ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10629, 18 December 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[from the society papers. 1 Miss Maud Adams, the young Atnoricati actress whoso success in Mr. Burrie'a dramatisation of " Tlio Little Minister" lias set New York wild with a new sensation, has not escaped the interviewing fate of every " star" actor. From her own account it appears that she was another of the child* actresses, and had her first important engagement in San Francisco in a play called "Fairfax," by B.irtley Campbell, an American genius, when she was only eight) years old. Since then she has been practically all her life on the stage, and has ranged from the regulation farce comedy of tha United States to tho delicate tragedy of Mr. Gilbert's " Broken Hearts," for on one occasion she played tho Lady Vavir with, prophetic success at a special performance' in New York, so that her later success in. the delicato characters, as the heroine of " Rosemary" and as Lady Babbie, were not' in the naturo of a surpriso to those who are' acquainted with her work.

There is a pretty story told of Queen Victoria and Jenny Lind. It belongs to the year 184S, and shows how the modesty of two women —the Queen of England and the Queen of Song— a momentary awkwardness, which was overcome by the gentle tact of the singer. It was on the night when Jenny Lind was to sing at Het Majesty's Theatre that the Queen made her ■first public appearance alter the memorable Chartist Day. For the great artiste, too, this was a first appearance, for it was the beginning of a season at a place where she hoped for a confirmation of former successes. It happened that the Queen entered the Royal box at the sumo moment that the prima donna stepped upon tho stage. Instantly a tumult of acclamation burst from every corner of the theatre. Jenny Lind modestly retired to the back of the stage, waiting till the demonstration of loyalty should subside. Tha Queen, refusing to appropriate to herself that which she imagined to be intended for the artiste, made no acknowledgment. The cheering continued, increased, grew overwhelming, and still there was no acknowledgment from I either the stage or the Royal box. At length, when the situation became embarrassing, Jenny Lind, with ready tact, ran forward to tho footlights and Bang " God Save the Queen," which was caught up at the end of the solo by the orchestra, chorus, and audience. The Queen thon came to the front of her box and bowed, and the opera was resumed.

Mr. Duckworth, who has been selected as Liberal candidate for Middleton, is a woollen manufacturer in Rochdale, and is well known in the religious and philanthropic world in that part of Lancashire. He is a Methodist, and rose to be president of the United Methodist Free Church Assembly, and while filling that position the extent of his labours may bo gathered from the statement that he travelled 17,000 miles, preached 29G sermons, and carried on a tremendous correspondence. At the same time he looked into the financial side of the religious body, and was mainly instrumental in the collecting of £20,000 to establish the Theological Institute in Manchester on a firm basis. Further than that, lie baa undertaken to erect a new wing at the institute on the understanding that a debt of £3000 is cleared away. In the political line. Mr. Duckworth has always figured in the forefront as a champion of the Liberal party platform. Since his entry into the Roclidale Town Council ten years ago, he hag twice held the office of chief magistrate of the borough, and ho was elected alderman four years ago.

Miss Paget's wedding (says a London writer of society gossip) was quite as pretty as everyone expected, and she herself looked both picturesque and pretty in white satin with touches of silver and a lace veil fastened in with a diamond spray, while on one hand was a big turquoise ring, the gifb of Mr. and Mrs. Almerio Paget. The three little girls who followed her, Lady Colebrooke's daughters and little Miss Bulkeley, were charming all in white, and the pages, Airs. Paget's twin sonswore thePagetcolours, blue cloth coats over canary-coloured waistcoats, with white breeches and silk stockings, white buckled shoes, and big white hats, which costumes had been exactly copied from a Romney picture. All the Paget family were there, and all the Stracey family as well; and among many other guests were Prince Victor of Hohenlohe and Countess Vnlda Gleichen, Lord and Lady Suffield and their daughter, Victoria Lady Varborough, Lady Emily Dyke, who brought a fair-haired daughter in red; Lady Magdalen Bulkeley, who looked very smart in black with something mauve, and brought the little bridesmaid a3 well as a daughter dressed in grey and green; Lady. Hothfield, wearing a beautiful chinchilla' cape; Sir Edward and Lady Birkbeck, Lady Carrington-, Lord and Lady Listowel,Lady Windsor, General and Mrs. Green Wilkinson, Lord Gienesk, Sir Edward Stracey, and Sir Algernon West. Lady Alfred Paget came up from Bushey Park for. the wedding, and Mrs. Arthur Paget, in pale grey cloth, with a short smart coat of emorald green velvet trimmed with chinchilla, and an emerald green toque, wag looking wonderfully pretty. Lady Colebrooke was another of the beauties, and wore a long' green velvet coat, with large collar and rovers of chinchilla, and a beautiful green velvet had was trimmed with black ostrich feathers. Lady Essex was aleo looking very pretty in pansy-coloured velvet, with bright bits of cherry-colour, and a very big hat. Wo one, however, was quitesoresplendentas Mrs. Bradley-Martin, who Wore green velvet and brocade. .Everything was so prettily done at Mr. George Paget's rooms in Hanover Square. \ The wedding tea was laid out in tho first room,' tho dining-room; and in the big room beyond, which contains very valuable china ■<■' and other ornaments, as well as curious old arms, the guests assembled to talk over the wedding and the wedding presents. In tho garden a band .was playing, but nobody went oat, What wonderful presents are given in, these days 1 In this case there was quite an amounb of Louis XV. furniture and beautiful silver, as well as protty jewels | and substantial cheques, one of which—l think it was the biggest—came from Mr. Whitney, whose daughter married one of Miss PagotV brothers. ? Late in the after- '.; noon Captain/and- Mrs, Claud Stracey left'-' for Ascot/where a very pretty house- has i been lent to them for the honeymoon, | - 88,