ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 33

ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

From Melbourne there come brilliant accounts of Cup day, and as we read the dullness of the present time seems more dull. Not a dance or concert, or any public amusement for a whole week; and the chilly, 'showery weather makes tennis and all other outdoor pleasures very uncertain. If anyone really desires to make a sensation by doing anything out of the ordinary now is the time to obtain complete and undivided attention, for there are no distracting sensations abroad. The country people seem to be having the best time of it, for every week brings reports of dances, &c. ; but in a few weeks now Christmas will be here with its attendant gaieties, and if it is not hailing or raining we shall be merry again.

Occasionally a bright day brings some pretty dresses into the streets. I noticed Miss Williams the other day wearing one of a cocoa shade, with a white sailor hat trimmed with white ribbons. A lady whose namo I do not know wore a stylish costume of brown velvet, with a stringless straw bonnet to match, trimmed with pink.

A lady sends me the following description of some of the dresses worn on Cup day at Melbourne:—

Well, I must tell you I went to the Cup, and have enjoyed myself immensely. I only wish you could have been there to see some of the lovely costumes— white Liberty silks with dozens of yards of lace to soften them; white moire sashes pub on Directoire style— that is, commencing from right side of bodice under the arm across the front to the left side^then falling in long ends to the edge of the skirt. White moire parasols predominated. One costume specially took my fancy on the lawn ; it was an olive moire of splendid quality, the whole of the draperies were pinked out in deep points with coral pink and cream laid under drawn green, tulle bonnet with cloth of gold roses ; moire parasol to match, with a large spray of cloth of gold roses and buds lying ou the parasol and looking as though they were climbing up the stick. A young lady with lovely golden hair was dressed in white from head to foot, boots and all-white Liberty silk massively trimmed with deep Valenciennes lace, white moire sash, moire parsol, white undressed kid gloves, white straw " Gem" hat, band moire ribbon, fasteued at sides with diamond star, white boots, diamond bracelets and pins.

Nellie Stewart, the actress, is generally credited with looking the best on the lawn. She had her dress made in Empire style, in white, and slightly open in aY at neck. One woman actually had on a chartreuse green Liberty silk cub in a deep square and filled in with white tulle, and that very thin. I saw Lord Carrington turn and look at her, then say something to the gentleman he was with. One lady turned out in full bridal atitire — orange blossom and all. She had on a very good ivory satin trimmed with lace and a long spray of orange blossom catching the draperies near the bottom of skirt;, and another— even larger— spray higher up the bodice. You would have pitied the poor man. She looked very proud of the stares Bhe received ; but he, poor fellow, looked as though he wished the earth would swallow him up. We all pitied him very much in his trying position. The grand stand was a pretty sight — scarcely a gentleman in it. The ladies' hats and bonnets looked like 1 an enormous flower bed, and flowers were plentiful. A few carried hand bouquets, but they were in the minority. Fawn faille costumes were very plentiful ; uofc many greys ; checks were very little worn — there beiug only one of what would be considered a stylish costume. I noticed that (of course there were plenty among the commoner class) the checks were very large, in cardinal, cream, and one or two indistinct colours — the bodice and draperies all on the cross, the checks matching beautifully. One costume with vest of cream, and oardioal velvet rovers draperies caught on the left hip with shaped straps of the velvet, was worn by a tall, dark girl with a splendid figure. Another costume was myrtle f aillo bodice and back of skirt, petticoat front of cream faille, nearly covered with a handsome pattern of braiding, with gold braid and small gold tassels innumerable dotted in between; vesfe similar; cream tulle hat, velvet brim and gold ornaments. Floral p&rasols were very little used, not more than a score appearing on the lawn. The windows have been full of them lately, 60 it will be a great loss to the trade, as they have not hit the popular taste.

The fashions now leave room f or individual taste. A woman may wear almost exactly what she likes, both in colour and design, and have every opportunity of betraying either her good or bad taste, as the case may be.

A correspondent; wants to know how to write pleasingly. I may give her one hint : keep your subject to the fore and yourself in the background, for tha 1 ; everlasting I, I, I running through some people's writing is so egotistical that it not only takes away from the enjoyment of the reading, but imperceptibly you begin to dislike the writer. Uhat away about things in an oasy manner ; don't make an elaborate composition of each sentence, and use the personal pronoun as seldom as possible. I noticed in a Home paper some time ago that a number of gentlemen had formed themselves into a club whose ulterior object was not to attend any evening entertainment "where the ladies wore low necked dresses. They gave as a reason for this the fact that the rooms to be pleasant to the scantily clad ladies must be over heated for the gentlemen, causing them to catch cold and

subjecting them to other ills. It is very seldom that men propose any scheme for women that has not their own good at the bottom of it. If the men were to club together not i!o attend any entertainment where young girls wjere immodestly dressed it would result to their own benefit in the long run. The low necked dresses have long been so popular that it is vain to expect one voice to do anything towards checking .a fashion accepted on all sides. The remedy lies with the men alone, for all th« fashions are invented to make women look pleasing in their sight, seven' men out of 10, although long accustomed to the fashion, do not care to see young girls scantily clothed. In the corners of the ballroom they congregate together, and in subdued tones joke about the arms and shoulders disclosed to view in a manner that no man would care to hear his sister spoken of, or the girl he hoped to make his wife. Girls, of Course, do not know this; they are taught to attract the admiring eye, and in their inexperience believe all the compliments either meaningless or cynical that are poured into their ears, and little by little their vanity growing, the desire to outshine the other girls deadens that fine and delicate modesty that is the sweetest charm and loveliest adornment of ! every young girl. Growing less sensitive, their dress only stops in many cases on the verge of the indecent. The mother knows, and is most to blame ; but, blinded by fashion's usages, she does not seem to recognise the danger of aiding and encouraging this first immodesty. It seems folly in face of custom to raise a voice against the evil, bat it appears to me that the very means that are organised by society for the bringing together of the sexes with a view to their mutual delight and enchantment are the means of disenchantment and weariness. A girl of tender years makes her debut, and from that time forward her mother's greatest aim is to secure her a place in all the gaieties that do for a time genuinely delight her, but i the sole aim is not the enjoyment of the j daughter but her ultimate settlement in life— marriage. The very means that ] are taken to bring this about in I numberless instances frustrate, the end |in view. The girl gains in experience j certainly, but is the experience worth the cost ? Is it not sacrifice of the deeper and truer meaning of life for the knowledge how I to dance, and talk, and gracefully 'and with ease ' take part in that glittering bauble society ? After a time the keen sense o£ enjoyment wears off, and the wear and tear of "pleasure," with its excitements and reactions, its disappointments, and its false hopes, tells upon the mind and spirit, and tired indifferent women are among us at an i age when Ufa should be full of joy The same men meet the same girls year after i year, playing the same part until they are j weary of them and could repeat beforehand J all their stock remarks. Nothing original or fresh fascinates or pleases then, for with } slight differences society girls are much the same — or must appear much the same, — and 10 chances to one when these men of the world marry ib is some stranger that they have come upon in a quiet spot and whom they have not met night after night for years \ past, and whose temperament and disposition is reviving in its freshness. lam well aware that this view of the case is not a popular one, but I cannot help thinking if girls and their •personal charms were kept more in reserve men would seek after them more earnestly. If the quiet home evenings were set more value upon, and young gentlemen who were thought worthy of that distinction were invited to the house by the parents, they would value the privilege that was not accorded to all ; and in the domestic unrestrained evenings mutual tastes would be discovered, mutual interests excited, and mutual affections formed. The fashionable " evening," where all must be on their best behavioar and each must seem to be equally delighted with the other, does not give the same opportunity for all to be their natural selves, as in these quiet home evenings where but one or two guests are present. In games and music, conversation and behaviour, there will be no restraint, and an intimate knowledge of .each other will soon be gained. Among the middle, classes the girls soon marry, because the sexes are thrown together in a less artificial manner than among the upper classes.

The last of a successful series of six free cooking lessons arranged for by Mrs White for the Flat and the near Peninsula schools was given last Wednesday in the Anderson's Bay Volunteer Hall. About 200 girls of the upper standards attended, while a number of ladies regularly put in an appearance, and took as lively an interest in the lessons as the girls themselves. In the six lessons about 60 or 70 dishes 1 were • prepared and cooked "in the presence of the children. After the dishes were explained and prepared the recipes were, written on a blackboard and copied into exercise-books. At the last lesson tlie number of dishes prepared and exhibited by the children themselves showed that the bssons were of great practical value. Mrs White was assisted by the Hon. Mrs Reynolds, Miss Smith, Mrs Turton, and Miss Holmes. Now that a start has been made and the efforts have been so successful, perhaps other ladies will confer similar benefits on the other city and suburban schools.

A ICINDERSPIETj AT LAWRKNCK.

Dear Alicb, — Oau you find a place, just for once, in the Ladies' column for the little folks. The kinderspier which has just passed is sucli a grand event in their lives that I think it ought to be embalmed in the Witness. Now, the old folks, the mammas, and papas nodded their heads in sympathy when "Orange and lemons" and other old-time ditties rent them back o'er land and sea, through joy and sorrow, to renew their childish sports. Of course we cannot expeot you to enumerate the names of all who assisted, only those who filled Hie most prominent parts. There were Miss Mary Johnson (Sister Ann), who managed her young folks with the Belf-posseßsion of a veteran, her voice clear and distinct, perfectly audible all through the; hall; Miss M. Robertson (Jill),who lookedao prettyinapink skirt 1 and blue bodice ; Mis 3 Mabel Eolfe (Mistress Mary), who sang so particularly well ; and Miss D. Jeffery in tho woll-kuowu costume of Little Red Riding Hood. Mies M. StenhoußO made the quaintest little Mother Hubbard imaginable in: her cap and poke bonnet. Her nervousness sent a suitable quiver to the old dame's voice, -which must be very shaky by this time. The little girls who did such marvellous things with their skipping ropes looked like a troop of fairies. They were all tastefully dressed, more especially Misses Amy and.Mabel Draper, in white frocks, cut low with short sleeves, naleblue stockings and sashes. And if you will give httfeboys a place, Masters Willie Evans (HumptyDumpty)and Johnnie Wood (Littio Jack Homer) should ba mentioned. They were very amuMng.— Marguebitb.

BALI, AT .NASEBY.

The Naseby Volunteer ball, on the evening of the 20th inst.; was In every way a success.' The hall was tastefully decorated with evergreens and Chinese lan.'

terns, -the music being lupplled by, the Naseby braa« band. Some of. the dresses .worn, "were very pretty. Misß M'Oarthy looked well-in cream satin and' old gold lace. Mrs Olarke looked charming in black Batiu and point lace. Miis Archer: Black Italian cloth, richly trimmed with cardinal. Mrs Toung : Brown silk and pearls. Mrs 8. Inder in white Indian muslin. Mrs S. Stone t Cream lace cloth and cardinal. Miss M'Lellan in cream oatmeal cloth and pale blue. Miss Little : White satin, low neck and short sleeves. Miss Stewart : Pale blue and cardinal. Miss George : Old gold satin and plush. Her coitume, together with her graoeful dancing and splendid figure, made this lady, belle of the evening.—A LOVBB OF THB, PAIR SEX.