LADIES' GOSSIP.

—Mrs Mackay's latest acquisition in the line of exquisite gems is a sapphire of brilliant hue, not quite, the largest of its kind extant, but nevertheless one of the most valuable. Its former possessor, a Eussian prince, whom necessity drove to a separation with the gem, looked long and lovingly at it before consenting to let it go; but the 150,000d0l which the Bonanza King's wife offered for the bit of stone finally overcame his reluctance, and the gem is hers. . > — One of the latest novelties in jewellery is a gold bracelet made of three hoops, forming a case for a pencil, and attached by a tiny chain, which - prevents its being lost when withdrawn from its case for marking programmes, in a ballroom. Eough and frosted gold is used for bracelets and gen Liemen's links, &c, but I have not seen any studs yet made of ifc. ;

— Lady Florence Dixie has written to the Mayor qf Windsor refusing to subscribe to the Jubilee Fund of the Eoyal Borough on the ground that the use to be made of the money — the erection of a statue of the Queen — is out of place during the prevailing distress.

— With regard to the Duchess of Cumberland, the Vienna correspondent of the Standard says that when the Queen of Hanover's sixty-ninth birthday was celebrated on April 14 ib was not anticipated that the unfortunate Duchess would remember it ; but to the astonishment of the party of Gmunden a messenger arrived from her, bringing a beautiful bouquet of lilies of the valley, with a message to the effect that " the Duchess deeply regretted to be unable to present the flowers herself, but that she sent as many kisses as it contained blossoms." The Queen was affected to toars, and said to the Princess Mary, "We shall soon have Thyra back again."

— The Queen Eegent of Spain held a review of the 16,000 troops forming the garrison of Madrid on 29th April last. Her Majesty, who wore a simple black habit, and looked exceedingly well, rode down the line between two of her generals, followed by a brilliant staff. This was the first military display since the death of King Alfonso XII, and the Queen was received oh her reappearI ance in public with marked respect and great enthusiasm. 1 — In' the- Newcastle Courant of June 30, 1781, is the following recipe to make a perfect woman: — "Duchess- of Devonshire's countenance, Lady Salisbury's ' figure, Lady C. Talbot's grace, Lady Jersey's forehead, Mrs Bouverie's teeth, Lady Essex's eyes, ['Lady Dashwood's nose, Miss Hotham's chevalure, Lady Horatio Walpole's complexion, Lady Maria's neck, Duchess of Kutland's hand and arm, Mrs Darner's foot Lady Sefton's majesty, Mrs Conyers' good humour, Lady B. Talm'ash's wit, and Lady I Betty Henley's vivacity I "

— The Sultan has just had his family vaccinated. The Italian doctor employed found his fair patients awaiting him behind a screen, in the centre of which a slit had been made. Through this aperture there appeared in succession some 130 arms of different hues, from snow to sable.. Two stout fellows stood by, who threw a shawl over the doctor's head after each operation, and withdrew it only when another arm was ready for the lancet.

— A Court reception 'by the Empress of Russia is thus described by a recent visitor and journalist : — " It is said that a foreigner must approach the Empress through 3000 officials! The Winter Palace, with its polished floors, its walls blazing with a thousand wax candles, its gorgeous hangings, malachite pillars, and works of art, its tropical flowers and ferns, its floors inlaid with ebony and rosewood and ivory, is a wonderful place. There, surrounded by a sea of splendour, stands the Empress, herself, amoving mass of diamonds. Her necklace reaches from her throat to her waist, and on her head is the crown made for Elizabeth ; all the gems of the East are on her breast, with the proudest of Imperial- orders. ' , Surrounded by Grand Duchesses and by Grand Dukes, each of whom blazes with jewels, . stands this young woman called , to, a destiny which is so peerless and so perilous." —The Eev,-, John' White, a ooloured preacher of Greenwood,; Arkansas, U.S.A., who will be 102 years old in July, has taken out a license to. marry Mis Belie »Smith. who is of Go summers. He has been preaohirig 81 years. —A correspondent at Ems, where the German Crown Prince has been using the waters lately, writes ;— " The toilets of the Crown Princess and the three princesses are' of astonishing simplicity, and many ladies of the higher circles' would not dare to allow their daughters to appear jh equally plain though tasteful dresses on" the promenade. A pity that so few imitate the good example." — The demand for Mrs Cleveland's photographs is still aotiye. " Fifty thousand have already, been sold, and the Washington photographer who holds ,the negatives is printing 200 pictures a day. , The net profits in eight months have reaohed the satisfactory sum of 7000dol. Home Fasliioa Gossip. . There.. is, no lack of choice in millinery. Shapes of. hats are .very diversified. Straws are taking . the lead for spring wear. One sees the towering hat with wonderful brim,one side narrow and. the other broad, or otherwise . fancifully- shaped, in company with the unpretending' old - favourite sailor shape, but whloh has been modernised by raising the crown, and instead of the usual band trimming ' they are ornamented from brim to, top' by' huge bows of ribbon and bunches of- flowers. Chips and straws are dyed in every colour ; the under part of the brim is often to be seen of a different shade to the other side. Very dainty looking are the drawn bonnets of crepe, aerophane, and similar textures. Wire foundations of all

colours can be procured for' them." I can remember -wearing a tulle, also an* aeroplane bonnet many years ago. :£ prefer the latter material, . as a damp atmosphere does 'not injure it as it does tulle ;' but i£the ; Nearer be caught in a shower and has no umbrella, the chances are that the' head gear is irretrievably ruined. Gold tinsel bonnets 'are worn, and tinsel is woven in lace's used for millinery purposes. Barley. and oats are again selected for trimming hats and bonnets. They, are sometimes dyed in • very unnatural shades, such as petunia, &c! ■ The picot-eclged ribbon is quite superseding other makes. ' Salmon tulle bonr.ets look well, trimmed with black lace .'• " r

The spring mantles are very much trimmed with lace, also with rich beaded passementeries. The faceted jet fringes are exceedingly hancisome; they are used for the epaulettes and other forms of -trimming. The majority of mantles are cut' short over the tornure and moderately long in front. ■ Occasionally two materials are used in their construction • for example/ the front and 'back of faille' with sleeves of beaded canvas, or the faille covered with a network of jet. Again'L'you see the back and- front-, ofnvelvef and' the sleeves of faille. Mantles are often made of striped, goods. Tight-fitting jacket visites are cut with a round basque, bordered with three rows of Chantilly lace beaded withHet The sleeves are sometimes, cut •in .dolman form reaching to the elbow and covered -with rows of lace beaded with a jet epaulette The veritable tight. jacket generally has a pouch of lace down the front.. .This is sometimes secured at the waist with a jet clasp whence the lace forms two long .ends tied in with ribbon and' jet bands. .. ' Very tasteful fichus can now be purchased and are very dressy additions to a toilette' There is every possibility that as the season advances black lace fichus will bo made for outdoor wear.— Home Correspondent South Australian Chronicle. . . The Latest Silliness. f I can scarcely imagine a 'more amusing social affectation, says a Bo3tori letter writer than that which excited my attention "the other evening at a small dinner party given by some intensely swell people on Commonwealth avenue. It was a very formal affair— rather stiff, indeed, than otherwise— but one feature of the entertainment was sufficiently remarkable to merit description. There are two children in the family, a girl 'and a boy of 10 and 11 years respectively Very naturally, they were not given seats' at the table, but they were present, nevertheless lhe cherubs stood at either end of ' the festive board throughout tne' long repast the boy leaning upon his mother's shoulder'and the girl reclining gracefully upon that of her Father. The attitude of each was studieddoubtless the result of fatiguing drill— and at intervals, they joined in the general conversation, somewhat as follows :— The hostess would introduce the discussion of Mr Browning's poetry, and, after each one of tHe guests had expressed an opinion, favourable or otherwise regarding that gentleman's verses she would refer the mattor-laughingly to her " little daughter," and the latter being primed with an appropriate speech, would spring the same, with charming naivete upon the assembled company. Of oourse the mantile bon mot ; would not elicit applause,- 'whereat the artless inyenue would "hide <a 'modes blush upon her .papa's bosom. Next came the boy s turn to turn to utter an impromptu witticism-r-received with suoh expressions as " Doosid clevah, by Jove ! " &c., ie— and so on, until the ladies took their departure when the kindergarten was retired ; to the nursery, and the men, with a sigh of relief betook themselves to their cig-afs. • ' , TURKISH WOMEN AT HOME. The Babyish Wives of the Unspeakable Turks - Oriental Magnificonoe only a Fancy. ■ When in the home or barem; Turkish women act <m ore like girls i n a seminary than rivals in the affection of their husband 1 hey laugh, chatter, scold and sometimes slap faces, have their little or big secrets have favourites and are jealous of each other ; but it is more as children are jealous of a parent's love, and thoug-li they' will scandalise each other ' among ' themselves they will never betray each other under any circumstances in their wrong doino- to' the husband. They have no morals, know none - never wore taught anything except to make themselves beautiful and to pander to their husband s lowest nature. They neither see nor hear anything else' and they have no idea of home; nor honour, nor anything which would deter them from wrong exceDt the fear of the sack and the' Bosphbrus Therefore it is not to be wondered at that they, are brimful of intrigue, and practise deception at every opportunity ; arid there are always ways whioh the' most" iealous Turk cannot hinder. Dressmakers' shops and ostensible visits td other harems the always handy veil, and a hundred other means allow these women full scope 'for carrying out their, plans: No husband' can enter his own harem if putside the 'door stands a pair of woman's' sandals.- That signifies that his wife or wives have ladies visiting them, and he cannot enter as'lonoas they remain. ' This trick frequently allow^ the man to be deceived under his very nose for he is bound to hold ' '

His Neighbour's Wife Sacred, and not intrude. The sacredness in which a Turk holds his neighbour's wife as well as his own, is one of the strangest traits in the character of these men. A man cannot inquire, for the health of his friend's wife even though she is known to be dangerously sick When a girl marries out of her father's house that father, has no longer a daughter nor his sons a sister. If they wish to inquire,for her health they must ask, " How is your- house 1 She oan go home and see her mother, but cannot speak to her father or brothers. A Turk is obliged by his religion to cut down any Turkish woman whom he may find conversing with any man inthe street or in any public place, unless in the way of trade, for women can buy of men in stores, in- streets, or at the bazaar. This rule, however, is not so closely followed as it used to be, ov the women have grown too sharp to -.be caught, The women are

Utterly irresponsible Being* 'in their husband's eyes, and they are treajted in most ways like little children, provided for comfortably, fed, clothed, and amused, but not educated. While naturally docile and intelligent,- they- become shrewish

through the ignorance in which they are kept. They are generous with that unthinking generosity that causes a child to give away the most expensive toy, not knowing the cost. A Turkish woman will at any moment, if the caprice seizes her, give away her finest jewels. Their hospitality is too well known to require mention. They always have coffee and sweetmeats served for any and all guests, and when they feel that the visit has lasted long enough they lap hands, and caffejee brings a second cup of coffee, and that is the signal. No guest can stay longer than to drink this. Sometimes the time between drinks is decidedly short. The women and children do not undress at night, but add a wadded night robe to the clothes they already have on, and Bleep thus summer and winter. They close all the doors and windows, and sleep several in one room, and doubtless would suffer dreadfully from the confined air, were it not that Turkish carpenters never have heard of the plumb line, and so windows and doors all have crevices which supply ventilation. The

Tales of Oriental Magnificence fail to impress one who has visited the best harems, for they are one and all pictures of dirt and wanton extravagance. The only great display is in the amount of rugs and jewellery. On the floors of the general room for the women, or the private suites, it is always the same — cigarette ends, candies, nutshells, necklaces, gold - embroidered slippers and sashes, and, in short, all sorts of disorder and dirt. And the women are always eating, smoking, and lolling about on the divans.

There are no means of heating the houses except by mangals, which are open copper braziers which can only hold about a quart of glowing embers each, and these embers almost covered with ashes, so that very little heat is obtained. The people gather around these in winter, wrapped in furs, and try to keep warm. There is no other fire in the whole house, except that in the kitchen range, which is a queer affair, being a long series of little pigeon-holes built in the brick upon a sort of dresser by a chimney. In each of these holes a separate lire is kept and a kettle set on each. The fires are very small, and it takes long to cook over them, but the Turkish cooks are patient and begin early. Copper is the favourite metal in the kitchens, and though it is not kept clean like the Bulgarian copper, still it is cleaner than anything else about the house. For outdoor amusements they go out in boats (caques they call them) in couples, and sometimes walk, and often are to be seen picknicking in graveyards, eating off tombstones, and sitting on the graves, laughing and chatting together.