Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 78, 28 December 1901, Page 10

Social Gossip

THK Umo i Steam Ship Takapun.i left ici Viuklaml an Wednosda T laden with cAcuisiomsts Amongst the passengers I noticed th Misses Nunellev and Batham, who take part m the tennis t oui ruiment tin Iweek Miss Com pei (Wa.ngamu) has^ boon staying at Aorangi House " "Wellington, for a week or two The Misses Waldegia\e left on Thursday last for Otago, where they will pay a round of \ lsits Mrs. Kight (Napiei) is. \ lsiting hei mother (Mrs Brown), Tinakon-road Mrs. Charles Brown (Manawatu) is also paving a visit to Wellington » * * The Misses Douglas, who have been paying a round of visits have returned to Wellington • • * Tho marriage of Miss Parkinson, daughter of Mr W. A Parkinson, proprietor of the -'Haw era Star," to Mr. R, F Page eldest son of Mr J. E. Page, Town Clerk of Wellington, is to take place at. St. Mary's Church, Hawera on January 3rd, 1902 • • • Miss L Platts (Dune-din) is visiting her sister, Dr. Daisy Platts, Hill-street • • » The marriage of Miss Janet Greenfield to Mr. Hose will take place in January • * - Miss Johnston's marriage with Mr Pharazvrn also takes place at the beginning of the year. • * * Now that fashionable Wellington has departed for the sea-side, social func taons are almost at an end an occasional '"Ping-Pong" party enlivens the dull monotony of our days. Great interest is still being taken in the challenges for the Terrace Championship Scarf, which was won from Mrs. Fulton by Miss Ward who, in turn, was challenged last week bv Miss Stafford, but, after an exciting match still remained champion • » » The engagement is announced, in Australian papers, of Mi«s Alice Mendelsohn daughter of Mr. Julius Mendelsohn Temuka, New Zealand, to Mr R F L Burton, son of Mr. Robert Burton, of Lonerener Hal] Shrewsbury, England. • • • Miss Gilmer has returned from her visit down South Miss Eccelesfield, of the Girls 1 High School, is spending her vacation at Auckland • • » The many friends of Dr and Mrs Grace will regret to hear that thendaughter Pearl, whose health has caused them much anxiety of late, has been seriously ill with pneumonia. I am glad to say that she is now slightly better, and slowly regaining her strength • • • Mrs Benjamin, who has been spending a month or two in Sydney and Melbourne, has returned to Wellington. - » • A most enjoyable "afternoon tea" was given at the Empire Hotel, on Friday afternoon, by Mrs Abbott (Wanganuii Amongst the guests w r ere Lady Douglas and her daughters, Mrs. and the Misses O'Connor, and many others. Mrs Farmar has invited a large party of ladies and gentlemen to join her in a tnp to the Pelorus Sounds. All sorts of delightful expeditions and amusements have been arranged, and a most enjoyable time is anticipated by everyone. Amongst those who accepted are Mrs. Fitchett, Miss Grant, and Miss J. Willis Some of the party left bv the Manaroa on Saturday last, and others join the "camp" later on Mrs. Miles and her daughters are spending the holidays at Titahi Bay • • » The engagement is announced of Mi&s May McKenzie, daughter of Mr T. McKenzie, the popular deputy-master

ot the Rangitikei Hunt Club, to Mi T. Mooie, of Kimbolton. Tht* absurd long bead chain has had its day, cUid the' latest fad is a stung of beads worn closely lound tho throat Tin\ opaque ones like, yet unlike, peails, tied with narrow ribbons at the back or fixed with a gold snap, look light and .pretty above a lace chemisette and there is a new joy taken m pink coral with a rock crystal bead between each gloam/ng rosy drop, worn with a pendant ( ross or a ciystal medallion enshrining a sprig of white heathei 01 four-leaved shamiock Tf \ou want to gn c yourself a picand something pretty and moderate in cost, go in for painting laces anil guipure. This work is so very fascinating while being done, and soeffettive when finished that it is well worth tiding Some of the painted lateswhich aie almost unknown o\ei heie--ai c wonderfully pretty, and are easily executed bv ajivone who has the smal lest knowledge of painting, and, of rouise, the necessary eye for coloui Most of those done are coarse, cieamv guipures The foundation of neaily e\erv colour seems to be Chinese white, which gives the consistency necessaivto the paint * ♦ * The gmpure is mounted on white card boaid, then pinned securely to aboaid, and painted in as fancy dictates I have seen a creamy silk blouse, with a deep yoke and straps of guipure, falling to the waist, which was particular^ sweet The design of the guipuie was conventional, and the palest shades of mauve, green, blue, and pink were all introduced in the happiest wav imaginable. The effect was that of the nchest Eastern embroiden of subdued colouiing. The whole of the lace is not hv any means covered The groundwork here and there, is touched, and the raised work picked out to suit the taste of the wearer * ♦ * Not a little invidious, it would seem must have been the distinction which a certain popular Sydney bachelor recently conferred upon his young friends by inviting them to a ' Beauty Tea " The idea is a very charming one from the host's point of view , as he thus surround ed himself with a veritable garden ot rose-buds, those whom he judged to o1o 1 the prettiest girls in Society being the invited. Still, this must have been a trifle hard to those not asked to tho entertainment, to which a corresponding number of handsome men were hk^ wise invited. * ♦ ♦ To look round and have one's eves met by beauty everywhere is very nice, of course, but this form of entertainment is not one to be encouraged, since, by marking off one's acquaintances in this manner, pain must necessarily be inflicted Beauty is but skin deep, after all, and though a "Beauty Tea" would be a feast to the eye, it would bv no means follow- that it would be a, flow of soul or even or ordinary intelligent conversation It is surprising how very few people dress their hair at the nape of the neck, in spite of that mode being quite the latest Perhaps, the explanation is, that women now-a-davs combine artistic perception with common sense, and wisely decline to adopt an unbecoming fashion, especially on such a vital point as the coiffure. That the hair dressed low is only becoming to verj few is undeniable. Most ladies still dress their hair on top of the head, And, for evening wear, add a flower to match those on the corsage. In other respects the fashions in hairdressing arp most accommodating, and each one adopts that which best suits her individual style. On one point only is there any stringency, and it is this— the hair must on no account, be drawn .straight either at the sides or back but must form loose waves all round * * * Silk is to form a great number of oui summer blouses, but mostly of the softer varieties, such as foulard, merv, and the washing tints Glace will hold its ow n among those wealthy enough to be able to disregard whether a garment wears for a week or a day, but other less fortunate people have had it forced upon them that, with all its many charms, glace is a hopelessly extravagant material The unseemly manner in which it splits in places where no other material would dream of splitting has made it a treacherous purchase * » * For summei weai, white seige will be very popular, and soft nun's veiling also much in request Skirts of this fabric are worn with blouses of washing silk or the same material finished with hemstitched silk sailor collars and cuffs This veiling makes really useful skirts for wearing with blouses of "all sorts and conditions " for with them you can wear either cotton or silk. (UoHtniui'd on pn//c 11.)

On Saturday last the courts of the Maiist Bo>s' Tennis Club were toimalb opened. A veiy pleasant afternoon was spent b} the members and their friends. Mair> of the Convent ' Old Girls," who have been invited to use the couit, weie present, also seve ral of tho cle-rg> , iome of whom played a capital game Not tho least enjo>able part of the programme was the delicious tea, arranged, served, and presided over by the "old boys," who certainly left nothing to be desired, either m the quahU of tea and dainty cakes provided, 01 the waiting " * • Fathei De\o^, behind whose le&id«nce the court is, .situated, was piesent during the afternoon. The court is an asphalt one, and was built by the boys, who hope, when funds allow, to erect a pavilion. Amongst the visitors weie Mrs. Maeaitliv wearing a pretty silk blouse, daik skirt, and black hat Miss O'CWnor, a pale blue muslin gown and chiffon toque Miss E. O'Connor, pink muslin frock, and pretty hat "Miss Fitasimmons looked very pretty in a dainty white silk msertioned gown Miss Oakes. a grey skirt and silk blouse Mis Dwan, a pink silk voile over a pink slip, and a grej and pink toque Miss Williams, black skirt and soft delaine blouse . Miss Macdonald, a pretty blue muslin Miss Gamble, dark skirt and white silk blouse Miss C. Reillv, figuied silk blouse and daik skirt • * * Mrs. Henry gave a charming 'At Home" last week, a large number of guests being present. The afternoon was enjovablv spent, and delicious tea and cakes weie dispensed by a number of pretty girls + • * The B roughs who are opening m New Zealand this week, have had th" most delightful time in Melbourne, where Government House parties have been the order of the day — night lather. Two new members have joined the company sauce last we met — Miss Vaughan, who is tall and handsome, and little Miss Chattens who is described as being natural in her acting with a sweet fiesh voice, and — most important item — has much taste in ' frockmg " Mr. Cecil Ward has been an immense favourite with the Melbourne audiences, and is said to look most handsome m the military comedy ' Second in Command " • • • Pink, without doubt, is the coloui of the season, and the linens in the ' new" shade are lovely. This is certainly the reign of the daik girl, who should look to advantage in this pelargonium tint, softened with creamy lace. *■ * * White muslin, contrasted with black, has been much worn in London and on the Continent, and some of this season's models were most alluring, and inexpensive. A Wellington lady, who has but lately arrived from London, was wearing a white book muslin, in. a rather fine make, fashioned with many little flounces and a tunic skirt, each little flounce trimmed with the narrowest of black insertion, and the effect distinctly smart The blouse bodice was arranged in groups of tucks with the nariow black insertion between. Of course, a black picture hat would be more becoming than am thing else with this frock. ♦ * • The under-sleeve is waning m popularity, and the newest style is the old "gigot" of the thirties. At the elbow it has a deep flat epaulette of bace, and it is fully gathered from shoulde<r to elbow, where the long transparent lace cuff meets it. The newest di essing-gowns are made with hoods, trimmed with lace, and very often the material used is washing silk of some soft, becoming shade — not tvsBore, unless the prospective wearer's complexion justifies the choice of that trying tint. The Empire style, tucked for about four inches below the bust to fit to the figure, and then falling loosely to the feet, is a pretty mode to make a dressing-gown * * * The latest in summer hats is made r f white stitched linen, tilted over the ©yes, and with only the rudiments of a crown. The brim has many rows of black bebe ribbon on it, and a delicate wreath of briar foliage is twisted round the crown, tied at the back with the inevitable bow of black velvet. Burntstraw is again in feminine favour, especially when trimmed with ivory-tinted lace, worn with a yellow linen frock with Irish guipure insertion, such a hat looks charming. * * * Coarse white linen frocks are to be much worn, and the smart London woman does not mar the pure simplicity of the costume by a colouredpetticoat, however pretty it may be Hat, gown, lace-frilled cambric petticoat, and gloves must all be white. But tan shoes should be chosen. Even a small foot looks large in white while a number six looks elephantine.

Now is the time when the summer holiday looms large in most people's minds, to work a rug cushion-cover. Art linen, of green 01 dark red, looks very well for these, with the initials of the fortunate recipient. The edges should be plainly hemstitched A vei\ i-eiifciblo idea was mtioduced at C'hri'stchuich b\ the Countess of Eanfuih and was most gladh followed by many ladies, that of wearing the cosy and often beautiful long opera coats over then pretty race frocks. This does not spoil the effect of a pietty gown nor look so uttorlv unsuitable as a cloth coat etc These long coats are most becoming to the majoirh and I was gla.d to see that some of our smartest women wore- usma; them as ' race uiaps "