Ladies' Column.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 361, 11 January 1879, Page 3

Ladies' Column.

THE LATE PRINCESS ALICE. (From the Sydney Mail.) Since the death of Princess Charlotte, no member of the family of a reigning sovereign has been more truly beloved by the British nation than the Princess Alice. The English are a Royalty-loving people, but they have their likes and dislikes nevertheless ; and the feeling certainly does exist in a far greater degree now than formerly, that princes are to be admired and beloved just to the extent to which their virtues entitle them. At the same time the prominence of their position in the public estimation gives an importance to their words, actions, and even to the state of their health, which is denied to those of less rank. That the Queen drove'out, and with whom, on such a day 5 that the Earl of So-and-So dined with her ; that she was dressed in black velvet, or whatever it may be—are, and a s society is constituted must be, subjects of interest to an immense number of persons in the old country. Here all this fashionable gossip does not interest us ; but directly we get news of any death, or of any important event affecting the Royal Family, the English sympathy at once manifests itself, and we show our derivation from the Anglo-Saxon race. This feeling has been specially manifested in the case of the Princess Alice, the tidings of whose death has just reached us. . She was peculiarly a favorite with the British people. Born on the 25th April, 1843, she was the third of Queen Victoria’s children, and the second who was married. Like the Princess Royal, she espoused a German prince ; but unlike that marriage, which was made a public demonstration, the sad circumstances preceding the wedding of the Princess Alice cast a shade over them, though it heightened and intensified the loving reluctance with which the people saw her depart from among them. It is universally known that, owing probably to the judicious training of the late Prince Consort, the Royal children havebeenidentified to afar greater degree than is usual among princes with the common life of the people. The circumstances of this marriage to which we have referred peculiarly affected English hearts. From her childhood the Princess Alice was beloved, but when the dark cloud of sickness and death enshrouded the Consort of our Queen the greater and Dobler qualities of the woman developed themselves. She it was who tended with unflagging resolution and affection her father during his fatal illness. She ministered to him most lovingly, and his dying bed with a loving daughter’s devotion. Like a ministering angel she moved through the Royal household amidst the scene of sorrow and desolation ; she alone thought of summoning her elder brother there ; and when all

was over she sustained and spoke comfort to her mother, and she did not hesitate to put aside her own interests and feelings for the sake of the other mourners under a grief in which her own share might have seemed to be sufficient for her own endurance. Her devotion linked her still more closely to the love of the public ; and when her marriage, which was necessarily postponed by the sad event, took place, it was rejoiced in, but with a singularly deep, grave, silent, and tender congratulation. Very shortly after her marriage, on the Ist July, 1862, to Prince Louis, of the Grant! Ducal House of Hesse—a husband, by the way, selected for her by her late father—the Princess Alice left England for Darmstadt, where she has since principally resided. In 1863, when her first child was born, she was on a visit to her mother at Windsor Castle, and on important occasions since she has made short sojourns iu England ; but hexheart was with her home and her children, of whom she had now seven, six surviving her. The news of her death has come suddenly, and her illness, according to the telegrams, has been of short duration. Beginning in what appeared a trifling ailment, the march of the malignaut diphtheria has has proved fatally rapid, aud but little time was allowed to the Royal family to prepare themselves for the shock of its fatal termination.

On the receipt of the sad news in Australia, the Governors of the various colonies at once appointed a day for public mourning. In Sydney, his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson invited tha people of New South Wales to set apart Sunday, the 22nd, for that purpose, and the invitation met with that response which none but loyal subjects can give. Since the melancholy tidings reached the colony the flags on the vessels in harbor, and over the Consular aud other offices in the city have been kept at half-mast. Both Houses of Parliament adopted addresses of sympathy and condolence with the Queen ; the Municipal Council of Sydney has done the same. At the various churches in the metropolis on Sunday the services had special reference to the sorrowful event. Some of the churches were draped with mourning. At midday 21 minute guns were fired by the Permanent Force from the battery at Dawes Point, and 21 were also fired from H .MS. Wolverene, the flagship of the Australian squadron. MATRIMONIAL TRIALS. One cau understand a publican marrying his barmaid or other female servant, says a Victorian paper, if she be handsome and accomplished, and he has reason to believe that she is affectionately disposed towards him. But “no fellah can understand” a bonifaee being so insane as to “ marry the girl” on the very day upon which she was going to marry another, and in that other’s wedding clothes too. Yet such an occurrence happened in New Zealand. The publican, who is now in business in Melbourne, induced the fickle one to do as stated by contrasting the monetary position of the favored suitor with his own—it was money bags v. love, and the former won hands down as usual. As might be anticipated, no good has resulted from such a—l suppose I must calf it—union. He is jealous and of a “ very hot” temper ; she irritable and ill-tempered, too. He “ warms” her frequently, so’ she is frequently warm—in short they live a cat and dog life. I have hitherto omitted to mention that the jilted lover brought an action for breach of promise against the ill-assorted couple, whieh bonifaee settled out of court by paying £2OO. Would he not like to rid himself of his “ purchase” at that or a much lower figure ?— Sun. RULES FOR SPOILING A.- CHILD. 1. Begin young by giving him whatever he cries for. 2: Talk freely before the child about his smartness as incomparable. 3. Tell him he is too much for you, that you can do nothing with him. 4. Have divided counsels as between father and mother. 5. Let. him learn to regard his father as a creature of unlimited power, capricious and tyrannical ; or as a mere whipping machine. 6. Let him learn (from his father’s example) to despise his mother. 7. Do not know or care who his companions may be. 8. Let him read whatever lie likes. 9. Let the child, whether boy or girl, rove the streets iu the evenings—a good school for both sexes. 10. Devote yourself to making money, remembering always that wealth is a better legacy for your child than principles in the heart and habits in the life ; and let him have plenty of money to spend. 11. Be not with him in hours of recreation. 12. Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel ; chastise severely for a foible, and laugh at a vice 13. Let him run about from church to chureb. Eclecticism in religion is the order of the day. 14. Whatever burdens of virtuons requirements you lay on his shoulders, touch not one with one of your own fingers. These rules are not untried. Many parents have proved them, with substantial uniformity of results. If a faithful observance of them does not spoil your child, you will atleast have the comfortable reflection that you have done what you could.

HOW TO SELECT SILKS. A good silk should possess three particular qualities : it should be soft, smooth, and lustrous. The better the silk the softer it will be, provided, of course, that it is closely woven, and not of a thin flimsy nature. The readiest test of this quality is to sharply gather the material into folds across the width, and observe the angles produced. If the material be of good quality the folds will be soft in outline, but if these break into hard and sharp projecting points, the sample should be at once rejected. It is a very instructive experiment in this particular to take in one hand a piece of flannel, and gather it up as before described ; the folds will be iouDd and soft ; if a piece of newspaper or brown paper be then gathered together in a similar manner, it will be observed that a number of very sharp projections will be formed, of which particularnotice should be taken. Intheca.se of silk, if these angles are formed in the samples they will also occur in the dress which is made of the same material; and whenever this takes

place the delicate fibres of silk will be broken, and holes will be made. Any one who has used -silk umbrellas will remember that the first sign cracking into holes appears in the sh ar pest folds -'Mill the reason is that given above. Besides this teet of softness, that of perfect smoothness should be applied. The material should be perfectly equal in thickness, and present no irregularities of surface. This is best discovered by passing the fabric between the Idaumb and fore-finger, when any imperfection la this particular will be manifest. An experienced person will be able to determine the quality of silk by this test alone, but to do so requires considerable practice. One of the chief characterics of silk is its brilliant gloss, -■wid the lack of this feature in this material is 3> sure sign of its inferior quality. It is true that a kind of fictitious gloss is often imparted to a common quality of silk ; but this is easily distinguished from the natural lustre •whioh it ought to possess. WOMEN IN FRANCE. In Baris, Lyons, Marseilles, Bordeaux, and all the leading cities and towns of that country, the avenues of employment are thrown open to women as widely and freely as anyone of tiie sex; can desire. They have complete charge of many kinds of business, and firms in which, they are partners are common everywhere. They often seem to have more mind, industry, energy, and general capacity than file men have, especially in retail trade. The aexos frequently appear to have changed conditions, the woman showing superior intelligence and management. At the hotels a man puts your bed to rights, but you pay your bill to a woman. At the restaurants a waiter serves you, but a woman receives your money. If you buy tickets at railways, theatres, or omnibus offices, if you send telegrams, if you make purchases at the shops, if you hire lodgings, if you go anywhere or do anything, you deal with women, who pervade all the business departments of France, and to a certain extent conduct and control its affairs. The greater portion of these are unmarried, Jwtt when they are married, there is very little difference. HOME-MADE LAMP SHADES. Among the pretty things for the parlor which may easily be made at home are lamp ail ades and window transparencies cut from Bristol board. For a lamp shade take five pieces of Bristol board, three inches wide at the top and five at the bottom, and sloped like • dress gore on both sides. On each of these sketch lightly in pencil (or, if your skill is not equal to this, trace with impression paper) any wimple picture you please. Flowers, leaves, grapes, a spray of any sort, a vine, with leaves, grapes, and tendrils, are all effective and pleasing patterns. After the pattern is traced take a sharp penknife and cut through each line, taking care to leave enough of the board intact at the base of each, so as to prevent any part from being wholly detatched, and so falling out. The designs may be colored on the reverse if necessary ; bold strokes and dashes of color answer perfectly, provided there is no blurring of the lines. We have seen some such shades where, instead of usiDg a knife, the designs were pricked with a pin or with a large needle. When the parts of the shade are all done, bind them with narrow or gilt paper, paste on, aDd join them together. This may be done by making a hole at each corner of each gore and tying them together by means of a narrow ribbon passed through the holes. If a larger shade is desired six pieces may be made, but five will be sufficient for the ordinary size. The effect of suck a shade will, when the lamp is lighted, be found equal to the finest bisque or porcelain transparencies. For windows cut the board iHi rectangular shape, and proceed in the same manner with your picture. We have seen a head of Christ and a Madonna and Child beautifully executed in this easy art work. Your knife must be sharp and your hand steady. It is well to fasten the work to a drawing hoard, as artists do their drawing paper, to hold it in place while doing this, since this injures more regularity in the strokes. RECIPES. Black Tea to Colok Hair.—A lady thus tells us how to color hair without risk or injury:—Get some black tea and steep it as you would for table use ; pour off the tea into a bottle and cork. When combing your hair use it in wetting instead of water. I think you will find before using it two weoks your hair will be darker and more like its original color than it would have been by using any of the other dyes so much in use. I use it myself, and. know it is good. The Best Drink for Heavy Work.— When you have any heavy work to do, do not take either beer, cider, or spirits. By far the best drink is thin oatmeal and water with a little sugar. The proportions are a quarter of a pound of oatmeal to two or three quarts of water, according to the heat of the day and your work and thirst ; it should be well boiled, and then an ounce or an ounce and a half of brown sugar added. If you find it thicker than you like, add three quarts of water. * Before you drink it, shake up the oatmeal well through the liquid. In summer drink this cold; in winter hot. You will find it not only quenches thirst, but will give you more strength and endurance than any other drink. If you cannot boil it you can take a little oatmeal mixed with cold water and sugar, but this is not so good ; always boil it if you can. If at any time you have to make a, long day, as in harvest, and cannot stop for meals, increase the oatmeal to half a pound or .eveu three-quarters, and the water to three -quarts if you are likely to he very thirsty. If you cannot get oatmeal, wheat flour will do but not quite so well. For quenching thirst few things are better than weak coffee and a little *jugar. One ounce of coffee and half an ounce of sugar, boiled in two quarts of water and cooled, is a very thirst-quenching drink. Cold tea has the same effect ; but neither are eo supporting as oatmeal. Thin cocoa is also very refreshing, arid supporting likewise, but is more expensive than oatmeal.—Dr Parkes.