Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 197, 9 April 1904, Page 8

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

ALTHOUGH the weather was threatening and the sky overoast, the holiday-makers were early abroad on Easter Monday. The ferry boats were crowded at each trip, and' still greater was the crush at the big stations. Bellevue Gardens were thronged with visitors, but the openair concert, arranged for the evening, had to be postponed, owing to the downpour which set in at dusk. ♦ • • The tennis players have had particularly hard luok. The heavy grounds were alone enough to tiy the patience of a saint, and then a hurricane sprang up, quite spoiling any chance of tine play. The weather was more pleasant for the finish on Tuesday, and some excitine play was witnessed. It was extremely plucky of the lady players to "stick to their guns" as they did on Monday— even in. the ram they played their matches through to the end. • • • Miss Powdrell's was a popular win. This young player has the distinction also of having won the only set Miss Nunnelly has lost to a New Zealand lady. Miss PowdrelFs sister (Mrs. Pearce) is also a veiy excellent player, and both belong to Patea. * • • A great many visitors watched the progress of the tournament each day, although, of course, the weather interfered ereatly with the attendance. The local players entertained the visitors at a ball, held in the Sydney-street schoolroom, on Tuesday night. • • * Orce more a perfect deluee of "sillyism s" is going the rounds and one meets a friend who demands a solution to such awful problems as "Why was the scent sent ?"— the reply of "Only the nose knows" being fired-off before one has time to recover from the shock.

Then the gay questioner flies away m uuxsuit of fresh victims. 1 * » * Miss Harman, one of the Christchurch players, has been staying with Mrs. Marchant for a few weeks. * * * The marriage of Mr. A. G. Smith, son of the late Captain Smith, 41st Regiment, and Miss Blundell, eldest daughter of the late Mr. H. T. Blundell, of the "Evening Post," was solemnised at St. Petei's Church, on Wednesday, April (3th. The wedding was an exceedingly pietty one, and bright. The bnde looked lovely as she entered the church with her brother, Mr. Ernest Blundell, by whom she was given away, and wore a very becoming and graceful gown of ivory orepe-de-chine over glace, with a deep yoke and berthe of Brussells lace. The skirt was a mass of the softest chiffon flounces, much embrojidered, and caught hare and there With sprays of orange blossom. The long train was also finished with flounces of Brussells lace, and an embroidered veil was worn, and a shower bouquet of exquisite flowers carried. * • * The bridesmaids were : The Misses Lydia and Eileen Blundell (sisters of the bride), and Miss C. Smith (sister of the bridegroom). They wore dresses of soft white silk, trimmed with lace and insertion, and a delightful^ touch of colour was given by their crimson bouquets and velvet hats of the same shade. They also wore their gifts fiom the bridegroom — gold necklets and pearl and ruby pendants. The Rev. G. P. Davys was the officiating clergyman, and Mr. Shortt piesided at the organ. Mr. H D. Smith was best man, and Mr Oml Blnndell groomsman. * * • After the ceremony, a number of guests were entertained at the residence of the biidc's mother. The breakfast table was decorated with beautiful golden chrysanthemums sent specially from the garden of Mr Brett, Lake Takapuna, Auckland. The wedding gifts received were very beautiful. The bride's present from the bridegroom was a handsome sapphire brooch, and the bridegroom received a "old watch and chim from the bride. Mrs. Blundell (mother of the bride) reoen ed the guests, wearing a lovely gown of black voile over white silk, with dainty black and white toque. Mrs. Smith ('mother of the br'degroom) wore black corded silk, relieved with Maltese lace, and a bonnet of black tulle. Mrs. Trmgham's very pretty gown was of mouse-coloured canvas, trimmed with Honiton lace, and she wore with it a large cream beaver hat.

Mrs. Kennedy Macdonald wore a handsome gown of grey broche, and dainty toque of grey and white tulle. Miss Macdonald was in cream canvas, with touches of blue silk ; Mrs. Louis Blundell, a gown of green cloth, and black hat, Miss May Blundell, in cream serge, and beaver hat. Mrs. George Robertsons handsome gown was of black and white brocade. Mrs. Eichelbaium wore dark blue, relieved with white. * * * Mrs. Willoughby (Wainui) was in cinnamon brown cloth, and black lace toque. Mrs. Holdship (Wanganui) wore a cream serge gown, and a black pictuie hat; Mrs. Duthie, a very pretty gown of oreain lace, with becoming pink felt hat, with black ostrich feathers. Mrs. Donald Robertson was wear ng black grenadine over white silk, Mrs. Martin (New Plymouth), cream silk gown, black velvet picture hat ; Mrs. Holmwood, lovely gown of purple frieze, with black and silver toque. Miss Wright looked very well in russet blown, Mrs. Shannon, in black silk ; the Misses Shannon, in blue cloth gowns and white felt hats. Mrs J. Blundell wore black and white brocade ; Mrs. F. Wood, a dainty gown of black and white ; Mrs. George Ross, green coat and skirt, pretty toque. Other guests were- Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Vennel, Miss M. Brown, Misses K. and I. Blundell, R. Young, Robertson, Gibbes, Marshall Francis, Shannon, Crowther, Richardson, and Messrs. McDonald, Shannon, Richardson, Williamson, Robertson, Trmgham, Blundell, Holmwood. and Ballanoe. Very many people in Wellington will regret to hear that Mis. Adelene Izett, the talented elocutionist, is about to leave Wellington for good, and return to her native city, San Francisco. It is now nine years since Mrs. Izett (then Miss Adelene Wilkins, started teaching elocution in the Emp re City, and during that time many of the pupils have passed from her to the stage. Among them may be mentioned Miss Wriggleswoith who has played in Wellington with thiee different professional companies ; Miss Izett, who was a member of Mr. Geo. Rignold's company, under the stace name of Miss Hilda Meade , Miss Alyce Hqlroyd, now teaching elocution in Wellington ; Miss Eva Sharp, now playing in Australia; Mr. G. Morean who was here last week with the Holloway Dramatic Company, and whose stage name is Gus Neville , Mr. S. Tingey, who has won a number of gold medals for reciting; and Mr. P. Savieri, a capable member of the company now playing at the Onera House.

Mrs. Izett has left her mark on amateur theatricals, and her fine performance as Lady Noeline, in the local' production of "The Amazons," will long be remembered. She was married three years ago to Mr. J. M. Izett, who reprsents the Canada Cycle and Motor Company in Wellington, and who isknown outside business as a very effective baritone singer, with a decided gift for rendering a comic song with its full intrinsic humour. To him also belongs the credit of founding the Orpheus Liedertafel, which, however, has been silent so long that I am not quite sure whether it is still in the land of the living. Mr. Izett, I understand, will stay on in Wellington till the end of the year, and will then rejoin his wife in San Francisco, and settle down also within the Golden Gate. • * •* Lord Plunket, our new GGovernorr r with Lady Plunket and their family, have left for New Zealand. ♦ • • Mrs. G. P. Donnelly (Hawke's Bay> and her daughter (Mrs. Perry) are in Wellington at present. A very pretty Hawera wedding, which, though quietly solemnised in the main corridor of the Hospital, aroused much interest, was that of Miss M. Furlong, daughter of Mr. T. Furlong, New Plymouth, and Mr. Hamilton A. Wilson, son of Mr. J. I. Wilson, Whangarei. The bride, who has lately resigned the position of matron of the Hawera Hospital, wore her nurse's uniform, of pale blue linen, instead of a bridal gown and was attended by Nurse Stanley, also in uniform, and the Misses Furlong. * * ♦ Mr. Mervyn Wilson acted as best man to his brother, and Mr. Leo Storey (nephew) as groomsman. The bride was given away by Dr. Westenra, of Hawera and the ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. Bertram. Subsequently, the bridal party and guests were entertained, the wedding-breakfast table being decorated with exquisite flowers. The honeymoon was spent in Wellington, and the bride's travelling gown was a dark cloth tailor-made. » * ♦ Miss Furlong, as matron of the Hospital, won the respect and esteem of everyone in the district, and was immensely popular. On the day previous to the wedding a very pleasant ceremony took place at a recption arranged in Miss Furlong's honour. On behalf of the people of Hawera the Rev. Mr. Porter presented the bride-elect with a very nandsome solid silver tea set and salver. Many other gifts were also received bv Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.

At St. Peter's Church, on Wednesday, Ar>nl 6th, Mr. John Harding was married to Miss Caroline Newton cusmlp*! The bride, who was given fway by her brother (Mr. M. Staples) was attired in a lovely gown of white glace silk. She also had a wreath of orange blossoms, and the orthodox veil, and carried a lovely shower bouquet. The bride was attended by three bridesmaids Miss Blanche Staples (sister of the bride), who was dressed m white Indian muslin, very much tucked, and insertioned with white satin ribbon, and black velvet picture hat; a beautiful bouquet completed the toilet Miss Eileen. Macdonald (niece of the bride), and Miss Marjone Wilson dressed in white muslin, trimmed with lace and insertion, with pretty, cream silk hats, and each carried dainty baskets of flowers. The Rev. G. P. Davys conducted the ceremony, and Mr. Jtt. ». Rose acted as best man, and Mr. U. i±. Duncan as groomsman. • ♦ Mrs. Staples (mother of the bride) wore a handsome black gown of silk voile, trimmed with heavy silk lace and chiffon, with black beaver bonnet relieved 'with pale blue After the reception, which was held at St. Peters schoolroom, the bride and bridegroom left for Aucklond, where the honeymoon is being spent. The going-away costume was of drab cloth, with hat to match. # + The health of the Premier, who has been confined to the house through indisposition for some days, has greatly improved. • • * Ere long the only portion of the fashionable maiden not "early Victorian" will be the damsel herself. Gowns, hats, capes, muffs, and sleeves all reflect the fashion of our grandmothers, and now the Americans (whom we invariably copy sooner or later) are wearing the pretty "falls" so much worn half a century ago. The Victorian fall is a long wide veil, fastened round the hat and then thrown right back off the face. An additional veil may be worn protecting the face, or not, as desired , the fall, although really a veil, is never worn instead of one. It is said to be vastly becoming, and the hard lines ot a hat or toque are softened, colours toned and the general effect much improved by the addition of this accessory. • • • Another fashion which is being revived at Home is the wearing of long bead necklaces. A cousin in England writes me that a girl's outfit is not complete now-a-days without a long necklace of cut-glass beads. The popular colour is amber, and amethyst necklaces are also much worn.

On Wednesday afternoon Mrs. Gow gave a very charming little tea, inviting the guests to meet Mrs. Glover Eaton, L.R.A.M., who has lately arrived from England, and intends to reside here permanently. A feature of the afternoon was the delightful music. Mrs. Glover-Eaton's sweet and sympathetic voice charmed everyone. Her contributions included "Orpheus With His Lute," "Japanese Love Song," "Violets" (Ellen Wright), and Somerset's "Song of Sleep." Mrs. Gow and Mrs. Wyhe also sang very pretty songs, and Dr. Gow provided some music with the pianola. Mrs. Gow wore a lovely gown of ivory voile, and a blouse of soft silk. Mrs. GloverEaton wore black voile, and a large black hat. Some of the guests were: Mrs. and the Misses Stafford, Mrs. Wyhe, and the Misses MacGregor.

' You sellum Wood ?" the Chinaman asked, The chemist his desk forsook, And favouied his interlocutor With a calmly quizzical look. " You no savee? Me muchee cold. Me bossee tellum me, You catchum Woods' Gleat Pfp'min Cd Makum all h ! You see ?"