SOCIETY

Observer, Volume IV, Issue 84, 22 April 1882, Page 89

SOCIETY

— The habit is now prevalent in England of giving champagne to bojs and girls at children's parties. — Children's balls have been numerous "in society " at Home, but there is now very little that is juvenile about the adjuncts to these cnterfctiinments. Moreover, the custom is increasing of inviting the relatives and friends of the small guests, and these usually manage to hav.e a good deal of dancing among themselves. — On Friday evening there was a most enjoyable little dance at " The Parsonage," Parnell, at present occupied by Mrs Buck. Among the ladies present were Mrs Dargaville, Mrs G-oodhue, Mrs Saunders, Mrs Perry, the Misses Fairburn, Miss Churton, Miss Mowbray, Mrs Dyer, Miss Fuller, (from Sydney) and other society belles. Mr Burton, of the " Asteroid," was a guest, and the dancing men of Parnell mustered in considerable force. — On Saturday afternoon, at Mr J. M. Clarke's " The Towers," Remuera, the Lawn Tennis tournament for the handsome prizes presented by that gentleman, was commenced under difficulties. After a few games had been played, the rain came down in torrents, and the party were driven into the house, where Mrs Clarke as usual showed her charming qualities as a perfect hostess. A dance in the evening concluded the entertainment, which despite the unfavourable weather, was thoroughly enjoyed by the fashionable company present. — The following is a degcrption, by a- lady, of the present styie of waltzing in England : — There is a decided effort being made to do away with anything like the elegant trois temps movement, and instead, the athletes of the ball-room put their bodies to the work of dancing much in the same manner as they do in the game of football, holding their helpless partner firmly at arm's length, and using her as occasion offers, as a kind of " battering ram." — At Madame Gruichard's fancy dress ball in Paris, the most attractive costumes were those of a cock and hen, worn by a young married couple. The cock, whose face was entirely concealed by his head-dress, strutted proudly in, giving his arm to the hen ; he wore a yellow plush coat, a tvemendiOMS jabot of white feathers, silk stokings red heeled shoes, a rose in his button-hole, and a field-marshal's hat with golden plumes on his cack's crest, thus thoroughly personifying the martial G-allic cock. The hen wore a white satin petticoat with long rows of snowy-white feathers,

a with plush, cuirass bodice, a tunic composed entirely of feathers, to which was attached a small hen's tail, scarlet silk stokings and shoes, and on her head she had a coral tuft, and she carried a basket of eggs on her arm. — Ladies who indulge in the " Sport; of Kings " will doubtless be interested to hear that the Empress of Austria has several different ridinghabits, and that they are all made in velvet of different hues. Her favourite is of myrtle green velvet, with gold buttons ; another is silver grey, and silver buttons ; another, ruby-colouved velvet ; and another, violet velvet with fur cuffs and collar. The Empress has invented a system of hooks, by, which she can instantly detach the skirt of her habit from the body; in case of a fall from her horse, thus avoiding all danger of being dragged along the ground. — The following dresses are worthy of mention as beiug worn at the farewell concert to Mr J. Chadwick : — Miss C, white muslin cardinal bows ; Miss M. C, white muslin and blue bows ; Miss E. C, blue stripped muslin ; Miss W. wore a pretty dress of cream coloured lustre trimmed j with black velvet ; Miss C. was attired in a nice j cream coloured satin trimmed with black lace ; Miss Gr., black lustre with old gold trimmings; Miss F., black velvet with white trimming ; Mrs C, wore a black lustre dress trimmed with black velvet. One of the Choral Society was rather amusing, alternately swinging his book up and down as if marking time with the music, and now | and then watching the conductor's face in order to be in time to sit down. — At a recent cotton ball in London one lady swathed herself in red twill, the only relief to the mass of red consisting of a quantity of amber beads, a long spray of yellow roses reaching from the left shoulder across the bosom to the right hip, and a huge bunch of the same flowers car- | ried as a bouquet. Some few of tho chaperons gave one the impression that they had borrowed their housemaids' morning gowns. The majority of the younger girls, however, looked so fresh and trim, that they made one wish that j cotton gowns might become as rigorously the mode in the dining-room as they are in the kitchen. Flowers were in great request, and the ladies who preferred these to jewels showed some sense of the fitness of things. To trim a cotton gown with diamonds or pearls is like having treacle pudding on tho same menu with caviare and trufttes. — A considerable number of pleasure seekers from Waiwera visited the Wainui last week on the occasion of the concert given in aid of the library fund of the school of that neighboui'hood. From a financial point of view the concert was a decided success, and the music, being rendered by amateurs, all of whom were visibly affected by nervousness, was as good as could have been expected. The management of the affair appeared to devolve entirely upon several young ladies, principally the Misses Rapson, who contributed the greater part of the musical progra-mme, none of which calls for special remark. One young man, apparently ashamed to appear in the ordinary habiliments of his sex, arrayed himself in the garments of some of his fair friends, and succeeded, beyond measure, in making a consummate ass of himself. His question, " Why don't the men propose ? was answered by a remark from one of the audience — "If she makes that infernal noise very often it's no wonder they don't." Mr Murray, a gentlemen from Kaukapakapa, contributed two pathetic readings from Tennyson's works, which were well received. The young men of Wainui ought to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves to allow the ladies to bear the whole trouble of inaugurating these occasional concerts, which are certain to benefit, directly or indirectly, everybody in the district. After the conclusion of the concert the hall was cleared for dancing, which was kept up with vigor until daylight. Tho music was provided by the Misses^*Rapson and a gentleman from the Thames who is sojourning in the neighboiirhood. Miss Terry bore off the palm as being the prettiest in the room, attired in a tasteful costume of light material. Miss McCathie, from the Paddock, was also greatly admired. — The Melbourne Herald of a recent date contains an account of the marriage of Miss Emma Marie Caraudini, daughter of Madame Carandini, to Mr Eobert Walter Wilson, a Queensland squatter. The marriage took place at the Scots' Church, Collins street. The bridemaids were Miss i Ida Palmer, Miss Emily Palmer, Miss Parker and Miss Turner. Mr Gilbert Wilson, of Brisbane, \ the bridegroom's brother was best man. The bridemaids wore dresses of the very palest shade J of duckegg green. The underskirts were of pale pink ; duckeg green Gainsborough hats, lined with pale pink ; soft pale pink feathers and pearls ; pale pink gloves ; each bridesmaid wearing a costly brooch and bouquet, the gift of the bridegroom. Mrs Palmer, sister of the bride, wore a very elegant purple velvet train, over pale lavender satin, elegantly trimmed with lace ; ari elegant bonnet of the two colours beautifully blended with patisies. Madame Carandini wore a gorgeous dress of dark green grosgrain silk, handsomly trimmed with satin ; bonnet, old gold, with pale pink feather ; handsome ornaments of dead gold. The bride wore a handsome grosgrain silk of the palest cream, elegantly made veil, beautifully trimmed point ; an elegant wreath of orange blossom on a simply coiffure head, elegant diamond necklace and cross, the gift of the bridegroom, completed the beautiful costume. The ceremony, which was impressive, was performed by the Rev. Charles Strong. The bouquets were got up in. good style, especially the bride's, who had splendid bouquot paper trimmed with white silk, orange blossom, swans down, and lace prepared by Scot and Sons. The presents to the bride were valued at £200.

American Waithai Watches were awarded Two Gold Medals, the only medals awarded to Exhibitors of Watches at the Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880. The only Gold Medal, also Three Special and Four First Prizes, Sydney International Exhibition, 1879. The Gold Medal, Paris International Exhibition, 1878. Four First Prize Medals, Philadelphia International Exhibition, 1876, Higher awards than any other Exhibitors of Watches ever received. Buyers will observe the Trade Mark— " Waltham, Mass." — plainly engraved upon the movement of all Genuine Waltham Watches. Trade Mark, Waltham, Mass., registered throughout the New Zealand and Australian Colonies. Proceedings will be taken against vendors selling, or offering for sale, Watches bearing colourable imitations, or infringing our rights. — American Watch Cqmpajst, Wamham, Mass.