ALICES LETTER TO HER READERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1943, 14 February 1889, Page 33

ALICES LETTER TO HER READERS.

We have had quite a gay time this week, and there is every prospect of a still gayer time until after the races. At the invitation of Mr Jauaes Mills a favoured number met at the City Hall (late Lyceum) on Monday evening to hear Mr Sidney Dickinson's fascinating lecture, " Spain and its Moorish Marvels." Mr Dickinson is one of America's foremost art critics and lecturers, and is visiting New Zealand for the purpose of collecting materials for a series of illustrated lectures on the colony, to be delivered in England and the United States, and if the illustrations of our beautiful mountains, rivers, harbours, and valleys are as exquisite as those shown us of Spain, many people will want to see the reality. The next best thing to travelling is to have distant countries brought to one's view, and this was done by means of stereoptican views reaohing right across the ' stage. The gas was turned off in the body of the hall, and the illustrations showed up vividly. For almost two hours one seemed to wander through scenes of beauty. The far-famed Alhambra Palace became a thing of reality, with its exquisitely frescoed chambers, its courts with clear limpid pools and fountains and moonlit marble walks. We saw the snow-clan summits of the Sierra Nevada, the fertile plain of Granada, and quaint old moss-grown fortresses and watch towers like sentinels of some mountain pass. The Mosque of Cordova made one realise what a faint idea of the wonders of the world reading gives one after all. Beforethe gas was turned off I noticed Mrs James Mills, looking well in a sage-green plush opera cloak ; Mrs Ross, in a chaiming gown of .pale blue ; Mrs Mackerras and Misses A. and M. Mackerras, each in charming black satins made suitably to their various ages ; and Miss Mackerras in pink, trimmed with white lace. Miss Lubecki wore a picturesque dress of black satin, with white lace fichu. Miss Hislop also wore a handsome combination of black satin lace and jet. Mrs Finch wore black lace, with lemon ribbons. The Misses Brownlie were in white ; and Miss K. Grant in black satin and lace, relieved with red poppies. Mrs Woodhouse's gown was of white cashmere, with black velvet vest and' cuffs. On Tuesday afternoon Mrs P. C. Neill gave a large garden party at Chingford, North-East Valley, to which about 500 guests were invited, including the officers of H.M.S. Opal. The Valley Band was in attendance, and the spacious lawns were rendered doubly pretty by the numerous flower-like costumes. Liberty silks, white cambrics and muslins, and other delicate materials were worn by the younger ladies ; while satins aud silks were favoured by some of the matrons. The afternoon was perfect, and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy the delightful time provided by their entertainers. There was but time for those who were to attend Miss Mary Hume's benefit concert in the evening to get home, dine, and don evening dress. At 8 o'clock the Choral Hall was packed, and those assembled enjoyed themselves well. Miss Hume herself iooked charming in a striking gown of red. The front of the skirt was of flame and gold silk of a small figured pattern, cut in battlements round the bottom, terminating with a ruche of pale blue silk, the low and sleeveless bodice was also of the silk, with folds of red net about the shoulders. The long train was also of net, and here and there on bodice and skirt were clusters of pale blue and red ribbons. Miss Hume was very generous in her contributions, and responded to several encores with such sweet old songs as " The last rose of summer" and "The old folks at home." She gave an exquisite rendering of " Lo, hear the gentle lark," which brought her a shower of bouquets. Miss Ross (daughter of Mr John Ross) and Miss Matheson assisted Miss Hume, so also did Messrs Densem, Smith, Carrick Martin, A. J. Barth, and Mr G-. Fenwick. Mr Deasem and Mr Smith are such old favourites that I need not say anything about their efforts, but I cannot refrain from speaking of the ease with which Mr Martin sings. Mr Martin oomes of a musical family, and his sister, Mrs Rose, has from time to time given evidence of her ability—on the last occasion as the Fairy Queen, in " Idanthe." Mr Martin '

makes the wise decision of selecting very sweet songs. " When the -heart «is~ young " everyone could understand and appreciate, as the recall testified, and then we got "My Pretty Jane," beautifully sung. Miss Ross and Miss Matheson were also pleasing, 'and both were prettily dressed— j Miss Ross in a beautiful white lace with cream roses, and Miss Matheson in pale green muslin. When is Mr Smith going to let us hear " The Vision " again ? It may not be a work of art as far as musical composition is concerned, but when Mr Smith sang it it went right to everyone's heart. In one of Mr Densem's songs were the words— or if not the exact words, something to this effect (it is the sense I desire to give, as will be seen presently) : — Oh, happy ones of this fair earth, While sitting round your golden hearth Think of the ones whose load of oare Cause them to pray the Lord's own prayerGive us this day, our daily bread. As I listened, an incident of the aftempon j occurred to my mind which I will relate. ( A ! poor respectable woman came to the door dressed in shabby black with pale," worn, anxious face, and with her a child of about 10. She exhibited for sale a crochet collar about six inches deep, which she had been sitting up half the night making, and had walked our hilly town since 9in the morning — it was then nearly 4— trying vainly to sell for one shilling. When more was offered her for the article — which was worth more — she seemed surprised, and with one swift look burst into tears. The lady of the house did not let the weary creature go away empty-handed, but gave her eggs, meat, bread, and tea, which she took with a sobbing " God bless you ; I never thought to come to this." Her story was very simple: a widow with three children, trying her best to support them without charitable aid. Husbands, you should try to make some little provision to save your loved ones from this. From inquiries made by the lady of the house and myself I find the story is true in all its pathetic simplicity. I am sure Miss Hume will pardon me . for introducing it in the middle of my remarks on her concert, for it occurred to .me as Mr Densem sang, and I glanced round the hall full of " happy ones " and wondered if some who had refused to buy the collar were there to hear the words I have quoted. Among the audience I noticed Mrs J. Ross, in fawn satin ; Mrs Horsey, in slate-coloured silk, with facings of black velvet; Mrs Chamberlain, in cream, trimmed with cream laco. Miss Wise wore a dress of two shades of crushed strawberry, the stripes beautifully matching in the bodice, Mrs Martin wore black satin, and Mrs Tewsley (Auckland) a low necked cardinal plush ; Mrs Wilson, brown satin and seal brown opera cloak; Miss Wilson, black lace and ruby cloak ; Mrs Deacon (Christchurch), black silk and lace, with trimmings of jet, white flowers and fan; Miss Lena Fulton (Napier) looked charming in low cut black satin ; Miss Hales wore China silk trimmed with lace to match, and Miss Tui Stephenson cream lace. The weather has been beautifully fine this week, and many pretty dresses were abroad. I noticed Mrs Belcher looking well in a pretty silver-grey walking dress, with white silk vest. Mrs Hart and Mrs Isaacs, both in stylish costumes of fawn ; Miss Ashcroft, in grey with white silk vest ; Mrs Maunsell in a pretty white costume; Mrs J. Mills, in a stylish dark-blue gown with Liberty silk, Garibaldi vest ; Mrs Robert Neill, in a grey costume striped with blue ; Mi3s Cargill, in slate colour, looked well ; Miss Tolmie, in pretty blue check gingham ; Miss. Cutten, in pink ; Miss F. Muir, in pink embroidery ; Mrs Richard Oliver, in French grey, with vest and panels of silk ; Miss E. Driver in slate colour and Miss Huxtiable, in a pretty grey, with stra;v hat to match, with grey ostrich feathers. The tennis tournament came off on Saturday afternoon at the Carisbrook ground. There were not nearly so many visitors present as there would have been but for the garden party at the Club. Unfortunately a shower sent many away at an early hour, Mrs Finch wore white Liberty silk with white hat and ostrich feathers ; Mrs Haggit was dressed in black silk with green bonnet ; Miss Weidon wore a gown of crushed strawberry, Mra Joachim of fawn. There were numerous light costumes worn, and I am afraid some of them got soiled with the rain.