ITEMS OP SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

ITEMS OP SOCIAL NEWS.

[tROM THE SOCIETY PAPERS.] Tub season at Homburg is now at its height, and, to judge from the visitors' list, this is one of the most brilliant that has been for several years. From every corner of Europe and America distinguished and celebrated! people, men of the Bench and the Bar, Court officials, soldiers, leaders of .society, beautiful debutantes, portly matrons, habitues of Piccadilly, bearers of English, French, Russian, German, and Austrian titles, and a few Boyal personages, f suffering from real and imaginary complaints, come to the Spa with the steadfast belief that by taking so many glasses of spring water per diem they will undo the ravages wrought by the late hours and dyspeptic menus of the previous six mouths. People who have met each other throughout the season at balls, dinners, soirees, and garden parties meet again daily at Hamburg in the Kurgarten, on Bitter's Terrace, by the springs, and one hears funny little bits of conversation as one passes in and out among the gay throng. " What, you here ! cries a gouty member of Parliament, as he comes across a brother politician with a, "liver." /'What waters are you doing/ Bin on 'Elizabeth.' and the wile's taking ' Stahl.' I suppose you're ordered ' Lud-. wig?'" As early as half-past seven a.m. lons,' streams of people—who at home would not stir till nine or ten—art) to be seen, glass in hand, making their way to the springs, there to partake of two or, three glasses of their own' particular water, buy a Morning Pest one dav old, and listen to the band, which plays lively airs from 'The Geisha" and " The Country Girl" for the benefit of the English and American visitors. Near the bandstand flower-vendors preside over stalls laden with the most, exquisite blooms, and men buy bundles of glorious roses and carnal ions with the dew still on them for the ladies, who bestow buttonholes on their favoured swain?.. Breakfast is. then disposed : of, and Hombiu-g is fairly quiet till luncheon, after which evervone livens up again, and goes driving,'walking, golfing; tennis-play-ing, or for an excursion to the various picturesque places near.

This is President Lonli?t's unofficial impression of Queen Alexandra, as given the other dav by him, to one of his friends :-- '■I.had heard," he said, "that she possessed considerable personal gifts, an( * was a sur " nrisingly well-preserved woman. It is true. But you must see her for yourself to realise her unique charm. Where does it lie, AM That is the secret which baffles you always. Her face is, perhaps, too long for perfect beauty, and she is no longer in the first flush of youth. Still the fact remains that when she is present you forget' to look at other ladies who may* be twice as beautiful and not half her age. She speaks little; her eyes, rather haughty, are curiously ami strangely sad. They are always abstracted, as if her thoughts were elsewhere. Her lips are sad, too. ' Sua smiles—but that expression of indefinite sadness is always there. As for her grace, it is astonishing. She makes me think of a queen of old France. Where did she learn that superb graciousness of. bearing which clothes betas with a garment? Surely not in that sleepy little Danish Court she came front. We have women in France who are probably better dressed, but we have none who possess her supreme elegance. She is Royal from top to toe. In a time of revolution were she to show herself at a window every soldier's heart would best the faster—each man would be willing to die for her. " \<ni are eloquent in your praise," remarked M. Lonbet's visitor. " Ah, I speak of an incomparably fascinating lady, replied the president. ...•>'

The Kin* is not in the least degree superstitious, anil enjovs haunted quarters rather than otherwise, whilst he always smiles-,at-the most creepy ghost stories when they are told to him 'by hosts who live in historic mansions. His Majesty is sure to be re- . minded, on the occasion of his visit to the : Dukeries, of the famous Ruff Abbey ghost, which is one of the best accredited spectres of which an English mansion can .Qowt. Lord Savile has never seen it himself, -but there are manv worthy and ■ level-headed persons in the neighbourhood who declare they have; and that it has been long established is proved bv the circumstance that . the early registers of the adjoining parishes .- record the fact that a man died from fright on seeing it. Occasionally the ghost has appeared as a "little old lady in black, but usually, and particularly of late yews, as one of the old monks of Ruff with a death's head under his cowl. There seems reason in this, for the abbey stands on the site of a Cistercian monastery, winch was given by Henry VIII. to a former Karl of Shrewsbury in exchange for an estate; m "Ireland. 'Here was a monkish grievance, and fair cause for subsequent spectral hauntin*s. The King, in his scepticism, would no doubt be pleased to make acquaintance with the Ilufford ghost ; but it is never there there when wanted, even by a Sovereign.

5P It has been noticeable during Lord Rose- '• ', berv's recent visit to the Continent how he and the King of the Belgians have been frequently meeting. First -his lordship called on the King, then the King called on "his lordship, and so on. Of course, tne King of the Belgians is a most accession .'*' monarch, arid is also possessed of most gregarious tendencies; but this little incident is another illustration of the fact, not always sufficiently appreciated at .dome, .*">'' that "the English nobleman has a standing I'.' higher than that of any, and in many cases ' is welcomed on practically equal terms by the Sovereigns of other States. There have =>• been many very intimate friendships exist*k; ing between English noblemen and foreign •'.." \ kin"-s. Besides that with the Belgian I- monarch Lord fiosebery can claim the most ffS-: intimate association with the Kaiser, whilst, | ; as inost people are aware. Lord Lonsdale C is one of the, closest friends of His German •"' - Majesty, a -fact which has more than once 15 been of considerable assistance to the two countries. • For instance, it is generally understood that when, in consequence of a !•.'': famous -telegram the Kaiser's popularity in > England declined, an appeasing explanation was transmitted through his lordship, when it could not possibly have been sent.other;t.' ' wise. In this connection also one may re--11 call the r friendship which existed between the late Sir Ellis Ashrnead Bartlett and the Sultan of Turkey.

'. All children seem to naturally psp £ -et that kings and queens always wear their crowns, and it is quite a shock to them to find that the everyday dress of Royal personages is very much the same as that of ordinary folk. Even Royal children seem to share in this feeling, judging by the following story of : Princess Yolande, the elder daughter of the i King of Italy. When King Edward visited the King of Italy the little Princess was p< '. under the impression that lie came specially j-.; : , • to see her, and when she discovered that he was an elderly man, and that she was to be shut up in her nursery and not allowed to go beyond it without permission, she was very angry. Princess Yolande is a very imperious little Royal personage, and if she is f, thwarted—which" does not often happen— ?•-.-, she becomes perfectly, pink with vexation, " : " and her dark eyes look darker than ever H'.:'-'. with the gathering tears. Tears are not always the easiest method of achieving an end, however, and Princess Yolande, having made .: up her mind, seized the very first opportunity of escape from the nursery. Off she trot- ; ted, and hid herself behind her mother's chair ; but Queen Elena was quite aware- of %- her small daughter's presence, and asked gently : " Yolaude, why did you run away?" v: " I did not," said the little Princess, "I y,'.'.-. only wanted to see King Edward's crown, and Miss Dickens kept me in the nursery. J . And; the nasty man has no crown after all!" :V ' In spite of this Princess Yolande probably I enjoyed King Edward's visit heartily. His Majesty is devoted to children, and little Princess Yolande, like his own small grand- £''.'.' children, soon learned to consider him one -'■".' of the most charming and indulgent of her '- . ' grown-up playfellows. Princess Yolande i:> an object of immense, admiration to her [-,'•' father's subjects, and there are always many '. interested spectators when she goes for her afternoon drive. She is placed between her governess and a nurse, but she is never still - r ' for one minute, and at intervals disappears ~ from sight altogether beneath the seat. The cainag* is very imposing-looking, with two '■■■am m red livery on the box, one or two behind, and'a couple of cycling guards ridiu« by the side of the vehicle.