SOCIAL GOSSIP.

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 723, 9 May 1914, Page 8

SOCIAL GOSSIP.

By Christabel.

MISS Maud Allan had quite an ova- ' tion on the last night of her season here. Certainly • Wellingj'tonians are waking up and showing their j appreciation of good things in more eu- ; thusiastio fashion than of old. Mile. J Dolores occupied a box with Mile. Vau- : dour and Mr. and Mrs. Prouse and Leo • Cherniavsky went to pay his respects i : during the interval, all of which. interJested the audience, which loves to see a ; bit ~ "behind the scenes." Many of us • have i noticed the) peculiar effect in Miss i Allan's dresses, which have the. exact ap- > pearance of the stone of a Greek statue, I or the models on a Grecian vase, and it ■' 1 may be news that this effect is gained by fthe way the dresses are folded. In "fact, .they are not folded at"all, but are foiled • tightly, one round another like' a teleShone wire, and are packed in that conition. Miss Maud Allan designs all her own dresses, some of the harmonies in colour being delightful. All) aire in Greek form, whether long or short, but the -subtle touches she adds to them are very clever.. '*# * * v To use • flowers for Mendelssohn's •'Spring Song" is obvious, but much more subtle, yet equally sus;erestive, was. . the ,red dress, draped with black chiffon worn for a "Soul in Bondage." Chopin's C. Minor study. "For "Am Me'er" she draped herself with chiffon of a soft grey blue shade, suggestive of • the sea, and again in "Ase's Death," from the Peer Gynt suite, black draperies were used. A red rose, tucked in her hair Carmen-wise, was a suggestive note for Anitra's dance in the same number, and always when dancing to the Barcarolle from .''The Tales of Hoffman," she "twisted a gaily coloured Neapolitan scarf round her head, which immediately r"ive ,her-the-necessary Italian appearance, ;despite her Greek.:dress. But Miss Al-

lan's' facial expression is quite the most wonderful part of her performance. In . Chopin's funeral march her face express- , ed the most poignant grief and supplication, and when she followedv. it with the "Moment Musicale" of Schubert, - she changed at once into an elf from some Dionysian grove. »■■*.* * " ' A private cable received this week announces the arrival at London on Monday last of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Levy, . of Wellington, and their daughters, the Misses Agolda and Rae Levy. They travelled oyerland from Marseilles to Calais, and were met by many friends on arriving at London. * * * * ': ■• Mr, and Mrs. J. E. Gamble, accompanied by, Miss Rosie Segrief (Mrs. Gamble's sister), left by the Uhmaroa last week for a holiday in Melbourne and Sydney. Mr. Gamble,' who is accountant on the Wellington Harbour staff, was presented by his associates before he left- with a. cigar-holder, and a box of cigars—a gift he will be. able to appreciate as he promenades the TJlimaroa's deck or walks down Bourke-street in Melbourne. * * * * No doubt many people will remember Mr. J., T. Donovan, one of the Irish Nationalist delegates who visited Wellington about three years ago, and who was the only one of-the three who came up to one's expectations in the matter of "brogue." Well, his engagement has just been announced to an Auckland girl, Miss Alda Ralph,- daughter of Mr. W. J. Ralph, a successful Auckland business man. The Ralph family to which W.J. belongs made their pile by owning coal-mines at 'Huntly. Miss Ralph is visiting England, and leaves in about a month on her return to her home. * * * * Still people continue to leave for England, although it is already late in the season. Mr..and Mrs. Arthur Pearce, Miss Pearce, and Miss Collins have gone by way of America; the Misses Harding are among the Remuera's passengers: and next month Mrs. Shirtcliffe and her daughters leave for a trip to the. 01<? . World. Now that there is to be a ladies' All Black -team this year to uphold the honour of New Zealand on the hockey field against' the All England eleven, efforts are being made to have our girls clad in suitable uniform. To carry out , the All Black idea, the trouble will be to make a uniform that will not look too funereal. The proposed' uniform is a black serge skirt, with a black middy

blouse, relieved by < white collar, and, of bourse, a fair-sized- silver fern-leaf ...on the breast, nicely worked in thread. Uniformed in the girls shouldj certainly look every bit as well on the field as the famous All Black footballers. May they be as successful! '■•*,"*.. * * • The English lady players are paying

their own passages and exes, out to New Zealand; so if their, pockets are long, enough to stand this strain they are evidently of the lucky well-to-do class. TheNew. Zealand Ladies' Hockey Association intends to carefully attend to their visitors' comfort' while in New Zealand, and will probably ask prominent citizens, so kindly disposed, to billet individual

members of the team during their tour through New Zealand. The captain' of lihe team is Miss C. J. Gaskell, who is vice-president of the All England Women's Hockey Association. Writing of "her, an English lady, in a letter, states: "She is just the right person, and I am -sure you will all like her very much." There will be at least 15 playersin the team, and, according to descrintions' of the English/ lady hockey player, it will be surprising if some of our eligible "bachelors don't lose; their hearts during the team's sojourn' here. The aforesaid visitors certainly should look very becom--ing: on the field in their simple white blouses with the white rose of England adorning it. * * # # An interesting engagement recently -announced is that of Miss Moire Rhodes, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. G. Rhodes, of Christchurch, to one of the "Governor's aides, Captain Hutton. * * * * Mrs. and Miss Vallance and Mrs. Erie Williams are staying in town on shopping bent. Miss Vallance is to make ."iter debut this winter, and her sister* Mrs. Erie Williams., intends giving a ball in honour of her "coming out," in the new ball-room just built on to her •home in the Wairarapa. * * * * The Victoria League holds its annual •meeting soon, and the committee are making the occasion coincide with the visit of Sir lan Hamilton to Wellington, sepured the great man's promise to come and say a few words to the members on that occasion. * * #- * . A pretty Berhampore wedding last "week-end was that solemnised in the Baptist Church there, the contracting parties being Miss Mabel Peek and Mr. -Joseph W. Duncan. Members of the -choir had prettily decorated the church, and the service was choral. The bride, who was given away by her brother. Mr. <3eorge Peek, wore white satin, with a -court train of brocade and veil and orange blossoms. Misses May Duncan -and Doris and Eva Peek were her bridesmaids, and wore dresses of cream satin -trimmed with lace and pearls, with ropes o fpearls in their hair. Their bouquets were of violets. Two small flower .girls, Misses Mavis Mason and Jean Duncan, wore white muslin frocks, and carried baskets of bronze chrysanthemums. Mr. A. Duncan was best man, and Mr. James Peek groomsman. After the ceremony, Mrs. Peek received the guests in the Masonic Hall at Berhampore. She wore black voile with lace and cream satin, and a black plumed bat, and carried a bouquet of violets. Mrs. Duncan, mother of the bridegroom, was in black satin and a black hat with ospreys and pink roses, and her posv was of pink carnations and cosmeas. .

There is no doubt about it, if one studies the new fashions appearing in the English journals just now, that we are being threatened with a revival of the "bustle." It was perhaps only to be expected, after the attempted revival of panniers, and again of the Directoire fashions of a century ago, that the uglier mid-Victorian fashion should make a bid for popularity, and that this new silhouette is being received with a certain amount of favour is. already an established fact. One can only hope that it will not be allowed to assume grotesque or exaggerated proportions as it did in the far-off days when Du Maurier delighted the readers of "Punch" with his sketches of Mrs. Ponsonby de Tomkyns and the dinner parties given by Sir Georgius Midas. With his wonderful art Du Maurier seemed able to. invest even the bustle with an air of elegance and grace, but'it would be a thousand pities if the "Teat authorities who are more or less responsible for fashion's vagaries should be tempted to upprovo of anything in the way of a disproportionate protuberance at the back of the skirt. Even although you mav speak of a "tournure," it is a hump all the same. * * * * Perhaps the certain amount of favour being accorded the new idea has its origin in the diminution it must entail, of the heaped-up draperies in front of the skirt, just below the waist, which, no matter how artistiibally they may be arranged, can never in the very nature of things be anvthing but exceedingly ugly and unbecoming, while the lines which run in an upward direction must needs bring about a final result, which has not a single redeeming point in its favour. •* * * * Miss Nash, of the Public Trust Office, Wellington, leaves to-day (Friday) by the Willochra en route to England, for a ten months' holiday. She will catch the German Lloyd's steamer at Sydney. It is Miss Nash's intention to make a tour of the United Kingdom,, and to return to the via Suez, arriving back in Wellington about March next. She has many relatives in the Old Country, but for her this will be a voyage of discovery. * * * * . Dr. Izard returned from Tonga a short time ago, looking thin and interesting, also minus the beauteous garments he was wont to delight the eye with, and immediately everyone asked, Has he come for good? Will he stand for Parliament again ? But the Doctor is wiser than his admirers. "A stiddy job," as Daniel Frawley used to say in one of his characters, is better than being called names on an election platform, and Dr. Tzard will return to his task of keeping alive the very healthy looking Kins of Tonga. Hie former election committee "tea'd" him. at the Burlington the other day. and expressed their disappointment at his intention to return.

Dolores, always sweet and gracious, is with us this week, and delighting everyone with her singing. She still wears her hair smoothly parted as in more youthful days, ana her gowns are always wide and flowing, both on the stage and off, while the little shawl she so often dons in private life is charmingly reminiscent of earlier days. * * * * Mrs McTavish has for so long been a well-known figure in Wellington that her many friends want to see her when she comes to Wellington. A pleasant opportunity to do so was afforded at Ladv Stout's afternoon tea, given,in her honour on Wednesday. Since her husband's death, Mrs. McTavish has been living with her daughter. Mrs. Howard Richmond, in Auckland. To-day (Friday), Mrs. R. W. Holmes gives a tea in her honour also.

A few stray notes on .the present spring's fashions in Paris, some of which' will probably be reflected here in a few months: Skirts are short, and on street suits are ended above the instep, almost at;.the i ankle line. Beads have lost little of their charm. They are still strung • together to form tunics. High linen collars, the flare at the sides, are seen on many of the'new frocks. The searched collar ■ with the inch-wide Eem that has been seen for several months, will proba-' 'fely remain in use throughout the summer—the collar with the points that 'flare widely at each side of the' throat. * l . . * * * . Some of the dressmakers are showing high organdy! collars. But the V-line in the front of the bodice is still the accepted line, and almost every woman will welcome that fact gladly. One Paris frock that attracted a good deal of comment was made with a full skirt that had six flounces. Such a skirt, beneath which embroidered muslin pantalettes showed for four inches, created a real sensation. But such a skirt will probably remain in the realm of sensations for "months to come, perhaps for ever. * ■ *• * * Waistcoats have not lost their hold on fashion. . Many white 1 waistcoats were seen at the French. races/ but they have not yet arrived at Trentham. Some short bolero coats, with white waistcoats and linen collars, were most effective. There were also coloured waistcoats, of stripes and plaids and solid colours, some of them adorned with small pockets. Bodices that are tight and buttoned in front are a feature of some of the new frocks. They are a sudden change from the shapeless, bagging bodice of the present, and perhaps For that very reason are likely to win certain interest and liking. * Colours are rampant! One race frock was called the rainbow dress, for it veritably contained every colour in the rainbow, and a few others to boot. Feathers are widely used for hah" ornaments. The black feather i s usually the most effective sort, especially when it is combined with jewels of some sort to throw it into relief. * * * * m Three weeks ago I received intimation per post of an alleged engagement, signed by a , person who said she was authorised by the lady immediately con<2erned to have it published. As usual, I tried to verify it, but failed. I therefore refrained from giving it publicity, and you may remember that in my notes a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the matter, stating that notification of engagements to be announced in the Feee Lanob must be signed, accompanied by full address, so that the bona fides of the intimation may be assured. Following on this I received a second communication, purporting to come from the lady herself, asking that her engagement be announced. This time the address was given, but when I got into communication with it there was no such party. Now, what does all this mean? Was the wrong address accidentally given, or is it all the work! of some practical joker in a spiteful mood ? Anyway, I can't any engagement until I am satisfied it is correct. So people who send in engagements without giving their true name and address may just as well save themselves the trouble and the postage. * * * * "I am told that-the dance which is to take the place of the tango in 1914," writes a London correspondent, "is called the Kikuyu. It also is of negroid origin. It consists of high kicking and low.kicking. Hence the name. I kick, you kick, he or she Licks. We kick, they kick, ye or you kick. Kikuyu for short. It's the cutest little hop, got the cutest little flop, kikuyu, kikuyu, kikuyu. No duchess will ban it, for it is danced by »11 the best bishops from Toobing to Timbuctoo, fromi .Uganda to Zanzibar. There are; pages about it evtry day in the 'Timea.'" * * # * Two interesting weddings took place last week-end, one being that of Miss Georgina Gordon Stuart Forbes, daughter of the late Sir William Stuart Forbes,

Bart., who was married to Mr. Edgar C. Stowe, of Auckland, third son of Mr. W. W. Stow, of Christchurch. The ceremony was yery quietly celebrated in St. James' Church, Lower Hutt, by the Rev. J. Jones, the bride wearing her travelling dress of powder blue cloth, with a hat to match. She was given away by her brother, •• Mr. Hugh Stuart Forbes, of Fiji, and attended by her sister. Miss Grwen Stuart Forbes., who was in shellpink ninon and a black hat. Mr. Arthur Stow, of Christchurch. was the < best man. Afterwards the bride's sister entertained the wedding guests, who were only the immediate relatives of bride and bridegroom.

The other wedding took place at Masterton,' being that Miss Evelyn Collie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G-. H. Collie, and Mr. Carne Bidwill, son of Mr. John Bidwill, of Pihautea, Lower Valley, near Featherston. The. bride was given away by her father, and wore the tisual bridal finery, white satin and tulle with a court train draped with old lace. Her dress, with its trimming of Brussels lace, was a gift from her aunt, Miss S. Collie, and the bridegroom's pdft was a pearl and diamond nendant. , Misses M. L. and S. M. Collie (sisters of the bride), J. Ahercrombie, and Maud Bolton were bridesmaids, and they wore white satin frocks trimmed with lace'and fur and pink velvet sashes.with black velvet hats. Their gifts were pendants _of pearls and aquamarines. Mrs. Collie, who afterwards received the manv guests at Pouawai, Masterton. wore china blue satin, with cream lace and touches of cerise..