WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1680, 11 May 1904, Page 26

WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

<BX “EEIE :”)

* It is troth interesting and amusing to listen to discussions between women upon the decadence of men’s manners. The disputants are divided into the woman af the pafefc, and -the young wdman taf this century. Tifty or sixty years ago girls were brought up iin a veiry narrow groove of ideas and experience, and were the timid) fainting, screaming, helpless beings their education had made them- The men of the period, with much Mildness and chivalry, were al- •; ways on the qui vive to protect and help such feeble dependent womanhood. Nowadays, a girl is an athletic, Strong, sensible creatoro who can cycle by herself, and goes in for physical training, and.mu.ch independent out-of-door exercise, consequently the position has entirely changed. Being well able to take care of herself, and enjoying the freedom of such ability, she is not a w )Boinstaaat source of anxiety to her men friends. \ • • a • But to nay this has induced bad manners or want of respect and kindness fc & -very grave mistake. The florid fconrtesies and empty compliments of the .last century have been largely discontinued because they have been found to be >an entire misfit for the practical eommonsense of the girl of to-day. She has gone miles above the simpering, blushing, silly creature Who liked such trash because she had not been educated to talk of anything better or to realise * how exceedingly unmeaning and foolish these naubeous compliments were. To-day a girl takes :a very live interest in all that is going on in this swiftly moving period, and can be both an interesting and an amusing conversation- . alist. » * * It is one of the betet evidence of the progress of the times that men admire •women because they are intellectual and sita-ong and companionable in the best l ®ense of the term, instead of calling up- 1 on their pity .and help because of their physical and mental weakness. The gentleman of to-day is to the full as ; • ■courteous and refined in bis attitude towards our sex as ins great-grandfather Was, only from an infinitely higher and better reason. Pessimistic people Should recognise that the social platforms have eqtirely Shifted, and they must take their observations from the new point of view. There will always be some ill-bred and ill-mannered people ‘in the world -doubtless they existed in the halcyon Victorian era, but “it tabes many swallows to make a summer/’ . m •• « * On-Tuesday evening there was an exceedingly charming little, concert in the j -Convent's large" schoolroom. The decorators were real artists, and had produced a very lovely effect. The folding doors were opened, and a background of tastefully arranged gold. , and . white - chrysanthemums were banked with foliage up to the ceiling, so that the performers stepped on to a green baize 'platform entirely sunroomded with flowers and lovely palms. They all wore veiry pretty white toilettes, which suited their floral environment admirably. 'They were all the pupils of Sister Mary Agnes, whose wonderfully successful ‘{methods as a teacher are so widely •’known. They one and all reflected, the utmost credit upon the very evident skill and care that she had bestowed upon their training. The haH was full to overflowing, and it was a enthusiastic audience demanding constant encores. It seems almost invidious to particularise any one of thetse sweet singers, but there was one, a debutante, whoso clear, sweet soprano voice is full of promise that it will be worthy of the .renowned musical family she belongs to. Miss Constance _ Promise’s ■ fiitet appearance gave her friends -every satisfaction, and it will be a disappointment if, under Sister Agnes's teaching, she does not develop a voice that will take a foremost plaee in musical circles. She has a sample, unaffected manner which is very pleasant, and will gain confidence as she * progresses. N « * w The piano duets were very crisp and . correct, and were veiry tastefully ren- .* yiered, especially the “Mairohe Hongroiiso” by the Masses Riley and 'Evans. Another very young debutante (from •' Motueka)' Miss Ailsey Manoy, has a ?.beautiful eontralto voice wliich she is learning to use with teste and judgment, which is a great point gained with a con--1 traito. Miss Martin, another contralto, sang “Out on the Rocks” most beautifully. The pathetic old. duet, “On the 'Banks of Alfitn Water” was done the ; Sweetest justice to by Misses Sullivan •'and Barclay. Mrs Schaitz has a beautiful voice and had to .respond toan • em- • core for her-song /‘The Lairk Now Leaves His 'Watery. Nest ■ There were too many . items oaa thiSs most mijoyable programme to particularise them all, but the young artistes . - one. and all did excellently. . . .v totete •* ■ • *:- S . The ugly old puce colour has found ".a place once again in tbe world of fashion. - It seems a pity to revive what was unbecoming and inartistic iu the

1830 fashions. The graeeFfot shohldeo’ scarves, and long stomachers, and qjuaint head gear we give a hearty welcome to, but baa’ some of tbe muddy colourings of that period. There is much more latitude in fashion nowadays perforce. The woman of the period will not don unbecoming clothes, and her tastes are educated, so that she has ideas of her own. Queen Fashion s sway is by no means so imperative as it was in olden days.

There is a species of the .teetotal Gin-, sad© going on among extremist®, who consign the wearer's of wings and birds in their hats to perdition. “Mturderotus millinery” is the term they apply to this season’s head gear, on account of the j slaughter of birds for its adoamnent. These philanthropists use this crushing ti/nn in vainly endeavouring to weed out tbe cruel fashion. Natuare is, however, hai’d to edjuaate oiait of a bad! habit, especially when a seductive bat is tried on, and “suits beautifully.”

Mr and Mrs Robert Levin havei return cyl from their hurried trip to England. Mrs Levin, has gone to the Waararapa to her old home for a short vifeit. Mr and Mks John Abbott are moving ont j of Mr Levin’s new bouse into the one lately owned by Sir Arthur Douglas, which he has purchased. Lady Douglas’s furniture and belongings were, ait Mi' Abbott’s request, removed to Mr Harcourt’s auction rooms, and sold on Frir, day.

Lady .Whitmore is going back to' England in tbe Papanud, and 1 taking Miss Wiitlmam with her as nurse.

Mrs Htugh Beetham has been in town for a short visit.

Miss Eflwin has gone to Blenheim to; pay .uxtis Ghasyter a visit.

Mr and Mrs John Duncan and Mr and: Mrs Duncan, junr., have left for a long visit to the other side of the world. MiDun can has been presented with a bandsome souvenir from the staff of Levin and Go., upon bis retirement from the firm. Mrs Duncan also bad'a pretty and suitable gift.

* * Mr Mowbray has become one of the directors fo Levin and Go.

Mrs Jacob Joseph and bet daughters! have left for a trip of an indefinite! period. They will spend several mouths! amongst their friends in Sydney, and! then go on to England, and the Conti-; uent. Their beautiful house in Hobson •street is still unleit.

• Mr Goring Johnston (Hawke’s Bay); has taken the bouse across the Suspension Bridge lately occupied by Mjr Walter Nathan. I,

Mrs Andrew and Misis Editli Richmond passed through on their ratuirn from Wanganpai tc Nelson.

Mr and Mis Herbert Robinson were in town en route for Christchurch. Mrs Robinson was well-known here ais Miss Jesisie Blair.

Mts Ghatfield has gone to Christchurch to visit Dr and Mate Downs, Papanui Road. #' # it

Mr Eyre Kenney (our former Stipendiary -ougistrate) has left Wanganui to taka up ’the duties of the Nelson, Magistracy.

A mofet effective stock was unpacked from a delightful box of odds and ends which caane as a birthday gift to a lucky Wellington girl from a nice considerate aunt in London. It was composed of bands of satin ribbon and fagot stitching, with kurge white velvet ivy leaves embroidered with gold and pearls, tire tabs extending nearly to tbe waist. It is unquestionably the duty of London aunts to be “considerate.”

We are very glad that Mi’s Seddoi( has so far recovered from her indisposition to be able to go away by the Hinemoa. Eventually- she hopes to have _ a few weeks ait Rotorua. The P/remiex has gone with her, and everyone of his friends is earnestly anxious he should remain away -as long, as passible. It seems unavoidable for him to wolrk a great deal while he item Wellington. Mrs Hales went to Auckland to see hea* son Norman off by the Sonoma. « ■' ■* * W© have had a very large number of people really very ill with influenza, and it seems a particularly bad! soft of ’flu that has come this season. * 9 . Mr A. de Bathe Brandon fe in Sidney, representing the New .Zealand directors of the A. M. P. at the annual conference. *, * * The lull before the storm of winter gaietieis is getting monotonous, and we are getting impatient for the new ViceRegal arrivals. The woman of 40 ought to be the happiest of women, says someone. She has peculiar privileges possessed by no other woman. She is not troubled like her younger-sisters at the crossing of the borderland of youth, for she is already on the other side. Her future isi more clearly defined, for at 40 has she not chosen and settled down in her career?