TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 64

TABLE TALK.

MONDAY. August 28. On "Wednesday evening Mrs Mungo "Watson gave a juvenile dance at the Rectory, which was much enjoyed by all present. On Thursday Mis J?mes Mils gave a girls' luncheon party nt "Mount Lodge," in honour of her guest, Miss Hanclyside. On Friday evening Mrs Sinclair gave a large juveile dance at her residence in Melville street. About 100 young people were present, who all thoroughly enjoyed themselves, find danced until the small morning hours. The diawmg loom and hall -svere used for dancing, suppei was served m the diniug loom, and seveial other rooms were also thrown open. The music and floor were excellent, and the party was an undoubted success throughout. On Thursday afternoon Mrs Ritchie gave an afternoon tea, at the golf links, to which, she invited all xhe members of the Ladies' Golf Club, and a. gieat many others besides. Mrs Ritchie had arranged for a golf competition, in which all members were invited to play, prizes being offeied for the beat of 18 holes. A great many entered for the competition, and dining the afternoon from 1 o'clock the links presented a gay and animated scene. It vas 5 o'clock before all tho players came i:i and the various scores vere handed to the captain of the club, and the final result pioved that Mrs Keel Nelson, Mrs Mackie, and Mrs Finch were the successful winners of th 3 three handsome prizes, consisting of two silver-mounted photograph frames and a cut-glass silver-mounted scent bottle. The day was marvellously flue, ar.d a greet nianv toc'k advarts'afe cf their ho -toss'.- invitation 10 he pre«Pi.t, Tfv ard i"efie=limen'3 were served :n the pavilion o ei looking the links, and v.eie much appreciated by players ancl other. 0 . Amongst those present besides Mrs Ritchie wcie Mis Butterworth. Mrs Bptclpv, Mrs and Miss Denmsion, iliss Davidson, Miss De Lautour, Mrs Linc'o Ferguson, Mrs Aufrere Fenwiefc, Vl is and M.c-, Foi'gu a . Mrs Finch, Misst Farquhar, Mis and Miss Graham, Mrs Gilray, Mrs Gilkison, Mrs Hay (Temuka), Miss Haudyside (Hawke's Bay), Miss empthorne, Mi 3 LeC'ren. Miss Macasrev, Mrs Marshall, Mrs Mills, the Misses Mill" (Port Chalmers), Mi-jS Mendelbon. Mis Michie, Mrs Mackie-, tho Mi«srs jSTcill, Mi* iS T eson, Mis Ogston, Mis Oklham, the Mispes Reynolds, Mrs "Eardley Reynolds, Mi 3 Robin* on, Mas Riley, Miss Eoyse, Miss Ram=ay, Miss Scott, Mrs W. Sargood, Mrs and the Misses Sise, Mrss Tlieomm. Mis Sinclair Thomson, Miss Ellie Uhich, the Misses Williams, Mrs TVoodhouse, the Misses Webster. Mis and Miss Hocken left on Tuesday fos Auckland, en loute for Rotorua. Mrs Gideon Scott accompanied Mis Hoc-i ken noith on Tuesday. Mis Kinsoy. -who has been staying withl hei daughter, is ooie, returned oil Fiiday, to Chihtchuich. Mrs LesTie Hams and her little daughter, who have spent the last few weeks in Melbourne and Sidney, returned on Satiuclay bj tllP. MoGLiki. Mi==s Marchant left on Saturday for Clin<jf;churoh, wlieics she will spend the teiui lioli-* cla^s. Mrs Heaton Rhodes, who has been staving in Dunedin, leturned to Chnstchurch on Thursday. Miss Hanclyside (Hawlie's Bay) ariivecl from the north on Monday, and is visiting Muft James Mills at "Mount Lodge."

Mr and Mrs Rankin, who have been in ' 'Wellington, returned by Saturday's steamer. Miss Peep Gibson arrived on Saturday from Timaru, and is the guest of Mrs Williams, at j Anderson's Bay. j Miss Sale left on Saturday for Chi-istehiu-eb, •whence she goes to Little River to stay for a while with Mrs W. Montgomeri-e. Mr and Mrs Mackerras left by Tuesday's steamer for Auckland, -where they will spend a few weeks. Mr avid Mrs Hazlett and Miss Hazlett. who 3eft for Sydney two months ago, returned 011 Saturday by the Moeraki. Dr Colquhoun and Dr Closs left on Sunflay for Melbourne, en route for Adelaide, where they will attend the meetings of tlie Medical Conference to be held there next month. i)r Batchelor will also be present at the conference, having left for Sydney a few weeks ago. CHRISTCHUKCH, August 26. The "beautifully line weather that favoured, 'ths early part of Grand National week broke on Friday, and Saturday was most unplea- J santly cold and raw. Of course most people '- stayed at home; many who had come longdistances departed by boat and train so arf to be back at home for Sunday; and the residue — a. mere handful — braved the winti-iness to j visit the racecourse once more. Among these [ Lord and Lady Plunket, who were ac- j compamed by Mr and Mrs Artlnxr Rhodes, and seemed to enjoy the day's doings wiili ■their usual good epirits. Lady Plunkett was all in black, and was well wrapped up in furs. The Hon. Kathleen Plunket had a gown of •white serge,' and a pale blue coat and hat; Mrs Arthur Rhodes wore dark blue cloth and cosy funs Mrs George Gould had a- black cloth costume and toque of black relieved with. ■white; Mrs Elworthy was in black also, with sealskin coat ; Mrs Stead wore dark blue, wit'i fur coat and cream toque; Mrs Wilfred Stead looked well in dark gray with white furs ; Miss Stead had a snuff-bvown tweed coat and skirt : Mrs Beswick looked pretty in blue cloth and cosy dark furs; Miss Fenwick, of Oania.ru, was in grey, with hat of violets; Mrs Arthur Elworthy was in black, with pretty mauve and white toque; Mrs Denniston wore grey cloth ; Miss Denniston was in dark navy cloth, with white hat; Mrs Boyle looked well in grey face cloth, toque to match ; Mrs Jack Hall wore grey, also, and a pretty hat witJi touches of heliotrope; Mrs Kettle was in a black coat and skirt, grey hat; Mrs HenryWood was in crimson cloth and a black toque." The happenings of this week have been most meagre. True, we had the- military circus. . which has been attracting enormous audiences until Thursday evening, when a most successful season came to an end, to the no small relief of the performers, who were feeling the strain after so many nights. Among those Present at the last performance I saw Mrs J3. C. J. Stevens, Mrs Arthur Rhodes, Mr and Mrs Stead, Mrs and the Misses Burra, the Misses Denniston, Mr and Mrs P. Campbell, Lady Clifford, Mrs J. C. Palmer, tke Misses Tabart and Sanders. .Mr and Mrs P. Acton-Adams have gone to Australia for a trip. -Mrs Murray-Aynsley swid Miss Gerard have jeturned from & visit to Auckland. Mr Herbert Elworthy has left for Melbourne, 1 •where his marriage with Miss Cleveland is to ■ take place during tjie first week of September. -A most enjoyable musical party was given on Tuesday afternoon by Dr and Mrs Crooke at their pretty residence at the hospital. . The drawing room was gay with flowers, and tlie tea table also, which was laden with all Ikincls of dainties, in the dining room. Airs Burns sang vevv charmingly, Dr a,ntt Mrs Crooke played, also the Misses Cook and Mrs Wilding. Among those present were. Mrs C. H H. Cook, in a black costume with white fox furs; Miss Cook was in brown tweed, and her sister in black; Mrs Finch looked pretty in a grey tailor-made and a lovely toque of wtite roses; Mrs Recce was in black, with becoming furs; Mrs Wilding wore grey; Mrs Burns was in dark blue, with hat of the same. Also present were Mrs Wynn-Williain«, Mrs Hayton (Wellington), Mrs John Anderson, Miss Moorhouse, Mr Justice Denniston and Mrs Denniston, Mrs Lswin, Mrs Scott, and Mr and Mrs Bevan-Brcwn. JBliss E. Cotterill (Hawke's Bas') is staying ■with Mr and Mrs H. Cotterill. Her marriage ■with Mr Saunders (North Island) takes phce next Saturday in Christchurch. Mrs Hayton (Wellington) is the guest of Mrs Crooke Mrs Heaton Rhodes returned last week from Dunedin. Mrs TJolleflton, who has been the guest of Mrs T. Tcschomaker, has returned home. Miss Violet Moares has gone to Nelson for/ a short visit. The last mails brought the sad news of the death of an old Christchurch boy-r-Mr Haley G-arsia, the eldest son of Captain Garsia, who ■was drowned in India, where he was with. Ilia regiment. Lieutenant Garsia was an officer of much promise, and the news of his •untimely death was received with the deepest ' icaret. Mrs Sinclair Thomson has letumed south after paying a shoit visit to Mrs Ranald Mac- n dornxld, Bealey Avenue. In golf the final niedal match of tha season •was played at Hagley Links s on Friday morning,, and resulted in' a win for Mrs F. Robin- ' son in the first grade and for Mis Archer in the second grado. Yesterday afternoon a perfectly delightful time W23 spent on the Shirley Links, where Mrs Henry Wood entertained the club niein- « hers at tea, and presented two piizes to the winners of a Bogey match. Miss Denniston wr.s the fortunate winner of the finst prize (1 J j?retty silver inkstand), Miss Kitson coming second, and receiving a silver-mounted hatinn cushion. The day was so fine that a la.rge . number of people were present, and among others I saw lilrs Michael Campbell and Miss Camubell, Mrs Vernon, Mrs Stead and Miss •S+pn^l Mm and Miss Kettle, Miss Ainger, 3Mrs Reid, Mrs Denniston, the Misses Dennis-t-on, and Mrs F. Robinson. ___________ < WELLINGTON, August 26. f On Saturday a large number of guests were ( present at an exhibition of paintings by Mits s D. K. Richmond and Miss Lingard. Special t interest was taken in the latter's work, for v Miss Lingard has been pursuing her art studies at Home anxToiilhe Continent for two or three years, and leaves very soon on a delightful sketching tour through Csuiada. Amongst Miss Lmgard's sketches were some T quaint glimpses of Holland, and little bits of 3 Paris. Miss Lingard wore white, relieved with 1 black, and pretty violet-trimmed hat; Mug \ wore black and white taffeta, and Iblack picture hat. j Mr and Mrs Harold Johnston have been Visiting Mrs Stead at Christchurch. _ x ■ Gseat Interest is being taken in the ISTapiex J golf tournament. "Wellington ladies who are ' ] competing are Mesdames Collins, Tweed, t J^'gar, Mis?es James, Brandon, Simpson, H?r- ( couri, Cooper, Eeid, and Elgar. The visito-,3 ( were to be entertained at a ball on Friday last. I ? The amateur operatic season concluded, ou _ x

Tuesday night, and was one of the greatest successes financially and artistically that the company has had. "Dorothy" was produced with a splendid caste and magnificent .mount I ing. Miss Amy Murphy was very charming and dainty as Dorothy, and Miss Leonore Pulsford scored a. success as Lydia. Mr Frank Graham and Mr Ballance were both verj successful as the lovers The expenses were mors than £600, but quite .£IOO over that amount was taken during the season. There is some talk of a "Dorothy" set participating in the veterans' ball; if so it will be a very attractive group. The wedding of Miss Yera "Willis, daughter of Mr A. Willis, secretary to the Cabinet, to I Mr Will Tifiwson, of the A.11.P. Society, was quietly celebrated at St. John's Church, Johnsonville, on Tuesday last. The bride looked exceedingly pretty in her simple bridal gown | of embroidered muslin, with wreath and tulle veil. Her chief bridesmaid was Miss Brenda. Hacon, who also wore a pretty gown of white muslin with blue satin belt and charming hafc the same shade, her bouquet being of Russian violets, and two sweet little girls, frocked in white, with wide blue sashes, followed. They were Efeie and Phyllis Hubbard, nieces of the bride. Mr D. R. Mcnzies acted as best rnaai. Mrs Willis wore black silk, with lace scarf; j Miss Willis, white silk ; Mh.3 Ida Willis, flora i muslin dress ; Mis Lawson wore black silk taffeta and black and white bonnet. Mrs Willis received a few guesta at her residence, the rooms being tastefully decorated with mimosa, and other spring flowers, while the tea tables were a Jovely si^ht with freesias and banb-3 of violets. Later Mr and Mrs W. Lawson left on their honeymoon, the bride's travelling gown being of navy blue cloth, with ; white collar and soft lace vest. Her hat, of biscuit straw, was prettily trimmed with blue chiffon and prink roses. Mr and Misses Miles, who have been spending some months in England, are returning next month, and will visit Egypt en route. The Victoria, College students held a very successful ball at the Sydney Street Hall on Tuesday last. The decorations were, effectively

yet there is in these quaint lines a thought new to me in the lesson of moatur-elo^ charity drawn from the falling of lain upon the sea. WINTER BAIN. Rain on the roof, and rain On the burial place of grain; To one a voice in vain ; To one, o'er hill and plain, The pledge of life again; — Earn on the sterile 'en, That hath no need of thee Nor keexas thy niemoiy, 'Tis thou that teachest me The range oi Charity. —John B. Tabb. Do you not think the little vtr.se as lovely as it is quaint? You know the Raindrop Sonata and its story ; 1 hink, and you shall" hear the wonderful inspiration that prisoned in sound the clearing of the storm — the last drops of rain that Mnite the streaming panes ere the sun bursts forth ! You remember Tennyson's vivid intuition of the dull ache of the straining heart in Locksley Hall, In the dead unhappy night. And when the rain is cv the loof ' Is nob the same sad thought lurking in these lines of Longfellow's, he who in his simple sweet sympathy with all Nature and human nature gave us, too, that charming ode, "How Beautiful is the Rain"?— And the hooded clcuds, like frinrs, Tell llieir beads in drops of ram, And patter their doleful prayers. But lheir prayers are all ,n vain — All, all in Or is it thus that rainy-day recollections come to you? —

the simple words ring fresh, and let the manifoM recollections ot rainy days drift over you, little cool grey pictures woven ' of the mist and rain, and full of inner memories. Of soul sadness, when your grey life and the grey world weie veil in tone, for in both the light was veiled, and it was of no avail to lecall that Behind the clouds the sun is shining; Thy fale's the common lot of ali . Into each life some rain must fall, Some clays be dark and dreary! Memories of heart gladness, when the pulse of joy and love beat so strongly that you must needs go " singing, singing thro' the rain."' Then the drifting mist upon the hills only showed you new beauties — far, faint lights and lovely hollows ne\ er seen before. Then the sharp sting of the rain and the rude blustering of the wind only woke the joyous combativeness that springs from health and happiness ; then it is Smiles for the Bain! Lose for Ihe Rain! , My friendly Bain! But all these rainy-day recollections appeal 10 their emotional aspect only. Zvo commercial value is theirs, and +o hx\ immense number of people they are a ualcci book — the people we low and prize, Infc men and women who are fighting life's battles, the bread-winners who must look on rainy days and sunny days, good seasons and bad from the commercial point ot view. There is the farmer, who, to iise quaint Burvoughs's phrase, " Ploughs and sows and reaps weather all his life." Weathei is everything to him — rain in season his salvation, out of season his iu:,i. Nature is for him or against him : lie can-

carried oub wit hwaltle and drapery, and the pretty 2>rogramme were a feature.