Society Gossip.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 994, 20 March 1891, Page 12

Society Gossip.

F2OM THE SOCIETY PAPERS.) Slavin and McAuliffe have presented Lord Lonsdale with an inkstand in recognition of ! his efforts on their behalf when on trial. They could not have chosen a more appropriate artiole. An instand is the most fitting emblem of their profession now that prizefighters busy themselves more with inkaling ing than the punching which was thought necessary in the days when it was thought harmless. * General ’ Booth now boasts that he has obtained £94,000 for hia * Darkest England fund. Instead of being contented with £IOO,OOO, he now says he wants £130,000 to start his scheme. He is having a committee of 18 appointed, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Attorney General, and the President of the Wesleyan Conference, hut absolutely declines to allow the appointment of any other trustee than himself. In London almost absolute social stagnation prevails. The recent financial crisis is only now beginning to reveal its full force, and the majority of people have been too hard hit to admit of their spending money in frivolous entertainment, Soolety will forgive and forget many things, but it will never overlook the fact that the Barings did not give their friends a hint of the true state of affairs with respeot to Argentine finance, and long, though low, are the growls to bo heard thereat on every side. One prospective marriage has already been broken off as a result of the Baring Brothers fiasco, and there is no calculation how far-reaohing may eventually be the results of this late deplorable event. I hear that Lord Reveistoke’s inoome, even if he sells his wife’s jewels, will in future exceed £3OOO a-year. A sad falling off this from £40,000 a year, and a heavy penalty for having beea too sanguine about Argentines. I also learn that Mr Francis and Lady Grace Baring are left absolutely destitute by the reconstruction of Barings. On their marriage no settlements were made, money invested, in the business being thought as safe as if it were in Consols. The report that Sir Julian Paunceforte contemplates resigning the post of British Minister at Washington is utterly fictitious. Sir Julian, though not a conspicuous diplomatic success, has made himself exceedIngly popular in the States, and the idea of resignation has never even suggested itself to him, though, no doubt, his doing so would not be quite unacceptable to those who might obtain promotion by the vacancy. The preliminary arrangements for the Queen’s journey to Florence are now completed, and, in order to avoid travelling on Good Friday, Her Majesty will accomplish her transit from Windsor Castle to the Villa Palmieri in about Bixty hours. The Queen is „to leave Windsor on March 24. Her Majesty is to stay at Florence for between three and four weeks, the present intention being to return to Windsor Castle on Friday, April 24. * Mi an Kwai zandw ’ is the namo or rather one of the names, which the infant son of the Coantess of Onslow is to receive in holy hatpism. The ‘ little stranger ’ was born a few weeks ago in New Zealand, and, following the example set by Lord and Lady Carrington under similar circumstances, _ it has been decided to give the baby a native name. That chosen, being translated, means ‘Ray of Sunlight in Strange Land.’ There is a good story told about the late Archbishop of York. He had been dining with a friend near Bishopthorpe, and on the return journey soon discovered his coachman had been liberally entertained, and was not at all in a fit state to drive so eminent a personage safely. Accordingly the Archbishop stopped the carriage, and ascended the box himself, having, however, previously deposited his would be Jehu Inside. All went well until a narrow road leading up to the stables was reached, when, owing to the darkness, the Archbishop drove the carriage over several large stones at the sides. The helper, who was on the look out hearing the noise, seized hold of tho horses’ heads and led them into the yard, muttering some not over complimentary epithets at tho coachman for his carelessness. * Bah !’ he exclaimed, ‘ tkere you are, drunk again, and dang me, but you’ve got the old cock’s hat on !’ His grace, who had a keen sense of humour, here exclaimed, * No ! it’s the old cock himself!’ Princess Beatrice’s ball at Northwood House, West Cowes (which was lent to H.R.H. by Mr Ward), was certainly the most brilliant and splendid which has, ever beea given in the Isle of Wright; but the company seemed to be rather overweighted with Royalties. The rooms were magnificently decorated, the plants and flowers being sent from Osborne and Frogmore. There were Oriental hangings, superb tapestries, and rich orimson curtains everywhere, and the appearance of the ball room and vestibules was most effective. Princess Beatrice wore cream satin, profusely embroidered with pearls, with a suberb diamond tiara. Princess Louise and the Duchess of Connaught were both in pink. Lady Churohill, _ who aoted as a sort of Mistress of Ceremonies, was in black and she blazed with diamonds. Miss Cochrane looked well in electrio bine, trimmed with pink and yellow flowers. Lord Dufferln is reported to have ‘scored heavily ’ in a reoent contest with Signor Crispi on a point of etiquette—or rather good manners. Oar Ambassador called on the Italian Premier, and was ushered into a room where the latter was seated at a table examining some documents. He raised his head aad seeing the visitor, waved his hand in welcome, and uttered the stereotyped * Buon ffiorni ’—without rising. Lord Dufferin maintained bis position at the doorway immovable. Again the informal greeting by the Italian, but still the visitor remained at the door. Then (blushing) Crispi rose from bis seat and bowed a welcome ; the bow was gravely returned, the visitor entered, and the interview commenced.