Ladies' Column.

Otago Witness, Issue 1559, 24 September 1881, Page 26

Ladies' Column.

The wrld was sad— the garden wat a wild ; ) And man, the Hermit sighed— till woman smlltdA — CAMPBHMij

A ' Sheepfold ' Drawing-room. I The Daily Telegraph says :— Not long ago the London correspondent of a Californian contemporary made the discovery that tne latest eccentricity of London fashionable life is the ' 'sheepfold drawing-room.' . Screeds of various kinds, this sage declares, ha\j[e been increasing in number — fdlding screenf, hand screens, banner screens, table screen^, and fire screens— but the * Bheepfolding drawing-room screen ' ' tops the lot.' It is a low wooden fence or palisade, painted in that'sad green tint which * esthetics ' love, and in the middle with the real wicket gate and a real latch. The sheepfold doeß not pretend to be a rßal division of the room, bo as-to bar :the 'progress of intruders, |for it is so low that it can be easily stepped over-j-by long-legged visitors, of course— but It is intended to signify that the purposes of the divided apartments aredifferent, one division being for work or' study, the other for Visitors and trifling conversation. One or two ladiefe, if la add^d, have been training ivy alonk these screens, and asks 1 our contempof aryfs i correspondent in conclusion, ' What will bje the next oaprioe after this who can Bay'?' As a matter of faot,' the '■ * sheepf old ' arrangement for an apartment is not by any means a new' thing. 1 In its useful aspect such fa mode of dividing* large 'area byilow-raileja partitions is carried on in many large bank-ing-houßes' and in' the ofBoes! of railway companies in Europe and the United State£. Theofßoes of the Central -Pacific Railroad at Omaha, in the State of Nebraska, is one of the largest * aheepf olds ' in the' world. Ornimentally, the" ' sheepf olds,' climbing plantsj and all, flourish exceedingly in the mansions inhabited by the' upper classes in Russia. Boxes full of earth are placed at the bases of the Boreens or, , railed . partitions, and ov<ir these the most beautiful form of ' creepers ' is, trained; and 'as every -Russian drawingroom is in winter time virtually a hothouse, this salon horticulture is as Bystematio as It is easy. Every large apartment contains one or more dejighi/fully verdant bowers, which may be, devoted not only to the purposes <jf work, study, or social converse, but also, to those of flirtation. X , M J "i A MaorilWeddlng in High Life. ! . Our lady readers will perhaps read the following with particular interest* It is supplied by a correspondent :— " The Maori Kaik was the scene of great festivities on Wednesday, the 31st August, on the occasion of the marriage of Heriare Korako Karetai, a chief of tne Karetai family, with Ani Hamuera, a daughter of a Native of high rank at Waitaki South'. The ceremony was performed in Maori by the Rev. W.lßonaldson, at 2 p.m., in the ohurch 4t the Kaik. The bride entered the dhurch leaning on the arm of her uncle, Taare Wetere ie Kahu, and attended by her brideßmaids ; The bride waß attired in a very handsome white ei^k dress, richly trimmed with fringe and grange i blossoms, and was completely enveloped in la white tulle veil, while a wreath of orange blossoms wad conspicuous in her 'dark ringlatfc. The bridesmaids (who were relations' of the bridegroom) were dressed in white, trimtoed with cerise. At the conclusion of the servicei the groomsman kissed the bride, and one of the bridesmaids attempted to kiss the bridegroom, but her courage seemed to fail her. The church was crowded with spectators, many of whom had come from Waitaki, Waikouaiti, Purakanui, and the Taieri- Everybody then adjourned to 1 the' banqueting -hall, which was beautifully decorated with flags' and evergreens. The bride and bridegrqom entered amidst the cheers of the guests, and took their 'seatd at the head of the hall behind a magnifi cent .wedding-cake. The tables were literally loaded with all Borts of good things charming to the eye and pleasing to the appetite. After ample justice had been done to all the good 'things provided, the Rev". W. Ronaldson, in a felicitous" speech, proposed the healths of the bride and bridegroom ; and the toast was drunk amidst great applause, when the bridegroom returned thanks to his Maori and Pakeha friends. The feasting was kept up until dark, when the tables were removed from the hall, and dancing was eutered into with great spirit and kept np until daylight." Society and Fashion f*ossip. The Queen has never vioitod a theatre since the death of ihe Prince Consort. In Germany pale yellew gloves are preferred to lilac or pure white for ceremonial occasions. The wearing of a frill of lace around the. edge of the brim of hats and bonnets Is revived. At Galrncastlo, Antrim, there lives Miss Margaret Bailey, who has attained the age of XlO years. The reoord of her years is well authenticated,

1 Some 1 new stockings 1 Have 'the ' f obt In one! colour and the leg in another, dr in stripes.; The handsttmest thin window ourtains ate of. black silk gauze,' on which are brocaded figures in old gold- silk, .r ■!■ . < , !' . 'Anew wrinkle is, to sink pans of earth zn the floor of tiled, halla and plant flowers in, the pansy , „. !;•■•< <i i ' The great attraction,, ( of a, fancy fahr Portsmouth, w^s an immense shoe, in • which sat an old woman selling dolls. Some of the ' sesthetic ' ladies of Londdn w,ear'sad sick green trimmed with bilious ■blue. 1 '' ' - ' ' ' . ' ' Miss Ellen Terry, in the 'Belle's Stratkgem^' wears a dress, the material of which p said to have cost five feulneas a yard. " ,- ; „The Figaro, asserts that of i twenty mar-J riages in the higher classes in Paris, five<a^e the work, of- professional matrimonial agents., . The , .fashion prevalent • , In j .England,-, Of w.ea^rlng, nothing but a, string diamqn<|«. in the hair, Is vastly conyen^ent for phe average woman.— Sydney Mall. .'' Onoe they statted ja 1 girls", seminary \n ( Utah. It flourished well ; but just in th,e' height of 5 its prosperity, the principal 'elope'dwith! the whole Bfehool. ' ' ' ' s j A man who has married his deceased wife's sister, .who !is neither rioh n6r pretty, saya that he did ao merely) to avoid a change' of mpthers-in-law.iij ,-v.^ ,■ \ -■ , Ajwetty decoration; for a dinner-table Is a tray of sand filled jvith grasses, among which daises, "and" popple's seem to be'growing. ' ( A young lady graduate may in after years forget tne title of her essay, but she will always remember how her white dresa was made and primmed. ' • • > ' * ' It is reported that the youngest daughter of W. H. Vanderbilt is to marry Vißoouut Dupplin, son andhefooftthe jEarl of KinnouU, and a nephew .of the. Duke of Beaufort. Among the' elegancies In drawing rooms are intense 'ptyhera of bronze, in .which pa?, tiles, emitting a fragrant smoke/ are kejjt constantly burning. , - • The rage for .decorations is on tHe increase. Wasps^bees, and butterflies are In favour, andvery life-like beetles are seen made, of mother-of-pearl and gold. ] Feathers are much used for decorative purposes in England, being applied to.chairl, stools, mantels, settees, and in fact everything in whlgh colour, can be applied. ' Shirrs and tacks and frills and: shirrs and tucks might well be the song of the modiste of to-day, for they are Introduced, with good effect too, on all dainty shapes intended for spring wear. „- ' ,' 1 < A lady missionary has made the first successful journey in to the interior of Equatorial Africa, ahe goes to join her husband, who is stationed among the mountains of Ukagura. \ \ A pretty cover for; an upright piano is made of wine coloured silk serge, with ends of plußhof the same shade, .On the corners are ' .embroidered, • ■ yellpw buttercupsj * and' sprays of yellow laburnum. ,■. , \ Coloured laces, in all the fashionable tints, areuaedondoessesof thesame hue or of p corresponding, shade. 7 Brown and cardinal are most sought after, and*. are noticeable in toilettes ofrsijk, satin, velvet. y ■ | Lady Dv Cane, (wife of the late Governor of Tasmanla)i whose eldest son was In top militia, and had been drilling at Ipswlct, England, went down there to nurse hit a through, a. very .severe lingering attack of congestion of t^e lungs.. Qn being toldibv his medical advisers that ithe, o'a^e must eventually prove and but a matter of time, the poor lady said :— ' I oannpt live, I shall die too 1' sankjintpasta.teof oollap^d, and,»otually ejepfred. „ , • Hindoo women are, fast emerging from the seclusion that, so long enveloped their ancestors. , A native ladies' elooution; society has been established in Poona, and the, (native women, will; be treated to, a series, of lecture^ by a lady elocutionist. . , • j Simply to take a little of the pride and superiority out of the fair ones, will they permit us to call their attention, ,to the faot that all the angels mentioned, in .the, Bible are male angels ? There are no female angels on record.— Sydney Bulletin. , | Miss Edmonla Lewis, the. sculptress, is the, daughter of an Amerioan Indian, by a negress. In he/ native (land, she was constantly Insulted on account of her colouc. In Rome, Piua IX. blessed her,; Lord Bute purchased a Madonna, carved by her,, for £600, and now she has abundance of orders at high' prices. , , '■ , Very much to the point is an advertisement which recently appeared in a New York My wife Mary Ann ■ is strayed or stolen. I will break the head of I anybody who returns her to me. As to ! giving credit, every merchant has a right to do .so j but as, I have never paid my own debts, it is not; probable that I shall pay hers.' „ » ■ . , It is not generally known that Miss Anna Parnell is an artist of considerable talent. Several excellent works, the product of her skill in oils and sepia, are to joe seen in the Metropolitan School of Art. She was a diligent student, apparently the, gentlest of the gentle, and nothing surprised, her teachers and classfellows more than herappearance in the political, world. . ' A society, entitled ' The Rational Dress Society,' has been formed in England, under the presidency of the Viqcpunteas Harberto'n, ( to promote %he adoption, according to individual taste and convenience, of- a style of dress based upon considerations of health, opmfort, and beauty, and to deprecate oonstant changes of fashion, which cannot be recommended on any of these; grouuds.' Where men place their stars , and orders, women now wear an emblem which may speak a language. Sometimes It expresses a political opinion, a cherished faith, a souvenir, or even a eeoret. Thus some wear the lilies of France, the violets of the empire, birds, beasts, or other heraldic insigua. Lot the members of your family know that they have duties therein— the girls and the boys alike. And do not spoil your boys as future huubanda by allowing them to tyrannise over their slaters. Girls are prone to give way to the masculine element, and you should, therefore, inculcate In your small boy that ' sister ' must be thought of first, and proper courtesy yielded, to her. This will 1 tend to teaoh her how lovely It Is to reoiprooate these courtesies — the amenities of life, praotised in a family, neyer yet made selfish men or women. Boys, and girls, while they upset the Home wonderfully, yet. love *q orderly and quiet pyntem of houa^

'^pinfe^^^iy^klalfcfvatlo^ 'b'eoome able .assistants In preserving its oMeif. l''/,1.'"l '' / , I .'" ' What are we 'coming -to? asks^A* lßß ' : the Worlds Yesterday, in the f Kdw," I jflrst met a lady wearing'ia grey Mtjfrelmofc r (army shape); with.! a; pugaree round ity-ttie whole having a very Amazonian and amazing effect; , and then/ a few, yards farther bn^lisaw another ,very pretty woman with, a^ .umbrella by her BJide, ,- the handle of „whj(olL .was fashioned so as to jexactly. resemble, .the hilt of a sword,* and for aught Itnolw to 'the contrary, the umbrellfr-oane'may 'have con,celled an actualrapier; l Furttier' &£ Wother beautiful woman with a* sort -of Iron cage strapped over the upper part Of her leftf arm. TJils, if you pleatie, was to proteot tWlovely owner's arm fromjbelng touched, it being io a state of vaccine sensitiveness, .in a* , i< A,n ( American journal slates, that the ,yeSr' no u leßs^hari ((# doilafe 'worth of el]k ! , ' This item la" the expendiljure 1 of our. people -betokens: urimlstalseiibV'(prosperity, sajte'the writer, 'for Bilk is no means a ; necessity, or -in- faot -a 'desirable article of clothing In many parts 1 of > the country, where; the: variable mature of, the climate renders woollen clothing a much better qovdringrfor the human form, divine,' More than. one-half,^pf, v the, sum spent, <waa paid io hpnie manufacturers, * The Imported articles ain.ou'nte'd 'to 33)305, 46b" '.Hollars, whilst the'h'6me'pr6dubtlonwaß of the. value of r 40, 975, 285 'dollars'.- ' The' number- of ( silk manufactories in 1 the 1 country last year was 388 ; the capital, real and personal,' invested in the industry was 18, 899, 500 dollars; the number of. looms at work wa5. .8467;, the maximum number of .hands, jetnplpyedwaa 34,440, more than one-has,ofjwhpm it were women and, children, who received in /wages 907,835 dollars, equaj to^l'^ollars.aTiead.