LADIES CO-UMN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 15

LADIES CO-UMN.

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 They should be concise, and must be signed with the writer's full name and address, not for publication, but us a guuruute* of authenticity, j Mr Dbak K«zia— The spring hats are, perhaps, the most important topic of the week. So much may depend on one's now chapeau being 'becoming that it behoves a woman to choose with car© and consideration, and the bewildering beauty of the latest millinery is apt to causa permanent wrinkles on tha brows thay are desfined to adorn. At a recent show of spring confections, one wandered from ilowor to flower, from feather to feather, coming to the conclusion that each season flowers and feathers grew more- beautiful and marvellous. Blossoms that never Tew in_ any part of the globe, and feathers that "could not possibly adorn — us they were — any fowl, were much in evidence. A wide black hat, with weird Japanese chrysanthenium-liko feathers —having a night-cut appearance — looked most picturesque when on a wollcoiffured head. An ideal hat for a pretty girlish face was wide, white, and softly-curving, with a glorious feather having a feather boa tail that hung far down, and a large oval buckle of white velvet, with tiny beaded roses appliqued on it. It most be confessed, with a sigh, that most of these exquisite hats require, as well as a suitable face sad figure, a charming frock, and a carnage, with, perhaps, a race meeting or a garden-party thrown m. i The dance given in the Masoni-. Hall I to celebrate the end of the season of the ' Kelburna Ladies Bowling Club was the . pleasantest, of functions. The hall was prettily decorated with the ever-usofuL] lycopodium and crimson roses, and j many flags draped the walls. The colours of the clvb — red, white, and blue — were prominent- on the supper-table, which was gay with palms and holly, and laden with most delicious homemade dainties. During the evening muchenjoyed songs were contributed by Miss Donovan, Mr. Speed, and others The committeei worked vigorously with an excellent result, and the danco was c*i- i tied on to the end with unabated spirit. A notable gown was of white silk, with an over-dress of exqnisitely- jetted blac~ tulle, a very becoming osprey being worn in the hair. A pretty blue taffetas, with laco appliques, was charming, and ft white satin, with brctclles of turquoise satin, pink roses, and a scarf of rosy Lollo was n.r.ch a'Jrcirod. Two laco ' frocks, one- with a high bodice of ruffled ' Valenciennes and a draped belt of pink silk, the other of cream lace, with pink roses on the corsage— rwora charming frocks. Apropos of chiffons, the feminine members of the vaudevillo company now at the Opera House-, know the value of effective gowns. Madame- Charleno dresses as briiliintly as she plays — and one can pay no higher compliment. Her blue chiffon, with the froth of foot- ' frillo that escaped from its sheath-like j tunic of jewolled gauze, [was most beautiful till she appeared in her green I gown, half covered -with the glittering over-skirt, with largo pansies embroidered among the gleam and' shimmer. •Her coiffures, too, aro elaborate, and the • Juliet net of pearls and coronet of pansies and- green velvet proved entirely becoming. Though somewhat abbreviated, the frceles worn by other performers were As effective, $ho dusky Princess looking like an incarnate flame in her flashing scarlet sequins and vermillion chiffon frills — especially when dancing; between.- her grotesque .black shadows. As for Mademoiselle Benson, she hat only to listen to tho boys whistling her rutic son| — which is only "Yillikins and his Dinah" of a former generation in (modern garb — to feel she has not lived in vain. The haunting melody ! actually echoed the other afternoon through the corridors of Parliament itself. The dance in aid of St. Mary's Home, held last Thursday, realisad no less a sum than £67, a goodly and welcome addition to the funds of this institution. Tho Sydney-street Hall I was prettily decorated with garlands of j lycopodium and crim3on ro3e3, and tha 'supper tables wore charming with spring flowers. Three frocks — among the many lovply ones— were notables : a white tuiile exquisitely embroidered in green and gold, and worn with a wreath of gresn leaves; a white nst with bretelles i and bands of turquoise satin ; and a soft ; blue satin, beautifully mado, worn by a ( handsome young matron. A pleasant tea party, in honour of ( Miss Phyllis Riddiford, who hay just ro- ' covered from an illness, was given lact week by Miss Miriam Mason, of tha Hutt._ Two competitions, advertisement guessing and an observation table, mr.da the afternoon pass quickly. By the by, the picture of a man gazing with a satisfied expression at a half-filled bottla advertising a well-known emulsion, was — 3uch i 3 tlio juvenile opinion of ths masculinci mmd — entered as illush'aling "whisky." The tables, laden with toothsome delicacies, was effectively decorated with a flat, wreath of holly laid aloiig the ed^e. "Cater on, the afternoon's pleasure was ronnckd off by detachments of the guests going for ridca in the Doctor Mason's motor-car. "Beautiful, but too brief," was the verdict of ono girl. Mrs. Wylio over a hundred guests at afternoon tea last Wednosday, at Miss Partridge's. Tho large rooms are charmingly adaptod for entertaining in, arid wort beautifully decorated with flowers', tho taa table in the dinmorroom being a picture with dclkato ciu3tcr3 of narcissi, elusion: of pale green and white Chriatman ro;cs, ond pink tjaflands of the exquisite smilax. I Mrs. Wylio wore a handsome black silk, | with a transparent black li?ce yoke, and Miss Wylis a white cloth skirt and pretty white t.llk and lace blouse. Miss Partridge s graceful gown of bkek taffetas had undersleevo3 and yoke of white ' chiffon decorated v/ilh small black velvet buttons. Miss Hesketh. from Auckland, came with the Miao Coopers. Two guests wora vary emarfc p,rct\r\ velvet | frocks, the one with a black hat and long green feather, while tlie other's hat I (also black) wr.s wide and picturesque, with a largo cluster of roses. A handBorne electric blue silk was trimmed wip.i delicate embroideries in browns and ' blues, and worn with an ermine tippet j and toque with an orange osprey clasped in it. A whit* doth, with liner; of palo mauve, was worn by the wife of a Canterbury member. A pretty brov/n costume with a quaint round fiat v/rsathodwith flowers in tonc3 of brown, wasi r.d- I mired, and a mor.re-grey contmno with ;i hat of winc-rr-loured roses and velvet vrao also charming. Mfcs ITc'Vcih from Auckland, h a grest of Mrs. Coop°t. Mr. and Mrs. yon Hanit aic hack after a pie-cant holiday spent with Mr. T'ntullo, near fJisbomc. Mr. and Mr?. Black, from Kurow. who Inve been visiting Mr? Ptott. have gons home. Mr. and Mrs. Williams, from ttrrlnev, who lirvc been Htaying at the Empire, have left Wellington. Mi:s Abraham h visiting MUs Higginson, «nd Miss Rosaland WhJtsun, frrtm Dunedin. is with Mm. Malcolm Ross. Mrs and Migs Sim arc guests of Mrs. Findluv. Mr., Mrs., and Miw Tewsley. wnn go shortly to Auckland on a virit. arc at the Rove] Oak, Mr. and Mrs. Chvv. Iz.nd a:o living temporarily ct Sussex Chninhtis. 'J lie** latest engagement ia tliat o! Mies Avis Edwin,

youngest daughter of Captain Edwin, H.N.. to Colonel" D'Arcy Chny*or, of Ulenhcim. In an interesting letter from Mrs. Riddiford, eke v writes that her two girls havf/ been placed in a delightful school near Paris. Tho place used to bo owned by the Empress Josephine's family, and the Empress lived there for a time. It is a fine old chateau in a largo park, with avenues of magnificent trees. Thanks are due to the Hon. Mr. Mills for endeavouring — though unsuccessfully —to enlist the sympathy of the Government for tli? overworked house wives who cannot get help. The batch of girls who came by the lonic were eagerly mapped up, anxious-eyed mistresses waiting, it is said, at the very gangway It reminds one of tho good old days in Dunedin when men were many and women scarce, and each shipload of emigrants was welcomed because of the prospsctive wives it contained.' There is n, story of a settler who lived many miles from the port, and who was anxious for a ffifo to share his joys and sorrows. But h(j could not leave, so he wrote to n Dunedin friend to board tho next boat and "pop the question" by proxy to a likely ltass. Tho friend wrote back to eav he had done what his chum asked, but the girls wore all engaged. However, there was one woman with a delicate husband, and if his friend came down, he might stand a good cki'scc in that quarter! Pioneer times — despite their hardships — had their advantages. — I am youis, PRISCILLA.