OVER THE TEA-CUPS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 237, 3 October 1908, Page 14

OVER THE TEA-CUPS

A QUEEN'S FROCKS. Orchid mauve is the Queen's favourite colour, after -which black is most frequently worn by Her Majesty; but unless in mourning it is black relieved in the most ingenious ways, and with the Queen's magnificent jewels, whether pearls, diamonds, or amethysts, adds to the supreme elegance and beauty of tbe royal wardrobe. At a recent garden party (says an English exchange) it was noticed that a great number of the guests were dressed in black, The Queen on this occasion wore orchid mauve. ! THE NEW GLIDING WALK. No petticoats and fashionable close I clinging skirts have brought about a [new walk. And this walk is an art, a sort of gliding movement which is by no I means easy to learn. Poorly done, it degenerates into a shuffle, and there are pathetic struggles on the part of women not well acquainted with the new skirts which their dressmakers have thrust upon them. They sadly miss the friendly petticoat, whose crisp flounces and frills once held the frock skirt away from the feet. In the up-to-date gown it becomes impossible to lift the feet freely and set them down boldly without -walking up the front of one's frock, so that the correct walk is a gliding motion in the which the feet are scarcely lifted from the floor.—English exchange. WOMAN'S LIFE AND ITS MONOTONY. Lady Gordon has come to the conclusion that woman's present position, at least in England, is quite intolerable. Here are some extracts from her volume of "Unforegone Conclusions": —"The life of the average woman in this country, whether she belong to the upper or lower middle class, is the most monotonous imaginable. If she is married the responsibilities of an increasing family, tho cares of housekeeping, the myriad economies necessitated by inadequate means, the absence of leisure the fact that she never gets a real holiday—all these j things and the consequent humdrum round of her daily vocation are enough to stamp out any originality that may have once luTked in her nature." Til*! GENDER OF GENIUS. Men are never tired of saying that tbe gender of genius is masculine. In every art they proudly proclaim the number of artists who count is overwhelmingly in their favour. Sensible women, however, says one who classes herself under that category, should not dispute the proposition, so far as the creative arts are concerned, but they may be excused for pointing out that genius is not confined to creation, and that as dancers, singers, and actresses women have shown genius, and that in themselves they are often a hundred times more gifted than men. What women lack, whether through their sex or their training, cannot be decided offhand in executive ability. PRACTISE READING ALOUD. Do you know anyone -who can read aloud? Many people can drawl, gabble, mumble or do something that is a distant cousin of reading. As a matter of fact, the ideal reader is hard to find. Yet if you would have a pleasant voice or would like your children to have it, read aloud and make them read aloud. There is nothing that adds more to a woman's attractiveness than a sweet, clear voice and perfect enunciation. And this most excellent virtue can be acquired more surely and effectively by reading aloud than in any other way. Find someone who likes being read to, and see how the habit, once started, helps you. Or, if you have no one to read to, read out aloud to yourself, seeing how much expression you can put into it. TYRANNY OF MARRIAGE. "So long as they have food to eat, money to bank, and a comfortable chair in which to spend their evenings, many unintelligent people have no objection to spending their lives grovelling in moral and abject slavery." Thus Mrs George Norman, writing in "Black and White" on the tyranny of marriage. She thinks that in the circumstances in which so many marriages are made it says much foT human nature that tbe average of divorce cases per year in the Old Country does not reach 900. It may, of course, also say something for the fact that it is practically impossible for those not possessed of £100 to obtain relief in the Divorce Court. Few people, Mrs Norman seems to think, marry nowadays for love; but many for what is only a passing passion, a temporary fascination. In society the average of successful marriages is high; and this, it is suggested, is because the upper classes do not Tide their marriages to death. A certain measure of liberty is given and expected; respect for each other's individuality is maintained. MARRYING A TURK. It is apparently a mistake to suppose that Turkish women never unveil in the I presence of men. Mr. 11. C. Woods, in his new book, " Washed by Four Seas " (just published |by Mr. Fisher Unwin, 7,0 net), points j out that a Mohammedan sees unveiled i ladies, not his relatives, at his wedding. I When a Mohammedan desires to be married or to obtain thy hand of any I particular lady, the affair is usually ar- : ranged by the " adjuca," a kind of woman matrimonial agent. On the wedding clay, '" arrived at the door of the bride's house, the best man knocked, and the door was opened by tiip adjuca. The best man, as one of his duties, pushed the bridegroom forcibly injto the house, and then retired a little distance to await the conclusion of the marriage ceremony. " The bridegroom entered a large chamber, in which were assembled the ladies of the place who were of the same position as the bride. The ladies were all unveiled and dressed in their best costumes, and most of them wore handsome jewellery. " The bride, who was the only veiled lady, was then led out into the middle of the room, whence she was conducted by her future husband to a small adjoining apartment, where she prepared him a cigarette, and gave him coffee. " The bridegroom then raised the lady's veil and saw her face for the first time, and they at once returned tosether to the large room. If the bridegroom approves of his bride, he throws handfuls oi small coins to th L . company of ladies, who scramble for them as lucky charms. " In the wedding which f am describing the bridegroom forgot to do this, and had almost left the'house when both he and my friend heard a wail of despair from the company, who considered that the lady was not accepted because no coins had been thrown. The bridegroom was obliged to return and distribute the coins, which he actually had ready in his pockets. " This brief ceremony is the form for a Mohammedan wedding, and the lady, later on, is brought to her husbanef's house."