Since social activities have not been sufficient in number this week to occupy us to the exclusion of all other topies, we shall perhaps be forgiven for devoting some s.: ce to the familiar subject of clothe in all ages, even in prehistoric it has been woman's habit to always striven to with powder and ents, In all ages, except the ent one, men have done th Same—so much so, in fact, that fre-
women in their finery, quently used to' outshine By now all the factors of civilisation have successfully subdued men into a sort of universal drabness. Their clothes are as near to uniform they can be without actually being identically alike. Any who had the temerity to appear in a brightly coloured shirt or purple would be regarded, not only creature vastly inferior to his, fellow men, but as an eccentric for whom there is no place in the world of to-day. Their evening clothes fare tout simplement a uniform, the only touch of individual expression being in the minute detail of studs ind cuff links, and even those must not hint at Thus men should we say. of complete it unostentation wit clothes, Ask any man why this is 80 and he will no doubt suggest, that with the bustle and hurry of the workaday world he has no time to think of sitch frivolities as colourful clothes; besides they would hopelessly impractical. Imagine travelling in buses and' trains in Knee breeches and silk stockings; imagine a taipan carrying on a business interview garbed in a maroon coloured satin coat... the idea is frankly absurd.
So much for men—now for women, Millions of women go to work in
way as men do. Thousands of day in pecinely, the them travel in buses and trains quite comfortably in silk stockings and brightly coloured dresses. The commerce in cosmetics has never reached such dimensions as it ho's now in the world of to-day. The dornments are not only luxer enjoyed by the idle rich; cosmetics fare no longer the exclusive property of the lady of leisure. In fact so
varied ave the preparations, Universal ifthe use of cos heated is the competition among th manufacturers that they are almost to insert the word "Society" on his, hoping (with creditable under standing of feminine weaknesses) that the implication will tempt every stenographer into buying them, All these proofs of women's determination to continue to be decorative fixe distinctly encouraging;—but herein lies the deception. There i fo we are told by Mr. H, G. Wells (and He ought to know)' a danger in the very near future of wor rolinguishing. all their finery just as men have done. All this business women deserting their boudoirs for offices, their mirror itera, is bound to tell in the long un.
Let us quote Mr. Wells on the subject. With regard to the trend of conditions he says "This opens prospect of women more gravely dressed and more gravely occupied than at present. Women may presently want to outshine other Women just as little as contemporary men. do, and that conception of Jewelled," painted and triumphant orgeousness which rules our own Social life now only so far as women are concerned. disappear altogether."
Such then is the prospect, which incidentally is also" the point of these paragraphs (in spite of your conclusion that. there wasn't one) The- prospect of a world in which women will all be dressed alike; of world in which there will be no Talicious glances: cast at Mrs. So-fand.so becatise her hat 1s twice as smart as anybody else's, a world in Which a. brightly coloured ribbon will be the mark of inferiority. surely: is a terrible prospect. One which should encourage every woman to buy as many—and more—clothes as she can afford; an incentive for us to continue to waste endless money on cosmetics what-lever the grumbles of the other sex may be. 'No more shorts and trou sers, mo more collars and ties for women! Let us, whatever the cost, {ace the danger' that threatens us, Let us cling to the old remedy of buying a hot whenever we feel de-Let the bills pile up -as if for no better reason defiance to Mfr. Wells and Not being brought up in Rotarian Rotary club and its Uoidgs Sudeing by its recent performances; i shou yi, and is doings. Juding manages to enjoy' itself at._A fortnight ago there was a gorgeous garden party in the outer regions. There T am told Rotarians ind their female belongings, with Plentiful' provision ofthe" even younger, generation, frivolled and Pienieked and dodged " the photographer with great zest, On Thurs. lay night as ever was, they dined fand. danced at the Columbia Club. [One of my young friends has told me that international understanding, isthe keynote of Rotary. Well, believed, that plenty of that Kind of comprehension had full scope and hothing helps forward international understanding so much as a duet repeated by. various groups various places at the same tin friend writes to me from Ind spite of Mr. Gandhi and the persistent way in which, for the last hundred years the "service has bee going to. the dogs" there, that de. Tightfut® institution, the Kala til holds sway in gymich and. of should add. that kala jugga literally' "black or davie place" and is the technical term for' sitting out places of which all dance secretaries ought to make a speciality. The description given, by avery. ribald major once was "one chair" and light with hangings noise-proof" I Uhink Shanghai would be shocked bat am not so sure, Anyway. Rotary Club seems to be well up in these things if some of the stories Jof Thursday night reaching me are true, I hope they will not filter to Bubbling Well Road where at a Jeertain popular if exclusive address that weird function "a dress optional dance" is to be given next week.
Meanwhile this afternoon the /Shanghaj Committee of the Overseas. Club are to entertain their friends in honour of the Prince of Wales Birthday—five di for the Shanghai in London, as the big. Shanghai membership (with power to add to its numbers by reference to Afr. W.J. Hawkings, the Hon, Secretary) shows. "Children's been arranged. Mrs. among others has taken practical interest. in the show and, of course the indefatigab hostess of the Limit will be at hand to give the whole thing the Pensable touch of organisation.
The Anzacs, I hear, are planning Jo novel entertainment in. Jessel Park for the actual day of the Prince Wales" birthday next Thursday. Australian filmo are to be shown, subject to the sad proviso "weather permitting", This "unhappily necessary" for really to" define the weather at this moment seems most as dificult as to. determine'the constitution of, the Chi fernment or the British 'Association, "1 Ought not to. make this political remark but Ido deliberately Because, during the last few days have strong' men who
the other the victims of some kind my colleagues falling me" ater of physical disability. So the pro-Speet of my having to do their work Jaz well as my own Decomes dismally Tess remote. One has. ramp, another cracked ribs, another has Bathed not wisely' bat too well Janother found. an oyster unequal find'another is setting riddles to the hospital. "And they" call us the weaker sex!
"The week's activities also include dinner party a€ Marble Hall with Sir Buy Kadoorie and his two sons as hosts. The guests were looking forward to dinner onthe. terrace, bat unfortunately' the weather. be: haved in go uncertain "manner all day that Sir Bly decided not to take tiny Hake and dinner was served the wide verandah. Small tables with "five people at each lent a pleasant informality to the party and a gramophone playing in the big ballroom tempted" the guests to start dancing before dinner was
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.