ADIES' COLUMN

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MY DEAR COUSIN, --

The amateur dramatic entertainment I alluded to last week in connection with

the Primrose League came off last Thursday night. It was a great success

and completely realised all anticipations concerning it; and it afforded an

evening's enjoyment that will not soon be forgotten in Whitehaven. The

Oddfellows' Hall was most tastefully decorated for the occasion; indeed,

its appearance was quite transformed with flags, draperies, etc., in the

arrnagement of which great taste was displayed. The audience was a large

one, and the demand for reserved seats was so great that two more rows had

to be added almost at the last moment. The performance, through perhaps

rather a long one, was most delightfully varied, and consisted of a

comedietta, two dramas, and a farce. The acting throughout was most

excellent, and gave great pleasure to the audience. I must especially

mention the part of "Spiggott" (an old family butler) taken by MR.

BURNS-LINDOW in "My Lord in Livery." He realised the character so

completely, in fact the farce all through evoked most hearty applause; and

the Whitehaven Habitation of the Primrose League deserves to be

congratulated by all who were fortunate enough to witness this

entertainment.

We are to have a very good concert next Friday, also to be held in the

Oddfellows' Hall; the funds to go to the Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Children. It is under distinguished patronage, and as the

Workington Male Voice Choir is again to be heard, and as the cause is such a

truly noble one, I feel sure it will also be a great success.

I heard the other day of an exhibition of pictures now on view in the Art

Gallery of Tullie House, Carlisle; that is sure to be most interesting to

people living anywhere in the neighbourhood. It consists of portraits of

some well known local magnates, many of them reproductions from REYNOLDS,

GAINSBOROUGH, KNELLER, LELY, and other famous painters, including

portraits of the HOWARDS, MUSGRAVES, GRAHAMS, CAVENDISHES, LOWTHERS,

and LAWSONS, as well of BISHOPS AND DEANS OF CARLISLE. Among those of

special interest are LORD WILLIAM HOWARD ("Belted Will") and his wife

"Bessie o' the Braid Apron", through whom the present EARLS OF CARLISLE

inherit Naworth and their other great possessions. There are also good

portraits of all the EARLS OF LONSDALE of the present creation, with the

exception of the existing Peer, as well as of COLONEL HENRY CECIL LOWTHER,

who was M.P. for Westmorland from 1812 to 1867, and was the "Father" of the

House of Commons. I am sure this exhibition is well worthy of a special

visit to Carlisle.

Some one was giving me some excellent adivce the other day, respecting the

eyes. As you are doubtless aware, some people have been foolish enough to

use belladonna as a means of brightening and increasing the apparent size

of the eyes, and always attended disastrous results.

But some vain girls are foolish enough to give themselves infinite torture

in order to appear beautiful, are they not ?

My friend's advice is most simple, it is this: Just bathe the eyes 20 times

each, every morning and every night with a small soft sponge, and the

coldest water you can get ; and the explanation of it is, that by this

means the blood in the numerous little vessels surrounding the eye is

circulated, and the eyes become bright and clear, and stronger in

consequence. Not difficult to follow, is it ?

This is the first day that I have felt the air at all Spring-like, but it is

certainly quite time that we should now be able to wear some thing a little

more seasonable in the way of dress. Some of the new blouses and shirts are

even prettier and smarter than they were last year. The smartest I have

seen are in various plaids with a great many shades introduced, so as to

produce a harmonious effect. I have also seen some charming models in silk

and also in Japanese silk, which, by the way, both washes and cleans

perfectly, and yet has all the appearance of an expensive silk. A great

many of the short sac coats are to be seen here now, in fact some have been

"en evidence" for a considerable length of time; but one does tire of

seeing the same individuals in the same inevitable "sacs" morning, noon, and

night, Sundays and week-days, and as a consequence I fear that the style has

been literally "done to death".

Don't you agree with me, that variety is always charming ?

Ever yours,

EDINA.