OPTIMISTS’ CLUB

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 4

OPTIMISTS’ CLUB

CHRISTMAS TEA SUCCESSFUL SEASON ENDED The Wanganui Optimists' Club concluded a successfi'.l year on Tuesday night when the annual Christmas tea was held, members being accompanied by their lady friends. Mr. R. Prince, president of the club, presided and extended a welcome to the visitors. The speaker was Miss N. Sampson, whose subject was Holland. Miss Sampson said that the Dutch were noted for art, one of the chief reasons being that the sky was immense because of the lack of hills. A feature of Dutch art was the brightness of the sky, Holland being a country of grey skies and misty weather. The people felt the need for colour in their daily lives and this was the reason for the growing of flowers and the painting of bright pictures. A copy of one famous, Dutch work of art, “View of Delft,” was among the works displayed in the Sarjeant Gallery. The Dutch people were rather taciturn, but when one got to know them it was soon found that they were very hospitable and kind. One of their greatest characteristics was integrity and they were a very religious people. They went to church on Sundays and there was no Continenlal Sunday like in other parts of Europe. The Interiors of the houses in Holland were clean and the brasswork shiny and the walls were of brightly-coloured tiles executed in attractive designs. The Dutch women were very proud of their linen and it was said that no girl would think of marrying until she had 60 sheets. Their linen cupboards were features of the homes and were beautifully made, some of the linen being very old \nd handed down from generation to generation. Miss Sampson was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Optimist A. Coutts. A brief period of community singing was enjoyed, Optimist A. C. Seivewright presiding at the piano and Optimist W. Hastings acting as song leader. Piano accordion solos were played by Optimist C. Dunden. Each optimist brought to the tea a present which will be handed to Miss Dexter for distribution among the poor children of Wanganui. Before the gathering dispersed, Optimist R. Prince thanked members for the co-operation he had received during the year, which had been the most successful in the club’s history. He extended the season’s greetings to members and their friends.