LIFE IN THE CITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LV, Issue 8612, 20 November 1906, Page 3

LIFE IN THE CITY.

Life is a journey; on we go Through many a scene of joy and woe

Our Shakespeare Clvb — French and English — Two Tiny Student* — College Sports —A Gat/ Scene—Tea, Music and Races —Wi I lough by and Ward—Behind the Scenes—A Happy Personality—Her Pretty Frocks -Home for Consumptives —The Free Kindergarten—lnfluenza Epidemic—Returning Welhngtoniaus.

We have a large Shakespeare Club in Wellington, and a very interesting public recital was given by the members on Monday of last week, the play chosen being Henry V., Mr Nicholls, who is a very fine elocu tionist, as well as a splendid amateur actor, reading the title role. Particularly interesting were the dialogues in French and

English. These are generally omitted, being

• not at all easy to read, but the ladies of the Club proved themselves quite equal to the difficulty. Miss Van Stavern, daughter of the Rabbi, was, perhaps, the best among the many good lady readers. Between the two parts, two small children were presented with prizes from the Club for Shakesperian reading. Mabel Johnson and Kenneth Atkins were the successful competitors, and carried off some handsome books.

The most perfect weather prevailed for the Wellington College Sports, on Friday. Indeed, if there was any flaw in the day, it was the great heat and want of shade. The College grounds looked extremely beautiful with the finely-kept stretches of turf, the grassed terraces, and the flight of stote steps bordered by a brilliant band of vivid yellow gazanias - the college colour. These grassed terraces formed a delightful, if a somewhat precarious, dress circle, and from the lawn presented a very gay appearance, strewn with groups of brightly dressed women and girls. The air was fragrant with new cut grass. Mrs Firth, who, with her tall husband, make a very handsome and striking pair, wore the most exquisite frock of heliotrope radium silk, with lace ruffles edging the short-puffed sleeves and smart bolero Her white chip hat was laden with lilac and pale pink roses, ribbons of the same tints being massed at the back. Mrs Ward, her sister, was in pastel blue cloth and a white hat with a wreath of roses. A most sumptuous tea was served in the largest classroom, which was decorated with flowers and foliage, and a band played all the afternoon. The Goodbeheres, of Feilding, again distinguished themselves, and Eric MacKeczie - son of Dr Frank MacKenzie—won the championship and many prizes, including the Oram Cup and the Lord Ranfurly Cup. A young Wairarapa athlete, J. McMaster, gained the cup for the highest scorer in the sprinting events.

The Willoughby-Ward Company left last week, and you have since had an opportunity of finding out whether the praises given them here were justified. Quite apart from Miss Palotta's professional fascination, she has captivated many here whom she met privately. Walking—and she does not care how boisterous the weather is—playing croquet, reading, and talking-she does everything con amore, and not only enjoys herself immensely, but makes others happy too. I had the somewhat unusual experience of being behind the scenes on the last night the company were playing in Wellington, and had a most interesting time. The dressing-room of Miss Palotta is a most unromantic place. It would be scorned as a scullery by any up-to-date housewife, and has bare discoloured walls, a shabby ivnpainted washstaLd and table, and an uncarpeted floor. As I knocked and was told to enter, Miss Palotta looked quite out of keeping in her dingy setting. She wore an exquisite turquoise silk muslin frock, with soft ruffles of pretty lace and a belt of silver tissue, and so little does she need paint or powder, that her make up, even at such close quarters, was hardly noticeable. Her charming hair, bronze with deep ripples, she always does in the same style, tossing it up and twisting it round in a few minutes with most artistic fingers. A little dab with a powderpuff, a laughing request to the deftfingered maid for her crystal-embroidered lace scarf, and the pretty figure hurries out to await her first call, for the orchestra is just crashing out its final chords. On the walls hang the frocks worn by her in the " Man from Mexico," the brilliant Spanish dancing-dress asserting itself triumphantly by reason of its colour. It was made and designed in Vienna, but Miss Palotta has the artist's eye for colour and harmony, and herself designs many of her frocks. Next year we are to see some lovely gowns, in particular, an early Victorian white satin, made full and round, and worn with a satin poke bonnet, in which some pale blue feathers droop over the wearer's piquant face. There is also a lace frock, woven and bought at Coronation time—an exquisite design of crowns, roses, thistles and shamrocks, in Brussels lace. This is also to be worn on her next visit

On Wednesday the Home for Consumptives was opened. This was the institution for which Dr Newman got such ready and generous help from the people of Wellington, and it is situated in the same grounds as the general Hospital. It is called after the late Premier, who, as Dr Yalintine said in his speech, had much sympathy with the movement. The arrangements of the Hospital are excellent, and light, sunshine, and fresh air will probably do wonders for the inmates. Every bed has already been applied for, so that shows the institution was necessary. Miss Payne, the picturesque and capable matron of the Hospital, supervised the daintily-served tea furnished by the Trustees, and a band of pink-gowned nurses waited on the guests. I hear that another deserving institution here—Miss Richmond's Free Kindergarten—is to benefit by the generosity of Mr and Mrs Hugh Williams, of Masterton, who are giving the children a picnic to mark the birthday of their little son. The children of the Pipitea School obtained no less than £45 from a bazaar in aid of the Free Kindergaretn.

Really, the type of influenza that has been prevalent here is so serious that the name is invested now with added terrors. The medical men—many of whom have fallen under the scourge—declare it has

bden more severe this year than «:Vdr, and some fatal cases are evidence that it is not to be trifled with A very sad death from pneumonia supervening on influenza was that of young Mr Bothamhy—an athlete and an open-air man. Miss May fcfeddon has been dangerously ill the influenza, as in the case of Dr Collins' son affected the brain—but is now better. Mis Seddon and her eldest daughter have also been unwell. It was very trying fjr Mr T. Y. Sedd.n, M.H.R., to have to sit for his law examinations during the time of his great anxiety about his sihter, but the exams, are now over, with the suspense, and he intends to go a'vay for a change Mrs Prouse returns from Auckland thi* week. Mrs Walter Nathan and Miss Zaidee have gone to Napier for a visit. Among those shortly returning to New Zealand aro Mrs Sprott, who arrives in the Ruapehu, and Mr and Mrs Arthur Russell, Captain and Mrs Ferguson and Mr Percy Buller. Mrs Russell and Mrs Ferguson are daughters of Mrs T. C. Williams. Mr, Mrs, an 1 Miss Fulton aro expected back by the Moeraki to morrow. Miss Magoliouth, of Napier, is en a visit to Wellington. Miss Daisy Hay, sister of Dr Hay, leaves shortly for a trip to India and England. Miss Ena Stuart's marriage to Mr Fred Harvey will take place on the 18th December.