SASSIETY SPICE

NZ Truth, Issue 568, 6 May 1916, Page 2

SASSIETY SPICE

■{^ BY"LABY DOT" .::; , Wl

It was a very swelly drawing-room m a certain. New Zealand city and there were about twenty "snobs" assembled at an "At Home." As each guest departed the remainder set to work to "discuss" the woman they had one and all broken bread with. This was repeated about seven or eight times when at last Mrs. — ■■' ■ rose and bid her hostess good-bye and turned to the remaining- cats with scorn and disdain m every lineament of her face, said: "And now you may discuss me as you have done each of the others as they left — but for the last time so far as I am concerned!" The amazed consternation upon the faces of the cats may be left to the imagination. The lady has never been known to recognise one of the cats since, and as she holds a high position In the social scale, this is most galling to them. "■■'' ' '. • . ♦ ' ' ■ • The euchre party and dance arranged by the Kelburn Branch of the Women's National Reserve, and.tield m the Masonic Hall, was" a huge success. The Karorl and Hutt;branehes lent/jtieir aid and the resultwas Worthy of the work done by the secretary, Mrs. Bell, the president, Mrs. ;McVilly, and many others. ' r ?'?i'. : ' .-. :.^ .,, ' '■"".I"*' Progressive^ euchre occupied "the first part of the evening and then a sumptuous supper was provided and much enjoyed by the guests. Dancing then commenced and all had ft good time. The Hon. Mr. Herdman presented the prizes, .The funds are to go to the Soldiers' Hostel and the function is to be a monthly affair. The Kelburn branch has undoubtedly led the way m useful work. Mo8to)f the Soldiers'tHostelCdinmittee were present. ' •: , r .; .';.... '" .v : ' ;^' ' '■' '• ■' ■' • ' : ' '<•■'"''' On the pavement promenade a few new dresses appear and , are mostly tailored or "ready-to-wear,'.' - A very .neatly dressed 7 -WbmanVls wearing a dark browji' suit, with, .a rather tight- fitting coat; QUffs and collar of fawn and hat of-saxtfe cojlor as a suit that suits. \ v < ' H Another m Cuba-street' was gowned In a black Norfolk^ or Russian? modification of the same; piped'wlth geranium red. A close black velvet toque had a bird-wing bow of the same. Two country misses are appearing m sensible light brown gabardine Russian costumes, one wearing a white felt hat and the other a brown and blue. A "Terrace tart" waltzed into Lamb-ton-quay on Tuesday m a pretty navy blue costume; black hat and long white and black boots, which were quite remarkable, especially as she had a short skirt and did a kind of "goose step" to. show them off. Talking and writing of costumes: what are we women goingto do? Sight to. fifteen guineas are being, asked for black frocks which two years ago cost about half the money. Boots and shoes are much higher m prices, and hats are apparently cheaper. Stockings are 60 per cent." dearer and very much inferior m quality, and so on. Food is Still soaring, so "Dot" suggests m desperation that we return to prehistoric ages and weaf one garment: for all sexes, no boots or shoes, and feed on nuts and apples, but leave the treeollmbing alone unless the Germans come. ■ ■■ * - • ' /•, • ' ' A wise Government lias taken the bull by* the horns arid granted a shilling a day extra, whilst war lasts, to x all bronchos of the Civil Service. "Dot" noticed that the Mines Department got their rise some tltn© ago. Seven shillings extra per week will just about pay the rise In milk, butter and meat m an ordinary family, bo it will not help very much m the case where a man earns 60s per week. There's nothing for it after all but the simple life. -. • ' ■ . •" ' . • Reoruiting is going on much more seriously since the public realised the faot that the voluntary system was m danger, "Dot" is highly amused whenever she reads m the papers that Mr, Atkinson, Mr. Herdman. Dr. Newman, or Mr. Heinrloh Ferdinand von Haast, or some auoh person la going to address a recruiting meeting m such and such a hall! Eto they Imagine shirkers will come within cooea of them and their speedhes? All useless waste of money and energy, Bend earnest men and women m groups of twos and threes, round to the shirkers m and around "Wellington, Masterton, Napier, Auckland, and so on. Mr. Whatman, that grand practical Master ton patriot, bails up every crony who enters the club whose son or sons are not doing their duty to their oountry, and tells them oft m such a manner that their club is soon relieved of their presence. Who is game enough to do likewise m any of our clubs? Quite a number of shirkers have taken huts and tents out at the seaside and lay. very low whilst people are round, and sneak down back streets to train or steamer. Why not have men or women at these places endeavoring to make auch creatures realise their responsibilities*. Never mind about Government or party or anything else. Just think of those poor broken Anssac lads who neetj & rest if over men did, and hasten to relievo them. AH we ask, nil they ask, In— play ihe game, •' • • A wee kiddie, poorly dressed, accompanied her well-dressed mother m v leading shop last week. Ma was busy buying expensive lingerie, etc., and poor kiddie took off a rag of a bonnet and began "trying on" the. most expensive hats. Her arnica soon drew many «yos— some tilled with indignation and pity, and th« seltlHh mother visibly wilted as tho stiles ludy held up the muslin rag of a hut to place on the pretty child* head again, "Oh! Awh! Just fit her out with a decent hat," murmured ma. "Dot" wn» ' delighted to wUnexß the joy m the child's face when she marched oui with her prise. How can mother* pile all on thoir own backs and neglect thalr children! A worae case is one whore the maid has to tie the bnby on her back whilst nlu» Herubs the lloorji, eve, and actually has to rlfl« from h«r tusks and, putting baby <>rr her back, answer the door and take In afternoon tea on the "'Day al Home." Yo gods! •■' • • The Ml»*w» Tendull am) ColmWk* <*> nr* to br> heartily consrutulaipd upon th» result qf their patriotic effort on Friday und Saturday of last week. Th*«e ladloft are engaged to bu«lne»»e« of their own and are not nodal butterHle« by any meann. They tfttve their buslneua premises «nd week* ot overtime labor for th» benolli of our »ol« tllorH per JU»d Crowi Society. Would thni Hume or our wealthy tradesmen antl bu«lne«« people would do likcwltfc. Not only did M'lu* TvnUall *Jv« up her t<«v and Juneheon rooms and' tho 'pro* coedjj. but nhc provided c«ke« for the caV:e MftJ). 3h« Jh » nptandiri cook »nd her narno wn» wniTU-J^nt Kunrft«ite« that all would ha *aicerly purehnwfid. Th« eniranro f>«' Included morning or afternoon tea ami luncheon, The Mlm«h Cooper nml Mow. who havp l«>«*n very Keiwrau* with lh«»ir patriotic work In eonm?ction with the flaw<>r *\n\\. had j»lnoe<l thflr room* at the (iisyosa.l of tho fete. consequently

the place was a bower of beauty. Large howls of yellow, red and cold chrysanthemums were placed on tall stands about the room, and were wreathed m Virginia creeper. , The (effect was glorious. This was m charge of Misses Cooper, Moss and Bristow. The sweats stall tv&s most effective; hundreds of wee baskets decorated with a white paper frill had a red cross on the sides. This stall was m charge of Mrs. Nicholls and Misses Davidson and Spraggon and did a roaring, trade. The workstall contained many articles both useful and fancy. The lingerie was very choice and dainty, and so also were the blouses. A Red Cross flag whereon you were allowed to place your name for the sum of sixpence, was a novelty. The Misses Coleridge were responsible for this lovely displdy of goods nnd were assisted by Mrs. Stevens and Miss Niyens. ■'■■■■'•,'■ . Miss Beatrice Day and Madame Boeufve told fortunes and beguiled many a stray coin from tightly clasped reticules or pockets. . The Trentham Band played during the afternoon and enlivened the proceedings and allowed women to talk scandal without ffeatr t of being overheard. In order to set at rest the mind of the lady m a dark navy blue suit, "'Dot" would like to inform her that the two ladles whom she was "lnsinuending" about ar« both respectable women and are supported by their husbands. .' " :■*■■ ' . :^ •. :' '' %■■•■ .-', "Dot" is an Anti-Qerman Leaguer, as she has said before; and when Madame Boeufve and President X.qwry declared for a march on the Prime Minister, march we did, and reached his domain about 9 p.m. And here ''Dot" pauses to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Massey m receiving the deputation at such an hour. He' evidently recognised the urgency— or was it due to the presence of one of the' Hawke's Bay wool kings? ■."■■■ However,. our Premier is not like the usual male animal; he was not m a good temper after feed time. No doubt it was trying to listen to a deputation of women — some of whom will stray rro"m the point at issue. For the life of her, though. "Dot" could hot s«e why Mr. Massey should froth and foam when reminded of tho fact that "Grlerson was not a gentleman, at any rate, because he left his lodgings owing some pounds to his landlady." He should have brushed it aside m a proper and more dignified manner. ; Madame Boeufve put up a good light but should leave out a little of the .French side of the question. She Is a gentle, warm-hearted Irishwoman, and as such we all love her, but being Irish we are also British, and therefore do not like anything that savors of threats. "Dot" is afraid that Madame is decid-. edly threatening when she refers to informing France or the French Ministry of our pro-German weaknesses. Let us fight all we know against this and that without using threats. Minister Allen has replied with his usual courtesy— ignoring Madame Boeufve and addressing Mrs. Lowry, who la a wealthy woman but happily a patriot m every sense of the word, "Grlerson is to go," so he says. Well, then; "Dot*' can "tip" Mr. Allen that hia turn will also come—and from his own side of the House 1 ■'■■.. •;■..'•"' • .-■"■■• "Dot" received a ticket from some kind friend admitting her to the gallery of the Town Hall to gaxe upon the Returned Soldiers and blg-wlg politlotuns and military celebrities, such as Premier Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Hon. O. W. Russell, Arthur Myers, W. Hi Herries— these are known to tbe naughty boys as "Old Bill Massey," "Good old Joey," "Fighting Rickey" and "Tired Bin," Cheek by jowl with these were Colonel Gibbon, whom the AntiGerman Leaguers love— not t General Henderson, whom Mrs. Boden, of the Soldiers' Hostel gushingly styled "a perfect dear"; Captain Simson, whom the doctors say hi fit for active service again, and he say he ain't; and many others whom "Dot" does not And interesting enough to write about. Of eoufse "Our Tommy" was there and m the chair, and made an oration that reached moat people's hearts. The venerable. Chief Justice, proposed the chief toast of the evening In language that wan a treat and a manner that loft nothing to bo desired, except that It was rather long. The Premier and Sir Joseph Ward both made excellent speeches, and Captain Simson replied on behalf of the Ahwics— the guests o£ the evening. A splendid repast was providod by Mrs. Oscar Johnson, and the hall waa most tastefully decorated by Mr. Dodderell, of the D.I.C, Red and white panels surrounded the room and flags of all nations except those of onomiea, were suspended from tho celling. A very handsomo grain silk Union Jack, proaented to Returned Soldiers by tho Women of England, occupied a prominent space behind Mr, WUford. It was lashed to « machine gun which looked very deadly tui It pointed towards the gallery where ■ "Dot" sat. Tho whole acenc us the jjueata wore stated looked very well indeed. It was' nlcb to no(e that our wounded native Holdiora received special attention from tho num>s and ludlea who wero acting n* waltrwwea. There wero twelve nurß«B In uniform under Mrs. Preston, who 1» their matron, and no doubt theso appealed to the men who had suffered u> much before landing her© and whose only solace was the Hlght of a nurse In uniform,