1930-06-21 — Page 8

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THE CHINA MAIL.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1930.

1

A The WOMAN'S Page t

'ROMANCE NOT DEAD'

1

Modern Youth Finds Champion.

Is the flowery formal proposal of last century becoming a myth? Are the casual, practical young things of the present day relegat- ing it to the bandboxes of mid- Victorianism with other supposed trivialities; and, if so, are they the Josers? Provocative questions ali. Asked recently through the columns of a London newspaper by a girl who had had a stagger- ingly casual proposal, they result- ed in a ten days controversy, made up of opinions and naive little tales of how he proposed." The writer wanted to compare hotes. She felt that she had been cheated of something, and wondered whe- ther other folks' proposals were as depressingly unromantic 23 her

www.

Un

First on the scene was an en- thusiastic pro-modern. Romance is not dead, said he. The apparent ensualness of young people hides a true and tender devotion-the basis of real romance. All the much-talked-of knee bending, hand kissing and resounding phrases of last century were a meaningless copvention. Marriage should be Framed more than emotional ecstasy induced by Viennese waltzes and 22 certain decorus · propinquity in a conservatory. He was all in favour of the supposed- ly prosaic proposal of to-day. Given a languorous waltz and a

dinner, good

he anid, presentable young person of the opposite sex seemed 1109- sible. Study the Bome per- son in the cold light of reason. in a packed tram car, or watch her temper during the hold-up on the tenth tee, and then decide whe- ther this is the face one wants to sce, not now and again at the cinema, or in the ballroom, but over a series of drab breakfasts.

any

Taking a wider viewpoint, Re- becca West, the novelist, consider- ed that the modern proposal was a more serious business than in former generations. The respon. sibilities of marriage were much hoavior, the material considerations 80 much niore independent, that two people

30

had to be very much in love before they cane to the point of proposing.

Another

correspondent held

thát the so-called change from the formal "Will you be mine?" with its accompanying verbosity, to the modern casual, "What about it?" was largely iranginary, and that the young things of the eighteenth and aineteenth century probably

The Inside Fashion Story of the 1930 Mode.

Newest ideas in silhouette-newest fabrics-newest

details are featured in these latest gowns.

Kasha coat at left features unusual cupe bordered with

galyak and draped over shoulder. Black and colours.

On right, elaborated costume sull of basket weave fabric with blouse effect crepe.

Smartness is not merely a matter of being perfectly gowned. It requires smart accessories like these for indi viduality.

Wide brimmed hat of bnkou drooping at right where it is ornamented with chic how of two-tone satin ribizon.

All the chic and becomingness of the 1930 mode in 194 most wearable form is reflected in these smart models. At left-dress of flat crepe in black or colours with draped collar, bows, and shirring at waist to give semi-Princess effect. That on the right also of flat crepe in black, featur- ing bows, flare and semi-Princess lines.

Accessories as sketched include, bag of suede in the new elongated pouch that follows longer dress lines, metal·

frame.

Gloves of French kid with new longer wrist and brace- let strap of harmonizing colour.

Scarf of heavy crepe de chine gally patterned to give. colour and softness to tailored suit or coat.

proposed in just as simple and BATHED IN BOWL.

to

human a manner as their twentieth century prototypes. The masters of literature, he said; were blame for clothing their puppets with magnificence of phrase and sloquence of diction.

Housekeeping in Japan.

Sydney, May 19. Not the least amusing part of

"Small Japanese bungalow In the controversy was the string of new suburb, modern conveniences, anonymous confidences from men electric light, paper-panelled and women telling how the ques- rooms, handy built-in cupboards, tion had been "popped" in their Japanese bathroom, well laid-out

L

particular caso.

"He was a Royal Air Force officer," wrote one woman, "and proposed in a taxi-cab on the way home from a night club. I said 'No' He had only known me five hours, and it was then 5.30 am. The same morning, at 9.30, he flew low over the house at which I was staying and accurately dropped a message stating, I am going to marry you in 14 days'--and he did!"

"Ours was love at first sight," sald another." "We met at a dance, and when handing me an ico, he clumsily allowed some to fall on my dress. Blushing violently, he said, 'Never mind: when we are married I'll buy you a new › one, Will you let me?"

"We were cast for the role of lovers in an amateur theatrical production,"

‚" confided a third. During the performance he took my hand affectionately, and slip ped on to my finger what I thought was a cheap paste ring. When the show was over, I held out the re- hearsal gift, and said, in loud and dramatic tones, "Take back thy foolish baubla; would at insult me with sixpenny Joo-els? In a voice broken with stage sobs, he said, Juliet beloved, dost despise my humble offeringslin). Then softly;

Won't you keep it, old thing?"

the mi

416 to who, sen

garden."

This might have been a nutshell advertisement of the wee house,,

For the Beach.

Ideal pyjamas

for the benth

with the

skirt: in bright coloura with stripod forsay and bag to match AE

connected with the Imperial University.

Somehow, much more is expected of a landlord in Tokyo. He must lay out the garden, Mr. and Mrs. Ross moved into the house just be- fore completion, and found the grounda bare. But one afternoon. shrubs and trees-the Japanese prefer them to flowers arrived and a garden sprang up overnight. Very soon they were looking through tall trees to the

house next door.

Mrs. Ross furnished this pocket edition of a house with Japanese things, lent by 'friends and a little modern furniture.

Their living room, which could be shut off, if need be, with heavy paper sliding doors, had thin paper panelled doors oening on to a tiny verandah. For decoration there were long Japanese panels and bowls of foliage and flowers set on the floor. Japanese friends used to visit Mrs. Boss, and spend hours arranging bowls of chrysan themums, jonquils and persimmon branches for her.

SECRET OF SUCCESS.

DUSTY WHITE.

Too.

Lovely colours and

sensible

At this time of the year the all-lue and Teal Popular, important question of clothes for the season is foremost in the minds of most women. Colours this year are more beautiful than ever, but great care and dia crimination must be shown in order to get the right effect. It is very easy to have a wonderful colour scheme in one's head, but it needs a very clever designer to sign and at the same time to make carry out the idea in the right de the ensemble look attractive.

Many dressmakers make very beautiful models, but very few take into consideration the type of woman who is going to wear it The whole success of a dress lies not so much in the shape and colour, ne in the fact that it has been planned and executed with a view to showing up the wearer to the best advantage.

QUAINT CUSTOMS.

Women Do the Asking.

Τα

SHE CAN'T WALK.

Modern Girl Criticised.

The modern girl has become an almost threadbare butt for critic- ism now. Even her moat ardent barrackers usually manage to tem- per their praise with a qualifying statement of some sort.

Latest to pass judgment on her famous is Santos Casani, the teacher of dancing in London. He says that she can't walk!

Customs, quaint and humorous to the last degree, have grown up round the ceremony of courtship and marriage among some of the primitive tribes and races. quote a few only:

Woman does the proposing in the Garos tribe in India. To her be- longs the privilege of choosing her own mate. If the man inadvertent ly pops the question, It is looked upon as an insult, which can only be atoned for by a liberal donation

"I like the modern girl, is the of beer and pigs, to the wounded

expresses way he

it. ane's family. A costly fine!

"She is The Carafa Indians of Brazil healthy minded, independent with- woo with dancing. Their bodies out being insolent, good-tempered, decked with palm leaves, they a good sport and radiantly healthy. dance back and forth on a moon- My only complaint is that she le light eve before the maiden of

their choice, who watches from graceless.". outside her home, with mother standing guard. The decision given, the father, an old man or a chief marries them, and the young man goes to live with his wife's people. He may never leave his wife without permission. If a trip from home is vetoed, nothing can be done about it.

A woman has literally to be pur- sued in Greenland. The prospec- tive bridegroom seeks permission from the parents to seize the daughter he admirea. This given, the next step is to find her alone, and having found, to tear from her

!

“In spite of all the care she takes In the choice of clothes and the clever way she uses them to accen- tuate her personality, she shows not the slightest knowledge of the moat primitive and aftractive grace of all-how to walk.

"Take your stand at a street correr and observe her pass on her confident all-conquering way. Does she walk with rhythm, carry- ing herself gracefully? Do you think that her movements expresa the poetry of motion? I hate to

some of the coats, fishneta and straps with which she has been say It, but, to my mind, the constantly enveloped from the day modern girl waddles or shuffles of asking. The marriage is not along. In other words, she walks complete until thie is done, and with dead legs. The first essential this is not easy in Greenland, where the maidens are particularly elusive.

of bodily balance is graceful de- portment, and this she does not aeem to exercise. In fact, she gives me the idea that she is walking on

The bashfulness of the New Guinea bride-to-be is proverbial. Afraid of losing her reputation for modesty, she shows the utmost stilts or props instead of stately aversion to any proposal of mar- lega. From waist to neck she le riage.

Two women are commis- sfoned to negotiate with her parents on the young man's behalf. but no sooner is a hint given of their intention than the damsel rushes out of doors in the greatest state of consternation, tearing her hair and bemoaning her fate generally.

Three days after the wedding, the Mezeyne Arabian tribesman is likely to find himself deserted by his bride. He will fly off to his neighbours, where he learns that his bride has told them he doesn't') love her any more, and so she is going home. He registers great anxiety and begins a pseudo search for the runaway. He knows perfectly well that she will be found at her father's place, and that he will be expected to carry her back by main force. It is all part of the marriage code for a wife to desert her husband at re- gular intervals and return to her own home.

One of the strangest wedding ceremonies holds in certain sec-) tlons of India. After the bride is bathed in the nearest stream, the

rung

treatment of our dificult skirts wedding party proceeds to the were the outstanding features at house of the bridegroom, who pre- Isobel's fashion parade in London. tends to be unwilling and "Isobe!" is signer who has gained a repute and, in spite of resistance and a young British de- away. He is caught, however, and aubjected to a similar ablution, tion for simple clothes. All the cater for the taste of well-dressed the bride's home. dresses are of her own design, and counterfeited grief, borne off to

women who are anxious to follow the trend and at the same time to avoid extremes.

Smart Foot Wear.

Her show began with clothes for sports and morning wear. For these she showed skirts of reason able length and a great variety of materials. The tweedy clothes had hata and caps to match. There were beige and black tweeds, belgo. most of the newest models in and brown tweeds, emerald green evening dresses flowered chiffons which, owing to mere mixtures in red and grey and are made in woraled, and some charming cash- their softness and variety. In beige and brown, while for summer A heavy fall of snow in the colour, are ideal for young or old she showed smart suits in Shan- From the pallette of fashion, woman winter made everything look like The bem line is still uneven, but Lung Coat frocks in summer can get every shade eho desires in British Christmas, but their this is more marked in evening weight tweeds were particularly new footwear. The shoo sketched bungalow was the costest place dresses than day ones, the evening smart. The coat frock is woll back above in an example of black kid and imaginable, being warmed by an gowns literally sweeping the floor into fashion, neatened up with a electric radiator and a big bowl at the back and slightly shorter in fitted line and a waist the hip is going to be the big trou filled with grey sand and glowing front...

LAM There was much blue, also ble in the future. embers of charcoal, a

shown in her collec

Imitation jewellery of all kinds

teal;

reptile

The very high collar has disap Delicately shaded Japanese mat is worn both day and night, espe- tion Teal is fashionable for peared from all clothes. On short ting covered the floors, and Mrs. cially, the latter, as floral chiffon afternoon wear and blue bot coats the "Johnny" collar is sean Rosa soon got into the habit of evening dresses are really only for afternoon and evening everywhere and versions of it are discarding her shoes at the front finished it worn with coloured and also for sportswear in also used on long coats. Bat there door, to prevent muddy footmarks bead necklaces, bracelets, etc. in worsted. A lovely reception outil is also a bare neck look given by spoiling the mats. She found the the same colouring,

In blue georgette had a three quar means of a cape like a policeman's cupboards very useful. These Ba

ter coat unlined and trimmed with bordered in fur, and set to swing grey fox while an afternoon gown with its own weight, Just below the in midnight bine romaine,

elbow. This was shown on a the shade that is like brown houpac coat trimmed with brightChavy was made eith

were of thick paper panelled in

black lacquer and patterned with: tiny coloured

Jéarned

Powder blue was used Dusty whi or bróki decoratige afternoon gown being featur

the fashionable clinging-Lip- shows

Accessories.

Torquoise, cornelian or: Jade colorred stone necklace and bracelet. Smart handbag with belt to match and fashionable coloured scart with hand bag c the same material,

Inanimate lifeless; from waist downwards like 2n automatic machine.

car

Even the best of silk stocking manufacturers cannot make a shapely leg move well. How he, when the owner wills to mova as if it were a crutch instead of a wonder plece of mechanism ? The leg moves with muscles, tense.

expression.

or relaxed, according to the work It has to perform, and should help to complete a barmony of human "If only our girls would pay an much attention to the art of per- do to personal adornment, they fect walking and dancing as they

would add some joyous abandon to this over-mechanised, unimagin five age."

ALEXANDER'S INSTITUT DE BEAUTE

Cutting and