THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2731, 9 February 1910, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

A WOMAN’S LETTER.

THE AMAZONS

LONDON, AV., Doc. 17, 1909

The Girl Scout movement is condemned by certain of our head mistresses. I would I were a girl again just for the fun of the thing. In the early sixties, when the volunteer movement was in its infancy in Australia, I, with some chosen mates amongst my schoolfellows, used to borrow helmets and swords, and go in for all manner of martial tactics. I had some distance, in those, days, to ride to my school, therefore I led a kind of scout party, advancing with drawn swords on such of my companions who had taken cover in a neighboring ditch. It was most excellent fun, and I commend thc idea strongly to those girls who seek some diversion other than hockey or cricket. It’s immense if you have a lightly timbered country allied to a sense of humor. The Boy Scout movement is growing apace : and it has the nucleus of some real uses later on. They wear a uniform, they use their eyes, and they gladly obey their leaders. This was wanted badly, for discipline, bad gone out of fashion in the growing youths. The schoolmaster in London board schools was no hero. Enter a stripling in uniform —a gentleman speaking well and every inch a manly fellow —and the boys clustered about him. And so. tho‘thing has grown. You occasionally see young Amazons riding in the park with the initials \V.Y "embroidered on their TvTcs —a few units of the Women's Yeomanry taking exercise in the early morning. I —The Maeterlincks. —

It is, of course, the children’s hour. The greatest houses are providing children’s departments and showrooms entirely fur toys. Teddy Bear lias a rival this year in the Polar bear, and at the Hippodrome a pack of 71) white hears has been brought to take part in a Christmas spectacular piece. Children’s plays are quite the last cry in the theatrical world. Maeterlinck's “Blue Bird” was put on at llayrnarket last week, and scored an instant success. It is very beautiful in its theme, very beautifully staged and dressed, and lias taken London by storm. I was lucky enough to be in the theatre on the second night of pro_ duction, and saw Maeterlinck himself and his wife in a box. He did not appear on the first night in answer to many calls for “Author,’ and lie was not recognised the- night I was there, lie is a short, broad-shouldered man, with a fine head and forehead, in appearance rather like an Irish priest, pale in face, and a very simple air. Madame was much more remarkable. She looked as if she had stepped out of a canvas representating Josephine in the early days of the Second Empire. She wore a silver-lace coat over a white dress, and a chapeau clu theatre such as are worn abroad, made of latticework, coming well over her eyes, with a great bunch of feathers standing up atthe back. It looked like Brunnihlde’s Tarn Capoe in the “Ring de Xiebelungen,” and her whole air was that of an empress. She is not- young, and wore her hair covering her cars in fussy curls. Altogether she took up a great deal of m3’ attention. Her maid was in the box, and from time to time certain innovations of complexion were indulged in. •—Brides and 'Weddings.— There have been some notable weddings, and some wonderiully pretty dresses. Quito the most original toilettes prepared for brides were those made for the Marchioness of Anglesc\’, who, after a very sorry experience of matrimony. has in her secoiules noces married a man without a title, Mr. Howard Gilliat, and has renounced the title. She was always a beautiful girl, ar.d well known in society ; a daughter of Sir Robert Chetwyml, a well-known man on the turf and elsewhere. She was tall and slight, with the most lovely Titian red hair, always beautifully arranged. And, therefore, 3’ou can imagine how beautiful a bride this charming young widow made. Her wedding gown was of star sapphire blue crepe <le chine, made with a tunic of the same material, embroidered in a heavy border of oxidised silver, veiled with blue chiffon. The corsage was of chiffon, hollowed out in a tiny rounded d-ecolletage over a little guinipe of mel-low-tinted lace, which was in its turn; cut to the column of the throat, and finished with a soft Cromwellian collar. There was a high cointure .of crepe de chine, fastened under the bust with <a choux of old silver lacc. On her hair the bride wore a Juliet cap made of copper net, studded with sapphires. Instead of a bouquet she carried a sheaf of white lillics. Ido not remember a more beautiful gown, or one which so individual]-- suited the wear-

I jot- down here one of Airs. Gilliat’s trousseau gowns which struck me as being very original. It was a simple little gown in a subtle shaded scheme of greyish green, made quite straight, and bangin'' in perfect line. Bordered with skunk, it opened high up on thc left hand side to reveal between the borderings of fur an under-robe of the faintest pink satin, veiled with ivoryspotted net, with insertions of Valenciennes and Irish crochet. Two bands of rose ribbon were threaded through the lace just above the ankles, and tied in bows/ at the hack and front. She really had some of the prettiest gowns that any woman lias had this autumn. She i.s a- great adept in the art of designing her clothes, and for some time was dressed by a friend, who had become a lady dressmaker. Another gown was meant for wearing in E"vut, whither Mrs. Gilliat has gone for the honeymoon. It was of natural Shantung, with a deep turn-down collar of embroidered lawn and Valenciennes lace, fastened by a great black tie with long ends, and some big satin buttons disposed about the gown. Tlio Shantung was cut quite straightly with, out any in at the waist. Just at the hips, where a scarf was introduced and knotted, some pleats were introduced to give it the necessary swirl near the feet. Her dark-blue serge costume was a thing t,o envy, cut very simply and fastened clown the left side with loops and barrels of braid. She also had an exquisite gown made of blushpink satin and chiffon, veiled with lace, with a fishwife tunic of turquoise-tint-ea satin cliarmeuse, held by straps of pleated silk in the same boautifiil color. And, again, her tea-gown! Imagine It! It was made of rose-colored satin charmouse. inserted with broad bauds oj ivory-toned lace, the l design being all outlined with gold. It was made coatfashion, with a border of sable, and worn over an under-robe of palest blush rose chiffon and lace. I feel sure I have earned your eternal gratitude by giving you so valuable a description of such lovely gowns.