HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2141, 25 July 1907, Page 1

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

By “Ponelope.” Wellington. VA RlO US FUNCTIONS. Socially speaking, this week has been rattier a whirl. Some verv dissipated folk begin their engagements with a morning tea in town, attend perhaps two At Homes or a progressive bridge party in the afternoon, a.i 1 trail out, wearily, to a dance in the evening. There have been two large receptions, one given by Mrs V.A Hie at Miss Partridge’s, where, since Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Wyllie

came from England, they have been staying—and the other at Airs. Amelins Smith’s. Both were quite delightful, with charming flowers, pleasant company, dainty refreshments, and bright music. At the latter affair there was a fortune-teller

eagerly beset by many inquirers into their futures. I bad the. minimum of faith in such prophetesses —particularly since the one, gazing into my tea-cup, announced she saw drink in tins cup—but I thought I’d give it another trial. She was also a “tea-cup lady”—indeed the same. She foresaw weird events in th? leaves. My husband was in a week

—it was only a short time to wait—to receive tremendous advancement of position. It really sounded as though be might be suddenly installed as Governor, or be asked to till the Chief Justice’s place while Sir Robert takes a rest after bis gout attack. At any rate, I was told, “’■e’ll come straight and tell -oil. which is what most ’usbands don’t do though they should.” It was altogether an instructive and amusing five minutes, though incredulity was uppermost. One young married lady emerged very pleased with her fortune. “She says I’ll never be a widow,” she told us beamingly. On mature consideration and the kind explanation from us that if so she would have to die before her husband, the future for her took a less roseate hue. “Pour passer le temps” a fortune-teller is a first-class form of entertainment, but to a susceptible silly girl or woman she may do much

harm. Miss Christine Smith has Miss Margaret Wahlegrave staying with her, and the latter—a very love-

ly girl—wore tlie latest britelles and kimono sleeves in floral silk over her

white silk gown. This finish to a frock is quite the newest vagary of Madame La Mode, and consists in folds fischu-wise over the shoulders connected with a piece under the arm and a very wide, folded or tucked sleeve only reaching a few inches boiow the shoulder. To got the correct effect the armhole must be very huge, and the folded sash —with ends if it please you—must be of the Sami' material. To vary or smarten a frock such a little acquisition is invaluable. A DELIGHTFUL DANCE. Mrs Edwin Dean gave on Thursday last what is really' declared to be the most enjoyable dance of the season. It began with a swing and ended about three o’clock with a

mos' complimentary reluctance and much cheering for the host and hostess. The dance was given in honor of Miss Dean’s debut Her frock was white silk, veiled with a new kind of radium, almost t'i-aiiSpareiTt, "arranged with deep tucks and large Fiench knots. The hostess wore an exauisite grey chiffon velvet with silver and steel embroidery. Garlands of beautiful green lycopodium mingle! with red and piiik camellias decorated the walls, and the suppertables. each s.et for four, were cent ed with violets and jonquils and silver candelabra. Ibmv visitors to town were present, including Judge and Mrs and Miss Denniston, Miss Fraser, from Dunedin —who is with. Lady WardMrs Dean, from Napier, Miss Marie Nelson, from England, Miss Loughnan, from Sydney, and Miss Sim, from Dunedin. But there was an abundance- of men —indeed, some of them could not get their programmes full, which is a salutary experiences for I he too much pampered sex —and, unless they wore male, there were no wallflowers in the decorations. The young married women looked remaikabl.v well, even though an unusual number of pretty girls were present. Mrs Bucholz, Mrs. Frank Leckie, and Mrs. Arthur Young, in the opinion of many, carried off the palm. The first was one of tbo piettv Miss Eliotts, daughter of Mr. Huntley Eliott, and is charmingly girlish and graceful, dressing very sin,ply but in exquisite taste. Sirs Leckie is stately, of the Spanish type, with fascinating coloring, and suited her thick ivory satin and red roses admirably. Mrs Arthur Young was a Miss Simpson, and belongs to a notably handsome family. She is very tall, slight, and graceful, with dark hair anil eyes and dainty color. There was a dinner at the ’Wellington Club given by Mr. H. D. 801 l for tlie judges, and several men came on later to the dance. Judge Denniston was one of these, and his energetic dancing left no doubt as to his recovery from his illness. An

innovation in the programme is the rounding off of each set of dancers by a short waltz. It was rather delightful. and prevented the disorganised muddle that generally marks tiio conclusion of a square dance. ABOUT PEOPLE. Miss Hcsketh, of Auckland, is a guest of Mrs. Cooper, and has been to most of the gaieties of tin? week. Zpidee Nathan has come back from ho delightful Auckland visit, and Mrs Nathan, and two of her daughters, leave for Sydney this week. Mr a.il Mrs Yon Haasfc have come back from a holiday spent with Mrs Patullo, near Gisborne. Miss Rosalind Whitson, who has been to Rotorua for over two months, is staying a few

davs with Mrs. Malcolm llqs's on her way home to Dunedin. Miss Fraser, daughter of Mr. .Fraser, the Crown Prosecutor in Dunedin, is a guest of Lady Ward’s. Miss Abraham, of Palmerston North, is staying with Miss Higginson, and' Mrs. Putman, from the ’same too n, is with her mother, Mrs. Finch. Mrs Balhince, who is well again after an attack of diphtheria, is with her nephew, Dr. Anderson. Bv ;the Sydney boat last weel. left Mr. Percy Duller, for an Australian holiday, and Mr. Mylne, wh) is taking a six months’ trip to England. Mv. and Mrs. H. M. Simpson, Mr. Biss. Mrs. McCarthy, and Mr. Cl. Plimiuer, have gone, to the South Seas, and in a month Mi... W Kennedy, his wife and daughter, take the same delightful trip. The engagement of Miss 'May Mhitelaw, sister of Mrs. J. D. Gray, to Mr. P'-immer, second officer of the Kimutaka, is announced.

Various delightful functions are in tho near future.. Victoria College students give their annual ball tins week, and the Race Ball—by tar the most gorgeous dance in point ot expenditure of the season/ takes place or. Thursday. Our Savages entertain tlieii lady friends next Saturday with what is going to be a most original programme. A ball —described to me as a “snorter” —is to be piven to open tho new Wellesley Club -which is still a-building. The races too, take place on Wednesday and Saturday of this week. THE FIRST RACE DAY. Saturday last was tlie first day Ox tli_* races, and the- weather was not too pleasant, though the rain kept oli The sensation of the day to tlie women was the winning of a double —£l3o —by a well-known Wellington lady in partnership with a man. On Jit that a member of the Ministry was also successful in a- double. Tlie Governor and the new aide—Lieut. I,yon—were present, and quite a number of members qf both Houses. Wednesday, however, is to be the dc i when important visitors are entertained by the elub, and if the weather is fair, I glial! be able to

irjve you an account of the cvmvi flu;; attends on that day. Sealskin; were, tin.' most noticeable wraps lasi week, and one lady displayed a magnificent coat down to her heels. Tilt envious women who watched her sail in a tone of deepest commiseration. “How uncomfortable she must fee] in that heavy coat!” The Premier ail Lady Ward were present. I hoar the latter is receiving crowds of visitors. NOTES FROM THE LADIES' GALLERY. The gallery was crowded to overflowing oil the night the Premier delivered his Financial Statement. This feminine rush to hour Sir -Joseph read long 'lists of dull figures a i l descant on land and tariff matter-, is quite incomprehensible, hut there is a vague idea that it is the correct thing to do, especially for. the strangers who are within our gates, uni consequently hostesses bring wests to yawn and he bored. The .pi'.v cheerful tiling about the evening is the supper afterwards —if one is Fortunate enough to he included in in invitation. Over the tea or coffee •ups, tongues arc unloosed and any :.opi : except politics—it is not tact:ul to talk politics in such a mixed i-.semblage—is laid under contribuion. It is quite the usual tiling for women to bring their work to the gallery, so as to combine business wifi pleasure. Mrs Rutherford, from Cheviot, Mrs. Sidoy, Mrs. Banair, Mrs. Izard, and Mrs. Herricr ar-> generally in their seats in front and often make up genial little teaparties in the supper adjournment. The debate which commences on Tuesday of this week, ought to he decidedly interesting, and unless the disappointed members are “sorthored” over bv Ministerial blandishments, i! might prove exciting. We have no excitement- nowadays, alas. Directly a good old-time row is threatening and we are brightening up for possibilities, we hear a compromise has been effected and deadly serenity rilies again. NEW SPRING HATS. There is more connection between ill's most important topic and Parliament than might appear at first sight. They decorate the galleries—'Ladv "Ward’s English hats that lighten the gloom of her special little niche are always a cheering sight—and most women would rejoice to sec the prices of the imported models. The.', might well he. A firm who magnanimously has declared they have lowered hv a guinea in some cases the prices of their new hats hell a show last week, and I went with others to admire —hut not to lmy. The most expensive hat—sold before I got there —was priced at the modest sum of (ij guineas. It is satisfactory to learn, in the city of big! living and many grumbles, that anyone can afford to spend so much on a head covering. But it also brings into high relief the advantages of the Anti-Hat League—of which one of our legislators, by the way is a shining exponent., It is mu reported whether his womenkiiid are following his bareheaded example. Feathers—twisted, trimmed, added to, and tassellcd—are one of the features of the new hats. Some begin as feathers and end in boas that nestle round the hack of your neck, and some are dotted with little tufts »‘f-mhl(gt feathers that shake in a way that is a ppTovecLof. fashion, -others, l : k-s scraggy Japanese" clirysn-n«4u».». inns, stand upright on long stems presenting a weird appearance r.?miniscient of ’Arriefc and ’Ampstead ’J'latli. Lengths of chiffon are fringed ’with feather fronds and folded round the brim, and many plumes have heavy tips like immense tassels. It is this elaboration of what is already expensive that costs the money.