LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 38

LADIES' GOSSIP.

— If Madame Garnot is not popular in France it is certainly not from the lack of taking trouble to win public favour. She rivals the ex-Empress Eugenic in the thousand little ingenious devices she practises for securing popularity. She visits hospitals, assists at bazaars, entertains all classes, and showers down little acts of kindness upon all whom she encounters. Above all, she never misses an opportunity of appearing in public, resplendent in lace, velvet, and feathers, all of which have been purchased in France, the wife of the President being much too patriotic to have any dealings with foreigners. She sends direct to Normandy for her laces, to Lyons for her velvets and silks, and whenever she pays a visit to a town noted for its tissues or laces she makes large purchases before leaving the neighbourhood. The art of cutting cameos' was on the decline in France when she took it under her special protection ; now ifc is in a most flourishing state, and no ornament is more popular than the cameo. Talk about the work of public men, indeed 1 It is the work of their wives that bears fruit.

— The increasing deafness of the Princess of Wales is said to be becoming something of a trouble to the royal household. Quite recently, when the Prince and Princess were at " A Pair of Spectacles " at the Garrick, the Prince had to speak so loudly that his voice and the words he used were audible all over the house.

—An English literary man who has a taste for the odd and fanciful has discovered that of 562 heroines of last year's novels, 372 were blondes, and only 190 brunettes.

— The Duke and Duchess of Connaught are very deeply and sincerely regretted in India, for they have been immensely popular. Just before leaving, the Duke did a pretty thing in presenting a new flag to the Poona Boat Club, which was a most successful function. The Duke and Duchess quite set the fashion of boating at Poona, and while in India enjoyed themselves more on the river than in any other way.

— The Viscountess Kingsland, who recently died in London at an advanced age, led a very sad life. She was the widow of the last Viscount Kingsland, who died more than 50 years ago. Through the dishonesty of a trustee the Viscountess was reduced to extreme poverty, and was forced to earn her living by her needle.

— Prince Albert Victor has started at last for "England, home, and beauty." Young Edward, to do him justice, expressed himself very prettily the other day, when he told his entertainers what a good time he had had, and added with great tact that "he felt sure it was all patriotic love for the Queen that had won him such a splendid reception I " Grandmamma wiped her spectacles after reading the report of that, and expressed her opinion that after all she really did think the boy was going to turn out a credit to her and to the memory of his ever-lamented grandsire.

— Besides the 10 or 12 American girls who have married European dukes, there are nearly 20 who have contracted alliances with princes, while about as many are wedded to foreign ambassadors at the various courts of Europe. The list of American ladies who have married foreigners of rank is in all about 200.

— A band of progressive young ladies belonging to a very aristocratic athletic club in New York have found a new use for the " maud." Intolerant of the decline of chivalry, which makes it permissible for a gentleman to retain and enjoy a seat in a street car while ladies pitch and struggle among themselves to keep a footing, ifc has occurred to these somewhat audacious young persons that they might stare their fellow-passengers, if not out of their seats, then out of countenance and comfort. The mode of action consists in getting as convenient a position as possible against the door or under the hand strap, and, selecting a victim, putting him under the fire of the lenses. If two girls are on board, two men, sitting side by side, are selected, and scrutinised with all the thoroughness that so close a range will afford. Few men can withstand an ordeal of this sort for any length of time.

At first the unfortunate becomes nervous, lifts his bat and replaces it a little further over his eyes ; then he puts his hand up to his tie to find out if it is in place and his collar-button doing duty. He shifts his legs, hunts in vain for something in the open paper that is readable, then folds it up and puts it away, determined to meet the volley of eyes, a threat that he can no more execute than a hand-spring through the ventilators. In a half-dazed, half-maddened condition he gets up and, hardly knowing what he is about, raises his hat and welcomes the bold demoiselle to the seat he has vacated.

— The Princess of Wales was offered recently £1000 by an American magazine for 100 words.

— Two ladies, dressed in Scotch costumes, scarfs, short jackets, with lappets, silver lozenge- shaped buttons, and hats in gentle emulation of the bold headgear of a Highland soldier, appeared in Regent street, London, lately, to the great astonishment of the paraders.

— In the ironworks of Schmidt, in Brielow, a village of Brandenburg, Herr Schmidt has nine sons and no daughters. When Frau Schmidt gave birth to her seventh son her husband requested the Emperor William I to stand godfather. His Majesty accepted, and sent a high personage of the court to the baptism with a handsome present. The year following the eighth son saw the light, and the Emperor Frederick became the godfather ; and just lately a ninth olive branch made its appearance, to whom the present Emperor is sponsor. No other German family can vaunt that three of the children have for godfathers three Emperors of Germany.

— The Duchess of Albany, widow of Prince Leopold, has just received her diploma as a hospital nurse, after taking the regular course and standing the usual examination.

— The Empress Frederick cannot be expected to mourn greatly over Eismarck's retirement. The Empress' confidante, Countess Waldersee, thinking she practised too much self-effacement, once ventured to say to the Prince that her Majesty was a lady of ripe political judgment. "I am sure of it,"

grunted Prince Bismarck, " for the politics of ladies lie in the nursery and kitchen, and I am aware that the Empress is an admirable wife and mother." Not to be baffled, the Countess said, " But a woman may have interests outside the nursery." "Certainly," responded Bismarck, " when her husband is content to rock the cradle." Then here again is another story to the same effect which ia now being circulated. The Prince had been flouting Countess Schouvaloff and snubbing some other diplomatic ladies ; at last he retired, and presently the Countess' Danish mastiff was heard barking at him in the courtyard. Countess Schouvaloff ran to the window and exclaimed, " Oh, Monsieur le Chancellier, please don't bite my dog 1 "

— Lavender water is a universal favourite, but few of the English ladies who use it know that the best native lavender water comes from Wallington, in Surrey, where a lady named Miss Sprules keeps a large distillery. Surrey used to be the home of lavender farms, and the father of Miss Sprules kept a large one, but she herself trusts for her supplies to the neighbouring cottagers, who grow lavender and peppermint, and bring it to her to be distilled. Roses are also grown for conserve. Many women and children are employed in tending the plants and in cutting them. Miss Sprules supplies the court with lavender water, and the Queen lately sent a present of it to the Queen of Italy.

— A schoolmaster has struck out a new line in the way of punishing the story teller or the user of bad language. Instead of flogging the culprit and thereby degrading and hardening his heart, the youth is called up before the assembled school. A basin of cold water is produced, and with a sponge the master thoroughly cleanses the boy's mouth. His tongue is then scraped with a blunt paper knife, he is told not to do it again, and is then let loose among his playmates. The remedy has never been known to fail, and is certainly a great advance en the brutal punishment of days gone by.

— Nothing can be much prettier (writes "Florence" in Figaro) than the ostrich feather fans which are now so much worn, especially in the tall, high square shape, which suggests more than anything else that the wearer having suddenly felt the heat, has seized hold of a few feathers of a colour which will harmonise with her dress, and tied them together with a big bunch of ribbons, so easy and unconventional does the arrangement of the prettiest examples appear. Other than ostrich feathers are, however, now being worn for fans, and I noticed several the other day, made of cocks' feathers, in blue, green, or any other tint required. Each feather was set into the holder quite straight, but when it reached the top it curled down, one just overlapping the other, and so formed a sort of ruche at the top of the fan. These fans ought to wear well, much better than those formed of ostrich feathers; though, of course, the effect is much stiffer.

— Fashionable American girls are making a study of the history of the various Scotch clans, that they may be able to talk intelligently about the tartans whioh they have chosen to form a feature of some of their dainty spring and summer toilets.

— The present Czarina has recently started at St. Petersburg the idea of a White Ball, at which ladies should all be dressed in white, and diamonds and pearls be the only ornaments worn. The notion is evidently borrowed from the redoutes blanches of the Carnival in the Latin countries. The Czarina Elizabeth, however, who has been dead over a century, was less tasteful but more original in her novelties. She appointed days on which balls should be held at the Imperial Palace at whijh there should be a complete reversal of costumes — the ladies assuming the boots and breeches of the men, and the latter arraying themselves in the petticoats and skirts of the ladies. The effect was very ludicrous, and nobody was happy except the Empress, who was 'amused. The heavy military uniforms were neither comfortable nor becoming to the ladies, and the stout old dowagers were aware that they looked highly ridiculous. On the other hand, the moustached and bearded men looked mere horrors in woman's costume, and were so exceedingly awkward in managing their skirts that ludicrous accidents often happened.

— Society ladies in New York will no longer have an excuse for not keeping posted in the literature of the day. A clever woman in that city promises to meet them once a week, and give them the gist of every new story worth reading, as well as a comprehensive review of magazine articles, and such other literature as may appear advisable. Any society woman of 'ordinary brightness can thus acquire in an hour or two all the information necessary to sustain a reputation as a brilliant conversationalist.

— At the late University boat race bunches of forget-me-nots and posies of dark violets were extensively worn as buttonhole badges of the possessor's sympathiesjwith either university. Those young ladies who were too strict to put off their Lenten garb of woe even for boat-race day, almost invariably decorated themselves with some such floral emblem of their interest in Oxford or Cambridge. By the way, it was very amusing to see how stylish these fair penitents got themselves up in spite of their sartorial grief for their sins. If they wore black, the dress was sure to be made to a superexcellent fit, and relieved by one of those coquettish white waistcoats that show off the wearer'g figure. If in dark grey, the triple cape of black cloth would be dandily arranged on the shoulders, and the tiny bonnet, of course black or grey straw, be trimmed with " fetching " bows of ribbon to match. Or the costume would be of light grey cloth, tailor-made, and completed with a bewitching light grey hat.

—A female Hercules has been discovered in the person of a handsome but delicatelooking young English woman of 18. This young female found out her latent powers by accident. Embracing her mother she unconsciously broke two of her ribs. Questioned by her father how the mischance happened, she proceeded to demonstrate, with the result that her parent declared that on]y a bear had ever hugged him in the same fashion. Either send on the young men or the anatomists. After, the music hall proprietors will perhaps put in their appearance.

— Most of the new English jackets are now made much longer than for some time past— what is called " three-quarter " length

— and waistcoats, which still remain in favour, are cut longer also.

— An American lady writes : — " Pretty girls have taken to accentuating themselves by means of black adjuncts to white dresses. The maiden who is arrayed to receive evening callers at home carries a black fan, the roguish and coquettish uses of which, in connection with an otherwise colourless toilet, may readily be imagined. At one moment she is hiding her face behind it, at the next she is using it closed in gesticulation like a fairy's wand, and so on through all the tricks and devices of witchery at her command. She wears a low-cut gown as a reception costume for an ordinary evening at home. That is now fashionable. Decollete gowns again 7 Yes, indeed ; and if editors and preachers don't stop their fusillades against us on this subject, we are capable of going to further depths in the matter. Nay, more, we will call attention to the display by many pretty devices. We can employ the court-plaister trick, which is rather ancient, to be sure, but effective. A new fad, though, is to tuck one solitary flower inside the bodice, where its head lies in provoking proximity to beauty's breast. Or to fix one blazing gem in that vicinity, which shall call attention to the beautiful territory it lights up. I saw both these tricks employed in a New York parlour with equal success."

— Some of the most fashionable varieties of kid gloves are now made out of colts' skin.

— So essential as a mark of nobility are long nails regarded in what is known as the Transgangetic Peninsnla, that Siamese actors and actresses, when playing the parts of " lords and ladies," usually appear with long silver hornshaped ornaments attached to the ends of the fingers, not to represent the nails themselves of the aristocracy, but those long silver cases witMwhich the beaux and belles either protect these valuable appendages when they are there, or make believe that they are there when in reality there are absent.

— Quite the most daintily novel of banquets in New York are the seaweed dinners. The graceful arrangement of this light and artistic decoration is so fairylike when well carrisd out and lighted, that one wonders why it is not more generally employed, as it does not fade like flowers, and may be kept in the house ready for emergencies. The tints which the algee assume are extremely delicate and lovely, and were recently arranged at a dinner in tones of tenderest pink shading, and softening until they merged in brown. The receptacles for the seaweed were all shells, as were the menu holders' and the holders for guest cards. In the centre of the table was a high arrangement of shells and seaweed, and on either side a satin scarf the length of the table embroidered with traceries of seaweed.

— The new parasols have shorter sticks than those of last year, and are often made of puffed silk or soft muslin in art shades, bordered with treble frills pinked at the edges, and bows appear on the handles. Tussore parasols will be carried as the sun condescends to shine ; and parasols kilted all over are another novelty. It will certainly be an easy matter to do up an old one, or to buy one to go with any dress, for they will not be expensive. Shot silk en-tout-cas, of a short and stubby make, will be much worn.