WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1909, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT.

A wonmn'3 sinsu iv humour is in her husband* name. —Mr. Doolcy.

A farewell dinner, for her sister, Miss Nesbit, was given at the Royal Oak last night by -Mrs. I. A. Pike. The table was exquisitely arranged. The large silver centre-piece of irises, yellow and deep purple, lightened by fairy-delicate maiden-hair, freesiasj and the brilliant red and yellow leaves of the giant berberis, was connected with smaller silver vases, filled with freesias, maiden-hair, and immense long-stemmed violets. Each flower and spray was perfect and in its fitting place, and the whole was a triumph of decoration. All the arrangements were charming, even the menu-cards having "Haere ra, farewell," on them, and in the placecards a wreath of pansies "for remembrance," encircled the name of the euest. Into each table-napkin was tucked flowers, a large breast-knot for the ladies, a boutonniere for the men, and these were of rare orchids, violets, roses f and freesias. Some of the lovely flowers that decorated the table were sent later to Miss Ruth Lincoln, who carried them in the final scene 01 the last act of "The Belle of Mayfair." Mrs. Pike wore a very handsome black silk and lace frock, with delicate embroideries in pale rose and blue on the bodice. Miss Nesbit's beautiful black frock was of silk with insertions of fine black lace, and Miss Dorothy Xesbit wore a dainty blue gauze with crystal and silver embroideries. It was altogether a delightful dinner, and afterwards the guests went on to the first performance of "The Belle of Mayfair." Another large dinner-party, which included Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Arthur Duncan, Mis. Elgar, the Misses Bell, and Mrs. Harold Johnston was also given at the Royal Oak yesterday evening. "The Belle of Mayfair" is notable for its wonderful frocks. I heard one man remark, as, in the drawing-room scene the several gowns paced in front of the footlights, "Well, they've got to the bottom of the box this time all right!" And, surely there is nothing left to show us. A marked characteristic of this company is not only the freshness of its costumes, but the richness of the .materials of which they are composed. The two gowns worn' by Miss Puith Lincoln are each lovely. Her afternoon frock is of blush-rose ninon, all elaborately embroidered in silk of the same tone, the design forming a beautiful front panel arid being carried all round the foot of the skirt, and the bodice being suggestive of a little bolero over a chiffon guimpe, gold tassels, and touches of gold appearing among the laces. Glimpses of a lace petticoat, with wide pink satin ribbon arranged in Vandykes confining the filmy flounces, were gained as she danced. Her balldress was of ivory brocade, with a court train and a petticoat, over which the skirt opened, of gold-embroidered net, this also forming the bodice draperies and the sleeves. As the fronts turned back, peeps of pale blue were seen, and pale blue velvet decorated the hem. Miss Orford's loveliest gown was in the ballroom scene. The bodice was of rosepainted satin and gold-spangled gauze and lace, the foot of Ihe skirt being strewn with large pink roses on lace. So beautiful was the cut that the satin appeared to blend into the gauze and lace with no visible break, and the swing of tho soft glittering folds was a matter to be sighed over by the ama"teur dressmaker. Julia was charming in soft white ninoli, and the quaintest lampshade hat of shirred chiffon, with long blue ribbons falling from a. bow at the back. Pretty, too, was her graceful gold-powdered net frock, with its' deepshaped hem of f lace silk. \ But, besides these, there were a dozen frocks that were notably beautiful : a painted muslin afternoon gown, with piquant touches of black aud a picturesque black hat; a copper-sequinned tulle, with bronze tulle sleeves and tucker, worn with a daring emerald greon plume and bandeau; a mouse-coloured tulle, with appliques of narrow black lace, the head-dress being a flame-coloured floating aigrette j a deep-blue sequinned frock, a grey-mauve chitfon velvet, a white satin, withgieat hand-paint«d ping roses, and the wonderful velvet gowns .of the five Gibson Girls. The quaint Early Victorian costumes, complete even to crinolines, and lace-frilled pantalettes, were greeted with much enthusiastic appreciation, and Miss Ruth Lincoln, in her flowered gown and coal-scuttle bonnet, witn its row of tiny roses inside the brim, looked captivating enough to. turn the heads of all the beaux. A pleasant girls' tea was given by Jlrs. Luke yesterday. Spring flowers wer.e set about the rooms, and yellow narcissi decked the tea-tables. Music was contributed by Mrs. Luke, Miss M'Lean, and Miss Waterhouse, and re citations by Miss Bessie Luke, Miss Winder, and Miss Elsie Macdonald. Mrs. Luke wore bronze silk, with velvet buttons and cream lace, and Miss Luke was in a cream lace blouse and a dark skirt. The Hon. Mr. Scotland, M.L.0., and Mrs. Scotland, from Auckland, are staying at the Occidental Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Barnicoat, of Wangauui, are on a visit to Wellington, ana hi'c also at the Occidental Hotel. Mrs. Vt'adley was the hostess at tho Huia Progressive Etichre Club's last meeting, when the members spent a pleasant evening. The play was close, no fewer than five couples storing 8 out of a possible 12 points. After supper songs were sung by Mesdames Fincham, Miller, and Wadley; Miss Guessier and Mr. Guessier. The members of Miss Mason's dancing classes assembled last evening for the mid-season dance, on which occasion both evening and fancy dress were • worn. Amongst the latter the most effective were "Nocturne," "Evening Post," "Bluebeard's Wife," "Spanish Dancing Uirl," and "Harvest." A flashlight photograph of the scene was taken. Supper was served in tha marquee..

Dr. Platts-Mills has returned after a long and anxious tjmo in Port Chalmers, where her brother, Air. IMatts, was very ill. lie is now better, and with his wile is going away for a change. LONDON ITEMS. [FROM OUR OY^N CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, 4th June. It is announced that a marriage has been arranged between Hermann Nathaniel Bowden-Smith, eldest son of the Rev. P., H. Bowden-Smith, of Careys Brockenhurst, and Florence Blanche Dormer, daughter of the late William Lancaster Lucena, of Wairarapa, Wellington, New Zealand. Miss Amy Castles has had to refuse a number of good offers on this side of the world, as s-he has made arrangements to start on a concert tour of An.stialia. She will leave London in about live weeks time. Her recent tour on the Continent was ft grent success, and during its progress Miss Castles had the opportunity of meeting many wellknown lights in the world of munc. She says that while in Berlin a world-re-nowned conductor spoke to her in terms of the highest admiration of the befit Australian voices, saying that they possessed a clearness and fulness of tone unequalled in any other nation. The engagement is announced of Miss Amy Oatway, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 6. H. Oatway, formerly of Dunedin, New Zealand, to Mr. P. F. Purcell, M.A., Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, son of Captain and Mrs. Purcell, of Dublin. New Zealand readers will be interested in ,1 wedding \rhick took place on the 2nd inst. at St. Stephen's Church, Avenue-road, North-west London. The bridegroom wns Captain Donald William M'Pherson, 62nd Punjabs, eldest son of the late Mr. D. W. M'Pherson. of Cairo and Deputy Accountant-General, Simla ; the bride was Sybil Webb, youngest daughter of the late Mr. diaries John Webb and of Mrs. Webb of Alresford Lqdge, Elsworthy-road, London. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. W. E. Palmer Bath, M.A.