AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7504, 11 September 1902, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL NOTES.

" 1 LADY'S LETTER FROM- » MELBOURNE. .' ' .'■ ... -. , . - . August 27. - The first of a series of large mußioal afternoon "At Homes" tos given fey Lady Sargood a few day* ago. , Rippon Lea entertainments ■ are always greatly appreciated; by all t&ose invited to them, and on this afternoon several hundred Ladies must have been present. A short but- very charming oqnicert was -given in the:, "ballroom, the •take l)eing massed with- pretty potrplants ana lighted with electric light. As Lady Sargood lays great stress upon silence bung kept during any performance, the AriusK at; her parties is heard, to the best advantage.' Mr Walter Kerby, who has a light «nd!v«ry melodious tenor voice, sane I two little, songs by Lamkm Ronald, balled and "Evening," which greatly delighted) all those who heard them. Lady fiargood wore a gown of Indian red silk, with a large laoe collar. Her daughter had a eoft white _ dre«». Many of* the guests Appeared in pretty spring toilettes, and •ftveral of the . new gi«en and blue shaded bat*, which bid fair to be so popular, were want. •■.. ..••.-■ ■ ... „■....•• ■■"'•• shows, and again spring shows have been, part of the serious; •business of W* for the last w«^k,'<w liwp,ivai tiiose *;ho have conscientiously/ and. steadily g »ne the rounds ought to be in a good posiWwa to i give a few hints as- to th« coming •ummer fashions. t To Ibeg^n with, in spite ; of 'stadiy pepphesies' to the contrary, skirts *r> stiH to be long— in f act the models for race and garden-party gowns show almosv longer teams than ever, and even if that foolishness be avoided,' we may make up our minds that there is no chancs for the •%rt (walking skirt yet awhile. Bodices 'sia*! follow -'the loose Russian mode almost •without exceptr6n, perhaps not quite so baggy at the "back as we ihave grown acoustomed to «c» them in the winter, but s-tfll -tfcey can neror fee qnite tight, and in front they- nrast be more pouched than ever. (Sleeves, of <cour«e, are loose and la*ge, especially just above the wrist— the soft/ half sleeves of chiffon or point d'esprit very often fall from £he elbow. Belts are still narrow, often of black velvet ■lightly shaped" in front and having a long bow and ends behind. Canvas, a delightful material for summer wear, is seen in many Paris- models, both of dresses and cloaks. Otherwise tussore silk and grassJawn will have a hard struggle for supremacy. One lovely garden-party gown was of pale sparrow's egg blue canvas over »iik, adorned with twine-coloured! lace, appliquedi with tdlk. the colour of canvas. Narrow strappings of black glace followed all <Hi*. seams lengthwise, and the ve«t and «nder-s!eeves were of cream tucked chiffon. Two pretty Oriental satin tea-gowns at the game house were fastened over to the left with one large (button, and fell in straight folds to -the feet, while the back fitted the figure. Large collars and sleeves of fine tucked grass-lawn, .spotted with black, ccmpleted them. Hats «lmo*t -witb one consent have turn-

ed-up brotms. The neatest and most useful are of burnt straw, with brims of tilacfa straw. These are trimmed with black) velvet anU-cabochwns, or large straw-headed 1 pins. Sonve morning holts are- also simply trimmed with bows of fipoflted grass lawn—a quiet and pretty fashion. A few bold spirits are appearing in bljuck bows, : and ends, down to their heels, more or less; but, to far, not many of these exaggerattoM appear outside the shop windows. Cherries of all shades and sizes seem to adpra abt>ut half the hate one sees. Others hay» hook: ■ra rosea, and tiny daises in black andi white, but atost flowers are small. A lovely hat was of a flat shape, witihacrown. of Mted lace, a brim of white chip with tpichea of wMte and lilac wisrteria kidi o» W^ s Another of pale greea and whit© tuil© was covered with whxte^; "green aai<t blwilc lilies of the valley. Petticoats ere mow .gorgeous and elaborate than, ever. ' Be^tb says that they are to be a good deal shorter than of late, but quite as mutb in . ew^aoce, which fact provides. &od f or rraiedabn' to those of us whose feet are' not. our strong jqiht. A creation shown to nie> was of rjnnumeraible frills ol white glaefi, i*T*ag «» overskirt of White <M&6ai, aj^Jliqued w^h delicate Wade la«e. .It v loipfc?d 'm^re iik« . 9, ball djres* tl»ui a jttppnv die ooiy word that sewn* e^wal to ' thi , .6cqa<^on. •fwhit* '^:pffisfis^r.i&Um rdsimd thi edge, atf>OT«rdre«s o-f tinted lace mcfnntedW white chiffon, and «triped Ifpffikvitoya with ribbons of 'a' peculiarly pr^ty ribadieof. turquoise blue. The ribban> was quit© narrow at the waist;' and becanMr gradually broader on the v train, with * chaTWiiig effect./ -. •; ; * - '■•• ■ .'■■ . ,•• ■■■ "-- ; ' '■■'■ ' - The very small store of objects of art in the shape of statuary whidh we possess in Melbaurne hae Wen augmented lately by the arrival of the memorial to Sir William Clarke, whioh was ; , placed in, position Ij^mo-nth. The monument is by the Jautoiuß Austoaliaoi sculptor,, Bertram. MacEencal, and, "so far as I know, is only the Beyond 1 of his works which -we own otft here, the other being the very ;V>vely mottumenu to - Mrs Springthorpe, which, deserves a long description; to itself. Sir -Wfllisun Clarke's bust is excellently placed, having a background of the fine trees in the Treasury Garden*. It stands on a high, pedestaD of grey granite, which throws up tae gen» of the work— a beautiful, lithe, girlish figure, represeatirig ,the State of Victoria, holding ,aWt her offering of a laurel wreitihu A wonderful amount of life and youth and; vigour i« expressed in this lovely form. The! seated figure of a boy /beside h«r is not so satisfactory.. It is a little difficult to ; account for his presence, and he Beems sUglhtly stiff and unmeaning, in spite of his beautaful head and features. OLIVIA^;