ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9497, 28 April 1894, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[from the society papers.] The latest) London society story is fcfaab young men in good society can obtain well paid employment as professional puffers of its debutantes, in order to enable them to make good matches in their first season. Gossips, who have for some time past been endeavouring to find a wife for Lord Rosebery, are now busier than ever. The latest rumour is that the lady, like the late Lady Rosebery, is the daughter of a Rothschild— in fact, a second cousin of Lord Rosebery'si first wife. They will have it that the happy event is in the near future. For the nonce rumour about his betrothal to a member of the royal family is given a rest. Later on we may'hear something more on the subject. No less than three marriages have just been declared " off" in London. That of Lord Romilly and Miss Gray Egerton; of Sir Edward Sebright and Miss Frances Grant; and of Mr. Thynne and Lady Victoria Leveson-Gower.

The most conspicuous figure now on Broadway, according to the New York Evening Sun, is a young woman who wears light; grey-blue camel's-hair trousers slightly full but obviously in pairs. They reach to the calf of thu leg, where they are met by russet gaiters. Above the waist lire is an Eton jacket of the same stuff, with Wide collar opening over a blue and white striped shirt with sailor collar. The street overcoat) is a Newmarket of the trousers length, but by no means so discreet as to conceal and, defeat the force of the example the trousers are intended to servo to a race of skirted women. This young woman goel about freely; she looks as modest as a daißy. But a daisy, as we all know, can look the sun in the eye without blushing.

" Madge," the fascinating lady gossip of Truth, confides to her readers that she is about to marry a widower. She intimated the fact to an elderly aunt, who congratulated her thus :—" I've often wondered what you were about to let time run on like this without getting settled. I suppose no one ever asked you. You are quite right to jump at this chance,, for you're no chicken. You begin to show wear and tear. You're losing your freshness—and that's only a way of saying you've already lost it." The Princess Colonna, who is well known in London society, has instituted a suit in the French Courts for a separation from her husband, arid her statement communicated to the American press leaves no doubt as to her attitude in her domestic troubles. Says the Princess, who arrived at her stepfather's house in New York a few week? ago:—"I authorise you to state that my sudden decision to leave France and come to America was due solely to a plot which .1 discovered, that Prince di Galatro Colonna, my husband, had formed to steal one of my children from me as a hostage, individuals having been employed by him to that effect, as well as to closely watch my movements." The Princess, who was married to Prince Colonna in 1883, is a daughter of Mrs. John W. Mackay by her former husband, Mr. Bryant. On the occasion of her marriage her stepfatfStr, Mr. John W. Mackay, the well-known California millionaire, settled on her the very handsome allowance of £35,000 a year. It is needless to say that both Mr. Mackay and' her mother are giving their daughter every sorb of support in her hour of need.

! The revelations recently made -by a young American newspaper woman have created a great scandal in London. lb seems that someone made the statement) to her chat among the things money will nob buy in England are •* birth and position." You have an aristocracy'of money in America," said the Briton; "here we have one of blood, where pounds, shillings, and pence are not taken into consideration." Thereupon Mis? Banks, the American journalist in question, longed for facts with which to confront him, and, " having faith in advertising as a means of getting anything that one is willing to pay for, I wrote out an advertisement, which next day appeared in the personal columns of a prominent London paper." Thus ib ran:—"A young American lady of means wishes to moeb with a chaperon of highest social position, who will introduce her into the best English society. Liberal terms. Ad- .■/■; dress, 'Heiress,' ." Two days later Miss Banks had 87 offers from -every fashionable neighbourhood in London. The thoughtlessness of - the . writers in signing their full names and titles to tho«r epißfcle was surprising. However, uearly, every letter wad marked at the top "Confiden-? \- : tial," "Private," or ;; "Personal," and it) >- seemed to be an understood thing that* the affair should go no further. The copies of the letters were published, and created » social earthquake. - ■ > '