AN AT HOME.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13975, 9 August 1909, Page 3

AN AT HOME.

A WELLINGTON JEST, A writer in the Wellington -'New Zealand limes'" thus satirises the descriptions ol "fashionable ' "At Homes"' in tlie Ladies' Column of that journal: — .Noticing the description in your Column- of the "At Home " in tlie 'J own Hall on Saturday, may I hope that you will insert tlie following account of an equally interesting uinction arranged by -Mr anil -Mrs Hardgraft of Wellington's exclusive '"Eleven Hundred." '1 lie charming three-room-ed mansion in Frederick street, witn its Oriental surroundings, redolent 01 Eastern perfumes, and tne incense 01 ripening mnts, was thronged yesccrdav with friends ol the hosts, who had been asked to celebrate .Mr Jiardgratt s success in obtaining a weeks work. With characteristic 'upcnhandedniss, .Mr liardgralt and his v.-ue 'decided that their less fortunate neighbours should sit at their board and snare their happiness. Koireshmeuts w.-re served in tin- large 111 x VI ilrawiugroom, whore quaint chairs, tables and what-nots, oi kerosene casts and jam boxes, covered with dainty chintz, were distributed in sweet coin usion—ill delightful keeping with the apparently hapna/.ard decorations of the walls. Here and there tluse were hung with newspaper illustrations, and tlie highly popular " -My Lady Nicotine ' pictures ol Juno and \ an'ity fair. The large Oregon pine table was daintily laden with soda bread and exquisite margarine and diippmg —quite the latest delicacies. The lio.-.tess's idea oi serving tllese latter in salvers a la sardine was a happy thought. Shimmering 'neath the son light of the candles these lookVd exquisitely rich— and the appearance was enhanced by the rather novel candelabra of those frail and long-necked holders of the "dead marine ' style. In keeping with the custom of the hosts .Mongolian neighbour*, tea was seriTtl without milk. One cannot imagine how delightfully refreshing is the am her lluid when brewed —as it was — from tlie fragnai.'t I'ekin runnings. In a happy little speech, on behalf of the guests, Mr Ithumatiks remarked that. the tea, instead of being a. dark brown, was of a delicate light hue. which, he said, led him to ask them to drink. " Down with the Yellow iVril." The charming hostess was gowned in a blouse and skirt of the WOO period, ihe plain utilitarian cut of this bntton-in-i'roiit costume being favourably commented on. especially the sensible plan of wearing it next, to the skin ("If." as Percy says in the "Merry Widow." " I may say so.")

Mrs Ilr.rdgrai't, as is lately the fashion of tho •• Eleven Hundred." wore no jewellery. So ni.'iny have lately discarded brooches, handles and pins, and arranged for its keeping in the various places de seenritio. that a lady who continues Hearing articles of vertn is rather looked on as showing all of that commodity she possesses. Mrs flardjiiaft goes .so far as to omit to wear even her wedding ring. The hostess carried on her arm (as did many of the guests a beautiful bloom of Babyhood —" the sweetest flower that blows." These delicate blos?oms are

hard to roar in perfection in the locality of their charming homes, chiefly owing to the difficulty of obtaining enough space and warmth and the nurture so necessary' for these fragile plants. Strangely enough, this most beautiful bloom in Life's garden is not cultivated to any extent by those people who could more easily attend to its growth. This, however, is by the the way. Amongst the guests I noticed Mrs Saddeycs, the well-known modiste of Tory street; Airs O. Knight Toyler, who recently suffered the severe loss of her time-payment sewing machine: and Airs Hans-Paynter. The lattcr's distinguished husband is at present doing some decorating on the Paramata bridge. Her own work is, of course, well known, and is often seen on the line, and her work with the brush is much admired by those fine judges—the Xelburnites. I also noticed Airs Plummer, who with her seven children, has recently taken rooms next to Air Chew Fat's emporium, Air Plmnmer having gone for an extended trip to the 'Waitotara block, at present a favourite country resort. Among others I saw Airs Fireless, Aliss Hopeful, Airs Hungry, Airs Lackrent and Airs Stitches. The only male guests present were Air • Bhumatiks, General Debility, Air Cripple, and Air Hoarvhed. Of those expected, some were" unable to be present —notably Bishop W -, Df G -, and the Bev. J. J. N , who is each busily engaged in working out a scheme to obtain a monopoly of the trade in harps and wings—in the country whore nunc are hungry, and all are happy.