ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS. S

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS. S

[from the society papers.] It is commonly believed in Vienna that the Emperor Francis Joseph, in the hope of securing the throne for descendants of the direct line, has decided to marry again, and that when the year of mourning is over lie will become engaged to Princess Isabella, sister to the Duke »' Orleans the <!««' » Portugal, and the Duchess of Aosta, Princess will be 21 in May.

A few days ago a bishop was called upon bv an irate Protestant layman, who said ft " tv lord, to speak quite plainly to vmi on the mcsent state of the Church; and I Wish to speak to you not as to a Bishop, hut. a to a man. Bishop: As to a man. In that case I will light a cigarette. May I offer you one?' _____

To Lady Evelvn Scott belongs the credit of hitting upon a new industry for pom gentlewomen—bonbon making. Lady Lie lvn herself makes delicious bonbons, and gives the money she makes by their sale to charities. With the season coming on there ought to be a large demand for such delicacies, particularly now that the buffets at five o'clock all show little silver baskets full of fondants, chocolates and pralines. It is a work that any lady might learn and practise at home-that great desideratum m many cases. And most people would prefer sweets made where they were sure of pure ingredients and clean utensils. Lady Lvel) n Scott is aunt to the present Earl of Clonmcll. Her sister, Lady Jessie, enjoys the distinction of being the only Lady Jessie in the Peerage. And her other sister, r Annie, enjoys a similar distinction, here are Lady Alines galore, but Lady Annie Scott is the only Lady Annie.

Mr. Justice Darling, by his refusal to allow Welsh-speaking witnesses to give their evidence in their native language, lias succeeded in drawing attention to a matter of vital importance to the proper administration of justice in the principality. Jhe people of Wales arc profoundly agitated over this question, which lias already been brought to the notice of the House of Commons, It has been pointed out that his lordship's early experience of the bi-lingual difficulty makes his ruling the more inexplicable. Ml'. Justice Darling began his career as an official in the office of the Dowlais Company, which is situated in the heart of the most Welshspeaking district of Wales; indeed it was his inheritance of the great wealth of his uncle, Mr. Menelausthe late general manager of this prosperous company which has so filled the coffers of Lord Wimborne to overflowing—that started him on his professional career.

Just now there is a perfect craze amongst ladies for walking, which is staled to prove extremely beneficial to both health and figure. Many of the doctors are recommending a morning constitutional us one of the best aids for health, and the prescription has distinctly "caught on." The Duchess of Devonshire walks for a couple of hours every morning. Georgians Lady Dudley may be seen about town as often on foot as in her carriage. The Duchess of Portland is a firm believer in walking, and so are Lady Alwyne Compton, Lady Wolverton, Lady Randolph Churchill, Lady Gerard, Lady Filmer, Mrs. Arthur Paget, Madame Van Andre, Lady l'owys, Ladv Oonstanco Coombe and her sisters, Madame d'llautpoiil, and many others. These ladies are all most regular pedestrians, though few walk so well or carry themselves so well as Georgians Lady Dudley and iier daughter, Lady Wolverton, or Lady de Grey. It is to be hoped that the latest Society fad will be generally adopted, for walking is a capital thing for dyspepsia and migrant. Mrs. Langtry is the latest recruit to the list of walking ladies." She takes a good walk every morning either round Hyde Park or ISattorsea Park, and is nearly always accompanied by her pretty daughter. She walks rapidly— at such a quick pace, indeed, that those who accompany her have to put their best foot forward to keep up with her.

Pamphlets have been written fro mlinio to time on " How to Live on Sixpence a Day," " How to be Happy though Married," and other seemingly imposxiole feats. But no on - ?, so fur, has published a handbook on " How to Live 011 Nothing at All." Yet it is to be feared that a good few people possess that undesirable accomplishment. Indeed, it is not altogether a paradox to say that there are none so rich as those who have no money. Absence of responsibility and the knowledge that it costs nothing to borrow when you have no means of paying back, make a certain class of penniless man a creature of considerable comforts. At Soiithwark an individual was summoned in respect, of a debt, lie explained lie didn't pay because lie had no money and no employment. When asked how lie managed to live at all under such circumstances, lie said that his friends gave him a little help. Such a position is no doubt unfortunate, but though not necessarily in this case, it is prising how people manage to live cheerfully under such conditions, and, what is more, they seem to grow fat on it.

Monsignor Robert Brindle, Roman Catholic chaplain to Her Majesty's forces, who received the D.S.O. for an action of distinguished nravery at Omdurman, was consecrated lately in the Church of St. Gregory at Rome as assistant prelate to Cardinal Vaughan. Ho is a native of Liverpool, and was educated there and at the college at Lisbon, where lie was ordained in 1862. He then went to Plymouth, and subsequently worked at Liskeard and Camborne. Ik is a good preacher and organiser. In 187» be was gazetted a military chaplain, and snce that time has had a brilliant carter, and been frequently rewarded for his services in the battlefield.

The Marquis of Ripon lias become President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The "brothers" are ordinary laymen and their district visiting and their " conference meetings" are demands on the spare time which very busy men could hardly meet, except that very busy men have the knack of finding time for everything. Branches eyist already in various towns; but the new impulse brought by tho leadership of Lord Ripon is counted upon to increase immensely the number of volunteers for this service of the poor, and also tho amount'of money placed in their hands for distribution.

Lord Salisbury's improvement in health is a curious example of how suspense and domestic anxiety affect the body as well as the mind. A few years ago he was constantly ailing, and there were grave anxieties as to his health. Now lie rides a tricycle; and when lie gets a cold, hasn't to send for even the family doctor, but gets well by remaining indoors for a few days. The transformation is largely the result of the improvement in the health of Lady Salisbury, who, after the doctors had muddled over her for years at last found a physician who made a correct diagnosis, and then almost completely restored her to health.