SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1280, 8 November 1911, Page 11

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

"Miss Jocondo." The Morocco crisis has been filling tho newspapers and turning the heads of statesmen white for nearly two months, says the London correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald," and it would be interesting to know that all the British visitors who Hood into France and Switzerland during these two months have heard of the, actual state of public feeling abroad. But from what one can make out they seem to have heard nothing. France and Switzerland, at anyrate, were not talking—in the cafes and the hotels— about tho chance of war; they wore talking about t'lio chance of catching the thief who cut Leonardo da Vinci's picture, "La Giocondo," out of its frauio in tho Louvre Gallery in Paris and disappeared with it. There is one theory, that the thief is a fanatic. The. ordinary burglar would find it rather dillicult to discover any buyer sufficiently ignorant of famous pictures not to recognise it. Still there might be a chance even for t'lie burglar. For example, the Paris newspaper, "L'Opinion," found the following version of the theft in a Methodist paper in Chicago:—"ln the last days of August," said t'hc Chicago paper, "a young lady visitor. Miss Jocondo, was abducted in broad daylight. . . ~ while she was visiting the Louvre Museum. This regrettable incident is a fresli proof of the dangers which honourable young women run not only in the streets, but in the public establishments of the modern Babylon. Le.t.us hope that the lesson may not be lost, and that' it may make plain tho dangers to which women travelling alone in Paris expose themselves, in spito of tho warnings which wc continually address to them." Children's Bazaar at Ngaio. On Friday afternoon a children's bazaar and afternoon tea was held at the Ngaio School. The stall-holders were the children of the school, and they managed to dispose of their goods during the after noon to the large number of visitors present. Afternoon tea was dispensed by Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Ware, Mrs. Waldie, Miss Vickers, and Mrs. Willis. Songs and recitations were given during tho afternoon by Mrs. Burge, Mrs. Plank, and Mrs. Collett. The sum of .£l3 was realised and a very pleasant time spent bv the children and their friends. Much praise is duo to parents and others who helped to make the bazaar a successful event. Cup Day at Riccarton. Never have there been more beautiful and dainty gowns at liiccarton racecourse, a ' tVr '^ er a southern exchange, .the present mode is for simplicity of iorin and straightness of line, but, nevertheless. what beauty and valjie can be crowdcd on to that same demure simplicity. Ihere are no extra puffs, vorv few trains, scanty skirts, and straight "lines everywhere. Hence we get the veilings, which subdue the colours or give a misty appearance to lace and embroidery. Nothing stands out with sharp lines, but subdued half-echoes of colour reach us in tho sheeny sparkle that suddenly shows itself as tho wearer moves a'.ong, disclosing |»old and silver trimmings under folds pf mnon or chiffon. A new note of fashion was struck in tho tunic overdress. Sometimes it commences on tho bodice, which is cut in surplice style, and is joined to a two-piece tunic with a. semiEmpire effcct. jN'ccdless to say, the high waists are a tine qua non. One saw nothing else, oven in coats and skirts, of which there were very few, everybody inclining towards tho Empire gown for smartness and grace. Manv tunics were edged with fringe, which lent much finish to the costume. For sleeves the kimono or Magyar stylo seems inevitable; but what shall I say'about hats? True, many are larger and more becoming than ever, but it is a fact not to bo gainsaid that tho shapes are so variable that tho famous one in "Our Miss Gibbs," which became another style on removing tho brim, might be very feasibly carried out in reality. Lady Islington, who arrived with Lord Islington and suite, was gowned in a charming frock of palest grey satin draped with chiffon, and she wore a cloak of charmeuse of the samo shade, which fell in graceful folds from her shoulders, i'.he cloak was richly embroidered in grey, and with it her' Excellency wore a hat of fine white straw lined with black, and profusely trimmed with white pleureuse plumes. The Honorable Joan DicksonPoyuder, who accompanied her ladyship, was prettily gowned in a childish frock of white embroidered muslin, and she wore a Leghorn hat with white ostrich feathers. Miss Stapleton-Cotton was in a charm-, ing gown of Saxe-biue veiled in chiffon of the same shade. Tho Magyar- blouse was richly beaded with peries of the colour of the dress. Mrs. Guise wore a smart coat of biscuit-coloured cloth, and a toque of tho same shade, of straw -with lace crown, and trimmed at the back with a ; profusion of wild flowers and leaves.