CHIT CHAT.

New Zealand Mail, 21 July 1892, Page 14

CHIT CHAT.

Women’s Topics, by 1 Aunt Ellen,’ are held over for want of space.

A weekly paper has published some horrible pictorial libels upon well-known Wellington people. One very popular Wellington society lady has just cause for complaint, for her so-called ‘ portrait ’ is really nothing short of an ugly caricature.

Mr Prouse has left for the South. He is to sing in the ‘ Elijah ’ at Timaru tomorrow, and will also appoar at the Dunedin Orchestral Society’s concert on the 29th.

A Napier engagement, just, reported, is that of Miss Hamlin to Mr Arthur Kennedy.

The Countess of Glasgow has consented to become a patroness of the G rls Friendly Society.

Several most complimentary references to the INew Zealand Mail have appeared in onr contemporaries. The editor tenders his thanks.

Poor Miss Achurch. The London critics are very hard on her. One of them says, referring to her Stephanie in ‘ Forget Me Not :—‘She overacts in a manner that breeds despair of hc?r future.’

Mr Pigott, the British Examiner of Plays, is no Ibsenite. In his evidence before the Commons Committee on Theatres ho said that ‘he had studied Ibsen’s plays carefully, and he thought all the characters were morally deranged. All the heroines were either dissatisfied spinsters who looked upon matrimony as a sort of monopoly, or married women w ho were in a chronic state of rebellion against all conditions that nature had imposed upon their sex, or against the social and moral restraints applicable to wives and mothers. All the main characters are either rascals or imbeciles.’ Ibsen has probably never been so concisely summed up before.

Sir Patrick Buckley was once a law partner of Chief Justice Lilley, of Queensland. At least, so says the Bulletin.

Mr Geo. Augustus Sala has already obtained for his little penny weekly a circulation of 100,000. As it is an inexpensive publication (Sala and his wife do nearly all the work themselves) there is money in it.

By the way, the first volume of Mr Sala’s autobiography will appear in September. It ought to be a most readable book.

The Journalists’ social on Saturday night was a most enjoyable function. Mrs Geddis’ songs, and a remarkable clover recitation by Mr Hoben were amongst the successes of the evening. A general opinion was expressed that another social should be given bofore the close of the session.

The Hon. Walter Johnston and family are expected back in Wellington by the Boric, which is due at Hobart this week.

Messrs Parker’s and Hill’s Chamber Concert last Saturday was a great success, and musical people are looking forward to future treats of the same nature.

The first of a course of lectures to women on * First Aid to the Injured,’ is to be delivered at the Girls’ Friendly Society Lodge on Saturday next, under the auspices of the St. John’s Ambulance Association. The other lectures are to be given on Fridays.

We have received a copy of the New Zealand Methodist, now published at Id. It is a well edited and very interesting paper.

Mr Messenger, son of Major Messenger, and formerly mate of the ship Rakaia, is now third officer of the steamer Duke of Westminster.

Dancing must be hot work at Singapore, for the social reporter of the Straits Times refers as follows to the Queen’s Birthday Ball :—I might suggest to some gentleman that if they do not bring a supply of collars for the evening why not wear celluloid ?

How came Engliah people to adopt the absurd way of shaking hands now in vogue—with the arm raised to a level with the shoulder ? Charlie Collette, the actor, explains : I So many swells now keep shops, and in shaking hands with their friends across the counter they are obliged to raise their arms in that way, and snobs who don’t keep shops have imitated them.’

The Dunedin University Dramatic Club’s performance of ‘ She Stoops to Conquer ’ at Christchurch was a great success.

At the tennis match between Otago University and Canterbury College, Otago won by 80 games to 42.

Mr J. M. Johnston, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Marton, and well known up the coast, has been very seriously ill, but latest reports are to the effect that he is somewhat better.

A Gipsy Encampment was a novelty in the way of entertainments at Greytown last week. The object was the raising of funds for the purchase of an organ foE St Luke’s Sunday School. Some very pretty tableaux were presented, and the affair was voted a great succtss, Miss Annie Nation, as Queen of the Tribe, acted charmingly. Other parts were taken by Misses Nellie Smith, Bessie Brunton, Kate Hall, Zoe Cook, Lottie Udy, and Masters Hornblow, Madsen, Wood, Merson, Duff, and Nation. Miss Eva Nation presided at the piano.

A very unfortunate accident took place in a Southern township the other day. A young farmer was out with his gun ; seeing a dark object beside one of the stacks, he fired, and shot his younger brother through the arm.

The London correspondent of the Dunedin Star says : —The announcement that Sir Walter Buller and his daughter may be expected ir, England very shortly now has given sincere satisfaction to their many friends at Home. If the Imperial Institute can be m 'de of use to New Zealand (which I sometimes doubt), Sir Walter and Mr Perceval are the two men to bring that miracle to pass.

When I was a young man, says George A. Sala, I was usually in love, and wrote the usual number of 3illy letters ; tip- I cannot remember having put crossts for kisses at the bottom of my * billets doux.’ Once, I think, I filled a pepper castor with warm and sprinkled the contents on the last paragraph of my epistle —it was a deeply pathetic one—in order order to induce the inference that I had been weeping bitterly while penning the declaration that I would rather die a thousand deaths sooner than surrender my Emmeline—or was it Louisa ? But the fraud failed to ‘ fetch ’ the inflexible fair one, who married somebody else. They always did. A leaflet, entitled Truth, is being issued gratis in Wanganui, as a counterblast to the Prohibitionist.

A very old and respected resident, Mrs M'Gowan, mother of three of Mataura’s loading farmers (Daniel, Francis, and Thomas M‘Gowan) died last week. There was a very large funeral.

‘ The only pretty women I saw in Russia,’ says Mrs Alice Shaw, the whistling woman, ‘ were in the ballet in St. Petersburg, and they were Poles/

A double wedding took place at Annat, Canterbury, the other day, when the second and third daughters of Mrs John Ferguson ware married to North Inlanders, Mr George Moyes and Daniel McCurdy.

Mr G. Park, the well-known canoeist, is going to settle down at Christchurch, as a builder of sailing boats.

M. Musin and Herr Scharf played the Scotch Sonata, by Mr Hill, of Wellington, at their first concert in Christchurch, and the local papers speak in high terms of the production.

Mr O. Growden, for some time connected with the Dunedin Herald and Globe, and author of a novel, ‘ The Mark of Cain,* which appeared in the defunct Zealandia, has left for Western Australia, where he has accepted a position under the Government of that colony.

The Akaroa At Home _ Society are progressive. A recent subject of debate was * Are strikes justifiable as a means of settling labour disputes.’ Several ladies spoke and eventually the vote was given in favour of the strikes, by 20 to 6.

At Dunedin an attempt is being made to establish what are known as ‘Musical Kettledrums.’ The first concert was given last Saturday, when tea was served at four o’clock in the afternoon. It is proposed to have six afternoon concerts, and one evening concert (Scotch).

A marriage has been arranged between Miss Andromache Schliemann, the charming accomplished x daughter of the late Dr Schliemann, celebrated for his archaeological researches in Troy and Argas, and Mr Melas, son of the Mayor of Athens and nephew of the late Leon Melas, whoso 1 Gerostathis ’ was the first booK written in modern Greek for children on the lines of Engiish and French educational story books.

In Sweden the universities have been open to women for some years, and they are allowed full privileges in scholarships and degrees. Commercial colleges, post offices, banks, railway and telegraph offices accept women a 3 students or employees.

A Boston lady, Mrs W. B. Harte, performed a feat in reporting in December, says the Queen, which has rarely been equalled. She reached Plymouth, where the trial she was to report was to be held at midnight. All the following day she took notes in court, then went two miles to the telegraph station, where she wrote out and filed 15,000 words. Her day’s work was over at three in the morning. At nine Mrs Harte was again in court. She left for Boston at one o’clock, and on the journey Bhe wrote 10,000 words, which was handed to the Globe iu time for the evening edition.

Two ladies (says the Queen) have been admitted by the Bishop of Bedford to the office of ‘ Parochial Associates.’ This is an extension of the work of the deaconeases for East London —ladies who may not be prepared to become deaconesses, bnt who, under the authority of the bishop, will work under their parish priests. The ladies will work in the parish of Stoke Newington as ‘Parochial Associates.' The bishop also proposes to admit ‘ Community Associates,’ who may reside in the home when in actual service, in a branch home, to be near their work. For both the e orders peculiar and appropriate dress is provided.

"Victor Hugo’s prophecy that this was to be the woman’s era finds realisation even in remote contres of Old World conservatism. When the Emperor of J ipan gave a new constitution to his people in 1839 he paid a tribute of honour to wnmm by placing his wife besilehim in public. In the school systems of Japan, equal pro vision is made for boys and girls. Jap anes** women are interesting themselves ir. making oppor'unit : es for the advancement of women*' and ccnpyitig places as teachers, interpreters, post and t<-l graph operators.

Writing on the horsey girl, Woman says :— ‘ She is, above all things, a tailorbuilt girl, with a leaning towards checks and cheviots. Such articles of jewellery as she permits herself to wear represent snaffles and bits of horseshoes, and occasionally a horn. Her coats are of the sac denomination, and in her excess of zeal she has even been seen in Bond street galleries—presumably on her way to or from a race meeting—in that most graceless but, in its right place, most comfortable of garments—a driving cape. Her conversation is racy in the extreme, and of racing similes she has no end. Her mother’s visitors are ‘stayers’ ; her own ‘ go the pace.’ She is invariably prepared to ‘lay odds,’ ‘long’ or ‘short,’ on any event, domestic or otherwise. She makes a book, and at first pays her losses as they occur ; but as she becomes more imbued with the the doctrines of society, and her finances become more involved, she leaves such sordid and tiresome details carefully alone, knowing that the ‘ Johnny ’ to whom she had lost would be guilty of ‘ beastly bad form ’ in claiming from her that for which he would not hesitate to ask were the loser a man,’

Touching the shirt-skirt, Lady Florence Dixie some time ago proposed a walking costume for women, consisting of a flannel shirt, knickerbockers, kilt, and loose jacket; and recently a Miss Mary Seymour has been proposing a very similar 3tyle of dress. The skirt of Miss Seymour’s is plain or kilted, and the body made in the most comfortable and becoming style, and is supplied with plenty of packets. A long dress is worn by many women who shoot or hunt, and some bolder spirits are trying to bring it into the cities as a winter dress.

Mr R P. Ward, son of Judge Ward, of the Native Land Court, has b >en appointed Clerk of the R. M. Court at Oamaru. He is a clever and courteous young official, and was very popular when he was stationed at Wanganui.

Mr H. Stratford, R.M. at Oamaru, has been transferred to the West Coast. He is succeeded at Oamaru by Mr Jackson Keddell.

Oh, those amateur photographers. They sacrifice everything to their craze. Here’s the latest. Wife—Goodness, John, how queer the baby looks'? 1 believe he is going to have a fib. Husband—By George, I believe you are right. Where’s my Kodak ?

At the close of a recent concert in New York, Madame Patti was kissed by no less than 1000 ladies. Rather trying !

The English elections have brought out the fact that in politics a man and wife do not always agree. For instance, Lady Carlisle is ‘an impulsive Gladstonian, as well as an ardent advocate of Woman Suffrage ’ ; Lord Carlisle is a LiberalUnionist.

The education given to the young natives at the To Ante College is having good effect in more ways than one. The other day three of the students went off on a walking tour round the pas of the district (including those of Hail Han natives at Tongoio). These young men, actuated by noble motives, have dedicated their their holidays and talents to help forward the sanitary, social, and religious amelioration of their race. To that end they went on foot to every pa in the dis trict, preaching, lecturing on elementary social and sanitary truths, and conversing with the Maoris on any matter likely to affect their welfare. It is pleasing to add that these young men mot with a good reception, even from the Hau Hius, and that consequently there is a probability of much good resulting from their efforts.

Thera wore soma queer statements made by honourable members during the debate on the Electoral Bill. Speaking warmly in favour of female suffrage, the membe? for Taranaki said :—‘One man was continually at me, and at last I bad to clinch upon him ; I said, “ Of all men in this district you surprise me. You bake such a determined position against women having a vote, and yet I find at the registry office that you are not capable of taking care of your own property, and have made it over to your wife. Yet you haven’t that confidence to allow her to vote !” If you had only seen the way he slunk away.’ (Laughter).

‘Belle,’ in the World, states that Princess Mary and Princess Victoria have had the very narrowest escape of being burned to d-*a f h. A candle fell over, something caught lire, and in an instant there was a b'aze that resul ed in the destruction of much proper y, but, happily, not of themselves.

In the wretchedly bad weather we have had it has been perfectly provoking to read of the summer fashions at Home, but we shall have fine weather and summer fashions ourselves someday. Ole paper, The Lady, says :—L >ce is a great factor in millinery this year, and possibly this accounts to some extent for the extreme prettiness of the headgear ; ir, is so light, soft, and graceful, and mingles equally well with either flow, rs or feathers. The colour for flowers in hats and bonnets is most certainly bright, vivid pink, deepening into adtc ; ded rose colour. All the best-dressed women have adopted it, and it has the rare tnerij of being generally becoming. The deeper and very bright shades are so perilously near magenta as to be trying to women of any but exceptionally pure and beautiful complexions. A young duchess wore a black bonnet almost covered with roses of this shade in the park last week, with complete suecess. Her complexion, however, fulfilled the necessary conditions. Princess dresses will be as much worn as any. None suit tall slender figures better, and none lend themselves more easily to the addition of a loose pleat, many of which are made hanging out from the waist, which can be plainly discerned, and then being merged in the skirt folds. Trills of lace will be the favourite finish to dresses at the neck. These are wide, reaching almost to the shoulders, are not very full. The lace should be very fine and light.

Great regret is expressed at Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, over the death of Mrs Hobbs, wife of the Rev. Mr Hobbs, of that town. There was a very large funeral, the service being read by the Bishop of Waiapu and Canon St. Hill,

‘ Hearth and Home ’ tells us of a new walking costume, which has the usually gored skirt, a pretty blouse, and what is crlled a 1 mess ’ jacket, clasped at the collar, and open below. It is the exact length of the coat worn by E>on boys, which, as you will remember, reaches just to the waist. The open-fronted coats are very pretty for summer wear. They solve the outdoor-jacket difficulty, for they are cool without making the wearer look as though she had left some part of her attire at home. Blouses are quite a necessity. They are made of sofr, silk in pretty shades, or of light spotted or checked cambric, and generally with a frill where buttons and button-holes meet. Sometimes they are ornamented with the tiniest tucks imaginable on the shoulders, sleeves, and cuffs.

At a recent Sydney marriage the bridegroom married the youngest sister of the wife of his son, thus making the latter his brotlier-in law, and causing the children of his son to become the grandchildren of their aunt. What relation will the children of the old man’s second wife bo to his married son ?

A salt bath taken at night, at, the temperature of eighty to eighty-five degrees, will often induce a pleasant sleep when nothing else will. The best salt for this purpose is rock salt.

Polly : ‘ Dolly, I want to ask you a delicate question ’ Dolly : ‘ Well ?' Polly : Jack Harding is my fiance, you know.’ Dolly : ‘ Well V Polly : ‘Do you think it would be uumaidenly for me to a3k him to ask me to fix the day V

From the American : A honeymoon is a crucible in which hot poetry is melted and ladled out in chunks of cold prose.

Those queer American papers. How funnily they do put things to be sure. Here, for instance, is an extract. ‘The existence of a ladies’ athletic club is an evidence that the ideal of beauty which was based on French heels, tight shoes, pinched waists, and a diet of pickles and slate pencils, has given way to the type of beauty developed by the fresh air, lawn tennis, long walks, Delsarte movements and athletics generally, with the accompanying developments of normal appetites, lithe bodies, tnd rosy cheeks.’

The full title of Prince George of Wales is Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killarney. Both the Scotch and the Irish ought to be pleased.

The new London paper, the Morn ing Loader, has the following concerning our Colonial Secretary : —‘ A cable message informed us the other day that the Attorney General of New Zealand was coming Home to contest an Irish seat as an anti-Parnellite. And yet here he is in the birthday list figuring as a full blown knight. What chance has a Salisbury Balfour knight of winning a Nationalist seat 1 Mr Buckley is one of the moat popular public men in Now Zealand. He was particularly intimate with Lord Onslow ; and doubtless it was on the recommenda f ion of that Tory peer that he has been knighted. But he ought to have declined the distinction if he seriously contemplates standing as a Home Ruler at the approaching general election.’ So it would seem the * degradation of knighthood ’ is an effectual bar to attaining the representation of a Nationalist electorate. Sir P A. Buckley’s present position is infinitely mo r e honoured in the sight of he world th «n it vv u’i were he a unit of the M‘C irthy part-v. Therefore, he had accept Her Mtjes'y’s favour and have the barren honour of being an Irish M. P. to someone else.

The Lyttelton Times of July 12, states: —Mrs E. Wilder, of Ngapara, Fernside, while following the hounds at B ilcairn on Friday met with a very seriom accident. The lady was riding her favourite mount, The Shrew, and in crossing the fence the horse came down throwing her with considerable fojee. Sue fell on her right shoulder and was partial y stunned. Mrs Wilder, although in much pa n, was able to reach her homo, where it was discovered the arm to be broken close in to the shoulder join*.

The Oamaru Mail worked out from tile census returns that, out of a gross female population of 293 781 in the colony, 15 4 per cent are bread winners, th it is to say entirely independent, self supporting, and no doubt contributing in many cases largely towards the support of the lords of creation. Of the males of the colony—the recognised bread winners—only 62 per cent come under the category. Of the total bread winners of both sexes 18 per cent are females. Of women over 20 years of age, 22 per cent are bread winners.

Mr Every, of Dunodin, who is return ing from England by the Doric, h is given no less than 300 private lectures on the Colony during his holiday.

On Saturday, the 9ch inst, a very quiet wedding took place at Feilding between Mr F. J. Church and Miss Annie Lovejoy. The Rev Mr Murray performed the marriage|service.

A writer in a Gisborne paper tolls the following story : —One evening a cold water orator was at supper. Opposite

him sat a well-known divine, who is not a resident of Gisborne, by the way. 'Do you not think it wrong for men in your position to set so bad an example by drinking alcohol V asked the orator. ‘ No,’ replied the divine, ‘ I only follow Scripture.’ ‘ How so V questioned the orator. * Why, the Bible says,’ replied the divine, ( Wine that maketh glad the heart of man, but with water do the wild asses quench their thirst.’

Modern Society st-ys :—The Queen loved gooseberry pudding when a child, and always looked forward to have the first tasto of it on Whit Sunday in each year. Since the time of Queen Anne, gooseberry puddings, gooseberry tarts, stewed gooseberries have always graced the Royal tables on Whit Sunday, Whit Monday, and Whit Tuesday. In the Royal vegetable gardens at Windsor are cultivated two species of gooseberry - ribes grossularia, the rough gooseberry, and ribes uva-crispa, the smooth gooseberry ; yet sometimes from the result of successive productions the rough gooseberry becomes smooth. The Balmoral gooseberries are better than the Windsor oi Osborne ones, but they cannot very often be brought to perfection (good enough for the Queen’s table) by Whitsuntide, so the fruit is generally sent from Windsor.

Queen Victoria’s cook gets £BOO a year.

In the Pall Mall Budget of June 9 h, there is a picture of the three daughters of the Duke of Edinburgh. Remarkably handsome girls they are. The eldest, a pretty high spirited young lady of sweet seventeen, has just been engaged to Prince Ferdinand of Roumania. He is the prince who wanted to marry Miss Helene Varesco, his mother’s companion.

Mr Hugh Aplin, a popular Napier musician, and organist and choirmaster of St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, was presented with a gold mounted baton last week by members of St Paul’s choir. Mias Lindsay made the presentation in a few well chosen words.

A very old Rangitikei identity, Mrs James Sight, of Mar ton, passed away last week at the ripe old age of 73. Deceased had a large family, and was \ridely known and respected in the district.

Mr dude, the famous organist, has started up North at last. He appears in Oaraaru and Timaru this week.

Mr Eille Norwood, the good-looking young actor who appeared here in * Sweet Lavender,’ has produced an original play at Terry’s Theatre, London, with great success.

Thera is an association in Napier called the ‘ Whatsoever Circle of Kings and Sons and Daughters.’ The object of the association is charitable.

Aa English paper says :—There is a nasty story going about of a diamond star which dropped off the head of one fair lady on to the skirts of a second the other evening, where it hung glittering, while Lady No. 2 moved away all unconscious. Lady No. 1 made strenuous efforts to fight her way through the crush toward the essentially movable property, but as she watched it with agonised eyes, she saw a hand —a delicate hand, well-gloved, with diamonds shining on the wrist, and long taper fingers extended—s r retch itself towards the star and c-lm'y lift it away. LidyNe. 1 still moved on. T.h° crowd swallowed up Lady No. 3 with her prize before she could be identified, and Lady Ho. 2 was left lamenting and denouncing the wickedness of the well-gloved and bodiamondad thief.

Maud : ‘ She is a woman who has suf fered a great deal for h r beliefs.’ Ethel : “ Dear me ! What are her be'i *fs V Maud: ‘ S'ie believes site can w :*r N >. 3 sir e on a No. 6 foot, and a 23 inch c rant on a 30-inch waist.’

Miss Adrienne D.urolies h-*s b eii int rviewed on the subject of func ng for women. ‘L is beautiful’ (she exclaimed) ‘ft helps you to forget if you are ill. Jf you have troubles to b ar, fencing ihrowj them off. If a girl wants to f>r ;tr a man or to forget that he jilted her, do not let her groan, and moan, and ory h j r ey s out on her bed, but go and take fencing 1 3i ms, and she will find in the foils more comfort—more fresh life—than iu a new lover. And the girl with a pale face, with —what do you call it—anaemia, is it not ? —3he will get such an appetite as will send the blood circulating through her veins and make her auother woman. Of whom did I learn? Oh, 1 am only learning now—of M. Philippe Bourgeois, of the French Academy of Fencing in London. He taught, you know, Lady Colin Campbell.’

A Dunedin novelty—the lecture concert. The Rev. Mr Fitchetfc has initiated a series of ‘lecture concerts.’ Mozart, was the composer, lectured upon last week. A specially selected programme of selections from the works of the great composer was gone through with great success.

The lady gossiper in the Home News says : —The more one sees of the dress of this season the prettier and the more be-

coming it appears. All undue tion seems to have disappeared. If sleeves are wide and soft and picturesque* there are at least no shoulder humps. If collars of laca are full aud deep as capes, in many instances at least the neck can be moved freely and the poise of the head seen well. If simple dresses are worn, they are perfectly made and fitted, and their simplicity is frequently relieved by costly passementeries. Eibow sleeves are with us once again, yet worn by but the smartest of the smart. That, however, means the little leaven. It is an example that will speedily be followed.

Old family laces have a splendid chance this season. There is hardly an elegant light summer dress which has not soma flounce, border, knot, or frill of lace, white, dcru, or black, and, though the imitations of Irish and old Spanish point are very good, it does not require a very critical eye to note the distinct line between what, in lace, is real and what is not.

Many of the newest afternoon dresses are made with ribbons sewn into the shoulder seams, crossing each other above the waist and coming round to the front to be tied in a bow with long ends. Ribbon is also brought from the front of the neck and tied in a very small * cauliflower ’ bow at the back, with no ends. Sometimes the belt is composed of ribbon passed several times round the waist with long ends. From five yards to fourteen are needed for this arrangement, according to the width of ribbon and the length of the waist. The mo3t becoming belt is made of one piece of rather wide ribbon passed through a deep buckle so as to form a point in front.

The Queen says a new sunshade for ladies is now being contemplated, consisting of roses stitched on to the frame in such a way as to make a perfect whole, the fringe being one mass of wee buds ; a les3 expensive luxury will have the inside wires only lined with rosebuds, an expanding bouquet at the top, and a bunch of large roses at the handle.

The result of the Gentlewoman plebiscite as to whether women desire to vote for members of Parliament was 8301 for, and 1158 against. The ‘ total possible poll ’is put at 47,000. The editor says : It i 3 evident from the face that 1158 women, each acting for herself, wrote out and posted her vote, that indifference is giving place to a much more active interest in the question, and that if women are ever to have the vote, it is more or less merely a question of maintaining tha enthusiasm of its advocates, spreading more widely the knowledge of the subject, and extending the organisation of tho movement to every town and village in the Kingdom.

The Citizens’ Ball Committee have found if; unnecessary to make any call upon the guarantors.

A Grand _ Fancy Dress and Trades and Labour Carnival is announced to take place at the Columbia Rink on Monday, August 1.