ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9028, 5 November 1892, Page 11 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

, ; : ffrom THE society PAPERS.] : Have you (asks " Hebe" in the Gentlewoman) noticed how fashionable " real live" wedding presents hare become lately! Horses and dogs are the favourite animals • selected. The Queen has endorsed the fashion by her gift to Miss Loftua of a beautiful white collie, in addition to the familiar Indian shawl, and as there is no reason why the custom should be confined • only to the upper classes, intending brides and bridegrooms must be haunted as to what may be awaiting them. Even if only the more homely animals are selected, if the fashion really "catches on," the result will be a little perplexing. Fancy trying to set out the gifts in the drawing-room, when there are nine kittens, twelve dogs, a Shetland pony, and a couple of cobs. As the firm friend of the working public and as an eminent naturalist Sir John Lubbock has made a name for himself in future social history. Ho has just now told us that he believes in the capacity of the canine race to rise above material things, and in their ability to cultivate their brain power. Sir John Lubbock says he has taught his own dog to read in somewhat elementary manner. Though pronunciation of the words expressing demands for food and drink is denied, the animal can, it would appear, comprehend the meaning severally of the words "water" and " biscuit," for when thirsty he brings a card accessible to him on which " water" is inscribed or when hungry a card with " biscuit." Whether the dog can really discriminate between the two and actually finds them expressive of "his wants, cannot, of course, be certainly known. In " Studies in Homer," by Miss Gierke, there is a chapter inscribed "The Dog inHomer." The dog has ever been described under two seta of qualities—one set most repulsive, the other showing its incorruptible fidelity rising in nobleness in its intercourse with man. Lord Salisbury's house ab Beaulieu has been construct«d-and decorated after Lady Salisbury's own plans. It has only two floors, one of which contains drawing-room, dining-room, and billiard-room, al communicating, and a spacious and well-ven-tilated library, which is Lord Salisbury's "study." Bedrooms occupy the upper floor, and ab the left end is a clock-tower, arranged in the Italian style, with a lookoub at the summit. The World records a very happy mot. The Duchesse Dascazes, who was a Miss Singer, has been taking part in some theatricals at Ragatz. A young lady present naively asked, "Is she a real duchess ?" whereupon a well-known English actress promptly replied, " Real?—oh, yes, bub machine-made 1" — Mr. James Anthony Froude has ab last consented to be interviewed, and has spoken mainly of people whom he has known. When his opinion of the men of letters of the present day was sought, and the interviewer asked him if he knew any of them, he answered wearily, " No, why should I trouble to know all these new people ? They won't live." Air. James Anthony Froude is understood to think that Tennyson and Carlyle are the only two men of letters of the past half century " who will live on and on."

I hear there has been a row lately in connection with the Peeresses' pew in the Chapel Royal, St. James' Palace. This pew is for the use of peeresses and their unmarried daughters. The second wife of a well-known peer thought fit to attend service, accompanied by her daughter by a former marriage with a commoner. The other peeresses did not relish the presence of the mother, who is not popular in society, but they could not exclude her. The daughter, however, had clearly no right to be there, so a formal complaint was addressed to the Lord Chamberlain, who wrote, so I am informed, to request the mother nob to bring her damsel there again. Lord Brassey denies the statement which has been extensively published to the effect that he has one of the finest collections oi stamps in the world, including hundreds of exceedingly rare and valuable specimens. His lordship does not take the smallest interest in foreign stamps, and, as far as he knows, has not one in his possession. A similar impression seems to exist with regard to other tastes cf his lordship, and he wishes it to be known thab he is not a purchaser of curiosities of any kind. He has, in consequence of the statements referred to, been constantly troubled with letters offering curiosities for sale, and asking permission to view his collection. Mahmoud-ben-Ali, from' Gaboon, vu cycling in Paris, when he was hailed from the top of a passing 'bus with an exhortation to " Get off that bicycle, you badly-washed image !" Mahraoud got off that bicycle and on that 'bus, and punched the other party's head so vigorously that both, were taken to explain the circumstances before M. le Comtrissairo. Then it was discovered that Mahmoud's iusulter was an escaped convict, and the cup of Mahmoud's j vengeance was filled to overflowing. This I is a highly moral and in every way satisfactory story. The Queen of the Belgians is (says the World) the latest recruit to photography, and pursues her studies in that arb with the utmost diligence. One of the most eminent Brussels photographers goes down toCiergnon twice a week to give her lessons, and up to the present " develops" all the " plates," bub Her Majesty hopes to dispense with his aid before the end of the season. Her husband entertains a special dread of the camera in general, and the obtrusive " kodak" in particular, but he hag been induced to give a sitting to the Queen, who has executed an excellent portrait of I him. j , lb appears that Mr. Commissioner Kerr recently stated that a few sensible men don't care a bit what their wives wear. It may be so (says Woman), but if we wore of a gambling turn of mind we should be inclined to lay very long odds against it. At all events we are entirely unable to contemplate the lapse of any sensible man into such a state of hopeless indifference. Beauty unadorned is all very well in its way, bub even a Venus—and Venuses do not grow on every blackberry bush—cannot afford to dress dowdily A wife's carelessness of hei personal appearance has frequently proved the marring of what might otherwise, have turned out a happy marriage. With the additional £200 a year, which the Queen has promised to add to the £300 at present allowed yearly to each of the Maids of Honour in attendance on Her Majesty, the appointments to this position (the Gentlewoman says) will be even more sought after by the daughters of the nobility than they are at present. The duties of a Maid of Honour are by no means arduous, but the restraint of Court life is undeniable, though Her Majesty is a very different mistress to the fractious and exacting Queen Charlotte that Fanny Burney wrote so pathetically about. Five.hundred pounds a year for a comparative sinecure sounds a very generous allowance; but the dressmakers' bills of many of these ladies cannot fall far short of that sum. There are, ol course, corresponding privilege*, especially if the lucky maid should be betrothed and married while in the Queen a service. Woman propounds the following as a "Kstion:-" Would you rather marry a man whom you entirely lovo, bub whose love for you you are nob sure of ; or a man who entirely loves you, bub whoselove you do not feel able to thoroughly reciprocate?" Competitors are .invited to give their reasons for the view they take of these distressful alternatives, and some light may therefore be expected to be thrown on what seems a most perplexing problem, ■-;_. .■-,' The G.0.M., like Mrs. Gilpin, has a "frugal mind," and: shows an excellent; example to a, not over-thrifty nation of economy in small things. He recently received'a copy of a book, " The Development of Revelation," ?Mr. E. Reeves Palmer, which took his fancy, and he now writes to the author's brother as follows:— "I shaH be glad to know whether I can have twelve copies at trade price, and what will be toe charge?"