ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[FEOM THE SOCIETY PAPERS,]

A literary judge and a judge of literature is Mi. Justice Darling, now - the wittiest occupant of the Bench, as he was once the most epigrammatic of journalists on the St. James' Gazette. Some of his best things appeared in his " Scintilla) Juris" a few years ago; and his new book, " Seria Ludo," just published, shows that the judicial "Dilettante" is still cunning in quip and prolific in epigram. Though there is ii suspicion of " the pale cast of thought" about Sir Charles Darling at times, he generally looks as if he also appreciated physical exercise; and" it is well known that he sits a restive horse as tightly as one of Buffalo Bill's rough-riders. And he can ha magnanimous on occasion. After being beaten in Hackney by Sir Charles (afterwards Lord) Russel, he sent a most congratulatory letter to the latter on his .promotion, and not only declined personally to oppose his re-election, but refused to do anything by word or deed to hinder it, j

The Toy Dog Show at Tattersall's has been organised solely on behalf of two breeds which happen just" now to have many enthusiastic admirers—namely, toy bulldogs and Brussels griffons. That half of the world which does not know how the other half lives may he surprised to learn that literally thousands of ladies take a, very keen and practical interest in highly-bred dogs. Many peeresses and others are members of the Ladies' Kennel Association, and can discourse most learnedly on their favourite dog's special points. For a while huge creatures, notably borzois or Russian wolfhounds were first favourites; now the pendulum has swung to the other extreme, and the tiniest are in vogue, good specimens being worth hundreds of pounds. One of the most valuable of these little dogs, Mighty Atom, is owned by a very popular spinster, and is said to be the smallest griffon ever seen or known. ;

Safely back from South Africa the Duke of Montrose once more returns to the quiet life that he loves. Up by Loch Lomond, where he spends so much of his time at Buchanan Castle, he is the most popular of magnates. For he is a Scotsman to the core, a thorough gentleman, a fine sportsman, and one of the best shots of which the northern kingdom can boast. Buchanan Castle is a beautiful place, roomy and comfortable : and the duke and duchess entertain a great deal there, though very little in Loudon. The duchess was one of the Grahams, of Netherby, and is as kind of heart, and as gracious of maimer as she has always been lovely of countenance. She is one of the few women who can make a really effective speech; but then eloquence ought to be in the family, since, through her mother, she inherits the blood of the Shcridaus.

M.A.P. has the following respecting Mrs. Skefiington-Smyth, who resided for a short time in Auckland:—Mrs. SkeffingtonSmyth has returned to Ireland. She was Miss Beatrice Taylor, of Ardgillan, near Dublin, a pretty Irishwoman, and one of a twin of sisters, who were known in the London world as the "Taylor twins." Her companion sister is now Mrs. Maude. In 1889 she married Captain Randall Skeffiing-ton-Smyth, of Mount Henry, Queen's County, a captain in the Coldstream Guards, and now resident on his Irish estates. She is a tall, handsome woman, especially noted for her finis figure and carriage.

The members of the Eccentric Club are a lively collection of young people, and are quite ready to join in a joke which goes against themselves. Perhaps that is why they so keenly appreciate a tale which they are now telling. One member of the club does not make a rule of over-paying his cabmen. Recently he took a cab to the club from a point which was only a few yards short of two miles. He tendered the man one shilling net. " Beg pardon, sir," said the tabby, " what might this be?" " That's your fare," said the member. " Oh, is it?" quoth the driver, gazing up at the club premises. " Well, all I can say — no wonder they call this the Eccentric Club!" Even kinds are not exempt from the foibles of ordinary mankind, and here is an interesting sidelight on a little weakness of our own good King, Edward VII. A certain Royal lady was at an afternoon teaparty, and one of the guests told a decidedlv amusing little story. " Oh," cried the lady hi question, clapping her hands) "that is capital. I must tell it to the King. No," she added after a moment's reflection, "I won't, for if one tells the King a good story he forgets in a day or two that it was told to him, and goes about repeating it to everyone as his own."

The marriage of Miss Nellie Samuel, elder daughter of the Lord Mayor, to Mr. W. H. Levy was solemnised in the Egyptian Hall of the Mansion House, with all the picturesque ceremony customary in the Jewish service. Among the many distinguished guests present were the Chinese Minister and his lady, attired in their Oriental robes; the Japanese Minister and Viscountess Hayaski, in more conventional English garb; . the Earl and Countess of Kimberley, the Earl and Countess of Stamford, Countess Roberts, the Archdeacon of London, Sir Samuel and Lady Montague, Sir Joseph and Lady Savory, Sir George and Lady Tmscott, Sir Thomas and Lady Brooke-Hitching, and many more. At one end of the hall the chupah, a. magnificent silk canopy, halfhidden in arum lilies, had been erected, under which the bridal pari took their places during the ceremony in accordance with the Jewish custom. The service was conducted by the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Adler, assisted by the Revs. Professor Gollanez, I. Samuel, and R. Harris. As the bridal party left the hall the "March" from " Lohengrin" was played. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress afterwards held a large reception. The wedding presents, which numbered over 600, included much beautiful jewellery.

The German Empress, who is steadily recovering from the effects of the accident she met with while out riding in company with Emperor William, is credited with being as excellent a diplomatist as she in a wife and mother, and again and again Her Majesty has figured in political affairs in Berlin. It is said that when Caprivi resigned for the first time he received a letter from the Empress and returned tc his post, and that when he resigned again he received another letter and went. A woman who can make jam puffs, the Kaiser once said, is worth more than a woman who can discuss a Constitution. The German Empress can do both, but the Kaiser is prouder of her in domestic than political affairs. Some ladies were once lecturing the Kaiser on the position of women in Germany, and the Emperov declared that he accepted his wife's opinions on such matters. " Shall I tell you what she sometimes says?" asked the Emperoi. "She tells me," he went on. that woman's vocation ponts to nothing but four K's." The ladies, who were Americans, did not understand, and the obliging Emperor interpreted. The four Iv s, he explained, stood for kinder, kirche, kiiche, kleidei— to put it in familiar English, children, church, cookery, clothes.

Lord "Young, in the Scottish Appeal I Court, held that " men have no copyright [ in their features, however beautiful or ridiculous ;" but the two other judges ruled that a photographer has no right to exhibit a photograph without his customer's consent. Wiiich is. of course, as it should be. When a man's face is his fortune he surely ought to be permitted to " save" it, in the "interest of thrift. We often hear of people who cannot- call their souls their own ; to deprive them of their faces would be terrible, indeed. We shouldn't have the face to do it.