Between his two coneens a large number of Shanghai _musle lovers were given the opportunity of meeting Mr. Feodor Challapin at a reception given at the French Club on Wednes~ day. The affair was given by the Russian Emigrants Committee with Mr, Charles Metzler acting as. the]
an, The great basso was most obliging with a word for and even signing an nuto-
The Flying Force Just now the officers of the Royal Air Force "fying boats" are the centre of attention. Since their arrival on Wednesday they have been having a comprehensive "look-see" at Shanghai. They met scores of residents, includ~ ing a bevy of quite attractive young women, at the cocktail party given by Mr, and Mrs, F.R. Smith In their Hal Court Apartments on Wednesday ight. Dinner and later dancing at the Paramount Ballroom followed and included in the group were Mr, and Mrs. R. D. K. Silby, Miss Muriel Saker, 'Miss Audrey Fowler, Miss Ethelwynne Hawkins, Flight-Lieutenant. Murray, Group' Caplain R. P. Willock and several of the pilots.
On Thursday Group Captain Willock gave an informal fin in te Cathay Hotel grill. The- guests were Air Commodore S. Smith, Wing Commander Scott, Squadron Leader Bladon, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. McBain, Brigadier and Mrs, F. S. Thackeray, Mr. A. H. George and Miss Joyce Middieion. On that same evening Group Captain Willock entertained Valuable - Organization, AN ASSOCIATION: FOR 'BRITISH WOMEN IN SHANGHAI
(Contributed)
It may have occurred to others, as:
has to the writer, to wonder what chances of success there would be foe day in founding an Association for British Women in Shanghai. (The title has purposely been put in this way, so. as to divert the mind from its more accustomed groove in referring to the established associa-ion, so" generally known us. the And perhaps, in considering the pros and cons that would hedge around any such foundation in this year of grace, 1996, one of the conclusions reached will be the cer dainty that it is Impossible to. visualize a Shanghai without its" British Women's Association, To hundreds of women, if there were no pleasant rooms at the top of the Hongkong and. Shanghai Bank Building, something very—definite and very agreeable In life would be missing. Many use the rooms for a variety of purposes. Some play badminton, others give tea parties, with bridge and mahjongg, yet others: come to see the illustrated papers from home, and so keep in "touch with a life that has been left behind for a. time.
The library is a godsend to a numerous band, Rolling—bandages and making hospital supplies, to be distributed to British-staffed—hospitals everywhere in China, form an Activity that some twenty or thirty women would not give up without feeling the distinct toss in their lives of an outlet for doing something, for others.
From any angle chosen to regard the British Women's Association, It can only be said that many needs fare filled and that each one can reap what she sows in full measure, ly Days Founded fifteen years ago, as_an outcome of work parties at' which British women met and worked for military hospitals, the present British Women's Association has for its motto "Service to the Empire and to the Community." Ifa great deal of pleasure and recreation are also linked with the service, this Is no reflection on the good intentions of members, and one can readily be-Veve that in any future time of stress or emergency the call to render service would surpass all other considerations and that sport jand recreations would, of themselves, fall into secondary consideration, Mrs, D. MacGillivray, who has ever been a most devoted member of the Association, giving a great deal_ of iner time. and. energy' sri particular to the work that fs carried out" by, the Social Service Board, hut 'Aftet a Constitution ind bye-lates hod been' voted upon, it may be said that the British Women's Association gradually settled "down Into Its Stride, sections appealing to members with" "Varying. preferences taking shape, until the 'Association, now know It, meets a very: definite need in the lives of a great number of British women' in Shanghai Eligibility Considered According to the Constitution, women who are eligible for membership, must be British born British nationality, and must sullably introduced. To make it possible for every woman who is eligible, to be a member of the Association, the subscription has been fixed at the low figure of $10 per year. Membership of the different sections and of the Ubrary correspondingly low.
For those who are newcomers to Shanghai, or who have not hitherto considered the question of joining the Association, it may be as well to say that there' are five sections, in one or other of which it will surely bbe possible for a member to take pleasure in joining. They are the Aromatic, musical, gardening, needle-raft and sports' sections, each of which speaks. for Itself.
Dramatle programmes and concerts naturally give occupation to. the members of the two frst named, Members of the gardening section of only derive much benefit by hearing competent speakers on gar= dening subjects, but have the ure of visiting' many Beautiful gardens, a joy which those who have gardens of their own can just us easily share, by joining this section. Badminton is the chief activity of the sports section, there being a court at headquarters, and play being in progress three days a week.
The library contains some 1,600 volumes of current ction, and ad Aitions are constantly. being made. There are also n fair number of books ofa more serious Kind on its shelves, such as travel, poetry, ete. Members pay $5 a year if married fand $3. if self-supporting, and may ake out one new book and two Jess recent publications at a time.
To quote from a short history of the British Women's Association which is being published by instalments in the BW.A. Magazine, and written by Miss Phyllis Ayrton, the HWA. "like so many' moder' 0 Ganizaitons, came into existence as 2 result of the Great War. Anxious to render such help as they could during so terrible an emergency, 9 band. of British women Joined "together in supplying bandages to the military hospitals. The work done was very much appreciated and the feeling of ce-operation engendered was so valuable, that all who had taken part in the work felt that the disbanding of the group would be 0 cal loss to. the community. This feeling gained strength and" when the proposal was definitely made that an Association should be formed, to bind together the British women of Shanghai in the common aim of "Service to the Empire and to the Community," it was received with enthusiasm, Only Original Member Shanghai is a town where people come and go perhaps more quickly than anywhere in the world. And although the first meeting of the British Women's Association was held not more than 18 years ago, It is a fact that of the provisional committee elected to handle the first ig open meeting, only one member remains to-day in the city. This Is Air Commodore Smith to dinner at the Cathay. To-day the pilots are being entertained by Mrs, Liddell to timm at the Race Club, Convenient Quarters The rooms occupied by the Brit Ish Women's Association are situated very conveniently on the fourth Moor of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building, No, 12 The Bund, and the seereiary is on duly daily from 9 until 12.30 in the morning and from 280 until in the after noon, The rooms are kept open from 5am, until 8 pam. They comprise tea room and lounge, where news Papers and magazines are found, Committee and entertainment rooms, find. the secretary's offic.
While founded primarily for Brit~ ish women residing in Shanghai the Association has also a growing num= liber of outport members, who receive the magazine which the Association publishes monthly, and who are able {o take advantage of their member= ship-in a variety of ways.
Association Magazine The HWA. Magazine, which now in the tenth. year of'its publication, is distributed gratis to all members of the Association. Besides giv-Ing news of doings at Headquarters fand telling of sectional activities, personal notes regarding members fare published, as well as a variety of topical articles calculated to be fof interest to. members.
'The annual general meeting of members is held in March, and in connection with this meeting there has been held for the past three years, an Advertisers' Exhibition at Which members can see and try for themselves. the various products that fare advertised, in the magazine.
New Members Welcome Of Feminine Interest Feminine Shanghai is all agog over the coming visit of Miss Sally Dickason, noted cruise and city stylist {for one of the largest New York Shops. "Sally" as she is known to everyone the world over is accompanying her husband, Mr. Deane H. Dickason, noted tour director, on tis Far Har-ours Tour, and she is expected -in Shanghai on March 9, She is to make two semi-public appearances. On March 10 she will be guest speaker at 1 tea at the LA-T. and on the foliowing day she will talk at a similar affair at the American Women's Club. She is bringing with her the newest things in American fashions and she will talk and advise Shanghai women fon the latest style trends.
New members are always welcome at the British Women's Association fand as Shanghai grows and newcomers arrive to take up their stay here for long or short periods, hoped that no British woman will fall to avail herself of the opportunity of joining the Association.
In time of stress and emergency there Is added Incentive to join and "do one's bit" but it makes the task of gathering together many willing workers far easier, when such a time comes, if names are already "on the books."
In the meantime there are outlets for each one's special bent, whether it be in some form of "good works" or along the lines of recreational activity for which the sections are provided.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.