LADIES' COLUMN. Girls' Gossip.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN. Girls' Gossip.

Dear Kezia,— • This has been rather a dull week, and there is not much gaiety to writo about. Tavo pretty weddings havo relieved the gloom, however. Miss M'Keirow w.is married to Mr. Ernest Bui ties, and made a very Avinsome bride in her white hatm with sleeves and yoke of finely tucked .silk muslin. • Her three bridesmaids, in v. Into silk, carried the loveliest bouquets of scarlet cactus dahlias. Mrs. M'Korrow looked very stately in black brocailo und a violet toque. It Avas altogether a genial function, and tho many guusts Thoroughly enjoyed themselves. \Voddings are sometimes most dismal affairs. There was an unusual number of men, to begin Avith, tho hospitable host and hostess bad made perfect arrangements, und every one felt at homo. Ever so many smart frocks were in evidence. Mrs. C. Johnston wore pale grey brocade with touches of pink and an exquisite real lace fichu. A charming frock ot cornflower blue silk voile Avith lines of ivory guipure Avas Avorn by Mrs. Harry Burnes, and Mrs. Grace had on a handsome black and Avhite gown Avith ohiffon boa and black toque. A littlo lady Avith picturesque auburn hair looked Avell in 11 black tailor-made and a large toque Avith violets on the croAvn. A pretty dark-haired girl in a grey green graceful gown — what delightful alliteration — Avaa much admired. The presents were ex> tremely handsomo, ana tho amount o!? silver, Kezia, quite a serious responsibility for a young housekeeper to undertake. The era of wool mats and crochet nntimacassars as wedding gilts 1b past 1 The travelling gowu was of blue frieze, nattily finished with strappings and the daintiest of tiny hand-painted buttons. Miss Pharazyn's Wedding Avas very quiet, but a. pleasant At Homo was given by Mrs, Phaiiuyn. the afternoon, before, at which Miss Phcabo Parsons sang. The bridal frock was charming — white satin veiled with silk gauze made Avith the sweetest little flounces along the foot ,of the skirt. The bridesmaids' hats were — according to a competent critic — delightful, and were composed of burnt straw Avith masses of vari-tinted chrysanthemums. Mr. and Mrs. CraAvford are going Home, I hear, shortly, and after staying some timp in England, intend to travel in tho East — a delightful prospect. We went to the Bazaar on Saturday evening, and saw a jig competition — a very interesting show, even though a more boy, unadorned by any extra titivating, carried off the prize from the girls in scarlet cloaks ana striped petticoats. • The laddie certainly danced deftly, and did marvellous tricks with his feet. There seemed a superfluity of children in tho hall. By the. way, what a dismal place it is, to be sure I It says much for the Bazaar promoters to have made it as attractive us it was. Hebe lingered fascinated in front of a young man who was advertising the glorious chances that lay in a threepenny dip. He began on Monday night Avitb. a robust baritone organ in good repair and under capital control ; by Saturday ho was almost speechless, and the remnant of his voice had got beyond him altogether. Sometimes it would break loose in a roar and then it would trail away into nothingness. It was absolutely weird, and Hebe declared thai it was worth the entrance-money alone to listen i to him! The refreshment stall at the Bazaar is a great success. You see, people can do without hand-painted mirrors, and can exist without point-lace cushions, but they must have refreshment at due intervals, and the scarletclad girls Avith the jaunty caps were kept busily employed. By tie by, a marriage that will interest many people, including you, Kezia, is one that took place in London last January, and was described in one of the English journals — that of Miss Mabel Booth to Mr. W. Hutchison. White duchesse satin and Brussels lace was the pretty bride's dress, and the bridesmaids wore white silk and lace, the two elder receiving from the bridegroom gold and enamel watches, and the two younger pearl pendants and chains. The best man was also from Wellington —Mr. Alex. Tolhurst. The weddingjourney was to be to Paris, Brussels, Monte Carlo, and Nice. We have an enormous steamer lying at the wharf, /and on Sunday it was thrown open to the public. Aunt does not consider herself one of the public, but Audrey cajoled her into going down and giving up her afternoon sleep — or reading, as we have been brought up to call it. She arrived on the deck of the Athenio minus her hair-net, her parasol, and her temper. The first she got back, tho second, of course, was never seen again, and the third is still missing. Never again will she be jammed in a crowd and climb up a precipitous gangway to inspect a ahip, however lovely may be its fittings or good-looking its officers. Sho was somewhat mollified by the frieze in the saloon. — a* beautiful design in cream and gold of boys with greyhounds — and the owners' inscription in the smoke-room regarding high play and objectionable conduct much impressed the good lady. There was a horrible fascination in leaning over the railings und watching people being croAvded together far below in one dense swaying, many-coloured mass. The hero of the afternoon was the gallant sailor who "kopt the bridge" Avith good-tem-per and determination. There Avas a roar when he hooked a small urchin off the gaugway with one leg while he barred the way with his arms, and when a stout lady who had gained the gangway put her arms round his neck and entreated him to let the rest of her family through, the unfeeling crowd above laughed. The afternoon teas will soon be beginning, and you may be glad to hear of a new. idea for entertaining. It is a Mystery Tea, the hostess, before her gueatft arrive, hiding a variety of small articles about the room, such as a reel of cotton on n bracket, an envelope under a vase, or a penny on a windowledge. Each person gets % card with the Hst of things to find and must write down where she has discovered each opposite the nane of the article. The one who finds all or most gets the prize. It would be a most amusing game for a juvenil* tea, but even grown-ups would enjoy the fun and feel young again in this hide«and-seok. It has its disadvantages. A crowd of smart, trailing frock* would be in the way, and grovelBug, about searching under sofas and chairs does not improve one* best clothes. But) it is a change from Book and that ilk, and is worth a trial. Not every one knows that when the peon and peeresses enter the Abbey at the Coronation no coronets are worn. When tthe King is crowned, the peers put on their coronets, the peeresies waiting till the Queen is crowned. ConseSiiently it is necessary that the hair bould be suitably arranged so that the coronet should sit on easily, and there is great perturbation among West End perruquiers as to the very vest coiffure for the occasion. The goldsmiths, recognising that the peeresses will need to lift tieir trains as well as carry their coronets, are making them with bonds of silk inside, so that miladi can sling her coronet on her wrist. Considerable care must be taken to put the symbol oh correctly — no easy mattter with neither looking-glasd nor maid. One wonders whether so prosaic a thing as a hat-pin enters into the arrangement. A peeress with a crooked coronet would be a sorry