SHOPS AND SHOPPING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 19, 7 May 1892, Page 484

SHOPS AND SHOPPING.

(BY

MADAME MILLICENT.)

ATTERS social were rather dull with Bertha iqk V an d lue ’ therefore we ecstatically hailed an inPr, vitation to attend a friend’s wedding in the piPfX/'fl country. We had togobytraintoAlexandra, r . thence a long drive took us—and shook us —to our destination. I was most unlucky. A box of mine, containing a ‘ mixed assortment,’ as Bertha informed our kind old host, Mr Andrew, of ladies’ apparel, was missing. (Shetold meafterwards thatshe knew there wasunderlinen and stockings in it, and she really couldnot mention them.) Mr Andrew telegraphed todifferent stations for the missing box, which we really thought might have managed to keep with the others, but we could learn nothing of it. Ella Andrew—the bride—at once suggested an excellent idea, which relieved us of all embarrassment.

Fortunately, my dress for the wedding was safely packed in Bertha’s basket-box, which keeps gowns so delightfully free from creases or crumple, so that I had only to supply various oddments necessary for our three weeks’ visit, for 1 gave up all hope of my own tin box turning up. Ella’s idea was to write to Messrs Smith and Caughey, Queen-street, Auckland, and ask them to send up immediately all that I ordered. Mrs Andrew produced their new price list, which they send anywhere free if asked. It is most complete, prices given in each case, and possesses first-class illustrations. It was quite fun picking out what I wanted, and Ella would keep turning to the gentlemen’s department and advising one of their new collars and ties ! But I am essentially a woman, and prefer a feminine style in my costumes. I was enchanted to receive the parcel quite as early as we had calculated it could possibly come, and was stiil more pleased to find that this firm charge Auckland prices to their country customers, and pay carriage anywhere. Mrs Andrew said she had friends in Palmerston North who got everything they wanted in this way, particularly enjoying the parcels advertised to contain such and such things, all of which were well worth the money. Ella always called them ‘ Bran Pies,’ though she owned she had never heard of anyone who was disappointed in them.

The wedding went off splendidly. Ella had procured an old trunk and stuck on it all the used labels she could find, hunting some very ancient ones off a grandmotherly sort of box in the attic. She declared no one should know she was a bride on her journey to Auckland, and entreated that there should be no rice and no slippers—the usual pagan symbols of a nineteenth century Christian wedding. But we just bided our time.

The bride’s travelling costume was lovely. It was a new fancy material beautifully made. Her cloak was handsomely braided, and, with the hat, came from Messrs Smith and Caughey. But the gem of all was this same hat. Bertha and I had each tried it on, and we agreed it seemed to suit almost any style of beauty. It was of fawn felt with pink ruching round the edge, pink and fawn feathers,

and a fawn bird daintily perched behind in a very unique fashion. (Of course I sketched it and got one myself in a similar make in blue felt. Bertha bought a black one.) A pink feather boa finished Ella's costume.

Off went our bride in grand style. She was much pleased because, there was apparently, no rice, and a critical examination failed to reveal any slippers attached to the carriage. She was to go down to Auckland by the early train the next morning, and quite a little crowd saw her off at the station. We were standing waiting for the train when it began to rain. Ella promptly put up her new umbrella, when down from inside it came a perfect bail of rice. The train came up at the moment, and a roar of laughter showed how thoroughly the joke was appreciated by the onlookers. If the umbrella had not been a particularly good one it would certainly have been broken by the vehemence with which she shut it, and banged a little inquisitive cur on the head because he was trying to sample the new sort of rain. But the umbrella was from the above-mentioned firm, who, by importing the cut material and other parts of the umbrella, can and do sell a really first-class article at wonderfully low prices, varying from 5s lid to 21s. They are made on the premises, and are of thoroughly good workmanship.

To return for a moment to our poor bride. The rice was not the last of her troubles. On board the steamer for Wellington her husband undid the rug and shawl which Bertha had officiously strapped up for Ella. Out tumbled a white slipper which had evidently seen some service in a ball-room. What the bridegroom said shocked the bride.

When Bertha and I returned to Auckland we were looking at the gloves imported by the firm which supplied the umbrella, and were specially pleased with the good kid of La Rosaria, which has a tiny gauntlet, and is only 5s lid and 6s lid a pair. Here we heard a curious story. Mr Smith took a boy into the men’s department on a month’s trial. After a week had passed the foreman declared he was no good at all, so Mr Smith told him gently that he had mistaken his vocation in life. Next day the mother came and declared the boy was not in the wrong place ; he was a born draper. ‘ Try him at millinery, sir,’ she pleaded. Rather amused, Mr Smith allowed him to trim a hat, and was much surprised at the result. The boy is a man-milliner, and is now with the firm, and several customers insist that he and none other shall trim their chapeaux. How proud Auckland will be if it can produce a genius equal in his particular line to M. Worth of Paris !