LADIES COLUMN.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 128, 26 November 1904, Page 11

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 , not for publication, but as jx guarantee of authenticity. j Mr Dear Kezia — The pleasantest event held during the past week was the College sports, which, postponed from Friday, were held in perfect weather on the beautiful grounds. The scene was a most picturesque one when the races were in progioss, and the terraces and steps were crowded with people, and decorated with the daintiest fruckb and the prettiest of summer hats. There was absolutely no reason for once why new gowns should not make their debut on Monday, and certainly they could have no lovelier setting than the soit greens of grass and tiees and the dull red of the College. Mrs. Firth's graceful grey frock, worn with a feather stole, had a buttercup-yellow silk belt, and a shady hat with high crown aud wreaths of leaves. Lady Stout wore <i. pretty frock of bright blue with lines of ivory guipure upon it. One of the many charming white gowns was a simple >eton and skirt of cloth, the epaulet drawing a border of silk embroidery, and a folded belt of pale tan silk showing under the coatee. Another pretty frock was of ac-cordeon-pleated white silk, with lace insertion, the picturesque hat being trimmed with pale blue and pale green vosettes. A dark rich blu,e cloth was made with rippling frills rather far apart to above the knee, each frill being bound with blue silk, and a white voile, made in much the same style, the flounces bound witlrblack, was as effective. A prett}' girl in cream serge had knots of heliotrope velvet on her bodice and in her hat. There were so many white dresses that one felt grateful to the wearers of vivid colours ; and the wonderful flowers, seen only in the parterra of millinery, were much in evidence on the new hats, and roses, in particular, appear to be increasing in size every season. The whole afternoon was most enjoyable —a fine clay is a novelty i.i itself — and cheerful faces were to be seen everywheie. The boys, too, were a delightful study, and the giving and receiving of prizes moat interesting. Mr. and Mrs. Firth ought to feel quite satisfied at tho success of the College sports for 1904. A very pleasant afternoon was spent last Saturday at the Star. Boating Club sheds. The water was tiu'i rouah for lacing, but billiards, ping-pong, excellent music, and very good tea made the time pass q,uick!v. The tables were gay with vivid nasturtiums, arranged by Mrs. Wicldop and Miss Ward. Miss Beetham's wedding, which i.s to be a large affair, takes place on Wednesday next, the reception afterwards being held at Mrs. T. C. Williams'*. A ball the same evening is to he given by Mrs. Williams, at which Miss Russell and Miss Abraham are to come out Sir William and Lady Russell and the Misses Russell left by the Victoria on their wav

to England last Saturday. He will probably return by the first boat that, ai rives at the beginning of the session. By the Tur.ikiiia amved Mr. and Mrs. Ai- I thur Rhodes A recent variation of the ordinary ball or dinner party carried out at Home with great success, is for the guests to wear •'fancy heads" with their twentieth century gowns. A Gainsborough coiffure, ior instance, wil] have the hair slightly powdered, turned over a cushion, a few small curls, or one long one, at the back, and a swathing ot tulle or gauze with a little plume at one side, completed by a jewelled clasp. Few girls would not look charming thus, especially if nature had bestowed on them dark eyes and eyebrows, and a pretty colour. If she had not been so generous, it is their evident duty — when in fancy costume — to eke out her shortcomings. Although any smart evening gown is permitted to bo worn at these "fancy head" entertainments, there are many styles that go much better with such a quaint coiffure than others. I heard the other day of a most successful transmigation of a ball gown, a pale green silk. Bands of net, pale green with silver spangles, were gathered at either edge so as to form a puffing with tiny ruffled borders. These buillonees were very wide towards the back of the skirt, and narrowed towards the front where they curved upwards to the waist. From the lower edge fell a flounce of lace that also narrowed towards the waist. The front was decorated with graduated bows oi green velvet, getting larger towards the hem. Tho same effect was repeated on the. bodice, bows, buillonees, and lace frills. A very novel and effective trimming is made by plaiting together inchwme string-coloured Valenciennes lace and inch-wide satin ribbon, much in the mode that our babies make their kindergarten paper-weaving. This, mounted on net, makes very pretty yokes and elbow sleeves, and a finish may be given by pleated frills of net, edged with alternate ruches of ribbon and tiny frills of net. *" Belts, verily, are things of beauty just now, and the soft leathers, with the plain leather covered buckled are most attractive. These same leather belts are to be had most exquisitely tooled in gold, and a 'black leather one decorated in this way looks well with any gown. • By-tlie-way, black is to be much worn this summer, and a navy blue of deepest tone is to be also very popular. The threetiered skirt is still in vogue, and, given tne right figure and the right cut, it is certainly extremely smart. A white cloth in this style, with each tier hemmed with white glace,, was certainly one of the most admired gowns at a recent function. It. is becoming very difficult to distinguish between the visiting coat and the o£>era-wrap, so very ornate has the former become. Some of the white coats might well serve a double purpose. Imagine the effect of a cham-pagiiG-tmtcd cloth lined and faced with c,iocn liberty satin, and trimmed with thick silk cords in the light of common day. A lovely coat that has made a successful appearance in Wellington recently is of white silk covered with olack appliquo embroidery. The charms of the mushroom hat have attracted many women. Two girls just out from Home wore these hats, trimmed with a deep ruche of shaded ribbon, finishing with a flat bow at the back. Besides being becoming, they are shady and not subject to the vagaries of the wind. A variety with a wide flat Tarn n' Shanter crown is particularly smart. With" tho addition of an artistically manipulated veil, these make ideal travelling hats. Nothing more artistic than the terracotta groups in Littlejohn's has ever been shown in Wellington, and prospective brides would do well to direct — carelessly, of course — the attention of well-off friends anxious to select wedding presents, to these exquisito figures. The designs are most poetic, and the idea of friendship sho\vn in thn two figures clasping hands across one of the clocks, is charming. When one remembers tlie huge gilt erections under glass . shades that decoiated nineteenth century drawing-rooms, there is cause for thankfulness in the strides that art has taken in our homea. It is difficult to know what to do with bananas besides eating them raw, but here is a delightful recipe for a banana cieam. To half a pint of whipped cream stir hall an ounce of gelatins dissolved in half a gill of warm water. Add a little lemon juice and a pound of skinned bananas, rubbed through a hair sieve with 2oz of castor sugar. Put in mould, and leave in cold place till set. — I am, yours, PRISCILLA.