SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 54, 24 September 1881, Page 28

SOCIETY

[We shall esteem it a favour if any of our readers (especially those residing in the suburbs and country districts) who can spare the time, will jot down for this journal any notable features of the social re-unions — balls, parties, at homes, concerts, picnics, &c. — which they may attend. We don't want to hear whether Jack flirted with Annie, or Mr B. was attentive to Mrs K. Those are private details, and no business of ours or the public's. It is, however, interesting to know how many people there were at ft dance, whether any •' society " swells were present, also if the rooms were decorated in an unusual way, or any pretty dresses woni._ We shall also be invariably glad to hear of any festivities which are coining on. Communications wiil be kept strictly private, and (though they may not appear in print exactly as forwarded) will be used. Items intended for insertion in the current issue should reach this office not later than Wednesday morning. — Editor Observer.] — Mrs Pearson gave a rery pleasant party last Thursday evening. — Captain Wright, of Valley Road, is still, "wo regret to hear, seriously ill. — A highly successful rink ball was held at Te Awamutu some days ago. ■ — -Vice-President General Arthur, -who succeeds Grariicld, is described as a man of wonderful administrative ability. — Though Presideut G-ariield was a teetotaller his medical attendants administered six drachms of whiskey every four hours. — Mr A. E. Lewis gave a farewell party to his friends at Mr Biddas' residence, Home Bay, prior to his departure for the South. — Miss B. of Upper Queen Street, gave a nice little carpet dance on Saturday last, at which all present enjoyed themselves immensely. Miss M. H. was undoubtedly the Star of the party. — A Fancy Dress Ball will be held in Cambridge about the end of tlie month. It is to be on a scale of magnifience such as Waikato has never seen or dreamt of. — E. Wright was the only one of the second tenors that took up the lead at the two bar rest in the chorus of " Now Tramp o'er Moss or Fell" at the Philarmonic Society's concert on Monday evening. — Her Majesty the Q.ueen telegraphed on August 27th : " I am most deeply grieved at the sad news of the last few days, and would wish my deep sympathy to be conveyed to Mrs G-arfield." Mrs GJ-arfield expressed her heart-felt thanks. — The gentlemen of the Auckland Philarmonic Society doubtless intended to be very polite last Monday night at rehearsal, but it was not quite the tlnng to allow the ladies to go home alone at 11 p.m. without even offering an escort. — The daily bulletins as the surgical treatment of the President, containing minute descriptions of scientific matters are said to have done more to stimulate the study of surgery hj the masses than any event that lias ever occurred before in America. — Teetotallers will be glad to here that amongst many other illustrious followers of Rechab,

they may count the latty President Gf-arfield. A writer in the World, who described a visit to Garfield, says: "No wine or spirits were served with the dinner. Allow me to give you a glass of our milk," said the General, pouring it out of a pretty porcelain pitcher, "I can recommend it, it comes from our own Alderney Cow." Tea was served with the desert. —Mrs Gamble, wife of the popular agent of the P.M.S. Co. arrived by the Zealandia, accompanied by hor family. Mr Gamble has taken the house lately occupied by Judge Richmond. — The Eemuera folks are ready enoxigh to accept assistance for their own balls and concerts from oxitsiders, but they do not reciprocate. At the last Parnell (subscription) dance there was not a Remueraite present. — When Mrs G-arfield hears of Mr Oppenheiincr's sympathetic thoughtf ulness in closing up his shop on Wednesday, she will, we are sure, send him a lock of the late lamented President's hair or order one of those wonderful electric lights which appear to be rather a drug in the Auckland mai'ket. ■ — Some ambitious amateurs who have devoted a considerable time to rehearsing etc. will attempt to play Robertson's " Caste " at the Choral Hall on Monday the 26th inst. Of the Comedy itself we need not speak, for a better piece was never written, but whether it will be a success depends entirely on the capacity of the actors performing. We shall have very little sympathy with them if they fail, for amateurs have no business to select such a difficult piece, unless they know for certain they can do it passably. — The nautical community at Russell indulged in a grand jollification on Friday week in honour of the marriage of genial old Commodore McLeod's second son. The steamers in the Bay, (the s.s. Albion and the s.s. Iona) were decked j out with bunting, and Captain Watt of the ' " Golden Isle" volunteered the use of his vessel as a flag-ship. To this craft then all adjourned, and the festivities were kept up till a late, or rather early hour, Mr McLeod and his family are much esteemed at Russell, and the community were very pleased to have an opportunity of doing them honour. — Apparently our contemporary the JLerald, in its statement in Wednesday's issue that Mrs Gar field was " shortly to become a mother," was only giving currency to an old rumour, which had received emphatic contradiction in the American journals. A Chicago telegram of the 27th ult. says, that a lady who conversed with Mrs Edson expressed warm sympathy for Mrs Garfleld, referring at the sametime to the report that she soon expected an increase in her maternal cares. " Mrs Garfield is in her usual vigorous health," replied Mrs Edson, "and there is not a word of truth in the statement to which you refer." — One of the most trying moments in all Garfield's chequered career, as a labourer, college professor, soldier, and politician, was just after his election, when twelve hundred young ladies came by train, and marched in procession to his residence at Mentor, Cleveland, and congratulated him on his election to the Presidency. On another occasion the General was visited by nine hundred ladies, all carrying umbrellas. This is, after all, not so bad as the ordeal to Avhich General Grant had to submit, when an immense concourse of virgins had to be kissed all round. But Grant, who had so often stood fire, went through it like a hero. — Bread-and-butter dances, when properly got up — and paid for, are very nice affairs. But there is one man in Auckland who is disgusted with them. He is a baker, and two or three weeks ago supplied the bread — fourteen 4lb loaves — for a most charming and successful bread-and-butter dance. Last week lie attended a meeting of the creditors of the host who had filed a declaration of insolvency. He left, muttering — " What can en-noble sots, or slaves, or cowards ? Alas ! not all the blood of all the Howards." He was naturally rather crusty. He said that a man should not order a supply of tin-loaves without having the tin to pay for them. He had supplied fourteen loaves of good bread, and he expected his customers to be better bred than to serve him that manna. — In last Saturday's issue, we omitted to make mention of the winding up reunion of the Parnell Skating Rink, which took place at the Hall on Monday week. The affair proved a great success, for the members rolled up in force, and Hamilton's band being in attendance, the music -was all it should be. At a dance of this description the dresses worn are naturally not very elaborate, bvit we noticed several neat and daintily contrived combinations. Miss Watt wore a black dress and long, sleeveless, cream polonaise ; Miss Hill, black grenadine, prettily trimmed with cardinal ; Miss Westwood, pale blue hxstre ; Miss Bryan, pale blue, and white lace trimmings ; Misses Fleetwood, black silk, with pale blue trimmings ; Miss Massey, black velvet slashed with blue ; Miss Davies, cream and pale blue ; Misses Gardiner, black cashmere and silver ornaments ; Miss L. Colo, black dress, pale blue cords and tassels. — On Wednesday last, Messrs. Herd Bros., gave a most enjoyable evening party, in the Waipu Hall. Thirty couples were present, and the supper and music were all that could be desired. Some of the ladies wore their walking dresses with a little extra gear on them. The only ones worthy of mention, are : — MrsK. McD., lavender silk ; Mrs M., of Marsden Point, black silk trimmed with satin. The Misses M. black velvet princess robes laced at the back with cardinal, and sprays of red and white rose-buds on skirt, and right shoulder. Mrs W. black satin, trimmed old gold lace, and flowers to match, Miss S. white silk, with pale blue satin bows ; Miss L. S. dark blue silk and old gold. Miss McK. tartan silk ; Mrs D. M. white sateen, with cardinal bows, and swiss belt. Miss U. grey silk, trimmed with velvet of a darker shade. — The initial performance of the new Auckland Dramatic Company will take place at the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening next in the presence of a fashionable and probably crowded audience. The lever de rideau is called " Box and Cox " a piece which we rather think we have heard of a few thousand times before in connection with

private theatricals. Why is it that amat* curs stick so close to stale old plays ? Lacy's list is large enough to chose from in all conscience and there are any number of jolly little farces for 2 or 3 characters which have never been done in Auckland. However it is too late to growl about thi9 now, and if "Box and Cox "is stale and liableto provoke invidious comparisons " On Guard " is quite new, and as the first performance of one of " Pinafore " Gilberts best comedies ought to be a great draw. There are a number of good parts and the company have their work cut out to da them justice, but we believe great pains has been taken and look forward to spending a most enjoyable evening. — Since when has Mr Oppenheimer become an American ? He bears German sausage on every feature of his expressive countenance. — "Daub" writes : — "I was much surprised, Mr Editor, not to see any mention in your journal of the charming conversazione in connection with the Auckland Society of Artists, which was held at the residence of Dr ,Purchas on Thursday, September Bth. The Society, not having sufficient funds to hold a re-union of its own accepted the generous offer of Dr Purchas, who put his fine roomy house at the members' disposal for the evening, when most of the Auckland patrons of art, as well as its artists, pufc in an appearance. Those who had any objects of interest connected with art, courteously lent them, and really a thoroughly enjoyable evening was spent. Aboiit the most interesting specimens I noticed were six volumes of engravings (from many of the old masters) lent by Mr Harston. Seven leading musicians were present, and by their efforts gave additional charm to the occasion. Mrs Purchas' sweet smiling face and the doctor's genial manner made even the utmost strangors feel at home. These kind of reunions should, I think, be carried on by all those who take an interest in art matter, and have sufficiently spacious rooms to afford parties." — The bachelors waltzing party eventuated in the Ponsonby Hall on Tuesday, the 20th inst. It was a smaller affair than was at first intended, and was rendered still smaller owing to a large party from Ponsonby who had intended to be' present, being weather-bound at the Waiwera Hotel. But the paucity of numbers was quite made up for by the intrinsic merits of those dancers who were present, the excellence of the arrangements, and the ample room for waltzing. Mr A. Stodart and Mr Cecil Gardner made capital M.C.'s introduced right and left, and saw, to the best of their ability, that no one was without a partnerMiss Jenny Isaacs, in a dress of cream tussore silk with a wide sash of brocaded salmon pink, and the skirt slashed with black velvet with an enormous fan was, as she very often is, the undoubted belle. Her dress had shoulder straps only, and she wore long, black gloves reaching beyond the elbow. I must mention that she played one of the extras extremely well. Miss Katey Isaacs wore white, with black velvet sash ; Misses A. and S. Brewer wore black silk ; Miss Harrison, black silk ; Mrs Isaacs, very handsome black silk dress, trimmed with rich lace, cream caj> ; Miss Thomas, Miss B. Davenay, Miss Fulloon, the Misses George, Miss Armitnge, the Misses Langsford, &c., wore ordinary walking dresses. — To the Editor : Sir, — In your last issue appeared a paragraph relating to the condition of society in Tauranga, I wish to make a few remarks on the subject, as having been some time i in Tauranga I am well acquainted with the state j of the case, and being an impartial observer cannot be accused of favouring any side. Tauranga society consists of two parties, viz., "old," and "new chums." It is well known " new chums," on arriving in the Colony, devote their time to disparaging colonial institutions, etc., and making unfavourable comparisons between them and such as exist at Home. Furthermore, they are not accustomed to the liberty and freedom that exists here in social intercourse, and put colonial girls down as being " fast" and " forward," because they consider a brother a sufficient chaperon without a married lady. Now, the lady mentioned in the paragraph (wife to a medical man in Tauranga) gave a party to which no girls were to be admitted without their mother or a married lady as chaperon. I know two girls who declined, going, telling the lady that hitherto their brothel' had always been considered sufficient chaperon for them. Naturally, the colonial people resent these distinctions and look upon the " new chums" as stuck-up snobs. Now, sir, you have been both at Home and in Tauranga, and you can say if the girls to be met in society in the latter place will not bear a very favourable comparisons with their English. sisters as regards manners. As far as morals are concerned, I have heard of model Home girls now in the Colony distinguishing themselves in a way that right-minded colonial girls regard with, horror. Apologising for taking up so mnch of your valuable space, I am etc., Jttstitia. — [We never heard of any place either in Europe or Australasia where a brother was not considered a sufficient chaperon. — Ed. Obs.]

— A gentleman just arrived from Sydney -was asked if he did not feel nervous through fear of catching the small-pox. The reply was a hearty laugh and the remark — " Small-pox, eh ? Afraid of it. Not a hit, my dear fellow ; and no one need be afraid of it if they do as I did." ""What's that?" was the eagre question. " Well," answered the friend, "it is nothing more than using Crawford's Sarsaparilla Tonic— that kept me all right, and, so long as yoxi use it, you will have no fear of any disease." — This paper has, as its sole and special representative in America for the reception of advertisements and subscriptions, the International Newspaper Agency. H. B. Hubnard proprietor, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America, where all the editions of this publication can he found regularly on file, with all other prominent newspapers of the world, and where contracts can be made for all at publishers* best rates. — -It is not often that two of oui' leading merchants come to blows over a circumstance which does not concern either of them ; but we had the pleasure of witnessing a good round or two last week in front of one of our leading tailor's premises, which emanated from one of the said merchants suggesting that there might be a tailor whose prices were as low as those of J. D. Phillips. To prove that none could compare favourably with Phillips, they each ordered one of his 65s suits, which were such remarkable good value that upon meeting any of their friends, their first exclamation is, " I say, old boy, what do you think of this suit for 65s ? Come on up to Phillips's and get one like it. By Jove you should see his 13s 6d trousers ; thoy are the wonder of the age,"— to be had only at J. D. Phillips's, 170, Queen-street.