THE SOCTAL WORLD

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1557, 26 February 1920, Page 26

THE SOCTAL WORLD

Announcements of engagements and contributions of interest relating to weddings and social gatherings should be sent to Lady 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 In all cases the writer’s signature and address must be attached (not for publication).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.

Mrs Henley, Napier, left by the Rimutaka for England.

Miss Winifred Isitt, Dunedin, has left on a visit to England.

Mr. Buckleton, Bank of New Zealand, and Mrs Buckleton and family, are staying for the present at the Hotel Cecil, Wellington.

Mrs. Paul Studholme and the Misses Studholme have returned to Christchurch, after two months spent in the North Auckland district.

Miss Mildred Emery, of Musselburgh, Otago, has left for Melbourne, where she intends to continue her musical studies at the Conservatorium.

The engagement has been announced of Mrs Hay, widow of Major Bruce Hay, to Mr. H. R. Blomfield, St. Stephen’s Avenue, Auckland.

Miss M. Wilkie, cookery instructress at the Southland Technical College, has beeh appointed lady, principal of the Christchurch Technical Girls’ ■Hostel. . •>’

Mr. and Mrs Ernest Bloomfield and Miss Margot Bloomfield, Auckland, left by the Maheno for Sydney, whence they join the O sterley for England.

“In Sydney,” said the Rev. S. J. Hoban, of the Sydney Mission, at a lecture in Wellington, “the mission provides for business girls well-fur-nished bedrooms with gas rings, for ten shillings a week. Less elaborately furnished rooms, but with the same conveniences, can be got for seven shillings per week.”

“I like old Linkumdoddie,” he said. “I’ve a kind of pull with him, for I spoke a word in the right quarter about his peerage, and I think he knows it.” “Linkumpdoddie,” murmured Lady Penelope Wyper, “I’m sure there’s no such name in the peerage.” “You’ll find it in the Profiteerage,” Mr. Normand whispered.—“ The Island of Sheep,” by Cadmus and Harmonia.

In “Kissing Time,” J. C. Williamson’s latest musical success in Melbourne, there are seven frocks the material in which cost no less than 12 guineas pei* yard and was specially imported by the 'firm. It is now unobtainable in any part of the world. Nothing so amazing in the way of a dress display has ever been seen in an Australian theatre, but the effect achieved, the firm says, is worth the money.

A writer in a London paper says: My hairdresser has been warning me against the habit of wearing my hat indoors, a habit into which so many women are slipping nowadays, largely, perhaps, on account of the restaurant habit and in business because of the improved positions of the feminine sex with their come-in-and-out-as-you-please and mid-morning coffee privileges. According to the above authority, however, the habitual wearing of hats all day will quickly ruin the best head of hair, not only causing it to'fall out and lose its colour, but to acquire a flat, lank, lifeless appearance. There certainly have never been so many hair-worried women as at the present time. The same hairdresser assured me that nerves had a lot to do with the quantity and quality of the hair, playing the same havoc as they do with the complexion. “The worrying woman,” he said, “has very rarely a good head of hair, whilst her more easy-going sister retains her vitality and shows it in every hair of her head.” Therefore, keep calm, and keep your beauty.

The wedding took place in Nelson, on February 12, of Miss Constance Gertrude Webb, youngest daughter of the late Colonel W. H. Webb,at one time stationed in Wellington, to Mr. Kennedy Alexander Sclanders, eldest son of the late Mr. James Sclanders and of Mrs Sclanders, of Nelson. The ceremony was performed by Bishop Mules, assisted by the Dean of Nelson, Dr. Weeks. The bridesmaids were the Misses Sclanders, Githa Hoby, Rhona Webb and Edna Houlker, and the bride was given away by her brother, Majoi’ G. R. Holden Webb. Mr. M. E. F Airey, a fellow officer of the bridegroom in the Eastern Extension Cable Company’s service, was best man. After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Edwards, Collingwood Street. Prior to leaving New Zealand for the East, which will be in three or four months’ time, Mr. ahd Mrs. Sclanders will make a tour of the Dominion.

The wedding took place at the Synagogue, Wellington Terrace, on February 17, of Miss Rosa Van Staveren, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. -Van Staveren, to. Mr. Roland Isaacs, only son of Mr. and Mrs Philip Isaacs, The Terrace, Wellington. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Van Staveren, assisted by the Rev. Pitkowski. The bride and bridegroom were given away by their respective parents; the bride was attended by Miss Rita Isaacs, of Dunedin, cousin of the bride, as bridesmaid, and her little niece Zara Manoy as a flower girl. The best man was Mr. I. Van Staveren, and the groomsmen Mr. B. Manoy and Mr. B. Van Staveren. The canopy under which the picturesque ceremony takes place was supported by the three little nephews of the bride,Frank, Phil, and Ted Manoy. The bride’s dress was of pale pink georgette, beautifully draped .. over silver tissue, with embroidery of silver and lace, and she wore a tulle veil, fastened with orange blossoms, and carried a bouquet of pale pink carnations with a touch of pale blue.

A pretty wedding was solemnised at All Saints’ Church, Palmerston North, on February 17, when Mr. James Leslie Nash, eldest son of Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P. (Mayor of Palmerston North), and Mrs. Nash, was married to Miss Maude Roberts, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Roberts, of Pohangina. Miss Frances Metcalf and Miss Rene Roberts were bridesmaids, and Mr. H. W. Nash was best man. .

A new fashion in bridal bouquets was set by Miss Dorothy Sturgis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sturgis and granddaughter of George Meredith, at her marriage to Cafitain George MacDonald, M.C., of the Gordon’ Highlanders, and grandson of George MacDonald, the Scottish author, at St. Margaret’s, Westminster, London. She carried a large flat Early Victorian posy of white flat Early Victorian posy of white

heather, and her bridesmaids’ bouquets, in rings of yellow and bronze chrysanthemums, edged with mimosa, were also of that period. The bridesmaids’ dresses of bright • sapphire blue crepe taffetas, with long veils to match, formed a very effective setting for the bridal gown of white chiffon velvet, and were greatly admired.

The fashion correspondent of “The Times” in Paris states that new fashions are being prepared, which permit a wide variety, high and low necks and waist lines, long and short sleeves, and broad and narrow pleats; but everything is draped. The correspondent, after a study of the models, forecasts the defeat of the attempt to reintroduce the crinoline, adding that wide hips are vanishing, and most models are slight-hipped, with the hip-draperies tight and flat. The most popular material is silk, and a number of new silken fabrics, including a brilliant preparation called “seduisia.”

Dr. W. H. Parkes, C.M.G., C.8.E., and Mrs. Parkes are visiting Dunedin. Dr. Parkes is attending the Medical Conference.

Mrs Arthur Myers intends leaving with her family for England in May. Mr. D. Nathan, of Auckland, will take the Hon. A. and Mrs. Myers’ home in Auckland during their absence.

' Prior to hex* departure from Rotorua Miss Hilda Nixon, of the staff of the King George V. Hospital, was presented with a handsome leathex* bag and a pair. of moccasins on behalf of the patients in recognition of her services.

The theory that dark girls are cleverex* than fair ones, propounded by a well-known kinema producer, was submitted to a number of scientists who have studied the uestion of coloration. There was general agreement among them that dark people, male and female, are quickwitted and imaginative, while fair people on the whole are more hardheaded but a little slowex* in mental response. “Red-haired people,” said an anthropologist, “are of a very high average of intelligence, and it is noticeable that red-haired girls quickly marry; there are very few redhaired old maids.”

A brilliant and unique occasion at Melbourne Her Majesty’s, on February 5, was the official Commonwealth Government performance of “The Sleeping Beauty” pantomime, given by J. C. Williamson, Ltd.’, in honour of, and in the presence of, General Sir William Birdwood. The theatre was a dazzlingly beautiful spectacle with its electric and floral decorations, and in the dress circle and stalls were gathered a host of distinguished people—-vice-regal, political, naval, and military, in addition to the Consuls of the Allies and representatives of public-, commercial, and othei* bodies.. The performance was attended by the Governor-General and Lady Helen Ferguson, and the Lieutenant-Gover-nox* and Lady Irvine. It was, altogether, a memorable occasion.

Here is a personal impression by a London writer of the Prince of Wales: “One’s instant impression of the Prince is that he belongs wholly to the class of young Englishmen who have an in-bred abhorrence of self-display. No Englishman in the land could be freer than he is from {.“side” or. pretence of any sort. His honest open face, and that clear and steady gaze of his, his whole air of clean, hardy youth, tell theix* own story. The Prince strikes one as a rather delightful mingling of boyishness and maturity. He looks younger than his years, and in many ways—the right ways—he is. His manner has still something of the hesitancy of one who is naturally as shy as he is generous, who is'ripening late, and 1 who finds his position in life not. without its bewilderments. But of him one can safely prophesy that experience will bring the fight touch of assurance without spoiling his charm.” .

A very brilliant reception was given by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne (Cr. the Hon. J. G. Aikman) and the Lady Mayoress (Mrs. J. L. Stein) in the Melbourne Town Hall on January 23, at which General Sir William Birdwood was the guest of honour. Their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Helen Munro Ferguson were present. The Lady Mayoress wore a draped frock of pink satin charmeuse of a rich rose du Barri tone. The deep tunic bodice was of vellum-coloured lace, embossed in gold thread, and there was a sash train of the pink. Her Excellency wore an exquisite frock of old gold brocaded ninon, exquisitely draped;: at.. the waist was a deep belt of' hydrangea blue tissue and gold. Web' lace finished the bodice and formed the short sleeves. An Ordex* sash of' purple was worn and the D.B.E. decoration. Beautiful sapphires were' worn with her diamonds, and a diamond circlet was set in the hair.

An extraordinary number of babies were born in London and the other great towns of the United Kingdom during the week ended December 20. According to the returns of the Regis-trar-G‘eneral, the number- of births was 2676 in London —more than in any corresponding week this century —while 10,368 babies were born in the 96 great towns., (including London), which is about 20 or 25 per cent .more than in pre-war years. “An increase of births has always happened after great wars,” said a doctor, “but so many men have been killed and disabled in the great world war that we scarcely expected the usual rule to be followed.” s • » • The English woman is certainly at her best at night (writes a Sydney lady in the “Sunday Times”). Where the American seems to bother little about evening clothes, except for gala occasions, the Englishwoman, from her severe day clothes, blossoms out during the evening in the most exquisite creations. She usually has beautiful hair and a faultless complexion, and an air that distinguishes her from the women of any other nation, for in London she mingles with women of most of the other nations. Yet, with all the American smartness and the English distinction, I have come to the conclusion since my return to Australia that the Australian woman can well hold her own with either. She has a vivacity of manner that is utterly lacking in the American or the English. The long, tight skirts of New York (said the writer) were unknown, except when worn by American visitors, and looked queer beside the trim anklelength and comfortable straight lines of the skirt from Paris. Evening gowns were still trmimed with ostrich feathers, and a fashion just as charming was the bead trimming dyed by French experts to match the tone of the gown.