THE HOSPITAL CALICO BALL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2624, 7 May 1889, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL CALICO BALL.

In the hurried report wetrave in our Saturday's issue of the ball at the Waikato District Hospital, the description of the characters worn by those in fancy costume was very imperfect, and did not do sufficient justice to the wearers. We have to ask, also, for some allowance on behalf of our reporter, who was rather dazzled by the sight of so much beauty and therefore got somewhat mixed. A lady correspondent, who is jealous of the reputation of Tiik Waikato Timks for the accuracy of its reports, has very pjenomusly come tn our aid and has supplied us with the following description of the various dresses worn on the occasion. We all know with what wonderful facility and intuition the feinimiiie eye can talco in all the details of every dress worn by members of the fair sex, whether in Church, a, crowd, or a ballroom. It will, therefore, bo superfluous in us to add an assurance that our correspondent's criticism is a perfectly correct one :— Mrs Kenny made a charming Ophelia in white silk with an overskirt of chenille spotted tulle, low bodice trimmed with swansdown, and wreath of wild flowers in the hair. Miss Bedlinsrtou, as Norma, looked well in classically-draped robes of some noft white mateiial, edged with gold, and a gold coronet on the head. Miss Courtayne's costume was that of a Roman girl and was perfect in every detail, having, as I hear, been made in Rome. The short skirt was made of some dark nnterial edered with narrow bands of colour; the bxlice of black velvet, edeed with scarlet and gold, with full sleeves of Roman lace and embroidery. The head-dress was very handsome, being made of linen, heavily trimmed with Roman lace. Mrs Dickey, as Ruth in the " Pirates," wore a costume of scarlet and black, with scarlet turban on tho head. Miss L. Carey, as a Swiss peasant, wore a short green skirt embroidered with silver, black velvet bodice, and head-dress not unlike that of an Italian peasant. Miss Forbes, appeared as Buy-a-Broom. Her costume was prettily carried out in rose-pink satin, small white lace cap, an apron with brooms in tho pocket, and she had a broom in her hand. Mrs Coates, as Dame Durden, wore a combination of wine-colour :md cream. Miss Sandes, as a Hornet, was dressed in black velvet and gold coloured satin, the drapery of black and gold striper", forming the body of the hornet; wings of yellow gauzo were attached to the shoulders, and tho head-dress formed the head of the insect. Miss N. Sandes, as an Italian peasant, wore pale blue, with scarlet draperies, black velvet bodice and apron, embroidered in blue, ?cirlet and gold. Mrs Hume, Hospit.il Nurse, had on a bhick dress, with large white apron and cap. Miss Tyer and Miss Saunderson looked verv nice in the Nurse's uniform of the Waikato District Hospital. Besides the fancy costumes I also noticed some very becoming evening dresses. Mrs Jackson looked well in an evening dress of black satin and lace, prettily trimmed with white chrysanthemums ; Miss Wallnutt wore crimson chenillespotted net; Miss Mair, black lace with pink flowers ; Miss Howard, very stylish dress of pale pink Indian muslin ; Miss C. Si-arancke looked very well in white, and Miss Coombes wore a becoming dress of cardinal and white. The most noticeable costume amongst the gentlemen was that of Mr Forbes, who wore a very handsome ceurtier's dress of tho time of Louis Quinzc ; this costume was perfect iii every detail. There were besides MrC. A. Davis, Naval Ollicer ; Mr MeIvor, Lawn Tennis ; Mr H. Hume, Yachtsman ; Mr M. Hume, Footballer ; Mr P. E. Stevens, Volunteer Officer ; Mr P. Misseu, Bieyclißt. The ball was in every sense of the word charming, and one of the most enjoyable I have been at in the Waikato. Viola.