WOMAN’S WORLD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4366, 25 May 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

WOMAN’S WORLD.

LADIES’ GOSSIP A certain Essex tradesman was fully prepared the other day to marry a young woman who had been employed in a London drapery business, and he arrived with her at a railway station to entrain for Ardleigh, where the ceremony had been arranged. On the arrival of a train from London there alighted a sma*t young man, who forthwith announced his intention of marrying the girl. No one else, he’ declared, should do so. There was a discussion, which ended in the much-sought bride going off with her London admirer, and leaving her Essex swain on the platform.

When Queen Wilhelmina and her consort, Prince Henry of the Netherlands, made their State entry into Amsterdam, the Queen and the Prince Consort drove through the streets, which, notwithstanding the rain, were packed with dense crowds, who heartily cheered the Royal party. The route to the Palace was lined by the civc guard and the troops of the garrison. It is stated that the meeting at the Palace between the Queen Mother and her daughter was most tender and affectionate. It was the first time they had met since the Queen’s wedding.

Miss Jennie C. Powers, a member of a Presbyterian Sunday school in Germantown, Pa., has been given a gold medal by the congregation for what is believed to be the world's record in regular attendance. She went to the school first as a baby in her mother's arms, and has not missed a single Sunday in 25 years.

Mr Geo. Coates lias been honored with a commission to paint a portrait of Mrs Brown-Potter, who is also sitting to Mr Lavery, the English artist. The mignonne beauty of tho sitter furnishes a good subject for competition.

The plague of a new toy has swamped the streets of Berlin. It is the “little mamma,” a small whistle to put in the waistcoat pocket, and which imitates the whine the streets of Berlin. It is the "little mamma,’' a small whistle to put in the waistThe toy is very popular, and in the most out-of-the-way streets, as well as the most frequented, the torturing cry is heard. It has come from Paris.

In all official documents Queen Wilhelmina is referred to as “the King.” For two hours out of the twenty-four her husband must play second fiddle. Queen Wilhelmina once remarked that ‘Tier husband should he her loyal and obedient subject two hours of the day, when she should be devoted to the affairs of the State, but tor the remainder of the time she would be his devoted and obedient wife.” *****

The Duchess of Cornwall and York is bringing with her some beautiful dresses, which are all, of course, black, though very varied in design and trimming. The most handsome dress of all is of black brocaded gauze, and it is expected that the Duchess will wear it at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Parliament. It is made in princess style, with a long train, richly embroidered in a design of flowers and leaves; the bodice is brightened by jet trimmings, and the sleeves are very graceful. With this will be worn a mantle of black velvet, bordered with Chantilly lace over black lisse; long ends of chiffon, with touches of white chiffon, fall from the neck, and the lining is of white satin. This is the only garment on which any white is seen.

The evening gowns are specially lovely. One is of moire mousseline, embroidered with Chantilly worked with jet beads and bugles. Folds of jetted net start from a central jet ornament to the shoulders, and on one of them is a large black rose in jet. A soft black satin dress has a deep flounce of costly lace draped on the skirt, and headed with small garlands of black cherries, while little bunches of fruit catch it up at intervals. The bodice consists of folds crossing to the left side with a berth© of jetted lace, and has a bunch of cherries on one of the short satin sleeves.

The 13th of March was the thirty-eighth anniversary of the wedding day of the King and Queen. In the morning their Majesties attended Divine Service in the Chapel Royal, accompanied by Princess Victoria, Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark, end the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, and the family lun-cheon-party at Marlborough House included Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife, and the Duke of Fife. At Windsor the bells rang merry peals in celebration of the anniversary of the Royal marriage.

Princess Christian, who has been much occupied since the death of the Queen, has now gone abroad. She is very anxious to spend some time with her eldest sister, the Empress Frederick, who was immensely benefited by the visit of her brother, the King. Her Imperial Majesty was so much cheered by his presence that His Majesty will again go to Cronberg very shortly, and will he accompanied by the Queen, to whom the Empress has always been like an elder sister. At the conclusion of her visit to the Empress Eugenie, Princess Henry of Battenberg will also go to Cronberg.

The German Emperor has rapidly recovered from the effects of the attack made upon him by an insane workman. The wound in his cheek was, happily, at no time serious, but it required careful treatment. The Empress, who was at first much alarmed, has been a most devoted nurse.

Queen Alexandra has appointed Miss Mary Dyke, Miss Sylvia Edwards, and the Misses Dorothv and Violet Vivian her Maids of Honour. The two last-named are the twin daughters of Lady Vivian; they resemble each other very much, and are both pretty and amiable-looking. Miss Dorothy Vivian, who is slightly taller than her sister, was formerly Maid of Honour to her late Majesty Qne n Victoria, with whom she is said to have been a great favourite. Their brother, the present Lord Vivian, is fighting in South Africa. He is in the 17th Lancers.

Much sympathy is felt at Home for Mr and Mrs Arthur Hay at the loss of their little son and Jieir. This is the second time that they have lost their only son. Mr Hay succeeded to a very large fortune on the death of hi s grand-uncle, the last Duke of Cleveland, and if he has no son, the fortune goes to a younger brother. Mr Hay married some years ago the youngest daughter of Lady Scott, now Lady Farquhar. They have one daughter. # * - * *

Tho King and Queen are going to occupy Frogmore at a very pleasant time of year. It is an idea-1 place for a spring residence, blit too damp in winter, as it is surrounded by trees on every side, and during the “fall of the leaf’’ it is almost uninhabitable. It is not far from the Mausoleum, where, by the King’s command, there will always in future ho a guard of soldiers. Many pieces of fine furniture have been removed from Windsor Castle to Frogmore, to make tho temporary home of the King and Queen as comfortable as possible. The late Queen in the summer used always to transact business of State each morning under a large tent in the grounds of Frogmore, and she generally breakfasted there in fine weather. It is said that Captain Hedworth Lambton, who has fust been appointed to the command of the "Victoria and Albert,’’ is very popular at Marlborough Hon---?. Queen Alexandra took the greatest’ interest in his exploits with the naval gnus at Ladysmith, and she was one of the first to congratulate him upon his return from South Africa. * * - * * It was generally thought that after the 17th April society people would change their mourning, but this is most unlikely. Very few well-known people, except in the case of young ladies, will make any alteration till the end of the season, when the Court mourning changes. After all, nothing looks so well as black, and men

prefer to see ladies dressed in black to I any other colour. I

The wedding - ring of Queen Victoria was, by her own wish, buried xvith her. As a matter of fact, it had been her inseparable “wear” for more than sixty years. The rule of her married life had been never to remove it; and, once, when a cast of her hand was taken, her great alarm was that the ring might be displaced with the plaster. With the single exception of its enforced removal, in later years, for a few hours, to be enlarged, so as to accommodate it to tho increased girth of the finger, the ring was worn incessantly for over sixty years.

Of all her innumerable rings,_ next to her wedding-ring Queen Victoria most valued a very simple one indeed. It was made of gold and enamel, axxd had a very small diamond as its central ornament. Its market value was slight enough, as well might be, for it was bought by a boy’s pocket-money. It was, in fact, the first present made by Prince Albert to the Princess Victoria when, at the age of sixteen, he visited the future country of his adoption. The actual emerald serper.i. ring, which he gave her afterwards as i he formal engagement ring, was never quite so precious to her Majesty as this humble predecessor, which stood as the first token of this memorable affair of the heart.