LADIES' COLUMN. Girls' Gossip.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1908, Page 15

LADIES' COLUMN. Girls' Gossip.

(Contributions to this column addressed "Priscilla" will be -welcomed. They should be concise, and mu&t be signed •with the writer's full name and address, cot far publication, but as a guurante* 01 autheuticity.j Mr Dbab Kxzia— Socially, affairs aro more lively, though, unfortunately, many of the recent entertainments have been tinged with the sadness of farowoll — a sentiment, it is avowed, that wo New Zealanders feel much less keenly than our English cousins. A trip Homo is undertaken by us with the lightest of hearts and a minimum of preparation, ■while few tears aro shed on the wharf a 6 the steamer leaves. Indeed, there are various incentives to quit this particular Dominion, an,d more than one worried housewife has had her' uncertainty clenched by servant worries. In Jfeil Munro's last delightful book, "The Daft Days" — which overy Scotchman and woman ought to read — the fascinating little* American girl who comes down on the quiet little Highland village like a tornado, says "Good girls, Aunt Bell 6ays, aint as easy to get nowadays as they used to be when they had three pound ten in the half year, and nailed; their trunks down to the floor of a new place when they got it, f oi' ' f par they might be bounced." Times aro changed 1 verily. Now it is more likely to bo the distresses who would nail the maid's boxes to retain her all too Meeting ' services. Kate, the Highland'*' maid, in the book, is a delightful character, whoso quaint views on lovers ar6. irresistibly amusing. -What fortunate folk the girl students are to have so comfortable a home as the hostel ! T t is not only comfortable, ip is artistic, and when furnished and filled with busy happy girls, it ought to bo a charming sight. The chivalrous men students — who are not to' be shut out from enjoying the privilege of occasionally mingling with the girls — are furnishing the common rooms, two apartments connected by folding doors. The diningroom is a most picturesque interior, and is to be set out with small lableß instead of the rigid severity of tfte one long beard. The bedrooms, too, are pleasant and bright, and overy detail about the hostel has been thought over and can..d out with 'great cam The wiioie bouse is immeasurably superior to the clasp of boardinghouso ■which the usually slender purse of 'a student permits, and besides mere physical j comfort, there are many other obvious advantages that make it quite easy to Understand why there is a great demand for rooms in the hostel. Jfany preparations are going on to enable tho House to be occupied shortly ; Mrs. Gibb, Miss Holmes, and Mrs. Salmond have all had sewing-bees, and merchants And private people have been most ' generous in contributions. The students themselves, too, are taking jt ! keen interest in the work, and giving (heir labour to hasten its completion. '£he bedrooms will bo furnished with the pimple things the management allows, dnd each student then will add her inihvi&ual touches to her room. The programme of tb.6 variety show at the Theatre Royal is excellent, and quite the sort of thing you, car tako your mother to. There was so much taat-vrap good that it is difficult to particularise, but the marvellous horizontal bar petformers, the sweet-voiced* soprano, the ■banjoist — especially clever in 'his imitation of the church service anfl ' the minis^ .ter^s voice — and the comic '. singer, Mi;. Lloyd, whose- songs wore -considerably Vbttrcr: the MuaJ^evM— se>T^&&lJy good, while the pathos of tbq,ljttle play, "Ragged Jim," appealed , forcibly to many in th© audience. I must confess I liked the Irish policcmar iwhen in '-'.a taerry mood he warbled of his sweet;heart better than when he wast melted by the miseries of the little, waif. His Bmile was decidedly infectious. On Monday., afternoon. Mrs. Alfred Brandon gave on» of her enjoyable teas ior Mrs. and MiasLevin. On Wednesday the Hutt Flower Show attracted a large and appreciate© crowd, many enthusiasts travelling from town to gladden their eyes with the fresh beauty of blossoms and the wholesome comeliness of vegetables Such vegetables ! >> Cucumbers that might, like French loaves, have been »old by tho yard, and Brobclignagiaju cabbages that would serve a large" and htingry family for days. The Hutt hospitality is noted, and the tea provided by the committee was mucb appreciated. Among tho flowers the cactus dahlias and the gloxinias were especially fine. Some pretty irocks were worn,, notably an exquisite blue taffetas, made beautifully, anc* worn with a hat to match, trimmed with long- blue feathers. A distinguished gown was of'green and black etriped tweed, with bindings of braid. A quaintly shaped "hat with a green quill . was worn with this frock. Carter the Magician is many. Most oi his tricks aio quite un fathomable, and were it not for his protestations one could imagine he was in, league with the evil one. Miss Price, 1 too, astonishes with her answers to questions, and at times chows a lively sense of humour, as when she earnestly advised the young aspirant after vocal" fame to continue her practising, and never mind what the neighbours said. Probably ■•she will receive by post many questions as to missing property, for the little blue books went readily. Mr. Cartel's Ameri» can accent and humo'uiv&re *ea cures of a very delightful entertainment. A farewell tea was given on Tuesday by tho two Miss Henrys -at tho Kelburno Kiosk. The tables were dccoratcd with yellow coreopsis. The two hostesses wore pretty grey-blue frocks and rose-wreathed hats. . Some very charming summer twosds were worn, a change from the white linens and muslins that the recont hot weather has made imperative. One girl looked extremely well in a mole-toned cloth, with dainty trimmings of pale blue and silver, and a tricorno blue hat with feathers. The Miss Henrys, who have not long returned from a trip through the North Island, left by the Sydney boat to join the Mooltan. They are to spend a month in Ceylon od the v>ay to England. Major and Mrs. Madocks and their children arc shortly expected from England. Mrs. Hayward's delightful At Home at tho Hutt last week was a notablo e\ent. Over two' hundred invitations were issoad, and crowds of guests came from Wellington. The hostess wore black crepe de chine, with touches of pale green, and a burnt straw hat trimmed with black feathers and pink roses. Miss Hayward was in white siik, and wore a leghorn hat trimmed with floral ribbon. Mrs. Vallance, Mrs. HayWiird's sister from Masterton, wore a lovely white embroidered frock. Tea was set in two rooms, the ono decorated with yellow flowers and ribbons, the other with white cosmos and scarlet autumn leaves. Tho latter was particularly beautiful. A band played on the verandah during the afternoon. There aro to be at least seven weddings, and probably more, next month. The invitations for MiF.s Frances Arthur's marriage with Mr. Tennent have been isDued, the date fixed being the 11th March. Mrs. Young, who has been visiting her mother, Mrs. Howarth, has returned to Sydney. Mrs. Ollivier, fiom

Christchurch, has been slaying with her brother, Dr. Milsoni. Miss Amy Hoggard is back from Blenheim. My. and Sirs. Platts-Mills have returned from their long and delightful trip. Mrs. Cameron, wife of Captain Cameron, is staying with her sister, Mrs. O'Connor. Dr. MacDougall, who has recently come from Tonga, has taken up Dr. Pollen's duties for a short time, and is with Mrs. MacDougall living in Boul-cott-strect. Miss Stoddart passed through Wellington this week, staying a day or two on her way to Pavaparaumu, where she is sketching. Mrs. W. A. Logan, widow of Dr. Logan, returned to New Zealand 'ast week. Mrs. Lusk, from Dunedin, is a guest of Mrs. So 1 % ond. Quite a lengthy list of Wellington people leave for England shortly. Among thorn are Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay, Mr. and Mrs.. W. Allan, Mrs. W. Pharazyn and "Miss Greenwood, Colonel and Mrs. Wood,. aud Miss Flora Brandon Mrs. Knox Gilmer returned from Sydney this week. Mrs. Liehfield has taken Mrs. Waldegrave-'s house, in Pipi-tea-street.—l am, Yours, PRISCILLA. At St. Mark's Church on Wednesday, 12th February, Mr. George H. Sample, of Wellington, was married to Miss Mabel Florence Brightwell, eldebt daughter of W. H. Brightwell, Esq., of Majoribanks-street, the Rev. Mr. Bartlott officiating. Misses Lucy and Amy Brightwell (sisters of the bnde), Doris Hunt, and Elsie Willis were the bridesmaids, Mr. T. Miller acted as best man, and Mr. 0. Brightwell (brother of the bride) as groomsman. A! very pretty wedding was solemnised at Knox Church, Masterton, en Wednesday, 12th February, by the Rev. A. T. Thomson, at 2 p.m., when Miss Grace Miller, daughter of Mr. James Miller, Bannister-street, was married to Mr. John Falloon, eldest son of Mr. Harry Falloon, of Wangauhu. The bride looked charming in white silk; trimmed with lace and true lovers' knots, of Valenciennes insertion,, she also wore the usual veil and orangeblossoms and carried a while shower bouquet. The bridesmaids were Miss Janet Miller and Miss Agnes Hopkirk (cousin of the bride), who wore very dainty dresses of white Bilk muslin trimmed with lace and insertion, and carried shower bouquets cf sweet peas, with pale blue ribbon ctroamers, to which were attached tiny horseshoes. Tho bridegroom \vas attonded by Mr. W. Falloon as best man ,and Mr. Ronald Miller as groomsman. Tha re'coption was held at Knox Hall, about seventy, guests being present. The bride's mother wore a handsome dress of brown silk lustre with toque to match. The bridegroom's mothor wore a charming gown of black silk lustre with hat t& match. The bride and bridegroom were tHo recipients of, a large number of presents. Tho happy couple left by the train, for Queenstown, .where the honeymoon is to be spent. * Thcro was a quiet wedding this werk at St. Mary of tho Angels' Church, Boulcofct-street, when William J. A. M'Ginity, eldest son of tho late John M'Ginity, was united in matrimony to Alice Louisa, third daughter of Thomas and A. Kate M'Ginity. The bride, who was attired in white silk, with veil and orange-blossoms, was given away by' her father, and the bridesmaid was her sister, Miss 'Mabel M'Ginity. Mr. Harold Andrews was basfc main On 19th ,February a very interesting wedding took place at Kaitoke, at tlw tesidenco of the bride's father, when Mr. AxelSvenson was married to Miss M. A. Robinson. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Oecil Smith, of Trentham. The bride, who was given away by her brother, looked very dainty in her " white' silk dress and beautiful white hat. Miss May Robinson made a charming little bridesmaid. Numerous guests sat down to n i sumptuous lunclieon. Mr .and Mrs. Svenson Mt later in the day, en route- for their futuro iiome "Morrison's }Bush, the bride wearing a navy-bluo costume and cream hat.