TEA TABLE TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1211, 17 May 1895, Page 16

TEA TABLE TOPICS.

■Wellington, May 14. The Wellington Leiderkranz had a most successful “ At Home " on Monday afternoon at the Art Gallery. In spite of_the •wet weather I saw numbers of. ladies wending their way to the entertainment, and they were well rewarded for their trouble ; there were plenty of comfortable chairs, very pretty decorations, an excellent programme, and last, but not quite least, afternoon tea, with delicious cakes and sweets. The first part of the programme was a cantata by J. Barnett, entitled “ The Wishing Bell." I do not nrofess to be a musical critic, so I can odlv say that X enjoyed it very much, specially the aria f‘ The Sky of Life was Dark " sunc by Miss Phoebe Parsons* and the last chor/s, “ Soldier from the fight lieturning." Madame Merz .conducted well, and kept the singers up to the mark snlendidly. The second part began with a very pretty spinning song, “The Flying Dutchmanthe solo in which was well sun" by Miss Pender. Madame Merz san° “ Yoi che Sapete," and was enthusiastically encored, and she then sang “ Sing, Sweet Bird," which was much appreciated. Miss Boss played all t e accompaniments in her usual finished style. I must remark on the hearty applause which was given after each item; usually women are very backward in clapping and stamping, but on Monday there was no lack of both, I am glad to say, as everything seems to fall so deadly flat if received in perfect silence. As a rule we think it men’s business to applaud, but as there was an entire absence of the sterner sex W® ifc ysry

well by ourselves. I forgot to mention that Mrs Levin made a little speech to begin with, and mentioned her appreciation of the ,Leiderkranz and other such societies which are an aid to musical study..

Madame Merz wore a handsome black gown trimmed with epaulettes and bands of mauve silk covered with black guipure ; Miss Ross looked well in black trimmed with voke and epaulettes of deep cream lace ;*Mrs Rose, heliotrope gown trimmed with black; Miss A. Rose, fawn fancy crepon with ribbons and lace to match ; Miss Fairchild, handsome green cashmere gown trimmed with black silk ; Miss N. Fairchild, blue costume with blue and white Tattersall waistcoat; Miss Ivirkcaldie, pretty pale blue blouse and brown skirt; Miss Pender, black; Miss L. Williams, dark blue coat and skirt; Mrs Spackman, effective empire gown of maroon cloth with pale pink sash ; Miss P. Parsons, blue blouse and black skirt; her sister wore black relieved with cream lace. Among the audience I saw Miss Levin in a pretty pale grey cloth gown aud black hat with coque feathers ; Mrs England, in dark blue with a small black bonnet trimmed with crimson velvet; Mrs Fox, pretty brown dress and golf-cape, and black hat; Miss Hransfield, brown and fawn mixture gown, pretty black hat with yellow guipure wings and crimson rosettes ; Mrs MacGregor, handsome bla,ck gown and bonnet, mantle trimmed with fur; Miss Frankel, black coat and skirt, very pretty black and white hat; Mrs Parfitt, dark brown and black bonnet; Miss Tuckey, brown cloth costume with black astrakhan sleeves and trimming; Mrs Cruickshanlc, dark blue serge dress, sailor hat with pale blue band; Mrs Wheeler, pale grey costume and black bonnet. Others present were the Misses Myers, Pearce, Quick, Koch, Barber, etc.

I hear that the Leiderkranz intend giving their entertainment again next Monday night, when gentlemen will be admitted. Tickets are to be obtained from Miss Maude Ross. lam sure that many gentlemen will be very glad of this opportunity of hearing what the Leidarkranz can do.

I have been reading an amusing paper on “ Cultivation by Colour/’ which is known by the lengthy name of “ psychophysiologyy." This sounds a long and awesome word, but it simply means the influence of colour on life. If we live surrounded by a colour which suits us the effect on our tempers and dispositions will be miraculous, but it is not quite clear yet how we are to arrange for the different temperaments of a family who are necessarily obliged to live under one roof. Perhaps science will overcome this difficulty for us, and indent some kind of chromatic machine which will turn on the light and colour suitable to our different requirements. The writer of the paper suggests that if we want to write a morbid novel we should surround ourselves with yellow light, and live on saffron and oranges; if we want to produce a real romance w.e must live amid pale pink or sky blue. Thejrp is no doubt that bright and cheerful surroundings make life seem much better worth having, and a poky house with gloomy brown rooms is most depressing. I suppose some sort of science will be evolved out of it some day, and we shall have opr colours and habitations ruled by it, but ft seems to me that w© are analysing and dissecting everything a great deal too much nowadays.

Lasi Thursday night the dance given by the Bor&iforis proved a great success, The hall was prettily decorated with flags, and the stage was furnished with comfortable chairs and sofas, and decorated with palms and bunches of chrysanthemums. I heard it remarked by several people thau there were a great many strangers present, and I think it must have been so, as. I really knew very few, and so must miss the pleasure of telling you of some very . pretty gowns which were worn .by strangers, AmoDg the chaperons I npticed Mrs Stafford in a very handsome crimson velvet gown trimmed with jet; Mrs Field, pretty white silk trimmed with greeen; Mrs Miles, black trimmed with cream; Mrs Martin, white silk with gold embroidery ; Mrs Simpson., black silk; Miss Trimnell, looked well in a stylish green silk gown, and carried a lovely bouquet of chrysanthemums and maidenhair fern; Miss Griffiths, pink silk and chiffon ; Mjss Sing, a lovely yellow satin gown trimmed with gold sequin net \ Mrs Jackson (Auckland), stylish pink silk gown} Mrs Pye-Smith, handsome black lace gown with jet trimming; Miss M, Barber, cream gown with mauve sleeves and trimming 5 Miss Bichardson, cream, with lace and crimson ribbons; Miss Cohen, handsome black y.elvet gown with jet butterflies; Miss Pownafl, pretty yellow dress with black velvet bands and rosettes ; Mrs W. James, black dr,ess with white chrysanthemums ; Miss Beid, black velvet with pale yellow sash and trimmings, The supper table was nicely decorated with pale blue crepon paper and white chrysanthemums, and the committee men each wore a pale blue ribbon across their shirt fronts, which I thought was an improvement on the usual rosette.

I have heard of a new material which is so like sealskin that it would deceive a really good judge of the skins ; it is called Lisreine, and is impervious to wet and very durable. I hope our shops will soon introduce it to Wellington, as sealskin is

such a charmingly becoming material, but oh ! so expensive, far beyond the reach of most of our poor purses. lam sure Lisreine would be received with great favour, as we all like to look nice, and have sometimes longed unutterably for sealskin coats ! Tone.