GOSSIP FROM ABROAD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 68, 13 December 1907, Page 3

GOSSIP FROM ABROAD.

Princess Dagmar, of Denmark, sixteen years old, has just published a little book on tho "Wild Flowers of Scandinavia:" That, a woman should (cook just as well as a man seems to be matter for astonishmont,! to judge from the comments of Brit-isli newspapers upon tho will of the late Hon'. Frederick Levcson-Gower, whereby his fomalo chef gets an annuity of £100 a year. It-:, seems that Mr. Leveson-Gower was a noted judge of good cookory. His dinner parties in London used to 1 be famous,, and • at. the time ho employed a man cook. That ho was ultimately-satisfied with a female chef is taken as conclusive proof that she was as great- a culinary artist as any of her male, predecessors. v Miss Marie Botha, sister of the Trapvaal Premier, is to be married to Mr. R. C.."Hawkin; a young London barrister, who lias'been for several years assisting in the organising , work: of tho Liberal party as secretary of the' Eighty Club, and in other capacities. 16 is understood that when the idea of inviting' General Botha/ to attend tho Imperial Con-, forerice was first discussed, certain -official objections wore > urged rather ' strongly against it, and that Mr. {Hawkin was one of those who materially helped to overcome the, opposition. Miss Mario Botha is a lady of considerable culture, and was -much liked by all, who .met her at the various\receptions and other social entertainments held during : tho sittings of the Conference. She js. several year§ older than the beautiful Miss Helen Botha, but is not less attractive in manner. , | " ■ Queen Alexandra has for many years been' so deaf as to make it very hard to talk with her. Several instruments are said by a con--temporary to be now on their way to her from Amcrica, which will enablo the King and Queen 'to talk together without the aid of a thlmpet. The transmitter will bo hidden in the folds of the Queen's dress, and the batteries,j which are about three inches high and one and one-half inches in diameter, will be carried in the pocket. One of the instruments contains a double transmitter for table use. This will be set in the centre of the table and covered by floral decorations. Wires will bo attached, running under the table, enabling j;he conversation of- the lloyal pair and their guests to be carried on without 'interruption'. . Baroness Goto, wife of one of Japan's leading statesmen, who is now adjusting difficult problems of administration as governor of Manchuria, has been travelling incognita in the United States for the last four months, in order to gain insight into American ideas, especially of homo and. home-making. Tho . Baroness is described ' as a ■ charming woman, young, highly educated,and ambitious for tho best things. Witjli ; Characteristic modesty, she declines to give ail oft-hand opinion on American customs: , "Every country has its strong side and its weak side," is the broad view, oxpressed by the Baroness. "Wo can see our own'.strength and our own weakness better by going away from our own country, but we cannot see the strength and weakness of other countries in a short visit. Wo can see only in part; it takes'a long time, great care in . observation, and a very open: mind to distinguish fairly the strong and the weak points of any nation."