VANITY FAIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 2

VANITY FAIR

HOUSEKEEPING IN CHINA A "compound" is a walled enclosure divided into courts with buildings. We remained in the American Legation compound three Weeks before coming to the Hills. . . . Those who go to the Hills live in temples, and our temple, “San Shan An,” ivas reads for us - W‘‘ came out on ponies and donkeys. Our Chinese head boy with the many other servants moved what we needed. The dishes, glassware, sewing-machine, and like breakable things, had to be carried by coolies in baskets. ... I never knew such wonderful servants in my life; they are quiet, gentle, kind and willing. Each knows his own work ar, d does it. . . . We aslf for something that we wish to buy; they will say, “No got; no have Peking; Chinaman can make." And they do “make,” and make it well. The paper on one of the rooms in the legation Was soiled. I asked if there were pieces like it; they looked and said, “No piece—Chinaman can make." An aged man came, looked carefully at the wall, and in a day or two I received a dozen pieces of paper about two feet square, decorated by hand in the same pattern and colours as that on the wall. When I first Went into my kitchen it seemed to me there was literally nothing with which to work, not even a range. I said io Mr Conger, “We have an empty kitchen, no cooking-stove or range—what can We do?” “There is nothing of the kind to be obtained here,” was his answer. “See the cook and learn what is needed and 1 will send home at once for the kitchen necessities." The cook was interviewed, and his reply Was, “All proper. Can get pans and all proper.” 1 looked in surprise and visited the kitchen again. Across one end was a piece of masonry about six feet long, three feel wide, and two and one-half feel high. The masonry had three small holes in the top, with loose bricks placed about them. At the front Were corresponding holes for fires. ... It seemed to me that no meal could be prepared on such a thing, but the cook an d the first boy insisted that it B>as “all proper," and the Work then begun Was continued. They have prepared many excellent dinners upon it. These Chinese have methods of their own for obtaining results, but their methods are not ours. At first I tried to have them learn my Way of doing, but I have already concluded to them what I want, and let them get the results in their own way; lam rarely disappointed. , In our household the head boy manages the housework- He brings me the expense account, itemised in English day by day; at the end of the month he brings in the entire expense account of all the departments. The other servants do work according to their grade. The coolies never give any personal service; the “boys” do that.—Sarah Pike Conger (Mrs E. H. Conger), in "Letters from China."

KATHLEEN MANNING. (Next Royale Willows). desires to announce that the winter salt I commences on Tuesday, June 16. Model I hats, smartly cut coats, tweed frocks, and frocks in other beautiful materials, (are all new and of the latest designs. '.Then there’s evening wear, charming I bridge coats, fur stoles and all the latI cst shades in hosiery, and you’ll be I pleasantly surprised at the reductions i made for the sale period.— (P.8.A.) FARMERS’ IJNION WOMEN'S DIVISION 1 Arrangements arc being made by the | Wanganui branch of the W.D.F.U. tc hold a wool campaign display on tin third Wednesday in August, details o 1 I which will bo available next week I Members are asked to keep the date it I mind. The tremendous enthusiast! I shown at, the Provincial Executive i meeting was very heartening. Mr War I nock has kindly consented to have I members’ subscriptions (2s 6d) left al I the shop. ; Obiter Branches I A splendid idea has been adopted by a few branches, of holding W.D.F.U. I stalls at shows. In the South Island recently some 25 branches of the division combined in sending in gifts ot | goods, country produce, including dressI ed poultry, butter, eggs, cream anc ; cakes, all for sale at the stall in aid I of the Community Chest Fund. A simi ■ lur stall was held at the Waikato Show. News comes from Christchurch that increased enthusiasm was shown for the i Women’s Exchange, and that member? from country branches expressed theii interest, in the scheme. Prior to the meeting a brisk sale of poultry and produce took place, and it was decided to supply still more country' product for the next meeting. Several ncv. branches have been formed in both Hit North and the South Islands. Inter-denominational Tea On Tuesday night the third inter denominational tea was held in the Y.M.C.A. These teas, which are held regularly once a month, are alternate ly managed by members of the various churches. Tuesday night the Method ists had charge of the proceedings, am their efforts were greatly appreciated The tea was held upstairs at 5.30 pan. there being an attendance of about 250 After tea the gathering adjourner downstairs, where all participated ii a hearty community sing, which wa: thoroughly enjoyed. A musical pro gramme by Mr Will Hutchens’ pupil was listened to with great pleasure, th< items being as follow: Soprano solo Miss Buckingham; song, Mr Blight; tin Hutchens’ trio, which consisted o piano, and two violins, delighted tin audience, and Air Hutchens himself ren dered a song. Miss Esnie Smith wa: the capable accompaniste. Mr Gorin' gave a splendid address, taking as hi: theme. “Leadership, Based Upon Char actor.” Mr Jenkins, president of the movement, in a brief speech, thankee all those who had striveel so willingh to make the evening the groat success it undoubtedly was

| SOCIAL AND PERSONAL. { Mrs W. McDuncan has returned to iTaihapc from a holiday spent in Auckland. Airs Roy Campion paid a brief visit! to Wellington this week. Mrs Billinghurst, Westmere, is visiting her sister, Mrs I’. Hunter, Palmerston North. Mrs W. A. Veitch, who has been visitjing the North as far as Russell, expects to return to Wellington on Tuesday. ! Mrs J. Mason, of Waitetuna, Waikn ■ to, is visiting Wanganui. Mrs W. R. B. Nicholson, has returned I to Gonville from a visit to New PlyI mouth. I * * * * , * Mr and Mrs J. Broad, of Masterton, are the guests of Mrs E. M. Broad, Gonville. Mr and Mrs A. P. Easton and Messrs Ngaio and Alston Easton, of Foxton, visited Wanganui on Wednesday for the Isiic —Adams wedding. Wanganui visitors to the Chateau Tongariro, recently, included Air and Airs A. Kellick, Miss Kelliek, Air R. Holmes and Air Al. Phillips. Air and Airs P. Harrison (Alasterton) and .Miss M. Harrison were hosts this week at a dinner which was held at Miss. Harrison’s home in Wicksteed Street, in honour of Aliss Rae Harrison ’s coming of age. Juliette Billiard, the drst woman ad-, mitted to the French National School of Architecture, has designed and organised a monster pageant, which will be presented on Al ay 31, at Rouen, France in honour of the fifth centenary of Joan of Arc. Dr. Mary Beadon has been appointed I from England to be head of the Lady Hardinge College of New Delhi, the I most important women’s hospital in In-1 dia, and the only one which trains women for medical degrees. Croquet Club Card Circle. The card parties held by the Wan- i ganui Croquet Club Card Circle arc proving very popular. At the gathering on Thursday afternoon eight tables were occupied and bridge and *‘soo” were played. Airs Fisher was the winner of the bridge prize which was a very nice fruit set, while the “500” game was won by Mr Wedderspoon, the prize, being a useful cigarette ash tray. Swimming Club Dance. The first of a series of social gatherings was hold by the members of the Gonville Swimming Club, in the Town Hall, Gonville, on Thur. Jay evening. The attendance numbered about fifty and a delightful evening was spent in dancing. During the winter it is expected that those social gatherings will prove very popular with the members of the club and their friends. Refreshments wore enjoyed during the supper interval. Card Evening. On Thursday evening the Castlecliff Golf Club held a most enjoyable and successful card party. Mrs F. Woods, Gonville, kindly lent her home for the occasion. Ten tables were arranged and a delightful evening was spent by the players. The first prize for ladies was won by Aliss Quarterman; consolation, Aliss Pye; first prize for gentlemen wont to Ah- Butler, Air Clark annexing the consolation. Aramoho Women’s Institute. There was a good attendance of members at the mooting held by the Aramoho branch of the Women’s Institute yesterday afternoon. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdanies Hazel tine and Howard. An interesting demonstration on raffia work, given by Mrs North was watched with keen interest. There is to be a competition held on mocassin making, and a prize has been offered for the best made mocassin.

grass miles ahead, which, when approached faded into limitless tracts ot sand. Damascus itself is set in fertile country, with flowers and fruit trees, I vegetables, and orange groves. The Holy Land The beauty of the wild flowers, acres : and acres of them, greatly impressed j Dr Gunn on the journey to the Sea ot 1 Galilee, one thousand three hundred ; feet below sea-level, Capernaum, and i Nazareth. At the monastery built over the Carpenter’s shop and Home of the Holy Family, the visitors were shown over by a cheery American monk, who had been four years in the monastery, which, he said, was itself a League of Nations, housing representatives of eleven countries, including New Zealand, as a Dr Barclay, from the Do minion, though not a monk, lived, for the most part, at the monastery. Jericho, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jacob’s Wall were next visited, and after many interesting experiences Beirut was reached, and later Syria, a beautiful spot, where the town, which was burnt and sacked by the Turks in 1922, has been restored. Dr Gunn, who saw service during the war, describes her feeling of sadi ness, when, passing through tho Dardanelles, the ship blew three whistles as a mark of respect to a French man-of-war, which, was sunk by mines, and eight hundred lives lost. The passen gers could see the Turkish forts, the beautiful monuments of the French, and, a few hundred yards further on, an imposing British monument and a well-cared-.for cemetery. Dr Gunn and Miss Herbert continued their journey from Constantinople to Vienna and Paris to England. Personal Amongst interesting people met on their travels was Flight-Lieutenant Gillman, who, with the New Zealander, Carr, in their flight from England to India, camo to grief in the Persian Gulf, when within a few hours of their goal. Their fellow travellers in the Holy Land were Air Rockefeller, grandson of the American millionaire, and his wife, pleasant young people, modest and unostentatious, and ready to be friendly. At Jerusalem they saw the i great boxer, Gene Tunney, “r. big goodi looking fellow, with a charming, attrac-tive-looking young wife, who is said to | bo very well off.” YOUNG PEOPLE'S PARTY Air and Mrs B. Hoar gave a very pleasant young people’s party at their home, Gonville Avenue, last week. A jolly evening was spent in games, competitions and dancing. The following were present: Misses Al. Alacßreart.y, Af. McDonald. K. Hoar, G. Meuli, N. Glenn, E. Beadle, E. Wilson, B. Hig- , ginbottoin, M. Turner, L. Broadhead, S. Meuli, M. Newham, J. Beavan; Messrs A. Furrie, L. Rutherford, Af. Broadhead, C. O’Brien, G. Craig, I. Wilson, J. Meuli, P. Afilnc, G. Beadle, B. Gilmour, J. Beavan and R. Riseborough (Napier).

f NEW ZEALAND TRAVELLERS ' DR GUNN'S EXPERIENCES Dr Elizabeth Guxin, whose useful work in connection with children’s health camps is known throughout the Dominion, left towards the end of last year for a visit to Britain via the East, India, and the Holy Land Dr Gunn, who is accompanied by Miss Dorothy Herbert, eldest daughter of Dr and Airs Herbert, of Wellington, writes most interestingly of her travels, particularly of the journey through India, Iraq, and the Holy Land At Agra the travellers were greatly impressed by the grandeur of the Taj Alahal, with its white marble domes, its gates of red sandstone, and its beautiful gardens standing on the bank of the River Jumna overlooking the city. Dr Gunn attended a mid-day service in the huge mosque where three thousand Mohammedans assembled for prayer. Jaipur, which was reached in a few hours by train, is described as the most colourful and fascinating of cities in the wide streets of which may bo seen donkeys with vivid saddlebags, camels, bullocks, buffaloes, elephants, goats, pigeons by the hundreds, beautiful horses and sheep—nearly all black. Here Dr Gunn had permission to go over the Alaharajah’s palace, which was being prepared for his coronation. The State elephants were being shampooed and their faces painted, beautiful crystal chandeliers were being polished and heavy State carpets unrolled, while, in the adjoining backyards, were awful squalor and dirt with dozens of j peacocks strutting unconcernedly about amongst the disorder. Amber and Udaipur At the deserted city of Amber on the top of a high hill, the New Zealanders travelled, per elephant, to see a wonderful palace of marble with ceiling of mother-of-pearl and many inset mirrors, reflecting the beauty of the carvings. Udaipur, one of the oldest and most beautiful of Indian cities, is approached through a deep cutting between hills and is guarded by a heavy gate. Nearby is the Palace of Jugonat, built by a former Alaharajah for his favourite wife and eldest son, as he was afraid his Hindu wife, who had no son, might poison her rival and his heir. The last ruler, who died about seven months ago, was very conservative and did not wish intercourse with the outside world. In his will he left money to be used for the feeding of hundreds of wild boars that live in the forest and are regularly fed at. 5 each evening. The new ruler, who is a cripple, is as progressive as his father was conservative, and is rapidly changing the ways of the city. Departure from India On reaching Bombay, where she stayed at a big hotel of 1000 rooms overlooking the sea-front, ’with its great gates built when India became part of the British Empire, Dr Gunn found that she and her companion, according to the law of Iraq, could not land in Busrap unless they were inoculated against cholera, so, during their stay in Bombay, they suffered from sore arms. However, they received much hospitality in the city and were able to visit the Royal Yacht Club, one of the most famous clubs in the East, the Towers of Silence, where the Hindus place their dead on a platform to be eaten by vultures, and the Swimming “Breach Candy’’—the Lido of Bombay. Heavy Sand-storms Embarking from Bombay, the travel lers visited Karachi and Bushire. The trip up the Persian Gulf was smooth and cool until a sudden sand-storm was encountered, when the ship anchored for an hour, while the passengers felt as if they were choking and the ship and the shore ou each side were quickly covered with white sand. Arrived at Busrah three hours late, the passport officer refused to allow the New Zealanders to land, because their passports were stamped “Persia” instead of “Iraq.” After much fuss, and a x’i.sir to the British Consul, the matter was cleared up, and they were allowed to land. Despite the dust and wind they visited L’r of the Chaldees and later Babylon, the Tower of Babel, and Hillai, and the City of Baghdad. On the journey to Damascus, where sudden awful storms were encountered, Dr Gunn had Her first experience of mirages—trees and water and cool green