THE LADIES.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 82, 8 April 1882, Page 56

THE LADIES.

Mrs and the Misses Whitaker -still leave Auckland for Wellington in May to remain there until the end of the session. The examination of pupil teachers under the Board of Education is being conducted by Mr McArthur, the training master in the Wellesleystreet school, during this week ; consequently the pupils of this school will enjoy a fortnight's holiday. Mr Neil Heath examines orally in singing. Ladies in Christclnirch keep the Lenten season far more strictly than we do in Auckland. At a recent ball given on Shrove Tuesday, as the clock struck twelve all the Anglican ladies rose en masse and disappeared, leaving the others looking at each other, feeling very naughty and a little ashamed. During this season the Christchurch belles dress either in black or in the darkest shades, and eschew balls, the theatre and the opera. We notice, however, that Lady Gordon gave her " At Homes " as usual at Merivale. The electric light is coming into such general use in the old countries' that its effect on the complexion and colours of costume is well worth considering by the ladies. Beneath its intense whiteness, rouge and cosmetics stand no chance — they are relentlessly exposed. In the future we must ask for — * An electric-light young girl, A faee-without-rouge young girl, An anti-cosinetical, Naturally sesthetical, Don't-mind-the-glare young girl. At a ball lately given by the 16th Lancers at York, England, an amusing episode happened in the course of the evening. In the middle of one of- the dances a lady's "dress improver" came off, and lay in the ball-room like a white snake. For a time the dancing was stopped, and as the lady to whom the article belonged would not come forward, a gentleman had to remove it to one of the side seats. If ladies will wear such things they ought to be sure that they are well secured, for they are not very sightly things out of their proper place. We quote this as a warning. On Sunday last being Palm Sunday, there were collections in the Anglican churches for the Home Mission. The Rev. Mr Bice preached in All Saints', Ponsonby, in the morning, and made a most powerful impression on the minds of the congregation. Mr Nelson, in the evening at St. Paul's, delivered one of his best and most talented sermons on the prevailing subject for the ensuing week — the Crucifixion. The bracelet is the favourite piece of jewellery this season, just as the locket formerly was. Earrings remain short, and of very simple designs. Very young ladies prefer the screw rings that rest on the lobe of the ear, while the pendent solitaire, or the coloured stone surrounded by diamonds, is worn by ladies of all ages. "Sets of gold jewellory, consisting of brooch and earrings, are now out of fashion. The watch is now suspended from the chatelaine, and gold watchchains are abandoned. Fobs and seals are again in vogue for gentlemen, especially on full-dress occasions. The feminine element in Indian society is mainly composed of married flirts, and unmarried girls who have failed in the home matrimonial campaign, and have come to India as a speculation. What can men expect of such woman beyond the amusment of the hour ? The very danger that lies in such pastime gives it a kind of fascination. Of the two sorts of risk, flirtation with a married woman is usually considered the safer, but even in these cases a man never knows where he may finish. He may be sure of himself, but can he be sure of the woman? Besides, there is the danger of mistaking the excitement of the chase for love of the object of pursuit. I once asked a man if he was really in love with a girl whose name was constantly coupled with his, and his reply was : " I wish to Heaven I knew. You see, there arc three or four fellows after her, and I nearly always get the best of them ; and I hate to fall out of the running, for they would think she had refused me." This kind of feeling has led up to many a miserable marriage morning. If a woman has mxich heart, and that heart is not wholly her husband's, her flirtation nearly always has a bitter ending, whether it be of disgrace or only the suffering of silent sorrow. If both parties to the game have little heart, it proceeds merrily. Nobody is .the worse, if nobody is the better, for the pastime.