AN AUSTRALIAN WONDER-CHILD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 151, 20 March 1908, Page 3

AN AUSTRALIAN WONDER-CHILD.

On a recent afternoon (writes "Bushwoman" in, tlie "Australasian ") I had.the pleasure of hearing the -new little musical genius. Miss Fedora St. Ledger, the seven-year-old daughter of Senator St. j Ledger, perform on the piano. The, child, a fragile little creature, with fair curling hair and blue, eyes, is a marvel. She composes and improvises. At a very tender ago she composed a sonata, which she .dedicated, to iher father; later on she composed another, which is very sad in tone, as her mother, was ill at the time. A graceful msizurka and, a rollicking barn-dance are also the,...work., of ~tKe little lady. .'A; sonata dedicated, to' Melba, which is being privately printed, .is con-, sidered. very fine. Madame Melba took the greatest interest in the little prodigy, took her out motoring, was photographed with her, and advises that she be sent to Vienna. During Melba's visij; she had little Fedora frequently with her, and, to amuse the child,' put a record of her own voice upon the phonograph. Little Fedora seemed distressed, and said, "Madame, I do not like that; the top notes aro not like yours; tlioy are tinny." Madame Melba said that the 'child was right, and that she would have the re-: cord destroyed.

The mixture of filet lace with heavy chintz is one of; if not the latest, fashion in traycloths. It is most effective, and is also being usedin muslin arid lace cushion covers.. •Those latter are very dainty 'and have laco appliques and insertions placed in quaint dosigns on sprigged muslin, or piece la'co. The edging or frill is of not too broad lace, 6own on easily, but not too plentifully, except; at. the corners, whero it is more freely used. " Some of these cushion covers have lace insertion inserted, so that the ribbon threaded through it and-tied in a smart bow at the corner is tho feature of the ornamentation. The ribbon generally repeats' the colour of the slip underneath.

Iu cold woather transparent collar-bands of chiffon; or laco which . are allied to fino, blouses are said to account often for chills. Instead of lining them, a good way is to wear a' foundation collar, of ribbon, which also aids in keeping the'collar upright'without supports.' Hooks and eyes should bo sown, on as fastening, and tho ribbon shaped at the end, to secure the correct line round the throat.