LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 66

LADIES' GOSSIP.

— The Empress of Russia (writes Mrs Crawford, the Paris correspondent ot Truth, referring to the Russian Royal visit to Compiegne) is quite matronly. I should call her a fine woman. She ought to be called Victoria Alberta, her resemblance ;s so striking to both her grandparents, the late Queen and Prince Consort. There is something in the profile that is so like him in the last portrait taken of him some time 'before his death. If her upper lip is not too short, as the Queen's w as when young, she has a way of drawing it down exactly like her late Majesty. Her chin does not show any degeneration, aiid theiefore does not run in towards the neck, but is well shaped. The profile less the upper lip is pure and good for medals. Tlo eyes are still of a charming periwinkle blue tinge. The front face of the Empress has gie-itly approximated to that of the "Queen since she was last here. But one thinks in noticing it of the Queen's portraits done in the early forties. There is also something of the Princess Alice and of the Prince of Wales when he was but twenty. But he had then a charm due to the joy of life ancl an affable disposition that no other member of his family shared. The Empiess retains her fine auburn hair, t'nd it is >veil dressed. She dressed well, but simply, and was s-till in mourning for Queen Victoria, to whom she was deeply attached, and for her aunt, the Empress Frederick. At the Betheny review the simplicity of their Imperial Majesties made the official French ladies feel a little out of tune. At the gala dinner and the theatrical soiree that followed the Empress wote her unique pearl necklace and a diadem of pearls and diamonds, and a black dress covered with jet-spangled net. Her stateliness was greatly noticed. It is an inheritance of Queen Victoria. The Emperor is not a bit stately. — A San Francisco journalist, who visited London this year, has recorded her impressions of London beauties in the Argonaut. The buxom, rosy British beauty of whom she had heard she never saw at all. The English woman of fashion is tall, small-boned, and exceedingly thin. Alter describing very accurately the fashion of dress prevailing, the journalist goes on to say that " the general effect is of something incredibly slim, serpentine, and delicate." * All this (says the Lady) is true enough ; but it is melancholy to be obliged to add that the craze for being thin leads many Englishwomen to sacrifice both their complexions and their health.

—It was a notable demonstration that was held in Copenhagen tiie other day, when the Danish people met together in their husbands to "tender their thanks to their King. Country folk from all parts of the kingdom Mere there — peasant farmers, gardeners, sailors, and fishermen, their hard, weathei-beaten. faces all aglow with enthusiasm and affection, as they stood before the old Palace of the Amalienborg, cheering their Sovereign to the echo. Christian the Ninth ot Denmark is beloved by all classes ; all classes regard him not only as a friend, but almost as a father. They are in such close touch with him ; they understand him so perfectly, know all his good qualities, all his weaknesses. They are proud of his distinguished apipearance, his perfect manners. He is the handsomest old gentleman in the whole world, they are firmly convinced, just as they are convinced that his three daughters are the most beautiful women. Their eyes gleam with delight as they tell what a beautiful sight it was to see 'their old King standing there, the other afternoon, on the Amalienborg balcony, with his sons and daughters around him — the English Queen on his right hand the, Russian Czarina Marie on his left. In Denmark many odd little stories are told of King Christian and his kindly ways, above all of the friendly interest he takes in the doings of his subjects. Until within quite recent days, when his strength has begun to fail him, he used to spend much of his time when in Copenhagen walking about the streets : and nothing pleased him better than to stop and have a chat with any workman he chanced to encounter.

— Lord Crewe is not a gifted orator, but he once raised a perfect howl of laughter at a Liberal meeting. In the course of a speech made soon after the announcement of his engagement he said, " I have, up to the present, been somewhat afraid of the ladies of the Primrose Leaague." This remark appealed to the audience. '" What about Peggy Primrose?*' shouted someone at the back of the hall, and Lord Crewe saw the joke after the audience had exhausted itself. —It is '■aid that 'before long the engagement will be publicly announced of th? Czarevitch to Princess Margaret of Connaught.

— The Qei-mnn Empress completed her forthy-thircl year on October 22. Her Majesty is three month- ancl five days older than the Emperor. (( — When the Emperor ancl Empress of Germany naicl what proved to be their last vi^it to the bte Queen, their sons Prince August Wilhelm ancl Prince Oscar became general favourites with all who saw or came in contact with the bright and unaffected little sailor lads. From an interesting account by a lady who has recently seen them at Plon, where they are at school, it appears that by this time theii education ha^ become a serious business. Each of the two boys has .three companions, who share all his lesson,?. The actual desk-lessons are ttot yery^ ion^ but tlie whole time bj&wsftu,

the meals is occupied with riding, gymnastics, rowing, and swimming, so that there is not an idle moment in the whole of the day. In the course of tlie present year a new branch of activity was added, when Irpct of some 28 acres of agriciiltural „ <1. \thich form* a <ort of peninsula, near the Vhm Park, was taken for the purpose of giving the two Princes and their connade^ the oppoitunily of the practical study of farming. One-half of the simple old peasant hou«e, which is inhabited by a young labouier and hK wife, is arranged for the Princes in the simplest manner. It vas with their cvn hands that the boys lately cut their own corn and made it into sheaves ; it was they themselves who planted the potatoes which are now being dug up and sent to the Emperor, who pays the proper market price for them.

— Lord Cromei's engagement has been a surprise except to those who had heard ■nhispeis of it. Lady Kathaiine Thynne is very handsome, her beauty being "just spoilt, if one may say so, by her length of chin, which is the 'distinguishing feature of her family ; but &he is a stately creature and will make Lord Cromer a beautiful wife, and help him much in .cgypt. Lord Errington, his eldesi son. is going to be with him at Cairo thw winter as his first secret ary.

— Loid Aiha, the engagement of whose daughter is announced, was during his father's lifetime known as Lord Cassillis, which name is pronounced "Castles." The late Lady Egerton of Tatton at a party in her own house perceived a young man she did not know, and, walking up to him, asked him who he was. "Mr name is Cassillis," was the reply. '' Castles ! Canles!" said Lady Egerton. "I never heard the name in my life. You are here without an invitation!"' Lord Cassillis naturally left the house at once, and on leturning home enclosed his invitation with his compliments to Lady Egerton. — The Duke of Connaught's appointment to the command of the Third Army Corps at the Curragh has aroused a great deal of interest and enthusiasm in Irish society, for it means that his Eoyal Highness and the Duchess will be compelled to spend most of their time on the other side of St. George's Channel. According to those wht know him really well, the Duke — who is, itwijl be remembered, the great Duke of Wellington's godson and namesake — is areally enthusiastic soldier ; it was a bitter disappointment to him that the late Sovereign refused to allow him to go out to South Africa on the outbreak of hostilities. But he has already seen some active service. He was in command of the First Brigade during the Egy.ptian war of 1883, and fought at Tel-el-Kebir. During the last 17 months his Royal Highness has commanded the troops in Ireland, and he and the Duchess — herself a daughter of one of Prussia's greatest generals, the famous "Red Prince " — have made themselves well liked in every section of Dublin society. Of the Duke's three children, his only son has followed in his father's footsteps, and is now a promising young officer.