GARDEN PARTY AT CINTRA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1335, 25 November 1915, Page 30

GARDEN PARTY AT CINTRA.

Fate was unkind to the efforts of the Wholesale traders, who are making such an effort in the Patriotic Carnival on behalf of their Queen, Mrs. W. H. Parkes. The garden party arranged to be held in the beautiful grounds of “Cintra,” the home of the Hon. A. M. Myers, had to be adjourned on the first occasion on account of the inclemency of the weather, and when all arrangements were again made last week the weather once more proved fickle. During the morning: the sky was heavy and threatening; but became better before two o’clock,, when the green lawns and spacious; walks began to fill with life and colour. Stalls were everywhere, and! made an artistic display of Mrs. Parkes’ colours, blue and white. Na formal opening took place. The visitors came freely, and crowded the stalls, which were loaded with things beautiful, edible and useful. The tearoom, which was arranged on the sunken tennis court as a cafe chantant, under the direction of Mrs. Benjamin and Mrs. B. Milsom, did a large business in strawberries and cream. Dances were given at intervals by pupils of Miss Daphne Knight in their well-known able manner, and everything blended in the enjoyment of the afternoon. Unfortunately the evening set in with a heavy rainstorm and spoilt the success of the evening’s entertainment.

“No fashionable costumes are worn in France, and all new creations are sent to England, where women dress just the same as they did prior to the declaration of war,” said Miss Adela Compton Legge, of North Sydney, who ' returned to Sydney the other day. I “France,” she said, “is brave and self- | sacrificing, and the gay Parisian type has entirely disappeared. Nearly , everybody is in mourning, the women wearing deep crepe veils, hanging right down to the hem of their skirts. : Those who are not actually in mourning are clad in dark blue, as a rule, i No bright costumes are worn. Though I there are still some people who have lost neither relatives nor money . directly through the war, they refuse : to indulge in useless amusements, out j of respect to their friends who have | been affected. Paris is very sad and depressing, but Paris is also very brave and patriotic. The wealthy practice every economy, but they free- ' ly give their money to the different funds. Hoarding up money for themselves is regarded as a sin.” I