MANNEQUINS' BALL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 13

MANNEQUINS' BALL.

Picture the smartest group of dressminkers' models econ in the enclosure -it Longchamps on a sunny Grand Prix day (says the I'arij correspondent of tho "Daily Mail"), imagine thorn in the lovliest evening oreations that ever left the Iluo do la j'nix, placo them in threo vast ballrooms hung with festoons of holly and mistletoe, and multiply their number by a score, and you will have an idea of the scene at tho Mannequins' ball in Paris. It is not, of course, exclusively tho mannequins' ball, for its official title 's "La Bal dela Couturiere," that is to say, of the friendly societies of the dressmaking trades. But it is tho mannequins' ball for all that. Tho stately maidens who, for six days in the week all tho year round, glide 'majestically through the salons of the great Paris dressmaking establishments know on this night they are not posing as living models for other women to stare at, but may don their gorgoous frocks and bo themselves. They know why'all Paris supplicates and intrigues for invitations to tho bal de la coutnre.

And tho mannequins rise to the occasion. ■ They know that they will have on them the eyes of the greatest dress experts in the world, alt these clever men and women witli the odd names which are a household word from Paris to Tokio and from Paris to Melbourne. They know that, when they sweep into the ball, several hundred pairs of critical eyes will sorutiniso every detail of their toilette, the fabric, the ombroidery, _ the cut, the finish, taking into consideration, too, their walk, their mien, and their colouring in relation to the hue of their frocks. And being women and Parisian, each lias probably someone definite to captivate, someone who must b? shown what can be done outsido business. In all Their Splendour, So, during tho earlier part of the evening all • eyes were turned towards the outer hall, where tho mannequins were arriving in tho richest of furs, covering the most exquisite robes, their beautifully dressed hair enclosed in every imaginable variety of turban, as fashion at present decroes. Tho beaux of tho dressmaking salons, immaculately attired and perfumed, hung languorously about th* entrance,' exchanging comments as the models swept in and posed a moment in majesty to register the effect they pro-

ducod. Fashion, so inexorable where man is concerned, has yet the dressmaker beau an opening to display his taste. Even the best-dressed Parisian shows imagination in his Traistooats, and the waistcoats of these immacnlate youths were indescribably picturesque. The costames in the Russian ballet pale beside their- splendour. Tho blaze of colout represented bv one gTOup of waistcoats .recall «I the great rose-window in Khcims Cathedral.' Before this'group a mannequin passed, a flashing vision of brilliant blue, dulled a little by rose-embroidered silk gauze, a bouquet fastened on the sweeping train. . "C'cst enatant!" remarked a youth in a yellow silk waistcoat. "Cest crevant! was tho comment of a sallow lad m a grev evening waistcoat with grey silk tie'to match. A third said "Name of a dog!" in tones of conviction, and a fourth merely gasped. That girl's triumph was complete. Large notices over the entranco to the hall proclaimed that evening dress was indispensable. With kindly thought for the youths whose collars might net stand the strain of a long evening's dancing, the committee had arranged a little booth near the smoking-room anr.onncing that omergency oollars and tics were for sale. There were three great rooms for dancinff. and a like number of indefatigable orchestras, tho efforts of one being supplemented by a male choir, who sang sentimental ballads to valee tunes with quite astonishing vigour.

The .Spirit of Enjoyment. The trade was represented in force, All branches were represented, from the proprietors of the world-famous houses down to the humblest little "trottouse." The dowagers were there, too. Large, impos-ing-looking manageresses and "caissiercs," broadly beaming bourgeoises, the wives of commercial travellers and managers, sat round tho ballroom watching the dancers. There were the bustling bodies who manage tho hat shops or who receive tho "cliontelo" at tho dressmaking salons, with "Madame" eternally on their lips. And I saw not a few pinched and harassed-looking dressmakers from tho small shops having a little whirl with some middle-aged dressmaker or manager whom they had known in the old days Wore they had . set up an establishment for themselves. * • • » But, gcmerally speaking, tho yonng folks had the floor. It was a feast of youth, of grace, of beauty. There was beauty on every hand, beauty of dress and hue, beauty of face,- beauty of line, beanty of pose. In addition to the robes of stately magnificence worn by tho "show girls," there were simple little coming-out dresses donned by others, marvels of plain elegance. Goodness knows what planning, wheedling, and plottim this array of elegance represented! Not a frock was tawdry or ont of date. Every mannequin was dressed in tho fashion of the momont or of tomorrow. In one of the sitting-out rooms a tall, graceful girl was having'a tranquil cigarette. Her hair was hidden by a cloth of gold turban surmounted by a spunglass aigrette, she was strikingly handsome with beautiful neck and shoulder?, and her dress, a marvellously bold creation in brilliant green with black figuring, fitted her exquisitely. She looked like a princess, shfl raj ruprepwly

and her partner was in the seventh heaven of delight. That couple was typical of several hundred others that evening. In the supper-room ( supper without wine six francs," proclaimed the notices) the high spirits were infectious. Parties of a score or so were gathered about great round tables, laughing and joking and pressing into tho vacant seats anyono who looked lonely. They havo hearts of gold, these little Paris dressmaking girls, and for all their fine feathers they do not forget that the-spirit of "camaraderio" is oae of tho finest traits in (ho I'ranch character. So somo of tho littlo drossmalting hands, whoso purses only hold a franc or so to take them home, did not go supperless on the night of tho mannequins' ball. A LADY MAYOR. In view of the tram strike which is at present engrossing the attention of the Queensland authorities, it is interesting to read of a lady Mayor who settled a tram strike in the town of Oldham, which is situated within an hour's ride (by electric tram) from Manchester. Tho strike occurred in August last, when, in England, one heard daily of strikes, lockouts, and walk-outs. It was an industrial upheaval practically, without precedent, for, though in 1888 the dock labourers had made a big protest against starvation, there was not a general strike such as that of Iflll. In Oldham there was the triple strike of teamsters, tramway and railway drivers. In speaking afterwards of the strike and its settlement Mrs. Lees said:—"We sat with the tram committee for tho 13 hours, and. though some angry words were used at tho beginning, after a timo wo laughed together, and then it was not hard to como to somo decision as to the best means of securing order during the strike."

She proved herself not only an adept in municipal matters, but also a woman whose care for her city and its workers was as that of a mother for her home and children. This and an admirable tact helped her in bringing matters to a satisfactory issues. Sho not only settled the strike, but at its conclusion horself drove the first car oiit of the sheds and through the city, amid the cheers and a few hoots from the crowds that lined tho streets. Mrs. Lees, who is a woman of about GO, is the widow of a former large mill-owner at Oldham. On his death 12 years ago sho and her daughter, instead of doing as everybody else seemed to do, that is leave the district when they had acquired wealth, decided to remain in Oldham and devote their timo, money, and energies to tho improvement of tho town, and of the conditions of tho workers in tho mills. STAGE CENTENARIES. Miss Pauline Chase celebrated her 900 th performance as Peter Pan, at ihe Duke of York's Theatre recently in London. This is a remarkable record for any actress, the performances extending, as they do, over a period of six years, during which Miss Chase has, it is said, only been absent on three occasions. Clearly sho does not trouble her understudy very greatly.

Another frtcresting theatrical centenary was that of "The Blue Bird," which celebrated, at the Queen's Theatre, its six hundredth performance by the Haymarket Company. It is interesting to note that most of the members of the original cast are in the present revival. Miss Carlotta Addison still plays "The Fairy Berylune," and Miss Daisy England "Granny Tyl"; Mr. C. V. France is "Time," Mr. Edward Eigby "Broad," Mr. H. R. Hignetc "Sugar," Mr. E. A. Vv'arburton "The Oak," and thoso inimitable creations "The Dog" and "The Cat," are again played, to perfection by Mr. Ernest Hendrie and Mr. Norman I'age "The Blue Bird" company sails' for Australia early this month.

Neither do these exhaust th« week's oelebrations. "Kismet," which has enjoyed such remarkable popularity, celebrated its 300 th performance at the Garrick Theatre, 'and as there was no abatement iu the demand for scats, Mr. Oscar Asche and Miss Lily Brayton gave a series of 1 special matinees.