SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Wedding at Levin. The marriage -took place at Levin last, Wednesday of Mr, iiaisokl Aioysius Mac Donald, of Heathc-rlea, ami '.Miss Flora MaelJoiiald, daughter of the Into Mr. llector Mac Donald, of Ilokio. Tho bride WO l'<> 11 soft while silk gown with a veil and wreath of orange blossoms, and carried a bouquet of white (lowers. Her sister, Miss i I inemoa Mac Donald, attended her as bridesmaid, and was also gowned in while, with a pretty hat to mutch. The best man was Mr. J. Mac Donald, brother of the bridegroom. Later the wedding.guesta were entertained at a wedding breakfast at tiio residence of Mrs. MucDonald, Hokio, after which the bride arid bridegroom left for the south. Changing Wedding Customs. In connection with .the cablegram which appeared in Monday's paper"concerning the quietness with which weddings are now being conducted in fashionable circles in England, it is interesting to read that Quito a number of them have taken placo in registry offices or else in some quiet, out-if-thc-way church in which but few onlookers, save a few _ socially interested guests, find their way. Another rather interesting point is that naturally the veil and orange blossoms and tlio white satin gown are also not so much in evidence,, the simpler coat antl skirt with a becoming hat taking their placo. It is rather astonishing when one comes to think of it that tlio chango should not have been mado long ago, considering tho craving that exists for chango of any kind, especially in the world of fashion. Probably sentiment has had much to do with the prolonging of the. custom as well as the e'nurm which is added to fresh young beauty by the symbolic veil and white robe of tho bride. Tho wedding cako is apparently in greater favour than ever, and it frequently has a tablo for itself alone. A wedding without a weuuliig cako evidently cannot l.io contemplated yet awhile, although in America, a few years ago, there was a movement mado among influential people to dispense with it,

What thß Kins Die!. It is tho custom, familiar to those frequenting St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, on the occasion of notable weddings for-one of the) clergy officiating to preach a sermon, long or ehort, personally addressed to the newly-wed-ded couple. As only those in tho immediate vicinity of' She altar are able to catch its drift, it has a depressing effectupon what should be a joyous occasion. It is interesting to know that his Gracious Majesty, whose straightforward manner, reminiscent of quarter-deck association, is occasionally embarrassing to members of tho lioya! Household concerned for ceremonial, made shot work of what is a modern practice. When the programme of tho recent Royal wedding at St. James's Palace was submitted for ! approval, tha King's eye lit upon the line, following upon the details of the service, "Tho Aichbishop's address." "Tho Archbishop can only have five minutes," said his Majesty firmly. Tho mandate was perforce obeyed, am! tho Archbishop's remarks were confined within tho stipulated limit of time. '.I'ho little incident points to the possibility of what would be a popular reform. Tire late King -Edward, amid a host of good works, shortened tho time spent at tho dinner table by cutting down the bill of fare. If King George's intervention in this particular notice leads to the shortening of Sunday sermons they would not bo less effeetivo in tho production cf good fruit. A London correspondent writes that tho marriage took place on Octobar 23, at Cheltenham (England) of Mr. Leslie Probyn Digliton, of Auckland, son of Dr. Adam Digliton, of Cheltenham, to Miss Evelyr Mather, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Mather, of Cheltenham. After the honeymoon Mr. and Mrs. L. Probyn Digliton wero to leave for New Zealand by the Taimii. The engagement is- announced of Mr. Eric Mackay, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Mackay, of Woodstock (South Island) to Miss Frances Darke, daughter of Mr. D. H. Darke, manager of the Colonial Bank, Camperdowno (Victoria).

Sirs. Maunsell (Linsdowne, Masterton) is visiting Wellington. At Garden Island (Sydney) on November 22, the marriage of Lieutenant Lewis Jones, R.A.JC., first navigating chart officer H.M.A.S. Penguin, and Miss May de Saunicrra Roone (who had arrived from' London a. week previously) .was solemnised by the Rev. Allen Pain. Miss Roono (sister) was in attendance as bridesmaid; Lieutenant J. 0. Graham, R.A.N., acted as best man. The- wedding breakfast was served in the sailloft at Garden Island, which was decorated by the middies with flags and greenery. Mrs. Lindo Ferguson (Duncdin) passed through Wellington early this week on her way through to the Wairarapa. On Monday afternoon at the offices of Messrs. j. B. MacEsvan and Co., Ltd.. Mr. G. H. Andrews and Miss M. J. Harper were presented with, a handsome case of cutlery, suitably engraved, ; and a case of silver fruit and fish Knives and forks, in view of their approaching marriage. Mr. J. I!. MaeEwan, on behalf of the stall, made the presentation. Mrs. Eicliclbaum is visiting Christchurch. • An afternoon lea at n-'liic'li most of the guests wt'i'o old Duncdin friends was given yesterday by Mrs. Gray, at her homo in Kelburne, for Miss Mackcrras,. who is at present her- guest. The rooms with their cheery fires and charming arrangement of flowers —pink sweet peas, gerauiunn of the same shade, ami roses —formed r. very pleasant contrast to the outside world, which was decidedly cold and blustering. Mrs. Gray wore a gown of green clrirmeuse, draped with crcnni lace and veiled with hand-painted ninci). Miss .Mackcrras was in white silk, veiled with black ninon and lace. Koine of those present were Mrs. A. L. llerdman, Mrs. I'i.-ld. Mrs. I'.risUuv, Mis-.; Mabel .Maeanchew, Miss Moss, Miss Seed, .Miss Reynolds, and Miss Morton.

Madame Clara Butt-Rumfwil has forwarded to Jlr.s. Itnileslon, Hair and Face Specialist, an excellent testimonial which appears in another column on this page.*

Bazaar ai Kilbirnle. Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Coloridgo opened a bazaar Unit liad been organised in connection with All _ Saints' Church, Kilbirnic, for the benefit of tho cimrcli building iuiid. 'flic interior of the building had been specially decorated tor tho occasion, and there wore several stalls <m which were displayed goods of a varied description particularly suitable to this time of the year. Occupying a conspicuous position in tho building was 11 huge Christinas tree, which proved of overwhelming fascination to numbers of children present. Several side-shows had been organised, among them 'icing an electrical and wireless exposition, and in the evening a musical entertainment was given.

Miss Bruno Again—And Some Others, A lady journalist now on the eve of her return to Sydney from London, after several months' stay in-the metro* poli-s,, sends greetings to her friends on tin's side of tho world from Minnie Tittoll lirnne, whom she met at a lunca given by Misses Vera and Ruby, Rich at their Marley House iiat. The _ lastnamed is, of course, tho brilliant pianist who was originally brought out as a prodigy by Hen* liretschmann, tho veteran trainer of juvenile talent, and before she was of ago enjoyed tuition in Paris under Raoul Pugno, the representative French pianist. Miss Rich's last appearance was in July, 1911, with the 5.A.0.5., when she played the Grieg "A Minor Concerto" with rare emotional sympathy, and our correspondent reports her as busily occupied in London both as artist and as a for-tunately-placed hostess. Miss Titiell Bruno was rehearsing "Under Two Flags" iu London last month. No theatre is named, hut the part of Cigar* otto sounds liko another engagement at the Lyceum, whoro Miss Bruno made a hit as "Nell Gwyimo" last year. Mine. Carrcno was in "tremendous form" at her Queen's Hall matinee early in October, which sho closed with three encores, followed by a big reception in tho artists' room, whoro she chatted brightly to dozens of people, including Mr. and Mrs. Bonno Scherek. 'Tho great pianist had just had a surprise visit from her daughter Tcrositn, who lives with her husband at Naples. "Somo day yon will alight on my steamer from an aeroplane," I heard her say, Jaughing, continues our correspondent. Doubtless this was an allusion to tho fact that the pianist is starting at onco upon her American tour. "Sho told mo she hoped to visit Australia a third time, and 'would bo delighted to feel that sho was starting to-morrow.' " "I also met Florence- Schmidt, _ our onetime soprano with the polished tcchnifjfie, now for years happy in tho art circles in which her marriage with Dorwent Wood, A.R.A., tho sculptor, has placed her; and Adela Verne, a magnificent pianist of still undiminished fire, whoso girlish visit to Australia dates bach to 1803. This artist _ fovea- to remember her youthful triumphs on your side, her engagement with Mine. Alva, tho dramatic soprano, and Samuel Masters, an English tenor, being clue to the since justified discrimination of tho Australian concert-manager, John Lc-m----motie."—Sydney "Herald."