TABLE TALK,

Otago Witness, Issue 2504, 19 March 1902, Page 61

TABLE TALK,

Monday Afternoon

A most delightful bill was given on Friday evening by Mr and Mrs J. M. Ritchie at their residence, " Balviuid," in Hericl row, in honour of theii fourth son, Mr Jim Ritchie, who is in the navy. His boat, the Royal Arthur, being in New Zealand waters just now. he has been able to pay a short visit to Dunedin, and on Friday evening was given an opportunity of meeting many of his old friends again. Mr.-. Ritchie received her guests in the drawingroom, and the long verandih, an entrance to which can be gained from all the rooms in use on Friday evening, was covered in, and furnished as a drawing-room. Comfortable easy chairs and lounges were arranged all about it, and as the big diningroom windows open into the verandah, the chaperones from this pleasant vantage ground could watch the dancers all through the evening. The dining-room, with the large billiard-room opening off it, made a lovely ballroom, and a.« the floor was in excellent condition dancing was carried on with no sign of weariness until neaily 3 o'clock in the morning. Mrs Ritchie is an ideal hostess, and in her arduous duties on Friday evening she was very ably assisted by Mr George and Mr Russell Ritchie, who were untiring in their efforts all evening in looking after the wants of their visitors. Mr Yates was ensconced in a corner of the billiard-room and played delightful mus'C. Refreshments were served in the morning-room, and at half-past 10 o'clock the large supper-ioom was opened, where the tables were deCoruted with scarlet geraniums and covered with tempting viands of all kinds. A regular sit-down supper was partaken of by all. Both upstairs and downstairs 'halls were furnished with seats in pleasant cor--ners, and these. as well as the stairs, were used by the dancers between the different measures, and as the evening was beautifully fine some of the more adventuresome spiiits •wandered in the grounds, where numerous ■oaths. Jit here and there by a Chinese l.in- ' cm. deviate amongst the flower beds and ' iwns. Two young ladies who seemed to L^enly enjoy the fun and the dance were 'liss Mary Ritchie and Miss Jessie Da vies Irocked in smart cream and pmk accordeonylaited dresses respectively. They danced with various of the guests with that veive and abandonment to be found in the young until 12 o'clock Two debutantes were present. Miss Fanny Shand and Jh<s A. Henderson. Very charming they both looked in their spotless white gowns-. Mi^s iShand's dress .vas of white silk, the w hole >kirt covered with tiny frills of white < liiffon, and white chiffon sash, with ends. The bodice, too, was draped and fulled with Vi liite chiffon. Mi^s Hendeison wore a white silk frock, djjntily tnmmed with Lice and chiffon

Amongst those present, besides Mr and Mrs Ritchie and the Me.-:>is Ritchie, weie Dr and Mis Davies, Dr and Mis Lindo Ferguson, Mr and Mis Michie, Mr and Mrs Mills, Mi- and Mrs Gallawav. Mr and Mrs Laidlaw (Matakanui), Mr and Mr*. H risking. Mr and Mr* ( J. Ratlrsy, Mr and Mis j\ioore, Mrs Hay (Tcmuka), Mr and MiWooddiouse, Mr and Mrs L. Reynolds, the Misses Sise, Mr R. Sise, Miss" Mills, the Misses Reynolds, Mr and Mis Heiapath (England), Miss Butterworth, Mi^ L. Mackerras, Miss Ram<=ay, Mi^s Jackson. tLe Misses \ T eill, Mr B! Neil]. Mr md Mus Sinclair, Miss Maeas^ey. ili«s Bathgjte. the Misses Shand, Mi"=i Turton, Miss Sale, lliss Denniitoa. the Mkata HaUi-aw, Dr .uid

Sinilah -Thomson, black "-ilk die"-, m i4e in princess style, bodice made of white satm, tiimmed with Biusscls lace; Mis Geo. Roberts, trained gown of biocide, trimmed with electric blue and Lice in the bodice; Mis Moore, cicam brocade diess, trimmed with green velvet, and pink roses in hair: Mis L. Reynolds, handsome black brocade gown, rehewd -with touches of white chiffon and luce ; Mrs Herapat'i. black glace silk gown; the Misses Neill, stylish gowns of white «atm, tnmmed with gold fesqumned net. diamond necklace- ; Miss M. Rims-ay, .black merv. dre«-. tnmmed with guipure lace ; Miss Sale, white crepe de chine frock ; Miss L Roberts looked very smart m <i -white «atm die=>; Miss Maud" Si*e. veiy pretty fiock of cream crepe de chine, the skirt made with two deep ;<ccordion-pl-iinted full*-, outlined with buttei-colotued in^eition. and the same coloured lace on the bodice ; Mf-s Edith Shand. bl.-ck <hc»-«. ti mimed with white lace ; Mi<^ Dennnton. black glace silk dres«, tnmmed with ict ; Mi-s I. Rattray, Mini t dress of heliotrope silk and lace; Miss Geitrude Rattray, bright blue silk drees trimmed w ith lace and chiffon ; ~Sh^i May Sinclau looked well in a frock of bright yellow satin, the bodice diaped with white lace : Miss Petre. white silk th'e^"-. coveied waili .m overt-kirt of black Brussels net : Mi-> Maca<-sey. white fclLk clicks coveied with an overskirt of lace, tlu % bodice strapped with black velvet, and a spiay of sen let Howes; Mi-s Ruby F.nquhar looked chainiin^ in .i white satin punce^'s gown, the bodice ha\ ing sleeves, and boleio of tucked hi-se, outlined with giupuie. and pink carnations in her hair; Mi^-s M Bo>d. ro-e. pmk .--.lk dress, footh skirt and bodice tucked, and the latter duped in tl-.e fichu styie. with deep pink fnlK; Mi^s Mollie Xe'ill. white Mlk dre«% the bodice tucked and trimmed with white satin bebe ribbon; Mi*s Cargill, black silk die--*, tiimmcd witli chiffon; Mi«s il'Lean, white sat in. trimmed with lo\ely lace; Mi«a K;itlileen M'Lean. black sjlk ihes^. covered with an overwkut of black net; Miss hjiso^ whit^ men-. dre=s 4 tiiuiiued with

Miss Mackellar, Mr Williams, Dr X Batchelor, Mr Barron, Mr Salmon, Miss A. Henderson, Miss R. Farquhar, Mr Cyrr. Mr Hunter, Mr M'Lean, the Misses M'Lean, Miss Spenee, Mr Fenwick, Miss Roberts, Miss Graham, Mr and Mrs G. Roberts, Mr and Mrs M'Gowan, Dr and Miss Fitchett, Miss Busch, Mr Crawford, Mr and Mrs Fox. Mr and Mrs Baker, Miss Baker, Mrs Sin-clair-Thomson, Mr Kettle, the Misses Williams, Mr W. S. Stewart, Mrs Stewart, Miss Allen, Mr Gully, Mr Thomson, Mr Graham, Miss Ulrich. Mr G. Graham, Mr Burke, Mr Grumitt, Mr Angus, and Mr Webster. Mrs Ritc'hie wore a lovely trained gown of pink brocade, the bodice handsomely trimmed with passementerie ; Mrs Davies, cream corded silk dress, elaborately trimmed with lace ; Mrs Michie. yellow chiffon dress, covered with an overskirt of cream lace, the bodice elaborately trimmed with lace and strapped with black velvet, and a lovely diamond pendant necklace ; Mrs Mills, handsome black tucked glace silk gown, adorned with jet ; Mrs Laidlaw (Matakanui), gawn of black silk, trimmed with exquisite real Brussels lace ; Mts FergiHon, very pretty diess of pink crepe de chine, the bodice completed with a bolero of black lace, and black feather in her hair ; Mrs C. Rattray looked very nice in a while silk gown, covered with fine black net ; Mrs Hosking. pale pink brocade dre,«, the bodice diaped with lovely Limerick lace and strapped with iblack velvet bands ; Mrs Gallaway. blatk >ilk and chiffon dress ; Mrs Hay, handsome gown of white chine siik, trimmed with lace applique, the white chiffon 'bodice having a dainty bolero of floral silk, and deep pink silk belt ; Mrs Wood'house, black sequin net gown ; Mrs

I lovely real lace on the bodice ; Miss D. Wilhums, white satin frock, trimmed with 10-\t_., lace frills; her sister wore a smart black net frock ; Miss Fitchett, lilac silk drc«s, trimmed with spangled net ; Miss Spenee. while moire frock, trimmed with lace ; Miss Butterworth, smart frock of pale pmk crept «!•» thine, the skirt frilled and tnmniPtl wirli cream insertion, bodice draped with cream Lice and black chou.

On Tuesday evening Mrs Stephenson gave a smart "At home,'" at her residence, Conisborough, as a farewell to her daughter, Mrs Edmond. About 30 guests were present, and the time passed very pleasantly, playing ping-pong, and with music. Shortly after 10 o'clock a dainty .■•■ upper was served in the Large breakfastroom, after which all joined in ibidding Mr and Mrv Edmond bon voyage, and a safe return to Dunedin.

Mr and Mrs W. F. Edmond left on Thuisdiy by the s.s-. Waihora, en route for England.

I\lr and Mrs Chaffey (Wellington) are staying with Mrs Butteonorth in Ro.slyn just now.

The .engagement is announce:! of Miss

Ruby Roberts, youngest daughter of Mr John Roberts. C.M.G. , Lit^ebourne House, to Mr Wilfred Stead, eldest son of Mr G. G. >Stead, of Christchurch.

— Professor (lecturing): "Oxygen, gentlfmeii, is esrential to oil animal existence. I There could be no life without it. Strange I to say, it wes not di?covered until a cenI tury atfo. when " Student : ".What did I they do before it was discovered, sir':"