DAUGHTERS OF EVE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 9

DAUGHTERS OF EVE.

TIIKIR. FIUVOT.miCR AND THEIR FROCKS. DECREASE OF LARGO TEAS. DRESSES AT THE THEATRE. THE LOWRY RAY HORSE-PARTY. A row days more will sue wir workworn legislators liurrying away to Urn ’'fields and pastures’’ of their constituencies, our maidens folding away in lavender the triumphs of frills and laoe in which, they frolicked through the ‘(looting hours with flying feet.” Mm an the whole, except for a brilliant week or so hero and there, the Session has !>oen a very dull one. Nothing o very ‘’'grave import” has occurred, socially speaking; and, sadder to relate, very few engagements hear out Dm poofs statement that, “in the spring the young man's fancy lightly turnto thoughts of love.”

One very noticeable and delightful feature of this season has been tho sparsity of the large teas so appropriately dubbed ‘('rushes.” Hostesses no longer seem to think that they , have done their duty to society—nobly—by inviting their whole acquaintance into a house which is only adapted to hold one fifth of it. I have vivid recollections of attending one of these functions. Movelinent was hardly possible j the few chairs that remained were, of course, '.requisitioned by the older ladles; tea and concomitant creature comforts wore difficult to get at. even with the assist' ■.trice of a heated band of heroic uelpers—and the thermometer VO degrees ii every room.

Ono or tiro benevolent Indies, winking to avoid di.-comlort and ciowding, bnvo given most enjoyable 'At itoine.' at tho Kelbnrno Kiosk, ivhoro tbe vioiv alone recompenses UK) most olase- 1 ol our sex. Several clteory Jittlo moonliglit walking (xnrl ics bad their termination at the bnuantly lighted "Pagoda'' yn the hill, 'there was ono big tea, whore an exhausted hostess, alter the departure of the last guest, threw herrelf cm to a, lounge, exclaiming, 'Thank goodness, that’s over—for another year at least!" i could not help wondering if the guests ivero re-echoing the Eamo sentiments on their way home. Let us hope that tho ‘‘Crush" has gone, to join pit and ping-pong in their limbo of oblivion.

Our ladies can plumo themselves on two charitable enterprises, carried out thoroughly and well. Airs Williams, Mrs Pollen and their hand of willing, able helpers can point with prido to the wonderful success of their great "Charity Bazaar.” Those lucky people who wore able to take part in, or watch, the mazy wanderings of the “Coloured Lantors,” can congratulate All's Arthur' Pearce, tho secretary, and tho other ladies who helped to make the affair such a social, and what is much more important, a financial success. Although the Session is very nearly over, wo have had very few unoccupied moments to complain about. Two days’ racing—such terrible days—which kept all hut tho most inveterate sports at homo, have filled the town with country visitors, amongst whom are Air and Airs Waller Johnson from Feilding, and their daughter Airs Holmes of Alatahiwi, Wairarapa. Tho terrible downpour of Friday morning prevented all hut tho most reckless wearing anything very diaphonous and fieocy ; so tailor-mades were the order of tho day. Have you ever struggled across those terrible bridges on a windy day, gentle reader? If you haven’t, take Punch’s advice (and mine) —don’t. Bright and brimming houses are greeting tho Broughs in their new comedy, "Beauty and tho Barge." Amongst the audience one evening I noticed Mrs Fell and her daughters, Aliss Erica wearing a charmingly gulish frock of pale pink silk; Airs Findlay, a handsome gown of a delicate oyster tint, with some lovely laoo on tho corsage; Aliss Knight of Dannovirko, in pale blue.Mra liwen was wearing a very handsome opera cloak of pale blue cloth, With deft touches of black velvet; and a dark-haired woman, in a lomon-ooloured silk, wore a magnificent tiara of diasuonds and pear-shaped pearls on her dusky locks. A simple and charming frock was worn by Alisa Wrigglesworth in tho last act: the bodice was of pale bine cloth folded across the front of lace insertion, the skirt, of tho same material, was full and untrimmod, and the note of smartness was introduced by pale blue ribbon rosettes (with a black velvet button in the centre), which were Jdaoed down tho front of tho bodice, and tho back of the swathed silk belt. -Elbow sleeves and laoo insertion, undersleeves completed this smart and natty little frock. On Sunday Mr Boll’s House Party at Lowry Bay was augmented by a party of guests from town. The visitors left town in tho ferry-boat, and wore met at Bay’s Bay by a drag, which carried them on to their destination. The weather was simply charming, and a most enjoyable day was spent. Air Bell has given this party as a kind of farewell to tho old Hutt Racecourse, and a remembrance of tho jolly times ho and his friends used to have when they made np race-parties from Lowry Bay. Never has an entertainment been given on so lavish a scale —“A ohef from the Club, my dear,” is what one hears being murmured on all sides, and -twelve courses at dinner” (five more than His Majesty permits himself, by lie way). “Champagne for dinner and luncheon, and actually maids to wait Upon tho ladies, and valets—positively two valets to attend upon tho men.” Tho “valetted” young men have to stand a good deal of chaff from their companions just now, especially as—so the men’s story runs—on awaking the first morning the terrifying question “what clothes shall I put out, sir?" bad to bo dealt with, and the only salt which was there had to be pointed out. One man, only, was equal to the occasion. Need I say he must have been »n Irishman? This intelligent creature rubbed his eyes and said languidly, “Oh, w, well, the grey suit to-day, I think!” Need I add—as tho novelists say—that that evening saw several manly forms stealing along the Quay at 5 o’clock bearing portmanteaux ? They had already entered upon tho arduous task of living up to their (two) valets I Well, all things must end; and this extremely happy little party ha’d to resolve itself into its “constituent atoms”; and on Monday night they all came into town, and went to “Beauty and the Barge”; then finished up their "delightful time” with a “long late” supper at Airs Arthur Pearce’s house in Hobson Street. Air and Airs A. Pearce, Mr and Mrs lan Duncan, Aliss Duncan, Air and Airs H. Johnstone, Air and Airs W. Turnbull, Air and Airs K. Duncan, Airs H, Holmes. Aliss Doris Johnstone, Miss E. Cooper, Aliss N.

Stead, and Miss Joan Hislop ivoro ■.iinoiiKst tho gu'-sts. On .Monday aftnrnonn a very pleasant •W’ V :i.s fiivon for Mrs Brough by Mrs Proust- :.t };<•:- bouse on tlm Terrace. Hotli lad it-a received the guests as they arrived, Mr;. I'.roußli looking bright and rilianiiintr as ever in a dark blue Koun, and a black hat. Lady Ward looked particularly •.veil in an elaborate ivhite I'rtick much trimmed with lace. Ainont'sfc many others I noticed -Mrs mid Miss Kdwin, and -Mrs and -Miss Quick. A band discoursing sweet .strains downstairs, and a gramophone upstairs, made, things bright and cheery: and Air Prcuso took programme by singing our favourite -,0ng... U luit a pleasuio it is to hear a realty good voice, a voice sweet, and Hi, tJio same time powerful enough to drown tho inanities which wo all have to indulge in (.even the cleverest of us* at times 1 On .Monday night a very enjoyable little dance, under the chapcronago of Mrs j badge ami -Mrs Fulton, was held in Meginbotliam's Hall at Kilbirnie, and in ill;* "wee ,sma’ hours'' the little party —very loth to go —were driven back Into town in a couple of large drags. Tim future holds out no very dazzling prospect as yet. SILVER DOMINO.