benefit concert for Nazareth Horse. Everything is now complete, ;<iid tho concert is to take place in ih.> theatre Royal on Monday ivcck v, her the merit of 'lho object jm 1 the msn't of the loading artists who sre giving their services to the good cause should onsm'o a bumper house. Housewives havo had an anxious time since the war making ends moot with wa.r prices for their households. Flow would thoy feel if tliey had from 300 to 400 mouths to feed, and were trusting to public generosity for the feeding and clothing of that great family, a family, too, only of the very old and helpless and the very young, most of whom are little tots, also moro or less helpless? What an undertaking, and yet faith in Divine Providence and in human naturo has enabled them to carry on. in spite of tho diversion of charity in so many instances to the war funds. And as tho Rev Mother piits it, though, they have often not known where tho funds next needed were to oome from, "our poor people have never gone hungry." No one can do better than to take tickets for the coming oonoej-t and reserve seats- at The Bristol right away, and if they haven't yet seen Nazareth House they should drop down there on Sunday afternoon just bo see wrYat devoted women can accomplish. Everey woman who sees it comes away with an. added pride and faith in her sex. • » » » » A THIRD OF A CENTURY TN GAOL. To he over thirty-three years a gaol matron would, one might imagine, harden anybody ; yet Mrs Mali or, who is leaving the service after that length of time as head of the women's prison at Addington, is just a brainy, kindly, humane, sympathetic soul with a warm heart for her charges. Yesterday I had an opportunity of seeing tho women's prison, and' must say that, except for the compulsory detention, many a struggling woman outside has a harder lot.

The old* days of dungeon cells, and treadmilkt-land oakum-picking are past in modern prisons. To go into Addington is to see neat, clean women working in a neat, clean, bright place. It shows you what can be d'one with what might be considered the most unpromising material when a capable woman is in charge. Modern prison reformers say there are no such thing as hopeless! " incorrigibles." There certainly are some very hard cases, but Mrs Maher has found good in most seemingly unpromising material in her long experience of the female offender. Many a first offender she has been able to convince of the foolishness of her ways, and make to feel that she has a real friend in the matron. At the eame time, she is too many for tho sly, or the trouble-maker. There are women who outside of Adcftngtom are terrors to the police and all who have to do with the maintenance of order. Mrs Maher's personality quells them speedily, and they are as tractable as the rest. The whole place is a model of cleanliness and order with the in--1 nates busy as if it was a sewing beeThey are making garments for the Belgian children, ami havo d'one work of real value in this way that has won the praise of the Lady Liverpool Committee.

j The vegetable garden, entirely work/ed by women. <i.s is everything elso 1 there, is a. model of neatness and productiveness. Some of the women vagrants when they come there'are physically and otherwise unclean. Scouring and disinfection soon makes them sufficiently clean, and a plentiful diet, which includes on sucessive days Toast and boiled meat, stews, corned meat, porridge, bread and jam, with regular work, makes them healthy, but Mrs Maher, out of the depths of Tier experience, deeply regrets that certain women's organisations were able to secure the repeal of a certain Act which she regards as quite necessary for the wellbeing of the innocent in the community. I Mrs''Maher is retiring on superanmij ation allowance in the full possession of j the capacity to enjoy her retirement. She is the oldest officer in the service, j having become assistant matron of AdI dington in 1883, matron at Wellington, Dunedin, Auckland, and again Aldington. Slio will carry into her -well earned retirement the blessings and the good wishes of many a woman who has passed through her hands. * . ■>:• * ■»:• * FOR. LONELY BELGIAN SOLDIERS. Jt hda been estimated that the number of lonely Belgian soldiers is probably greater than that of other nations, for since the fall of Antwerp a very large number of Belgians have been cut off from ail communication with their families and friends, and a plan has now been devised by which any English people who arc willing to «lo so may show their friendliness to Belgian soldier;-: by writing letters to them and sending little gifts. A room has been opened at the Hotel Cecil by the Belgian Soldiers' League of Friendship, and anyone writing to the honorary secretary can become a member of the league and will be given the name and regiment of a Belgian soldier, who will -at the same time be informed that be way expect to hear from a member. Members of the league contribute a shilling subscription towards expenses.

A s'luirmUpfid remedy for Dandruff and S«borrWn. 'irritation of 11in scalp) ia now being placed on thr ron.rket. by Mrs Kollcv ton, Hair opcecinh'si. " Sc'do] " prevents baldness, lustreless and falling hair. A fav? applintinns renders th« ncah) healthy and promotes new growth. Pric.fi 2s bd and -Is 6rL X