Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 138, 21 February 1903, Page 10

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

THE Battalion Bazaar comes off veiy shortly, and many hours aie being spent by the friends of the various membeis of each corps, making pretty things for the stalls. Really, it is very puzzling to know what to make, but, as on this occasion, one may hope that there will be a generous sprinkling of men willing to buy, I will suggest a few articles that might appeal to the sterner sex. "A Tie Rack," on which your bachelor fnend may hang his ties, is a comfort, and easily manufactured. Get a long, slender bit of wood, round like tubing — bamboo would do, or part ot a discarded walking-stick — cover it neatly with some fancy silk or pretty ribbon, nnash each end with a tiny cushion for the scarf pins, suspend this with a ribbon band, and it is ready for sale. Another capital idea, which could easily be carried out by an artistic girl, is a novel match-holder. A small piece of stiff, white card-board, about six inches' square, is the first requirement. This may be covered w ith w hite satin or not as one pleased, but a design, either pretty comical, or grotesque, should be drawn and coloured, and a piece of sandpaper introduced for striking — an owl, with sand-par>er formin? the breast, or a dancing girl with an emery-paper skirt would answer the purpose. Or, a fashionable maid from an up-to-date fashion-plate might be found very suitable. Then, in any convenient position, glue a tiny hair-pin box on to the cardboard, or an ordinary round "Bell's" matchbox, painted crimson or some bright colour, to hold the matches. Make a small hole, a.nd insert a oit of ribbon neatly, with which to fasten the match card to the wall, and it is finished. • * * Shaving balls are easily made, and are always in demand A pretty shay-

ing pad is made by making the fluffy skats of a danscuseof tissue-paper. To make them stand out, cut the paper into cucles, crimp the edges, and mush from the centre outw ard. Fasten these centres to the skirt-form by one stitch of thread or a little paste. Then so many girls are able to carve, and nothing will please a smoker more than a quaintly-oa.rvad pipe>-raok, or a pretty frame for his best girl's photograph * * * A number of tasteful almanacs, reaped a large sum at one bazaar. The outlay is small for these. A piece of special cardboard, of any shape or size,

can be converted by a clever brush into a thing of 'beauty, and the lest is easy. Copy the calendar for 1903 from any almanac and attach to the boaid with narrow ribbons tied firmly in a neat bow . Of course, this idea ma-v be earned out in many different ways. A dozen of these ornamental w all almanacs w ould go like hot cakes. If you go in for "Snap Shots," a nhotograph would be just as effective for decorative purposes as a drawing. Little booklets of "snaps about town," prettily got up, would also find buyers. # # * In my notice last week of the cos-

tumes worn in the Poster Competition, I inadvertently overlooked Miss Wilmot Karkeek, who represented Messrs. Johnston and Co.'s "Suratura Tea." She was much admired, in a Moorish gown of silk, gracefully draped, and girdled round the waist with a silk cord. A sash across the shoulders had "Suratura Tea" in large type, and panels bearing the same lettering fell on. either side of the skirt, and necklaces and bangles of vari-coloured beads were worn. Sandles took the place of shoes, and a coquettish little turban formed a becoming headgear. * * * Amongst those present at the Garden Fete- were — Lady Ward, who was handsomely dressed in cream voile, with exquisite lace, and a hat to match. Miss Ward was wearing a pretty blue gown, and a blue hat. Miss Skerrett wore black, relieved with lace and jet and a stylish hat. Mrs. Macarthur's gown of black and white silk muslin was very handsome. Mrs. Hales wore a handsome black costume. Mrs. E. T. Gould had on a pretty light gown and hat, lace ruffle; Miss Quick, a pretty biscuit lawn, with tucks and insertions. Miss Dorothy Quick had touches of green on a muslin gown. Miss O'Connor wore a charming prey voile gown, beautifully made, with lace insertions, and a pink chiffon hat. Miss E. O'Connor wore a becoming blue gown. Mrs. Gilruth was in blue voile, with appliques of lovely lace. * « » Mrs. Collins wore a graceful grey gown, and black hat with tip>j. Mrs. H. D. Crawford had on a fawn coat, dark skirt, and pretty hat. Mrs. Tuckey wore a handsome black coat, over a black gown. Miss Coates wore a dark costume, and black hat. Mrs. Fitchett was wearing a black voile dress with insertions of French lace. Mrs. MacEwan looked nice in a fawn coat, lace collar, black voile skirt, and picture hat! Mrs. Ewen, a black gown, with a touch of pink ; Mrs. Edwin, in black. Miss Edwin wore white, with red folded belt, and red hat; Miss A. Edwin, a pale blue muslin gown, and large white hat: Mrs. J. P. Firth, in a striking and handsome gown of grey, with wide insertions of black lace, deep flounces on the skirt, black and white ruffle, and large black hat. * # * Miss MacGregor wore a gown of royal blue voile, and a hat with daisies. Miss S. MacGregor was in dark grey. Miss Chatfield wore black, and a lace collar ; Miss O. Chatfield, a pretty holland gown. The Misses Harding were (Continued on page 11.)

in cream cloth skiits, silk blouses, and light hats. Muss Y. Rawson looked well vn white silk. Miss 0. Rawson was also in white. Miss M. Blundell wore a crimson, sash, with ai pretty white gown. Miss B. Hislop was in white silk. Miss Edgar wore a stylish grass lawn costume, with deep lace collar. Miss A. Pollard looked dainty m a white silk blouse, and black voile skirt, with wide lace insertion. Miss Buttel wore a very pretty light gown. Mrs. R. Wood's gown of bright green linen, with collar of point d'espnt, was much admired. Miss Heywood was in white , Miss E. He-wood, a pretty tussore dress with pink sash. ♦ • ♦ Mrs. W. Percy wore the daintiest of gowns, white muslin and lacei, the flounces being finished with bands of narrow black velvet, and the sleeves with deep frills of lace. Miss Harcourt had on a pretty blue floral muslm and hat with blue. ' Miss G. Harcourt was in pink. Miss F. Brandon wore white, with led, Miss Hi<?ginson, a lovely gown of grass lawn and lace, over bright green, and hat to match. Miss Lucy Brandon was in pink muslin. Miss M. Kennedy wore black and white, Miss Kane, a white gown. The Misses Seed wore stylish white costumes. Mrs. King had on. a white silk blouse, and pretty blue skirt. Miss 1 Bendall wore an extremely smart holland coat, with collar of white silk, strapped w ith black, and a white pique skirt. Miss B. Fitzgerald wore white, with blue sash, and blue bows in her hat. * * * The many friends of Mr. A. C. Stubbs, now of the Union Bank, Christohurch, will regret to hear of the death of his young wife. Mrs. Stubbs was the eldest daughter of Mr. W. P. Townend, of Opawa, Christchurch. * ■» • We are all looking forward to the visit of Miss Nellie Stewart, and we just wonder how much of her extensive rep«rtoire we shall see. "A Country Mouse)" has been very popular in Austrarka, and the frooking is lovely. Miss Alice Fairleigh bears the palm in the first act' with an elegant lace costume, the sheathlike skirt closely set with horizontal stripes of yellow ribbon, each finishing with a tiny ohou. This flutes away very prettily, with a prodigality of lace frills at the foot, edged with narrow yellow ribbon, the bodice, carried out in the same lines, is broken at the waist with a band of mandarin yellow. * -f * Miss Nellie Stewarts gowns are all marked with a distinctive and dainty simplicity. First, she wears a very finely accordeon-pleated mousseline de soie, of Empire design, with a short yoke and sleeves of a latticework design of tiny pink roses. For the croquet contest her dress was surely the very prettiest of French muslins, patterned in pastel tints of pink and pale blue, with a dropped yoke of point lace, a wide, fringed sash painted with a shadowy design of leaves, and a rush hat, garlanded with Michaelmas daisies. • * * Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Coleridge have taken a house in McKenzie Terrace, off Mount-street. » • • A very enjoyable afternoon tea was given by Mrs. Barraud, at her residence on the Terrace, last week. It was a farewell for Miss Barraud, who leaves this week on, a trip to England. Tea was daintily arranged in the dinms:rooin the floral decorations of pink ivy geranium and foliage being much admired. Puff billiards was played in the study, and Miss Charoman and Mr. Bar1 aud played a pretty duet for the violin and piano. • ♦ • Mrs. Barraud was wearing a gown of black brocade, relieved with lace. Miss Barraud was in a pretty grey frilled muslm. Miss Chapman (Melbourne) wore a gown of heliotrope muslin, and touches of pale green. Miss Ivy Barraud looked w ell in a green silk blouse,

and voile skiit. Mrs. T F. Martin wore a blue costume, and white plumed hat. Miss G. Martin was in, white silk. Mrs. Sprott wore black, and a hat trimmed with black and gold roses. Miss Fancourt wore a light gown, and hat with daisies , Missi Km- a black gown, with deep lace collar, and black hat. Miss Farquhar-Smith wore a pretty floral de lame dress, and black hat, and her sister a. pale blue. Miss Mestayer was in a black and white silk gown. • • • The pretty poster gowns worn bv Miss MeteaJfe (first prize!) , and Miss W. Karkeek (Suratura Tea) were made at Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains'. • • • Mrs. and Miss Fancourt have return-

Ed from Wanganxu, where they were visiting Mrs. Fletcher Harrison. Mrs. Fancourt's health is greatly improved. • • • The engagement has been announced in Wanganui of Miss Nora Meehan, who is well and popularly known In Wellington, to Mr. J. D. Bradv. of Messrs. Newham a.nd Brady photographers, Wansranui, lately of Wellington. • • * The Rev. C. Kit cat (who was Canon of Honolulu) and his wife arrivev in Wellington this week, and proceed to Eketahuna, where Mr. Kitcat takes me place of the Rev. J. Walker, now at St. Thomas's, Wellington. (Continued on page 13.)