THE LADIES COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6996, 19 April 1884, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE LADIES COLUMN.

FASHION NOTES. Heather tweeds are invogue. Corduroy velvet introduced again. Ribbons 'give place to" cords on heavy goods. Far is to' be worn on alsters and waterproofs. _ Cupid bracelets the latest fashion of bangles. Brilliant linings are a feature of winter mantles.

' Artichoks of ribbon again appear on winter millinery. Plush, after being tabooed for two seasons, comes in again. . . Bear's fur will run chinchilla very close, and eventually win, " Floral • brooches Very popular for light lace ties and fichus. .

The long piled variety of plushes will be in the highest favour. Striped skirtß of wool will have polonaises of the plain material. Gold embroideries and braids still find favour at the hands of ladies.

• Veils with a border are driving the plain dotted net from the field entirely. " Good luck" brooches are_ shown set with diamonds forming the mystic wish. Aigrettes of feathers are seen wherever it is.possible to place them on millinary. Shows, to which the customer is invited by an' EEathotic card, are still the order of the day. The " masher" scarf pin is small and unobtrusive looking, with a small pearl set at the top. Birds of the air give their plumage to our millinery. Even the domestic kitten contributes its head.

Folks no longer wonder at the quantity of chenille used in millinery : they accept it as an accomplished fact. Redingotes will have draped backs this winter, which will effectually alter the former classic lines of this becoming garment.

Briefly described, a Capid bracelet is a chain-like band of gold and silver mixed, with a tiny God of Love to fasten it at the wrist.

ADVICE TO "WIVES,

Exert yourself to merit and win your husband's confidence, which you will infallibly do if you lead an exemplary life and maintain an unshaken sweetness and patienbe amidst what may be most wounding to you. A man may have great defects, even great vices; 'he may have his irritable moments; when he will use words as harsh as they are unjust towards her who is the helpmate of his life. That is of little matter. If- a' woman is all she should be, he will respect her in spite of himself, and place full trust in her; and notwithstanding the angry taunts in the truth of which a passionate man professes to believe at the moment of utterance, .his heart will remain faithtul to her, and will be likewise drawn to admire and'practice virtue.

THE YOUNG AMERICAN'S GREATEST HAPPINESS.

There is to be seen just now in America (observes the Saturday Review), in what is known as society, a strong tendency to imitate English ways and customs and faahions. This tendency is gaining strength, and spreading from New York and Boston to smaller inland cities. It is a new thing in many ways, for until lately New York has taken its cue rather from Paris than from London. Daring the second Empire many good Americans made pilgrimages to the Tuilleries as to a Mecca, and some settled permanently near the shrine. But Paris is no longer more fashionable : than London. The American girl continues to get her gowns in the French capital, ot course ; but «ha is glad to get her habit and her ulster and her cloaks in. the English capital. As there is now no court in France, she looks forward to a presentation at court in England, and the possibility of marrying a title is perhaps present to her mind as she crosses the ocean. That she is quite capable of taking care of herself in the presence of English noblemen and of their female relatives all readers of Mr. James's " International Episode" and of Mr. Howell's "Woman's Reason" will bear witness. In fact, the American girl is in no danger of losing her head before parting with her hand. It iB her consort, the American young man, who is most likely to be contaminated by con- : tact with the Englishman. There is no denying that a certain set of young Americans, more particularly in New York and Boston, affect the Englishman, and ape all his affectations. Tiaey mimic.every English trick in the most snobbish way. They attempt an English accent; and they sprinkle Britishisms freely through their speech. They talk of their "fads," and they call people "cads," and they abound in the moßt amusing little affectations. Their greatest happiness is to be taken for an Englishman—a joy not often vouchsafed to them. It was to one of these pitiful imitations—a young Bostonian—that a clever New York girl said, " Mr. Blank, 1 should think you would be so glad to meet Lord So-and-ao; you know he is a real Englishman!"

CHIT-CHAT.

Stock gambling among English ladies increases very slowly. • _ Mrs. Mary Miller has received her license as a steamboat captain at New Orleans. The aistera of M. Thiers, Madame Brunet and Madame Rippart, are living in France in comparative poverty. The former correspondent of the Golos— Madam' Barbara MacGahan—still lives in New York, and is now writing for the Novosti.

In France nearly all the railroad ticket and signal clerks are women, who are paid as much as men. They are preferred because of their sobriety.

Mary Anderson, the actress, says shehaa faithfully followed Longfellow's advice, given her at the threshold of her career, that she should see a beautiful picture, read a beautiful poem, and hear some beautiful music every day. "How complimentary you are !" exclaimed a withered old beau to a lady who has just spoken of" him as "a young gentleman'." "Not at all," she snarled back; "the fact that you are an old man does not prevent your being a young gentleman." A country girl, coming from the paddock, •being told by ; her poetic cousin that she looked as fresh, as a daisy kissed with dew, said, " Well, it wasn't any fellow by that name; but it was Steve Jones that kissed me. I told him that every one in town would find it out."

-While the arrangements were being made for a party a few evenings ago, a young lady present innocently inquired: "Is the invitation to embrace the young ladies?" Oh, no," replied a young man, "the gentlemen will attend to that." And the young lady wonders what the young man meant. '" Yeß, you may come again next Sunday evening, dear, but—" and she hesitated. "What ib it, darling? Have I given you pain?" he asked, as she remained silent. "You didn't mean to, I'm sure," but next time please don't wear one those collars with the points outwards—they scratch so." A lover, young and enthusiastic, who sang and played for Dearly two hours before the house of his lady love the other evening, was eleotrified—that is, shocked—after a short pause,, by a cordial "Thank you," gracefully pronounced by the "other fellow," who appeared at the drawing-room window. A new leap-year feature in the wild, wild West, is for a woman to paste her own photo over. one of the queens in a pack of cards, apd then ohallenge the man she would fain make miserable to a game of euchre. _ If, by skilful maneuvring, she can make him take the ''-Leap-Year Queen," it is his duty to at once lead her to the altar. IN CHtTBOH DURING SHE LITANY, I'm glad wo got hers early, Noll; • We're not obliged to sit to-day Beside those horrid Smith girlß—well, I'm glad they go so soon away. ' How does this cushion match my dress 2 I think it looks quite charmingly, '• " Bowed sweotly to the Smiths !" Oh! yes— [Responds.] ■" Pride,.vanity, hypocrisy. Good Lord, deliver us." I hate those haughty Courtonays! I'm sure they needn't feel so fine, Above us all—for mamma says ' Their drosses aren't as nice as mine. And one's onsagod; so, just for fun,, To make her jealous—try to win - Her lover—show her how 'tis done— | [Responds.] •! From hatred, envy, mischief, sin, I: , ■, "Good Lord, deliver us." - • To-day the rector is to preach In aid of missionary work ; He'll say he hopes and trusts that each : Will nobly"give, nor duty shirk. j I hate to give, but then one must. You ? low we have a forward seat; People'ean see—they will, I trust, [Responds.] " From want of charity, deceit, ' .-.■•' ■'•■'" '■■-■--■ • Good Lord, deliver us." ' Did you know Mr. Gray had gone 1 Ciat handsome Mr. Sogers, too X Dear mo 1 Wo shall be quite forlorn U all the men leave—and so few ! -I trust that we with Cupid's darts ; May capture some—let them beware— [Responds.] " Jtsrhold the. orrows of our hearts. And, Lord, with mercy, hoar our prayer."