SOCIAL GOSSIP.

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 722, 2 May 1914, Page 8

SOCIAL GOSSIP.

By Christabel.

5 ADIES attending the firft day of the Autumn Race Meeting were clad almost entirely in ooats and skirts and furs; never was so much fur to be Been on the lawn before. Nearly everyone sported a fur coat, and many kept them on all day. Although the weather, nippy as it was, was not really chilly. enough for such wear yet, though towards evening the comfort of a fur or thick wrap of some kind was very acceptable. The Coney seal coat was seen mostly, but some beautiful brown furs were also worn. Mrs. Lowry, of Hawke s Bay, wore a musquash _ and. moleiskm mixture, over a fawn tailor-made. Mrs. Dalziell was attired in moleskin over black, and several Coney coats were trimmed with moleskin or grey fur. Mrs. E. Riddiford had a • sable-like wrap, which she slipped over her cream costume in theafternoon. Miss Watson also wore a long brown fur coat over a frock of tabac erilk crepe, which matched her tiny ha/fc. IVlrs. Guy Johnston, hsid beautiful Babies, worn with a black costume of one of the new caracul cloths, and her wrap for driving was a long coat of black ponyskin. Mrs. C. J. Johnston, with a dark grey dress, wore a sable stole and muff. Mrs. Walter Johnston ("Highden") wore black velvet, with wide ermine stole • her furs were tailed. Mrs. Stanton Harcourt's wide fur was of the untailed variety, and was worn with a black satin coat and cream ,velours hat. Miss Harcourt also wore ermine furs with a dark costume, and so did Mrs. C. Tringham, with a smartly cut coat and skirt of violet cloth, and her outer wrap was a three-quarter cutaway coat of moleskin. » * ■ * * Navy blue was very much worn, showing that, in spite of bright colours, it

will hold its own this winter. Most of the colouring appeared in the hats, there being much floral ribbon and bright plumage to be seen. Of the very latest cut was Mrs. (Major) Johnston's navy serge; the straight coat finished with a band of wide military br&id round the hips, and a pleated basque, and her small hat was simply finished with floral ribbon Mrs.. Viv. Ridif-ord was in red duvetyn, the newest material and of the newest cut, very loose and straight, with a wide hip band; her furs "were ermine. Mrs. W. G. Johnston was in navy, but of patterned material, with sable furs and a black feathered hat. Mrs. jdiss wore cream serge, which was favoured by several of those present. Mrs. Hiley was costumed in dark brown, with a hat to match with a yellow mount. Mrs. Algar Williams, in fine n.avy serge, had ber dress cut in pannier style, with a finishing of bright coloured ribbon and a small hat to match. Mrs. E. Blundell's costume of wine l coloured cloth was made with a short tunic and basqued coat, having the effect of the double hip tunic, which we are to see so much of if we follow the present English fashions. Although this is not one of the big meetings, there were quite a number of country visitors, including Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Stead, on their way to Christchurch, Mr. and Mrs. Lowry, Mrs. Cooper, of Christchurch, accompanied her sister,. Mrs. Shand, and Mrs. and the Misses Rutherford, staying in Wellington to catch the Sydney boat, r>ut in the day at the racecourse. * * * * There was a very large- crowd at Trentham on Saturday. Most people seemed to be enjoying themselves, in spite of the rain and consequent bog underfoot. The race for the Gold Cup caused great excitement, and Merrie Roe's win was exceedingly popular among the habitues of the orandstand. Of course the weather precluded elaborate dressing. The day being warmer, there wer-e fewer fuy coats worn than on Thursday. Miss Harcourt wore all violet, and her ermine furs, while Mrs. Gillon topped her navy costume with the closest of little hats, one of those put on almost ,with a shoehorn, of the fashionable tiel shade. Of this shade, too, was Mrs. Brodie's coat and skirt, the skirt wondrously draped below the knees at the back, and the coat finished with a double basque and sash at the back. Another bride who was present was Mrs. Hamilton, who wore a small hat with plaid ribbon with her navy blue costume. Mrs. Tringham's violet costume had finishings of embossed velvet to tone, and was matched by

her hat. Mrs. J. Duthie wore velours cloth in a soft shade of green and a hat with pink ospreys. Miss Butts, who accompanied. Miss Skerrett, was also in green, with a touch of blue in the embroideries, and a black hat with shaded green mount. She also wore a smart cut-away fur coat. Mrs. Hume (Wairarapa) was another who was wearing the popular violet colour. Mrs. Wilford was in navy blue, with emerald green plumes .in her hat, and her daughter, also in a blue coat and skirt, had a white feather and pink rose in her black hat. * * * * Mrs. Galbraith was in all brown, with a crown of floral silk to her small hat. Mrs.. Hosking, in navy blue and a black and white hat, was accompanied by her daughter in grey, with a tango coloured mount in,her hat. Mrs. C. J. Johnstonwore tan coloured feathers in her" hat, and, in fact, most people seemed to have a touch either of the various shades of tan and brown, or of cerise or rose colour. Mrs. Herbert wore powder blue velvet and a long fur coat. Mrs. Goring Johnston was in the ever-useful navy, worn with a smartly turned-up hat, and •her beautiful sables. Miss Vavasour was in. violet colour. Miss Barnicoat, who was down for the races, added a touch of rose; colour in her hat, with the same kind of costume. Mrs. Algar Williams was in mole corduroy velvet, with the deep blouse frill, apparently' essential just now to smart frocking of pale r>ink. Mrs. W. Turnbull wore a pretty light shade of blue, with the same- colour in her hat, and Miss ~V. Bell, in a dark costume, wore fox furs which set off her fair colouring. * * * * t The Rev. A. M. and Mrs. Johnson, who are leaving for a trip to England, were entertained by the parishioners of St. Paul's Church on Monday evening, in. Sydney-street Schoolroom, and it proved a happy idea. There were a number of people present, and they were entertained with competitions, and with musical items, which had been arranged bv Mrs. Gr. Anderson. The committee in charge of the evening consisted of Mesdames Larnach, Badham, Price, Burton, Barnett and Miss Mestayer, and they made a great success of thejr efforts. Mns. Morton and MisS Ellison looked after the guessing comnetitions, and Mrs. "Walter Blundell, Mrs. Burton and Miss Price were responsible for the supper, which was served in the side room. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were received on arrival by Mesdam-as Larnach and Badham. who acted as hostesses for the eveniner. and by the churchwardens, Professor Easterfield and Mr. Rigg. A

presentation of a cheque was " made to Mr. Johnson, and Mrs. Johnson received a gold-mounted handbag. „ * * *. ■» ■ ' The engagement is announced of MissDoris Beard, youngest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Spencer Beard, who are at present living at Havelock North, to Mrv Arthur Hindlesmith, only son of Mr. 33. Hindlesmith, of Middlesex, England.; ,

A large amount of interest centred in the wedding of Miss Kathleen Millar, •daughter of the Hon. J. A. Millar, of JEtemuera, Auckland, but formerly of Wellington, to Mr. Norman McLean, .youngest son of Mr. Neil McLean, ofAuckland, and' for some years of Wellington. The ceremony was solemnised in Auckland on the 23rd inst. at St. Aidan's Church by the Rev. Harvie. The bride, who was given away by her iather, looked sweetly pretty in a draped frock of white crepe de chene and lac© mounted on pale pink satin, and a be--coming; hat of white tulle lined with pink. She also wore the bridegroom's gift, a pair of pearl ear-rings, and carried a lovely bouquet of pale pink chrysanthemums. Miss Violet Nathan (stepsister) ;who acted as bridesmaid, looked handeome in a stylish tailored costume of champagne brocaded cloth, the coat made with the new Eton fronts. The collar and vest were of gold tissue, and the small black velvet hat had white ospreys. The bridegroom's gift, tourmaline ear-rings, were also worn, and a beautiful bouquet of old gold chrysanthemums was carried. The best man was Mr. Hawthorn Millar, brother of the bride. * * * * Following the ceremony, a reception ■was held at the home of the bride's parents, where the rooms were prettilv ■decorated. The usual toasts were honoured, and felicitous speeches were! made by Mr. E. W. Alison, Captain Fleming, and Mr. R. Duder. The splendid array of presents excited much admiration, especially the hand-painted china j ardiniere and pedestal from Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, also the. silver" vase from, the Premier and Mrs. Massey. _ Late in the afternoon the newly married couple left on their Honey moon tour to Rotorua, Mrs. McLean wearing a smart tailored •coat and skirt of violet cloth and a white velvet hat. * * * * Mrs. Millar wore an elegant toilette ■composed of black satin, having a tunic of white guipure lace, over which was a tunic of black lace. Her black velvet hat had an ermine head and ospreys, and her bouquet consisted of crimson dahlias. Mrs. Neil McLean (bridegroom! s mother), wore a handsome coat and skirt of black brocaded silk with a white' feather ruffle, and her black hat had upstanding ostrich feathers. Mrs. ■John McLean (bridegroom's grandmother) wore a black silk gown, black lace mantle, and a black bonnet. _ Miss Daisy Nathan wore a coat and skirt of violet ■cloth, with a white brocaded silk collar and a violet velvet hat with white •wings. Miss Ivy Nathan was wearing a costume of navy_ and x white Striped coating and a black* velvet hat with tangerine trimming. Mrs. Murdoch McLean was in a robe of grey brocaded silk with tunic overdress of black ninon and a hat of black velvet wreathed with r>?nk roses. Mrs. Allan McLean wore grey brocaded silk crepe with swathed "belt of tango silk with hat to match. Among

the guests were: Mr. and Mrs. M. Barry, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Alison, Dr. and Mrs. Sharman, Captain Fleming. Mrs. C. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. 0. Nicholson and Miss Nicholson, Miss Duder, Mrs. Best, Mi?, and Mrs. Bowler. Mr. and Mrs. Ewen Alison, Mr. and Mrs. H. Wilson, Mrs. and Miss King, Mr. and Mrs. Murray (Blenheim), Mrs. Fotheringham, Mrs. R. Lewis, Miss F. Twohill, Messrs. Levers, Walton, Johnson, and several others. * * * * The cabled news of Sir George Doughty's death in England this week recalls a romance in the deceased knight's career. He wasn't born to the title, but was self-made. It was his luck to be Mayor of Grimsby on the occasion of a royal visit, and the knighthood came to him as a matter of course. He was also M.P. for the- town, owned its leading paper, and had achieved much wealth. His luck wasi in again when he met Miss Eugenia Stone, who had made a name for herself as the bright and vivacious writer of the Sydney "Bulletin's" Melbourne Social Gossip. Miss Stone, on a holiday trip to the Old Country, met the Mayor of Grimsby, and the acquaintance was renewed and; led to marriage when the wealthy widower took a trip out to Australia some nine or ten years ago. * * * * As Lady Doughty, the clever writer of "Bulletin" Gossip spurred her M.P. husband into prominence. She is said to have written his best speeches, and she oertainly was. a regular contributor over her own name to his Grimsby paper and at election time she was the greatest factor in winning his battles: A charming; hostess and an accomplished lady, the fair Australian kept her husband up to his best work in the arena of public affairs. * * * * Deep and sincere regret is felt in a wide circle of friends at tne death of Mrs. Annie Stuckey, wife of Mr. Stuckey (Inspector of Schools) and eldest daughter of the late Mr*. R. J. Pope. She was a charming girl and woman, of a very sweet and sympathetic disposition. Although for years past she has been in very unsatisfactory health, it clouded in no way the brightness of her nature. • She was truly unselfish, and her death leaves a void not. easily filled. # * * * Miss Nash, who is leaving next week on a trip to England, was farewelled by a number of her friends on Wednesday evening with a handkerchief "shower," and received a number of dainty pieces of linen and muslin which will doubtless prove very_ acceptable for her voyage. The gathering took place in the Pioneer Club's Common Room, and during the evening the guests played bridge. Miss Nash was in white silk with a sash of apricot, veiled in black ninon and lace. Miss Downes wore pale blue ninon with silver embroideries, and touches of pale pink. Mrs.. Mallite wore grey silk with silver trimming. Among those present were: Mrs. Devine, Mrs. Darling, Mrs. -Leicester, Mrs. O'Leary, Misses Downes, Hishon (2), Fisher (2). Hickey, Isaacs (2), Mitchison, Higgie, Clark, McDermott, Hardy, Morris (2), O'Leary (2), Nash (2), and Edwards.

On Saturday last Mr. and Mrs. John Duncan celebrated their golden wedding very quietly, by an afternoon tea held in Mr. and Mrs. Lan Duncan's house in Hobson-street. • Those present were all Mr. ajid Mrs. Duncan's oldest j>ersonal friends, which made the gathering delightfully informal and friendly. Among them was a friend of Mr. Duncan who had known him four years before his marriage, in India, fifty-four years ago, truly a long record of friendship. There were no speeches; those were reserved for the evening, when Mr. 'and Mrs. Lan Duncan gave a family dinner party, but a string band was in attendance, and they played, the wedding march at the beginning of the afternoon and again at the end' 'of the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan received their guests at the entrance, and all their grandchildren were present to do them honour. Mrs. Duncan wore a gown of black ninon, simply made, a black plumed hat, and carried a bouquet. Mrs. Lan Duncan was in black and white striped silk over a lace underskirt, and Miss Duncan wore pale grey crepe de chene with a lace coatee. ■a- * * » Mrs. Macintosh, of Fiji, who has been spending some time with Mrs. J. Studholme, at Taihape, is at present staying in Wellington.

J. was enabled to have a short korero with Miss Maud Allan one afternoon this week. In appearance, this famed dancer-visitor is a typical American girl of the type that C. D. Wilson and other black-and-white artists have familiarised us with: tall, lissom, with long tapering hands and feet and well-poised head, and wearing her clothes with an air which belongs, after the Parisienne and Viennese, only to the American. Miss Allan has enjoyed her visit to New Zearland so far., m spite of the fact that her friend. Miss Lonner, has been ill nearly all the time, also her manager, and she herself had a. recurrence of an old strained tendon and had to he up for several nights of her season in the south. Nevertheless, she expresses herself as delight•ed with the reception she has received everywhere, especially, as she says, her performance is something entirely new •and perhaps beyond many people, to whom Genee's art, old as it is, was a revelation. ' * * « » . Maud' Allan's dancing is old, Greece dancing was not a matter of steps, but dancers were, like the chorus of the Greek drama, the interpreters of the story. During Rome's degenerate days, dancing followed the course-of all the other arts —into the abyss, and stayed there for a few hundred years, until "the French Theatre revived it: then it became the ballet, - and very stereotyped "ballet, too _ (after the style of French •drama, which had to conform to hard and fast rules), so stereotyped, in fact, .-.that again it fell intp disfavour until •some, few years ago, when there was a .' revival of interest in dancing. * * * * Here was where Maud Allan's chance 1 . came. Trained for a musical career, she had always the idea of interpreting her music in dance form, and from patient •study of old Greek figures and script she evolved her ideas of a return to the ancient form of the qrt. Miss Allan has danced in Russia, and she says that the dancers who have created such a furore in London and America are the "revolutionaires" of the real Russian ballet: "they have broken away from the style of dancing as conformed to by the Conservatoire at St. Petersburg, and have evolved the wonderful ballets with which Uaskt) and others have delighted London •during the _ last few years. These, how--ever, are highly spectacular dances. Miss Allan's dancing depends on no outside aid, her sole scenery is formed of curtains, and her only effects are produced by the lighting or the stage. All the rest is in her interpretation of the spirit of the dance. « « * « When studying a new theme, . Miss Allan reads over the music, -thoroughly familiarising herself with it before thinking of her own performance. The interpretation then comes to her. , Her idea is to. try and catch the thought ' which 'the' composer meant to convey to bis hearers. Some themes are easy to .grasp, as. for instance, the Peer Gvnt suite, when one knows the meaning from the play. _ The first -theme, which represents sunrise in Morocco, Miss Allan interprets r by the idea of a shepherdess greeting the sunrise with her pipes: the death of Asa and Anitra's dance and the rest are easy of understanding, but in Chopin's waltzes, for instance, the idea is elusive and subtle and much more •difficult to conyey. *. * w. * Miss Allan has c'ertainly studied her chosen, work very thoroughly. When she - began to practise. friend, a •writer in "Le Temps," of Paris, who was very interested in her experiment, used to bring her old Greek manuscripts and Tiieroglyphics from the Berlin Museum and translate them for her, and he' found there several old Hebrew and Jewish themes, which, with the permission of the authorities, he translated into modern music, and it is_ upon those old themes that the. music for her "Vision, of Salome" is based. It is disappointing to many that we are not to Bee this much-discussed dance in New Zealand. The life of a professional is not all one of tea and cakes. Miss Allan began to

dance in ' 1903, went to London in 1908, had two years' continuous work there, toured the provinces, went to America, returned to England, thence to South Africa, then another < English provincial tour, America next to London (by way of a rest), then followed India and the present tour —a fair-ly good record of hard work in the last six years. India fascinated Miss Allan. She describes the Taj Mahal as the most wonderful thing she 1 has ever seen or heard, for the echo of the slightest whisper comes back in a hundred tones, so that,'as she says, you imagine you hear a choir of angels. Penang,Miss' Allan describes as a regular place for a honeymoon.' She found her imagination stirred by many, places in the - East, such «. as Hongkong, which she calls "a bit of civilisation in the midst, of Orientalism, with a peep of a Chinatown." But, like other visitors "to the -East, she found work in it very trying, the performance having to begin about half-past nine and end at midnight. *** * ■ Mrs. Birkett organised a bridge tournament in aid of the Plunket Nurses at the Kelburne Kiosk last Friday. The • affair proved very successful. There were no less than eighteen tables, and some very good games were played. Mrs. S. Kirkcaldie and Miss Murray had sent quantities of beautiful flowers, with which the Kiosk was decorated. After tea had .been served the winners were announced (Mrs. Morison and Mrs. Arthur Young), and then Mrs. McVicar, secretary of the Association, made an earnest little appeal on behalf of the Society. Mrs. Algar Williams (president) was among the guests, also Mrs. Massey. < **. * * Mrs. Morton, CJlark has organised a series of fortnightly assemblies for the winter months, to take place every other Saturday. On Saturday last, when the first one took place in Goring-street Hall, there was a fair and even attendance of ladies and .gentlemen, so all had plenty of partners. Mrs. Clark wore a pink silk gown with an overdress of black beaded chiffon; Miss Clark was in pale pink ninon over white Miss N. Clark, pale green silk; Miss Montgomery, cerise ninon; and her sister mle yellow bordered with fur over white lace; Miss Edwards wore pale pink and fur; and MisS Woods (Wanganui) navy blue ninon over lime satin.