ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8670, 12 September 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[from the society papers.]

The lady students at Oxford are very proud of their recent success. At Somerville Hall, out of seven students taking honours, three have been awarded Firsts— i two in natural science and ono in modern languages ; two have gained Seconds, ono Third, and ono Fourth in histo-y. Lady Margaret Hall lias seven honour student*. In addition to this Somerville Hall has one student taking the First Classical examination (Literal llama-niore-i). Miss Hodge, who is the only woman who has previously attempted this examination, was from Somerville Hall." It will bo recollected that last year Miss lioclgo took a First Class in Classical Moderations and a Second in the Finals.

The projected visit of the Emperor to Ireland (the London correspondent of the Freeman says) was abandoned because the Queen, after consultation with Mr. Balfour, dissuaded her grandson, and it is thought also that tho Prince of Wales advised him against it, lest there should be a repetition of the scenes which took place during the Prince's visit some years ago.

Nicolo Paganini, the great violinist, had, according to a writer in the Cornhill Magazine, many curious adventures, among which few are mere deserving of record than that which befell him at Ferrara, whero he narrowly escaped being lynched. In those days it seems the common people of the suburbs of that little town looked upon the dwellers in the town itself as "a set of asses!" Hence, we read, "any countryman, a resident of the suburbs, if asked where ho came from, never replied 'From Ferrara,' but pub up his head and began braying like an ass!" Now, unluckily for him, as it proved, Paganini could imitate with his violin the braying of an ass as well as other wonderful things. In the course of a concert at Ferrara someone in the pit had hissed. It was an outrage which must be revenged, but no one suspected anything when, at the close of the programme, Paganini proposed to imitate the voices of various animals. After having reproduced the notes of different) birds, the mewing of a cat, the barking of a do<£, and so on, he advanced to the footlights, and calling out " This is for those who hissed," imitated in an unmistakable manner the braying of a donkey. Tho effect produced was magical, but not at all what the player had probably expected. The audience, taking the significant " heehaw" as an allusion to themselves, rosa almost to a man, rushed through the orchestra, climbed the stage, and would undoubtedly have strangled the daring fiddler if lie had not' taken to instantaneous flight.

Referring to some remarks on the subject of afternoon tea, our good friends X. and Z." make some rather severe comments in the Globe Someone (they write—or should it be she writes ?) who answers questions about etiquette in a ladies' paper, has lately informed her readers that it is not good form to offer afternoon callers a second cup of tea. This is a curious bit of information. It is amusing in its way. Think of a very thirsty being, sitting clinging to her cup and waiting to be asked to nave another cup, while her hostess is rigidly resolved not to offer it because the High Priestess of Hau-Ton has declared that such things should not be. Bolder souls would frankly say, ' May I have another cup of your delicious tea ?' but meek ones would at last give up the hope of a second cup and sib disconsolate. These dicta would be more amusing if they were less vicious—an epithet which, when they war against) hospitality, they deserve. The next thing this self-elected authority will do 'is to say that champagne must go the circuib of thotabic only once during dinner. There may be men who would declare that there is no parallel between the cases ; but we women, who pine for tea at five o'clock every day of our lives, are of the opinion that it would be quite as cruel to refuse us our second cup as it would be to stop the blithesomb progress of the champagne-bottles round and round the dinner table. Fortunately true etiquette puts 110 limits to either."

Leo XIII. has never allowed himself a holiday in the country during the hob weather. He has now given up even the modest villeggiatura in the pavilion in the Vatican garden which it has' hitherto been .his practice to enjoy. Since the hot weather began, however, the Pope has had his bed moved into his library, a cool and spacious apartment looking on to the piazza of St. Peter's. This apartment serves nb once as the bedroom, study, and diningroom of the Pontiff. The Pope still keeps up his general practice of rising at 6 a.m. and saying mass half an hour later, bub when he has had a sleepless night ha now indulges in an extra two hours' rest.

Comparatively few of those persons who read the rather remarkable book entitled " Le Jardin do Berenice," by M. Maurice Barres, Deputy, and novelist of the most modern school, were aware that the heroine of the volume had a living counterpart. This has been proved by the suicide afa Nancy of a young cadet of St. Cyr, who was preparing to join the army, having passed his examinations. It appears that the veritable Berenice lives outside Nancy in a villa, and that she has already been fatal to another admirer, who drowned himself through love of her. The latest victim of the enchantress hanged himself from a tree in her garden, and his body was discovered there the other night during a fete to which the fascinating Berenice had invited her friends and admirers.

The results of the City day census, jusb issued, are in striking contrast to those of the City night census. While fewer people sleep in the City, vastly more people work in the City. The residential population has shrunk in ten years from 51,439 to 38,315 ; the business population has increased from 261,000 to 301,000. There is an increase under all heads. There are 6000 more women and 2000 more children employed in 1891 than in 1881. But most remarkable of all is the increase in foot passengers and vehicular traffic. On the 4th of May 1,100,000 people and 92,000 vehicles entered the City from various points, as against 800,000 people and 71,000 vehicles in 1881. The probable meaning of this is that commercial London has overflowed the City boundaries, and that consequently there is more coming and going across the border line.

The arrival in Berlin of Miss Field, who accompanied Miss Kate Marsden as far as Omsk in her journey in search of a plane which is said to cure leprosy, has (says a correspondent of the Queen) created considerable sensation. The two ladies met with many difficulties, but, thanks to the personal protection extended to them by the Czarina, who also assisted them with money to the extent of a thousand roubles, were, as a rule, courteously received. Both Misses Marsden and Field reached Omsk, after a long and tedious sledge drive, completely exhausted and very ill. Miss Field's object in returning is to collect funds for the enterprise. Miss Marsden is by this time probably in Jakutaland, and will continue her journey by ship down the Lena. Miss Field is staying for a timo with her countrywoman, Miss VVillard, in Berlin.

The Academy soiree was scarcely as brilliant as usual. The crowd was dense, but, owing probably to the counter attractions of the Foreign Office, and several smart parties, it was on the whole markedly middle-class. The most noticeable persona were by no means the most distinguished. Ib is astonishing how effective an aesthetic gown, well-towzled hair, carefully got-up complexion, and a big bouquet (this last is essential) are in making everyone inquire "Who is she?" As a rule, when they learn the name they are little wiser, and with one accord change the question 'to " Who was she?" As in duty bound, the artists mustered strong, and towards the end of the evening there was a fair sprinkling of actors and actresses, the contemplation of whom always seems to afford & peculiar joy to the eager suburban crowd.

Here is a story about Mozart which wo do not remember to have heard before. The great man was paying a visit to a monastery, and during mass was tortured by the playing of a ludicrously) inefficient organist. At dinner the prior asked Mozart how lie liked the organist's performance. " He plays in quite a Biblical fashion," said Mozart. "What do you mean?" "His left hand does nob know what his right hand doeth."