Our Ladies'Letter

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2963, 27 May 1898, Page 4

Our Ladies' Letter

(From Our Owk Correspondent.) DeA,B FaITNT-^ There is ft terrible amount of Biokneus about just now:, Typhoid , fever, German measles and influenza are our | special forms of discomfort, bub I believe there is also a sprinkling of scarlet fever cases in the north end of the town. "We have had toa little wet, weather. The violent gale prognosticated, for us by Mr Wtagge, would have been rather welcomed as a purifier of our atmosphere ; but it has apparently rolled away further north. The chrysanthemum show held at the Agricultural Hall last week was undoubtedly the finest exhibition of cut blooms we have ever had here. There was little else shown except chrysanthemums, but they made a noble show in themselves. There were four tables decorated by ladies, and as the first prize was awarded by ballot great interest was taken in- this exhibit. Miss Eeynolds secured the largest number of votes, and certainly her tible was very pretty. A broad strip of yellow aatin adorned the centre, and in thia were strewn sprays of crimson and yellow autumn leaves, while the tall glasses were filled with crimson and yellow chrysanthemums* and bands oi yellow Batin ribbon stretched across from glass to glass. The table arranged by Miss Scephenson was also most artistic, and it gained second place. Pale blue satin and white lace ani white chrysanthemums vere the adornments, and very pretty they looked. Mies Bathgate and Mrs Hamel were the other competitors. No silver or fruit were allowed on the tables this year, so the prizes were strictly won on the merit of their floral decorations. Balls are not somehow what they once were. Why is it, I wonder 1 If it were that women with their university education and profession no longer cared for such frivolities, one could understand it. Ba: it is not that ; it i< the men, who have "cooled off"" and no looger revel in a dance as they did a dozen years ago. The Otago Lawn Teams Club g«ve a dance on Friday evening in St. Paul's Schoolroom, and though there were over a hundred people present, the room very prettily decorated, and the supper moat choice yet things did not "go " with that spirit, which once tennis balls were so noted for. Perhaps the real cause of this is that interest in tennis has lapsed, and so functions in connection with the club go flat. If that is the reason a cyclists' ball would be the thing to make a hum at this juncture. Mrs Denniston and Mrs Shand acted as cbaperones the other night. Miss Roberts looked very nice in a yellow silk gown, the bodice trimmed with narrowfrills of white Valenciennes. In her hair she wore a tiny black feather and black chiffon rosette, and carried a black fan which bad a very stylish effect ; Miss Lily Roberts wore white satin trimmed with ruches of white chiffon and pearl passementerie ; Miss Fergus's dress was composed of yellow silk and trimmed with white lace ; Miss Shand looked remarkably well in a white silk gown, the bodice trimmed with lilac silk, and in her hair which was dressed very high she wore a sprig of lilac flowers which was most becoming ; Mips Ulrich looked charming in a yellow crepon frock, made with much shirring and honeycombing. On Wednesday evening Miss Kempthorne gave a large euchre party. About fifty guests were present and games were carried on with great spirit in both the drawing room and the dining room, until half-past ten o'clock, when it was found that Miss L. Shand and Mr Dick had won most gamep, so they were presented with a clock and box of cigars respectively, while Miss Macdonald and Mr Rochfort, who had won the fewest number of games were also presented with mementoes of the occasion by our kind hostess. After partaking of a sumptuous sapper, which was served in the billiard room, we had some music. Have you heard any of the music from the *' The | Geisha ?" It is very taking and it has most attractive choruses. A great number of our residents are flying to warmer climes to escape our cold winter. Mr and Mrs J. T Wright and their two daughters leave this week for Sydney ; Mrs Finch and her daughter, Mrs Jack Stewart, and little Mi3a Kitty Stewart, and Mrs Ziele have already all taken their departure to Queensland. What a delightful trip the Waikare's to the South Sea Islands promises to be? She leaves here on the 29th of June, so while we are shivering in snow and frosts the fortunate excursionists will be revelling in the tropical heat of the Islands. The berths are already all bespoken, and the Union Company are determined to give every one elbow room, bo they have limited the number of passengers

Amongst those going from Danediu are Mr and Miss Mitchell, Mr and Mw Michie, Mrs Philip Russell, the Hon. M r and Mrs Fergus, . Iff r ?. O-. Marshall, Mr and Mrs Glendiningv and Mr and Mrs James Mills, but I believe most of those who have engaged berths are Australians. Have you heard of the expedition to explore the South Sea Islands that has been organised by Miss Hastie, a wealthy lady, who takes an interest in natural history and collecting. SL© has chartered a schooner the Sydney Bslie and leaves iv her almost immediately. She has engnged Mr F. Huddlestone, once manager of the Hermitage, Mount Cook, aM now of Wanganui, to act as naturalist and collector. Mr F. W. Christian ia also to accompany the expedi'ion. He has an expert knowledge of the Pacific Islands. Miss Haatie also takea with her a photographer, lately with Marion and Co, London, and some friend p. Given fairly good weather what an exquidiie trip ihey will have ! The Ladies' Kahanga Ciub is to be opened once again, so we a'l shall have something to look forward to and enjoy during the long winter evenings. The Presidents for this Btasonare Mra Valentine, Mrs Melland, and Miss Cutten, and everything points to a most successful Beason. The opening night ia to be a ° guest " night and is to be held on Monday the 30th at Mrs W. a NeiJl's house in Melville St. I am giving this week a few recipes for sweets. At almost every afternoon tea little dishes of home-made dainties are handed round, and they are generally highly appreciated. For a thoroughly good recipe for toffee, the following cannot be excelled. It can be varied by adding blanched almonds a little while before pouring ont. Some people think it improved if the almonds brown a little. The method is simplicity itself: Put into a saucepan lib of 3ugar, 6oz of butter and two tablespoonfuis of golden syrup. Mix thoroughly and let it boil without stirring uutil a little hardens when dropped into cold water. l)ates Btoued, and the whole tilled up wich cream (i.e. icing sugar and milk boiled) are exceedingly good. Prunes and blanched walnuts can also be treated in the same way. To make sugar candy, two cups of sugar, one of water and one tablespoonful of vinegar should be boiled half-an-hour without stirring. When a little put into a cup of cold water snaps, pour the sugar candy in a well buttered tin and m ark in squares or form into tsvista like barley sugar, French jellies are made thus : Soak loz of gelatine in pint of cold water all night. Place it on the fire and stir till it boils. Let it boil fifteen minutes, stirring constantly. Add one teaspoonful of citric acid, and, jusfc before dishing, one teaspoonful of essence of lemon or essence of vanilla. Pour into well buttered tins, and when cold, cut into squares and roll in powdered sugar. Half nny be colored with cochineal before being poured out.