READING FOR GIRLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1819, 1 October 1886, Page 31

READING FOR GIRLS.

That the character of the literature read by the young leaves its stamp upon the reader is an undoubted fact ; therefore it is a matter of great importance that girls should either choose for themselves, or have chosen for them, works of a stamp calculated to impress the mind with images of nobility and worth. Perhaps a great deal of the lightness and frivolity which we lament in the girls of our large towns is traceable to the fact that they either do not read at all, or indulge to an inordinate extent in literature of a frivolous and and exciting kind. Fed upon such highly seasoned dishes, the appetite for wholesome mental food becomes impaired. When once the craving for sensational reading sets in it is a difficult matter to suppress, and no book is appreciated that does not deal largely with high-flown sentiment and exaggerated passions. After a few years of such reading the reader has amassed a considerable amount of misinformation regarding human nature and life in general, and the girl who views her own life from the sensational - story standpoint will find it a very tame affair indeed, and the chances are she will come to regard her quieter joys and sorrows as matters too insignificant to be held as the foundation of her future and will pass on with heedless feet many fair, sweet flowers in eagerness to reach a period of excitement to be favourably compared with heroines of romance. I am not saying to girls " Do not read," neither am I saying do not read novels, but read those novels which have been written by authors who give life and human nature as it is— who represent their characters in life like breathing identity and by a portrayal of human passions teach lessons deep and earnest. Many authors might be enumerated a perusal of whose works could not fail to exalt and purify the mind and rid it of many false and erroneous impressions of our world and fellow men, and by a study of which girls would be lastingly benefited. For deeply thinking, strong feeling minds, for men and women of experience, it matters not what they read, they let all the poor and worthless pass by, retaining only what is good ; but to the ordinary girl, inexperienced and impressionable, it is of great importance that by a course of judicious reading her mind is enstamped with worth and her sympathies directed and her knowledge of life and character enlarged by contact with great minds of men and women. The magic pen of genius can lift the mind to heights of clear and divine atmosphere, an inbreathing of which must strengthen and invigorate the mental and moral growth ; and the pity of it is that with so many works of beauty and grace and wisdom to be procured girls should waste, and worse than waste, their leisure upon light, frivolous stories that teach no lesson and tell no real life stories, that sound no note of encouragement or warning, and give no word of cheer or advice, but by a distorted version of human nature shame the most sacred emotions of the heart and make one blush for the miserable daub that is supposed to be a picture painted from life. A FASHIONABLE WEDDING AT ST. PAUL'S. It was unfortunate that after two days of bright, warm weather rain should set in on the morning of the wedding of Miss Emily Louisa Haggitt, second daughter of Mr B. C. Haggitt, Crown Prosecutor, to Mr Alexander Morris, of the Colonial Bank, eldest son of Mr A. W. Morris. The shower, however, did not deter the public from gathering in a great crowd to witness the joyful ceremony, and at an early hour the church was filled to excess with an expectant and eager crowd, all anxious for a sight of the fair bride. At length the joyons strains of the •' Wedding March " resounded through the edifice. A few moments of expectancy, and then the bride — looking very fair and sweet — with graceful step approached the altar, with her six attendant bridesmaids — viz. : Misses Haggitt (sisters of the bride), Morris, Eattray, Williams, and The bridegroom's brother, Mr G-. Morris, actedas best man, and the bride was given away by her father. The bride was attired in a lovely bridal dress of cream brocade velvet and merveilleux satin; the underskirt of velvet brocade with a long full train of merveilleux satin trimmed with Brussels laoe, and ornamented with a spray of orange blossoms. The bodice was pointed and of broche, trimmed with lace- to match the skirt, ornamented with bouquets of orange blossoms. A veil of tulle and wreath of orange blossoms completed this handsome bridal costume, which was, I believe, made at the establishment of Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co. The bridesmaids wore dresses of primrose satin. The skirta, were pleated and flounced with a deep flounce of cream lace. The draperies were also of cream lace fastened behind with large Batin bows. The bodices, of primrose satin, were covered with lace to matdi the skirts. Each bridesmaid wore a charmingly simple straw bonnet, trimmed

with primrose satin ribbon, with strings of tulle to match, and primrose silk gloves — carrying in their hands a basket of primroses and wearing at the throat a bouquet of the same flowers. It only wanted the sunshine to make the scene most brilliant. As it was, the clustering of rich colours was very effective Owing to the great crowd, a number of the costumes of the wedding guests it is impossible to particularise. A group of stylish ladies, gleams of orange, blue, crimson and gold dazzled the eye. Among those I noted were : — A remarkably handsome costume of rich corded dark green silk and chenille stripe diagonal. Fancy straw bonnet with cream feathers. Costly necklet and bracelets of gold. Brown 3atin costume, with brown straw bonnet and pink feathers. A handsome toilet of black satin and lace, richly trimmed with jet ; a bouquet of violets ■with pale violet streamers ; bonnet with pale violet feathers. A pretty costume of peacock green. Fancy straw bonnet with cream feathers. Another of fawn French cloth, with a touch of rich blue on the bodice ; pretty fawn bonnet to match the dress, trimmed with fawn satin and feathers, was very effective. Another tasteful costume was a very light fawn canvas cloth, trimmed with brown velvet ; large bouquet of violets. Another was of black silk, with handsome cream lace scarf ; brown straw bonnet raid cream roses. Another of white satin covered with black lace, with a cluster of crimson ros&s in bonnet, was stylish. One lady, in a dress of black silk and jet, with a straw bonnet trimmed with lemon ribbon and feathers, looked well Another pretty costume was light fawn satiu, bonnet and feathers to match. Another was of brown silk trimmed with velvet to match ; handsome bonnet of fawn. A remarkably handsome costume was of black satin and jet ; 'bonnet with cluster of cream and red rosebuds. Another of green velvet with facings of gold silk; bonnet to match, with gold feathers. Another of black satin and pink trimmings ; black velvet bonnet with pink roses. Another of black velvet and pink silk; and yet another handsome black costume of brocaded silk richly trimmed with jet, and a lemoncoloured bonnet. The effect of these handsome costumes was very striking, the new delicate shades blending with those of deeper tone ; and had the sun shone upon the scene it would have been dazzling. However, the guests seemed in no way depressed by the shower ; for as carriage after carriage rolled away they bore with them brightly smiling faces. Thanks to the comtesy of Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co , I can give my lady readers a description of the bride's travelling dress, which was an exceedingly handsome one, of a soft woollen French material, brown in colour, and richly trimmed with fawn striped velvet, and hat to match. An evening dress was of a lovely pink satin, trimmed with shaded plush from the lightest to the darkest shade of pink, with long full train, square cut bodice and elbow sleeves. The ceremony was performed by the Eight Eev. Dr Nevill, Bishop of Dunedin, assisted by"the Yen. Archdeacon Edwards ; and for the ingoing voluntary the organist (Mr J C. Norman) played {selections from Haydn's "Wedding Symphony," performing as usual Mendelssohn's " Wedding March " at the conclusion of the ceremony. The altar was tastefully decorated with flowers. The rejoicings were appropriately terminated by a ball in the evening, at which I am informed over 200 guests were present.