ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 33

ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

Well, I didn't make my fortune at the races, so you must put up with me for a little time longer. The nearest approach I got to it was to sympathise with a friend who the evening previously determined to back Silver Bell, and stuck to that determination until a tew minutes before the race, when he changed his mind, and Silver Bell came in with a dividend of £169 odd. Such a wretched day it was. The long-hoped-for rain tried to see if it couldn't fill the reservior and all the* private tanks in one day ; and the ladie» on the stand huddled together vainly trying to keep warm ; while the men splashed about in the mud and lost their money. There were several rich-looking costumes worn — one by Miss Isaacs of a rich plum colour and puce, with a velvet hat of the same shade. The material was, I think, one of those ladies' cloths so fashionable just now embroidered with silk. The full vest of silk check of the two shades. Miss Reynolds wore a handsome cloak of a Paisley shawl pattern, trimmed with grey fur. Miss Tui Stephenaon also wore a stylish cloak of fawn check, with very handsome fawn boa. Mrs Johnson wore navy blue, with a pretty fawn cloak. The ladies are very much occupied just now injselectingftheir winter costumes, and already here and there theyC are appearing, for the cold weather has come suddenly and delighted the hearts cf the dealers in female vanities. The cloaks look so stylish, reaching as they do to the edge of the dress, and with long drooping sleeves. Fur-lined cloaks can be got, too, in dark reds and blue, and the sleeves are an improvement on last season's, being long also. Very cosy the ladies may look, and very stylish also ; for the various departments furnish all that is requisite to this end. And the little girls may look as pretty as the bigger girls. Tiny Veda Thomson is looking a picture in a lovely red cloak and red plush bonnet. She is one of the most picturesquely dressed children in town, and always looks as though she had stepped out of a frame. I do not think the wide-brimmed hats will be as much admired as, say, the " Roxana " ; but if the hair is to be worn low again the high hats must go out. And the hair is to be worn low, alas ! for those whose hair is thin on the top of the head or who are flatheaded. The style discovers the bump of self-esteem and the want of veneration. Take care of your hair, girls ; it is a woman's crown of and while it is,thick you can always dress it becomingly. Those who have been to hear the Spanish Students enjoyed a musical treat ; and if any northener should read thia my advice is when they travel your way do not miss the opportunity of hearing them. Miss Wooldridge, Miss West, and Mr Harry Smith assisted the students. The opening night was very wet, and there was a wretched house J or it may be the proverbial caution of the Scotch that acts" as 9 preventive, against any new thing drawing a good house On the first night. After the morning, criticism it is safe to venture. The Spanish Students are picturesquely dressed in black Velvet suits, the coats buttoned to the throat and embroidered with jet, the breeches reaching to the knees. Part of the evening they wore Spanish cloaks and three-corneredi hats. Their stockings and shoes are of black silk, the latter finished off with silver buckles.Miss Wooldridge wore cream. She was in' splendid voice, and so also was Mr Smith. Miss West presided at the piano, and wore a gown of dark green velvet. Perhaps some of the young ladies will remember that I spoke very strongly a short time ago against the frightful practice of eating rice and starch, &c, under the delusion, that it improves the complexion. The death of a young girl through this evil practice has just come to my knowledge, yet in spite of these examples, in spite of warning, many will persist in the habit, and not only succeed in making themselves frights, but also in-, valids. Fortunately weak women are going out of fashion. Yes, really. The fragile lily who fainted and languished and Could not sit out a sermon or anything else disagreeable without her smelling salts is entirely out "of fashion. Girls like Phil in the "Golden Butterfly," or Black's Madcap Violet are a great deal more to the taste of the present realistic age. Women who can walk and play tennis and get into a temper and out of ib again quickly, eat three good meals, take a cold bath, and cook the dinner in the course of one day, are more admired than the dainty fragile creatures who cannot bear the heat of the sun or the cold of the wind, and shudder at roast beef and a pair of walking boots. Please remember always that I do not mean our poor afflicted who really suffer and would give all they possess to get well, but our fancy invalids, for they are quite out of fashion. Different styles of women are fashionable at different periods, just as the clot'nes by which they disfigure or adorn themselves; but there are several kinds of women who will never be the rage, and one of them is the private detective kind, whose noses are worn sharp by the constant exercise of poking them into other people's business, and the women who are always giving advice to every creature with whom they come in contact with upon all sorts of occasions — advice not based upon experience, but taking its rise in the desire to " have their finger in the pie " and who, as a rule, upset all the juice. There is another kind of woman who never will be the style, for as often as she comes "in" she is wished " out," and that is the dear, free-and-easy friend of the family, who before breakfast is off the table, " pops' in " to inquire how you are and how every thing else is. If you go out for the day she goes into the kitchen, and, countermands your orders, looks into the oven to see what is cooking for dinner, tells your girl you are extravagant, and orders tea for herself ; and rid sooner floes a welcomd guest become ge^a. than her. batsfca step is he&ra

in the hall, and she sits your friend out whether your guest remains an hour or six hours, putting a stop to the delightful converse you had been looking forward to for a week, and rendering you' irritable, vexed, indignant, almost frantic, when you desired to be all that was the best in you for the entertainment of the friend whom your soul delighted to honour. When you are out of sorts, and are just in the middle of a nice little cry, and your eyes are horribly red, in she pops and catches you, and immediately condoles with you, trying all the time to find but what is wrong, and if you don't tell her she goes away and tells people that your kind husband is a brute to you. Just when you have settled yourself for a comfortable quiet evening with that devoted partner, with your slippered toes on the fender,' and are in a confidential mood, and intend to unfold a dozen little plans about yourselves, the children, and your friends, in she runs with the full intention of slaying for the evening, for she says in her vivacious way, " Never mind me, my dears; chat away, I am one of yourselves." Never mind her I Don't you, though, when Tom with a muttered something draws on his boots and goes out and stays out for the evening. The Mrs Gummidges of everyday life are another class of women who never will be popular, who if they are not- moaning over the " old 'un " are moaning over something else. To become " the rage " surely women as well as dress must have something charming in design. It is the training of the little girls that makes the women. Spoilt, over-indulged children, perhaps, have a better chance than suppressed, stemly-treafeed children, for they grow up ill-conditioned and narrow-minded. Amusements promise to be very few and far between, and Jthe rinks ,will reap the benefit. The gentlemen will be having their Savage Club evenings again presently, and we ladies shall reap the benefit on state occasions. It is in the winter that the heads of the household have the chance of proving whether or no they have the art of converting the house into home. It is in the long evenings that the good nature, tact, and 'accomplishments of each is most appreciated. Some amusement was caused at the Druid's fete on Saturday by a baby show. The Daily Times thus describes the proceedings : — The most exciting event of the day was the baby show. A cradle was offered as a firat'prize for the largest and heaviest baby under 12 months, and two dozen photographs as a second prize for the smallest baby six months and over that age. There were only 12 eatries for, the show, but the judging took some considerable time, owing to the pressure of the crowd that gathered round the judges. Under more favourable circumstances the judges would not have had a very difficult task, as only the weights of the babiea were considered, and a very rough and ready method was adopted to arrive at the weights. The judges, who were provided 1 with hand scales, took up their station in the centre of the ground, and as the babies were handed over to them by their eager mothers they fastened them— perhaps it would be more, correct to' Bay hung — up to the scales with a handkerchief, and weighed them with their clothes on, without allowing anything whatever for tare. Many of the babies did not appear to enjoy this, and lifted up their voices in loud and emphatic protest against the treatment they were receiving at the hands of the judges and the seething crowd. Many of the mothers, also, were loud in their protests against what they considered the ill-usage of their little ones ; but the spirit of rivalry was abroad, and they suffered' their offspring to undergo the " hanging " process, trusting, no doubt, to Providence to bring their little one safely through the ordeal, and fondly hoping that they would secure the coveted prize. After all the weights had been taken down it was discovered that two chubby infants weighed 261bs each. Now f no provision whatever had been made for such a contingency, and as two women could not carry off the cradle it was decided to weigh the babies over again. As the event pioved this was a happy way of settling the difficulty, even if the equities were not preserved. When the weighing process was undergone it was found that one of the babies had in the interval gained 21bs in weight, while the other gained only lib. This was a somewhat remarkable and rather astonishing fact to the ordinary looker-on ; but as no one seemed competent to decide whether an infant of the age of 11 months could gain 21b in .weight, the mother, Mrs Smith, secured the coveted prize.' Mrs • Hammond's baby, which run the other one close for the first prize, was nine months! old. The second prize went to Mrs Woodhouse, whose baby (two months old) weighed 10J;lb. -