ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12931, 29 July 1905, Page 6 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[{'ROM THE SOCIETY PAPERS.]

'Tail Rothschilds smoke the most costly, cigars that ■ are made—the "Henry .Clay Sobranos," which cost nearly five shillings. These are wrapped in gold leaf, and packed in little inlaid cedarwood cabinets. These millionaire princes buy three cabinets at a time, containing 42,000 cigars, 20,000 Havahas, and one kind originally made for Marshal Prim as a present for Napoleon 111., at a cost of 30,000 francs. Each cigar was tipped with gold at each end and stamped with the Imperial N. in gold. By way of acknowledging the gift Napoleon sent him a pair of magnificent Sevres vases.

One of Lord Rosebory's most curious possessions is a gigantic silver wine-bicker, a family heirloom, which was used at the christening of his children. At the lunch party which followed the christening of hisyounger son three dozen bottles of champagne were poured into* the beaker, which was even then but one-third full. Those who witnessed the ceremony remember that a unique feature of the proceedings was the reading of a poem by Professor Blaekie, expressing his good wishes for the infant. Lord and L;wly Aberdeen also were among the guests, and Lord Aberdeen was one of the sponsors.

The legal position of Queen Alexandra is very curious. So far as her private business is concerned she is not regarded by the laws and customs of England as a marlied woman at all. She is the only woman in Great Britain who does not couie within

the scope of (lie Married Woman's Property Act. The idea of the law is that affairs of State consume all the time of the King, and, therefore, no responsibility for the Queen's private business rests upon him. If the Queen contracted debts in her husband's name he would not be responsible for them as any other husband would. The King cannot be sued for debt, but the Queen can be.

Mmc. . Siihonc le Bargy, who is lo appear at the- St; James' Theatre shortly 'in 'an English version of "L'Adversaire, hesitated a. long time before she accepted Mr. George Alexander's offer. She spoke English very well, but did she speak it well enough? • Tier friends in London "assured her that she need have no misgiving;; but it was in a shop that her mind ' was made up. Before deciding on her purchases she had a, artful conversation in English with the shopkeeper. At last lie said, " I can recommend these articles, madame; they come from Paris." This Mine, le Bargy that he took her for an Englishwoman ; and the story is that she resolved there and then to act in English.

The King of Spain is taller than the many photographs would have led 0110 to expect. He looks very young and remarkably happy. It is not only that he smiles, but that his face has a happy east. He is but a lad, yet it takin and lovable personality. The idea of an alliance by marriage with the British Royal House is immensely popular in Spain, and when recently Princess Patricia of Connaught drove through the streets of Cadiz she was acclaimed with shouts of "our future Queen." Many diplomatists are of opinion that tins sugges-, tion is corroborated by : King Alfonso's visit to England. The main object, however, is to cement the alliance between Great Britain, Franco, and Spain.

King Alfonso during his visit to Paris, i while looking at the masterpieces of ancient ! and modern art, said quite a number of amusing things. For instance, M. Lepine, ' the Prefect of Police, showed him a very \ ancient painting representing the Escurial", Palace' of the Kings of Spain. " Yes," said j the Sovereign, pointing to one of the palace, j doors, " through that door I have often : passed. It is only opened to members of j the Royal Family." Then, pointing to ail- I other of the doors in the painting, he con- j tinued : " Through that door I have not yet j passed. It also is' opened only to our Kings." The Under-Secretary of State for Fine Arts was curious. "Why, sire, have you never gone through it?'" And Alfonso replied, laughing, "Because it is.the door of the Royal ■ vault, and when .we pass through it we go feet foremost." " "

Lady Cunai'd is one of our pretty Americans, and was Miss Maud Burke, of Chicago. .Her marriage took place about 10 years ago. She is very fair, with blue eye?and bright golden hair, rides well, talks well, and makes an admirable hostess.. Like most 'of her compatriots she dresses perfectly,; and , hei; rubies .are .among the most noted in London. She possesses a complete parure, tiara, necklace, ear-rings, brooches, and bracelets. Lady , Cunai'd ;is fond of music, gives dinners, an occasional cotillon or concert, and entertains' many house parties at her country home, Nevill Holt, , near Market Harborough. Sir Ba'cbe Cunard (the name is pronounced Beech) is a rich man, and a descendant of the founder of the Ciinard line. He is a typical country gentleman, was once a mighty hunter, but has now transferred his affections from' hunting. to the construction of motor-cars, 'and has' .'a, workshop of his own in the stable-yard of his place •in Leicestershire.'.'

Baroness .de Meyer affords a typo of the modem cosmopolitan.';: She is by ( birth an Italian, and was born Princess O.lga Caracciolo; she spent.her early days in Paris and London, and is a god-daughter of His Majesty the King. The baroness is a pretty, picturesque brunette, and dresses well, in what has been called the Paris-artistic fashion. She and her husband entertain pleasantly in their big, beautiful house in Cadogan Gardens, with its marble hall, oak staircase, china, pictures, and bric-a-brac. Here they give dinners and some good concerts, both in the afternoon and. evening. .Their guests listen to music, play bridge, and inspect the treasures ; of. Dresden china, which is only rivalled by the famous collection of Lord de Grey. Baroness de Meyer is a regular attendant at the opera, where she appears wondrously, dressed, wearing fine diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds, but is seldom or never crowned by the orthodox tiara. Both she and her . husband are strict vegetarians, and may be seen eating asparagus and peaches while their guests are regaled on ortolans and pate de foie gras. Baron de Meyer is one of the cleverest of our society photographers; his wife is his favourite sitter, but he has taken the portraits of many , of our prettiest society women.

The King of 'Spain, in visiting England, saw the consummation of his plans, and so is more fortunate than some rulers who have been compelled, from motives of economy, ■ to cub short their journeys. George IV. was the last man to consider expense where his own pocket was not concerned, but he had to be recalled to Britain from Hanover in 1821. He was to have gone on to Vienna and Berlin, but the cost was too terrific, and the projected visits had to be abandoned. The travelling expenses of Royalty j are terrible. Queen' Victoria's last visit to Ireland is said to have cost £120,000, just half the sum which it cost the Tsar to spend five days in Paris. The Shah does not move out of his own land under half a million a time; that apart from his purchases. New Zealand spent £90,000 on the vist of the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince's own expenses were very heavy. The presents which he took out with him cost £40,000. When ,he goes to India in the autumn there will be no exchange of presents—a circumstance which will not please the- rajahs, though it will be better for their pockets. The King of Spain must make his formal tour, and pay for his experience. But his host to-day, the besttravelled ruler in the world, will look to it that his' stay in England shall be as little costly as possible. Seeing that all Court servants manage to leave. a comfortable fortune behind them when they die, they must still do pretty well out of their tips. But the King hates the system, and once issued a notice denouncing tips in every form. Still; the Spanish King will not'escape without toll.