THE SOCIAL WORLD

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1383, 26 October 1916, Page 28

THE SOCIAL WORLD

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Announcements of engagements and contributions of interest relating to weddings and social gatherings should be sent to Eady Editor, “Sporting and Dramatic Review” Office, Auckland. In all cases the writer’s signature and address must be attached (not for publication). Photographs of wedding groups will be reproduced by arrangement. Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool paid a short visit to Christchurch last week, where she was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. G. Rhodes. * * * * Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Wilford have returned to Wellington from a visit to Auckland, where Mr. Wilford delivered a war lecture in aid of the Red Cross appeal. * * * * The engagement is announced in the Christchurch “Star” of Miss Genevieve Keddell, youngest daughter of Mrs. Keddell, of Invercargill, and of the late Major Keddell, of Oamaru, to Mr. R. S. Williams, of Christchurch. Mr. Williams will leave with the next reinforcements to join the Naval Motor Boat Patrol. * * * * Miss Winifred Cotter, of Auckland, was married in Sydney recently to Mr. Ambrose Gaffney, of Hawthorn. Their new home is in Sydney. * * * ♦ Miss E. Gibbs, of Dunedin, has left for England, where her marriage to Mr. Skinner will take place. * V V * Mrs. B. B. Wood, of Christchurch, is visiting Wellington, and is the guest of Mrs. R. J. Seddon, Golder’s Hill. * * S*. * A jolly little dance arranged by a committee of men was held in Christchurch in aid of the Red Cross Fund. They comprised Messrs. Lewis, Evans, Salt, Sead-Gowring, and L. H. Roberts (secretary). The chaperones were Mrs. Chaffey, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Prendergast, Mrs. Sead-Gowring, Mrs A. Evans, and Mrs. Watkins. * * * * The Wellington “Post” announces the engagement of Miss Chrissie Stevens, daughter of Mr. Robert Stevens, Lower Hutt, to Sergt. F. O. Austin, of the 18th Reinforcements. * * * * Miss Gladys Merton, of Christchurch, has left for England. On arrival she joins the staff of the Walton-on-Thames Hospital. * sjs sj» * Mrs. M. M. Wilcher, formerly of the Melbourne Women’s Hospital, has just been appointed a policewoman in Adelaide. Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Wilcher had for some months held the position of Inspectress of Licensed Fostermothers in South Australia State Children’s Department. 5? * - * * The wedding of Miss Adeline Burn, of Wanganui, and Mr. F. G. O’Neill, of H.M.S. Pyramus, took place at Brooklyn Anglican Church, Wellington, on October 9. * * * ♦ Mr. and Mrs. William Gill, of Wellington, celebrated their golden wedding on October 17 with a large family gathering. Sir Robert and Lady Walker, who have been on a visit to Fiji, returned to Auckland by the Makura. * * * * Sister Nutsey, late of St. Helens Hospital, who has been nursing at the Military Sanatorium at Rotorua, has returned to the front. She left origin-, ally with the first contingent of nurses for England, and was subsequently invalided back to New Zealand after contracting enteric fever while nursing in Egypt. * * * ♦ The engagement is announced in the “N.Z. Times” of Miss Grace Beatrice Price, daughter of Mrs. A. Price, Wellington, to Mr. John C. Mardel, second son of Commander J. C. Mardel, R.N., London. Mr. Mardel is a returned soldier. # * * * The principal delight of General Joffre, so asserts a biographer, is to listen to or participate in music in his hours of relaxation. The general’s wife is an accomplished pianist and he himself has an agreeable baritone voice and a thorough knowledge of the French classic repertoire.

Miss Fendail has been appointed to take charge of the Myers Kindergarten in Myers Park, Auckland. * ♦ -r *- Miss G. W. B. Edwards, of Timaru, has left for Melbourne, where she will enter the musical profession. * * * * Miss Kate Fulton, of Napier, has left for England, where she will join the Walton-on-Thames Hospital. * * * ♦ The letter from the Front —Sensible of the Censor: “My Dear Mother, — Just a line to let you know I am quite well as it leaves me at present, but I am not allowed to say so. —I remain, your loving son, Walter.” — “Bystander.” * « s:< =:= Mrs. E. Bloomfield, of Auckland, has gone to Trentham, where her husband. Lieutenant Bloomfield, is in camp. * * * ♦ Mrs. A. Richards gave a most successful Red Cross tea in St. Sepulchre’s schoolroom, Auckland. Musical items were given by Mrs. Malcolm, Miss Mary McCormick, Miss G-over and Miss Helena Venables. The Rev. Mr. Lambert gave a ventriloquial turn. * * * ♦ Mrs. A. Boyle, president of the Red Cross Society in Christchurch, has been on a short visit to Auckland, and was staying at the Grand Hotel.

Aucklanders will be interested in the following paragraph, culled from Melbourne “Punch”: —A wedding of more than usual interest was celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on Tuesday, 26th September, between Mr. Ambrose Gaffney, of Hawthorn, Melbourne, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. T. Gaffney, of Gippsland, and Miss Winnifred Cotter, daughter of the late Mr. T. Cotter and Mrs. Cotter, of Auckland. The pretty bride, who was given away by her sister (Mrs. Haines, of Auckland), wore a beautiful gown of white taffeta, with a bouffant tunic of fine lace. An allpink hat was worn, and a posy of forget-me-nots and primroses was carried. The bridegroom’s gift to the bride was a diamond and enamel ring. Miss Daisy Hay, of Coolangatta, who was in attendance as bridesmaid, wore a dainty frock of white taffeta, with a large black hat. Her posy of yellow roses gave a soft touch of colouring. The bridegroom’s gift to her was a gold cigarette-case. Mr. Thomas Gaffney supported his brother as best man. After the ceremony a reception was held at “Pareli,” Darlinghurst, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Morton, who were assisted by their daughters in entertaining. The rooms were decorated with a profu-

sion of arum lilies and pink roses, and the tables were arranged with forget-me-nots and primroses. On leaving, the bride wore a black and white checked coat and skirt, and a limecoloured hat. The guests included: Miss Lettie Gaffney and Messrs. Hubert and Tom Gaffney (sister and brothers of the bridegroom), Lady Hay, Mrs. David Hay, the Misses Hay, Mrs. Sam Hordern, Mr. and Mrs. Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Meeks, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. McQuade. Many handsome presents and cheques were received. * Ms • * Miss Daphne Knight has reason to be proud of the result of her dance recital, which attracted crowded attendances at His Majesty’s Theatre last Tuesday and Wednesday. The entertainment was in aid of the Serbians, and the sale of sweets and programmes by a bevy of maidens further augmented the receipts. A delightful programme was presented, over 100 performers participating and reflecting the highest credit on their able teacher by their clever interpretative dancing. The spectacular scena “Pan in Arcadia” was admirably conceived, Miss Kathleen Major, the dominant note, revealing a clear understanding of its allegory. “The Spring Ballet” was another spectacle

of infinite charm, its dramatic value being readily grasped by Mrs. H. S. Malcolm as Winter, Miss M. Webbe as Spring, and Mr. G. Dawson as the Sun-God. The groupings of the children and the interpolated dancing formed a pretty supplement to the story. In the numerous solo items Mrs. Malcolm was outstandingly successful in the “Dying Swan” dance, her interpretation being marked with a fine sense of artistry. Miss Ruby Phillips met with special favour for her spirited Russian dance, and was obliged to give an encore. Dainty little Miss Rosa Sachs was also marked for distinction, her work, as on former occasions, being of a high order. A tiny five-year-old mite, Molly Hutchings, astonished everyone with her excellent portrayal of “The Springtime of Youth,” and had a great ovation, the diminutive maiden acknowledging it with . perfect sang froid. Romantic and classical dances of enchanting loveliness were given in turn by Miss Knight’s talented pupils, and each inspired due admiration and applause. There was a charming belldance featured with Miss Madoline Knight, a Chinese ballet, a marionette pantomime, the Entente Cordiale, most dainty dances by Miss Harrison,

and as a notable finale a sparkling cabaret scene, in which Miss Rita Sullivan gave the requisite ragtime touches with plenty of verve, assisted by Mr. Frank Egerton’s orchestra. At the close of the entertainment bouquets and sweets were showered on all the performers, Miss Daphne Knight being presented with a handsome travelling trunk as a token of appreciation from her pupils. * * * The engagement is announced of Miss K. Farrell, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Farrell, of Invercargill, to Mr. P. F. Depine, of Mt. Eden, Auckland. Prior to his departure for camp, Mr. Lepine was presented with a cheque from his employers, Messrs. Brown, Barrett and Co., and a wristlet watch from his fellow employees. Mrs. Charles Pearce, of Hobson Street, Wellington, has just returned from a visit to Australia. •k * Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fenwick, of Auckland, have been holidaying in the South. :j; # * Such simple books as nursery rhyme books have been refused admission to Germany, said Sir Charles Hunter in the House of Commons on August 10, complaining of the regulations as to sending books to prisoners of war in Germany. ❖ ❖ ❖ Miss Sara Allgood, the leading spirit in the great J. and N. Tait success, “Peg o’ My Heart,” declares that she spent the happiest time of her life as a member of the Irish Players in Dublin. Though she only played as an amateur, there were many compensations for the long, gruelling hours of study and rehearsal. Personally, she found extreme pleasure in the life which brought her into contact with the leading litterateurs and w.ts of Ireland. Also there were the little intimate excursions to remote Irish localities for the purpose of acquiring local color for their parts, not to mention the delightful “Saturday to Mondays” when the company went to London, giving two performances on the Saturday and returning home on the following day. “Taking it all in all,” said Miss Allgood, “it was all very wonderful and thrilling to me.” « * * The inside history of the production of “Peg o’ My Heart” is interesting and romantic. The play had :ts inception in the fertile brain of Miss Laurette Taylor, who was destined to captivate the people of two great nations by her wonderfully complete and sympathetic creation of the role. Miss Taylor outlined her thought to, Mr. J. Hartley Manners, a young Irish actor and playwright, who ’ set about moulding Peg into a stage figure,, with Miss Taylor’s help. Out of this, association there also developed a romance in real life, and the player became the wife of the author. * ♦ * • Cecil Brooking, who gives a clever impersonation of Alaric Chichester in the brilliant J. and N. Tait success, “Peg o’ My Heart,” is a great Shakespeare worshipper and is well up in the vast and growing literature on the subject of the Bard’s writings. Like many other Bardolators, as Bernard Shaw calls them, Mr. Brooking has made the pilgrimage to the house in Stratford-on-Avon, where the world’s greatest poet was born. Every year hundreds of people visit the house, and many of the visitors, are American tourists. Mr. Brooking remembers encountering one of these people during his own inspection c>f Shakespeare’s old home. The man was very loud and affable, and seized with a desire for nfcrmaton, inquired about everything that came under his'notice. When he saw the signatures'of Byron and Scott scratched ou one of the windows with a diamond, he asked who they were. On being told he hazarded the guess that they were personal friends of the Bard. This; was too much for an Oxford Don who* was standing by. “Oh, no,” he said in his sweetest manner, “they were not exactly Shakespeare’s friends.. Let us call them d’stant acquaintances.” I ;*

There is no toilet preparation so welcome as Scrubb’s Ammonia. It is quite a necessary stimulant, and the morning bath is never so refreshing without it. Again, at night it is a helpful soother and cleanser added to the warm bath; indeed, it has been recommended medically for tired nerves as a sleep inducer, used in this way.

A magnificent outdoor performance of “Aida” was recently given in Philadelphia under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania. There was an audience of 20,000, and the presentation was on a gigantic scale and spectacular to an undreamed of extent. The principals engaged bore International reputations. The chorus and ballet, selected from the Metropolitan, Boston and Chicago Opera companies, numbered over one thousand, whilst the orchestra was composed of one hundred and sixty-five pieces. It is said that £7OOO was expended on the work. The stage settings and costumes were remarkable for their atmosphere of consummate

art, completeness of illusion and appearance of newness. The stage Itself, a huge structure, two hundred feet wide, and of proportionate depth, was flanked on either side by large canvas wings, the painting and frescoing of which was in keeping with the occasion.