A WOMAN'S LETTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8197, 30 July 1906, Page 6

A WOMAN'S LETTER.

(Specially Wv;l.tt;u voi: th*> Age.) WELLINGTON, July 28. The winter gaieties are now in full swing, and I am afraid we a"e threatened with an overdose of balls, euchre parties, surprises, bridge parties, etc. They all seem to have come at onoe. Thore is to be a ball at Government House on Tuesday night. "I have invitations galore | for the next fortnight," remarked a fair-haired debutante of this season. "I had no idea dances were so fasoinating and partners so plentiful and so nice. They say • the men are .much more k.-en this your. Oh, yes; 1 went to the yiar ball, did you? Weren't the dacoratious beautiful. I think tlioHO crimson carpets and crimson ouitr.ins made such an effective background for all the beautiful Clocks. Did you get one I of those dainty little menu cards? Mine was white and gol3, and the programmes were white and blue. What? who was there? You did not go! Well, I will see if I can remember some of the prettiest frocks to tell you. Lady Plunkot wore a very sweet gown of blaok chiton over white silk, and diamonds were her only ornament. Ron. Kathleen Pluisket's gown was of white orepe-de-chiijo, swathed with the finest white net and fashioned in the Empire style, the net falling from a short body of rose and gold embroideries. Mrs Monzies wore a lovely gown of blaok chiffon velvet with, lace fiohu. Mrs Brandon wore a gown of oream t-rooade with roses on the corsage. Mrs Hislop wore blaok jewelled net over satin. Mrs lan Duncan was in blaok satin with bertha of duchesse lace. Mrs J. Widdop wore a gown of cream merveilleaux and d'esprit net. Mrs Kenneth Duncan's gown of ivory «ilk was exceedingly pretty. Mrs Bendall wore blaok silk relieved with lace. Mrs >. Duncan wore chine silk with flounced skirt. Mrs Wilson was in black eatin with touches of white. Mrs.W. Moßeth wore a lovely dress of ivory duohesse satin and lace. Miss Ilarcourt was wearing a gown of oream satin, draped with lace. Miss Uiggiuson wore a pretty go c n of sky blue taffetas. Misa Jonea (debutante) looked very sweet in a simple gown of white silk chiffon. Mus Abraham, Palmerston North, wore , pale blue silk. Miss Hisolp's pretty gown was of pale blue orepe-de-ohine- fc Miss Tregear wore white muslin. ~ Misses Elliot wore gowns of cream caffotas. Miss Robinson soft tulle gown over pale yellow silK. Missßorlaoea gown of mauve silk and lace drapings. Miss D. Wilson was in pale blue silk. Miss Bendall wore a dainty dress of white book muslin with tiny blue bows. Miss Brindley wore white mousseline desoie insertioned with lace. Mihs Putnam wore pale pink silk. Miss M. Pulonan, was in white. Miss Z. Nation much frilled white muslin, touohes of black. Miss Brewer a pretty dress of mauve silk. Miss Kona Brandon "pale green orepe-de-chine. Miss Maina Brandon a pretty dress of ivory net and lace. The Misses Webb wore pretty frocks of white silk chiffon." Invitations have been issued for a daffodil ball to be given on August Btb at the Lower Hutt. It is being given as a return to the hostesses of the Hutt who have done muoh entertaining this season. A moat enjoyable little dance was given in the Goring Street Hall nn Thursday, the hostesses being the Misses Burnett. Miss Burke, Hawke's Bay, is visiting Wairarapa. Dr and Mrs Logan have returned to Wellington after their visit to Napier. Mies Cloustan, of Blenheim, is making a short stay in Wellington. The Opera House was filled to tbe door last night, when Williamson's Repertoire Company staged "Princess Ida." Except for their previous visit it is a long time since we have had anything real in tbe way of opera. Miss Olive Godwin has a charming voice, and suited her part splendidly. Miss Aggie Thorn and Miss Celia Ghiloni werr encored three times for their very graceful and pretty rendering of "Sing Hoity Toity." Amongst those in the audienoe I noticed Mrs Tripe, the Misses Tripe, Dr and Mrs Crosby, Mrs Hislop, Miss HiHlop, Miss George, Miss Laishley, Miss Sband, Miss Haroourt, Miss Williams, Miss Izard, the Misses Hislop, Miss Brewe*, Miss Stringer, Miss Arthur, Miss Macdoaald, and the Misses Henry. Wo are looking forward very much to Miss Tittell Bruno's visit in September. At present ahe is appearing at Her Majesty's, Sydney. A letter from one of the company tells me they were met at Kalgoorlia by a red dust storm, and although it was an experience, it was a very unpleasant one, and water was at such a premium that it cost them 3s 6d for a small bucketful to have a refreshing wasti. Opals are attractive, and superstition fades away in the new century. But even now some people believe in their uncanny influonue. The story goes that Alphonso XII. of Spain presented an opal ring to his wife, Mercedes, and her death occurred shortly afterwards. Before the funeral the late King gave this ring to his sister, Maria del Pilar, and she also died a few days later. He then handed it over to bis sister-in-law, Princess Christina, and she too died in the course of a few months. Alphonso, deecly distressed at these fatalities, deoided to wear the ring himself. But he wore it only a short time, as his unhappy life soon came to an end. However, this ill-starred onal will do no more /iarm to humanity, as the Queen Mother of Spain attached the ring to a gold chain which now hangs round the ueok of the virgin of Almadena in Madrid. Scarves have become more than ever the rage. In any or every hue, and very long, t;hey cover one's shoulders when wearing evening dress at a restaurant or theatre. Some of the most beautiful lately seen are the Assioufc scarf, whioh is made in Egypt, and has the appearance, at a little distance, of cloth of gold or silver. The latest freak of milliners is to blend tulle of the same colour as the hair at the buck of the hat, so that one hardly knowa whioh is oaohopcigne and which is hair. The re--1 suit is illusivo und beautiful where

tbe idea is well carried oat. The snilor hat is making a bold bid for return to fashion, an-\ will be hailed with delight by the tailormade and sporting girl.