Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 15, 13 October 1900, Page 8

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

Dear Christabel — THE Wellington Camera Club's little Exhibition in Mr Wrights 1 gallery was interesting. One is so accustomed to stroll into the little hall without saying by your leave that-6onae people — notably one or two email boyd— were taken aback at the request for a modest sixpence. They cast one look in and disappeared, probably reflecting, if they had the money, it might be laid out to more advantage in seeing the Willis-street Waxworks. Some of the landscapes exhibited were charming, and it is instinctive to see how many ■exquisite pictures can be got about " ugly Wellington." There was a most attractive head of a weather-beaten veteran, taken, it is said, by a comparatively new amateur, and two portraits of winsome Miss Campion, in one of which she is playing ouchre with "herself, a choice that does credit to her taste. The X-Bay photographs were horribly fascinating and most instructive, but not the sort of things one would hang up in one's •drawingroom. Some Maori studies, one especially of some girls with wreaths of flowers, were by a beginner, and very good indeed. Another charming picture was a landscape, "The Ford," and another pretty study was the portrait of a little girl with a watch pressed to her ear. * • • There is a marvellous difference in the framing of pictures to-day. Instead of the white mounts and the Oxford frames -that used to be in general use for photographs and engravings, now we have coloured mounts, dull green for instance, -or even gold, the border being often of unpolished wood. The result is decidedly artistic, though possibly our grandfathers might not have the same •opinion. * • • To one who has had experience of the amateur photographic craze in relatives, there is infinite pathos underlying a -Camera Clnb exhibition. It represents a -chaotic house, with photographs everywhere, a despairing wife and mother, and a bewildered servant who is not even allowed to sweep because of negatives drying in rows ■along tbe mantleshelves. If the amateur is a beginner, and is starting in a small "way, he will utilise the bathroom, interfere with the family's ablutions, and once if not oftener, in his wild career, forget to turn the tap oil' or take the plug out, thus -causing an extempore cataract and a domestic storm. The lot of an amateur photographer's wife is not a happy one, especially if she does not " take well," and consequently has no compensation. 'The subject deserves an article to itself. « • • It was worth the money the other -evening only to hear Mr Carter, in "" The Gondoliers," sing " Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes." He sang grandly, and looked remarkably well in scarlet velvet and white satin and ermine. Mr O'Connor acted and sang excellently, and Miss Campion, whose fair hair altered lier considerably, is always vivacious and charming. Tessa, too, was a dainty piece of acting. There is a divided allegiance in the feminine world between Mr Carter and Mr Percy. The latter's barrister's wig was highly becoming, and the way he managed his black robes was marvellous. There is certainly little fear of things dragging while his merry little figure is on the stage. The dresses were very fresh and pretty, the fair Casilda wearing the daintiest of blue and silverstriped frocks, and the regal robes of the twin kings being so superbly effective as to make one sigh for the days of masculine joeacockry. * • • A propos of Kings, it was not till the interval that some of the audience discovered another King in the dress-circle. This was Mahuta, who came with Mr Kaihan and pretty Mrs Kaihau in white. He is brown and comely, young and well dressed, and consequently rather a fascinating personage to women generally. However, he was coy, and held his hat before his face while the lights were turned up, and we could not see the play

of expression on the Royal features. It might of course have been worse. He might have unfurled his umbrella. * * * The Opera House was crowded, and quite a number of our legislators were seeking a little relaxation. Mr and Mrs Hall-Jones, Mr and Mrs Guinness, Mr Barclay, and Mr Herries were among the audience. The dressing was very Satur-day-nigh tish — a variety of costumes, from theatre-blouses to sailor hats. A tall woman wore a charming grey, steel embroidered cloak, bordered with white fur. It went excellently with her pretty soft white hair that had in it a black aigrette. With a good complexion, dark eyes and eyebrows, white hair has a most delightful effect, reminiscent of French marquises and a romantic age. • * * The past week has been a series of political orgies, and conscientious members have gone home in time for breakfast. Legislation carried out in the early morning hours cannot be, surely, of the highest order of excellence, and a peep into the House at, say, about 5 a.m., is productive of much meditation on the marvellous ways of law-makers- The Chamber is almost empty. Here and there are strewn a few prostrate forms, in more or less graceful attitudes, and with more or less aggressive snores. The few men that are awake are virtuously trying to discuss the question, but virtue is its own reward in their case, for, the House being in Committee, their remarks are not even reported to their constituents. And certainly hardly anybody in the Chamber is listening to them. # * * Now and again a member is waked up by an emphatic speech, and is, like a child, extremely fractious. A division bell calls in the stray sheep and awakens the slumberers. Members drift in from the lobbies, and ask what the vote is upon, or else watch the Premier and follow his burly figure. It is all very extraordinary law-making, and it is not astonishing that now and again blunders are made. On Saturday morning, on the Industrial Schools Bill, an amendment was carried against the Government by one, and the reformers chuckle merrily. But the Premier did not seem cast down. In fact, he chuckled more than the reformers, and has been chuckling ever since, for the amendment was badly framed, and of no effect, and left the Bill where it was. The legal authority who said the amendment was effective is having a bad time. Some writer has described his lawyer as the legal light that casts an obscurity over his affairs. There is much truth, in the description. Points in debate that are fairly clear become utterly incomprehensible when explained by the lawyers in the House. • * • Mrs Fulton, who has been giving pleasant At Homes on Mondays during the winter, struck quite an original note in the last of her evenings. Each guest, and there were about eighty present, was to wear a mask to disguise herself or himself in some way, a prize being given for the most original and effective disguise. The result was very amusing, From the moment one entered the hall and confronted groups of weird, masked, and cloaked people, the mirth was intense. It was impossible to be stiff when two people were peering into each other's faces and trying to discover the hidden identity. Some wore elaborate disguises. A Djin-Djin was especially ferocious, and one lady who played progressive euchre and talked a mixture of broken English and German was for a long time a mystery. Each fresh arrival was greeted with p sals of laughter and wild conjectures. Ac ten o'clock the masks and cloaks were removed, and curiosity satisfied. Then a very delightful supper was served. The prize for the tuost effective lady's disguise fell to Mrs Pearson, and Mrs and Miss ftawson carried off the second prize. As well as progressive euchre and billiards, there was music, Mr Robertson in particular delighted everyone by singing " This life's a hollow bubble." The host and hostess have to be congratulated on arranging a most enjoyable and amusing entertainment. ♦ * * When the powers that be fixed the 9th of November, the Prince of Wales' Birthday, as Peace Celebration day, the critics hesitated. On the whole they concluded that were it not that New Zealand is bound to lead the van, this might have been thought a trifle previous, for there was no prospect of immediate peace. That indeed is why no other British dominion has fixed a date to commemorate it. There was loud discontent among the boys, who considered they had been cheated out of a holiday. They by no means approved of running the two into , one. All their pocket money had been laid out on fireworks for the auspicious (Continued on Page 9.)

occasion, and rigid economy in the matter of stickjaw and lucky«bags was the order of the day. Now that the King has announced that he will keep the Peace Holiday waiting till his soldiers come back, the critics and small boys will shake hands. * * * Miss Borlase gave a very pleasant dance to her pupils— the annual breakingup of |her senior classes— on Friday, in the Sydney-street Schoolroom. A presentation was made to Miss Borlase during the evening. * * * Judge and Mrs Williams, from Dunedin, are at present in Wellington. * * » Mrs Miles has returned to town after a holiday in Wanganui. Yours truly, Phillida.

A very enjoyable evening was spent on Wednesday, October 3rd inst. when Mr and Mrs Wiltshire entertained between 60 and seventy guests — all young people —at a large euchre party and dance at their residence Eintoul-street. * * » Mrs Dodwell entertained her Assembly pupils in the Masonic Hall at a fancy Dress Ball. The dresses were charming. Amongst those present were, Miss Amy Bobson (court dress) ; Miss Wiltshire, in stylish French grey trimmed with black lace ; the Misses Bennett and Goaves, in Kate Greenaway costumes ; Miss Churchward, as the Geisha ; Misses Peters and Midlane, representing England ; Misses Cimino and Midlane were Highland Lassies ; Miss Lee costumed the Red, White, and Blue; her sister personified Nancy Lee. * • • The engagement is announced of Mr A. E. Penty (the popular Albert) of Messrs Sargood Son & Ewen to Miss Parry, of Greymouth. * * * Mr Moore's Pinafore dance at Spiller's Hall on Monday evening was very pleasant, and, after the gentlemen donned pinafores in their turn, very merry. Amongst those present were Mesdames Barr, Moore, Ahearn, Dougall, Foley, Misses Whitton (3), Winddust (2), McCallum (2), Moore, Darling, Shotter, Frost, Stella, Mountgory, Hurley, Phillpott, Smith (2), Barr ; Messrs Ahearn, McGill, OBrien, Tandy, Sheppard, Barr, Rowe, Brown. * # • After supper the gentlemen had to don the pinafores worn by the ladies, the different styles of which caused much amusement. Mr Henderson made a capable M.C. Mr E. J. King, junior, supplied the latest of dance music. Mrs Foley played two extras. * • • A very good ball was given at Daltons Hall, Upper Hutt, on Thursday evening by the local Rifle Club, who had prepared effective decorations of an appropriate character, guns and drums, or rather targets and other things warlike and shining. Seventy couples, a bright little band of three under Mr King, j unior, an energetic committee and dainty refreshments, made things pleasantly successful. * • * A very enjoyable dance was given by the Misses Philpott (2), McDonald and Nicholls in Spiller's Hall on Wednesday evening, and was largely attended. The dance music was supplied by Mrs Spiller. Miss Beatrice Philpott's pianoforte selection, •' Silvery Waves," was eplendidly rendered, and Mr Roe's vocal selection, " Eternity," was highly appreciated. The supper table was charmingly decorated with green and yellow, and the catering was in the hands of Mr Godber. * • » Amongst the ladies present were the following : — Mrs Cuisino in pale pink and cashmere trimmed with black velvet and jet ; Mrs Lloyd, white merveilleux ; Miss Vere, heliotrope muslin trimmed with lace ; Miss Burton, creme nun's veiling skirt, satin bodice trimmed with chiffon ; Miss Macdonald, white nainsook trimmed with lace ; Miss Nicholls, ereme nun's veiling trimmed with chiffon and violets ; Miss Philpott, canary coloured nun's veiling trimmed with chiffon and violets ; Miss A. Philpott, in white muslin trimmed with lace; Miss L. Cheinis, white pique with blue tie ; Miss C. Cheinis, white pique with blue tie ; Miss Charlton, white ninslin trimmed with lace ; Miss W. Charlton, white nainsook trimmed with lace ; Miss Clements, white satin trimmed with chiffon ; Miss Leary, white silk and chiffon ; Miss Fisher, pale blue cashmere blouse trimmed with chiffon and black skirt ; Miss O'Sullivan, white muslin ; and several other ladies whose dresses looked equally as nice.