The Ladies Column NOTES BY "THE DUCMESS"

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 34, 7 May 1881, Page 365

The Ladies Column NOTES BY "THE DUCMESS"

— Are my readers aAvare that afternoon •dances are all the rage at home ? — I am afraid the men here would not show up very Avell in the apres midi. — I have come to the conclusion that after all that has been said about Tarn o' Shanters they are both pretty and becoming on little children and very young girls. A well made "Tarn" with cord and tassel is very like a college cap, and reminds one of Tennyson's "sAveet girl graduates." — I Avas greatly led to this conclusion by the sight of a little damsel Avalking demurely along by the side of her mama. She Avas very fair, and very plump. A little broAvn fringe Avas cut straight across her forehead and a pair of wide opened blue eyes, which could but very lately have left Paradise, looked up confidingly into mine from under the shelter of a maroon fur Tarn o' Shanter. She had a little fur cape and muff to match, and a maroon serge dress. And alas ! tiny as she Avas (just a mite of \ creation) she had also stockings to match ; Noav, where .vere the garters ; that Avas Avhat oppressed me. Because although there are ways and means of doing .vithout them, feAv mothers take the trouble required. Well, I warn them. If they Avill put little ones into garters, and elastic side boots, they Avill reap the consequences in ill-shaped legs, Aveak ancles, and many other evils. — There is to be no rink at the Ponsonby Hall this year, and it is rumoured that there will be none in the Chorai Hall. Dear me I With the Parnell Hall shut up tight, and never opened, Avhat is to become of the girls this winter ? — Will the good old times ever come back, when there AA r as a merry sociable evening once a month in the Parnell Hall j when the gentlemen's committee Avorked like slaves to haA r e everything speck and span, everybody enjoyed themselves, and the Avhole affair .vent like a marriage bell? — A very enjoyable little dance Avas held at Remuera on Thursday last, when most of the elite of that fashionable suburb attended, and a fe .v Avent from toAvn. Mrs. McCosh Clark wore an elegant black dress. Mrs. Archie Clark wore a pale blue silk. Mrs. MattheAv Clark wore her bridal dress of white satin. Miss Chamberlain Avore a dress composed of a pale maize underskirt and blue silk polonaise ; the dress in itself Avas pretty, but did not suit the wearer. Miss LaAvf ord looked A^ery Avell in a plain black A r elvet en 2iri)icesse. — A great deal of the obloquy that has befallen fringes is on account of their having been worn by ladies beyond the age for looking well in youthful adornments, and also from that nasty Avord "banged," Avhich has been bestowed upon them by our American cousins. Yet, to a young and pretty girl, .vhat is more becoming than those close cut curls, provided always that she does not go to an extreme, and make herself look like a sky terrier or a Zulu in a princess robe. The straight, smooth fringe of uncurled hair is also A r ery becoming, and hangs like a curtain over a fair white broAV.