Gossip from Sydney.

Free Lance, Volume XIX, Issue 992, 9 July 1919, Page 10

Gossip from Sydney.

Dear Christ abel, — T ISTEN to my tale of woe. Just -*-J when everything in the garden looked lovely that fiendish 'flu has made its reappearance in such a determined way that nearly half Sydney is down with it. All the brilliant functions which were to be given in honour of Lord Jellicoe have been cancelled, excepting the official dinner given at Government House.

Speaking to the Lady Mayoress yesterday, one could see that, after all the elaborate preparations for the grand hall in the Town Hall on the 25th, she was terribly disappointed that it was not to he held at present, but remarked in her usual cheerful way, "Oh, well, the trouble will not be all for nothing for so far has everything been arranged that when it is possible to hold the ball it will only mean pressing a button, arid voila! the thing is done. * «• * * All' the same the constant postpone- , ment of functions is going to be very tiresome and we never know where we are as it were.

The opening of Furlough House by His Excellency, the Governor-General on Saturday afternoon was advertised to be an open-air function, so there ■must have been about 5000 people present'. "■ This house is. situated at beautiful Narrabeen and is for a holiday resort for soldiers' wives, widows and children. It has been accomplished by private enterprise, the Government having nothing at all to do with it. :Already in the newly completed house women and children have been convalescing after illness, and are full of praise for the treatment they received. His Excellency in his speech said such an ideal place would in his opinion do more towards warding off the 'flu than many of the restrictions we were forced to observe.

Lady Helen Munro Ferguson (a prime favourite with us all) accompanied the Governor-General, and was. .gowned in a dark cloth dress almost covered with handsome furs. Her hat was a plain black panne. Lady Fuller, who usually wears something quite out of the common, looked most graceful in an amethyst dress and a brown mole skin fur, made with a cape at the back and belted m front It was distinctly "smart. Miss Gwen Fuller, who inherits her mother's beauty, wore vieux rose tricotin© onepiece" dress and a fur toque. Alter speeches by Mr Brasch Macarthur and Mr StinsOn the guests were entertained at afternoon tea in the open, the Manly V.A.l).'s making capital waitresses.

The State Governor accompanied by Lady Davidson, presided at a meeting' at the Royal Naval House last "Wednesday to consider means for raising funds to renovate the building. This Naval House provides shelter and board at small cost for members of the Navy visiting these shores and recently at the opening of a similar, home in London His Majesty the King referred to our institution, which he* visited when in Sydney, and said the general arrangements of it were indeed hard to beat. = But the place must be kept up in a< style worthy of the Navy; hence the meeting to arrange for the cost of the same.

The Governor called upon Mr Hugh Ward to give an idea of what he proposed doing and said the committee was to be congratulated in having secured the interest of such a successful organiser as Mr Hugh Ward, who always spoke in thousands when undertaking to raise funds for any charity or patriotic purpose.

Thereupon this actor-manager-orga-niser, said his say and proposed giving a grand matinee at Her Majestv's Theatre as soon as praoticahle. He also suggested that part of the sum raised should go to the Rawson Insti-

tute for Seamen and the Sailors' Home.

* * # # Commodore Dumaresq ("wiio had a warm reception) said he was delight to hear that some of the funds were to go to the homes of our merchant, seamen, for they deserved all we could do for their welfare. "Where, indeed, should we all be without these fine fellows who encountered all kinds of dangers and privations in their calling:? „ „ _ ■

There were two Commodores on the platform, the other being Glossop, of Garden Island, who recently got his promotion. He also had something to say about.this scheme of bettering the lives of sailors,, and inciead there was such a representative gathering that there ia little doubt that a few thousand pounds will easily be raised.

It isn't often that our vice-regal people can manage to creep into a theatre unbeknownst, but occasionally they manage it and I expect they have a keen appreciation of- being off the chain sometime,s. At the Criterion Theatre the other night, just before the lights were lowered, Lady Davidson, accompanied by Miss Henderson and Mrs D'Apice, took l : heir' places in the front stalls and later on the Governor (who had to attend a meeting) arrived with Captain D'Apice in attendance. That they enjoyed "Nothing but the Truth" is to put it mildly. The Governor fairly rocked with laughter at some of the excruciatingly funny parts, and Lady Davidson was none the less amused.

They had a few cases of the 'flu at Government House. Mrs Eliot, a visitor, had rather a bad attack, and then Captain Staham, A.D.C., caught it. The latter is now convalescing at Colonel and Mrs Macarthur's home at Gilbuller.

The arrival of Lord Jellicoe has caused quite a flutter among us all. The battle-cruiser H.M.S. New Zealand arrived on Monday morning and fortunately it was a beautifully fine day, so everything went weli. Strange isn't it, Christabel, . that nearly all naval heroes are small in stature? Admiral Jellicoe is no exception, but is one of the wiry-looking men who always show good mettle when the supreme moment arrives.

Shortly after 10 o'clock a gun was fired from Fort Benison to intimate that the Admiral had left the ship and the buoyed passage way to the landing stage was lined by all the Sydney rowing clubs witli their eights and fours. At the landing another gun was fired and the Admiral was welcomed by the Premier and the Lord Mayor. He then proceeded through the Domain to Government House, wbere an pfficial call was made upon the State Governor. Afterwards the Lord Mayor held an official reception at the Town Hall .

Lady Jellicoe is a very pleasantlooking woman and was smartly gowned in a grey trieotine coat and skirt, large white hat lined with black and she also wore a white feather boa. Lady Cullen, Mrs Holman, the Lady Mayoress and several Ministers' wives were presented to the distinguished visitors when they landed.

An incident ocourred when the party reached the Town Hall which shows the kind of man Admiral Jellicoe is. When he alighted, instead of walking up to the steps of the Town Hall, he started to run after a, car which was being driven to the side of the hall. Everybody stood aghast wondering what was the matter, until they saw the great little man seize the hand of the driver and shake it heartily. It appears he was an Anzao whom the Admiral had met at a munition factory in London and who was then a corporal. Remembering the face of this man when he must meet hundreds every week, is rather wonderful, don't you think so, If we needed any further endearing in <mr hearts this little incident surety did it .

In his speech in the Town Hall, whilst regretting the fact that we were suffering from a bad. epidemic,

the Admiral said there was one bright spot in it and that was that he would be able to get through, more work than he would, had all - the functions taken place which were to have been held in his honour. The Admiral had a busy day on Tuesday visiting Cockatoo, Spectacle and Garden Islands and was the guest of Commodore and Mrs Glossop at lunch at their home, Elizabeth Bay.

.We have heard many harrowing tales of stranded New Zealanders, but one which touched us women keenly was the case where a poor woman was obliged to sell her wedding ring for food. She must have been in the sorest straits, poor soul, and it makes us wonder how the powers that be can allow such things.

People are congratulating the Hon. George Earp on his appointment to the Consul-Generalship for Poland. It seems in the early days of the war Mr and Mrs Earp worked very hard to obtain funds for the suffering Poles and. it is in recognition of that that: Paderewski has conferred the honour on Mr Earp. Mr Earp made himself very popular during the war by organising a fund for the entertaining of the soldiers in camp. Nearly every night excellent concerts or picttoie shows Were provided and the funds were to recoup the artists for their tram fares to the different places and other incidental expenses..

On Thursday evening at St. Mark's Church, Darling Point, Marjorie, the daughter of Captain and Mrs F. H. C. Brownlow, was married to . Corporal Evan Williams, A.I.F. The briday gown was composed of white satin with panniers of Limerick lace, the train being of sitver brocade. A filet of silver held the tulle veil in place. Miss Florence Brownlow and Mis s Marcia Williams, gowned in a mauve oharmjeuse, acted as bridesmaids. After the ceremony Captain and Mrs Brownlow entertained the guests at the Naval Depot and later on the evening festivities terminated ' with a dance. The bride is one of the trio of pretty girls noted for their smart dressing, their clever brains and fingers designing and making all their own clothes.

"VVe can think of little else but warm, wraps during these bitter westerly winds and many and varied are the styles presented this season. The long elegant cape has come to stay. We have it in fur, gabardine, or the übiquitous cneeE. To some of these graceful garments is added the capuchin hood, which is generally lined with seal musquash .

Most of our wraps have the useful graceful collars attached. These collars of generous cutare among the sensible things Dame Fashion has designed. They may fall either on the shomlders like a tippet, ior, if th)& weather is such ijhat the ears call for protection, they can he huttoned right up to the chin and not a whiff of wind will find its- way where it isn't welcome.

One of the few colours in our costumes which nermit of a contrary shade in shoes and stockings is navy hlue. • Grey is, of course, the best shade,, but mastio is very fetching when worn with a rich navy. I have seen a few wine coloured costumes worn with lemon suede shoes and stockings, but the. combination is hardly as happy as with navy.

A great penchant is being shown for yellow in all its beautiful tints, from pale canary to deep amber or flame colour. This shade is often exploited in the comfy woollen caps and scarves. A pretty face peeping out from under one of these jaunty caps,

with the neck swathed in a scarf to match, is most bewitching. * * * * , ' There is a perfect rage for vivid colours and often the above-men-tioned articles have as many as three distinct .dolour's worked into them. For instance, a pale grey set had a bordering of blue and green in a rather large check which was particularly sweet. (You should rteally get one of these sets, Christabel. RONA.