WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1908, Page 7

WOMEN IN PRINT.

Miss Mandl, from Westport, is staying at the Royal Oak. Mr?. Bean, of Christchurch. is a guest of her mother, Mrs. Secldon. Mrs. Lewis, wife of Mr. Chas. Lewis, M.P. for Courtenay, arrived from Hawkes Bay last night. She is staying at Mrs. Cruickshank's. Miss Stevens, from Nelson, is staying with Mrs. Napier M'Lean. Mrs. Chas. Salmond is a guest of Mrs. John Salmond, of Kelburne. Miss Gibbs, who on her previous visits to Wellington made many friends, is again a guest of Mrs. Birkett, on Thorn- ; don-quay. She goes South on Tuesday to visit her friends in Dunedin, but ywill return to Wellington before she leaves for England. Mrs. Rutherford gave another of , he* delightful morning teas yesterday in' the large drawingroom of the Royal Oak. It was given mainly for her daughter, Mrs. Robinson, of Cheviot, who is at present in Wellington. Tho room was perfumed with beautiful spring flower*, anemones, freesias, narcissi, exquisitely arranged with the bronze foliage of the birch. Charming music was contributed by some of the guests, Mrs. Ben Wilson, Mrs. Andrew Anderson, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Malcolm Ross, and Miss Lily Hislop all giving items. Some clever amateur fortune-tellers were in .great request, and their prophecies listened to with attention. Among those present wetje Mrs. Bean, «nd Miss Mandl. } The "southerly buster" made Mrs. Miles' At Home all the more delightful for those who braved the rain and tho wind and the streaming streets. Flowers, spring blos6oms, scented and deli-cate-coloured, were set everywhere, and the tea table was charmingly arranged. It was centred by a large olimsonshaded bronze electrolier of beautiful workmanship and design. This was surrounded by red-shaded tinged electric candles, and on the damask was laid a wreath of delicately-painted gauze roses, leaves, and virginia-creeper foliage, and vases of anemones and violets. In the drawing-room, where, as in tho diningroom, the fine pictures are a most interesting feature, primroses and violets were arranged. The hostess wore a lovely "own 'of sapphire velvet, and bodico draped with rich lace, crossed by tiny velvet bands. Miss Miles' charming frock of pink ninon was most becoming. Miss Bertha wore J S, pale blue skirt and a beautiful blouse of Brussels net with broad insertion and bands of turquoise blue velvet, and ■JMiss Hilda's dainty frock was of white lace and muslin. I am not sure where tho little village of Ecaussines Lalaing is, but it is quite certain that in some of its customs ,it is decidedly in advance of largo cities. There an annual fete is given by tho marriageable girls, and bachelors come from far and near.' They are heartily welcomed, mar«hed through gaily-de-corated streets, shown the sights, fed sumptuously — the menu savoury and simple is prepared by the damsels aforesaid — and then addressed by the president of the Spinster b' Society on the joys of matrimony. The proceedings conclude with a ball, and by the time the equivalent to our "God Savo the King" is played, quite a number of gifls have paired off for life. Five thousand bachelors attended the last fete. Why should not our paternal Government, that delights in looking after us whether wo want it or not, carry out such ' a scheme as this ? There must be many marriageable young men who arc too busy too spend time a-conrting, and to -\vhom such an idea, including a pleasant trip to town, would appeal strongly. It might hare been combined most successfully with the ' FleeC festivities. Apropos of Fleet, the Admiral, etern as he looks to tho casual observer, has a quaint wit of humour. Some one was admiring- the immense punch-bowl — • over- a yard in diameter — presented to the ship by the State it was called after. "Wai, they say it's a punchbowl," he said in his delightful drawl; "I call it a baby-washing machine my self !" *■ There is much demand fo> unpublished details of the Fleet festivities, and the talk at the various teas has had a decidedly American flavour. Comments and descriptions of the officers are eagerly listened to, and regrets freeljl expressed that tho audienco was not present. As one charming woman remarked, "If they made such a fuss with the lot we sent up, what would they have done had we gone to Auckland? At St. Peter's Church on Wednesday afternoon the marriage took place of Mr. Claude Thomas Jupp, son of Mr. W. Jupp, and Miss Mary Murphy, daughter of Mr. Murphy, of Adelaide road. The bridesmaids were the Misses Lydia, Jane, and Olive Murphy, sisters of the bride, and a little cousin, Miss Maisie Smith. Mr. W. Jupp, brother of the bridegroom, was best man, and Mr Walker was groomsman. A dance was held in the evening in the Victoria Hall, at which over three hundred guests ' wero present. ' A marble clock has been presented to the bridegroom by the members of Jupp's Band.