ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9503, 5 May 1894, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[from the society papers.] As a rule the American rarely marries fotf money, declares Ward M'Allister, the leaded of American society. On the "other side a man's confidence in his own abilities to make his way in life and support a wife causes him to prefer one who is dependent on him rather than one who is independent* of him financially. All this is evident by the little attention the great Americanheiresses receive in their own country, foe they are left to find husbands in England and on the Continent. The American youth's idea is to avoid the imputation that he is searching for fortune through marriage. The moment this becomes evident) in any man Mrs. Grundy has so much to say that he mush be a determined fortune-hunter who can run the gauntlet of her criticism. That is the reason why a European, with his good manners and pleasing address, is so apt to capture a rich American wife. As long as American heireses find they are nob sought after and sufficiently appreciated by their own countrymen they will seek husbands elsewhere. During the past 10 years every American heiress of any note lias married a European. The natural consequence is that each year take to the States many aspirants for American hymenal alliances, A title of nobility is a great temptation to the daughter of a plutocrat, for she feels it) to be a sure passport into European society. The trouble, from an American point; of view, is that their young men are, as a rule so engrossed in business that they have nob the time to take part in society functions, and consequently their place is taken by Europeans, who, as has been more noticeable this winter than hitherto, absorbed the attention of the wealthiest young women of America. And Uncle Sam cannot look upon this state of affairs with equanimity, for he can ill afford to have the large incomes from fortunes made in his country spent abroad.

Why (asks Lady Jeune in the Fortnightly) should mothers conceal the fact that they want to see their daughters married, and married well ? Let us be quite honest and say we care more about that subject than almosb any other, and that we want our girls to marry, and marry well, and marry the best men, because we know that they will be the happier and better women for it. The whole subject has got overladen with so much sentiment and mawkish delicacy that, whatever people's private opinions and wishes may be, they have nob the courage to speak them out. There is no question of greater interest and anxiety to parents than the question as to who is to be their son's wife, and there is nothing a mother will not do to secure for him the girl on whom ho has seb hi? affections; and yet, with regard to her daughters, she must and should appear perfectly indifferent as to whether they marry, and, above all, never commit the unforgiveable crime of trying to help them in the most momentous hour of their life.

A London paper says We can confirm the statement that an attempb will be made during the year to abolish the system oE "commercial" chaperonage at wingrooms. which has of late become so open and flagrant that the quasi-fashionable journals frequently number amongst their advertising clients some poverty-stricken aristocrat who is anxious to "introduce ladies to the highest circle, and get them presented," for the modest sum of two thousand pounds. The Queen's attention has been drawn to this reprehensible practice by Princess Beatrice, who ha? great) influence with Her Majesty, and keeps her mi conrant with the state of society outside the Court. A decree has therefore gone forth that ladies who attended the Drawing-rooms of last year shall nob attend those of this year unless they have near relations to present.

Miss Margot Tennanfc was to have been married to Mr. Asquith, the Home Secretar}% in June, but the engagement was recently broken off. Both belong to that occult body called '' Souls." Of Miss Tennant, the original young woman who is said to have been the model for the heroine in E. F. Benson's novel of London society, " Dodo," an exchange says:—" She is popularly credited with the foundation of that exclusive and eclectic association entitled ' The Souls,' of which Mr. Arthur Balfour is the bright particular star. Miss Tennanb enjoys the personal acquaintance not only of the Czar but also of Emperor William. When the latter was last in London she made a wager that she would force him to speak to her, and she succeeded in doing so while riding in Rotten Row. So pleased ! was he with the acquaintance thus formed that he subsequently waltzed several times with her at the State ball at Buckingham Palace. Miss Tennant was the life and soul of the celebrated yachting - party organised for the diversion of Mr. Gladstone when he visited Copenhagen and had his interview with the Czar. Tennyson, one of the vainest men imaginable, was bored throughout the trip; and it is extremely amusing to hear Miss Tennant's account of the rivalry between the two grand old menthe one anxious to talk all the time, the other equally desirous to read incessantly his favourite poems abud. Whenever the fair Margot attends any entertainment she is invariably eurrounded by men of mature —her cleverness and her quizzical , tongue frightening the younger ones." Her father, Sir Chas. Tennant, who owes his baronetcy to Mr. Gladstone, and who has recently been appointed to the post of trustee of the British Museum, is the head of the great) chemical firm which boasts of the loftiest chimney in Scotland. Another of his daughters is married to Lord Ribblesdalc, the good-looking master of . the Queen'a buckhounds."

■ The Duchess, of Westminster, who gave birth to a child a few weeks back, is sister-in-lftw to her own daughter-in-law, for her brother married the daughter of the -Duke of Westminster, of whom the now happily recovered mother is the wife. She is the handsomest of the three daughters of that Mr. Cavendish of whom a gipsy prophesied that the three would marry, and each marry a different title. The prophecy is true; the eldest is the Countess of Leicester ; tho second, Viscountess (Jobham; the third, th<j • ■ Duchess of Westminster. 4^l ; , The decline of drinking at London dinnei' -;;j parties is attributed to the fact that'cham-' £ pagne is now usually the only wine served, ~ it having banished claret and replaced the ; •.y old'port that used to appear - with—the dessert. , ,>: •' -5-