MISS COLONIA IN LONDON.

Evening Star, Issue 9878, 14 December 1895, Page 4 (Supplement)

MISS COLONIA IN LONDON.

CONFIDENCES TO COUSINS ACROSS THE SEA.

[By Elsie ] countess belle. The Countess of Clancarty, who presented her husband with a son and heir last week, has, despite all efforts, failed to make any way with London society.' Over in Ireland, where she follows the hounds fearlessly, her ladyship has been more successful, aud one or two dragons of position and propriety know tho ex-music hall chantevse to—well, nod to. But, as in old days, when Countess Belle used to assure us she was " Fresh, fresh, fresh as the morning," she is full of spirit, and, finding society's door firmly shut, talks of reverting to the stage and gay Bohemia. Paragraphs appeared saying this old favorite would be seen in a pantomime this winter. I fancy, however, the advent of a little Lord Dunlo will alter matters, and that this interesting event may reconcile mamma to postponing her theatrical resurrection sine die. a queen's proviso. I have often referred in my letters to the present Queen of Italy, for whom I have a warm admiration. She is in many respects the model of what a woman should be, and, like the estimable lady who rules the Empire on which tho sun never sets, Queen Margherita holds very stroDg views as to the sacred nature of marriage. She holds, moreover, the strictest Catholic views as to the nullity of both civil marriage and divorce, and one of the many bitter drops in

her cup of happiness is tho necessity she is under of receiving at Court Donna Lina Crispi. 4.t the time when Signor Crispi was first in power, not only were his two divorced wives alive, but the divorced husband of Donna Lina was living also. For a long tirrife the Queen refused to receive Mrs Crispi 111., but finally had to give way. She did so in these words: " Very well. Tell Signor Crispi I will receive his wife, but I will only receive one, and it must always be the same one !" THE MARKETING MISS. The ever-present query "What shall we do with our girls?" cannot be answered satisfactorily out of hand. Make it " some of our girls," aud I will say: train them in the art of marketing. In America many women make a decent living by acting as profesßionalmarketers, and the profession is one which could well be acclimatised in any fairly large town. To many women marketing (not the little afternoon's outing which we call "shopping," but the serious attempt to get together the necessities of the household and its inmates) is a woful bore. They never really master the details of the business, and will spend £1 where 15s would suffice in more capable hands. To such the professional marketer would be a boon and a blessing, saving them time, worry, and above all —money. I think there is a genuine opening in most towns for a woman who really understands the work. To become a successful marketer she must have a thorough knowledge of the markets, know when various things are in season, where they can be bought cheapest, and the best qualities to get for various purposes. In Philadelphia a young woman has made the business of professional marketing a financial success. She is a graduate of the cookery school, and issues in connection with her business a small monthly bulletin, which contains, besides price lists, a series of weekly menus, with suggestions for dainty meals from the most seasonable supplies of the market. This young lady buys for private families, aud also for hotels and boarding-houses. It is easy to see how the proper person

could build up a remunerative business in this way. Buying in large quantities, she could, of course, buy at bed-rock prices, and so make her commission without adding to her clients' bills. Such a marketer would be of special value to small private families and boarding-houses. The main drawback to the work of the professional marketer is the practice of keeping a running account at the handiest butcher's and grocer's, but if it could be actually demonstrated that this system of marketing was an actual moneysaving one I fancy many a worried housekeeper would welcome its inception. THE NEW WOMAN IN INDIA. Mr Surendra Lai Chattergee, of Calcutta, has a "holy horror" of the " New Woman," and, believing that this person threatens to invade the Hindoo world, has rushed into print wit hj a vehement protest. He observes with blank dismay that "in England some great men are busily engaged in resuming (?) the rights of women." That sort of thing would never do in India. "Menof our oountry say that women, if they get the least breath of freedom, will at once go to ruin and exercise sovereignty over man." That would be, says Mr Chattergee, "awfully bad," for do not the Holy Shastras (they can be quoted, 'tis said, to prove anything) lay it down that liberty belongs to the superior sex exclusively; its members should not. even listen to the " advises " of the inferior, however gently tendered. The wife's duty is plainly marked out for her: she should " obey and adore" her husband; and if she carries out this precept she may depend upon it that he will treat her mercifully for her shortcomings in other things. Furthermore, the Shastras ordain that women, married or single, must not be allowed to pass indolent lives " without recourse to labor, which is nseful in the fulfilment of the necessaries of life." On the whole the sphere of the Hindoo woman seems limited—no freedom and plenty of work, sweetened only by the inestimable privilege of adoring her partner. Yeb it may be doubted whether the most emancipated of her Western sisters enjoys more happiness. Her chief aspirations run to trinkets and pretty dresses, and these are the price her lord and master pays for "adoration/' Unless he satisfies these

simple longings .the behests of tketJhaßtras become " dead letters w indeed. A CUBE FOB BCRNB. I think, my dear, every man, woman, and child will be grateful to hear of a care for hnrne. One has been discovered oV Br Thierry, of the Hospioe de la Charity Bans, and it has the crowning- virtue of simptyoity and cheapness. Like most great discoveries it was the result of an accident—or rather, a series of accidents. Having several times while working with picric acid dropped burning matter on to bis hands and been astonished by the absence of pain-or injury, the doctor was induced to make experiments to see whether, acid might account for the fact. He' was fn no hurry toaoise his discovery abroad, but now, after two years' experience of its effects, announces that a saturated solution of picric acid applied to a burn or scald will not only remove all pain, but will prevent the formation of sores, and bring about a complete cure in a few days. The solution is perfectly stable, cheap, and free from any odor or injurious properties. It produces a temporary discoloration of the skin, which can be easily removed by the application of borio .acid. If the claims maqe by Dr Thierry -are founded, aB he says they are, upon exhaustive experiments, the solution should at once become an essential item of the home medioine chest. As in the coarse of pastry-making and cooking I am continually burning or scalding my digits, I am getting our chemist to make up a quart iottle of the solution.