HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1957, 13 December 1906, Page 3

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

DOiOEES. (By Penelope.) Wellington, Dec. 0. Tho dolightful singer is cortainly tho I porsonago of tho woelc, and hor concerts havo been immonsoly onjoyod. Tho Town Hall was not packed, hut then it holds so many that—excopt on occasions whore there was no admission charged—it has rarely been quito full. Tho audiences that I listonod so appreciatively to Mudomoisollo Dolores would considerably more than fill I the Opera House. I

Bho has a very charming personality, and is —as Miss Palotta so gonorously declared—tho only artist who ploasos everyone. Sympathetic, merry, and quite I I unspoiled by sueeoss, sho charms ovory- I one who meets her. On Tuesday after- I noon sho had quito a liltlo reception at I Mrs Prouso's, where sho and hor com- I panion arc staying as guests. Most quietly I dressed—she woro a simple black short I skirt and a pale bluo silk blouse— sho I chatted merrily to everyone, and took in- I tercst iu all that was going on. Hor I bright eyes and comely face beam with ( animation, and express ovory shade of I ( i emotion. This is so marked when sho j sings, for her- eountonanco is an index of I the sentiment of tho music.

I Though she drosses so simply oil’ tho | platform, she has lovely frocks and exquisite jewels. Some pink corals, sot in I diamonds, that sho woro as necklet and bracelets at her first eoucort, were handed [ down from her great grandmother, and of course many of her lino diamonds aro historic. Her gowns she has made in j Paris. On Monday evening she woro a pink silk, with wonderful embroideries of I shell sequins, I

According to a critic who has heard both singers often, it is impossible to compare tho voices of Clara Butt and Dolores. Tho former is of tremendous volume, robust I and vigorous, with deep organ notes that seem all too rich to be human. The latter is delicately sympathetic with all tho dainty shades of expression, and of marvellous flexibility. Clara Butt’s voice is I almost that of a man, Doloros sings at times like a brook, and seems to have but to open her mouth for melody to gush forth. Those who have been fortunate onough to hear Clara Butt at Homo prod j a great success for her here. She has .. fine and most attractive presence, and often dresses her stately figure in red—a color most becoming to her brunette coloring.

•- AN ENGLISH PAINTER. j Some months ago, a number of Spanish 1 pictures in Macgregor Wright's studio atB traded some notice. One in particular ’ immensely impressed me. It was tho | figure of a dancing girl, exquisitely poised and full of life, the vivid yellow skirts seeming to move in tho picture, and the face full of arch enjoyment. Every bit was beautifully painted, and there were no impressionist daubs to worry over as to what they represented. Tho painter, Mr W. Hounson Bvles, R S.B A., arrived last week, and I had the pleasure of meeting him on Tuesday. Ho is very lean and brown—as befits a man who has for many years lived in Spain and ho has fallen a victim to the charms of Wellington. It has been for long the custom of many indiscriminating persons to call tho Empire City ugly. But of late so many visitors, and some artists, have pronounced it beautiful, that these peoplo will have to reconsider tbeir opinions, Mr Byles goes so far as to prefer Wellington Harbor to that of Sydney, though I am not sure he voiced that opinion iu New South Wales, Ho specialises in figures, portraits, and animals, especially horses. Some of his paintings aro to be seen in the Christchurch Exhibition, and more aro on their way out. He is so charmed with the small part of New Zealand that he has seen that he will probably remain some time here painting. He left this week for Taranaki, and after a few days there will go South to Christchurch, Only one of his pictures is to be found at Macgregor Wright’s. It represents a Spanish market, and a fruit stall, piled with fiat baskets of cherries. A lovely woman is J considering what she is going to buy, and I beyond are groups of market folk, J

A PIONEER.

This week has passed away—after a very short illness-a very notable figure in Wellington society, although of late it has been seen abroad but seldom. Mrs Richmond was a brilliant and well-read lady, who kept to the last her interests and enthusiasms, and who was what is very rarely met with in this ago of rush and babble, a conversationalist. She arrived fifty years ago—in no feather bod times. Indeed the barque of GOO tons imagine that, you people who grumble at our big liners —which brought her and her husband to New Zealand took six months to reach Auckland. Her eight children are all clever, and one, Miss Anna Rich-

mond, writes fine poetry, some of which she has published. Mrs Fell is tho second daughter, and tho eldest has been carrying out so successfully the Free Kindergarten in the poorer part of Wellington. Miss Emily Richmond, tho youngest, keeps a Kindergarten also, to which numbers of children go, and where they are taught most cleverly and brightly, At the time of tho Doer war the little pupils were kept an courant with all the events, and had special songs composed descriptive of episodes.

GIRL ATHLETES

It is seldom that tho Girls’ College is favored with such an exquisite day for their sports as Friday was. Tho pretty grounds were crowded with gaily froeked women, a few men, and any number of girls and boys, the latter half cynical, half admiring. All sorts of quaint events wero on the programme, the most amusing being an animal race. For this three pug puppies—in red, white, and blue coats ; a little black cocker spaniel elaborately arranged in amber ruff, coat and cap, gold and black, being the College colours, and a pessimistic fowl in white mulch and baggy trousers, entered, the latter winning. The blindfold race was extremely funny, the competitors wandering in among tho spectators and into tho hedges. One was struck by the hale, graceful, cherry look of tho girls, their sensible dress, gymnastic grace and quickness, and their excellent behaviour, Miss Maclean, the hostess of the afternoon, is a most attractive and graceful lady, She wore a soft white silk, with lace insertions, and a sapphire blue hat of straw, with tulle drapings, and a large red rose at one side. Year after year the same men help at the sports, Mr Joynt, Mr Martin Luckie, and Mr Batkin always controlling and hastening the events. It was altogether a gay scone. Flags were waving, a band playing, afternoon tea in the largest class-room, and numbers of friends and acquaintances to greet. Y.M.C.A. SPORTS MEETING. Tho Basin Reserve was well filled on Saturday, even though it was not the pleasantest of days, when the Y.M C.A. held an athletic carnival. All sorts of races and competitions were held, and some proved most exciting. Variety was given to tho affair by a maypole dance, performed by a number of children in gay gauzy frocks and quaint headgear. Tho ribbons they plaited and unplaited so deftly were of the Association’s colors rod, black, and yellow. Unfortunately, the management arranged that the small dancers should trip it to the strains of two bagpipes whoso alleged music was quito unsuitod to the dance. But the pipers . themselves strutting like turkey cocks, , round the circling children, certainly added to tho effect, though their music fell on many unappreciative ears. Among thoso present was Mrs Williams, the

generous lady who gave so munificently to tho fund, and to whom our sailors owe their fine Rest. HOSPITAL SUNDAY,

A high wind, with an unpleasant feeling

of approaching rain, prevented a very largo attendance at the Basin Reserve on Sunday, and consequently the amount gstherod—£lso—was not so largo as last year’s amount. Tho papers are asking where tho wealthier classes wero, for, though tho working people attended in large numbers, the others were conspicuously absent. But the collectors for the Hospital wero abroad all Saturday, and probably many gavo to them and oonsidrrtd their duty done. Sir Robert S.'ouf, our Chief Justice, made an eloquent speeob, and was complimented on the same by (be MajoTj Me T* Hislop, who

followed him. Various bands played soleo lions duriug tho aftornoon. TWO OLIMBERS.

I The Duloh elimbor, Mr Sillom, and bis I Austrian wifo, aro in Wellington, and sail I by tbo Atbonio on Thursday for Buonos Ayrns, whore thoy loavo the bent and I make for Aoonoagnn, thoir next halting * I plaoo. Mr Sillom Is now boay in WillingI ton gotting togolher bis Atpino rquipmont I for tho asoont of that famuns mountain, | I which is ovor 23,000 foot high, and makes 1 1 ono of ibo highest asoonts on record. M< I Sillom has olimbod all tho highost monnI tains in tbo European Alps and tho Now I Zoaland Alps ('nolading Mt. Oook), and in I I addition ho has made nomo high mounts liu tho Himalayas. From an actual I climbing point of viovv thoro is no groat I I dilliunlty to bo surmounted on Aoonoigus; I but tbo rarifiod air oausoa groit difficulty I in breathing, and osusos wbut is known to

I Alpine mon ns mountain sioknoss. Fi-z i gorald, who did some big work in tbo Now ' Zoaland Alps, was tho first to taoklo Aoonoagua. Ho spool a fow thousand pounds on tho expedition, and was thoroughly woll rquippod, but failed himsolf to got to tbo summit of tho mountain. Two members of his party, however, succeeded in doing so, viz., Zurbriggon, tho famous guide, and Mr Vinos, who, if I remember rightly, was tho naturalist of ibo party. Zurbriggen, who is a very strong man, sullorod a good deal from

’ mountain sioknoss. Tbo fact that Mr Vinos, who was rather a dolioato mau, wkb ablo to make tbo asoont, wah somowbut I remarkable, and ha did not sufi -r to the i I sumo extent as tbo otliors from mountuiu siekoesp. Mr Sidom, offo? bis Aoonoagua trip, will go to Europe for u season’s climbing tborp, and two years hence be hopes to be onoe more in tho Mount Cook vegioD, which ho says is an 1 ideal olimbing ground. Now Zaulandiri, ho says, do not yot know what a wonderful and valuable asset they have i i thoir Southern Alps, and ho urges the Tourist Department to shorten the journey to the Hermitage, and to oiler greater faoiiiiios both there and at tbo huts on tho Groat Tasman Glacier, for olimbers and tourists generally. Mrs i Sillem is a good bit ovor six foot in I height, in porfoot proportion. Her oolor- 1 ing and foaturcs aro beautiful, and sho drosses with exquisiio tasie. A vory 1

tine diamond brooch that was in tha Isoos in the front of her bronza silk gown had u quaint experience in Cashmere. Mrs and Mis Sillom (wore climbing and left all thoir luggage in the town. Mrs Sillom had got a quantity of of pretty frocks from Europe, and left hor jewels behind ; also taking only two short mountaineering skirts, and tho barest necessaries. Whilo they were away a flood came and tho room where tho trunks woro stored was for some days dcop iu wator. On hor return Mrs Sillom discovered her pretty things absolutely usolcss and rotten, and had to borrow a skirt from ono lady and a blouse Rom another. Tho peoplo i in charge had endeavored to dry the I things by spreading them out in the gardens. Mrs Sillem missed hor brooch, wont ]

to the place whore the luggage had boeu turned out, and there, almost hidden among dead leaves, she found her diamonds. The brooch had been lying thoro three weeks.