Plain and Fancy Dress Ball.

Manawatu Herald, 18 August 1900, Page 2

Plain and Fancy Dress Ball.

On Tuesday night the Foxton Public Hall was crowded with children and adults who attended to take part in the,, above given by Mrs W. Cook. The hall was beautifully decorated, the floor in the very best order, the music first- class, and the hall brilliantly lighted for the occasion. The number in the hall at one time can with safety be estimated at over 250 persons.

The children had a really good time from 7.30 till close on ten, when supper was banded round, and then they indulged in two more dances, which concluded their part of the evening's festivities, and many left for home. The children had in all ten dances, and as the majority were in fancy dresses, the sight was indeed a pretty one, and likely to remain in the little one's minds for some time to come. It is useless to select any tor special mention, as they all looked extremely well, and in most cases much work had been bestowed on some of the dresses.

The following children appeared in fancy costumes : — Misses N. Cummerfield, " Shamrock ;" F. Dunckley, " Grace Darling ;" A. Colliris " Fairy ;" C. Overend, " Nancy Lee ;" I. Lee, " Bride ;" B. Dudson, " Shepherdess ;" P. Fraser, " Bells;" K. Darvill, " Twilight;" F. Darvill, " Buttercup," Ethel Collins, "Queen of Hearts ;" Doris Cook,. " Butterfly ;" O. Frasef, " Sailor Girl " Margery Robinson, " Little BoPeep;" J. Coley, " Romp," J. Dudson, " Fairy ;" L. Gray, "Daisy Bell ;" N. Gray, " Red, White and Blue;" D. Macharper', "Flax;" Ava Symons, " Kate Greenaway;" E. Symons, " Peasant ; P. Symons, " Wattle;" A. Walls, "Daisy Bell;" M. Rhodes, "French FishWife;" H. Morley, "Twilight;" , Beryl Fraser, <; School Girl ;" B. and D. Hunter, "Two Little Girls in Blue ;" K. and P. Caverhill, " Roses ;" F. Cook, " Infant ;" H. Cook, " Milkmaid ;" M. and E. Webb, " Kate Greenaway's ;" C. Coley, "JPillar-box ;" R. Lee, •• Star ;" J. Lee, " Harvest ;'» May Dunckley, "Queen of Hearts;" Gracie Robinson, " Little Red Riding » Hood;" H. Howe, "Morning Star;" R. Howe, -«" Fairy;" M. Alzdorf, "Sunflower;" E. Wan klyn, " Flower Girl;" N." King, " Forget-nie-Not ;" I. Cozens, " Flower Girl ;" Ethel Davies, " Kate Greenaway ;" Irene Davies, "Pink;" M. Aldrich, *' Good Luck."

Masters Harold Collins, "Music;" D. Gray, " Little Lord Fauntleroy ;" W. Gray, " Sailor Boy ;" Eric Gray, " Sailor Boy ;" C. Dunckley, " Soldier ;" V. Wright, " Page ;" Cyril Collins, " Pierrot ;" Alfred Cook, " Jack the Giant Killer ;" Elsley Cook, " Punchinello ;" Bert Shadbolt, " Clown." - Ernest Dudson, " Nigger ;" Andrew Imrie, "Turk;" Herbert Robinson, " Little Boy Blue," The committee of young ladies who wore rosettes of red, white and blue ribbons, saw to the wants of the children during the supper adjournment, and the front porch of the hall was set apart for them for liquid refreshment which was obtainable at any time.

A very great number of children also attended in ordinary dress, and it was remarkable how even some of the little ones danced so well. ' Programmes were handed round to the adults, and the following were the dances :— First part — Waltz, Lancers, Tennis Dance, Waltz, Barn Dance, Waltz, Quadrille, Mazurka, and two extra waltzes. Second part — Waltz, Berlin Polka, Lancers, Polka, Barn Dance, Waltz, Quadrille, Waltz and the last extra, a waltz.

Between the first and second part supper was partaken of, and much enjoyed. The following wore fancy, costumes : —Misses A. Collins " Music ;" M. Banner, "Music;" P. Collins, " Old English ;" Edith Collins, " Britannia ;" , E. Wright, " Brittania ;" M. Dudson, •• Nurse ;" E. Symons, " Old English ;" J. Imrie, " Night ;" F. Dudson, " Old English ;"• L. O'Brien, " Lady Clare," L. Cook, " Gipsy ;" D. Brown, " United Kingdom;" Alice Parcell, "Evening Star ;" Ruby Fraser, "When the Heart is Young ;'' May Collins, " Daughter of the Regiment ;" Hilda Collins, " Tarn- V bourine Girl;" M. Ray, "Flower Girl ;" M. Austin, " Evergreen ;" Elsie Cook, " Romp ;" Mrs Dudson, " Red Cross Nurse;" Mrs W. Cook, "Poppies." The gentlemen were : — Messrs O. Austin, " Ruination ;" F. St. Hill, " Parlor Maid ;" E. Hunter, " poster ;" D. Hunter, "Sailor;" A. "Symons, " Old English Gentleman ;" A. Henderson, "Soldier;" F. Cook, "Red, White and Blue ;" R. Simmons, " Gondolier ;" M. Perreau, " Captain Corcoran."

. There were many lady and gentlemen dancers present in evening dress, and as many as 50 conple .were dancing at one time. The stage was set apart for the non-dancers, and the seating accommodation was at a premium, numbers having to content themselves with standing room and watch the pretty sight.

It may be as well to mention thatthe costumes worn by a number of the ladies was particularly striking, and were most original. Misses Collins and Banner (Music), were among the best, and were designed by the latter lady. " Poppies " was also another character well carried out, and designed by the same lady. Miss Edith Collins looked extremely well as " Brittania," as also did Miss L. Cook (Gipsy), Elsie Cook (Romp), D. Macharper as " Flax " was most origi-

nal, being designed by Mrs J. Symons. The other characters ?lso deserve special praise. i>;i Mr O. Austin as " Ruination," was perhaps the most original of the gentlemen, and Mr St. Hill (Parlor maid), Mr A. Symons (Old English Gentleman) R. Simmons (Gondolier), M. Perreau (Captain Corcoran), were also good.

The music was supplied by Mrs W. Cook (piano), Miss Banner (violin), and Messrs T. Betty and S.Ennis (cornets.) Miss Collins and Master Harold Collins also assisted at the pianoforte during the evening, and the music was everything that could be desired. The ball proved to be one of the best of its kind ever given in Foxton, and was much enjoyed.