WOMEN'S WORK EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 32, 1 November 1907, Page 3

WOMEN'S WORK EXHIBITION.

MELBOURNE'S, BRILLIANT FUNCTION

(FROM OUR SPECIAL COItIiESrONDENT.)

Melbourne, October 24. There can bo no-shadow of doubt as to the

success of the firat Australian Exhibition. of Women's Work. The opening ceremony proved that most emphatically to the 15,000 people who gathered themselves together in the Melbourne Exhibition buildings. Sinco the opening of the first Commonwealth Parliament by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, no other event in recent years has excelled it in eclat. Tho distinguished gathering of Wednesday, .October 23, 1007, was a compliment, not only by the whole Continent of Australia, but by many foreign lands, to the efforts of Lady North'cote and those allied witli : lu?r i:i the promotion of the Inhibition. Lord Northcotu said that 'ho saw in it a "demonstration of the. wish of tho whole of the people of tho Commonwealth to co-operate in making the movement a success," and the thousands present loudly acclaimed His Excellency's sentiment. Long before tho opening hour, 3 p.m., many thousands of visitors were in their seats, and gaily-dressed lords and ladies, Ministers, members of Parliament, High Church dignitaries, naval officers, and nuniorous other notables thronged the passageways far and wide. The season was early summer,' and the soft delicately-tinted costumes of the ladies and their gaily-flowered hats made an exquisitely beautiful picture. Suddenly from the cast gallery a fanfare of trumpets Bounded, and military and naval aidos : de-camp appeared below tlio dome, and headed, the vice-regal procession to tho platform.'Tho people roso to their feet, and the progress of tho Govornor-General and the Governors of tho States was made to the

accompaniment of tho singing of tho National Anthem by the huge choir of women's voices ■—a mighty peal of blear, bell-like notes from the throats of over 1300 maidens.

First came His Excclloncy the Admiral and Lady Fawkes, then tho Governor of Tasmania and' Lady Strickland, the Governor ofSouth Australia and Lady Le Hunte, tho Govornor of Queensland and Lady Chelmsford, the Governor of New South Wales and Miss Raws'on', the Lioutenant-Governor of Victoria and Lady Madden, and, finally, His Excellency tho Governor-General and Lady Nortbcoto. . When all woro seated, Miss M'Burney, iu;her robes as Bachelor of Music, conducted the orchestra (composed entirely of lady perforrters) through the intermezzo from "/Cavallcria R.usticana " ; and in and out overhoad flov.'.a few vagrant sparrows adding their accompaniment, and the sunlight splashed through the windows, and all was light.and life and joy. . Amid ■ ringing applause, Lady Jforihcoto declared the Exhibition open, and despatched the following' cable messago to tho Royal Patroness of the Australian Exhibition of Women's Work:—' ; ' "Her Majesty tho Queen, Buckingham • ■'■■■.-■ ■ Palace, ■ "On , behalf of tho ■ women of Australia,. I have-tho honour to respectfully inform your Majesty that tho Women's Work Exhibition, to which you graciously gave your patronage, has , , been.successfully opened this after- ." ALICE '% NORTHCOTE. "Melbourne, October 23, 1907." And, j then;;' .after .some more', speeches, came the" Ode—tho prize Ode written by ii wriman'CMiss Anniq Rentoul), set to music, by. a wonian, and',.sling by 1300''white-robed women in the first Exhibition of WompnV l work ever,held in,the world.' Here aro the words:—" ~-" .''" ' '' ' "God guide, Australia, Motherland we lovo! In high celestial- strains may angols waft our hymn above. Wo are her. daughter's j', it'her feet to-day, With filial hearts, bur handiwork wo lay. Dowered with her largesse, with her Free- . dom free, •.,.-,''' Worthy tho Mother may,her daughters bo.'

0 Thou, Whoso starry Cross from Heaven .shines'down, ■','■','' ' .' ' Our Ho'po and Vow, lead on from Cross'to Crown. , ' . . , . . ;

As a compliment, Mrs. Ew'art, tho composer of the music, was allowed , to conduct

tho vast chorus of voices, and 'won much applauso for : the 'vigour. , and enthusiasm of her.efforts in this direction.

Considered as a mere spectacle, nothing could have been hotter . devised 'as a background.for tho array of vice-regal dignitaries than the mass of ladies..in white', ,, vlip. filled' up the whole of the , vast orchestrii 'of tho Exhibition - building. In front, of : thimwero -grouped the brass band and,'orchestra, also' entirely made up of ladies. The fousical event of the afternoon was, naturally, tho performance of the Ode. The theme!' were broad and tuneful, and the accompaniments artistically, conceived and .helpful to the voices. But it was in Elgars cantata"; ''The Snow," that the sweetness and beauty of Uiis ; 'choir of women's voices was heard to best advantage! .Tho balance of voices, the quality of tone, tho light and shado, and the phrasing wero all excellent, and round after round'of applauso was given by'tho audiencV •at its conclusion. Then there was ■ a .movement on the.platform: tho ceremony was at* ; nn. ond. Tho Governors onco more formed into procession with their ladies, and walked down tho aisle, while'tho band and choir joined in rendering the National Anthem.' Her Excellency Lady Northcoto, wore an elegant gown of black' mousselino de soio, mounted over whito silk. The skirt was inlet with panels; of. Limerick lace, and the bodice was draped with the same. A touch of mandarin velvet was effectively introduced among tho laco, which outlined the somitransparent. yoke; and her whito toquo was composed of tho Limoriek laco, ostrich plucios, and knots of mandarin velvet. A shower bouquet of white orchids, tied with streamers ot green and gold ribbon, was carried. Lady Northcntc's entire' costiimo, including tho Limerick lace, was made to her order in Australia by Australian women.

. Lady, Wilniot Fawkos wore. a. gown of whito and heliotrope satin foulard, with panels of fine lace on tho skirt, which was further adorned with little flounces, edged' with black. Her toque was of dull green, with pink roses. . Lndj'j jMadden's simply-made gown was of Nattier blue glace,'with brettelles, and .yoke of Irish.,laco. Her hat was of grny velvet, which was blended.with dull green and pink roses. ..■■■'

- Miss' Rawson's frock was of ivory gauze over whito silk. .Tho skirt and bodioo were incrustod with flor.il appliques, in pastol shades of mauve a'tid pink. Some fine lace was introduced on the skirt in flounces, and tho Same was repeated on tho bodice. Her becoming hat wao of Tuscan crinoline, trimmod with white roses, foliage, and greon ribbon.' A feather boa completed (he costume.

Lady Lo Hunte woro a gcvn of puttycoloured voile, with a natural feather boa Her white chip hot was trimmed with roses

Lady Chelmsford wore a whito embroidered muslin gown, with a white ostrich feather boa. Her hat w::s of rose pink straw, with featliM-s. ......"

Lady Edelino Strickland's gown was a prey cloth,'with white guipurn lace on the bodic-V arraiißod .as a squaro yoke, around .which touches of blue crepe do chine were introduced. Her broad-brimmed grey hat was trimmed with long pale blue ostrich feather plumes.

TO RENOVATE RIBBONS.

Prepare a basinful of warm snapsmh and have, ready n mixture, of equal qiianlitios of gi:i, soft-soap, and honey. I'ut the ribbons into the warm suds, and let them .soak for 10 minutes. Thou stretch the ribbons on a clean board, dip a small brush into the gin, etc., and brush tlio ribbons (always in the samo direction) with this mixture until all dirt is removed. Then din the ribbons into a basin of clean cold water, and bang them up in the air, hut out of the nun. tc( let all the water drip from them. Iron while still damp. Care must be taken not to squeeze or wring tho ribbons, but to lift them straight out of the cold water on to the line to dry, ■ • ' .