The Ladies

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 91, 10 June 1882, Page 202

The Ladies

. «, ! Mrs Langtry, who lias been playing Blanclie Haye for some time, ia making rapid progress in the profession which, she is anxioiis to adorn. On Lady Clarendon's first visit to Kenilworth after her- marriage, to open the bazaar in aid of, the extension of the national schools, she wore a French grey Mother Hubbard cloak over a ruby Velvet dress, with Marie Stuart bonnet to match. During their visit to Mentonc, the Q.ueen and Princess Beatrice have won golden opinions from all with whom they have come in contact. Every bazaar and shop of any. note has been patronised, the peasantry have been kindly spoken to, and many little children who have come across her majesty's path have received gifts which they will .treasure through their livss. * Miss Ellen Montolba has painted a full-length portrait of the Princess Louise. Her Boyal Highness is represented standing in a garden with a basket of flowers in her hand, and clad in a summer dress, which shows the graceful shoulders and waist to great advantage ; the pose is simple and unconscious, and the likeness excellent. This ! portrait is for the Marquis of Lome's Canadian ] home. The bracelet presented by the residents of j Windsor to the Princess Helen, of Waldeck, oh j her marriage with the Duke of Albany, consists of a double coil brilliant serpent. The scales are formed by 20 carat stones, set continuously on a silver, frame- work, with a large sapphire, valued afc £70, upon the head, and ruby eyes. The back of the bracelet is of dark blue enamel work, while the inside is lined with gold, and ongraved wish the inscription, " From Windsor," and the date of the marriage. The cost of the jewel is about £350. A classical toilet is arranged in a rich silk, showing a peculiar gray tinge. The skirt is embroidered and the design is wrought in chenille of pale tints exquisitely outlined with darker hues, - ■which gives the costume a street effect. The upper garment is cut similar to a tunic, and is made of brocade which ha 3 a combination of . colours, olive perdominating, which hue is a favourite at present. A black satin costume for street wear, has the polonaise trimmed with beaded jet fringe. Dolmfcn of heavy black satin brocade, eloborately trimmed with lace, and jetted passementrie. Hat of black satin straw, with a wide brim, faced in crimson satin, finely shirred ; the crown has a drapery of black satin, held in place by pearl headed pins, two long plumes shading'from crimson to pale pink are placed on either side of the crown, and gracefully droop at the back, over the edge of the brim. The parasol is black satin lined with crimson silk, there are two rows of tinted embroidery on the parasol, and the handle is of carved olive wood. Long ridingotes of thin cloth, with small capes over the shoulders, and a number of pockets with flaps, are worn by ladies for travelling- in the country. ■ The Bishop of Auckland and Mrs Cowie, with several of their children, honoured the stalls of the uew Opera House with their presence on Friday last. It was, if we may venture to say so, a very graceful act of sound common sense on their part. It is the fashion here to imagine that a lady can sit in no other part of the house than in the dress-circle, and as this involves no slight amount of expense where ladies have to go, many stop away- altogether; or see an opera once when they might see it two or three timo3 quite as comfortably and at the same expense. It is all very well for our wealthy merchants and contractors, and prosperous tradesmen to patronise the horseshoe; They can afford it. But for professional men arid G-pverninent clerks, &c, why on earth do they not content themselves with the stalls ? " A man's a man for a' that," and a lady remains a lady wherever she sits. "'Do take me to the opera to-night," I heard a young and charming wife say to her car a sjjoso not many days ago. " Eeally, my dear^ I can't aft'ord it again so soon." And - the lady said no more. That very night I saw the j gentleman in the stalls of the Opera House. "Well done, old fellow," was my greeting, "where is Mrs ?"• " Oh, ifc's all very well j for me, but I won't allow my wife to sit in the i stalls, and the dress circle is so expensive." " But j why not in the stalls ? Surely you can see quite as well, or better, and they are very comfortable." '" Yes, yes, but no lady sits in the stalls." " Eeally is that a. truth ? Just look on a little ahead, I think I sea Bishop Cowie, and certainly that is j Mrs Cowie with him." My friend looked i askance, but after that thoi-e was nothing more to be said, and it is to be hoped his wife and many another man's wife will reap the benefit of that I appearance. , The first of the Ponsonby "At Homes" for the winter took place on Friday last with much eclat. The committee, a very powerful and influential one, were unceasing in then* exertions to make the dance a success, and, notwithstanding thjif, i there was a rival subscription dance at Onehunga on the same night, which took oft' a good many of the jeimesse do?'e, we must say that they were entirely successful. The hall was beautifully decorated with flags and f orna, and arums ; and the supper, which was supervised by Mr E. Lewis, was the best we have soon at an "At Home." The viands wore of first-class quality, and the table elegantly arranged. The claret cup was good, which one cannot often say. Mr Masefield .made, a capital M.O. His task was a difficult one, for , the ladies prevailed, which is not ..■usually the ckse in- the West End suburb ; but no one could go away discontented where Masefieid did his best to -please. There were some very fashionable and beautiful toilettes in 1 the room. Satin seems to have regained all its •old-STyay in the world of dress, for one half the costumes present wore of satin, or combined with satin. ' Mrs Brigham wore a lavender, satin, made*- high, " with very long train ; Miss Steven-'rsoa'-,w,asjin!;white satin, also made high, with long 'train J MrB ; Logan "wore a very elegant dress of pale-bluo silk trimmed with white silk fringe, . Vjsliaped bodice, and long train j Mrs Waterliouse, plain 'black velvet dress^ made high, long

train, silver band as head-dress ; Mrs Masefield, pretty dress of maize satin trimmed with white Llace, head-dress of gold flowers : -Mrs Boa'rdman, black silk dress trimuied with lace, headdress of crimson flowers and green leaves; Mrs Cotter, .black' satin dress, with oldgold scraper, trimmed with beaded trimming • Mrs Lewis, black net dress trimmed with Spanish lace ; Mrs Quick, stylish dress of white silk, with tartan sash looped at the back ; Mrs Home, black satin dress and cap ; Mrs Halstead, black silk dress, white cap ; 'Mrs Furby. dress_ of white cashmere, trimmed with pale blue satin; Mrs Macindoe, black silk dress, white cap, trimmed with black, and crimson flowers ; Miss Harrison, black velvet dress, trimmed with black beaded trimmings ; Miss Evans, black grenadine dress, with broad blue watered silk sash, looped at the , back ; Miss Farquhar, white corded silk dress, with broad pink watered silk sash with bow and ends ; Miss G-eorge, black satin dress, with gold buttons down the back of the basque, old gold scraper, gold flowers at the neck ; Miss Dunnett, cream sateen dress, trimmed with crimson plush, spray of crimson leaves over right hip ; Miss Home, pink sateen dress ; Miss F. Home, blue sateen dress • Miss Harley, white cashmere dress ; Miss Langsford, blue sateen dress, with ereaua Madras muslin polonaise ; Miss H. Langsford, black grenadine, with black velvet bodice ; Miss H. G-eorge, white cashmere dress, coral ornaments ; Miss Boylan, pale pink muslin dress, with pale pink silk sash ; Miss Halstead, white cashmere dress ; Miss Douglas, black grenadine, trimmed with white ; Miss James, black grenadine, with broad Paisley silk sash ; Miss Kelly, black grenadine with black velvet bodice, trimmed with bead fringe; Mi3s M. Kelly, white cashmere dress ; Miss N. Dunnett, blue cambric dress, trimmed with white lace and pale blue ribbon.

STREET DEESSES IK" NAPIEE. Mrs Knowles : Black velvet and silk. Mrs Gilman wears a very stylish dress of elder-green velveteen, body of moire velvet. Mrs Baker : Seal-brown velveteen, with body of moire velvet. The Misses Grooche : Ruby - coloured velveteen, trimmed with silk ; velvet hats. Miss Elison Stuart : Plain black ; straw bonnet. Miss Tilly : Elder-green velveteen, trimmed with grey fur ; velvet hat. Miss Minnie Kennedy : Wine - coloured velveteen, trimmed with silk 5 wine-coloured hat to match.