Gossip from Sydney

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 795, 24 September 1915, Page 19

Gossip from Sydney

Dear Christabel, —

THE summer has come upon us before its time. A series of warm winds, laden with dust, remind us that spring, so much admired by poets, is here. In Sydney we are apt to be cold to its charms. Westerly gales drone through the telephone wires and tear one's millinery to acute angles. Spring in Australia has a few days of mild beatitude here and there. On the whole, however, it is not all it's cracked up to be by residents of the Poets' Corner. * * # #

Sir Gerald Strickland and his dauehers are touring the northern rivers, where the present spell of riotous weather will' be their travelling companion. The Tweed Heads, a famous beauty spot, is to be their try sting place with the Queensland Governor and his charming Canadian wife. The vice-regal Gootd-Adamses are already l very popular in the big northern State. They are fond of sport, and combine with this qualification for their billet attractive indoor habits such as tact and suavity.

The A.D.C. department in our Govefhor's household is at low-water mark. Captain d'Apice, a local man who' filled the position to the satisfaction of Has Excellency, is now seriously ill. His place has been taken in the sudden emergency by a very young man, Mr. Geoffrey Hughes. His father, the recently knighted Sir Thomas Hughes,- 'has been Lord Mayor of Sydney several times, and is a very leading citizen. His eldest son leaves the uni T versity for the front. The other boy, Geoffrey, a mere lad, is studying aviation for the same objective. In his spare time he "attends" the Governor.

The war has not' only sopped up all the suitable young men here who' could jump into the patent-leather boots of an A.D.C., but it has reduced the always limited choice of R.C. Aides to almost nil. No man could) intrude his religious views less than our constitutional Governor. But he naturally likes to have one member of his staff of the same faith to go to church with him. The pre-war aide was usually a cheerful pagan who had no objection to officially attending any form of theology. But this was not always satisfactory. The nonJCatholic is likely to make blunders at ceremonials . he doesn't understand. Captain d'Apice was of the Faith, so he filled an emergency niche very well. Young Hughes is also of the same religion as His Excellency. But his one desire is to go aloft in a war machine, so by Christmas Sir Gerald may be reduced to advertising for a steady young man of nice manners and pleasing address, R.C. preferred.

Christmas gifts for • our men in the Dardanelles are absorbing the energies of our younger girls in particular. There is something personal and tangible about this form of sympathy. Plum puddings, home made, that only want heating (even cold they will be considered food for the gods in the trenches), cigarettes and chocolate are the chief constituents. Melbourne women are sending 20,000 "billy" gifts, a more Australian form than our packages. Still, the Sydney committee, of which Lady Stuart is president, will probably see no objection/ to individuals packing up their presents in every bushman's favourite utensil.

Mr. and Mrs. Gibbes and daughter, Nora, axe still ■at the Wallaringa Mansions, Neutral Bay.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lavington were at the Australia Hotel for a recent holiday. They have a fruit farm a/b Glengary, Launceston, and like the life in Tasmania. Mrs. Lavington, formerly Miss Eileen Blundell, _of Wellington, had her two brothers. Wilfred and Garnet, as her guests for a while in Launceston. The whole party came this way, and the brothers have now atone back to their sheep farm near Te Kuiti. •x- # * .'#

An information bureau is opening in this city. Mr. Langer Owen, K.C., is the sponsor of the new infant. Information dealing with Red Cross matters, and concerning the whereabouts of our men in Egypt, Malta, or elsewhere, will be furnished from this base.

The fact that Mr. Adrian Knox, K.C., ibas cabled for at least six business men to go to his help in Egypt, proves that the Red Cross methods have been in immediate need of re-modelling. Lady Helen Ferguson, as the wife of the Go-vernor-General, is officially the head of the Australian Red Cross Executive. She is too able a woman to be a mere figure-head, and has given unselfish service to the work. But, in common with „ most Personages, she is liable to take umbrage at criticism. Yet in this in-

stance the criticism concerns the Egyptian end of the tangled war skein.

Her Excellency has rather warmly expressed her disbelief in the statements that originated with Dr. Springthorpe. This leading .Melbourne surgeon is now either in Egypt or at Lemnos, and he ought to know how things are. The urgent cable from Mr. Knox implies that there has been muddle which must be cleared up at once. Our returned wounded soldiers are emphatic in support of Dr. Springthorpe's charges.

Australian Manufacturers' Week has this year been one of special and absorbing interest to women-folk. Lady Edeline Strickland' drove round the city with Mr. Vicars, president of the "Chamber of Manufacturers. In this tour the vice-regal lady was so impressed by the magnificent display of local goods that she wrote art appeal to Australian women urging them to buy in their own markets. Parasols made in Sydney are charming in colour and design. The local dyer appears to be prolific in exquisite tints of blue, and this season's sunshade runs the gamut from pale azure to sapphire, deep royal, and the many varieties in navy. In blue, the Australian girl reflects this summer the glory of her native skies.

At the just finished week of Australian talent at the Repertory Theatre, the talent was of all sizes, from the adult to the very small child. It has been pointed out that the juveniles gave little attention to 'home-made music or recitations. Next year, as the movement grows, stricter conditions must be imposed. We have some composers, like Miss Esther Kahn, whose dainty music, very French in style, is too rarely heard in her own city. Sometimes Miss Lilian Frost gives us these compositions on the great Town Hall organ. Invariably they have to be repeated. Neither weather prophets nor musicians are over-estimated in their own land I fear.

Mr. R. B. Orchard, M.H.R., of Liverpool Camp fame (he is the member who forced the inquiry), gave the medals to the Australian Talent competitors. He belongs to a firm of jewellers and silversmiths here, so the gifts were from his own workrooms. Mr. "Vicars, who handed out the trophies, made an admirable speech as a preface. The judging was by ballot papers from the audience at the six nights' competitions. So keen was the voting, that in some cases onlv one vote divided the prize-winner from her (or his) rival.

To be., striped l and flounced is likely, to become an obsession for the next month or two. With these flounced frocks, there comes a zebra effect in the black and white striped muslins. By way of keeping at it, a wide flat hat, covered with the same streaky design, is perched on the head at an angle of 45 degrees. Black velvet strings tie under the chin*.

The theatres are particularly dull this year. It is difficult to find to say in praise of the latest importations. The women have none of . the piquant charms of our own girls, and in musical comedy we have yet to import a voice like that of Florence Young—sterling artist and jolly good fellow!

If the .war has all the far-reaching influence we expect, Australian, talent will eventually we able to claim the big salaries to which the mediocre 'Murkan visitor affixes his impressive signature. Out income tax authorities woke up to the possibilities of getting a small cut at these birds of passage. Muriel Starr, just on the wing, with the bulk of her huge Australian takings, had to sign away a cheque for between £50 and £60 for "the benefit of the country which contributed so handsomely to her luxuries. No one grudges the money earned by a really gifted actress like Muriel Starr. But it's up to this State to get a fraction of it in these strenuous times.

Yours discursively, HoNA