NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13227, 12 July 1906, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

1 i ..... ■ UM». n i ii,- -. 1 \ MODERN-- RIVALS-. OF !,niULt,L>*. • - { ■ - , ■'! : - j THEKte ?eems""'t"f>' '.■■•;:'» falling off in -'.the - J practice of : spending .e'lormoii.s sums in privale,society.'entertainments in London. The - mana-ger ■oi one !j of . the . !arg£.*t -cater - bouses . lias' remarkable extra -to- cite. ■ "The cost ot" hall "and ' .*. home' j uppers varies .'.according.to the. season ot;-tl»f.year," : "a-representative-of the firm ; said. A leader of society '-"gave a smtUl 'dinner party last winter; which cost her 50-guinea*.per head, exclusive ' of wine. 'Young greea ;peas., were - ■ -.valued at 7s 6f' a spoonful, and asparagus at , 5s a stick. ■••'• Peach-fed ;■ Virginian hams, with brandy and.- champagne sauce, ■ cost .-.half-a- , guinea a plate. New potatoes were Is each. ' The strawberries ; and --peaches- worked out. at three guineas per head. 'We hare just .sent in a bill for £383 to a hostess '.who gave a dinner party.", saJd'. the" manager, of ( a West' End-firm of-florists. ''That sum represents' only' the floral decorations, whicb consist-ed ; of. pale pink looses and .'lilies-bf-thei-valley. The roses' cost 2% 6,1 for each bloom; and they were used not only on the table but for massed effects on the staircase and rooms." One evening's musical programme may cost anything from £200 to £800. " Mafty hostesses pay, a first-class artist from 200 to 500 guineas," said the representative of a well-known agency. "The -services of , other -.performers must also be engaged, so you can readily see that music is as very expensive item." It is suggested that entertainments can be made considerably cheaper, and yet be seemingly extravagant. For instance, a talking-ma-chine can be hired for two guineas a night, arid concealed in a bank ol greenery. None of the guests would suspect its presence until from a bower of roses Patti's voice suddenly rung out in "Vol che sapete," or Melba trilled the raise.- aria from "Borneo and Juliet," or Caruso pealed out in "Di quellai ' pira." "Why should .not hostesses invest, in. the finest artificial flowers, which can.be used again?" the .superintendent of a, charitable school of artificial flower-mak-ers 'asked. "We can produce most'perfect specimens of the ' Caroline Testout' rose, for which florists are charging 2» 6d, at. oti each." It is "- impossible to detect these artificial" flowers 1 unless they are handled, especially if arranged '-with real .foliage.': We scent the blossoms with rose perfume. We decorated a dinner table last month with mignonette arad yellow roses, with trails of real sniilax and maidenhair fern.* The hostess was asked how she had obtained mignonette so early in the year. The '■flowers cost 15s, and can be used on many occasions." '. ■ -' ENGLAND 25 YEARS" HENCE. : Mr. John Burns is no pessimist. He believes in the future of, the English race. Speaking recently at ft distribution of . prizes in Battersea, he said it was his opinion that the race never had more or better facilities for both physical and mental improvement than they now had. : Physical deterioration' had been greatly- exaggerated by melancholy kill-joys, and : dotofat Jeremiahs, who were underthe impression ..-that the country was going to ; the dogs. There were, he admitted, masses of people who were not robust, but that was due not so much to insufficient : food as to : good food badly cooked or. wrongly eaten. ; Referring to the physical training of women, Mr*. .Burns boldly : declared that, while calisthenics - and deportment were all..very well, the ability to- wash, iron, mend; and cook was very much better. He wanted young women fitted to fill the exalted position of mothers of. families and: to be able to nurse 'a baby as well as to swing a dumb-bell. With regard to the future of . the race, no one need despair. The- people were freeing themselves of undesirable habits. If statesmen would incorporate' harmony and method with their projects for reform, the England of 25 years hence would he brighter and better, and its people stronger and happier, cleaner in mind, and more happily circumstanced than now. With better times, more rest, fresh air, good and simple food, the people, loving work for :its; own sake, and putting under foot such ■ vices as gambling, and mastering the tendency to over-professionalise sports in which they, id not engage, would rise to any heights,' and there was nothing to which they might not attain. ■:.'-;■..;:::., ■;,*,:.■:.;;.;■:.■ !-/■>