CHIT CHAT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1180, 12 October 1894, Page 13

CHIT CHAT.

A Christchurch weekly paper published in a recent issue a lengthy description of a ball, which was stated, by a correspondent of the journal in question, to have taken place at Grey mouth. Unfortunately, no such ball took place, and the whole of the somewhat detailed description was merely a hoax. The paper says:—The whole of the letter was, we are informed, a tissue of untruths. We regret exceedingly that we should have been the means of assisting some ill-natured individual to do this stupid thing; but the letter received purported to bear the signature of a lady, with her address, and as there was nothing on the face of the contents to lead us to suspect that the letter was not written in good faith, we had no hesitation in publishing it.

As a similar trick was recently played upon me by some stupid and malicious person at Ashurst, I can sympathise with the Christchurch editor. In the Ashurst case, the usual name and address were duly forwarded, but both were afterwards proved to have been fictitious. If the writers of such epistles could only be discovered they ought to be severely punished.

On Wednesday week last Mr Frederick Charles Babbage was married to Miss Mary Laird Rankin, at Apiti. The Rev Mr Richards was the officiating clergyman, and Mrs Buckman presided as the organ, playing the usual wedding music in good style. Atthc conclusion of the marriage ceremony the Rev Mr Richards announced that Mr Guy had a presentation to make to the happy couple on behalf of the Trustees of the Church. Mr Guy said it was the custom throughout all the Wesleyan Churches to present the first couple who were married in the church with a bible and a Wesleyan hymn book. The Trustees had been wondering who would be tne first to get their presentation, but that was settled now, and he had much pleasure in presenting Mr and Mrs Babbage with the bible and hymn book on behalf of the Trustees of the Apiti Church. Mr Babbage suitably replied, and the wedding party then left the church amidst hearty good wishes and showers of rice.

By a printer’s error the name of Mr Gower, of Turakina, appeared in this column in a recent issue as “ Glover.” 1 thank a Woodville correspondent for drawing my attention to the mistake.

A cpxiet wedding was celebrated at St. Paul’s Church, Wellington, on Thursday last, when Mr R. T. Holmes, of Masterton, was united to Miss Boys, of the same place. The ceremony was performed by the Rev T. H. Sprott.

As will be seen by a lengthy letter from the London correspondent of the Mail that arch-imposter ana impudent adventuress, Miss Kate Marsden, has at length been thoroughly exposed in her true colours. The only need for surprise is that the exposure did not take place long awo. Much of the credit of the exposure is due to Miss Mabel Habgood, who met Miss Marsden when she was travelling on the Continent with a well-known Rangitikei lady now resident in Nelson.

A quiet little wedding took place at Marton on Wednesday week last, when Mr E. G. Rivers was married to Miss Mary Julia Aldridge. The Rev D. Gordon was the officiating clergyman, the • ceremony takino- place at the residence of Mr W. Gardner, who gave away the bride. The bridesmaids were Misses Henricks and M. Gardiner.

Cycling as a recreation for women is extremely popular in the United States.. A Miss Barney, writing on “ The American Sportswoman” in the August number of the Fortnightly Review, says:—ln the cycling 1 world there are, according to the last reports, no less than 30,000 women who own and ride bicycles. There are cycling clubs everywhere for women, and a large proportion of the men’s clubs are open to them. Most of these clubs, are .small affairs, however, with few of the

appointments of a club-house beyond a small building for the meetings and a shed for the wheels. In the cities they are more elaborate, but there are far too many to mention in detail. Cycling*, in fact, is the amusement par excellence of the people, and is not taken up as a regular sport by the upper classes. The women, especially of the upper classes, if they cycle at all, are not apt to use their wheels in public. There are plenty of cycling newspapers with women’s departments, but the cycling interest is so evenly divided between men and women that the latter read the body of the paper with as much interest as the former. I know of no cycling papers for women only. Racing has taken place among women cyclists, but it is a grim novelty, and is discountenanced by. the women themselves. Neither is the “ rational costume ” much in fashion.

Some queries, by A.A., Featkerston, will be answered next week.

The United States still leads the way as to the annual number of divorces, but France is the highest in the European list. In the New Revietv for August there is a very good articles on divorces. The writer says:—ln 18S5 the number of divorces granted was, in the United States, 23,4-72; in Switzerland, 920; in Denmark, 635 ; in France, 6245 ; in Germany, 6161; in Roumania, 541 ; in Holland, 339: in Austria, 1178 ; in Belgium, 290 ; in Norway and Sweden, 297; in Australasia, 95 ;in Russia, 1789; in Italy, 556 ; in Great Britain and Ireland, 508; and in Canada, 12.

The evidence given before the English Royal Commission on Labour as to the condition of working-women in the Old Country is said to be something horrible in character. In the National Review for August a Miss Dendy speaks very strongly as to the scandalous manner in which many employers neglect the conditions which are indispensable for the health and morality of their employees. She sa.ys : —“ It is where we read of conditions which are beyond doubt within the control of those concerned that our pity and indignation are aroused. We can forgive the most inveterate abusers of employers ;. we can look leniently upon the wildest schemes of Socialism; we can almost find it in our hearts to seek excuses for Anarchist themselves, when we reflect upon the coldblooded indifference to suffering, the hardhearted brutality of employers, which is depicted in the sobei evidence of the pages before us.” To justify the use of epithets she quotes a few more instances, though for the worst she refers readers to the Report itself.

“ Kate ” writes me a nice letter from Wimbledon, Hawke’s Bay, describing a dance and ball given by the bachelors of the district last week, the occasion being the departure of a very popular resident, Mrs A. Herbert. She says : —The ball took place in Mr C. Hales’ wool shed, which had been very prettily decorated, and tlie committee worked splendidly to make the whole affair a success, which, indeed, it was, everybody present voting the eveningone of the most enjoyable they had ever spent in the township. Mr H. Willis, of Herbeitville, provided the supper, which gave every satisfaction. The ball was preceded by a concert, in which the followingladies and gentlemen took part: —Misses Key, Gell, Herbert, Allan, Mrs Taylor, and Messrs A. Baker, Taylor, OorkhilJ, Choke, Reid and Kemp. Two farces and a recitation made up a capital programme, every item being well received. At the dance I noticed Mesdames A. Herbert, C. Hales, Cossey, J. Sargent, Junr., Forsyth, G. Armstrong, Kemp, Arthur, Herbert, McGuire, P. Herbert, Litennan, Misses L. Herbert, Smith, Hertzel, Wiffen, Mackav. Merrifc. M. Wylie, S. Herbert, and Messrs W. J. Herbert, C. Hales, Cossey, A. Herbert, K. F. Cameron, Davitt, F. Herbert, junr., F. Herbert, senr., and a host of others whose names I must be excused for havingforgotten, as this is my first attempt at correspondence for the Ladies’ Page. [Thanks very much. I trust that “ Kate” will forward other reports in future, but she will much oblige by remembering that everything intended for insertion in a newspaper should always be written on one side of the paper only.— Aunt Ellen.]

'•AAt St. Mark’s Church on Wednesday the marriage took place of Miss Sophie Laura Reeves, second daughter of Mr E. Reeves, merchant, to Mr Arthur Holden Ilamerton, third son of Mr R. C. Ilamerton, solicitor. The bride looked charming in a cream Surah silk dress trimmed with lace, with veil and orange blossoms, and the bridesmaids—Misses Lena and Ethel Reeves (sisters of the bride) and Minnie and Blanche Hamerton (sisters of the bridegroom)—were attired in cream French cashmere and white chip hats, with cream feathers and ribbons, relieved with heliotrope. Mr C. Ilamerton, brother of the bridegroom, carried out the duties of best

man. The service, which was choral, was conducted by the Rev R. Coffey, and Mr T. C. Webb, organist, officiated at the organ. The newly-married couple spend their honeymoon on the West Coast.

The display of decorative art needlework now being made at the show rooms of the ( Singer Manufacturing Company, m Willis street, forms a most instructive and attractive exhibition. There is shown a number of beautiful articles, with figures .of animals, flowers, &c., executed on beautiful fabrics, with a wealth of delicate colours. There are to be seen tapestry hangings, richly embroidered curtains, table-cloths, mantel - drapes, chair - backs, head - rests, cushions, cosies and daintily fashioned screens and bannerettes. All this work is done entirely by Singer’s ordinary family sowing machine, no special gear or| fittings being required. It is only in the past year or two that the firm of Singer and Co. have discovered that, in addition to plain sewing of every description, their machines were so well adapted to this special kind of embroidery and tapestry work. The whole collection is exceptionally good and well worthy of a visit. The exhibition will be open again to-day, and all attention and information is given to visitors.