TEA TABLE TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, 3 December 1896, Page 67

TEA TABLE TOPICS.

The one absorbing “'topic” just now is the election. Sometimes I fear old and tried friends will so seriously disagree that they may have cause to look back on their heated arguments with regret. Upon the whole we are feeling contented, for most of our Government candidates are coaming ground day by day, and our own Wellington men in particular. It Avill.be yearsv before women will cease to feel like fish out of water in a polling booth, but by degrees we are educating up to tho fact that a responsibility rests with us to toy and put in the best men that can be found for candidates. This fact should be reason enough to make all use their franchise, and get over any objection they may feel about going to give their vote. It is absolutely culpable to be lackadaisical in the matter, and a very grave dereliction of a serious duty. All “ topical ” people have quite agreed to go and vote, to a woman, aud a little bird toils me wo shall get our man in. Nous verrons ! Ho is honest and true, and Ave shall feel we have done well by the new Parliament in doing our level best to put him at the head of tho poll.

After a week brimfull of dissipation and general fatigue and pleasure I am quite anxious for a bit of quiet rest to be able to recover some stability of mind, and a return to our normal state of common sense and cool discretion. ITow else are we to glorify ourselves on tho election day ?

Tho races on Saturday week were a great occasion for all to have the proverbial “ jolly da} 1 -,” and also to air any of those much-mourned-over confections which the bad weather has kept in wardrobes unseen and unobserved. The universal verdict was that they were unusually gay races, and a large number of pretty bright toilettes Avere there. It’s an open secret that quite the nicest part of tho races is “ seeing and being- seen !” Secondly comes the pleasure of the exciting chances of the totalisutor. Thirdly (a goo 1 Avay behind the others) comes the interest of the horses. The odds and ends of the day are filled in by a more or less nice luncheon, tho many racy little chats first with one and then another, and the endless little give and take courtesies and kindnesses Avhich gives one tho pleasurable feeling of having a good time. Whenever anyone objects to such a day out as Avrong, the feeling one regards them with is compounded of one part pity, one of amusement, one of the rest amazement. Amongst the many beautiful toilettes there on the Saturday was a very pretty silver grey silk lustre Avorn by Mrs Stewart, with small jet bonnet; Mrs Grace wore an exceedingly handsome dress of striped silk gauze of the lovely, quaint old colour known to our grandmothers as “ Ashes of Roses,” striped with Cuir. It was trimmed with revers, &0., of Cuir suede, very pretty bonnet of the same shade, trimmed with lace and Avliite osprey, Miss Grace liad a beautiful embroidered white muslin goAvn over a pale green silk slip trimmed Avitli ribbons to match ; grey hat trimmed exquisitely with airy rosettes cf jiale bine, green, pink and white, with white feathers. Mrs H. D. Bell wore a unique gown of a lovely shade of grey muslin, with largo rovers in front and cape at the back of Avhite pique; picture hat of grey, with numbers of pink roses. Mrs Abbott’s costume was a very handsome brocade of a rich purple shade ; it was worn ■ with cream silk vest, bonnet or corresponding colours. Miss M. S. Scddon wore an extremely pretty black costume, with handsome A r est of pale green and cream brocade ; large hat with green and pink trimmings. Mrs Collius wore a pretty black silk crepon skirt and black blouse covered with handsome white lace. The Misses Fell (Nelson) Avore extremely light, pretty gowns of green muslin, trimmed with ribbons to match. The Misses Watts (Napier) wore very stylish costumes of lead blue, trimmed with passementerie ; large hats. Mrs Worry had a very nice gown of silvergrey alpaca, with black watered silk velvet, Ac., Avhite silk vest, and a sweet little black and white bonnet. Mrs G. Hutchison Avoro a very handsome black brocade gown trimmed with jet; bonnet, pretty light flowers. Mrs Arthur Pearce had a very neat tailor-made costume of navy-,[blue. Miss Ileywood had a very pretty young lady’s costume of cream muslin trimmed Avith lace, large hat with loops and bows of several light shades. Mrs T. K. Macdonald wore a very stylish dress of green brocade, and a black bonnet Avith pink floAvers. Miss J. Skerrett, a silky cream alpaca with silk collar and revers; Miss Skerrett, a grey brocade, Avith black hat and feathers. Mrs Hey wood Avore a handsome black silk with a small bonnet with blue flowers. Miss Dora Ileywood had a very pretty white and yellow muslin and pretty light hat. Mrs Saunders, black crepon gown with pretty jet bonnet trimmed Avith steel; Mrs ■ Riddiford, very stylish grass cloth costume, large black lace hat with yellow roses; Miss Gilmer Avore a cornflower blue skirt, with a pretty pink chiffon bodice; Miss Johnson, a pretty white alpaca trimmed with lace, and large white hat,

At the Wednesday races, the weather had got tired of its fit of amiability, and everyone wac glad to don sealskin jackets and far-lined cloaks. I will only say it in a whisper, bnt the weather affected the tempers of s rme of the folks, and one felt that it is hard to be suave and witty with your hands in your pockets and shoulders up to your ears.

In these days of education in the direction of art, I often wonder what use many of the girl students propose to make of their proficiency when they have sacrificed so much time and strength to arrive at it. Quite lately an American girl has come to England, and, by means of good introductions of ladies 'of rank, she had an opportunity of showing what she could do. Her specialty is painting miniatures upon ivory. About a hhndred years ago these were wonderfully well done, and were the only likenesses many of us have of our great-grandmothers. Then came in the invention of photography, and superseded these soft, pretty miniatures, and so they went out of fashion. How, however, much that it was a pity to have put out of sight has been unearthed and brought out to be revived and admired, as it ought to be. Amongst the latter are these portraits painted upon ivory. This young American has wonderful talent in both posing and draping her subjects, besides all the beauty of ' the actual colouring and manipulation. - She is rapidly getting numbers of the beauty and aristocracy of England to sit to her. Her price is <£ 1.00 for each portrait, and one young Duchess is so charmed with the picture of herself that she has ordered three different ones. It. seems to me that this might be made an “industry for some of our young artists, many of whom have excellent talents, and are able to get such good teaching at our schools of art. I don’t think that <£loo could or would be paid for any work that is likely to bo done here for a long time to come, but a modification in some way which would ho pretty and artistic might be arrived at, I am quite sure, and with a remunerative result.

Some of our friends may have found a difficulty in successfully growing their pots of maidenhair ferns, and wondered if thoy were killing them with kindness in the way of too much water, or the reverse by too little water. Now listen to words of wisdom and experience. If about twice a week you stand your pot. id a deep saucer of boiling water, you will find your feru grow and thrive excellently. If you are doubtful aud feel afraid to take my word for its success, try it on the smallest and least prized plant you have. I know the result will repay you for your trouble. Palms that look seedy may be treated in the same way. Sweet Sultan is the name of the fashionable flower in London for table decorations. It is very suitable for the purpose as it lasts long in water, and having nice long* stems for the big rosette-like blooms, they lend themselves to artistic arrangements. I hope we shall soon see them thriving in the gardens here.

Quite a storm in a tea pot is being raised over tbe fuss that is made about the Princess Maude’s bridesmaids having worn aigrettes in their hair ! Now this does sound such a terribly wicked proceeding*/ but all those excellent ladies who have taken the feathered world under their motherly wings are entirely upset and vexed. Correspondence has been waxing hotter, and arguments many and farfetched, have been duly aired on the subject. As a matter of fact aigrettes have had their day, and dame fashion has done with them. If they were going to be worn for the next ton years, I can t see any more reason to make such an outcry than in the case of many other animals whu are killed either lor the use or comfort of human beings. It is asserted that the coming in decoration in the feather direction for millinery is the Bird of Paradise plume. Very tender-hearted ladies may wear them with easy consciences, their poor dear Birds cf Paradise are not to be slain by hundreds. A very clever artist has discovered a method of manufacturing these plumes from humble turkey feathers. As those sensitive people do not object to the turkeys being killed for food, naturally feathers may, without sin, be utilised for ornament. So, with the incoming season’s fashion, we may all be happy, conscientiously. Now that the cycling mania has reached its height and uniting is in full swing, and the wet days are tided up with novel writing, we can only wonder what the next craze of the polite world will be.

The Czaritza has a dear little typewriter of oearl and gold. Possibly we may have them clicking away in the boudoirs of the g;jy world, and all the rest will follow, it is amazing how very little expense seems to affect; the world’s diversion. Miss Harding, who has been on a long visit to Wanganui, is to return shortly. Mrs and Miss Krull have returned from their trip to Sydney and are staying with Mrs W. Gr. Mantell. Mr and Mrs F. O'B. Loughnan (Waipawa) are on a visit to Mrs C. Loughnan.) Mrs Burnett (Palmerston) is the guest of Mrs Quick. Miss Tully (G-reytown) is on a visit to Mrs Johnson. Miss A eland is paying a short visit to Mrs T. C. Williams. Mrs Glasgow (Nelson) is over upon a visit to her son, Mr LI. Glasgow.

Miss Muriel Balfour (Napier) is staying with Mrs Swainson.

Mrs Bell (Palmerston) has been visiting Mrs Tripe.

Just now the town is so full of visitors who have come down for the Exhibition that I cannot remember them all. lone.