THE LADIES

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 524, 5 January 1889, Page 4

THE LADIES

EDITED BY CASSANDRA

-•-- -- -►- - - i GIIILS' GOSSIP. ! DEAR Coj«.,— Once more Old Father Tnn e J is busy gardening. TiRSt witching mid- | night,"lighted by the faint rays of Dame j Lima's lantern, lie sewed the seed oi j another .year. How will its growth afreet us, 'dear? Will it spring >ip l ; -ke rank weeds in the ! garden oi" our IWes, or, watered by the dews o£ | unseliish kindness, blossom into a flower whose perfume shall intoxicate our senses with the <ielightH oi : calling smiles to careworn faces, and shedding rays of sunshine into the dark prisonhouse oi sorrow ? To me, Cok, the bells which usher in the new i year are no joyous peal, but the solemn toll which rings the death knell of a friend. May, dear, do not refold my budget and eonsiga it to a remote shelf for ' Sunday reading.' My J moralising steed answers swiftly to the curb ; already the gallant charger has jumped the post and rail of seriousnos^, and landed on the smooth green iicld oi 1 pleasure beyond- ll is Jiist canter takes him backwards to Boxing -sight, when Jack took us to hear the • Jungfrau Kapclle' j at Abbott's Opera House. How thoroughly we enjoyed the novel entertainment .' — the quaint, lovely music rendered on instruments whoso i sweetness was enhanced to us by unfamiliarity. j Ths curtain drew up on a delicious tit-bit oi' I Alpine scenery— a limpid lake, great pines in the background, it wealth of real foliage in the foreground, the i'aileti leafage forming a very wood- j land carpet, lief ore the eye could take in the j details of the pretty scene, the Swiss j maids and men entered from the wings, i The costumes oi' the performers (William '.roll j period) were cntrancingly picturesque. Tha ! eharmiug Swiss maidens wore a short skirt of j rose, blue, and black stripe?; : fawn tunics : a I corselet of blue velvet finished with a chemisette ■ (I dont know whether these terms are correct as j applied to the dresses under discussion,} ; sofi, fall sleeves ; a sort of coronet of blue velvet and cream silk ; fawn stockings and dainty shoes. J The gentlemen were attired in dark crimson, and — well, I hardly know how to describe the colour, • gobelin is the nearest approach—slashed with • cream, the tout ensemble savouring of the Cavalier epoch, minus cocked hat, for which a jaunty crimson cap was substituted. The doublet was of the ghostly blue shade. One of the ladies 1 differed from the others, her corselet and head- j dress being made of black velvet. Herr Schimed'.-i solo on the either, ' Souvenir do ' Ems,' was exquisite, She very essence of melody, calling to \ mind the legends of angel music, soft and lew j as a tender lullaby. The gem of ths whole was, j I think, 'The Turkish Patrol'" on fourteen! instruments. I shall never forget the sympath- j etic influence of this performance — the faint, far-away echo of the patrol, which imagination could picture sounding far away behind the mountains, its gradual approach, and then again the lessening oi the enthralling sound? until they died away in the dim distance, further, further, until the very echo faded into silence. I feel j quite incompetent to criticise the glorious music at greater length ; every note breathed the divine afflatus of genius, which speaks to the very heart,. The singing simply captivated me : nothing more weirdly original could be imagined. Surely never Naiad sang mere sweetly. The song and jodel, ' Per Gute Bua,' by Fraulein Emma Ihl. j was a marvellous performance. Tho jodel, especially associated with Tyrolese singers, ap- i plies to the rapid harmonious notes ranging from i chest to falsetto. Abler pens than mine, dear, i •will give you further information on one of the ', highest class entertainments we have been i privileged to hear in Auckland. Oi course you would like to hear something about the flower of fashion as blooming in the circle. Miss Jervois wore white, the drcolU'le. bodice garnished with lace. Miss Kissling was in deep, rich red, tho vivid line of tho low corsage contrasting exquisitely with the snowy white of her perfect neck and iinely- modelled arms. Mrs ' Blair's cloud of soft darkness suited her to perfection. Mrs Baker was in black surah, relieved with white roses. Miss McKellar patronised heliotrope. Miss Briton looked lovely in cream, an aigrette of the same delicate hue nestling amongst her pretty fair hair. The toilettes \ have described for your ediiication, dear, were worn on May's second visit to enjoy the Swiss music, on Thursday night. One gown, a very poem, musfc not be omitted, namely, that worn by Mrs .Scott; a plain white silk with a cluster of deep yellow chrysanthemums trailing from the . right shoulder to the waist. On New Year's Eve we spent over an hour at Wildman's stationery emporium, sailing in the ' waters of indecision amongst a collection of delicious nicknacks which seemed to introduce themselves in dumb eloquence to notice as rivals in the army of souvenirs. May, whose mind, iike a hard planet, is hard to iix, pounced at last upon a charming novelty in the shape of . a clock, encased in an artistic irame of crimson .. Eussian, letter inscribed (in gold lettering) with the words ' Tims is Money.' This she presented to Jack by way of a gentle hint (contained in an . accompanying bil Id doux) to the effect that the cautious investment ot' a i'ew shillings in some chemical preparation (sold by a clean-shaven ; patentee) warranted to insure the devolopement ] >;.;of the budding man's deity -- hi? moustache j — would he mom economical than the pro- j cess of spending at least two hours per j diem torturing the article oi apparel in question j ' by studied tugping. Blanche invested iv a wrii- ; ing-case for my heir n6>r, her lord and master. A delightfully cozy affair, with ink bottle, paper- ! receptacles, peju and 2 )enc^ straps, blotter, j ' - wrapped in the snuggest of leather cases, remind. ) ing one by its faint subtle odoiu 1 of myrrh. AJy ■ -purchase consisted of a plush panel album, in deep rich brown, a gold heart in the centre, .temptingly suggestive of an artistically-devised •'■> .monogram. Inside no blotch of vivid colouring „\'inarred tiie ,'«stheticaUy-tinted leaves ; a beauti- ■'. ully executed etching graced each photographic vi'r&pertnre, a very work of art with which the dear old maier is enraptured. ■ ' , By- the- bye, talking of cardboard prototypes of 1

humanity, we visited Hemus's studio on Christmas Eve, and had our charms immortalised in the new Tom Thumb photographs, procurable for the very modest sum of two shillings and sixpence per dozen. Only fancy being able to see ourselves— outwardly, at least — as others see us iv twelve chapters for thirty bi'aaen corns of the realm ! The cheapness does not in the least deteriorate, from the qualify of the work, which is j quite equal to that of a 'highly-finished Cabinet i picture. We (the pronoun here represents a ! quartette of fair damsels) are quite delighted j with our miniature photos. Novehy is in our i day the pass-word of succcfp. How we should have groaned in spirit only one wee year ego had any prophetess in the j cause oi' fashion augured the demise of fcriives and forks, yeL these ens gns of civilization arc; doomed. No more will they be used by the Lomlon dltr. A fjvendf. dame of great reputation us a leader of fashion has (according to a Home periodical) returned to the customs of her aboriginal j ancestors, and cuts up her meat with a dagger. So delightful has she found the experiment thai I when sho gives & dinner party she provides her j guests with jewelled dagger. 1 ?, which are presented , ! to the users thereof at the close or" the repast. j These gifts (especially the jewels) arc much valued by the recipients, Hers is a peep into social eccentricity in anj other guise — nothing more nor l-?.-s than the i etiquette of n Santo Tcribiro ballroom. Iv this I gilded aalon- the ladies sir round Che room, the i | multiplicity of their still' skirts making them look like a collection of Dutch cheeses. The j ! masculine element aia condemned to waste their I sweetness in the corridor until the first strains oi' i ! music, described as mournful and despairing as j the wailing of a, lost soul, announce the opening j 'oT a ball. Then a single specimen of the ha tied ! and sandalled fraternity advances to the middle j of the floor, carelessly nodding in his iiaur.vj to the fair one of his choice. SL«- immediately S leaves her seat and goes to meet him. They j then perform a rapid mo vrrmen i with their feet, I which membsi'd go in for a series of Rhutm'ag ■ and jumping, the body bdnj; kept almost | stationary. When the lady experiences a sense I of fatigue, sho returns to her .seat without so i much as an ndio.< to her partner: be, without ! stopping in the jig, nods to a second Darby. I This proee.^ he, poor creature, is expected to I continue until the music ceases. What nineI tcenth century exquisite shall gioan under the weight of a duly dance, in the face of such stoicism ao this? Following the golden rule, 'Do unto others ;is you would be done by, 1 1 send you a duet of j ' fr.vouvy recipes. Number one v chri-ueneu j | • Gipsy Tie,' and U called into c-.\ istnr.co thus : - { | Peel' and biicc thinly as many potaioea as will , ! half fill ft moderate-sixed pie di;h : batter t.ho. [ dish and piu-ii layer of • muvphir- : (iranslatcd j from the Italian) at the bottom, tho/i any pic-i-'is of cold iv.e&b available : epriuklo in some herbs \ and onion cut very lino, then n second layer of j potatoes and so oh until U-o dish is full : dot | little bit-; of butter on tin* top, and cover with a good crust. ' Haraakin-i " como uo.rJ. For these put into a mortar (ii Fale has blessed yon with one — a basin will do if you have been piisc-ed over) the yolk of a hard-boiled egg, c :--!iee ot butter, one anchovy free from bone and .-:kin, a little pepper and salt, and two ounce* of good ! cheese grated ; pound the mixture until smooth, I and lay it rather thickly on buttered urahl -. eul it into small squares and brown in a quick oven for a few minutes; arrange on a foldod napkin and serve vury hot. Farewell, swoet Co/. — Your devoted ! ' C.'^.\i.:.'l. I | LAJ-HIIS' SfRKET miXS^*:.*. - Mr.i IV-vri- 1 : Mylish black ioilpfv. bi:u-k . straw hit, wilb velvet iixintrs ; Vwi glove-. \ — JFr?. O'C:ill{>glv.u\ : Stylish tfvey ioiloito. : 1 proUy black i>oimut ; Ion,? l>ltu;k ki=l glove.-;, j — ?»I it-M IJ.. Font on : Pretty grey (s.iiubri-j dross : j Gom iifit, baiid'Schind trimmed with ribbon : .Snudi. 1 i glove?. — Miss Clayton : (Irao.ofully-ihwv^l bla-ikskirr; vrhifco (-toribuldois ; stylish biti-.'k hut: Suciio gloves. — 31 iss Durieu : Pretty fawn costume; ('•em hat, handed and trimmed wit!.' white ribbon : Suede gloves. — Miss Williams: Fawn eacheiiiira costume ; ( : ieu» hat, banded and trimniod with white: long Suede fflovcs. —Mrs Shirley : Dark sn-ey dress 1 : cream H-.n-l- j baldois; tall sf'.vau" hat, jj.u'in'shod with laca and j velvet: Snodc jfioves. — Miss Recce : White Indian muslin irown : re«l Liberty silk IVorfolk jaoket ; Gom hat, triiiune<l with red ; red parasol. — Mrs Olive : liccherche b!aek uud v/hitc chfiok gown ; st.yJislt back bonnet;, with eiToctivo hints oi white ; black kid gloves. — Mrs Day •. Handsome blciok sivnth dress ; short tigbt-ntiing 1 jacket ; black bonnet, enlivened by a knob oi' scarlet ; black kid glove?.. - Miss Kissling' : Pretty blue cam brio costume. I the bodice surmounted by a masher jacket of the .same material; Gem hat, with ribbon fixings-. — IViiss Kobcrtson: Effective grey cuohemiro gown : jaxmty half tight-fitting- jacket ; round straw hiii t trimmed with silver-grey vehot; grey gloves. • j — Mrs Mtihoney sKpsoni) : Dainty whi m Indian j muslin costume ; largo hat, trimmed with, cu-oaui riljben and grasses ; elbow tan gloves : shot .-silk parasol. —Mrs Parkinson: Elctrinitly-dDiped gown in -i lovely rich shade of brown ; po/Io \nn\c Gavibahjois: straw chat-can, banded and U'hmncd with ribbon : tan glovea. — Mis-d M. White (Pan>eli) : Faultlessly- iittinfr costumo in n. ddijato .shade oi' bine cambric : 'Picture hat, yarnishod with hu;o and poppies ; Snedo gloves. — "iVli.ss Hooper: Pale pink cuin'-irlo costume ; ku-yo str:i\v cU;ipo.i.u cascaded with lac;e, the^ soft; folds caught on one side by a cluster of .silk poppies ; Sue.l.o yloviia. — Mi?s JM . I'.rucn we;u*s the most stylish eosi umo of the week, an GAquisitoly-iifciinti' prown of fn-tvn pillc, with vosfc of rich crimson velvet : tall si raw h.-'t, (riinineil with velvet ami pretty croam ostrich tips; tan kid gloves. — ilisa Berry's toilette is exfcre:no\y picLurosqac, comprising an rtrtj&tic^lly-drape-l .'"rey skirt ; ci-imson Liberty siik Garibaldois, worn" under a. jaunty grey jacket ; large a!r.iw hat. trimmed : with lace and poppies ; Suede gloves.

— Miss Green : White Indian muslin, ailing in I sof'fc flowing draperies ; white tulle hat, the sole spot of colour being a pretty confusion of heliotrope ribbon loops ; white silk gloves. —Mrs Hayr : Handsomely-embroidered Chinese silk dress;' short tight-fitting" brick-dust plush jacket ; a delicious bonnet, encrusted with beads r.o match the hue of the plush; Suede gloves. —Miss M. Fcnton fPavneli) : Dainty gown of j myrtle cacherairc, the corsage finished with art folds in white Liberty silk; becoming fancy straw hat, lined and trimmod with cream ; Suede glovos. — Mrs Sfcewarfc .- Vicux rose eacheuiive costume, | the exquisitcly-lifct'iig corsage opening over a . front oi: white Liberty silk ; Gem hat, with velvet j fixings coriesponding in tone with the dress; white silk gloves. — Mr.-j L. D. Nathan : Rich toilette, combininga box-plaited skirt of seal -brown hilk, surinonnted by o, classical tunic of beautifully-embroidered Indian silk, tho embroidery being m shaded bvov/n silks; stylisli lui-t- ; Suede srloves. I