AUCKLAND BELLES—PAST AND PRESENT.

Observer, Volume II, Issue 44, 16 July 1881, Page 488

AUCKLAND BELLES— PAST AND PRESENT.

No. 5.— A Belle of the Past.— Mes Charles Davis.

There is a change in our tissue every seven years so say the doctors and chemists, so great a change that in the present body there is no particle remaining of the body of the past ; all is evaporated, transfused, and become new. This change is not always for the better after a certain period. I was not a convert myself to this opinion and belief until I accidentally met, one day, in the street, Mrs Edward Lewis, whom I had formerly known as Mrs Charles Davis. Then the thought flashed upon me, chemists are right after all. We are not the same people at fifty that Aye are at fifteen ; for I beheld in Mrs Edward Lewis a tall, fine-looking, wellpreserved woman, but not one shadow of resemblance to that fair vision of youth and loveliness which trod the streets of Auckland 25 years ago as Mrs Charles Davis. Perhaps, after all, that class of beauty which depends upon colouring, though the most beautiful, flies the first ; and hers Avas of this order. She Avas so exquisitely lovely that there could be no two opinions about it ; and I have known men go into a shop where she Avas purchasing goods for the sole purpose of seeing her and having a good long look. Her complexion Avas perfectly clear and soft, like the clear marble of a tinted statue, Avith a bright flush on the rounded cheek, her large dark eyes Avere like HoAvis's, and her figure Avas full and finely moulded. The outline of her features Avas nearly perfect. Perhaps some of my readers Avill laugh at Avhat they call an exaggerated description, but there are others avlio Avill remember the days of long ago, and knoAV that I am speaking the truth. Her husband, Mr Chas. Davis, a much respected merchant, Avas a small, fair, quiet man, and there Avas no doubt about the grey mare being the better

horse. Her great friend of those clays, Mrs S. Brown, was also a very handsome woman, and a very kind hearted one, who gave to all charities with a large-hearted liberality, whether to Christian or Jew, which Avas most commendable. These two women used to go out walking together in the auld lang syne, and the one looked well beside the other. Do they keep up the old companionship ? or has the integral change of tissue parted and changed also these once familiar friends ? Let \ts trust not. A Jewess, when she is handsome, is very handsome. The languid almond-shaped orbs of oriental princesses flash out on us at intervals with a glad surprise, as Rachel's flashed on the enamoured Jacob by the Syrian well. »So there is little wonder that amongst the list of byegone " belles " should stand out in bold relief the form and features of a Jewess. About seven years ago Mr Charles Davis died, and Mrs Davis remained a Avidow for two years. She then married the man who, for a very long period, had been her cavaliera servente and faithful admirer, and became Mrs Edward Lewis, liequiescat in pace ! ! Esmond.