Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 22, 1 December 1900, Page 8

Social Gossip

By Ohristabel.

Dear Chkistabec — THERE is a vast amount of interest being taken in the still faroff Bazaar. Some energetic people are already looking borne down with anxiety. By the end of the week the Bazaar is to last, it will, be a wonder if some of the workers will not be themselves the first candidates tor the Home. There is nothing so wearing as this form of chanty. All sorts of delightful hints are being thrown at us to the many attractions tha,t are to draw people to the DriU Shed. There is to be a cafe charitant, which sounds naughty, but nice, and it is said the refreshment-stall is to abound m dainties to dream about even after they are enjoyed. # Wellington women who affect races had every reason to be satisfied with the lovely weather of last week. Itai--most seemed as if Chnstchurch, after its Carnival, had some fine days over it had no use for, and had sent a few up for the spring meeting. Some of the Christchurch gowns appeared at the Hutt, and were reported to have looked even smarter than at Riccarton. But the road to the racecourse is still as unpleasant as, of yore, and a muslin frock in a gale, crossing the bridges, m a sight to make sympathetic women sign. These pretty muslins so much worn just now are much admired by men. "They look so simple, don't you know," and, with a view to future possible contingencies, "so inexpensive!" The poor benighted, creatures little know that the dainty simplicity of a smart muslin frock costs more than an agressive silk, and that the frills and tucks and insertions which as a whole they admire, represent hours of patient toil, and exquisite needlework.. Some of the muslin gowns worn at the Christchurch races were like a baby's christening robe, so fine was the material, and adorned with such an infinite amount of needle-craft. * •* * According to a recent Southern paper that gives hints to a wide circle of feminine readers as to the right way to make themselves beautiful, wired bones are the correct liair decoration. It sounds extraordinary and decidedly suggestive of the disseccing-room, but still Fashion has strange vagaries, and one must bow to the inevitable. After all, a wired bone in the hair is as sensible as a kid boot decorating a wedding cake. The only question is as to what particular bones will be mast fashion-

able. They would be very effective if wired loosely, so that they could waggle coquettishly above the coiffure. We shall expect to see any number of these new aigrettes at the coming functions in honour of the Duke and Duchess of York. #-*-*■ There is no doubt about the success of the British Biograph as presented at the Opera House. It is marvellously realistic, and the management would have been delighted if they had heard the little squeals that followed the bad spill at Aldershot, and the subdued declaration from a woman that if the tug did not stop bobbing up and down she would have to leave the dress-circle. The views taken from the front of the engine were exquisite, and the sensation that the whole theatre was travelling along the line while you looked out of a little oblong window was most vivid. The first picture was of this kind, and the rattle and crash that proceeded from the little green baize erection added to the illusion," and we all thought what wonderful ideas the modern mind is capable of. However the noise accompanied all the pictures, and did not in the least add to the effectiveness of Henley Regatta or the Amorous Guardsman. But it was the only drawback. To see the British Biograph is not only to enjoy yourself, but to improve your mind at the same time. The two things are not often simultaneous, more is the pity, else we should be both merrier and wiser. * * *■ Quite a feature of the entertainment was the music, each item being preceeded by an appropriate tune, grave or gay, martial or dismal, according to the picture. The war pictures were fine. Among the audience was Mrs. Parker, who had the pleasure of seeing her two distinguished brothers, Lord Kitchener and Colonel Kitchener, thrown on the screen. Mr. and Mrs. Gale, recently returned from their trip, were also sitting in the dress-circle. Mr. Gale looks in splendid health. * * * The Hon. Gathorne-Hardy and Lady Dorothy Gathorne-Hardy are on their way, in the liner s.s. Tophocles, to Hobart, and thence they will probably come on to New Zealand. Lady Glasgow's third daughter has many warm friendships to renew here, and she and her husband will be cordially welcomed. It is possible he may form one of the Imperial Guard of Honour that will attend the Royal pair in the colonies. * * * " It's fierce." I was reading the other day that this is New York's latest slang phrase. If one wears a shirt that has plenty of colour his friends say " it's fierce " ; if a<young lady comes out with snowy shoulders and a diamond tiara her admirers whisper, one to another, •' Isn't she fierce ? " If a horse shows up well on the track the word passes along that " Whirlwind is fierce to-day." The golfer who succeeds in winning five out of six holes is " fierce," and when the baby is brought out all dressed in its downiest coat and softest laces, its beautiful auntie holds up her hands and exclaims, " Oh, isn't the darling fierce 1 "

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Mrs Samuel of " Melba," Molesworthstreet, has been asked to judge the cookery and needlework exhibits at the Otaki Show this week. Miss I. Blackett, also of Wellington, is going to Otaki to judge the art exhibits. * « * Anyone requiring a tonic or suffering from severe depression should go to Day's Bay and see the donkeys and their riders. If that does not make him laugh, he is in a bad way. The steeds are various in size and colour, and the children address them with affectionate familiarity as Kruger, Bobs, Bland Holt, etc. But it is the girls who are a draw at a donkey circus. Some young persons with long frocks and their hair up were " doing a turn " on Saturday afternoon. The course is not a long one — far too short, grumble the children — but any amount of sensational incident can be crammed into the few minutes it takes. Getting up was a matter of some excitement, and some girls jumped only to find the animal was not where they expected it to be. Another difficulty was to make the donkeys start and then to steer them straight for the red flag. Two girls rode en cavalier, but another, who was too conservative to brave public opinion, was seen half-way along standing on her head by the sad sea-waves, while the donkey driver wrestled wildly with her to get her right way up and on her steed again. If he has many such experiences, he should practice calisthenics. A youth whom Kruger objected to, perhaps because of anti-Boer opinions, and whom he deposited over his head in the

most nonchalant way, was determined not to waste his threepence. He gave chase to Kruger, and, unable to get into the saddle, lay across it and finished his ride that way. • * * '• A most delightful concert" — such was the general opinion on Monday night, and those who did not shave it must have been hard to please. Mr Prouse's magnificent singing, MrMaughanßarnett's exquisitely sympathetic pianoforte plaj ing, and Herr Hoppe's violin playing, so dainty and yet so virile, all were charming. But the heroine of the evening was, of course, Mrs Howie, a striking figure in her soft black draperies flashing with embroideries of steel. In her dark hair she wore an aigrette of steel with her pretty huia feather, and on her long chain hung a grotesque tiki. She has a beautiful voice — soft, rich, and full — and though it was difficult to decide which of her selections one liked the best, " The Beating of My Own Heart" was evidently a hot favourite. * • • No baby could possibly resist Mrs Howie when she sang cradle songs. The only reason it would stay awake would be to hear more of the caressing voice. It was funny to see ecstatic mothers, ay, and even fathers, with their eyes shut, nodding their heads rapturously to the refrain. # * • Four beautiful bouquets were handed to Mrs Howie, and the amber bow-posy she selected to hold had a horseshoe of flowers hanging to it. Miss Prouse is a delightful accompanist, and had a heavy but most important part to play in the concert. She wore pale blue, with transparent lace sleeves and a pink rose in her hair. ♦ * ♦ Among the audience were the Hon. C. Hill-Trevor, Dr May (of H.M.S. Mildura), Lady Tancred, Lady Stout, the Hon. Mr Walker, and the Hon. Mr Carroll. Lady Stout wore black and white ; Mrs Embling,

a pale blue and white cloak, and black gown ; Mrs J. R. Brown, black net and jet; Mrs Easterfield, black, with white sleeves, and pink velvet neck bund ; Mrs Firth, black, with ivory lace ; Mrs Ward, pale blue and jewelled lace; and Mrs Harrison, pink, veiled with black lace. A very tall and stately girl, a stranger, looked handsome in a black frock, with a berthe of white lace. * w • Captain Baynes, of H.M.S. Mil dura, and Mrs Baynes, have left Wellington for a short trip to Wanganui. Yours truly, Phillida.