FEMININE FANCIES.

Evening Star, Issue 8118, 18 January 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

FEMININE FANCIES.

I went to see ' Mamma' at the Princess's Theatre the other evening, and went home quite hoarse from laughing. It is intensely amusing, and goes with such verve that I was delighted. In the first piece Miss Bronton looked well in it in a handsome gown of white silk brocaded with pink, a panel of bead embroidery on one side, and on the other of green velvet. Green velvet also trimmed the bodice, and formed drapery and long sash ends, terminating in large "pomponp." In ' Mamma' Miss Nellie Taylor wore a great variety of costumes, and must be very expeditious in getting into them. Her appearance in ballet costume was killingshort white tulle skirts with a wreath of flowers aoross, white satin tight-fitting low bodice, pink silk tights, etc. Her acting, as usual, was splendid, and when called before the curtain after each act she was received with mingled cheers and groans, showing how well she depicted the disagreeable, dictatorial mother-in-law. Miss Lee's costumes are a miracle in the way of fit. I never saw better, and both she and Miss Secoombe have some very pretty frocks. I suppose I am fond of grey, for those are the dresse3 I picked out as the prettiest. Miss Seccombe's was soft and flowing, with white panel and vest, and with the daintiest of little capes. Miss Lees wore a plain tightfitting over-dress gracefully draped over a petticoat of dark blue velvet.

Before finishing I must go to quite a different subject and speak of the pretty flower Eorvice held at St. Peter's, Caversham, last Sunday afternoon. It was for children, and they all took bunches of flowers, which they gave to two choir boys who stood near the altar for the purpose. They carried them to the clergyman (the Rev. F. E. Watson), who piled them on the communion table. The service consisted chiefly of hymns—those appropriate to children and to helping the sick and afflicted being chosen. On the Monday morning some of the children went with Mr Watson to give them to the inmates of the hospital. The fancy dress ball at Government House on Tuesday night was just about aa charming a one as we could have. The rooms were well filkd, but not overcrowded, and owing to the stillness of the night the sides of the marquee could be lifted in places to admit currents of fresh air, Although I am a non-dancer I didn't find it the least cold, so should think all were satisfied with the temperature. I will not waste time, though, in preliminaries, but at once begin upon the dresses, as I know that is what my readers will look for. If I wrote anything else you would all skip it, I feel sure, so as to get to the part that interests you. To begin with the Government House party. Lady Onslow was dressed after a portrait of Dame Elizabeth Onslow, painted by Vandyck in 1639. Her gown was of thick, soft, white silk, trimmed on both bodice and skirt with old Venetiau point, a slight opening down the front of the latter revealing a glimpse of an underskirtof pink velvet embroidered in seed pearl. The delicate point lace (which Her Ladyship told me had belonged to an ancestress) formed, too, a semi-transparent collar, standing up high at the baok of the low body, and her ornaments were sapphires and diamonds. Lord Cranley and his sisters were dressed, too, after family portraits—he in white satin and lace; Lady Gwendoline in pale-blue satin, with falling collar and front of lace; little Lady Dorothy having one in white, with a quaint little cap of the same embroidered with pearls. They all looked as if they had just stepped out of a picture like the characters in the old play. Lord Onslow wore his deputy-lieutenant's uniform, and Lord Carrington a hunting coat, with the buttons of the hunt he belonged to at Home, and which lam stupid enough to have forgotten. The aides and secretaries were in different uniforms, and Mr Garland was in the cool garb of a cook, as was one of the guests; but 1 don't think either carried the • cordon bleu. Miss Constable was a German peasant, and Miss Harrison a Puritan. Mary Queen of Scots was represented as usual, but the character that seemed most popular was the one worn by Mr 3 Wilmot (Horton), of whom Byron said :

She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry akie3—

there being at least half x dozen nights. A Snowy Night was pretty, too, with soft plumy flakes showered over black tulle ; and a Scowy Day was also to be seen trying to warm itself with the Highland schottische. 4propoH of anything Highland, one of the beat dresses was a Highland one worn by a lady, and carried out admirably, being most becoming to he-, There were three Diana Vernons, who looked extremely well. One wore dark blue, with white plumes in her large hat; another a soft green velvet and hat cocked on one side on the top of a pile of powdered curls (each had her hunting horn and all complete); a third chose scarlet for her habit. " Ride a-cock-horse" looked somewhat like the gay Di', until one noticed the rings on her fingers and the sound of bells. Another sporting woman was Lady Gay Spanker, in neat, workmanlike costume, which was particularly appropriate, as her husband was in "pink." They did not commit the anachronism another pair were guilty of where the lady was dressed as the unhappy Marie Antoinette, while her husband was just 100 years in advance of her, in a uniform of the present day. A well-matched pair were a Turkish lady and her husband, a Turk. From the jovial way he went through a set of lancers I am sure he was one in dress only, and could not be called "a Turk" in another sense. Another lady was dressed in this effective style, but her companion was in British uniform. There were many Oriental costumes, and one or two charming Gipsies, who would have made a small fortune had they asked their partners to cross their palms and have theirs toW. A mighty warrior waß one of Hodgson's Horse, and one wondered not at their renown when looking at him. A tender butterfly with pale, golden colored, glittering wings, and softly flowing draperies of yellow and white, came in with a holy friar all in white. A Bedouin Chief escorted one of the Di'Vernon? hisswarthjr face and arms setoff by his white burnous. Sir Galahad was resplendent in coat of mail and burnished head-piece, and a good Knight Templar in chain armor and vizor showed the red oross on his white cloak. An Italian fisherman, with a touch of the brigand about him, was alarming with his dark face and fierce looks, in a loose easy dress of red, blue, and white. I am puzzled still to know how he kept his smprt earrings on, as he assured me he had not had his ears pierced for the occasion. I talked With a stately lady of Elizabeth's time, with high-standing lace ruff and handsome silken robes with much ' pearl embroidery and fine lacs. There was a splendid •'Arry \n checked suit and billycock hat. One of our O Jd f r iendo, the "London Scottish,'' was to be sepn Syjth kilt and plaid and the blackcock plume in his bonnet. Two or three in tennis or cricketing dress looked cool and comfortable. A young girl looked charming in Grecian dress, which suited her fresh looks « merveillc. A very good costume was a gentleman of olden time, He wore dark velvet coat and knee breeches, silk stockings, and shoes with buckles, with ruffles at his neck and wrists, and a powdered wig. His wife was Winter) with holly and robins on her black gown, all glittering with hoar frost. There were two Ophelias, and, I think, a mermaid, from the shells and seaweed she had about her. Poor Robinson Crusoe looked splendid on his first entrance, but dancing is hot work, and he soon took off those portions of his costume he could dispeasewith, for fur is hardly suited to take exercise in'on a summer night. There were smart cavaliers' in trunk 'h.6se, slashed doublets, and plumed hats; and mapy "«f sweet girl graduates'' (one in scarlet gown and "mortar board," was, J believe, a Mus. Doc), Barristers, M.A.s, and B.A.a too were in goodly numbers. One learned Judge had a strangely youthful face, while his father was in cour|; dress ; and was accompanied by a smart little JBlsie, out of ' The yeomen of the Guard,' in a black velvet bodice, with white chemisette and skirts covered with gay streamers and a red.and.gold cap. PJorenoe Nightingale danced away merrily in her black gown, bibbed apron, and lace cap, with the red cross on her arm. There were several of the " four-and-twenty lovesick maidens," but. they bore out their characters in dress only and not in sad Jooka.

The number of those in jwiulrte toilettes was legion, as it was an easily-contrived costume for visitors lately arrived, and unprepared for fancy dress, Three Melbourne women appeared in this style, one wearing an exquisitely-made pink gown, and fine diamonds. They certainly understood how to apply both the powder and patches, and looked very well. A Sydney visitor, too, wore powder and a handsome black velvet gown, opening over striped black and white silk at the front and sides. A most delicious costume was that of Aunt Penelope, a black satin gown, with low body and the waist almost under the arm-pits, puffed sleeves, and the hair arranged in three stiff curls on each side. With her came two maidens, one poudre'e and wearing the Zetland spots, the other as an Italian peasant. A very placable looking bandit, whose calling we should not have guessed from his amiable looks, had he not had pistols stuck in his belt, had a high-crowned hat with gay ribbons and velvet short jacket, bright scarf round his waist, etc., etc. His wife was dressed in softly flowing Grecian draperies. Another soft white dress was worn by a Druidess> who had a chaplet of oak leaves on her flowing hair. Quite a novel idea was the representation of "Mrs Allen's hair restorer," which was printed on a bandeau on the head of a lady with a splendid chevelure. Her dress was pink and Grecianlooking. "The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition " was a cleverly-conceived and cairied-out character. The wearer had coat and trousers of white cloth, with sketches of the Exhibition upon it, on his back being printed in large letters " Please come and see the ," and below a picture of the Exhibition, while his head-piece was a good imitation of the dome with flags stuck over it. Talking of flags, they formed two pretty costumes, one young lady being dressed as a " Union Jack," having these colors draped on her white gown; another was "An Arabian Flag," its crimson draperies being held with a gold crescent and star. Her sister was a dainty piece of Pink Dresden China. This delicate ware was represented too by another pair of sisters. A young Chinaman, admirably got up, had his sister with him as a nun. A stately "White Queen" wore her crown and robes with much dignity ; while a merry little Newhaven fishwife did not seem at all troubled at having to carry an empty creel at her back. She had a twin sister in Swiss peasant dress, with silver ornaments on her black velvet bodice and short bright skirts. Two men appeared as negatives, with white coat, trousers, and waistcoat, and black shirts and gloves. One of them brought a tall Galatea with him. I was pleased to see the old Fiji dinner dress again, which Sir Arthur Gordon and his staff used always to wear when he was chez lid — i.e., white shirt and tie, black trousers, and a bright colored silk band wound round the waist. Another cool costume was a white mess uniform. There were three jack tars, but only one of them seems to have known that a moustache can only be worn where the is not used at all, and having a shaven chin, he sacrificed his for the time being. A cavalry sergeant lookedspruce, and danced diligently all the evening. A great many men wore the Windsor uniform. Several had white or blue silk facings, and two or three court or levcie dress. There was a Kate Greenaway girl, and a young Diana the huntress; and I really think I have now exhausted all the characters I can remember—amongst so many it is impossible to note all.

I can give no idea of the gay scene there was when all these figures—smart, pretty, grotesque, martial, etc., etc.—were all "on the move" about the prettily-decorated dancing room, looking like the ever-shifting colors of a kaleidoscope. It is the first thing of the kind I ever was at, and far exceeded my expectations. Martiia.