A LADY'S LET TER.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 178, 28 November 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

A LADY'S LET TER.

THE FASHIONS, &c. LONDON, October 13. My dear ■, — The weather here during September has been of tho most variable kind, and really most disagreeable — now cold and rainy, then storuis of wind, with scant intervals of sunshine. The sporting people must have had a damp time of it amongst the stubble and gorse ; however, the men have had the St. Leger to divert them from the pheasants and partridges. I really have a novelty (at last) in fashion -to report to you. A small one, it is true, but very curious and bizarre. This novelty consists of glass bonnets. They are said to be very pretty, and possets this great advantage, viz., that they will not •poi) with weather, but can be washed and trimmed anew ; these novelties are produced at Bohemia, and were shown at the Vienna Exhibition. Thoy have been sent to Paris, London,* and America ; at latter it is expected they will take a prominent place. They aro composed of pieces of glass on gutta perch a bands, lined with silk, and ornamented with birds and flowers ; they weigh only a few ounces, and their cost is trifling. . A new polonaise called the Austria, very Btylish, is likely to become extremely popular. It is like a French coat in shape, with large square pockets ; it is trimmed with silk guipure and frog buttons. Spotted foulard polonaises, too, are. very general, having pelerines. Maroon or sailor blue skirts are worn with these. Autumn skirts must not be too elaborately trimmed, for the modistes aro trying to introduce simplicity, and perfection in fit and cut will be preferred rather than a profusion of ornamentation. Skirts must not bulge out, except below the baok of the waist. To cling to the figure will be de riguenr. A mixture of materials will still remain popular, though it has been reported otherwise; and 1 have seen some autumn skirts having the tunic turned baok, which gives it the appearance of being fastened at tho side, having large gimp buttons. With this skirt, revers are on the bodice and cuffs. Fraises for the throat will continue to be worn, and black ones embroidoed with beads will be worn, even out of mourning ; sometimes the fraiie is continued down the front of tho bodice. Waistbands and sashes continue to be the fashion, many of the former being made of leather, adorned with plagues of cut stool, on which to suspend sundry articles a la chatelaine I have seen a nice model dress made of dark and light blue serge, the skirt of dark material, with a deep flounce, the polonaise of light blue in the style of Obarles IX., is trimmed with revers and crossbands of dark blue. A felt hat, a la Huguenot, and dark blue stockings complete this elegant toilette model. As for mantles, there is an endless variety. Many are made with colonial flannel, trimmed with twine guipure, which latter is a favourite fancy-work for the sea-side.

Here is some good news for match-making mamas. Daughters are sent to the Indian marlet, and now I have to inform all whom it concerns that at the Chinese province of Hupei, the young men cannot fiud wives, and the only dower required by a Hupeian husband is a coarse gown and headgear. What a Paradise for young ladies on their promotion ! How easily can we in this manner get rid of the redundancy of our female population, that Vexing, unsolved problem.

Do you remember that some time back I mentioned that Lady Faulkner, an English lady of rank, and a gentleman of her acquaintance, had been arrested at Paris for a jewel robbery. It has since transpired thai the real thieves are nn Englishman and woman, viz., Jane Clay, a domestic servant, and George Spencer. Their appearance so nearly resembles that of the persons of rank at first arrested, that the mistake of tho police seems excusable The stolen diamonds < wore worth 80,000 francs. They have been sentenced to imprisonment.

The reception of the King of Italy at Vienna has been of the coldest description. The Empress is said to be so ill that she could not join the festivities given in honour of Victor Emmanuel on his arrival. When the Emperor of Austria and his royal visitor entored their box at the opera the vast audience did not rise. In short, the Viennese plainly show they have not forgotteu.

By tb« way, while on Continental subjects, already the will of the late Duke of Brunswick is likely to be contested. Charles of Brunswick had a daughter by a morganatic marriage with Charlotte Coldillo. This daughter, till she was eighteen, w«s reared by the Duke aB heiress to his fortune, and with every care and tenderness. In an evil hour the young lady — who wedded the Count de Corly — abjured Protestantism, and turned Roman Catholic, and lost her father's affections. A pension of 100,000 francs bad been promised the young wife, but the money •was withheld. In 1865 the lady's husband lost a portion of his income, and then induced tho countess to claim from her father the promised pension. This being refused, an action at law was brought against the Duke, who, as a Prince, refused to appear before an ordinary court of law. Tho Count ass was nonsuited. She is now about to invoke Swiss law, demanding one-half of the fortune bequeathed to the oity of Geneva. After all, the much-vaunted diamonds of this Prince are. by no means so pure as we have ahrays heard. Beport exaggerated their value, the best being estimated at 60,000 francs. another at 20,000 francs, but many are worth no more than 1,000 francs. Yellow-tinted Cape diamonds abound in the collection. There is a very fine black diamond, which, howevar, is worth more to an amateur than a diamond merchant, and a statuette of rubies — precious as a work of art, but the stones are not of undoubted purity. The celebrated Brunswick vaae, which disappeared just at the time when Duke Charles took his flight from a country too hot to hold him, has been discovered among the effects, enclosed in another rase. It ie a rare work, out out of a single onyx. I cannot tell you of the exact date of the Duke of Edinburgh's marriage, but I am able to reveal the interesting fact that the wedding cake which is to grace the breakfast table, will be manufactured in England by Mr. John Rostron. I never heard the name of this artificer before, but I presume not to know him Bimply argues myeolf unknown, and that he has in some way a specialilb for wedding cakes 'which has procured him thiß distinguished honour. The cake is to bo seven feet six inches high, and will weigh 230 pounds. It is to be in six tiers, and will be modelled after tho celebrated porcelain tower at Nankin. Also it is to be covered with a fretwork of flowers and shells of snow-white purity, and from a vaso at the top will trail a profusion of orange flowers.

Tho Shall of Persia has boon, it seems, in great difficulties since his return home. Great complaints *vro made ngainst the Grand Vizier, who seems to Lttvo had rather a hard time of it, bub is now restored to favour though not to ofllco. Everybody seems to have had a linger in this broil, even the ladies of the harem.

Our good Queen has been enjoying herself this autumn by visiting several places in the Highlands. She has been to Inverness, which she took en route on her return to Balmoral.

The theatres here, one by one, are re-opening. At Drury Lane Mr. Halliday is about to rechatiffee Shakespeare for us ; thut is, he gives us a revised edition of " Antony and Cleopatra," in which Mr. Ryder's now pupil, Miss Wullis, will make her first appearance. At Covent Garden Rivero's concerts are in their full tido of success. Levy is the great card here, and certainly there is nothing to compare with this artist's performance on tho cornet. Carlotta Patti has not made her appearance yet. Charles Rice haß taken tho house for the Christmas pantomime, and a new piny at tho Globe has been roughly handled by tbe critics. The Tichborno jury aro to havo lunch provided for them by tho Treasury every day. Something like throning a aop to Cerboru*, is it not ? My pages are filled. More gossip in my next. Adieu.