LADIES' COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10127, 9 May 1896, Page 4 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN.

MEN AS AUTHORITIES ON WOMEN'S DRESS. No matter how confident of her own good taste in dress a woman may bo, she often defers to tho taste of the husband, the lover, the intimate friend, or even the brothor. This is, in a measure, due to the fact that the masculine eye sees and judgos from the 'effect produced, and a verdict is passed accordingly ; whereas the fominino mind is often distracted by choice of colour and material, trimming, and stylo offered. Also, no matter how excollont a woman's taste may be, it is frequently dominated by tho will of another actuated by solf-intorest, and thus good judgment is tor tho moment overpowered. Again, the desire to confine expenso within' a certain limit frequently result in the sacrifice of good taste. Still, the fact remains, that a man intuitively knows what suits a woman better than she doos horself. Take the question of whether men prefer to see women in black or not. When men assert that women look best in Frenchmen, Russians, and Englishmen alike—they do nob make tho rule absolute. Tims it is an understood tiling that this unwritten dictum refers to public places of .amusement. At St. Petersburg a Russian will refuse to tako a woman who is not dressod in black for a proinonado between tho acts at the opera house, and will loavo her to sit in die opera box while he conducts another of the party, attired in black, in preference solely on account of her being dressed in bettor style, according to his taste Again, a Frenchman will insist on hi? fair companion exchanging a protby grey dress for a black one before taking her to join a dinner party at a fashionable restaurant. Most Englishmen follow tho same line of thought. They consider that a woman is less conspicuous in black, and thercforo think that it should bo worn in public places, whoro to be conspicuous would be bad stylo. On tho subject of wearing white, men have hardly two opinions, so generally is ib approved; its very simplicity commends ib to them, and thoy pronounce it to (bo almost universally becoming, painters and poets regarding it as the ideal attire of woman. Why some women often acquire the reputation of being badly dressed is from inability to select the colour or colours that best suit them. Every woman has a colour or colours that are hors by right of suitability, and, however much her oye may bo captivated by other tints, sho should not bo led astray by her fancy. Again, certain shades of a particular colour aro often as unbecoming to a woman's complexion as others are the reverse. There is "a prevailing idea that men lean much toward tho plain, tailormade style of dress. The plainer tho cub of a bodice, and the less olaborate in make, the more becoming it to the figure of the wearer, and the inoro it appeals to tho masculino taste. Many men go a step further, and absolutely taboo the teagown, dear to tho hearts of women. From their point of view, tlio teagown, concealing the waist, destroys the symmetry of the figure, and therefore should be worn only in tho bedroom.

BABY CHARMS. The peasant womon of European countries U3O charms to keep their new-born babes from ill. These charms vary with the various nationalities. Hero are a fow of them. In Ireland a belt made of a woman's hair is often placed about the child to ward off harm. Mothers in Holland placo a curious mixture of garlic, salt, bread, and steak in the cradle of their offspring. Roumanian mothers tie red ribbons round the ankles of their babos, and those of another Balkan race attach bits of nssafcetida round the necks of their infants. Welsh mothers put a pair of tonus or a knifo in the cradle as a charm againati ill, and a similar practico prevails in somo parts of England. The Grecian mother, before putting her baby into the cradle, turns round three timos before the fire while singing her favourite lullaby. The Turkish mother hangs a variety of amulets about her infant, while a small piece of mud steeped in hot water, prepared with certain ceremonies, is stuck upon tho child's forehead. Lastly, the Spanish mother brushes her baby's face with a pine-tree bough to bring it good luck. Which of these various charms is tho most potont the chronicler sayeth not

QUEEN VICTORIA'S CROWN. The Manufacturing Jeweller says:— Her Majesty's crown is constructed of jewels taken from old crowns, and other stones provided by Her Majesty. It consists of emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls, and diamonds. Tho stonos, which are sob in gold and silver, encase a crimson velvet cap with a border ot ermine, tho whole interior being lined with finest white silk. Above the crimson border of tho lower edgo of the band is a row of 129 pearls. Round the upper part of tho baud is a border of 112 pearls. In tho front, stationed between the two borders of pearls, is a huge sapphire, purchased by George IV., set in the centre of valuable pearls. At the back, in the same position, is another bub smaller sapphire. The sides aro adorned with 3 sapphires, and between these aro 8 emeralds. Above and below tho sapphires, extending all round the crown, aro placed at intervals 14 largo diamonds, the 8 emeralds being encircled by clusters of diamonds, 128 in number. Between tho emeralds and sapphires are 16 ornaments, each consisting of 8 diamonds. Above a circular bend are 8 sapphires, set separately, encircled by 8 diamonds. Between each of these 8 sapphires aro 8 festoons of 18 diamonds each. In front of the crown is a diamond Maltese cross, in the centro of which glistens the famous ruby given to Edward I. by Don Pedro the Cruel. This is tho stone which adorned tho helmet of Henry V. at tho Battlo of Agincourt. The contre of tho ruby is hollowed out, and the space filled in accordance with tho Eastern custom, with a smaller ruby. Tho Maltese cross is formed of 75 splendid diamonds. At each of the aides and at tho back is a Maltese cross with emerald centres, containing respectively 132, 124, and 130 sparkling diamonds. Level with tho four Maltose crosses, and stationed between them, aro four ornaments shaped liko the fleur-de-lis, with 4 rubies in tho contre, and surrounded by diamonds, containing 85, 86, and 87 diamonds. From the Maltose crosses spring 4 imperial arches, composed of oak-loaves and diamonds. The leaves are formed of 728 diamonds; 32 pearls ropresenb the acorns, and 54 diamonds the cups. From the upper part of tho imperial arches hang suspended four large pendant-shaped poarls set in diamond cups, each cup being formed of 12 diamonds, the stems from each of tho 4 hanging pearls being encrusted with 24 diamonds. Above the arch is the mount, which is made of 438 diamonds. The zone and arc are represented by 33 diamonds. On tho summit of the throno is a cross which has for its centre a rosocub sapphire set in the centre of 14 large diamonds. Altogether the crown comprises 1 large ruby, 1 large sapphire, 26 smaller sapphires, 11 emeralds, 4 rubies, 1363 brilliants, 1273 rose diamonds, 4 pendant- shaped pearls, and 273 smaller pearls. lb is tho heaviest and mosb uncomfortable diadem of any crowned head in Europe.