LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1957, 27 August 1891, Page 38

LADIES' GOSSIP.

— Would you imagine that in the dry, life-less-looking branches of the fruit trees there is hidden already the tinj germ of next year's flowers ? and that you can see them bud and bloom in your room, if you like, by gathering a handful of twigs from the apple and cherry trees,* and keeping them in a, glass of water in a sunny window ? Don't put too many together ; one or two in each glass is enough. It is marvellous to see the tiny buds swell, become green, and finally bloom. They are pale, delicate, wintry blossoms, but infinitely lovely and touching — a sermon, a poem, what you will. —Another delightful study of possibilities is to bring a winter's clod of earth from the woods, taken from some spot that you wot of as summer-haunted by "daisies pied and violets blue." . Take it home and place it in a flat, earthen dish, and water it every day, giving it sun, warmth, and care, and watch

the result. One tiny green familiar thing after another will struggle to life, each an unexpected pleasure.

— A charming bit of gossip has been going the rounds about some of the amenities of the "Upper Ten" in Calcutta. The story runs that a lady called at a house, sent up her card, was admitted, paid the usual visit, and enjoyed the usual amount of small talk with the lady of the house. Returning home, she informed her husband where she had been, when that distinguished member of sooiety at once wrote off to the " Occupant of the house No. street," saying that his wife had called by mistake, and requesting the return of the card she left on visiting the lady of the said house. The husband of the lady visited, however, was equal to the occasion, for he replied that, on returning home and finding the card, he had looked at his wife's visiting list, and, not finding the name of the visitor, he had torn up the card, and was therefore unable to return it.

— It is rumoured that the Queen has had compiled and submitted to her a, list of those members of the Petticoat Brigade who swarmed on to the bench presided over by the Lord Chief Justice during the hearing of the late baccarat case. It is probably with a view of running the royal and imperial pen through the names of those few ladies whose cognomens may be also inscribed on the list for invitations to court functions of another description.

— The Archduke Francis Ferdinand has gazed upon the features of the Princess Elizabeth of Bavaria, and has failed to be impressed therewith, much to the chagrin of the grandfather of the young lady, the Emperor Francis Joseph. Everybody knew that' the Archduke was romantic, and had declared, over and over again, that he would only marry for love; but it was fondly hoped that he might fall in love with the Princess Elizabeth, who, if not very handsome, has charming manners, and is — for a German girl— vivacious and entertaining. Fortunately for himself the Archduke, having inherited the accumulated millions of the Duke of Modena, is rich enough to please himself; though, as the Emperor's nephew, and heir to the throne, he cannot afford to indulge in »— - llianr.fi.

n a mesa

— A pretty anecdote comes from Brussels illustrating the generous spirit of a banker of that city. The banker is fond of outdoor exercise. As an exhibition of bis skill in skating, he made his autograph on the ice in a very artistic manner. Some gentlemen having admired the signature, proceeded to write above it as follows : — " On demand I promise to pay for the benefit of the poor the sum of SOOOfr." They sawed out the block of ice, and, having called a back, proceeded to the bank and carried the frozen note of hand — of foot, we mean — to the cashier's counter. The cold temperature happily prevented the melting away of the ioy draft, and the banker having been appealed to, ordered it to be paid. — Fancy balls all very well in thsir way, and a Mephistopheles or two may be permitted to career round the room, but to enlist the reputed inhabitants of the infernal regions in the wholesale mannei related in the following paragraph is simply a crime :— 11 The great feature of a ball given at Ootacamund the other evening by Sir James Dormer, the Madras Commander-in-chief, was a set a lancers danced by eight men attired as devils, in black coats, knee breeches, black stockings, shoes, and black gauze wings, with long black tails and horns. When the first discordant crash of fiendish music was heard (the introduction to the • Bogie Man Lancers ')» each devil seized a reluctant angel and dragged her to a place in the set. The angels were most becomingly attired in loose flowing robes of white, with Bilver girdles, and stars in their hair, flowing wing sleeves, and a big spray of lilies in their hands. The devils and angels danced as follows : — D

BVILS. AN9ELS. H. E. the Governor ... and Miss Dormer H. B. the Commander-in-chief „ Lady Wenlook Captain Lawlsy, A.D.C. „ Miss Gawtin Gen. Kenney Herbert, Mily.

Sec ... ... ... „ Miis Galfcon Captain Cavaye, A. D.O. ... „ Miss Lookbart Captain Baring. A.D.O. ... „ Miss E. Dormer Lord Douglas Oompton, A.D.O. „ Mist L. Dormer Captain Bethune, A.D.O. ... „ Miss M. Dormer, The devils danced with the most wonderful fiendish grace and agility, dragging their partners, whirling them round and pirouetting round them. They finished up with a wild, rapid waltz, ended by giving yells of triumph and truly unearthly shrieks 1 "

— A goddaughter.of ex-Queen Isabella of Spain has been put in gaol, for cruelties to a poor little maidservant that make one doubt if her inhuman mistress can be altogether sane? The hapless child — she is only nine years old — was picked up in the streets by the Madrilene rolice, having escaped from her cruel employer with as many as 60 wounds and contusions on her body; and testified that she had run away because of the barbarities to which the Duchess de Castro Enriquez subjected her night and day. The elder servants at the Duchess' palace corroborated the girl's evidence, and a warrant was issued for tbe great lady to be forthwith imprisoned pending the trial. The Duchess de Castro Enriquez is a tall, strongly-made, rather handsome woman of 43, and was married in 1867 to the Count de Plasencia and de La Bevilla, who is also a grandee of Spain, and a fine handsome fellow to boot, much liked by the great world to which he belongs. The marriage was a big event at court, for the bride was the daughter of a favourite lady-in-waiting to Queens Christina and Isabella ; and had herself been carried to tbe font by the latter sovereign. The union was not a happy one, however, and after enduring his wife's caprices and extravagances for more than 20 years, Count Plasencia's patience gave out and he separated from her, taking three of their six children to live with him at Barcelona, and leaving the others with their mother.

— A correspondent of the Pittsburg Dispatch writes: — "I could not help thinking, while looking about the house between the acts at Mr Irving's performance the other nighf, how deeply shocked those eminent moralists who have so vigorously denounced the ladies of New York for wearing low-cut dresses to the opera would be if they could glance over that billowy sea of decollete costumes and realise that every theatre in London presented the same picture at the same moment. We Americans still are Puri-

Garratt, very pretty dress of salmon pink muslin ; Miss Roberts, old rose with white chiffon.

Mrs Preston gave a large afternoon tea on Friday for Mrs Bhind, of Christchurch. Among those present were Mesdames Dymock, B. C. Reynolds, Denniston, Tennant, Garrart, Oolquhoun, Misses Reynolds, France (Wellington), Fenwiok, Garratt, Smith, Stephenson, and Menlove.

Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather the Choral Hall was filled on Friday evening last by friends of the members of the Shakeßpeare Club, on the occasion of one of their interesting recitals. I noticed that as usual ladies predominated, clearly showing that an intellectual entertainment appeals more strongly to them than to members of the sterner sex. The programme opened with an address by Mr A. Wilson, the president of the club. Mr Wilson's addresses are always looked forward to on these occasions, and he never disappoints an audience. Bits of information only picked up by Shakespearian students are interesting points in his address ; while one never knows which most to admire — his careful and appreciative analysis of the poet's method as displayed in the plays from which selections are to be read, or the dainty, delicate language in which his thoughts are expressed. Mr Wilson's address is well worth studying, and I recommend my readers to peruse the report of it, which will no doubt appear elsewhere in due time. The selections read by the club were taken from the plays "Richard II" and "Much Ado About Nothing." The former was the more important of the two, although it did not take the fancy of the audience so ranch as did the brighter comedy. As a whole the readings were very successful. There were of course individual excellences and individual faults, but evidences were plentiful of careful study on the part of the club, and also of the progress made by the more recently-joined members. Reading aloud is an accomplishment requiring careful and persevering study ; but those who acquire it are well repaid by the plea-

Benedick's gay and debonnair mockery of his passion. Mr Stephens appears to be a new member, but he is a decided acquisition to the club. He possesses a tuneful and expressive voice, and reads with good taste. Mr Fasco made a capital Don Pedro. It is not very easy to enact the prince and the boon companion without letting the one character trench upon the other. Mr Pasco illustrated both admirably in his reading. Listening to his clear and pleasant voice it struck me that had I been Claudio I should have been a little chary of employing Don Pedro as my proxy in wooing. Mr Fulton gave an excellent reading of the part of Leonato, as did Mr Adams of that of the Messenger. Miss White made a bright and spirited Beatrice. She evidently enjoyed the part, and so threw herself into it that her sparkling raillery seemed more the natural expression of her high spirits than the repetition of the words set down in the book. She was perhaps at times a trifle too fast, bub otherwise she read excellently. Miss De Carle had not very much to do as Hero, but she was in sympathy with the other characters, and showed it in her reading. Miss Gordon, in the small part of Ursula, read her lines intelligently, and with good expression. There was much excellent music included in the programme. Miss West gave a beautiful rendering of the Norwegian "Wedding March," while Herr Winckelmann played a 'cello solo with his usual skill, besides contributing a 'cello obligato to Mr Blenkinsopp's singing of Goltscbalk'g "0, loving heart, trust on." The readings from Shakespeare were not the only contributions on the programme, Miss Cooper sublimating them by singing "Should he upbraid" in a charming manner. Miss West wore a becoming black dress relieved with a pretty semi- wreath of violets on the bodice ; Miss Cooper looked very nice in pale pink ; Miss Gordon, seagreen with Liberty silk sash to match; Mi6s De Carle, handsome fawn merveillenx silk trimmed with pink feathers and ribbons ; Miss Alexander, pale blue moire silk and net ; Miss White, black grenadine with chiffons trimmings.

trimmings; and Mrs Bamsay's dark brown silk showed off to advantage.

bachelors' ball at otama.

The Ofcama bachelor*' ball was held in the school shed on Friday, the 14th inst. The attendance, though not quite so numerous as on previous oocasions. was as large as the hail would oomfortsblj hold. Tbe ladies deserve great oredit for the way they responded to the invitation, most of them appearing in ball costume. It is customary to mention the belle of the ball, but I ref rain from doing so, as opinions differ on that as on every other question. On a certain ocoasion when an Englishman on a visit to Burns asked him If the lady of the house was Bonny Jean, and being answered in the affirmative, said that h« failed to see the beauty. Burns replied, " Ay, bit ye dinna see her wi' the same een as I see her ;" so if I mentioned one in particular I might have some ," Englishman " Inquiring wherein the beauty lay. I shall therefore confine myself to mentioning the costumes of a few that I managed to obtain the names of. Miss Mary Diokson, pink embroidered costume ; Miss Gross, checked muslia with blue silk vest ; Miss France, white embroidered costume with pale blae sath and ribbons; Mist Wlsharfc, black satin body, white skirt, cardinal fash from shoulder ; Miss B. Scott, blaok dress with pink front ; Miss O'Hara, crushed strawberry silk with blaok velvet facings ; Miss Edith O'Hara, white embroidered oostume with cardinal vest, cuff* and sash ; Miss Bugene O'Hara, white, blue sash; Miss M. Forbes, white embroidered costume, strawberry sash ; Miss Olark, figured muslin ; Miss Maslin, black body, white skirt, maroon sash ; Miss Baxter, blaok with or earn sash; Miss Maggie M'Allan, white ; Mrs Archibald, blaok dress with camellias at neck ; Mrs Hartley, grey ; Mrs Gross, white skirt, black body. The music was of a first-clan order. A very enjoyable evening was spent, dancing being apt up long after the " wee ima' hours," concluding with " Auld laog syne," heartily sung by the company.—Visitor.

BALL AT NASuBY.

One of the most tucoestful balU ever held at Nateby was given by the married ladles on Tnuriday evening, August 30. AmoDg those present I notioed Mm S. Hore In a black satin, pale blue sash ; Mn Mitchell, black silk, jet ornaments ; Mr« Oawson, maroon silk ; Mrs A. M'Lean, pretty drab satin ; Mrs J. Smith, brown dress, pink ribbon ; Mrs Johnston, cream silk; Mrs Frank Smith, black dress, pretty flowers ; Mrs H. Jorring, drab dresi ; Mrs Guffie, pretty grey dress; Mrs Stephens, black dress ; Mr B. M'Lean. black dress', cream ribbon. Among the young ladies were the Misses Strong (2), fawn dresses ; Miss O'Halloran, black dress ; Miss Fergusson, white dress, blue front; Miss Grain, white ; the Misses Doorley (2), pretty drab dreisrs ; Miss Sheehy, black dress, pink front ; Miss Faohey, maroon ; the Misses Fennessia (2), brown dresses ; Miss Nunn, drab dreis ; Miss Thomas, i pale blue muslin. Songs were given during the evening by Mesdames Ball, Boholas, Wing, Lenane, and M'Pherson ; and music was supplied by a brass band,

tans, certainly in our santiments concerning this fashion, and probably this strikes the stranger as the sharpest contrast observable between the two poople of the two countries. | Even when she has removed her hat, as she is compelled to do, an American lady feels conspicuous in a London theatre if she is dressed in the fashion prevailing in New York. She utterly lacks the splendour of the women about herj no matter how elaborate her own attire may be. They; with their ornamental coiffures, and with their hand^ somejcloaks spread on ihe chairs behind them; are, according to the American notion, dressed for a fashionable and formal fete, not for a casual evening at the play. There is, however, nothing strange, even to the humblest resident of London, in the sight of women in full evening dress, for the reason that among the very same class of people Been in New York theatres every night dressed in modest .street garments it is an unbreakable rule tbat'evening dress must be put on for dinner, and a lady is guilty of nothing less than exceedingly bad taste if she appears in a high-necked gown. To the American 'pride — heard so often in the crusade against the decollete dress — this must appear like a national failing, indicative of a degradation equal to anything known during the Roman decadence. As a matter of fact, it lends a beauty and brilliancy to a London night that the dark city very much needs." — One of the most extraordinary friends of Baron Hirsch was (says a London paper) Madame de Lowenthal, whioh lady is worthy of study and attention as an example of what a clever woman can do when she has made up her mind to succeed in life. Although a Polish countess by birth she had no money, and was originally engaged by the old Countess Mniszek to read to her, and she succeeded in winning the old lady's heart. Thus it happened that one day when an authentic countess was sought for to become the wife of the son of a barber who had but recently been enobled, Mdlle. Octavia was chosen, and old Countess Mniszek gave her a dowry. Captain de Lowenthal certainly had no reason to complain of his wife, for she made him; using influence with Ministers and pullers of wires, inventing, among other things, the post of military attache, a berth to which, in connection with the Austrian Embassy in Paris, Madame de Lowenthal got her husband appointed. Of course this was all centuries ago, and the idea of having military attaches is really entirely due to Madame de Lowenthal. In Paris Madame de Lowenthal immediately made her mark, for no one could resist her grace, beauty, and wit, and she became a celebrity in the French capital. On her return to Vienna she managed to get her husband made 'general, and cleverly edged her way into a prominent place in the most aristocratic circles of Viennese society, greatly aided by the influence of her old friend Prince Felix Schwarzenberg. When the old Prince died (suddenly and of apoplexy) Madame de Lowenthal lost somewhat in prestige, and so as she had married her daughters well in France — one to the Due Decazes, and one to the Oomte de Gouy— she elected to transfer her penates from Vienna, where people were beginning to look coldly on her, to Paris, where she was received with open arms by the most exclusive society queens of the Faubourg St. Germain. The wily old Baron de Hirsch took care to utilise the: social influence of his friend in Paris, and the social position, such as it is, which Hirsch enjoys in Paris to-day he owes entirely to the introductions and chaperonage of Madame de Lowenthal. It is, however, only fair to the baron to say that he has amply repaid his friend for her social support by T giving her valuable financial advice, which has enabled her to more than double her fortune.