VANITY FAIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 147, 24 June 1931, Page 2

VANITY FAIR

FLYING FISH. Il was a clear, hot, tropical day. The sea, deep blue, lay heaving gently. A voyager on board ship was standing near the bulwarks watching the water, when something passed quickly over its surface. It looked, at first, like a small piece of tissue paper, thrown from the ship and caught in a sudden wind; but no piece of tissue paper could travel as swiftly and as gracefully as this. It was a flying fish. Eagerly the voyager watched for more, and shortly afterward ten or twelve leapt from the sea and sped over its surface in varying lines of motion, so many shafts of silver over the bluest of blue waters. Some flew a hundred yards or more, tipping the wavelets in their court. e, and curving by right or left, their bodies silvered by the sunlight. Creatures of mood they seemed, for so me ended their flight with glorious irresponsibility, and threw themselves into a wave with a careless splash, w hile others, speeding forward with neatness and precision, passed into a wave like an arrow. Again, the voyager saw them in the late afternoon. The sun was setting. It had cast down the sea a path of gold that lived and moved with the rise and fall of the Waves. For a magical moment, the white froth that passed down the ship's side became a network of golden meshes, and the flying fish skipped playfully across the sunlight, etching little lines of dots across the gold where their little, gleaming tails tipped the sea.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Miss G. Adams, who has been visiting Auckland, spent the week-end with friends in Wanganui prior to returning to Palmerston North. Mrs R. D. Tosswill returned to St. . John’s Hill yesterday from a visit to Wellington, Mrs J. B. Black, St. John’s Hill, who has been visiting relatives and friends in the South Island, is expected back in Wanganui to-day. Mrs Stevens, who has been the guest of Mrs Bradshaw, Wanganui East, has returned to her home in Kakaramea. Mrs W. A. Veitch returned to Wellington on Monday, accompanied by Miss Vida Muir, who will be the guest of Mrs Veitch for a short holiday visit. Mrs Mark Hambourg, wife of the famous pianist, will arrive in Wellington on Tuesday next with her husband from Australia. Miss Mathieson, of Palmerston North, has been visiting friends in Wanganui. The many friends of Mrs K. Frazier, who has been an inmate of Belverdalo for some time, will be pleased to learn that she is much improved in health. Miss Elise Annett, who has been spending some weeks in Feilding, is visiting Mangaweka before returning south. Mrs R. Lilburn, St. John’s Hill, was hostess at a jolly afternoon yesterday given in honour of her daughter, Mrs W. Britten, Taihape. Mr and Mrs Hendry, of Bulls, are visiting Woodville, where they are the guests of Mr and Mrs J. T. Horne. Mrs J. B. Davies, Mr and Mrs Moore and Mr G. Beaglehole vrere Wanganui visitors to the Chateau last week. Mr and Mrs S. R. Veitch, of Hawera motored to Wanganui for a week-end visit and were the guests of Mr and Mrs H. C. Veitch, Gonville. Miss D. Sharpe accompanied them and stayed with her parents. Lady Norah Jellicoe, who spent the week-end with Sir James Parr and Lady Parr, left Auckland for Wellington by Sunday evening’s express. CABARET NIGHT A cabaret night dance has been arranged for Thursday night at the Elrick, and judging by the way in which tables are being booked the event promises to be very successful. The pleasing surroundings, good floor and delightful dance numbers played by Stone’s Orchestra will add greatly to I the evenings enjoyment. ! DANCE AND CARD PARTY Au enjoyable dance was organised last Thursd y evening by the social committee of the Upokongaro -fall. Cards were indulged in and a dainty supper was provided by an energetic committee of ladies. Among those present were: Mesdames Anderson, black satin; Farley, blue chenille; Ford, black lace, chenille coatee; Horrocks, floral velvet; Tasker, black silk; Moyle, black satin; Georgetti, black frock; Howard, black silk; C. Hammond, pink velvet and coatee; Casely, floral t ffeta, floral bridge coat; Newsham, pale green satin; Priest, scarlet georgette; Grant, blue silk; McGovern, blue taffeta; Misses 11. Anderson, black georgette, red bridge coat; Z. Anderson, floral georgette, black bridge coat; L. Walker. floral velvet, black bridge coat; J. Woon, plum coloured georgette; K. Jones, lime green georgette; E. Ford, pale blue lace, pink coatee; Crowley, brown crepe-dc-chine; M. Georgetti, blue satin; Z. Loveridge, blue satin; C. Priest, embossed satin; J. McLeod, flame satin and gold lace; V. McLeod, tinsel brocade a ’ black georgette; G. Rice, floral taffeta; <' Rice, black satin; Nicholson, blue taffeta and tulle; H. Drayton green floral georgette and coatee; C. Bartrum, blue floral georgette, chenille bridge coat; Shield, powder blue crepe-de-chine; M. Jones, pale green taffeta; L. Neilson, pink chenille, blue coatee; E. Neilson, flame taffeta; Glen, green satin; Nicholson, rod satin; McKin non, blue floral georgette; Messrs Moyle, I). Howard, J. Farley, F. H. Jones, Matheson, Lawrence, A. Tasker, LG. Anderson, H. Tasker, V. Horrocks, L. Horrocks, L. Walker, A. Wb-lker, I>. Priest, W. Anderson, ('. ('row ley, N. Neilson. L. Hammond, W. Casely, J. Summers, G. McLeod, J. Strachan, 11. Dennis, W. Hallam, G. Hilgrove, J). Dickson, G. Hamilton, W. Trezona, 1). Deighton, B. Wilson and many others.

LADY JELLICOE CLUB LITERARY CIRCLE LECTURE More biography is read by the public to-day than any other section of fiction, said Air IL C. Jenkins, when lecturing to the Lady Jellicoe Club’s Literary Circle on Friday. 1 ‘Read nothing but biography,” was Disraeli’s advice, because, ho said, it was history in the raw. There was no interpolation of the historian’s ideas and theories. “Biography should be read for this purpose,” said Mr Jenkins, 11 because the interplay of one personality upon another had often had big effects upon the after results.” Of tho most remarkable biographies in the world possibly tho Four Gospels stood out supreme. It must be remembered that they were the result of a reaction again't the orientation of the Book of the Revelation, which preceded the Gospels. Tho Gospels were compilations from f< ur distinct sources—by people who L >ssibly did not :! illy comprehend the quality and significance and sayings of their subject. Differences naturally occurred in these four narratives, yet each and every one portrayed the same sublime character. Biography, and particularly autobiography, was tinged with tho writer’s interests. The lee urer gave a striking interest of this fro. 1 Haldane’s Autobiography and Sir Edward Grey’s il Twenty-Five Years.” Haldane gives a long detailed account of the mental battle which Grey .tnd he experienced when the question arose concerning their joining tho Camp-bell-Bannerman Cabinet. The account is obviously sincere and accurate. Haldane was a bachelor, and so this conversation is fixed firmly in his mind. With Grey it was otherwise. He drew his inspiration from the sympathy of his wife, whom he loved deeply. Grey, therefore, dismisses the whole business with the casual reference that he went home, talked the matter over wi|.h his wife and decided to join the Cabinet. Tho influence of Bismark was also referred to, to illustrate th" effect of a forceful character on the trend of events. The peculiar character of the Kaiser William 11., was also revealed, and it was in 4 his that the study of Emil Ludwig’s biography was invaluable. It revealed the play of events upon the character, in this case the wretched boyhood of an invalid trained from his impressionable years to showmanship instead of to appreciate reality. The new method of the biograhy was a great advance upon tho old, in that the new idea was to reveal the psychological unfolding of the character and not a mere chronicle of events in the ]i n of the person from his cradle to his grave. The recently published memoirs of Prince Bulow were also read from to she . that able man’s estimn x o of the influence of personality on recent historical events. 4 ‘These memoirs,” said Mr Jenkins, u aro the most important that have been published for a long time. Bulow held a central position in world politics for a long time; ho was a level-headed re-list, wonderfully well informed, occup; ing an intriguing position of great difficulty, and it was a splendid achievement to have held office for so h\ng. The publication of the first volume of tho Bulow memoirs is undoubtedly the literary event of the year.” After t l,n address a delivious supper was provided by the members. Included among the many present were: Mrs 11. C. Jenkins, Mrs T. Graham, Mrs W. Gibson, Mrs A. G. Cross, Mrs Haszard, Mi , V. H. Hammond, Mrs S. Rankin, Mrs 1.. K. Morris, Mrs Bannister, Mrs C. W. Horne, Mrs J. Russell, Mrs Triggs, Mrs Scott, Miss J. Strachan, Miss Pcngelly, Miss do Montalk, Mrs Phillips, Miss Currie, Miss r,, ott, Miss A. E. Currie, and , Miss Blacker. JELLICOE CLUB BRIDGE PARTY The bridge party held by the bridge , circle of tho Lady Jellicoe Club last , evening was, as usual, most enjoyable. ( Bright flowers charmingly arranged, and the cheerful warmth of fires made the damp and dreary wmather outside forgotten for a few hours. A dainty supper was served by the committee. Among those present were: Mrs E. W. [ Merewethcr, Airs Oldham, Mrs A. E. - Kitchen, Mrs Collier, Mrs F. Lomas, > Mrs T. Graham, Airs Gardner, Mrs : Oldakcr, Mrs Alaekintosh, Mrs G. J. ; Adnms, Mrs F. E. Everett, Mrs W. ’ G. Scanncll, Mrs J. Russell, Mrs Dorum, Mrs Cullen, Mrs C. W. Horne, 1 Mrs R. Brown, Mrs W. F. Jarvie, Mrs Dawson. Mrs L. Paul, Mrs Cliff • Hammond. Mrs J. Blyth, .Mrs J. T. Worry, Mrs G. H. Swan, Mrs Gibson, Mrs Haszard, Mrs Tosswill, Mrs A. A. Barton, Miss 1.. Worry, Miss Shaw, Miss Jardine, Misses Murray (2), Miss Norman, Miss E. Alurray, Miss <’owan, Miss Willis, ‘Miss (Henn, Miss Parsons, Aliss N. McKirdy, Miss Pcngelly, Miss Livingtono and Miss Duncan.