KING'S JUBILEE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 111, 13 May 1935, Page 15

KING'S JUBILEE

JOYOUS CHILDREN

GOVERNMENT HOUSE PARTY

"What a wonderful party!" was the general remark made by the mothers of the five hundred children who assembled at Government House on Saturday afternoon in response to an invitation from their Excellencies the Governor-General and. Viscountess Galway to celebrate the Jubilee of their Majesties the King and. Queen. And it was indeed a wonderful party —several hours of perfect enjoyment, when nothing was lacking that could give pleasure to both children and mothers.

The arrival scene was a most charming one. Their Excellencies were near the entrance doors of the ballroom, which was brightly decorated, and arranged with flowers and palms and foliage plants, Lady Galway wearing a .frock of white satin patterned in deep blue, withjelbow sleeve and a Vcitt corsage .clasped with.a diamond brooch.' She wore a posy of flanietintecj gladioli and roses. The ydtihg guests had been properly instructed with regard to bows and curtsies, and iit was delightful to see the very little ones, taiiylike ~in their dainty frocks of white, cream, blue, pink, and other tones, as, with eyes bright with excitement, they remembered their5 manners J whenthey-were received; The charm

and sense of the present styles for children were well exemplified,, for both big and little: girls were; .tastefully frocked, and the same might be said of the boys;- for both school uniforms and the soft silk shirt.blouses and abbreviated ; "pants" of the small boys all- looked well., '.. . ' Their Excellencies'.' daughters welcomed the guest with .their parents, and the Hons. Mary, Celia, and, Isabel •Were in dainty frocks of ciel blue .'s:6ftsatin, with: puffed sleeves,.-parchment tinted, lace collars,, the frpcks: being made in high-waisted mode with full skirts. The Hon. Simon' MoncktonArundel wore a white satin suit, and with his sisters bore a'happy part in entertaining the many guests. . Their Excellencies, with their house party and staff, all were splendid: entertainers, and saw that, there was "not an unoccupied moment, one : deUght..following the other - all the. timei Maj or rand;Mrs'. Purvis were there, the latter in >a'charniing suit of rust brown crepe; "Miss -Madeline : Watts, rin navy blue, with a collar scarf of red and blue, and ljer sister in flame pink^ frock; .Captain.Hebet'-Percy, who was here; ther6, and everywhere, and did special .service- ; with : .the megaphone announcing .the different Items, and directions, and Sir Standish O'Grady Roche also bore -a* fine'part; in' the -r afternoon's ■6itertainmenfc With ' so ""■• ijeiny good assistants,' Imd'a ;wbhderfui programihe, it Was no wonder the young ones WeSre so perfectly.happy..., : :\, "• / ~ '..''. :. The orchestra players were in pantomime costume, and while the dancing was gjping oh, one'of the number was able to lead Jthev.youhg: guests in community singing, and -it was wonderful to see-how many managed -to prance found; with iihmiense 'energy, and yet sing "at,top" at the same,timet. A WONDERFUIi TEA. . . How the. arrangements were - made: to seat so many children at one and .the same time: was a marvel to the onlookers.: The dining-room, billiard room, vestibule, and corridor were arranged, with long slim tables and hundreds of chairs,-so ■that the young ones were all able to have tea together—and such' a tea, decorated cakes of the most entrancing designs, dainty savouries (such as the modern child loves), tea, milk, and cool drinks of manjvkinds were all appreciated, while a crowning joy was a large bonbon set for each, making Yguessing competitions" as to what could possibly be inside them. The mystery was solved when the young ones turned up again in the ballroom with the gayest paper caps, adding colour to an already colourful .scene. • While the children had their, tea the mothers had theirs in the loggia, which was set with excellent tea and cakes, as well as cool drinks and savoury accompaniments. This was a very pleasant arrangement, for not only could the "inner woman" be refreshed, but it was an opportunity for a happy talk over the party, its many pleasures, and the children. VENTRILOQUISM AND CONJURING. The children were collected In front of the dais,.the tiny ones iri the front, sitting on the weltcarpeted floor, with the bigger ones similarly placed behind them. Then came Mr. C. H. Burridge and "Sam," who held a quaint dialogue, the.rolling eyes and,merry smiles of "Sam" being most intriguing, and causing shrieks of mirth. Mr. Sproule, a-"magician," then held the rapt attention of all, and it was a wonderful study in expression to watch .the young faces. The older boys and girls quite critical, but immensely attentive, and the small ones. happily mystified, watching the appearance and/ disappearance of coins, etc., and hoping that they would be able .to find out "how to do it." An amusing time was when the. conjurer asked them to "blow" and a number of small rosy lips were charmingly pursed up all ready to be the selected one to do the

trick. As this interest grew they encroached nearer and nearer on the dais, till it looked as if the performer would be overwhelmed with attentions. Punch and Judy, manipulated by Charlie the Clown," was the next attraction, and, as ever, caused interest and amusement. SOME CHARMING GIFTS. The next act was the distribution of nuge balloons and caps, a most enjoyable item, well managed because the orchestra played a march and the guests came by in single file, and each received a very special balloon (large and of ( new and unusual designs), and dainty gifts accompanying suited to both boys or girls. When these had been distributed silence was called for and his Excellency, in a few impressive words, brought before the young guests the occasion of the party, the Jubilee of the King. "We wish him health* wealth, and happiness," he said, and then added: "Good luck to you'all. We are very glad to see you. here." A JOYOUS JAMBOREE. Then came a really joyous jamboree, dancing was resumed, streamers were handed.round, .and the scene was simply a kaleidoscope of colour, the young ones with brilliant balloons, bright streamers, squeakers and other "instruments of noise" enjoying themselves" at the top of their form. Youngsters were wound into cocoons of streamers, laughter • echoed everywhere; even the orchestra did not escape, but the members had to produce musical sounds asv best they might when wound into a coloured mass of streamers. ■ '

When everyone was fairly exhausted

with .laughter, dancing, and the ■carnival spirit,- were an'nqunced, making a conclusion to a; marvellous party that went without a hitch of any kind, .-. making ■ certain: that the joyous crowd of children who were so splendidly entertained at .Government House would never forget the Jubilee: of King George aifd. Queen Mary, The pleasure .ol the mothers, was just as ; great, and; it needed little, imagination tq realise that the fatherswould share in"'the joy ol it all when excited sons and daughters rushed home to tell all about a really; wonderful- party, rahd .the thanks to their Excellencies1 and their' helpers were voiced, from one and alii: ■'■•..' - ;