Social Gossip.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 104, 28 June 1902, Page 10

Social Gossip.

By Christabel.

AUCKLAND has been entertaining, and entertained by, the Japanese men-o'-warsmen, and a correspondent writes —"Now that our Japanese visitors have departed, we mass their bright, happy-looking, and keenly observant faces and daDper little figures from our streets." The Japs., they say, were keenly interested in everything, and most grateful to anyone who took the trouble to show them round a bit. But, sad to relate, they tMnk the presence of the fair sex is not wholly essential to the success of an entertainment, for, when the. invitations for an evening reception were issued it was found only men were invited. JLne function proved to be most enioyable and no trouble was spared by the hospitable visitors. • * * The decorations alone were a treat. The guests were simply amazed when shown into an enclosure, which had been made with infinite labour and patience to represent an orchard m springtime, with full-sized apple and oherry trees— the latter the national emblem of Japan — covered with millions of blossoms made m most perfect imitation of nature out of soft tinted paper, and many smaller shrubs filled the lower spaces with a wealth of bloom which required the closest scrutiny to reveal their artificial nature. The enclosure was roofed in with bright flags, and lit with softly-tinted Japanese lanterns and electric lights, and the whole scene is described as one of amazing beauty and soft artistic colouring. The guests were eourteouslv received, and eintertainel witih an exhibition of athletic exercises, and afterwards with an excellent supper. « • • Roller skating is once more becoming very popular as a source of amusement. Christchuroh, I fancy, led the wav and now Napier people have formed a private club, and spend many enjoyable liours in trying to avoid bumps. I wonder what has become of all the enthusiastic Wellington "rinkers" of many years back ? • ♦ * Mrs. Larnach is in Wellington, and her many friends will be pleased to hear that in the future her home will be in this city. • • • Miss Twigg (Napier) is visiting Mis. J. Watson, Invercargill. • • • Mrs. Rhind has returned from Christchuroh, where she was present at the marriage of Miss Edith Tabart to Mr. E. Y. Palmer. Miss Gladys Rhind (of Wellington) was one of the four bridesmaids 1 , who wore soft cream silk frocks, transparent lace yokes and sleeves, black straw hats swathed with, chiffon, and carried lovely coronationred shower bouquets. * * * The following very peculiar paragraph appeared lately in am English paper . "Will all friends, enemies, and acquaintances (particularly those of the fair sex) take note that my engagement to Miss Rebecca W has, for the tenth time and forever, been cancelled. Like her love for me, the large diamond in the ring I gave her is a base imitation." A well-known lady doctor attributes much of the physical inferiority of women, as compared with men, to the wearing of skirts when young. Until the age of nine or ten she would dress girls in blouses and knickers, and she would teaoh them to dance as soon almost as they could walk. When at school, twenty minutes should be devoted to athletic exercises morning and evening, and this authority recommends for women nob only cycling, swimming, and walkings, but fencing and pistolshooting. • • • A Sydney girl, writing on Society fads, says . "This town is possessed with the conundrum craze. They give conundrum teas 1 but it is not confined to them. You meet a friend in the street, and, before you have time to say 'How do,' he pelts out four or five, answers them himsielf, does all the laughing, amid ttben tears off in search of a fresh listener, leaving you dizzy on the sidewalk, feebly feeling to find out if you are 'all tiheire.' This is the latest tiheafcrioal conundrum, 'Why does Grace Palotta Carrie Moore?' Tccause she has no La/uri (lorry see?)"

Nobody now-a-days weais flannel blouses wntih the great pine and scrolly pattenis — delicate pastel tints, or a plain ground with tiny flowers 01 spots sprinkled on, are far more popular. The smartest of all are those w ith borders The border is used for strapping or trimming and finishing the sailor collair with which many hlou»ses are still finished. » * * Such a change in veils, too. One should never year a veil that has the slightest 'suggestion of a design or spot. A plann net is the smartest wear, and of course, is becoming to every complexion because one earn chose' an open or close mesh to suit one's skin. » * • What do yon think of the new skirt that is to be the pattern for the immediate futmre? Only two seams — one down the back, and one in front, and the skirt fastens down the front seam l It clings tightly round the hips, and it is absolutely essential, if one wants the seams to set perfectly, that the new corset be adopted. # * * Would you be very smart s Then, you must don scarlet shoes and stockings for evening wear, but not if your drees be coloured. Only black and white will take this startling foot-gear. Coronation^ stockings, with _ the rose, shamrock and thistle beautifully embroidered in silk, and often studded with jewel®, are also being worn by the ultra-smart London women, and we may shortly expect to see coronation stockings', on a less extravagant scale, here, as one or two ladies who are always up-to-date harvei sent for them. * • » I hope you were not disappointed over the rather unlooked-for postponement of the Port. Nicholson Yacht Club's ball? Why was it postponed ? What, don't you know? Well, whisper, it was all on account of the ladies. You see, it is the custom to send out to the members to make nominations for invites, and the response was so small that it was considered prudent to put oiF the fixture rather than risk a failure. • * • Don't run away with the notion that the ball is falling off in popularity. Not a bit of it._ The truth is, we ladies are not going to stale our new costumes for the Governor's Coronation Ball by wearing them before that event. That is exactly why our gallant yachtsmen have got to wait a bit. After those new dresses have been shown off at Government House, then we are all ready to shed the light of our countenance and the glory of our toilettes and millinery upon the Commodore and his yachtsmen. (Continued on page 11.)

Interest m ping-pong has not died out in Wellington yet, and match.es> are still placed loi the Teirace championship. Mrs. Ewen continues to hold the scaif " On Thursday evening last week a, charming At Home was gn en by Mis. Baxter A ping-pong tournament w as aiianged for the amusement of the guests, and, as theie were a number of \ei} expert players amongst the company, Mjme capital play was witnessed After a capital supper, the prizes weie presented to> the winners of the touinament The fiist ladies' prize was won bv Miss Simpson (a handsome silvei hame^, and the gentlemen's by Mi. Gore ( a siher ma+chbox) # • * Mrs. Baxter received in a lo\ely gown of black orepe-de-chine, relieved with bands of ivory guipure. Either black or white gowns were the order ot the evening, and, as everyone was looking particularly well, those colouis must be very becoming. Mrs. Marchbanks was in black satin, Miss Goie a black satin skirt and pretty heliotrope blouse, Mrs Simpson, a handsome black gown Miss Simpson looked very nice in a white gown, with collar of point d'espnt Mrs. Stafford wore black, and the Misses Stafford white silk and lace blouses, and black skirts. Mrs. Mac E wen's beautifully-embioid-ered rose-pink gown was draped with lace Miss Heywood wore a charming gown of black crepe-de-chine, made with a short bolero and chiffon front. Miss E. Hey wood's pretty white satin was covered with an over-dress ot emhioideied chiffon. Mrs. W. Kennedy wore black satin, leheved with let Mrs. Ewem was in a gown of black satin, Miss Sutton, black, with touches of pale blue. Mi- Fitchett was handsomely gowned in black velvet and gold lace. Mrs Lyons and Miss Wdomald both wore black gowns. ->lis Campbell looked well m black and white Mrs. Fulton was wearing a lovely white silk blouse and black satin skirt. Mrs Millward was m black satm. . Fortune-telling is a profitable industry, if one is at all expert at the game. Thousands of Wellington folk have heard their fate fiom the lips of the 'tearcup" woman, who, while gazing thoughtfully at the dregs of a tea-cup told one the most amazing truths. a ■would-be fortune seeker, calling one day recently at the little cottage occupied by the wise one, was informed that "The hdv what lived there 'as gone 'ome to the King's Corrynation. Ereo, fortune-telling is a very profitable profusion—in Wellington at any rate * *■ * Invitations have been issued for the annual ball to be given bv the OnrJs Hi«rh School Old Gnls 1 Association, early in July This ball was \eiy lolly and well-managed last season. Coioraation Day, which has always seemed to be somewhere in the dim and distant future, has actually arrived and ere this paiagraph is scanned the loyal colonists of Maonland will have celebrated the crowning of their King and Queen— Edward and Alexandia. May they In c long and reign happily ' ■*■ -*~ * Many pretty frocks are to be worn at the "Coronation Ball, at Government House. One, in which a Wellington girl is to make her debut, is of ivory satin, entirely covered with, an overdress of embroidered chiffon, finished with tiny flounces, caught up at one side to reveal a cluster of white violets The pretty chiffon, bodice is also fnlled, and a wide flounce of lovely lace is arranged round the nee 1 :. • • * Never were flowers more popular for evening weai, trails of either very large or very tiny blossoms finishing the smartest gowns But not only our frocks are to be adorned. Amongst, the best-dressed Parisians it is the fashion to wear, nestling in the frills of their silk petticoats, large, bright-ooloured blossoms. For instance, on a dark-blue silk skirt was a crimson poppy, while a dainty bridal petticoat of white glace and chiffon had tiny clusters of white lilac and bebe ribbon. Miss Violet Rawson has returned from a trip down South. ♦ • * Mrs. Famnar, with her daughters and son, left for Sydney, en route foi F/ngland, on Saturday last * * * The marriage of Miss Toxward to Mi Hartmann is arranged to take place veiy shortly. « * * The Marist Old Boys' _ Association have many enjoyable functions in their club-rooms, Bouloott-street, but the social of last Thursday, which was oaganised unden- the auspices of the new-ly-formed football club, in connection with the Association, eclipsed all previous gatherings. Mirth, songs, and

vtoi\ transfoimed a unsalable, inclement night without inta a bright and happy one w ltJun Loi ers of pmg-poi<g found ample amusement therein, and the fusky celluloids ueie the subject of much attaitaon b> the deft o>f hand in this minute amusements. Billiards also had its exponents, but ping-pong atti acted the majont\ A notice, Pmg-pongists aie cautioned asainst monopoly," posted in a conspicuous plate adjacent to the scene of action, spues to show how the wird blew During the evening, a toast-hst uafe honoured, interspersed with songs and other interesting items, to which the following contributed Songs, Messis. C. Gamble, R. Sievers, D. Twohill. and R. WhitaJier. The singing of Mr Twohill was much admired. Banjo .solos, Mr. H. Poiter Irish ug, Mr. J Angus and legerdemain feate b Mr H. Liardet. Mrs. Fitchett intends coming into town to live next week, and has taken a house in Tmakon-ioad (No. 115.). * ■» * On Thursday last week, a ver> pretty wedding was celebiated at St Mark's, Sussex Stjuaie. Wellington, the contracting parties being Mr. E. H. Raailsh and Miss Beiaitnce Yuile (only daughter of Mr. E. F. Yuile), both of Wellington Tihe bride, attired m a handsome dress of ivory satin, withlaee chiffon, and orange blossoms, looked chai ming as she entered the church leaning on the' arm of her father. The bridal party included four bridesmaids, the Misses Eaily and Short, both in pale blue cashmere, with cream vnseition and the little Misses Devlin and Gard, in coraJ pink cashmere Dorothy dresses and shepherds' crooks. Mi . P J G. Palmer acted ais best. man. ♦ * • Aftei the ceieinoin, performed bv tlie Revs R Coffev and E T W Bond an adiournment was made to Mi Yuile's residence, in Austm-s+reet, where about 1-30 guests sat down to the breakfast. The festivities were continued, music and dancino- being the chief attractions, up till midnight. Mr and Mrs Ramsh left by the afternoon train next day. en route to Wanganui, the latter's "'eoins-awav" costume being an electric blue tailoi-made, cream vest, a,nd black hat. There was a lone list of valuable and useful presents