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A LADY'S LETTER FROM
SYDNEY.
of ??? ?
This year we are having some of the
prettiest things in decorations that we have
had for several seasons past. Flowers of the
rarest and choicest kinds are used lavishly
upon almost all festive occasions. I saw an
exceptionally pretty way of adorning a stair
case the other day upon one of these festivities,
and will try to describe it. There
was a light tralia work placed along the
wall opposite the banisters and over this,
was trained and twined and interlaced a
wonderful mass of greenery, entirely hiding
it, viz., Virginia creeper, convolvulus,
weateria, etc
Table decorations are as pretty as ever,
and greatly varied. One table I saw only a
short time back seemed to be all plate glass,
gold-coloured liberty silk and buttercups,
and certainly it would have been difficult to
find anything much prettier. It is rather
strange', by the way, to see how very
popular our modest field and commonest
garden flowers have become for ball
and dinner decorations. Buttsrcnps, blue
cornflowers, scarlet geraniums, and pure
white lilies are great favourites, and it
would be difficult to find anything more
beautiful. Speaking of table decoration, I
must not forget to mention a few pretty
novelties that have lately come into vogue.
One in connection with the league after
dinner cafe near cups, consists in the quaint
little spoons that go along with them. A
new oyster dish his each receptacle for the
bivalve raised above the surface of the plate,
and tricorn plates have been brought out
for the hors d'oeuvres, which are
considered necessary as a prelude to
dinner. The fashionable menu card of the
day is a tiny white Louis XVI. screen,
with gilt legs and frame. Some new guest
cards resemble the face of a watch, and the
favourite shade for poudre cases is a miniature
boat of crepe paper. D'Oyleys are
very Di city and fanciful now, the newest
sort is shaped like a leaf and verned.
The latest thing in button-holes is a terra
cotta coloured rose, and it has become so
fashionable as to be almost common. Artistic
taste is being carried to too great lengths
at the present moment perhaps I was
reading of a lady who found that her prayer
book by its incongruous colour struck a discord
to an otherwise perfectly harmonious
drug. I learn now that this has been
remedied by having a cover to the book
which is perfectly in accord without leading
tone of her garments. Covers of all sizes
will now have to be made to harmonise
with every costume a lady may have, and to
fit any volume from a yellow back to a
prayer book. Heigho 1 for artistic taste.
The Woollahraite« held their fourth assembly
last Friday at Nithsdale. The committee
consisted of Messrs. W. W Birkmyre,
ii. C. Shipway, U. Norton-Buisoll, A. H.
McTaggart and M. Cansdell. The supper
table was very pretty in the centre of it
there was a floral mound artistically arranged,
and bearing the letters " W. A."
(Woollahra Assembly) in blue, white and
pink hyacinths.
Among those present were Dr. 8w*n>ton,
Dr. Utherman, Mrs. and the Misses Bias,
Miss Kerr, Mr. and Mrs. Lane Brown.
The feature of the week is the opening of
a florist shop in Hunter-street by two ladies,
both well known in Sydney society. Jean
and Co. is the name given to the public, and
it is an open secret that this name represents
the first two letters of Miss Jennie Brennan's
and Miss Annie McDonald's names. The
shop is a combination of tea-room and
floriculture, and the new venture promises
the in every way a huge success, so much
so that florists in an ordinary way, who
have been rejoicing in the trade, of buying
and selling flowers for their living for years,
and have not had the advantage of mixing to
the beat of Sydney society, are having their
tenderest financial feelings wounded. It
is a little hard upon them certainly,
and one can scarcely marvel that
they are feeling aggrieved. Jean and Co's
window was most temptingly arranged,
beautiful flowers, vases of primroses and
violets laid against a background of mirrors
and soft white silk cu trains, were tempting
enough in themselves to entice the passers
by to enter without the spice of novelty
which is connected with them. The tea and
coffee, which are excellent, are served on
daintily laid table in a charming room, in
which there are five painted panels, three of
wild roses, flannel flowers and purple
clematis by Miss Ethel Stephen, an Angel
by Mr. Percy Spence, and two of poinsettias
and bulrushes by Miss Willis.
Mrs. W. Orr entertained a large party of
friends last Thursday afternoon at Jean and
Co.'s rooms. Amongst those present were
Mrs. Fairfax Ross, Captain and Mrs.
Sparrow, Miss Kyngdon, Miss McLean,
Mrs. W. Laidley and Mr. Elton Mrs.
Harry Chisholm also give a tea party there,
and her guests included Mrs. Tregarthen,
Miss Manning, Mrs. K. P Simpson, and Miss
Andrews.
Last Thursday evening a dance was given
at Callan park Hospital by the nurses and
attendants there. These dances are generally
delightful, and are looked forward to
greatly, and the last was no exception to
the rule. The room looked very pretty and
bright with wreaths and Chinese lanterns,
and floor was all that could be desired. A
large number of guests put in an appearance,
and fancy dresses were much worn.
Mrs. E. Wangenheim, of Chatsworth, a
Potts Point, gave a very pleasant " At
home" last Wednesday, and Mr. and Mrs.
Murray of Figtree Point, were the recipients
of a return ball last Thursday. The affair
went off very well from every point of view,
and, as is almost usual now at large balls,
fancy dress was as popular and as much
affect ed as plain.
The Butte fly Ladies gave a successful
dance on Wednesday evening at Molong.
! The programme included a leap year dance
I and a card dance. In spit of the unpleasant-
ness of the weather a very great number of
guests attended, and everything passed off
most successfully.
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