SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 280, 15 August 1918, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Frocks in "Romance." Many people have considered that the girl ot tno crinoline and Hounced frock was a type, in appearance at least, peculiar to her i time, but that belief is ruther apt to be shaken when witnessing tho girl of to-Uay wearing .the dress of the Victorian period and tho way in/ which she manages to assimilate its characteristics and mannerisms. So at least was tho conclusion arrived at when witnessing tho production of "Roirianco" in'the Grand Opera House last evening. Tho prologue is of to-day, but tho story itself goes back forty years or so. The scenes arc laid in New York. In the first scene, in tho drawing room of Cornelius Van Tuyl'st. house, Miss MacDouell, who .takes tho part of the prima doiiha, Margherita ■ Cavallini, looks ■ charming in a frock of white tullo, the flounoed skirt worn over a crinoline and each ilounce bordered with silver trimming, the tight fitting bodice softened with lace, and finished with a turquoise blue waist-belt. Very charming also are the frocks worn by) three other members of the company, one of blue brocade, another of yellow, and the third of vivid Tose pink, cut away. at tho shoulders, jnd deeply flounced. In tho following scene) Miss MacDonell wears a frock of black chiffon velvet, the skirt very full arid sweeping, and tho bodice close fitting, and ' with sleeves to tho elbow. Part of the time sho wears with it a little .white short fleecy coat outlined with black and a white hat also with a touch of black. As Miss Susan van Tuyl, Miss Beryl Bryant wears a very becoming cream ' dress, trimmed with brown fur, and a short capo, also furti'ftnnKid. Her littlo cream hat to match is shaped very much like a mob cap, and a littlo cream nmff, also trim- v med with brown fur, is carried. The tout ensemble is quaint and charming. Later Miss MacDonell appeared in a white silk frock flounced to, the waist, a black lace mantilla adding a very soft ; n.nd. graceful effect. Her rest roho was a charming affair of rose pink chiffon velvet, net and lace, with a. touch of black ■ velvet, while Miss Millie Engler, as' Signora Vanned", was a vivid fiiruro in a frock of blended colours, in which crimson predominated. There was a very large audienco present to witness the performance, including Their Excellencies the Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool.

A picturo entertainment was hold at tho Lower Hutt on Monday evening for the benefit of tho Copper Trail and tho French Comforts Fund. The undertaking was very successful,, and although ilia prices ol u<lm ssion were low, yet a good sum was made. A salo of sweets realised <£G 12s. Gd., through Captain Denniston. A further snm of XlO was made, and Colonel Boberts donated ,£lO. Tho net proceeds of tho entertainment will be about =C 55.'

Mrs. P. Nathan (Palmerston North) was a passenger by tho Sydney boat on Monday for Wellington. Mrs. Mnckay (Auckland) is staying at Cliff House, Island Bay. Tho death occurred at Kaikoura on Sunday of tho wifo of Mr. Georgo Bcnner. Tho deceased lady was tho third daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Ifayner, of South Canterbury, and sho had lived for about fiO yeais in Now Zealand. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, eight sons, (two of whom aro on activo service), and nine grand children.

Mrs. Western and Mrß. Moran, of Day's Bay, have handed in to the lion, secretary of tho Wellington Bod Cross Shop .£27, money raised by personal effort for Bed Cross Enndß. i'heso ladies have made 2001b. of orange marmalado, and more than 2001b., of ipie melon jam, besides chukneys and pickles, and sold them to those' who have made application. They thank Messrs. Moss, Shirtcliffe and Muir for gifts of sugar and fruit, which were of so much assistance to them.

Tho Service League held a cake day at tho shop on Tuesday, which was most successful.

The weekly danco for soldiers was held in the Sydney Sbroot Soldiers' Club lust night, and ft Tory pleasant evening was spent. The usual arrangements in connection with the dancing wew carried out, and tho ladies of St. John Ambulance wero the hostesses in the tearoom.

A meeting of the Countess of Liverpool Fund Committee and workers was held at tho Town Hall yesterday to make ar rangeiuents for their forthcoming street appeal, which is to bo made for the benefit of their Trench Comforts Fund very shortly. It was decided that cakes, flowers, and sweets would be sold in tho streets, and the different stalls were allotted Tho appeal will be entirely organised and carried out by tho Liverpool workors, no outside help being sought.

A very enjovablo dance took placo in tho club room of tho Brooklyn Harriers and A.A.C. on Tuesday evening, tho occasion being the official opening. Mr. Cummins's orchestra opened fhe evening with a selection. Mr. J. 0. Shorland, thipresident of tho club, declacid tho room opon, and hoped that the mem'bers would receive the support of those present in their weekly dances to follo'v. He wj6hed the club ..ovary., success. Musical items .were contributed by Miss F. Snoll and Mr. Tauri, theso being much appreciated by the audience. The dance music was supplied by L. Robinson, the club's orchestra playing tho extras.

Tho matron of Taumara Military Hospital, Lowry Bay, acknowledges with thanks the following gifts :—Mrs. Rotherliam, case of fruit; Nelson ladies, weekly box of fruit and vegetables; Mrs. Ward, weekly box of cakes, eggs, fruit, etc.; Miss Wilson, cakes; Mrs. Ferguson, cakes; Mr Ewen, .chessmen; Mrs. Shirtcliffe, .buns and cake; Red Cross Shop (Misses Cooper and Moss), <£20; Hutt Patriotic Guild, .£5; Wellington Red Cross, hospital clothing and hot water bottles; Soldiers' Comiorts Fund, cases of fruit an 4 weekly cigarettes and tobacco; T.M.C.A., weekly cigarettes and tobacco; Mrs. H. Johnston, electric vulcaniser and silver cleaner; Miss Kirkcaldie, engine pump; Mrs. Sunley, eggs; Miss Rutherford, jinoleum; Miss Rathtae, beaver bowd; Mrs. Guthrie (Palmerston North), honey. Thanks are also duo to the Commercial Union Assurance Company and Lindsay's, Ltd., who allow parcels to bo left for tho hospital, and have also helped in many other ways.

Two Brave Englishwomen. It is with great regret that tho news was recently received that tho "Women of Pervyso" had both,been badly gassed (luring'the recent bombardment, a German shell having burst at tho entrance of their dug-out, states tho N.S.W. "Bed Cross Record." Theso two ladies— tho Baroness T'b'orclacs and Miss Main Chisholm—havo done magnificent work sinco the early days of tho war, having maintained a concealed dressing station, famous as tho "Cellar House of Pervyso," in the actual fighting area on'the Belgian front. This they did by special permission of tho King of the Belgians, who has also, in consideration of their heroic conduct, created them Knights of tho Order of Leopold 11., an Order which' carries with it the right to be saluted by every Belgian soldier.

Air Raids and Australian Jam. The N.S.W. "Rod Cross Record" states that a vivid glimpse of what our women workers are facing in London is given by tho following from tho letter of an Australian: "You remember my telling you that our Red Crass work-rooms aro in tho Royal Academy. Well, one of tho last air raids got. there all. right, though, luckily, no one was there, a<3 .it happened in tho middle of tho night. Two floors wore completely wrecked anil every window in the building. We work in the art studios, under the exhibition galleries, and our rooms were full of exquisite plaster casts of some of the moat famous etatuary in the world, for tho students to study from. All were reduced to powder, and very dirty powder at that, mixed up with torn and twisted water pipes and remains of what wero once two hundred of our overalls and thousands of pounds' worth of finished work and garments in the making. However, the roof is on again now, and wo aro hard at work putting on an extra spurt to try and make up by degrees for tho wastage. Before wc vwmt back to work I simply had to havo four days' rest, so 1 went down- to a little inn on tho Sussex Downs, and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed somo fresh air and sunshine, evon j,f rather a, watery kind, after six months of neither. Tho sight of a spring morning on tho downs is ono that you don't soon forg*t. Kipling lives just near in a beautiful old Tudor house, with clipped yew hedges and a walled garden. Of course, you know all about the rationing scheme, but you may ho intorested to hear that jam is practically unobtainable,' so that when Harrod's not long ago got a shipload of Australian melon ]am the shop was nearly wrecked in tho furht for it. I managdd <xt -secure a few tins for a Red Cross bazaar, and you would gasp if you knew the fabulous prices it brought.

Red Cross Care of Blinded Soldiers, A very interesting phase of the activities of tho Australian branch of the. British Bed Cross Society is the after caro of blind soldiers. A sub-committee has been formed for. this work, and they aro in touch with ton totally blinded returned soldiers and four partially blinded. They visit them regularly, and lay their wants before the committee. Tho men aro taught to make woollon scarves and string bags, Every four weeks an ovening party is given by the Bed Cross visiting representatives for' tho amusement of the men, Two blinded soldiers who have been comfortably settled by tho Government aro recoiving "after care." One is a ipoultry farmer, and has had gifts of valuable poultry and a pedigreo sow from well-wishers, the Bed Cross providing a sty for the latter animal. Tho other man is making mats and blankets, and has been holped to start squab-breeding.' Tho birds are doing so well that a second loft is required, and this.he intends putting up himself. Two other blind soldiers aro taking lip, massage, and tho Australian Mnssago Association has nnder consideration the question of training them. Blinded soldiers in hospital are visited regularly, and an endeavour is made to interest them in some sort of occupation.

Writing to a member of tho Clara Rogers Comforts Fund in Wellington, a soldier belonging to tho Twenty-ninth Reinforcements says:—"General Richardson has commenced his educational echemo in connection with tho troops, and wo spend one hour a day on an educational subject. To-day we had geography; to-morrow wo will havo economics: tho nex day book-keeping, and so on. [ think it Mi good scheme for a man who is in one camp for any length of time, and when it ie placed on a working basis will perhaps do a great deal of good. It is rather unfortunate that I have' not had an opportunity to visit M ; ss Rogers, but I will do so on my leave from Brocton Camp, and I will send you a report of her work at Walton.''

Tho treasurer of the Aotea Convalescent Home (EgypO acknowledges the sum of ,i«5 from tho' secretary of tho Feilding Girls' Patriotic Club.

The committee- of tho shop greatly appreciates the work of these ladies, whose effort has been carried out quietly and earnestly with tho keen desiro to help on Red Cross work.