HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2076, 10 May 1907, Page 1

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

By “Penelope.” Wellington. A BRILLIANT BALL.

Many events have centred round the visit of the squadron, hut the ball given by tho Wellington' Club was certainly tho most notable. Any amount of trouble—increased by tho heavy rain that involved extra flooring and awnings—had been gone to by the committee, and men had been busy for days covering and flooring tho tounis court and making temporary passages. The billiard room was used for dancing in, and large as it is with tho now addition, it was all too small for tho crowd. It was not until later —wlion the rooms got clearer —that tlioro was sufficient spaco to danco in with comfort. But tho sight was a brilliant ono, for exquisite flowers w;ero sot everywhere; in the dancing room green and pink wore tho prevailing colors, and all the lights wore veiled in sliadod silk of those tones, while immense baskets of flowers, with autumn leaves, stood on the mantelpieces, draped and festooned with rose and green silk scarves. The supper room was a patriotic arrangement of red, white, and blue, shades, ribbons, and flowers —daisies, geraniums, and cornflowers —being all in the three colors, while baskets of autumn leaves and chyrsanthemums were suspended from each light. The supper itself included all sorts of luxuries, in season and out of season, and any amount of champagne, and the menu was a matter to marvel at. Indeed all the arrangements were excellent, and the committee were unwearied in their hospitality. The one little terumpled rose leaf was the chaos that prevailed in the men’s dressingroqm when the time came to go. Those who went early had mixed the wraps and hats up in their hurried attempts to secure their own property, and there was great confusion. In tho morning many varied belongings—including some naval

i^aps —wore found, so some of the naval guests must have gone back to their sliips without hats in the driving rain. We danced to a band of nine performers who played delightful music, and were most obliging in playing extras. Indeed, no r-njoyablo was the dance that there was no sign of the guests leaving when the last dance on the programme came to an end, and even after four extras they departed with great reluctance. Fit OCXS AND DEBUTANTES.

It was an occasion when no less thau elevou debutantes took their first dip into society, and they seemed to enjoy tho experience immensely. Misses Valerie Menteatli, Nesbit, of Dunedin, Elder, W. Beetham, of Brancepetli, Johnston, of Hawke’s Bay, Doris Tewsley, and Knight, of Sydney, were some of these. Lady Fawkes, who is elderly, wore lino black lace over silver tissue, and Mrs Bell —the hostess for’ the Club —was in a very charming frock of pastel blue moire velours, the bodice nearly all of tullo and lace. Mrs Tewsloy’s striking frock was of deep-toned ivory satin, tho tabbed over-skirt falling on lace

frills and green velvet bands, and the bodice having green velvet "traces and tiny green roses in ribbon embroidery. An exquisite frock of Indian embroideries worn by Miss Miles, in pale green and. gold on tulle, had the skirt hemmed with a band of shaded green silk, a pale green chiffon underskirt over white silk gave it a very soft appearance and delicate tint. A bride, Mrs Munro —neo Miss Sliandf of Dunedin, —wore her wedding gown, with a great purplo rose in the lacesj on the bodice, and an osprey, clasped by a jewelled buttorfly, in her higlidressed hair. Apropos of coiffures, some girls had most exaggerated

heads, two pretty sisters wearing their really beautiful hair in high loops and puffs. Another guest went to the other extreme, and dresed her dark smooth locks flat to her smooth head with side combs, with a most peculiar effect. Mrs. Arthur Pearce’s gown of black lace scarves, connected with velvet trellis, over a very full white chiffon dress, was very smart, and Mrs. Gung Williams wore a lovely brocade patterned with great clusters of flowers in soft rose, green, and lavender. Mrs Laing-Mason was in peach-bloom chiffon velvet, draped with exquisite lace, clusters of rosetinted grapes decorating the bodice. A handsome young matron, Mis Frank Lcckie, was brilliant, in buttercup satin with crimson roses on the corsage.

FOR THE SAILORS. The men were not forgotten in the ■-tneral hospitality, and the Navy League on Friday evening gave them a concert and dance in the Town Hall. The best part of the programme was contributed by the guests themselves, fo- the line band of the Powerful

played, two sailors danced hornpipes wonderfully, and same of the mar-

ines sang some excellent comic songs, and gave a most amusing dialogue. But' the most interesting part of the evening was the dance that followed, Upstairs in the gallery we watched with huge admiration the wonderful dancing, no careless whirling round, but a serious performance in which each step had to he given due impcrtaiice. No talking took place while the couples gyrated, and there was no attempt at. promenading or “sitting out” afterwards. It also seemed a matter of indifference as to whether one’s partner were male or female; indeed most of the sailors danced together with lingo, if solemn, enjoyment. Some introduced weird fancy steps into the waltz, promenading and setting to partners every light bars, and picturesque lint unfamiliar “turns’* were inserted into

the lancers. They really dance much better than those whom the Sydney Bulletin terms “the very nicest.” Two young men were specially noticeable. and some of the younger members of the League yearned for an introduction. It seemed absolute waste that two such fine dancers should he content to dance together all. the evening. As usual, Mr. Moore, 'the Seamen’s Missiouer, has been busy looking after the men. organising sports, concerts, and various “plays.” Mrs. David Nathan got up a concert for them on Friday, the Misses Aldous on Saturday, and the Mayor entertains them on Monday. RECEPTION AT BISHOPSCOURT. Lady Fawkes has been staying with

Mrs. Wallis, who held an At Homo on Saturday afternoon for her guest and the Admiral. The holiday enabled quite a nubmer of frock-coats and tall lmts to diversify tho gayer toilettes of the ladies, and, even if it does make, men more conceited than they arc already, it must be admitted they make a reception more interesting—oven • if, as is too often the case, they are dragged, reluctant victims, bv their wives, to the affair. A large number of visitors to Wellington were present, among them Judge Donniston, who also delighted the members of the Savage Club with his stories, Mrs. W. Barton, and Miss Cornwall, of Taranaki. Lady Fawkes wore silver-grey taffetas, with lace, and Mrs. Wallis was in white silk veiled with lace, with touches of black velvet. It was a cold, raw evening, but the pretty,rooms wero bright and gay with flowers, and delicious refreshoments were served in the study. “THE YELLOW PERIL.” The MacMabon Company are acting this sensational play, founded on Oriental habits and customs, which, if one may judge by the plot, are objectionable in the extreme. In genious Chinese tortures were vividly described and illustrated on the stage, and the audience sympathetically shuddered. But their horror did not prevent them patronising the Chinese fruit shops on the way home. The plot was extraordinary—• centreing round the marriage of an English girl to a Chinese nobleman, educated at Yale—and tho situations were most exciting, even including an avalanche, by no means an easy thing to depict on the stage. Tho most interesting character in the play was that of a breezy American girl with a conspicuous accent, and an ever-ready revolver to enforce her arguments. The dresses worn by tho Chinese are authentic, and very' picturesque.

SOCIAL NOTES.

Mrs. llaydon, from Auckland, has gone to visit her brother in Buenos Ayres for a year. She was a passenger by the A theme, by which boat Miss Payne, our lady superintendent of tho Hospital, also left on a six months’ holiday. Archdeacon Toogood, from Mart on, has been a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Dean. Major Moore, who some years ago was head of the Artillery here, is married to a pretty Canadian girl. Miss Wark, from Sydney, lias been staying with Mrs. Cecil Jones. She left for home last Saturday. .Mrs. Menzies has gone to stay .in Invercargill with Mrs. Murray Menzies.

THE EXHIBITION ORCHESTRA

Through the enterprise, benevolence, one might almost call it, of a Wellington lady, the Exhibition Orchestra gave four concerts last week, aided by the fine singing of Mr. Prou.sc. The programmes wore splendid—a feast of musical delights—and yet the audiences were pool l . But they made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in numbers, and those who went revelled in the magnificent music. It is difficult to understand the reason why more people did not seize the opportunity of hearing such fine concerts. But no rule has yet been found that applies to Wellington audiences and their vagaries, and it is quite likely a crowded liouso may witness a melodrama by thirdclass 'performers, while the next'night

a mere handful of musical enthusiasts will listen to a most delightful concert.