WOMAN’S WORLD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11188, 9 February 1897, Page 2

WOMAN’S WORLD.

The wives of Siamese noblemen cut their hair so that it sticks straight up from their heads. The average length of it in about an inch and a half. The diamond tiara which the Tsar and Tsarina gave as a wedding present to the new Princess of Naples cost two million francs. It was made in Paris. The newest fad in autograph books is one of cooking recipes. Each formula written in the book has the signature of the contributing friend under it. In South Greenland the colour of the hair-ribbon which a woman ties round her head denotes the social condition of the wearer —whether she bo maid, or wife, or widow. A clever Boston woman artist is a believer in astrology. She and her daughters consult their astronomical charts daily as guides to their life. They study them as diligently as some people read their Bibles. Miss Mary Cozens, bon secretary of the Parliamentary Committee for Women’s Suffrage, writes that, at the instance of that committee. Viscount Templetown has consented to introduce the Woman’s Suffrage Bill into the House of Lords next session. An invention, which is likely to become popular, is a miniature of the Great Wheel at Earl’s Court, which Mrs Randolph Clay has patented. Set in diamonds, it can be used for the hair or as a brooch. The effect when the wheel revolves is both novel and pleasing. The ever youthful Sarah Bernhardt has a now hobby. It is pottery, and she describes her handiwork, from the fashioning of the clay to the heating of the oven, with the enthusiastic delight of a girl. Sculpture is the one thing of which-she has made a serious study, and yet her pictures have frequently been hung in the Salon. Holland can boast of a large number of progressive women. Among these are the novelist Cornelia Huyghens ; Miss Nysman, the well-known translator of Swedish and Danish literature ; Mrs Stellingwerf and Henriette van de Mey ; two journalists, Helene Swarth the poetess; Theresa Schwerse the portrait painter; and Henriette Ronner whose studies of eats and kittens are known all over the world.

In several villages of the woman has authority, for "a religious sect exists there whose disciples are forced to marry and to take a vow to submit to the wife in all things. The women choose one woman for their governing head, whose duty it is to see that the men behave themselves, and to punish them if they transgress. Similar are the “ Purificants ” of Liberia, who also recognise the supremacy of women. Tiie young Duchess of Marlborough has a strange taste in pets. At Blenheim she has set up a menagerie, in which are two ostriches, several eagles and vultures, and an ibis. The strangest member of the collection, however, is a garter snake that was purchased by the Duchess on tho banks of the Nile. She was not at all afraid of the snake, and it soon became tame enough to crawl towards her. Thus it became her favourite of all the pets. The Queen of Portugal has been having some beautiful dresses made for her by ■Worth. A truly exquisite dress is a brocade which has a floral device in white velvet pile on a lilac satin ground. The design is copied from a Persian carpet, and the whole skirt is occupied in reproducing it. The front is encrusted with diamonds. The pointed bodice is an agreeable mixture of white tulle and diamond embroidery. Lovely bunches of cattleyas on either shoulder emphasise in a very delightful way the charming tones of this goim. Mrs Stannard, the author of “ Booties’ Baby,” was once introduced to Sir Morell Mackenzie at a London entertainment by her writing name of “ John Strange Winter.” The doctor, who did not keep up with current fiction, looked somewhat dazed, and repeated the name wonderingly, whereupon the author' remarked, “ Oh, yes ; I’m c Booties ’ Baby.’ ’’ Sir Morell retreated, marvelling still : more, and, drawing a friend aside, confided to him “ that he had just met a poor demented lady, who was introduced as a man and thought herself a baby.”

Russian leaders of fashion are somewhat disappointed at the plain dressing of their Imperial mistress. The Tsaritza has never posed as a leader of fashion, being habitually clad in costly, but plain-built, gowns, etc. She is certainly not ambitious of earning the reputation of being the “most fashionably-dressed woman in Europe.” This is neither understood nor appreciated by Russian ladies of fashion, and the circumstance is the more noticed as the Dowager-Empress furnished a strong contrast in her halcyon days, being, like her sister, the Princess of Wales, always considered the best-dressed woman at Court. Miss Jean Ingelow may now he said to be tho most popular of the English poets in tho world. She is a quiet, shy-looking lady of sixty-two years of age, and inhabits a pretty house in London, where those who take the trouble to seek her out receive always a kind and cordial reception.. Like most true poets, she has a very accurate mind, and has a horror of Untidy or slipshod ways. She still works hard, and finds her greatest relaxation in the study of botany. Her kindness of heart has become proverbial, for three times a week she gives what she calls a copyright dinner to twelve poor persons just discharged from the hospitals. Although not a frequent visitor to fashionable drawing-rooms. Miss Ingelow has an immense circle of friends, both known and unknown.