LADIES’ GOSSIP

New Zealand Mail, 21 February 1901, Page 27

LADIES’ GOSSIP

At the Chrystal Palace recently a. fancy dress skating carnival was held, and there were 200 competitors for the prizes awarded for the best costumes. The effect was. very striking, and presented as fine a tableau as can be witnessed at the fancy dress balls at. Co vent Garden. Twenty-four prizes were awarded for the most handsome costume best representing the topics of the day, the most novel costume, the best cousturae representing a nursery rhyme, and the most humorous costume. Amongst these tvere Charley’s Aunt, a Zulu bride, a British tar, a Scotch lassie, a Japanese lady, and last, but by no means least, Lord Roberts. The carnival wound up with a magnificent kaleidoscopic effect in which colours were thrown upon the skaters with the most telling effect.

The new issue of the official “La Gerrarehia Cattolica” states that during the Prontificate of Leo. X 111.—1878 to L9OO —no fewer than 134 of the cardinals have died. Only four still live who were his fellow cardinals under his predecessor, Pous IX. The normal number of the college is 70, but 13 of the seats are at present unoccupied. Seven cardinals died in 1899, and four have died during the present year. Alore than half of the present college (31) are Italians, 1 Australian, and one Englishman. The oldest cardinal, Luigi di Canossa, Bishop of Verona, is in his 92nd year; the youngest Guiseppe Catasanzo Yioes v Tuto. is 44 years old. **" * * *

Air John AJcDonald, of Ballarat, has found at the mouth of the Loch Ard Gorge a lady’s gold watch, which has been corroded into a solid block, like a round pebble. When the incrustations were removed the hands, it is reported, pointed to twenty minutes after the hour when the shin Loch Ard was wrecked on the reef on Ist June, 1878. It is thought that the watch belonged to Mrs or Aliss Edith Carmichael, who were passengers in the ill-fated vessel. The life of the latter lady, it will be remembered by old colonists, was saved by the midshipman, Tom Pearce.

The death by drowning of Lady Katharine Alanners on the 17th December gives a tragic association to Belvoir Castle, hitherto tenanted only, in the minds of the present generation, by gay and Disraelian memories. The Duke of Rutland celebrated his 82nd birthday only th© day before the tragic death of his daughter. Lady Katharine Alanners was 34 years old, and was devoted to her father and her family. Nine months ago she joined th.e Roman Catholic Church. Our London correspondent states that there can be little doubt the deceased lady committed suicide. * & * * *

A capital story of the Duke of York is told in one of Sir John Leng’s popular papers. It is said that upon one occasion his Royal Highness was indulging in a strictly incognito ride on an omnibus when the driver, having considerable difficulty AA'itli one the horses, apostrophised it sharply Avith “Come up, yer Royal ’lghness! Come up, Avill yer?” “Why do you call him ‘Royal Highness’ ?” asked the Duke. “Well, sir,” said the driver, “that ’orse is so ’orty and lazy and good-for-nothing, I calls ’im ’is Royal ’lghness, see ?” The Duke concludes the story Avith, “I thanked him, and asked no more questions.”

According to Judge Snagge, the law relating respectively to married, women’s property and to bankruptcy is jointly responsible for a vast amount of fraud in business. A tradesman, after having filed his petition and failed to get his discharge, has merely to make bis wife the nominal owner of a neAV concern, he becoming her pseudo-assistant, and the trick, still according to bis Honour, is done. “If polygamy existed in this country,” said the judge, “people could go on in this way for ever.” This is certainly an altogether unexpected side light of the blessings of monagamy. It is even better than that of the late Chief Justice, Lord Russell, of Killowen, Avho discountenanced such a distant approach to plurality of spouses as bigamy on the ground that it burdened a man with two mothers-in-law. If, however, Judge Snagge’s opinion can stand the test of serious examination, the sooner those two laws on our statute book are amended the better.

It. is to but few men to pay such such a striking compliment to the marriage state, as that just recorded of Earl Wemyss. Not many years ago he celebrated bis golden Avedding; soon after he was bereaved of bis partner; and noAV, in. his 83rd year, he has married! again. The Earl bears his burden of

many years lightly. Stalwart, and straight as a- dart, he would very well pass for a. man of 60. « * * * * Alore than usual interest has attended the first assembly ball at the Waldorf Astori, New York. The Crvder triplets make their debut at this gathering. These are a. trio of hanchome young sisters, so strikingly alike that even their near relatives find it difficult to distinguish one from the other. They are the. Alisses Edit 1 !. Ethel and Elsie Coder. They are IS years old. and ar e the daughters of> Air and Airs Duncan Cryder, who are prominent in society in. New York. The girls attended schools in France and Germany, and attracted somuch attention on account of their likeness that they became exceedingly sensitive on the .subject, and lately they have never been seen in public together. At the ball the" were dres-cd alike, but with different coloured ribbons. They have never been photographed, singly or together, despite the pleadings of their friend*.

Lord Ampthill is taking to Aladras with his as A.D.C. his. wife’s young halfbrother, the Hon. Robert Lvgon, who holds a. commission. in the Guards, and has lately been serving at the front. It is to be hoped that the good people of the “benighted Presidency” may not be shocked by any Government House scandal such as one which occurred in Bombay a few years ago. In that, case the Governor’s wife was leaving the capital on a trip to Poona, and her Excellency was accompanied to the station by a good-looking military man who had been seen hovering about Government House. Just before the train starrc

the man took her ladyship up into a quiet corner of the special carriage, threw his arms around her neck and kissed her! Several inauistrive people on the platform watched the performance, and thought of the poor deceived Governor, who was away somewhere laying a foundation stone. News of the scandal spread like wildfire, and the excitement in Bombay reached a high pitch before it was found that the incautious lover was liis Excellency’s A.D.C., and the fond young brother of the good lady who presided at Government House. **.# „ * *

Puffs to sleeves are decidedly coming into favour again. A few of th e newest creations show a small puff at the shoulder, and again above the wri-.r, if the sleeve is of the pagoda shape. Another new style is a fitting sleeve from the ,shoulder to within a few inches of the elbow. Here a puff is gathered on, and gathered again to the close-fitting tucked sleeve, which commences a few inches below the elbow. The tucked sleeve ends at the wrist.

Blue Venetian cloth makes a charming afternoon goAvn. The pastel blue is the fashionable tint. • It makes up AA*ell Avith marmot fur at the edge of the skirt and appliques of black guipure a boA'e the fur.. This particular skirt is gored tightly at the top, and corded at the back and sides to fit the. figuure. The b.odice 7 shoAvs a A’est of black guipure over A\ r hite silk, and a pelerine-collar of guipure bordered AA'ith fur. The back of bodice and top of sleeves are entirely corded, and a band of fur edge? the sleeves at the wrist. A fur toque, with large cliou of tucked pastel-blue silk, is worn with this stylish A’isiting costume.

The fashion of dressing the hair on the top of the head is gradually losing ground, so, at least, the best ers declare. It has been Avorn high for so. long a period that a change may be welcomed, but, according to what one may judge from present t[ay modes, every Avoman studies that particular style which suits her best, and often keeps to it. That there is less waving of the hair, especially by the use of hot irons, is a recommendation in favour of the adoption of the new styles, 'which every woman is likely to tak e advantage of, ***•«* *

Dainty evening gowns of net, in black or white, over foundations of silk, in some bright tint, are much in favour with girls in their teens. One recently seen was trimmed with two narrow frills at the hem, each edged Avith baby satin ribbon. Within nine inches of the waist, to the frills at the edge, rows of ribbon were stitched on to the net. The bodice was also covered AA'ith rows of ribbon, and a frill eldged. the top. A ruche of net went over the shoulders and round the arm, and a large bunch of flowers was placed 1 on the left shoulder and carried down the left side.

There has never been a time whon there has been such a demand for laoc* as at the present moment. It is introduced on all dresses in every conceivable way. The latest novelty in sleeves shows tucked silk from the shoulder to the elboAV, where a band of lace insertion finishes off the edge. From the elbow to the wrist is gathered lace, Avhich. is stitched in the centre to a band of insertion. Another band forms a cuff at the wrist. The lace puffs out a little below and above the centre band of insertion. All th e insertion is threaded Avith black baby veKet. These charming sleeves accompanied a tucked silk blouse, which had a yoke of lace to match the Sleeves, and collar band of insertion, also threaded with black veh'et.

At the marriage of a maid of honour, if a Queen consents, she receives £IOOO as a bridal girt.