Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 132, 10 January 1903, Page 10

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

THE mainago of Miss May Wood eldest daughter of the late Mi Wm. Wood (for many years headmaster of the Boys' High School, Napier), to Mr. Ernest F. Hadfield, solicitor, of Wellington, and youngest sou of Bishop Hadfield, was solemnised on December 27th at the Napier Cathedral. The ceremony was perfoimed by Archdeacon Williams (uncle of the bridegroom), assisted by DeanHovell, in the presence of many guests and fuends The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. W Wood of Wanganui, and was attended by Miss Kitty Wood and Miss Minnie Williams as budesmaids Mr. Frank Hadfield acted as best man After the ceremony, a leception was held bv the bride's mother, at her residence Cobden-road * •• » Mrs Menzies 1 a.s been 1 isiting friends at Rangitikei. - -y- _ Mr and Mis. P. Baldwin left bv the Monowai for Sydney, en route to England They travel by the North German Lloyds loute, in the Giosser Kuifurst, leaving Sydney this month. Mrs. Baldwin's children aie with Mrs Walter Johnston, at Highden • • ♦ Mis Beauchamp and her daughters loave for England very shortly Mis and Miss Reillv returned last week from a most enjoyable trip toEnoland. • • • Mrs P. Hulme (Blenheim) is on a vKit to Na,pier * ■+ * Miss Waldegiave has been i isiting friends at New Ph mouth.

Mis Clarke-Johnson is spending a few weeks at Paikakanki Maons and old settleis pi edict a hot summer When, oil when, is it going to begin ' J So tar, \\ c ha\ c not had one leally glorious da,y, and, from all accounts, it is iust the same, if not woise, everywheie else No wonder the ftnglish cricketers are disappointed with oui climate. Sight-seeing is dismal pleasuie in the rain We must hope that the clerk of the weathei will relent before they reach heie, and send us ideal days ne>xt week for thei cncket match. • • ♦ Ha,\ o am of \ou evei seen a menagene race?" At an up-country snort* meeting tins event was the funniest sight of the day Such a queer collection of competitor — a nig, a looster, a tiny kitten a, pet lamb and a small temer, each having a piece of tape attached bv which means the owners weie enabled to drive their lespective pets from behind. The terrier finished a good first, with the pig clo^e behind • » * Does anyone, I wonder, foiget what "going to the pantomime" meant in nursery da\s? If so, they should hunt up their nieces, and nephew s — or someone else's> — -and introduce them to Dick Whittington and His Cat." At the matinee, on Saturday, the Theatre Royal was crowded with children, who followed with breathless interest the adventures of the hero, and peals of merry laughter and shrieks of delight greeted the oretty tranformation scene, "In Polar Seas." Detective stories are ever fascinating, and one is, therefore, not surprised to hear that the "Sherlock Holmes" Compaav are attracting crow ded houses down South. We shall shortly have them heie, and may look forward to seeing some pretty frockmg in addition to good acting. lam told that Miss May Chevalier, with her plaintive voice, is a great favourite, but has few opportunities for elaborate dressing. Her prettiest gown is of soft cream voile, with flounces of lace, and another, of white cloth, with strappings of pale blue, is very becoming. * * * Miss Mabel Lane first appeals in a beautiful black dress — a mass of gleaming jet, and an ideal frock for her part — that of a cold and calculating \\ oman. This is changed for a sma.it walking gown of white' cloth, with

touches ot black, and m the last act she again wears evening diess, and a glorious coat, which strikes envy into the lieait ot all feminine beholdeis. • * * The mainage of Miss Ilurcomb, daughter ot Mr. W. C. Hurcomb, of Wellington, to Mr. C. R. Dak. was celebrated on Christmas Day, at the residence of the bride's parents, Cubastieet, the Rev. C. Dallaston being the officiating clergyman. The bride, who was given aw ay by her father, w ore a pretty travelling gown of grey voile. She was attended by Miss Tot Hurcomb and Miss M. Dale as bridesmaids, the foimer wearing a dress of rose pink voile and Miss Dale a gow n of w hite silk Both maids woie large picture hats » * * Mr Ha.nv Moist 1 , cousin of the bride, was best man, and Mr. H. Hurcomb acted as gioomsman. The honeymoon is being spent at "The Glen," Berhampore. Large numbers of wedding gifts were received by the happy couple. An interesting guest was Mrs. J. Mcllwraith. of this city, who was present at the wedding of the bride's father and also the w eddmg of her grandfather * ♦ ♦ The lover of a long trailing sash may now indulge in this luxury to her heart's content. The sash of the day, however, is rather expensive, beiiif fashioned of wide ribbon of beautiful design. Some are richly embroidered. At a recent, smart reception at Home every second guest was wearing a sash. The effect was not monotonous, though, foi the colours and designs were most varied. The finish par excellence is a huge rosette, ait the back, but man.y prefer long ends, six not being considered too many. One society beauty favoured the "Dutch" sash, and appeared w ith four flat bows arranged wind-mill fashion, and no ends at all. Sashes with lace ends are popular, and sashes of all lace still more so. With those who passess lace scaives of sufficient length for the purpose, fastened with a nrettv buckle, they aie an ideal finish to a summer gow n * » • The Misses Curtis have gone to Auckland, to be present at the marriage of their brother. Mr. J Curtis, with Miss Shavle-George. * ♦ * A new note in the diessing of to-day i', the tn-colour scheme, which can be made most effective. I heard of a

blouse the other day, in which pink, black, and white were blended. A popular combination is steel, blue, and pink, but nearly always there is a little black 111 the tri-colour scheme, for, somehow, no colour looks so well as w hen set off by a touch of black. • * • The collar, belt, and hem are the three points that give away the age of the gown. Chan ce these, keep them modem, and, above all keeD them from any suspicion of soil and wear and you will come out far ahead in the dress problem. The fashion that calls for every blouse to have its own collar necessitates a careful look out that it doesn't get honeless. Collarbones do break, the collar drops into bad lines," and the edges get quite soiled. Tulle is requisite for first aid in an emergency. Folds of tulle round the collar, with a large full bow at the back, gives just the ri^ht touch to any blouse. • • • One often hears, from those who have travelled in Japan, that household arrangements there run with exceptional smoothness, the reason being the excellent quality of the "Jap" servants. Their duties are soi varied. Just imagine, in the absence of the family, the Japanese domestic plays the part of hostess, hospitably entertaining the guests with tea, and remains in the room conversing until they leave. But, the quaintest of all domestic servants is the Russian, who. as a rule, is quite happy to work for board and lodging. Although no longer a serf, the instinct of serfdom is still there, and for the smallest fault she will fall down at her mistress's feet, and implore pardon. She is dreadfully ignorant, though and has been known to use a valuable silver bowl to boil potatoes in. • * • The seamen have many friends in Wellington, and one of their best is Mrs. Rhodes, whose sympathy and. interest is shown in. a practical manner. Many happy days have been spent by the sailors and their wives and friends at her pretty grounds, where they were received with kind hospitality. On New Year's Day they were once more the quests of Mrs. Rhodes, but, the day being wet, they were entertained in the Missions to Seamen Hall, where lunch and tea were Drovided. Various amuse- , mients and competitions were indulged' in (Continued on page 13.)

That affliction detested by teaeheis, the distinguished visitor who does the round of schools, and questions the youngsters, is not common in Wellington. However, eometimes such an. one gets loose m a schoolroom. The oarticular bore under notice entered a suburban school on Tuesday, and offered a shilling to the boy in the fourth standard who could best answei the two questions, "Whom do you love best p " and "Why do you love him best?" The first, answer was. "My mother, because she lovesi me" the second answer was, "My teacher, because she is so kind" the third answer was. "God, because he died for me." The shilling was at once handed to the third respondent. "And what is your name?" asked the lady. "Isaac Moses* " replied this astute infant, as he pocketed the shilling. » • * The congregation of the little country church were hushed in silent expectancy. The coughing had ceased, the male pait wiped its bald head after the hymn, and the earnest, -oung storekeeper, who "took" the service for the parson, when sand parson was diffusing light elsewhere, was preparing to launch a sermon at the waiting worshippers. Reverentiv. he held Ins hands up, and, feeling the immense power for good he mipht be, turned the leaves of the book. Suddenly he stopped, a deep flush overspreading his mobile features. W T as the spirit moving him? Did something strive mightily within him? It did. In a buirst of confidence, he hurled the first and only words of his sermon. "Why. blowed if I haven't brought 'Robinson Crusoe instead of 'Spurgeon's Sermons' "he said and the solemn silence of the 1 sen-ice was broken only bv the amu<=ed chuckles of it* worshippers. * * * You kissed me at the gate last night And mother heard the smack She says its naughfcv to do so So please to take it back I took it back and then, s.aid she "You rogue, you stole anothei Please take it back." I did and then I kissed her for her mothei * • ' Such a nice easy billet school-teach-ing! Only about five hours' work a day, five days a week, and about seven months' work in the veai\ House free too, oftentimes. Just a few, dear little children to teach things you learnt years: before, and w Inch do not need any particular application. No? What about some of those wav-back schools that supply material for tragedies and oftentimes patients, for mental disease hospitals? Take the little Rowan school, near Mount Egmont Mr Robinson, its teacher, recently severed his head completely from his body with a razor. Nobody knows why. of course He is not the first who has suicided One former master of the same school drowned himself, and another cut his throat making three tragedies for the one school. It would be interesting to collect a budget of school tragedies other than those which end in death . * • ♦ Alleeed that Parihaka seethes with unqualified medical practitioners who are not required to show cause when a patient dies It is said also that a certificate bv a qualified medico ?s to the cause of dearth is not necessary thereaway. The Maoris' blind faith in the pakeha auack does not seem to quit even at the onslaught of the hard-work-ing and conscientious native vro-lifter Dr. Pomare

A w lei'd application \v as made by a lengthy person in a Wairarapa court the othei day. Certainly there were evidences tliat the applicant had been ui> duly lubricating his larynx with malt decoctions. He wanted permission to carry a revolver. Profession? Debt collector. "Couldn't he get his debts in p " asked the Magistrate. "Oh, yes, he'd got them all in, and the people who didn't owe him any money would not poy him any." On the gentleman being examined, it was found that the lubrications referred to had not prevented them from getting rusty. He is m the Home for thirsty souls now. • * • Tale from the Wairairapa A newchum, working on a station, went down to the little way-side post-office, a week or so ago, and said, in a strong Scotch accent "Any letters for me?" "Yes, I believe there are," replied the charming girl, who sold sugar and sorted mails, and immediately produced one addressed "M. Eugene Delacasse Rigobert." That bright girl had fallen to the conclusion that a man with an Aberdeen accent must be a Frenchman. - Scottie threw dow n the letter, and rushed out laughing. They met, 'twas at a little "hop " and now finding that the Frenchman from Aberdeen is not a bad sort, the pOSt-office girl — but theie'

New phase of Jay Peeism from War iiganui. An irate parent faced the awful bai- behind which unpaid justice unbhokingly dealt out equity. The parent remarked warmly that he felt it hard indeed that the truant inspectoi should bring him to court as a defaulting paaent. He would believe his wife (who had, apparently, said Johnny did go to school) sooner than anybody in New Zealand. This is where the new phase of Jap Peeism came in. Fined 2s. Justice offered to pay fine ! Aftei all, it is just likely truant inspectors do not know everything. Wanganui leoentlv beheld the case- of a man who w as fined for not sending his children to school. The man had never been married, neither was he a legal guardian. a.nd it is just likely lie knew nothing of the youngsters. * * * Lines found posted on a doomed Ashburton "house" — To keep a pub ' Ah, there's the rub ' You'll find the maxim true. 'Tis easier far to keep a pub Than make a pub keen you ' * • * A young, newly-married couple, who lemo'ved from Wancanui to Wellington during the recent hohdav season, had a stroke of "hard luck" in beginning their new life m the city. They arrived in Wellington on the last day of tVe old \eaa\ secured a house at Brooklyn and came into town to spend New Year's Eve in purchasing goods with which to set up housekeeping They got successfully through their first shop, and were proceeding to pay up for articles selected m the second shop when Benedick was horrified to find that between the

"Won't you give the baby to me?" is a common question of ladies who find the sweet little dears on the street in change of an elder sister. We noticed a little one wheeling a "pram." on the Quay the other day. The little one is the daughter of a well-known local dressmaker. A lady stopped her, and patted the occupant of the "pram.," and asked the question, "Won't you give the little girly-wirly to me?" "No, T cam't," said the youn~ hopeful, "cos mum wants her but you can cut a pattern from her if you like l " * • ♦ The infant's prattle at the bedside, before he goes to rest is soothing and refreshing toi hard and. frequently, irreligious man. The other night, so an Ellice-street man of that brand tells us his youthful son lifted up his little voioe in prayer "Oh, Lord," he said, as he knelt at his b-edside "make me a good litle boy. I asked --<iv the other day to do it and you didn't." * • • Amended maxims gleaned from the conversation of a> Wellington lawyer, much given to that kind of thing • — "Money makes the mayor go." "Where there's a will there's a frcy." "One touch of nature makes the whole world grin."

two shops he had lost his 1 purse, which contained the whole of his capital. That couple had an unhappy new year. She thinks the men are homd things To stare a lady so Whene'er she walks upon the street, So very bold, you know. It malces her very mad of course, Their vulgar stares to get, But when they look the other way It makes her madder vet !