ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7656, 5 June 1886, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[FROM THE SOCIETY PAPERS.!

Rumours have been revived of the pending betrothal of Princess Louise of Wales to the young Prince Oscar of Sweden. There ia little to be s&id against such an engagement, except that the Princess is perhaps a littler young to be already contemplating those cares of matrimony from which even Royal wives are not exempt. As yet, however, there is no confirmation of the report, which, however persistently it is repeated, may still turn out, like many another report of th® same nature, to be unfounded.

America has started a new idea. Soma worthy citizens of the Great West propose to found and endow a college for the education of wives for the world. Ladies who wish to reside in Paris, Rome, Milan, London, St. Petersburg eveD, are to be specially educated in the language, history, costumes, and cookery of the country into which one intends to try and marry. Certain ladies, too, will be specially educated for class marriages for instance, a doctor's or a lawyer's wife. The promoters will not, it is said, go so far as to supply a wife to the King of the Can« nibal Islands or to the Sultan ; but the idea has certainly a touch of humorous novelty about it.

The manners and habits of some new members of the House of Commons are very strange. In the debate on th» Church of ecotlaud several members read their speeches at length. One new Scotch member showed a disposition to read what sounded very like a sermon. The Speaker could not stand that, and advised him to speak without a MS. A. little later another new member talked out his own Bill. Church and stage met in the lobby afterwards. The Bill which Mr. Rider Cook talked out would have given the theatres to the Board of Works. Mr. Kider Cook began his speech by calling the House " Tho Board"—a mistake which led the gentlemen of the Opposition side forthwith to declare that the new Hou.sa of Commons was indeed an assembly of vestrymen.

Persons about to marry are likely to have reason to be grateful to the present House of Commons if only it can succeed in prolonging its existence for a session. The reception given to the Bill for extending the hours during which people are to be at liberty to marry, the second reading cf which was moved by Mr. Car veil Williams, is a practical and popular act. There fire few people wlao have been either principals or witnesses in a wedding ceremonial but know how difficult it is, under present circumstances, to get t!tta marriage knot securely tied by twelve o'clock. But Mr. Carvell Williams's Bill will change all that, for it proposes to extend the hour up to which people may legally marry to four o'clock. It is true that Mr. Childers, with a appreciation of what is appropriate on these occasions, proposes to limit the hour to three o'clock, inasmuch as in the winter months darkness sets in before four, and there would then be no knowing who was who during the marriage, and singular and unpleasant accidents might happen.

Lord Kenmare has had his income so reduced by the Irish policy of his Liberal friends that he now gets absolutely no rents at all, and is obliged to live entirely upon his salary as Lord Chamberlain. One result of this is that, instead of inhabiting, as 'he was wont to do, a house in Belgrave Square, he has now taken a small house in Titostreet, far away in the wilds of Chelsea, and on the Enbankment over against the Ga.a« works.

The seventeen offers of marriage which Mitt.2 Adelaide Bartlett is said to have received during the last week, including one from a clergyman, merely illustrate and support the argument of Buckle that human actions are so much subject to uniform law as the courses of the stars. Such offers of marriage, always including one from a clergyman, a.re the invariable fortune of ladies who are accused of poisoning their husbands or lovers. The number of seventeen hiw probably been increased tenfold by this time, if we judge by the recorded experience of Madeline Smith, the heroine of the great Scotch poisoning case in ISSS. That young lady accepted one of her numerous suitors (the clergyman, we believe), and lives to this day a prosperous gentlewoman in the immediate neighbourhood of Bedford Squire. Let us hope that Mrs. Bartlett may be recompensed by a happy union for her past miseries. She has the matrimonial advantage of some thousands of pounds and a most bewitching pair of eyes. She is also a.n attentive and experienced sick nurse, whose experiences of the dangers of using chloroform are sufficiently painful to deter her from practising with that drug upon a second husband. There is a good story told of a Scotch artist photographer's zeal in obtaining interviews with Members of the Royal Family. He got on well enough with the Prince of Wales, who treated Mac with the utmost good nature. One day he called at Marlborough House and insisted on his name beiDg sent to the Prince, who, he declared, would not fail to see him. After long parleying, the name was sent in, and shortly afterwards the artist was ushered into the presence of the Prince. In answer to the query put by the latter, " What can Ido for you?" Mac was profuse in his gratitude for the courtesy and consideration extended to him. and went on to explain that the Duke of Edinburgh would not give him a second sitting ; would not puthis uniform on; in fact, would take no notice of him. The artist was told to call at noon the next day. The Duke was given to understand he was to meet sundry deatinguished visitors, and asked to come down to Marlborough House in uniform next day. This he did, and was thanked for his attendance; but while the Duke was inquiring as to what was the cause of his being sunt for, the redoubtable Mac was ushered in. At the sight of him the Duke gave utterance to a stronger remark than That blessed photographer," and feeling that he had been fairly captured, quietly seated himself, and was at once photographed —an excellent likeness, which is thankfully j received by all who know the honour of having one sent.

Louise Michel was on March 8 not only unable to obtain a hearing at a meeting in the Versailles Theatre, but had to run away from the stones, sand, and snowballs that were thrown at her, and to hide in the park. One of her friends, Madame Bouquier, who was also to speak, fled from the stage to the street, where, seeing an open carriage, she got into it and told the driver to hurry her anywhere. Madame Bouquier was pelted with so many snowballs containing stone# that her face was severely cut, and blood flowed from it. To remove the personal belongings of the Queen and her suite even for a two days' stay involves an immense amount of trouble and expense. I saw at least a dozen large omnibuses, driven by coachmen and attendant footmen, and drawn by pairs, used in the transmission of the luggage from Buckingham Palace to Windsor. Two magnificent footmen, resplendent in soarlet and gold, drove alone in two capacious omnibuses, and a third vehicle, ofequal size, contained a stalwart Highlander and a number of packages done up in black glazed calico, reminding one irresistibly of a com* mcrcial traveller in the drapery line. There was an innovation at the Drawingroom, as the Queen remained in the throne* room thrraghout the ceremony, a thing which she has uot done for many years past. A sort of state chair is always placed for Her Majesty, who usually leans against it but on this occasion she sat, so she was nob fatigued. It is difficult to understand ,why the Queen does not use the throne on thesa occasions, as it would be much more comfort* able and also much more imposing. The young - Princess of Teck looked charming. She is a pretty, graceful girl, and she was much admired. Her dress was of ivory tulle, sprinkled with pearls, her train being of white satin bordered with similar tulle. She wore diamond stars in her hair, and a. diamond necklace, and carried & very beauti* ful bouquet. The Princess' dress and jewels were given her by the Duchess of Cambridge. The Duchess of Teck looked most stately in black satin, trimmed with jet. She was in mourning for the Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Dessau. The Dnohess of, Edinburgh, however, carried off the honours of the throne-room, as she was a perfect blaze of magnificent jewel*, and her dress was most elaborate and splendid. Lady Spencer was greatly admired, and the Duchess of Sutherland looked well in dark blue velvet trimmed with sable*