ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8354, 6 September 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[FROM THE SOCIETY PAPERS.] M. Marcel is a Paris coiffeur celebrated for his skill in waving the hair so that the undulations remain for nearly a month. It is said that when Jane Hading was in America she offered him 10,000f to come out during her engagement, but he declined, with good reason, as he makes about 800f a day at home. He did, however, go to England for 10,000dol in answer to a prayer from some dishevelled dame. One day several ladies wore waiting their turn to be " waved" at lOf a head, when the attendant entered the room and said that a lady offered '20f for the first turn. "Oh," si id Mdme. Barrette, who was one of the patients, " I can't wait; I offer thirty." " Forty," said a little actress from the Variety's. Just then an American woman strolled in, raised her lorgnon to her eyes, looked disdainfully around, " A hundred and sixty," she murmured. Marcel, who liar* been quietly " waving" during this scene, began at once on t the newcomer's head: the others went un Waved.

A somewhat notable pamphlet is the first "Grey-book" of tho Institute of Journalists. The membership, it seems, now exceeds two thousand, and, judging from a glance at the list of members, which covers fifty odd pages, it promises to be a thoroughly representative institution—at any rate so, far as the provinces are concerned. Sir Algernon Borthwick, Sir Edwin Arnold, Mr. Clayden, Mr. G. A. Sala, Mr. Edward Lawson, Mr. Justin McCarthy, Mr. T. P. O'Connor, Mr. Percy Bunting, Mr. E. R. Russell, and Mr. Labouchere are among tho best known names on the list, and tho roal working journalists may be ticked oil by the hundred. The names of quite half a dozen ladies grace the catalogue.

After having, with characteristic modesty, allowed his laurels to be worn by another man for thirty years, Sir Frederick Roberts) has at last given his version of tho planting of the historical liag at Lucknow on the occasion of the relief of that city. His narrative confirms that? which was given a few weeks ago by Sir George Green. It was Sir Frederick (then Lieutenant) Roberts who was ordered by Sir Colin Campbell to obtain a flag and plant it upon tho mess-house as a signal, previously agreed upon, to Sir James Outram. It was Roberts who planted tho signal on the roof. It was Roberts who, evidently under a hail of bullets, replaced it the second and the third time when it) was shot away. It was Roberts who did this. And it was NVolseley who " lay low and said nuffin" for about twelve years while the exploit was credited to him in various accounts of the siege, including a memoir of himself, published with what) purported to be his own testimonial to tha author's accuracy. Such is heroism, and such is our only "general!" Perhaps it is fortunate, after all, that we have not another like him.

Women have found their way into Greenwich Observatory not simply as spectators, but as actual workers, .four have recently joined the staff of tho Astronomer-Royal. At present they are " 'prentice hands," having to be taught yet theoretical astronomy, and to take and measure tho photographs for tho chart of th", heavens. But (the Daily Chronicle rema' - fudging from the triumphs v " ' u *•->. , :i nave wop at the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos, they are not likely to be found wanting in scientific work, and it is with the view of testing their capabilities for this that the Government has made the four appointments referred to. Their duties will require attendance at all hours of the night, and the domestic accommodation at tho Observatory has been rearranged accordingly.

Ib is noteworthy that Miss Philippa Garrett Fawcett, whoso great success at Cambridge has been one of the chief subjects of discussion lately, inherits her mathematical talent from her father. Professor Fawcett is always thought of as a Political Economist. As an evening contemporary points out, few are aware that he was 0110 of the most distinguished mathematicians of his day at Cambridge, and that his failure to head the list of wranglers was attributed by many Cambridge men to a merely physical accident at the time of examination. Professor Fawcett, however, figured high up in the list. Another point, perhaps, worth noting is that Miss Fawcetb has won high distinction at the ordinary age of Senior Wranglers—from twenty-one to twenty-two. Thirdly, while Miss Fawcett appears to inherit her intellectual force from her father, she inherits her morale specially from her mother. Her complete coolness and self - possession during the examination period have been remarked. This reminds one of Mrs. Fawcett.

The new service club, which is to bo the home of our cavalrymen, promises to become a huge success, says The World. Members are flocking in, and the committee hope to carry out their programme, comprehensive as it is, in its entirety. It will bo a great thing for the mounted service if they can do so. The cavalry are daily growing in importance, and they want some sort of representative body to take the initiative in matters affecting their welfare.

The astonishing meals which tho imprisoned Duke of Orleans has enjoyed in lis captivity are a proof presumptive of his legitimacy. The royal Bourbons have for ages exhibited a fabulous appetite, both for quantity and quality, as anyone who has dipped into the French Memoirs from Sully downwards will remember. Louis XIV., "the Grand Monarch," was an equally grand eater. His sister said of him : "I have often seen the King take at a single meal four plates of different soups, an entire pheasant, a partridge, a great plateful of salad, two large slices of ham, a huge quantity of mutton with garlic, a wholo plate of tarts, piles of fruit, and finish up with hard-boiled eggs." The appetito of Louis XV. was scarcely less Gargantuan, though more particular. He paid his cook 25,000 francs a month. No price was too costly for anything which he fancied. He is said to have once paid £450 for a turtle, which was procured from London. Tho chief cook of Louis XVI. had a stipend of 84,000 francs a year. Louis XVIII. used to get up in the middle of the night in order to eat a hearty meal. . Even the Citizen King, the head of the Orleanists, was a great eater.

In the Row itself fashion this year is busy with its revolutions. Even in headgear there is innovation. Some ladies wearing straw hats, white straw sailor hats, on horseback showed sense, courage,, and style. Now that the tyranny of the chimney-pot is over, there is no relison why any hat that is comfortable and will stay on should not be suited for the Row. The chimney-pot is dying hard. The latest vagary of its supporters is to alter its shape to a comical form, which looks as foolish and more ugly. In the afternoon the park is crammed. Men seem to bo affecting flowers oven more than women. The tree carnation as a buttonhole was all very well, but as the florist; produces it now almost as big as a cauliflowers it should be confined to the wedding bouquet of a corpulent coachman.

Chapter 11. is quite up to date. Tho curled darling has acquired a growing taste for big cauliflowers in his long frock. The carnation breeder is out of breath with the increased demands made upon him. One carnation is not enough, and the button-hole has become a bouquet. Clusters are worn—gardenias and smaller pinks— till the swell looks something between a coachman going to a wedding and a bride coming out after one. In the meantime tho girls have taken up the discarded pink of last year and wear it with considerable effect. There is a lingering suggestion of manliness that gives piquancy. The next move will be with the men, who have certainly shown the courage to be effeminate, but) nob tho craft.