MRS DUNSTABLE: A SKETOH IN COLOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2292, 3 February 1898, Page 44

MRS DUNSTABLE: A SKETOH IN COLOUR.

By Maldo. Mts Danstable was a woman of ideal?. Not necessarily p an ideal woman — oh, dear t nol Mrs Dunstable's ideals were very like her china — those " bits " of colour which the " lust of her eye " demanded. Wifh these well pliiced and agood old-fashioned and wcllpa^d^d easy chair, Mrs Ducstable's feelings, even if previously agitated, calmocl perceptibly. 27ius, if tbg'Veafcber were bad. Otherwise, the colour out of doors was preferred. Nothing clashed there; no door banged; no one entered aa if carrying the last despatch, and retreated as if under fire. It is well to have ideals, but, like Mrs Dunstable's china, ther are capable of being rudely shattered. Like that, too, they are capable, in good hands, of lasting for years — hundreds of years— and of. being hsnded down from generation to generation, giving pleasure all the time (tha lives of those jolly old punch bowls need only be mentioned in illustration). Only made for that — intended to give pleasure even while fulfilling uses, aa do the works of a beneficent Creator. The old Sevres clock that Mrs Danstable glanced at from time to time as she sat mending lace on n, well-worn garment still ticked on faithfully, though hearts had ceased to beat »nd eyes to see that had, generations Ego, measured joyssnd sorrows by its silvery chime. Yes, some fine things are long lived, and even useful if rightly handled. But if not ? Mrs Danstable had trials. When those cups and pots, dear to her soul, through rough handling were brok.-n — clumsiness she considered a deadly Fin — &he gathored the pieces with strange paiu to feel for what the breaker denominated " Kuch a t.iflp," and

spent much time and patience in piecing them together. They were too good to altogether lose. If hopelessly smashed, she buried them out of her sight. " Don't let me see them again," she asked plaintively. So with her ideals. She delighted in a Persian proverb that fanned her as a waft from the "V<Ue of Cashmere," from the " Feast of Eoses " itself, might have done. Only iliat would have but touched her senses, this her soul : "Bs true to the "dreams of thy youth, and the dreams of thy youth will be true to thee." Mrs Dunstable averred this proverb had been strangely verified in her case. Those ' dreams at least were still unbroken — perhaps it was the faith that had saved. She firmly believed that no clumsiness could shatter here. Yes, she was still a dreamer at half a century old. Not wearing quite bo well as the old clock, but looking good for a long while yet. But; then she had been well j handled — well handled. L'ke one of her own "bits" she had I scarcely lost in colour, and the form was still i unbroken. A crack or two there might be inside, but with care she would laot. Some people, though, don't value china. " A dell j cup holds tea or stronger fluids, and we don'c need to be careful of it,'' say they. "My mother had a yellow earthenware piedish that lasted 25 years, and what need anyone want more nor that?" a servant had once said to Mrs Dunstable, who was grievirg over the loss of a precious teacup — a comparatively recent gift. " I wish you had your mother's carefulness, Sasau," was all that lady had s-?i i. j " But, my ! she looked a deal more," Susan \ confidently remarked to her " young man " ] the same evening. j Now it must be confessed that, althcugh so careful over china, Mrs Dunstable roa- i sessed " a hand of steel under a glove of silk." She possessed also the " stout beart for a stey brae" that usually accompanies I that metal member. The band might Le | delicately Bhaped, and even feel toft ; but it was steel for ell that, and it broke things occasionally. When it did they were broken j indeed — reduced to powder, and (he winds of the heavens — was it ?— carried them away. She was staunch, and very tenacious of her most-loved things — no one but herself knew quite how much so ; but she could crush them in her band to powder, and, pouf ! they were away, and, strange to say, they never (well, hardly ever) troubled her again. It was hard to make up her mind to brfak them. That was the difficult part of the business. She could not have broken her favourita " bit " bad it been what she thought it. No I It was only common clay. Let it go. After all, who cared ? It hurt no one bub herself to do ifc. It was so prettily painted too, and looked so like the real thing, but. it wasn't — only base imitaiion. Away with such to oblivion. There is some force about these idealists. Bat for the real things, when other hands shattered them —cruel, relentless hands — they were buried out of her sight. Did she forget 1 Ask the deep engraving of Time's hnad on her face, hardening under tbafe mthlesss but not clumsy master. By the way, that "sleel hand " of her own was not unlike ir : " rntbless, but not clamsy." Yes, the har.d expresses "character," and that indicates Mrs Panstable. When her daughter insisted upon marrying Signor Twiafcero, her master in calisthenics, and h«r fon — under age — ran away with an ac*vft a ?!, M's Danstable consoled her?<?lf and •picked up the pieces and put them together and stood them in a good light. They were were too fine material to utterly discard. But when her friend — not choicest, perhaps, but " good, very good " — disappointed her, showing greed of gain and j common clay everywhere, then the hand i closed like a vice on the friendship, and it was no more — mere dust and ashes. Yet when Time or Fate worked the fame work on precious clay Mrs Dacstable quoted her favourile proverb and smiled serenely: That dust would reunite, would spring to form and colour, and would again delight her eyes. At least thi* is her dream. And this dream is still unshattered. C 7* Descriptions or halls, So., must be endorsed by either the Witness correspondent fot the district or by the secretary to the ball committee. The MS. of any coirespondents who do nocomply vrith this rule will be sent to the secretary for endorsement pr-lor to tppe.iring.- EMMELINK. To ensure publication in the forthcoming issue, letters should r«iip)i the Wtnpsi office if possible m Saturday night, but on no account Inter Hum Monrt y -l:\\t. WEDDING AT ALEXANDRA. ' Deah 'KmiELiNE, — Alexandra was en fete on Wednesday la*t, the occasion being the wedding I of Mr William Milne, eldest Ron of Chief Tilot Jlilue, of Ot»ffo Heads to Mary, second daughter of Mr S. Kimmonds. of Alexandra and Bald Hill Flat. Mr Milne, who is one of the owners of the Naapara dicdg.3, ha« been a resident of our town for somo eight years p st, wheie his kindly dis1 position and engaging minner have earned for him the goodwill of all classes of society, while I the lady of his choice is equally popular with a large circle of fiie-tds. A large number of invitations had been sent out find accepted by all who could pof.si'ily avail themselves of them from a I wide distiict. The ceremony took place in the Roman Catholic Church here, the Rev. Father Hunt, as-i^ted by the "Rev. Fatlm-Keenin, officiating. Thn church, was most tastefully decorated by Mr C. Murphy with evergreeus and flowers, a floral arch be.inf* placed, across the ai*le. The brMe wore a lively dress of lich white corded silk made with a Court train, with white ch'ffnn and pearl trimmings, and orange blossoms*. Her pretty veil almost covered the drees. She I can led a lovely shower bouqnut, her ornament 5 ! I being a magnificent brooch, bangle, and ling of sapphhe-i surrounded with diamonds, the gift, of tha bridegroom. Of the bridesmaids, Mins Simninndb'* dress ivji an exceedingly pietty one — a lovely combination in white Liberty silk, pearl trimming, and myrtle green chiffon, white hat to match ; while Miss Milne looked charming I in white nun's v< ilnig with satin ribbon", and white hat. They also carried shower bouquets, and wore omeiald and diamond brooches, the gift of the bridegroom. Mr 0. Milne acted as groomsman. As the bridal paity left the church the oigan p»nled out the grand wedding maich of Mendel-sohn. Mrs Clark presided at the oi*?i»n. Showers of rice descended on the hnppy pair from the moment they passed the chinch door until entering th« waggonette, drawn by a handsome p^ir of greys, which conveyed them to the home of the bride. Ihe liody of the church was thronged by a foshionaldy-dresspd attendance. Amongst those present I noticed Mrs Hoss, in a pretty grey costume trimmed with blue silk; Mis Schauman, Mack s-ilk dress, pink chiffon trimmings ; Mrs Griimtone, pretty floral costume ; Mrs Kennedy, j>vey costume Irimmed with white Liberty silk ; Mrs Clink, liuht fuvn dress, cream satin liinim mists ; Mr-, J. D. Thomson, Mack satin; Mrs iSf'fl, 1/Lek &ilk ; Mrs Ji'dj>ceombo, black and v,hite co^tum-i trimmed, with inerveilleux, jet, and

Maltese lace ; Mrs F. Williams, stone-coloured costume ; Mrs M* Allen, black costume, jet trimmings ; Mis Strong, pale rose brocho, chiffon trimmings ; Mrs KichardsoD, white pique costume ; Mrs Garde, black velvet ; Mrs Spencer, black satin ; Mrs Hansen, black costume ; Mrs J. Magnus, black figured costume, jet trimmings ; Mrs Symf!, cream Chinese s-ilk trimmed with black chiffon ; Mrs J Simmonds, black costume ; Mis Boyne, lemon-coloured bodice, black skirt ; Mrs Kemp, black nierveilleux ; Mrs Ri\ers, handsome black costume trimmed with jet; itfrs J. Mountain, black costume relieved with pink; Mis Swarm. claret costume trimmed with silk ; Mis J. M 'Donald, black costume ; Miss E. l)a\vson, pale green bodice, dark skirt ; Mis J. Niepe-, canary bodice, I black skirt; Miss Camerou, grey costume; Mrs ] M'Laren, silver-giey diess trimmed with shot silk ; Mis B. Williams, Blue crepon costume ; Miss Ryan, black ; Mrs T. Ryan, black ; Miss I Paget, cieim costume ; Mi»s Keany, cream costume ; Miss Rivers, brown costume trimmed with pa'-sementeiie ; Miss Terry, pompadour costume ; Mrs Kimonsen, white bodice, black skirt ; Miss M. Deady, cream costume ; Mrs R M. JFinlay, black costume ; Miss A. Pratt, blue costume, white vest ; Miss S Prijtt, daik blue costume; Mi«s Marks, light fawn costume, cream satiu trimmings; Miss Fraser, blue velvet bodice, black skiit ; Miss Stabb, blue coptume ; Miss Ilesson, cream costume. About bO guests sat down to a sumptuous breakfast at the residence of the bride's parents, the centrepiece of which was a huge and attractive four-tier cake (by Wright. Dunedin), and after the bride had cut it the U3ual complimentary toasts were honoured iti bumpers — that of the happy pair being enthusiastically che-red. The room in which the breakfast was held as also that in which the wedding presents were on view and the reception room were nicely decorated with fl >werd and greenery. A c<paciou< marquee was erected adjoining the house, where a coutinuously-flow-ing stream of friends was met p.nd entertained until evening. The newly-wedded pair left at C o'clock for Ciomv.ell en route to the Lake?, whence they proceed via Inverca'gill and Dune an for -i. tour of the North Island The bride wore a handsome travelling dreis of stylish shot cloth, zouave bodies and pouched vest of shot, silk j finished with passementerie, deep belt and floral toque to match. Again showers of rice descended, and as they drove away amid rinciug cheers a numerous collection of old shoes were seen gyrating with the wheel"*. Several buggies full of friends convoyed them as far as Clyde. A dance at night brought a moat happy and successful day | to a close. The wedding presents were both numerous and costly. WEDDING AT KAIWERA. ] Dear Emmeline, — "One moie unfortunate, weary of life" — of bachelor life I mean— has j s-mght for and obtained the only remedy — namely, a wife, the party referied to being our well-known and highly re-pected resident. Mr 1). j Robertson, of Dumio^ochy, K.uwera. The ceremony was performed on Tuesday, Jauuary 11, by the Uev. J. A. Asher, in the Pre-byterian Church, j Goi*e, iv the presence of a Hsge number of friends. The bride (the eld- st daughter of Mr D. P. M'K'-nzie, of East (-Jora) was given away by her ' father. She looked very becoming dressed in a light brown tweed with iet gimp trimmings, bodice front of white satin, \eil of tulle and wreath of orange blossom, and carrying a lovely bouquet of flower?. She was attended hy her sister, Miss J. M. Ketizie, as bridesmaid, who looked vuiy nice ia a pietty light fawn shot material, with cream hat trimmed with rib'oons and flow-- iv to match, and canying a bouquet of flowers. The groomsman was Mr J. Robertson, brother of the firoom. After the ceremony the party were driven to the house of the bri ies father, where a sumptuoin wedding bie.ikfast was paitakon of. Thereafter the happy couple were driven over to the railway station, where they embarked on board the Dunedln. express amidst showeis of rice, ro^es, and g .od wishes to proceed to f'ntiedin, where the honeymoon, is to be spent. The bride and bridegroom were the recipients of many handsome and valuable presents, a large number of which were the gifts of the groom's Kaiwera friends. WEDDING AT EAST CHATTON. Deau FmjiiiLlNE, — A very quiet wedding lo^k placa recently at the bride's parents' hou=e, Stanley Farm, East OhaMon, the bride \> c ingMhs Slizvbeth Jones, fouith d- lighter of Mrs H-jniy .Tones, and the bridegroom Mr Thomas Henry Erskine, Pomahaka Powns. The service wa* performed by the Rev George Miller, of Waikaka Valley. Tlie morning was exquisite, and everything combined to render the wedding a success. 'J lie bride, who wa 5 ; given away by Mr T. Falconer, sen., looked vu\y elegant in a beiutiful die<v3 of cream figured lustre trimmed with cream lace and ribbons She also vwc the usual wadding veil and wr»ath of orange blossoms 'i'hebridesniaid (Miss Henrietta Jones, sifter of the bride) wore a pretty dres^i of pale blue and heliotrope shot lustre trimmed with whita Chinese silk a~.d lace. Mv Thomas Falconer, jun., actad as bej>t man. After the ceremony the party assembled in the dining room, where a sumptuous breakfast was partaken of. Only a f<-w special friends weve pre ent beside* tte members of the faraily, but the ceremony itself was imprcesive from fir^t to last. The happy couple then M t amidst showers of rice, old shoe*, etc., for the pore, etation, en route for Dunedin. I may mention that the presents were bot.h numerous and costly. A Guest. WEDDING AT BEACONSFIELD, KILMOG. Dear Emmeline,— A very pleasant gathering took place at Beiconsfield, Kilmog, on the 19th tilt , tha occasion heing the celebration of the marriage of Miss Mary Dodds, second daughter of Mr and Mrs A. Dodds, of that place, to Mr Jo'^n Wilson, eldest son of Mr and Mrs George "Wilson, also of Kilmofr. The bride's si»t»r acted at bridesmaid, while Mr Alex. M'Lean filled the po-ition of groomsman. The ceremony was performed by tbe Rev A. M. Finlayi-on, of Waitati, in the prepence of a very large number of relatives and friends of the bride and bridegioom. After the ceremony upwaids of 50 guests &at down to the wedding breakfast, which had been got upin priucely style, and needless to say ample justice was done to the good things so temptingly prepared The breakfast over, the remainder of the afternoon was Fpant in playing games incidental to such occasions or in strolling about, etc., thus pleasantly filling in the time that mmt intervene before the" inevitable dunce c<nild take place As the evening wore on the number of guests who availed th< mselves of Mr and Mrs Dodde's invitation gradually increased until they totalled something like 100 About S o'clock a move was made for the bnrn in procession, beaded by the bagpipes, where tha dance was formally opened by the old people of the party dancing a Scotch reel to the inspiriting stiains of Scotland's national rmuic, which seemed to put " mirth and mettle in their heels," and brought to the minds of many fond recollections of similar occasions "in the days of auld lang syne " In fact, the way in which the old folk "stepped" that 'eel was a revelation to some of the younger members of the party. The reel o\er, dsneing and singing commenced in real earnest, the young people spending most of their time in the barn, while the move staid members of the party found plenty of entertainment in the house, where time sped swiftly with g.imes, socg, and story, and it was not until another day hf>d g«t well on its journey that those assembled reluctantly cried '"Enough!" 'Ihe singing of "Auld lang syne' and three ringing chet-rs for Mr and Mrs Dodds brought to a happy termination v.'hat one and all voted a very enjoyable gathering. The music for the occasion was ably supplied by Messrs D. Pullar, sen., W. Downs*, D. Pullar, jun (violin), and R Thomson, Dunedin (haepipes.). Tlie bride I was dressed in soft cream material with satin strips, trimmed with lace and ribbon to match, aud wore the customary veil and orange blossom. She also carried a beautiful bouquet of Christmas lilies and feins. Miss Dodds (bridesmud) wore giey f-liot serge trimmed withcreMn sillr, and carried a .similar bouquet to tha bride. The presents were numerous and u?i-ful, aud included the wedding cuke— a handsome three-ston-y one— the gift of Mr aud Mrs Easton, of Dunedin. -Hyacinth. WEDDING AT NIGHTCAPS. i Deau Emmeline,— Our little village of Nightcaps, Wallace, was on Wednesday last, 26th ult., quite in holiday costume to witness and honour the wedding of Mr William S. Kerr, second pon of Mr Ct. Kerr, of Dumfries, Scotland, to Jes«ie, eldest, daughter of the late Mr ?>. MacGregor, i Golc'en Ciefck, Southland, by the Rev. W. Greenslade. The weather being all that could be

desired, our little church was comfortably filled with guests and those who came to see the impressive ceremony, which was unique in some respects, as it was the first wedding ceremony pertormed in the church, also the first solemnised by our young minister, and certainly the first in magnificenre. The bride, diessed. in white Liberty silk, veil, and orange blossoms, was given away by her brother, Mr S. fllacGregor. Miss Kerr, sister to the bridegroom, very nic-ly dressed in cream lustre and pale blue silk, was »chief bridasmaid; while Miss MacGregor, in black velvet and piuk Liberty silk, assisted as bridesmaid ; the best man being Mr K. Kerr, brother to the bridegroom. The ceremony, enlivened by the suitable organ embellishments of Sir W. Millar, head teacher of the distiict school, and the other interjections of rice, etc , over, the paity repaired to the spacious public hall, whe c the breakfast was laid in a manner which showed the good taste of the Misses Kerr. The whole effect was fcirnply perfect and beautiful, some 60 guests Bitting down, and a more sociable and harmonious party certainly never graced a wedding feast. After the breakfast the usual toasts to the happy couple were proposed by Mr J. "VV". Kelly and Rev. Mr Greenslade. Mr W. Millar, on behalf of the ladies, proposed the heaUh ptc, of Mr and Mis Kerr, to which the happy man suitably responded. After an adjournment the company was once more regaled with many dainties. These festive scenes in time gava place to a ball. Between 50 and fit) couples occupied the floor, prominent among whom were the following ladies, in drosses as follows :— Miss Uolly Kerr, cream nun's veiling, white silk trimming ; Mi's J. Lloyd, black velvet, jet trimming; Miss Cameron, blue nun's veiling, white lace ; Miss MacCrregor, black skirt, pink bodice, orange blostom; Mi-s M'Leod, pink nun's veiling, white lace ; Miss Patterson, pale ?reen skirt, white blouse ; Misses Clapp (2), white dres-sea, We trimming ; Miss Grant, black dress, pink trimming ; Mibses Toogro 1 (2), maroon cashmere, velvet trimming ; Miss Crilby, dark green tweed ; Miss Kvans, black skirt, ere un nun'sveilingblouse; Miss Boyce, navy blue skirt, silk blouse, pink trimming ; Aliss M'lvor, blark skirt, fawn silk evening blouse ; Miss MA.be, black skirt, pink blouse; Mrs Spencer (Etalvale estate), tweed riding costume ; Mrs MAll, navy blue, led vest, black trimmine: ; Mts J. W. K-lly, maroon cashmere skirt, white bodice ; Mrs De-idle, bright blue nun's veiling, lace trimming ; Mrs MiC<4regor, black cashmere, jet trimming; Mrs Jacksor, black skirt, heliotrope blousa ; Mrs PatWjon, black and gold crepon, jet bonnet; Mrs J. O. Clapp, shot lustre, shot pilk trimming ; Mrs S^merville, navy blue skirt, blue crepon bodice ; Mrs Cuff, black dress, white trimming ; Mrs Purdue, brown tweed, white Libeity silk trimming; with many moie very nicely and appropriately dressed. Dancing was kept up until daylight to music discoursed b7 Messrs Shiels, J. B. Purdue, Casay, and Church. During the ball vocal items and a recitation were contributed by a number of the guests. J. O. Clapp, esq., on behalf of the guest*, very appiopriitely expressed the uratitudc and good wish's which all Wt for the almost piofuse hospitality and the singularly pl^asaet and happy eveaing s,p<.ut, with best wi hea for the futuie happiness and prosperity of Mr and Mrs Kerr. Mr J. W. Ktfly, on behalf of Mr and Mrs Kerr, thanked nil those ladies and gentlemen who so well contributed towards ensuring the happiest eveuitig ever spent in Nightcaps. The varied and valuable as wtll as numerous pr^pents attested the high etteem in which Mr and Mrs Kerr have always besn held by their niiny friends. The bridal party left by the early train amid showers of rice and "fccomp-ni-ments " for their home in Gore. — One Who Was There.