FEMININE CHIT-CHAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1158, 7 February 1874, Page 21

FEMININE CHIT-CHAT.

My Dear Nelly — I must try this time, to take the advice you gave me in your last letter, and not say too much about tho same thing. I hope the style will please you, though I warn you it will be rather short. • However, to begin at the beginning, as story books say, of my news. I must tell you that a flower show was held last week, and was a very miserable affair, indeed not half so good as the one held last year, and fur later in the season. Every one said it was too far out of town, being held, as you know, in a paddock belonging to Mr Harris at the Water of Leith. I beard several gentlemen at the show, say they wouldn't like to risk sending their flowers such a distance. Then it was in a tent, of courso no air could get in, but through the opening in front, and the air waa terribly hot and' close even in the afternoon. What «■" fc it have been at night when the lamps

were lighted, and the place was crowded | There were plenty of cut flowers, some very tastefully arranged indeed. One bouquet, however, I am sure a good maoy had a laugh over. It was placed under a glass rase, anp was composed of a great many different coloured flowers, amongst which the Tom Thumb geranium had a conspicuous position, and was styled a "bridal bouquet!"' „But so much for the show. On Monday, went to one of the Carandini concerts. ' It was the first night the Governor was there, and the theatre was very full indeed — every one being well dressed, and either looking or trying to look their best. There was a great deal of conkisiioti in taking bhuir sealb, ju&b because some wouldn't take tlic trouble 'to compare the numbers on the back with those on .their tickets before sitting down. I couldn't help laughing at a gentleman and several ladies who coolly took up nearly 'a row to themselves ■without looking once at the numbers. ' Wheat I ' th'e theatre was nearly full, the right owners came, and oh dear, 1 ,! there was such an ado before the others could, be all got out and they all got in, ' I don't know, how many times Tom and I had to rise or ' squeeze ourselves close to our seats to let people past. Once, after two, very; stout ' gentlemen : had crushed " past for the second time, Tom said he felt just like the character in one of Tom Hood's sketches, who was squeezed so flat in a crowd' tliat'"if he had been held up sideways he couldn't' have been seen. The Oarandinis sing very well indeed, -but what entertained me as much as anything was looking at the people. One young gentleman who sat up in a box by himself did seem to think he looked' so, graceful. One hand was allowed to hang slightly over the cushion, with a ring on his little finger shown off to the best advantage,' and that hand I am sure lie never moved once the whole time lie sat there, with a perpetual smile, or rather simper, upon his face, looking down in what I have no doubt he thought a' very fascinating manner on those below. Oh/ dear, he did look silly. X noticed that night too,' particularly, bow distingue people were trying to look ; perhaps this was caused by the Vice-regal presence. Then how anxious some were to single out their more aristocratic acquaintances, and get a bow from them. 1 had only to look at a person's face when another smiled, bowed, or -spoke, to know what sort of person (in position I mean) that other was. Oh, how affable, sweet, and gracious if it was a "somebody." Oh, how very reserved, dignified, and condescending if it was a " nobody." But lam aft aid you will be saying that is enough about the theatre. I shall only tell you a conversation I heard as we were all going out, and finish. A young lady just in front of me [ drew her cloak round her in an irritated manner, and said in a pettish tone to the lady by her side, " I do wonder, mamma, you will talk about that party, when I tell you I didn't enjoy myself a bit, and that there wasn't a gentleman there worth dancing with. Indeed I never felt so miserable in my life. " "Did you see Mrs so and so before you left?" asked the lady. " Oh, yes," was the reply. "I told her that I had enjoyed myself immensely, and thanked her for a most delightful evening." " Oh," said the mamma in a relieved tone, "Then it is all right." The next thing of importance I have to mention js the wreck of the Surat, that you have no doubt heard enough of ere this. The people of JDunedin, ever since Captain Jacquemart went to the emigrants' assistance, have been attacked with a sort of Vire | madness, and go where you will, you hear of little else but the wreck of the Surat, Captain Jacquemart, and the officers of the "Vire. I am quite as tired of them all as you can be of wool. Both captain and officers are I asked out everywhere, and I don t believe have had a single day to themselves. They must be rather tired of it. It was very good of Captain Jacquemart to do what he did, but I think the people'of Dunedin are making a little too much of it. While lam on this subject of Help in time of need, I must tell you that I read an account the other day of the Archbishop of Bordeaux expressing his deepest sympathy with the Jews when their synagogue there was burnt down, and telling their rabbi he would receive subscriptions in their behalf, or do anything else they wished. • The same bishop had also, af ber the death of the previous rabbi, followed him to the place of interment. I wonder what Bishop Moran would say to that. Oh, Nelly, if Bishop Moran and a lot of our ministers, indeed, would only preach, and practise a little more charity ; and, instead of continually going over tho same old ground about our sins and short-comings, say something that would encourage and help us to do better in the' future, how much good they might tlo. But here I must stop. Write soon.— Your loving Emily.

During a heavy gale at Leeds, recently, ono of the large windows of the Town Hall was blown out. The broken fragments fell into the street, where many people were passing, but all escaped injury except a little boy, who was frightfully cut on the head.

The collection made by Mr George Smith during hid late oxpedition to Assyria has been presented by the proprietors of the Daily Telegraph to the nation, and is now in the British Musenm. The objects number, upwards of 500. They believe in calling things by plain names out in lowa. A County Convention adopted this strong and somewhat sweeping' platform recently :—": — " Whereas, We believe that when a man steals he is a thief ; and Whereas, A majority of the politicians of both parties steal ; therefore, Besolved, that we are tired of being plundered ; that, it is a Rood time for thieves to stand franu' under,"