LADIES’ GOSSIP

New Zealand Mail, 17 September 1902, Page 27

LADIES’ GOSSIP

fine of the latest debuts is that of the Coronation baby. “Corona Alexandra" is a specimen of the names, which ffo being bestowed on helpless infants to meet the supposed requirements of the # period. . , , * The will of the late Mr John William Mackay, -the American Silver S ” who died on 20tli July last at the age ° f 72 y ears > has s be ?? P ro Y cd ; The value of the estate is estimated at £10,000,000. #

Sarah Bernhardt no longer carries a coffin with her on her provincial tours. “I don't travel with it now," she says; “I am a grandmother,- and I love my granddaughter, oh, so dearly.” Nor has she a travelling managerie of tame tigers and pot alligators. Her only pet just now is a dog. ***** *

Lady cyclists in Parisian dress had bettor avoid Edinburgh. At least, they should avoid Edinburgh on a Sunday evening. A fair American, who was seen careering along Princes street one Sunday, soon had a great following, and had to seek refuge,.from the crowd. Sho entered the General Pos.t Office, coolly looking round at the horrified women who gazed after her. Policemen tried the effect of police-humour on the crowd, but still it refused to disperse. When at last the cyclist emerged sho had covered her khakee coloured “bloomers” with a black skirt, but she was hustled so much in the street that finally she had to rest in a police station until the crowd melted awav. • • « « *

Poetic justice has once again been meted out by the wheel of the great lottery at Paris. The prize of a quarter of a million francs has been won by a work girl at Rlieims, while another largo prize lias been won by a humb’e dyer of Roubaix. Such are the incidents that from time to time serve to renew tlio hopes of ticket holders. Whether they justify the State’s lottery existence is another matter, and the probable effect for good or ill of these happy turns of fortune’s wheel upon its votaries makes a tolerably large fioM for inquiry. In spite of the authentic examples of sudden death or lunacy as the result of these sudden, though (such is human nature) probably not unexpected, fortunes, many are willing to run the risk.

That marvellously übiquitous septuagenarian, the ex-Empress Eugenie, must surely sometimes feel as though she had lived two or three lives, she seems to belong to such different periods. “What,” wrote Washington Irving, the friend of our grandsires, “Louis Napoleon and Eugenie Montijo. Emperor and Empress of France! The one whom I have entertained at my little cottage on tho Hudson, and the other whom x have oftentimes dandled on my knee in Madrid.” What memories must crowd her mind as her yacht cuts its way through the summer seas these radiant nights. Is there another woman hi the world tho retrospect of whose life can compare with that of the ex-Empress in scenes of momentous and historic interest ?

Lord Fairfax, who is one of the latest of the American visitors to England, is a clerk in the banking house of Brown Brothers, of New Turk, and, like his uncle and father before him, does not assume the title, though ins right to it is unquestionable. His family have been settled in America for nearly two centuries, for in 1739 the sixth Baron, who had inherited through his mother a tract of land in Virginia estimated at 5,700,000 acres, went over to view the property, and was so captivated by the. climate and soil of the country that giving up his English estates to his brother Robert he returned to America and lived the remainder of his life there. Educated in revolutionary principles and connected by marriage with Washington, lie took the popular side in the War of Independence, and thereafter became an American citizen. * * * •% - m fc-

The popular Vienna actress, Helene Odilon, recently .returned from her second American tour. Theatrical managers begged her to act in English upon her next year’s visit. “This,” she said, “I would have agreed to without hesitation, but I liko neither the country nor the people. The fearful rush, noise and excitement, not only in the street, but in the home, are hateful to me. So much coarseness and brutality repel me; and yet side by side with all this roughness one finds in America distinction of manner scarcely to bo surpassed elsewhere. When a society piece is played, what elegance, what unpretentiousness are shown by the actors! In a land where no nobility exists the parts of Counts and Princes are astonishingly played. No arrogance and no ostentaHon ‘I 1 ’ 0 evident and yet in tho midst of this real refinement one meets in every turn. exaggeration and affectation m other directions.”

Miss Ada Reeve was married recently to Mr Wilfrid Cotton, who is known to everyone connected with the stage. He has been for years engaged in management, having learned his -business in a vc ; r y thorough fashion. He is a Birmimrhain man. As a youth he was in

the Civil Service, which he deserted to go upon - tho stage. Mr Cotton has many accomplishments; lie draws well, is a capital musician, lias sung in opera., and is a good all-rbund actor. That lie is a shrewd man of business as well his success proves. For some years he was connected with Messrs Morell and Mouillrt.. They appointed him manager of,the Theatre Royal, Dublin, when it was first opened. He is a member of the firm of Cotton and Lo Butt, and is manager for Mr Forbes Robertson at the Lyric Theatre. Mr and Mrs Cotton had the liappy idea of a motor car honeymoon. They will cross over to Ireland and pay a .visit to Ivillarney before returning to London and business. • * i

Captain Riclunond P. Hobson, of Merrimao fame, lias added to his exploits by rescuing a young woman of St. Louis from drowning under rather unusual circumstances. Captain Hobson was swimming in the Mississippi when a girl named Miss Cerf, who was on a yacht in the river called to him, “If. I should fall overboard will you please rescue me?” “Certainly,” responded Hobson. Next minute there was a splash as Miss Cerf jumped overboard. Hobson realised that the jest had been carried dangerously far, as the stream was running very strong, and the task of rescue was no light one. Finally, however, Hobson, assisted by another swimmer, succeeded in getting tho girl into his boat. She was barely conscious. The episode had its origin m a bantering remark made to Miss Cerf by a girl friend on board the yacht to the effect that she could not make Hobson kiss her. “I guess not,” she replied, “but I can make him rescue me.”