SOCIAL GOSSIP

Free Lance, Volume XIX, Issue 1029, 17 March 1920, Page 26

SOCIAL GOSSIP

Dear • Chkistabei, —• SAVAGES will find the modern ' society belli© a difficult rival to -get ahead of, if the following horrible forecast -of the trend of fashionable " undress " movement continues). The writer says: " The high rates ruling .for silk stockings led to the no-stocking movement, and women painted decorations on their legs." ; v.. . . * * -SC- * . Visitors to Durban will:'be_ in a posi- I tion to know that the rickshaw Basutosi and Zulus were certainly ahead of fashion there, for they always painted their, dusky limbs to look as if they ■were adorned with. long spats or. gainers. 'But, let us press on. : •if -X- ' . -X- .' -* ■ ... The fashion , writer _ . continues : — '" Every fashionable woman must keep a stencil or two'among her paraphernalia. The new: washable tattoo is spreading over the Back and shoulders, and the back and arms are worn" quite naked. Below the waist line there is a .brief fringe -of. 'silk and beads and" strips of tinselled, brocade. Stencils asre so easy and cheap that they will -soon become common, and "exclusive" people will of course engage special -decorators!" x- -* -x- * What next, we wonder! Is there an irreducible minimum? '[When do the police . step in ? "We are left wondering. . V ' " ' *• * * -xDr. Margaret Harper (Sydney), who lias been? spending a few weeks' in Dunedin, studying the latest method's -of child culture at the Karitane Home, is leaving for-Australia this week.

Miss Muriel Wylie has gone to Dunedin, . Tshere. she is to take a course. in massage instruction.. ' * ■ * V -3C- ..... ' Dr. • and Mrs Collins (Invercargill) are spending a few days in .Wellington. ~ _ * "5£ ■ ■ - ~ Miss W. Miles and herffather.r r . Mr. A. H. Miles-, are on a visit to the'-Her-mitage at Mount Cook. ' ■ , . -jf Mrs George ,'Coates, better known m New Zealand asi Miss Dora Meeson, the clever artist, has recently been honoured by, admission: to the exclusive circle of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (London). Her husband is also an artist .. of note. They both studied in Australia. * -x •* Miss Winifred Isitt left b.y the Ruapehu_to join her sister, Miss Evelyn Isitt, who' is a journalist on the staff of the "Manchester Guardian." •» * * * Professor and Mrs Adamson have returned to Wellington from the North, and have taken a house in Talavera Terrace. •* . 4r * Colonel D'Arcy -Cliaytor and Mrs Cliaytor, who have been the guests of Miss' Edwin/- in Wellington, are - now staying in Marshlands, Blenheim. , ■ -K •» •* ' *• Sir John and Lady Findlay have been -living at their cottage in Day's Bay since their lease of Mr ShirtclifFe's house in Tinakori Road expired. 3S* Mrs Frank Hodson and her two little sons _ are staying with Mrs Frank I-lerri ok.

'Mr and Mrs Algar Williams have sold their house in Hobson Street, and it is toi be shortly converted into a' hostel for young men. v •* a •*- Miss Rowlands, who has been in England for the past nine years, has returned, and is now the guest of her sister, Mrs A- H. Miles, m Hobson Street. . •x- * . " ' : •» Mrs Bailey, who is at present in Wellington, the guest of Miss Gladys Somerville, is leaving shortly for. England. " . ' ! * . .* * . • . J--' Mr and Mrs C. J. Nathan are leaving for England by the Northumberland. * -* Men who are addicted to the reprehensible habit of taking girls to the pictures .while their legal helpmate, is tied by the" servant shortage to the narrow, non-existing limits of the . home had better beware. An Australian wife recently struck terror into . the hearts of many a vagrant picturehaunting male, by tipping the usher to shout her husband's name up and down the aisles of his favourite movie. He was there —so much for feminine strategj^; _he was not alone —so- much for feminine intuition! «• -* • The house shortage problem is growing more acute than ever, and as the population increases, and train troubles and tram worries drive the wretched people into the towns, so do the sub-letting profiteers batten and fatten on the enormous rents they squeeze from their hapless " roomers." Once upon a. time landlords were held up to j> . public obloquy and scorn, but now the landlord is a good Samaritan compared with the individual who sublets his bouse as so-called "apartments" and " flats." One case I know of is that of a landlord who receives £3 per week and the tenant to whom he has let his house makes £10 profit per week, and keep? the best room in the.house for herself! All she does is to keep the k'.tchen, hall, and staircase clean, and bank her dividends! When Captain Halsey visited this Dominion in H.M.S. New Zealand Prince George of Battenberg was one of lii; t; middies." When Rear-Admiral Halsey revisits us next month in H.M.S. Renown he will another scion of the Batt-enbergs as big flag-lieuten-ant. This is Lord Louis Mount butt en, younger soii of Lord and Lady-Milford Haven, and therefore a relation of the Prince of Wales.

Wellington's energetic Mayoress, * ■Mrs J. P. Lukej had ideal weather for .her garden-party last Friday afternoon 1 . members, of the Citizens' Service lieague- assembled in force and .were . the guests 'of honour. Mrs Eukfe out--lined the'useful work the League had /done; during the war. She expressed .pleasure that the League was; riot to rdisband as occasions might often iarise when the members could be of use. Madames Post and Murphy, and Miss Clark were in. charge of the refreshment department and a very pleasant , -afternoon was spent. The members of the late Countessi of Liverpool Fund were also present. •* . * ■* {J ' Mr A. Simm (of Kernot & Go.) and Mrs Simm, Miss Chennels (Masterton), Mrs Harold Brown are all gbing to England in the Megantic via Panama •and the West Indies. *' ; ; * ■■■-. ■ Mrs C. U. Bidwill (Wairarapa) and ■Miss "Bidwill are leaving Wellington by the Manuka on 21st April to connect with the Orvieto, which leaves Sydney for England on the Ist'May. '*» * * Mrs Butts is on a visit to Dr and JJlrs Stoney Johnston, of Nelson,- and Mrs Johnston senior is staying with MisS Glair Butts.' : .**. * \ * Missi May . Palmer, who returned to New Zealand in the Bremen/, is at present the guest of Miss Kennedy in Park Street. Miss Palmer intends returning to England in June, and "travel via 'Frisco. .." . *\ * -» *• ■ , Mrs Temple Perkins is visiting'' Mrs Broad in Feilding. * • ■» ...■•■' * .■ * The i craze for. jade continues, and. jade is: now so very: expensive and scarce, that it is almost unprocurable an Australia qt New;; Zealand. One -lucky woman last year bought a short > " chain of jade beads in Auckland for £4 105... On a recent visit to Lpndoin she was first offered £70 for her beads, and Jater on £100, but she refused to" part 7 with lier beads. , '■ * *• * * A New Zealand girl who has recently returned to our snores was also the possessor of a necklace of jade beadsl By accident quite she liearned that they had become, very valuable. Now comes the sad part of the story. On her way to the jeweller's to have them re-strung the thread snapped, and all her beads hut: a poor half-dozen felly and-rolled down, a grating! The city authorities were most kind, and sent- men to < search the sewer,; but, all their work was in v&in—all the beads were gone - ' for; ever.

A pleasant little tea was given 'by Mrs H. Crawford at herihome in Hobson Crescent last week, as a farewell to Mrs Wilford, and a welcome to Mrs Collins. Mrs Crawford wore a smart gown of black <ninon, spotted with white, • and the bodice was finished with a loose panel, falling from the shoulders* Amongst those present were: Mrs -Milesj Mrs Sleeman, Mrs Duncan, Mrs M. Mrs F. Hodson, Mrs A. Duncan, Miss Holmes, Miss Coates, and the Misses " Duncan, Harcourt, Wilford, Milesi, C. Baldwin, and F. Dennistdn. ■»."; * # - • Mr and Mrs Jack Bloomfield, whot have_ been spending a few days in Wellington since their- return from America, have motored to Auckland, where they have engaged a flat at Cargen. *-* * . ' ; Miss Hilda Loughnan, of Melbourne,. is a visitor to Wellington. She is staying with Miss Hester Maclean, . at /Highland Park.' '' • . ' *• * ■» •* The engagement is just announced of Miss Eileen vMary Otway McDonald, youngest daughter of Mrs Jean McDonald, of Wellington, to Mr Wilfred Henry Blundell, fourth son of Mrs Henry Blundell, .also, of Wellington., •'"v"*" -jfr Vf * - ,Mr Alec. Lorimore, managing direcof Feature Films Ltd., ,of Australasia, controlling Paramount and Artcraft Pictures, arrived in Wellington by the Megantic from Sydney this week. Mr Lorimore is accompanied ' by'his wife. '..v'- ■ Dapent,.

A swimming carnival is to be Held in Wellington, at Te Aro Baths on this Saturday afternoon. Auckland, Christchurch and local champion swimmers will be competing. Miss Violet Waldron, holder of the New Zealand ladies' championship, will attempt ■to lower her own record for 100 yards. Great interest is being taken in this event, for Miss Shand, of Christchurch, the former lady champion swimmer, will also be competing.