LADIES’ GOSSIP

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4425, 3 August 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

LADIES’ GOSSIP

The near future will see a notable innovation in Society wedtliugs. At the coining nmrriugo of Mr Waisham Haro and Mias (Jlothilde Hall, the orthodox train of bridesmaids i» to be abolished. Their place will be taken by eight little boys dressed in blue, who are to act os pages. Does this new departure indicate a coming "Revolt of Man?" #

Mies Sylvia 'Darley, daughter of the Chief Jutilico of New South Wales, who was married in Loudon the other day to Sir ivinuuam Ain trutiicr, is a niece of "Rolf Bofilrcwood,” the Australian writer of romance. Sir Windham Anstrnlher, who is quite young and very wealthy, went out, to Australia a little time ago, rnd soon became a familiar and popular figure in society and sporting circles. Sir Frederick Darley was not able to come lo Loudon for tbo wedding, but lie will be over presently on a holiday. lie has been (line! Justice of Now South Wales for fifteen years, and will probably lay down the office tins year, as ho is now over seventy.

The current number of a brightly edited HU.ie Jewish contemporary—lsrael"—recalls a pretty story of the King and Madnmo Patti. ‘ The world-famous singer wan on one occasion asked to relate the proudest experience in her career. “For a great ami unexpected honour most grace fully tended,’’ she said. “I have experienced nothing that fins touched me deeper than a compliment paid by the Prince of Wales (now King Edward) and a distinguished company, at a dinner given in honour of the Duke of York and the Princess Mav, a little while* before their wed ding. The liinncr was given by Mr Alfred Rothschild—one of my oldest and beM friends. "During the ceremonies tbo Prince of W'alcs rose, and, to my great astonishment, proposed the health of his ' Id and valued friend, Madame PatD. He made such a pretty speech, and in the course .-f it slid that he had hist seen and heard mo in Philadelphia, in IflOO, ■when I sang in "Martha,” and that since then his own attendance at what he was good enough to call 'my victories in the realm of song.’ had been among his most pleasant recollections. ITo recalled the fact that his wife hod hold up little Prince George, in whose honour we were this night assembled, and bade him kiss me, so that in after life ho might say that ho had ‘kissed the famous Madame Petti.’ And then, do you know, that whole' company of royalty, nobility, and men of genius rose and cheered me, and drank my health.”

There appears to be a prospect of the revival of the fashion of wearing jewelled lace, which was so much in vogue in other centuries. It was well towards the end of the last century that the taste for very fine laces was revived; and it is expected that a resident Court in London will do much fop the cause of iaces set with gems. Some people maintain that what Leonardo da Vinci painted, and what perhaps Michael Angelo and Titian wore and Benvenuto fashioned, should surely meet with the approval of latter-day critics. In the opinion of many artists a Brussels point flounce set with sapphires is the acme of refined embellishment. It is certainly expensive.

Dr Legeux, one of the most active of Trench “tobaccophobos,’’ is considerably alarmed at the progress of smoking among women. “It is simply disgusting,” ho says. "In fashionable society, at their ‘live o'clocks’ and 'at homes,'' in their private reunions and in their boudoirs,' women smoko regularly—young and old. 1 have traced the nicotine vice to the apartments of more than one lady of exemplary character, and discovered it oven in the haunts of learning. The use of tobacco is a tyrannical passion, enslaving, disgusting, dangerous, and pernicious and with all my voice I would raise the cry or alarm that throe stages of the nicotine vice are tobacco, disease, and death.” It is very questionable whether, from the str'ctlj- nutritive point of view, champagne and oysters are, after nil, in health an advance upon ginger beer and cockles, whether turtle is preferable to calf's head, or caviare to soft herring roc, or plovers’ eggs superior to the ordinary eggs of the barndoor bird. The price of an article of food hv no means sets upon it its food value.—“ Lancet.” -*» * * *

In a speech Mrs F. A. Steel said that, while it was impossible to deny that men were right in many ways when they urged that a largo number of women were unfitted to exercise the franchise, it must be remembered that the same remark applied to a majority of the men. (Laughter). Fond as they wore of liberty, it seemed incredible that men should deny liberty to women. (Hear, hear). *****

With regard to smoking (writes a Lady in the "Outlook”) I venture to assert that the women who can daintily enjoy a cigarette with her lord is likely to have more of his companionship than she who objects to the fumes of tobacco. *****

There are no colours among which our sex more frequently wreck their good looks (remarks a lady writer) than fawns and tans and grey. These hues look so inoffensive and lady-like and charming in the piece. When they are on the person they seem to desire only to rise up and destroy it.