IN PASSING

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20246, 15 July 1937, Page 5

IN PASSING

j Notes and Snapshots “What are you doing?” said Felicity distrustfully to me the other evening when I was delving in a book halfheartedly. “Looking for something to write about and so fill the empty void that is looming ahead of me at the present time.” I said. “Yes,” said Felicity ominously, “if half the poor dears knew that the seemingly flattering interest you take in their new outfits was not flattering at all, and arose merely from the fact that you have to find something to write about, and if half the shopkeepers who see you gazing so intently and rapturously into the windows and wait hopefully for a whopping big sale, knew you were only looking for ‘copy’ you’d lose half your reputation for charm. ‘Such a SWEET girl, my dear, and so INTERESTED in everything,’ " she mimicked! ‘‘l hate to see the poor things so taken in.” I then suggested calmly that I would take a week or so’s holiday and Felicity could take over for me during my absence. Felicity considered this proposal thoughtfully and then brightened perceptibly. “Yes,” she said in a pleased manner, “I jolly well will. I can write about Mrs X’s heavenly new evening frock and what that dreadful woman said in the bus the other day when she was talking about you. It’ll be great fun. Yes, I could EASILY do it!” I went to the phone and rang James. Then I went back with my coat on, ready to go out. “I’ve rung Helen and told her to expect me to-mor-row,” I lied. “Oh, and Felicity, when you are doing the column, remember what you said about not making ‘copy’ of any people you meet, that’ll cut out Mrs X and the woman in the bus, you know” and I slipped out the door. The last thing I heard as I turned the corner was Felicity’s voice calling desperately from the window, “Penny, PENELOPE! you can’t POSSIBLY go, what the DEUCE will I write about?” I read in a book where in some countries husbands and wives seldom see each other before marriage. Probably that’s why it lasts so long, they don’t know what to expect! The social season seems to have begun later this year, but from now on the ball seems to be about to be kept rolling with balls and dances all the way. Golfers, footballers, aviators, old pupils and club members have all gone dance-conscious with a vengeance and it looks as if there will be plenty of work ahead for the committees, and also for the dress-shops for the feminines are very busy deciding what shape the new frock that is positively called for, will take. And the hairdressers are busy thinking up some new coiffures with which to top off some charming ensembles. And then there was the man who when asked by his fair companion if it wasn’t dangerous to drive with one hand, said “Yes, indeed, more than one fellow has run into a church doing it!”

The night always has a great fascination for me, everything is the same and yet so different. One walks along and sees ghostly shapes through the fog with long arms stretching upwards, and realises that these strange people are only the bare trees of the daytime. And then there are the times when the moon’s silvery radiance enfolds the world and even the most unromantic objects take on a beauty alien to their daytime guise. And there is nothing that makes one feel more humble than to see, on a clear, fathomless blue night the Milky Way, high and serene above one, not worried by a hundred little pettinesses of this earth, but untroubled in the Infinite.

Picture Title: “Age of Innocence.” Ah, me, one of the dear, dark ages. Tops this week to someone who had chosen bottle green diagonal tweed for a very smart frock and finished it with a suede collar and belt. Her bottle green hat was finished with cherry suede lacing and she wore a cherry cravat at the neck. Such a natty ensemble it was. And then I saw a beech brown velour coat with a lovely squirrel collar almost in the shape of a peaked hood, which formed 1 lie only trimming. With it was worn a beech brown halo hat and an amber scarf lent (Continued in previous column.)

a gay note at the neck. Altogether very tasteful. * * * * “The men seem very successful in the gaining of money, but they count in ten pounds, not in pence, therefore it is safer for the women to take over the distribution of the funds,” said a speaker at a recent meeting. What you might call through weakness to strength.