ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9581, 4 August 1894, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[from the society papers.] Marriage by advertisement—and pretty. modest advertisement at that—has become an institution in Japan. The Frankfurter Zeitung quotes the following :—" A young lady wishes to marry ; she is very beautiful, has a rosy countenance framed in dark hail*, eyebrows in the form of the crescent moon, and a small but gracious mouth. She is also very rich—rich enough to spend tha day by the side of her beloved admiring flowers, and to pass the night in singing to the stars of heaven. The man on whom her choice shall fall must be young, handsome, and educated." The advertiser seems to think that, this being given, enough has been done to secure the perfecb : life, for the next clause refers to the end of it: "He must also be willing to share the,' same grave." There was a time, as a Frenchman re* cently . remarked, when the matrimonial industry was carried on in a timid and modest manner and rarely advertised itsi wares in the newspapers. But the New York Herald., with that delicacy which characterises it, has changed all this, and. in a recent number no fewer than three of its most prominent columns are devoted to "eligible young Englishmen." American maidens are informed that "never was there a time when there were s« many marriageable young men of rank in London," and they are exhorted to cross the ocean and carry off these splendid prizes from English girls. The New York Herald, with-.* the practical instinct of the Yankee, would, not have its fair countrywomen rely wholly' on sentiment, and ends an eloquent passage by beseeching them to " try and captivate the English bachelors by their tender looks" also by their " solid fortunes.'*! Not to do things by halves or hold oub in-< definite and illusive prospects which are unrealisable, the newspaper has been ab the trouble of drawing up a list of the marriageable young men, with their titles, genealogy, fortunes, and addresses in London and country. Their portraits are also given ; and an Englishwoman may gaze ab them with pride, for they are all freshskinned and blooming and innocent-look-• ing, with irreproachable ties and button-' holes. A duke, a marquis, some viscounts* and numerous lords and members of Parliament, are, ib appears, on sale, and oub of the whole number only two (the names of whom are given) are inconsolable widowers.The following description of Mme. Patti'tf! railway travelling carriage in America id* yiven in Mr. Mapleson's memoirs. "Mme, Patti had gone for a drive, and during her absence a limited number of notabilities were allowed to inspect her car, which had cost £12,000. Ib was withoub doubt the most superb and tasteful coach on wheels anywhere. The curtains were of heavy : silk damask, the walls and ceilings covered with gilded tapestry, the lamps of rolled gold, the furniture throughout upholstered with silk damask of the most beautiful, material. The drawing-room was of white and gold, and the ceiling displayed several figures painted by Parisian artists of eminence. The woodwork was sandal-wod, of which likewise was the casing of a magnificent Stein way piano, which alone had cost 2000 dollars. There were several panel oil paintings in the drawing-room, • the work of Italian artists. The bath, fitted for hob and cold water, was made of solid silver. The key of the outer door was of eighteen carat gold." One of the most interesting of European? monachs is Alfonso XIII. of Spain, who had just attained his eighth birthday. The little fellow was born a King, for his father' died six months before he saw the light. He has, unfortunately, rather ~ delicate < health, but he has come successfully through ' several severe illnesses. He is described' aa ' bright, intelligent, and high-spirited. -> la illustration of the " high Bpirib," ib is related of him that at a dance at St. Sebastian he took a great fancy to a partner of • his own age, and, the favoured lady inno*-, cently offered her cheek for him to salute. Alfonso, however, proudly stepped : back, and stretched out his hand for hec tOt kiss, . exclaiming, "I am your King." The woman who must have dimples or . die has only to invest in the dimple-prod to ing machine which has been invented and < patented by a woman with an eye for beauty and with a speculative turn of mind. She, of all others, oughb to be rewarded with one or more of these fetching marks of beauty, providing she . can enduro the torture of , her own device, which is a kind of mask arranged with screws and wooden points thab press upon' the cheek or chin where the dimples oughb to be This is worn at night, .but juab how long ib' musb be applied to produce the desired impression is nob stated.- ... - In truth the fan seems to have fallen on • evil days. Its tongue is a dead language in this age of unfettered speech. Tha modern -; lover has no time to play the game of love. f The travail of amassing ingots leaves him little zest for the art of courtship, and hij inamorata is too conscious of her : numerical disadvantage to risk losing her fish by keeping them too long upon the hook. Then the fan is no long regarded as a work of art. Ib has become a mere accessory to the toilette Hike a glove or a shoe, and as , much the product of the: manufacturer as J they. The imperious demand of the tniddle-clasa woman for a cheap edition oi the >< fail j patrician's luxuries has done it, and no** quite fascinating fans thab are infinitely more artistic than the present : day painted ones are to biflbfcainedAojgwbsjc^foi^^isw; shillings, ■ . ~ '