"A PLEASURE CRUISE"

Evening Post, Issue 19, 23 July 1934, Page 15

"A PLEASURE CRUISE"

ORIGINAL DANCE IDEAS

"It's a, pleasure cruise" proclaimed the invitations issues-by the art stur dents for their annual masquerade ball, held at the Winter Garden on Friday night, states the "Christehureh Press," and it certainly was a very frolicsome excursion into the realms: of fun and: fancy. The scene in:the,ballroom, with hundreds of guests in picturesque, fantastic, or grotesque costumes, was highly diverting. Amongst' the" dancers were Father Neptune, sailors, ship's officers, naval officers, rajahs, beach girls, schoolgirls, Egyptians, Indians, Dolly "Vardens, mermaids, Old English ladies, Watteau ladies, sundowners, arid savoy little midshipmen teasing tho ship's cat, all fraternising,happily, and.all enjoying themselves thoroughly; ■■ •■' -'■>■ :-' Much skill and iitgenuity were sho-rou fin producing a truly 'nautical ■ setting for the gay throng and success had erowried tho work of tie artists; The ship's "bridge," complete with steering wheel and compass, occupied, one end of the ballrbbnt; the walls were decorated with a Cleverly painted fresco on which mermaids and sea. nymphs disported themselves in pellucid depths and appeared id be on the best of terms alike- with tunnies, geld fish, and sharks. Over the heads of the dancers swayed denizens of the ocean, fearsome in shape arid lurid in colouring—sea serpents, stingarees, porpoises, octopuses, and sharks, all fortunately nioored to the ceiling.- . ■ '.; .

.The alcoves ,were appropriately labelled* The smuggler's cave, the royal suite, the poop, the barber's shop, the foks-il,- the pirates' retreat, the cook's galley, and even a roost--for Mother Carey's chickens were- all occupied; seats were provided f6r. vulgar bbat'merij sofas were licensed to carry four passengers, .and a net load'not exceeding two tons. Supper was Served. in the'mess, and most popular amongst the delicacies on the menu were savouries shaped like sea-shells.