OTAGO WOMEN'S CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 22685, 26 June 1937, Page 25

OTAGO WOMEN'S CLUB

TWENTY-THIRD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS The birthday party of tho club is always ono of the most delightful functions held during the year, and the twenty-third anniversary celebrated on Wednesday evening by an “ at homo was well up to the usual high standard. In the absence of the president. Lady Ferguson, ono of the- vice-presidents, Lady Hutchison presided, and was presented on entering the lounge _ with a lovely bouquet of roses by Miss Eva Aslin, on behalf of the gardening circle and with a dainty illustrated programme (the work of Mrs Pearce) from tho arts and crafts circle. Lady Hutchison was attired in a very smart black and silver ensemble.. The frock of black georgette was banded in silver sequins with a wide belt of the same, and with this she wore an attractive cape ot black net with a high collar band of sequins. On behalf of tho president, who, during tho whole 23 years of the club’s existence, has only twice before been absent from a birthday party, she wished the club many happy birthdays. She then noted some improvements made during the year, including tho acquisition of _ a downstairs suite and the refurnishing of some of the club\rooms. She made the suggestion that an historical play should be written for tbe centenary in 1940 for which tho executive offered a prize, and finished in happy vein by comparing the passing birthdays of a club to those of the individual. Tn reply, Miss Nelson thanked the executive and club officials for all that they did for members, and. congratulated tho circles on their work and on tho friendly spirit shown throughout. Programme. The following attractive programme was then presented by tho circles:— The music circle gave Elgar’s haunting trio, ‘My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land’ and ‘ The Singing Bird,’ sung by Mrs Eric Miller, Mrs W. D. G. Hartley, and Miss Molly Fenton, land two part songs, ‘The Rain’ and ‘The Snow,’ by members of the music circle, conducted by Mrs Lynn Beaumont, with Miss Edith Morrison at the piano, and violin obbligatos by Misses Bessie Paine and Stella Bayley. »Tho poetry circle, introduced by Mrs A. H. Laurenson, who in the court costume of a gallant recited a poem entitled ‘ The Poetry of Motion,’ then presented a minuet with Mrs C, F. Roberts singing ‘ To a Miniature,’ Mrs Cook playing an accompaniment, and Mrs 1. W. Oowie and Misses Holland, Allen, and Watson dancing, all six being dressed in period costumes. The French circle contributed two tableaux —‘ The Gleaners ’ and ‘ The Angelus,’ from Millet’s famous paintings, with Mrs W. J. Williams, Mrs Seddon, and Miss Eva Aslin as the gleaners, and Misses Spedding and Margery Mumford as tho boy and girl in ‘ The Angelus.’ Mrs Sutherland Ross introduced the tableaux by a description of Millet’s life and the conditions under which he lived while tho pictures were being painted. This item was a very artistic effort. * Tho Play-reading Circle’s contribution was ‘ Royal Table Manners,’ from Laurence Housman’s collection of palace plays, in which a dinner party, where four real courses were served, proved tho efficiency of those taking part in the play, bliss Dutton was Queen Victoria; Misses Margery Mumford and Stella Fitchett her daughters; Mrs Eastgato, Mr Gladstone; Mrs Wakefield Holmes, Lord Hartington; Mrs A. H. Lawrenson, Lord Rosebery; Miss Burgess, Mrs Gladstone; Miss Crow, Canon Cuppard ; Miss M'Dougall, Mrs Cuppard; and Mesdames S. P. Cameron and R. G. C. M'Nab, footmen. Miss Farnie introduced this scene, which was very enjoyable. The Civic Circle, introduced by Mrs C. Alackie Bcgg, presented a group of amusing contrasts between certain happenings as we- know them to-day and as they might have been 50 years ago. They included ‘ Transport,’ with Mrs Bain as a Victorian girl on a bicycle and Mrs James Jenkins as Jean Batten; ‘Domesticity,’ with Airs Sutherland Ross as the mistress and Airs V. E. Galway as the maid of 50 years ago, and Mrs N. Allen as the modern maid; ‘Courtship,’ with Aliss Armstrong and Mrs G. Black as the oldworld lovers and Alisses lona Irwin and Stella Fitchett as the modern ones; ‘ Bathing,’ with Airs Prince as the Victorian dipper and Airs W. J. Jenkins as a modern swimmer; ‘ Tennis,’ with Airs R. G. C. A'FNab as a Victorian man and bliss Zita Hart as a modern girl; ‘ Grandmothers,’ with Airs Stewart and Airs Hill as tho past and present grandmothers respectively; and ‘ Obstetrics,’ with Airs Porteous as Sarah Gamp, All’s W. H. Borrie as a modern matron, and Mrs W. B. Taverner as a father, bliss Morrison, during this item, played accompanying music appropriate to the date and nature of each scene. This item, which was quite original, proved very amusing, and the costumes, which were supplied mostly from the club wardrobe by Mrs Cowie and Miss Holland, were very varied. Tho last item was a series of topical verses, cleverly written and very charmingly presented by five club members, dressed in pieretto costumes, Mesdames A. A. Fairbairn, Lynn Beaumont, R. G. C. M‘Nab, J. Hamer, and N. Ellis, after which the birthday cake was brought in and cut by Lady Hutchison. Tho serving of supper in the dining room, where timetables were prettily decorated for the occasion, concluded a very delightful party, not the least pleasurable part of which was the incidental music provided between each item by the Misses Aleda and Bessie Paine, and the delightful accompanying of Miss Edith Morrison.