TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 50

TABLE TALK.

Monday Afternoon,. On Wednesday evening a. small dance was given at Littlebourne House by Mr and Mrs John Roberts, which, was in every way as successful and enjoyable as the Littlebourne House entertainments always are, no trouble being spared, and everything being done to ensure success. The rooms, which are well adapted for the giving of entertainmente ;o£ all kinds, Were never at all crowded, and were well arranged for the accommodation and comfort of a number of guests. The laig" dining room was set apart for dancing, and the spacious entrance hall, the corridors, and the staircase made delightful resorts for the dancers between the different dances. The ballroom flooi was excellent, and Mr Yates I supplied the music, ho', needless to say, everyj one enjoyed themselves thoroughly and con- ! tinned dancing with unabated zeal until the ! small hour; of th&morning. — Mrs md Miss Ruby Roberts received their guesU in the large drawing room. Supper was served ia i the morning -room, where the table was most beautifully arranged with a large bowl and tall X' -<•= fille-l wlfh .vMrlel and white dahlias. Moi-t bi.uuti.ful ilnuer-1 adorned every room, hand erne pot ji'vits being placed ia tho h;'il and dmv. ing room Throughout the . wholu iiwu-o ti.<- gii". globor -were shaded with. ' red shades.., v/hich stay« % uixy-iand look !ta

. the whole scene. The silver candelabra, too, on the supper table were shaded with soft red ' shades, the same colour as the dahlias. 'Amongst those present besides Mr and Mrs Roberts, the Misses Roberta, and Mr J. Ro-. Berts were Mr and Mrs George-Roberts, Mr and -Mrs -R. Campbell (Otekaike),-Miss Bartleman, the Misses- Handyside (Hawke's Bay), 'Miss N. Gibson, Mr and Miss Macassey, Mr and Miss Sise, Miss" N. Fafquhar, Miss Bixtterworth," Miss Graha'm.~Mr Kettle, Mr Oldham, 'Mr D. Reid,-" Mr S.. Bell, the Misses Williams r the Misses .Rattray, Mr Hunter, Mr Matheson, Mr Carr, Mr Marshall, Mr P. Wright, Mr W. Fisher, Miss L. Roberts, Miss E. Gilkison, Miss. Stephenson, Miss Levi (Sydney), Mr 'Tapley, Mr A. Thomson, Mr Brown, Mr and the Misses Shand, Miss Spence, Mr Ziele, Miss Douglas (Queenstown), Miss .M'Lean, Mr". M'Lean, Mr and Misa Ramsay, Mr Haggitt, Mr and Miss Maitland. Mr 6. Ritchie, Mr Or- Morris, Miss F. Bathgate, Miss Turton, Miss F. M'Leau, Miss Campbell (Otekaike), Miss Nation, and Mr Seivwright. Mrs Robyrte wore a handsome black satin dress, the bodice jetted and trimmed with deep white lace; Miss Roberts, pale blue silk gown covered with accordion-plaited chiffon, and trimmed with flowers; Miss Ruby Roberts, a- very smart pink chone silk frock, both . skirt and bodice trimmed with rows of mauve . bebe,iibbon ; Mrs George Roberts looked well in pale silver-grey moire, the bodice trimmed with bands of steel passementerie and white .lace; Mrs Campbell, handsome drees' of white satin with an overskirt of exquisite real lace, the same trimming the bodice, with peari . embroidery and white flowers ; Miss O. Tur- • ton, black moire, with large full sash of crimson filk, and flowers the same colour on the bodice; Miss Sise, pink brocade, the skirt trimmed with true lover's knots and the bodice veiled in chiffon; Miss Stephenson, a stylish dress of rose pink brocade with white lace and strapped with black velvet and jewelled trimming; Mis 9 Macassey, a black satin dreis with sequined net bodice trimmed with rows of belie ribbon of pink, blue, and yellow ; Miss _L. Rattray, pink accordion ' plaited chiffon skirt, the pink bodice being .natlo with bolero of cream lace; Mis 3S. tlackenzie, white chiffon frock ; Miss A. Roberts, cream floral chene silk frock, trimmed ' with passementerie and - chiffon ; Miss Lulu Roberts, stylish gown of black silk, the chiffon bodice being trimmed with rows of green bebe ribbon; Miss Shand, white silk dress, white sequined net bodice, trimmed with ruches of heliotrope silk; Miss Campbell, white and black striped chene silk gown, the bodice trimmed' with sleeves and bertha of rose-clcoured satin veiled in white lace; Miss N. Farquhar, pretty frock of pink silk, the bodice having long chiffon sleeves, and trimmed with deep white lace : the Misses Handyside both wore pretty white silk and chiffon frocks; Miss Butterworth, pale eau de nil Epk dress, trimmed with narrow rows of bebe ribbon ; the Misses Williams both wore smart black silk dresses, the bodices covered with black gauze and with ehort elbow sleeves of the same ; Miss Maitland, pale pink Bilk dress, with large sash of pink chiffon, and the bodice trimmed with sprays of crimson roses ; Miss N. Gibson, a black satin drees, the bodice trimmed with jet.

On Friday afternoon Mrs Sargood and Mrs A: H. M'Lean gave a large "at home" in St. Paul's schoolroom. More than 100 ladies were present notwithstanding the torrents of rain which fell dtiring the very time in the afternoon when the entertainment was supposed to commence. The hall was gracefully and artistically arranged, flags being the principal decoration, and these were festooned in a graceful manner on the walks, while evergreens and art muslin adorned the lower portion of the walls. The entire hall was carpeted and furnished with numerous small tables, on each pf which was placed several dishe3 of most delicious sweets, and around each were arranged groups of comfortable easy chairs and fauteuils, which gave the hall quite the appearance of a. well furnished drawing room. The stage, which also was prettily decorated with flags and evergreens, was used as the stand for Mr Roberlshaw's band, which discoursed sweet music during the whole afternoon. Afternoon tea was Berved in the adjoining room, and the tea table, which was laden with dainty sandwiches and cakes, was prettily decorated with green satin, covered with a white table centre of applique lace. On this were arranged tall glasses of yellow chrysanthemums and marguerites. During the afternoon both Mr Hunter and Mr J. Haggitt sang twice. Amongst those present, besides Mr and Mrs Sargood and Mr and Mrs M'Lean, were Mrs Vallange, Miss M'Lean, Mrs Roberts, Miss Roberts, Mrs and Miss Rattray, Mrs and Miss Cutten. Mrs H. Le Cren, Mrs Bennet, Mrs and Miss Sise, Mrs and Miss Ramsay, Mrs Valentine, Mrs Brent, Mrs L. Wilson, Mjss -Wilson, Mrs Fisher, Miss Campbell, Miss G. Roberts, the Misses Shand, Mrs Carew, Mrs Mondy, Mrs "Johnston Brown, Mrs Thomas, Mrs Adam, Mrs J. Allan, Mrs Brook, Miss Reid, Mrs Cantrell, Mrs A. Fisher, Miss Low, Mrs Ziele, the Misses Gilkison, Mrs Hocken, Mrs Buckland (Kiatoa), Mrs Ridings, Mrs Fergus, Mrs Michie, Mrs Bush (Invercargill), Mrs and Mi&s Ramsay, Mrs Finch, Mrs Roberts, the Misses Williams, Miss De Lautour, Mrs Robinson, Mrs Neill, Mrs Royse, Mrs C. Turnbull, Mr Hunter. Mr Menlove, Mr Haggitt, Mr Oldham, and Mr Chettle. Mrs Sargood wore a very handsome gown of black silk, the skirt having frills of apple green, silk edged with rucher of black chiffon passing from the waist to the foot of the skirt, and a sash with long ends of the same silk, the bodice elaborately trimmed with green silk, green straw hat trimmed with green ribbons and white spangled wings ; Mrs M'Lean, a stylish dress of moss green velvet, the vest and sleeves being made of silk of the same shade, black and whito bonnet; Miss M'Lean, a smart blouse of shot green and mauve silk, finished at the neck with o bow of green chiffon, over a black figured lußtre skirt, white hat with green and white feathers ; Mrs Vallange, heliotrope blouse, worn over a black skirt; Mrs A. Fisher, smart costume of black cloth, tho bodice having a full front of white chiffon, large picture hat with black feathers; Miss Imlu Roberts, a stylish gown of navy blue serge, both skirt, and bodice being braided, the latter relieved with scarlet, a- handsome fur collarette; Miss Roberts, dress of ruby cloth, the bodice trimmed with velvet of the same colour and opening in the front to chow a vest of silk of a lighter shade, large red velvet hat trimmed with black and red feathers; Miss Campbell (England), stylish costume of crimson cloth, with, a long, full bodice of crimson velvet, cherry-coloured ihat trimmed with feathers and lace; Miss Handyside (Napier), black serge coat and skirt, large fawn hat with crown of cream silk; Miss Shand, brown coat ar.J skirt, large brown felt hat with bunche? of faw n-coloured jjuills; Miss E. Shand, navy bluo coat and Bkirt; Mrs Carew, a very smart gown of light brow» oloth, the bodiro being hi aided ,With brown and- trimmed with beaver fur, seat and xoka of cjeani ailkj alsf braided*

A very successful dance wrs given on Friday evening, 14th inst., by Mrs W. G. Neill at her residence in Melville street. This ball was given in honour of Mr and Mrs Neill's youngest daughter, Miss Eily Neill, who on this occasion made her debut into society, and also in honour of Miss Quick, who has been Mrs Neill's guest foi the last few months, but who will return to her home in Melbourne very shortly. Seldom, has a. more successful dance been given in Dunedin, was the general verdict of all those who were fortunate enough to be present on Friday evening. Both Mi and Mrs Neill were unfailing in their efforts to look after the enjoyment of their guests, and as the dancing room floor was first-class, the music excellent, and the partners, those of the sterner sex largely predominating, plentiful, needlesr to say all enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Mr and Mrs Neill received their guests at the entrance to the drawing room, which was beautifully decorated with flowers and pot plants. The room set aside for dancing was the large dining room, and a most sumptuous supper was served in the morning- room, where the table was fully loaded with daintiest of all kinds. There was also a card and smoking room, which was well frequented during the evening by whist players who preferred that game to dancing. Although a considerable number were present, a great many faces familiar in a Dunedin ball-room were absent on Friday night, quite a large number of those invited being unable for various causes to be present. The music was supplied by Mr Yates, and the extras were played in capital stylo by Miss Macassey, Miss Kempthorne, and Mr J. Haggitt. Two debutantes were present on thir occasion, Miss Eily Neill and Miss Ruby Farquhar, and they both looked charming in their spotless white robes Miss E. Neill looked very dainty, wearing a charming dress of white brocaded sillk, the skirt trimmed with alternate tucks and rows of white satin bebe ribbon, the bodice tucked and trimmed with chiffon and knots of bebe ribbon, while she carried a bouquet of white flowers. Miss R. Farquhar also wore a very chic debutante's frock. It was composed of rich white brocade, the bodice trimmed with chiffon, silver passementerie, and flowers, the sleeves, which reached to the elbow, being composed of white lace, and she carried a lovely bouquet of white flowers.

Amongst those present besides Mr and Mrs Nettl^ the Misses and, Messrs. Neiii, wer« Mi|3

| made with tucks and trimmed with bands of j pink satin and passementerie; Miss Levi, I white satin dress with deep belt of pink vcl- \ vet; Miss R. Roberts, dress of rich white j cheno silk, both skirt and sash trimmed witli tiny luches of chiffon.

Mr and Mrs Sinclair-Thompson left Dunedin last week by the s.s. Tarawera, en route for England, where they purpose staying for a few months.

Mi and Mrs A. Burnes returned to Nelson last week, aftei paying a short visit to Mrs Stephenson, in Lees street.

Mr and Mrs Stott arrived in Dunedin last week to take up their residence for a few months. Mr Stott takes Mr SinclairThomson's place in the National Bank whilst the latter gentleman is in England.

Mrs Bush, from Invercargill, 13 staying in Dunedin at present.

Mr and Mrs Robin Campbell, from Otekaike Station, are at present staying at tho Grand Hotel.

Mis 3 Campbell is just now the guest of Mrs Roberts, at Littlobourno House.

Thursday, March 30, was a red-letter day in Petone, when Mr A. M. Feist, head master of Ohau School, was married to Miss E. J. Chappie, of Petone, sister ot Dr Chappie, of Wellington, and daughter of Mr J. C. Chappie, of Ophir, Otago. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. A. Thomson, assisted by tho Revs. J. K. Elliott and. J. Patterson, of Wellington. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the school children, were granted a holiday. The day was all that could be desired, and the church and grounds were crowded with onlookers. The bride wore a handsome white embroidered robe, with satir and chiffon sash, and the usual veil and orange blossoms. The bridesmaids were Miss M. Chappie, sistei of the bride, and the Misses S. and N. Chappie, nieces of the bride. Miss Chappie wore * costume of butter-coloured silk, with large picture hat; and the two littlr bridesmaids wore pretty white dresßee, with butter-coloured sashe3 and large white felt hats. Mist Chappk wae the fortunate recipient of nearly 100 presents, among which were a handsome set of silver-mounted carvers from the choir and Suudaj School

words that are left unsaid are often the most precious ; the weightiest. We feel this in our reading, sometimes with a sense of elation that our own thoughts apparently are original — they are not the current coin of literary traffic surely, since the truths, experiences, and conclusions which have always seemed to us the weightiest on this very topic are left unsaid. Then, again, sometimes the unsaid words which we look for in vain on that printed page fill us by their absence with a sense of hunger, impatience, and loss. In all these obvious cases, with which some clever writer deals, sorrows for which he proffers balm, trials for which he indicates the compensations, social, mental, and spiritual, exigencies for which he perhaps wisely and tenderly lays down grinding rules, the word of help or comfort for our own particular case so often has been left unsaid.

Like the schoolgirl with her French exercise, we flounder hopelessly on, uncertain how to frame our conduct ; our moral convictions as limp and formless as her grammatical ones. Like her with her lesson book, we turn over page after page of our life's lessons, seeking for sojne " rule," tvying to discover an " example " to act as precedent for our conduct ; in vain ! Still like the schoolgirl, we fail to apply our rules even when they are found, and from all the score of examples which should provide us with the precedent we need, we turn impatiently away, because precisely our own case— just as precisely her own phrase — has been left unsaid. Yet if on one hand we long that things left unsaid had been uttered, as

Only a word, yea, only ?< word, That the Spirit's small voice whispered "Speak"; Bu*. the worker passed onward, unblessed and weak, because that "word was left unsaid, liow much that we have spoken we would gladly give years of life to have left unsaid ! — bitter words, angry words, coldly deliberate sarcasms, the clever retorts, the sharp homo thrustr that so triumphantly pierced the joints of the enemy's armour ; sooner or later, how we wish thei» unHaidl Sooner or later — sonaetiinef, the sun

has not yet gone down upon our wrath erf wo repent, or again, days may pass, weeks slip by into months and still find us pleasantly excited in telling the. story of "ll« said " and " J said," glorying in this or Oiab keen retort, prideful us the sympathising listener assures us that this was " a nasty knock '" and " there you had him properly.*' Latei. it may be years later, but the day will come when it all seems so foolish — we wish it all had been left unsaid.

Silence is a great gift ! Rightly used and applied, it is a magnificent arfc,* a perfect self-denial, a heroic self-sacrifice. It may well be that N silence may at the last open, those Golden Gates when no words might) avail us! Think of "The Silence of Dean Maitland," try to realise the silence of Enoch Arden ! Uphold me, Father, in my loneliness A little longer! Aid me, give mo strength Not to tell her, never to let her know, Help me not tc break in upon her peace.

For many reasons the paradox that wlir* is left unsaid is often truer to ourselves than what is said holds good. In moments of intense feeling, joy or sorrow, if wo speak at all, we speak from the moment's exaltation, and words which are iruQ enough at that imperious moment are quite beyond the ordinary limits of our power to fulfil. We cannot live at concert pitch. Our most vivid passion only touches its height oi its depth occasionally. Our anger — thank Heaven ! — dies down from its first furious blaze, but the words which W6 spoke live on. Each human brain is a phonograph, more wonderful a million times than Edison's weird soulless mechanism.

Years roll on, and he who spoke has long since filled some quiet grave. Dust has mingled with dust, the grass and daisies waving above the mound have absorbed all that was mortal, the soul is swallowed up in the Great Silence. Still, over miles of the peaceful earth, across leagues of the restless sea, beat other hearts and brains which can never forget the words wliicl* . that one human being spoke. For good or for ill, cheering or haunting, the words of the dead live on !

Great men and women in all the landt speak, and their words ring on from hear' to heart; they are o power, a talisman, a glory, to their fellow men and women tho world over, yet even for them, No word from man to man Shall sound the some again ; Something is lost though all interpretero. Never for finest thought Can crystal word be wrought That to the crowd afar

Shall show it — more than telescope a blct And if to these giants of the tinifc3 is tm\y given such limited realisation, what of us"? You and I, foot soldiers in the great army of commonplaces ; what nameless silen* void is ours?

Nay, dear sad hearts, not so. The words of poet and preacher are said, and win them immortality, yet from "all we have left unsaid we, too, may win our place amoii; the immortals. We are all preachers, "ni\d the sermon that we preach is our life. What we say is nothing in comparison with what we live.

Left ungaid? .Why, since we -must, so many of us, fall back on that, let us see what lies in that grave of unsaid things. Did we leave unsaid scandal, unkindneaj, gossip, brilliant audacities, modern cynicisms, irresistible irreverences? Did we leave unsaid doubts, suspicions, evil suggestions, idle tales, innuendoes? Why, then, -nir silence has been golden, and we ha,\e preached in our lives a sermon more eloquent because more practical than ever rang from pulpit heights. We cannot all say — but we can all leave unsaid.