LADIES' GOSSIP

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4740, 23 August 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

LADIES' GOSSIP

A considerable; an.omit of change i.s coming over the omiduct of the fasnmiiablo wedding. The bride’.-, <'dv.ii is quite as treqncmtly made of crepe do cni.eo as of either heavy siik or .-atm, while silver spangled goasaincr i.» a specially popular fabric for bridal array. Embroidered muslins, chiffons and nets are worn over brocade gowns with remarkably happy effect. There is an old .superstition that no luck attends a wriu tilt her wedding dress is worn out, and l tor those who hold hy Inis much comfort may be taken by reason of tbe latest whim of fashion. So frail are many bridal gowns nowadays that it lakes them all their time to come safely through tiie crowd ami confusion of iho modern wedding. Hardly any of them are capab.o of outliving a season ol even moderate gaiety. In fans lately .some of the bridesmaids have worn low cut gowns with licims, but except in rare instances the result is.not very successful. The fancy for carrying wreaths instead of bouquets is obtaining to a considerable extent, though the handling of wreaths is doubtless awkward. At (pate a number of fashionable weddings lately the, bridesmaids have carried baskets, while numerous brides are carrying prayer books instead of bouquets. * * * • »

Tbo telephone girl is rarely credited with either suavity of manner or gentleness of voice. Nevertheless, bland young ladies aro not an absolutely unknown quantity. The bride of a wealthy American, at present enjoying a European honeymoon, '.von tbe adoration of her husband by Urn sweetness of tier voice as she followed tier occupation at the exchange. Tno marriage was almost arranged before the parties most concerned ever saw cue another. San liTn.nci.sco was tbo scene of (Ids modern romance, and history has it that ever since tbo gentle mannered ‘'hello girl” became not only a happy but a distinguished bride, other female operators have cultivated a charm of conduct ■which lias sorely puzzicct the uninitiated public. * • • ♦ •

Miss Minnie J. Rice, ono of the prettiest society belles of New Rochelle, who was injured badly in tho New York Central tunnel wreck on Bth January last, and who -was preparing to sue the corporation for 75,000d0l damages for the. loss of her facial beauty, settled her claim last week for 18,000dol cash. Miss Rico is a granddaughter of John Jd. Treanor. a millionaire] of New Roelieiic. She was riding in the last coach of a New Haven Railroad train, when a Harlem local ploughed Into it, and she was badly hurt and disfigured. She went through two painful operations in a New York hospital, and her beauty was parley restored by splicing together her noso with pieces of skin from other parts of tho body. The railroad company paid all of Miss Rico’s expenses, which amounted to several thousand dollars, for nurses, doctors, and specialists. » * * * *

A serious attempt has been made tb popularise white gowns bins winter. No great success cam ho said to havo crowned the effort. Touches of red have redeemed one or two wdiito cloth gowns from unbeconiingnoss, black having been used with oven better effect on others. In very few cases, however, has a white gown been a real success for midwinter wear. Its general effect is cold, no matter how thiok the material going to form it may be. In Loudon croam cloth and doth of putty colour and very pale amber, have already superseded dead widto for cold weather wear. Tho radiant young being may show to advantage in white, but tho average mortal who “shows tho cold” is 'daring indeed when she adopts it for ji.se beyond the precTnots of her own homo.

Mrs Hetty Green, who is the possessor of over £12,000,000 in her owu_ right may not lay claim to being tho richest woman, in tho world. That distinction falls to a widow in Chili, ono Seuora Izodora Cousuia, of Santiaga, whoso annual income is over £1,800,000. Sho is about 53 years of age, tall, dark; with beauty sufficient to attract attention even if one were loss fabulously wealthy. Sho is the possessor of millions of acres of land, mines of almost every sort and uoscriptltm, miles of house property, a fleet of 100 ships, a railway, and factories ny the dozen. In two towns alone sho pays about £050,000 in wages. Tho five millions which constitute the fortune of the well beloved Baroness Burdett Coutts, appear quite humble beside such gigantic wealth, though the riches of the Barouess serve to place her among tho wealthiest women in tho world. Another remarkably wealthy Englishwoman is Miss Talbot, tho daughter of tho lato C. It. Talbot, M.P. for Glamorgan. Tho not value of her inheritance from her father is £1,388,617. Lady Mary Hamilton and tho Countess of Cromartio aro tho two wealthiest women in Scotland. • * » * #

Alice Countess of Stafford is at the head and’ front of a movement, the good effects of which aro making themselves felt throughout tho length and breadth of England. It is called tho Flannel Shirt Club, and has already attained hvo years of existence. Everyone who is acquainted with hospital work knows how great a need exists for warm underclothing to bo given to poor patients who, on being dlisoliarged aw convalescent, often run a severe risk of renewed illness on account of tho insufficient underclothing they possess. The wants of women and children aro fairly well provided for by the charitably disposed, but flannel shirts for men are less frequently donated, and it is to meet tho great want there is for these that the club was organised. Each member, lady or gentleman—and there are plenty of male members —undertakes to provide at least two good flannel shirts during the year. If tho shirts are not sent a half-guinea subscription covers th'o responsibility of -the members towards the club. Tho shirts aro distributed with the co-operation of tho hospital sisters and nurses. Four hundred and twenty-six shirts were provided last year, which, in plain language, means that an equal number of patients were given a chance of ’ultimate recovery they might otherwise have lacked.

ijx almost all tho small towns of the Oriited Kingdom, and in many even of til ) big ones, there is a shocking waste of force. On tho ono side aro people nting all kinds of skilled labour and beautiful things which they can scarcely ptvaaorn outside London; thoro stands on tho other sido a crowd of young ■women in tho full possession of their strength, idling away their time attending bazaars, Hatching men play games they do not understand, and going to see this and seo that, as persistently as it money were to he made by looking on. —Tho “Queen.” » » * » *

A story is being told about M. Captier, tho famous Paris sculptor, whoso tragic death took place two days ago. Ho found great difficulty in getting hold of a model whoso feet wore perfect for Ida Vomis statue. At last ho discovered a “Trilby” whoso feet were a marvel

of beauty. rnforluiiately the lady co'iid not sit for him, as .she was professionally engaged at other studios. She, however, olfered to hate iier feet cut oil if M. Capli'T would buy an annuity for her aged mother. Needless Id say, Ihe sculptor had to refuse Hus oif (, r, mnoli to .ho apparent regret, of the plucky model.—" Daily Express.”