Item 01: Irene Victoria Read letters from her husband, 27 November 1914-1 November 1915 - Page 88
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[Page 88]
& returned to the ship at 3 P.M. Spent the afternoon watching the natives selling fruit & etc. Left Colombo 8 P.M.
On the morning of Xmas eve preparations were being made for the fancy dress ball to be held in the evening. This duly came off after dinner & was a great success – most of the nurses & officers appeared in some sort of fancy dress & considering the limited time at our disposal & the scanty material available some very good make ups were seen. I went as "sweet seventeen" & wore one of the nurses night gowns with low neck & short sleeves – the portion of the gown covering the front of the chest was handsomely embroidered in blue silk. A very beautiful yellow silk sash with large bow surrounded the waist. The bottom edge of the gown was decorated with green crinkled paper & reached only as far as the knees. A pair of pyjamas turned up to the knees & edged with green paper formed the only under garment. A pair of Sister Stolos white stockings clothed the nether limbs. A fair wig was worn with two large plaits with which was intertwined some strands of red silk. A large panama hat trimmed with ribbons & a bunch of mistletoe & secured to the head with a beautiful red silk veil completed the costume. My lips & cheeks were touched up with rouge & tooth powder