A WOMAN'S LETTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7951, 29 January 1906, Page 3

A WOMAN'S LETTER.

(Specially written for the Age). WELLINGTON, January 27. Sumptuous .weather and a record attendance greeted the opening day at Trentham, when the Wellington Racing Club held ita summer meeting. Very pleasurable ia the change from tho bieak and wind-swept course at the Hutt, to the stiller, softer, atmosphere of the Valley; with the buHh clad slopes near at hand, and the quiet blue hills in the distance, one almost forgot one's many wind-tossed experiences at the old race ground. No douht the sea-breeze '.hardly to be called a gentlo zephyr) at the old course was very healthy aud invigorating, but to the average feminine mind it was full of terrors. She was in constant dread lest the cherished millinery should leare ita accustomed place, and be seen circling in air like some gay bird of Paradise. In time to come, when the lawns are in order and trees are planted, it will b*> an ideal srot. There were many fascinat ; ng toilettes worn, perhaps one of the moat effective being a white book rauplin, frilled to the waist, each f iiil was edged with narrow black lace, the bodice had every short elbow sleeves. With this costume a marabout stole, long black gloves, and smart torpedo hat of russet tirown was worn. Another noticeable gown, worn by a Wairaraca lady, was of light orune glace silk, with cream lace, and hat the same shade. An arristio com bination was of mouse brown cbiffoD and delicate lace; the skirt fell in fail soft gathers, and the bodice was cut with a V, revealing a vest of lace, the long mitten onffs being also of this, fabric. The wearer was a stranger, call and graceful! The hat worn was in nerfert harmony with the gown—and exquisite pear shaped pearl solijnire ear-rings completed the.toilette. Far rings, by the way, will sooi. bo universally worn, as a feminine adorn ment. Torquoiße and nn;nl solitaires are much •effected by quite young girls of the ultra fafihionble get, to whom, if their complexions are freeh, the ear-fringa are most becoming. Aropos of races, rather an amusing little incident occurred in connection with this meeting. It was decreed by the powers that be that no bookmakers should bo allowed on the ground—so these'gentlemen put their heads together and provided themselves with hampers, and. decided to hold a picnic just outside the gates of t v e course. Needless to say from that vantage ground they were able to combine business with pleasure. If there was one J little "crumpled rose-leaf" whiuh affected r,s at the races, it was the great rush on the railway platforms, lu h«r eagerness to obtain a seat one Alasterton lady was unfortunate enough to lose her shoe. An unsympathetic man friend remarked his plight, was worse—he had lost all his money 1 "Bill Adams" is drawing big houses, although there h no plot to speak of and nothing wonderful in the way of- chiffons. Xhere are,' however, some bright and catchy songs, and several new and effective dances introduced. Miss May Beatty, always a favourite with Wellington audiences, looks piquant and pretty, wearing an liiah frock of Emerald green chiffon. Whilst appearing in this costume Miss Beatty sings "My Irish Molly," which, by the way, was one of the greatest hits in "The Oatch of the Season. ?I In London the latest success is "A Perfect Lover," by Alf. Sutro, who, it will be remembered, wrote that smartest of plays, "The Walls of Jericho." Lewis Waller and Miss Evelyn Millard take the leading paits. It is rather an appropriate play for- Lewis Waller, who has won fame chiefly through his artistic and natural love-making. , New Zealand footballers bid fair to become immortalised. Not only v has "Punch" honoured them with a cartoon, but now a well-known English biscuit manufacturer has adorned his fancy biscuit tins with a photograph group of the team, using them as a means of advertisement. ''■■-. There has been much discussion lately anent long engagements, the arguments for ana against having been hotly expressed over afternoon - tea. It is interesting to read of the Russian 'Custom, where U is etiquette for a man to give to his finance each week a very handsome present. Needless to say, engagements there are not of long duration. > Now that tomatoes are more plentiful, and not quite so dear, I will give you a tasty little breakfast dish for a small family:—Half a pound of tomatoes, half pound of cheese, salt and cayenne to taste, small piece of butter; chop tomatoes and cheese, put into saucepam with butter, cayenne and salt, stir until melted, then spread on small' slices of buttered toast; serve very hot.