SOCIAL AND PERSONAL NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6660, 6 November 1908, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL NEWS

(BY KATRINE.)

KATRINE will personally attend all social functions of interest, for which cards inay bo forwarded to tho “New Zealand Times" office.

Accounts of weddings, dances, and social events generally, sent in for insertion, must bo properly authenticated. Katrine

Alisa Dovonish-Mearcs (Christchurch) left by the Atheuio yesterday for Loudon. Visitors to Wellington at present include Mrs and Aiiss Vallance, of Alastcrton. Miss Gladys Nathan loft for Christchurch last evening to stay with Mrs Louisson. Professor Scott and the Misses Scott (Dunedin) wore passengers by the Athenic yesterday for London. Lady Chelmsford is the guest of their Excellencies the Governor-Gen-eral of Australia (Lord Dudley) and Lady Dudley, at Melbourne, for the Cup festivities. 'Miss Somerville’s Preparatory School will hold their athletic sports on the Parliamentary tennis courts this afternoon. The sports will commence at 2 p m., and Lady Ward is to present the prizes. Lady Ward, accompanied by Miss Eileen Ward, Miss Bubi Scddon, and Miss Kate Mackenzie attended the performance of “Airs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,” at the Opera House last night. 'Returned trippers by the Corinthic include Dr and Mrs Dawson (Pahiatna), Mrs Cottier (New Plymouth), Miss Mary Meredith (Masterton), Misses Ormond and Mac Lean (Napior), and Miss Myrtle Barber (Wellington). The monthly meeting of tho Convalescent Homo Trustees was held on Wednesday- Present—Mesdames Newman (in tho chair), Brandon, Grady, Moorhouso, Miss Coates, Mrs Barron (treasurer), and Miss G. Morrah (secretary). Tho matron reported that seven patients had been admitted and ton discharged during the month. Gifts were acknowledged with thanks from Mesdames Barron, Rotherham, Snaddon, and Wilson. There ia scarcely an original-look ing woman left in Sydney (complains an Australian contemporary). All have been swamped by the “Merry Widow” hat and the tight-sheath skirt, and tho “Princesso” weariness! How women do love to look alike! Hoard a man complaining bitterly of the utter ■'absence of individuality in the modern woman. Judging by her clothes, and her complete submission to her dressmaker, the art of dressing doesn’t have to make her waste,much brain product. ’ Hof Excellency Lady Dudley arrived in Melbourne in R..M.S. Orbona, accompanied by his Excellency the Go-vernor-General, who had previously met her upon the arrival of the mail steamer at Fremantle. The Countess of Dudley wore a white embroidered linen, made in Direotoire fashion. Tho embroidery was worked on the linen itself, and in regular lines, and reached from the top of the bodice to the hem of the skirt, gradually widening as they came near the foot. The upper part of the bodice and entire sleeves were of brdderie Anglaise, and a note of contrast was obtained by some deep ficelle guipure next to the embroidery, finishing in small square motifs half way down the skirt. A broad, flat-brimmed white chip straw hat, trimmed with a wreath of white camellias and their handsome leaves, and a white lace veil, loosely arranged round the brim, completed the toilette in which her Excellency made her entry into Melbourne. Their Excellencies the Governor-General and tho Countess of Dudley made their first social appearance together in Melbourne at a brilliant ball, given by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Sir Henry Weedon) and Lady Wcedon in the Melbourne Town Hall, on Wednesday evening. The interior of the hall was picturesquely decorated with masses of roses in all shades. A delightful overhead effect was gained by the suspension of a rose-bordered canopy of thin gauze, fastened at each corner with a posy of electric-lighted roses, the rones suppoiting the canopy also being wreathed with roses. Her Excellency Lady Dudley wore ivory-white Duchesse satin, with two lines of pearl and diamente applique arranged from the waist, and widening out into a bold floral design of silver paillettes, outlined with seed pearls. Lady Dudley also wore a magnificent diamond ’ crown, with large pearls tipping each ; point, and on her hair and around her neck row after row of her famous pearls. Lady Gibson-Carmichael wore an Empire dress of currant-red chiffon. mounted on a dull silver foundation. The bodice was trimmed with, gold and silver tissue and red chenille, long ropes of which fell into the soft folds of her train. She wore a high hair ornament of diamonds and rubies, and a diamond and ruby necklace. HOUSE HOLD GIFT TEA Yesterday afternoon “Blisworth,” Hobson street, was the scene of a charming party given by. Mrs Stanton Harcourt for Miss Otterson—a “Household gift tea.” In consequence, the pretty drawing-room was invaded by a bevy of pretty girls laden with large brown packages liberally girt with string. . Tho hall and drawing-room were massed with White lilies and daisies, and hero and there excerpts from the poets—Herrick, Brewster and Shakespeare—were hung. The passage leading to the dining-room was garlanded with strings of needles and pins deftly threaded, and hearing the appropriate and evergreen adage—“ Needles and pins—when people marry theirj trouble begins.” Tea and cakes were served in the. dining-room, the table being decorated with masses of may and pink ixias. During the afternoon .Mrs Harcourt .recited Anstey's clover and amusing

will bo pleased to give correspondents the benefit of her advice on matters connected with the household, toilet, cookery, dress, and fashiou etiquette, etc. On these and all other subjects of interest to women correspondence Is cordially invited.

i monologue “Tho Wedding/ 5 Miss Beauchamp played and Miss MacTavish sang. Mrs Haroourb wore a pretty Empire frock with vest and sleeves of not and broderie Anglaise, and a handsome belt of Chinese embroidery. Little Master Conrad, who won golden opinions from tho ladies present for his delightful behaviour, locked very smart in his little white dross. Miss Otterson looked very charming in a pretty embroidered muslin with a floral sash of chine ribbon, and a white hat to correspond. Mrs Burnett wore a black striped voile over white glace inlet with handsomeddack insertion, and a black, hat trimmed with white ostrich feathers. A smart Wedgewood blue crinoline hat with cornflowers and a cream cloth Eton coat and skirt were worn by Mrs Charles Pearce. Mrs D’Arcy Chaytor’s costume was of heliotrope cloth with tinted insertion, and bands of purple velvet; her black lace hat was flower-laden. Miss E. Richmond wore a deep turquoise tailor-made with taffetas hat of tho same shade, and some lovely turquoise ornaments. Miss Esmo Dean's pale blue striped Empire costume was worn with a large picture hat and blue veil. A very becoming gown was donned by Miss Bessie Fitzgerald—a soft white cloth with deft touches of silver braid and tassels. Her large white straw hat was banded with black and encircled with quillings of white muslin edged with face. P-relty white embroidered muslins were worn by Miss Erica Fell, Miss Wilson, Miss Eisrae Ward, and Miss Edith Holmes. A pretty laoo dress over cream silk, and a cream, hat was worn by Miss Grace Morrah. Miss Ewan's Empire costume was cf the palest pastel blue with tiny revere of black and white stripes, and a large black pictxire liat. Miss Elsie McTavish wore a turquoise . blue Eton costume with a large cream leghorn hat decked with large pink roses and brown foliage. Miss E. Itawson wore a pretty blue and white check costume and large pale blue hau trimmed jvith winecoloured roses and blue silk choux. VENTILATION Air ia just as necessary to life as food. It is just as important that our lungs should be well supplied, with pure air as that we should eat good food or drink wholesome water. Re-breathed air is poisonous; it is, strictly speaking, one of the excrementitious products of the human organism. When an architect designs a house too often, the idea of ventilation. is overlooked, and any provisions tor the admission of fresh air is disregarded. This is true not only of private ouses, but also of public buildings, churches, and echoolhouses. Go into the drawing-rooms or bedrooms of many of our best houses, and you too often find them oppressively close. Night air: is just as wholesome and just as necessary as day air; and if you do not breathe night air during the night, what do you expect, to breathe? Are you getting* as much fresh air as you ought? Air vitiated by the products of repeated respiration tends to make one sleepy and wretched; then comes a headache, accompanied by a general lack of desire to do anything. If, when you are conscious of the approach of this feeling, you would get up, go out and takp a brisk walk in the air, you would find your headache disappear. Foul air impairs the appetite, hinders nutrition, and renders the system susceptible to the development of disease. Everyone should be outdoors as much as possible; and those who cannot live outdoors should attend to the ventilation of their living-rooms, and see that the air is kept pure. INFLUENZA AND THE HEART. The desire not to make too much of a minor illness sometimes will force a man who has been really laid low by influenza for a few days to hurry back to his work as soon as his . acute symptoms have passed off. In the young and strong person the only untoward result of such disregard of the seriousness of the disease may be a temporary inability to get back to normal strength and energy. In the man who is past middle age and whoso heart is slightly fatty or . otherwise degenerated the consequences may be much more serious. 1 It has long been considered by many doctors* that there is a peculiar poison generated in the system during influenza which acta directly on the heart muscles, weakening their ability to withstand strain. After an influenza attack, no matter how short in duration, have the heart carefully examined by a physician to see whether it is strong enough to allow you bo go back to ordinary dutiesTf the condition of the heart, determined ]>y competent medical examination, instead of the mere passing off of the aches and pains and colds, etc., were made tho criterion of regained health, there would be fewer cases of post-influ-ouzal debility and depression, lasting eometlmes for months after the end of acute attack. Stay in bed, or at least ia the house, for a day or two after you feel able to get up. In. this way the heart will have a chance to recover from the effects of fthe influenza poison before being called .upon to resume its ordinary duties. Then when you do take up your work again convalescence is much mar© apt to be rapid and complete.