ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11686, 22 June 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

Jfkom THE society papers.] The extracts from the wonderful little Bloemfontein paper which Mr. Ralph reproduces in "War's Brighter Side" are Sufficient of themselves to make the book clamoured for at the libraries. I have not, of course, space to quote; but there is just one droll little anecdote that I cannot refrain from annexing.-—"An officer of one of the Guards' battalions was found bathing in the Modder by a flying sentry stationed there to prevent the men from bathing. The sentry knew his duty, and unceremoniously ordered the delinquent to come out of the water, > .Whereupon the gallant captain, in all his nakedness, approached the bank and indignantly asked the man—' Can't you see I am an officer?"' I heard the other day such a pretty story of the King while he was Prince of Wales. It, is known that he had a very sincere and warm regard for Mr. Gladstone ; and that lie went to see him now and then—and especially during those last days when the hand of torturing illness lay heavily on the poor old statesman, and he was walking down into the darkness through that narrow and hideous lane of almost continual agony. Mr. Gladstone fully reciprocated the friendship of his future Sovereign; and always treated the Prince with that chivalrous loyalty and old-world courtesy which were part of his very being. But the Prince was resolved always to show that though he could not change the difference of station between him and even the most illustrious of those over whom he would have to reign, lie yet could recognise the supreme greatness both of character, service, and intellect of the man he was addressing, and he took this ■way of proving it. When, therefore, Mr. Gladstone used the customary " Sir" in answering tile questions of the Prince, the Prince in his replies to Mr. Gladstone took care also to use the word " Sir," thus putting bimself and the illustrious subject on the same level. I find it—as Tallyrand said on a historic occasion—Men distingue.M.A.P.

An enormous quantity of private letters preserved by Queen Victoria, has been found, and as one qualified to judge observed the other day, " It would take the better part of a mau's lifetime to sift, sort, and docket the letters without his presuming to decide what to keep and whae. to destroy.'' Not but that the documents are very neatly arranged, but every one must be examined if the contents are to be guaged. Unfortunately, there seems nobody exactly qualified to undertake the task, requiring at once delicacy, diplomacy, and tact. Men like .Sir Arthur Helps and Sir Henry Ponsonby are not found day by day, and Sir Arthur fiigge is overworked with other duties, as we all know. Meantime, these valuable papers, most of them priceless, have been carefully stored, perhaps for the enlightenment of unborn historians.

The costume worn by Mrs. Langtry in the third act of " The Royal Necklace" is quite unsurpassed. It is the dross of the play. A glorious rose pink robe, shot with silver, falls over an underdress of rich white satin. There is an undulating line of pale green and silver over a. deep frill of lace, and over the lace long diamond chains flash and sparkle. The lace fichu is fastened with a large bow with tasselled ends in green and silver. On the Queen's beautiful head is a full turban of the shade of rose pink, .with an aigrette of white ostrich plumes on one side. Diamonds are scattered, like drops of dew, into every shining fold of this lovely dress.

It is a well-known fact that the late Bishop iof Oxford was a keen disciple of the modern novelist. Before retiring to rest at night he always read a novel as an incentive to sleep. A story is going the rounds of how once when he was staying at a friend's house and the family were separating to retire for the night his lordship suddenly asked if he might have a novel to read. A search through the library proved that the only novels the shelves contained the bishop had read many times over. The host was in a quandary. Never mind," said the bishop, " let us search the kitchen : the cook is sure to have one in her cupboard." The search resulted in a " find." and the bishop went off to bed happy, with a certainty of procuring' a good night's rest.

Surely in no week of May meetings have so many septuagenarians and octogenarians been heard from various platforms. We iave had the Archbishop of Canterbury (over eighty), Principal Rainy (seventyfive), Dr. Alexander McLaren (seventy-five), ■Dr. Guinness Rogers (seventy-eight), Dr. Parker (seventy-one and Dr. John G. Paton, veteran missionary from the New Hebrides. The two last-named made tine speeches at the meeting of the Colonial .Missionary Society, eclipsing all the younger men.

An amusing story is told of Mine. Melba, the great singer, by the Boston Morning News. It was the occasion of De Reszke's twenty-fifth anniversary of his operatic debut, and his admirers had arranged to present him with a magnificent bouquet of flowers over the footlights. Behind the scenes another little play was taking place in the meantime. Mine. Melba was indignant that she should be overlooked when the flowers were being given away, and would have none of it. "I will not allow it," she said to De Reszke. " 1 will not go on the stage with a man and see him receive flowers when there are roue, for me. If you wish to accept the flowers over the footlights you must go alone, for I certainly shall not accompany you." In the meantime the audience were applauding, and at the same time Mme. Mel'oa was pretesting. " There is no other star here above me, and I will not submit to the indignity." And she had her way, as women generally do. M. De Reszke shrugged his shoulders and said, '""Very well, have the flowers sent round to the stage."

Dr. Guinness Roger.!, the '' grand old man" of London Congregationalism, has more than once been favoured by a hearty welcome from the King. On the last occasion that Dr. Rogers had audience of the King, when he formed one of the Nonconformist deputation, His Majesty's welcome was particularly cordial. During the sittings of the Prince of Wales' Hospital Fund there was on one occasion a question of religious denomination on the committee which seemed likely to lead to prolonged discussion- But the Prince of Wales, rising from the chair, effectively closured discussion by saying: "Gentlemen, gentlemen, my friends Dr. Guinness Rogers and Bishop Greighton will settle this little matter between them in ten minutes." And they did.

Among the young hostesses of the present day the Duchess of Sutherland stands pre-eminent, in suite of the somewhat unjust reproach which has been cast at her that Stafford House, under her regime, is irapidly becoming a second Exeter Hall. Probably no one, except Lady Aberdeen, gets through more philanthropic work; and sometimes guests staving at Dunrobin or Trentham complain that they do not see their hostess until dinner-time. Nevertheless, ail who come in contact with the duchess testify to her exceeding charm, and the success of a ball at Stafford House is a foregone conclusion. The duke and duchess exercise unbounded hospitality at their country places, and at Stafford House there is always a succession of guests, ev'jn when the owners are absent. The duchess is extremely cultivated, and takes a great interest in social questions. Given her undoubted talent, her latest book was somewhat disappointing, although one could not fail to admire, .he earnestness of purpose with which it was written. The Duchesses of Sutherland have always taken a prominent part in the life of social London. The grandmother of the. present duke was Mistress of the Robes at the time of Queen Victoria's Coronation, and the magnificent diamond crown, which the present duchess often wears, was made tor that event. The late Duchess of Sutherland, " Duchess Annie," as she was known among her friends, was also Mistress of the Robes during the last reign, and one of the great London hostesses of five-and-twenty years ago.