Vanity Fair

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 112, 13 May 1929, Page 3

Vanity Fair

“Chronicle ’ Office, Wanganui, lO. 1929 7he idea of a Childrens Theatre, which Lad)) Alice Fergusson has been instilling into the minds of Auckland picture-show people, is the best and brightest thing that has occurred to the “movies” for many a long day. People have maintained that the very young strenuously object to anything resembling a suitable mental diet, preferring rather the exploits of Dusley Dicl( the Ghoulish Gunman, or even the colorful performances of those screen stars who seem to thinly "Many happy returns of the day” the proper formula for wedding c ongratulations. But the truth of it is, We've always conf used suitability with stodginess, and have pre- * senled for our small folds' entertainment, things that wculd mafce a lesson in algebra lool( vivacious. Just now and again, almost in spile of us, a picture that children could really love has visited lhe screen. There was Peter Pan—g ay, wistful, elusive Peter, with his house built high among the swaying tree-tops. Further back, there was Maeterlinck's "Bluebird.” and few and far between would be the children wh o didn't love the loaves that turned into quaint little men, the pure spirit of waler, or the wic cal who was in league with the dark powers of night. And away in the very darkest ages, "Ma rgol” can remember one or two fairy talcs—- " Snowdrop,” which contains a very delightful episode of sausages growing, as a punishment, on the wicked stepmother's nose, and "Rip Pa n Winkle,” poor old Rip having a beard that could comfortably accommodate a flock of w ild turkeys. The movement is to be tried out in Auc Inland and, if successful, extended to other cities. Let's hopr has some luckApproving ly, "MARGOT.”

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Mr and Mrs E. Kuebe. of Kaitokc, left on Friday by motor for Hastings and Napier. Mrs C. F. Millward is a visitor to Wellington. Miss Edna Naumann has returned to Wanganui from Sydney, where she has been spending some weeks. Mrs IL L. Thompson has been visiting Wellington. Mrs Hughes-Johnson, who has been spending the week-end at Plimmerton, B returns to-day. Miss M. Glissold, of Wellington, is spending a holiday in Wanganui as the guest of Mrs E, Forlong, Liverpool ' Mrs J. Campion, St. John's Hill, who motored to Plimmerton for the weekend, returns to-day. Mr and Mrs I. Newton left Wanganui on Saturday by motor for Tongoriro, where they will spend two weeks. Mr, Mrs, and Miss Jessie Stroud left i Wanganui during last week for Mt. ; Cook. Miss Jessie Stroud is the schoolgirl who won the trip by writing a verse advertising the beauties of Mt. Cook. Miss Nancy Lourie, of Fern Flats, i Marton, is the guest of Mrs S, Brewer, Waverley. Mr and Nirs I?. J. Morgan and family leave Wanganui to-day for Auckland en route to Manchuria. Miss M. Hamnierton* A.T.C.L., and Miss J. Shield, L.A.B.* A.T.C.L., left Patea yesterday for Palmerston North to attend the Manawatu Competitions. I Miss Edna Bartlett has returned to Marton after spending several weeks ■ in Wanganui. I Miss Metcalf, of the Wanganui Girls’ I College, motored to Wellington dur- : ing the week-end for a brief visit. i Miss D. Hughes-Johnsf a, who has ’ been spending several days in Welling- ! ton, returns to her home in Gonville I to-day. ’ : Mrs A. Loft, of the Wanganui East j School, left to-day for the South Island, where she will spend her holidays. i Miss Ena Glasgow returns to-day . from a brief visit to Wellington. : A most creditable poem written bv ; Isabel \ eitch, of Wanganui, and entitled “The Biver,” was published in i an Auckland paper this week. i Miss Nancy Cowper has returned j from a visit to Wellington, FOLK DANCE AT WANGAEHU The folk-dance recital at Wangaehu j on Thursday night last was an un- ; doubted success. The hall was filled i by an appreciative audience. The ; names of the dances in the order of ; their performance were: “Black Nag,” “Tripping Dance,” Running i Dance,” 11 Skating Dance,” “Nursery .Romp,” “Mountain March,” “Trij angles,” “Chariots” and “Crested ; Hens. ” lhe children, who danced w’ith bare feet, entered into the spirit of the 'lances and acquitted themselves excellently, keeping wonderful rhythm throughout the whole performance, several of the dances being encored. The hall was tastefully decorated, and the pretty dresses of the girls, as they went through their various steps, made a charming picture. A little tot of four, attired in yellow, who danced all the dances with a good sense of time, came in for a fair share of admiration. An enjoyable supper was served in the hall, after which the adults took the • floor and with excellent music supplied 1 by Mr Piki Marumaru at the piano and j Mr Charles Larkins on the saxophone. ■ dancing continued till the “wee sma’ ; hours.' ’ During an interval in the evening Mr P. Hodge, chairman of the school committee, took the opportunity of thanking the public for their loyal support and congratulated the teachers on their success in training the scholars. Mr Aitken, the headmaster, in replying, said that the teachers were quite compensated for their labours, by the fact that the children so thorougly enjoyed the entertainment. The funds, which will benefit to the extent of £l5, are (o purchase a gramophone and records for the school. Mr J. Hannan’s donation of £3 was greatly appreciated by the school committee.

THE CUT OF OUR COATS Our frocks, says the lady Fashion, are important: but, as old man Winter remarks, few and far between are the times when the outdoor world will have a chance to notice them. Furs, gaiters and caps calculated to prevent frostbite are the regulation street-wear for the next few months. In other words, -hen you’re buying things, the first thing to buy is a coat. And just, how interesting coat-buying can be is explained by the people of a well-known Wanganui shop. The nicest sort of coat to have is, of course, a fur one. There’s always something interesting happening in the fur world. Strange and unexpected animals happen alo) g, and their skins leap into popularity among women who, before, wouldn’t have known whether their names referred to a Russian author or to a new kind of cheese. For instance, there’s mouflong: it is used only for trimming, and is rather a soft and fleecy sort of affair, which points to some handiness in its treatment, for originally it flourished on the backs of venerable old goats who browsed by the Chinese wall. Somebody suddenly discovered that they weren’t bad-looking, as goats go, and the pathetic consequence is that “mouflong” adorns our collars and cuffs whilst the unfortunate goat is left to shiver in the breeze.

Then again, there’s the peschaniki: whoever, before the present season, had hoard or dreamed of such a creature? But now we pay large prices for coats of silvery fur and learn, to our astonishment, that a little ratlike animal who once roved far and free about the country of High Germany has thus generously contributed to our cosiness. As for the things which have befallen the once humble rabbit—they are enough to make one believe in the story of Cinderella. He is squirrelette, he is coney, he is grooved coney, he is a hundred other things, all very luxuriouslooking and far removed I'rom the poor and lowly bunny’s brown coat. And another beauty about him is that he isn’t one half so expensive as his more lordly cousins, the musquash and the marmot.

Leather is still worn a.nd very trimly w’orn in winter coats, usually with a combination of tweeds. Never before has the hide of horned beast been so soft and pliable, or so fetchingly dyed. And if you’re going to motor, or tramp, or golf—if, in a word, you want to express all the great outdoors in your wdnter array you can’t do much better than “say it with leather.” But for rivals, there are all the slim and graceful little facecloth coats, some of them trimmed with bands of the reversed material, others with rows and circles of the finest tucking. Fur trimming isn’t so fat and opulent looking as of yore—often it’s used merely on the collar, and the cuffs and coat-front are left to take care of themselves. The cuff of to-day can be a quaint affair, sometimes square-cut, sometimes turned up into . hapes which were lost with the Victorian age. But the new collar is almost uniformly boat-shaped, its fur gathered under to a rather cosylooking neck-rest. MADADME MENERE RETURNS FURS WORTH £IO,GOO Our lady readers will be delighted to know that Aladame and Mr Menere, the noted fur traders, hav e arrived in Wanganui and commencing to-morrow, will hold their annual display of rare and beautiful Russian and 'Canadian fur coats, bridge and cabaret wraps, necklets, etc., with which they recently returned to New Zealand. The annual visit to Wanganui of Madame is always eagerly awaited, as she bring R to our town the very latest fur creations, over £lO,OOO worth of squirrell, mink, marmot, ermine, real sealskin, mole, musquash, pescl miltf, nutria, beaver, etc., etc., coats, wIH be shown as well as hu: dred s of caoaret wraps, necklets, etc., etc., all of which will, as usual, be sold under wholesale prices. The exhibition commences tomorrow in th e New Zealand Express Company’s Sample Rooms at 10 a.m. Special appointments may be made by ringing Madame at Foster’s Hotel.

LUXOR CABARET Among the dancers at the Luxor Cabaret on Saturday evening were the Misses McNaught, black georgette and silver beading, Nancy Cowper, red georgette, K. Lewis, black taffetas; E. Wright, cyclamen beaded frock; N. Wright, black georgette over old gold; C. Duncan, sky blue crepe de chine; M. Hathcrly, white beaded crepe de chine; A. Strachan, daffodil ring vclve' and georgette; C. Jackson, blue and lemon georgette; S. Richardson, black ring velvet; Lee Swan, white satin and frilled tulle; Lloma Swan, white satin and georgette with diamante trim ming; H. Franklin, black lace over red crepe de chine; D. Drew, lemon spotted net; M. Currie, gold net frock. Messrs. W. Peat, N. Armitage, W. Tripe, F. O’Neill, Nichols (2), G. Smith. Al. Carthy, J. Pawson Newton, E. Lloyd. WOMEN'S WELFARE WEEK

St. Paul's Hall presented a bright and animated scene on Friday afternoon on the occasion of the deservedly popular baby show held by tTie \v omen ’s Division of the Farmers" I nion in aid of Alothers’ Welfare week. The Mayor, Air W. J. Rogers, declared the show open and commented on the high standard reached in all classes. The Rev. B. A. Bianchi, Airs Leo Campion, Aliss Warnock, and Airs Alex SutHerland contributed most enjoyable musical items which added greatly to th e success of the afternoon. The most surprising item on the musical programme wa 5 a delightful pianoiorte solo , contributed by Airs btitcliuury, a little lady of 89 years. Airs Robo, the happy mother ot eighteen, and Airs Rockel, who is the motiier of twelve, were honoured with bouquets and charming speeches by Airs Wickham, president of the Women’s Division of the Farmers Union. Prizes in the two-to-l’ivc class were given to Aliss Aiargaret Campion (first;, and Master Douglas Rountree (second;. Aiaster Kenneth Hkilton was such an outstandingly fine child that he carried oil the nrst and second prizes in th c physical proportions class ironi five to ten. The prize babies who carried off the honours were Douglas Newrick in thc under two class and Dulcie AlcDonald, second. Phyllis Glasgow, Kclbin Shotter, and Katherine McCabe were very highly commended. A most enjoyable afternoon tea was supplied by the country women. Among the many helpers and interested visitors were Airs Wickham, Dr. Helen Deem, Alis Lilburne, Airs GRobertson, Airs R. L. Gibson, Airs McDougall, Alr s W. Cave, Airs D. L. Blyth, Airs Alullins, Airs Gibson, Airs Butcher, Mrs T. Wells, Airs T. Hine, Airs Leo Campion, Airs E. AlcDonald, Airs R. Campion, Alr a A. Sutherland, Airs D. Sutherland, Airs D. Campion, Alisses Pratt, Weir, Alullins (3), Scott.

■ DOWN PETTICOAT LANE Women at the Wheel. Recent New Zealand judgments seem to have reflected rather unkindly upon the woman motorist: but nevertheless, we possess ladies who have fairly won their place behind thc wheel. Nelson is reputed to possess a woman taxidriver —and a very good one, too, withal Wellington has its lady ’bus pilot, and Auckland has someone of thc same nature. 1 have met at least one woman who could do almost anything with the “innards” of a car, provided that one gave her time, a hairpin, and elbow-room, and another, an iron- d awed lady, who would cheerfully, without fear or favour, and with only one hand, spin a car at fifty miles an hour down the most dubious-looking lanes and highways. What the speed cops might have had to say about it, if they had met her, I don’t know, but she never had an accident.

The Day of Dolls. Do womenfolk ever quite get past the stage of liking dolls? Apparently not, as thc French nation found when it made quite a fat fortune out of thc long-legged, wicked-eyed ’ oudoir dolls which, for a time, sprawled so gracefully on every dressing table. But seemingly, the dear old pre-war doll, with her shocked bluje eyes and her golden curls, hasn’t quite gone out of favour: for within a week, two of them have been up for raffle in Wanganui. One was “Aliss Conference,” whose job in life it was to help the Women’s Division of the Farmers* Union on to financial glory. The other is a.

really lovely young lady who stands in the market with the idea of assisting thc funds of the S.P.C.A. She is dressed as a bride, and has the daintiest little ivory satin gown, slightly panniored at the hips. And many a bride made, of something more human than china wouldn’t mind such yellow curls to glint beneath her veil.

Top of His Class. A young man who has every right to walk with a swagger to-day is Air Kcnineth Skilton, who carried off the only inward in the five-to-tcn-ycar-old class at Friday's baby show. Young Air Skillton, who is nine years old, is one of ten children. But the judges say that jhasn’t prevented him from being very 'fit and very bonny in every way appertaining to a stalwart young New Zealander.

Talking Toys The small people of St. Peter’s Day School are ardent supporters of their own school, as was shown by the concert they gave on Thursday evening for the benefit of an apparatus-buying fund. The concert was fun, for who wouldn’t like to take part in a play called “The Toys That Came Alive.’ with all the Hans Andersen adventures that such a title suggests Miss Greaves, who has charge of the juniors, did some excellent work with the training of dolls and teddy-bears, and Alkss Hylton, 8.A., was responsible for thc rest of a dainty programme. A misfortune was the sudden illness of Aliss Greaves’ sister, which prevented her from bring present; but Airs Abernethy stepped into the breach, and looked after the musical part of the evening.

At the Jollicoe Club. Race time should be a gay time —or so say the members of thc Lady Jellicoe Club, who are holding a little al fresco dance and foregathering for [members and friends in the Club rooms • next Thursday evening. By some [strange law of nature, everybody comes (to town during race week, and veryjbody, likewise, woidors what on earth [to do with his or her evenings. The Club rooms are a cheery place, and therein thc lady whose horse has run three times backwards round the course, land then bit its jockey, will be able to find comfort ami sympathy.