THE SOCIETY CHILD

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 178, 22 April 1908, Page 3

THE SOCIETY CHILD

It is suggested in the " Lady's Field/' that the child of 190S would furnish a subject for tho dull, seasons, and doubtless' scores of parents and guardians iwould testify that tho boys and girls of the " fifties and sixties " wore dear, oljedient children, who:only opened their lips when spoken to, and who believed implicitly in the gobd 'results of going, to bed and rising early. ... And the usual contrast would be drawn. It* would be proved that the child of even thirty years -ago was infinitely: superior to tho product of the • twentieth century. Certainly; - the'child.of to-day is very much to the fore": iii every-day life.-. London society women are. to be-seen walking with their, small.'daughters' during the morning and driving .with, them in 'the' afternoon, and often .they, appear, at aftdrncon tea: As a.'consequence, the . .little ladies are rarely troubled with shyness, and are often amusingly shrewd. Indeed,;, the- worship of both' sorts of children is-ono'.'of''the cults of iho up-to-date young :mah,. : but: asa rule it is tho small girl who most commands his attention.' Smart society bachelors' devote themselves to the'pretty daughters of.some of their friends, keep a' record of tlic-ir clever sayings and doings, and entertain-them at theatre parties, arid so on. Of course, the (recipients of such flattering notico ofton bccomo rather' objectionable, little, people; but it all shows'that the tendencyof the hour is to reverse the customs and ideas of .past generations. .

Mrs. .Weightinan Walker, a rich-'American widow, started a new fashion in weddings, when she celobrated her marriage with Mr. Frederick 1 Cburtland Penfield, a former Conto; London, ..by distributing £200,000 among her relatives and certain charities.. This leaves the a beggarly £11,800,000 with .which .to begin her now lease of married life.'.

GOSSIP FROM ABROAD. The death took place'at Vienna on February 29 of the famous singer, Paulino Lucca, at the age of G7. The child of poor parents,'she was horn in Vienna, and made her debut at tho age of fifteen as'.a.chorus girl. At tho age of twenty she inaugurated a brilliant engagement at tho Berlin Opera, under tho auspices of Meyerbeer, in whose "Africamo" she created the role of Selilca, in which. 1 she afterwards appeared- at Covent Garden in 18G5. . In 18G9 she 'had' a triumphal tour/in Russia. In Berlin she held a uniquo position, owing to the admiration of William I. and Prince Bismarck, with whom she was twice photographed at Gastein "in 1872. 1 ' She -was engaged for life as singer at the Berlin Opera, "but relinquished this position in 1572, in consequence of a quarrel with a colleague. She then visited America, where she received an enthusiastic' reception. Mdllo. Lucca joined tho Vienna Imperial Opera in 1574, and tliia engagement lasted fifteen years, Turing which sho added considerably to tho renown of-this famous institution. She retired into private life" in 1890. . She was • twico married, first-'to a Prussian lieutenant,' Baron/ Adolf . von lihadon, and secondly to an Austrian major, Baron von Walhvardqn, who .predeceased' The King and Queen were rather displeased at'the number of women at the last Court, whoso complexions bore obvious signs of artificial colour. After several women, including some young girls, had passed, the King ( turned. round to the Queen, and re-, marked how astonished ho was that tho' voung daughter of a celebrated; peer should have come'to Court .with a painted face. In recent years this, practice has become very general. When it : was confined to middleaged matrons, anxious to preserve their fading charms, the King, who has a "large tolerance in these matters, did not malto any remark; bitt it was easy to see that ho was shocked at tho number of young women at tho . recent Court whose faces shone' with rouge. • - '

Mademoiselle Sorel, the French actress, who recently declared it impossible to dress on less than'£6ooo a year, is'credited not only with being the best dressed woman in the world, but as • having .tho best taste. She is consulted in every change of season by the great dressmaking firms of Paris, and it is she who is Supposed to influence the decisions of.Paquin. It was "The Sorel" who invented the ,"cloche" hat, which has enjoyed a phenomenal popularity throughout the world of civilised women. The new., close-fitting hat, which we will see later on, is her newest- idea, and tho models 'sho wears herself arc adorned, with aigrettes, which are both-fantastic and enorriious. It is being hinted that her recognised influence in the-matter of dress has begun to turn the lieacl. of, this queen of fashion, for .tho dress,magazines are already lamenting that Mademoiselle. Sorel , is failing to ,recognisc that exaggeration arid eccentricity does not necessarily mean smartness and good style. The freaks of costume indulged in by this actress have become so, excessive that all Paris waits to see her latest fantasy in. the way of personal, adornment,' and it is said whon she comes out of the Theatre- Froncais crowd of at; least 200 popple wait every night to seo her .enter her motor. .