HITHER AND THITHER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 181, 5 August 1935, Page 2

HITHER AND THITHER

Bridge Evening. On Friday evening Mrs. Hope Gibbons, Sedgebrook, entertained a number of friends at a seven-table bridge party in honour of Dr. E. Topham and Dr. Helen Topham, who are leaving shortly for England, where they will in future reside.

Go 1 den Bule at the Wheel. The Christian Register prints the following prayer for motorists:—“Teach us to drive through life without skidding into other people’s business. Preserve our brake lining, that we may stop before going too far. Help us to hear the knocks in our own motors and close our ears to the clashing of other people’s gears. Keep alcohol in our radiators and out of our stomachs. Absolve ns from the mania of trying to pass the other automobile on a narrow road. Open our eyes to the traffic signs and keep our feet on the brakes.” Chuckles in Church.

The rarity of chuckles in church was heard by radio listeners to station IYA, Auckland, last Sunday evening, when the Rev. A. 0. Nelson, speaking in the Beresford Street Congregational Church, hurled a popular tally at the womenfolk in the congregation (states the Star). “At the last Lambeth Conference when the Prayer Book was under revision another victory was conceded to feminity by deleting the word ‘obey’ from the bride’s marriage vows,’’ he observed. “Then almost, in the same, breath—with much unconscious humour—the bishops uttered a prayer for the continued peace of the world. ’ ’ Women Under Nazi Rule. | What happens to women under dictatorships is indicated in a May bulletin of the International Labour Office, a branch of the League of Nations organisation, states the Australian Worker. It shows that in Nazi Germany the number of women students in universities was cut nearly in half last year. There wore 48 per cent, fewer women in law and education courses, 53 per cent, fewer in the study of chemistry, 58 per cent, fewer in geography, and similar reductions in other subjects. According to a Nazi law’ passed in 1933, not over 10 per cent, of German university students can be women. The Soya Bean. Much has been written in English papers concerning the soya bean. It is considered to be a magic bean. From it can be produced milk, soap, paint, cellulose, ink, margarine, hay, coffee substitute, glyco-’ • > for high explosure and many other things. It is one of the oldest foods in the world. It is mentioned by the ancient Chinese philosopher. It is stated that if enough of it were grown in that country there would be no need to worry about food supplies in -war time. England imported 200,000 tons last year. Habits and Rules.

< It. is disturbing to find that some of our habits are considered to be far from correct and when pointed out to us the fact doer not make us any happier. A visitor walked into the public reading room at the Wanganui Library the other afternoon and seating herself at one of the tables she tturned over the leaves of one of the journals. After reading for a short time something attracted her attention and she quietly sat observing the persons who came in to make use of the reading room. Turning to a reader sitting next to her she remarked: “Isn’t it amazing the number of people who have the same habit?’’ “What habit; wlfnt do you mean?’’ said the person addressed. Then, realising that the place was a. public read-’ ing room and that rules had to be observed. the visitor was very quietly informed of the rule of silence. “Yes,” the latter whispered—hut the whisper carried a greater distance than she intended it should—“don’t you think it would be a much better rule if those making use of the papers and books would refrain from the nasty and germ-carrying habit of moistening their fingers with their tongues every time a loaf had to bo turned? After the visitor left the person addressed was curious to find out i the truth of the matter and thought it would be interesting to stay for a time to observe the readers. During the space of an hour, out of the number who passed through the reading room all but two used the method mentioned by the visitor, to turn over the pages of paper or weekly they happened to be reading. It would be interesting to learn how many microbes

can be picked up in this way, and one wonders if in time another notice card will be. added to those of “Silence’’ and “No Smoking Allowed,’’ the much more important and necessary—in the interests of health—a warning to people of (he danger of this habit. PALAIS DE DANSE. To night (Saturday) dancing will be. held in the pleasant surroundings of the Druids’ jlall by the I’a'ais de Danse, where a programme of old-time and modern numbers has been arranged for the enjoyment, of patrons. The Palais Dance Band, together with coloured lighting effects, a good floor, good supper and Monte Carlo prizes, combine to assure the evening’s success.