SHOPS AND SHOPPING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 17, 23 April 1892, Page 436

SHOPS AND SHOPPING.

(BY MADAME MILLICENT.) HAVE been wandering about seeking for {gJ-Ti? novelties for an after-Easter dinner-party. It is so dreadfully difficult to find anything Ajv new uow a < l a J’ s - Sometimes one has a brilfer' liant idea, and one hugs it with enthusiasm, dreams of it, then carries it out. Hurrah ! It is successful. How charmed one is ! Then enter one’s special friend. ‘ What do you think of that, my dear?’ ‘That? Why. I saw something just like it at the Citron’s last week !’ Utter collapse of one’s happiness.

But really here is a new style of menu card. They must be of paper, and must resemble exactly a leaf. An ivy leaf is pretty ; a laurel leaf affords a nice space for the menii. The paper is, of course, a delicate green. It is so much handier, even for a small dinner party, to have the names of the guests written on cards in their plates, that almost every one adopts this plan now. To match the leaf menus, the cards should also be leaves—much smaller ones, of course, or simply slips of pale green paper. Tie these to a little bouquet of appropriate flowers, with pale pink ribbon or pale yellow. Some other rather pretty styles of mentis were just painted flowers—a lily is a good one—with the menCr written in the centre. An aquatic luncheon should have a couple of oars crossed, or even a single oar, with the menfi wiitten on it. Horseshoe-shaped cards are appropriate to a hunt supper, or a dinner to frequenters of the turf. A pretty notion for this sort of thing is a white horseshoe with scarlet ruched paper around it. The names could be written on pretty little cards cut in the shape of a jockey's cap.

The worst of shopping is that it makes one so fearfully thirsty, end I welcomed the sight of Bertha slowly sauntering up the street, knowing full well that the hospitable little soul would speedily discover my lamentable condition, and somehow or other provide me with some alleviation of my sufferings. And I was quite right. She insisted on

dragging me off—a most willing captive—to her hotel, fo. they are not yet in their new house. Here in a private sit ting-room she produced the most charming little tea kettle, spirit-lamp, caddy, and cups and saucers. ‘ I always make my own tea,’ she explained. VVe rang for milk, and presently were enjoying a most delightful and refreshing cup of tea. • How delicious this is !’ I exclaimed. ‘ Where did you get the tea, and what is the name of the blend ?’

Bertha laughed. ‘ I got it from Messrs John Earle and Co , Queen street, Auckland. He won five prizes at the Dunedin Exhibition, you know. It is only 2r a pound, and is called Indian Fekoe. It is so strong and nicely flavoured, that one teaspoonful will make four of these small cups of afternoon tea. He has a splendid choice of teas to suit all palettes. The Golden Pekoe at 2s 6d is excellent. He blends them himself, and they are genuine and delicious. Drop in as you go home and get a list from him.’ This I was anxious to do, and the talk drifted away to Bertha’s husband. It appeared that the next day was his jourde jete, and Bertha had invested in a new scarf-pin for him. It is shaped like a flat ring, but has a little clasp behind, so that it holds the tie well in place, and can be put on without so much crushing and crumpling as frequently takes place. Bertha was also in hopes that it might save some of the strong adjectives frequently lavished on the unoffending pin or scarf. I did not like to damp her enthusiasm over her purchase, but long experience has taught me that men are awfully funny in their likes and dislikes, and what a woman thinks a very bright idea, and a most useful article, they will frequently turn up their moustaches at.

Apropos of men’s attire, there is a rumour of a novelty for next spring. This colony—as Bertha and I frequently lament—is terribly slow in adopting new ideas, though I must say we are not half as behind the times as some London journals would have their readers believe. This time it is rot a neck scarf, but something very dainty in shirts. The fashion comes from London, of course, and will be very popular here for a time. Blue, lavender, and pink of the most delicate tints have been made into shirts, and when the early spring days come every swell about town will have to wear one or confess he is not in the fashion. The price of these adjuncts of a man’s wardrobe puts them out of the reach of many. Until the price is greatly reduced only the wealthy can enjoy such luxuries. I think I shall save up and buy Tom some for his birthday in October. Thafs the sort of wife a man likes !