TEA TABLE TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 11

TEA TABLE TOPICS.

, Wellington, March 25. One evening I went to Mr Walter Bentley's lecture on the Oberammergau Passion Play. The lecture was very good, quite thrilling at times, but somehow the part of lecturer seemed to suit Mr Bentley less well than any other I have had the pleasure of seeing him in. It seemed odd to see the dignified Richelieu in modern evening dress, very correct, except that his hair might have been shorter, and hiss collar possibly an inch or two .higher. But those are mere matters of detail. 1 he lecture was interesting, and Mr Bentley s excuses for Judas Iscariot and Pilate more so 1 I enjoyed Mr Prouse's songs immensely, particularly ''Could ye not Watch," and the "Holy City." The pictures were rather disappointing, as the Christus was so very far below ones ideal, but of course that was only to be expected. Then they were not very well managed, as the same picture was shown by mistake several times, specially one of the temple, -which must have been a

favourite of the lantern manager, as we had it back three or four times, and as the lecturer went smoothly on with his lecture, describing something quite different, the effect was somewhat amusing. There was a fairly good audience, who were very attentive and most obedient to the request that they would not applaud till all was over, even when Mr Prouse tempted them very much by his beautiful rendering of some of his songs. I noticed the Premier and Mrs Seddon, who wore a handsome black costume and mantle and a jetted bonnet, with small pink aigrette. Mrs Gale was in black with cream trimmings. Mrs Pynsent wore black silk with a cream cashmere opera cloak ; and Mrs Barry Goring was in black silk covered with soft white muslin. I also saw Mr and Miss Mestayer, Mrs and Miss Holt, Mr and Mrs Samuels, and Miss Harding, etc.

The other day I heard an amusing story anent a leading boating club in Wellington. A certain clique of the members, called —we will say—the sanguinary scalpers, "run" a country residence at one of the picturesque bays near town, to which they are in the habit of inviting their lady friends for afternoon teas and picnics. A visitors' book is produced, and the ladies are invited to inscribe their names. All this is very nice, but lam told that these gentlemen have two visitors' books, and two very decidedly different classes of visitors. For their aristocratic friends a strictly correct, sober-coloured book is produced, and for those agreeable ladies who minister to the alcoholic wants of these same gentlemen a different book is brought out, with, no doubt, the names of many other Totties and Flossies well known to the Wellington men. Can it be true that some younger members of the same club (the buds they may be called) have followed the example of their elders, not only in running a country house, but in having lady visitors whom they would not be likely to meet at their homes ? It would be an amusing contretemps if the two sets of lady friends happened by any accident to meet at either of the country houses ! But the cliques have managed too well for that — so far—but let them beware of "surprise parties," which have become so fashionable.

A great many people seem to be taking an interest in the polo at Miramar this season, and the players are becoming much more expert than they were. I hear that a team consisting of Messrs Cooper, Turner, Skerrett and Tripp are to play the Manawatu team on their return from Christchurch next week, but it is not expected that they will be victorious, as the visitors have beaten a much older club than ours in Christchurch. But one.can never tell, and I wish our team good luck! It seems to me that nearly all Wellington, but "lone," is going to England! What a number of people went in the Tongariro last Thursday, among others I noticed Mr H.J. McLean, of the Bank of New South Wales,_ who has been moved to London. His friends will be very glad to hear of his good fortune, but will be sorry to lose him, as he is very popular. A large number of people were on the wharf to say farewell to Mrs (Captain) Johnson and her daughters.

I am glad to hear that Mr A. R. Kennedy, who took chloroform in mistake for medicine, has so far recovered that he has been able to go to Dunedin for a change. I hear that he is going on to Sydney afterwards, and hope that he will come back quite restored to health. In a late number of the Axistralasian I noticed two terrible pictures from photographs of Colonel and Mrs Fox. I always admired the appearance of Miss Cara Russell very much, and feel quite sorry that such a caricature of her should be strewn broadcast. Very often here our journals turn out most satisfactory pic-

tures of people, but judging from this specimen of what the Australasian can do I don't think much of it I

Miss K. Hadfield, who has been staying with Mrs Wallis, has returned to Marton. I noticed Miss Ida Cooper jln town again looking very well. Mrs Empson (Wanganui) is also in Wellington just now.

There is a talk of forming a ladies' golf club to play at Kilbimie. I hope it will be done, as it is'too far and too expensive to go to the Hutt every week to play. I notice that the new golf capes which are so pretty and comfortable are being very much worn this season. They are a great improvement on the ugly sack-back jackets arid three-quarter cloaks of last year.

I was much amused at a mysterious announcement in the advertisement of some football sports, which reads as follows : —6. Individual dribbling. 7. Combined dribbling (four a side). I was not able to go to the sports to see this remarkable performance, though my curiosity is much aroused, so will some kind footballer please explain ? lone.