THE SOCIAL WORLD

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 19 March 1914, Page 26

THE SOCIAL WORLD

Suffragette’s Malicious Act. 'The latest outrage by the suffragettes is the damaging of Velasquez’ famous painting “Venus a n 1 Cupid’ in the National Gallery. Miss Mary Richardson, who has been several times arrested and released under the “Cat and Mouse Act,” has been committed for trial on a charge of damaging the picture, in which several rents were made, its value being depreciated to the extent of £lO 000 or £15,000. Miss Richardson boasted in Court that she was not unwilling to die. She declared that she had attempted to destroy the most beautiful woman in mythology as a protest against the Government destroying Mrs. Pankhurst, the most beautiful character in modern history. The picture was purchased bv public subscription in 190 5 at a cost of £45,000. A policeman gave evidence that when arrested Miss Richardson remarked: —“I am a suffragette and I broke the picture. You can get another picture, but you cannot get another life, as they are killing Mrs. Pankhurst.”

The Spirit of the Age.

According to a London correspondent the modern fashions are the most bewildering medlev imaginable. Women in the past centuries bared their throats, shoulders and arms but never before showed such masculine tendencies about the nether limbs. This season’s tailor-mades express the spirit of the age—open throat, with softly lyinsr lawn collar, a touch of grev embroidery in the waist-coat jauntily cut coat, with an audacious lifting of the skirt. It will be no good being shocked at its audacity, for youth almost always is audacious. The tailor-mades are essentially young this season.

Is Bare Flesh Immodest?

Ethel Warwick, who apnears as Zuleika in “Joseph and His Brethren” ait Melbourne Theatre Royal, says that since she has been in Melbourne she has come in contact with a number of people who thought that in a serious play of this kind there should not be any display of bare flesh. “That is the blunt wav to put it,” explained Miss Warwick “but the idea seemed to be that those who showed bare limbs or shoulders should have them covered with fleshings. I don’t aeree for one instant with those who consider that uncovered limbs on the stage are immodest, especially when the fact is pointed out that the costuming in ‘Joseph and His Brethren’ is exactly modelled on that of the period. A bare limb is no worse than one encased in a fine covering of silk or cotton ”nder these circumstances. I remember a humorous instance of hvpocrisv in this connection in a production in London of ‘Ben Hur,’ in which I appeared as Iras. One of the ladies who had to come on with bare legs thought it Immodest, so she covered her legs with pink grease- paint to' make it appear as if she wore tights. If the only difference between modestv and immodesty is a coat of grease-paint,” added Miss Warwick, “that ladv was certainlv cutting it very fine!”

Tn Kentville Avenue, Annandale, and adjacent streets, passers-by in the early morning have seen strange sights ( according to a scribe in Sydney “Sun”). Gtos, in kimonos, shawto or coats over their nightdresses, kneel down on the lawns of tbeir respective homes and rub their faces in the wet grass. For all the world they looked like sun-worshippers and a reporter made inquiries. It was hard to get the young women to talk, but at last one girl explained the mvstery. Some weeks ago a local newsnaner which publishes beautv hints advised girls who wished to have a complexion of the roses-and-cream kind to rise about. 5 o’clock a.m- and push their faces about in the dewy grass. A fortnight of this kind of treatment was guaranteed to produce a skin like a baby’s. The girls, therefore, rise at 5 o’clock.

Worledge—Towle Wedding. An interesting wedding was solemnised at St. Mark’s Church, Rem’ura on March 5, when Miss Mary Hilda Towle, youngest daughter of Mr. E Towle, Epsom, wias married to Mr. E. N. Worledge, Fiji. The bride looked charming in a gown of while satin, with draperies of Honiton lace, and she carried a sheaf of lilies. Miss Sybil Paton and Miss Lorna Towle were bridesmaids both wearing becoming frocks in brown and apricot shades, and tulle hats to correspond. Mr. Roy Towle was best man. After the ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. W. Beatty, the guests were entertained at Medanga, the residence of the bride’s parents.

The marriage took plac? in London on March 11 of Miss Rose Henniker Heaton and Major Adrian Porter, one of the King’s foreign service messengers.

Enid Leigh Hunt. It is not generally known that a well-known authoress, bearing an honoured name, is at present making her home with her Husband at Greymouth in the person of Mrs. Derek Thornton, who writes under the name of Enid Leigh Hunt, she being a great grand daughter of the celebrated essayist and literateur, Leigh Hunt, a friend of Charles Dickens. Her two books, written primarily for girls, are entitled “ The Advent of Arthur ” and Hazelhurst.” They have quite a vogue in England and Canada, being in demand with such works as those by Miss Alcott and other writers for girls.

A number of titled ladies have appealed to the women of France to resist the immoral tendency of modern fashions.

Mrs. J. H. Gunson, of Auckland, is on a visit to Christchurch and the Southern Lakes. * * * «

“The smart woman aims to be up to the minute; the clever one to be a year ahead of the calendar. The whole art of giving dinners, next to food, is to know how to; pair- A man cares for what he eats: a woman cares what she sits next.”

Fall in Love. “Fall in love, and keep constantly falling in love, if you wish to remain young,” said D. Joseph Oldfield, in the course of one of his lectures on the “Secret of Perpetual Youth.” “There is nothing more important than this to p-event men and women from growing old. If you are married, all you have to do is to fall to love all over again with your husband o” your wife. If you do this you will never find time to .adopt the nagginghabit, and nothing ages l ; ke matrimonial nagging.”

The will of the late Mrs. S. A. Rhodes, of Wellington,, after provid ing legacies from £4OOO downwards for relatives, leaves £5OO to the St. John Nursing Guild £5OO to the St. John Ambulance Association. £5OO to the Y.W.C.A., £1 000 to the Wellington Boys’ Institute, and smaller amounts to other institutions.

Louch-Cave Wedding. At St. Cuthbert’s Church Eketahuna, the wedding took place of Mr. Howard F. Louch, only son of Mr Louch, Government engineer, to Miss Phyliss K- Cave youngest daughter oi’ Mr. and Mrs. H. Cave, of Newman. Miss Louch and Miss Frances Moss were bridesmaids, Mr. Lambert best man, and Mi. B. Cave groomsman. The Rev. H A. Walke was the officiating minister. Mr. and Mrs. Louch left in the afternoon for their future home in the Thames district.

“London Opinion” has the following.—Lord Kelburn. the new Commander of H.M.S. Pyramus, is the son of the Earl of Glasgow. The told Earl has been remarkable all his life for his indifference to appearances- In the' early days of railway travellinghe went to buy a ticket and planked down a five-pound note in payment. The booking clerk asked him to sign bis name on the back of the note. He duly wrote “Glasgow.” Raid the clerk bitterly, “I asked you to write vour name, nojt the place you want to go to.”

“When a woman is pretty she’s charming; when clever, fascinating, but when she is sympathetic, she’s adorable.”

TANGO TEAS.

During their season at the Opera House (writes our Wellington correspondent), the George Willoughby “Aladdin” Pantomime Company gave two Tango teas, one last Tuesday afternoon and the second on Friday afternoon. Needless to say, both were a complete success in every way, the theatre being packed to the doors and hundreds turned away on each occasion. The programmes presented were of an extremely novel, and entertaining nature. Many of those present were there for the sole purpose of witnessing the muchd alked-of “tango,” which has been the subject of controversy in all parts of the world. As is well-known, the dance originated in the Argentine, being danced by the Spaniards, and from there was introduced to Paris, where it numkly created a furore, and so quickly has the craze spread that at the present time it is being dahced all over the world. Punctually at half-past three the curtain rose to the strains of tango and ragtime titbits, whilst to this accompaniment floral favours were distributed amongst the audience by two ladies dressed- in picturesque costumes. After a lucid explanation of the steps and movements of the tango by Mr. Fred Oswald and Miss Margot Maurice, who are specially engaged for this purpose, both artists gave an interesting exhibition of the ■ dance, which was witnessed-with the greatest interest. The dance, as presented, is certainly very fascinating, the steps being executed with ease and abandon, but with a grace far removed from . anything approaching vulgarity. As presented by ■ Mr. Oswald and Miss Maurice there is an entire absence of that suggestiveness we have heard and read so much about. Later on both, artists gave an exhibition of the Argentine “tango,” which, although more, intricate and less suited for a ballroom, was picturesque, graceful and refined. .Miss Grace Palotta, in conjunction with Mr. Oswald, also proved herself a most charming exponent of the “tango,” her dance being most enjoyable. With the “tango” girls Mr. Oswald also gave interesting .exhibi-. tions of various ragtime dances, with, the absence of the ragtime shrug and bending back which is usually associated with this class of dancing. Included in the series was the slow and graceful “Hesitation Waltz” and the “Turkey Trot.” Miss Nellie Fallon, and Mr. Henri Marcelle gave a very fine exposition of the “Hacenda Tango J” Miss Berfiha Busch was also successful in a Spanish dance, whilst the Mullaney Twins scored bigin a ragtime song and dance, “The Australian Rag.” Miss Mabe] Batchelor sang delightfully a couple of songs, whilst Miss Carrie Moore received a well-merited encore for her solo, “Love Thv Neighbour.” Mr. Houghton was also successful in his vocal contributions. Much interest centred in the costumes and millinery, which was a distinct novelty. During the parade all the latest styles anil models of costumes, millinery and lingerie were exhibited, and excited the keenest interest, not only amongst the ladies but also amongst the gentlemen present. During the performance afternoon tea and ices were banded round to the patrons of the dress circle and stalls, whilst the dancers and members of the company ’eceived their friends in the vestibule. The entertainment was from Mart to finish distinctly bright, pleasing, and excellently arranged. Friday’s Tango Tea was, if anything, a greater success than the first one.

“Variety! There ends the magic. ’Tis the golden key. ’Tis the toy that amuses. Without it in the wife, the man is a Turk; with it, he is her slave, and faithful. A wife must be many wives. If she would have her husband’s love she must be all women to him ” —“The Valley of the Moon,” by Jack London.

A New Zealand mining graduate, Mr. Godfrey D. Doveton, died at Guadalajara, Mexico, on January 20,

as the result of injuries he received through being caught among moving machinery. He studied at the Auckland University College from 1891 to 1893, and spent the next two years at the School of Mines at Thames. He commenced his career on the Auckland goldfields, and afterwards spent five years in the employ of various New Zealand companies. Since 1900 Mr. Doveton has been in America occupying important positions in the mining world. He had a large circle of friends in Auckland and the Thames, and his death at the early age of 34 years will be sincerely regretted.

The audience at Melbourne Her Majesty’s are given a rather puzzling surprise shortly before the curtain falls on the pantomime “The Forty Thieves.” For just one second there is a “black-out,” every light in the auditorium and on the stage being extinguished. Then they go up again and the whole of the auditorium is seen to be draped with flags. They hang from the dome, the proscenium front, the sides of the boxes; in fact, everywhere, and amongst them stand out the Union Jack and the flag of Australia. It is all done so- simply, so instantaneously, as to add to the wonderment, and the incident forms a fitting conclusion to a chain of unusual features in the pantomime.