THE SOCIAL SPHERE

Observer, Volume XXXIV, Issue 51, 29 August 1914, Page 8

THE SOCIAL SPHERE

[By Myra.]

SHOULD we frivol at this gloomy time of warfare? There are many people of the opinion that all social .unctions and amusements of every sort should be abandoned and tdiat' we ought, to go about with long faces and talk despondently of events which may never happen, forgetting that we should never meet trouble half way and in any case there's a silver lining to every cloud. And it should be riemembered that every social function cancelled means many people, such as caterers, waiters, musicians, chauffeurs, losing work. To go further, the shopkeepers lose die sale of the new garments which would be required, and as it is the duty of those who have money to circulate it, let, us remember that the existence of the worker depends on this, so you see that there are two sides to the question.

" The engagement is announced of Miss Mabel Johnson, of Devonport, to Mr George Everest, also of the marine suburb.

The Ellerslie Shanespeare Society met at the residence of Miss Margin, Ellerslie, on August 21st and a very pleasant evening ensued, lhe play selected for reading was ''Othello" and the cast was well maintained by Mesdames Babbage, Davis O'Gorman, Pilkington and Wooller, Misses Martin, Banna and Shroff, Messrs Babbage, Pountney, Pilkington, Purdy, Sommerneld and Wooller Miss Hanna as "Desdemona," and Mr Pountney as "Othello" were especially good. The evening opened with God. Save the King." "Auld Lang Syne" was sung for Mr Purdy who ifc leaving with the Expeditionary Force. The "Good Night" chorus was supplemented with "Rule Britannia," sung with hearty patriotism.

Miss* Martin's becoming dress was bjlack brocaded satin. Mrs Davis wore grey charmeuse. Mrs xJabbage, navy silk Oriental trimmings. Mrs Sommerfield, periwinkle blue with spangled net tunic. Mrs O'Gorman, white lace frock. Mrs Wooller, black silk. Mrs Hickson, dress of silver grey. Mr© Pilkington, brown satin with cream lace. Miss Banna, green silk /edged with brown, fur. Miss Shroff j shell pink charmeuse. Miss Lambert, nattier blue. Miss Hickson, black taffeta and white lace.

The spirit of patriotism pervades 1 all sections of the community, and the concert in aid of the Patriotic Fund organised by the Warehousemen's Club filled the Town Hall on Wednesday evening of last week with an audience which was wildly enthusiastic, and which lustily sang the chorus of every war-like air. "Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue," sung by Mr Bourke, and "Rule Britannia," by Signoruia Domenica Martinengo, caused wild excitement, the other singers, namely Misses' Jessie Bartlett, Mabel Sec-

combe, and Messrs Ripley, Wilfred Manning, Barry Coney, C. Archer, and J. W. Atkinson being also well received. Enjoyable items were given by the Lyric Four, the Orphans' Club Orchestra, and Mr H. Seymour, who played a cornet solo. Mr McElwain gave two of his humorous items, and Mr George Warren gave a character sketch, "Hoch der Kaiser," causing much merri--ment.-w During the interval, a gold, ring, which was put into one of the war fund collection boxes, was auctioned by Mr Louis Lewis, and brought the sum of £18, being first purchased by Mr H. Philcox, then by Mr H. C. Choyce, and finally by Mrs J. Hodgson. Altogether the concert was an immense success, and seemed to be greatly enjoyed by the vast audience.

To raise money for 1 the Patriotic Fund the Girls' Realm Guild gave a dramatic entertainment in St. Aidan's Hall, Remuera, on Friday evening, when the hall was packed with friends and sympathisers of the cause. The Ladies' Orchestra, numbering about a dozen, under the baton of Miss A. Stephenson, played several pieces charmingly, and Miss D. Walsh whistled "Humoreske," with orchestral accompaniment, for which she was deservedly encored. The first piece, "A Quiet Little Dinner," was performed in a clever manner by Misses 0. Rutherford, V. Ziman, D. Walsh, I. Clayton, Messrs C. Walker, H. Turnbull, and N. Wallnutt. *. , • (St

"Bachelor Maids" was the title of the second piece, in which the characters were • well sustained O. Snelling, Mrs H. Revell, Messrs R. Ayling, T. Watson, C. Forsdick, and C. Walker. A number of the Guild girls sold flowers and sweets during the evening, and thus added to the funds. Among the audience were Mrs Bews, Mrs Duncan Clark, Mrs Cheeseman, Misses Snelling, Mrs Turnbull, Mrs Fred Winetone, Mrs Harold Winstone, Mrs Ashton, Misses Oliphant, Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Rutherford, Mrs Ziman, Mrs Pond, iWrs .Robertson; Mrs Clayton.

A quiet, wedding took place at the residence of Mrs T. Wyllie, Beresford Park, Onehunga, on Wednesday, August sth, the bride, being the eldest daughter, Olive Recce (Rita), and the bridegroom Mr Andrew F. Why be, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J. U. Walt-Why te, of Mangere.- The bride, who was given away by her uncle, Mr John Wyllie, looked charming in a dainty white embroidered Swiss robe, with the orthodox' wreath and veil, and carrying a pretty bridal bouquet. The bridesmaid, Miss Mary Wyllie, wore a' white embroidered dress. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, Mr Stuart Whyte. The bride and bridegroom left amid showers of rice and good wishes for their honeymoon trip to Rotorua, the bride wearing a navy cloth costume and a smart black hat with touches of tangerine and cerise. The presents were numerous and handsome.

The marriage took place on Saturday afternoon of Mr . Albert Edward Walker, of Sheffield, England, with Miss Hilda Muriel Jones, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Jones, of Ponsonby, the ceremony |being performed by the Rev. Father Doherty/ at SV Patrick's Cathedral. Mr John M. Morran gave away the bride,- who looked very charming in a costume of cream cloth trimmed with Oriental lace. Her hat of white brocaded silk, was trim,med with, ostrich feathers ' and orange blossoms. Miss Ada Jones was bridesmaid, dressed in dove grey cloth trimmed with brocaded silk and pearls, and her white silk hat was wreathed with orange blossoms. Mr William Mor r ris acted as best man, while Mr Stanley Wiley was groomsman.

After the marriage ceremony, a reception took place at the residence of the bride's parents,, the breakfast table being beautifully

decorated with' blue and white flowers. The usual toasts were proposed and honoured, and afterwards the bridal couple left on their honeymoon tour of the Lake district, the bride wearing a navy blue tcostumfe trimmed with silvterl brocade and a light blue hat. Many handsome presents were received from business, firms and private friends'. The bridegroom presented the bride with a jewelled bag and the bridesmaid with a gold bracelet set with diamonds.

An evening entertainment given by Mrs E. C. Firth at her home, Mt. St. John, Epsom, in aid of the Patriotic Fund, was an immense success, both socially and financially. The grounds were made brilliant with electric lights andl besides paying for admission, each guest had a chance of swelling the funds by patronising the side shows which included a shooting gallery and a fortune teller, and in buying the programmes, on which were_ inscribed the names of the following performers: — Mons. Bouillon, Miss Gladys Nathan, Miss Dorothy Baker, Miss Nancye Hanna, Dr and Mrs Maguire, Mrs Jim Frater, Mr Guy Pierce, Dr Grant, Mr J. Banks, Master C. Firth, Miss Yoland Baker and Mr J. Tole.

The hostess was robed in blue satin over which was a dark blue coat. Mrs McLoughlin was frocked in black. Lady Lockhart was in pale gold satin. Mrs G. Elliott, lime green crepe de chine with lace tunic. Miss Gladys Nathan, black satin. Miss Kitty Clark pale blue frock. Miss Mavis Clark, white satin. Mrs F. Waller, emerald green satin. Mrs O'Brien, pale pink. Mrs R. Logan, black 6atin and ninon. Mrs McDonald black and silver. Miss Nancye Hanna, pale pink frock. Miss Enid Reed, pale pink frock with lace tunic. Miss Muriel Payton, white satin with beaded ninon and lace tunic.

General Sir Alexander Godley and Ladj Godley were "farewelled" by a number of their friends on Tuesday afternoon of last week at "Glenalvon," where they were staying. Present were Sir Robert and Lady Lockhart, the Mayor and Mrs Parr, Colonel and Mrs Major, Mrs R Logan, Major and Mrs McDonald, Colonel and Mrs Boscawen, Mr and Mrs E. Bloomfield, Mrs Langguth, Dr. and Mrs Hope Lewis, Mr and Mrs H. Horton.

Great pleasure was afforded to the large audience which gathered in the Grafton Library on Tuesday evening, by the reading of that well known play, "The Lady of Lyons," by the Grafton Shakespeare Club. The piece had been well rehearsed, and the readers were each peculiarly suited to the part allotted. Mrs Frank Turner, as Pauline, and Mr Thomas Harris, as Claude Melnotte, were the "stars," all the others being unusually good. Besides those mentioned the oast included Mr FH. Thompson, Mr H. H. Hardey, Mr and Mrs J. Coe, Miss E. Holland, Mr H. S'ymons, Mr Bert Le Roy, Mr A. V. Perm, and Mus Squirrell.

Mrs Frank Turner wore a pretty evening .gown of pale gold-satin, the draped skirt opening over a pettiof heliotrope voile, the cream net tunio was patterned with heliotrope flowers, and the folded waist belt was of silk in the same shade. Mrs J. Coe wore a gown of black silk, the skirt drapecl and' opening to show an underskirt of black lace; the bodice having a vest of white lace and a becoming touch of blue: Miss E. Holland wore a smart dress of white satin, the tunic being of Oriental embroidered net, the bodice of cream net' and'the finishingof brown fur. Miss Squirrell was, in a dainty frock of white silk with beaded 'tunic and a blue sash. Among the audience were Mrs and Mass Suggate, Miss Holland, Mrs Reid, Mrs A. V. Perm, Mrs Emanuel, Miss Wright, : Mrs F. H, Thompson and Mise Elsie Jay.

The Queen of the Belgians recently had to assume the role of a dress censor. At a Court ball an American lady well known in English, society, attired in one of those um-brella-case gowns that appear innocent enough as long as the wearer stands still, but if she moves—what a display of shapely limb. The King's sharp eye caught the glitter of the diamond tassels ornamenting her knee bracelet on the side where they could best be seen, and he was watching with much interest the game of bo-peep they played. Noticing his intent gaze and the object of it, the Queen thought it would be better for < the lady to move from his line of vision. So she whispered a few words to the Lord Chamberlain. That great functionary promptly obtained an introduction to the lady, and arm for a oromenade. which is the great diversion of a Belgian court ball. Cha'ti'i."- affably about Shakespeare and the musical glass, the Chamberlain escorted her through room after room to the head of a quiet staircase, and there remarked: The Queen lias noticed. Madame, that your '.own is ripped all down one side, nnd thinks you might like to jto b-oino and repair it." The lady vanish w!, has gone away for chfin?i> of air. The Queen afterwards d \srribed ihe gown as "begin; ning too late and ending too soon."