Women in Print.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 121, 20 November 1908, Page 9

Women in Print.

;|Whcn a woman meets a man half-way, he begins to think it is time lor him to draw

Mrs. Hewitt, wife of the surgeon of the H.M.S. Powerful, and her mother, Mrs. Pinkney, are at the Hotel Windsor. Mrs. Lennard, from Wanganui, is also at the Hotel Windsor. Mrs. R. Levin, ol Palmerston North, is staying at the Grand. Miss Waring, from Temuka, is a guest of Mrs. Salmond. Mrs. Bolirns, nee Miss Hilda Fulton, arrived in Wellington on Wednesday, on her way from Sydney to Dunedin. Miss Prouse arrived from Christchurch yesterday, after a delightful fortnight. Much interest over the coming second j ballots is being taken by Wellington > women. It has ousted summer frockh, and the shortcomings of domestic helpers, and invariably accompanies morning and afternoon tea. Even in the intervals of dealing at bridge, the topic is renewed with unflagging zeal, and if this feeling is sustained, there seems every likelihood of the women's vote beng very large on Tuesday. The dance last night given by Mrs. Beauchamp for the naval officers was an- unqualified success, perhaps the only I crumpled roseleaf being the tempestuous weather that made out-of-door excur- j sions impossible. The rooms wei.3 ' charmingly gay with flowers, roses and •'poppies being used in, large quantities. Mrs. Beauchamp wore silver-grey taffetas, Miss Beauchamp was in white satin made Empire fashion, and Miss Chad's frock was of pale primrose silk. The Countess of Dudley's jewels at the initial entertainment of the GovernorGeneral must have been a revelation, tii Australians. Indeed, the Countess must have looked like a fairy queen,, for her tulle frock was a glittering mass of jewels, and the bodice thickly jewelled. Her coronet, five inches high, was of exquisite rubies set in diamonds, and one of her necklets was of the same stones, while the other necldace and the collar — there could have been little neck visible — was of magnificent diamonds. The whole function was on the most gorgeous scale, marvellous flowers, gold and silver plate, out-of-season delicacies, wonderful frocks, and a newly-created chamberlain, Lord Richard Nevill, in a picturesque dress of ted and blue. This is a new office made by Lord Dudley, and probably amounts to a vice-regal Master of Ceremonies. Two days later came the garden party at Government House — a charming affair in beautiful weather. At this the Countess of Dudley wore fine white muslin, with insertions of deeply-tinted lace and motifs of embroidered lawn. Her large hat of whits chip was wreathed with white camellias and green leaves, and draped with a tinted veil of old lace. The buffets and tables in the ball-room, where refreshments were served, were decorated with irises of yellow and deep blue — Lord Dudley's colours. Here is a man's description of the new Cup frocks, given by an Australian writer : — "Upon my word," he said, "I believe I could have made some of tn« dresses myself ; they just looked like a straight piece wrapped round them, and just two holes cut for the arms ; and for coats they wore things like antimacassars cut down to fit "em." Wellingtoniana who attended the recent Christchurch races have more to say about two Directoire frocks that were worn than about the racing. They were of thinnest satin, one of grey, and one of purple, and worn with no superfluous drapery beneath. Indeed, they clung so tightly that the wearers toddled about the lawn a la chinoise, and mounted stepn with considerable difficulty. The lifting of the long frocks displayed pink silk ankles — aud considerably more. The hat 6 worn were huge, as large as the memor- i able headgear of Sweet Nell, which is supposed by its weight to have injured J her shoulder. Behind o*ie lady, there was nothing to bo seen but a huge cartwheel of purple satin with immense puiple foathers, and an attenuated wisp of swirling satin. The hat almost reached the waist behind. One is glad that Wellington women do hol touch the grotesque in their dressing in this manner. A meeting is being convened by Mrs. Hislop, the Mayoress ? to tako place in the Mayor's room in the Town Hall at three o'clock next Monday. The meeting is being called for the purpose of furthering the interests of a complimentary concert, to be tendered by the musicians of this city to Mr.' Arthur Ballance, who 'nfcends proceeding to England to pursue his musical studies. The concert will take place on 3rd December, for which the best local talent have offered their services. Miss Ruby Smart, daughter of Mr. J. Smart, of Wellington, was married re- ' cently at Port Pirie, South Australia, to Captain R. M. Hern (master of the steamer Greenwich). A curious problem was raised by Bishop Mercer, of Tasmania, in the course of a recent address delivered in Melbourne on politeness and chivalry. After pointing out that true chivalry was the 'deference, the strong pay to the weak, the bishop went on to say that, it did not follow that ma,n should always bow aud bend to women. If he saw a young woman who was much better able | to stand than he, he would not give up I his seat to her. On one occasion he met | a woman who would have been a good match for Tommy Bums. He trembled before her. He feared that in a fair fight he would come off badly, and then he debated the question — "Would ho be justified, in striking her, she being a woman?" The bishop did not say so in as many word?, but the inference of his discourse was that man would be justified in certain circumstances in taking a picket or a clothes prop to such a woman. It's a nice point of ethics, and Melbourne Punch, having considered the matter, has resolved on tho wisest procedure for a man confronted by an angry Amazon with a fist like the hoof of a horse and a decidedly pugilistic disposition. If he is a small man and out of training, his best procedure is due north from tho disturbed -centre at the very smartest gait he can -command. If he is a large; man he should instantly climb a telegraph post, or a tram chimnej , any elevated object up which the lady cannot follow him. and he should remain there in suspense till the" trouble has blown over and the female Tommy Burns has retired to the bosom of her family. Biehop 'Mercer must admit in his wiser, cooler moments that it is fortunate he did not hit that powerful female. There were many years of usefulness before him, and it would have hurt us all to see so useful a career terminated suddenly and in so ignominious a manner. Besides, had ho smitten the lady, he would probably havo put her in the position of having to defend a charge of manslaughter, and iio gentleman would so seriously inconvenience a member of the

"A Provincial Man," writing in World Wide on the great London suffjagist procession, says : — "The procession knew its little tragedies. In front of me, on the further side, suddenly a young man_ sprang forward from the crowd, and tore a" smiling girl from the ranks ! The man, so her companion said, was the girHs fiance, who, enraged at hei- participation, after his vain protestations, had thus successfully lain in wait. Good things were said in the ranks, but not for the ear of the crowd. Thus, a provincial leader kept instructing her little band of working women from the North, in this wise : "Look over there, Mrs. Greig, those are the Piccadilly clubs, and there is the enemy !' 'It's a funny thing, isn't it, that the men in the clubs have all bald heads ; it isn't through too much work, I reckon.' And, looking up at the windows of clubland, sure enough, they were blocked with bald pates, bald j heads with white whiskers, white heads with bald crowns, venerable heads of shining ivory, the egg-shaped craniums, and broad shining domes of masculine intelligence, all gathered from the postprandial armchair to ponder the spectacle of an earl's daughter leading ten thousand of her sex, and nigh all the distinguished women of the day, marching under seventy flying banners, one of which was symbolically broidered with the device of white doves in flight bearing the legend 'Upwards and Onwards.' I have been in many large mass meefc ings, but I have never seen gathered together so great a number of intelligent faces as passed from the ranks into the Albert Hall." Of the young daughters of the Countess of Dudley <an .Australian lady writes : — "And what a lesson to the mothers of growing daughters are her girls, who really are children, and not little precocious, blase women. Compare their white washing frocks and coloured sashes, they.' simple hats and .plainly dressed hair, with their counterparts in women's corsets and fashionable frocks, with their padded, beribboned hair and Louis heels, and mark the difference ! The growing girl will perhaps cease to be a figurehead at race meetings and problem plays, and the young people's balls will be replaced by children's parties now that mothers have an example before them of what gentlepeople's children are supposed to be." It is astonishing, when one comes to think of it, how such fifth-rate American manners for the young should have prevailed as they have in Melbourne. The customs of vulgarians who knew not better were queer ones for us to copy. For quite a long time now the custom has prevailed of judging women by their clothes, and many a one has come to the fore through her fine wearing apparel, and even, girls have come to think too much about their clothes and too little about anything else. They are worn out. with trying always to get two hats for the price of one. Miss Ada Crossley is said to be 'doing much towards making Marion Alsop's songs popular. An Australian critic is of opinion that her charming little songs are the outcome of a gentle musical mind untainted by the schools, but brimming with something to say — something, when said, exquisitely said. Ada Crossley has marked off "the dedication" for her special own; has, as a queen of song, "commanded" a setting to Henley's touching lyric, "Sun and Stars," and what- else the fair writer may pen. The ' deep, rich-throated Australian songster has promised her talented art sister song-wi-iter that London shall ere long Know much more of Marion Alsop. The birth of a seventh little girl to the Countess, of Normanton recalls the fact to one writer that many great families commence with a succession of daughters. The Empress^ of Russia had four daughters before the Czarevitch made his welcome appearance in 1904 ; and the Queen of Italy had several girls before the Prince of Piedmont arrived on tho scene, also in 1904. Then here at home theie are several similar instances. The Duchess ot Leeds' four daughters preceded the birth of tha Marqueas ot Carmarthen in 1901. The Carrington had five girls before the advent of Viscount Wendover in 1895; and Viscountess Chel&ea has fivo daughters <vho aro older than the Hon. Edward, Cadogan, who is a godson of King Edward and ultimate heir to the Earldom of Csftogan. Countess Fitzwilliam lias four daughters and, as yet, no son. The most notable society wedding is that of Lord Villiers, the eldest son of Earl Jersey, An exchange states that all the bndeV> lingerie has been made by the nuns in an Irish convent. Her gown 4s to h& quite- a simple one of white satin, but the bridal veil is rarely lovely. It is over a hundred years old, and an heirloom of the Jersey famiry. It was worn by Sarah Countess of Jersey at her wedding in' lßo4. Eight little .gii'ls in white muslin frocks and mob caps copied from a picture of the same. Sarah Countess of Jersey, are to follow the bride. The wedding presents are something gorgeous. Such an exquisite collection of diamonds has not been seen at a London society wedding for some time. The. bride's parents (Lord and Lady Kilmovey), have given the bride a diamond tiara, diamond ring, diamond cravatte, diamond and turquoise ring ; from tho bridegroom's parents a diamond necklace, diamond brooch, and all tho plat*. Prince and Princess Alexis Dolgorovki, Earl and Countess of Dudley, Princess Hatzfeldt, Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, the Rothschilds, and the Sassoons have all sent priceless gifts. It has been most unfortunate, 'says the writer, that Lord Kilmorey's eldest son, Lord Newry, who became engaged tjo Mips Assheton Smith in August, should on the eve of Jiis sister's marriage break off his engagement. Most awkward for all concerned. _ A Sydney lady, writing to a Melbourne journal, states that the matrimonial epidemic has raged now for many months in Sydney, and there is no apparent sign of things altei-mg 1 in that respect. Last month saw a large number of brides, and from all accounts there will be just as many during the next few weeks. It is rather striking that in nearly every case the bridegrooms come from other lands. She heard someone remarking the other day on the fact that there are very few inter-State marriages, and was struck with the truth of the remark. Sydney men aud girls seem to marry next-door neighbours, or else go to other lands for their life- partmus. Very rarely, indeed, do they make inter-State alliances.