Gossip from Sydney.

Free Lance, Volume XIX, Issue 993, 16 July 1919, Page 9

Gossip from Sydney.

Deab Chbistabel, — ANOTHER wave of influenza is now passing over us, and has badly disorganised things. The medical men think it will be short and sharp. We know it is the latter and only hope it may be the former. * * * * On Saturday night, Mr King-Salter (manager of the Cockatoo Dock) and Mrs King-Salter gave a very enjoyable dance on Cockatoo Island one of our charities, but quite half the number of those, expected were absent through the J flu. From the wharf to the scene of the dance, which was uv the huge laying-ofi loft, ropes of coloured Tights were busy making this usually bW island look for the nonce like fairyland*.

Mrs King-Salter received her guests at the entrance to the ball-room, wearing a pretty frock of pale blue taffeta wftb' touches of black velvet Commodore Glossop and his graceful wife were present. Lady Cullen, dressed in her favourite grey, was accompanied by her sister, Mrs HungerfordT who wore a pretty frock m pale blue georgette. Mrs Eady took a party of twelve, one of whom, Miss Vallentine, wore the prettiest dress in the room. It was of the palest blue silk embroidered with huge blurred pink roses, the overskirt being bunched up in a pannier style. Miss Lyndall Solomons (daughter of our City Treasurer) also wore a very sweet dress of pale amethyst silk with a satin stripe. Miss Beryl Edwards chose a very elaborate frock in black and gold net over emerald georgette; Mrs Fred Lawes looked smart in a •bljack net dress over silk _ with jet trimmings; Mrs Beg Harrison wore twine-coloured lace over ciel blue satin with diamante filet in her hair. The Dock Band provided excellent music and dancing was kept up until nearly midnight, when special launches conveyed the guests to their different destinations. . •

There are great heart-burnings over the Lord Mayor's Ball, which is to happen on the 25th. Naturally all our citizens want to be present, and as the Town Hall is not elastic, invitations are of "necessity limited. So many have urged their claims to-be invited , that it is advertised m the daily press that from now the invitation list is closed.

News comes from London that Miss Katfhi&en Starling (what an appropriate name for a singer 1) who took her voice home some years ago, is now singing with -wonderful success Archie Adams's latest song "The Bells of St. Mary's." It seems this song is all the rage at present m London and New York, which is another feather,in the cap of the young Sydney composer, who wrote that popular •patriotic song, "God Send You Back." Young Adams has a clever sister Bertie, who has done well on the London stage. She is a tiny girl with a wealth of red hair and a marvellous voice, which, added to her rare dramatic ability, put £he Sydney girl into the running as aoon as she arrived in London some few years ago. This brother and sister are a clever pair of whom Sydney is very proud.

Some weeks ago, Christabel I told ,you of the double wedding of the Misses Willgoss. Since then their father has followed their example, and married a widow, Mrs Hillyar. Mr Willgoss, who is attached to the firm of Gordon and) Goteh, is a church warden at St. Tromas's Church, Mosman, and is a very popular man. * * * «■ The Board * of Directors of the Y.W.C.A., «ave an "at home" on Thursday last at the new Blue Triangle Hut which is situated at Woolloomooloo Bay wharf. This room has been provided for the reception of soldiers' wives and overseas women and girls. Lady Cook was asked to declare the hut open, and among the

speakers were Miss Amy Snelson, Miss Stevenson and Mrs Pratt. The room has been lent the Y.W.C.A. by the Harbour Trust and is a fine airy room in which to welcome friendless women. Miss Fowler, who is a most active member of the Y.W.C.A., received the guests and afterwards entertained them at afternoon tea.

Lady Cook was in great spirits as she is dailfr expecting hler son, Major Cook and his wife. Major Cook has been on active service for . over four years so there is great rejoicing at his return. * * # * On Saturday afternoon His Excellency and Lady Davidson entertained members of the Australian Board of Missions and delegates to the Mission Conference at Government House. His Excellency presided, the meeting being held in the ball room. Addresses were delivered by Dr Stuart Donaldson, Archbishop of Brisbane, and Dr. Radford, Bishop of Goulburn, on the responsibility of the Church in the Pacific. The Primate, Archbishop Wright, was on the platform, and among the large gathering were Canon and Mrs Hughes, Rev. Wentworth Shields (Armidale) Rev. F. V. Drake (Newcastle), Rev. G. H. and Mrs Lea (St. Mark's), Colonel Maitland Woods, Mr Justice and Mrs Harvey, Miss Thea Stephens, Mrs Geo. Stiles, Captain and Mrs Roberts. After the business of the meeting was finished tea Avas served in the dining room. *■■»** A wedding which should be of interest to New Zealanders, was solemnised at St. John's Church, Darlinghiars't, on Saturday afternoon, between Miss Norma Violet, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs N. Aronson. of "Bona Vista," Neutral Bay, and Mr John Quinlan, of Eddingwood Station, Matamata, Auckland, New Zealand. The pretty little bride wore an uncommon dress of pale pink cloth and a black velour hat finished with a wreath of pale blue flowers. Miss Rose Davenport acted as bridesmaid and wore a dress of primrose silk inlet with filet lace, her black hat being relieved with white quills. Mr Denman Groom was best man. During the signing of the register Mr Goossens sang "Because." Mr and Mrs Aronson received the guests after the ceremony at the Hotel Australia. The bride's travelling costume was in tete de nigre with a hat in cream colour. After a honeymoon at Mount Victoria Mr and Mrs . Quinlan will leave for their home in New Zealand. *■* * *

On Wednesday Sir Walter Davidson presided at a meeting at the Royal Naval House to consider ways and means of raising iunds for the renovation and remodelling of the Royal Naval House. It -was proposed to open a subscription list and to accept, the offer of Mr Hugh Ward of a special Naval Matinee ta be held at Her Majesty's Theatre on June 30th, at which Admiral Lord Jellocoe has signified his intention of being present. Lady Davidson and Commodore Dumaresq were at the meeting and considerable interest was shown in the proposed scheme to make the Royal Naval House more fit for the housing; of our sailor men.

Among the arrivals from England last week were Colonel and Mrs Newton with their two children. Before the war Colonel Newton was on the staff of the State Governor in Brisbane where he married Miss Verney, sister of Captain Ralph Verney, A.D.C. to Lord Chelmsford. Miss Verney was on a visit to her brother when she met Colonel Newton. It will perhaps be remembered that Captain Verney married Miss Nita-* Walker, a niece to Sydney's richest woman, Miss Eadith Walker.

The Archbishop of Brisbane (Dr. Donaldson) is at present the guest of His 'Excellency and Lady Davidson at Government House.

The world seems full of surprises these days, and the march of the heroes from H.M.A.S. Australia was one of them. It is well known that every iass loves a sailor, and yet, Christa-

Bel, these fine men, who did so much for us during the war, were allowed to march through our streets without a single cheer. Why is it? everybody asks. Surely, surely, it wasn't for lack of appreciation of .their great deeds. Of course, as you know there ia a silence which is more eloquent than words, and I would like to think this was a case in point. The dear lads looked fine as they marched past and some of us wanted to hug each one of them. The march was headed by the band of the Australia and both the Governor and Major-General Lee watched the procession from Macquarrie afcreet whilst at the Town Hall Commodore s»umaresq and the Lord Mayor wei'e there to welcome them. Flags fluttered lackadaisically form some of our public buildings just as if they, joined in the apathy of the public. Those among us who have loved ones in the Navy .are feeling quite indignant about this silent welcome of our heroea.

The cold westerly winds have been the means of bringing to light more wonderful furs. It is impossible to place some of the skins- as they evidently belong to some animale quite unknown to us. Yesterday I saw sreposing on the back of one of our best dressers a skin nearly as- large as a hearth rug. It was a beautiful silver frey and it was hard to .imagine it ad covered a mere fox —it must have been a much larger animal.

The skin of the whole beastie which covers one should'er we ll and leaves but two legs for the other is still much in vogue. I could never become used to this barbaric mode of wearing skins which is as senseless as is it unbecoming. A few of the real seal-skin coats are to. be seen this season but really the imitation sealette is so like the real thing that we hesitate to give a hundred guineas for a seal-skin coat when a good substitute can be obtained for twenty.

There has been a very decided return to the smart close-fitting hats, which) are certainly more sensible wear during the windy season. Nothing can beat the snug fitting turbans with just a sensation of trimming— chiefly a tiny •cluster of fruit or flowers. Although for some time past we have tried our best to oust the ostrich feather from our hat adornment, it positively refuses to take a back seat. Lady Davidson rarely wears a hat without plumep. Feathers are really a most becoming hat trimming, so it is goodl to see them in favour again. But it needs an artistic hand to manipulate them, and there should never be too much feather, and this must always be the real thing. None of the made-up article we used to tolerate is permissible. RONA.