LADIES’ GOSSIP

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4806, 8 November 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

LADIES’ GOSSIP

Physiologists have often raised their voices against consanguine marriages, and often, in vain. The Pope now comes to support them, and notifies to the Catholic reigning families that hence forth they must look further than their own narrow family connections for matrimonial alliances. He is determined to put an end to dispensations for marriages within prohibited degrees. Leo Xlil., enlightened by the curious romances and dramas in the Houses of Austria, Bavaria and Belgium, advises the Princes of the Catholic world to allow their children to look for husbands and wives outside their' own caste. .They would thus stay the moral and physical degeneration which stamps Royal races. * « * * •' *

The diet of working women has nothing to recommend it save its cheapness. It is badly chosen, and though is satisfies hunger, is by no means able to supply the amount of nutrition that is required by the human body. This fact has been brought prominently forward by Miss K. Marion Hunter, the honorary Medical Adviser of the Women’s Industrial Council of Englanu. She finds that the dietary of the bulk of women who work is made up of tea—which comes first in every list she has buns, heavy meat and fruit pasties, sausages, pork, bacon, tinned foods, pickles, cheese, and condensed milk. What is aimed at •is a “satisfying” and “stimulating” diet — one, too, that can be prepared very quickly. This is hastily eaten, probably in the intervals of work, and, indigestion is more often than not the result. Then, because the flagging energies require to be whipped, up from time to. time, cups of tea are taken, and in winter tea is “warming” as well. The result is anaemic, weary women, who aro each year becoming weaker and more unfit* to be the mothers of a strong, healthy race. **♦ • • •

The Druko of Argyll is said to have declared that he could not toll the difference between “Pop Goes the Weasel” and “God Save the King.” A King’s brother-in-law who oould not recognise the National Anthem must oc unmusical indeed—as unmusical as President Grant, who was heard to say that he only knew two tunes, one of which was “Yankee Doodle” and the other wasn’t!

Now and then we get from the German papers a pleasant glimpse of the life load by the Kaiser’s son and heir in the old ‘University town of Bonn. It seems that almost every day one may see in the Kaiserstrasse there quite a - gathering of school children, who have come to meet the Crown Prince on his way to the tavern which forms the rendezvous of the famous Boruss corps (says the London “Daiiy News”). A Berlin newspaper tells ns that a few days ago these children haa provided themselves each with a postcard hearing the.portrait of the Prince. The latter had hardly appeared when a small girl ran forward to him and asked him to have the goodness to write his name on the card. The Prince laughed, and at the same time caught

sight of tho numerous friends of the applicant. “You have all got cards, eh?” be said, smiling again. “Come, rive them to me, then.” He then turned to a student friend with him, asked him to serve for the nonce as a dosu, and forthwith began writing his name on the cards, handing them ono hy one back to the delighted youngsters. -Autograph hunters might bo inclined to regard the repetition of such incidents as tending only to cheapen their wares

There has just come into operation in New York State a now law winch reduces the cost of marriage to cents, tho fee required by a notary public for the execution of a certificate. Henceforth a man and woman may legally become husband and wife by signing a contract to that effect, in tho presence of twe witnesses, before a notary public, who must file his certificate in the county clerk’s office within six months. Certain enterprising lawyers aro already advertising the advantages of the new system, which, as one of them puts it. brings marriage "within tho reach of all.”

Lord Dalmcny, Lord Rosebery’s eldest son, promises to follow in his father’s footsteps in sporting success. He has been making some good scores in junior cricket recently, and in his entry to first-class cricket made a very good show for Middlesex the other day.

Tho German Emperor ascribes Ins good health and vigour to the advice given to him by his favourite doctor, and he has learned by heart tho latter’s “rule of life,” which is as follows: —“Eat fruit for breakfast. Eat fruit for lunch. Avoid pastry and hot cakes. Only take potatoes once a day. Don't drink tea or coffee. Walk four miles every day, wet or fine. Take a bath every day. Wash the face every night, in warn water. Sleep eight hours every night.” m # ■

Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, and the Duke of Argyll, came to town m good time for tho Coronation, in which his Grace had an official position, wliile her Royal Highness takes precedence as fifth after the Princess of Wales. Princess" Henry of Battenberg, who was next in precedence, came' up from the Islo o'f Wight with Prince Alexander. Prince Maurice and Princess Victoria Eugenio visited and lunched with the King and Queen one afternoon before the Coronation, which Princess Victoria Eugenie attended, hawing her hair (up for the first time, and wearing her first long frock, of course, without robes.

It is said that Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, has maintained for upwards of twenty years her dislike of any portrait of herself .being reproduced. In consequence of this veto, no newspaper has been able to give any but snapshots of the charming princess unless they fell back on the portrait of hor Royal Highness taken many years ago in Canada-. It remains a good likeness of tho princess, although changes of fashion make the photograph look out of date. It is not that the princess has not been photographed fairly often, hut that, she will not consent to the photograph being reproduced. Tho result is that tho really beautiful face of her Royal Highness ( is far less known than the faces of any other members of the Royal family.

The old Irish loving-cup presented to Lady Cadogan on her departure from Ireland is unique in its way. is a silver cup that was made in 1734, ana the marks on it are similar to those'on the jug of tho saine date in Lord Harlech’s collection, which bears the inscription : “Won by Smiling Bald at Waterford Races.”

For a number of years a distinguished French physician, Dr. Berillon. lias been making observations pertaining to the habit of finger-nail biting. Tue facts which ho has gathered show that, the habit is a result of a nervous system. Ho examined the pupu.s in a number of schools. The habit is much more prevalent among girls than among boys. In some schools 50 per cent, of the girl pupils had contracted the habit. It was noted that the nanbiters were the poorest students. The habit prevails most frequently between the ages of 12 and 14.

Hairdressing is one of the niceties of appearance to which many girls devote too little attention. The manner of arranging the coiffure is becoming more and more a matter of individual taste but a well-dressed head will main any woman look smart, whereas the contrary will ruin the most elaborate toilette. French women have realised the importance of this fact, but not many English women. The style ■or dressing the hair in a knot on the nape of the neck is certainly mere suited to the fashionable hats, and is very becoming to some though, not quite so universally as the high coiffure, where the hair is drawn to the top of mo head. It does, however, seem more suitable that a woman should display “her glorv” to all admiring beholders rather than conceal it under a large picture hat.