THE SOCIAL SPHERE

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1178, 27 July 1901, Page 16

THE SOCIAL SPHERE

By Muriel.

&y Deab Mobiel,— Tbe afternoon of last Satarday was again dismally wet and depressing, bat that did not prevent a goodly number journeying out to football and lacrosse, and, aB iB usually the oase, for tbat number tbe busses were taken off their usual Une of route. On a fine day one oan put up witb this Bort of thing, though it is mighty inconvenient, but on a wet one, it does seem bard lines that tboße not on pleasure bent, and who depend on the bosses, should be bo cavalierly treated. One hears indignant men Baying, ' In no other plaoe in the world would suoh a state of affairs be tolerated,' etc., etc, but no one doeß anything, and our 'bas proprietors calmly go on sending tbeir busses where they will get the largest loads, and ignoring the troubles of everyday patrons. Tbe worst of tbis sort of thing is one oannot ' pay tbem out ' by boycotting them ; it would be a oaße of outting off your nose to spite your faoe. Please suggest a remedy while we are waiting for tbe long -promised eleotrio trams. Apropos of that, many folk seem to regard the tram-lines now lying ia the gutters— rusting beautifully— as providentially supplied, and a means whereby to dodge tbe Beas of mud to be met with everywhere just now. One constantly sees people endeavouring to keep their balanoe on the narrow footway they provide. Some, sceptically inolined, say that the rails are merely a Bort of a ' sop to Cerberus,' and are all we are likely to see of the trams, so make what use of the rails they may, while they may. Wbo would not be a Jeßßie Minns? Going along Karangahape Boad one day last week, a shop window attracting orowds seemed to me quite vaoant of allurements, as I oould only see piotures of some of the Boyal Family, and everyone knows those by heart nowadays. But a oloser inspeeotion revealed one of Jessioa, tbe fanoifal, Bide by side with their Boyal Highnesses. Suoh is fame. There was no doubt about it— tbe commonplace face ef tbe girl we are in doubt whether to dub bad, or mad, was the powerful magnet in this oase. Of all tbe successful and enjoyable musical matinees held at St. Sepulohre's schoolroom, tbat ■ of last Wednesday afternoon was tbe best. Before three o'olook, the advertised time of starting, tbere were people standing about, unable to find seats, and their numbers were considerably added to at every interval, as daring the performance of the items the doors were kept shut — an example whioh might very well be oopied at every entertainment of this description. Of oourse, the names of Mons. Willimoff and Mr Hamilton Hodges on the programme were a big attraction, and besides these two accomplished musicians, who always draw orowds, Miss Law and Miss Evelyn Mitohell contributed items. Miss .Law gave a pianoforte solo, and I am Bure if encores had been allowed, one would have been demanded for ber exquisite playing. Miss Evelyn Mitchell is an awfully pretty girl, with a sweet voice and a moßt charming manner, but on this occasion I thought her too nervous to do herself justioe. Tbe not very dressy audience consisted of all sortß and conditions of women, a few— a very few— men, and some children and babies, who would not sleep, as they were meant to do, all through the programme. However, they were only moderately noisy— not half so bad as they could easily have been if they had tried— and as the audienoe had been sung and played into aaoh good temper, it hardly notioed the interruptions of the babiea. Among those present were Mrs Goodall,

Mrs. Stewart, Mrs and Miss Goodwin, Mrs Roberts, Misses Oummings, from Danedin, Mrs and Miss Mennie, Mrs and Miss Holland, Mrs C. Baker, Mrs Garriok, Mrs Montague, Mrs Lewis, Miss Pieroe Mrs P. Dufuar, looking awfully nioe in a stylish blaok oostume, blaok and white toque; Mrs Lockhart, Mrß Dr Beid, Mrs E. Russell, Mrs Alfred Nathan, Miss Bews, Misß Moses, Miss Edson, MiBB Waller looked particularly well wearing blaok tailor-made, and a most beooming violet-trimmed hat ; Miss Whitson, and Mrs Gillies. A wedding to take plaoe quite soon is tbat of Dr Pabßt and Misß Freddy Peaoook, and one tbat eventuates tbis week at Coromandel is tbat of Miss Harrison and Dr Cheeßeman. A very muoh bereaved widower, a resident of Fiji, one who barely a year ago wished to be buried with his late dearly beloved, and who was only prevented from throwing himself beside ber coffin by sympathetic friends, oame in for a good deal of unkind oritioism because of tbe celerity witb wbioh he overoame his grief, when he married a well-known Auckland girl a few weeks ago, and took ber baok to bis tropical borne. Subsequent events proved tbe oritioism unjust as well as unkind, because with tbe new wife he also took baok a handsome tombstone for the old one. What the feelings of wife No. 2 in regard to tbe otber parcel were, history does not relate. A Hamilton correspondent tells me tbe Volunteer ball held there last Friday night was a great suooess in every way and from every point of view. The hall was beautifully deoorated, aud a marquee ereoted for a sitting room was also made into a thing of beauty with greenery and forms, bat even with this help the space was taxed to its utmost oapaoity, so popular has the annual volunteer ball beoome. Guests oame from far and near, and to Captain Hume, whose exertions in oonneotion with tbe affair were immense, a great deal of the credit of its suooess is due. Mrs Hume came up from Auckland to help her son do the honours, and during the evening a belt and cloak was presented to Private Alexander by Mr Davis. Most of tbe dresses worn were very pretty and stylish, and the girls all looked nioe. The ' belle of tbe ball,' if a girl may be oalled bo nowadays, was Miss Browning, wearing white and silver, but, if honours ought to be divided, then Miss Armstrong, wearing a dainty frook of creme lustre, had a big share. And among others who looked especially well were :— Miss Cox, wbo wore blaok net ; Misses Broom and Bing, both debutantes, wore white, so did Miss Martyn ; Miss Hunt was in pale pink; Miss Nioool, white; Miss Chitty, very pretty pink silk ; Mrs Hume wore blaok and red ; Mrß Bing, dark green brooade ; and Mrs MoNiool, blaok. The Onehunga children's danoe was held in the Masonio Hall last Friday night, and was, as usual, a great success— indeed, bo popular are these danoes now, tbat lots of grown-ups oome to help and stay to enjoy. Meredith's musio was, of course, good, and some extras were played by Mrs Gibbons. Tbe supper table looked exceedingly pretty deoorated with red oamelias and white daisies, and among those preßent were Mrs Hutchison, wearing blaok ; Mrs Soott looked awfully nioe wearing yellow satin bodioe witb laoe zuave, aud blaok skirt ; Mrs Hazledene also looked very well wearing red velvet blouse and dark skirt. Tbe Misses Stuart, Miss Payne, Miss Niool, Miss Richardson, Misses Noakes, Churton, Miss Redmayne, Miss Bartley. Curing the evening Mr Hutchison danced the Highland Fling most graoeiully, and Sir Roger de Ooverley, in spite of being old-fashioned, was thoroughly enjoyed by all tbere. The ball in aid of the Sooiety for the Protection of Women and Children and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to take plaoe in the Choral Hall next Thursday, Augußt lst, is our next exoitement. The enthusiastic way in whioh the ladies of the oommittee are working, and the eager demand for tiokets, is very cheering to all who are anxious that the ball shall be a suooess. The lately returned Contingenters from the war are to be among tbe guests, and I hear that tbe musio, floor, •to., is to be of the very best. Of oourse, in attending a obarity ball, one ought only to think of the purpose for whioh it is held, bat, alas, we don't all do what we ought, even in the way of thinking, so that large olasß of ob who like something in return may rest assured tbey will have it in this oase. The inner man and woman — I don't refer only to

conscien^-iB to be well looked after, as the supper, that important item, wben one's teens are left behind, is to be supplemented by home cooking, and let me whisper, tbe breweries bave been particularly generouß, so, altogether, everything points to a bumper house, and a good margin of profit for the bard-working Sooiety. Miss Violet Mount, tbe new singer here, of whom everyone is talking, was « at home' laßt Monday afternoon at tbe V.M.C.A. Lecture Hall, where, assisted by Miss Laing, Mr J. M. Clark and Mr Wilfred Manning, she entertained some hundreds of women folk and just a sprinkling of men. Miss Mount sang three or four times and greatly pleased her audienoe, especially in her seoond song, ' The Swallows.' She looked very nioe, wearing a violet cloth oostume and violet- trimmed hat, and was presented by an admirer with an exquisite bunoh of her namesake flowers, and as she intends singing at conoerts, • at homes,* etc., she is Bure to speedily beoome a great favourite here. Mr Clark's contributions were reoitations— all new to Auokland audiences and all splendidly rendered. I hear that Mr Clark belongs to Wellington and is only a visitor here, but wish be would ohange his plaoe of residence, as be would most decidedly be an acquisition here. We badly want something new ana unhackneyed in the reciting line, and however musical people are, I always notioe the reoitations, if good, are muoh more appreciated than the musio. A lot of pretty, smart frooks were worn at Miss Mount's 'At Home'— more than I oan enumerate, but I thought Miss Cruickshank looked especially well wearing a dark tailor-made with gold embroidered front and large blaok pioture hat. Miss J. Nathan, just returned from Sydney, also looked charming wearing heliotrope cloth and large blaok hat. Yours ever, Nina.

The Ponsonby Cruising Club held an 'At Home ' on Friday evening in St. Benedict's Hall, whioh was attended by the olub members, their lady friendß, and other friends, about one hundred couples being present, and many spectators. The hall was tastefully deoorated, and all the arrangements for the oomfort and pleasure of the danoers admirably oarried out by a strong oommittee, who were ably assisted by lady friends, wbo sppervised the supper arrangements, and tastefully deoorated the table. Mr E. Lanigan's Btring band supplied delightful musio. Messrs Woods, Roy, Browne, Murphy, Dyer, and Bailey aoted as M.C.'b, and performed their duties with the utmost satisfaction. The «At Home ' was a very pleasant ' wind up ' to the season, and greatly enjoyed by all present. The ball opened with the Grand Maroh, whioh was led by Miss O'Dowd and her partner, tbe lady wearing a dainty dress of oreme silk trimmed with chiffon, and fichu of Bilk laoe ; Miss Grubb wore a pretty pink blouse and dark skirt ; Miss L. Busby, blaok , Miss M. Busby, pretty oreme ; Miss May, pink silk blouse, dark skirt ; Miss Moore, blue silk blouse, white Bkirt ; Miss Sohiska, dainty oreme silk, with fichu of chiffon ; Miss Blue looked nice in blue and white silk blouse trimmed with blaok velvet and pearls, white skirt ; Miss A. Blue, white muslin, with fichu trimmed with blue, ribbon velvet ; Misb Forbes, dainty white muslin trimmed with red velvet ; Miss Dawson, beooming pink muslin ; Miss Syms, oreme silk trimmed with silk laoe; Miss MoDonald, oreme silk trimmed with chiffon ; Mrs Buck, handsome blaok silk ; Miss Buck, dainty oreme trimmed witb silk lace; Miss Amelia Buok, pretty oreme silk ; Mrs Bettany, handsome oreme laoe dress over yellow ; Mrß Ryan, oreme lustre trimmed with laoe ; Misa Garnaut, pretty pink trimmed with insertion and laoe ; Miss Smith, blue flowered muslin trimmed with laoe and velvet; Miss Grant, white silk with ohiffon trim-' mings ; Miss Johnßton, oreme silk ; Mrs Hawkins, lavender silk blouse, blaok Bkirt; Miss Crombie, white muslin, prettily trimmed with lace, insertion, and blaok velvet. Miss Baio, oreme silk blouse trimmed with blue chiffon, blaok skirt ; Mibs Andrews, blue flowered muslin trimmed with laoe and velvet ; Miss Roy, pretty oreme Bilk trimmed with ohiffon; Misa Wiloooks, pink silk trimmed with laoe ; Miss Goffin, oreme silk, with ohiffon fichu ; Miss Hannan, orange satin blouse trimmed with ohiffon, blaok skirt ; Miss

Eirkby, daintily trimmed white muslin dress, laoe fiobu ; Miss Lewis, yellow satin trimmed with blue ; Miss Ferguson, green oashmere, prettily trimmed witb white silk and lace ; Miss Humphreys, pretty oreme silk, tbe skirt and bodioe tastefully trimmed with laoe ; Miss Little, rioh blue silk, witb fiobu, trimmed with brilliants and blaok velvet rosettes ; Miss Bailey, fanoy oreme Bilk blouse ; Miss L. Bailey, white muslin, trimmed with blue ribbon velvet ; Miss Lloyd, blue silk trimmed witb white laoe ; MiBS Thompson, blue Bilk blouse with handsome laoe collar, white skirt •, Misß Boyd, oreme, trimmed with laoe ; Miss A. Andrews, oreme silk trimmed with insertion and tuoks ; Miss Quinn, pretty oreme silk with laoe trimmings and laoe sleeves, and a number of others. A very pretty wedding took plaoe in St. Andrew's Anglican Churoh, Cambridge, on July 3rd, tbe contracting couple being Miss E. H. Floyd, daughter of Mr Floyd, of Gorton, and Mr H. W. Smaile, of Kuaotuna. Arobdeacon Willis officiated. Miss Floyd was formerly a sohool teaoher in Cambridge, and a member of St. Andrew's oboir. Tbe Wedding March was performed as the happy oouple left the ohurch. Considerable interest was occasioned in tbe Bombay district on Wednesday, July lOtb, the occasion being the marriage of Miss Fanny Masefield, third daughter of Mr T. Masefield, of Bombay, and Mr R. Todd, of Otahubu. Tbe oeremony took plaoe in St. Peter's Churoh, Bombay, whioh was beautifully deoorated for tbe occasion. Tbe Rev. Wingfield, brother-in-law of the bride, officiated, assisted by tbe Rev. T. B. Dobson. Tbe bride was given away by her father, and looked charming in a beautiful trained dress of white silk, trimmed with ohiffon, coronet of orange blossoms, and tulle veil, and sb 6 oarried a lovely shower bouquet. Misses Masefield (2) attended tbe bride, and wore pretty oreme dresses of silk and wool material, trimmed witb blue tucked Bilk, bats to correspond, and oarried pretty bonquets. Messrs W. and S. Todd aoted as best man and groomsman respectively. The Wedding Maroh was performed at the close of the servioe by Miss Mandeno. After tbe wedding breakfaet, whiob was served at tbe residence of the bride's parents, Mr and Mrs Todd departed for tbeir honeymoon trip, the bride wearing a pretty green costume trimmed with green silk, and hat to correspond. The engagement is announced of Mr Charles Hiorns, manager of the New Zealand Times Oompany, Wellington, . to Miss Milly Knowlee, only daughter of Mr E. W. Enowles, editor and proprietor of the Napier Telegraph. The engagement is announoed in Dunedin of Mr Frank McLean, only son of the Hon. George MoLean, and Miss Annie Logan, youngest daughter of Mrs Logan, Roslyn. St. Barnabas' Church, Whatawhata, was filled with relatives and interested friends on the 17th inst. to witness the marriage of Mr Christopher Marwood and Miss Mary Evelyn Limmer, two wellknown and highly esteemed residents of the distriot. The Rev. H. D. A. Major, M.A., officiated. The bride was given away by her father, and looked very pretty in a handsome fawn oostume and tbe ÜBual wreath and veil. Misses Graoe and Alice Limmer attended their sister and wore pretty pink costumes, and all the ladieß oarried beautiful flowerß. A splendid wedding breakfast was afterwards served at the reaidenoe of the bride's parentß, wben the oußtomary toasts were proposed and responded to. Mr and Mrs Limmer entertained a large number of young friends at a danoe in the evening in the Te Eowbai sohoolroom, when the hours were spent most enjoyably. The marriage of Mr C. N. Hamilton, youngest son of the late Mr Jameß Hamilton, of Awitu, and Miss E. Maolnnes, of Pollook, was quietly oelebrated on Wednesday, July 10th. Tbe ceremony took plaoe at the residence of Mr John Maolnnes, Pollook, brother of tbe bride, the Rev. Robert Barr officiating. The bride waß given away by her brother, and wore a tasteful and pretty dress of oreme Bilk figured lustre trimmed with oreme Bilk and laoe, ooronet of orange blossoms, embroidered tulle veil, and she oarried a beautiful bouquet. Miss Higham and Misa Hudson, nieces of the bride, aoted

as bridesmaids, the first wearing a pretty fawn coßtume trimmed with pink silk and laoe, and the latter pale green trimmed with pink silk and laoe. Mr Willie Diokey, nephew of tbe bridegroom, aoted as best man. A large gathering of relatives and friends were afterwards entertained at a splendid wedding breakfast, wben tbe happy oouple were warmly congratulated, and tbe best of good wishes expressed for their future happiness and prosperity. A large number of handsome and valuable presents were reoeived, amongst the number being handsome gifts to the bride from the members of the Pollook ohurob, where she has for some years acted as organist.