ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9130, 11 August 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[from the society tapers.]

The announcement that Donizetti's, skull was on show at the Bologna Exhibition has aroused some discussion and has elicited an explanation from the composer's nephew. It seems that in 1848, after the post-mortem on Donizetti, Dr. Carcano kept his skull for study. In 1875, when Donizetti's remains were reinterred at Bergamo, the skull was found to be missing, and the body was buried without it. Further inquiries showed that when Dr. Carcano died his goods were sold by auction, and the skull was bought for a few pence by a pork butcher, who used it as a money bowl. Tho pork butcher agreed to resell the relic at a profit, and the skull was then placed in the library at Bergamo. It is a pity it was not" buried.

I suppose now, that the Queen and the Princess of Wales have set the fashion of wearing opals, it will be very widely followed, in spite of the reputation for ill-luck which clouds the beauty of these prismatic gems. lam one of the least superstitious of mortals. The crossing of knives, the commencing a journey on a Friday, the passing under a ladder, have no effect whatever upon me, and I cannot think that die fact of a ring set with opals instead of sapphires or emeralds can make or mar the happiness of any human being. None the less I should like to record one or two really curious facts about opal rings which have happened within my own knowledge. In two cases in which the recipients were connected with my own family, opal engagement rings were given, and in both cases the result of the engagement was disastrous —not that I think that the opals had anything to do with it. but the fact remains that in one instance an untimely death followed a brief and troubled married life, and in the other the husband died in a few years of the marriage, insane, although 110 other member of his family had ever shown the slightest symptom of anything of the kind. In view of these occurrences, I confess that, although I am utterly devoid of superstition, I would nob accept the finest opal ring in Bond-street if it were offered me to-morrow.

Here is a lesson for ladies to take to heart. All the very fashionable and very expensive mantles now worn are designed, and even made, by men. A fashion journal says that they do them better than women. But surely women ought to render themselves proficient in so essentially feminine an ait.

The crowd at Potsdam actually cheered the young Emperor when he was following his father's coffin to the grave. A royal funeral is always a miserable mockery, for there are always a large number of persons in the cortcge who, although arrayed in all the trappings of woe, are nevertheless as merry as possible in reality. A few years ago, on the day of the funeral of one of the most prominent members of the royal family, the coffin was lying in state in a chamber hung with black, but a distinguished foreigner who entered to deposit an imperial wreath was scandalised to see two well-known noblemen standing at its foot in animated conversation and laughing heartily. Formerly a prominent member of the household was at once appointed to remain in attendance by the cottin of the

deceased member of the royal family. On the day before the funeral he was supposed to sit on one side, apparently absorbed in grief, but the person who entered hurriedly found him lounging in an easy chair, which he had dragged in from the next room, with a pile of newspapers and French novels, and his feet resting on one end of the stand on I wluum- tu. coffin was placed.

A number of ladies in Paris are founding a scientiiic review, La Revue Scientifique des Femmes. The directing committee is already formed. A lady who is physician to the Sultan's seraglio is a corresponding member. What amusing letters she could write were she not bound to assume a grave air in her communications. The editress is Madame Renoz, a Belgian.

A story is being told about a well-known public man, who is a devout Roman Catholic. On a recent fast-day, lie went into his accustomed refectory, and called for some boiled salmon. "We have no salmon today, sir," said the waiter ; " only steak, roast beef, and spring-chicken." " Well," said , " you may bring me a steak, but Heaven knows I asked for fish."

Mr. Rider Haggard, has already received about £10,000 as his share of the profits from his popular novels. These books may well be described as "King Haggard's Mines."

Madame Sarah Bernhardt (writes an authority), more than any living actress, has mastered the art of the production of vocal sounds on the stage. She has lately explained her method. The quarrel scene in " Frou Frou" took her many months to learn. Her habit is first to read the speech in an undertone as slowly as possible, pronouncing each word with a long breath drawn before and after. This exercise she by degrees increases in rapidity, until she has almost insensibly acquired the habit of pronouncing the sentences with what appears a' whirl of passion.

Mrs. Ernestine Schaffner, of New York, spends the greater part of her time and money in behalf of prisoners whom she believes are wrongfully accused. She visits the police courts, and where she sees a man or woman who her judgment tells her is the victim of circumstantial evidence, she furnishes bail, and at her own expense secures the services of a lawyer. So far Mrs. SchafTner's intuitions have been correct and she has always won the cases of hei proteyes and has never lost a dollar by going their bail.

A writer in the Queen, descanting on flowers, declares that the fashionable real flower of the day is white lilac. It is carried in the hand, worn on bodices, and placed on dinner-tables and about drawingrooms. It is, of course, forced under glass, or comes from abroad, so that it is somewhat costly. For posias it is arranged quite loosely, and tied with gauze ribbon the shade of the leaves, or with mauve, white, or yellow watered ribbon. In vases it is. also put loosely, just a few spreading branches; bub on dinner- it is lower, and mixed with large sprays of maidenhair. Sprays of it are sometimes scattered over the table. This is also done witir roses and other flowers. They must correspond with those in the receptacles. It is the fashion this season to mix flowers of various colours —yellow and white is the popular combination ; and at present genista is mixed with white ox-eyed daisies and lilac, while later on, laburnum, calceolaria, and yellow daisies will come into use. Marshal Niel roses are already to be seen in profusion, and vie with lilac in popularity. In a short time coloured roses and garden lilacs will supersede daffodils, which are still in abundance, and also primroses. Window boxes are looking gay with summer flowers. Pale pink flowers, backed with brown leaves, are to be used fur buttonholes, but for men, white ones, chiefly of gardenias, are fashion able.