SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3198, 24 September 1917, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dance in the Sydney Street Soldiers' ' Club. < On Saturday evening a verj successful ] dance, for which invitations had been ( issued by a committee of nou-commi6sion- . ed. officers of the Thirty-fifth Hcioforee- ■ monts, consisting of Corporals Speedy, ' Mitchell, Marumarit, Julian, Ashman, . and F. C. Walker (hon. secretary), was ' held in the Sydney Streot Soldiei'fi'Club. There was a very large attendance of dancers, and most inspiriting music was played by the Trentham Military Band, extras being supplied by some of the soldiers. . Everywhere about the elub were quantities of flowers, making the rooms look more than usually bright and attractive, and supper was served in the gymnasium, where a' long tablo had been very prettily arranged with white broom, double orange blossoms and pink rhododendrons, just matching in tone the pink shades with which all tho lights were screened. Loose pink camellias, which also formed part of the table <iecorations, were altogether too tempUiig, and very soon formed part of the pe>v sonal adornment of the dancers, which after all was a very good use to put them - to.. Assisting with the supper arrangements were:—Mcsdames L. Blundelj, Moorhouse, W. Young, C. Earle, H. Hall, J. W. Salmond, and Miss Madge Nathan. In the tea-room the needs of the soldiers were attended to by Mrs. Darling and Mr 6. Goldie. Among those •who were present were:—Mrs. W. F. Massey, the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Lmke), Mrs. W. Nathan, Miss Massey, Miss Sybil Nathan, Mrs. Nathan (Wairarapa), and t'ho members of the committee. The soldier's committee responsible for the evening also carried out the duties of M.C.'s. Before the dance was brought to an ond, hearty cheers wera given to tile Trentham Band for their delightful music, which added so much to the pleasure of the occasion. Red Cross Shop. ' The winner of the picture which Mrs. Gerald Bobison presontid io the AVellington Ked Cross Shop was won by Miss Cook, Piilmerston {No. 62). Neit Priday the shop will be in charge of the Karori Women's National Reserve, and a very successful day is expected. There have been nany entertainments in connection with the day, and a large sum will be handed in for our sick arid wounded soldiers. On Friday last Miss Cooper and Miss Moss had a beautiful display of flowers, which found a ready sule. This stall has made over .£SO for this month from tho sale of flowers. A Red Cross "At Home.'' On Saturday aftornoon an "at home" in aid of the lied Cross funds was held at the residence of Mrs. M'Vicar, 7.Hramar, the organisers being Mrs. M'Vicar (president of the N.Z.N.A. Ladies TTuild) and Mrs. Pritc'lia rd, representing tho Mii-amor Sewing Guild. A good n any members were present, including a number from town, stalls for tho sale of cakes, sweets, and flowers wero disposed' in the various rooms, and their.contents attracted many buyers—ilie eake stall making an exceptionally fine display ot home-made cakes <>f ail and all beautifully made. These were in chargo of representatives of both guilds, and in the dining-room afternoon tea wasserv:d, Mrs. M'Vicar and -Mrs. Irwin, with several nssistaiits. being in charpe. A musical programme, arranged by Mndamo Mueller, was given, and was much enjoved. The proceeds of Hie afternoon are to be divided between the Mirainar Sewing Guild and the New 7enlatid Natives' Association LadteV Guild.

Mrs. Green and Mrs. Khv.her, of t.'catoun, will have charge of the lied Cross Shop, Woodward Street, on Wednesday, and will have a good supply of cakes, Howors, sweels, etc.

U is with deep regret that the many friends of Mrs. W. it. Godfrey, of F.kelahuna, will hear of h«;r sudden death, which took place al tho homo of her cousin, Mrs. Gordon Glassford, of Levin. Much sympathy is felt far her two sons, who are at present ou active service. Mrs. Godfrey was known to many for her qualities of unassuming kindness and quiet charity. Mesdames AV. Barton, W. Toogood, B. Speedy, and W. Howard Booth v-ere (he Ladies' Committee for the weekly (lance at the Anzac Club. Featherston, on V'ridav evening, the attendance being us large as usual. Music, for the extras was contributed by Mesdames Wickens, Misses Bish, Toogood, Sorjt.-Mnjor S. Greon, and another soldier. Mrs. C. V.' Houghton (Auckland) is visiting Wellington, and is staying at Sayes Court. A juvenile fancy dress ball was held at Grey town on Friday evening last, in aid of 'the Red Cross Fund. Some ,£25 was taken at the door, and Miss Hanlon, dressed as a iiiwse, collected J6l in (be hall. The affair was a great success.

A Vital Spark. Ada Reeve is said never to be tired. She is a tireless worker for the cause of patriotism, an indefatigable worker in the theatre. She is so keen in her business that she will sing as many songs as the audience want, and does so with a zest. Returned soldiers are her hobby just at present—they and the Anzac Buffet in London. She visited all the camps and hospitals in Auckland whilst she was there, and now and again met some of tho men she had tho pleasure of dispensing hospitality to during her nsit to Cairo, where she is well lemembered. Wherever there are Anziiqs tho name of Ada Reeve will be loved and respected, for none has taken such a live, and sincere interest in their wolfare as this brilliant artist. In Auckland tho.returned men dragged her to the theatre from her hotel in a landau, headed by their own band, and in Wellington a big reception is to be accorded to the visitor. "La Mascotte." The staging of "La Mascotte," which opened in tlje Grand Opera House on Saturday evening to a crowded audience, was most certainly a revelation of ■what amateurs oan do in all the essentials that make for a successful production. From a spectacular point of new alone the performance was well worth seeing, so well was it staged and so gorgeous was the dressing throughout. The period in which it was cast—that of the late Renaissance—was one that lent itself to effect, and Mrs. James Hannah, who designed the costumes, took full advantage of the opportunity that was afforded her for vividness ot' colouring, rich effects, and general picturesqueness of attire.

The first scene disclosed Eocco's farm, whero entered two. pages to i-nnounce the close arrival of fiametta. They were dressed in brown and greon, vitli short capes in two shades of gray 6lung from their shoulders behind, and small round hunting caps of green velvet to match their ehort belted tunics. JEiametta hersolf , (Miss Wilford) was a charming little" figure in her dull green velvet riding costume, with sleeves slashed with yellow, also with a 6hort cape slung from her shoulders and wearing a wide fawn hat from which drooped a long green feather. Tho court ladies attending her wore very pretty dresses of brown velvet, opening over bright emerald groen, and wide feathered hats with a slight tilt upward, showing the emerald greon lining underneath. The huntsmen and pages were also dressed in corresponding colours. Bettina (Mfts Helen Gard'ner) wore her peasant's costume, a dull roso pink striped with dark blue, little black velvet oorsolet bodice over a white blouse, and a much battered shady hat which sho used with much effect.

The court scene at Laurent's palace naturally lent itself to gorgeonsness ot dress and general staging effects. Iu this act Bettina tho farm girl has coino to court, and she appears in a dress of yellow silk opening over an underskirt ol' a deep buttorcup satin bordered with gold lace and worked with jewelled cmbroideries. Tho bodice also is trimmed with sparkling jewelledi effects, and altogether there is a very complete transformation made of the little peasant girl into tho court, lady who' sighs for the dnys of her freedom. Fiametta also wears a. very charming dress of l.clio-. trupe soft satin opening over a lloutu-Mi Ince under-dress, a deep ruffle round the neck, 1 and later a long court train ot tho satin. Laurent in his court dress of ceriso and gold brocade, over which is worn a short sleeveless tunic of silver tissue bordered with black velvet finished with a quaintly-designed capo or deep

collar, .was a brilliant figure. Princo Fritellini also wore a handsome dress of the period, in tones of pink and pale sage green, with a feathered hat and short cape lined with pink. As. for ltocco—his court dress in two shades of yellow was finite dazzling. The dresses of the attendant ladies and gentlomen-in-waiting were handsomely carried out, some in l.wo shades of deep sa.\e blues with touches of purple and a tlight. chequerhoavd effect in the case of the courtiers, others 'again in brown and pale sage green. The wedding dresses worn by i'iametta and Bettina. were of soft wliite satin and gold tissue, villi loii£ hanging sleeves, and, of course, their wedding voile. Tlic most effective sceno of all was probably iu tho last act, when the whole of the 'company appeared as soldiers, and marchcd, tho scarlet and' white of their dresses, with short black coats draped from the shoulders, and black hats with red cockades being -/cry fine. Miss Saunders as tho'gipsy girl was delightful in her gipsy dance, and her dress was also exceedingly well carried out, as was that of Fiametta iti tho last act when travelling in disguise.