Gossip from Sydney.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 916, 1 February 1918, Page 19

Gossip from Sydney.

Dear ChRISTABEIi, — TN the New Year rush at our G.P.O: Something must have happened to the "Gossip" that should have'reached yon in the. January 11 issue of the Free Lance. Since the war, the New South Wales postal authorities claim that comparatively inexperienced and therefore slow sorters are mainly responsible, with the general shorthandedness, for the frequently belated arrival of letters, etc. "Watch and pray" is the- best motto for those who have much business correspondence. *a - * • * » During the recent holiday season indignant citizens voiced their protests in letters "to the. Editor." But, gnashing of.teeth and spilling of ink are of no avail. The question is going to be an after-war bone to be picked by Federal politicians. If the penny post is resulting in such deplorable inefficiency, will the public welcome suggestions that bring in a higher income to the department and the prospects of a better service ? i-. ~.*..- * * a Several paii-s of happy lovers ■ decided to begin 1918 together. Amongst them was Captain Glossop, C.8., R.N., the Sydney-Emden hero. He is a very modesty pleasant-mannered sailor, notrobust in appearance, but apparently of the wiry bulldog breed which rarely knows the meaning of "fatigue." The bride, Miss Alison McPhillamy, belongs, as I told you, to a wealthy New South Wales pastoral family. With every desire to make the event a quiet war-wedding, local interest in Bathurst, the home town of the MePhillamys, was so great that the country side for miles round was determined to see :the cereniony—or the bridegroom. For once, the bride who generally reigns supreme oh such an occasion, was- only a supplement to the famous naval man. * * * # A Bathurst friend who saw the Glos-sop-McPhillamy wedding from an uneasy 'vantage point on an inch or two of hassock at the back of All Saints' Cathedral, sent me the following account; "The bride 4 though she has not been; counted in the academic sense one'of Bathurst's pretty girls, has a delicate and interesting face, and certainly looked charming on the great occasion. Her-beautiful, dress, of ivory tulle mounted on. silk was finished at the! hem with exquisite silk embroidery.' A dull gold sash defined the waist. The corsage was moderately low cut in the neck, and softly : puffed with tulle. A sheaf of- lilies tied .with gold satin streamers; was an aftistio.-climax. Tall and slender, the bride looked 1 ike a lily herself as she" passed down the aisle on her sailor husband's arm. Gold and white blossoms- decorated the church. Afternoon tea, at which only a few intimate friends and relatives were present, took place at "Blair Athol," the bride's home. Captain and Mrs. Glossop after spending a few days on the Blue Mountains, have gone to Tasmania for the rest of the honeymoon. Hundreds of people crowded round the newly-married pair as. they drove off to catch the mountain train." * * * # Raudwick is having its Anniversary Meeting in two halves. The first day was last Saturday. On January 26, the actual date of the foundation of the colony, the second meeting comes off. Though most of our fashionable women, other than those who have entirely, devoted themselves to war work, are out of town in January and February, a few of those who would rather miss their dinner than lose a race day, were on the course. In addition, there are the busy professional people who cannot hie away to the hills, however hot the city may be. Miss Ada Reeve wore a wonderful brown silk coat with many-coloured spots the size of apricots, over a silk gown in dull brown. But very little else of sartorial interest, appeared. White lingerie frocks and smartly cut tailor-made costumes were universal. * * * j * ' The new. Tasmania!* Governor's eldest daughter, Miss Newdegate Newdigate, has just passed through Sydney on her way to England. She is described as a beautiful girl, and is going back, according, to rumour, to marry a British officer to whom she is engaged. ■a ■ .-•:".'.' a «» Miss Kathleen Austin was quietly married early in the New Year to Mr..' Webb, a returned soldier. An inde-' fatigable Red. Cross worker, she is a member of that Austin family which gave a Poet Laureate to England, in spite of questions such as "Why not Swinburne ?" The late Alfred Austin was an uncle of the recently-wed Sydney lady. * * * * The-present version of "Peter Pan" has not been the artistic success of.. that delightful cast in which Tittell Brune was the inimitable spirit of youth. as vthe boy who never, grew .up. :: Miss Kathlene Macdonell is too noisy

and boisterous in the leading partj and Charles Waldron, with a limited sense of humour, was a heavily-constructed Pirate King. One small, keen intellect stood out in the children's parts. Cecil Haines as one of the Wendy Group, was certainly more in the J. M. Barrio fairy spirit than much more experienced adult professionals in the cast: *• ■ . * * «■ The wedding of Miss Fanny Kemp and Mr. Leonard Bell has been specially interesting to the sculling fraternity—apart, of course, from that interest which the principal parties take in their day of days. Miss Kemp is a daughter of the world's champion sculler of some years ago, and is, besides, a doughty lady sculler herself. Mr. Bell, a dentist by profession, has been a noted amateur oarsman. Aquatic circles. drank the health of the happy couple in the big rowing shed at Abbotsford, which is a noted jumpingoff place for marine sports. " * * * * The ordinary woman can only regard the present Federal political situation as something beyond her ken. The Nationalist Party returned with a big majority last May is now in the hapless position of a writhing mass of humanity tied in so many knotted cords l that no knife seems to be sharp enough to cut them without hacking bits but of the agonised body •a- a ,3 ■ « ' • Dr. Hordern, at present out of town, comes to Sydney for the War Chest cricket match. The New South Wales players, are to take part in this otic effort for a splendid .war fund; Dr. Hordern, of course, has a big reputation as a "googly" bowler, and his "gobgling" is likely to give youthful cricketers anldea of his formidable work in the field. * * * * To the eternal credit of women whoare interested . in the interminable comforts funds for our men at the Front, they have cut their Christmas holidays down to a fortnight at the outside. Certainly the heads—in prewar time they knew golf or tennis as "hard work"—of the leading funds, have been most severe to themselves. "Our soldiers may go without many things vital to their health, if we give ourselves a long summer rest: After the war we can make up for a little self-denial now," was the Spartan edict of one leading Red Cross worker. Yet the peculiarly sapping kind of heat here during January and February is an insidious temptation to bathe. - .. * . *. * . * The Premier, Mr. Holman, with his wife, gave an afternoon tea to Miss Eileen Boyd. A recently returned Australian vaudeville artist of great personal charm, she has a fine contralto voice, and will sing under the Tivoli management during her present visit to her native city. Miss Boyd, who has been eight, years in Europe, is overjoyed to find herself safe in Australia after a thrilling voyage and the nerve-trying air raids in London. Mr. Leon Gellert, the young Adelaide poet who wrote "Songs of a Campaign," was one of the guests at this little gathering, which included Mrs. Hugh Mcintosh. The Rev. Horace Crotty is a very popular young Anglican minister whose parish is really on the north side of the harbour.. He has come into special prominence during the last week, as he has just refused the Archbishop of Melbourne's offer of a fashionable parish in that city. His reason is, that as . he is of military age—or he would be considered an eligible under conscription—he intends to go to the Front. * * * * A well-known Sydney pressman, Mr. Horace Rogers, died at the age of 71 a week or two ago. For. 47 years he had used his pen on the same paper, the Sydney "Morning Herald." As a shrewd and capable journalist, he was much respected. Whether the same energy, industry, and ability if applied for the same time in any other trade or calling would not have given a much greater recompense, it is now too.late to discuss.; At.7o, Mr. Rogers was still actively engaged in what seems to most of. us the dull task of being chief law reporter for the big morning paper. What a wonderful tome of experiences oh the seamy side of life this able old pen-man must have gathered in the fusty law courts! He was the son of a once famous actor, the late G. H. Rogers. * * - ' * ■ * "Our Day" for the British Red Cross has reached a. cash result of £81, pOO, and contributions are still coming in. *s * '*•■"'# In April we are to .have a big effort for -bur own Red Cross. This, I believe, will be a simultaneous effort in all the States. Whether, after so , much New-South -Wales can reach her former record'in 1915, when -about £850,000 flowed by- voluntary .gifts-into, pur Australia Day, treasury, is doubtful. Since then extra taxa-

tion, heavier expenditure, and many more war funds have made even the most generous look more carefully at their shillings. ...Still, .our Red Cross has an unchallenged right to ask for what it wants. .■ . * . . * .. * * The Governor-General and Lady Helen Ferguson will spend most of the winter in Sydney, arriving for the Easter. Show. This is .good news. His Ex. is so genial and unaffected, and so keenly interested in simple things that would bore a more official type of Governor, that he radiates good fellowship wherever he goes. Lady Helen is a. greater sticker for ceremonial—or she was. The anxieties of war-time have softened and rounded a few cold corners in the character of a fine highminded woman; . *, * * # As the fashion of the moment is to wear as little as decorum permits, if indoors especially, in these steamy summer days, there is nothing to be said about the styles." In February, autumn modes will be exhibited in our most exclusive show rooms. Perhaps this is by way of keeping the ravenous moth out of new furs, and advertising the Easter goods. But there are not many Sydney women who want to look Arctic fox or black bear in the face for many weeks to come. At least I imagine so . Woman is the heroic individual who bares her chest to. the icy blasts of our Town Hall on winter concert nights. Why should she quail at the vision of a fur coat in a temperature of anything tropic you like to mention? * * * # The Chief Inspector of Schools in the State Education Department, Mr, Dawson, is at present laid up in a private hospital. A Scotchman who has worked his -way from the lowest rung in the ladder, he is popular in the most sincere meaning of the term with the huge staff—the State employs* about 7000 teachers —whose destiny he presides over. % # * * More or less, of course, can he be said to represent the All-Powerful hand. The State, particularly in war time, has to cut down, its expenses so far as it can. And a minor position in the Education scheme is not at any time a too happy occupation. But all eyes turn to Mr. Dawson to keep the scales of justice rightly balanced. His sympathy with young teachers, and a certain genial trick of laughing the chronic grumblers out of h.is (or her) fit of blues, added to his reputation for justice, make Mr. Dawson "the" man in the State's Elysium, for imprinting the three It's on the infant mind. . The warmest wishes from teachers and- public for his speedy recovery follow the grand old man of the Education Department for his spee4y recovery;

Though this State, as a whole, has been blessed with copious rainfalls during the past 12 months, a dry spell 1 in some of our great- pastoral areas ~ has brought a New Year's blaze of bush fires. Out west, hundreds of square miles (not acres) of grass have' been burnt, and in many cases there have been desperate fights to save fine homesteads. Whether all these losses have come from what insurance companies call "An Act of God" is by-no means sure. Several outbreaks are so mysterious that it looks as if the Direct Action pests have been supplying the necessary match. In one" district, however, lightning set about 10,000 acres in flames. Tours discursively, RONA.