ST. CLAIR LADIES’ CLUB.

Evening Star, Issue 18256, 21 April 1923, Page 9

ST. CLAIR LADIES’ CLUB.

Tl’.cr was a good attendance at. the St. Clair Prosbytoiian Hall on Monday evening, when the above club held the opening social for 1923. The hall was beautifully decorated with red geraniums and foliage, with hero and there a black cat for luck. Mrs Wakefield Holmes presided over the meeting, and in a pleasant little speech extended a welcome to all present, particularly to the new members, and expressed particular pleasure that the entire programme for this year would bo carried t!irough by the members. The majority of those present had come in fancy costumes, meetly characters from Dickens and ladies of the Early Victorian period. Each member, as she entered the hall, was a delightful surprise for those already assembled, fur few knew what others were to wear. P.o.xcs and chests must have been ransacked for the ostrich feathers, mittens, quaint brooches, and antique shawls which were worn. As the ladies, led by Mrs Waketicid Holmes, filed slowly round the hall, exhibiting their various costumes, the smell of camphor was doligb tfully fragrant. Conspicuous among the comical costumes wore Dick SwivetIct's Marchioness (Mrs Routledge) and a lady (Miss Black) wearing a nightcap, slippers, and very old-fashioned full night robe. She carried a lighted candlestick, with snuffers and snippers, to represent “Early Victorian Bedtime.” Others wore old-world costumes pretty enough to leave room for doubt as to whether, after all, present-day fashions arc the- more becoming. Among the novelties was an apron worn by Mrs M’Xnughton, and said to bo 130 years old. Another lady wore a cameo brooch almost large enough to hang on the wall ns a picture. Among the best characters represented wore Mists Pecksniff (Miss Ella lliyth), Kate Greenaway (.Miss Mabel Thwigg), Doily Warden (Mrs Williams), ‘Wearin’ o’ the Green ’ (Mrs J. Miller). Attired in wonderful dresses, bonnets, hats, or lace caps, as fancy dictated —all Early Victorian dames —were Mesdames Fleming, Waketicid Holmes, H. W. Jones, Hcrvey, Duthie, Mazey, Thwigg, Waters, M'Xaugliton. During the evening a competition provoked much amusement, the prize (donated by Mrs W akefiold Holmes) being won by Miss Ethel Thomson. The programme was contributed by the following ladies:—Miss Grigg (piano solo), Mesdames Holmes and Speight (duet), Miss Thwigg (song), and Mrs Hcrvey, whoso i-kctcli., entitle‘Mrs. Riley's Reniin&miccs \>i Hie cake bate at Ugg's Corner’ (written shortly before being read), was much enjoyed, being most original and brimful of humor. The closing chorus, 'Good-night, Ladies,’ was sung by Mrs Waters and a choir gathered from the club members.