THE CHARITY BALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22631, 24 July 1935, Page 4

THE CHARITY BALL

A BRILLIANT SCENE PRESENTATION OF DEBUTANTES PERFECT ORGANISATION ~ During the past five years the annual Charity Ball has been one of the outstanding social events of the season in Dgnedin, and the perfect organisation by which it has been characterised in the past was responsible for another memorable' ball last night. Hundreds of dancers, not to mention the crowds in the galleries, made a brilliant scene in the Town Hall, and throughout the evening the impression gained by the onlooker was one of sustained animation and gaiety. The focal point of the evening was the presentation of the debutantes, 12 of whom made their debut before Bishop Whyte, and in this respect as well as in the general effect the workers whose efforts were responsible for the function must have been well rewarded. The interior of the main hall was transformed by energetic workers into a garden, over which hung a myriad of Chinese lanterns lit by multi coloured

electric globes. More than 500 of these lanterns, arranged in festoons ascending to a central design, shed a soft, fairylike glow over the moving figures in the ballroom below and upon the hundreds of interested spectators in the crowded

galleries. The stage, with the massive pipes of the organ forming a background, was prettily arranged in greenery, while two huge boat-shaped baskets—one on each side—were decorated with ferns and artificial daffodils, hundreds of which had been made specially by the Sisters of Mercy, South Dunedin. The foyer was fitted in lounge style, the comfortable furnishings being made increasingly inviting by the shaded light of further Chinese lanterns. THE PRESENTATION The presentation of 12 debutantes was the chief social feature of the evening.

Punctually at 9 o’clock a fanfare of trum pets heralded the arrival of Bishoj Whyte, who, in company with the Right Rev. Mgr. C. J. Morkane, Adin., wai escorted through the hall by a guard ol honour, comprising the chairman of the Ball Executive, Mr J. P. Ward, and Messrs J. H. A. M'Keefry, M. O’Sullivan, F. E. Woods, H. K. .Poppelwell, D Whelan, Dr C. Burns, and Dr C. M Greenslade. Upon reaching the stage the bishop was greeted by the matrons of honour, each of whom received a bouquet, The matrons of honour were:—Mrs M. H. Dawson, who wore a gown of black flamisol satin with cowl neck of lace trimmed with silver lame and finished with a diamante clip, the skirt cut on tailored lines and slightly trained; and Mrs W. T. Henaghan, who wore a graceful slim-fitting frock of hunting green and gold lame velvet, with winged sleeves lined with gold lame and skirt flaring into train. The chaperons were: —Mrs W. •I. Crawford, wearing dull satin brocade in midnight blue, with a matching cape of velvet and lace; Mrs H. Hart, in black ripple crepe and diamante trimming, with mole fur cape; Mrs H. K, Poppelwell, who wore a floral georgette frock with coat of cerise panne velvet; and Mrs William Taylor in a black lace frock, black ring velvet coat, with silver lame trimming. The debutantes were:—Miss Isabel Christie, wearing white crepe georgette, with tucked yoke and cape, and full waterfall train; Miss Kathleen Shand, white lace with taffeta pleatings; Miss Florence Elliott, streamlined frock of white crepe Windsor cut with cowl neck, graduated frilled godets inset in skirt, frilled on shoulder to correspond and finished at waist with large bow and brilliant buckle; Miss Peggy Morland. frock of ivory mattelasse with flaring shoulder flounces, tied belt with draperies in cascade effect; Miss Nancy Percy, white crepe de chine georgette finished at neckline with handembossed silver flowers, making a charming finish to the Empire lines of the gown; Miss Winifred Quirk, ivory lace over satin circular skirt of flared frills, with cowl neckline and tulle puffed sleeves; Miss Doreen Fogarty, ivory crepe satin cowled softly at neck and sleeves and silver lame flaring from knees; Miss Teresa Monaghan, ivory silk lace cut on slimming lines, with cowl neckline trimmed with box pleated taffeta; Miss Phyllis Allan, windswept satin, with cowled bodice and graceful skirt finished with soft bow at back; Miss Patricia '■ Tohill, white satin beaute, made Empire style, with diagonal neckline caught with diamante clasps and forming a cowl at the back; Miss Doris Jones, ivory taffeta four-tier skirt, with square frilled ■neckline and frilled sleeves; and Miss Mary Kinney, gold and cream lame taffeta, with ruffles at neck and shoulders and smoothly-fitted skirt breaking into a dainty frill at feet. ' The debutantes with their escorts advanced through the hall to the stage, and as they were presented, each received a few encouraging words and a small memento from his lordship. Following the presentation the Bishop delivered a short address, congratulating all responsible for the success of the ball. BISHOP WHYTE’S ADDRESS

“We are meeting now for the sixth time,” the bishop said. “In 1930 this ball made its debut and won the hearty approval of its patrons. Its popularity is increasing with the years. The amount of work reqyjred in preparation can be known only to the ladies and gentlemen forming the varioys committees. Others know of it, or guess at it, only through the press. “Visitors to this hall this morning would have found it a very hive of industry. The committee attending to the the presentation the bishop delivered a of the ‘ government stroke ’ or of the economic policy of .‘going slow.’ The result of their activities is seen in the artistic arrangement of flowers and plants. You. will agree with me that they have carried out their duties with splendid taste.

“Another part of the building was equally alive. The supper committee was occupied in making and blending dishes at a speed that a timid male would consider excessive. How much contriving and toiling and bargaining were needed to procure all the goods under treatment only the ladies themselves could tell. If the decorations, of the ballroom appeal to the eye, those of the supper-room will appeal not only to the organ of sight but also to the organs of digestion. “ The most popular feature of the Charity Ball is, without doubt, the ceremony in which the debutantes take the duel part. The dignity and grace with which they go through the ordeal gives great pleasure to the spectators on the floor and in the gallery. The young ladies who have just now been presented have shown themselves to be up to the high standard of previous years. One hears from ladies of all denominations that the convent-school training sets a stamp of courtesy and refinement upon the pupils. “Those young ladies who have just entered formally into society should long retain a vivid recollection of this occasion. We hope that they will always be as happy as .they are this evening and give •as much joy to their parents and friends as they are doing now. “ The patrons of the ball, whether present or absent, are to be commended for their spirit of charity. Owing to their generosity, the committee will be able to offer much help to helpless children. It is the same noble spirit that animated the committees to so much arduous work during the past two or three months. And debutantes could scarcely 'come out’ under happier auspices than when they ‘ come out ’ hand-in-hand, so to speak, with the spirit of Christian charity.” At the conclusion of *he bishop’s address a group photograph was taken and the debutantes rejoined their escorts m the debutantes' dance.

The executive responsible for last evening’s ball comprised Messrs J. P. Ward (chairman), W. M. Brookes, W. F. Sligo (hall conveners). N. E. Jolly, J. Mooney (presentation), M. F. O’Sullivan (social), F. E. Woods (decorations), F. R. Thompson (supper), H. O’Reilly and J. Toomcy (publicity), and J. 11. A. M’Keefry (bon. secretary).

Tile members of the Ladies’ Supper Committee, under the chairmanship of Mrs W. J. Crawford, were as follows: Mesdames Airey, S. J. Allan, T. J. Boyle. Blaney, Bevis, Bute], J. A. Brown. J. Carroll, W. Carroll, Caley, Clark, Cantwell, Couglilan, Da we, Downes, Devaney, Dawson, Eames, Easton, Fogarty, Ferguson, H. L. Gordon, Gray. Howard, Hogan, Henaghan, J. Hall, Halley, W. Jones (who was responsible for the de-

corations in the supper room), Kennedy, M'Veigh, Pettit, Richardson, J. P. Ruth, Ross, Stewart, Stafford, W. Simpson, M. Simpson, Tylee, F. E. Woods, and White, and Misses Aitkenhead, Carroll, Collins, Downes, Halpin, Howard, Hamilton, Kelleher, Mackenzie, M’Quillan (2), Paget and Thomas. THE SUPPER ROOM The supper room decorations reflected the care with which they had been arranged. The decorations on the stage and tables in the supper room were carried out on an elaborate scale. The scheme was bright and colourful with japonica, pink camellias, maidenhair fern, red and pink foliage of birch and St. John’s wart. A tall crystal vase in the centre of each table towered over the other vases, while crystal- candlesticks, with long flame candles, and dishes of rosy red apples ;ompleted what was the brightest and most colourful decoration yet attempted at this function. The supper itself, to which many weeks of hard work and intense organisation had been devoted, was an outstanding success, not .only on account of the range and attractiveness of the fare, but because of the efficiency with which its disposal—an extremely difficult task—was handled. The Ladies’ Supper Committee was fully rewarded for its efforts by the obvious appreciation on the part of the guests. The Decorations Committee was great’v assisted by the supervision of Mr Les. Hill, of the D.I.C. It is certain that as a result of last evening’s charity ball the dual objects of the Crippled Children’s Society and the Sisters of Mercy orphanages will benefit considerably. A gratifying feature of the function, and one which lias been noticeable on similar occasions in the past, was the practical support which was freely given by business men and private members of the non-Cathohc community.