LACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1190, 19 September 1874, Page 21

LACE.

Laoe, like other collections!, requires thought and consideration in arranging, and it is one of the most difficult to dispose of satisfactorily. The fashion, which is now so general, of amassing specimens of lace, is only a revival, with this difference, that whereas in old days ladies collected long lengths and large quantities, now they are content with scraps of small dimensions. Formerly lace collections were hidden in presses and cabinets, now they are for public inspection ; and the general idea is to arrange them in albums, as drawingroom table ornaments, worthy successors to monogram, autograph, stamp, and other oolleotions which have all had their day of popularity and outlived it. But how very difficult it really is to know what to do with all these little scraps ! How one turns over and over the costly little specimens on their coloured papers, all neatly named, valued/ and sorted, which haVe been collected with infinite trouble (and some expense), trying to make up one's mind how to dispose of them, They are worth consideration, and almost any amount of trouble, for a collection comprising nearly every specimen of lace extant, including other needlework, such" as cut work, drawn work, lacis, and many other kinds comprised in lace categories, is a never-ending source of amusement and interest. Though knowledge of lace is somewhat rare, the love of it is universal.

Good Advice.— Young girla should be exceedingly careful about falling in love with young men, whether rich or poor, who yet remain to be won. They cannot guard their affections too carefully in reference to those whose sentiments towards themselves are as yet unknown. Then again, when a young lady sits down to devise a scheme for the capture of a wealthy husband, as a general would plan a campaign, we think she enters upon an undertaking which sho had better not be engaged in. The chances are that she will not succeed, and that if she does succeed she will not be happy. Marriage should be the spontaneous union of hearts as well as of hands. Then the relation contains the elements of happiness, but not otherwise. It has no promise for those who enter into it solely from cold calculations of advantage. If a young woman wishes to obtain a good husband, her surest way is by the sedulous cultivation of her own head and heart, and by learning all the domestic duties on which bo much depends in married life. Thus she may attract him — it may be some one how unknown to her — as the most fragrant flowers attract the bee, even from a distance. In Hesse a very old custom was that of punishing, a hen-pecked husband by removing the roof of his house, on the ground that " a man who allows his wife to rule at home does not deserve any protection against wind and weather." If two women fought in public they were each put in a sort of closed sentry-box, Which only left their heads exposed, and then posted opposite to each other in the market-place, where they remained for an hour face to face, but unable to use their hands ©r feet.