Vanity Fair

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 287, 3 December 1929, Page 2

Vanity Fair

“Chronicle" Office, December 3, 1929. The, great Men’ Zealand public is a long-suffei ing sort of affair. Except at election times, when it feels in duty bound to make a little noise—for how otherwise would one realise that it was patriotic?— it puts up with a deal of nonsense. And Margot, who the other night Was beguiled into going to a show where shadows on a screen sang a lot of very remarkable vaudeville, wonders whether the patience of the public donkey is so nicely developed in any other part of the civilised world. For instance, while al! English lords are not like the American conception of English lords—that is to say, they don’t invariably look like advertisements for So and So’s whisky, nor yet say “Haw!" through dense forests of white moustache—almost all American big business men, little, but no less businesslike, ladies, hard-boiled yegg men (that is a perfectly legitimate expression in New York), heroes all wool (and all woolly) and a yard wide, are exactly as We picture them. Al least, if they’re not, why is it we never get any distinctive variations of type, in those quaint entertainments which We’re so frequently hypnotised into viewing? But the difference is this. The American public, it’s presumed, puts up with the white-moustached English lord once in a while, because everybody likes to laugh now and again. kYould it be equally amused, or polite, if England somehow contrived to get past tlje Ellis Island hundreds and hundreds of films, containing hundreds and hundreds of the same somewhat multonish old gentlemen? Would it be content to accept them as a daily dose—something perennially amusing, ever fresh in interest? Or would it make a fuss? Margot somehow feels that perhaps the fuss would be the likelier contingency. And then, behold us, citizens, as Paul, or somebody said, of a pretty decent city. Such of us as haven’t passed the optimistic stage where we believe that entertainments entertain, go quite frequently to the movies, or, to be up-to-date, to the talkies. And We smile, and look pleasant, or anyhow, not aggressively unpleasant, when the same old hero, same old heroine, same old villain, and sam- ell plot, are ladled out to us. Why, and moreover, how long? Critically, MARGOT.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL. Miss J. Bosselman of Melbourne, who I has just returned from a trip to England and Europe, is visiting Wanganui, and is staying with her sister, Mrs E. Ruebe, of Kaitoke, Mrs C. H. Abbott has returned to her home in Remuera, after a visit to Wanganui, Miss Olsen has returned to Wellington. Mrs Gerald Avorn, of New Plymouth, is the guest of Mrs Hugh Greaves, Campbell Street Miss Trevor Hunter is a Wanganui* entrant at the Hawera competitions. Miss Adele Nicholls left yesterday for Palmerston North. Mrs A. Ashley is a Dunedin visitor to Wanganui. Miss Cunningham has returned to Palmerston North after a visit to Wanganui. Mrs Lynch of Raetihi was a recent visitor to Wanganui. Mrs F. Cunningham has returned from a visit to Marton, Mrs Hunter returns from Hawera this week Mrs C. Patterson, of Wanganui, is the guest of Mrs Don Watson, Remueara. Auckland, Miss Lorna Smuts-Kennedy has returned from Feilding, where she was the guest of Mrs Perrett. Mrs Boyle has returned to Wanganui, after a visit to Stratford. Mrs Fitzgerald, of New Plymouth, is visiting Wanganui. Mrs C. C. Jackson, of Masterton, Dominion president of the Women’s Division; is the guest of Mrs M. Bethelll Pahau. Pastures, North Canterbury. Whilst there, Mrs Jackson will assist in the formation of a central Southern branch of the Division. ENGAGEMENTS. G IL BE R D— COUPE. The engagement is announced of Dorothy Emily Gilberd youngest daughter of Mrs M. Gilberd, Castlecliff, to Burton Spray, youngest son of Mr and Mrs J. Coupe, Te Kiri, Taranaki.

A Delightful Party. On Saturday afternoon, Miss F. Pascoe, who is shortly to be married, was the guest of honour at a kitchen afternoon given by Miss E. Thayer, Mrs. T. Ellis, and Mrs H. D. F. James, at the residence of the latter, Swiss Avenue, Gonville. Miss Pascoe wore floral ninon with black hat; Miss Thayer, coral satin and lime hat; Airs Ellis, lido blue crepe de chine and fawn hat; Mrs James, navy mariett e with pumpkin trimming. During the afternoon, Miss Pascoe received a large number of useful gifts, accompanied by good wishes for her futur e happiness. Musical and elocutionary items were contributed by Mrs J. Reid, Misses James, Piper, Blanchett and Pascoe. Competitions were won by Miss Price and Miss Aston. Those present were—Mcgdames J. Loft, C. Graham, J. Reid, G. Hardy, W. Gordon, C. Piper, J. Richardson, B. Beswick, A. Flyger, W r . R. Day, W. Williams, C. Keating, H. Sole and Nurse Sherwin; Misses K. Manning, M. Stone, Kidson, M. Carruthers, JJames, B. Price, R. Taylor, D. Aston, V. Piper, J. Gordon, K. Blanchett, G. McDonald, and Aluriel Janies.

An Arresting Incident. Mrs J. Maher, of Taumarunui, who recently returned from an extended holiday tour of America, Britain, and the Continent, has many interesting reminiscences of her travels, probably the most arresting being an audience with his Holiness the Pope, says an exchange. This is difficult to obtain unless at the expense of considerable delay, but Mrs Maher was forunate enough to meet in Switzerland and America, Miss A. McGrath, who was a distinguished member of the Order of the Knights of Columbus. A letter of introduction from her acted as an open sesame at the Vatican gates, and Airs Maher was included among a number who were to attend the next audience. Most of the party were visitors from America. The experience was a deeply impressive one In silence the party was led through several stately rooms, only a limited number being taken at a time into the audience chamber. The women were required to wear black robes, and mantillas of the same colour. As his Holiness entered, the supplicants knelt before him, and as he passed round the room each one kissed the Papal ring. “Tn the most beautiful speaking voice I have ever heard/’ said Airs ATaher, “he spoke his blessing on us all, and we remained kneeling until he had left the audience chamber and we were given the signal to leave.”