VANITY Fair

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 106, 6 May 1929, Page 3

VANITY Fair

9 Office, Wanganui, Map 6, 1929. "Margol" reads, not without distress, that some of our English Wool-kings expressed themselves as "shocked at the length of the new season’s dresses": which can only be interpreted as meaning that some of the poor dears" wool has twined itself lovingly about their wits. Year upon pear, man has been shocked almost to the point of electrocution bp the brevitp which has been the soul of the dress-designer's wit. Now that, deciding at last to humour him, women have taken out a tuck or two from their attire, he expresses himself as more severelp shocked than ever. - There is absolutelp no pleasing some people. But it's a fact that throughout the historp of our race, man has attempted to be the dictator of women s fashions. If it hadn't been for Adam, the idea of fig-leaves would probablp never even have occurred to Eve. And be that as it map, diarists and chroniclers throughout the ages give space to the railings of men concerning the "monstrous sillp fashions" adopted bp their women-folk. Moreover, We give wap in the matter: the crinoline probablp came in and went out al man's behest. The short skirl came in owing to the prodigious posl-war demand—coming solelp from man-kind —for the "garconne" tppe of girl. Women, taken en bloc, didn't reallp Want to emulate the schoolroom. It involved all sorts of bother—getting out of the wap of hairpins, getting into ihe Wap of figures that didn't curve just at the wrong moment. But now that we're all bobbed or shingled, short-skirted and slim-silhouetted, we rather like the feeling, and the dressmakers' surrender to the constant masculine wail for fat, frills and flowing locks was a sad blow io most of us. But, if wool-kings and what-nots are going to stand up and, in print, have the impudence to be shocked about it, we shall consider insult added to injurp. After all, as a sex, We're old enough to look after the little ups and downs of our attire without outside help. Emphaticallp, "MARGOT"

A SOCIAL EVENING. A very delightful evening was enjoyed by the Society of Professional Musicians who held their first social of the year in the Victoria League Rooms on Friday. An interesting musical competition, where the members had to guess the name of the composer from a few bars of music played on the piano or violin, created much fun and was won by Mrs F. N. Raine and Miss Hutchens. Musical items were contributed during the evening; Mrs S. Rankin, a song and a piano solo; Miss Dempsey, a violin solo; Miss Williams, a piano solo; Miss Nelson, a piano solo; Miss Hutchens, a piano solo; Mr Gordon Mcßeth, a piano solo. The accompaniments were played by Miss Williams and Mrs Trevor Thomas. Among those present were: Mesdames Ivo Symes, Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Abernethy, Mrs Naumann, Mrs C. N. Raine, Mrs Nicolls, Mrs Murchie, Mrs Trevor Thomas, Misses Dempsel, j Nelson, Blennerhassett, Hutchens. A “COMING OF-AGE” DANCE. | The Fire Brigade hall was crowded ; with dancers on Friday evening when I Mrs G. Spriggens gave a delightful j dance to celebrate the “comingof-age” ! of her daughter, Miss Colleen Sprig- ' gons. j The room was prettily decorated | with balloons, streamers and coloured I lights, and sparkling dance music was i supplied by Stone’s orchestra. During | an interval at supper, the toast of Miss I Spriggens • was proposed by the Hon. ! W. A. Veitch, and that of her parents, I Mr and Mrs G. Spriggens, by Mr L. Cohen. Among those present were: Miss Colleen Spriggens, wearing a frock of cherry georgette and gold tissue; Hon. W. A. Veitch and Miss Veitch, Mr and Mrs G. Spriggens, the latter wearing black georgette; Mr and Miss Cohen, Mr and Mrs T. Blennerhasset, Mr and ’Mrs A. Haworth, Mr and Mrs Cheat, Mr and Mrs Hague Smith, Mr and Mrs Spellerberg, Mr and Mrs J. Siddells, Mr and Mrs G. Stewart, Mr and Mrs J. McGoath, Mr and Mrs J. Moye, Mr and Mrs Carmint, Mrs Dempster (Wellington), Mrs Cunningham, Mrs McDonald, Mrs L. Nichols, Mrs Gillies, Miss Manning, Miss Mitchell, Misses Stratton (2), Misses Swan (2), Miss L, Herbert, Miss Trevithick, Miss McNamara (Auckland), Miss Blair, Miss Bond, Miss Mackie, Miss Lumsden, Dr Pitcaithley, Superintendent Williams, Messrs C. S. Dempster, C. Spriggens, 1 J. Broad, G. Smith, S. Stewart, K. Graham, P. Weldon, E. Foster, C. McKechnie, Willbraham, McLennan, M. Field, N. James, R. McNeil, J. Henley, Bird (senr.), Darmy (2), G. Carlson, S. Friend, R. and F. Bird, E. Crotty, M. Carthy. ; DOWN PETTICOAT LANE j Our Babies “Physical perfection tests’’ are to be a feature of the Mother’s Welfare Week which the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union is staging between May 6 and May 11. Who is to be the judge is yet a secret, but he —or ohe — needs sympathy by the gallon, for the mother who doesn’t think her child just a trifle more marvellous than any other ever produced has still to be unearthed. But the tests will create wide interest; for babycraft is the science which has placed New Zealand high in the lists of the world, and, no . doubt, small people between two sum- : mers and five will be very much fiari tered to hear of their own bonniness. 1 The Flowers that Bloom Ladies of Marton seem to have done s.alwart work trimming and curling their chrysanthemums, judging by the show reports published in yesterday’s “Chronicle’’ which just shows you that all that wields a spade and deals i sternly with snails isn’t masculine. ; Women are often born gardeners, and Wellington City has the distinction of possessing the one full blown lady i landscape gardener in the Dominion , Mrs Fisher is a dainty but determined little lady, who took up gardening in her own country home to pass the hours away. W’hen she came to Wel- : lington she started off with plain and simple job-gardening —cutting hedges, i mowing lawns or pursuing snails as j was required of her. But nowadays, I she plans such stately gardens as Mrs J. B. McEwen’s rock-garden at “Tori onto,’’ which combines hollyhocks fifteen feet tall with the friendly flowers that can scratch a livelihood from a stone wall. Mothers’ Welfare Week On Wednesday next, at 3 p.m. at the Victoria League rooms, Mr Roydhouse, physical culture expert, is to talk health and beauty to the people of Wanganui. The lecture has been arranged in connection with Mothers’ Welfare Week, and the promoters are calling all hands on deck for what promises to be a very interesting item

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL. Madame Lillian Spillane is spending a holiday in Wellington. Miss Kona Ferris, Tawa Street, left by motor yesterday for Wellington, where she will attend the “capping” festivities. Mrs E. C. Earle, Nelson, is visiting relatives in Wanganui. Dr Mollie Christie, of Wanganui East, is visiting Napier, Lady Burdett and Miss Constance Burdett, of Palmerston North are spending a holiday in Dunedin. . The Bishop of Wellington was ia Wanganui during the week to conduct a confirmation service at Christ Church. His Lordship was in Taihape on Sunday and called at Marton on Monday on diocesan business, arriving in Wanganui on Tueday to conduct a confirmation service in the evening. His Lordship, who was the guest of the Ven. Archdeacon and Mrs Creed Meredith, returned to Wellington on Wednesday, Signor and Signora Marotta say farewell to New Zealand on Friday. They leave Wanganui on Thursday for Wellington taking the steamer on Friday for Sydney. There they will embark on an Italian liner, leaving on the 18th for their future home in Italy. Miss Joyce Hayward, who has been spending a week in Wanganui as the guest of Mrs Hughes-Johnson, returned to Feilding on Saturday. Miss Blackshaw, second mistress of the Wellington Diocesan School, Nga Tawa, Marton, is leaving New Zealand on the Tainui, which sails on May 9. She will shortly after her arrival in England marry Mr F. H. Attwood, who was at one time second officer of the Tainui. Miss Murray Blyth, who has been enjoying a tour of the thermal districts, returns to Wanganui to-day. Mrs Hugh Cameron has returned to Turakina Valley from a brief visit to Wanganui. Miss Nancy Chadwick, of Dannevirke, who has been visiting friends in Palmerston North, arrived in Wanganui on Saturday and Is the guest of Mrs McAneny, Nelson Street. Mrs Jennie Street (England), who is travelling in New Zealand, is at present in Wanganui and is staying with Mr and Mrs Moreton, of the Friends’ School. She is speaking for the Church of England Christian Endeavour. Miss Sylvia Wells, Castlecliff, is visiting Marton to attend the “old girls’ ” festivities at Nga Tawa. Mrs Coghill was hostess at bridge on Thursday evening. Miss M. McDonell, who was well known in connection with the Aotea Home (Egypt) during the war, has taken up residence in Wanganui. Sister Bakewell, of the Wanganui Public Hospital left last week on an extended visit to South Africa. Miss Laville, who has been spending a fortnight in Wanganui leaves to-day for Marton. Mrs H. B. Knight left on Thursday for Marton to attend the functions in connection with the past students of Nga Tawa. Miss E, McCullum (Inglewood), is the guest of Mrs W. Simpson, Bonny Glen. On Tuesday afternoon, Mrs F. Hutchison entertained a number of friends at a most enjoyable bridge party. Mr and Mrs J. S. Armstrong have returned from a motoring trip to Auckland. MrandMrs Collins are Christchurch visitors to Wanganui. Airs C Holyoake, of Auckland, is visiting Mrs T. H. Rice, St. John’s Hill. Aliss Evadyne Royle, Wellington, is the guest of her aunt, Airs Clay, Gonville, A very enjoyable party was given by Airs J. Carvel on Tuesday evening last to farewell Air and Airs T. J. Kennedy, who are leaving Wanganui to take up residence in Hawera. Aliss J. AlcCallum, of Martinborough is the guest of Airs F. McLean, Spring Grove Alarton. Air andAlrs Branon are Hawke’s Bay visitors to Wanganui. The many friends of Aliss Willis, of Greatford will regret to learn that she is at present an inmate of a private hospital in Palmerston North. Airs G. Bradhead left last Thursday for Christchurch, where she will be the guest of her mother, Airs Robert Anderson, St. Albans. Air and Airs Shield are Hawke’s Bay visitors to Wanganui. of the week’s programme. No admission will be charged, but any bawbees which happen to find their way into the collection box will be devoted to the Obstetric Scholarship fund.

IN THE GREAT OUT-OF-DOORS People arc always talking happily about the great open spaces where men are men—and women, presumably, are negligible..- Unless one peers into dim and distant corners of New Zealand, it is hard to realise that woman, too, has pegged out her claim in the open lands, and, if she is not carting home sacksful of nuggets every week, that she is at least maintaining a very creditable financial average. Of course, all the trouble with We Women started during the War; ask Miss Watkin, who is now in charge of the Girls’ Borstal Institute at Point Halswell, Wellington, but who, just after the War, chaperoned charges which some women might find much more terrifying than mere naughty girls—to wit, large, beefy, bony, burly cattle. Miss Watkin’s herd was sent from Holland to feed the faminestricken women and children of Austria, and she herself had the buying of the “cow with the crumpled horn.” She was also, during the War, in charge of the back-to-the-land movement which set so many English girls to turnip-growing and chicken-raising. Miss Watkin applies her knowledge locally, for outdoor work, milking and gardening, is part of the Borstal “cure,” and a wholesome physic which the girls seem to enjoy; rather an interesting fact is that Aliss Watkin, herself, as a little girl, lived in one of our very oldest Northern settlements—dreamy, old Russell. What woman will do for her pet Pekingese is a subject on which authors grow wordy, but there aren’t many women with such knowledge of doggy doings as Aliss Mabel Christmas, who lives in Wellington and is the proud possessor of a little veterinary college which boards over fifty dogs.' When Aliss Christmas took up her work, some few years ago, she had to interview practically every local body but the fire brigade to convince sceptics that a woman really knew what was what, and why, about dogs. But the kennels were started—big, lofty places, 12 feet high and everything is accommodated therein from the six-inch scrap of Pomeranian pup to Irish wolfhounds large enough to devour their lady vet, boots and all. Aliss Christmas varies her career by .going around such country districts as Poverty Bay, and lecturing to the farmers upon troubles and care of animals. There, too, she has left on the masculine mind an awed sort of impression that after all, women sometimes have sense. While we ’re speaking of dogs, one should meet Towser, who is the Irish terrier mascot of another outdoor woman worker—Mrs Bell, who, in Wellington, has for some years driven one of the heftiest ’buses that the hand of man can produce, and who has never had any accident. Mrs Bell learned her job as an ambulance driver in 1 rance, and her husband relates that when they required to bring two new ’buses down from Auckland, Airs Bell’s ’bus won the race. A large part of success seems to lie m getting the right idea. For instance, many women, if presented with a paddock covered with a particularly energetic sort of weed called “fat hen ” mightn’t think much of it. Airs J. A. Poulton, of Christchurch, used her paddock for the maintenance and care of penny packets of sweet peas, which started a little industry of decorating tea-rooms. Then a more novel idea occurred. She started collecting the seeds of New Zealand plants—our queer and uncommon vegetation, which commands so much intecest on the other side of the world. The seeds were advertised for exchange in foreign papers, and the consequence was that from Zambesi River, from the Swiss Alountains, even from Palestine, camo seeds of little plants which can be obtained nowhere else in New Zealand. Airs Boulton’s still flourishing “seed exchange” may be part of her credentials as the only woman member of the Nurserymen’s Association in her city.

WEDDINGS SAi ALL—CRONIN On May 1, at St. Mary’s Church, Wanganui, the marriage took place oi Mauieen, only daughter oi adr ana Airs J. Urumn, 1U x’urnell {Street, to Patrick, sun oi Air and Mr» JS. bmall, County Antrim, Ireland, Nuptial Alass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Lacroix. The bride wore a frock of satin, with frilled overdress of tull? and cape of satin. Her veil was caught up wild orange blossoms, and she carried a bouquet of pink and white flowers, tied witn long green streamers. {She was attended by her cousins, Miss Louie Mourie, m powder blue satin and georgette and Miss Joan ALourie in pink satin and georgette. Their head-dresses were swatued tulle and they carried sheafs of flowers to tone wfih their frocks. The best man was Air J. Cronin (brother of the bride) and the groomsman Air J. Aloune (cousin oi the bride). After the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents, when between 50 and GO guests were entertained by Airs Cronin, who wore a frock of black embossed chenill e velvet. Among the guest s were Mcsdames J. Mourie and P. Quinn (aunts of the bride), O. MeGlade and Aliss L. Douglas (Hawera), and Airs G. Allardyce (cousin of the bride). Later the happy couple left for Wellington by car, the bride wearing a frock of beige crepe de chine, with floral trimming, and a figured velvet coat of autumn tones with hat to match. They intend crossing to the South and touring the West Coast. On their return they will take up their residence in Wanganui. HATCHER—WILSON The marriage took place on Easter Monday evening at tne Knox Church, Gonvilie, of Dorothy Mabel, the youngest daughter of Air and Mrs A. F. Wilson, Gunville, to Boyd, the third son of Mr and Airs W. Hatcher, of Wanganui East. The bride, who entered the church on the arm of her father, wore a frock of ivory crepe de chine, the veil was caught in place with a coronet of orange blossoms, and she carried a bouquet of white roses, carnations, chrysanthemums and maidenhair fern. bhe was attended by Miss D. Woodley, of Auckland, wearing a frock of pink crepe de chine and tulle to tone. The little flower girl, Kona Boy, of Taihape. wore a frock of apricot chiffon with rosebud trimmings and carried a basket of flowers. The duties of the best man were carried out by Mr 8. Clark, friend of the bridegroom and Air J. Pound acted as groomsman. A reception was held afterwards at the Knox Hall, where about 40 guests assembled. The bride’s mother received the guests wearing a frock of figured crepe de chine and a fawn hat to match, while the bridegroom’s mothdr wore a brown repp frock and black satin hat. THE LUXOR CABARET. Among the large number of dancers who spent a very bright evening at the Luxor Cabaret/on {Saturday -were: — Airs A. Hatrick, wearing a draped frock of almond green georgette; Airs A. Clapcott, lace frock of gold and green; the Alisses P. Anderson, picture .frock of sky blue taffetas; A. Train (Waitotara), blue taffeta frock, Al. Train (Waitotara), shell pink taffeta and brocade; S. Richardson, white georgette ■with touches of black; D. Neumann, poppy red georgette and tulle; A. Strachan, flesh-pink beaded georgette; Lee Swan, white satin and frilled tulle; B. Morris (Alarton), lemon georgette; AlcNaught, almond green georgette and silver beading; N. Chadwick (Dannevirke), sky blue frilled tulle; R. Alorris (Marton), eau-dc-nil georgette; P. Wall, heliotrope lame and satin; M. Hatherley, white beaded georgette; B. Robertson, deep salmon-pink georgette; (Gibbons (Alarton), draped black georgette; J. Broad, white satin and georgette w r ith diamante trimming; E. Wright, tissue frock with fringe skirt; R. Blyth. Alcssrs A. Hatrick, A. Clapcott, Kempthorne, G. Blyth, W. Kellick, Lewis, N. Armitage, J. Pawson, L. Udy, G. Smith, Carver, ... Lloyd, R. Alartin, J. Wilkie, J. Broad, J. Gibbons (Marton), K. Scoon (Marton).