Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 287, 30 December 1905, Page 8

Social Gossip

CHRISTMAS is the season of gladness for most of us, but never a year goes by but this happiest of days is turned to darkness and grief in one or more families in our midst. This year all Wellington paused in its merrymaking to express heartfelt sorrow with Mr. Lockie and family. Miss Alice Lockie, whose cruelly-sudden death occurred on Christmas Day, as the result of a driving accident^ possessed a bright and very generous disposition, and on the day of her death she was particularly bright, thoughtfully trying to cheer her father and sisters, and lighten the memory of their sorrow, it being only a few months since their mother passed away whilst on a visn. to England. • • • Moss Lockie, like her mother, was active in the cause of charity. For several yeans she was secretary to the Ladies' Christian Association, and has done a large amount of good. One could always rely on Miss Lockie assisting in every practical and possible way a deserving case of hardship, and ncr cheery and' bright nature endeared her to a wide circle of friends. • • • Last year it was at Mr. Lockie's garden the V.M.C.A Ladies' Auxiliary held their annual gathering, when Miss Lockie exerted herself to make the entertainment a success and to heilp on the work of the Ladies' Auxiliary in every way It is a sad coincidence that Mr Georse Fossette. who lost his life also on Christmas Day, was an enthusiastic member of the V.M.C.A.. and therefore a 00-worker of Mi=s Lookie's.

Miss Alice Fraser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Fraser, of Dunedin has made a great many friends in Wellington whilst visiting Lady Ward. They will be interested to read that her marriage with Mr. P,. Macassey, solicitor, ot Dunedin, took place ou Tuesday, December 20th, at St. Peter p Church, Dunedin, Dean Fitchett officiating. The ceremony was most picturesque and interesting, and was witnessed by a large number of guests. The bride, who entered the church with her fathei, wore a beautiful gown of glace silk and chiffon, and an exquisite veil of old lace was arranged over hei pretty hair. • » • Three maids followed . Miss Fra&ex, Miss R. Fraser, and Miss Nixon — all n whom wore very quaint and becoming dresses of white chiffon over glace, and satin straw hate, wreathed with roses of crimson and cream, and their foliage. Their white crooks were clustered with red ros.es and chiffon bows, to correspond. A tiny maid, Miss NobleAnderson, wore white chiffon, and a little white bonnet. Each maid received a peail necklace, the gift of the bridegroom. The best man was Mr. G. Sise, and groomsman Mr. Fotheringham. • • » Sir Joseph and Lady Ward were m eluded among the guests present at the reception held afterwards at Mr. Frasers residence, where the bride and bridegroom stood under a lovely bell or flowers to receive congi atulations. There was a very handsome display of wedding gifts. Mrs. Macassey's travelling gown when departing for the lakee was a brown cloth costume, with hat and furs to match. • • • Miss Mai chant, M A., lady princiual of the Girls' College, Dunedin, is spending the vacation in Wellington. • • • Miss Lloyd Hassell is in Tima.ru visiting hei relations. Two engagements are announced in a Southern paper — those of Miss Dora Kelling (Nekon) to Mr. L. Coster, and Mi*.s Enwright, of Westport, to Mr. White, solicitor, of Hastings. • » » Miss Flora Brandon has returned from a lengthy visit to friends in the South Island.

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Lysaght are staying with the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stowe. • • • Mrs. Finch has gone South, and is the guest of Mrs. Molineaux. ♦ * • Two weddings of social interest took place at Auckland last week. The first was that of Miss Eileen HopeLewie, only daughter of Dr. HopeLewis, of Symonds-street, and gianddaughter of the late Judge Fenton, of the Native Land Court. She is a very popular and' successful golf player. The bridegroom was Mr. Percy Williams, son of Mr. T. C. Williams, of Wellington. ♦ • • The bride entered the church on hei father's arm, and wore a veuy loyely ?own of ivory satin, corded with lovers' knots of white chiffon The front panel of the* skirt was composed of flounces of Honiton laoe, softened with many flounces of aocoi deoa-pleated chiffon, and the bodice was softly draped into a deep belt of satin. A small wreath and tulle veil were worn. * * • The bridesmaids in attendance w ere . Misses Gwen Gorne 3 Elfie Williams, Ethna Pierce, and Ida Thompson who wore palest pink and heliotrope mous-selme-de-soie, with insertions of tinted Valenciennes lace, and lace hats with a touch of colour to match. They earned bouquets of sweet-peas in shades, of rose pink and heliotrope. The two little bridesmaids were cousins of the "bride (daughters of Professor and! Mrs. Egerton), and they woie white frocks. Mr. Arthur Cooper was the best man, and Messrs. Algar Williams, E. Williams, and T. Lewis were groomsmen. • • * Later a number of gueste were entertained by Dr. and Mrs. Hope-Lewis, e'er the bride and bridegroom left for their honeymoon trip to JEtotarua. The travelling-orown was of dark blue cloth, with pleated skirt and' coatee, white silk blouse, and pretty blue and green hat. * * • The other wedding was that of Mr. Thome-George eldest son of the Hon. Seymour Thorne-George, and the bride was Miss Phillips, daughter of Mrs. Phillips, Parnell. The ceremony was very quiet, and Mr. Geoffrey ThorneGeorge acted as best man to his brother.

Mrs. andi Miss Dewes (Napier) are visiting Wellington. Miss So<nerville is visiting Mr", Deanb, at Christchurch. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Murison are visiting Dunedin • * * Mis. Amekus SmatJi left by the Mahena. last week for Sydney, en routeto Southpoxt, Queensland, having gone over to see her son, Mr. Frank Smith, who is very ser_o^siy ill. Miss Christins Smith is spending Christmas withMr,,. Henry Fitzherbert, .at Pahnerston North. • • • Sir William Russell was, in town for a day or two, having come down to meet his daughters, who arrived from England o 1 Boxing Day. • • • In London, everything is going to b« high-waisted, having an Empire effect. Outdoor coats are fashioned long, with •titohed or velvet strappings outlining a yoke high under the arms. All through last summer coloured suede' shoes were worn with the light frocks, the grey ones being especially fashionable and cool-looking. In Paris, the shoes and hats are always worn in contrast to the frocks, especially in the evening, k vi&itoi to a fashionable theatre at Paris tells me that all the women wore high-necked! frocks — exquisite dresses of lace and chiffon, with just one vivid touch ot colour. Also, they all wore hats ; even if it were simply a bunch of chiffon and a flower. They must nave their heads covered to be fashionable, and always the shoes and hate corresponded in colour. — * • One exquisite gown was of Ivory glace, entirely covered with delicate lace flounces. The deep V-shaped yoke was of lace, over chiffon, a touch of emerald green at the waist, cream toque swathed with moss green chiffon, and green suede shoes were worn. A frock of grey crepe-de-ohine was worn with grey shoes and hat, relief being given by a cluster of roses tucked in the laces of the pretty bodice. A noticeable feature of the French women and children is their beautiful hair — luxuriant and glossy. There_ is no general fashion in the coiffure in Pani, each woman wisely wearing her hair as it suits her. The prettiest fashion is with, soft coils low on the neck.

Have you tried to make, your^elvess tbtj pretty lace ooiiais winch make t>o cool ana suitable a nnisn tor a mushu rrockr' They are v&iy simple. .buy tour yards oi insertion ot Paris tint (or white, x± preferred), ana whip together, leaving aDout eight inches at either end, between which inseit fan-s>haped pieces at d'esprit net. Then fold the ends into narrow pleat*, ana press with a hot ii on, and the tie is .complete. Wear it folded twice round the throat, then loosely knotted. • * • Sydney girls are, according to- all accounts, threatening to rival the Americans in idolisuig actors or prominent men. The Italian officeis. — the Prance especially — were th* object of their flattering attentions for some time, and just now Mr. Douglas Gerrard, of the Tittell Brune Company, is the idol of the hour. He is not in the least good-looking, but is quite young, very good-natured, and has, being Irish born, the gift of saying "pretty thangs" nicely. Also, he appears to enjoy being "lionised, ' and gives m return jolly little teas. • • • On his first appearance, he was presented with a laurel wreath almost as. large as himself, draped with an Irish flag, and tied with emerald ribbons, and oa another occasion a horseshoe of shamrocks was handed across the footlights. Apparently, the girls have large dress allowance there. Very few girls here could afford the luxury of showering an actor with flowers, even if they had the inclination • • • Mr. and Miss Webb-Bowen, of Nelson, are still in Australia, and were staying at "Illawarra," Toorak for some time, leaving last month for a visit to Tasmania. Mrs. James, nee Miss Flow Webb-Bowen, is also living in Australia. • • • Mrs. Margoliouth (Napier) has been on a short visit to Wellington. .» * ■» Miss Lambert left on Saturday for Auckland and Rotorua. • ♦ * Miss Hunter (Napiei) is the guest of Miss Turner, Kelburne. • • • Miss Mack (Sydney) arrived by the Maheno, and is the guest of Miss Bendall. • • • A great many visitois have been attracted to Wellington for the tennis tournament, which is; taking place on the College ground. Unfortunately, the weather for the opening is anything but good, but there is every prospect of it clearing now. # The frames will be very exciting and interesting, and no dooibt the grounds will be crowded with visitors. Arrangements have been made foi afternoon tea on the ground. •* * * M.ss Kane leaves in March, with Mis and Miss Wright, for a visit to the Continent and England. • • • The marriage of Miss Tottie Leggatt, of Nelson, to Mr. Russell, oi the A.M.P. staff, Napier, was celebrated at the Cathedral, Nelson, on Wednesday, 13ih December. The bride looked exceedingly well in her gown of white oi epe-de-chine, over silk, relieved with lace. t ' Dr. and Mrs. Pollen are spending a short holiday at Gisborne. • • * Just imagine our hard-worked banking staffs producing plays and entertainments ot various description^ in the intervals of their work. Surely in Australia a bank clerk's kfe is a happier lot, tor we read' in a social letter that the members of the Bank of New South Wales Social and Dramatic Club gave a very good performance of "Dandy Dick" at the Palace Theatre, showing surprisingly good talent. The popular amateurs received plenty of applause, and quantities of flowers. All the well-known banking people were present. * • Miss Minnie Tittell Brune, beloved of the Sydney girls, was a valuable acquisition to Mrs. J. C Williamsons stall at a recent fete in Sydney. She promised to sign her autogi aoh at 6d a time, and was simply Besieged with autograph books. Miss Brune is a passionate lover of dogs, which trait she shares with Miss Maud Jeffries apparently, for I noticed the latter in town this week leading a pretty little terrier.

Five thousand people picnicked with great vigour and unalloyed enjoyment at Bellevue Gardens on Boxing Day. In fact, the Catholics of the combined parishes of Wellington have never held so successful a holiday gathering. The magnificent weather favoured every kind of out-door recreation, and! Archbishop Redwood, together with a very numerous band of clergy, didl all that was possible for the pleasure of the t>ic-

nickers. The sporty delighted the youngsters and the oldsters too, and the absence of heavy wmd made the music of the bands (Jupp's and the Newtown Band) a very pleasant circumstance. The Hibernian hugh spirits found vent here and there in tlhe bursting out into, dancing of several devotees of terpsichore. Father Lane, at the Lower Hutt, gave a picnic and sports meeting, too, and this also was largely attended. All who were lucky enough to attend either claim to have had the happiest time.

Photo Christmas Cards. — Isaacs' Christmas Midgets are the most up-to-date Christmas Cards on. the market I They are cheap and good. One do«ea beautifully mounted, with g«ason's greetings, for 5s. — J. N. Isaacs, Man-ners-street, Wellington