ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9172, 29 September 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[from the society papers.]

A beautiful lady in Paris, belonging t# the diplomatic circle, lately met a most peculiar accident at a ball, to the intense delight of her " bosom friends " of the fair sex. The lady in question wore a lowbodied dress oft artistic design, which attracted general admiration, but what mosb riveted the attention of the ball guests were her shoulders of dazzling white. Suddenly her brooch, a splendid cameo, became unfastened, dropped to the ground, and broke to pieces. In her alarm the fair owner quickly stooped to pick up the .fragments. But the rapid movement caused something still more valuable to fall to the ground, viz., a portion of the charming white shoulders of the lady, a piece of a mass resembling porcelain, delicately touched up in blue and pink. The gentlemen gazed in blank astonishment at the damaged beauty, while the ladies giggled in their pockeb handkerchiefs, and the husband ran for a shawl to conceal the misfortune. Tableau !

Leo XIII. is engaged in elaborating a project in which even the most orthodox Protestants must wish him success. He is anxious to organise a league of both C:itholic and non-Catholic Powers for a new crusade, not against " Paynim" of Western Asia, but against the slave-hunters of Central Africa. He is ready, it is said, to find some of the necessary funds for the enterprise. What special form it is to take is not quite clear; but Cardinal Laviger- e, who is full of the idea, hints at an organise "i defence by Europeans of the tracts now' ravaged by the man-hunters. Gordon wa3 longing for such an enterprise before he went on his ill-fated journey to Khartoum. Perhaps the " White Pasha" of the Soudan is already clearing the way for the success-, ful execution of what Gordon dreamed of,: and would no doubt have carried : into effect had he gone to the Congo instead ofthe Nile.

Apropos of fair-haired women, I hear that the true auburn shade so beloved by artists from time immemorial is getting very rare in Europe and also in America. A well-known doctor has been at the trouble of compiling statistics by which he has proved, at all events to his own satisfaction, that for every ruddy-haired man or woman met to-day there were ten half a century ago, and that if the change continues at the same rate in a few more decades the last remaining red-haired Venus will be secured by the Barnum or Farini of his day as a genuine natural curiosity.

The death of Miss Ella Baker, daughter of Mr. T. Baker, of the Inner Temple, anrJ author of Koine pretty books for children, through the sting of a bee, was very sad. I take the opportunity of cautioning mv readers against a habit which sometimes leads to a rather similar accident and to equally grave consequences. I mean burying one's nose in a bouquet of flowers. This; indulgence is sometimes followed by the drawing up into the brain of some minute insect, and those who have read the awful death of " Canon Lucifer " will not want reminding of the terrible results which may follow such an accident.

Speaking of Mr. Mackay, it is said that' the " Silver King" makes a point of spending from £12 to £20 every evening on the dinner he provides for himself and three friends ; whereas another well-known American millionaire, Mr. Jay (lould, is said to be so absent-minded at the table, that he eats a little of everything' at the same time. He has been known, for instance, to eat griddle cakes and molasses with his fish. The late Commodore Vanderbilt always stuck to Spartan fare, and lived on the simplest food till the last. As an epicure, though, Mr. Levi P. Morton is said to " take the cake." His dinners are described as being really artistic in their' design and detail

Her Majesty the Queen of Koumania is, says a correspondent, having built at her country seat a boudoir wherein to devote herself to literary composition. It is constructed of reeds, behind which is a high hedge of roses running all round, with niches in which covered cages, containing nightingales, are to be placed. There is a fountain and a tiny cascade with perfumed water. In the middle of this fairy chamber (the floor of which is covered with soft/ carpet of green turf) is a mossy bank, and a block of polished marble, covered with moss and ferns, which is hewn in the form of a desk, and here the Queen is to indite her poems, and, when exhausted by her labours, she can repose herself in a most luxurious hammock, slung with golden cords, which hangs on one side in close proximity to the nightingales and the felling waters.

There was a funny scene at the Separatist meeting which Sir George Trevelyan ad' dressed the other day at Birmingham. Mr Fulford, a well-known brewer, was in tha chair, but Sir George had not been wes| posted, and to the dismay of those on the platform, and, amidst the low tittering of the audience, he proceeded to inveigh against brewers and licensed victuallers, on whom he lavished much invective. Somebody on the platform presently arose and whispered to Sir George, who stopped, appeared embarrassed, coughed loudly, and abruptly changed the subject, to which he' took care not to return. :

Women are known to possess great) artistic talent, but a lady well known in society, the wife of Mr. A. Staveley Hill,' Q.C., M.P., has now taken a practical step, in advance, and has become a lithographer. She has always had great skill in light and shade as a painter, and now she has acquired almost perfect technique as an artist upon, stone.

The wife of General Harrison has not, like the wife of Mr. Cleveland, youth and. beauty on her side. Many Americans in' London believe that Mrs. Cleveland's charming manners will do much to secure the re-election of her husband as President? for the United States. Mrs. Harrison is, however, a lady of considerable force of character, and shows great taste in dress. There is no doubt that, if the General wins, she will discharge the duties of hostess of the White House to the satisfaction of the nation.

Every woman should have some special thing to think about besides the regular weekly rounds of duties : in fact, some aim. in life except that of cooking, eating, and sleeping, and the contingent possibility of dying soon to get rid of it all. No aim and no change make asylums overflow., leave, children motherless, and make life not) worth the living. Every woman had her ambitious dreams oncewhat were they To write? Then let her write every day, if but three lines on some subject she is most? familiar with. To paint ? Let her gab water-colours, paint flowers, and work at itsevery day, if for only half an hour. If one has but half a chance let her prove that she uses that; that she can do more than many" who have not only a whole chance, bub many chances.—Phrenological Magazine.

The Dublin Evening Mail states that a novel marriage took place lately in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. The bridegroom, was Sir William O'Malley, Bart., who possesses estates in Mayo and Essex, and has a town house in Kensington ; and the bride a young lady named Miss Caroline Favey, who is just out of her teens. Sir William O'Malley's age is 72 years, and he was a widower for a number of years. The circumstances under which they became acquainted are stated to be of a romantic character — namely, that Sir William O'Malley advertised for a housekeeper, and amongst the applicants was Miss Favey, with whom he became so captivated that he at once offered her his hand in marriage and was accepted.

A man, evidently of artistic tastes, although circumstances had forced him into the uncongenial vocation of pig-stick-' inj; at Chicago, wrote to Sir John Millais, o.iering his services for three years in any menial capacity for the privilege of watching him paint. The offer was rejected, with what loss in an aristic sense of the word will never be known. The pigsticker may himself have been "a mate inglorious" Millais.

"Carmen Sylva," the Queen poetess, l&is, it is affirmed, written a poem on the death of * the late Emperor, which she has s«>nt as a, token of sympathy to the Empress Victoria. It is a pity that political allusions in it will prevent this elegy by the Queen of Loumji- from ever being published.