GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 23

GOSSIP.

An English lady has arranged the photographs ot her husband and childron in this way : On a ground of pale blue she has painted a gold bracelet, from which hang three medallions containing the minature portraits of her children, and above it hang 3 a painted locket in which her husband's. head appears, and above the group are painted the words, "My jewels."

A flourishing Parioiaa art threatens to take root in London. If; is an old trick in Paris for extravagant young women to take their lovers into jewellers' shops and to induce these lovera to purchase for thsm at An immense price articles of jewellry made of paste, the ladies and the jewellers sharing the profits between them. It is now said ihat a Lon don dressmaker has in her pay cartain elegant females, who gßfc men to order handBorne dreases from her, which are never sent home. This will probably be accepted as the newest development of the co-operative system. A Pori3 paper apropos of their silver wedding, gives an interesting account of the first meeting between the Etnporor of Austria and his wife. S >arie twenty-five years ago the young Emperor Francis Joseph viaited Carlsbad tor no special reason, but Bimply to amus<s himnelf. There ho met his three beautiful Bwarian cousins — the Princess Elizabeth, and the Princess de Thuru et Taxis, and the Princess Maria-Sophie. Very lovely in the evening, in the animation of a waltz, tho Pnncsss Elizabeth was even more fascinating in her black cloth habit and riding hut with ita green veil, as she galloped on her English horse with the elegance and daring of a hunira^s of ancient times. )t is related that ono day her magnificent hair, which it wa-j difficult to keep onflucd, fell down over her smoulders and covered her like a royal mantle. Her confusion was in-dei-cribable, while the Emperor glanced from the escaped tresses to the blushing cheeks of his cousin. She hastened home. After luncheon she found on her table an immense.

album. Francis Joseph placed it before her, and pointed out some views of Austria, of the Tyrol, and of Hungary. "What beautiful scenery ! Whit a lo r /oly country !'' she exclaimed repeatedly, in her admiration. The Emperor whispered, " Would you like to make them your own? Are you willing to reigu there ?" And a3 Bhe trembled and did not reply, he held out to her A bunch of edelweiss — the flower of betrothal. She took it and put it next her heart. A few weeks later she became Empress of Austria. An impromptu mock-auction sale of women was amusing and profitable at first in a Wisconsin church fair. The young men bid liberally for the attractive girls, and it was all very funny indeed until a homely but influential sister was put up. The auctioneer was compelled to knock hor down at 25 cents, and she was so angry that she put on her things and went home.

" Mrs Laugtry, the ' sensation beauty' of the last three seasons," says Howard Paul, in a gossipy contribution to the American Register, "is going for a little trip to the United States, and has engaged a passage on one of of the magnificent vessels of the White Star line. As the lady in question has rather used up England in beauty business, she pines, no doubt, for fresh fields and pastures new. The fact is, Miss Neilson, the actress, has rather put Mrß Langtry'a nose out of joint. She is the lionees of the season. She ' makes up' to look five and-twenty, and a woman must be a good artist who can knock fifteen years off her age and defy the sunlight. It is all very well at night on the stage, but women generally betray their want of artistic touch when they paint and powder for h e orb of day. La Neilson flashes up and down Rotten Row on a coal black steed, to the delight of our jeunesse (sbage) doree, and Mrs Langtry Js 'nob in it,' as the sportsmen .say. The Americans ara fond of diamonds. Mrs Langtry possesses about £20,000 worthof the white sparklers, aad these, with the prestige of her name, which is well known in the States, will render her an object of interest for some weeks."

It is not evfery husband who, even when caught in a trap, will frankly, confess an error. But theie is a certain matron in Rome, New York, who if report ia true, possesses such a lord. She has a talent for waxworks.' Her husband boasted that he could invariably tell at a glance that her work was artificial. She remembered his partiality for a "boiled dinner," and determined to make one in wax. The vegetables and meat were set before him at dinner, and with keen relish he struck out for the platter before him. Lo 1 'twas a false dinner. He frankly acknowledged that he was duped, and with abmirable docility, handed his pooketbook to his wife.