THE GIRLS' REALM GUILD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 83

THE GIRLS' REALM GUILD.

AN ARTISTIC TRIUMPH. (From Oue Own Coseespokdent.) LONDON, December 3. If a big society crush brings in its train proportionate monetary success, then truly this week’s two-days’ Grand Picture Tableaux Bazaar, held at Covent Garden Opera Mouse in aid of the trust fund of the Girls’ Realm Guild, ought financially to eclipse all previous efforts of the kind, for ou the afternoon of the opening day the roomy floor space was packed to suffocation with stalls, stall-holders, and visitors, while the boxes all round the house were occupied by eminent members of English society, who had subscribed liberally in order to be in a better position to view the picture tableaux which were arranged ; n the stage. Those tableaux were nine in number, and each v,as presented with its background and surroundings as in the original paintings of the famous artists, and each was outlined by a drop-socnc in the form of a gold picture-frame. The dress of the sitters was faithfilly carried out according- to the. originals, and the whole series was an immense success from an artistic view-point. Tho first tableau was “ The Ladies Waldograve,'' after Sir Joshua Reynolds, the three ladies taking paid being- Mrs Arthur Crichton, Mrs Eric Chaplin, and Miss Ivy Gordon-Lennox. Later, these ladies, in the full splendour of their characters, mingled with the public, and then viewed the remainder of tho picture- presentations from one of the boxes. Lord Leighton’s “ Summer Morn ” was delightfully shown, arranged by Mr Solomon J. Solomon, R.A., his living subjects being- Lady Beatrice Herbert and the- Hon. Mrs Rupert Beckett —two lovely women. It seems invidious 1o select only two, when all nine were so admirably shown “ Tho Execution of Lady Jane Gray ” (Paul d© la Roche) appealed immensely to the spectators, with Mis Winston Churchill impersonating the namepart. The Lady Nina Ogilvie Grant was the “ Miss Flamboroiugh ” in W. P. Frith’s canvas depicting a scene from ‘The Vicar of Wakefield,’ ’ culled “ Measuring Heights ” ; seven people took part in this picture. The presentation of the complete set of nine charming tableaux occupied more than an hour, and was followed by some wonderful dancing by Lady Constance StewartRichaidson. In the ea.rly part of the afternoon a tour of the stalls was an impossibility, so great was the throng and press of people. In all, there- were 22 stalls, filled for the most part with dainty needlework of every imaginable variety. At 21 of these stalls each assistant was dressed to represent a

licular master. Hence there was immense variety in the style of dress, every detail of which was perfectly carried out, and the ensemble was one of dazzling gorgeous. Of particular attraction were the dresses worn by the 15 assistants at the Spanish masters’ stall, presided over by the Countess Vanden Heuvel. The guild has a, flourishing branch in Paris, and at the French stall the subjects of six of Greuze’s beautiful pictures were represented by the same number of assistants. Complete in every respect were the 15 ladies who chose Gainsborough subjects for representation, the “Duchess of Devonshire” being a strikingly noticeable lady with her enormous befeatiiered hat and generous allowance of curls. At the Romney stall there were 12 assistants, one of whom chose the impersonate “ Lady Hamilton at the Spinning Wheel,” nad she just looked the part. Eight Watteau ladies looked after the cakes and sweets. Flowers and fruit were in charge of another bevy of eight girls, who modelled themselves on Frank Dickses’s pictures. The Scottish branch chose Marcus Stone, R.A., for its impersonations, while 15 girls at one. of the fancy stalls selected characters from Frith's “Derby Day,” and another 15 ladies in charge of handkerchiefs and neckwear were gorgeous in their depiction of Sir Joshua Reynolds’s masterpieces. So no two assistants were dressed alike at the 21 stalls where the famous masters were represented. But the twenty-second stall was quite different. It was in charge of two girls from New Zealand (Mite Jessie Tin gey, Wellington, and Miss Olive Aitkin, AuckJand), and seven from Australia, presided over by Miss Nellie Day. The inclusion of -an Australasian stall, at one of these bazaars was a new and attractive feature, and fairly good business seemed to be doing in the small baskets of dressed flax and in post-cards and photographs from New Zealand; there were plenty of curios from Australia and its surroundings, but the public seemed to want something “ useful ” and yet typical of the country of its origin. Next lime this should be borne in mind when New Zealand is sending contributions to the excellent cause. The nine young colonists were conspicuous; first because all were dressed alike, next, because their stall was so excellently placed, and thirdly because their dresses—-though so very simple—were certainly extremely effective. They wore low-necked white nu.ns-veiling frocks, draped from the lel*t shoulder to the right hip, back and front, by the Australian flag, fastened with brooches; a bicorne helmet, formed of the same flag, knotted at the corners'with the tri-colour, was exceedingly becoming to the wearer. This stall was ploasin gly arranged. The tea-room was in charge of no fewer than £0 girls, all dressed alike, after the heroine of Mr G. A. Storey’s picture, “ The Love Letter,” wearing simple frocks of lilac colour, with white muslin aprons and white .caps banded with lilao-coloured ribbon. 1, The bazaar was declared open’ by the Duchess of Connaught, prior to which formality the Bishop of London had made a neat little speech, and so had the Duke of Connaught. The Bishop told ids hearers how the original seed of the guild’s formation was a short article written by himself in the Girl’s Realm. This had taken root, and spread until at the present time there was a membership of 6000 scattered over the world; and, as the result of its growth and expansion, 64 girls of gentle birth, but small means, had been : trained in various ways chosen by themselves, and so fitted to earn their own living. The object of the bazaar was to augment ifte trust fund to enable this good worse to be carried on. The Duke of Connaught said he was in entire sympathy with the work of the guild, and lie congratulated the Bishop of London on the marked success which had attended his efforts. He could no!) imagine a nicer or better idea than that of the Bishop, for it was impossible to begin too early that charity which made the hearts of the young feel for other young hearts less happily situated. During the afternoon the royal visitors, including Princess Patricia, made a round of the stalls and purchased generously. That each assistant has the cause at heart was very evident, and d hard work and originality in organisation are productive of good results, then the Grand Picture Tableaux Bazaar ought to add more to the fund than has any one of the previous functions of the. same kind; each naa always been a greater success financially than the last, so the proceeds on this occasion ought to be substantial—eclipsing the £541 taken at the last bazaar, held two years ago. To Miss Martha Bruggemann, by the way, fell the honour of singing the “ National Anthem ” on the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Princess Pair cia. This young lady comes from Australia, and the South Australian branch of the guild is making - itself responsible for

inn- vocal training. She Oertainly has ? beautiful voice.