FEMININE FANCIES.

Evening Star, Issue 8267, 12 July 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

FEMININE FANCIES.

" There be two Marthas in the field," it j appears, and my namesake must be laughing in her sleeve at the indignation she has inadvertently brought down upon my innocent head. Being innocent, I bore it with equanimity : indeed, my chief feeling was one of gratification at finding I am so much read, and that my opinions are considered of sufficient importance to need the refutations that appeared in last Saturday's supplement. To tell the truth, the question of a servants' union is one that has not interested mo much hitherto. In the first place I don't see how it could be made to work, and in the second I can't see that it is required. It might be a good thing for the bad servants, but surely it would be just the opposite for the good ones, as they are always sure of a place, and (to take a purely selfish view of the matter) would simply be paying their subscriptions to the union for the maintenance of the bad ones who are constantly cut of one. As the supply scarcely equals the demand, the emplo3'ee3 In this case seem to have the power, not the employers. Of course there are bad mistresses just as there are bad servants, but I hope not many so inhuman as to work anyone from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., as "Martha" the second declares. As a rule women are more merciful, and if not from feelings of humanity, will in their own self-interest treat their maids with consideration if they want to be well served, or. indeed, served at all. 1 hope and think that my Abigail give a me her services, not only for the sake of the wages she receives, but from a feeling of interest iu me and my household, and in return for the comfortable home I try to make for her and the interest 1 take in her welfare. I have little experience in servant as a whole, for my modest establishment requires but. one, and I have never changed that one, sh,? having been with me for years. I am afraid I cannot oblige " Cook, Housemaid, and Tablemaid " by refusing all invitations to parties, and prevailing on my friends to do likewise ; and I believe the trio would be amongst the first to complain of the monotony of life without any change, even though it does entail some extra trouble; nor can I organise a union as " Domestic" suggests, seeing, I think, it would be against the interests of both mistress and maid. Now that " City Wife " sees I am not the authoress of the letter that was signed by my nom (Ik plume, I hope she will again invite me to her house, though amongst the many kind people who have entertained me in hospitable Dunedin I cannot tell which of my many friends she is.

The bad weather last week was againsr, the bazaar in St. Andrew's Hall and the sale of work iu All Saints' schoolroom. Nevertheless, the friends of each church in which they were in aid rallied round, besides many others, and the pretty things displayed were appreciated. As usual, the refreshment and " sweety" stallß did perhaps tlie briskest trade.

The large downstairs room atthe Y.M.C.A. was quite transformed on Tuesday last with its pretty decorations of liberty muslin draperies, Japanese umbrellas, lanterns, etc. A Christmas tree was couspicuouh near the entrance, and some unusually pretty standard brackets stood out prominently. The6e were in the form of two short light ladders, forming an inverted V, with two shelves near the top, one balancing the other, for holding flowers, plants, and ornaments. One of these dainty bits of furniture was painted in ivory white, and draped with blue ; the other was black and crimson. Some small corner screens, too, were exceedingly pretty ; and the display of dollies must have rejoiced the heart of all children. A "Little Lord Fauntleroy," in white suit and blue sash, was a real beauty, and there were lady dolls, from the fashionable Miss to the little girl in short frock and pinafore. On Tuesday a good busiuess was done, and over LSO taken. Wednesday's trade was rather dull, and the sale will be opened again on Saturday. We had a very pleusant gathering last Saturday at the Girls' High School, when Mis 3 Campbell Bathgate, the matron, gave a farewell afternoon tea. Tea, coli'ee, and cakes were dispensed in a small room opening out of the class room, and in the latter, where we had two cheery fires, were tables hospitably spread with fruit, cakes, and sugar plums. Our animated talk was hushed now and then when were wc treated to songs by Miss Popplewell, Mr Towsey, the Misses M'Kean, and others, and Mrs Malcolm Ross recited those capital lines about the Light Brigade by Rudyard Kippling, and a very pretty little story in verse called 'The Clown and the Baby.' In the drawing room were displayed the farewell gifts Mias Bathgate had received. From Mr Wilson some daintily - bound volumes of Kuskin, and a natty and useful case for note paper and all the appurtenances for writing from the teachers ; while the servants had presented a photograph album, and the girls a silver cake basket and gold pencil case. The tableaux vivant* that were given in the City Hall on Wednesday evening were a repetition of those we eDJoyed so much a month or two ago at St, Matthew's Schoolroom. There were some slight changes made. For instance, Miss Alice Dymock took the part of the maiden in the first scene, Miss Spence, who appeared before, being away from home ; and Miss Gibson enacted the Peri for her younger sister, who was kept at home by a bad cold : MissGilkison, also took the place of Miss Godfrey in ' Who Wins,' the latter having returned to Melbourne. The ' Living Pictures ' looed even better this time than upon the first occasion, owing to the larger stage and better lighting. The scene of ' The Finding of Moses' waß again, I thought, the best; and great credit is due to Miss Reynolds and her "aides" for the exquisite arrangement of the stage. The tableaux were very quickly put on, we having no weary waits for the curtain to go up, and all was managed without fuss or hitch, showingthat Miss Reynolds had her little band of helpers in good discipline. Her representation of the statue of Nydia, the blind flower girl of Pompeii, was even more wonderful than before, and it was hard to believe she was flesh and blood, and not "chiselled marble." The same might be said of the two busts as depicted by Miss Ross and Miss Rattray. The playing of the banjo band was very effective. It consisted of Messrs Baker, E. C. Reynolds, and Dymock, Mias Crawford, and two little bits of girls, Miss Nina Gibson and Miss Frazer, who wore simple little frocks, the former of pink and the latter white embroidered muslin, while Miss Crawford was in black lace. Two other diminutive performers were the Misses Maunsell, who treated us to a charming violin duet. They were dressed alike in gobelin blue velvet frocks, with lace at the neck and wrists, and acquitted themselves so well that we tried to get an encore. The only thing that marred the evening was the noisy behaviour of some boys at the back. It was, perhaps, excusable to a certain extent when the tableaux were being shown, as from theories of "sit down" it appeared that some obstructed the view of others by their eagerness for a good view; but there was no excuse for the disturbance during Miss Sievwright's song, and it showed great want of courtesy to a lady who was doing her beat for their entertainment. There was an immense audience—not only waa every seat filled, but a fringe of standers decorated the walls, and I hope Mrs Sinclair will receive substantial help from the performance. Martha.