SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2388, 18 February 1915, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

' Reception for Miss Ethel Dane. , Yesterday afternoon at the Empire Hotel a reception was given by Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont Smith for Miss Ethel Dane of the "Glad Eye" Company, who arrived from Sydney the previous day to begin a season in Wellington. The guests were received in the lounge and drawing-room upstairs, where small tables, decorated with ooveopsis and gaillordias, were arranged for afternoon tea. It was quite an unexpected pleasure to hear Mr. Hoskings and Mr. Shelford (of the company) singing, and both contributed several songs, the latter singing one of a series of three songs, for which be bad written the words. Mr. Bradley, another member of the company, recited, or, rather, related some very amusing Irish stories. Mrs. Beaumont Smith wore a gown of soft, black silk, over which was worn a very pretty long coat of tho same colour, bordered with plaid silk, and caight low down at the back, with loosely-hanging folds of silk ending Hi a. bow. Her close-fitting, black velvet hat was trimmed with shaded yellow roses at one side. Miss Ethel Dane was in a bronze-green corduroy velvet coat and skirt, with collar and cuffs of dull brick red, and a white felt hat with a little mount of green feathers at the side. Miss St. Clair, in cream, with a cream hat; Miss Harvey and Miss Hardwick were among the members of the company who were picsent, also Mr. Westmocott, Mr. and Mrs Martin. Among the Wellington guests were tho Hon. A. L. Hordman and Mrs. Herdman, Mrs. Donald Robertson, Mrs. .Kernot,, Mrs. F. Samuel, Mrs. Wallace, Miss Christie, Mr. and Mrs. George • Nathan, Miss Nathan, Miss Moss, Mrs. F. Ward, Mrs. 0. Barle. Mrs. Darling, Mrs. Sinclair, Mi and Mrs. Martin Luckie, Mr. F. Samuel, Miss Payne, Mrs. Kane. Miss M'Lean, Mrs. Lachmann, Miss Rotheuberg, Mrs. M'Villy, Dr. and Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Tully, Mrs. Etlienington, Mrs. G. Price, Mrs, Ernest Hadfield.

"Work of Deaconesses"—A Lecture. Yesterday afternoon Sister Crump, a deaconess of the Methodist Church in England, who has recently arrived in Wellington, gave an address in the Taranaki Street Methodist Schoolroom upon deaconess' work in England. Mrs. Redstone occupied the chair. In speaking to her audienoe, Sister Crump-said that in regard to the official position of women as regards tlie Christian .Church, she could go to the New Testament, and further back, to the Old Testament, for witness as to tho. authoritative position which was conferred upon them in those days. Men were not the only sharers in the Apostolic succession. Sho quoted Miriam and Deborah, two women of the Old Testament, whoso voices and councils were listened to with veneration. Throughout history women had played a great part in religion, and the first convort in Europe was a woman. Even St Paul, who is not renowned for bis charity to women, commented favourably upon Phoebe, a deaconess, of those days. The fathers of the early church, however, did their best to relegate women to a lowly placo in the Church, and succeeded remarkably well. Coming to later times, however, the value of women in Church work became gradually recognised especially by tlio Roman Catholio Church, and about a century ago the work of deaconesses now so widespread,'had its birthplaoe in Germany, which nnwnuirbers in the' Lutheran Church 4000 deaconesses, and in .tho Methodist Church 493. The speaker then gave; an interesting account of work in England. In the evening an interesting and impressive service' was held in Wesley Church, whero Sister Constance Olds, was ordained a deaconess of the Wesleyan Church in New Zealand. Sister Constance has just completed her three years' training, one year of which has been spent in working among the Church's people in Wellington. The Rev. Mr. Serpell conducted the service, and occupying seats upon a platform were practically all tho deaconesses of Wellington, including those of other denominations. Appropriate hymns and prayers were part of the service.

Mrs. J. L. Blundell has returned to Carterton from a visit to Wellington. Miss E. Russell left yesterday for Christcliurch, where she will be the guest,of Mre. Bernard B. Wood. Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont Smith are staying at the Empire Hotel. About fourteen members of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company visited tie Wellington Hospital on Friday afternoon last, and gave a very delightful concert in the Victoria Ward. Songs, choruses, part songs, etc., from several of the operas were sung, and the patients (and nurses) enjoyed themselves immensely. It was quite one of the best concerts which have been .given there. Mrs. Sydney Dyer (Napigr) is the guest of Mre. Waters (Karon). It is hoped there will be a good- attendance of ladies at tlie dgmonstration by the National Reserve, which takes plaoe in the Town Hall on Friday evening nest.

. MissMassey accompanied the Prime Minister on his' visit to the Masferton Show yesterday.

Mts. F. R. Russell and Miss Russell and Mr. and Mrs. Overton Smith are among the Wellington passengers who are leaving for Sydney on Friday. Thuy join the Medina for London.

Her Excellency Lady Liverpool has sent a dozen, books to the Irentham Camp Library. Mrs. Ma&sey also acknowledges the donation of a parcel of books from Miss Kearney, Pelorus Bound.

Dr. and Mrs. Crawford (Wauganui) are staying in town for short holidays. For Faco Massage, Shampooing, all uau Treatmerts, and Electrolysis, Mrs Rolleston's ii recommended. Spacious Private .Rooms, Qualified Assistants, and Personal Attention. Switches and Transformations ot every shade a speciality. Hair guaranteed to keep its colour. 256 Lamb ton Quay *

Frocks In tho "Clad Eye." It is seldara that one sees or hears a Wellington audience so oonvulsed with laughter practically {ho whole through as that of last evening, when tho "Glad E.ye" Company opened its season in the Grand Opera House. Kiki (Miss Ethel Dane), who made her first appearance in the second act, was a bewitching little figure in a soft, b}ack, loose costume, the coat ending low down in a pleated basque. The little black hat, with its upstanding bows at the back and touches of deep roso accentuated the subtle coquetry and piquancy that was expressed in every line, look, and gesture. As . befitting a French play, tho frocking touched an arresting note. Miss Alice Hamilton, as Lucieune Bocard. wore in the first act a gown of grey, soft satin, mado with a full, short, double tunic, and with a pretty last vest and revers. In the next act sho woro a gown of a beautiful bronze green satin, with a pointed train and slit, in the front of the skirt showing glimpses of emerald green. The same daring combination of green was carried out in the waistbelt, and with the head-dress of feathers that almost encircled her head, and which was kept in place by a jewelled band. The wide double tunic was bordered with brown fur, and fur with again the note of emerald green bordered the low-cut bodice. Emerald green was again the keynote of her next gown. The bodice and tunic, however, being .of very pretty flowered orepe/ Miss Elwyn Harvey,_ as Suzanne / Polignac, appeared in the first act in a cream frock, with a lace coateo caught in at the waist, with a deep, rose pink, swathed belt. Tn the next act she woro a very pretty frock of palest pink satin, th 6 skirt bordered with brown fur. The' bodice and tunic, _ of striped crepo 3o chine, with a distinctly brown shade in it, was draped with jewelled lace, and her hair was fastened with a jewelled band. Her next appearance was in a flame-coloured gown, _ loosely draped and rather flowing, with a lace vest. Miss Dane, as Kiki, made no changes in her frocking.

Royal Russian Nurses. The Tsarina and the Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana are nursing at the hospital at Tzarskoje Selo, Petrograd, and very lovely, they look in their white nuns' dresses, states a writer in "The Queen." The Grand Duchess Olga says she does not want to-marry, but to remain with her father. His favourite is the Grand Duchess Marie, who is not yet fifteen. Many suitors were to have come to the Russian Court this last summer, but the war has altered *tuch. The King of Saxony was to have come with his son, and also our King with the Prince of Wales, and the eldest sou of the King of Rumania was to have paid a second visit. The young Cesarevitch is quite strong, and able to walk about again since the early spring, when he was out of petticoat government, and began his education properly; he had already commenced English with the Royal English tutor. Tho Tsarina has quite recovered her health, and is working very hard for the wounded soldiers.

There is a story going the round of Petrograd of some Russian ladies, eager for some excitement and flirtation, going off to nurse A train full of them came before the commanding officer at sone station en route. He received them with great politeness, and said: "To save all trouble, I should like to know which of you will attend to ,the officers and which of you the soldiers?" There was a good move towards the officers' side, and they were led off to a train which had been kept waiting for them, which took them back to where they came from I The others who really meant business went on.

Yesterday afternoon a competition in of the Poor of Great Britain, Ireland, aid of the Poor of Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium Fund was held at the residence of Mrs. Hudson, of '21 Hiropi Street. The prize, which consisted of an art tea-service, fell to the lot of Mrs. As'hwell, of St. John's Hilj, Wanganui, her number boing 133. Everyone of tho two hundred tickets (2s. 6d. each) were sold, and the sum of £25 will now bo handed over to the fund.

The following donations havo been receiyed by the Trained Nurses' Association towards tho equipment of a betl at the Base Hospital, fTrentham: —"A Friend," £1; Cook Hospital, Gisborne, £6; Hawera Hospital, £7 6s. 6d.; Nurses' Club, Wellington, 4s. 6d. ; Miss Payne, £1. 6ur Pahiatua correspondent writes that the wedding was celebrated at tho Pahiatua Roman Catholic Church this week of Miss Margaret Jane Mathews, eldest daughter of Mr. -John Mathews, of Mangahao, and Mr. James P. Beech, of Konini. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a cos-, tume of prune-coloured camel-hair cloth trimmed with floral silk. Miss Nellie Mathews, the bridesmaid, wore a pretty pale pink frock of crepe de chine, and hat of rose chip trinimed with tulle and rosebuds. Mr. Leonard , Beech acted as best m'an. The reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents, Mangahao. Subsequently Mr. and Mrs: Mathews left for Palmerston North, en route for the South Island. Their future home will be at Konini.

A demonstration of the "Imperial" Electric Vacuum Cleaner will be given at '294 Lambton Quay (nest Trocadero Hotcll on Friday afternoon. This is a good opportunity for persons interested in the most up-to-date method of house-cleaning to see what is claimed to be the best electric vacuum cleaner ever introduced to this country. Judging by the list of users it would appear that this machine has.' something to comment it. • An advertisement relating to the "Imperial" appears on page 2 of this issue.