A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 606, 12 May 1891, Page 3

A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

SOCIETY NOTES. Auckland, May 7. There has been very little gaiety to chronicle since my last letter. What there has been we owe, directly or indirectly, to the officers of Le Champlain. Last Friday the Captain the Commandant, and a few civilians made up a coaching party to St Helier’s. There is nothing like the top of a fonr-ir-band for seeing the country and real enjoyment of a dnve. One of the French officers, who spok e very little English, was evidently a great admirer of Shakespeare, for he recited one long passage after another (French translation of course) with appropriate action. This novel performance, together with the fondness of one member of our party for blowing the horn in seasen and out of season (and, I may add, in tune or out of tune, although there was very little of the former about it), would have created a sensation if we hud occupied an ordinary carriage; but there is an exhilaration in the air on the top of a coach which would excuse far more unconventional brbaviour. We were envied, not scorned, by all who had the (comparative) good fortune to eec us dashing past. The French officers have made a number of ftiends here, showing themselves most sociable, very grateful for any hospitality, ready to be amused, and anxious to repay any kindness they receive. They are not al all ready to take offence either, although with their standard of politeness, I am sure they must think us very rude sometimes. They never smile at our excruciating French, but do not seem to resent our amusement at their mistakes. One evening we were engaged in one of those highly intellectual drawing room games, in which the players take turns in leaving the room. The lot fell upon one of our foreign visitors, and we tried to explain to him “It is your turn; you must go now.” To our surprise he rose calmly, and began shaking hands all round, and saying good night. We shrieked with laughter, I am ashamed to say, but he took it like a French angel. On another occasion, I heard a young lady telling some of them that they had not behaved like Englishmen—that is, had not done their duty. When pressed for an explanation she grew crimson, but tactlessly stammered out the trnth about Nelson and the battle of Trafalgar. I felt sorry for her when I raw the wondering gaze with which they regarded her. To crown all, that' same evening someone began to sing •• Killaloe. ” I believe more than one of the Frenchmen fancied it was intended as a deliberate insult, They looked calm, but unhappy, till it was over.

During the last few months there has been a great improvement in the artistic dressing of shop-windows here. Instead of a miscellaneous collection of articles pressed close to the plate-glass, moat of the large shops now reserve a deep space as large as a fair sized room, behind the window, and devote it to the display of one description of their wares. In the large furniture shops, one day a most comfortably fitted up bedroom will occupy the space behind the window, with carpets, curtains, window hangings, lounge chairs, wardrobe and everything complete. A week later we find it transformed into the most luxurious of little bou ’oirs, palms, screens, Turkish rugs, and Liberty scarves giving a homelike and cosy air to the more formal furniture. Drapery and millinery establishments find Mill less trouble in dressing their windows prettily with constant variety. Sometimes the display will consist of a pumber of lay figures in walking, reception, or ball dresses. These costumes are carried put in every detail, gloves, bonnets, muffs, chatelaines, fane etc. to match, being prettily arranged near. One window at the D.I.C. contains nothing at present but furs—mantles, capes, tippets, boas and muffs. Dark green velvet covers the floor, which is made to look as much like Nature as possible, by slight inequalities and little risings. Over this representation of mother earth various furry animals are supposed to be rambling. From a cave at the back a polar bear is just emerging, while beavers, squirrels, sables, martens, foxes and seals disport themselves more in the front, I did not see any rabbits or cats stuffed in the window, which I think, considering the real nature of much of the fur sold under other names, is rather ungrateful. One of Smith and Caughey’s windows is filled with trimmed hats and bonnets, while birds and sprays of flowers hang at various heights from the roof. The effect is surprisingly good. Apropos of the Barn Dance, to which I alluded last week, I was very much amused to find it desciibed in one of William Black’s novels, “ White Heather,” under the name of a " Cake Walk.” The book is five or six years old, and “Dancing in the barn,” with its accompanying " Cake walk,” is ;>poken of as quite an old institution by some American girls. It came to us from America, Dr Grace’s daughters learning it there, and introducing it in Wellington. When the session broke up last year, some Aucklanders who had been to the Empire pity returned full of it, and taught us benighted stay-at-homes the step. “ White Heather” contains a moral and a warning on the subject. The moral is, never attempt to dance it in a small sailing boat, or you may distract the attention of the man at the helm, your boat may gybe, you may be knocked overboard by the boom, and perhaps npt be rescued as the novelist’s young lady fortunately was. Bt, George's Bowing Club ball held last night (Wednesday) was a great success. The number of dancers was estimated at about four hundred. The members of the Club had Worked well in makiog all arrangements, and numbers of ladies contributed towards the fcupper. The ball was prettily decorated—not bo much with ferns and evergreens, as usual, but with flags, oars, and even a rowing skiff suspended below the gallery at the bottom of the hall. Mrs Bridgeman wore a very handsome dress of an indescribable color. Heliotrope rhot with pink is a tolerably correct definition, but it gives no idea of the beautiful Shade of the silk. One of the handsomest dresses was that of Mrs Napier—a rich white eatin, trimmed with pearl embroidery, and made with a long train, She wore a beautiful pearl necklet, with a pendant of the same Stones and of diamonds. Miss Maud' Gould pore a red dress, as did also Miss E. Lysnar. This is unanimously pronounced to be one of the most successful bails the Bowing Club has ever given.