LADIES’ GOSSIP

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4467, 21 September 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

LADIES’ GOSSIP

What shall we do with our daughters P is an old cry in the United Kingdom, where there is a surplus of no less than a million women. In comparison with these enormous figures the efforts of the British Women’s Emigration Society'’ pale considerably, though when it is remem. bered that since 1888 they have found suitable employment in different and distant parts of the Empire for no fewer than 7000 women, it must bo conceded that they have worked with considerable energy. Canada has probably received the majority of this 7000, it, being more popular with the emigrating class than countries further afield.

Apropos of aviaries, a consulting nhysician to canary birds, and the head of. a special hospital for birds, is the new work now engaging an American lady. Hies Virginia Pope, of New York. She has studied, says a correspondent of the "Morning Deader,” the various diseases to which caged birds are subject, and devised remedies. In her hospital she has as many as 150 bird patients, where broken legs and wings are dealt with in cleverly contrived bandage swings, colds, fits and the hundred and one maladies the delicate lit—the creatures suffer from are treated.

We hava-hitharto been inclined to wax scornful wlten reading descriptions of washing gowns trimmed with gold or silver braid. Our scorn* it seems was bred of ignorance, since gold and silver braid is now being made warranted to stand soap and water. Trimming being so elaborate and ponular just at present, this invention arrived to supply "a long felt -want." Talking of trimmings, the very latest novelty is the cretonne idea, garlands of fine cretonne, often in the narrow stripe suggestive of Demis Seise designs, -applied to‘frail fabrics by means of buttonhole ct chain stitch done in silk, or fine gold or silver thread. This idea is- not only fashionable and effective, but has the advantage of/ being able to- be worked out by the ingenious needle worker for her own benefit. -

"Men were deceivers ever." About women it is not necessary to make insinuations. Bothv sexes furnish a most ingenious New Tork tradesman with plenty of occupation. This good fellow works in the basement of one of the office buildings in Dower Broadway, and deals in labelled trunks and travelling bags—that is,,trunks and travelling hags that have seen service abroad, and that bear the labels of foreign hotels. A traveller goirik to Europe, if he or she works judiciously, can, in return, get twice what was paid for Ms or her bag or trunk at starting. The enterprising dealer meeta the passengers of incoming steamers.. He'sizes up his people' with an accuracy bom -pf long experience, knowing instinctivqjy who it is that has probably exhausted his funds on his trip on the other' side, and who will be very willing, to accept a good price for bis belabelled travelling appurtenances. The more labelled, of course, the higher the price. There is almost no risk to the dealer, because he has a greater demand ‘ than he can supply for the decorated merchandise in which he. deals;

• • * • • At a small, country church a newly married couple were receiving some advice from the elderly vicar' as to how they were to conduct themselves and. so always live happily. "Ton must never both get cross at once; it' is the husband's duty to protect his wife whenever an occasion arises, and a wife must love, honour and obey her husband, and follow him where. ever he goes/’ “But, sir ” pleaded the young bride. ' "I haven't yet finished,” remarked the clergyman, annoyed at'the interruption. “She must——/' ''But please, sir” (in .desperation), "can’t you alter that last part? My husband is go. in* to be a postman I’’ “ • • . • * • • Us wife of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, nephew of the Emperor Franz Jo. seph of Austria-Hungary, and heir pre. sumptive to the throne, has given birth to a daughter. The Czar’s little daughter, the : Grand Duchess Olga, who was reported recently to be seriously ill with fever, ranks among

the richest heiresses in the world. In the week in which she was born the Czar settled a fortune of a million sterling noon her. The same extravagance was indulged in at her birth as the gossips tell us is now being practised in Rome. The Grand Duchess Olga is said to have had 3S dozens of each garment, and every garment in this wonderful wardrobe was embroidered, we are told, with a crown, and fastened, when worn, with pins of pure gold. # , , ,

The Rev Charles Sheldon, of Topeka, Kansas, who wrote a book advising employers to treat their servants as equals, is having serious domestic troubles. His wife has refused to allow her servantgirl to dine with the family. The girl promptly gave up her place, and before leaving she reminded Mrs Sheldon that her husband had recently solved the ser. vant-girl problem by declaring that domestics should have equal privileges with the family. Mrs Sheldon told the girl that she was not responsible for her husband’s opinions; he could write books, but she intended to rule the household. The pastor’s dilemma has caused great amusement. * * • ft , ft

A bazaar on novel lines was held a few weeks ago in an English country town. The stalls, instead of being presided over bv ladies of the parish, wore let to tho tradesmen of tho district; and the goods were sold at ordinary retail prices. There were tailors, florists, jewellers, drapers, cycle dealers and photographers, and a brisk business was done by all. The innovation was so successful that it may effect a revolution in bazaars, particularly as the new form is likely to attract a great number of people whom the exorbitant prices usually demanded at these functions at present frighten away. Orchestral concerts and entertainments were given at intervals during the day. * « • « »

Needless to say it ia from America that the idea of progressive luncheon parties hails. According to report, these in certain localities have proved most spirited and enjoyable functions. There are as many hostesses as there are courses, and as the said hostesses live within easy distance of one aijother, to take oysters with Mrs Brown, soup with Mrs Smith and truffle with. Mrs Robinson is not an impossibility. As the luncheon party “progresses,” the hostesses who have already acted as such go to swell the list of guests, so according to the number of courses is the size of the party the last hostess on the list is called upon to entertain. A story is told of one progressive luncheon party at which the respective hostesses provided entertainment as well as food, and from which the guests only got home in time to meet their husbands who were coming in to dinner. That they did not feel quite up to negotiating dinner on their own accounts goes without saying, and it is now the desire of the respective husbands to get up a progressive dinner party, and hear what is said to them when they only reach home in time for breakfast!

Certain rumours as to things fashionable may be said to feour in cycles. The disappearance of the blouse, the revival of the crinoline, the restoration of the patch, and the coming of-powdered "hair are all predicted at intervals, but fulfilment of the prophecy tarries.' Jusf now the walking stick is enjoying attention, and we are being' gravely informed in various directions that "smart people” are carrying them, and: that they are the latest mode. But inquiries and observation in the West End do not support ,the present gossip any more than on’past occasions when similar reports have been started. One good and sufficient reason against any general adoption of them at present ’’s that with long skirts and no pockets overburdened womankind cannot undertake to carry anything further than she is'now compelled to bear. As it is, she inust stick, her mite of a handkerchief into the opening of her glove, must take her money in a chain purse on her wrist, nnd if more, items are necessary they must be conveyed in a'bag at her .side. Hen position with the - necessary parasol on a sunny day. Her poodle to lead, and about half a yard, of train to .bo lifted out of the dust is pathetic enough; but the addition of a stick would render it comic rather than pitiable.—" Daily Telegraph."

Spalding station.,England, is regularly frequented, by. two eccentric characters, whose demeanour is so noticeable as to attract the attention of travellers. One is a fresh-coloured old lady, who is generally to be seen standing in an expectant attitude on one or other of the platforms. Her sailor sou perished at sea many years ago, and the shock unhinged the mother’s brain. Since then, wet or fine, winter of summer, she goes down to the station* sometimes several times a day, in order to welcome her long-expected son. The other habitue is a big, gaunt man. of weak intellect, who has long been under the fixed impression that he is a policeman reserved for special duty. «•■ • • •

A society has been founded: in' Berlin which has for its object the artistic re formation of masculine attire. The idea was started »by an artist and an author, both of whom are* of the opinion the pre. sent style is far too plain and "unadorned." It is highly possible these dar ing spirits will find many supporters, for already German men are evincing a desire to be independent in their fashions, while there are many , ardent patriots who consider * the existing preference of the "smart pet for English clothes. nothing short of a national disgrace." The claret coloured waistcoat, and-tha lavender grey suit with -frock 'coat reaching far below the knee, and tell grey cloth hat to mated, had an enormous vogue, for it had .the stamp of "made in Germany” writ' plain upon it; but the now cravat, which re sembleg a ladies' blouse on a small scale, and is made in pale blue, pink, or scarlet, is the most terrible innovation which has yet appeared, and one which it is to be hoped* was not due to the inspiration of these “Artistic Reformers.” , .

The late Queen had a passion for shutting up rooms; in which relatives, friends and favourite servants had died. The • spacious apartment occupied- by John Brown at Windsor Castle has been rigof, ously closed for eighteen years, anu . a brass, recording the date of his demise, lamenting bis loss, and commemorating his virtues, was put up on the:w»ll by the Queen. * This room has now been re opened and ( deared out, and it will be entirely redecorated- -

Two Americans, a man ancl his wife,', and an Englishman occupied a bench* on one of the Thames steamboats which was near ing Dambeth pier." What is that'bulid. ing ?” inquired' the American. "Dambeth Palace," answered his English neighbour; “Oh, yes." explained the tourist to his wife, "that is where the • Archbishop -of Canterbury lives, the Prime Minister.” Then, turning, he sought* confirmation. “He is always the Prime Minister; isn't he?” “Yes, always,” ,w» the Engl sh man’s reply- Thus encouraged, the Ameri. can explained things' a little more to his wife. "You 'see, he is the bead of the church; that is to say, the prijne minister. And that’s his castle.”

, ■ '• ■■ ■■■ • v ■ ■ > ■■ •: ■■■ : The return to colours as: gradual rmt&er than aggressive, and throughontthe win. ter it is safe to say that black will .he most generally worn.; For. ..the rest, we see more of'the puttf shades than it was generally expectedw e would do, the only new colour exploited to any extent being a soft shade of mushroom brown. So long as friese and hopsack reign in public fa. ▼our, pastel- shades are in every way to be commended. Ijn thick materials, the delicate blues, >greys and Dinks are eegenc tially beautiful. It is only when one gets them translated into nuns* veilings and other dimsv "woollens” that thev look "wishy-washy” and ineffective. Thev demand, and still get, a touch of black to "bring them onl’* nroperljj. end so becoming are they to the maioritv of women that the return of vivid colourings may still be a long way off. '

It is a singular fact that whereas scores of'American women havemarried men of rank, only two daughters of British peers have married Americans. The- first; of these was Lady Mildred - Bower Lyon,

whose marriage with Mr Jessup took place many years ago. The second is Lady Sybil Cuffe, the daughter of the Earl of Desart, who a few weeks back married Mr W. Bayard Cutting, secretary to the United States ambassador. American women have no more ardent admirers than the men of there own nation, so it is presumable that this factor rather than the unwillingness of English girls acts against marriage out of the United States. That American women are not equally loyal is a fact that is sincerely disturbing both English society mothers and American' millionaire fathers.