Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 41, 13 April 1901, Page 10

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

mission to use them, are prepared to part with them at an alarming sacrifice. A piopos of golf, in the first ladies' competition for the silver putter, Miss Brandon was successful, Mrs. Adams coming second. Miss Higginson was the most successful junior player, and came third. * * * Lady Campbell, from Napier, and her two daughters, are at present staying with Mr. and Mrs. Tolhurst. • • • Embalming — a teacher of which art is to be shortly in Wellington — is an accomplishment that has, to a casual observer, little practical or ornamental rise It certainly does not help its proud possessor to scintillate in Society, as do painting and music. However, it is possible one may live to hear an individual remark, "No, she does not paint nor play, but she embalms beautifully'" It may be, too, quite as useful as the accomplishments learnt at school, and forgotten afterwards, but it has a gruesome and ghoulish sound about it that would be repugnant to some weak-minded individuals. (Continued on Page 11.)

Dear Christabel — IT has been well said b\ Kipling that no one is all happy from his beak to his tail, and, though the weather has been exquisite, some people have suffered for it. What man can realise the hideousness of a washing-day with the water-supply cut suddenly off— tubs full of unwashed clothes, empty kettles, and the terror of a high-pressure boiler that might take into its head to burst? And this without warning, too' Ine corporation deserves to go unwashed, and unbreakfasted, and to he blown up, it not by an exploding boiler, at least by a deputation of indignant matrons. It is said that not one of our councillors— not even the youngest, fairest, and most unmarried of them— would have been safe had he walked along Cliftonterrace that Monday morning when the water was cut off. • • • Mrs C. Johnstone gave a most enloyable tea on Monday afternoon. Many of the polo visitors were invited. On the same evening, Mrs. David Nathan entertained some of the polo players. On the whole, though there have been some regrettable accidents, our visitors have had a most delightful week, and ought to return to their homes enthusiastic advertisements of Wellington and its weather. » • • The King and Queen looked just like a fairy prince and princess, so says a private letter from London, as they entered the House of Lords hand in hand. The Queen's throne was, as everyone knows, placed by the order of the King on the same level as his, and was an exact copy. Even when she reached her seat, she kept his hand, and, before she let it go, she bent her graceful head and kissed it. This is a tiny touch of colour that has been overlooked in the papers. • ♦ * The Thomdon Courts were very busy last Saturday, when the Tennis Tournament began. The weather was disappointing, but the players stuck pluckily to their positions, in spite ot showers of rain, greasy courts, and damp gaiments. Very good tennis was played, too, some of the championship matches being very exciting. Two girt— Miss Williams and Miss Newcombe—were playing for nearly three hours, so evenly were the honours divided. t # It is a sign of the times when one sees mother and daughter meeting in sports. Mrs. and Miss Payne, from New Plymouth, were drawn against each other in the Tennis Tournament, and capital tennis both played. The elder of the two, however, easily worked off the handicap, and won. Mrs. Payne is little, slim, and marvellously energetic and enduring. She defeated Miss Percival, who has played tennis in England, in the handicap singles. Miss Percival, by the way, is a daughter of Sir Westby Percival, our former AgentGeneral. • ♦ • According to a Southern paper, it is possible that Wellington may soon possess a woman doctor. This is Dr. Platts, daughter of the late Rev. Mr. Platts, of Port Chalmers. She has been practising at Kurow, but intends settling in the Empire City. Two other Dunedin High School and Otago Medical School girls, Dr. Siedeberg and Dr. Cruickshank, are doing excellent work in Dunedin and Waimate respectively. # . ♦ It is rumoured that quite a number of spring-mattressed stretchers are for sale cheap. The original buyers have no fault to find with them — indeed, they are reported to be most superior articles, specially imported at great cost from Central America, and made to fold up into small compass. They are even said to have slightly con vexed surfaces, so that the slumberer will not sleep too heavily, but be off to his golf when the first streaks of dawn are seen in the sky These stretchers were intended to be placed in the club-house for their enthusiastic owners to use, so that thov need waste no precious time in travelling to and fro. But an unsympathetic committee have decreed otherwise, and object to beds in their new club house, so the men who ordered their stretchers before they got per-

Miss Gore, white silk blouse, neat fawn skirt; Miss Kennedy, black and white. The Misses Marchant, Grant, Morrah, Ross, Van Staveren, Williams, and many visiting ladies, whose names I could not ascertain, were also present. * • • Mrs. Payne, of Patea, was in black and white. Her match with Mrs. Marchbanks was one of the most exciting of the day. * # * What do you think of the suggestion that comes from the other side to get up for the reception of the Duchess of Cornwall a guard of honour composed of pretty girls on bicycles. I think it is quite lovely. Just fancy them on parade at the head of the Queen's Wharf, and dressed, say, in white and scarlet ! <■ # *• Almost daily we hear of Wellmgtonlans who are going Home for a trip. One only wonders now, "who will be the next ?" The great number who leave on these long and expensive holiday trips speaks well for the prosperity of the colony. * * • Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnston and Miss, Zoo Johnston left by the Monovai last Saturday. They will be joined in Sydney by Mrs. and Miss Levin, and from there the whole party intend travelling Home via Vancouver. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston will be much missed by their many friends, who so often have enjoyed the delightful hospitality for which "Pipitea Pah" is famed. „ • • The latest notion among smart Society women in London is to re-christen themselves, and, in fact, it has become quite a fashionable craze. Here are a few samples . Lady Ormonde's Christian name is Elizabeth Harriet, but she is known to the world as "Lilah." Princess Henry of Pleas was christened Mary Theresa Olivia, but she is known to her friends as "Daisy." Her sister's real name is Constance, but she never uses it. and she went to the bridal altar the other day as Miss Shelagh Cornwallis West. Lady Warwick's name is Frances Evelyn, but her family and friends call her "Daisy." Lady Broughton's baptismal name is Adora, but she signs herself, and is always spoken of, as "Zoe." Her daughter, Miss Eleanor Broughton, is known by the name of "Baba." Lord Fayersham's youngest daughter, Lady Ulrica Duncombe, has been called "Mouche" from her infancy, and Mrs. Bonnie Greville, whose real name is Margaret, is now "May" to her friends and relations. * * •*• Mr. and Mrs. Hannah and their two daughters also leave very shortly for England. 'Tis said that at a recent meeting of a ladies' hockey club, in Wellington, things were very slow and uninteresting until the magic word ''uniform" was breathed. Instantly, the proceedings became more than lively, and the "chairman" was compelled to call for "order, order!" in her most peremptory tone, as the chatter of feminine voices in eager disputation had become simply deafening. * + * Have you seen the new Empire coat? It is rather longer than the threequarter length, and has a sacqueback. It is much stitched, and is finished with black velvet buttons. The sleeves are rather long, but not full. A large double cape-like collar, scolloped with black velvet, is at the neck, and a machine-stitched strap forms a point in the back, giving it a short-waisted appearance. * * * If you want to be right up to date in stylish coiffure you must have it low, the hair being full and loose in the front, and undulated, of course. A flower, or a bow of black velvet, may be worn in the evening. Kiss curls or invisible hairpins are being sold at very reasonable prices by the hairdressers. * • • On Easter Monday, Mr. Herbert R. Dix, local manager of the Star Cycle Company, was married at Auckland to Miss Alice Mildred Coupland, eldest daughter of Mr. L. Coupland, formerly in business in Wellington. The bride is well known in this district. She was, for years, on the nursing staff of the Wellington Hospital, and, subsequently accepted a similar position on the staff of the Otaki Hospital. The marriage took place at St. Benedict's Church, Auckland, the Rev. Father Gillan officiating. The bride was married in her travelling costume and looked charming in a brown tailor-made coat and skirt, with toque to match. Miss Daisy Coupland, attired in white, attended her si&ter as bridesmaid. Mr. Percy Pye-Smith acted as best man, and "Mr. Coupland gave his daughter away. The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a silver card-case, and to the bridesmaid he crave a silver buckle, while the bride's gift to the bridegroom was a set of gold sleeve-links. Mr. and Mrs. Dix came on to Wellington immediately after the wedding, arriving here, per Manawatu train on Tuesday night.

The first of a series of assemblies, to be given by Miss Koch, was held in the Sydney-street schoolroom last Wednesday evening. Everyone present declared it was "just the night ,for a dance," and the company enjoyed themselves accordingly. Miss Koch was wearing yellow satin , Miss Linda Koch, white muslin ; Miss Fergus (Dunedin), black satin ; her sister, white muslin, blue silk sash ; Miss Smith, heliotrope silk blouse, black satin skirt ; Miss Homewood, tucked white silk frock, scarlet flowers Miss F. Brandon, pretty white silk dress ; Miss Richter (Palmerston 1 ), pink silk ; Miss Tregear, black satin and dainty fichu , Miss Bendall, white muslin, the frills prettily edged with black bebe ribbon ; Miss Travers, white • Miss — Travers, black satin , Miss Richardson, heliotrope . Miss Bertha Edwards, white silk skirt, chiffon bodice. * * ■* Muffs are this year to form a feature of our toilettes, and, as the ruffle will still be worn, it is a pretty fancy to have them made to correspond. « ♦ ♦ Miss Nellie Stewart created a feminine sensation on the block in Melbourne the other day when she appeared in a complete costume of white silk, with large white feather boa, a picturesque hat of white chip straw, chiffon bows, and two large white wings outspread across the front of the brim. Dainty tan shoes, and a costly belt of different gems, completed her attire.

Messrs. George Anderson, George Winder, John Smith, jun., D. J. Nathan, Paul Coffey, and Edmund Carrigan announce elsewhere that they are candidates for seats in the City Council. Mr. Allan Orr, labour candidate, will address the electors at Mercerstreet on Saturday night, at 8 o'clock. Aurora Austrahs ' that wonderful sight, That dazzles the eyes with its brilliance And light, Occurs in those regions where ice and the snow , Extend everlasting abo\e and below. ■Such a climate would kill us so used to the heat, New Zealand's br.ght sunshine is so hard to beat It is here \\ c escape coughs and colds to be sure, Bj taking that Woods' Great Peppermint Curb.