Vanity Fair

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 3

Vanity Fair

"Chronicle" Office, Wanganui, Map 17. 1930. Supposing you happened to he walking quietly and unassumingly (as was your Wont) down Victoria Avenue, contemplating, perhaps, the unseemliness of the modern generation, what Would you feel if all of a sudden some blithe young thing in a tarn o’ shanter bobbed out from the stream of pedestrians, and said to you in a loud, clear Voice, "Well, good morning, dearie." To put it conservatively, you would at least be taimen aback- But if, three minutes later, some particularly cool apd aloof business magnate, whom you had watched with respectful admiration for years, were to pat your shoulder affectionately, offer you a match, and say breezily, "Cood morning, my dear boy, good morning," what would he the condition of your feelings? Chaotic, of course; you would think that after all, perhaps, your wife had been right about that new hat of yours, which she bought at a greatly reduced price at one of those bargain sales. She had always said it had an air—some subtle attraction. Personally, you had loathed the sight of the thing, but still, people did talk about women's intuition. , . . Well, as a matter of fact, your surmises would be all wrong. And Margot feels it her duly to warn the respectable citizens of Wanganui that at almost any moment, such incidents as she has described may become part and parcel of their daily lives. Have you never heard of the Good Morning Club? List, then. The Cood Morning Club is a Wellington institution; anyone whatsoever, irrespective of age, sex and colour, can become a member. The thing has unlimited possibilities. And the procedure is simple. All you need to do is to take a mighty oath, in any language, declaring that herinafter, on every day of the year, up till 10 a.m., you will say "Cood morning" to everyone you meet, regardless of whether you’ve ever seen them in your life before, or not. ft is brilliant. Quantities and quantities of Government servants, who naturally realise that life might well be a bit brighter than it is, have joined up. Wellington, at the present moment, may be said to be positively overloaded with cheer germs—an epidemic which is baffling the medical world, and causing the police force, individually and collectively, to scratch its head. Poems have been written, describing how the hue of a man’s mental outlook gradually changes from a bilious yellow to soft, deep rose—in fact, some have even got as far as purple— as wife, child, housemaid, butcher, baker, candlestick maker, creditor, debtor, lawyer, clergyman and innocent bystander one and all volunteer their cheery "Cood morning.” Margot feels that this sort of thing is needed in Wanganui; if nobody else starts a branch of the Cood Morning Club within a year, she rather thinks that she might have a try at it herself. The thing's quite easy once it’s begun. Smiles, on the best authorities, are more catching than sneezes. Anyhow, we shall see. Threateningly, MARCOT.

TstAXTI HAPPY RETURNS Yesterday Mrs Jessie Watt, one of Wanganui’s oldest and most honoured citizens, celebrated her 89th birthday. For many years Mrs Watt occupied a premier position amongst Wanganui’s vocalists, taking the leading soprano part in oratorio and other productions by local musical societies, while her rich and powerful voice was frequently heard on the concert platform. Hundreds ofpupils for the piano also passed through her hands; indeed, it is only within the last two or three years that Mrs Watt has relinquished teaching the favourite instrument. Old friends will unite in wishing her many happy returns of the day.

PETIT POINT FINE EXAMPLES. Both Princess Mary and Lord Harewood do petit point, and have examples of their work at Chesterfield House and at Goldsborough. The Princess finds it a delightful occupation for the longer winter evenings in the country. After a full day’s hunting she and her husband often settle down on either ’ side of a huge log fire in her comfortable “blue’’ boudoir, to work at panels for footstools, a screen, or a chair seat. The Duchess of York, on the other hand prefers quite plain sewing. Little linen rompers which Princess Elizabeth wears in her nursery are made by her mother, and sewn with the daintiest of stitches, and it is said that the Duchess prefers the finest of darning to any form of needlework.

FLOWER LUCK POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. The conviction that it is unlucky to take may, broom, or heather indoors, springs from the fact that to pick these flowers was considered tantamount to stealing. White was a sacred colour, denoting purity, and may was the first spring glory of the hedgerows, shining white after winter’s darkness. To pluck this precious emblem of spring was said to be robbing the hedgerow, and nature would take a terrible vengeance on the thief who concealed her riches in his house. Broom was the flower of the common, therefore the property of the community, and woe betied any thjef who sought to rob the common, and to put public property in his own house.

But white heather was exempt from this law; in fact, white heather was peculiarly lucky to the possessor.

PHEASANTS IN SEASON * SOME PRACTICAL HINTS According to the classical legend, this handsome member of the “game” world was first discovered on the banks of the Phasis by the Argonauts. It has now become a universal favourite, and-figures in the menus in most parts of the world, but English housewives do not always make the most of this delicious game. Long keeping improves the flavour, and if a pheasant is eaten too fresh it loses its peculiar and natural taste. Much ca* be done by methods of cooking with truffles to stuff, and wine to baste, but if pheasants are hung until the blood drops from the bill—generally a week, or longer, in very cold weather, by then the flesh will be white, tender to eat, and of rLh flavour, and require only frequent basting, and the addition of a good gravy and bread sauce, to make it delicious. Although the hen birds are generally of more delicate flavour, both hen and cock birds, if eaten too soon after killing, will have no more flavour in them than an ordinary chicken. When stuffed and roasted a pheasant should be dished up on toasted bread, to catch any drippings, and slices of bitter orange often are served, in addition to bread sauce and gravy. In ancient days it was the custom to replace tail-feathers, and the wings and head, with the beautiful plumage, but even the tail-feathers are often entirely omitted nowadays, the bird being trussed, as other game, and garnished with watercress. Delicious salmis, souffles, pies, cutlets, croquettes, salads and creams, can be made from cooked pheasant, so that it need not be an extravagant item on the menu.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Mrs W. N. Watson’s family, Manga - weka are spending a holiday in Wellington. Miss Bertha Thompson, of Auckland, is staying with Mrs Brice, Marton. Miss Goldingham, of Palmerston North, is the guest of Mrs ’l. D. Robin. Miss Miles, of Wellington, is the guest of Mrs M. Earle, Wicksteed Street. Misses Gwen and Olwyn Rice, who have been the guests of Mrs Butement, Hunterville, for the Butement—Beale wedding, have returned to Wanganui. Miss E. Paton is spending a holiday in Palmerston North. Miss McCarthy is visiting friends at “Carnarvon,” Rangitikei. Miss Gwen Wilkinson, who has been staying with Mrs McGregor, is returning to Christchurch in a few days. **. * * Mr and Mrs V. Winter have returned to their home a Manaia. Mr and Airs Gordon Mcßeth, who went to Palmerston North last week, have returned to Wanganui. • • • • Mrs Hughes-Johnston and Miss Audrey Hughes-Johnson have been visiting Palmerston North. Madame Ivo Symes is visiting Palmerston North. • • • • Airs D. Cameron is a Plimmerton visitor to Wanganui. Alesdaines W. Hunter, G. R, Crammond, H. R. Jones, H. Hulme, Vernon, and Miss K. Nelson, visited Palmerston North for the competitions festival. WEDDINGS

BUTEMENT—BEALE

On the evening of May 14 the wedding was solemnised at the church of St. John, the Baptist, Hunterville, of Aline, third daughter of Mr and Airs F. J. Butement, Rata-iti, Hunterville, to Thomas Bernard, elder son of Air and Mrs A. Beale, of Hamilton. The bride, who entered the church on the arm of her father, was gowned in a long flowing frock of ivory georgette with embroidered veil and orange blossoms, and carried a shower bouquet of chrysanthemums, freezias and maiden-hair fern. She was attended by her sister, Bonna, who wore a ankle-length frock of pale pink frilled georgette, with a black satin felt hat, turned up in front with a diamante brooch, and carried a bouquet of pale pink chrysanthemums and asparagus fern. Miss Bee Salmoo, who acted as flower-girl, wore a pale pink Kate Greenaway frock, and a headdress of pale pink flower and leaves made in the style of a Juliet cap. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr eGoffrey Beale, of Wairoa, brother of the bridegroom. After the wedding a reception was held at Rata-iti, where the guests were received by the bride’s mother, in a frock of navy blue georgette and lace with a wine coloured hat and bouquet to tone. Mrs Beale, mother of the bridegroom, was attired in a dahlia-coloured frock of georgette and lace. . The happy couple left for the north, the bride wearing a silk jumper suit of green and oyster colour with a green capelin felt hat.

GOLF PLAYERS The following players journeyed from Palmerston North yesterday to play against the Wanganui Ladies’ Club, on the Belmont links for the Rapley Cup: Mrs Williams, Aliss Fin, Mrs Rutherford, Mrs McCovell, Airs Raven, Mrs Cooper, Mrs Reid, Aliss McFarlane, Tliss Garner, Mrs Young, Miss Cooke, Miss Cunningham, Miss D. McFarlane, Aliss Rapson, Miss Guy, Mrs Scott, Mrs Trevor, Mrs Grace, Mrs Gaisford, Miss Harris, Airs Stimes, Mrs Innes, Mrs Mullins, Mrs Ekstedt.

DOWN PETTICOAT LANE.

The Flax Time. It’s the season when the flax is dried, and all along the Alanawatu roads just now, the fences are laden with great bundles of bleaching flax. It’s remarkable, however, how much of the land recently used for flax cultivation has been filled and turned into grazing country. Not since the days of the Spanish American War has the flax industry made anything in the nature of giant strides, though it is one of the earliest products of New Zealand, and traders turned a pretty penny in the good old times of the adventurous little transTasman boats, where a man w’ho came on business to New Zealand might make his fortune, o.r, conversely, might provide dinner for some unusually energetic chief. The flax industry has associations so deeply rooted that it would be more than a pity if it ever quite lost its foothold. Since the time when Afaori women dyed their flaxen mats in thermal mud, many quaint things have happened, but the birds still enjoy dipping their wee heads into the scarlet flax flowers at honey time, and there’ll be a note lost from New Zealand birdsong if ever the flax should go. All Alive Oh! On shallow, rocky parts of the beaches, one can sometimes see the quaint figures of Maori women, their bright-coloured frocks kilted up, their bare, brown legs braving the wintry blast and the attentions of the übiquitous sandfly. They are always hunting for something among the rocks, and if 'you want to know what that something iis, it’s “cockles and mussels, all aliveoh! ” At first glance, the cockle isn’t a very encouraging creature, and when you see it, tightly curled up in its little grey shell, you’d hardly take it for somebody’s tasty supper. Mussels look, to the uninitiated, even more clammy and uninspiring, but veterans prefer them even to oysters, and can praise go higher. Incidentally, I believe pearls are sometimes found in mussel shells, but never heard of anyone who got rich quick that way.

DELIGHTFUL PARTY On Thursday evening, Aliss Audrey Hughes-Johnson was the guest of honour at a delightful party given hy T. Hine and her daughters Misses S. C. and Una Hine. Airs Hine received her guests wearing a black lace and georgette frock; Aliss Una Hine blue satin, and Miss C. Hine pale lavender beaded frock. Aliss Audrey Hughes-Johnson wore a charming frock of cameo pink satin and georgette. The drawing room was festive with autumn leaves and pink chrysanthemums and the guests present were: Alesdames Brodie, Walker, Scannel, Diddlo (Palmerston North), and Mrs Keesing. Misses D. HughesJohnson, D. Glasgow (Turakiua), A. Strachan, D. Neuman, Al. Beale, G. Williams, R. and N. Alcßeth; Messrs Al. Mcßea, G. Saunders, Walker, Hanahan, A. Wallace, Alorton Jones, V. Kellick, S. Patterson, J. Pawson, V. Clay, J. Trownson, E. and R. Hine.

CROQUET CLUB EVENING A very pleasant evening was spent in the St. Barnabas Hall, Durie Hill, to raise funds for the Durie Hill Croquet Club. The hall was prettily decorated with croquet colours, croquet balls and mallets; also streamers to match. Alusical items were given by Alesdames Wright, Senior, Partridge, Brown, Miss Alurray and Air S. Kendall, with Airs S. Kendall accompanist. The Monte Carlo dance was won by Aliss Gillies and Mr Nelson. Mrs Webber won a handsome box of chocolates. Among those present were: Air and Airs Tye; Mr and Airs Grindly; Air and Airs Burt, Air and Airs Blue, Air and Airs Wansborough; Mcsdames Dixon, Alcrgan, Freeman, Follett, Freethy, Bailey, Houghton, Grace; Misses Hamilton, Alortland, Follett, Singleton, Grace, Haywari}, Silcock, Higgie, Greig, Toombs, Duncan (2), Gillies; Messrs R. Stead, Brown, L. Atkinson, Hayward, Pole, Nelson, Alorgan, Bourgeios.

IN CHARGE The appointment of Aliss L. B. Alorris as head of the Friern Central Mixed School is a new departure in London educational circles. Alen teachers made strong protests w’hen her appointment was announced, as hitherto only men had been given charge of central mixed schools, but a nember of the committee stated that it was time the experiment of giving one of these appointments to a woman was tried. DEVOTION TO DUTY Crippled for thirteen years, Aliss Alice Cottingham is the well-loved headmistress of a school in Papua. From her invalid’s chair she teaches and controls the pupils, and has done much of the translation work of the mission in spite of the fact that her right arm is partially paralysed. A UNIQUE HONOUR For the first time in history a woman artist has been invited to paint a portrait of the Pope. She is the German painter, Dr. Elizabeth Kelmer Dunkelsbuhler, of Berlin, whose portrait studies are well known in the art world.