LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1967, 5 November 1891, Page 42

LADIES' GOSSIP.

—Fruit no longer appears as part of the decoration of an American dinner table. It puts in an appearance at dessert only. The perfume of some fruit is out of harmony with that of the earlier courses, and people lose pleasure in a desert which they have gazed upon all through the dinner. Richly-scented flowers, also, are no longer admitted to dining rooms, ferns and palms, and a few delicate blossoms brightening the greenery, are used instead. — According to a Russian newspaper a new sect has been discovered in the Government of Orenburg, the adherents of which are called by their neighbours " the jumping monks." They eat no flesh, drink no alcoholic beverages, and use no tobacco in any form. They attend the services of the Orthodox Church, but these do not entirely satisfy their religious cravings. They therefore hold private meetings, at which they read Scripture with their own peculiar commentaries, recite prayers, and sing hymns, dancing and clapping with their hands. They stand by one another in weal and woe like real brothers, and are very kind and courteous to strangers. —Any girl may arrange a veil over a small bonnet, bat it takes genius to adjust a veil

the Czarina came round with the Grand Duke Vladimir to congratulate me. She asked me where I had sung in Paris, and made me promise her a second performance the following week ; and, when taking leave, gave me her hand, saying, 'We won't say " good-bye," but "au revoir." The little King *bt Servia was present; and, by the way, he is not so little either, but a handsome, sturdy young man, who amused himself vastly with the performance. 4 Aida' was given the previous night at Arcadia, and Gunzburg asked the Servian Minister to bring King Alexander to see it. He was informed, however, that it would be impossible to do so, as the subject of love was introduced into' the piece in question, and that would not be suitable matter for his Majesty to see!" —Miss Rachel Gurney, the lady recently married to Lord Dudley, is not only very handsome, but enjoys the reputation of being the best amateur singer in England. She lost her mother at an early age, and Miss Gurney was brought up by the Duchess of Bedford, to whom she has almost been as a daughter. It is interesting to note that Mrs Gurney, the mother of the future Lady Dudley, was the first of the so-called "lady dressmakers." The young Marquis is one of the band of noblemen (they number eight-and-twenty) who in the United Kingdom possess over 100,000 acres. Most of his land lies in the North of Ireland ; but some of us who know Ascot and its neighbourhood must often have looked, not without envious eyes, on the lovely Easthampstead Park, the Marquis Berkshire seat. —Mrs Maud Ballington Booth, chief of the Salvation Army staff in America, recently performed the marriage ceremony between Staff-captain Ida May Harris and Adjutant Wallace W. Winchell. This is the first time on record that a woman has been known to tie the nuptial knot, but the action is supported by the best legal advice in New York. In next year's season doubtless the most-sought-after person by match-making dowagers will be the Marquis of Downshire, who will then be of age. The noble Marquis

is the luckiest of young noblemen, save arid except perhaps the Duke of Portland, tbat this generation has seen. Succeeding to the title and estates valued at close on a hundred thousand a year before he was three years old, the accumulations during his minority (thanks to the excellent management of bis uncle) must by this time be something enormous, for he is an only child. —The Queen has just learned from sad experience that it is wise never to issue an invitation you do not wish accepted. Some months ago a formal invitation was sent by the Empress of India to the Maharajah of Mysore to visit England. It was known that the Prince is a Hindoo, that a Hindoo breaks his caste by crossing the ocean, and therefore it was argued that the invitation would certainly be declined with thanks. But the Prince is a very enlightened Hindoo, who, having thrown to the winds many of the prejudices and superstitions of his religion, has decided to sacrifice vet another, and will, D.V., visit England this autumn. And now there is dismay and confusion in the royal breast; the "confidential adviser" ishavinga very bad time of it indeed ; and the M.C. in chief is undecided whether to sprain his ankle, to fly to the Continent, or to relinquish his office. For the reception of such a guest as the Maharajah of Mysore is no light matter. To begin with, he is the lineal descendant of a royal house whioh flourished and ruled centuries before the House of Brunswick was even dreamed of. Next, his wealth compared with that of his Imperial hostess is as that of the Duke of Westminster to that of the Battenberg. Further, he will take with him a numerous suite, which must be lodged and fed at enormous cost; and lastly, the position of the guest will require a revisal of all court etiquette, while bis religion and that of bis followers will demand menus carefully and cunningly composed. Worst of all, the visit is timed at a period when obstinate John Bull appears to have "got his back up" about paying for the entertainment of royal guests; and the Great and Grand Lady begins to fear that she will actually have to pay for her own hospitality out of her own pocket, just like any ordinary gentlewoman I — Many women of full age who have never been married are (says a Home paper) taking the title " Mrs," and it is interesting to note that they are returning to a custom that has only lately fallen into disuse. "In the Brandon Gallery," says the Century for June, " hangs the portrait of Eveline, who was laid to rest 1737, and it is inscribed Mrs Evelyn Bird, daughter of the Hon. W. Bird. Master and Miss are for boys and girls. Mr and Mrs are for men and women. Miss is vulgar and pert for an adult woman." — An American lady writes : — "Naturally one meets wtih many sorts and kinds of 'business women' in a big city like New York. Here is an advertisement clipped from the columns of one of our dailies : Busy or infirm mothers may have their infants washed and dressed hygienically every morning by an experienced mother. Cnriosity led me to investigate this new style of ' business woman,' and I am happy to say she is not a fakir, except in one respect. A brief chat with her led me to conclude that she had never had any babies save in her own imagination ; but that made little or no difference. She was a bright, intelligent woman, and I must say that I admired her astuteness in thus attacking American mothers in a weak spot. The average American mother has no particular fondness for the care of children, especially the task of bathing an infant. Now it might seem cruel to entrust the bathing of ' Baby Bess ' to a hired nurse ; but here's a trained baby bather, who does the thing scientifically, and guarantees that the infant will have no scald head, rasb, eruption, or skin complaint of any kind. Yes, more than this. The baby bather in her circular very justly claims that many of the contagious diseases of childhood may be avoided by hygienic care of the infant's person. Two shillings a day is the moderate charge made, and a stirring woman may easily earn 12s or 16s daily. Bravo! Next!" —The Queen herself made all the arrangements for the reception of Admiral Gervais at Osborne House, and the welcome she extended to the French officers was of the warmest character. Her Majesty presented the admiral with her portrait, and issued instructions for portraits of the Frenoh admiral and his principal officers to be forwarded to her. The Queen also asked Admiral Gervais to write bis name in her special birthday book, which is reserved for very high personages and intimate friends of her Majesty, > - —The latest tip hails from Japan, where, teste a society paper, it is as well acknowledged an operation as setting a broken leg ! The process, said to have been invented by a German surgeon, consists in pinching up a tiny pleat of skin below the outer corner of the eyelid, which pleat is then cut away, the edges joined with a stitch or two, the whole woundlet being covered with sticking plaster, and allowed to heal. This is declared to be as effectual for getting rid of wrinkles as it is for enlarging the almond eyes of the Oriental Frenchmen, as the Japanese love to style themselves; and divers Europeans are said to have availed themselves of the Teutonic discovery. The only thing is that on the Japanese, a notoriously healthy race, the operation leaves no trace; but query, how does it turn out with the European ? Bright days are in store for the maiden all forlorn. No longer need she wonder whether he will be at the tennis party ; no longer need she pose as a wallflower in the ballroom ; no longer need she pine on the river's bank because there is no one to take her for a row ; neither need she ever gaze from the casement at the moon because there is no nice fellow to flirt with at the garden eate. Her days of sadness and solitude are over, for an enterprising man of business has solved the difficulty, as may be seen from the following advertisement: — "A gentleman in society is prepared to furnish parties of eligible young men, between the ages of 21 and 30, who are guaranteed to be gentlemanly in appearance and behaviour, of good conversational abilities, adepts in boating, tennis, and dancing; of good habits and unquestionable social standing. These gentlemen will be sent out in groups of from five to twenty, for longer or shorter periods. All fees must be paid in advance. N.B.— A single gentle-

gracefully when you are wearing a large hat. The larger the hat, the thinner the material must be, or you will find yourself in a bag. You will need a full yard for a large bat, and you should either choose tulle or net. It should be lightly dotted with chenille loops or spots. Slope away to triangular pieces from the top edge to about one-third of the length at each side. The centre edge where it is not sloped should be lightly gathered with strong silk and the ends left to tie. Draw up the gathered top part and place over the brim, with the lower edge just under the chin, and draw the veil closely around to the back, and with a small loop or pleat taken upward fasten it through to the hair. You next draw up the front fulness so that it ie full over the brim and cannot slip off, and secure this invisibly with a black pin or small Italian hairpin. The sloped top part is then brought neatly around to the back and the ends twisted and slipped in beneath the back of the hat. —Among the visitors to London just now is Mrs Ayer, whose husband acquired an almost fabulous fortune through the sale of sarsaparilla. She is said to be the wealthiest widow in America, and wears a pearl necklace which cost £50,000. —Tbe Edinburgh School of Cookery has been turned into a limited liability company, and a boarding house is being established for lady students from the pountry. A "housewife's diploma " is to be granted to ladies who have proved themselves proficient not merely in cookery but also in practical housekeeping and management, laundry work, millinery, bookkeeping, and other branches of domestic economy. — Mdlle Clara Lardinois, who has been acting at Krasaoe Selo before tbe Czar and Czarina and the Russian Court, writes home to her friends in France some amusing details of her experiences. She was greatly struck with the splendours of the Czar's summer palace. "The fairy-like appearance of the saloon was impossible to describe, and it was filled with gorgeous uniforms and ladies in low dresses and splendid jewels. After the second act of • Miss Helyett ' j

man at the wholesale price. All communications strictly confidential, and the highest references given and required." The Queen is having a magnificent portrait of herself prepared, which she will hand personally to M. Waddington, the French Ambassador, for transmission to his Government. The portrait will be placed in a frame containing the blended emblems of France and England, and will bear an expression of personal goodwill towards France and the President of the Bepublic, written by the Queen herself. — Here is a guide to musical form which may save a deal of trouble to those good folk who keep their eyes glued on the descriptive programme book:— "Shut your eyes, lean back, and listen to the music. If it seems to be saying one, two, three, hop, hop, hop, or one, two, three, bang, bang, bang, you may oonclude at once that you are listening to something of a very low order, which it is your duty to despise. When you hear something that sounds as if an assorted lot of notes bad been pnt into a barrel and were being persistently stirred up like a kind of harmonious gruel, you may know it is a fugue, and safely assume an expression of profound interest. If the notes appeal to have been dropped by accident and are being fished up at inegular intervals, in a sort of placid or drowned condition, it is likely to be a nocturne, and nocturnes, you know, are quite too lovely foi anything. If the notes seem to come in cartloads, each load of a different kind from the last, and if the train seems to be an unusually long time in passing any given point, it will turn out most likely to be a symphony, and symphonies are just the grandest things that ever were. If the notes seenrto be dumped out in masses and shovelled vigorously into heaps, and then blown widely into the air by explosions of dynamite, that is rhapsody, and rhapsodies are among the latest things in music." , •« Poor old Grenadine I It has been out of fashion for so long that we had almost forgotten his existence j but " (says a Home paper) "it has at last returned to us, and has shown its face in the paik and elsewhere. A favourite mode of wearing it is over shot ailki which looks all the better for being bright in hue, especially when the grenadine is black. This is generally the case, for any transparent black material worn over colour is the thing just now. And every example I gee convinces me anew that it is a very pretty fashion. One charming dress which I saw a few days back was of very fine lace over bright green silk. The lace was tied on to the silk, as it were, by bands of narrow green ribbon velvet, ending in tight little bows. A black lace bat, with green leaves and orchids, finished a delightful little costume. "Another old friend who threatens to pay us a visit will, to most of us, not be so welcome as Grenadine. I mean the familiar chignon. Everything points towards its revival, for the hair is gradually creeping down towards the neck again, the whole of the back of the head being covered with hirsute decoration. During the past week alone I have noticed at least half a dozen welldressed women wearing their hair in two long rolls behind, which fashion must be the precursor of the hideous chignon. It is also suspicious that flounced skirts are with us ' again, for they came to us with the chignon before. Who cannot recall John Leech's caricature of young ladies thus attired, playing croquet in sandalled shoes ?" ' a New York World correspondent has been interviewing Mary Anderson (Mrs de Navarro) at her charming home at Tunbridge Wells. But all he got from her was a cup of tea, an assurance that she was not writing a book, and the following shocking anecdote. Said Mary :— " Mr W. S. Gilbert, who knows that I am a Catholic, likes to tease me a little about it. He told me once a story about a man who was killed in a railroad collision, and when he got to heaven they wouldn't let him in because he had died without absolution. 'Well, that isn't my fault,' said the man. 'If I had had time, I would have seen a priest, but I was killed in a collision. How could I get one ? ' St. Peter didn't see what he could do, although it did seem bard that the man should have to suffer without its being his fault. • O»n't you get some priest in there, who will come out and give me absolution, and then it will be all right 1 This seemed a good way of fixing the thing up, and St. Peter went off to get the priest. He was gone some time, and finally came back alone, looking distressed. * There isn't a priest in the place,' he said." —The Princess Maud of Wales has devoted some of her spare time during the past season to studying the mandolin, and has set the fashion amongst the ladies: A little band of 12 players constantly assemble to practise this charming instrument. According to a Russian newspaper, a Bnthenian 124 years old is living in the town of Belgorod, in the Government of Koorsk ; his name is Bogdan Nitchinorenko. He is still hale and hearty, only his hearing being somewhat impaired. He ascribes his old age to bis singular manner of living. At the age of 25 he became ill, and as there were no physicians in the neighbourhood, a Tartar practitioner, or " wise man " (Znakhar), was engaged to cure him. For three weeks he was under the Znakhar's treatment until his health was restored. Parting from him the Znakhar told him that, if he wished to live long, he must never eat any old or stale food. For fear lest he fall sick again, Nitchinorenko observed this rule scrupulously. He ate nothing but Spring fowl, veal, or ham, and never touched a piece of meat of an old animal. Even garden fruit he ate only when it was quite young and fresh ; he never touched canned or pickled food of any kind. He became so habituated to this diet that he Conceived an aversion to old food and to ripe fruit. He was married three times and had eight daughters, all of whom died between • the ages of 50 and 60 years. At the age of nearly 84= Nitchinorenko took to him a fourth wife, a girl of 20 years. She bore him two daughters, one of whom is at present 40 and the other 38 years old. He says that he did not feel old until he attained the age of 104, and then only because he had suffered som6 reverses and was compelled to change his manner of living! His wife and two daughters take good care of him, and in the neighbourhood he is treated with great generation. *~Here are a few of the things a woman

must have this summer to make life worth enduring : — A fre3h boutonniere every day, composed of a few rare flowers pinned carelessly on her bodice. Antique jewel clasps to fasten her Valois sleeves. Chiffon scarfs with beautifully embroidered ends to throw over bare shoulders in the quaintly modest old style. A taffeta silk petticoat trimmed with lace. . A quantity and variety of jewelled rings. Four or five veils to each bonnet. Lots of real lace. And plenty of real men to admire her. •• It's Always So." Aoroßi the meadow with clover »weet, I wandered one evening with weary feet, F« myhearfc wat heavy with untold woe, For everything leemed to go wrong, you know. 'Twaa one of thoie &*y* whoie carei and strife Quite ovewhadowed the good In life. So, lone and tad, 'neath the twilight itara I wandered down to the P"tj>«* !>«•• To the pasture ban 'neath the hillilde eteep? When patiently waited a flock of iheep for the happy boy with whittle and thouc Who wai even now coming to turn them one. " Good evening 1 " aald he with boyiih grace, And a imile lit np his handiome face. He let down the ban ; then we b«tb ttepped bactf, And I »aid, "You have more white aheep than " Why, yea," he replied, " and didn't you know ? More white than black ; why, 'tit always so." He passed on with his flock round the hill ; Bat down on the pasture I lingered still, Pondering well on the words of the lad. " More white than black," more good than bad, More joy than sorrow, more bliss than woe ; •• More white than black," an 3 " 'Ms always so.' And since that hour, when troubles rife Gather and threaten to shroud my life— Or I see some ioul on the downward traok— I cry. there ara more white aheep than blaoK, And I thank my God that I learned to know The bletsed fact is always bo.