ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 32

ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

A correspondent writes: — "Will I ever get married, and what sort of a girl shall I get, and shall I be wealthy ? " How on earth do I know ! lam not a fortune-teller ! One thing is'pretty certain; if you write your lovo letters on paper as dirty as that you wrote to me on, you won't. I held it with the tongs while I rdad it. I get letters of all sorts, Some telling of a lady's dainty ways by the faint perfume, some on delicately tinted cream la?d paper, asking some essentially woman's question ; others in flowing mas> culine hands ; some closely written, affectionate, and confiding; some .quietly demanding a» almost impossibility, sad letter?, intellectual letters, silly letters, sensible letters ; but only once before have I received a dirty letter, and I don't like dirt. These letters that come from week to week are always a matter of interest to me. I don't mind how many of your troubles you tell, oi how many questions you ask — whenever th« paper is of a poor description I try to suit my answer to the humble home, and picture in my mind's eye the working wife and mother busy with a hundred household cares, and try to be of a little service to her if possible ; but when a man asks questions like those on an abominably dirty piece of paper, well, I suppose one must endeavour to answer him good humouredly ! Will your ever get married ? Now, if I were only a fortuneteller, I should say Yes: one day you would a-wooing go in your best clothes, and Mar; knowing how sorely you needed someone to take care of you, and not thinking you such a bad sort of fellow, would say Yes. On her first instalment in your bachelor quarters, she would set to work with kerosene or hydroleine soap and a scrubbing brush, and use up a whole brook of water "in scouring the whole establishment out, and you wouldn't know yourself, you would be so cosy »nd comfortable ; but not being a fortune-teller it is impossible forme to say. Will you ever be wealthy 7 Now, do you think ifl knew how you could become wealthy I should tell you ? Don't you think ifc mort likely I should straightway go and ge fc wealthy myself instead? Fancy giving away such a secret these times ! You won't get wealthy thinking about it — it takes one i o be pretty smart nowadays. If you sit down to ruminate about it, while your art ruminating somebody walks off with j'o Df apple cart, and when you rouse yourself of and are ready for action, there isn't so ninca of it visible as a wag of the horses' tail tarn* ing the comer. So hold on lightly to the chance you have got ; do with your will nearest acd first thing ; do not live beyond your means, even so ranch as by half * crown ; the luxuries you can't pay for Rrt easily done without, and if you do not gw* wealthy you will at least" have peace o 1 mind. Many people blame fortune for the" bad luck instead or their own wantof persef er ' ance ; a persevering man tail ninety^ 8 times and be successful on the hundreflw whereas one who gave up at the fiftieth W would have counted life a failure. Everjow has a certain piace and work in the woriOj and by long and continued effort the fo ct l found. A fitful earnestness is of littlea , TeeT cc — we ordinary mortals cannot reach a pJ^J of ease by one quick lightning fla SD > v step by step we must plod on. Have;

ever seen a child sowing seeds and plants 1 How diligently and delightedly it works ! and for a time it waters and tends its garden, then becomes impatient and digs up the seeds to see if they are growing, and the seed just sprouting and the plant just taking root dies. So with many restlesss souls ; they dig and plant and water, but they can't wait, and so they spoil their chances in life. They are always sowing, but never reap. There is a time for work, a certain time for waiting while the diligent efforts are_ taking root and bearing fruity and then it ia reasonable to expect a harvest. To make headway in this age means hard work ; there is so much competition in all branches, the noise of the mills of the busy world makes one's brain ache to contemplate. One sometimes pities the poor children, wonder-ing-how it will be in their day when it is so hard in this. Even their lessons are tasks too hard for dull brains, and God' did not make them all geniuses. I am afraid many of them will be tived before the battle of life begins. Surely Longfellow's lines are more applicable in our day than in his — ' 0, lifctte feet, that such long years -Must wander on through hopes aud fears> Must ache and bleed beneath your load ; 1, nearer to the wayside inn, Where toil shall cease and rest bogin^ Am weary, thinking of your road. Make them as happy as \ou can, fathers and mothers. Spare them what tasks you can. If you can indulge Without sacrifice of reason and principle, say " yes " oftcner to their requests than "no," for they will be children such a little while, and men and women such long, long years. The colts and the kittens and the young lambs play ; shall your little one have a sadder heart than these. Ah, mothers! what matter the stains on your clean boards and the carpets ? Never mind the torn clothes (to that your boys and girls keep their bright eyes and their roses. A day will Dome when they will walk wit-h sedate step, and speak in quiet tones; teach them to love God and one another, and ~bs pitiful and tender with all living things. Then never mind the rest— the mischief that is not crue^ the noise that is not selfish. Be harder with them if they tell a lie or hurt an insect than if they break up a whole dresser of dishes, and be pretty certain they will grow to love and trust yon. A gentleman writes : Dear Alice,— l do not believe your gentlemen friends ate a bit peculiar in not being able to describe the minutire of a lady's dress. Still I have no hesitation in answering in the affirmative your query to your lady readers as to whether it is worth while, in the face of this facb, to pay so much attention to the details of their "gefcup." Of course it is. It does not follow that beoause a fellow is not capable of describing the material and cut of a costume that he does not appreciate it. It is really the afcteotion to details that is the great attraction to him, cvea though his acquaintance with their nature is so limited that he is unable to give any idea of what they really are. I therefore trust ' that the readers of the Ladies' page will continue hi their endeavours to make themselves as attractive as possible, and not be disheartened by the ignorance of us wretched male creatures. This is satisfactory, for really I began to think after the descriptions I have been telling you of that it waa was a wasted effort to be so particular. Mrs Mills returned to Dunedin last week for a short stay, and was looking extremely well the other day in a very handsome long seal jacket. Mrs Gibson also wears a beauty, trimmed with a skunk set. Mrs J. A. Barr also wears a handsome sealskin trimmed with a bear set. There are a number of very pretty sealette jackets being worn just now by the young ladies. They are very smart looking, short and double breasted. Miss Tottie Stephenson wears one, and looks very nice in it too. Miss Edith Jones (who lam glad to say is convalescent again) wore one one bright day, and Miss Grant I saw at the football match wearing one also. On Tuesday night at the Princess Theatre the Shakespeare Club gave a very successful entertainment in aid of All Saint's Charity Fund. It consisted of readings, illustrated with tableaux vivants. These were very dramatic, and handsomely arranged, the characters looking the parts they were intended to represent. Great time and patience I must have been spent, and all praise is due to those concerned. The readings were as sue- , cessful as usual, and Mrs Rose gave one of her ever welcome songs. A quintette composed of Mrs Ross, Miss Daisy Ross, Miss Mitchell, Mr Gully, and Mr Finch was very successful in its effect. The ladies looked particularly well, dressed for the most part in black. Mrs Rose, in a combination of net and satin, the bodice low cut, the sleeves short, with a spray of white roses on the corsage and another on the skirt ; Mrs Ross was in satin and lace, the bodice high to the throat, buttoned with a row of white pearl buttons ; Miss Alexander, I in black satin and lace, the neck V cut, with a spray formed either of blue ribbon bows or flowers. Miss Daisy Ross wore a handsome combination of satin and lace, the bodice sleeveless aud square cut., and relieved with t'-d flowers and ribbons. Among the coloured dresses was that of Miss Alexander, of pale olue— a remarkably pretty dress, the bodice %h to the neck, the sleeves to the elbow, the bodice being finished with ribbon bows. The s *irt was of net, handsomely trimmed with ribbon bows. Miss Mitchell wore white lace Ov er heliotrope; and Miss Grant a simple B°wn of white muslin, low neck, and short Puffed sleeves, the bodice relieved with a 'Pray of holly and berries. Miss Kate Grant Wa s dressed in black lace, , relieved with a &iber ribbons. The theatre was crowded in e |"ery part, chairs being placed in every avail*We space. The dreesses were too numerous t0 particularise. I should be writing from Jw till next week if I noticed them all. J iss Gibson wore a lovely long green plush °pera cloak. Mrs Yorke also wore a very ' r etty and uncommon cloak of long white air - Mrs Batchelor, a handsome cloak of cardinal plush. Lady Stout's cloak was of ye same material, of a darker shade. Mrs J\acken E ie looked well in a pale blue silk. y*b a lovely bouquet of pink roses on the j^age. Mrs Harper wore a pretty white t^v,^'^ 1 s: l >ra^ °f velvet autumn leaves on c bodice. > Miss Gibson wore a pretty dress loolF? pilik nvm>s veilin S- Mrs Whitson lie -aya v . cr y' nneen * cc * n golden brown plush, re- . Msd with Jpink, with pink chrysanthemum aer hair ;i and Miss Williams was in black \fitl • Sllor^ s * eeves an^ low ne °k» trimmed *.* jet, and a Jblue bow in her hair. Miss Yet 8 costume was of white satin.

An Oamaru correspondent sends the following ;—; —

On Wednesday, July 25, a juvenile fancy dress ball was held in the Athen*um Hall upon the occasion of the conclusion of Miss Dawoon's dancing class for this season, and it proved an unprecedented success. Long before the hour of commencing the hall was filled to overflowing with the parents and friends of the children. The costumes were exceeding tasteful and elegant, and showed by the pains and expense bestowed on them that Miss Dawson's efforts have been fully appreciated. The ball opened with the Grand March, which was executed with perfect accuracy and in excellent time, and which at once proved to what a state of proficiency the children had been brought by their instructress. Indeed, there never was a more pleasing picture witnessed in Oamaru, and the onlookers were perfectly delighted and astonished to see the state of proficiency to which the children had been brought. A long and varied programme was carried through without a hitch, the dancing being most graceful and accurate. Among the items was that old-fashioned country dance, "Pop goes the weasel/ which was danced by 24 diminutive children to the great admiration of the spectators. The waltzing was also very noticeable, and surprise was expressed at the excellent dancing, the greater number being very young Some of the costumes were very striking. Notably amongst the older ones were the couple who led the grand march, Sir Roger de Coverly, and a Spanish lady ; and of the little ones the Little Marquis and the Fairy Queen, whilst Dame Hubbard looked the character to perfection ; but where all looked so charming it would be invidious to select any more for special mention, otherwise 1 might go through the entire list of characters whish I subjoin below. The music was supplied by Mrs Collis (piano), and Mr Frew (violin), with their usual taste and skill. The small hall was utilised as a retiring aud refreshment room for the children, and Miss Bennett (assisted by Miss Letty Bennett) attended to their wants in the latter direction, and unlike the " old woman who lived in a shoe," showed that she did know what to do with all her children, and gave satisfaction to every one: — Miss Nellie Bee, Summer; Miss Lalla Bennett, Snow ; Miss Olive Bennett, Fire ; Miss Theo Bennett, Little Bo Peep; Miss Lilian Bennett, Red Riding Hood ; Miss Jessie Boylan, Wild Rose ; Miss Lottie Brown, Mistress Mary ; Miss Kathleen Familton, The May Queen ; Mibs Florence France, Buy a Broom ; Miss Ellie Frew, Spring ; Miss Retta Frew, Queen of the Orange Girls; Lady Dolly Grant, Ladybird; Miss Laura Grave, Mascotte; Miss Rnchael Hepburn, Boubretto; Miss Kate Lamont, Perdifca (" Winter* Tale"); Miss M. Macfarlane, Queen of Hearts; Miss . Minnie M'Gregor, Gipsy Queen; Miss May Milne, Dame Hubbard; Miss Ada Moss, Watteau Shepherdess; Miss Lottie Orr, Spanish Girl; Miss Lillie Probert, Fairy Queen ; Miss Kate Patterson, Forget-me-not ; Miss Beatrice Richmond, Flower Girl ; Miss Gertrude Richmond, Dresden Shepherdess; Miss Mary Sinclair, Night ; Miss May Thompson, Queen of Roses ; Miss Lizzie Thompson, Light and Shade ; Master Robert Bee, Knave of Hearts ; Master Tom Brown, Jack Tar ; Master R. Crerar, Romeo ; Master Bertie Crouch, Toreador; Master F. Dawson, Sir Roger de Coverly ; Hon. Trevor Grant, Page ; Master W. Grummitt, Sailor Boy ; Master Ernest Hutton, Samuel ("Pirates of Penza nee") ; Master Colin Hutton, Ralph Rackstraw (" Pinafore ") ; Master Willie HuttoD, Bunfchorne (" Patience ") ; Master Lawrence King, Little Boy Blue ; Master John Lamont, Spanish Boy; Master Frank Milne, Robinson Crusoe; Master Joe Moss, Jester; Master Edward Moss, Little Marquis ; Master D. Patterson, Page of Charles I ; Master Charles Probert, Mau-of- War's Man; Master Willie Waddell, Tyrolese.

A Kaitangata correspondent writes : —

I have much pleasure in forwarding to you a description of some of the dresses worn by the young ladies at the Kaitangata bachelors' ball. Miss Carr looked very handsome in a cream sateen with cardinal 'plush vest and cuffs and richly trimmed with cream silk lace and flowers to match, in which she was the belle of the evening ; Miss Carson wore a very nice cream with lace skirt ; Miss Clements wore a black cashmere with pink vest trimmed with cream lace ; Mrs Chapman looked very handsome in a black satin bodice and black silk skirt; Mrs M'Laren wore a very elaborate pink dress with a lace skirt. Several others were very nicely dressed; but those present were too numerous for all to be mentioned.

A correspondent writes from Balclutha : —

The bachelors of Kaitangata held their ball in the Masonic Hall on the 20fch July. At the grand march there was a good turn out of youth and beauty, and I should think 80 couples took part in it. I subjoin a description of a few of the ladies' dresses : — Miss Reid, cream, with cardinal vest; Miss Clements, blaclr, with pink silk vest and cuffs ; Mrs Cornish, a handsome dress and cuffs of old gold satin ; Miss Bishop, in sea-foam lace over Bateen, with gloves to match, looked very nice; Miss Mnir, white lace over dark silk, which looked very stylish ; Miss Carr, cream costume, richly trimmed with lace and cardinal plush ; Miss Wood, in a grey cashmere skirt and black jacket, looked very well ; Mrs A. Bisset, salmon silk, with plush to match ; Miss Bisset looked very nice in black, with pink vest and ctfffs; Miss Grey, iv dark green and cream pluih vest and cuffs, was very attractive ; Miss Glover, biscuitcoloured dress ; Miss Crossan, cream and blue, which was very becoming ; Miss M'Lean, black, with cream streamers ; Mrs W. Bisset, dark silk, with white vest, which was very pleasing to the eye. I could not learn the names of the other ladies, but their dresses were all very nice. One lady's dress, especially handsome, was a grey cashmere with pale blue plush collar, vest, and cuffs. The night was one of the happiest spent in Kaitangata for a long time, and soon passed with dance, song, and jest, and all were sorry when the time came to part.