A PRETTY FANCY FAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 237, 6 October 1891, Page 2

A PRETTY FANCY FAIR.

Sale-of-wory is scarcely the happiest name for the function at the Bonaventura Hall in Parnell. It is in reality far more like >i fancy fair. The word saleof-work conjures up vistas of rather untoresting stalls hung with baby linen and mysterious white garments with an extraordinary superabundance of frills and peephole work. Now, that is nob at all what the visitor to Parneil sees. The Sisters are wise in their generation, and the Bonaventura Hall is bright with pretty and tasteful decoration ; the stage, prettily draped with gaily-tinted hangings, and brilliant spots of colour enlivening all the stalls, which are arranged with a fcaste seldom seen whon the " dressing" is left to amateur hands. There is another advantage too. There are a sufficiency of stalls, so thab particular ones are not over-laden, and the peculiarity of this arrangement is that all the articles are well shown, not, as is too often the case, half covered up by other things, it is strange, too, but there always seems to bo something even more desirable and pretty than the last on every new miniature shop. It is a very poor chance that the unfortunate wight possessed of a taste for things beautiful stande of taking any money homo with him. Then, too, the things for sale are nob only pretty—bazaar articles are usually that—but useful ; tho wedding cake, for instance, which draws such crowds of wist-ful-eyed maidens to the refreshment counter. Ib was amusing to notice how the swains who accompanied them would avoid that cake, scenting danger matrimonial in its presence, or how others —few, alas !—would approach ib like foolish moths round a candle, and, blushing furiously, whisper suggestions which tho artful maidens would listen to with well-simulated shyness, downcast eyes, and all the other wicked wiles with which poor, foolish man is caught. The cushion made by the nuns, too, looked comfortable, though even to touch such beautiful handiwork seemed rather a sacrilege. Amongst; tho most artistic exhibits were a pair of hand-painted tambourines, while the children stood spellbound with open-mouthod wonder and admiration before the huge doll, bo exquisitely dressed, sent by Mrs Brodie. All tho things take on and off, and the girl who gets it will most certainly bo outrageously proud. Miss Richards i≤ responsible for much of the decorations, bub the Sisters were, of course, assisting, and Father Lonihan was simply übiquitous. He opened the bazaar at 3 o'clock, and there was a good deal of business done, bub ib was in tho evening bhab the place was seen to its fullest advantage. The songs and music contributed by the children of the schools were an attractive feature.

The fancy fair will continue this and sub sequent evsnings, and is well worth a visit.