LADIES' COLUMN. Girls' Gossip.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 16, 18 July 1903, Page 10

LADIES' COLUMN. Girls' Gossip.

[Contributions to this column addressed "Priscilla" will be welcomed. They should- be .concise,, and must be signed with the writer's full name and address, not for publication, bub as a guarantee of authenticity.] Mr Deab Kezia — More gaiety is on foot, and this past \yeek has been, to a social butterfly, like Heb£, a very busy time. She has begun seriously to consider her frocks are quite inadequate to the, demand that will be made on them during the coming season, and is meditating two new ball gowns, in spite of her allowance being at its lowest ebb. Hebe has found that it is necessary to suffer to be beantiful, but she is a patient and cheerful martyr. ,Very bright and pleasant was the Garrison. Ball last week, and excellently, .weljarranged, the , brain who arranged the tieket-of -leave system for supper being.a great one. Cemfort, attention, and a good seat are matters not to be despised after toil. The decorations in the hall were very fine,' flags, foliage, and warlike weapons, being lavishly used. The uniforms, themselves, are most ornamental, and the Highlanders, who were too few in number, were much admired. There ia something in the swing of a kilt and the toss of a plaid, that is if the wearer be duly steeped in the national spirit, captivating to the female heart. The Countess wore a black tulle over the tulle being heavily embroidered with jet and white roses. In her hair she had a twist of black tulle, and her ornaments were /diamonds, i Lady Constance wore a "graceful white brecade frjpck, with long cMffon and frills, and a dainty wreath of leaves in her hair. Mrs. Babington also wore white brocade with floating sleeves and draperies of chiffon. White, too, was Miss Seddqn's handsome frock of satin, with its long hanging lace sleeves, and lines of embroidery. She, too, wore a wreath in her hair. One of the loveliest of the white gowns Mrs. Alfred Brandon wore. It was a brocade, opening over a soft front of chiffon frills, and ruches of white chiffon decorated the oversMrt. A large flame-tinted rose was the only touch of colour. Mrs. Blundell's black brocade had a berthe of beautiful lace, Mica Blundell wearing a very charming pale pink chiffon frock. Mrs. Butts was in black, silk with a scarf of fine old lace, Mrs. Samuel in yellow brocade, with beautifqj draperies of old point d'Alencon. Miss Goates wore a handsome black gown with collar of guipure. Mrs. Collins was in black, with roses, Mrs. Webb wearing a bjaok silk with transparent sleeves. Mrs. J. Duthie had on pale green veiled with a lace overskirt with roses on the bpdice. A tall girl in a white frock, with a loose coatee of chiffon and wreaths of rqses, loked extremely well. Miss Batham made her debut in a pretty white frock of soft silk, Mrs. Batham wearing black with crimpon roses on the bodice. ( One, of the largest and most successful "At Homes " given for a long time was Mjss Ooates's last Thursday, when, notwithstanding the inclement weather, two hundred guests found their way to the delightful house in Hobson-street. There was no crushing, for so many rooms were thrown open, the wide verandah, enclosed with flags and gay with lanterns, made' a pleasant reating-place. Only at the entrances to the rooms there was sometimes a crush, but that is because people stay to talk in doorways. We want a constable, in a smart frock and hat, to say t " Move on, please and keep to the right." A fortune-teller was kept busy all the afternoon^ and an advertisement competition proved, both amusing and puzzling. Miss Morna Fell was the winner, gaining the pretty cut-glass toiletbottles given as prize. A string band played at iufcravals, and Miss Howard's delightful .singing was intensely enjoyed. The tables, decorated in the dining-room with holly, red camellias, and red ribbon, and in the verandah with silver candelabra, and yellow flowers and draperies, were laden with dainties. Mis,s Coates had on a dress of black silk canvas, with handsome guipure; Miss Nelson, her niece,' a charming white silk with many tucks and much lace, and a knot of pale blue on the bodice ; Miss Howard wearing a soft black frock, with a becoming stole collar of guipure. A visitor had on & noticeable black cloth gown, the coat having an elaborate collar of white satin, with black applique, outlined in silver braid. A pretty long coat was of grey green cloth, with blue facings, spotted with, black- Very dainty was a harminy in soft browns, worn by a dark-haired gipl, and a grey frieze with a picturesque black and white hat, was also a charming costume. Another pretty frock was of dark red, with a cream lawn collar. The " At Home " at Government House last Tuesday was not a large affair. The poineettias were the feature of the decorations, and made magnificent masses of vivid colour against the soft green and yellow foliage and walls. The Countess was in a soft black gown, with sequin embroidery on the bodices, and Lady Constance' wore a rose-pink silk, daintily trimmed with tucks and lace. The teatable was decorated with foliage plants in silver bowjs, the' great presentation bowl in the centre. A cotillon party is. to be given at Government House shortly, and those taking part are already practising. I hear that Lady Ranfurly gave a most delightful cotillon dance in Auckland. According to the Home papers, the cotillon is quite established in favour, thanks- to the Americans, who spars no trouble ox money to make their dances a success. All "sorts of accessories are pressed into the service, from policemen's rattles to great comic masks for the men, and ribbons and flowers for the girls. A new idea is for the men to make their appearance within huge balloons ol different-coloured tissue paper, and be chpsen as partners by the girls. The delight, or the shock, when you found out who your partner was might be impossible to conceal, but the notion ip a good one. A large number of guests went to Mrs. Chatfield's tea on Friday, notwithstand,ing the,,keen unpleasant weather. They were repaid by a delightful afternoon. The collection of miniatures, to which Mr. Chatfleld has lately added largely, was a great attraction, and a " celebrity " competition' provoked much mirth and emulation, Mra Morrison was much enyjed.,when, as. the winner, she got the pair of little gold and enamelled caskets. Miss Chaytor came, second, gaining, two pretty pendants for a chain. I told you lately of the new theatre bonnet, made like a baby's cap of lace or guipure over a frame, close fitting to the head. The very latest are made with two jewelled antennas that can be furled close to the head. The effect would be novel if these horns could be adjusted so as to rise up at the wearer's will, as a sign, say, of intense appreciation. One would need to fix the emotion, otherwise, the result might be perplexing. As yet, this new headgear has not made its appearance in our dre^a circle. Wellington women have been content with their own pretty coiffed hair, with perhaps a flower or aigrette. Yours, • ' PRISCILLA.

"Pa, what is a bigot?" "A bigot, my aon r is a person who doesn't think as J <io, and sticks to it."