The Mermaids

St. John of God’s Hospital Ball, Kalgoorlie  By Aura

The ball that was held in Her Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday, May 23, in aid of St. John of God’s Hospital, Kalgoorlie, was a very real success. The body of the theatre was decorated with ropes of flowers, with electric lights intermingled, and the not altogether lovely walls of the building, also the front of the gallery, were covered with flags, which made a bright background for the gay scene. The stage was fitted up as a drawing room, and was very cozy, with comfortable chairs and pretty tables, pot plants, and palms, etc. This was largely availed of by those who were not taking part in the Grand event or the fancy sets, to watch the pageant.

The fancy sets were—Floral (arranged by Miss Queerly), Powder and Patches (Mrs. M’Auliffe), French Maids and Chefs (Mrs. Collins), Evening Dress (Mrs. Ruse), Hunting Set (Mrs. White), Deep Sea: Set (Brennan Bros.), Blue Pierrots and Pierrette’s (Montgomery Bros.), Nurses’ Set (Miss M’Gobtyin), Military Set. Several of the sets were double, altogether over 120 taking part in them. The grand march was led by Mrs. Rolls and Mr. Butterworth and finished with a waltz. The music was played by: Messrs. Hall and Flint’s orchestra.

Prizes were offered for the most original set, and for the prettiest and best carried out set. The former (the gift of the Mayoress, Mrs. Cummins (a handsome silver-backed mirror), was won by Miss Gilmore, as the representative of Brennan Bros. Deep Sea set, which undoubtedly deserved it. The ladies, eight in number, were all dressed alike as mermaids, though varying the color of their dresses, pale green, also heliotrope, their backs, and fins being admirably carried out in some glittering material to represent fish scales, their hair flowed about them, and was docked with seaweed and shells. They also all carried combs and mirrors.

Greenham & Evans Photographer.