CURRENT GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 225, 11 June 1923, Page 3

CURRENT GOSSIP.

“The Dominion" Office, Monday, June 11, 1923. /HOPE you enjoyed your holiday last Monday. I did—by the fire, with a book and what not. Of course, I think these things are sent to try us, like most other visitations of a more or less doubtful degree of pleasure. Now, as I write these fezv remarks, the rain has come on again, and if by the time you peruse this you have been able to look back upon a good weekend, then you’ll be lucky. I always seem to be complainng about the weather, don’t I? Well, hasn’t it been something to complain about? Take the weather at any old time, but particularly the weather of the last few weeks, out of the topics of conversation, and where are you, let alone me? Of course, I might have discussed Emile Polini, or the price of potatoes, or the country’s finances, or the all-absorbing topic of the afternoon tea gatherings—do our young men face powder? It is alleged that some of our drawing-room exquisites do, but I refuse to entertain such a scandalous suspicion that a left-wing three-quarter, or whatever you call the tremendous hero who scores tries and such things at the Athletic Park every Saturday, would so far forget himself as to do it. Then, of course, there is the good old standing topic of dress—what shall we wear, and how shall zve wear it? Everyone has got into winter things long ago, thanks to our be-ee-u-00-tiful climate, and Spring, gentle Spring, is afar off. There Igo again, talking about the weather. Perhaps I ought to talk about books—-that seems safe. What have you been reading lately? I got hold of Rose Macauley’s “Potterisms” the other day and enjoyed it very much. But you never can tell. I tried this gifted authoress on another book of hers, “What Not," she called it, and found a perfect “dud." Then in an American review I saw a reprint of one of Katherine Mansfield’s stories—- “ The Fly," it was —and got cold shivers. It was Art, of course, but the setting was a trifle gruesome, artistically gruesome, mind you, frightfully artistic, really, “Art for Art’s sake," they say. Well, I prefer to be artless for Art’s sake, if you see what h mean. Clothes, of course, and smiles, and gay chatter. So there we are. i Sincerely, , ‘

Probability is, of course, the guide of life.

It is only youth that has the energy to be bothered with everything.

8. 8 '6 Interest in the oddity of an event is undoubtedly the root of scientific observations.

A scientific man is honest because he cannot succeed on any other terms in the long run 8 8 8

As compared with literature, music is It is independent, as literature is not. of. the facts of life. ■ 8 ' 8 • 8 A three-piece suit of novelty knitwear is a useful affair, admirably adapted to active sports or to general use. If one thing distinguishes it more than another it is its simplicity, both of line and trimming. Both skirt and sweater blouses are trimmed with the jacket material, and the jacket has pockets, cuffs and revers of the skirt material. There might be any one of several colour combinations in such a suit; brown with tan, grey plack, green with blue, or two shades of the one colour. 8 8 8 For repairs to coats and wraps efficiently carried ont, new furs made to order at Mrs. Smith, 88 Willis St.

8 8 8 \ A student of the history of science is inevitably led to reflect on the curioiis nature of the barriers to further advance which the mind itself has set up. 8 8 8

“Having your ears pierced for earrings must have been fearfully painful —what?” . “Not at all. They are quite used to being bored.”—The Passing Show (London). 8 8 8

Whether or not it he true that, the proper study of mankind is man, it is certain that he finds great difficulty in studying anything else. 8 8

Another knitted model features the sleeveless jacket of artificial silk oyer a frock of the same fabric but a different pattern. Black and White is ever an effective combination, usual enough to be familiar, yet in this particular case unusual in spite of its familiarity. Madam La Mode still insists on woollen garments. Jerseys of wool or of bilk and wool worn with matching skirts, or with plain skirts if the jerseys are patterned. The smartest hats are of English felt, velour, tricot and brush wool mixtures, matching tJhe general colour scheme. Miss Samson, Colonial Mutual Buildings, has extensive oho co in woollen suits, frocks ano French cardigan?. Also the matching headgear, and all stock is reduced fifteen per cent., and in a number of cases half price. As well as these garments and hats, Miss Samson has a choice of smart afternoon and evening gowns of imported models of .this reason. Exquisite model hats in velvet and hatters plush are being sold at very great reductions. 8 8 It is not always easy to detect the true sceptic ; that honourable title has often been wrongly bestowed —Voltaire, for instance, was a dogmatist. 8 8 8 “He and his sweetheart are mad about golf.’-’ ■ * x “Yes, they’re a regular, pair of teaspoons.”—Philadelphia Evening Bui- » » » Dalle: “How do you do, Wittee?” Witte: “Do what?” Dulle: “Well, how do you find yourself to-day?” Witte: “But I never lost myself. Dalle: “Well—er, how do you feel? Witte: “Feel me and seel” Dulle: “Qh, I mean how have you been?” , Witte: “Been where?” But Dulle hud by this time disappeared. 8 8 8. The effect of the' modern text-book is to make the intelligent students feel that he is remarkably unintelligent; the text-book writer is so terribly cocksure. „ 8 8 8 Smart footwear is essentia! to a distinctive appearance. Brocaded shoes are usually a perfect match for most gowns because if coloured at all there is a variety of shades which blends in with any gown. Lindsay s Ltd., the Lambton Quay shoe specialist, have a wide variety of evening shoes. Gold brocaded tissue in a jester court shape with a very French heel are the very latest. There is a silver one in the same design. Some new Belgian shoes are very delightful in multi coloured brocade some in deep colouring and some in pale pastel shades with sandal straps. Other shoes of the same make are fashioned of blue and silver brocade and tinselled brocades. An orange and black brocade has a fan shaped front and various shoes of black satin and pale shades to suit frocks are all obtainable at Lindsays’ Ltd. Their stock of shoes are wonderful and if they have not got the particular shade requested, they can very easily procure it for y ° U - 8 8 * . . Though' sport capes lack nothing in picturesqueness, they have a commendable practical quality. The latest is a new cape of knitted worsted in violet shade, with a collar and border trimming of white angora and deep white wool fringe at the edge. 8 US’ ,8 From morning to night the woman interested in the comfort of her family is continually confronted with little household cares. There is a . wav ot showing how these can be entirely removed or materially reduced. , Let us take the ordinary routine of a household. First there is the rising and dressing in the morning—a not altogether pleasant commencement when the davs are dark and cold. To leave a warm bed and dress m the cold atmosphere of the bedroom or the icy region of the bathroom is not an inviting experience. A fire in vonr bedroom entails considerable work m clearing the ashes from overnight and laying and lighting the fire'again, it you are a lover of comfort you will have gas fires in your house for by turning on a tap and applying . a match, cold ami discomfort are. immediately banished. Ask the Wellington Gas Co. for particulars. •i • i When Tut-ankh-Amen retired into his dim-out. he little thought that he would he.— “Opmiom the old, troublesome, treacherous, and messy hair. dyes, the present day method is as simple and fn innlv ns it is unchangeably lasting in its desired effect.. iHie most delicate shade of any desired ham colour can be imparted to the hair that has lost its youthful hue. Gioy or faded hair spoils the social, professional and business status of a noman and is hist as unsightly as missirm- teeth. The Boudoir Camille arc exnort in all the branches of hair tinting and dyeing both hennaing and other methods. Faded and dull hair will make a voting woman look double her ™e Consult Mi=s Elder .at the Boudoir Camille and she will give export advice and treatment on all hair and facial beautifying.

Very striking is the 'head-dress of pearls threaded on wire in the form of a diadem and surmounted by upstanding ears of corn made from massed pearls and tufts of fine stiff feathers.

“Just fancy old ’Airy tykin’ to burglary 1 An’ ’im ’avin’ .a good woman to work for ’im.”—London “Opinion.” 1

8 8 8, An afternoon is like that long central interval in an enthralling play when we are awakened to the prose of life bv the bitter realisation that even the orchestra has gone away to have a drink.

*8 8 . 8 Bright colours used with a skilful and economical hand are half the secret of success in the designs of the winter and early spring coat-frocks. A dark gabardine or serge frock is indispensable to one’s wardrobe and I viewed some new and»attractive, garments at Castel. Jaloux. A mole gabardine is made with the. skirt drapcij over to the left side, giving the lighthip effect, and with some fine embroidery in blue and gold. Grey gabardine though a sober enough material arouses interest when combined with flame coloured duvtyn—this frock has very short sleeves. Black fine serge has much Egyptian embroidery in oriental colouring and some folds in the skirt to give an effect of fullness. Fine naw tricotine makes another very smart frock. This one has touches of embroidery and a cape at the back falling to the. waist. A nigger brown gabardine gives a more elaborate impression with godets of brown georgette and braid cabochons in fawn and brown sewn on in a pattern. _

Certain iuncturea of our lives must alwavs be difficult to recall to memory. Certain points, crises, certain feelings, joys, griefs, and amazements, when reviewed. must strike us as things wildered and whirling, dim Ins a wheel spun. 8 8 *

On an original day gown the skirt in front was left untrimmed, while rows and rows of full pleated ruchings covered the back. 8 8 8

Tutankhamen fashions are appearing in various fabrics and have achieved great popularity at home. James Smith Ltd., have received some most delightful new materials in wool and silk mixtures, rather like a heavy close lace, and the design is Egyptian. Those have bordered designs and are ideal for very smart frocks in self material or in conjunction with soft silks and satins. This firm is showing all the newest laces and trimmings in every colouring and at all prices. The all-over and flouncing lace m black and ivory are particularly reasonable in price and this is. an excellent opportunity to buy a really handsome evening gown.

She: “After all, a husband gets the credit when his wife is well dressed. He: “H’m, yes, hut only from her dressmaker.” —“London Mail.” B'B 8

Fringes of jingling beads are added to the hems of smart gowns for evening Josephine (reading aloud conclusion of long-letter)—“Then I will come home and marry the sweetest little gnl on earth-” . . - , , , Juliet—“ What a dirty trick! After being engaged to youl” 8 8 8

There is very good reason to suppose that character, particularly a certain simple type of integrity and sincerity, is necessary to great artistic achievement but it is certain that such gifts are not sufficient: they must be allied with very unusual mental qualities.

The furs at George and Douglytys arc very becoming and include designs in great variety. There are furs of all degrees of richness and price and are offering some exceptionally good coats at very reasonable prices. A well cut, sliort, black coney seal coat for nine pounds nineteen and sixpence. The same with a heaver coney collar is eleven guineas. A black coney seal three-quarter length, very becomingly cut with a yoke at the back, and ,a large wrap collar of skunk opossum is twenty-four guineas. This is an exceptional opportunity to secure a really jfood coat. Fur wraps are also to be seen in great variety and very substantial reductions are being made. A large skunk opossum wrap, winch was thirteen guineas, is reduced to ten guineas. A Kolinsky stole, very wide, is reduced from ten guineas to seven guineas. Blue kit fox in great variety range in price from fifty-five shillings up to twenty-four guineas. Little jumper blouses are “marble-patterned” crepe. -The effect of black marble veinmgs on orange is very arresting.

'BB T „ “Prisoner, have you anything to offer in vour own behalf?' “No, your Honour, I’ve turned every cent I own over to my lawyer and a couple of jurymen.”—“The American Legion Weekly.”

The English wife of tradition, so thoroughly a “fomme converte,” is being displaced by a gadabout, truculent, irresponsible creature full of strange new ideas about her rights, stiongly disinclined to submit to her husband’s authority, or to devote herself honestly to the upkeep of his house, or to bear him a biological sufficiency of heirs; -S'. . *8 J . A nice supper, daintily served, is always acceptable to theatre goers. The ’ "Chocolate Bowl,” Willis Street, cater for suppers and serve tea, coffee, chocolate, toast, sandwiches, bread and butter, cake, also cold and iced l drinks, hot milk punches. "S' . tIf the average American husband wants a sound dinner, ho must go to a restaurant to get it, just as if he wants to refresh himself the society of charming and well-behaved children, he must go to an orphan asylum. -y ’S' Trimmings not unlike coiled adders are thickly twisted round the crown of closely-fitting toques. S' "A « Coffee made with ail milk and served with hot buttered toast is a supper specialty at the Chocolate Bowl, Willis Street. * A grocer says that some people who buy on time don’t seem to' know when time leaves off and eternity begins. “Progressive Grocer.” "8 The whole point of electric .cooking is to conserve all heat for cooking Purposes aaid waste none of it in the room. The result is a cooler kitchen than is possible with any other typ® of range. The electric units throw all the heat directly against the cooking utensil, none of it can escape at the sjdes or bottom. The heavily insulated oven walls and close-fitting oven door retain the heat so well that even with the oven at high heat the outside is cool. Any woman 'can appreciate what this means in hot weather. This recipe for baked fish is delicious: Half a loaf crumbed, one egg, two tablespoons butter, one small onion, salt and pepper, a little milk. Cook the onion in the butter, follow with the other ingredients. Fill the fish and bake—one hour will bake a 31b. fish. 8 8 What is the name of a West India island that suggests a manufacturer of preserves?—Jamaica (iani-maker). ¥ "8 "8. Teacher: “Johnny, what is velocity?” Johnny: “Velocity is what'a fellow lets go of a bee with.” 41 . > 'B' An uncommon ornament for a. coab frock of navy serge was a steel Horseshoe. ■8 'S' '8 The sudden advent of cold weather causes one to think about winter garments, and in sympathy -with such thoughts an attractive selection of warm woollen frocks, sports coats, cardigans, high-grade English-made allwool golf and other all-wool hose is now being shown by Hayward, Ltd., of Lambton Quay. This same house is also showing delightfully warm and stylish top-coats and fur coats, the prices of which are distinctly moderate. 18 '8 'S' A novel evening head-dress is a fringe of long ostrich feathers which is worn at the back of the head, being taken under the chignon. The effect from behind the wearer is not unlike falling hair! 58-8-8

The largest perfect bell in the world is in a temple at Osaka, Japan; it is 24ft. high, and weighs 200 tons.

A lovely gown which comes from Paris is of white georgette entirely covered in coloured beads, resembling “hundreds and thousands.” 8 8 8

Girls of school age should play for a shorter period than boys, and hockey, lacrosse, tennis and cricket are all suitable games for them.

The “Kandlet” night-light is a boon to mothers. Much cheaper than the ordinary night-light, the light can be regulated. No loose oil, no danger of being overturned, no glass to break, no smell or smoke. Pretty to look at, in bright colours such as white, green, pale blue, red, lemon, brown, rose, at J. R. McKenzie’s. 8 8 8 Striking jumpers in shades of tangerine and flame are covered in strag-gly-looking hand-worked designs carried out in finest cotton, which somehow gives the appearance of having been almost obliterated. 8 8 8 During repairs in Chelse<> Old Church, a stained glass window dating back to the 14th century was discovered. It is the only one of its kind known in London. 8 8 8

“Yes. It was loved at first sight. “But why didn’t you marry her?” “I have seen her several timei since.”

The Victorian, age was unquestionably the great age of physical science. 8 -8 8 The ideal of truthfulness is probably more rigorous with the scientist, qua scientist, than with anv other kind of man. 8 8 It is interesting to notice how often a telescojie and a capacity for sitting still have made their owners immortal. -8 -8 "8 Tn England, compared with. the Continent, there are comparatively few men whose dominant activity is their exclusive activity. 8 18 n It is a well-known fact that a really intelligent dhild finds great difficulty in believing that the earth is round. -S' 8 8 The average height of the human race increases at the rate of one and a quarter inches every thousand years. Well, -we’re certainly not conceited ! -8 -8 8 An elephant is possessed of such a delicate sense of smell that it can scent a human being at a distance of HOU yards. The human being’s trouble is that he can’t scent a wild elephant at 110 yards. 8 -8 8 Rows of enormous ruchings are carried several times round the hips of taffeta day gowns. 8 .. 8 t, , Our own opinion is that the kangaroo is just one of Nature s aboitive efforts to produce a safe pedestrian. —“Baltimore Sun.” *8 8 8 Tablets’ of glazed earthenware _ depicting the owner were left when visiting temples; there are supposed to be the origin of the modern visiting card. A reversion to the tablets wouldn’t do any harm these days. 8 8 For a finger-nail to reach its full length, an average of seven-twelfths of an inch, from 121 to 130 days of growth are necessary. Long before that the doors of our friends’ houses would be closed to us. B'B 8

A learned professor tells us there is a modern tendency among the aristocracy to drop their H's. Perhaps this accounts for the fact that the Kaiser has been led to the altar instead of to the halter ! —“Eve” (London) .

Coat frocks of supremely simple order are to be seen, effected in lighthued kasha, buttoned severely up. to the summit of the throat, where the the prettiest finish is provided in crisp little outstanding frills, or else a demure turn-down collar of white organdie, the cuffs corresponding. There are some long and full coats worn over longer, fuller dresses, wfi.ch are evidently meant for women who have left youth behind them.

Great bows of vividly coloured velvet ribbon are a much-favoured finish for the larger hats of black velvet or panne, anti of picturesquely Spanish effect, brims:with “bevelled’’ or padded edges, being the other most notable new note m headgear. 8 8 8.

The floating leaves of the 'Victoria regia, a giant water-lily, sometimes measure up to 12ft. across.

1 Bustles may be worn by the right wearer, particularly tor garden putties and fete occasions. A stunning bustle frock is made of taffetas and. ribbon ruches and a bustle bow of moire.

“Yessuh, I’s done proved dat honesty is de best policy after all.” “How?” demanded his friend. ! “lou remembers dat dawg dat I "bure, I remembers.”

“Well, sub, 1 tries fo’ two whole days to sell <lat dawg and nobody otters more’n a dollah. So, like an honest man, 1 goes to de lady dat owned him an’ she gives me three and a-half dollahs.”

An amusing tale is told in Mr. St. John Ervine's “Some Impressions of My Elders” of the difficulty of satisfying Air. W. B. Yeats as to the lighting au'ungenieuts at me AlSoey 'iiieuire for big one-act plays. He would spend hours in rehearsing the effects: this “lime” was too strong, and that too weak; the colours were wrong or were not properly commingled. Uno day, when everybody’s patience was exhausted, he suddenly called out to the stagemanager: “That’s it! You’ve got it right now!” “Ah, sure, tho damned thing’s on fire,” replied the stagemanager.

Pester (looking up from his newspaper): “I say, Jim, what is the Order of the Bath?”

Nestor (embracing the opportunity): “Well, as I’ve experienced it, it's first the water’s too hot. then it’s too cold ; then you’re short of a towel; then you step on the soap; and, finally, the telephone bell rings 1” 8 8 8

A work published in 1592, “The English Secretaria, conteyning Judicial! and Familiar Epistles,” includes, I am told, a pendant to the letter dissuading a daughter from walking out with a sergeant. The 16th century “Epistle Disswasorie advising a young man to keep up the pursuit of a young woman,” after telling the young man, “You go beyond the moone” (apparently the Elizabethan equivalent of “You are the limit”), continues: “What senseless furie io it that bewitcheth you? As vou will, notwithstanding the matter of your own reputation and credit, forget yourself so much in the accomplishment of a purpose so farre different from the nature (I will not say of a gentleman), but of an honest man, goe about to. put in proofe what in the end© must of necessitie return, to your owne mischief.” 8 8 8 Meekly made up his mind that he was not going to be bossed any longer by his wife, so when he went home at noon he called out imperiously:— 8 8 8 “Laura! Laura!” Mrs. Meekly came out the kitchen with a bead o'f perspiration on the end of her nose and a rolling pin in her hand. “What do you want with Laura?” she asked. Meekly staggered, but plllled himself together. “I want you to understand, madam” and he tapped his breast dramatically—“that I’m the engineer of this establishment, that I am——” “Oh, you are, are you? Well, Joseph, I want you to understand that 1” —and she looked dangerous—“l am the boiler that might blow up any minute. Do you hear the steam escaping, Joseph?’’ Joseph heard, and got out of the way.