LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1935, 26 March 1891, Page 33

LADIES' GOSSIP.

—Some most indefatigable, and I should think most unreliable statisticians, have found out that Queen Victoria, duringher long reign, has planted no less than 4783 trees of various kinds in various parts of her dominions and the Continent of Europe. And the Queen has done this, we are told, not in the sense that the three Dukes of

Athol planted 14,000,000 larch trees on their estates, but has actually planted them, more or less, with her own hands. George 111, who had a mania for planting trees, may probably have planted 4000 or 5000 during his reign, but it is ridiculous to assert that the Queen has herself planted anything like such a number.

—Here is a new idea for the givers of children's parties, which will prove a change from the eternal Christmas tree and bran pie. It was lately tried with great success at Clifton, and has , since been launched by Madame Floquet in Paris. It is simply a loan exhibition of toys and playthings ; not freshly-bought ones, but the workaday ones which have been tried and not found wanting. It is impossible to describe the : excitement and interest of the youngsters in examining the toys of other children and exhibiting their own. And there is the extra' advantage that no expense is en* tailed.

— The use of the side-saddle for women horseback riders is traced to the time of Anne of Bohemia, eldest daughter of the Emperor of Germany, who married Richard II of England. Previous to this date all English women bestrode their horFes in manly fashion, bub on account of a deformity, this German bride was forcci to use a sidesaddle, and the custom soon became general.

— The death of Madame la Marechale Pelissier, Duches3 of MalakofiE, recalls the pretty story of her betrothal. She was a near relative of the Empress Eugenic, and one day, walking in the garden of the palace, she met the gallant Marshal, who asked the beautiful girl for a rose she had just broken. " What do you want with a rose ? You like only laurels," the girl answered, but gave him the flower. The reply captured the Marshal (who, by the way, had the reputation of being the rudest and roughest man in France), and he said to the Empress later, " I thought myself difficult to conquer, but in this case MalakoflE has surrendered to the first fire"

— Rukmabai, the young Indian lady whose refusal to carry out a marriage contract made

in her childhood caused a sensation in Parliament a few sessions ago, was presented to the Lord Mayor of London recently. The Home News says : — " She is now one of the students of the London School of Medicine for women. Her intention is to practise the healing art in her native country, and she is said to be an exceedingly apt student."

— It has been said of the British Parliament that there was nothing it could not do except turn a woman into a man. The Dutch High Court of Justice has just given proof of its ability to accomplish what is beyond the power even of the British Parliament, by deciding that officials and other public servants shall take the oath of allegiance not to " Queen " but to " King " Wilhelmina. This decision has been attacked by the native press as contrary to common sense ; but the High Court is above common sense, as it is also supra grammalicavi

— Although ib may confidently be affirmed that the Queen will not abdicate, it is highly probable that she will not hold any of the drawing-rooms this year. The impression is that the Prince of Wale 3 will take her Majesty's place, and that the Sovereign will only preside over one exclusive court, when the diplomatic suite and ladies who have the entree will attend. It is understood that the Queen last year expressed herself afraid that the fatigue of standing so long was more than she could undertake again. Her absence from the drawing-rooms will nevertheless cause a great deal of disappointment to those of the fair sex whose dream in life is to be personally presented to the Sovereign.

— The Pontifical Nuncio Galimberfco was received the other day by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria. The audience lasted an hour, and the Empress made his Eminence a present of a splendid cross, set with diamonds and sapphires, as a Christmas gift. In court circles it is remarked that this is the first visit that the Nuncio has made at court sines the death of Prince Rudolph. Leo XIII, through his representative, sought to calm the Empress' grief for the death of her son, exhorting her to abandon the life she was leading of a recluse, and instead to try and fulfil the duties of a wife and sove-

reign. This is the reason why Elizabeth renounced the idea of wintering at Corfu. The Emperor Francis Joseph was extremely surprised to receive a telegram from his wife announcing herjreturn home. The Empress followed the Pontiff's advice, and attends all receptions and special ceremonies at court, which occasions universal surprise throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire. — The Queen has quite unexpectedly decided that the wedding of Princess Louise of Schleswig-Holstein and Prince Aribert of Anhalt-Dessau is to take place in England, and at Windsor Castle, probably during the first week in July. The ceremony will be semi-private, as it is not to be in St. Gecrge's, but in the private chapel of the castle, where the bride's parents were married nearly 25 years ago. The Queen will settle £20,000 on Princess Louise of Schleswig-Holstein as a marriage portion, and the Prince of AnhaltDessau settles £40,000 upon Prince Aribert, and has promised to give the couple one of his country houses near Dessau, and to keep it up for them.

— A wealthy Russian married a girl-wife at 85, and has jast died aged 120. He survived the girl's expectant relatives, and leaves her a wealthy but middle-aged widow. The joy which this malicious old man took in attending the funerals of his wife's people must have been gigantic.

— Ladies who like to < rim their' own hats will be interested in a pretty novelty which has just been brought out and enables any one, even i£ she is not a paracu'aily skilful milliner, to make uo a pretty hat \\ r e lefei to a sort of tulle cap, embroidere i wi 1 ' very fine straw, and intended as cover for a tulle shape. They are procurable in black, white, tan, old gold, brown, fraise, &c. The bonnet shape is first covered with several thicknesses of plain tulle, the colour of the cap intended to be the topmost, and a bow or rosette and narrow strings are the only further requisites of a stylish bonnet.

—The little Queen of Holland has become quite an accomplished skater during : the passing winter. In the grounds of the Chateau at Loo, where the late king died, there are several large pieces of shallow water, and on one of these Queen Wilhelmina has been perfecting herself in the pastime under the superintendence of a specially-engaged professional skater, and the constant supervision of the Queen Regent, her mother. The young Queen has proved herself exceedingly plucky, and has' entered into the sport with rare zest. Fortunately, she is not yet old enough to know anything about the matrimonial prospects of which cold-blooded and calculating politicians are making -her the heroine. At the same time she fully realises the fact that she is now Queen of Holland, and is constantly asking for information as to the sayings and doings of the two other juvenile sovereigns of Europe, the Kings of Spain and Servia.

— Poor old Sen6ra de Tacon, the governess of the little King of Spain, and tried friend of the Regent; has come to a sad end. That restive ~ little mortal Alphonso XIII - was amusing himself after his usual lively fashion, and the aged Countess was taking care of him, one day lately, when the impetuous young monarch skipped up upon a table, intending to jump down thereffotm upon the floor. ; Senora de Tacon sprang forward to catch him, when, unluckily^ the table overbalanced, and the old lady and the little boy both fell. Of course the first anxieties were for his little Majesty, who, sobered by his "down fall, lay so quiet under the voluminous skirts of his governess that everyone fancied he must be injured. It was found that b»was unhurt by the disaster, whereas Madame de Tacon was injured internally, and\terrjbly the worse for the shock.' She was 81 years of age, and it speedily became evident that she could not rally from the effects of this unhappy accident. The event has thrown a sad gloom over Madrilene society, where the winter season had ( just opened rather brilliantly, the Queen having given a state concert and commenced her nsual winter receptions.

— A remedy has apparently been found for the frequent complaints made about stays fitting so awkwardly at the back. It consists of an elastic fastening, whioh can be Closed with one movement. This useful invention is formed by five or six clasps, united by a movable elastic band ; ifc can easily be put on old stays. The elastic yields to every movement of the body, and thus helps to prevent the injurious effects of tight lacing without influencing the desired slimness of figure.

— It ought to be a good while before any British prince of mark — that is, one who would be missed — marries a princess from Holy Russia's Imperial Family, as the monetary arrangements are so awkward. The Duchess of Edinburgh is supplied with a handsome income from her native land ; but is obliged, through some whim of her brother, the Czar, to spend a portion of the year in Russia, so that his subjects may reap some small benefit from her household " custom." What with Duke Alfred being called off here and there by his naval " duties," and the Grand Duchess Marie having to take leave of her adopted countries, England and Saxe-Goburg, and journey due north whether she likes it or not, the royal and imperial couple see almost as little of each other as though they had quarrelled and been formally separated. Considering the wealth and high degree of the Romanoffs, it seems preposterous that a marriage dower should be granted under .such a condition, just as though the national exchequer would come to grief if a princess bought her food, furniture, and olothes in another country. However, autocrats have always been renowned for their love of worrying their own kindred, and putting down the Imperial beetle-crusher with a good stamp on anything like independent behaviour in relatives.

— It should be borne in mind thatwhatever tends to force the blood to the hands or to retain it there is an enemy not only to perfection of colour, but to the health of the members. Many a maiden prettily attired in some charming manner with close-fittinc; sleeves has suffered mortification from the fact that her hands and wrists would persist in looking provokingly red, and has doubtless mentally ascribed every cause but tie true one. Just the tight sleeve which prevented the free return o£ the abundant supply of blood which her energetic young heart was persistently throwicg into the hands and wrists— that was the only cause

of her annoyance ; but it was a cause quite sufficient to account for the heightened colour ; and with the colour went also the fact that the circulation was being more or less interfered- with, the veins of the section affected being abnormally filled and distended, and interference with the normal circulation is always better in its absence for every reason. What is true of tight sleeves is also true of gloves, corsets, or any other portion of the apparel which acts as a compressor. Wherever the ill effect is noticed tbe remedy is apparent. — The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's firsb daughter, Princess Marie, it is rumoured, is fto he engaged to Prince Ferdinand of Rcumania. Tbe match would be a desirable one from some points of view. Prince Ferdinand, besides being heir-presumptive to the Roumanian crown — King Charles, his uncle, has no children living — is well provided with worldly wealth. Born in 1865 the Prince is- five -and- twenty; but Princess Mari6 is 10 years younger— a mere child, in fact. The marriage would not be destitute of political importance, for Princess Marie, it must be remembered, is niece to the Czar of Russia. Of course the crown of Roumania is not of much importance now; but with a semi-Rnsssian princess on the Dacian throne the aspect of things Roumanian might change, and Royal Alfred is alive to this fact, as he also is to She even more necessary one that this princeling is well endowed with the necssary "pieces" so dear to the heart of " Our Sailor Prince." In tbe meantime, the Duohess is coming back to England fully determined to get her child-daughter engaged to some rich prince without any further delay, and it is likely that before this month is over the betrothal of the Princess Marie of Edinburgh will be officially announced.

— Among the guests at Sandringham on a recent occasion was a lady who is now well on in the "forties," but who nearly a score of years ago was the heroine of a little adventure in [which the Queen [was concerned. The lady was at that time a beauty, and the Prince was certainly more susceptible to female charms than he now is. The lady had been sufficiently fortunate to secure the Prince's acceptation of her invitation to a fhte okamjtetrc, and had made arrangements to pose before her royal guest en bergere. The programme was very simple. As soon as the Prince arrived, the lady, jn milkmaid's attire, was to come forward, and, having milked one of the little Alderaeys attached to her model dairy yard, was, with her own fair hands, to whip a syllabub for the Prince's special delectation. At first all went wel). The Prince arrived with his friends and was ushered on to the lawn. The lady, in a most fetching milkmaid costume, with ribbons, milking-pail, stool, &c, tripped toward the group of distinguished guests, paused for a moment} to drop a rustic but bewitching curtsey, and then led th,e way to the spot where the cow awaited her. She planted her stool, took her seat u^pon it (with a bewilderedldisplaylof^coloured stocking), placed her pail in position, and began to milk. Then came an unexpected and unrehearsed effect. The Alderney, probably recognising an unpractised touch,, kicked put viciously, and milkmaid, stool, and pail were all knocked over in one conglomerated and undignified heap. It is %o the everlasting credit of the Prince that he refrained from laughing, but others who were present were not so fortunate; from that day. to this Lady X ha 3 never been able to hear the word syllabub uttered without a blush of confusion. — Empress Frederick of. Prussia is a practical Woman, la composing and choosing the trousseau of Princess Victoria money was not spent recklessly. For instance, of the 20 bonnets ordered of a great London millinery shop, not one cost more than 2gs. Empress Eugenic first set the fashion of paying fanoy prices for clothes absolutely out of keeping with their actual valu3. Some Uses of Salt. For weak eyes, a wash of weak salt and water will prove of much benefit. Salt and water, quite strong and used persistently for a time, will prevent the hair from falling out. To relieve heartburn, drink a half tumblerfull of cold water in which has been dissolved a tablespoonf ul of salt. For stings or bites from any kini of insect apply dampened salt bound tightly over the spot. It will relieve and usually cure very quickly. Salt as a toothpowder is better than almost any other dentifrice. It keeps the teeth very white, the gums hard and rosy, and tie breath fresh. When wiping up the floor, before putting the carpet down, sprinkle it all over with salt while damp. This will greatly prevent moths. For nenralgia, make a small muslin bag, fill it with salt, heat it very hot and lay it against the aching place. It will prove a great relief, as salt retains the heat a long time. For troublesome weeds and for grass in sidewalks, driveways, &c, apply a dressing of course salt ; this will kill all growth. Be careful not to put it on anything that should not be destroyed, however. For catarrh, snuff up considerable salt and warm water from the hollow of the hand every morning. Salt and water used as a gargle jnst before going to bed strengthens the throat and helps to prevent bronchial troubles; it is also excellent for sore throat. If ink is spilled on the carpet throw a quantity of salt on it, which will quickly absorb the ink ; take this up and put on more salt. Keep repeating this, rubbing it well into the ink spot until the ink is all taken by the salt ; then brush the salt oat of carpet. If anything catches fire or something burning makes a disagreeable smell or smoke, throw salt upon it at once. If a bright, clear fire is quickly desired it may readily be obtained by throwing salt upon the coals ; likewise, if too much blaze should result from dripping of fat from broiling steak, ham, &c, salt will subdue it. — Good Housekeeping.