SIR EDWARD HARCOURT'S DAUGHTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6817, 22 September 1883, Page 3 (Supplement)

SIR EDWARD HARCOURT'S DAUGHTER.

Our Sail Francisco correspondent writes : — " A very carious case is causing a good deal of excitement concerning a lady of noble family who is now a common tramp, and a such has walked from this State to New Y> rk. The name uf the unfortunate in Sirs. B njamine, who was liorn at Merthyr Tydvill, in Wales, .Sir K. Harsourt being her father, her mother being a descendant of >ir l'hliip Francis, who is accredited with being the author of the "Junius" letters whicii appeared in Englatid in 17C9. Miss , Hare urt leli i" love with Mr. Benjamine at the age of 17, and married against her mothers consent —Sir Harcourt being dead —clandtstii e ! y. 'I he mother was so griefstrickcu th.it she became paralysed, and died. Let me d'gress a moment to moralise on the utter foll> of a mother (lying of grief because her want to mairy whom they love. They used to do these things in oMen times, a!s > anathematize and cut off with a sli lliut» disobedient children, and it has always seemed so absurd to me that it provokes me to laughter every time I think of it. Tbauk heaven, we are more enlightened nowadays. If my daughters insist d upon making a marriage contrary to my wish, 1 should say, " My dears, you are nuking your bed, and for ever after will you have to lie thereon. Therelore, if it turns out hard, don't tend for me, but abide by >our cluic."," and I should be on excellent terms with my I'aughters all the same. But to resume. The young couple came to America, and lived in the States ton years, at the clo-e of which ihey came to California by water, Mr. Benjamine dying on the way of fever, which threw his wiie out of her senses, and her reason uas partly destroyed for six years, winch she spent in our city, under the surveillance of the authorities. She then escaped, and walked to Nevada. From that time, now live years ago, she has beeu walking on from place to place, tryirg to reach New York under the most painful circumstances—living with Indians, stealing rides, being locked into baggage-cars and kept for days withoat food. Once, riding oa ttie bumper of an engine, her caught lire tr m a sp.rk, when she had a narrow escape from death. Her injuries kept her weeks on road, but by the latest accounts Bhe is now iu New York, having in her possession tk- key of a safe deposit vault, where her husband, years ago, bft considerable money. With this she will start for England, to end her days among the old friends at home. She is only forty-three, and may reasonably hop-i even yet to enjoy the remain itr of her life. Ic is astonishing how many of i hese cases of English people of family coming to gri.-f in this country occur. We read of them perpetually." CHIT-CHAT. In IS4O it was stated bv Harriet Martineau that there uere seven occupations open to women in M issacnu etts ; now there are 284. Cariotta the ex-Empress of Mexico, is said to have recov.-red from her insanity. Her hair is en ir*ly white. She spends much of her time in ihe study of music. To facilitate the busints-i—often a patiencetrying one—of putting on a new pair of Suede gloves, fold t em for a few minutes in a damp cloth. The process will not need repetition O i the second occasion. Madame Carla S rena, th- intrepid explorer of the m st savage p.rts of C.ntral Asia, has just brought out a new work at Paris, eticiiled, •'Homrnes no Glioses en Perse," giving a detailed account of a 1-ng residence in Pusia. Muslm c'ress-es, the existence of which has been for somtf ve rs by the fashionable world at Home, are again considered the best the prettiest for garden parties, archery meeting.*, and all open-air entertainments. At 'ihe State ball held at Buckingham Palace H R.II. the Princess of Wales wore a gold-coloured satin drees trimmed with lace, and fringei of re.t currants, and a petticoat of gold-coloured telle. The constancy of the princess for rrd currants used as decorations is remarkable. At a recent fashionable wedding in London, one of the dresses worn waa composed of g-ranium red satin —the most gorgeous tint that has yet been produced—the bonnet of the tame trimmed with red velvet leaves. The reli f to all this colour was afforded by a superb bouquet of yellow rosebuds, while its efftfcl was enhanced by a lavish display of pearls and diamonds. A Loudou correspondent writes :—Brilliant colours a'O all the fashion now; the alternative being pme white. In the park, at garden pa>ties, at Hurlingham, Richmond, Henley Rigatta, eve.vwhere in fact, entire costumes of white, relieved only by flowers worn at the neck, are reen. Ball dresses are profusely trimm d with cherries, currants, apricots, and grapes, and bunches of cherries are worn on the breast and shoulders. I have just seen (writes a lady in London) the prettiest mantelpiece arrangement possible at the h"use < f Mrs. Russell Roberts (a sister of Sir Francis Villeneuve Smith), on the occasion of a musical party, which has proved one of th< most nucsessful parties of the season. The whole of the chimney ornaments were removed, and tiie broad marble slabs were entirely covered in with roses in small glass bowl-, set in fringes of ferns. The effect was delightful, and much aided by these improvised beds oi roses being reflected in the mirro>s. At Westminister Police-court, the magistrate had before him, a short time ago a . sincular dectaiatii n emanating from a city charity, the date of which was not stated. It was ai.point d that the trustees of Sarah Rachel Titfoid's charity should " pay the sum of £15 per annum'to ceitain women, poor widows or maidens of good character, residing within ten miles of tbc standard in Cornhill, wlio-e income did not exceed £21 per annum, and who believed in the Atonement of Jcsjs Christ, and desired to obey tiim in general conduct." 'J he declarant was a maiden woman, ag<d CO, living in , Ranelagh-road, Pinilico. The declaration j attested by a witmss, wasdu y signed. . The minnfaeture of artificial feathers, th< i .American Register s ys, gives employment : to more than 3000 women ; 4000 are engagec > iu bookbinding, at which only 5000 men art l employed ; 25000 do work in shoe factories 3 So,uoo maiiiif ,cmre ineu's clothes, profession 'r ally in addition to the millions who do thii r kind of work in their homes.. It is somewha F surprising that more women are engaged ii ™ making men's cl-ti.es lor the market than n - making «omen's clothes, the latter bom; t oaly 22 000 in the United States ; 2001 wouieu —and suiely it is very properget !• living by m.-king coufcetionery ; 1400 mak - twine, and 7000 are engaged in making coi e sets. The eenfUS shows that 217 make fan i- works and explosives, and twenty man gunpowder,