TABLE TALK,

Otago Witness, Issue 2513, 14 May 1902, Page 61

TABLE TALK,

Monday Afternoon. On Thursday evening Mrs Sinclair Thorneon gave a most delightful children's dance at her residence, "Transit House," in Park street. This, being the vacation period, .makes" a capital time for giving these chil- j dien's functions. Quite a number of boys are down, from Wanganui and other collegiate schools, and these pleasant gatherings - give the children an opportunity of meeting their old friends. Nearly 80 children were present on Thursday evening, with a sprinkling of "grown-ups." On© could, not have ■witnessed, a prettier scene than the sight of all these little folk, dancing gaily to the first-rate music supplied by the hostess. .Most of the little- girls wore dainty white frocks, frilled, tucked, and Sfenmed with insertion and laces. The guests .were invited from 7 till 11, and at half-past 7 all were assembled in the long dancing room, ■where a pretty little stage had been erected, and here a play was by Miss Lucy Battray, Miss Kitty Sinclair Thomson, Miss C. Qgston, and Miss" M. Sale. Very cleverly they did their different parta, and the audience seemed to keenly appreciate the fun. After the room had been cleared, dancing began, and was carried on with great spirit during all the evening. A delicious supper was served in the morning room shortly after 10 o'clock, the table, and, in fact, the whole house, being decorated with chrysanthemums and autumn leaves. Amongst those present besides Mr and Mrs Sinclair Thomson, were tEe Masters and Miss Kitty Sinclair Thomson, the Misses Battray, Mrs and Master and Miss Bowden, Mjss M. Neill, Miss Graham, Miss M. Reynolds, Miss M. Haggitt, Mr and Miss Ritchie, Miss Williams, Miss Sale, Miss Boyd, the Misses Dowling, Mr G. Denniston, Miss H. Gardner, Mr G. Galla- j way, Miss K. Stewart, Miss Bartleman, J Miss F. Sinclair, the Masters Roberts, the ; Misses Finch, Master Scott, Master Bullock, Miss G. Mills, and Miss Holdsworth. ~~" ""~~~~ • On Wednesday evening the Misses Reynolds gave a successful juvenile ping-pong evening at their residence, "Willow Bank," in Lees street. Between 20 ar.d 30 guests were present, and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The first meeting of the new Ping-pong Club took place on Thursday evening in the Kia-ora Tea Rooms^ Ping-pong tables were arranged in the different rooms, and games were carried out with great spirit. ' Slates were hung beside each table, and on these members subscribed their names, and then each couple played in turn. Nearly 80 members were present, so it looks as if this new club will be a success. However, this being the first meeting, rules could not be strictly adhered to. but by next meeting everything will be in thorough ( ship-shape order. The club is to meet every Thursday evening in the Kia-ora Rooms. Last Thursday the committee of ladies supplied the tea and light refreshments, which were handed round about 9 o'clock. Mr and Mrs James Hazlett left last Thursday for a trip to the old country. i Mrs Watson (Scotland) and Mrs J. E. ' Watson returned to Invercargill last week. A number of people left on Monday to join the Athenic, bound for London. Amongst those who have gone are Mr Brydone, Mr G. Ritchie, and "Mr and Mrs D. Macdonald (Edendale). Miss Richardson (Wellington) is visiting her aunt, Mrs E. C. Reynolds, in London street. Miss Mabel Shand is in town for a few weeks' time. INVERCARGILL, May 12. A most enjoyable organ recital was given in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church last Friday evening, the church being crowded. We are all very pleased to hear that I/ieutenant A. Stocker, son of Archdeacon Stacker, has received the Distinguished Service Order for gallant and skilful conduct in the field. Mr Hanan, our local M.HR., has returned from Hanmer Spring^much benefited by the change. Mrs J. E. Watson has returned from Dunedin. Mr John Stronach has gone to Dunedin for a few days. Miss Macdonald has returned from a short visit to Dunedin. Mr Carncross, M.H.R., was in Invercargill the other day. Mr W. T. Hazlett has returned from. Dunedin. Miss Hazlett, of Dunedin, is visiting Mrs Hazlett at" her residence, " Essequibo." Mr' Carmichael and Mr Sharpe have gone to Wellington on business in connection !with the Bluff Harbour Board. The Otautau residents intend giving Mr

cess! Buf, oh, the pity of it — the flower of our land shot down, lying stark and cold on the dreary veldt. "While I try to write, a number of native women who have come four miles to fish are on the verandah having their periodical look at a large doll which I brought my Indian maid from Sydney. As they examine it, they laugh, chatter, and frisk about just like children — scarce a rag to cover their nakedness, and dirty rag at that. Yet how happy they seem, not one half the care and worry of their white bisters! I often smile when I read the wonderful things put in print by visitors to these islands— of the 'lovely South Sea Island belles,' the cleanly habits of the natives, etc. Well, I wish they could see them in their everyday life! '•I am truly delighted at the proposal to put some of your essays into book form. I had tried to keep some, but the best I sent away. Well, I remember your essay on 'Compensation.' That I sent to a young girl friend in Scotland who was passing through 'deep waters' — though I'd like to have kept ft myself. Another, 'The Rubbish Heap,' I also sent away. I am just like that— if there is anything I enjoy or derive benefit from, I always want to sjive it to some one who I think will enjoy it also. That is the reason my daughter says that I never have anything— I find it so much 'more blessed to give than to receive.' " I wish I could go on quoting, but the rest of the letter seems to be peculiarly "mine own," though it is so beautiful" that I should like you, too, to enjoy it. I daresay it will find its way into some talk of ours, its identity kept sacivd by simple quotation marks. Next in order shall come a letter which enjoy — it is written by one who desires only to be known as "An Old (Friend" : — "This is the first time I have ever writ- ■ ten to you. I do not often write to the [jiress. I feel coPsfrrftinM & dg ga jmuh.

number of eyes was indisputably Lady Mary Orkney (whom Swift called the wisest woman ho ever knew). She exposed behind a mixture of fat and wrinkles. Add to this tho inimitable roll of her eyes and her grey hairs, which stood directly upright, and 'tis impossible to imagine a more delightful spectacle. She had embellished all this with considerable magnificence, which made her look as b=g again as usual. And I should have thought her ono of the largest things of God's making if my Lady St. John had not displayed all her charm* in honour of the day. The poor Duchess of Montrose crept along with a dozen of black snakes playing round her face, and my Lady Portland, represented very finely an Egyptian mummy, embroidered over with hieroglyphic?. In general I could not perceive but that the old were as well pleased as the youag, and I, who dread growing wise more than anything in the world, was overjoyed to find that one can never outlive one's vanity." — Yours truly, W. G. W. Then, in sharp contrast to the witty chronicles of bygone splendours, and the train of thought they arouse on the coming magnificent Coronation pageant of June, let us read a few lines from "Violet," descriptive of the quiet pleasure of a country holiday. "I had a beautiful drive lately— into new country, too. Our road led by the sea, and the 'daisy' tiees and maples grew down the cliff to the water's edge, intertwined with white convolvulus. Inland we turned, through what had been a mighty bush, now 'logged up' in great piles ready for burning ; while all around was bleak and black. .Sad enough, and yet so necessary — Nature to make way for human nature! Farther on we entered the great birch forest, where, grand and solemn, the mighty trees reared themselves, and hero there was no undergrowth, but tho bare ground soft-carpeted with the fallen leaves of many a season." Next comes a letter from an. English girl ■who has grown to take a keen interest in our Cosy Corner Club and all tho pleasant camaraderie which has grown out of

back again, actually writing the speeches of our own characters as if it were an actual conversation. [/To me this seems the most delightful idea. — E.] All passages of analysis and .«uch like belong to the author of the character to which they refer. "I remember once that A. wrote her part in red ink ; the book (it was what Stevenson called a penny version book) looked very funny in its particoloured inks. I generally 'prefer to do the women, and she takes the men. It very seldom happens that we both set our affections on the <jame character." Now was I ndP"right in promising you an interesting, fresh," and entirely original letter? To the writer, who chooses to be known as '"Der Heir,' 1 I can only say I am sincerely sorry I have been &o long in thanking you for your charming letter, but I hope to show you ere long how very sincerely I have appreciated it. I think that in "Ted." one of my dear and valued — though unknown — friends, you, "Der Herr," would find a delightfully congenial coi respondent, your tastes, ambitions, a^xe, and bent of mind are so in harmony. Good-bye for the present, and thank you very much for a letter which is, I hope, only the precursor of many others. Last of all, but, like many other last things, by no means least in pleasant interest and personal charm, comes the letter of a thorough New Zealand girl — one whom you will remember as "Clare," of our Cosy Coiner Club. "You ask me about myself?" she says. "It will give you some idea of my life if I tell you that we live quite in the country, that there are 13 of us, and I come third. We have a farm, or, rather, two farms, which altogether come to about 600 acres, and we are near a dairy factory. We milk 32 cows, and although usually there are four of us to milk them, in busy times there may be only three, or even two. My eldest sister is away from home, and when tho boys are at the new farm, I am even busier than usual, and add the work Si '£&JEh&X' sometimes to. Buck a Iqd& list

of other duties. May I tell you how £ ge\ the cows in in the morning? It is more( like pleasure than work. The fresh morn* ing breeze fans my face ; not a sound stirj( the still air ; as I approach the gate mjt horse lifts his head and looks round at me, as if he, too, would enjoy the canter y walks quietly in at the stable doors, an 4 stands while I slip on the saddle and bridleJ The birds ar© all jubilant, and as I pasi' under- the trees each seems trying to outdo the other. Their clear notes are answered by one or two solitary ones among the; 1 willows that droop over the little creek.In the east the sky is a, blaze of gloriou^ colour, crimson and gold fading to p»ls yellow, and above a few white fleecy clouds! floating softly like milk-white foam. Now. the sun is sliming clearly, but still a dark' bank of cloud lies low in the western, mount tains, and only reflects a lighter tone upon; its sullen edges. But by this time I tip.v« mounted and am out on the road, heading for the paddock. As we pass a neigji» hour's house the dogs bark furiously 'at my horse's heels, and cause him to swerve arid increase his pace. But when the paddock is reached, Emmeline, if you are fond of riding, you will understand the pleasure of that canter over the dewy "grass. My horse enjoys it as much as I do, and seem* glad of the excuse to round up the straggler* which have camped in the far corner. Bu^ presently the mob is altogether, their headC turned for home, and we pace quietly along. Please don't laugh at a country girl's description of bringing in the cows." Laugh! 1 wifh, Care, that I could bt with you!

And now the Post-bag is empty. With thanks to those who have filled it, Emnieline says Adieu !