WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 26

WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

(BY “EBIE.”)

'Few seasons have been more incessantly filled with functions of one sort and'another than this one. There .have been so many bright luncheons and gay dinners, besides the very constant stream of unusually handsome balls. All the odd times are filled in with bridge parties, which are often a continuation of the luncheons, and last all the afternoon. The right or the wrong of daylight bridge for women is outside our sphere, but the fact is, they do it. and appear to enjoy it immensely. It is a revival of the Court practices of Charles H., when ladies played less refined card games, by which they lost or won money and sometimes their jewels. " Mrs Tolhurst’s dance on Wednesday evening was a charming one. The large handsome house lighted, decorated beautifully, and cheerfully warmed, looked most hospitable to all guests arriving out of the raw, cold night. The large room, which is so well known as the “Den,” was turned into a splendid ball- - room. There is such ample dation in this house fpr all, that every one felt largely provided with comfort And room. Plenty of sitting-out places were cosily arranged, and the chaperones' had a choice of friendly chats in the drawing-room, or the excitement and. joys *of the bridge tables in the morning room. - The music and the floor of the ballroom' were both excellent One of the daintiest of sit-down suppers was enjoyed amidst the aroma of endless bowls -of violets, which decorated the table from end to end, interspersed with vases of multi coloured anemonies. It was altogether an ideal ball, ' every •> minute of which was filled with enjoyments • v "V' Mrs Tolhurst wore a handsome black silk gown, draped- with black Maltese lace, and diamond ornaments. Miss Tolhurst had a charming gown of mushroom pink silk, with soft chiffon bosses or “roses,” as they are termed by corn* - - tesy. Whichever name is applied to them they are exceedingly pretty garnitures for a ball- dress. Miss Horton (who. js visiting Miss Tolhurst) had a becoming frock of pale blue silk. There were a large of-guests, and all the prettiest toilets of this season were in evidence, but the majority have been already chronicled. The Kelburne Kiosk is quite a favourite place for entertaining. On a fine day one cannot wish for a lovelier view or prettier surroundings, or more delicious tea. Mrs Harding, of Mount Ver-non,-entertained a number of her friends there on Monday afternoon. The season being mid-winter, only very unreasonable expected summer warmth and brightness! Inside the Kiosk -all was glowing with cosy comfort, and gay with spring -flowers, and last, but by no means 1 least, a most delicious tea. awaited the appreciative guests. A band, is of itself, an incentive to conver- . sation, and the bright music was one of the features of this most cheerful opportunity. Mr Harding had wisely invited some men to suppo7’t- him in doing the honours, and it is ancient history that the Lords of Creation are by no means insensible to the pleasures of a nice afternoon tea, albeit it is generally considered a feminine form of enjoyment. We hope the prohibitionists don’t take all-the praise and glory of this fact, and -announce “My work, all my work !” Mrs Harding wore a handsome gown of beige cloth of walnut-brown, with embroidered trimmings. Mrs R. Harding wore-a stylish black gown and long coat. Miss Harding had a blue' cloth coat and skirt. There were a number of guests besides the Parliamentary coterie, and all were loud in their enconiums of dhis pleasant place for such a function. The annual ball of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association this season quite kept up "the best traditions of its career. It was held on Tuesday evening in the Sydney-street room. Great expense and much taste had transformed the room into a very fascinating ballroom. Quantities of well-placed mirrors were flanked by ferns and palms, and tastefully arranged greeneries. Plenty of luxurious couches and chans, and brightly coloured. 1 carpets completed the nice arrangements. All the side rooms had fires and furniture, and were most alluring sittingout rendezvous. One of the specialities of this ball is its super excellent supper. It was laid in the gaily decorated gymnasium, which though never intended for such festivities, can be made to do duty for this purpose very well in every respect but its want of warmth. The tables were set with much decoration, but the goodness of the' delicacies were quite all that the heart of man (or woman) could Avish for. Amongst the guests were Mrs Seddon, who wore handsome black satin draped with cream silk lace. Miss May Seddon wore pale green silk .. with chiffon frills and pink roses. Lady Ward had a becoming black gown with violets. Miss O. Beere wore a beautiful gown of ©ream sa-tin with accordeon frills of chiffon. -Mrs Schoch wore a black satin frock. Miss Kennedy had rose glace silk and lace. ■

Miss Gilmer wore a turquoise crepe de chine frock with cream lace.

Mrs Smith’s gown was a stylish crepe de chine with jet. M*rs Tabor had a cornelian blue silk gown with lovely cream lace flounces. Mrs Oohen had a gown of black with silver sequins and violet®. Miss Walsh wore a pale blue glace with chiffon frills, and pink roses. Mrs Stevenson had a black voile over silk and lace trimmings. .Mrs Fairfcurn wore a jewelled lace overdress over satin.

Miss Haydon had a white crepe de chine with touches of blue.

Miss O’Brien had a black crepe de chine relieved with pink. Miss Maher had a pale blue costume. Miss Sheeny wore a cardinal silk gown with cream insertions.

. Mrs G. Tabor had a lovely cream lace gown over glace silk. Miss Walsh had a blue silk gown with chiffon flounces.

There were a large number of very beautiful toilets at this ball, hut it was very difficult to find out the names of the wearers.

Tt is very urgently hoped that the general public will co-operate with the promoters of the Veterans’ Ball. If all classes* will kindly rally round those who are working so hard to make it a success, it will be all that is needed to attain the object of the hall. The committee are anxious that all benevolently inclined citizens of every degree will feel they are anxiously expected, and will be gladly welcomed. A number of sets are being made up, and they bid fair to make a very picturesque gathering. Besides the Viceregal set-, we have heard of the following:— The Parliamentary Set.—? The ladies will wear black gowns and red hoods, powder and patches. .. The Bight Hon . the Premier will wear his LL.D. red gown and rose pink hood. The other gentlemen in this set will wear black gowns and red hoods. Lady Ward’s set will have very pretty grey velvet gowns and large Puritan collars and caps. Mrs Sydney Johnston’s (Hawke’s Bay) set will be Quakers. Miss Tolhurst’s set are to wear Old English costumes. Mrs Collins’s set will wear white dresses and yellow sashes. Miss Christine Smith’s set will have white frocks and silver wreaths. Mrs Firths set have very effective “Romney” dresses. Mrs Elgars’ set are to wear black and yellow. Mrs Miles’s long-looked-for children’s fancy dress ball took place on Friday evening in the Sydney street Hall. It was one of the prettiest sights, and old and young alike enjoyed every bit of it. The happy faces, and variety of gay dresses made a most delightful picture. The room, except the stage, had comparatively little decoration, which was a wise arrangement, as it showed off the bright costumes to better advantage. All the rooms were very prettily fitted up, and carpets and blazing fires and nice sofas, etc., made it look very cosy and warm. Quantities of beautiful flower® were prettily arranged on chimneyplbces and tables, and these had come from Auckland, Napier, and! Wanganui, and had a truly spring-like effect. The delicious supper was beautifully laid on five large tables, each one of which was decorated in a different colour. The centre table had a lovely wedding cake —for this was a silver wedding party. This cake was ornamented with the same wreath of orange flowers which, graced the cake at the original wedding, and looked as fresh and pretty as it did quarter of a century ago. On the top of the cake stood a silver vase, one of the gifts of the day, filled with snowdrops. Another table had anemonies, and another was ornamented with yellow bulbs, and another had all violets. On the tabid with the cake stood two very tall handsome silver chandelabra, which were silver-wedding presents from the staff of Mr Miles’s firm. A large number of pretty silver gifts* were* received by Mrs Miles, many of which were part of the suppex- table decorations. Fleming’s band played beautifully, and it was charming to* see how really well the tiny folks danced. They were very quaint and amazingly ancient in some of their remarks, and quite alive to- the dignity of being at a real ball.

There were some excellently carried out costumes. Perhaps the most original was Mrs B. Wilson’s little boy, who was Robinson Crusoe. His tunic of skins and small fur cap and moccasins of goats-skin, was finished by a small umbrella of fur, which was a. great pride and joy to the small boy. Lloyd Findlay was a barrister in real wig and gown, carrying his first brief, a breach of promise case. Jack Findlay was a capital Toreador, and his brother Wilfred was a very realistic North American Indian. Mrs March-bank’s three .’little daughters were ideal Kate Greenaways. Lulu Dyer was a sweet shepherdess in hat trimmed with buttercups and pretty white frock with green silk panniers, and i he- ribboned crook. Margery King was a very dainty daughter of the Regiment. Mrs W. Symondfi’s children were a pair of pretty Welshwomen, in tall beaveri hats and red cloaks. • ■- Mrs Wilford’s little girl was a most;

dainty wee Japanese lady, and was beautifully dressed. Miss Agnes Pearce had a lovely Eastern costume.

Miss Vida Kennedy wore a very becoming peasant’s dress. Miss Eileen Ward was “Shamrock,” and her Irish costume was delightfully suited to her.

Little Pat Ward was an ideal Irishman. His very wee tail-coat was green, and be wore a buttonhole of shamrock. His tiny grey corduroy breeches and red waistcoat were so comical because of their very small proportions. His battered hat, and shillelah, which he hugged affectionately, completed this very pretty dress. Mr Jimmy Crawford wore a Volunteer officer’s uniform. Mr Stuart Seddon wore a handsome dress of the Monsieur Beaucaire style. His Empire white wig and red velvet coat being an exceedingly becoming costume.

Mrs W. Wards two children made a very pretty pair as Jack and Jill in red and gold striped dresses and hats.

Mr Gordon Abercrombie was a Neapolitan Fisherman. Mr Aubrey Gaulter wore a black velvet Court dress and white wig. Miss Riley wore a pretty French peasant’s dress.

Dorothy Tanner was an Alsatian peasant. Lloyd Hammond was a Spaniard. Mr Reid wore a lovely Chinese Manderin’s dress, and his face and head were excellently got up to match. Mrs* Wilford’s little son was an undergraduate at Cambridge. There was an excellent Mephistopheles, and no end of other beautifully dressed characters, tut wigs and other disguises made it particularly difficult to recognise the wearers in such a kaleidoscopic scene. A young lady, who* was dressed in 1830 costume, looked so charming in her quaint gown and ringlets that it seemed a pity they are not the fashion now. Another pretty dress was the style of the third Empire. White muslin dress, very orinolinesque and flounced to the waist /and hair done as the Empress Eugenie wore hers, with one long curl over her shoulder.

Mrs Miles wore a handsome black satin gown with jet sequins. The Misses Miles, who were most untiring and patient hostesses,' wore pretty black frocks and pink roses, and powder and patches which were entirely becoming. A large number of grown-ups of all ages dropped in to see this exceedingly pretty dance. Many of the girls wore powder and patches, and they stayed after the juveniles had departed, and enjoyed a delightful dance, and another delicious supper, which was laid after the children’s repast had been cleared away. * * . * Sir William and Lady Russell returned by the Athenic on Tuesday, and both of them are looking well. They have left thfeir daughters in England for a longer visit. * * * Dr and Mrs Findlay have come hack from their trip to* Sydney, where they had a very pleasant visit. * -* Mrs Tottenham, who is Lady Plunket’s guest, is staying with Mrs T. C. Williams during the absence of the viceregal party in Christchurch. * * * Bishop Mules was in town for a day or two. « w * The Bishop of Wellington and Mrs Wallis are paying a visit to Auckland. Mr and Mrs Goring Johnston have gone to Australia for a trip. * * * M)r and Mrs Sidey have gone for a week-end visit to their home in the South. Miss Massey has gone home, and left sessional gaieties for this season. * m * -The amateurs have produced the favourite opera of “Dorothy” with great (success 1 , particularly from a* musical point of view. Misses Murphy, Pulsford, and Mr Graham and Mr Ballance fairly revel in the songs, and get I much enthusiastic applause. We only wish they had better audiences, for the whole arrangements and dresses and all are so good they deserve more' practical appreciation.