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Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 6

“Gipsying through Europe” with the sound of haunting melodies in their ears and their eyes filled with the life, warmth and colour of the countries through which they passed, two Englishwomen, touring abroad, “took” their audience with them on Thursday night on a leisurely and vivid imaginary journey. . The entertainment, given by the president and younger members of the Victoria League of Wellington, took the form of a reception, the main feature of the programme being the artis-tically-arranged item “A Tour Through Europe.” The “tourists,” after visiting Greece, with its wonderful statuary, passed on to Hungary, where gipsy entertainers gave dances, gay songs and narratives for their delight. Groups of girls with beribboned hair and the traditional cos tume of these carefree wanderers shook their tambourines and danced blithely, after which came sad gipsy music and singing. The costumes were dazzling and rainbow-hued in this scena, which ended in a whirl of colour and song. From Hungary, the Englishwomen wandered to Vienna, where in a modern night club, Schubert’s music recalled the faded glories of the past. Typical. Viennese songs were listened to by the young women who were dining there, and to Strauss’s Blue Danube, the visitors watched a graceful solo waltz number. On a piazza in Geneva, the tourists meet Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, a young and ardent pacifist who discusses the problems of the times with them. Skirt dancers in swinging yellow skirts banded in bright colours take their thoughts away from serious matters and lilting

songs follow. Gay Brittany. The final scena finds Celia and Margaret, the English tourists, in Brittany, lingering among ’the beauties of the old towns and villages. A troupe of happy village girls in wooden clogs, white mob caps and gaily-striped dresses perform a sturdy clog dance for i the delighted onlookers. Charming I French chansons, with ringing choruses, delight them, and as they sit in the twilight talking of the part women have played in the past of this great country, the scene darkens and Joan of Arc, iu shining, armour, appears and speaks to the people. She is followed by Charlotte Corday, who denounces oppression and upholds liberty with a passionate appeal. The entertainment was organized and performed entirely by the younger members of the society, the Masonic Hall, The Terrace, being filled for the occasion with members and their friends.

Those who took part in the various scenes were Celia, Ethel Ford; Margaret, Rere Bickway; gipsy, Marjorie Osborne; violinist, Ida Lockwood; solist, Margaret Armour; legend narrator, Irene Morris; Hungarian dancer, Jean Knox-Gilmer; pianist, Ngaire Iligliet; soloist, Mifanwy Davies; Viennese dancer, Bernice Hogg; Dr. Gordon, Noeline Crainond ; soloist, Hilda Webster; Joan of Are, Patricia Giedhill; and Charlotte Corda.v, Mrs. Bessie MeKinlay. The dancers ami singers were Airs. E. McAllum, the Misses Mollie BritonSmith, Noeline Crainond, Andrey Davis, Nancy Dixon, Marjorie Fyffe, Marie Giedhill, Patricia Gillespie, MoF lie Rodie, Winifred Vickery, Yvonne, Vickery, Ellie Watson, Frances Gardiner, Barbara Gillespie, Birdie Mantann, Dawn Mazengarb, Nedra McDonald, Editii McFarlane, Patricia Reade, Mifanwy Davies. Nancy Gillespie. Nell Kendall, Jean Lennie, Kathleen Pears. Margaret Armour, Denise Gardiner, Jean Knox-Gilmer, Jean Eennie, Marjorie Oslmrne, Dorothy Cardy. Marjorie Gibbons, Sylvia Purr, Nancy Trimnell, Phyllis Turnbull. Nancy Walls.

The script was prepared by Mrs. Bessie MeKinlay, ami the entertainment was produced by Mrs. McKinlay and Miss Patricia Giedhill. Miss Marjorie Vause supervised the dances, and the costumes were the work of Miss Marie Giedhill. Dancing and supper concluded a pleasant evening.

Mr. and Mrs. S. V. Playsted, Victoria, Australia, have arrived at Masterton, where Mr. Playsted will assume the managership of the Commercial Bank of Australia.

Most useful for trousseaux are the smart little woo! suits at Guinea Gowns, !)2 Lambton Quay. A rust wool is finely tucked back and front into a Norfolk yoke, suede belt to mutch. A light tan is I rimmed with stitching, and lias a brown velvet cravat and a brown belt. A storm blue has a big bow of black lamb at. the throat, black lamb buttons and a. black kid belt. A chic little smokey tan angora suit with self buttons and stitching is only 3| guineas.—Advt-