Breezes from the Capital

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 5, Issue 3, 1 September 1926, Page 5

Breezes from the Capital

Spring is set down by the tides to arrive on the Ist of August. Towards the end of July our weather clerk told us all that we could expect wind and rain, and with very moderate luck —a thunderstorm. But, instead, the tides were right, and the second flood did not come to pass. Instead, the great god Sol has been holding his own lately in the Empire City, and the trees arc robing themselves in soft green gowns, and the air is heavy with sweet scents. However, we read of floods in the north, tornadoes in the south, thunderstorms in the east, and I’m sure there has been an earthquake in the west.

But, despite the elements, people everywhere still look eagerly into the mirror fashion is ever holding up to see what is to be worn. Spring is a most capricious lady and decrees an altogether newel colour for her followers—allies of roses. Let us walk through the capital and view bashion s frocks made to order. Everywhere there is a veritable rainbow of colours and the queen of the colours is ashes of roses. lake a fairy cauldron and drop in first gold spun thread just like that woven by the night spinners ol old; second, a dash of pink; third, sprinkle soft red rosebud leaves until the cauldron is brimming, and then stir three times with a golden wand. Hey presto! out there’ll float a cloud of silk, delicate silk, whicn gradually assumes the shade fashion lias commanded -ashes ol roses.

You are going to wear softly 1 falling frocks, with flower-petal skirls or dainty hems scalloped around with deeper shaded silk, and. instead of furs you will wear gaily-coloured tulle scarves to match your frocks. And. more wonder still ! bats have ceased to diminish, and have begun to expand rapidly, faster, even, than the green shoots on the trees in Springtime. Von needn’t he afraid of freckles henceforth, for one and till can wear hats with brims large, soil, shady brims. It is to be hoped that the return ol shady hats wont cause the cold-cream people to go out of business. So now come and buy large hats and burn your tiny ones!

Wellington (in spite of the » V famous Northland tunnel) has produced a very good Choral Union, as proved by their production of Bizet's "Barmen, The Union had the privilege of singing in conjunction with the famous English tenor, Arthur Jordan. ") on have, oi course, all beard ol Jordan, for he’s the gentleman who told the Choral Union when they presented "Judas Maccabeus that the orchestra’s instruments were half a tone too high, and consequently their singing was too. Mr. lordan’s rendering ol the "blower Song" was an inspiration to the audience: in fact, one of lie doorkeepers was transfixed, and 1 heard tell of one young man getting in for the last five minutes actually tree of charge.

' | 'he Capital Inis been favoured by the musical gods lately--firstly by the Don Cossack choir, and then bv the coming of "Lilac

Time." “Lilac Time’’ was a departure from the usual run of musical comedy, mainly because the music was written by the famous composer of “The One Minute Waltz” —Schubert. People seem to go to the theatre in the same mood as the Knglisb do to a murder trial. Michael Arlen gives an apt description of the type in “The Revolting Doom of a Gentleman who would not Dance with his Wife.” wherein the photo taken by one young reporter

of those attending the execution of the “gentleman” show them “frenzicdly gnashing their teeth by reason of the fact that they were eating their breakfast in the form of sandwiches.” Throughout the play, the noise of rolling lemonade bottles could be heard, but still one could recognise Shakespeare’s immortal “Hark, hark! the Lark at Heaven’s Gate Sings." Perhaps the sweetest rhyme was “She wore on her bosom a sweet lilac blossom.”

T often wish fashion would bring back the frocks worn by Lili, Lilli and Will Veit, for they were of softest, fullest muslins and tafetta, with bonnets, sunshades and little heedless slippers to match. Alas! I suppose our health specialists would frown severely on skirts that touch the ground, and lacey pantctlcttes that peep from beneath one’s skirts. I have so longed to hear my own silken skirts go swishswish — and short frocks absolutely refuse to swish. T X Wellington's been holding her ' ' annual Winter Show, and great fun it was. If ever you get a chance to ride on a Dodgem, ride on ’em; and if you’re lucky enough to have a Merry Mix near your own home town, mix-up without delay ; otherwise you won’t know the joys of merry mixing-up. Chocolate seems to have a great attraction for young and old.

C. IV. Pattilloy Dunedin