Our Ladies' Letter

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2957, 3 May 1898, Page 5

Our Ladies' Letter

(From Our Own Correspondent.) • Danedin, Thursday morning. Dear Fanny— "; Wo have all been revelling in Durward L9ly and hiß Scotch songb ; each concert he gave the hall was more crowded than the preceding one, and on Saturday, when he closed hia season, hundreds were turned away from the doors unable to gain admittance, the crush was so great. So the love for the " auld sangs our fathers sang " seems still to be amonst us, although so niauy of us are colonials. Mr Lely is a very nice looking gentlemanly man, and his good nature seemed to know no bounds, aa on Saturday night he gave us no Jess than ten songs. I think hia rendering of •' The Laird ot Cockpen ' was the succsss of the eveniog, the actions aa well as the singing being quite inimitable. Among it the audience I noticed there were many old people who seldom, if ever, go to the theatre or any entertainment. Two old white haired ladies in the stalls sac seemingly enthralled during the concert. I believe we are to have 8 chance of hearing this great vocalist again, for he is coining back from the sou'h ou Saturday, and will give us a concert on that night, and on tlie following eveniugs in the beginning of the week Mrs Lely p'ays his accompaniments with gnat sympathy and sweetness. She ia graceful and slender, with golden brown hair, and she knew how to bow — a rare accomplishment — when she was recalled! She looked so young and winsome that we were all surprised when she told us iu private conversation that she had a son sixteen years of ageMrs Peraton gave a large afternoon tea on Thursday. She bad hit on the somewhat novel but in London most fashionable plan of borrowing a friend's reception rooms for the afternoon, as her own rooms in the Bank of N.S.W. are much too small to entertain any number of guests. Mrs Neill, on this occasion, was the kind lender. Her rooms in her reaidence in Melvilie atreet are exceptionally large, and so make ideal entertaining rooms. Tea was serued iu the large dining room, where the table looked lovely« Never have I seen such a choice assortment of sandwiches, cakes, and sweets of every kind. The Misses Driver had supplied everything, and I am sure it did them credit, aad made us all feel proud that Dunedin girls could turn out such a delicious feast. The piano stood in the large square hall, and there was a good deal of music. Mrs Jackson, Mrs Robinson, Miss Neill and Mrs Curz jn-Siggers all sang, and Miss Jnckaon, Miss Molyneux and Mrs Eardley Reynolds played pianoforte solos. Another choice tea party was given by Mrs Hazlett on Wednesday afternoon on the stage of the Agricultural Hall. Over 100 ladies were present-, aud after they had parcaken of their afternoon tea they spent the time wanderiug about the exhibition. There is plenty to notice there that one cannot sse very well in the evening. The ladies I noticed seemed mostly to rally at the corner where the lace work, linen work and carving are displayed. Mra C. Bufcterworth exhibits some of the most lovely carving I ever saw, both chips and relief. Miss Getber, too, who is the author of carving here, and is in fact the instructress of nearly al! the exhibitors, shows some exquisite panels and deer's heads. I suppose with the advent of winter you are oeginning to look around to see how you can best improve yourselves during the long winter evenings. I wonder if you have a Shakespeare Club in your midst. Ours celebrated its twenty-first birthday last week, aud has still one active member who was pre eot at its birth. " For the cultivation of the port's works and the arb ot reading aloud," is the prime object in our club, and very successful it has always been. At a public read ing last week, " The Tempest " whs tho play chosen to read, and all the characters raadiDg of their various parts, showed it had been thoroughly studied by each one. Miss Jacobs, who wore a smart scarlet satin evening gown, m-dde a splendid Miranda, and Mr Hanlon, and Mr Burgh as Prdapero and Ferdinand respectively, read their lines with so much dramatic feeling and elocution, that one could have heard a pin drop anywhere in the hall. Miss Emily Salmond, eldest daughter of Professor Salmond, was married last Thursday to Mr Joseph Allan s of Hopehill. The ceremony was performed in Dr Salmond'B hou,se, and only the intimate friends of the bride and bridegroom were present. The bride looked extremely nice in a soft cream cashmere gown, the bodice made with frills and vest of cream chiffon, and the orthodox veil, fastened in her hair with a spray of orange blossoms, fell over her shoulders. Sne was attended by two bridesmaids Miss Hilda Salmond, and Miss Jean Allan, both of whom wore grey frocks. Mr Brydone, and Mr James Smith , are both leaving for the old country in the beginning of next month. Prior to their departure they are being entertained at numerous men's dinners. ! The shops are all showing lovely displays of furs, and they either introduced en masse or as edgings, are to be worn as much as ever this winter. Even on sea-gowna and evening frocks, fur will soften the effect of some of the hard classical lines; Mink and sable as well aa chicphilia are fashionable,

and in cheaper furß we are treated to some charming jacket models, in Persian lamb or Astrakan. These skins are $mplqpd fbr^Kiphipg many of the -^newf ßussian blouses^ and blouse coats. BuVit w really rather early to don furs. They should not be worn until it is necessary, as wearing one's winter clothes too early makes the cold sea«on appear extra long. A tailor-made gown comes in very useful at this season, and is an essential to the welidreflsed woman. Before her attention is turned to the frivolous and feminine attire considered necessary for social functions for both day and evening. 1 She must fit herself with a neat dur-ble costume for general utility, and which should bear a mark of elegance anrl good style. Naturally a tailor is best for this kind of gown. A simple coat and skirt is 'he most enduring favorite, as it is capable of a great variety ol uses. A choice of three styles is offered for the front of jackets. One of the.se is double* breasted and tight fitting, with velvet collar and black rubber buttons as a fastening. Another model is double-breasted with loose fronts, and a third is a single-breaEted box front, with invisible fastenings. Pockets are allowed below the belt only. Kate.