WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3168, 20 August 1917, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

$_ (Continued from page 2.) CHILDREN'S FANCY DRESS DANCE IN AID OF THE RED CROSS Saturday was a red-lettor day for the many small children who attended the children's fancy dress dance, which was organised for tbe benefit of The Terrace's day at the Wellington lied Cross Shop. A I'aucy dress <lance is at any time a pretty sight, but when it is children who are taking purt-iii it there is something additionally fascinating and quaint, especially when they have got over their little qualms of stage fright, from wMcli some of tho younger ones undoubtedly suffered at first. The big Chamber, in which the danco was held, had been brightened with da-aperies of flags, and when, shortly aftar 3 o'clock, the floor was in, possession of a large number of children representative of all periods and peoples, to say nothing of the vegetable and animal kingdoms, it may be imagined that the scene presented was a very varied and interesting one. A great amount of ingenuity and artistic tasto had been, expended upon the dresses, and tho characters which they represented, and some of them were exceedingly clever in their results.

It was when the parades of the groups, tho pairs and the single characters coininonced that an idea of the variety of costumes was gained. The groups wora tho first to inarch round the hall. These were charming, the first group being one of three little girls, dressed in. lilac coljured frooks, with short, very full skirts, and lilac coloured hats, all three carrying golden wands, to which were attached goldon coloured balloons, indicating the character they were representing —"balloons." Another group of twelve children representing Russia, all dressed in white trimmed with fur, was very effective, as was the third group representing Clarence '.Black Cat) cigarettes. These children, six or eight in all, were dressed in emerald green, made in Pierrot fashion, the black cats which ornamented tho backs of their dresses looking most lifelike. These comprised the groups, and following them came the inarch of tho pairs round the hall, and after them the single characters. A pair which greatly took the fancy of the onlookers was the little costers, who wero delightful, the tartan skirt and the much-feathered hat of the little coster lady being irresistible. The gambols,or a very temperamental donkey' occupied much of their time mid energies. Another pair in which much interest was central was that of two very tiny fairies, the little boy drcssail in a pink sash and bow of ribbon (a Cupid whom one would like to see blooming in summer weather) being of a very tender age indeed. America was well represented by another little pair, and exceedingly well carried out were two characters representing a Maori chief and ehieftainess, every detail to the huia feather in the iiair of the former having been carefully studied. They were quite a striking pair. A bride and bridegroom made a very quaint pair, and very pretty were two Pierrots up to date, dressed in white eatin, with tricorno-fashioned hats, to which tiny black balls were attached. A little pair of Indians w-as another well-carried-out idea, and another pretty pair wa, sthat representing "The New Age" and "The Darkest Hour." It was difficult to individualise among so many -well-conceived costumes , . The single characters showed some very ingenious ideas, among the most striking being a chanticleer, representing Defiance butter, which was quite admirable, even the walk of the bird being' imitated. A Big Ben was another original idea, but it sadly limited the area of activities of the child who was representing it, • and yet another quite outstanding representation was a wonderfully clever model of a tank, which nosed its way around tho room in a way that must have been like its progenitor on the field of battle. It also had its occupant (a girl),eluit up for a while in its interior. A walking pineapple was another novelty, and was well carried out, and another cleyerly-carried-o'ut dress was that representing New Zealand flax, the head-dress being mado of the flax just as it is cut, aml.made irto a pointed kind of witch's hat, the dress being also of the green sheaves of the flax. There' was another representative of flax, but it was of flax in the prepared state. A Chinese laundry which perambulated the room was another effective representation, and one Hint caught many eyes was a little person representing the Mayor, a very important little person in black fur-trimmed robes and cocked hat with gold tassells. "Charley's Aunt" was an entertaining little figure, and vtry dainty was little Cherry Ripe. Two particularly pretty and quaint little people were two representations of the ear'y Victorian time, with their much beflounced white muslin frocks trimmed v/ith wreaths of roses and worn with wide crinolines. One of the children wore l>er hair in ringlets, and the other had hers concealed in a fascinating poke bonnet. "A Christmas Pudding," a dainty little figure of "Victory" (to.the Allies), a French painter, flowers, contiers and their ladies, autumn leaves, pages, gipsies, and everything that can bo thought of, even to a "Pearl of tho Harem," were to be seen, and the public, who were the judges, had a difficult task in awarding the prizes. These were decided us follow:—For the groups, tho "Balloons," in whom were included Dorothy and Margaret Herbert and Ailsa Ne'son; the best pair, "The Fairies," Betty Mee and Selvyn Toogood; most original costume, the "Tank," Ena Chapman. Other prizewinners were: Beatrice Holmes, who was an early Victorian lady; Audrey Howell, wlm represented the clock; Esme Hamerton, who appeared as the Rooster (Defiance); and Douglas Roche, an early Victorian. Some very pretty dancing was given by a number of Miss Beere's pupils, among the. small performers being Joan Eeero and Rene Taylor, who ihineod delightfully a rag-time duo; Kathleen O'Brien, who gave a Spanish tambourine dance, and tho children comprising the Russian gicup, who danced a Russian folk danco. Hazel Robertson also danced as a little Vivandiere, and little Betty Jlonrad also gave a very pretty solo dance. In between ■these dances general dancing for all the little ones took place. Afternoon tea was in the hands of a committee of ladios, of which Mrs. .T. Findlay was president, ami was served'foi the children,-underneath the , gallery turned for the time bein? into a ten-room. Assisting with tho floor arrangements were Mrs. Sloenian, -Mrs. Dykes, Mrs. .Tohn=on. Miss Bpere, Colonel -Hughes, Major Waite, Mr. Nelson, and others. The committee responsible for the dance comprised Me«lainos Adams. .T. Findlay, A. E. Whyte. Nelson, Herbert, Mitford. Johnson. Geddis, Rleeman, Trineham, Francis, Holmes, Dykes, end W. Young. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool wa<! one of the onlookers, also Mrs. W. F. Massey, T,ad> Ward, and the Mayoress (Mrs. J, P. Luke). Quantities of flowers had been sent in for v.\h from both town and country districts, and these v;er» sold during the afternoon, also sweets. Tho galleries, which were filled with onlookers, materially assisted tho funds by these purchases.