Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 44, 4 May 1901, Page 10

Social Gossip

By Chris tabel.

Deak Christ abll— AIS UMBER of pretty di esses weie to be seen at the races last week. The first day was pleasant, though a tnfle chilly. One of the daintiest frocks was worn by Mrs. Harold Johnston, and was a French-grey cashmere, much stitched, with tuiquoise blue belt, vest, and toque. Miss Bell wore a blue toque and a pretty navy-blue gown, the Eton coat edged with sable. Mrs Balfour, Major Madockfe's sister, looked very striking in a navy-blue skirt, and coat inado with a wide collar, and a blue hat with pmk roses. A blue frieze and a smart toque with violets were worn by Mrs. Turnbull. Miss Williams wore purple frieze, and Miss Tolhurst a navyblue Eton coat, and skirt with bands ot stitched black satin. Miss Barnett had on a black cloth costume, with a scarf of Maltese lace, and a pretty sealskin toque, with violets. * * * Mrs. Benjamin wore a black cloth costume, with a smart toque. Mrs. Tweed looked well in grey and white check, trimmed with fringe, and a black hat. Miss Heywood's wide black hat was most picturesque, and she wore a brown cashmere frock made with a double skirt, and trimmed with fringe Mrs. Macarthy also wore a beautiful black picture hat, and a frock of brown cashmere, with lines of ecru guipure and touches of turquoise-blue on the bodice. Mrs. Roberts, from Nelson, wore a green velvet hat, and a beauti-tully-made fawn dress, trimmed with black and white glace silk. Mrs. Gilruth's frock was of blue, and her pretty hat of black chip, with feathers. Mrs. BidwelTs dark green cloth frock, trimmed with sable, and worn with a pale green vest and a black hat, was very smart Mrs. Lan Duncan had on a pretty black coat and skirt, and a smart black toque, Miss Duncans frock being also of black, with a long, pale-blue silk scarf, knotted at the throat. * • • At the races on Saturday, the cold weather brought to light all the lovely furs of those women who were fortunate enough to possess them. Mrs. Lan Duncan had on a handsome sealskin coat, and Mrs. Balfour a most becoming fur cape. Mrs. Turnbull wore white furs. Mrs. Gilmer wore a beautiful 6ealskin jacket, and her daughter a sable coat. * * * On Wednesday, Miss Borchardt, sister of Mrs. Eichelbaum, gave an enjoyable afternoon tea for Mrs. Weymouth, from Christ church, who is staying with her for a little while. Miss Borchardt wore a black silk skirt, with a pink silk blouse, and a point lace collar. Mrs. Weymouth had on a black and whito check, trimmed with glace silk. * * * Mrs. Eichelbaum has gone to Napier for a short visit. * # * Mrs. Wlutson, from Dunedm, is staying for a few days with her sister, Mrs. Malcolm Ross. i * * A pleasant little concert was given under the auspices of St. Mary's Convent Ex-Pupils' Association — a name that makes one pause and draw breath. The Federal Theatre is a comfortable building, were it not for some noisy spirits that haunt the back of the hall, and appear to walk with hob-nailed boots on the roof. The stage, on Wednesday evening, was extremely pretty, with its foliage, and scarlet draperies. Unfortunately , the hall was not well filled, for it was the night of the elections, and many people were waiting about the streets to hear the results. But the programme was an enjoyable one, although some of the advertised performers did not appear Mr. Ballance sang delightfully, especially "When I Awake," a most haunting and lovely melody. Miss Riley played well, and Miss Eileen Ward delighted the audience by her piano playing. Miss Mount sang with much expression, and Miss Moran's violin-playing was, as it always is, a great treat. • ♦ » Two girls — Misses McClosky and Redmond — who, apparently, made their debut, have* beautiful voices, and show signs of careful and artistic training. Quite a characteristic of Wellington Convent teaching of singing is the re-

fined and easy pronunciation, a point, alas, in which many public singers fail. The choice of songs sung by the two girls was not altogether happy, but they weie delightfully given, and the pardonable nervousness did not much mar the effect. "The Irish Emigrant's Farewell" was most pathetically sung by Miss McClosky. Among the audience I noticed • Mrs. Ward, in black and jet; Mrs. Dyer, in a lace blouse and silk skirt; Miss Skerrett, in cream, and her sisters in heliotrope and pink, Mrs. Macarthy, in white tucked chiffon , Miss Fitzsimmons, in black, with white lace , Miss Reid had on a white satin lacecovered blouse, her sister wearing pale blue, Mrs. O'Connor, black satin, with white, Mrs. Riley, pale blue, Miss Scully, pale blue, with lace bolero , Miss O'Connor, black satin, and lace yoke , Miss Maginnity, black ; and Mrs. Stott, pale blue. The younger performers wore white muslin. Miss A. Maginnity also wearing a pretty muslin frock. Miss Mount had on pale pink. • * * The decorated tables at the Horticultural and Florists' Society's Show were disappointing on the whole. The one that secured the prize was very dainty, in its green and white harmony — the gauze table-centre was beautiful — but the others showed no originality, and very little taste. It was strange that, at a season when the most gorgeous colourings are seen in leaf, blossom, and berry, there was no attempt at a brilliant autumn effect . The artistic side of the Flower Show, successful as the affair was in other respects, was not up to the mark. Decorated bicycles do not appeal to many people, and those exhibited were weird arrangements. • ,- * * Lately, there has been, in the window of a flower-shop in town, the most exquisite harmonies of flowers. A shower bouquet, all in purple and heliotrope, tied with violet satin ribbon, was an artistic triumph, and an arrangement of great scarlet cactus dahlias most beautiful. This particular window is an object-lesson in the art of floral harmonies. As for the Show itself, the energetic secretary, Mr. Jas. B. Speed, deserves to be complimented on his arrangements, which were excellent. • ♦ » Miss Robin, sister of LieutenantColonel Robin, is probably coming to Wellington to meet her brother on his return from South Africa. She will be the guest of Mrs. Kinvig, Willis-street. We flatter ourselves in Wellington that we are pretty go-ahead, but we are behind Christchurch in one thing. There, an instructress is prepared to give lessons in correct Court etiquette, and to initiate novices how to manage their trains and bouquets when approaching or retiring from a Royal presence. Will it be necessary for those favoured women who are to meet Royalty to back out of the room? The cuitsey is not easy. One has a fear of over-balancing oneself, falling over, and having to be extricated from a whirlwind of frills and furbelows, but the backing-out process requires practice and perseverance. The progress backwards of the stately personage who bears the Black Rod in Parliament is always watched with intense interest from the ladies' gallery. » • • It is a pity that, if the Mayor of Wellington is to receive a title, there will be no Lady Aitken to share the honour. , A propos of mayors, fluency and eloquence go for little when a poor man is limited to ten or fifteen seconds. It is difficult to produce an iinimpression on anyone in that brief time. It will be necessary for our mayors to cultivate a Liebig's extract style — a sort of multum in parvo. After all, quite a number of epigrams may be crowded into a few seconds. Miss Fowler has shown us this in her novels. There is infinite wisdom in. the decree, and the Royal _ pair will be saved much tribulation and weariness by the time-limit. (Continued on Page 11.)

There are the loveliest of materials for evening frocks in the shops at present. A black gauze is zigzagged with gold lightning, and a net has curving lines of over-lapping sequins outlined with tiny steel beads. Softness and glitter seem the characteristics of ballgowns this season. There is one black tulle a flash with lines of jet, and splashed here and there with large white embroidered blossoms, with stamens of gold. One shudders to think what havoc a clumsy male foot would w i eak on such a lovely frock. Gold appears on the new belts, most of w hich are of folded black satin with gold embroidery or a large gold ornament at the back. They are made with the pulley rings, and the satin ribbons that tie in front are tagged with gold. • • • A quiet, but very pretty, wedding took place at St. Paul's on Wednesday, when Miss Gabrielle Haase was married to Mr. F. L. Biss, the Union Steam Ship Company's traffic manager, at Wellington. The time fixed for the ceremony was early — too early for the nursemaids and babies, fortunately for everyone concerned. As a rule, babies do not appreciate weddings, and, as they have not learnt to conceal their feelings, they often interrupt the service. The bride looked very charming in her lovely brocade frock, with beautiful point lace, worked by her sister, draping the bodice. Her bouquet was perfect. Indeed, all the posies carried were triumphs of art and nature. Mrs. Haase, who -wore black merveilleux, trimmed with white satin and gold, had a lovely bouquet of yellow flowers and autumn leaves, and the posies of the two bridesmaids, who wore dainty white muslins, with many frills and lace insertions, were white, with touches of scarlet blossoms, tied with brilliant scarlet ribbons, the only notes of colour in the pretty wedding, group. • • • Mr. Hall gave the bride away. Among the guests were — Mrs. Biss., in a white silk blouse, black skirt, and pretty heliotrope hat ; Mrs. Haybittle, black and pink; Miss Laishley's frock was of soft black silk, with a lace fichu, and she wore a black picture hat , Mrs. Hall had on a very smart grey dress, with bands of velvet, and touches of white. Quite charming and seasonable were the red coats and toques worn by Miss Sprott and Miss Widdop. Mrs. Sprott wore black, with furs. Mrs. Cuff had on black. Mrs. Pharazyn's gown was black, Miss Pharazyn wearing grey. Mrs. Fancourt wore black brocade. The presents were beautiful, many of them being of solid silver, and the handsome presentations to the bridegroom bore witness to his popularity. • ♦ • Among those invited were : — Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Biss, the Rev. T. H. Sprott, Mrs. Sprott and Miss Sprott, Archdeacon, Mrs. and Miss Fancourt, Mrs. and Miss Pharzyn, Miss Greenwood, Mrs. C. H. Treadwell, Mrs. Foster and the Misses Foster, Mrs. Climie, Mr. and Mrs. Haybittle, Mrs. and Miss J. Brown, Mrs. Revel], Miss Laishley, Miss Widdop, Mrs and Miss Cuff, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hall, Mrs. Grear, Miss Wolff, Miss Pearson, Rev. Bartlett, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Kilgour Mr. Mackay, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Reid. * • • The lady doctor (Dr. Platts), who is coming to Wellington to settle, is musical, and has a very fine voice. At an afternoon tea, given by Dr. Platts to a number of her lady friends before she left the Duntroon district, she sang delightfully. Musically and medically, Dr. Platts ought to be an interesting member of Wellington society. * * * It was only to be expected that Miss Broome, with her undoubted talent and great originality, should gravitate to England, but she will be much missed in Wellington. Her mother and two sisters leave shortly with Miss Broome for a trip Home. * * * Ohristchurch again to the fore' Last week, Mrs. Wychffe-Goodman, of Rock»ood station, brought a motor car to Clinstchurch, a sixty-miles journey. The next day the lady, accompanied by Mr. Oatcs>, steered the car through the city streets without any loss of life or damage to property. Where are Wellington's motor-cars ? After the brief period of excitement, when in their preliminaiy canter they drove a reporter's head right through the lath and plastei of the hall whore the machines were boing tiied — without harming the head — they vanished from the public gaze. The "At Home" that opened the Sketch Kxhibition, on Wednesday evening, was most interesting and enjoyable, and those who were present spent a profitable and pleasant evening. The sketches were good, many, indeed excellent, music filled up the gaps of critical conversation, and refreshments airived in due time to repair the ravages of severer mental strain. With so many acquaintances to chat to, many of those present reserved the pictures till another time. But all were delighted with the exquisite illusrative work that has been so generously pre-

seated to our Art School by Messrs. Cassells. * • • They are original drawings by well-known black and white artists, and each drawing is worth studying. The collection is a gift that can scarcely be valued, and a revelation of minute and beautiful work to those who think black and white artists dash off their illustrations in a casual and nonchalant manner. There is one picture — an invalid being helped by two girls on board a steamer — in which the expression of sorrow and anxiety is marvellous. The sketches are without frames, so they stand entirely on their own merits, and are not handicapped by an inartistic setting. * ♦ • Among those present were — Mrs. Fell in a black brocade , Miss Holmes, in black silk; Mrs. L. H. B. Wilson, in black and white, with rose colour in her toque; Miss Wilson, in a pink blouse and black skirt; Miss Williams had on a black coat and skirt, with white furs, and wore a purple toque ; Miss Hilda Williams, wearing a sealskin cape, a black frock, and a cream and black toque. Mrs. Field had on a black toque, and a sealskin cape over her green frock , Mrs. Seaton wore grey, Mrs. Tolhurst, black satin, with white chiffon ruffle • Mrs. Young, pink silk blouse and black skirt Lady Campbell, a heliotrope silk blouse and dark skirt; Miss Tolhurst, a cream frock, with rose-coloured ribbons ; Mrs. Stowe was in black, with roses in her black bonnet, and Miss Stowe wore grey, with a black toque trimmed with blue. * * * Miss Cobb had on a short fur coat, faced with ermine, a dark frock, and a scarlet hat; Miss Stafford wore a crimson cloak over a black dress, and a hat with roses, her sister having on a black frock, tan coat, and hat with turquoise silk. Miss Newton's frock was tan, and her hat trimmed with blue : Miss Morgan had on a grey Eton coat, with a dark skirt, her toque being grey and white; Mrs. Adams wore a black toque, and a tan cape over her black frock , Mrs. Gill had on black silk , Mrs. Fergusons frock was of navy-blue and white, with Maltese lace ; Mrs. Pearce wore a sealskin coat and a burnt-straw hat, with black ribbon , Mrs. Corrigan had on black brocade, and a black toque ; Miss Hughes wore a grey coat, with fur revers, and a brown and white hat ; Miss Kelly had on a tan coat, black frock, and a purple velvet toque, her sister wearing black, and a blue hat. Yours truly, — Phillida. The marriage of Miss Blanche Hamerton, daughter of Mr. R. C. Hamerton, to Mr. Eugene Cachemaille, excited a good deal of local interest, and quite filled St. Mark's Church on Tuesday afternoon. The bride looked charming in a costume of white duchess satin, the folded bodice handsomely trimmed with silk embroidered chiffon. She carried a beautiful shower bouquet. The bridesmaids were Misses Hilda Hamerton (sister of the bride), Beatrice Richmond, Frances Hamerton, and Cassy Morshead (cousins of the bride). They wore pretty dresses of soft white silk, diagonally tucked bodices with spotted chiffon fichus, and wore hats of tucked white chiffon trimmed with ribbon and ospreys. They carried bouquets of bronze chrysanthemums and autumn tints, and wore gold brooches (the bridegroom's gift). Mr. E. C. Cachemaille attended the bridegroom as best man. The Yen. Archdeacon Fancourt and the Rev. Mr. Bond conducted the ceremony. Mr. Laurence Watkins (bro-ther-in-law of the bride) played the "Wedding March." After the wedding breakfast, at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Cachemaille left by train for Wairarapa en route to Wanganui, for their honeymoon. The bride's travelling costume was of blue cloth, with toque to match. * * • A pretty wedding took place at Si Joseph's "Church, Buckle-street, on Thursday week, when Miss Teresa Mary Power, late of the D.1.C., was married to Mr. Patrick John Kelleher, of the accountants' branch in the Chief Post Office. The Very Rev. Father Goggan, S.M., officiated, and the bride was given away by her father, Mr. John Power, bootmaker, of Lamb ton Quay. The bride was dressed in light grey, trimmed with white silk and lace, and also wore a Maltese lace scarf, ivith h.it to match. She carried a shower bouquet, the gift of the bridegroom. The bridesmaids were Miss Kitty Power (sister of the bride) and Miss Mastic Brennan. They were dressed alike, m white muslin skirts and tucked blouses, with white picture hats to match. Mr. John Gallagher, of W. and J. Staples and Co., acted as best man. The bridegroom's present to the bride was a lady's handsome long gold chain and watch, and to each of the bridesmaids he presented a dainty gold brooch. * • • After the ceremony, the bridal party drove to the home of the newly-married couple, in Hawker-street, where about

thirty guests sat down to the wedding breakfast. The wedding cake was made at Godber's, and was a triumph of the confectioner's art. After the usual toasts and speechifying, the happy pair drove off to the train, m order to spend their honeymoon in the Wairarapa. The bride's going-away dress was of black, with black silk tucked blouse. Mr. and Mrs. Kelleher's wedding presents are both numerous and choice. * * • All evening wraps are now purple, white, or black. White, with black embroideries m raised designs, are beautiful but costly. Some have the Medici collar, others simply ruffles of chiffon or lace at the neck. * * * The auction sale of furs which was held at Bethunes the other day invites a little gossip on these seasonable articles. I notice that astrachan is once more with us to be used for collars and large revers, while beaver, which has been for some time nearly invisible, is again in the foreground for brown dresses and fawn evening cloaks. Boleros of broadtail are very new. They look well faced with cream satin, and worn with either an ivory lace or satin vest, and a black strapped cloth skirt. There is nothing like broadtail to cling to the figure, so there is nothing that a pretty figure should prefer before it. Among other dainties, we are promised charming things in ermine — -pelerines, collars, and muffs. Chinchilla, too, is a fur which is particularly suitable for these days of half-mourning. But remember to mix it with a little old yellow lace, and, perhaps, a few bunches of violets, otherwise, unless you be very young and very rosy, your skin will not show up to advantage. * * * White velvet will be much used when the winter arrives, for evening frocks, trimmed with pearl embroidery or lace. Applique trimmings are in great demand. Applique designs of panne or velvet, mounted on black net or mous-seline-de-soie, have now a great vogue in England. * * * A Sydney lady, now on a visit to Wellington, has brought with her one of the novelties of the season, in the form of one of those picturesque threequarter length coats with big revers and quaint gauntlet cuffs. They are to be much worn this winter, and we may welcome the becoming Napoleon collars of velvet, softened in front with "jabots" of lace. These coats are mostly in pale pastel-coloured cloth, with the collars in many cases of black velvet. They all boast of glorious linings of wondrous brocades or rose-patterned chine silk. Just the ideal French coat. Of course, a fashion chef-d'oeuvre is expensive, but I know many of our fashionable women are investing in them, as they say that if they purchase a cloak of this sort, all they require to wear with it is a simple cloth skirt, and a cheap little silk blouse. They thus do away with the necessity of an expensive winter costume. * * * Touching hats, have you seen the ' Wanda" toque. It is one of the newest, and takes its name from the wellknown Parisian actress, Mademoiselle Wanda de Boncra. It overshadows the forehead, and is broad in front, with the brim curving closely down over the hair at the back. I saw this toque covered in folds of black tulle edged with gold cord, and sweeping round the entire front was a gold buckle. Another beautiful confection that came under my admiring notice had a brim of black velvet with a crown of pale blue silk, and introductions of black tulle edged with gold galon as the front trimming. These toques are chiefly to be worn with tailor costumes, as they are simple, yet smart. Hats for travelling are being made now in soft crumped felt — the sides tied with a ribbon bow, and the upturned brim covered with small tuckings of mousseline de soie. The favourite colours are pastel-blue and rose-tinted beie;e. Another pleasing change for girls to adopt in lieu of the black tafeta,s thai have been bo populai tins seafeon i& a monster bow of plaid silk aiarranged on basket-straw hats, and worn as a rule with frocks of plain blue serge.