Gossip from Sydney.

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 839, 4 August 1916, Page 20

Gossip from Sydney.

Dear Chbistabel,

SPRING fashions are already being exhibited by the mannequins in fashionable Sydney shops. Most of these girls are tall and handsome, so even the outre models look well on their graceful figures. It is a custom that leads to the undoing of squat matrons if their judgment be weak and their "credit good. For they buy unsuitable frocks —to the great advantage of the firms which display them on youth and beauty.

The dressmakers having cut off some inches in length add a couple of yards or more to the width. Then they elaborate the scheme with a mile or two of ruches and flouncing. If bustles are not in, then the mannequins in a recent dress display must have had natural humps—in the place where the bustles used to.be. Over these curves were puffs or flounces.

Below the hips, the skirts are still innocent of the dread crinoline. But a wire certainly supports, rather than extends, the lower hem. Taffetas is an obsession. It formes the foundation of the best afternoon and evening frocks. Exquisite embroideries in ,silk, or silver, or bullion, are the motifs. Tulle is now a frenzy." So it goes over everything, either in tunic or upper flouncing. A lovely extravagance my sisters! But the war news is so bright, that one can. at least, chat cheerfully of the Frock Glorified.

The Australian girl, on the coast, is •a mermaid rather than a shepherdness. At least, so say the numerous poets who toast the Manly surf siren in foaming tankards of this or that. # The spring fashions, however, are trying to make the Sydney belle a copy of the Watteau lady who stands with her china lamb in old curio shops. Floral summer silk is bunched up over the full taffetas skirt. Apple green, or royal blue, with diversions into misty mauve, are the favourits colours.

Hats will reflect the shepherdness frocks. Light wide shapes in leghorn or crinoline straw, with a few posies of flowers to trim the low crowns, are tied under the chin with narrow velvet strings." Mannequins certainly looked

charming (that was their business) in this millinery. Every detail in their costumes suited their head-gear. How some of the more bulky society women, who watched the parade will get on as~ Demoiselle Watteau is another matter. Instead of the laxnb, an ovei"-fed pug, or sleepy poodle will complete the rural vision..

The Governor, safely back from his trip to Adelaide, presided at the Red Cross annual meeting, in the Town Hall. What memories of last year's gathering, when the war-clouds were dense and black, it conjured ut>! The most telling speech was made by the Acting-Premier, Mr. Cann, a man whose integrity has made him a pillar of the present Labour Government's stormy official life. The Red Cross at this meeting was its defence —or rather the New South Wales branch with its huge funds; in reserve. \ feeling that it should disburse the Australia Day Fund more freely is growing in the public mind.

Brigadier-General AVallack, who was Commandant of New South Wales till he took a trip to Egypt, is back again. He had a serious illness last year, and it was hoped that the sea voyage would be sufficient recuperation. Instead, he became much worse, and spent a long and weary time in an Egyptian hospital. Now, he is declared convalescent again. • » •: »

The learned cat is out of the bag! There is no more doubt as to the new headmaster of our famous old King's School. He is the Rev. J. A. Pattinson, M.A., formerly of St. John's College, Cambridge. At one time he was on the teachers' staff of the big Manchester (England) Grammar School with a roll of 1000 boys. Six years ago he came out to Brisbane to their new Cathedral. One of the rules of the King's School, which is managed by trustees in council, is that the headmaster must be an Anglican clergyman. Besides this he must have had a notable scholastic career either at Oxford or Cambridge.

Captain Boulton, the Governor's new A.D.C., looks a mere youth. He is suffering from shell shock —or rather is in the convalescent stage —which still leaves the subject ''nervy." However, Australia will mother him and give hirr back the sprinp of life!

Melba is in full swing, dominant and in imperious mood. She is—very wisely —starting her campaign for the Russians in Sydney. Here, it will be quite easy to get the £10,000, which is her minimum, towards Australia's £50,000 for a; field hospital for Ivan.

Rather unwisely, if I may say so, •Melba started the subscription list with £50 from herself. This, from so wealthy a woman, with a recent legacy besides of £40,000 under her father's will, has by no means fired the public imagination. But she is a fine commanding officer, nevertheless, and will make the other Deople work—and pay —for the cause of heroic Russia, the primitive child of modern Europe.

The auction of seats for next week's matinee is, tc-day, with Melba wielding the ivory hammer in He? Majesty's Theatre. The performance is to be on August 3rd, with our famous Nellie in acts from "Faust" and the opera "Otello." The Russian musicians, Mirovitch and Piastro, come to Sydney purposely to take part in this star event. At first sight, there was a little hesitation in adding this £50,000 for Russia to the public's continual war efforts for France, for the little nations oppressed by Germany, and for our own wounded. But there are few so poor in this happy land as not to spare Ivan something a's a souvenir of his magnificent fight against the common enemy.

The Minister- for Education, Mr. Arthur Griffith, is again in charge of his Department. One of his first acts has been to appoint Mrs. Dwyer to a seat on the University Senate. The reason is good, in the abstract: that the rapidlyincreasing: number of women students entitles them to a representative of their sex in the 'Varsity dons. The choice of Mrs. Dwyer for a seat amongst the cream of Svdnev'& cultured men is in execrable taste.

That Mrs. Dwyer is an exceedingly wnrthv woman, if rather rough in the grain, no one doubts. She is a prominent voice in Trades Hall Councils, and burns with a fierce desire to "down" capitalists (except on pay day, of course) and right the wrongs of the Labouring classes. What these may be in a State where_ Labour tosses away its tools on the slightest pretext, only the Trades Hall can presume to say. To introduce an aggressive political element into our University Senate is not likely to add lustre to the name of Mr. Arthur Griffith.

Wattle Day on August Ist has caused a little heartburning between the founders of the movement and the Kindergarten Union. The latter being hard up since the war lessened their subscriptions, intended this year, as last, to sell wattle in the streets for their funds.

The Wattle League waives its rule that the feathery bloom is to be given, and not made a source of barter on that day. But it insists that the Kindergarten authorities shall not, incidentally, traffic under their banner as it were. Hence, some feminine asperity on both sides of the wattle hedge. Mrs. Kettlewell, Mr. Maiden, director of bur Botanic Gardens, and Mrs. OluniesRoss founded the League in 1909. Now, of course, it has spread, like wild-briar, in all the States. In London they call it Mimosa, and also make a little festival of the day.

The Queen. Victoria Club, a centre in which Liberal ladies dispense tea and mild polities, is going to move into new quarters. It will presently tell each other that Mr. Wade is to lead the country (after the next elections) in the Chamber of Commerce Building.

Lady Edeline Strickland presided at a recent meeting at Government House. The object is to raise War Chest funds by a new flag movement. There are to be several books, eventually enshrined in our Military Library. In these the signatures of those who pay a minimum

of Is to inscribe their own or their soldiers' names will be kept. Each subscriber gets a replica of the Union Jack. The idea appeals to the .vanity of poor human nature. Who would not give a shilling to go down to bored posterity in a book stored amongst Australian relics ? ' Mr. AValker, the indefatigable hon. secretary of the War Chest, and Mr. H. Y. Braddon were the principal speakers.

Miss Merle Campbell, daughter of a well-known squatter, Mr. Jack Campbell, was married this week. Thejbridegroom was Lieut. Frank Griffiths, recently invalided home from the front. He is quite'convalescent now, and will soon leave his pretty bride to get back to the war zone.

The new Mrs. Griffiths wore an exquisite gown on her "wedding day. Flounced with - silver lace, with fluffy tulle flounces again over the beautiful sheen of the silver, the skirt was a dream of loveliness. On the corsage, a gleam of pale pink showed under more silver lace and fairy-like folds of white tulle. With the orange blossoms were tiny pink-tinted buds. A tulle veil, with the soft shimmer of silver embroidery at the foot, floated over, this charming creation. After the wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Campbell entertained their guests at the Australia.

Lady Doris Blackwood, a niece of Lad}' Helen Munro Ferguson, has been getting through a round of visits', to friends in this State. She is a merry, unassuming girl, and very popular with other girls. So she has a good time in Australia, being quite free from any desire to" dwell always in the seats of the mighty—Federal Government House. Station life interests Lady Doris, specially as she is a good all-round sport. Now the visits are ended for the present, and she is with Auntie Helen in Melbourne.

Sock competitions wage ceaseless rivalry in knitting circles. What the smaller country towns will do without them when Peace comes one cannot imagine.

Captain Howell-Price, lately decorated by the King for distinguished service, is a son of a Sydney, clergyman. Another son, Lieut.- J. Howell-Price, is on the Alcantafj which recently fought a German cruiser in the North Sea. He, too, has recently received the Distinguished Service Cross. So a very proud father says: "Let us pray," in St. Silas' Church. ,

Aii old theatrical identity,. Mr. Arthur Lissant, died a few days ago in St. Vincent's Hospital. In the palmy days of Gilbert and Sullivan operas lie sang here in leading roles. He had a good baritone voice and was a very capable aotor, and was well known throughout New Zealand. Mrs. Lissant, I believe, resides in Wellington.

Yours discursively. RoNA.