The Social Sphere

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 46, 31 July 1909, Page 8

The Social Sphere

By Mirabel

Dear Nita — For some time past the members of and those interested in the Auckland branch of the Cjlirls' Friendly Societyhave been much exercised over the question whether to have a lodge or not. However, it is now settled beyond a doubt that the lodge is to be. The Council of the G.F.B. have taken for the purpose the premises formerly known as the Park Hotel, Wellesley-street. Here girls Irom all parts and of all denominations may find a home and board at low charges. For those who do not reside in the lodge, tea and luncbeon will be procurable at moderate cost. Kecreation, reading and class-rooms will also be provided. To help in the furnishing of the Lodge, several "kitchen teas " are being given by ladies interested in the Society.

Mrs Neligan gave a large "At Home " in JSd. Matthew's schoolroom last Wednesday afternoon for those interested in the work of the G.F.b. It was very largely attended, and excellent speeches were made by ller Excellency Lady Plunket, the Bishop of Auckland, and Mrs Neligan. Her Excellency was stylishly gowned in grey corduroy velour, with satin facings in self colour, and finished with braid ; also, large grey picture hat, with band of goltl encircling the crown, and long white drooping ostrich plume. Mrs JMeligan wore black, the sleeves and yoke inset with black silk lace over pale blue silk, stylish creme toque with black tip's, and long pale blue shoulder scarf. After the meeting afternoon tea was served, and a pleasant social hour was

spent

The engagement is announced of Miss Ethel M. M'Kellar, youngest daughter of Mr Dugald M'Kellar, of Wellington, to Mr E. Victor Law, youngest son of the late Rev. John Law, of Auckland.

Mrs Stubbs gave a delightful small dance for young people last Friday night at her residence, Parnell. The hostess was elegantly gowned in black, and her sister, Mrs Denniston, "also affected the same garb. Miss Audrey Stubbs looked charming in pale pink silk. Miss Beryl Keesing, white satin. Miss Gwen Nathan, white filet net over white silk. Miss Sybil Payton wore a becoming white crepe de chine over a white satin foundation, with silver trimming, and cluster of silver flowers in the corsage. Miss Daisy Benjamin, handsome white satin frock. Miss Vera Dubhie was also in white.

Miss Hanna, of Auckland, has been a guest of Mrs John Campbell in "Wellington, and is now staying with Mrs W. A. Kennedy. « • •

Mrs G. H. Baker, of " Aldesyde," Franklin Road, Ponaonby, gave an "at home " last Friday evening to her daughter, Miss Iris Baker, about sixty young people being present. A large marquee was erected at the side of the house, and illuminated with fairy lamps. The table looked very artistic with yellow detfodils, snowdrops, and pale green foliage, and was lighted with candles, about two dozen spreading soft and effective rays around the room. Mrs G. H. Baker and Miss Iris Baker received the guests. -Mrs Baker wore a lovely Empire gown of ere me Bilk with chillon and gold velvet trimming. Miss Iris Baker looked pretty in white paillette Bilk with chiffon and sequin trimming. ■ ■ ■

Mrs EL N. Maddox wore black silk, with floral passementerie trimming. Mrs G. W. Owen, black silk. Mrs Hughes-Jones, green silk with floral

net. .Miss Tudor Hughes- Jones looked well in a dainty white muslin. Mies May Maddox wore white silk over pale pink. Mrs J. J. Craig was stylish in beautiful white Brussels floral design over white satin. Miss Connie Craig, Empire gown of heliotrope silk. Mrs Ralph, silver and black sequined net over black satin. Mrs Munro Wilson, black silk, and pretty opera coat. Mr 8 Moritzon (Dunedin), black silk. Miss Alda Ralph and Miss Rita Moritzon wore their debutante dresses of lovely empire satin, trimmed with spangled net. Miss B. uliphant, pale pink. Miss Janie Oliphant. pale blue. Miss P. Lindsay, becoming pale pink silk. Miss R. Suggate, white silk. Miss P. Baker, pale pink chiffon taffeta silk. Miss M. Baker, blue velveteen. Miss Marie Dufaur, white muslin. Miss Enid Whitelaw was dainty in white silk.

Miss Maisie Gray, white silk. Miss Jessie McGregor, white silk. Miae Arrowsmibb (Wellington), white paillette silk. Miss Brewer, black spangled net over red satin. Miss I. Mitchell, yellow silk. Misses M. and B. Shayle George, white muslin. Miss Joan Mayfield, white silk. Miss D. Stopford, pale green silk. Miss Ella Morpetb, pale pink muslin. Misses Bess and Val. Wilson looked dainty in white silk. Miss Vera Ziman, pale pink silk. Misses S. and £. Mahoney, pale pink silk.

On Tuesday night we went to see Nellie Stewart in " Sweet Kitty Bellairs." The theatre was full, and the staging and dresses were beautiful. In the first act, Miss Stewart appeared in an 18th century gown, with underskirt of rich pink satin finished with a flounce of lovely creme lace, adorned with tiny pink rosebnds and ribbon work in pale blue ; the corselet bodice and puffed panier of rich brocade had a design of roses. Her blue bat had clusters of roses, and the lace berthe was also finished with roses and ribbon work to match the lace flounce on the underskirt. Dainty satin shoes with red heels and jewelled buckles completed the costume.

The costume worn in the next act had a mauve underskirt and rich overakirt, with a lovely design of raised flowers ; white armlets and Juliet cap. Mauve ribbons, both quilted and flowing, were much in evidence in this costume. The ball-room scene was particularly effective. The uniform of the officers and the Court dresses of the ladies blended most harmoniously, making a striking tout ensemble. In this scene Miss Stewart's Court dress was exquisite. The underskirt of gold was finished at the hem with pink roses, while the panier and bodice were of duchesse satin, with a scroll of roses and silver design, which shone and glistened in the light, and finished with sprays of innumerable pink roses ; a cluster of the same shade of roses tucked in her corsage, and long pink ostrich feather in her hair. The walking dress worn in the last act was a simply made grey corduroy velvet, and large hat, tied under the chin with ribbon.

Tailor costumes are now considered the correct wear in England at Newmarket and other smart race meetings.

Floral hats will be much worn in the coming spring. Satin rosettes will also have a place in all the new millinery.

The marriage of Mr Sidney H. Tippett, son of Mr F. H. Tippett, of Devonporb, fco Mias Elsie Armstrong, youngest daughter of Mr J. F. Armstrong, of Opotiki, was celebrated at St. Stephen's Church, Opotiki, on the 20th inst. The church was prettily decorated by the bride'B girl friends. The Rev. W. E. Bawden officiated. The bride, who was given away by her father, was charmingly gowned in a creme tailor-made costume, and wore a large white satin hat. Mies Torrens acted as bridesmaid, attired in a handsome tailor-made gown of creme cloth and a becoming red bat. Mr M. F. Barlow was best man. Shortly after the ceremony, Mr and Mrs Tippett left for Botorua, the bride wearing a smart saxeblne tailor-made costume, ' and hat to match. . •'._'.■..•■■■<■■>■;•-. ■';■■>.; V<;V\y.:'-;WAXv :■<:-' ; : '>:y. :.-.;.'■. i'Vi-O. ■■;■■;■'.■■.' .v

Miss Lucie Ehrenfried, who is visiting ChriKtchurcb, . has lately become engaged to Mr Cecil Louisson, sou of the lion. Charles Louisson, of that city.

The Ellorelie Shakespeare Society met at the residence of Mr Alan Hamilton, " Ingthorp," on Friday evening. "The Tempest" was the play selected for reading. The allotment of the principal characters was-^Prospero, Mr Davis ; Caliban, Dr. Clark ; ';Stephano, Mr Wooller ; Ferdinand, Mr Hamilton ; Ariel, Mrs McCallum ; Miranda, Miss Farrell. Other parts were taken, by Mesdames Basire, Hamilton, Wooller, Clark and Davis, Misses Stedman, Walker (2), and Bell, Messrs Walker and Pountney.

Wellington can now boast a women's club, which has been denominated the Pioneer (Jlub. There were 120 ladies present at its inaugural gathering the other day. The office-bearers ol the concern are — Warden, Lady Plunket ; vice-war-den, Lady "Ward ; vice-presidents, the Mayoress, Mesdames Findlay, D. J. Isathan, Wallis, A. R. Atkinson ; secretary, Miss Kane ; treasurers, iVlesdaines Salmond and Maokay ; general committee, Mrs Rankine-Brown, Mrs Fitchett, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Mrs Malcolm Ross, Mrs Winder, Miss Isitt, Mies Helyer, Mrs Burns, Mrs Hislop, and Miss P. Myers.

In some of the American cities there are hotels solely for women. They are run on exactly the same lines as nn ordinary hotel, but no man is alLowed to sleep within their portals. He may lunch <or dine as the guest of a lady, but cannot live there or pay a bill. There are, of course, besides, endless boardinghouses for women only.

A Bill drafted by the Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors for the registration of all professional accountants practising in England and Waks provides for the admission of women to membership of the Institute and of the Society upon the same terms and conditions as men are now admitted. This provision is considored to be absolutely necessary, as romen are now practising as professional accountants.

The firm place that medical women have established in public favour is being maintained by distinctions gained by the women students in the medical school of Sydney University. The recent appointment of a woman as^ assistant demonstrator in ana.tomy is notable as being the first occasion when a woman undergraduate has been so promoted, though twice previously graduates have held honorary positions in this school in the same capacity. Such appointments are commonly made in the medical schools of Great Britain and Ireland at which women study. Melbourne has, for many years made available its positions as paid demonstrators to women.

Miss Florence King, a lady patent lawyer of Chicago, is reputed to have a practice which brings her in £10,000 a year. For fourteen years she has held this unique post for a woman. Miss King is proud of the fact that she has climbed her way up from a very low rung in the ladder. She will not hesitate to tell you that she was once a servant girl, and she glories that she is "self-made," as the commercial phrase has it. A lawyer's life, particularly one whose business it is to attend to patents, is generally supposed to be very matter-of-fact, but this lady manages to make her quite romantic. From being a poor cobbler, one of her clients, through his own inventions, protected by Miss King, has raised himself to be part-proprietor of a large electrical works, and Miss King could tell of many other- instances of small inventions, almost" trivial in themselves, which have led to great things.

Shantung, and there are endless new varieties, is to be the most popular summer material. It wifl be fashioned over net of its own shade. This is the very last and most imperative degree of Madame La Mode, and will be trimmed with the two Bs — braiding and buttons.

The newest embroideries are of thick cords over a oontraating ground. Whole panels are made of thie lovely work — which, by the way, may have lace stitches and gold thread introduced into the pattern — and the panels always end in long tassels or heavy fringes. A notable gown of Parma violet cloth was arranged over a chemisette and sleeves of this embroidery in violet cords on a white ground.

The "beautiful, bountiful button" is tremendously in. Vogue on the latest frocks, ©specially those of the Princess style. Seventy-eight buttons decorated the front panel of one of these gowns, and as the back panel was similarly adorned, the costumes boasted about one hundred and sixty buttons.

Husbands, take a firm stand before it is too late. The latest idea in evening frocks is to have them laced down the back. This will involve considerable unhappineas.

The new big hats are apt to oonoeal much of the faoe of the wearer. That may be an advantage or not ; it depends on the faoe, out pretty women must have introduced the upward sweep at the left side, which one of the latest shape possesses. It shows off shiiang hair and dainty profile.

" Lace renovating," says Miss A. P. Moody in her book, " Lace Making and Collecting," " is one of the few professions open to women that are not overcrowded at present, and the growing demand for real lace should ensure steady work for many years ahead. For at least five centuries lace has been a popular, almost a necessary dress garniture, and at no time did the fashion fall out so completely as doring the middle of the nineteenth century. It is possible that we have seen and passed through the lowest depths to which the industry can sink."

When not engaged in writing, Mrs Humphrey Ward devotes her time and much of her money to practical work for the good of the poor. She is never so happy as when organising entertainments or arranging holidays for slum children, and many an hour has the famous novelist spent amusing the little ones with toys, picture-books and round games. Tall and stately, with beautiful white hair, Mrs Humphrey Ward is a charming personality. It is twenty-seven years ago eince Mrs Ward wrote her first book, " Milly and Oily," and since then she has written just over a dozen novels and many magazine articles. Mrs Ward is a slow and exceedingly painstaking writer, much ot her work being done at her pretty house at Tring. Yours ever, Mirabel.

Give your growing children healthy appetites. Steams' "Wine of Cod Liver Extract. makes delicate children strong by creating an appetite far healthy food. It builds them up.