Evening star., 1936-11-29

q national and international star
forum which takes place after the''
scheduled lecture or talk.
Only Woman Member OF
Canadian Parliament to Speak.
Tonight at the meeting the first ana
onlv woman member of the Canadian
Parliament, Miss Agnes MacPhail, Will
talk ON Canadian American Rela-
tions." OF course, it is not known
from what angle Miss MacPhall VIII
discuss the relations between the two
neighboring countries, but judging
from her background and experience.
both in and out of Parliament, she
could discuss that question in most
informative and interesting way. Ihe
daughter of a farmer. her interests
have been with the soil, and after the
World War she was in the forefront OF
Canadian women in organizing the
United Farmers of Ontario. an organ
ization that has had a far-reaching
influence in the rehabilitation of farm
conditions in Canada since 1918. She
was educated in public schools and
took institute courses which later led
to teaching. She first entered Parlia-
ment in 1921, and has been men,
Der of the House for IS years, during
which time she has been force for
her sex and a prime mover in all
legislation affecting their living con-
ditions. With a frank, fOrceful way
of speaking which betokens the out
door country life in which she was
reared, Miss MacPhail also has
sense Of Scotch humor which enllvens
her conversation.
There have been two women men,
bers Of the Canadian Parliament. but
Mrs. Black is not member at this
time. When the health of her hus-
band. who was 8 former speaker OF
the House, failed. Mrs. Black was
elected to his seat. She was active
In the Farm Women of the World
movement, which met here last sum
.,er. This is just soto voce: But 1t
is real pleasure to call the Canadian
Legation in Washington for informa-
sion. as it is always forthcoming in
the most courteous way, no matter
how local the Canadian person or
unimportant the inquiry, the greatest
pains are taken to give the correct
information.
Mrs. Oulihan and Mrs. BOhn
Deserve Thanks.
For some time Town Hall meetings
have been popular in different parts
of the country and seemed partlc-
ularly, during the years Of depression
tust passed through, to have furnished
an outlet for the confused mental
attitude relative to the situation in
society, business and industry, in
which the entire population found
itself submerged. For the organiza-
ton Of the Sunday night Town Hall
meetings and the high plane on which
they have been kept. debt OF thanks
Is due to the prime organizers Mrs.
Richard Oulihan and Mrs. Grace
Roper Bohn, two clever Washington
women, who have spared no pains to
make them success. and to make
them in fact as well as in name, d
forum for public discussion.
The panels at these meetings are
usually chosen from those who have
a knowledge of the subject under
consideration and can intelligently
take part. AS general discussion
from the floor might take the form
of debate, it was decided that writ
ten questions could be sent up to the
platform. and if apropos, in the dis
cretion of the chairman, read out to
the meeting. Those really interested
In the usefulness Of the forum doubt |
less hope that these questions will |
not take personal aspect-as they
have on one or two occasions recently. |
Washington's Town Hall Meetings
Are ColOrful Affairs.
Owing to the very glorified social |
atmosphere which enveloped the OPEN
ing meeting of the Winter season on |
Sunday, the 18th, the above foreword !
was thought necessary in order to |
explain that the forum was not in
tended as entirely a social function. |
1t is true that Mrs. Bohn and Mrs. |
Oulihan certainly did themselves proud
and covered themselves with stars at
that grande-dame. gorgeous opening
OF the lecture season Of WaShington's |
Town Hall-which, by the way, always
meets in ball room. If the mind of |
any one present reverted to the his
toric town hall meetings in the early |
Puritan days and pictured the drab-
looking audience Of grim visages, they
must have rubbed their eyes and
pinched themselves as the colorful
audience Of handsome dinner gowns.
ernline and sable wraps and men In
evening clothes strolled in and took
their seats in the front row OF the
ball room at the Shoreham to listen to
M. Andre Geraud-that delightfully."-
spicy "Pertinax," editor of the Paris |
Echo-whether or not European peace
could be saved-perhaps even with the
help Of Uncle Sam.
Society and Literati Hope to
Hear COuntesSe de Fels.
1t Is regretted that the Countess de
Fels. writer and art critic who paid |
flying luncheon visit to the French |
Ambassador and Nine. de Iaboulaye
recently, while on a lecture tour in
this country, was not heard here. In
New York she was a guest of Mrs.
Sheldon Whitehouse, and took So
ciety by storm. Charming, good
looking and clever talker. the
countess is the wife of Count Andre