Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 17, 23 April 1892, Page 416

Topics of the Week.

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS

FROM the point of view of a society journalist it is with gratitude past understanding that I chronicle the fact that the Lenten season is closed, and that of gaiety, dancing, ostensibly that of a messenger of peace and love to theworking men, who, like a great many of our own country men, have interesting labour questions on their and bunting begun. Passion week passed oil’ as usual. No important dances were given, and things generally were very quiet. Good Friday seems to become more and more of a public holiday, and to lose its religious character more and more each year. Churches are open and theatres are closed, but with these exceptions there seems little to indicate that the day is one of the most important in the Christian calendar. The Catholics are the staunchest, and continue to regard the religious observances of the day very strictly ; but with the Church of England and Nonconformists the percentage of those who do not regard Good Friday as a pleasant holiday to be spent in enjoyment is steadily diminishing. Whether or no this is good is not for me -o say, but one thing is certain, in no pagan religion. Buddhism, Mahommedanism, or any other, are religious festivals treated so inconsequently as are the Christian fast days.

The Rev. Mr Grubb’s mission meetings in Wellington were largely attended and greatly enjoyed ; indeed, frequently there was not standing room in the Opera House during his preaching. He is an eloquent and very earnest preacher, and his devotion to bis mission excites the sympathy of bis hearers. Last April (1891) Mr Grubb left England for the third mission tour. He and six other helpers have since been labouring in Australia and visiting the dioceses of Victoria, Ballarat, Goulburn and Sydney. Mr Grubb conducted mission services in the cathedrals of Melbourne, Ballarat, Goulburn and Sydney. They then proceeded to Tasmania, visiting Launceston and Hobart. Their stay in New Zealand will be short, as they hope to leave for England by the end of May. They have already visited Dunedin Oamaru and Christchurch, and Wellington. They hope to go to Nelson, Blenheim, Wanganui, Napier, Gisborne and Auckland.

It does seem strange, says my Picton correspondent, that the Press lias not got hold of our poisoning case, especially as Dr. Skey’s (the Government any li<t) telegram relating to the affair has been seen by several people. Only one Marlborough paper mentioned it, and that one solved the problem by theirizing on the broken cue of arsenic in Wellington months ago. But as the flour was ground in Marlborough, that theory will not do, and in the meantime Mr Fraser, of the Loan and Mercantile, who is

a stranger in Picton, and against whom no one has the slightest ill feeling, but quite the reverse, eats and drinks in fear and trembling. The affair is one of those mysterious events which puzzle the village wise acres, and will, I fear, have to be consigned to the regions of unsolved inigma’s.

Mr Rudyard Kipling is a very smart story-teller in his own paiticular line, and when he sticks to the subjects he is acquainted with, he is likewise a smart writer of verses, but as a writer of comic songs he is somewhat of a failure. A copy of ‘ Tommy Atkin,’ his maiden effort in this line, has reached me. It is, I understand, achieving only a moderate success in London, though sung by Colborn, who is quite one of the best music scale ‘artists.’ It certainly doesn’t seem to have half the necessary nerve and go to enable anyone to make a success out of it. The words are clever, and this is probably one cause for the song’s failure The more idiotic the words the more successful the song as a rule.

At an afternoon tea-meeting of ladies in Picton the other day, it was unanimously resolved that for the future no assistance should be rendered to man in any of his undertakings until he had recognised the Rights of Women and obtained for them the Franchise.

The circus still continues to draw crowded houses in Wellington, perhaps because of the changes of programme which nightly appear. The whole troup frequently ride through the principal streets in costume, and cause great excitement.

A correspondent from Christchurch writes : 1 There are a good many complaints here about the difficulty of obtaining copies of the Graphic. Last week I myself wanted several copies, and after hunting wildly all over the town heard that I could obtain some at the station. Ordinarily this is too far to go, but I wanted them badly. Everyone says the Graphic is excellent, and I think everyone ought to take it.’ I am much obliged for the compliments, and may say that the Graphic should be obtainable from any stationer. The matter shall be looked into.

A London correspondent informs me that any number of Anglo-New Zealanders are joining the Xeic Travellers Club. The club house, which has just been opened, is in Piccadilly, and is as luxurious and handsome as any in the metropolis, which is saying a good deal. The names on the committee are exceedingly good, and now that some 900 hundred members have been elected there is likely to be a rush for the last hundred memberships without the tenguinea entrance fee. Candidates will be consider according to pi iont y of application.

It is seldom that an actress is accorded a public reception snch as was extended to Mrs Bernard Beere on her arrival in Australia ; but then it is also seldom that a lady so distinguished in her profession comes amongst us colonites. Favourites in opera bonffe and shining constellations of burlesque are common enough, and the popularity of their incursion is shown, as a rule, by packed houses and unstinted applause ; but Mrs Beere is a lady whose advent marks a distinct acquisition to the higher walks of the the legitimate drama. She has been recognised for the last ten yeanas one of the leading English speaking tragediennes; the seal of English approval has conferred upon her a place in popular favour second to none, and in certain emotional

and impassioned roles she is admitted to have no superior and scarcely an equal, save Madame Bernhardt. Her approaching appearance before Australian audiences has therefore been looked forward to with unusual interest. The heartiness with which the welcome was arranged and carried out must have convinced Mrs Beere and the ladies and gentlemen comprising her company of the warm feelings of appreciation that are entertained for all that pertains to distinguished histrionic ability. It is not yet settled whether Mrs Beere will come to New Zealand.

Says a Wellington correspondent:—‘Of course there is very little going on in the social world in Wellington during Passion week. At Easter, however, there will be some gaiety, I fancy. At present everyone is busy arranging npconntry parties, boating picnics, etc., for Easter week. A great number of people are going to the Wairarapa for the holidays, so that the small townships there will be quite gay. The chief attractions, I fancy, are the races, which are generally very interesting.’

One of the smartest theatrical functions held in Auckland for some time will be the benefit to Mr W. Bentley next Saturday. Everyone is to be present, so I hear.

Miss Myra Kemble is about to open her season in Wellington, the opening piece to be * Dr. Bill,’ which is most amusing. In her company the good people of the Empire city will have the pleasure of seeing a Wellington face in the person of Mr Harry Diver, son of the late Dr. Diver, of Wellington. The company also includes Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Ada Hill, Mss Nellie Lyons, Miss Madge Cocoran, Miss Lillie Clitherow, and Messrs George Leopold, R. O. Harris, Edwin Lester, E. Leonard, and J. J. Welsh, many of whom are known to us.

SINCE the fire at the Bjnedictine Liqueur Factory in France Finlanders have been wearing, so to speak, sackcloth and ashes as a mark of sorrow for the loss of their favourite drink. No less than 30 per cent, of Benedictine brewed is drunk in Finland by about 100,000 people. ‘ Claret for boys, port for men, but brandy for heroes,’ said Dr. Johnson, but there was a limit even in the quantities drunk of these. The Fins, however, have not a very high opinion of homcepathic doses of their favourite drink in liquer glasses, and consequently they quaff it in tumblers, two or three men thinking nothing of putting away a couple of bottles. It seems a strange anomaly that the importation of whisky, which is certainly a much more harmless drink, should be prohibited on account of its great proportion of alcohol. I suppose the reason lies in the fact that the Finny tribe all drink like fish.

We usually look for new ideas of a rather unique kind from our Yankee cousins, but the French have lately quite eclipsed them. The latest Parisian addition to a mourning outfit is corsets d sanglots, or ‘ sobbing stays.’ The French dressmaker has reflected that when a woman sobs unrestrainedly, her frame undergoes certain physical expansions which might be fatal, or at least detrimental, to her toilette if she were clad in stiff, unyielding stays.

This is the way this addition to a fine lady’s toilet is made. A triangle of black elastic—for of course the corsets for a lady in mourning must necessarily correspond—is set at each side, and these ‘give’ with every violent outburst of grief. So that now Madame can sob bitterly and unrestrainedly, knowing that when she has overcome her emotion she will not need to grieve further for a bodice that has lost its perfection of fit by her exertions.

It is quite an open secret that a detective is disporting himself in Picton for a season. It is also evident that the romantic interest attached to the profession in America does not exist there, as we have yet to hear of any mysteriously f vsciaating lady killei appeviing in Pictonian society.

Most successful, except from a financial point of view, was the danee given in New Plymouth the other day under the au-ipices of the local cricket club. Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. The Alexandra was decorated with many flags, and in honour of the noble British game, round the walls were hnng innumerable batsand balls. The stage also was fitted up as a drawing room Mr Paul was M.C., and Mr Alfred Okey had acted as Secretary, both proving themselves ‘ good men and true.’ One thing rather interfered with the pleasure of the ball, however—the floor. It was terribly heavy.

Some very pretty frocks wete worn. Miss Woods, who was in great demand, looked her best in a low-necked dress of pink brocade with one of the now popular Marie Stuart collars, this being edged with pink beads ; the skirt of the dress was trimmed with shrimp pink lace. Mrs Paul wore a most handsome dress—black lace over moss-green satin, and aigrette of feathers of the same shade (a very smart dress which looked far better on its wearer than it does on paper). Miss Adelaide Rennell, in white tulle, danced vigorously; her white satin corsage fitted perfectly. Her sister, Miss E. Rennell, was perhaps the best dressed woman in the room. She was in pale pink, and a perfect cloud of broad ribbons. Miss Read was in brightest red satin and tulle, and had a good foil in Miss Raike’s subdued heliotrope and black lace. Miss R. Stuart wore a very pretty frock of some shimmery heliotrope shade, and her sister, Miss A. Stuart, white silk. Mrs Hall had on an amber striped gauze with satin bodice. An Auckland girl, Miss Atkinson, bad a good time, and looked well in pale pink cashmere. Mrs Millar looked matronly in handsome cardinal velvet and tnlle, and Miss Scully remarkably well in white Indian muslin and yellow sash. The supper was provided by the ladies, and was a great credit to their culinary ability.

The first of the ‘ at homes ’ or open nights of the Christchurch Musical Society took place on Tuesday after an hour’s practice. There were an unusually large number of members present, who with the sisters, cousins, and aunts made a great gathering. Songs and solos were given by the members, Miss Dora Meeson opening with a prettily played piano solo by Lizst. Mr F. M. Wallace favoured us with a genuine solo on his violin, being unaccompanied by piano. Mrs Kaye gave ‘ White Wings * with great expression, and looked exceedingly well in one of the latest gowns of very rough tweed of a brown shade with broad stripe and flecked with red and white, a pretty embroidered vest of biscuit' colour, brown and biscuit velvet bonnet ; Mrs Rout, Mrs Harrison, and Miss Richmond were the other ladies who sang, and Messrs Barkas and Day. The latter gave ‘ Margarita ’ in his best style.

It is expected that the new coinage will reach New Zealand about this time next year. Amongst the artists who are competing for the designs of the new sovereign, half sovereign, crown, half-crown, florin, and shilling, are Messrs Armstead, R.A-. Birch, A.R.A., Poynter, R.A., Thorncroft, R.A., and Ford, A.R.A.

Mr Woolxer, R.A., and Mr Gilbert, A.R.A., who were invited to send in their designs, declined, prompted possibly by the remembrance of the abuse which was very justifiably showered on the atrocities in coinage which were inflicted on a long suffering nation by the late Sir Edgar Boehm. Mr Gilbert’s refusal is the more to be regretted, inasmuch as he is a very able man, and whatever designs he might have prepared would have borne the stamp of originality and full knowledge of a most difficult subject.

Every now and then the fashionable kettle drum is con. ducted on exceptionally successful lines. Such an one was certainly the afternoon tea given by Mrs Archie Clark, Remuera, Auckland. Her numerous guests were delighted with their hostess, the house and grounds, and the particularly excellent refreshments provided.

Nose of the hotels of St. Louis will have the honor of sheltering Mme. Bernhardt. Not content with a full retinue of maids and servants, Madame is accompanied by a number of dogs, several birds and two or three snakes, whose companionship she absolutely declines to dispense with. Manager Abbey recently telegraphed to the Southern Hotel, reqnesting that a suite of rooms be reserved for her. The answer was sent that Mme. Bernhardt and her retinue of featherless bipeds would be gladly received, but that for her menagerie no quarters would be provided. For awhile the wires were kept hot with ardent appeals from one side, and heartless refusals on the other, and finally a decision was arrived at that Madame, rather than endure the pangs of separation from her pets, would abide with them in her private car. Sara tried both the Southern and Lindell, but neither place would house her pets.

The Costley Home, Auckland, has many benefactors, who from time to time provide suitable entertainments for its aged and infirm occupants. Mr and Mrs I’ickmere, ably assisted by their two daughters, Miss Baker, Miss Harrison, Messrs Clarke, Norman Bell, McLean, and O'Halloran, gave au excellent concert in the large dining-room of the Home, which seemed to afford great pleasure to the inmates.

The opening of the Dunedin hunting season on Saturday was a great success. The day wa« glorious, and the run ont to Mrs Jones’ beautiful place. Woodeaton, was in itself a pleasure, and many vehicles and horsemen were to be seen. After a capital run Mrs Jones, who is famed for her hospitality upon these occasions, entertained the visitors to afternoon tea

The Burnham school children had a picnic on Friday, going by launch to Port Levy. Several Christchurch friends, both ladies and gentlemen, joiner! the party, and had, I believe, a most enjoyable day. Mr Meers, photographer, Colombo street, also accompanied them, and no doubt took some interesting groups.

The dancing portion of the Timaruites are eagerly looking forward to a Fancy Dress Bill which the Rowing Club has in hand. At first a smoking concert was suggested, but it was pointed out by the ladies that this was a very selfish form of amusement, so it was decided to have the dance after Easter.

Mr A. Cracroft Wilsox, of Cashmere, met with a very serious accident last week. Some repairs to a drain were being done near the house, and in the dark, on returning from town, he fell into it and narrowly escaped his death, getting his face severely cut, and otherwise much bruised and shaken. lam glad to say he is progressing satisfactorily.

How far does the admittedly bad ventilation of churches keep people away fiom their religious duties? A number of people state that the gas and fcetid air which lingers from the last service are constantly causing ladies to faint, and that something ought to be done if everybody is not to give up church going for fear of the consequences. But to them rises up a stern moralist, who points the finger of scornful rebuke at the ungodly. How is it, he wants to know, that people stay away from church because the ventilation is bad, but go gaily to the theatre, where the ventilation is ten times worse ? Out of that tight place the complainants will find it very hard to wriggle. But the fact remains that most public buildings are exceedingly badly ventilated.

The Art Gallery at Christchurch opened its twelfth annual exhibition the other evening, and was fairly well attended. Seeing one’s friends and listening to the music is more of a first night’s business than seeing the pictures, though they are so decidedly good, a visit in the day time will be an oft-repeated pleasure during the week, especially as there is nothing to be done now bnt wait for Easter. Mr Maitland Gardiner and friends gave the musical programme, which was much enjoyed.

The little townthip of Brighton, Dunedin, was the scene of unwonted excitement, the other day, on theoccasion of the marriage of Mr David Finnie, of Moorlight, eldest son of Mr Thomas Finnie, of Saddlehill, to Miss Mary Christie, neice of Mr and Mrs Alex Christie of Brighton. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. Watt, of Green Island, and nearly the entire population of Brighton was present at the church. The wedding guests to the number of about forty, including several from Dunedin, were afterwards most hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs Christie, and in the evening a dance took place in the hall attached to Brighton House. The bride wore a very pretty gown of white cashmere, draped on the bodice with silk and lace. The two bridesmaids—Miss Finnie and Miss Hoslep—also wore white.

Mrs Mouxier is staying at the North Shore, and came over to Auckland city in a russet-brown dress, lace mantle, and black lace straw hat, trimmed with black.

To be twenty ; to be a Prince: and to have £60,000 a year: are, whether jointly or severally, very agreeable things indeed. Bnt unless the youthful possessor of these triple delights be reasonably level headed he is likely very soon to own somebody else’s experience while the other man will have the cash—or a good deal of it, In the instructive case of Prince Alexis Soltykoff which was before the Queen’s Bench Division the other day, there seems to have been a liberal expenditure even for a Prince with somethink more than £l,oooa week. Among other gallant trifles there was a diamond-mounted parasol bearing the monogram of the happy lady to whom it was given. That stood the princely revenues in a bagatelle of 250 guineas. Then there was a necklace of sapphires and brilliants, which totted up to £3,610 —a little (jage d'amour which (let us hope) went to the same lucky damsel. If we may take these outlays as a fair sample of the expenditure of the Russian young man of the diy who is ‘gilded on both sides,’ we need not wonder that the Czar’s paternal Government is anxious to retain Prince Alexis Soltykoff at home, where it can keep its eye upon him.

Mrs Johx Richmoxd, of Mount Eden, Auckland, is looking very well just now, the terrible neuralgia of the eyes from which she suffered so intensely some time ago, having apparently left her. She is wearing a pretty grey plaid skirt, with white silk blouse almost concealed by a black jacket, and a black feathered hat.

Now that the game season is commencing, the following hint from The Season should prove acceptable to sportsmen, and their lady friends :—‘ Should the bag contain anything very pretty —a bird of rare plumage, for instance—the best feathers are selected, labelled with the date, place, and sportsman's name. They are then kept until there are sufficient to make a commemorative fan. When it is at last mounted, the name, date and particulars respecting each feather should be placed on each of the divisions it forms. The frame is wood or ivory. The letters are best done in black or gold. In every case they should match the owner’s monogram placed outside the handle.’

MaXY people who will remember the very pleasant ‘ At Homes’given by Miss Janet Achurch during her stay in New Zealand, will be glad to learn that Miss Annis Montague, the prima donna of the Montague-Turner Opera Company, intends to follow her example. It is confidently expected the same success will attend her efforts.

The widow of General Grant has written a volume of autobiography and reminiscences, forwhich she has received £lO,OOO from her publisher, whose liberality has no doubt been stimulated by the enormous success of her husband’s memoirs.

Mrs Coleridge, of Wellington, gave an ‘At Home’ in honour of the anniversary of Mr and Mrs W. T. L. Travers’ wedding day, at which a large number of guests assembled. It took the form of a musical evening, and Miss Gore, Captain Barclay, Mr Wardrop, and Mr Beesley (a vis’tor to Wellington) all gave great pleasure by their singing. Mrs Coleridge received in a handsome black gown, trained, and Mrs Travers wore her beautiful wedding dress of cream satin and lace, and carried a bridal bouquet. Among the guests were the Hon. Charles and Mrs Johnston, Miss Johnston (Fitzherbert Terrace), Dr. and Mrs Newman, Mr and Mrs George Beetham, Mr and Mrs W. Ferguson, Mr and Mrs Parfitt, Miss Holmes, etc. The rooms were prettily decorated, as was also the supper table. A very pleasant evening was spent.

After a long period of almost deathly silence Louise Michel, the famous • Red Maid ’ of the terrible day, of the last French Commune, is beard from again’ and now on English soil. She is still at her old business of instigating anarchy, although her mission was hands at present. An idea of the means chosen by her to ameliorate their condition may be gathered from extracts from her speeches, which are so modest that they merely suggest, in a sense, the almost wholesale destruction of all the life and property in sight of those who do not exactly coincide with her views. Like many others of the same ilk, she makes the balls, but to roll them, oh, no ! That is for the poor fellows of the rank and file to do. While they are displaying their devotion to the cause by starving themselves, Louise is living on the fat of the land. It seems that there must be grave errors in the laws of both America and England that a clapper cannot be put on the mouths of such creatures as Louise Michel, Herr Most and others of their kind until they have practically done their mischief.