THE SOCIAL SPHERE

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1179, 3 August 1901, Page 16

THE SOCIAL SPHERE

By Muriel.

My Dear Mcbiel, — After tbe abuse of tbe elements, tbe opera iB still tbe all-absorbing topio with as. There are so many principals in tbe company tbat it is hard to tell wbioh are the favourites, but there iB no doubt about Mrßertbald being tbe most admired of the women folk. Fancy dress does not always lend itself to pictureequeness, but, somehow, he manages to look all right in the most quaint or grotesque get-up. The Opera House has been just packed all this last week, and on Saturday night, at ' Maritana,' there were some very pretty dresses to be seen in the dress oirole. I thought Mrs Lindsay looked especially well wearing a dainty white gown and pretty feather hair ornament ; the Misses Mobs Davis also looked charming wearing white frocks ; Mrs McDowell was most stylish in blaok, and among others present were Mr and Mrs Brigham, Mrs S. Nathan, Mrs F. Baume, Miss Leavy, Dr and Mrß Coatee, the Mißßes Coates, Mrs Tewsely, and Misses Marks and Philson. The dressing in some oases was far too reception-like. I refer to ih« order of low neok and bare arms for tbe Government House reception lately, and tbe wearorß did not look a bit nice, and, I think, would have felt moßt uncomfortable if they had heard the scathing and unoomplimentary remarks passed about them. On Monday night, at the performance of ' The Flying Dutchman, 1 the pit was a fairly subdued one. Probably, the large amount of newspaper correspondence about its rowdy behaviour had something to do with it. Of course, some wellknown ' men about town ' oame in for a share of chaff, and it was really funny to see the way they hurriedly Bide walked into their seats, in the hope that the pit would not recognise them. If only the pit would confine its humour to men, I don't think anyone would mind so very muoh, but it is most painful for women and girls to have to run the gauntlet, and submit to the doubtful honour of recognition. Dr Campbell, who was present, oame in for the ÜBual ovation ; indeed, this haß become quite a custom now, and everyone is genuinely pleased to see Auckland's 'grand old man,' and the oourtly and gracious bow with wbioh he receives his welcome is looked for moat eagerly. The scenery of ' The Flying Dutchman ' was wonderfully well managed, and so realistio was the storm at sea that I heard people round me saying they felt quite sea-sick. And the dresses were very pretty and becoming. I know several girls who are going to copy Miss Coomber's ' Senta ' dress for the next fanoy dress danoe. I don't think the oboruß of this opera oompany gets half enough praiße, bat, according to oompetent musical auahorities, it iB as near perfect as possible— and that this mast be so is proved, because the members often do not know what opera is to be Btaged until they see it advertised. The performance of ' The Flying Dutchman ' revealed tbe fact that the orchestra possesses a most! accomplished and energetio drummer, bat tboße in Mb near vicinity would have dispensed with him with pleasure, never thinking of what would be the result of his absence. As the doomed 'Flying Dutchman,' Mr Pringle reminded me of ' Svengali ' at hia very unhappiest, and in fanoy dress, but his singing— well -it was just glorious. In the audienoe on Monday night I saw Mr and Mrs Arey, Mr and Mrß E. Davis, Mr and Mrs Alexander, Mrs and Misses George, Mrs Duthie, who looked lovely wearing a blaok dress and very pretty bine hair ornament ; the Misses Bleazard, Mrs 8. Nathan, looking most charming in

white, with turquoise blue rosette on bodioe; Mrs Battley, Miss Wilkes, who wore a pretty pink frock ; Miss Chapman, lira 0. Chapman, Mrs D. Chapman, Mr and Mrs Rio©, Misseß Rioe, Mr and Miss Mennie, Mr and Mrs Berry, Mibb Fraser, Mr Thompson and Mies Laird, who wore a pretty bine dress with lovely laoe oollar, Miss B. Laird looked awf ally nice wearing buttercup yellow silk frock ; Miss Bose, Miss Gome, Misses Olapoott, Mrs Jones, Mrs Hay, Mrs de Clive Lowe looked obarming in black, «o did Mist Waller, wearing white, and Miss Bell was in blue ; Mtb Montague looked especially well wearing a pretty blaok frook. The Auckland Lawn Tennis Club held another of their very successful progressive euchre parties in Mrs Sowerby's Hall last week. Next month I hear a danoe is to take the plaoe of enohre. The Groquet Club also had its euohre party. It is strange how this form of.entertainment is the only one that has survived out of all the book teaß, picture afternoons, photograph and oonumdrum evenings that oeoupied bo muoh attention lately. 'Ping pong ' and ' Bridge ' are talked of vaguely, but nothing takes the plaoe of euohre. I believe it is because people know how to manage these affairs easily, and are too lazy to exert themselves with anything fresh. A ' Tasting ' afternoon or evening is a rather novel idea. For it you must provide email disheß or saucers of ingredients of v niform colour and grain, well mixed together, and the objeot is to taßte and guess of what the ingredients oonsißt. The guests taßte, you may be sure, in Bmall quantities, and write down what they consider the correct analysis. I am told it ib no easy job, for instance, if the dish contained flour, cornflour, carbonate of soda, cream of tartar, arrowroot, tartario aoid, ground rioe, etc., but oauses a lot of fun. Naturally, the man or woman with the best sense of taste gets the prize. Rumour is busy with the sayings and doings of the Amatenr Opera Club, and the faot that a Wellington girl is to take a principal part seems to have worried some of the members. Though there is no doubt as to the girl in question being able to make a oomplete suooess of lolanthe, the part entrusted to her, one oannot call the opera the work of the Auckland Club if artists from other plaoes take part in it. Mrs Sharman gave a very jolly little musical afternoon tea last Thursday, at her residence, Kyber Pasß. Her pretty and artistic roomß were made doubly bo with lovely flowers and softly shaded lamps, and those present had a mußioal treat, as among the guests were Beveral members of the Grand Opera Company, among them Miss Lilian Boanae, the Misses Davis and Miss D'Mele, who all sang beautifully. Last week's Saturday afternoon wan again another disappointing one, the weather being really awful, in oonsequenoe of which the members of the Golf Club bad to postpone their foursomes and afternoon tea arranged for that day. A few venturesome spirits who had gone out to the Links on spec were to be seen wading round. Happening to mention this faot to a non-golfer, he argued that golfers were lunatics, at any rate as far as the game was oonoerned, and told me the following story to prove it:— An eminent German doctor suggested adding golf links to every lunatio asylum, for he found that golf oured many of bis patients of what were once considered mental disorders. In one case a patient developed such skill in the game that he tired of the convalescents and attendants, who played spiritlessly. A physioian, an expert golfer, engaged him as a partner, and the patient played better when he met this foeman. The physician beat him for several days, and this at firßt depressed the patient, then he rallied and beat the physician. . His pride as a golfer was touched. He began to play scientifioally, skilfully, to the physioian distractingly. Two weeks after he began playing with the physioian as opponent, the patient was pronounced Bane. I told him I did not see the force of his argument at all, but thought the German dootor ought to quit the medioal profession for the paths of romantio fiction. A new book you might like is 'The Crimson Meed,' by Christopher St. John. It is an interesting story, and the oharaoters are well drawn. ' The Golden Tooth,' by J. MoLaren Cobban, is quite different to most of that writer's other stories. 7 In it there is nothing myßtioal or even historical, just a light, olever

story. ' A Narrow, Way.' by Mary Tind later, is a grand story of domestic lil«~ just the telling of the ordinary experiences of a girl who lives with an elderly maiden aunt, but so well told, and with soon a lot of humour about it, that it seems an unoommon and interesting book. 'The Lord of the Sea,' by M. P. Shiel, is like ' The Yellow Danger, 1 a vision of the future, and, for anyone who likes that style of literature, would be interesting reading. Yours ever, Nina.

St. Benedict's fine ball waa a scene of gaiety and beauty on Wednesday evening last, when the Old Chamß and Soboolfellows' Association held their Beoond annual re-union. Nearly 100 eonples were present, and the evening was a moat enjoyable one. The committee had carried out their preparations for the evening's enjoyment admirably, the decorations being both tasteful and striking, the danoe music excellent, and the supper satisfactory. Songs were nicely rendered at intervals by Misses Harrison and Watson and Mr Tapper. Messrs J. MoGonnoohie, B. Saunders, P. Puroell and W. J. Hill were moat atten tive and courteous M.'sO. Many very pretty dresses were worn by the ladies. Mrs Matherson looked well in a dress of a delicate shade of lavender silk ; Miss Ada Matherson, handsome black silk ; Miss Barron, becoming pale blue dress ; Mrs Matherson, blaok ; Mrs Fisher, black and oreme ; Mrs Saunders, black and white skirt, pretty white blouse ; Mrs Foster, heliotrope blouse, blaok skirt ; Mrs Larsen, handsome white silk gown trimmed with chiffon and pearls ; Mrs Massey, blaok ; Miss Moreton, oreme ; Mrs Moreton, blaok costume ; Mrs Wilson, blaok Bkirt, pretty bine blouse; Mrs Poroell, handsome blaok costume ; Mrs Green, black ; Mrs Benton, blaok ; Mrs Billington, handsome heliotrope silk ; Miss Billington, pale blue, trimmed with creme ; Miss Christmas looked pretty in black ; Miss Kempton, pink and white ; Mrs Tapper, stylish black gown; Miss Bates, dainty pale blue blouse, dark skirt ; Mrs MoCnnnell. blue blouse, dark skirt ; Miss Parker, dress of red and white satin ; Miss M. Parker, blue, trimmed with white satin ; Mrs G. Fen ton, pretty oreme blouse, black skirt; Mrs Thompson, white ; Mies Hamblin, blue silk blouse, dark skirt; Mrs MoEoteer, check skirt, dainty silk blouse ; Miss Ellis, blaok silk, with transparent laoe eleeveß; Miss White, blaok costume ; Mrs Stempson, pretty oreme silk, and others. A pretty wedding was quietly Bolemnised on Wednesday, July 24th, in St. Matthew's Church, Hobson-street, the happy couple being Miss Amy Lomez and Mr Harold Jenkins. The Rev. W. Gillam officiated. The bride looked very pretty in a dainty dress of white silk, trimmed with Bilk laoe and orange blossoms, ooronet of orange blossoms, tulle veil, and she carried a beautiful shower bouquet finished with streamers of ribbon. Two little girls acted as bridesmaids, both attired in pretty frocks of soft ereme silk and wool material, oreme hats, and eaoh oarried a beautiful bouquet. Quite a number of friends and interested spectators were present in the oburoh to witness the ceremony, the young oouple being well known in the parish. The sixth annual social of Mr a. H« Powley's employees, and the their friends, was held oq Friday evening in St. George's Hall, when an exceedingly sociable and enjoyable evening was spent. The arrangements were well oarried out by a good oommittee, consisting of Misses Ellis, Osborne, Robb, Patterson and Kennedy, Messrs Greenhough, Laing, Green and Molloy. Misses A. Ellis and M. Osborne, and Mr A. Molloy aoted as Ms.O , and were untiring in their efforts to promote the pleasure and enjoyment of all, j Mrs Powley wore a handsome dresa of blaok silk, with oreme Bilk vest ; Mrs Snedden, pretty plaid silk ; Mrs Basaett, dark skirt and pretty light Bilk blouse ; Miss Ellis looked well in dress of buttercup chiffon ; Miss Osborne, pretty pale blue silk blouse, dark skirt ; Miss Clark, pink Bilk blouse, black «kirt ; Miss Charlton, blue gown ; Miss Nabbs, pink ; Miss Bryan, oreme; Miss Bherer, blue; Miss Maraton was in blaok; Miss Newman, creme; Miss Tuoker, blaok laoe over oardinal; Miss May Warberton, dark skirt, creme silk blouBe ; Miss Ada Martin, blaok skirt, pretty blouse ; Mrs

Sainty looked well in oreme ; Mißs Marray, pink ; Biro Martin, black ooßtume ; Miss O'Gara, pretty oreme; Miss Cameron, oreme blouse, dark skirt; Miss Alma Warberton, yellow gown ; Mies Agnew was also in yellow ; Miss Winders, white; Miss Collins, red relieved with oreme; Miss Morgan, oreme blouse dark skirt; Mies Neil, oreme; Miss A. Goldsmith, oreme ; Miss Patterson, turquoise silk blouse, dark skirt; Miss Kennedy, pretty pale green silk ; Miss Robb, black ; Miss Grubb, pink Bilk blouse, blaok skirt. The marriage of Mr George Stevenson, of Melbourne, to Mibb Winnie Stevens eldeßt daughter of Mr G. Stevens, of Mount Boskill, was quietly solemnised on Tueßday, July 23rd, at Edendale. The Rev. Mr May officiated. The bride was given away by her father, and looked charming in a beautiful dress of white silk, wreath of orange blossoms and tulle veil. Mibs Jssßie Stevens, sister of the bride, and Miss A. Hewson acted as bridesmaids. They both wore pretty eleotrio blue dresses trimmed with oreme silk, in which they looked very nice. Mr A. Hew son acted as best man. After the ceremony the party sat down to an excellent wedding breakfast, when the usual toasts were proposed and responded to. The happy oouple were the recipients of many handsome and useful presents. The departure from Coromandel of Mr and Mrs G. Gruicksbank, for Otago, where Mr Gruiokshank has been elevated to the responsible position of S.M. and Warden of Otago, is greatly regretted by their many friends in Coromandel, who, although delighted at the honour bestowed, yet are sorry to lose them from their midst. A very successful farewell social was given by the Mutual Improvement Society, when a really excellent programme was gone through of vocal and instrumental musio, recitations, short speeches, and two smartly-written original readings, by the energetic secretary, Miss Basten, in whioh the local ' hits ' were greatly appreciated. Mr Gruiokshank feelingly responded to the many eulogistic remarks made by different speakers. The decorations, for whioh Miss Basten was responsible, were very tasteful ; and, indeed, to that young lady is due most of the credit for arranging and carrying out the funotion so Hncoessfully. A good deal of interest was occasioned amongst a large circle of friends by the marriage of Dr H. H. Cheeseman, Burgeon of the Coromandel Hospital, and Miss Lilla Harrison, eldest daughter of Mr R H. Harrison, J.P., of Coromandel. The ceremony took plaoe in Christ Cburoh, Coromandel, on Wednesday, 24th inst., the Rev. C. F. R. Harrison officiating, the service being partly choral. The church was crowded to exoesß by the many friends of the happy oouple, and at the close of the servioe, as they left for their oarriage, they were literally showered with rice. Miss Harrison, of Mount Boskill, oousin of the bride, acted as bridesmaid, and Mr L. E. Mair as best man. At the conclusion of the servioe the Wedding March waß performed by Mrs D. Y. Allen, who presided at the organ. A reception was afterwards held by Mr and Mrs Harrison, at their residence, Tiki Road, at whioh the toast to the newly-wedded oouple was proposed by Mr George Cruiokshank (the recentlyappointed S.M. and Warden for Otago), and drunk in champagne. The wedding presents were both numerous and oostly.

The Auckland Terminating Building Society, which on Thursday night had another drawing, keeps moving. On Tuesday night no less than £3000 was disposed of, five of the appropriations being by sale and three by ballot. Economy and strictly business principles are two of the leafing features in thia society. Painless dentistry that is painless is a boon and a blesßing to Buffering humanity, and in this connection it 1b notilied by Mr A F. Hooper, the well-known dentist, that he has a new process by wbiob he oan extract teeth without the least! pain. His rooms are at corner of Queen and Bwanaon-streets. The casket for presentation by the Auokland province to Major • General Baden-Powell, and which is now to be seen in the window of the manufacturer, Mr J. Prince, jeweller, of Queen-street, is A splendid piece of work. . The casket, whioh stands on a greenstone block, measuring eleven by eight inches, is of sterling silver, 18 carat gold, and rich specimen quartz, and 1b embellished with nikau palms and fernß in the nreoious metals. On it there is a beautiful engraving of a part of the Auokland harbour, with Bangitoto in the background and Borne excellent