Social Gossip.

Free Lance, Volume VIII, Issue 397, 8 February 1908, Page 8

Social Gossip.

By Christabel

THE Wellington branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation welcomed back the Hon Mr. Hall-Jones on Monday night It was a ve»ry bright affair Cheerful speeches and musical selections by Mr. Minihe's orchestra, and songs were given by Miss Lissock, Mr. H. Graves, and Mt. Roy Mimfie, and Mr. F. Bust recited. Many ladies were present, besides Mrs. Hall-Jones, the Misses Hall-Jones, and Mrs. Christie, of the Minister's family. Also present. Lady Ward, Miss Eileen Ward, Mrs and Miss Winder, Mrs. Izard, and many others, all glad to see good health written all over the leturned guests of the evening. • • * On Saturday last Mrs. Gdruth's little children a»nd their friends gave a novel evening at the Hutt, in> aid of the Home of Compassion at Island Bay. Some of tlie names of the kind little souls were Riddiford, Bunmy, Harding. Fisher, Mason, and Pearce. Songs, dances, and recitations were daintily given All had to pay for admission, even the young performers themselves, for they wished to have a good sum for the Home, and their wishes were realised, as they have a nice amount in hand. • • • Mr. and Mrs Clifford, of Johnsonville, are leaving for England 1 by the Corinthic on the 27th mst They intend having a good hohday • • • Mr. J. B. Hislop, one of Messrs. Harcourt and Co.'s most popular managers, was presented ooi the eve of his marriage with a cheque by Mr. J. B Harcourt, on behalf of the firm, and Mr. T. Marsden, on. behalf of the office staff, presented Mr. Hislop with a handsome liqueur stand.

Di Hocken of Dunedin, and Mr. and Mis. Vavasour, of Blenheim, arnved by the Te Anau on Monday evenijig, from Nelson. The latter are going for a tour to Euiope. Quite one of the topics of the moment is the beautiful collection! of gloxinias 111 Miss Murray's window, Willis-stieet One* hundi<\l blooms, of over twenty varieties, make the spot a, garden beautiful The soft velv et shapes look like veritable kissing cups — all tints, wine shade, aesthetic lavendoi \i\ id purple giaduaJly tonr ed till t.hov melt m white, or bluish cream. Added to their beauty they last foi over ten days, and so are economical to flower worshippers It is wondeiful to think that so peifect a ffisplav has been grown' from seed Mi Amelius Smith, who is so popular, besides having recently been appointed seeietai" of the Superannuation Board, has been made secretary of the Public Service Classification Board and also secretary of the Offioeis' Guarantee Fund. Miss a M. Atkinson left for Nelson, on Sunday She had been staying with Miss Richmond, in> Hobsontstreet • » • Mr A Dillon, M P for Hawke's Bay, is on a visit to "Wellington. Mesdames B L Davies and W L. Jones, Mr. Arthur Ward, and Mr. George Shirey, all of Sydney, are leaving for a trip to Rotorua and other beaut y spots • • w On Saturday last the New Zeala-nd Amateur Athletic Association had a splendid day fo.r their championship gathering. It was a little wnndy, but the golden sun, though playmg hide-and-seek behind the clouds all day, oame out brilliantly at times, and so the enjoyment was not spoiled. The racing was very interesting, and there wats quite- a gay gathering of ladies, and, owing to the kind of day, there was orach variety in the dressing. Some were in: muslin, others in lumen, and many in* the neat coat and skirt that wilfl. hold its own to the end of time. • • • The engagement is announced of Mir. Milward Anderson, son of Mr. Edward Anderson, to Miss BaskerviHe, of Wellington.

The Misses Lurry and Rutter have taken, Mrs. E. J. Stevenson's house, in Murphy-stieet. They will turn the lions© into a hostel foi the children attending the secondary schools. The institution will be in connection with the Society of Friends, m England. • * * Aichdeacoin De\oy has returned bo Wellington, aftei attending a chapter of the Maiist Society vi Belgmm. He has many inteiestiing stones to tell of his travels in various parts Father Hickso.ii, of Chnstchurch, also' returned with him • • « Inte.i p-stung and delightful wedding presentations took place after parade on Friday night of last week, Captain Wray and Colour-Sergeant Rudkms being the recipients from their corps A ne-w acquisition to the Technacal School is the arrival of, Mr H. Limley Rk hard-on On dut he made many delightful sketches during the. trip on the Corimthic, a caricature sketch of the capta,i,n and officers being particularly good. « • • Just now many friends are congratulating Mrs. A P. Webster oni her husband's promotion fc> inspector of the Bank of Australasia The appointment was made last week Mr Edward Lycett Green, eldest son of Siir Edward Green, Bart., atrjived by the Cormthic on Saturday. He has his wife and daughter with him. They intend staying two or three months in the Domnaiion, diirimg whuoh time they will be Lord Plunket's guests. Mr. Lycett Green has been a great traveller, and is a keen sport, having been master of the York and Ainsty foxhounds for some time. • • • Mr. G. A. Troup, of the Railway Department, who has been so ill, and who was lecuppiating at Plimmerton, leaves for Europe in two. ot three weeks' time On Wednesday evening, Februaiv 29th, the Sydney-street Schoolroom was a brilliant sight, when. Mrs. Levin gave a ball for the naval officers in port, and ail looked so "fetching" in, their unifoirms. Palms, plaaits, mirrors, and gay-tinted lights formed a fairyland, and whether it was the good floor, ideal partners, or because of it being the first ball of the season, everyone declared that they

never enjoyed themselves so much. Many thought it would be too warm, but then the most brilliant of many popular Government House balls takes place in Melbourne on Cup night, when the temperature is ooinisiderably higher than it was on Wednesday evening. • • . Mrs. Levin had om an exquisite dcress of black sequined lace, over ivory chiffon. Miss Levin wore a dainty frock of pastel pink ninon-de-soie ; Mrs. W. Leyin, white chiffon, covered with sequins; Mi?. R. Levun, ciel blue chiffon taffetas Mrs. Lindsay, pale grey chiffon , Miss K. Duncan, pink taffetas, with beautiful lace drapings on the skirt ; Miss X F^zgeoDald, rose pink chiffon, and tlhe bodice finished with pretty floial ribbon; Mass Harcourt, white satim, ; Miss Grace HarcOUrt, turquoisie blue silk. Miss Stafford wore cream silk, with prnk roses, Miss Simpson, in, heliotrope ; Miss E. Fell, dainty blue silk ; Miss G. Reid, frock of emerald green chiffon over white silk, electrified with band of old gold on the hem; Miss B. Miles, pink crepe-de-chine, with lace and gold trimmmgs ; Miss H. Miles, apricot taffetas, with Oriental embroidered lace; Miss Rubi Seddon, becoming pale blue silk. • • « Miss Oakley, Matron of the Wellington_ Convalescent Home, is spending a holiday, after much strenuous work, at Cihiistchurch. Mrs. McLachlam ls acting as deputy-Matron. • • • Various informal gatherings we-ie held durmg last week — little teas and small "At Homes" for the ladies connected with the University Senate. Mts. W. Shand, of Vivian-street had an after noon tea on Thursday, February 30. The rooms were bewitchimgly pretty, decorated with sweet peas, dahlias, and sunflowers. Mrs. Shand wore a frock of white embroidered muslin. Lady Stout was in a cream Sieillian, costume; Mrs. Shand (Dunedin), in, black brocade, with cream lace front ; Mrs. Fitchett, in a costume of handsome black marquisette, with trimmings of coloured embroidery. • » * Mrs. T. W. Hislop wore a mavy blue costume ; Miss Macdonald, cream dress, and hat with pink roses; Mirs. Tole, puce silk, and hat in same colour tone; Mrs. Grace, black corded silk ; Mrs. Kendall, costume of grey and white striped Sicillienme. Others

present were . Mesdames Muniro, Gore, Watson, Maurice Richmond, Biss, W. Hislop, Hamilton, and the Misses Shaiid, Gore, and McLean.. • • • On Thursday of last we ok. Sir Robert and Lady Stout, the Hon. Dr. Fondlay and Mrs. Findlay, and Mr. J. B. Haioourt and the Misses Haicourt were the guests ot Admiral and Lady Fawkes, on the flagship. Lady Fawkes is still quite helpless, owing to a badly-sprained anlde. She wore a smart frock of tussore silk, trimmed with, Paris lace. Ladj Stout ha-d on a cream dress, with black hat; Mrs. Bramlej, a cream serge, fmiished with punk and green stripes, and a .hat with pink flowers; Mrs. Findlay, grey tweed costume, feather boa, ana hat with vivid puiple flowers. Miss Harcouat wore white, and Miss Grace Harcourt cream serge, with roses in her hat. • • • The Haeiem.u Centie of the Gurls' Realm Guiid w ill hold a Japaniese tete in aid of the funds on Saturday, February 15th. It will be held in Mis. T. W. Hislop's garden. Mr. and Mis Can oil and two sons left by the Maiama. «jr Friday for a holiday to Australia, and nuitend doing Melbourne and Sydney thoioughly. • • Mrs. J. B. MacEwan has been, spending a few days at Trentham, the country abiding place of so many Wellington people 1 • • • T.he Admiral (Sir WiJmot Fa\\kt>6) and Lady Fawkes left foi Sydney on Friday, where they intend spending four 01 five weeks beioie they sail foi England They will visit the Gover-nor-General and several of the State Governors, and w ill Le m time to heap congratulation 1- on Sir Harry Rawson, the breezy and beloved New South Wales Governor A peculiar and sweet link binds Australia to Sa Harry Rawson —that of sympathy —for when tht noble Lady R&wson died there was much sorrow in Sydney, and now Moss Rawson has taken up the same sweet lines as her departed mother, all love them, and it is no common thing to hear "Sir Han y> Oh he isaieal white man '" • • « On Wednesday afternoon Mrs. Martindale Kendall, president of the> Wellington Private Nurses' Association, gave an enjoyable afternoon tea at her residence in Boulcott-street. The many nurses had a happy re-union, and the work of the Association was ple-asantH 1 discussed over the tea cups. The dTawing-room was a bower of pretty flowers, and the afternoon-tea table was a sight with dainty coreopsis. Among those present were Drs. Elizabeth Gunn and Agnes Beninett, Mesdames Hislop Gibbs. Mackenzie, Young, Elliott, and Holgate, and Misses Palmer, McLean, Dunlop, Sims, Tewsley, MacAndrew, Boys, Sexton, Lucas and Kohn. • • • Miss McLean, who has been appointed editiess of the new "Nurses' Journal," showed a sample page of the first issue, the cover of which bears the words, "Kai Tiakii," which means guardian ot watcher. • • • Mr. Adams, of Wellington!, left for Auckland during the week, where he will be married to Miss Louie Baker, of that city. • • « On Wednesday the Hon. Mr. HallJones, and Mrs. and Miss Ball-Jones, were entertained at luncheon) at the Royal Oak by the Prune Minister, the Eons. R. McNab, J. McGowan, J. A Millar, and Dr. Findlay. Lady Ward, Mns. Findlay, and Mxss Fanny HallJones weie present, and much interesting chat was indulged in. The travellers all seem in splendid trim after their trip. * • • Hear Hoppe and Mr. Maughan Barnett are arranging for a series of chamber concerts, to commence in April. '

C Madame Sarah Bernhardt, about ■v Those Australian visit next year, \ under the direction of J. C. William- £ son the cables told us last week, is making that visit in pursuance of a plan, for a farewell tour of the world after a phenomenally successful stage career, full of incident and triumph, which has lasted since she made her debut m Paris as Iphmgmie at the Comedie Francaise, of which theatre she was nominated "societaire" in 1875. Four years later she visited London for the first time, and afterwards America. In 1881 she returned to Paris, and. having broken with the Comedie Francaise (for which she was oompelled to pay £4000 damages), - assumed the directorship of the Am- j biku. and then in 1883 bought the 8 Porte St. Martin Theatre, and appeared there In numerous new roles. Except for visits to America and London, she remained there until 1893, when she became director of the

Renaissance Theatre. Five years later she bought the old Theatre dcs Nations, which she re-built and opened as the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt. She is a sculptor and' painter of oomr siderable ability, has written and pro duced a play of her own, adapted otheis, and written, her lecollections, which only lecently were extensively quoted from m all the leading Australian papers. Old play-goeirs will lemember the tremendous success of her Australian, season in, 1891, when she staged some of hei most celebrated productions. Advandmg years have ceirtainly not impaiied either her veisatihty oir her genius, for it is only two or three years ago that she appeared in. London a.s Hamlet, and the ontics considered her interpretation of the gieat Dane worthy to rank with the great creators of the part, while a little over a year ago' the- papers weie full of stones about her activities during her American tour. • • -» Forced out of the theatres by the action of the Trust she was compelled to play in a laige tent, she practically lived on a train, "hustled" from town to town m the best style of the national character, and generally proved that her vigour and perennial youthfulness remained at high pressure Perhaps the secret of that youthf ulness is summed up in heir answer to a candid friend, who asked her whether she didn't feel she was growing old. "I never have time to think of it'" was her reply. • • • Keir Hardie told the representative of a Hobart paper that he was thinking of advising his two sons, both of whom are engineers, to go out and settle in New Zealand. If the two youngsters take after the old man, there are lively times m store for the Dominion — always supposing that the sons take their father's advice. • • • Mr G Shirtcliffe, who last year repiesented the Chamber of Commerce on the Wellington, Harbour Board, has, m response to- numerous requests, come fo.rwa.rd for Monday's election, id the interests of the district electors of this city, for a sea.t on the Boiard. His progressive rvolicv is noted elsewhere, and Mr Shirtclnffe's work in the past is his best recommendation for the confidence of electors on this occasion